During a relational collaborative autoethnographic process, a postdoctoral fellow (PDF) and his mentor, reflect on their challenges and experiences as mentor and mentee during a two-year PDF programme at an open and distance learning (ODL) university. They recognise the benefits of the PDF programme from both a mentor and mentee perspective, despite the challenges they faced. Credit is awarded to the sound relationship that they forged within a collaborative climate where they agreed upon common goals, which were beneficial for both parties. The focus for the PDF was the research area since great emphasis is placed it at the hosting university. Since the dominant mode of enquiry is a relational collaborative autoethnography, they were able to lay a good foundation and lean on positive psychology and mentoring and learning theories to solidify the message of their stories. In so doing they believe that the research question has been addressed and that it may lend strength to the notion of an improved PDF programme to be offered at the particular university.