❛My significant other other❜

We all have that person in our lives, where the connection just feels so real and right. We may not see or speak to them every day, but the powerful bond we have never fades. Five women share their stories about their go-to somebody.

- ROBYN VON GEUSAU

CHA DAVENPORT, a painter and guest farm owner in the Overberg, and MICHELLE BARTMAN,a Cape Town advocate

Michelle and I met when she came to London with my sister-in-law, Cathy, fresh out of Rhodes Journalism Department, with a backpack and wide eyes, wearing shweshwe dungarees. They ended up joining us in our orange Kombi camper for an unforgettable six months together. The highs and lows of such a long time in close contact have resulted in a deep, strong bond; she feels like a family member who has known you at your worst and still loves you!

Her independent, strong and determined character was very evident in the following years when she went back to university to complete a law degree. She’s now a practising advocate who loves her job and its challenges.

Due to circumstances, we don’t see each other regularly, but when we do it’s easy and relaxed. Michelle is a real foodie, so usually I am treated to delicious meals she whips up after a long day of work (and 10km of running, 5km of swimming and possibly the odd gym class too). She has a great eye for art and we enjoy connecting around that, as she is a collector and always supportive of younger artists. My ability to paint the odd piece (she even has one on her wall!) saves me from feeling not entirely up to scratch in her eyes.

I recently joined her and a group of her close friends on a five-day hike through the Baviaanskloof. I was quickly reminded of all her unique traits: a wicked sense of humour that can be blunt, teasing, shameless and merciless, but always hilarious and with deep affection. She is the most generous and loyal of friends – there are many stories of how she goes out of her way to support her friends and include them in her love of adventure and travel.