It is always a life changing experience when people strike it lucky and get to meet the TBG (Tall Blonde Guy) – let alone when they manage to get a photograph with the great man. But it is a particularly rare occasion when someone’s moment with the TBG coincides with their birthday. Such a gift on one’s birthday would surely be close to a miracle.

Robbie S from Cape Town sent this in.

This is what he had to say:

The day did not begin well.

I was struggling to come to terms with my 35th birthday and how the hell I had come to already be halfway to 70!!

During the day everyone was sweetly calling and wishing me their best for the day and the year ahead. My family was planning a tea party mostly in aid of the kids scoffing cake and sweets in my honour and friends were planning my drunken downfall in the pub later that evening. I had been really spoilt by my mates at work with some incredible gifts and things were really starting to look like being 35 might not be so bad after all!

So with work finished, we all arrived at our local watering hole, Cafe Verdi – our home away from home in Chelsea, Wynberg. I walked in anticipating all the regulars would start shouting obscenities about old age and thrusting drinks in my face, but then it happened….

There was a clear perceptible drop in the temperature, and the breeze blowing over Chelsea village suddenly felt a lot cooler. The room went silent. Even the birds that had been chirping outside minutes earlier, had all flown to their nests.

In front of me in the flesh….

A thin halo of light surrounding him……

On MY birthday….

THE TBG!!!………

Yes, I kid you not….. I can almost hear you gasp as you read this…

THE FRIKKIN TBG……. on MY birthday!!

But wait it gets even better. The TBG got up from his bar stool (which is now engraved at cafe Verdi and no-one may sit on it ….. ever again) and glided over to me, with his palm outstretched.

“Happy Birthday Rob” he said, with a smile that lit up the whole room.

What wise words! What an insightful understanding soothing tone. I no longer felt old, it was as if the touch and the voice of the TBG had washed away all my fears and replaced it with a warm appreciation of life.

As if he could read my mind (he probably could) he took me to stand in front of the framed picture of Verdi to commemorate this auspicious occasion with a photo together.

As you will see from the photo, I am trying to lean in just to feed off the radiating glow of the TBG, behind us is a portrait of Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi. Do you see how Verdi pales in comparison to the might TBG?!

Who cares if Verdi was the most influential member of the 19th century’s Italian School of Opera – did he ever have a picture taken with the TBG!? I think not! I can almost feel Verdi’s eyes boring into the back of my head with jealousy!

After a drink, the TBG vanished ( the beer glass is now engraved at Verdi and can not be drunk out of……ever again). He probably went off to go and make someone else’s day incredible.

It was a truly remarkable sight and one that will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it.

Thank you mates for making this happen!

Thank you Lord!

Thank you TBG!!

Robbie S

UN BE LIEVABLE!

Robbie S, that is one of the most touching, amazing TBG sighting I have every read. You are incredibly lucky and God has blessed you. I am close to tears now and need to sign off.

God bless the TBG.