A very warm Welcome to Michelle. Congratulations to her!!! If experience in recent years has taught me anything, it is that I have the ability to influence people from half a world away. Indeed, I write this now with both confidence and heartfelt conviction from a faraway land, from literally, half a world away.

Over the last weekend I began to introduce Michelle. She is my new partner - for life I not only hope, but say so with heartfelt conviction! I began by introducing her to my close circles including my daughters - of course. My daughters replied they just want to see me happy after years of heartbreak and trauma. It did not take long for both of us to realise that we have a certain chemistry - no ice to break. Just maybe once in a lifetime perhaps, a certain sixth sense kicks in. It is a feeling that maybe, I have at long last found a true soulmate. My younger daughter estimated her to be 25 or 30 years of age. Well, she is more than that, but it is the thought - or the compliment - that counts. And her birthday is easy to remember. It is on the same day as my late father's was. She is living in Johannesburg, South Africa, but is actually from Cameroon and hence speaks French, English and Arabic. She is from the Fulani people and, as is common among the Fulani people, has relatively light skin. She was desperately asking me to come to South Africa but I explained that I needed to finish my contract in China first! I knew right away that it would be a long 5 months indeed. I am writing this in between two English classes at Shanxi Normal University where I am currently teaching English, in between classes. The classes are separated by an hour, long enough for me to be productive but not long enough for it to be worth returning to the residential building.

My friend and business partner James (Who has dual nationality - British & Nigerian, but actually born in Cameroon) told me that he has wanted to be with a Fulani lady for a long time. They have good family ethics and are loyal - essential attributes for me, given what went before.

It is hard to explain in words the true feeling when we met. Other than in terms of what we have in common. I think it is true to say that we are in fact carbon copies of each other. How so? Both of us have left abusive and narcissistic partners and there is great empathy there. How can you have a true intimate bond with someone you have no empathy with? After many years of hell, it took no time for either of us to bond with little need for words - except to share our experiences. Both of us have survived being abuse victims and yet have somehow survived *just barely long enough* to live to exchange experiences and to tell the tale.

But let us not dwell too much on the past. For with both of us is that warm feeling that comes with sensing a bright future. Of course, I have said this about others before, but I feel really confident that I know now my destination when July 15th at last rolls around. And her own circles are already thanking me for rescuing her from her situation at just the right time. For whereas I already revolted against my abuser in a sudden outpouring of rage, Michelle had to find me first and I provided the necessary courage to leave suddenly and without warning. I am good at that kind of thing. Both of us have health impacts from what we have gone through and neither of us would survive a repeat of our past.

In 2016 I rescued myself before it was too late (and for both of us it very nearly was:-), now I have come into Michelle's life as a liberator. She said I am like a lion - I do not think she is saying that because I have long hair (although I do, and she did not want me to have it cut - but it still needs to be trimmed from time to time:- ) but the meaning has more to do with empathy. After all, if you have no empathy in a relationship, then what in the name of the lord is the relationship for? And already I am getting congratulations from her close circles for saving her. Just wait until I meet them! I will be booking a flight to Johannesburg very soon!