29 | June | 2012 | BILTONG & POT- ROAST
‘N KOUE WINTER
June 29, 2012 by Biltong & Pot-roast
Dit is April en die Boesmans in die Kalahari vra hulle nuwe stamhoof, Spaarwater Kruiper, of dit hierdie winter matig of koud gaan wees. Omdat hy stamhoof is in meer moderne tye, het hy nooit die ou geheime geleer nie. Wanneer hy die lug bestudeer, kon hy nie voorspel hoe die winter gaan wees nie. Nieteenstaande besluit hy om dit veilig te speel en hy verklaar dat dit ‘n koue winter gaan wees; hulle moet maar begin brandhout bymekaar maak ter voorbereiding. Hy is egter ‘n praktiese man, in pas met moderne tye, en na ‘n paar dae kry hy ‘n plan. Hy pluk sy selfoon uit, loop tot waar hy ‘n sein kan kry en skakel die weerburo.
“Gaan die komende winter koud wees in die Kalahari?” vra hy.
“Ja dit lyk so.” bevestig die man by die weerburo.
Hy gaan terug na die stam en gee instruksie dat hulle nog meer hout bymekaar moet maak.
‘n Week later skakel hy weer die weerburo.
“Lyk dit nog steeds na ‘n baie koue winter?” vra hy
“Ja, dit gaan baie koud wees,” kom die antwoord.
Hy gaan terug en beveel hulle om elke stukkie hout wat hulle kan vind, op te tel.
Na twee weke skakel hy weer.
“Is julle heeltemal seker dat dit baie koud gaan wees?” vra hy
“Absoluut,” kom die antwoord, “dit lyk al hoe meer of dit een van die koudste winters ooit gaan wees.”
“Wat maak julle so seker?”
“Ons satellietfoto’s wys die Boesmans maak ‘n vreeslike lot hout bymekaar, en hulle is nooit verkeerd nie!”
Posted in Afrikaans.	Tagged Afrikaans, BOESMANS, GRAPPE, KALAHARI, Suid-Afrika
NUMBER 1: THE BUG
The lady across the street was born in our little village here in England, more than eighty years ago. In 1956, as newlyweds, she and her husband built the house they are still living in. I wonder what it feels like – to spend your whole life in one neighbourhood.
During the European summer of 1998, a bug spawned in my veins – beware, this bug is notoriously invasive! – internationally known as the Wanderlust Bug. My wife had a contract with Daimler-Benz Aerospace near Friedrichshaven in the south of Germany. Although my own commitments back home in South Africa kept me from joining her for the duration of the contract, the visits to the land of Mercedes, Apfelstrüdel, Zeppelins and Wagner did leave an indelible impression.
To me (and my wife) it was the start of an affair with the world, a craving for more; an unquenchable yearning for foreign places, exhilarating experiences and different cultures.
The offspring of the original Wanderlust Bug had found the perfect host.
That summer of 1998.
The Abby in St Gallen, Switzerland
Friedrichshaven nestles cosily between picturesque villages dotted along the German shores of Lake Constance (locally known as Der Bodensee). Germany shares this lake with Switzerland in the south and Austria to the east.
Meersburg Castle in Germany
The weather was perfect – sundrenched days, clear skies and the aroma of ripening fruit from the orchards and vineyards held promises of everlasting memories.
We found ourselves on top of the world.
Bregenz – pfänderbahn, Austria
NEXT TIME: ZEPPELINS AND TORKELS
Posted in TRAVELS WITH MY WIFE... and other great people in my life.	Tagged Afrikaans, Bodensee, foreign places, Germany, Lake Constance, South Africa, South African, Travel