Gathering of the clans
'TWAS at the gathering of the clans and all the Scots were there … the freezing drizzle at Fort Nottingham at the weekend brought conditions at the Scottish Gathering and Highland Games uncomfortably close to the real thing. But thousands of people turned up nevertheless.
They included servicemen from the local regiments, enthusiastic civilians and a group of fellows clanking about the place in chain mail and mediaeval armour. And, of course, massed pipes and drums. Enough tae gie ye the scunners, as the Scots describe gooseflesh.
And a touch of real class as the dignitaries arrived in horse-drawn carriages. At first I thought it was Spartacus – but no, this was the Maclaine of Loch Buie (aka Drambuie, my old teammate from social cricket days).
The Gathering is anything but sectarian. It was gratifying to witness the enthusiasm with which African and other non-Scots servicemen participated in the heavy athletics and other activities. I even spotted one fellow wearing a leopard skin kilt.
Flower of Scotland is a very emotive song. When you hear it sung by a Zulu choir from Mphophomeni, it's enough to cause a lump in the throat.
Yes, Makhathini from Maritzburgh. Perhaps everyone in South Africa should join the Caledonian Society.
Obvious answer
AMIDST the lamentation over South Africa's dismal showing in the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup, a reader points out that at the same time the youngsters playing for South Africa A were going great guns against Bangla Desh A.
In defeating Bangla Desh by 203 runs, Colin Ingram (Eastern Province) and David Miller (KwaZulu-Natal) put on 128 for the fifth wicket. Ingram scored 127 off 118 balls (which includes two earlier partnerships) while Miller whacked 115 off just 60 balls.
"Isn't the answer obvious?" says the reader.
Van Zyl Slabbert
PART of the fun of being in the press gallery of parliament when Frederick Van Zyl Slabbert took over as Leader of the Opposition was watching the moderates in the Nat benches struggle to keep a straight face as he dished it out to people like PW Botha.
Everyone describes Slabbert – who died last week – as an intellectual. He certainly was that but he was also a gutsy Afrikaner with broedertwis in his genes. One of his grandfathers had represented his home town of Pietersberg in the provincial council, the other represented it in parliament. One was a Nat, the other a Sap (United Party). That's twis with a capital T.
Slabbert stood back for nobody, least of all PW the Groot Krokodil, who was often made to look more like a leguaan. He had intellect and humour. He dished out the punishment spontaneously. I recall him telling a Nat frontbencher as he tried to interject: "Man, if your brains were dynamite you wouldn't blow your spectacles off your nose!"
Yes, Slabbert was an intellectual but he was also a political brawler. He revitalised liberal politics and I'm sure he planted many a seed of doubt among the Nats.
I understood the frustrations that caused him to quit parliament but I wish he hadn't. We needed him in the constitutional negotiations.
Keeping fit
WINTER exercise programme: Take one Weetbix. Take an Aero chocolate bar. Crumble the Aero over the Weetbix.
Voila! Aerobix!
| Tailpiece A STUDENT arrives half an hour late for a two-hour examination. "No you don't, I'm not going to accept that. You're too late." The student lifts the stack of papers, stuffs his in the middle, and walks out. | |
Last word
IT IS THE wretchedness of being rich that you have to live with rich people. – Logan Pearsall Smith
GRAHAM LINSCOTT
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