Extraordinary People
Zimbabwe is graced with many extraordinary people! The very fabric of our society has been shaped by Zimbabweans, some who have left and work for us from abroad, and some who have stayed and keep the country alive by the sheer strength of their personalities. I cannot even begin to mention names right now, but I would like to speak of a Couple, who we were with on Wednesday evening.
Violette Sohaili and Paul Hubbard - far too modest to stand up and be acknowledged, but they deserve many accolades.
The event was the launch of Violette's much anticipated novel - 'Mulberry Dreams', at an elegant and tasteful soiree in the Orange Elephant gardens. Violette has been a mainstay in the world of journalism and public relations in Bulawayo for many years, I remember first encountering this beautiful, tiny, bombshell when she edited the In-House Magazine for Edgar's Stores, I hesitate to say how many years ago on the grounds that it might incriminate us both!!
Paul Hubbard is Hubbard's Historical Tours, historian, giant personality, enigmatic, energetic, magical....
Born in Bulawayo, Paul has lived all over Zimbabwe both in town and in the wild - which he much prefers. He holds a couple of degrees in archaeology from the University of Zimbabwe and University College London and has worked variously as an archaeologist, university lecturer, and has recently been rated as one of the ten top guides in Africa. Paul's Historical Tours will take one all over Zimbabwe and include archeological tours and his 'Historic Pub Crawl of Bulawayo.'
I am so looking forward to tucking into Violette's 'Mulberry Wishes' and pray that this dynamic young couple will both burgeon and blossom along with the Zimbabwe that they love so dearly.
'Mulberry Wishes' can be obtained by contacting Violette on 0772851609 or via 'The Orange Elephant' facebook page.
WATCHDOG
KINDNESS
by Naomi Shihab Nye
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
WANTED : MILITARIA & COLLECTABLES
Cash Paid (US$ Or Rand) For Militaria Such As Badges (Metal Or Cloth),
Medals, Stable Belts, Berets, Plaques, Webbing Etc...
I Am Also Interested In Collectables Such As Tokens, Medallions, Railway Memorabilia Etc.
I Will Be Visiting Bulawayo From 31st March - 14th April 2021. If You Are Interested In Selling, Please Contact Me Soonest, In Order For Me To Organize A Meeting With You.
I Can Be Contacted At gre@absamail.co.za Or Via Whatsapp On +27 83656 1342. Alternativly Please Contact My Relatives Gail (0772278644) Gordon (0774681065) Maclean, Parents Cedric & Maureen Edwards (0772570382)