GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
MAXMOM here...
It's been cold, raining and miserable for three days now. Everyone is dressed up warmly with simmering pots on the stove. Anything to revive the gloomy mood which has settled on our city. The general small-talk is fixated on the weather.
I must admit, I do miss my South African sunshine...
(The beautiful Karoo landscape - sent to me by a friend.
Thank you, Bob!)
Our temperature at the moment, is hovering around 13C - the coldest yet this year. With this rain, we are probably facing a very cold winter.
We spent most of the weekend indoors - the shops were the main attraction of the weekend...
Our shops are filled with Easter offerings ...
We have a number of public holidays scheduled in the next two weeks, so many people are taking leave to get the full benefit of the season. For what its worth, Toby and his compatriots don't care!
Dogs don't bother about the weather...or Easter.
To them, each day is a present - to be lived to the Max!
Toby has taken up the game of soccer - it appears that I will have to become his eager opponent
(or team-mate, depending on his mood).
Since he can't put this ball in his mouth, he skirts up and down the passage, pushing the ball along, like a professional striker. It's rather funny to watch. The cooler climate is an excuse for dogs to pump up their energy levels. Their wakeful and exuberant playfulness is directly contrasted with their attempts at finding warm, snug spots, where they can snooze. Afternoon walks, however, are non-negotiable. Treats too are actively and continuously solicited. Phew, dogs are exausting!
Some general local news:
* The Garbage workers' strike is into its third week and there are growing environmental and health concerns. In the past month, I've discovered what it is like to be a garbage worker. The putrid smell of dump sites is definitely not pleasant. I've had to make numerous trips there to rid ourselves of our own refuse. Our city is looking dreadful at the moment. Piles of garbage bags line most streets and the smell hangs in the air. Uurrrgh! Hopefully the parties will come to an agreement soon and our city can be cleaned up quickly.
* The Julius Malema (ANC Youth Leader) "Hate-speech" trial is in full swing. It has law-students, around the country, rivetted to their television sets. From what I've seen, it appears that racism is still rife in our sensitive country. I am fascinated with the trial - it will be a landmark judgement because it deals with freedom of speech, expression and how the judiciary interprets 'hate speech'. We have live streaming from the courtroom onto our tv sets.
* Police brutality is in the spotlight again, sadly. A number of police officers have been arrested after a demonstrator/community leader in Ficksburg was beaten, shot and killed during a services-delivery protest. The gruesome video footage of his death has been all over the media.
* Local election fever has politians scampering for votes - "Service delivery", or the lack thereof, seems to be on top of everyones' minds. Various public demonstrations have broken out around the country.
Anyway, this blog is a dog-blog, not a news-blog!
But if you are interested in following some of our South African news, my recommended news website is:
hosted by one of our local radio stations.
---xXx---
I still have had no response from any publishers for my book,
'MAXDOG':
Hopefully someone will nibble my bait soon. I am beginning to understand and appreciate the frustrations of writers and authors in general. Rejection comes with the territory, but they tell me it's still early days. Please hold thumbs that someone will want to run with it. It really is an incredible story that needs to be told.
Hopefully the sun will come out soon, so that we can enjoy this holiday period in the true South African way!
I leave you with a picture (graciously sent to me by a friend) of a beautiful Karoo sunset.
Remember...
no matter what your circumstances
LIVE LIFE TO THE MAX!
Sending lotsaluv from us all,
