On 6th April I wrote this:
I have yet to report on our recent trips to Horsham, Maidstone and Canterbury
and I didn't ever blog those trips. Since then, we've had little jaunts to:
Dundee and Swindon
and I haven't written those up either.
I doubt I'll get round to it now. Suffice to say, all of those trips were excellent, revolved around my work and contained lots of driving and a fresh appreciation of how diverse and beautiful Britain can be. Especially when the sun shines, as it did for a lot of the time we were away.
Ok, patriotic bit over.
June has been manic, work wise. I found myself out on business every single day - except for two days this week Wednesday and Friday when I have full days "in the office". It's been good though. Seeing lots of different places, lots of the same motorway and a few nice hotels.
On Thursday this week I'm going over to mum's after work. Lorraine, Mum and I are going out. On Friday, we're visiting the graveyard, as it will be one year since Dad died. The year has gone over so quickly and I feel as if so much has happened since - what with mum's house move, changing jobs, South Africa, Roy's work situation etc.
So I did have a lot to blog about, (the travels) but I never got round to it and I'm fed up playing catch up.
Next scheduled trip is 12th July when we'll celebrate our third wedding anniversary (belatedly, it's on the 1st July) with a stay at the Pheasant Inn in Chester. I think we're also going to Chester Races on that day, too.
Tuesday 10 June 2008
In memory of Frank Scott - 6th June 2008
My cousin Frank passed away on Friday 6th June. He had been ill for a little while and was not able to have the surgery that might have saved his life.
Frank lived on the Isle of Man and in my younger years I would visit him there a lot, with my other cousin, his sister Joan. I haven't seen too much of Frank in recent years.
He leaves a widow and two daughters.
Rest in peace, Frank.
Frank lived on the Isle of Man and in my younger years I would visit him there a lot, with my other cousin, his sister Joan. I haven't seen too much of Frank in recent years.
He leaves a widow and two daughters.
Rest in peace, Frank.
Sunday 1 June 2008
In memory of Barry Alman - 18.5.2008
Just over a week after we returned from South Africa, we had a call to give us some very sad news. My cousin, Barry (who had been ill while we were staying in SA) had passed away.
I hope that Barry is resting peacefully. We never got to see him when we were there, but I met Barry years ago at my parents, when he was living in the UK.
On 26th May (the day of his memorial services) we laid family flowers at Goodison Park football ground in Barry's memory.
I hope that Barry is resting peacefully. We never got to see him when we were there, but I met Barry years ago at my parents, when he was living in the UK.
On 26th May (the day of his memorial services) we laid family flowers at Goodison Park football ground in Barry's memory.
South Africa Holiday - the end!
So I've been bringing my SA blog up to date and now it is finished. I am sure there is tons of stuff I missed.
I do love Africa. I also find it a very strange place - full of contradiction. There is so much beauty (the land and the people) and also so much brutality. I also find that I am drawn to politically "interesting" places like SA and Cuba. It makes me think. And that can only be good, hey?
Now that is a real South African-ism. Adding "hey" in a questioning manner at the end of sentences or statements. I am trying not to copy it in everyday speech, because it irritates Roy when I do!
Other things they say are "oh shame" all the time. And not only if you're telling them about some mishap or unfortunate incident. And "is it?". Another question, but not always used in that context, or "correctly". I'm trying to think of an example. Here's one.
Me: "We're going to Durban next week".
South African person: "Is it?".
The one I like is "we'll make a plan". This is said all the time - and sounds really grand and formal, but can be as simple as "Let's have coffee. We'll make a plan and meet up". I love that one!
And "ja" is used a lot instead of yes, even by non-Afrikaners, I think.
Finally, "just now" is a commonly used phrase. As in "we'll see you just now". With "just now" meaning any length of time - not immediately. Actually, they use this in Scotland a lot, too.
My personal favourite expression was one often used by Korbie, the Afrikaans lady who we met on safari with her British husband, Brian. As we drove around, Brian would often point out birds to her. She was a very calm, relaxed lady. Slowly, she'd raise her binoculars to her eyes, look at the bird and gently sigh out "Stunning". With absolutely no enthusiasm whatsoever! It was so funny. "Stunning" became one of the catch phrases of our trip, thereafter.
I think I went to SA thinking that it would be a good place to live in. I've changed my views about that, largely due to the political situation and also the crime rates. I think it would be nigh on impossible for a white couple like us to emigrate there now - unless of course we had our own business and were self sufficient. I don't think immigrants are wanted. The government is trying hard to rebalance things (racially) and opportunity is granted only to some.
Many parents are actively encouraging their kids to get qualified and then get out of the country. SA is losing talented people to the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It's so sad.
I guess I had in mind that things were on the way to being "mended" now, post apartheid, but the truth is that they are nowhere near resolved. There is a long, long way to go - and I don't quite know how it will all work out in the end.
But I'll be back. Definitely.
I do love Africa. I also find it a very strange place - full of contradiction. There is so much beauty (the land and the people) and also so much brutality. I also find that I am drawn to politically "interesting" places like SA and Cuba. It makes me think. And that can only be good, hey?
Now that is a real South African-ism. Adding "hey" in a questioning manner at the end of sentences or statements. I am trying not to copy it in everyday speech, because it irritates Roy when I do!
Other things they say are "oh shame" all the time. And not only if you're telling them about some mishap or unfortunate incident. And "is it?". Another question, but not always used in that context, or "correctly". I'm trying to think of an example. Here's one.
Me: "We're going to Durban next week".
South African person: "Is it?".
The one I like is "we'll make a plan". This is said all the time - and sounds really grand and formal, but can be as simple as "Let's have coffee. We'll make a plan and meet up". I love that one!
And "ja" is used a lot instead of yes, even by non-Afrikaners, I think.
Finally, "just now" is a commonly used phrase. As in "we'll see you just now". With "just now" meaning any length of time - not immediately. Actually, they use this in Scotland a lot, too.
My personal favourite expression was one often used by Korbie, the Afrikaans lady who we met on safari with her British husband, Brian. As we drove around, Brian would often point out birds to her. She was a very calm, relaxed lady. Slowly, she'd raise her binoculars to her eyes, look at the bird and gently sigh out "Stunning". With absolutely no enthusiasm whatsoever! It was so funny. "Stunning" became one of the catch phrases of our trip, thereafter.
I think I went to SA thinking that it would be a good place to live in. I've changed my views about that, largely due to the political situation and also the crime rates. I think it would be nigh on impossible for a white couple like us to emigrate there now - unless of course we had our own business and were self sufficient. I don't think immigrants are wanted. The government is trying hard to rebalance things (racially) and opportunity is granted only to some.
Many parents are actively encouraging their kids to get qualified and then get out of the country. SA is losing talented people to the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It's so sad.
I guess I had in mind that things were on the way to being "mended" now, post apartheid, but the truth is that they are nowhere near resolved. There is a long, long way to go - and I don't quite know how it will all work out in the end.
But I'll be back. Definitely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)