Who was it who said frogs give you warts ? It must have been my dear
departed Mum I am sure. Well I have disproved that theory (at least I
hope so)
Every week I have an energetic foray into the gold fish pond to
collect the wretched noisy bullfrogs.
They are a complacent species, intent upon other pursuits than the
pursuer it would appear !! There always seem to be three of them,
definitely quirky frogs we have in Bulawayo !!
It is of course the fault of the Hammerkops who took up residence in
our garden two years ago. The fish pond came about as a result of
trying to keep them from raiding the neighbours koi pond (Said
neighbour would lie in wait every morning with his pellet gun)
And so we thought, offering an a la carte meal at home in Cafe Kriel,
might save the lives of the industrious Hammer and Kop !!
But no ...nature has its mysterious ways ...Hammer and Kop left for
greener pastures and so we were left with a pond of gold fish to care
for.
It was not long before the frogs arrived, where frogs come from
nobody knows. They just appear !!
Now, I am sure there must be a place for frogs in the food chain. I
just have to be convinced of this !! I know the French Folk love
frogs and HeeHoo even brought me a frog's leg once.
It was gently wrapped in a paper napkin and tucked artfully in his
suit pocket, purloined discretely after he had attended a reception
at the French Embassy ....but I have yet to be convinced of their
place in the food chain.
I know some folk get quite violent about frogs,they seem to bring out
the worst character traits possible !!
We attended a wedding once and in the midst of the nuptial vows, the
father of the bride suddenly leapt in his top hat and tails, into
the fish pond and started to beat a miscreant amphibian to death.
(Obviously he had not been allowed o get enough beauty sleep at this
vital and important but stressful time of his life !!)
Now I do not care to bludgeon them to death, I merely focus the torch
on them, and blinded by the light, they allow me to carefully flip
them into my bucket, using the lid as a lever.
Sometimes, when the hop behind a rock I have to actually touch them,
and that is not very zesty I can tell you.
There are always three !! And so once I have collected all three I
hastily get into the car, (lest they escape in the dark garage), and
drive them five blocks away down to the Matsheumhlope River
(affectionately know to the Bulawayo residents as "The Stench Trench")
There I release them gently on the banks of the river and I return
home smugly, safe in the certainty that a good night's sleep lies
ahead of me.
Funny you know, it takes them exactly a week to hop those five blocks
back to the pond, and the whole palaver begins again !!
John and Gill Gass of Esigodini announce with pleasure the marriage
of their daughter Sarah to Helmut Wagner, in Bulawayo on Saturday 1st
October, 2005.
We welcome you as a son to our family, Helmut , and wish you both a
lifetime of happiness together.
CONGRATULATIONS
Skinner Gary and Traci. Thank you for our first grandchild Aidan
Douglas. A precious little gift. Love Pops and Mom Reid.
Skinner Gary and Traci. We are over the moon with the arrival of
Aidan Douglas our long awaited grandson. Congrats Stoffel and Scary
Teresa Little passed away on 3rd October, in East London, South
Africa. Beloved Mother of Massimo, David and Marina, Sister In Law of
Mary and Noel Little, Aunt of Jane, Scott Petrie, Charlene Batchelor,
Robert, Rani, Adam, Mary, Sandy Little, Margaret. Crystal, Philip,
And Lance Steel. You were never happy outside Bulawayo.
Rest in peace
now with John.
Barbara Goddard: A lady whose professionalism and sense of
community was surpassed only by the enchantment of her personality.
The true grave of the dead is in the hearts of the living. Until we
meet again: in respect and with heartfelt condolences to her family.
Malcolm Ainscough
HAYWARD, BERNARD formerly of Harare, died after a short illness in
Adelaide,
South Australia. Remembered with love by his wife, Nicola Brice, and
by his friends
and family, now scattered all over the world.
JACARANDA HEAVEN. IF YOU DRIVE INTO BULAWAYOS SUBURB CALLED SUBURBS
LATE EVENING OR EARLY MORNING, YOU COULD BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HEAR THE
PURLE JACARANDA CHORUS.
TRY DUNCAN, OR PARK OR HEYMAN, PAULING EVEN, ROLL DOWN YOUR WINDOW,
TURN OFF THE C.D. AND LISTEN TO THE DELIGHTFUL POPPING OF THE
JACARANDA BLOSSOMS UNDER YOUR TYRES.
WEAVE A LITTLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE, LET THE COOL WIND BLOW IN YOUR
FACE, AND SAY A QUIET THANKS FOR LIVING IN BULAWAYO WHERE THIS SWEET
JOY IS AVAILABLE TO YOU AT ABSOLUTELY NO COST !!
TIDBITS
"No pessimist ever discovered
the secrets of the stars
or sailed to an uncharted land
or opened a new heaven
to the human spirit".
- Helen Keller -
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