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| Contents |
Issue No. 354 -- 06 February 2006 |
Editor's Message
Quote/s of the Week
Life Recipes
News from Kiwiland
Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week
Bits and Bobs
Help Desk
Where are they now?
Club and Other News
Humour
Sports News
South African dam levels
Credits and Contact Info
Subscribing and Unsubscribing
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It’s such a pleasure receiving contributions from everyone. From Friday evenings onwards the e-mail’s start arriving,which is in time for inclusion in the Monday Edition.
The deadline for urgent news is to reach my Inbox by 06h00 SA Standard Time [or 04h00 GMT], on Monday’s which gives me time to add the e-mail or news item.
More news from all the different countries where Seff Effrikens find themselves, is always welcome.
From experience I know that scores of ex-SADF personnel are serving various organisations such as the UN and others. Then there are hundreds of South African Pilot’s employed all over the World-
in Africa, Europe , Middle East, Far east ,USA,Europe & UK, etc.
It would make a great story if all these would write in to SAW,
and share their experiences.
Of importance to all South Africans is being forewarned of the
expert scam-artists out there ready to fleece you of your hard-earned cash with empty promises. The worst news is that many of these
are perpetrated by South Africans on aspirant South African emigrants! Already I have a collection of heart-break stories, which needs to be published to warn everyone.
Once again I appeal for assistance to find willing advertisers
for our SAW Newsletter. With over 25 000 subscribers that should interest most managers.
Even better is www.southafrica.co.za which attracts a serious number of page impressions per month (around half a million!).
My address is editor@saw.co.za
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We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.
But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. - Mother Teresa
Submitted by Maureen Cram
Hey, Watchya Doin'?
More than two decades ago, Paula came to work in the task area where we shared an office. She had been given the position I had been vying for. It didn't seem at all fair.
I labored to make her feel uncomfortable and unwanted. But because of her indomitable spirit she kept pressing onward with her positive attitude, generous smile, and infectious friendliness. But I was not easily won over. I was miserable and worked overtime to counter her goodness.
Deep down I had to admit there wasn't much about her to not like. She was Pollyanna and I was "The Bad Seed." Shame and guilt eventually made me feel loathsome. Perhaps she saw through my bristly facade. I truly hope at the time there was some essence of good that glinted from my soul's innards. I'm guessing there was and she coaxed that spider silk thread out with her charm and began to weave the web of our friendship.
Understandably, a friendship is a two-way mechanism. A relationship functions best when both individuals proffer the finest qualities from their heart and soul. I had a lot of catching up to do and, consistent with my nature, I extended myself wholeheartedly.
Her friendship was a shining gem that sparkled brightly before my eyes. What she offered was beyond description or value. The bond that two beings can cement which lasts a lifetime... Friendship!
The saying, "Hey, watchya doin'?" became a part of our bitter, joyous, disheartening, thrilling, ecstatic, crushing, and wondrous happenings that living life brings. Those were the words I stammered the night I drove over to her house and apologized for how I had treated her when we first met, admitting I had been cruel.
I should have gone to her earlier in our relationship and apologized. She never spoke of my treatment of her in those first days. She never told me that my actions had hurt her. But when I asked her to forgive me she began to cry and all the pain I had been responsible for was etched on her face. She merely nodded. Then smiled at me. We hugged and cried together.
I heard those words from her during the rough days when her marriage was falling apart and she needed to talk. When there was a suicide in the family she spoke that phrase through the tear-choked pain of loss.
Though we no longer work in the same area, we still work for the same organization. No matter where the job assignment, stress is part and parcel of the job. And many times we've phoned the other with the question, "Hey, watchya doin'?"
We have seen heartbreaking human suffering, abuse, and loss. As much as we might try to "leave it all at the office" we cannot always shove it in the desk drawer, turn off the lights and head home with a peaceful spirit. It is at such times we have sought solace in each other.
"Hey, watchya doin'?" she said. "Why don't you come on over tonight for dinner? We need to talk." I did, and she introduced me to her fiancé -- a wonderful man who would give her all that she deserved. The joy of a good marriage. She was long overdue!
She has asked me that question when her voice bubbled over with happiness because she wanted to tell me her daughter was engaged. And again, twice, each time she learned her daughter was pregnant.
"Hey, watchya doin'?" That evening we got together and shared our fears. We were no longer young women and the fast rushing reality of years gone by seemed to hit us at roughly the same time.
"My folks are getting older. Oh, Kathy! I am so afraid of losing them." Tears burned hot in my eyes. "Me, too." My father had died years earlier but my mother and step father were still alive and very much a part of my life.
"Hey, watchya doin'?" I asked one late afternoon. "I just got in from work."
"Why?" she replied. Emotion choked me as I tried to squeeze the words past my constricted throat.
"I have cancer..."
On another afternoon, when I woke up from surgery, I saw her face. By her side was her youngest daughter. They both smiled tremulously. Their eyes shimmering wet. Their expressions full of love and hope. They had a gift and a card for me, but to this day I cannot tell you what the gift was.
All I saw was the glow of a loving friendship reflecting back to me -- the years we had shared our secrets and hopes, our fears and triumphs.
"Love you!" she said.
"I love you, too." I garbled roughly through my tears. "Thank you for being my friend."
Two and a half years have passed since that afternoon. We still greet each other with that old phrase. And every now and then we will say..."Love you! Thank you for being my friend."
And when I say those words, I count myself blessed to have your friendship, Paula.
"I love you. Thank you..."
The Author is Kathy Anne Harris who lives in the San Joaquin Valley of central California where she shares her life with her husband and their furry family. Kathy states, "I work full time for a living, and I write in order to live fully." Kathy has a website you can reach by clicking http://kathyanneharris.com/
http://www.52best.com/loving.asp
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Next article will appear in the next issue.
| Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week |
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Black and white steals the day-at SA Parliament
The usual Afro-chic and elegant headgear featured at the opening of Parliament on Friday, but it was the black and white outfits that stole the day. One of the most eye-catching ensembles was that of African National Congress MP Dennis Bloem and his family, who wore what his wife Minah said was a black and white family affair. She wore a white jacket and skirt with black embroidery,while Bloem had on a loose white shirt with black embroidery and black hat.
Even their one-year-old son Thabo and three-year-old daughter Mmabatho were decked out in black and white. We just asked the dressmaker to do something in black and white, Minah said. We just love black and white: it's the best colour combination you can have,
and also it's symbolic, looking at the history of our country. If black and white blend well in this country, we'll be fine.
Read more at http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa...
Cold gold in South Africa
By Allan Seccombe
For every opportunity in the South African gold industry there are two challenges to overcome as the sector grapples with declining output and increased government insistence that the precious metal is turned into something more valuable than just bars.
South Africa is still by far the largest producer of gold in the world, some thirty percent ahead of its nearest rival the United States, according to a new book called Gold In South Africa.
Read more at http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default...
A boy's African odyssey
We set off at 6am on the morning of November 23 last year from Rosetta in KwaZulu-Natal, heading towards Johannesburg and then to Gaborone in Botswana.
The further north we travelled, the whiter the sand became. We had to be extremely mindful of the many donkeys on the road.
A stop at Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, cost R95 for an adult and R32 for me.
Read more of his great trip here: http://www.iol.co.za/index...
Focus on Overberg fire hotspot
Firefighters were concentrating on a single hotspot burning about 1.5km away from the town of Stanford in the Overberg municipality on Friday, fire chief Reinard Geldenhuys said. The blaze was burning towards the town through rooikrans bush, but the town was not in danger. Two Oryx helicopters and ground crews are sorting that out now, he said.
Read more at http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/ News...
Historic homes back in vogue again
With a sea of all-too-similar developments leading to South Africa being dubbed Little Tuscany, many South African buyers are hankering now after homes with more of a locally-grown flavour.
The trend among discerning buyers towards South African architecture is gaining momentum.
Read more here: http://www.property24.com/Property24...
Lion-cub pets cost man R20 000
Lions as pets... and that's on a residential property in town!
Officers of the Limpopo nature conservation unit found in Tzaneen this week that a resident was keeping two lion cubs in his backyard.
He was rearing them as pets, said Phillip Monyepao, a senior nature conservation manager, on Thursday. What the final purpose with the cubs was - a male and female of about four months - is still a mystery. The two cubs are in excellent condition.
Read more here: http://www.news24.com/News24...
Cape Town is Africa's business tourism hub
By A'eysha Kassiem
Business tourism in Cape Town and the Western Cape is booming,with more than half of Africa's conference business secured by the city and the province.
That's the word from Finance and Tourism MEC Lynne Brown at the Opening of Congress Year on Wednesday, that aims to profile the city
and the province as a business tourism destination.
Read more here:
http://www.iol.co.za/index...
Cape Town City Ballet
Swan Lake act 2 and Summer Waltzes - Read
Boys to Dance in Prague - Read
http://www.capetowncityballet.org.za/media-2005.php
Peace and tranquility in the Drakensberg
With therapeutic tourism now the new buzzword to promotecountries such as Egypt and Bali, it’s perhaps time that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife started plugging the Drakensberg as the place to visit for healing.
Just a weekend – in the right setting – in those majestic mountains is enough to recharge the most rundown of human batteries.
Read more here:
http://www.iol.co.za/index...
Zoo Lake celebrates its 100th birthday
by Anna Cox
One of Johannesburg's best-known landmarks celebrates its 100th birthday later this month. Zoo Lake is as much a part of Johannesburg as the old gold mines, Hillbrow Tower and the
Nelson Mandela Bridge. Zoo Lake has a colourful history.
Read more here:
http://www.iol.co.za/index...
SAA clashes with British officials on fuel
By Audrey d' Angelo
SAA has protested to the British Airports Authority over a discriminatory policy of rationing fuel supplies to foreign long-haul carriers at London's Heathrow Airport as a result of a disastrous fire at a fuel depot late last year.
The rationing does not apply to British Airways or Virgin Atlantic Airways, the two British airlines flying to South Africa.
Read more here: http://www.busrep.co.za/index...
The Botanical Society
To join, or find out more about them, visit their website at
http://www.botanicalsociety.org.za/default.php?pageID=membership/membership.php
Objectives:
Mindful of the role of the people of South Africa as custodians of the world's richest floral heritage, it is our mission to win
the hearts and minds and material support of individuals and organisations wherever they may be for the conservation, cultivation,
study and wise use of the indigenous flora and vegetation of southern Africa. As a member of the society you will enjoy:
- the privilege of free entry into any of South Africa's National Botanical Gardens
- the Society's quarterly journal Veld & Flora
- the opportunity to participate in Society activities (walks, talks, volunteer programmes)
- a 10% discount on purchases from Society shops
- the opportunity of receiving seed, if you are a family or ordinary member (NB This benefit applies only to members resident in South Africa from January 2005)
- the opportunity to obtain a Guest Card which allows free entry for two guests to the NBI Gardens for a minimum donation of R250 to the Development Fund.
Ramblings... from Mike Preston
This week I am in Bangkok. The traffic is not as bad as the reputation, but the heat and humidity, at 34 degrees and 88 respectively, are! I spent the day lying by the pool at my hotel
recovering, beer in hand, from the 16 hour flight. Tomorrow will be spent doing the same. Life's a bitch,and then you have to go to work!
I've also spent a couple of hours wandering around, feeling quite safe, but as last time, a little saddened to see many young people (and I am saying this as it is not only girls) selling themselves in the many sleazy bars which have spread ike a rash from the Patpong area even into the mainly commercial and residential area where I am staying. There also seem to be a lot of desperate men out here who have got themselves involved with Thai girls and for various reasons,
regretted it. I've already heard two tales of woe from just striking up chance conversations.
What does strike me though, on a happier note, is the general friendliness of the people, and the high standard of customer service. My hotel is spotlessly clean and everything is of top quality and properly maintained, so unlike the shoddiness of so many hotels in the west.
Food is inexpensive and excellent, so are the beers, and I am about to go off and have another one or three before bed.
I can see the appeal of the place but I don't think I'd wish to live here - and yet thousands of Westerners do and apparently happily so.
Whilst I am here, I have set up a temporary email address which anyone who wishes to contact me can use, but only for the duration of my stay and then it will be deleted to avoid the attentions of scamming scum and people who wish to offer me various body part
enhancements, etc. Mail to:- tafelberg01-bkk@yahoo.co.uk
Best regards
Mike
Nobody seems to need help.
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Nobody enquired this week
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New York
Springbok Club get-together
Date: 23 February, 2006 (Thursday)
Time: 6:00 pm till 11:00 pm
Place: Pig & Whistle Pub (165 West 47th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues - Manhattan). We have the whole 2nd floor to ourselves for the event,
Luxembourg
From Pat da Silva cheetah@pt.lu
Carnival/Vusi and opening of photographic exhibition/Freedom Day celebrations/Porte Ouverte Ostrich Farm
Dear all,
Carnival tickets now available
Check out the attached link for the opening of the South African
photographic exhibition of one the world's best known photographers Mr Jurgen Schadeberg to be held at the ABBAYE de Neumunster on 11th March 2006. There will be a one night only concert by VUSI.
Order your tickets now at Euro 25.00 through the SA Club Luxembourg
sa_club_lux@hotmail.com and you stand a chance to win a free entry.
I need to have names and addresses if you are booking in order for the ABBAYE to send the tickets directly to you. We have a block of 100 tickets and they are selling fast.
http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=102
You can also download the entire magazine on our website...
http://www.ccrn.lu/FR/GUDGR.php?ID=320&LA=FR
Check out the saclubluxembourg.com website in the next week for more information of the upcoming events.
www.saclubluxembourg.com
San Diego
SA Circle: San Diego - Social Meetup Day the fourth Thursday every month.
When: SA Circle: Thursday - Feb 23, 2006
Place: 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Pub
Time: 5pm - 9pm
Dress: California Casual
Complimentary Buffet
Happy Hour
Plenty of Free Parking
It would be difficult to find another restaurant/pub with as much warmth and charm as the 94th Aero Squadron. Located inside a replica of a World War I French farmhouse, the restaurant sits right on Montgomery Field Airport and is packed full of military memorabilia, farm implements, and aviation relics. The interior is cozy and romantic, with huge stone fireplaces, masses of hanging green plants,
dark wood paneling, beamed ceilings, and old airplane wings hanging over the dining area.
How to find the event:
94th Aero Squadron Restaurant
8885 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92123
Learn more and RSVP here:
http://expatsa.meetup.com/14/events/4846172/
See you all there...
The SA Circle San Diego - Social Meetup Group is a great social group with a casual atmosphere in which all South African Expats and friends meet and pursue cultural, social, sport, chats and business happenings together.
All those born before 1986...
Submitted by DanielJan
According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 60's, 70's and early 80's probably shouldn't have survived, because our baby cots were covered with brightly coloured lead-based paint which was promptly chewed and licked.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, or latches on doors or cabinets and it was fine to play with pans. When we rode our bikes, we wore no helmets, just flip-flops and fluorescent 'spokey dokey's' on our wheels.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or airbags - riding in the passenger seat was a treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle and it tasted the same. We ate chips, bread and butter pudding and drank fizzy juice with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one drink with four friends, from one bottle or can and no-one actually died from this.
We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then went top speed down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into stinging nettles a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We would leave home in the morning and could play all day, as long as we were back before it got dark. No one was able to reach us and no one minded. We did not have Play stations or X-Boxes, no video games at all.
No 99 channels on TV, no videotape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no DVDs, no Internet chat rooms.
We had friends - we went outside and found them. We played elastics and rounders, and sometimes that ball really hurt! We fell out of trees, got cut, and broke bones but there were no law suits.
We had full on fist fights but no prosecution followed from other parents. We played 'tok-tokkie' and were actually afraid of the owners catching us. We walked to friends' homes.
We also, believe it or not, WALKED to school; we didn't rely on mummy or daddy to drive us to school, which was just round the corner.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls. We rode bikes in packs of 7 and wore our coats by only the hood. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of... they actually sided with the law !
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
And you're one of them. Congratulations!
For those of you who aren't old enough, thought you might like to read about us. This my friends, is surprisingly frightening... and it might put a smile on your face:
The majority of students in universities today were born in 1986... they are called youth.
They have never heard of We are the World. We are the children, and the Uptown Girl they know is by Westlife not Billy Joel. They have never heard of Rick Ashley, Bananarama, Nena Cherry or Belinda Carlisle.
For them, there has always been only one Germany and one Vietnam.
AIDS has existed since they were born.
CD's have existed since they were born.
Michael Jackson has always been white.
To them John Travolta has always been round in shape and they can't imagine how this fat guy could be a god of dance.
They believe that Charlie's Angels and Mission Impossible are films from last year.
They can never imagine life before computers.
They'll never have pretended to be the A-Team, Red Hand Gang or the Famous Five.
They can't believe a black and white television ever existed.
And they will never understand how we could leave the house without a mobile phone.
Now let's check if we're getting old...
You understand what was written above and you smile.
You need to sleep more, usually until the afternoon, after a night out.
Your friends are getting married/already married.
You are always surprised to see small children playing comfortably with computers.
When you see teenagers with mobile phones, you shake your head.
You remember watching 'Egoli' the first time around.
You meet your friends from time to time, talking about the Good old
Days, repeating again all the funny things you have experienced together.
Having read this mail, you are thinking of forwarding it to some other friends because you think they will like it too... Yes, you're getting old !
Good Clean Jokes!
The Sunday School teacher described how Lot's wife looked back at Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Suddenly Jimmy interrupted. My mom looked back once while she was driving, he announced triumphantly, and she turned into a telephone pole!
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We've all been passed by motorists on the road going much faster than we were. But you can imagine my shock at recently being passed by a speeding lady going down the middle of the road's dotted line at a truly breakneck speed (at least 100 Kph, on only a two
lane road)!
The danger she proposed was high, so you can imagine my relief when
I passed her later on down the road parked in front of a car with whirling lights. Their conversation went something like this...
License and Registration please, the officer asked.
It's okay, Officer, I have a special license that allows me to do this, said the lady, smiling.
Yeah, right! he replied, I've never heard of such a license!
The lady reached into her purse and handed him her license.
Just as I suspected, the officer said, this is an ordinary license,
and I see nothing here that would allow you special consideration.
But the lady, still smiling, pointed to the bottom of the license.
See? It says so right here: Tear Along The Dotted Line.
http://www.cleanjokeoftheday.com/jokes.html
Round the Island Race-at Vaaldam-2006
Hosted by Lake Deneys Yacht Club on 3-4-5 February.
One of South Africa’s premier yacht-racing events, the Round-the-Island-Race [RTIR]has always attracted huge entries. Last year, the 3-day event drew 401 yachts, 1,600 sailors and over 3,900 supporters and visitors.
The yacht race, reputed to be the largest inland yacht race worldwide celebrates its 48th anniversary and now had an even bigger turnout. The race draws sailors from all over South Africa
and bordering countries. Competitors come from all over South Africa, including Cape Town, Durban and Bloemfontein; whilst Zimbabwe. Botswana and Swaziland are usually represented.
Sailors range from top-notch sailors, to those yachties who sail for sheer fun. Emile Terblanche, Sanlam’s Sponsorship Manager,
added: This year’s conditions are much more favourable than they have been for several years. The dam’s water level last year was 38% -and now stands at 100.5 %.
The accompanying merged photo shows the keelboat-start at 08h28 which was followed 10 minutes later by the smaller dinghies & the catamarans started 10 minutes after them. Winds were initially extremely light but fortunately picked up to 5 to 8 knots later.
Skies were sunny at first with a promise of scattered thunderstorms later. Various forms of entertainment were arranged for the contestants and their supporters with dynamic aerobatics. The variety of aircraft included The Sasol Tigers-flying 4 L39 jets;
The Shurlock Aerobatics in their 4 Pitt Specials; & The Flying Lions –Nissan Castrol-4 Harvards
| South African dam levels |
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The Vaaldam level on Saturday 3 February at 08h17 was 100.5% full, so a top sluice-gate was opened , which attracted sightseers. At the same time at the Barrage 7 sluices were open and thus a visible brown current flowed down the Vaal River.
For more info visit www.dwaf.gov.za.
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