Bits of Africa

FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa

2010-06-16T17:20:00.000+02:00

The 10 most photographed spots in South Africa at the moment.

Can you name them and where they are?

Waste not, want not.

2009-09-23T15:14:00.000+02:00

The drive from Rayton, in Gauteng, to Sun City is about a two hour trip and as the road takes one North west past Pretoria it is obvious to see how arid and dry the landscape is. Lining the roadsides is the grim reminder of careless folk who have started fires, some by accident, some by thoughtless deed and some for the sheer pleasure of destroying things.
We wondered how many animals had been injured or had lost their lives in the fires and how many of their homes raised to the ground. For the tiny animals, mice, rats, birds and the like although there was no sign of their sufferings their plight must have been terrible. What of spiders and snakes, bees and bugs that had toiled so hard to feed themselves and make a home only to have it destroyed..
When looking at field after field in the same burnt condition as the roadsides we felt such pity for the poor cattle with their spring time calves searching for sweet grass in the blackened desolate expanse that surrounded them.
Passing villages we saw school children running bare foot around the playing fields with only the soccer posts at each end to give identity to what the dusty bits of ground were intended for. The small homes were mainly constructed of corrugated iron with tiny windows that gave little hope of ever letting in even the slightest breeze. Under trees were adults sitting quietly trying their hardest to keep themselves in the shade cast by a few practically bare branches.
The wind kept up a dance of whirlwinds and tumbling dead plants, and the merciless sun kept glaring it's remorseless heat down upon the cracked and parched earth.
As we drove through the gates of Sun City we entered a world of rich, fat, lush vegetation. The brightness of the Bougainvillea flowers in full bloom, the water falls and the sprinklers that not only watered the gardens along the roadside but seemed to cool and refresh the hot air as well. The gardens were alive with birds that chirped merrily as they went about their business. Baboons and monkeys sat in the shade of huge trees content to watch the world go by.
Bees, butterflies, ants, grasshoppers were busy reaping in the rewards of the rich damp hillsides. Flowers displayed their rich colours as they nodded their heads in the gentle breeze as if they were bowing to the Gods of the forests.

We drove to our chalet, unpacked and sat outside to drink in the fresh cool early evening air. Later we lit a fire to cook our dinner and relaxed in the luxury of the make believe world.
The following morning after a huge breakfast we set off to explore the bowl of the crater where Sun City nestles. We wandered along cool pathways where the trees met each other over the pathways and provided dappled shade. There was the sound of running water and as we strolled along we were conscious of the water tumbling it's way over rocks and boulders as it made it's journey to cool still ponds hidden in the greenery of contentment.
There were huge swimming pools and mountain high water slides, shady palm trees and slightly damp cool green grass to stretch out on and enjoy the bustle of children playing nearby. This was a magic land, a creation of abundance where without water everything would battle to survive.
I asked where all the water that was abundantly apparent, wherever the eyes happened to glance, came from. Is it piped in from some far distant dam, how much is lost through evaporation, how many litres were used to fill up pools and ponds?
It seemed we were standing in a cup overflowing with great riches, yet all surrounded by drought stricken barren land.

Some have plenty and so often waste, while others survive in the land of want.

Johannesburg to Bloemfontein

2009-06-17T16:05:00.019+02:00

I really do not like leaving for a road trip late in the afternoon, however sometimes one does not have a choice and so at 3:30 p.m. on a Friday in June we set out on the usually four hour trek from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein. The first half hour was quite pleasant and as we drove along the well known streets of first Krugersdorp and then Roodepoort we chatted gaily about what we were planning to do over a much earned long weekend.
Once on the highway it was not too long before we joined a long queue of cars each patiently waiting to change lanes as the road went from three to two lanes and thus slowed us all down. Through the cows guts of road improvements and the toll gate and then at last we were away from the city smog and could turn up the radio and start to enjoy ourselves. We drove past squatter camps and townships and over the Vaal river and left Gauteng behind us as we entered the Free State. The road was in excellent condition, wide and free of pot holes and we were able to make good time as we passed small towns along the route only stopping once to stretch our legs, then back in the car as the sun started to set and the twilight hour approached.

Sunset came quickly as did darkness and as we travelled along it was lovely to see that even though it was June the farm lands were still looking quite green and we could see that the farmers had in the main harvested their crops and were busy preparing the land for the next crop.
This was the first time I had travelled to the Free State in winter, usually we go there in spring or summer where we see acre upon acre of sunflowers as their heads follow the Sun across the sky.
We arrived in Bloemfontein around eight o'clock and were glad to get out of the car and find a comfortable seat in my sister and nieces lounge and enjoy Chinese takeaway dinner with them as we all shared news and views as to what was happening in ours and their lives.
The weekend flew and we enjoyed going out in the cool air and having picnics and drives around the old city while we had fun laughing and joking about all and everything that happened to cross our minds.
In the evenings we watched movies and snuggled under blankets content with each others company and full tummies after good dinners. After movies we sat and chattered until late into the night before we made our way lazily to our beds.
The days passed so quickly and before we knew it we were packing the car once again and leaving to return to Johannesburg. We left Bloemfontein at midday and took a leisurely drive home on roads that were much quieter than we thought they would be.
The farmers were busy in their fields collecting up the hay into huge round bales that were placed in neat rows throughout the fields. We saw cattle and sheep grazing peacefully. We decided not to bother to stop for drinks but to rather head home and try and beat the traffic.
It was good to arrive back at my daughters flat and as we said our goodbyes and I climbed into my own car for the last hour of the trip I was glad to be back in Gauteng with all its hustle and bustle.
Some home is always such a good place to be.

Racism and sexism

2009-06-09T10:42:00.011+02:00

Living in South Africa the ugly head of racism often shows itself in many different ways. I suppose most of us have got used to it and in a lot of ways allow any racist remarks that are thrown our way to do the proverbial water off the ducks back thing.
I do not believe there is a single country in the world where they do not have a problem with racism, and although we all love to preach to each other about love thy neighbour no matter what his colour or creed I do feel that human civilization has a long way to go before racism on all levels is eradicated forever.
What I am finding at the moment is that sexism is also rearing it's little head here in South Africa and that although most will say that equality for woman is in the here and now, I beg to differ simply for the fact that the SABC whenever there is some cricket match, soccer match, rugby match or in fact any sport that is played by men at around about 16:45 to 17:30 on weekdays is given preferential viewing over "Days of our Lives".
I am not a fan of cricket, soccer, rugby or whatever and I object very strongly to my daily fix of soapies being held back so that men can rush home early to view whatever sport is interrupting my three-quarter hour of being lost in the ridiculous.
It is about time that the powers that be at the SABC realised that not every South African woman is addicted to sport and that some of us really do enjoy the daily schedule of soapies before dinner. If they insist on viewing the sport then why should the non sporty viewers be punished and if the wretched games have to be viewed live then why cannot the cancelled programmes be played when they have their lunch or whatever breaks, instead on SABC 3 we are given a repeat of the Oprah show which I suppose they consider is a treat. Chocolates and flowers are treats, not repeated programmes.
Woman, especially the working ones, like to get home and relax for an hour or so before the rush of dinner, homework, how was your day, dishes and tidying up starts. Instead of being able to relax and follow our favourite story we are graced with the time we allot ourselves with what ever sport is the flavour for the day and because of our homely responsibilities even if we were interested and would like to follow the entire match, we still have to get up and get chores done.
Come on SABC give the girls a chance and open another channel that is for sport only and leave us to sit comfortably in our armchairs and unwind before the evening rush of feed the family begins.

Beware our South African roads!

2009-06-04T14:04:00.008+02:00

One gets used to the pot-holed roads we are forced to travel on these days, and there has always been a danger when travelling on country roads that some animal or other will run out in front of the car. For many years there has also been the risk that some kind person will throw stones or rocks as you pass.

Now we have warning signs for high risk hi-jacking areas, where we must be alert to all that is around us so as to protect ourselves and our property.

Is it now time for warning signs to be put out to alert us to heavily overloaded vehicles that are exceeding the speed limit?

Pretoria Restaurant restores faith

2009-05-31T11:01:00.012+02:00

We moved to the Pretoria area eighteen months ago and since then have been on a vain search for a restaurant that not only serves good food but also provides a good service where the staff are up to date on what is on the menu, what ingredients the different dishes contain and the service is good and prompt.
Coming from Johannesburg we are used to good service where the dishes are served in the correct order and the food is hot. Here in Pretoria we have had the main course served before the starter, the food served cold after a long wait - probably because the waiter forget to collect it when it was ready, and a total show of indifference when we have complained about the service. At some restaurants we have been served the wrong food and when queried, the waiters have been unable to remember what we did order.
Even in the quick service fast food chain restaurants where one knows roughly what will be on their plate we have been given the incorrect burger i.e. beef instead of chicken. We were beginning to think that perhaps the one hour drive to Johannesburg was worth time and petrol simply for a well presented meal that delivered all that was promised on the menu and was served by staff that know what is going on and expected by patrons of their restaurant.
Yesterday we decided to go to the Menlyn Shopping Centre in a last vain attempt to find somewhere we could eat out and actually enjoy a meal.
The centre was astir with the anticipation of the Super 14 final match and all the eating places were busy and so we wondered around looking at menus and for what looked like somewhere nice to sit quietly and enjoy lunch. As we approached "Cappuccinos Cafe and Pizzeria", a polite well spoken young lady asked if we would like a table. Good first impressions always count and so we followed the waiter she had called to a table and were seated comfortably, handed the menus and asked what we would like to drink.
Drinks ordered we settled down to have a good look at the menu and were delighted to see that it gave descriptions of what the dishes contained and that there was a good variety to choose from.
Our order arrived in good time, was well presented, the plates and the food were hot and on tasting all on our plates we were both able to pronounce to the waiter that we were very happy with what we had ordered and lunch was in fact very good. As we were busy eating a young male staff member approached us to ensure that we happy with meal and service, we could only give him a positive reply about everything.
We will definitely go to Cappuccinos again and look forward to feeling happy to take friends and family there on special occasions.
As a final afterthought - the prices were reasonable and the servings large - but when one is happy with the service and the taste then these perhaps are irrelevant.

The road to Natal

2009-05-27T09:32:00.021+02:00

We had to go to Natal on a business trip last week with a detour to Hattingspruit, a small village near Dundee on the way. We left Pretoria just after four in the morning and drove under a very beautiful starry winter sky, until we hit coal country. It was as if we were driving through a steam train tunnel, the air was thick and heavy with coal dust and visibility practically nothing. If the smog/fog was not enough the road was worse than the usual potholed disasters that we seem to find whenever we make a trip to anywhere, even the local supermarket.
As we were getting close to sunrise time we kept looking out for the glimmer of light in the east that declares the beginning of another new day. Fat chance, the smog was too thick and heavy for us to do anything but carry on driving in the hope that sooner or later we would get ourselves out of and off this man made road to hell.

Finally, after dodging trucks and numerous waits at road construction sites where there was only traffic going one way at a time we started seeing the first promises of light and life away from this Dante's hell of coal dust and pollution.
Yes, there still was a Sun, and as we went in and out of patches of despair and into what seemed to be a landscape of half dead trees and grass trying to survive in an atmosphere of foul air and dirty, smelling water holes we wondered what the God's were thinking about man's efforts to clean up the Earthly environment. Not very much I would imagine!

We finally made it to Hattingspruit, only one hour late, did what had to be done there and continued on our way to the coast. Wherever there was a sign of habitation, be it a small hut on a hill or a town or city we seemed to see signs of pollution, some just tiny wisps of smoke others great factories bellowing out their waste to the world.
Do these huge almost archaic looking monsters, that sit almost as if stalking us, ever get checked by any government officials as to what they are befouling our air with and why are they still doing it anyway? Or it it the usual South African attitude of well it is only a small percentage of the worlds pollution so why does it matter, speak to the big boy polluters in other countries first.
South Africans seem to be rather fond of complaining about things, but seem less willing to get off their seats, rumps or whatever they happen to sit on and get things done. We really are a rather lazy nation.
A short stop for body comforts and food and drink and back on the road for the final downhill drive to Durban and the coast. How great it was to see the sea, and to walk along the beach at Scottburgh with the waves lapping up to our bare feet.
Life is really so good but with a bit more effort from everyone it could be so much better.

Animal behavior versus human

2009-05-08T15:29:00.007+02:00

The human factor!

What is it about humans that we seem to make a huge mess no matter what we are doing? Are we so absorbed in being technically inclined that we are forgetting the mundane things like picking up after ourselves or are we perhaps getting a bit to egotistical in thinking that we are to good to clean up our own mess or anybody else's for that matter.

The animal factor

Even animals are trying to make a difference these days!!

Election day, 22 April 2009, South Africa, let's pull those rotten teeth out!!

2009-04-22T09:31:00.012+02:00

The much awaited 22 April has finally arrived and as I sit here drinking copious cups of strong delicious coffee I am wondering who and what will end up as our president. South Africa seems to be on a downward spiral of corruption and decay and it puts my mind to visits to the dentist when I have had a sleepless night due to aches and pains in my mouth, usually caused by too many sweets and not enough flossing and cleaning after the gorging.
I seriously think that our hardworking and very caring leaders should perhaps leave the sweets of their political life behind them and concentrate rather on the removal of all the decay that they have managed to create since they took control of the dentists drills. The country needs a political type of flossing going up and down between the chairs in parliament and flossing out all that is of no use and is dragging us further down into the political gutter that seems to be Africa today.
The good can only come forward when the bad is removed and although in nature we cannot grow a third set of teeth at least in the political circus we are able to voice our opinions on an election day and hope that enough of us will have the courage to put our trust in new leaders. Past actions always being the guide to what future actions are likely to be, I think not that the current political leaders here are ever likely to change their leopard spots.

Political dung heaps

2009-04-06T15:59:00.014+02:00

The South African elections are only sixteen sleeps away and as I sit whenever possible listening to debates and discussions from and by the different parties I am fast becoming aware of only one thing, and, that one thing being, that all politicians are very adept liars. As I sit listening to the political jargon falling sweetly from their treacherous lips I wonder what sort of upbringing they had. My parents punished me if I dared to lie.
I was taught not to lie, not to make promises that I had no intention of ever keeping, to respect others beliefs and views, to be polite and to never expect others to follow my advice without first proving in some way or other that my advice might just be worth taking. I was brought up not to try and bully people into my ways of thinking and behaving and to have enough pride in myself to be myself.
All I am seeing at the moment is whites trying to behave as blacks, blacks trying to behave as whites, the Indians and coloureds swinging from one side to another as they are easily influenced by the colour of the crowd in front of them. How can any of them expect us to respect them when they cannot even openly admit to their colour, which for their information, is the easiest thing to see in any of them.
I am a white, English speaking, South African citizen who is not feeling very proud of the country's would be leaders as they slither and slide their way around the political circus (arenas being used for more serious and truthful things such as cheer leading), as they try to convince us of their noble minded plans for our future. Plans where they will always be the ones with the large houses and bank balances. These farinaceous parasitic abusers of their country men should be forced to live in the sordid squalor of any of our now quite famous squatter camps so that they may learn how so many of their fellows humans survive.
Several years ago I sat in a waiting room with several elderly black men and woman and I have never forgotten what one of the dignified old gentlemen said to the group, "Nelson Mandela has forgotten the old people, he does not care about us", every one of the elderly folk in that room that day agreed with this statement. I ask has anything improved for the elderly?
I would also like answers to such questions as: Why is our education system getting worse? Why are our hospitals and medical services getting worse? Why are our roads in such a state? Why are South Africa citizens so angry? Why is racism getting to a critical state? Why is our police force so corrupt? What is our government doing to solve the unemployment? Why does nothing in this country seem to work as it used to?
Stop blaming apartheid, it is long gone, face up to the music of the tunes you have created since those days. If you want South Africa to be considered as a First World country then it needs to be run by trustworthy leaders not by those who are voted in because of tribal links or threats.
Democracy is all very well, but when voting is done according to a name or group then we need to realise that democratic rights are been given not only to the educated but also the uneducated and until we can truly educate our population as to the whys' and wherefores' of what happens at the political dining table , then it will always be the poor masses that will be thrown the dry dog bones that are no longer needed by their false prophet leaders.

It is time for South African politicians to stop sitting on their walls and to get into the pond of ordinary people and to start doing what is best for all - no matter what their colour or creed may be.

Honesty in the end is truly the best policy.

Child abuse, child maintenance, when does a child actually start winning.

2009-03-25T15:23:00.009+02:00

Why are child maintenance court battles such long drawn out affairs? Why do all the parties concerned have to go back and forth, often from one city to another with flights and time off work, both rather costly these days, to be told by the magistrate that this or that is needed and to come back in one month, or two months, or whatever time to carry on the case?
Why is there not one magistrate allocated to the case instead of whoever happens to be on duty the day of the court appearance? Most of all why are travel expenses paid to the party who is being challenged for not paying the child maintenance while the other party often has to hire a lawyer to state their case as the courts are not helping them at all.
How often do we hear that the dribs and drabs that have been paid over for maintenance have in fact had to go to pay lawyers fees, and we all know that the lawyers will always say you owe it to the child/children to get the maintenance for them.
In my ultimate and very learned wisdom I suggest to the courts that a date be set for the court hearing and each party is to be instructed to bring their latest bank statements (the usual 3 months) , proof of DNA testing if required, and any other relevant information the courts might need such as general monthly expenses, how many children are involved etc. etc.
Then all parties concerned to sit down and discuss and make decisions there and then as to how the maintenance should be paid and who is responsible for paying for what.
Any breach of the agreement and the guilty party should be locked up. Is not providing for ones child a form of child abuse?
Instead the whole rigmarole is dragged out often over years, the children go without, everyone's time is wasted and as so often is the case it is the innocent who are made to suffer.
If we do not speak up and out about cases such as these nothing is going to change. Come on let's all start showing what is happening to these children and take their fights to the very public forum of the internet.

Kenyan Community Initiative Support: Fighting Malaria

2009-03-25T10:13:00.000+02:00

Kenyan Community Initiative Support: Fighting Malaria

Highways, freeways, motorways and byways

2009-03-22T18:38:00.017+02:00

Sunday afternoon, not much to do except sit and chatter about all and everything in our world, and as the conversation ebbed and flowed we began to discuss the state of the highways, motorway, freeways and roads in general in Gauteng.
It seems no matter which highway one drives on these day there are road works going full swing somewhere along the way. The most obvious of these being the Danie Joubert Freeway in the Centurion area and the Western Bypass in Johannesburg.
No matter what time of the day or night it is there are always lanes closed along these routes and so as traffic builds up and then spreads out there is no way of knowing what time one will reach ones destination.
I am so happy that I do not have to do the morning and evening road rumba any more, living in a small village does, for me at least, have many advantages. How does one calculate at what time they should leave for work these days, how does one arrange to fetch children at a certain time, and how does one plan for anything when there is always the worry at the back of the mind as to whether the final destination will be reached in time?
How is it that our illustrious forefathers, who built these roads in the first place, had so little planning and forecasting abilities? Did they not envisage even the minutest growth in the motor vehicle population of the Gauteng area? Even back in those good old days surely figures should have been checked and plans made for expansions should, in the far distant future of probably about five years, things begin to change and traffic get heavier? Obviously, what is obvious to us was not so obvious to the minds that were, even when these motorways were built ordinary folk like you and I were wondering how long they would cope. Now suddenly South Africa springs into action as the Football World Cup will be held here in 2010, so we rush around like made things trying to expand where there is not much space for expansion.
The public being their usual placid selves accept that perhaps they should leave an hour earlier for work and as the stagnant and stationary traffic bellows out exhaust fumes we all sit gaily in our vehicles chatting on cell phones, listening to the radio, counting the porta loos along the roadworks and swearing blindly at any other road user who happens to annoy us.
We all know that what they are inconveniencing us with at present will not be enough by the end of 2010 and so I have to ask my fellow road users, "After 2010 then what?"
If you know the answer please let me know.
One final question, in the end who do we blame, the apartheid era, the post apartheid era, both the above or just the idiots who in the first place did not have the insight to start the job properly so that as and when the need arose things could have been done without so much fuss.

A world washed clean the Johannesburg/Mpumalanga road

2009-03-13T09:41:00.016+02:00

Last week Friday I set out with a friend to travel to Nelspruit (a city that I thought was a small town). It is about a four hour drive from Johannesburg on a long and meandering road where the scenery changes from the flatish lands of Gauteng to the rather mountainous hills and dales of Mpumalanga.
As we drove along I could not help thinking that I had never before seen the vegetation that lush and green anywhere, or at any time, in Southern Africa. There were waterfalls glistening in the sunshine as they made their precarious way down steep hillsides and into the rivers below. A lot of the roadside trees were in full bloom and their colours stood out for miles as if they were bright beacons of hope casting out joy to all and sundry passing by. The air was fresh and clean with not a sign of city smog to keep it hanging heavily from the skies.

We saw birds floating on sunbeams and heard their happy cries as they celebrated the richness of the gifts of nature. This world had really been washed clean and one could almost feel the negativity in ones own being dissipate into nothingness as we wound our way past pine forests and fruit farms, gently grazing cattle and sheep and countryside alive with insects all singing as they warmed themselves up in the mid-morning sun. As the day heated up it became more humid yet the air remained light and so we continued our journey in comfort.
Nelspruit came into view, long straight streets criss-crossing each other in an attempt to bring all into the hub of the city centre. The flamboyant trees with their majestic bright orangey/red flowers reminded me of childhood days when I had scrambled up the enormous specimen that stood guard over the driveway at my parents home, happy days and happy memories.
We had a wonderful weekend and met delightful folk, yet come Monday morning were both glad to know that we were returning to our own homes. We left Nelspruit at about eight-thirty and decided we would amble our way back to the fast moving world of Gauteng. The drive was cool and as we gazed out at the passing countryside I was glad to notice that the Gods had placed a protective and gentle mantle over the hills and valleys, a soft promise that wherever we are there is always a sign that so to are They.

Dancing Politicians

2009-03-11T15:29:00.004+02:00

Why I ask, is it that politicians always seem to be moving around, almost dancing, whenever they are rallying around to practice the art of trumpery on their loyal and unsuspecting followers?
With feet stamping and arms gesticulating they declare to all around them, and the world at large, what sincere, humble and honest folk they really are. They are only there to voice the opinions of the masses, and they do totally understand the position of those who are unemployed and will certainly do their utmost to bring the country out of whatever bad situation it seems to be in at the moment.
I wonder do they stand in front of a full length mirror to practice facial expressions and body movements to ensure that they will keep the audience enthralled with their wise words and promised forecasts?
As they gaily go tub-thumping from one side to another with voices filled with exaggerations of what they will do for the country and of pie crust promises that anyone with any form of brain matter would easily see through and never believe.
Do they watch replays of the opposition to see if their dance moves are better than their own, or do they pay vast, but very worth it, amounts of money to have a choreographer design the entire show?
Would we not perhaps get a better leader and parliament if elections in South Africa were done on the same basis as "Strictly come Dancing"? For one they would probably get a better viewing audience and then all the participants would each have an equal turn to show their spins and pirouettes to the spellbound spectators. There would be weekly voting and the competitor who got the least votes would of course have to leave the show immediately. There could be no chance of one participant helping or supporting another, each would have to stand or dance on their own.
I am sure more dances could be added to the agenda to ensure that all possible moves and cantatas were displayed and heard from all angles.
For once the common man in the street might get a more truthful picture of what he was letting himself in for and therefore think very carefully before he made his cross on any voting form.
Politicians are all for power and glory, it is such a pity that they only want them for themselves!

The Gravy Train

2009-03-01T21:27:00.005+02:00

Surely it is time that the South African Gravy Train was put out to pasture or whatever it is that we do to Gravy Trains when they have travelled the length and breadth of the entire country for so long. I wonder how long the life span has been on the wheels of this very overused and over crowded form of transport. As it has chugged along the tracks of South Africa how many coaches have had to be added to hold all the gravy that has been diligently collected by the passengers.
I also wonder has the driver ever been instructed to stop at some lowly and isolated village to share a bit with the locals, I doubt it very much.
It is time for the voters to derail the train, share out the massive bounty with the poor and put the train on display, with wheels firmly locked so that at last our illustrious politicians will actually have to work for their wages and perhaps with a bit of luck work for us as well.

Sour grapes, stale doughnuts and bad service.

2009-02-10T21:24:00.005+02:00

What is it about supermarkets these days that you cannot get a fresh doughnut any day of the week. What makes it more annoying is when you politely ask the staff member who is serving you if they are :- 1) freshly made today?
2) have they been made on the premises?
To both questions you get a huge smile and the usual yes Ma'am, to make double sure you repeat both questions in English and then Afrikaans to ensure that they have really understood what you mean, once again the smile and the yes Ma'am. You then ask for 2, and ever so slowly the cake box is made up and even more slowly the price tag is printed and used to seal the box. Upon receipt of today's and made on the premises very fresh doughnuts you rip open the box and do the touch test- lightly prod one of the doughnuts with you finger - nothing moves at all, they have either muddled up the flour with cement or they are very, very stale doughnuts. Either way you are not willing to break teeth on them or cause a divorce by feeding you man what is totally inedible, remember he married you for your excellent cooking and baking abilities.
You then politely hand the box back to the smiling and now confused face and say that perhaps you won't be purchasing doughnuts today. You get glared at, mumbled at and then the body retreats rather quickly in case you are going to ask for the Manager, but that elusive creature is seldom found in South African supermarkets these days.
Never mind though doughnuts are a bit fattening and fruit is healthier so off you toddle to the fresh produce section only to find a poor selection of previously frozen and now half thawed fruit that you would be embarrassed to serve to the birds that visit you for their daily lunch.
With basket half empty and mind wondering about what you can produce for afternoon tea you stand patiently in a queue waiting your turn. Once at the till, and to save the planet, you hand the packer your plastic packet that you paid good money for only last month.
What happens then is tragic, she gaily picks up the heaviest item that you have purchased and rams it into the bag so hard that the bottom tears and your bag is now nothing but another bit of refuse. Are the supermarkets paying their staff bonus's to break customers bags, it must increase their sales when their staff rip and tear the customers property. Here I must add If I have only paid 20 something cents for a plastic bag it does not matter the bag is my property and the shop staff have no right to break it. I think the supermarkets should be made to replace plastic bags belonging to customers if their staff have so blatantly or carelessly broken them.
Finally I get home hot and bothered because my shopping experience has been anything but good. I make some scones, and plan apple crumble for pudding (with homemade custard obviously), bring out the cups and serve tea. Hubby is happy and I am happy, my own baking as usual is fresh, light and fabulous.
I must add however there is a taste of sour grapes in my mouth as just once in a blue moon I would like to purchase some form of supermarket fresh food that really is fresh.

There's something about Africa.

2009-02-01T20:10:00.002+02:00

Sometimes I only need to see something like this to make living in Africa something very special.

What's the rush

2009-01-27T21:48:00.003+02:00

Went to Pretoria today, not my favourite place to visit but sometimes don't have a choice, as was the case today. You all may think I have a mental problem but for some unexplainable reason I do not exceed the speed limits. If you choose to speed, then it is your choice, but for myself I am not prepared to accept responsibility for injuring or killing another road user, and yes that does include animals that happen to be on the same road as myself.
The road I use is a country one, single lane and with the usual compliment of pot holes dotted here and there along the way. It is quite busy but usually the traffic manages to keep up to the allotted 80 or 100km.
Today the road was busy, but nothing exceptional, traffic was however building up a bit as there was a large truck battling to keep up to the speed limit of 100km. Suddenly some inconsiderate road user (not the words I used at the time) put his foot down on the peddle, swerved off the road and proceeded to overtake everyone on the left side (remember in South Africa we drive on the left), thus throwing up dirt and rocks on all the vehicles he passed.
One of the rocks happened to hit my windscreen and crack it rather badly, I do not know if I was the only one who suffered damage, but on stopping as soon as I could (without causing another mishap) to assess the damage, I lost my cell phone just to really make my day.
Was his rush so great that he could not stay on the tar road? Did he just not care about other road users?
Surely if one drives a vehicle one should also consider other road users but as we so often see these days no one ever wants to be anything but first in line, pushing, shoving and bad manners are the rule of the road and a lot of other things it seems.
Where does honest courtesy start and why doesn't anyone seem to use it any more.
Most of all what made him more important than any one else on that country road. I hope he arrived at his destination safely and did not have to put up with the loutish behaviour he himself displayed.

Is/are, this/ these, with or without?

2009-01-18T18:53:00.007+02:00

These signs are at the pool area in the complex where my daughter lives!
I am hoping my grandson has not been reading them for the sake of his English heritage.

They make me so mad, I quote "I want to throw the people who ordered them wif several stones." unquote.
If you don't know a language well, just ask someone who does. One would have thought the sign writer would have suggested correcting the language errors.

PS Braai is the South African word for barbecue.

South African Elections 2009

2009-01-14T20:06:00.008+02:00

A light through communication!

When looking for a leader, look for kindness shining in their eyes, a gentle voice, and humbleness. Look for someone who will look you in the eye, and not look down on you. All living things on Earth are equal, expect your leaders to respect you and your way of life, learn to respect their ways, but do not accept greed as being a part of their way.
Greed is a very personal thing, so if greed and great wealth are part of a leader's lifestyle then they are not true to you or to the group of souls they are leading. They are only true to their own wants and desires and are only manipulating you.
There are many true leaders here in South Africa, but by their very humbleness they are not in the places they should be. It is time for us South Africans to seek out these more gentle souls, to give them the powers they do not crave, and listen to them and learn.
We all need to look into the past, recent and long ago, and remember the lessons learnt, and to be gentle with each other so that in time others will learn to be gentle with us.

A view to a bright future!

What next

2009-01-11T20:55:00.002+02:00

Never seen this before!

A portable loo and a dumpster, I leave choice and comments to the world out there.

The road to riches

2009-01-09T08:42:00.003+02:00

It's a rich country that shows you where to find the diamonds!

Cullinan, South Africa.

An intersection in Pretoria.

2009-01-03T09:52:00.007+02:00

While driving on Pretoria Street in Silverton we spotted these street signs at the same intersection.

Afrikaans/French DE BOULEVARD-STRAAT
Not correct, but understandable

English/French DE BOULEVARD STREET
Also incorrect, but understandable

My favorite DE BOULEVA RD
Confusion!

DE BOULEVARD
Makes sense, I think.

I checked in the MapStudio Street Guide and that informs me that it is "De Boulevard Road".
If anyone out there knows what the street, road, boulevard, lane, avenue, whatever really is called, please let the world know. I checked the meaning of boulevard in my dictionary, I quote "a wide street, typically one lined with trees". As a matter of note there are not many trees along that particular section.
I do not wonder any more why I get lost whenever I go to Pretoria.

Signs in Africa

2009-01-02T10:47:00.005+02:00

The road to Pretoria

Ladybrandt in the Free State.

I have seen this sign in a few places on the road from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein.

Pet foods

2008-12-28T09:32:00.009+02:00

The lady of the house,
note the distinguished pose.

Friends?

Every morning at about this time, in other words after my first cup of coffee, I feed the motley crew of two animals. One a long nose and distinguished looking ten year old, young lady dog named Shooter - the apple of her mother's eye. The other a new breed of cat known as Magaliesburg big foot going by the name of Kiger, a loud and unruly animal to say the least, who is visiting his Granny and Grandpa until he flies to Dubai to join his parents there.
As I got the tins out the fridge to inform them of what was for breakfast I thought is there really a pet food company that cares so much about an out of control cat that it specially prepares pilchards in prawn jelly for a palate which prefers lizard and pigeon. I was not brave enough to taste the pinkish mish mash that came out of the tin but obviously Kiger did not believe a word of what was written on the label. He had a few small mouthfuls and toddled off outside to do a bit of personal hunting for what to his acquired taste is good food.
Then when I politely called "Shooter P........... (not a rude word, I am simply protecting her surname) breakfast" and she came jogging in from her morning romp in the garden to a bowl full of beef and boerewors flavour whatever. The look in her eyes was very easy to read, "Mom all this tastes the same and needs garlic. How about a nice homemade stew for a change with dumplings?" Alas, I could not indulge her this morning but then perhaps tomorrow I will go shopping just for the two of them, then come home and feed them good old fashioned Mom/Grandma type food, then and only then will I sit down on the kitchen floor with them and share the meal.
Provided they invite me.

Comment from Shooter "Does that darn cat have to have a bath in my bed?"

Making friends with the neighbour

2008-12-24T09:39:00.005+02:00

He hasn't yet invited us over for tea or anything like that, but he does seem quite friendly and he does like children!

Dancing with the fairies

2008-12-24T08:27:00.007+02:00

It's late, I am so hot, and the air is like a heavy blanket over me. Sleep is hard to come by and so I lie there awake listening to the sounds of the night. All is still and then slowly in the distance a rumble starts and gathers momentum as it moves closer to where I am.
Don't you love the drums of thunder as with a crash of giant symbols the drum roll starts? The air is suddenly electrified and all things come to life. The Heavenly orchestra plays out it's symphony in a meticulous fashion. Very slowly the string instruments come forward and the gentle pitter, patter of rain drops play the harp of the spiders web hidden in the garden.
The wind joins in and whistles and sings her way through branches and trees. Nature is awake.
I lie there with eyes closed tight, something in my mind tells me there is more in my garden tonight than I have ever seen. There is a soft scent in the air, and little scratchings on the windows, gentle whispers from unknown voices. I dare not open my eyes, lest the magic around me be broken, and so I lie, still and hardly breathing as the little people come out to play in the thunder and rain.
I drift off into the world of sleep and dreams, all the sounds and sensations still with me. In my dreams I am dancing with the fairies, my steps as light as their's. The whole garden is alive and plant and animal alike are moving together to the mystical notes of unknown instruments.
It is dawn, and as I wake and open my eyes I remember the dance of my dreams, it feels so real, not at all like a dream. Did my dance really happen?
I walk out into the garden, the flowers all look tired as their heads hang down in a state of exhaustion. The branches on the trees also hang low as if asking mother nature to refresh them, they all seem as physically tired as I.

Just look at the fairy diamonds the fairies left for me on the rose bush.
Perhaps I did dance with the fairies!

African sunrise

2008-12-13T15:09:00.004+02:00

One chilly January morning at Elandshoek, Rayton.