Durban author Nola Mitchell will launch her true-life book ‘Just Call Me Nelson’ at the Book Boutique on Wednesday, 25 May at 5.30pm.
It tells of the rescue of the ‘yachtie’ and Nelson the cat by a giant Mitsui car carrier bound for Durban.
Nelson’s story begins in north east Brazil where, when just a few days old, he is found in a gutter in a marina by a Cape ‘yachtie’ named Bob Hayward.
From blustering ports and harbours to quiet anchorages, the book follows his life adventures and misadventures from the coast of Brazil to Trinidad and Tobago.
Through storms and squalls, he is eventually found by David and Nola Mitchell in an underground hide-out in Curry Road, Durban.
And then through amazing coincidence, the pieces to the puzzle of Nelson’s history begin to fall into place.
Nelson currently resides with the Mitchells in the Berea, Durban.
The book includes illustrations and photographs, a few taken by Terry Hutson, the shipping journalist for the Natal Mercury. These appeared with his article ‘Horrific Ordeal For Cape Yachtie’.
