Just a city boy…
Neil is a name of Irish origin which means “champion” or “passionate.” Famous people called Neil include the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong – if that even happened and renowned singer-songwriter, Neil Diamond – for the older generation reading this. A name like Neil, teaches you to be your own champion and walk your own path, which he is most certainly doing.
Neil is an animal lover through and through and is a dad to a little shitlet named Wolkie and a banshee from straight out of the Irish ruins name Elizabeth, or Lizzy for short. But besides being passionate about his animals and his future wife, Janie, he has another passion. And that is gaming. Neil’s passion for gaming started very early in his childhood with a Nintendo gaming console. These cutting-edge consoles with their 16bit graphics would keep him and Tony entertained for hours on end, always competing amongst themselves and a few cousins. This paved the way for future consoles and endless hours of anger, frustration, raging and tears.
The brothers would often spend easily 8 hours on a Saturday playing Counterstrike at an internet cafe called Cyberlane where Neil discovered that he was actually pretty good at this game. Eventually they were able to buy their our own copies of Counterstrike. Neil was one of the top players in South Africa at a stage and was only getting better. Unfortunately born too soon to make a career out of it.
It wasn’t only gaming that kept him busy in his youth – before all the back pain – Neil was an avid sportsman as well. Neil played cricket and Football at Alberton and his Under-8 team won the league and the cup and only conceded 1 goal that entire season under management of his dad. Football then took a back seat for cricket. And if this wasn’t enough, then the golf bug bit and before you knew it, the family had their own four ball wherever they went. There were many early, cold, Saturday mornings on the course. The passion doesn’t end at sport and gaming, but also his family and friends. He listens to people and the next time he sees you, he will ask you about that thing you told him about last time. Always keen to invite the family over to family dinner and just general get togethers. This all started from spending every Friday night – and sometimes even Saturdays at his grandparents, making bon fires, playing French cricket, and toasting marshmallows.
Just a small town girl…
Janie is die bruid, die vrou van die oomblik en die ene besig met die beplanning om die vreugdevolle dag aanmekaar te weef met haar kreatiewe gedagtes.
Sy het groot geword in die skadu van die Langeberg in die Suid-Kaap. Klein Janie was lief daarvoor om haar troeteldiere aan te trek, stroop en kaas vetkoek te eet, in die modder te speel, puzzle te bou en om vir haar Barbies klere te maak. Sy het gou ontdek sy hou van inkleur en verf, haar kleuterskooljuffrou het in haar rapport geskryf “Janie het ‘n fyn aanvoeling vir kleur”. Haar ander gunsteling aktiwiteite was om Mari te agtervolg, lekkergoed te bak saam haar ma en om die berge en lugskoue te explore saam haar pa.
Sou sy ooit kon raai waar sy haar geesgenoot sal ontmoet – die totale uiterste – ‘n besige winkelsentrum in die ekonomiese hartklop van Suid-Afrika.
Waar sy elke dag ‘n lange pendel na ‘n uitdagende fabriekswerk moes aanpak. Haar suster het altyd gesê, Janie gaan eendag in ‘n wit jas werk. Dit het waar geword, in haar geestesoog nie geweet van die haarnet en ysterskoene wat die prentjie voltooi nie.
Met al die geleenthede wat sy aangegryp het en verskillende wêrelddele besoek het om haar professionele kennis op te skerp – Indië, Singapoer en Ivoorkus, deel sy nou haar kennis op produkte wat ons elke dag geniet.
Van kindsbeen lief vir diere en avonture. Janie hou van besig bly en haar kuns, bak en reise het haar dae vol gemaak, en toe kom Wolkie wat haar tuin kom oorneem het. Van Albertinia na Alberton, Wolkie travel saam.
Enter Neil – in die dae van covid – wie kan dit tog glo – eerste date agter maskers. Neil wat graag stories vertel en Janie wat ‘n goeie storie geniet.
Janie weet sy verkies skaaptjoppies bo eksotiese cuisine. Sy is ook altyd reg vir ‘n koppie tee – in Sydney by die teepot-museum en in Londen amper op besoek by die Queen.
Janie is die trotse tannie van ‘n amper eenjarige. Haar hart is oop vir haar familie en vriende.
Us / Ons …
Once upon a time, in the vast and diverse world of South Africa, there were two souls destined to meet and embark on a journey filled with love, laughter and a touch of millennial charm. Janie, a true Afrikaans “plaas girl” at heart, who found joy in the simple pleasures of life, like high teas, exploring new places and dressing up her childhood cat, Petunia. On the other side of the spectrum was Neil, a larger-than-life character with a passion for gaming and a boisterous personality that could light up any room.
Their unlikely love story began in the virtual world of Tinder, where Neil’s playful banter and Janie’s warm heart collided in a digital dance that set the stage for their future. In the midst of swipes and messages, they discovered common ground in their love for golden oldies and rock music, adventures and the comforts of home.
Their first date, during a worldwide lockdown in 2020, was a testament to the unconventional nature of their love. The setting was the Mall of Africa, and Neil, eager to impress, forgot his face mask, forcing Janie to play the hero and purchase one before their date could start. It was a humorous start to their love story.
As their connection deepened, Neil and Janie welcomed two furry companions into their lives – Lizzy and Wolkie – who quickly became the two and four-legged children that grew their family. Lizzy and Wolkie are not just pets; they are cherished members of the clan, treated with all the love and attention reserved for human children.
When Neil took the plunge and met Janie’s unmistakably Afrikaans family, he found himself amidst a whirlwind of culture and language that seemed alien at first. However, with his infectious charm and open heart, Neil effortlessly blended in, even if he couldn’t fully comprehend the animated conversations happening around him. In the unfolding pages of this love story, another unexpected chapter emerged when Janie, stepped into the lively world of Neil’s loud English family and the vibrant golfing community that surrounded them. Little did she know that her journey would involve mastering the art of 5-sip tequilas, navigating the world of Rumblers, and deciphering the intricate etiquette of golf.
Hierdie liefdesverhaal begin met ‘n Tinder regs-swipe tydens die 2020 lockdown. Die Engelse stadseun was verskriklik verbaas dat die plattelandse meisie so goed in Engels kan chat. Hulle het gou besef dat die verskillende wêrelde nie in hulle pad sal staan nie. Hul liefde vir golden oldies en rock musiek, avonture, om te ontspan en tyd saam te spandeer het gesorg vir ‘n vinnige konneksie.
Vir hulle eerste date het hul mekaar halfpad ontmoet by Mall of Africa. In ware Neil-styl het hy sy masker by die huis vergeet het. Dit was die 1ste van ontelbare kere dat Janie hom moes red van sy vergeetagtigheid.
Neil het aanvanklik geen Afrikaans gepraat nie. Die plaas se stilte was vir hom ongewoon, maar dit het hom gehelp om van Janie se vreemde gewoontes te verstaan – om die hele dag lank nooit die TV aan te sit nie… Een van sy grootste skokke was om te besef dat ‘om kanola te gaan kyk’, beteken om reg deur die kop-hoogte plante te stap! Hy was braaf en het eers later vir Janie vertel dat hy net die heeltyd aan al die goggas en spinnekoppe gedink het. Na ‘n paar kuiers met Janie se familie is sy gunsteling woorde nou: ‘mooi’, ‘perfek’ en ‘braaibroodjies’. Die Afrikaanse familie waardeer sy insette, grappies, goeie drukkies en groot, warm persoonlikheid. Hy is nou met trots hulle ‘soutie’.
Danksy Janie se werk was sy darem alreeds blootgestel aan die wêreld van Engels. Die verskriklike ‘loud English family’ was nogtans iets om aan gewoond te raak. Gholf en warm Durban weer en seewater was iets nuut vir haar. Haar eerste gholf ‘shot’ was iets waaroor die familie nog steeds praat. Dit was ongelooflik goed, maar ongelukkig net ‘first time luck’. Steeds geniet sy dit om nou saam met die gholfers te kuier en so nou en dan weer haar luck te probeer. Om bier te down en Tequila shots te vat is nog steeds ‘n stryd!
Wolkie, die fluffy Toy Pom, en Lizzy, die skreeuende Sun Conure, het gou deel geword van die familie. Hulle word daagliks toegegooi met liefde en word bederf soos mensekinders!
The engagement / Die verlowing…
Then came the ultimate moment in their love story – the proposal. On a random Tuesday afternoon, with Wolkie holding a secret in his little Top Gun jacket pocket, Neil decided to pop the question. The engagement was a surprise orchestrated with love and care, as the ring designed by Neil and his mom incorporated pieces of cherished family jewellery. Janie, overwhelmed with joy, said YES as a nervous Neil got down on one knee, proving that love knows no schedule or expectation.
Na amper 3 jaar saam, het Neil besluit om die ja-woord te vra! Janie het geen idee gehad dat hulle besig was om ‘n ring te ontwerp nie. Dinsdag, 22 Augustus, het Neil se ma gearriveer met die ring in Alberton. Hy was so op sy senuwees dat hy besluit het die verlowing moet NOU gebeur. Wolkie het die ring in sy Top Gun baadjie se sakkie weggesteek. Janie was super verbaas om nie ‘n naamplaatjie vir Wolkie in die boksie te sien nie! Gelukkig het Neil die verwarring gestop en op sy knie gegaan.