… nothing in particular. Everything rather in limbo these last few days – so this is just a round up of odds ‘n sods. In fact, look away now if you were hoping for a bloodrush of dizzy delights or dire dramaticals. Here in SA, life is ticking over pleasantly if uneventfully … which is good enough. In fact, after some of the stories of violent street crime we’ve heard about – especially in downtown Durban – we’re only too grateful for a spell in the safe lane. Even during the day (the night is an entirely different kettle of menaces) removing all jewellery, hiding your cell phone, leaving cameras and other valuables at home, or tucked well out of sight – all that is the norm here, once you get close to the city. And sometimes even those measures aren’t good enough. Recently, one poor sod was stabbed for his trainers. That’s all he had of any value so that’s what they took. A pair of shoes in exchange for a human life … And no doubt the wrong bloody size anyway.
Apart from trying to look as invisible and uninteresting to strangers as possible, we’re also getting used to the cacophony of barking that breaks out morning, noon and night in the local neighbourhood. For every household seems to boast a small pack of (usually large) dogs to guard their property. And inevitably the bored mutts end up bickering loudly at each other either side of their respective owners’ electric-topped fences. They bark at us, too, whenever we pass by, but not with any great enthusiasm. More by way of habit than anything else. Perhaps, despite our marching at speed (or jogging, or skipping, or power walking – we’re not proud, looking silly comes naturally) – we obviously don’t cut the mustard as potentially malicious, machete-wielding hoodlums. (Dang! but I had such hopes of those new reflective Oakleys!). Or perhaps they just recognise a couple of committed dog-lovers when they see ‘em. And speaking of dogs – and I probably shouldn’t say this – but despite their stocky build, powerful jaws, and pedigree bull terrier genes, the two loveable chumps that guard the guesthouse where we are staying are the softest, most affectionate mutts out. For all their enthusiastic braying at times, both Caspar and Biscuit would much rather love you to death than have you for dinner. Not sure all the local dogs are similarly wired, but you do wonder how much of their noisy presence is purely for show, and how much is truly effective.
The other noisy buggers around here are the ibis whose crude cawing is absolutely deafening – particularly in the early dawn hours and as the afternoon draws to a close about 4.30pm. I’ll see if I can get a decent shot of them (rather than shoot them – which, albeit fleetingly, is what I’d like to do when they boot me out of sleep) to show you. Certainly not the prettiest of creatures to look at and definitely not to listen to, but they do have a redeeming comical quality. About the size of a heron, dowdy dark grey plumage, stoopy backed and phizzog-ed with long hooked beaks used for grubbing – they gather on the rooftops like a coven of geriatric crones. Somebody said the locals call them Hawdie-haws – or Hordy-hors; or was that Hahdie-hahs? Heck who knows (or even cares). Well darnit – seems I do. Will report back after consulting Lena or Jack.
Ok – still in Nothing in Particular mode – an update of Roaring Reg’s “Things I Have Re-Shaped” catastroblog. (For newcomers here, Reg is the truck driver I just might have mentioned earlier – the one who, when carrying an obscenely expensive, wide load and approaching a narrow stretch of road in the black of night, charges full steam ahead, reshaping all obstacles that might (and do) collide. Our Reg is a genuinely lovely bloke – whatever his visual and spatial awareness shortcomings (but really, isn’t it time somebody bought the poor devil some glasses and suggested he take up fishing instead?) – and where was I? Oh yes – well, Racing Reg entrusted with trucking the Green Motion deck mould a couple of nights ago to the new factory, now has another notch to put on his bedpost. The good news is the mould is still in one piece; the bad news is the (old) factory isn’t. I mean yes, it’s still standing, but now it’s missing a rather large chunk out of its opening elevation. Imagine a huge door frame – through which the truck and mould had to pass – now with a substantial gouge in it. A gouge I’d like to decorate with some befitting graffiti – REG WOZ HERE. From what we hear, there are any number of trees, roads and heck-knows-what-other-street-architecture that could be similarly notated around the Durban metropolis.
Reg, it must be said, leaves his mark.
Boatwise (I think that comes in the This and That category, since it’s definitely not Nothing in Particular – well not to us, that is) – we can only report that progress continues. Sorry, that won’t really do, will it? Talk about vague. But I’m not sure itemising each task and its w-i-p state is either feasible (we don’t have definite information) or desirable (too much information for some). But it’s going to be another couple of weeks at the very soonest before we can move on to her. Not that that worries us. As we’ve said before, the Like Home guest house is plenty comfortable and has absolutely everything we need for the moment. So providing the boat is built and finished – whenever that may be – to a high standard of quality and, even more importantly, is totally seaworthy – well, that’s more than good enough for us.
Oooh – nearly forgot to mention – at least we will definitely go sailing next week. Bumped into Colin yesterday (another new best friend, who happens to run a sailing school out of Durban Marina). Colin very kindly suggested we join him next week as muckers-in-ers and extra crew on a sailing course he’s running. So Woo-ever-so-hoo … The call of the running tide shall be answered at last – and soon!
Footnote 1: Apologies – this ramblethon looks far too wordy unadorned – but it’s 6.45pm here and culinary duties call. Shall add some pixelated garnishing after supper, so call back later if you’re the sort who likes books with lots of pictures in (ha! – are you reading this, Little Bro?). It’s just that after several days with very poor or no internet access, wanted to flag this up while things are humming properly once more. Back very soon. Vroooooooom!
Footnote 2: as promised (and as you can now see) , supper supped and pictorial garnish applied.
And so to bed … 
… g’night folks. Zzzzz…
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