I suppose there is never an ideal time for a power cut. It doesn't matter what time of day or night it is a darn nuisance.
Sometimes more s than others obviously but one must try and see the funny side of it all or one might just find a length of flex and contemplate all sorts of bad thoughts.
Perhaps the worst time for a power cut is when one is happily ensconced in the bath with a good book but without a candle and a box of matches.
Perhaps the second worst time is when there is a quiche in the oven for the "Drinking Club with the Bridge Problem Girls."
Then of course there is the power cut that occurs when one is heading for ones favourite hair stylist/dentist/podiatrist (for an appointment that one has waited for for three months) and the electric gate will not open !!
The Ex-Farmers Wives undoubtedly have the edge over the townies in the power cut stakes, because they grew up with tilly lamps and generators and I am sure the Farmers Wives who now live in town, must chortle at the sight of some of us during this particularly baneful aspect of life in the Third World.
Picture Yours Truly when the lights go out. Totally night blind, stumbling for the torch, shins bleeding, knee bruised, I eventually get hold of and light a candle, and head for the garage where the generator lives in tandem with the doggies.
It aint easy manoeuvring the dogs beds, the bikes the dogs water bowl and the dogs dinner without mishap. It takes Seven steps to turn on this blessed nosy air pollution machine, and all seven steps are carefully annotated but not easy to ready by candlelight.
Picture the delight when on step number seven the diesel engine splutters into life and then picture the panic when it runs out of diesel seven seconds after touchdown !!
Now the diesel lives in the shed at the bottom of the garden, and so a sortie must be made, via candlelight to find the torch which is always mysteriously missing.
Diesel secured after thirty minutes of fumbling, shoes drenched in fuel, woolies reeking (diesel has a horrid habit of impermeating everything within a hundred miles, and hey presto we have lights just in time for the power to come back on again !!
Now power cuts are irritating to say the least but what about those folk who actually have to make a living ? I think here of my dear friend Colin who has to teach "Corel-draw by Candlelight" my friend Maureen who teaches "Maths by Matches" Spare a thought for the lovely lasses at Platinum who have to undertake "Platinum by Paraffin " !!
Think of those stalwart folk in Chimanimani who run sawmills - absolutely no way on Gods earth to run a sawmill without Getsi !!
Industrialists, Colleges, Schools and businesses are all taking incredible strain. Our electrical appliances are going down the tube literally with the power surges, on and off (more off than on !!)
Businesses have no orders as their switchboards cannot operate, technologically advanced businesses are totally hamstrung as the internet servers are not working for the best part of the day. The CBD seems to be particularly hard hit and there is chaos in town daily as the traffic lights do not work, banks have no power so folk got no money !!
Supermarket managers have taken to taking their costly produce home with them as freezer failure is resulting in hideous financial losses, and it takes a brave shopper to buy produce that might possibly have frozen and thawed several times in the space of a week !!
Me !! I stick to tinned and fresh food these days, tummies have been behaving badly all over town, and those sausages in the freezer look pretty suspect if you ask me !!
CONGRATULATIONS
Bailey - Craig and Karin (nee Hugo) would like to announce the
birth
of a lovely baby girl, Dayna Tess (8lb3oz : 3.73kg) on 22/6/06 at
6.45am in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Sister for Megan who
has
just turned 2 this June. baileyck@bigpond.com
CONDOLENCES
Kate Hollins
To Ray and family our deepest sympathy on the loss of your wife and
mother, a special lady. Rest in peace Kate. Words can never
convey
the feelings at a time like this.
with love
Mac & Helen McGann & Family
john.bigmac@ntlworld.com
RALPH GLOVER - OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH JOY AND FAMILY AT
THIS SAD TIME
When I heard the sad news of Ralph's untimely death last night I
went
outside and stood for ages looking at the Southern sky wondering if
the man who made a difference in my life was somewhere up there
looking down on us all.
Here was a man known to many, who had done so much good and now he
was gone.
Throughout the Drought Relief programme in 1992/93 he gave
generously
of his time, he supported the programme and made it possible for
all
to know how successful it was by sponsoring a time slot when the
programme was closed down by the 'powers that be'.
For as long as I can remember Ralph supported the children on Radio
One's breakfast show when I was on air in the mornings. .Boxes of
records came in to me weekly to give away to deserving children and
if I ran out I only had to pick up the phone and Ralph would ensure
more would be on the way.
Ralph Glover was a wonderful, generous, caring person who always
had
a kind word for everyone. He came through adversity with a smile
and
was quick to laugh.
I am so glad I was privileged to know him. May he rest in eternal
peace where no shadows fall.
My deepest sympathy and love to family and friends.
Noreen Welch.
Christchurch,
New Zealand.
Willie Van Rooyen passed away on Monday 19th June 2006 in Durban
South Africa after suffering a Heart attack. So glad we got to see
each other again at the World Wide Reunion in Nov 2005 old friend.
Rest easy. Condolences to Hendrina, Neil, Gail and their
families.
From Mike and Maureen Wells and family in Canada.
Claassen
You have left this world but not our hearts, your spirit will
always
linger with us and we will never forget the memories that we shared
with you. Our hearts our filled with pain but we will move on
knowing
that you are now at peace. Go with God my father and grandfather.
Sunny, Margaret, Crystal, Ashley and Andre
+++++
Constance Natalie Bennett (nee Durban-Jackson) passed away
peacefully
on 24 June.
Beloved wife of the late Maurice and dearly loved mother of Julia
and
Graham, Jeni and Keith, Debbie and Brian, Sue and the late Johan,
Mandy, Peter and Susan and Ouma to Francois, Andre, Kathryn, Ray,
Nicky, Gary, Petra, Laura, Andrew, Marc, David, Natasha, Natalia
and
John Paul and great grandmother to Matthew. She will be greatly
missed by us all, may her dear soul rest in peace.
Lyn Pieters would like to say a special thankyou to her wonderful
family and friends for the love and support given on the loss of
her
dearest husband Mark.
My name is Rory White I live in Newcastle South Africa.
I'm also an ex Rhodesian born and bred in Bulawayo since 1951.
and now living in South Africa for the past 30 years now married
with
three children plus two great grandkids.
I have a sister who lives in Bournemouth England told me about your
site which I found interesting to read I came across the death of
Farther Odilo whom I served as an alter boy and knew him for many
years even taught us catechism at Northlea School in the 60,s
My heartfelt condolences to his family this came as a shock I last
saw him about 10 years ago when he was in Mater Dei hospital for
treatment no to sure what it was .
My father was also in the same hospital at the same time for cancer
removal operation and now with sadness he also passed away on the
18th of May 2006 bed ridden in Bournemouth England 2006.
Dad / Father Odello you will always be remembered.
Could you please supply me with the following email adds John
Sullivan and I see my cousins name mentioned in one of the
condolence
letters of Miggs White (Late fathers sister) Danny and Colleen I
would like to contact them please if possible.
I thank you for your wonderful Website page brings back the old days.
Thank you .
Rory White.White, Rory
E-mail Address(es):
rory01@telkomsa.net
Courtesy Passions in Poetry http://www.netpoets.com/
The Gift Of Friends
by Karin Schaefer
There are days when
bubbling from us comes
the innocent child within,
who giggles at the little things
and wears a silly grin.
There are days when
melancholy comes to
visit for a while;
the mind feels tired, the body weak;
we have no strength to smile.
There are days when
joy abundant
grabs a hold of you and me;
wraps us up in all it's splendor,
lifts us up and sets us free.
There are days when
sorrow wraps us
in its cloak of grief and fear,
'till our hearts ache to the breaking,
'till our eyes can't shed a tear.
There are days when
love bestows us
with its wonderment and light;
with its beauty and its mystery,
its power and its might.
And there are days when
life rewards us
and seems to make amends
by granting us a marvellous gift,
the precious gift of Friends.
copyright (c) Karin Schaefer
This poem is sent courtesy of Passions in Poetry.
Please respect the rights of the author and Passions in Poetry.
http://netpoets.com
You can find this poem, formatted and with descriptions, at
http://netpoets.com/poems/friends/1359003.htm
Please join us, and browse our wide selection of poetry
and poetic greeting cards.
People are like stained glass windows: they sparkle and shine when
the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is
revealed only if there is a light within. --Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
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