Michelle & Riaan what is married life like?
We agree with that adage “married life is allot of hard work!” It’s our ninth year anniversary on April 12th, and we’ve realised we both want the same thing, which is a happy, beautiful, loving relationship. So we’ve consciously set about creating that. We love each other but of course there are things you don’t like about each other, and things that irritate, and we have learned to navigate those waters and not be angry and not have negative responses. We ponder on the positive; we enjoy the every-day and the mundane and make it terrific and special.
We are two Apex people in a relationship. Not easy. We’ve had our years of arguing and flexing our power muscles and seem to have moved through the worst. Pleased to say we have a rainbow on the other side, where we give each other space and allow each other’s growth. Marriage can be a beautiful thing.
How did you each find your Life’s work?
We think we have been pretty lucky in that we have both known what our talents and skills are from an early age, Michelle knew at 12 she was going to be an in-front of camera person and Riaan has been building and woodworking from the age of 8.
It’s a long-road to get to the top of your game, and takes a focused mind, often to the exclusion of family and other life experiences. This is what is so nice about our relationship is that we had our son when we are a little older, and can really focus on him and our family time together.
Can you tell us the secret on finding work/life balance?
Well, Michelle says it is a never ending story to find this. She thinks that ‘The Balance’ is cyclical and changes as You change and move through your decades. What was a place of calm in your twenties is not necessarily the same in your Forties. But a through thread for her to access ‘The Balance’ has always been water. Whether it is bathing and submerging yourself, or having running water from a tap flow over your wrists. Along with three deep breaths, you can pretty much tackle anything.
Riaan tends to be practical in his approach to achieving ‘The Balance’. His approach is to work hard for five days and have two days off to recover and gear up. He also has never brought work home in the evenings, and certainly knows where his ‘off’ button is. Michelle says that Riaan falls asleep in seconds, which translates into meaning that this man is generally one relaxed puppy!
You’re now based in Atlanta; tell us three things you miss about South Africa?
With a big grin Michelle says, “The multicultural melting pot of passionate people, my Marmite! And my wonderful Father Gus Garforth.” Riaan misses his lovely daughters and his 90-year old Mother, Ouma Suzie. And of course Mrs. Ball’s Chutney. But, thanks to Riaan’s many hours on google, we have been fortunate enough to find the South African shop here in Atlanta, pity we can’t ‘bottle’ family members. We miss our humour from back-home, we miss the acacia trees and the sounds of the cicadas in the evening, we miss the Highveld thunderstorms you can set your watch by and the stormy Cape Town weather – we miss so much.
What have been your biggest accomplishments?
Riaan feels his greatest carrier accomplishment was being on national TV for over a decade and to win Strictly Come Dancing. Riaan also feels a series he did called “My House” (screened on SABC 3 & in Ireland), made a huge difference in Mitchel’s Plain where he and 200 volunteer Irishmen built 200 houses and furnished them. The series was filled with tears of joy as people finally had homes for the first time.
Michelle is a cause driven journalist and she feels that focusing the media spotlight on the plight of critically endangered species through her self-created TV series ‘Wild Ltd’ and ‘Bush Radar Kids’ was a qualified accomplishment – especially that the series had high viewership and long-run on-air for 7 years.
Not only did they get married, but discovered they best marry their carriers as well – not a small a feat! Animals and DIY – worlds that are, apparently, far apart – but not in the green arena. Turning the country onto the joys of sustainable living was incredible fun, the result was building an off-grid family-style home, together they proved that anything is possible!
Where will we find you hanging out over the weekend?
Riaan, Rainn and Michelle LOVE to walk the Beltline each Sunday morning. The Beltline is a beautiful idea that South Africa could take on board. It’s a walking, running pathway that circles downtown Atlanta connecting many different neighbourhoods to each other. As you walk, you’ll see magnificent art placed along the route, with wild gardens and bold graffiti on the bridges.
Reading a novel or on kindle?
Michelle is an avid reader. Riaan is not! He prefers researching stuff on google like cars, machines, woodworking tips. But Michelle reads non-stop; she’s a member of the Atlanta Public Library, as buying books just got way too expensive.
What are the most pivotal lessons you have learned from other people?
Michelle’s beautiful mother Denise, who passed away when she was three months pregnant with Rainn, taught her to have no fear – which is probably why I get on so well with dangerous wild animals. Ouma Suzie brought Riaan up to be very independent and self-reliant. Together we’ve learned how devious people can be, and it is best not to trust quite so easily.
