PUBLISHER'S LETTER

I regret this issue is a little late. You can blame my marvellous neighbours and substitute family, Jons and Annatjie Flentje. Saying that I was looking tired and wan, they booked me on a flight to Cape Town with them for a fortnight. We spent four days together at De Kelders, Gansbaai, then I went to stay with two other solid gold friends, Colin and Dorothy [*]at Stellenbosch. Ten days of gracious living. I had almost forgotten the stunning beauty of the Cape winelands, how wonderful just to relax and enjoy. All too soon, of course, it was time to head back to Joeys.
(slang. "Johannesburg")

Back home I was to learn that an American friend of many years standing, Dr Harold Simpson, a brilliant biochemist and writer, had died. Harold did an enormous amount to help me over the years, sending regular parcels of books and periodicals, and was a most generous supporter of Mission Rescue. I miss him very much. Hard to believe I will never again hear his voice calling me from Chicago. Sad, sad, sad.

Talking of Mission Rescue, I must acknowledge a R5 000 gift from another dear old friend in Britain, Keith Keeley. Keith too has been extraordinarily kind over many years, and particularly so to Mission Rescue. Other generous gifts came in while I was away,

including big supplies of warm clothing, for which God be thanked. Our poor people need them so badly. An unusual but very welcome gift was a huge supply of vitamins from yet another friend, Guye, the head of a big pharmaceutical company. I must say that I am deeply blessed with the people who surround me. Guye is yet another companion going back to my very early days on The Citizen, intelligent, generous and very helpful in all I do. Thanks a million, Guye.

I have much more to tell you about Mission Rescue, but I am still under the whip with this issue so it will have to wait till next month. Incidentally, I have been asked to point out that our bank, previously Volkskas, is now part of the ABSA group. Should you wish to contribute to our funds to help hardluck Afrikaner kiddies, old folk and the unemployed, please do not make your cheques out to APN. If possible, pay them into the Mission Rescue account at ABSA, Northcliff branch, account no 07381 75166. And, before I sign off, we are still in great need of blankets. Winter has already hit on the Highveld, with much worse to come. If you have any blankets, warm clothes, coats and shoes you can spare, there are so many people out there in very poor shape and desperate need. If you can help us here, it really would be a God's blessing. Thank you and God bless.