Post 24 Build it Journey

Blog Post 24

I was up early this morning to watch a magic pink sky as the sun arrived out of the Indian Ocean. I was writing my blog for yesterday at 6 am, as I was simply too exhausted last night. I had a lovely cup of tea and the world was right, as it always is when one drinks that wonderful beverage. I am not sure whom we have to thank for tea – is it the Sri Lankans (Ceylon), the Chinese or the English? Does anyone know?

I left early, as it was a busy day after valiantly searching for breakfast in Port St John’s. Eventually it was a bag of apples from the Spar and homemade cappuccino. More roadworks were the order of the day with no one working on them the same as yesterday. I really looked this time and I am not exaggerating. I think when my 20 year old daughter is my age and travels down the wild coast she will see what I am seeing. Ha ha. More wild west activity too - driving in this part of the world is not for the faint hearted.

I arrived in Libode (no thanks to Google Maps which I do not believe is synched with the Transkei. I think this may be a worlds last in holding out against Big Brother as the Transkei fiercely guards her secrets from Larry and Sergey. I first met with Mzie who was an absolute gentleman and then with Philip where it was more of the same. Unfortunately the wi-fi was out in both offices so after giving a demonstration using pictures taken on my phone (on the excellent advice of my business partner Fee) I was on my way to the bustling town or is it a metropolis of Mthatha.

Using Google I am told that “In England, a town was a small community that could not afford or was not allowed to build walls or other larger fortifications, and built a palisade or stockade instead.”

I saw no walls or fortifications nor palisade’s or stockades so maybe I was in a city. (And just by the way I don’t believe everything I read. One of the world’s biggest misnomers these days is that people believe something because it’s written down. This comes from the old days when no one would publish anything if it were rubbish. People and companies and publications had reputations to uphold and uphold it they did. Even letters to the editor of a newspaper were vetted and 99% of them thrown in the bin. Nowadays anyone can write anything they like and post it or upload it onto the net and huge swathes of people believe it “because I read it”. Well I am here to tell you, check your facts, not everything written down is true or a fact anymore. Hahahahaha. Just so you know I write this with a glint in my eye and not a turned down mouth or a sneer. But I do believe what I just said.

Anyway, I digress, where was why? Oh yes, heading into the throbbing metropole that we know as Mthatha. Now if you want to be confused (even more confused than Google Maps) drive into Mthatha and not know directions to where you are going. Jeepers, I drove in a few circles. But I did find my first Build It which was Spargs Build It where I met with the extremely busy Mark. In fact I was jostling with a number of other ‘reps’ trying to see him and luckily he was kind enough to give me some time to go through our website.

After getting some directions I then arrived at Vulindlela Build It and met with the owner Wesley who was absolutely super, super efficient and super on the ball. Mark is doing an ultra-triathlon soon and is training like mad. He showed me his regimen and I could not have been more impressed. He has given up smoking (something I did 18 years ago – not easy!) and is super fit. (Last super I promise). Wesley told me about the great Mountain Biking around Mtahtha which I must admit I found surprising considering the urban sprawl I saw as far as the eye could see in every direction but I will definitely take his word for it. He kindly promised to take me on a ride next time I am in town. Wesley also owns the Mthatha Build It (yes, there are three here) and so we went through that listing too. It was a great stop. Thank you Wesley for being such a legend. Next time I come past we will ride and you will own another two Build Its. Happy days!

I then checked out my map and not being sure of accommodation decided to call it a day and checked into Ebony Lodge, which was a recommendation from a friend. What an oasis of calm from the frantic and frenetic hustle and bustle of the Mthatha streets outside. It was mid-afternoon by now so after sending 32 work emails (yes, that exact number – counted them) I went for a good hour and bit long walk as advised by my doctor who has said I have to exercise every single day. I arrived back at the lodge with the sun going down and all in all it has been a solid day.

Oh and China invented tea. I read it somewhere. Adios Amigos or should that be Zaijian.