I have edited this entry – 4/1/2021
The original post was about Monty Don, a very negative entry about him – he was very negative about South Africa in general and it upset me massively. So, let’s keep it positive!
The following comes from the BBC’s site
Around the World in 80 Gardens
Mon 7 Apr, 12:40 am – 1:40 am 60mins
South Africa
Monty Don continues his extraordinary journey Around the World in 80 Gardens with a journey to South Africa, one of the most plant-rich zones in the world.
At Cape Town’s world-famous Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens he revels in the impressive display of native flora, including the strange King Proteus, South Africa’s national plant before taking a journey to the Drakensberg Mountains to see some native botanical treasures in their natural environment. Along the way, he traces the garden-story of the Dutch colonists who settled in the nineteenth century and looks at what some of South Africa’s gardeners are doing today.
Monty’s discoveries leave him excited to find that South Africa is forging a new identity for itself through a fresh appreciation of its environmental wonders.
Source: Click HERE to read about his program.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7852086.stm
Monty in South Africa 2011
Monty in the Cape – 2018
This next song is sung by Machiel Roets.
One night I listened to a radio station and he was interviewed and asked a question. It’s about 2 years ago and I can’t even remember the radio station nor the question! However, I sent the answer by email and was lucky to be one of the winners and received his cd called “Afrika Kind” This song is on the cd and I translated it quickly so you can follow the lyrics and see what a beautiful song it is. It’s just to give you an idea what it’s about. On the video there’s some beautiful images to see about South Africa.
Child of Africa
Come take my hand
through this country of hardship
come let’s laugh
’bout the day of tomorrow
walk with me
through this wetland-region
hear the song
nature poured over you
Chorus:
‘ts here where the wind speaks to you
by the rhythm of the earth
and water that flows
and soothes you
suddenly there’s a voice that says
You’re my child!
Come take my hand
here in sunshine land
let’s carry together
what’s going on around us
walk hand-by-hand
here on Africa soil
come breathe the air
that soothes your soul
Chorus
It’s here where the wind speaks to you
by the rhythm of the earth
and water that flows
that soothes you
suddenly there’s a voice that says
You’re my child!
Repeat chorus again..
You’re my child!(2x)
My African child.
Translated by: Nikita
This next song is for those who grew up with Afrikaans and a song about a frog that would like to hire a fire fly to have light when visiting his girl friend! A song we all love!
Die Padda wou gaan opsit
My first time here, but I will return. Love your writing.
Hi Stan Stanley… welcome here! I’m glad you enjoy it! and I hope you will enjoy your future visits too….. I’ve popped into your blog and would like to visit again too as I’m a lover of poetry and stories…. 😉
hi
today i happened to be searching for the words to the song ” die pada wou gaan opsit”, because im studying my diplome of childrens services and there is sort of an english version to it and i told my tutor that i know it in afrikaans and then she told me i have to sing it infront of my whole class next wednesday.
so thats how i stumbled apon your blogs and im truly loving it. i am an ex south afrikaaner who now lives in aus. have been here for six years now. and it was really nice to be able to read all that you have on here and for the first time in a long time i really feel home sick today.
it has reminded me of all the good things there that is not here of the old child days with friend playing in the streets and just doing kid stuff.
of all the nice places and all the things we left behind.
i do love my new life here but somedays i just can help thinking about the what if like me mostly do.
i just wanted to say thanks for providing the nice things to look back on.
thank you
anneri humphris
Hi Anneri…
Thanks for your message! welcome here…hope to see you again! I’m glad you could feel “at home” here…I do feel the same as you, living in London, missing all the good things from back home. I hope you’ve find the Afrikaans song “Die padda” as it is on my blog… it’s true what you say, one is kind of happy where you are, but it will never be the same as in South Africa. There is only ONE place in this world and that’s South Africa!! but, due to circumstances, one has to make the best of where you are and I truly believe that we will all be united ONE day again….so let’s keep the spirits high, however difficult, and look forward to be in our country one day again! We’re a scattered nation now…put your trust in Him and we will be together one day! On this link you can find the song on my blog!
https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/year-of-the-frog/
I love the song you posted – so beautiful. Remember, everytime you speak out against stereotypes you plant a seed, it may not always effect the person you intended it to but we must continue trying. The videos are wonderful, I would love to travel to South Africa one day, it is gorgeous there!
hi breedermama
Thank you for your visit and welcome to my blog. I don’t mind if I plant a seed, the thing is, people should start reasoning more intelligently than being narrowminded and somebody should tell them how narrowminded they really are! And yes, we all can just try doing our best to educate the uneducated and to inform the misinformed and to try and make people THINK what they HEAR/READ and if they believe all the rubbish that gets published..well, that shows you then how closeminded they really are! Shall I start thinking that all Germans today are still hating the Jews…just becuase of Hitler and his Germans…how unintelligent will that be? – as I said on your blog too…Also what’s going on in the US today…with Obama… how will I/you interpret what’s going on…
South Africa is heaven on Earth…you will NOT regret it..I’ve been to a few other countries and can honestly say…South Africa is THE best of the best… go there and enjoy my lovely, beautiful country! Follow my “movie”-page and see a few movies about SA i’ve put together with photos, some of my own pics..
African Voodoo Medicine is widely practiced. Young children are killed and their organs are harvested to make good luck potions, and to heal a variety of ailments. The Average African IQ is 65, and most are Mentally Handicapped. Unable to function, they steal and kill. Apartheid was a humane way to contain the mentally ill as compared to the citizens of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Instead, they lie in the streets, butchered by machetes. The great, 2nd President of the USA, Thomas Jefferson helped establish these 2 nations, who are descendants of American Slaves!
hi Perry, welcome and thanks for your comments.