Had tests been conducted on me at approximately 11:45pm one recent Friday evening at a beach house somewhere north of the Umgeni River, they would have revealed perfectly equal quantities of calcium, globulin, gin, glucose, tequila, potassium, beer, sodium and tetrahydrocannabinol in my bloodstream.
For this, I had my friend to thank. A damn good surfer with more than one contest win under his belt, he had invited me to his home for dinner and other experiments. He usually has his guests sign an indemnity form. On that terrible night, he used my form to help start the braai.
“I’m taking off,” I said, moments before midnight. Like so many of my take-offs, it was a disaster. As I reached the stairs, they jacked-up without warning. I grabbed the rail…