Killing time in Zimbabwe is certainly not a problem these days. When
one has a spare
moment or two, it necessitates a frantic dash around the closest
supermarket for a spot of
"Hunting and Gathering"
Now the the use of the word "dash" might not be quite correct as it is
not easy to "dash"
around at all with most of the extraordinary eclectic shopping carts
that festoon our
"supermarkets" these days.
With the exception of the smart crimson plastic carts at Ascot Spar and
the double dekker
ones at Solomons, the shopping carts in most Bulawayo supermarkets have
to be seen to
be believed.
If you get one with a complete handle you consider yourself lucky, four
wheels are an
extra bonus, and rubberised wheels are a rarity !! And so one does not
"dash" one
probably has a frantic "clunkety clunk" around a store in search of
commodities.
The hygiene side of these carts too is extremely suspect and it is
advisable to carry one's
own antiseptic wet wipes with one !!
I generally get one of the trollys that has to be pulled rather than
pushed and it has such a
rickety sideways gait, that a thirty minute truculent trolly trundle is
worth an hour in the
gym !
There is not much use in taking a shopping list, its a kind of "take
what you can find"
scenario.
And take your BIG cheque book, because in spite of the fact that this
"price freeze" was
supposed to reduce the prices, every single item in the shops is twice
as expensive as it
was when the whole debacle started. Everything costs a million dollars
or close to it ....
Sadly a shopping experience in Zimbabwe leaves a lot to be desired from
what we
remember before this madness started. The shop workers are
disillusioned as there is
little on the shelves. They are tired as there are few buses because of
the freeze on taxi
and bus prices.
They have probably had to walk to work for at least a couple of hours
and they journey
home will be as gruelling, after a days work.
Standards have not dropped, they are just not there any more. In
several of the
supermarkets, shoppers have to climb over trash left on the floor,
manoeuvre past empty
boxes, cabbage leaves and dirt.
Counters are not clean. We do not have the fancy disinfectant wipes
that first world shops
have. Counter assistants might make a desultory pass over the shopping
counter with a
dirty rag if one is lucky.
Meat, if one can get it which is very very seldom, is not packed
hygienically, and drops of
blood mingle with the tomatoes and onions as they are thrown into the
same cart for the
journey to the car.
Packets are a thing of the past, shop keepers charge high prices for
packets because they
in turn paid high prices for them ..... This has been excellent for the
environment, but the
legacy has been a serious outbreak of gastrointestinal ailments which
is concerning the
medical profession.
Jen and John Brebner are delighted that their younger daughter,
Carolyn, is engaged to
Thomas Michael Harris, only son of Rex and Carole Harris, Oxford.
Welcome to the family,
Tom the Pom.
Giles and Wendy Forrest (nee Friend) are thrilled to announce the
arrival of their son,
Joshua Thomas, born on 24th September.
SLAVEN: The funeral for the late Francis Ferguson Slaven will take
place on Monday, 1st
October, 2007 at 11am at Christ the King Catholic Church, Hillside.
Obituary
Eddie Esterhuizen ( The leatherman),
Father of Lee and well known for his daredevil wheelchair stunts went
to be with his Lord
on Friday 28 th September.
He will be missed by many people.
Memorial service at Victory fellowship, Josiah Tongogora avenue
Tuesday Morning 11:00 am.
Rodney 'General Sam' Putterill died peacefully in his sleep on 28
September 2007, aged
90.
Much loved husband of Isobel, father of Gordon and Heather and
grandfather of Gareth
and Kirsty.
Rodney 'General Sam' Putterill died peacefully in his sleep on 28
September 2007, aged
90.
Much loved husband of Isobel, father of Gordon and Heather and
grandfather of Gareth
and Kirsty.
ABUZ
The Association records with sorrow the death of Mike Milne of Cargo
Services.
Mike was one of our Members and our condolences go out to his family.
Roger SMITH
Keith Palm
We are arranging a gathering at BAC Bowls Club in Oak Avenue
to celebrate the life of our late good friend Keith Palm.
The gathering will be on Tuesday 9th
October at around 17.00 hours.
We are expecting a few friends from Harare as well.
So friends, do pull in for a drink.
Those who are able hunter/gatherers, a small plate of snacks will no
doubt
go down well.
Noel
One early Spring day , I met an old farmer . It had been a rainy Spring, and I commented
about how good it must be for the crops to have so much rain early in
the season .
He replied :
" No . If the weather is too easy on the crops now , the plants may
only grow roots on the
surface. If that happens , then a storm could easily destroy the crops. However , if things
are not so easy in the beginning , the plants will have to grow the
strong and deep roots
they need to get at the water and nourishment down below . If a storm
or a drought comes, they are more likely to survive . "
Now , I look at rough times as an opportunity to put down some roots ,
to help me
weather future storms that may come my way .
( Jerry Stemkoski )
*** Reader's Digest ... May 1994 ****
PLEASE PRAY DAILY FOR LITTLE KEANO KLEIN,
CHANTY AND K.C. NEED YOUR PRAYERS
E MAIL: wazupshanty@yahoo.com
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