Into Africa

[MajGenl.Meade]

Commencing October 9, I may be off-line for a while. Mrs M and self are off to South Africa for 7 months (plan), returning to the children's home and so on, picking up where we left off two and a half years ago. It's an effort that began in April last year and that was sidelined by the knee replacement thing, the SA Police lost document saga that went on for four months before an attorney in SA put a rocket up 'em, and then by an unaccepted FBI report which agency promised would take 12-14 weeks to remedy (advised on September 12th).

Somehow, despite not completing all the requirements, we have visas - a great shock in the mail day before yesterday. Now we're booked to fly Oct 8 and return May 3 2017. This time we couldn't give up our place here (or sell it) so the plan is to be snow birds. 8 months in SA and 4 in the USA. We will be in perpetual Hawaiian weather.... not exactly but there should be a notable absence of snow.

It's not a good time to be white in South Africa - but then again, it's not a good time to be black there either, not for the ordinary people in the street. In some ways, No Lives Matter, altho' the greatest dangers are economic. The kids' needs are more desperate now. Wish us good fortune in doing what we can to help.

[Lord Jim]

Best of luck to you Gen'l; stay safe...

[RayThom]

It's not just a job, it's an adventure.

Whereas the US/South Africa relationship is a bit strained at the moment I don't feel any major tumult is seen in the near future. Those Islamic terrorists are a sneaky lot, however. Pretend to be Swedish tourists and you'll be fine.

Vi bara besöker, tack.

[dales]

May I offer God's protection and provision for you and yours?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Not worried about SA/USA relations - nor much about Islamic terror (yet). This is far more dangerous:

President Jacob Zuma has been lashed for lack of good leadership as the Hawks pursue an investigation against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, despite an undertaking earlier this year that he would not face any charges.

People close to Gordhan say that he was prepared to stand his ground and force the Hawks’ hand to either formally charge him, or leave him alone.

Prominent South Africans such as human rights lawyer Advocate George Bizos, Rivonia Trialist Ahmed Kathrada, former minister Barbara Hogan and businessman Sipho Pityana have come out in support of Gordhan.

Suspicions continued to grow that the longstanding investigation was a witch-hunt aimed at forcing Gordhan to resign, since formal charges were yet to be pressed and Zuma refused to interfere

I see Winnie Mandela is now calling for Zuma's resignation..... and Blade Mzimande thinks the CP and COSATU phones are being bugged by "parasites"..... Happy days!

Thanks, Dales. Not sure you can offer it.... as much as request it. But if you have that power, I've been worshiping in the wrong direction

[Gob]

Be safe Meade, but no evangelising.

[MajGenl.Meade]

As if!

[Joe Guy]

[RayThom]

And a Happy Leonard Cohen to all, and to all a good night!

[rubato]

Best of luck to you. Education and healthcare are the two most certain routes to improving people's lives and changing the future.

Just go light on the superstition and bear down hard on the science.


Yrs,
Rubato

PS what language is that Recording? Swedish? Finnish? Great song. I am tempted to say, as Ezra Pound did of Heart of Darkness, that he didn't deserve to have written it. But not for long.

[Joe Guy]

PS what language is that Recording? Swedish? Finnish?

Africaans, a language spoken in South Africa.

[rubato]

PS what language is that Recording? Swedish? Finnish?

Africaans, a language spoken in South Africa.

A Germanic language then.

[Lord Jim]

The closest European language would be Dutch, because the original Afrikaners were, you know, Dutch...

[MajGenl.Meade]

Still a Germanic language though

Present and earlier forms of German, English, Dutch-Flemish, Afrikaans, Yiddish, Frisian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, and Faeroese belong to the family of languages called Germanic. These languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family.

[Gob]

You timed that well Meade!

[MajGenl.Meade]

Rubbish man.... we don't land until a.m. Oct 11. Even I couldn't reach Newlands by the 12th

[Gob]

Your loss!

[rubato]

Still a Germanic language though

Present and earlier forms of German, English, Dutch-Flemish, Afrikaans, Yiddish, Frisian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, and Faeroese belong to the family of languages called Germanic. These languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family.

Thanks for underlining the obvious. That's the kind of patience which will come in handy with the slower ones.


Yrs,
rubato

[Sean]

Best of luck Meade! Be good!

[Guinevere]

Be safe Meade, and enjoy every minute of the adventure.