Rialien Furstenberg

@BrentLindeque I’m not crying, my face is sweating. 🤍

It was 2019. Before the world went mad and we lost all sense of time. It was a random Wednesday. Another flight to another city for another big meeting. Just another day really. And it was early which didn’t help my cause. I’m a pretty happy guy but mornings do require coffee. Strong, black and apparently never enough of it. I had to check in at the counter and was “obviously” given the middle seat, in the middle of the plane, as I had missed the check-in the night before, thanks to a mixture of Keynotes, presentation prep, Netflix and family time. "Thanks Netflix, now I have to people and fight for the middle armrests, all without having enough coffee." By the way, the middle seat ALWAYS gets the armrests. Both of them. Can we all agree? I digress. Jammer. When I eventually got through the boarding gates, up the stairs, onto the plane and close to my seat, I saw a rather large man who would be my window neighbour and a lady dressed in pastels sitting in the aisle seat. I didn’t pay much attention to the man as I wouldn’t have to disturb him to get to my seat but the woman was clutching a book about gardening or something. She must have been in her late forties, hardly any make-up on but pretty. She stood up, I scuffled around her, sat down and we got ready to fly. She was focused on a page in her book about planting a “bare-root rose” and dealing with fallen leaves. Her head pointed down causing her hair to cover her off from the world. It made her look anxious. "Yeah, I hate flying too", was my first thought. The take-off was a series of misfortunate events, someone was apparently claustrophobic and needed to exit the plane. We were just about to taxi when she stood up and requested (very loudly) to leave. We had to wait for permissions, and then for the doors to be opened, and then for her to leave. I get it, flying is not for everyone but her demonstration left us all feeling like we were in Final Destination part eleven. Not ideal. The cabin was heating up and the tension could be felt. I reached up to try to fiddle with my air to get it to work but only succeeded in opening up the conversation with the horticulturist aisle lady. “Is it working? It’s so hot in here,” she asked. “No, it looks like it will only work with the engines on,” I replied. “How fast do these things go? Do you think we’ll make up the time in the air? Is that possible?” she asked. “Yeah, if we catch a good wind we might be able to… do you have a meeting you’re trying to get to?” “Kinda, just meeting my sister. She’s coming from Cape Town.” It seemed that I had started a real conversation with a complete stranger, even with my lack of coffee and caring, but I had opened up the floodgates and was literally stuck in the middle seat with nowhere else to go. So I begrudgingly carried on with the “chat”. “Oh how awesome. Long weekend holiday?” I asked. “No. My… my brother had a heart attack last night. No. The night before. And we’re going to his farm to be with his son." He is so fit. He was so fit. It’s such a shock. I had never been to his farm. He invited us but I had never been. Now we’re going down to be with his son.” Suddenly, I felt a lump in my throat, and my eyes started to well up. I had completely misread this situation. This kind-hearted woman that I was trying to avoid was not afraid of flying… she was afraid of landing. And having to deal with whatever was waiting for her on the other side. And I was blaming my bad mood on coffee?!? She kept staring at the “bare-root rose” planting page. I could see her eyes scattering to try to find clarity in her thoughts. I took her hand and told her I was so sorry. I told her that I was so incredibly sorry for her loss and her pain, but in my head, I was also apologising because I had not seen it in her eyes because I was so focused on myself and my coffee (or lack thereof). We spent the rest of the flight speaking about her brother, she retold stories of her childhood and painted a beautiful picture of who I can only believe was an incredible human. She made me smile, laugh, and even cry. At one point, she also told me she was thankful to be sitting next to me as she needed to talk to someone before she landed. When the air steward came around, she even offered to buy me a coffee. Her words: “You looked like you needed one when you got on the flight.” I giggled when she said that. I never got her name, and I’m not sure I’ll ever see her again, but that flight and that moment was a tragically beautiful reminder that everyone is facing a battle we know nothing about. And that kindness matters. That moment was a nudge from the universe to remind me that we should open ourselves up and step outside of our comfort zones. We are all human and we are all "in this " together. We’re able to share immeasurable kindness. And we should. Always leave people better than you found them. Hug the hurt. Kiss the broken. Befriend the lost and love the lonely. Thank you kind “bare-root rose” planting lady. I hope you are still reliving beautiful memories of your brother. And more than anything, I hope you are okay. I really hope you all are. Okay. Love you. Bye.

🏆 CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD! 🇿🇦 A 5 wicket victory! The Proteas Men have conquered the Test arena, winning the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final against Australia at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground 🏟️🙌 Undeniable. Unstoppable. Unrelenting. History made at the Home of Cricket. South Africa, this one’s for you! 🫵🇿🇦🏏 #WTCFinal #WozaNawe #ProteasWTCFinal

HAPPENING TONIGHT! Join us on the #CarteBlanche YouTube channel as we'll be making this important investigation available to everyone for a limited time. Is there a link between popular injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera and brain tumours? Find out more tonight at 7pm.

Hi @MetaNewsroom My account is locked after I took a sabitical for two years. Literally tried everything as suggested but still can't unlock my account. Even tried to open a new account. No success, account disabled. How can I reach you to resolve this matter? #helpmefacebook

Recent studies have raised concerns about a potential link between prolonged MPA-based contraceptive use and an increased risk of developing meningiomas (benign brain tumours). Learn more about the symptoms and who to contact. #CarteBlanche #WomensHealth dstv.com/m-net/en-za/sh…

Wishing you a very happy and delightful birthday @collettdawson 🧁

@Gavin_Prins Marvellous! Love, love, love the cover!

🏅Gold Medal Alert! 🏅 Tatjana Smith wins the Women’s 100m Breaststroke! This is South Africa's first gold medal at #Paris2024 Congratulations, Tatjana! 👏👏👏 #TeamSA #Olympics #ForMyCountry

Incredible Tips

This ... 👇🏻

@ArmandDuPMrSA Happy birthday!! Hope you had a marvellous day! 🥳

Feeling incredibly grateful for all the love and warm wishes on my 35th birthday! 🎉 Thank you to everyone who took the time to make my day extra special. Your kindness and thoughtful messages have truly made this birthday one to remember. Cheers to another year. 🫶

@JinineBotha @SAPoliceService

Been waiting more than an hour for the @SAPoliceService after logging an emergency with #10111. The trespasser has made himself at home now.

It's officially “NO-vember": A time to start saying “no” to people, things and situations that drain your energy. A time to focus on your mental health and happiness. If toxic people, things and situations were an ingestible substance, they would come with a high-powered warning and secure packaging to prevent any chance of accidental contact, but they don't... so we have to be stronger and deal with toxicity head-on. You can’t pretend toxic away, or love it away, or eat it, drink it, smoke it, depress it or gamble it away. You can’t avoid the impact by being smaller, by crouching, or bending or flexing around it. But you can walk away from it – so far away that the most guided toxic-fuelled missile that is thrown at you... won’t find you. And in "No-vember" you need to learn to respect yourself enough to walk away from toxicity and anything that no longer serves you, grows you… or makes you happy!!! And maybe one day those people, things and situations might catch up to you – not catch you... catch up to you – with their own growth and their healing but until then, choose your own health and happiness over the bad feelings that are trying to control you. "No-vember" is the best time to learn that “no” is a full sentence, and I really hope you do… cause learning to say no might be the kindest thing you do for yourself, your mental health and your happiness. Okay. Love you. Bye.

Were u stranded on an island due to a storm? Was the hotel room you were staying haunted? Or did a travel companion disappear for a few hours on a trip? We want to hear YOUR horror travel story. Write to us in 150 words to editor@inboundsa.com @MediaXpose2 @Inboundsa__

🇿🇦 This is PHENOMENAL! #RWC2023 #Springboks

Hi Twitter, just a reminder that if you’re in Gauteng and you need assistance or advice on any aspect of your home/business power requirements, my husband can help. (RTs appreciated)

Limpopo Health has blocked the provision of HIV PrEP (a proven high impact HIV prevention technology) at public health clinics. The only province that does not provide PrEP! #HumanRights @eNCA @carteblanchetv @SundayTimesZA @SallyBurdettSA @SAHRCommission @AccessChapter2 @Anele

Don’t miss showbiz sensation Lizz Meiring in action this weekend. Her show, Kameras, Konserte & Kleedkamers take place this Friday, 27 and Saturday, August 28 at Hollywood Theatre, 27 Rustenburg Road, Krugersdorp. Tickets: R250 pp. Time: 6:30pm/7pm. Details: Jak on 072 905 1356.

@FlySafair is giving us a chance to win* free flights for a year for two! Go enter now! #Free2Fly swee.ps/PrSQO_cgXyPbG

Your fave read is online! We've got 40 pages of marvellous content ... think beauty tricks, glam homeware, delectable (and oh-so-easy!) recipes, garden treasures and incredible spoils for mom. Click on the link below and INDULGE! yumpu.com/en/document/re…