Dick's poem

Dick, one of my good biker buddies, produced this poem at my birthday celebration and it went down so well I thought I would share it with you. It contains some colloquialisms which non South Africans might not immediately understand, but I'm sure you'll get the gist of it;

An ode to Andrew the Wood

He's turned the page

And come of the age

So it was in 2007 - on new year's day

that I start this story - if I may

We were off to Riebeek Kasteel

A lovely little town - I feel

We were going to see a few friends of mine

To have a few dops - and to dine.

We first went to Riebeek West

Just for a change and a rest

And then - there in Kasteel in front of my eyes - a rare feast

A magnificent - beautiful - BMW 1200 RT - red beast!!!

I strode into Paul and Mandy's house

and yelled - How are all of youse???

And then burst out and said - who is it - and what's it like

Who owns that magnificent bike??

And then we spoke lots of bikers chat

about this - and this - and lots of that

and then it all came together - and it was good

cause why - we had met Janet and Andy Wood.

After lots - and lots and lots of beer

it was if we had known each other for many a year

and then they said - we pray

Why don't you all come to visit us in Saldanha Bay.

So it was - another month or so

When the cobwebs from my bike - we did blow

We were entertained fit for a King

Mussels, Oysters, fish soup - what a fling.

And then the rallies - they came

Where I met Frank - who is always game

First Stillbay, and then Slangkop

where we had many a beery dop.

We sang with the karaoke locals

Even though we had kak vocals

and just at the end of the Slangkop trip

I went into the freezing Atlantic - for a kaalgat dip.

And then last November we played like little boys

On the motorbike run - for the children's toys

We had some dops at the yacht club

and watched the rugby in the leka pub.

Then in Feb Andrew phoned to say hi

Don't we feel like coming up for a braai

We ended up in Paternoster looking for cray tail

Evading the boere - and the bail.

Another great feast in the west coast sun

Good music, cold beer, and plenty of fun

So - this is actually to a regular oke

Who is in fact a jolly good bloke.

A farmer of mussels in his boat

and also a cook of some note

who embibes and enjoys his "Castle" beer

and loves his wifie dear.

He rides his bike - a BMW steed

with great urgency and much need - or -

He rides his bike - a BMW of class

by the skin of his pants on his hairy arse.

Who a mean blog does expansively write

and often does braai well past midnite

and jislaaik man for a blerrie Rhodie kop

he can nogal hold his dop!!!

So it is with very much glee

even though - Andrew

I've only known you for a year or three

congrats on your 60th.

On which life is sometimes measured

thanks for the friendship

it is really treasured

May you have many many more

Keep up the blog - and all the yore

And well done to wifie Jan

For looking after your special man

You are the most wonderful wife

that Andrew could wish for - in his life

Ride safe buddies

with much love

Dick and Jan