It must really be crappy to say that you have no friends, especially if you live in a small village, imagine going around and you are just tolerated, people feel sorry for you. Or just turn their backs and walk away. I don’t now what I would do, would I leave the village? Would I try and buy my friends, or would I just pretend that it was not happening , “that perhaps you can do if you have a REALLY thick skin”
I must say the last couple of months I seem to have been conversing with a number of Clarenites that I would not usually have spoken to, I spoke to Mark about this and he agreed that since we had disassociated ourselves from the negativity and cynicism of a certain individual we seem to be accepted and made to feel welcome in circles that in the past we would not have been. I also find myself looking at people that I believed were not nice due to that influence and thinking to myself, “hey they are not the Ass------es that someone tried to lead us to believe.
There was a CDA (Clarens development association) meeting on Monday at the NG church hall, meeting was very well attended, in fact I cannot remember when I last saw so many Clarenites at a meeting like that, there must have been 120+. The committee have really done well with assisting in keeping the rates to acceptable levels and many of us left feeling that we need to support the CDA more than we have in the past.
“Forget about Jan”, we have player 24 living in Clarens, his name is Gordon and he is the owner of the local franchise Engel Volkers, He is a Bulls supporter and he wore a tight Blue Bulls jersey for the Bulls/Cheetahs game as he walked into Friends restaurant, Mark “as quick as a flash” said Gordon give back player 23, so we now call Gordon player 24. (see picture 1)
I don’t know about you but I agree with Tito Mboweni that banks should be more competitive as well as that bigger fines should be given for those companies caught price fixing. The latest being Sasol who will get a R250 000 000 fine (now or you and me that’s a huge amount) however for a company like Sasol making Billions it’s a mere slap on the wrist. And while we are on the subject of Sasol, I want someone to explain to me how their petrol price can be that same as Caltex, Shell etc when the fuel is made from Coal and is produced here and has no landing cost, it’s no wonder Sasol shares are through the roof.
Kingsley Holgate was in Clarens on Tuesday as part of a 4-month Tran frontier park educational trip, I got to meet him, “what a nice guy” took a few photos. Not many other Clarenites bothered to come and see why he was in the village (see picture 2)
Also on Tuesday, “my day off” we harvested spinach, carrots, parsley and beetroot and sold them to the local restaurants, seems that this little venture may just work. “lets hope so” (see picture 3)
Lawrence, another friend who lives in Larola had a jacket party on Monday for his birthday. He owns a business that brings in jackets from overseas and he sells them here, while we were all fighting over the jackets that we wanted to buy we also took some time to have fun with dressing up in the jackets, all we needed was some platform shoes, a fur hat and a pair of pimp glasses and we would have really looked the part. (see picture 4)
If you look at the picture (number 5) of Mark , myself, Katleen, Tania and Andre with the Clarens banner this was our going away (sorry GO AWAY) party photo for T.L.M “aka” HGT, as they say in the classics ‘Elvis has left the building” Lawrence and his wife have now taken over the bottle store and soon we will again have 2 fully stocked, operational bottle stores in the village. Good luck guys we are sure that you will make a HUGE success from this venture. Oh by the way the banner is the one that was “confiscated” from the Clarens market because it was felt by TLM that it was not erected properly, it had a big childish fit called in the “Handlanger” it caused such a rumpus over nothing, well “we have it back”
I rode to Bloemfontein on Tuesday to go and see some agents regards the Clarens Mountain Estate, as usual the ride was fantastic and took the opportunity to take some photos, I seem to have a thing at the moment for railway siding and tracks. After the last Blog I decided to check Bethlehem station and see what state it was in, well it’s just as bad as the ones in the country a sad indication of the rail system in the country. In Bethlehem there used to be a number of old steam locomotives that stood at the back of the rail yards, they have also gone, probably sold for scrap.
I know we have to work in fact there are not many people that do not have to but I think the trick is to try and balance your work and leisure life and lets be honest that’s not easy. With the stresses of today, especially now with the economic slowdown, we seem to have lost track of where we are going, read this perhaps it will put the world into perspective.
Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate. A Message by George Carlin:The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
I must say the last couple of months I seem to have been conversing with a number of Clarenites that I would not usually have spoken to, I spoke to Mark about this and he agreed that since we had disassociated ourselves from the negativity and cynicism of a certain individual we seem to be accepted and made to feel welcome in circles that in the past we would not have been. I also find myself looking at people that I believed were not nice due to that influence and thinking to myself, “hey they are not the Ass------es that someone tried to lead us to believe.
There was a CDA (Clarens development association) meeting on Monday at the NG church hall, meeting was very well attended, in fact I cannot remember when I last saw so many Clarenites at a meeting like that, there must have been 120+. The committee have really done well with assisting in keeping the rates to acceptable levels and many of us left feeling that we need to support the CDA more than we have in the past.
“Forget about Jan”, we have player 24 living in Clarens, his name is Gordon and he is the owner of the local franchise Engel Volkers, He is a Bulls supporter and he wore a tight Blue Bulls jersey for the Bulls/Cheetahs game as he walked into Friends restaurant, Mark “as quick as a flash” said Gordon give back player 23, so we now call Gordon player 24. (see picture 1)
I don’t know about you but I agree with Tito Mboweni that banks should be more competitive as well as that bigger fines should be given for those companies caught price fixing. The latest being Sasol who will get a R250 000 000 fine (now or you and me that’s a huge amount) however for a company like Sasol making Billions it’s a mere slap on the wrist. And while we are on the subject of Sasol, I want someone to explain to me how their petrol price can be that same as Caltex, Shell etc when the fuel is made from Coal and is produced here and has no landing cost, it’s no wonder Sasol shares are through the roof.
Kingsley Holgate was in Clarens on Tuesday as part of a 4-month Tran frontier park educational trip, I got to meet him, “what a nice guy” took a few photos. Not many other Clarenites bothered to come and see why he was in the village (see picture 2)
Also on Tuesday, “my day off” we harvested spinach, carrots, parsley and beetroot and sold them to the local restaurants, seems that this little venture may just work. “lets hope so” (see picture 3)
Lawrence, another friend who lives in Larola had a jacket party on Monday for his birthday. He owns a business that brings in jackets from overseas and he sells them here, while we were all fighting over the jackets that we wanted to buy we also took some time to have fun with dressing up in the jackets, all we needed was some platform shoes, a fur hat and a pair of pimp glasses and we would have really looked the part. (see picture 4)
If you look at the picture (number 5) of Mark , myself, Katleen, Tania and Andre with the Clarens banner this was our going away (sorry GO AWAY) party photo for T.L.M “aka” HGT, as they say in the classics ‘Elvis has left the building” Lawrence and his wife have now taken over the bottle store and soon we will again have 2 fully stocked, operational bottle stores in the village. Good luck guys we are sure that you will make a HUGE success from this venture. Oh by the way the banner is the one that was “confiscated” from the Clarens market because it was felt by TLM that it was not erected properly, it had a big childish fit called in the “Handlanger” it caused such a rumpus over nothing, well “we have it back”
I rode to Bloemfontein on Tuesday to go and see some agents regards the Clarens Mountain Estate, as usual the ride was fantastic and took the opportunity to take some photos, I seem to have a thing at the moment for railway siding and tracks. After the last Blog I decided to check Bethlehem station and see what state it was in, well it’s just as bad as the ones in the country a sad indication of the rail system in the country. In Bethlehem there used to be a number of old steam locomotives that stood at the back of the rail yards, they have also gone, probably sold for scrap.
I know we have to work in fact there are not many people that do not have to but I think the trick is to try and balance your work and leisure life and lets be honest that’s not easy. With the stresses of today, especially now with the economic slowdown, we seem to have lost track of where we are going, read this perhaps it will put the world into perspective.
Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate. A Message by George Carlin:The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Looking for a new school for Gabby when we move to PE and may have found one, it has horse riding as a school sport so it was not that much of a hard sell to Gabby “or Gabriella as she wants to be known when she goes to high school. Wow she is growing and while I am sure she will be embarrassed if I read this
As I told you in the last Blog I have decided to do a book on Clarens so what I will do is keep you updated on its progress. I have started it and have the chapters sorted and will hopefully get stuck in soon.
Watched the Bulls/Crusaders game with a few friends, “including player 24” at Friends, great game and an even better atmosphere, must be one of the best Super 14 semi’s that I have seen. While not my team, I am hoping that they will win the Final next week.
I don’t know if you have ever seen the e-mail that shows how animals, people etc have spoilt a Kodak moment, well here is one that was taken in Clarens recently. (see picture 6)
Also thought I would share a photo of “the sleeping beauties” (picture 7) two gents that were supposed to be working at the tunnel, shame must have worked hard for at least 10 minutes
Have a great week
The Village Idiot
Looking for a new school for Gabby when we move to PE and may have found one, it has horse riding as a school sport so it was not that much of a hard sell to Gabby “or Gabriella as she wants to be known when she goes to high school. Wow she is growing and while I am sure she will be embarrassed if I read this
As I told you in the last Blog I have decided to do a book on Clarens so what I will do is keep you updated on its progress. I have started it and have the chapters sorted and will hopefully get stuck in soon.
Watched the Bulls/Crusaders game with a few friends, “including player 24” at Friends, great game and an even better atmosphere, must be one of the best Super 14 semi’s that I have seen. While not my team, I am hoping that they will win the Final next week.
I don’t know if you have ever seen the e-mail that shows how animals, people etc have spoilt a Kodak moment, well here is one that was taken in Clarens recently. (see picture 6)
Also thought I would share a photo of “the sleeping beauties” (picture 7) two gents that were supposed to be working at the tunnel, shame must have worked hard for at least 10 minutes
Have a great week
The Village Idiot
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