#Mini Safari – #1 – Ebb – and- Flow (Note: this series are not strictu sensu blogs, but rather a personal travel journal, so no need to read, unless interested!)

Day 1: 10 July – Mini ‘safari’ to Wilderness, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Tsitsikamma and back to Emma.

Easy pace through Du Toit’s Kloof tunnel to Worcester and on to the R62 to Robertson. Passing 600m from early morning devastating gastanker explosion which demolished 7 or so buildings!

Pitstop for coffee at mobile Vidé!

From Robertson to Swellendam and onto the N2. Impromtu call to turn off to a farm stall and butchery just outside Heidelberg. Horrible coffee, but great meat! Takbok wors and Venison sosaties.

Home

Smooth cruise to Widerness en pitching at Ebb-and- Flow (SANPARKS) South Camp. Had a nice braai last evening and off to bed with our books. AND then…. wierd sounds ….. and the front of the caravan hit the ground as the jockey wheel collapsed! Closest to horizontal whiplash!! We managed to lift the disselboom with the car’s jack and left the remaining problem of repositioning the jockey wheel for tomorrow.

Day 2: 11 July – Today we took the Village Walk Trail from camp to town. Explored the little town of Wilderness and had coffee and pecan nut pie and Mozart cake!

http://www.greenshed.co.za/

And guess what? We did 15km walking today! Not to bad for the old folk!

Chilled with a Nespresso on the bank of the Touwriver, got staff to help lift the caravan at the front to reset the jockey wheel and met our ever growing Egyption geese family! Quick braai as it started to drizzle and had supper inside.

Now reading ……. and soon goodnight, till tomorrow, when off to Graaff-Reinet and Camdeboo Reserve!

Black humor, but perhaps not so black afterall – My right to #Life and #Death.


(Warning: Adult Content)

Black comedy, also known as black humor, dark comedy or gallows humor, is a comic style that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discuss – Wikipedia definition.

We live in an era of ‘Rights’. My rights, your rights, their rights, our rights and even animal rights. Nothing wrong with that, as long as fair and reasonable in an open and democratic society.

Here is a revolutionary, creative, moneysaving and optimally landuse friendly business proposition for you – The One Stop Selftermination Shop.

I have been thinking – if I have the fundamental right to life, why should I not also have a fundamental right to death? More about the fundamental rights thing later.

The Concept

A business model that provides for a smooth and inexpensive exit from this world by own choice.

The business model

Private sector design and construction of fully automated multi-functional human-termination facilities in each province. The facility will provide for a termination process line comprising of the following components (stations):

Reception
Preparation
Execution
Disposal

An App, to be downloaded, will provide for registration for exit through this fully automated 4th #Industrial Revolution style termination line or facility. The App will provide for comprehensive capturing of all relevant data eg. transportation selection to the facility, uploading of birth certificate, full current Fica info, next of kin, disposal selection, will, executor, Death Notice, Provisional Inventory and comprehensive instructions re exit dinner ie. Venue, guestlist, menu, wine choice, music and list of charities for donations in lieu of flowers etc. An Uber option can be added for transportation to the facility.

Once online registration is completed a dedicated password (exit code?) is generated. Pitching at the “plant” (via Uber preferable) you simply punch in the allocated password (Reception) and make yourself comfortable in the lazyboy that slides out automatically.


At the push of a button the chair moves to the Preparation station where music of choice (pre-selected) will commence to play and automated sedation is triggered. A final meal is optional, and quality barista coffee naturaly.

Once a blissfull state of mind is detected by the system the chair then automatically unloads on to a conveyorbelt, which then moves through the access to the Execution station and incineration takes place.

The asses are fed through a conduit into the pre-selected urn or, if no selection was done, simply into a general container. If an urn has been selected, same is then collected by the designated courier and delivered to the designated next of kin.

Done and dusted.

The purpose here is not to debate the rights issue, save to say that our most modern secular based constitution falls faul of dealing with the very fundamental right to death.


Chapter 2 of the Constitution, 1996 provides, inter alia, for the following:

Life
11. Everyone has the right to life

Freedom and security of person

12. (2) Everyone has the right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes the right-
(a) ……….;
(b) to security in and control over their body; and
(c)……….

Freedom of religion, belief and opinion

15. Everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.

There has clearly been an oversight in the drafting of the constitution in failing to deal with the right to death in terms. Fortunately, application of the rules and principles of Legislative Interpretation favours  a recognition of the commensurate right to death.

Afterall – who wants to live forever? Ask Freddy Mercury!

Safari nostalgie#1 – Klein Karoo – Die Hel

Almal weet van die Hel, maar niemand begeer dit as bestemming nie! Wel nie daai ene nie! Tog is daar ‘n Hel wat volgens almal wat eerstehandse kennis het, hemels is – Gamkaskloof in die Swartberge. Frik en Janine was al daar en het ons verseker dat hierdie pad na die hel jou altyd sal bybly! En dit was voorwaar!

Prince Albert verdwyn in ons truspieël, maar die heerlike kuier prut nog in die siel as ons die Swartbergpas vat – op daardie stadium slegs naweke oop vir verkeer weens vroeëre verspoelings en ook brande. En moet mens klim om by die pad na die Hel te kom! Dis toe nie die breë weg nie!

En dan die regs afdraai in die Gamkaskloof (die Hel) in, deur pragtige fynbos en met ‘n heel breë weg…… wel, aanvanklik…..

Die pad in hierdie hel in is bitter nou, maar ongelooflik mooi wat asem ophou en wegslaan laat bokspring! Maar, as ons uiteindelik onder by Ouma Sannie se Winkel stilhou, raak die hart rustiger en die uitsien na Oom Hannes se huis net groter.

Diep, dieper, diepste in die kloof in wag Oom Hannes se huisie, Maggie en die allermooiste ou Peperboom op ons. Tydens ons Karoosafari het ons telkens by elke afsaalpunt konsensus gehad dat die betrokke uitspanplek eenvoudig ‘wow’ is, en glo my hier ‘wow’ ons vier toe weer! Weet nie wat Maggie gedink het nie, maar sy het net hoogs professioneel gedoen wat sy moes doen – ons super tuis laat voel!

https://www.diehelboplaas.co.za/accommodation/rooms/6c5b7bb8-113e-4271-890e-7245a499bb4f

Oom Hannes se huis is een van vele pragtig gerestoureerde ou huisies in Gamkaskloof waarin daar ryke geskiedenis en herinneringe vasgevang lê. Jy voel werklik of jy teruggevoer word in tyd en deur jou gedagtes spoel telkens ‘n wonder oor al die lief en leed wat hier afgespeel het – die voorhuis waar huisgodsdiens saans by kerslig gehou is, die klein slaapkamertjies met emmer en waskom, die hartlike kombuisie waar die vuur in die ou Doverstofie hart en lyf knus en warm gehou het!

Die ou peperboom agter by die kombuisdeur gooi sy lang kronkel arms oor die braaiboma en die afkoelplaspoel, en Maggie (sien ‘Maggie’ – https://wp.me/saEL4t-maggie ) rond die kuierprentjie volmaak af.

Potjie prut, broodjie broei en die vuur se vlamme vou toe in warmte die hart en lyf. Tyd maak plek vir stilte en Maggie begelei ons voete deur die Kloof. Sy ken haar pad en lees jou gemoed. Ons verken tot diep diep in die kloof tot waar die paaie stop en skadus lank word.

Helaas het tyd ook oor pensioenarisse ‘n mag. Ons moet aangaan – en Maggie moet bly, maar sy weet dit goed en krul haar neer op die matjie voor oom Hannes se deur. Haar volgende gaste kruip sekerlik stadig af in die Kloof! Ook Maggie moet ‘n kansie kry om te oordink…..

When youth and summertime are gone,
And age puts quiet garlands on,
And in the speculative eye The fires of emulation die,
But as to-day our time shall be
Trembling on eternity,
While, still inconstant in debate,
We shall on revelation wait,
And age as youth will daily plan
The sailing of the caravan
THE COMMON LOT – John Drinkwater

Safari nostalgie#1 – Klein Karoo – Prince Albert

Totsiens sê aan ‘Bird’s Nest’ was toe nie so maklik nie, maar die gedagte aan ‘n koffietjie by Roger Young op Kruisrivier het darem getroos.

https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Art-Gallery/Kruisrivier-Gallery-Roger-Young-Studio-224833951012815/

Hoe spoel kindertyd nie deur jou kop nie, as jou voete weer ou grond raak. Hier het ons by die groot ou vuurherd na Antjie se stories geluister en vetkoek geëet! Deur die agterste hekkie het die klein voetpad ons telkens na die rivier toe geneem vir kleilat gooi en stout wees! Sorgelose tye van nefie en niggie pret op die agterste ou stoep en jare later orals na vryplek soek!

  • Antjie se storieplek

Roger Young se storie is een vir ‘n ander dag want ons moet aanbeweeg!

Ons vat die pad oor Matjiesrivier en Grootkraal na De Rust. Ompad na Prince Albert, maar nie sonder rede nie! Deur Meiringspoort is mos ‘n moet as jy ‘n ‘safari’ deur die Karoo doen.



Die kleurvolle Prince Albert verwelkom ons. Die selfsorghuisie is luuks en lekker gesellig. Die boma en braai wag op ‘n knetterende vuur en goeie rooiwyn!



Prince Albert is ‘n paradys vir die rustige straatwandelaar, met prentjie mooi ou huise, winkeltjies, heerlike koffienessies en selfs ‘n eg tradisionele bioskoop!

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Ons het heerlik gekuier en die konsensus mening was dat hierdie dorpie weer besoek moet word! Ons het nie eers by Weltevredeplaas uitgekom om Adamsvye te koop nie! Volgende keer! Nou die Swartbergpas aandurf na ons finale stop in die Hel ( Gamkaskloof) en  Maggie.

Safari nostalgie #1 – Klein Karoo – Red Stone Hills

Met die vrede en rus wat Tapfontein gebring het in ons, pak ons die volgende avontuur van hierdie mini safari! Met die kronkelpad uit die reservaat en in plaas van regs na Ladysmith, soos wat ek en Rosebud laas gery het, oortuig Frik ons om meer avontuurlustig te wees en vat ons grondpad na die Gamkapoortdam.


Ons ry oor Vleiland en Bosluiskloof met die allermooiste agterpaaie tot waar die gekettingde hek na die dam ons stuit! Terugdraai moes ons, maar dit was alles die tyd en moeite werd. ‘ n Fees vir fotos deur skoonsus, ons professionele fotograaf.


Deur die asemrowende Seweweekspoort en ‘n vinnige stop in Calitzdorp. Bietjie proviand kry en wegbreek van die grootpad na links vir ons kuier by Red Stone Hills op die pad na Kruisrivier! En ‘n tweede wow! Pragtige huisies teen die rooi koppe, skaduryke ou Peperbome, vriendelike volstruise en die allermooiste rose!





Hier by ‘Bird’s Nest’ (weet rerig nie hoekom Potgieters van die Klein Karoo hul huisies Engelse name moet gee nie!) besef jy weer die karoo is in jou bloed! Wel oupa Piet was natuurlik ook ‘n Potgieter en as kinders het ons reeds hierdie grond aan ons voete gehad. Ai, as ek en Frik maar net op een of ander manier ‘n grondeis kon hê!

Ons nessie is pragtig en die ou stoep belyn met rose en ‘n vista oor die volstruiskampe. Binne is die heerlikste herd vir gesellig kuier.



Hierdie is ook ‘n paradys vir stappers. Ons oggend met die wandelpad om die rooi koppe of bergie was ‘n fees van fotogebiedende tonele en ons fotograaf was voorwaar op ‘n ‘high’! Die flora langs die weg was absoluut asemrowend en mens kon nie help om so dan of wan net plat in die pad te gaan sit en te wonder waar hierdie als vandaan kom nie.

 




En hier en daar selfs fauna!

Tyd om die pad Kruisrivier toe te vat en so ‘n bietjie kleintyd nostalgie te gaan beleef, voordat die tog na ons volgende bestemming -Prince Albert – via De Rust aangepak word.

PS: Ons post safari pogings om die Potgieters te oorreed om twee van die ou huisies lang termyn aan ons te verhuur was edel en braaf, maar helaas vergeefs! Red Stone Hills is beslis ‘n besoek werd – https://www.redstone.co.za/

Safari nostalgie #1 – Klein Karoo – Anysberg Natuurreservaat

Hierdie was my tweede besoek aan die reservaat en ek het met die inry by die hek aan Montagu se kant net weer besef hoe onverken ons eie naby avontuurplekke is. Die kronkelpad na die kantoor by Vrede is nogal ver, maar tyd is mos nou nie meer ‘n faktor nie. Van die kantoor na die houthuisies by Tapfontein – LW net 4×4, so, jammer vir julle ander wat plat vinnige duur motors ry soos ons kabinet!

So naby aan die Metropool en tog so ver weg van enige beskawing! Tapfontein is net 4 of 5 Wendy huisies, ‘n toilet met ‘n uitsig na Ladismith se berge, ‘n lapabadkamer met ‘n eiertjie in ‘n nessie, ‘n plaasdam met ‘n windpomp en ‘n skuurtjie vir ‘n kombuis en ‘n parmantige kleine muis!

‘n windpomp en ‘n dam
Avokado die muis

Ek het die belangrikste vergeet! Die heerlike braaiboma!

Peinsende pensioenaris

Die vrede wat in die stad uit bly, kry jy hier – sonder enige terme of voorwaardes. Dis heeltemal verniet en dan neem jou voete jou deur die beeldende kuns van die Karoo. Jy besef meteens hoe klein jy is.

Meeste fotos met vergunning van my skoonsus, Janine!

Net ons vier alleen by Tapfontein! Wat kan ‘n mens meer vra? Ruimte, uitspansel, eenvoud en stilte vir ‘n siel.

Heerlike stappe, klouter en klim in niemandsland, boeklees en sluimer in ‘n dekstoel langs ‘n egte plaasdam en Karoo agtergrondmusiek verskaf deur die ou windpomp, lopende water en voëlgesang. As mens net maar kon, sou jy tyd se horlosie net hier kon stop. Tog – tyd vir aanbeweeg en Tapfontein eers agterlaat. Vir meer oor die geskiedenis van hierdie reservaat – https://www.capenature.co.za/story-behind-anysberg-nature-reserve/

Oppas vir daai klip!

Volgende bestemming – Red Stone Hills op pad na Kruisrivier aan die voet van die Swart Berg!

Honouring Zaida – Keeping the Faith, enduring the pain and living to the bitter End – 22/02/1964 – 1/12/2011.


             Little Warrior
(for Zaida)
Should be your Spring now
little one
flowers in your hair,
cuddling rays of sun,
smell of jasmine, honeysuckle
and roses in your heart
and yet-
Winter clings and smothers so
O, dreadful dreadful foe
how bear you child this cold,
this dark, the tears
of soul crying out
for sun, for Spring
 
brave little Warrior for life
that you endure so without fail
and fearless climb the cliff
crossing bravely towards end
all of life’s rifts
full knowing in your heart
all cherished dreams forever sleep.
even would the sun thee fail
and winter so endure
then travel this so dreadful road
with grace and bold
as you always do
believing in life’s journey
 not for us to choose
but still with destiny secure.
 
23 April 2013

I wrote this for Zaida Adam posthumously to honour her as a dear colleague, friend and rolemodel. I do however so regret not having written it much earlier.

Zaida joined the office on the 1st of October 2001. She worked in the Conveyancing Department as a conveyancer, until her final farewell to this life and all of us on the 1st of December 2011.

She was not even 40 when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was subjected to a full compliment of cancer treatment, including surgery. She fought this battle like the bravest warrior on earth. For a short period her life returned to relative normality and could she start dreaming again. The photograph above  was taken at her ‘Bollywood’ birthday, which was, as she put it: ‘A celebration of life and love’. During this time she gave so much love and kindness to others who were also suffering from cancer. Special little messages, advice, ointments, creams and gifts regularly came Rosebud’s way, who was at that point also receiving treatment for cancer and ultimately also a brave survivor.

But it was not to be for Zaida, and the cancer returned. Yet again, Zaida did not waiver. Chemo, surgery, radiation and a forever warrior spirit brought hope that life could be resumed and hopes rekindled. At this point she made an even more passionate commitment to live to the fullest and found love again. And dreams.

Alas, it was not to be. The cancer returned for a third time and spread. She was tired of fighting, but still did not surrender. Weak and fragile she fulfilled her dream and resolve to go to Mekka to perform Hajj ( pilgrimage to Mecca). Dr Salim Parker, who was with Zaida, described her determination and resolve as follows in a subsequent article titled: “In Life’s departure lounge”:

I had admired her resolve to perform Hajj when she spoke to me about it a few months earlier. Now, she was virtually a few steps from the Haram and a few days from the most important day of her life: her moment on Arafah, her time as close as possible to her Creator before her time closed in.”

On the 1st of December 2011 Zaida parted with this world and all of us, who so respected and loved her. She is whole now, without pain, safe and living in perpetuity.

Maggie

Will we ever forget Maggie? Never! Our most devoted companion ever! She welcomed us at oom Hannes se huisie deep in the Hell. No, not the one you are thinking off, but Gamkaskloof, otherwise known as ‘die Hel’.

Maggie is verseker die mees ervare concierge wat ek ooit teegekom het! Sy het ons met groot blydskap ontvang by Oom Hannes en vir die duur van ons heerlike kuier ons warmte, liefde en leiding gegee.

Heerlike geselskap as ons braai, swem of verken. Toergids sonder gelyke.

We will never forget our time with Maggie. Until we meet again Maggie.

I wandered today to the hills, Maggie
To watch the scene below
The creek and the creaking old mill, Maggie
As we used to long, long ago
The green grove has gone from the hills, Maggie
Where first the daisies sprung
The creaking old mill is still, Maggie
Since you and I were young
Oh, they say that I’m feeble with age, Maggie
My steps are much slower than then
My face is a well written page, Maggie
And time all alone was the pen
They say we have outlived our time, Maggie
As dated the song that we’ve sung
But to me you’re as fair as you were, Maggie
When you and I were young
They say we have outlived our time, Maggie
As dated the song that we’ve sung
But to me you’re as fair as you were, Maggie
When you and I were young
When you and I were young
Songwriters: Donie Cassidy / Michael Foster / Tony Allen

Safari context

The meaning of the name Safari is Journey, Expedition. The origin of the name Safari is Swahili. This is the culture in which the name originated, or in the case of a word, the language. From Arabic word “safar” meaning“journey”
A safari /səˈfɑːri/ (Swahili: safari) is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists in Africa. In the past, the trip was often a big-game hunt, but today, safaris are often to observe and photograph wildlife—or hiking and sightseeing, as well.

Whether it is Collins, Webster, Google or who ever, the modern day meaning, at least for me, and in terms of my ‘safari’, is simply ‘journey’ in its widest possible sense.

You with me?

This takes me to my first post retirement journey where i met Maggie!