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| Contents |
Issue No. 335 -- 1 August 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
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Whew... I’m back!! Another hectic trip around the USA and the UK... and back home to sunny South Africa!
Our trip was not a relaxing sit on the beach with a book trip – more like if it’s Tuesday it must be Belgium type of trip. But it was a good break and we got to visit with all our family and friends in the US and also my daughter and some other very dear friends in the UK.
Now we are back in sunny South Africa. Winter temperatures of around 23 C in the middle of the day! Can’t fault that anywhere! Sunshine everyday... water skiing every day... well that is still a dream as we have to work but hopefully we will soon be building our house out at Hartbeespoort Dam. I bought a new dry suit... a baggy style instead of the tight fitting one I had previously. I have to say that I prefer not wearing a dry suit at all as I get mildly claustrophobic with a life vest and short suit under the dry suit. But it does give me a chance to ski in the winter months. September is just around the corner and then it will be back to long wet suits!
The cats had a good time at their ‘hotel’ and were of course happy to see us back. They slept on the bed for a few nights to make sure we didn’t fall out and didn’t disappear again! Forty pounds of cat keep you warm!
These from me...
Many an opportunity is lost because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers. - Anon
Seize the moment of excited curiosity on any subject to solve your doubts; for if you let it pass, the desire may n.ever return, and you may remain in ignorance. - William Wirt
If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true is really true, there would be little hope of advance. - Orville Wright
If you don't invest very much, then defeat doesn't hurt very much and winning is not very exciting. - Dïck Vermeil
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. - Charles Dickens,
Write injuries in sand, kindnesses in marble. - French Proverb
These from Des Cowie...
When you cannot make up your mind between two evenly balanced courses of action, choose the bolder. - W.J. Slim
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you'll know exactly what to do. - Michelle Ventor
Forgiveness: giving up the hold that the past could be any different. - Unknown
People usually fail when they are on the verge of success. So give as much care to the end as to the beginning. - Lao-Tzu
Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows. - Michael Landon
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. - Helen Keller
When you touch a fellow human being in love, you are doing God's work. - Unknown
If people destroy something replaceable made by mankind, they are called vandals; if they destroy something irreplaceable made by God, they are called developers. - Joseph Wood Krutch
These from Daniel Jan le Roux...
The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now - African Proverb
Who dares to teach must never cease to learn. - John Cotton Dana
I never exaggerate. I just remember big. - Chi Chi Rodriguez
Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all. - Sam Ewing
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
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!
This week’s Q&A:
André writes: I heard about Wesley Snipes being declared an "undesireable" in South Africa after having produced an invalid South African passport. Does this mean that South Africans will no longer be allowed to use dual passports?
Dear André - No, Mr. Snipes' case is quite extraordinary. You can read the detailled report of the South African Department of Home Affairs in this regard at www.home-affairs.gov.za. South Africans who have proof that they retained their South African citizenship when naturalising abroad, can still use the passports of both countries. The only conditions are that the South African passport must be kept valid at all times and must always be used when entering or leaving South Africa.
Kind regards
Alana & Annatjie
COME HOME CAMPAIGN
Migrasie / Migration
Solidariteit Alliansie / Solidarity Alliance
P O Box 8766, Centurion, 0046, RSA
Tel: 0027-(0)12-6438532
Fax: 0027-(0)12-6438587
admin@cfi.org.za
More news about ZIM problems
This from Theo Truter truter@mweb.co.za
Hi Maureen
When you read this on your return, you'll probably have also received others flooding into your mailbox.
Anyway, maybe it's 'useful' for publication.
Kind regards
Theo Truter
African Union defends Mugabe 25 June 2005 08:10
The African Union on Friday rejected calls by Britain and the United States to intervene in Zimbabwe, where the president, Robert Mugabe, is conducting a slum clearance programme that has left hundreds of thousands homeless.
Desmond Orjiako, a spokesperson for the AU, which represents 53 African states, said: "I do not think it is proper for the AU commission to start running the internal affairs of members' states." He suggested there were various good reasons for the demolitions, including preventing Harare turning into a slum.
The British Foreign Office, which has been leading a campaign against Mugabe, has expressed frustration over the last four years at the failure of South Africa and other AU members to act against -- or even criticise -- Mugabe in spite of human rights abuses and rigged elections.
But Britain's position was weakened yesterday by a Zimbabwean archbishop, who urged it to stop sending failed asylum seekers back to the Mugabe regime.
The Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius A Ncube, said those deported would be persecuted by the Mugabe regime as "traitors". "People who were asylum seekers in Britain and are returned have been detained by police in Zimbabwe, some being tortured and forced to confess that they were in anti-government activities."
Ncube told Channel 4 that Zimbabwe was beginning to resemble Pol Pot's Cambodia. He said Mugabe's policy of driving people out to the countryside "is extremely cruel and it is very much like Pol Pot and this will lead to people starving".
The British Home Office has temporarily backed down on its threat to send an opponent of Mugabe back to Zimbabwe on Saturday, which critics said could have led to his possible torture or death.
But on Friday it refused to reverse its policy of deporting people to whom Britain had refused asylum, which has triggered hunger strikes by at least 16 Zimbabweans held in detention.
The most high-profile detainee, Crespen Kulingi, who was due to be deported today, has been given a temporary reprieve.
Kulingi (32) is an adviser to the leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change.
He claims he suffered injuries so severe at the hands at Mugabe's henchmen while detained in Zimbabwe that he is now in a wheelchair.
The delay in deporting him came after an intervention by the Labour MP Kate Hoey.
Hoey said: "I have no doubt that if Crespen is sent to Zimbabwe, I think there will be a very good chance he will be killed, but more definitely he would be locked up and probably tortured."
The Home Office has been put under more pressure by remarks by the foreign secretary, Jack Straw.
Condemning Mugabe's policy of forced removals of people from areas which voted for the opposition, Straw said it was "of serious international concern".
On Thursday Mugabe hailed as a success the six-week-old slum clearance programme, which he named Drive Out Scum and which has led to the demolition of tens of thousands of homes. He said it was for environmental reasons and to help combat crime.
The MDC claims that the demolitions are politically movitated, because the core of its supporters is from these poorest areas. The MDC urged the African Union to take up the issue at its next meeting, which is due to be held in Libya.
But Orjiako said: "It is painful that the poor people in Zimbabwe are being displaced.
"But if it is in the interests to prevent crime, or improve sanitation, or ensure the health of the people, or ensure Harare does not turn into a slum, I do not see how the AU should take over the internal legislation for action the government says they have taken to improve the livelihoods of their people."
On Wednesday, after a meeting in London of the foreign ministers of the G8 -- the world's wealthiest countries -- Straw called on African leaders "not to continue to turn a blind eye to what is going on in Zimbabwe".
Sitting alongside him, Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, described the demolitions as tragic and called on the AU to speak out. - Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005
Letter from Zimbabwe - help!!!!
This from a reader CPa4499953@aol.com
A letter from Zimbabwe
Sent in by John Winter:
I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF.
The darkest hour is always before dawn.
We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next...
I mean they are actually plowing down brick and mortar houses and one white family with twin boys of 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when 100 riot police came in with AK's and bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house - 5 bedrooms and pine ceilings - because it was "too close to the airport".. so we are feeling extremely insecure right now.
You know - I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night, but if you do not know - how can you help?
Even if you put us in your own mental ring of light and send your guardian angels to be with us - that is a help - but I feel so cut off from you all knowing I cannot tell you what's going on here simply because you will feel uncomfortable.
There is no ways we can leave so that is not an option. I just ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know that you are thinking of us and sending out positive vibes... that's all. You can't just be in denial and pretend its not going on. To be frank with you, its genocide in the making and if you do not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are IN level seven (level 8 is after its happened and everyone is in denial).
If you don't want me to tell you these things then it means you have not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our situation.
We need you to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully dangerous situation here.
Too many people turn their backs and say - oh well, that's what happens in Africa.
This government has GONE MAD and you need to publicize our plight or how can we be rescued?
You can't just say "oh you attract your own reality". The petrol queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0 Celsius with no food water, shelter and bedding are a reality.
Today a family approached me, brother of the gardener's wife with two small children.
Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep outside. We already support 8 people and a child on this property and electricity is going up next month by 250% as is water.
How can I take another family of 4 - and yet how can I turn them away to sleep out in the open?
I am not asking you for money, or a ticket out of here - I am asking you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and I want you to pass on our news and pictures and don't just press the delete button for God's sake. Help in the way that you know how.
Face the reality of what is going on here and SEND OUT THE WORD.
The more people that know about it, the more chance we have of United Nations coming to our aid.
Please stop ignoring and denying what's happening. Would you like to be protected from the truth and then if we are eliminated how would you feel? Surely you would say "if only we knew how bad it really was we could have helped in some way". I know we chose to stay here and so we "deserve" what's coming to us. For now we ourselves, have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of money for the next meal - but what is going to happen next?
Will they start on our houses?
All property is going to belong to the State now. I want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you because if they get a hold of those I can't fight for my rights.
We no longer have SW radio which told us everything that was happening because the government jammed it out of existence - we don't have any reporters, and no one is allowed to photograph. If we had reporters here they would have an absolute field day. Even the pro government Herald has written that people are shocked, stunned, bewildered and blown mindless by the wanton destruction of everyone's homes which are supposed to be "illegal but which a huge percentage of them actually do have licenses for. Please - have some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal reports so that something can be DONE.
Harvard/South Africa Fellowship Programme
This from South African Culture in New York info@sacultureinny.org
Harvard University established the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program (HSAFP) in 1978 to address the needs of South Africans denied access to advanced education by apartheid and it is still intended for mid-career professionals educationally disadvantaged by past law and resource allocation. Successful applicants must have demonstrated considerable skill in their chosen fields and the potential to benefit from advanced training. Fellowships are for a year of study in one of Harvard's many Schools. The fellowship includes a waiver of tuition by the individual Harvard School, a living allowance and a return air ticket to the United States. The HSAFP is funded by the President of Harvard and the Harvard School which the fellow attends.
Visit www.fas.harvard.edu/~southafr for application.
The South African Institute of Race Relations processes the applications and hosts the committee which determines the final list of candidates. Questions from potential applicants not answered on this site should be directed to Dennis Venter deventer@global.co.za at the Institute.
Submit applications by Friday 5th August, 2005 for the 2006-07 Academic Year to:
South African Institute of Race Relations
P.O. Box 32597
Braamfontein 2017, South Africa
Telephone : (011) 339-3193
Fax: (011) 339-1834
Submitted by: Steven Solomon in Chicago, Illinois
Last grasp for the Heart of Borneo
This from Des Cowie des.a.c@btinternet.com
Dear Friend,
Please take 3 minutes of your time to visit my website http://www.deanpolley.com and click on the link "Last grasp for the Heart of Borneo" and listen to Stuart Chapman's campaign message. Find out how you can help, no matter how small, to save the Heart of Borneo.
One small way of helping is to spread the word. If you found this site to be useful and something that is close to your heart, please forward this email to your friends.
Thanks and regards
Dean Polley
Getting up on the wrong side of the bed and a Native American custom
This from Daniel Jan LeRoux
When I arrived for my first day of work, it was very early in the morning. I walked down the street just at dawn. The light was changing. As I walked, I noticed that every other door was open and there was a child sitting in the doorway or on the front porch. All were humming. I could not seem to figure out what was going on. Was this some custom that I had not been told about??? When I got to the school I asked the head mistress what was happening.
She said:
The mothers tell the children a story when they are very young:
The story is about their shadow. During the day your shadow is very good, it stays with you all the time, it jumps when you jump, it runs when you run. At night your shadow gets to go play the way it chooses. It can play with other shadows. In the morning, when you wake up and are not happy it is because your shadow has not come home yet. So in order for you to feel better, you have to help your shadow to find it's way home. So the children are instructed to go sit in the doorway and hum until their shadow returns. (it is very hard to be sad when you are humming).
Choice Coach – Work in Progress
Managing our time is all about the ROI
In business terms, ROI refers return on investment, and is thought of in terms of money. How much return does one get for how much invested in advertising? In staff training? In upgrading equipment?
However, the concept of ROI can be a useful one in our lives both in and out of business.
Is there anyone out there who has too much time on his or her hands and not enough to do? Certainly there are such people, and often they deserve our empathy, for circumstances may prevent them from being actively involved in the things that they might dearly love. However, I know that most of the readers of Work in Progress are skimming through this in haste because there are dozens more emails awaiting their attention. Or they are reading it a week or so late because they set it aside to read "when they could find the time."
We all have the same twenty-four hours. Unfortunately, for some of us it seems to scoot by in the blink of an eye, leaving us wondering what we actually did that would move us toward attainment of our objectives.
(As an aside, I'd suggest that a journal or log of what you actually do can be useful. It will either show that you are doing far more than you give yourself credit for, or it will show you where you are wasting time. Or, of course, it could indicate that you are not an accurate recorder of even your own activities ;-).)
In between all of the things that we absolutely HAVE to do - like sleeping, eating, earning a living, perhaps caring for others - there are many periods of time where we have choices. These are the times about which we need to consider the ROI. These are the time-equivalent of disposable income. What are we getting back from those times? Not getting back in terms of money, necessarily, or "business connections," but what are we getting back that is important to us? Time spent with family probably has a very high ROI, if we really think about what is important. Yet how easy is it to think that time spent with family is expendable? Time doing something that we love is important. Time doing things that make us feel good about ourselves is important. Time doing things that make us feel not so good needs to be examined.
In the years since I started my own coaching business I have joined many organizations. I have also chosen not to renew membership in quite a few of them. Some of them are perceived by many as of high status, or as useful "networking" organizations where I may make important business connections. Yet, I chose to leave them. Why? The simple answer, which leaves some people a little confused, is... "Not enough ROI."
Think about the organizations to which you belong, the meetings you attend, and the time you spend on plans, activities, and events relating to those organizations. Some of them may be vital to your business or career. I personally believe that if there is a professional organization that represents workers in a career field, then all workers in that field have a responsibility to join it so that they may be a part of that representation. However, there are other organizations that fail to provide what we expected when we joined them.
I suggest that if you find yourself reluctant when time comes for the next year's dues, you may choose to make a pro and con list. What are you getting out of each organization that is positive? What are you getting out of it that is negative? What are you putting into it?
Positives may be business connections, but they may also involve connections with people whose company you enjoy, who give you appropriate recognition and or with whom you experience feelings of belonging. These are important - most of us have the instincts of pack animals however much we might think we want to be lone rangers. We want to belong. It may be that this is an organization where you are learning and stretching yourself, becoming more of the person you want to be. It may be that it provides opportunities for you to give back to society in some way. It may provide spiritual connections. All of these may be positives.
However, there may also be negatives. An organization where the leaders act unprofessionally, are chronically disorganized or late, or indulge in croney-ism and clique-ish behavior may provide you with more negatives than positives. An organization in which you question the ethics of some of the members, or even the leaders, certainly needs a second thought. Consider whether you look forward to their events, or do you drag yourself to them out of a sense of reluctant duty. Consider how you feel at the end of a meeting. Do you leave on a high note, feeling more cheerful, or better about yourself, than when you arrived? Or not? Does your trip home involve irritated thoughts or feelings that indicate you are feeling worse than before you went?
Then there is the issue of how much you put into the organization in terms of time, effort, and money. All of these are different forms of cost.
If an organization takes up a lot of time, what are the other things that you could be doing with that time? Are some of them things that are, if you look deeply, more important to you? Perhaps time with loved ones? The project that you've been promising yourself for the past six months that you'd complete before the end of the year? Some much-needed self-care or "R&R"?
You almost certainly look at the costs that involve money. Can you afford another year's dues? Where else is the money needed? That is usually fairly cut-and-dried. However, money aside, if a volunteer organization demands so much effort that it leaves you drained and without time for yourself, then the issue of boundary-setting raises its head, and, again, we may wonder about the ROI. Certainly most of us would like to save the world, and we believe in putting time and effort into organizations that we see as worthwhile. However, are we short-changing ourselves? Our loved ones? Are we willing to sacrifice our loved ones because we are trying to save the world?
Unless we have many personal and social connections it may not be healthy to belong to nothing, to play the lone ranger as we take pride in being "non-joiners." On the other hand, it is entirely possible to allow ourselves to be pulled in so many directions, by so many organizations, that we lose track of what or who have the most important right to our time, our energy, and our attention.
Consider all of this, when next those dues become due.
Remember that more of Diana's writings can be found in an intermittent (especially through the summer) blog at http://blog.choicecoach.com/.
Also, an archive on old Work in Progress issues going back to 1997 can be found at
http://lists.webvalence.com/sites/WorkInProgress/
If you or your friends would like a free half-hour sample coaching call, please contact me by email or via my web site at http://ChoiceCoach.com. I may not answer instantly as there will be some times this summer when I cannot access the internet, but you may be sure that I will respond as soon as I am able.
Copyright 2005 Diana Robinson, PhD., PCC. Work in Progress may be reproduced in its entirety only, including this copyright line. Disclaimer - The contents herein are solely the opinions of Work in Progress owner, and should not be considered as a form of therapy nor advice. There is no guarantee of validity or accuracy. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
Mailing Address:
Diana Robinson
2604 Elmwood Avenue #230
Rochester, NY 14618
USA
Choice Coach – Grounded in the Earth, Reaching for the Sky
What is your connection?
Spirituality implies a connection, a relationship with a Something, or Someone greater than ourselves. We use many words to describe What it is that we believe in and seek to connect with - God, Goddess, Allah, Hashem, Creator, Higher Power, and many more. As I perceive spirituality it is a way of life aimed at strengthening that relationship and making the contact or interaction more and more ongoing.
How do we do that?
My focus this month is not on what is or is not correct in naming the Creator, for I perceive that as being perhaps irrelevant, and relating more to the flavor of one's religion (which is not the same thing as spirituality) than to how we establish the contact.
The methods used to increase our conscious contact with the Creator that come most easily to mind are prayer and meditation.
As one writer put it, "Prayer is when I talk to God. Meditation is when God talks to me." Certainly in prayer we are voicing our thoughts and feelings to God, and/or about God. We can do this in pre-written words, usually those recommended by our chosen religion. We can also, and I hope do, pray in our own words, ideally as an ongoing communication throughout the day, but most certainly in moments of stress, joy, or other high emotion.
I have written before of my belief that one function of our relationship with the Creator is that we establish an ongoing loop of awareness of what is going on around us that we mentally "send" to God. In portraying and relaying our experience of the Now to the Creator we have to become aware of the Now for ourselves. Given that there is a tendency in many of us to be unaware of the Now, to fail to "be here now" as the saying goes, this form of feedback loop serves to both strengthen our ongoing awareness of and contact with the Creator, but it also strengthens our awareness of and contact with our own environment AND with our own thoughts and feelings - something that cannot but help us in our search for personal growth.
There is also benefit in the pre-written prayers that are given to us by most religions. They guide us. They remind us that prayer is not all about asking for things. They give us words to say when our internal search for words is fruitless.
Some words also help us to move into a closer Creator-awareness just by their sounds and rhythms. I occasionally participate in an event called Dances of Universal Peace, which uses movement and chant to increase Creator-awareness. The words and melodies are drawn from many religions, but, regardless of source, many of them, when repeated often, result in a change of mental state that is often blissful. They demand focus, for often just as one begins to sink into a rhythm, or a movement, or a repeated phrase - it changes. Thus one is focused on body, for the movements are simple but changing. One is focused on mind, for the words or chants are sometimes simple, quite repetitive, and yet have subtle samenesses and differences that require concentration. One is also focused on spirit, and on the Creator, to whom the words are usually addressed. Thus the whole being is fully focused, something that happens rarely in our day to day lives when we tend to emphasize one area, body, mind, OR spirit, at a time rather than bringing together body, mind AND spirit for the same purpose at the same moment. It is an intense and exhilarating experience. **
Another connection with the Creator that many people find most powerful is in their experience of nature. Whether it be a walk in the park, an afternoon spent bird-watching, a extreme experience in the world's more challenging environments, or something in between, many of us find ourselves more aware of the Creator when we can see creation in its most natural forms. Of course, we need to let go of the cell phone, the PDA, and the urgencies that tend to overwhelm weaker signals in order to tune in. Perhaps that is where the more extreme experiences come in. It is difficult to be worrying about tomorrow's deadline when one has placed oneself in an environment where a moment's misjudgment may bring peril, so, for a while, those day-to-day niggles are banished. At such point, or just after the danger has been averted, Creator-contact may have a better chance.
I mentioned the weaker signal, and that, too, is an important issue. If we can become aware of "the still, small voice" then we do not need to expose ourselves to extreme situations to achieve this effect. In life we are geared to give high precedence to the signals from our five mundane (relatively) senses, and to our internal thought processes. Whatever other signals, messages, connections may come through have a lot of competition. This is where meditation comes in. In meditation we train ourselves to reduce the noise.
When I took my cat to the vet the other day she (the vet) was trying to listen to the cat's heartbeat. Since he enjoys almost any form of attention, and currently had two people fully focused on him, he was purring away merrily. She had to ask me to blow in his face in an attempt to stop the purring because the noise was interfering with her
ability to isolate the signal of the heartbeat. (It didn't work - he would not stop purring.) That is a bit the way we are. We need to stop the noise that is going on in our minds so as to allow the important signals, the "messages from the Creator," to come through. Just as with the cat, it can be very difficult to stop the noise. Our five senses exist to bring us information about our environment, sometimes as a matter of survival. They are persistent. So are our internal thoughts. Yet, if the fainter signals are to get through we must learn to mute the louder ones. This is what meditation is about. It is not easy. It takes practice. Yet that practice is well worthwhile, even in lives where time seems to be the enemy, action seems to be the goal, and the idea of devoting twenty minutes a day to "sitting doing nothing" may be counter to the culture in which we live. What some teachers call "monkey mind" - the part of us that chatters constantly - needs training, but it can learn, it can be silent, and the results are hugely rewarding. Not only is our Creator-contact enhanced, but so is our ability to deal with stress. Blood pressure has been shown to be lowered by regular meditation, and there are many other benefits both physical and mental.
Rather than thinking of it as spending time doing nothing, perhaps we can reframe meditation as a time to recharge batteries that are often close to being drained. We need to recharge our batteries, not simply for the sake of recharging them, but because only then can we bring that sacred energy back into the world. For this is what is most important about the Creator-contact that we seek. Certainly we seek it for our own growth and sustenance. Yet that is not enough - The Connection is not something to be sought solely for its own sake, precious though it may be to us. What is important that we become not simply one end of the connection, with The Creator at the other, but that we ourselves become conduits between Creator and World. Perhaps that is what it is all about.
Next month: In this article I mentioned the difference between spirituality and religion. More on that in the August issue.
**(To discover whether there is a Dances of Universal Peace circle near you, go to http://www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org/#. At the bottom are links to different parts of the world, which will then take you to pages where you can search for events in your geographical area.)
Special times this month
Dates and descriptions obtained from www.interfaithcalendar.org/ unless marked with ##.
Do not be confused by the fact that some celebrations occur on different days according to different religions. For example, celebrations for those of the Orthodox Christian faith, some of whom adhere to the Julian calendar and some to the Gregorian calendar, often differ from those of most western Christian faiths. For more information about the history behind this confusion, see www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7070.asp.
Celebrations marked with one asterisk actually begin at sundown the previous day. Those marked with two asterisks may vary by date according to location. Also, because the Islamic calendar is moon-based, some dates may be off by one day, depending upon location.
August 2005
1 - Lammas - Christian first fruits celebration observed by placing bread baked from first harvest on the altar.
1 - Lughnassad (Lammas) * - Wicca/neo pagan observance of first harvest of the year involving agricultural festivals and prosperity magic. The Christian name of Lammas is sometimes used.
1 - Fast in honor of Holy Mother of Lord Jesus - Orthodox Christian.
6 - Transfiguration of the Lord - Orthodox Christian - commemoration of the experience on Mt Tabor when Jesus' physical appearance became brilliant as his connection with traditional Jewish holy figures became evident to the disciples.
13 - Obon ** - Japanese Buddhist festival to honor the dead. Involves lighting of bonfires, traditional meal, paper lanterns, folk dances.
14 - Tisha B'av * - A Jewish day of fasting in remembrance of the destruction of the Temple.
15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Roman Catholic Christian observance commemorating the belief that the Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life.
15 - Dormition of the Theotokos - Orthodox Christian term for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (see previous entry). ##
19 - Raksha Bandhan ** - Hindu festival honoring the loving ties between brothers and sister in a family.
20 - Tu B'Av - Jewish celebration of romance between couples.
24 - St. Bartholomew Day - Christian - St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of butchers and tanners, as well as beekeepers and honey-makers. ##
27 - Krishna Janmashtami ** - Hindu commemoration of the birth of Krishna - the 8th incarnation of god Vishnu who took the form of Krishna to destroy the evil king Kansa.
29 - Beheading of St John the Baptist - Christian remembrance of the death of John who is known for preparing the people so they would recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
Copyright 2005 Diana Robinson, PhD., PCC. Grounded in the Earth, Reaching for the Sky may be reproduced in its entirety only, including this copyright line. Disclaimer -The contents herein are solely the opinions of Grounded in the Earth, Reaching for the Sky owner, and should not be considered as a form of therapy nor advice. There is no guarantee of validity or accuracy. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
Mailing Address:
Diana Robinson
2604 Elmwood Avenue #230
Rochester, NY 14618
USA
Mind Massage
Mindfulness and Packing: Snapping Memories
I’m in the middle of a pretty big move.
My family—including my husband and two of my four teenage daughters—is moving to Old Mazatlan, Mexico next month. We are selling virtually everything—furniture, cars, kitchen stuff, etc.—and leaving with nothing more than a backpack and big cardboard box each.
We’ll store a few large framed pieces of art that are meaningful to us. We’ve put all of our home videos on one DVD. We’ve scanned the beloved family photos and put them on disk. Things are really getting pared down.
In any move, you’re likely to get rid of a lot of stuff that was possibly worth keeping but not worth moving. In this particular move, we really need to pay attention to what matters most. We’re not renting a storage facility, nor are we flying down with crates of dishes and photo albums. We’re focusing on what is really meaningful to us.
And it’s surprising.
I asked the kids which items said “home” to them. They picked the colorful wall hanging my husband received when he was an exchange student in India nearly 30 years ago. They chose a Japanese scroll with an orange painting of bamboo leaves because for years we had it hanging at the foot of the stairs and it was the first thing they saw when they came downstairs in the morning.
We’ve never had really nice furniture—our “collection” is a hodge-podge of hand-me-downs and quirky items we found here and there. There’s very little monetary value in any of it, but there are memories attached.
When I look at the African carved table, I don’t think about dollar signs or Ghana or sese wood. I remember getting up early with my friend and heading out to the annual Masonic Home sale in our small town. On the way there, we laughed about people who wait in line until it opens and then run to put their “sold” signs on the items they want. But then, when I spotted the African table, I did exactly that! She laughed at me as we drove home, but I didn’t mind. I’d found a funky treasure, and I was thrilled.
I don’t care about the table. I care about the memory of being excited to find something so unexpected sitting on that lawn on a summer morning. And fortunately, that memory is far more portable than the heavy wooden table.
We’ve never felt the need to store every finger painting and report card. We’ve kept a few pieces that make us giggle every time we see them.
But we are not bringing the tattered drawing that Teal did of chickens playing tennis(!). We probably won’t bring Tara’s spelling bee trophy, complete with a little statue of a geeky kid in glasses and a bee-striped shirt standing on top of the cheap gold pedestal.
We don’t have to. These things are part of our family’s collective memory. And failing that, we’ll have a nice digital photo to remind us.
The one who is most upset about getting rid of stuff is my mother. She comes from the era when young women had hope chests that they lovingly filled with linens, china, silverware and other “essentials” for marriage.
She has a set of dishes she intends to give to each of my girls when they “settle down.” I want to explain that young women nowadays put things like backpacks or laptops on their bridal registries, but I don’t have the heart to tell her that.
It’s important to her that they are “prepared” for hosting those elegant Thanksgiving dinners in the years ahead. My oldest daughter has been in three countries THIS SUMMER, and is likely to lead a very peripatetic life for the next decade or two. And she doesn’t eat turkey, anyway.
When I’m sorting and choosing what to keep and what to give away, I smile as I remember how each piece came to be in our home. But then I come back to the present and ask, do I need this item in order to capture the memory?
And the answer is almost always no.
Out comes the camera. Snap!
Consider it captured.
What About You?
Do you have a story of a major move? Did you get rid of something only to regret it later? Did you hang on to something and wonder why you bothered?
Take a moment to consider the stuff
that matters most to you. How would it feel to release the item but
cherish the memory?
Packin' It In
Well, it's been about three weeks since we decided to move to Mexico. Already, we have sold most of our big stuff--sofas, tables--and our smaller stuff will go during today’s garage sale.
And in the last three days, we found a house to rent in Mazatlan. It's BRIGHT PINK. To see photos and hear more details of this mindful move, visit::
MassageYourMind.blogspot.com
**********************************
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon.
Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she
teaches playful and powerful eyes-wide-open ways to get calm,
clear and creative. To get her FREE special report, "The Dirty
Little Secret About Meditation" visit
http://www.MassageYourMind.com.
**************************************
©Copyright 2004, Maya Talisman Frost
52 Best Stories – Tommy and God
Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith. That was the first day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. I know in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts; but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions flipped. I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange ...very strange.
Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father-God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew. When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a slightly cynical tone:
"Do you think I'll ever find God?" I decided instantly on a little shock therapy.
"No!" I said very emphatically.
"Oh," he responded, "I thought that was the product you were pushing."
I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out:
"Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!"
He shrugged a little and left my class and my life. I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line: "He will find you!" At least I thought it was clever.
Later I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was duly grateful. Then a sad report, I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted, and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm.
"Tommy, I've thought about you so often. I hear you are sick !" I blurted out.
"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of weeks."
"Can you talk about it, Tom?"
"Sure, what would you like to know?"
"What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying?"
"We'll, it could be worse."
"Like what?"
"Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real 'biggies' in life."
I began to look through my mental file cabinet under "S" where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification God sends back into my life to educate me.)
"But what I really came to see you about," Tom said, " is something you said to me on the last day of class. I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me. Then you said, 'But He will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time."
"But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, then I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven. But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit."
"Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn't really care about God, about an afterlife, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said:"
"'The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.'"
"So I began with the hardest one: my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him." "Dad"
"Yes, what?" he asked without lowering the newspaper.
"Dad, I would like to talk with you."
"Well, talk."
"I mean. It's really important." The newspaper came down three slow inches.
"What is it?"
"Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that."
Tom smiled at me and said with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him:
"The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me. And we talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me."
"It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years. I was only sorry about one thing: that I had waited so long. Here I was just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to."
"Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop, 'C'mon, jump through. 'C'mon, I'll give you three days three weeks.' Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour. But the important thing is that He was there. He found me. You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for Him."
"Tommy," I practically gasped, "I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him."
"Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if you were to tell them."
"I was ready for you, but I don't know if I'm ready for your class."
"Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call."
In a few days Tommy called, said he was ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date. However, he never made it. He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class.
Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed. He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined. Before he died, we talked one last time.
"I'm not going to make it to your class," he said.
"I know, Tom."
"Will you tell them for me? Will you tell the whole world for me?"
"I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best."
So, to all of you who have been kind enough to hear this simple statement about love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven:
"I told them, Tommy . . as best I could."
~ The Author is Reverend John Powell who is a retired Professor from Loyola University in Chicago. At times stories like this are pleasant but are fictional. The website TruthOrFiction.com located Father Powell and asked him if this story were true. Father Powell who is advanced in years said that this story was still fresh in his mind and confirmed that it is true and happened as described above. ~
http://www.52best.com/tom.asp
Northern Lighties
How to do a lightning tour of parts of the US and Canada in three days or "1600km's, a million trees, mega gallons of water and thousands of towns as a background blur"
Day1
It is summer in Canada and this year the heat and humidity in Southern Ontario has been almost to the levels experienced on a normal day in Durbs. In other words totally unbearable once you get used to living in Canada.
For the first time in years I realised that I actually had the ability to take some vacation time and that it was a good idea to do so as I can't accrue leave. Having worked now for two years without a break it was subtly suggested by the Store Manager that I should look into the option of having a break.
"You work longer hours than me! You may have heart but it probably won't do you any good if it breaks!" was the way she put it. So I put in for a week. Which leaves me two more weeks to take later in the year.
Oddly enough what with International visits and Head Office visits and technicians with "Summer-sickness" I worked continuously for 14 days on the trot before the start and so come time for my break I was feeling rather tired.
Mentally and physically.
Mind you there is some doubt as to how long my mental tiredness has been going on. However I digress.
Now comes the hard part of the process. What the heck to do with myself for a week?
I sort of had a plan to go sightseeing. Drive down to the States and look around. Maybe go to Quebec and look around. Park off. Sloth. The normal sort of things that cross most peoples minds when they suddenly realise that they have time on their hands that they haven't really decided what to do with.
Then fate intervened in the form of the Coast Guard. Having recently been promoted to Acting Captain I was informed that we had a meeting on Thursday of this week. Not to mention that our crew was on duty on the Sunday as well. Which sort of cut down any plans.
For those of you who know me it will come as no surprise that I decided to on the spur of the moment to just get up and drive. Readers of my newsletter have been entertained on many an occasion to the various places I have been lost in over the years I have been here.
This may have been facilitated by the purchase of a reasonably priced digital camera recently, which means that at least I can document the places I wind up in. Even if I haven't a clue as to how I got there. Not to mention how to work the camera properly yet. Which may explain some of the pictures.
So on the Monday I got up threw clothes, including fresh underods like my mother always said, and some other stuff into a bag and headed off East. Then came back for the stuff I had forgotten (like maps) and started again.
My initial intention was to go to Kingston and cross over the border there.
Luckily I got sidetracked.
On my way to Kingston I stopped at the huge apple outside Trenton to see what was on offer. Apple food of all different varieties of course and, as is fast becoming standard with all these roadside attractions, at prices that are similar or more expensive than in the local stores.
This store incidentally is part of the Apple route, which takes in Cobourg, Port Hope and other towns nearby.
It also has a small zoo, which includes Llama's and for some strange reason what appear to be "Attack Rabbits". At least the sign stating that they were "wild" and "fierce" and not to touch them would appear to put them in this category.
So I then popped in to see a friend in Trenton who suggested that I take a trip up through Prince Edward County and the islands instead. Wise suggestion.
While waiting for her and toddling around Trenton (also known for some reason as The City of Quinte West) I found the RCAF Memorial Museum situated at the CFB Trenton.
http://www.rcafmuseum.on.ca/
If you love airplanes this is a treasure trove of delights. In addition it is free to go in and look around. Obviously a donation is expected but once you have had a look a donation is more than what you want to give.
Inside the museum they are restoring a Halifax that was raised from Lake Mjosa in Norway. The link above will give you the full story and some pictures of the plane.
The guide I was with (an old retired CAF pilot) was a bit hesitant about letting me take pictures inside but other than that we had a long and interesting discussion about the SAAF and the CAF before he let me wander about on my own.
After a brief meeting, and the advice being absorbed, I headed off down Highway 11 or as it is better known "The Loyalist Parkway".
This whole drive is extremely scenic and takes in a few towns that are indicative of the rural Canada that I expected.
Prince Edward County also seems to be the new wine country as I noticed a whole lot of wineries being advertised. I remember reading somewhere that the wine being made there is rapidly competing with the Niagara Region.
The two main towns are Wellington and Picton. Picton seemingly being a larger and more "touristy" type of town. It even has a bioscope. At least that is what it looked like. Anyone else remember the old movie houses we had in South Africa with the full on architecture and lights announcing the forthcoming flick?
Same thing only still active.
From Picton I moved on to Glenora where there is a ferry operated by the Ontario highways as a service to the public. In other words you don't have to pay to cross over to the mainland. Isn't Canada great sometimes?
I waited for maybe five minutes before boarding and even then it was only a minute or two to get to the other side.
Highway 11 carries on toward Kingston along the coast becoming Highway 33 further on and then oddly enough Highway 2 through Kingston. Which can become confusing.
I wasn't aware that there is a ferry from Kingston over to Wolfe Island either. Which is a pity because I am enamored with the idea of ferries and would have been quite happy to take that one over to the States as well.
However thanks to a detour in Kingston itself I found I was indulging in my favourite occupation when traveling. Which is getting lost..
Finally I managed to get to the 401 and travel East toward Gananoque where there is a bridge to the States.
Mind you while lost I will add that I came across a magnificent building down by the Lake edge which as I drove up looked to be a Hotel or maybe a hospital. I was admiring the beauty when I noticed the walls that were attached and which seemed oddly reminiscent of something. Maybe the barbed wire should have given it away.
It was a prison!
Only a South African could find beauty in a prison.
So after a quick trip along the 401 where my 130k's seemed sedate compared to the rest of the F1 whizzing past I passed Gananoque and took the bridge over to Hill Island and ultimately the Yoonited States.
I guess they build the bridges tall around here to allow the ocean going freighters to pass underneath. I can't really describe the majesty of these structures.
Nor can I do justice to the view while driving over. You get the full impact of the term "1000 Islands" when you look to either side. (standard disclaimer here about not doing it while driving etc.etc.). Each and every one seems to have some sort of house on it. Or some habitation at the least.
This bridge was in immaculate condition. Which may have been as a result of the toll fee that was charged. At least I hope so.
At U.S. Customs the Officer was more interested that I was from Durban while having a Canadian Passport than anything else and only seemed to perk up a bit when I mentioned that I was on my way to Clayton down the road. He looked at the passport. Then me. Then with a sort of smile on his face gave me directions to get there.
It was now late in the afternoon, well evening actually, and so I headed directly to the little port of Clayton New York.
Perhaps I should explain this.
Some years ago my sister visited the States and in her travels popped into some towns named Clayton and bought me back the odd t-shirt and cap emblazoned with the name.
Ego thing maybe, but when you have the chance to do that it becomes fun.
So in order to stoke my ego I went back southwest toward the town, shortly arriving at the outskirts and the obligatory "welcome too" sign.
Shortly thereafter I was rather amazed to see the following sign outside what must surely be one of the most dilapidated Motels I have seen.
Given my recent promotion I had to stop and take a picture and then find out who this Captain Clayton was. Or actually is.
I popped into the store attached to the Motel and there was this old man sitting counting plastic bottles. He had been watching me from the window apparently.
Eying me up and down he asked if he could help me. Uh No. It was more of a "what do you want" actually.
"Good Evening' I said, " I am Captain Clayton from the Canadian Coast Guard"
"Hmm.. That makes two of us then" he grunts and walks away!
I never did find out if he was a Clayton or even a Captain for that matter. About the only other time he talked was to tell me that the drink I purchased was a dollar. Ornery old cuss!
I have the strange feeling that my children are laughing themselves silly over this!
I arrived in the town itself around 7.
Now to find accommodation. Both Hotels were reasonably expensive and the only other motels I had seen had been out of town.
Not to mention that the town itself appears to close down at 5pm as well.
So while driving around the town I chanced upon The Wooden Boat Motel nestled on a side street. I approached the lady watering and asked if there were rooms available.
Yes, there were. At $75 a night.
Then she looked at me and asked if I was alone. Which then produced the astonishing drop in price to $50. Maybe I looked tired and worn out or maybe she hadn't got many guests but I am not arguing. Especially as it turned out to be a really good, clean, comfortable room.
And the puppy was friendly as well.
We had a long chat about various things after I had a shower and cooled down before I toddled into Clayton to look for something to nosh.
Which I found at O'Brians Restaurant and Nightclub. Actually I haven't a clue where the nightclub part comes in as it appeared to be more of a bar than anything else, but the Wings were just the right size to appease my appetite and on a special as well. I did create a bit of consternation though when I asked for a typical American beer from around those parts. Coors and Miller and even Budweiser being the only beer that they could think of until the chap sitting next to men mentioned Genesee Lager.
I now understand why it is that the old joke about American beer being like making love in a canoe came about. July is also American Beer Month. But given the quality of the stuff I tasted they should be a little more cautious of promoting themselves like that.
But is was ice cold and the wings were good if a little insipid in the heat category and I made friends with the local drunks sitting next to me so all in all I had a good evening anyway.
Which is probably why I was asleep shortly after I lay down. Even the TV I turned on couldn't wake me.
Legal Beagle - UK
Dear Editor,
I am a SA citizen who has been living abroad for the last 6 years as my husband has taken up contract work in the garment industry in Asia (no work back home!). We spent 4 years in Sri Lanka and now are in India. Our 2 daughters are living in the UK, married to British men. My older daughter has just been naturalised. My brother and his family live in the UK too. I hold a both a SA and a British passport since both my parents were British and moved to SA before I was born. My question is this, if my husband and I want to settle in the UK what would we need to do as far as he is concerned? He is second generation South African so does not have a British passport like I do. His grandfather was British but we do not have his details. Does our marriage count in his favour if we wanted to live and work there? I should probably be sending this to your Legal Beagle so please pass this letter on if necessary.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Michele
Dear Michelle
Thank you for your email via SAW.
Your husband would be required to apply for "Spouse Entry Clearance" at the British High Commission. This is normally done in the applicant's country of residence i.e. SA, but if you speak with the BHC in India they may well permit him to make his application there. The successful result of your husband being granted his entry clearance will mean that he will then be free to accompany you to the UK and be able to start working in the UK immediately. The validity of the visa (same thing as the entry clearance) is for 2yrs. In fact, you may often hear this particular entry clearance category to be referred to as a "2yr Marriage Visa."
On the 23rd month of said visa, your husband may then apply (from within the UK) for a status known as "Indefinite Leave to Remain" (this is commonly called 'Full Residency' or 'Permanent Residency' or 'Settlement' - it all means the same thing). It is a lifting of the time constraint by which your husband may continue to remain in the UK, hence its official name of "Indefinite Leave to Remain." Once ILR had been granted, your husband still remains a South African (very often people mistakenly think that ILR means
UK citizenship, it does not.) Your husband may later on then qualify to become "Naturalised" which IS the process by which one becomes a full UK citizen. It is worth noting that as of September 2004, the SA authorities relaxed their regulations and not South Africans can apply for and acquire an additional citizenship without losing their SA identity.
If you would care for any further information, please either visit our website or email me directly.
Best Regards,
Steve Purdy
Legal Beagle - OZ
Hello
Recently we applied for a skills assessment in Australia with the TRA. My husband has bona fide spray painters trade certificate and work experience to match. By all accounts we should qualify to immigrate and went the route of validating qualifications first before submitting immigration papers. Today we received the assessment back saying his
experience/certification could not be validated. We have 90 days to resubmit but are unsure exactly what it is they are looking for at the assessing body TRA. Who can I contact to ascertain exactly what information they require? They were vague in their rejection of my husband's work shortcomings. His current employer knows of our intention to leave and says he has not been contacted to validate my husband’s work experience. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Regards
Sam
Hi Sam
Thanks for your query.
The TRA are a very pedantic organisation. If the work references did not say he was actually working in the trade for exact dates, and go on to list in great detail the duties he performed, the tools he used etc. And if the references were not on letterhead, dated, signed, with the full name of the person and his title, and all the contact details for the company, they will reject it without verifying anything. Maybe if you can fax (61893217266) or scan me a copy of what you sent I can advise what I think you missed (no charge).
Regards
Steven O'Neil
Iscah Migration
08 9321 7255
www.iscah.com
These requests are from subscribers to SAWmail and or members of the SAW Web site. I print them in good faith.
This from Beverley Legrand
Hello everyone at SAWmail,
Thank you for your newsletters. I so look forward to reading news from fellow SAns and lovers of the beautiful country.
We moved (from SA) to Antwerp, Belgium nine years ago as my husband's company relocated. After spending the past nine years here, we (husband, two teenage sons & I) are moving to Sydney at the end of September.
I would be most grateful if anyone reading this and living in Sydney would be willing to offer some advice on schools and areas to live. Our son is almost 17 years old and will have to finish school in Oz. Are there good Catholic state school?
Thanks in advance.
Bev Legrand
beverley.legrand@gmail.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!
No news recevied this week.
The Amish Horse Buggy
This from Errol Errolimpala@wmconnect.com
An Amish woman was driving her buggy to town when a highway patrol officer stopped her. "I'm not going to cite you," said the officer. "I just wanted to warn you that the reflector on the back of your buggy is broken and it could be dangerous."
"I thank thee", replied the Amish lady. "I shall have my husband repair it as soon as I return home." "Also," said the officer, "I noticed one of your reins to your horse is wrapped around his testicles. Some people might consider this cruelty to animals so you should have your husband check that too."
"Again I thank thee. I shall have my husband check both when I get home."
True to her word when the Amish lady got home she told her husband about the broken reflector, and he said he would put a new one on immediately.
"Also," said the Amish woman, "the policeman said there was something wrong with the emergency brake."
Hill Billy Birth
More from Errol...
Deep in the back woods of Letcher County Kentucky a hillbilly's wife went into labor in the middle of the night, and the doctor was called out to assist in the delivery. Since there was no electricity, the doctor handed the father-to-be a lantern and said, "Here. You hold this high so I can see what I am doing!."
Soon, a baby boy was brought into the world. "Whoa there", said the doctor, "Don't be in such a rush to put that lantern down I think there’s another one coming."
Sure enough, within minutes he had delivered a baby girl. "Hold that lantern up, don't set it down there's another one!" said the doctor.
Within a few minutes he had delivered a third baby. "No, don't be in a hurry to put down that lantern, it seems there’s yet another one coming!" cried the doctor.
The redneck scratched his head in bewilderment and asked the doctor...
"You reckon it might be the light that's attractin' 'em?"
Giggles
This from Captain Ken
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. - George Burns
Santa Claus has the right idea... Visit people only once a year. - Victor Borge
Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. - Mark Twain
What would men be without women? Scarce, sir... mighty scarce. - Mark Twain
By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. - Socrates
I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury. - Groucho Marx
My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe. - Jimmy Durante
The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness and kindness, can be trained to do most things. - Jilly Cooper
I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back. - Zsa Zsa Gabor
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. - Alex Levine
Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. - Mark Twain
My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying. - Ed Furgol
Money can't buy you happiness, but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery. - Spike Milligan
What's the use of happiness? It can't buy you money. - Henny Youngman
I am opposed to millionaires.... but it would be dangerous to offer me the position. - Mark Twain
Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was 'shut up'. - Joe Namath
Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life. - Herbert Henry Asquith
I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap. - Bob Hope
We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress. - Will Rogers
Don't worry about avoiding temptation... As you grow older, it will avoid
you. - Winston Churchill
Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty... but everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out. - Phyllis Diller
The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good, spit it out. - Unknown
By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere. - Billy Crystal
Aging with a smile
This from Des Cowie
Any woman can have the body of a 21-year-old, as long as she buys him a few drinks first.
My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.
Know how to prevent sagging? Just eat till the wrinkles fill out.
I've still got it, but nobody wants to see it.
I'm getting into swing dancing... Not on purpose. Some parts of my body are just prone to swinging.
It's scary when you start making the same noises as your coffee maker.
I think I've reached my sexpiration date.
People our age can still enjoy an active, passionate sex life! Provided we get cable or that dish thing.
The good news is that even as we get older, guys still look at our boobs. The bad news is they have to squat down first.
These days about half the stuff in my shopping cart says, "For fast relief."
I've tried to find a suitable exercise video for women my age, but they haven't made one called "Buns of Putty."
Don't think of it as getting hot flashes. Think of it as your inner child playing with matches.
Don't let aging get you down. It's too hard to get back up.
Remember: You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you stop laughing.
The senility prayer: Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.
Recycling
This from Daniel Jan Le Roux
A Southerner is having his breakfast (coffee, grits, biscuits, and jam) when a Northerner chewing obnoxiously on gum sits down next to him. The Southerner ignores the Northerner who, nevertheless, starts a conversation.
Northerner: "When you Southern people eat bread, do you eat the whole slice?"
Southerner: "Yep."
Northerner: (after blowing a huge bubble) "We don't. Up north, we only eat what's inside. The crusts we collect in a container, recycle it, then transform them into biscuits and send them to the South. The Northerner has a smirk on his face. The Southerner listens in silence.
The Northerner persists: "Do you eat jam with biscuits?"
Southerner: "Yep."
Northerner: (cracking and smacking his gum between his teeth and chuckling). "We don't. Up north after we eat fruit for breakfast, we put all the peels, seeds, and leftovers in containers, recycle them, transform them into jam, and then send it down south.
Then the Southerner asks: "Y'all have sex up north?"
Northerner: "Why of course we do", the Northerner says, as he pops another big bubble.
Southerner: "And what do y'all do with the condoms once ya use em?"
Northerner: "We throw them away, of course.
Southerner: We don't. Down south we put em in a jar, recycle em, melt em down into chewing gum and sell em to you Yankees."
I made this for supper about a week ago. You can add chicken to it if you eat meat. We had it with chunks of crispy fried tofu.
For two generous helpings:
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots scrubbed and cut on the bias into slices
2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
1 tsp fresh chopped ginger
1 Tbs mild oil (canola or sunflower)
½ can coconut milk or cream
1 tsp yellow Thai curry paste or to taste
Snow peas to taste. As many as you like... I used a package that I bought at Woolworths that was plenty for two people.
Fresh chopped cilantro/coriander
Gently fry the onion, carrot, garlic and ginger in the oil until softened (about ten minutes).
Add the coconut milk and the curry paste and stir well. Bring to a simmer and add the snow peas. Simmer until the snow peas are cooked as you like them.
Serve with tofu or chicken over rice, sprinkled with the chopped cilantro/coriander.
Star All Black wing hobbling [News 24]
All Blacks and Waikato wing Sitiveni Sivivatu hobbled off the team bus at the DHS Old Boys rugby ground when the All Blacks assembled for their second practice outing ahead of their upcoming Tri-Nations rugby Test against South Africa.
http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_1747023,00.html
South Africa gears up [BBC]
The new South African soccer season, which kicks off on Wednesday, could be the most competitive in recent years. For the last decade football in South Africa has been dominated by Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns but other clubs are threatening to break their stranglehold on the league championship.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4734553.stm
Rampant Roland strikes gold [Argus]
Roland Schoeman blazed his way into the South African sporting history books in Montreal last night, becoming the country's first world swimming champion with a record-breaking victory in the 50-metre butterfly event.
http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=50&fArticleId=2640070
SA's Robb wins in US [IOL]
South African national junior team member Nikita Robb, 16, of East London won the $10 000 Target Women's Junior Pro at Huntington Beach on Saturday.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&clic...
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