Xmas Card

And yet another year has passed us by; faster than any previous thus far. And I ask
myself...does time speed up once you have scaled the summit of your life? Freewheeling
can be fun! But please 'Mr. TIME', slow down, I want to enjoy the view! And so dear
friends, it's that time of year again, when I pick up my annual journal and recount to
you all that was in 2011. A happier year if measured by the last, but this does not mean
that we don't think of our little angel in heaven. If anything her memory grows. This
can be found not only in our hearts but also in Delta Park; a tree was planted by
Claudia and Deon in loving memory of Alessia, this on the celebration day of her sister
Olivia's first birthday. And in that same week Olivia's great-grandmother, Ida turned
81! A splendid, healthy and vibrant eighty one and we wish her many more of these
years where her only concerns are whether her pension has arrived or if her Italian
hero politician will be booted out! And of Olivia's grandmother Tina, her thirty year
stint at Limberlost came to an end giving her more time to be with her much awaited
granddaughter. All we hear now is what Olivia did, when she did it, how she did it,
what she attempted to say and how she will eventually say it… We understand Tina, but
please don't stop being as sweet as you are. And of the family salt mine, which keeps us
all in check and on our toes, not to mention all afloat... We had some changes here too.
I decided to take a step back... back into the kitchen where I believe I belong. The
youthful and good looks of all three boys, Massi, Frank and Rick took charge of the
front of house with Ricky bringing in lots of new spread sheets and fresh ideas...Massi
with his Yiddish chirps kept our Jewish patronage happy and Frank kept himself busy
rearranging the likes and dislikes of the booking roster. And Ricky seems to have
assumed the village label of 'the new tight-ass of Parkview'..... Replacing who I might
ask? All this has proven to be a good formula, even if at times it has been a little tiring
for me. To think, that when I started at Franco's Pizzeria some 25+ years ago, I was
the only restaurant in Parkview. Now there are ten! And yet we still survive and
continue to maintain our name and standards. So much so, that we were awarded
another
accolade this year, 'Leisure Options Best Neighbourhood Restaurant'... And with all this
we still all managed to take some time off, doing what we enjoy best… for some it was,
sleep-it-away. For others it was, very-tired-couch-time-ah-very-nice! And then others
spent their time playing water polo & boxing too... And for me, my passion for playing
bridge took me to another level! Tournaments twice a week... Why didn't I learn to play
earlier? And as for Dr. J… who keeps all of Parkview well oiled a greased not to
mention in healthy psychiatric spirit, her leisure time was spent 'worrying' something
she does very well. She also continued to assist JHB Road Works with keeping the tar
flat and smooth in her NB running shoes. Fact is she has caused one or two serious
whiplashes' this year. And another highlight, saw Jay and I sneak off to see Neil
Diamond… what a treat! And of Villa Sardegna, our humble abode, grand changes
took place here. It began with a thought which grew into a small house! Yes, we took
out an old palm tree, a breeding haven for spiders and a dried out rockery and replaced
it with a small double storey house! How clever was that of me! Expensive too...! For
whom you might ask….? Well, stay tuned to this station for my next instalment and you
shall see... And on a more serious note, I lost a long and dear friend this year… Chef
Walter Ulz, you will be missed. I just wish you would have talked to me more;
everything is solvable, now rest in peace dear friend. And to Gerhard Weber, we will
miss your debonair charm and remember you as JHB's one and only 007. And Massi
and I remembered the fallen of Zonderwater as we made a long and roundabout tour to
Cullinan in Nov. Always a humbling and emotional ceremony. And we remembered my
Dad on this day who has now been gone 20 years. How pleased he would have been to
have seen that the memory of Zonderwater live on. And with this my friends I thank
you! Thank you for being our friends. To my family, GRAZIE for your love, support and
tolerance... Have a blessed Xmas and a healthy and joyous new year.

PS
Soon after I completed writing the above, we received news that Franco's Pizzeria has
won two further accolades for 2011; The Star newspaper reader's choice and also the
Rosetta Award of Service Excellence. Franco's operates as a team and we have worked
hard to achieve such recognition, so credit goes to all.