Hiking in Johannesburg...giggle

Caged editor--misbehaving

February 3rd

Hello Africa,

‘We have to turn off that car radio or switch stations,’ we mentioned to our editor. The talk station is so negative that we get depressed after a journey in the car, even a short one. ‘Maybe, we should ride the buses instead,’ she replied. Sometimes she can be most helpful. The newspapers tell similar stories. We don’t dispute the problems. In fact, we are distressed and feel quite frustrated to see opportunities wasted. However, we arrived at a conclusion. It is attitudinal, we think. This is another African country, albeit a dynamic one. Africans do things their way. One needs to accept that to enjoy life over here.

We met with Jenni’s sister, Hilary and husband Ernie Saks, a few times and that was a delight. We lunched with Errol Grolman, Sharon and Colyn Levin, long-time friends, too. We’re sorry the afternoon had to end so soon. We mentioned, in an earlier narrative, that the American Rabbi whom we met in the Auckland shul last month married the Levin’s.
Granny Ruth (happy to see little boy?)

The big surprise for us was Granny Ruth. Of course, she was at the airport to welcome us to the country. It’s always a treat to be greeted by a friendly face. It would have been nice had she offered us a ride back home, especially as she was driving that way. What surprised us most is her new-look backyard. We know she loves animals but she may have gone too far this time. We took a few ‘shots’ and ask whether you think our criticism is unfounded.

Fluffy Dog
“Goodyear Tyres Blimp”
Funny looking lil’ horse
A couple of Sentries to watch over the birds
Serious protection for our visit
A rather weary “king”

If nothing else, the above pictures explain our mindset. We needed a good walk with an element of safety. We chose to visit the Johannesburg Zoo. It was an enjoyable occasion.

We have another good friend. Yes. You read that correctly. Mario Baptista embarrasses us with his kindness and generosity, something he has done for many years. He was not at all impressed with the pink hue that our camera creates on many of our photographs. He is, of course, a professional in this field. When we visited his offices, he presented us with a new camera. Thank-you, Mario, you are a gem.

See you in Cape Town.

Cheers,

Jenni and her ‘Pink Tiger’