Pieter-Dirk Uys | Diary of an Adventurous Retiree

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It is my portfolio for the Bird Club to organise an annual fundraiser at Theatre on the Bay, Camps Bay. This year we had South Africa’s most famous satirist, Pieter Dirk Uys doing one of his hilarious one-man shows – An Audience with Pieter Dirk Eish.

It is mind boggling to watch him change, on stage, as he impersonates one well-known political figure or fictional personality to another, with just a simple costume and a touch of make up. But it’s his facial expressions and talent for mimicry that finally fool you into believing that he has actually turned into that character!

The audience was asked to ‘pick a box’ with a number on it and in this box would be the costume of one of the characters that he would impersonate. I was flattered when he called me by name to choose a box. I have been a Pieter Dirk Uys fan since his first show – Adapt or Die – and my favourite character is Nowell Fine – who was a Jewish liberal, Progressive Party supporter in her youth during the Apartheid Era. Her character has grown so that she is now a loyal supporter of everything in the New South Africa. So I was delighted when Box Number 15 which I asked for, revealed her costume. My favourite quote from her when asked why she doesn’t emigrate to ‘safer, crime-free country’ is “I’d rather be murdered in my bed than get up and make it!

All his characters were done brilliantly and we were in stitches as he wove stories around each one and how they’d affected the lives of South Africans over the 30+ years he has been doing his one-man shows. Although done with humour the lessons hit home. Pieter made us leave the theatre knowing there were some crazy things about our country but that there was plenty of good in it too. And it is with this positive attitude that we must all look forward to a better future.

After the show he came into the foyer and mixed and chatted with the audience. He encouraged everyone to take selfies with him. My hubbie and I also took some photographs with my camera. Hubby had been a class ahead of Pieter at primary school and they got to chatting about their old teachers.

I’m a big fan!

Hubby and Pieter Dirk Uys

Our chairperson with the Legendary Pieter Dirk

What a stunning evening and a wonderful way to raise funds for the Cape Bird Club’s conservation projects.

Back to the question of “What do you do all day now that you’re retired?” I could answer that fairly easily in the past few weeks as I have been busy tying up things to do with Bird Club, the Caravan and the house. Earl is hyperactive and makes sure he has one project or another on the go and so doing things together has taken a bit of a back seat for now. He did comment that I was spending too much time reading and indulging in other useless occupations so I said “I could get some relief work at one of the schools.” which sent him into a panic and shut him up completely. While I was teaching he was doing all the shopping and cooking but I have reclaimed those duties and even bring him cups of tea and snacks while he industriously labours on the boat he has been commissioned to fit out. Once this is done there is no knowing what he will take on next. I am of course most grateful to him for taking on these jobs as it does add to the ‘not so full anymore’ coffers! And I am a lady used to her little luxuries.

On Thursday we were both up bright and early – Earl to go fishing and I to join a midweek bird club outing! The venue was one of my favourite spots – The False Bay Ecology Park – which Earl and I often visit on our own- but to go with other like-minded friends and an expert guide makes it extra special.

Dave, our leader explained the importance of this birding area

The False Bay Ecology Park’s man-made wetland system is amongst one of the top five bird watching areas in Southern Africa. It is an IBA (Important Birding Area) because of the number of species that it attracts. Many birds from across the seas use it as a stop off spot or destination as they traverse the world’s migratory flight paths. One hundred and sixty eight species of bird have been recorded in the park. Seventy-six of these are freshwater wetland species. Eighteen are are coastal species that visit the area to roost or breed.

Checking out one of the ponds with binoculars

The stilt is a common resident.

We delighted to find a grey-headed gull among the usual Hartlaub’s gulls

There were many swift terns fraternising with the gulls too

In the shallow waters we found a wood sandpiper

And there were plenty of stints in the water and in the air

The barn swallows visit us every year

It is truly a beautiful spot right here on our doorstep

For us here in the Deep South, it is an adventure just to go ‘over the mountain’ for any kind of excursion or outing. Visiting the V&A Waterfront is as good as going to a foreign city. And heading to the theatre in the very cosmopolitan Camps Bay is just as much fun. On Thursday night we went to Theatre on the Bay with Heather and Peter and were wonderfully entertained by Pieter-Dirk Uys. He has been presenting satire since the sixties and is still as amazing as ever. This show was called ‘An Audience with Pieter-Dirk Eish’ On the stage were rows of numbered boxes – reminiscent of the old Pick a Box radio show of the sixties – Various members of the audience were invited to pick a number and then Pieter Dirk dressed up in the contents and did one of his famous characters. My personal favourite is Nowell Fine – a Kugel from Constantia one of the first he ever created. She is older now but still has Dora her maid who has her own car in which she takes the grandchildren out for dinner. No more cooking for her! We were in fits of laughter watching Uys take on one persona after another and perform them perfectly! If you live here in Cape Town I highly recommend you attend the show.