On Monday, Fatima Sydow’s partner Renfred faced his first birthday without her.
Sydow, a South African celebrity chef who left a lasting mark on the culinary world, passed away at the age of 50 last year after a three-year battle with cancer, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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‘From the moment we met, Fatima made my birthdays something special,’ Renfred wrote in remembrance of her.
‘I was never one to celebrate much – August 12th was always just another day for me. But like so many things in my life, that changed when Fatima came along.
‘She always had a plan, whether it was going out to a restaurant or staying home (which we often preferred). Even when life was tough, she somehow made it happen. How she managed, only she knew.
‘Most of the time, it was just me, Fatima, Bono, Sunny, and my dad. And if you know Fatima, you know there was always a bit of humour involved.’
One year, he says, she convinced him to go to Spur for his birthday, something he would not typically agree to do. ‘Anyone who knows me well knows I’m not a fan of birthday celebrations, especially not the singing part that Spur is famous for.
‘But I could never say no to Fatima, so I agreed, on the condition that there would be no singing. When we got to the Spur, we sat in our usual spot with our favourite waiter, James, who had become a friend to us both.
‘We enjoyed our meal, no singing – just as promised. But when dessert arrived, there it was – a happy birthday message on my plate. Fatima and James had conspired together. That was so Fatima.’
‘She never missed a single August 12th since we met. This is my first birthday without her. I miss her deeply.’
Also read:
Fatima Sydow’s response to the Artscape celebration in her honour
Picture: Fatima Sydow Cooks / Facebook