Natal Fever

2011-08-17T10:02:00.004+02:00

2011-08-16T16:09:00.000+02:00

More of Glenwood, Durban

Davenport Dogs

Davenport Dog

2011-08-14T16:44:00.000+02:00

1984 Has Come and Gone - or Has It?

Every so often a post appears on Facebook warning of dire (but unspecified) consequences of your telephone number - and that of your friends - appearing in the depths of the site. My own telephone number has appeared in the old fashioned phone book for 40 years and in the electronic white pages for the last ten without problems. Is Facebook likely to be different?

Oh...and don't forget to turn off Geo-Tagging on your Blackberry. They may be keeping track of you!

2011-08-14T14:03:00.003+02:00

More Glenwood, Durban

Mostly Durban Edwardian houses; many of which have been renovated and sometimes put to new use.

More Glenwood

2011-08-14T13:47:00.003+02:00

Why do so many coffee shops use these silly stainless steel jugs? They don't pour.....they dribble!

2011-08-07T13:01:00.000+02:00

A Thought for Today

If at first you don't succeed....then skydiving is not for you.

2011-08-06T15:44:00.001+02:00

Where has Vernon Koekemoer gone?

2011-08-06T15:17:00.002+02:00

A Corner of Glenwood, Durban

2011-06-16T17:28:00.002+02:00

Youth Day

Today is so-called youth day in South Africa. Yet another public holiday on which to blame the current and ongoing ineptitude of the majority on the past. A day on which to remember and celebrate the only sustainable Africa condition - Martyrdom. Something that requires no talent or effort.

2010-07-25T14:20:00.000+02:00

Dingy Fever

Not here! Try Dengue Fever.

2010-07-25T14:15:00.000+02:00

Sky News: 'The graph for increasing population obesity appears to have bottomed out.' Anyone care to analyse this sentence?

2010-07-15T08:57:00.002+02:00

After the World Cup

To assure that we maintain the perceived economic impetus that the Football World Cup has generated our President, Jacob Zuma, has urged us to pray and then throw a national party.

It would seem that a Cargo Cult mentality prevails.

2010-07-11T23:25:00.003+02:00

A Poor Show

The Cup Final was a poor advert for football. The ref produced a shower of cards and the Spanish team dived, screamed and writhed on the ground in an attempt to get opposition players sent off as a way to win.

That's my involvement with football over with until the next World Cup. As for FIFA I hope they never return and I pity the next country to host the World Cup.

2010-07-11T18:19:00.005+02:00

World Cup on Durban's Beachfront

2010-07-11T18:11:00.001+02:00

Just what I need!

2010-07-10T12:46:00.002+02:00

The Boks go down to a better team today. Damn. The only thing worse than this is the new Haka by the All Blacks. They are so precious about this little ritual. Oh, and yes, why do the AB supporters have to boo everthing that is not done by their team? Is this a deep seated inferiority complex?

2010-07-09T21:39:00.003+02:00

Top Tweet

Police have found someone who 'fits the description of Raoul Moat' hiding. If I fitted the description of Raoul Moat I'd also be hiding.

2010-07-08T16:59:00.003+02:00

They say that Rome wasn't built in a day. In fact it's still not finished despite many promises by the contractor.

This seems to be the norm with contractors. As the project nears it's end they get slower and slower. It's like dividing something continuously by two. It never gets there.

This meant another trip today into one of the local townships. The contractor had promised to be sufficiently complete to allow me to prepare what is called a 'snag' list. This is a list of outstanding items requiring attention to compete the job. There was no surprise to find he was not even close to being finished.

This means another trip out into the sticks next week. Each one is an adventure with random shootings, scant regard for traffic regulations, goats and cattle on the loose, water leaking from illegal connections and the attendant filth. Anyway I managed to return safely which hasn't always been the case......but I'll tell you about that later.

2010-07-08T16:54:00.002+02:00

Well who is it to be - Spain or Holland? Not being an avid football fan I'm not willing to express an opinion on this. But last night's game between Spain and Germany nearly filled our new stadium. I wonder if it will ever have this number of spectators in the future. Possibly not unless rugby is somehow coerced to move there. Football on it's own wouldn't do it.

2010-07-08T09:51:00.000+02:00

Nando's are always quick and slick with their advertising!!

2009-12-08T22:18:00.012+02:00

South African Signs

I'm feeling lazy and non.. or is it uncreative in writing mode. I've cruised Facebook to catch up on the goings on at the village pump and there wasn't! I posted a few comments but these have to be rather bland or if you are really lazy the 'Like' button can be pushed. As Facebook doesn't provide a 'Don't Like' button I felt somewhat inhibited.

Not even a coded message or two on the table to decipher.

I then pondered the 'Poke' button and wondered what it is for. We all knew at primary school that to 'poke' a girlfriend was rude but exciting. Since FB is an American thing and they have an insular understanding of English I'm assuming that they think it means something quite innocuous. In that land men are named 'Randy' and say 'Hi I'm Randy' without any overt declaration of intent. However I can't wait to see something like 'Joe poked Mary' on the news feed. Good One! What’s her phone number?

See.....get me going and I'm carried away. This was simply meant to say 'I have nothing to say so here are a few pics from ZaLand.'

2009-11-11T18:30:00.003+02:00

Davenport Dogs

I love these mutts on a house here in Davenport Road, Durban.

2009-11-11T08:08:00.003+02:00

11 November

Well, how'd you do, Private William McBride?
Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside?
I'll rest here awhile in the warm summer sun,
I've been walking all day, Lord, and I'm nearly done.
And I see by your gravestone you were only 19
When you joined the glorious fallen in 1916--
Well, I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean,
Or, Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

Did they beat the drum slowly,
Did they sound the fife lowly,
Did the rifles fire o'er you as they lowered you down?
Did the bugles sing "The Last Post" in chorus?
Did the pipes play "The Flowers of the Forest?"

No Man's Land - Eric Bogal - Listen here

2009-11-09T16:22:00.001+02:00

A Booze Cruise in ZA

2009-11-08T15:17:00.003+02:00

The Joost & Amor Soap Opera

So Joost has confessed that it is indeed he who stars in that sex video. Then we have Amor - the humiliated wife - telling all on some talk radio show. But as it is radio there has to be a photo of her on the front page of the local rags showing her tears as she shares all.

Emotional and tragic stuff....or is it? All seemed to be timed to mark the launch of Joost's 'tell all' book. It makes not only me cynical but others too. So have a look here for another take on the very public lives of Joost and Amor. Joost needs absolution. Amor needs sympathy. Money from the book sales is the panacea.

2009-11-07T19:43:00.003+02:00

The 'Springboks' go Down

Last night's game was a dismal affair from a Saffer point of view. Here we have a team made up of many players who can't make the starting line-up for their province - and they are billed as 'Springboks.' Even the Captain of this rag tag bunch sits on the bench for the Blue Bulls and has hardly played more a few minutes at the end of recent games. The result? He gets buckled in the front rank and has to leave the field after 20 minutes. I could go on....

Oh let's not dwell on our bizarre selection methods dictated by race and politics. The only light moment of the evening was the commentary comment by Bob Skinstad when he said 'The whole of South Africa breathes a sigh of relief when Earl Rose comes up with the ball and does something decent with it.'

2008-12-11T08:31:00.000+02:00

In the Summer Time.........

It's been a long time since I've posted anything on this site. So as Mark Twain said 'the report of my death is greatly exaggerated' Yes some things did die in the interim, some passions waned and some relationships were revealed to be superficial. Fortunately most things that really matter have stayed constant and minor reversals that are part of the dynamics of life forced necessary stock taking and a clearance of a redundant item or two.

Ah..yes.. having got that out of the way it's the season of advent again. The advent of the great summer sloth where people declare that work is evil and to be avoided. We eat too much, drink too much and spend too much money that we haven't yet earned. Then comes January and we encounter the Ghost of Christmas Past. Not as revealed by Jacob Marley but the account for our pleasures as detailed on the credit card statement.

But this is taking a morbid turn and it wasn't meant to happen so the weather is always a good standby topic.

Yes indeed summer is here. The mossies zing and the frogs croak with throaty gusto. The geckos crap on my books and papers and the campaign against wood borer is in full swing and..yes... I even heard some christmas beetles yesterday. Then there are the sun touched among us who declare the weather to be lekker. So if you like your lover sweaty then life, lust and beer are the order of the day. Throw in some skinny dipping and then indeed it's sub-tropical nirvana.

Cheers, beers and love to those who matter.

2008-03-09T09:34:00.002+02:00

You are Proudly South African when….

You call a bathing suit a 'swimming costume'.
You call a traffic light a 'robot'.
You call an elevator a 'lift'
You call a hood a 'bonnet'
You call a trunk a 'boot'
You call a pickup truck a 'bakkie'
You call a Barbeque a 'Braai'
The employees dance in front of the building to show how unhappy they are.
The SABC advertises and shows highlights of the programme you just finished watching.
You get cold easily. Anything below 16 degrees Celsius is Arctic weather.
You know what Rooibos Tea is, even if you've never had any.
You can sing your national anthem in four languages, and you have no idea what it means in any of them.
You know someone who knows someone who has met Nelson Mandela.
You go to braais regularly, where you eat boerewors and swim, sometimes simultaneously.
You produce a R100 note instead of your driver's licence when stopped by a traffic officer.
You can do your monthly shopping on the pavement.
You have to hire a security guard whenever you park your car.
When you are a victim of crime and say: 'At least I'm still alive'.
You know a taxi can move twice it's certified number of people in one trip.
You travel 100's of kilometres to see snow.
You know the rules of Rugby better than any referee
More people vote in a local reality TV show than in a local election.
People have the most wonderful names: Christmas, Goodwill, Pretty, Wednesday, Blessing, Brilliant, Gift, Precious, Innocence and Given, April, January, September, Patience, Portion, Coronation.
'Now now' or 'just now' can mean anything from a minute to a month.
You continue to wait after a traffic light has turned to green to make way for taxis travelling in the opposite direction.
Travelling at 120 km/h you're the slowest vehicle on the highway/freeway.
You're genuinely and pleasantly surprised whenever you find your car parked where you left it.
A bullet train is being introduced, but we can't fix potholes.
The last time you visited the coast you paid more in speeding fines and toll fees than you did for the entire holiday.
You paint your car's registration on the roof.
You have to take your own linen with you if you are admitted to a government hospital.
You have to prove that you don't need a loan to get one.
Prisoners go on strike.
You don't stop at a red traffic light, in case somebody hijacks your car.
You consider it a good month if you only get mugged once.
Ruwandan refugees start leaving the country because the crime rate is too high.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from SA.

VIVA !!!!!

2008-03-09T09:09:00.001+02:00

Lekker slaap om die Wêreld:

HOLLAND: Goeden nagt

AUSTRALIE: Night Mate

USA: Goodnite

DUITSLAND: Släfin si wöl

SUID AFRIKA: Is die deure gesluit, die vensters toegemaak,die kar ingetrek en die alarm geaktiveer? Is die Rotweilers gebêre en veilig? Lekker slaap, moenie worry nie, Eskom sal die ligte afsit!

2008-03-03T23:09:00.005+02:00

Shake, Rattle ‘n Roll

Hardly a day goes by without news of some natural disaster. A flood here, a volcano there, a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico or bush fires in Australia. Whatever it is it’s now blamed on Global Warming. This makes a change from the usual suspect of fifty years ago – the Atom Bomb. Except if it happens in the Free State then it’s because the Dominee went fishing on Sunday on the other side of the Vaal River in the ou Transvaal instead of attending to God’s work. Dis waar!

With all this going on the earthquake that struck Great Britain last week went somewhat unnoticed. The Brits faced the disaster with the usual Bulldog spirit. They were out and about the next day with ‘business as usual’ and offering cheerful greetings to each other such as ‘…’ee by gumm Gladys, did Earth move for you last night?’ or ‘Me Old Man says no more curried eggs for him!’

Small as Britain is we must not forget that it too has its share of great disasters and consequent damage. The recent ‘quake was no exception as the photograph shows.

2008-03-03T22:26:00.006+02:00

Fantastic Offer.

This Stainless Steel Braai absolutely free. Yes free!!

Hurry to your nearest Pick 'n Pay, Spar, Woolworths and Checkers to get yours while stocks last.

Proudly South African

2008-02-29T00:20:00.003+02:00

Today is the last day of Valentine's month. Yes the day has been extended to a season to keep the cash registers ringing....or beeping......or whatever new digital thing they now do. The DAY itself passed me by without a Hallmark card to be seen. Nothing, squat, niks, zilch.

In my aggrieved state I thought of setting up an Anti Valentines Day Society with the slogan 'Say NO to VD!' After-all who wants to receive a card from someone who has to get Hallmark to come up with the words. The company can't even get their ad correct. 'If words don't come easy' Really!

Fortunately someone else was of like mind and way ahead of me and has ready made 'No VD' greetings. They also have suitable greetings for other non VD occasions. Just visit them here and make your choice.

2008-02-28T23:38:00.004+02:00

Tonight on TV 3's Top Billing a local someone or other was featured. The gushing interviewer said 'I understand that you were a good soccer player and successful business man but decided on a complete change and made a 360° turn in your career'

(Must have done geometry on flunky grade!)

2008-02-27T20:49:00.007+02:00

Cats are, at times, delightful creatures. On other occasions they are just downright perverse.

My youngest addition is always keen to spend the mornings with me. I make her a nice cosy spot away from the computers, documents and drawings complete with an old towel to sleep on but NO! Instead she chooses a hard surface and curls up half on top of pencils and things and goes out for the count.

Incidentally she's called Spike because after having flea muti applied behind her neck she turned into a punk cat with spiky hair. One of my past cats was called Oliver because he always asked for more food. He started out as Eddie which was the shortened Anglicised version of Oedipus. But that had to be explained too often so I........

Oh shit I'm getting old. The next thing I'll be talking about is my potted African Daisies. Bring back She the Keeper of the Sacred Oil and lets have some real fun. But women are, at times, delightful creatures. On other occasions....... and this is where I came in!

2008-02-24T18:47:00.004+02:00

'...For the Pride of your Nations start your Engines' Zuoooma!

An A1 Grand Prix was held here in Durban today.

As usual the politicians were out in full force being only too eager to bask in the reflected glory generated by capable and efficient people. But why did Jacob Zuma give the invitation to the drivers to start their engines?. After all he holds no government office and is surely outranked by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and Mayor of Durban in terms of protocol?

The race itself proved to be one of attrition. Shake Park corner caused total mayhem much as it did in the days of the old Fairfield Handicap. Our team eventually finishing in the points in 7th position.

I wonder where Jacob Zuma will eventually finish? I'm afraid. Very afraid.

2008-02-23T23:50:00.002+02:00

I'm sitting here in my underpants because it's a stinking hot, humid, Durban night. Having nothing better to do I put through a rare telephone call to my sister in Jo'burg.....and, of course, the conversation turned to the weather.

After listening to my complaints about the heat she countered smugly by saying 'It's lovely and crisp up here in the mornings and the evenings.'

'Yeah' I retorted 'its crisp down here too....like bacon'

2008-02-19T23:37:00.007+02:00

A Rage against the Night

Today I pondered the efforts we make to extend our lives. Diets, avoid this, avoid that, omega 3 oils, low GI foods, supplements and more supplements. We are encouraged to exercise, meditate and generally cleanse our souls and bodies.

Then there are upmarket detox palaces where you can have oil and volcanic mud rubbed into you. This is then followed by having river stones placed on energy points down your spine. To top things off they stick a dirty great pipe up your backside and give you a colonic lavage. The only advantage of this being that for a while you won't be as full of crap as people say you are.

All well and good and it may add twenty years onto your life. But why does it have to be tacked on after your promised three score and ten? It should be added in the middle...say at thirty...when you're still shagging like a rabbit. Thirty to fifty should last for forty years not twenty.

Why do we get rewarded for our good work with all those extra years if we have to spend them playing bowls, cards, bingo or being confined to a wrinkly detention centre? Much nicer to be out raging with your latest bokkie rather than going to bed early reeking of Horlicks.

Ah well.... we'll have to take the extended route and go genteelly into the night. The only problem is it's so bloody boring.

2008-02-19T22:47:00.003+02:00

...and One from the IOL RSS Feed

Irvin Khoza, chief of the local organising committee for the 2010 World Cup, has responded strongly to a journalist's question during a news media briefing on Tuesday and recorded on an eTV camera.

When asked about the alleged troubles affecting the 2010 organising committee, Khoza responded in no uncertain terms.

"You must stop thinking like a kaffir," said the man heading the committee. Then he went a step further to try to explain why he chose such strong language.

"Don't do that because you are causing problems," said Khoza.

eTV reported that the Human Rights Commission had expressed shock and demanded that he retract the statement.

2008-02-19T22:35:00.003+02:00

The Way we Were!

I was recently looking at a local website called 'Facts About Durban.' It features many interesting snippets of information about the history of our City and also the personal memories of some of my vintage who have lived their lives here.

There is a section called 'The way we were' with much on the beach and places such as The Cuban Hat, Uptons and the XL Road House. At these you could pull in in your Ford Cortina or VW and get car service with the tray clipped onto your car door. Ah...nothing like a pie, curry gravy and chips to fill up the corners. I can still taste and smell them.

The other beach front venue was known as the Mermaid Lido and stood on the sands of South Beach. It had tourist type shops on the ground floor and a large hall on the first used for various shows and functions.

The Lido was also a venue in the late '50s for 'sessions' - or Rock 'n Roll jols - where Dickie Loader and the Blue Jeans often played. As this attracted 'Ducktails' the infamous 'Ghost Squad' of the SAP would lie in wait at the XL Road House until things got out-of-hand and then swing into action. Quite a few battles raged around the Lido with those in blue versus the 'Duckies'

Your typical Ducktail had Brylcreemed hair combed back and then together at the rear which was ideal for for a high speed burn down West Street on a BSA Road Rocket, Gold Star or Triumph Tiger 110. (No sissy crash helmets required in those days) Not a hair out of place!

Your Ducktail also wore leather lammies, khaki rammies and Jarmin shoes. (Complete with steel studs in the soles and heels to make lekker klapping noises when he walked). Luminous lime green or pink socks were also a 'must have' accessory with a nice studded leather belt to take care of the middle section.

Your Duckie female wore similar attire but shoes would be 'Tom Toms' and a blue tight Orlon top was de rigueur. This was worn back-to front to best show off.....well...er...what makes girls girls! It was claimed at the time that these were unhealthy as the tightness of the garment interfered with men's breathing!

The Lido has gone and consigned to fading memory. But if you need a refresher then click here!

2008-02-11T12:11:00.002+02:00

Gone in an Instant

The end of an era in photography is at hand. Polaroid Corporation, the maker of the once famous instant camera, is to lay off 15000 employees. They also intend to cease production of film by the end of this year.

Originally the company was founded in 1948 by Edwin Land but it was only in the 1970's that the camera became famous when the Model SX70 was introduced. It could give you an (almost) instant hard copy of your photograph – but only one copy.

Professional photographers found it a boon to fit a Polaroid back to studio cameras to take test shots prior to committing themselves to traditional film. Most others used the cameras for happy snaps or when photographs were needed at short notice for court cases, construction progress and so on.

The digital age of photography has claimed yet another famous brand name victim.

2008-02-05T22:55:00.003+02:00

The Clock Ticks
I suffered yet another birthday a few days ago; my 66^th to be exact. My mother told me it was a hot and humid night when I was born which possibly explains my dislike for this time of the year here in sub-tropical Durban. You know how it is when people greet each other with an exclamation of 'A stinker today isn't it' in an expression of mutual support and suffering. To put the boot in they add '..and they say it will last well into March!'

The local newspaper invariably has a picture of someone frying an egg on the pavement and then articles on the ideal braai and the salads to go with it. To balance things out dire warnings are slipped in on the perils of skin cancer induced by excessive exposure to the sun. This is usually taken lightly until you find yourself in the operating theatre having that strange growth removed from the side of your nose.

But I digress. As usual......

Call me sentimental but I do like birthdays. Not only my own but those of family and good friends. They are special because they aren't some form of shoddy artificial 'day' such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, Secretary's Day, Valentines' Day invented by those with commercial avarice. The day belongs to you.

It's so nice to be the centre of interest of your family and friends on 'your' day. To receive unexpected greetings from those whom you least expected to hear from. Perhaps even a greater pleasure is wishing someone close to you a special 'Happy Birthday' and seeing the pleasure it gives them.

I suppose this is what makes us what we are......human. We feel truly human when we are recognised with genuine affection by others.

I enjoyed my day. I hope you enjoy yours when it comes around again.

2007-08-18T19:46:00.001+02:00

It's Good to be a Man

Your last name stays put

The garage is all yours

Chocolate is just another snack

Car mechanics tell you the truth

Wrinkles add character

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them

You can open your own jars

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness

If someone forgets to invite you he will still be your friend

The same hairstyle lasts for years, even decades

Your belly hides your big hips

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look

You can play with toys all your life

You can do your nails with a pocket knife

Your underwear is R49.95 for a three-pack

Three pairs of shoes is enough

You have the freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache

Thanks to Navin Badri, Durban

2007-05-26T10:00:00.001+02:00

What's up Bob?

Want to keep track of what Big Mad Bad Bob Mugabe is up to? Find out about his latest thinking and get insights into his personal life by visiting www.bob.co.za.

Oh yes....and while you're there leave him a personal message of support and encouragement in his visitor's book.

2007-05-07T00:00:00.000+02:00

Olga

For various reasons I'm not on Medical Aid. This means having to make use of the public health facilities here in Durban. Whilst much of my minor medical maintenance matters are dealt with by my GP there are times when I have to slot into the system in a government hospital. For me this is usually Albert Luthuli just along Bellair Road.

Now this is very modern and top rate facility with state-of-the-art systems on the technical side. The people processing aspect is however.......well........government-like as is the world over. Veterans of the long shuffle to health go equipped with something to read to pass the time. Although I do this I seldom do much reading because people-watching and trying to assess their state of health and guess what afflicts them is very diverting.

My morning last week was in the plastic surgery, maxilla, cranial clinic. To save you pondering my condition let me tell you up front that it is to have a basal cell carcinoma removed from the side of my nose in a way that I won't have to wear a nose stud for the rest of my life. Not a serious matter.

Selecting a seat I tried to sum up those gathering around me. One chap had his head in a frame contraption with wire stays to keep various bits from returning to the their accustomed lifetime positions. Not quite in the elephant-man league but the poor chap did have a rather odd shaped bonce. One or two others looked as though they were also having the symmetry of their facial bits and pieces arranged in the more acceptable pattern.

The balance were in my category; here to have bits of our original body parts snipped away because they had deteriorated with time, tide, wind, sun and gravity. Then Olga arrived in a wheel-chair and was manoeuvred into a space next to me. A very elderly lady trim of figure; dressed in well cut slacks, a nice top, groovy waist coat over, funky chunky rings and all topped with a scarlet knitted floppy beret pulled down to the side. Hair tinted slightly auburn and her well shaped face carefully made-up to her best advantage.

She carefully reached into her handbag and produced a tiny bottle of water. Screwing off the lid she turned to me and said 'A regmaker!' and took a careful swig. 'I would rather it were gin' she continued 'because I'm 92 and all you can do when you're my age is read and drink' She took another sip and carefully replaced the lid.

'I come from a long line of drinkers you know' she confided 'my mother drank all our property away. But she did it in style....only the best French brandies and wines for her.'

I learned that Olga had been born in the Midlands of England in 1915. Her father had been killed in the Great War but had come home briefly on leave just prior to his death 'to make me' said Olga with a twinkle.

'I started life with Kaiser Bill close at hand. Then it was Hitler on the doorstep and in the sky over me. After all this I had an idyllic spell in Bulawayo in Rhodesia (her emphasis) but then that fool Bob (Mugabe) came along and ruined it all. Now we have this lot!' she added with an all-encompassing all-damming sweep of the hand. 'and our President has a small-man syndrome but does have a good tailor' Olga continued and reached for her bottle again 'but he's such a little prick!'

Ah the licence of extreme age.

I began to wonder what she really had in that bottle but before I could ask for a drop myself her name was called and off she went to have her stitches removed. Very late that Thursday night I raised a glass to Olga with a pang of regret that I would possibly never see her again. I also mused that in a cold clinic where I didn't want to be I found myself in the company of someone whose warmth and spirit overcame the restraints and concepts of time, age and place.

2007-04-29T20:38:00.000+02:00

My African Dream

A national newspaper, the Sowetan, has been flighting a radio ad that is a comment on the the South African reality. A reality where most of us live with unrelenting subliminal fear. Fear of noises in the night. Fear of 'smash and grab' robberies when we stop in our cars at intersections. Fear that we may not see our family members again when they go off to work in the morning. Fear of our car breaking down on a freeway and leaving us prey to thugs, thieves and murderers. Fear of becoming old alone because our children have left the country. Knowledge that the stress of life here is ruining our health.

I understand that this ad has drawn a lot of comment and touched many a raw nerve.

You be the judge. Listen!

2007-02-04T01:19:00.000+02:00

The Day the Music Died – 3February 1959.

I found the post below on You Tube and wanted to get it up on the 3^rd but it took me a little while to sort out the link but here it is……… though a little late.

If you were around anywhere near this time it will mean a lot to you. So to all my friends of shared memory and, of course, Buddy Holly.......thanks!

2007-02-04T01:07:00.001+02:00

2007-01-30T22:29:00.000+02:00

Google Pack

Google Pack is a collection of free software.

Simply download the installer and make your choices. The programs available will improve your browsing, search and security. You can organise your photos and get access to multimedia sources. Also available is Adobe Reader and a trial period of Norton anti-virus software.

Included with Google Pack is an updater to ensure that everything you choose remains shiny and new with no effort on your part.

Have a look. The link is on the right.

2007-01-28T17:00:00.000+02:00

In Search of McNaught

I went out Comet McNaught spotting a few nights ago.

I ended up at the intersection of Queen Elizabeth and Elland where there is a clear view of the west and found that a few others had the same idea. As time went on the numbers grew with carloads arriving and drinks being produced by some. Judging by their well-oiled state these were veteran comet watchers who had the right supplements to sustain them into the night.

Time dragged on and Venus dipped lower and lower in the west with the moon in hot pursuit; but still no sign of a comet. Explanations were offered and disputed. Clouds seemed to get in the way - or was it smog as some ventured.

Eight o'clock began to approach and as daylight dimmed so did our hopes of seeing anything vaguely like a comet.

Suddenly the cry went up 'There it is!'……. and there it was indeed. A small smudge of light with a misty tail streaming behind - this driven by the solar wind and pointing away from the Sun .

A little girl in our now largish group with a self proclaimed age of nine exclaimed 'Never in my whole life have I seen something like this!'

Me neither.

2007-01-28T16:08:00.001+02:00

All Change

I have been persuaded by the blurb from Google to change this Blog to their new editing and layout format.

This has been done but in the doing some of the features in the sidebar have been lost. Also some of the paragraph settings in the previous posts have changed. Please bear with me as I sort things out.

The other change is that I have come out and will use my real name for this blog and publish and be damned or whatever your choice is.

2006-11-08T20:02:00.000+02:00

One of Durban's Coolest Spots

The Jazz Centre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where for R10 you can hear the likes of Pam de Menzes and a host of truly talented musicians and singers. The bar also serves really cold beer.

2006-10-01T16:50:00.000+02:00

Decision Time!?

2006-09-03T15:35:00.000+02:00

Art or Offensive?

Any Comments?

2006-08-30T11:34:00.000+02:00

Sorry - no posts for a while. Been having a spell of what Winston Churchill called his 'Black Dog.' Some good company, good music and a pinch of prozac will do wonders.

2006-08-17T20:19:00.000+02:00

Duplicity

The flyer on the table was a copy of a dictionary page with the word Duplicity ringed. This, no doubt, was to ensure that we all got the meaning of the word. A ploy often used in movies these days so that audiences who are second-language users of English, such as Americans, understand titles such as ‘Brassed Off’. Anyway those at my table were curious about this until we were urged to buy a copy of Richard Walne’s latest CD called – yes – Duplicity.

‘I wonder why he’s called it that?’ mused the lady to my right. ‘He’s a strange dude’ said the bearded, beaded, balding and stringy haired aging hippy type opposite being unaware that he had become irony personified. ‘True Bru’ said the student at the head of table wiping the last swig of Black Label from his lips. ‘The beer or Richard?’ I pondered…….but to business!

We, and many others, were at the Jazz Centre at Howard College last night to hear Richard Walne and friends play items from that latest CD. He started with a very average Falling in Love Again - the old Marlene Dietrich number. This was followed by his compositions in 1930’s style – all somewhat muted and sentimental. Granted the material was good with great chord progressions and vintage sound from his group of violin, guitar, piano, double-bass, sax and drums. The two ladies on vocals were great in their own right and an added bonus helping Richard round out his own singing.

But the concert never really ‘took off’ with the music – good that it was – too much of a muchness. This was until the encore where the melancholia seemed to vanish and they really swung sounding something like Stefan Grappelli at the Durban City Hall 30 years ago.

Then on the way out the penny eventually dropped; I think the main man is having women problems and therefore the title of the CD and the ‘my women has done me wrong’ type songs. Never mind Richard, it happens to all full spirited types’ You’ll get over it – perhaps it will take years or maybe all it will cost is a headache for a week. But it can, and does, inspire good music.

Duplicity is possessed by many but the CD can now be bought at local outlets.

2006-08-10T13:51:00.000+02:00

Do You remember Ralph?

In her book ‘Frankie & Stankie’ Barbara Trapido mentions ‘Ralph’.....‘who was at Daffy School’ and also in the local Berea Scouts as a cub. In fact he was much older than the rest of his pack and stood head and shoulders above them.

Ms Trapido’s book describes ‘growing-up’ on the Berea in Durban in the immediate post-war years and her experiences and mine intersect. I too remember Ralph but find his being described as ‘daffy’ somewhat insensitive. It’s also ironic because she leaves not doubt as to her opposition to the injustices and abuses of human rights in South Africa at the time but sees no harm in being dismissive about an unfortunate person such as Ralph…..but enough of that.

I first became aware of Ralph when I ran the Junior Cross-Country race at Glenwood High School in 1956. In those days it was a short road race using a route up McDonald Road, Princess Alice Avenue, Lamont Road and back down to the School via Manning Road. We were urged on by a man clad in brown shorts, long socks and wearing a sports jacket keeping pace with us on a bicycle. He was then (I think) in his forties and I soon learnt that Ralph’s mental development had been arrested by either injury or something like encephalitis. The poor chap had a ten year old brain in an adult and aging body.

Ralph had been part of the Berea Park mob and thus was a supporter of Durban High School (DHS) but if they had no sports fixture on or were not playing against Glenwood then he would be our man on the touch-line.

As mentioned earlier Ralph was a keen member of the Cubs. He was very proud of this but even more so when he eventually passed all his tests and became a Scout. He arrived at a match at Glenwood decked out in his full uniform very proudly wearing all his badges to show his enhanced status.

Poor dear harmless Ralph! You are a part of the collective memory of hundreds of DHS and Glenwood boys who remember you with fondness. Oh how your parents must have worried and suffered anguish over you.

Ralph was eventually knocked off his bicycle by a motor car in Essenwood Road and killed. He was lucky, in some way, never to leave the carefree days of childhood.

2006-08-06T23:28:00.000+02:00

The Durban Experience

Living or lived in Durban? Studied in Durban? Holidays in Durban? Passed through Durban?

If so then this Blog is interested in your memories and experiences. Why not jot them down and e-mail them to ryall@iname.com. We would love to publish them and share them with others who have enjoyed (or not) the Durban Experience.

Got old photos, memorabilia and articles about our City? Then scan them and e-mail them!

So come on! Share those memories with us. Remember there is history in every person’s life.

Come to think of it let’s expand it to cover our entire province. Now there’s scope for you!

2006-08-03T12:03:00.000+02:00

Support our Sponsors

Support us by supporting our Sponsors. Have a look at the adverts on this Blog by following the links above. For a greater variety of useful information click on the links below each individual post.

It is hoped with time to have a greater variety of ads than at present. Leads to Durban and KwaZulu-Natal happenings, services, accommodation, holidays and offerings are in the pipeline.

2006-08-01T16:53:00.000+02:00

The Archive of the Common People

Looking about my office I have suddenly realised that there are a number of shoeboxes on my shelves – six to be exact. I also know there are countless others about the house; on shelves, in cupboards, under beds or stacked in the garage.

None are empty. They contain a multitude of items that have been put away for safekeeping. They’re such a convenient size and the lid gives easy access for quick inspection or to retrieve some item……usually accompanied by an exclamation of ‘Found the bloody thing – I knew I had put it somewhere safe!’

Being made of cardboard shoe boxes are not the safest place to keep things. Yet they are entrusted to hold all manner of items; photographs, accounts, balls of string, memory items from our own and our children’s youth, wills, ante-nuptial contracts, grandma’s love letters, baby teeth, spare dentures, nuts and bolts, old toothbrushes, a box of gramophone needles and other things we are loathe to part with.

Many of these shoe box treasures chronicle the lives of our family members. Documents relating to a Great-Great Grandfather’s journey to Natal as a Byrne Settler 156 years ago. A Grandfather’s army discharge papers from the Royal Berkshire Regiment at the end of the Anglo-Boer war. My Father’s motorcycle driver’s licence; adorned with endorsements for speeding and then eventual suspension – the pedigree of a founder member of the West Street Willies indeed. Old baptismal certificates in ornate German script bearing testimony to our diverse background. My Mother’s old ID document with ‘Deceased/Oorlede’ stamped in red ink across the first page – how brutally final it looks.

Our history and our treasures are kept in thousands of shoe boxes in homes spread throughout the land. Oh what invaluable records must get thrown away when the next generation arrives to ‘clean up the Old People’s place’ once they have been consigned to the local ‘Shady Pines’ where space is limited and they have to be parted from their earthly possessions.

The humble shoe box found dust-covered at the bottom of the wardrobe should be treated as an archaeological treasure or time capsule. Open it with care and examine the contents with reverence for they were considered important enough to store for the future.

The shoe box is indeed the archive of the common people.

2006-07-31T20:31:00.000+02:00

Dingy Fever

Sorry….. but not on this site. Also it’s correctly called Dengue Fever. Type it in Google above and get the correct medical pages

2006-07-30T22:31:00.000+02:00

Crime in South Africa – The True Figures

For reasons of its own our Government refuses to publish true statistics of the level of crime in SA. To speak or complain about crime earns you derogatory labels, ‘like-it-or-lump-it’ dismissals, instructions to leave the country or accusations of being unpatriotic.

A local website has set out to put the record straight and hope by doing so to force our President, Ministers and law enforcement agencies to take real action to stem this evil that is destroying our country’s future.

The founder of the site, Neil Watson, has received death threats, open hostility and the webpage has been hacked into but in the face of this he persists.

I believe he is brave and correct and if we are to stage major international events such as the 2010 Soccer World Cup the Government will realize that it cannot go on ignoring the truth and will have to act now!

Visit the site here and judge for yourselves. I believe most will join the campaign, offer support and spread the word.

2006-07-28T11:45:00.000+02:00

Die Trane die rol oor jou Bokke

The news from distant rugby fields is invariably bad these days. The Springboks have recently lost to both the Wallabies and the All Blacks and the future looks bleak.

For three-quarters of a century the Springboks were expected to win and a loss was but a minor setback. That pattern of expectation now seems to have been reversed.

My first awareness of rugby was the Springboks’ tour of the British Isles in the very early 1950’s. It was a long and arduous tour under the captaincy of Basil Kenyon. He, unfortunately, was injured very early in the tour and hardly played. The only coverage of the games was on the wireless. Reception was poor but hearing the crowd singing ‘Land of my Fathers’ at Cardiff Arms Park has stuck in my memory. It stirred me then as a nine year old and is still does today 55 years later watching Six Nations Games on the box.

The Springboks lost only one game on that tour; to London Counties who still have the Springbok head in their pub.

Moving forward a few years I recall waking in the morning to the sounds of my father listening to the rugby commentary from New Zealand. ‘The Springboks are 10-5 down and playing with 14 men (an injury and no subs in those days) and another man is injured and a passenger on the field – but they will WIN!’ he said with a mixture of absolute faith and pride in onse Bokke.

And win they mostly did. Our record against our only real rival at that time – the All Blacks – was decidedly in our favour right up until the early 1990’s. Then came politics, isolation and losing contact with the international game. On our eventual return to the rugby world there was some serious catching up to do and professionalism to be embraced. I think shear determination and pride in the Springbok heritage gave us the 1995 World Cup at Ellis Park. It may have been our pinnacle of success but I also fear it may well be the last great triumph.

There have been good patches since then but belief in our Team has slowly waned. Political inference is still taking its toll as players who can’t make their Provincial team are required by decree to sport the Bok jersey and don’t have to play for their position every game. Rugby is stratified in National, Super 14, Provincial, Club and Schools with no interaction and skills transfer through the layers to ensure a good base and reserve of players. Some young players are head-hunted at Craven Week and SA Schools level and move almost straight into International rugby. The majority of the good players who don’t get the call have to decide whether to leave the game or seek contracts in Europe.

But I have jumped into a personal analysis of the state of play – something I was going to avoid. So let me go back again 50 years or more. At that time only a few people had actually seen the Springboks in action because TV was still in the future. The radio was the only live coverage of the game for most. ‘African Mirror’ newsreel would show a few highlights at the cinema a week or so later but that was in black and white!

Then one of the large stores in town announced that they would have (I think) Aaron ‘Okey’ Geffen’s Springbok jersey on display in their West Street shop window. They announced that it was still in the same condition as at the end of the game. Half of Durban seemed to make the pilgrimage into town on the tram to stand in awe before this holy symbol of sporting pride. There it was with its gold collar, its green body (we had never been sure of the exact shade), leaping Springbok on the breast, mud stains, grass stains and….and could those dark patches possibly be blood? To think that the man had been given the great honour of pulling that over his head and going forth for his country.

A little while ago I saw a guy rummaging through the local rubbish tip wearing someone’s Springbok rugby jersey. Not one of the few worn with pride and to be kept and cherished for the rest of their lives and that of their children…. yea unto the seventh generation…..but one bought at the local Sports Emporium. And yes….for a few rand more you can have your own name put on the back. No…this is wrong for to don the jersey is only for the chosen few. And drawing it on requires an unconditional commitment much like the Ghurkha soldier who must draw blood if he unsheathes his kukri.

Rugby is a game of passion and pride but you also have to pick your best 15 men and play them in position to win. These 15 must prove they are the best every game because if they fail they will be judged, found wanting, and go back to playing the Railway Cops on Kings Park 5 for their Club.

It’s late. I’ve been listening to ‘Anthems’ from the ’95 World Cup followed by Laurika Rauch singing ‘Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux’ and improving my intellect and memory by having a few dops of Klippies and water…..all emotional stuff. But I do feel gutted by our loss of prowess in rugby and many other things.

2006-07-21T00:49:00.000+02:00

Finding Inner Peace

Procrastination is a source of anxiety; you must finish what you start.

I’ve tried this method and would like to pass it on because it has worked for me and I have found inner peace.

You just need to finish the things you started!

I looked around this morning to find the things I’d started………so I finished off the Vodka, Allesverloren Port and the Valium……and you have no idea how peaceful I feel!!

2006-07-09T21:06:00.000+02:00

Snippets

If life's getting you down take it with a pinch of salt………… a slice of lemon and a large shot of tequila!

As an added bonus remember there’s always pot at the end of the rainbow.

And a cautionary from a recent movie:

‘Remember that the Bank of Fidelity will close your account if they find out you’ve been making deposits elsewhere’

2006-07-09T21:03:00.000+02:00

Ways to Combat Crime

Here in SA private security personnel outnumber the police force. They are better equipped and their vehicles always have enough petrol to get them to crime scenes. Now I’m not being flippant here – the official fuzz are often without petrol for numerous reasons.

A local very effective anti-crime company – Combat Security – run by one Norman Reeves was featured on the local TV news last night. His method of dealing with those he catches in the act is to handcuff them to a lamp post in a public street with a sign pinned on them announced things such as ‘I’m a House Breaker – Caught by Combat Security’

Most people interviewed agreed with this approach but Civil Rights groups are up-in-arms. Asked what he thought of their comments Reeves replied ‘….I don’t give a rat’s arse what they think.’

Shades of the stocks in the village square.

In dark hours my emotional crime weary and closet ‘lynch them’ side agrees with this method. My rational self says it’s not right – but very reluctantly.

2006-07-02T20:08:00.001+02:00

The FIFA 2010 World Cup – A Red Card for South Africa?

Watching some of the World Cup in Germany on TV makes us realize what a huge event it is. It also brings home with a jolt the organization and infrastructure that lies behind the obvious and the planning that went into it.

No wonder we are hearing more and more comment that South Africa will not be up to the task for the 2010 event.

The latest news is a report that FIFA is putting a contingency plan in place to move the championship to Australia – a country that already has the facilities and transport systems.

Of course Danny Jordaan – the CEO of the local organising committee – has simply dismissed the matter by saying he’s ‘not interested in these stories’

The reasons cited for a possible move to Australia are firstly our disgusting crime rate - our murder and rape figures are the worst in the world. Most families in South Africa have one or two members who have been mugged, shot at, their home broken into, car windows broken at traffic lights for the odd bit of smash and grab or even hijacking. Our police force can’t cope and the more affluent suburbs employ private security firms to patrol their streets and respond to crime incidents. The less well-off resort to kangaroo courts and execution of alleged criminals by stoning or whatever else they can lay their hands on.

The next reason given is our non-existent public transport system. The trains are decrepit, dirty and dangerous from a crime aspect. Bus services run on African time and sticking to the exact route is often the driver’s prerogative as is stopping to pick up passengers. Even Jeremy Cronin, ANC Member and Chairman of the Parliamentary Transport Portfolio Committee, said that ‘we have a substantial crisis around transport mobility and accessibility’. At present you cannot get around a South African city on public transport.

Another area of concern is the lack of good hotel accommodation. The tourist industry is only provided for in Capetown. Durban was once the holiday capital of the country but patterns have shifted because – you’ve guessed it – the beachfront area is too dangerous because of crime. So the hotels have deteriorated and most visitors make use of private ‘Bed & Breakfast’ establishments in the suburbs and accessible only if you have a car because…….that’s right….there is no public transport!

Then lastly there is the provision of the stadiums for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. In the last fortnight Durban has eventually announced the Professional Team for the design and construction of our purpose-made stadium. Other venues are in a similar embryonic stage but with only three and a half years to completion it will be a very close call.

Keep that contingency plan close at hand FIFA!

2006-02-26T16:07:00.000+02:00

Vote for your Favourite SA Blog

Nominations have been accepted and voting is now open for your favourite 2006 SA Blog. Visit the SA Blog Awards site and cast your vote here before midnight on 3 March 2006

2006-02-25T20:07:00.000+02:00

Hands up all those who can't take a Joke

Had to share this one!
With thanks to Rants & Things Blog

2006-02-23T22:05:00.000+02:00

Keep your Cellphone Number

An article in ‘Business Report’ reported that Vodacom, MTN and Cell C ‘were racing against time to establish a company that is expected to manage a database of cellphone numbers that could be switched to any of the existing operators when mobile number portability (MNP) comes into being.’

This is good news for those cellphone subscribers who wish to switch networks and keep their original numbers.

MNP should be in operation by the end of June this year.

2006-02-21T21:35:00.000+02:00

Know your Cell Phone

Emergency Number

The Emergency Number worldwide for mobile phones is 112.

If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency dial 112 and the mobile will search for any existing network to establish the emergency connection for you. Interestingly this number 112 can be dialled even while the keypad is locked and even if you don’t have credit on your service.

Keys Locked in the Car?

This may come in handy someday and is a good reason to own a mobile phone.

If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call home on your mobile phone. Hold your mobile phone about a foot from your car door and have the other person at home press the ‘Unlock’ button on the key remote whilst holding it near the phone on their end. Your car should unlock.

Saves time and trouble and, of course, distance is not a problem. You could be hundreds of miles away and if you can reach someone who has the other remote for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the boot).

Low Battery on a Nokia Phone?!

Your mobile battery is very low and you are expecting an important call and don't have a charger. Nokia instruments come with a reserve battery.

To activate the battery key in *3370# and your mobile will restart with this reserve and your instrument will show a 50% increase in battery charge. This reserve will get charged when you charge your mobile the next time.

2005-11-30T13:22:00.000+02:00

Out of Limbo – at Last!

Mention the word limbo and most will immediately think of a semi-naked lithe man or woman bent over backwards sliding under a bar that gets lower after each pass. But the real limbo is a region on the borders of hell where the church placed deceased people it could not accommodate elsewhere in the afterlife – rather like a suspense account in bookkeeping.

Limbo is an odd place. The inhabitants are pre-Christian righteous people such as Abraham, Moses and Plato and countless unbaptized infants. Now after an existence of 700 years the church is to consider closing the place down. Leading Roman Catholic theologians are to meet in the Vatican on Tuesday to discuss a document that will erase the concept from the church’s teaching.

But what to do with the inmates for eternity?

2005-11-15T19:08:00.000+02:00

Zulu – The Movie

I watched a re-run on the box last night of the 1964 movie Zulu starring Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins and a young Michael Caine. Not only these but also our very own Shenge better known as President-for-Life of the IFP, Mangosuthu Buthelezi in the role of Cetshwayo. No glasses, no grey hair and no slimmer.

The story centres on the defence of Rorke’s Drift after the defeat at Isandhlwana on January 22 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War and was shot on location at the Royal Natal National Park here in KwaZulu-Natal.

The rank and file of the British troops were played by men from 5^th South African Infantry Battalion from the Ladysmith camp. These (then) young men were national servicemen doing their stint in the army and were borrowed for the filming. Included in their numbers were a couple of my mates – one of whom I recognised in the movie. Ah – a personal if somewhat tenuous link.

2005-11-13T16:08:00.000+02:00

Phillip Tobias

Wednesday evening, this past week, found me in Adams Bookshop for the launch of Professor Phillip Tobias’ book Into the Past – A Memoir.

Professor Tobias grew up in Durban and attended Durban High School but has spent his adult in Johannesburg as a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. But this is far too modest a title for a great scholar who admits to having ‘dabbled’ in anatomy, genetics, anthropology, history, philosophy, human evolution, politics, religion and theology. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Human Biology at the University and holds the positions of Honorary Professor of Palaeo-anthropology, Honorary Professorial Research Associate and Director of the Sterkfontein Research Unit. He is also the Andrew Dickson White Professor-at-Large of Cornell University.

I believe that he has been nominated for a Nobel Prize more than once but have yet to confirm this. I remember him as a partner to Professor Arthur Blexley on a radio programme 35 years ago as they answered listener’s questions on matters scientific. More recently he carried out protracted negotiations with the French Government to have the remains of Sarah Baartman* returned to South Africa for burial. These negotiations were eventually successful and she was buried near Hankey in the Eastern Cape on Women’s’ Day, 9 August, 2002.

Others will know Phillip Tobias from the recent television series Tobias’ Bodies in which he explored human development from the fossil record up until today.

A great scholar, scientist, researcher, lecturer and successor to Raymond Dart and Robert Broom; a man who has added to the sum of human knowledge about our present and past; a truly great South African.

Of course I bought his book and asked him to sign it.

*A Khoe-San woman who was taken to Europe to be exhibited as the ‘African Venus’. After her death her skeleton was preserved as were her brain and external genitalia. These were, at times, on display at the Museum National in Paris

2005-11-08T22:38:00.000+02:00

Spam Comment

I was pleased to have a few nice comments posted but noticed they have a commonality of phrase. Yes Spam Comments have intruded.

Therefore word recognition has been turned on to put a stop to these artificial ego boosters - but it was nice for a while.

2005-11-07T19:32:00.000+02:00

The End of a Love Affair

The end of a relationship is always difficult. One is left with a sense of betrayal; the feeling that your trust has been abused; your confidences compromised; that you have been used for the other party’s purposes; in fact you feel totally foolish especially when you remember how you extolled their virtues.

So it is with 20Twenty Bank.

When 20Twenty was launched it seemed to be the beginning of a new era in banking. Here was an organisation that spoke to you in plain English; used modern technology to operate as a cyber bank and gave unbelievable service; a 21st Century Bank that made the others seem steam driven.

Although operating in its own right 20Twenty was a branch of Saambou Bank – and herein lies the rub. For a number of reasons – unrelated to 20Twenty – Saambou crashed and was put under curatorship. 20Twenty clients found their funds and facilities frozen and began a bumpy and uncertain ride. But despite this an extraordinary thing happened – something unheard of in the world of banking – 20Twenty clients rallied to support ‘their’ bank. Less than 5% closed their accounts and a supporters club was launched complete with its own web site.

After the best part of a year things seemed to be on the mend. Standard Charted Bank acquired 20Twenty and promised the earth. But not for long. The most ominous sign was that the founder of 20Twenty – Christo Davel – soon left. Then Standard Charted launched a programme of ‘transforming’ 20Twenty to their image. Now the news is out that they want to dispose of the cyber bank and concentrate on what they term their ‘core’ business - home loans.

It seems that 20Twenty clients will know their fate by the middle of this month. Unfortunately whatever happens the grand passion is over. The waters are muddied and we mourn the demise of a magnificent concept in modern banking; far too modern for the pin striped brigade of Standard Chartered it would seem.

It’s back to the granite mentality of the established banks. The affair with 20Twenty has ended. Unfortunately, and as always with grand passions, all that is left is a bitter taste as the perfidious nature of all relationships once again emerges.

2005-11-06T18:20:00.000+02:00

Dingy Fever

This Blog is still getting many, many hits from those looking for Dingy Fever. For those lost it's called Dengue Fever and you can find further information here

2005-11-05T23:51:00.000+02:00

The Perfect Crime?

Don't be surprised to see a naked woman walking out of a shopping mall toilet. With what is happening with amazing regularity, victims of this new crime have been found walking out of shopping mall restrooms completely naked. It begins when a man slips into a womens’ restroom and sneaks into a stall. He waits until there is only one woman in the restroom in a neighbouring stall. He then quickly puts an ‘out of order’ sign on the outside of the restroom door. The sign guarantees no one will soon come to the woman's rescue. The criminal stands on the toilet and points a handgun into the next stall, demanding the woman's valuables.

After getting her cash, jewellery and credit cards, he orders her to remove all her clothing and kick them out of the stall. The thief tosses the clothing into a shopping bag, and slips back into the mall. It usually takes an hour or two for the woman to work up the nerve to leave the restroom in the nude, giving the criminal ample time to make his get away. The woman is eventually left naked and humiliated in a mall full of strangers.

The best defence is to never go into a shopping mall restroom alone, as only women who are by themselves are being robbed. Take a lady friend or a family member with. If you do find yourself in this situation, do not be passive. Make as much noise as possible. These criminals are looking for quiet victims so they can make an easy escape. Be careful out there this holiday season, and all year.

This has so far been a perfect crime, as none of the perpetrators have been caught.

SAPS Community Notice

2005-10-09T22:06:00.000+02:00

A Long Absence

I haven’t posted to my Blog for quite a while. Although I’ve enjoyed the little writing I do I thought that it was not relevant and of little interest. Hence the silence.

Some recent compliments have persuaded me that Natal Fever is read and appreciated by some. So as they say ‘watch this space’ for more.

2005-07-19T10:47:00.000+02:00

Blog below is from Joe Reeler's 'The Crime Watcher'. Something that many of us have experienced and survived - but only just!

2005-07-19T10:43:00.000+02:00

"HIJACKING MADE EASY - Repentant Car Hijacker Explains How it is Done"

A repentant car hijacker (28) stole and hijacked cars for more than 14 years before deciding to go straight. Now he is a struggling fashion designer who presents motivational talks at schools in Orange Farm, south of Joburg, discouraging youngsters from doing crime. He spoke to Denis Droppa about the murky world of vehicle crime.

Q. 1: Are most cars hijacked on order by syndicates?
Answer: Yes, I would get a phone call to deliver a certain type of car by a certain deadline, and then we'd go out and search for one. If they needed it quickly, I would hijack. If I had a bit more time I'd steal a parked car, as it was safer.

Q. 2: Which types of vehicles are the most popular amongst hijackers?
Answer: We would get orders to steal just about anything. Double-cab bakkies, any make, were in very high demand. Also, "G-strings" (BMW 3-series), Polo's, Mercedes and Toyotas. I'd get paid a lot more for a double-cab, around R16 000, but only about R500 to R6 000 for a car. If it was an expensive car like the "Anaconda" (BMW 7-series) I could get about 15 grand, though.

Q. 3: Which cars have the lowest hijack risk?
Answer: There's no such thing. There's a demand for all sorts of cars, old and new. If the vehicle isn't sold then it's stripped for spares. The only thing there isn't really an interest in is expensive exotics. I once stole a Ferrari from a garage just for fun, drove it around for a while and then left it back at the garage.

Q. 4: Do most of the cars that aren't stripped end up beyond our borders?
Answer: No, a lot stay in the country. They are given new identities, re-registered and sold here .

Q. 5: How effective are modern anti-theft and tracking systems?
Answer: When I was stealing cars three years ago, most of them were a joke. I could break into almost any car and drive it away within minutes. Some cars were very advanced and a lot of works to steal though, like Volvos. With tracking systems, it was usually very easy to find where the device was hidden. While one guy drove the car, his accomplices would strip the
interior looking for the tracker's hiding place. Then sometimes we'd place the tracking unit into a taxi and trick the police and the helicopters into following the taxi. Nowadays the tracking systems are getting a lot better though, with quicker response times, and towards the end I nearly got caught a couple of times.

Q. 6: How did you learn how to override these high-tech systems?
Answer: Experience, and learning from other car thieves. We all shared information. I! f I was having difficulty with a particular car, sometimes I'd dress up nicely and go to a dealer posing as a customer. I'd ask the salesman how good the anti-theft system was on that car and he would give me all the details.

Q. 7: What was your hijacking modus operandi?
Answer: We would get people in their driveways, on the way to work or on their way home. Rainy weather is the best time to steal cars. When it's raining it makes it more difficult for the tracking helicopters to find you.

Q. 8: In a hijacking did you normally go for soft targets like women?
Answer: No, I could take on anyone. I was a professional. Some people wore guns but never got a chance to use them as I was too fast. I'd stick my gun right in their faces and they wouldn't give me any trouble. That's why I never shot or hurt anyone; I was against that. A friend of mine sometimes shot people he hijacked and he used to wake up with nightmares.

Q. 9: Which area s did you target?
Answer: Any white suburb, it didn't matter. I never stole in the townships because people were poor there. I also didn't rob black people.

Q 10: Is that because you don't like whites?
Answer: No, it's because darkies are dangerous. If you rob them, they go to a sangoma who would "take care" of you.

Q. 11: How much money did you make?
Answer: A lot, but I wasted it all. It was easy come, easy go. Some money would go to police and judges and prison officials in bribes. I got caught a few times but was never convicted. Bribing a police officer to lose a docket cost about R2 000 to R5 000. The only time I spent in jail was awaiting trial. Then I'd bribe the prison guard to help me escape.

Q. 12: Is this the norm, or were you lucky?
Answer: I knew how to find the loopholes and beat the system. Some of my friends were caught and convicted to 8 or 12 years or more.

Q. 13: What made you stop crime?
Answer: I saw I had nothing to show for all those years. I felt guilty for what I'd done and wanted to achieve something in my life. That's why I do community work persuading other people not to do crime, and I'm also a fashion designer. I'm struggling with money now. My sewing machine broke and I can't afford to fix it, but I won't go back to crime. That life is a stupid life.

Q. 14: What is your advice to motorists to avoid hijacking?
Answer: Look out for people following you. Some hijackers spot a car they want and follow the person home. Be aware. If you're suspicious, make a few false turns and see if that car is still behind you. If it is, drive to a police station.

PASS ON, TO AWAKEN SOMEONE!!!

2005-07-10T23:44:00.000+02:00

Virginia Air Show - 2005

A nice little Czech jet trainer. There now seem to be a number of jets like this in private ownership in South Africa.

A SAAF chopper swings into action. The backbone of 'search and resue' operations the Oryx was developed from the French Puma.

Anti Hadeda patrol in action. No pilot would like to hit one of these large birds - say when doing a 'touch-and-go' at 190 knots in a Mirage 3.

Sixty three years old and still going strong; a ex SAAF Harvard touches down after its display. The aircraft the Air Force was built on for nearly six decades. Awful colour scheme!

A Boeing 737-500 of Nationwide does a swing past the show......

.......as does Kulula.Com

2005-07-10T22:56:00.000+02:00

Some of Durban's Past - See Blog Below

2005-07-10T22:48:00.000+02:00

A Right Royal Time

A general rummaging through some boxes turned up some Durban memorabilia. Two souvenir programmes for ‘Royal’ occasions in Durban; one for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937 and the other for their visit here in 1947.

The Programme for the Coronation Celebrations sets out the start of proceedings.

“Tuesday, 11^th May, 1937

4.45 pm – A Special Meeting of the City Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Municipal Buildings, to pass Loyal Resolutions.

5.00 pm – From 5 pm the Durban Municipal Orchestra under the direction of the City Musical Director will render appropriate selections from the Porte Cochere of the City Hall.

A Guard of Honour of the Royal Durban Light Infantry under the command of Captain H.H. Grant, with King’s Colour of the First Battalion, Regimental Band, and the Drums of the 1^st and 2^nd Battalions, will be mounted in Church Street, in front of the City Hall, at 5.25 pm.

His Worship the Mayor (Councillor Fleming Johnston) will be present and be accompanied by members of the City Council……..and other prominent citizens.

The Mayor will then inspect the Guard.

On returning to the dais, the Mayor will direct the Town Clerk to read the Proclamation. On conclusion of the Proclamation, the Guard will present arms and the Mayor will cry ‘God Save the King.’ The Band will then play ‘God save the King’ on conclusion of which the Guard will order arms and remove headdress, whereupon the Mayor will call for three cheers for His Majesty the King.

The Drums will then beat Retreat after which the Evening Hymn, ‘Abide with Me,’ will be played and the Drums will then sound the Call ‘Retreat’ and the Flags lowered.

The Guard will then march past, His Worship the Mayor taking the salute.”

The festivities lasted until Saturday 15^th May and included more parades, ‘Flannel’** dances in the City Hall, Grand Concerts, a Coronation Ball, Sports Meetings, Schools Days, Ex-Servicemen’s Parades, a Historical Tableau and special attractions at the ‘Ocean Beach’.

Included in the programme are some notes of pride on Durban including “by the efficiency of its municipal undertakings, Durban has long since earned for itself the name of ‘Model Borough.’ In the general planning of the town, the layout of its broad streets and parks, esplanades and gardens, and its electric light and power services, its pure water supply, its tramways and telephones…….the Corporation has satisfactorily solved problems which have daunted may older municipal bodies.”

That reads in stark contrast to the reality of today after having endured 4 breaks in the water supply, and five breaks in electricity (two today) during the past two weeks.

(**’Flannel’ refers to the term of the day for men’s light trousers - not being part of a suit. Thus a ‘Flannel’ dance is a less formal affair and does not have the status of a ‘Ball’ where a Dinner Jacket would be worn by men.)

2005-06-29T19:44:00.000+02:00

One of THOSE nights.

It was cold and starting to rain and I went into the TV hoekie to watch the Trafalgar Day things. It was nice and cosy and just as the Red Arrows aerobatic team started their display the phone rang. Eddie!! He of the garrulous inclination who insists on being a family friend despite our best efforts to evict him from this self assumed office. His news this time was to tell me of the death of some person I know in name only. Although I am saddened by deaths I cut him short and returned to the TV just in time to see the Red Arrows vanishing into the haze.

‘Oh well’ I mused ‘at least I’ll see the vintage aircraft’. Just as the flock of Hurricanes, Spitfires, Yaks, Tempests, Sea Furies and others swarmed into view the rain (here) came down in buckets. This always has the effect of putting an end to DSTV reception as a heavy downpour breaks our link to the satellite.

I fumed for nearly 20 minutes until the picture returned. This occurred with immaculate timing as the piston engine jobs were also flying off into the cloudy yonder. ‘Never mind’ I consoled myself’ ‘I’ll be able to watch the sailing ships in a vignette of the famous battle.’

Then the power went off!

It stayed off for an hour during which time I got drunk and no longer cared.

2005-06-29T19:21:00.000+02:00

It is reported that Stevie Wonder has been so impressed with Michael Jackson's legal team, that he has asked them to organise a driver's licence for him.....

2005-06-21T23:22:00.000+02:00

You Give me Fever

It’s that wonderful time of year again here in the Garden Province. The mild winter is providing us with warm days and cool evenings. The mossies have abated somewhat as has the humidity; the clouds tower into the sky out on the horizon over the warm Mozambique current and Natalians stir themselves from their summer sloth and Natal Fever goes into remission.

This part of the world is known for its fevers. We have, or had, the usual afflictions that kept all but the bold at bay. Such nasties as malaria and that which felled my Grandfather and a goodly number of his brothers and sisters – enteric fever- or typhoid as it is now known. ‘Fever’ conjures up mental pictures of pallid, sweating, emaciated patients prostrate on their sick beds surrounded by anxious kinfolk watching a hapless doctor taking the pulse. Such was the subject of many Victorian paintings and posed photographs entitled ‘Fading Away’ or some such other melancholic caption.

But Fevers come in many forms. Being the unique place that this is some strange maladies stalk our fair corner of South Africa. These produce high passions rather than laying one low; for we are, at present, in the midst of all manner of Fevers.

We have just had ‘Comrades Fever’ where thousands of otherwise normal folk ran from Pietermaritzburg down to Durban; all 90 kilometres of it. When enquiring kindly as to why your office acquaintance is walking with a strange gait the invariable answer is ‘I did the Comrades on Thursday’. Etiquette then requires the usual enquiry ‘Did you finish and have a good run’ , ‘No…it was alright…came 10898 in under eleven hours’ (We South Africans start most affirmative answers with ‘No’ It's our little thing you know.)

Strangely the finish of the ‘Comrades’ rather resembles the results of the plague with pale, pallid etc…..sweating people in-extremis dropping like flies. I believe the last of the worst cases was released from hospital yesterday.

At the moment we are in the delirium of ‘Sardine Fever’. Huge shoals of the little silver fish gather off the shores of the Wild Coast and then make their way up past KwaZulu-Natal. Now we are not talking about shoals a few metres long but up to 35 kilometres long and a ‘free-bee’ of gigantic proportions – for all. All manner of game fish, birds, sharks and porpoises dine to their fill for days on end. Now this is understandable as the food-chain is part of nature’s way and the frenzy out at sea is normal. But if you want to see abnormal behaviour be on hand when a shoal ‘beaches’ and the humans get involved. All rational behaviour and decorum is set aside; nearby businesses are abandoned and even trains have been known to stop. People plunge into the surf with waste-paper baskets, sacks, cardboard boxes and buckets. Shirts, skirts, aprons and saris become instant fish catching devices. People who have never ever fished (let alone gutted one for cooking) carry off their booty in a state of high agitation and pride. A free hand-out from nature is taken very seriously in this part of the world.

The next fever to be visited upon us is ‘July Fever’. Yes the ‘sport of kings’; the annual running of the Durban July Handicap horse race at the Greyville Race Course. This particular event sadly no longer afflicts the general populace as it once did. We seem to have slipped into an Orwellian new age where TV, Cane and Coke and the Lotto suffice to keep the masses content and at bay. Once every office had a ‘July Sweepstake’ until this practice was banned by the Government on advice from the Dutch Reformed Church who said it was sinful and causing droughts in the Free State. So keen was interest that even if you were not at the race one had to listen to Ernie Duffield’s commentary on the wireless. Oh the suspense as they vanished behind the Drill Hall and the fast-talking Ernie had to pause for a moment or two.

Those who sought refuge from the endless ‘July’ talk, and the race itself, took themselves off to a Saturday afternoon bioscope to watch ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ or such like. Just as Howard Keel broke into ‘Bless your Beautiful Hide’ the race results would be flashed up onto the screen and superimposed over Mr Keel’s face and all. The subsequent babble of conversation would enrage the connoisseurs of the Hollywood Musical by reminding them that horses were doing things just across town other than taking the brothers a-courting to the next farm.

None-the-less the July is still a major event even though many at the course never actually see the race. The comforts of the hospitality tents where the champagne flows tends to distract many from the purpose of the day. The purpose of the day? Ah well I suppose that’s a moot point.

The ‘Winter Season’ will soon pass. Order will be restored as summer eventually returns and all true Natalians return to our time honoured existence of ‘looking lazy at the sea’. Let our special condition ‘Natal Fever’ apply its palliative balm to us all. After the current few months pestilence and plague of frenetic activity we need the rest.

2005-06-20T23:32:00.000+02:00

Well, well….so Jacob Zuma has been charged and it is reported that he will appear in court shortly. This despite the predictions of many – this Blog included – that this would not happen.

How easy it is to get it wrong in the murky world of politics.

2005-06-19T17:32:00.000+02:00

I see there have been a number of hits on this blog looking for information on 'Dingy Fever'.

It is correctly called Dengue Fever and is an infectious tropical fever causing acute pains in joints. There is a site devoted to it and armed with the correct name will be easy to find.

2005-06-14T14:30:00.000+02:00

Zuma Sacked!

During a joint sitting of Parliament concluded a few minutes ago President Mbeki has ‘relieved Jacob Zuma of his duties as Deputy President and Member of the Cabinet’.

I assume that he will remain a Member of Parliament and still hold office within the ANC.

It would have been better for all if Zuma had done the honourable and fallen on his assegai and resigned.

2005-06-13T21:28:00.000+02:00

Zuma - Again

President Mbeki is to address Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday, 14 June) on the implications of the recent guilty verdict in the Shaik corruption and fraud case. In this matter Judge Hillary Squires found that there was a corrupt relationship between Schabir Shaik and Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

The President will have to express himself on how the judgement affects the standing and status of his Deputy.

Mbeki will possibly say that as Zuma has not been charged and brought to trial he must be assumed to be innocent until proven to the contrary. The likelihood of charges being laid against Zuma seems unlikely as there is an influential faction within the ANC who are opposed to him succeeding Mbeki. This may seem a contradiction but a trial and possible ‘not guilty’ verdict would immediately canonise Zuma and assure his advancement to the Presidency. This is something his detractors are unlikely to risk. Rather leave doubt clinging and allow it to mutate and ferment; a safer method of tarnishing his reputation and ambitions of reaching the highest office.

With this in mind President Mbeki will utter the predictable homilies about the integrity of the judicial system and the rule of law. Dismiss Zuma? I think not. Mbeki will maintain the status quo to appease those who support Jacob Zuma and avert open dissention.

Why do otherwise? The trial of Schabir Shaik has already done the real job of removing Jacob Zuma from the contest for the office of President.

2005-06-08T22:31:00.000+02:00

Google mastheads often carry a message. Today's celebrates the birthday of Frank Lloyd Wright born on June 8, 1869; one of the great architects of the 20th Century. His buildings stand as testiment to his genius and monumental ego.

2005-06-08T21:33:00.000+02:00

In a tribute to Manie Kuhn (see previous blog) Tommy Malone described him as a 'fierce competitor both on the road and in the pub.'

Good one Tommy.

2005-06-06T22:54:00.000+02:00

Manie Kuhn

The great athlete Manie Kuhn has died.

Johan Diedrich Kuhn hailed from South West Africa (now Namibia). He was always a keen sportsman and played rugby for SWA and then Griquas and also excelled at boxing.

He moved to Durban where he was persuaded to take up distance running and first joined Umbilo & Congella Athletic Club. His original nickname was, in fact, Hanie but somehow this mutated to Manie and stuck. A move to the young Savages Athletic Club saw him rise to prominence as a great Comrades Marathon runner eventually winning 6 gold medals, 10 silver and 5 bronze – a total of 21 races including a win, three seconds and a third. (Gold’s going to the first six in his time)

No doubt he will be best remembered by most for his win in 1967 when he beat Tommy Malone in the closest ever finish in this great race. Oh how the SABC & press have regaled us ever since with the tragic story of how Tommy Malone ran second; an injustice to both men. Manie won fairly and on the day was the better runner but remained humble. At an ‘after’ party the next day at the Plaza Hotel he was asked to speak and said with tears in his eyes that he ‘saw Tommy lying there’, hesitated, but knew he had to take the tape and that ‘Tommy would understand’.

I first saw him at Hoy Park here in Durban when I joined the Durban Lunch Time Runners Club in 1966. I could not believe that anybody could run so fast for so long and he became my inspiration and hero. I really thought I’d ‘arrived’ when I managed to run two laps around the ‘big’ field with him.

I eventually ran many very long training runs with Manie where I learned the art of running far and fast. A year of this saw me reduce my own Comrades time by 3 hours. But, of course, at his best and in a long race I could not hope to compete.

Manie eventually spent the latter part and bulk of his athletic career with the Durban Athletic Club where he served with unsurpassed loyalty first as an athlete and then as a man for all Club events, duties and tasks.

Manie moved to Johannesburg a few years ago. It was here that during a hijacking attempt he was shot. After his recovery he was asked during an interview on SABC TV what had happened. He explained that he was told by the armed hijacker not to move. Manie said “the Dutchman in me said ‘No’ and I went for him.” Manie would always win or go down fighting. Such was the Man.

The running world has lost a truly great athlete and the original ‘Iron Man’ of his day.

‘Tot siens ou maat

2005-06-06T22:38:00.000+02:00

Manie Kuhn finishing at the old Kings Park track in the 1966 Natal Marathon Campionship. He finished second on this day to Ted Craig.

2005-06-05T23:42:00.000+02:00

Zuma

I watched the 7.00pm SABC News this evening; not something I normally do. The main item was coverage of meetings held by the youth of both the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party. These were held in response to the growing clamour for our Vice-President and leader to the ‘Moral Regeneration Initiative’ Jacob Zuma to resign.

I was treated to tirades from spokesmen saying that the guilty verdict in the Schabir Shaik trial ‘was a miscarriage of justice’ and that they give Deputy President Zuma their full support; this despite him being named in the judgement as a willing party to the deeds of Shaik.

They went on to denounce Judge Hillary Squires as a racist and an ‘ex apartheid operative’ whose judgement was therefore flawed and biased.

This plunged me into a deep trough of gloom so I checked my Lotto ticket again. But alas I had not won a few million rand and so will have to endure this a bit longer.

2005-02-08T22:08:00.000+02:00

Mariannhill

The notice from the local walking club said ‘This Sunday: A walk around Mariannhill Monastery’ Now knowing that this is probably the best collection of brick buildings in South Africa I went along with high hopes of a relaxing afternoon looking at corbelling, string courses, voussoirs, label courses, various bonds and similar examples of the bricklayers craft. The result was not quite this.

The Anglo-Saxon on home ground has a passion for taking long muddy walks in the countryside. We of similar ancestry have inherited this trait and so it was a whisk through a cloistered courtyard, the chapel and then off into the sticks for a long sweaty walk through the high grass. Up hill and down dale avoiding cow turds and wondering if I had collected my quota of ticks. The object of this was apparently to look at the original water works for the Monastery which consisted of a ditch leading to a concrete settlement tank. Not quite the high art in which I had hoped to be immersed.

The long slog back ended in the Monastery Tea Gardens where people compared their high tech 2 x 2 hiking boots over tea and cream scones. All jolly good outdoor fun.

Another visit is a must – but this time to look at the buildings in detail and get more than three or so general pics.

2005-02-08T22:07:00.000+02:00

From a monastery meadow

2005-02-08T22:05:00.000+02:00

The Chapel

2005-02-08T22:03:00.000+02:00

Ambulatory around a cloister

2005-02-06T21:48:00.000+02:00

A Stroll down the Sani

A Sunday or so ago found me in the company of a large group at the top of the Sani Pass in southern KwaZulu-Natal. The trip having been organised by a local walking club and the Wildlife Society and entailed was being driven up the Pass to be followed by a walk down to the South African Police post.

Although the road has been much improved in recent times I still found it somewhat scary standing on the back of 4x4 truck as we crawled, bumped and swayed around the top zigzags of the pass. But the expenditure of a little adrenalin was well worth it as the view from the ‘Roof of Africa’ is breathtaking, of vast scale, sweeping and way above the clouds below. Also at the top is what is reputed to be the ‘highest’ pub in Africa - a cosy place perched on the edge of the escarpment. The only other things up there are four rudimentary huts, a border post, chickens, goats and rocks as far as the eye can see.

The walk back allowed me to ponder the history of the Pass and its importance as it was, until recently, the only supply route into eastern Lesotho. Until 1933 it was but a game track until the Government introduced a relief labour scheme during the famine of that year. Workers improved the track to the status of a bridle path able to be used by pack animals taking supplies from Himeville to Mokhotlong in Lesotho.

The first recorded ascent of the pass by motor vehicle was in 1948 when a party led by Godfrey Edmonds went up in a Jeep. Not only did they climb the Pass but pressed on to Mokhlotlong and arrived there after a 13 hour trip. At this time David Alexander was planning the establishment of a motorised transport business up the pass. He and a party of seven others made the difficult trip in 1949. In those days some of the bends were so acute that it took nearly and hour to manoeuvre and bump the jeep around the sharpest of these. This was the first trip of what became Makhlotlong Mountain Transport and eventually vehicles replaced pack animals.

Today the pass is far easier to negotiate. Also the internal road system of Lesotho has been vastly improved and the people at the top of the pass are not as dependant on it as they were.

As I walked down I looked at the natural beauty of the place. The grass green after recent rains and clear streams running down over the rocks. Of the once 5000 pack animals and 300 transport riders who worked and died on the Pass, none remain. The days of the horse, mule and donkey on those vicious gradients, where carcases in various stages of decomposition and skeletons once littered the sides of the road, are finished. But a trip up the Pass still stirs the soul and quickens the spirit of adventure.