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I must admit that I was really anxious. We had been together for
more than two years, created a very good website together (at least
this is what we think about MCH)
but what
if we were very different people, if we didn't like each other ?
Things would never be the same anymore and MCH would also be at
risk. The magic would have gone. I woke up Johnny (my son) at 3:30
am with these thoughts in my (still sleeping) mind. We landed in Brussels at 08:45 am
(on time) and had to wait for the others. Christine (the third
member of the Greek team) was flying in from Geneva
at 10:55 and the Italian team (Francesco and Stefania) were supposed
to land at 11:20. Finally, Frank with Hilde and Mathias would come to
the airport at 12:00. Waiting is not my strong point and being
anxious is not my best either. After meeting with Christine (arrived
on
schedule) I finally saw Francesco and Stefania (on time too). Not
very difficult to tell. Apart from the photo in his section he was
wearing the J&B "Help Rhinos in Malawi" T-shirt. The
Rhinos were too small to be sure about them, but the thermo bag carrying the
fish was big enough !! A clear sign this was Francesco. After
introducing each other we arranged the car, according to Frank's
very clear instructions : "get the cheapest you can
find". I am not
really the emotional type of guy but I was really touched. I was
with the man we had been working for two years. A very nice guy and,
English not being a problem, very soon it felt really good. We had
so many things to talk about. Suddenly, a very
tall guy wearing an
MCH T-shirt
was with us. I am not short either (1,89) but he was really tall...
2.07 - a classic center. Following an one hour drive we were in
Frank's house, a nice house in a quiet neighborhood. After a "hello"
to Hilde and Matthias, we run to open the bags and take the fish out.
A 25 cm male Nimbochromis polystigma for Frank, and some
Copadichromis borleyi and Pseudotropheus msobo (all F1)
from Francesco. When the fish seemed relaxed it was time for us to relax,
take some photos and finally get our (long awaited) MCH T-shirts, too !!
From left to right: Hilde Panis
(carrying female, soon to release Catho Panis), John Reclos (carrying
Matthias Panis), George Reclos (CRLCA T-shirt),
Francesco and Stefania with their "tiny Rhino" T-shirts
and Frank with the
MCH
shirt.
After having a lunch with some Belgian beers to help digestion, we
headed for Aqua Blue Zaire (in Beveren), our first contact with fishes
(fish, which
didn't already belong to us that is). Aqua Blue Zaire is run by Frank Jansen
and is (almost
exclusively) focused on Tanganyika and Malawi cichlids. A great
variety of fish in as many tanks as the place could take. Frank
himself is a very knowledgeable guy whose only drawback is that he
had no male Buccochromis lepturus in his tanks. However, he did have
some Dimidiochromis compressiceps, which were spotted by Francesco
and changed his mind about the "not buying any fish, my tanks are
full" promise. Sometimes I believe that the only reason we make this
statement is for our own ears ! We would come here on Sunday, too (ABZ is open on
Sundays) to pack the fishes for the journey to Italy.
From left to right : Frank Panis,
George Reclos, John Reclos and Francesco Zezza, all wearing the much
sought after MCH
T-shirts.
That being done, it was time to visit
the 13th Belgian Cichlid Show in Antwerp. We may seem like
members of a Rock group in those photos but we really liked those T-shirts
(actually, ten days later I ordered another six of them)!!
continued in next page
Other
chronicles : Francesco,
Frank.
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