Inky pinky ponky
Father had a donkey,
Donkey died, father cried,
Inky pinky ponky.

Peter. Kyle. Carl. Tinus…. The choices legio….

Suddenly I long for the uncomplicated days (and nights)… when my only problem was not to cry more than 4 hours at night… and not to jump out the window…

Now: think before you speak… don’t repeat… remember details… don’t get mixed up… be excited, chirpy, witty, happy… one call / whap after the other…block “last seen”.. block “online”…discreet… consider feelings… Shit, dis harde werk!!! Time for nothing else… dating 24/7..

Meet for coffee… more coffee… Wine… More wine.. dan dinner…. weer dinner.. na derde dinner, seker sex.. not in this lifetime baby!!! Delaying… waiting… ducking…diving… excuses, excuses. Peter and Kyle still missing….

Carl: 62 fashion designer – calming voice, impeccable manners, considerate… phones from Vienna every morning…sort my attire, sweety pie… supports…never questions… understands… no demands… honest intentions. A friend for good…

Tinus: 42 loves nature, honest, fruitless expedition, sad loss… and maybe just a bit too young.. 

And then the two in front… Peter en Kyle…
Kyle… serious effort, time, energy. question about the children, work…. tell about his work, children, his joy, his sadness, dreams, wishes, integrity, inner values…a safe haven in stormy weather…

Maar ons neig mos altyd na die riskante, die roekelose, die bekoorlike, die Peters in die lewe…

I didn’t stand a chance…Master in the art of courting… flirting… the oh so subtle sex talk…. the surprise messages …the fun chats…the “fake” jealousy.. the same likes and dislikes…. And because you oh-so-much want to believe, you do believe… everything… – al is die stemmetjie hier binne al hees geskree… Are you deaf and blind!!!  – You can clearly see his online since 4h30 in the morning… that he stops the minute he sees you typing a message… Is jy stok onnosel!!! Rerig??? Iemand met soveel grade wat nie hierdie eenvoudige som kan maak nie!!! Word net wakker girl!!! Online Dating is the name of the Game…. Forget the ” I believe we have a connection. Ek kom Kaap toe om jou te ontmoet my One and Only.”

And so the early morning, daily and late at night constant online continued.. and the denying.. and the delayed responses…and the disappearing act… And me still looking for a logical explanations … even if only one…that would make perfect sense… for a reasonably intelligent person…

But no… As Sir Hiss said to Prince John in Robin Hood – “I tried to tell you Sire but no, no, no you wouldn’t listen…” So we continued chatting …and December was approaching…me off to Namibia while both Peter and Kyle was on their way to Cape Town…“

Kyle: “Hi my Angel great news… was planning to come to Cape Town on the 21st of December. I know you’re in Namibia by then – so I’ve changed my plans.. I’m flying to Windhoek and will meet you in Henties Bay. I cannot miss the opportunity – must be back at work on the 2nd of January when you return to Cape Town…” 

En skielik dink ek terug aan die EEN baie baie jare gelede wat letterlik honderde kilometers afgele het om vir my te kom kuier… 

Oh my goodness….. Maybe my guardian Angel has decided enough is enough… and intervened…. or maybe just plain coincidence…. or good old Murphy… but slowly I was learning the lessons I was supposed to learn in this venture of Online Dating…. and which I hope will also help you in the long run….. 

because Peter’s holiday was cancelled unexpectedly…

But the story is still not finished…. it is now check …. and not checkmate.  

(to be continued)

HV.