The long and the short of it

Find it very stressful to get a new cell phone, while others are going yippee and pouring over its new functions I have to force myself to not throw the phone through the nearest window while I am trying to figure out how to use it. I have just started to use a new cell phone and while cell phones are becoming more technologically advanced they are also getting much smaller which does not bode well for people that are getting the long arm syndrome, it takes me twice the amount of time to send an SMS because I keep pressing the wrong buttons or two at the same time. I have joined mixit and seem to have got that under my belt, but if you hear the sound of smashing glass don’t get too worried.

What I see a lot of in Port Elizabeth that you never see in Clarens are cars with a red L on the back window……learner Driver, I have learnt that if you see a car with the 12th letter of the alphabet on the back window you look for escape routes. Learner drivers usually fall into 2 categories they are either very fast or very slow…there is no in between and both the above speeds are as dangerous. The L season seems to get worse at year end with Matric students looking to drive to school with their moms or getting lessons (in peak hour traffic nogal)

News this week from Clarens is that Jeanelle is becoming a Smurf….moving to Hairysmith…..So good luck with that “friend of Spad”. Other news is that two ex residents ……not well liked by many I may add where found dead in their home in Natal…….2 stories (surprise surprise for Clarens) one is that the gent shot his wife then himself or they where murdered. Either way liked or not it’s never nice to hear that ex-Clarenites have died.

On Saturday (15/1/2011 this headline was also on the web (Fouriesburg is 35 kms from Clarens. “Nineteen people, including a two-year-old boy, were killed and 19 others were seriously injured when their bus ploughed into a shallow stream just outside Fouriesburg on Saturday, Free State police said. “One of the surviving passengers said one of the tyres of the bus burst before it lost control,"

Monday was first day at work after 3 and a bit weeks of holiday, basically got items in order and on Tuesday evening we (Ryan, Vusi and myself) flew to Gauteng for a Trainers conference, got there late but just in time for some crappy pasta and a few drinks

Stayed at a really nice guest house (Natanja) the owner was great and if you’re ever in the area (Centurion) and you need accommodation then do yourself a favour and book there. Contact info is http://www.natanja.co.za/ or 012 664 6601

Wednesday saw my folks, sister, niece, brother in law and niece’s husband, that was great, always nice to see them and it’s not often that I do, so if in Gauteng I make the effort to pay them a visit. Thursday evening we had a lekker Braai at the guesthouse with Ryan, Vusi, Leon, Xavier, Andre, Mike and Xolani and the spread was awesome. I was in the hospitality industry for many a year and have to say have seldom been to a guest house with the level of hospitality than at Natanja.

On Friday after the conference had finished we had a few hours to kill so Ryan, Vusi and myself decoded to take a trip on the Gautrain. What a great experience. In fact I think all government officials should be forced to take a trip on this awesome mode of transport……….”they already get enough free stuff” I hear you say so why let them ride the train? The answer is easy, the Gautrain and the way its run and controlled could …..No “should” be the model on which this country is run………………….confused? Ok let me explain.

Well first off the first thing you notice as you approached the parking area is that it’s neat and tidy and it’s well patrolled by metro police officers. The area is well signposted, the ticketing area is clean and tidy (not a piece of paper lying anywhere) the person selling you the ticket is competent and well mannered. Again the station has very visible policing as well as signs advising if you litter or smoke you get a R700 fine, on the platform there are metro police and if you accidentally stand over the yellow line you are firmly but politely asked to step back. The train runs on time according to the schedule and you could eat off the floor of the train itself, again there is visible policing on the train. All in all a pleasant, safe and enjoyable experience and one that you come away from feeling really proud to be a South African.

We walked around Sandton for an hour to see how the other half live……….”the verdict is that they live well”, Sandton city and Nelson Mandela square has to be the home of the Skinny African lady, In fact when I used to visit Sandton in the 80’s the rich ladies where called Kugels (Jewish ladies with the bling) well now we need to call the ladies walking around Sandton “bugels”…………Black Kugels.

The big man like most South Africans obviously has a dislike for the Aussies, as he has made it rain and then he made it rain some more flooding a part of Australia that is bigger than ?? Australians have become refugees in their own countries (suppose now they know what the boat people felt like). Fires, floods, pestilence……what’s next? Brazil have also been hit with floods and landslides……..as has a number of provinces in South Africa trains to PE from Gauteng have been affected due to the collapse of a bridge in The Eastern Cape because of flood waters. The weather patterns are changing and information out there indicates that in SA the North east of the country will get wetter over the years and the Cape areas will become drier. And they say there is no such thing as Global warning.

Tania did some work on the vegetable garden this weekend and when she was thinning out the spinach she pulled out one of the biggest beetroots I have ever seen.

The Proteas have played 2 and the series is level 1 all this due to them not being able to reach a paltry 191 runs and losing the game by 1 run, while this upsets me greatly in cricket like in rugby where we have a fair chunk of the coloured population supporting the All Blacks it seems that many South African Indians also seem to forget their loyalty when it comes to the Protea’s playing India. I mean if you want to support Sachin, Doni and the boys, then why don’t you go live in India with a population of 1.2 Billion and a life expectancy of 58.5…………pisses me off royally “n all n all n all”

Rioters burnt the Tunisian capital's main train station to the ground and sacked and looted shops in a wave of unrest after the North African nation's president was forced from power by protesters. So there is trouble that part of Africa. In our part of the world it would seem that PE has lost Blue flag status on all 3 of its beaches………….due to inadequate lifeguards, dirty ablutions as well as unacceptable behaviour on the beaches etc etc. This is not good as the city has positioned itself as a centre of water sports and relies on tourism (mainly local) to fill up its coffers over holiday periods. Let’s hope that we can get those beaches back to Blue flag status, but to be honest with the present municipality running the metropolis I feel this is not going to happen. However we cannot just blame the municipality as we the residents of PE also need to help ensure our city is kept clean and unacceptable behaviour is not tolerated. (perhaps our municipality management should take a trip on the Gautrain). I have just read that a 16 year old surfer was attacked by a shark in East London and died this weekend……..that’s the 5th shark attack at the same beach in 3 years………Condolences to the family

34 days to go (February 19) before the start of the ICC world cup cricket , lets hope SA can show us that we are not chokers when it comes to big competitions…..Any predictions ?? I don’t care who wins as long as it’s not The Aussies or the Pom’s, but if the final was to between the Pom’s and the Aussies I would be shouting for the sheep shaggers.

Well that’s about it, Gabby goes back to school on Tuesday after nearly 2 months of holiday. My two nieces Rebecca and Michaela are also going back to a normal school after a year of home schooling, Becky will be going to grade 4, std 2 (I think) and Michaela to grade 2 (not sure). Sure they will both adapt well to having school discipline and set classes and playtimes. Michaela will for the first time in her short school career be attending a school that her mom does not work at or was not teaching her, but know she will not be that daunted by this new challenge. Daniel my nephew is to young for school but sure he will be going to a playschool in the near future, like his cousin Amber on the island, I am sure that he would enjoy that immensely as he is such a gregarious kid. I can just see him now playing cricket and soccer with the other boys.

Well that’s it for this week, for me week 2 at work will hopefully see me doing some training, otherwise I need to start going out on audits and attend other training so I can increase my knowledge to be able to do better for my students and then eventually earn a better salary……….”Now that would be nice”

Ciao

SPAD

"Tie me kangaroo down sport"

Wonder how many of those self righteous ex-pats that live in Australia and love reminding us how great Australia is, especially those that skedaddled to Sydney in the eighties ………because of the National Parties racial policies and apartheid are aware of Australia’s awesome racial policies. Perhaps that’s why the emigrated there in the first place? The Aussies had the cheek to call for sanctions against SA back then which was like the pot calling the kettle black when given Australia’s historical treatment of its indigenous population - the forced orphaning of children, attempts to breed the blackness out and evictions from ancestral homelands. Up until the 1960’s you could still get a licence to go “boong hunting”. I also just became aware recently that the law to allow immigrants into Australia from non-white (read black, coloured or Chinese) countries was changed in 1973 (I am surprised that ET “no not the cute alien” did not want to emigrate there). Here is a little about the Awesome treatment the White Racist Australian people have given to and still are giving to their indigenous aboriginal population. (Google aboriginal genocide and see what comes up)

The “Aboriginal Genocide” website (Genocide in Australia….surely not) is devoted to exposing the realities of the ongoing Genocide of Indigenous Australians (Aborigines, Aboriginals, Black Australians) that avoidably kills about 9,000 Indigenous Australians each year in one of the richest countries in the World. In particular this website also provides a compendium of the views of outstanding, anti-racist Australian scholars and humanitarians who recognize and deplore the reality of the Aboriginal Genocide.

Australian Aborigines suffered Genocide at the hands of the European invaders in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Indigenous population dropped from about 1 million to 0.1 million in the first century after the invasion in 1788, mainly through violence, dispossession, deprivation and introduced disease. The last massacres of Aborigines occurred in the 1920s. Throughout much of the 20th century there was a policy of forcibly removing Aboriginal children from their mothers, a systematic genocidal policy involving the removal of perhaps 0.1 million children. This practice ended in the 1970s. However the continued deliberate deprivation of Aboriginal Australians amounts to a White Australian policy of passive genocide. The “annual death rate” (2003 figures) is 2.2% (for Aboriginal Australians) and 2.4% (for Aboriginal Australians in the Northern Territory) – as compared to 2.5% (for pre-drought sheep in paddocks of Australian sheep farms) and 0.7% (for White Australians). This is happening in one of the richest countries of the world because of deliberate neglect – Australian Aboriginal health services are funded at 50% of what they should be; many Australian Aborigines live in Third World conditions; the “annual under-5 infant death rate” is over 3 times higher for Aborigines than that for White Australians; 1 in 5 Australian Aborigines have diabetes (mostly type 2 diabetes) which has huge attendant problems such as cardiovascular complications, kidney problems and blindness; and the Australian Aboriginal life expectancy is about 20 years less than that for White Australians. (We should be calling for sanctions against Australia)

Australia this week selected the first Muslim ever to play for the national team (no terrorist jibes please). Now that I think of it the Australian team has been mono cultural (read - whites only) for many many years. There have been few (if any ?) Australian cricketers of colour and definitely no Muslims. While other cricket playing nations have tapped into their ethnic gene pool the Aussies have always limited themselves to the decedents of traditional cricketing classes.

Talking about cricket check this out Doug. Your country England is so full of K@K (poo poo old chap) this is what one of their sensationalist newspapers “The Independent” said in today's edition under the heading "Strauss: It's a big year and we must keep our eye on the ball. ":Win the Fifth Test against Australia that starts tonight and they enter the pantheon of Ashes champions...................How England can top the ICC rankings this year:

1) England beat Australia 3-1 (correct)
2) South Africa beat India 2-1 (series levelled)
3) England beat Sri Lanka 3-0
4) West Indies draw with India
5) England beat India 3-1

And this how the Pom’s take over the number one ranking in test cricket this very year how pathetic can these idiots get. What are they smoking?? They say they will beat both India and Sri Lanka (with a 3-0 whitewash, nogal) They've got weird imagination these people and when it does not happen then they sob like little babies because of the sheer overwhelming feeling of failure that comes with losing test matches you've arrogantly predicted to win. Sad very very sad! The Protea’s are much better than some people give us credit for, much much better than England will ever be. If it where not for the South Africans playing for the POMs they would be 6th and not 3rd on the rankings.

So what else been happening this week

Monday: Woke up……….Yeah thrilling I know. Went to Hobie beach to see dad assist in releasing rehabilitated penguins, The one from dads crate decided that he was not going anywhere except back to SAMREC where he gets fed , washed and good medical treatment. Went to help Ryan mix cement for his new “Super Braai” ……Ryan can honestly say his is bigger than mine (braai that is, but remember its not the size the count its how you braai on it ). In the afternoon Ryan and I went back to Hobie and boogie boarded for a couple of hours, caught some great waves and had fun.

Tuesday: Surprise Surprise I woke up again , had to get 2 x new car tyres helped Ryan again to install the Braai, relaxed at home and than had a Braai at Ryan’s to inaugurate the Braai……….Braayan Brewerton has a lekker Braai…………his favourite song is that Mandoza classic ‘Braai a lambchop”

Wednesday: You got it, woke up again and basically worked on my other book and watched the A team (funny movie)

Thursday: Not much happened

Friday: Gabby and I took a trip on the scooter and took photos in the morning and then Tania, Gabby and I had a Lekker lunch at Barnacles, on the deck overlooking the sea, Awesome.

The weekend was spent at Kusega (between Kenton on Sea and Port Alfred) we where invited to overnight at a holiday home of friends of Stephens family, then on Sunday we had lunch with an old friend Jonathan from Durbs who was also staying at Port Alfred…..so not a bad weekend to end of my Summer holiday.

The holiday home we stayed in was a daub and wattle abode that was built in 1926, massive stoep that had 8 beds on it , the 3 bedrooms where full……..15 people slept over on Saturday night……Awesome place. Met with Jonathan for Sunday lunch in Port Alfred and met a friend of his, had fresh from the rock oysters……Yum yum.

Other stories that caught my eye this week

While it has rained (read light drizzle) every day since 16 December we have had only about 30mm of rain in PE over that period, in two storms alone in Gauteng they had 60 and 55 mm respectively, in fact by 16 December Gauteng had already had the most rain in December for 25 years. Floods have hit Natal with 5 towns or village being flooded and hundreds having to be evacuated. Australia is experiencing floods of biblical proportions and if the eater is not bad enough then you also have to deal with Crocs and snakes that are floating around. China has also had to evacuate thousands from flood waters.

Johannesburg - Former Springbok captain Joost van der Westhuizen sent 89 underprivileged children into a toy shop this week and told them to “choose whatever you want." A toy shop in Little Falls, west of Johannesburg, had to close its doors for three hours so that Van der Westhuizen and the children could make their purchases in private. There were tears, joy and disbelief as the children ran through the shop’s aisles filling up their baskets.

So old Joost the coke sniffing Hoer pomping and piel size lying ex scrumhalf is obviously trying to upgrade his popularity from -1 to 5 , the good thing is, is that those kids got to enjoy a lekker day out.

The family of Shrien Dewani fear he will not receive a fair trial in South Africa because the presiding judge has been dogged by misconduct allegations, the Telegraph in the UK reported. Akta Raja, the cousin of the British honeymoon murder accused, told the publication that Judge John Hlophe was a controversial figure and questioned whether it would be a fair trial.

Lets deflect the attention from the murdering asshole of a husband and put it on the judge………..I wonder if Shriens wife got a FAIR deal by getting shot in the head, after it had been arranged by her gay husband…………OOOOOOH Bubba is waiting for you bro and his first question is going to be with or without Vaseline………..A word of advice be very careful how you answer.

Matric Results where 7% better in the Eastern Cape which means 58.3 % of the matrics passed, there where however 18 school s that not one matric pupil passed………… the pass rate has also increased over the whole country, but for me it defies logic. 2010 saw many disruptions in the school year, SWC, Teacher strikes and many school did not even write Pre-lims so how was this improvement achieved, lowering the pass mark, making the papers easier, or adjusting marks upwards………I am sure we will find out. I would also like to see those in Government that are responsible for education in SA sending their own kids to government schools and not private ones as seems to be the case.

A friend I the UK sent me an e-mail and he was saying that there is a possible Swine flu scare in the UK, got me wondering if Muslims can also get swine flu ? Talking about the island I been watching a few programmes on TV (Top TV, cant afford mweb) and there is a channel that has loads of Pommie stuff on it, must say some of the programmes not bad, but really enjoy the shows that puts Poms and the Island in a bad light (and its Poms producing the shows.) The one show was about gangs in London and Glasgow, shit there are guns in those cities (I thought the island didn’t have any firearms I thought they had all been confiscated after than utter attacked a school and killed a number of school kids a few years back ………………..OMG) one kid “yes kid” has been shot 3 times, once in the head, once in the stomach and once in the leg

In Glasgow they call it Recreational Violence……..(Recreational according to the Thesaurus is leisure, fun, entertaining) gangs with the names Bushy, Knolly and the Young Team drink, do drugs to get brave and then do the William Wallace thing and beat the shit out of each other. Over half of the deaths in Scotland are from guns and knives and the people are usually under influence of liquor or drugs. In the projects (read slums) the life expectancy of someone living here is less than Baghdad. Another programme was about young ladies who are scared to walk around as they feel unsafe (I cant believe that I thought the UK was such a safe safe country……….again OMG) and get this some of them feel that people who play music loud from their cell phones are going to rape and molest them ………..!!!. and guess what there are housebreakings, car jacking, wilful damage to property, ATM fraud and many other petty crimes on the Island………….and no Doug its not South African exporting their expertise to the island……..the perpetrators talk “wif an akcent loik , ya know wot I mean”.

Talking about binge drinking another programme they take Poms and film them on a night out……….Wow my mates at Friends are mere amateurs against these professional drinkers……………and they don’t work…hell no wonder so many people are flocking there.

Then you get the kids that are ASBO…yeah I know my thought exactly WTF is ASBO, well my unlearned friends it stands for Anti Social Behavioural Order….have to say if Pommie youth that I have seen on the TV is indicative of the average kid on the island then I am happy that my daughter is growing up in SA

Then they have a programme called the worst towns in England that’s also not bad…..I was actually shocked at how many slums (call them projects in the good old UK) and crappy areas there are on the island, I mean it’s a 1st world country, surely this cannot be, sliding into 3rd world status.

Also see Pommie adverts during these programmes and Doug have to agree with you SA rocks when it comes to creativity in adverts………Oh there goes another 100 ex –pats.

Question: How do you get a Kleenex tissue to dance ?
Answer: Put a little Boogy in it

Yeah I know ……..weak.

Have a great week, I start work again tomorrow (Monday 10th) and fly up to Joburg on Tuesday and back home on Friday….Ah the life of a Jetsetter………I’m a Jetsetter

SPAD

The History of jousting

we were watching the movie Knights Tale and wanted to know more about the history of Jousting, so looked up this website http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/history-of-jousting.htm and this is what i came up with.

The History of jousting started with the emergence of Knights as a fighting force in Europe of the Middle Ages in the 10th century. The history of the tournament and jousting started as a means for knights to practise his horsemanship skills and his prowess with the use of a lance - a weapon used by knights during the Middle Ages.

Tournaments and Jousting has been credited to a French man named Godfrey de Preuilly. The first recorded reference of a tournament was dated in 1066 and refers to Godfrey de Preuilly, who is described as having invented the medieval tournament. In the same year the Normans conquered the English at the Battle of Hastings. The division of English lands amongst the Normans saw the emergence of the Medieval feudal system. The feudal system demanded that everyone owed allegiance to the King and their immediate superior. Every noble was expected to pay for his land by providing the trained knights to fight for the King. The tournaments were entertainments devised by rich nobles to enable knights to practise their combat skills in mock battles or as in jousting in single combat.

Mock battlesThe history of jousting also described a form of jousting which was used in the mock battles. Lines of Knights faced each other on horseback, in full armor, and tilted their lances at their opponents. This form of jousting was called a "lance charge" which began the melee. A dangerous but spectacular sight.

Tournaments were forbidden by Henry IIBy the 12th century the tournament had grown so popular in England that King Henry II (1154-1189) found it necessary to forbid the sport which gathered in one place so many knights in arms and jousting contests. This was only a temporary measure but illustrates the concern regarding unnecessary injuries to the King's fighting force of highly trained Knights.

King Richard I’s Tournament Decree (1194) King Richard I (1189-1199) relaxed his father's order, granting licences for tournaments including jousting. This order was referred to as Conflictus Gallicus in which tournaments were licensed in England in 1194 by Richard I using rules brought from France. King Richard licensed five areas in England where tournaments could be held:
Between Salisbury and Wilton
Between Warwick and Kenilworth
Between Stamford and Warinford
Brackley and Mixbury
Blyth and Tickhill
Those who wished to tourney there had to obtain a license and make a payment for the privilege. Foreign knights were banned from tourneying in England.

"The famous king Richard, observing that the extra training and instruction of the French has made them correspondingly fierce in war, wished that the knights of his kingdom should train in their own lands, so that they could learn from tourneying the art of war and so that the French could not insultthe English knights for being crude and less skilled."

1292 Statute of ArmsIn 1292 the "Statute of Arms for Tournaments" was ordained by King Edward I (1272-1307). The 1292 Statute of Arms provided new laws for tournaments which included jousting. The Statute of Arms ordained that no pointed weapons should be used - they should be blunted. New types of lances were developed called the 'lance of peace'. The tip of this type of lance had either been rebated (blunted) or replaced by a metal crown-shaped head called a coronel, which was designed to disperse the impact of the blow during the jousting contest.
In 1299 life and limb were declared to be forfeit in the case of those who should arrange a tournament and jousting events without the royal licence which had been initiated by Richard the Lionheart. Offenders were to be seized with 'horse and harness'.

Judicial CombatJousting was used in a judicial combat. Disputes were settled according to the outcome of such jousts - the victor was seen to have God on his side, therefore not guilty, and the dispute was settled in his favour. The most skilled and accomplished knight in the realm was referred to as the King's champion. He would fight in jousting combat for his King. Edward III (1327-1377) challenged the King of France to combat between either two champions or 100 knights per side, in a combat "au outrance" meaning 'to the limits'. Jousting "au Outrance" was typically performed during wartime on battlefields and was performed "to the death" using sharpened lance tips.

The development of the Tilt After 1400 the tilt was invented to reduce the injuries due to jousting. A cloth stretched along the length of the lists. The cloth soon became a strong barrier of timber. The knight in full armor would charge along one side of the barrier jousting with his opponent.

The invention of the musketThe decline in jousting started with the invention of the musket firearm in 1520. The skills required in Tournaments and jousting were changing as technology advanced and new weapons were introduced.

The Death of a KingA Jousting event resulted in the death of the French King Henry II (1519 - 1599). Henry II was an avid participant in jousting tournaments. A jousting tournament had been arranged by the King to celebrate the Peace Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis and to celebrate the marriage of his daughter Elizabeth of Valois to King Philip II of Spain. On July 1, 1559 King Henry participated in a jousting contest against Gabriel Montgomery, captain of the King's Scottish Guard. The eye of King Henry was pierced by a sliver that penetrated the brain, from the shattered lance of Montgomery. The injury was terrible and he died an agonising death despite the efforts of the royal surgeon Ambroise Pare on July 10, 1559. Earlier fatalities at Jousting Tournaments included the death of Geoffrey, Count of Brittany, Son on Henry II, who was killed in 1186 and Leopold, Duke of Austria, who was slain by a fallen horse in 1194.

Pageants and JoustingTournaments and jousting were merged with magnificent pageants and state occasions. A great tournament and jousting events was arranged following the marriage of King Henry VIII and his new Queen, Katherine of Aragon. The arrest of Henry Norris occurred following a tournament attended by King Henry VIII and his second Queen, Anne Boleyn. Sir Henry Norris was accused of being a lover of Anne Boleyn, was found guilty with several other men and like Anne Boleyn herself was beheaded. Pageants and Jousting were still popular in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Sir Henry Lee was Queen Elizabeth's first champion in the tilt-yard of Whitehall and was followed in this role by the Earl of Cumberland who wore the Queen's glove pinned to the flap of his hat.

The decline of JoustingThe decline in jousting had started with the invention of the musket in 1520. The history of jousting moved an as forms of lavish entertainment and a venue where courtiers could show their skills in jousting and their horsemanship. Tastes in entertainment changed. The period of the Renaissance with new ideas in art and literature was developing. Renaissance men such as William Shakespeare emerged and the Theatre was born. The theatre and the lavish costumes, surroundings and plays were the new form of entertainment and contributed to the decline of jousting.

The CarouselThe decline of jousting in England occurred at a faster rate than the rest of Europe - due to the development of the new entertainment offered in the theatre. In France the notions of Chivalry continued tournaments and jousting into the seventeenth century - these were also referred to as Carrousels. The word Carousel is derived from the words "garosello" (Italian) and "carosella" (Spanish), both of which mean "little war". The origins dated back to the time of the crusades when a carousel was a horseman's game in which cavaliers pelted each other with balls. The "carrousel" was a ring-spearing tournament in which expert riders used their lances to spear small rings suspended between two posts at full gallop. Young French princes trained for this type of tournament by sitting on wooden horses which were attached to a center pole. The young nobles would attempt to spear small rings dangled along the outer edge of the device. To make this more difficult the device was powered round and round by a horse or a servant. The device was soon referred to as a carousel. This history of Jousting remains with us today at fairgrounds in the form of the Carousels!

"Wooooooooosh"

Just like a Cell C data bundle this year has gone “Wooooosh”, blinked my eyes and its 2011, I thought it would be interesting to recall what had happened over this year regards South Africa, Internationally as well as in the Dunkley household.

Well 2010 was “feel it in the air, it is here”, “Ayoba” 2010 Soccer world cup that many assholes both locally as well as overseas said we would never pull off that it would be a unmitigated flop and that would see all the visitors being mugged, murdered robed raped etc etc (perhaps if that dick Dewani had arranged it). Many of these detractors where South Africans living abroad who where just waiting for the country to “F#%k up big time. Guess what we didn’t, in fact the 2010 Soccer world cup (The first in Africa) was one of the best tournaments ever hosted. I attended matches watched games at the fan park and will never ever forget the month long tournament, that seemed to pass so quickly…………. “Whooooosh” so to those who said we could not do it, especially those condescending ex-pats who always keep telling us why the left SA and why we are stupid to still live here….”Byte me” I know that many South Africans living overseas felt left out and tried their best to be part of it by blowing Vuvuzela;’s flying the flag and wearing Bafana Bafana shirts………But it just was not the same …………”YOU HAD TO BE HERE. Oh” well all of you that live in London can regale us with the stories of the Olympics in 2012………Boring.

The SWC gave us a glimpse of what the country could and should be run like, but after Spain won the cup and the government of FIFA had packed up as typical South Africans we went our separate ways and we have slipped back to old ways which is not great. So not all is sunshine and roses in SA but like I say we cannot complain if a) we are not there b) don’t do anything to help

ET was murdered “no not the cute alien” , Eugene Tereblanche, founder and leader of the AWB (Afrikaans resistance movement), he was murdered in his farmhouse in suspicious circumstances that may have suggested he was having sex with his workers, well as can be expected there was call for a civil war in SA and a promise that the country would be made ungovernable, perhaps they had other things to do first but as yet………………………..”Nada”

Then of course we had the year of the Monkey, not the Chinese year, this was Juju, JM or Julius “you bloody agent” Malema. Juju proved to be this years comic relief with his outbursts and 2 feet in the mouth sayings, been quiet the last couple of weeks, perhaps he is still looking for ways to close down Wiki. I would all him a tool, but a tool is useful.

With regards Sports Formula one got the youngest champion ever in Vettel, but FI motor sport is still boring, Rugby had The Blue Bulls win the super 14 that had us all drooling for the hiding we where going to be giving the All Blacks and Aussies in the Tri Nations, But were we wrong and to be honest apart from us beating the Poms at Twickenham on 27 November the Boks had a crap season.. But not to worry because 2011 is the year the World cup comes back to us…….All blacks will not win it.

So what happened on the Dunkley home front….well I think all in all generally a good year except for near the end when I had a mini mid-life crisis…….hopefully I don’t have another one. So here in no particular order

Published a book: its called Clarens Chronicles and is selling Ok. (working on the book Phantom of the Forest that I would like to try and publish for Xmas 2011)

Got a new nickname: SPAD (Stephen Published Author Dunkley) Thanks Jeanelle

Christine’s wedding: what a awesome weekend over 4-6 December was great to spend time with all the family and it was a really great wedding, not often that you get to go o a wedding and do weightlifting at the same time.

My mom had 3 operations this year on her one eye, hopefully this latest one will sort out the problem.

Got a job with NOSA, probably the highlight of the year and while 2011 will see me having to work hard again and also do plenty learning I am looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully my salary will start to match my experience and effort put in.

Tania’s mom died this year, that was not nice and she is missed,

Got to see our UK family that came over for Loi’s funeral, so that was nice, Amber my niece is getting so big and is such a cute girl. Pity we don’t get to see her grow up here, but maybe in the future ( doubt it but who knows)

Gabby passed Std 6 and is going to std 7 (grade 9) this year, proud the way she adapted and know that she will do well this year.

Gabby also ha a boyfriend his name is Stephen (so he must be nice) Great kid that has become part of the family.

2 of our cats Snowball and Pepper died this year, Snowball was killed by another cat and Pepper we had to put down due to a long illness. They say that pets are just animals. We miss our friends

We got a cat from The SPCA, we named him Mischief and he suits his name….what a terrorist he is

Visited Clarens to promote the book, was lekker, seeing old friends and having a plate of Chicken strips at Friends. A housewarming party at Robs and watching the Boks vs Australia also great . Meatbomb, Gabby and I did the infamous Horton zip line.

Called a retard by a couple of Clarenites…..really upset me “Not”

Made friends with Doug after a number of months of having differences of opinion about the Island (England) Doug Loves it and I think it’s a Crap place.

Met a great gent from Portugal/Brazil (who is helping me with Phantom of the forest) face to face when he visited SA, that was great.

Resigned from the Goromonzi Farmboys international motorcycle club

Doug , Ryan and I did the toy run this year, that was cool.

Started a Mexican wave at a SWC game in my own country, "now thats AYOBA"

And still the best restaurant and seller of Chicken strips for 2010 is the one and only FRIENDS pub and restaurant in Clarens.

Hold the Bus not only has 2010 left the building but we have also had the first decade of the 2000’s (has anyone come up with a catch name for it yet?).Wow it was just the other day we where all crapping ourselves for the Y2K bug that was going to kill anything electronically…remember that some people took it so seriously that they built bunkers in the woods and stocked up with food, candles (much like the Chicken licken add they had on TV recently). Whooooooooooosh 10 years gone in the blink of an eye so lets see if you can remember any of these events from the last decade.

· 2001 – 9/11 can you remember where you were when you saw or heard about this?

· 2004: Tsunami in Indonesia on 26 December that killed close to 250 000 people

· 2005: Hurricane Katrina that became the most expensive natural disaster in history

· 2006: Saddam Hussein is executed (was actually 30 December that this happened)

· 2007: Boks win the Rugby world cup for a second time (Second time All Black fans)

· 2007 – 2009: Global recession

· 2009: First black president of the USA is elected , Mr Barrack Obama (Doubt he will be elected for a second term)

· 2009: Pop Icon and child molester Michael Jackson died

· 2010: Haiti earthquake that killed up to 230 000 people

· 2010: SWC in South Africa……….first time the second biggest sports event in the world is held on African soil and I can say ‘I WAS THERE”

New Years Eve was quiet his year, stayed at home, watched DVD’s played X box and nearly missed midnight. Yesterday we went to play Ten pin Bowling…I won (of course) but have to say Tania gave me a good battle. Today Sunday 2 January 2011 hoping to go and have braai on the beach, last 3 -4 days has been overcast and raining/drizzling so looks like it may be ok to braai today.

But before I go there this week has seen the Rand/Pound Exchange rate go to R10.25……..hey if it keeps on dropping it wont be worth staying on a damp, cold, institutionalized island. Many people toughen it out for the great exchange rate and the fact they can say to their SA buddies we are earning big money in R compared to the actual job we do. But hey life is about ups and downs so I am sure the Soutpiele will be happy again when the exchange rate climbs in their favour.

Some of you may have noticed that over the last year or so I have been giving my Brother in law in the UK a little uphill about him living there. (It’s like having family in prison, their still part of the family, but you don’t talk about them). Doug has said he wants to be able to tell us Patriots (people that live in SA and who’s actions speak louder than words) what its like being an Ex-pat (people who used to live in SA but their words don’t quite add up to any actions) and why its better living in the UK (London to be exact) as opposed to South Africa (Port Elizabeth) ………..Should add a little much needed spice to the Blog so I am looking forward to that. Doug just remember we need to keep the %$#% levels to Defcon 2.

Well that’s about it other than to wish you all “Lekka like a krakka” “Kif” “Ayoba” and “Shweeeeet” 2011 and remember its not how many times you fall down its how you get back up again that counts. I week left of Xmas holidays, so hopefully the weather plays along.

Ciao

SPAD

Goodbye Christmas ..............Hello Easter

Well that’s Christmas gone for another year. Next stop Easter. I believe that a large number of “Sefricans”, (especially those who have right wing inclinations) in Europe were a bit upset as they did not realise a white Christmas consisted of snow and freezing temperatures, they where contemplating a Christmas with no darkies or wogs (as our civilised British maatjies (friends) call them).

If you have seen the Checkers advert with the Nataniel talking about a Turducken (He thought was a small communist country) well it may as well be had a look at the price of one at Checkers on Monday and a small one is R450 00. I nearly fainted, I was under the impression that it was supposed to be a better priced alternative for the festive season. For those who don’t know it’s a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey, good job there wasn’t fish involved other wise the name may have been rather risqué

Europe is still under a white sheet but it seems that its not only the snow, ice and cold that they have to be worried about, terrorism has raised its ugly head in Europe (England, Italy and Sweden) with bombs either going off, being defused or plans being foiled to blow up 12 (count them 12) tourist related spots in England. Sort of makes me happy to be living on the tip of Africa and away from all that apprehension. It also got me thinking about the 1980’s in SA when you had to walk through metal detectors when shopping, women’s bags being searched but men with side arms being allowed to wander around that made no sense to me whatsoever.

So what have we been up to this week, well apart from doing a little last minute Xmas shopping and pottering around the house, going to the beach not much to be honest, a “luie lekker” week as they say in the classic’s.

While we love Sards (Sardinia bay) we have found another really awesome beach called Kini bay, near Seaview. Its further than Sards but there are a couple of spots that are just great to sit and chill, snorkel, braai, drink a beer or contemplate the meaning of life, all done this last week.

Do you remember me telling you about Stumpy tail the Cat that made The Terminator look like Noddy, the cat that killed Snowball, well it would seem “ding dong, the cat is dead” have not seen him for ages and rumour in the cul de sac is that he has gone to kitty hell. So we have now started to leave windows pen again, but it’s a little like one of those slasher movies where you see the bad dude getting killed but you just have a feeling there is going to be a sequel.

Bought our cat Mischief a Christmas present, it’s a Cat Play Station, here is a photo of it. Gabby and I did a city tour on the scooter on Wednesday, we also went to the main library to look for info on The LM coup that I need for my “Phantom of the Forest” book. I had a great time with Gabby, must definitely do it more often. Some people (and not celebrities either) have hundreds of friends on Facebook (I have 90+). How do you keep up with that many people, surely it’s not possible, I know that I only keep in touch with about 20 of the 90, so I should actually can the ones I don’t keep in touch with. This then begs the question why have hundred of friends if your not actually taking an active interest in their lives or they yours. Is it like a “mines bigger than yours” competition?

I have utmost respect for those people that can wrap Xmas presents so nicely. Mine always look like they have been dragged through a hedge backwards and then dropped in a blender. I battle to find the tear in the cello tape so I can cut small strips to use to wrap the presents. Usually I stick the pieces on a table for easy access, however what usually happens is that the pieces stick to the table and cannot be used or the tape curls up and sticks on itself, rendering that piece unusable also the tape always seems to have a mind of its own and sticks to the wrapping paper, but not in the spot you want. I always have a present left but not enough paper to cover it, so it’s back to the shop to buy another roll.

On Friday I had coffee with an old boss of mine at the PE air port, actually Wayne was the owner of a few hotels I worked at, he then went into partnership with an asshole (actually 2) a father and son team who managed to break the close relationship that Wayne and I enjoyed. We have stayed in contact intermittently but I had not seen Wayne for about 8 years so it was really good to catch up on news.

Talking about air ports it’s interesting to see the emotions at different parts of the terminus, at departures the mood varies between happy and sombre, if you’re going on a journey its cool, but if you’re leaving after visiting family or leaving forever it can be pretty Kak. At arrivals however it a different matter there is a buzz and an air of expectancy with family or loved one arriving.

Been watching a programme called cops on TV lately and have to say the police in the states are just soooooooooo gay its not funny, “I am putting you in cuffs because your freaking me out” this is the quote from a cop detaining a really bad man who drove down the road with no lights………WOW. Also two huge cops have to call for backup to arrest some 90 pound weakling and then tazer the poor sod when he does not get out of the car fast enough, but only when they have more cops there than Hitler had soldiers.

And while we are on the subject of travelling........... News flash - All South Africans need to get foreign passports because as a South African passport holder we “cannot travel anywhere on a SA passport”……….No its not info from the department of Home affairs or a Government bulletin, its an arbitrary (uninformed/illogical) comment that I picked up on a social interaction page, this now makes sense as to why so many South Africans are flocking overseas and waiting to qualify for a passport of the country they have chosen, its so they can travel to any destination of their choice, but wait how did they get there in the first place if you cannot travel anywhere on a SA passport, did they swim, micro light, hitch a lift with Ewan and Charlie, walk? I wonder then who fills the flights that leave from South African airports for foreign destinations? I will definitely have to look into this conundrum (puzzle/challenge) as to how as South Africans we cannot travel anywhere but manage to get to Kuwait, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada etc. Maybe what the person was trying to say is that as a South African you need visa’s to get into certain countries but with a EU or other foreign passport you can waltz in and out of those countries without even a "bye your leave". Will check on this and get back to you.

Seems that a gent was arrested in Queenstown (Eastern Cape) for driving a stolen Mercedes panel van (borrowed for the boss, a funeral parlour) without his permission, that’s bad I hear you say, yes it is but I have not finished, he had 15 stolen sheep (yes 15) as well as 6 passengers and was just a little over the legal alcohol limit, “32 times to be exact”. He said that he bought the sheep, but the cops could see that he was just trying to pull the wool over their eyes. Only in Africa,

Xmas eve we had a really nice dinner prepared by Tania (thanks my love) and dad came across to join us, sent a couple of messages on face book. The table that Tania set was also very lekker and we had a really nice evening chatting and having a couple of drinks

Xmas day woke up to a nice wet PE, Santa had been kind enough to bring us 12mm of much needed precipitation other wise we spent a relaxed day, just Tania, Gabby, myself and Keith, woke up earlyish, and cleaned the pool, yeah I know “not normal” but then again am I normal? Had a nice breakfast and spoke to family in Gauteng and then skyped the UK family, was nice to see Amber and she seemed to enjoy seeing Mischief the cat. For lunch we had a do it yourself lunch of cold meats and salads, Gabby had Sushi and everyone just did there own thing, think maybe next year like Ryan has done this year we take a pilgrimage up to Gauteng and spend a Xmas with the Dunkley, Esterhuizen, Kingham (well some of them) Clans at the family estate (five and a half acre plot in Petit). Late afternoon Stephen popped in and we drove to Sards to take a walk on the beach and take my Gnome (Xmas present from Tania) for a photo shoot. Beach was busy with a number of families just relaxing and enjoying a typical SA Port Elizabeth Xmas day (on the beach).

Boxing or family day as we know it in SA was also “rustig” (quiet for those who don’t understand the “taal”…sorry language) but do you know the origins of the day??...No well I checked and here it is The reason that the December 26th was known as 'Boxing Day' was the fact that many centuries ago, the Lord and Lady of the manor/castle/estate gathered together at the manor house, castle etc., the workers including those from the outlying fields, forests and streams, the day after Christmas Day and organized the distribution of the annual necessities, done according to the status of the worker and the size of the family. Into boxes and barrels would go supplies of cloth spun by the spinsters, the cobbler’s leather goods, new tools and supplies of salt and spices. Also dried goods such as meat, fish, vegetables and some fruit and cereals grown on the estate for bread making. This the giving out of such boxes became "Boxing Day".

We have had some rain this week, mostly drizzle and the Xmas 12mm but dam levels have only risen from 31.5 % to 31.6%, I never thought that having a bath would be a luxury, I am not a shower fan, but if you want to have a bath you don’t shower for a week to save up the water to have a very shallow bath, so mostly we just shower. Talk about being optimistic there is a Chinese guy trying to sell hosepipes on the side of the road just around the corner from us….I don’t know if he knows there is a ban on hosepipes as well as a drought. Maybe we should tell him.

It’s possible that the December sevens that is usually hosted in George is moving to PE from next year, we have competition from Cape Town and Rustenburg, so its not a certainty…but here is hoping.

Here is a little story that I found interesting that came from an e-mail contact who has been assisting me with information on Daniel Roxo.

"And by the way, I was born in number 26 Dunkley Street in Cape Town, which was a rather poor area in my childhood days but our old house has been declared a National Monument - along with all of the other houses in Dunkley Street - and has now become a sort of Yuppie hangout. So naturally, Dunkley Street has made way for Dunkley Square but the old Dunkley Street sign still hangs on the wall to the left of our old house (facing the house, that is). I thought I had to share that with you".

Maybe some of you remember at the beginning of the year that I was going to collect 5c pieces that I had picked up over the year, well I have just counted them (yeah slow day) and there are 241 which is the grand sum of R12.05, enough for a Quart of Millers.

Got to love the new angle that the Nigerians are using to scam money out of people, have to say this one had some thought and effort put into it….Who falls for this shit?

“Hello I am a British soldier currently in Afghanistan. I am with the 40th Regiment Royal Artillery in Afghanistan. We hijacked a suspected Van painted black between the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Door gunners sitting behind machine guns in the Black Van tried shooting at our direction but we lunched a combat backup attack on the Black Van none of the Taliban survived the attack. We discovered other currencies including US dollars of about $ 16 million loaded inside the Black Van with so many types of machine guns. We want to move this money out of this place, before we declare other items in the van to the international press. This place is a war zone you will keep our share pending the end of our assignment here in Afghanistan. We will take 60%. You take 40%. No strings attached, just help us move it out of Afghanistan, Afghanistan is a war zone. We plan to use secured logistics courier to ship the money out in a large box.

If you can help to receive the box for us, I will send you the full details. Kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone/fax numbers for quick communication also your contact details. This should be a secret and must be a secret between us.” Respectfully,Gen Sir David Richards (right)
Well on that innovative note, that’s about it for this week , only 1 week left and its 2011, some people cant wait for it to arrive, others are sad that 2010 is on the way out, “Time stands still for no man, or woman for that matter”.

Here are a couple of sayings/quotes that I read this week.

"I would like to see your point of view on this argument but I can’t shove my head up my ass that far"

"I have not met anyone that I was not able to annoy"...(Must get me a T shirt that say that)

Ciao
SPAD

Switch off the engines

Used to be a joke that did the rounds in the early 80’s that went something like this

Q: What’s the difference between a Boeing 747 and an ex – Rhodesian
A: The Boeing stops whining when it gets to the airport and switches of its engines

Rhodesians were flocking into SA from Zimbabwe as they did not want to live under black rule and we called them “When We’s” because the conversation always started “When we……..”. Funny to think that ex pat South Africans now hold the mantle of the “When we” “When we lived in SA…………” “When we ran the country…………….”.

Whenever I read one of the Blog’s that we get on news 24 from an ex South African , I get the impression that they are writing it while drinking as they always seem to start happy with what’s so great about their new homeland, then it goes on to the Dronkverdriet stage of why they would love to come back to SA and they miss the Sun, Highveld thunderstorms, Mrs Balls Chutney and Aromat and then it goes on to the we told you so stage and what s going to happen to the rest of us poor sods that are left to the mercy of the Black hordes that rule the country.

I Live in Port Elizabeth, yesterday we enjoyed a day at the beach in that glorious SA sun and did we get harassed, did we get mugged………..NO. Last night I left my car unlocked and windows down in the driveway and to my horror when I woke up this morning it was still there, yes can you believe it “Still there” but how can this be? The “When we’s” say that cars get stolen all the time with impunity. Today I took my daughter on the scooter and spent the day together exploring the city old and new parts taking photos walking the streets, you know what I saw? Citizens of PE getting on, I did not once feel threatened or unsafe. “When We’s” would have been horrified to see in the city centre, that old and young ladies (single and white) walk in predominantly black parts of the business district, without a care in the world. How can this be do the “When We’s” not tell us that they left because they could not walk the streets and if they did they would get murdered and raped.

I am not naïve and know that there are many challenges that this country faces and that crime is a problem. My dad had a gun put against his head and the gun misfired, was he scared…………Yes, did he run…No. Sometimes you got to harden the F%$k up.

You can mock this Blog, you can call me names you can tear me to pieces for living in La La land , “I don’t give a shit”. I love this country and I am here to make it work for everyone, not just one skin colour (as it was in the past). I am not going to run away because some bitter and twisted ex pat says I have to. Enjoy what you have in your new found Shangri-La (Freezing temperatures and bomb threats in London, cannot be good) Leave me to enjoy South Africa and the many positives that it holds.

And remember “Africa is not for sissies”

"Just Chllin"

Well the good news is that after 11 days managed to get my Cell C contract activated and number ported ……….. Cell C “the power is on your hands” MY ASS, No coffee, no service, just crap, the only thing that goes Wooooosh in the Cell C shop at Walmer shopping centre Port Elizabeth is the air going through the staffs ears. You must know how crap they are if they managed to get Tania to swear………..”Now that’s a talent”

After a long long long flight (or should I say flights) Doug, Nici and Amber got back to the island, sent an SMS to say they where expecting snow on Saturday, nice for them to have a white Xmas. Here Xmas will be quiet, Tania, Gabby, Keith and I (I am sure that Stephen will come and visit for a few hours). Ryan and family left on Thursday evening for Gauteng to spend Xmas with Kirsten’s sister and family, know Ryan was not to keen on that, cant say I blame him (not the spending time with family, spending Xmas in Gauteng), I am sure Ryan will make an excuse to go and watch the SA vs India game at Centurion. See that on websites (Friday 17th) we have already won the series and India are crap, this after only 1 day with a green wicket and having rained, India were 136 for 9…..however we have to bat still, so let’s see what happens. Update (Sat 18) is that SA scored over 600) with Jacques Kallis scoring his first double century, that’s 200 runs or more for those that don’t follow cricket.

Seems the snow forecast was correct (London - Blizzards and freezing temperatures shut down runways, train tracks and highways across Europe on Saturday, disrupting flights and leaving shivering drivers stranded on roadsides.).

See the Aussies are fighting back against the Poms in the ashes series, this with the British press all but having the series won just because they beat the Aussies in the first test. Still a long way to go In that series as well and even if you don’t like the Aussies you have to admire their tenacity and never say die attitude. (they won by 267 runs)

Cant remember if I told you but just before Doug left back for the balmy Christmas weather of the island he did 2 things 1) presented me with the Shit Stirrer wooden spoon (floating trophy) “got a feeling that I will probably hold on to it for a while” and B) sabotaged one of my Millers beers by putting some fake beer powder in it. What was I more upset with being called a Shit stirrer or having my beer tampered with? …….My beer being tampered with of course, yeah I can stir when I want to, now I have a licence (Thanks Doug)

I see that asshole (pardon the pun) Shrien Dewani hired a male prostitute when in SA, (“Cape Town - A German male escort has contacted British police with claims that murder-accused Shrien Dewani paid him for sex, it emerged on Wednesday”) amazingly there are people on news 24 that believe he is innocent and that he is being framed for being

British and gay………….. Probably family members trying to do some damage control. If he is into alternate sex then he will be really happy when he is jailed here in SA as he will be busy every day and won’t even need to pay for the services. As the drink and drive advert says “They would love to a client,

Wednesday we had the staff Christmas lunch at the Cattle Baron restaurant, was not to shabby Nigel………..Then it was in the words of Alice Cooper “Schools out for Summer” I am back at work on the 10th of January …….Then up to a trainers conference on the 11th in Centurion for a couple of days.

A good friend of ours in Clarens (Jeanelle) was diagnosed with encephalitis which is an inflammation of the brain caused by a viral infection. The Drs are not sure how she was affected, I was just really surprised she had a brain………he he just kidding Jeanelle, you know we are thinking of you and Love you like family so get better soon.

While the rest of the country has had Monsoon season and floods we managed a paltry 10mm rain on Thursday and 9 on Friday (better than nothing) but not even a drop in the ocean to what we need, the Dam in Fort Beaufort is empty and businesses have had to close down. Meanwhile Clarens has had over 200mm and Gauteng had well over 160mm.

The opening season Fireworks display was postponed on Thursday night due to the rain and low cloud cover, but we went to watch on Friday, was pretty cool and had a nice vantage point, Dad came with us and was nice to have him with us. Must say really proud of dad, while I know he is missing Lois he has decided that life needs to be lived and is going out and doing things and enjoying life. Next year he is going to the UK to visit Nici, Doug and Amber (Just don’t think of staying there dad, otherwise we will come and haul your ass back. We where there about an hour before the display and sat about half a k away, to keep ourselves amused we decided to see who could jump the furthest from a set point….good to know that I can still out jump a 15 year old ……….while that was great, the fact my knees hurt like hell for the next two days was not.

The Government is looking to bring in new legislation to stop alcohol abuse in SA.

“Johannesburg - New legislation might ban alcohol brands from advertising, place a moratorium on new liquor licenses and make any drinking before driving illegal, Beeld reported on Thursday. "We need drastic legislation to combat alcohol abuse and to regulate the industry more strictly," Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini told reporters in Johannesburg.

Dlamini and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who was also at the announcement, said their departments would initiate steps to draw up the legislation next year.
A moratorium on liquor licenses would mean no new restaurants would be able to serve alcohol and no new bars could open, the newspaper reported”.

This is all good and well, but like most laws in SA if there is neither the trained staff of the will to enforce them then the law means nothing. If they policed the smoking laws then 60% of the pubs would go out of business due to the fines, but have you ever heard of a restaurant ,pub or sports arena being fined or closed down for allowing smoking in a non –smoking area ??. We have some of the most stringent anti-smoking laws in the world and they are not enforced, so who is going to ensure that the new laws regards drinking are adhered to…………....No one that’s who, so its legislation just for legislating sake.

Talking about drinking and driving the local pub that I have been frequenting (The Golden Duck) is closing down. Was ok had a decent atmosphere, good cold and reasonably priced Draught, but seriously shit chicken strips……ah well back to the drawing board. Perhaps we need Kelvin to open a Friend’s franchise here in PE, about 1km from my house. What ya think Kelvin ??

Don’t mess with the Russians

RUSSIAN NAVY CAPTURES SOMALIAN PIRATES
And this is how it's done

This videotape shows Russian Navy commandos on a Somalian pirate ship shortly after the pirates had captured a Russian oil tanker. The Euro Union navy that patrols these waters would not interfere because they feared there could be casualties. All explanations are in Russian with a single exception of when a wounded pirate says something in English and the Russian soldier says "This is not a fishing boat.". All conversations between the commandos are in Russian. If you don't understand Russian, the pictures speak for themselves. The soldiers freed their compatriots and the tanker. The Russian Navy Commandos moved the pirates back to their own (pirate) ship, searched the pirate ship for weapons and explosives and then they left the ship and exploded it with all remaining pirates hand-cuffed to it. The commandos sank the pirate ship along with the pirates and without any court proceedings, lawyers etc. That is, they used the anti-piracy laws of the 18th and 19th centuries where the captain of the rescuing ship has the right to decide what to do with the pirates. Usually, they were hung.

I would think from now on, Russian ships will not be targets for Somalian pirates.. http://true-turtle.livejournal.com/85315.html

There was a Scottish pipe band at a local shopping centre of Saturday, pretty good as well, playing not only traditional Scottish tunes but Christmas carols as well…….. All I have to say is “Give that man a Bells”

Went for a beach walk and a braai today (Sunday) and what stated off as a foggy and overcast day ended up being ok, much better than the weather in Europe that’s for sure, wonder how many Home sick “Sefricans” are wandering around London today wondering “wat die fok gebeur het” wishing they were home. Don’t worry dudes we will take up the slack for you, enjoy the cold and icy weather…he he he. Wors rolls and beer on the beach really not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning.

I see that a third movie in the Fokker series will come out on the 24th of December, first it was “Meet the parents”, then “Meet the Fokkers” and coming soon to a big screen near you (Unless you live in Marquard of course) is “The Little Fokkers” should be Fokken good.

That’s about it for this week and with only 5 shopping days left to Christmas I need to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. (None of this politically correct happy holiday crap for me.)

Ciao

SPAD