Thursday, July 31, 2008

people get ready


So much has happened in the last few weeks.

The Polar Bear swim was a great success in spite of the local rag basically ignoring it. Actually, I think the editor does a grand job given her ... well anyone with such an unfortunate ... well, anyway. People swam in the murky town pool and lived to tell the tale; ate curry and drank beers; bought jumble and showed up. Those who supported it were all lovely and will be thanked in heaven. The SPCA lives to breathe another day. Just.

My brother - fierce as a wolf; ineffable as a shooting star - was pronounced an Ozstraylyn Citzyn. He did it in just two years (takes longer if you live in a nice place like Sydney. Cleverer than they look, those Oztraylyns). But what years. This is a man who walked off the plane and started work and didn’t stop till he did what he went there to do. Hard yards in the worst of outbacky places, surrounded by the ugliest, stoopidest, reddest rednecks ever to swagger God’s green earth (I saw them and it's all true). Hope Oztraylya appreciates what they get when the crème de la crème of South Africa’s bloodstock goes to live in their big red flat country.

A local boy fell and died on a ledge below Thukela falls in the berg. I’ve been there on a day when the mist was too thick to see my feet. He fell on a fresh clear morning with views forever. Some things cannot be understood.

Caspioni (Princeling has mysteriously acquired an Italian accent) has a friend. Lulu. Soft grey with wild cat markings. After a week she’s learning to purr and to luxuriate and be cuddled after terrible months in the cold clutches of a cage at the SPCA.

Saw three Mountain Reed Buck silhouetted like a bronze at the top of Oliviershoek. The baboon tribe reappeared on the road after being gone for ages. Sixteen Guinea Fowl came to the lawn fresh out of winter hiding. I know Winter is vanquished because this week the Dairy Farmer again began his evening ritual of clanking the lid of the old aluminium milk can on the veranda where he keeps crushed mielies for the birds. This only happens in Spring and Summer and Autumn.

And tomorrow is a total solar eclipse. The notion is riveting. I smell change.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

just swim really really fast

Being very brave about winter but still find myself counting the weeks in my head when stripping off at bath time. Speaking of stripping and water ... our SPCA is on the verge of collapse for lack of funds.

The solution: the annual Polar Bear Swim on July 26th!

How obvious.

Having volunteered to rouse public interest, discovered that people flee like roaches at the mention. Can’t help thinking something more inviting (a hot toddy drinking competition?) would elicit more excitement.