16 July 2007

ON A BIT OF A SAD NOTE
- Monday, 16 July 2007
For those of you who are regular passersby on Doing Life, probably would have caught on that my darling hubby, Conroy had recently finished another era in his business career by successfully mediating and effecting the sale of all 28 Shell Autoserve service stations in South Africa to McCarthy, resulting in most of the Shell employees being taken over by McCarthy as well.
He has accepted an offer as General Manager of the Distributor Management Team, responsible for distributors in Africa, of which there currently are 7 (incl. Mauritius) of Toyota Tsusho Africa http://www.ttaf.co.za/Automobile.asp on 4 July which he just could not refuse . This is a division of Toyota responsible for vehicle exports to the rest of Africa including Mauritius. Unfortunately, their head office is right in the middle of Sandton, Johannesburg. So, yes you have guessed right, the worst case scenario is true. The Kloof Fouries are relocating to Johannesburg. I am so proud of hubby. He truly deserves this fantastic opportunity that has come his way and I support him wholeheartedly in this new venture.
But, in the same breath I am sooooo very sad and heartbroken having to leave behind so many friendships formed during the 5,5 years we have been Durbanites. My scrapbooking students have become true friends over the years.
Conroy officially starts working for TTAF on Monday 13 August 2007. A great deal needs to happen in a very short space of time. I actually just don't want to think about it - will just get myself into a tizz. We have to sell our house in Kloof; buy a new house in Johannesburg; get all our worldly belongings safely from Kloof to Johannesburg; resigning from AlexanderCox where I have been their fulltime legal secretary and bookkeeper for more than 5,5 years and saying goodbye to my bosses and colleagues; say goodbye to all my beloved scrapbooking students and dear friends; leave my home executive of more than 5 years, Rose, behind; bid goodbye to my facial consultant Shani and my hair engineer, Ulrike - all this happening in a space of two months, perhaps three months.
On the other hand there are a tiny bit of good news as well, especially for my scrapping students. Starting out in J'burg, I am not planning to hold a full time job in the business world, for the first time in 23 years - just cannot imagine all that free time belonging just to myself.
Actually I am planning to put all this free time to a good cause and passion of mine i.e. Scrapbooking. I am planning to create one double page scrapbooking kit (everything included i.e. comprehensive notes, all the supplies, a photo of the layout, etc.) every month. So to all my KZN students (as well as other die hard scrappers out there), if any of you are interested in having a kit a month being posted to you, please let me know to put your name on my distribution list for the kits.
Some of you have also probably noted that I will be coming to Durban on Saturday, 19 January 2008 and Saturday, 14 June 2008 to host two scrapbooking days at Makaranga Garden Lodge. So please make a note of these two dates in your diaries. If any of my students need supplies, let me know and I will try and have it available at these two scrapping days.
If anyone of you are perhaps visiting Johannesburg, you are most welcome to contact me for a private lesson. I will be teaching scrapbooking from home again in Johannesburg (on a fulltime basis) and will attempt to build up a clientelle there. So if anyone of you have friends or family who scraps or are keen to begin scrapping, I would appreciate it if you could perhaps put in a good word for me.
NB: To the TP Gang - there is perhaps an off-chance that our new possie will have some lockers and sleepover facilities for you die hard scrappers! So please feel free to visit.
A Huge thank you, hug and a kiss to all my loyal supporters/students - you have all been exceptionally kind and friendly to me over the years and we will definitely be in contact either through DOING LIFE or at my scrap days!
- The Blue Room City Hopper Singing Off

8 comments:

  1. That is indeed a very sad state of affairs, but ... when life throws an opportunity like that, you have to grab it with both hands and say thanks.

    You and Conroy have worked hard and deserve all good things coming your way. I wish you both a huge amount of success in both your new ventures.

    I look forward to the monthly kits and remember my offer is there to be used, please.

    I think quite a few people could become "frequent flyers", so hope you have enough bedding for the regular visitors.

    Desire, you have been an inspiration to me and a whole lot of other scrappers. Thank you for everything you have always done for me - I have really learnt a lot.

    You are going to be HUGELY missed.

    Lots of love

    The OW and MoBHG who is a TPGC akd is the MFV the DLA and also DLEWotN

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  2. Anonymous9:21 AM

    Wow, this makes it truely official. I have been waiting to wake up and told this is all a bad dream.... (that is of course for me)
    Desire I have no words to describe how much I will miss you, our Thursday nights and the TP Gang, it was always something to look forward to each week.

    Having our own lockers at the teachas new home is a great honour.
    Just make sure you give us Conroys weekly itinerary so we can slot in when he is away.

    Wishing a very special person and her hubby, lots of love, luck and happiness with their new venture.

    All my love
    Nicola

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  3. It does come at a sad note, and I will seeing you, but I'm sure the future looks bright for the two of you.

    All the best in your new venture. Will come visit when in the area too.

    Regards,
    Sophia

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  4. Anonymous9:33 AM

    I cant even read to the end - I AM OFFICIALLY MORTIFIED !!!! - How are we all going to cope, this is the best thing in my life ....
    Sorry to be soooo selfish, congrats to Conroy ( I am going to make you pay big this weekend - just got to think of a challenge for you ) Never fear I WILL come up with something GOOD.

    Congrats to you both and our loss is definately Joburgs BIG gain.

    See you tomorrow.
    Sorry still in shock !!!
    Love Always
    The Green Mamba

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  5. Anonymous9:33 AM

    I cant even read to the end - I AM OFFICIALLY MORTIFIED !!!! - How are we all going to cope, this is the best thing in my life ....
    Sorry to be soooo selfish, congrats to Conroy ( I am going to make you pay big this weekend - just got to think of a challenge for you ) Never fear I WILL come up with something GOOD.

    Congrats to you both and our loss is definately Joburgs BIG gain.

    See you tomorrow.
    Sorry still in shock !!!
    Love Always
    The Green Mamba

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  6. Anonymous1:27 PM

    Desire', Please send my congrats to your husband, but know that I will miss you very much. I may not have been a 'constant lesson attender' but it was so comforting to know that you were a few minutes away should I need help, advice, supplies! Please keep having Scrapping Days down here in Durbs-we are losing a GREAT asset-and put me on that distribution list for that monthly kit!
    Lots of love, Brenda Moon

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  7. Well, sorry to KZN, but your loss is a bonus to us in Gauteng! Looking forward to welcoming you to the scrapbooking fraternity (maternity?) here on the Highveld!

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  8. Anonymous12:49 PM

    Am too devastated to comment :(

    ReplyDelete

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Crafty hugs
Desire