I'm not sure if it's a question of Toby finally understanding that bone-burying is not acceptable, or that he has some other reason for meticulously placing it in that particular spot at this particular point in time. Either way he's not telling.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Watering the Garden
Much to my annoyance, Toby usually buries his bones. This morning, as I was watering the garden, I noticed a carefully-placed bone at the base of Andre's vine. It's hard to see exactly where the vine starts since there's now also a Yew growing there, presumably courtesy of a visiting bird who must have deposited a fertile seed on that spot (is that how it works?). But anyway that is where I spotted it.
Monday, May 11, 2009
2 year old tease 1966
this image always makes me smile. His love of teasing was evident even before he could walk. And here he is at the tender age of 2, tickling his great-aunt Bex. She adored him. I love the way she's giggling ... I recall this tickling and giggling went on for a long time that sunny Sunday at Dave and Mel's house.
Rollerblading in Hyde Park 1992
we had so much fun that day. Andre kept us in stitches with his antics. He rollerbladed very well, in fact, and the pole-hugging was just for effect.
Uncle David remembers
I bring back memories of Andre as a small boy coming with his 'big' sister Dani and his little cousins Derek and Uri, on an outing with us to the Zoo and when we got there the keeper said "so you've come back have you, you little monkey". As Tanya said at the funeral [of a friend recently]: "Only a sense of humour will keep me going" So I allowed myself this little aside. I love to remember my all too few memories of Andre. Andre crying after a minor, but frightening car accident at the Bunny Park in Benoni. Andre playing with his cousins in our garden in Sandringham. And the houseproud Andre showing me around his and Maggie's apartment in Kensington. In a north London pub, Andre who brought me a Lager after asking how was my Ale and I told him it tasted like piss. Always sweet, sensitive, and so intelligent. Even after 10 years a star missing from my firmament.
with love
David
with love
David
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Tales of a City
Just after returning from a trip to South Africa, Andre told me a story of an extraordinary and shocking event he witnessed during his travels, or was it?
He had stopped at a petrol station in Jo’burg to fill up when there was some sort of a commotion. Andre looked up to find a young Black man running in a panic and screaming for help because there had been an accident and his arms were engulfed in flames. Initially there was some reluctance by those present to help in case the whole scenario had been set up as an ambush since this was a common occurrence in Jo’burg. However, the police and the ambulance arrived at just the moment everyone realised this was a real emergency and there was no time to waste. The man in flames now looked in agony and was running around in a mad panic as the crowd that had now gathered alerted the police to the scene. As soon as the police saw the victim, they drew out their guns and shot the poor man dead. For a moment everyone stood still in shock, and when the crowd that had gathered angrily demanded an explanation, the police replied “I’m sorry but we cannot have firearms here”!
Of course, it was another joke and you laughed like a drain when you realised that I realised I’d been had, and I laughed like a drain because it was actually a good joke for you. I shared this joke with my younger brother who lives in Nigeria and he enjoyed it so much that although he never met Andre, he would always ask “How is your friend with the jokes?”
He had stopped at a petrol station in Jo’burg to fill up when there was some sort of a commotion. Andre looked up to find a young Black man running in a panic and screaming for help because there had been an accident and his arms were engulfed in flames. Initially there was some reluctance by those present to help in case the whole scenario had been set up as an ambush since this was a common occurrence in Jo’burg. However, the police and the ambulance arrived at just the moment everyone realised this was a real emergency and there was no time to waste. The man in flames now looked in agony and was running around in a mad panic as the crowd that had now gathered alerted the police to the scene. As soon as the police saw the victim, they drew out their guns and shot the poor man dead. For a moment everyone stood still in shock, and when the crowd that had gathered angrily demanded an explanation, the police replied “I’m sorry but we cannot have firearms here”!
Of course, it was another joke and you laughed like a drain when you realised that I realised I’d been had, and I laughed like a drain because it was actually a good joke for you. I shared this joke with my younger brother who lives in Nigeria and he enjoyed it so much that although he never met Andre, he would always ask “How is your friend with the jokes?”
A short word from Anne
Andre was the first person to tell me about internet about 15 years ago. It seemed like a crazy idea but he was really excited about it. It doesn't feel like it was that long ago and I can't believe he's been gone for such a long time. It only seems like yesterday. I miss his silly dancing and jokes. And also his good advice.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
André's Vine
It was on mothers' day in March 1999 that André finally got round to planting a vine cutting he had been given by Jim a while before. Soon after we went on holiday to Spain and soon after that he died. It wasn't until the day of his funeral, in the garden afterwards, that I noticed that the vine had taken and was flourishing.
By 2006 the Triomphe d'Alsace vine was producing a sufficient quantity of grapes for me to attempt my first batch of wine. I was really pleased with the results. The following year wasn’t as good, but that didn’t put me off having a third attempt, despite a terrible summer weather-wise, and having to compete with greedy wood pigeons when harvesting the modest yield. Here's a picture of what was produced. The demijohn on the left is just Triomphe D'Alsace grape, on the right is a mix of grape, apple and elderflower. It hasn't been sampled yet...
Part of the vine in September 2007
By 2006 the Triomphe d'Alsace vine was producing a sufficient quantity of grapes for me to attempt my first batch of wine. I was really pleased with the results. The following year wasn’t as good, but that didn’t put me off having a third attempt, despite a terrible summer weather-wise, and having to compete with greedy wood pigeons when harvesting the modest yield. Here's a picture of what was produced. The demijohn on the left is just Triomphe D'Alsace grape, on the right is a mix of grape, apple and elderflower. It hasn't been sampled yet...Part of the vine in September 2007
Friday, May 8, 2009
Our First Winter
Having lived with Andre for so many years, thereby being privy to the telling of so many of his jokes, I should really have a vast warehouse full of them to choose from. Sadly, with me jokes go in one ear and straight out the other. So much as I'd love to be funny, I'll have to settle for an anecdote instead.
I remember an incident in January 1991, when he was still living in Stafford Court in Kensington and me in Brixton. He was excited about the snowy weather, not having had much experience of it in sunny South Africa. These were the days before I got cured of my arachnophobia.
I proudly told him over the phone about my battle with a monster spider in which I had come out victorious. It was a sweeter victory than merely stomping on the massive beast. I had managed to catch it under a glass and chuck it out onto the snow-covered balcony.
He came over a few hours later and we had a cup of coffee together in the kitchen. I was going through one of my no-smoking phases so he went out onto the balcony to smoke. Something out there caught his interest, that mischievous smile of his appeared and he called me over. The thick layer of snow had thinned considerably, more so in one particular spot. There was a shrivelled black dot in the centre of the circular thaw which Andre scooped up and held out towards me for closer inspection. A microscope would have helped identify it for sure but with the naked eye it looked suspiciously like the remains of a tiny eight-legged creature.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Hey, have you heard the one about...
Great storytellers are rare, and Andre was one of them.
In the time I was fortunate enough to spend with Andre, he never failed to make me laugh. Normally it had nothing to do with the quality of the joke (most of you will understand!) but instead the unreserved enthusiasm and delight of the teller. The twinkle in Andre's eyes was infectious. He so easily elicited laughter, life's greatest panacea, often long before the punchline was delivered.
Shortly after Andre's service his great friend Gordon put his arm around my shoulder and said he had a joke for me, one that Andre had told him a few days before. After the joke, which I share with you below, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. We did both in equal measure. I have a feeling it's what a great storyteller would've wanted.
A man drives into town determined to have a big night out.
Spotting a nightclub with a line at the door he parks and excitedly heads off toward the club.
Reaching the top of the queue, he is is stopped by the outstretched arm of a burly bouncer, who looks down at him.
"Sorry Sir, can't get in without a tie."
The man pleads his case but the bouncer is insistent. Dejected, he heads back to his car.
Sitting in the driver's seat, keys in the ignition, he suddenly has a great idea.
He jumps out of the car and heads around to the boot, opening it he grabs the set of jumper leads he keeps in case of emergency and fashions a tie of sorts.
After a quick check of his reflection in a shop window, he strolls confidently back to the club.
When he reaches the top of the queue, the bouncers arm stretches out again, blocking his entry.
The man looks up at him,
"What's the problem, I've got a tie"
The bouncer looks down and slowly lowers his arm,
"Alright mate, you can come in...
...just don't start anything."
In the time I was fortunate enough to spend with Andre, he never failed to make me laugh. Normally it had nothing to do with the quality of the joke (most of you will understand!) but instead the unreserved enthusiasm and delight of the teller. The twinkle in Andre's eyes was infectious. He so easily elicited laughter, life's greatest panacea, often long before the punchline was delivered.
Shortly after Andre's service his great friend Gordon put his arm around my shoulder and said he had a joke for me, one that Andre had told him a few days before. After the joke, which I share with you below, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. We did both in equal measure. I have a feeling it's what a great storyteller would've wanted.
A man drives into town determined to have a big night out.
Spotting a nightclub with a line at the door he parks and excitedly heads off toward the club.
Reaching the top of the queue, he is is stopped by the outstretched arm of a burly bouncer, who looks down at him.
"Sorry Sir, can't get in without a tie."
The man pleads his case but the bouncer is insistent. Dejected, he heads back to his car.
Sitting in the driver's seat, keys in the ignition, he suddenly has a great idea.
He jumps out of the car and heads around to the boot, opening it he grabs the set of jumper leads he keeps in case of emergency and fashions a tie of sorts.
After a quick check of his reflection in a shop window, he strolls confidently back to the club.
When he reaches the top of the queue, the bouncers arm stretches out again, blocking his entry.
The man looks up at him,
"What's the problem, I've got a tie"
The bouncer looks down and slowly lowers his arm,
"Alright mate, you can come in...
...just don't start anything."
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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