Northern Rhodesians Worldwide
|
|
Message Board
Chisanga
Gee, I hung about at home in Amsterdam on a Saturday night... now that's a BIG deal for me! But I DID rent KEY LARGO, THE WILD ONE, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY's and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE to keep me occupied!
Nothin' but the best!
Tot straks...
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, May 31, 2003 at 19:59:04 (UTC)
|
Chisanga
I received a message on my phone from you, but no, I do not know how to retrieve the number.
I was expecting you to ring today, but there is no message on my phone. It is now 18:50 Amsterdam time.
If you ring back, you need to leave a number (vocally) so that I can ring you back.
Tot straks...
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, May 31, 2003 at 16:52:09 (UTC)
|
Lynn Szeftel, Harshad Kamble, Peter Hills
Happy Birthday
Northerners
Have just received this press release in and thought you might be interested:
London based Zambian Film Producer and Actor, Manish Patel and his team interrupted the tranquillity in the playground of the rich and famous last week as they set Cannes ablaze with the premiere of Manish’s first film 'Triads, Yardies and Onion Bhajees'.
The only film to get an official selection from Britain for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2003, Triads, Yardies and Onion Bhajees written by and starring 29 year old Manish scooped the Black and Asian Film Academy Award at the recently held Cannes film Festival 2003.
The film won the Best Picture Award beating off competition from ten other entries. 'Triads, Yardies and Onion Bhajees' is the first film to depict Asians operating in London’s gangland and is based on Manish’s first novel, the Stone Shiva which was published last August.
Until recently in British gangster films like Guy Ritchie’s Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, blacks played comic roles and Indians were only seen behind cash counters in corner shops. In the real world, gun culture is turning to be the biggest problem among Indian and black communities.
The plot of the film follows gangs of all origins operating across London. After its initial screening in the UK Section of the Cannes Festival, the Americans also requested to see it. Manish who stars in the film says, The moral of the story is that crime doesn’t pay. The film received an unbelievable ovation.
The film has also been selected to be judged in Britain at the Bradford Film Festival on 21 June and the Ealing Film Festival in July 2003.
Manish hopes to return to Cannes next year with a film to be shot in September called Prison Bars, Cars and Sitars.
Manish was the only producer from Britain to take home a prize.
Triads, Yardies and Onion Bhajees will be screened in UK cinemas at the end of August.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Saturday, May 31, 2003 at 11:24:19 (UTC)
|
Doug Grewar
Our thoughts are with you Doug.
Your Dad was the epitome of rare Northern Rhodesian character.
Best wishes from Pam & me
Bill Hunt [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Widenham, Natal, South Africa
Friday, May 30, 2003 at 17:43:51 (UTC)
|
Hi,Strangers
yes it is I, back from hibernation.
Just to let you all know that I will be visiting UK mid June and some of you may receive a phone call to meet up and in true Zambian style, have a p....up for old times sake.
Cheers all,
That "other" Lusakan
Lynn Szeftel (née Mayoss) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Friday, May 30, 2003 at 10:49:16 (UTC)
|
Hello to you all again,
Doug, sorry to hear of the passing of your father. That news and the subsequent messages of condolences from all over the world almost breached my emotional dam . It was certainly badly cracked and I really had to fight back the tears and stop myself going to pieces. As many of you who have been reading the message board over the last couple of years will know, my father died very suddenly, unexpectedly and I have to add mysteriously, on June 5th 1953 in Mulobezi N R.
He had taken us to Africa after the war, as he believed there was a much better future there for him and his family, Sadly he did not make it for very long. My poor mother woke up on that morning to find a hitherto very fit man, dead in bed beside her, she never got over the shock, and had a very difficult time bringing up my sister and myself without her partner, whom she never stopped loving, and talking about. We never have found out the cause of his death, it will forever remain one of lifes enigmas. Anyway spare him a thought as you go about your business on June 5th(The 50th anniversary of his passing). He did his bit for Northern Rhodesia while he was there.
It is "hot " in the north of England at the moment, we reached the dizzy heights of 23 C yesterday
although two of my sons who are in Gran Canaria at the moment had 44 c a couple of days ago!! Bye Bye for now barribee.
Barrie Braidford [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Friday, May 30, 2003 at 09:59:39 (UTC)
|
Brasso is back!!!!! Feeling very guilty too am I.
Hello Northerners. Sincere apolgies for appearing to have disappeared off the face of the earth but as some of U may be aware I have been tied up with family matters Etc.
I have however been a background lurker.
Hope U are all well. Dave, Craig, Sarkyarthur, Heather and soooooo many others - thanks for posting messages, pictures, poems and many other forms of input on the message board. That is what makes this site so unique on the web that special individual touch.
Des, Ade, Mo, Fi, Ada & Chris, Scarscalp & Debs, Graham & Fiona, Brian & Julia, Paudie & Sue and so many others (if I listed them all I'd be here all nite). Common folks get posting again.
Heather ...... only 8 confirmed for Livingstone Lark todate. Common folks show some support please. If the kids & I could make the trip back "home" we'd do so but my circumstances at moment do not permitt and I feel very disappointed. I wish the Zambian Reunion well and hope there will be a big surge in demand between now and September to make it better than the Banbury Bash I put together last year. Good luck Heather & I hope all your hard work repay you with a good attendance.
Gary Brassington [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Banbury, Oxon., United Kingdom
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 22:43:50 (UTC)
|
Hi All
www.nrzam.plus.com has been updated
These two issues of the Northern Rhodesia Journal have been made available through the generosity of John Fleming and the thoughtfulness of his brother, Paddy.
Added Northern Rhodesia Journal Volume I - No. 3 - 1951
Fifty Years in Central Africa
The Ndola Experimental Tree Plantation
The Launching of the "Good News"
How the Rhodesian Coppers Were Found - Part III
The Barotse Concessions
A Short History of Boxing in Northern Rhodesia
Bushmen Hunters of the Barotse Forests
The Gaboon Viper
Memories of Abandoned Bomas - No. 1 : Mwengwa
Notes: When did slave trading end? /Jack MerryNew contributors to this number /Willie Lammond /Chirupula on some characters
Correspondence & Book Review: Place names /The Livingstone Memorial /A lonely grave /A pioneer remembers
Northern Rhodesia Society
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Added Northern Rhodesia Journal Volume I - No. 4 - 1951
First Exploration of the Kafue Gorge
Early Days in Kalomo and Livingstone
Some Notes on Northern Rhodesian Birds - Part I
Historic Cannons at Kasama
The Barotse Concessions - Part II
The Death and Burial of Chief Kazembe XIV
The First Issue of Northern Rhodesia Postage Stamps
The Monze Meteorite
The Ila Buffalo Drive, 1934
A Note on the "Makishi"
Notes: More about man-eaters /The Pinkbill association/Chirupula on Journal No. II /New Contributors /Line Decorations
Book Reviews
Correspondence: Native Name of Victoria Falls /A Lacerda Query /More abought the Finaughtys /The age of anthills /A history of drama
Northern Rhodesia Society
Regards Ian
Ian Singer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 21:46:56 (UTC)
|
Northeners,
http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/zw/centralafrican.htm
With all that chatter about Zambia Airways, some of you may want to reminisce here. Please remember that CAA broke into 3 parts on January 1, 1964, som many of you will never have seen this livery.
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 20:28:31 (UTC)
|
My Friends,
Thank you all for your kind words.
Warmest Regards - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 18:53:19 (UTC)
|
Doug,
I convey my sincere condolences on the passing of your father. He was an adventurous man and I know you will miss him. Fathers tend to live in us after they die. I am certain he will live in you to eternity.
Mwizenge Tembo [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Virginia, United States
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 13:49:57 (UTC)
|
David Gray, Victor Dawson, Katrina Robertson
Happy Birthday
Bob Eglinton
Have you finished yet??? I'm dying to know what it is, so don't keep me in suspense too long.
Doug
Sorry to hear about your dad. He sounds like many of the people who came here - very little education, but through hard work, became successful and contributed greatly to the development of the country. I'm sure it was a life well lived and that he enjoyed it along the way.
Northerners
I'm rather tired today, having been up half the night last night reading
They Served Africa with Wings: 60 Years of Aviation in Central Africa. I haven't finished it yet, but it is full of interesting photographs, stories and anecdotes:
- the Imperial Airways Hercules, which in the 1930's, force landed in a dambo near Broken Hill. It took them three days to find the unharmed but hungry and dirty crew. The advert for Imperial at the time read 'The mail may be lost but not mislaid; the passengers may be delayed but not lost'
- the S45 Solent which punctured one of its keels at Livingstone was repaired by filling it with a mixture of cement and linseed oil.
- the Vickers Viking which was grounded by the Katanga Government for gun-running and was then stolen from Elizabethville Airport by Capt. George Bellamy who 'persuaded UN soldiers to help him inflate the tyres and start the engines for a test run. Before anyone knew what was happening he was gone; later making a successful landing at Ndola ....'
and for Craig, true to Bamba Zonke form, even way back in 1931, when Imperial Airways introduced a weekly return service between Cairo and Cape Town 'The route, as originally projected, excluded Salisbury and only included one landing in Southern Rhodesia, namely Bulawayo. On representation being made of the importance of Salisbury as an airport ..... it was agreed that the latter town should be substituted for Livingstone'. But they (the SR Government) had to pay a bribe for this - an annual subsidy of £ 10,000.
Can't wait to get home this evening to carry on reading.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 09:39:10 (UTC)
|
Hello All
I am looking for information on classic, vintage, collectable cars that have been owned in Northern Rhodesia/Zambia. I am currently doing private research on cars owned in Southern Africa and would be most grateful for any information or photographs that any GNR members might be able to forward to me. I am especially interested in Rolls-Royce and Bentley, but info on any makes of car will be appreciated.
Thank you for your assistance.
Regards
Wayne M. Kennerley
Wayne Kennerley [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
New Malden, Surrey, United Kingdom
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 09:31:59 (UTC)
|
Bob Eglinton
My South African colleague and I spent all our lunch hour reading your school antics. I can't believe Rennie boys behaved like that? We're looking forward to your brush with the authorities, complete with photographic evidence.
Craig
Takes no time at all to open the GNR site here in Perth. It wouldn't matter if it took half an hour. It's a great drawcard.
Marilyn
Marilyn Noall (née Shooter) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 06:05:03 (UTC)
|
Doug,
I was really sorry to hear about your father. Your friends on the GNR are thinking of you.
Ron,
What lovely words you wrote. Very thoughtful and touching.
Denise,
Hope you get better soon. We're thinking of you too.
Marilyn
Marilyn Noall (née Shooter) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 05:41:48 (UTC)
|
Doug:
My sincerest condolences to you on the loss of your father. Thank you for always having the courage to bare your soul to us and to share the tribute to your father with us. May you remember precious moments that you had with him, with laughter in your heart, and peace in the knowledge that he is in a better place.
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 03:06:00 (UTC)
|
Doug,
Sincere condolences from China, I will raise a glass to your Dad when the sun crosses the yardarm, and the tears of the Rain God - the first heavy raindrops as they raise the thick brown dust in the wet season with that rich earthy tang that once experienced, like the voice of a loved-one, is never to be forgotten.
"Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room,
I am the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not think of me and and cry,
I am not there.
I did not die."
Ron In Hong Kong, China
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 01:00:02 (UTC)
|
Doug.......
My heartfelt Condolences ..thank you for sharing with us your fathers life story...and keep sharing your anecdotes , they are most welcome , especially to the ones that cannot remember their land of birth
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 00:59:52 (UTC)
|
Doug...
My condolences on the passing of your dad.
You are lucky you had him around for a long time. Sounds like he led a fantastic life and like my dad loved wandering all over the world.
Peter Dielissen [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 23:37:27 (UTC)
|
DOUG
Condolences on the death of your father and a toast to celebrate a full and interesting life. I applaud his decision to dontate his body because I am sure someone will benefit by it. Best wishes to you and your family.
Fiona
Fiona Gayther (née Ferguson) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 22:03:20 (UTC)
|
Doug
My heartfelt condolences to you, my friend. As you know, we share the same belief in MAN, and I am happy to see, so did your beloved father. And as you might have taken note in my many references to my own father, so does he.
We have much in common, Doug. Perhaps next time I am in South Africa, we can finally meet.
I too have experienced loss of loved ones, and so I must return to where my father now lives and make sure that he knows how much I love and respect him.
For a close son to loose his role model, his hero, his father, is a very sad thing. My heart goes out to you, mate!
Groetjes...
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 21:21:49 (UTC)
|
Doug,
Very well written. Your dad sounds like he went with the same conviction in his beliefs as Sandra did, although she battled with the finality of it all towards the end. One day I guess we'll all get to find out if what we believed was true, although if what some of us believe is true we'll never know.
My condolences.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 20:57:04 (UTC)
|
A bit of sad news. My Dad, David, passed away last night at 19.15 after being bedridden 9 months following a stroke. He was 92 years old so he had a good innings. He was strong in his non-belief the end; there will be no funeral as he was a body donor. In this way he made his last gift to mankind. Who knows, his eyes may yet give someone sight. He was a humanist who believed in the brotherhood of man, and that everybody's destiny was in their own hands.
He took us to Northern Rhodesia in 1955 and was in the hotel and catering trade. He started at the Ridgeway Hotel, then ran Chibululama Mine Club, Ndola's Savoy Hotel, Mufulira Mine Mess, and Mufulira Country Club before moving south in 1966, where he worked at Miekles, the Jameson and Victoria Falls Hotel. He met many of the famous people of Northern Rhodesia, including Sir Roy Welensky, Harry Nkambula, Kenneth Kaunda, Sir Stewart Gore-Brown. It is a shame he became incapacitated before he could write down his memoirs of those times.
He started his working life in the jute mills of Dundee at 13, but educated himself and moved up to top hotel management. He trained at the Hotel Adlon in Berlin in 1936 where he met most of the Nazi top brass, and saw Jesse Owen win an Olympic medal, much to Hitler's chagrin. He becoming fluent in German and French, and later worked at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.
He also served in the merchant navy and during WW2 the Royal Navy. His sport was boxing and once on a cruise ship in a friendly (non-title) fight he beat the reigning Irish welterweight champion. He was dissappointed that none of his sons became professional boxers.
We are happy that his sufferings have ended and hope his freed spirit finds its way to his ancestors among the wild Scottish mountains or at least into the smoke above Mosi-o-Tunya. Slangibar and Hamba Gashle!
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 19:36:32 (UTC)
|
Northerners
I also liked the analogy with animals at the pool, although it completely missed the mention of four resident, snappy and obnoxious crocs, occasionally watching the goings on. How well known is it that any animal thrashing about in murky water will perhaps attract unwelcome attention and possibly a large bite?
Joking apart I see no problem in discussing politics on the board, there have been some both good and pathetic points made on both sides of the argument. As long as discussions remain relatively peaceful and without name-calling, or baiting I am sure the crocs won’t be taking much notice.
The reference to the Dag Hammarskjöld stadium in Ndola made me larf, that is nothing compared to the debacle we had in the UK with our Tony’s little white elephant. The discussions on the demise of Zambian Airways also drew a smile, what the Zambians should have done is followed the American way, or perhaps they did after all.
And as far as the Oxford graduate Prime Minister and one time First Lord of the Treasury, Harold Wilson goes, well he wasn’t even going to Blackpool, let alone Rhodesia, he was too busy down on his knees asking the IMF for another bail out after getting his sums wrong again and having to devalue the UK pound.
Everyone has his or her own opinions and these will vary wildly as they will do on other stuff, especially what people find interesting or boring. I have been told there is too much poetry, too much banter, too much mining stuff, it’s like a tea party, too much of us, etc. etc. But what the hell, as long as you, the members contribute in a positive way, the GNR will be able to survive in the longer term and that’s what is important to us all.
As Craig mentioned a while ago the new GNR will have a threaded Message Board and it will be a lot easier for people to choose what they want to see, read and respond to. I know the New GNR has been in the pipeline a long time, perhaps so long it has now become as mythical as the map of Broken Hill, however the New GNR is a reality, is being worked on nearly every day and will be arriving on your monitors very soon.
For the new site I have a mountain of banknotes and coins brought over by Heather on her last visit to the UK, together with more stamps, which will all be scanned and put on display to add to the ones already on the GNR.
Now back to join the animals in the swamp.
Arthur Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Stockport, United Kingdom
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 18:31:26 (UTC)
|
Northern Rhodesian/Zamvian coins, bills and stamps...
Are available dirt cheap and by the truckload on E-Bay.
Do a search on Rhodesia and Zambia. I have bought quite a few myself for memory sake.
Peter Dielissen [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 17:38:45 (UTC)
|
N O R T H E R N E R S!
Please pay attention all you neophytes... this is the Founder speaking! In fact, you can all stand now.
The coins you are describing and their proper names and proper descriptions (bird sitting on a nest, indeed! --- try Zimbabwe Bird?) were some of the first images ever put on the Great North Road website. Way before there was such a modern thing as a message board!
You can find these images on the GNR if you dug around the site a little, instead of just lingering here on the message board.
you can sit down now
oh, and Groetjes...
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 17:26:49 (UTC)
|
Ayub,
I wish I had kept some of those Northern Rhodesia coins; big copper pennies with a hole in the middle, “Tiki” small coin with three arrows on it, then there is the one shilling which has a bird sitting on a nest. I can use those coins. Then there is the six pence coin. I wouldn’t mind buying a few. Its amazing what memorable things some of these coins purchased before inflation came to Zambia big time.
Bob,
I went to boarding schools from 1963 to 1976. There are so many memories. One I remember is at Tamanda Boarding Upper School in rural Chipata literally on the boarder with Malawi. We were the first generation of Standard 3 (Grade 5) students who were young about 10 to 12 years old. Many of the boys in Standard 5 and 6 were men who were 19, 20 and sometimes even 22 years old. We all used to take baths in the “Change House” an open grass shelter 50 feet by 50 feet. We would draw water from the well about 200 yards away. Everyone simply took off their clothes and hung them on the fence. The older boys were very proud and confident about their bodies of course. So they walked around, chatted, soaped themselves, took their sweet time to rinse themselves. This was one of the most terrifying time for us young boys. One older boy, I still remember his name, Leyard, used to take delight in teasing us the young boys. We the young boys would undress and discretely face away from everyone taking the bucket bath in the fastest way we could. One day big Leyard walked in, undressed, and pointing at my almost invisible private parts:
“Hey, Mwizenge, Tembo! What type of kadoyo (tiny insect) are you hiding over there!?”
He was laughing and giggling. The whole shelter burst into laughter. I wanted to just disappear from the world out of embarrassment. It was so humiliating. But then some of the older boys warned big Layard to quit picking on small kids. Why didn’t he pick on guys his age? For the whole year, I made sure I took baths only when big Leyard was not in the bath shelter.
Mwizenge Tembo [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Virginia, United States
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 17:11:20 (UTC)
|
Lovely long reminisce from Rob. Thanks. Man, you must have been a wierd person to recall all those arcane details.
We, in the world-famous Williams House, of course, never did silly things like that.
Mind you, we did have a period of doing all sorts of hypnosis things. I recall that we had one young person balanced on a bed rail for a time. Seemed like hours. Never did know if he got off it.
Bill
William Knott [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 16:26:37 (UTC)
|
Has anyone got any idea about pre-Independence and post Independence coins (Federal and Zambian ones). I seem to have a vast collection of them; many with holes punched away from the centre). Are they worth anything or do we have to wait till they "mature"...ie wait till the 22nd Century! Also have many South African coins dated early 20th Century.
By the way Manchester this afternoon is swamped with Italians. Also the weather is warm for once. Bet an Italian team will win the Cup!!!!!!!!
Ayub Ismail Zumla [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Manchester, United Kingdom
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 14:43:37 (UTC)
|
Ali,
Sorry, I've fixed it already. :)
Server Speed
Seems quite a bit faster to me.
Server Time
Possibly nobody noticed, but the server's clock was 12 minutes fast. I've fixed that too.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 11:31:30 (UTC)
|
Muizenge, you must have both witch doctor and matriarch in your past. Well put using the pool. In 1964 I was boarding in Denny House at Gilbert Rennie, Lusaka and following is a little taste of our lives then, well for some of us as there were those that did not get into trouble.
One night Doug woke me up around three in the morning and together we went to dorm four where we collected every shoe, tackies, rugby boots and carried into the shower area which was a separate annex and opposite to the toilets. We must have spent two hours tying every lace together in an almighty pile of footwear consisting of hundreds of very tight knots. The morning system was for the duty house master to inspect boarders in dorm one, then two, and so on. Inspection consisted of boarders standing by the foot of their beds and we were checked to ensure that you had made an attempt to wash and comb your hair. That we were correctly dressed for school, that your bed was made properly, not just pulled over with the counterpane hiding a rats nest but made freshly and correctly, shoes clean, tie on etc. In the winter time some of the lads would try to get away without a tie by standing for inspection with a pullover on that had a high neck to it. Once you were released the outside side door located in the feeder passageway would be unlocked and you would make your way to the dinning hall for breakfast. The house master was a saint in my book, he spotted that the dorm four lads were incorrectly dressed, no shoelaces as they had had to cut their shoes free. That morning none of dorm four turned up for breakfast. Our big mistake, Doug and I made, was to confide in our dorm mates that it was us that had got back at the older lads for their strong-arm tactics. I suppose in this day and age it would be considered a form of bullying with the older stronger boys picking on the smaller lads but to us it was the norm and we were having a go back. To this day I never did work out whom the rat was that informed on us but that is another ‘tail’!
It would be a couple of days after the shoelace incident when Doug and I had partaken of our evening meal. We had just left the dining hall and were walking on the road back to the hostel when suddenly we were walking without our feet touching the ground. On either side we had been grabbed by the upper arms and lifted clear of the ground, escape was not an option. In ceremony we were propelled into Dorm Four where one of the dorm inhabitants was sat on top of one of the fourteen wardrobes with a white towel draped over his head and shoulders. A lad sitting on the footlocker attached to the side of the wardrobe leapt up, and in a loud voice cried out,
"Hear Ye, Hear Ye the right Horrible Judge Revenge has declared the court in session". The judge then called out.
"Who is the defendants council?"
"I am" cried out another voice.
"How do the defendants plead"? Roared the judge.
"Guilty as charged my Lord."
"Sentencing to be carried out for the foul and dreadful act of causing the inhabitants of Dorm Four to miss a healthy nutritious breakfast. To cause the inhabitants of dorm four a lost day in learning, as they could not concentrate on lessons for the messages being received all morning from their stomachs. For the financial costs of replacing damaged articles."
Punishment was shear agony. Each of the four dormitories contained fourteen beds, seven on each side. A wardrobe with attached boot locker divided the bed space from each other with the central area from one end to the other as an open corridor. The fourteen beds were pulled out into the centre corridor section creating a hopscotch effect, bed, space, bed, space. A line of seven beds up and a line of seven beds down. The shoe lace owners either removed their pillow from the pillow case and inserted foot ware (mainly rugby boots) or, taking a bath towel and biting on the edge half way down its length carefully roll it into two rolls. This gives a pointed end and a fat end. Holding the fat end turns a normal bath towel into a formidable whip. That in itself simply was not good enough, the tip was now soaked in water! Derek and I had to follow one another crawling underneath the beds and standing or kneeling on top of the beds were the shoelace people delivering their brand of punishment. Time has passed now and I do not recall how long the bruises lasted but before they had fully faded away we had merited out compensation and felt much better for it but that is another event. Up Dorm Two.
Revenge is Sweet
All the beds in the hostel were of a metal frame. The body of the bed made from angle iron whilst the head and foot were tubular steel. The foot of the bed had in addition welded to the tubular steel, a tube strip from one leg to the other thus forming a towel rail. From each end of the bed’s base frame, a row of springs was hooked into equally spaced small drilled holes. These were joined by rows of chain links tied to each other forming diamond shapes to support the thin, kapok filled, lumpy mattress. We waited our chance, mainly for the aches to subside sufficiently and then we attacked, timing was crucial. If you were late for the dinning hall then you had to miss your meal. Before the hall door opened a queue would be forming and once open each student would go to their chosen seating place for the term and stand behind the chair. Once all had taken their places the teaching staff would file then stand behind their chairs. Grace would be given and a very noisy sit down would follow. For our master plan to work out we had to wait for the last of the dorm four inhabitants to leave, do the deed and not miss lunch. Working as a team I would grasp the metal tubular top section at the end of the bed with both hands and kicking off the floor lift myself into a straight handstand. Instead of holding myself at the apex allowed the momentum of my legs to continue whilst releasing my hands and pulling my legs into my chest in a folded position. Wham, straight through the spring and chain section of the bed. Roll out and on to the next bed. In the meantime Doug would pull the mattress out of the hole, smooth straight and square up the counterpane. We bombed all fourteen beds in a couple minutes flat and made our way into the mess hall for lunch without being late. It would have been very obvious had our two places at the table of ten been absent and especially as we sat opposite each other. It must also be born in mind that the prefect at the head of our table was also very closely associated with Dorm Four.
At this point you will have to let your imagination take over as the lads from Dorm Four wonder back from lunch and flopped onto their bunks. No support any more and they would fall through the hole in the middle of the bed. With their bigger and heavier bodies they would themselves increase the hole in the supporting chain links. The best of all, that was not planned or thought through on our part, was the problem Dorm Four had in locating a pair of pliers. Eventually some were located and bed repairs continued well into the night. This time Derek and I kept mum, but conveying to our fellow dorm members when word filtered down of the deed that we wished it was us who had come up with the idea but that we were still too sore to have done it! Must have been someone in Dorm Three that had done it!
Some of the Dorm Four inhabitants did try to pin it on us but Doug and I whipped off our shirts to display the still disappearing bruisers on our backs and stated that we were too sore and what exactly was it that we was supposed to have done this time tactic. There were those that never lost their suspicion but they had some doubt. If any reading this now, then the mystery for them will be resolved.
There were other incidents and one landing three of us in trouble with the authorities. Will work on this as I have slides to go along with it and one I think Heather may enjoy. There may even be someone who was around and might just recal! Will leave it at that for now,
Happy waterholes,
Bob Eglinton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lincoln, United Kingdom
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 10:26:07 (UTC)
|
Craig.......
Hey how much Kwacha does it cost to keep our new birthdate.....I love it........
Tina....
Flutter Flutter..........crash............giggles
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 09:17:58 (UTC)
|
Hi All Rhodesians
Every morning I open my PC and go straight to GNR, then onto the Mufulira site & again in the late afternoon. Reading all the letters, to me it is food for my soul...the absolute joy of living, the friendliness and love that we all seem to want to share as one big family, and the memories that one story or another told by one of you bring to mind something in our youth which was forgotten; but the last few days nearly ruined my day. Please no more, we are above all that.
Madeleine Luckin (née Bekker) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Johannesburg, South Africa
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 08:16:58 (UTC)
|
Talking of Zambia Airways. Here is a little story.
My interest in Zambian aviation took off very early. I just wasn't aware of it at the time.
In the Botha's Rust farm days whenever my parents wanted some time to themselves they would drop me off at the neighbour's where Caroline Spence (the lovely Caroline of early Zambia T.V. days) would babysit me. I think she earned her money. For instance, her parents and mine went to town one night to the Theater Club leaving me at Caroline's. I still clearly recall her mother Sheila's expression when she came home and found me at her dressing table. This was lavishly embellished, like myself, with her bright blue cream eye shadow. Sadly she didn't seem thrilled with my artistry and spared neither time nor energy in informing Caroline.
But what of the aviation link? Read on!
While this is hillarious in retrospect, one of the highlights of going to Caroline's for me was her brother. To me he was Indiana Jones. He had guns, his Dad was a croc hunter and he was always doing something exciting and interesting. I might be 7 years old but I knew what I liked and I adored him from afar. From his point of view this would not have been nearly far enough. Mostly he just ignored me.
One Saturday my parents dropped me off while they went to a party. I purposefully set of in search of my hero. I didn't have far to go. I ran my quarry to earth leaving the house with his rifle in his hand. "Hi Andy" I said happily. Andy actually grunted an acknowledgement. He paused, and then laconically uttered the magic words: "So, do you want to walk with me to the river?" I couldn't be hearing right. Time stood still. The birds carolled their hearts out in the trees. Somehow I roused myself from the shock to stutter an ecstatic: "Oh yes, Andy!" "Good" he said, matter-of-factly, "I could use some target practice!" My world crashed in little pieces around my feet. I mooched back inside and was no trouble to Caroline for the rest of the visit.
Years later pleasant Andy Spence, then (I think) Chief Pilot of Zambia Airways, was a fellow passenger on a flight to London. We caught up on a lot of interim news and I also reminded him of this incident. He didn't even remember.
Tina Magee (née Wallace) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Texas, United States
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 08:16:44 (UTC)
|
Mwizenge - very well said, I agree!
Ayub - Loved your poetry, very different from Linda's but just as good.
LINDA - Cheer up my friend. I hope today's a better day.
My son Tristan bought me a water proof and shock proof cell phone. Yesterday I had a blonde moment (what, again?) and somehow the cell phone went for a full wash cycle in the washing machine. After a bit of blow drying - it still works perfectly - and of course is now very clean and fresh!
Jill
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 07:44:54 (UTC)
|
Wow, it worked. Will wonders never cease?
Server Speed
I was told by an Australian client that the new server is much faster to download, so I hope that is the case for the GNR too. I presume we've lost Paddy by this point in the month, but I'd be interested to hear a little anecdotal evidence. No need to take over the board like we did at the beginning of the month though.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 07:08:56 (UTC)
|
Server Move
This is mostly a test message to see that everything is working following a move to a new server.
There are, as there always are, "issues" with this move:- Access to the old Names Directory and message boards earlier than April 2002 is again suspended. This is because the old method of allowing access to members by checking their credentials against the membership database does not work on this server. I will work on an alternative.
- There is also a problem displaying dates from the database -- almost all birth dates show December 31, 1969. Some of you would like to keep that birth date, I'm sure, but I am working on fixing that too.
For those members-to-be waiting patiently for the form to join the GNR to be resurrected, thank-you for your patience. Right now my priority has to be making sure this server is running properly, not just for the GNR, but also for my paying clients who keep me fed and watered.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 07:03:37 (UTC)
|
I was gone for a few days. Then I checked the GNR message board. Lord behold!! The heated politics are acrimonious. The only analogy I could come up with is this: The GNR message board is like a pristine pool of clear cool water in the searing October heat in Zambia. We, the message board readers, are like thirsty animals coming for a drink of water. If a few of us begin stampeding and fighting, the water will become dirty and murky. Some of us will refuse to drink and walk away in disgust, a few of the brave among us will take a few gulps with our eyes closed, the animals that tend to the pool of water may quit. The well will dry out and everyone will loose. Is this what all the readers want? Remember that all of us have very strong beliefs and experience tells me that very little that people will read here however well documented (especially if it is inflammatory and incendiary) will change anyone’s strong views and beliefs on whatever side you are on. Self restraint by everyone is NOT a sign of cowardice but appreciation of the bigger value of the GNR i.e to exchange some creative stuff, communicate, engage in frivolity, humor, share anecdotes, share some small adventures etc. Remember that each time you contribute something positive on the message board, you are adding to the pristine cool drinking water for every member of the GNR.
Mwizenge Tembo [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Virginia, United States
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 23:04:22 (UTC)
|
Hi Wilma:
Thanks so much for the compliment on my poetry. I am having a REALLY bad day and that caught me by surprise and lifted my spirits.
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 21:12:46 (UTC)
|
Chris
I have glanced through the site you recommended. The paper had a lot of relevant points when it was presented over five years ago. Since then the passive public have become less passive and have dumped the corrupt Chiluba and replaced him with Mwanawasa who seems to have a bit more political will to control corruption. At least the paper shows that Zambians are aware that they have a problem.
However if you want to talk about major league corruption look at Enron and the awarding of contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq. People in grass houses shouldn't stow thrones etc.
As to living in Zambia; with the temperature hitting zero in Vryheid tonight I am considering building a winter residence in Zambia. The Mozambique coast is also a lot warmer than here.
Of course Hilo never gets cold and if it does you have always got Goddess Pele in Kiluea to keep you warm. Aren't you scared to live in that place with those volcano's continually erupting? I was so relieved when my plane took off from the Big Island.
Ek is now klaar met die politics! Jy moet probeer om soet te wees!
Almal
Zambia is represented in Big Brother Africa by Cherise Makabale. Big Brother is a really silly brain damaging show but I look at it now and then.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 19:45:50 (UTC)
|
Wilma, settle down. When someone posts historically inaccurate assertions here, then that should be brought to light and the authors should either put up, or shut up.
Cheers for now
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 18:27:21 (UTC)
|
Good evening all you gnr's
Thank you for your attempt at a bit of poetry, but I am afraid that it does not compare in the least with the beautiful words that our Mrs. Linda Hayes writes.
You should go back in the archieves of the gnr site and read her work when September 11th happend and then you would appreciate the real thing when you read it.
It will be a shame if this site ends up loosing all it has built up over the last couple of years. It has always been a bright spot in my day to go to the gnr site and read what has been going on with everyone. Craig has put a lot of time and effort into this site, and we have weathered many storms, I feel that if you people want to pick political hairs do it privately.
Ok I will get of my soap box.
Bye for now Wilma
Wilma Wall (née Henry) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Almelo, Netherlands
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 18:04:00 (UTC)
|
Amazing, according to zumla and puta checkwe, the collapse of the zambia economy was/is/and always will be the fault of others. Now Rhodesia was also responsible? One may ask who it was who closed the Falls bridge in 1966, thus blocking access to the world? And whose decision was it to fly in the national fuel supply, using 44 gallon drums, in old flying machines?
One can go on and on, but there is not much point. When these 2 blokes claim to (have been) an integral part of the zambian middle/upper management class, and both subscribe to such poor theories for zambia's demise, then it should come as no surprise that the country collapsed. KK and his merry band certainly played a key role, but it is the middle/upper management class who really fuelled the collapse.
One zambia, one nation, one helluva case study!
PS - Checkwe, what happened to Meridian, and how were you involved?
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 17:43:05 (UTC)
|
Mr. Zumla.
I have been a lurker on this board for some time and this is my first or second post.
You wrote, "It seems quite apparent that if the UK Government had put down the Rebellion in Rhodesia in 1965, the current problems in Zimbabwe would never have got to this stage. It would have had a moderate black Government in 1965 and every country within that region would have thrived economically..radical Governments would not be there as in Zimbabwe today. "
Like you, I delivered a Masters thesis, but on gold and monetary problems, but which included much on African politics. Would you be good enough to explain why you think your statement would have been true? I cannot think of one post-colonial government that has been moderate.
For the rest of the tree-house, rest assured that this will be my last political post.
Robert Huntley [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Carmel, California, United States
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:39:47 (UTC)
|
Ayub,
An excellent piece. I wish I had read your thesis on Rhodesia/Zimbabwe when I was an international development consultant in Ottawa. I always suggested to the Canadian International Development Agency that early intervention in Zimbabwe would have resulted in a more moderate regime than Mr. Mugabe's. Any reader of Zimbabwe political history will agree that the likes of Joshua Nkomo, Ndabaningi Sithole, Chinamana, Herbert Chitepo and Dr. Parirenyatwa were neither foold nor radicals.
I don't want to give the impression that I had to perform feats to persuade the Canadians of this view. Fortunately for me, Canadians are rational people and are not generally guided by unadulterated bigotry. The view made sense to them.
Your point on corruption is valid. We cannot be simplistic and assume corruption is unique to Southern Africa. We have allegations right now in Canada that friends of the ruling party benifited from all sorts of gvernment contracts and loans from government financial institutions. I would hope however that we would not excuse corruption in Zambia just because the phenomenon is global in character. It is important we support President Mwanawasa's fight against the scourge.
By the way Lesotho recently cracked down on corruption and charged a number of people in connection with the largest case of graft the country has known. I am referring to the Lesotho Highland Water Project. The interesting thing is all but one of the big players in the scam came from Europe and North America.
Finally, I found your contrast of how the UK responded to Saddam and Smith quite interesting. Food for thought. Please publish your PhD thesis and make sure I have an autographed copy!
Chisanga Puta-Chekwe [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:33:35 (UTC)
|
OK Wilma, here is one of my own poems:
* I am sat here in this room, alone,
The dark nightness adds a different third dimension to The internally illuminated wimdow in front of me.
And during this time of lonliness, interspread with the Sudden ecstatic interruptions by acquaintances and the Occasional friend,
I have come upon a completely new and gently Inspired experience.
Having lit the incense, I see images true and false, Which are coloured by the reflections of their own light And myself in the window before me.
I actually see anything I wish to see, but its not always So easy.
Naturally, I try to see the things I want to see.
And its not always happiness.
What I actually see is what I imagine I would Experience under Lysergic Acid; only more Comprehensible, relevant and controlled.
Quite often I project myself into my invention of the Future.
But I get nowhere; except older and perhaps a little Wiser"
Ayub Ismail Zumla [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Manchester, United Kingdom
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:05:19 (UTC)
|
Well Hello there all you gnr's.
I am sitting here at work in Holland and the weather has finally changed for the better, and I thought I would have a read at the message board.
Where have all the funny, happy, interesting stories about Northern Rhodesia/Zambia gone. We seem to have become a political site all of a sudden.
Come on folks lighten up, and lets enjoy the site. Where are the lovely peoms from Miss Linda, and I find it rather strange that that Main woman has disappeared from the planet. It must have been a very good bash the UK the Mufulira one that is. We have still not heard anything about it.
I am really sorry Heather that I will not be able to make the Zambian bash but I may be moving here in Holland and I do not know exactly when that will be. But I will be thinking about you all.
Okay I will get off my soap box and get some work done.
Bye now Love Wilma
Wilma Wall (née Henry) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Almelo, Netherlands
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 13:41:10 (UTC)
|
Hi Chisanga,
Thanks for your support. Perhaps I might refer readers to something called UDI. Remember that and all the misery it caused to Zambia..border closures, sanctions etc. When Harold Wilson said" It will be over in weeks"!....what he meant was.."The Zambian Economy will be over in weeks"!. The chickens came home to roost when it transpired later that British Oil companies were breaking sanctions for years...with the "blessing" of successive UK Governments. The cost of "Rhodesian sanctions "on Zambia ran into the Billions! I refer you to an MSc Thesis "The impact of the Rhodesian UDI on the Zambian Political Economy" by, yes, yours truly (Ayub Zumla).. London School of Economics and Political Science. I am now nearing the completion of a PHD thesis on the same subject from the same LSE. So do wait for it!
It seems quite apparent that if the UK Government had put down the Rebellion in Rhodesia in 1965, the current problems in Zimbabwe would never have got to this stage. It would have had a moderate black Government in 1965 and every country within that region would have thrived economically..radical Governments would not be there as in Zimbabwe today. Funny isn't it that the UK Government walks in blindly and impudently into a Middle Eastern country under the guise of being some sort of saviour and under the pretext of getting rid of weapons of mass destruction..regime change...and a host of baseless reasons while it didn't have the guts to put down a rebellion against its own queen..yes own Queen! Many innocent lives, both black and white, would have been saved had they put down a rebellion by a handful of Rhodesians. See what is happening now in Zimbabwe. Perhaps a case of "you reap what you sow". And what is the UK response..don't play cricket with them..stop the tour. Today the British Government allows over 300 UK companies to trade with Zimbabwe openly and then it has the nerve to to call on cricketers to take a lead. Hypocrites have led UK Governments for years and continue to do so today. And yes ,you are quite right..the Colonial power never educated blacks during their rule. Without an educated elite no country stands a chance. Sadly, today, most African have been "embedded" in so much debt that they will never have any chance of being "independent".
Corruption exists everywhere. It is not confined to African countries. Try doing some research into UK defence contracts obtained in the Middle East over the past 30 years...or contracts being awarded today to companies vying for re-building work in Iraq. Corruption in Zambia is pittance..compared to this. Have you not heard about the huge commission given to a famous son of a UK prime Minister by Middle Eastern Governments in the not too distant past....do I need to say more...
Ayub Ismail Zumla [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Manchester, United Kingdom
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 13:06:12 (UTC)
|
Northerners
If you are planning to stop off in South Africa on your way to or from the Livingstone Lark, please take note of the following which I have just received from the British High Commissions
Dear All,
This is to inform everyone planning to travel to South Africa that a new law was passed a few weeks ago stipulating that all visitors to South Africa are required to have a minimum of two blank pages in their passport to enable the entry visa to be issued. If there is insufficient space in the passport entry will be denied and the person is likely to be detained pending return to their country of origin.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 10:17:44 (UTC)
|
Heather......
Wow.......your new site is fantastic....I just love the paintings, and the carvings......a wonderful project, Keep up the good work....
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 00:53:41 (UTC)
|
Doug,
Without wishing to upset the applecart any further, please take a look at the following:
www.fiuc.org/iaup/esap/publications/zambia/corrupzamb.php
Seems like a very objective piece which addresses and supports the notion of Zambia's demise due to to corruption at every conceivable level.
And for you Puta Checkwe, perhaps you might enlighten us on the reference in the above article, to the demise of Meridian Bank? and the subsequent violation of the Banking and Finance Act by senior officers working for other banks?
Lekker slaap
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Monday, May 26, 2003 at 20:19:40 (UTC)
|
Doug,
There is no need to try to change history. Zambia was destroyed by internal corrup and inefficient management, and I will call anyone who blames the national demise on other outside factors.
And one might ask, with all your wisdom and spirit, why it is that you are no longer in Zambia contributing to the recovery? But then, this is not the forum for that.
No Doug, when someone, anyone, accuses the G8 for Zambia's demise, I will call him/her.
Meantime, I really enjoy many of the postings here, especially Heather's photos.
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Monday, May 26, 2003 at 19:36:54 (UTC)
|
Pip Freedman, the great comedian who had a show every Saturday morning on Springbok Radio is dead. His impersonations included Hartebee, Philemon, Happy Harry Singh, and Gamat but he was never cruel or nasty with his humour.
Big Brother Africa has started in Joburg with 12 participants from 12 different African countries. This may do more for African Unity than all the politicians. I am always amused by the suspicion with which black South Africans view their compatriots from Africa. Maybe this show will make them realise that makwerekweres are also people.
Chris Tamm,
If a parent lets his child play with a loaded gun and the child shoots himself, who is to blame. A lot of Africa's problems are caused by premature independance. A longer period of self government under British guidance would have allowed Africa to have been better prepared for independance. At Zambian Independance in 1964 there were only about 6 Zambian university graduates. What did you expect? Who forced the colonial powers, starting with the 1956 Suez debacle, to abandon their responsibilities prematurely. Who else but your adopted homeland.
The worst pain in the backside were those British politicians who flew out on VC10's for a 2 day fact finding tour and came up with an instant solution to Africa's problems and then flew away leaving us to sort out the crap. Your short 6 years visit to Zambia hardly qualifies you to comment in a much more informed manner than those 2 day wonders.
People who have invested their lives in Africa are still here and still enjoying life and the biltong and castle. I am sure once that mad man in Zims is replaced the whole Southern African region will forge ahead.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Monday, May 26, 2003 at 19:05:51 (UTC)
|
Puta Checkwe writes:
"Zambia Airways was a vcitim of IMF/World Bank orthodoxy. The airline certainly had cashflow problems towards the end but I would not have classified it as irredeemable, especially in light of the fact that its assets exceeded its liabilities."
Here we go again. Your absolute refusal to recognise that the demise of Zambia was of the people, by the people, for the people, is assanine. There are just a few of you who will lay the blame at the feet of the IMF/World Bank.
I will ask you a few simple questions - why is it that when a lender places conditions on a loan, of other peoples money, where such conditions are not only appropriate but fiducially responsible, and when the obligor fails, do people like you come out bashing the lender? Whose money was it in the first place? And since when does a loan become a grant when people like you wish it so?
Zambia Airways, and the country in which it operated out of, had zero fiscal sense. That is the reason why the economy in Zambia tanked, and the currency is now worthless.
Zambia was never a victim of anything, except gross internal mismanagement.
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Monday, May 26, 2003 at 18:06:27 (UTC)
|
Dear Linda as much as I adore you I dont think the risk of a
6.4" ex marine catching up with me would be worth sharing a tent with you and another 45 people and as for you finishing up in Kapiri Mposhi you will need a ten ton truck to transport your kwacha with you as I note that Heather has lunch in one of the restaurants in Livingstone quoted at 40.000 kwacha could this be a printing error? when I left in 76 it was two kwacha to the £, I am afraid that you would be on Sadsa and Capenta if you managed to abscond wih my Joburg pension as I am living on in the UK at the moment,are you going to make it, Jill has said I can ride up from Joburg with her if I can make it there. Regards to all Johnny.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Monday, May 26, 2003 at 06:06:20 (UTC)
|
Hi
having had a spell in hospital followed by a hard disc loss - and yes the two are are connected - the only thnig I did not have backed up was my emails.
I cannot get into the names directory and am not sure if it is because of the new programmeor just me. If Hans Matson and Peter Dielson could contact me directly I would be grateful
Amanda
Amanda McIntosh (née Wiggins) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Auckland, New Zealand
Monday, May 26, 2003 at 04:13:36 (UTC)
|
Ayub,
I have not been on the GNR site for quite a while. I see you have been making some interesting postings. I have enjoyed reading them, albeit belatedly.
Zambia Airways was a vcitim of IMF/World Bank orthodoxy. The airline certainly had cashflow problems towards the end but I would not have classified it as irredeemable, especially in light of the fact that its assets exceeded its liabilities.
When we lived in England I always preferred travelling to Lusaka on Zambia Airways. I know that I disappointed many of Zambia perrenial critics by my failure to tell a Zambia Airways horror story. That is not to say I had none, just to draw a distinction between the local service and the international service.
Chisanga Puta-Chekwe [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Monday, May 26, 2003 at 01:01:13 (UTC)
|
Dearest Johnny:
You sound so disappointed. How about if I clean out my old man's bank account, and you and I take off for a Lark in Livingstone together. By the time he catches up with us, I will have swindled you out of the rest of your pension and high tailed it to Kapiri Mposhi. He! He!
Alternatively, you could send me a ticket and we could bunk in Jill Aplin's tent. I hear she only has 45 people in it so far...
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Sunday, May 25, 2003 at 20:12:24 (UTC)
|
For anyone interested here is the latest quotes from Virgin Airways UK Joburg, but the news that Zim wants $65 dollars US for a visa and then Zam wants the same, that in rand is near enough another R1000 .00, the air fare from the UK will be another R4433 to Joburg, expenses in Livingstone after you arive there after paying another R250 from Joburg to The Falls will be at least another R200 per day say R600, most people will want to travel on to there old haunts on the Copperbelt and elsewhere at least another R2000 for a couple of weeks total around R9000 based on exchange rates of R13 to £1 and R8 to the US $,that will be little excessive for a guy whose pension is paid out from Joburg monthly in Rands to the UK and should be £800 per month and over the last 15 years has deteriated to at one stage last year to £124 per month and I note today it is on the decline again from R10.7 a week ago to R12.23 today I dont think I am going to make it unless I win the lottery.
Flights under £400
Seattle from £328
Lagos from £356
Bangkok from £366
Barbados from £381
Johannesburg from £391********
Antigua from £394
St Lucia from £395
Regards to all Johnny.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Sunday, May 25, 2003 at 08:01:22 (UTC)
|
Sorry, bit slow today and obviously unable to type properly. the link should be
Zambian Art On The Web.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Saturday, May 24, 2003 at 12:22:22 (UTC)
|
There was a letter in the Natal Mercury on Wednesday from a Nick Green of Umhlanga Rocks about the common form of malaria (Plasmodium Falciparum) found in Southern Africa.
He states that Larium with its side effects is only 60% effective. This is better than the old Chloroquin / Dequadin combination which is now only 20% effective.
However Glaxo Smith Kline has a new product called Malarone that is 98% effective. See www.malarone.com.
Malarone has been approved by the UK the US and 35 other countries. In South Africa it is still awaiting approval so you guys are lucky. Nick believes some pressure should be put on the Medicines Control Council to speed things up.
I don't know if this amounts to plagiarism but he published the information in a letter to a newspaper to inform people; I am extending his audience to people to whom it may well be of interest, so I should not think it is a problem.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Saturday, May 24, 2003 at 11:40:54 (UTC)
|
Richard Potts, Nevin Scott, Barry Anderson
Happy Birthday
Ayub
Melvin also writes a column every month for the Lowdown which appears in the printed and web version. May's column can be read here
Linda
I use paintings either from the schools or from different artists.Some of the paintings I buy from the artists and sometimes I borrow the paintings, do the cover and then return the painting.
Some of the paintings that I've used (and some which I may or may not use) are available for sale at Zambian Art On The Web.
There are also other things available - wooden carvings, soapstone, marble, malachite, baskets, wire bicycles, jewellery - but I just haven't finished completing the web page yet. I'm hope to do that this weekend.
The page will also be updated every week - the artists come in every Wednesday with new work and to see what I have sold. This week someone brought me some carvings from jacaranda. It really is lovely and I think an excellent use for jacarandas. I have a love-hate relationship with jacarandas - they only looked decent when they're flowering, but then they make suce a mess of everything. And nothing grows under them. A bit like my relationship with gum trees (eucalyptus). As I drive around Zambia, I can tell, from a distance, when I am approaching somewhere that existed in colonial days, either a town or an old farm, because of the gum trees.
Craig
Thanks for updating the Livingstone Lark page - it was deadline time so everything else goes on the back burner until my magazine is at the printers. IT IS AT THE PRINTERS!!
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Saturday, May 24, 2003 at 09:14:43 (UTC)
|
Heather Who does the art work for the Lowdown covers. It is lovely.
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Friday, May 23, 2003 at 22:33:35 (UTC)
|
Chris (Cantrell, that is),
Thanks. Glad to hear that Scarscalp seems to be fine and is close to a pub.
You can recover your mislaid user ID and password using the password-recovery form.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Friday, May 23, 2003 at 18:26:58 (UTC)
|
Zumla seems to have a singular lack of understanding that economics rule the world. Zambia Airways crashed precisely due to inept corporate management in a country which was also run into the ground, yet Zumla focuses only on the friendly chick at the check in counter, and beefs about BA making hay whilst the sun shines.
Vuka Zumla, there is coffee in the pot.
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Friday, May 23, 2003 at 17:11:26 (UTC)
|
Craig
Scarscalp alive and well and now living in Cumbria spoke to him on wednesday. Working hard on the new house. Appears to be about 200 yds from nearest pub so will try to visit soon!
Regards to everyone Chris.
sorry about using the Wifes ID mine has been mislaid
Ada Cantrell (née Wienand) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hastings, East Sussex, England
Friday, May 23, 2003 at 14:03:26 (UTC)
|
Hey guys I didn't mean bring back the original Zambia Airways administration! Surely with all the priviatisation that has happened since those days, a new Zambia Airways would surely compete with British Airways. But then would it be given landing rights at Heathrow! I know Virgin Airlines have been trying to obtain bid for the Zambian route for years; in vain! Some of the fares quoted by BA are ridiculous! Surely it will be in our interests if some competition is allowed! Monopolies breed inflated prices..competition results in lower prices! Just ask British Telecom. Phone calls to Zambia via BTcan cost you up to 90 pence( plus VAT) a minute while if you purchase a Savers card (or Unity, Cheers Africa, Rose and others that are available in the UK from any newsagent) you can talk to any landline/or mobile phone in Zambia at less than 10p a minute! I use a Rose card which I obtained from a local newsagent for £4 and It shows 48 minutes talktime to Zambia and 72 minutes to South Africa!!
Ayub Ismail Zumla [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Manchester, United Kingdom
Friday, May 23, 2003 at 10:39:03 (UTC)
|
Mark,
Good luck with your move to Brisbane. And if you hear from Scarscalp, let me know -- he's gone AWOL. Probably using his daughter as an excuse too.
Ayub,
Melvin has actually been in our links page for a couple of years now.
Heather,
I'll add that flight information to the "Livingstone Lark" page.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Friday, May 23, 2003 at 06:10:39 (UTC)
|
Yo umla
My last brush with zambia scareways was just before I left the country for "good" I promised my wife and daughter that I would take them to Luangwa the first class way, all inclusive on z airways and 5 days at a lodge. We arrived at the airport 1 hour early and waited in vain for 6 hours when finaly the z airway staff said, 'Buty the plane is not coming because the president has taken it somewhere else" Thanks a bunch dude. I borrowed a pickup from a friend at the Nags Head and drove through the night to catch at least some of the "all inclusive trip for my family" Oh such fond memories. Chris Tamm, I see you passed up on the dag stadium rebuild bate. I am proud of you.
cheers Gordon
Gordon Garlick [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Aberdeen, New Jersey, United States
Friday, May 23, 2003 at 00:22:47 (UTC)
|
Loha hris amm,
Wassup? You so far awaii you forgeting the first letters?
heers
oug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Thursday, May 22, 2003 at 21:07:28 (UTC)
|
umla writes:
Bring back Zambia Airways with all those lovely smiling and helpful staff!!
Would that be the same people who ran Zambia Airways into the ground? The inconsistency is very unfortunate, but might be understandable if the check in clerk allowed someone to board who was not properly documented and was turned back at Lusaka and then had to board the same aircraft on the return to UK, at BA's expense.
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Thursday, May 22, 2003 at 18:38:48 (UTC)
|
Members might be interested to know that an ex-pupil of Kamwala Secondary School, Lusaka (Mr. Melvin Durai), is now a world renowned Columnist. His humour can be read at:
http://MelvinDurai.com
Wonderful stuff!
Ayub Ismail Zumla [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Manchester, United Kingdom
Thursday, May 22, 2003 at 12:35:23 (UTC)
|
Just a word of warning to fellow travellers from the UK to Zambia. Recently I went to see off my brother at Manchester Airport. He was booked on a shuttle flight to Heathrow and from there to Lusaka. Upon arrival at the check-in desk, a rather rude and ill-informed lady insisted that she would not check him in to Lusaka as he had no visa. We explained to her that British passport holders can obtain a visa upon arrival at Lusaka Airport. She became very impatient as this dragged on. We then requested her to see previous visa stamps (brother having travelled to Lusaka four times in the past few years) in his passport obtained at Lusaka which were clearly marked. When I suggested that she phone the embassy..she reluvctantly did that..visa section was closed! The person at the Zambian Embassy did tell her that visas were available at port of entry. "No, I need clarification from the visa officer!" she retorted. She then told me to stop interfering as I was not the passenger! My brother then asked for the Manager and lord behold! he turned out to be just as ignorant and refused to check him to Lusaka. I finally suggested to my brother that he catch the shuttle and then check in at Heathrow. He did that and heavans behold! no questions asked there about visas and he boarded the flight. There are many lessons to be learnt.
1) Ignorance exists here in the UK too! Don't assume it exists in Africa alone.
2) Incompetence exists on a large scale here too!
3) We are so blessed with mannerisms is Zambia. Shame we haven't been able to pass it on to some British Airways staff here!
4) British Airways staff need to be trained about visa requirements. Even my 6 year old nephew has enough brains to find out about visa requirements from the Zambian Embassy web page. Pity some British Airways staff haven't got the intellegence to do that!
5) It is a pity that British Airways have a monpoly to fly direct to Lusaka.
The moral of the story is that if you decide to arrive at a British Airport without a Zambian Visa...do so at your own risk!
Bring back Zambia Airways with all those lovely smiling and helpful staff!!
Ayub Ismail Zumla [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Manchester, United Kingdom
Thursday, May 22, 2003 at 12:15:41 (UTC)
|
Northerners
I have received an email from Barbara Torrance regarding airfares to Zambia. This is what she has said:
Sorry for not getting in touch sooner, you think you have problems in Zambia with your computer I've been off line now for a month and I am supposed to live in an organized country. Anyway I have got some fares to offer for the Zambian Reunion.
Airfare London - Lusaka - London £515( inclusive of taxes)
CONDITIONS:
- Minimum passengers 20 passengers to travel on same flight to and from Lusaka
- To guarantee this fare I need 10% of the fare (£51.50x20 =£1030.00)
- 5 weeks prior to departure need final commitment i.e. balance of fare plus full names
- Deposits are non refundable with numbers less than 16
I don't want to sound too pushy, BUT to guarantee seats on the flight I need some commitment asap.
If you are interested, please email me and I'll pass your email on to Barbara (her address in the names directory needs updating).
I can then arrange a bus from Lusaka to Livingstone. The return fare on this would be US$ 116 (Flights right now are US$ 185 return)
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Thursday, May 22, 2003 at 07:22:21 (UTC)
|
George Tokarczyk, Eddy Stern
Happy Birthday
Mark Powell
Sorry you can't make it, but once you get there, YOU can organise something in Brisbane. I might even make it over there, even if it is only to hear what happens to your accent!!!
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Thursday, May 22, 2003 at 06:51:53 (UTC)
|
Heather et al
Sorry we will not be able to attend the Livingstone Lark as we were granted our visas to emmigrate to Australia 2 weeks ago. We are flying out on 26th October. we won't have the time or finances to do both. Perhaps someone in the Brisbane area will have a do later on.
Scarscalp,
is that right you have moved up to the lake district, I know Bath had a poor season but thats a bit drastic isn't it.
I will be in touch before we go.
Cheers
Mark
Mark Powell [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at 21:22:12 (UTC)
|
Oops - that should read "Zambian Party", not Zambian part.
Mwizenge, thanks for explaining about Basic Schools.
Jill
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at 14:06:40 (UTC)
|
Heather,
Even though you only have eight confirmed so far, I am sure that there will be more. It's such a superb place to have a reunion and it is back in the mother land - come on folks! We need to see you all in LIvingstone to have a proper Zambian part - in Zambia!!
All
I still have space for passengers in my safari-mobile, but please let me know soonest so that we can discuss route and timing. I have a mobile fridge (for the mosis) and a big trailer, plus any camping gear anybody requires. Come on, don't be old farts - let's go to Zambia and have a real 'jol' as they say in this neck of the woods. For Brian there's also Taita Falcons to find in the valley.
Mwizenge,
Thankfully Heather isn't a traditional Zambian - snakes are an important part of the ecology - and keep down the rodent population, thus more mealies and groundnuts for us humans! (I love snakesssssss!)Glad you like the excerpt from our journey from Nairobi to Cape Town. I thought it an interesting little piece of history - and it has been great to learn about the Bailey Bridge. One thing that I found interesting about it was that we were there for the Livingstone Centenary - very apt at this time when we are doing the Livingstone Lark this year.
Jill
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at 14:04:12 (UTC)
|
Craig,
I can't get updated versions of the GNR unless I post a message to bring it up to real time. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Jill
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at 13:50:19 (UTC)
|
VISAS FOR ZAMBIA
Unless there has been a change in the last few days, South Africans do NOT need visas for Zambia. British subjects do need visas and the cost is £33 if obtained from one of our Embassis or £35 if you get it at the border. I suggest that you carry Sterling cash because they won't have the right change to give you. You can also pay in US Dollars.
Des Kenny
Only have eight people confirmed so far, but there is still time. And I'm going ahead with arrangements whether I have eight or eighty!
Ron Clibborn-Dyer
I had a dog, a Boxer with a pedigree longer than both my legs, and he was twice bitten by a puffadder - the first time on his leg and the second time on his neck. He survived both because of a cortizone injection given to him as soon as we discovered the bites. Apparently this is the best thing to do as it deals with the shock. Of course we also had to keep the wounds clean as the flesh rotted away.
The black stones - I have two and although I have never used them for snake bites, I have used them for many others things, mostly tsetse bites. I'm severely allergic to tsetses and the bite swells up enormously. The black stones work wonders - you press them on and they adhere to your skin until all the poison has been drawn out or until the stone is 'full' (I now there's another word for that but I can't think what it is now). Then the stone falls off, you rinse it out with water and reapply. Unfortunately they are not as easily available as they used to be.
The original road bridge over the Kafue, south of Lusaka, was erected in 1949 from funds bequeathed by the Late Alfred Beit (as was the bridge over the Zambezi at Chirundu and the bridge over the Luangwa River). The engineer in charge was Sir Ralph Freeman At the opening of the bridge, on 8 September 1949, Sir Gilbert Rennie, KCMG, MC said 'It is fitting also that this bridge, with its valiant war service behind it, should have its sphere of usefulness transferred from the Thames to the Kafue, from the ancient centre of the British Commonwealth, where it is no longer required, to this young territory on the threshold of great developments, where it is badly needed'.
In 1968 the bridge was raise 6'6", in preparation for the rise in water levels that would result from the construction of the Kafue Hydro Scheme. The consulting engineers on this were Freeman, Fox and Partners.
The current bridge was donated to Zambia by the people of Japan and is a 4 span continuous steel girder, 162.1 metres long and 10.7 metres wide. Construction was completed in July 1993.
Mwizenge
Yes, I actually let that snake go. Just imagine!!! I try not to have to kill snakes and do, from time to time, catch them and take them to the reptile park where at least I know they will not be killed. But I have to admit that it is usually only puffadders that I try catching. The others all move too fast for me
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at 06:00:22 (UTC)
|
NORTHERNERS
Re: Trish and Kamthibi: a Transoceanic Love Story
An African man with his freshly broken arm in a hospital sling is riding in a taxi North of Belfast on a gravel road in Northern Ireland with great urgency. A middle-aged Irish woman is driving south, on the same gravel road, from her small Irish village. The unlikely couple finally meets on the rural road under the most inauspicious circumstances. Their romantic first encounter is very vividly described in the first pages of the novel. A Police Squad car and an ambulance soon arrive on the scene and the African man is arrested.
This is the dramatic beginning of the intriguing transoceanic love story between Trish and Kamthibi. Because of compelling circumstances beyond their control, (Trish is diagnosed with early cancer and Kamthibi is very disillusioned and despondent with his marriage and life circumstances in the United States) Kamthibi agrees to take Trish with him to visit his boyhood village in Zambia in Africa. Trish had neither flown in a plane before nor been outside her small rural Irish village of Gandy. But since her childhood, she had always dreamt of adventure to foreign lands. Kamthibi immigrated to and lives in the US. But inspite his being very educated, he still cherishes and yearns for his African cultural traditions. Kamthibi and Trish develop a deep passionate romantic love for each other that transcends their different geographical, cultural, and racial background.
The novel has seventy thousand words. It has vivid descriptions of the couple’s travels, romantic escapades, experiences in Africa and encounter with Africans in Zambia in the city and the village. The romantic love scenes are intense but not gratuitous. The reader ravels in the romantic glow of the couple, but is still curious, a little on edge, but wanting and expecting more.
The novel is likely to become a favorite for all readers as perhaps for the first time, they go deep into Africa with a character, Kamthibi, who genuinely loves his African cultural roots and Trish who has nothing to lose but everything to gain in what may perhaps be the last few days of her life.
The author was born and raised in an African village in Zambia. He is an avid story teller. He has his Bachelors from University of Zambia in 1976, M.A , Ph. D. at Michigan State University in Sociology in 1987. He was a Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Zambia from 1977 to 1990. During that time, he conducted extensive research and field work in rural Zambia in the Eastern and Southern Provinces of the country. He has published 2 books, 15 scholarly articles, 21 book reviews, and 28 journalistic articles. He is currently Associate Professor of Sociology at Bridgewater College in Virginia in the United States of America.
The manuscript is ready and will be submitted as soon as you request for it.
{Does anyone know someone who would publish this novel in Zambia or Southern Africa? I looked at the Bookworld in Lusaka at Manda hill and Lusaka International Airport boutiques last Auguist, and many other bookstores. I couldn't find something that looks like this manuscript. Contact me if you know someone. I am convinced some good money could also be made selling this novel in Zambia."
Mwizenge Tembo [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Virginia, United States
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at 01:32:29 (UTC)
|
Jill and Linda,
Thanks for the interesting and fascinating story of your father traveling from Nairobi to South Africa. The story about the Kafue Bridge impressed me as I am often intrigued by the changes that have taken place in our part of the world. The ZADOVATE organization for which I am President wants to encourage all Zambians to document these changes.
Someone may correct me if I am wrong about this. Grade one to seven was the basic primary education in Zambia from 1965 to the late 1980s. Secondary schools were very few from Grade 8 up 12 or Form One to Five.. Most of them were few costly boarding schools. Few Zambian children were getting a secondary education. The government decided to implement Basic schools that included grades one up to nine or ten in many remote rural areas.. Depending on how many previously “secondary” school grades were included in a particular school, it could be called a “Basic School” or “Middle Basic School”. Once a student passed 9 grade at their basic school , they could then go to one of the Secondary Boarding Schools which have Grades 8 up 12. My niece from my home village just finished her 12th Grade at Lundazi Secondary School. She attended Hoya Basic school near our village before she qualified to go to the Secondary School. She is a bright, curious, and articulate young woman who wants to be a journalist. But opportunities are not there. I frustrated as I can’t afford to help her to get an education here. I met so many young people desperate for some type of college education last August.
Heather,
Good pictures. The signs reminded me of the many signs that I see when I am riding the bus in the rural areas. Did you actually let that snake go? If you are a traditional Zambian you would kill it.
Mwizenge Tembo [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Virginia, United States
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at 00:59:07 (UTC)
|
Heather
Great Photo of a Puff Adder [Bitis arictans]
If you observed it carefully you would have noticed how it moves in a straight line walking on its ribs like a Chongololo [Milipede] - some have black edges to the scales that meet the ground and as they move these look just like the legs of the Chongololo. Puff Adders strike very fast if disturbed and the long fangs penetrate deeply. Early treatment can save life, but as with Kuki Gallman's son "I Dreamed of Africa" in Kenya, this is not always readily available. I have long wondered if the shiny black stones that the White Fathers used to carry in a little box or pouch wrapped in cotton wool, would be very effective with the bite of a Puff Adder.
Does anybody have any experience of these magic stones and their efficacy ?
I would love to get hold of one as I have lots of snakes here in the hills of South China - venomous and non venomous. I have caught and relocated more than 40 different pythons in the past five years - that have been eating my livestock including adult goats. I think my
garden is known as Ronald MacDonalds to all the predators around here. The Burmese Python, the Leopard Cat & all raptors are protected by law - my livestock is not !!!
The Cobras eat my chicken eggs & I had a narrow escape from one of these when collecting the eggs at
dusk one night - only a sixth sense or guardian angel of the temple [Kwun Yam - the Goddess of Mercy] saved me from a potentially fatal bite. I caught the egg thief and released it far away. I have learned over time that it pays to "do unto others as I would be done by"
I was bitten by an Adder in England when ten years old, - have been fascinated by snakes ever since.
I loved the story of the drive from Kenya to SA - I never knew the history of the Kafue bridge - fascinating.
I ran away from an elephant at the Chirundu sugar estates with one leg in plaster after a game of Bok Bok in Lusaka Central Police Mess during Angus Rufus' stag night. I very quickly developed a hinge in the plaster at the ankle, whilst escaping from the elephant.
What wonderful memories our time in Africa brings us !
Best wishes to all
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at 00:45:51 (UTC)
|
Doug,
We have just been up to Vic Falls/Livingstone - I with my British Passport needed a visa - $65 US, Otto with his SA passport did NOT need a visa, so I don't know where her travel agent gets that. Visa also required for Brits in Zimbabwe - $60 US.
Jill
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Tuesday, May 20, 2003 at 20:54:46 (UTC)
|
Heather,
Once again - wonderful photos. I wonder what a Basic School is?
Thank you for posting images of Zambia nowadays, I for one, really appreciate them.
JIll
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Tuesday, May 20, 2003 at 20:50:36 (UTC)
|
Hi everyone,
Have we got any body in Gran Ganaria??
My second son, Anthony, sold his house last week, made a vast profit, bought a new mountain bike, £3000,booked a flight and he and the bike (a "GIANT" |
| |