I never know when my creativity will wake up. I thought I would write about Europe or America when I lived there in the summer of 2003 and the summer of 2004. But I didn't write a single thing about them. Only later, several years after, did something start to take shape, and words poured into sentences. Over the last year, after releasing my "Book about a Dream," I have written no more than ten pages. And for a long period (at least half a year), I didn't write anything at all. I didn't expect that in South Africa I would suddenly start writing... And the fact that I would write specifically about life here and my feelings about it never crossed my mind.

"Master of Words" sounds almost magical. And cool. But no, that's not me. Not yet. That's Oscar Wilde. I think he coined the phrase himself. And called himself that. And he was...

ALEXEY

Apparently, it's worth talking about Alexey separately. Honestly, it's unlikely to happen now, but in about a month and a half — I promise! Well, this is the same Alexey I've mentioned repeatedly. He is from Magnitogorsk. He's the one I was messaging when I was planning to end up here. So: Alexey lived here from September of last year to the end of April this year.

In March 2008, a large Russian research vessel, the "Akademik Fyodorov," docked at the port of Cape Town. Alexey and Katya met some sailors and a professor from that ship. During the three days the ship was here, they became friends with some of the crew members. And Leshka was drinking heavily with the professor all those days... That's the rumor that reached me... According to the girls, Leshka is quite the drinker. But I've said it, and I won't say it again. Forgive my dislike for hobbies of that kind, if you will...

So: Alexey became such good friends with those comrades from the "Akademik Fyodorov" that they have now invited him to join them on a research expedition to Antarctica! No, can you imagine that? Where can a guy from Magnitogorsk (where only the Ural River flows, not particularly deep, though navigable near the city) find a giant ship to go and celebrate New Year's at the South Pole?! Only in Cape Town, where else?! ?

He will be working there with the cooks (after all, he's a former bartender!)

On November 5th, they set sail from Russia (I don't know which city yet). The journey will take about a month with a stop of about four days in Germany. They will be with us in the first days of December. Leshka promised to call me or Katya when they arrive.

He managed to spend two summers in a row, first celebrating New Year's in Africa, and now, likely, he will celebrate it in Antarctica! Well, a romantic's dream, indeed!

October 30, 2008. Sunny Cape Town