Cancer

I am slightly 'beneuk' - read overly scared - of getting cancer.

When I found out that I had three new brown spots on my back I got seriously worried. I tried to make light of it, but my mind kept thinking the worst.

My mind is my most powerful muscle. Unfortunately it's not been trained very well.

I started thinking about a world without me. I started planning my estate. My mind started projecting all my unfulfilled dreams on the sky canvas around me. All this for three 5mm spots on my back.

My mom is a doctor so I got her to have a look at my back over skype. Note to self: Computer camera's are not the most accurate broadcasters of details.

She concluded that her conclusion was inconclusive.

She told me I should go and find a second opinion and that - by the way - many skin cancers are not easily treatable. Why did she have to add that last bit.

All this happened on a public holiday so the doctors locally are closed. I nearly went to emergency. Imagine this: people with shot wounds, car accidents, kidney failures and me with my three brown spots.

However in my mind this was quickly becoming an emergency.

The following day I got up and made an appointment with the doctor. The doctor was conclusive in telling me that the spots are signs of getting older. Like I need spots to tell me that. He convinced me that seeing a doctor was the right thing.

But he would that's how he gets paid.

So I'll live to fight another day.

Oh and the three spots got burned off. Serves them just right little scary bastards.

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Your naughty child

It happens to some of us. We will deny it in public, but we know deep down that it's true.

You have the naughtiest child in the class. You made it. You put it in the class. And now you have to carry the consequences of those foolish acts.

You'd expect people to understand your hardship. You want people to show you some mercy. They surely know it's not your fault. You are wrong. People like to judge. They will not let you off the hook lightly. Their accusing glances will haunt you wherever your paths cross.

Here is a guide for parents who unlike me have the naughtiest child of the class.

Firstly, brand your school run car in your oppositions brand. People will start hating the opposition. Suddenly your child might turn in a money spinner. And we all know that money makes us happy!

Secondly, whenever the school organises an event, send 'new' people to the happenings. Granddad to the school sleepover, mom to the parent evening, granny to the musical, dad to the sports day and aunty to the yearly tidily winks circus. You will keep people guessing who 'that' child belongs to.

Thirdly, delete yourself off the nowadays compulsive class whatsapp group. Class whatsapp groups are the gangrene of our society. For all the practical sharing there are ten dismissive and divisive comments.

To make this invaluable post even more invaluable: delete yourself of most maybe all whatsapp groups. Whatsapp groups are evil, useless and complete time wasters.

If you feel these three golden tips do not change your naughty child problem enough. You can put it up for adoption. There are many desperate couples out there who can easily be tricked in having your kid. Desperate people don't see the truth, they live in denial.

There you go. Another problem solved in your life.

No need to thank me.

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A story of two Countries

I am busy exploring a new business venture.

The basic idea is to ship raw materials from Europe to Africa for processing. There after, for the processed product to be exported again. It should be a simple process or so I thought this would be.

As the raw product is agricultural, I have to deal with the Department of Agriculture.

I wanted to do this project in South Africa. This is home. This has however shown to be very challenging.

I have made numerous calls to different people who have all proven to be extremely unhelpful.

The answers I got have ranged from:  "Eish, I don't know" to "I truly could not care about what you do". The indifference to a potentially good job creating project has stunned me.

But then why would well paid officials care about creating jobs and opportunities?

So I gave up on South Africa and decided to try our neighbouring Namibia. I made one phone call which got me the number of the Government Department Director.

He was in a meeting with a minister so I was asked to send an email. I feared another African reply (read No reply) but to my surprise he replied within 1 hour of receiving my mail. I was shocked - I am still in shock.

So I shall keep exploring opportunities on the continent I fell in love with, but I will no longer be restrained by a slow and frustrating bureaucratic system.

Goodbye South Africa - Hello Africa

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Soul Travelling

Darkness surrounds - it captures

Hope feels years away

The lesson not to give up has to be relearned

Every day Every moment

Pain is the only constant

Yet the soul keeps travelling on a road knowing that one ray of change will light it all

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Blueberry trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Part 3

Year One Evaluation:

Currently, the plants are 18 months old. This is a short evaluation on their growth. I removed all their fruit.

Sharpblue: Healthy growth, developed a nice spread of branches.

Dixi: The majority of the plants died, there is hardly any growth with the surviving plants, the worst performer by far. I have very little hope that they will come right.

Powder Blue: I thought Powder Blue and Misty would be great varieties, but they have not performed well. There has been very little growth and both have lost a few plants. These two are my biggest disappointments.

Misty: See Powder blue

Centurion: Has performed better than expected. I wasn't sure about getting Centurion full stop, but they are my third best performer. Their growth has been slow but steady. They are delicate beautiful little plants with olive shaped light green leaves.

Brightwell: Just beating Sharpblue for the price of variety of the year. They have grown well and are healthy. The tallest one grew from 10cm to exactly 60cm tall. there has been very little spreading of the branches. Tall and straight has been their motto.

Chandler: I rescued my chandlers from an abusive home. They have struggled to get going. The majority died. I don't see them being great performers in the future, but time will tell. My remaining chandlers are also looking sick.

Without taking the fruit into consideration, I would bet on a Sharpblue, Brightwell and Centurion orchard, but the real test will be next spring to see what the fruiting per variety will look like.

  

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