So cometh the end of the year. A haphazard one in terms of emails coming out, but such has been the nature of my brain this year. Firstly a few new additions to the mailing list Randall, Violet, Ingrid and David. Welcome to our ever growing community, how many people actually read this I will never know, but ever growing none-the-less. Should you at any time have any comments on how to improve this website, content you would like discussed or give any comments please feel free to drop me an email or visit www.mondaymail.blogspot.com where most of my emails in the last 5/6 years or something have been posted.

I would have liked to have ended off the year with a bang and some deep meaningful email but I think I am all emailed out.

But I must tell you another story though I was at gym last week Saturday and my whole thoughts were I need to get me a book because as of today I wont really have much to do other than just park off and pack etc. Anyway so I bump into this friend of mine and she suggested a book called the “Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama, now I have mentioned to you guys before that I find Buddhism quite interesting and was going to perhaps look at getting a book about the faith or the man and his teachings (Dalai Lama). Anyway so I get the book and run into one or 2 other people that have recently read the book or are currently reading it…Freaky! Very interesting read thus far.

U know this is going to be one of those happy feely sort of emails so if that sort of thing bores you stop right here J U know this year has had many ups and downs and I am sure not just for me but for everyone, but its soooo easy for us to focus on the downs that we forget about the ups. I know I have been down this road before, but I think it only fair and right for me to bring it to the fore again. It’s only going through the downs that we truly appreciate the ups and it also gives you an appreciation that this life on this earth is not really yours, your creator has their own plans for your life. Yes it’s rough when you are going through the downs, but ey I am a firm believer in there being a silver lining on every cloud. Today may be the worst day ever but tomorrow may be the best day ever…or not, that’s what life is all about, but just as you have had the best day ever of your life in the past you may well have it again. Just learn what you need to learn from whatever you are going through because no doubt it will help you or someone whose path you may cross sometime in the future. Just keep your heads up, chest out and eyes open. Suck it in, cos a better day is coming there is a plan for you! In the end we all die, choose the best way you want to spend your time on this earth

Before I sign off all I would like to say is the best of the festive season to you all. Be safe, be careful, have a whale of a time, eat over indulge how else are you going to write your list of new years resolutions? May 2007 be all that and a bag of chips

Birthdays
I know there are a good few birthdays this month. I don’t have my diary with me today and I don’t want to piss anyone off by forgetting to mention their special days. If its your birthday this month, my warmest wishes to you and may your day be an absolute ripper.

Maximum respect till next we e-speak. PS if anyone feels the need to respond please cc yawzie@gmail.com, cos I would definitely love to read your response

Y

Will you let them be…will you help the children live to see, a better day is coming? MC Hammer

Wow, cant believe its that time of the year again, I know I have been saying this a lot, but I am in awe at the pace with which this year has progressed. It feels like just the other day that I was writing about the 16 days of activism against violence against women and children and World Aids day which is on Friday. I don’t think I should be preaching to anyone on this mailing list, but spread the word. Let people know! Women are definitely complex creatures that could test a man’s simplicity ;-) but that’s y we love em! Your childhood definitely moulds who you are today. I said this in one of my emails, no child is born with hate and fear (other than loud noises and falling), those are all thought. I am very grateful for my upbringing, definitely have my issues like most, but I think my folks, schooling and friends offered me the opportunity to see right from wrong and judge people and situations based on its merit no more and no less. I don’t think any child can ever ask for more. It all boils down to respect! No means Uh huh, aikhona, nee! And if it is a yes, remember to roll down the rubber.

Enuff of the preaching, been a long time since I have given you all an update into my life and I cant think of a better time than now to be honest. The year started off pretty well to be honest, worked through December, you know the saying of a new brush sweeping the best, good impressions had to be made, deals had to be closed. I had a great family and friends, I had a gem of a girlfriend, good job at a great institution, money in the bank, Betty to drive, roof over my head, food in my belly (a bit too much if I had to be honest, was tipping the scale at about 106kg sometime this year). The guy was sorted. On the 26^th Feb, I turned 30, had a ripper jam with some mates and family. Then something started to happen. I think its really coincidental cos I don’t really believe in that quarter life crisis stuff. But I started doing a lot of self examination. Started reading books…me reading books, I had definitely changed. I was very happy and comfortable with my life. I mean what more could a brother wish for, but then the wheels started to come off a tad. Work wasn’t as stimulating as it was in the first year, I wasn’t hating it by any means, but it just wasn’t what I thought I was in for. It was challenging but in all the wrong aspects for me. But I could still do it even at half pace, which I felt like I was operating at which is really no good cos work takes up the majority of my hours spent awake.

Anyway, on the social side of life though everything was pretty peachy, well sort of, i was spending a lot of time up in Joburg, spending some QT with the lady and the family, it was real cool. I didn’t really use to like flying too much but its helped me to be more chilled about taking to the skies…what will be will be etc. Now if you know me you know I go crazy for rugby. At varsity, at 2am, I would walk from Smuts Hall up on the mountain down to main road, looking into any res’ tv room or any bar that was showing a test match, because all our tvs in res were occupied and then have to walk back again. I can sit infront of the tv for 8 hours straight just watching rugby games. And I go crazy for the All Blacks. Anyway so during the super 12 we met the Crusaders, whilst they were up here to play the Stormers, thru a friend of mine Cader. Became friendly with one of them and it was a ripper. He even hooked me up with tickets to the Rustenburg Test match which was a ripper, cos a whole bunch of us missioned through there and thanks to my guy Eddie we even managed to organise tickets to the after match event with the players and officials, definitely a highlight of my year.

But something was up, I kept questioning what am I doing with myself? Is this as good as it gets? Something had to be done, but nothing was giving. I was still a happy guy, but I just wasn’t firing on all cylinders if u know what I mean. The funny thing though is that a lot of my mates, guys and girls were in a very similar space. I was moping around at work not only on Mondays (which is normally the case cos I was broken from the previous weekend) but more frequently, just get in greet people, but no jokes, just my desk work home. I said dust to that. So went away on a month of gallivanting, good times, thanks again Nana for the hospitality and anyone else who made an effort whilst we were there and to Lebo for coming with me. I think I wrote about it, it was a pretty nice trip London, Germany (Berlin, to see the aftermath of the World Cup), Amsterdam, Paris back to London then Reading for Vaughans and Victorias wedding and then Oxford to see Saul and back to London and then back here

The break was definitely needed cos I hadn’t taken a proper time out in about 2 yrs or more. It really did help to ease my mind and provide a bit of clarity on the way forward. The way forward was already known in a way, but now it was certain. My aim was to head back to Joburg at the end of the year. To be honest Cape Town is the bomb, but through my own fault I have not nearly capitalised on what it has to offer, for example I have only been to the beach 3 times in 2 years, climed the mountain once…under duress. I have some solid mates here, but the core of my people of like mind and like determination are up in the big smoke, the heart of private equity/acquisition finance is up there, my folks are there and last but not least a certain miss was over there too. And so it began… I started making louder noises about my desire to join the Investment Bank in Johannesburg, preferably in Acquisition Finance or in Private Equity.

In the mean time I carried on as before, nose to the grind etc. etc. I carried on with my new found source of entertainment…reading. I read a book called “the monk who sold his Ferrari” very defining for me. One of my colleagues Nielfaar, had recently read a book called “In the meantime”. If you read the cover it seems pretty cheesy its about love this that and the next, but the content was pretty damn sound. It was all about just finding your own way and being the best you you can be and being happy with the you that you are. Once you get that right the world will start playing ball with you. And it makes so much sense, many of us roam this earth seeking approval from others, buy flashy cars, do this, wear this cos that’s what everyone expects or sees to be the ‘in’ thing. ‘I say no, when I say no I mean no’…Mohammed Ibrahimmah. Everything stems from this ur interaction with yourself, your interaction with others, your interaction with the world.

Anyway so I tried to continue my talks with the powers that be about moving to Jhb, but not much was happening I even went up to Joburg on a few occasions to speak to the other departments, but sorry for me they were fully stocked up and there was no room in the inn. I could easily stay and just idle through work earn my salary etc. But I thought no more. Got on the horn, managed to potentially hook up a sweet job with another financial institution, and had one or 2 other things in the pipeline. Hadn’t signed anything yet with anyone cos I knew I had to take my time. But one day soon after reading the book I decided to take the leap of faith and handed in my resignation. For many days after my resignation I was a tad nervous, but the bounce was back in my step. I was stepping back into the unknown, new institution, more of the same or a refreshingly pleasant change? I guess only time would tell. I was very apprehensive about accepting the financial institutions offer to be honest, but I decided, right Yaw, this is what you are going to do. New job, new people, whats the worst that could happen? You learn something new and meet new people? At gym the other morning, something else that had increased in intensity, and was the source of much joy for me (along with squash and playing crap tennis) I mentioned to a friend that I had resigned and was heading back to the big smoke. On Sunday he gave me a call to come and see him on Monday (which was last week), I duely obliged. We had a brief discussion. He presented his business and his business idea for jhb and a role he saw for me there and asked if I was interested. The ease with which the answer yes came flowing from my mouth, particularly from a risk averse accountant who is pretty set in his ways, took even me aback! But I am pretty excited about the opportunity and hopefully we will make a success of it. I guess its pretty premature for me to be going on about this because I haven’t even signed an employment letter or anything as yet, but what will be will be I always say!

So now here I sit, the year almost over, still have my health (well from what I can gather), still have my shwanky family and friends, no gem of a girlfriend (we called time about 2 months or so ago), no banking job for much longer, roof over my head, smile on my face, still have my Betty getting me around and guess what I live to talk much shaite another day, can u ask for more?

This year has been one of the most challenging I have had in a long time, in terms of me in my personal space. First real relationship I have ever had and I learnt much about me and it was very good. I just feel I have grown up a helluva lot and am in a good space…for now, what tomorrow brings well once again time will tell.

From Friday the 8^th December 2006 onwards, please contact me on yawzie@gmail.com my Skype name is Yawzie. Cell no will remain unchanged

There is a whole lot more I could write, but I cant really think of it now.

Birthdays

26^th Akua

27^th Julian

Once again maximum respect as always

Y