Ja well no fine, just before we start with the Christmas cheer, a few stories to help you get into the spirit.
Our first story is not so much about running, but indeed about one of our regular podium position runners. Ansie Breytenbach had to go and have her driver’s license renewed. Unfortunately due to an eye problem, Ansie failed her eye test. Ansie then went and saw an optometrist, who did a proper test and gave her a certificate, giving her the proverbial green light. When she got to the licensing department with the test certificate she applied for the license again, as well as for a temporary licence while awaiting the new license.
The temporary licence was for 6 months, but Ansie only realised it expired, 6 months after the expiry date, that is, 1 year later. Ansie went to the license department to enquire about her “new” license that should be there by now. Sickening was the news that the license came, was kept for 6 months and when not collected, was send back. The drill now is for Ansie to be re-tested, again, that is, the eyes, and then the whole application for a new license has to be filled out. Ansie, did you know that your cell phone has a reminder facility with an alarm option?
You must have heard the expression “short cut” and “missing the bus” well let me try and put this into perspective for our members. Short cut could refer to hair, or your lawn or something similar, but taking a “short cut” is an attempt to lessen the travel distance or save time on travelling, or both. For many years our club has won the biggest bus award at the Tom Jenkins Race held at the Union buildings and that was this years’ intention!
The modus operandi in the past was that our faster runners/walkers would complete the race and then go back via the route to join the trolley “bus” and all arrive at the finish line to claim the biggest bus award. This year however, the organisers were wise to our ways and did a “bus” count somewhere on the route and we fell short! Gerhard & Bertha v/d Raad wanted to do their part after completing their respective races, they did not want to walk back along the route to meet the “bus” but took a “short cut” across the lawns at the union building to wait for the Irene “bus” to arrive.
After waiting for an extended period in the scorching sun they realised that the “bus” must surely have passed the point where they were standing, so they returned to the finish, only to find that they had in fact “Missed the Bus” by taking a short cut. So, by taking a “short cut” you may just “miss the bus” folks, let there be a lesson in this for all of us.
The newly elected management team went on their annual break-away to start the planning for the clubs activities for the year 2017. In an attempt to keep costs down they only paid for accommodation and the food was going to be the responsibility of the catering couple, Stephan and Elna Mee. On Saturday night, Stephan, who as a rule is of sober habit, did cut loose a bit and had one or maybe, quite a few too many. The reason for this is not entirely clear yet, but the following reasons were possible maybes’.
The family Mee will be returning to the UK early next year and that alone would have driven me, as a person, to drink. Then there was the fact that the Springboks lost to Wales and that could have been a reason for Stephan to celebrate, for Wales, or feel disgusted with the Boks. I believe Stephan through his springbok jersey into the trash can, but the trash can through it straight back in his face.
Needless to say, the Sunday morning arrived and the management team, with the exception of the family Mee arrived for breakfast. After an uncomfortable wait, some of the management team members that were domestically orientated started making their own breakfast in order to get it done and hit the road. During the morning sometime, Elna surfaced, but the majority of the team had already left before Stephan awakened from his deep sleep.
So, we are again reminded that even the most faithful of committee members, every now and then, the cracks show and we miss a beat.
Our last story of the year is the other half of Ansie, our Clubs General Manager, none other than Wynand. Now I do believe most of our club members are aware of the following song, “I have a dream” with words so fitting I cannot help but mention it here:
I have a dream, a fantasy
Too help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
Wynand, (I do not know what sparked it) recently had a very bad dream, yes you guessed it, he dreamt that he ran a marathon. When he eventually woke up, in a cold sweat, he went to the toilet “pit stop” had a drink of water and went back to bed. After falling asleep – again - the worst happened, he dreamt he ran another marathon. This is now getting close to a comrades distance, bar a short time trial. When he woke the next morning his right leg and hip were so sore he could hardly get out of bed. The reality of the dream has left a lasting impression on Wynand. Wynand, that last line of the song, “Pushing through the darkness still another mile” is what did the damage, you should have stopped at 42, or got into the Avis bus.
Well folks, that’s it for this month and year, so I will bid you all a very happy Christmas and an injury free year in 2017. Come back refreshed and give me plenty to write about. So cheers vir eers.
The Running Reporter
Our first story is not so much about running, but indeed about one of our regular podium position runners. Ansie Breytenbach had to go and have her driver’s license renewed. Unfortunately due to an eye problem, Ansie failed her eye test. Ansie then went and saw an optometrist, who did a proper test and gave her a certificate, giving her the proverbial green light. When she got to the licensing department with the test certificate she applied for the license again, as well as for a temporary licence while awaiting the new license.
The temporary licence was for 6 months, but Ansie only realised it expired, 6 months after the expiry date, that is, 1 year later. Ansie went to the license department to enquire about her “new” license that should be there by now. Sickening was the news that the license came, was kept for 6 months and when not collected, was send back. The drill now is for Ansie to be re-tested, again, that is, the eyes, and then the whole application for a new license has to be filled out. Ansie, did you know that your cell phone has a reminder facility with an alarm option?
You must have heard the expression “short cut” and “missing the bus” well let me try and put this into perspective for our members. Short cut could refer to hair, or your lawn or something similar, but taking a “short cut” is an attempt to lessen the travel distance or save time on travelling, or both. For many years our club has won the biggest bus award at the Tom Jenkins Race held at the Union buildings and that was this years’ intention!
The modus operandi in the past was that our faster runners/walkers would complete the race and then go back via the route to join the trolley “bus” and all arrive at the finish line to claim the biggest bus award. This year however, the organisers were wise to our ways and did a “bus” count somewhere on the route and we fell short! Gerhard & Bertha v/d Raad wanted to do their part after completing their respective races, they did not want to walk back along the route to meet the “bus” but took a “short cut” across the lawns at the union building to wait for the Irene “bus” to arrive.
After waiting for an extended period in the scorching sun they realised that the “bus” must surely have passed the point where they were standing, so they returned to the finish, only to find that they had in fact “Missed the Bus” by taking a short cut. So, by taking a “short cut” you may just “miss the bus” folks, let there be a lesson in this for all of us.
The newly elected management team went on their annual break-away to start the planning for the clubs activities for the year 2017. In an attempt to keep costs down they only paid for accommodation and the food was going to be the responsibility of the catering couple, Stephan and Elna Mee. On Saturday night, Stephan, who as a rule is of sober habit, did cut loose a bit and had one or maybe, quite a few too many. The reason for this is not entirely clear yet, but the following reasons were possible maybes’.
The family Mee will be returning to the UK early next year and that alone would have driven me, as a person, to drink. Then there was the fact that the Springboks lost to Wales and that could have been a reason for Stephan to celebrate, for Wales, or feel disgusted with the Boks. I believe Stephan through his springbok jersey into the trash can, but the trash can through it straight back in his face.
Needless to say, the Sunday morning arrived and the management team, with the exception of the family Mee arrived for breakfast. After an uncomfortable wait, some of the management team members that were domestically orientated started making their own breakfast in order to get it done and hit the road. During the morning sometime, Elna surfaced, but the majority of the team had already left before Stephan awakened from his deep sleep.
So, we are again reminded that even the most faithful of committee members, every now and then, the cracks show and we miss a beat.
Our last story of the year is the other half of Ansie, our Clubs General Manager, none other than Wynand. Now I do believe most of our club members are aware of the following song, “I have a dream” with words so fitting I cannot help but mention it here:
I have a dream, a fantasy
Too help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
Wynand, (I do not know what sparked it) recently had a very bad dream, yes you guessed it, he dreamt that he ran a marathon. When he eventually woke up, in a cold sweat, he went to the toilet “pit stop” had a drink of water and went back to bed. After falling asleep – again - the worst happened, he dreamt he ran another marathon. This is now getting close to a comrades distance, bar a short time trial. When he woke the next morning his right leg and hip were so sore he could hardly get out of bed. The reality of the dream has left a lasting impression on Wynand. Wynand, that last line of the song, “Pushing through the darkness still another mile” is what did the damage, you should have stopped at 42, or got into the Avis bus.
Well folks, that’s it for this month and year, so I will bid you all a very happy Christmas and an injury free year in 2017. Come back refreshed and give me plenty to write about. So cheers vir eers.
The Running Reporter
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