Ron’s Thoughts …

Now, 5-Pm South African time, we still have no results regarding the Zimbabwe elections.

Is this idiotic, murderous dictator, Mugabe,(who has destroyed a country), still trying to cook the books to hang on to power ?

Is he even in the country?  He has not appeared in public since he was seen casting his vote 3-days ago.

I have no respect for Mugabe or the mindless masses who support him. Are they so stupid,(or scared),that they cannot admit that Mugabe has led their country into ruin ?

Do these naive, simple, uneducated people really believe that a self-centered. pompous dictator like Mugabe will somehow give them a better life ?

Why has president Mbeki not ever spoken out about him or tried to influence him to change his ways ?

His “quiet diplomacy” is a sham. Mbeki is just another Mugabe in disguise. An educated black that now has the mistaken belief that his mates can instantly take over from the whites.

 They are both very very wrong. It will take many years for blacks to become sufficiently competent and  to acquire the necessary skills to run a country, or even to run the farms that they grabbed. Zimbabwe was a food exporter a few years ago. Now they need food aid to feed the hungry masses.

Meanwhile, we in Southern Africa have to endure crime, corruption, gross incompetence in virtually all government departments and a skills shortage as more and more well trained and educated people leave the country.

I am looking forward in great anticipation to this evenings news.

Please let Mugabe be booted out.

Better still, let him be tried for the gross human injustices that he has perpetrated. 

As I have said many times before, it is all a game that we play.

I was entertained this afternoon by a BBC Food Show.

The good looking girl presenting the show spoke about “glue tack” to use for propping up candles.

In South Africa we call it “funny putty” or “Prestick”

The same girl questioned whether we should call it a “sweet tooth” or “sweet teeth”

Good fun.

My wife says that whenever she follows their recipes she doesn’t get pudding, she gets mush. Ha Ha! 

Just got home from a game of lawn bowls.

We won convincingly, but admittedly, not against a very strong team.

It doesn’t really matter.

What matters is that we continue to compete, even though we are reluctant to admit our ages anymore.

I love the challenge of competitive games, and for as long as I live, it will keep me young. 

If the electricity supply goes off, as happens often these days, I can’t make a cup of tea, I can’t work on my computer, I can’t write an E-mail to complain to anyone who may be listening.

If the Internet goes down, as happens often these days, I can’t do my banking, I can’t manage my shares, I can’t take a bet on the horses.

If the satellite DSTV goes down, I can’t watch my favourite TV programmes, I can’t watch the Test Cricket between the Proteas and India, I could not have watched the Stormers beating the Western Force in a Super-14 game of rugby today.

We have become very dependent on modern-day technology, but, except for the occasional camping week-end, I wouldn’t want it any other way. 

Sold some shares yesterday at a good profit.

Bought some shares today in the hope that they will go up.

Meanwhile, the tax man is hovering there like a vulture wanting to grab a slice of my profits.

It is all part of the game that we play.

In the Christian religion, the birth of Jesus is celebrated each year on Christmas day, 25 December.

The death of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection is commemorated each year at Easter, but at variable dates.

The reasons why are obscure.

In the eighth century AD a guy by the name of Bede produced an Easter calender going forward many hundreds of years and we still conform to those dates.

Essentially, the Resurrection will be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of Spring,(22 March)

That means that Easter could be declared anytime between 22 March and 25 April of any given year.

It seems to me that these celebrations are all symbolic.

The full moon symbolizes the glory of life.

Spring symbolizes the start of new life.

(Easter) eggs also symbolize the start of new life.

Even rabbits symbolize reproduction.

These symbols reinforce the Christian belief of life after death.   

My thoughts are confused at the moment because, on the one hand, racism causes many problems in this world but, on the other hand, racism is so intrinsic in human nature,(and in the animal world), that no amount of social engineering will ever eradicate it.

I do not profess to know the answer but I am inclined to think that we must stop trying to pretend that racism doesn’t exist or that some political intervention could change it.

We should rather accept that racism it is a fact of life and that we should learn to live with these differences and prejudices.

(Generally, be a bit more accommodating to other peoples views, religions, beliefs, etc.)  

Played an all-day game of lawn bowls today.

Came 2′nd and won R120

I love being retired.

I am the father of three children and have six grandchildren.

I am happy to report that none of them have ever given us any problems.

They all excell at school and in sports.

None of them drink or take drugs and only the oldest grandson has a sneaky cigarette when I am not looking.

I believe that I know the reason why.

It is because we as parents and grandparents do everything together with our children.

We help them with their schoolwork.

We attend their school functions.

We go holidaying together.

We eat together at the same table at the same time.

We listen to each others jokes, (and laugh)

We swim together and make braai ‘s at our own home.

We play silly games together like “matches” or “penny on the line.”

Never have we ever said, “Here is some money, go to the mall.”

I am proud of the fact that my 10-year old grand-daughter challenges me to a game of chess. I take off one or two pieces and then she beats me. Well done.

Friday, 5-30AM, switched on the TV to watch the South African cricket team, the Proteas, play and beat Bangladesh in a 50-overs game. Well done guys, we our now placed 1′st in the world according to ICC rankings

Friday, 8-30 AM, watched the Stormers beat the Chiefs in a Super-14 rugby game. Well done guys, that makes 2-out-of-2 so far in your 4-match away from home tour to Australia and New Zealand.

Friday, 2-PM, had a couple of bets on the horses. Won R150.

Friday, 4-PM, went to Grand West casino. Lost R150

Friday, 6-PM, had a buffet meal at the Quarterdeck. Ate too much.

Friday, 8-30 PM, went to a live show at the Roxy where they sang old-time “Beatles” favourites. Very enjoyable.

Saturday, 8-30 AM, watched the Cheetahs being wiped out by the Crusaders. It was a no-contest.

Saturday, 10-30 AM, watched the Bulls being thrashed by the Reds. I don’t understand that. Maybe the Bulls were suffering from jet-lag.

Saturday, 2-PM, played a game of lawn bowls away from home in Stellenbosch. We competed for a while but in the end were soundly beaten.

I am retired, why am I so busy ?

Better go to bed now to rest up for tomorrows braai,(barbecue)