Under The Blood Red Sky

I have something to tell you

2012-01-09T17:53:00.000+02:00

Birth of the Kalahari Dust Bunnies

2012-01-03T11:49:00.004+02:00

We all have dust bunnies. Even if we don't want them. They are born all over the show. Only continuous use can prevent them. Dust bunnies are those clumps of dust and fluff and spider webs and other bits of stuff that are statically held together.

Much to my dismay, I have them too! My dust bunnies are growing in my stored camping equipment and as I said USE is the only way to rid myself of the bunnies.

My friends Claire and Howard also have dust bunnies multiplying in their garage so we have decided to clean out our camping stuff with a trip to Botswana's remote Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in March. Yesterday we had our first Trip Planning Meeting and this marks the conception of the next generation of dust bunnies which will come to life when the dust settles on our March Kalahari adventure.

I am now calling our trip the Adventures of the Kalahari Dust Bunnies and no doubt you'll be reading some tales here at some stage.

Happy New Year

2011-12-28T17:52:00.001+02:00

Oops - sorry ... where the hell did it go?

Here's wishing you everything good you wish yourself

and a little more in

And for all those who believe 21 December 2012 is the end of it all, ENJOY yourself while you can.

The rest of us will be here to pick up the pieces afterwards.

Happy Christmas

2011-12-21T10:04:00.001+02:00

To all of you celebrating Christmas, I wish you and yours happiness, togetherness and love.

With the Government declaring 27 December a public holiday in South Africa, I am now able to fit in a quick trip to the coast to spend Christmas with my family in Port Elizabeth **big smiles**

will we realise

2011-11-20T19:54:00.003+02:00

WILL WE?

A bizzy trip

2011-11-05T15:26:00.001+02:00

I took to the roads again. This time to visit another "new" place - Douglas in the Northern Cape. The purpose - to join members of my local beekeeping association on a visit to one of South Africa's biggest commercial beekeepers.

Although Douglas is in the very dry climate of South Africa, it is remarkably fertile being near the confluence of our two biggest rivers - the Vaal River and the Orange River (both named for their colour - Vaal is Afrikaans for "pale" - the sandy grey colour and the other has orangey sandy colour water). To the extent that they even have some vineyards.

Enjoy the pictorial visit.

With my fellow members of Southerns Beekeepers (hobbiests and semi-commercial beekeepers)

Hives next to a field of onion plants

Me in the Onion Patch

One of the girls doing her thing

A new apiary site - note the Acacia thornveld and the recently removed Prickly Pears

Commercial honey extractors

Honeybees doing what honeybees do best

I'm in awe of the experienced hands that work without gloves

It gets so damn hot that even the goats make the best of shade from one another

Visiting the local winery - mostly sweet wines come from this fertile but hot area

Fortunately they are better beekeepers than fisherman

Douglas traffic - different to my daily trauma in Johannesburg traffic :-)

Steppe Buzzard waiting for some unsuspecting prey to drink from the waterspray


WHAT??? Beware of bicycles without riders???

Smile an everlasting shy smile

2011-10-13T18:58:00.000+02:00

How do you put such a sweet smile out of your mind?

This was one of the little girls on my recent Children in the Wilderness camp at Rocktail Beach on the KwaZulu Natal north coast of South Africa. I took this pic as they all left camp homeward bound after 6 days of learning, fun, laughter, singing and happiness.

The children, the cow and the very Vic Falls

2011-07-24T14:35:00.003+02:00

I recently got to spend a week with Children in the Wilderness and a group of volunteer American teachers funded by the Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation in the more remote rural countryside of Zimbabwe. The Science, Art and Literacy teachers were sharing teaching methods with local teachers and provided much needed teaching aids and materials. We camped in the Mpindo Primary School grounds in true African bush-style.

The pictures tell the story:

I flew into Vic Falls and had to put in a quick visit to the magnificent Falls - a mini-rainbow along the path next to the Falls

then it was off to the craft market with Di (South African volunteer) to negotiate the purchase of 15 batonkas (stools to sit on in camp)

Finally we arrived at Mpindo Primary School grounds with materials, water tank, desks all funded by generous donations to Children in the Wilderness from supporters worldwide. Parents and caregivers pitched up to help us unload

After the unpacking the locals broke into song and dance much to the delight of the visitors

Monday morning assembly (there is no school hall) with the visitors - children singing the Zimbabwe National Anthem while the flag is raised.

Children performing a local dance for the visitors

Filing out of assembly to their classrooms to start the day's classes

Grade 0 enjoying the outdoor singing class. (Note school kitchen being built by the local parents in the background)

US Science teacher Gladman in class. He is a Zimbabwean national who was awarded a bursary to study bio-mechanic in the US and is now a teacher there. He loved being back in Zimbabwe to hopefully inspire the children with his accomplishment.

We had an on-going battle with the cows who eat washing hanging out to dry. Apparently there is something they love in the washing powder used to launder the clothes!

Annabel, the Art teacher, preparing for one of her classes.

I do wonder if all these supplies they leave for the schools are put to proper use after the programme

More teachers preparing for classes

Children in the Wilderness sponsors a school feeding programme, ensuring each child at school get one nutritious meal a day (mealie-meal and beans). For many children this is the only meal they'll have!! The parents and caregivers take turns daily to cook the meal for the school.

Here Lara and Gladman have a go at stirring the mealie-meal (corn) watched by the laughing locals. It is hot, smoky, hard work!!

Children queuing for their meal.

Meanwhile back at our campsite, Lushani and Dougie are preparing us sumptuous meals daily - also over an open fire. Both of these guys spent years working on mobile safaris and are used to "pulling rabbits out the hat" when it comes to fine meals without stoves or ovens (including baking a birthday cake in a hole in the ground!!!)

Children on an environmental class lesson - Kristina explaining something to the teacher

Excited children in class - anyone with a camera is sure to disrupt a lesson!!!

A French volunteer Nicolas never dreamed he'd be playing soccer in a remote rural village when he arrived in Zimbabwe to spend time helping at Wilderness Safari lodges.

Here boys and girls play Africa's all-time favourite sport! If you ever travel to Africa and want to give something to the local people - bring a deflated soccer ball. They will find a pump to inflate it and they'll have days and days of fun.

We visited the nearest village (about 45 minutes drive). The electricity supply had been interrupted so no-one went into the 'saloon' for beauty treatments.

A goat cleaning out the bottom of a packet of chips littered on the roadside

CITW's Sue Goatley buying an avocado by candle-light from the shopkeeper.

The power-cut did not stop us visiting the local shebeen for a beer for Annie's birthday!

The only vehicle parked outside the shebeen. Most people cannot afford cars.

One of the teachers "going back to school" in a Teach-The-Teacher session after school

"Kalahari-Ferrari"

The local community provided us with precious water during our stay. This was in return and thanks for the teaching and supplies the visitors provided.

African Antarctica

- flying back to South Africa

Read my previous post on what we did with the adults in the community through the week.

I come home with mixed feelings. Inspired that there are such generous funders and kind volunteers in this world. Encouraged to see education is happening in remote rural areas. Pained that Literacy is so poor in all schools. Frustrated that southern African children learn to speak English so late in their education - it is the language of most of the business world and it is the language most tertiary education books are printed in.

It only costs US$50 a year to educate one of these children. Think how easily you spend US$50 . . . .
You can donate to Children in the Wilderness by clicking here.

Plarn - materials for craft

2011-07-17T14:16:00.004+02:00

I watched the women of a community blossom in a couple of days on my visit to a Children in the Wilderness Zimbabwe programme. Although the CITW programme is aimed at the children and their teachers, Sue Goatley, the CITW Zim co-ordinator, decided to include some adult education in the form of knitting and crocheting classes for the mothers, grannies, caregivers and anyone who was interested. Two hour sessions for four days.

As there are no wool and fabric shops in the region, plastic bags were the answer! This also complements CITW environmental teachings.

These pictures bring you the happenings of the first three days . . .

The first day saw women arriving in drips and drabs and non-schoolgoing little kids playing in the church hall

Zanna (from Elephants in my Garden blog) teaching them to sort plastic bags for cutting

Day Two: women getting the hang of knitting and crocheting

Day Two: Di introduces paper beading to the women

The green/orange/beige bag is a knitted plastic bag in action

Coleen (one of the American volunteer teachers) teaching a new attendee how to knit. Note that by now the women have opened a storeroom attached to the church and hauled out the old broken desks.

Day Two - new women arrived to learn

Lara (US volunteer) teaching new arrivals how to link and string a cut up plastic bag into a ball of Plarn (Plastic Yarn)

By now the kids have been banished to play by themselves outside in the sunshine

Day Three - mothers breastfeeding while they knit and new ones learn from Di

This has now also evolved into a social gathering as mothers and grannies walk from different parts of the area and have a rare opportunity to chat to their seldom-seen friends

The dream is to get these women knitting and crocheting with real wool and for the women to sell their wares (possibly knit jerseys etc. for the Lodge staff uniforms, bed throws for Lodge, hotel beds, etc.)

I realise that as you have read this far, one of the thoughts that crosses your mind is perhaps you should buy some needles, wool, scissors, other yarns, to send to Africa. This will be greatly appreciated, but if the parcel is big, it draws the attention of the Postal Services and then they charge Customs Duties on 'imports'. This is the bane of Africa!!!! I am happy for you to send me any materials - small packages and I'll ensure these get to Zimbabwe - but if you want to help on a slightly bigger scale, then please feel free to donate money to Children in the Wilderness Zimbabwe and Sue will use all the money to purchase supplies in Zimbabwe for the community.

Burning house

2011-07-03T13:39:00.005+02:00

The website, The Burning House, asks: If your house was burning, what would you take with you? It's a conflict between what's practical, valuable and sentimental. What you would take reflects your interests, background and priorities. Think of it as an interview condensed into one question.

My grab would include my Blackberry (as I haven't learned how to back up all the numbers yet), my passports, my binoculars and my well-used, well-noted ever faithful old edition of Newman's Birds of Southern Africa, my LSP keys (essential for all my still-to-come adventures!) and my favourite picture - me on my dad's shoulders circa 1963.

WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE?

Michelle inspires young women of Africa

2011-06-23T18:54:00.000+02:00

US First Lady Michelle Obama is visiting South Africa with her daughters. This is the speech she gave to a Soweto audience this week.

Michelle Obama and her girls meet our special man Nelson Mandela

Johannesburg - Thank you. Thank you so much. It is such a pleasure and an honour to be here with all of you today.
I want to start by thanking Graça Machel for that just gracious, kind introduction. It is overwhelming.

And I want to thank her for her lifetime of service as a champion for women and children. And from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for all of the kindness and generosity that you have shown my family for our visit here. Thank you so much.

I am also honoured to share the stage with another remarkable leader, Baleka Mbete. She has played a vital role in advancing equality and promoting development here in South Africa. Thank you to the both of you for joining us here for sharing this moment with all of us.

I also want to thank the Archbishop of Johannesburg for honouring us today with his presence.

Young women leaders

And of course, I want to recognise our guests of honour - these 76 extraordinary young women leaders from here in South Africa and across the continent.

These are young women transforming their communities and their countries, and let me tell you I am so impressed by all of them. I am so proud of everything they have achieved.

And finally, I want to thank the leaders and the congregation of Regina Mundi for hosting us in this sacred space today. It has been more than three decades, but those bullet holes in the ceiling, this broken altar still stand as vivid reminders of the history that unfolded here.

And you all know the story - how 35 years ago this month, a group of students planned a peaceful protest to express their outrage over a new law requiring them to take courses in Afrikaans. Thousands of them took to the streets, intending to march to Orlando Stadium.

But when security forces opened fire, some fled here to this church. The police followed, first with tear gas, and then with bullets.

And while no one was killed within this sanctuary, hundreds lost their lives that day, including a boy named Hector Pieterson, who was just 12 years old, and Hastings Ndlovu, who was just 15.

Many of the students hadn’t even known about the protest when they arrived at school that morning. But they agreed to take part, knowing full well the dangers involved, because they were determined to get an education worthy of their potential.

Symbol of determination

And as the Archbishop noted, that June day wasn’t the first, or the last, time that this church stood in the crosscurrents of history. It was referred to as “the parliament of Soweto”. When the congregation sang their hymns, activists would make plans, singing the locations and times of secret meetings.

Church services, and even funerals, often became anti-Apartheid rallies. And as President Mandela once put it, “Regina Mundi became a world-wide symbol of the determination of our people to free themselves.”

It is a story that has unfolded across this country and across this continent, and also in my country — the story of young people 20 years ago, 50 years ago, who marched until their feet were raw, who endured beatings and bullets and decades behind bars, who risked, and sacrificed, everything they had for the freedom they deserved.

And it is because of them that we are able to gather here today. It is because of them that so many of these young women leaders can now pursue their dreams. It is because of them that I stand before you as First Lady of the United States of America.

That is the legacy of the independence generation, the freedom generation. And all of you - the young people of this continent - you are the heirs of that blood, sweat, sacrifice, and love.

So the question today is, what will you make of that inheritance? What legacy will you leave for your children and your grandchildren? What generation will you be?

Reason for coming to SA

Now, I could ask these questions of young people in any country, on any continent. But there is a reason why I wanted to come here to South Africa to speak with all of you.

As my husband has said, Africa is a fundamental part of our interconnected world. And when it comes to the defining challenges of our times - creating jobs in our global economy, promoting democracy and development, confronting climate change, extremism, poverty and disease - for all this, the world is looking to Africa as a vital partner.

That is why my husband’s administration is not simply focused on extending a helping hand to Africa, but focusing on partnering with Africans who will shape their future by combating corruption, and building strong democratic institutions, by growing new crops, caring for the sick. And more than ever before, we will be looking to all of you, our young people, to lead the way.

And I’m not just saying that to make you all feel good. The fact is that in Africa, people under 25 make up 60 percent of the population. And here in South Africa, nearly two-thirds of citizens are under the age of 30. So over the next 20 years, the next 50 years, our future will be shaped by your leadership.

Leadership

And I want to pause for a moment on that word - leadership - because I know that so often, when we think about what that word means, what it means to be a leader, we think of presidents and prime ministers. We think of people who pass laws or command armies, run big businesses, people with fancy titles, big salaries.

And most young people don’t fit that image. And I know that often when you try to make your voices heard, sometimes people don’t always listen. I know there are those who discount your opinions, who tell you you’re not ready, who say that you should sit back and wait your turn.

But I am here today because when it comes to the challenges we face, we simply don’t have time to sit back and wait.

I’m here because I believe that each of you is ready, right here and right now, to start meeting these challenges.

And I am here because I know that true leadership - leadership that lifts families, leadership that sustains communities and transforms nations - that kind of leadership rarely starts in palaces or parliaments.

That kind of leadership is not limited only to those of a certain age or status. And that kind of leadership is not just about dramatic events that change the course of history in an instant.

Instead, true leadership often happens with the smallest acts, in the most unexpected places, by the most unlikely individuals.

I mean, think about what happened here in Soweto 35 years ago. Many of the students who led the uprising were younger than all of you. They carried signs made of cardboard boxes and canvass sacks.

Yet together, they propelled this cause into the consciousness of the world. And we now celebrate National Youth Day and National Youth Month every year in their honour.

I mean, think about the giants of the struggle - people like Albertina Sisulu, whose recent passing we all mourn. Orphaned as a teenager, she worked as a nurse to support her siblings. And when her husband, Walter Sisulu, became Secretary-General of the ANC, it was up to her to provide for their family.

When he was imprisoned for 26 years, it was up to her to continue his work. And that she did. With a mother’s fierce love for this country, she threw herself into the struggle.

She led boycotts and sit-ins and marches, including the 1956 Women’s March, when thousands of women from across this country, converged on Pretoria to protest the pass laws. They were women of every colour, many of them not much older than all of you. Some of them carried their babies on their backs.

And for 30 minutes, they stood in complete silence, raising their voices only to sing freedom songs like Nkosi Sikelel iAfrica. Their motto was simple, but clear: “If you strike a woman, you strike a rock.”

A clear vision for SA

Ma Sisulu, the students of Soweto, those women in Pretoria, they had little money, even less status, no fancy titles to speak of. But what they had was their vision for a free South Africa. What they had was an unshakeable belief that they were worthy of that freedom - and they had the courage to act on that belief. Each of them chose to be a rock for justice. And with countless acts of daring and defiance, together, they transformed this nation.

Together they paved the way for free and fair elections, for a process of healing and reconciliation, and for the rise of South Africa as a political and economic leader on the world stage.

Now, I know that as your generation looks back on that struggle, and on the many liberation movements of the past century, you may think that all of the great moral struggles have already been won.
As you hear the stories of lions like Madiba and Sisulu and Luthuli, you may think that you can never measure up to such greatness.

But while today’s challenges might not always inspire the lofty rhetoric or the high drama of struggles past, the injustices at hand are no less glaring, the human suffering no less acute.

You can be the generation…

So make no mistake about it: There are still so many causes worth sacrificing for. There is still so much history yet to be made. You can be the generation that makes the discoveries and builds the industries that will transform our economies.

You can be the generation that brings opportunity and prosperity to forgotten corners of the world and banishes hunger from this continent forever. You can be the generation that ends HIV/AIDS in our time the generation that fights not just the disease, but the stigma of the disease, the generation that teaches the world that HIV is fully preventable, and treatable, and should never be a source of shame.

You can be the generation that holds your leaders accountable for open, honest government at every level, government that stamps out corruption and protects the rights of every citizen to speak freely, to worship openly, to love whomever they choose.

You can be the generation to ensure that women are no longer second-class citizens, that girls take their rightful places in our schools.

You can be the generation that stands up and says that violence against women in any form, in any place including the home - especially the home - that isn’t just a women’s rights violation. It’s a human rights violation. And it has no place in any society.

You see, that is the history that your generation can make.

Make a change

Now, I have to be honest. Your efforts might not always draw the world’s attention, except for today.

You may not find yourself leading passionate protests that fill stadiums and shut down city streets. And the change you seek may come slowly, little by little, measured not by sweeping changes in the law, but by daily improvements in people’s lives.

But I can tell you from my own experience - and from my husband’s experience - that this work is no less meaningful, no less inspiring, and no less urgent than what you read about in the history books.

You see, it wasn’t that long ago that my husband and I were young, believe it or not just starting out our careers. After he graduated from university, Barack got a job as a community organiser in the struggling neighbourhoods on the South Side of Chicago.

A lot of people there were out of work and barely getting by. Children had few opportunities and little hope for their future. And trust me, no one thought that this skinny kid with the funny name could make much of a difference.

But Barack started talking to people. He urged them to start working on the change they wanted to see. Soon, slowly, folks started coming together to fight for job training programmes and better schools and safer housing for their families.

Slowly, the neighbourhoods started to turn around. Little by little, people started feeling hopeful again. And that made Barack feel hopeful.

And I had a similar experience in my own career. Like my husband, I came from a modest background. My parents saved and sacrificed everything they had so that I could get an education. And when I graduated, got a job at a big, fancy law firm - nice salary, big office. My friends were impressed. My family was proud. By all accounts, I was living the dream.

But I knew something was missing. I knew I didn’t want to be way up in some tall building all alone in an office writing memos. I wanted to be down on the ground working with kids, helping families put food on the table and a roof over their heads.

So I left that job for a new job training young people like yourselves for careers in public service. I was making a lot less money. My office wasn’t so nice. But every day, I got to watch those young people gain skills and build confidence. And then I saw them go on to mentor and inspire other young people. And that made me feel inspired. It still does.

See, my husband and I, we didn’t change any laws, we didn’t win any awards, get our pictures in the paper. But we were making a difference in people’s lives. We were part of something greater than ourselves. And we knew that in our own small way, we were helping to build a better world. And that is precisely what so many young people are doing every day across this continent.

Young women

These 76 young women are outstanding examples. Take Gqibelo Dandala from here in South Africa. She left a lucrative career in investment banking to found the Future of the African Daughter Project, an organisation that lifts up young women in rural and township areas. Of her work, she says: “…we are building a legacy which will outlive and outgrow us…”

And then there’s Robyn Kriel. She’s a young reporter from Zimbabwe who has written about corruption and human rights abuses in her country. She was beaten by police; her home raided, her mother imprisoned. But she still hasn’t lost her passion for reporting, because, as she put it, the people of Zimbabwe “want their stories to be told”.

And then there’s Grace Nanyonga, who joins us today from Uganda. Hey, Grace! You go, girl. Orphaned at the age of 13, she started cooking and selling fish during her school vacations to support her six siblings.

Determined to get an education, she founded her own company, and she made enough money to put herself through university. And she’s now started an organisation that trains local women to work at her company so that they can support their own families. Of her achievements, she says, simply - these are her words - “I made it against all odds” and “I want to be an example for girls in my country and beyond”.

Now, Grace could have been content to make lots of money, and just provide for her own family. Gqibelo could have climbed the corporate ladder, and never looked back. Where is she? Please stand. Grace got to stand. Come on, where is she? Is she out there? And no one would’ve blamed Robyn - where’s Robyn?

No one would have blamed Robyn if after all she’d been through she decided to quit reporting and pursue an easier career. But these young women - and these are just examples of stories that go on and on - these young women could not be content with their own comfort and success when they knew that other people were struggling.

You see, that’s how people of conscience view the world. It’s the belief, as my husband often says, that if any child goes hungry, that matters to me, even if she’s not my child. If any family is devastated by disease, then I cannot be content with my own good health. If anyone is persecuted because of how they look, or what they believe, then that diminishes my freedom and threatens my rights as well.

And in the end, that sense of interconnectedness, that depth of compassion, that determination to act in the face of impossible odds, those are the qualities of mind and heart that I hope will define your generation.

I hope that all of you will reject the false comfort that others’ suffering is not your concern, or if you can’t solve all the world’s problems, then you shouldn’t even try.

Instead, as one of our great American presidents, Teddy Roosevelt, liked to say, I hope that you will commit yourselves to doing “what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are,” because in the end, that is what makes you a lion. Not fortune, not fame, not your pictures in history books, but the refusal to remain a bystander when others are suffering, and that commitment to serve however you can, where you are.

Getting over the hurdles

Now it will not be easy. You women know that already. You will have failures and setbacks and critics and plenty of moments of frustration and doubt. But if you ever start to lose heart, I brought you all here today because I want you to think of each other.

Think about Grace, supporting her family all by herself. And think about Robyn, who endured that beating so she could tell other people’s stories. Think about Ma Sisulu, raising her kids alone, surviving banishment, exile, and prison. When reflecting on her journey, Ma Sisulu once said, with her signature humility, she said, “All these years, I never had a comfortable life.”

So you may not always have a comfortable life. And you will not always be able to solve all the world’s problems all at once. But don’t ever underestimate the impact you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.

It’s what happens when folks start asking questions - a father asks, “Why should my son go to school, but not my daughter?” Or a mother asks, “Why should I pay a bribe to start a business to support my family?” Or a student stands up and declares, “Yes, I have HIV, and here’s how I’m treating it, and here’s how we can stop it from spreading.”
See, and then soon, they inspire others to start asking questions. They inspire others to start stepping forward.

And those are the “ripples of hope” that a young US senator named Robert Kennedy spoke of when he came here to South Africa 45 years ago this month. In his words, he said, the “numberless diverse acts of courage and belief which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

And that is how a church can become a parliament. That is how a hymn can be a call to action.
That is how a group of young people with nothing more than some handmade signs and a belief in their own God-given potential can galvanize a nation.

And that’s how young people around the world can inspire each other, and draw strength from each other.

America's history

I’m thinking today of the young activists who gathered at the American Library here in Soweto to read the speeches of Dr Martin Luther King for their inspiration.

And I’m thinking of how Dr King drew inspiration from Chief Luthuli and the young people here in South Africa.

And I’m thinking about how young South Africans singing the American civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome” in the streets of Cape Town and Durban.

And I’m thinking of how Nkosi Sikelel iAfrica echoed through university campuses in the US, as students - including my husband - planned boycotts to support students here in South Africa.

And I’m thinking of this church and how those stained windows depicting the struggle were donated by the people of Poland, and how the peace pole in the park outside was donated by people from Japan, and how every week, visitors from every corner of the globe come here to bear witness and draw inspiration from your history.

And finally, I’m thinking of the history of my own country. I mean, America won its independence more than two centuries ago. It has been nearly 50 years since the victories of our own civil rights movement. Yet we still struggle every day to perfect our union and live up to our ideals. And every day, it is our young people who are leading the way. They are the ones enlisting in our military. They’re the ones teaching in struggling schools, volunteering countless hours in countless ways in communities.

And in this past presidential election, they were engaged in our democracy like never before. They studied the issues, followed the campaign, knocked on doors in the freezing snow and the blazing sun, urging people to vote. They waited in line for hours to cast their ballots.

And I have seen that same passion, that same determination to serve in young people I have met all across the world, from India to El Salvador, from Mexico to the United Kingdom to here in South Africa.
So today, I want you to know that as you work to lift up your families, your communities, your countries and your world, know that you are never alone. You are never alone.

As Bobby Kennedy said here in South Africa all those years ago: “…you are joined with fellow young people in every land, they struggling with their problems and you with yours, but all joined in a common purpose…determined to build a better future.”

And if anyone of you ever doubts that you can build that future, if anyone ever tells you that you shouldn’t or you can’t, then I want you to say with one voice - the voice of a generation - you tell them, “Yes, we can.” (Applause.) What do you say? Yes, we can. (Applause.) What do you say? Yes, we can!

AUDIENCE: Yes, we can!

OBAMA: What do you say?

AUDIENCE: Yes, we can!

OBAMA: Thank you all so much. God bless you.

www.news24.com

Sunset Eyelashes

2011-06-19T13:39:00.001+02:00

Sunset Eyelashes on this mud-encrusted elephant (Kruger National Park)

A year later. Was it worth it?

2011-06-11T13:26:00.002+02:00

Billed as "FIFA's best ever, its most commercially successful ever and arguably its most socially important ever." by Danny Jordaan Chief Executive Officer of 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, I wonder.

I was fortunate to be part of it all. You can read about my experiences and see my pictures when you click on these three links It is here!, Halftime and Game Over.

Inside Soccer City before kick-off of The Final, Spain vs The Netherlands
The white seats on the upper level was the Media Area

Here's an interesting article from today's online Daily Maverick, one year to the day the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicked off in South Africa.

All rise. The court is now in session. The accused before you, my Lord, is South Africa, and the charge is whether all that money spent on the 2010 Soccer World Cup was worth it? Was it an investment in our future or a crime against the people? Is the recording equipment working? Good. Then let’s proceed. By ALEX ELISEEV.

This time last year, we were just a few hours away from kick off. Cars were driving around with colourful flags, companies were inventing World Cup words, parades were snaking through the streets and we were all drunk on euphoria. We learnt to blow vuvuzelas, pretended to like Shakira and wore soccer jerseys to work on Fridays.

Even I got a little carried away by the stream of excitement. I made a home video of how my girlfriend and I went to the opening game, dressed in more yellow than we ever thought possible. It was a cold morning, but a warm feeling. A beautiful distraction by a beautiful game.

But we’re all sober now. A year has passed. Fifa has moved on, like my ex-girlfriend who’s already married to someone else, while we are left watching TV, eating ice-cream and asking ourselves whether the billions we blew gave us any tangible return-on-investment.

I have spent well over a week investigating this question. Speaking to people on the street, to economists, politicians and businessmen. What I’ve come to realise, is that there is no simple answer. Not yet. Not ever, perhaps. Each South African has to step up on the bench, slip on his robe and act as a judge. Are you ready for the arguments?

The prosecution will go first. Economists will argue that if you believe the World Cup was a profitable venture, you’re smoking your socks. With all due respect, of course. They will say there’s no evidence to show the economy grew significantly or that the tournament made any kind of dent in unemployment. They’ll tell you we should have bargained harder with Fifa (which hosted it’s most lucrative World Cup ever) and that we were all waiting for the event to be this great “tipping point” in our economic history. Which it wasn’t. You’ll hear about the stadiums being under-utilised, the albatrosses around our necks, the other things we could have invested in (hospitals, housing, and so on) and the over-supply of hotels, many of which are now struggling to fill their rooms.

“It’s was a great party,” the economists will say. “But not an economic success”.

You’ll then hear from the defence. This will be a much bigger team, full of silks, heavyweights and celebrities. And their argument will require many lever-arch files crammed with figures. They will tell you that an extra million people visited South Africa last year (roughly 300 000 of whom were here for the soccer). This means there was a spike in spending. They will tell you that this year, already, the tourism figures are looking promising, with a 9% growth in January.

The marketing crew will explain the country’s brand has never been stronger. That a good reputation is helping us fish for investment and trade agreements. That the Wal-Mart deal and us getting into the Bric club is all part of the snowball effect of proving ourselves to the world. We have the top brand in Africa, they will say, pausing for dramatic effect. The politicians will try convince you the World Cup added at least half a percent on to our GDP last year and injected more than R70 billion into the economy. They will say that more than 130 000 (albeit temporary) jobs were created, which is pretty good going. The City of Joburg will produce studies to show that for every rand invested, almost R8 was generated. It will point to the Gautrain, the BRT network and the airport to show that new infrastructure will benefit us for decades. And even though the projects needed to be done anyway, it will say, the World Cup pushed government from talk to walk.

You will be shown exhibits and slideshows of the beautiful FNB stadium. The 95,000-seat Calabash has already started to turn a profit and is not draining money from the municipal coffers. You will hear it’s had around 2 million people pass through its doors and can attract almost R200 million in spending during one big TriNations game.

The prosecution will object. “What about the stadiums in Cape Town or Durban? They are not performing as well, and are costing taxpayers millions of Rand a month…” “We’ll leave that for argument,” you’ll mumble.

Danny Jordaan will step into the witness box. The man behind the bid and the former head of the Local Organising Committee. He will be asked: “Was it all worth it?” And he won’t skip a heart beat before replying: “Absolutely”. He will say the World Cup did for South Africa’s image what hundreds of millions of rands and a decade of marketing couldn’t. It got the crime “monkey” off our shoulder, with the world realising that you don’t need a bullet-proof vest to come here. He will talk about the legacy of the infrastructure and of national unity, and of how the credit must go to South Africans for being amazing hosts.

The sports experts will say that more whites are venturing into Soweto to watch soccer, there is more excitement about local teams and plenty of grassroots development taking place. You will be shown research that at least 90% of South Africans felt proud of their country during and after the World Cup. The Homecoming Revolution will say the websites and blogs are blazing with expats in Australia and New Zealand discussing coming back.

And then the court will fall silent. And you will be left to decide which argument makes more sense. You will look at the public gallery and find few answers there, with each person holding his or her own view. Some may even say that talking about it is useless, because nothing can undo the fact that we, as a country, chose to embark on this project. Others may claim that it’s too early to judge, that we need to give it another five or 10 years.

But this isn’t the Boeremag trial. We need to think long and hard about the consequences of the decisions we make. And we need to weigh up the power of the “gees” versus the realities of our country. We need to look around us – from the shiny Gautrain station to the shacks in nearby Alexandra – and ask ourselves: Was it all worth it? Well … was it?

Personally I am not convinced it was worth it. The euphora was awesome, but the hangover is a miserable one. I say this for the "socially important" aspect. The masses of South Africans are definitely not better off for it - only a select few. Typical of Africa.

Fields of Battles

2011-06-04T15:01:00.004+02:00

Battle of Blood River, Battle of Isandlwana, Battle of Rorke's Drift. Boers, Brits, Zulus. Oxwagons. Guns. Spears. All things I heard about in my school History lessons. I disliked History and scraped through History exams - dropping the subject as soon as my schooling allowed.

So when work required me to head out to the KZN Battlefields to do a recce for a possible fundraising cycling event, I was in two minds : OMG NO!!! Battles. How boring - and OH YAY! New places to visit.

I was joined by my colleague Chris (a mad-keen adventure racer) and Philip from Land Rover Club SA (off road expert) for this recce. At this point I would like to say that I had the smallest suitcase! One for the girls :-)

We stayed at Umzinyathi Farmhouse in the Fugitive's Drift Reserve - a lovely old farmhouse that has been kept as original as possible (electricity being the only addition). The farmhouse was one of David Rattray's favourite places. David, owner of Fugitive's Drift, a renown raconteur, historian, battlefields expert and loyal supporter of the local Kwa Zulu Natal (KZN) communities, was tragically murdered in his home by the very people he supported (Obituary in The Economist). It was from here that we explored the Kwa Zulu Natal Battlefields.

The first battle was on 16 December 1838 and known as the Battle of Blood River. This battle between Andries Pretorius' Boers and Dingaan's impis of Zulus resulted in the massacre of 1000's of Zulus and a handful of Boers. I was struck by the openness of the site, the size (or lack thereof) of the ox wagons and the awe of standing inside the Laager. The Boers made a Covenant with God on the outcome of the battle and the 16th of December subsequently become a South African public holiday known as Day of the Covenant (a.k.a Day of the Vow or Dingaan's Day) and since 1994 is now called Day of Reconciliation.

Approaching the Boer oxwagon laager

Inside the laager looking out towards the area the 1000's of Zulus stormed the laager

View through the back of a wagon into the other wagons

The mountain bike gives an idea of the size of a wagon (I thought they would have been much bigger to carry families, supplies, etc. as they trekked across South Africa)

The Vow the Boers made with God leading into the Battle of Blood River

As we drove away, I felt uncomfortable that I had not made an effort to visit this monument before, but was glad I had finally done it. I looked at the countryside with new eyes - imagining these pioneering people, pioneering families, making their way into new lands in search of a better life.

Forty years later. The Battle of Isandlwana, 22 January 1878 the first major battle between the British forces and the Zulus. The piles of white rocks strewn over acres of land indicate fallen British soldiers. You cannot see how far spread the piles are in this picture. The British suffered huge losses as the Zulu impis ran over them.

More piles at Isandlwana - the site gets its name from the hill in this picture.

Then Rob Caskie, historian and raconteur took us to the site of the Battle of Rorke's Drift 22/23 January 1878 - a couple of kilometres away from Isandlwana and a few hours after the British defeat. All I can say is YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GUIDE ACCOMPANY YOU ON THESE SITE VISITS. Not only did the Battle of Rorke's Drift take place over a few 100 metres and in two buildings, 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded here - the highest number ever in any single British battle!!! He took us around the buildings, describing in detail what the men were going through during the battle and what subsequently became of them. I had tears streaming down my cheeks by the time Rob finished his talk - three hours later.

This building was the hospital in the Battle of Rorke's Drift. The church off to the left was the Stores at the time of the battle.

This is the monument to the Zulus at Rorke's Drift. Beautiful leopard and the tree is a Buffalo-thorn (Ziziphus mucronata) Africans have many beliefs and superstitions attached to this tree. Zulus and Swazis use the buffalo thorn in connection with burial rites. It was once customary that when a Zulu chief died, the tree was planted on his grave as a reminder or symbol of where the chief lies. Hence the name umLahlankosi- that which buries the chief. A twig from the tree was and is still used to attract and carry the spirit of the deceased from the place of death to the new resting place.

I was humbled. I was in awe.

I was dumbstruck why do men fight??????

The Boers had their families with them, in search of better life.

The British soldiers fought for land ownership and leaders ego's.
Go figure

The last monument we visited was Prince Imperial - the site where Napoleon (Napoléon Eugène Louis Jean Joseph), son of Napoleon III was killed by the Zulus.

This was what we saw the second time we went to Prince Imperial Monument.

Rob Caskie told us that the majority of the local people have no idea of the significance of the area and few know of the battles that took place in the area.

Herewith some pictures from the rest of the recce and the people and sights around the KZN area.

Here we are trekking across the grasslands looking for the track - armed with GPS, top-of-the-range LandRover - how did the Boers and British manage with all their stuff??

Imagine the oxwagons and cannons getting across this stream . . .

Fugitive's Drift Reserve

Big sky, expanses of grasslands

These patties drying on the rocks are in fact COW DUNG. The local people dry them out and use them as fuel for their cooking and heating fires

Curious sight - Chris on his bike or Girl carrying chicken??

Happy local children reaching out to clap Chris' hand as he drove past. I'm sure these kids spoke about it at school the following week as many have not touched a Mlungu (white person) in their little lives.

Top of Mangeni Falls in the countryside of KZN - close to Isandlwana where many Zulus no doubt drank and bathed.

Roadside spaza (tuck shop) owned by the gentleman on the right. No Cokes on sale here though. "finished" he shrugged

Impromptu game of catch with the kids

Animals wander freely everywhere

MY FAVOURITE PICTURE

Ice rats, rockjumpers and switchbacks

2011-05-17T19:12:00.004+02:00

Finally, I made time to tick another couple of things off my lists - my Bird Life List and my Bucket List.

A bucket list trip up the renown Sani Pass, in my LSP +++. Once, the Sani Pass was a rough mule trail descending the Eastern Highlands of old Basutoland into Natal. Tough drovers brought wool and mohair down the Pass on donkeys and mules to be exchanged for blankets … clothing … maize meal … the essentials for life in a remote, landlocked, mountainous country. The pass is only open to 4x4 vehicles (and those daring motorbikers and crazy mountain bike cyclists also tackle it on occasion) and is the only entry point into Lesotho from the KwaZulu Natal province in South Africa.

Some friends joined me on this adventure. The scenery is spectacular and weather is as unpredictable as one can expect in the mountains.

I was in search of a bird, the Drakensberg Rockjumper, and any of the other endemic species occurring in the area.

Profile of Sani Pass

I felt so small as I was almost enveloped by the Drakensberg Mountains

In the switchbacks as you ascend the steepest part of the Pass

A donkey on top of Sani Pass

The hotel at the crest of the pass and home to the "highest pub in Africa"

It was damn freezing when we overnighted at the chalets as snow had fallen on the mountains inland Lesotho. the hot Rum gluhwein was welcome! I knew it was going to be cold, but the wind chill factor felt like a knife slicing through me! I have not ever experienced snow and did not get to on this trip either. I think another trip into Lesotho is on the cards this winter -- for the REAL thing! (But I will let someone else drive then...)

A Sloggert's Ice Rat - an endemic mammal to the area (note the litter bugs have been there - cigarette butt!!)

The rather rare endemic Southern Bald Ibis - drying their wings on the banks of a stream - strange looking birds!!

I was glad my LSP was not thirsty for fuel

I did get to see a few Drakensberg Rockjumpers, but it was whilst I was negotiating the nerve-wracking switchbacks near the top of the pass, so I didn't try to take any pics, but am happy to add another 'tick' to my Life Bird List ** smile **

++ LSP - my little Silver Pajero, hero of my Baked Beans Jubilee adventure

Freedom Day - 17 years later

2011-04-27T10:11:00.005+02:00

So today, 27 April, we celebrate Freedom Day in South Africa. It's been 17 years since South Africans voted in our first fully democratic elections. There was no voter's roll and people queued for hours in the cold which turned into a blazing sunny day to cast their votes - many for the first time ever! The turnout was so overwhelming, the polling stations had to open the next day as well.

Madiba, everyone's hero!

It was the first time black and white South Africans stood together in queues to cast their vote. The African National Congress won the polls and full of promises, have been governing the country since then.

17 years later, these scenes below (protests for lack of service delivery by the government and local municipalities) are becoming an everyday occurrence and as we go to the polls in local municipal elections on 18 May 2011, I wonder where the next 17 years are going to take South Africa. Here's link to a very thought-provoking article by John Kane-Berman, Executive Director of the South African Institute for Race Relations. The article is called "Finding A Way Forward". He paints dark clouds, but looks for silver linings.

Out and about rural SA

2011-04-22T08:21:00.001+02:00

Field of cosmos flowers - good honey flowers

Especially for Lori - a giraffe nursery!

These leaves reminded me of little flames running along a branch

In keeping with some of my blog posts not just to show you pretty pics of my beautiful country, these are 100's of little white crosses placed on a hillside outside Polokwane in Limpopo Province. Each cross represents a farmer who has been murdered on his/her farm. These tragedies are occurring way too regularly in SA.

A Rock Fig taking its name literally!

Slow moving traffic . . . .

These were some of the sights while I was travelling around northern South Africa visiting rural school Eco Clubs as part of my work with Children in the Wilderness.

Excited Eco Club member admiring her new membership card

Eco Club members at one of the five schools I work with in the area

No Petrol Thank You

2011-04-03T10:13:00.001+02:00

Don't you sometimes feel like this pump?

I'm having a serious case of wanderlust at the moment and need 'petrol' to be more upbeat about being chained to work in the city.

Pic taken on my Baked Beans Jubilee adventure at the only filling depot in Sesfontein, edge of Damaraland, Namibia

POACHED ALIVE

2011-03-28T19:27:00.002+02:00

Most of you probably won't watch this video (and I certainly don't hold it against you!). There should be absolutely no need for footage like this ever to have been taken - but my friends this is the disgusting truth about our fellow man.

This is not for sensitive viewers. As I type this, I can't stop the tears of horror and shame from flooding down my cheeks. And what was this tragic saga about - greed and men with small dicks!!!

On Friday 11 February 2011 the owners of Kariega Game Reserve (outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape - where I grew up) were rendered speechless with shock to see that one of their Rhinos horns had been evilly butchered and chopped off during the course of the night before.

Here we see the Rhino’s pain and last moments. The attending veterinarian has a long history with this Rhino from birth so the frames we see after the Rhino is put down are particularly poignant as we observe the hunter, vet and owner all lay hands on the Rhino in mute tribute to it’s magnificent snuffed out life.

Under the cover of darkness

2011-03-22T18:52:00.005+02:00

Over the weekend I had an opportunity test my new little UV torch
hunting for nocturnal scorpions.

WOW!

A seemingly sleepy tree trunk is alive with insect predators
Waiting in dark crevices for unsuspecting 6-legged passersby
Ready to pounce . . .

Eerie looking, almost extra terrestrial.

All exposed to me under a beam of UV light

PS Lurking in the mopane trees, these are non-venomous bark scorpions - big pincers indicating they need to crush and hold their prey (and they have a small, thin tail). Small pincers indicate they don't need to hold down their prey as their big thick tails have a sac full of venom which they use in stinging their prey to death

Baines Baobabs

2011-02-26T09:31:00.007+02:00

A few winters back, I went on my first ever 4x4ing camping adventure with some friends. It had some amazing highs and some low lows, the lowest point being a culmination of a menopausal mood, an irritating fellow traveller and me screaming like a banshee, crying like a baby in the middle of a busy campsite, almost bashing the traveller with a bottle of wine I was carrying, threatening to go and stand on the Maun runway until some pilot flew me back to Joburg. I think my fellow travellers all probably wished I was at the airport (and some probably also wished I'd done the bottle bashing too)!!

This incident probably being the subconscious reason why I do things like my Baked Beans Jubilee adventure solo . . .

After the incident, I put on my Big Girl Panties and enjoyed the next 10 days (and ended up catching the irritating fellow traveller from landing head-first in burning coals some days later)

One of the gorgeous places we visited was the Baines Baobabs in Botswana - WOW , magnificent.

You can see me next to the vehicles in the bottom right-hand corner of this picture.

The Baines Baobabs were named after the famous painter and English explorer of the last century Thomas Baines, who painted this unusual group in 1862 during his journeys through Southern Africa. This remarkable cluster of trees is also known as Seven Sister and is located on Nxai Pan, sister to the well-know Makgadikgadi Pans. Although the pan at Baines Baobabs is dry for most of the year, the area is transformed into a massive sheet of water, dotted by water lilies during the rainy season and water birds flock to the area

Today the scene is little changed and still attracts the attention of visitors, but picnicking there is no longer permitted due to damage of previously uncontrolled camping.

I remember thinking to myself how awesome it would be to camp in the area on a full moon night . . . I never did and have missed the chance now camping is banned.

The World's Greatest Rock Band

2011-02-14T18:16:00.002+02:00

I was sooooooo excited when my friend Karen invited me to the U2 - 360° concert at FNB Stadium (venue of the 2010 Soccer World Cup Final between Spain and Netherlands).

It was a really spoiling day - meet at the new Southern Sun Montecasino hotel for pre-concert snacks and drinks, hop onto a luxury coach and be escorted by the traffic police through stadium-traffic-congested motorways and then an impromptu picnic on the grass outside the stadium. What more does a girl need?!?!

Cheers

As the sunset we made our way into the stadium and the U2 360° tour logo now made sense.

Looking like some kind of spaceship - the stage!!!

According to the media, this 'spaceship' is transported around the globe in 60 containers

Some of the fans had been waiting outside the stadium for over 36 hours!!! Talk about FAN-atical

The South African band, The Springbok Nude Girls, were the supporting act. No, they were fully clothed and an all-male band. Then it was time for the REAL THING!!

U2 performing with South Africa's Hugh Masekela (on the trumpet)

Spectacular lighting

The centre of the staging extended towards the floor

The beacon on top of the stage

The Milky Way U2-style

(the audience holding up cellphones in the dark)

All-in-all a most awesome concert and if it hasn't been to your neck of the woods yet - get hold of a ticket!!

My wish was granted

2011-02-08T18:54:00.008+02:00

On New Year's Eve we wrote our wishes on a paper lantern and sent it up into the sky. I simply wrote "Job Please" and I am happy to tell you that Life and The Universe has granted my wish.

Yesterday I started working as the Programme Director for South Africa with CHILDREN IN THE WILDERNESS. The programme is an environmental and life skills educational one focusing on the next generation of rural decision makers. It is one of the few programmes aimed at bridging the divide that exists between communities and wildlife.

The programme hosts rural children that live alongside Wilderness Safaris concessions and teaches them the importance of conservation. It aims to develop environmental leaders who are inspired to care for their natural heritage so that they become the custodians of these areas in the future. The programme builds and strengthens their capabilities to cope with life's challenges and educates them with the life skills necessary to actualize their greatest potential. Click here to read more about how the programme works.

Pack up your troubles

2011-02-02T14:16:00.004+02:00

Dr Zian is offering guaranteed results!!!!

An appointment with him costs just over $10

I do wonder though if Dr Zian is a rhino poaching syndicate "member" ????

These pamphlets are being handed out at the robots (as we call them in South Africa, traffic lights to everyone else in the world) and I always take one for a giggle.

Legs

2011-01-19T14:07:00.001+02:00

Entrants standing around for the Kruger National Park's 'Miss Long Legs competition'

Up with a wish and a flame

2011-01-04T14:58:00.001+02:00

On New Year's Eve, some of the other Hyenas prepared a lavish banquet for us. The theme was "Around the World" and a long leisurely dinner with tastes of special wine for each country ensued. Instead of fireworks which are messy and scare the bejesus out of animals and people, Claire brought out a paper lantern which we all had to write a wish on. Thereafter we lit it and let it float off into the sky, upwards and onwards taking our wishes to Life And The Universe. Hopefully we'll have our wishes fulfilled.

The Hyenas at Madam Zingara's Theatre of Dreams in 2010

Karen, Janet, Linda, Claire, Gill

The Elephant and the Sea

2011-01-03T15:47:00.004+02:00

Pic taken early on a hazy morning

Until recently, this is not a sight visitors to Addo would have seen. South African National Parks (curators of 19 national parks in SA) is in the process of increasing the size of Addo Elephant National Park to include the marine element and visitors will also be able to include whale-watching on their safaris.

This is newly reclaimed land, still filled with invasive plants. One day in the (hopefully) not-too-distant future, the elephants will be able to make their way down to the sand dunes you can see in the distance, and to splash about in the surf. Currently there is a major national road obscured somewhere in that bush between the elephant and the dunes.

Twenty-Eleven

2010-12-30T16:17:00.001+02:00

As I walk away from 2010 - a big year for me with my Baked Beans Jubilee adventure and a big year for my country with 2010 FIFA World Cup which I was proudly part of, I look to 2011 and I say ...

BRING IT ON!!

Wishing you all everything great you wish yourselves for 2011 ... and a little more.

Singing Christmas Angel(s)

2010-12-20T19:35:00.002+02:00

Wishing you a Glo-ohr-rious Christmas

and a safe happy fun-filled Festive Season

Raindrops

2010-12-16T10:29:00.003+02:00

Unusually grey, continuously rainy, summer days in Joburg this week.

Soulfood

2010-12-11T14:02:00.007+02:00

2010 has been another roller coaster year for me and a spoiling trip to the bush was most welcome. One of the Other Hyenas won a travel prize as the company's Sales Person of the Year - a well-deserved prize for plenty of hard work - and she kindly invited me to join the trip to Nkelenga Lodge, a lovely self catering camp in the Thornybush Game Reserve.

The weather didn't play along and was raining when we arrived. It continued to rain on our first game drive and despite the weather-proof ponchos, we still got wet and with the moving vehicle, one gets cold quite quickly and people become miserable. A day later the rain eased and the clouds remained but at least we weren't wet. The sunny skies returned the afternoon before our visit was over so we'd pretty much experienced all seasons in the visit.

The animals weren't very bothered by the inclement weather and we got to see some of the most lovely sightings on our game drives.

This male lion was not fussed by the rain and lay in the road

calling out to the world he is still King of the Beasts.

The call comes from deep in his body and rolls across the reserve.

It felt like our vehicle was vibrating.

This was a fleeting glimpse of a new newborn blue wildebeest surrounded by protective adults

This black rhino was literally frollicking like a young lamb.

I was so stunned I almost forgot to take a photo.

Vusi, our tracker, sits on the front of the vehicle to perform his tracking duties (watching for spoor of animals on the dirt road) and sometimes gets very close to animals ...

It was fabulous to see these white rhinos together. It is sickening how many have been slaughtered by poachers in South Africa this year (289 as I write!!). All of this to "satisfy" little men with big egos and even smaller dicks!!

These two male wildebeest were having a territorial tussle on the Reserve's runway, seconds before one of these lionesses shot out of the bushes in an attempt to catch one.

Oh well, we didn't catch one of those -- Ooooooooh look something in the sky. Is it edible?

Crashing through the thick bush to try and find the leopards we could hear

Mating leopards deep in the trees.

I can't explain the vicious sound of hurt and growling snarls the female makes when he withdraws his barbed penis after copulation.

A female cheetah shows us what a real cat walk is

One evening the clouds lifted for a quick glimpse of the setting sun

A redcrested korhaan shows his punkrocker-like crest - in hot pursuit of a female.

Some of my friends enjoying a coffee break on a morning game drive. The warthogs kept their distance which was lovely.

One thing I haven't shared about the Other Hyenas is that they all love to cook. OMG did we have some divine meals ... to get you salivating ... Roast Lamb with my favourite roast potatoes, Oxtail served with Samp, breakfast of Strawberry soup with a swirl of pink champagne, Bacon and Egg Muffins, Salmon Fishcakes (I've drooled over the keyboard now) and, of course, loads of wine.

We had our own ranger Joe and his son Vusi was our tracker. Joe has been working on the Reserve for 18 years and knows the area intimately and even his face broke into a huge smile when we found an uncommon summer visitor - a Thickbilled Cuckoo. A lifer for both him and me!

** Nkelenga is the Tsonga word for Fever Tree (Acacia xanthophloea) and the lodge is surrounded by some lovely large thorny specimens. *The genus name Acacia is derived from the greek word "acantha": meaning spine, thorn or prickle and the species name xanthophloea: is derived from the greek words "xanthos" meaning yellow and "phloios" meaning bark. Medicinally the bark is used for treating fevers and eye complaints. Early settlers thought that this tree caused a fever since people travelling or living in the areas where it grew contracted a bad fever, they associated the fever with the tree. This however was incorrect as the swampy, wet places where fever trees grow are also ideal breeding grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and so the myth was born and the plant got its name as the fever tree.

View of some fever trees and the waterhole from the tent

Signs of my time

2010-11-29T15:37:00.004+02:00

Yesterday I took the inland scenic route from East London back to Port Elizabeth, visiting towns, villages and hamlets I'd never seen. The day was overcast and rainy in parts. These are signs I passed on the roads.

I wonder when last I paid R4.50 for a cabbage...

I think Grahamstown people know how to interpret this sign - I wasn't sure

At Coega's new highway on- and off-ramps

Finally as I got back to PE, the skies became more blue with sunshine

Rock Ness Monster

2010-11-15T10:01:00.004+02:00

Spotted at Sardinia Bay, Port Elizabeth early this morning

Rock Ness Monster sneaking towards me
Hee-hee-hee

Although they resemble blue bottles, these are harmless "By-The-Wind" sea creatures washed up on the shore. I presume the air sacs are wind-propelled.

Sardinia Beach - my favourite beach in PE. Strong currents deter the normal bikini-clad and muscle-bound beach-goers, so it is relatively quiet, mainly people walking their dogs.

The road to the now-closed Lifeguard house

not that anyone will be trying to drive through or park along it anymore.

Bluebottles and blue bottles

2010-11-06T18:25:00.008+02:00

Beach at Sardinia Bay

After almost a week in Port Elizabeth of overcast, sometimes rainy weather, the sun finally came out but so did the "Windy City"'s wind ***. Not to be deterred, I made my way to the beach for a walk along the shoreline and look what I found hiding out in the stranded wave foam

Gorgeous blue bluebottles with their long stinging tentacles. Also known as Portuguese Man o' War. Damn painful when the long tentacle wraps around your unsuspecting body parts while frolicking in the waves.

Beautiful blue colour

And my worst...this awful blue bottle pains me more than any bluebottle sting!!

*** Port Elizabeth is also known as the "Friendly City" and forms part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole - you can read more here

Suburban Summer Sunset

2010-10-28T17:01:00.002+02:00

Enjoying the setting sun from my balcony, I love how quickly sunsets change before my eyes

Blog Action Day : Water

2010-10-15T11:40:00.006+02:00

A world without life-giving water is simply unimaginable

Click here for more on Blog Action Day 2010 Water

Frog Fashion

2010-10-07T16:39:00.003+02:00

I saw a leaf fluttering rhythmically across the lawn.
I looked again.
I saw a leaf hopping across the lawn.
I ran over to look.

I saw leaf stuck to a frog and smiled - an eco-friendly bio-degradable fashion item for summer 2010 ...

The Girl Effect

2010-10-04T18:35:00.001+02:00

Further to my questioning post Education for the better?, I saw this video on Oprah. I felt compelled to share it with you, especially after comments from Angela, whom I agree with.

Drama queens

2010-09-24T13:11:00.000+02:00

I love helmeted guinea fowls and had a chance to get close to them, but not close enough to touch their helmets. Close enough to see how much facial hair they have. Their louder-than-loud shrieking calls were my sunrise alarm on a short visit to the bushveld this week.

Not very fussy seed- and insect-eaters

I love those eyelashes

Happy Heritage weekend fellow South Africans!

Hard work

2010-09-18T11:32:00.001+02:00

Sitting on my balcony drinking my morning cup of coffee, I watched the bees hard at work and decided to take some photos. OMG, it is not easy! They keep still for less than a nanosecond!

It is evident from the almost overloaded pollen sacs how hard the girls are working. I need to take the lead from them and put some hard work, practice into my photography . .

Education for a better life?

2010-09-02T17:19:00.005+02:00

Nakambele Pre-School, Namibia where I gave teachers stationery and flasks

Travelling around Southern Africa on my recent adventure, I got to thinking about education and "a better life". There are literally millions of people living along the sides of the main roads. Many look like they are doing nothing. People, mainly men, sitting outside shebeens (with names like Taliban Bar, Aqua-Fresh Shebeen, BBC Entertainment 2 Restaurant and Shebeen) at all hours of the day. I didn't do any night driving for fear of wayward animals in these unfenced places. When I passed a settlement (I can't really call them villages - many weren't), there were always kids, of all ages, playing around. Usually there was an older woman working in the area alongside the huts and men were chatting in small groups. School-going kids in uniforms, were streaming out of schools (many had cellphones) and strolling alongside the roads in little groups. I began to ask myself what is education doing for these kids. What has it done for the men hanging around the settlements and outside the shebeens. What will it do for the little ones who still have to make it to school. We talk about education for a better life. What is a better life?

I spoke a to Himba woman at Hippo Pools outside Ruacana, Namibia. She was dressed in Western clothing. I asked what's happened to her dressing traditionally (beads, mud, loincloth and leather soles tied around their feet), she said she lost it when she went to school. At school she was made to dress 'normally' i.e. in western clothing. Where is her life now better? She can speak English and has a job, but she has lost her tradition and doesn't appear to have bettered her life. Her kids have live at a settlement with their granny.

Traditional Himba woman and child

Are we so arrogant that we think we need to educate people, and is it to be more western? I certainly don't see very much progress by the masses out there. There are simply way too many people. Compared to my western life, they have a really poor quality of life. But in their eyes, maybe they don't.

A group of young Himbas driving cattle

Himbas are traditionally nomadic and I passed some of them (men, a young woman and a little boy) driving a herd of cattle. They indicated to me to slow down and when I opened the window to talk to them, they couldn't speak English or Afrikaans (spoken by most people in Namibia over the age of 20) and communicated in almost grunt-like sounds. I know they wanted something from me, I'd like to think food, but I don't know. I gave them a big bottle of water and drove on, not knowing what else to do.

Better life. Education. What do you think?

Baked Beans Jubilee

2010-07-28T07:34:00.003+02:00

Finally,

I'm on my BBJ adventure

travelling solo

with a vague itinerary

on a shoestring budget

Plenty to see and experience

Follow my tracks on

http://bakedbeansjubilee.blogspot.com

Game Over

2010-07-16T10:21:00.011+02:00

South Africa has had its "15 minutes of fame" (extended to 32 days) during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. I sincerely hope the positive effects are very very long lasting.

One of my favourite 2010 World Cup photographs

I did breakdown and buy a small Canon point-and-shoot camera (despite working for Sony on this project hee hee) and I'm glad I did so I can share some of the things I saw - a different perspective. For the more typical fan pics, etc. please click on my FaceBook link

This is the SpiderCam which brought those great aerial pics of the game. Suspended on wires - someone had great fun operating this remotely

Guests getting flags painted on their cheeks

Brazilian fans dancing to the African drum beats

The banks of photographers at each end of the pitch at every game

A nearly full moon rising of a very full coach park in Durban (Sun Coast Casino in the background)

And the rain bucketed down during a game in Port Elizabeth

Fanatical England fans watching their team get knocked out of the tournament by Germany

The stewards in orange jackets spend the whole game with their backs to the pitch, watching the crowds for trouble makers and over eager fans wanting to invade the pitch

While I love the idea of the ear protection, I don't see the point of taking someone this young to a crowded noisy game - I don't understand parents who think kids so young have any clue about this when they're older - just to say "I was there!"

Ardent Brazil fans will have had to cough up some freight costs to bring this Jersey along.

FIFA subscribes to the "Say No To Racism" code and even had captains of teams reading short announcements before the kick-off saying no to racism - a worldwide issue

South African Police Services Riot Squads on duty in the stadiums after a game.

Resembling Ninja Turtles -- in the sewers??

The jam-packed Port Elizabeth airport Departure Gates after the Holland/Brazil game

This is how I got to see the Closing Ceremony
--- the lights from the Soccer City Coach Park

The Stadium Team rocked!!!!

Alistair (South African) Vaclav (Czech) Lea (Australian) Kaz (Japanese)

Yours Truly (South African) Munya (Zimbabwean) all dancing to the Official World Cup Song:

Waka Waka (This Time For Afrika)
done by Columbia's Shakira with South Africa's Freshlyground

This pic courtesy of Lea's Facebook album
Missing from pic Mike (USA) Daryl (SA) and Kathryn (SA)

What 2010 World Cup was for me: working at 23 of the 64 games (I didn't get to watch many of them), 40 domestic flights (the 2.30am departures were the killers for me), working with some great people, hearing so many guests rave about SA and promising to return.

All in all, South Africa did a great job and South Africans can be proud.

Halftime

2010-06-22T06:28:00.001+02:00

As the whistle blows ending the game between Spain and Honduras - Match 32, it signals halfway of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. 32 more matches to go in 14 soccer days.

This is a short post to bring you some of my statistics:

We have had 11 days of soccer and I have attended 10 matches so far at 6 of the venues - Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Soccer City and Ellis Park. I have already flown in excess of 11,000 miles and spent almost as much time in airports as I have at stadiums. I have has a couple of 2am departures after late games and had a couple of 4am and 5am hotel check-ins, followed by two hours sleep and then back to work. (No good for my anti-wrinkle attempts)

I don't get to see the full match as there is much to do to ensure guests are having a great time, but, in part, I have seen France take on Uruguay, Argentina playing Nigeria, Germany slay Australia, Italy's lacklustre performance against Uruguay, Cote d'Ivoire's never-say-die performance against Portugal, Switzerland bring down the Spanish giants, Korea Republic take on Argentina, Algeria give disappointing England a good run for their money, the Netherlands beat Japan (who have some of the most ardent fans) and Portugal crush Korea DPR 7-0.

For the first time ever, I am really sad I don't have a lovely small light point-and-shoot camera anymore. My Canon SLR and its lenses and bag are too big and bulky to add to my laptop bag and small suitcase for the style of travel I'm doing now. I have seen some hilarious sights and so many spectators make so much effort to dress up. It is awesome to see, I should rather say - stare! My cellphone camera does not take worthwhile photos so I haven't taken any.

The droning vuvuzela noise that you hear when watching TV soccer coverage is NOT South Africans at the stadium. I think there are more international visitors taking vuvuzelas to World Cup matches than local fans ever take to any local SA soccer matches! Talk about embracing local culture. . .

That's all for the moment. Will post again at FullTime and will get some of the photos my colleagues have taken.

Stadium guards

2010-05-29T14:03:00.005+02:00

Security is on everyone's mind as the 2010 FIFA World Cup approaches. Given the high crime rate stats, the sensational newspaper reports and the lack of common sense shown by some tourists, you're forgiven for thinking this soccer post is about security guards.

Later this week I will be paying my first soccer visit to the province I grew up in, the Eastern Cape, and to the newly built Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. I was so impressed to read an Africa Geographic post on Facebook that this is the first stadium to use avian guards around a stadium.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with a flock of PE's feral pigeons

[Africa Geographic] Port Elizabeth – A South African World Cup stadium has turned to birds of prey to chase out rogue pigeons and rats in an anti-pest strategy that favours raptors above the pitch instead of poisons.

The new 46 000-seat stadium in coastal Port Elizabeth sports several bird and bat boxes under the outer eaves of its striking petal-shaped roof to draw aerial hunters.

“We”ve gone completely poison free. This is the only stadium with a programme like this in place as a pest deterrent,” stadium manager Rob Hichens told AFP.

The strategy was designed as a harmonious system: the wild raptors hunt and chase away feral pigeons, eliminating the notoriously slovenly birds” nests and droppings which attract rats.

Extremely messy

“Pigeons are extremely messy. The whole of town is riddled with them. I did a feral pigeon count in town and we”ve got over 10 000 birds,” said Arnold Slabbert of the Urban Raptor Project, who drew up the pest strategy.

The birds carry lice and diseases in their faeces which damage seats while rats eat the droppings and raid the nests for eggs and chicks, he said.

“Immediately you are allowing a big pigeon problem to develop, you are causing a rat problem to start as well. You don”t want pigeons in a stadium, end of story.”

The raptors can be seen soaring above the R2bn stadium, which overlooks a lake near the city’’s central business district, while wagtails are spotted feeding off insects on the pitch.

“At the moment, three African peregrine falcons live in the stadium. They hunt quite extensively,” he said.

Peregrine falcon

Amazing deterrent

“They”re extremely effective at controlling the pigeon population. The pigeons don”t come near the stadium, they just stay away. It’’s an amazing deterrent.”

Bat boxes were also erected in trees and under the outer stadium roof for indigenous bats – which can eat 132 mosquitoes an hour – drawn by insects attracted by the stadium’’s lights and its lake setting.

And plans are afoot to introduce indigenous grass-eating rats in the surrounding marshy areas to provide food for hunting rock kestrels to draw them to the stadium, which has no rat problem, said Slabbert. “I look at an integrated control of all pest species. I”m creating a complete little ecosystem here,” he said.

Pick on electrical wires

A hand-reared larger falcon is brought in to chase away crows, which pick on electrical wires and whose roosts can number around 100 birds, and a would-be red wing starling residence has also been chased out of the stadium.

Slabbert was approached to identify potential bird problems during the three years it took to build the stadium, and he has set up similar projects in the area.

“It’’s the only World Cup stadium that does this and it’’s the only World Cup stadium that definitely doesn”t have a bird problem,” said Slabbert.

The Nelson Mandela Bay stadium has turned to birds of prey to chase out rogue pigeons and rats in an anti-pest strategy.

I hope I catch a glimpse of one of these birds on my stadium visit...

It is here!

2010-05-23T12:22:00.013+02:00

Soccer City

Yesterday was the official opening of the new 90,000 seater Soccer City, our flagship soccer stadium, on the outskirts of Soweto. It also marked the 'handing over" of the stadium to FIFA for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Both the opening and closing matches for the 2010FWC will be played here. A momentous occasion for South Africans. The other 9 stadiums hosting games in the 2010FWC have already been handed over to FIFA. This includes Loftus Versfeld Stadiuim in Pretoria, home of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union.

Ardent SA soccer supporters

A couple of things you need to know:
1. Soccer has the biggest following of any sport in South Africa.
2. Soccer is mainly played by black people.
3. In the Apartheid years, soccer was played by people living on the mines, in black locations and townships like Soweto (SOouth WEstern TOwnships) on the Witwatersrand.
4. In the Apartheid years, the sport of rugby was dominated by white Afrikaaners who are often the most fanatical rugby supporters. Provincial and International matches are played in beautiful big rugby stadiums like Loftus Versfeld and Ellis Park in Gauteng and Newlands in Cape Town.
5. I enjoy rugby more than soccer.
6. The vuvuzela is a noisy instrument, also known as a stadium horn, and noisly blown at soccer matches in SA. Detested by most of us who aren't SA soccer fanatics!

A red plastic vuvuzela

My global colleagues have started arriving for the 2010FWC (we are looking after the logistics for 5,500 international visitors to SA for one of the event sponsors) and we decided to go to the Soccer City opening which staged a soccer match between two local professional clubs in the Final of the Nedbank Cup, a local competition with significant prizemoney in South African terms. Guaranteed - 10s of 1,000s of vuvuzelas and soccer fanatics. It was with much trepidation I took my Japanese, Czech and SA colleagues to soccer.

Meanwhile, the Blue Bulls rugby team from Pretoria had qualified for the semi-finals of the Super 14 rugby competition, the largest rugby championship in the southern hemisphere - played between teams from SA, New Zealand and Australia.

Blue Bulls rugby players in the solid blue jerseys

In terms of SA's agreement with FIFA, the 10 stadiums are now only being used for soccer, including Loftus Versfeld!! There were bloodcurdling screams around the world, when SA rugby officials announced the semi final between the Blue Bulls and New Zealand's No.1 team, The Crusaders, would be played at Orlando Stadium, Soweto of all places!!! There being no other big suitable stadium in Gauteng able to seat in excess of 45,000 spectators...

A typical Blue Bull supporter

To cut a long story short, the Loftus faithfuls accepted the decision and prepared themselves for the trip south to Orlando Stadium. A MILESTONE IN OUR DEMOCRACY'S HISTORY.

Soccer in rugby stadiums. Rugby in soccer stadiums. "Times they are a-changing..."

Here's the crunch: Orlando Stadium is about 10kms from Soccer City. There is only one highway access to Orlando and the same access serves Soccer City with a second on the eastern side. I can very simply say, traffic and parking at Soccer City was a complete clusterfuck and resulted in traffic turmoil at Orlando too. There is so much the City Of Joburg officials have to address before the Opening 2010FWC game on 11 June!

Now to the soccer: I really thought I was going to be deafened for days from vuvuzela-blowing fans and I would feel overwhelmed by 1,000s of black soccer fans.

Soccer City crowd yesterday from my seat

note the fan blowing a vuvuzela on the left

and the black lady wearing a Blue Bulls rugby cap on the right!

This short video clip from my cellphone will give you an idea of the vuvuzela noise inside the stadium

(Put your computer sound on loudest - it still is NOT as loud as being there!!!)

Initially the noise of the vuvuzelas was too much, but eventually it becomes ambient noise and you hardly take notice anymore. What did get to me, is one type of wind instrument vuvuzela-thing that sounds like a baby crying and when I find someone with one, I AM GOING TO SHOVE IT UP THE PERSON'S ....!!!!

In spite of our trepidation, my colleagues loved the day (except the parking/traffic mayhem) and I think they all have blisters on the camera-button fingers.

Whatever happens from hereon, as the SA slogan for the 2010 World Cup soccer goes: FEEL IT, IT IS HERE!

PS my team Bidvest Wits University (a.k.a The Clever Boys) beat the KwaZulu Natal outfit Amazulu F.C. 3-0

Our place in the wilderness

2010-05-10T18:54:00.004+02:00

Lori of lori times five asked what is the 'letter' in this photograph of mine. It is a piece called "Our Place In The Wilderness". The author is unknown although I suspect the former game ranger who gave it to me is the author but he has never confirmed this to me when I asked (Jemps if you ever read this blogpost please let me know). I love this piece, as will anyone who has ever walked in the African Bush.

The film of moisture that covers the sand in the dry river is broken by our first tentative foot falls as we make our way up an old watercourse. The Jackalberry trees droop over the sand, heavy with their sweet beige fruits which will be relished by impala, warthog and elephant at various times during the day. We spot a troop of baboons descending from a Nyala tree, perched atop a termite mound, chatting amongst each other, busying themselves with the morning’s politics and foraging.

Sensations are so intense on foot. Freshly grazed grass stalks, moist from the night, crunch underfoot. Thousands of tiny silk funnel webs in the grass and intricately woven tent webs suspended in thorn trees, are exposed briefly in the morning light and dew, surrounding us in a mysterious fairy landscape. Leaves brush past limbs in greeting and thorns scrape legs alive.

Tracks of all sizes criss-cross a game path bearing testimony to the innumerable tales and tribulations of the night. A large male lion track, not yet disturbed by the morning breeze cautions us as we walk, urging us to pay close attention. The thick air conveys the morning as a multitude of subtle fresh scents rise from the fresh soil and vegetation. We trail undisturbed elephant spoor, treading as soundlessly as possible, listening for the tell-tale thud of dropping dung. As we head into a riverine thicket our ears again search, revealing so much more than our eyes.

The activity levels of the walkers and animals decrease with the increase in temperature. Awareness becomes more difficult as the sun climbs. Eyes drop to the ground in front instead of scanning the surrounds. Heavy feet trip on small stones. Our legs bear numerous satisfying and yarn-filled scratches and our bellies are starting to turn at the thought of the immense (and well-earned) brunch to come. Our hearts and minds are filled with awe and peace at the experience of being so close to our evolution, so contrastingly alive compared with our tired bodies.

There is something different about walking in the wilderness. In a vehicle you are an observer. On foot you are a participant. You assume the role that your ancestors played for more than a hundred thousand years. You become the super predator, the only bipedal mammal walking the earth. You are the only animal capable of sustained planning and constant adaptation to circumstance. You have arrived where it all began, on the savannahs of Africa, where man learnt to manipulate his environment and became the most ‘successful’ species the world has known.

Yet when you step from your super manipulated, super comfortable environment onto the raw African earth it is difficult to shake the notion of inadequacy. You have so successfully assimilated comforts that you have all but forgotten how you came to live where you do. You feel far less the predator than the prey. You realise that hours in the gym have done nothing to change the fact that, compared with the creatures around you, you are woefully physically inadequate. So slow, so stiff and so feeble that it becomes impossible to imagine survival in such a place.

But you forget the weapon that made you what you are today. You forget the reason it took you more than sixteen years to become independent instead of a few months. Your brain is bigger and more useful than any other in existence and it is for this reason, and this reason alone, that animals are afraid, no, terrified of you. Since you were able to throw stones and fashion rudimentary spears, you have been hunting, chasing and stealing food and water. You have ambushed, stalked, stabbed, trapped and hounded the animals of these plains since prehistory. You may have forgotten, but they remember. It is because of this that you are able to walk on this ancient land in careful confidence.

If you respect the animals, if you do not threaten them they will leave you alone. In most cases they will flee from you with a haste that defies logic. A 1400kg giraffe starts at the mere sight of you fifty metres away. He will not let you approach to within thirty metres before taking flight. Impala zebra, wildebeest, warthog and even diminutive steenbok, so fleet-footed that they make the fastest hundred metre sprinter look asleep, alarm call and hurtle away when you cross the thirty metre flight line.

Leopards will quietly sink into the grass unobserved, not to stalk, but to hide as you pass. An elephant bull may turn to face you, his ears out wide, throwing dust into the air menacingly but should you choose to bypass him, he will most likely not follow. It is not menace behind his threat. His perceived aggression is a manifestation of fear not anger.

We need to remember our place and how we have come to dominate the world. Instead of feeling smug about it we should feel humbled by it. Africa is so important for people to visit. It is through recognition of our development and history that our souls do indeed re-awake from the slumber of ignorance into the realisation of our place and the responsibility that comes with it. We are the only species that has responsibility written into the fabric of our niche.

We would do well to embrace it.

Countdown to my adventure

2010-05-09T14:58:00.005+02:00

It's 84 days to go to my planned Baked Beans Jubilee Adventure departure date!

So much to do between now and then, soccer fever is mounting and I'm about to set off around the country on my stadium visits!

I'm sure glad I have my adventure planning keeping me sane until after the fever subsides.

Bizzzzzy weekend - Part 2

2010-04-19T11:19:00.009+02:00

I didn’t quite realise what an intensive weekend I’d have on my Basic Beekeeping Course.

Friday afternoon I left work and spent the next two hours negotiating the less-than-40km of frenetic traffic from downtown Joburg out to the “Wild West” as we sometimes refer to the outskirts of Krugersdorp. My destination – Saronde Valley, a Christian Camping retreat in a small private nature reserve, run by Joe and Jenny Hugill.

I met my three fellow learners and it was straight into the classroom for some bee theory till 10.30pm with a break for dinner. Our lecturer for the first evening, Diane Webb, has done some fascinating research into bees as part of her university studies and she had so much to share with us. I didn’t know if my brain was still absorbing anything at bedtime. Sleep came quickly but not for long. Strange surroundings, sounds and a narrow little bed.

Joe, the beekeeper, runs 60 colonies or hives on the property as a hobby. He has been keeping bees for over 20 years. He and his wife Jenny, a First Aid teacher, are passionate about their work with bees and apitherapy.

At 6am we were back in the classroom fitting overalls, veils, tucking trouser hemlines into thick socks, assembling all the tools and equipment we thought we’d need for inspecting hives and doing some routine maintenance - all rather nervous for our first encounter with the bees. Joe was taking over the teaching for the rest of the weekend. The first thing I learnt was how to use the smoker (calms the bees!!).

We spent the morning working with hives, watching bees and their behaviour. I had no idea how physical the work could get. Who knows what I was thinking!!! We changed Supers, relocated a wayward queen back to the Brood Box on one hive and stood back to watch the colony settle back into the “correct” arrangement for their hive. I fell in love with the workers carrying pollen into the hive. They reminded me of Zulu dancers and the animal skins they wear around their legs.

We spent some time in the workshop assembling frames for hives and learning other practical things about hives. I can see myself standing in Builders Warehouse discussing the pros and cons of hammers, nails, iron files, etc. with the assistant one of these days!

Lunch, then back out to the hives. This time I understood why the overalls are white. . . . You can spot ticks more easily!! Following the good summer rainfall we’ve had on the Highveld, the veld is lush, dense and weeds nearly taller than me. Normally I get irritated with the long Black Jacks that cling to you when you brush past the bush, now I understand what important forage it is to bees; I see “weeds” so differently.

After dinner it was off to the kitchen to work on the frames of honey and comb we’d brought in from the few hives we’d worked on. Propolis – the bee’s version of Superglue for any cavity – what a bitch to get off frames sometimes. I managed to stab myself in my hand so was relegated to turning the handle on the extractor to spin honey out of the combs. Very strict health procedures to follow when working with food. We finally called it a day and I crashed onto my bed, too tired to take a shower or do a thorough check I didn’t have any ticks feeding off me.

A much better night’s sleep and a shower, then it was back in the classroom at 7am for more theory and more discussion about our previous day’s work. After breakfast we were back in the kitchen sorting wax, combs, etc. for solar extraction – separation of honey and wax. It was a lovely sunny morning so we put the extractor outside and went back to the classroom. The clouds came over quite quickly and after lunch we had to bring the extractor back inside, before a thunderstorm hit. After some final class work, we went back to the kitchen and Jenny showed us some of the by-products and uses of honey, wax and propolis.

Around 4.30pm I got into my car to head home, my head buzzing with all I’d learnt and wondering how much I didn’t absorb, how much I still have to learn and experience, some ideas and lots more questions. I didn’t notice how long it took me to get home. I went to bed with a glass of warm milk and some Saronde Valley honey – happy girl!

Note: I was too wrapped up and involved to even take out my camera to take my own photographs - sorry.

Bizzzzzzy weekend - Part 1

2010-04-16T09:32:00.004+02:00

I'm very excited! This weekend I'm doing another beekeeping course - this time with a 'real, live' beekeeper and will spend two days working with him and the bees.

Here's a gentle reminder of why this is important to me - Where Have all the Bees Gone?

I have no idea if I am allergic to bee stings although I did have a scary reaction to being attacked by wasps when I lost feeling in the inside of my hands and inside my mouth. My immediate thought was how will I keep breathing as I won't make it to a hospital in time. I was miles away in the bush at the time. This weekend I'll be with people who know how to handle allergic reactions or problems.

I look forward to telling you all about my bizzy weekend!

Momentarily stumped

2010-04-10T07:13:00.011+02:00

"Er. . . um . . . er . . . hmm . . . er "

I have a question for you at the end of this post.

We went to see the 2009 Oscar winner for the Best Feature Documentary, THE COVE. I have never been a great fish eater, although I do enjoy tender calamari, prawns on occasion and sushi sometimes. After seeing this documentary, I don't think fish is going to feature on my menu in a hurry!

** The movie follows former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry's quest to document the dolphin hunting operations in Taiji, Wakayama, Japan. In the 1960s, O'Barry captured and trained the five wild dolphins who would play the role of "Flipper" in the hit television series of the same name. This pop-culture phenomenon fueled widespread public adoration of dolphins. It was when one of the dolphins committed a form of suicide in his arms, closing her blowhole voluntarily in order to suffocate, that O'Barry came to see it as a curse not a blessing. Days later, he found himself off the island of Bimini, attempting to cut a hole in the sea pen in order to set free a captured dolphin.Since then O'Barry has worked tirelessly as an advocate on behalf of dolphins around the world.

After meeting with O'Barry, former National Geopgraphic photographer Louie Psihoyos and his crew travel to the small town of Taiji, a town that appears to be devoted to the wonder of the dolphins and whales that swim off their coast. But in an isolated cove, surrounded by wire and "Keep Out" signs, some of the townspeople hide a stark reality. It is here that the fishermen of Taiji, driven by a multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry and a dubious and artificial market for mercury-tainted dolphin meat, engage in the unseen killing. Local volunteers physically block attempts by outsiders to view the dolphin killing taking place in the cove. Together with the Oceanic Preservation Society, Psihoyos, O'Barry, and the crew utilize special tactics and embark on a mission to get the truth on what is really going on in the cove and why it matters to everyone else in the world.

The film also reports on the alleged "buying" by Japan of votes in the International Whaling Commission.

I strongly recommend you get to see the movie or the DVD. I've been clueless about mercury-poisoning and its effects, so I've had a bit of a wake-up call. The senseless, horrific dolphin killing methods of the local fishermen is "terror"ible. Fortunately they don't show too much of it. I cried once in the movie and that was the first time they showed a stabbed, dying dolphin that escaped the nets only to die a couple of metres later. After that I was so angry with fellow humans, I did not shed another tear!

After the movie we went for a drink. I needed a glass or two of red wine then. K asked me "Why are people involved in trying to stop the people of Taiji killing dolphins? I get the message about mercury poisoning, but that applies to almost everything that lives in our oceans. Why is it not okay to eat dolphin or whale meat, but it is okay to eat tuna?"

I was momentarily stumped.

The movie makes much reference to the IWC - International Whaling Commission, and how whale meat feeds many, many people. I thought "Thank God no government has YET decided to kill elephants simply to feed people!" So K's questions were not so shocking.

Those of you who know me or read this site often, know I think there are far too many people in the world and the crux of all the environmental problems is because there are too many people on the planet. The planet is starting to fight back. We're all concerned about the environment, etc. but very very few of us are doing anything about the root of the problems - too many people. I'm not getting on my soapbox about that now though.

My question to you: why are we so bent on saving whales and dolphins and elephants and the Brenton Blue butterfly, but it is okay to eat tuna and impala?

** from Wikipedia

Countdown is on

2010-04-07T10:30:00.002+02:00

2010 FIFA World Cup frenzy is mounting in South Africa. The 64-match tournament kicks off on Friday 11 June culminating in the Final on Sunday 11 July and the event is purported to be bigger than the Olympics, having more television spectators than any other sports event worldwide.

I am involved in the match day logistics for one of the sponsors who is bringing 1,000’s of international guests to my country and I’ll be travelling extensively during the event working at 25 games in 32 days in 9 Host Cities, 10 soccer stadiums.

Meanwhile I'm visiting all of the stadiums over the next few weeks, finalizing all sorts of logistical arrangements for guests, ensuring they will have happy, memorable stadium visits. The individual team performances and match results are out of my control . .

There are loads of photos on the Internet, in newspapers and in magazines showing the stadiums in all their glory. My plan is to take pictures of the stadiums most people won’t get to see.

Recently I visited the newly-built Soccer City, Johannesburg, the stadium for the Opening and Final games. Here’s a typical Internet aerial photograph of Soccer City (based on the iconic African pot or “calabash”)

Here’s my picture taken from the access ramps inside the ‘calabash’ covering on the way to the seats (Pity it was a rainy overcast day - the blue sky would have looked good through the gaps)

Till the next stadium . . .

(64 days to go to kick off)

Yippeeeee I got a prezzy!!!

2010-03-20T13:25:00.011+02:00

UPDATE: My February gift was stolen by South African Post Office.

Read here about the fabulous gift they stole!

I am part of The Secret Post Club, a bloggy gift swap (click to read all about it and join if you like). It's great if you love to send little gifts to fellow bloggers around the world.

Today I got my March gift in the mail. (1) I'm so happy to get one (2) I'm really surprised SA Post Office staff didn't help themselves to it! I've had a number of parcels from friends get "redistributed" by SA Post Office staff.

My gift is this very thoughtful, space-saving, nifty 'spork', an all-in-one knife, fork and spoon and it's come all the way from Victoria of It's A Small World After All. Thanks so much Victoria. This is going to be so useful on my Baked Beans Jubilee adventure later this year. Wishing you a fantastic time on your trip with your family Victoria!!!

On my Soapbox - King of Seal Killing

2010-03-18T19:28:00.008+02:00

I'm not anti capitalists, as long as they show some reasonable level of respect for the planet. Most of them are so successful because we, the 'adoring' masses, create a demand for what they want to flog to us.

I have always bitched about too many people on earth, demanding too much of too little, creating all sorts of unnecessary evils like crime, greed, etc. I won't go into my personal beliefs on population control, etc., but I will say that even the bunny-huggers have contributed to overpopulation of Planet Earth.

I don't consider myself a bunny-hugger, although I prefer animals to humans, but when I see attitudes from people like the one on this YouTube video, my blood boils and I side with those fanatical bunny-huggers: (no sensitive scenes in this video)

This is a man who is, according to the Namibian Government (apparently he signed a 5 year exclusive deal), the sole purchaser of seal skins. This is a man who thinks it is funny to kill baby seals. This is a man who tried to con good, compassionate people out of millions only to deny it (despite hard evidence to the contrary).

His company website is http://yavuzgrup.com/hatemyavuz.htm. Feel free to contact him, jam his phone lines, jam his fax lines, jam his e-mails and make life VERY, VERY uncomfortable for him.

Makes me feel ill.

I'm also so pissed off because one of the biggest attractions for me on my Baked Beans Jubilee adventure is going to be my visit to the Skeleton Coast in Namibia to see the seals at Cape Cross. I don't want to be visiting a site that should really be called The Killing Fields!

Bedford is not just a truck

2010-03-02T09:53:00.005+02:00

I've been doing some stock-taking in my life and have decided the time has come to commit to some long term plans. The first thing is leaving Johannesburg, my home for the last 26 years.

A few years ago I heard about a little town called Bedford in the Eastern Cape. This past weekend I went on an LSD trip (look, see, decide). Although I grew up in the Eastern Cape, I'd never been to Bedford (a 2-hour drive from my hometown of Uitenhage). A friend and I took to the roads on the 9-hour journey from Joburg. My sister Arlene and her husband Clive met up with us in Bedford (theirs was a 2-hour drive from Port Elizabeth).

Approaching Bedford - it's nestled at the bottom of the mountain,

in those trees at the end of the road

We looked at a number of properties and whilst some a out of my price range, there are two possibilities for me.

The first possibility is situated on the edge of town

Back garden

Front garden

View from the front garden

Another possibility, in the centre of town,

but lacks the spacious feel and mountain view.

Has a large back garden filled with fruit trees.

Some pictures around the town

Kaleidescope Cafe (tearoom and gifts)

The Gym (heehee doesn't look operational - thank God!!)

The main road in Bedford - the only tarred road in the town

The main road leaving town towards Cradock and Johannesburg

Leaving Bedford towards Grahamstown

Lots to think about, plans to make, banks to approach, but I've made a start and I'm very pleased so far!

View Bedford, Eastern Cape in a larger map

If we do not change the direction we are going, we will end up where we are headed.
- Ancient Chinese saying

Clever

2010-02-13T13:38:00.002+02:00

I love these kind of clever, stunning photographs.

So much thought and implementation goes into achieving photographs like this and the result is timeless.

Kudos to the photographer and crew!!!

The Fox Hat

2010-02-01T19:50:00.006+02:00

This ALWAYS makes me laugh!

LOOK!!! It's. . . . .

2010-01-22T13:45:00.008+02:00

Hey guys!!!!!!! Look!! It's. . . . .

(sheepish) My Hero!!!

Batman and Wonder Woman at the Childrens Cycle Challenge
- probably Joburg's biggest party for kids (4000 kids on bicycles and 'racing' over distances from 50metres to nearly 1km depending on the kids' age groups)

I just love the little boys' faces in the first picture

Wonder Woman (a.k.a Lucy London) is my gorgeous godchild.

♥♥♥♥

Children's Cycle Challenge is one of the many sports events I've been involved in organising over the years.

It doesn't matter what Book you read

2010-01-14T14:28:00.011+02:00

I've been spending hours at my desk reading online news sites (mainly South African) and I'm slowly becoming more and more depressed with fellow humans. We live in a sick, perverted society where there is less and less respect for life and humanity and way too much emphasis is placed on materialism.

SO what, you say!!??!! Stop reading!

I live in eternal hope something will change.

I needed to find something to lift my spirits and I started looking for more positive things - South African. We listen to a local radio station 94.7 Highveld Stereo at the office and they do play a lot of local music including my favourite SA band, Just Jinger. They've been in the US for a few years already, based in Los Angeles. They've toured with bands like U2, Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows. They came back to SA for a couple of concerts and seaside performances over the December summer holidays, promoting their new EP (extended play CD) called "Milk and Honies"

One of their better known songs is the heartfelt "What He Means" and listening to it a few times, I remember that not everyone is hell-bent on destroying the world. Here are the lyrics to the song. I haven't worked out how to link their video for the song to my blog, so I'm adding this link if you want to watch the video and you can choose your preferred mediaplayer. Click on the What He Means video.

If there is Grace in this world
If there is light on this earth
Let us use it, let us see it.. starting right now

Can we be down with ourselves?
Respectful and mindful of one
Of one another, your significant other,
Your sister or brother?

Peace, Love, more tolerance.
Faith, hope, trust in the same name of God

Peace, Love, more tolerance.
Faith, hope, trust in the same name of God in whose
name we die for, take an innocent life for
well that's not what he means..
and it doesn't matter what Book you read

Is there relief upahead?
Cos Judgement and hearing await
A weight on our mindsto bear,
A shame on our hearts to wear

Where is Salvation now?
Now that we have what we want
Now that we have our wars..

Peace, Love, more tolerance.
Faith, hope, trust in the same name of God in whose
name we die for, take an innocent life for
well that's not what he means..
and it doesn't matter what Book you read

with a little bit of ease and little bit of calm
acceptance is the key to all we know
what about a stir of compassion and
lenience?
what about some understanding?
what about some sympathy?

Peace, Love, more tolerance.
Faith, hope, trust in the same name of God in whose
name we die for, take an innocent life for
well that's not what he means..
and it doesn't matter what Book you read

Nothing changes...

2010-01-02T10:06:00.015+02:00

New Year's Day sunrise driving to Pilanesberg Game Reserve

Helmeted guineafowl scratching in elephant dung for tasty morsels to feed the family

Southern masked weaver starts building yet another nest as the female did not accept the perfect- looking one below

In nature it's as U2 sing "...nothing changes on New Year's Day ... under a blood red sky ..."

In 2010 I do hope some things change

like my batwings!

:o)

Happy Christmas

2009-12-23T20:12:00.005+02:00

This is as close as I come to decorating Christmas trees and as you can see I am no artist!

(Pic taken on a misty summer's morning in our awesome Kruger National Park, South Africa)

Wishing you a really special Christmas

xxx

Place of Great Thirst

2009-11-26T19:13:00.016+02:00

As twilight settles over the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, I sit back and start to relax on my little adventure to another part of my beautiful country. It was my first visit to the park which straddles the border of South Africa and Botswana, snuggling up to Nambia.

My overall impression was of vastness, big starry sky, bright bright sunlight and a surprising amount of vegetation for the Kalahari Desert region

Here's a selection of photos from my trip I want to share with you.

Enjoy!

There is a small Steenbok crouching in the grass. This is not how we usually see these, but the vegetation is not very high and this tactic works!

You can see me now!

This juvenile Pale Chanting Goshawk seemed determined to cross the road in front of my vehicle, but soon realised the error of his way

Quite a good-looking fella
The iconic Gemsbok - an antelope not needing too much water to survive. Seen here eating soil for daily nutrients . . .
This speaks for itself
Note the almost blinding reflection on the sand in the background making temperatures higher. . . No wonder they're in the shade!
Trying to look appealing while he rests up before the next session of 'hot' sex!

One of the picnic sites. Luckily I wasn't expecting much shade!

Our chalet at Gharagab Wilderness Camp, situated in a more 'bushveld'-like area

Black-backed Jackals are very common in the park, apparently thriving as the scavengers they can be. I didn't see too many vultures and wonder if this might also be good for the jackals leaving more food on a carcass for them to enjoy.
Typical gravel road following one of the two riverbeds in Park

Yes, a girl does get bored every now and then - too much heat??

Trying to photograph the trees while the roadside scrub whizzes by so you can get the feeling of what it's like to travel along the gravel road in the blazing heat

Wildebeest across the dry riverbed grazing in the sunshine and the clever ones resting in the midday shade

My friend was focussing on driving the bumpy, sandy dunes while I was focussing on an ice-cold beer!

Trying to photograph a locust hitching a ride on the windscreen

Bitterpan - our chalet on the left and the huge natural salt pan in the distance

My friends breakfasting on omlettes boiled in plastic bags. They turned out great!

Driving over the red sandy dunes to one of the Wilderness Camps

This photo tells of the desperate situation for water in the Park.
Kgalagadi means Place of Great Thirst

The colours on the dunes reminded me of layered ice-cream

the road winds along next to the riverbed (right hand side up front) -- the Nossob River has only flowed, in parts, twice in the last century. The Auob River also only flows in parts on a more regular basis - every 11 or so years!

Gemsbok resting up in the burning midday sun on the riverbed

Secretarybirds cooling their feet in a waterhole in the riverbed, watched by a Springbok

Our chalet at Kalahari Tent Camp - made from sandbags, wood and canvas

Gemsbok in the green vegetation of a very small part of the riverbed. They had a couple of millimetres of rain last month which resulted in this green flush

It's thirsty work being Queen of the Bush-in-the-making
She's not going to be needing mascara or lipstick during her reign!
She's beautiful enough as is

If you look closely you cat see an African Wild Cat resting in the fork of this tree (part of its face and tail visible). An elderly couple spotted this and it took me at least 3 minutes before I could spot it in the tree. I wonder what their eyesight was like in their youth!!!!
(Photo blurry as I took it through a rather dusty, dirty windscreen)
I loved my trip and will definitely be taking the long road back to the Kalahari in the future.

Movement

2009-11-01T15:56:00.004+02:00

I'm trying to improve my photography and the assignment was to take pictures showing movement

pacing tiger

little ear flick

yellowbilled duck rinsing

crowned crane's vibrating gold head feathers

drops of water from splash

Sunset after the storm

2009-10-25T13:47:00.003+02:00

Sunset after a late afternoon summer hailstorm on the Highveld

After Sunday lunch

2009-10-19T06:34:00.002+02:00

It's a cat's life!

Spoonful of sugar

2009-10-12T20:51:00.008+02:00

Selati is a brand name of sugar in many South African households.

Selati is also the name of the game reserve Val of monkeys on the roof lives on. Frazzled after three hectic weeks of one of the world's top international cricket tournaments, I was in need of peace and quiet in the bush in the company of good friends. I invited myself over to visit Val and Co. for a few days of soul food.

I bring you first-hand pictures of some of the characters you've read about on her blog.

young lions resting up high on the rocky hills

a baby giraffe with very very fluffy horns - almost looking like some new head-dress

a small gecko - note little ant on the rock

some of the surviving guineafowls with their strange avian make-up

daily warthog visitors always on the scrounge

some of the monkeys which inspired Val's blog name

a male trying to look pleading while showing his privates!!

I've wined and dined on soul food at Selati and now I'm back at my desk in Joburg feeling rested and unfrazzled.

Mary Poppins was right, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down...!

Bush facial

2009-08-23T16:09:00.005+02:00

There's nothing like a flock of red-billed oxpeckers to give a buffalo a good ear-clean and facial.

Heaven!

Dinner In The Sky

2009-08-16T17:16:00.007+02:00

It was a different way to have dinner on a Friday night!

22 of us were sitting tightly strapped into our racing-driver type seats. Giving the helicopter propeller signal, we were hoisted into the night sky for drinks and dinner - 100 feet above Menlyn Park Shopping Centre in Pretoria. The "table" is suspended on a crane!

View beneath my seat

View to my left on lift-off

Giving the helicopter propeller signal for up, up and away

My dinner neighbour as we we're taking off. . . .

. . . my dinner neighbour in the sky

... elevated, view down to my left

I'm very nervous of heights, but had a great time and even went up for seconds!

Ostrich

2009-07-30T19:46:00.006+02:00

Red wine and Ostrich steak - one of my favourite meals

I was dismayed to read my blogging friend Lori declare she would not eat ostrich (on the menu during her recent visit to Africa). I LOVE ostrich meat and felt the need to do a blog post on this. No, I’m not from the PR department of the Ostrich Chamber of Business!!

Imagine a red meat as tasty as Brazilian picanha and as healthy as fish. It is ostrich, also called the "fillet of the future". With a soft texture and a light flavour, it has 1/3 of the calories of beef. It has become known as the most healthy red meat. Its distinct subtle taste and versatility has made Ostrich Meat a most sought after menu item by hoteliers, restaurateurs, home cooks and caterers throughout the world.

The global demand for ostrich meat has escalated with the international trend towards healthier eating, as it is virtually fat free and low in calories and cholesterol but very rich in protein. These proven qualities makes ostrich meat the ideal meat for today's global trend towards lighter cooking and healthier eating.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER 100g RAW, EXTRA-TRIM MEAT

Energy Value KJ Protein (g) Fat (g)
OSTRICH FILLET
392 KJ 21.3 g 0.80 g
BEEF FILLET
543 KJ 19.0 g 5.95 g
PORK FILLET
498 KJ 19.5 g 4.50 g
CHICKEN BREAST FILLET
458 KJ 21.5 g 2.50 g
LAMB STIR-FRY
619 KJ 19.0 g 8.00 g

The prime cuts, fillet and steak, are versatile favourites for tasty roast dishes, delicious grills and superb schnitzels. Neck (for hearty stews and soups) and goulash (for stews, stirfry dishes or tacos) are increasing in popularity, as is ostrich liver from which a delectable pate can be made. Ostrich biltong and dry sausage is also produced.

I love ostrich - both on and off my plate!!

What Do You Think?

2009-07-05T16:56:00.012+02:00

These photos come from an email doing the rounds at the moment.

I've attached the sweet and cute story, but I have to ask - has the leopard lost all its hunting instincts from years of captivity?

This mouse diced with death when it tucked into the lunch of a hungry leopard.
Seemingly unaware of the beast towering over it, the mischievous rodent grabbed at scraps of meat thrown into the African Leopard's enclosure. But instead of pouncing on the the tiny intruder the 12-year-old leopard, called Sheena, appeared to be afraid of the daring mouse and kept her distance. At one stage she tried to nudge the mouse away with her nose, but the determined little chap carried on chewing away until he was full.

The extraordinary scene was captured by photography student Casey Gutteridge at the Santago Rare Leopard Project in Hertfordshire. The 19-year-old, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, who was photographing the leopard for a course project, was astounded by the mouse's behaviour. He said: 'I have no idea where the mouse came from - he just appeared in the enclosure after the keeper had dropped in the meat for the leopard.

'He didn't take any notice of the leopard, just went straight over to the meat and started feeding himself.

'But the leopard was pretty surprised - she bent down and sniffed the mouse and flinched a bit like she was scared.
'In the meantime the mouse just carried on eating like nothing had happened.
'It was amazing, even the keeper who had thrown the meat into the enclosure was shocked - he said he'd never seen anything like it before.'
Project owner Jackie James added: 'It was so funny to see - Sheena batted the mouse a couple of times to try to get it away from her food.
'But the determined little thing took no notice and just carried on.'

Sheena was brought in to the Santago Rare Leopard Project from a UK zoo when she was just four months old. She is one of 14 big cats in the private collection started by Jackie's late husband Peter in 1989.

Or am I just being cynical?

Seven

2009-06-28T15:15:00.009+02:00

Lorac from Ahhh…The Cottage Life has generously given me the Premio Meme Award and to receive it I have to tell you seven things about myself so here goes:

Me, my mom, Arlene, Penny

I’m the oldest of three girls – my sisters Arlene and Penny. Arlene lives in Port Elizabeth with her husband and two teenagers. Penny died of lymphoma 12 years ago and her teenage daughter lives with her father in Port Elizabeth. I still miss my sister and I don’t see my family often enough. My mom and dad have also passed away.

I’m passionate about wildlife and the bush. I think much of my blog echoes this. I firmly believe that there is more to the African bush than the Big Five (elephant, rhino, leopard, buffalo, lion) and my dream is to make short Internet videos educating visitors to Africa about all the other wildlife that exists here. I’m a qualified Field Guide – all dressed up with nowhere to go!!! Living in Jo’burg I don’t get out enough to follow my interest and passion.

I love taking photographs and want to take this hobby up another level. This includes doing Photoshop course to further enhance my photographs. I don’t take nice people photographs, so I need to get inspired and think I’ll do a People Photography course sometime soon.

I don't take very good people photographs

:-)

I love music – usually mainstream – and I play it way too loud in my car, but it helps me deal with the awful Jo’burg taxidrivers in the traffic. My favourite is U2 – the world’s greatest band!!

I’ve spent most of my working life in the Sports industry looking after travel arrangements for professional golfers, cricketers, rugby players, television crews, etc. I’m currently organising a major international cricket tournament which is taking place in South Africa in September / October this year.

I haven’t travelled all that much – I’ve never been to the Americas, Australasia, Asia or the Far East. I have attended events like the British Open at St Andrews, Wimbledon, British Grand Prix at Silverstone and . . . . The OktoberFest in Munich.

I don’t have financial wealth, but I am very rich in good friends (and blogging friends). I am clueless when it comes to romantic friends, always falling for the wrong man.

I pass this award on to the following seven blogs which I enjoy:

Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino
Monkeys on the roof

Bridgette Jones Has Nothing On Me

GIANT spider for Lori

2009-06-26T10:19:00.008+02:00

I was giggling at Lori's blog Cover Your Eyes and I had to post my spider pic from my recent visit to Ntsiri Game Reserve for you.

This, in my African opinion, is a very large spider (about the size of my hand when I fully extend my fingers) and commonly known a Baboon Spider. It rears up its body when it feels threatened (see pic). They're called baboon spiders due to their hairy appearance and the black scopulae pads on its "feet" resembling the pads on baboon feet (and probably because they can leap considerable distances like baboons). These spiders are often incorrectly referred to as Tarantulas. They are not dangerous to man although they can inflict a painful bite.

Lori, the GIANT golden orb spiders that you saw where ALL females. The male of the species is not much bigger than your little fingernail and it doesn't sound like you stopped to find this out (heehee).

Baboon spiders are more scary than Orb spiders in my book. I'm scared of snakes.

:o)

Kudu bull's mud-coated horns

2009-06-21T19:03:00.020+02:00

I came across this kudu bull at a mud wallow on a recent game drive in Ntsiri Game Reserve He was burying his horns into the mud

Mud was flying!

He was obviously chuffed with his mud coated horns

I must admit he is in very good condition and there are many hunters who would love to shoot him down to simply hang those horns up in their entertainment area of their homes.

None of us had seen this behaviour before and we speculated if he was trying to cool himself off or get rid of flies or something. I looked more closely at my photos and saw there was no mud on his head or face, so I ruled out our speculations.

I did some research and found males do this as a display/show - mainly to competing males in his territory. The theory is that the mud-coated horns are supposed to look more formidable to opponents and predators.

Well there you go. . . . . there is no accounting for testosterone!!!

Where have all the Bees Gone

2009-06-17T07:17:00.007+02:00

Impala Lily with fine spider web thread

This address has had a profound effect on me, to the extent that I have done a bee-keeping course with the view to doing something positive in a local community I will move to when I finally leave Joburg.

It is an address made for Earth Day 2007 and many of you have probably read it before. I spent a night at Val of Monkeys on the Roof and whilst enjoying Mopane Honey with my breakfast toast, she suggested I post it on my blog for everyone to read again

Earth Day Cometh and Earth Day Goeth And Where have all the Bees Gone?
Earth Day Report 2007 by Captain Paul Watson (Sea Shepherd)

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Earth Day is almost here. I don't believe in Earth Day myself. I think it's a little silly to devote one single day of the year to being concerned about the environment, but I suppose one day is better than no day at all.

Having been an environmental activist since 1968, I have seen the movement go up and down like a roller coaster in popularity. It was big in 1972 with the Environmental Conference in Stockholm which I attended and it became big again in 1992 with the U.N. Environmental Conference in Rio De Janeiro that I also attended. I remember that the priority issue in 1972 was the danger of escalating human populations but by 1992, that concern was not even on
the agenda. Well we are approaching the end of another 20 year period and it looks like ecology is in vogue again thanks to global warming and a few other scary things. Green is once again popular.

I can always tell when the environment is getting to be faddish again. My indicator is the number of lectures I am booked for around this time of year. It reached its peak in 1992, practically disappeared for awhile and now it's coming around again.

What worries me is that the movement is constantly being sidetracked by the issue of the day.

It's global warming now. When we were trying to warn people about global warming and climate change twenty years ago, no one was interested. Now it's become the "in" issue and the big organizations are tapping the public for donations to address the problem although no one has come up with anything that makes much sense. But global warming is good for business if you're one of the big bureaucratic organizations whose primary concern is really corporate self preservation. Greenpeace is even telling people that they can slow down global warming by (and I kid you not) "singing in the shower". Yep, you see all you have to do is run the water, then get wet, shut the water off, and sing in the shower as you lather up and then open up the faucet and rinse off. Ah, so simple to save the world. The problem is that these big organizations are to politically correct to address the ecologically correct solutions. Instead they are baffling everyone with abstract concepts like carbon trading and carbon storage or trying to sell us a new hydrid Japanese car.

Even Al Gore with his Inconvenient Truth totally ignored the most inconvenient truth of all. I'll get to that in a moment.

But let's look at the number one cause of global greenhouse gas emissions. First and foremost it is human over-population, the very same issue that was the priority concern at the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Environment in Stockholm.

It's 6.5 billion people folks.

Remember in 1950, the world population was 3 billion. It's now more than doubled. 6.5 billion people produce one hell of an annual output of waste and utilize an unbelievable amount of resources and energy. And this number is rising minute by minute, day, by day, year by year.

And most of the people having children have no idea why they are even having children other than that's what you do. Most of them don't really love their children because if they did they would be very much involved in trying to ensure that their children have a world to survive in.

Unless over-population is addressed, there is absolutely no way of slowing down global greenhouse gas emissions. But how do you do that within the context of economic systems that require larger and larger numbers to perform the essential task of consuming products? Corporations need workers and buyers. Governments need tax-payers, bureaucrats and soldiers. More people means more money.

I've said for decades that the solution to all of our problems is simple. We just need to live in accordance with the three basic laws of ecology.

First is the Law of Diversity. The strength of an eco-system lies in diversity of species within it. Weaken diversity and the entire system will be weakened and will ultimately collapse.

Second is the Law of Interdependence. All of the species within an eco-system are interdependent. We need each other.

And the third law of Ecology is the Law of Finite Resources. There is a limit to growth because there is a limit to carrying capacity. Human populations are exceeding ecological carrying capacity. Exceeding ecological carrying capacity is diminishing both resources and diversity of species. The diminishment of diversity is causing serious problems with interdependence.

Albert Einstein once wrote that "if the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man."

That is the Law of Interdependence.

Forget global warming folks. The disappearance of the honeybee could end our existence as human beings on this planet far sooner than we think. And the honey bee is in fact now disappearing. Why? We don't know why. It could be genetically modified crops, I could be pesticides or it could be that our cell phones are interfering with their ability to navigate. Whatever the cause the fact is that they are disappearing. All around the world bees are disappearing in a crisis called Colony Collapse Disorder. And bees pollinate our plants. Everywhere on the planet, bees are hard at work making it possible for you to live and enjoy life.

We hold on to our place on this planet by only a toehold. If anything happens to the grass family, we are screwed. If the earthworms disappear, we are in big trouble. If the bees disappear, well according to Albert Einstein who was considered somewhat smarter than most of us, we will have only four years. Just enough time to get a college degree to discover that everything
you learned is relatively useless when sitting on the doorstep of global ecological annihilation.

We are cutting down the forest and plundering the oceans of life. We are polluting the soil, the air and the water and we are rapidly running out of fresh water to drink. Only corporations like Coke and Pepsi have figured out that water is more valuable than gold. That is why they are bottling it in plastic bottles and selling it. This week I saw a bottle of water in my hotel room that I could have drunk for only $4. Unbelievable. That means that water is now being sold for more than the equivalent amount of gasoline. I hope that I'm not the only one who thinks this is insanity.

Now for Al Gore's really inconvenient truth. In his film he does not mention once that the meat and dairy industry that produces the bacon, the steaks, the chicken wings and the milk is a larger contributor to greenhouse gas emissions than the automobile industry. You see, Al may drive a Prius but he likes his burgers.

This is why the big organizations like Greenpeace and the Sierra Club will not say a thing about the meat industry. Last year I saw Greenpeacers sitting down for a baked fish meal onboard the Greenpeace ship Esperanza while engaged in a campaign to oppose over-fishing. When we pointed out that our Sea Shepherd ships serve only vegan meals, the Greenpeace cook replied, "that's just silly." We see what we want to see and we rationalize everything else.

The oceans have been plundered to the point that 90% of the fish have been removed from their eco-systems and at this very moment there is over 65,000 miles of long lines set in the Pacific Ocean alone and there are tens of thousands of fishing vessels scouring the seas in a rapacious quest to scoop up everything that swims or crawls.

This is ecological insanity.

The largest marine predator on the planet right now is the cow. More than half the fish taken from the sea is rendered into fish meal and fed to domestic livestock. Puffins are starving in the North sea to feed sand eels to chickens in Denmark. Sheep and pigs have replaced the shark and the sea lion as the dominant predators in the ocean and domestic house cats are eating more fish than all the world's seals combined. We are extracting some fifty to sixty fish from the sea to raise one farm raised salmon.

This is ecological insanity.

Yet the demand for shark fin is rising in China. Ignorant people still want to wear fur coats. In America, we order fries, a cheeseburger and a "diet" coke.

Ecological insanity folks.

Last week a reporter called to ask me if I had really said that earth worms are more important than people. I answered that yes I had. He then asked how I could justify such a statement. "Simple," I answered. "Earthworms can live on the planet without people. We cannot live on the planet without earthworms thus from an ecological point of view, earthworms are more important than people." He said that I was insane for suggesting such a ridiculous idea when people were made in the image of God, and earthworms were not.

What we have here of course is a failure to communicate between two radically different world views. His which is anthropocentric and sees reality as human centred and mine which is biocentric and sees reality as including all species equally working in interdependence. He sees us as divine and better than all the other species and I see us as a bunch of arrogant primates out of control.
But that's my two cents worth for Earth Day 2007.

Consider the humble honey bee and remember that the little black and yellow insect you see flitting busily from flower to flower is all that stands between us and our demise as a species on this planet.
We better see to it that they don't disappear.

Court Jester

2009-06-05T20:49:00.006+02:00

Chile's Fernando Gonzalez eyes the ball in his semi-final French Open match. (Bernat Armangue, AP)

I think this picture's brilliant!

Beaching whales - updated

2009-05-30T13:21:00.009+02:00

Picture couresty of www.news24.com

The Cape Of Storms is living up to its name. So far today, 55 Pilot whales have beached on the shores of Kommetjie a small village/town on the Cape Peninsula near Cape Town. The weather is apparently wild - the wind howling and the seas rough. Typical winter weather down there. I live in Joburg - 1,500 kms away.

In my youth I was not environmentally aware, but I'm sure I'd remember radio or television reports on something like this happening on our coastline. (We only got television in SA in 1976!)

While I understand this is often a very natural phenomenon, especially in species living in close-knit family groups or pods, this distresses me immensely. Scientists have studied this behaviour and it is known to occur in bad weather when a family member gets into trouble in shallow water and the others, in turn, get themselves into trouble when they go to the rescue. It still isn't any consolation for me.

I firmly believe our precious Planet Earth is fighting back at our abuse and overcrowding and total lack of respect. Is this yet another display intended to make us sit up and take notice and DO something about how we conduct ourselves?!

I feel sad at the moment :-(

UPDATE, Sunday 31 May 2009

Sadly 10 whales died of sheer exhaustion from the stress of beaching and more than 35 others were shot as officials decided their health had deteriorated beyond trying to relocate them to the deep-water naval base in the area. Yes, there were the inevitable scuffles between volunteer rescuers and officials, but in the end the whales have gone to whale-heaven.

I'm still sad :-(