As I write this with the remains of 2013 lying around like last night's supper, it's time to look back on the year with all it's ups and downs. So, good news or bad news first? I thought that I would get the bad news over with, like a child gulping down the spinach before getting the jelly and custard.
And the nominees are, in no particular order:
The death of Madiba. I think that will be the one thing that we remember 2013 for here in SA. As a nation, we were brought together for a few precious days while we mourned his passing.
Which brings me to the debacle of the Memorial Service. And the image that was flashed around the world of President Obama sharing the stage with a sign language interpreter. Only afterwards when it was discovered that he was signing rubbish, the odd word like 'puppies' and 'crayfish' came into it somewhere, we learned that not only was he not qualified, but he was a schizophrenic with a few charges against him, like house breaking and murder! And of course, no body took any responsibility for it. Thank goodness the world only laughed at us. It could have been much much worse.
That of course, took the heat off Nkandla! But not for long! The private homestead of our President that took over R200 million of taxpayers money to 'fix', with among other things, a Tuck Shop, and a Swimming Pool..............oops, no, sorry, it's not a swimming pool, it's a....................................Fire Pool!! Just in case there is a fire you understand. And no-body will use the blue-painted pool with crystal clear water, a deep and shallow end and a tiled surround, to swim in. Yeah right! I would love to add a photo here, but I may be arrested as we are not allowed to publish photos!! Have a look on Google, there are lots, and, of course, the day after we were told it was illegal to do so, every newspaper in the country had a photo on their front page! And the President said that he didn't authorize everything, it was just done!
Guptagate! The wedding party that landed at Waterkloof Air force Base..............without any body knowing or giving permission to land. The President denied all knowledge and the buck is still being passed. I doubt it will ever stop! I hear that he enjoyed the wedding though!
Our rhino population lost another 946 this year. Brutally butchered for absolutely no reason, murdered and now hovering on the point of no return. In fact, I have it on good authority that Private Parts removed from poachers while they are alive and then dried and powdered, are better! Spread the word!
Over 855 people have died on our roads so far this Festive Season and we still have the return trek to face after New Year, so it could easily reach over 1000. And every year we have the same talks on the radio of how we can prevent this. The major causes are drunk drivers and pedestrians, and idiots simply ignoring road rules and overtaking in dangerous conditions.
Our rand has hit the lowest ever and is spiralling downward daily. Last year it was just on R10 to the Euro, today it's R14.43. And tomorrow? Our imports outweigh our exports by a zillion to one and out future is decidedly wobbly! Our money does buy you some things though, driving licenses, roadworthy certificates, drugs, alcohol, silence, police chiefs, traffic cops, so it's not all gloom! Often it's not what you buy but who!
And Jacques Kallis has retired!
Now for the good news.
Um. Ah. Hmmmm. Eish!
Oh well, moving on.
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| Jonathan Shapiro AKA Zapiro (Thanks to Google) |
On the positive side, it has been a wonderful year for our cartoonists! Zapiro has kept us chuckling and shaking our heads through it all, after all, if we didn't laugh, we would all be crying! Google him too and enjoy!
And what will 2014 bring us?
Well, here in our little corner of the world, we hope for health and the lowering of the petrol price (yeah right!) so that we can mosey off on caravan trips with our faithful Alfie and his ball! And for all of you reading this, my wish is that 2014 be the best year ever for you and your loved ones.
That is my wish for my loved ones, far flung and scattered though they may be, they are all still very safely tucked into my heart.
Happy New Year.
1 comment:
Some very true comments up there!! Thank St Gertrude for the love of cats, something very positive in our lives!! Happy New Year to you all on the weskus (family I mean) 2 legged and 4 legged, and hope Jack moves in!!!!!
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