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| Contents |
Issue No. 300 -- 16 August 2004 |
Editor's Message
Quote/s of the Week
Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week
Bits and Bobs
The Legal Beagle
Help Desk
Where are they now?
Club and Other News
Humour
Recipes
Sports News
Credits and Contact Info
Subscribing and Unsubscribing
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TOP |
Yay!!! We got to ski yesterday!!
We took the boat out much earlier this past Sunday than the previous week... hoping to get some quiet (flat) water on which to ski. We had to drive down to the other end of the dam to find fla twater but right by the dam wall it was mirror flat with no other boat traffic.
So I donned my long wet suit and in I went! It was about 55 degrees F according to our boat thermometer and a bit nippy but quite tolerable. I got up first time and had a great time. Did not over do it (and my skiing muscles tell me today that I did use them quite a bit!) so next weekend will be more adventuresome.
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Here are a couple of pics of yours truly... the first one is me just after I started out near the dam wall.
The second one is a bit later in the open water.
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Reminder!! Captain Ken and I leave for the US at the beginning of September. I am staying on in England for a slightly extended visit with my dear daughter Deborah... great fun... and lots of shopping!!!
What this means is there will be no SAWmail for the month of September. I will give you all a reminder each week so by the time I go you will all be sick of hearing about the trip I am sure!!
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. - Helen Keller
Ideas without action are worthless. - Harvey Mackay
People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success. - Norman Vincent Peale
Some folks go through life pleased that the glass is half full. Others spend a lifetime lamenting that it's half-empty. The truth is: There is a glass with a certain volume of liquid in it. From there, it's up to you! - Dr. James S. Vuocolo
Send in any quotes you love... that have some special meaning for you... and I will use at least one every week. New updated address! editor@saw.co.za
| Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week |
TOP |
Coming Home
Welcome to our new section! Each week we will feature a question and answer sent in to the Company for Immigration. We hope these will help answer any questions you might have regarding any part of the coming home process. If you would like to send in your own question, please feel very free to do so.
We will also be featuring a great amount of information on the SAW Website (www.saw.co.za) under the Coming Home section. You can also find out info by visiting our newly relaunched site, South Africa Online (www.southafrica.co.za) and checking out the Coming to SA section.
Here is a bit more info...
Whenever and wherever South Africans meet, the surest way to start a lively discussion, is to ask someone for an opinion about emigration from or remigration back to South Africa. In 2002 we (i.e. the non-profit immigration service, Company for Immigration, and the trade-union, Solidarity) realized that the return of South African expats had become a fact and that their inputs are essential for the growth and development of the country. We are neither interested in a debate about the reasons why people leave or come back, nor about the merit of their decisions. We prefer to provide a practical service instead:
offering advice and assistance to prospective remigrants;
addressing the problems which cause people to emigrate; and informing people about the pros and cons of emigration, to help them make an informed decision before leaving.
Interested? Want to receive our monthly newsletter by email? Have questions or suggestions? If so, please visit our mirror sites www.comehome.co.za or www.komhuistoe.co.za and leave your details on the visitor's page, or contact us at admin@cfi.org.za. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Alana & Annatjie
COME HOME CAMPAIGN
This week’s query:
My card-type driver's license will expire in October 2004, but I will only return to South Africa in 2005. How can I renew it from the UK?
Julia, UK
Dear Julia
Unfortunately you will not be able to renew the licence unless you are physically present in South Africa. The reason is that your fingerprints and an eye-test will be required when you apply for the renewal.
Should you only return to South Africa after the current licence's expiry, you can visit your nearest Driving Licence Testing Centre with 3 passport-type photographs (32 x 40mm); your ID; your passport to prove your absence; letters from your foreign employer/institution to prove that you worked/studied abroad; your expired licence and a fee of between R100 and R170 in cash. (Different provinces have different rates). For more information, you can visit www.transport.co.za.
With kind regards
Alana & Annatjie
COME HOME CAMPAIGN
Company for Immigration / Maatskappy vir Immigrasie
P.O. Box 1283, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
T: 0027-12-3231428
F: 0027-12-3239587
admin@cfi.org.za
Africa's Health-Care Brain Drain
As Africa tries to fight AIDS, the single most serious obstacle is a desperate shortage of health workers. Yet at the same time, doctors, nurses and pharmacists in English-speaking African countries are emigrating in droves to Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia. In Ghana and Zimbabwe, three-quarters of all doctors emigrate within a few years of completing medical school. Randall Tobias, President Bush's global AIDS coordinator, said in a recent speech that there were more Ethiopian-trained doctors practicing in Chicago than in Ethiopia.
The problem isn't new, particularly when it comes to African doctors, but as Celia Dugger wrote recently in The Times, the flight of nurses is a growing phenomenon, fueled principally by the nursing shortages in wealthy nations. Instead of paying salaries that would attract homegrown nurses, American hospitals recruit in the Caribbean, the Philippines, India and Africa. The same is true in Britain. From 1994 to 2001, the number of nurses registering to work in Britain who came from outside Europe grew to 15,000 from 2,000.
The group Physicians for Human Rights recently published a detailed report about this problem and its consequences. One is that the world's poorest countries are providing enormous quantities of medical aid to the richest. The United Nations estimates that every time Malawi educates a doctor who practices in Britain, it saves Britain $184,000.
It's understandable why overseas work is attractive. AIDS and tuberculosis have stretched African health services to the breaking point, placing impossible demands on nurses in particular. They do their jobs without adequate equipment or drugs. Their paychecks sometimes arrive months late. They risk infection - in some places, even gloves are scarce. While rich countries average 222 doctors per 100,000 people, Uganda has fewer than 6. Malawi has 17 nurses for every 100,000 citizens; many rich countries have more than 1,000.
This is a problem with no easy solutions. One of the worst ideas would be any sort of restrictions on emigration, which would not only be discriminatory, but also counterproductive. Africans would be even less likely to choose careers in medicine. Nevertheless, it's unseemly for wealthy countries, which could afford to pay nurses enough to create an ample homegrown supply, to run ads instead to recruit skilled staff in places like South Africa. In 2001, the British National Health Service swore off recruiting nurses from countries without their governments' agreement, but private hospitals and nursing homes still do it.
African doctors and nurses understand how much they are needed at home, and many would resist relocation if the conditions under which they work were more bearable. The obvious long-term solution to the medical brain drain is for wealthier countries to reimburse Africa's health and educational systems for the cost of poaching their professionals, and to greatly increase the financing and technical help for Africa's health systems - in their entirety, not just the clinics that deal with AIDS.
The concern over AIDS, paradoxically, has created an opportunity by focusing world attention on Africa's miserable health care. Improving it would cost very little money, relatively speaking, and end the exodus of doctors and nurses that is exacerbating the epidemic's devastation.
Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company
Mail Order Pets – Buyer Beware
This from the NSPCA
Contact Christine Kuch on 011-90703590 or 082 485 1433
Flyers have been appearing in the Cape Peninsula headed “Puppies for sale” and listing over 20 breeds of pups or dogs available with prices including “Special of the Month” a “Doberman large pup” at R900.00 (“only one left”).
A telephone call to one of the two contact names – only cell phone numbers given – revealed that this is a long-distance animal brokering scheme. The employee of the animal welfare organisation who made contact with the people behind the advertisements was told that a deposit of 50% of the price of the animal had to be paid into an account “on booking” and the balance paid in “on arrival” of the animal.
The NSPCA Statement of Policy “Opposes the sale of live animals by any long-distance brokering.” The NSPCA finds this practice unethical and unacceptable.
“What concerns us most,” explained NSPCA spokesperson Christine Kuch, “is that people buy pets this way and then come to animal welfare organisations to complain and pick up the pieces when then dog they “ordered” is the wrong colour or not pure-bred. These are common complaints we have had with other “pets-by-mail-order” schemes. One woman told me she ordered a dog for her son’s birthday. What kind of person does that? Her complaint was that it arrived late for his birthday. That is not a welfare issue but a consumer matter.”
“Operations like these would have been put out of business long ago if the public did not support them.” We ask people to think carefully about what kind of operation they would be getting involved with – if the advertisement can’t even spell the names of certain breeds. Surely, that tells you something. “Buyer beware” is an understatement. Yet, the reaction – sad to report – of people seeing the flyer is “Oh they’re only asking Rx, that’s cheap for a ....” If anything appears too good to be true, it probably is.
When it comes to live animals, we ask people to think VERY, very carefully.
Serious welfare issues arise including the source of the puppies and dogs. Anyone advertising a whole list of over 20 breeds with available puppies surely cannot be a registered or reputable breeder. Don’t warning bells ring in people’s heads? The NSPCA does not believe that a responsible and reputable breeder would advertise puppies for sale by placing flyers at ATMs.
The public keeps these operations in business.
The current advertisement gives the names of Jean and Carla on 072 560 5344 and 072 134 7907 as the people to contact.
The Good News – South African Reserve Bank drops the interest rate again and introduces a new R5 coin
On Thursday the 12th of August, the South African Reserve Bank announced good news for the economy when it dropped the prime interest rate by another half a percent to 11%. This is further good news for businesses and homeowners in particular, as they had already benefited by a drop of 5.5% in the prime rate during 2003.
The new rates, the lowest in decades, are expected to drive further growth in the economy. There is already a retail spending boom underway, as well as a sustained boom in the property market. Exporters will also be relieved by a drop in the Rand, which fell by 4% against the dollar immediately after the announcement. Many, especially gold mines, were taking great strain from a Rand considered too strong after having strengthened more than 100% against the dollar since January 2002, because it made South African goods comparatively expensive for foreigners.
The Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee felt that the outlook for inflation, which is sitting well within its 3-6% target range, remains good. It also expects the international oil price, one of the drivers of inflation, to come off its current highs, thereby reducing future inflation risks. One of the major drivers behind the decision, however, is the potential positive effect on economic growth and job creation.
In other news from the Reserve Bank, on Monday the 2nd of August it introduced 7 million new R5 coins into the economy. The coin, which has a bronze-coloured centre and a silver-coloured border, incorporates many enhanced security features to make it easier for the public to spot counterfeit coins.
Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni said at the launch of the coin that "it is the South African Reserve Bank's responsibility to ensure the credibility and integrity of our currency and to ensure public confidence in our country's money."
The new R5 coin has the same circumference as the present coin, but it is slightly thicker and heavier. Security features include a security groove on the rim, serrations on both sides of the groove, "SARB R5" engraved into the groove, and micro-lettering depicting "SARB" on the reverse side of the coin.
It is expected that all of these features will make it far harder for counterfeiters to copy R5 coins, but as Mr Mboweni pointed out, "Security features on money are only reliable if people use them, so everybody should get to know their money."
The existing silver-coloured R5 coin will stay in circulation and be accepted as legal tender, but it will be phased out and replaced via the commercial banks. There is currently R540-million worth of old R5 coins in circulation.
Vending machine operators were given samples of the new coin three months ago and have been working on upgrading their machines to be able to accept both the new and old R5 coins. Zeag, the first company in the world to develop pay-on-foot systems, started the process by upgrading parking machines at Cresta shopping centre in Johannesburg.
For more interesting and exciting news about developments in South Africa, subscribe to the International Marketing Council's regular BrandSA newsletter by visiting www.imc.org.za/goodstuff.htm or www.imc.org.za/subscribe.asp. You can also visit the South African gateway website at www.southafrica.info.
Little Things
This from Marlene Smith
After Sept. 11th, one company invited the remaining members of other companies who had been decimated by the attack on the Twin Towers to share their available office space.
At a morning Meeting, the head of security told stories of why these people were alive... and all the stories were just: The 'L I T T L E' Things.
As you might know, the head of the Company got in late that day because his son started kindergarten. Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.
Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone... all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.
Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.
Mind Massage
Lite is fun. Fun is good.
That's the overwhelming view of those who responded to my question about the tone of this ezine. Whew! I'm so glad! It's WAY more fun to, um, have fun.
Doesn't mean I can't throw in a few deep subjects. Quantum physics? Transhumanism?
Wait. I already wrote about those. Racism? Human rights? Done. Gay marriage? Skepticism? Yep.
Anyway, I promise to keep you thinking, help you become more mindful, and make you laugh now and then.
Cheers!
Maya ;-)
Ch-Ch-Chain of Hearts: Cranking Up Compassion
Can you hear your compassion? It's time to crank it up.
One of the most difficult challenges we face in our quest to be compassionate is dealing with conflict. Those we love most tend to be the ones most likely to engage us in sparring that cuts the deepest.
Why do we allow ourselves to use our harshest words and most acid tone of voice with the people we love most?
Precisely because we love them most. We're counting on unconditional love. We know we are likely to be forgiven. We feel close enough to let our true ugliness shine.
Blindingly.
We wouldn't dream of lashing out at our colleagues at work in this way. That would be way too risky. Instead, we bottle our daily frustration and dump it all over our loved ones when we get home.
Many of my clients struggle with showing compassion for their partners, children and parents when they are feeling stressed. Instead of relaxing into affection, they respond to requests or confrontation with anger.
Most frustrating of all is the fact that, while they are lashing out, they recognize that they are alienating those with whom they most want to feel a connection and find comfort. It's as though they are watching themselves lob grenades but are powerless to stop.
One of the best--and easiest to remember--triggers for changing behavior is thinking of a particular song phrase. I teach clients to use the "ch-ch-chain" part of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" to kick off a remarkably simple visualization exercise that is very effective in diffusing escalating conflict. It's based on a traditional loving-kindness meditation, but it's a lot more fun!
Visualize a chain of hearts--an extended valentine, if you will--connecting your heart to theirs. Remember that you are linked by this shared affection.
In our best moments, we do whatever we can to protect our loved ones from pain. If this person had an injury or illness, you would be gentle, soothing and kind, right? You've probably spent hours caring for this individual with great tenderness.
Tap into that. Look at the chain of hearts. Your sharp words slash through that chain like a machete. STOP. Let the words drop away as you focus on that connection. Feel your anger and frustration being replaced by compassion.
"Ch-ch-chay-ay-ay-ay-ain...." It's hard to stay cranky while mentally chanting the "ch-ch-chain" mantra and visualizing that valentine.
Can't feel the love? Try another Aretha Franklin song. Instead of focusing on that ch-ch-chain of hearts, dive into "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and replace that poison in your words with civility.
Not into Aretha? Pick your own song. Let your mental radio play, and use it to crank up your compassion.
[Bah-oomp] Makes me feel like A Natural Woman...
Thanks for the Memory
Special thanks to Vicky B., a South African now living in England, for reminding me of the chain of hearts concept. She got a complimentary copy of my ebook for her suggestion.
I once spent two whole weeks at a silent meditation retreat focusing on loving-kindness and the chain of hearts. I found it hard to stop thinking of the "ch-ch- chain" phrase. Back in the real world, I decided to take advantage of it!
Got an idea for another song phrase suitable for this visualization? Send it to me! If I mention it in the Friday Mind Massage, I'll send you a complimentary copy of my ebook, "Massage Your Mind!: Defining Your Life Philosophy" as a thank you.
Send your phrase to maya@massageyourmind.com
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Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 90 countries. This article appeared in the Friday Mind Massage, a free weekly ezine serving up a satisfying blend of clarity, comfort and comic relief. To subscribe, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com.
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©Copyright 2004, Maya Talisman Frost
52 Best Stories – Preacher Man
Preacher Man was a well-known character with a reputation as a peddler. There was a story circulated that he had been discharged from the service with a "shell shock" condition. Some accused him of missing his "shooting tall" marble and found him a nuisance; others, just pitied or avoided him.
Preacher Man raised vegetables on a small patch of land he rented from a woman who had befriended him; he then sold his produce door-to-door. But peddling was not actually his profession; preaching was. He was thought of as being one of the less fortunate. Yet, he preached as though he was truly blessed. He could be seen walking door-to-door, peddling the Gospel along with the vegetables he had grown.
Preacher Man was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. He was not feeling well one day and the lady who had befriend him and rented him her land to raise his vegetables, knew he shouldn't be left alone. She insisted he sleep on her couch that night. The next morning, about 7:00 a.m., Ileen, the next-door neighbor, received a call:
"Send Gary over quickly. Preacher Man is on the floor in the bathroom, and I am afraid he is dead."
Ileen's husband, Gary, quickly ran over, while Ileen dialed 911, then started out the door herself. As she entered her neighbor's home, it was suddenly silent; she could see her husband checking on Preacher Man, lying on the bathroom floor. Ileen sat down in the living room, next to her neighbor, while Gary turned Preacher Man over, hoping to try and give him CPR.
Just as the door opened and the paramedics entered the house, Gary turned to witness their approach. Halfway through the living room, they stopped as if by an invisible force. It was at that moment Gary said he became aware of an overwhelming, almost deafening silence.
"It was as if I were feeling the presences of God," Gary said. Even the paramedics seemed to sense something, by their actions.
"It was a peaceful silence, as if time were standing still," both Gary and Ileen said.
Sitting there together, Ileen and her neighbor had a clear view of Preacher Man as he lay on the floor of the small bathroom. They suddenly became aware of a bright light that encircled him, as if outlining him; yet, it lit up the whole bathroom. There was no window in the bathroom, and yet there was a glow as bright as the sun.
"I was encased in a feeling of overwhelming awe, is the only way I can explain it," Ileen told me.
After the silent pause, the paramedics went to Preacher Man, though it was too late for anyone to be of help. As the paramedics worked, Ileen and her neighbor continued to see the glow surrounding him.
The rescue attempt was useless, and as the paramedics left, the glow arose from Preacher Man's body, ascending towards the ceiling as if ushering his spirit heavenward. Then the light dissipated and was gone. Ileen said she and her neighbor often talked about the bright light, the miraculous wonder, they had witnessed, in the days following Preacher Man's burial.
While alive Preacher Man's heart went out to those who were needy both in body and in spirit. Often, sacks of vegetables could be found on doorsteps of those who were laid off and out of work.
"That day, the day of his death, it was as if God had come to usher home a special saint," Ileen said.
When Jesus' disciples were arguing about which one would be the greatest in heaven he called a child to His side and used it as an example telling them, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes my father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest."
I believe it is how we treat others - those who seem different, poor or needy, or the outcast in our society - which may determine our greatness and our rewards. God surely must look upon the humble, which go about doing His will, as the greatest. Money in the bank, a nice car, a beautiful home or a lovely persona does not determine our greatness.
Perhaps this story will show us more completely how God looks upon a soul at death - and what He deems as important. It is often those who appear to be the least among us who are actually the greatest.
~ The Author is Betty King who is a speaker and freelance writer. She has an ezine, "Moments of Reflection," that may be subscribed to by going to her website at http://www.bettyking.net By receiving her ezine she hopes to add a bright spot to your day by way of encouraging, inspiring or merely entertaining you ~
http://www.52best.com/preacher.asp
One Man’s Australia
Nothing received from Glen this week.
Northern Lighties
Nothing received from Charles this week.
Ramblings Of A Francophobe
Mike will be back soon.
Changing Lanes – Travel 2004
Sandra will be back soon.
Boetjie Worldwide
Impressions – at last!
Soon I will have been in Australia for all of two years, so I have decided it’s about time that I share my impressions of my new home with you. It has taken this long, because I wanted to steep myself in my new surroundings and ensure that my impressions are not clouded by either the honeymoon phase (when one sees only the good) or the reality check phase (when the warts start becoming glaringly visible). Also, I must emphasise that these are basically my impressions of only the parts of Victoria I have seen.
Melbourne has become one of my favourite cities, along with Cape Town, Lisbon and Ponta Delgada. There are so many similarities with Cape Town that it is sometimes uncanny. Of course here we do not have plastic bags fluttering from the fences along the roads into the city, we do not have the sad sight of thousands of shacks crowding the roadside, and there are far fewer beggars on the streets. But the Mother City and Melbourne both have that cosmopolitan buzz, both have a mix of old and new buildings and the relaxed, easygoing approach to life that makes living here such a privilege. Both cities have a very similar climate, although the Cape is generally a bit warmer in summer and wetter in winter.
But the differences are very noticeable, too. Public transport is a pleasure to use here; safe, regular, mostly clean and usually punctual. The integrated public transport system means that for about the cost of a packet of cigarettes one is entitled to unlimited travel on buses, trams or trains for the duration of the ticket’s validity. Melbourne is cleaner and greener, with the London planes along the streets making walking in the city a pleasure on even the hottest summer day. There are plenty of rubbish bins along every street, and of course, this being the arts capital of the country, statutes and other pieces of art can be seen everywhere. But the biggest bonus of living here is the large number of large, clean, safe and beautiful parks and gardens, where office workers can enjoy their lunch hours on benches or on the lawns, watching the river or passers-by or both. Along the northern bank of the Yarra there are even barbeque facilities for those who prefer to prepare their own hot lunches!
Yes, Melbourne is indeed a very liveable city, and it is a joy and an adventure to explore the nooks and crannies of the city.
But even outside the city itself one is surrounded by many green spaces: parks, gardens and picnic spots. Victoria is called the garden state, and rightly so. Most of these parks can be enjoyed free of charge, or else the entry fees are nominal. The outlying villages (or “townships”, as they are called here) and towns are pretty, interesting or both, and each town has made an effort to market its own attractions, with visitor information offices common, easy to find and staffed by really friendly and helpful people, as I have discovered during my many visits to a great number of these towns while out on photo shoots for my Cam website.
Getting out and about in my part of Victoria is also easy and a pleasure, as the road network is good and well-maintained. Yes, the tolled sections of some highways can be expensive and are a bit of a pain not only to one’s pocket, and yes, the smaller country roads can be hazardous because the shoulders are sometimes a bit rough and they can get slippery in wet or frosty conditions, but on the whole it is a pleasure to drive around here.
I can carry on enumerating more and more plusses about this part of Australia, but I am sure most of you are already thinking that there simply has to be some minuses as well! There are…
The idea of having inexperienced drivers as young as seventeen bowling along at breakneck speeds in high-performance Holdens, Fords or Mitshubishis does not appeal to me. They are required to have clearly visible P (for probationary driver) plates, so one has a certain amount of warning, but I still think they should be restricted as regards the size and power of the vehicles they drive. No wonder such a significant percentage of road accidents and fatalities involve these youngsters.
There is an over-emphasis on speed, as well, with a vast number of speed cameras operated by private contractors on a tender basis bringing in millions of dollars every year. Good idea to use them to make the roads safer, yes, but why are they then virtually never used along dangerous stretches of road, instead of on safe sections of urban streets, or freeways (where the maximum speed limit is a ridiculous (for a South African, anyway) 100 km/h? Annually thousands of Victorians get caught drink-driving, too, but that is mostly because the allowed blood alcohol level is a low 0,05. Drivers here are generally very considerate, with the odd exceptions (usually either P-platers or truckies!), so driving remains a pleasure, really.
I watch a great deal of television, and that is one area where I often complain or grumble. The three commercial networks are generally good, but I still have not got used to having to sit through an endless repetition of the same boring ads every time points have been scored in a match. I miss insightful and significant discussions of the play during half-time. And I will never, ever again complain about South African or Portuguese commentators being biased, because they are not a patch on Aussies commentators, who make no pretence even at impartiality.
Talking of TV ads, some of the local advertising agencies could do worse than study South African TV advertisements. A really funny or stunning ad is rare here – well, at least for one used to the excellent standards set by SA advertising agencies.
Oh, and I am bored stiff by the excessive use of the words “all new”, as in “an all new Whatever” when the series has been running for almost a year!
I have discovered that the only place to get decent coverage of world news is on SBS, a community-based TV station. They also have the best international sports coverage. And South Africans may remember Anton Enus, who is a news reader for SBS Television here. You see, Aussies are very patriotic, and rightly so, but it can get a bit much for non-Australians who work or live here temporarily. And I have not yet reached the point where I am more interested in what happens purely locally as opposed to in the rest of the world.
Yes, I miss extended and in-depth coverage of sports events not featuring Australians or Australian teams, but then I’m still pretty much a citizen of the world with wider horizons… but, dammit, it would have been so very, very good to see the Springboks at last beat the All Blacks! Alas, I had to wait 24 hours before I even got to see a two-minute insert in a sports news programme, as we do not have pay-TV at home.
State and federal politics alternately amuse and bewilder me. There are such minor differences between the two major parties that it often comes down to personalities only. But what every South African does find familiar is the role of the opposition; it reminds very strongly of the way the opposition parties worked in the old apartheid days in SA… “My policy is to disagree with yours”, that kind of thing! Perhaps it’s a good thing I’m not yet entitled to vote, because I would be hard pressed to make a choice!
All things considered, though, I am very happy here. It would have been lovely, had the local society been less “street friendly” and more welcoming of newcomers in their homes, because I have yet to make a good male friend here, and in two years have been invited to very few homes. But perhaps that’s just because I do not come across as a good guest, eh? At least even the locals have the same complaint. Victorians, on the whole, are very careful as to whom they invite into their inner circles. This is not a peculiarity of local society, though, and does not bother me all that much.
I look forward to spending many more years here, to being able to explore more of the rest of this vast country, and I enjoy being able to share my views of this part of the world with a growing number of people worldwide through the weekly photos that go onto my Cam website. I love meeting new people here and I thrive in this warm, vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Hey, so there are warts here, so what? Every place has its problems and its ugly side. But there is enough good to keep me happy!
Mooiloop!
Ray
raytheron at iprimus.com.au
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Legal Beagle - SA
Hi
I am trying to research the possibility of spending one month at a South African University for a small section of my PhD thesis. Can you provide any pertinent information that may assist me in my endeavours? For example is a visa and study permit required for a month of research and a joint collaboration? Is so, how long does it take to process? What kind of immunizations are needed before travelling to South (& East) Africa. Thanks Jacinta
Dear Jacinta,
If you are going to enter South Africa and attend a South African University for a period of less than 90 days and then you can do so on a visitors permit. All that will be required is for you to provide proof that you have a return ticket and sufficient means of support for the currency of your stay. A letter of invitation from the University in South Africa detailing the purpose of your stay would also be useful.
Should you require any further information all required assistance in obtaining your visitors permit then you are free to contact our office.
Regards,
Julian Pokroy
e mail immigration-sa@iafrica.com
website www.immigration-sa.com
Mobile 27(82)558 5002
Dear Sir/madam
Hope you can help me, since I do not know where to start.
I am looking for song lyrics from several songs, sung by Harry Belafonte in Xsosha, Sotho and/or Zulu. Songs like Mabayeke, Baile Banake. I hope you can help me telling me where I might find these lyrics. Thank you very much
Herma Gumpert The Netherlands
hp@gumpert.nl
If you are looking for a lost friend... if you would like old friends to contact you... If you want to find old school friends... if you just want people who used to know you to find you again for a chat...
Send in your info, the info of anyone you are looking for and let’s see if we can find them for you!
Upcoming Baja Trip!
A fun, overnight luxury bus trip to the tranquil town of Ensenada is being planned for late September or early October. You will not need to drive or worry about a thing - just have fun and relax! Hotel, luxury coach transport, tolls etc are all taken care of.
This trip will be limited to the number of people that the bus can accommodate around 50. Ensenada is a quaint Meditterranean style seaport town on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, just over a 2 hour drive from the San Diego border. Its warm Mediterranean climate & friendly atmosphere makes it a wonderful destination for both relaxation and fun. It can be as peaceful or as hectic as you want. The nightlife is varied and can be quite entertaining. Papas and Beer and Hussong's are 2 of the unique nightspots that will have you dancing the night away and laughing at the amazing antics of the waiters. Time permitting; we will travel to the “La Buffadora Blowhole”. This is actually a cave in a seawall with an opening at its top section. Depending on tides, you can watch water being blown as high as 90 feet up into the air from the blowhole. Quite a sight! The local Fish Market is a great place for a very fresh catch of the day meal as well as to sightsee. Food in Ensenada is “real” Mexican style and very inexpensive. So are drinks.
Please let me know NOW if you would be interested in joining us. Once I have an idea of the number of people interested, I will set an exact date and time for the trip. For those folks on the mailer that do not live near San Diego, I plan on bringing some exciting events to FL, AZ and NV in the near future or feel free to join us here in California for one of the weekend trips if you are in driving distance. Have your friends contact us at braai_connection@yahoo.com so they can also be notified about events.
Regards
Derek Selbo
www.braai-connection.org
Blonde Jokes
These from your editor...
A blonde got a dent in her car and took it in to the repair shop. The repairman, noticing that the woman was a blonde, decided to have a wee bit of fun. So he told her all she had to do was take it home and blow in the tailpipe until the dent popped itself out. After 15 minutes of this, the blonde's blonde friend came over and asked what she was doing. "I'm trying to pop out this dent, but it's not really working." "Duh. You have to roll up the windows first!"
Oscar drove his brand new Mercedes to his favourite sporting goods store. He parked it outside and went in to do a little perusing with Jan, his regular sales woman. Jan was a pretty blonde, and as Oscar walked into the store, she happily greeted him. But he requested to look around alone today before he needed her help. She obliged him and let him do his thing.
Five minutes later, Jan came running up to him yelling, "Oscar! Oscar! I just saw someone driving off with your new Mercedes!"
"Dear God! Did you try to stop him?"
"No," she said, "I did better than that! I got the license plate number!"
More of a tip than a recipe...
I love garlic and roasting it makes it taste really great. I do not like putting the oven on just to roast garlic and it gets messy squeezing it out etc.
I found this tip and tried it and it works!
Take as many unpeeled garlic cloves as you want (I used a bag of elephant garlic so the cloves were enormous!)
Place them in a saucepan with some veggie stock – about a cup depending on how many cloves you are using.
Bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour until the cloves are all soft and the liquid has just about evaporated.
The skins should have floated off by then – if not just peel them off and slice off the tough root ends of the cloves.
Rub the cloves through a fine metal strainer or sieve and add about a tablespoon of olive oil and mix well.
Keeps covered for several weeks in the fridge. Add a teaspoon to mashed potatoes or curry or just about anything you fancy!
South Africa's golden boys stun the world [IOL]
Take a deep breath South Africa, and sing the names of an unlikely bunch of lads who won Olympic gold for their country in the most glorious way.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_...
Vaas stars in Sri Lankan triumph [Cricinfo]
A superb display of swing bowling by Chaminda Vaas sent South Africa hurtling to a 313-run defeat at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, giving Sri Lanka a 1-0 series victory, their first over South Africa.
http://rsa.cricinfo.com/link_to_...
Singh wins USPGA thriller [BBC]
Vijay Singh beat Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard in a three-hole play-off to take the year's final major.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/3568466.stm
Joubert stars in Springboks win [The Age]
South Africa scored five tries as they beat New Zealand 40-26 at Ellis Park on Saturday and left the Tri-Nations rugby title race in the balance.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/200...
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