Happy New Year

Kaapse Klopse a typical Cape Town event
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Season's Greetings

My Home is my Castle

At long last Google Earth woke up and updated their maps. One and a half year ago I put on a new green roof on the house (previously red Harvey Tiles) and only today they seem to have noted. My abode is right slap bang in the middle under the cross hair.



Hoover with your helicopter (cursor) around, hold left mouse key and pull, and read the things established in Obs and indicated with blocks. For an easier full screen version click here. Have fun.
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Devils Peak Hike

Whilst writing my stew for supper is brewing. This morning, nearly 12 hours earlier, I was up with the early birds and through the gates to Groote Schuur Estate, parked at Rhodes Memorial (1), put on my boots and was off. Two students were looking for the path up to Devilspeak (major). Talked them out of it, too risky without map and guide, thus instead they joined me for a couple of hours. Zak here is part of the mountain map map which is obtainable from the maps or Cape Union Markt, Click map to enlarge and can be enlarged further quite a bit for more details. Google Earth Map

After walking up nearly 250 metres we had a quick break at Kings Blockhouse (2), this English fortification was built soon after the battle of Blaauwberg nearly 200 years ago to protect the Cape against the French. We now had to climb, scramble nearly straigh up from 430 metres to the Fire Lookout (3) at 600m. There we had another well earned break after which we only had to go up another 150 metres. Before turning to Woodstock cave (4) my hiking friends decided to walk at least part of their intended route to the top and must have added another couple of hours and I found 5 hours enought for the day.

My stew is ready and smells deliciousand and instead of me rambling on and on let me upload some photo's which will show the hike better than I being able to tell you the icons below can be seen here .

Day of Reconcilliation

In 1838 Piet Retief the Voortrekker leader was killed during a ceremony by the Zulu leader Dingane. On 16 December some 10.000 Zulu troops attacked 470 Voortrekkers, but with the advantage of gun powder, warded them off. Only three Voortrekkers were wounded, but more than 3 000 Zulus were killed during the battle. The Afrikaners took a Vow before God that they that they and their descendants would observe the day as a day of thanksgiving should they be granted victory. The day of the Vow was also known as Dingaan Day

After democracy in South Africa 16 December retained its status as a public holiday, however, this time with the purpose of fostering reconciliation and national unity.

On the other side of the political spectrum, 16 December is also the anniversary of the 1961 founding of Umkhonto we Sizwe(Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the African National Congress.

And today, 16 December 2008 is set to mark the official founding of the new political party COPE under the leadership of former Premier of Gauteng, Mbhazima Shilowa and former Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota (see earlier blog "snotklap".

As usual there are many voices such as Koos Kombuis who made his voice heard last year in a song "Reconciliation Day" the day after another singer Taliep was murdered (his wife (nogal) was found guilty this week)). I cannot state that its my type of song but today I shouldn't suppress it.
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A snotklap for the ANC. Don't you love SA slang?

Ray Hartley, editor of The Times, uses the word 'snotklap' in his recent post about Mosiuoa Lekota breaking ranks with the ANC, South Africa's governing party. A magnificent choice of word, and one that any South African will understand and appreciate. It's one of those words that is just infused with hilarity, and that is impossible to translate.

But let me try:

The literal translation of the Afrikaans word klap [pronounced 'clup'] is 'hit' or 'smack' . But it also has many nuances - it also means beat, vanquish, smite, consume, devour, beat about the ears, give a kick in the pants to, and so on. For example, you might say, 'We klapped a couple of bottles of brandy last night'. Or: 'We really klapped the Ozzies at the cricket'. Or: 'Do your homework, or I'll klap you.'

When you have a hangover, you might say, 'I can't come to the meeting, I feel totally klapped'.

Now add the word snot, which means the same in Afrikaans as it does in English.

Snotklap [pronounced snort-clup] means a big, open-handed smack about the side of the face that is so severe that it causes the snot to fly sideways from your nostrils.

The above was copied without permission from Salmagundi blog

For more South African Slang scroll down to brown box on the right
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Take a Hike

It's now Sunday, cloudy with light rain and a good opportunity to reflect on my little hike up the road last Wednesday when the weather seemed perfect "don't You agree?".

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The general thought was to reverse or backtrack some short trails I had explored a few weeks earlier. Waiting too long one may loose it's way and become a modern day Livingstone or Stanley.

Due to the unfortunate potential of muggins, I normally travel light on valuables such as money, camera, GPS and only carry what may be redistributed to build-up and develop our lovely country. However as my camera is getting dated I decided that either it is up for grabs or you may see for yourself how lovely our mountain is. .
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Flowers, trees, forests, pathways one nearly misses, stream, little water falls, rapids, birds and much much more. But why not have a hike yourself?Just click here