Whats in a name ?

I have always thought that the best part of Clarens, the part that makes it different and special from other villages or dorps in the Eastern Free State is its green heart. Not many villages in South Africa have this focal point .Many people visitors as well as Clarenites are not aware that this hub is in fact called “The Wilson Mosia park”…………however I am getting ahead of myself.

With the establishment of the village in 1912 the original layout included a square at the top of the main street, on the map its called Market square, so one can only assume that the forefathers of the village had envisaged this area as the economic centre, unlike today however the road travelled straight through it and the park on either side was either used or supposed to be used for markets, I have found no evidence in researching the history of Clarens that confirms or debunks this theory. What we do know is that for many years the square was used to play tennis on with a very active tennis club being established, a club that is still active to this day. Market square was given a makeover in 1961 to what you see today and was to change names on the 9th of November 1962 when the then town council decided that they would invite the then State President CR Swart to re-unveil the Naauwpoort monument in the middle of the newly re-furbished square.

The monument had been originally unveiled on Ararat in 1895 near to the actual site were 5 Transvaal Burghers under the command of Paul Kruger had been attacked and killed by Sotho soldiers. Market square was then re-named Presidents square in honour of CR Swart’s visit and many residents still believe that its called that, not so In 1996 a council meeting was held and a unanimous decision was taken by that council that the square should be re-named to reflect the new South Africa and the name Wilson Mosia Park was accepted and therefore the square (as many of us still call it) changed name.

So who was this Wilson Mosia and how was it that the heart of Clarens was named after him, was he an intellectual, politician, freedom fighter ? No Mr Mosia was an ordinary man who was born in the area and who had been a dedicated employee of the municipality for 35 years. Wilson according to a number of older residents as well as people that worked with him was a real gentleman who knew the village better than most and who could be relied upon to get the job done. The square was again given a makeover by concerned individuals who felt that it was falling into disrepair (not that they made a vast improvement) in 2004 and the sign indicating that the square was called Wilson Mosia park as well as a white stinkwood tree that had been planted by the Chinese Consol General in 1999 “got lost”

I would love to see a combined initiative by locals and the Dihlabeng municipality to erect a plinth with a plaque on the square giving its correct name as well as its history. Even a little TLC from the local municipality to keep it clean and tidy would be a step in the right direction.

Wake up and smell the coffee

Well this week has been a roller coaster of emotions and culminating on Saturday as if someone had hit me in the stomach “was going to say nuts, but thought that may be rude”. The lady buying our house did not get her bond, so now with less than a month to go before the Dunkley family depart for the Eastern Cape we find ourselves with no house sold, removal company booked and if the gent in PE decided not to rent us the house with option to buy then also Homeless. So you can see how we are feeling at present. This of course courtesy of the banks “especially Nedbank” who initially approved the bond but decided due to some arbitrary condition that some Wanker at Head office felt was not ok cancelled the approval. “So thank you very much Nedbank, you can be sure that if you were the last bank in the world I would hide my money under the mattress”.

I am not sure how I feel to be honest, seriously pissed of springs to mind as does apprehensive, scared, anxious, suicidal ??? ……. Perhaps all of that and more, what I am however sick of hearing is “Its been done for a reason” well the only reason I can see at the moment is to screw the Dunkley family over. Thank goodness that I have such a great wife who is level headed, strong and has faith for both of us, otherwise I probably would go “Mashuga” So apart from this ecstatic news what else has been happening In the life of the village

First I need to apologise to Chris and his wife Sigal (new owners of the Millery bakery) as the Braai we had at Werner’s house on Saturday is also at their house and I did not say that, So Chris my apologies we had an AWESOME time at the Braai at Yours and Werner’s place. Werner and Chris have started the roastery at the willows lifestyle centre (the first I believe in Clarens) and on Saturday the first beans were roasted and coffee brewed “and nice coffee it is indeed”. I believe that this will be a great asset to the village and the smell of freshly ground coffee will have hordes of customers coming to the centre for Coffee, art, Freshly baked pastries, a drink (a bar with a huge deck is being built) this is going to become the place to stop when in Clarens. So well done guys good luck and sell lots of beans”

On Friday I had to go and collect the car from Bethlehem and decided to take a taxi from Clarens, now I have been in taxis on a number of occasions (due to conferences wanting to use for transport in the village, Shebeen tours etc) but never as a paying customer who was taking a specific journey. I was pleasantly surprised, the taxi was comfortable, had a steering wheel “I checked” played some really nice background music and was driven by a lady. The trip to Bethlehem cost me all of R10 00 and it was actually nice to sit back and watch the scenery go by without the hassle of driving. I will definitely do it again

Well I did not win the R33 000000 Power ball jackpot, which is a pity due to house selling fiasco but some lucky sod did, hopefully not some rich plonker that does not need the R but someone that the money will make a difference to and that they themselves will use some of the R to improve the lives of less fortunate people. I was day dreaming the other day as to what I would do with R33 000 000 and wow one thing is for sure I sure as hell wouldn’t work again. Just take the time, sit back and think about what you would do with R33 000 000.

Started a “you’re the chop” award and the first recipient of this prestigious award is none other than “drum roll please, The Village Idiot”…………. Yes myself and why I hear you ask ?

1) Dave Green who is on Holiday in Thailand and probably having his whole body massaged by some Thai lovely as I write this bought a weed eater before he left the garden technician decided to put in the gut that cuts the grass , but could not put it back together, he asked me and I also thought there was a part missing and basically Kakked him out for losing the part. I took the manuel and part to a dealer in Bethlehem a mere 35 kms away and asked for the part, the two ladies looked at me strangley and showed me how to screw the part on, Of course Wolverine was there and he called me a Prize Chop, hence the awards name.

This week I also had to tow a trailer backwards for 2 .5 kms to my house , as I could not get the trailer on the back tow hitch due to the water bowser frame covering the tow bar. I got a few strange looks I can tell you.

Currie Cup final at Friends was probably my last Big rugby game with the crew and even though the Cheetahs lost, it was Brilliant, what a fantastic atmosphere and well worth giving up Box tickets to watch it at FRIENDS “THE BEST RESTAURANT IN CLARENS” what was perhaps better than anything was the fact that old mates got together and had fun. We had tickets printed and took a number of photos as well as making a video. Perhaps the best chirp of the day was from that ever quick witted Danie Crowther who after the game came up with this gem “All Blue Bulls Supporters will soon be converting to Juadism, because Jonothan Kaplan had a great game for the Bulls” So from the Village Idiot, ‘Thanks to all that attended this and all the other games we have watched together, I am going to miss Friends and the Clarens Rugby supporters club, but know that Mark will carry on without me and keep this unique club going in the years to come” As you can see Wolverine and I managed to get a lying down photo in as well.

Saturday was also Halloween or as they say in Sef Africa “Hello Ian” day, it’s were you get dressed up to look really ugly go around and greet everyone by saying Hello Ian.

Someone sent me a photo of this small specimen caught at Mossel bay, now you can be assured that should I ever find myself in Mossel bay and I want to swim, I will be looking for a pool that is a few kms inland, as that has to be the biggest Guppy that I have ever seen.

Reading a article printed a few weeks back about Clarens one of the long time residents (born here) interviewed made mention that “I know fewer people here now than I ever have in my life” and he is right there are people mentioned in the article that I don’t know and many who seem to have moved into the village that you do not recognise when told that they are residents.

Took a book out from the library called Challenging history Europe 1890 – 1990 by John Traynor and its fantastic, the book is about challenging what is perceived to be the truth about history regards certain events of that time and highly recommend it to anyone even the slightest bit interested in history, I have not been able to put it down. Well worth a read.

Is it me or are there others out there that hate this new program Top Travel with Jeanie D and some other dude that looks he should be on the cover of GQ. I mean why don’t they use ordinary men and women to do the shows, average South Africans not some chick with huge breasts the voice of a man and a male model, why cant Tant Sannie from Brakpan and Stoffel from Waterval Boven be the hosts, and visit places that the average South African can afford such as Brakpan raceway, Gold Reef City, Ushaka marine world (for the more affluent Boksburgers) and Crochet doily world. My wife tells me that they show these exotic destinations so those of us that the average baked bean eating just managing to survive South African can see what life would be like if we had of been successful or been given free shares to become the BEE partner of some large corporation, to me its not real and I hate the fact that some twat is getting paid a fortune and having the holiday of their lives and then rubbing it in my face on national TV.

I see that they premiered the “This is it” Michael Jackson rehearsal movie all over the world early Wednesday morning SA time. As my wife commented “how to revive a flagging career, die young” James, Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson are perfect examples.

The Clarens Police have advised residents that there is now a ZERO Tolerance crime policy in force in the village, I witnessed this incident only 3 days ago (see photo taken at great risk to myself) 3 residents were cooling themselves of in a pond that just happened to have a no parking sign next to it, seems the police were called and they arrived to tell the residents to “Duck Off” the exchange got heated and the 3 residents then told the police to go and get Ducked and hot tiled it out of there, the police have ???

Had to have car serviced this week and was told by the KIA agents that the car needed brake pads, ok I said I need them so lets fix them, well a few hours later I get a call to say the brake pads have to bee flown in from the Kia factory overseas and will only cost R1400, as you can imagine my first word where “WHAT” followed by are they flying first class and been given massages……….to which the reply was a giggle from the other side of the phone. I have made other arrangements.

For those who are interested in military matters Remembrance day will be on the 11th of November, here is a little about the reason as to why its celebrated Remembrance Day – also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day (the event it commemorates) or Veterans Day – is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.) The day was specifically dedicated by King George V, on 7 November 1919, to the observance of members of the armed forces who were killed during war; this was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward George

Corruption and greed is not just a SA phenomenon, see this e-mail I received this week

Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri. His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year..After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale."Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honour on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale. (sic. Illinois )Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!I say dig him up and clone him!!

Piece of advice for the week is from Wolverine: “‘Don’t eat the Yellow snow”

Quote for the week comes from Player 24: “If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms."

Here are also a few puns that I thought you may enjoy

A pessimist's blood type is always b-negative.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Have a great week

Ciao The Village Idiot

Malan

Daniel Francois Malan (born 22 May 1874 – died 7 Feb 1959) commonly known as DF Malan. So who was DF Malan? He was the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1948 to 1954 and seen by many to be the champion of Afrikaner nationalism. His National Party Government came to power on the program of apartheid and began the comprehensive implementation of this policy, why you ask am I telling you this, well I find it ironic that the information for this Blog came from a black gent who worked as a policeman in the heady days of apartheid and as a policeman was responsible for ensuring the unjust laws against his very people were implemented as well as being policed, the fact that he prefers to be known as Malan is also to me very paradoxical.

Researching information for a book on Clarens that includes a chapter on Kgubestwana. I was asked to speak to a gent called Malan who works for the local municipality. Malan, as already mentioned was a policeman in Clarens from 1972-1976 and then a detective for 24 years after that. On his retirement from the Police force he joined the municipality in Clarens. Talking to Malan was very interesting as well as an eye opener as to how black people lived in the days of apartheid. Now I was brought up with the Nationalist Party in power, cadets, shooting practices, “red under very bed” indoctrination and did I mingle with blacks “no” not unless they worked for the family as a maid or garden boy, did I care that they lived in sub standard houses or in poverty “no” to be honest I didn’t, did I prosper more for being a white in SA? “I suppose I did” but I also worked hard for what I have.

“But you had a head start” I was told not to long ago by a black resident of Clarens and while I tried to argue that I didn’t, his argument actually made sense, “however I digress” Malan explained to me some of the laws that were in force at the peak of Apartheid, that I was not aware of or just did not give a damn about.

So how hard was it as a black person or a family living in Clarens during those days, well Clarens was not as bad as in the cities, but civil liberties were still heavily restricted and policed even in such a small village that in the mid 70’s probably had no more than 100 white residents and a maximum of 70 houses in the Kgubestwana Township. To be fair to Malan many of the laws were policed by the Bethlehem Municipal police rather than the four (two white two black) Clarens police force. The men had access to one landrover and the station only being open from 7.30am - 4.30pm daily. “so what happened if there was a problem after 4.30 pm” I asked – Malan explained “in those days if we had 20 cases a month it was like a crime wave, cases included major crimes like riding a bicycle at night without a light. There was always one of the white policemen on standby and if he was needed then the telephone exchange would contact him and if serious enough he would take the one vehicle and collect his partners to respond to the call”.

People had to carry a dompas (literally translated a dumb pass), the dompas was documentation given to blacks to prove that they had been given permission to live or work in parts of white South Africa and to be found without it on your person meant arrest and probable jail time.

During the 70’s there was a strict curfew in place and as an African you had to be of the streets by 9pm unlike Bethlehem that had a siren to advise that the curfew was in force, Clarens black residents were aware that it was unlawful to be on the streets in the village after 9 and if caught would be arrested, so no siren was necessary. The task of keeping the street “white by night” was the duty of the Municipal police that were based in Bethlehem but had Clarens as part of their jurisdiction. Malan also explained that a black person could be summarily arrested for the following reasons

· Not having a job (yep if you did not have a job you would be arrested taken to court and fined “how would you pay the fine”?)
· Leaving his job without employers permission
· Not having your “dompas”
· Not having a permit for someone to be sleeping I your house

Its perhaps this point that I thought was perhaps one of the harshest laws, Malan explained that if you had a house in Kgubestwana you had a permit with your name, your wife’s name and any children, if your brother or sister also had a house in the township but decide to sleep over at your house , you had to get permission from the police, if not and the municipal police raided the house at 3am in the morning (which they often did) and found that person there, they would be arrested, even though they also lived I a house in the township “just not that house”

Kgubetswana in the 70’s and early 80’s did not have the number of Shebeens like there are today (some 9 in the different townships today) in fact homebrewed beer was what was sold (illegally in most cases). If you had a celebration that needed beer, you would have to get permission from the police to brew for that occasion, and no more than 20 litres, anything over 20 litres and you were arrested.

Travel to and from Bethlehem a mere 35 kms away was also a problem for many black residents with the bus being the only link with Bethlehem. The bus left Clarens at 6am in the morning and returned from Bethlehem at 2pm, in the mid 70’s the bus fare was 46 cents per person one way. Like the rest of the country the bus was also segregated with a small section at the front portioned of for the white passengers. I was told that at certain times of the year, such as Christmas the bus was very busy and even if there were no whites on the bus no black person was permitted to sit on the seats reserved for white and the bus would have to make a double trip to cater for all the Kgubetswana residents.

This Blog is just a small taste of what life was like as a black resident in Clarens as well as the country as a whole and I am sure there are many of you reading this that are young enough not to have grown up during the 60’s to mid 80’s like some of us older folk, to be honest if I had of been subject to the laws that were in force in those days there is a very good chance that many of us may have also protested and even taken up arms against the government of the day.

Remembrance day

While South African do not wear poppies for Remberance day i thought that this article as to the history of the poppy would be interesting to some of you "Blog heads"

Why are we asking this now?

Yesterday saw the official launch of this year's Royal British Legion poppy appeal. Dame Vera Lynn, 92, joined soprano Hayley Westenra in a rendition of the classic wartime song "We'll Meet Again" in front of the crowd in London's Horse Guards Parade, accompanied by the Regimental Band of the Irish Guards and flanked by four troopers from the Queen's Life Guards.

Why do we wear a poppy?

An American teacher, Moina Bell Michael, inspired by John McCrae's 1915 poem In Flanders Fields, began selling silk poppies to friends to raise money for the ex-Service community. McCrae, a doctor serving in the First World War with the Canadian Armed Forces, was moved to write the poem about the poppies that grew after the aftermath and devastation of the bloody fighting in the Flanders and Picardy regions of Belgium and Northern France. "Take up our quarrel with the foe; To you from failing hands we throw, The torch; be yours to hold it high, If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders Fields," he wrote.

In 1920 the poppy was proclaimed as the United States' national emblem of Remembrance and the following year Madame Guerin, a Frenchwoman, sold millions to raise funds for rehabilitation in areas of France. She also sent women to London to sell poppies and persuaded Earl Haig to adopt it for the British Legion. The first official Poppy Day was held in Britain on 11 November 1921.

What is different about this year?

The most memorable image of Armistice Day last year was the sight of the three surviving British First World War veterans laying wreaths at the Cenotaph. Henry Allingham, 112, who served in the Royal Air Force, Harry Patch, 110, formerly of the Army, and Bill Stone, 108, who was in the Royal Navy, led the silence. It was to be their final remembrance. All three died this year, with Mr Patch, the last British survivor to have fought in the trenches, passing away on 25 July.

Is the poppy relevant to the veterans of today?

Over the past few years the Royal British Legion has been at pains to dispel the belief that it only helps elderly veterans and remind the public that a new generation is coming home from war. For the first time this year the poster features an image of a coffin being repatriated from Afghanistan, in a hard-hitting campaign. Using the motto, "For their sake, wear a poppy", the appeal urges people to support troops wounded in Helmand and the families of those killed in the conflict.

How much money does Poppy Appeal raise?

Last year's poppy appeal raised almost £31m and it is hoping to exceed that figure this year. In 2008 the Royal British Legion raised £104.1m, almost half of which was from appeals, donations and legacies.

What is the role of the Royal British Legion?

The Legion, which currently has around 380,000 members, was founded in 1921 as a campaigning voice for the ex-Service community as a merger of four organisations: the Comrades of the Great War, the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers and The Officers' Association. Earl Haig, commander of the Battle of the Somme and Passchendaele (who helped create more widows than most!), was one of the founders of the Legion. It was granted a Royal Charter on 29 May 1971 to mark its 50th anniversary which gives the Legion the privilege of the prefix "Royal".

Where does the money go?

The Legion currently spends more than £1m a week helping over 130,000 armed forces' dependents, as well as veterans and those bereaved, and is hoping to extend that to 160,000 beneficiaries this year. In 2008, it spent a total of £101.2m; on care services £18.4m, community welfare services £41.6m, Remembrance and ceremonial £3.2m and funds generation £23.9m. The charity says that for every pound raised, 80p goes towards achieving objectives while 6.6p goes on support costs.

Who is eligible for help?

There are 9.5 million people eligible for help in Britain because they are serving or have served in the armed forces for at least seven days or are a dependant of someone who has. The charity's work varies from offering home help to elderly and disabled veterans to campaigning for higher compensation payments for the wounded.

While it continues to support veterans from previous conflicts, it also helps survivors and grieving families of those killed in Afghanistan such as Royal Marine Lance Corporal Peter Dunning, 24, who lost both his legs in Helmand last year, and Hester Wright, 22, whose husband Damian, of the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, died in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan in 2007. The legion has helped her pay off debts, buy household goods and a school uniform for her six-year-old son Josh.

What is the protocol about wearing a poppy?

Some purists object to public figures such as politicians sporting poppies too early. Politicians have been wearing them since the beginning of this week even though the poppy-wearing period is supposed to run only from runs from the launch day (yesterday) to Remembrance Sunday or Armistice Day.

Who makes poppies?

The origins of the Poppy Factory go back to 1922 when Major George Howson MC, a young infantry officer and engineer, founded the Disabled Society to help ex-Service men and women. He suggested to the British Legion that members should make poppies, and the artificial flowers were designed so that someone who had lost the use of one hand could still assemble them. With a grant of just £2,000 from the Unity Relief Fund, he set up a small factory in south London with five ex-servicemen. In a letter to his parents, he said: "I do not think it can be a great success, but it is worth trying. I consider the attempt ought to be made if only to give the disabled their chance." Today a team of 50 people – most of them disabled and service connected – work all year in a factory in Richmond in Surrey to make 38 million poppies, 5 million Remembrance petals, 900,000 crosses and 100,000 wreaths including those laid by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

Why is there also a white poppy?

In 1933 the Women's Co-operative Guild introduced the White Poppy to remember the dead of all wars and to promote peace. The Peace Pledge Union took part in its distribution from 1934, and white poppy wreaths were laid from 1937. In 1986 prime minister Margaret Thatcher expressed her "deep distaste" for the symbol, and opponents argue that the traditional red poppy already encompasses the sentiments and the white one diverts funds for the Royal British Legion.

Is the power of the poppy diminishing?

Yes...

* The need to help veterans of war and their families is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago

* War in Afghanistan and Iraq have generated huge public sympathy for servicemen and women

* The poppy is an enduring national symbol and an opportunity to express support for the services

No...

* The symbolism relates to the First World War, a conflict from which there are now no veterans left

* The poppy is associated with elderly veterans while newer charities such as Help for Heroes resonate more with a younger generation

* Younger generations may prefer other ways to mark remembrance

"We are going to Loftus"

This be the battle cry of Wolverine and the Village idiot and will be up to the day of the final and remember you heard it here first “The Cheetahs will beat the Bulls at Loftus on the 31st of October 2009”

So what you all been up to this week? “Won the lotto, found a new friend, Partied till you collapsed or watched re-runs of 7de Laan” My week was Ok’ish, no fireworks but not to bad.

Braai season is upon us we have been to 3 Braai’s this week Thursday was at Andre and Annetjies, Friday at our place and Saturday at Werners and that was an awesome partaaaaay, lots of Lekker locals so if you didn’t crack an invite then you missed out big time, Dop and a Chop is awesome, “Me like it a lot”. On the OFM Mumbo Jumbo Blog I read a newspaper article that the SA government is going to legislate Braai fires “yes you heard right” to reduce carbon emissions Wood and Charcoal Braai fires will be regulated by having us Tax payers pay R80 00 for a 3 month permit or R10 00 for a one of permit, the permits you will be able to buy at the local Post office “what happens if they are on strike” or if its after 4 and you and your mates decide to have an impromptu Braai”? the fines for illegal Braai fires will be R500 per incident and will be policed by the “Green Scorpions” an offshoot of the Department of environmental and tourism affairs. If its true, as I have my suspicions it’s a hoax, how will they police this, who came up with this idea and what next to tax us whiteys “a fart meter in the toilet”? (Go to http://www.ofm.co.za/ and then click on the Mumbo Jumbo Blog for the article about the braai fires)

Marquad had their Makietie this Saturday, Wolverine and I were unfortunately not able to make it due to previous commitments “root canal, and laser tattoo removal treatment” I am sure however the 25 tourists enjoyed themselves thoroughly, YES I am still the Moer in that Clarens did not win the Tourism village of the year and will be for a long time to come. Wolverine in fact paid a visit on Tuesday and he said it was nothing to write home about (he did not even take photos) only amusing item he saw was an old concrete dam at the towns entrance that had “Marquad is a dam fine place” spray painted on it. Well Marquard may be dam fine But Clarens is the undisputed destination of choice for visitors to this fine Province and we have a proper dam at our entrance, not a cement one. “Yep still the moer in”

Bokpoort had a Beerfest this Saturday and I had to go and assist Wolverine who decided to see what would happen if the chain came off and he was travelling along a dirt road at speed, well he is ok,” nothing that a bit of skin grafting wont fix”, had a couple of beers with me mate and then headed back home, Methinks the Wolverine decided to partake of the delights that were on offer at Bokpoort instead of braaing
with his mates.

So Pareira is coming back to coach Bafana Bafana, I just find it amusing we paid him a fortune for the few months he was here, we paid him to go back home ( and was it not him that suggested Santana as a replacement coach, well if it was cannot be happy with his decision making process). Why not use a local coach? What is the fixation with African teams having to Play Brazilian style football, We play African style football, we wait for the ball to get to us, hoof it down the park and hopefully someone called “Sypho” kicks it in the net. To be honest I don’t see anyone turning Bafana Bafana around and if we win one match in the World Cup that will be a miracle. So good luck Pareira and enjoy the Millions you will be earning every month.

The Clarens Intermediate cricket team had another match on Monday and this time they played a good school, Must say we did not disgrace ourselves with the coach of the other school complimenting Mark and I on the teams performance, “not bad for a couple of part time coaches” We lost but put on a good fielding display, we have to work on the batting as we have no depth, but this I am sure mark will work on next year. I think we may also have made history with letting Rea play in the game; Rea is a young lady that comes to the practices and has shown commitment. I think that it was a great thing to see the other team clap he from the field when she was bowled for 1 run. Both Mark and I as well the headmistress Annetjie are very proud of her, unfortunately we did not have a camera with us to record this auspicious occasion.

The Village idiot Blog is now being used by overseas persons, I received an e-mail from a lady who was Googling Clarens and came across my site, the lady wanted to know about schools in the area: “First Clarens, then the World”

No rugby this weekend but Valentino Rossi did become World champ today, Natalie and Stefan from the Clarens Brewery were particularly happy as they are big fans of the “Doctor” so he has won the 125 cc world championship, the 250 cc World championship and the 500 cc world championship 7 times.

Seems that a poll was taken in the Godd old U S of A and 75% of them don’t believe in Global warming and this from the country that gave us AL Gore and An inconvenient truth. Imagine if Al had not made that movie, then 100% of Yanks would not believe in the Ice caps meting etc: as my good friend Walter would say “Dumb Asses”

Sad news of the week was the passing of a long time resident Brigadier General Rob Crowther, Oom Rob’s service was held on Wednesday at the NG Kerk and the church was packed with locals as well as friends and family from further a field.

I always love it when I read stuff like this as the British press is always quick to point out other counties problems, especially South Africa. I Received this from a friend, and here I thought England was a Utopia, free medical care, great variety of jobs with great salaries (12 -1), the dole (should you not want a fantastic job), Glorious weather with sunshine at least 4 times a year and of course the biggie that all who flock to the island will tell you CRIME FREE, “Oops seems all those Sefricans flocking there and love it so much just perhaps where wrong”

London - "British police say permanently armed officers are patrolling crime-blighted London neighbourhoods, a major change in UK law enforcement. (“My God armed police in the UK, this cannot be, this must be a joke, England is SOOOOOOOOOOO safe”) London's police department said on Friday that a new unit was operating in a district of north London driven by gun battles between rival drug gangs and other areas that have suffered a wave of gangland shootings. British police have never routinely carried firearms on patrol. Guns are usually handled only by dedicated teams of police marksmen. Chief Inspector Neil Sharman said the new unit would allow London police to take "a more proactive approach to deal with weapons on our streets." Some lawmakers have however criticised the change, saying the tactic could exacerbate the use of firearms by criminals.

My wife was doing extra Afrikaans lessons with Gabby this week and they both burst into fits of laughter it seems that Gabby, instead of say “Ek wil n koek bak” said “Ek wil n boek kak” J

Now we may not like the Aussie’s due to the Cricket and Rugby rivalry, but this is just typical Aussie AND THIS GUY NEEDS A MEDAL

T. B. Bechtel, a City Councillor from Newcastle, Australia, was askedon a local live radio talk show, just what he thought about theallegations of torture of suspected terrorists.

His reply prompted his ejection from the studio, but to thunderousapplause from the audience. HIS STATEMENT: 'If hooking up one rag head terrorist prisoner's testicles to a carbattery to get the truth out of the lying little camel shagger will savejust one Australian life, then I have only three things to say,' 'Red is positive, Black is negative, and Make sure his nuts are wet.'

Another e-mail sent to me was this one that was published in a Nigerian newspaper recently, makes for very interesting reading.

South African experience

SIR: On Thursday October 1, 2009, the National Chairman of our great party Chief Bisi Akande; the Lagos State Chairman of the Party in Lagos, Chief Dele Ajomale; his wife; the representative of the Governor and my humble self left for South Africa to inaugurate the chapter of our party. Business finished on Saturday October 2 and 3, 2009 in both Pretoria and Johannesburg. We had Sunday October 4 to look around. It was my first visit to South Africa and what I saw stunned me.

Am I in Africa or Europe? Am I in America? Is this another Singapore? Could this be true? Where was Nigeria when South Africa was putting all these structures in place? If the white man did all these in South Africa why were the Nelson Mandelas of this world complaining? If South Africans got their independence on a platter of gold the way Nigeria got hers in 1960, would there have been all these structures I am seeing here today? Impossible! From what I saw on ground in South Africa, it looked as if all the companies and industries all over the world are physically present there. Ah! Nigeria has been left behind. South Africa is the potential and undisputable leader in Africa. Thanks to the white South Africans.

I came to the unhappy conclusion that the mosquitoes that drove the whites away from Nigeria in 1960 did a colossal and unmitigated damage to Nigerians. I again asked myself these questions: How many black Africans did the whites kill before surrendering power to them? How many Nigerians have been killed by Nigerian leaders since they took over power from the whites in 1960? Let us compare the figures. I am sure the supreme prize South Africans paid to have the South Africa I see today will be so infinitesimal compared with what our leaders have killed to remain in power in Nigeria.

What I am saying is that God should have allowed the whites to tarry for at least more 30 years in Nigeria and we would have been better for it. Mandela survived 27 years in prison because the white man was a better person. He could not have survived 10 years in prison in Nigeria.
My conclusion after seeing what I saw in South Africa is that the whites left Nigeria in a hurry, and that is why we are suffering today. Had the whites tarried in Nigeria, Nigeria would have been like South Africa today. I want the whites back in Nigeria!
Joe Igbokwe,Lagos.
Saying of the week comes from Wolverine who was hungry and then given a pizza to eat “This is going to go down like a homesick mole” here are a couple more.

· Is a chicken crossing the road poultry in motion?
· If you don't pay your exorcist, do you get repossessed ?
· Will a grenade thrown into a kitchen in France result in Linoleum Blownapart ?

Have a great week and dont forget Shout CHEETAHS on SATURDAY the 31st otherwise Wolverine and I will come and visit you.

Ciao

The Village Idiot

Head them of at the pass

I still to this day have a thing for the US cavalry bugle call, this probably stems from when I was a kid living in the North of England and when the snow was 10 foot thick outside the front door, I could not (sorry lets re-phrase that “would not” go to school) I got to watch TV all day, my favourite programmes or movies were the Lone Ranger “Hi Ho silver”, Bonanza and any other cowboy and Indian movie, I was also absolutely fascinated with General Custer, the 7th Cavalry and their last stand at the Big Horn.

Picture the scene: early pioneers are crossing the plain in covered wagons to take them West and on to a better life, up on a distant hill a lone figure on a horse watches over them, soon to be joined by more men on horses and before you know it there is a ‘Whoop Whoop” and the sound of rifle fire as hostile Indians pour into the valley and start attacking the wagon train. At first there is panic and an attempt to outrun the attackers but then the wagons form a circle to fend off the attack, the Indians start circling the wagons and pour gunfire and arrows in to the laager women and children re-load rifles and the situation is getting precarious with Indians starting to breach the defences, just when you think all is lost……………………………..

In the distance you here the bugle calling the charge and a line of US cavalry with sabres held high on the charge, the cavalry flag flying proud and you just know that they will save the day.

I tend to read a lot and came across a book called “The History of the US cavalry” and it gave an interesting insight in to this specific unit, however I have always been fascinated with General Custer so I thought that I would put a piece together about this famous or infamous man. Before I get to that however do you know why American Indians are called Indians? Well it would seem that intrepid explorer Christopher Columbus was on the way to discover the West Indies (or so he thought) and when he landed in what is now America he immediately named the local inhabitants ‘Indians”

General George Custer was born in New Rumley Ohio 5 December 1839 he entered West Point at the beginning of the American civil war and due to the war the whole class was fast tracked (June 1861) to ensure the Union army had competent officers. It would seem that Custer was not the sharpest sabre in the armoury but what he lacked in classroom skills he more than made up in tenacity and bravado.

His first assignment was as a lieutenant in the 5th cavalry and on his arrival at the regiment took part in the first battle of Bull Run. In May 1862 Custer was promoted to Captain and in 1863 appointed brigadier general of volunteers and assigned to duty as commander of the Michigan brigade.

At Gettysburg his brigade together with hat of Gregg and McIntosh defeated General Stuart’s efforts to turn the left flank, for this action he was brevetted major in the US army. Custer continued to take part in battles and for his bravery and tenacity he was made brevet - colonel in September 1864, not a month later he was again promoted, this tine as major-general of volunteers. Mid 1865 he was promoted to brevet brigadier general of the US army. By November 1865 he was chief of cavalry a rank he held until he was mustered out of the volunteer service.

Custer asked for permission from President Johnson to accept a position from President Juarez to train the Mexican cavalry, this permission was denied, so Custer decided to accept a lieutenant colonelcy of the 7th cavalry instead. In November 1866 he joined his regiment at Fort Riley, Kansas and served on the plains until 1871. As a cavalry leader Custer soon earned a reputation of firmness bordering on cruelty – he had soldiers flogged, deserters were shot and miscreants were usually buried up to their necks in the ground.

In November of 1871 Custer and his 7th Cavalry were to inflict a huge defeat against the Cheyenne at the battle of Washita, this forced the Cheyenne to move back to their reservation, Custer was probably the most hated white man by that tribe. Later that year Custer and his men were ordered to Kentucky where they saw active service until 1873. The 7th were again re-assigned this time to Fort Rice in South Dakota, from here they were to accompany a expedition into the Yellowstone mountains, it was here that Custer had his first action against the Sioux and a few days later he engaged them again at the mouth of the Big Horn.

In Mid 1874 he was ordered to reconnoitre the Black Hills, this expedition was to lead to the opening of the hills to miners and frontiersmen, that in turn would lead to more conflict against the Indian tribes living in that area, specifically the Sioux. By 1876 11 tribes (mostly Sioux and Cheyenne) numbering close to 12000 were camped on the Little Big Horn River the government sent a punitive expedition out to subdue these tribes, with Custer and his regiment (some 600 strong) being tasked to pursue a certain trail and engage any enemy that he may encounter. Custer did not know it but he and his men rode out into history. His scouts reported the presence of an Indian village, but he did not know how big, discovering Indian scouts trailing him, he decided to attack and keeping an element of surprise. His experience dictated that the camp should be hot hard and fast from a number of directions and he therefore split up his men to do just that, Major Reno’s detachment were surprised and after the initial rush he was able to extradite himself and the survivors (some 90 of the original 175 men and scouts had been killed) Reno was joined by Captain Benteen who decided that he was going to stay with Reno and left Custer to fend for himself.

So it was that on the 25th of June 1876 Custer and his men rode towards a swarm of Indians whose bloodlust had been ?? with the attack on Reno and his men. Not one man of Custer’s column lived to tell what had happened and all accounts of the battle are either what was passed on by Indians at the battle as well as archaeological evidence. The Indians struck Custer from the rear and his left flank driving him and his men onto a low ridge with no shelter, dead horses were used to shelter behind. From Indian reports it would seem that 5 groups stood there ground against the massive Indian onslaught. Contrary to popular belief and as most painting depict not many Indians were on horseback, it did not take long for the superior numbers to overwhelm the 210 men and the end came very fast.

Crazy horse is reputed to have led an attack on the clump of men that George Custer was part of, who having been badly wounded had barricaded himself behind dead horses. A few men tried to make a dash for the river but were shot down, almost as quickly as the fight had started it ended, with the Indians crawling forward and finishing of any men that may still be alive. The battle had taken less than an hour and for Custer’s name to be carved into history forever more. At that stage Custer had managed to preside over one of the worst defeats in American history and in doing so achieved the immortal fame he craved after so much.

Crazy horse had no idea he had killed Custer and set about attacking Reno and Benteen, for the rest of that day and into the next Reno and Benteen’s scared and tired men, held out against overwhelming odds. At this stage no one was aware as to what had happened to Custer and his men and when a relief column reached the Big Horn some 2 days later they found a scene of horror that was to be burnt into the memory of every man that saw it. Most of the soldiers had been mutilated and scalped, Custer himself was stripped naked but had not been mutilated or scalped, some felt it was because the Indians feared or respected him, many however feel this was more an accident as none of the Indians knew Custer by sight and his famous long golden hair had been cut short prior to the campaign. Most of the dead were buried were they died, the only survivor was a wounded cavalry horse called “Comanche” who lived out his days as the mascot of the 7th cavalry until he died in 1891. Custer who had been buried at the Big Horn was himself re-interred at the West Point cemetery some years later.

The Indian wars were hard and a realistic account of these years do not often resemble the exhilarating Hollywood movies of the cavalryman, for the yellowlegs it was a hard and dangerous job, being called upon to do much of the dirty work, yet it had its moments of heroism, glory and remarkable feats.

The Lying down game

Dont remember how Wolverine and I came upon the site, but we seem to be pretty good at it, so we look for photo opportunities whenever and wherever we can. here are a few recent photos.