I'M BACK IN RHYTHM

She's got a new man, she's making new music and her kids are thriving - on the cusp of turning 54 life's good for Amor Vittone

- BY DESIRÉ NORTJÉ

THERE was a time when storms felt like endings. Now, as she watches the summer rain streak her windows, she sees them for what they really are: beginnings.

Amor Vittone, widow of Springbok legend Joost van der Westhuizen, is making music again and – after weathering public grief, personal trauma and navigating the road of single parenthood - she's finally found her rhythm again.

The singer, who turns 54 in March, believes timing is everything. “You reach an age where you realise your happiness and your time are more important,” she says. “I'm at a point where I want to put the past behind me – all those dark things over the years, the trauma, the loss.”

Everything has fallen into place perfectly. Her son, Jordan (21), is excelling at soccer while her daughter, Kylie (19), is pursuing her passion for horse riding. With both children now adults building their own lives, she can finally think about her own future. And that future includes someone special – a restaurant owner from Pretoria who's quietly slipped into their lives.

“My mom loves him, Kylie loves him and Jordan and he bond,” Amor says. The couple rang in the new year together at his restaurant, where he hosted a white New Year's Eve party. Amor is keeping things private for now and isn't keen to share his name, but her eyes sparkle when she talks about him.

“All I can say is we enjoy each other's company. He's an amazing soul with the most beautiful heart. He's a leader, a man who makes me feel protected. We have so much fun together that the love is just a bonus.”

The new romance feels life-changing, she adds. “I made the decision to be happy,” she says. “And maybe it just happened at the right time. I'm crazy about a bit of rain, but it's summer in my life.”