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...
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...
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.
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.
'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,
21 comments:
Max is looking beautiful. Our weather is still cool and Spring seems to be in hiding.
It is sad to read that your country has many of the same issue we show on our local news every night. Why can't we all just get along.
Have a great week,
Hugs and wags, Mistaya, Maggie and M.O.M. Gail
Of course I meant Toby! Sorry.
Gail
As Gail said, all of those awful things are not confined to one country. Strikes, hate speech, police shootings -- you name it, we have it all too.
Just as it's hard for some of us to think of Christmas when it's warm and sunny as it us here in South Florida, it also requires a shifting of the lens to think of Easter, with its spring rituals, when it's cold and dreary.
But its what's inside that matters, right?
Wirey love from the Boyz!!
Joan
Toby is looking very handsome! Your news sounds about like ours except for the garbage and I know that would be a mess here if they were to go on strike. It is very interesting to hear what is going on in another country...thanks for the link! Hope the rain stops soon...we have had too much of that here lately. Lots of love, Debbie and Holly
I think that the world over we have the same awful things going on and it makes us so sad to see. The sunse3t picture is lovely and it makes me smile to see Toby with his football.. Hugs GJ x
Thank you so much for stopping by to leave your good wishes for us over the weekend. It was definitely a devastating storm with lasting effects for months to come. Your pictures today are so pretty and happy.
Hugs Madi and Mom
Interesting post. I love the photos of all the Easter decorations and treats. Puts on in the Spirit of the day! Sorry you have been having such gloomy weather. But at least you pups sure seem to be enjoying yourselves! Love your play photos! My tail was wagging because I wanted to jump in and join you!
What a great doga pose in your first photo! Stretching out before your big soccer match? ;->
Suka
p.s. The Karoo photos are beautiful!
Murray loved all the Easter photos! He loves Easter and is in great mood as he is off school for two weeks! Clive is very happy too - having Murray at home all day and this week having our friend 'Astral' to stay! It's totally "wicked awesome" as Murray keeps saying .....
Hope your weather improves a little and that the general news situation improves a little - can't be easy for you all at the moment!
Keeping our paws crossed for your book! Clive's brother Clint has just finished his book (well his Guide Dog Owner has) and we're nearing the end of our book but as you say, finding a publisher is never easy!!
Have a very Happy Easter
- Clive & Co
Our mom is just smiling away at that beautiful purple flower. It's just gorgeous with the raindrops on it!
Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch
Love the Easter store, cute. Local news is quite interesting. Toby are you thinking those playing fools are nutty?
Snuggles
Benny & Lily
I bet the dogs are happy with the cold weather especially the Goldens. We Golden Retrievers LOVE cold weather! WOW look at all those sweet, delicious goodies in that shopping mall. Did you buy any of them?
OH man, our country has been having a lot of police brutality too. Just recently police officers killed an innocent man & claimed that the man jumped out of the 2-storey police station building window to kill himself. The police isn't telling the truth! We know what they did to him in that holding cell.
That video was truly shocking. That poor man. I hope those police officers will get jailed for his murder!
Toby is looking terrific - Neeli would love to play soccer with him someday! Sorry to hear about your troubles with finding a publisher for Maxdog's book. Paws & fingers crossed for better news soon.
Woofs
Nadine & Neeli
Oh Toby such a big boy now!!! I had no idea your country is in such a turmoil, my heart goes out to you!!!
Have you found any books about special pets and see who published them? I wonder if they would publish your book,oh just for me to think of Max I dont want to cry! I loved him so. oops now I cant see!!! I love you too Caryl!!! Beautiful pic from Karoo!!! Hugs, Valerie Joey and Kealani
Wow it is amazing how big Toby is now! We are sorry the weather is crummy there - if it makes you feel any better it is supposed to be spring here yet we are still colder than you are. Hopefully the sun will be out for all of us soon!
And oh the Easter treats in those shops were just beautiful. But I admit there is no way I could eat those cute chocolate bunnies, even though they are chocolate (I wouldn't even as a little girl - they stayed in the fridge til mom tossed them out).
Toby the soccer player! That sounds about right. A video soon?
Those shops have me craving chocolate now.
The purple/pink flower is lovely. Is that in your garden? I guess maybe not in winter, huh?
Happy Easter from all of us in the holler...
Hey Toby, love the pictures especially the first one. You are so handsome. Will you tell your mom that Vickie says THANK YOU for all the help.
I figure from what she says that we will be undergoing a lot of change soon.
Anyway. hope your winter is better than ours was. whoa it was wet and cold and now we are dealing with horrible flooding everywhere.
Of course I like it but people here are getting worried about their homes.
whoops there I go, talking too much agian.
see ya in blog land
love
Bert
Ugh! Sorry to hear about your cold weather. We are suppose to be heading into spring here, but we got snow again this week!
So many great pics! Looks like the stores are packed with a great selection of Easter goodies!
We will be purring for the "unrest" to get settled for all of you quickly!
What fun all of you woofies have! It does our hearts good to come see your pictures and antics! And the purrty sunset and flower pictures are sure nice today!
You brought back a nice memory for me. My young brother was a budding soccer player, and my childhood dog loved to play with soccer balls. Those two would play for HOURS, with my brother practicing his dribbling and my dog trying to steal the ball. Through that game, my little brother (around 4 at the time) learned about needing to let the other player win sometimes to keep her interest. Anyway, I think Toby needs a young soccer player to play with!
Sorry about your weather... The blog world has made me far more aware of our opposite schedules. As I see signs of impending summer days, your winter begins to set in. It seems very odd.
My dogs don't care about the weather or Easter either! No matter what - they just want to have fun!
Hello, thanks for giving us an update about what has been happening in your part of the world. Sorry we haven't been around much but mom has been working too many hours. I just love it when you post your Easter photos from the mall..they really do a nice job on that in your country.
AARF Kasha the Dainty Great Dane
Maxmom,
I think about the seasons changing around the world, I think of your winter setting in,, and we are still trying to get into spring,,,
mother earth stirs us constantly.
I hope someone bites the bait too, because I know it is a great book.
Paws are crossed
love
tweedles
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