As the day of my departure approaches, I am still waiting for the final bureaucratic things to fall into place. All that I know, for sure, is that I have a flight to Western Asia on 6 July, but that I still have not received my passport back from an embassy. I would, normally, not be too concerned about that because courier services are reliable, but this is South Africa, where everything is either broken down completely or dysfunctional. There is no postal service to my home, and the post office where I have a private box has shut down. I now have to rely on a courier service.
Even if or when the passport arrives, the only certainty is that I have a flight. In one case, my destination(s) beyond the first leg remain somewhat of a certainty, but factors beyond that remain unconfirmed. The great thing is that it’s not a Schengen area, or North America where you’re treated like a barbarian or a cannibal bent on destroying Western Civilisation (whatever that may mean)…
I am relieved that the marketing and promotion part of the book is done – unless I have basically cancelled or declined invitations for public appearances. I gave no more interviews, and have no more talks scheduled. The Franschoek Literary Festival (See pic below) – which I think is the highlight of literary festivals in South Africa – was the highlight. Though, I really have been impossibly embarrassed and felt exposed by all the public appearances. Writing the book was easier than promoting it…
For now the clock is ticking. I can only hope that I get my passport back in the next day or two, so I can get the little foreign currency that my South African Rand can buy, and once and for all sort out my house. If my passport goes missing I would be up the creek without a paddle. Again, this is South Africa; when I applied for a driver’s licence renewal I was given a piece of paper which confirmed that I had applied, and that I would receive a text message when it was ready to be collected – that was nine months ago. It has also been three years since I applied for a new identity card…
In the meantime, there are half-packed suitcases, piles of clothes and bags all over the place; some of which has to go with me, some of which has to go into storage. One good thing is the good feeling of dusting off and packing my photographic equipment again after a few years. If all goes well it will be my laptop, notebooks, and photographic equipment. I may even create a regular vlog… Who knows?
The only absolute certainty is that I will continue writing my columns for Business Day, Daily Maverick and the VryeWeekblad.