sweet as the song of the rose

You know that strawberry smell?

The one that makes you think of
pick-your-own fields
bright white meringues
home-made strawberry ice cream
summer cocktails with mint
scones in the sunshine
hot strawberry jam?

Well...that.

*****

Thank you for your lovely comments

Is there anything sweeter than
sharing good news
with friends?

I think not.

the woman who wrote

woman, writing at a high desk
Vilhelm Hammershoi (1864-1916)

There was once a woman who wrote on small pieces of paper. She played with words and made them line up obediently and it was all she needed to be happy. The writing was essential to her for some reasons that she could articulate and other reasons she could not. After a while she started a blog and now there were people who read but still she wrote for herself.

And then on a wet February day an email arrived from the lovely Liz Ann Bennett, editor of a magazine she admired very much, asking her to write a piece for them. And she did!

(In the bit-in-between she rushed around saying "I've been asked to write for a magazine!!! And her friends said "Wow!!!")

Now you can go into any good newsagent
and buy issue 10 of oh comely
and admire the photos and illustrations and writing
and see if you can spot MrsM

because she's in there too.

How cool is that!

Robben Island

Robben Island is the bleakest place
that I have ever been.

It was a place of banishment
for lepers and criminals
for centuries before it was
a prison for political activists.


You are driven around the island
and your senses are assaulted
by grim grey buildings,
wind-twisted low bushes
and the limestone quarry
where manacled prisoners laboured.

There is no colour, no sound.


In the maximum security jail
a former political prisoner
acts as your guide to the buildings.

It is a great privilege to meet
these men, imprisoned for their beliefs,
who all wear sunglasses
because their eyes were damaged
by the glare of light
in the limestone quarry.


Sobu Sokwe was only 20
when he was imprisoned for membership
of the African National Congress.
He had been on Robben Island for 5 years
when he was released in 1989,
the same year that MasterM was born.

He stood in the middle of the dormitory
detailing with great dignity
the brutal routine of prison.


He also explained how the structure of the ANC
created a community within the prison,
supporting the youngest prisoners,
educating each other
and understanding political developments
in the changing world outside
from scraps of smuggled newspaper.


He took us to Nelson Mandela's cell
shown as it was in the 1960s
with only a bucket and sleeping mat.

It was impossible not to be moved.


All along the corridors there were other cells
and each one had a story,
and the spirit of a courageous man.


Our guide had told us
that the kennels for guard dogs
were twice the size of the cells
and it seemed extraordinary
that human dignity could overcome
such physical and emotional deprivation
and create a new nation
striving for equality and opportunity.


This cairn is at the entrance to the quarry
and the first stone was laid by Nelson Mandela
at a reunion of political prisoners.

It symbolises the foundation
of modern South Africa.


As we were leaving South Africa
the passport officer asked me
if I had enjoyed my stay
and I told him that we had visited
Robben Island on Freedom Day
He was very impressed

"That must have been something...

I am so proud to be South African
it is a wonderful country."

sky :: trees

And while we were gone
the view changed.

the carved rhino

We wandered around the the small church fair,
listening to the schoolchildren sing,
sampling the local produce,
looking at the crafts.

MasterM stopped at a display of wooden animals
"Did you carve all of these animals?"
She blushed and said that her brother carved them.
"Your brother? What is his name?"
She said her brother was called Innocent
"Did Innocent carve this lion? And this rhino?"
She said that Innocent had indeed carved them
"Innocent must have been busy!"
She agreed that Innocent had been very busy.
"Is it a white rhino or a black rhino?"
She said that she wasn't sure. It was a muddy rhino.
We all laughed and MasterM negotiated a good price.

I tell this story to remember the moment.

You might see a small carved rhino
but I see my son.
And he is laughing.

Grandma

MrsM
So...we were in the far end field
and Grandad said
"We will have a lot of people
coming through here next week
on the Parish boundary walk
and I'm not sure where the best place
to get through this hedge is"
and Grandma said
"I always climb up that tree
and jump down on the other side...
why can't they do that?"

MissM
The problem with Grandma is that
she behaves as though she is 18.

Well, maybe not as old as 18

perhaps 16...

Dinner on the South Bank

I had planned to write
a very serious post for Friday
that would have challenged you
to re-evaluate your understanding
of the world you live in
but instead I went out to dinner
with some friends from work.

We had fish finger sandwiches
and roast chicken'n'chips
and laughed a lot
so I didn't get to write that post.
Your understanding of the world
is safe for another day.

It's their fault, they led me astray,
but it is difficult to be cross
because they are very lovely.

Kirstenbosch

It rained when we went to Kirstenbosch.

I had been looking forward to exploring
this spectacular botanical gardens
on the slopes of Table Mountain

but a dense mist enveloped the mountain
and we were caught in a torrential downpour.

As we ran for shelter
I felt quite philosophical...

I am sure it won't be long
before we are back.

Comfort Zone

I just want to make something totally clear...
we were camping.

Here is our tent...
with added nyala

It was very cold at night...
so we needed throws and suchlike

Candles, matches...
we were living close to nature

We tried to eat organically,
living off the fruits of the land,

and everyone should experience
flowers with their granola
once in their life.

There were opportunities
for meditation and relaxation

and water therapy
to help you centre yourself.

Oh lovely, lovely Botlierskop
you have the friendliest staff
and the best sundowners in Africa.

It was so hard to leave
and we are missing you already.
Thank you.

Game Drive

It turns out that I am terrible
at taking photos of wild animals.

I have discussed this
with MissM and suggested
that it might be the shutter speed
or the limited zoom on my camera.

MissM gave me one of 'those' looks
and suggested that
I use her photos instead.

This has saved you from
multiple pictures of giraffe backsides
and zebra with heads in the grass

Many thanks to MissM!

Tomorrow I will show off
my evocative shots of
beds, baths and food
just to rebuild my confidence.

PS: These penguins are from the mainland colony
at Boulders Beach just outside Cape Town.
When we showed Granny she was very interested
"Are they there on holiday?"