Celebrating our land

It is not often that you get to be in the company of genius, so when you get to be in the company of two of them, you are in one of those halcyon moments – one you must cherish.

When you get to be in the presence of two geniuses, coupled with two beautiful women, then you should chill, kick back, suck it up and learn to enjoy life!

Well, this lucky boy was in such a position only a few days ago, and I am still in POG mode!

The venue was a great new Cape Town restaurant called The Greenhouse, at the Cellars-Hohenhort Hotel in Constantia.

Genius number one was lunatic mate Brad Ball, chef of the great Bistro Sixteen82 at Steenberg; and his stunning missus, known to us as “Big Maddy”.

The other beauty was my best half, “The Oz”, and the reason was a thank-you to them all for giving me an A1 surprise birthday party a few weeks before.

The second genius was Peter Tempelhoff, The Greenhouse chef and a mate of Brad’s.

Cutting to the chase, we had the Tasting Menu and Brad walked and talked us through Peter’s genius creations. It is simply the best restaurant food I have ever eaten in South Africa, and you simply must go; it is without comparison and we all acknowledged the same.

The fact that such skill, intelligence, patience and creativity thrives in South Africa is a massive motivator for me. Genius and special talents are what make any society special and interesting.

Have you watched Idols lately? It is painful for great periods of time, and then suddenly an angel appears, with a voice created by some unearthly power. Increasingly, that pure, intelligent, clear and inspiring talent is young and black, and I say that only because Idols seems incapable of finding a system that allows anyone other than a white youth to win. Then again, DStv ain’t cheap, is it?

Talent walks among us, exists behind the doors and windows we casually pass every day.

Our schools, colleges, homes and even restaurants are home to our future – South Africa’s future.

Last week, I travelled to Joburg and travelled on the Gautrain; it is quite simply inspiring!

I decided to play chicken with my life: not by jumping in front of the silver bullet train, but rather gambling on missing my flight home and being de-sexed by Oz by arriving the next day!

What I did was stand looking at Nelson Mandela (it is a statue!) in Mandela Square at exactly 5:30 p.m. As the clock hit the half hour, I ‘walked’ to the Sandton Gautrain Station (walking in South Africa has really become a retro ‘60s thing to do).

I travelled down the escalators, boarded the brand new train, and off we set to the airport.

Arriving relaxed, I walked to the check-in and then the security gates. Passing through the monitor and on to a coffee shop, I glanced at my watch: it was 6 p.m. – 30 minutes from Mandela Square to the boarding gate!

So where else would you want to live in 2010?

What about two of the much courted ‘new’ super powers, India or China? India is rapidly catching up to China population wise; it is now on 1.1 billion, compared to 1.2 billion in China.

We all know that the Chinese think nothing of eating or caging anything that swims, walks or flies, particularly if it is on an endangered list.

The Indians are a far better bet. The world’s largest democracy and a friendly gregarious people, even to animals – after all, they worship cows! Both nations have strained infrastructure and massive poverty, glazed over by a veneer of billionaire excess, but at least in India you can get a fair trial, as opposed to a ride in the execution van when it visits your village once a quarter.

Am I being overly harsh? Both China and India are referred to loosely as ancient civilisations.

Perhaps, but that probably depends on whether you want anything from them. Personally, I don’t.

If forced to choose, then give me India – it has rich tapestry and a desire to be part of a modern world. And they love cricket!

So, back to our own little homeland. Are things ever as bad as the gloom mongers want us to think? Well, not for me. A brace of genius chefs, good-looking people, talent all around and a first-world transport system.

I think I may just stay and celebrate my next 20 years in South Africa on 1 July 2030 because as far as I am concerned, it all simply gets better and better! ▲

Ian Kilbride