Two bottles of wine, a Sparklehorse 2018 Brut, and a Champagne Duval-Leroy, Brut Réserve. FILE PHOTO | BELLA OSAKO | NMG

He lit a cigarette with a matchstick like an antagonist. “I don’t know what to do with my mother-in-law.” He sighed and blew a stream of smoke on the similar time.

We had been on the Wine Store in Loresho, Nairobi as a result of it was a midway level to satisfy and he wished to speak and drink his wine.

The problem with the mother-in-law, he defined, was that “she is intrusive and she or he needs to manage all the things in my home. Every thing!” He moaned.

He wished my clever counsel. (I do know.) I sipped my whisky and creased my brows with Solomonic knowledge. Then.

“Get one other spouse,” I informed him. “A brand new spouse comes with a brand new mother-in-law. Downside solved. ”His shoulders shook with laughter. “Sure,” I stated. “I consider in throwing the infant out with the bathwater.”

Befitting to the second he was consuming one thing known as Flagstone Reality Tree, a Pinotage that was offered elegantly to him by an enthralling waiter known as Kim.

Oh, what a pleasure to be served by somebody who is aware of and enjoys his job. Kim – a younger gung-ho fella – not solely knew his wines extensively, however he additionally loved speaking about them.

And I loved speaking to him, due to his enthusiasm but in addition as a result of he didn’t have mother-in-law issues.

I learnt that Pinotage, unique to solely South Africa, was the toughest grape to develop. That he rode a small TVS motorcycle to work.

That he solely carried his girlfriend on the again over the weekends. Her hanging onto him tightly, her proper hand grabbing his coronary heart.

I additionally learnt that in some cultures it’s okay in your mother-in-law to spend the evening, and even stay, beneath the identical roof as you. [Gulp] The place I come from, it’s an abomination. Unparalleled. Sacrilegious.

“Anyway,” I informed him, “This isn’t a mother-in-law downside, this can be a spouse downside. She ought to have a phrase together with her mother as a result of you possibly can’t; respect and protocol.”

“How superb to be younger and experience your small motorcycle,” he stated mournfully, “no existential issues to cope with.”

“Except you fall off and break your hip.” I stated.

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