The Sands of Time

The changing sands of time, let’s not pass by another person who has made such a big impact on my life.

Vanessa this is for you.

Marius thank you so much for your Tribute to the Sabi Sands, reading though your times brings back so many special memories, for me not so much the sightings, those are yours and your guest’s special memories. I remember the likes of Ryan, all the amazing people you have guided with and have guided and especially our late tracker Ben, makes me realise how much water has passed under this bridge in years that pass so quickly.

But if I have to explain The Leopard Hills Managements Team of Duncan, you, and me, it reminds me of a duck…….swimming serenely, slowly, unbothered on the calm lake…..BUT ……. we know it’s not like that don‘t we?

If that duck had 3 legs only we would have swam in circles, it takes equals on all side to make things swim straight, it’s like teaching your child to ride for the first time, it needs stabilisers, otherwise it falls and with an unequal amount of support that child will fall and never know how to ride on its own.

Let’s not forget the 4th stabiliser on this bike…Vanessa, you have been an asset, a support, a major part of Leopard Hills, to the guests you have always been so professional, to the staff a friend, to my children an older sister / Aunt, to the company a great ambassador, always ready for the next challenge.

Van, for me, after 6 years you are a dear friend, we have done everything together, we have laughed LOTS, we have cried, we have supported each other though hard time, sickness and down time, we know each other’s families, the good and the bad, when I talk to you about “someone” you know the history, the pain the laughs and the problems, for that Van I thank you so much for always being there, be it on a professional or family capacity.

We have googled everything possible, guests, potential staff, supplier, news articles, wedding, everything we could think of, even chicken fillets…..private joke….sorry! We have drunk good champagne for special occasions like your engagement (which I knew about before you!) Your beautiful wedding last October will always be a special memory for us, Megan and Kiara as well. We have drank the worst cheap rubbish wine that has given us horrid hangovers when we have battled to focus for the whole of the next day, thinking we could rely on the other one to make things happen….did they? We have had girly evenings with the girls of massages, foot spars, nails and earth hour with no lights and gentle music…we would party at home when we have helped each other get our under the weather husband into bed (their own beds), the medical moments, I could do the blood, sorry I left you to the smelly things I couldn‘t do! The dog fights, the new puppies, special holiday’s….Van the list is endless and I think the rest we know and become our special memories.

Van, my friend, I am going to miss you being around, but not only from a business point of view, as a friend I know we will always be. I wish you all the best, you are just at a crossroads and with your drive and passion I know you already know your road, I wish you a safe and straight road ahead.

Leopard Hills will always salute you for your help, time, energy and friendships.

Now this Duck will keep swimming, with Duncan and I, there are new stabilisers.

Shane I look forward to our new journey together, your smile will make my day from early in the morning, until sometimes early in the next morning, I never said management was easy or within working hours!

Gary, your rangers experience makes your transition easy, no doubt we will have our laughs as we always do and our more difficult times, and medical emergencies (please find the missing piece of finger before the ants do next time) and hopefully no dog fights! Silly evenings at home playing stupid games when we can‘t move the next day, and no doubt there will be times when I still wag my finger at you for doing……!

Debs, we will be spending lots of time together, your commitment to you job is unquestioned, I just hope I can teach you something, although I think the only thing I can teach you right now is how to take some time off! One day I might teach you to drink wine!!!??? Maybe not!

To Van, I miss you, please always keep in touch. Thank you for being a part of my life for so many years. Remember friends leave footprints in your heart, not the ground they walk on.

To our new stabilizers, Shane, Gary and Debs, remember Dunx and I are not the ducks head showing you where to go, we are not your eyes for direction, we are just the tail and the rudder steering you from behind.

I hope we make a difference to your lives.