There is a cerain little place that the Longhair and I frequent on a regular basis – not quite as dark and dingy as the Cheers bar but certainly, like Norm in Cheers, is a place where everyone knows your name and, more importantly, a place where your favourite tipple is waiting for you with TWO frosted glasses as you walk in.
As passionate supporters of all things local the Longhair and I endeavour to drink hyper local tipple and the Fanta Brown Quarts from SAB in Perserverance are as local as our beer gets.
I must confess to a wicked streak of humour surfacing every now and then when we espy a newish tippler around the teak deck at the Algoa Bay Yacht club.
Picture this:
- Stand as close as possible to the new guest / visitor so that he or she can hear every word you say
- Then in a loud and confident voice say to the barman; “Hey Blackie, just how long does it take you to serve a dutchman a beer?”
- Wait for the sharp intake of breath from the person next to you and
- Then allow Blackie to show the visitor that his actual given name, in his ID book nogal, is Blackie.
Of course this doesn’t work quite so well when you address Blackie’s twin brother with HIS given name – Whitey, but is fun nevertheless. I once asked Blackie what his parents would have called the third brother if they had been triplets and he said; “Purpley”.
Now Blackie and Whitey have been barmen at the ABYC for quite some time now and have weathered the storms with members whilst giving exemplary service and entrusted with much.
A while ago Blackie was extremely ill and concerned members literally pulled him back from death’s door with medical care, transport and donations of time and money. ‘Tis quite embarrasing, but also a sense of pride, to hear Blackie tell new barmen that they better treat his Father (me) well or suffer the consequences at his hand.
But, I digress from today’s real story – On Sunday evening, Whitey lost everything in a fire at his home in Walmer. What a blow for the young man who faithfully serves the yacht club. BUT, once again in recognition of his fine contribution, yacht club members have begun donating cash, clothes and household goods to get him back on his feet again as quickly as possible.
To help in this effort to get Whitey back on his feet you are most welcome to pop down to the ABYC and throw a few coins into the donation box at the bar or drop off any household goods or appliances that you can spare at the yacht club during normal office hours.
Alan Straton
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Well done Alan. Whitey’s a top block; hopefully he’ll be back on his feet before too long.
Feels good to help. You must ask Blackie about how he feels about the Yacht Club and it’s members – quite touching and in some way sad to listen to his story. Somewhere in there is a tale about not knowing that there were white people in the world who actually give a damn.