Morning Mirror 32 - 22nd December 2002

In this edition

Read my new article

Thank You From All In Bulawayo


YES WE MADE IT INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM !!

I Can't Believe We Made It!

If you lived as a child in the 40's, 50's, 60's or 70's, looking back, it's hard to believe that we have lived as long as we have...

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a ute on a warm day was always a special treat.

Our cots were covered with bright colored lead-based paint. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cupboards, and when we rode our bikes we had no helmets.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors. We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times we learned to solve the problem. We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. No mobile phones.

Unthinkable. We got cut and broke bones and broke teeth, and there were no law suits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame, but us.

Remember accidents? We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it.

We ate patty cakes, bread and butter, and drank cordial, but we were never overweight...we were always outside playing. We shared one drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one died from this.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, video games, 65 channels on pay TV, video tape movies, surround sound, personal mobile phones, Personal Computers, Internet chat rooms ... we had friends. We went outside and found them.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rung the bell, or just walked in and talked to them. Imagine such a thing. Without asking a parent! By ourselves! Out there in the cold cruel world! Without a guardian - how did we do it?

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and ate worms, and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live inside us forever. Footy and netball had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't, had to learn to deal with disappointment.....

Some students weren't as smart as others so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade. Tests were not adjusted for any reason. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. No one to hide behind. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law - imagine that! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever.

The past 50 years has been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. And if you are my age you're one of them.

Congratulations!


Take the time to live!!!

  1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him.

  2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

  3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop," The devil's name is Depression.

  4. Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young, that is all that you can afford. When they are in college, that is all that you can afford. When you are on retirement, that is all that you can afford.

  5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter.

  6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive, don't put out a mailbox on the highway of death and just wait in residence for your mail.

  7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

  8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

  9. Don't take guilt trips. Go to the shops, the next county, foreign country, but not to guilt country.

  10. Tell the people you love, that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.


ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE KIDS IN THE HOLS ?

This is really the time of improvisation and a time when we really have to become creative. At the moment we are desperate for some sort of movie entertainment for our u/12's. The movie houses and the environment is not really suitable to drop the littlies at the Bulawayo Centre and the moms don't always have the time to stay.

Any ideas of somewhere we could do movies - I remember when we went to school they used to have movies every Saturday afternoon in the school hall??? I think this should be resurrected.

Any Ideas ? e mail magskriel@mac.com


S.O.A.P.

(SUPPORT of OLD AGE PENSIONERS)

SOAP is an organisation run by a group of Bulawayo citizens who endeavour to care for the needs of white Old Age Pensioners who are struggling to live on their tiny incomes.

With all good faith these old people have paid their pension contributions faithfully each month for their entire lives, only to find these pensions totally worthless in the new millennium.

One couple in North End live on a Municipal income of $300 (Zimbabwe dollars !) a month........!!

SOAP distributes 46 food parcels each month to folk around Bulawayo and the Bulawayo public has been tremendous with their fantastic donations. Blankets were donated in winter by one of our wonderful anonymous benefactors and if the old folk have a problem with funds we will assist them in this way too.

We have a few dollars in the coffers but need a few more if this scheme is to continue.

Find out more about SOAP by e mailing Pat at thedonz@mweb.co.zw  or Mags at magskriel@mac.com  or phone Lynne Abbott on 230070.


SMALLS

THE SHOW OF THE YEAR !!

End of year Dinner/show at the Nesbitt Castle
A really larny evening out!
Fundraiser for S.O.A.P. (support old age pensioners)
Delicious hot and cold finger foods served to your table - no queues + late night feast.
Fabulous song and dance show - Including the 'Lesley Clift dancers', Mark Robinson, Gayl Smythe and other Bulawayo talent.
Quizzes * games * live music * dancing * free giveaways * great prizes.

$16 000. per couple or $75 000. per table of 10. (No, it's not expensive!)
Minimum 10 tables - maximum 15.
Book early to avoid disappointment and support this worth-while cause.

Contact Gayl Smythe on 011 410 875 or the Nesbitt Castle to book your table.

STRESS and TENSION?

Back, neck, shoulders, muscular pains, headaches, nervous stomachs, etc…?

The therapies I offer can help. All the therapies are gentle and relaxing, non invasive and are performed through clothing.

BOWEN therapy consists of gentle movements, over specific key points, which release blocked energy, allowing maximum healing to take place. Bowen therapy is characterized by 2 min pauses between movements, giving the body time to respond.

REIKI is a very subtle, but powerful form of natural healing. It induces deep relaxation and relieves stress and tension. Reiki is not a religion or belief system, and anyone can do it, providing they have been Initiated by a Reiki Master.

BOWEN/REIKI Combination is the ultimate in Relaxation treatments.

REFLEXOLOGY is a form of healing in which the feet are gently stimulated to promote natural healing.

For any of the above, or Combination treatments, make an appointment with;

SUE BRIDGEFORD (OPEN OVER THE HOLIDAYS)

Tel Bulawayo 241199

DELIGHTFUL SMALL HOLDING FOR SALE JUST OUTSIDE BULAWAYO

30 acre smallholding 23 Kms from Bulawayo on Gwanda Road.

Delightful thatched cottage comprising 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, large studio,, summer house, prolific borehole, outbuildings, irrigation equipment, pigsties, chicken coops.

Telephone Pat on 011 614 593.

Pickle jars wanted

You may not know it, but ZimGlass in Gweru have burnt out their furnace, which is very bad news for those of us who use their products. I have been unable to get hold of 125ml sauce bottles for almost 5 months now, as well as the 250ml pickle jar. They've just run out of the 125 ml screw cap bottle (the little garlic size) and the standard 375ml pickle bottle. We're faced with closing up the pickle business or making a new plan to get bottles. Here's my plan. Most households throw their bottles away most schools need extra funding I'd like to see a recycling project with the schools gathering CLEAN used jam/pickle/sauce bottles and me paying the school for them. Everyone wins. What do you think? Please put it to your school fund raising boards/council whatever and come back to me. and any odd sized or shaped bottles. I put this in because in the past when we have taken recycled bottles, these types have been a problem Please come back to me ASAP if you can help. Initially I'm proposing $10 a bottle (CLEAN) with it's lid Hope you can help

Regards
Peter Rosenfels Peter Piper's Pickled Peppers
hotsauce@mweb.co.zw

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE COURSE

Learn the Basics
Therapeutic Massage Course
Sat 8th & Sun 9th February 2003
9am to 4pm
$15000

Bookings Corinne 286154
NB * Local certificate
*bring and share lunch/tea

WANTED SECOND HAND VEHICLE

Wanted: 2nd hand vehicle in good condition. Preferably Ford Bantam/Mazda Rustler, but will consider Mazda 323/Nissan Sunny or similar. This is for a single lady so car must be in good, reliable working order. Contact: Ronelle on 091-354134 (Bulawayo)


CONGRATULATIONS

CONGRATULATIONS TO AMANDA AND KEVIN OLDRIEVE ON THE BIRTH OF THEIR DAUGHTER CHRISTINA BROTHER TO DECLAN - LOTS OF LOVE FROM ALL AT ACOL

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARVIN OLSZEWSKI AND BIANCA VAZQUEZ ON THEIR ENGAGEMENT

CONGRATULATIONS TO SHARON PIGORS AND ANTHONY BELL ON THEIR ENGAGEMENT

CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVID ADAMS AND SANDY DE KLERN ON THEIR ENGAGEMENT


CONDOLENCES

We wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families of the following :

MARGARET SANKEY   JOEY TROLLIP   MINNIE SCHER

GWENDOLENE   STEUART RAZIE YON


MOVIES

  • CITY ONE FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS 18

  • CITY TWO HOW HIGH 18

  • CITY THREE JIM NEUTRON (Morning Show) A.A.

  • THE SCORPION KING 18

  • CITY FOUR BLADE 18

  • ELITE 400 SPY GAME AND SHOWTIME 18


MAY THE PEACE THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS LONGED FOR BE YOURS THIS CHRISTMAS - GOD BLESS

"Light a candle instead of cursing the darkness."