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| Contents |
Issue No. 312 -- 10 January 2005 |
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
| Send this Issue to a Friend! |
TOP |
I hope you all had a good break over the festive season – those of us in South Africa had some great weather (great weather, great weather... just one of the things that South Africa has to offer any of you thinking about coming home this year!) and Captain Ken and I got up even earlier on holiday than we do during the work week so we could get some skiing in at the dam.
  We also hiked up one of the hills or mountains (it felt like a mountain to me as I was clambering over the rocks in the heat of the day!!) The view from the top was wonderful – we could even see the Johannesburg skyline in the far distance!
 Our animal population at K’Shane has increased...  some babies arrived as can be seen from the pics (to see the pics visit the SAW site at www.saw.co.za)
May 2005 be the best year of your lives and my it bring you all that you dream of, including health joy, peace and happiness.
These from me...
The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. - Mark Twain
Recipe for a Happy New Year
Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.
Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor. - Anonymous
Time for New Beginnings
This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.
As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life,
Remember each experience for the good that has come of it and for the knowledge you have gained.
Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.
Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought.
Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.
And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.
Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life. - Taylor Addison
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 |
TOP |
Coming Home
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 Q&A...
Bob asks: My wife has just given birth. How can we include our baby in her South African passport?
Reply: Dear Bob - Lately South Africa, like most other countries, no longer include babies in the passports of their parents. Right from birth the parents have to apply for the child for an own passport. To do so, you will need form BI 73, which can be downloaded from www.home-affairs.gov.za. The application will cost R110-00. It takes about six weeks to get a passport, so if you will travel within a shorter period, you will also have to apply for a temporary travel document, in case the passport will not be finished in time. The same form can be used, and it will cost R70-00.
Kind regards
Alana
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
How Much Harder Can it Get?
Dear Maureen
We have been through much turmoil in 2004, but all ended well with everyone passing their exams but th highlight of all this was Marie-Louise passing her final exams for her degree and being accepted to do a Teaching diploma next year. We planned that the Christmas should be a wonderful one and made plans to celerbrate the birth of 2005.
This all became a bit of a blur as we started to fight a battle with unknown aches and pains experienced by Natalie, our middle daughter of 18 years.
Natalie experienced some back and neck pain and the odd migraine from time to time last year, but it became more severe in late November. She also had trouble with recurring flu symptoms. A visit to the GP did not deliver much and physiotherapy was prescribed.
Natalie worked as a Gym Instructor at the time and was studying towards a Diploma in Fitness at AUT, therefore there was suspected that she might have injured herself at work. She attended a friend's wedding on 10 December with the family. In spite of some pain, she tried to get on with life. By Wednesday the pain was even more severe and I went with her to visit the GP again. X-Rays were taken on the Thursday and a problem was pointed out between T5 - T10 in the vertebra but we were told that a report would be sent to the GP.
I woke Natalie on Sunday afternoon at 12.30, asking if she wanted to have lunch. She said that the pain was better but that still experienced a terrible headache. She stayed up in the afternoon, but at 4.40 mentioned that she wanted to go to bed as her legs felt funny. By 5.20 a.m. she was semi-paralysed and could not breathe. She also yelled out of pain. We rushed her to the Emergency Department of the North Shore Hospital where she stayed that night and the next day. Tests done all showed up as negative and she was transferred to the Observation Ward. A CT scan was done and that was given the all clear.
Natalie was then transferred to ward 6. She was placed under the care of Dr Mike Armstrong, Medical Registar. He took action from the start. A neurologist, Dr McCaulley, was called to examine her. I showed him the X-rays that was taken the previous Thursday and he was shocked to see the state of her back. He then immediately arranged for an MRI scan. The scan was done on 23 December and the next morning, Christmas eve, Natalie suddenly had to go back for another CT scan. That afternoon at 2.30 p.m. a biopsie was done. When the results came after 4.00 on Christmas eve, we were given the news that Natalie has Hodgkins Lymphoma. Well, what a Christmas. She was allowed to come home or the weekend with a load of medication. We had to stop the morphine as this made the headache worse.
Natalie underwent a lumbur puncture in the meantime, but nothing could have prepared any of us for the pain caused by the bone marow test, in spite of aneasthetics she received.
We received the news last week, Thursday that Natalie has advanced cancer (stage 4). We were told by the specialist that the T1 vertebra is riddled with cancer and that all the others have spots from T2 - T10. However, T5, T8 and T9 have bigger spots on them than the others. The cancer is also in her neck, chest area, both lungs, spleen and liver. She also has an enlarged thymus and coupled with the lymp nodes cause her to experience this suffocating effect most the times. We thank God that the brain seems to be clear. The massive headache (now 23 days) is caused by the vertebra and nerves running through it.
Another biopsie was done in theatre on 31 December and we are awaiting a call from the oncologist and/or hematologist as this was done to determine how strong the chemotherapy should be. We have been prepared that she might get the strong chemotherapy treatment in order to kill as many of the cancer cells as possible. We asked them about radiotherapy but the doctors suggested that they kills as many of the cancer cells as possible instead of targeting one area. A bone marrow transplant have been discussed which will be done after some chemotherapy sessions.
Natalie is now at home, awaiting a call from Auckland Hospital. She will be admitted as the specialists have to do tests on the liver prior to starting the chemotherapy.
We know that Natalie has a chance to recover - somehow. She is 18 years old, female and is still producing bone marrow because of her age. On the other hand we were told that the cancer does not look good because of the advanced stage of the cancer.
We are taking it one step at a time. She is in much pain and it is difficult to see your child in that state, knowing that you cannot help them.
We want to thank all the people out there who have been so supportive the past few weeks. The members of the North Shore Reformed Church, staff at the North Shore Hospital, friends, family and even strangers from all over New Zealand, Sweden, America and the UK.
The message I would like to convey to all reading this is not to take your or your children's health for granted. We have so much to be thankful for, yet we sometimes not seems to appreciate it.
We wish Maureen and all members of SAW a wonderful new year and hope that this year will bring you much joy.
Kindest regards
Marlene Smith
Legal Beagle South Africans Worldwide
Auckland
New Zealand
(Editor's note: If anyone would like to write to Marlene send mail to me and I will send it on - editor@saw.co.za)
The Good News
Guy will be back soon with more good news. In the meantime...
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.
Mind Massage
The last day of the year...
I know you're busy thinking about the year ahead, but I hope you'll take a moment to consider the end of 2004.
Reflection Before Anticipation, I always say. :-)
Wishing you a happy ending....
Maya ;-)
An Ode To Endings
Beginnings are overrated.
At this time of year, it's customary to think about new beginnings. We promise to try new things, to learn new skills, to become better in some way during the new year. By February, we've forgotten what we were so excited about starting just a few weeks earlier.
We've become quite good at beginnings. It's the endings that could use a little more work.
There's a certain thrill in starting something new, but it's far more satisfying to end something well. I'm not the only one who thinks so. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote: "Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending."
Endings are far more interesting. It's sort of like picking up a novel. There's really no commitment required to read the first page. You expect the author to take you on a journey. You may become engrossed in the book, or you may lose interest in it. You may end up loving the story, or you may slap the book closed midway, wondering how it ever made it to the bestsellers list. There's nothing inherently fulfilling about starting a book. There is merely the vague promise that it may deliver something meaningful.
ENDING the book is a different story. You've been somewhere, you've met some characters, you've followed the twists and turns of the plot. When you finish that last page, it's generally with a sense of accomplishment and, if you're lucky, a little sadness that the story has come to its conclusion. You can reflect a bit and think about what you've experienced by reading the author's words. You're not the same person you were when you started the book.
Beginnings are for beginners. Birth, the ultimate beginning, is the one starting point we all share, but it doesn't guarantee anything. Our role as humans is to learn how to live well so that by the end of our years on this planet, we have by our choices and actions created a satisfying end to our story.
Let's practice that one year at a time. I'd like to propose an ode to endings. Instead of coming up with your usual list of New Year's resolutions, think of a select group of year-end closings. What are you ending? What are you finishing well at the end of 2004?
We too often grasp at the notion of starting fresh without really finishing old business. There's something immensely rewarding about figuring out what you're ready to leave behind in order to make room for new activities, friends, projects and thoughts in the year ahead. We keep piling things on, but there's beauty and power in becoming intentionally selective.
Maybe you don't need to start something new at all. Perhaps the most important thing you can do to ensure a healthier, happier, more prosperous new year is to let go of things that are no longer important to you.
We sometimes frame our resolutions as promises to end something---to quit smoking, to stop overeating, or to get out of debt. Those are good goals, but I challenge you to scratch the surface here. Think bigger, deeper, harder. Look at your opinions, your beliefs, your views that are no longer serving you well....and let go. Give them up. Celebrate their endings.
For the next week, focus on ending something well. Put some thought into it. Think about what you've learned, what you've gained, and where you're headed. Don't even consider making any New Year's resolutions until you're ready to close the last chapter of 2004.
About 2400 years ago, Euripedes said: "A bad beginning makes a bad ending." If you're ready for a terrific 2005, it's only because you've fully finished 2004 and taken stock of what it offered.
Vow to begin 2005 well by ending 2004 beautifully.
Cheers!
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So much for happy endings.
Last week's column--"An Ode To Endings"--was loaded and set to be sent out to you before I left for Mexico. I encouraged you to spend a little time contemplating the end of the year and what you've learned before making any resolutions for 2005.
Little did I know what the last week of 2004 had in store for the planet.
With no phone, computer or television where I was staying, I was completely unaware of the tragedy taking place. It wasn't until New Year's Eve at the San Francisco airport that I learned about the earthquake and tsunami. The next day, I learned that my stepfather had been hospitalized and nearly died the day after Christmas.
Is ignorance bliss? Sometimes. But it has a way of catching up with you sooner or later. Let's take a look at that.
Blissfully yours,
Maya ;-)
Clear Mind, Head In The Sand
I spent the week between Christmas and New Year's under a shady palapa, staring out at a palm jungle across a gorgeous estuary, a veritable bird playground and endless source of amusement. Remarkably isolated and with absolutely nothing I had to do each day, I had my best vacation in years.
I felt calm, at peace. My mind was clear and I became intensely creative. I actually wrote a short book in about three lazy afternoons. That makes it sound like work, but really, I was just sitting there, scribbling happily. I wasn't locked in a room with a laptop. I was sipping more than a few Pacificos, engaging in lively conversation with my loved ones, and admiring the beauty all around me.
My scribbling added up. I wrote over 400 haiku, enough for a small book which I am calling, "Purple Round M: A Haiku Guide to Real-World Mindfulness." It is a lighthearted romp through practical mindfulness techniques.
How ironic, then, that after a few days I would leave that blissful cocoon and reenter the Real World only to find immense devastation and personal tragedy.
While I was listening to the soothing sound of the nearby surf, my friend Deva in Sri Lanka was rushing to help those who had been traumatized by the enormous waves.
While I was basking in the love of my husband and daughters, Deva was struggling to offer support to those who had lost every member of their family. Meanwhile, my stepfather was clinging to life during mutliple blood transfusions.
The reality of this hit me like, like...well, I can no longer use the word "tsunami." A ton of bricks, maybe.
I had been writing about ways to incorporate mindfulness into your life in a way that is seamless-- without meditation. I expounded on the value of grabbing moments here and there throughout the day in order to become fully present.
And yet I was, for all practical purposes, "absent" in the larger world. Fully present in my moment, in my place, sure. But clueless about the rest of the planet.
Does mindfulness require us to be aware of everything all the time? Of course not. That isn't possible, fortunately. We have to be selective about what we focus on--that's what mindfulness is all about.
Nearly 150,000 lost their lives because of the tsunami. The enormity of it renders us numb and makes us feel helpless. It moves us to give, to act, to somehow connect with those who are suffering.
If there is one thing you can count on in this world, it's suffering. More people die of malaria each month than died in the tsunami--ditto for the number of those who die of AIDS each month.
You don't have to look far to find suffering. There are plenty of needs in your own backyard. Mindfulness helps you pay attention to all that is going on within and around you, but it also helps you zero in on your unique place in the world.
We can make a critical difference in small ways. While you are awake and aware, look for the suffering around you that doesn't make headlines, and see what you can do to help.
Feeling overwhelmed? This is a waste of energy. Focus your compassion and use it as a powerful force to clear your mind and get your head out of the sand. The Real World awaits, and it is all around you.
**********************************
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse offering specialized mindfulness training to individuals and groups in Portland, Oregon. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 100 countries. To subscribe to her free ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.massageyourmind.com.
**************************************
©Copyright 2004, Maya Talisman Frost
52 Best Stories – Stories about the Tsunami
Nihal Ratnayeke is from Sri Lanka and is an avid 52Best Reader. His wife and he were greatly concerned because they knew their nephew and his family were visiting the Yala National Park that was hit extremely hard by the Tsunami.
Nihal's email to me said: "Here is a first hand story from my wife's nephew, Ajantha and his family, who were visiting Yala National Park, on the Southwest corner of Sri Lanka, one of the first places that the Tsunami waves arrived. This is a very popular National Park, where people visit to watch wild life. Ajantha and his wife and children escaped by extraordinary luck. The Lord spared them."
With Appreciation, Sandy
Today's Story: The Tsunami and Our Nephew
Hi Aunty and Uncle,
When the Tsunami happened, I was in Yala National Park [to the left is a photo prior to the Tsunami] which is in the deep south of Sri Lanka. I saw the waves coming which was extraordinary to see. I escaped death on 3 occasions within a space of 2 hours and my wife and children escaped death on 1 occasion.
We were inside the National Park in a upstairs bungalow which was at a higher elevation with the beach about 100 feet away from us, with big rocks between the bungalow and the sea, which blocked the approach of the waves.
The first wave came in at around 7.00AM. I had gone out of the park to fill petrol to my vehicle at 6.30AM. I had parked my car at the Yala Safari Hotel as I could not take my car inside the park. Only 4 wheel drive vehicles could go in.
I wanted to go over to the Hotel and come back, but for luck, since it was getting late, I decided not to go to the Hotel, and I went straight back to our park bungalow. Later I heard that the entire Hotel was destroyed, and out of the 175 guests who were there, only about 15 had survived.
The next incident was as we were going to the park bungalow and we were about 5 minutes before the bungalow, the 1st tidal wave had come and gone. I was wondering how to get to the bungalow because the road was muddy and trees had fallen but the road was partially cleared and I managed to get into the bungalow and this was about 9.40 AM.
The biggest of the waves came and we could see with our eyes and it was about 30 feet high and that was really scary but we were protected by the high rocks in front of the bungalow. We've never seen anything like this and for a moment it was like watching a movie. This is similar to the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" how New York gets flooded with the ice melting.
My wife and kids had gone to the beach early morning and returned to the bungalow only about 5 minutes before the 1st wave came in. Had they been on the beach, 5 minutes earlier, they would not have been living today.
From that time onwards we could see Tsunami waves coming into the land and going back and it was really scary and we were wandering what to do. Around 1:30 PM the staff from the park office came and wanted us to leave immediately and it took us about one and a half hours to come from the bungalow to the entrance of the park, by clearing roads from shrub trees and logs from the road and in some places the roads were broken in so we had to cut through the jungle.
This was an experience I will never forget as I saw this with my own eyes. It was some luck we had.
Love from all of us, Ajantha
http://www.52best.com/tsunami.asp
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Today's Story: People are Good
Working in the New York theatre, I end up traveling a lot and meeting a lot of new people. Some of them are great; some of them are extremely difficult to get along with. But no matter what, it always seems like something happens to renew my faith in the human spirit, and what I saw just yesterday is one of my all- time favorites.
Last night was our closing performance of My Fair Lady. I ran a spotlight for the show, so I always heard whatever discussion was going on over our headsets during the performance. I heard that our Henry Higgins was planning to quiet the audience after the curtain call, make a brief speech, and send out a plea for donations to help the victims of the tragedy in southern Asia.
This was something I'd never seen done before, and I wondered what the reaction would be. After all, they'd just paid for their tickets, and theatrical performances are not exactly inexpensive. Would they be receptive or resentful?
When the time came, the actor's plea was simple and tasteful. He explained that anything anyone could give would be welcome and that it would all be sent directly to UNICEF.
"Some of my colleagues," he said, "Are stationed by the door. Whatever you can spare would be most appreciated. Thank you."
I went straight over to the exit and found an out-the- way corner where I could watch. The boys in the chorus were lined up in the doorway, still in costume, holding out their hats. The response was amazing. I tried not to cry as I watched men and women drop in tens and twenties. Little children dug into their pockets to produce crumpled dollar bills or even just a couple of pennies; often every member of a family would give his or her own contribution.
One man apologized for not having cash on him and said he would sent a check directly to UNICEF the moment he got home. I saw one of our interns drop in a twenty dollar bill, and I knew that it was more than she made in an entire day. The boys had to empty their hats several times, and finally, the props master ran upstairs to get some baskets.
When the audience had departed, I went back to work, and twenty minutes later, our stage manager came in to tell us the total. I knew it would be a lot, but we were all surprised when she said we'd raised over a thousand dollars in fifteen minutes.
People are good.
~ The Author is Emily Provance in New York City ~
http://www.52best.com/newyork.asp
One Man’s Australia
Pondering on an Australian morning
I am contentedly slurping engineer's coffee (no milk, no sugar because the milk goes sour and the ants go after the sugar on a construction site) with all the doors and windows wide open to let the fresh air in. And pondering what to put into columns for 2005.
I have been riding the trusty pushbike – as I do every morning - and watching the sun rise out of the Pacific Ocean. As I was riding along I was trying to work out how many thousands of times I have watched the sun rise out of the Pacific ocean. And it is thousands.
At the end of night shifts at the steelworks, before the start of day shifts at the steelworks, winging down the East Coast on the overnight flight from Tokyo or Seoul - when building power plants on Guam or wherever - and anticipating the sight of Sydney gleaming in the fresh bright light with its cobalt blue harbour.
And something we never hear in Asia - the morning chorus of the birds. That has always meant waking up in Australia.
It starts with the Kookaburras - or Laughing Jackass as the early settlers called it - re-establishing their turf. Then the Currawongs start carolling (they look somewhat like the Witborskraai). Then the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, the Rosellas, the Eastern Parrots the...
The Kookaburras are the first and the noisiest. That is because of the size of their family groups. Previous years’ chicks stay on as adolescents and young adults to help feed the current brood.
The Apostle Birds do the same and get their common name from the size of their family groups. They so much like to have help that they kidnap each others’ adolescents – which gives rise to continuous competition among the breeding adults.
And the neighbours. Jason the dignified beagle from two doors up taking his owner, Marge Hanley, for a walk. Likewise Lechie, the beautiful and child-slurping friendly golden retriever from 4 doors up exercising his owner, John Keeble. Martin Fitzimmons from next door heading down to the beach in Henry, his Ford van, for his daily 8 km walk on the level cycle/pedestrian track that runs for 25 kms along the track bed of the old railway that brought coal down the beaches to the harbour in the 19th century - to keep his coronary bypasses in good shape.
G'days and the odd remark exchanged in the half-light of dawn.
I have loved Australian early mornings for 34 years now. They set you up for the day ahead.
And while I ponder about columns – I wish all readers a happy and prosperous 2005.
Especially you who are newer emigrants. May you get your lives re-established and enjoy the challenges you are going to face.
Northern Lighties
Charles will be back soon.
Ramblings Of A Francophobe
It has never ceased to amaze me that the French, one of whom created the phrase 'joie de vivre' must be some of the most miserable people on earth. Of course it was also a Frenchman who wrote 'Les Miserables', a far more appropriate description. I find it ironic that many nationalities who have plenty about which to be miserable, are often the happiest, such as the people of poor nations such Nepal where we’ve just spent two weeks.
Earlier on this beautiful sunny Sunday morning I walked into our village to order two chubby capons for Christmas day, as none of us like the traditional turkey. There were about half a dozen women in the butcher's shop, all standing there as if they were in a funeral parlour. As I walked in they all muttered the traditional 'Bonjour Monsieur' through clenched lips, as they glared at me with their ice cold eyes. Why, I wonder, do they bother with the false formalities? I smiled back at them and they turned away to glare at the counter. The British are supposed to be reserved, and that is doubtless true, but as a rule if you smile or engage one in conversation, the response is at least civil and warm. As I was closest to the door, each time someone left, I opened the door for them. I did not receive a smile, nor a word of thanks, not even the glance of acknowledgement which would have been basic courtesy.
When it came to my turn to be served, I asked the butcher to order me two capons for Christmas Eve. He pointed out two which were on display and asked me if I wanted to take them. Partly because they both had sell by dates for 21 December, meaning they would be four days after their sell by date when we ate them, and partly because I wouldn't have room to keep them in the fridge for the rest of the week, I said I'd rather not take them - perfectly politely and pleasantly.
"In that case", he replied,
"I can't help you. I'm busy and I have other customers who are more 'serious' to serve".
I suppose I should have been surprised, but in this part of France where bad service and rudeness are the norms, I am no longer surprised at anything except the rare times when one encounters the opposite. They get away with it because the locals don't complain, presumably as they know that complaining won't achieve an improvement. We've been going to this butcher for some years, and in fact were on such good terms with the previous owner that when he finished work at the weekends he often used to come round to us with some meat which we'd put on the braai and we'd enjoy a few beers.
I restrained myself to simply telling him that I was glad that business was so good that he could afford to lose a good customer and wished him a pleasant afternoon. The assembled audience, as I turned round to leave, glared at me as if I'd pissed into their shopping bags, for daring to not conform and for questioning the system.
About a mile further down the road, there's a small farm, which doesn’t really sell to the public, but I happen to know the owners. I walked down there and asked for two capons. They will be delivered to me, on Christmas Eve, for about half the price that the butcher would have charged. A happy ending.
As it's the season of goodwill to all men (that should really be mankind!), let's not dwell any further on the failings of the French, especially the women.
Wherever you may be celebrating Christmas and the beginning of the New Year, may the sun shine warmly, but not too warmly, may your braais always exude the aroma of best fillet (or whatever you fancy), may your fridges contain cold beers and your cellars prime South African wines, and for those of you dar by die Kaap, may the South Easter blow gently. Or if you’re in northern parts, may the weather suit your desires, whether they be to go skiing, or to see a little blue sky. And may 2005 be a good one!
Tot siens
MIKE
Boetjie Worldwide
Ray will be back soon.
No queries received this week.
Nobody needing help this week.
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!
I am trying to locate an old friend of mine who lived in Tamboerskloof in Cape Town during 1979-1980
Her name was Kim Ronaldson and her sister's name Tanzy Ronaldson. They had moved to Durban very suddenly and we did not have time to greet or to exchange addresses.
I would really appreciate your help in this search
Thanking you most kindly
Tunino Ricardo Haskell
P.O. Box 108
Walvis Bay
NAMIBIA
Tel: 09264 64 206166 (Office)/09264 81 124 1520 (Mobile)
tmtools@iafrica.com.na
No news this week.
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.
New year affirmations!
This from your editor that I found on the Net...
1. As I let go of my feelings of guilt, I am in touch with my inner sociopath.
2. I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia.
3. I assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else's fault.
4. In some cultures what I do would be considered normal.
5. My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of wisdom and judgment.
6. I need not suffer in silence while I can still moan, whimper, and complain.
7. When someone hurts me, I know that forgiveness is cheaper than a lawsuit, but not nearly as rewarding.
8. I am at one with my duality.
9. Blessed are the flexible, for they can tie themselves in knots.
10. I will strive to live each day as if it were my 50th birthday.
11. I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state and local laws.
12. Today I will gladly share my experience and advice, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so!"
13. A scapegoat is almost as good as a solution.
14. Just for today, I will not sit in my living room all day in my underwear. Instead, I will move my computer into the bedroom.
15. I will no longer waste my time reliving the past; I will spend it worrying about the future?
16. The complete lack of evidence is the surest proof that the conspiracy is working.
17. Before I criticize a man, I walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot.
A Diet Poem
This also found on the Net by me.
The following was shared by surfer Cathy W.
'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste,
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared,
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared.
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese,
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt,
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt.
I said to myself, as I only can,
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"
So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,
'Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie--not even a lick,
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot,
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!
For those of us in the sunshine, here are a couple of recipes for a sauce to go with that ice cream!
These are from the Vegsource site (www.vegsource.com)
Hot Fudge Sauce
3/4 cup natural sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup double-strength soymilk (from powder -- double the powder)
1/3 cup corn syrup or rice syrup
1/4 cup margarine
1 tsp vanilla extract
In a small saucepan, stir together sugar and cocoa.
Blend in soymilk and syrup.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until almost boiling.
Cook and stir for 1 minute.
Remove from heat.
Stir in margarine and vanilla.
Serve warm.
----
1 cup soymilk
8 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 cups natural ("raw") sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
2 Tbs margarine
1/8 tsp salt
2 & 1/2 tsps vanilla
Put all ingredients except vanilla in the top half of a double boiler.
Put over simmering water.
Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally,
until the chocolate has melted (about 5 minutes).
Stir well.
Cook 10 minutes without stirring.
Sauce should be slightly thick, and smooth.
Remove from heat, and let cool for 5 minutes.
Stir in vanilla.
Serve hot.
If desired, refrigerate, and reheat later (in double boiler).
Blatter 'delighted' to be part of African WC [Super Soccer]
The president of soccer's world governing body Fifa, Sepp Blatter, arrived in South Africa on Wednesday morning and said he was delighted to be involved in the first World Cup to be held in Africa.
http://www.supersoccer.co.za/default.asp?id=135309&des=art...
Cape girl is queen of African chess scene [allAfrica.com]
The new African Junior chess champion is 18-year-old Capetonian Jenine Ellappen. She became Cape Town's first woman international master by scoring eight points in nine games at a tournament in Lusaka, Zambia.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200501110285.html
Kallis - from puny kid to king [IOL]
It's hard to believe now, but Jacques Kallis was once thought to be too small and too unfit to be a really good cricketer. That was a decade and a half ago when the Western Province selectors dropped him from their under-15 team.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=17&a...
Boucher excited to be back [iafrica.com]
Playing for South Africa again after having been dropped for a time would be even more exciting than making his debut. That was the view of former wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher at a recent news conference at the Wanderers.
http://sport.iafrica.com/news/topstory/403137.htm
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