Hope and Glory

I was watching Invictus this weekend, on Freedom day, for the first time. The movie was mediocre with bad American actors pretending to speak with a South African acsent. The thing that really got my "sad gland" going, was the memories of that 1995 rugby world cup. The way the entire nation felt and reacted. We had just had a very peaceful transitional election and had a man in power that the white minority was not sure about weather he would jail us all, or simply just justify killing any and all white people. Then the rugby World Cup came along, and Mandela showed us and the world that his one and only goal was to build a united, strong, competing South Africa. His goal filtered through to all of us. I remember how full of hope we all were. How positive we were. How we felt like we were standing on the brink of something amazing and we were about to jump into it head first. The game of rugby, and Nelson brought us as a nation together in a single goal of restoring South Africa to a world powerhouse. It was an amazing time in our country. When we won, people went out into the streets dancing, singing and embrasing everything and everybody they saw. For the first time ever we felt like a proper nation. For weeks after the world cup win we were still drunk on the feeling of unity and comradery. The movie made me sad because I remembered these feelings, and compared them to my feelings and our country today. Today we have a country where people are fighting each other more than ever before, where a government is hated by more people than ever before, and where the feeling of imortality has been replaced by a feeling of distrust, disdane and hoping for a drastic fall of government. We do not feel like we can achieve anything anymore. We do not feel like we are champions. We do not feel like the same nation who won the world cup as one nation. Our government has left us a jaded, devided, helpless nation who feel powerless to do anything. We need another Madiba.

Winter

There is a winter coming
Cold and wet
Testing summer light for endurance
The Winter with its rain drops
Testing the lasting flowers of Summer

There is a winter coming
a new Winter with new rain
new wind
new

Will I last this winter

Dogs, rugby and a red curry

Today was a particularly interesting day. After church this morning (a very interesting service), we decided to go for an early lunch after my sister gave me some money. We ended up at The Sidewalk Cafe in Vredehoek. Very nice place, staff and I had the most amazing red curry. Its just such a pity I only found out afterwards that its owned by the same person that owns Madame Zingara, which means I wont be going back there again. After this we went walking with our dogs and a friend of ours with his dog. Its was quite rainy so the park was nit that busy. The dogs ran around and had a great old time. We took the friend for lunch (we had drinks) where he told us about a group of people (gay, lesbian and straight) who get together every Sunday at 5 to play some touch rugby. I was quite excited about that as I used to play rugby at school, so I said we would join him. It turned out to be only a hand full of people and it turned out that the 16 years since I last played rugby, showed badly. After about 5 min of running, I felt like my lungs were coming out of my nostrils, and my legs turned into hard jelly. It was fun though, however because I am a very competitive sportsman, I got a little edgy as one of the guys in our team was just completely clueless. I might go back coz it was a hell of a work out, but for now, I am aching EVERYWHERE and have grass burns on my whole body. I will sleep like a baby tonight.

Leftover Lent and Joburg

I decided to give up coffee and white flour for Lent this year. It was quite tough because I am Afrikaans and love bread, cake, cookies and just about anything with pastry or flour. The problem is I felt so good for that 40 days. I lost some weight, and my body just feels better. My tummy has not been acting up (apart from the bacteria I picked up in Limpopo) and I feel less sluggish and a lot more active. So I decided to continue this "wheat free" diet. Now I have always been a strong opponent of people blaming everything that is wrong with them on wheat. Whenever someone goes to the Dr for anything from headaches to penis pain, they are told they are wheat intolerant. That still bugs me. However, after seeing that I am better off without it, I am a true believer....can I get an AMEN!!! I am not saying I am wheat intolerant, I am just saying I can do without.

The problem with this new path is when I am on the road on sales trips in Johannesburg. Usually my sister makes the nicest sandwiches for me for lunch and includes a really nice little letter. I told her about my new situation and she made me this amazing spread of cheese, cocktail sausages, cold meats and boiled egg. The problem is that I love to nibble while I drive around. So it was incredible difficult to not buy a sandwich or a burger or a wrap. Finally yesterday, on my last day, I caved in and bought a Woolworths pie..... It was not pretty. Slurping sauce, pie crumbs flying everywhere, and this was still as I was leaving Woolworths. Needless to say today I am feeling it. My tummy is doing roller coaster turns, boiling like the bunny on Fatal Attraction, and generally not happy. Its back to the wheat free for me.

I wonder if you can get wheat free pies?

Vow of Silence

Today is the Crucifixion of Jesus. Its a solemn, respectful day that celebrates, but also reverence the day that Jesus went through the most final of things, death, for us. Its the day that started the fulfilment of a promise to us. A process that we commemorate every year. I have decided to enter into a day of silence today. I want to be quiet, listen and hear the world. It has been a very insightful day. I had to keep quiet when I wanted to scream, and say nothing when I wanted to sing. It has been amazing.

A child is born

We were privileged enough to be invited to a naming ceremony yesterday. Its a couple from our church. The father, Kolade, is from Nigeria and the mother, Emma, from South Africa. The ceremony was amazing. The Dean presided over it and there were various elders of the Nigerian extended family that presented different articles to the child. Honey, salt, water, wine, palm oil, various nuts etc. Every one of these had a special significance and it was so special to be there. Afterwards there was a great feast, but I could not partake as I am ill. We left there and went to the Cathedral for the Maunday Thursday service. Another special day. It seems like the Easter feeling is coming back to me.

And the name of the little Nigertonian.....
Mokedeayo - Announciation of joy
Dideolu - the arrival of the star
Brian - Strong & valiant
Arogundade

Mokedeayo Dideolu Brian Arogundade

Its that Holy time again

Its Easter tine again and I am feeling a little less than holy. In past years I have been very happy and content during this time of the year, and even though we are serving again at the Easter Vigil, I am in a very strange space in my life right now. I need to get something rolling and going now because I am feeling like I am loosing momentum. We were serving at Palm Sunday where we walk from the company gardens to church with palm branches to commemorate Jesus's entering into Jerusalem. It was very special as usual, and now there is only the Vigil left.