Time was when I could not stay in on a Friday night. The world was out there and the world was happening all around and I had to be near it if not actually in it. Today however I find sitting in my bed on a cold Friday night watching football far more appealing than strolling the dark streets. Yet last night I was forced by a woman, isn't it always, to venture out to St Michaels to their little remembrance evening. Quite why all this did not happen on Saturday I know not but not being one to question or complain I ensured my bits remained attached by arriving just after seven on the clock.
The idea was to show a few of their items and some of ours, and sell the book also. This we did but mostly I wished to meet the grandchildren of the men on the memorial.
Being Anglicans they are into candles and while not quite me i did think they had presented things well. I spent lots of time talking to relatives of men who served, around five of them were long conversations which ended with them buying one of my books funnily enough, and all taught me a great deal. The lady who stood out was one who had ventured to Bosnia during the war there a few years ago to deliver aid. Snipers, customs, unhappy drivers and other problems left me full of admiration for her and her husband (who received the MBE for his efforts in controlling things) for their willingness to dare such an adventure. That was a few years ago and they are retired now so it was not sweet young things, they were folks who had lots to lose.
Then it was home through the dark mist, with the camera set at the wrong position for pictures all night, to arrive exhausted and struggle to sleep as I was so tired. I also managed to miss the Scotland v Ireland game, but I canny complain, as the boss would hit me if I did!!!
Tired or not I was forced to shop today and was somewhat surprised to be confronted by three camels in the centre of town, not a usual experience to me. There they were giving rides to brats kiddies and stinking the place down. A wonderful idea for Christmas and I wish they had been at the museum! However I am glad I did not have to clean up afterwards!
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The milder weather, only two pullovers on today, brought me a visitor this afternoon. Taking his ease on the grubby window a butterfly enjoyed the view through the dirt ingrained pane. My pondering as to whether he was better off inside or out ended after I downloaded the pics I took, almost all out of focus, and returned to find he had disappeared. I suspect he realised he would starve to death in here and hopped it towards the park. Can he survive the winter I wonder? Will such a frail creature endure the cold? If only he had turned around and rested on the pane, then I may have obtained a better shot and worked out what he was called.
You might have picked up from the news, if you had been listening carefully, that Mandela had died. Being unwell, ninety five years of age, and quite famous I thought we might hear more about him hmmm? I liked this man. He was no messiah as some appear to reckon him, he was not even a great president, he was however a great man! Having spent so many years in jail it meant his ability as leader was limited. Others were in powerful positions and he himself was not as young as he had been, his close knowledge and awareness of his people were now limited by the long separation. However with one magnificent gesture, offering forgiveness and reconciliation, he avoided a possible civil war, with the attending bloodbath, and set about creating a new nation.
It has not happened, with the present generation of leaders it will never happen, and the poorest still face unending struggles and dangers day by day. Many have found life much improved, others find life has more dangers. I had a run in with a chap who considers all TV as 'anti-white,' this Afrikaner is willing to tell of the many whites killed by black folks, but forgets the oppression of the past couple of centuries. He and I did not get on. For many whites South Africa is indeed a dangerous place, not all see things his way however.
There has been a certain amount of idol worship around Mandela in the past few days, this is wrong, and he would object to this. He ought to be seen as the man who saved South Africa, donning a 'Springbok' shirt to do so, encouraging reconciliation and forgiveness, which may well have been hard for him inside, and setting forth a positive view of a new nation. This did not make him a messiah, but as I said, it made him a great man, and he ought to be regarded as such.
Saturday saw the town centre awash with Christmas shoppers. naturally a donkey, plus two sheep, appeared in town. Cynics may say the last thing we need is another donkey wandering about here, but I say nothing. As you do folks were attempting to pet the animals, and as they do they just wanted someone to shove hay in their mouths. I think the animals came off best here. I note that a 'Morocco Market' was arranged by one town but fell through at the last minute as the Moroccans could not get visa's, just in case they did not go home again, and the camels got stuck on the motorway! Whether the brutes were walking or using the bus was not made clear, the camels I mean, not the Moroccans.
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