It was quite exciting, quite an adventure, after all I had not been into a service
station for
over four years !!
The attendant was sweet and willing although he did not wash my windscreen like they
do
so eagerly in South Africa !!
We both watched the petrol pump in awe as it spewed away its figures, ten thousand
twenty thousand thirty thousand, finally three hundred and thirty thousand Zimbabwe
dollars to fill my tank !!
What sort of gratuity does one give to a petrol attendant when fuel costs this much I
wondered.
Of course there was no offer to do "oil and water" no offer of checking on the tyre
pressure, these little luxuries are still things of the past
My forays to petrol stations ended when fuel queues began to become commonplace in
our lives. At first the fuel queues were a novelty, a challenge, a talking point to
see whose
"fuel queue" tale was the more exciting.
But they wear this after a while and HeeHoo found a way of procuring my special
"unleaded fuel" in 44 gallon drums which were carefully stored as faraway as possible
from
the pool chemicals in the storeroom... ..
Filling up with fuel became a pleasure, a sweet smile at Sebastian our
Horticulturist, would
result in 60 litres of the liquid gold being carefully if laboriously, cajoled into
the tank, and
off I would sally.
Water, oil and tyre pressure were also conducted "El Gardener" style and as long as
the
Government of the Day had no part in our simple plan, we were fine.
Isn't it amazing how we are reverting to the happy olden days once again ?
As each service normally provided by ones rulers, disintegrates, we who are fortunate
enough to be able to "make a plan" do just that.
When the in-fighting started over fuel, we procured our own, when the dams started
running dry because of gross ineptitude on the part of our City Fathers, we made a
plan
and sink a borehole and buy giant water storage tanks.
When the electricity became erratic we bought a generator or an inverter and the
telly went
on as usual.
But what of those folk without the means to "make a plan" those folk whose daily
cares
have become so great that they are unable to even feel a glimmer of rage against
their
oppressors ?
As I sit here in my Ivory Tower so carefully protected by HeeHoo, I shall bring you a
weekly
tale of the miseries that our beloved Zimbabweans are going through each day in this
country that was once flowing with milk and honey.
My first tale is of the old lady with the baby on her back who was labouring over a
smoky
fire outside a factory yesterday. She was a grandmother, she tended the baby because
her
daughter had died recently of HIV.
She carted the wood, purchased the meal and meat, struggled walking with it to the
factory which was quite a way out of town, and cooked a midday meal for over forty
workers Monday to Friday.
She then went home, walking some twenty kilometres, to where the rest of the family,
awaited their supper, a little family of six, Granny alone caring for them as every
wage
earning family member had died.......
I wonder what pittance she earned for that labour ?
At what cost to her lungs and the baby's lungs and eyes all that smoke all day every
day ?
BIRTHS
Congratulations to Lynette & George & Rosie Brown on the birth of your lovely
daughter
Angie and cute sister, born on the 13th February 2007. May she bring you lots of joy
and
happiness. Lots of love Anneke, Ticky and Nicole
Our email is there and our phone number is 887590.
Births:
Congratulations to Lynette,George and Rose- mare Brown on the birth of baby Angie.(13
Feb 2007)
May she bring you lots of joy and happiness!!! !
lots of love Gary, grandma Thea, Great Granny Yvonne and Ady.
(Thea Akeroyd (016) 610 )
tods@gatorzw. com
WHITE - Chalky - passed away, suddenly, on Friday, 9th of February, at home, in
Bulawayo.
Beloved Dad to Chalkie and Heather, Father-in-law to Ian & Brenda, Gramps to Tina,
Karen, Gavin, Keith and Michael, and G.G. Pa to Travis.
We miss you already - but know that you are happy now, reunited with Mom (Rose).
Rest in Peace.
HELEN WILLIAMS
IT WAS WITH DEEP SADNESS THAT I HEARD OF THE PASSING OF HELEN WILLIAMS. HER
ASSOCIATION WITH THE BULAWAYO S.P.C.A. GOES BACK TO 1957 WHEN SHE AND OTHER
LADIES STARTED FUND-RAISING WHICH ENABLED THE BULAWAYO S.P.C.A. TO WEATHER
ALL SORTS OF STORMS THAT CAME ITS WAY. IN 1986 SHE OPENED THE BULAWAYO
S.P.C.A. SHOP IN ROBERT MAGABE WAY AND FOR TWENTY ONE YEARS HELEN AND HER
LADIES RAN THE SHOP SIX DAYS A WEEK COMPLETELY VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY
REWARD OTHER THEN KNOWING THAT THE MONEY THEY WERE BRING IN WOULD GO TO
THE CARE OF THE ANIMALS OF ZIMBABWE. VERY RARELY WAS HELEN EVER ABSENT FROM
THE SHOP, [PROVIDING TEA, MILK AND BISCUITS OUT OF HER OWN POCKET AND I AM SURE
MANY OTHER THINGS. HELEN BELONGED TO AN AGE WHEN YOUR WORD WAS BINDING
AND COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION CAME HONESTLY AND SINCERELY. YOU WERE A
LADY OF THE TRUE SENSE HELEN AND WE APPLAUD YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE
OVER THE MANY YEARS. YOU WILL NOT ONLY BE MISSED BY THE MANY PEOPLE WHO YOU
HAD CONTACT WITH BUT THE MANY MANY ANIMALS THAT YOU HELP SAVE THROUGH
YOUR LOVE AND DEDICATION. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. TO NICK AND DEE WE THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING YOUR MOTHER TO CONTINUE THE WORK SHE LOVED AND FOR
PROVIDING HER WITH A DRIVER AND CAR SO THAT SHE COULD ALWAYS BE ON DUTY AT
HER BELOVED S.P.C.A. SHOP. OUR PRAYERS AND LOVE GO OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
FROM LIZ WALKER AND THE COMMITTEE THE BYO S.P.C.A.
Condolence
Doris Noble (Nee Campbell) passed away on the 10th February at the Mulbarton Hospital
in Johannesburg after a long illness. May she now rest in peace.
Your loving husband Frank Noble, daughter Cheryl.
Susan Bingley,died in England on Monday 12 February 2007 after a courageous fight
with
cancer for 5 years.A very special lady,dearly loved by all her family. Will be
greatly missed.
Memorial service to be held in Harare when the family returns from the UK. Phone
00441626361861 email leighandrob@ btinternet. com or Bulawayo 243970.
IN MEMORIUM
MATHESON, DUNCAN MERCER. 15/2/2006
IN LOVING MEMORY.
PATRICIA
SPITS: Ton, Most precious husband of Theona for nearly 44 years, passed away
on 18 February. Devoted father and father-in-law of Michael, Raymond and
Philippa, beloved Grandpa of Jaimee and Vicky. We will always love you.
A memorial service will be held in the Chapel at the Church of Ascension,
Hillside, on Wednesday 21st February,at 15h00.
"Once you have faced fear and prevailed, you stand taller, feel stronger and stride
through
life with greater confidence."
The more corrupt the republic the more numerous the laws
Tacitus
Saint Theresa
In case anyone is not aware, Saint Theresa is known as the Saint of the Little Ways,
meaning she believed in doing the little things in life well and with great love. She
is also
the patron Saint of flower growers and florists. She is represented by roses. May
everyone who receives this message be blessed.
Saint Theresa's prayer:
May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are
meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you
use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to
you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your
bone s, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there
for
each and every one of us.
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