Northern Rhodesians Worldwide
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Message Board Archives
There are 426 messages displayed out of 58 755.
Having a ball in Juneau - Alaska - drinking good Alaska beer in the Red Dog saloon.
Life is good - miss ya all!
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 01:01:41 (UTC)
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Adrian,
What a hilarious reminiscence of Roy Wellensky.
It reminds me of an occasion at Government house in Lusaka when I was in one of two escort Rover 100 cars to take some big wig somewhere.
One of the chaps in the lead car let off a tear smoke grenade in the Rover by mistake as we waited for the big wigs to come out ~ You've never seen such a pantomime ~ with chaps trying to exit the car at the same time ~ prevented from doing so quickly as the front and rear doors of the Rovers opened in opposite directions towards each other ~ making the exiting occupants bump into each other as they emerged.
There were tears all around that morning ~ both from tear gas in the lead car and laughter in the tail end charlie.
No names ~ No Pack Drill !
On another escort duty for HE the Governor ~ Sir Evelyn Hone ~ I was again tail end charlie ~ but was left standing on the tarmac as the damned Rover had overheated would not start ~ as the procession left the airport.
It was accompanied by mounted section riders in full ceremonial dress with elegant spikes on their topee helmets and lances with pennants flying.
I learned later that one of the horses beside the Governor's Rolls was startled by something or other ~ and promptly kicked a hole in the door of the Rolls. Fortunately there was no injury to the horse or rider ~ but he had a very red face and a lot of explaining to do.
Cheers Ron
Ron Clibborn-Dyer, China [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 01:58:21 (UTC)
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For those of our readers who have taken an interest in the happenings at the Temple of Hidden Peace & Tranquillity in the hills of Hong Kong China ~ I am slowly putting all the diary entries on to a Blog site for friends to read at their leisure. The first fifteen are on-line already ~ so if you are bored and have nothing else to do ~ go to:-
http://templetopics.blogspot.com/
Photos are available on the Alternative GNR site on MSN
Cheers Ron
Ron Clibborn-Dyer, China [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 02:05:30 (UTC)
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What a blast from the past to see your name on the GNR! Welcome to the board and hope to see you post soon. I have emailed you privately, but would love to hear from you. I can give you news on a number of mutual friends from Fairway Engineering days.
Ken Fernie.. take note!
Linda Hayes, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 03:08:53 (UTC)
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Maxie
Thank you for all your kind comments. Yes Mulungushi is on my list of things seen & done. How I wish I was there to see you with all your cloths off but I elsewhere, worse luck!!
Chinyerezi
Don't wait for me"!! just post your recollections, so what if parts are duplicated. The more the merrier I believe.
Too all
Broken Hill - Kabwe was such an interesting place to live and learn about life while I was there from about 1948 to 1960. Northen Rhodeia - Zanbia was Gods own country but Brken Hill will always be special to me.
Come on all you closet scribblers have a go yourself, tell us all about your recollections of Northern Rhodesia - Zambia, whoever you are, whereverr you were & wherever you were. I and many others would love to hear your stories. remember facts only please folks.
If you have any naughty bits to relate, before you do please consider others before you commit your memories to other members.
Robert Plain, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 06:58:58 (UTC)
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If the $ quoted are Zimb'ys against the £ they are a bargain, I would have one does any one know ?.
Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 09:43:01 (UTC)
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Here is where I am right now in Juneau, Alaska - the glacier you see in the photos is the Mendenhall glacier. It has retreated about six miles due to global warming since 1980... Hiking it today.
http://www.wildnatureimages.com/Juneau.htm
I am taking lots of photos to post once I get back!!!
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 12:41:08 (UTC)
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Hi Robert...
This board has been going in one way or another for about 10 years.
If you go into the archives you will find lots and lots of great recollections, stories and photos of not only the centre of the universe - BROKEN HILL - but also some of the lesser known places in NR like Lusaka and the Copperbelt.
You can use the - find on this page - function on your browser to search say for BH.
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 12:46:05 (UTC)
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Ron Had a chuckle at your story of the governors Rolls receiving a hole courtesy of a horses hoof. My father (Bill Johnston) did many escorts up until independance and your posting brought back a few memories.
Vaughan Burgess - I e-mailled you a couple of weeks ago re my brother Tim. Did you receve it?
Richard Johnston, Ireland [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 16:48:06 (UTC)
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Some terribly sad news about David McCallum, married to Bette and father of Jon McCallum (occasional contributor to the board).
David died suddenly last week in hospital in North Wales after suffering a stroke last month from which he had seemed to be making a good, steady recovery.
David and Bette, with son Jonathan, lived in Itawa in Ndola in the late 60s and early 70s. David worked at the huge cement works by the Dambo and was responsible for providing all the necessary cement for a (then) new swimming pool at Itawa Primary School (where Jon and I attended).
David and Bette retired to live in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. Son Jonathan lives in Arkansas, US and had kept in close touch via regular calls, lively emails and several long visits to the UK each year.
The Funeral is tomorrow (Aug 2nd) in Colwyn Bay and Jon has flown in to be with his mother and older sister.
David had a wonderful sense of humour and really enjoyed reminiscing about his time in Ndola. I am so sorry that I never got to meet him face to face since leaving Ndola in the 1970's, to hear some of those wonderful stories.
I'm sure all on the GNR will join me in extending sympathy to the McCallum family at this sad time.
Barry Robbins, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 17:23:54 (UTC)
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Peter
Looking at those photos I can well believe the old story that says never visit Alaska when you are young because anywhere else will look second rate after that.
Tell me what happens when you whisper your magic words in an Eskimo ladies ear? Or is it quicker to give them a few candles?
Barry
Sorry to hear about Dave. I did not know him but there are not so many left of us and any death diminishes our ranks.
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 18:12:09 (UTC)
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All this talk about Broken Hill. I seem to remember that on the Copperbelt we used to say that if you wanted to give the world an enema, Broken Hill would be the place.
Mike Edwards, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 19:46:19 (UTC)
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Ah the Copperbelt - Are we talking about the NEW TOWNS with no history!
Chris Cantrell, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 20:16:44 (UTC)
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Mike,
Anyone who had the great experience of being a resident of Broken Hill, will agree with you regarding the enema -- we used to say it ourselves,
However, it was not the town that made living there so magical but the people who resided within. I lived in Kitwe, Luanshya and for a short while, Ndola and although I enjoyed living in these towns, they weren't a patch on Broken Hill.
Perhaps because Broken Hill was a little run down compared to the Copperbelt, the residents went all out to make any visitor welcome and comfortable during their stay, as well as taking any new resident under their wing, making settling in that much easier.
It did not matter which rung you were on the social ladder, we all mixed.
This did not just involve the mine workers but the whole of the town.
In the early seventies I had a life-threatening illness that caused me to be flown to Johannesburg for treatment. When I was stretchered out of the Mine Cottage Hospital and into the ambulance to take me to Lusaka Airport, the General Manager, Mine Secretary and Underground Manager --plus a few more senior employees of the Mine -- were lined up to wish me well. They cared.
A town is nothing unless it has a caring and fun-loving population, even if it only has one well-known petrol pump.
Maxie.
Maxie Lindenberg, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 21:04:22 (UTC)
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Hi Glen and Cynthia,
I can log in! So hers some life from me. I,ve actually got your e mail adress from glen Drake. So you,ve got my news. Love to hear from you.
Regrards Marianne
Marianne Visser, Netherlands [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 21:06:17 (UTC)
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I,ve been reading the lovely stories about our teenage days. Were,nt they great.!Something we can treassure in our memories always. I loved Glen Drakes story about Kitwe Boys High. I ,ve seen some photos of our then lovely swimming pool ,Rhokana cinema the club house.Margeret de Lange nee Charlse took some at your previous reunion in 2003 All left to go to ruins. Sad! I was last in Kitwe in 1967 and it had then started to deteriorate.1996 we were in Zimbabwe on holiday and we were adviced not to go. I wanted to go up because my mum is buried in kitwe.The swimming pool was my school holiday retreat. Kitwe Playing fields was a super sports club. I played hockey there. We had to play for school if we wanted to play for club. No getting away with it as our headmistress Miss Swarts knew about it as she was on the hockey board.The cinema was our lifeline in those days. Saturday afternoon dressed in the latest fashion{to us in the bush} the peticoat time and flair skirts. Many a time the peticoat was caught in my bicycle,s spokes. How about the Eskimo Hut where we went for icecreams. a Favourite place in town. The first TV in 1962. with fil;ms like Seventy seven sunset strip, Bonanza, Dr Kildare and many more. My Dad used to fall asleep in front of the TV to be rudely awakened by the Zambian Anfan which sounded awful. It was great to go down memory lane. bye for now Marianne
Marianne Visser, Netherlands [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 1 August 2005 at 21:44:50 (UTC)
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Maxie,
I do agree with you that it is the people, not the place that it is important. My only experience of Broken Hill was passing through by train on the way to and from Rennie.
Thanks for your input.
Mike Edwards, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 15:49:16 (UTC)
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Adrian
Wrong time for that joke?!!
Nicky Kontou, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 16:23:49 (UTC)
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Mike how lucky coul'd you get.
Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 16:35:54 (UTC)
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As the dark red velvet curtains moved slowly to cover the silver screen at the Lido Cinema in Lusaka, the crowd rose in unison, stood at attention, and sang with patriotic fervor "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN". A ritual that was taken seriously in the 1950s.
Two young men with duck tail haircuts who did not share in this display of respect to the Great White Queen in England, charged down the aisle, obviously wanting to beat the crowd to the bar next door, were rudely and abruptly stopped in their tracks.
Without any formal introductions, the former heavy-weight boxing champion of Northern Rhodesia, who hailed from the center of the universe, Broken Hill, grabbed each of them by the scruff of the neck and held them in place until the last bars of "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN" rose and faded into the smoke filled rafters of the auditorium.
The audience broke into spirited applause as Sir Roy Welensky released his new found friends, no doubt losing two potential voters.
Kenneth Miller, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 16:58:07 (UTC)
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Johnny,
I have a gigantic bone to pick with you -- who's side are you on anyway?
I'll have to ask Beauteous for the loan of her 2x4 -- on second thoughts Beauteous herself can meter out the punishment.
Cheers,
Maxie,
Maxie Lindenberg, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 17:07:09 (UTC)
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Great story Ken!!!
Now own up GNR, who amongst us were the nabbed ducktailed ones or does anyone know who they were?
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 17:41:05 (UTC)
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Yes Ken, Broken Hill produced some good athletes.
Remember the Crawford brothers Athur & Noel?
First class exponents of Queensbury Rules activities & notable soccer players to boot!
Best regards to all BH'ers
Bill Hunt, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 17:43:10 (UTC)
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Keith
Very amusing story
Are you sure one also sang the National Anthem?
I only remember having to stand for the music
Where was the Lido cinema ?
I only recall the 20th Century and the Carlton that was in a back street
Mike Slement, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 17:48:20 (UTC)
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If you are referring to the Lido Drive - In - Cinema, then it was next to the Andrews Motel a few km south of Kafwe roundabout. I think it closed in 1978 or there abouts after VCR's became popular.
Bikash Paul, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 19:24:43 (UTC)
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Kenneth,
Did one have to stand on the roof of cars to sing the National Anthem at Lido Drive-in Cinema! Most of the movies were shown in the evening. Shock absorbers in cars took a hammering!!Maybe you mean the 20th Century or Carlton Cinema. There also was a Cinema in what was known as the 2nd class shopping area.Think it was called the Palace Cinema.
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 19:41:15 (UTC)
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Ayub
After 58 years the memory starts to go ... the bioscope in GOD SAVE THE QUEEN was the Carleton ...the Lido was the local drive in.
Have a lot of great memories of the Lido. I drove a VW Bettle in the early 60s and found that by removing the gearshift made for a more pleasant evening. Ah! To be young again,.
Cannot recall singing the national anthem at the drive in ......on a couple of occasions sparks flew outside the car as I drove off with the speaker still attached
Kenneth Miller, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 20:04:57 (UTC)
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Ken
Apologies for calling you Keith
I must have been thinking about the old Australian cricketer.
Mike Slement, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 20:05:19 (UTC)
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Tina
It wasn't me in Broken Hill but once years ago, at the end of a dance in Mufulira Mine club, I was well oiled and dozing in a chair when the National Anthem was played, so I did not even hear it. One old boy wanted to lay into me with his walking stick but luckily I could run faster than him.
Somebody posted about the Zambian National anthem being a din. The Zambian adaptation of the Hymn 'Nkosi Sikelela Africa' is nowhere near as good as the original. It should be sung slowly, sadly and sweetly. Just listen to the SA National Anthem before a rugby international match.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 20:45:58 (UTC)
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Dear Maxie when you have lived where it all happened
CHINGOLA it is hard not to deride that one pump town that was only there really to replenish our tummy's and petrol tanks on our way to Valhalla I remember that you all used to have your dances in cow barns and all of you used to jump up like monkeys and hang on to thr rafters men and women while a couple of the local yokels used to come round with buckets of water to slake the dust coming up from the cow sh-t screaming BALKA i suppose you are saying now oh happy days, we did not like to tell you to get a life, and the only thing to hit town and cause a bit of excitement was my old girl friend the TASSEL TOSSER Charles will tell you on the couple of nights she appeared he nearly broke his neck climbing on to the upper levels of the Elephants Head to peer through the windows at her as he was refused entry because he was to young,and i hear him sigh now oh happy days. Johnny.
Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 22:19:38 (UTC)
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Yeah I didn't even notice that slip Ken. Just slid by a familiar name without thinking about it and concentrated on the story of Roy.
Carlton Saturday matinees around 61 and 62 - how many stiff petticoats and what make up could you smuggle past your Mum or Dad dropping you off. And the Lido with family or friends..... I still miss it. There are still a couple of drive ins around over here.
Yep Doug, fleet feet are a wonderful thing sometimes.
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 2 August 2005 at 23:42:53 (UTC)
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What's going on here then?
Seems like I turn my back for ten minutes and insurgency has broken out all over the GNR.
Lest some of you forget, which many of you BH's will have what with all the lead you must have ingested from the fumes from the petrol pump, only the Politburo of the GNR bestow titles to dusty dorps surrounding the Centre of the Universe - Nkana with its massive and glowing slag heap, beaming light skyward.
Chingola? Can you be famous for a big hole? Well I suppose, sometimes. Take a look at the photo's below, I can almost see the lone horse walking down the main street to nowhere. And where is the petrol pump? - ?
I notice Liz has the right idea travelling by plane instead of road, you get at least a couple of thousand feet above Broken Hill and are travelling over 300 mph.
I read some time back Pete the chicken whisperer, Doug, and Glen were arrested for propositioning some birds in a cage at the side of the Mufulira road. You guys should remember - all chickens in Zambia are organic not orgasmic. Pete, what are the secret noises you whisper in a birds ear? Cluck, Cluck? I can excuse Glen and Doug for making the mistake, they knew they were heading into Muf.
Craig met up with the Great Flounder a few weeks ago and came across this photo from his archives.
Anyone recognise the tall boy with the skinny legs? As for the girls - they both turned out to be real stunners.
Bill Hunt
I'm sure that Peter Hills mentioned to me that he had an MG sports car, Maz Martin had one too.
Peter is currently working in Mumbai, India, and sent me the following message together with a photo. Next time I meet him I'll ask about the MG and see if I can prise a photo or two out of him.
Arthur
Hey Art!
Attached are pictures of Kabwe taken this year from a light aircraft when we were travelling to Lusaka from Ndola - bit blurry but I couldn't really ask the pilot to go lower and slower. I thought that those in the know could perhaps figure out the petrol pump dilemma from them. There again, perhaps not.
Considering I was sitting in a commercial flight from Ndola, don't think I did too bad - the commercial flight in question was a 4 pax seater - pilot & co up front and 2 x 2 facing seats and dinky little windows! Quite exciting and flying considerably lower than a regular commercial flight.
Some pics of Chingola
More pics of Chingola from the Solwezi road going into Chingola.
Another pic for you - approaching The Big Smoke aka Lusaka
Cheers
LizD
Hi there,
As you may have heard Mumbai had 37 inches (945mm) of rain in just 24 hours on 26th July. My driver and I were caught up in the flood and after abandoning the floating car we walked, waist deep, back to our factory. We were fortunate but our office electrician was drowned trying to get home. That night, still wet I slept on the boardroom table and used a filing basket as a pillow; others were less fortunate. It took me 37 hours to finally get home on Wednesday night travelling 1 Km per hour when the traffic finally started to move. The highway was like a war zone with wrecks and broken down cars, trucks and three wheeler scooters strewn all over the place. The rescue and breakdown services could not get to the affected areas even if they tried. The whole city has come to a stand-still; it is absolute chaos in the outer regions of the city. The last two days the broadband was down. See the attached picture I took of 37 inches of rain falling.
I took the shot inside a covered truck with a wide angle lens (all I had) so the rain would not wet the camera (all very risky) and used the attached flash. At first I was disappointed with the result but now realise the rain was so heavy that the flash reflected off the nearby rain drops virtually obliterating the main subject which is my car and driver (Mandaran). The two of us monsoon survivors are shown after getting back to the factory soaking wet. My laptop and camera survived (I hope, time will tell); but we were very lucky unlike so many who drowned or suffocated in their cars, especially with central locking and electric windows.
During this tragedy the humanity shinned through; while stuck in traffic, people were handing out Parle-G biscuits, chai (tea), pani (water) and powa rice (saffron yellow masala rice). Many volunteers directed traffic but sadly the police were as rare as a ray of sunshine the following day!
The Orange network was down and others was down so I could contact anyone when I was stuck at Parle for 10 hours, the Nariman Point staff never went home and had to sleep there or keep working! Finally I used a friendly bystander whose Airtel mobile that was working and managed to speak to Sandy after 24 hours. She was OK as where we live did not have the floods at all.
Yesterday the city was totally shut down but now things are returning to normal but it will be some time before the highways are cleared and road repairs made etc.
Finally we are both well but will put this once in 100 years event down to experience.
Regards
Peter & Sandy (Hills)
Arthur, Trish, Judith and James
Congratulations on the birth of little Harvey, haven't seen such a lovely baby since the birth of my own granddaughter, Geneiva, on the 20th October 2004. May he bring you as much pride and joy as our little one has brought us.
Have included a picture (for the message board) of this 5th generation "GNR'r" and her mom, for although she wasn't born in Kitwe, her mom and Gran were!
Much love to you all
Vivienne
Northerners
Thanks to all of you who posted here or sent us good wishes on the arrival of Harvey. It only seems like 5 minutes since I was visiting the same hospital when Judith my daughter arrived. I have found Harvey a suitably small fishing rod and will be teaching him the secrets of catching Vundu, very soon.
Viv, when Harvey's old enough I'll get your help setting him up a date with Geneiva to keep her in the GNR family, way.
Arthur
Arthur Steevens, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 01:15:31 (UTC)
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In the late 40's through to the 60's, the silver screen at the Carleton, Lusaka's first cinema entertained thousands. In the early days, the ladies and gentlemen would dress to the nines in their best bib and tucker to enjoy a night on the town.
Matinees were held every Wednesday and Saturday, the cinema filled with young people who cheered the heroes and loudly booed the villains. Every matinee consisted of a serial, cartoon, a newsreel and the feature film. Prior to the start of the show and during intermission, kids would scurry around trading comics.
When the 20th Century was opened with its modern milk bar, Simon Sieff the entrepreneurial and showman manager, ensured that a higher level of decorum was maintained. Ushers would patrol the aisles and eject, often unceremoniously any young couple caught necking. There was no trading of comics.
At one Saturday matinee, a demure young lady wearing a pink angora sweater and multi- coloured petticoats, on leaving the auditorium during the intermission looked down, screamed loudly and made a hasty exit when she saw that her ample breasts had been smeared in chocolate. She had obviously not been distracted by the annoying rustling of
the wrapper.
Simon Sieff brought and promoted many great films to Lusaka. The Cockle Shell Heroes, Bridge over the River Kwai, The Dam Busters, Oklahoma, The Birds and Psycho to name a few. Who can forget Jail House Rock with Elvis Presley, the young lady I escorted to see the film had explicit instructions from her mother not to go and see this lewd film.
The Palace showed "B" films the first muliti-racial cinema, was located in the Indian quarter. I remember going there with my Dad. At intermission the exit door at the right hand side of the screen would open and people would go outside and purchase a Coke or Fanta Orange.
The Lido Drive In was a favourite love pit for teenagers. Cars would be loaded with passengers and often smuggled in additional bodies in the trunk. I remember seeing A Summer Place which was a restricted film. I wonder how the censors would rate today's television programmes ?
Kenneth Miller, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 01:56:45 (UTC)
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Oi Fish Whisperer:
Let us think about this ..... sooo your center of the universe is a slag heap and theirs is a broken hill. Interestin' .. um ...... what's the difference? I like the idea of Lusaka being the big smoke. All the blown smoke hot air and hoohaa of government and businesses over the years. LizD hope you had loads of fun. BH/Kabwe looks very good from the air and those are remarkable for pix out of a plane window. And those pix of Chingola. Johnny is sure to be in a big hole of pure happiness.
Hills what a tragedy for poor old Bombay/Mumbai. Glad you are both safe. Spent my first 5 years in a flat off Marine Drive. Remember such wonders as my first bite of chili, (didn't think a kid could yell that loud), filling the flat with the aroma of roasting teddy bear by putting Rosie the bear on top of a table-lamp shade, playing with Lila, Maia and David, the gardener's kids, not being allowed to touch a dead hammerhead shark at the docks, and Indian dancing lessons - loved the little bells on elastic we wore on our ankles.
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 04:28:04 (UTC)
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My dear Liz thank you for those great pics of CHINGOLA to me they were like an injection without the needle, that wide main drag those majestic buildings and no scruffy petrol pumps in evidence but what a difference in the amount of cars parked, about 30 years ago you had to battle to find a parking along that main street, but thank you again for a glimpse of paradise. Johnny.
I can hear Tina now when she reads this, He is orgasmic.
Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 05:32:10 (UTC)
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I'd recognise those knobbly knees anywhere! They're not so knobbly now but still VERY longgggggggg mmmmmmmmm!
Fiona Gayther, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 07:44:28 (UTC)
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By the way, the knees belong to Des Kenny (Crouch) and the girls are his sisters Lynda and Denise.
Fiona Gayther, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 08:09:51 (UTC)
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More recollections of my childhood in Broken Hill
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Good morning all you lovely people.
It seems I have stirred up a few folk. This never was my intention.
Few children has any choice as to where and when we grew up, most children just make the best of what's available when and where they grew up. Therefore it is unfair for others to expect a a person to aplogise for their my childhood recollections.
All I'm doing is trying to give a truthful and brief account of my childhood prior to moving the the Copperbelt to work in 1960. I will post my recollections from 1960 to 1965 in small snippets
The Old Slaughter House
There was a large area of land between the Railway Camp and the older mine houses us kids found interesting. The Old Slaughter house was there. As curious kinds who loved to go out early in the mornings on our bicycles for the morning's adventure quite often we would go to the Slaughter house sit on the wall and watch the Cattle being killed. I know some may find this activity macabre but that's what some kids do. Anyway the Cow would be brought into the slaughter area a gun put between the eyes and the animal was shot. Simultaneously the beast's throat was cut to drain the blood. After this the animal was turned on its back or side and the internal organs including the large smelly bag of pooh. The pooh still in the bag was placed on a wheelbarrow and taken away to have the contents washed away. The whole process being quite smelly of course. I think the Cattle knew that when they reached the Holding Penn of the slaughter house their number was up.
In the same area there was a small caved in area, which was fenced off to prevent the likes of us hurting ourselves. It wasn't very deep and seemed to have a hole on the side at the bottom which may have led to underground workings. None of us ever climbed down the hole though. Maybe someone remembers this cave in and where the hole led to. If they do please let me know.
Robert Plain, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 08:31:26 (UTC)
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Suspected mastermind of London bombings -- Repatriated from Zambia
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For those members who have not read this:
ZAMBIA
Zambia to deport terror suspect to UK
Posted Wed, 03 Aug 2005
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa on Wednesday announced that Zambia had agreed to deport a Briton to his home country after he was arrested in Zambia on suspicion of terrorism.
Haroon Aswat (31) has been named in US and British media reports as the alleged mastermind behind the July 7 blasts that killed 56 people including four suicide bombers.
"We had discussions with the governments of the US and Britain and finally agreed that Mr Aswat should be deported to his country which is Britain," Mwanawasa told reporters in Lusaka.
US authorities reportedly sought to question Aswat over alleged attempts to set up a terrorist training camp in Bly, Oregon.
US media claimed on July 22, the day after the four abortive attacks on London's transport system, that US police and intelligence agencies were taking part in the hunt for Aswat.
They said that the four suicide bombers behind the July 7 attacks had made about 20 calls to him on his mobile telephone.
Aswat, who spent time in South Africa and Botswana before entering Zambia on July 6, had been on a watch list of Western intelligence agencies who tipped off Zambian authorities
Maxie.
Maxie Lindenberg, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 14:55:56 (UTC)
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Dear Johnny
Per last line of your Chingola accolade post - we thought that was a permanent state with you.
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 15:08:49 (UTC)
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A couple of years ago, the girls must have picked us up in Lusaka and were driving us back to Kitwe. Having left Lusaka quite early, naturally assumed that we'd stop, as usual, in Kabwe for sustenance - both liquid and solid - but no, not to be. Amazingly, we shot through town at 50 kph, only pausing to dodge dogs, wheelbarrows, wanderers, potholes and speed traps. Both girls most vehemently insisting that no-ways were we stopping. And certainly not to eat or drink anything.
Every so often one of the girls would say,
'Look, that's got to be one!'
'And there's another for sure' would say the other.
Lots of nervous giggles.
'Another one without a doubt. A lead head!'
'Alright,' says I, not having a clue what they were talking about. 'share the joke. 'What the hell is a Lead Head?'
All I'd seen them seem to point out were a couple of the town vagrants - you know, the poor souls in filthy rags seen muttering to themselves? Admittedly there seemed to be more than the usual numbers but then Kabwe's been through hard times lately.
I finally got the story out of them and for a change it didn't take thumbscrews. Turns out there'd been a report in the Times of Zambia that a routine water sample testing had shown abnormally high amounts of lead in the water - way more than the accepted amounts. On the strength of that, no stopping for lead infused drinks or food (although I reckon the beer would have been safe). And no stopping for petrol in case the Lead Head's got them.
Didn't like to tell them that I suspected they already had brain damage without ever having lived in Kabwe.
Wonder how long the water has been like that?
But it could explain a lot....... ;)
Lizd, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 at 16:23:09 (UTC)
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Robert, your postings are most welcome, and don't worry about the locals, they only seem to focus on the small picture, I focus on the "big" picture......the centre of the universe is all of NR/Zambia :0)
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Hi Bob:
You surely don't think you have upset anyone with your postings, do you? This board is notorious for people winding each other up in a very good natured way. Any reference that may seem negative about Broken Hill is all in jest.
For my part I was thrilled there were different centres of the universe to visit. So many boys.. so little time.. grin.
Keep the great stories coming. We are all thoroughly enjoying them!
Linda Hayes, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 01:18:34 (UTC)
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Yebbo Bob ... Yebbob?
What is this world so full of care
If we cannot rib our mates out here?
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 02:20:16 (UTC)
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OOOPS..........I meant the locals in a " NICE " way I just wish more would write about their experiences after all there are over 2,200 members.....
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Here is a link to a little "Article" I found, a little off the wall, but in these times any new way of making money attracts attention like dust........giggles
http://www.abc.net.au/news/arts/articulate/
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Good day folks,
Thank you to all those who have posted their support to my scribblings.
They will keep coming up to the time I left Zambia in September 1965. Like most of you I have lived in other parts of Southern Africa and may just may mind you sribble about them also because while Northern Rhodesia - Zambia was special I do have menories of other places not far from the land of my childhood.
Why am I doing the postings;
1. Why not.
2. To spread a little happiness
3. It may prompt others to do the same
4. We were so lucky to be where we were when we were
5. If I don't my grandchildern will never know that granddad was also young once
6. Comes before seven
7. Maxie knows
God Bless you all
Robert Plain, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 05:43:44 (UTC)
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Thanks Johnny I just had a senior moment.
The Cinemas, Mine Club & Swimming Pool
As I was a Railway kid most of my friends were from the same environment but we did fraternise with the Mine & Government kids. Drew & I got our pocket money of 1 shilling each week, which was to us anyway a lot of money. On Saturday morning Drew me and a group of others would venture across the railway line to the old mine club as they had a matinee that day. Oh what fun watching Zorro & Tonto, Lash Laroo, Roy Rogers, the three Stooges and many others. We would sit right at the front of the cinema so that when it came to the interval we could be first with the comic swapping, it's strange someone else's comic's always seemed better than the ones we had - Grass is greener on the other side until you realise from the other persons view it's greener on you side. We also attended functions at the mine club can't remember what it doesn't matter really at the time they were worth the effort. Once I slipped in the mine club and got a large splinter in my hand, WOW did it hurt everyone was so concerned and kind and I was soon as good as new.
Near the Mine club and the old cinema there was another large hole opposite where the swimming pool was built in the early 1950's. The hole was quite frightening as it contained all sorts of nasty things. Thankfully it was filled in before the swimming pool was completed. Once the pool was complete it became a popular venue for all the kids to be seen at. It did not open to the kid until the outside temperature had cooled and the water was round 72c F. A Tickey got us through the turnstile before rushing off to the boys or girls changing rooms to change into our "Cozzies". I learnt to swim there being taught by Mr Kelly who was everything the Life Saver Pool Attendant etc etc. After a while we would get our pennies and visit the tuck shop, my favourites were sherbet and the strips of liquorice which I would carefully separate into each stand so as to savour each morsel. I was quite a good swimmer and competed in the school gala's which always seemed to be won by one of the Kelly kids which when you think about it is not surprising really as they were the children of the man who ran everything there plus they were good, very good indeed.
Some years later the new cinema was built a short distance away. What a fine place it was any place that boasted "Vistarama" had to be special. They has afternoon matinee's which the children enjoyed, do you remember "Gigi" I do as at the time I was soft on a young lady who lived in the mine camp. The cinema was posh upstairs bar and everything. In the evening one was expected to dress smartly wearing tie and at least a blazer. Once Drew and I went to see the "King and I" with Mum & Stan in the evening. I think Stan would rather have been in the bar as he kept falling asleep only to be woken by some nutter banging the huge brass gong.
Robert Plain, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 09:22:07 (UTC)
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Arthur its a deal
Viv
Vivienne Jeannette Buitendag, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 13:37:31 (UTC)
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Robert Plain. Welcome on board. As Peter Dielissen's already mentioned, so many favourable comments have been made about Broken Hill/kabwe that some ex-Copperbelters have become a wee bit petulant. It probably stems from BH okes having 'lead in their pencil' -- and the poor okes from north of Kapiri Mposhi ingesting too much 'blue stone' with their drinking water! I've no idea why the okes from south of the Palm Grove Motel share the same feelings.
Have you had a chance to study the map of BH? We are still in the process of compiling a list of all the street names and would appreciate your input. The venerable Arthur Steevens (aka "Oupa Art" now he has a little person in his life) has thoughtfully numbered them for convenience.
Oom Jannie Groen. Let's forget that incident. Like most BH lads I lived the sedentary life of stamp collecting, bioscopes & swapping comics, swimming at the Mine Pool & old brickfields, fishing at Mulungushi/Mita Hills, studying ornithology with a pellet gun instead of binoculars, practising hand-brake turns on the old aerodrome, raiding neighbours fruit trees, setting the school grounds alight, etc... etc. Just the regular childhood of a fledgling anarchist.
Regards
Charles Cartmill, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 14:00:04 (UTC)
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Geoff Paynter
A short while ago, I posted a request on this site asking for anyone who would be in the Underberg region to contact me.
Geoff responded via e mail and, by making a couple of phone calls, located my cousin who lives in the Underberg.
Long story short, making contact with Laura snowballed into contact with other members of my family who are scattered abroad - South Africa to New Zealand - plans for a reunion are now on the cards!!!
Thank you Geoff for taking the time out to help - its deeply appreciated.
The Rest of You
Thanks too for the stories being posted - I was born in Chingloa (yay!!) but grew up and went to school in Luanshya so don't really know the other towns - I do however, remember going to discos in Broken Hill (a farm barn of sorts, I think) as well as Tudor Inn in Ndola!!! Nevertheless, I love reading them - I too crossed rapids (Kafue River) using the steel rope that stretched from one side to the other (although I never lost my bikini!! ha) and experienced the rush of adrenaline on the "foofy slide" at Sunken Lakes, swinging out and dropping into that incredible turquoise water, scaring the life out of the brightly coloured fish in the process!!!
It was a wonder-filled time for me, never to be forgotten memories!
Catherine Bryan (nee Vivier)
Catherine Bryan, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 14:14:15 (UTC)
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Kenneth, Simon Sieff was indeed a character. One Saturday morning we went to the 20th and couldn't sit down because all the chair seats had been removed. While everyong was moaning Simon appeared on the stage with a seat that had been slashed. He held it up and announced that because of this vandalism we could all stand and watch the film, and off he walked! This must have been 1966 or '67.
Bob Gillies, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 15:25:31 (UTC)
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Catherine Bryan
Was your Dad the Chris Vivier of Copperbelt boxing fame??
Bill Hunt, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 18:04:15 (UTC)
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My sister pam was doing some clearing out when she came across The school magazine for Kitwe Boys High, Number 7, 1963.
Mr D Livinstone was the headmaster and Willie Jordaan the head boy. House captains were Willie Jordaan - Eagle House, Jhonny Maritz - Hawk House and A. Coetzee - Falcon House.
It has photo's of all the teams, results of the matches and athletics Interhouse meeting. There are intersting reports on a trip to Machili (near Livingstone) and a climbing trip to France. There is an amusing article where all the teachers were identified with a topical hit song, ie Mr James - The Wanderer, Mr Wylie - Bachelor Boy and Mr Livinstone - Monster Mash.
If anybody would like more information on the contents or selected copies please let me know.
PS - I see we beat Broken Hill 24-6 although it seem that they made us fight hard for our victory.
Mike Edwards, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 19:49:37 (UTC)
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Bob
The 20th Century seemed to be run by Ted Edelman and his brother whenever I went there. I wonder what happened to them?
Our family lived on a farm 40 miles out of town and we did not have a chance to see many films at a proper cinema and this applied in particular to my younger brother and sister.
On one occasion in the sixties the three of us arrived late for some film at the 20th.There was no usher and we fumbled around in the dark and moved into a row near the back. I lowered my seat and sat down. After a minute or so I glanced at my brother and sister and they appeared to be sitting much higher than me.
' Funny seats in this place. They are very hard and narrow' my brother commented. The pair of them were actually sitting on the edge of the raised seats and seemed to be unaware that the seats swung down.
Mike Slement, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 20:04:48 (UTC)
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Having lived a sheltered life in the Nation's Capital, Lusaka, I am beginning to appreciate as I read more on the Message Board that Bloken Hilly was indeed the center of the universe.
In the early 60s a new hotel was built in the dorp and a competition was held to name one of the hotel bars. The competition was national and ran in the Northern News by I believe the brewers of Castle. After much deliberation in the hallowed halls of the mundane government bureaucracy where my Dad, Tommy Miller worked, he came up with the winning name "ZANZI BAR" and won a case beer.
On a number of occasions my family visited Jim and Phamie Fulton in Broken Hill. Jim was the local governor of the indendi (prison) They had a son Ronald. Does anyone recall the Fulton family or had Jim as their jailer?
Kenneth Miller, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 4 August 2005 at 23:55:33 (UTC)
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Would love to talk with anyone that worked or lived In N'dola during the years of 1966 & 1967. You may reply to my address Airbus33@bellsouth.net
Then we could hook up on yahoo.com Thanks in advance
Tony Underwood
Mauney Underwood, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 01:50:34 (UTC)
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I don't remember Pete owning an MG, but he and Sandy did have an Austin Healey Sprite EU8883 that I subsequently owned.
Patsy Davies, New Zealand [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 04:48:50 (UTC)
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Many thanks for your kind words. Only a pleasure and glad to have been of help.
Geoff Paynter, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 07:42:51 (UTC)
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Hello Bill
Yes, Chris Vivier is my father - as far as the "fame" part goes, not sure about that - can you tell me more?
Catherine Bryan, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Friday, 5 August 2005 at 12:41:45 (UTC)
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Mike Slement
Ted Edelman was coaching at one of the squash clubs in Geneva, Switzerland in the late 80's, early 90's. I met him a couple of times at tournaments that he was playing in. His brother, Andrzej, is in the GNR Names Directory and I see from that, that he is now living in Australia. I have no idea as to where Ted is now.
Hans Kunzle, Cyprus [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 14:09:53 (UTC)
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did you live at 76 - 14th crescent chingola ??
clive landing
Diana Fabel, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 15:29:52 (UTC)
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Zambia's President Levy Mwanawasa sacked his mines minister Kaunda Lembalemba after the sector was hit by a damaging strike; riots and a bomb blast at the country's biggest copper mine.
Kalombo Mwansa, who had been home affairs minister, replaces Lembalemba.
Last week the police chief was fired for moving too slowly to charge an opposition leader, Michael Sata, with sedition and espionage. The dictionary definition of these words is: -
Sedition = rebellion or incitement: rebellion actions or words intended to provoke or incite rebellion against government authority, or such a rebellion.
Espionage = the activity of spying: the use of spying or spies to gather secret information.
I wonder if there is any substance to these charges or is Mwanawasa doing a Mugabe on the opposition? Whatever is there to spy on in Zambia? Maybe the Zambian Navy; or is Mukuka Nkoloso's Zambian space project still in progress? It sounds as paranoid as those cops who wanted to arrest Glen for photographing chickens.
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 17:56:55 (UTC)
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South Africa's Mbeki sounds as though he is going to give Mugabe a US$1 billion loan / donation without any conditions.
One of our columnists Mandla Maleka has called for the annexation of Zimbabwe as the 10th province of South Africa, probably on the principle that if we have to pay the piper we should be able to choose the tune. Lets hope Mbeki is listening!
I think it was back in 1920 that the Rhodesian settlers had a referendum in which they had the choice of joining South Africa or getting internal self-rule under the British colonial office. They voted against incorporation with SA. I wonder just how different history would have been if they had voted for incorporation? For one thing there would have been no Central African Federation with its bad consequences for Zambia.
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 18:01:58 (UTC)
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A particularly nasty crime happened in Durban yesterday. A 19 year old African casual labourer was waiting for a bus at a bus stop on his way home. He was attacked and robbed by 2 thugs who held him down and cut out his eyes (maybe so he could not identify them). They escaped with his sandals and some cash of a total value of less than R250 or about 21 pounds.
The poor guy had been taking lessons for a heavy duty driving licence to improve his position, but that's all finished now.
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 18:09:28 (UTC)
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Catherine Bryan
The name Vivier struck a chord in my memory bank wrt boxing, I may be wrong.
Other boxers that were part of the Northern Rhodesian scene:
The Viljoen Brothers: Jaapie, Arrie, Piet & Cornelius.
Aubrey Bolton
Tommy Beard
The van Wyks (Luanshya??)
Jack Marshall
Abie Bekker
Don Stander
Dinkie Coetzer
'Doempie' Prinsloo
Ron Mathews
Derek Maritz
Albert & Piet Koekemor.
Noel & Arthur Crawford.
Northern Rhodesia produced some fine pugilists.
The many slugging matches between van Wyk & Tommy Beard were
awesome!
Ask your Dad if he remembers.
Bill Hunt, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 18:43:11 (UTC)
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Heather,
I am happy to report that Arthur's car still smells of fresh leather. :)
Craig Hartnett, England [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 19:02:39 (UTC)
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Bill
Dinkie Coetser must be Caspar Coetser's butte from Muf?
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 5 August 2005 at 20:38:55 (UTC)
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Craig, does the engine sound a moo? or a neigh ?? ;0) "fresh leather " (giggles)
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Hi Patsy,
Your posting brought back memories of a green Austin Healey 'Bug Eye' Sprite I had in 1963 whilst living in Ely Crescent in Kitwe. Its claim to fame is that it nearly brained two members of 'The Brothers' band
who were using it. They failed to secure the bonnet which flew up and over when they tried burning rubber on a start. Their Skyline performance was not quite as good that night!
Mike Wilson, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 6 August 2005 at 09:54:48 (UTC)
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Bill - my dad passed away 24 years ago. He suffered a heart attack while at a Hunter's Convention in USA.
I never knew too much about his boxing career other than he was chosen and went to the Empire Games in Vancouver. There are various stories as to why he never actually got into the ring - women, booze etc - the night before the fight...............
Reg Hughes on the Luanshya site also said he knew my dad from his boxing days in Kitwe - so your memory serves correctly.
Catherine Bryan, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Saturday, 6 August 2005 at 12:45:49 (UTC)
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Doug,
Now listen you old fart, you're getting too much like your Uncle Glen - you're forgetting your Afrikaans basics, probably 'cause you speak too many Bantu languages . . . . . the word is "BOETIE" - not butte! Butte's are found in America, and I suppose other places that have large outcroppings of rock in otherwise flat places; like Montana frinstance.
Then of course there's also "beaut" - like what is said in Oz when one is having a leak and looks at the cobber standing next to you and you say, "Geez mate, that's a beaut!"
But back now to more serious stuff.
I reckon that the reason old Sata was given his pink slip is 'cause he dobbed in Haroon Aswat. Methinks old Mwamanasa has a deal with the "A"rabs, namely, "We turn a blind eye to your Al-Qaeda buddies that enter Zambia, illegally or otherwise, and you make sure we get a good share of oil." (Wink, wink).
Trouble is, he probably didn't pass that on down the line to Sata, who for the first time accidentally managed to do the right thing. As can be seen, nothing has changed, I'm forever the cynic and I'm still smarting from my experiences with the Zambian "authorities" who would no doubt have spent the proceeds of the sale of my camera on Chibuku if it weren't for you. Chooks, yes, a photo taken of blerry chickens caused all the angst . . . . and talking about chickens . . . .
Question: Do you know what they do in Zambia with the little baby chickens who have no Mommies and Daddies?
Answer: They send them to *Foster Farms.
* Americans understand.
Glen Drake, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 6 August 2005 at 17:31:15 (UTC)
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On the topic of movies, last night I went to see the most amazing movie I have seen in years. It is an independent movie, so has none of the pizazz and special effects of today's blockbusters, but I would recommend this movie to any person who has a love of rugby. Be forewarned though, it is not for the faint hearted and there is pretty bad language and some graphic sexual scenes in it if that offends you.
The movie is called "Murderball" and it is a documentary following the USA and Canadian Olympic teams in quadraplegic rugby. I had no idea this sport even existed, but it does, and it is played in the Olympics even. I don't know if many people are aware of this but after all the glitz and glamour of the regular Olympics are over every four years, there is another Olympics for the handicapped. There were some scenes in the movie that covered the handicapped Olympics and I was stunned at what they are able to accomplish.
But this movie is awe-inspiring, if gritty. All of the players have suffered great loss in their lives and are paralyzed or have lost limbs, or born with polio. All sorts of disabling circumstances, but they have risen above their handicaps to become absolutely amazingly strong athletes in wheelchairs. They play rugby in specially constructed wheelchairs, on a basketball court and they are tough, man! The story is sad and yet awe-inspiring. They most definitely do NOT want anyone's pity for their circumstances. Several of the men featured in the story had normal relationships with lovely women. It was very touching to see the personal side of their lives and their families. Be forewarned again, there is a somewhat shocking segment of the movie that deals with how their handicaps affect the intimate side of their lives. Quite graphic and again not for the prudish.
I kept looking to see if there was a South African team in the movie as they played in their various world class competions and then competed in the Olympics, but I did not see them on the scoreboards. Has anyone in South Africa heard of it over there? It seemed to have the USA, Canada, Japan (!), Australia, England, New Zealand, Sweden (!) and I am not sure which other teams, but the main focus was on the rivalry between USA and Canada. It went into the private stories of each of the players along the way and it was fascinating. Even though it focused on the USA and Canada, it was actually the New Zealand team that finally won in the 2004 Olympics.
The movie information can be found at www.murderballmovie.com. You can download the trailer for the movie if you have the right program. It also has all sorts of interesting info about their wheelchairs and other stuff. I had to downloand something to watch it, but it only took a few minutes to download the program.
One of the main characters is from Austin, and it was he that got the movie going. Definitely a different kind of movie but I think worth going to if it comes your way.
And on another movie note, I remember one of my most favourite movies when I was a young lass of around 11 or 12 was "Gone With The Wind". I remember it was the first movie that had a bad word that I had seen. There was the famous saying, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!" and we were all shocked by it. After seeing the movie with a friend of mine who also lived where I did in Harrow Crescent, off of Rugby Drive, I was over at her house. Her name was Jennifer Behr, I think. Her mother had this lovely bright red silk pajama gown that had a belt and a waistline to it. We were dressing up in her mother's clothes, pretending to be Scarlett O'Hara and when it was time for me to go home, I asked her mother if I could borrow the gown. We had made ourselves up with bright red lipstick and make-up, etc., something I was not permitted to do at that young age. When her mother said I could take the robe home, I was beside myself with excitement. It was around 9:00pm by the time I had to leave, and Jenny lived at one end of the road and I lived at the other. While I do eat glass and can suck the petrol out of a 747 when I am mad, I have a secret and that is I am terrified of the dark.
Well, I got part way down the street in my made up face and red painted lips and this lovely silky red flowing robe which was all the way down to my ankles, and actually dragging just a little bit on the road, when the shadows from the street lamps began to take on a frightening shape and I freaked out at being alone on the street, in the dark, with the boogyman skulking in the bushes waiting to pounce on me, so I took off running. Now, as you know, at that age I could run like the wind.. especially if there was a boy dangling in front of me..grin.. and I took off like a bat out of hell down the street towards my flats.
I'm not sure exactly what happened, but somehow I tripped on the bottom of this robe and went sprawling down on the street, grazing the skin off both knees and the palms of my hands and absolutely terrified out of my wits to the point where I thought I was having a heart attack. After freezing in fear and waiting for the boogyman to pounce from behind, I managed to stop my heart beating enough to pull myself up off the road. To my horror, the beautiful, red silky gown was no longer flowing at my feet. It had somehow ripped almost all the way around the waistline as I stepped on it and crashed to my doom on the tarmac, and I was left with nothing more than a little red, silky, waistlet, hanging by a few small threads to the bottom of the gown, while the rest of the fabric lay in a heap snarled around my ankle and feet. In my panic and terror to remove myself from the impending murder scene as quickly as possible, I did the most stupid thing and tore the rest of it off so that I had two pieces of robe now. Thank goodness I had clean underwear on because you know how your parents always admonish you to do that in case you are in an accident during the day. Ha! Ha! There I was, in this little red silky waistlet, literally, and then nothing else but my underwear. Mortified and knowing I was in deeeeeep kimshi by this time, I scooped the bottom half of the robe up off the road, and ran for my life up the stairs of our flats and into the front door of our flat... to find my father standing there waiting for me. Even at a hair short of 5ft tall, you did not want to mess with my dad when he was pissed off. He took one look at me and bellowed his usual, "What the bloody hell are you up to, Linda?" Being the ever-fast thinking on my feet expert that I was, I blurted out, "Frankly, dear Dad, I don't give a damn!" before I could stop myself.
You know, for such a short person, that man really did have hams for hands and he cuffed me across the earhole quicker than you could say, Scarlett O'Hara! My ears were ringing for hours after that and somehow "Gone with the Wind" took on a whole new meaning for me. Ha! Ha!
Linda Hayes, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 6 August 2005 at 17:58:01 (UTC)
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The subject heading of my last posting should have said "Movies that have left an impression ON me" and not OF me.
Linda Hayes, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 6 August 2005 at 18:50:40 (UTC)
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Glen....
I never saw any boeties I mean Buttes in my many travels to Montana but there are lots in central Oregon around Bend - the town - not my state of mind :)...
Just left Alaska and now spending a couple of days in Vancouver trying to rope Craig into a visit to Hooters to see if it is any better than Kafue's Tooters we visited last month...
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 6 August 2005 at 21:19:25 (UTC)
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Ja Bru, my spelling is defnatif getting wors (and biltong also). I even spelt Coetzer as Coetser.
The Boks beat the All Blacks 22 to 16 in a hard fought match in Capetown. Thats 3 wins in a row now!
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 6 August 2005 at 22:03:46 (UTC)
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Pete
Ask Craig about orgasmic chickens...
Linda
Definitely agree on Murderball. My cousin Ross Flood "Floody" represented NZ in Oz and Athens in paralympics boccia. He got a break as a kid watching from the sidelines when his dad played rugby. He started to report the games and ended up a sports writer.
Ali
Hola Moooochacha!
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 04:19:52 (UTC)
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I'm back in Perth for 10 days holiday and have just been catching up with all the postings since I left Abu Dhabi. GNR's notice board is sure active. Bit of a change in the weather from day time highs of about 45 C in Abu Dhabi to night time lows of maybe 5 degrees in Perth.
Nicky: Agree that "joke" was inappropriate.
Peter Hills: Glad you escaped the floods in Mumbai. I have other friends there who described the terrible scenes but yours was the most graphic account. I have a sequence of some 13 photos of the disaster which struck the ONGC offshore gas/oil platform at the same time as all that rain. It was engulfed in flames after being struck by a service vessel. If anyone would like to see them I can forward them privately.
Tina: I too lived near Marine Drive, Bombay, as a child and remember having my tonsils out at Breach Candy Hospital aged about 6. They asked if I wanted to keep them but I declined. I wonder where they are now and if anyone is looking after them. I also remember long days at the reach Candy swimming pool eating chips and having huge black crows swooping and grabbing them out of your fingers. It was terrifying as you never saw them until they struck.
LizD: Interesting photos of Chingola. There were only a few cars and people. I remember it being a lot busier -- more bustling. Maybe you took the photos on a Sunday when the shops and businesses were closed. I also saw a strange road sign that looked like "No straight on", a bit like a no right turn sign, only with a straight ahead arrow crossed out. Those cooling towers for the mine power station were once briefly my responsibility -- a scary thought that I was acting sectional engineer "Services" for a few weeks. Such a long time ago.
Keith Binns, United Arab Emirates [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 04:55:32 (UTC)
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More recollections of my childhood in Broken Hill
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Broken Hill Railway Club
The Railway Club and the Bowling Club and Railway football ground were all situated off Fourth Street near the Railway Station opposite the Railway Surgery
The Railway Club was a grand building containing a Library, Large lounge cum dance floor, Snooker room, Men's bar and large verandah facing the clay tennis courts. Waiter service everywhere except in Men's bar. Roy Welensky alias Father Christmas handed out Christmas presents to us in the library around Christmas time prior to age 10 or so, our names would be called out and we went up to meet Father Christmas to get our presents which were usually just what we wanted (how did he know all this?).
On Saturday or Sunday evenings there was usually social evening at the club, they were popular with everyone. The ladies usually stayed in the lounge, smoking, drinking, gossiping and dancing with the single men. Most of the ladies husbands headed for and stayed in the men's bar. I think it was here that Stan first met Mum but I'm not sure. Kids played outside, climbing the Frangipani trees, letting off steam or causing chaos on the station "platform". We also had "Braai's" in 45 gallon drums in the club grounds. At the sun downer dances music was supplied by the "Works Clerk" from the works yard, I think he played a saxophone and his wife played some sort of organ & drums, I think his name was Sid Mace, I'm not 100% sure, they were quite good and enjoyed by all. In later years they could be seen playing in the "Elephants Head" hotel.
Both the snooker room and the clay tennis courts were popular. The men played snooker and the ladies played tennis.
The bowling club was quieter and popular with the older folk. They had their own clubhouse and two bowling greens I recall, sometimes we would watch them play rolling their balls to as close to the jacks as they could. Couldn't see what they saw in the game but they were all quite serious about the game and competition was always fierce.
The football ground also had a rugby pitch; mostly it was football played against teams from all about. Once Stanley Matthews visited, he gave us an exhibition of his dribbling skills. What skilful player he was I have never seen such a good dribbler since! At football matches the crowd sat on the two or three movable stands and shouted their lungs out supporting the team of their choice. Not much rugby was played at the football ground. The venue was also used for important events. At these events the Police Band was usually there strutting there stuff, of course there was a bar where much lager was drunk. Once at one of these events, my friend and I were there drinking and we befriended two girls who lived not far from where we did. As the evening wore on and the alcohol took its effect the girls became more and more attractive so we went off to the park between Second and Third Streets and had a kiss and a cuddle. My girl had buck teeth but I did not notice this until next day when she and her friend called round our house. We were so embarrassed by their plainness the girls who appeared to be keen on us, we were not! My friend and we got rid of them as quick as we could.
Robert Plain, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 07:03:14 (UTC)
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Seeing Robert Plain's message re Broken Hill and railway brought a wonderful memory flooding back. The date, quite a spacial one May 1st, the year, around 1978 but I accurately recall but it goes like this.
Someone from Broken Hill arranged to hire a ZR train to travel from Kitwe to Livingstone, stopping off on the way at various stations for the male passengers to attend sundry Masonic meetings on the way. The wives joining the menfolk for formal dinners after the meetings. Now don't get me wrong the whole trip was absolutely amazing, despite ZR. The train departed Kitwe at 19-30 on 30th April. Janie celebrated her birthday on May 1st, in a siding, at Ndola. The Train had broken down, the driver refusing to go any further without brakes! Now I hear you say 90km in 4 hours, can't be true. It was. The actual arrival at Livingstone was 3 days late, not all ZR's fault though. One of the main problems was keeping the passengers supplied with the necessary provisions, the bar/dining car stocks being very soon depleted! The whole trip was amazing, a once in a lifetime adventure with some amazing people. Now at Livingstone a Golf Tounament was arranged on the 18 hole course. The greens were oil/sand and it depended on the caddy's if your putts holed or not. This depended on his smoothing of the sand between the ball and hole. I've just been reading the ZTB site for Livingtone which boasts an 18 hole course. I wonder if it still the same course and if the greens are still sand or "browns", as it were. The casualty list for the trip was one broken arm and continual hangovers for most passengers. Ah Halcyon days. Does any body else remember this remarkable event?
Robin Hales, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 10:25:55 (UTC)
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Good news that those Russian submariners have been rescued.
It is bad news to hear of Robin Cook's untimely death at 59. He seemed to be a man of principle.
Good news in the Sunday Times. Mbeki, it seems is going to put some tough conditions on bailing out Zimbabwe. It says that none of the money will be given to the Zim regime. Instead it will be channeled through church and other organizations.
That was an interesting story from Peter Hills our man in Mumbai. Nearly a meter of rain in 24 hours! Incredible!
Robert
You certainly have become a prolific poster. Lurkers, follow this example! I wonder if the 2 girls in BH were not (nicknames) Heckle & Jeckle the famous sisters who had to leave Choma in a hurry.
Robin
The theme song of Rhodesia Railways was 'I'll walk beside you.' They were so slow that at a station where the train didn't stop you could jump off, have a quick beer in the pub, then run fast and jump back on the train.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 12:35:40 (UTC)
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'Unfeeling' by Ian Holding Scribner £10.99, pp243
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Set in contemporary Zimbabwe, 'Unfeeling' tells the story of white 16-year-old Davey Baker, one-time heir to a prosperous farming estate, Edenfields. As the novel opens, Davey has been orphaned following a brutal attack by the local militia seeking to 'redistribute' the Bakers' land.
Without warning, the government has given the farm to a thoroughly offensive and undeserving black woman who gives the Bakers' execution orders.
Chance prevents Davey from meeting the same bloody fate as his parents, and the novel explores with eloquence and insight what Holding calls 'the plight of the survivor'.
Davey is entrusted to the care of his parents' closest friends, Mike and
Marsha, who live on the neighbouring farm. Against Marsha's better
judgement, they decide to send him quickly back to boarding school - the
best and most expensive in the country - where they hope he will readjust to a normal way of life.
At school, Davey's psychological scarring begins, inevitably, to manifest
itself. He begins to fight, smoke and drink, precipitating several nervous
exchanges between the headmaster and Marsha, who decide to send him to the school chaplain for counselling. But Davey's grief, which Holding often invites us to think of as Zimbabwe's grief, is not so easily overcome.
In one scene, Davey is forced to listen to a sermon on forgiveness, and
thinks that 'no one was going to utter a few verses at him and make him
forgive and forget. No one was going to buy him off with the promise of easy salvation'.
One night, he escapes from school and makes his way back to Edenfields on a quest for vengeance. The journey itself becomes a kind of miniature romance, in which Davey is educated in the true ways of his native soil. He meets a poor, but literate, ex-headmaster who naively believes that he will one day be given a plot of arable land, and a peripatetic, hopeless drunk who turns on him suddenly.
He is then picked up by a white-trash petrol-station owner who lectures him on the rich farmers who've 'had it good for years' and should know that 'one day it's all going to be pulled from underneath their feet'.
Holding's confident and measured prose rarely falters. He is especially
strong on interior monologues and natural descriptions. This is crucial
because the reader is given a sense of just how much of the characters'
identities are forged through an attachment to the landscape. Early on, for
instance, Marsha gazes out over the African sky, contemplating her place -
as a white farmer's wife - under it: 'There is a kind of sanctity in this
blue dome. Its purity holds her in so that despite the brutality and the
killings, the fear and trauma raging below, she wants to stay here, do her
best to hold onto her life.'
Although there is a clear continuity in the plot, Holding's narrative jumps
around, making the novel seem at once seamless and jarring. This mirrors, in effect, the complex colonial history that Unfeeling tacitly examines.
Zimbabwe is a place where long-standing feuds are the source of endless
bloodshed. And the best shot at resolution is what the title seems to imply:
that the excess of passion from which such senseless violence stems must be un-felt.
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 12:39:50 (UTC)
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I've recently added Woodlands primary school (Lusaka) to Friends Reunited SA (www.friendsreunited.com/sa) - anyone interested?
Also I've lost Peter Armstrong's new email address if anyone should have it.
Cheers, Rob
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Re: 'Unfeeling' by Ian Holding Scribner £10.99, pp243
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Thanks Doug for a most eloquent review. I now want to read the book.
We've just come back from the airport and was looking at new release called "Zambezi" by Tony Park. Looks good. Has anyone read it? Apparently he also wrote "Far Horizon". Both Zimbabwe/Zambia centred.
Sue Coughlan, Australia [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 15:39:45 (UTC)
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Thanks Sue, but in this case the eloquence is not mine. I copied the review from Netgo because I thought it would be of interest to some of our members.
I agree it looks interesting and I must go to Kalahari or Amazon to order a copy.
I think the end is getting closer for the Zim tyrant (I guess they call him this because he always rants and raves).
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 15:59:43 (UTC)
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Aagh my dear OP (Orgasmic Pete),
You're speaking with a mouth full of feathers again . . . .
Haven't you heard of the city "Butte" in Montana?
That's the trouble with you people who live in snowbound countries and who become expert at one thing only - you ignore everything else.
Mind you, one must give credit where it is due. You are certainly unique in your area of expertise. Not too many people around with a voice as "sexy" as yours . . . . . . as Meg Ryan said in the restaurant . . . . .
"Yes, Yes, Yes, . . . .Y-E-S-S-S-S!!!!! . . . . . . say it again Pete."
Glen Drake, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 17:45:08 (UTC)
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I have sent this to my friends but it is worth sharing, it came to me from June.
Welcome to Britain
A Somalian arrives in Leicester as a new immigrant to the United Kingdom.
He stops the first person he sees walking down the street and says,
"Thank you Mr.Englishman for letting me in this country!"
But the passer-by says "You are mistaken, I am a Pakistani".
The man goes on and encounters another passer-by.
"Thank you for havingsuch a beautiful country here in Britain!"
The person says "I no Blitish. I flom Hong Kong
The new arrival walks further, and the next person he sees he stops,shakes his hand and says
"Thank you for the wonderful Britain!"
That person puts up his hand and says "I am from Iran, I am not British!"
He finally sees a nice lady and asks suspiciously,
"Are you a
British citizen?"
She says, "No, I am from Rumania!"
So he is puzzled, and asks her,
"Where are all the British?"
The Rumanian lady looks at her watch, shrugs, and says...
"Probably at work."
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Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 7 August 2005 at 18:09:46 (UTC)
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Extract of an e-mail received today from?
HISTORY TEST
Please pause a moment, reflect back, and take the following multiple choice test.
The events are actual events from history. They actually happened!
Do you remember?
1. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by
a. Superman
b. Jay Leno
c. Harry Potter
d. a Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40
2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by
a. Olga Corbett
b. Sitting Bull
c. Arnold Schwarzenegger
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
3. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by:
a. Lost Norwegians
b. Elvis
c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
4. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
a. John Dillinger
b. The King of Sweden
c. The Boy Scouts
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
5. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
a. A pizza delivery boy
b. Pee Wee Herman
c. Geraldo Rivera
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
6. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
a. The Smurfs
b. Davy Jones
c. The Little Mermaid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
7. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
a. Captain Kidd
b. Charles Lindberg
c. Mother Teresa
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
8. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
a. Scooby Doo
b. The Tooth Fairy
c. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
9. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
a. Richard Simmons
b. Grandma Moses
c. Michael Jordan
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
10. In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
a. Mr. Rogers
b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women problems
c. The World Wrestling Federation
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
11. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by:
a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
b. The Supreme Court of Florida
c. Mr. Bean
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
12. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
a. Enron
b. The Lutheran Church
c. The NFL
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
13. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
a. Bonnie and Clyde
b. Captain Kangaroo
c. Billy Graham
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
14. Who bombed the London Underground this month:
a. Ian Paisley
b. Mr Patel from No 35
c. John Cleese
d. Muslim male extremists aged between 17 and 40
Wake up people. The Muslims hate our guts and the sooner they can get rid of us the better for them. We need to stand up now against these evil people!!
Robert Plain, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 07:25:07 (UTC)
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Robert, you cannot judge all Muslims to be extremists and murderers........
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Pete:
My sister owns a condo in Crested Butte, Colorado. I would imagine there are a lot more Buttes around the USA. I just happen to know of the one Glen mentioned and this one.
Anybody seen the movie, "In My Country?" It is a movie made around the reconciliation events in South Africa. Very interesting. Samuel Jackson is an American reporter sent to cover the events and he pairs up with a female South African journalist. I think there must have been some actual file footage in the movie because the recounting of the atrocities just seemed too real to be acting but I don't really know. Both struggle with how learning about the actual details of atrocities affect them. I think that is a good point. When you hear about atrocities in any country, it is sort of the big picture. But when you have the minute details of the individual situations, it has a totally different affect on you.
Linda Hayes, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 13:06:57 (UTC)
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Robert
Very clever use of events to castigate the likes of me.Probably the most anti-sematic piece of garbage ever written on this board.Wonder if you might fall foul of the proposed laws on incitement; let alone the GNR Board!! I for one will not tolerate such garbage from the likes of you. You make the likes of Chris Tamm look like pussycats. You will feel more at ease with the BNP Website.Thats where you I feel you coming from. I could produce a whole list of events in recent history where mass killings of innocent civilians have been commited by those who share your racial/religious/atheist etc characteristics..and then suggest that they are all the same evil crap. But then (I am now convinced ) I have more sense than you!
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 13:24:14 (UTC)
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Hi Glen...
"Haven't you heard of the city "Butte" in Montana?"
Yes, I have but always thought it referred to a part of Montana not in favour with most of the Montana inhabitants....
Agree that those other Buttes are everywhere in the Western States.
Craig and I introduced our better halves to Hooters on Sunday afternoon. Craig and I agreed that the Buttes in Hooters were superior to those in Montana!!!!
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 14:28:29 (UTC)
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Messages calculated to fan hatred towards groups of people should not be allowed to stand unchallenged. The author of the multiple choice test is misguided. I can make a multiple choice test whose answers can point to the guilt of a ham sandwich, blacks, whites, green people, Hitler etc. etc. What would that prove? If you are truely well educted and informed, you would realize that atrocities have been committed by different small groups at different times in history. Creating short messages to incite hatred toward all muslims among message board members is pointless. There are other message boards where such hate and diatribe will probably be weclomed. But not on this one.
Mwizenge
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
[ Website ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 14:37:08 (UTC)
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Mwizenge and Ayub,
You are both so prejudiced and pathetic in your weak excuses and attempts to cover up the problems that Muslims are facing. You simply fail to realise that you cannot whitewash the misfortune of Islamic peoples by saying "Other people also do bad things."
Listen and listen good . . . . .
"If you harbor terrorists - you are a terrorist."
And I'll tell you who is also getting tired of pathetic excuses . . .
Western civilization . . .
Yes, it is getting a little tired of pathetic excuses by the mass of Muslims for not cleaning their house and getting rid of the scourge that is decimating the good name of the Islamic religion. Just as tired as Bill Cosby in the U.S. is of blacks making excuses. Poor guy, even he is now being called a racist 'cause he tells other blacks that there's more more value in learning to speak English properly than owning a pair of Nike sneakers.
Muslims, instead of standing up in the mosques decrying the fanatical proclamations of radical Imams, cower in fear of their own religion in case they "appear" as infidels and are "punished" for what they think and say.
Well my dear friends, remember the past.
It is easy, this is happening in YOUR lifetime. Your parents and perhaps even you left their "homes" to find a better life somewhere else. You left either because you were persecuted or because you simply wanted a better future. You (ALL good Muslims) are now responsible for ensuring that the country you've chosen to live in (and bring up your children in) doesn't turn into the same pathetic mess as that which you left behind - and believe me, NO ONE where you now living (England or the U.S.A.) would choose to live in any of the places you or your parents came from - unless they were confident that the peoples there respected the rule of law - which NONE of them do.
Yes Ayub - I'm still waiting for you to answer . . .
Remember - YOU said get rid of the radicals and I asked "how" . . .
Well?
And Ayub, you have the audacity to invoke Chris Tamm's name!
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
The sadistic way you attack Chris' words reminds me of . . . .
Glen Drake, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 15:43:09 (UTC)
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Glen,
Not surprised by your respone.Pathetic in content. How many mosques you been in and heard this radicalism? Try this link and the question you asked earlier about Aswat and why that asshole ( and others like him) have never been arrested and charged....may be answered.
www.infowars.net/pages/Aug05/020805Aswat.html
Open your eyes wider and stop jumping at the first sight of a Muslim.The majority of Muslims live peacefully. The posting by Robert Plain is plainly anti-semetic. Such incitement (and similar type of crap..and it is bloody crap!) has resulted in three deaths and damage to many places of worship here in the UK.Reports of assaults on ethnic minorities (these Anti-semetic/Racist morons cannot differentiate between Muslims/Hindus/Sikhs/Black Muslims/Christian Muslims etc)are now numbering in their thousands. But then I have a funny feeling that the proposed (Blair)laws on incitement will only be applicable to Muslims!! Groups like the BNP and such- like will continue to churn out Racist and Anti-Semetic garbage without fear of prosecution.Same laws were called upon by Muslims after Rushdie.And someone mumbled "free speech"! Extremism cannot be beaten by extremism.Uncivilised behaviour cannot be countered by uncivilised behaviour! As the late Mr Robin Cook put it wisely "If we had not invaded Iraq and, instead channeled the resourses and time to solve the Palestinian problem, the chances of us facing terror would have been much lessened". Wise words from a wise man.Pity Blair takes no notice of wise heads... keeps on looking up elsewhere!
Mwizenge,
Good on you!
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 16:30:53 (UTC)
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Glen,
Me and you want to get rid of the radicals but why doesn't the Government do so? Perhaps some Islamic Justice would be fine by me. Mind you, it might not work on the one-armed "cleric".
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 16:34:21 (UTC)
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Ayub,
While some other readers haven't figured you out, I have -- a long time ago. You were a point man in getting Chris Tamm "excommunicated" -- and I use that term selectively. And now you start your verbal diarrhea once again. What for?
To rally support for getting Robert Plain kicked off?
"Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40", and I hope I have Robert's permission to repeat this once again . . . .
"Muslim male EXTREMISTS mostly between the ages of 17 and 40"
are as bad as ZIONISTS, IRA EXTREMISTS etc., etc., of the same age group, and yes, the whole damn lot, together with their warped interpretations of the respective religions should be flushed, you got it, DOWN THE TOILET.
Your veiled statements such as :
1. Wonder if you might fall foul of the proposed laws on incitement; let alone the GNR Board!!
2. I for one will not tolerate such garbage from the likes of you.
3. You will feel more at ease with the BNP Website.
Are all aimed at shutting him up, threatening him, getting him to stop contributing to the GNR board. Aren't they?
Guess what?
You're not in Iran, Iraq or anywhere else where you can "shut people up" for what they say -- SO GET USED TO IT!
The GNR board puts up with your garbage, it can quite well put up with mine as well as Robert's and in my opinion, it should be putting up with Chris'.
You really don't understand what freedom is. Do you?
Well, as a friendly reminder let me tell you that there are people who believe in it, and who die for it. They don't have to be promised virgins, free passage for their families into some ethereal paradise or any other crap to get where they may be going after they commit suicide and wreak havoc on innocent people.
You claim that you have more sense than Robert -- your claim is false. Might it be that some of your beliefs are false?
Is it just possible that some of what you've been taught and now believe is not "perfect"?
Guess what . . . .
Glen Drake, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 17:58:44 (UTC)
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Glen,
Read Robert Plain's mail properly.The "Evil" bit.Tell me where does he mention the IRA or even the others that you cite.Are you his mouth-piece?? I have been taught decency.Never to stigmatise a whole Race or Religion for the deeds of a few. There are shitholes in all communities and religions. RP tends to believe we Muslims are all evil! His view on Muslims is EXACTLY the same as that of the BNP! That is the reason I suggested he would feel more at ease writing his opinions on their site.Of course there are evil Muslims around...but it is insane to say all Muslims are such. By the wayit will be "an offence to read opinions on the internet,write opinions on the internet" to "visit particular websites and bookshops"...under the new proposed Laws.Mind you this does not include the BNP /Nazi websites or visiting bookshops that sell books on Hitler or Stalin! Oh well! Looks like some of us will lose our freedom soon! Tell me why is it that the authorities continue to allow these extremist clerics to churn out their crap on TV?Why were none of them ever prosecuted for offenses of violent behaviour/affray that they and their supporters caused and created at Mosques/political meetings before the last General election? Why are some of them still on the loose.Perhaps the quote that you used(from an extremist) in one of your earlier postings may have some element of truth in it! It suits those who talk about Crusades to have these Morons around so that they can ferment anti-Islamic views.And the likes of RP fall for that....
As for Tamm...I objected to his racist views...as did,quite rightly,others. I thought having lived in Southern Africa...we had moved on from that...and his views were offensive towards the Black members on the Board. And he refused to see that.I don't have any powers to delist members on here.
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 19:05:59 (UTC)
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Mwizenge
Glen
The IRA were (are) terrorists and murderers but they are not religious extremists. They are born Catholics and might hate the Irish Protestants but there is very little about them that is religious. They never quote from the bible and never try to justify their actions because of some interpretation of it or of Catholicism or Christianity.The majority of them have probably never opened a bible in their life and would not know one end of it from the other.
I think they can be called Nationalist extremists
Mike Slement, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 19:24:06 (UTC)
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Mwizenge.Your name was not meant to be there.Printed in error
Mike Slement, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 19:28:03 (UTC)
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A moderate earthquake, measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale, hit the border areas of Zimbabwe and Zambia Monday night, on fault lines along the Zambezi River, which has
experienced several earthquakes in the last six years.
The resort towns of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and Livingstone in Zambia, felt the quake, but no damage was reported.
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 19:55:08 (UTC)
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I see various people are getting their knickers in a knot. It is better not to. Nothing is solved and it only makes you walk funny!
Robert was only posting a email that is doing the rounds. It referred to Muslim Extremists. If you are not an extremist why should it worry you? Most Christians seem to have no problem with condemnations of Christian Fundamentalists who blow up abortion clinics and shoot doctors.
A condemnation of extremists is not a condemnation of a whole group. I can well understand Ayub's worries but the sooner decent Muslims condemn and get rid of these vermin the safer they will be.
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 20:03:48 (UTC)
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Glen gave me a present when he came to the Soiree of a 2-volume work, named 'The Ila-Speaking Peoples of Northern Rhodesia' by Edwin W Smith and Andrew Murray Dale. This work first appeared in 1920 and was re-printed in 1968 so the period of study was at the beginning of the 20th century, at the dawn of white colonization. Therefore the stories that the authors recorded and the observations they made were very authentically African before the native culture became confused and blurred by European culture. The Ila-speaking people consist of the Ba-Ila proper on the flood plain of the Kafue River; to the west are the BaMbo, BaBisi to the south, BaLundwe to the southeast, and BaMbala to the north. Also BaSala and BaTwa (bushmen). Their country is called Bwila.
Slavery was widespread with slaves being bought from and sold to Arab and Mambari traders. Slaves were taken during inter-tribal wars but a member of the tribe could become a slave for any number of reasons. For example if a man was charged with some offence by another in the tribal court and failed to pay the fine of cattle he would have to sell himself (kuditula) into slavery to a rich man who could pay the fine for him. He would remain a slave until his relatives or the people of his totem could raise enough cattle to buy his freedom. This totem business is a whole other story. Maybe Mwizenge could explain further?
I would have liked to have read such a book about the Bemba or Nguni peoples with whom I am more familiar but these books were also interesting. Folk stories about Fulwe the tortoise and Sulwe the sly rabbit are included. Apparently these stories are fairly wide spread in Africa and were carried to America by the slaves giving rise to the American stories of Brer Rabbit and so on.
The Ba-Ila believe in reincarnation, but in a different way from the Buddhist. The Ila don't believe that your action in this life is rewarded or punished in a future life. The grandfather's spirit normally comes back in the grandson. It can even come back into more than one person.
When game is successfully killed a small pieces of the meat must be thrown into the air also to the east, west, north and south to thank the mizhimo or spirits. In isiZulu they would called madlozhi. Of course when eating or drinking some food and drink is spilled on the ground for the spirits.
Elizabeth Colson, Ph. D. Professor of Anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley in her introduction says:
The authors, one a missionary and one a government officer, spent years in close association with the Ila. They were remarkable men themselves: they seek to understand and learn from the people rather than condemn the Ila way of life and convert the people to their own.
The pre-eminent value of this work lies in its detailed description and analysis of religion, morality, sociology, and psychology. We can learn where the Ila stood on such matters as the role of cattle in their society, the political role of chiefs and prophets and how they differed, the ambivalent position of the chief as both master and servant of his people, the relations of the sexes.
I have now read these books and if scholar of African Anthropology (they are heavy and also heavy reading) would like them, email me and I will send them.
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 20:17:05 (UTC)
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Everyone is known to someone else. I cannot believe that any extremist is in cognito, in toto. Someone, somewhere, knows who and where these animals are. I don't care if they are IRA, PLO, the Stern Gang,Muslim or Christian Fundamentalists. All the preaching in the world about the sanctity of one's religion, is not going to prevent what they are doing. They must be unmasked, preferably by their own ilk. In English (and other) law, subornation makes one a Principal Offender. To not turn these bastards in, makes one just as guilty as the perpetrators, even more so, as not doing something which might have been prevented, is more heinous than the act(s). If the forces of Law and Order don't immediately identify them, it's for sure someone else (and close to them) can.
Please let's not generate too much heat on each other. A rat is a rat is a rat, be it Black, White or Polka-dot, Christian, Muslim, Jew or whatever.
Ken Fernie, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 20:29:53 (UTC)
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Ken,
Quite right.A list of names of extremists was given to the Government by Moderate Muslim leaders here in the UK two years back and nothing was done about them.Moderate Muslims called for the banning of the Al Majroon Group two years back.The Government only announced its ban last Friday. It seems that the Extremist Sheikh (Bakri) whom Glen quoted, has (amidst the tightest security seen at UK ports and Airports for many years) mysteriously left these shores today and seems to have ended up in Lebanon this evening! Two days ago the Media gave him much coverage ...to churn out his garbage!
Doug,
Too many emails go around.Thats no excuse for it to be "spiced up" and put on board!
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 21:07:34 (UTC)
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Anyone wanting to unlock their mobile phones for free.. log on to this site
www.trycktill/unlock_swe.asp
You will need to click the UK flag at the bottom to get the contents in English.Put your make in (Nokia etc),model and IME number (you get that by dialling *#06# on your phone) and the site will generate a code which you key into your phone.... and hey presto!..your phone is unlocked!!This means you will be able to use a sim card from any network provider.Here Mobile phone dealers charge up to £15 to unlock phones.
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 21:22:22 (UTC)
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Ayub
I think the media were probably working on the principle that 'Give them enough rope and they will hang themselves'
I hope this starts a flood of self-exits. The authorities are not going to stand in their way
I hope they don't let them in again
Its amazing how they manage to find a safe country to flee to when they have to.
Mike Slement, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 21:36:35 (UTC)
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Ayub, that link didn't work. Are you sure it's the righe address?
Fiona Gayther, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 8 August 2005 at 22:16:08 (UTC)
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Butte rhymes with newt. It sounds like beaut. Craig and Pete were looking for beaut. buttes in Hooters but there they would pronounce it butte like nut and happily nutty they both are on occasion, bless them.
For the edification and edumacashon of the readership I did a ickle search on buttes. There are quaintly names buttes of all shapes and sizes.
There is as Linda says - Crested Butte, makes you think of a peacock or a pronking springbok. New Mexico has Elephant Butte. There is Butte Creek. (I'm sure we have all had our buttes creak a bit in winter), not to mention Fossil Butte, less said the better on that one. There is Red Butte and Black Butte. And what would Whiskey Butte look like?
I found an article on Preserving the Future of Butte. (Forward-thinking lot there). You can even get Butte Weather Forecasts! Sudden lethal gusts after the onion crop has been harvested? Lone Butte is probably subject to such weather.
I found Bear Butte near Sturgis, SD. This makes perfect sense since Sturgis is the venue of the huge annual motorbike ride and you can find "bear" anything hanging off a motorbike. Box Butte and Round Butte seed growers association probably go together. Do you look for a specific round butte to grow the seeds on? Box Butte seems made for the job. Mariana's Butte must be particularly lovely. And then there is Rainy Butte in North Dakota with a Rainy Butte Hunt. I don't think I want to find it, personally. Pine Butte and Cedar Butte probably smell woodsy. Shadow Butte sneaks along behind your own rear end. Nahanny Butte and Billy Butte seem made for one another. We all have feet of clay on occasion but what about Clay Butte?
Well there you have it. The only thing to do when you have a Butte itch is to scratch it and I have. And the good news is that there are mounds and mounds more quaintly named buttes out there should you want to search them out.
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 00:00:16 (UTC)
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My goodness gracious me. Robert Plain certainly stirred up the hornet's nest with his posting. Robert clearly states in his opening paragraph that he was posting an EXTRACT from an e-mail he had received. He did not state whether he agreed or disagreed with what was written.
I have read his posting very carefully and have compared it with four e-mails that were forwarded to me from America, New Zealand, Belgium and England. With a few minor alterations, all were the same up to a point.
This e-mail originated from America and has far more sensitive details than Robert posted. I must admit that when I read the first e-mail sent to me, I too thought it would make for good discussion on the board. It helps one to appreciate and understand other people's thoughts and beliefs. The author of the e-mail obviously believed in what he /she had written about Muslim EXTREMISTS.
Many readers would dismiss it without another thought. Others might agree. Writings such as these do not cause RACEST hatred but hatred for those who believe in TERRORISM and those who carry out such atrocities -- no matter what their race or creed. The RACIST word is far too loosely used, so much so that it has lost its true meaning.
Ayub was very quick to assume that Robert was the author. He then went on to castigate Robert to the extent of wanting him thrown off of the GNR! This in turn caused others to vent their views in anger.
What a sorry lot we are!
Maxie Lindenberg, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 00:27:46 (UTC)
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Someone was going to find that email offensive because of the careless wording of the final sentence:
"The Muslims hate our guts and the sooner they can get rid of us the better for them. We need to stand up now against these evil people!!"
Without it reading: "The Muslim EXTREMISTS hate our guts" etc. it was, quite unintentionally, I firmly believe, a fight waiting to happen. However, if we seek understanding instead of instantly going off like bottle-rockets, or rip open old wounds in response, we could all of us (self included bigtime) deal better with eachother than we have in the past.
Many of us number among our friends, good-hearted, law-abiding Muslims, likeminded friends of different faith who want peace, co-existance and interfaith understanding and friendship. They seek to raise their families in a caring world. They are appalled and repelled at extremist behaviour. They deserve our friendship and support in difficult times.
I.e. The Falls Road, Belfast isn't your local parish church. It's one tiny area of Belfast.
However, completely separate from the average Muslim are these factions of Muslim extremists that preach violence and hate. Their cells and ideals need to be eradicated.
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 04:45:33 (UTC)
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Hi Everyone
It seems that it was less than a couple of years ago that many members were being castigated for "non-germane" postings.
I don't see how the comments of the past days can in any way be construed as relevant to this board. The content may be topical, but that is surely not the raison d'etre for the GNR?
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Fiona,
Sorry. Try this:
http://www.trycktill.com/eng/unlock_swe.asp
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 09:12:14 (UTC)
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Barry,
Your own posting underlines precisely the reason for the GNR board.
Point number 5 of "Contributing to this site" reads . . . . .
"Post messages on the message board."
Glen Drake, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 16:40:05 (UTC)
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Mike,
Your posting makes a good point . . . . or does it?
"They are born Catholics and might hate the Irish Protestants but there is very little about them that is religious."
H-m-m-m-m-m . . . .
Let me try this and see if it also makes sense . . . .
"They are born Muslims and might hate the Infidels but there is very little about them that is religious."
Give me time . . . . . . this is a tough one . . . . . .
Glen Drake, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 17:04:46 (UTC)
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Tina
When I was roadbuilding with MacAlpines we had a lot of diesel fitters from the north of England and they kept talking about all the buttes they had there.
Apparently their favourite was chip butte. I only found out much later that they were talking about sandwiches!
BTW Chinyerezi is the first to ask for the Ba-Ila books, so first come first served.
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 19:53:38 (UTC)
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I have just returned from butte-e-ful Yukon and Alaska.
Sorting through my photos and if anyone is interested will send you some.
Still have to go through about 1,500 from Zambia as well........
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 22:05:20 (UTC)
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The following message is posted on behalf of non-member Liz McGrinder. Please contact her directly as described below if you can help her. Thanks.
I am looking for Ex Zambian, Craig Pyle. The last address I have for him is a P.O Box in Strathaven, South Africa.
Would be grateful if any of your members know of his whereabouts if they would forward him my email address lizmcgrinder@hotmail.com and ask him to contact me.
Many thanks Liz
If you can help Liz, please contact her directly at lizmcgrinder@hotmail.com. Thanks very much.
Craig Hartnett, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 22:35:28 (UTC)
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Gerry And The Peacemakers have decided to quit the London Scene after many years. It has become far too dangerous for them to continue their act. " You never know nowadays if you' re going to get blown- up on your way to blow- up, shot or even arrested! " a spokesperson for the IRA said recently.
Robert : Religious " put downs" like the one you posted have been birling around the Celtic world since the Boyne. From Quill mail to E mail its been the same old guff. The Papes are gonna **** all the Proddy *********. The Proddies gonna do even worse to the Papes and their leader in Rome! And so on and on, one hundred times more offensive, if anyone was stupid enough on either side to take the slightest bit of notice, than the mail which you recieved.
Colin Munro, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 23:25:27 (UTC)
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The following message is posted on behalf of non-member Janet Isles. Please contact her directly as described below if you can help her. Thanks.
I am seeking information about my late father, Pete Bartlett who lived in Kitwe and died there in approx 1995. I believe he worked as an engineer in a large plant and was married to a lady called Rose.
I haven't seen my father since I was about two years old, and so I don't really remember him very well. Any information about him would be appreciated, as I would like to visit his grave one day.
Please mail jan.isles@blueyonder.co.uk.
If you can help Janet, please contact her directly at jan.isles@blueyonder.co.uk. Thanks very much.
Craig Hartnett, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 9 August 2005 at 23:46:04 (UTC)
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What beats me is why anyone would put in here in the first place. Its like disturbing a bee hive just for the hell of it.
Esther Pettersson, Australia [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 02:06:28 (UTC)
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It was the night of Monday August 8, 2005. Near the Zambezi, pressure had been building in the walls of the regional fault strained by tectonic forces. The fault ruptured releasing its energy in a spreading shuddering accompanied by d the sound of an express train approaching. In a nearby Zambian tourist hotel, a shy, middle-european honeymoon couple had just retired for their first night together. The sounds of the earthquake died away to be followed by a deeply shocked silence. From suite 201 came an excited voice: "Oh Hans, it vas twue, it vas twue vat my momma she told me. Ze earth really does move!"
(A little germanity plus a touch of inanity, gives you a giggle and wards off insanity.)
XX Tina
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 03:32:59 (UTC)
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Hello Ali,
My recent posting was badly worded and worse still it should never have been posted.
As it happens I believe there are good and bad people in everywhere.
If I've offended you PLEASE ACCEPT MY SINCERE APOLOGIES.
Kind regards
Bob Plain
Robert Plain, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 09:26:30 (UTC)
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I'll forgive you if you will post some more of those fantastic Broken Hill - the centre of the known universe - memories, hee, hee!!!!!
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 10:38:48 (UTC)
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Robert,
As far as i am concerned...pologies accepted.
Doug,
Police in Northants,UK, are looking for a gang of South Africans who have been responsible for raping at least 3 women and also for the attempted abduction of 2 others! Lets hope the horrible ordeal these women are going through are not further enhaned by the possibility that the rapists are not carrying the HIV virus.
Also heard on the news that in South Africa a man and his employee have been found guilty of the murder of another employee.Apparently they had beaten him up first and then ...threw him to the lions! How awful!
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 12:20:14 (UTC)
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Sorry meant ..Apologies
Ayub Ismail Zumla, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 12:20:58 (UTC)
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Hi All GNR readers,
I have been trying for some time to obtain photos of Kitwe Boys High school.
If there is anyone out there, who has any photos of the old school, I would be ever so grateful if you could forward them to me at: petere@makro.co.za
I was at the school from 1957 to 1960, maybe there is even someone who can remember me? ( Or worse, chooses NOT to remember me. LOL )
I would love to hear from you,
take care,
best wishes,
Peter Eldridge
Peter Eldridge, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 13:30:39 (UTC)
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Ayub,
"Lets hope the horrible ordeal these women are going through are not further enhaned by the possibility that the rapists are not carrying the HIV virus."
Did you mean "enhanced" and if so, surely then you shouldn't have said "not" when you were referring to them carrying the virus.
I hope I'm right 'cause I know you're not really as mean as you sometimes pretend to be.
(I think?)
Glen Drake, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 15:43:25 (UTC)
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Sorry Liz, I don't know Craig Pyle. MacGrinder? What clan is that? It is a new one to me.
What did the one coffee bean say to the other? Let's get together and have a grind!
Ayub
I wonder if the rapists are not Zimbabweans pretending to be South Africans although it is our national sport also. Some Sharia law would be good who ever it is. This is why nation wide HIV testing should be compulsory so that if a person had AIDS he or she would know it. Thereafter any rape or even seduction under false pretences from such an infected person should be treated as murder. The offender could be fed to the Crocs. What a great tourist attraction that would be.
Glen
That is one thing about the Muslims they don't mess around when it comes to punishing criminals. They chop off the offending limb. Apparently in Dubai when the merchants go to Mosque all the stalls are left open and nobody steals anything.
A gang of 10 hooligans attacked four South Africans in London, who by their names seem to be white or colored, and one had his eye stabbed out with a broken beer bottle. (I mention the race to show Ayub they were not Muslims under attack). Also hooligans in the north of England killed one black youngster with an axe. A bit of Sharia law would do wonders!
Tina
Ze earth moved! Good one!
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 19:38:11 (UTC)
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Robert who speaks Plain.
I second Orgasmic Yukon Pete's suggestion that you must carry on posting.
However can we not move along from BH to a decent town like Mufulira?
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 19:42:28 (UTC)
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Rhodesian/Zinbabwe PensionersCHALLENGING THE ZIMBABWE PENSIONS CRISIS
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CHALLENGING THE ZIMBABWE PENSIONS CRISIS
Hi to all you GNR devotees, firstly my apologies to those who inquired ( Where to now) regarding the running of and the objectives of the Flame Lily Foundation. Our HQ is in Pretoria ( can you believe it, it’s Tswane now), full branches in Secunda, Pietermaritzburg, Durban and down here in Fish Hoek, Western Cape Peninsula. My position is vice chairman, and the reason for this delay is due to the functions we have just had, which are my baby. It is very heart warming to be of assistance to our needy pensioners. For security reasons we do not publicise banking details on websites.
Here is a message from our National Secretary John Redfern :-
Over the past five years, pensions have ceased to be paid from Zimbabwe. To alleviate the hardship faced by many Zimbabwe pensioners, the Flame Lily Foundation (FLF) established two projects specifically to assist pensioners in South Africa.
Known as Project 142, the one project enables participants to donate their blocked funds in Zimbabwe to specified charities there, which are caring for the aged. In return, the FLF pays donors a grant in South Africa, commensurate with their donation in Zimbabwe. By this means, both the donors and the charities in Zimbabwe, many of which are in urgent need of funds, are assisted.
The second project is the Zimbabwe Pensioners Association (ZPA), which has built up a database containing the records of over 1 700 Zimbabwe pensioners. The ZPA is thus able to provide useful advice to pensioners and, through the FLF, to assist with welfare in certain circumstances. Both projects, of course, require a great deal of finance.
The Rhodesia Association of South Africa (RASA) was established in 1981, and by 1984 had brought about the amalgamation of several Rhodesian clubs operating in various parts of South Africa. Initially, its main function was to assist the many Rhodesians who had moved to South Africa to adapt to and settle in their new country. In 1994, the name Flame Lily Foundation was adopted, though RASA may still be used locally at branch level. The FLF is a registered non-profit organisation, and is also registered as a Public Benefit Organisation with the SARS, ( South African Revenue Services) thus enabling donors to claim tax benefits.
Another FLF project was the purchase of a number of former mine houses at Stilfontein in the Northwest Province, (near Klerksdorp). These were converted into flats and are let to pensioners at affordable subsidised rentals.
Apart from its welfare activities, the FLF has, over the years, built up a Rhodesiana library for research purposes and to preserve our history and heritage. Some valuable memorabilia and documents have also been preserved, and deposited in a British museum.
Where to now?
If you would like to assist the Flame Lily Foundation with a donation to continue these worthy projects, especially while the economic crisis persists in Zimbabwe, please contact the Foundation’s Honorary Secretary, John Redfern, by e-mail rasa@iafrica.com, or phone him on 012 4602066. Additional information can be found on the Foundation’s website at www.flamelily.ws
With kind regards to you all
Skatie Fourie
10 August 2005
Skatie Fourie, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 20:15:17 (UTC)
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Rhokana Cinema 1946The Rhokana cinema with 500 excited kids was an education never to be forgotten,
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The Rhokana cinema with 500 excited kids was an education never to be forgotten, every-body loves a cowboy movie, they were black and white films. Cowboys singing and immaculately dressed with that familiar white Stetson hat, a fancy scarf, tasseled shirts, star studded boots, shiny six shooters, with a work of art studded saddle on a clever horse, and always a ‘dude’ that runs for the sheriff should help be needed.
During 1946/7 our Saturday matinees were anxious moments, it was our favourite entertainment, as I hurried along with my best friend George and sister Maggie Myburgh, my sister was in the good company of Jacqueline and Teresa Deautloux, Valerie Visser (Sharp) and Janette Myburgh. We were completely infused with the marvel of the silver screen, an experience that brightened our sheltered minds, this was the Fourie kids initiation. The rush started inside when we jockied for the front row, the momentum built up, the noise was unbearable.
We have never seen or experienced the likes of it, nearly every kid including us were chewing, missiles hurled around and ushers trying to sort out little bullies, what a culture shock. Then catching us by surprise, an all mighty roar as the lights dimmed, and the red velvet curtains drew open, everyone was on the edge of his seat and altogether release a feverish y-e-a-h, y-e-a-h, The bullies in front seem to have forgotten the feud and join in harmoniously with all as Tom and Jerry go through their tricks, Jeremias my younger brother (later nick-named ‘Goodbit’ by our gardener) and I have stood up several times during poor little Jerry’s almost being caught several times, and we were not alone as the screams of ‘run run’ swept across the aisle’s.
With Jerry winning that round these delightfully little animations had stolen our hearts, and can you remember those mistimed stunts of Donald Duck and the clever ‘whats up doc’ with Bugs Bunny getting the better of ‘oooh mister whabit im’a gonna get yer’, none other than the cocky carrot red haired and bearded Yosemite Sam (pronounced: - you sem mity). The Three Stooges made an entrance, the cinema plaster must have come off as it felt the impact of whistles and more yeahs, as cavorting across the silver screen appeared these three grown-ups with funny hair do’s and slapping each other around followed by excitable ‘me me mees’, snorts, nose twisting and eye gouging. If the one with the tufts of hair and bald dome did not block his nose by bridging it, he would have surely have ended up blind, then with a quick thump on the head with a hammer drawn from nowhere, sounds which coincided to each silly move were too much for our reserved ways. This was a feast as the kids were jumping for joy, some being silly trying ‘me me mees’ on others.
Next a couple of previews, or trailers as we referred to them, followed by the African Mirror with every kid thumping the floor with their feet to the beat of drums by a sweaty Zulu warrior, followed by a serial of either Rin Tin Tin, a magnificent alsatian dog, trained to perform and sort out the bad guys. Performing amazing feats of daring rescues, or King of the Royal Mounties, dressed so neatly in his red uniform, a fatherly law maker, as clean as a whistle after roughing up the bad guy, still with his hat on. interval could not have come sooner, all this excitement had built up a hunger. Then as the curtains draw to a close George says ‘kom’, a mad rush is on to get out, we cross over Club St. and join the stampede up the flowery pathway, which passed in between the bowling greens. The uncontrolled frenzy entered the Club, everyone was running and halted at the canteen.
Staring down at us all was Mrs. Cummings, slightly built, straight hair showing a touch of gray, she had a sweet nature serving behind this refreshment bar as long as I can remember, I can still visualize her with one front tooth showing, even with her mouth closed and how many times have we heard her whisper ‘my feet are killing me’. Maybe that’s the reason why she limped, she was assisted by a slim lady who gathered her hair and tucked into a 1940 ball headdress, deep red lipstick, scarf and all with a smelly dreadful cigarette sticking out the side of her tight lips, one eye was always slightly closed to protect the sensation of burning smoke. She addressed everyone as
11.
“Can-I help ‘ya loov’. Cokes in small green tinted bottles and an ice cream cone cost three pence, chocolate log, peppermint crisp, Cadbury bars two and half penny each, sherbet and suckers a penny, Wrigleys chewing gum, two pence for a wrapper of five, big apricot coloured ‘gob stoppers’ two for a penny.
Back inside we pushed and shoved to regain our seats, the noisy popping of empty packets and unguided flying sweet wrappings, no one took notice or could hear the interval music, eventually the lights faded and the cheering hit the ceiling again. Roy Rogers famous partnership with his horse Trigger, was an affair to remember with the beautiful groomed Pamino, this was the inspiration for the song ‘A four legged friend’ and of course his leading Lady Dale whom he married in real life, Roy became king of the cowboys when Gene Autry was called up for his national service during World War 2. They were all dressed so immaculately, like a spiv with a voice as sweet as the morning dew. Remember ‘Don’t fence me in’ which was so popular with our Moms and Dads, these were cowboy hits with a bit of yodelling too. Other movies which also made an appearance at Rhokana was Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger with Silver and Tonto, Johnny MacBrown, Tim McCoy, Tom Mix and Charles Starett, these were the tough guys who rode the purple sage, best described as the clothes horse phase. Some referred to them as being the cast of a horse soap opera. Best groomed horses or not, they were the reason why the west was cleared of all ‘dem’ villians. They were so easy to spot, wearing those familiar black Stetson hats, black scarves, dark eyes with a touch of mascara to characterize that evil look, not to mention the tough talk which sneaked out of the side of their mouths, hand picked ‘dudes’ to carry out the dirty work for the boss man.
It’s amazing how many widowed homesteaders with a fatherly image, and his beautiful daughter were the victims of a plot in scaring them off their ranch. Then along comes one of these heroes, saving the ladies virtue and the day. Tom Mix once chased after a bank robber on his horse whilst actually making a film, the robber was arrested and Tom went back to finish the days film shooting. He became even more than just a big star with this daring incident, posing with a no nonsense image under that 10 gallon high crown hat.
The Gene and Roy movies always closed on a sweet cow boy song, accompanied by a full band which was not physically present, as they ride on horse back side by side with their leading lady, following behind at arms length by the law abiding sheriff, bringing peace to these wide open spaces. Alan Ladd appeared in the fifties, stony faced tight lipped and quick as a rattler, his irresistible leading lady was Veronica Lake, she had our bell bottom trouser Dads spell bound, setting a fashion trend with her peek-a-boo hair style. Alan was only 5ft 6ins and packed the punch of a stubborn mule. One would never have known that he was such a short arse, being cleverly filmed at the right angle. Then nearer to home “me Tarzan--you Jane”, and ‘Boy ’who was found by Cheetah the chimpanzee, and the stuffed crocodile and lion Tarzan killed several times, it must have kept the Taxidermist busy. Then last but not least, Errol Flynn the swash buckling chandelier swinger sporting a ‘spiff’ moustache, he could swing from a rope with one hand and fight off a dozen or more sword fighters.With any of these films as a main feature and any one of the above shorts in support, compare this for value and it was all for only a ‘tickey’. What remained was the national anthem, God save the King, with the Union Jack fluttering in the breeze, as it appeared on the silver screen. Our Brownies, Girl Guides, Cubs and Boy Scouts were all up standing to attention and proudly saluting.
I must mention my favourite western before I close this ‘going to the bioscope’, he is tall, takes no nonsense speaks with a nasal drawl, walks with a unmistakable floating – drop of the hip, his quick stride is purposeful and when he hits, the poor bad guy stays hit, he draws and shoots true and his cavalry always arrive just in time, (quite amazing just before the movie ends) the Fort is once again secure, the ladies virtue is saved, supplies off loaded and the trail west is kept open for a while, and the undying hero is none other than John Wayne.
Skatie Fourie, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 20:21:28 (UTC)
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Doug
Good question.Are they South Africans?
The description is of 3 black men with South African accents
I have been wondering what that accent would sound like?
Do black S.Africans have a distinct accent when speaking English?
I don't think I would recognise it.
The other day I approached a couple of black men who were washing cars in the supermarket carpark. They were speaking in their own tongue and I thought I recognised some words. Swahili perhaps
They seemed alarmed when I asked which country they came from and perhaps thought I was from the immigration.
'Africa' they replied.
' I know that' I said 'Where in Africa'
'Ghana' was the answer, which shows how off target I was
Mike Slement, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 20:52:49 (UTC)
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Hi Doug...
I have never heard of Mufulira - must be a dorp in Uganda or Tanzania somewhere???
There is only city worth mentioning on this board and that is
***** BROKEN HILL *****
and maybe Kitwe during a month starting with the letter K....
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 22:33:11 (UTC)
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Something sure has changed. When I went to Zambia in July 2002, I bought cell phone at the airport in London and a reasonable price and used it while I was in Zambia. On my way to Zambia 2 months ago, I asked to buy a cell phone. They were going for atleast 300 British Pounds. The explanation was very technical. I wish I had known about unlocking the cell phone to insert a new sim card. I still don't own a cell phone because I am refusing to be tethered to technology. I will probably own one eventually.
Fowarding E-mails:
Last Novemberduring the highly charged national elections, someone at my college fowarded an incendiary e-mail to the whole community. He stirred a hornet's nest and was roundly chewed up for it. The explanation that you are just forwarding something and that you are not the author, does not hold water. Remember that if you forward it to more than two thousand people who potentially read the GNR message board, the obvious assumption is that you support, are sympathatic to, endorse the views or if it is a joke, that you think its a great joke. If you think an e-mail might be offensive, send it directly to the one or few friends. Then they can simply delete it if they find it offensive. Ima against thwarting people's freedom of expression. But public civility must be maintained all the time as the alternative is chaos.
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 23:42:36 (UTC)
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My son 16 year old son, Njenje (not his real name), and I flew out of Dulles airport in Washington DC on June 14 at 10:40 pm. We were going to our home village in Zambia to visit my parents and other relatives. We were also to visit the Luangwa Game Park and the Victoria Falls.
The flight to London was five hours long. Njenje sat up and watched movies all night. I dozed on and off. But there was a young kid in the back who kept kicking the back of my seat throughout the night. The mom was zonked out and I was not about to tell a strange kid to simply stop kicking the back of my seat. When we landed in London, in the light of day as we were disembarking, I found out the mystery kid was a 13 year old girl who should have known what she was doing.
We had a 10 hour wait at Heathrow airport in London. I changed some money into British pounds. I always feel uneasy when the fifty dollars shrinks to less than 25 pounds. I bought a phone card and called my wife in the US, my uncle in Lusaka, and tried to reach my friend in Leeds a couple of times but to no avail. The phone card use took a while to figure out. I bought a short wave radio. My son and I ate something. Eventually, he ate a hamburger and fries that cost 7 British pounds. Have you ever eaten a 14 dollars burger and fries? Airports are expensive.
We took short naps on benches all day. We could have gone into down town London but we did not want to deal with the possible hassle of going in and out of the airport. We took off for Lusaka at about 7:00 pm. My son zonked out as soon as we ate dinner. I slept too. When we woke up, there was a bright and reddish glow in the eastern horizon. It was early morning and we were about an hour from Lusaka. We were both very excited.
We landed at 6:30 am to a fresh crisp morning in the Zambian winter. The grass and trees were brown and the air was very dry. It was pleasant. It was a contrast to the hot, humid, and oppressive heat we had left only 24 hours before. We breezed through immigration and met my uncle outside in the arrival lounge. He expressed surprise at how the 16 year old had grown since 2000 when we visited and he was only 11 years old then. A young male relative put out bags into the jeep and we headed to my uncle's farm just outside Lusaka.
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Wednesday, 10 August 2005 at 23:50:11 (UTC)
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June 16:
The first thing that struck us driving along the road from the airport is how we were driving on the left. There are people and movement everywhere. People are driving, walking, women are carrying things on their heads, there are lots of people riding bicycles, kids are walking to school, and there are green and white public transport mini buses everywhere. There is more action per square block in the city than you see anywhere in the US outside downtown of a major city. By comparison the towns and suburbs in the US are ghost towns.
After meeting my aunt, washing up, and eating some breakfast which was the Zambian tea complete with milk sugar and bread and butter, my uncle gave me the pick up truck keys. I was driving into town with my son and 24 year old niece to change some money and do some shopping. In less than two hours, I was driving on the left side of the road and navigating the driving in the capital city of Lusaka. Let me put it this way: driving downtown Lusaka for anyone who is not used to it is a sure invitation for a possible cardiac arrest. You have to have nerves of steel.
June 24
We arrived at our home village during mid afternoon in the rural provincial district of Lundazi. Numerous relatives; my parents, nieces, nephews, cousins, sister-in-laws, grand parents, all came to see us. They came in one after another. Most of them came with the customary chickens.
After a while my son had learnt to at least say: "Nili Makora"- which "I am alright" in the Tumbuka language. Our guest hut had been immaculately renovated and the floor smelt great. We slept in our sleeping bags with a mosquito net around us. We ate nshima with the unique tasting delicious chicken. During the first night, the twinkling stars against the pitch-dark night awed us. And then the moon came out huge and bright. We ate 10 chickens in 11 days. When we left, my son said we would miss the village and its serenity. We both felt sleepy at 8:00 pm because it got dark and human body just wants to sleep. Then I would wake up at 6:00 am to a fresh brisk morning with birds singing and roosters crowing.
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 00:16:50 (UTC)
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July 11
This was out first night in our chalet at The Wild Life Camp at the Luangwa Game Park. The camp we staid at is on the bank of the Luangwa River. We heard hippos all night, owls, hyenas, and an assortment of wild animal sounds. We woke up at 5:30am. Our first game viewing was at 6:00 am after we had breakfast of toast, hot tea, and cold cereal with milk. The excitement of seeing that first wild animal is memorable. There were two buffaloes staring at us from about 50 yards. Once we were in the Game Park, the feeling of utter wonder are overwhelming to see Impalas, monkeys, elephants, giraffes, birds, hippos, etc etc. in their natural habitat.
July 21
We arrived in the town of Livingstone on the border with Zimbabwe to see the Victoria Falls. During that morning after seeing the falls for two hours, I made this entry in my notebook:
July 21, 8:45 hours Zambian time.
I am sitting here trying to capture an enduring
experience of the falls. I just stood there mesmerized
but also deeply moved by the sound and sight. Millions
of gallons of water falling over a cliff thousands of
feet deep. The cliff stretches for miles. There are
multiple rainbows as the mist of water rises above the
deep huge gorge. There is a continuous deep loud
swishing and thundering sound heard for miles around.
There is nothing like it anywhere in life or in the
world. The Tonga called it Mosi-o-Tunya the smoke that
thunders. Ahhh!! Oh! Oh! Is all I hear from people.
One woman said: "Awesome!!" It is a captivating and
enchanting experience. It evokes religious feelings
about the power of nature. My son Njenje is the one
who put it best when he said a camera photo,
camcorder, and all the tons of gismos people bring to
the Falls to capture it are futile. You have to go and
not just see it; but experience it. The splendor,
power and magnificence of the falls are humbling. It
is 5 hours flight to London from DC, 9 hour flight to
Lusaka and then a 5 hour drive to the Falls. Its all
worth it as it is a life time experience. If you ever saw it now, it would
change your life for ever in a positive way.
July 26
My son and I flew back to the US. Since I have come back, I am convinced that all people who are doing serious creative, spiritual and all work that profoundly impacts other human beings should visit the Victoria Falls, the Game Park, and the typical Village. I don't mean visiting in the usual; "Well I went there and saw the Falls and took some photos, its awesome, and now I am back here."
I think people should go to the Park and really take sometime to see and observe the animals. They should contemplate. They should sit and experience the Falls for hours. Spend a day and night in the serene village, talk to people who take their sweet time to talk and visit with you. They truely look you in the eye and talk directly into your soul. , and really look at the stars at night, and the moon. Teachers, Priests, Creative writers, serious artists, and especially storytellers should all have these experiences.
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 00:27:37 (UTC)
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This is worth sharing.Johnny.
This is a skit on Johny Depps latest film , who thinks them up. Johnny.
They are making a film about a black man that was dealing heavily in cocaine at his house they are going to call it Choclate and the Charlie factory.
Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 01:06:45 (UTC)
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Hello folks, top of the morning to you all.
There are some folk who want me to move on from Broken Hill. I will never fear I will but only when Broken Hill is done. Why? quite simple, I spent most of my childhood there and by and large they were happy days.
Please be patient. We could have loads of fun if other folk told their stories about their times in Northern Rhodesia - Zambia. Come on folks, get sribbling, you know you want to!!
There is an old Scottish song which goes something like this. "My heart belongs to Glasgow"
My heart belongs to Broken Hill. Whatever you think of me or Broken Hill you can't change my menories and feelings about Broken Hill.
I will go on to other places in Northern Rhodesia - Zambia. It's not much but these places also have memories that are important to me.
KInd regards
Plain Bob
Robert Plain, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 07:20:28 (UTC)
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Beautiful account Mwizenge. Loved the Falls bit. We tend to move through life too fast without feeling and seeing the people and things in our day. Slowing down and experiencing each moment fully in the moment and drinking in all around us makes life much richer. I can imagine how incredible it was doing that at the Falls.
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 12:46:15 (UTC)
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Hi Mwizenge...
Do you think you will ever go back to live in Zambia?
Was there anything you missed from the US while in Zambia?
I loved Zambia but now like Canada better BUT I will go back for more visits.
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 13:42:57 (UTC)
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Tina,
Thanks for your positive comments. If there is one thing that I terribly miss is the ability to take time and enjoy the everyday simple things and to have spontaneous relationships with other humans even when they are total strangers. I have lived here for so long and have unfortunately adopted some of the individualism, isolation, the impatience and impersonality of Western culture. That's why I go to the village in Zambia every few years to refill and then when I come back I can last another few years before I need to go again.
Peter,
I have now learnt to say never say "Never". When I returned to Zambia in 1987, my wife and I had assumed we would live happily in Zambia for the rest of our lives. The last thing I expected was to end up somewhere else in the world. I suspect that I will go back there because there is something very powerful that draws me there especially in the village. I think its because I grew up there in my formative years; and I am so grateful for it. I think I am a much better grounded and have been a less screwed up person for that reason.
The thing that I miss when I am in Zambia is some things being done efficiently. But then when I was in Zambia this last time, I thought to myself: "What does it matter if I have my hamburger or nshima in 60 seconds or in 20 minutes?" What's the use of the rush? Its not like at the end of the day I have saved 2 hours that I can use the next day. Does rushing around increase my life expectancy or improving my quality of life? Not at all in the larger scheme of life; except increase the chances that I will get ulcers or hypertension.
Its good that you like Canada now. Wherever you feel you have planted your roots very deeply, that is home.
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 15:24:37 (UTC)
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The Puppy
While we were in Zambia, my son and I arrived at the farm in Chainda in Lusaka at 2:30pm with the ZNBC TV crew to record a Nyanja program about my novel: "The Bridge". My aunt had set up the table with chairs on the beautifully manicured lawn under a shady tree. My son was sitting on my left and the interviewer on my right. Half way through the recording of the interview, at the corner of my eye, I could sense something was going on between my son and something under the table.
After the interview was over, my son told me that the puppy had gotten hold of the microphone cable threatening to yank it off the table. My son had gracefully placed his foot firmly on the cable so the puppy could not pull it. The puppy then attacked my son's foot growling and the battle royale was on between my son and the puppy. I had heard the growling. My son tried to maintain his composure. But my son said the puppy had been growling at his own tail at the same time the fierce animal was attempting to either devour or forcibly extricate my son's foot so he could get to the cable.
When the interview was over, we had a good laugh with the camera crew. But we don't know yet whether the puppy action is on the TV footage. My son and I were thinking of submitting the tape to America's Funniest Videos.
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 15:51:16 (UTC)
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Hey Pete,
It is a measure of nerves and lack of confidence when a person has to revert to color in praising a dorp.
We Mufulira types do not have that probelm.
We know.
In black and white.
I mean, ou maat, we had 3 petrol pumps!
Bill Knott, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 17:17:36 (UTC)
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Mwizenge you never mentioned the Lundazi castle from your visit home is it still operational or is it derelict? I was living in the right hand tower in 1958 when you were trotting bare footed through the burning sand clutching your mama's hand, oh happy days I will never forget Lundazi it was a heaven on earth compared to Fort Jammie, a place where men were men and women were glad of it and one day I would like to go back.
Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 20:39:13 (UTC)
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The following message of interest is posted on behalf of non-member Tony Park.
I'm a Sydney (Australia) based author who spends 5-6 months of the year living in Africa (mostly on the road in Zim and SA, but also visiting friends in Zambia.
I noted from a google search that someone had been discussing my new book "Zambezi" on your discussion forum, but was unable to find the entry.
The point of this email is simply to say thanks to GNR and your contributors - one of whom was able to help me a great deal with some research for my first novel "Far Horizon" which was set in Zambia, Zim and SA.
Zambezi - the new book is, as the name suggests, set primarily in the Zambezi Valley, in the Chiawa area, and in Mana Pools on the Zim side.
Thanks again and congrats on a great site.
Cheers
tony park
www.tonypark.net
Craig Hartnett, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 20:49:16 (UTC)
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Mwizenge Tembo
I enjoyed your writings on your trip home to Zambia. I have to agree with you and your son, that the falls are something to be experience and not just something to look at. I worked on the Rhodesian Railways for some time as a fireman stationed at Wankie. I crossed the falls bridge almost every day for over a year and each time there was something different. The falls is a living thing and like us it changes.
Your words on the African sky at night, makes me very home sick. Here in Bristol we are lucky to see stars at all. I took my wife and daughter to South Africa in 1995 and made sure that we went to a quite beach where there are no lights to be seen. I show them the night sky as it should be seen. They could not believe what an awesome sight it is.
Another thing I miss is the lighting and thunder storms we saw up on the Copper Belt. I spent many a night at my bedroom window or on the front stoop watching the lighting and counting the seconds before the thunder. I tried to work out if the storm was getting closer or moving away As we lived at North Rise in Ndola (the only town worth naming), which is on top of a hill, we could see for miles. I would watch the sky get dark with storm clouds. See the lighting in the clouds, then the thunder. As night drew in the lighting got brighter. I remember on one night the lighting hit the power lines in North Rise. The flash was very bright and the thunder was so loud and instant, that I near wet myself. All the lights went out and hair on my body stood up and there was a tingling feeling all round me.
Syd
Donald Sydney, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 20:59:16 (UTC)
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Hi Mwizengi...
"The thing that I miss when I am in Zambia is some things being done efficiently. But then when I was in Zambia this last time, I thought to myself: "What does it matter if I have my hamburger or nshima in 60 seconds or in 20 minutes?" What's the use of the rush? Its not like at the end of the day I have saved 2 hours that I can use the next day. Does rushing around increase my life expectancy or improving my quality of life? Not at all in the larger scheme of life; except increase the chances that I will get ulcers or hypertension"
You took the words out of my mouth, hee, hee...
I am on my third job after retirement but a few weeks ago put in my latest retirement letter to finish here at St Thomas University in June 2006 when I turn 60. I notice that our VP, Academic has yet to give it to human resources....
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 22:21:24 (UTC)
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Mufulira Bill...
"It is a measure of nerves and lack of confidence when a person has to revert to color in praising a dorp...."
A dorp such as Mufulira only deserves black and white - notice all the whie vowels have disappeared, hee, hee...
The centre of the universe **** BROKEN HILL **** only comes in bright colours!!!
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Thursday, 11 August 2005 at 22:31:23 (UTC)
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Johnny,
Yes, the Castle Hotel is still there. It is one of the most romantic places on earth. I spent a night there last month. This time I made sure I slept upstairs in one of those round or cylindrical rooms overlooking the Lundazi Dam. They still use rex wax on the floor producing a crunching sound when you walk in the hallways. The pipes are so old that now they boil water for you and take it to the bath tub if you want to take a bath. There are lots of new fancy motels in Lundazi to day. But I still stay at the Castle Hotel unless its fully booked. It is no wonder that the characters in my novel spend a night at the Castle Hotel.
Mwizenge
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Friday, 12 August 2005 at 01:55:50 (UTC)
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Donald,
We ran out time when I was at the Falls. We should have walked across the bridge to the other side. But next time. The thunder and rain and lightening are different in Zambia. One of the most memorable rains I can remember was in 1987 on November. It had been hot and humid for 2 weeks. For a whole day you could smell the cold air and smell of those first rains. When it finally rained, the scent is overwhelming and refreshing. I really then enjoy my sleep. Thats very unique. When we live here in crowded cities with lots of bright lights and eyes fixed on TV, most of us have no idea what we are missing. Oh, well.
Mwizenge
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Friday, 12 August 2005 at 02:04:20 (UTC)
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Some of you might be wondering what I was doing in Scotland earlier this month. Most of you though, I'm sure, don't care. However, avid readers of the "Daily Star" will have been alerted to my activities. Those of you who are not avid readers of this fine publication will never know, but you're free to speculate on whether or not is has anything to do with the bathing beauties on top... err... so to speak.
Craig Hartnett, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 02:21:48 (UTC)
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Smiley McHartnett:
Well there you are. It all goes to show how wrong one can be. I thought wearily that the Daily Star headline "Killer flipflops" had to refer to the obvious attributes of the young ladies peeking out from behind the blow up croc with the fatuous expression. Then I noticed the pink Bata Specials. Have you been doing the Pata Pata in your Batas all over the highlands and lowlands and stomping sheep?
"Deadly Sheep Stomping. Sheep Reveals Culprit".
An all out search was begun yesterday evening for the person or persons responsible for flop-dancing on Scottish sheep. A valuable clue was given when one of the victim sheep was interviewed. "Baaaa" said the sheep, weakly. "Hoots, mon, the puir wee muttonchop is trying to say "Bata"!" exclaimed Inspector MacFlatfoot. He pointed out the perfect impression of a Bata Special flip-flop in the flattened wool on the animal's back. He was able to collect two flakes of pink rubber from the site for further investigation. Several local farmers also reported seeing a wee round yellow laddie in a kilt and hieland bonnet in the surrounding fields. This wee laddie gets around. He was also spotted in a picture of bathing beauties in the Daily Star.
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 05:08:02 (UTC)
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Mwizenge
Just your mention of the wonderful aroma when the first rains start has made me so nostalgic. Here I am, in the British summer [which has been most peculiar this year] sitting in my spare bedroom/office, in brilliant sunshine and humidity, catching up on the messages, and I was instantly transported back to scene of my three little boys whooping with delight and tearing outside in their swimsuits to feel the large heavy raindrops, ending up with them covered in mud. But oh, the smell of the air was intoxicating. Couldn't we just do with some of that rain here right now - our lawn looks baked and parched just like Africa before the rains! Not to mention water shortages.
Isn't it weird how a message can trigger an instant flashback?
Elizabeth Robbins
Elizabeth Robbins, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 08:12:33 (UTC)
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Some more sad news from the Cummings family. My Dad (Allan Cummings) passed away this morning at 3:45. He was very ill and was missing my Mom so much, he just gave up in the end.
My Dad is now with my Mom and brothers in a better place. Oh how I miss him and my Mom and Douglas and Russell.
When will all this pain stop.
I was with my Dad till the end, he couldn't talk but he knew that I was there with him.
Those of you who knew my Dad from the Football days - please remember him like that.
He was a wonderful father and I love him and miss him very much.
It is just me and my brother Gavin now.
Lindsay Cummings, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Friday, 12 August 2005 at 08:24:46 (UTC)
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Dear Lindsay,
My heart goes out to you, the pain I know sometimes is unbearable, I am so sorry for your loss, your pain is so tangible in your words, it hurt me when I read it.
Your love for Dad and his for you will sustain you, and though the pain never really goes, one learns to live with it, but the memories will bring so much joy when you least expect it.
Madeleine
Madeleine Luckin, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 10:48:52 (UTC)
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Pierre, mon ami canadien,
The evidence of the superiority of Mufulira is evidenced by the evocative and sibilant writings of Mwizenge and Robert(Bob) and all the others who populate this site. They were, shurely, eddicated at Muf School and Gilbert Rennie - now Kabulonga.
Ha.
Bill Knott, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 15:27:01 (UTC)
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Dear Lindsay
Although I don't know you and you don't know me, I would like to say how very sorry I am about the loss of your Dad. I know very well how terrible you are feeling right now, having lost both my parents within 6 weeks of each other. You will never forget him and you will never stop missing him, but the pain will lessen in time, as you know. I'm sure no one who reads your posting could fail to feel your sadness. Take care.
Fiona Gayther, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 16:42:16 (UTC)
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Craig, is it only pink ones that are lethal or is it all colours? Did you replenish your Batas when you were in Zambia?
Fiona Gayther, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 16:51:32 (UTC)
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Dear Lindsay,
Please know that our love and our thoughts are with you.
Ted, Tina and Chris Magee
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 17:12:55 (UTC)
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Craig,
You should not post messages like that on the message board - it got me so excited that I was unable to prepare these long outstanding photos for the board!!
LMAO
It is just that I am way behind with everything, including reading the message board and posting what is left of the Soiree photos.
So in great haste and with my apologies for this having taken so long, I am posting what is left now and will leave OP, Glen, Doug, John, Craig, Kevin and the Happy Campers to tell the stories and make their comments. And in a very mixed up order i.e. the order of the files on my computer because I just don't have the time to get them into the correct order of events. But I figure this will add some excitement to the lives of some Northerners who are becoming far too staid and boring
The barmen at the Clubhouse, Aaron and Sunday
Sometime on the Saturday evening at the Soiree, just after Dane,
and I had convinced Craig that he should cancel his trip to Harare and join the Swedish female volley ball team on a houseboat trip, I know we had a long discussion about Sunday - his name was changed to Tomorrow and when we realised that it was past midnight, then he became Today. And on Monday he would become Yesterday and on Friday he would become The Day After Tomorrow.
Craig and John doing some searching - for phone signal
Chichele Mofu tree on the Ndola/Kitwe road
Doug at the supermarket, inspecting what the ladies have to offer
Doug checking out just how big it is
Gavin Opie, co-owner and manager of the Guesthouse/Clubhouse
Bruce Henley after a heavy night and in desperate need of some coffee
At the Guesthouse
What some people claim to be the centre of the universe, with a petrol pump and a rather large tree
Kalulushi
Kapenta rig
The other centre of the universe
Lake Kariba
Doug and Glen at our newest shopping centre, Arcades, which is situated in the Centre of the Universe (no need to tell you which town it is, since you alreay know)
OP wonders how mega the mega burger is if it costs a few grand?
OP's first road block at the Independence Arch at the airport
Cairo Road and its horrendous traffic
Katunjila Road (can't remember its old name, but the Pep stores on the left is what used to be Keys/CBC/ZCBC and a little further down is the Twentieth Century)
Approaching Lusaka from the south (on the Great North Road)
Leaving Cairo Road at Northend Roundabout and heading up the Great North Road
Kevin and Doug at O'Hagans and Nick the Greek, owner of O'Hagans
Findeco House in Lusaka. No, Arthur, the camera is not skew - it is the building.
OP gets the juices flowing in Mazabuka
Cotton crop on the way to the ginnery
I'm horrified, I can't remember which town this is (and I only drive through there on average three or four times a month). Either Pemba or Chisikesi, but I think the latter
The Hunks juice up in Monze, at Golden Pillow Lodge, right next door to Tooters
Monze takes its rightful place in the world. Perhaps this is the real centre of the universe
Mufulira, certainly not the centre of the universe
Glen preparing dinner
Boat along the Kitwe/Mufulira road, close to the entrance to Rhodwins Dam (I think)
The chicks that all the fuss was about
Defnitely not the centre of the universe either (hover mouse over the thumbnail for a hint)
The hunks juicing up again, this time at Ndola Boat Club
Glen and my father, George Bender
Ploughmans Arms, Chisamba
Sarah and Harrison, two of the staff at the Guesthouse
Brett, our driver for the boat cruise on Sunday
Kevin trying to con us that he is some sort of mechanic. It was Phil who carried out the repairs that were needed. It was a good try Kev !!
Glen returns the chameleon found in the boat engine to the island
THE END
Photos taken by OP, Doug, Glen, Louann and myself. My apologies if I have duplicated any photos
And that concludes the photos from the Soiree that I have chosen to post. If any Sozzlers have any specific photos they want posted, let me now and I will oblige.
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Craig,
See the picture of Kevin down towards the bottom of my posting? Well, I'm in the same position, begging you to correct the error I made on the Chichele Mofu tree.
Thanks mate.
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Heather
I love the caption for your final photo. Glen was lucky there weren't any amorous hippos around otherwise it wouldn't have only been Pete who was orgasmic.
Maybe the secret words are what Jerry Springer stage whispers to all the young girls, "I'm very rich."
Cheers - Doug
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 20:15:16 (UTC)
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Dear Heather you ask for request pics I would like to see the one of you doing the dance of the seven veils on the banks of the Zambezi in fact the series of them I believe they are great. Johnny.xx
Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Friday, 12 August 2005 at 20:51:27 (UTC)
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Heather
Thank you for the pictures. I enjoyed the pictures of Lusaka especialy the ones of the South and North aproach to Cairo Road. Is the tall red brick building at the North Roundabout used by the Tax Office?
Katunjila Road! I should know what it was called before!!! NO. Somebody should know. I know that the tall building just past the Twenieth Century was used by Price Waterhouse immediately after my time. They may still be there. They have changed their name too.
The big Tree at the Centre Of The Universe was also very much appreciated. Now.... The Ploughmans Arms did not look like what I remembered it to be. The wall also does not feature in my memory of the place. It looks smaller now! The picture is taken from the Great North Road?
Chinyerezi Chintu, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 13 August 2005 at 06:47:43 (UTC)
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As teenager a group of us visited Mulungushi at the weekend on a number of occasions, usually transport was provided by kind grown ups or a grown up, or we just hitch hiked there and back. The journey to and from Mulungushi was an important part of our visits as the road being dirt and a bit windy, the car or truck we were travelling in would slip and slide in the fine sand in some places, can't recall any accidents though. We enjoyed seeing the old steam traction engines that had been abandoned in the bush just off the road.
The canal was the main attraction; we usually parked on the large short grass about 200 yards up from the safety chain where the canal flowed into the pipes down to the power station at the bottom of the gorge. On arrival we would strip off get our Cozzies on and jump into the swiftly flowing water of the canal and try to swim against the current, waste of time it was just too strong but oh what fun we had.
Once some of us took the opportunity to go down to the power station on the Skip; scary or what, the gorge was quite deep and the Skips path down was very steep.
Mulungushi village itself was quite pleasant; seeing the rambling mine houses in bone dry gardens that stood along the avenue of distempered tees that lined the rocky and dusty road.
In later years Ma & Stan lived in Lunsemfwa where Stan worked on the power station and Drew & I hitch hiked as far a Mulungushi village, telephoned our parents in Lunsemfwa and asked to picked up which of course we were; problem was that when we telephoned the car was being worked on by Stan who was going on shift later that day, Stan put the car back together and Mum collected us, good old Ma, she had not driven for years but she managed the trip there and back without incident.
There you go folks - No Broken Hill for a change.
Kind regards
Bob Plain
Robert Plain, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 13 August 2005 at 07:41:39 (UTC)
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Hi Barb!
I am still trying to make contact. My emails to you are bouncing back, so I just sent one through the GNR method. Hope it reaches you okay this time.
I KNOW you and Viv have countless stories you could post on the GNR so get your thinking caps on and post!!
What has happened to Kasaba Bay now that you are no longer managing it? Is it still open?
An early birthday greeting to Viv Raubenheimer, my favourite man in the world. Besides my husband, that is... and Johnny.. and Kevin... and my polygamostest hubby Doug... and..oh Gawd, I've got myself all in a dither now. grin.
Linda Hayes, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 13 August 2005 at 15:19:18 (UTC)
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Doug,
Never mind the amorous hippo's . . . . .
We had an agreement Ou Maat, you promised me you'd never give Heather any pictures of me taken for your "private" collection.
I just hope she doesn't post that one I took of you in the shower with the banana and the two marulas!
Or any pictures of the game you taught me, "Punkin-punkin" were I laid on my back and you carried me around by my stem . . . . .
Glen Drake, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 13 August 2005 at 18:57:24 (UTC)
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Enjoy your Broken Hill stories Bob,
My family and I visited BH in 1995 and took the skip, with Dave Murdoch, down to the Mulungushi Power Station which was still operating as were the original turbines - installed in 1926 if I remember right.
One story you might like that occurred after your departure _ you might recall the footbridge from the railway station over all the tracks and sidings to the mine club side - and the cinema (Vista in my day). It must have been about 1971 when the ZR rail crane was being moved from the Copperbelt to the south. There are not too many bridges between the copperbelt and Lusaka but they must have forgotten that one pump Kabwe had a bridge and the crane was not parked in the fully lowerd position. Fortunately Zambia railways did not run expresses but nevertheless the impact managed to uproot the bridge and all its support piers and concrete foundations and dragged them a few hundred yards south. The few pedestrians on the bridge at the time had an interesting crossing! Cant recall if they ever rebuilt the bridge.
I also had the pleasure of playing football for Kabwe United against the Kabwe (Railway) Warriors in 1968. Lost 2-1 sadly.
Jack Wardell, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Saturday, 13 August 2005 at 23:31:23 (UTC)
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To the Cummings family (Nkana) our deepest sympathy. Alan was a good footballerand enjoyed his baseball with the Red Sox.
Three weeks ago Ivor Decker(Nkana) passed away, younger brother of Ian.
Also Reg Bond who worked on the Roan Antelope Mine as a electrician, RIP my friends.
Skatie Fourie
Skatie Fourie, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 14 August 2005 at 14:11:06 (UTC)
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I am looking for the whereabouts of John Hepburn. If anyone knows where he might be, please get in touch. My e-mail is Barbarat53@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks
Barbara
Barbara McLoughlin Torrance, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 14 August 2005 at 14:59:43 (UTC)
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Glen
Punkin - Punkin? Now you have let the bag out of the cat. No wonder we don't need any Viagra or the enlargement offers I keep on getting by junk mail. Check this story from Zim, it should ring a bell!
New Zealand Herald Arrested for taking photos in Zimbabwe 14.08.05 By David Fisher
Just hours after landing in Zimbabwe, I was sitting in a police station being interrogated. This is life under President Robert Mugabe, whose image stares at you from photographs in the Harare airport. He is everywhere, ruling Zimbabwe through menace, playing on fears and imagination.
It wasn't long before I felt the full impact of the Mugabe regime. As soon as my flash burst, as I was photographing people queuing for sugar, soldiers moved towards me, dragging me through the gates to the warehouse beyond.
The crowd of mainly women, calling for their ration, fell silent and parted to let me through. With a billy club slapping against his thigh, a soldier demanded to see the photo. "You are under arrest my friend. It is a very big offence." My passport taken and camera confiscated, I was told to stand and wait. The soldier returned, demanding my identity card, stumped that I had none.
I stood in the alleyway behind the gates being pressed close by those wanting sugar until the soldiers instructed I follow. One leading, and one behind, they led me to the Harare Central Police Station, where I was taken to the intelligence section. Police officers took the soldiers' statements, and possession of my passport and camera. I was instructed to sit on the concrete floor, knees to my chest, and wait.
In the four hours that followed, a series of police officers interrogated me. Some were gentle, others harsh: "Are you a journalist? What do you do for a job? Why are you here?" Knowing other foreign journalists had been deported, I replied: "I'm a teacher and I'm here for the cricket."
As I waited, outside night fell and a single bulb in the ceiling came on, giving little light. A man was seated next to me, his camera also taken. During a break in the questioning I asked what he had done. "I am a journalist. I took a photograph. It's the way it is," he said.
Another man was lead through, who also told police he was a journalist. They were both local men, and faced hefty fines for their crime. Faced with prison or the next flight out, I stuck with my story for four hours. Then I was led to an office and offered a chair; relief after hours of sitting with my knees to my chest. The questioning continued, but it was drawing to an end.
My camera was produced, and I was ordered to delete the single image of the sugar queue. Having done so, I was told to take no more photographs, and my passport was returned.
The police, having decided to release me, were generous in finding me a taxi and warning me that Harare was dangerous at night. One took the taxi driver's details, and insisted I call once safe at my hotel.
We left, through the crowded streets in nighttime Harare. All this trouble for a photo!
Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 14 August 2005 at 21:06:03 (UTC)
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Hello northerners
After reading last months board postings there was quite a lot of discussions on the Cinema's in Lusaka they brought back many good memories of my so called ducktail days.
My wife found this old poster of my Group The Crusaders playing at the Twentieth Cinema in Lusaka the show was completely sold out of seats and packed mostly of Teenagers at this performance.
Were any of you there if so who can remember what year we did this Gig.
Brian Geyser
Arthur
I am thrilled to be able to send you a picture of a chicken that Orgasmic Pete has just whispered.
You can see how excited it is. See how its feathers are standing on end???? It is patently on the brink of an earth-shattering orgasm. Even more impressive - this is a Polish chicken so his methods have broken through the language barrier! This definitely supports Pete's claims!!!
Tina
Just before sunrise as we were 45 minutes before landing at Lusaka International Airport.
The Impala and elephants are from the Luangwa Game Park.
Game viewing in the Luangwa Game Park
The rainbows at Victoria Falls in Livingstone
My extended family relatives at my home village in Lundazi in Eastern Zambia.
My son taking a picture of the rainbows at the Victoria Fall in Livingstone
My house in the village.
The Waterbuck with birds on its back in the Luangwa Game Park
Zebras in the Luangwa Game Park.
Mwizenge
Hi Arthur
I have been sent a number of photos from the recent St Stephens reunion by George MacIntosh.
He hasn't given me any text but each photo has the names on it.
Kind regards
Esther Pettersson
Thank you all for the contributions I have just posted up.
Mwizenge - the pic taken out of the plane window sure took me back to September 2003 when we were a short distance from Lusaka, and my return after 40 years Home
Game shots are fabulous too !
Arthur Steevens, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 14 August 2005 at 21:14:03 (UTC)
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Heather:
I was quite surprised to see Harrison, one of staff members at the guesthouse in the photos you posted, wearing a Hook 'Em Horns sweatshirt. That is from the University of Texas, right here in Austin. It is the university motto. The mascot for the university is a live longhorn bull, by the name of Bevo. They bring him out into the stadium before every football game. I guess someone from Texas must have visited the guesthouse and given it to Harrison as it would not be available to purchase in Zambia, I wouldn't think.
Kevin Shone:
Please check in with your Texas Tornado. Otherwise a shadow in the dark, wielding a 2x4, will be coming after you shortly.
Linda Hayes, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Sunday, 14 August 2005 at 23:57:43 (UTC)
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Linda,
I won't be surprised if Heather jumps on your message, but I am going to beat her to it. All over Zambia (and Zimbabwe, South Africa and, I have no doubt, many other African countries) you see the "weird" (I can't think of a better description) phenomenon of the local population wearing heavily logo'd gear for North American and European sports teams, many of which they've probably never even heard of. You name the sports team, there's someone in Africa wearing their T-shirt, jersey, sweatshirt or ball cap.
Why? Because of so-called rag pickers. As far as I can tell, second-hand clothing from the First World (acquired, I presume, from places like Value Village and charitable drop-off centres) arrives by the container load in the Third World and is snapped up by the populace. It's a huge and very lucrative business for the rag pickers, and a source of cheap clothing for the Third World. Unfortunately, in the best tradition of First World do-gooders, under the guise of helping the Third World, they have apparently destroyed the textile industry in Zambia, making Zambia dependent on said "charity".
If I have my facts wrong, I'm sure Heather (or someone else) will correct me!
Craig Hartnett, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 04:00:22 (UTC)
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Fiona,
Studies on which colour flip-flops are more deadly are inconclusive. I didn't stock up when I was in Zambia, despite the fact that Heather wanted me to get the "Rough Rider" pata patas, as I couldn't get used to the "Rough Rider" knobs and I didn't want to be seen a mile away in the rainbow variety. So I have some Canadian ones at the moment and some Australian ones waiting for the Canadian ones to blow out.
Craig Hartnett, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 04:14:26 (UTC)
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Craig:
Now that you've said that, I do remember reading a story about this. It's really a shame that these rag pickers are allowed to operate the way they do. I read a story called, "The Last Shirt Maker in Ndola" that described exactly what you have said.
It was just strange to see that staring back at me when I opened the photo.
Not quite as strange as pink flip flops though. Is it true you have to have them custom made for your size 17 feet or is that another whopper that has been bandied about? Just curious.....grin.
Linda Hayes, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 04:18:25 (UTC)
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Mwizengi- Fantastic photos of the falls and animals. I had taken a couple for my screen savers, so I can sit and be homesick during dull moments at work. Thanks very much for posting them
Amanda McIntosh, New Zealand [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
[ Website ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 04:27:53 (UTC)
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Hi Mwizengi,
Lovely photos, but your "waterbuck" is in fact a kudu cow - the birds are oxpeckers.
I love your house in the village!
Jilly
Jill Aplin, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 07:15:25 (UTC)
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Jilly,
Thanks for your correction. I knew I would mess the name up because after being in the park for three days I still couldn't remember the differences between a "Bush Buck", "Water Buck", "Impala", "Kudu" "Puku" etc. But it was such a great experience. I am glad you enjoyed the photos.
Mwizenge
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
[ Website ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 15:08:47 (UTC)
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Dear Lindsay:
I was so sorry to hear the news of your Dad passing away. I was a great pal of your Dad's, and we spent many good times together, we were in the first batch of recruits from the Copperbelt to be sent to Bulawayo to do our 4½ months compulsory training in the Territorials (Army) we were in the same barracks room which housed 30 other recruits, our beds were next to each other, and we spent many a rough time together, because we were always doing the wrong thing, which was frowned upon by the sergeant.
I remember Alan's Mum, who was a short lady with short hair and worked at the Mine Mess, along with Ernie Rogers, who had a big nose and a booming voice, which put the fear of God in the Africans' who worked under him-----
Looking back at the "Good old Days" which was the 50's were the best years of my life, and it is a very true saying, that once you drank the water from the Kafue river, you would never forget those wonderful days.
Lindsay I tried on many occasions to contact your Dad through the GNR message board but never got a reply, I cannot say for sure that he received the messages as I have had a lot of problems with my computer-----------
May I say, that it was a great pleasure knowing and having your Dad as a friend, God Bless.
Yours Truly
Jim Cash..
Canada.
June Bohl, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 15:24:12 (UTC)
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Tina wrote....
"I am thrilled to be able to send you a picture of a chicken that Orgasmic Pete has just whispered.
You can see how excited it is. See how its feathers are standing on end???? It is patently on the brink of an earth-shattering orgasm. Even more impressive - this is a Polish chicken so his methods have broken through the language barrier! This definitely supports Pete's claims!!!"
No, no, no - I have nothing to do with chickens, hee, hee, hee... My claim to fame is mostly with airline folks and girlfriends of the human kind....
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 15:34:30 (UTC)
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Craig
Not only has the cheap clothing destroyed the textile industry in Zambia
the same can be said for Uganda and no doubt many other African countrys
Mary Flavell, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 16:24:58 (UTC)
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Amanda,
I am glad you are using some of the photos for your desk top. I like the one on the Impala very much. I think the Impala looks elegant and only God could have created such magnificence. I am afraid though of putting it on my desk top because when ever I am home sick, I might balw in my office very morning when I turn on my computer.
Mwizenge
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
[ Website ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 16:34:41 (UTC)
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Mary
There was an article in April 2004 in the Washington Post about how "Salaula" has killed the textile industry in Zambia. I used that article as one of my sources when I taught Third World Development last year. The shirts that I saw people wearing of soccer or "football" celebrities in Zambia recently were: "Beckam" and "Ronaldo". There were probably many others.
The average person and even educated people don't see this, but whether it is food or clothing, the massive quanties that are procuded in develepoed countries due to economies of scale always ruin chances of local indigenous industries thriving. For example, massive amounts of maize produced in the US are so cheap that when exported to Zambia can be sold below the price of what ever the subsistence farmers grow for cash in that country. This takes away incentives for growth of indigenous agriculture.
Mwizenge
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
[ Website ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 16:44:57 (UTC)
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Arthur,
Thanks for posting the photos. I am glad you like the one outside the plane window.
Mwizenge
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
[ Website ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 17:01:16 (UTC)
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Mwizenge
There are also cultural effects of the cheap clothing.
Whereas many Africans had stopped wearing shorts after Independence many men in Uganda are wearing American Bermuda shorts and of course the baseball cap.
I must admit I also bought the cheap clothing from the market. $1 for a good tee shirt and sometimes a designer label!
Mary Flavell, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 17:07:59 (UTC)
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Brian Geyser,
Sunday 8th October is in 1967.
Mike Edwards, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 19:44:39 (UTC)
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Mwizenge,
Excellent photo's. Most of the skill comes from the man behind the camera, however I would be interested to know what camera you used?
Mike Edwards, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Monday, 15 August 2005 at 19:54:24 (UTC)
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Mwizenge, I too love the photos, thank you for sharing , hopefully one day I will be able to share some photos :0)
Craig.......it is amazing how some things jolt ones minds, I was in the newsagents yesterday and Jade happened to want to buy a "teenage girls" magazine.....and they were offering "free" a pair of thongs(flipflops) and the colour............Pink with clear pink straps with stars..........oooooh I was very very tempted to buy them for your collection......giggles
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Mike,
You are right. I use a Nikon 70 with a Sigma 300mm lens with 3.5 - 4 f stop. I bought it as an expensive upgrade in the late 90s. But then everything has now changed to digital and I hate it. Just when I was enjoying my camera. I haven't even mastered all the gizmos on my current camera yet and I am told I have to buy a digital. I still have my two Canons AE1s from 1982. I will hold out for as long as possible. What do you have? I would love to have one of those old manual 300m lenses with may be 2.5 f stop for my sports photos. I have been looking for one for years.
Mwizenge
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
[ Website ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 01:46:17 (UTC)
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Ali,
Thanks for your positive comments. What kind of photos do you have?
Mwizenge
Mwizenge Tembo, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
[ Website ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 01:50:00 (UTC)
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Mwizenge,oooooooooooops I should re - phrase my posting, one day when I get to Zambia, I will have to share my photos that I will take . ;0)
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I thought this was worth sharing there is one thing to add to this synopsis we did not know any better.
Very true!
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1920s 30's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took
hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE
actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank lemonade, dandelion and burdock with sugar in it, cow heels, pigs trotters, bread and dripping, but we weren't overweight because
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes, lamp posts a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,
made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50-years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned...
HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT ALL!
And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.
AND while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!
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Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 05:23:41 (UTC)
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Brian - Give Julia a hug for us for finding the 20th Century Crusader poster and you and Arthur get one for getting it posted.
Some great photos at the moment - Mwizenge's got a good eye for a photo. (In the village I love the raised village house and the extended family). The St. Stephen's reunion looked well attended and satisfying.
Rocky - your silence regarding pink flipflop Scottish sheep stomping shennanigans fails to pull the wool over our eyes. Yes, I know, you're speechless...
Doug - Nice choice - the photo arrest post. Chris and I spent Sunday afternoon on a party boat on the lake with MDC friends celebrating the graduation from college of one of their members. Good company, great braii, cds of popular Zimbabwe artists for the music, dancing, such gentle, courteous friends.
We had a three-person jet ski attached to the boat. The men and children were clamouring to go on it. The first man to ride was a scream! Unlike most there he had never ridden before but took off like a rocket full throttle thunk, thunk, thunk over the waves like a lake-borne Stirling Moss. After giving the blue herons a grand display of complete fearlessness he returned gloriously happy with a grin the size of a cheshire cat's.
Only one young London-raised urbanite among the women chose to drive the jet ski and take two of her buddies. Of the other Zimbabwean women, all town bred, many working as full time nurses or office professionals here in Texas, only two rode at all. Most women couldn't swim. One rode with her husband and one with myself and a child. When the lady who rode with me got off she went to her husband wearing a shy, excited grin as he hugged her proudly. It was very illuminating how much these women still choose a quieter, more background company role. (Another example: The men and children ate first). Spending much of their time together quietly talking is the women's area of comfort and good manners and yet they have plenty to say and their quiet opinions are definitely (and sometimes instantly) attended to.
All said their families were OK in Zimbabwe but no-one makes waves over there at the moment and even here in Texas there are ZANU plants watching them ready to have their families harrassed if they make waves over here. It is a particularly difficult time but they always say: "This cannot last forever."
Meantime 25,000 tons of emergency food aid and blankets are purposely stalled from being distributed and imported by Mugabe red tape. The latest VIP to return "appalled" is Hall, the US ambassador to the United Nations World Food Programme who just arrived back in SA from Zim. How soon if ever will all this VIP shock result in help being pushed through to the victims and in regime redress? Meanwhile to be productive people do as was indicated on this message board recently in the post regarding pensioner relief.. People in-country help directly and reimbursement is held for them by accumulated small donations made outside the country to a sterling account.
Tina Magee, United States [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 06:19:19 (UTC)
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Charles Cartmill.
Mike Coulter has asked me to inform you that he is here in Amanzimtoti 0824581233 Russell is in Zambia Brian Miskin is also here.
Bill
Billy Laing, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 10:54:14 (UTC)
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I really enjoyed this message! Thanks for sharing it with us, Johnny. It brought back so many memories.
Dawn Smith, Germany [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 11:28:14 (UTC)
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Thanks Billy,
I'll give Mike a call in the not too distant future.
Regards
Charles Cartmill, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 11:41:35 (UTC)
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Hook 'Em Horns :
Hey Johnny
If that Southern Impala (Aepyceros malmpus melampus) of Mwizenge's manages to survive a couple more rut seasons, it may just make the minimum for Rowland Ward's (23 5/8 inches or 60cms). I'd say it's almost a 22 incher given that ears are about 5 ¾ inches, and the length of head from muzzle to base of horns about 8 ¾ inches. The world record, collected in 1946 in South Africa, stands at 31 7/8 inches (80.9 cms).
Regards
Charles Cartmill, South Africa [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 11:46:44 (UTC)
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Mwizenge,
Thanks for the information. My wife is the photographer. Been doing it for over 20 years and has won competitions and had a few pictures published. Like you she is still not convinced about the quality of digital. She uses a Nikon 90X with a Nikon 300mm f4 as her long lens. As she gives slide talks on natural history she will continue using slide film for the foreseeable future.
Mike Edwards, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 12:35:21 (UTC)
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Not sure if uncle bob is having problems recruiting people to destroy the homes of the people of Zimbabwe. Perhaps he has a way of talking to the animals!!
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/4153118.stm >
Hartley Heaton, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
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Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 13:02:13 (UTC)
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Hi Mwizenge,
I thoroughly enjoyed your article about Zambia and a real home coming for you and sharing it with your son. Its just the simlpe things you mentioned about nature, the Africa atmosphere, the slow pace and realising so what, why hurry. I,m sure its a rat race in USA as much as its in Europe.I,m sure you found some peace . Your photos were excellent. Thanks for share your trip home with us.
Regards Marianne Visser
Marianne Visser, Netherlands [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 14:20:40 (UTC)
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I see that Dixons, a major electrical retailer in the UK, have now decided to stop selling conventional cameras once their current stock has been sold. So hold on to your relics - they might be valuable one day!
Fiona Gayther, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 15:35:51 (UTC)
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My wife uses a Pentax SLR and when developing film gets a CD at the same time for $2.99US - so has photos in both formats.
Peter Dielissen, Canada [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 17:48:08 (UTC)
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Charles I wish it would wander into my back yard I would confirm the measurements for you after i had got it on my wall and would have my deep freeze bulging, Ali will give me a hard time for even thinking of scoffing it but i would give her some billy. cheers mate Johnny.
Johnny, United Kingdom [ Profile ] [ Contact ]
Tuesday, 16 August 2005 at 17:59:26 (UTC)
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Johnny
Re bb guns, I remember digging a air rifle pellet out of my brother Keith's leg with a penknife when we were young in Mufulira. The kid who had shot him gave the excuse that Keith had nailed him with a catty first. All lies of course! Grewar's don't do things like that!
Mwizenge
You don't like cell phone, and you don't like digital cameras? I love them!
Camera Fundis, OP, Glen, Norman, Heather etc.
I have just upgraded to a Sony Powershot S2 IS digital camera with 5 megapixels and 12 x optical zoom. It cost me R4500 at Makro plus a 1gig chip for R999 to enable it to take 1hour video clips. Can anybody tell me how to get the lens cover off?
But seriously is this a good buy? Value for money? How does it compare with UK and US prices? The rand is around R6.50 to 1US$ and R11.60 to the GBP at present.
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Doug Grewar, South Africa [ Profile ] [ |
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