Receiver this in an email from Princess:-
Questions about South Africa were posted on a South African Tourism Website,and were answered by the website owner.
Q: Does it ever get windy in South Africa? I have never seen it rain on TV,so how do the plants grow? (UK)
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
Q: Will I be able to see elephants in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you've been drinking or sniffing.
Q: I want to walk from Durban to Cape Town - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only two thousand kilometres. Take lots of water.
Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in South Africa? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.
Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in South Africa? Can you send me a list of them in JHB, Cape Town, Knysna and Jeffrey's Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?
Q: Can you give me some information about Koala Bear racing in South Africa? (USA)
A: Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific. A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the Koala Bear racing is every Tuesday night in Hillbrow. Come naked.
Q: Which direction is north in South Africa? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get there and we'll send the rest of the directions.
Q: Can I bring cutlery into South Africa? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is. oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Hillbrow, straight after the Koala Bear races. Come naked.
Q: Do you have perfume in South Africa? (France)
A: No, WE don't stink.
Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in South Africa? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
Q: Can you tell me the regions in South Africa where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in South Africa? (France)
A: Only at Christmas.
Q: Are there killer bees in South Africa? (Germany)A: Not yet, but for you, we'll import them.
Q: Are there supermarkets in Cape Town and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegan hunter-gatherers. Milk is illegal
Q: Please send a list of all doctors in South Africa who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca, which is where YOU come from. All South African snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets. Good examples of snakes as pets are mambas (both green and black), rinkhals and municipal workers.
Q: I was in South Africa in 1969, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Hillbrow. Can you help? (USA)
A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.
Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.
Salagatle!
LIU - Look It Up!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Mandela ry laan
So, some lessons in Afrikaans:-
Straat - Street
Laan - Avenue
Rylaan - Drive
In Pretoria (LIU) there is a street called MANDELA RYLAAN.
Someone has painted over the MAN
(MAN)DE LA RY LAAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant!!
Salagatle!
Straat - Street
Laan - Avenue
Rylaan - Drive
In Pretoria (LIU) there is a street called MANDELA RYLAAN.
Someone has painted over the MAN
(MAN)DE LA RY LAAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant!!
Salagatle!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Koffiefontein
So we spent the weekend in Koffiefontein! (Look it up). Went there for a farm wedding.
Well, if you consider that the average annual rainfall for the area is about 250mm, and on Saturday we had 12 mm, we had about 5% of the annual rainfall in one day, on the day of the GARDEN WEDDING!!! What's the odds?
Friday we arrived at the hunting lodge at about 5.30pm, where we were booked to stay for the weekend. Clear blue skies, and that night sitting around a fire, clear black, star filled skies. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find a more star filled sky.
Saturday am - looked like rain. By midday, it was rain.
Sunday am - arose to a clear blue, sun filled sky!!!
Now I know that the saying goes "If it rains on your wedding it's good luck", but this was ridiculous. As it happened, we had to cram 120 - 130 guests into the farmhouse, no mean feat. But we did, and it was great fun, and amusing.
The bride was lovely. I've known her since she was born, and it was a privilege to be invited to her wedding. The groom is a good, Afrikaans boy. Good family, hard worker.
The band / entertainment was first class. I don't think there was one instrument these two guys couldn't play, and there were some played I have never seen before. Brilliant stuff, there is some serious talent out there, especially in our Afrikaans population.
The food was great. Typical Afrikaans farm cuisine, but then what would you expect. Two sheep and on piglet, all on the spit, complimented by some fresh salads, potatoes done in garlic and parsley and butter, chunks of real home made bread, butter, and jam....
The people present were great, real salt of the earth type of "boere"!
Funny part to the whole affair was that the bride, a van der Merwe, will retain her surname, as she married a van der Merwe!! Incestuous I hear you say? Not at all. This family name goes back a long way, and is quite common here, and chances are they could be related, but so many generations back it wouldn't matter anyway..... would it?
Salagatle!
Well, if you consider that the average annual rainfall for the area is about 250mm, and on Saturday we had 12 mm, we had about 5% of the annual rainfall in one day, on the day of the GARDEN WEDDING!!! What's the odds?
Friday we arrived at the hunting lodge at about 5.30pm, where we were booked to stay for the weekend. Clear blue skies, and that night sitting around a fire, clear black, star filled skies. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find a more star filled sky.
Saturday am - looked like rain. By midday, it was rain.
Sunday am - arose to a clear blue, sun filled sky!!!
Now I know that the saying goes "If it rains on your wedding it's good luck", but this was ridiculous. As it happened, we had to cram 120 - 130 guests into the farmhouse, no mean feat. But we did, and it was great fun, and amusing.
The bride was lovely. I've known her since she was born, and it was a privilege to be invited to her wedding. The groom is a good, Afrikaans boy. Good family, hard worker.
The band / entertainment was first class. I don't think there was one instrument these two guys couldn't play, and there were some played I have never seen before. Brilliant stuff, there is some serious talent out there, especially in our Afrikaans population.
The food was great. Typical Afrikaans farm cuisine, but then what would you expect. Two sheep and on piglet, all on the spit, complimented by some fresh salads, potatoes done in garlic and parsley and butter, chunks of real home made bread, butter, and jam....
The people present were great, real salt of the earth type of "boere"!
Funny part to the whole affair was that the bride, a van der Merwe, will retain her surname, as she married a van der Merwe!! Incestuous I hear you say? Not at all. This family name goes back a long way, and is quite common here, and chances are they could be related, but so many generations back it wouldn't matter anyway..... would it?
Salagatle!
Celtic Harp
I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before, but I love reading. I read all the time, in front of the TV, in bed, when I have some free time. Not heavy reading, but I like almost any books. Among my collection of about 400 books in the library (yes, we have a library in the home), is a selection of about 30 Readers Digest Condensed story books. I'm slowly working my way through them, having bought a whole lot about 20 years ago, and inherited a whole lot more in 2001.
I have just finished reading what must be one of the most beautiful stories I have ever had the privilege to read.
The Island Harp - by Jeanne Williams. Set on some Scottish Islands around the time of the Irish Potato famine, it is hard reading as a lot of Scottish words are used, but I managed to learn their meanings by re-reading the sentences they were in, or understanding the concept of the paragraph.
It's beautiful!!! Worth a read.
Rumour has it that we are all only 7 places removed from anyone on this planet, ie., I know someone, who knows someone who knows someone.....x7 who will know Jeanne Williams. If this is true then:-
Ms. Williams, thank you so much for sharing this story with us. If only 30% of it would be true it would still bring out of most readers an incredible empathy for the suffering endured by those islanders so long ago. The description of the Celtic harp, and it's music brings it to life for me, so much so that I now want to find a CD with it's music recorded thereon. I want to visit those islands, and see the rocks, the peat, feel the wind.
Surely those hard times is what built the now famous Scottish pride and strength, and is the reason why, still today, most of them want to independent, and not part of any "foreign" governance.
Again I thank you, and hope to read more of your stuff.
Salagatle!
I have just finished reading what must be one of the most beautiful stories I have ever had the privilege to read.
The Island Harp - by Jeanne Williams. Set on some Scottish Islands around the time of the Irish Potato famine, it is hard reading as a lot of Scottish words are used, but I managed to learn their meanings by re-reading the sentences they were in, or understanding the concept of the paragraph.
It's beautiful!!! Worth a read.
Rumour has it that we are all only 7 places removed from anyone on this planet, ie., I know someone, who knows someone who knows someone.....x7 who will know Jeanne Williams. If this is true then:-
Ms. Williams, thank you so much for sharing this story with us. If only 30% of it would be true it would still bring out of most readers an incredible empathy for the suffering endured by those islanders so long ago. The description of the Celtic harp, and it's music brings it to life for me, so much so that I now want to find a CD with it's music recorded thereon. I want to visit those islands, and see the rocks, the peat, feel the wind.
Surely those hard times is what built the now famous Scottish pride and strength, and is the reason why, still today, most of them want to independent, and not part of any "foreign" governance.
Again I thank you, and hope to read more of your stuff.
Salagatle!
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