Spooked

By 6000 | 6000 | May 20, 2012

Dodging between hefty showers, and wrapped up rather warmly, we indulged Alex’s wish to take a walk around the Aguhas Ghost Trail. We had a great time in the hills above the village, but what I had thought would be a kilometre wander with the kids, turned into a 4.5km trail through dense bush, up and down valleys and over some distinctly iffy terrain.
The kids had a great time, although, due to an unfortunate miscommunication (I think) between Mum and Kristen during a loo stop, the latter ended up rather damp. She also got a nasty blister on her foot and so I ended up carrying her through dense bush, up and down valleys and over some distinctly iffy terrain. She’s not light and the going was not easy. She was also rather damp.
Once we eventually managed to get back down onto the road, I had to run back and get the car as the kids were totally knackered. And thus, we arrived at the Agulhas chippy with me covered in sweat and urine. Delightful.
However, a quick change before a late lunch of geelbek & chips and all was well with the world again.

The views and wildlife up there were amazing. But next time, knowing a bit more what to expect, we’ll certainly be better prepared.
One other good bit of news is that even though I’m not supposed to be running for another fortnight, my calf seems to have not been horribly torn again by my exertions. Happy days.
I’ll sort the photos out tomorrow.

2 Comments | Tagged , | Posted in Cape Agulhas, learning curve, positive thoughts, the parenting bunny, this is south africa

Dead fish

By 6000 | 6000 | May 19, 2012

Here’s what we found on the beach today:

image

My readers will recognise this as a Spiny Cowfish (Lactoria diaphana).
I didn’t recognise it until I checked my reference books. Now, I’m the local expert on Spiny Cowfish.

Leave a comment | Tagged , | Posted in Cape Agulhas, learning curve, this is south africa

Just Hanging Out

By 6000 | 6000 | May 18, 2012

Much hubris from the ANC over Brett Murray’s depiction of President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma in a Leninist pose, but with his bits hanging out of his trousers. As far as I’m aware, Lenin never did that.

Nope. Vladimir is all tucked in there. And thank goodness, if the rumours of his immense statue are to be believed. Apparently, “Once you go Red, you never go back.” Or maybe it was all propaganda.

I’m not publishing the JZ picture on here, not because I disagree with it being painted, drawn, whatever, but because I really have no compulsion to have a stylised image of Mr Zuma’s parts on my blog. If you want to see “it”, then pop over to this M&G story on the subject.

But come now, it’s just another big fuss over nothing. In protesting, the ANC have now ensured that the Streisand Effect is in full force and the 99.99% of the nation that was wholly unaware that a picture of the President with his fly down even existed are now marvelling at… at… Murray’s work.
It’s fantastic publicity for Murray and for the Goodman Gallery for what, to me, resembles a GCSE art project (but with a willy). If the artist is trying to portray a message with his work – and apparently he is – it’s been thoroughly lost in the rumpus around JZ’s bits being on display. If you want to send a message through art, maybe go back to throwing loo rolls into trees.

Meanwhile, the “freedom of speech” brigade are out in force again, citing Constitutional rights as they always do when this sort of thing happens. And, of course, they are right: Murray is well within his rights to illustrate the genitals of anyone he wants.
But I would love it if despite the fact that Brett Murray had the right to paint JZ’s genitals, he chose not to. Just because you’re allowed to do it, just because it’s your right, it doesn’t mean that you have to. And yes, the ANC has its knickers (not depicted) in a knot over this and it’s all awfully silly, but there really was no need to have done it in the first place. Except to earn the fat fee that some stupid overseas buyer has paid for it, I suppose.
Meh. Brett should head off and find something else to do that actually benefits the country.

As for Jacob – if he didn’t want the picture painted, he should never have agreed to pose for it.

4 Comments | Tagged , , , , | Posted in annoying people, in the news, politics, that's a bit mad

Doubly unimpressed

By 6000 | 6000 | May 17, 2012

Welcome to Canal Walk:

 

Unless you’re a Dad, or a grammar Nazi.

5 Comments | Tagged , , | Posted in annoying people, this is south africa

Ah luv Cayep Towan, Me.

By 6000 | 6000 | May 17, 2012

Rumours. Nothing but rumours at the moment. But if they happen to turn into genuine fact, then it seems that Newcastle United could be set to play in Cape Town this winter. Hence the hideous attempt at translating a Geordie accent into text in the title there.

Previously, we’ve had Man U (who they?) and Spurs coming over for the annual Vodacom Challenge in the English off-season, but according to the Sowetan, it could be the Mags this time around:

“Negotiations are at an advanced stage between the organisers and management of Newcastle United. I think an announcement will be made in a few days’ time,” said a source involved in the negotiations. “The organisers are also toying with the idea of getting Tottenham Hotspur back in the tournament because they are going back to its original format of four clubs, but the appearance fees asked by the English teams are massive.”

Hmm… “a source”.

Anyway, this comes after Cape Town “lost out” on being a host city for the upcoming Afcon tournament, citing a lack of guarantees about costs and a lot of other political nastiness. Grant Pascoe, Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, was on a local radio station at that time suggesting that the city would at least be likely to host one of the Vodacom Challenge matches.

Putting those two unsubstantiated claims together and doing some rudimentary calculations, I have worked out that Newcastle are going to be playing in Cape Town sometime in the next couple of months and my hopes are now raised just high enough to be completely dashed.

Ha’way the lads!

Leave a comment | Tagged , , | Posted in in the news, positive thoughts, sport, this is south africa, uk
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