I remember clearly being 16 and wanting a pair of tartan stockings so desperately, that I could hardly breathe!!
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They were to go under a red dress Mom had made me for the Friday social at St Mary's Church in Famona. Fashion at age 16 was paramount, and Mum, as were all the folk after the war, was 'as poor as a church mouse!!'
Mum's favourite saying, whenever we wanted something was, and I quote 'I cried because I had no shoes..and then I saw one who had no feet'....
Somehow even that saying did not mollify my longing for red tartan stockings but
my Grandmother saved my life literally, and gave me the required Five Pounds to buy said stockings! Thanks to her, I survived the Social at St Marys Church!!
My needs are few as HeeHoo looks after me with every fibre of his being, but Mum's quotation creeps into my head frequently.
Funny - my most inconsequential and ridiculous need today was for small change!! Yes, the money sort... Zimbabwe does just not have any small change, where is it all I beg someone to tell me
Change at the stores is offered in lollipops, Fredo Frog chocolates, apples, or cup cakes with pink icing! Digging around for change occupies half of the population's precious time!!
I had to drive into a petrol station today, ask the attendant for ten dollars diesel, and after presenting him with a crisp new $100 bill, I skulked off with my ill-gotten gains of 4 x $20.00 notes and a ten dollar note. No such thing as single dollars! Good gracious no! Last week I had to buy some airtime from a vendor to get change!!
As I said, Mum's sad saying comes to mind daily. Our country is in horribly dire straits, many of our countrymen are literally destitute. Seeing the valiant folk sitting on the muddy verges, cardboard boxes serving as their tables, selling their single sweets, single cigarettes and packets of maputi, makes my heart ache.
'I cried because I had no shoes..and then I saw one who had no feet'....
'Cry the Beloved Country'
Iganyana Art and Craft Centre
We are kindly requesting on behalf of women in our community from willing member for the donation of potatoes and oranges empty bags. People after using the contents they tend to throw away the empty bags as garbage. Our community women have identified a way to re-use and recycle these bags making stylish carry bags. While recycling, the project also creates employment for local women by making embroidered plastic bags, clutch bags, beach bags, toiletry bags, table mats, etc.
We really appreciate your efforts and trust that you can read and perhaps can pass it along to the members who wish to contribute for this good cause, anything that goes along to make the project a success will be greatly appreciated even scraps of fabric for the inside lining, button zippers, fasteners.
Agnes Ncube
Iganyana Art and Craft Centre Manager
agnes@painteddog.org