First Impressions (Where necessary I have changed the people concerned names)
That first introduction into any situation is hard enough and quite nerve wracking to say the least.
Meeting a girl’s family even more so for the gentleman or young man in question. My children’s father was at that stage wooing me telephonically and I received many flowers and letters.
Eventually my mother suggested that we invite him for the weekend. We lived in a rather beautiful home by the Suri Suri River in Chegutu. A really beautiful house and set in the trees with a breath taking view.
The very first meal he had with us was Boerewors and Sadza. (For those of you who do not know what this it is beef sausage and Maize meal porridge.) Now this is a meal loved by most Zimbabwean and South African people, but not the meal you intend to impress your daughter's new boyfriend with. Needless to say there was no comment made and the meal was accepted and eaten with great gusto.
We had just moved in and were still busy unpacking boxes and placing everything in its place.
My mother's pride and joy was our little family room and she had spent quite a bit of time and money deciding on the decor.
Adie (Not his real name) was making every effort to be the courteous gentleman and was trying to impress my parents. His wit was sharp, his manners impeccable, however his balance NOT SO MUCH!
As he walked into my mother’s well and carefully designed Family room, he tripped on a fleck on the carpet and proceeded to spill coffee on my mothers’ new and very expensive and very white carpet!
Who says first impressions don’t last, to this day that carpet has a lasting impression of him.
While on a date in our first months of dating, he decided to take us to the movies – his treat.
We walked in the movie theatre and went to the middle of the theatre for as he described it “these are the Better seats”
He sat down and before our very eyes the seats collapsed in domino style. Boom' boom' boom they tippled over and when he managed to pick himself up from the floor, legs flying and his huge 6ft 2 inch rugby body trying to gain balance and composure - the other patrons in the movie house applauded his performance. It was almost a Charlie Chaplin moment.
I have not learnt to this day the ability to keep a straight face and be diplomatic. I joined in with the laughter and my father and mother in true spontaneous style suggested that they choose the next seats!
First Impressions, HOW I HATE THEM.
In my line of business and career, the sales industry does not allow for bad hair days, flu, family interventions or clothing malfunctions.
I was meeting a top executive for a well known computer brand. After the introductions we sat down in his office which is quite normal as this happens in most meetings. However as I sat I felt my suit trousers split.
I sat there during the meeting, paying attention to his every word and contributed where necessary as well as I could knowing the dilemma that faced me. I kept in mind that I would have to leave his office and walk out while he would watch me leave his office through the door which was directly in front of his large executive desk.
How was I to cover my protruding derriere and in those days it was considered to be not that unpleasant to look at! - not as expanded as it is today.
I did the walk away; with my hand bag slung in a most unnatural posture, swaying my hips to try and keep the bag safely placed to obscure his vision. I tried to walk out back wards as if I was in mid sentence, but only managed to make myself look like a bumbling idiot as I walked into his office furniture.
It is a real surprise to me and I am sure to my colleagues or employers that I have ever achieved any sales or made the set targets. My skill must be my ability to make clients feel sorry for me or they may have enjoyed the humour I brought into their lives.
I fear my First Impression is not as professional as I would like at times; but I am sure the impression I leave is long lasting and memorable just like stain on my mother’s white carpet.
That first introduction into any situation is hard enough and quite nerve wracking to say the least.
Meeting a girl’s family even more so for the gentleman or young man in question. My children’s father was at that stage wooing me telephonically and I received many flowers and letters.
Eventually my mother suggested that we invite him for the weekend. We lived in a rather beautiful home by the Suri Suri River in Chegutu. A really beautiful house and set in the trees with a breath taking view.
The very first meal he had with us was Boerewors and Sadza. (For those of you who do not know what this it is beef sausage and Maize meal porridge.) Now this is a meal loved by most Zimbabwean and South African people, but not the meal you intend to impress your daughter's new boyfriend with. Needless to say there was no comment made and the meal was accepted and eaten with great gusto.
We had just moved in and were still busy unpacking boxes and placing everything in its place.
My mother's pride and joy was our little family room and she had spent quite a bit of time and money deciding on the decor.
Adie (Not his real name) was making every effort to be the courteous gentleman and was trying to impress my parents. His wit was sharp, his manners impeccable, however his balance NOT SO MUCH!
As he walked into my mother’s well and carefully designed Family room, he tripped on a fleck on the carpet and proceeded to spill coffee on my mothers’ new and very expensive and very white carpet!
Who says first impressions don’t last, to this day that carpet has a lasting impression of him.
While on a date in our first months of dating, he decided to take us to the movies – his treat.
We walked in the movie theatre and went to the middle of the theatre for as he described it “these are the Better seats”
He sat down and before our very eyes the seats collapsed in domino style. Boom' boom' boom they tippled over and when he managed to pick himself up from the floor, legs flying and his huge 6ft 2 inch rugby body trying to gain balance and composure - the other patrons in the movie house applauded his performance. It was almost a Charlie Chaplin moment.
I have not learnt to this day the ability to keep a straight face and be diplomatic. I joined in with the laughter and my father and mother in true spontaneous style suggested that they choose the next seats!
First Impressions, HOW I HATE THEM.
In my line of business and career, the sales industry does not allow for bad hair days, flu, family interventions or clothing malfunctions.
I was meeting a top executive for a well known computer brand. After the introductions we sat down in his office which is quite normal as this happens in most meetings. However as I sat I felt my suit trousers split.
I sat there during the meeting, paying attention to his every word and contributed where necessary as well as I could knowing the dilemma that faced me. I kept in mind that I would have to leave his office and walk out while he would watch me leave his office through the door which was directly in front of his large executive desk.
How was I to cover my protruding derriere and in those days it was considered to be not that unpleasant to look at! - not as expanded as it is today.
I did the walk away; with my hand bag slung in a most unnatural posture, swaying my hips to try and keep the bag safely placed to obscure his vision. I tried to walk out back wards as if I was in mid sentence, but only managed to make myself look like a bumbling idiot as I walked into his office furniture.
It is a real surprise to me and I am sure to my colleagues or employers that I have ever achieved any sales or made the set targets. My skill must be my ability to make clients feel sorry for me or they may have enjoyed the humour I brought into their lives.
I fear my First Impression is not as professional as I would like at times; but I am sure the impression I leave is long lasting and memorable just like stain on my mother’s white carpet.
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