Seated on his little stool, Jacques David is concentrating on his customer?s shoes. He looks serious as he polishes a businessman?s shoes at Caudan Waterfront. Although this was not his initial vocation, Jacques really enjoys his ?new? job.

Yet, he never thought he would be polishing businessmen?s shoes at Caudan Waterfront at the age of 65. The pensioner used to work for the Rogers Group. When he retired five years ago, he started this ?endangered? trade both for his own pleasure and to earn a living. He did not want to remain inactive during his retirement.

When the famous wax brand, ?Nugget?, first approached him, he was very sceptical but he finally accepted the job. His job actually acts like a demo for the brand and people can buy tins of wax after they have had their shoes polished.

?In the beginning, it was quite hard because I did not really know the job but I quickly got used to it.? More than just getting used to it, it seems he has learned to love his ?fascinating? job. It allows him to take some money home for his wife and four children. But more importantly, he meets many people through this job and some of them sometimes become his friends.

Undoubtedly, his main customers are locals: businessmen from Caudan but also from Port-Louis. He now has his regulars who come to Caudan at lunchtime just to have their shoes polished by Jacques.

From the youngest employee to the oldest businessman, Jacques sees every generation pass in front of him. For Rs 10, younger generations may want to discover this job, which is not very common nowadays.