Author: Soutie

Collection tins

My brief today was to find a way to secure our collection tins, (we’ve just been given 400) to counters in bars, supermarkets, wholesale shops well anywhere actually.

It’s a pretty simple operation, I had a meeting with a few mates, we’re going to get the wire and such donated and we reckon that if we take a table over at one of our local sports bars we’ll get the job done in an afternoon.

The tin you see on the left is my sample, we used it to discuss drill bit sizes and other silly requirements.

It’s full!

Unbelievably as we were sitting at our table people kept coming up and putting money into it, one lady had no change so folded a ten rand note and slid it through the slot!

Just to change the subject…

Tonight’s our music trivia fundraiser, usually 15 tables of 8 at R65.00 per head, Continue reading “Collection tins”

Dewani motive – update

This picture on the left is one of a man suffering from severe depression or is it anxiety, who knows who cares?

Reports today suggest that the accused wanted out of the engagement but couldn’t simply call the wedding off for fear of being disowned by his family.

The extradition hearing has now been postponed to July 18 awaiting a psychiatric report, that’s OK by me, we’ll wait.

I take great satisfaction knowing that the high flying lifestyle that this man once lived has disintegrated, that is a sentence in itself (not mine) he must be reminded every day that we, the peace loving citizens of South Africa will not let this matter rest.

An update on the 14th May service to scatter Anni’s ashes here

Eighth photo comp. – results

Jokers wild

I’m absolutely delighted that I was able to extend the deadline for the 8th competition by a couple of days, we attracted a couple of additional entries which of course doesn’t make the job of judging any easier. I was of course saddened that a particular cameraless member (their own words) wasn’t able to beg, steal or borrow one and contribute, perhaps next time.

In essence, I selected a theme (wild) which was open to many interpretations and the Charioteers didn’t disappoint.

I’m no photography critic and won’t be going into the merits of each entry, I did enjoy Jahn’s pink dolphin, I’ve written elsewhere about our efforts to prevent dolphin captures down here and the keeping of them in captivity.

LW’s wisteria is a beaut, I’m no gardener but I did enjoy the old house, swing chair and of course the subject, thanks LW.

For pure impact, colour and in your face photography I have to award this months prize to OZ, his wild boar has all the attributes that I was looking for. A great pic OZ, thanks, over to you for number 9!

Party’s over – pictures please!

Wild dagga

The party’s over, and what a great bash it was.

As you all awake this morning, it’s my job to remind you that the photo comp for April will be closing shortly.

Christopher requested a small extension to the deadline due to a holiday weekend in his part of the world, I very kindly agreed and feel that what is good for one has to be good for all, the deadline has therefore been extended by a day or two to May 2nd.

Remember the rules? There aren’t any!

This months theme

Let’s Go Wild!

Wild parties, wild hairstyles, in the wild, wild relations, wild flowers you get the idea over to you.

Eighth photo competition.

I’ve absolutely no idea why we number them, I’ve recently done the eighth poetry competition. perhaps they should simply be called ‘this months’ or ‘May’, anyhow, having said that the theme for the next photo competition is WILD.

Wild parties, wild hairstyles, in the wild, wild relations, you get the idea, the picture has to be WILD.

I’ve included here one of my favorite pics, I caught him by surprise and have never published it before. Over to you, no rules insert them on the thread.

If you have difficulty sticking your pic on the thread, write a separate post (I’ll see it, I see all of them) and I’ll insert it for you.

Let’s Go Wild! Continue reading “Eighth photo competition.”

‘Hatching’ Easter eggs

Autism speak

I thought that I’d give you a little insight as to the workings of an autistic child’s mind.

We had Easter eggs this week, similar to the ones pictured left, you know the ones, chocolate on the inside with a hard white coating.

Well, these were hard, impossible for a child to crack with their jaw, after a couple of tries the first child held his egg in his hand and banged it against the table, good idea, bad idea, the egg shattered into hundreds of pieces and scattered all over the floor!

Quick as a flash, the second child approached me with her egg and said “Uncle Soutie, would you hatch it for me?”

8th poetry compo – results

Africa

Submission time for this period’s competition has come and gone.

The rules weren’t too taxing, any genre to include at least one African place name or personality.

We had three entries and I enjoyed each and every one (as I always do.)

Araminta’s submission continued the woes of Monty Mouse and his holiday plans, I do enjoy the trials and tribulations of poor old Monty, thank you Ara keep ’em coming.

Bearsy submitted a very clever piece on financial fraudsters leaving even close family members destitute. It reminded me of close friends of my parents who were left in a similar situation back in the ’80’s, they lost almost everything, thank you Bearsy, I love it when these competitions make us sit up and think.

Christophertrier submitted a haunting entry on post colonial Africa, will things get better? Christopher doesn’t tell us but I’d like to think so.

And the winner is….

Christopher, congratulations, over to you for the next one!

Our (Autism East Cape) new home

Who would have thought it? Certainly not me!

After goodness knows how many years running Autism Eastern Cape from my dining room, we finally have a proper home. Hats off to my wife and other dedicated members, as I mentioned previously, we (eventually) got a lottery grant, we’ve spent the money wisely, a full time field worker, a car, office equipment and furnishings but now… a new home!

Not really a ‘new’ home, but a proper home! A home where concerned family members have easy access, a home not 100 meters from Quest school, a home on a main thoroughfare, a home where the telephones are permanently staffed and a properly qualified person will talk to you.

As a wrote the Chairman’s report for this years AGM I quoted Neil Armstrong, “one small step for man….” and emphasized that just as the moon landing didn’t end space exploration our successes this year are just that, the culmination of years of hard work but just a small step forward towards our ultimate goal. Continue reading “Our (Autism East Cape) new home”