Of Wine, Women and Song: Women!

Through the years many really interesting women have dined at Le Canard. Walking down memory lane Adelaide Tambo comes to the forefront.  She was a wonderful human being who, I believe, was a major player in the "Walk to Freedom." She called me her "sister," and I thought likewise of her. I had the honour of having Oliver Tambo celebrate his last birthday with us. He was frail and somewhat tired, but a consummate gentleman.



Adelaide Tambo

Another very gracious and ever friendly lady is Zanele Mbeki, who is lovely smiling and caring. Brigitte Radebe is equally gracious, friendly and caring. She is always a fashion statement. Her feet are firmly on the ground, and one would not know that she is a most successful business woman, and the wife of a senior government minister.

Bridgette Radebe

 I had the pleasure of meeting her entire family. Her parents celebrated a wedding anniversary with us, a remarkable couple who provided all their children with university education, and who lived to see all of their offspring rise to the top of their fields. But this blog is about women, and I should make mention of South African portraitist Silma Keys, a talented artist and most thoughtful hostess.
 

Painting by Silma Keys

Then there is the charming Annabel Ravazotti, a lovely, always smiling individual after whom we named her favourite dessert "Annabel's Parfait" (Walnut Parfait).

When I think of all the women who visited Le Canard over the years, many, many more come to mind, but I must mention a very glamorous and "classy" Middle Eastern lady. She visited South Africa every four months for a fortnight to "take care of her investments." This ritual continued over a period of two years, and we never ascertained exactly what the "investments" were. She was a very disciplined woman, always dressed to the "nines." In winter she was covered in magnificent furs, and in summer time very uncovered in "minis" generally, with revealing slits and, of course, plunging necklines.

 

During what was to be her last visit, we did ascertain that she had been negotiating the purchase of a "strip joint." Our "informant" was her liveried chauffeur, who drove a shiny Rolls Royce with two passengers at the back - our "foreign" lady and her "body guard." While the chauffeur remained constant, the "body guard" changed at every visit she made, however, they all had one thing in common. They were young, gorgeous looking, well built men, usually blonde and occasionally darked haired. According to the chauffeur, they all had "amazing stamina."

The back of the Rolls Royce had a well stocked bar with Krug Champagne, a filled ice bucket, and crystal flutes. The boot of the vehicle had an ice chest packed with "Krug" and a box of flutes. According to the chauffeur, after dinner (always a three course meal during which "Krug" was copiously downed, and which we learnt to order supplies as soon as we got a reservation from the mentioned lady), she would bid us "good night" and then their good night started. The chauffeur was instructed to drive and drive no matter where, and he only stopped when commanded "more champs"! He would then stop the Rolls, open the boot, refill the bar, replace the flutes with fresh ones, and continue the 2-3 hour drive. His complaint was not having to drive endlessly, but to have to listen to the moans, groans, squeals of delight and instructions. All this information came out one night when I invited him to have coffee or something to eat. "No," he said, "nothing to eat, just coffee. I don't need to fill my stomach. I need to empty my chest!"

I am sure you think you have been reading fiction. I guarantee this is an absolutely true story!!

"Wine" to follow!

 

Freda