Then the answer appeared…

 

The cardiac intensive care theatre had a resounding chill as the surgeon and his team maneuvered and delivered the stent into place, reopening the vital artery. The soft comments of artery disease and a leaking valve vanished amongst my immediate thoughts of business, diamonds and clients from around the world. Operating theatres had become all too familiar a place, having survived gunshots wounds, embedded shrapnel, animal attacks and more recently an almost fatal snakebite.

Thoughts of an empty house far away in another hemisphere drove my worries deeper.

Then the answer appeared…

A few months later while recovering out of hospital, I was at my computer screen when I noticed a contact with the catch words ‘Bulgaria’ and ‘dogs’. Within a few days I realized that this person and her family where doing an incredible job rescuing animals in Bulgaria. It was soon apparent that they might just need some extra land to accommodate the animals that they were saving. This was something that horrified me about Eastern Europe. The blatant disregard for animal welfare. But here was this British family doing exactly what I had obsessed over!

Diane and Anthony Rowles, together with their family, accepted my offer and soon their daughter Kerry with her partner Kosta had arrived at my house. It was an unfortunate start when they discovered that my house had been totally vandalized and everything on the ground floor stolen! From the boiler to the oven, all the furniture, even the plumbing had been taken. ‘This wasn’t even Africa’ I thought, ‘this only happens down here’.

During the next few weeks these two young brave souls saw it through, with no water nor electricity, cooking their first meals on bricks and a roof tile! It became a blur of desperately trying to get money wired to them to replace the vital utensils to sustain them. Sleepless nights trying to contact the mayor of a village in a distant country which might as well have been on the moon.

Within a couple of weeks they had their first rescue dog, ‘George’ a German shepherd who had his ears cut off as well as having been shot. Soon ‘Big Dog’ arrived, followed by many others. The old house is now a sanctuary of fresh life…of wagging tails…and of puppy dogs frolicking in the snow.

At present, while South Africa is having a scorching summer, Bulgaria is in the middle of an extremely cold and icy winter. No person nor animal can survive the harsh sub zero temperatures.

While Kerry and Kosta continue their courageous work in the far remote north, Diane, Anthony and their family are doing incredible work at home in Rudozem in southern Bulgaria.

"after I perform your autopsy" the doctor stated.

Thirty years past and having written thousands of descriptive pages with detailed sketches of jewellery, I  now attempt the daunting task of describing my colourful and often bizarre life.

“I’ll have the answer after I perform your autopsy”…the words from a bland faced Neurologist sent shock waves through my mind. Without bothering to reply I left the room. That was fifteen years ago.

Half paralyzed with the demon of multiple sclerosis, I immersed myself in every piece of literature and clinical study relevant to neurology and autoimmune diseases. The first few months were spent plotting my escape from the dreaded walking stick. Within a few months I stood at the front door, dropped the stick, and mentally placed one foot in front of the other. It worked, I found myself walking ten paces to the garden gate! Neuropathic pain numbing my left side, muscle spasms and optic neuritis threatening my eyesight, vertigo, ice pick headaches……. They  are all too familiar. It’s just whether you acknowledge them or not. A choice of mind over matter.

Simple sensible eating, cutting out saturated fats, continuous activity and positive thoughts have kept me on my feet. Yes, there have been occasional heavy doses of intravenous corticosteroids, and Beta-Interferon injected every alternative day for years, with horrific side effects such as fever flu-like symptoms, nausea and sweating, and drug induced depression. This is in the past…and now I choose to walk up mountains and get chased by wild animals!

You see, this perhaps goes back to the days as a boy in a bush war. The ‘70s was spent with every young boy serving compulsory military service. Many of us ended up in special units, fighting a raging war on the border of Angola and South Africa. Here there was no such thing as defeat. The world had sanctions against us (despite the fact that we were up against Soviet backed forces) lasting two decades, we faced armies of Cubans, Russians and guerilla terrorists. Here we quickly learnt that as long as there was breath and a heartbeat you were alive! We learnt the smell of death… learnt to ignore the heat, blood and dirt of war. Keep walking…keep running…keep fighting, whatever it takes, nothing is impossible.

Ironically, I became intrigued by this Soviet nation who had audaciously invaded our African continent. After all, they were so far from home in such a foreign environment. Recently my curiosity led me in a chain of events to purchasing a house in Bulgaria, an ex-communist country! ‘What were you thinking, have you gone crazy’ everyone asked. Well, that led me to three long haul trips within one year, (remember Bulgaria and S.Africa are hemispheres apart). The old house had all the charm with its grapevines and orchard, complete with a pretty water well. Subsistence rural country life a-la soviet style!

                                                                                 
The last couple of years saw the old house standing empty, albeit furnished in forties style original décor. There just had to be a use for this sad home, now void of the old lady who had spent her life toiling the garden and embroidering her blankets.

Then one day last year the answer  revealed itself. The greatest answer I could have ever wished for…

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                 

My First Day on the Job!

Hi there new friends
I have finally rationalized my computer phobia enough to start a blog ( and so that my wife will get off my back about how encouraging my posts will be to MS patients and wildlife lovers alike!)

For all the animal lovers out there, you are in for a real treat. Although I see myself as a humanitarian, I am an avid "animalitarian" !! Be it the kitten sleeping at our feet, the lynx on the chair next to the bed, or the latest white lion cub, animals are precious creatures and should be treasured.
Since leaving the South African Airforce in 1978, I have been surrounded by many treasures in my 30 years as a jeweller. Yet another appreciation of all things beautiful. Having the abilty to create a masterpiece out of diamonds and precious metals, has enabled me to enjoy the ultimate toys of boys: exotic cars and helicopters!
The travel bug bit a few years ago while delivering a ring to England over a weekend, and a few years later resulted in buying property in Bulgaria.
I have lived with MS for 15 years, successfully beating the symptoms, and have survived 16 years of marriage: I feel indestructable.
Because I've lived, loved and conquered the odds, the next part of the journey is the "blog".
Cat Man Can Do, Carpe Diem!!!

I look forward to many faithful followers; you won't be dissappointed.

Regards
Sean