Tag: South Africa

One Day in the Life of South Africa

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The day was 26 May 1982. South Africans were asked to send in photos taken on that day and a wonderful book was created showing a moment in time of a country.

It was organised into 24 chapters, depicting the hours of that day. I opened up on a few pages randomly. It might be important to note that this was during apartheid and many photos contrasted the different life styles in the country, however, there were many encouraging images that showed a country about to change. It took another 8 years until Nelson Mandela was freed from prison which seems a short time now in retrospect but at the time we thought that particular day would never come.

That the book fell open on this page was a special bonus for me because of the black and white picture on the bottom right side. It is from a theatre production at the Market Theatre called “Saturday Night at the Palace”. The writer Paul Slabolepszy also starred (he is the blond guy on the right), the other two actors are Bill Flynn and Fats Dibeko. It had opened not even a month earlier and ran a total of three seasons, most performances being sold out. My husband and I were there, not on 26 May but in May or June that year for sure. It was later made into a movie with the great John Kani.

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge: One Day

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Diplomacy – or …?

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… divided loyalties?

Rugby fans at a match between Scotland and South Africa with kilts and Springbok sweaters or kilts made of South African material and Scottish tam (including fake ginger hair).

But this fan really was the best: He was wearing a ghillie shirt with a South African cravat underneath. His kilt was made of material featuring the Springbok emblem of the South African rugby union. And the cherry on the top was his sporran made of springbok fur.

FOWC with Fandango: Diplomacy

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This Is not a Fever Tree

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In South Africa there a certain kind of tree, the vachellia xanthophloea (xanthophloea refers to the yellow bark). Now I know that the common name, fever tree, stems from the fact that they were first found in malaria infected areas but you can always see a fever tree from afar – the bark stands out and the stem and the branches look as if they were glowing from the inside.

I’ve never seen a specimen in Germany but in the right light a poplar can look luminous, too.

The Ragtag Daily Prompt: Luminous

Different Strokes for Different Folks

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While this gull is flying into the infinite distance

the Vedra is making shoreward, towards Roker Beach.

Thirty years earlier we were on the opposite side of the world, at the lagoon of Nature’s Valley near Plettenberg Baai in South Africa.

I wear my hair short and I can style it without much fuss. But folk with proper manes might rely on the help of others to look their best.

I also don’t care for cigarettes or pipes but the Odenwälder Hannes is smoking day in, day out.

Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word in August

One Man’s Noise Is Someone Else’s Music

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Do you remember them? When the Football World Cup happened in South Africa in 2010, the world learned about vuvuzelas. Their noise was music to the ears of the fans of Bafana, Bafana (the South African soccer team). Or in this case, the fans of the German team if the colours are to be believed.

BTW: Football is called soccer in South Africa.

FOWC with Fandango: Noise

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