Live and learn

Back when I was first out of school – the year that I served as a conscript in the Rhodesian Armed Forces – things like Word Processing – were not something that could be done! You could type, but back then, type writers were the ones that rang a bell when the carriage reached the end of a line! Tippex was common to fix mistakes. At school, I had precious little to do with typing and type writers were kind of an unusual occurrence. Digital watches were not common, and it stuns me now when school kids are now unable to tell the time unless there is a digital readout!

Maybe I’m crazy – or old fashioned – but for me a watch HAS to have hands to be of any worth. When I was running marathons, I used to use a digital watch that acted as a stopwatch.
I had to replace my watch recently since the one that I was wearing, broke and – wonder of wonders – the agents could not fix it! When I was run over in 1992, I had a Seiko watch that I was given as a birthday gift whilst I was still at school. When I was run down, my Seiko was smashed beyond recognition. To replace it with a new Seiko was far too expensive, so I had a variety of watches that were not so great – or as expensive. Turns out that I probably spent 4 or 5 times as much as I would have on an expensive quality watch!

When my watch broke irreparably, I found a watch that I was assured is made by the same factory as Seiko watches – a Fossil watch – that is guaranteed to have spares availability for at least the next decade! How many digital watches have anywhere near that sort of backup. Chances are, it will outlast even me – and that is saying something!

I am constantly amazed at Heavenly Fathers artwork. Where I live is always green and if it has not rained this week, it is classed as a drought. To see yellow grass to the horizon is something different. I have to question why some (most?) people believe that this world is a divine an accident, instead of crediting the art work to our creator! Not very far from this area, is the Drakensberge (Dragon Mountains) that in winter are white with snow. In Zululand we are not used to seeing natural snow. True locally we get “Zululand Snow” the fallout from cane fires, when cane smuts fall to the ground from out of the air!

When I was stung by thousands of bees, I was hospitalized and the General Practitioner attending to me diagnosed me as diabetic. My blood sugar levels were through the roof and the GP felt that I was diabetic. He would not even let me eat my jelly and ice cream – the only thing that made hospital food anywhere near palatable!

I am convinced that people in hospital only recover so that they can get to order meals out! Sure pizza is not healthy for you, but they are worth looking forward to when you are faced with some disgusting scrambled eggs!

I have found out that a “normal” blood sugar level reading is 6.9 – although 6.9 what is a complete mystery? I have an impression that the shock of bee stings pushed my reading up. I have a home testing kit, with which I monitor my blood sugar readings, but they are usually around 5.3 – or kind of low. I can feel if my blood sugar is getting low, so I can eat “luxuries” like the occasional (very occasional) box of Smarties. I kind of remember these from before we had economic sanctions in Rhodesia. Back then (40 years ago) you could by quality sweets in the local Greek corner café! Then they could not be imported, and we used to stock up with them when we came to the coast for holidays. Local chocolate was terrible quality. We only used to eat it because there were no alternatives! One thing that has not changed is the taste of Coca Cola – that has remained the same ever since I can remember. I not missed fizzy drinks since I gave up sugar, just like I have not missed alcohol since I joined the LDS Church. I have certainly not missed the weight that I have lost!

Memories

I often wonder why bits of random information stick in your mind - almost like stick-it notes in your brain - forgotten most of the time, then something triggers a memory and these come flooding back!

I received a random Email from a contact who is researching a book that includes details on National Service at the very end of the existance of Rhodesia and the commencement of Zimbabwe as we know it now!

I was in the final intake of conscripts that were called up before National Service was officially called off!

I served in the Pay Office at the Cranborne barracks of the Rhodesian Light Infantry - RLI. When I was given the chance to join the Pay Office, I cheerfully volunteered, since I was sick and tired of lugging the FN Rifle that I was issued with as a troopie, EVERYWHERE. You HAD to carry it everywhere you went, on pain of serious military action against you. I HATED (with avengence) the lump of metal that was standard issue. You had to take it everywhere - to the mess hall for meals, to the bathroom for the traditional triple "S" (shit, shower and shave!) and when you had to march (or run) anywhere! A few soldiers left theirs next to the bed when they did their ablutions, and boy did they regret it! In a firefight, your weapon was of more use to you than your mother, your dog or even your girlfriend.

I dredged up some detail that I hope is correct and today I got 2 replies to my info dredging Email, in gratitude for the detail I provided! It was of tremendous help to someone who was not sure but my memory seems to be intact, and of help. Amazing what sticks in your brain!

I did not exactly relish being conscripted, but looking back, I can see that I actually enjoyed it! It was the first taste that I had of freedom to be an adult - earning a pittance as a NS soldier, but it was enough for pocket money. You were fed and clothed by the army, so the pittance we were paid, was good enough to buy a round of drinks at the Corporals Club in the barracks. The world thinks that the commissioned officers - those with stars on top of their shoulders - ran the army, but I am convionced that the real power players were the NCO's - or corporals! We were senior to the run of the mill troopies, and being in the pay office especially, the officers respected us - they had to because we directly controlled the true power behind the armed forces - their pay! They knew this as the one evening, the base was mortered and the loudest cry was that of "Save the Pay Clerks! I want a "Casual" tomorrow" - a casual was a casual advance on the salary - kind of like drawing cash from the Piggy Bank! Casuals were safer than keeping money in your boots, and were important for the evenings when you were out with your mates!

Civillians look on the arms (FN rifles and hand grenades) as the reason that an army exists, but I can assure everyone that in a firefight, the main concern is not for "Ammunition" but for "cash!"

Being in the last intake of NS, Igot to see a whole lot more action than the soldiers who laughed at me volunteering for a "cushy" job in the Pay Corps. Most of these spent the 11 months in the army confined basically to barracks, and the Pay Office saw way more action. We went into the centre of camps where the "returning heroes" (terrorists) were housed - all armed to the teeth. As the Pay Office we were there, and the troopies who laughed at us, were all left in barracks, with nothing to do!

I was terrified of having to kill anyone, and in the Pay Office the most we ever murdered was a ball point pen! we were respected, by everyone (we controlled their pay) and were kind of Godlike in how we dealt with anyone and everyone! We were on close relations with junior officers, and were - as 2 stripe Corporals - way more influential than the troopies!

We progressed from the Troopies Canteen (the food was not great!) to the Corporals Club, where the food was not too bad! I certainly will never regret being in the Army.

That was way before I joined the LDS Church - which was quite fortunate. I used to drink a few beers - Servicemans food - and even if I was not over the moon at it, it was better than your average coke! That was before I found out the joys of wine - especially Red Wine, shortly before I gave up alcohol when I found that the LDS (Mormon) religion that has given me a reason to live!

Additional thoughts

A year ago when I started to wear my Medic Alert Bracelet, it was kind of tight fitting. If I had the choice, I would hae chosen a slightly longer chain. After I was so heavily stung, I have lost a lot of weight, so it is now quite loose on my arm. Behind the bracelet is my watch strap, that a month ago was fairly tight. In a month it is loose enough for me to consider having links taken out. Yesterday a friend commented that I was looking far trimmer than I have looked recently - even given my weight loss. I am still in the process of losing bulk - and I assume weight also. I dont weigh myself, but I feel that I have lost somewhere between 50 and 65 kilograms since I was diagnosed as diabetic! I regularly check my blood sugar level and the reading ranges between 4.3 whatevers to 7.4. Normal is 5.2 and when I was stung, it sat at around 15 or 16 for days!

It peeved me off when a fellow member of my church commented "You are getting fat!" In whose world is losing weight and inches. considered getting "fat"?

Anyway, if fitting into clothes that I grew out of a decade ago. "getting fat" then I welcome it! If this member - who drives me NUTS - feels that losing significant weight is getting fat, then she needs her head read! She certainly is not permitted to comment to me!

My Temple Garments are in the wash and I am comfortably wearing garments that I bought 20 years ago when I took out my Endowments in the LDS Temple - the same weekend that I was run over! Amazes me that they fit me again, after I had resigned myself to being unable to excercise! If I excercise, my muscles cramp up and dont release properly. That is technically spastic where they dont respond to brain stimuli. So much for school kids telling me "Dont be so spastic!" and not realising what they are saying!

How to construct a braai?

The basis of the Great Braai of Zululand has been constructed, up to 4 layers of concrete blocks - that as a Quorum (group at Church) we cast the blocks, dug a foundation and built foundations the first week. Then we got together and piled about half of the blocks into formation, then the following week we took turns in cementing in more blocks.

We were concerned that the Physical Facilities guy would see what we had done, and tell us to tear it down. However he has seen the structure and approves of it in 2 respects:-

It will serve the Zululand District - and the Richards Bay Branch - when we have get togethers and communally braai meat (braai is where the raw meat is cooked over an open fire!) This is a southern african tradition - maybe a bit masochistic in that the males are usually in charge of burning the meat!

It apparently is such a structure that the Physical Facilities guy has recommended that we tile it to match in with the chapel. This is so much better than being told to tear it down.

I know that the Word of Wisdom says something to the effect of "eat but a little meat" but the opportunity of creating quorum unity in building a braai was taken up. What we built will outlast the chapel! It WILL create an opportunity to hold Branch and District get-togethers. I think that it will give the opportunity for us to combine braaiing with film evenings - for inexpensive entertainment and for church member unity.

We are holding a District get-together soon where we will christen the braai. Tomorrow we are getting together again and will cast the base for the actual fires and cast another 30 blocks to finish off the braai. These will take at least 2 weeks to cure!

Once it is more complete, I will be photographing it and will include it in my blog.

Pain

I am definitely not a friend of pain, and my left foot has been literally been excruciatingly sore. I know pain is reative, but if I have pain, I am the literal bear with a sore head!

I know (believe with the very marrow of my bones) that I have to endure my accident injuries whilst alive, and that this is best done with a smile! Since my MVA accident I have learned to discern between polite smiles by whoever is listening to you, but I can tell when people only have a smile to improve their makeup do, and feel nothing - if not loathing - beneath the veneer of skin!

My ex smiles, but I genuinely feel that she is only putting on a happy face! You can see when a smile comes from deep within! The person kind of glows! I far prefer people who glow (and not as "Men at Work from Australia say - kind of perspire like a pig!) with genuine feelings than people who carefully portray a smile that is only skin deep.

My painful foot:-
I know this is becaus of 2 things - 1. The cold weather (seems to freeze my bones and as the sun crosses the range of hills just inland, the temperature plummets and 2. My MVA left my muscles techincally spastic! (they dont respond correctly to brain stimuli!)

I was recently engaged in a service project at our Chapel building a braai - where we light fires and cook raw meat for a crowd. This was my idea thank you very much, as a member bent my ear on how the fires from a small braai that we made, was burning "her" grass! To keep her happy and to do 2 other things:-
Build Quorum Unity by the males congregating and building a braai
Build Branch (and it turns out District) unity by having communal braais
I resolved to suggest that we build a braai! I envisaged one or maybe 2 sections for fire, maybe 2 meters wide, but the one we are busy with now is on a far granger scale - maybe 10 meters of divisions where we can cook the meat - including a sheep or pig on the spit! I swear that the next time Google Maps updates the photograps of Richards Bay, it will be clearly visible, if it is not already visible from space, much like the Great Wall of China is!

Anyway, without realising it, I had strained the tendon in my foot and all of the muscles that run off this (to your ankle and toes) was cramped up and would not release. I have been told that there is an injection of Cortizone that will (Most likely!) work, but the GP was not happy to go ahead with this as a first resport as apparently the injections are really painful. The way I see it, can he not give a local anaesthetic so that it is not so sore! Even if it is sore for hours, it is better than weeks of discomfort! My foot is so much better than it was 2 weeks ago, but really, enough is enough! If it is not right now, do something!

Sure it will affect the foot that I depress the clutch to change gears, but as 2 of my fleet of 4 cars, have Automatic gearboxes, it really does not matter!

My daughter had pain in her foot (coincidence?) and the doctor there went straight for the "fast fix" - mine is more conservative and if anything, this makes him a better doctor - at least in my book! I did explain to Christine that muscular pain CANNOT be hereditary, especially as mine is from the brain damage that I endured when I flew - after being struck by a load of bread!
She seemed unconvinced! If anything my awkward way of walking (comes from brain damage AND structural damage to my pelvis!) aggravates any trouble that I have with my feet! Cold weather does not help and apart from making my muscles stiff, makes they tight where they were damaged - which as far as I can tell, was pretty well all over! I was hit (by my own sports car) from the left (I must have turned just as the truck ploughed into my dream car) so I battle with brain control over the right of my body! Thank Heavens I can - and do - survive, happily most of the time. When the swarm of bees attacked me, I could not run for shelter, because I CANNOT run. Still 4 days in the Intensive Care unit at the hospital fixed that - and I have now lost HUGE weight - and am still losing weight! When I bought my watch a month ago, the strap was fairly tight, but now is very loose! How can this be a motivation for my nemesis at Church telling me that I am getting fat!

Welfare concerns

At present, the weather in Zululand is REALLY COLD -at around 16 degrees celsius at mid day! In a fridge, the temperature is generally only around 5 degrees celsius, so that means practically that outside is only 3 times as warm as it gets in the fridge. In summer, it gets so much warmer - up to 38 degrees - much hotter if you add in the humiture index!

If it gets colder here than 20 degrees celsius (I dont think in farenheight!) it is painful to move around, especially lately when I strained the ligament in my foot! After my MVA, I have technically spastic muscles. Unlike kids who say "Dont be so spastic!" I actually have spastic muscles. Dont worry, this is not contagious, but means that your brain does not connect correctly with your muscles. They cramp up when told by my brain to do so, but as soon as they are told to relax, they dont fully. The effect can end up fairly painful to say the least! Anyway my foot was AGONY - enough for me to seek medical treatment! The muscles are still tight, but are relaxed a bit. Next step is for the GP to give me a really painful injection in the ligament (Plantar Fasciatus? - I think) of cortizone.

The doctor is not happy to do this, but if it eases the pain that I felt - even if it is painful to start with - it is worth the agony! Nothing can be as painful as:-
A truck landing on you
Being stabbed 8 times
Being stung by thousands of bees!
Pain is really kind of relative!

At Church, the Branch President has a serious problem at the moment. He has 2 counsellors, one of whom has gone less active and the other who lives in the back of beyond on a farm. I feel that maybe the BP needs to shake up his Presidency. The BP is taking strain, and is starting to realise that he can call on me - as First Counsellor on the Branch Elders Quorum - to help him out! I am so grateful that I can be there to provide assistance!

As a District Council member, this last week, I was assigned to give the members at Port Durnford branch a talk. I felt inspired at our last Council meeting to recommend that we talk on the concept of "sustain your leaders" since I have noted on several occasions where the members fail to sustain their called leaders. I spoke easily for 20 minutes and was heard - and understood - by the congregation. Unfortunately because it is cold for now, not all of the usual members were there! If it rains, or is cold, then they seem to have difficulty in getting their acts into gear! The Branch President really appreciates me as a District Speaker, and he announced me that "now we will be entertained by the Brother Killick!" When I talk, I introduce humour into my talk as that suits my personality, and I think makes the message that I deliver, more acceptable! Anyway, it works for me and I it seems to work for the congregations! I intend to educate, not entertain, but if looking at a concept with humour helps to get the point across, then I feel that it is not inappropriate! Sure it is not "Knock knock jokes" but if what I say is heard by the congregation, then it has a better chance of sinking in! At least when I am speaking, if I can see smiles on faces, I know that what I have said has been heard - even if it is not immediately understood!

Something we had to pass onto the Branch Presidents is that the Branch has been donated a number of blankets, to be distributed. I see that the BPs have the divine authority to decide which - if any - of their members need food assistance. Surely a warm blanket is just as much a welfare need as is a packet of maize meal to cook and eat? If someone is worried about an empty - or cold - stomach, then Church Attendance is really low on their list of priorities! That is easy to say when I have 3 cars in my garage and 1 more for sale, and I have a full freezer and 2 fridges! If I buy soup, it is generally pre-cooked soup from Woolworths, and not powdered soup. I know what I like and luckily I can afford the best! That makes me more sensative to some members whose ONLY meal of the day is the lunch provided by the school.

Kind of makes me feel really spoilt because last week, I was sleeping terribly. I decided that this was as a result of my mattrass being old (and had lost its spring!) so I went out and bought a new bed and mattrass - no turn variety! Since then, I have had no disturbed nights. All I need to do now is to repaint the walls of my bedroom. In my one lounge I have bought a lounge suite that comes from Indonesia! Sad fact with South Africa is it is cheaper to import furniture from Indonesia than it is to produce it locally! And the workers that are employed, still strike for higher than inflation increases? What of the 1 in 4 people out there who dont have jobs, but 1 of the other 3 who do have jobs, dont actually want them! Someone has their priorities really skewed!

Archaeology

How come the search for history's ancient secrets, ALWAYS involves digging - sometimes (most times) for meters into the dirt? What the "experts" seem to overlook is, if ancient civilisation is buried under tons of deposits from somewhere, where did the dust (soil and rocks and stuff!) come from?

New "theory" is that the Sahara used to - 4 000 years ago - be lush verdant savannah, and that dust storms blew dust in, that covered the grass - and wood -land. What they dont say is where this soil came from to start with? A legendary island called Atlantis? That is tantamount to a fairy tale - and they say that they dont believe in fantasy?

The general theory is that this was a result of climate change - caused by Global Warming! If Man has survived GW over the last 4 millenia, why is the theory that modern man - with his V8 Landrover Petrol driven - responsible for Global Warming? I understood that the Pharoes used horse drawn chariots, not V8 petrol powered machines! No-where have they dug meters down and found skeletons of ancient motor vehicles?

I think that - like a woman at my branch of the LDS (Mormon) Church - they like the sound of their own voices, and when they open their mouths, garbage spews out! Maybe this is where the layers of mud came from? Layers of verbal garbage?

At present, Zululand is C-O-L-D which - if you know Zululand - is not usual. Last year we had no winter, and I only remember wearing a suit jacket to our weekly meetings. I do remember owning a jersey, but where it is, is a mystery! Do I need to excavate in the driveway for evidence of previous civilisations in my garden, to find my "lost jersey" - and if I find it, can I conclude that 4 000 years ago, Zululand was a wintery wasteland? In the last 30 years, I do not recall really cold weather for longer than 2 or 3 days! Surely if my V8 Landrover is responsible for Global Warming - even localised GW - why are we colder this year than we have been in the last 30 years?