The wearing of the colour of the jacarandas is obligatory in Zimbabwe in September ........ I
have a dear natty little purple outfit that gets worn faithfully every year at this time.
It must be in the blood, as something strange always happens to Bulawayans in mid
September. It is a bit like watching a tennis match as one sets off into town for a "hunting
and gathering " session.
Heads twisting and turning in glee, WHO WILL SPOT THE FIRST JACARANDA BLOSSOM ?
Well last year it was Tracey, but this year it was Bruce M. from Sunningdale, who as early
as 29 August, saw the first pale lilac spring buds !!
Said Bruce
"This morning I was on my balcony and guess what I saw ? Jacaranda blossom ! There are
some trees in front of Norvic Court next door where they are just coming out. Has spring
sprung ?
Up here in my Erie there is a magnificent sight each day. In the evening over 400 sacred
ibis fly into the trees opposite here and every morning just after six, against a golden sky,
they fly out for the day. Some of them pass so close that you can hear their wing-beats."
Now the tree pundits cower in horror at the thought of these frightful "Exotics" but we old
timers live breathe and eat happiness during Jacaranda blossom time, which lasts I might
add, from now until February !!
Spring time brings madness to many places in the world, they hurtle round maypoles in
England, they eat giant white asparagus and drink tart new Beaujolais in France. In China
they decorate their front doors with bright banners featuring the Chinese character
"fu" (meaning blessing or happiness) You have a bit of leeway here with your decor as you
can either hang the poster the correct way up, or upside down if you feel that way !!
In Ireland the have Morris dancing and ceilidhs, in Argentina the school kids are given the
day off from their studies.
In Zimbabwe we celebrate all year round, celebrate the finding of a loaf of bread or the
secret liaison with a butcher friend who gives you an oxtail for supper !
But in September we have traditionally celebrated the Jacarandas. Do you remember the
Jacaranda Festivals of days gone by ? When shop windows, especially Meikles, would dress
their windows in a glorious profusion of lilac, lavender, amethyst and heliotrope and
tanzanite.
Of course Borrow Street Pool would open on the First of September and then on the
second Saturday of Spring the Jacaranda Ball would be held at the MacMurray Hall in the
Grand Hotel. Aah, that sprung dance floor made of highly polished wood, we would "trip
the light fantastic" till dawn and at midnight the Jacaranda Queen would be crowned !!
Names spring to mind of beautiful girls like Gaynor Watts, Lorna Levin and Wendy Jocks,
all Jacaranda Queens from an Halcyon Age.....
Don't forget the Jacaranda Float procession where all the big names in Business would lend
their trucks to various organisations, schools and clubs and a magnificent array of "Floats"
would parade through the city streets.
The Jacaranda Queen and her Princesses would be on the front float, sitting in gilded
thrones borrowed from the theatre club, dressed in of course the beautiful colours of the
Jacaranda Blossoms.
This year I noticed a couple of Tree Wisterias, laden with their heavy cernuous garlands,
which were trying vain to outshine the Jacarandas and they were doing a very good job too
!!
Lightfoot - Alice Rowland - Passed away peacefully on 5th September 2007.
Mother of Elton, Gaynor & Granny of Roxanna. Rest In Peace Mom.
Gaynor E Lightfoot (Mrs)
Jones Sandra
Our deepest sympathy to Deryck,Drew, Karly,Jacquie, Floyd,
Daniel,Adrian, Brandon And Lee on the loss of such a special wife,mother and granny,she
will be deeply missed by all that
had the honour of knowing her. May she rest in peace.
All our love
Caroline,Kerry, Brian,Sean, Adrian and Jordan
Jones Sandra
Passed away peacefully on Tues 11th Sept.
The funeral will be held on Monday 24th Sept
at 10am at the Bulawayo Baptist Church.
Jones Sandra
My Beloved Wife,A Woman Who Loved Well
And Is Well Loved. Gone To Be With Her
Lord And Saviour. Will Meet Again.
Your Loving Husband,
Deryck
Jones Sandra
Mom
Your Love And Direction Have Helped Me More Than
You'll Ever Know. Without Your Love Mother,My Life Would Not
Have Been Complete,Because You Taught Me The Meaning Of Love.
Thank You,We Love You,Rest Peacefully In God's Arms.
Lots Of Love
Drew,Karly,Jacquie, Floyd,Daniel and Adrian
Jones Sandra
Granny (Ganny)
We Only Knew You For A Short Time,But Knew
How Much You Loved Us,We Will Miss You So
Very Much.
Love
Brandon And Lee
Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but
when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.
--Marjorie Moore
The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. --Ernest
Hemingway
PLEASE PRAY DAILY FOR LITTLE KEANO KLEIN,
CHANTY AND K.C. NEED YOUR PRAYERS
E MAIL: wazupshanty@ yahoo.com
Take a look at the Bulawayo City website at http://www.bulawayo 1872.com/ history/
zimbyo/
Trust and Hope, Isa 1:31
Just as straw is set on fire by a spark, so powerful men will be destroyed by their own evil
deeds, and no one will be able to stop the destruction .
History is littered with the debris left when powerful people who have seemed to dominate
their world have been finally brought down. When the people concerned have been driven
by evil intentions their end represents the triumph of good over evil and the possibility of
a new beginning.
The leaders who ran and ruled Israel were no exception. They allowed and encouraged the
worship of foreign idols. They neglected to care for the poor and weak. The indulged in
greedy and corrupt practices that destroyed justice. They disobeyed God. But God was to
have the last word- he always does. Isaiah foresaw that these people would be destroyed
by their own evil deeds and that would open a way for a new order that would bring peace
and hope to the nation. He saw beyond the present evil to the God who could be trusted
to judge and destroy those powerful and evil people.
However overwhelmingly evil tyrants may become they inevitably come to the end they
deserve. God judges them sooner or later and then He opens the way for peace , hope and
a greater degree of justice. As you look around the world today there are situations that
look hopeless. They are not . Because God is God , He will and can bring judgement upon
powerful and evil leaders and then bring a new possibility for a better life. Never despair.
Always trust God and hope!!
Faith for Daily Living, 20th July 07
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