22April1996

My dear folks,

We live in exciting times. New cars in Canada and Hambach! Well, I’m very pleased for you. And thank you for your faxes. This one will be brief. My first night shift lies just ahead of me. I must tell you that there is a sneaking suspicion in some quarters that Annie’s car was merely borrowed by a confederate who gave it a dust bath and left it to await developments. My own spending plans - excluding a real holiday in Portugal next month and expensive trips to the dentist - are concentrated on a turbo drive processor for my computer which will raise its general level of operation from 60 to 120 megaherz - the equivalent of an instantaneous muscle building course.

The computer was much in operation this morning as I fired off letters to the bank here and in RSA, to repairmen & lawyers & friends & Greenpeace & all sorts of people in whom you don’t want to know about. Mother, I gathered from Standard Bank that they are still collating the info you require and that they will be sending over the forms to you shortly. They still require tax data and I put them in touch with Brendan as well as speaking to him to warn him of their interest. So all is in hand.

Jones, I had a word with Chris in Guyana. He had his purse stolen during a recent trip to Barbados - to add to his woes. Things are not going well over there and the bosses have been over to weed out some of the less efficient operators in the group. Hannie Boschman’s address, by the way, is: Klaas Muisstraat 23, 8375 BW Oldemarkt, The Netherlands. I was thrilled to get a fax from (Barbara’s brother) Robbie, saying he and Carol would like to join us at the Quinta for 2 days in June.

Fatcat and I are back on speaking terms after a thoroughly grumpy episode last night. He, unbeknown to me, had lain down behind me on my return from work to await his customary backscratch. I stepped back and stood on him. He wailed and tried to bite me. I booted him downstairs and he took himself out into the night while we let the temperature cool. There was no sign of him when I whistled at 1 a.m. I tried for a last time just before retiring at 2. Clearly, he had completed his exercises by then because he came trotting along the pavement, all forgiven and forgotten and ready to be fed.

Herman tells me that he was busy eating their dog’s food the other day when dog arrived on the scene. Herman’s cat has to suffer the indignity without complaint. But dog took the theft amiss and Mavis had to flee for his life into the garden. It was, Herman said, as fast as he’d seen Mavis move. I don’t doubt it.

I must away to work. Blessings upon you. Think of all lots and lots and lots.
T