My weekend

I visited the transport museum this weekend. The Black Rolls Royce was the official Mayors vehicle from 1957 - 1975. I also went for a drive around Magaliesburg to Hartebeespoort Dam. The cable car has closed down. I bought some cheese at the cheese factory, saw Jenny's old school etc. I also visited Neville, played a game of action cricket for the Panache team and won. I didn't take photo's at Lusito Land. The Jhb "Mini Town" needs a face lift.

Military Museum

There was an astronomy meeting at the Military Museum this morning so I went to see what it was all about. I looked at all the old planes, tanks guns etc. Fortunes are spent on armaments. Think if all soldiers were trained as doctors, nurses, builders, plumbers etc. We would have a wealthy and prosperous nation. I have no attraction to the military anymore. I also went to the Zoo Lake. Next time I'll take some bread for the ducks.

Happy Birthday John

John celebrates his 49th birthday today. We wish you many more.
Have a good weekend all!!!

My Grand daughters

Both Angela and Jenny recently sent photo's to me. If you wonder why I have not blogged recently it is because I couldn't get into my blog!!!! No real news. I went to the Rand Show last week. Very dissapointing. Its like an exhibition center. No agricultural section and very commercialised. I have noticed a defect on Abigail Jo!!!! I have exactly the same. Any guesses??? It took me 40 years before I discovered it. The project I am working on is developing now and ends on the first weekend in May. I will then make a call as to continue in this place or...................lighthouses..................

Two years old!!!!

Happy Birthday Matthew. I hope you enjoyed your birthday picnic. I am back in Jhb now??? I don't know why.

The traffic was a nightmare.

Easter - A new Beginning

After mass I went to Jenny for a braai. I did an Easter egg hunt "with a difference" for Zoe. Instead of notes I used digital photography. She identified the picture then ran off and came back with a chocolate. Dionne did the braai. I really feasted. We then went to the prize giving at the street soap box race where Zoe won an MP3 player. Thank you all for a good day yesterday. I will be on the road back to Jhb in the next hour!!!!

Zoological Park Pmb

This morning I went to Pmb to see a school that needs painting. On the way back I stopped off at the Lion Park and visited the Zoological Park. I saw a few of my family members and some of the in laws. Yes I also saw leopards and tigers.

In Durban

I am in Durban for the Easter weekend. Yesterday was Good friday. I went to Stations of the Cross in Westville in the morning and then to my favourite church on the Bluff for the 3pm Liturgical Service. Lent has ended and a new season starts tomorrow!!! This year I gave up coffee for lent. I normally drink up to 20 mugs a day and battled going without it. I have had 2 mugs today Wow.... was it good. I also treated myself to Matzos. No I'm not a Jew. This is similar to the unleaven bread that was traditionally used for the Passover. I like it with lots of butter and a little salt. The side effect of lent has been a weight loss from 92kg to 84kg. Don't you just love South Africa???? Some of the street names have changed. I hope my GPS knows this!!!

Constitutional Court

I also visited the Constitutional Court - the highest authority in our country. I had the pleasure of sitting where the judges sit when a hearing is in progress. The door is carved with a message in all the official languages including brail. The brickwork you see was done from the very bricks that were taken from the prison. Incarceration to freedom........Wonderful!!!!!
I also did "Earth Hour" - an hour with no electricity between 19h30 and 20h30 on Saturday evening. (Thanks Leo) More about this later. I plan to encourage others to do the same soon. It is a great opportunity to centre or be quiet or even bond with family or friends. If you do not know about Earth Hour please contact me and I will tell you more.

Zoo

I also visited the Johannesburg Zoo. A lot of building and changes are taking place there. I recall the pumpkin which I used to love climbing on and going into when I was a kid. The animals look good and easy snaps can be obtained. One of the elephants really showed off for me. Well worth a visit!!! This collage shows a few of the creatures from a Meercat to a Puma.

Old Johannesburg Prison

I visited the old Johannesburg Prison yesterday. It was known as "The Fort". Considering that I have spent more than a fifth of my life in prisons I do have an understanding of how they work. I do not believe all of the history I learnt at school about how great the Boers were and certainly don't believe all the history taught today. Being a medic in the Prisons I had lots to do with the diets and floggings of prisoners. The 2nd picture shows what we called a "Donkey". Prisoners were strapped to the tripod and cushions placed above and below the buttocks so if the warders aim was not straight they wouldn't be hurt. All floggings were done in the "Hospital" section under supervision of the Medical team. Canes came in different weights and the magistrate would decide which cane and how many lashes were to be given. Canes were soaked in salt water the night before. Prisoners who disobeyed prison rules were punished by removing or reducing their food rations. The information given at the Fort is distorted and sounds barbaric. A maximum of 3 meals were allowed to be taken away from a prisoner in a given cycle. If they did something seriously wrong a month of "Spare Diet" followed. This was reduced rations and a balanced feed that was carefully weighed and checked by people like me. This lasted for 30 days and a normal diet for 30 days had to be followed before giving the prisoner the same punishment. There certainly were different meals for each race group. Whites had the best and blacks the worst with Colourds and Indians somewhere in-between. The young guide who wouldn't know any better was telling tourists that whites had a menu and prisoners were given rice water!!!! The system in the 70's was far from fair but not like it is told now. As an officer I did Sunday inspections of the cells and always marvelled at the creativity of inmates in the way blankets were used to make sculptures. A reward was given to the cell that looked the best. The cells were usually overcrowded and lice was a major problem. Going to the toilet was done in view of cell mates (Usually 60 in a cell)