Olympic shopping

Shopping should really be an Olympic sport.

Competitors grab your trolleys. On your marks, get set, go! See them dodging the shelf-stackers, the dreaded floor polisher and reps with sausages-on-sticks. At speed, they fill the trolley with their lists of items, sprinting around the store, squealing around corners and nearly knocking elderly ladies away from the pick-'n-mix sweeties. Critics are forced to admit how tough the course actually is. Toilet roll pyramids tumble. Backed bean stacks topple. No one is left unscathed.

Then after a party with jelly and tennis biscuits, the medallists, get to go home and cook the stuff in the trolley for dinner. (Hopefully it is edible and not lightbulbs or dishwasher).

Ah. The Games. Reaching for dreams...the chocolate dreams...my favourites...

The Walk-Through

This is another invention (patent pending) for people who are just too tired at the end of the day to have a bath or shower. So on their way home from work, they stop off at the "Walk-Through" which is like a car-wash - but for people. Fully clothed, they are foamed, scrubbed, washed, rinsed, blow-dried (hair especially), teeth brushed and clothes pressed (while on) and steam-ironed. This would also be useful if you were running late for a date! So all you have to do is go home, collapse on your bed, or jump into the car with your date - depending on the state of urgency.


All marathon runners really look like they could do with some pampering from a "Walk Through"...

Roomful of puppies (patent pending)

This is my new invention. It's called a "roomful of puppies" (patent pending) and will replace all the loud, slow paper-shredders required by busy corporations with loud, fast and furry demolition teams.

No paper of any importance should be left in the Roomful of Puppies as this will instantly be shredded. Any furniture or items of clothing such as shoes, should likewise not be left in the Roomful of Puppies for any length of time as the Puppy shredders cannot be held accountable for their own puppy brains.

Similarly children with important homework should not leave this in the vicinity of the Roomful of Puppies as said homework will not only be shredded, but also often eaten to destroy the evidence.

Only the best Puppy shredders will be chosen of course - not according to pedigree - but according to their ability to destroy household furnishings, dig holes to China and shred anything from shells, to razors, toothbrushes and shoes.

OLD FILTH

"Old Filth" by Jane Gardam is a brilliant book, with a title and jacket that misleads one into thinking it will be about corrupt modern life.

Instead it is the memory of the elderly, Sir Edward Feathers, of his life as a Raj orphan, international lawyer and judge.

If this fictional story seems appallingly too realistic in places, it may be due to the author's knowledge of Rudyard Kipling's Autobiography and friends who were Raj orphans or involved in wartime convoys.

The central character, Edward (aka "Teddy" or "Fevvers") endures and survives, not only World War II, but a childhood marked by abuse and neglect to become an esteemed judge. The title of the book is taken from Eddie's reference to himself as Failed in London, Try Hong Kong (Filth).

I picked up the book to read again as one of my favourites. Jumping into the narrative is like embracing an old friend. Despite the many painful memories of Old Filth, the writing is so beautiful, moving and humorous that the story is encouraging and uplifting. You want to meet Old Filth and in fact suspect that his character lies behind the faces of many elderly folk edging their way around horrendously hectic modern life.

Like the gentleman I saw today in black blazer and medals, collecting for the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH). As their Order states, their purpose is "to help fellow comrades in need, either financially or physically and to remember all servicemen who have answered the Sunset Call, both in war and peace time".

My daughter asked "What is that mom?" But she knows that her great-grandfather fought in the First and Second World Wars. Do generations forget so soon the freedoms bought at so high a price? Read "Old Filth" and remember.

Racing - Playstation or for real?

Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson answered the question on everyone's lips: "If you can race really fast on Playstation - could you do the same thing on a real track in a real car?"

Well, maybe not everyone is asking that question. But I'm sure there are many sofa-race-car drivers and beanbag top-gun pilots who have always wondered whether they could cut the mustard in reality. And there are those simulation computer-type games used by the army, navy and NASA - aren't there?

So Jeremy timed himself on his Playstation race and then took off for the real track and timed himself again, and wouldn't you know it? He could not beat his Playstation time. He was really faster on the sofa than on the track. When it came to those scarey turns at high speed, he couldn't help braking.
One doesn't have those fears in a game.

In fact, I am extremely good at crashing on the very first Playstation turn, driving into railings, driving backwards, driving forwards - in the wrong direction - and generally losing every time I play my daughter. Which is why I never play racing games. She knows by now not to ask. She even says, "But mom, this time I'll let you win." But somehow even that is not enough.

Speed away Sonic Hedgehog and Crash Bandicoot. I know my limitations. I will stick to games I have half a chance of surviving the first round. Like Lego Starwars or Lego Batman. My character survives, even if I accidentally jump off cliffs. Oh, yes. Another thing I'm not so good at. Jumping - then there is flying. Navigation. It's best if she plays and I make helpful suggestions...

Sims - the 3D dolls

My daughter loves to play with the Sims. Her Sims are PG rated Castaways and she is always saying "Look at what I am calling this one", and designing new outfits, makeup and even faces for them. They have families and surprisingly sophisticated castaway homes. I wouldn't mind being one of her Sims, but couldn't understand the fascination with the game. Then the penny dropped.

We used to play with dolls. There was Barbie, also with wardrobe accessories, sold separately (always losing her shoes) and some kids had Ken or Action Men. Kids played pretend with dolls and these dolls had lives and families or in the case of boys' action figures, attacked the other dolls and their families. So the Sims is kind of another way of playing dolls, while kids also learn the processes involved in day-to-day living.

Now all I have to figure out is why adults are still playing with their Sim-dolls...?

From Colonel to OB1

I watched "Bridge over the River Kwai" starring John Gielgud (later Sir) of which I had vague childhood memories. And for a cold, winter afternoon, became totally immersed in the steamy Burmese jungle - slapping away mosquitoes. So beautiful and yet so cruel.

What an amazing actor. To think that Gielgud would later become known to an entire younger generation only as OB1 (or Ben Kenobi) in the first Star Wars epic is ironic. He portrays the colonel of a captured British force so convincingly - courageous, eccentric and totally confounding. (Only matched perhaps by Peter Sellers as Major Bloodknock in the Goon Show.) The story is moving, frustrating and brilliantly filmed.

Run to Lady Antebellum's grindingly good country

A deep, velvet voice grinds out the words:

"I run from hate
I run from prejudice
I run from pessimists
But I run to thee (this?)"

Then the creamy, silken tones:

"I run my life
Or is it running me?
Run from my past
I run too fast
Or too slow it seems"

Then combine the two:

"When lies become the truth
That's when I run to you"

And it's magic.

"This world keeps spinning faster/To a new disaster" is perfect harmony.
"When it all starts coming undone
Baby you're the only one I run to
I run to you".

Anything better? Maybe another dose with "I need you now"? Lady Antebellum is grindingly good country.

Amazing art

From portraits of babies, to lions glowing on velvet and stunning murals, local artist Gareth Humphreys creates work full of life, light and beauty.

He is also a sculptor and created a beautiful dolphin for Amber's Path. This is a unique area of its own, designed by a grandmother as a creative, fun area for her granddaughter, but then contributed to by other children in the community.

Gareth is a self-taught artist and has built up a portfolio for the past nine years that includes portraits from photographs, murals, landscapes, bathroom designs and painted mosaics. The music playing in the background alters according to the mood of the painting. As Rachmaninov plays in the background, he looks out from his studio over the ocean and paints or chats to passers-by.

But it has to be one of those still, warm days, with the sun shining off the sea. A sleepy Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Folk walking dogs, children riding bicycles and an artist, painting.
To see more of his work, visit http://www.southafricanartists.com/

Play with those toys!

I love toyshops. Walk in, sigh, feel right at home. And the best ones have all sorts of strange, odd, funny-looking things you can't figure out. My daughter and I say, "Look at this", "Try this" and we press buttons and play with things. I know it may irritate some store owners, but the most successful stores have their employees playing with the demonstration model of the toy - for very good reason! In any toystore, at any time of day, you will see parents and grandparents staring blankly at the box of an airplane, helicopter, robot, transformer etc and they look up, catch your eye and say "I don't know what this is. How does it work?" We chat about the toy and if they are brave enough, they collar a member of staff who also usually looks at the toy and turns the box over to find the brief English description among all the other languages on the back.

My sister and I walked through all the floors of Hamleys in London, watching all the toy testers playing with toys, enticing Christmas shoppers. Who doesn't revert to childhood in a toystore? Was it you pressing the buttons on the dinosaurs as you walked past? Then hearing the roars? Woah, cool! Now about the helicopter-speedboat-transformer - what does it really do? Can we find a 10-year old and ask?

Alice in Wonder-why-land?

The Mad Hatter asks the riddle "Why is a raven like a writing desk?" But in regard to the latest film version of "Alice in Wonderland" starring Johnny Depp, one might just as easily ask "Why turn a funny children's classic into a dark, coming-of-age drama?" It is a pity when film-makers continue to re-work old classics, perhaps hoping to draw on the established fan base rather than creating a unique work.

In the process, this version of "Alice" turns into more of a computer game than a story and the eccentric humour of both Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass is totally lost. The plot becomes boringly predictable and the glorious costuming, make-up and set design are purposeless without the twists and turns of the original writing.

If nothing else, this film proves that a seemingly limitless budget covering special effects and creative departments cannot buy the original impact of the story and a child's imagination.

Unfortunately this raven is not like a writing desk - but more like a lead balloon.

The Great Goons

Our great joy this school holiday has been to listen to the Goon Show in the evenings, with dogs snoring at our feet, playing Mancala. My daughter has become so good at this game that she now beats me every time, and I feel like whining - rather like Bluebottle - "I'm not playing with you."

The Goon appeal lasts over generations. I found them hilarious and my daughter squeals with merriment at the sound effects. And with show titles like: "The Macreekie Rising of '74", "The Histories of Pliny the Elder" and "The Chinese Legs" you can imagine the impossible stories. As Miss Snut (?) says in "1985", "I have loved you from afar" and Neddy replies, "My favourite distance!"

For anyone new to the Goons, imagine Peter Sellers of The Pink Panther fame x3. My daughter wanted to find out more and so we rented the Pink Panther movies. I found them so funny as a child, was pleased to find my daughter also enjoyed them very much.

Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and "Neddy"/Harry Secombe. Brilliant!

If moms ruled the world

At the store this morning, the shelf packer was whistling Andrea Boccelli's "Time to say Goodbye" in perfect pitch. I thought of all those who have opportunities and make no use of them, and all those who never had any.

The cashier was asking about my daughter: is she ready to go back to school after the holidays (is anyone, ever?) did she wish she had a sister or brother (every day) and why was it that children never have enough pencils? (the eternal enigma)

If moms ruled the world, wouldn't it be a more compassionate place?

A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman


The cover review on this novel by Margaret Foster says "I read it at a gallop desperate to discover what had happened" and this is inevitable when you pick up this novel focusing on relationships between women set in Sri Lanka.

Although the main focus is on an employer and her employee, the parallel narrative of a mother and her children compels the reader forward. As this family travels by train, the reader chugs, speeds and grinds along with them, feeling every step of their precarious journey.

It is also interesting that while the novel may be interpreted as a critique of the relationship that exists between mistress and servant, it is also a commentary on so many different levels of relationships between women - including friends, mothers and daughters, wives and mistresses, caregivers and those within their care.

And it is a heartbreaking reminder of how very important such little things can be to those who have absolutely nothing; a stick of chewing gum, an offered seat, a kind smile, a pair of sandals. What kind of a difference people are making in each others' lives every day - contributing tragedy or salvation.

This is a wonderfully thought-provoking read.

Pearl of China

The novel, "Pearl of China" by Anchee Min is one of the most moving stories I have ever read. After laughing at descriptions of Papa, the Popcorn Man or Bumpkin Emperor, I cried over accounts of the "cultural revolution" in China and the persecution of so many men, women and children from all walks of life. This is a story of friendship, loyalty and love that is heartrending in its simplicity. As a teenager living in China, Anchee Min was taught to denounce Nobel Prize winner, Pearl S. Buck as an American cultural imperialist. But after reading Pearl's book, "The Good Earth", decided to write this novel. You will read the book in one sitting - as it is impossible to put down until you know the fate of such wonderfully appealing characters. They linger in the mind as you think, I know this person. I recognize that person. It is my mother, my sister, my friend.

What Gear?

I don't usually watch Top Gear on the BBC, but it happened to be on the channel when the three blokes were testing clapped out cars in a variety of weird ways. They had to park on a steep incline in neutral, without using brakes, and get out. Jeremy Clarkson's car was invisible in clouds of smoke. Then they had to drive over a cobbled road with a colander of eggs slowly breaking over their heads. Lastly, they donned wetsuits and snorkels while their cars were filled with water and had to drive as far as they could until the water level dropped below the steering wheel. I was laughing so loudly my daughter came to see what was going on and joined in the hilarity. I thought, this is so familiar, but why? A tall man, curly hair, big feet, smoking car? Oh, yes! The circus. Those clowns with bits falling off their cars are a hard act to follow.

The Bold and the Hairless

Sometimes I wondered if my daughter was listening when we read Bible stories at night. Then I read:
"...all were amazed at the boldness of the apostles..."
And she said, "So they had no hair?"
And thus followed explanation of the difference between "bold" and "bald".
English is a crazy language.

Queen of the Night

Okay, so you think opera is not for children. But Mozart's "The Magic Flute" is a good place to start.

Let them listen to the aria sung by the Queen of the Night. I admit that I am not an opera expert and struggle to remember names of pieces of music that I really enjoy. But when you listen to this and pieces like "Suo Gan" sung by the Ambrosian Boys Choir, you realize "what a piece of work is man" - what spiritual heights human beings can reach!

Thank God for libraries

I love books. But at bookshops, I am like a child looking into a candystore, nose pressed against the glass, reading jackets and returning books to their glossy places on display.

I am not blaspheming when I say, "Thank God for libraries". My daughter and I spend countless hours in our local library and even if the library itself cannot afford all the latest titles, there are still always the classics that comfort us with their endurance.

When I visited my sister in the UK, all I saw were books, everywhere, and like one of those sad Eastern European refugees, was collared at the airport for over-heavy luggage.

"I know what it's like," the airport check-in girl twittered merrily, "you go shopping and before you know it you're over the limit." She was visualizing shoes and handbags, I was handing my sister my books.

Well. Thank God for libraries

Ruby Employers

Proverbs 31 verse 10 says how hard it is to find a "capable wife" who is "worth far more than jewels" and goes on to explain the skill of effective housekeeping.

But there should be an award - the Ruby Award - for the rare excellence of the "capable" employer who is not merely able to hire and pay staff, but is also a person worthy of respect in their eyes. This rare person would be someone who honoured his staff, not for high sales totals, but for being honest and having integrity. This employer would inspire people to want to work for them.

Are there such Ruby Employers out there? Men or women who know the true value within the hearts of their employees - to the extent that they see these people not as numbers or salary figures or labourers - but as colleagues?

This person would truly teach staff, not how to dodge work, call in sick or hide in their cubicles, but how to emerge and show their true colours. To inspire and motivate and know that each person can fulfill their potential. This person would accomplish that most elusive goal - of seeing each employee go home happy and further - return happy - to continue working the next day.

Mantis, crane, tiger

The beautiful perfection of dance in the form of the mantis, crane, snake, dragon or tiger.

Jackie Chan makes an unlikely dance artist. Modern films have depicted him as the action hero, defeating city gangsters. But one of his older films, showing village characters and his great sense of humour, has one of the best examples of choreograhpy - whether for dance or martial arts.

Mikhail Barishnikov paid tribute to Gene Kelly's contribution to the world of dance. And in an interview, Jackie Chan described how Buster Keaton and Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire would have to get the routine perfectly mastered. No blue screens or technology.

That is the beauty of this film of Jackie Chan's - and I can't even remember the name of it! My daughter watched it at least four times. This is the real test. Whether a film or book is old or new, if it is great, we will want it again and again.

Larkrise to Candleford

This is a particularly beautiful series, of the kind that is only done with such sensitivity and detail by the BBC. Characterising village life in England, it is a joy to watch, not only the story that unfolds, but also the attention paid to costume and set. The embroidery, tea cups or workmen's tools. Well done indeed.

I was reading, "Chewing the Cud" by Dick King-Smith, the unlikely author of "Babe the Gallant Pig" or the story of the pig that wanted to be a sheepdog. It is a wonderfully encouraging autobiography written by a man whose own life would make a wonderful series or film, it is so varied and amusing.

Like James Herriot and Gerald Durrell, these men have a way of making the ordinary extra-wonderful!

In Durrell's "Menagerie Manor" he comments that animals only really need decent food and clean living conditions to have a fair chance at survival. I wondered why we can't even do this for humans, especially human children these days?

Liberating technology

Just as the invention of the printing press freed so many minds from the tyranny of the few, so the internet, blog sites and self-publishing have enabled so many people to express their thoughts. And these give glimpses into humanity that have been shut down by more formal processes.

Because it seems that as soon as there is a way to say something, people start attaching lengthy conditions, and limiting imagination to circumscribed areas.

Thank goodness for the imagination of a child, that sees no limits.

Modern Delights

Book review

by Ingela Richardson

What delights you? The word is very well chosen. Not what you love or like, but what gives you delight? This book is a selection of short pieces to describe what delights a variety of human beings - from actors and entertainers to writers, presenters and "national treasures" from the UK.

It is a delight to read because it celebrates everything from the simplest of pleasures to the most awe-inspiring that bring delight to people. You can dip into the book here and there - like choosing your favourite chocolates from an assortment - or devour it whole. And it will leave you feeling a wonderful sense of upliftment and recognition that being human does not only mean the drudgery of work and routine but is full of delightful moments.

One of my favourite pieces is titled, "Children dancing" by Roy Hudd. He begins: "I love to see little children dance. I don't mean the strait-jacketed, polite routines they learn at dancing school, but the strange steps they do when they're alone. When they think no one is watching. They will suddenly, for no reason at all, throw an arm into the air, try to look at their heels over their shoulders, and best of all, kick a leg out: backwards, forwards, sideways, upwards or downwards. They display steps no dance director could ever invent".

This is so true and so wonderfully delightful to see. That lack of inhibition fades all too quickly from childhood.

But there are so many delights described, including: "The perfect vodka tonic," "Ducklings", "My grandson", "When anything goes right", "Cycling downhill", "Beer at midday" and who would deny delighting in "The last roast potato"?

This little book is great fun. Published by Waterstones, all proceeds from sales go to Dyslexia Action and the London Library. It will leaving you thinking about all the things you delight in, but too seldom acknowledge. Lots of warm, fuzzy feelings, lots of laughs, lots of "Mmm, I'd forgotten that!"

Blackberry Wine and Seventh Heaven

Book reviews by Ingela Richardson

Enjoying a glass of blackberry wine with Joanne Harris or entering Seventh Heaven with Alice Hoffman is experiencing a little practical magic. Everyday things become special and magical in the hands of these writers. But sometimes this kind of approach or style of writing seems to go horribly wrong.

I just re-read "Five quarters of the orange" by Joanne Harris and for the first time read "Diamond Star Halo" by Tiffany Murray. They are both narrated by women remembering girlhood days and raw emotional havoc all around them. But where Harris creates something that is tragic and believable, Murray's world is tragic and unbelievable. Possibly the latter is more factual then, as they always say fact is stranger than fiction? But some books have the bare appearance of reality when others seem to be the writer's over-indulgence, veering into the worlds of cartoon or caricature.

Perhaps sometimes authors are too much in their own created worlds? I find it very frustrating when some writers persist in creating their flawed heroes in their own images. In this way, the little nerdy guy with glasses who was always bullied at school gets to defeat all his tormentors with a terrible vengeance in the pages of his own book, but it is predictable and just not imaginative.

I don't like the world of rock 'n roll, and possibly this is why I didn't like "Diamond Star Halo" at all, feeling the shallowness of eating all icing and no cake.

By complete contrast, "Thirty-Three Teeth" by Colin Cotterill is brilliant. It is the deceptively simple, gripping tale of coroner Dr Siri Paiboun set in Laos.

Perhaps the appeal also lies in the author's own sense of humour. The more subtle, the better. Not Peter Pan's crowing, "Oh the cleverness of me!"

Hot chocolate cake

There is nothing quite like the smell of cake baking in the kitchen. Add cocoa to that and it is pretty close to heaven. I would like to rain blessings down on those who first discovered the magic of the cocoa bean - was it the Aztecs? My daughter says cake is supposed to cool off, just as pudding is supposed to be hot. Does anyone know why? Cake, warm from the oven, topped with a glace icing tastes so great - even better with ice-cream. The contrast in taste, texture and temperature!

Okay, the reason for extolling the virtues of the kitchen, is a rainy day, when dogs are literally chasing each other's tails and chewing up anything that doesn't move, a child on holiday and a rented DVD that didn't want to work. We have been going through a Bruce-Lee/Jackie Chan marathon. The young man at the video shop said, "For a boy, well..." and proceeded with suggestions while I just thought, "Hmmm, he doesn't know some girls..." I mean, what girl can resist Bruce-Lee flying through the air and laying waste to tables, chairs and assorted villains?

Now the dogs have fallen asleep, I can hear raindrops on the roof and a stew is bubbling slowly on the stove. Peace! Until the next, "Mom!"

Save the whales

It is amazing that this should still be an issue. In this area folk are privileged to be able to watch whales as these gentle giants shelter in our waters. But the International Whaling Commission, meeting in Agadir, Morrocco, is voting on a proposal to legalize commercial whale hunting for the first time in a generation.

In the 1980s, protests led to the commercial whaling ban. It is hoped that when the International Whaling Commission votes in Morocco, the world will still say a big "NO!" to whaling.

After the global ban was first implemented on commercial whaling, the number of whales killed each year fell from 38 000 per year to just a couple of thousand. Hopefully humans will join together again to protect these gentle giants.

I remember when Kitty cat had her kittens the day before Christmas. She lay next to me on my bed and just started pushing at me with her paws. She didn't even make a sound. I woke up my daughter (at 6:30am) so she could see the babies being born and she was fine with it - very non-squeamish. As soon as all six were out, we relocated kitty to her baby-bath bed with all her new babies.

We called them the Stripey Family as they were dark-grey striped and pale grey.

They were very popular with my daughter and a visiting friend who kept popping in every few minutes to check on kittens' progress. But there was a sign on the bedroom door - "no dogs allowed" - since bouncy puppy was an irritation to kitty and got his nose swiped for his impertinence at peeping in at her.

Max - the Jack Russell-cross-Maltese puppy - is also known as Mad Max, Max-Attacks, Maximillian Mouse or the Marshmallow (when he is asleep). He was very nearly turned into a handbag-dog when the girls were visiting as they tended to carry him around like a handbag. He somehow managed to tolerate all the attention and lick everyone democratically.

I managed to keep my head above poop level - puppy poop and kitty poop.

When my daughter went to bed Kitty regarded her with lemony eyes and all you could hear was quiet suckling of her babies and purring.

Soul Survivor

A very interesting book is "Soul Survivor" by Philip Yancey - about how his faith as a Christian "survived" the church.

He refers to the Victorian journalist GK Chesterton and says:

"By the age of nine he (Chesterton) could barely read and his parents consulted with a brain specialist about his mental capacity. He dropped out of art school and skipped university entirely. As it turned out however, he had a memory so prodigious that late in life he could recite the plots of all 10 000 novels he had read and reviewed. He wrote five novels of his own as well as 200 short stories...etc"

C.S. Lewis looked to Chesterton as his "spiritual father".

The book is a wonderful and encouraging spiritual journey.

No more free-bees!

There is the joke that even the bees are on strike – they want shorter flowers and more honey.

Unfortunately, the Americans are finding their drastic losses of bees no joking matter. Over the past 30 years, over half of US honeybees have been lost in what is being termed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Bees have been destroyed by pesticides, varroa mites and Nosema Disease. The US Department of Agriculture has identified 58 pesticides that are “highly toxic” to bees, including aldicarb, diazinon and malathion. Bee specialist, Maryann Frazier said pesticides had been shown to impair the learning abilities of honey bees and to suppress their immune systems.

The US has resorted to migrant-labourer bees - transporting one billion “guest worker” bees from Australia to pollinate American fields and orchards. One website calls this "junk food" for bees.

In Terrain magazine, Gina Covina writes that the survival of Earth’s bees depends on a change from industrial agriculture to biodiverse ecological farming.

The loss of bees may have an even greater impact than rising fuel prices on food production. One farmer, Robert Edwards, said he had to reduce his acreage of cucumbers by 50 per cent - not because of rising fuel prices, but because he was not sure he would be able to "rent" enough bees to pollinate his crop.

Commercial beekeeper, Steve Godlin, said his 5 000 colonies plummeted in the space of a year to 2 500. His bees forage from crops that are mostly treated with pesticides.

Dave Mendes, a commercial beekeeper with over 7 000 colonies conducted a research project following his bees from Florida to California. 18 hives started the journey but after only 10 months only four finished, and only one was strong enough to travel to California to pollinate almonds.

It seems that the work of the migrant-labourer bee or "rent" bee has only just begun. As natural habitat is destroyed and pesticide-intensive monocultures persist, the precious labour that humans took for granted from the busy bee will be over. No more free-bees!

Chocolate cupcakes

This recipe is quick and easy. (It makes more than 12 for me - about 20 small ones - depends on the size of the cupcake case). Easy to ice with glace icing - just icing sugar (1 cup), cocoa (about two desertspoons) and little water. Then it will make a smooth surface for sprinkles. They are very chocolatey and light (don't overmix).

120g (150ml) sugar
2 eggs
40ml cocoa
75ml water
75ml oil
salt
120g (250 ml) cake flour
10ml baking powder

1. Line a 12 hole muffin tin with paper cases and heat oven to 180 degrees C
2. Beat sugar and eggs til creamy and thick
3. Dissolve cocoa in hot water, then add the oil, mix
4. Sift dry ingredients together in separate bowl
5. Stir cocoa mixture into egg mixture
6. fold in dry ingredients - don't overmix
7. Spoon cupcake mix into muffin tin lined with cases
8. Bake about 17 mins
9. Cool for 5 mins in tin before removing
10. Put on blobs of glace icing and sprinkles

Moroccan nights

One of the best movies I've seen for a long time - for the family - is "Dan in real life" (starring Whatshisname from "Evan Almighty"). Also a very good fairytale "Stardust" (Robert de Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer and Clara Daines) is funny, swashbuckling and combines traditional fairytale elements with original ideas.

I read a very good book - "In Arabian Nights" by Tahir Shah. The author's father was Afghan, he lived in London and then moved to Morocco with his wife and two children. He bought a Caliph's house (written about in another book "The House of the Caliph"). He is a great storyteller.

I was trying out baking again, and used Ann-Marie's brandy tart recipe - which was lovely with dates etc - and found a good recipe for chocolate cupcakes which is quick and easy and works well.

At church it was amusing to watch the children take communion. I have to nudge my daughter to stop her licking out her glass and the boys munch down the wafer like a sandwich. It's wonderful.

Mao's Last Dancer

"MAO'S LAST DANCER"

by Li Cunxin

BOOK REVIEW

If there was ever a man able to see the silver lining in every cloud, Li Cunxin must be that man. His memoir of a childhood spent in poverty in Mao's China, growing up to become a world renowned ballet soloist sold over 400 000 copies. It has now been made into a major feature film and the novel released in a new edition with three extra chapters.

It is a life story that readers will not want to put down because combined with the desperate poverty, are the hopes and dreams of a child that will not be extinguished. Ironically, one of the main reasons for never having enough food - that of having a large family and six other brothers - is the source of Li Cunxin's strength. He recalls his family passing a piece of food around from plate to plate - each one trying to feed it to the other. He also recounts a tale of boys chasing a rat and burrowing into its hole to steal its hidden store of peanuts.

From a family of peasants, Li Cunxin is recruited to be a member of the Bejing Dance Academy. He withstands great suffering and hardship to progress in his ballet and his studies, but his outlook is always so positive and hopeful that he always seems to be looking beyond the immediate, stark reality and delighting in the smallest of pleasures.

One example is his delight in birds and crickets. As a child he could not have had a pet. No one in his community had a pet cat or dog. As he states, they were so hungry, they would have eaten these. Instead he and his brothers find the bravest of crickets as pets. And he tries to keep birds.

He is given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study in America and is overwhelmed by the prosperity and freedoms he experiences. This, together with a newfound romance, convinces him to defect from communist China - a decision that puts his life in jeopardy.

From meetings with President Bush to the incredible Barishnykov, this life story is full of surprises. Perhaps none more than the peasant who gets to perform the role of prince.

This is a wonderfully uplifting story that shows how a man can meet with constant adversity, yet rise above it with great determination and humanity.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

BOOK REVIEW

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

Those who were amazed by "The Kite Runner" or who saw the movie based on the book, will probably already have read this book by the same author.

But it is the depth of the writing and perception into character that is what is stunning in the novels.

"The Kite Runner" focused on the lives of two boys, growing into manhood, but "A Thousand Splendid Suns" focuses on two little girls becoming women in one of the most difficult times in Afghanistan's history.

First the city of Kabul is invaded by the Russians. Then when the Russians retreat, it is re-invaded by its own "heroic" freedom fighters - the Mujahideen. The people who suffer most are the ordinary folk of town and country, especially the vulnerable women and children.

Hosseini's insight into characters of all ages, sexes and backgrounds is incredible. To read the book is to become the character; living the life of Mariam or Laila; feeling the brick and concrete and hearing the sounds of shells and bombs hitting the city; enduring it all with quiet desperation, tenacity and yet with complete determination to triumph.

This book is like a carpet, woven with multicoloured threads, yielding a masterpiece.

The 19th Wife

"The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff is really rather horrible. It digresses down too many paths and goes back and forth in history, distracting from the main story which is that of a young man trying to help his mother accused of murdering her polygamous husband.

Extremists in various religions insist on their rights to have polygamous marriages. And how convenient for these patriarchal men it is to have younger and younger wives to do all the cleaning, cooking, producing children and remaining obedient. Quite a power trip!

In the cultish backwoods of Utah and other American states, this slipshop polygamy exists as a way of keeping women and children ignorant and servile.

But the book gives little slips of insight into the life of a polygamous wife. She is shared property. She is a note in a diary as to when her husband will visit her, her needs, her children. She is a business arrangement.

What about the stories of the wives? They must be a miserable lot. What do they have? Do they know anything of kindness, gentleness or love? Or are they merely moved from one patriarchal home into another - their husband's - patriarchal family home, like a piece of property.

Men who run polygamous, patriarchal cults always say, "It has always been this way. It is tradition."

It was also tradition for Moses to live in a tent and herd goats. We could drag people backward to living in tents, herding goats, because it is tradition. We can keep people ignorant and servile.

But most people want something better for their children. They want them to have opportunities to participate in life - to be individuals who think and act for themselves - who have hearts and minds of their own and who are not anyone's possession or "goods or chattels".

Polygamy has been termed "backward". It also cries out the lack of value of a woman. They are bought like a herd of horses or cattle.

But for men of reason and women with self-esteem, there is no place for the polygamous marriage. It is demeaning to women.

Exotic hobbies

For anyone interested in starting a new hobby, there is a lot to choose from at the local nursery.

The beauty of orchids is celebrated with the Orchid Society's annual open weekend. This will feature a display of flowering orchids, an orchid re-potting service, a variety of orchids and related products and talks on orchid culture.

This included a presentation on how to grow and flower phalaenopsis - or butterfly/moth orchids.

For those interested in the art of Bonsai, there was a display of Bonsai trees and free Bonsai training demonstration.

The East Cape Koi Keepers Society also held a koi auction, followed by a free presentation on the basics of koi keeping, where visitors can find out more about pond filtration, how to choose koi and how to diagnose sick koi.

Visitors also found out more about the fascinating world of bromeliads from members of the East London Bromeliad Society.

All of these societies have the common goal of promoting interest in the hobby, offering advice and encouraging membership.

Modern Delights

BOOK REVIEW


"MODERN DELIGHTS"

What delights you? The word is very well chosen. Not what you love or like, but what gives you delight? This book is a selection of short pieces to describe what delights a variety of human beings - from actors and entertainers to writers, presenters and "national treasures" from the UK.

It is a delight to read because it celebrates everything from the simplest of pleasures to the most awe-inspiring that bring delight to people. You can dip into the book here and there - like choosing your favourite chocolates from an assortment - or devour it whole. And it will leave you feeling a wonderful sense of upliftment and recognition that being human does not only mean the drudgery of work and routine but is full of delightful moments.

One of my favourite pieces is titled, "Children dancing" by Roy Hudd. He begins: "I love to see little children dance. I don't mean the strait-jacketed, polite routines they learn at dancing school, but the strange steps they do when they're alone. When they think no one is watching. They will suddenly, for no reason at all, throw an arm into the air, try to look at their heels over their shoulders, and best of all, kick a leg out: backwards, forwards, sideways, upwards or downwards. They display steps no dance director could ever invent".

This is so true and so wonderfully delightful to see. That lack of inhibition fades all too quickly from childhood.

But there are so many delights described, including: "The perfect vodka tonic," "Ducklings", "My grandson", "When anything goes right", "Cycling downhill", "Beer at midday" and who would deny delighting in "The last roast potato"?

This little book is great fun. Published by Waterstones, all proceeds from sales go to Dyslexia Action and the London Library. It will leaving you thinking about all the things you delight in, but too seldom acknowledge. Lots of warm, fuzzy feelings, lots of laughs, lots of "Mmm, I'd forgotten that!"

TO ALL BRITISH HEDGEHOG RESCUERS

This is to all those dedicated wildlife specialists in Britain who spend so much time, energy and resources on rescuing baby hedgehogs from drains.

The South African government needs your help in tracking down poachers flying in massive helicopters, armed with automatic weapons that hunt and kill huge rhino.

With your expertise in finding the smallest and most helpless of creatures, it should not be hard to find the rhino or the men who hunt them.

Somehow, they seem to be eluding our government. And before long, visitors to this country will also have to content themselves with going to zoos to see rats and weasels as our truly impressive wildlife is no longer free to roam protected reserves.

P.S. While you are in the neighbourhood, please tell Robert Mugabe that gifts of wild animals went out with the ark.

Children are not failures!

"School is a twelve-year jail sentence where bad habits are the only curriculum truly learned. I teach school and win awards doing it. I should know". (John Taylor Gatto).

Which is worse? Saying that the "system" has failed pupils? Or that teachers have failed them? Or that they themselves have failed?

Some members of the press are having a field day over the word "failure" and matric results. What does this actually mean?

Teachers are not failures unless they have been totally negating their duties in a class. And children are not failures - whether or not they pass matric - unless they have chosen to go down totally self-destructive paths.

Many successful businessmen and women were not successful in school. A matric certificate is no guarantee of success in life. It seems that crucial aspects like character, principles, honour, decency, cheerfulness, patience, diligence etc have been totally overlooked in the matric result witch hunt.

There seems to be a complete over-emphasis on value of marks and pieces of paper as opposed to value of human beings, their opinions, feelings and spirit.

Judgement and condemnation of teenagers is a sure way to brand them with the mark of failure. Encouragement, perseverance and hope are paths to success.

John Taylor Gatto, former New York City and New York State Teacher of the Year wrote the book "Dumbing Us Down: the Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling". He spent 26 years as a teacher and quit because he said he could no longer participate in a system that destroys lives by destroying minds.

Very simply, he made a list of "The 20 Qualities of an Educated Person." In compiling this list, Gatto reviewed answers to questionnaires given to a number of corporate personnel managers and college admission officers. According to these two
groups, an educated person would demonstrate:

1. A broadly knowledgeable mind
2. Self confidence
3. A life purpose
4. A touch of class
5. Good leadership skills
6. The ability to work with a team
7. Patience
8. Good public speaking skills
9. Good writing skills
10. Resourcefulness
11. A desire for responsibility
12. Honesty
13. A public spirit
14. The ability to work well alone
15. An eye for details
16. The ability to focus at will
17. Perseverance
18. The ability to handle pressure
19. Curiosity
20. An attractive personal style

These do not have much to do with marks. They focus on character.
In his speech, “The Seven-Lesson Schoolteacher,” Gatto describes seven lessons that he says are taught in all public schools by all teachers in America, whether they know it or not.

He wrote: "The first lesson I teach is confusion. Everything I teach is out of context. I teach the un-relating of everything. I teach dis-connections…."

"The second lesson I teach is class position….The children are numbered so that if any get away they can be returned to the right class….You come to know your place.

"The third lesson I teach is indifference….When the bell rings I insist they drop whatever it is we have been doing and proceed quickly to the next work station. They must turn on and off like a light switch.

"The fourth lesson I teach is emotional dependency. By stars and red checks, smiles and frowns, prizes, honors, and disgraces, I teach kids to surrender their will to the predestinated chain of command.

"The fifth lesson I teach is intellectual dependency...[Only], the teacher can determine what my kids must study, or rather, only the people who pay me can make those decisions, which I then enforce.

"The sixth lesson I teach is provisional self-esteem….The lesson of report cards, and tests is that children should not trust themselves or their parents but should instead rely on the evaluation of certified officials. People need to be told what they are worth.

"The seventh lesson I teach is that one can’t hide. I teach students they are always watched, that each is under constant surveillance by myself and my colleagues...The meaning of constant surveillance and denial of privacy is that no one can be trusted, that privacy is not legitimate.

Gatto states that current US education systems teach children: "how to be a good "Egyptian and remain in your place in the pyramid…Look again at the seven lessons of schoolteaching...all of these lessons are prime training for permanent underclasses, people deprived forever of finding the center of their own special genius.

So what is the answer? According to Gatto: "Some form of free-market system in public schooling is the likeliest place to look for answers, a free market where family schools and small entrepreneurial schools and religious schools and crafts schools and farm schools exist in profusion to compete with government education. I’m trying to describe a free market in schooling exactly like the one the country had until the Civil War, one in which students volunteer for the kind of education that suits them, even if that means self-education; it didn’t hurt Benjamin Franklin that I can see".

South Africa is blessed in having a number of alternative options available to children - to choose where they will fit in and where they will bloom. This freedom of choice should be supported and reinforced so that no child is branded a failure.

For all parents

Prayer for a Strong-Willed Child

"When parents bring one of these tough youngsters into the world, they need to recognize that while raising that child may be difficult for a time, it is worth their effort to do the job right. Their attitude should be:

"The Lord gave me this challenging child for a purpose. He wants me to mold and shape this youngster and prepare him or her for a life of service to Him. And I'm up to the task. I'm going to make it with the Lord's help."

That's the healthy way of looking at parenting when the pressure is on.

I am convinced that there is no other true source of confidence in parenting. There is not enough knowledge in the books, mine or anyone else's, to counteract the evil that surrounds our kids today. We must bathe them in fervent prayer when we are in our prayer closet, saying words similar to these:

"Lord, You know my inadequacies. You know my weaknesses, not only in parenting, but in every area of my life. I'm doing the best I can to raise my kids properly, but it may not be good enough. As You provided the fish and the loaves to feed the five thousand hungry people, now take my meager effort and use it to bless my family. Make up for the things I do wrong. Satisfy the needs that I have not met. Compensate for my blunders and mistakes. Wrap Your great arms around my children, and draw them close to You. And be there when they stand at the great crossroads between right and wrong. All I can give them is my best, and I will continue to do that. I submit them to You now and rededicate myself to the task You have placed before me. The outcome rests securely in Your hands."

"I've found that God is faithful, as a loving Father, to hear and answer that cry of the heart. Turn to Him for solace when you've reached the end of your rope. He will be there to comfort you and work within the soul of your beloved child."

Adapted from The New Strong-Willed Child by Dr. James C. Dobson.

Romeo and Juliet of Asia

"July" by Karen Roberts

This book is one of the many Romeo and Juliet stories that have arisen from modern day conflicts that have suddenly erupted into violence. But it is told in such a fresh and engaging manner that it seems completely new and therefore completely incomprehensible.

In Sri-Lanka, two families live side-by-side - not only neighbours, but also the best of friends -while their children are born and grow up and their nation changes.

Priyanthi Silva is Sinhalese, but Nirinjan, the boy that she falls in love with is Tamil. Their own, personal journey is complicated by the diverse nature of their community.

This is not just a love story, it is a story about the nature of friendship, family, love, duty and mostly about what it means to be human and how this can rise above political and religious hatreds or be destroyed by it.

Bees blow the ants away

It was fascinating to read an article about a visiting Chinese student who accidentally dropped a blob of honey near a Rhodes University beehive and saw the bees using their wings to try and “blow the ants away”.

Ming-Xian Yang saw the bees flapped their wings with such force they blew ants off their feet.

He said: "Before I came to South Africa, my friends liked to make a joke: be careful of your steps, there is a diamond under your foot! When I came back I said , sorry guys, I didn’t find any diamond under foot, but I did find one in front of the beehives.”

Talents and treats

On a baking hot Saturday, when folk would not be blamed for feeling that they were melting if they stood too long in one spot, dozens of volunteers manned their posts for their church bazaars.

Ladies and gents at the outside stalls at St Bernard's Anglican Church bazaar mopped sweat off their brows but bravely soldiered on, selling second hand goodies, books and toys. Inside were a mouthwatering selection of cakes and treats and in the church itself, an orchid and art display.

The AGS Church was also packed and running out of parking. The church building was full of stalls, including food....etc etc look at brochure. Outside, children were entertained with a playground and petting zoo, slide, 4x4s and jumping castles.

The talent competition had the children showing off their stuff, from singing and dancing to a violin piece by twins. One of the judges was Jacques Gombault of TV fame and he explained that the judges were looking for honest performances and wanted children to be themselves, not pretend to be their favourite star. They should also be age-appropriate in material they chose. All children who participated were congratulated for braving the stage and entertaining the appreciative audience. They were all winners for their courage, but the judges chose Brenda-Lee as overall winner.

But the police dog division must be congratulated for their active display in the blistering heat. While their audience sat comfortably on chairs provided or the grassy slope, the three officers put their dogs through their paces. Children were fascinated to see Jessie, a labrador-cross-retriever, sniff out explosives or weapons. All the dogs receive their training in Pretoria. Then it was the turn of Ice, a border collie, to find narcotics. The police asked children to sit in a circle and hid samples with one child. It was amazing to see how quickly Ice darted to each illegal item, without bothering the children at all.

The police officers and their dogs received loud applause for their display of excellent training.

The Amethyst Child

BOOK REVIEW

"The Amethyst Child" by Sarah Singleton

This book, written for teenagers, is also very interesting for adults as it shows the way a young girl is seduced by the apparent kindness and interest of a group of people who turn out to be members of a cult.

Bored, lonely and feeling very "not special", Amber is delighted when she is able to make friends with the spontaneous and vivacious Dowdie.

The author shows very clearly and honestly the relationship between teenagers and their friends and family dynamics. The temptation for Amber to reject her "normal" family for the exciting and different group of people that Dowdie lives with overwhelms her.
In a simple story, Sarah Singleton has shown how easy it is for cults to appeal to youngsters who are desperately looking for a way to fit in or to feel extraordinary. She also shows the consequences of this.

An interesting and thought-provoking read, obviously based on New Age theories of "indigo" children, reputed to have "special powers".
Magpie

Amber's Path

This little path at the beach, created by a grandmother for her granddaughter, shows the desire and need among people to be creative and to be inspired and to share this with others.

A local resident who visited Switzerland was enthralled with so many aspects of their way of life, but he summed up by saying "here we don't live, we just exist". This is what happens when people feel that they are constrained by their environment rather than inspired by it.

Unfortunately, people can get too used to ugliness. They can get too accustomed to slums, to city sprawl, poverty and degradation. City gardening programmes have been started due to just this problem overseas in many large cities so that inner city kids could have the opportunity to grow up with beauty of some kind.

Here we are so blessed with the beauty of this coastline, the relative safety of beaches and recreational areas and moderate climate. Yes, some things are fleeting and momentary. We know that living at the coast - what is here today may be blown or washed away tomorrow.

But what is so much more important is to give people - and children in particular - the opportunity and freedom to be creative, inspired and express themselves in a way that is totally innocent. Why do we need poetry? Why do we need hope? We need something that lifts us out of the ordinary and suggests promises, dreams or ideas that we may never have considered or have forgotten in childhood.

We need to be able to laugh at ideas that are unusual or eccentric or just fun. We don't want to have to settle for the boring, mundane or mediocre.

Jokes

A magician was driving down the road..then he turned into a drive way...

Why don't aliens eat clowns.
Because they taste funny.

What do you call a fish with no eyes?
A fsh

Two snowmen are standing in a field. One says to the other : "Funny, I smell carrots too".

What do you get when you cross an elephant and a rhino?
el-if-i-no

Two peanuts walk into a bar.
One was a salted.

Once upon a time there were two muffins in the microwave. Suddenly, on of the muffins says:
"Man it's hot in here!!!!"
The other muffin exclaims,
"Look a talking muffin!!!!"

The Spirit of Truth

In the Gospel of John, the disciple Philip calls Nathanael and says he has found the Messiah - Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael responds, "Can anything good come from there?" And when he approaches Jesus, the Lord says, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false" (John 1:44-47).

What kind of man was Nathanael for Jesus to say this? What a precious quality he must have had - worth far more than gold since money buys men's souls so cheaply.

Jesus looked at Nathanael as he looked at all men - seeing what was in their hearts. Nathanael said, "you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel" (John 1:49).

Every day, people sacrifice their dignity, honour, honesty, integrity, compassion, humility and courage for riches.

“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?” The poorest man is wealthy if he has a spirit of truth. And the wealthiest man is poor indeed who has no morality, no truth and is lacking in any compassion for the sufferings of others.

Flower show

The local flower show was a visual treat for all exhibitors and visitors.

Joan Bursey said: "Welcome to Wonderland". Joan said after having gone through a drought it was amazing to see the colour and beauty of the plants and that they must have been given tender, loving care. She congratulated everyone on their efforts and thanked God for recent rains. She said she felt truly honoured to be invited to open the show.

All entries were carefully judged and while Chairlady of the Garden Club, Cynthia Hewson swept the board in a number of categories for the beautiful flowers from her garden, she said she was very pleased that there were a number of new exhibitors this year.

Exhibitors won prizes from Amalinda Nursery, Antiques and Things and the Red Teahouse, Floradale Nursery, the Superspar, Bromeliads for Africa, Brendan Howard, Murambi Roses, Pioneer Nursery, Spargs, Starke Ayres, The Village Centre and Hands On.

Sunny bazaar

St Bernard's Catholic Church enjoyed a sunny day for their bazaar.

While ladies cooked pancakes in the kitchen, the hall was full of stalls, including books, cakes and tarts, second-hand goods, jewellery, sewing and knitted goods and a raffle.

Outside, there was a braai for the ever-popular boerewors rolls, a plant stall, fruit and veg, and a tea garden.

Children were busy with games, including a fishing game, locked boxes and a light-up circuit. Children could win prizes or buy toys and sweets or cupcakes or even have their faces painted.

Congratulations to everyone for all their hard work in making the day a success.

Little cooks

There was much excitement and enthusiasm when youngsters got together to learn how to cook in Mandy's kitchen.

At the first class, the children learnt how to make hamburgers - from scratch - and toffee apples.

The menu for the week included a London tea with cake, crumpets and scones, a traditional South African braai, with chicken sosaties, potato bake, salad and chocolate pudding, and a pizza with two toppings and a milo milkshake.

Mandy says she has always wanted to offer the activity since she did it herself as a child. She experimented on her own two boys and their friends - and decided on which foods to offer after this kind of practical market survey.

It was clear that while children were cooking, they were also learning to measure ingredients - which helps with the practical application of maths - and they were learning the chemical processes involved in cooking and why things were done in a certain order.

Our amazing grandpa

In grandpa's matric certificate from Manchester Grammar School, awarded in 1908, he studied English Composition and Literature, English History, Greek, Latin, French, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Physics, Chemistry, Hygiene - and got distinctions for Latin and Greek.

The local paper reported: "To write that the Farnworth Amateur Operatic Society "scores another success" would really mean that the society maintains the high standard we have come to associate with its productions. And this is the case with the production of "The Vagabond King" given in its first performance on Monday in the Ritz Theatre and continuing each evening for a week with a matinee on Saturday afternoon.

"Dennis L. Richardson made the old rogue, Tabarie, into a rich, ripe Lancastrian Falstaff of a Frenchman. Philosophy and facetiousness, comedy and cowardice, bravery and braggadocio, loyalty and love were all superbly mixed by Mr Richardson."

He was a major in the British army - surviving both first and second world wars. Eisenhowers message to the armed forces is a grim reminder of this past reality.

Let us be truly thankful

Sometimes I think that people in the developed world have no idea of how bad a bad day can be. My daughter was grumpy after school and as I was putting groceries into the car moaned that she was having a bad day. At the same time, a little street child, totally ragged, thin and ill, reached out a hand to help me. His life consisted of really bad days and he could not have been more than 9 years old.

We live next door to desperation. Thankfully there are people everywhere who see the need and do their best to give of what they have to organizations like Catch - who literally catch children who are falling into poverty and despair.

It is amazing that while some parents are congratulating their children: "Well done! You ate your dinner - you can have desert" there are others who would be truly thankful - literally for the scraps from the table.

As children we learned the grace: "For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful".

You cannot emphasize the word "Truly" enough.

On a more serious note...

3 rhino killed every week in SA

It is unbelievable that although the southern white rhino is listed as near threatened (17 000), and the black rhino critically endangered (4 000), three rhinos are killed every week in South Africa.

This is according to a report by the the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), TRAFFIC and WWF at a convention this year. In South Africa and Zimbabwe, 162 rhinos were killed illegally last year to make traditional medicines for the Asian market.

In 1970, South Africa had 65 000 black rhinos. This number has plummeted to only 7 000 white and 1 000 black rhinos. Yet this is 74 per cent of Africa's total number of rhinos. This year so far, 67 rhino have been shot for their horns in the Kruger Park and 37 in Kwa-Zulu Natal - exluding private reserves that advertise trophy hunting to overseas tourists.

Animal welfare organisations have called the Kruger National Park an animal "supermarket" after 10 of the 200 white rhinos sold at auction recently were also killed. They say the board should resign as they have "failed" to protect and conserve the country’s wild animals. Animal Rights Africa (ARA) called on the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs to put a moratorium on the sale of white rhino. They say national parks' rhinos belong to the people of South Africa.

The penalty for illegal rhino hunting in South Africa is R100 000 or 10 years imprisonment or both. It seems this is not enough to stop hunters who will wipe out an amazing species purely from greed.

Sticky Chocolate Pudding

Sticky Chocolate Pudding

This is like chocolate cake - only hot, with sauce. So yummy!

4oz margarine/butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups self-raising flour
4 level desertspoons cocoa
1 cup milk
tsp vanilla essence

Sauce
Extra 1 cup sugar
extra 4 level desertspoons cocoa
3 cups hot water

1. Cream margarine, sugar and vanilla
2. Add egg and beat well
3. Fold in flour and cocoa alternately with milk
4. Place mixture in greased ovenproof dish
5. Sprinkle with extra sugar and cocoa
6. Pour hot water over very gently

Bake in moderate oven for 35 minutes.

Market under the trees

It was a hot, sunny, buzzing market day at the Tea Under the Trees on Sunday down the East Coast Resorts Road, along the Jikileza Route.

Visitors could order breakfast or lunch and then stroll around the various stalls offering everything from beadwork to pottery, leatherwork, home-produce and even second-hand goods, wool-spinning and a hat tree.

There is a play-area for smaller children and pony rides were also on offer. Those wanting some exercise could take a walk down the Forest path.

From Baghdad with Love

Book Review

"From Baghdad with Love"

by Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman with Melinda Roth

It is against the rules for a soldier serving abroad to keep a pet - but when the US marines storm a compound in Iraq, they find a puppy and not one of them has the heart to destroy it or abandon it.

This is the story of a dog called "Lava" and how he became one of the most important and difficult missions for Lieutenant Kopelman.

Why? Kopelman says, "I liked that he forgave me for scaring him. I liked not caring about getting home or staying alive or feeling warped as a human being - just him wiggling around in my hands, wiping all the grime off my face".

Lt Kopelman is not the first soldier to have tried to rescue an animal in a war zone. Many have heart-rendingly tragic endings. But this is a story of hope. And what makes it compelling is the courage shown by ordinary people - wartime journalists, hardened marines and endangered Iraqi citizens.

"A heartwarming story of devotion".

Brandy Tart

Brandy Tart

250g packet stoned dates, chopped
250ml boiling water
5ml bicarb of soda
125g margarine, softened
200g sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2ml salt
2ml baking powder
190g flour, sifted
60g pecan nuts, chopped

Syrup
400g sugar
10ml margarine
250ml water
200ml brandy
5ml vanilla essence

1. Soak chopped dates in boiling water with bicarb
2. Cream margarine and sugar till pale and fluffy. Beat in eggs
3. Sift together dry ingredients. Fold into creamed mixture alternately with date mix. Add nuts
4. Turn into two greased pie plates (or one large)
5. Bake at 190 degrees C for 20 minutes

Syrup
Boil sugar, margarine and water to form thickish syrup.
Remove from heat, add brandy and vanilla

Remove tarts from oven, prick all over and pour syrup over.

Serves 8 with cream or ice-cream

The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World

Book review

The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World

by Eoin Colfer

What fun! This chapter book for pre-teens is hilarious and obviously written by a dad. The story is narrated by Will, the second of five boys, who can't seem to get a word in edgewise with all his brothers around.

Will's main problem is his older brother, Marty. As he says: "Dad sometimes comes into a room just to hear Marty complain about something. He says that Marty is far more entertaining that any television show".

Then his brothers Bert and HP have invented new words. Bert says "canniva" as in "canniva chocolate" or "canniva bag of crisps" and HP always says "snoffair" (It's not fair).

It seems the only one who will really listen to Will's problems is his grandad. But grandad has such great stories of his own that Will can't compete. Until his dad tells Will what Marty did to him when he was only two years old.

This story is so typical of family interactions and is so simply and amusingly told that it will appeal to children and parents alike.

Don't punch the ladybug!

Such a bizarre thing happened the other day. My daughter and I were at the local plant nursery and we saw this lifesize ladybug. Another kid was playing with its arms that just flopped up and down so we thought it was a dummy or doll, just for display effect.

I said to my daughter: "Its just an ornament" and she did this karate stance with a fake punch. Well, the "doll" jumped backwards, knocking over a potted palm tree, and said "Woah!" and Briony and I got such a fright we also jumped back and were in fits of giggles.

The owner came up and said "Who was scared of the ladybug?"

It was ridiculous. But the guy in the mascot suit was so quiet - turns out he had been instructed not to talk (because ladybugs don't).

He is there to hand out sweets to the kids. We took a picture of him as well as a funny sign of some rusks and some baby venus flytraps.