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| Contents |
Issue No. 304 -- 18 October 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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Once again, apologies for the lateness of SAWmail this week.
It was all ready... then we had problems with both e-mail and band width... some to do with Telkom and some not it seems.
Anyway... enough of that... here it is at last! Enjoy!
Where does the time go to? It seems only a few weeks ago that it was winter – now we are waterskiing with short wet suits! We took the boat off to Hartbeespoort on Sunday and the water temperature is now around 62F (around 17C). We took my eldest son Matthew this time and he got up first time on two skis. The last time he skied was at our wedding but skiing seems to be like riding a bike... once you do it you remember it even if it is years until you do it again. We are hoping to get both my sons up on one ski this coming weekend.
We are all settled in to our new place. Hopefully we will not be moving again any time soon!! We are now out early in the mornings me walking and Captain Ken running. It is great to be up and out as it is getting light and to be warm!
Everywhere seems to be getting greener... we have had a small amount of rain so far and now all the jacarandas are in bloom... more so out at the dam and in Pretoria but also in Johannesburg. I love the smell of the blossoms.
These from me...
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. - Isaac Newton
You see things and you say, "Why?" But I dream things that never were and say, "Why not?" - George Bernard Shaw
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. – Galileo Galilei
Send in any quotes you love... that have some special meaning for you... and I will use at least one every week. Usual address! editor@saw.co.za
| Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week |
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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
No query this week as Alana is on holiday.
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
The Good News
Guy is out of town this week so no column.
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.
Reflections – 16 things that took me over 50 years to learn
This from Des Cowie descowie@lineone.net
by Dave Barry , Nationally Syndicated Columnist
1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."
3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
5. You should not confuse your career with your life.
6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
7. Never lick a steak knife.
8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
11. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.
12. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
13. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to a waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.) TRUE!
14. Your friends love you anyway.
15. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.
16. Thought for the day: Men are like fine wine.. They start out as grapes, and it's up to the women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.
Mind Massage
A warm welcome to my subscribers in over 100 countries!
Sniff. Sniff.
Mindfulness is in the air. I can smell it!
This week, Gabrielle Glaser will help us explore(!) our noses. Really.
Take time to smell, ye noses!
Maya ;-)
Sniffing Out Mindfulness: Your Nose Knows
A nose is a funny thing. We tend to think about our nose only when it is too big, stuffed up, ready to explode in a sneeze, or focusing our attention on a particularly heavenly or nauseating smell. Yet, day in and day out, our nose is working hard for us, creating countless opportunities for mindfulness while preventing us from being a mouth-breather.
It's impossible to see much of your own nose unless you look in the mirror, but there it is, taking up prime real estate in the middle of your face. It's the center attraction, but despite its bullseye position, it doesn't get much respect.
Women outline their eyes and lips for emphasis, but use tricky make-up techniques to minimize the nose. Some people pierce their nose for a bit of exotic adornment, but for the most part, the nose is sort of neglected. It harbors little nasties. It runs. It's, well, a bit offensive.
That's why I was excited to read Gabrielle Glaser's book, The Nose: A Profile of Sex, Beauty & Survival. It's a fascinating and snort-worthy look at this funny-looking facet of our faces. Her nasal passage through history offers some surprising hints of hilarity and dastardly doings.
Imagine my delight to discover that Gabrielle, Queen of The Nose, lives right here in Portland! She was happy to answer my questions in order to help us become more mindful of this amazing appendage.
Question: How did you get your first whiff of an idea for this book? My nose has always been a focal point of my life. Whether it was its size (big), its hyperfunction (an acute sense of smell), or its dysfunction (five sinus surgeries and a two-year-loss of my sense of smell), it always made me think in ways I doubt other people's noses did. When I was small and growing up in rural Oregon, I'd stretch my skin on one side so it wouldn't be so big in profile. Good or bad smells had the ability to really, really affect my mood. I couldn't understand how people could smell, say, bad fried food and even consider eating in such a restaurant, when such odors made me want to cry.
Finally, once I had "grown into" my physical nose, I got very ill as an adult. For many years I couldn't breathe well, and I felt sick all the time. There's nothing like an illness to make you learn about a sick body part. So, to answer your question, one day I was having lunch with my agent and we started talking about smells, and how they affected us. He suggested turning my experiences into a quirky book.
Question: What are the most surprising, um, nuggets that you revealed about the nose? Probably the most striking things I learned involved the pseudoscience of the nose, and the terrible experiments that were carried out in the 1940s by Ivy League doctors--especially on immigrants and women.
I was also amused to learn how much the physical nose played a role in history. In the 18th century, nasal shape was used to determine psychological characteristics of people, and such "methodology" was even applied when picking national and military leaders.
If you're like most people, many of your most vivid memories are inextricably linked to a specific smell. Lilacs in bloom, freshly-cut grass, burning leaves, pine boughs--these conjure very distinct memories of seasons past. Our sense of smell helps us create memories while serving as a trigger years later as we recall them.
The nose is being studied for its role in Alzheimer's. According to Gabrielle, "Though we start losing some of our ability to detect odors as early as age 30, and it is common to suffer smell loss after age 60, a rapid deterioration among senior citizens can sometimes be associated with cognitive impairment."
Doctors in Portugal are using nasal tissue in adult stem-cell research. Although embryonic stem-cell research remains highly controversial, nobody seems too upset at the idea of a little nose-picking in the name of science.
Imagine the possibility of finding cures for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, paralysis and cancer thanks to our noses. It's enough to make you appreciate your own olfactory factory--no matter what the size or shape.
Be mindful of your nose. Breathe in and smell the world. Notice your fragrant memories as they waft by throughout the day.
The nose plays a huge role in connecting us to all that matters most. It may lead to some surprising cures for what ails us.
And that's nothing to sneeze at.
The Nose: A Profile of Sex, Beauty & Survival
Gabrielle Glaser, educated at Stanford University, was formerly a reporter for the Associated Press and The New York Times and was Warsaw correspondent for National Public Radio. Her work has also appeared in The Washington Post, the Economist, Glamour, Health, and The New York Times Magazine.
I highly recommend Gabrielle's book! To learn more, cl1ck on the link below...
http://tinyurl.com/6gg3p
The Nose and Paralysis
Sadly, Christopher Reeve died earlier this week, but there are many others with paralysis who will someday receive benefits from revolutionary studies using adult stem-cells.
For a welcome bit of hope on the subject of cures for paralysis, cl1ck on the link below. Make sure you read the last part about human transplantation-- using patients' own nasal tissue with miraculous results.
http://www.healingtherapies.info/OlfactoryTissue1.htm
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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 – The Burdens I Must Bear
Today's Story - Memo: From the Cat about the Dog
To: Large Human Resident of My Home
From: Her Royal Highness, Princess Feline
You are my most senior staff member, and by "senior" I mean, of course, "oldest," because I hold both of your daughters in much higher regard. This position means you have certain responsibilities, responsibilities you are not living up to.
Naturally, I am speaking about the dog, who has recently written a cowardly memo to you in an attempt to spark a revolt in the household. It was your duty to administer swift and preferably capital punishment to the insubordinate animal, and your dismal failure in the matter has led me to craft this letter. This forces me to do something I am utterly loathe to do--acknowledge your existence. I must warn you that as a result, I am putting a copy of this memo in your personnel file.
This whole matter is most unseemly, as the dog lacks standing to register a complaint of any kind. This is an animal who, when excited, attempts to make love to the sofa--an animal who, when allowed outside, rewards us by defecating in our yard!
How often, I ask you, have we been enjoying a lovely evening of our favorite activity--sitting in front of the television in the family room, everyone taking turns stroking and worshiping me--only to have this mutt release a gaseous emission that brings tears to our eyes and screams of anguish from your children? Of course, you yourself are to blame here for the bad example you set with your own flatulent behavior.
In fact, there is such a strong link between your initial discharge and the dog's follow-up volleys that I've come to think of them as "sympathy farts." You'll never catch a cat performing such an indelicacy. In my view the both of you should be banished to the deck--you can watch television and me through the window.
His tendency to bark at the most routine event--such as the ringing of the doorbell (is this supposed to be some sort of warning? We all heard the doorbell, for goodness sake!) is most perturbing, as it interferes with my hobby--bird watching. (I've been observing the birds in the feeder for more than a year now, and have determined that most of them can be classified as "edible.")
The only function at which the animal excels is as a pillow for my mid-late afternoon nap, and sometimes for my early late afternoon nap as well. Yet even at this he often fails, falling into a restless state full of leg- twitching and soft yipping. (I know you think he is dreaming of chasing rabbits, but nothing could be further from the truth. You know what he is dreaming of? Running from cats, and well he should. He knows he's in serious trouble with me, you can tell by the way he slinks around in my presence.)
As a species, canines represent a broken rung on the evolutionary ladder. Have you ever seen two or more of them mingle together? They sniff each other in unmentionable places, then race over to lift their legs on the bushes, proudly strutting around as if they've caught a mouse or something, when all they've done is urinate on target.
Even worse: I think the fool canine actually likes me. It's probably because I am so beautiful; but have you ever thought about what it is like to be licked by that tongue? It's like being wiped down with a drooling carpet.
In short, the dog has done nothing but cause trouble ever since I, its replacement as the most beloved animal in the house, arrived to take the throne. This attempt to violate the chain of command and appeal to you to stage some sort of peasant uprising is just the latest affront. We would be much better served if we replaced him with a pet we would all find more enjoyable and fun.
May I suggest a family of free-range gerbils?
~ The Author is W. Bruce Cameron is an accomplished author and speaker. His book, "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" became a comedy series starring John Ritter. John Gray, Ph.D., author of "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" says about his new book "'How to Remodel a Man' is a lighthearted, witty, and ultimately moving look at why men will always be different, and why that's not necessarily bad news for women." Bruce has a regular newsletter which you can subscribe to by going to his website at: http://www.wbrucecameron.com/ ~
http://www.52best.com/catdog.asp
One Man’s Australia
Loosening up the typing finger again
It's amazing how seductive NOT writing a column can be. When one is writing a column one looks at what is happening with a column at the back of one's mind. Without that discipline observing becomes more casual.
In the interim since my last column our Federal election has come and gone. With our transferable vote system it will take a while longer to get a final result. This always happens when an election is tight. Some seats in Queensland appear to be possibly heading to the Court of Disputed Returns. What might hold this off is the fear in the minds of those who say they wish to go to the court that if the decision is made to re-run the elections there voters, knowing now what they did not know on October 9th, may vote very differently.
In the event Iraq had no discernable influence on the election, which was fought on domestic issues.
The reasons for this are that there are only 85 Australian combat troops on the ground in Iraq - guarding the Embassy and its staff - and that Australia has suffered no casualties in Iraq.
The US Administration is wont to use a figure of 1,000 or so as Australia's troop contribution in Iraq. This depends on how Iraq is defined. The larger number includes the RAN force patrolling the Gulf to guard the oil-loading installations and to ensure that no-one and nothing can enter Iraq by sea. It has been doing this since the first Gulf war, on behalf of the UN and without casualties - so nothing is different.
The larger number also includes an RAAF wing flying C130 transport aircraft and an RAAF wing flying Orion P3 maritime surveillance aircraft. Both are based in Qatar. Again the origins of this are in supporting UN sanctions subsequent to the first Gulf war.
On the personal front this week has seen me look after my 18 month old granddaughter for an entire day for the first time.
I am watching with interest how the way our generation brought up its children is panning out. In particular I am beginning to see part of the consequences of our strong belief that our daughters could become anything that they wished to be.
When Lynette matriculated there were basically two professions open to her - teaching and nursing. She became a nurse.
Fiona is the middle of three girls who became an accountant, a lawyer and a psychologist. All three are married and two are mothers with three children under 4 years of age between them.
Fiona has been, and is, an excellent mum. I have watched Robert change from a macho engineer to a father who shares the parenting and who makes quality time with Gobble by ensuring that at least he gives her her evening bottle, reads her a bedtime story and puts her to bed even though he is away from 6 am to 6 pm earning a living. Over weekends he ensures that she gets lots of quality time.
But Fiona is becoming a little restive and has decided to resume part-time work to clear the cobwebs, have the satisfaction of earning again and enjoy the companionship of a group of colleagues.
She has always encouraged Gobble's three grandparents to be "hands-on" so she knows us all very well and is used to being handled by us.
But this is the first time I have had entertaining, feeding lunch, making bottles, getting her to sleep for her midday siesta etc etc etc.
And the first time I have changed a nappy for 32 years.
I made a few mistakes. Probably the biggest was to give her her cut-into-little-squares vegemite sandwich together with her cut up squares of ham and cut-up tomato at lunch time.
She insists on feeding herself and ate the ham and the tomato smartly because she likes them better than vegemite sandwich. This took the edge off her appetite and she started to play with the sandwich, which ended in her hair (and elsewhere).
We never permitted playing with food in our day but the first rule of being a grandparent is "Do it their way". So I rang Fiona who said to take the sandwich away but to give her a cheese stick instead - and a second if she wanted it - to fill the gap.
That got immediate results. As soon as she saw the cheese sticks she begged "Please… please… please…" and woofed two sticks down. Her halved strawberries likewise.
A bottle and she went straight to sleep for 2 1/2 hours.
She had worked non-stop all morning, carrying her laundry one piece at a time from the basket in the lounge to her bedroom. Then she carried it all back again - and repeated it - and.. with grandpa trailing behind because I am nervous about letting her out of my sight. She unpacked a cupboard in the kitchen. She found a rag and mopped the lounge floor. She found the tissue box, helped herself to one and wiped her high chair down.
We went for a walk with her on her little tricycle. We played with Chewy and with her toys that require her to recognise the shapes of blocks and put them through the correct holes. We "read" books…..
Grandpa had a great day.
But at grandpa's age he does not have the stamina for toddler-minding that he had 32 years ago. He was glad to see his bed that evening.
But I have volunteered for more.
Northern Lighties
Band Aid for the tear in the CanAfricans soul!
A short succinct synopsis of the show Umoja currently showing here in Toronto after its London run.
Those of you who know me are aware of my passion for music so it was probably not rocket science to realise that I would be attending the show at some stage.
Having run a successful competition in the local newsletter here in Ontario I received word back from the winners that the show was “awesome” and “excellent” and well worth attending if only to shed a quiet tear and then dance your spirits back into the stratosphere.
By the way for those of you who would like to run a competition for anything that involves having people identifying a picture it makes sense NOT to save the picture with a filename that states exactly what the answer is! Unless you intended it as so.
I must confess however that I didn’t intend to have the answer so readily and easily found and was rather annoyed with myself when one of the first answers I received to the question: “what tribe is doing the Snake Dance in picture?” was a simple …. “The Venda Tribe..as in your .jpg file name!”.
Too late she cried! Ah well at least I had a good response.
So it was with some anticipation that I went off to opening night.
First of all let me say that I doubt I have heard so many kugels in one spot since I was last in Houghton!
I fully appreciate that this would have many South Africans in the audience but even I was astounded at just how many of my fellow ex pats there were!
I gave up trying to listen for Seffricans after a while and concentrated on who WASN’T a Seffrican instead. Which seemed few and far between I might add. And that included those Seffricans who feel that assimilating into the local community involves a false Canadian accent. Ja is Ja no matter how much of a twang you give it!
It was like a gathering of the masses I hadn’t experienced anywhere before here in Canada. All races colours and creeds and thousands of them as well. Well hundreds at least.
Enough to give rousing applause at each and every appropriate moment. Mind you I suspect that in the boxes and front seats that was more akin to Lennon’s “jewellery rattling” than any great ululation.
I must however make a note that in true “African Time” the show started later than usual. Such is the power of tradition I suppose.
The story of Umoja is fairly simple.
As the advertising puts it: Umoja is “the spirit of togetherness”.
It involves the life of a Zulu from youth to old age and how music has been involved all along the travels he has undertaken. The people and places that have shaped his memories and the way it has helped to keep the people together and provide a focus to their existence.
It is in effect the music that all South Africans have listened to, consciously or subconsciously, for all their life.
It is musical recognition of our past and hope for our future.
It is stirring and quite emotional and I am sure that everyone with even a drop of African blood will be roused by the show.
So on to a few other observations.
I am not sure whether the narrators close resemblance of Madiba is intentional but it certainly drew recognition from the audience and judging by the accent and later rendition of the famous Mandela Shuffle I strongly suspect that it was.
As a drummer I know that I am going to be caught up in the rhythm and beat and the traditional drummers were, to put it mildly, awesome! In fact throughout the show I can’t remember one missed beat in the slightest. It was a steady beat that provided the pulse of the show and kept the whole together. To watch the drummers pounding the skins and sides of the drums was enough to make the sedentary break out in a sweat at the energy. And this lasted for a good few hours.
Actually, for excessive energy, the spot where two members of the cast play the Marimba is something to watch. And magic to listen to!
I wondered why the Venda Snake Dance was so named, as watching the performance left me with the belief that they looked more like a Shongololo than a python (which is the other name for the dance) The lighting is superb on this one and the way the maidens move in unison with arms and legs as one is impressive to see in the half light that is used.
I will though, forever feel that I saw a shongololo that night.
Oddly enough I thought that the most recognised song of the night was “Tula Baba”. There appeared to be a sort of shiver that ran through the audience when it began. Almost as if everyone there had a memory of that song being sung to them and, possibly, singing it to someone else.
With all the potential for political rant the program was remarkably free from any recriminations and what there was, was relevant and quite muted.
The essence of the show was music and how it uplifts people and it certainly did that to me!
I will leave you with the most pertinent observation of the evening. One that comes from the notes in the program:
“The drums of Africa, they speak to your blood, your heart and your soul”
They spoke to mine.
And my blood, soul and heart answered.
Ramblings Of A Francophobe
Absence (or should that be abstinence) makes the heart grow fonder – so they say. I've missed SAW for the last few weeks whilst Maureen has been away, and then for a couple of weeks before that, it seems Maureen did not receive my column, no doubt due to an over zealous spam filter. According to one report, Spam now accounts for 80% of Internet traffic, so I am doing well as only about 50% of my emails are junk, 419 scams, fraudulent lottery wins, and so on.
So, welcome back SAW, welcome back Maureen.
This week I'm writing from an East European capital often confused, due to its 'similar' sounding name, with the capital of neighbouring Hungary, where I spent a few weeks in the early summer. I'm in Bucharest, a city, and indeed a country, very different from its westerly neighbour. For a start, the Romanians are Latin folk, this being reflected not only in the name of the country, but also in their language, customs, and much of their architecture, for Dacia, the heart of present day Romania, was a Roman colony. It has however been deeply influenced by its Slavic and Magyar neighbours and German colonisers, to the extent that the Latin based language has many words in it of purely Slav origin, with others of Greek, German, and Turkish heritage. The visitor who can understand or speak any of the Latin languages (the closest being Catalan and Italian) will find written Romanian fairly easy to follow. Some Romanian words are identical to Catalan, and the construction very close to Latin, meaning that those hours of boredom at school learning about the chariots of the Roman soldiers have at last, 40 years later, borne fruit! I found this language and comparing it with others quite fascinating, so much that when I went to the cinema to see ?The Terminal?, I found myself reading the Romanian subtitles more than concentrating on the English language dialogue and plot of the film!
In recent history, after the overthrow of the monarchy in 1947 the country suffered one of the most evil and oppressive of all the communist regimes to have blighted Eastern Europe, that of the despotic Ceausescus, Nicolae and Elena, who got what they richly deserved when they were publicly executed on Christmas Day 1989 - perhaps the best Christmas present the Romanians could have wished for. Since this 'Revolution' which allowed the installation of a democratic government, the Latin characteristics, previously suppressed under a veil of justified paranoia and fear, have re-emerged. This creates a wonderful combination of Latin warmth, and the simple and natural charm and hospitality of Eastern European people. Apart from the very poor people, of whom there are many, most people are stylishly and expensively dressed in the latest designer labels and the boulevards are as full of ostentatious SUVs and luxury German cars as most Western cities. Whilst it would be an exaggeration to say that all Romanian women are beautiful, the influences which have created this nation have certainly bestowed it with a greater proportion of good looking women than almost anywhere else I've ever been. The same comment may be true of the men too, but I don't look at men in quite the same way, I'm glad to say.
Bucharest is not a city like Budapest, whose beauty is in your face all the time, but hidden, often behind shabby and crumbling facades or down small streets you'd pass by without a glance unless you knew where to look.
The beauty of Bucharest is subtle and shy, you need to do a little work to discover it. There is no official tourist office, and the locally published 'What's On' type guides give prominence to some of the less desirable features of democracy, such as gambling salons and massage parlours. This is sad because there is a wealth of cultural activities available almost every night of the week, and some stunningly beautiful examples of architecture, along with perhaps the world's greatest monument to megalomania, the palace which the Ceausescus built, but never saw completed. This is the second largest building on earth and no expense was spared in its construction as Nicolae and Elena raided the piggy bank of their nation and destroyed thousands of homes, business, and places of worship to create this palace, which is now used for parliamentary meetings and official functions.
There seem to be few organised opportunities to tour the city, leaving one to explore on foot or by public transport. It's safer than most European cities, although as anywhere there are risky areas. It's not, as one might perceive from some reports, a city of potholed streets with packs of stray rabid dogs with fangs dripping with blood, or hordes of street children. It has its share of relatively benign beggars and pickpockets, and the biggest danger seemed to me to be the small groups of young gipsy girls who offer themselves for $3 (yes, $3) on the pretext of getting close to you to be able to get their hands onto your wallet. Whether or not the services offered would have materialised for the stated price is something I had no desire to find out, but I would strongly suspect that it's a case of you get what you pay for! In general though, I saw less dregs of humanity and felt safer in Bucharest than in London.
I went to see Verdi's Nabucco at the State Opera, and my relatively expensive seat cost me the same as a coffee during the interval might have cost at a London performance. The best ticket to a concert at the beautiful Romanian Athenaeum in the heart of the city cost me less than US$5, and afterwards, an enjoyable dinner at a pleasant bistro opposite (the Bistro Athenaeum) cost me around $7, which included a beer and a half bottle of a very good local wine. Paying in local currency seems to distort the value of things due to the low value of the Leu (currently 40,000 to the dollar), but eventually you get used to handing over a million lei note when you come to terms with its value - $30. The lowest denomination note in common circulation is 10,000 Lei, just 30 cents, which means that coins are rarely seen and you don't end up with pockets full of jingling cash. The coins anyway are made of light alloy and would blow away in a light breeze, not that that would be a great loss!
At the weekend, my friends took me to Peles Castle, near Sinaia, about 120 km north of Bucharest. The first view, against the backdrop of the Carpathian mountains and a clear blue autumn sky, of this ornate piece of central European architecture, the home of the first king of Romania (who was a German), is almost literally breathtaking. The guided tour through the rooms of the Castle showed an opulence and style that beats anything
I've seen elsewhere, reminding me very much of a less kitsch version of Neuschwanstein Castle, home of 'mad' King Ludwig of Bavaria. From there we drove through the year round resorts (skiing and hiking) of beautiful Prahova valley, towards Bran Castle, one of Count Dracula's stamping ground and then back via a different and even more picturesque route to Bucharest.
With true Romanian generosity, my colleagues presented me with a large and beautiful 'coffee-table' book on their country, with sections on geography, culture, ethnicity, natural features and history of the country. Within half an hour of starting to page through it, I felt overwhelmed and fascinated by the depth, richness and diversity of this relatively small country, and realised how impossible it would have been to even scratch the surface of this amazing country in such a short visit.
Romania is set to move closer, in political terms, to the West over the next few years. It is already a member of NATO, and is poised for membership of the European Union in January 2007. Geographically though, Bucharest is far closer to Middle Eastern capitals such as Amman and Damascus than it is to London.
Time precludes me from rambling on further about this fascinating country, but if you are headed for that part of the world, give a thought to including it in your itinerary, and next time you meet a Romanian, as there are many around the world, watch their eyes light up with pride as you tell them you?ve heard good things of their country.
Legal Beagle - SA
Hi there
I don't know if I am dreaming but I think I recently read in SAW something about having to make a declaration or apply for retention of citizenship in SA.
My husband and I have both South African and British Passports and live in England. We did not officially emigrate from South Africa and I seem to think it was about some sort of declaration to retain SA citizenship (Legal Beagle section).
I have gone through all my old copies of SAW (yes, I keep them all!) but cannot find it. Am I dreaming??? Or perhaps you can help if you know there was such an article on this subject.
Many thanks - would really appreciate your help.
Vicky
The answer to Vicky’s question has previously been dealt with me through SAW. This was some time ago. And perhaps in a different context.
The situation is complex and the critical element to answering that question would hinge around when Vicky and her husband acquired UK citizenship. That date would determine whether they potentially automatically lost their South African citizenship, in which event we would apply for an exemption from that loss, or whether they stood to potentially lose their South African citizenship through the acquisition of a passport of another country, in which event we would apply for retention of the citizenship of South Africa.
In both instances, in other words when he that the exemption or retention application has been successfully completed, then they would have to apply for a dual nationality exemption certificate which would entitle them to carry both passports with the only proviso being that they would have to exit and enter South Africa on the South African passport. The British authorities have a similar proviso.
This area of law i.e. nationality Law is particularly complex and there are very few practitioners in the legal sphere who deal with these matters. Fortunately you have contacted one of the few.
I can be of assistance to all of the above on a professional basis and would gladly quote in respect of my professional fees if they are requested.
Regards,
Julian Pokroy
Dear editor
I am a South African now living in Crete, Greece and would like to get in touch with other South Africans living here.
Thank you for a wonderful weekly newsletter.
Marina Daskalakis
alynich45@hotmail.com
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!
Aloha. I'm looking for George and/or Marie Novotny. Lived in Secunda in the early 80's working on the SASOL site for Fluor Engineering.
Bill Schadt and Judy Guffey living in Hawai'i would like to find George and Marie.
guffeyj001@hawaii.rr.com
------------------
Dear Maureen,
I am an ex-pat South African (from Johannesburg) and have lived in the USA for the past 28 years.
I'm desperately trying to find a lady friend I lost contact with in 1965. Her maiden name was Bridget Holmes and she came from Snettisham, Norfolk. UK. I believe her birthdate was either Jan or Feb, 18th 1942.
We met in Johannesburg South Africa in 1963, and became very close. Bridget was living in South Africa on a working visit to her 2 older sisters who also lived there, Diana and Mary (Mary had one prosthetic leg). She also had a younger sister living in Snettisham but I don't recall her name. Her parents address in 1964 was 'The Lodge', Snettisham, Kings Lynn Norfolk. UK. Her father was a retired Colonel in the British/Indian Army. Bridget was born in Lahore, India.
I believe she attended a girls school in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, and later studied and trained as a physiotherapist.
When she left South Africa in 1964, she remained in England for a year, after which she relocated to Woodward Ave, Toronto, Canada where she had an apartment and again worked as a Physiotherapist at a Toronto Hospital.
I believe Bridget would now be about 62 years old. I have no desire to disrupt her life in any way, especially if she is happily married, however I would desperately love to contact her again, even via e-mail. I too am in my 60's and my health is not what it should be.
Bridget may be sure that it would be VERY much in her interest to contact me.
If you have any idea where I can make contact with her or any member of her family, please PLEASE, respond to this message. or if you know her, PLEASE ask her to contact me.
Many thanks in advance
Stan Lynn
stan@ix.netcom.com
I can also be reached daily at USA (518)583-9688 (collect) or simply leave a message.
SA Club Luxembourg
Hi everyone,
Hope you all had a great summer vacation and of course now it is time to get back to work and prepare for those long winter nights but think you can at least snuggle up to the fireplace with a blanket and a good book.
Thanks to everyone who supported the events during this past year especially the Freedom Day Celebrations and Braai, I do not think the guys have made as many wors rolls as what they did this past year so Lo just keep on making.
The Ostrich weekend was a great success and hopefully this will now become an annual event.
Just to give you some dates to put in your calendar for November.
7th November 2004
The annual "Fête de l'Amitié" or "Friendship Day" in Sandweiler which is held at the Cultural Center in rue Principal. This is a day for all the foreigners living in Sandweiler to present their countries. Meaning that those that take part, prepare the traditional foods from their country for everyone to taste, to present typical drinks of the country and to display items representing their country, whether it be groceries or ornaments (either for sale or only used for display).
The tasting is for free. The main aim for this event is to get everyone together and have fun sharing our traditions with one another. Everyone is welcome to come along and see the goodies on display and more, important to taste them all!
27th and 28th November 2004
The famous International Bazaar. As you all know the Bazaar has been going for more than 25 years and this is one of the biggest charity events to be held in Luxembourg. This will be the 11th year for the South African stand and we can only say that we will continue because of the support from all of you. This year we will have the normal crafts, pottery, candles, soaps and many more items.
We will still have the food stand with South African wines, cider and beer. Boerewors rolls and ostrich steaks will be on sale. This year we will bring back the Nice 'n Spicy spices, Mrs Balls chutney, Ouma rusks, biltong, dry wors, chili sticks and lots of other nice goodies as well.
If there is anyone who would like to order any of the drinks is advance (Hunters, Savanna, Windhoek, Castle etc) please let us know by latest end of next week as our orders will arrive early October.
December 2004
Children’s Christmas Party, give us your views.
Till next time
Pat and Elaine
USA - Philadelphia
Sharon Katz in Philadelphia
just passing on info I got from our dentist.....
Enjoy South African food, wine & music & support the Peace Train Children's Projects!
Saturday, October 23rd at 8:00pm
at the magnificent National Liberty Museum
321 Chestnut St, Old City, Philadelphia
Party with Grammy Nominee, Sharon Katz & her band.
Gorgeous Art, Beadwork, Films, Food & Fun
Tickets: $50/person
610 667 3631 (Narberth Dental – for information)
If you were wondering why I haven't used a joke you sent in; some of the jokes
I receive are just not suitable for general publication. So send me suitable jokes and I will publish them and acknowledge their origin.
Please note that these articles DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT the opinion of SAW, The House of SYNERGY (THOS) or your editor. They are published here for your consideration – you can agree, disagree or ignore, but please don’t shoot the messenger!
SAWs are a diverse group of people with diverse opinions on many issues.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
More political humour... please do not read if you do not like this type of humour.
From Ken Cram ken@electrosense.co.za
Just so that readers see that you are not just publishing one political view but are, in fact, sharing political humor, here is one for the other side...
Old Version: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
Moral of the story: Be responsible for yourself!
Modern Version:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.
America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, "It's Not Easy Being Green."
Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, "We shall overcome." Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.
Tom Daschle & John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Peter Jennings that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share."
Finally, the EEOC drafts the "Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act," retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.
Hillary Clinton gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill Clinton appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients.
The ant loses the case.
The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.
The ant has disappeared in the snow.
The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
Moral of the story: Vote Republican
British hospitality?
This from Mike Preston
An American tourist in London decides to skip his tour and explore the city on his own.
He wanders around, seeing the sights, and occasionally stopping at a quaint pub to soak up the local culture, chat with the lads, and have a pint of Guinness.
After a while, he finds himself in a very high class neighbourhood... big, stately residences... no pubs, no stores, no restaurants, and worst of all... NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS.
He really, really has to go, after all those Guinness's. He finds a narrow side street, with high walls surrounding the adjacent buildings and decides to use the wall to solve his problem.
As he is unzipping, he is tapped on the shoulder by a London Bobbie, who says, "I say, sir, you simply cannot do that here, you know."
"I'm very sorry, officer," replies the American, "but I really, really HAVE TO GO, and I just can't find a public restroom."
"Ah, yes," said the Bobbie..."Just follow me". He leads him to a back delivery alley", then along a wall to a gate, which he opens.
"In there," points the Bobbie. "Whiz away,... anywhere you want."
The fellow enters and finds himself in the most beautiful garden he has ever seen. Manicured grass lawns, statuary, fountains, sculptured hedges, and huge beds of gorgeous flowers, all in perfect bloom.
Since he has the cop's blessing, he unburdens himself and is greatly relieved.
As he goes back thru the gate, he says to the Bobbie "That was really decent of you ... is that "British Hospitality?"
"No" replied the Bobbie, with a satisfied smile on his face, "That is the French Embassy!
It’s getting close to that time of year again so here are lots of recipes for Halloween.
Dinosaur Eggs from VegWeb.com
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cup chopped grasshoppers (chopped dates)
1-1/4 cup squashed bugs (peanut butter or almond butter)
1 cup rocks (chopped walnuts or pecans)
3/4 cup dry grass (toasted wheat germ)
1 cup crumbled egg shells (shaved coconut, wide shreds)
1/2 cup crushed bones (instant tofu or soy milk powder) or enough for proper
consistency
3-4 tbsp swamp water (carob flavored soy milk)
1/4 cup bugs eggs (sesame seeds)
1 tbsp lava (unsulphured light molasses or maple syrup)
1 lb dirt (2 cups carob chips)
1/4 cup Adams Ale (hot water)
Directions:
With hands, mix together grashoppers (dates), bugs (peanut butter), rocks (nuts), dried grass (wheat germ), egg shells (coconut shreds), crushed bones (milk powder) swamp water (carob flavored soy milk), bugs eggs (sesame seeds) and lava (molasses or maple syrup). Roll into balls. Melt dirt (carob chips) in top of double boiler over hot water. Using tongs, dip dinosaur eggs (candy pieces) into dirt (melted carob chips) to cover entire egg. Arrange on wax paper and store in refrigerator or freezer. These dinosaur eggs also taste great without any dirt (carob chip) covering. Makes about 3 dozen eggs that look like chocolate balls.
Serves: about 3 dozen "eggs"
Preparation time: 1 hour
-------------
Here is a tasty recipe for the season - pumpkin pancakes. It came from AllRecipes.com
These barely-sweetened fluffy pancakes feature ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg to emphasize the pumpkin flavor. Serve them hot with maple syrup for the best autumn or winter breakfast dish ever.
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 40 Minutes
Makes: 12 pancakes
Submitted By: Ruth
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg (or 1 heaped tablespoon ground flax seeds mixed with ¼ cup of water)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
Directions
1. In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt; stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately ¼ cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
--------------------
Blue Witch's Brew
From The North American Blueberry Council
Scare up this shake for all your ghosts and goblins on Halloween. You'll have them shouting "yum" instead of "boo!"
Serving Size: 4 Preparation Time :0:10
2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen, thawed blueberries
1 1/4 cups apple juice
1 cup vanilla ice cream or soy/rice ice cream
1/4 cup milk or soy milk
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
In a blender whirl blueberries, apple juice, ice cream, milk and cinnamon until smooth. Serve immediately.
Yield: 4 cups
----------
Vampire's Blood Shake
From Lori's Halloween Web Site
2 cups plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 package frozen strawberries or raspberries, thawed
ice cubes
1 pint strawberry ice cream
1. Mix yogurt, vanilla, and berries in the blender.
2. Pour into tall glasses over ice cubes, or chill.
3. Top with a big spoonful of strawberry ice cream.
----------
Spooky Eyeball Tacos
Recipe Adapted from Kraft Halloween 1998
Serving Size: 12
Notes: Tasty meatballs are the eyeballs in this kid-pleasing dish.
1 package vegetarian burger crumbles (such as Morningstar Farms brand)
1 packet vegetarian taco seasoning
12 taco shells
shredded lettuce
chopped tomatoes
salsa
sour cream
pitted olives, sliced
Prepare burger crumbles with taco season according to seasoning mix directions. Let cool, then shape into 36 (1-inch) balls; place in 13x9-inch-baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through. Fill each of 12 taco shells with 1 meatball, salsa, lettuce and tomato. Top with 2 additional meatballs dipped in sour cream. Garnish with sliced pitted ripe olives to create "eyes." Makes 12 servings.
----------
Blood and Guts
(Pineapple with Vanilla Pudding and Strawberries)
Submitted by Karl Wacker
1 can pineapple chunks
1 package quick set vanilla pudding mix
1 cup milk
1 small box/bag of frozen strawberries in heavy syrup
Defrost strawberries. Drain the pineapple chunks of their juice*.
Place pineapple chunks in bowl. Mix pudding with milk and, when it starts to set (after about 30 seconds), pour over pineapple chunks. Just before serving, top with strawberries in syrup, and stir slightly. Looks gross, tastes great.
* To Drain Pineapple Chunks: Make two holes in top of can, invert can over glass to catch juice (if desired). Shake can once or twice to aid in draining.
----------
Bloody Eyeballs on the Rocks
Recipe By: Creepy Cuisine, Lucy Munroe
Serving Size: 6 Preparation Time :0:00
12 radishes
7 ounces olives - pimento-stuffed
46 ounces tomato juice
Prepare these bloody eyeballs the day before your plan to serve them. Peel radishes, leaving thin streaks of red skin on them for blood vessels. Using the tip of the vegetable peeler or a small, knife, carefully scoop out a small hole in each radish. Stuff a green olive, pimento side out, in each hole. Place 1 radish eyeball in each section of an empty ice cube tray. You may need to pare your eyeballs down a bit to fit. Fill the tray with water and freeze overnight. Pour tall glasses 3/4 full of tomato juice and add a pair of eyeballs to each glass.
----------
Slash 'Em, Gash 'Em Spuds
Recipe By: Creepy Cuisine, Lucy Munroe
Serving Size: 6 Preparation Time :0:00
6 medium russet potatoes
2 teaspoons salt
½ cup milk
4 tablespoons butter or margarine -- softened
1 teaspoon pepper
12 small mushrooms
2 red bell peppers - cored, seeded and sliced
assorted vegetables - broccoli, zucchini, carrots, etc.
ketchup
additional melted butter
Peel off potato skins with a vegetable peeler. Cut potatoes into quarters and put them in a large pot 3/4 full of cold water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water, cover the pot and boil for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove potatoes from the hot water and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the milk, butter, pepper and the remaining teaspoon of salt. Beat with an electric mixer for 3 to 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Spoon a mound of potatoes onto individual plates. Allow to cool slightly, then using clean hands, sculpt a human head on each plate. Using vegetables of your choice, add eyes, a nose and a mouth to each head. Try mushrooms for eyes, red pepper slices for lips, broccoli for hair or moustaches, etc. Using a blunt knife, slash a gash down the side of each head. Pour ketchup (blood) into each gash and dribble on melted-butter pus for a deliciously disgusting side dish!
----------
Poached Skull and Crossbones
Recipe By: Creepy Cuisine, Lucy Munroe
Serving Size: 4
4 bananas
1 can pear halves - drained
1 handful raisins
strawberry or raspberry fruit sauce - or "all fruit" preserves
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut bananas in half lengthwise and place 2 halves, or bones, crisscrossed in X shapes in a baking dish or on a cookie sheet. Place your pear-half skulls on top of the banana X's, curved side up. With a blunt knife, make 2 small slits in the pears for the eyes. Insert a raisin in each slit. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and carefully transfer to individual serving plates. Drip some fruit sauce blood around your creepy crossbones.
Nedbank Challenge a major occasion [Supersport]
The Nedbank Golf Challenge, to be played at Sun City from December 2 to 5, has once again attracted a top-quality field including two current and three former major championship winners.
http://www.supergolf.co.za/default.asp?id=129200&des=article&scat=supergolf/...
Schools slam 'small change' for future stars [IOL]
Ever wonder why South Africa lags behind in producing world-class sports people? The answer might just be found in the amount of public money spent on sport in the country's schools.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art...
Cheetahs plan major upset [News 24]
The Blue Bulls are favourites and on paper have the better team. The Cheetahs are the underdogs and have a burning desire to cause what would be one of the biggest upsets in Currie Cup history.
http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,...
White reveals his final fears [iafrica]
The Springbok team for the year-end Grand Slam tour to the British Isles and Argentina has been finalised. But Springbok coach Jake White is holding his breath, hoping there are no further injury setbacks.
http://sport.iafrica.com/news/topstory/361546.htm
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