Anything Worse than a Lawyer

Soon after New Year, I flew to East London and met up with owner D. We went through many details of the operations, and technical issues regarding infrastructure, and then signed the final agreement.

I had an appointment with my attorneys set for 10am the following day. Guess what, the conveying attorney did not pitch, and his PA had no record of the appointment. I had met previously with O, my attorney and chairmen of the firm to finalise the incorporation of the farm and operating company into the family trust, and he had advised at the time that partner B would do the transfer.

B's PA did her best, but it was all most unsatisfactory. With the new FICA regulations everything would take about twice as long. B eventually pitched, but the damage was done; I really think he was incompetent. It later transpired that that chairman O and the three senior partners had resigned from the firm, to start their own. The junior partners and the hangers on seemingly would not be able to hold the 100 year old firm together, and it was merging with another. Guarantees were lodged with the attorneys, and the sale became irrevocable.

I phoned brother R and gave him the green light to proceed full speed ahead with emigration procedures. R and SiL G were scheduled to fly down to Johannesburg the following week. As per the agreement, we were to spend a full week on the farm learning the details of the operation prior to the handover. Conveniently it was the week that the farm sheep were to be sheared - a very important operation to be learned. SiL G had not seen the farm and was flying blind, having only seen photographs. Happily she was very happy with the house and garden. There would be a lot to do to get the place to meet our requirements, but it was a great start.

There was a lot to take in: windmills, transformers, pipelines, pumps, tractors and hundreds of other details. And a lot of keys!