Happy 52nd Birthday, Andreas! 🎉
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Dear Andreas, Today we celebrate 52 wonderful years of you, and what a gift you are to all of us. Andreas is first and foremost a family man. A devoted husband (very lucky me!), a proud dad to Anne (18!) and Paul (12), and the faithful walking companion to Coco, who, let’s be honest, might sometimes win the award for best-behaved child on those early morning walks. 😉 Anne absolutely loves her dad. At 18, she keeps him sharp, and yes, every now and then there may be a slightly heated conversation or two. But behind every strong discussion is deep respect, love, and a father who has taught his daughter to think for herself. And I secretly love that about the two of you. Paul, at 12, has found in his dad not just a father, but a confidant. Andreas is the one he talks to, the one he trusts, the one who listens. Whether they’re watching a history show together (with Andreas adding “just a little extra context”) or heading to the driving range to hit a couple of balls, those moments are treasures in the making. As one of the owners of Kuierkos, Andreas brings heart, humour, and plenty of conversation. He loves people, loves to chat (in case you hadn’t noticed!), and has never met a stranger he couldn’t turn into a friend. If there’s a serious moment in the room, you can count on him to make a perfectly timed joke. Life is simply better and lighter ... with his humour in it. He spends his “part-time” hours at the university (we all know it’s never really just part-time) pouring into students’ lives. He genuinely loves working with them - listening, challenging, encouraging, and believing in them. And then there are his favourite things: reading a good book, making biltong like a seasoned expert, standing proudly behind the braai, enjoying a good glass of red wine, going for long walks with Coco, watching history documentaries, and turning a quick chat into a long, meaningful (and slightly hilarious) conversation. At 52, you are wiser, warmer, funnier, and somehow still the same charming man I fell in love with. Thank you for your steady love, your big heart, your humour, and your way of making every day feel rich and full. Happy Birthday, my love. May this year bring more deep conversations (even the heated ones 😉), more driving range sessions, more history lessons, more braais, more books, more students whose lives you impact ... and of course, more red wine and laughter. We love you more than words (even all your words!). With all my love, |