27/10/2025
What a brilliant weekend! Siblings weekend delivered as I got to hang out with my big Bro Paul Jones for a few days and be his support team at hyrox Birmingham. He did really well, learned some stuff the hard way. He didn’t even try and kill me when I laughed my ass off at his dramatics during the event. I mean also, he couldn’t…he never knowingly missed an opportunity to be dramatic that guy🤣🤣. Seriously though, he did a helluva job. It’s a tough event. I look forward to seeing him repeat Birmingham next year to get closer to the time he was after.
I shot over from Birmingham to Leicester to meet up with one of my oldest and dearest friends who is on a flying visit from South Africa to the UK and I couldn’t miss the chance to see him. I’m the godmother to his three children so I needed a good update. It’s one of those friendships that’s as strong and respectful and full of love and kindness today as it was when we met 25 years ago. I’m grateful for this bond and lucky to have friendships like this. Not everyone gets them. Their value is incalculable.
They were staying with some very kind family friends who also took me in for the night and were very excellent company.
The best treat of all was I got to see and have a proper talk with Emil’s most excellent Dad, my ‘Uncle’ Johan. We met 25 years ago and he and his beautiful wife ‘Aunty’ Di took me into their family and treated me like one of their own. My family lived in a different country so the Von Maltitz house became one of the two family homes during university vacations. Sometimes Emil would phone home (6-7 hour drive from our Uni) to find me already there hanging out with his folks 🤣🤣). We have since sadly lost Di, but Johan is one of life’s very best Old Boys. He’s tall, with kind eyes, a fascinatingly fast brain, a near permanent smile and a curiosity and wonder of life that you can’t help but engage with. His deep, booming voice, his easy laugh and that very definite twinkle in his eye means you’re always in good company with him.
What a treat to have some time with the Von M boys. My soul feels like it’s been spoiled this weekend, surrounded by good people.
