NOWHERE LAND

Apart from the first 3 years of my life, which were spent in Durban Natal South Africa, I lived my whole life in Rhodesia.

There were two 'parts' to Rhodesia. It was known then as the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. When I was 10 the federation broke up, Northern Rhodesia became Zambia and Malawi, Southern Rhodesia became just plain Rhodesia.

Now politicians in their great and mighty wisdom,   haggled back and forth with the British government, under whose control Rhodesia should fall. Having been a British Colony Rhodesia had become independent, had it's own government, airforce, army, police force, and was not receiving any aid from Britain whatsoever.

Here you have it.

God's own country.

Magic country.

Magic people.

HOWEVER.... The Prime Minister, a great man (we thought so and still believe so) declared UDI. Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

That meant that the whole world ceased to recognise us. Sanctions were brought against us from everywhere. No one would trade. Rhodesia was rich in minerals and ore. Tobacco was it's biggest export. 

During the years of our 'exile' if you will, we became, no, not weaker, but much much stronger.

We made our own chocolate, a bit rough at first but improved vastly with time and practice. We made clothing. The quality went from mediocre to excellent. 

The South African Rand and the Rhodesian Dollar were close, Rhodesia was known as the Bread Basket of Africa. Never before or since was the economy so strong.

We fought and died to keep it free. Robert Mugabe's terrorises shot down two of our viscounts carrying civilians. They hacked to death survivors. Britain would not comdemn this terrorist action. British MP'S still will not condemn these atrocities.

Then in 1980, backed by China. along came dictator Robert Mugabe. He proceeded to run the country into the ground, the value of the Dollar dropped so that South African banks would not change the currency. Sanctions are, after 33 years, still imposed. There are no jobs, the people are ruled by fear and terror.

But then, wait for it, Rhodesia was not recognised between the years of 1965 and 1980! My children were born in the 1970's. If Rhodesia did not exist according to the world or was not recognised, then where were my children born?

Do they even exist?

You decide. 

Oh, and Rhodesians never died. They are connected all over the world, in every country they meet, they celebrate the independence of UDI. 

We lost our country, but we didn't lose each other.

LIFE CHANGING

I see the innocence in your eyes.  I see trust in your eyes.

I know that you are in a good place and it pleases me much that you, when there is so much suffering in the world, have me, who adores you, takes care of you and above all can make all bad things go away. To make you feel safe. It is very important that a child feel safe. Safe from all the hurtful things life throws at you. I am the barrier between you and your teacher, you and bullies, you and anyone else who may hurt you in any way. I have that responsibility and I take it very seriously.

I am your shield. and the magical kiss fixes everything!

As you grow up I have to let you go. I see  you fall and know that for your sake you must get up on your own.

You are fighting for independence and I have to watch you stumble, fall, get up, and learn to face your own fears and fight your own battles. 

It is like having my heart walking around outside my body. I am the fearful one now.

I have for a long time been muddling around in a mother's nightmare. So much for the confidence I had when you were all little! There are things I must helplessly watch. Things that happen in your lives that bring you great pain. I always saw myself as the bubble wrap enclosing a fragile parcel.

But I cannot take it on myself. I wish I could. My role as protector is finished now. I am now your supporter and will do the best I know how, but it is never enough.

I step back because I know that you  must be prepared yourself and in your own strength for every eventuality in life. You need to stand alone and succeed.

Watching you become parents has probably been the worst of all. I sometimes have crazy thoughts like 'if I had not had them I would be saving them from all this'.

Stop right there.

If I had not had you all, and veer from the negative and to the positive, what a different picture I see!  Happy and beautiful moments! Shared memories! You are all part of who I am, of who your father was!  We have shared life, we have shared death.

We have been able to comfort one another.

Would I change any of this? NO, NEVER, NOT FOR ANYTHING WOULD I CHANGE IT!!!

FREEDOMDAY IN AFRICA

It has been 19 years.

Freedom.

Last night the vuvuzelas blew, locals shouted, cars hooted, packets and papers blew around the streets and flew into our buildings.

What a festive air!

What does this freedom mean? It means more people are starving, The promised free accommodation and work for all the people has yet to materialise. What is taking your government so l o n g??

19 years on.

People are disillusioned, crime is high, muggers everywhere, stabbings and shootings. 

What country has a constitution like Africa's? It enables the thieves, murderers and muggers. It protects them. Laws have been put in place ESPECIALLY to protect the people!

Live anywhere you would comrades, if you cannot afford your rent, don't worry, there is a law allowing you to claim squatters rights. Put in place to protect the people of colour. You have 6 months to stay where you are for FREE until you must leave. Your landlords lose money and have to pay High Court costs to get you out, that takes another 6 months. Wow!!! What a great system, we are protected!!!

Carry on comrades, enjoy it while you can, have your parties, You have right of way in everything you do.

The cops and government officials are up for bribes. Run your drugs Nigeria, hide behind 'streetside hairdressers', churches are popping up all over the place. Don't get excited Christians, it a yet another front for drug peddling.

Electricity must be shared now, because electricity is available to all throughout the country. the power stations cannot carry the load, we have power shedding. You may be plunged into darkness at any moment for any amount of time, why? because it is someone else's turn to have lights!! We must share everything!!

The white people are worse off then before. Few have jobs as there are few whites. Most jobs go to people of colour, unqualified people of colour, because it is now their RIGHT! Never mind how the job is done, the colour is RIGHT!

So go ahead today, this Saturday, this Freedom day comrades. 

Injoy!

 

Let us review this situation in another 19 years time. Let us see who can raise a smile  when that day comes.

And me? I am off to buy a drivers license and a certificate qualifying me to do ANYTHING I wish!!! 

If I wanted to....... 

THE GOOD LIFE

Durban has been my home for 20 years now. 

It has an ambiance all it's own. It is cosmopolitan, diverse, laid back has people of all colours and races. Apart from India itself it has the second highest population of Indians. That's mind boggling.

Our beaches are clean and what a pleasure to walk along the beach front, or cycle as the above cyclists are doing. I was a frequent cyclist along this route and  one can cycle all the way to Blue Lagoon which is a lovely picturesque route and a good distance away. Keeps us fit!

As you can see from the man on stilts, we have our fair share of entertainment too!

On the down side, yes, there IS a down side! Everything flourishes. I don't mind the plants flourishing so much, BUT when a giant size cockroach strolls across the room, I wonder which would be best, saddle it or spray it. Spraying these monsters doesn't always do the trick as they can live for at least a day if not longer just lying on their backs and with one leg kicking themselves in circles which terrifies the life out of me. I slapped one once, mindless thought that was, but automatic when I see anything crawl near me, and it has such messy innards, I won't be doing that again. Ever. And Spiders. Even they are diverse in their size, colour, and the damage they can do if they bite a person can take months to heal. The amazing thing is that the smaller they are the more poisonous they are. To slap them is out of the question.

See the Rickshaw in the background? They are as timeless as Durban is itself. At one time they were the 'taxis'. They transported people from A to B and even moved furniture when folk moved. Now they are a tourist attraction and and very slowly dying out which is a shame. I remember as a child there being rows and rows of Rickshaws to choose from, they were magnificent  and  colourful, and at the helm would be the puller with an enormous headress  which glittered  beautifully as the sun caught it. I remember the thrill of the Rickshaw puller when he jumped amazingly high in the air. Bit scary when one is small!

And even dogs are welcome! As long as they are on leashes and their owners carry poop scoopers!

Then there is the tourist season when all the locals step aside and make way for  the rest of world and, of course others from within South Africa, to spend their holidays and money. It is exciting and festive.

 No room to walk on the pavement for everyone so I often find myself walking between parked cars and traffic. Town? Well, if one has any sense at all they would be well advised to just leave that for the tourists and visiters! Visitors from inland sleep on the sidewalks, have their meals there and if we are not careful falling over people and legs is a very real hazard! There is not enough accommodation and many cannot afford it. They just know this is where they want to be even it if means sleeping in locked up garages and shop entrances.

I live on the beach front, 2 blocks from where these photos were taken. It is lovely out of season for us of course, we get our beaches and city back. Then the stifling hot weather with it's suffocating humidity slowly leaves us, and with the onset of Autumn, the weather is glorious, and cool air fills our lungs, and what a joy it is to have winter on it's way!! 

Hey, but we have to take the good and the inconvenient and the annoying don't we? Because although the tourists have gone, they will be back for Easter folks!

And guess what, Easter is upon us!!