Northern Rhodesians Worldwide
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I have not looked at the links for a while but was surfing through one today after Dave's posting about Zambian Reunions going off the air. Looking through the political section of the Zambia-Leeds Community link, I was interested to read that Mwanawasa has now appointed Nevers Mumba as the Vice President of Zambia after dismissing the Vice President that was in office.
Quite a long time ago, I posted about Mumba, asking if anyone knew anything about him. I heard about him on a local radio station here and went to hear him preach at a charismatic church just around the corner from my house. I did not know he was involved in politics before I went to listen to him, and went out of curiosity to see why a preacher from Zambia would come all the way to Austin, Texas, to preach. Not having experienced a charismatic church service before, that was an experience that caught me off guard, but I must admit that I was quite surprised at the eloquence of Mumba and his passion to become the next president of Zambia. He was convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that "God had promised him Zambia!" He said it over and over again and felt very strongly that if God had, indeed, promised him Zambia, then God would help him turn it around. I spoke with him briefly after the service, and he was really fired up about making changes. He said that he had no intention whatsoever of running for any political office in Zambia, but that he had been approached by "people in the Government" to save the country.
Since he was unsuccessful in his bid for the presidency in the last elections in Zambia, I am now intrigued by this turn of events and I will be following his progress with interest.
Footnote: This is not a political statement and not being thrown out as bait. Just a comment on the article posted in that link, as I had met Mumba and wondered about him at the time.
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 22:28:52 (UTC)
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Mwizenge Tembo, thanks for your response. Flying across the Barotse Plains was, and probably is, the most beautiful sight on earth. The little 5 seater Beavers stopped at Sesheke and Senanga on their way to and from Mongu.
I see there are at least 3 of us living in or close to Washington DC. How about we get together for brunch one Sunday? If we could do it while some lucky folk are frolicking in Livingstone, so much the better!
I really don't follow Zambian politics but wonder if anyone could enlighten me as to why the Zambian Embassy on Massachusetts Ave in Washington seems to look so down at heel these days.
On nice days I walk down Mass. Ave from near the National Cathedral, where I live, and pass most of the embassies on the way down town. The Zambian Embassy used to be the home of Katherine Porter who wrote "Ship of Fools". It's a charming place but the gate to the garden is broken and the view is one of uncared for statues, non-functioning fountains and nasty old weeds! Rather embarrasing, I'm afraid.
Kind regards, Cathrine
Cathrine Nelson [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United States
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 22:08:31 (UTC)
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Doug.
Cathy Buckle has indeed posted her weekly letters.
Saturday 30th August: re: Voting in Council Elections.
Saturday 23rd August: re: Arrival of Summer in Zimbabwe.
I read both of them today. Try again.
June.
June Bohl (née Walker, formerly McCarthy) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Los Angeles County, California, United States
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 22:01:33 (UTC)
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Cathy Buckle has not posted her weekly newsletter on her African Tears website for the last 2 weeks. does anyone know what is happening?
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 19:35:14 (UTC)
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Owen, Paudie, Chandru,
The Masuku is the brownish, yellowish one. It has a funny shaped pip with 3 edges sticking out. The flesh is pulpy and granular and if you eat too many they seem to give you a dry throat.
The Mpundu was the purple plum-like one. Mpundu in ChiBemba means twin.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 19:29:31 (UTC)
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I think I remember the Mpundu (or similar fruit beginning with an "M") too, we had a huge tree in the front yard of our house in Chelston, although I thought the fruit was more brownish. I found them too bitter and inedible but my African friends loved them and gathered as much as they could when they came over to play. We lived opposite Chelston Primary School (great commute) and Heather, I'd appreciate a picture of our house at 41 Acacia Avenue if you have time on your return trips from the airport. We also lived at 30 Eucalyptus Avenue (pool in backyard) but that is more inaccessible from the Great East Road.
I enjoyed Fuller's book more for its narrative/descriptive aspects. Working in a difficult occupation in a sanctioned country did not make much economic sense to me. I've also read an article on The Guardian website about a trip she made back to Zimbabwe last year. This year I think she went to Mozambique but I have not read about that yet.
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 18:01:45 (UTC)
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Cathrine Nelson
I would recommend that you stay at Lyembai Hotel. I first traveled to Mongu in November 1976 as young University of Zambia graduate employed by the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBOARD). I flew from Lusaka to Mongu on a twin propeller engine Zambia airways plane. What struck me about the landscape in late November was the beauty of the land; it was so green. The flood plane in front of the hotel was mesmerizing; fishermen on canoes paddling on the blue waters of the Zambezi flood plane in the backdrop of vast green meadows stretching to the horizon. I traveled in all the towns of the Western Province including Kalabo which is perched on the most Western part of the province a few miles from the boarder with Angola. I have never forgotten the delicious broiled Litapi (fish) that I ate with nshima at the Lyembai hotel the following lunch after a night at the local mosi watering hole.
Mwizenge Tembo [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Virginia, United States
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 17:40:40 (UTC)
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Dave Cooper
I'll second your vote of thanks to Craig, Heather and Arthur. And don't forget to give yourself a pat on the back too :>)))
Owen Thomas
Your mention of musuku and mpundu. I can remember Chester Mountjoy introducing me to those fruits in Mufulira. I can remember both names, but not what they were. One was about the size of a medium plum, purple-ish skin, and a sweet-bitter taste, and grew in large trees. I think this was musuku. I think the other was a small round orange coloured fruit, with very sweet, thickish consistency flesh.
Have I got it right?
Paudie Coughlan [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Midleton Co Cork, Ireland
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 16:29:57 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
I want to personally thank everyone who uses this website for their incredible patience, tolerance, manners, politesse, and good nature for keeping this website running uninterrupted for the most part for almost seven years! Only once was the site brought to a halt. The stoppage was temporary and short.
Over the years I have fought long and hard to keep the site from slipping into vitriole and inappropriate use.
Why am I telling you this now? Because occasionally I do a massive investigation of the Great North Road's components, including all links, just to make sure that I know what is going on everywhere. In my snooping around, I saw a rather sad note on the Zambians Reunion site. This is what it said:
"THIS WEBSITE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO ABUSIVE
USAGE BY GUESTS WHO HAVE USED OUR MEMBERS'
ADDRESSES TO SPAM EMAILS AND WHO HAVE FILLED
OUR GUESTBOOK WITH INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT"
This reminded me to thank everyone here for being civilised. And to thank Craig, Arthur and Heather for standing like the the great wall of Kariba Dam against the elements!
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 14:39:29 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
An interesting story on BBCi this morning regarding the installation of the first Botswana female paramount chief.
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 08:32:40 (UTC)
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Doug
The only place I found Toongululu was on the road to Ernie Growden's farm, near Murundu. I must admit that Philip's drawing of an elongated fruit is more like the one I saw than Heather's photo of a more rounded fruit. The photo also shows the whole fruit as red, whilst the drawing shows it tinged with red at the one end which is again more like I remember it.
Did you ever eat mpundu and musuku?
Cheers
Owen Thomas [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Henley on Klip, Gauteng, South Africa
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 06:14:42 (UTC)
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Doug,
The Carissa or Natal plum is the nearest thing so far to what has been described and it seems unlikely that the native names to two different fruit should be so similar.
But you will note from the pictures of the cut fruit in the last posting show the plum to be red inside and out whereas you describe it as being white inside with black seeds. That is much more like the cactus Dragon fruit.
If you found your plant with fruit after a bush fire it would naturally be closer to the ground than a mature and unburned plant, so don't be put off so much by the size of the shrub.
The coastal Carissa is very spiny, but there may be inland varieties with less or no spines at all.
Chris Tamm,
I am more in favour of fruit that do not leave a bitter taste to raise the bile, so I will pass on your green Pineapples and stick to those I grow myself to a maturity that leaves me with a pleasant taste in the mouth.
Does anyone remember the van Rensberg who grew
the most delicious pineapples north of the Zambezi in the 1960s and the other chap who grew sweet bananas sold under the label of Davric Bananas - he gave away delicious Avocados if you bought his bananas as he had a long driveway to his farm out west of Lusaka lined all the way with huge Avocado trees.
Cheers Ron
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 05:14:36 (UTC)
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Dear Northerners,
last weekend I went up to the Bvumba Mountains for a few days.
The trees were getting their new leaves and the colours were spectacular. The greens, yellow, reds,and my favourite, Burgundy. It really is the most spectacular time in Africa.
I was really hoping to make the Livingstone Lark, but this time it will not be. Best wishes to all and may you have a winger.
Vic Bekker [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Harare, Zimbabwe
Sunday, August 31, 2003 at 03:30:12 (UTC)
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Good morning campers here is your Sun morning chuckle.
I was on stage last night quoting my lines one of which was., "You know that diaphragm is a pain in the ass."
Someone in the audience yelled out, "You are putting it in the wrong place!"
Have a nice day Johnny.
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Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 23:18:53 (UTC)
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Heather
Your photo is not the Tonguloolo that Philip is talking about. It looks like it could be a type of carissa.
Ron
The carissa which is called the Natal plum or Tungulu is a bush whereas the Tongaloolo is a short shrub probably no relation at all. The nearest thing that I have seen is the dragon fruit you refered us to. Look at Philip's sketch and Heather's picture.
I will bring a bottle of Oudemeester Brandy to the lark and give it to anybody who can bring a Tungaloolo complete with fruit for me to 'bring back alive' for Philip. I think the end of September is the time we used to find them so maybe we can get photos of it and bring this story to a conclusion.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 22:15:45 (UTC)
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Cathrine Nelson
Zambia, whether for good or for bad and like the rest of the world, has moved on since the 50's and you would not find a hotel that was like the old Livingstone Hotel. However, there are some good hotels and if you take a look at the ones I have listed for the Livingstone Lark, you will find one.
I visited Mongu a few weeks ago and stayed at a very nice guesthouse which has opened recently.
However, I suggest you email me directly especially since the only way to get to Mongu is to drive there.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 20:14:05 (UTC)
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Historian Puta Checkwe writes:
John Mwanakatwe was Zambia's most successful finance minister. When he left government, he went into private law practice. When he retired from that, he acted as a consultant to, among others, the World Bank and the IMF.
So here we go again. Empty statements. Instead of trying to re write the country's financial performance, why don't you back up your claim with economic facts? What exactly does "most successful mean"? Why don't you explain the reasons for the country's economic demise? You write that he was "most successful" at something or other. What? Then you write that this same success story was a consultant to the World Bank and IMF. Was this at the same time as when you accused those same organizations of driving Zambia Airways into the ground?
Still waiting for your story about the demise of Meridian.
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 19:03:43 (UTC)
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Dave Cooper
Three important books on Zambia have recently been published. They are all in the autobiographical form but they tell a good story about the evolution from Northern Rhodesia to Zambia.
The first is Into Exile and Back by Simon Zukas. The most striking thing about this book is the ease with which it explains multi racial politics in Zambia. You may know that Zukas is a Lithuianian born Zambian who was quite active in nationalist politics. He weaves his family story into that of the Zambian nation quite successfully.
I have not yet read Andrew Sardanis' autobiography which is called Africa: The Other Side of the Coin. I have of course spoken with Andrew about the book and I am looking forward to reading the final product. I can say, however, this book is not for the simple minded with stereo typical "ideas" about the African continent.
John Mwanakatwe's autobiography was only launched a few days ago. It's the story of his journey as a child, student, university graduate, colonial civil servant, Northern Rhodesia's representative in London and cabinet minister in independent Zambia.
John Mwanakatwe was Zambia's most successful finance minister. When he left government, he went into private law practice. When he retired from that, he acted as a consultant to, among others, the World Bank and the IMF.
Again, I am looking forward to reading John's book
Chisanga Puta-Chekwe [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 18:49:37 (UTC)
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The man from SARS enquires:
What are Su Su's ?
Try Sixpences! (and for those who do not know what those were, that would be the Half Bob pieces that you would pour into the one of the two one arm bandits at the Roosaka Krub.
Pineapple anyone?
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 18:16:42 (UTC)
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Good grief, it works!
A couple of years ago, so it seems, I used to haunt this site looking for references to Mongu and Livingstone, where I'd lived in the 50s and 60s. Then we needed a password to enter, I was given one (obviously) and that one extra step of effort resulted in me not bothering to come on board again. Also, most of the news seemed to be about the old Copper Belt, which I'd never visited, and Lusaka, where I'd been twice! Work too became more demanding.
I'm planning to visit family in Cape Town over Christmas and this time my daughter and I want to come to the 'real' Africa of my youth. I dug up the old password and can't believe it: Livingstone comes up time and again and even good ol', beloved MONGU!
I seek advice. Where should we stay in Livingstone that will be like the old Livingstone Hotel my parents managed in the early 50s? I know we can't hop on the Beaver and fly to Mongu, and even if we could where would we stay? Someone, tell me all about Mongu today. I lived there for 12 years and still say it's the best place on earth! If we go to Chobe will it horribly fake and fancy?
Anxiously awaiting a response, Cathrine
Cathrine Nelson (formerly Fisk) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Washington DC, United States
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 18:12:54 (UTC)
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Well you fruit lovers - I think we can safely conclude that your Monkey Apple and Tungululu are one and the same thing and that is the Zambian sub-species of the Carissa bush known in the south as the Natal Plum. But since none of you described the nasty forked spines - it could be a spineless variety or sub-species, so there is still a need to photograph and describe specimens in some detail. Philip's artwork is accurate in that the leaves are paired as opposed to alternate, but it remains to be seen if that applies to all varieties.
Heather's photo seems to be of someone with their head in the sand next to a variegated holly spike - so lets all drink to that - Bottoms Up Heather - Nice Smile.
Now here is a good article from the web on the Natal Plum - and if you check the URL you will see some good photos of the real thing with the fruit close to the ground.
If anyone would like to send me some fresh seeds in a small zip-lock bag I would be delighted to try them here in the Chinese Temple Garden. Just let me know & I'll give you the snail mail address.
The Su Su sounds fascinating - what are the flowers like ?
Cheers Ron
http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/cari_mac.cfm
Carissa macrocarpa
Family: Apocynaceae (dogbane family)
Common Names: Natal plum
Good photos on web-site
Description
Natal plum is a dense, closely branched spiny evergreen shrub or small tree up to 20' in height. Most of the cultivated forms are much smaller, though. The dark glossy green leaves are ovate, 1-3" long, thick and leathery, and arranged in opposing pairs. Forked spines, about an inch or two long, arm the branches and the ends of the twigs. Broken twigs exude a white milky sap. Natal plum produces an abundance of white starlike flowers with five thick and waxy petals. The flowers are about 2" across and sweetly fragrant, like orange blossoms, especially at night. The edible fruit is a pretty plum shaped red berry abut 2" long which tastes like sweet cranberries. Natal plum blooms almost all year long and most of the time both flowers and fruit are present.
'Bonsai' grows in a compact mound only 2' tall. 'Prostrata' and 'Horizontalis' (Natal creeper) are low growing cultivars suitable for ground covers. 'Boxwood Beauty' is a thornless dwarf. 'Nana' is a thornless dwarf bearing flowers with spirally overlapping petals. There are many more named selections to choose from.
Location
Natal plum is native to the Northern South African province of KwaZulu/Natal. It is a popular hedge plant, widely cultivated in the New and Old World tropics.
Culture
Natal plum prefers a sandy, well-drained soil. It responds well to close pruning and is easily kept at any size. Many of the cultivars have a tendency to produce branches that revert to the species characteristics, so it may be necessary to prune frequently to prevent the cultivar from reverting completely.
Light: Natal plum does best and produces the most flowers when positioned in full sun, but it tolerates partial shade.
Moisture: Natal palm is drought tolerant.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 9 - 11. In zone 9 winters, Natal plum may freeze to the ground, but it usually comes back in spring.
Propagation: Propagate the cultivars of Natal plum from cuttings. The species may be grown from seed.
Usage
Natal plum is the perfect hedge plant. Its dense foliage makes it a good screen, and its thorns make it an effective barrier as well. Add on the deliciously fragrant blossoms and edible fruits, and it's hard to think of a better shrub for the tropical garden. Plant the larger cultivars on 5' centers for hedges and the smaller cultivars on 4' centers for foundation plantings. Natal plum is tolerant of salty soil and salt spray, too, and is therefore an excellent plant for the seaside garden, even in exposed conditions. The dwarf cultivars can be grown as container plants. Keep them outside in summer, and in a well-lit, cool and dry position in winter. Sprawling cultivars can be used as ground covers, planted on 2' centers. The fruits are made into jellies and preserves.
Features
The various cultivars of Natal plum are among the best ocean front foundation, hedge, container and groundcover plants for tropical and subtropical regions. They are very popular in South Florida. Natal plums are often grown in containers on ocean front condominium balconies. Their thick leathery leaves are not torn by wind nor bothered by salt spray.
WARNING
All parts of Natal plum are poisonous except for the ripe fruits. Even the seeds within the fruits are said to be poisonous. Natal plum should not be planted close to pedestrian traffic because of its sharp spines.
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http://roger.jouet.free.fr/photographies_fichiers/image201.jpg
Genre = Carissa Espèce = bispinosa Variété =
Nom = Carisse Famille = Apocynacées image
Good photo
Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae)
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph20.htm#natalplm
Natal plum (Carissa grandiflora), also listed as C. macrocarpa: A spiny South African shrub with milky latex sap, fragrant white flowers and showy, red fruits (berries). Although natal plum belongs to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) with many poisonous relatives (such as Nerium oleander), the fruits are edible with the flavor of cranberries. They are made into jellies, sauces and pies. The branched spines arise from lateral buds in the leaf axils and are technically modified stems called thorns. [Spines are technically modified leaves with lateral buds in their axils.]
Good photo - fruit red inside & out
Grow Fruit in the Home Garden in Tropical Areas
WWW.NATURALHUB.COM
http://www.naturalhub.com/grow_fruit_and_nuts_in_tropical_areas.htm
CARISSA Carissa macrocarpa 'Natal Plum' A very useful plant for the home food garden, because it is a small bushy shrub with thorns and fragrant white flowers, won't form massive roots that can damage paved areas, and because it will remain fruitful even when trimmed to fit into a narrow space, such as a border. The small roundish fruit are about an inch/2.5cm wide and a bit more long. They are bright red streaked with a darker red ground color. The fruit are variable, but most are mild, somewhat sweet, sometimes slightly astringent, with small seeds in the centre and exude a harmless latex when cut. They have about the same vitamin C content as an orange.
No photo
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 16:53:54 (UTC)
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Ron
Su-su's grow on a creeper. The fruit is off-white in colour and fluted with little knobbles on it. The flesh is more or less the same colour as the skin and it has pips similar to the gem squash inside. The texture of the flesh is much the same as a potato. Both the skin and the flesh are edible but they are pretty tasteless. We deep fry them in olive oil to try to get some flavour into them. When I am back in Lusaka and they are fruiting I shall take the necessary photographs.
Dawid
The Myers parrots which I had have been released back into the wild and I guess are still hanging around. We also have an African Grey Parrot which I see from time to time. I last saw it on Monday morning, sitting on the electricity cables just down the road from the house. He has been hanging around in the area for about 5 or 6 years now. They do originate from the Congo.
Doug
'Land Of The Long Grass' was an excellent book although for some reason it took me some time to read it. I have in my office a short write-up on the true history of Changa-Changa and it is very close to the book. I also posted (about 18 months ago) a photo of the remains of his house close to the Lunsemfwa River.
On Monday I bought a copy of John Mwanakatwe's autobiography which I started reading on the plane down to Jo'burg on Tuesday. But I left the book on the plane (I put it in the pocket in front of me, fell asleep and when the plane landed, I stood up, picked up my hand luggage and walked off the plane - I am starting to suffer from geriatric syndrome). Anyway, I shall buy another copy when I get back.
Havng nothing to read, I bought a book entitled 'Open Cockpit Over Africa' which I have semi-started reading. I was told about it a few weeks ago and found a copy in Exclusive Books at the Airport. I shall report on it once I have finished.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 15:54:54 (UTC)
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Could this be the famed tungululu (from my archives)
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 15:17:57 (UTC)
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Marilyn...Yes I have seen Mars..the past few nights, what a wonderful sight, just wish we had a telescope...oh well....the girls have been rather excited....
Dawie... Alexandra Fullers book, "dont' lets go to the dogs tonight, had the same impact on me....a very visual book re the African landscape...yes the smells , tastes ect...
All.....RE the talk of native fruits of Africa, when I visited the Perth Zoo a few months ago, I was able to taste both the Marula berry and the Natal Plum, I managed to save some of the seeds, and now I have 3 plants..of which I forget...as I put them in the same pot...oh well lucky dip, I must say they were both very nice...
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 15:04:33 (UTC)
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Doug:
I have to make a public confession to perhaps being one of the few on the GNR who could never quite get into "Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight". Tried it several times but kept drifting off. Went to the book signing/reading as I mentioned before and Fuller read it quite differently than I would have if I had not heard her own intonation. Decided to give it another try last week or so while waiting for my boys to get their haircuts at a place that has sports stuff in it and a wide screen TV. Got side tracked watching wrestling... 'nuff said... and left the book there. When I went back it was gone. I can just see some good ol' boy from Texas reading a couple of pages from it and going "HUH??!"
Quite some time back, I was talking about books we grew up with. The "Pookie" series was my favourite as a very little girl in Africa. For Christmas last year, I was delighted to receive an almost mint condition edition of "Pookie Puts The World Right." I sat down and read it straight away and it whisked me back to being a little girl. It even awakened a long buried memory of drawing a particular scene from the book when I was about 7. Funny thing, the mind.
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 15:01:31 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
Can an EXPERT Outlook user email me privately, please? I need someone who is advanced.
Thanks
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 13:46:13 (UTC)
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Doug
Brace yourself for a full-on attack from west of here for uttering such frank words!
I enjoyed LETS NOT GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT... yes, I agree about the plot, and that bloody pathetic creature of a mother... BUT, the description of the southern Rhodesian bush is so exact, I could smell it. Didn't you pick up on that?
I have not read anything African for a while, so thanks for the recommendation. People have different taste, though, so I will be the judge of the book on Zambia you recommend. (ironic alert here for the irony-impaired).
Currently I am reading a biography on Pepys and an autobiography by Mussolini... this latter is fantastic reading. He rights a crisp, masculine style. His journalistic ability shines through. The book is called MY RISE and MY FALL. Obviously the latter part is constructed with the help of an editor. Mussolini was quite the patriot.
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 13:30:39 (UTC)
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I have finished reading Marina Maxwell's 'Land of the long grass'. What a terrific story! Dawie this is required reading for you and everyone else also.
It is at a par with the best of Wilbur Smith. It has everything, love, hate, sex, violence, romance, war, adventures by strange people in strange lands, slave-trading, hunting, witchcraft, torture, tragedy, jubilation and much more. It has delightfully caustic views of some of the missionaries who tried to force their dubious moral standards on the happily naked, fornicating, witchcrafting, hunting and slave-taking natives.
The hero, Harrison, whose African name is Changa-Changa, had to run away from South Africa after shooting a Afrikaans farmer who tried to castrate him for impregnating his wife. A good start! He travels north and after various adventures, becomes the Chief of the area between Lusaka and Fort Jameson years before these towns existed, and long before Cecil Rhodes people arrived.
He built up an army, made laws and collected taxes. He stole the beautiful, exotic, coloured wife of a coloured Portugese slave trader which caused a war between them and disturbed relations between the British and Portugese governments.
Later he married the beautiful twin daughters of a witchdoctor; a sharp move for any ruler is to get the local religious leaders on board to help to control the masses. Later he married the daughter of a black slave trader / elephant hunter who also had a private army. Another strategic move. He also romances and has a child with one of the missionaries.
Marina has a true gift. Her perception of attitudes towards people such as Changa-Changa and his children and her understanding is absolutely incredible.
The best thing is that this story is based on fact. Marina, please, please write some more, I love your stories. You are my soul-mate! Praises and Halala!
I have also recently read "Don't let's go to the dog's tonight'. Apart from the fact that it brought back memories of the 3 countries of the old Federation, it was rather boring. The writer jumps around like a grasshopper. It is more a story of a family with an mentally disturbed, alcoholic, fag puffing mother, and their battles to scratch a living. One feels sorry for the children who are left to their own devices outside while the parents get sloshed in whatever bar is handy. They lived in pretty squalid circumstances at the best of times. So there was no need to go to the dogs. They were already there.
I am presently plowing through 'African Tears' by Cathy Buckle. It is depressing reading. It could have been condensed into one chapter because although she describes a series of provocations each one is just a worse repeat of the previous one. It is the frog in the bucket of water over the fire syndrome again. Each time the water gets hotter the frog adjusts and thinks it will get cooler until in the end it gets cooked. Better to kak in the water and jump out of the bucket. The problem is to know just when to jump so you don't end up in the kak yourself. Easier said than done! 'Beyond Tears', Cathy's second book looks to be more of the same.
The one who takes the prize for repetition though is Jan Lamprecht in his book 'Government by Deception' pshycopolitics in Southern Africa, explaining why he thinks South Africa could become another Zimbabwe. I award myself the Purple Heart of Africa medal for plowing my way through this brain damagingly boring drivel. He sees all the problems in Africa as a continuation of the communist-marxist plot. It is obviously designed for the American market. He makes some interesting and thought provoking points but spoils it by stating that Bill and Hillary Clinton and Tony Blair are all marxist agents and that racism was invented by the Russians for the Africans to use against the Whites. Weird.
Ribit, Ribit - Kermit da Vryheid frog in hot water again.
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 12:54:54 (UTC)
|
N O R T H E R N E R S
The hand-drawn diagramme of the "monkey apple" [sic] is in fact, exactly as I remember it. Except, this diagramme lacks a scaling-object, so one is not sure how big it is. I remember it to be not much higher than my 10 year-old knee (I am now 1,96m --- NO, I shall not tranlsate that down to Ancient Anglo-Saxon measurement!). And the edible bulb is exactly in the right position and the right shape and colour.
As lads, we could have mis-named the plant. So perhaps we had heard the nomenclature "monkey apple" and so-named it.
Obviously, it is the same fruit! Good sleuthing everyone. This is the sort of stuff that I love about the collective knowledge this sort of germane discussion can produce!
Next...
Jill and I were discussing Zambian parrots privately recently. Some years back, Heather and I had a similar discussion, and she actually had a couple of Myer's Parrots in her possession (rescue operation, not capture operation). I have a great passion for psittacines, and as such I am saddened that during my entire stay in Zambia, I never saw wild parrots. Did anyone ever see Myer's Parrots or any native parrot or lovebird whilst resident in Zambia? I do remember the Congo Greys the indigenous people would sell outside of the Astra Cinema... they were caged in wire baskets and went for about 10/- each. It was my understanding that they came from the Congo, but there could have been native populations in Zambia. However, I believe our drier climate may have precluded that possibility.
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 12:12:42 (UTC)
|
Dawie
Philip's sketch of the tongaloolo is the one I remember. Does it look like your monkey apples? It seems to be the same. Best of luck with the approaching op.
Heather
Would you please desribe the su-su for Ron. You saw it last week while I saw it nearly 40 years ago.
Johnny
Thanks for all the jokes!
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 11:31:14 (UTC)
|
Great picture Philip,
As for Arthur's comment about the Stork -
Doesn't he know that all plants need a Stork
So as to have somewhere to hang the leaves
and the fruit. !!!
Do check out
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-378.html
for possible matches to your fruit
How about volunteering to illustrate the GNR list of popular fruit lowers and plants ?
Cheers Ron
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 09:33:48 (UTC)
|
Ron
I agree - there are many plants in Africa which have not yet 'been discovered'. I will help with your project to identify them (and eventually hopefully get the GNR their own personal photos of the plants).
Doug
We have su-su's growing in the garden and whilst I have never tried making wine from them, I do make chips from time to time except they don't have much taste.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 09:32:39 (UTC)
|
A story found in my search for the Monkey Apple
Ron
The Gharial and the Monkey
"A folk tale from India. Adapted from a Kannada
Tamil folk story by Linda Brookover."
The Ganges River, the greatest and longest river in India is a home to many animals. Beside the river lived a monkey in a tree that bore sweet and fragrant fruit. It smelled as sweet as a rose and tasted like an apple so the monkey called it a rose apple. While the monkey was eating the plentiful fruit of that beautiful tree, a gharial came out of the river.
On his long thin snout was a round bump that looked like a ball. The gharial is a crocodile that got its name from his nose."Ghara" means pot in the Indian language which is what the thing on his nose looked like. He used that bump to blow bubbles and make sounds that were very attractive to lady gharials, especially his wife.
The little monkey threw down his fruit, and said to the gharial, "These are the best rose apples in the world!" The gharial tried one and agreed, "they are wonderful!" The monkey and the gharial became good friends and the gharial visited every day.
Then one day the gharial took one of the rose apples to his wife and his wife asked where he had gotten the delicious fruit. She said, "You cannot climb the tree, did you pick them up from the river bank?" "No," replied the gharial, my new friend, the monkey, throws them down to me.
"Oh!" said the lady gharial, "that monkey who lives on such sweet fruit, must have a heart that tastes like heaven. Bring me the monkey's heart so that I may eat it!"
The gharial was horrified by his wife's desire. "He's my friend," he argued, "so he's my brother in-law to you." He tried to distract her by blowing bubbles and making sounds through his nose, but it was no use. Still the lady gharial wished to taste the monkey's heart and finally, though he argued as much as he could, the gharial agreed to bring the monkey home to his wife.
The next day the gharial invited the monkey home with him for dinner. Little did the monkey know that his poor heart would be the main course. The gharial told the monkey to ride on his back. The monkey said, "You are a gharial and live in the water. I cannot swim and will drown in your home. The crocodile reassured the monkey by saying, "We live on a dry, sunny island." The monkey was excited about visiting his friend's house, since the gharial always visited him at his tree and off they went.
The monkey brought many rose-apples as a gift to his friend's wife. The gharial felt so guilty that on the way to his home he told the monkey the truth about his wife and the monkey's heart. "Oh my heart is what you want!" said the monkey, "Well, I left it in the tree where I live. You must take me back there and I will get it for you." The gharial turned around and took the monkey back to his tree and never even saw him go up he went so fast. He told his wife that the monkey had drowned on the way and they never tasted rose-apples again.
In real life, crocodilians take their prey to their homes for dinner just like in the story. They usually drag large animals into their nest or lair and feed off of the catch for a few days. Gharials, however, are not capable of eating large animals because their jaws are too slim. They have been found with jewelry in their stomachs, but only because throwing jewelry in the river is a part of the traditional burial ceremony in India. Gharials probably eat jewelry, as ballast, to add weight to help them stay under water longer.
Ron comments that jewelry like pebbles may aid the digestion of food in the Crocodile or Gharial stomach - rather like the action of a cement mixerwith agragate or stones in the cement to make concrete.
http://www.oneworldmagazine.org/tales/crocs/gharial.html
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 09:15:23 (UTC)
|
I have been following the debate on the Tungalulu fruit with great interest. It seem not to be the Monkey apple which is from a fair sized tree also called the Monkey orange Strychnos spinosa and another tree species Strichnose cocculoides - monkey apple (mtonga) called variously - Corky monkeyorange, Corky-bark monkey orange. [Loganiaceae] for which there is a lovely story from India that I will send in a separate message.
Most of you describe picking the fruit from low to the ground and often on fire burned parches of bushland.
I think Carrisa is the most likely candidate - the Carissa bispinosa or Natal Plum that is called [ama] Tungulu in the south. According to my web-search there are several sub-species and two varieties in Zimbabwe that may well fit the bill:
CARISSA L.
Carissa bispinosa
subsp. bispinosa
var. bispinosa
Carissa arduina
subsp. zambesiensis Kupicha
var. acuminata sensu
Carissa edulis
Carissa tomentosa
Carissa tetramera
Flora of Zimbabwe
Apocynaceae
http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/fams/apocynac.html
_______________________________________________
Natal only lists these:
Carissa bispinosa
Carissa congesta Karanda
Carissa grandiflora Natal Plum
Carissa lanceolata Australian Carissa
Carissa macrocarpa Natal Plum
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/fruitsscientific.htm
_________________________________________________
The Pretoria University has this to say of two of the
Carissa species they have in their garden:
130. Carissa bispinosa
Family: Apocynaceae
Forest Num-num / Bosnoemnoem
A scrambling shrub or small tree, C. bispinosa is widespread, occurring in dense vegetation from the Western Cape through the eastern parts of the country into Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It grows in a variety of habitats including dry woodland and evergreen forest. The flowers are small, white (sometimes with a pinkish tinge), scented and roughly resemble frangipani flowers in form. The species bears edible red fruits (berries) which are sought after by birds and other animals. It can be grown in the garden in semi-shade or in full sun. It is a fairly slow-grower and reaches a maximum height of about 2 m. It tolerates slight frost and moderate drought.
http://www.up.ac.za/academic/botany/garden/species/130.html
18. Carissa macrocarpa sp.
Family: Apocynaceae
Big Num-num / Grootnoemnoem
A shrub or small tree that grows up to 4 m in height. It occurs in coastal bush, on sand dunes and at the margins of coastal forest, from the vicinity of Humansdorp northwards through KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique. All the Carissa species are spiny, evergreen shrubs containing latex. The spines are neatly forked and serve as an identifying characteristic for the genus. The leaves are thick and leathery Carissa species are valued as garden plants because of their flowers, which are white, or nearly so, scented and borne in profusion. Flowers are solitary or borne in clusters. The fruit (a berry) of all Carissa species is edible and is rich in Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. The fruit of C. macrocarpa is especially delicious and is used to make jelly. They are eagerly consumed by birds, which also distribute the seed. Carissa species are grown from seed or cuttings and tolerate slight frost and moderate drought. This species is often used as a hedge plant in warm areas, where it grows moderately quickly.
http://www.up.ac.za/academic/botany/garden/species/18.html
BOTANICAL GARDEN - University of Pretoria
If there is not a book on the native plants of Zambia and their food and medicinal uses then its about time that some of us put our heads together and did something about it.
We could al least try to list all the fruit etc that were and still are enjoyed so much and put common English Africaans and tribal names to them along with their international Latin names. Many of them will already be in the excellent new books on Natal Trees and Wild Flowers by Elsa Pooley [Natal apparently having more species than any other territory in Africa]
The description of a crimson fleshy fruit with white flesh inside filled with tiny black seeds also fits an altogether different plant - the creeping or climbing cactus known to some as the red pitaya [Hylocereus undatus] or Dragon Fruit in the Far East.
See: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-378.html
We have not yet identified the Ginger-like plant that Philip described - it must be something other than the Tungalulu described above as his most vivid description is so different from the shrub Carissa.
To keep the thread together I have copied all the related messages below:
Now how about it folks - lets start with a list of all the Common names we can remember and start identifying them on the web or from any books we can find - We can then create an on-line reference to any of the known plants we all remember from the Great North Road in Central Africa together with links to botanical descriptions and photos already on-line as I have done above.
Remember too that there are still plants out there that have still to be discovered by some very observant person with an enquiring mind.
Doug,
What are Su Su's ?
If anyone is interested to help with this project on or off the message board I will get the ball rolling by sharing this Tropical Fruit Database:
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/fruitsscientific.htm
and this list of local names in four languages from Namibia prepared for free sharing by a German research group :
http://www.sigridleger.de/book/index.html?/book/plants/pl_097.html
Happy plant hunting,
Cheers Ron
The telephone line has just been repaired after the line was burned in several places and brought down by a direct lightning strike on Monday 25th August when several of our electrical appliances were also burned out by an electrical surge through the power cables.
Doug wrote:
Jill
I looked up the Carissa Bispinosa (Natal Plum) in a google search. Although the Zulu name amaTungulu is similar it is a different plant. The Natal plum is a red fleshed berry that grows on a bush, whereas our Zambian Tungaloolu is a small shrub that grows very close to the ground. The fruit is crimson skinned with white flesh full of small round black seeds if I remember right. I seem to remember the fruit pod was sort of half in and half out of the ground.
I also searched for Tungaloolu under various spelling and got a response to Tungalulu in an article by an Italian missionary to Malawi. However he was using it to describe the ululating noise the Malawian women make when they are happy at your arrival.
Come on you indigenous Zambians, help us out here. Chisanga, you must be familiar with this plant.
I am sure John Glen used to make wine out of it. He certainly made wine out of everything else including Su-Su's which were a sort of whitish squash that used to grow on a creeper vine. This was quite potent.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Friday, August 29, 2003
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 1
Tungaloolu
I am trying to find out what the correct name of the fruit is - and Heather gave me a clue with spinosa.
I have found something that is called Amathungulu by the Zulus - they always put an "ama" before everything - so you are left with Thungulu (similar to Tungaloolu) and the plant is called Carissa macrocarpa and there is also a Carissa bispinosa. It has bright red oval fruits that are delicious and rich in Vitamin C. They can be eaten whole, are enjoyed by baboons and monkeys, fruit-ating birds and an exceptional jelly is made from them - according to Pitta Joffe in her book Creative Gardening with Indigenous Plants.
A pink dye is also obtained from the fruit.
Here it is called the Big Num-num in English and Groetnoemnoem in Afrikaans
The flowers are starry white - similar to those of the jasmine. The roots are traditionally used to cure toothache.
Jilly
Jill Aplin South Africa
Friday, August 29, 2003
To me, Monkey apples are the same as African Oranges which grow on a tree called (I hope I've got this right) ******????? spinosa. I posted pictures of these on the board last year in October or November. They are very acid and tart, but taste delicious when served with a caramel sauce or used in ice cream. When unripe, the fruits contain strichnine.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender)
Lusaka, Zambia
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Doug
Well actually Monkey Apples were also bright red. They might have also been above ground... I do remember them being apparent in burnt bushland. Also, the Mwambashi is a river on the way from Nkana to Mufilira... so perhaps this is the same thing.
What did they taste like? I remember them being quite acidic and tart. Also growing nearby, but on drier cleared land (where dairy cattle graised) were wild gooseberries---the African kind---golden, not green.
I remember also finding a primate scull on the side of an anthill nearby. We thought nothing of it at the time, but imagine had we unearthed some ancient African ape! There is no telling, I suppose now!
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Dave
The Tungaloolu was bright red, a sort of triangular shaped pod circa 100mm to 150mm long, and stuck up above the ground, so it must be different from your fruit.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Doug et al,
Near the banks of the Mwambashi, as young lads, we would pull up a tuber-like lili of a plant and find a reddish bulb which when eaten was slightly sour. We called these "Monkey Apples", is this the same fruit of which you speak?
Vercingetorix Rules!
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Philip
I remember the Tungaloolo fruit very well. It looked better than it tasted. The used to grow alongside the Mokambo road north of Mufulira. If I remember right they normally came up in areas where the grass had been burnt just before the rains so if someone can find one I will certainly bring it back for you.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Hi All,
Arthur and Heather,
Maureen and I have been having a chat the other day and she mentionde a fruit that we both remember which grew on the side of the road to the Golf course in Nkana. I dont know the correct spelling of the fruit but Maureen spells it TONGALOOLO, (looks right)
It was a wonderful wild fruit which popped out of the ground at a certain time of the year. When the fruit turned bright red they were ready to eat. The edible part which consisted of a white flesh with hundreds of small black pips was enclosed in a hard fleshy pod.( If you have ever eaten this fruit you will never forget it)
The plant itself looks similar to a Wild Ginger plant with large elongated leaves on a single stork about 3-4 feet high, the fruit appears at at the base of the plant and actually sticks out of the ground around the stalk
I can't remember what time of the year the fruit appeared.
The reason for this posting is a mission that Arthur and Heather must complete when they are in Nkana.
MISSION
Proceed along the golf course road for about 1k on the left hand side of the road look for above mentioned plants. Take a spade and dig up some of the plants complete with roots. Trim the stalks and pack the root stock into a plastic bag with enough water to keep them damp. Take this package to the Lark and give them to Doug to bring back for me. I will collect them in Vreyheid when he gets back.
I am sure they will grow here in Eshowe as every thing that grew in Nkana grows here.
Cheers
Philip Pain
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 09:06:09 (UTC)
|
Hi
This is as I remember the Tongaloolo.
Cheers
Philip
Philip,
This fruit and leaves - looks like something they'd shmoke in Amsterdam.
Not sure what they'd do with the shtork though
Arthur
Arthur Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Stockport, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 08:56:49 (UTC)
|
George Maxwell
Just as well you posted - I have just been looking at travel timetables to get up to Edinburgh to come and give you a whipping because you've been quiet for so long!!
Don't stay away for so long again!!
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 08:39:54 (UTC)
|
Good morning campers, your morning smile to set the mould for the rest of your day Johnny.
Jenny was very rich. One day she telephoned a famous blonde young artist and said she wanted to commission him to paint her, He said his fee would be $5,000, which she immediately accepted.
When she arrived at his studio for the first sitting, she gave him a check for $7,000.
The artist was very surprised and asked what
the extra money was for. “I want you to paint me in the nude,” she said, “Do you have any objections?”
“Not for $7,000 I don’t. But I would have to keep my socks on. I must have somewhere to put my brushes.”
-------------------------
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 07:56:51 (UTC)
|
Ouch! ouch!
Heather and her whip again.
George Maxwell [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Edinburgh, Scotland
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 06:04:55 (UTC)
|
Greetings
For those of you scanning maps etc. TechTV channel give a good review to a program called LM Stitch to aid in the assembly of scanned images and photographs back into large "sheets" or photographic panorama's up to 360 degrees.
A trial version is free and the full version can be down loaded for about $19 or EUR18.35 + VAT
Web address: http://www.lostmarble.com/lmstitch.html
John Pringle [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Saturday, August 30, 2003 at 00:51:10 (UTC)
|
Northerners
I have been working on the scanning and restoration of a map of Kariba (south bank) that is dated June 1959. I have it back together and am just dealing with a number of marks that were created by the map having been folded for 40 odd years. If anyone is interested, and the powers that be think it acceptable, I will send it to the GNR when I have it completed.
I have also just scanned in a map of the Rhodes Park area in Lusaka that was drawn up sometime before independence when the roads were patrolled at night because someone thought there would be trouble. What is interesting about this map is that it gives the surnames of the families that lived in each of the houses in the area. This is also going to take a bit of tidying up as it is not in the best of conditions after 40 years.
Hartley Heaton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Binfield, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 21:56:22 (UTC)
|
Doug after reading your latest missive to Jill I feel a song coming on,
Blame it on the bispinova the fruit of love,
I am sure that Texan composer Tinorosky can add a few more lines and maybe we will have an a number ! on the music market, Regards Johnny.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 21:02:41 (UTC)
|
Jill
I looked up the Carissa Bispinosa (Natal Plum) in a google search. Although the Zulu name amaTungulu is similar it is a different plant. The Natal plum is a red fleshed berry that grows on a bush, whereas our Zambian Tungaloolu is a small shrub that grows very close to the ground. The fruit is crimson skinned with white flesh full of small round black seeds if I remember right. I seem to remember the fruit pod was sort of half in and half out of the ground.
I also searched for Tungaloolu under various spelling and got a response to Tungalulu in an article by an Italian missionary to Malawi. However he was using it to describe the ululating noise the Malawian women make when they are happy at your arrival.
Come on you indigenous Zambians, help us out here. Chisanga, you must be familiar with this plant.
I am sure John Glen used to make wine out of it. He certainly made wine out of everything else including Su-Su's which were a sort of whitish squash that used to grow on a creeper vine. This was quite potent.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 18:44:07 (UTC)
|
N O R T H E R N E R S!
Here in Europe, a person's name is not published when arrested for a crime... for example, the assassin of Pim Fortuyn was never released until he was proven guilty.
I am not sure what other countries have these laws. Perhaps the UK as well?
Well, for those who have not accessed US news sources, it was revealed there today that the following person has been alleged to be the perpetrator of the MSBLAST worm:
Jeffrey Lee Parson, 18, of Hopkins, Minnesota, USA.
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 18:24:22 (UTC)
|
Arthur
Profuse apologies for "lurking" so long without posting, but there are just not enough hours in my day.
At this stage it will just be the two "Eldridge Girls" (Heather and I), Grant and my eldest daughter and son-in-law that will be attending. We are trying to tie up the loose ends and will let Heather know the details, hopefully by Monday.
Shirley will be in the throes of moving to Cape Town at the end of September, where her and her husband will be retiring and Lynthia will be eagerly awaiting the birth of her eldest son's child over that very weekend!
I so wanted them both to be there and to travel up to Kitwe with us (the Eldridge Girls going home), but now it will just be "the sisters are doing it for themselves"!!! Oh well ....
Vivienne
Vivienne Jeannette Buitendag (née Eldridge) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Boksburg, South Africa
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 13:00:18 (UTC)
|
N O R T H E R N E R S!
You can see where the Mwambashi is in relation to Nkana and Mufilira, by looking at the Kitwe interactive map. Pan to the inset map of the Copperbelt and then zoom and pan about in an Nkana - Mufilira direction. It drained from the west and joined the Kafue north of Nkana.
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 09:53:55 (UTC)
|
Doug
So I reckon these are the same fruit---monkey apples---growing by the banks of the Mwambashi... I feel a song coming on....
The Mwambashi is a great river, or was. And you are right Doug, in its description. The Marlowes had a dairy farm near it. The twins (Richard and John) and I used to swim in it where it crosses the power lines. There was a bridge there, and the river was very swift, and it looked powerful and deep.
A great little African river!
Nice to see all this germane talk about Zambia going on! Reminds me of the good old days!
Dawie die Verskriklike...
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 09:49:04 (UTC)
|
Good morning campers and Marilyn, your little smile to start your day Johnny.
-------------
Noah opens up the ark and lets all the animals out, telling them
to "Go forth and multiply." He's closing the great doors of the
ark when he notices that there are two snakes sitting in a dark
corner.
So he says to them, "Didn't you hear me? You can go now. Go forth
and multiply."
"We can't," said the snakes, "We're adders."
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 08:43:45 (UTC)
|
Tungaloolu
I am trying to find out what the correct name of the fruit is - and Heather gave me a clue with spinosa.
I have found something that is called Amathungulu by the Zulus - they always put an "ama" before everything - so you are left with Thungulu (similar to Tungaloolu) and the plant is called Carissa macrocarpa and there is also a Carissa bispinosa. It has bright red oval fruits that are delicious and rich in Vitamin C. They can be eaten whole, are enjoyed by baboons and monkeys, fruit-ating birds and an exceptional jelly is made from them - according to Pitta Joffe in her book Creative Gardening with Indigenous Plants.
A pink dye is also obtained from the fruit.
Here it is called the Big Num-num in English and Groetnoemnoem in Afrikaans
The flowers are starry white - similar to those of the jasmine. The roots are traditionally used to cure toothache.
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 08:29:06 (UTC)
|
Star Gazers:
I finally saw Mars last night! Clive and I were walking in Kings Park and I had given up on clear skies. However, I'm always looking for the first star of the night to make a wish on and lo and behold. There was Mars. The only star in the sky at that moment and so bright. We got out the bino's at home but really needed a telescope. It was great to see at last.
Alix:
Did you see Mars last night?
Perth GNR Members:
Anyone walking/running the City to Surf on Sunday?
Heather:
Did you have all the leather gear on when you had the whip out?
Marilyn
Marilyn Noall (née Shooter) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 05:19:17 (UTC)
|
Hi! DAVID
I got involved with model aircraft as a youngster when my brother built a HAWKER HUNTER "JETEX" powered model and which started something in my life which today I can't get away from.
In the mid 80's I became the CHIEF SCALE JUDGE FOR S.A.A.R.F. (South African Ass. of Radio Flyers ) a post I held untill I resignd in 1989 to start my own business.
My mate and I made the first home built model aircraft jet turbine engine in South Africa (Parrifin Fueled) that powered a aircraft in flight. Check this out 120 00 RPM, 2000 rpm/ second, exhaust temp. 650 deg.C. (Don't put your hand in front of the intake to see if there is enough air going through the intake, I have the scars.) This turbine delivered +/- 17 lb. of thrust and weighed just under a kilo (2.20462 lbs for Arthur) The model could achieve around 300 km\h (186 MPH for Arther) in level flight. My mate Dawie has immigrated to OZ. and is still flying Jets. We still have contact and will get him to send some pic's of our early development and aircraft.
I was a bum pilot but very good at telling people how it should be done, thus the reason I was selected to become the National Judge. ( I received my Freestate Colours for sport Admin. in 1988) My eldest son Mark claimed all my gear and has gone to N.Z. with it.
As you can see I have a passion for Model Aircraft and will share plenty stories of Growing up in NKANA and my early modelling days.
Cheers
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 05:07:49 (UTC)
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Dave
The taste sounds right. A rose by any other name etc. I remember the Mwabashi well. It crosses the Kitwe to Chingola road just before the T-junction to Mufulira, where Sabina Burns had a shop. I have sometimes parked and walked onto the bridge to look at the river. Although it was not a big river, the water was deep, fast running and amazingly clear. I always wished to have a farm with such a river.
Heather
I often used to eat those African Oranges when I was a youngster. They were also good for targets for pellet guns when we ran short of blouskops.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 04:43:20 (UTC)
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How come I look so green every time I look in the mirror? Could it be that you lot are gearing up for the Lark and I'm not?
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Friday, August 29, 2003 at 03:02:41 (UTC)
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Brassso no longer incognito!!!!! I am now back on my own log in and my whipped back is ohhhhhh so sore! Sarkyarthur U need to be prepared to take this Chalcraft woman in hand on Saturday! I'm tooo old for this whipping. Ewe but it is ohhhhh so nice bwana
Passing her onto to U tomorrow Friday Arthur!
A well beaten Brasso!!!!!! :-)
Gary Brassington [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Banbury Oxon, United Kingdom
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 23:56:14 (UTC)
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MONKEY APPLES
To me, Monkey apples are the same as African Oranges which grow on a tree called (I hope I've got this right) ******????? spinosa. I posted pictures of these on the board last year in October or November. They are very acid and tart, but taste delicious when served with a caramel sauce or used in ice cream. When unripe, the fruits contain strichnine.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 23:26:52 (UTC)
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I've been out to dinner with Cookie and Teresa and Brasso Senior. The fish was superb (not Tiger, Arthur) and right now its the wine doing the typing.
Brasso is threatening to visit Zambia next year and Cookie is threatening to come again, so can anyone offer me somewhere to live while they're there.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 23:16:05 (UTC)
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Oooh, you should see what I'm doing to Brasso with this whip.
And he's not complaining.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 23:11:32 (UTC)
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Oooh, you should see what I'm doing to Brasso with this whip.
And he's not complaining.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 23:11:24 (UTC)
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This is Brasso posting incognito because that Chalcraft woman was so pissed off at me for not posting for so long that she came to Banbury and is now standing behind me with a whip and forcing me to do it.
The Lion lager is cold and pleasant though.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 23:08:46 (UTC)
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Doug
Well actually Monkey Apples were also bright red. They might have also been above ground... I do remember them being apparent in burnt bushland. Also, the Mwambashi is a river on the way from Nkana to Mufilira... so perhaps this is the same thing.
What did they taste like? I remember them being quite acidic and tart. Also growing nearby, but on drier cleared land (where dairy cattle graised) were wild gooseberries---the African kind---golden, not green.
I remember also finding a primate scull on the side of an anthill nearby. We thought nothing of it at the time, but imagine had we unearthed some ancient African ape! There is no telling, I suppose now!
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 21:59:47 (UTC)
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Dave
The Tungaloolu was bright red, a sort of triangular shaped pod circa 100mm to 150mm long, and stuck up above the ground, so it must be different from your fruit.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 21:52:59 (UTC)
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Philip
Glad to have located a fellow aero modeller! Did you ever come across Bez Bezuidenhout the woodwork and technical drawing teacher at FKS / Kitwe High? He was a real fundi and a very accomplished control line flyer. He designed and built a series of aerobatic flying wings all of which were called "Flutterguts" (1, 2, 3, etc.) They were really fast. Most were powered by ED 1.5 cc diesel engines. On occasion paper streamers were attached to the tail and several were flown in the same circle. The winner was the one who lopped off as much as possible of the opposition's streamers without suffering too much loss himself. Very exciting stuff. I was an absolute dunce at control line flying so just made models for the fun of it. You mention crop circles but for me the crop should be "cropper!" By the way, I expect you know that FROG stands for Flies Right Off the Ground, or so one book on aero modelling would have me believe.
Cheers
David Gray [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 15:49:11 (UTC)
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Plane Tickets arrived through the post this morning. Discovered that my inoculations had run out so have had most done, only yellow fever to go which is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning. Malaria tablets on order, everything coming together.
Hartley Heaton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Binfield, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 10:49:03 (UTC)
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I am looking for an old friend, Lyn Adamson, her mother Olga, father Ernie and sister Elizabeth.
Margaret Ross (née Smillie) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Johannesburg, South Africa
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 10:43:50 (UTC)
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Arthur
I made it perfectly clear in 1995 that this website will conform to World standards. Obviously some of the new staff has let this all sink back into the Middle Ages. Next we will be bartering with cattle and sacks of corn and using the accusative, dative, nominative and genitive to do so!
You can come here and try and ask for a "pint" (how quaint) of "ale" here, but you'd go thirsty until come up to speed.
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 10:20:29 (UTC)
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Chris
Thanks for the advice and good wishes on the Tiger fishing, I have taken note and will follow local the advice as you say. They say October is a good month so hopefully I’m in with a reasonable chance, we are fishing on the lower Zambezi.
I have also heard that “catch and release” is now the thing to do and barbless hooks are now used. I’m not upset about that at all, for one I’m told the Tiger is not good eating and secondly I always use de-barbed hooks now anyway. A few years ago I got a treble hook stuck in my thumb, the choices were to pack up fishing and go and get the hook removed at a hospital or to do what I did, use the pliers and push the hook right through, cut the barb off and pull the thing back out. A painful lesson you don’t want to do so often and since using barbless I have never lost a fish anyway. In fact these days I rarely kill a fish unless it’s a fat trout and all salmon are returned because they have declined so much in the last 20 years.
I have at least one get out if I don’t catch a Tiger this time, it’s my excuse to go back to try again.
Philip
You are obviously very new to the GNR. Firstly you would know by now that it is me who sets the “Missions” here. Secondly I do not dig holes myself and don’t intend to start now. Thirdly you say “proceed along the golf course road for about 1k” - what is 1k? (I think it is some sort of measurement the Dutch have adopted from the French) I never thought it would happen in South Africa. Thankfully I live in a country that still uses Imperial measurements, when I go to the pub I ask for a pint of bitter, I can’t imagine using a girly “millilitre”. A mile is a mile and a pint is a pint and a pound is a pound.
Now I’ve heard you say you are digging holes yourself for a day job, so the best thing to do is get yourself a suitcase and come over to Nkana Kitwe yourself. And I have never seen a stork with elongated leaves, only feathers. If you need supervision when digging your hole Heather will be there to whip you on and have you practice by digging a few latrines before you start.
And while I’m thinking about what possible excuse you may come up with to try and get out of attending the Lark, where are the Kitwe girls, Lynthia, Heather Viv et al? What excuses are you making up just now girls? Are you going to let me down?
Arthur
Arthur Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Stockport, United Kingdom
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 09:26:30 (UTC)
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Good morning campers here is your smile for today, boys let this be a lesson for you, keep it buttoned.
-----------------------
A woman was being sent to England to attend a two-week company training session. Her husband drives her to the airport and wishes her to have a good trip.
The wife says, "Thank you honey, what would you like me to bring for you?"
The romantic husband smiles and says, "An English girl!"
The woman keeps quiet and bids him a loving good-bye hug and kiss.
Two weeks later husband came to collect her at the airport and asked, "Honey, how was your trip?"
"Very good, thank you," she says.
The husband preparing for a romantic night continued, "And, dear, what happened to my present?"
She asks, "What present?"
He winks and replies, "Remember what I asked for.... The English girl?"
"Oh, that?" the wife answers earnestly, "well, I did what I
could; now we have to wait a few months to see if it's really a girl!"
-----------------
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 07:04:38 (UTC)
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Another fallacy, British cows do boo but only when they are in the vicinity of the Springboks cricket team.
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Thanks Doug for your finger crossing but it was all to no avail, there is another draw on Sat night see if you can round up a witch doctor for that one to throw the bones, I did not get one number last night, but thanks for trying.
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Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 05:01:32 (UTC)
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Doug et al,
Near the banks of the Mwambashi, as young lads, we would pull up a tuber-like lili of a plant and find a reddish bulb which when eaten was slightly sour. We called these "Monkey Apples", is this the same fruit of which you speak?
Vercingetorix Rules!
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 20:41:57 (UTC)
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Hi David
Sorry for the late response but with Lynne away till Saturday I tend to stay at the pub a bit longer than I should. When I get home and log onto the message board, which at this time of the month takes so long to download that I usually fall asleep in front of the computer. By the time that I awake with backache, bed seems a better option than reading the board.
I havent tried Johnny's "circle of 6" but your mention of EITHER brings back a memory of pinching the stuff from the DISPENSERY at the hospital to make for my FROG 150 model aircraft (Control line) engine.
I remember Mr. Potter chasing us off his cricket pitch at Federick Knapp School. (We were using it as a runway ) Had somthing to do with the Caster Oil and Parrafin making the grass go brown. (And they talk about the crop Circles, I knew back then how to make them.)
Cheers
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 20:21:20 (UTC)
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Cows, monkeys and cars....
A slip of the fingers - cows indeed moo not boo, hee, hee.
Monkeys "gibber"....
Cars...
I owned three cars and a motor bike in NR between 1962 and 1966. A 1954 Citroen swapped for a case of Castle beer, a 1955 blue VW beetle that was a whopping 30 pounds and an old Humber Super Snipe bought for 25 pounds. I also owned a 1954 Douglas 350cc horizontal twin motorbike purchased once for 5 pounds, sold for 20 pounds and repurchased for 5 pounds.
My current car is a Nissan Pathfinder bought brand new in 1995 for $31,000 can = $21,700US. Eight years later I still have it and it only has 52,000kms. Just last year I sold my baby - a 1988 Camaro Convertible.
Peter Dielissen [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 19:44:53 (UTC)
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Philip
I remember the Tungaloolo fruit very well. It looked better than it tasted. The used to grow alongside the Mokambo road north of Mufulira. If I remember right they normally came up in areas where the grass had been burnt just before the rains so if someone can find one I will certainly bring it back for you.
Linda
I recently wrote a letter to our local paper being sarcastic about fit people who park in places reserved for the disabled. I said "maybe they think that being fat and ugly qualifies them as disabled". What a riot I caused among the many, many pleasingly plump ladies of Vryheid whose letters of complaint appeared the following week. Luckily I wrote under a pen name so I escaped being lynched! I replied with a letter of humble apology saying that I should have rather compared these inconsiderate people to skunks. Now I am in trouble with the SPCA! :-)
Johnny
We are holding thumbs and crossing fingers for you to win the Lotto!
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 18:40:20 (UTC)
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Heather you must have a real sack full of of EM'S This was a lulu I sent you this morning You are doing to much, take a day off tommorow and prop the bar up at the Lusaka Hotel Love Johnny.It said your Pc Was Full To Bust.
---------------------------
PS the lottery is around 13 million tonight so I may still make the Bash.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 17:44:42 (UTC)
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I'm back - I'm back - and oh, how fantastic it feels - how many of you I wonder, can relate to not having access to the GNR site?
Heather - have yet to have confirmation of my lodgings at the Zambezi Sun, but think all should be in order by tomorrow -will contact you in the morning.
Hartley - thanks for your assistance this a.m.
Jacqui M. - apologies for not phoning you whilst overseas - - look forward to meeting up with you in Livingstone.
Wayne - sorry you aren't joining us. - In fact - sorry the majority of Broken Hillians aren't joining us - where are you all???
Alison Brooks - It was brilliant seeing you again and - we both haven't changed ONE iota have we!!! Thanks so much for driving all the way over to Richmond to see me. Linda H - thanks for getting us "together".
Trevor A - Wonderful chatting to you - will definitely meet up with you when I next "pop" over.
Christopher Stead - How can I ever thank you for your incredible patience - trapsing around London with me in 30 degrees temperature!!! I owe you big time!!!
For those of you who haven't heard!!! - I was lucky enough to get to Ascot (betting live from the Lloyd suite and eating and drinking myself into a coma!!) - to see Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre on the West End - to the Henley Music Festival with Sir Tim Rice introducing his lifes work - (Food in the Henley River tent prepared by none other than the famous Albert Roux !!!!) - and the grand finale were the horse Trials at the Queens Grounds in Windsor on the Sunday that I flew back!!!!
But now .......................... for Livingstone - can't wait - all of you draat sitters (you still have four weeks to go) - make a plan and get up there - it's a chance in a life time!!
Craig - thanks as always, for being there for me.
It's so wonderful to be back "home" on the site.
Elspeth Lloyd (née Robertson) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Blairgowrie, Johannesburg, South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 15:07:47 (UTC)
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We had clear skies here a couple of nights ago and Mars was very visible and prominent. Quite remarkable indeed.
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 13:39:45 (UTC)
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We were checking Mars out last night and I was sure I saw a pub up there.We got our astro scope out and had a better look. There it was - a Mars Bar
Bob Gillies [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Springs, Gauteng, South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 12:30:20 (UTC)
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Johnny,
You sweet thing. It's a possibility, but I don't think I'm hairy enough to get them going. No more monkey business, you hear!
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 11:43:46 (UTC)
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Heather
It seems that everything died at about 5pm last night, I haven't had a single email since then containing the virus. If yours haven't stopped, they soon will.
Hartley
Hartley Heaton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Binfield, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 11:31:52 (UTC)
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Craig et al,
OK, I found the link...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/26/newsid_2535000/2535825.stm
Notice the "onthisday" directory.
Dave
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 11:05:20 (UTC)
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Dave
I've emailed you and I'll phone later this evening
Hartley
Hang in there - after a couple of days the infected emails become less and less, although mine have not yet stopped completely.
Madeleine Luckin
Please can you email me with the details of the places you want me to photograph (I don't have the time to extract them from the noticeboard)
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 10:57:38 (UTC)
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Craig
BBCi is very dynamic. The pages update very frequently. The article and video were there this morning when I posted. They have been updated and removed from the home page now.
For BBCi you've got to be quick. I hit BBCi between five and six times a day.
The article is there somewhere, you just got to get the right search string, I reckon. We cannot criticise BBCi's search engine if we don't have one... do we? Haven't checked lately.
Sorry I didn't post the URL, but I was busy with a number of things this morning---I HAD TO MAKE MY OWN BREAKFAST!!!!!
By the way, I was expecting you to be highly impressed by the resurfacing link I gave you on my upcoming Gent operation.
Dave
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 10:54:51 (UTC)
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Recent Site Updates:
August 27th, 2003:- Replaced the old, partial map of Kalalushi with a new scan of the full map. Please see the maps page for details.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 10:45:54 (UTC)
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Ian,
It must be time for me to go to bed as I am getting forgetful. Thanks also for the positive feedback on Ray Smith Rhodesia Books.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 10:41:39 (UTC)
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Heather
Thanks anyway, if you can get a photo, when doesnt matter, any recent photo's of mufulira would be nice to see. Hope you get to see all that you have got on your list, good luck.
Barry Morton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Brisbane, Australia
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 10:36:50 (UTC)
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Ian,
That's good news about your own domain. I will update the links on the site.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 10:35:44 (UTC)
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Hartley,
Thanks for that link. I didn't know they had a Web site. Looks like the same group. I will have a closer look later.
Dave,
Didn't see the link to which you referred on the BBCi home page. Looked in a few other places too, but couldn't find it.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 10:20:18 (UTC)
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To Ron Clibborn-Dyer
Your posting about the Lido Drive-in mentioned the footballer George Sharp. Well Geroge, now retired, lives in the same block of flats as I do, one floor up. Unfortunately he doesn't own or have access to a computer (I use the one at work) so can't visit the GNR site. I know he would enjoy this site as much as we all do, as he often talks about the good ol' days in Lusaka. Just the other day he mentioned a planned reunion of ex-Lusaka Police members and the name Gus Goble can up ... do you remember him? If you'd like to contact George I would be very happy to relay your message.
Cynthia
Cynthia Halvey [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 09:48:37 (UTC)
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To Ron Clibborn-Dyer
Your posting about the Lido Drive-in mentioned the footballer George Sharp. Well Geroge, now retired, lives in the same block of flats as I do, one floor up. Unfortunately he doesn't own or have access to a computer (I use the one at work) so can't visit the GNR site. I know he would enjoy this site as much as we all do, as he often talks about the good ol' days in Lusaka. Just the other day he mentioned a planned reunion of ex-Lusaka Police members and the name Gus Goble can up ... do you remember him? If you'd like to contact George I would be very happy to relay your message.
Cynthia
Cynthia Halvey [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 09:40:46 (UTC)
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Craig
Not sure if the trip to Oshkosh you refer to is that detailed at www.sa2usa2003.com
Hartley Heaton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Binfield, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 09:33:20 (UTC)
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Heather
It is 11:06 Eurotime in Amsterdam. I have waited the morning at home for your call. You might be held up with flights or HM Customs. At noon, I need to do errands in the buurt... groenteboer, slagerij, vishandel, warmbakker, postkantoor, etc. I should be back in the mid afternoon.
I will wait until noon for your bell. By the way, there are some internet connexions at Heathrow departures by that pseudo-Italian café overlooking the runways... not sure if you knew. They actually work for some coin fee. As for arrivals, I am not sure if that is the same hall.
In London, there is an easyInternet.com café on the Tottenham Court Road, across from the YMCA near the junction with Oxford Street. The fees are slightly higher (as everything is in the UK) than the fees for the same café here on the Reguliersbreestraat in Amsterdam.
Dave
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 09:25:14 (UTC)
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Jill could it possibly be that the bobbejanns recognize a kindred spirit when they appear to howl louder when you appear to them in the mornings? love Johnny.
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Daavid I remember when they had the talks in the railway carriage parked in the middle of the Livingstone bridge, Some wit at the time came up with the name the CHATTA NOUGA CHOO CHOO for it Regards Johnny.
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Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 08:35:28 (UTC)
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Good morning campers this made me smile I hope that it does the same for you
------------------------
A beautiful blonde decided she needed to see a Phyciatrist and went to one recomended by a friend, she was pleased to see that he was young and quite good looking and after introducing her self he said sit down, now what is your problem? she said i'm afraid I have this compulsion to make love to every man I come in contact with she admitted, "Is there a name for my condition?"
"Why yes, there is," he said, as he picked her up and began
carrying her to the couch. "It's called 'Good News'."
Have a nice day Johnny.
------------------------------
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 08:07:10 (UTC)
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Monkeys can chatter or howl - the loudest animal on earth is the howler monkey. Otto (husband) tests the cables on the cableway at the Pretoria Zoo and we go there really early in the morning. Whilst he's doing his thing I go and say good morning to the animals and this is when the howler monkeys howl the loudest - at dawn - it's amazing!
Ranger Jill signing off.
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 07:53:37 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
BBCi has a 1975: This day - Rhodesia Peace Talks Fail article on the home page. There is an interesting television report video of the Victoria Falls railway carriage conference.
As with many stories like this on BBCi, you can have your say in an email submission.
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 07:29:28 (UTC)
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Hi All,
Arthur and Heather,
Maureen and I have been having a chat the other day and she mentionde a fruit that we both remember which grew on the side of the road to the Golf course in Nkana. I dont know the correct spelling of the fruit but Maureen spells it TONGALOOLO, (looks right)
It was a wonderful wild fruit which popped out of the ground at a certain time of the year. When the fruit turned bright red they were ready to eat. The edible part which consisted of a white flesh with hundreds of small black pips was enclosed in a hard fleshy pod.( If you have ever eaten this fruit you will never forget it)
The plant itself looks similar to a Wild Ginger plant with large elongated leaves on a single stork about 3-4 feet high, the fruit appears at at the base of the plant and actually sticks out of the ground around the stalk
I can't remember what time of the year the fruit appeared.
The reason for this posting is a mission that Arthur and Heather must complete when they are in Nkana.
MISSION
Proceed along the golf course road for about 1k on the left hand side of the road look for above mentioned plants. Take a spade and dig up some of the plants complete with roots. Trim the stalks and pack the root stock into a plastic bag with enough water to keep them damp. Take this package to the Lark and give them to Doug to bring back for me. I will collect them in Vreyheid when he gets back.
I am sure they will grow here in Eshowe as every thing that grew in Nkana grows here.
Cheers
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 05:06:16 (UTC)
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Peter:
I am sure I read somewhere that monkeys "chatter".
June
June Dobson (née Jocks) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 04:59:56 (UTC)
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Peter:
I believe monkeys "howl". If that is wrong, I am sure Ranger Aplin will correct me and save the day.
Bob:
Thanks for the compliment, I think. You are a brave man and so far away too..
Doug:
My hubby has been looking for a new pet name for me. I shall teach him to call me ingubo no menslo. I like that one better than "she with a paper bag over her head"
Hope you lot in Africa are getting a better view of Mars than us here in Texas. What I really need is a large anthill, in the dead of night, but instead all I have is my son's skateboard ramp. Not quite the same.
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 04:07:28 (UTC)
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Craig
I didn't mean to imply that a helicopter airfoil cannot stall. Any airfoil can stall. For helicopter blades to rotate through 360 degrees once is a miracle of stall-compensatory design on advancing and retreating blade. Helicopters can encounter problems with tip stall and retreating blade stall. What I meant to convey in the story was the immediate trick sensation for a fixed wing pilot of: "Whee! My aircraft is standing still above the earth and not falling down. I'm defying the stall as I know it. I'm defying gravity!"
What a lovely Oshkosh story. I last went there in a Mooney 20 years ago. Good to know it's still amazing and wonderfully international.
Tina Magee (née Wallace) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Texas, United States
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 23:47:44 (UTC)
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Hi All
I have dealt quite a lot with Ray over the last two or three years and can thoroughly recommend him. Books are always beautifully packaged and he is scrupulous in his business practices.
Regards Ian
Ian Singer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 20:44:40 (UTC)
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Hi All
The NRZam website has a new location! It now has its own domain which means that the address should not change again wherever the site is located.
It is: nrzam.org.uk
Please update your bookmarks.
Thanks Craig for your help which set me off in this direction - I hadn't realised how straightforward it would be!
Regards Ian
Ian Singer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 20:41:31 (UTC)
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Book Web Site
If you're looking for another excuse to go into debt, have a look at Ray Smith Rhodesia Books. He is a second-hand book seller in the UK specialising in the Rhodesias and Cecil John Rhodes. He just came to my attention when he asked for a link to his site, so I would welcome any feedback on the board here from anyone who deals with him.
Peter
I thought cows moo'd. Monkeys? Like me I think they click "Post a Message". :)
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 19:56:11 (UTC)
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Northeners...
Just received my trusty always right 2004 reference library - The 2004 Uncle John's Bathroom Reader...
The question is - Cats meow, dogs bark, cows boo but what do monkeys do?
Peter Dielissen [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 19:18:50 (UTC)
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Bob
It is very true that pleasingly plump ladies are very popular with the Zulu's in this cold weather. They call them 'Ingubo no menslo' or blankets with eyes.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 18:39:45 (UTC)
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Hartley
Glad we got that sorted out. :) At the risk of sounding a tad pompous, no matter what some of us do to protect ourselves against the abuse of our e-mail addresses, some of our friends and acquaintances just don't understand or realise how they contribute to the problem and so this sort of thing will continue to happen.
Tina
As a fixed-wing pilot I have to agree with the feeling that "all is not right" when you first go up in a helicopter. However, I was surprised to find out some years after I attained my licence that a helicopter actually can stall, just not in quite the same way as a fixed-wing aircraft.
My first of two trips in a helicopter so far was when I was training for my glider-pilot licence. The trip was cut short because the pilot and his steed had to go back to work fighting a new forest fire. The second trip was in Hawaii in 1999 flying of the Napali coast of Kuaii with Sandra in a helicopter with no doors. Damned if I can remember the make and model, but we chose that one because it was the best on offer and didn't molly coddle us in the back with headsets, closed doors, music and narration. This was the real McCoy, although we may have at least had headsets, but nothing beats dangling by your straps for a rush. :)
Anyway, I digress. The main point I wanted to make was that I was in Oshkosh a few weeks ago -- flew there with a friend in his single Comanche from Vancouver. I met a South African there (they were the second biggest contingent there after the Canadians, including a group that had flown all the way there in their own aeroplanes) who wrote a great book on bush flying in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. My dad has it at the moment so I can't give you the title or a link, but I will when I get it back from him. One of the types he had a one-time opportunity to fly was an RhAF Hunter. He also owned a Tiger Moth at one stage -- slight difference in performance there though. :) There was a Hunter for sale at Oshkosh, but my credit card just can't handle it.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 17:36:19 (UTC)
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Smarty Pants reminisces.
Johnny, compared to people on this site who have lived their professional lives as commercial aviators racking up tens of thousands of hours my time was dust in the wind. Just a little downwash, soon forgotten. But great great fun.
I'm looking at a logbook entry:
Date: 15-5-77
Aircraft Type: BH-214B
Captain: CFI Boles, L.
Holder's Capacity (i.e. Mine): Pilot under training
Journey: Lusaka Local
Duration: 30 minutes
Remarks: RASC Fam, Cockpit proc., hovering, hov. turns.
Working for Autair Helicopters (Africa) Ltd., Linc Lord's outfit on City Airport, we mingled with the various "Road Warriors" who flew aircraft demonstrations for Air Forces around the world. This time Bell Helicopter Textron were in Zambia demonstrating the Bell 214B to Zambia Air Force and Zambia Airways. The 214 was a larger stronger newer version of the Huey and enterprisingly dubbed: "The Big Lifter" which hinted at its capabilities but made it sound a bit like a Maidenform commercial for the well endowed.
Bell demonstrated the craft and were wined and dined. The obligatory press pictures were taken. The one I have shows Andy Gilmore and members of the Zambia Police Reserve all in uniform and standing smartly to attention in front of the aircraft along with the crew and a couple of dignitaries. (My scanner has died so use imagination for now).
Somewhere in all this it was decided that since I had never piloted a helicopter now was a good time to start. Lusaka Flying Club Instructors were not around to warn the Bell crew of the terrible risk they were taking so the historic flight went ahead.
The first thing I noticed sitting in the 214 was the big fat solid presence of the blade overhead. Comforting. Larry, the Bell pilot, fired her up, and the surrounding grasses bent as he lifted her off into the hover. He proceeded to demonstrate basic controls. He had me follow through with him on some pedal turns and things.
The immediately exhilarating thing for a fixed wing pilot is the trick sensation that you are defying all the natural laws of flight. You can go off in any direction and you don't have to worry about stalling as you have experienced it. He showed me how to lean my arm on my knee and make gentle finger and wrist movements on the cyclic. This was fun! So far so good. Then: "O.K." he said. "You've got it. Try and keep it in this position and attitude." He relinquished the directional control or "cyclic" to me.
The 214 promptly became possessed. I tried a "gentle corrective movement" and a large portion of Zambia slid away under us. I glimpsed the alarmed faces of watchers softened by a cloud of our dust. I began to wonder if we would be able to use the 214 stuck in the Autair office wall as an advertising symbol. "Not bad" said Larry, soothingly. "Some people would have it all over the airfield." I pondered the inherent lie in the pilot's statement (on taking over the flying of an aircraft) of: "I have control." But hand/eye coordination was improving. By the time we set down again a far smaller area of real estate was passing before the canopy in the hover. Besides which I was in love with helicopters.
Move forward seven years.
I'm now looking at the last week of my brief commercial flying career. Two days previously I had walked away from a job flying a Jet Ranger to rethink direction. Still in love with helicopters but a low hour commercial pilot with sporadic work and bills to meet. Pilots are offered the opportunity to fly some amazing things at various times. Some of them even own them, but often these types don't get into your logbook. This one did.
Date: 10/11/84
Type: ME108
Captain: CFI Doug Warren
Holder's Capacity: P2
Duration: 1.20
Remarks: At. familiarisation, stalls, lazy 8s, rolls left and right.
This was a Messerschmidt 108, ex-Spanish Air Force, the source for planes used in the film: "The Battle of Britain." It had a Nord engine, and was a little "Staff Carrier" a gentle little half-sister to the 109. It was beautifully restored in full WWII combat colours and you couldn't enjoy the priviledge of feeling it dance the air without thinking of those on both sides who had flown through that time and lived or died deciding our future.
Looking back I feel the experience was a fitting final flourish to the full-time flying period of my life.
Tina Magee (née Wallace) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Texas, United States
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 16:40:42 (UTC)
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Linda, Don't worry if you are a big girl now. There are some real biggies around my area and they are very popular with the okes. Apparently they provide warmth in winter and shade in summer. May you continue to grow and be a model figure for lang johannes's. Luv Bob
Bob Gillies [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Springs, Gauteng, South Africa
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 16:04:29 (UTC)
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Craig
Sorry if I gave the impression that the GNR was responsible, this was not my intention. It is just that the only two people who are getting the virus are Sue and I, and yes it's still arriving ( Its' quietened down, only 75 in the last 2 hours)
Both of us have corresponded with various people through the GNR and I think, but can not be sure, that it may be one of these persons that could be the originator. If this is the case then other members of the GNR will probably also be receiving the virus. If anyone receives it and it purports to have come from me please be assured that it did not.
As for your letter, I have applied those principles for years, including not using Outlook, and this is the first time I have had an invasion of messages.
Hartley Heaton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Binfield, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 14:28:53 (UTC)
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Craig
I am happy and proud that we are using Linux and not Windoze for that server. Perhaps one day, we can ALL say that we're using a UNIX-based OS ! For me, it will be a relieved return to sanity.
Thanks for the foresight.
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 12:51:56 (UTC)
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Hartley regarding viruses
I just want to clarify something, as I'm sure you didn't mean to imply that being a member of the GNR has somehow exposed you to the current big virus/worm out there more than would be the case if you were not a GNR member.
To set everyone's minds at ease, the database that runs the GNR Names Directory sits in a secure area on a server running the Linux operating system. Nobody has direct access to that database other than me, although Heather and Arthur by virtue of their work on the site have limited access to e-mail addresses in the database.
Because the server runs the Linux operating system and not Windows, it is not susceptible to the vast majority of viruses out there, almost all of which are targeted at Windows and the Outlook or Outlook Express e-mail client in particular. In short, your e-mail addresses are safe in the GNR database.
There could be a possible scenario whereby if my computer (my desktop workstation running Windows as opposed to the servers hosting the GNR database and Web site running Linux), Heather's computer or Arthur's computer were to become infected with this virus/worm or something similar, then GNR members might find themselves the recipients of more copies of the virus than would be normal. However, all three of us take precautions against infection, and I have faith in the abilities of both Heather and Arthur to avoid future infection.
My experience with the latest worm (the "sobig" worm) is that reports vary widely. I have received only one message with this worm (from someone in Alberta, Canada, not connected to the GNR), while others (including Hartley) are apparently receiving copies in huge quantities. I can't definitively point my finger at the culprit(s), but I can point to a contributing factor -- people who forward jokes, chain letters and the like without deleting e-mail addresses from the message and who put the e-mail addresses of the people to whom they forward this crap in the "To" and/or "CC" fields rather than in the "BCC" field. Just last week I had to tell a GNR member to stop sending me crap like that -- fortunately neither he nor the other people he is "entertaining" with this stuff seem to be infected, otherwise I would be getting bombarded right now.
Rather than go off on a tangent and rant about the people who unwittingly guarantee the "success" of these worms, I invite you to read my Anti-Spam Letter on the subject.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 11:59:33 (UTC)
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Sat 30th august Zimfest
this saturday in Barnes London.
there is the yearly Zimbabian festival
for full details see web site below
http://www.wezimbabwe.co.uk/
hopefully a few of us from Muf will be going
Rod Crowe [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Staines, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 11:46:12 (UTC)
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David:
Yes, my longjohns are "one size fits all". In fact, at the weight I am now, I would venture to say that it should be reworded to say, "one size would fit us all". He! He! Red flannel, complete with matching bungi cord to hold them around my ever expanding midline. The flap would be a great idea, since it is an acrobatic feat of amazing agility to see behiney myself these days. Ah... where did the years of the svelte goddess of my youth disappear to.
Stay warm and hug someone you love.
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 11:43:12 (UTC)
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Heather
Got your email... will wait for your call tomorrow morning... will not go to the Koffiehuis de Hoek for my usual ontbijt... instead will pick up something from the Albert Heijn and just wait here.
Groovy to see you again... karnt wait.
Groetjes...
Dave
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 10:39:22 (UTC)
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Heather
Thank you for offering to go to Mufulira sometime in the future. I would be so grateful if someone could take a photo of my home in Muf. It was E24. I left Muf in December 1960, at the age of 16. I know it is a long time ago, but like all the other GNR friends, it is still so very real, and still in my heart.
I know that all will have a wonderful time at the Livingstone Lark, and I know it will feed your hearts and souls and make all young again. You are very special to make so many peoples dreams come true.
Enjoy
Madeleine
Madeleine Luckin (née Bekker) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 10:34:48 (UTC)
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Linda
Re your kind offer of long johns last week, the third cold front in 5 days is currently sweeping over Cape Town so please advise whether yours are "one size fits all." Also, are they red flannel button down the front or do they have a flap at the back?
Will probably need a cold front or two (or a cold Castle) at the Lark in only a months time!
Cheers
David Gray [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 10:17:25 (UTC)
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Heather
I received your email about going to Johannesburg. I have to schedule my time (something I abhor, as you know) for the next two months. I have some time before going in for the surgery and I thought I would use that to see some Québecois friends in Paris. Then I am at Gent for the operation. I am assuming we are on for time after that, or have I got it wrong? I will check your old emails again. But email me if you are en route and checking in at cafés. Or phone.
Groetjes...
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 09:41:30 (UTC)
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David
Thanks so much for the explanation as to why I cannot perform Johnny's party trick. I knew there had to be a reason, but it never ocurred to me that it had anything to do with the sulphur fumes from the smelter.
Glad to hear that there is hope for me in clean, green New Zealand so I will certainly keep trying, but not for too long, as bedding can be quite a costly item to replace.
Take care
June
June Dobson (née Jocks) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 09:23:27 (UTC)
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Virus Again
Today I can sympathise with Heather.
I have had 7/800 email messages this morning all with the same virus. A large number are returned messages, as it seems that somehow the virus is using my email address to send itself out. Please be assured that if you receive a message, apparently from me, that has an attachment then it is the virus, delete it.
As I am the only one in the office whe is receiving these, it may be as a result of a member of the GNR so I thought I should warn you all.
My virus scanner has dealt with each occurence. Infected Emails are still arriving at more than 1 a minute.
Hartley Heaton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Binfield, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 09:16:27 (UTC)
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June
Don't be too discouraged about your inability to satisfactorily perform Johnny's "circle six" party trick . The reason is that you lived in 4th Avenue, Nkana, and the sulphur dioxide fumes from the smelters have affected your ability to do more than one thing at a time. Anyone from 4th Avenue will never be able to do it - I certainly can't! Philip Pain lived in 4th Avenue as well so he probably won't be able to either although he lived on the other side of the hospital so the ether fumes may have counteracted the the sulphur dioxide. There is hope for you however - living in clean pristine New Zealand eventually dilutes the SO2 so keep trying and eventually you will either succeed or wear a great big hole in the bed sheet.
Cheers
David Gray [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 07:22:04 (UTC)
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Hi Johnny - it would seem that if I want to overcome my inability to draw circles and sixes at the same time, I need to become a helicopter pilot.
As I am more than a little too long in the tooth for that, will have to continue to practice, and should I ever be in the vicinity of Scarborough, will give you a call and we can practice together. Until then, hopefully I can remain injury free.
Regards,
June
June Dobson (née Jocks) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 06:33:15 (UTC)
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Good morning campers ,just a quickie for you today Johnny. I love these Blondie stories.
The blonde was complaining to one of her friends.
"It was terrible!" she said. "I had to change seats five times at
the movie last night!"
"Why? asked her friend. "Did some guy bother you?"
"Yeah," she said, "eventually!"
------------------------------
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 06:11:42 (UTC)
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Heather
Thank you so much for trying, I really appreciate your help, I know that you lead such a busy life, thus it makes your efforts so special.....just like the others regarding the GNR.....THANK YOU
ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 03:32:05 (UTC)
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Rugby fans
I watched a brilliant television emission last night on one of the German broadcasters. It was about the Springbok-All Blacks relationship, and spanned an entire hour.
I was amazed at the in-depth coverage and the brilliant film footage, especially of the 1956 Springbok tour of New Zealand.
Many Springbokke and All Blacks were interviewed.
The documentary also included modern South African rugby footage and an interview with Nelson Mandela.
Pity it was in German. I can only understand enough German when it closely resembles Dutch.
The credits indicate this was a Anglo-Saxon production originally. Obviously the narrative has been dubbed into German for that broadcast that I watched last night. Perhaps some of you in the Anglo-Saxon world has seen the original English-language version of this rivetting broadcast.
I highly recommend it.
What was wonderful was that I did not hear a single reference to the Australians. This was totally dedicated to the two best national rugby teams ever: the Springboks and the All Blacks!
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 18:41:54 (UTC)
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Arthur, not overly enthusiasticly, writes:
Excited, naah, I have my visa, inoculations, passport, air ticket, camera, fly spray, Johnny’s tiger fish spoon, hat, pork pies and case packed, everything ready to go, and time is passing so slowly.
The reference to the Tiger Spoon brings back graphic memories. Kariba and the river on which it is located, was my second home in the late sixties (only 2 hours and pip from Roosaka). Tiger Spoons of every description, color, and length, along with a hefty rod, were permanent parts of my batchelor kit, always ready at a moments notice to head to Siavonga (Eagles Nest chalets). I always thought I was a reasonable Tiger Fisherman, trolling from a boat, or casting in the river rapids below the wall. But that was then!
Then a very long absence until 1989, when I finally was able to enter the International Tiger Contest. From Los Angles, my fishing partner and I left fully equipped with all the old stuff - newly plated, polished, sharpened, new steel trace, hooks, hefty rods, and yes, even a small cooler packed pom pom with whole frozen Pacific anchovy packed in dry ice. (not really allowed by the airlines, but then that was long before 9/11)
We arrive at Charara a day before the cannon announced the contest start. There we were, the BP "D" team, hitting the water right away. Then we began to notice the strange and disparaging looks from the 1,800 Rhodesian fishermen, as we prepared our tackle with all the good stuff. The steel trace and Zambezi Aristrocat spoons earned the weirdest responses of all. The words "bloody stupid yanks" kind of echoed across the lake.
After 5 days of fishing, 3 of the contest, and another 2 just for old times sake, the illustrious BP "D" team, caught one 2 lb bream, and a glorious suntan. Chete, that was it. Kupela. What we had failed to latch on to was that the tiger habits, at least in the lake, had changed completely after the introduction of Kapenta in the late sixties. The Tiger has become lazy, and instead of foraging near the surface for his daily caloric intake, now lives on the bottom and helps himself to the abundant Kapenta. Even their mouths have changed, and the teeth not nearly as large as they used to be. The BP "D" team earned an "F" in the contest, but an A" for being good sports and buying large numbers of rounds in the evenings around the Mopani fires to keep Henry (a large hippo) from coming too close to the lads in their tents.
So Arthur, be prepared. Take copious notes from locals who know the Tiger's current habits, before you rig up your tackle and hit the river as we used to do all those decades ago.
Good luck, and tight lines
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 18:21:58 (UTC)
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Chris,
Leslie and I wish to express our sincere condolences to the family on the tragic and untimely death of Mark. I do this in a personal capacity and also on behalf of the Dairy section of the Herd Book Society of Zambia of which I am Chairperson.
Lynn
Lynn Szeftel (née Mayoss) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 18:07:24 (UTC)
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Dear June, Dont take to much notice of what smarty pants tells you she is a helicopter pilot and is used to things all going in different directions at once and she will have your brain doing the same thing, but if I had been a little closer we could have practiced together with out getting our brains scrambled especially when you said you practiced in bed, I am having no luck with my rotation let me know if you do, without doing yourself an injury. regards Johnny.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 17:59:53 (UTC)
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ARTHUR
Lets make sure you get that tigerfish first, before you get too excited!!
Having you and Craig visit here is something I have been wishing for for a long time and I hope that it is going to be a holiday of a lifetime for both of you. And also only the first of many visits.
BARRY MORTON AND DAVE MCCONNACHIE
I have already set up a punishing schedule for Arthur and Craig and with Arthur's advancing years, don't want to overdo it, so unfortunately Mufulira is not on the list of places to visit. However, if you email me with the details, I will put your houses on the list and I will make it up to Mufulira again and do some photos. But don't hold your breath because it certainly won't be this year as I have a very tight schedule until the end of November, but I will try for early next year.
ALI KEY
I had a few spare moments the other day and tried to do something about the photo of Lusaka hospital. But after an hour of trying to find the right person who could give me permission, I gave up. Lusaka Hospital is spread over an area of about 100 acres, you cannot drive your car freely around the grounds and I didn't have the time (or the energy) to go footing it around. It is also set quite far back so not something that I can photograph whilst driving past as I can do with many of the other places.
MEG RYBICKI
I'll phone John Wessels sometime and see if he can shed some light on Gerhard.
If you remind me in a few weeks time, I'll also stop off at Leopard's Hill Cemetery and see if I can find your father's grave (I live out that way and drive past it everyday, just need to try to get there in daylight one day). And anyone else who would like me to put some flowers on graves in Lusaka, just let me know and I'll get it done.
LIVINGSTONE LARK
The number of people who have definitely confirmed is now sitting at 30 although I have received messages of at least another 7 or 8.
If you are thinking of joining us, please let me know as the sunset cruise before the dinner on the African Queen is almost fully booked (we do the cruise and then return to the landing and whilst the other people get off and they prepare our dinner, we are entertained and watered on the upper deck)
There could also be problems with accommodation because already I have not been able to make a booking at the hotel of first choice for one of the Larkers.
And arrangements are going ahead - boerewors, biltong, dry wors, crocodile tail, meat for sosaties and all the other things have been ordered, the venue for the braai (Maramba) is confirmed, the dinner on the African Queen is confirmed, I have managed to get maps of some of the towns that people have asked for, I have got some of the visas for some people and am waiting on some of the other visas, I have a long list of the things I need to take down to Livingstone from Lusaka and I have lifts for all the people flying into Lusaka arranged.
ZAMBIA'S WATERFALLS
A friend of mine has just returned from a trip around some of the waterfalls (more or less the same one I did last year in August) and has posted some photos on her web page, if you would like to take a look.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 13:24:47 (UTC)
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Sad news. Mark Simmons-Leaver of Straven Farm in Kitwe's Garneton (Itimpi) area was killed after he lost control of his vehicle returning from Mindolo dam last Night. Mark was a keen fisherman having won the River Lure in 1990 with myself and Peter Campbell and supported Motor Cross and Polo Crosse. Mark is survived by his beloved sons Ryan and Kyle, former wife Pippa, partner Ann and her children Jessica and Josh.
There is the sound of the Fish eagle that rings in our ears, the sound that we will always remember in our old years, the laughter, the joy, the elation, the fun, today we remember you and the tears will run, the rivers will all echo your smile, I will meet you above when God pulls my file.
RIP My friend
Chris Swart [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Kitwe, Zambia
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 10:11:49 (UTC)
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Tina:
Many thanks for the tip re. circles and sixes. Will see how it goes!
June
June Dobson (née Jocks) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 07:02:17 (UTC)
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Jimmy if you have any more to relate like the last one contact me directly as I would imagine there is a lot of children also reading the GNR I know my grand kids do . Regards Johnny.
----------------
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 05:20:39 (UTC)
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Good morning campers, first my apologies to the people I have allready sent this to but I think it warrants a glance by the masses enjoy Johnny.
-----------
Two Arabs are chatting.
One of them has his wallet out and is flipping through pictures. Proudly, he pulls two out to show his friend.
"This is my oldest son. He's a martyr. And here is my second son. He's a martyr, too."
There's a pause, and the second Arab says wistfully, "Ah, they blow up so fast, don't they?"
------------------------
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 05:13:35 (UTC)
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HEATHER - after 27 years and five children my memory is getting a little dodgy, here is a challenge! Circa l976 or l977 there definately WAS a Gerhard on the Wessels farm in Zimba who took a quiet l2 or l3 year old horseriding most days - quiet because I had fallen madly in love with my sunburnt hero, (I even put tissues in my bra, to no avail alas!) he was around l5 or l6, so the price, in euros, of a reasonably cheap bottle of bubbly to whoever finds "Gerhard" for me! On a more sombre note, is there anyone in Lusaka who visits the cemetary on the Leopards Hill Road, (I think thats where it was ), my father is buried there, and did have a headstone, just stating his name, dob and Oct 66 when he died, it would be nice to think of a flower on his grave, as no one has visited it since l979 when we left for good. I am going to scan some pics to Arthur of enormous tiger fish my dad caught at Kariba, just need to figure out the technology, ciao everybody, Meg
Meg Rybicki (formerly Margaret) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Mullanyduff, Co Leitrim, Ireland
Monday, August 25, 2003 at 00:02:37 (UTC)
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Jack,
Thanks for letting me know about Harry Galaun - really interesting to know that there's going to be another Vorna Valley in Lusaka. It's quite amazing that there's a strong Zambian connection to the place I have lived next door to for the last twenty years.
Jill
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 20:27:03 (UTC)
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Sunday, August 24, 2003
Hi Ron ,
Had a few down downs yesterday. My hash handle used to be “Mrs.Chi-Blanket”. I grew to dislike this name and eventually I was re-christened in true hash tradition “Chaos”. Leslie’s handle was “Duvet” but that also got changed to “Blob the Builder (he was busy doing some repair work on the house when the hash were there). Yes, we have the “Wannabe Runners”, I am one of those, who walk the trail and it is a bit like walking a golf course. We have great discussions on the walk and view the scenery as we trot along behind the runners.
Your mention of the Agricultural show brought to mind the following.
I have for many years now been responsible for the Cattle Grand Parade held in the main arena of the Lusaka show grounds during the official opening of the show. Traditionally every year, the Champion Dairy Cow is presented to the visiting Head of State to have her Winner’s sash placed upon her and the trophy is then presented to the breeder. I usually have all the cattle and their handlers all lined up for the entourage to walk the lines and meet the owners after the prize giving. Last year , I was informed that as there was no visiting Head of State, our President would do the honours. I take the cattle in and we usually stand facing all the dignitaries waiting for the arrival of the mounted police who act as escort for the Presidential cavalcade. Once this is done and the national anthem has been played, the President is then invited to do the honours. Whilst I was in the process of handing the cup to him for presentation, I heard a roar from the crowd. I looked up to find this b…. great cow heading straight for me. Fortunately for me she only stood on my foot in her haste to be out of there. She had got fed up with waiting and decided to break ranks followed by her calf. Her handler was hanging onto her halter for dear life. Of course by now the other cattle have decided that this is great fun and the next thing I know is that I have a rodeo/stampede on my hands with handlers going every which way also hanging on for dear life. My colleagues are busy trying to prevent the cattle from hitting the President and are shielding him. I am by now more concerned that there be no injuries and yelling to everyone concerned to remove the cattle from the main arena. The more the crowd roared, the more the cattle took off. The Police band who had been standing at the back , dropped all their instruments and took off with the cattle following them. The Gymkana club who were originally seated quietly on their horses behind us also took off. Eventually the cattle saw the open gates and did a disappearing act, kicking their heels in the air. I only saw the funny side of it the next day when the show officials came and told me that they had not had such entertainment for years and could I do it a repeat performance the following year!
The reports in the press the next day read ”Cattle run amuck at the opening of the show” (Note not amock but amuck)
Fortunately this year all was very sedate and boring.
Cheers
Lynn (my foot is still b….. sore)
Lynn Szeftel (née Mayoss) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 19:26:37 (UTC)
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If anyone is travelling to Mufulira, I would really appreciate a picture of our old house - 22 Ndola Road - and the surrounding area. We lived there from 1964 until 1975 and haven't seen any pictures of since then.
Thanks,
Dave
Dave McConnachie [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Houston, Texas, United States
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 18:03:14 (UTC)
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One for you Johnny
> Two dwarfs go into a bar, where they pick up two prostitutes and take
> them to their separate hotel rooms.
>
> The first dwarf, however, is unable to get an erection.
>
> His depression is made worse by the fact that, from the next room, he
hears
> his little friend shouting out cries of
> "Here I come again ...ONE, TWO, THREE...UUH!" all night long.
>
> In the morning, the second dwarf asks the first,
> "How did it go?"
>
> The first mutters,
> "It was so embarrassing. I simply couldn'tget a erection
>
> The second dwarf shook his head.
> "You think that's embarrassing?",
>
> "I couldn't even get on the blody bed.."
Jimmy
>
>
>
Jimmy Churchil [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 14:06:39 (UTC)
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To everyone who has posted messages of condolence, admiration, and recollection, and others, about my late father - they are very deeply appreciated. My mother and brother are with us in London where we laid Dad to rest on Friday.
Jill - the late Harry Galaun was my father's brother, and it is the same Vorna after which the suburb is named! Interestingly my brother is just developing some small units near Lusaka airport which are also called Vorna Valley. I actually visited the small town in Lithuania, last year.
Thanks once again
Jack
Jack Galaun [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
London, England
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 11:08:45 (UTC)
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June
Circles and sixes
Start the opposite movement of hand and foot very slowly being aware of each one moving in opposite directions as you complete each movement. You sort of choreograph it through like a dance move a few times in succession and your brain maps it out and it becomes easier.
Johnny
Once mastered this would make a great bet set up for a free beer in the pub.
Additionally there is an easy cheat (which I suppose doesn't really count but at least you can show it's easily possible to complete the request). If you do the six backwards i.e. you would normally draw it from the top down and around. Well start at the end of the stroke and go the other way.
Tina Magee (née Wallace) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Texas, United States
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 10:14:50 (UTC)
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Good morning campers, here is your morning smile (I Hope)
A woman was leaving Starbucks with her morning coffee when she
noticed an unusual funeral procession approaching the nearby cemetery. A long black hearse was followed by a second long black hearse about 50 feet behind.
Behind the second hearse was a solitary woman walking a pit bulldog on a leash. Behind were 200 women walking single file.
The woman couldn't stand the curiosity. She respectfully
approached the woman walking the dog and said, "I am so sorry for your loss, and I know now is a bad time to disturb you, but I've never seen a funeral like this. Whose funeral is it?"
The woman replied, "Well, that first hearse is for my husband."
"What happened to him?"
The woman replied, "My dog attacked and killed him."
She inquired further, "Well, who is in the second hearse?"
The woman answered, "His girlfriend."
She was trying to help my husband when the dog turned on her."
A poignant and thoughtful moment of silence passes between the
two women.
"Can I borrow the dog?"
"Get in line."
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 08:19:47 (UTC)
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Arthur, Jill, Doug and all other Larkers.
I heartily endorse Ali's sentiments and hope you all have a wonderful visit to that lovely part of the world.
One day I too would like to go back, but as that's not feasible at the moment, I join with all the other GNR's around the world who are not able to make it to Livingstone in wishing you an enjoyable and memorable journey. Can't wait to read all about it when you return!!
Give Africa my love.
Ray Wright [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, WA, Australia
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 06:41:40 (UTC)
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Ron, ....... Keep the poems coming...they are great....
Philip..... thanks , I have been watching out for Mars. but it has been quite cloudy in this part of the world...Leah my youngest keeps reminding me to look..
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 06:19:50 (UTC)
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Artie, Jilly, Doug, ...... You are soooo lucky..what a dream come true...I know I will get back to NR/Zambia one day too.....to be able to experience that feeling of being an African in Africa..wow, smelling the air whilst taking in the visons, touching the earth.seeing the African sky, the sounds so clear in both the day and night ...by the way if anyone who is going there can take a photo of Lusaka hospital I would be really grateful.....I know one thing ...I wll be there in spirit with you guys.....and so will a lot of others.....
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 06:09:47 (UTC)
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I don't know about keeping the piccanins busy, but it certainly kept me busy (and awake) last night in bed.
I have tried this whilst sitting at my desk also, but all I have got out of it is a sore ankle and a continuing desire to draw a six in the air with my right hand!
There is no doubt that my brain can only cope with one command at a time, but I am determined to teach it to handle two commands at once, no matter how long it takes me.
Thanks for that Johnny. Will let you know when I am successful.
June
June Dobson (née Jocks) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 05:32:02 (UTC)
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I hope the family of Abe Galaun will not be offended if I dedicate this poem to his memory.
Not every line will be appropriate to him, but to me the poem embraces all of those who spent part of their lives somehwere along The Great North Road - and to those who feel the cap fits - please feel free to wear it proudly [with thanks to Robert Service]:
The Rhyme of the Restless Ones
We couldn't sit and study for the law;
The stagnation of a bank we couldn't stand;
For our riot blood was surging, and we didn't need much urging
To excitements and excesses that are banned.
So we took to wine and drink and other things,
And the devil in us struggled to be free;
Till our friends rose up in wrath, and they pointed out the path,
And they paid our debts and packed us o'er the sea.
Oh, they shook us off and shipped us o'er the foam,
To the larger lands that lure a man to roam;
And we took the chance they gave
Of a far and foreign grave,
And we bade good-by for evermore to home.
And some of us are climbing on the peak,
And some of us are camping on the plain;
By pine and palm you'll find us, with never claim to bind us,
By track and trail you'll meet us once again.
We are the fated serfs to freedom -- sky and sea;
We have failed where slummy cities overflow;
But the stranger ways of earth know our pride and know our worth,
And we go into the dark as fighters go.
Yes, we go into the night as brave men go,
Though our faces they be often streaked with woe;
Yet we're hard as cats to kill,
And our hearts are reckless still,
And we've danced with death a dozen times or so.
And you'll find us in Alaska after gold,
And you'll find us herding cattle in the South.
We like strong drink and fun, and, when the race is run,
We often die with curses in our mouth.
We are wild as colts unbroke, but never mean.
Of our sins we've shoulders broad to bear the blame;
But we'll never stay in town and we'll never settle down,
And we'll never have an object or an aim.
No, there's that in us that time can never tame;
And life will always seem a careless game;
And they'd better far forget --
Those who say they love us yet --
Forget, blot out with bitterness our name.
Robert Service
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Sunday, August 24, 2003 at 04:28:23 (UTC)
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Arthur - happy, happy birthday - I look forward to meeting you soon. I totally agree with what you say about a 'pilgrimage', although I am so glad that Otto and I are going to the Lark, I am sad that I cannot make it up to Kitwe which I left in 1975 after ten really amazing years spent there - ages 13 to 23 - a whole lifetime of growing up. PLUS I want to show Otto what a REAL anthill looks like! I am determined I will make that journey sooner than later. I want to take Otto there - to show him the places I went to and lived in - he has shared all his places that were important in Harare...
Ron -really great poems you recite for people - my birthday's in November - please find one for me too! I thoroughly enjoy reading your postings.
In Midrand, Johannesburg, I live close to a suburb called Vorna Valley - and it has a 'Harry Galaun' street - I remember listening to a radio talk show about five years ago or so and someone phoned in and said that the area was originally owned by a Lithuanian Jewish guy, and when he sold it for development he wanted it to be called Vorna Valley - I see that Abe Galaun came from Vorna - I wonder if there's any connection?
Jill
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 21:35:35 (UTC)
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auther
I dont know if you will get to mufulira but would like a photo of H52. I left in 1955 age 11. On the Stirling Castle wondering what England held for me,on arrivel said I'm not staying here its to cold, november, Bisbane is nice and warm. Hope you have a very good holiday. If anybody else happens to be going past that area a photo would be much appreciated. thanks all
Barry Morton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Brisbane, Australia
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 21:27:14 (UTC)
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Artie
Happy birthday my friend. I hope you've had a wonderful day and what a great birthday present Trish has given you! You deserve it after all the wonderful work you have done for the GNR. I'm only sorry Trish isn't going too. Looking forward to seeing you and having a good cuddle again xxx
Fiona Gayther (née Ferguson) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 18:32:38 (UTC)
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I was very sorry to hear of the death of Abe Galaun. I
was privilaged to know him and his wife Vera and of course Jack and Michael,to whom I send my sincere condolences. Your folks always made me very welcome
and your Dad will be sorely missed
Phil Edwards [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Gillits, South Africa
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 17:08:58 (UTC)
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In my last posting 1997 should have read 1967. Only 30 years out! What's a few decades among friends?
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 17:03:11 (UTC)
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Arthur Happy birthday old mart and may the biggest tiger in the Zambezi bite your spoon and give Heather a kiss for me Johnny.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 16:58:52 (UTC)
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Arthur et al
I will try not to make this smoochy...
Your thanks about starting the GNR, Arthur, are very graciously and kindly accepted. It is always heartwarming when I get honest thanks from people. It is always appreciated.
Your return to Africa, in many ways parallels mine. I, too, saw Africa for the last time from the stern of the Sterling Castle as it steamed out of Table Bay in 1964. A very, very, sad day for me, not only because it was Africa that was disappearing over the horizon, but it was South Africa!
My return in 1997 was one of the greatest events in my life---one filled with immense joy and happiness at a time in my life when I was close to some very dark moments. I needed to return at the time I did.
I want to wish you a happy birthday, Art, and and bon voyage on this momentous event in your life! I have been there in this voyage with you!
My thoughts will be with you over the next few weeks!
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 16:56:39 (UTC)
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Lynn,
Hope you survived today's Hash Bash on your farm & I am sure you will feel a little less ignored after being both the "hare" and the "farmer"
All true hashers out here have crazy nicknames, if that is also the case there - what is yours ?
I am a pretender myself so have no nickname I know of in hash circles, I have no problem with drink and only have a problem with the runs after a good curry.
On On On & down down down
Ron
[a much more sedentary & dignified hill walker who always tries to finish his hikes with a skinny dip in the stream outside the back gate]
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 16:43:33 (UTC)
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Northerners,
Thank you all for the birthday wishes and e-mails.
A few people have said to me it is not apparent that I’m getting excited about the Lark from my messages, so I’d better put this right. Normally I would stop in bed all day today, but I can’t sleep much just now for the anticipation of going back home.
As much as I’m looking forward to the Lark itself and meeting more interesting Northerners, this is of course not my main reason for going and this will also apply to many of the others I’m sure.
I last saw Livingstone and Victoria Falls around 61 or 62, when I was 12 or 13, such a long time ago that I cannot remember precisely when. That was on my outward journey away from Northern Rhodesia for the last time and heading for Cape Town to catch the Windsor Castle. I last saw Africa as Table Mountain disappeared over the horizon of the South Atlantic and I swore then to go back someday. I left behind a childhood and Africa for a completely different world.
So, this journey for me will be not really be a holiday, but a pilgrimage and my goal will be home, Nkana Kitwe. Things wont be the same, I know and expect that, forty years is a long time, so much will have changed or disappeared, but there will still be the memories, hidden away and waiting to meet me, not unlike the daily reminiscences on this message board when a photo or recounted story sparks to life a long forgotten memory, only this time it will be for real. My wife Trish has made this possible and the ticket was her birthday gift of a lifetime to me, she knows what this trip means to me.
Heather asked what I would like to do when I’m over in Zambia, I asked for two things, to go and visit home and maybe a little fishing for tiger if possible. Not only has she organised this for me but also an itinerary beyond my wildest expectations. I am not going to let anyone else know exactly where until my return, then I will recount my journey in detail for the GNR for those who cannot make it to Zambia and especially those of my generation who I will take home to Nkana Kitwe. Heather you are incredible.
I also need to thank Dave Cooper of course, without the GNR none of this would be happening, and Craig for his patience and keeping things going. And then to the rest of you for just being Northerners, I have made so many good friends.
Excited, naah, I have my visa, inoculations, passport, air ticket, camera, fly spray, Johnny’s tiger fish spoon, hat, pork pies and case packed, everything ready to go, and time is passing so slowly.
By the way, anyone wanting a photo of their old house or anywhere else in Nkana Kitwe please let me know, I will do my best. If any of the other Larkers are making visits to their hometowns please also let us know if you’ll be willing to snag a photo or two for those less fortunate and unable to make it back home.
I have a list of those going now, for those of you who live so near in South Africa and are not on the list expect to be getting some earache from me shortly.
Arthur
Arthur Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Stockport, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 16:37:44 (UTC)
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Here is a poem for Arthur's Birthday
Bless his cotton socks & may he catch a Whopper !
Reward
Don't want medals on my breast,
Don't want all the glory,
I'm not worrying greatly lest
The world won't hear my story.
A chance to dream beside a stream
Where fish are biting free;
A day or two, 'neath skies of blue,
Is joy enough for me.
I do not ask a hoard of gold,
Nor treasures rich and rare;
I don't want all the joys to hold;
I only want a share.
Just now and then, away from men
And all their haunts of pride,
If I can steal, with rod and reel,
I will be satisfied.
I'll gladly work my way through life;
I would not always play;
I only ask to quit the strife
For an occasional day.
If I can sneak from toil a week
To chum with stream and tree,
I'll fish away and smiling say
That life's been good to me.
Edgar A. Guest
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 16:23:59 (UTC)
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Craig
Please report in! I receive no emails from you and see no postings here, and I know you went off into the Bush somewhere. I hope you are NOT anywhere near Kelowna!
Standing by...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 13:14:17 (UTC)
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTIE......MAY YOU HAVE MANY MANY MORE......
LOTS OF WISHES FROM "THE RAINBOW WARRIOR"
aka....Alixandria
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 11:35:29 (UTC)
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Lynn
Your Hash House Harriers seems a fun club. That's the way sport should be. People tend to take sport far too seriously. Remember those 2 central American countries that went to war because the one beat the other in a foot ball match. That is definately not cool.
In South Africa in the first 6 months of last year an average one boy was killed every weekend in schoolboy rugby. On one weekend alone 38 boys were hospitalized, one paralyzed. This is not a sport anymore.
Arthur
Congrats on your birthday! Why didn't you postpone it until the lark? It can be done. Women do it all the time. I'm stirring again :-)
Ron
Thanks for that info about Abie Galaun. I am sure I have actually met him in London about 1997 after I emigrated from Zambia. I was feeling homesick in cold wet England. He was advertizing for a ranch / feedlot manager so I applied for the job. I was not successfull but it was maybe for the best as I ended up in Swaziland where I started my own construction company.
34 days to go!
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 10:59:23 (UTC)
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Bravissimo Sarkissimo!
Best wishes and great big fishes!
Tina Magee (née Wallace) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Texas, United States
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 09:11:28 (UTC)
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Ron,
The Lusaka Hash House Harriers are today hashing on our farm, so will definitely have a "down,down" In fact most likely more than one, as a "Hare" and as the"farmer".
David Swan
The Hash House Harriers are not what the name may imply to the uninnitiated. We are runners with a drinking problem or drinkers with a running problem. Here in Lusaka, we meet every Saturday afternoon and do a 5 to 7km run cross country following a trail that has been set by the Hares. This can take anything up to 2 hours to complete. Afterwards, we have a social gathering where copious quantities of "Mosi" are consumed and a lot of b........t is bandied about. The hash House harriers started in the Far east and has spread to every country. It is a place for people to meet and we have certainly made some great friendships along the way. It is also a very nice way to meet new people when one is moving/working in new lands.
Cheers
That "Other Lusakaan"
Lynn Szeftel (née Mayoss) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 08:47:13 (UTC)
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Happy - Happy Arthur!
We hope you celebrated with gusto!
'Sláinte duine a ól'
Sue & Paudie
Sue Forde [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 08:46:20 (UTC)
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Good morning campers some thing new for you today it is truly amazing try it, it will keep your piccanins busy for a while.
This is weird but true! Guess your brain can only do the first command! While sitting at your desk make clockwise circles with your right foot. While doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand.
Your foot will change direction.
NOW EXPLAIN THAT ONE!!
And have a happy peaceful day Johnny.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 07:39:12 (UTC)
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Hi Lynn,
Sorry you feel ignored, but if you are really a Hash House Harrier - then take a "down down down" whilst sitting on an ice block and having a cold one poured over your head.
As it seems there are not many who remember Jack Galaun I take the liberty of sharing his Zamnet obituary here and I for one wish to join his family in celebrating the long Life of such a stalwart supporter of the Land that made us proud to be what we are.
As an organizer of the Agricultural Shows in NR / Zambia he will have been very familiar with the NRP Ride & Drive motorcycle team I mentioned in my last posting - that performed at these events in the Good Old Days. I would guess that he knew Chirupula Stevenson, Sir Stuart Gore Brown & Roy Wellensky from his NR days.
Would love to hear more about him from those who knew him better.
Cheers Ron
Extract Obituary from Zamnet
PROMINENT Lusaka farmer and businessman Abe Galaun, 89, is dead.
Family spokesperson, Michael Galaun, confirmed the death of his father on Tuesday saying he succumbed to failing health on August 19, in Lusaka.
Mr Galaun said his father would buried in London where his descendants live and will be able to frequently visit his grave to comply with the Jewish ritual.
"The many charitable facilities in Zambia in which Abe played a part will serve as monuments to his love for the country that became his home," he said.
The late Galaun leaves behind his wife, Vera, sons Jack and Michael, daughter-in-law Fanelle, sister Zira, grandsons Joshua, Jeremy and David and grand-daughters Melissa, Hannah, Lara.
The late Mr Galaun was born in Vorna, Lithuania, on February 16, 1914 and was one of the ten children born to a typical family in a small village of 900 Jewish people.
His father was a butcher - a trade and craft which absorbed, occupied and engaged Abe all his life.
Abe left school at the age of 14, as was common in those days having received a traditional Jewish school education and did his compulsory two years national service in the Lithuanian army serving as a quarter-master.
Despite his shortened scholastic career, Abe was very widely read and a committed socialist and Zionist and was in family circles considered as the more astute of the family, and always arranged the affairs of his departing siblings even getting them excused from army duties in order to migrate to other parts of the world.
By 1938 the NAZI cloud was already casting a dark shadow over eastern Europe and Abe was the last of his family to formally leave Vorna after the death of his father.
His mother and youngest sister who remained behind perished at the hands of Hitler's executioners in about 1914. [Most likely to be 1944]
Abe was allowed only a 24-hour transit visa in London as the doors to Jewish refugees were already closed and eventually arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, where two of his elder brothers accommodated him.
In Cape Town, he was permitted to stay only six months and was also denied residence in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) by the British colonial office.
He moved northwards to Livingstone where he was allowed to stay and seek employment.
Abe found a job in Mongu, Western Province, where he was employed to recruit workers for the South African mines and also run the airport and lived there for five years.
In 1945 he took a holiday in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he met and married his wife, Vera, and returned with her to Zambia where he started his business.
They both worked hard in their agricultural business that became a large and well-known institution in Zambia.
Amongst Abe's many services to the community he was chairperson of the Jewish Community for many years, a founding member of the Rotary Club of Lusaka in 1954, chairperson of the Lusaka Chamber of Commerce the fore-runner of Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
He was also vice-chairperson of the Agricultural Show Society, trustee of Argyle Homes, treasurer of the University of Zambia fundraising committee and more recently founded the Zambia Charitable Trust which has become well-known for the provision of wheel-chairs for the disabled and under-privileged Zambians.
Abe was also active in national politics prior to independence and after Zambia gained independence, he supported the new government in whom he had trusted when others chose to leave and settle abroad.
He is said to have maintained a pragmatic and independent approach to national affairs advising and counseling rather than politicking.
As a highly respected businessman he earned himself a status of " the man who feeds the nation."
He was closely involved in affairs concerning Israel and Zambia, and the Jewish community.
"Despite what happened to Lithuania Jewry and his own family at the hands of the Nazis, he retained a deep love for his country of birth. He visited Lithuania several times and supported Jewish institutions there," said his son Michael.
Michael also testifies that Abe was a firm believer in family ties, associations and values and maintained passionate traditional Jewish family values even though religion did not command the same essential importance.
He supported his extended family both with his generosity and also with words of wisdom and council.
"He was proud and dignified and retained his dignity right to the end. Having led such an active life he was so upset at his failing health and his inability to communicate and participate but was determined to fight on until the end," said Michael.
[Daily Mail]
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 02:28:03 (UTC)
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My usual humiliating birthday limerick for a buddy:
There once was a stuffed shirt named Arty
Who liked to sip beer at a party
'Til he drank a strange glass
And fell on his how's your father...
And his mates laughed so loud and so hearty
Have a great birthday, Arty, and may you never fear that a strange woman in red pops out of your birthday cake again.
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 01:55:30 (UTC)
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SARKYARTHUR!!!!!!!!!
NOT QUITE GOT AWAY WITH IT BUDDY! Happy ???? ish birthday. Hope U have a great day.
Gary, Natasha & Scott
Gary Brassington [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Banbury, Oxon., United Kingdom
Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 00:06:53 (UTC)
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Lynn,
I read Abe Galaun's biography on the Zamnet web page and although I did not know him personally, I was very impressed by him and his achievements. He reminds me of the many pioneers we have here in the States who came here penniless from other countries and built successful lives.
From escaping persecution by the Nazis, Abe built his life up from scratch and created a successful agricultural business in Zambia, contributing to the economic development of the country.
He also played a part in charitable institutions among his many services to the community, and provided words of wisdom to others. I am sure he will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family.
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 19:27:13 (UTC)
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Hello Lynn Szeftel,
I see from your profile you like "hashing" as a sport..... I've not heard of it,,... can you tell me what this is please ... Ta
David Swan [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 19:09:17 (UTC)
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Lynn
The name Abie Galaun seems to ring a bell. Didn't he have a cattle ranch with big feedlots at Chisamba many years ago.
Regards - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 18:30:37 (UTC)
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Hi All
NRZam.plus.com difficulties resolved.
I believe that the recent problems with the site are over - if anyone comes across any outstanding difficulties I'd appreciate a message!
Regards Ian
Ian Singer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 17:51:28 (UTC)
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Dear Northerners
Every time I post a message (which is not often), it appears to get ignored.(Perhaps that is why I do not post!)
Now let us see if anyone bothers about this message.
That "OTHER LUSAKAAN"
Lynn Szeftel (née Mayoss) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 17:39:37 (UTC)
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................ not my fault you poms are so far behind the aussies time wise!
Moira Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Brisbane, Australia
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 16:28:29 (UTC)
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOO YOUUUUUU ........
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOO YOUUUUUUUUU ........
HAPPY BIRRTHDAYYYY DEAR ARRRTHUR ......
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUUUUUUU !!!!!
Hope your birthday is the best one yet, Big Bro. Love you and miss you heaps.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Moira Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Brisbane, Australia
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 15:02:47 (UTC)
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John Costopoulos, Vic Schultz
Best Wishes on your Birthday
WHAT A NIGHTMARE
Over the last three days, I have received in excess of 1000 emails containing the W32/Sobig.f@MM virus, and they are still coming - over 250 collected on the server last night!! On Monday I shall be changing my email address because this is just too much. Am only glad that I am very particular about downloading my anti-virus updates every week. But it still has to fight them off and this slows everything down
TIM BRUBAKER
Sometime last year you asked for contact details for the Blands and I sent you an address for David in the UK. Did you not get any response on it?
PAWPAWS
Somebody asked a while ago when pawpaws ripen in the northern province. Our pawpaws are ripe now so the ones in the northern province will also be ripe although I think they start to ripen slightly earlier.
SHOOTING STARS
Siavonga is where I see most shooting stars, although this is probably because when we are there we sleep out under the night sky.
MEG RYBICKI
Me thinks you are confused. The farm next door to Jan and Josie Kempkers belonged to Boet and Annatjie Wessels who have both now passed away. However, two of their sons, John and Marius are still in Zimba, Wynand is in Canada, Anne is in Australia or New Zealand and Helen is in South Africa. But they did not have a son by the name of Gerhard. However, some close friends of theirs, Ben and Helene Swart have a son named Gerhard who is on their farm in Kalomo. Ben passed away a few months ago. Also neighbouring on Jan and Josie's farm was the farm belonging to Martiens and Minda Geldenhuys who moved down to South Africa.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 08:02:54 (UTC)
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Good morning campers, I think the girl who wrote this little caption must have had a bad experience at one stage of her life.
I believe in dragons, good men and other mythological
creatures.
Have a nice day Johnny.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 07:47:44 (UTC)
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Hi all
We had our first clear skys here on the North Coast since the begining of the week MARS is out there in the East, got a good view after about 8:00pm. At this stage it still appears as a bright star, but easy to find as it is now the biggest star in the sky. If it is going to appear as large as the article predicts by the end of the month it must be travelling at Warp speed.
Cheers,
Philip
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 04:21:29 (UTC)
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David Swan's reference to the Lido Drive-In just south of Lusaka on the Kafue road reminds me that there was a drive-in Cafe there too beside the swimming pool.
It also reminded me of one occassion in 1961 when I was confined to bed in the Lusaka hospital with Jaundice - not a very nice bed-fellow. I felt a bit like a pretender with my somewhat minor ailment compared to my companions. In the bed on my left was an older chap who was suffering from Sleeping sickness and had to undergo very painful lumber punctures every day with a huge needle. He had been the skipper of a boat involved in Operation Noah, rescuing animals from the rising waters of the newly constructed Kariba Dam - Does anybody remember who he was ?
In the bed on my right was another NR Policeman Johnny Austin who had been a member of the police 'Ride & Scive' motorbike team performing at Agricultural Shows around the country - he had the misfortune whilst on his motorbike on the way back to the Police Training School at Lilayi to come face to face with a motor car on a bend in the road - he had the presence of mind to stand on the saddle and jump just before his bike hit the car - he sailed over the top - thus avoiding almost certain fatal injuries - however his landing was less than perfect and he had many broken bones. Another popular member of the same Ride & Drive team John Dove was later to try the same evasive tactic in similar circumstances, however a big truck full of beer proved to be impossible to leapfrog and we very sadly lost the Clown of the show. His unfortunate widow Judy later married George Sharp, the Footballer.
However, I digress from the Lido Drive-In.
Whilst feeling fortunate that I was yellow and only had Jaundice, I had a very attractive young lady visit me one evening, and in an effort to impress her I invited her to the Lido Drive-In for an evening snack. I sneaked out of my ward in my pyjamas to my car a Vauxhall Victor which was parked under the trees outside and we drove off along the Kabwata road to the south end roundabout and out to the Lido where I parked not too close to the serving hatch and a waitress brought one of those trays that attach to the open window and took our orders. For the life of me I cannot remember what we ordered but I do remember seeing the waitress giving our order at the hatch. It was only then that I had the presence of mind to feel for my wallet ! Well you may have perhaps already guessed the rest - I was in my pyjamas - In my haste to leave the hospital unobserved by the Matron, I had completely forgotten that my wallet was in the bedside locker. My beautiful visitor had insufficent money to pay for our order and so - without further ado the serving tray was dumped on the gravel car park floor and I drove the poor and completely unimpressed girl home before returning post haste to my bed in the hospital.
I was the only shooting star that night as a rather puzzled waitress wondered where her pyjama clad customer had gone and what she should do with his order.
I confirm what David says that Shooting Stars Fade within seconds !
My recouperation from Jaundice was completed with two weeks sick leave out-of-the-territory on the shores of Lake Nyasa from which I returned no longer yellow skinned, but with the mosquito born joint aching malady instead, known much later as as O'nyong nyong, one of those rare parasitic diseases, But as Paddy Fleming would say, that is another story.
David Swan said:
I remember my dad driving us out to the drive-in movies just outside Lusaka (???) and as there were no street lights, the sky was pitch black and the odd shooting star could be seen.
I slept on a nearby beach last weekend and I saw a couple of them---- but you need to be patient.. I only saw 2 in the few hours before I fell asleep and they only lasted about one second before fading out. Good luck, David Swan Tuesday, August 19, 2003
O'Nyong nyong and its rare appearances can be found by a Google search for - O'Nyong nyong
Unlike Malaria - it seems to have no long lasting after effects or symptoms other than constant & repeated reminiscenes of Africa, a constant thirst, hair loss in later life, an inability to wear the perfectly good items of clothing one still has in the wardrobe - oh yes - and an inability to throw anything away.
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Friday, August 22, 2003 at 03:39:26 (UTC)
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Talk about chilly here in SA! I put out a bowl (a big one) of water last night and I made this amazing sushi plate out of ice that is now sitting in my deepfreeze ready for me to carve a pattern into it and use to entertain guests when it does get hot - and they say it's going to be even colder tonight. Yes, Linda - Zambia's climate is the best!
Chilly Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 21:46:38 (UTC)
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Anybody in the Cape Town area want to borrow my long johns? We have the exact opposite here. Temps over 40 degrees. That's why Zambia's climate is so great..
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 17:01:04 (UTC)
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Johnny,
Thanks for your daily giggle. It's great to start the day like that. Re the female viagra, I think Clive's gone to buy me the biggest diamond he can find in Perth!
Meg
Hope you're recovering from your accident. It's an awful thing to happen.
Tina
Thank you for your lovely words. Dad is perking up remarkably well. Big relief.
Philip (with one L)
Thanks for your smiley message. Glad you're back.
Jilly
I'll be at the reunion, along with hundreds of others, in spirit and wishing you all the best time.
Marilyn
Marilyn Noall (née Shooter) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 10:40:07 (UTC)
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Hartley,
Glad you're going to be there. I am jumping the gun a bit as for me the adventure begins on the 16th when my sister arrives from Cape Town - I haven't seen her for six years. Then we get in the Landy early on the 18th and off we go! Afterwards, on the way back, we are going to visit Chobe National Park in Botswana, and Ja, it will be a nice little adventure and I like that!
How many Kitwe-ites are going to the Lark?
Jill
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 06:55:49 (UTC)
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Hi Maggie
Glad you finally made it to the ROAD and I hope you are going to tell us all your favorite stories from back then.
When I spoke to you about joining you laughed at me and told me you were a naughty kid. If you have problems remembering (old age etc.) don't forget that we lived in the same house for a long time and I am sure you would like to tell the stories from your side.
Don't forget that most of us who grew up in N.R. were naughty kids.
I see Norma is missing from your looking for list!
Cheers
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 05:05:26 (UTC)
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Northerners!
Another batch of photos from the members for the message board follows..
Thanks again to you all who contribute in this way.
Arthur
Hi Arthur,
Mention of QSL cards reminded me of the Nkana/Kitwe Amateur Radio Club which used to meet in the Tower Room of the Nkana Mine Club. Here, the members of the club are on a field day in 1963.
All over the world clubs each year go into the countryside to operate with temporary aerials and portable power supplies to contact each other. In case anyone thinks this is a futile exercise, the ability to communicate in times of emergency is invaluable. The Congo crisis being one example.
Light morning air at Mindola Dam.
Regards,
Mike Wilson
Hello all,
I noticed a discussion about biltong and by coincidence there is a supplier near me which may be of interest for those living in the UK.
I attach the scanned advert from my local free-sheet which gives the contact details for Klerksdorp.
Hope someone finds this useful.
Ian Game
Hello Arthur.
I would be grateful if you could post the following message and photos onto the message board for me.
The photos of Van's Garage takes me back. I remember spending many evenings there drinking coke and hanging out. By the time I left in '74 I think coke was all you could buy there. If the Volvo was Bruce Vever's then the photo I have scanned shows what happened to it. It was on Rennie road opposite the Girls school, Bruce driving (that's him standing by the car) with Jack Wild and myself in the car turning into Argyll Rd (can't remember the new names) we were hit side on, car flipped over and burnt out. We all escaped pretty much unscathed. Just as well it was a Volvo.
The next photo was taken at Lusaka's Central Sports Club, New Years Eve, not sure of the year - maybe '68 or '69. Dave Marel (Gino Davicione) Jack Wild, Doron Gril and me. We used to have some great times there. I specially remember a group that came over from UK, sang Knock Three Times a lot. Anyone remember who they were?
Many Thanks
Bob Tring
Hi there Art
Something I discovered in an old school case when I was last in Kitwe. And something the Livingstone Larkers could do with perhaps.
Just imagine.... round trip Ndola/Bulawayo/Ndola for all of £18.10.00! If only..
Cheers
LizD
Hi Arthur,
these were bought for Christmas presents for my boys (Thinking back I was more interested)
I used to live for those half sized War Comics. I believe they are collectors items now.
Cheers
Philip
Myself and my pupils at the art workshop I ran...a wonderful experience.......it culminated in the children painting pictures depicting their impressions of peace......I have now scanned and formatted them ready to be published into a calendar....these children are refugees from Sudan, china, Iraq. Iran and Afghanistan who have been in Australia for less than 8-9 months...all are in intensive English classes...and all love living in Australia..
Ali
Arthur Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Stockport, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 20, 2003 at 21:40:42 (UTC)
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Hartley
Glad to hear you are coming to the lark. I am also going to Lusaka for a week afterwards to visit my daughter. I'm also getting excited.
Come on you waverers lets fill the plane!
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 20, 2003 at 19:00:54 (UTC)
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Dear Yunus Badat, I think in Yorkshire it was translated into I'm going to the pub. Regards Johnny.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 20, 2003 at 18:33:59 (UTC)
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Hi, Northerners,
Bearer of some very sad news. Abe Galaun passed away last night . He had been ill for a time. He is due to be buried in Uk on Friday afternoon and there will be a memorial service held here for him in about two weeks time. He will be greatly missed by all. May his soul rest in peace. I went to see Vera earlier this evening and she is as well as can be expected under the circumstances. Our condolences to Micheal and Jack and all the families.
Lynn and Leslie Szeftel
Lynn Szeftel (née Mayoss) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Wednesday, August 20, 2003 at 18:13:37 (UTC)
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Jill: Don't get too excited! It is 5 weeks this Friday to Livingstone.
Although I must admit that I am feeling the same way, can't wait to being able to stand on the edge of the falls again. The last time I was at the falls was in June 1996 and the amount of water was amazing. This time I expect that they are going to look very different.
I have to back Jill up with trying to get those people still thinking about going to get down to the travel agent and book yourself a ticket 'back home'.
We fly to Joburg on the Wednesday before and then up to Livingstone on the Friday, hopefully in time for the cruise. We have decided to extend out stay in Zambia and fly up to Lusaka on the Sunday afternoon before returning to Joburg the following Friday.
We have another reason for getting up to Lusaka. My wife, Sue, still has one of her brothers living in Lusaka who she hasn't seen him since we left Zambia in 1978. One of her other brothers and her two sisters are joining us in Lusaka for a family reunion.
Yes I have to say I am also "soooo excited" .
Hartley
Hartley Heaton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Binfield, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 20, 2003 at 14:16:41 (UTC)
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Good morning campers,I thought some of you may like this one.
A comely redhead was thrilled to have obtained a divorce and
dazzled by the skill and virtuosity of her lawyer, not to mention
his healthy income and good looks. In fact, she realized, she had
fallen head over heels in love with him, even though he was a
married man.
"Oh, John," she sobbed at the conclusion of the trial, "isn't
there some way we can be together, the way we were meant to be?"
Taking her by the shoulders, John proceeded to scold her for her
lack of discretion and good judgment.
"Snatched drinks in grimy bars on the edge of town, lying on the
phone, hurried meetings in sordid motels rooms - is that really
what you want for us?" he asked.
"No, no..." she sobbed, heartsick.
"Oh," said the lawyer. "Well, it was just a suggestion."
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 20, 2003 at 06:55:54 (UTC)
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Hi All,
Does antbody remember a Zambian song that was translated into English, I think the song was entitled
"I'm going to the River"
Yunus Badat [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
London, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 23:49:40 (UTC)
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Last word (promise) on the things kids say, Miceals News one day last year contained the classic, "My daddy has a beist freind called Barry who made daddy high", Mrs McManus the class teacher was quite horrified and asked me if I knew why Miceal should write this, I explained that Barry is a helicoptor pilot (totally true) who takes daddy for jaunts now and then! All those going to Livingstone, how I envy you, it is one of my favorite places on earth, I stayed on a farm in Zimba belonging to Jan Kempkas (sadly deceased), and rode horses belonging to Gerhart Wessels on the farm next door every day for miles. We went to Vic falls and ate icecream that tasted better than anything in Lusaka. I am very down today having pranged my car. I was reversing out of my driveway onto the lane when to my horror, booting BACKWARDS very fast towards me was a small white van (why he was reversing down the lane very fast remains a mystery). He crashed into me with such an impact it pushed my large Nissan 8 seater ten foot sideways. This being Ireland (the land of huge insurance premiums and massive liability claims) he will probably take out a gigantic claim against me, so to safeguard myself I shall have to take myself off to the doctors tomorrow and complain wildly about neck pains (I am actually feeling quite shaken). Nobody was badly hurt, but my car has been taken by a claims adjuster to ascertain damage ect. Enough doom and gloom, y'all drive safely now , Meg
Meg Rybicki (formerly Margaret) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Mullanyduff, Co Leitrim, Ireland
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 22:51:18 (UTC)
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Hi all,
It's just a month away from the Lark - and I am soooo excited! I am going to get to meet a few old chinas - but also some of the people I have never met, bar some interesting emails and tales related on the GNR.
I know the list is growing daily, and I think that Livingstone will really rock when we hit town! Anyone still dithering - come on - forget the mortgage and the budget - come along and have fun in the sun. When I left Zambia -its Tourist Motto thingy was "Zambia in the Sun", now it is "Zambia, the Real Africa!" I think its current logo is very apt.
Jilly Bean
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 21:13:06 (UTC)
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Hi All
Just been outside to look for Mars but unfortunatly the sky over this part of the world is overcast, I'll have to finish another six pac. and hope it clears up by the time I finish. Lynne has gone to Durban to help her sister move house. (I am not my own best friend when alone) Looks like I will have to keep all of you awake with me.
.
.
.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 19:42:32 (UTC)
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Hi,
I remember my dad driving us out to the drive-in movies just outside Lusaka (???) and as there were no street lights, the sky was pitch black and the odd shooting star could be seen.
I slept on a nearby beach last weekend and I saw a couple of them---- but you need to be patient.. I only saw 2 in the few hours before I fell asleep and they only lasted about one second before fading out.
Good luck
David Swan [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 19:32:49 (UTC)
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Africa's Inflation Hit's the U.K.
Went to the Middlesex Seven's rugby at twickenham on saturday.There were the usual caravan food stalls.But on the roof of one it had "Boerwors for sale ".
Are immediate reaction was great.We then saw the price list ..... Boerwors roll £5.00 ( 60 rand )
needless to say there were no queues and we ate elsewhere
Rod Crowe [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Staines, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 19:12:10 (UTC)
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Owen
The clothing shop you refer to was called Stylo's and was run by a friend of mine called Dipak Myanger. I built a shop for him in Kwacha trading area. He is now in the UK. Does anyone have any news of him?
The fast food outlet above Delta was called 'Tommy Tucker snack bar. It was run by a Swiss-German woman, then I bought it for my wife, who later sold it to Mrs. Van, Ray Rowe's Mom. Ray and Norma are now retired in Vanderbyl Park south of Joburg.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 18:30:18 (UTC)
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Shooting stars...
I lived in the Yukon for 10 years and there is nothing more beautiful than watching shooting stars on a cold (minus 40C) night behind the northern lights...
BTW - did you know that some northern lights can sing???
Peter Dielissen [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 17:34:00 (UTC)
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Hi all
With all this talk of SHOOTING STARS I thought this article might be of interest. It was published in a local newspaper.
Ali just for you.
Mars
The Red Planet is about to be Spectacular!
"This month and the next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the planets in recorded history.
The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.
The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2,9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the East at 10 pm and reach its azimuth at about 3 am. By the end of August when the two planets are closest Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 am. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
Share this with all your children and grandchildren. No one will ever see this again!"
Cheers
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 17:28:51 (UTC)
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Jilly ....
True I have never seen a shooting star or a falling star.....even my kids laugh at me...when I was north I camped out at night......still to no avail..the stars were there you could almost touch them..but none of them fell or shot upwards...... Marilyn.... Yes we will have to catch up one day.....I will be seeing the finished calendars tomorrow, have been told they are fantastic.....I cannot wait !!!!
Ron.... Thanks for that link.....maybe I may get to see a meteor shower yet !!!
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 12:02:52 (UTC)
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Ron
Thanks for those kiddy stories. I used to watch a show on TV with Art Linkletter (I think) when he interviewed children and let them talk. They are no natural it's lovely to hear.
Ali
Look forward to catching up ONE OF THESE DAYS. No stars or meteorites this morning. Only whales!
Hazel Forde
Can we meet up with Alix?
Philip
You were almost scratched off my address book but just scraped in with time to spare! Please clock out when you go away and in again on your return.
Dawie
My son and his girlfriend are visiting Amsterdam. What should they see/do/visit? Sometime in October. He gets back to Perth the day before the South Africa versus England rugby match. Phew!
Tot siens
Marilyn
Marilyn Noall (née Shooter) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 10:39:10 (UTC)
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Morning campers, just a little smile for you this morning.
What do you call female Viagra?..... Jewelry.
--------------------------
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 07:29:56 (UTC)
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From the archives
More things Children Say
POLICE #1
While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school,
I was interrupted by a little girl about six years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked,
"Are you a cop?"
"Yes," I answered and continued writing the report.
"My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police.
Is that right?" "Yes, that's right," I told her.
"Well, then," she said as she extended her foot toward me,
"would you please tie my shoe?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POLICE # 2
It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station.
As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me.
"Is that a dog you got back there?" he asked.
"It sure is," I replied.
Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van.
Finally he said, "What'd he do?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my four-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, specially the canes, walkers and wheelchairs.
One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass.
As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DRESS-UP
A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party.
When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned,
"Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit."
"And why not, darling?"
"You know that it always gives you a headache next morning."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DEATH
While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt.
Apparently, his five-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that a proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased.
The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: "Glory be unto the Faaather..... and unto the Soonnn..... and unto the hole he gooooes."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCHOOL
A little girl had just finished her first week of school.
"I'm just wasting my time," she said to her mother.
"I can't read, I can't write - and they won't let me talk!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible.
He picked up the object and looked at it.
What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
"Mama, look what I found," the boy called out.
"What have you got there, dear?"
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered,
"I think it's Adam's underwear!"
With thanks to my ex NRP friend Paul Falla and his wife Sally in Plettenberg Bay for sharing these gems.
PS
They run a fantastic set of B&B cottages called Fynbos Ridge if anyone needs a place ot stay on the Garden Route.
Cheers Ron
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 02:43:37 (UTC)
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Shooting Stars
I have been lucky enough to see shooting stars in the African night sky from the frozen upper slopes of Kilimanjaro, from an island in the Okavango with Hippos grunting their appreciation neaby, from a cold mountain camp in Kashmir, from a riverside camp in Thailand where we also saw satellites tracking across the night sky and from camps in the Australian outback - all were fantastic - enhanced by the remote locations from which they were observed, but most fantastic of all is to see the Leonid showers that occur each November when masses of meteoroid fragments enter the earth's atmosphere creating one of the finest fireworks displays I have ever witnessed.
I witnessed dragons flying across the sky one November 2001 Sunday night / Monday morning when the sky was filled with meteors screaming across
the sky in glorious technicolor - one of the three November Leonid showers I have witnessed in the last 20 years. Truly spectacular! there were a dozen
visitors lying on matresses on the patio - lots of oooh's and ahhhh's. I stayed out all night and was woken by Veronica as she went off to her school in the morning.
History
Most of the meteoroids of the Leonid meteor stream concentrate in an elongated thin ribbon-like region. The stream orbits around the sun in an elliptical orbit with a period of about 33 years. Therefore a magnificent display of Leonid meteors is expected to occur every 33 to 34 years.
Check out the info on Leonid Showers on a Google search to discover the optimum date to watch them from wherever you are this coming November.
One such web-site is: http://www.atnf.csiro.au/asa_www/info_sheets/leonids.html
Best wishes, Ron - now back in Hong Kong
Ron Clibborn-Dyer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hong Kong SAR, China
Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 02:31:05 (UTC)
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Shooting Stars
I cannot believe you've never seen a shooting star, Ali - just about any night if you watch the skies they are there - really mushy to waych, but not very unusual - is this because I am a night-time creature and I spend my time outdoors?
Or is there a differnce between a shooting star and a falling star?
Jilly, the failed Cosmologist.
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Monday, August 18, 2003 at 21:47:14 (UTC)
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Hi Mufulirians
Don't ask me why, but I got to thinking about the shopping centre of the town and have tried to place the shops in it. Here goes. Starting from 7th street (which linked the Ndola/Kitwe roads with the Mokambo turnoff as well as the main road to the mine and the station, it was the only road that traversed the entire length of the town) and Jameson ave. Travelling west and starting with the south side.
First off Magistrate Courts then Police Station and Hotel. Brings us to 4th st. with Barclays bank on the corner. Just south of that, Sales House. Next to Barclays, a travel agency which later became Nedbank. Moving on RF Ayton the chemist and Mclellands which became CBC and later ZCBC. 3rd st then Mainway Service Station which changed to Drive In. Onwards to Norman Kenward the photographer then a shop which at one time was a sewing machine agency (I think Bernina). Further on Werners Butchery and 2nd st. Opposite corner, Border Motors then a cycle shop. Don't recall anything else.
Starting at the same point, covering the north.
Open parkland then Municipal Offices, 4th st. Standard Bank, Post Office, Thoms Stores (later became Solanki). Then Harry Sprake the jeweller, L B Ouzman hardware shop and Mikes Delicatessen, entrance in 3rd st. Opposite this Mutual or Old Mutual Building which had the only lift in town, serving 2 floors, or was it 3? Dr Connolly had rooms here as well as Peter M Levy the optician and a dentist. Ground floor facing Main st was a travel agency and Carl Querl later opened the Flamingo Restaurant here. Next Delta Electric. Above Delta (among other things) was a fast food joint where I tasted my first hamburger and first coke float. Back on ground level and moving on, Holdsworths the chemist, then Kingstons the stationers. My memory tells me this later became CNA, am I right? After Kingstons, Rio Grande Cafe then a clothing Outfitter I think was called Ouzmans. 2nd st and opposite corner, CAMS then Camping and Bedding Centre. No memory after that. The open Market was the end of Main st, other side of 1st st.
Moving north and going west to east.
Teichmanns (Toyota dealer), open ground then Goldstein Motors (one time Chrysler agency), 2nd st. Opposite, Goldring Motors Morris/Austin agents (funny, Goldrings first name was Morris). Drive In moved here after a while, the place in Main st becoming something else. Next door a shop which sold, at differing times, veggies, cakes and was once a tea room. Next to this Macraes (The Spot For Groceries). I am told people used to come fom the rest of the Copperbelt to buy here as he had stock, product and price. He later sold and opened a hardware in Old Mutual Buildings. After Macraes, another book shop which later became radio and hi-fi. No memory further east.
Anybody out there fill in the gaps or correct my memory?
There was also the old shops where Neumann had a butchery. Dont remember much else of that.
Cheers and happy nostalgia,
Owen Thomas [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Henley on Klip, Gauteng, South Africa
Monday, August 18, 2003 at 21:04:46 (UTC)
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Hi all,
still here,
been away on a bowls tournament to Escort for the weekend.
Just getting up to date with the message board and I am so glad that I'm an old Dog and still have only got to running WIDOWS 95. I have taken the case off of my TOWER (new word to me) and taken a " LOOKING GLASS" and can't find any worms inside. I have read all the solutions to sort the problem out but you have all got it wrong. I sprayed the inside of my " tower" with DOOM and even the COCROACHES have died. Sorry to all of you who had problems that I was not here to help when you needed me.
Cheers
Philip
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Monday, August 18, 2003 at 18:22:51 (UTC)
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I am interested in any information on a missionary couple in Zimbabwe Alvin & Sata Book. They were both recently killed in a car accident just days prior to their return to the US. it takes so long for any information to get back to us from Zimbabwe these days.
Also, Anyone familiar with Yieldingtree Farm or the Bland Family. Duncan Bland returned to Yieldingtree Farm (outskirts of Lusaka) about two or three years ago, but we haven't heard anything from him since his return. He lived there with his family in the 60's & 70's. The Farm was sort of abandoned in the mid-80's (Poultry) and he returned to start it up again. I believe his father, Gordon, is in South Africa now.
His Sister, Joanna, we last saw in London in 1979, and his Brother, David in Chichester, UK also in 1979. We have lost contact with them as well.
I am also searching for Harry & Joan Taylor (Harry was the farm manager and they were my guardians while I stayed there). The last time we had contact with them we visited them in Shrewsbury, UK in 1979. They have at least one kid who would be about college age now.
Others we haven't been in contact with since 1979 were the Dugdales (outside of London) and the Chadbournes. I think the Chadbournes (in 1979) were near a town called Grantham, UK. I think in the western UK. We visited them enroute from Shrewsbury (Welsh border) to York.
If anybody can help me track any of these people down it would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
Tim Brubaker
Timothy Brubaker [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Monday, August 18, 2003 at 15:10:32 (UTC)
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Northerners,
My son has been asking me about South African history, everything from Jan van Riebeck to Nelson Mandela, but the old brains cells seem to operating in 'forget-only' mode. Can any of the bookworms among you recommend a good volume or two on the subject?
John Whitham [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Windsor, England
Monday, August 18, 2003 at 12:14:17 (UTC)
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Marilyn....
Shame I missed the shooting star......do you know I have NEVER ! seen one...true..even when I have been in the desert, Northwest,even the Nullabor.....I might have seen one in Zambia, but then I would have been too young to remember...still there is still time....I shall answer your email tonight..have been very busy with designing a banner, and now a poster, including a new logo..no rest for the wicked.....
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Monday, August 18, 2003 at 12:04:05 (UTC)
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Doug, Linda, Meg et al
I've just had my daily laugh on the GNR. Doug, I laughed so loud at your John Glen story some friends came to see what was going on and so we all had a good laugh.
The things kids say was hilarious. Must remember to ask my children not to name any of their daughters Jemima,
Alix
I think I saw a shooting star when we were walking this morning. Never seen anything like it. It was like a torch on fire which Clive of course said it was! Have you ever seen anything like that?
WHERE IS PHILIP PAIN?
Great photos of the Kafue, Heather. Thank you.
Marilyn
Marilyn Noall (née Shooter) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Monday, August 18, 2003 at 05:44:10 (UTC)
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Heather
Thanks for the Malawi shandy recipe, looking forward to making one again.
Funny you should ask Kevin Shone, I taught his children (and a number of his nieces and nephews) at Simba for 6 years. I remember Kasembo donating a barrel of petrol for our hockey tour to Malawi as well.
Does anyone know if hockey is still being played on the Copperbelt? Or softball? And is Ndola Wanderers still operating? Things were going downhill quite quickly when I left in '99, very little sport happening at all.
Yes, it was Caribbea Bay, we must have gone over to the Zimbabwean side for the day, was before they introduced the $20US fee for New Zealanders to cross over.
cheers
Helen
Helen Chileshe (née Derham) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
New Zealand
Monday, August 18, 2003 at 00:17:59 (UTC)
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Heather
Thanks for the Malawi shandy recipe, looking forward to making one again.
Funny you should ask Kevin Shone, I taught his children (and a number of his nieces and nephews) at Simba for 6 years. I remember Kasembo donating a barrel of petrol for our hockey tour to Malawi as well.
Does anyone know if hockey is still being played on the Copperbelt? Or softball? And is Ndola Wanderers still operating? Things were going downhill quite quickly when I left in '99, very little sport happening at all.
cheers
Helen
Helen Chileshe (née Derham) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
New Zealand
Monday, August 18, 2003 at 00:16:33 (UTC)
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O Illustrious Founder
Germane, mundane, arcane, inane, profane, insane and just because it rhymes, butane. This site works.
On the subject of good reading material, how about the Karma Sutra?
Each to their own disciplines and designs. Live and let live and rejoice in the power of the "off" button.
Lets kick this around the GNR for a while. If Ting Ling caused so much excitement, this more seious topic may even generate a murmer.
Scientists have recently discovered that mans most common debilitation is Ostrichitis. No known cure yet.
Cheers
Owen Thomas [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Henley on Klip, Gauteng, South Africa
Sunday, August 17, 2003 at 21:04:11 (UTC)
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Hi All
www.nrzam.plus.com has a problem.
Some files are unreachable for the moment.
This is because I 'farmed out' some of the items onto separate webspace with a company that allowed free access and unlimited webspace. I think they have been taken over and the unlimited has been reduced to 25mb. I had 330mb with them!
My own ISP currently allows me 250mb of which I am using 190. I now have to investigate the best solution (that is Aberdonian speak for cheapest). I hope it won't take too long to sort things out - in the meantime sorry!
Regards Ian
Ian Singer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Sunday, August 17, 2003 at 16:55:29 (UTC)
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I was browsing through my files this morning and I found a letter I had written to Bill Hunt after he heard me talking on a radio phone-in talk show.
I think the story about our mutual friend John Glen is worth retelling.
Bill,
I am glad to hear you are also a loafer like me who lies in bed listening to the morning radio chat show. I didn't think Dennis was a bit short with me in fact I waffled on a bit. Like most South Africans he gets mixed up between Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia. I was trying to find the meaning of Mapungubwe from his Venda speaking guest, who unfortunately did not know, but then told us quite a funny story about the origins of Vryheid, which is now part of the Abaqulusi municipality. Apparently one Zulu King chased his sister away from Nongoma and banished her to what is now the Vryheid area. Apparently he told her, "We don't want to see your backside around here again". This is apparently what gave rise to the name Abaqulusi. At least I managed to get in a plug for our website so we may reach a few more lost Northern Rhodesians now living in RSA.
Yep, John Glen! When he was dying of cancer I visited him and we agreed that if and when he reached the other side, if there is another side, he would make every effort to contact me, so that we could scheme some plans. Maybe a bit of import/export, selling plots in heaven etc. You must know the story, where Hitler nearly bribed Jesus to let him into Heaven with the promise of Germany's highest award 'The Iron Cross'. So all things are possible.
Nothing happened until a few months after his death. When I returned back from shopping, my maid informed me I had missed a phone call, but she had written down the chap's name and number. You guessed it! It was John Glen and a long number. This gave me quite a fright because as an atheist I wasn't really expecting any call. With shaking hands I rang the number and it was Tiger, John's son in England. I never knew his name was also John, I only knew him as Tiger from the day he was born. Phew!
Around 1969 John had to make a hurried exit from Zambia as the taxman was sniffing around. It was one of those expatriates, loaned from the UK to jack up the leaky Zambian system. These guys didn't play fair; you couldn't even bribe them. This guy started asking around about the chap who had a fleet of earth moving machinery and trucks building the Great North Road, who had 2 brand new mustangs and a private plane, but who had no record in the Tax office.
John like any true swashbuckling Northern Rhodesian had an allergy to paying any sort of tax, and had never registered with them. He always used to operate on a cash basis but grew to big for that and had to open a bank account to stash some of his loot.
A few days before the Taxman swooped John did a duck to Bulawayo. He managed to leave with, inter alia, his mustangs, his powerboat, 2 landrovers, a Toyota crown custom station wagon, a grand piano, and of course his 4 seater plane (I cannot remember the make, maybe a Piper Apache). He was horrified when he found that the Rhodesians were even worse than the Zambians and expected him to pay import duty on all these items. It took him over a year to work things out but he never paid a cent.
At one stage the Rhodesian director of civil aviation tried to get some info from his Zambian counterpart about a man who was flying a Zambian registered plane on a Congolese flying license. The license was non-existent of course. When asked for it, John told them he had lost it and was awaiting a replacement from the Congo. In the meantime he kept on flying but was quite worried about the Zambians would reply to the DCA. Finally the reply arrived. It stated short and sourly, "We do not deal with Rebel Regimes"! This let John off the hook and he was delightful with this department of the Zambian Government.
On one flight (still on his Congo license) coming back from the Natal south coast (where his folks had retired to Scottsburg) he got caught in a cunim updraft over the Drakensbergs. He was pulled so high that ice was forming on his wings and he thought that he was going to die. Suddenly there was an opening in the storm clouds and he managed to dive out and landed on the nearest bit of level ground, which was a golf course. After enjoying the hospitality of the 19th hole he booked into a hotel for the night before servicing the plane and continuing his journey. After that experience he decided to sell the plane and bought an E-type Jaguar instead, which probably went faster than the plane.
Life is so boring nowadays!
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Sunday, August 17, 2003 at 11:02:43 (UTC)
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Good morning campers here is your smile for this morning, with apologies to the nationality's mentioned.
How can you identify the Polack at a Cock fight?
He's the one who brought the duck.
How can you identify the Italian at the Cock fight?
He's the one who bets on the duck.
How can you tell if the Mafia is involved in the Cock fight?
If the duck wins, they are.
Have a nice day Johnny.
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Sunday, August 17, 2003 at 07:10:00 (UTC)
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Craig and Paudie
No need to penis-wag, I realise you're just showing off that you know the code to create the Euro sign.
Feh. Egregious indeed.
Now if you could just tell me the keystrokes to get it from this insular American keyboard I use. It shows the key next to the 5 button, but do you think they document anywhere?
For Autodesk's documentation for AutoCAD, I created maps of every keyboard layout used for the major languages we supported, not only French and German, but also Japanese, Korean, and Arabic and all the major European languages.
This is an example of how ungermane this site can become. Just think, folks, one day we will be able to discuss the bible right here on the GNR (cant wait). And if we're really progressive, maybe even the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Quaran!
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Sunday, August 17, 2003 at 05:46:44 (UTC)
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Paudie,
Please teach Cooper how to do HTML. And let him know that third and subsequent "fixings" will get him "fixed" and cost him €20.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Sunday, August 17, 2003 at 04:12:55 (UTC)
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LIVINGSTONE LARKERS!!!!
Just a quick note to all those planning to attend the Livingstone Bash in September. Hope U all have safe and plesant journeys from wherever your points of departure and have a wonderful Bash. I am sure Heather has done a suberb job organising things in her usual effective effecient way. Heather - sorry I can't be with you to share in the happy event. Lot's of pictures please.
Gary (Brasso)
Gary Brassington [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Banbury, Oxon., United Kingdom
Saturday, August 16, 2003 at 20:37:01 (UTC)
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LIVINGSTONE LARKERS!!!!
Just a quick note to all those planning to attend the Livingstone Bash in September. Hope U all have safe and plesant journeys from wherever your points of departure and have a wonderful Bash. I am sure Heather has done a suberb job organising things in her usual effective effecient way. Heather - sorry I can't be with you to share in the happy event. Lot's of pictures please.
Gary (Brasso)
Gary Brassington [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Banbury, Oxon., United Kingdom
Saturday, August 16, 2003 at 20:36:55 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
I hope that no one in Africa mourns the death of one of it's most evil rulers.
I hope Ugandans and all Africans remember the 400,000 victims of his horrendous and horrific rule of terror.
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 16, 2003 at 20:25:09 (UTC)
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Paudie
I am impressed that you looked at the source. Now why would you do that?
Besides, I think a "thought" tag would be a good idea... a lot of people could use it. [stupid little smiley face here]
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 16, 2003 at 17:28:35 (UTC)
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Dave Cooper
Now there's a /thought....trying to be /strong :>)))
Paudie Coughlan [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Midleton Co Cork, Ireland
Saturday, August 16, 2003 at 16:07:43 (UTC)
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Craig,
Thank you. This is a lesson for us all... I should have tested the link first before posting... every keystroke must be right, and I thought I got it right!
Even after all these years with HTML, the chances of not closing a tag are always there, lurking like a monkey on your back.
Since everyone is yacking on about their issue... reminds me of my son explaining why he did not turn in an assignment at school: "It got caught on a bush." You can imagine what I made him do...
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 16, 2003 at 10:06:22 (UTC)
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Dave,
Your egregious error has been corrected after the obligatory period of twisting in the wind.
Philip,
Are you still licking your wounds? :) As you can see, we play no favourites here and abuse everyone equally, even Herr Founder.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Saturday, August 16, 2003 at 09:21:29 (UTC)
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Adding to the funny things kids say:
When my son was about 6, he used to love singing a particular song at church, the words of part of it being, "Lord, you are the lifter of my head". I wondered why he loved it so much, until I listened better one day, to hear him belting out, "Lord, you are the rooster on my head." Another one he didn't get quite right should have said, "I was once held captive in the bondage of sin," but he sang, "I was once held Baptist while the blonde angels sing."
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Saturday, August 16, 2003 at 05:23:36 (UTC)
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Kids say funny things.....I have five children, Alicia l3, Miceal 8, Oisin 5, Odhran 2, and Jemima 7months, and after 3 boys (my husband is Irish hence the unpronouncable Gaelic names) was delighted to name a daughter again. At Jemimas Christening the Rev. Stevens, a very sensitive soul, and deaf, asked what the baby,s name was, and Oisin who has a loud, booming voice, roared into his ear, VAGINA, her name is VAGINA! He had been put up to it by Miceal who was rolling around on the floor. Luckily she is my last born, and we won't scare the vicar again!
Meg Rybicki (formerly Margaret) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Mullanyduff, Co Leitrim, Ireland
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 23:51:05 (UTC)
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Northeners...
The Kwacha may be almost worthless however an old 5 Pound note could be worth $90US+
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3040846834&category=385
Peter Dielissen [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 22:39:36 (UTC)
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Ooops!
Just click the "sorry about this" until Craig fixes my f***-up.
I have a boot in my mouth.
Dave Cooper
Flounder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 20:14:14 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
Please everyone, I know I said I was not going to talk about MSBLAST.EXE again, but read the following immediately:
MSBLAST.EXE poised for second attack
Sorry about this.
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 20:12:17 (UTC)
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Dawie -
I couldnt resist it!!
Onmiddelijk gesnap en heerlijk gelag over jouw grapje ...
Velen dank dat je mij Vrijdag zo opgeknapt hebt -
Goede weekend
Groetjes
Kris
Kristien E. Massie (née Mostert, formerly Van Woenssel) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 15:11:26 (UTC)
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Hoi hoi Kristien
Dan snap je mij ! Ik vind deze plan met de champignons van Amsterdam heel leuk!
Groetjes...
Dawie van der Bliksem
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 14:00:39 (UTC)
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I say Dave, what a good rave!!!
Ook Groetjes
Kris
Kristien E. Massie (née Mostert, formerly Van Woenssel) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 13:11:38 (UTC)
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Johnny,
Thanks for making me giggle. It's lovely what the young kids come up with - and we really should write it down - as we forget so quickly.
My favourite one was when my son Kai was about six. We bought some Corn Flakes - and on the package was a picture of a little plastic gnome that was "GRATIS BINNE" (Afrikaans for FREE INSIDE) Kai couldn't wait to open the box to get to this little toy - so I told him he could open it.
He dived into the box with delight and pulled out the toy triumphantly and said, "Hello Binnie!"
He never was very good at Afrikaans!
Well, I thought it was funny!
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 10:54:46 (UTC)
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I thought this was funny I hope you do. True story.
My four old son has the chicken pox and I was washing him in cool water and using Dial soap. I told him that the Dial would kill the bacteria so he said " Don't forget the fronteria too".
--------------------
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 09:32:09 (UTC)
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Heather,
We also have mushrooms here in Amsterdam. I could get some of the varieties they sell in the coffeeshops and post them off to you for sampling at the Livingstone Lark.
The Grey Area coffeeshop is just around the corner here on the Singel.
Let me know.
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 08:05:01 (UTC)
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Larry Ouzman, Eddie McKenna, Mike Fancourt, Jacques Knotter
Best Wishes on your Birthday
MUSHROOMS
I have just had a gentleman come in and see me, who tells me that they are now cultivating our indigenous mushrooms and have them available for sale. I shall see him next week to do an article and also to order some.
So it looks like we might have mushrooms at the Livingstone Lark which incidentally is now up to 29 people confirmed. There is still time if you are thinking about it and I did manage to make a booking for someone yesterday on the Nationwide flight from Johannesburg.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 07:41:29 (UTC)
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Dawie,
I managed to locate and remove that blasted worm without calling in a technical person - a nice lady from microsoft ran it by, stage-by-stage over the phone and I am now de-bugged. If only I could get into the page to install the patch!
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 06:41:02 (UTC)
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So this is what the GNR got up to in the past few days, fly fishing and Worms among other things.
We put 2600 miles on the clock, made friends, saw family, trod ancient lava fields, volcanos and petrified forests and other beautiful natural places and lost ourselves in the lore and thinking of the Navajo, Ute and Hopi nations. Rich, diverse and beautiful like the tribes of Africa. Seminars and post grad courses in many aspects of living Indian culture are on the rise. There are (to me) amazing dialogues going on like the one held annually since 1991 where quantum physicists, linguists, educators and Native American scholars like Leroy Little Bear, ex-director of Native Studies at Harvard, come together to discuss their perspectives on universal principles. Anyway, huge subject begging huge questions and not germane so enough of that.
Aaaaanywayyyyy......
At the end of last month I had asked the question: "Can anyone come up with the names of Brian Geyser's bands in N.R./Zambia in order from first to last. Ian Beckford emailed me the answer (which is available in an old "Lusaka News" article on line). The groups were:
1. The Jeanagers
2. The Rebels
3. The Aces
4. The Kingpins
5. The Crusaders
6. Instant Karma
In the same article Brian himself relates "The Rebels" were "axed by the NRP as there was a riot at the Scout Hall one night, and they said that our music was a bad influence on the teenage population."
Makes pretty funny reading today.
Tina Magee (née Wallace) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Texas, United States
Friday, August 15, 2003 at 02:51:13 (UTC)
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Hartley,
Good link to Microsoft on the Mblast worm. It nicely summarises much of what has been said here and what people need to do.
Ian,
When you contact David, ask him why he hasn't joined the GNR. We really hate to be ignored. :)
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Thursday, August 14, 2003 at 18:52:00 (UTC)
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Lynda Foster
Hi Linda
If you send a message to me via the contact button below I will forward it to David Boote.
Regards Ian
Ian Singer [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Thursday, August 14, 2003 at 13:55:42 (UTC)
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MSBLAST
Here is Microsoft's word on the subject http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
Hartley Heaton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Binfield, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Thursday, August 14, 2003 at 09:31:13 (UTC)
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Heather
Let me add my thanks for the pictures of the Kafue River. When I was a kid growing up at Mukinge Hill, not far from the north gate of the park, every long holiday back from boarding school our family would go on a trip to Kafue Game Park, where my dad taught me the intricacies of fishing for bream, patiently spending a great deal of his time untangling my line! The pictures brought those days of heaven back to me. I can almost smell that unmistakable mud bank smell, and feel the thrill of a tug on the line. Love all your photo postings and look forward to the day when you get up to Kalene Hill and Sakeji.
Doug Gifford [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada
Thursday, August 14, 2003 at 02:27:29 (UTC)
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Hi everyone,
I'm a new member although I have been reading the message board for a long time and enjoyed the trips down memory lane.
I am trying to contact David Boote whose father used to work for the International Red Locust Control Service in Abercorn in the 40's and 50's. Does anybody happen to know Dave's e-mail address.
Many thanks,
Lynda Foster
Lynda Foster (née Ablett) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Antigua, West Indies, Antigua
Thursday, August 14, 2003 at 01:07:27 (UTC)
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Heather,
Thanks for that booking. I emailed George Absolom and never heard back - I will phone him tomorrow and let you know what's happening. Alex and Eilleen are definitely a no-show - they've just bought a larney house.
Bugs - Janey Aplin is going to the lark!
Hopefully I'll be back on email tomorrow - I am gonna Blast that Blaster right outa here!
Linda - hope you're okay - will write my daily missive as soon as I am clean.
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 21:20:28 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
This will be my last word on MSBLAST.EXE...
I would not be so paranoid about this worm and OS defect. It appears not to have done any damage to my system, including the deletion of important files. Read what the BBC says about it.
It was relatively simple to fix without even downloading any script fix. It was just a matter of disabling the process, removing the file, updating the system and installing a firewall. I consider that less hassle than an OS re-install.
Man, in the old days, (circa 1980's), we used to frequently have to do low level re-initialising and preformats on dedicated systems, CP-M and UNIX systems. Those were the days BEFORE DOS, let alone Windows.
Relax. There have been worse Trojan Horses, worms, viruses and other invasive attackers since their appearance some years ago.
PS: My DJ studio is up and running in full working order... I pity the poor inhabitants of the Driekoningenstraat! daphunqué Amsterdam full blast this evening!
H A L L O___ A M S T E R D A M !
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 19:58:23 (UTC)
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RE: W32 Blaster Worm - (msblaster.exe) Symantec has a removal tool which has been created specifically for the removal of this worm. It can be found at http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.blaster.worm.removal.tool.html or http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/tools.list.html
You will need to download the program , which should take less than 4 minutes and then run it on your system. If your operating system is MS XP, you must disable the System Restore Option prior to running the removal tool. This can be done by right clicking (or left clicking depending on how you have your mouse programmed) on the my computer icon, selecting the System Restore tab and selecting the turn off restore button. Once you have run the program and eradicated the W32 Blaster worm from your system, be sure to turn the system restore option back on.
If the infected computer is networked, turn off all computers, and run the removal tool on each networked computer individually before they are reconnected to the network. Make sure that virus definitions are up to date on all networked computers and that the security patch is downloaded and installed from the Microsoft website prior to reconnecting them to the network and internet.
The W32 Blaster worm gave me a huge headache on Monday.
Mirana Beatty [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Canada
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 17:22:25 (UTC)
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Dave
You sound sooo happy to be back in Amsterdam. Some of your expressions really make me chuckle! Good luck with the DJ-ing and don't forget to let me know when you are going into hospital.
Jacqui Milward (née Lackenby) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
London, England
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 16:48:58 (UTC)
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I have been informed that my computer is "safe" from the worm because I am stuck with the dinosaur, Windows '95.
I know the virus was targetting a weakness in Windows 2000. But does that mean that I can't be infected? Or will the worm just have to find a less direct way in?
I never open mail if I don't know it's source because my computer belongs to my place of employment, so I'm very careful of what I do on it - I wouldn't want them to launch an investigation.
I've heard that it doesn't need email to get in. I already know of two computers in my office that have become infected yet mine remains totally unchanged. Mine is too antiquated to be part of the network. Does that make mine safe? Do we know how the virus is passed? I don't regularly interact with the other computers in my office so I don't feel like I'm at any immediate risk of infection.
Does the age of my system make me an unlikely target?
The affected computers in my office are both Windows 2000 NT 4.0 - Professional Series. They haven't been able to get on the internet since Monday so they are depending on me but I don't want to risk catching something and shutting off out internet access entirely.
I am limiting my internet travels to only the sites I have to use in my daily work and those others that I either trust or know to be relatively secure.
Does anyone have any knowledge of the extent or this virus or the systems it prefers to target? Are older versions of Windows safe? Is the worm just going to find another way in? Help!!!
Anxious in Amish Country,
Timothy Brubaker [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 15:51:51 (UTC)
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Linda et al,
So far ZoneAlarm has blocked 15 high-risk attempts since this morning when I went off to the Rijnstraat on the other side of Amsterdam to get DJ supplies.
I have had no problems with accessing the sites that I access the most frequently.
My use of the computer is rather different from most people. I work a lot in AutoCAD, MAX and VIZ (locally installed applications). I use the Internet to read the BBC, De Volkskrant, The Manchester Guardian, Le Monde, The Sydney Morning Herald, the South African Independent Online, the Great North Road, and a few obscure rarely used sites. I never use things like Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail, or other popular sites. I use Horde as my mailer.
So far, everyone is working satisfactorily.
I should also add that everyone who has offered advice seems to have a slightly differing opinion.
But it just goes to show... my favourite film of all time is Fellini's SATYRICON. I doubt there is ONE person on the GNR (for example) who would agree with me about that.
If ZoneAlarm is a problem, there is a process on Windows computers called Add/Remove programmes. I am sure it still works.
Thanks for everyone's input.
Good luck in dealing with this problem. My next step is to do the Windows patch and to secure a hardware firewall. But number one priority right now is get my DJ console speakers running... this should be done by this afternoon, then I can begin my DJ-ing again, instead of tapping away at this stupid computer.
By the way, I do not have my computer buggering with my DJ studio. My CD Writer is a standalone DJ device that cost twice as much as my entire computer system! I will not torture my DJ studio with the vagaries of the Windows OS!
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 13:22:02 (UTC)
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Biltong
We have had some great gingerbeer recipes including the one where the liquid has to be filtered through a muslim (the mind boggles!) but nobody has listed the spices used or the preferred method of applying them to the raw strips of 'biltong'. Is winter the best time to make biltong in Zambia? Someone must have a super recipe for this or has it all been posted a long time ago?
On my last trip down the Garden Route two weeks back I called in at the abattoirs in Oudtshorn and bought a kilo of droe ostrich wors for R56-00 and a kilo of dry ostrich biltong for R105-00. Three adults. two dogs and a cat have pretty well flattened that lot. Also bought raw unheated honey in Knysna for R35-00 a 500 g bottle - wonder if it was Zambian? On my return we saw an ad for Canadian salmon at R20 a kilo at the local Hypermarket provided one bought the whole fish. We found a 2½ kg salmon - somewhat smaller than those posted at the beginning of the month!
Cheers
David Gray [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 13:21:56 (UTC)
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Hi this is Frankie, i am looking for a friend Jackie Mason who usied to live in Kitwe but moved back to England in 93/94, last time i heard she was in Doncaster.
Ta
Frankie
Frankie Masauso Zulu [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
London, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 13:21:06 (UTC)
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Dave:
Mike wanted me to pass on to you that you will be spending more time than you expect in managing ZoneAlarm, especially if you go outside of incoming and outgoing mail ports and incoming and outgoing web pages, secure web pages, maybe FTP because it, by default, "locks down" everything except those ports. You will have to go in and change the settings if you go outside of these basic defaults. He has even seen ZoneAlarm configured to block multiple ranges of IP addresses.
I am sure you have explored it thoroughly and are happy with what you have done. Mike was really just giving you a friendly "heads up".
Having passed that on to you, I will say that I had one, but the wheels fell off.. Ha! Ha!
Jill:
Thanks for letting us know you are off line. I was wondering why no daily mail.
Linda Hayes (née Dore) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Austin, Texas, United States
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 12:20:01 (UTC)
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Please could anyone tell me when the following fruits are in season for picking in Northern Zambia: pawpaws, oranges, lemons and limes!
Hamish Macdonald [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Bristol, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 10:42:54 (UTC)
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Dave
A bit more information on MSBLAST can be found at http://www.silicon.com/news/500013/1/5550.html
Hartley Heaton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Binfield, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 10:27:52 (UTC)
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Thanks Heather!
Dave, okay I will get someone proper in to fix it.
To all my friends out there - I can't email you until I am fixed, hope it won't be too long!
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 08:51:41 (UTC)
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Chris et al,
You can believe this or not, but I have never installed an anti-viral programme on my computer for a number of reasons. The first was because my home PC in San Francisco was actually part of the Autodesk network. Secondly, the next computer I got was an ibook running OS X (UNIX), so there was no need.
For the past year I have sailed virus-free on this machine, sort of like unsafe sex. I have been lucky so far. This MSBLAST.EXE is the first problem. But like I say I never open unknown email and I accept no attachments.
I installed ZoneAlarm last night, along with PestPatrol, and PPUpdater. When I install the anti-virus programme, and if I have conflicts, I will fix it. What you have to say is: ok, so I spent a whole day on this... was that worth 20 euros of my time, considering my hourly rate for ANYTHING is around 315 euros... so if I have to scrap it... feh.
I thought that XP had anti-virals built-in. Rick?
I am glad I am doing this all now, as I am about to install the newest version of 3dsmax, Autodesk VIZ, and AutoCAD. I plan on getting busy in the next few months with various CAD and 3d modelling projects as I will be hospitalised and incapacitated after my up-coming operations in Belgium.
Thank you to everyone for your advice.
Jill, one reason people are loathe to give you SPECIFIC advice, is because fiddling around with deletion of files and the Registry is like surgery... a slip of the wrist and the accidental deletion of the wrong file can mean the rubbishing of your Operating System (OS)---the lifeblood of your computer. That is why, if you do not understand what we are talking about or don't feel easy following what we say, that you ring up a professional and have him or her do it for you---that means pay for it. It might mean, disconnecting your computer CPU (the box) and taking it down to a shop.
Everything is looking roses on my PC this morning.
Rick, give me a ping on what anti-viral is best with ZoneAlarm. I trust your opinion and your comments.
I am clothed now, but on my way to the Koffiehuis for ontbijt, and then later to the Audio shop to get this cool new silver-based speaker wire. My woofer arrived today, so I will have major sound on my DJ system FINALLY!
Hartelijke groeten...
Dawie van der Bliksem
Amsterdam
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 08:40:11 (UTC)
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Hi Madeleine
Thanks for reminding me, the minute I saw your words I knew what I had forgotten!
Kris
Kristien E. Massie (née Mostert, formerly Van Woenssel) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 07:45:22 (UTC)
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Michael Laatz, Henry Tyrer, Ian Armstrong
Best Wishes on your Birthday
Jill
Don't worry, I'll do the bookings at Maramba.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 06:43:09 (UTC)
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Heather,
I am afraid to email you as I have got what Dave has, (Rather my computer has what Dave's has) and I don't understand all the advice - and the technical director of the household is away. Do you want me to book for Maramba or will you do it?
Flights from Joburg to Livingstone return for that weekend are all sold out on economy class, BTW.
Computer fundis,
Can I still email people without infecting them or not? I have MS XP.
Thanks - any easy-to-understand advice very welcome.
Jill
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 06:16:51 (UTC)
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Chris,
A hardware firewall is a good idea too. I'm glad I spent the few extra dollars to buy a router rather than a simple hub when I had to make the choice a couple of years back.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 03:30:28 (UTC)
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For our Founder,
Watch out for conflicts between Zonealarm and the firewall resident in your AV program. These conflicts may drive you to jump into the Singel from your zimmer (but put your clothes on first though, and pour your Genever in a plastic vessel!).
The advice from my ISP is to spend a few sheckels and buy yourself a hardware firewall, aka D-Link. Apparently this is the finest firewall protection available today, and for not much money.
Gezondheit in die Rondheit
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 03:18:51 (UTC)
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Craig et al,
Can't sleep. Too hot in Amsterdam. Tossing and turning. So I sit by the window kaalgat smoking ciggies and drinking nipping Genever and watching this beautiful lolling city over the cool Singel canal... quiet and peaceful early morning is my favourite time. Listening to fantastic Dutch group: Doe Maar (sort of like a bit like New Order mixed with U-B40 and Selector. Very cool)...
I took Rick's advice and downloaded ZoneAlarm, PPUpdater and PestPatrol. Only a 20 euros or so, and easy as pie to install and understand. Very slick stuff for such a bargain.
Rick, thanks again!
I reckon I just need the patch now. Waiting for those sleepy Brits to get up and answer my emails... but they have to get to beddy bies being such goody goodies. (Should I wander down to the Red Light and cop a bit of dope or what? Hmmm... means putting on clothes... mebbe not, just stick to the Genever).
Groetjes...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Amsterdam
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 02:22:18 (UTC)
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Nasties
For what it's worth, I will second what Rick has just said, especially about firewalls, and third Dave's advice.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 01:25:23 (UTC)
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Rick!
Thank you so much for the explanation! I was hoping someone work finally perk up and offer some more advice than what I could scrounge around.
I will email you privately as well, but just to share and tweak the tits a bit... I assume since I did the MS-03-026 Security Update (all of the 36.9 megabytes worth of them) from the Microsoft site), that that does not mean I did the patch as well, right?
The patch is separate, right?
I did not do the patch, then. And I should do it.
Thanks for the freeware firewall link, although about freeware software, I should advise the readership of this message board that a lot of software can be had free, and I have found most of my free software at Download.com. There you can see what is popular by the amount of downloads.
I was about to install firewall, but I was uncertain about which package to get for a standalone workstation not networked. You advice is appreciated.
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 01:22:34 (UTC)
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Regarding the msblast worm.
There is a gaping hole in unpatched installations of Windows NT, 2000, XP and 2003 that the worm exploits.
The worm exploits this security hole to infect vulnerable machines, which it then uses to look for other vulnerable machines so it can affect them too.
This worm can infect your machine if you are online, and are not using firewall software.
I look after the network at work and the firewall logs show a six-fold increase in attacks on our system, all of them from machines infected with msblast.
(In a couple of hours at home there have been 25 attacks so far.)
If your machine is infected, follow the advice given by Dave Cooper a bit further down the page.
My suggestions are similar:
Use the task manager to kill msblast.exe.
Find and Remove it from c:\Windows\system32
Use regedit to find and remove the msblast reference from the registry.
Then either
Go to this page on the Microsoft site:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-026.asp
and read, download and apply the patch.
or
Go to windows update at Microsoft and install the latest security updates.
Finally, get yourself a firewall program.
A free, but very good one is called ZoneAlarm, available to download from www.zonelabs.com.
Another good one is Norton Personal Firewall, but you pay for that.
Seriously, anyone who connects to the Net and doesn't use a firewall is either a hopeless optimist, insane or both.
Although an Anti Virus program will not stop you getting infected, an up to date one should pick up any infection, so keep them updated as well.
Anyone who wants further information / help - mail me.
Rick
Rick Rosewarne [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Edinburgh, Scotland
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 00:25:54 (UTC)
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Barry et al,
Yes, I know it is affecting XP, the Pro version which I use. And I did check out Symantec's site... although only after figuring out the procedure with a little web searching and a few phone calls to software colleagues I know.
Please note the name of the file is not "blaster" but MSBLAST.EXE, as I mention in my previous post hereunder.
It is actually easy to eradicate first infection. I am hoping the Windows Update included the patch they talk about as being the way to protect yourself from reinfection.
I can imagine the problem of trying to disable it before your 60 seconds or so is up might be a problem for many people, especially with cluttered desktops, or for people who do not know how to quickly bring focus to the Task Manager (on XP, that would be as CTRL+ALT+DEL, but on other OS's that might cause an immediate reboot!!).
Being that I can type 90 wpm without looking at the keyboard (I was a technical writer for 17 years!), keep a clear desktop, and do not use redundant GUIs like AOL, I can access the Task Manager in time to disable MSBLAST.EXE.
The lesson is to know your system a little. Know what the Task Manager is. Know what the Control Panel is. Know how to call up a DOS window if you need one. The machine is more than a fancy typewriter. Also, I use the keyboard more than the mouse, and find that it is faster than the mouse actions.
Good luck everyone---but this problem is expected to peak by tomorrow.
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 21:34:24 (UTC)
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Well goodness knows what's happening with this worm. My computer seems to have gone mad. I can hardly reach any websites and I can't find anything called blaster.exe in it. I have downloaded a patch from symantec and done all sorts of things, but it's still not good. I think all that remains is for me to reformat my hard disk. See you next year sob sob
Fiona Gayther (née Ferguson) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 21:08:53 (UTC)
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I would add that I bear no responsiblity for any action that the Washington Post article recommends, its at your own risk.
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 20:33:34 (UTC)
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Dave and others,
Check today's Washington Post website www.washingtonpost.com for a description of the internet worm and how to deal with it. Apparently it infects computers without using email.
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 20:27:07 (UTC)
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In the British Navy the sailors have the name of their ships on their hats written in English letters. Strangely enough the French Navy also have the names of their ships written on their hats in English letters. Why? They couldn't very well have French letters on their hats!
Anon
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 20:07:18 (UTC)
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Neil et al
I open no email AT ALL unless I personally know from whom it is coming.
I believe it to be somewhat difficult to detect with at least a virus checker, as other software-involved people I know who have experienced MSBLAST.EXE say their virus screens did not detect it.
I am also suspicious about the advice I received from the experts at the local PC shopped who built my computer for me. I required a high-end graphics-capable machine with a lot of memory, disk space, and speed. They told me it was a failing of the XP OS. They said the Windows Update would fix the problem. It did not. Although I am happy about the update, I still had to manually remove the EXE from both the Task Manager and the Registry, as well as reboot.
I do not know where MSBLAST.EXE came from. Perhaps you or someone else can elucidate?
I remain ignorant about the source of MSBLAST.EXE. A search of the Internet for "msblast.exe" came up with no hits.
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 19:26:37 (UTC)
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Dave,
How were you infected by msblast.exe to begin with? was the worm part of an e-mail attachment that you opened, or is it more sinister than that??
neil.
Neil Smith [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sheffield, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 19:17:57 (UTC)
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Our Beloved Founder, showering accolades on the greatest paradise in the universe.
One wonders why he doesn't pack up and go and live there?
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 19:07:38 (UTC)
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Heather, et al
Thank you so very much for what is without a doubt, the most beautiful book on Africa that I have ever seen in all of my 917 years of life on this third-rate planet stuck in a cul-de-sac of a run of the mill galaxy!
The Bush and Eye by François d'Elbée is a triumph, a glory, and a reminder of what a beautiful, hard, dangerous, powerful, and dazzling place Zambia is today, and what Northern Rhodesia was yesterday!
M. d'Elbée's work is extraordinary. His clarity is almost psychedelic in brilliant crystalline sharpness and colour! I would be surprised if his work goes unnoticed in the world of photography.
I will email him my congratulations.
I am overawed and gobsmacked, and of course, very happy and appreciative that I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this treasure. It is the best thing I have from Zambia, besides my memories and the fact that I was born in Africa.
François d'Elbée should be given a Zambian award for recognition of his work which portrays the Nation in a beauty that cannot be equalled by any other nation on the planet!
What a beautiful country it is. What a paradise it has always and still is!
I am humbled to have had the pleasure to have lived in such a place. Thanks François d'Elbée for reminding me!
Thank you.
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 18:24:40 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
Regarding the problems with MSBLAST.EXE...
REGARD THIS AS INFORMATIONAL ONLY... I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ACTION YOU TAKE BY YOURSELF!
DO NOT ATTEMPT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WORKING AT THE OPERATING SYSTEM LEVEL OF YOUR COMPUTER.
The following is what I did to remove the MSBLAST.EXE from my system.
I followed the instructions to do the Windows Update, but that did not remove the MSBLAST.EXE from my system. Still, I am happy I did the Update.
I then removed MSBLAST.EXE from my system by: 1) removing the MSBLAST.EXE from the Task Manager and from where it resides in the C:/Windows/System32 directory, then 2) using the Registry (REGEDIT.EXE), removing the "windows auto update" entry from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Run directory.
Consult a computer professional if you are having problems due to MSBLAST.EXE.
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 17:02:08 (UTC)
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Marilyn Noall
Don't worry - in my freezer is the winning fish from last year's fishing competition and I have already emailed a photo of it over to Arthur who is busy putting it onto a photograph of himself. In fact, it is probably ready for posting now, but we will hang on until after he has been fishing.
And don't worry about photos of the lark - there will be a number of digital cameras around and there is also a very good internet cafe in Livingstone so we will be able to post some of the photos the very next morning. Craig has offered to stay up all night so that he is there as their doors open.
Brian Geyser
As you know things here move very slowly and I move at the same pace. But today I had my camera in the car and was passing St Ignatius.
Chandru Krishna
Here is a photo of the Great East Road fairly close to Northend Roundabout.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 14:04:51 (UTC)
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Hi Kristien
FL was the short form for "French Letter", this apparently was used as French Men were supposed to be such wonderful lovers to allllll.
Madeleine
Madeleine Luckin (née Bekker) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 13:52:56 (UTC)
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I too remember the ice creams at Longacres - the name Dairy Den seems to ring a bell. Talking about ice cream, does anyone remember Moggy's Milk Bar in Cairo Road? It was owned/run by Moggy Mendleson (sp?) in the 50s/60s.
I was also in a production of Cinderella but in the early 60s. It was one of the annual Pantomines put on by the Norma Richards dance school. After our dance lessons we used to either go across the road to Moggy's, or down the road toThe Rendevous to buy a coke and a chocolate bar for the total cost of one shilling!
Cynthia Halvey [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 11:45:35 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S !
This is important... it is about a Windows XP problem which has been identified as a virus or worm by some, but by the manufacturers of my PC here in Nederland, is identified as a problem with the XP OS.
I am attempting to fix it with the Windows Updates. Go to your Windows Update menu item on your browser and follow instructions, if you want to do that. That is what I am doing.
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 11:03:13 (UTC)
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I managed to dig out this ginger beer recipe last night but as I said I have not tried it so have no idea how successful it is.
Ginger Beer
To make the ginger beer plant:
½ oz general purpose dried yeast
½ pint water
Sugar
Ground ginger
Juice of 2 lemons
Put yeast into a jar, add water, 2 level teaspoons sugar and 2 level teaspoons ginger and mix together. Cover jar with a sheet of polythene kept in place with a rubber band. Each day for 7 days add 1 level teaspoon ginger. Now strain the mixture through a piece of fine muslin and add the lemon juice to the liquid. The ginger beer may now be made, either as a sweet, still drink or dry and sparkling. IT IS IMPORTANT HOWEVER TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY SO THAT THERE IS NO RISK OF BURSTING BOTTLES AND FLYING GLASS.
Sweet Still Ginger Beer
Prepared ginger plant
1 lb sugar
1 pint of boiling water
Put all ingredients in a saucepan. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil and simmer for five minutes to ensure yeast is killed. Make up to one gallon with cold water. Bottle the ginger beer, cork tightly. Keep for a few days before drinking.
Dry Sparkling Ginger Beer
Prepared ginger beer plant
2 oz sugar
Water
Add sugar to ginger beer plant and make up to one gallon with cold water, stirring to dissolve sugar. Bottle into screw stoppered cider, beer or pop bottles. Screw in stoppers tightly and keep for seven to ten days when ginger beer is sparkling and ready for drinking.
NOTE: Keep the sediment you have left after straining the ginger beer plant. Divide it into 2 jars and give 1 plant away to a friend. To the sediment add ½ pint water, 2 level teaspoons sugar, 2 level teaspoons ginger and carry on as before.
Hope somebody is brave enough to attempt the above - would love to know the end result.
Betty Mahady (née Horn) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 10:55:22 (UTC)
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Just to let you know, I e-mailed Ken Millar and had a reply to say he is currently in Scotland but is going back to Canada on 22nd August and will post on the message board then.
Is there anyone else we are missing?
Bridget Billany [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 10:29:40 (UTC)
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Good one Arthur. I laughed out loud and then I see you like a firefly scaring the wotsits out of the spotters!
Heather, thanks - I'll take a look.
Philip - We used to call them FL's and I cant remember why either.
Kris
Kristien E. Massie (née Mostert, formerly Van Woenssel) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 10:28:29 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
I was infected with the MSBLAST.EXE virus/worm yesterday, as were many others around the world.
You get a NT Authority/System and/or Generic Host error. You computer logs out continually.
Search the web or go to Microsoft for instructions on how to clear this out. Search for Generic Host error.
Good luck.
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 10:16:22 (UTC)
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Jill Aplin,
How about this version of Cape to Cairo?
Tour d'Afrique
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 09:22:31 (UTC)
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Reading Philip's hilarious posting about the "flicks" reminded me that we haven't heard from Ken Millar in a while - I always loved his postings. We haven't really heard from him since the very sad passing of his wife. Does anyone know how he is and what he's doing?
Bridget Billany [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 08:28:52 (UTC)
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Philip,
Once again I chuckled through my lunch break, reading your latest 'flashback.' I loved the Saturday bioscope too but my mum would only let me go with certain friends or my brothers and cousins and they were not as easily bribed as your brother. Mum used to look at the pictures outside the Astra and decide whether or not to let me go in. Thanks goodness for Dave Kline who usually managed to talk her around! There was one serial I remember vividly. This particular episode ended with the heroine tied to the railway line with the train fast approaching. I can still hear her screams. Needless to say I was up with nightmares and that capped my visits to the Astra for a while.
I remember going to the early morning markets with my mum every Saturday. One Saturday we saw a crowd of people at the Astra and there was a young guy tied to a pole, looking really awful. I can't remember exactly what he was wearing, if anything. My mum laughed her head off and tried to get him to drink some water but he was too sick. Turns out he had his bachelor 'do' the previous evening and his mates really stiched him up. I can't remember who he was? I think Biily Keogh ended up in a similar situation or am I confused? Does anyone remember?
Arthur,
You had better catch the biggest fish ever or you'll never hear the end of it on this site. Remember, Heather has to live on there after you and Craig depart! I'm only envious and look forward to all the photographic evidence.
Heather,
Have you got lots of film to document the 'Lark?'
Marilyn
Marilyn Noall (née Shooter) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 08:05:14 (UTC)
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Lorna Louw, Margaret Howard, Ellis Sher
Best Wishes on your Birthday
Kristien
I think I shall shortly have some chitenges available here
Bob Gillies
You might remember Radie Stucki from Lusaka. He has just taken printouts of about 60 of my sunset photos which he is going to have a go at painting and which he will give to me for selling. I shall see if I can persuade him to do some of the Kafue as well.
Arthur
We'll tie the ox heart onto the roof of the car with some maleggin, thereby ensuring it is nicely rotten by the time we get there. I'll have plenty of maleggin with me - as I told you I have another job for it.
And I already have the pegs in my car - I use them or bulldog clips to keep the seatbelt pulled out to its full length because as you know seatbelts annoy me intensely.
Putsi flies? No, not in October - the chitenge's dry out too quickly.
Meg
You'll be pleased to know we still use homemade floats - bits of flip flop cut to size. That is why Craig is bringing his flip flops with him - for Arthur to use as floats.
Sadly Zambelina lollies are no longer made, but Jolly Juice and Vaseline are still big sellers. At Longacres there is now a mediocre take away and a gas station.
Helen Chileshe
The Malawi shandy question has posed quite a problem for me - we just order them and never have to think about what goes into them. But I phoned Kevin Shone and he confirmed what I thought - bitters, ginger ale and soda water - equal quantities of ginger and soda and as much bitters as you like
Was the pink hotel on the Zimbabwean side? If so, it would have been Caribbea Bay. I don't think we have any pink hotels on this side.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 07:55:15 (UTC)
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Hi Ali
Shouldn't you come clean and admit that it is an ordinary size trout by nz standards?
Amanda
Amanda McIntosh (née Wiggins) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Auckland, New Zealand
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 05:29:15 (UTC)
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With all this talk of drinks, does anyone have the recipe for a Malawi shandy? I know it includes bitters, ginger ale and think it included lemonade, but cannot remember the other ingredients or the quantities of each ingredient.
A friend used to drink these all the time when we were together in Ndola, and I haven't had one since. I first had one in Kariba, at a large pink hotel that I can't remember the name of now.
cheers, Helen
Helen Chileshe (née Derham) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
New Zealand
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 03:03:28 (UTC)
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Meg,
I remember the name Jolly Juice, but have forgotten what it tasted like, I do remember the icecream cones at Longacres and they were delicious, we went there many times. Also when the KFC opened we went there in our VW Beetle, but for some reason the chicken had absorbed the flavor of the cardboard box it was packed in and made me nauseous.
Dave, I think the astronaut organization was the PanAfrica Space Agency with usual battles between good and evil. Base behind the falls? I remember something vaguely along those lines.
Arthur, I read those other comics too and enjoyed many an hour with them.
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 01:51:07 (UTC)
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Arthur,
I think that you and I need to head to County Leitrim, catch a few fish, down a few Guinnesses, and sing "Danny Boy" (not necessarily in that order) as practice for Zambia. :)
As for poor Pain, you correctly guessed that my sadistic side is showing and I am leaving him to twist in the wind a little. Sorry Philip.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 00:44:21 (UTC)
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Betty.... Thank you, I shall wait in anticipation for your recipe..... yes what we did with those bottles was pretty dangerous, and had we got caught red handed we would have had red bottoms as well.....Dawie.... Thanks for your recipe too...I look forward to making some ....!!!
Artie........I always new I was a bright spark !! ......the weight of the Trout..well after 5-6 hours of waiting for a bite, ones imagination could be a little out of kelter...but hey as a true fisher person ....we are never wrong are we !!!, That trout was caught in Lake Taupo in NZ..in the same waters as the Late Queen Mother once fished.....!!....
Ali....aka the "rainbow worrior "
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 00:40:10 (UTC)
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JULIANA, back to Cinderella, (my mom couldnt get the dog makeup off my pillows) we also sang a ridiculous song which I have taught my sons, (aged 8, 5, and nearly 3 they appreciate it),, A Great big bear, got all dressed up, but pants he could not find, he was all embarassed I declare, until he met a little bear, then the great big bear walked down the road with a little bear behind. The whole production was a complete shambles, the kids ran riot, and hopefully the audience were all on day release from Chinama Hills mental hospital so they dont have flashbacks, I still do otherwize would not have remembered that song!
ARTHUR, of course you wouldnt look me up just for fishing, when we have a salmon river at the end of our field, and great sea angling in Donegal bay, we even catch shark in September, in fact my other half went out in the bay for an hour this afternoon, and caught 20lbs of mackerel . We had a braai, but after about 7 mackerel each accompanied by chargrilled gem squash and mielies from my polytunnel, I am feeling the teeniest bit queasy. Luckily Shane is a Chef so mackerel is on the menu tomorrow. We also have great lakes for brown trout, and more conveniently, lots of friends with boats! Look up Sligo/South Donegal on the net for fishing, its relatively undiscovered and very beautiful, (but not ever in the same league as Zambia, or the wonderful Kafue where I caught my first fish, aged 7 with a bamboo rod and a homemade float!)
MEMORY LANE does anyone remember Zambelina icelollies which actually did taste like pineapple, and something purple called Jolly Juice which tasted like fly spray? How about, Vaseline, Blue petroleum Jelleeeee! Vaseleeeeeen. Also the best cones in the world were sold at Longacres in the 60's, early 70.s, then I think the icecream shop became a KFC, which was also a treat, what is there now?
Meg Rybicki (formerly Margaret) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Mullanyduff, Co Leitrim, Ireland
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 00:30:08 (UTC)
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Hi Artie....
I know it isn't like Peters giant fish, but it is a 5lb Rainbow trout....and caught by me, by fly fishing !!!.
I was the only one to catch anything that day.....it took about 5-6 hours to catch it....it was smoked and eaten the next day.....yummmmm
Ali
Ali
Thanks for the photo!
I am always impressed when a woman catches a fish. But I think you must be using the same set of scales Jilly Aplin uses, I see the fish is wet so that is one reason it maybe weighed so much. Or it's because you are in reality upside down and everything weighs more down-under where things must tend to want to drop off the bottom of the world - a sort of extra gravitational pull.
A trout that size over here in the UK would only weigh around a pound at most, perhaps yours had eaten something heavy, like plutonium for instance, to give it so much power that it was able to fight for five hours and weighed in at a staggering five pounds for a ten inch rainbow. Did you glow a little after eating it? Some trout, never mind the tigerfish in Zambia I'm booking a fishing trip in OZ.
I can sort of half believe you though, Craig's only fish was about that long, I don't think he told me how much it weighed, hey - maybe over 10 kilos on the Canadian scale!
But somehow Ali I think you are fishing for a big vundu here...
Philip
Good posting on the bioscopes, pity about the HTML. We used to fix things like this but have since become more lazy and sadistic and like leave things as they are for all to see. Score - Content: 90% Presentation : minus 20 points. Headmasters office please and bring your draft presentation for the Perth Python Party along for examination.
I loved the serials too especially Copperhead - you just HAD to go the next week to find out what happened next.
Kris
Never mind King Arthur - I'll be more like ET in a chitenge, I have taped a torch to the end of my finger and point at the Zambian map all the time and continually repeat, home... home...
Dave
Good to see you made it back home.
The Gemmerbier and Ginger Beer recipes look easy, I'm going to have a go at making some of this stuff myself.
Stand by..
Meg Rybicki
If you send me a copy of the magazine I will get some of it up on the GNR message board, that way a lot more people will be able to see and read it.
I hope to visit Ireland next year, I'll put you on my list of places to visit if I'm in your area, not for the fishing of course.
Heather
Craig will be carrying the ox heart on his lap, pack a peg for his nose.
Thanks for the photos of the Kafue and the Nkwazi. It won't be long now before I can see them myself for real again.
And Heather - these damp chitenge things - are they not an ideal home for those bot fly things? You know the maggoty aliens that burrow under your skin and eat you alive? I think I will sweat in the heat instead.
David Swann
Nice effect on the Canada Hill webpage where the image pans across from side to side. When I get to Zambia I intend to get lots of panoramic shots, then maybe try the same effect here on the GNR.
Don't remember the Orbit comic they're probably after my time, but plenty of others spring to mind, the Eagle and Tarzan comics were among my favourites. Others were the Hotspur, Beano, Roy of the Rovers and Dandy comics. Best were the Annuals you got at Christmas if you were really lucky.
And then there were boring ones like Spiderman, Batman, Superman and others, the heroes wearing tight underpants over women's tights.
My Mum used to get monthly batches of the Daily Mirror that came bound together, now these were a good read, every front page seemed to be about some grisly murder or other, together with lurid descriptions of how the murders were perpetrated and bodies being dissolved in acid or found cut up and stored in oil drums etc. Fascinating. I also used to like reading the comic strips in these including Garth (like an early sci-fi hero) and Andy Capp.
I'll get round to posting the queued images from the GNR members sometime this weekend.
Arthur
Arthur Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Stockport, United Kingdom
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 22:47:33 (UTC)
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More growing up in Nkana/Kitwe
C
Saturday afternoon was the time for Flicks', and one had to decide on one of the two cinemas, the Astra or the Rhokana. This depended on which was showing the best movie. You would decide where you were going to go to by looking at the photos in the glass cabinets in the foyer, and letting your imagination run away. The other deciding factor was of course which serial you were following. Some of which I can still remember, Roy Rodgers Superman, with "Up up and away", Tazan and my favourite, which I think was called "Copperhead". He was the guy with the dustbin shaped helmet, a jet pack on his back and with stove knobs on his chest, to control his flight! (I think this serial had some influence on some of my early experiments)! If you remember these serials, they used to get you right on the edge of your seat and then suddenly end.(The dynamite fuse burning with the hero trapped.) The following week at the start of the serial, they would announce "last week on Superman", and then show you the end bit again before showing you the new week's episode. This was great as you got to see the exciting bit twice.
Now as you will remember all the youngsters occupied the first few rows closest to the screen. And as you got older and got "hitched", you moved back so that you could hold hands after the lights went out. (Don't try putting your arm around your girlfriends shoulder or some usher would shine his torch on you and embarrass you). And Eventually when you got to be one of the guys you would sit in the last row of seats, so you could "smooch", without anyone being behind you to see. The big guys were all friends with the ushers and never had a torch shone on them (I think that the ushers were scared of getting beaten up!).
On this particular Saturday afternoon after flick,( I think the movie was "Davie Crocket and the River Pirates" ) a bunch of us boys went over to the Rhokana Mine Club for colddrinks and ice cream. There was no soft serve at the club, only scooped ice cream that sometimes crunched with ice crystals if you tried to bite it. The way to eat the ice cream was to bite a hole in the bottom of the cone and suck the contents out through the hole, and by the time you were finished the cone would be a soggy mess.
My favourite trick was when my brother, Arnold, was at the club with all his friends (his was six years older than me), I would go and hang around him until he would bribe me to push off. It was fantastic when I think back, that my brother nor any of his friends never used foul language in front of me, I was told to push off, get lost or go play. (Sometimes in town, I am glad that I grew up where and when I did. For when I hear the language that grown ups use infront of kids and worse still the language, which goes unchecked, that kids of today use infront of grown ups). Sorry back to the story.
After the flick and the club us boys went to play in the rugby grounds. Re-enacting the movie with the usual, "I'm going to be ....., and you can be.....".
Acting the different characters in the movie which we just seen. Our favourite place for all this action was on the grandstand, on the west side of the rugby field, climbing all over the place, with sticks for swords, dustbin lids for shields etc.
On this particular Saturday afternoon our battle took us around the back of the grandstand to the stairs which led up to the commentary box, which was situated on the roof covering the stands. Us as kids had been up there many times before, but the entrance door had always been locked. Well on this day someone had broken the lock and the door was open. What an invitation! All of a sudden the battles were forgotten due to this change of events. We all crowded into the commentary box and started to explore, when suddenly someone shouted "check this", (or words to that effect) and there in a corner was a F.E. (condom). Why we kids called it a F.E. I don't know.
Up until that time I don't think any one of us boys there had ever seen one before, but somehow we knew what it was. With this discovery, all the speculation started, "Who do you think used it?" How do you know it was used?, maybe we can hide away and watch for the next time when whoever it was comes back. No!, maybe it is a big guy and he will "donner" us if he finds us. This carried on for quite some time until it was getting late and we had to leave. Before leaving, we all made a pact that this was our secret, and you could only tell your best friend.
At school on Monday,( Fedrick Knapp), there was an air of conspiricy amongst the boys. Quite a few of the boys now knew of our secret, with themselves having been sworn into secrecy. The girls at school started to get the feeling that something was up and started to pester the boys, to find out what we were up to. But like good gang members, as far as I know, not one of the boys split on our secret.
It was arranged at break that after school we would all meet at the club rugby grounds, for the other guys to see this "thing". In the afternoon there was quite a large crowd gathered and we all sneaked up the stairs only to find that the lock had been replaced and we could not get inside. This was a great dissappointment to those who were not witnesses there on Saturday, but made the other guys and myself well talked about Hero's for about a week, leaving the others with only their imagination of what we saw.
I should think that whoever left their evidence behind there at that time must be pushing towards 70 now. Lets have a confession, before it's too late. This mystery has been bugging me for nearly fifty years now and I need closure.
Cheers
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 19:30:45 (UTC)
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Bundu Chewing Gum
Yes - the Mabungu Fruit.
Take a green Mabungu, cut in half & hollow out one side until you have a cup.
Pick a number of green Mabungus & collect the white sap that issues from the stems to half fill your cup.
Pick another green Mabungu & lightly slice the skin of the fruit.
Allow a few drops of the clear liquid from the skin cuts to drip into the white liquid & agitate the mix with a twig rolled between the palms of your hands.
Within seconds the mix will begin to coagulate into a ball of gum on the end of the twig.
Add sugar to the gum & before you can say "Bazooka" you will be enjoying the best Bundu bubble gum!
Don't get it in your hair - your Mother will kill you!
Regards
Bill
Bill Hunt [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Widenham, Natal, South Africa
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 18:38:12 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
GEMMERBIER
uit: BOEREKOS, Tradisionele Suid-afrikaanse Resepte - Dine van Zyl
10 l water
1 kg suiker
3 t jamaika-gemmer
50 g kremetart
1 k suurlemoensap (opsioneel)
1 koekie suurdeeg of 1 t droë gis
Koek die water en voeg die suiker, die gemmer, kremetart en die suurlemoensap by. Laat staan om af te koel tot dit handtemperatuur is.
Krummel jou koekie gis daarby en roer om te meng.
Giet dit in bottels, kurk die bottels en bind toutjies om die bottels se nekke en oor die proppe. Moenie die proppe instamp nie, want as daardie gemmerbier van jou begin gis en hy kan nie die prop so 'n entjie uitstoot nie, dan gaan die bottel sowaar bars. En dan's dit vir jou 'n gemors.
Na drie dae sal jy sien hoe die proppe beur teen die toutjie, dan moet jy weet jou gemmerbier is nou reg vir drink.
Mens kan ook so twee rosyntjies in elke bottel sit. Hulle sal onder op de bodem gaan lê, en so mit gisting sal hulle al hoër styg --- as hulle vet uitgeswel bo-op dryf, dan kan jy maark skink.
GINGER BEER
from: Traditional South African Cooking - Magdaleen van Wyk, Pat Barton
"Thirst-quenching ginger beer was ideal for the hot South African climate, which made it the favoured drink at Christmas-time in the 17th and 18th centuries, when the settlers had to get used to seasons that were reversed. It was also a popular drink at picnics."
4,5 litres water
30 g root ginger, crushed
500 ml white sugar
15 ml active dry yeast
Boil the water, then add the ginger and sugar. Remove from the stove and cook until lukewarm. Add the yeast and leave, covered, for 1-2 days. Strain the beer through muslim, bottle in sterlised bottles and seal. Refrigerate and serve chilled. Ginger beer will keep in the refridgerator for up to 1 week.
Makes about 4,5 litres
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 16:59:07 (UTC)
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Heather, Your pics of the Kafue were great, I fished the Kafue often, such a great river, wish I had some oil paintings of some of the stretches, they were magnificent - wonderful memories, thanks for putting them on the GNR
Bob Gillies [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Springs, Gauteng, South Africa
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 15:51:04 (UTC)
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Heather -
Oops! I had forgotten about the chitenge trick - thanks for reminding me! 'Cept I havent got one here but can easily make one from local material. Not quite the same as the authentic stuff, unless someone knows the whereabouts of a store in the UK ...
Get Arthur to wrap himself in one and bring it back - heh heh, now that would be a sight to behold! King Arthur.
My flat registered 33C yesterday and as I live on the first and second floors where no one can see in, and lodger son is on hols in Cornwall, I dared to do what all naturists do ...
Kris
Kristien E. Massie (née Mostert, formerly Van Woenssel) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 15:46:43 (UTC)
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I know the whole biltong thing is winding down but I thought I might as well add my two cents.
At boarding school in Bulowayo - Youngways Hostel - we used to start the beginning of each trimester with a good sized chunk of biltong - from various sources (usually kudu or impala), handed out by the father of one of the other boarders. By the end of the term it would almost be finished!
I think he smoked his though in a large smokehouse at Mtshabezi (spelling ?) Mission in Rhodesia. He used other meats too - it was big game country and elephants and crocs were not uncommon. In the 1970's the Rhodesian government issued licenses for hunting game that was protected later on - I think he was allowed one elephant a year (based on the size of his family perhaps). Anyway, I was only 8 or 9 so my understanding was a bit vague - as is my memory. I just remember knawing on this big chunk of dry meat several times a day and afterwards just putting it back in my dresser for later.
Where I live now, the Amish / Mennonite communities have dried beef that they chip and add to a white sauce to spoon over toast or waffles. I don't know how a big chunk of this beef would compare to biltong but it is very prevalent in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. I don't know if it is smoked or not (it probably is) but Creamed Dried Chipped Beef is a regular on Pennsylvania Dutch menus in many local eating establishments and would probably be available at farmers markets frequented by Amish or Mennonites. That might be a resource for those in the Mid-Atlantic US. I don't know about elsewhere.
Tim
Timothy Brubaker [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 15:32:55 (UTC)
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MEG RYBICKI - I'd love a copy of the program. I sooooo remember the production. One of my silliest memories is that it was the first time I got to wear hairspray and it was horrible! The dog makeup itched like blazes. If I remember correctly, that was a very large cast. How did they keep all us children in line? Can you remember when and why we sang, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon"? That was quite a bit of fun. Having parents active in Lusaka (and Kitwe) Theatre Clubs was great for us (my sisters and I). Theatre Club memories... :)
BETTY MAHADY - if and when you find that recipe for ginger beer could I get a copy? I'd love to give it a try. There's a natural food store here in Nashville that produces something quite similar (at least it's the closest I've found).
Y'all have a great day.
Juliana Fernie [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Nashville, TN, United States
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 15:27:08 (UTC)
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Ali Key
I think I may have a recipe for ginger beer at home - will check tonight. My mother used to make the most delicious ginger beer which she stored in flagon bottles but this isn't her recipe. One night my sister picked up one of the bottles and it exploded, the bottom half falling on her foot and cutting it quite badly. She had to be taken to Bancroft Hospital to have the gash stitched.
I have been tempted to make ginger beer myself but am a little wary of "exploding" bottles so have settled for the Jamaican variety that Dave Cooper mentioned, which is not bad even though it lacks the raisins.
My mother also made watermelon konfyt but I wasn't so keen on this delicacy.
Betty Mahady (née Horn) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United Kingdom
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 14:09:00 (UTC)
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Chandru, Dave,
Yes Orbit definitely existed. I can remember there being a Kalulu the rabbit series, and other stuff, but what? I can't remember.
Neil.
Neil Smith [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sheffield, United Kingdom
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 10:52:37 (UTC)
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Ting Ling
I seem to recall the slogan "Ting Ling - Velly Lefleshing Dlink!"
Cheers
David Gray [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Monday, August 11, 2003 at 07:37:05 (UTC)
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Hi Chandru,
Thanks for that. Yes , that's what I vaguely remember. I'm not sure if they had a secret base behind the Victoria Falls or whether that was the subject of one particular story line.
It wasn't a pigment of my imagination after all !!
Thanks 8)
David Swan [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 21:16:28 (UTC)
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N O R T H E R N E R S!
I made it back to Civilisation! Phew! I thought I would not make it out of the Belly of The Beast! It is so difficult to get through Los Angeles Airport---I was there for four hours going through X-ray machines and a gauntlet of security checks---you have to take your shoes off as well! Unbelievable. Never again.
How calming to arrive back at Schiphol, with its relaxed Dutch attitudes. I breathed a sigh of relief.
The Chewing Tree, I partook of along Central Street towards the Kafue River. There trees along the side of the road were all Chewing Gum Trees. Filled with blouwkops and chameleons (big ugly black males) as well.
Konfyt---sure! But you can get all these konfyts in padstals in SA and you can order them from horticultural specialty websites. My favourte is korrelkonfyt and of course the staple vykonfyt. The Iraqis, Iranians, Lebanese, Syrians, and Turks make wonderful vykonfyt. There are a lot of Iraqi shops in Amsterdam, and I am a frequent customer: marvelous nougat and I found a vykonfyt that is made from a tiny round fig. The whole fig is included in the konfyt. Scrumptious!
"Help yourself...
to Hubbly Bubbly...
the finest drink...
to keep you cool...
Stop that thirst!
With Hubbly Bubbly!
HELP YOURSELF TO A HUBBLY!"
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road
H O M E !!!!
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 19:57:00 (UTC)
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Heather,
Great pics! I see that an aspiring cartoonist lives in Kaoma.
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 18:41:33 (UTC)
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David,
I remember Orbit vaguely. If I am correct it had a series running about African astronauts in the 21st century.
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 18:11:47 (UTC)
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Hello Doron Grill,
You may be interested in this grand view from "Canada Hill" in my part of the world now. http://www.isle-of-bute.com/panoramas/canadahill.htm
This is where people used to stand to catch a last glimpse of ships leaving for Canada from Scotland many years ago.
Does anybody remember a comic / magazine called Orbit that I seem to remember reading as a child in Zambia in the mid 70's ?? I've tried a google search with no luck.
Tarra for now.
David Swan [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 15:54:09 (UTC)
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heather,
thank you for the pics. vancouver is widely known as the most beautiful place on earth. these people have obviously never been to zambia.
doron.
Doron Grill [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 12:13:56 (UTC)
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I have sent my new email to everyone in my address book.Three have been returned undelivered, obviously their addresses have changed also. These are Angelos Rossous, Roy Williams and Wilma Wall.
Craig, I also tried to update my address in the names directory but it is not possible at present. Maybe you could help whenever you have a chance?
What a pleasure to be on a ISDN line. The board downloads in seconds.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 11:28:56 (UTC)
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Heather:
What a wonderful collection of photos - the elephant (my favourite animal) in particular.
Thanks for info. regarding the Chewing Gum Tree.
June Dobson (née Jocks) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 09:44:20 (UTC)
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Arthur:
So glad you knew what I was talking about! I must look in the archives for the Chewing Gum Tree correspondence. Love the ad. for Ting Ling. Hope you are surviving the heatwave.
Ali:
You certainly had fun shaking those bottles didn't you? What a terrible waste of lovely ginger beer, but I am sure the eruptions were far more spectacular and much more fun. A dangerous game as you say, but kids just don't think of danger do they?
I remember Watermelon Konfyt, as well as Konfyt made from other fruit. As for figs/fig jam, I used to adore them until I heard on a gardening programme that some little insect laid its eggs in figs, and I have never eaten one since! I loved Koo Apricot Jam with its huge pieces of fruit too. Oh the things we remember.....
June Dobson (née Jocks) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 09:22:35 (UTC)
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NORTHERNERS
I have just returned from a quick trip to Mongu
and made a very quick stopover at Kaoma (Mankoyo)
where I also found the Lets Be Serious Cycle Mart
and then a night in the Kafue Game Park where I saw the usual baboon,
puku,
crocs,
and the croc which didn't like being disturbed and disappeared silently into the water
a small herd of elephant bulls
and a small herd of elephant cows and their young down at the river
our beloved Nkwazi
a Euphorbia tree on its anthill
a kudu
the marula tree, devoid of leaves at this time of the year
a francolin
and a stork
and of course the beauty of the Kafue River
a couple of warthog
and the inevitable tsetse fly, which by this stage was dead but not before it had bitten me. I did however take care not to squash it completely so that I could have a reasonably formed one for a photo.
BRIDGET AND KRISTIEN
You have obviously been de-Zambianised as you have forgotten the chitenge which is dipped in water and wrapped around your shoulders or used as a sheet to cool you down.
ARTHUR
I have been asking all the expert fisherman about what is the best equipment to use for catching tiger and the answers vary with each one I ask. I guess I'm going to have to supply you with a selection of rods, reels and bait.
But for vundu, your best bait is definitely ox heart and I already have a couple in my freezer waiting to be taken down to the Lower Zambezi, but you will not be keeping it in my hot car for a few days. I can handle snakes and assorted livestock but not rotten ox heart.
DAVID SWAN
I, like many others, have, on many occasions, been told 'but I thought you would be black', the most recent a few years ago on a trip to Finland when I stopped in to meet the travel agent there who had made all my hotel bookings. But the most amusing was when I travelled to Pakistan as a resource person for a meeting on overload control. But this was not because I was not black, it was because I was a woman - caused all sorts of problems for them
CHANDRU KRISHNA
The Great East Road, from Northend Roundabout in Lusaka as far as Chipata, with the exception of about 60 kilometres between Katete and Chipata has recently either been rebuilt or resurfaced. Here is the work in progress
Our main roads are now mostly in what is classified as 'good condition' with only a few sections still needing rebuilding or resurfacing. Over the last ten years, much work has been done on the district and town roads although there is still a lot that needs doing, but work in ongoing.
BILTONG
Hah!! At last something which might be classifed as 'cheap' here in Zambia - biltong at about $7 a kilo. And made from proper beef! And not in one of those drying machines either which partially cooks it.
GEMMERBIER
In our family, gemmerbier, together with the popping raisins, was always made during September and October during the wheat harvesting season and bottles of it would accompany my dad as he sat on the combine day in and day out reaping the crop.
We are now, once again, able to buy bottled ginger beer, still called Ting Ling. I thought I had a bottle in the office which I could photograph, but can't seem to find it - must have drunk it.
JUNE DOBSON
We have many chewing gum trees on our plot in Siavonga but unfortuantely I don't seem to have a photograph of one. But it still tastes disgusting.
Heather Chalcraft (née Bender) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lusaka, Zambia
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 09:20:48 (UTC)
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Who remembers watermelon Konfyt....or Konfyt made from other fruits, I remember growning up in NZ and having these wonderfuly delectable goodies.....Koek susters boerewors, rusks oh and tinned guavas, and my favourite fig jam !!!!!....etc.......and our friends turning their noses at our strange foods....
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 09:09:41 (UTC)
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Hi all.............Gingerbeer, homebrewed..Yes..what memories..ok not in Northern Rhodesia...but NZ..but the recipe of course came from Southern Africa..and we of African breeding..!!!.....my sisters and I would make bottles and bottles of the stuff... the 2-3 rasins a must...we would get old beer bottles fill them with ginger beer then stamp on the metal lids....and then store them under the house....after a few weeks we would have luscious ginger beer with that wonderful gingery bite....and ....every so often in the middle of the night we would get one or two explosions !!!!, a mandatory sign that the Ginger beer was maturing .......one year our school had a bottle drive, and we grabbed all the empty bottles we could find......we spied the bottles of gingerbeer ...at least three dozen .....we decided to open and empty these bottles as well ( a case of tunnel vision, our school would make millions with these bottles )...bringing them out into the open one or two would get shaken up....not to worry...when we opened the first one...... an almighty SWHOOOSH!!!!...what a wonderful sight...like mount Versuvius....only not hot !!!.. but gingery and wet......the next one , same result....and the next...well that started it.....next we wer'e shaking the bottles....."this is better than guy fawkes " what wonderful fun we had. laughing louder and louder as these geysers shot in the air...and of course we got soaked to the skin.... I look back and think what a dangerous game that was...one of those bottles could have exploded...but not that day !!!.....and being African ..not afraid of anything....!!!!!!!.......we continued to make ginger beer too......I would love to have the recipe to make a plant....has anyone got one.....???
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 09:00:21 (UTC)
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Ting-Ling
I found this in a Kitwe Boys' High School Magazine 1961
June
Chewing Gum Tree - another subject of previous postings on the GNR message board though I can't recall when. We had one of these trees in our garden in Central Street Nkana and I remember chewing the roundish pods which were surrounded with a skin like bark, eventually you would get a sticky gum, can't remember what it tasted like though, probably quite horrible as I don't seem to miss it.
Arthur
Arthur Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Stockport, United Kingdom
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 07:29:31 (UTC)
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What wonderful memories I have of Ting Ling Ginger Beer - delicious stuff! I also remember Hubbly Bubbly, but can't remember ever having it.
My mother, like many others, also used to make her own ginger beer in the early days, and I adored the raisins which became all swollen and juicy after some time in the liquid. I remember too, the explosions! Whether it was just the natural brewing process of the ginger beer, or some other "addition", I will never know.
Does anyone remember the "Chewing Gum Tree"? I honestly don't know whether it was in Northern or Southern Rhodesia, but this tree would produce roundish pods, the contents of which one would chew. From memory the taste wasn't too good, nor the texture as one started to chew, but the end result was wonderful and sticky, and of course, chewable for days on end. I chewed a lot of this stuff, with no ill effects (hopefully) and would love to know whether anyone else remembers it.
June Dobson (née Jocks) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 06:56:21 (UTC)
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I think the Ting-a-ling byline was "Sip it ...Drink it... Drain it".
Tony Austin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Houston, Texas, United States
Sunday, August 10, 2003 at 02:37:09 (UTC)
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Recycled Topics
I'm going to use this discussion about Ting Ling to make a point about the dynamic of this message board.
Some people say that everything has been discussed, so there's nothing to talk about anymore. (Reminds me of the patent officer, or whatever he was called, in 1899, I think, who advocated shutting down the patent office in the US because, "Everything that can be invented has been invented.") Here we have Ting Ling being discussed as if it has never been discussed here before... but it has! What's different? Perhaps Bridget missed the first discussion. Perhaps she didn't and the heat in the UK got the better of her. Perhaps there are new members since the last discussion, which I actually think was quite recent, for who this is the first time they have seen the topic.
It doesn't really matter what the reason is. The fact is, this message board lives on because of these sorts of resurrected topics.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 20:36:20 (UTC)
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Also talking about Scottish dancing - Gill Main could spin a mean Gay Gordon, as well as singing "Donald wher's ya troosrs" as her standard party piece!
Bridget Billany [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 18:28:24 (UTC)
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Didn't Ting-a-ling have a catchy advertisement as well? Can't remember now how it went. Anyone remember?
Bridget Billany [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 18:19:44 (UTC)
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Leslie et al
Not sure of the ginger nectar was called Ting a Ling or just Ting Ling which I am inclined to beleive it was. The latter would be another way of writing tingling which is the way your tongue felt.
It was distributed by Mufulira Bottlers who also produced their own brand of drink called Hubbly Bubbly, sold in dimpled bottles. Their marketing slogan was "help yourself to a Hubbly Bubbly" which I found to have a diferent meaning once I became more aware of drugs. Not that I partook I must add.
Owen Thomas [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Henley on Klip, Gauteng, South Africa
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 17:46:11 (UTC)
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Bill Knott
There was stil a contingent of skydivers at Muf in the seventies. I can remember falling down (gliding term for flying in sinking air) and the only thermal about was full of skydivers. They were going up which is contrary to their intentions. I could not get into the thermal for fear of hitting their rigging lines, though I had to exersize great restraint.
Names I recall from this time include Clive Haagman, Quintin D'elboux, Van van den Oever. Ernie Mattushek and Ron Heard often flew our tug plane and also sprayed the knuckleheads.
Owen Thomas [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Henley on Klip, Gauteng, South Africa
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 17:33:39 (UTC)
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Leslie et al,
I buy a ginger beer similar to Ting-a-ling in Amsterdam... it comes from England and is called a Jamaican ginger beer (not to be confused with a ginger ale). It is quite satisfactory, and is not brown-coloured; like I do not expect ginger beer to be, but rather, grey-coloured; as I expect ginger beer to be.
But recently in South Africa, I was reminded of my mother's "gemmerbier", which I used to presume every lad's mum in Northern Rhodesia made. She would make bottles of the stuff and put a few raisins in the bottles. When the cork popped, the gemmerbier was done. And it was always superior to anything you bought in the shops.
Later, I discovered that making gemmerbier was more prevalent in the Afrikaner population, than in the Britannic population. Although my mum has lost the art of much of our cultural cooking traits, the making of gemmerbier sadly included, I was lucky to find plenty of this wonderful homemade drink in the many padstals along the country roads of the Republic. The bottles are always similar, the colour is always grey, and their are usually always a few raisins in the corked bottles.
All you residents of South Africa, surely must partake of some "tannie's" homemade gemmerbier? If I can recommend... as you drive from Cape Town to Montagu, the first "padstal" on your left as you drive out of the pass and into Montagu has a very good gemmerbier. This padstal is a little above the normal... very nice Cape country cottage... obviously catering to the rather horticultural nature of Montagu town today.
Groetjes...
Dave Cooper
Founder of The Great North Road website
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 16:54:43 (UTC)
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Ooooh yes, I remember Ting a Ling, Bridget. Ice cold and fizzing on your tongue it was divine. Only problem was those little brown bottles never seemed to hold enough of the stuff.
Does anyone remember the Townsend's Farm (probably already been discussed years ago on an archive I haven't got to yet). Can't remember where it was but must have been close to Muf. Mrs. Townsend was my first piano teacher and also used to bring supplies of fresh eggs, fruit and veg in her morris minor estate (I think). She and her husband, Tommy, also ran a tea room on the farm and we often used to go there on Sunday afternoons or sometimes in the evening during the week. They had a small lake/large pond with ducks and a backdrop of trees and a whitewashed house with a thatched roof. My Dad loved it because it reminded him of England.
Sometimes we would go into the house after the tea room had closed. As it got dark the tilly lamps would be lit and I loved sitting curled up in a chair listening to the grown-ups chatting and the lamps hissing and the sounds and smells of the darkness and the bush outside. Driving back from the farm it would be pitch dark with only the car lights to show the way and the occasional flash of an animal's eyes or its rump disappearing into the bush. It is impossible to experience the blackness of an African night in England.
Lesley Billany [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Horsham, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 16:24:06 (UTC)
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Hi Bridget
When I started experimenting as a cool DUDE +/- 17 with Grog, my mates and I used to go to the ASTRA and sit on the veranda and order VODKA & TING-A-LING, the little brown dumpie shaped bottle! VODKA was the in thing as it was not to leave a smell on your breath, so that when confrunted by authority they could not smell you had been drinking.(Mom & Dad)
The closest I have come to TING-A-LING is Sullivans Ginger Beer which was brewed in Kimberly and sold in quart bottles. They also sold Herb Beer in similar bottles.
I did my basic military training in Kimberly in 1969 and Sullivans and a Nip of Smurnoff always went down well if you could get it. (Spent the later part of my 22nd birthday evening puking on the steps of the Savoy Hotel in Kimberly)
Cheers
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 15:58:25 (UTC)
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Bill et al
This might be perceived to be a family [sic] site, but believe you me, that was not my intention!
I had forgotten how this word "family" is used in North America... it is not used the same way where I live now.
Hartelijke groeten...
Dawie van der Bliksem
Founder of the Great North Road
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 15:42:34 (UTC)
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Does anyone remember a ginger beer drink called a "Ting a Ling"? Came in a little brown bottle - we used to pretend we were drinking real beer when we were kids. Could murder one now!!
Bridget Billany [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 14:48:21 (UTC)
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One thing I can always trust.... this site evokes memories!
Juliana mentions scottish dancing. Never did it , me, but had many a thought about the way the kilts swirled around the legs. As this is a family site, wont mention further.
Owen talks about gliding. I never went in one but have a very vivid recall of one parachute jump I did in Mufulira. The pilot of the plane, a Piper Tripacer, found a thermal over the slimes dam. I was solo and sat in the back of the Tripacer, with the door off , of course. He dipped his left wing and did tight circles over the dam and went up at a helluva rate, Great for him. My stomach was adrenalinned enough without hanging on to the seat to NOT fall out just there. Legs sliding to the open door and I'm about vertical to the ground as he circled. Brings stomach thoughts to me even now. But we got up fast and slid off to the airport, where I relaxed and went out at my own chosen site.
Bill
William Knott [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 11:17:21 (UTC)
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Hi Owen,
I knew Vic. Didn't realise he was as fast as that. Heavy man:-)
Mike
Mike Wilson [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Dawlish, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 10:19:43 (UTC)
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Dear All,
I am trying to locate a UNIP publication about the disturnaces in 1961 called 'a Grim Peep into the North'. It is proving very elusive. I should be anyone help me track it down so that I obtain a copy.
Hamish
email: h.mac@virgin.net
Hamish Macdonald [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Bristol, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 08:19:42 (UTC)
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Jill
You are in the right track. Phillip's wet sand concoction weighed 2kg, so it was obviously heavier. I think he was just being facetious as none of this is rocket science.
Doron
The much mentioned Volvo looks like a B16S. The next model in the series was the B18, better known as the 122S. A friend added a Weber twin choke downdraft carburettor to a B16 motor and dropped it into a Morris Minor. Quite a lethal combination as the Morris brakes could not cope with the speeds this engine produced.
Owen Thomas [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Henley on Klip, Gauteng, South Africa
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 08:07:20 (UTC)
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Hi, just a note for Canadian residents wanting biltong or boerwors who happen to live within driving distance of Oakville, Ontario.
Florence Butchers on Florence Street (about half way up Kerr St ) have great examples of both. Boerwors has become the sausage of choice for my Canadian son and wife , the biltong never lasts long enough to make it back into Toronto.
David Hounsell [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Saturday, August 09, 2003 at 00:49:35 (UTC)
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the volvo fastback belonged to bruce vivers if my memory serves me well.
doron
Doron Grill [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 23:36:40 (UTC)
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Owen
You lost me there! A kilogram of anything weighs the same as a kilogram of something else- but the VOLUME of dry cement will be smaller that the VOLUME of wet cement. Philip has almost got it sorted - except that I think I shall try marinading it in something more exciting than H20 (sorry - don't know how to make a little low down '2'). Perhaps a shot of Klipdrift - although that will probably 'cook' the meat like vinegar does? Oh well, back to paying high prices for lekker wet tong. Cabanossi is quite cool - high in paprika and not as good as well-made wet droe wors! Is that possible.
Welcome all the new posters! Don't mind me, I am the resident maniac.
Jilly X X X
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 22:05:22 (UTC)
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Mwizenge,
Was it you who recommended 'Tuku Music'? Anyway, I got Oliver Mtukudzi's Greatest Hits CD the other day - and we have been playing it and it's really very good - so thanks! Although we can't understand the lyrics, the CD has an explanation of each track, but the important thing is that the music is just so - African and clear - like the sky after a thunderstorm on the Copperbelt. Still getting into it it - but really African.
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 21:53:42 (UTC)
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ATTN; JULIANA FERNIE
I have a program from a Lusaka Theatre Club production of "Cinderella" I think the Director was Ted Spain, circa l975., you and your sister were in the children,s chorus, alongside me, Ruth Sargeant, Tracy Loxley-Forde, Tonia Skeels and others I can't remember. We were dogs, and fairies, and had to dance and sing humiliatingly, and to be quite honest, at the tender age of ll or l2 at the time, even we knew that "Cinderella" was a total bummer! I have 2 copies of aforementioned programme, so if you are eager to see yourself in a horrific 70's outfit, I can forward you a copy! Apologies to Ted Spain, his relatives, ect ect, but even the stage hands were diabolical, (my brother Anton and his friend Stuart Skeels got so paraletically drunk that they made several impromptu appearances on stage on opening night giggling horribly, and then Stuart disgraced himself by being violently ill, just offstage, which was quite audible to the first 4 rows. They were both sacked if my memory is correct for leering at the older dancers!) I think that you and Sherreen also went riding at mrs Bowens? Ciao, Meg
Meg Rybicki (formerly Margaret) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Mullanyduff, Co Leitrim, Ireland
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 21:21:18 (UTC)
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Phillip,
You really are a Pain. (Said with great mirth and copious laughter.)
Owen Thomas [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Henley on Klip, Gauteng, South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 19:57:14 (UTC)
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strong>Hi Jilly, Owen and Doug,
Jill I decided to test your logic and carried out a Kitwe Boys High controlled experiment:-
EXPERIMENT TO TEST THE WEIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WET AND DRY SUBSTANCES.
APPARATUS
Scale with Gram Graduations.
Large glass container.
River sand.
Water.
METHOD
1) Place the glass container on the scale and zero the scale.
2) Pour sand into the container untill the scale records 1 (one) kilogam)
3) Gently pour one litre of water onto the sand.
4) Record the scale reading, which should read 2 (Two) kilograms.
CONCLUSION
Wet Sand is heavier than dry sand.
I agree that wet BILTONG is heavier than dry, Suggest that you buy a kilo of dry biltong and add a litre of water and get your monies worth.
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 19:47:44 (UTC)
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Ian Singer
Thanks Ian, found the Kitwe gliding article and it brought back many memories. As the article says, gliding conditions on the Coperbelt were fantastic and I have regularly had climb rates of over 3000ft a minute.
Vic Brierly was still the CFI when I joined the Club in 1970 and the Club then based in Muf. Vic taught me to fly and is reputed as one of the greatest pilots in his time. He is one of very few few people to have flown in cumulo nimbus clouds. These are the big anvil shaped storm clouds so often seen in Africa in the rainy season. They stick up +/- 60000 feet into the sky, higher than airliners fly. They are so turbulent inside that airline pilots give them a wide berth. The updrafts in these clouds are very powerful and alongside them are equally powerful downdrafts. Vic once reported diving vertically downwards at 100 odd knots and still climbing, means an updraft speed of far greater than 100 knots (1kt=14 mph).
I heard that he once went to the Rhodesian Nationals, an annual competition, and pranged his glider on the second last day. He spent the night fixing it and did not have time to refit the instruments before the next day's task. Needless to say, he took off without and though he did not doo well, was already so far ahead on points that he won the competition. He was flying an Austria SH at the time, which I bought when he and the other syndicate members left. I brought it to SA with me and sold it. It may still be flying.
This particular glider was a leader in its time. The air speed indicator was marked up to 250kmh and he and I have both had it beyond that, estimating 300+ kmh. This is very fast for a plywood cocoon, espesially close to the ground.
Vic's favourite trick was a double loop off the deck. Dive towards the ground, level out about 20 feet (or lower) and pull up into a loop. Resume dive to ground and repeat the procedure, then land. Entry speed at the bottom of the first dive +/- 300kmh. A group of the more advanced students started doing aerobatics so Vic (just to show he was still Boss), did a triple loop off the deck. Same procedure as before, only go round 3 times. Estimated entry speed 400 kmh. His skill and judgement was that great that he called on the radio just before joining circuit, that he had underestimated the manouver. We on the ground waited anxiously for the crash but there was none. All he had realised was that he would land 20ft short of where he had originally intended.
Sadly Vic left for greaner pastures and Ron Turner became CFI, then myself on his departure, followed by my brother David when I left. After that the Club folded.
We also did a lot of night flying, fueled up on Castle which later became Mosi, and would sleep over in the Clubhouse, too plastered to drive home, but ready and able to get the aircraft out and readied to fly the next morning. learned that a pint of milk and a tin of sardines in the morning did wonders getting the internal organs functioning again. Our safety harness consisted of both lap and shoulder straps (power aircraft use only lap straps). This was presumed to be for safety reasons, but in truth, it was to prevent the badly hungover instructors from falling forward and blocking the controls when they dozed off .
How I miss those days.
Nostalgic depression beckons!
Owen Thomas [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Henley on Klip, Gauteng, South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 19:38:05 (UTC)
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Doug , Jill
Which is heavier, a kilo of wet cement or a kilo of dry cement.
'Tong wieghts are calaulated on the amount of wet meat used to make the shrivelled sliver of biltong that you eventually get. You are paying for all the water that evaporated. I think the shrinkage is about 60%, meaning you are paying for a kilo of meat, but in the end only getting 400 grams. The shrinkage is calculated as a percentage and applied whether you buy wet or dry. If you do the maths, buying wet billtong is a rip-off (though this is the way I like it best.)
Most billtong made today is done in temperature and humidity controlled cabinets. This stuff I liked best was simply hung out to dry in the open and anything that settled on it added to the flavour!
Have you tried cabanossi? This is a spicy dried sausage very similar to dried wors, only it does not taste as fatty and the spices add to the flavour.
Cheers
Owen Thomas [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Henley on Klip, Gauteng, South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 18:15:44 (UTC)
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Hello all
Re discussions about traveling out of Zambia and having to explain: When we first moved to Scotland in 1977 I was asked by my new school mates just how safe it was to live in "AFRICA". I got the "running water" question too. My sisters and I used to tell our friend that we rode elephants to school, and we had houseboys to empty our chamber pots and fix the walls of the mud houses. It was one thing for our friends to believe us, but for their parents too!!!!!
Re: Scottish Country Dancing - did every girl child go thru that? My mum had my older sister and I in SCD lessons and Ballet when we lived in Lusaka. For the life of me I can't remember our teacher's name. I still have the Royal Academy of Dance certificates I earned, and I'm surprised I don't have scars on my feet from the Sword Dance. My mum recently sent me my Highland Dance shoes, which I am thinking of putting in a memory/shadow box.
If anyone's interested I have a link to a vendor in the US (I think he's in SC) who makes fairly good biltong (sp?). His website on occasion has some "stuff" that makes for good trips down memory lane. Plus it's the only place I can get proper Peri-Peri without having to nag at family in South Africa.
This is a great website. The discussions, stories, links, and pictures bring back so many memories!
Juliana Fernie [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Nashville, TN, United States
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 17:55:23 (UTC)
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Bob,
Sorry, should have added that these cards are sent between "hams" (as I believe thy are called) who make contact with one another over the airwaves. If you poke your nose into any ham radio shack you'll see the walls covered with them from all over the world.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 17:04:49 (UTC)
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Bob,
That card on eBay looks to me like a ham radio operator's calling card. I'm sure someone with more background in ham radio could provide a better explanation.
Craig Hartnett [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 17:02:46 (UTC)
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TED,
I spent the first 9 and a half years of my life in Nairobi - and I never ate goat - but I have eaten it on my mom's parent's farm near Springbok, but I don't remember how it tasted. I am getting some tomorrow. I tried my first Octopus in a Chinese Restaurant in Nairobi called The Pagoda, though!
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 16:55:19 (UTC)
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Linda, late reply about the Volvo fastback shown at Vans garage, don't who who owned that one but Butch and I with Sweetpea went to Salisbury for a weekend with his white one about 1970. I am trying to think whether Doug Smith, Sheila's boyfreind came too. I am sure we were 4 in the car. I remember fuel rationing was severe in Salisbury then, we had to apply for little green fuel coupons as visitors, I still have one somewhere. I remember we went to the Rosebowl, or the Blue Gardenia, or Yellow Orchid, some roadhouse anyway, and we had 14 of us in the Volvo altogether it was quite a cram. I think Sweetpea (Errol Cook) is somewhere near Durbs, I must try and find him, want to see if he's got any chiripala kids.
Bob Gillies [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Springs, Gauteng, South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 16:13:23 (UTC)
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Peter, I looked up that Nothern Rhodesian VQ2RG QSL card on e bay, what was it for? Was it a stores req. for goods or what?
Bob Gillies [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Springs, Gauteng, South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 15:59:27 (UTC)
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Oops
I'm either getting dyslexic or something but "lable" should have come out as "label". Sorry about that spelling mistake.
David Gray [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 08:20:10 (UTC)
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Lion Beer
Sadly, if one believes the local newspapers, Lion Beer is being phased out by South African Breweries. It only had a 3% market penetration and despite being given a face lift of a 'nice' blue lable and advertising aimed at the young yuppie vodka drinking market, failed to improve its standing. Once existing stocks are sold out the brand name will disappear from the shelves.
I wonder if empty Lion beer bottles have any value on e-bay?
Cheers
David Gray [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 08:08:30 (UTC)
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Jilly, Chandru
If ever you spent time in the bush in East Africa or the Middle East Goat is a staple diet
Ted Mills [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Cape Town, South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 07:48:38 (UTC)
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Dawie,
I am sorry that your biltong turned out to be so horrible, I must try not to keep on about the stuff. Trouble is that you were really spoilt growing up where you did. My husband, Otto used to install Agric Alert radios during the bush war, and he spent about three weeks installing in that area whilst actually staying on Nuanetsi Ranch - which was a huge cattle farm. Ho brought home the most delicious biltong and steaks that were given to him.
Alas now, long gone are the days of free biltong - although there's not a lot of cattle ranches in Joburg!
Has anyone ever gone fly-fishing for kapenta/
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 07:22:42 (UTC)
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Hi Doug,
I must complement you on your fishing skills, especially your baiting techniques.I must now ask "is a koilo of Kapenta the same weight as a kilo of wet biltong" I want to try the kapenta as bait for bass.
Cheers
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Friday, August 08, 2003 at 04:57:01 (UTC)
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Greetings from sunny (27C) Ireland, only thing missing is Castle or
Lion lager, and a big piece of biltong, has anyone bought a biltong maker from a man called Duane Slabbert yet, he has a very straightforward looking website, I'm just a bit dubious about the shipping from SA to Ireland of the aforementioned machine, has anyone else from the far flung reaches of the Zambian network had such a piece of equipment shipped to them? A christening gift from a friend in Capetown for my youngest, Jemima, took 4 months to reach us.
BARRIE - yes, my mom does live with us, we have just built her an apartment onto the side of our house - she does, however, have more surplus cash, and fewer responsibilities than I do (oh how the tables have turned) so she jets off to the UK or South Africa from time to time (she is 77 now and enjoys her freedom). If you want to Email her, likewize your parents, Heather, please use my email address as mom once sat furiously typing away on a keyboard of a computer that wasnt plugged in (true story), so I let her use my email address for all her correspondence, Ciao all, Meg
Meg Rybicki (formerly Margaret) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Mullanyduff, Co Leitrim, Ireland
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 23:06:45 (UTC)
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JILL et al,
I notice there is still ramblings going on about biltong... I am unfortunately still out on the Edge of the Known Universe, and have just recently been a customer at the butcher in Los Angeles (which touts a Beverly Hills address... [give me a break!]). I dragged my parents out of their home one day and we ended up spending huge amounts of money there for a small bag of various South Africans and European items.
When we lived in Africa we never "bought" biltong! We prepared our own or were given prepared biltong from our neighbours who had been hunting. Most of the flesh used in the preparation of the stuff came from the area around the Bubi and Nuanetsi in southern Rhodesia, as I have said before.
The biltong I recently bought from the aforementioned LA butchery was sadly inedible. It was much too wet---and although we prepare dry biltong, we will stoop to eating raw flesh from time to time. The German butcher sliced it all up before we could say anything, which we did not like. We are very particular. It was also rather tasteless... obviously American beef, tough, and the spicing was weak and beared little resemblance to what we are used to. I think we ended up leaving the bag of chopped up raw meat in a corner somewhere and never ate anymore of it. It tasted like something someone had made third-hand... the tradition and know-how had been diluted. Sort of like Soutjes trying to make beskuit!
The wors was quite good on the other hand. Also a little weak on the spicing though. The rest of the items were imported, so I cannot comment. I was happy to see marzipan available! Of course in Nederland, marzipan is a staple. I always love marzipan, but in this part of the world, the locals do not generally like it and so it is hard to find. I consumed a couple of kilos of the stuff in a day I seem to remember.
There were Ouma beskuit available, and happily condensed milk versions... I think we bought all the boxes. Unfortunately I left them all in Los Angeles, and will be unable to take them back to Nederland. There are South Africans in Amsterdam who would kill for proper beskuit, who cannot make it, and who agree like me, that Dutch beskuit is a pathetic inbred cousin of the lekker veld variety of the Beloved Republic!
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Last days in The Belly of The Beast --- San Francisco
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 22:46:58 (UTC)
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JILL et al,
I notice there is still ramblings going on about biltong... I am unfortunately still out on the Edge of the Known Universe, and have just recently been a customer at the butcher in Los Angeles (which touts a Beverly Hills address... [give me a break!]). I dragged my parents out of their home one day and we ended up spending huge amounts of money there for a small bag of various South Africans and European items.
When we lived in Africa we never "bought" biltong! We prepared our own or were given prepared biltong from our neighbours who had been hunting. Most of the flesh used in the preparation of the stuff came from the area around the Bubi and Nuanetsi in southern Rhodesia, as I have said before.
The biltong I recently bought from the aforementioned LA butchery was sadly inedible. It was much too wet---and although we prepare dry biltong, we will stoop to eating raw flesh from time to time. The German butcher sliced it all up before we could say anything, which we did not like. We are very particular. It was also rather tasteless... obviously American beef, tough, and the spicing was weak and beared little resemblance to what we are used to. I think we ended up leaving the bag of chopped up raw meat in a corner somewhere and never ate anymore of it. It tasted like something someone had made third-hand... the tradition and know-how had been diluted. Sort of like Soutjes trying to make beskuit!
The wors was quite good on the other hand. Also a little weak on the spicing though. The rest of the items were imported, so I cannot comment. I was happy to see marzipan available! Of course in Nederland, marzipan is a staple. I always love marzipan, but in this part of the world, the locals do not generally like it and so it is hard to find. I consumed a couple of kilos of the stuff in a day I seem to remember.
There were Ouma beskuit available, and happily condensed milk versions... I think we bought all the boxes. Unfortunately I left them all in Los Angeles, and will be unable to take them back to Nederland. There are South Africans in Amsterdam who would kill for proper beskuit, who cannot make it, and who agree like me, that Dutch beskuit is a pathetic inbred cousin of the lekker veld variety of the Beloved Republic!
Hartelijke groeten...
Dave Cooper
Founder of the Great North Road website
Last days in The Belly of The Beast --- San Francisco
Dave Cooper [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Amsterdam, Nederland
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 22:31:37 (UTC)
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Jill,
Goat curry is definitely good. I went to an Indian restaurant last week, and found one of the tastes that I was missing after I came to the States and which I had assumed was a type of lamb curry, turned out it was actually goat!
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 22:08:33 (UTC)
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Dougie,
Of course wet 'tong is heavier than dry stuff - water adds weight - that's why I am so heavy - it's all water you know! No - I am not fat - just watery!
Chris, I really do believe that the biltong price has escalated here a 'very big much' in comparison to 21 years ago when we first came here - although - having come here from Zimbabwe - we thought meat was ridiculously over-priced! And I do know it was (and probably still is) cheaper than anywhere else.
SA residents - I see that Checkers is now selling 8 month old boer bok (goat) as Chevon Meat - saw it in the latest "YOU Magazine". I am going out there tomorrow to buy some and try it out! According to my black friends there is NOTHING to beat goat kid curry - and it's low cholesterol!
Ha! Ha! Having actually met Doug's boet, Keith last week, I really laughed about his vundu fishing expedition! He was REALLY lucky that a flatdog didn't take the bait! Moral of this story - always keep your hunting knife on you!
Cheers.
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 21:22:19 (UTC)
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Hi Leonard:
My uncle Dave Brubaker was an administrator at Nahumba Mission in Choma from 1970 through 1976. He came back to the States, settled in Grantham, PA, and became Dean (I think for admissions or maybe boys dean) at Messiah College. He just retired a few years ago.
The Nahumba community was a separate place, very self-contained. I can get in touch with most of the people I grew up with through the Brethren in Christ Board for Missions in Elizabethtown. My friend Jason was British and his family had moved up from Rhodesia in the late 60's and their circle was mostly ex-pats and colonials, a totally different set from Nahumba, Kalomo, Macha, Njase or Sikalongo - the Brethren in Christ Missions. We even occasionally had "Zambashes" in Harrisburg at the homes of former mission doctors (we haven't for a while though) where we could catch up.
It's the ex-pats (mostly British) that I'm having trouble finding. BIC Missionaries can be easily found through church records - and so many of them stay in service. I've looked at the web site 'Zambian reunions' a UK site, for the ex-pats but many of them are still under the internet radar. I'm sure a lot of them have either gone back or have gone to countires other than the UK. Most ex-pats that I was aware of were having difficulty re-assimilating and eventually went to New Zealand, Australia, or other African countries.
Thanks for your message though. I get to philadelphia quite often. Do you know Mim Stern at University City? She was one of my guardians when I was in Lusaka. She has a ministry for foreign exchange students and is looking for help in the Philadelphia area. Her husband Pete Stern was the BIC Church liason in Lusaka for many years. Great people! I miss Auntie Mim a lot!
Thanks! Let's keep in touch.
Tim
Timothy Brubaker [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 21:02:14 (UTC)
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Jill
Is a kilo of wet biltong heavier than a kilo of dry biltong? Sounds like Zambian logic to me. :- )
Chris
Take off your hard hat! At last you have found something that we are doing right. Congrats! :- )
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 20:35:50 (UTC)
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Hi Tim,
I know a couple of Zambians from the Choma area since I went to Messiah College, (close to Lancaster). Perhaps some of them would know of the friends you are trying to find.
Leonard Nelson [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Philadelphia, PA, United States
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 19:30:53 (UTC)
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Jill A writes thus:
"More misconceptions
Not necessarily about Zambia, but biltong. It's really very expensive here too (bearing in mind our salaries) about R90 a kilo, and if you like wet biltong like I do - it weighs more that the sawdust that Dawie favours! I am sure it's probably even more expensive in Zambia now."
By simple calculation, that would make the cost of biltong around US$11/kilo, or roughly US$5/pound. That is what I recall paying in Seorf Efrika at the time I left there 20 years ago. That would be considerably less than what we have to pay for good beef biltong (and droe wors) available at the European Sausage Kitchen in Beverly Hills - a place well known to all disclocated Rhodesians (North and South) and Seorf Efrikens. (including our beloved founding father)
Thought provoking?
Hard hat in situ!
Chris Tamm [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 18:37:36 (UTC)
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Mufulirians...
Take a peek here on e-bay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2186853914&category=38031
Peter Dielissen [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 17:51:31 (UTC)
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Hi! I'm new to GNR. I lived in and around Choma from 1971 - 1979. I went to boarding school in Bulowayo, Rhodesia from 1974 - 1976. I went to school at ISL in Lusaka from 1977 - 1979 where I stayed at Yieldingtree Farm. I very much miss everyone I knew in Zambia, I am dreadfully homesick. We moved back to the US in 1979 and I have never completely adapted. It has never felt like "home" to me. I can't watch a nature show on TV without feeling somewhat out-of-place in the US, like I will never quite fit. I've been back for 23 years and can't remember any time that I felt I belonged here. Oh well, from what I hear from others, this is not that uncommon. It's nice to have others who can understand.
Some of the happiest times spent in Choma were with my best friend, Jason Meehan (parents: Jim & Beryl) at their compound in Choma at the edge of town twords Kalomo.
Their business was called Waterwells. My father ran a bookstore in Choma on the main street (he was a missionary with the Brethren in Christ Church). Other friends of our's were the Zaloumis Family who had a house in Choma. My mother taught at the public school, Adastra.
I have been trying to locate Jason Meehan for about 2 years. His last address (as of two years or so ago) was 41 Brierly Avenue, New Addington, Croydon, Surrey, UK , but I was told that he no longer lives there. If anybody out there knows Jason please contact me. Thank you
Tim Brubaker
Timothy Brubaker [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 17:33:52 (UTC)
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More misconceptions
Not necessarily about Zambia, but biltong. It's really very expensive here too (bearing in mind our salaries) about R90 a kilo, and if you like wet biltong like I do - it weighs more that the sawdust that Dawie favours! I am sure it's probably even more expensive in Zambia now.
For all the animal-lovers - the basenji brat pack has taken over Family Masterton. We are all much fitter - these - now only eight week old pups - have more energy than an atom bomb, and if you don't give them plenty to do and see, their favourite game is "let's trash the house!, Yippee!" They are already house-trained and leash-trained (who says you can't train a basenji?) But they are showing their Central African origins - they shiver most horribly in the cold - and they are chasing birds with a view to a decent meal - not those boring balanced imported, expensive puppy foods for Janja and Kirembo, thank you!
Stay well, all!
Jilly
Jill Aplin [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
South Africa
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 16:29:34 (UTC)
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Hi all GNRs
There does not seem to be many women who write in from Mufulira, so I am going to put it to all the other
"Girls" out there.
Is my memory right or has it been tinted with time.
I was explaining to my Granddaughter the wonderfully colourful clothes we wore in the 50's. Do you remember when sugar was cheap, make a syrup and into which we used to soak our net pettycoats (of many colours and tiers), and let them drip on the washline. Then the the long ironing proceedure, but the end result was fantastic. Nothing could compare when the girls used to Rock 'n Roll with legs and pettycoats showing for the world. The thick leather studded belts and the moccasin shoes and off sholder blouses, we were definately the "thing". Just before sugar pettycoats I am sure most girls will remember the HOOP petty, and thank goodness this craze did not last long. It was impossible to sit down unless you found a milk stool to lift the hoop over, Bioscope was out, so you had to stand all the time. If one attempted to sit on anything but a milk stool, the front of the hoop would lift up skirt and all, over your head. Oh what a wonderful youth we had.
Madeleine
Madeleine Luckin (née Bekker) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Johannesburg, South Africa
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 10:15:01 (UTC)
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high all,
Does anyone know what happened to Walter Hill he used to run the golf course, in the 40s and 50s. He had 2 daughters,and 1 son he to was called Walter.
they lived in E or F ave ?
thanks Barry.
Barry Morton [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Brisbane, Australia
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 09:06:17 (UTC)
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MEG,
Is your mother with you in ireland???
All you fishermen, I am off to Alnwick today, about 45 miles north of Newcastle, and apart from Alwick Castle, used in the Harry Potter films, there is the HARDY Fishing Museum And the fishing tackle factory. SO if any of you ever need any HARDY equipment I can pop up and get it for you. It is probably easier to buy it on the net though. Weve been out in the North sea recently,
Not recomended, where we caught plenty of Cod, not very big, But boy !!! some of them that got away ! you just would not believe.We have just bought a bigger engine for the boat, a mercruiser 470 3.7 litre petrol, as the 2 litre turbo diesel is just not power ful enough.
HappyFishing,
Regards barribee.
Barrie Braidford [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Thursday, August 07, 2003 at 07:33:45 (UTC)
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Heather, thanks so much for the invite for Mom (and even she reluctantly agrees that the Mrs Rabies tag was on ocasion justified; she used to wear a thick ivory (shame) bangle, and someone once let off a firework in Woodlands Hall during her Scottish Country Dancing sessions, she whacked him over the head and broke the bangle!), she doesnt think that she'll get to Livingstone this time, but hopes to visit Zambia again before she's 80. (2 years time). She was married in Livingstone in l955 in the RC church by a Fr. Albert. To her astonishment he is still alive, and living in Dublin. They met up 2 years ago. My brother Ed who was best friends with your brother Charles when they were about 4 has got some fascinating photos taken in the late thirties by my Polish grandfather, they are all of Livingstone and its environs, he is going to post them on the message board. To all the keen fishermen out there, (judging by the technical jargon there are a few), if you are ever in the Northwest of Ireland, give me a shout, we live on a small salmon river called the Duff, it is on the boarder of Sligo/Leitrim, and our land goes right down to the river, by Canadian standards the salmon are small (ten to twelve pounders), but we are only a mile from the ocean, and they put up a good fight. We also have great sea angling opportunities, good ten pound pollack, ling, and very occasionally, sea trout. My dad lived for fishing (when he wasnt in the Woodpecker Inn), and we have some great pictures of him with enormous tiger fish, I will post them when I get the technology. Ciao, Meg
Meg Rybicki (formerly Margaret) [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Mullanyduff, Co Leitrim, Ireland
Wednesday, August 06, 2003 at 23:18:14 (UTC)
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Dear Gillian I am afraid I dont remember what I said in the last bar of the 13 we visited that evening, all I know is the next morning that I was suffering to much thanks to you, but at least I was out of bed before 4pm the next day,
Quack Johnny.xx
Johnny [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 06, 2003 at 20:00:18 (UTC)
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Charles,
My brother Keith was the fisherman in our family. When he was still a youngster he hitched to Kariba one weekend to catch Vundu below the dam wall. He didn't have a rod, only a length of strong line, hook & sinker. He baited the line and threw it in and tied the end around his waist in case the vundu pulled it out of his hands.
Well instead of him catching a vundu, the vundu caught him. A big grand-daddy vundu took the bait and sped away. Keith was dragged into the water and only narrowly averted drowning by cutting the line with his knife.
So Arthur if you go vundu fishing don't tie the line to yourself.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Vryheid, Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 06, 2003 at 19:45:40 (UTC)
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Johnny G
--------------
Desist immediately - even Sarky (one of our leaders) is beginning to stoop to your level, here is an actual quote from one of his e'ms.
'I also have a wooden Scarborough centrepin reel – also known as a cod crane', didn't you use that at the last bar on the pub crawl in Aberdeen???
Arffff, arfff.
GillyB
Gill Main [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Aberdeen, Scotland
Wednesday, August 06, 2003 at 18:41:12 (UTC)
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Misconceptions,
although i do admit, when telling someone i was from Zambia once, she asked if that meant i was a Zombie!!
lol
Marion Murphy [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United States
Wednesday, August 06, 2003 at 12:01:16 (UTC)
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Zambia, misconceptions and not,
we lived on a farm in chisamba, we did have lions, they killed a cow right next to our yard, and stalked me as a kid, and attacked our neighbours son, when he accidentally walked through the grass onto a kill.
we did have wild animals strolling through the yard, a pangolin that walked into the house, etc,
we did live in a hut until the house was built. we only had flush toilets after we dug our own septic system.
We had bushpig that were rather aggressive. a neighbour had his leg amputated by a boar rushing through the mielies.
I met a leopard coming the other way while riding on a fire break once.
You city slickers should remember there is more to Zambia then the towns.
Marion
Marion Murphy [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
United States
Wednesday, August 06, 2003 at 11:57:54 (UTC)
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Charlie.... a wonderful Picture of the biltong.....my daughter Alice recently worked in a delicatessan and she just had to try a tasty morsel,..her words for biltong..."FERAL" ........I told her it couldn't have been proper biltong ....(but then, I suppose her being an Australian might have something to do with it).......it was selling for nearly $70 a kilo.....
Yes those are happy kids....and very proud of them I am....... the calendar is at the printers.....at last !!! I can relax for awhile...until the official launch which will include the Minister for education...and other big wigs....
Ali
Ali Key [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Perth, Australia
Wednesday, August 06, 2003 at 04:54:39 (UTC)
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Hi Arthur
I have had a small hiccup with my computer and have been off the board for a few days. (No one told this old dog that when you delete items they only go into the " recycle bin" and are not completly deleted untill you empty the trash can) The result is my hard drive (only 500 meg.) got so full that the computer stopped to function.
I would like to express my sincere thanks for choosing my story about the Roman Candle as the best of the month.
I have many more stories in the pipe-line which I have written out in long hand and as Lynne gets time she will type them out for me in Note Pad so that I can play with the HTML side of things.
I will contact you via e-mail to take you up on the C.D. offer.
Once again thanks
Regards,
Philip Pain [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Eshowe, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Wednesday, August 06, 2003 at 04:52:39 (UTC)
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Mielies...
Here in New Brunswick Mielies season is just starting. They have one type called "peaches and cream" with two different coloured kernels. They are to die for!!!!!!!! Very sweet and tender especially when bbq'd with the leaves still on.
Peter Dielissen [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Tuesday, August 05, 2003 at 23:17:47 (UTC)
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Mwizenge,
Congratulations on your brother's arrival and your reunion. I remember all the hoops I had to jump through before arriving in the States back in 81' for my studies here, and I would imagine that it would be more difficult now with all the security/immigration issues.
Further exploring your website, I read a while ago about your travel home a few years ago along the Great East Road. I remember the road well since I lived near it for many years and used it daily for school, shopping, etc. It was relatively new back in the 70's and in great shape, I was sorry to hear about all the pot holes on it on your trip. Hopefully it has or will be rehabilitated with one of the ongoing road projects. Also, I read about your trip to the wildlife park, and I will make sure to remember the "Do not drive alone on potholed roads in wildlife parks" lesson!
Cheers, and I hope that your brother enjoys the hot but hopefully not humid weather in the Shenandoah valley.
Chandru Krishna [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Tuesday, August 05, 2003 at 22:17:29 (UTC)
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Hi guys,
I've been reading your amusing stories of peoples misconceptions of Africa and Zambia. However I've not seen the amusing language problems that occur. Pardon me if I missed any but I'm new to here.
I'm sure you know the kind........
Me; Yeah, I stayed in Zambia. Them; Oh, can you speak African then?
Me; Umm no, there isnt an "African" language.
Them; Oh right, can you speak Zambian then?
Then you have to explain the tribal structure .
I read on the message board about the book "Tickbite Fever" which I have read. I thought it was a good book in spite of the sparse Zambian content. I have just finished another book on growing up in Africa in the 1970's -- 1980's called "Don't let's go to the dogs tonight" by Alexandra Fuller. It has a higher Zambian content split with Rhodesia and Malawi. Its very harrowing in bits and hilarious in others and Alexandra (Bobo) will release the sights and smells of Africa to whatever part of our planet that you read the book. It's well worth a read.
Thanks for a great website
David
David Swan [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 05, 2003 at 20:20:46 (UTC)
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Heather,
Thanks for the kind offer. I still have plenty of Voyager and BA executive air miles to burn before the end of the year, but am not sure how committed I'll be at work at that time of year. I'm trying to find someone in Cape Town with a scan bed big enough to scan the DC Haile survey (Broken Hill Rural) map in for you.
Arthur,
You need local advice for fishing and I suggest you contact Chris Swart. Are you taking your fly rods with you? That must be the ultimate - catching a Vundu on fly! Remember to collect some Guinea Fowl feathers for tying flies - especially the Crested Guinea Fowl that's in the Zambezi Valley. There again, Doug Grewar can bring you some from Natal where they're also found. I stopped fishing quite some time ago. My next-door neighbour is a fanatic at fresh-water fishing - having founded the Western Province Fresh Water Angling Club in the early '50s. He has incredible display cabinets of fishing reels and when I gave him my old Mitchell 304, which I was given for my 13th birthday, he gave it pride of place in his Mitchell reel collection. That old reel was completely worn out - the bail arm was worn right down to the bronze - but it still worked. The last fish I caught on it was a 14lb golden carp - on 6lb strain - in the Breede River. I also landed a nice Leervis (Garrick to Natalians) using the same equipment - now that was a fight - and at the same place.
All your talk about eating Gemsbok biltong at the fishing show you attended is making me go Nkuli again - my biltong's still curing on the farm (attached photos 1) biltong 2) the type of veldt – there’s a Springbok in the foreground @ about 150 metres) - and the hunting season closes the end of this month! (Repeatedly mumbling to myself: "I'm a conservationist, not a preservationist! I'm a conservationist, not ....").
Doug Grewar,
Are you taking your Scarborough along to show Arthur how to catch a Vundu on a fixed spindle? Do you need a hand with those pigs?
Alix,
Your art class looks a happy bunch of kids. Well done!
Beth Lloyd,
Did you manage your trip overseas? We haven't heard from you for quite a while now. Hope all's well with you and the family. How is Michael? Please send him my regards next time you chat. Please note my change of email address.
Regards
CJ
CJ
Will contact Chris – as you say local knowledge is best. Johnny Green has also offered something supplied from his tackle box to take with me, apparently the tigers will find it irresistible and the upside is that they will all be females of the species, which are all bigger than the males I am led to believe.
I am contemplating at the moment if I should take a fly rod, the only problem is the only AFTM 8 rod I have (which is the weight recommended) is a Sage SP 10’6” and cost me £££’s when I specially imported it from the USA many moons ago. I would hate to have it nicked or lost in transit even though it is insured, it is my favourite sea-trout rod and not easy to replace.
As for Vundu on the fly, perhaps you’d better send over a whole dead Francolin (I like that name – I can now imagine I’m using a Frenchman as bait) never mind the odd feather. Make sure it’s really humming and I’ll also keep it in Heather’s hot car for a few days to ensure it’s really high. By the time I dip it in the Zambezi the Vundu will be queuing up for miles. For barbel we used to keep chuck steak in a tin for a few weeks, it was ready when the smell made you puke. Another favourite was road kill - frog or chameleon.
I also have a wooden Scarborough centrepin reel – also known as a cod crane. When I was at the game fair it was surprising to see how much tackle like this and the old Mitchell reels go for now. I don’t know what happened to my Mitchell reel, probably somewhere in the garage. Also what I thought were quite modern Hardy and Wheatley aluminium fly boxes are now considered collectible and were commanding very high prices. I must look after stuff more. There’s an old saying they don’t make things to last like they used to – recently I have had 2 expensive Shimano Baitrunner spinning reels fall apart on me, on one the bail arm just fell of as I was playing a salmon.
The biltong and wors look tempting, where did you say your shed was located?
Charlie why don’t you contact Ted Mills in Cape Town and see if he can get the BH map scanned? He got the very big Federation Map sorted brilliantly.
Hope you make it to the Lark, bring some of that biltong with you if you do. (And your scanned map on a CD)
Northerners,
I said sometime last month that the member submitting the best photo or posting that contributed most to the GNR site would be sent any of the CD’s I have made over the last few years.
It was a difficult choice as there were so many good postings and images submitted during July but it has been decided that Philip Pain’s “Roman Candle” posting which was so funny and created a good response was the one. Philip is new to the site and certainly hasn’t been lacking in enthusiasm, which has also rubbed off on to some of the other members, old and new. The Message Board was one of the busiest for a very long time.
Philip if you contact me I will send you a list of what CD’s I have and you can choose whichever you like and post it to you for free. (I am not making this list public just now as some projects are ongoing)
As a special thank you I would also like to mention Ted Mills for the brilliant Federation Map he sent in for the site and he too qualifies for a choice of any of the CD’s – Ted just drop me a line and I will also send you the list.
I will also add that any member sending in a photo that is chosen to go the GNR archive will also qualify for a copy of any of the Cd’s I have, this includes anyone who has donated an image which I have mentioned will go to archive previously, including maps.
At the end of the year we will donated a special prize to the best of the bunch.
Happy posting
Arthur
Arthur Steevens [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Stockport, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 05, 2003 at 19:32:32 (UTC)
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I must be dementing faster than I thought, because I can't make the names directory work. Even when I clicked on the link in the message board I simply got the list of new and pending entries, and I can't browse. What am I doing wrong?
Peter Bromwich [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Valderrobres, Teruel, Spain
Tuesday, August 05, 2003 at 17:02:08 (UTC)
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Bridget,
you arent the only one! Altho I'm not Zambian born, the 17 years spent in this wonderful country has, in retrospect, the best climate in the world - in my opinion! African heat (apart say, from some coastal areas where humidity hits you like a sledge hammer) is different.
Living only on the Copperbelt where I think we were 4000 feet (I'm not a metres woman - too old for that!) above sea level, was ideal. Yes, it is hot but definately a different sort - trouble is in the UK we are an island and I am told no place is more than 30 miles from the sea, so all that moisture = humidity ... wilted wall flowers spring to mind. I cannot bear anything over 25C here and also we get no lead in - one minute its something like 18C-21C and then vooooom, add 10 degrees in no time at all, and its 'mad dogs and Englis |
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