So my prediction of the Protea’s “sorry” Pansies not making it into the second round of the ICC Champions trophy was correct. I thought the coach was a gent called Mickey Arthur and Not Mickey Mouse.
Talking about Mickey Mouse, as you know Clarens was entered in the TOURISM VILLAGE of the year competition, please note I said “TOURISM VILLAGE”, Clarens “The jewel of the Free State” has over many years built up its tourism and been a catalyst in other villages becoming more economically viable. We have over many years been involved in tourism but was not deemed fit to win this inaugural award, instead some backwater village that unless you actually know where it is would be hard to find, “sour grapes”? YOU BET!!!!
Do yourself a favor and Google Marquad see what comes up, then Google Clarens. I think next year with changes to the competition that the judges have to make perhaps one of the new criteria of the competition should be that tourists actually have to come into the village, with the definition of a tourist being “someone who actually consciously sits down and decides “I am going to spend a weekend in Marquad”, “not just Oom Friks cousin who is coming to visit from Clocolan or someone who has got lost or is looking for a sleepy hollow to either retire or semigrate to, just out interests sake Marquads motto is “where time stands still”
I personally see Clarens not winning as a slap in the face of all those people past and present that have made it what it is today. Clarens did not become the “Jewel of the Free State” and attract well over 250 000 tourists a year by itself, we did not wake up last Friday and “KAPOW”, the village was full of restaurants, art galleries, adventure activities and a accommodation establishments coming out the Wazoo, NO it took many people many years of hard work using their own money and marketing not only their own product but the village as well, it was not until Clarens became well known that the local municipality and the Province sat up and took notice, we did not have competitions like this to encourage us to take the village to new heights, it was individual initiatives and hard earned monies that got us where we are today. You may have noticed by now I am still the “Moer In”, but at least I know that we are still the best in the OFS and it will take a Humongous effort to wrest the tourists away from us, while Marquad has the title and a brand new sign we still have the DESTINATION THAT PEOPLE know how to get to and want to visit. I was thinking that Protea Hotels and their partners must really be kicking themselves that they did not build a 70 roomed Multi million rand state of the art hotel in Marquad, I am sure that they would have been able to fill the 70 rooms at least once each per year ?? Ah well the next holiday I am going to spend 4 hours in Marquad, I will have to take a book to ensure the last 3 hours I have something to do.
Last week I had a go at the Camel Jockey’s and I was sent this by a friend.
ENGLAND I think this really sums it all up.After hearing that many cities did not want to offend other cultures by putting up Xmas lights, so DIDN'T!After hearing that the Birmingham council changed its opinion and let a Muslim woman have her picture on her driver's licence with her face covered..After hearing of a Primary School in Birmingham where a boy was told that for PE they could wear Football League shirts (Aston Villa, Birmingham, West Brom etc) but NOT an England shirt as it could offend others !
This prompted the editorial below written by a UK citizen. Published in a British tabloid newspaper.IMMIGRANTS. NOT BRITONS, MUST ADAPT.Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on London , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Brits.However, the dust from the attacks has barely settled and the 'politically correct' crowd begin complaining about the possibility that our patriotism is offending others..I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Britain. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.
This idea of England being a multicultural centre for community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Britons, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of wars, struggles, trials and victories fought by the untold masses of men and women who laid down their lives and of the millions of men and women who have sought freedom.We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language! If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture. If St.George's cross offends you, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from.
This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this.But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our National Motto, or Our Way of Life, I encourage you take advantage of one other great British freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.We didn't force you to come here. If you don't like it GO HOME!!You asked to be here.. So accept the country that accepted YOU. Pretty easy really, when you think about it.. If we all keep passing this to our friends (and enemies) it will also, sooner or later get back to the complainers, lets all try, please.
I forgot to tell you this story, don’t know why because its pretty funny and something that most people don’t do when invited to a party, there will however e no names mentioned; imagine going to a party already having had a few before you got there and then deciding that you would use the hosts bathroom, not just by yourself mind you, with a friend of the same sexual persuasion, lock yourselves in the bathroom, run yourself a bubble bath and then entertain oneself for 45 minutes, when the door is eventually opened the guests in your bubble bath ask you to bring each a cigarette and a glass of wine, which the host did………… Only in Clarens.
Heard a good description of a person who has numerous studs, earrings or piercings etc you call them Human Pop Rivets J
Ace Magashule, the Free State Premier was in the village again this week, to speak to business people and the community, promises have been made and lets sit back and see if they will be kept, I have a feeling that it will be business as usual however I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Its amazing though that while we live in a small village and probably get to see the local Police more than those in the city, we always seem to have more visible when someone important comes to town, Is Ace and his cabinet more important than me or Mr’s Mokoena in Kgubetswana? I don’t think so, but obviously there are others that do.
Tania got her first company vehicle this week, it’s the “Crafty stuff Hummer” and it’s a photo that we will put up on the boardroom wall and laugh about when Tania is CEO of her own Craft company. “You go my angel I am proud of you and know that your hard work and perseverance will pay off”
The youngsters of Clarens as well as some older folk who may feel they are part of that click have a new anthem, its “Party all the time” by the Blacked Eyed Peas, the words go something like “If we could party all night and sleep all day then life would be EASY” Oh but wait there are already a number that do just that, times have changed when I was younger I was married, had a decent job, responsibilities, furniture, a car and a future. Must be nice to be able to just slide through life?
Wolverine and I have been adding photos on to the lying down game facebook site and been having fun thinking of out of the box ideas, not what the normal people do see for yourself.
Is it just me but why is it that Eskom always put Electricity under severe pressure on the TV when they are trying to get another 100% increase. Have they not just had a 30% fleecing of the public, now they are sending in a proposal for a 60% rise, “sure its near Christmas but surely a nice pair of socks to the board members would suffice and not a Multi million R bonus for making the company crap”.
My Niece was proposed to by her boyfriend this week and she has accepted so Christine and Craig Congratulations, and Craig welcome to the family. We know that you and Christine will have many happy years together.
In a Blog a while back I lamented that while the county is criss crossed with railway lines I cannot remember the last time I actually saw a train moving through the countryside, well while taking a lie down photo near Ficksburg this SAR service train came hurtling along the tracks.
Reported by Chris Nel, senior correspondent for Farmers Weekly, after reading the following historical facts, read the part about Switzerland twice. In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control.. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one millioneducated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced bynew law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by theirown Government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500million dollars. The first year results are now in: List of 7 items:Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent.Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent.Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns! While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of theE LDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort, and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.You won't see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes,gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizensTake note my fellow Americans, before it's too late!The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson. With guns, we are 'citizens.'Without them, we are 'subjects'.
During WWII the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!If you value your freedom, please spread this anti-gun control message to all of your friends. The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.
Switzerland issues every household a gun! Switzerland 's government trains every adult they issue a rifle. Switzerland has the lowest gun related crime rate of any Civilized country in the world!!! It's a no brainer! Don't let our government waste millions of our tax dollars In an effort to make all law abiding citizens an easy target.
This weekend we had the annual Mountain Bike challenge in the village with the village idiot taking part in the 120km race “yeah right” Ok I am lying, but I did finish the 50 meter dash for under 120 year olds on one of Andy’s Harley look alike bikes to much applause from the crowd of 6.
I have 3 Quotes for the week:
1 “Racism is just a pigment of your imagination”
2 “He who asks the questions controls the conversation”
3 I rather like this quote from the book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author) The Great Boer War
"Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots who gave up home and fortune and left their country for ever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon earth. Take this formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances under which no weakling could survive, place them so that they acquire exceptional skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman, and the rider. Then, finally, put a finer temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual, and you have the modern Boer - the most formidable antagonist who ever crossed the path of Imperial Britain. Our military history has largely consisted in our conflicts with France, but Napoleon and all his veterans have never treated us so roughly as these hard-bitten farmers with their ancient theology and their inconveniently modern rifles."
Well that’s about it for this week, hoping to pay Marquad a visit soon to advise what Clarens needs to do to become a tourist destination.
Ciao
The Village Idiot
This weekend we had the annual Mountain Bike challenge in the village with the village idiot taking part in the 120km race “yeah right” Ok I am lying, but I did finish the 50 meter dash for under 120 year olds on one of Andy’s Harley look alike bikes to much applause from the crowd of 6.
I have 3 Quotes for the week:
1 “Racism is just a pigment of your imagination”
2 “He who asks the questions controls the conversation”
3 I rather like this quote from the book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author) The Great Boer War
"Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots who gave up home and fortune and left their country for ever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon earth. Take this formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances under which no weakling could survive, place them so that they acquire exceptional skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman, and the rider. Then, finally, put a finer temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual, and you have the modern Boer - the most formidable antagonist who ever crossed the path of Imperial Britain. Our military history has largely consisted in our conflicts with France, but Napoleon and all his veterans have never treated us so roughly as these hard-bitten farmers with their ancient theology and their inconveniently modern rifles."
Well that’s about it for this week, hoping to pay Marquad a visit soon to advise what Clarens needs to do to become a tourist destination.
Ciao
The Village Idiot
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