The big hootnanny
THE LONG-awaited Maritzburg humdinger went off with a bang last weekend. Something like a thousand people crammed into the Wanderers Club, down on the banks of the Dusi, two nights running for a Sixties Reunion with a live band that ran practically non-stop – fresh musicians coming in off the bench, as it were – with the liveliest of renderings of music from that era. Hootnanny stuff indeed!
A feature of the celebration was the creation of a replica of Twiggy's Pie Cart, which had dispensed late-night food in the Market Square for many years. The replica was drawn up outside the clubhouse, where it served up time-honoured dishes such as Cowboy With A Hat On.
People were there from various parts of South Africa. It's astonishing how so many of them seemed to have aged over 50 years or so.
I met up with three fellows I'd been at school with – and all three were playing in the band. It's amazing what we all get up to over the years.
Stand by for the Seventies Reunion!
Let the Games begin?
CALAMITY continues to stalk the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. A ceiling and a footbridge collapsed in the games complex a few days ago. Now an Indian boxer's bed in the Athletes' Village has collapsed and two cobras have been found – one in the tennis complex and one in a competitor's room.
Our high commissioner has was warned that the South African team will not be prepared to put their lives at risk, while the village has not been completed and it is described in various quarters as unfit for human habitation.
The games are due to start this weekend. I wonder what kind of odds the bookies in the region are offering on the Games going ahead?
Fun and games
THE WILDLIFE can be problematic at such international gatherings. The New Delhi snakes recall an international investment conference held some years ago at Ithala game reserve (the one near Louwsburg, not the one near Maritzburg). A woman delegate became hysterical when monkeys invaded her bedroom.
Then a member of the British consulate caused a sensation. He was taking a shower in his room when he felt something clammy on his foot. Looking down, he saw it was a large bullfrog.
With a yell he jumped free and fled – right out into the roadway, where delegates were heading back to the conference room. Unfortunately, he'd not picked up a towel on the way.
Yes, the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi could produce all sorts of fun and games.
The drought
AS I WRITE this, huge rain clouds are banking up over the sea. Is the drought about to break?
It was tantalising to be at the Sunday Tribune Garden Show in Maritzburg last weekend, which was like a glorious oasis of greenery and colour. Every other exhibit seemed to have the splashing of an artificial stream or fountain.
Yet outside the exhibition halls was a leaden sky. It was close to freezing and there were a few ineffectual spots of rain. Nothing doing. What a winter! What a spring!
Maybe the drought will have broken by the time you read this. Or maybe we need a couple of spot bets with the Pakistani bookmakers. They seem able to make things happen.
Controversial tries
THERE were some controversial tries awarded in last Saturday's Currie Cup match against the Lions. Lions skipper Franco van der Merwe seemed to ground the ball well short of the line, while our Lwazi Mvovo seemed to put a foot into touch.
Even Stevens – except, reader Ron Coppin suggests, the Lions' first try should also have been disallowed because the scorer was welcomed and encouraged by players from the Lions bench who were warming up immediately behind the poles in the in-goal area.
"As this constitutes part of the playing area, should the ref not have disallowed the try because the Lions had more than 15 players on the field at that time?"
It's an interesting point.
Tailpiece
PICASSO surprised a burglar in his chateau. The burglar got away but Picasso was able to give gendarmes a rough sketch of him. They arrested a mother superior, the minister of finance, a washing machine and the Eiffel Tower.
Last word
A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
GRAHAM LINSCOTT
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