Learning building

Behind the old part of the Church buildings, is the satellite dish - inside the green fence above. As an Elders Quorum (EQ), the EQ Presidency has initiated a project where we have started to build a braai - inclusive of enough space to have a spit at the end!

This started about 3 weeks ago, when as an EQ, we started to make the blocks from cement, sand and water. We created foundations. As an EQ Presidency, we are concerned about a few things:-

We have a braai (barbeque) unit that can accommodate fires to cook meat for starving hoardes (nohing can touch a Mormon Missionery Elder when it comes to eating!)

We have learned how to mix cement and "stuff" to create workeable concrete.

The blocks we made from the raw material, are enough to build the braai

We are going to have a unit that can give us entertainment as a branch (branch unity)

The Elders Quorum has developed a sense of togetherness and a sense of pride that we have crafted - and are busy crafting - something worthwhile!

I know that there are members who say that Pride is a sin, but how sinful can it be to stand around a braai that we created from the dust (literally)

I know that one member was completely against the creation of the braai, as it was enough to ruin the grass that she is proud to say is her creation. She freaked that when we held a braai the one evening, the fire burnt the grass. Now we are busy building a unit to contain the fires, and she is not happy! To build the braai, we have dug up the foundations and poured concrete., replacing grass with concrete.

I had a wicked (unvoiced) thought that as an EQ we need to wind her up a bit (or a lot) bu digging in her precious flower beds in front of the chapel and building Koi Ponds! Maybe that will teach her not to create a fuss when the Elders of the Church do something useful.

The Physical Facilities guy in Durban knows what we want to do, and as no-one has ever done this in Natal before, he has no guideline to give his consent! We - as an EQ - kind of feel that we need this, and even if he does not like it, it is kind of too late to prevent it! If he objects, we can trot out the excuses of:-

We are learning

We have somewhere that can enhance branch and quorum unity

We have done it all ourselves. No-where else in the Church have they done this, and we can use the braai to burn meat (cooking meat over an open fire is tricky at the best of times)

We can use the Church facilities in the chapel to show suitable films (there are a lot of suitable films out on DVD) on the screen in the chapel, using the projector and sound system. It is kind of crazy to have these at our disposal and not to create branch unity by holding evenings where we watch a DVD and cook our food! Richards Bay can be kind of an entertainment desert unless you take the initiative and DO SOMETHING!

If the world out there sees that we are normal people, burning steak like any other red blooded citizen - and having fun whilst we do this! - maybe the general opinion of the crazy Mormons will be moderated. We have some unusual beliefs, but we are still citizens. We are in fact, no less strange than some crazies out there!

Sense of Humour

A friend recently sent me an SMS where she stated that she hoped that Heavenly Father has a sense of humour. I know (not just believe) that He does!

Why else would I have survived 4 or 5 near death experiences, or why would He create something like a Warthog (Pumbaa of Disneys Lion King fame) that is so ugly that it is cute? If we - as humans - have a sense of humour (warped as it may get sometimes!) and this MUST have come from somewhere. Looking around in the Game Reserve, you cannot but believe that this world was created by an incredible artist - with a real sense of humour - and was not some kind of cosmic accident. Sure "learned man" has tried to "explain" our existance by such wierd notions as "Big Bangs" and "evolution" as an explanation when they really dont know!

I have always felt uncomfortable with the idea that life was an "accident" after a "big bang" because I have seen what damage a tiny bang - from exploding hand grenades - is done. How much more devastating can an atomic explosion be? It is inconceivable then that an incredibly powerful bang can create life, rather than desolation! That just DOES NOT make any sense, and thinking about it, creation HAS to make more sense!

A common arguement as to "How can one being create an environment and all life" but I truly believe that before mortality, we helped to build where we live! That is why some of us feel so "at home" where we choose to live!

When my brother and I built a home, we "built" the home, with massive assistance from an architect first then from a builder. We did not actually pour concrete or pile bricks on top of each other, but we "built" the house!

At Church, the Quorum for the male adults - "Elders Quorum" - are busy with construction of a braai area - out the back next to the satellite dish! Then we can have braais of an evening where the Elders can socialise (with the families) and can develop unity - around a braai (barbeque for those who dont speak "pure" English!) that we created from sand, stone and cement! So far we have put in the foundations and cast the bricks. That was really a trial in faith for me, since I rather overdid my involvement, and I have only just recovered from the strain to my body Next week is when we get together and pile the bricks we made in a construction where we can set fire to firelighters, wood and charcoal brickettes, and barbeque the raw meat for a braai. I really want us to show a film at the same time, and have a social gathering.

I still think that it may be an idea for the Elders Quorum to organise a course where we all learn to do ballroom dancing! 2 weeks ago, I was invited to a wedding reception where the bride and groom married on the friday in the LDS Temple in Johannesburg (the Sealing Room holds maybe 10 people to witness the sealing!) so that friends could celebrate with the couple.

Their First Dance was technically a shuffle because they did not know ballroom dancing. I first learned to ballroom dance when I was in highschool. Then when I was engaged, my fiancee and I took lessons in Durban, so that when we had our First Dance, we did not just cling to each other and shuffle! I enjoyed both of my education stints, and can actually do Ballroom, and in fact my ex and I went to the Berg and took part in a weekend of competition, and WON a weekend in the hotel. I kind of feel that it was because I am disabled and because I tried. I have to acknowlege that I really had fun in learning to ballroom dance - even if I am no longer so able to move so freely.

Are we "Changeing the Cimate?"

There is a documentary on DSTV at present that is talking about climate change! They talk of a "Big Chill" or Little Ice Age in the mit 1300s. They "think" that this caused absolute chaos, but have no idea why it occurred. For sure it was not CFCs or "environment damage" by cars. I have an idea that it is kind of s cyclical thing that happens every now and then and puny little man is not able to do ANYTHING to stop or reverse it! How then can Man think that in his ignorance, he is greater than our creator? That is dependant on which side of the fence you sit - creation or evolution? I know where I am comfortable sitting.

It appears that in the 1300s, ills were blamed on witchcraft and today they are blamed on "Climate Change!" Seems that anything is acceptable to blame downturns in environment on absurd ideas, rather than having faith in an omnipotent creator!

It kind of awes me that humanity can be so dense sometimes! There is a Fuel Delivery Tankers strike at present. The drivers are holding out for an increase of 13% as opposed to the offer of 10% - up from the 7%. I thoght negotiation was so that you met in the middle, not that one party holds out for demands and is not prepared to move! Sad thing is that the strikers are not being paid anything whilst they are on strike, so any offer HAS to be an improvement on nil income.

They are prepared to hold out for 13% irrespective of how much damage it does to the economy - or themselves personally! They canot see that increased costs HAVE to have an effect on the inflation rate! Zimbabwe found that it was not good to just print larger and larger denomination notes. They had to abandon a worthless currency - just like the Germans had to after the fall of Hitler, and their currency was valueless! Man refuses to learn from example! I often think that in the 1700s, Africa was well off in that wealth was counted in the number of cattle you owned, not so much in the numbers of Zeros on your bank account! Huge problem is that I have a bank account with a string of zeroes on the balance - but these unfortunately appear BEFORE the other numbers. My balance shows 0000004000, instead of 40000000000.

Such is life. The bible says "by the sweat of your brow" which means that we have to work for our money, and not just to strike and get it! Sad thing is that the workers on strike cannot see what damage they are doing to themselves, more than they are influencing their employers! Britain was a powerhouse economy before they were plagued by strikes! The average coal miner had so little education that he could not see beyond the rantings of the Union bosses. It is the same in South Africa - the Union Bosses get paid insane salaries, live in fancy homes and drive the latest executive cars, and if their union members have to go without income
(law says No work = no pay), it does not concern them one iota. They get paid obscene amounts irrespective!

Family

I have had to excuse myself from a District Council meeting this week, on account of Christine is with me for a whole 5 days! Still bugs the bejeebers out of me when Michele allows her to fly into Durban on Monday, then flies her out - also from Durban, on Saturday! To my mind, that makes 5 days when she has arranged that Christine is with her for the remainder of her holidays!

Still, what does that make me, other than the sperm donor for Christine?

We went to a film in Durbans Gateway Mall. It was not my choice, but I did kind of enjoy it - Transformers - 3D. Boy was it loud and somewhat violent - and the 3D effect was amazing. It was what Christine chose. We would have seen the final instalment of the Harry Potter films, but that is only coming out next Friday. I generally dont go for her choice of films, but I have managed to buy a copy of each of the other 6 or so films in the Harry Potter series! Call me strange and you would hardly be alone!

It would be kind of a shame not to complete the set. I was lucky enough to purchase each of the Star Wars films. I am impressed that the concept of the Melchezidek Priesthood (LDS Church) is so well put forward, although the Science Fantasy setting is not everyones taste! Sure it is called "the Force" but what the "chosen ones" do with it, is kind of like the Priesthood in the Church, although it is kind of exaggerated. I understand that George Lucas is a Latter-day Saint, and can see what his inspiration was. I was introduced to the films by my Bishop friend, and bought the films on DVD as and when they were released.

We dropped in at a furniture outlet nearby, where I decided on a cane suite - 1 x 2 seater and 2 x 1 seaters. I am attempting to negotiate delivery soon. I am not one to go overboard on furniture, but it will not be a waste of money!

I have been lucky enough to locate some films that I heard of whilst I was still at school, so very long ago! Films like "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Little Shop of Horrors" as well as all (3) of the Monty Python films! True the humour is not everyones cup of tea (not that I drink tea!) but it suits me and I am so grateful that I have them in my collection.

I rather like the Disney films, in that they are very clean (no suggestive notes) and the humour is very clever. I bought a copy of the film "Gnomeo and Juliette" and almost from the start was killing myself laughing. The neighbors in dispute lived at "2B" and "2B (crossed out)" in the street. This sense of humour is just up my street, and is definitely not understandable by many people that I associate with! They laugh at slapstick, but try and get them to think and it is kind of a lost cause!

Crocodile

In virtually any stretch of open water in Africa, lies a pair of ladies shoes - with teeth. I felt prompted to come down this road and usually in the water next to this bridge, I see a very young croc - much smaller than this one! This one is still young, and it's parents must live nearby, probably a bit further downstream. The other side of the bridge, is a pool of water on a bend in the lazy river, and usually I get to see Wildebeeste drinking on the right of the bridge (this is taken looking left!)

Also just behind this view were several terrapins, also sunning themselves. I have had Elders say to me that they would really like to go for a swim, but I warn them that in pretty well any stretch of open water in Africa, lives a crocodile - or in this case, probably a family of crocs!

We saw plenty of other animals, but I have a lot of digital snaps that I have taken. Now I tend only to snap shots of unusual animals!

I said to the Elders just before we drove into the Hilltop camp, that I usually see Blue Wildebeeste nearby. As I finished saying this, a HUGE male Wildebeest crossed the road right in front of us! A bit after lunch, we drove up Manganeni Hill, and from a height saw a herd slowly moving towards the tar road between the Memorial Gate and the Hilltop Camp. When we drove down to this road, we had to halt as this herd crossed the road!

Driving up the road (wildly erroded dirt track) I had slipped my Discovery into 4 wheel drive and it made it so much easier to climb than I ever found in my Opel Corsa! I am sold on Off-road vehicles! I kind of have the attitude "I can so I do!" Goes with my other mantra "If not, then why not!"

North Coast - Kwa Zulu Natal

This is THE talest building, on the Zululand coast! Most buildings - especially in Richards Bay are a maximum of 3 floors - probably because the Bay looks to have risen from the sea and the soil is pretty sandy, and is unstable enough to exclude building anything taller than 3 stories.


When I started work (first job ever!) it was with a firm that occupied half of the second floor and the third floor. This side overlooks the busy centre of Empangeni and the far side has views across the Rugby Club, farm fields and towards Richards Bay (known locally as "The Bay!"

I worked for this firm for 10 years - give or take - then qualified as a Chartered Accountant and relocated to Sandton (Johannesburg) to work for 4 months - at ICL Computers - before I was knocked down and then retired on ill health pension. Strange times!

As you face the building from this side, I worked on the second floor (Ground, first then second) - end windows on the right - and the bosses worked on the third floor! From this side you looked over the town, then the cane fields towards Melmoth, and from the other side you overlooked Empangeni Rail, more cane fields then to Richards Bay.

Technology continued - 2

I am the proud possesser of an Intelsat Satellite phone - one that will work virtually anywhere in the world that you can receive a satellite connection. A thought that crossed my mind is that it will no doubt work in the wilds of Africa, but I would have to be careful about using it in New York City, where the buildings are not going to make it easy to get a clear satellite signal.

The instruction manual recommends that standing under a tree is not the best idea, since the branches, leaves and occasional leopard will conspire to block a satellite connection. Luckily there are few places where trees are likely to cause a problem.

I am going to ask when I am next in Durban about a satellite modem, to receive DSTV when I am in the back of beyond! When I go camping now, I do not usually have DSTV connection, but with a cell phone sized satellite modem, maybe I can get DSTV at night when I am sitting around a campfire! I can remember when if you wanted a phone, you HAD to have landline connection, and even then you had to DIAL the number, not press buttons. Most calls I need to make now, I do not need to remember the number - it is stored on the SIM card in the phone! In fact, I find that I seldom need to make voice calls - I use my SMS - or Email - on the phone so if anyone not used to the way I speak is on the other end, they dont have to claim that they cannot understand me and ring off! I often get to think "But lady, you phoned me! Why are you against how I speak - or dont speak!" The ability to speak clearly and to run are the 2 things I miss most about my BC (Before Crash) existance.

I was amazed recently in the LDS Church, when a "new" Missionery Elder stood to give his first greeting to the congregation. No-one could understand his Manchester dialect - just as if he was not speaking English! I laughed inwardly that he was speaking English that has not been corrupted by other dialects. In SA, most English is spoken with a German/Dutch/Afrikaans influence! I laugh when a boer locally (heavily Afrikaans) comments to a born and bred englishman, "Speak English!"

I have an aunt who went back to live in Kent, and she has commented "The weather is too cold, and the locals DONT speak an intelligible language, even though they think they speak English! Watching "The Amazing Race" on TV, it stuns me that teams of Americans have so much trouble in foreign countries, and more than once I have heard coments like "Speak English!" when they speak a wierd dialect themselves! What I have found is that as soon as I talk, virtually everyone has a light behind their eyes that says "Shame - cannot speak properly, so MUST be mentally less able!" - and they speak to me as if I am a lesser being! Highly amusing when I consider that my IQ is probably twice theirs, and they treat me as sub intelligent - talk really s-l-o-w-l-y! I feel like punching them and saying "I am disabled, not stupid!"