Shipwreckers passes without incident; indeed, an incident would've been difficult to arrange amongst the number that pitched. Again, I don't mean to sound like a wet blanket but so much more could be accomplished with a bit more thought and organisation. Having said that, both Safmarine and Maersk made an effort, and it was heartening to see Astrid and Soraya hosting a table, each with a respectable number of clients in tow. Peter Andre looks well if not a tad tubby after his sabbatical in America; a few sessions with Yum Yum and her hose pipe, and he'll be back on track in time for his wedding. I tell him that he should combine it with Saf's Midwinter Xmas lunch, (the wedding, not the hose pipe) so at least some people will show up. Maersk's group stayed inside most of the night, playing pool; it was disappointing not to see the regular attendees like Lars, Gert and Jean, but they were otherwise engaged, especially Jean. Spanner Eyes wasn't there, which is a pity as she and I have decided at long last that we are sexually compatible; we both get headaches at the same time...
Another industry member has hit the diet regime with a vengeance. On a recent trip to Dbn I met up for afternoon drinkies with Philip Simpson and a few of the lads, and was most impressed with the noticeable change that has come over our Phil. Last time I saw him was at a Conti party in Jhb a couple of years ago and he was not in the best of health; today, however, he is firm of jaw and clear of eye. Whilst his best friend (if he had one) would not describe him as svelte, there has definitely been some obvious weight loss and he looks all the better for it. He confides to me that the secret lies in 2 areas. Firstly, he is taking a diet pill that, whilst expensive, does the trick; secondly, he runs with Dawn Rourke every morning. I question the use of the word with; surely he means away from? A gentleman as always, he merely smiles enigmatically...
As mentioned above, quite a crew assembled for lunch over the two days I was in Durbs. Apart from Philip, there was Duncan Davies, Eddie Molloy, Tim McClure, Jacko Pretorius, Eddie Cairns, Calvin Bonser, Terry Sandeman, Jens Tiaden, Wayne Gunning, Mike Lever, Eddie Neilson and Ernie Van Wyk. A finer collection of slags you won't find south of the equator, and one that prompted someone to state that they made Max Irving look like Mother Theresa. Conversation was somewhat difficult, but I sit next to Tim McClure who tells me the news that Wanda Du Plooy has decided to leave IVS. Tim is saddened, and I sympathise; Wanda has been with the company for 15 years and has accepted an offer to open a shipping dept for Seaboard, a Bermuda-based trading company. This is a good move for her, with plenty of responsibility, and everyone wishes her well, but the loss of a good staff member is never easy to bear....
The curse of the Rat strikes again; no sooner than I mention Andre Wissler last week, he decides to resign from Rennies. I phone hurriedly to ascertain the reason, but he assures me I am not to blame. Apparently I cannot recall a lunch before Christmas when he explained to me in detail his plans for an E-Commerce business venture. Considering I was extremely tired and emotional for most of December, this comes as no surprise to him or me, so he recapitulates. He has already formed a company, Route IT, and is on schedule to launch his web site in a couple of months, which will be known as Freightroute.Com and will enable clients to have immediate access to all aspects of quoting and booking for boxes and b/bulk together with updated schedules and routes. Knowing Andre as I do, I am sure he has approached this scheme with typical Teutonic thoroughness and it will no doubt be a success. His replacement at Rennies? My money is on Doug Kennedy....
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