The Merry Wives of Tshwane

Yesterday it was confirmed that South Africa’s very own Falstaff is to marry for the 6th time. Our polygamous President Zuma, currently enjoys the company of only three wives, having divorced  his second, while his third committed suicide. He has been engaged to his latest fiance for a number of years, but the forthcoming nuptials will formalise the arrangement. JayZee as he is sometimes known, has publicly acknowledged upwards of 20 children by various wives and mistresses, but others claim that the real number of progeny far exceeds this.

In any event here is a happy picture taken at his recent 70th birthday bash.

Got to say, though, that the missus on the right doesn’t look too chuffed.

The Merry Wives of Tshwane

Strange Stuff

There is a whimsical little column in the Sunday Dark Side by Sir Terry Wogan and this week he is on about eating strange stuff. Snails and stuff Sir Tel’s wallet is way heftier than mine so he can afford the chi-chi French restaurants where you can get escargots and haute cuisine, but my budget and tastes are somewhat more humble, though no less exotic, and it got me thinking.

Esteemed Charioteers are spread across the globe and have an immense depth of experience, so what’s the weirdest dish you’ve ever eaten?

OZ

The cherry blossom

It may not last long, especially as the weather will be cold and there’s a fair wind, but the cherry blossom is looking wonderful. This evening as the sun went down it looked beautiful against the yew hedge, with the sun shining through it.

I grew up about 80 miles north of here and the cherry blossom in our garden used always to be out for my brother’s birthday in early May… are we really a few weeks ahead these days?

New Poetry Competition

The problem, of course, is that I do not know enough about poetry. 

I do have a 45 year old ‘A’ Higher pass in English but we State school Jocks never got the chance or time to do both Literature and Language seperatim so I’m a bit challenged when it comes to metre and form. I can anapaest onwards from time to time and I have never been averse to the odd spondee but I do know my limitations. Continue reading “New Poetry Competition”

Unbelievable

It’s so reassuring to see that the EU is not letting itself be distracted from the really important things by all these moutain ranges of debt building up in the eurozone.

DT article – Austria-and-Slovenia-row-over-sausages

We frequently buy the sausages in question as part of a barbecue pack from Billa, the Austrian supermarket chain.  I don’t remember them having a “proper” name – Wurst mit Käse, as I recall.  So heavily indebted member states are paying vast sums to a bunch of eurocrats to sort out this sort of problem!  To quote the German – ‘raus, ‘raus, ‘raus!

Late arrival – Easter Poetry winner

My title refers not to the winner but to a speeding car which crashed through our hedge at 4 a.m. today! A boozed-up youth was arrested in short order, leaving the car to grace our grass until somebody sorts it out. Luckily none of the five occupants was hurt.

However, I then spent the waking hours reviewing the excellent crop of entries for the Easter comp.  – quantity and quality both.

But how to decide? My shortlist includes those which reflect my own particular likes and dislikes. Papag’s Bubba and Balotelli, FEEG’s Humphrys (except the spelling, sorry!) and Livingstone, Christopher’s Angela and Barack, LW’s Kim and Humperdinck, JM’s Salmond, Soutie’s Nelson and Clarkson, Sipu’s Queen and of course Arrer’s Guardianista. Phew!

So I awarded points for poetic words, alliteration and added vitriol and came up with …….. John Mackie’s cinquain devoted to his bête noire, Alex Salmond:

Salmond, Scottish Nationalist, Hates my country, Slavering, slaistering, sleekit scunner, Shite

Congratulations, John, and thanks to everyone.

The facts of life.

Summary of Life

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptise cats..
2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don’t let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back. They always catch the
second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can’t trust dogs to watch your food..
6) Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don’t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts..
10) The best place to be when you’re sad is Grandma’s lap. Continue reading “The facts of life.”

Last chance saloon

No, it’s not Clarkson’s latest put-down, it’s the Chariot’s pome comp which ends at midnight tonight. Out of respect for my burdensome rôle as da judge, I have changed my gravatar – which depicts me/us weighed down by gravitas.

Entries to date are already impressive – reflecting cherished colleagues’ natural talent for a vibrant vignette.

So one last push guys, eh?  And as you see I’ve brought along a noggin to celebrate.

Miracles Can Happen

Five weeks ago I was told that it was amazing that Bearsy was still alive, that he might not survive his operation and that he might not wake from the procedure.

I am quite sure that one or two medics might be less than impressed with ‘Dr’ Boadicea who has asked questions, queried decisions and made sure that whatever experts are required have been brought in ASAP. But, to be honest, I cannot fault the medical care that Bearsy has received – at the ‘working’ level it has been magnificent. Continue reading “Miracles Can Happen”