With Wilmien rocking up in the Laan and generally causing chaos especially with super couple George and Karien, things will never be the same again. It all started with George giving Wilmien the cold shoulder when she arrived and Karien explaining to her why George was being Iceland itself, that’s when things started to happen. th.jpg)
Firstly Wilmien apologised to him for not knowing that he was interested in buying her shares in KDL and also for having that clause allowing Robyn to offer something better thereby guaranteeing her stake in the company. She claimed not to have known about anything, leaving it all in her lawyer’s capable hands. Yeah sure Wilmien, like it did’nt cross your mind that your buddy whom you started the company with just loved working his tail off to fill your coffers and then when he has the opportunity to be sole owner, he was just gonna let it slide, I don’t buy that at all.
Nevertheless the two best buddies since forever finally made up and before we had a chance to blink, the two were suddenly all shy around one another, giving each other “the look”, you know what I mean, glancing at each other across a crowded room, oh and George felt awkward being all lovey dovey with Karien in front of Wilmien.
One night Wilmien decides to take all the staff at KDL out to dinner. They all meet up at Madel’s place for drinks first and then Wilmien drops a bombshell when she tells them she’s back to do business here in SA and she wants KDL to do the marketing. Why drinks at Madel’s place you ask, well Wilmien is partially family of her now that Christelle is married to Wilmien’s dad so Madel decided that Wilmien should live with family instead of booking herself into a guesthouse or even sleeping on a couch at the girls’ flat.
Mind you, Robyn was none too happy about KDL taking on Wilmien’s new venture but George was adamant that he will be handling things and they will be making a success if it. After one of their business meetings at the club (have you ever) George and Wilmien were slightly drunk and before things could get to first base, George sprinted out of there, went banging on Karien’s door waking everyone and right then and there he proposed to Karien or more like told her “Marry me, Karien, Marry me” (before I have hot sex with my ex partner). With such a desparate man in front of her with an even more desparate proposal looming over her head, Karien had no choice but to say yes, which she did and now the two are engaged. Poor Wilmien had to hear via the grapevine that her buddy is engaged to be married, see once George proposed he had to seal his commitment by rushing off with his beloved for a pre-honeymoon session.
The two eventually came face to face upon George’s arrival back from honeymoon land and Wilmien could scarcely go up to congratulate them. She had no alternative since everyone was wishing the golden couple all of the best and Wilmien in her own way did the same, though one could see that she was devastated by the sudden turn of events. It does’nt help matters much when Dezi and everyone in the Laan are going on about what a perfect pair George and Karien are and that its time they took their relationship to the chapel. Wilmien, unable to handle the lovebirds decides to use poor Marko (though with him two-timing the mysterious Tamsin, I would’nt exactly feel pity for him) and the two go on a rampage partying night after night till the wee hours of the morning.
When George saw that Wilmien was partying up a storm with Marko, he was not exactly thrilled for this budding friendship but who is he to talk? Meanwhile ole Georgie boy forgot that when you propose to a lady, you’re supposed to provide a ring at some stage during the engagement, preferably at the time of proposal but since it happened so spontaneously he completely forgot to buy Karien a ring and the poor girl had to hint and even think about his pocket when she suggested that the jewellers have a special on diamond rings.
At first George was gonna use the old excuse of having to work but when he saw Karien’s disappointed face, he decided to take her shopping then and there. A very happy Karien emerges later flashing her finger in the boutique in the hope that one of the girls will notice and finally one of them does, Wilmien watches from a distance and when Karien approaches her, she tells Wilmien that the right guy will come along, but a skeptical Wilmien brushes love aside.
By the way, does Wilmien know about Zach’s relationship with Karien? I can’t recall that she does but imagine how she would feel if she knew, she would probably resent Karien for getting all the guys that she wants.
Things carry on as normal or rather not, George cannot cope with what he’s feeling for Wilmien, he tries to get out of working on her project but there’s nobody else to step in and Robyn rubs it in his face that he said he could handle it. Working late nights with Wilmien is taking a toll on George’s relationship with Karien. Paula decides that they need to celebrate their engagement and offers to organize their engagement party. At first George is not thrilled about the idea and Karien asks whether he still wants to get married, he eventually agrees to the party.
George and Wilmien have to attend some cocktail function for work purposes and seeing the disappointment on Karien’s face, Wilmien decides to invite her along. That evening when they go to pick Wilmien up, Dezi offers them drinks and she and Karien disappear to the kitchen. Then Wilmien descends the stairs looking very lovely in her blue cocktail dress and the two can’t stop admiring one another. Unknown to them, Karien has stepped into the room and notices the intimacy between her fiancé and his buddy.
Later when George drops Karien off, he notice that she’s acting all strange wanting to go to bed so early and being rather quiet. He asks what’s wrong and she asks him if he’s sure he wants to still marry her, he reassures her that everything is fine and that he still wants to marry her but Karien looks doubtful.
Between you and me, I think ole Georgie boy is having second thoughts but lets wait and see how it all pans out.
With the truth being revealed about Hilda’s Kata box classes, Oubaas takes it upon himself to teach Hilda about boxing. He can’t see that a young lady like San Mari will know more about boxing than he does and no matter how Hilda tries to convince him that Kata box and boxing in a ring is way different, Oubaas sees box as box.
A tiresome Hilda takes it upon herself that she would rather not attend any classes if Oubaas continues his ridiculous mission to make a boxing champion out of her. Marko decides to step in and paints a pretty picture of a muscled, toothless Hilda and this finally convinces Oubaas to let go of the bloody sport.
Hilda misses her Kata box terribly but she’s not in the mood for her hubby’s interfering and she knows better than to sneak off again. Then one day as they are having coffee in Oppiekoffie, a young man walks into the place and tries to steal Matrone’s handbag. With Matrone rushing out and a crowd forming, San Mari comes out of nowhere and gives the thug a kickbox like you would’nt believe (ok I’m exaggerating abit, it was no Jean Claude Van Damme that’s for sure) but this act made San Mari a heroine in Oubaas’ eyes. He realizes that maybe there is more to Kata box than meets the eye and proposes to Hilda that the two of them engage in the exercise as a means of self defence.
Oubaas is fully prepared for what lies ahead but all San Mari sees is trouble and difficulty in her class. Hilda becomes very concerned when she finds out that Oubaas is taking his exercise way too seriously that he’s drawing attention to himself. Eventually things get out of hand when Oubaas runs amok in public causing a disturbance to the peace. When Matrone suspects that Oubaas’ exercise has something to do with box, she immediately wants to involve herself but Hilda makes it clear to her that her help will not be needed.
Later that day Oubaas and Hilda are in their flat doing Kata box excercises to very loud music and the girls at the flat immediately think Neef Gert has returned. They are shocked but amused when they open Hilda’s door and discover the two oldies doing some active body movements with Maria jiggling along to the beat of the music. The next day when the young ladies tell the oldies how impressed they were by the movements, Oubaas decides then and there that they’re going to have a Kata box demonstration in the Heights to make the community aware of the importance self defence.
These two oldies are on a mission and I’m sure they’ll be able to pull it off. They ask Danny to organise the event, speaking about organising, there so many happening in the Laan, do these people always have money to pay KDL to organise their parties?
The day of the Kata Box demonstration finally arrives and everyone is in Oppiekoffie to watch Hilda, Oubaas and San Mari do their thing. Everyone is impressed and want more and San Mari says they’ll be doing their last one when during the session, Oom Oubaas suddenly cries out in pain, it seems he hurt his back during the session and Hilda is very concerned about him.
Carlos and Lana are going full steam ahead with the wedding preparations. After dragging Carlos off to various venues for weddings, Madel offers to let them have their wedding in her garden. Lana decides to take her up on the offer and the two cannot stop speaking about the wedding. I suppose nobody told Lana that a murder happened right there in Madel’s garden when Kobus (Karien’s stepdad) tampered with electrical wires causing his wife Renette to shock herself to death, all because she was having a hot affair with our very own Georgie boy. The murder could never be proved just like Karien’s mother’s unexplained death many years earlier. We are still not even sure if Kobus himself is dead or not but that will probably come up much later, I suppose.
Meanwhile Carlos’ mind is a million miles away. All this talk of weddings, churches and marriage have opened up old wounds for Carlos as he gets constant flashbacks of the day that he and Sandra were gonna get married, how radiant she looked walking down the aisle with her very pregnant tummy, how her face changed when she saw Justin and how she fell when the gunshots rang out and the blood spattered all over her beautiful wedding gown. He admits to Ryno that he is being plagued by nightmares of that day and it’s clear that he has’nt dealt with the trauma suffered back then. He tells Lana that their wedding plans has taken him back to the day he and Sandra stood at the altar. That night Carlos wakes up sweating after having a nightmare of Justin being shot in the church.
Carlos decides to question Madel about the mysterious guest, Justin Ferreira who was shot but Madel feels its better if Carlos lets go of the past. Carlos agrees but Madel is more afraid of being exposed for her share in Justin being present at the wedding in the first place. When Carlos and Lana discuss Justin, Hilda overhears. Hilda worries about Carlos who seems determined to find out the truth about Justin. Carlos and Lana decide to go to Upington for a few days so he can show her where he grew up.
Will Carlos discover the truth about Sandra’s link to Justin Ferreira and how Madel planned to expose the truth at the wedding?
When Dezi proposed her interest in the Boutique to Jan Hendrik, she was terribly disappointed when he advised her that buying the boutique is a financial risk which they cannot afford to take. We all thought that was the end of it but knowing Dezi, she’s become a very ambitious woman and she’s determined to make things work for her. Her eye is on the Boutique and nothing is gonna stand in her way.
Later we see Dezi getting some ideas in her head when she overhears Vince and San Mari speaking about clothing. We also see her going through the Boutique’s books and hinting at JH that she has a plan up her sleeve but we, along with JH are kept guessing as to what Dezi has in mind.
After gathering the troops together including Matrone, Dezi decides to pitch her idea for the Boutique to a very horny JH who was under the impression his wife was gonna do some sexy lap dancing and strip tease manoeveres. To his surprise, Dezi planned a little fashion show of her own where she had some of the girls modeling beautiful quality clothing which will be sold at affordable prices. She explains to JH that her plan is to sell exclusive clothing for young and old at prices they can afford and JH is completely blown away by his wife’s presentation. Dezi is in 7th heaven when JH agrees with her ideas for the Boutique and decides to invest in it.
Next thing we know Dezi is playing hardball with Alyce and Tessa telling them they can’t eat at the front desk, asking their advice about a dress she wants to wear and generally being a difficult customer. When Alyce confronts her, Dezi gladly tells her that she will be the new owner of the Boutique and the girls are completely ecstatic that Dezi will be their new boss. They open a bottle of bubbly to celebrate.
The next day a nervous Dezi tells JH that she has’nt heard from the lawyers yet. Was their offer too little, should they have offered more, JH reassures her that they are willing to pay what the Boutique is worth. Dezi is in a total state and no matter how JH tries to calm her down, her nerves are shot.
Robyn got it into her head that the loft upstairs at KDL will make the perfect living arrangements for her. No, the ultra rich Robyn cannot buy herself a townhouse or a flat, I mean she’s supposed to be this rich businesswoman who has good contacts now her friends must visit her above her work premises? In any case the loft is converted, not sure if there was a bathroom upstairs, toilet and basin I can understand but a shower or bath at KDL’s offices? Not unlikely I know but neverthelss, Robyn has bought all this fancy expensive furniture, the ones you get at Lifestyle Living and the OrangeApple and she tells Danny to invite the whole of Hillside to her housewarming party. Danny is put in charge of all the
arrangements and San Mari offers to help out.
Now we know that Robyn does not feel comfortable in San Mari’s company, for some or other reason which we are yet to find out, there’s some kind of link between the two but my personal bet is on the old storyline of the mother giving her daughter up for adoption. This became clearer when San Mari spoke to her mom on the phone and Robyn could’nt help eavesdropping, she had a very sad look in her eyes when she heard the good relationship that San Mari shares with her mom.
A few days later Robyn decides to compensate San Mari for helping Danny so willingly with the housewarming arrangements. San Mari tells her that Danny aready paid her but Robyn refuses to take no for answer and gives her a fat wage.
Vanessa has been getting a frequent visitor to the Deli, a visitor with a baby boy. Her name is Lindsay and the baby’s name is Thysie and it seems the mother is job hunting leaving the baby ever so often with a vulnerable Vanessa. It becomes clear that things are not right with Lindsay, she steals at every opportunity she gets, in the Deli, T&T, the Boutique and even Kabelo’s tip. Things get too much for Lindsay when she decides to steal a dress from the Boutique, a dress Alyce was planning to wear to Robyn’s housewarming.
The next day she and Tessa look at the tape of the camera which is in the Boutique and they clearly see Lindsay stealing the dress and shoving it in the baby bag. Alyce decides not to rat on her (for the baby’s sake) but to watch that she does not come near the Boutique again. One day when Alyce is ftting on clothes in T&T, she emerges from the fitting room only to see Lindsay stealing cash out of T&T’s cash register. She screams at Marko to catch Lindsay and finally when Lindsay runs into the Deli, the police and Marko are right behind her. She’s arrested for theft and Vanessa holds Little Thysie closely to her.
With Thysie’s mother in jail, Vanessa takes it upon herself to care for the baby. She organizes a crib for him and all the necessary baby things and Marko later tells her that Lindsay was caught with drugs on her as well. Later when Lindsay is released and wants to fetch her baby, it’s clear that she’s completely spaced out and acts rather negligently. This causes Vanessa to hold the baby away from her telling her to sort herself out first before she can have the baby. Marko and Xander become very concerned about Vanessa’s obsession with the baby and try to convince her to hand the baby over to the welfare but Vanessa is adamant that she will not be giving the baby to strangers, she will care for him until Lindsay is back on her feet.
Lindsay on the other hand is only too happy to have the baby off her hands, she lies to Vanessa saying she will be going to rehab but Marko catches her buying drugs at the club. Vanessa is blind to Lindsay’s lies and continues to help her out with cash but Lindsay is a down and out drug addict. When she meets her dealer in an alley, he tells her not to waste his time with the little money she has on her. He suggests she pays her way by going back to his flat.
Oh in case you’re wondering where Charmaine is whilst all this is going on, apparently a family member hurt herself and Charmaine has gone to Vredendal to help out. I don’t think Charmaine will be very impressed when she sees how attached Vanessa has become to Little Thysie, she’s setting herself up for a big fall.
Emma’s ex-boyfriend Tonie is back in town and it seems he’s none the wiser about Emma’s new marital status. He flirts openly with her but when Emma realizes he does not know she’s married to Ryno, she finally breaks the news to him. Meanwhile Emma has been getting some pressies sent to her, first it was roses, a gingerbread man, then a glass slipper, three teddy bears and the last one is a trap set for her when she comes across a trail of breadcrumbs leading to the top of the Heights. All the presents are related to some or other fairytale story and Emma realizes she told Tonie how she loves fairytales. She automatically assumes he’s the one behind the presents but when she confronts him, he tells her he had nothing to do with the gifts.
When Emma goes to Hilda’s flat she sees a trail of breadcrumbs leading upstairs. A curious Emma follows the trail as it leads to the top floor, suddenly we see an arm closing and locking the security gate behind her. Poor Emma is stuck like a caged animal and after a few hours, Maria hears the desparate cries coming from the top. She eventually goes up and frees Emma who’s totally shaken by her ordeal.
A tearful Emma makes her way to Oppiekoffie where a very concerned Ryno is looking for her. A suspicious looking Anton comes over to hear what happened but Ryno brushes it aside not wanting everyone to know what his wife just went through.
The next day Emma tells Ryno the truth about all the presents she’s been getting and he tells her how creepy it all sounds but Emma makes as if its one of her friends who’s probably pulling a prank on her, all the while she looks out into the arcade where Tonie is speaking to someone. Later in the day, she sees Toni sitting at a table in the arcade, writing in a card and having a wrapped present next to him. She confronts him about all the fairytale gifts he’s been sending saying he’s probably busy with the latest one and she goes on to accuse him saying how sick it all is especially locking her up.
Tonie denies it all saying the gift is for his sister’s wedding and he shows her the card he was writing out but Emma does not believe him and continues to accuse him. He tells her she can think what she wants to think but he has no idea what she’s talking about, he storms off angrily.
Now the question is, who is stalking Emma? It’s definitely not Tonie, not his style at all and there’s been speculation that it might be the new waiter, Anton, who somehow seems drawn to Emma. Is it him and why is he doing this to someone he barely knows?
Stay tuned to find out.
7de Laan
Mondays – Friday
SABC 2
18:30
Pictures courtesy of the 7de Laan website.