I have to tell you that I’m fairly new to blogging but I am enjoying it immensely. I’ve learnt so much about and from my fellow bloggers and blogs in general. Here are some of my observations so far: * Mediocre Free-Lance journalists like me get the opportunity to practice our art/ hobby. * Some bloggers write complete twaddle and do not always consider their audience. However, a lot of it is enjoyed by many. * Some blogs are so personal that I wonder whether the writers are a...

Robert Mugabe must go. He is senile,affected mentally and a tyrant. Let's put aside, for now, what he did to the white farmers.Now he is making many Zimbabweans suffer because of his moves to crush the MDC. His forced removals of families, total mismanagement of a failing economy, and his dictatorial "South American-like" purge of the opposition smacks of Noriega-type thinking. Everyone is against Comrade Robert but he continues to smite his own people with misguided attacks on their liv...

JU has been good to me but I feel I must be honest now that I live in the UK. I need more exposure in a UK environment. I no longer live in Africa so I cannot feed news from a begging bowl (although the bowl never ceases to exist.) My feelings on Africa remain but I need to comment more on the UK and its welfare state, its politics and its problems. I have found two sites that I shall join but I need more input: I need a site that gets to the heart of Britain's problem (Yessir, there are man...

I must say I enjoy blogging. And reading the works of fellow bloggers. There are some pretty intelligent, politics- savvy guys and gals here. And insight there is by the gallon. I can't criticise a site that has folks from Australia, South Africa and the USA (amongst others), giving us a window into their lifestyles and thoughts. And it's not just politics (which has dozens of expert commentators), but also those people who comment on religion and economics and everyday life. What I cannot...

I note that Joeuser has disabled comment on the Harteis group. There must be a good reason for this and I suspect that the good "Doctor" and his spouse are up to no good (oops, I mean they are not entirely above board). Forgive me if I'm wrong but I get the distinct impression that the Diamond D's of the world have a little advertising going on here. Could it be that Diamond D is an agent for the good doctor? We can all be taken in by suave "sincere" speech and great promises but I wonder...

Dear Joeusers, Here is my list of the World's most wanted men. Please add or delete as you feel, but please compile your own list too. Comment, whether positive or negative, is most welcome. But please let's debate the list. My list is based on the following criteria: * Failure to lead your nation responsibly, by forcing the people into poverty and destroying the economy. * Collusion in Murder. * Incitement to violence or war * Blatant liar and devious manipulator. * Corruption and...

I virtually fell into the role of "Motoring Scribe" when we produced a small camp newsletter in the mountains of Lesotho (a small Kingdom surrounded by South Africa), in 1992. I like motor cars and read a lot about them so it was a natural thing then (anyway I co-edited the mag/newsletter so I could choose my slot!). Imagine a construction camp at 3000 metres high, very cold, at times snowed in (yes, in Africa), and imagine too, a large family of 300 souls dedicated to building a water tr...

This Xmas did not come together too well. In fact it was a disaster of Titanic proportions! Here's how it panned out: 18 December : Dear wife comes down with the flu. Stays off school. School is half-full anyway due to disgusting virus.(Ergo, snotty kids equal snotty class teacher). 20 December: Wife returns to classroom coughing and spluttering. Don't know why she bothered--few kids left. 21 December: Wife exhausted and sick but stays at school to collect salary (magnanimous gesture). ...

With apologies to those US citizens who think Dubya and his faceless advisors/cabinet/hangers-on, are the next best thing to ice-cream. I won't even go into the whole Iraq thing because, after reading recent news reports, I am worried that Iraq is going Baathist/ Husseinist, just as before. Tales of torture chambers in underground hide-outs sound very "Baathist" to me. So do rumours that the Iraqui Government is no better equipped to rule Iraq than the great Saddaam himself. Is there a mes...

I am British born (Scottish--not English), but have spent my life in Southern Africa and other countries in Africa. I spend time in the UK now and then, so I have become slightly ameliorated in the British way of life. I cannot understand the thinking on the small Island. The British impose "Nanny State" laws on their own citizens that amaze me. -There is a maximum 1000 pound fine if your dog poops on the pavement. -There are electronic chips in dustbins to monitor re-cycling. -You ca...

I am British born (Scottish--not English), but have spent my life in Southern Africa and other countries in Africa. I spend time in the UK now and then, so I have become slightly ameliorated in the British way of life. I cannot understand the thinking on the small Island. The British impose "Nanny State" laws on their own citizens that amaze me. -There is a maximum 1000 pound fine if your dog poops on the pavement. -There are electronic chips in dustbins to monitor re-cycling. -You ca...

I learnt to speak Afrikaans and Zulu in South Africa and a sprinkling of Sesotho in Lesotho. I can speak a "sort of " Portuguese from years in Angola but my greatest challenge is Arabic! There is such an enormous gap between speaking Arabic and writing it that I am wondering whether I shall ever get beyond pidgin arabic and the real thing. Arabic can be learnt from a dictionary or a teacher but is mainly colloquial speech. Outside the swimming pool the other day I saw a sign in what I call "...

Robert Mugabe must go. He is senile,affected mentally and a tyrant. Let's put aside, for now, what he did to the white farmers.Now he is making many Zimbabweans suffer because of his moves to crush the MDC. His forced removals of families, total mismanagement of a failing economy, and his dictatorial "South American-like" purge of the opposition smacks of Noriega-type thinking. Everyone is against Comrade Robert but he continues to smite his own people with misguided attacks on their liv...

When I was at school in the early 60's we were compelled to study some of Shakespeare's works. How I hated Macbeth and his witches; Hamlet and his Scandinavian plots; The boring whining of the Taming of The Shrew. At age 19 I became an actor upon the stage (first at university), and had parts in all three of the above-mentioned plays (and others). Suddenly Shakespeare was no longer in a book --he was real and clever and provided fantastic lines and scenarios to throw about, great emotions ...