Morning Mirror Edition 158 - 9/10/2005




In this edition

Smalls



KISSING FROGS ?


KISSING FROGS ?

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 !!


CONGRATULATIONS



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


CONDOLENCES

With Deepest Sympathy to the families of the following




SYMPATHY MESSAGES


CONDOLENCES

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.


TIDBITS


TIDBITS

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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