SIMBA OPENS IN THE MARA
No spring, nor summer beauty hath such grace,
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
John Donne, Elegy 9, The Autumnal (1635)
Dickie Simba, son of Goosey and half brother to Shane, put his head together with two other Simba lads and decided a new restaurant was in order. Shane loaned the money to Dickie, Simon, and Alexander Simba to open another top of the line restaurant in the Mara. Naturally it was to be named Simba - nothing like capitalitizing on your famous surname. Alexander is already partner to his brother Sidney in the thriving Simba Garden Center. The very nice eatery was built by, none other than Lewis Lyon Construction. The opening night was written about glowingly by Glenda Gorilla of the Masai Mara Daily and many other newspapers around Kenya. Shane and Alexandra cut the ribbon and were the first to enter the dining room on the appointed night. Grumbles were heard from Ossie Okapi and his son.
“It seems that lions still prevail in Kenya no matter what is said,” he sniffed.
SIMBA quickly became an alternative to the ritzy OKAPI’S. Competition is badly needed in the Mara when it came to really upscale restaurants. Dodi Dik Dik Lyon and her companion, Keri Klipspringer own one but it has limited appeal. One feels that the diners there are required to 'fawn' over Dodi and Kerri who are no longer fawns though still quite small. SIMBA also became a bar to frequent if one got weary of the meat market aspect of the Watering Hole Pub’s frantic singles crowd who packed out the bar every night to ogle the available members of the opposite sex – groping their way to a night’s sexual delights. Now there was a bar scene for those who wanted something other than to cruise the opposite gender – although there was plenty of that. Dickie Simba, a suave and very good looking male member of the Simba pride was the front man for the organization. After a full day at Simba Brothers law firm, Dickie would shower and go to SIMBA where his day really began.
Dickie Simba, manager of the new SIMBA restaurant in the Mara...
Shane and Alexandra made an official trip to Johannesburg, South Africa and in the offing visited his oldest son, Sean Simba, who was in his pre-university prep school there. Shane was photographed playing basketball with his athletically inclined son next to the school. Alexandra visited several plantations in her chosen role as spokeswoman for agriculture and conservation for Kenya. She also was taken on a tour of Kruger Park.
Shane plays basket ball with his son at the school in South Africa..
On one night of their trip, they were feted by the South African president at a gorgeous dinner dance in his retreat in Cape Town. After courtesy dances, Shane danced exclusively with Alexandra. They twirled in dances of different types, Shane executing them all with gusto and skill.
“Luv, I thought you said you hated dancing,” she giggled when they finally sat down for a breather. “I thought you said Sam was the one who loved to dance.”
“Sam is not president, darling. I am and have to dance or I will look like a complete klutz. Now I’m sort of into it.”
“I gathered that,” she giggled.
They seemed totally compatible and into each other as well. There was lots of pinching of self going on between the two of them in that realization. One day, getting caught in a quick rain, they made their way to a conservation meeting in Johannesburg.
Shane and Alexandra get caught in a shower.....
Lachlan and I got two outstanding invitations this month. One was for Lewis Lyon’s magnificent bash honoring his father’s birthday. It was held in his new Four Seasons Hotel in the Mara and as elegant as they come.
The next was a week in Sylvia and Bernard’s elegant home in Montana. I implored Lachlan to take the time off and he did. We boarded Sylvia and Bernard’s private jet along with them and headed for the USA.
Sylvia, me, Bernard and Lachlan in their home in Montana...
It was a wonderful week, very relaxing with Bernard Cougar particularly taking to my wonderful Lachlan, who took long nature walks with the native of Montana and enjoyed the crisp beauty of the mountains. When we returned to Kenya on the jet, minus Sylvia and Berns, who were going to stay an extra two weeks, we had reaped an invitation for Christmas. Lachlan wants to learn to snow ski. Brave lion that he is, but then of course he is born of Tsavo where lions know how to be REAL lions.
Alexandra lit a second cigarette during this conversation with her sister-in-law in England. It was in regard to her brother, Ian’s, invitation to visit his manor in Wiltshire during Christmas.
“I believe we can come there, Sally, if I feel as good as I do now but there is one drawback. Shane’s oldest two children have only one parent and that’s Shane. Can we bring them too, if not we may not make it?” inquired Alexandra. “Though Sean may go home with a school mate for Christmas and Staci may choose to stay in Nairobi.”
“Are they lions?” asked Sally, tentatively. She didn’t want to rock the boat but did need to know if her home was to be converted into a zoo during the holidays.
“Their mother was a cheetah who died in a car crash.”
“And the other half?”
“Shane is their father and I believe I have told you and Ian that he is a lion,” replied Alexandra with a certain amount of annoyance in her voice.
“I thought those big cats didn’t care for their children very long….sort of pushed them from the nest, so to speak.”
“Not the ones in Kenya. They are entirely different from wild lions. The same as we are different from the wild, indigenous peoples of Borneo who are cannibals and squat on their haunches around fires roasting human flesh. At any rate, Shane is a devoted father. His youngest three will probably be with their mother this Christmas.”
“Alexandra, you don’t have to become defensive and huffy with me just because I inquire of a few things about your animal husband.”
“We are all animals, Sally. Shane is a feline and we’re primates.”
“Oh deah, I can tell you are getting in a pet with me. I shall ring off before this becomes unpleasant. We shall all be getting on and having a great time for Christmas, I am sure. Do take care and pet your husband for me.”
“Oh shit,” giggled Alexandra, “She really thinks you pat him on the head. She doesn’t realize he is almost too tall to reach there.”
Before the end of the day, Alexandra, who had stayed at the mansion resting up from the South African junket, received a box of books she had ordered. Among them were books on lions ranging from Smuts definitive work to the Serengeti tomes and a few on man-eaters. She was taking them from the container when Shane arrived from the State House.
“What are those, Alex?” he asked, taking his Scotch from the houseboy and lighting a cigarette.
“My books about lions, since I am married to one, I should read up a bit, don’t you think?” she asked standing and kissing him.
“Probably not so much, you might get the bejesus frightened out of you.”
“I have already read that the lion is its most dangerous at night,” she laughed, throatily.
“I thought you already knew that.”
Pete was driving Betty bonkers. On his last two weeks of campaigning, he was demanding, nervous to a fault and cranky, his temper explosive at times. He had just flown off the handle about a glitch in his next rally, no fault of Betty’s.
“Look Tanya Harding, I really think you need to take a Valium or something before everyone around you throws in the towel and walks off,” said Betty.
“Who is that name you called me?” he inquired, brow raised.
“A tempestuous American skater who had her fifteen minutes of fame acting just the same way and getting violent.”
“Sounds like a girl’s name.”
“She is a girl. Pete, we can move past the rally tomorrow and take in a town meeting elsewhere,” she suggested.
Looking at the map of Tanzania, she put a long, polished nailed finger nail on a town they needed to win over. She tapped it.
“Let’s do Arusha. There is a youth program there we can also go about,” suggested Betty.
“What would I do without you, Betty?” he asked, putting his arms around her.
“Be at a total loss most probably,” she laughed.
“Spend the night with me tonight, Betty ----please? I need you,” he asked, in the most ingratiating he had been in weeks.
“I suppose I could do that although your mattress is a real horror.”
above: Betty with AIDS orphans in Arusha and below: Betty and Pete take a break and she and Pete with the youth group there....
Shane Simba was reading the paper when I walked in his office to give him another.
“Maurice, do you know what is a good medal to award someone who hasn’t done the extent to which you have but is still a part of the history of this country and going strong?” asked Shane, looking up from a picture of his ex-wife, Betty, with AIDS orphans on the campaign trail in Tanzania.
“I can certainly research the issue. Kenya has several awards and ribbons,” I answered starring pointedly at the newspaper shot of Betty.
“Betty certainly deserves something in the way of an award. Now she is going strong helping another animal get elected in Tanzania.”
“I believe Betty to be an outstanding individual.”
“I do too, Maury. Please get back to me on what you find out.”
“I will do that right away.”
Everyone excitedly attended the opening of the Masai Mara Country Club owned by Lewis Lyon, with I believe, Shane as his partner. At any rate, the President and First Lady cut the ribbon for the opening and were in full attendance during the entire five hour soiree that was held in celebration. I received an invitation for membership and was able to join as a couple with Lachlan. Lachlan rather eschews the trappings of great wealth, still being something of a hippie sort. I know that he enjoys tennis and golf and wanted him to have access to those things. Charlotte Elephanti and Cappie Cape Buffalo joined as well as Ashley and Lucy (Cougar) Lyon. Ralph and Mildred Lyon were present and Ralph told me that he was retaining his membership at the Sporting Club but will also be a member of this one. The elder Lyons are devoted golfers.
Lachlan and I saw Betty at the party with Trevor Tau which was something of a surprise. I had not known that she was seeing him. Shane, once again, danced with his ex-wife, who looked gorgeous as did his current one.
The new Masai Mara Country Club....
Stanley Morrison stood looking at a picture of Staci Simba Mnyama as a small cub. The framed photograph was on the dresser in her bedroom where Stanley had gained access, having made love to Staci for the first time.
Staci as a youngster.....
“Staci, what a marvelous photograph that is, it must be you as a young thing,” said Stanley taking the frame and holding it reverently.
“It was my Mummy’s favorite picture of me according to Daddy. Do you like it?”
“I am enchanted with it, Staci as I am with you. Do you mind terribly if I make a copy?”
“No, I shall give you that one but if we don’t see each other any more, I will have to retrieve it,” she giggled.
He held her closely.
“Staci, we are going to be seeing more and more of each other, I can only hope,” he breathed into the soft fur of her neck.
“I want that too, Stanley.”
Stanley Morrison....