Human Interest

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ROADBLOCKS, CHURCH AND TROPICAL STORMS: yesterday, a too interesting day in Harare

When we got to the exit onto the bridge, we joined a multitude gazing out over the scene below. A tropical deluge had descended on Harare while we were guzzling inside. Wave upon wind-swept wave of heavy rain had the trees gesticulating madly. There was no sky. It was as if we were in a thick grey rain cloud. Below us we saw two figures standing perilously in water up to their thighs, holding umbrellas. I asked what they were doing. Apparently they had removed a blocked grate from a large drain and the torrents were now sweeping into it. They now seemed to be doing their best to resist being sucked into the drain themselves. Julius Nyerere Avenue was no longer an elegant avenue. It is was a river in flood...

THE PUBLISHERS APPOINTMENT

It appears I have an appointment with a publisher. I drive out into the countryside, my wife at my side. We find our destination with ease – as if somehow I have been there before. It is a large stately building set in an impressive park.

We enter through the front doors and I ask my wife to wait for me in the waiting room on the left. I ascertain from the porter that the publisher’s office is on the first floor. I ascend the stairs and have no difficulty in finding it. I am invited in...

A DAY IN ADDIS ABABA

BHOMBELA - A SLOW TRAIN TO MUSINA

STRANDED AMONG LIONS - AN ADVENTURE ON THE ROAD TO THE BORDER

MUSINA

1.8.12

MY FANTASTICAL TOUR TO VISIT FRIENDSAND FAMILY

The news from home is that I am now back in my little cottage in Johannesburg and very pleased to be so. I was away from 22^nd June and got back yesterday.

What got me away in the first place was a CHIPAWO World project in Oxford. I had not been to England for some years and so this came as a surprise opportunity to see my son, who works in London, my nephew, who is doing a doctorate in Oxford, and other friends in England. I also thought of various dear friends in other neighbouring countries as well as my ongoing lust to be near the sea and put together a whole fantastical itinerary of visits and experiences. The only thing I really planned was first of all the official CHIPAWO World visit, which took a lot of planning and a lot of my time and nervous energy, and then just making sure that the various friends I had targeted, knew I was coming and that it would be OK for me to come and visit them at the projected times... SEE BELOW

16.6.12

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING WITH MONEY

A lot of things have been said about money, like “The love of money is the root of all evil”, “A fool and his money are easily parted”, “Money is a good servant, but a bad master”, “Money has wings” and so on. Now I would like to add to the list: “You can do anything with money” but then I would like to add a caveat: “However, beware, it’s a slippery customer!”

I say all this because of something that happened to me a few years ago in Zimbabwe. It was during the time of hyperinflation...SEE BELOW

The house in Zimbabwe where it happened but quite a few years earlier, with my late wife, Thembani, and my late father

1.2.12

WEEKEND IN WINDHOEK

A visit to Windhoek the capital of Namibia ....SEE BELOW My son-in-law in Japan

3.8.11 - THE DIRECTORS OF STANDSTILL

Some words on the Civil Service...see below