Sometimes at night when the rain is beating against the windows of my room, I
think about that summer on the farm. It has been five years, but when I close my
eyes I am once again by the creek watching the black fox come leaping over the
green, green grass. She is as light and free as the wind, exactly as she was the first
time I saw her.
Or sometimes it is that last terrible night, and I am standing beneath the oak tree
with the rain beating against me. The lightning flashes, the world is turned white
for a moment, and I see everything as it was — the broken lock, the empty cage, the
small tracks disappearing in the rain. Then it seems to me that I can hear, as plainly
as I heard it that August night, above the rain, beyond the years, the high, clear
bark of the midnight fox. – Betsy Byars: The Midnight Fox
Very welcome to my blog! This blog was created in 2007. I started the blog initially to inform my American chess friend, Dan, about South Africa. Dan was a librarian at the largest library in America, the Cleveland Library. At the end, the blog turned out – well what you see now, a complete mix of everything and chess. You will also find some poems on my blog – I do love poetry and do write my own too – whenever there’s time. I do write a mixture of English and Afrikaans and some have been translated in English too.
I’m a Primary Teacher from South Africa, also British qualified and I’m teaching primary KS2 – which is age 7-11. At the moment I’m teaching children age 10, Y5, in a UK school. I have also some good experience with Y3, Y4 and Y6 and even a year in a Secondary School too where I taught ICT to Y7-Y11. Education has always taken an important place in our family. With a husband as a teacher, our own two children ‘suffered’ quite a bit having two teachers – as parents at home.
My granddad left Holland as a young teacher to teach in South Africa. On my mum’s side, I have quite a few teachers in the family and my grandma, on my dad’s side, was also a teacher! So, I couldn’t make a better choice in becoming a teacher myself!
When my grandad left the Netherlands to teach in South Africa, he started a school, but in his own house until there was a building! The school today exists as Boschfontein Primary School. His son, my uncle, later became the Secretary (Minister) of Education and Culture in the 1960s till the late 70s. See the photo. I have some photos of the children he was teaching in his house, before they moved to the actual school building.
My oupa aan my ma se kant het as jong onderwyser Nederland verlaat om in Suid-Afrika skool te hou. Hy het ‘n skool begin: Boschfontein Laerskool. Jy kan hier gaan lees oor: the school on this link.
Ek het foto’s van klein kinders wat hy eers in sy eie huis in die voorhuis begin onderrig het voordat daar ‘n gebou was. Daarna was die skool gebou en die huidige skoolgebou is die tweede skoolgebou. Die oorspronklike is sowat 2km vanaf die huidige skool. Sy een seun, my oom, was ook Direkteur van Onderwys, Kuns en Wetenskap in die 60s en 70s. [J. J. Op’t Hof] In die foto hiernaas kan jy hom in die middel sien en die foto is van die link: https://ujdigispace.uj.ac.za/handle/10210/3619
I’m a huge poetry lover. See the Poetry/Gedigte-page for some of my own – and when you read it, please know that it is my own thoughts and I’m not trying think myself a professional poet! – Some in English and some in Afrikaans. I’m proud to say that I have a poem, written by the well-known and national poet of South Africa, Eugene Marais, published in English. I’ve translated it in English and on THIS LINK you can see the conversation between Hanna – from the publishers – and myself in the comments box. The poem has been published in a reading series, Level 6, for schools in South Africa. I have also translated some poems into Afrikaans for the South African poet: Wayne Visser – he is a lecture at Cambridge University.
I’m proud to say that I’m a close relative to the South African National poet and writer: Barend Toerien and MC Toerien. Toerien is also the maiden name of my Grandma on my dad’s side. Barend Toerien lived in the USA before he went back to SA. He passed away in 2009.
Ek het onlangs verneem dat Langenhoven ook iewers in die stamfamilie-boom is. Ek moet nog meer daaroor uitvind. My pa was op sy plaas gebore/groot geword en daarom glo ek daar moet tog ‘n verbintenis iewers wees. Op die oomblik pla dit my nie regtig nie en sal ek mettertyd uitvind. Ek glo dit moet seker verlangs wees.
I have a ‘special‘ connection to the British/South African War [Anglo Boer War] via my Great Granddad, who was the Acting President of the ZAR and at the end of the Anglo-Boer War, he signed the Peace Treaty whilst Paul Kruger, the President, was abroad and in the Netherlands. On the given link you can read more about him.
Children with learning disabilities have always been close to my heart. I had Remedial studies as a subject during my training as a teacher and furthered my interest in Special Needs Education with a degree in Neurological Learning Disorders, which also includes the child with ADHD. I’m busy with my Masters in SEN [Special Needs Education] This is something I wanted to do three years ago, but time was tight. I am now about to start my research project.
Nikita is my blog-nickname and not my real name and it originates from my chess-nickname on a chess site – and the song by Elton John. Lee originates from the lead singer in Joseph and the amazing technicolour dream coat from a few years ago – when I started the blog.
My teaching experience in SA is in the age groups 9-13, but more with Gr3’s – [9 year old children]. I have worked with students with Autism/Down Syndrome students and also students with visual problems – partially sighted students (including blind students). In 2007 and 2011 I had autistic boys in my class and I learnt a lot about autism. At the two schools where I was teaching in SA, I used to be the lead teacher in SEN where I also advised staff how to go about with children in their classes with learning difficulties.
Due to staff shortages at the Local Educational Support Services, I received in depth training to test and diagnose children with early learning difficulties and referred some more serious cases for in-school support. With less serious cases, I supported teachers as to how to support them in class with special designed programs for the particular problem. I also advised many parents as to how to support their children at home.
I’m also a qualified Teacher-librarian. South African teachers are lucky to have the training we had in the past. We were lucky with the quality of training we had we had at the time as well. Visit Prof Yonge’s site – he is busy translating Prof W A Landman’s works- and other South African Educational Academics – like Prof Landman. You will then understand the training we had and what we studied. Also, you will understand what the lesson structure was all about for us – which is of course very similar as the UKs of the moment, e.g. ‘Plenary’ for us was called ‘Evaluation’. Questioning was the way of starting our lessons, and sometimes Blooms Taxonomy was overused.
You will find on my blog an entry on Dyslexia and also an entry on Irlen Syndrome. Dyslexia and children with any ‘learning problem’ are topics very close to my heart. I’ve always had a soft spot for any child with any ‘problem’. They always attract me! On the entry about Irlen Syndrome, you will find a book: ‘Reading by the colours’ – which will help you understanding reading problems of children. It is definitely a book I can recommend for reading, if that is your interest! Oh, did I mention: I hate it if people [in general] are dishonest. Wonderful how our society is made up of such a rich variety of nations and people, but so sad to know that you get people who don’t have the same values you believe in. Honesty and Integrity and kindness- very important principles you can NOT divide, which is SO important in our lives to make up a GOOD [brilliant] society. I hope you share the same values. Langenhoven, a brilliant national writer of South Africa said: Good books and music enrich the soul. If you are in GOOD company, you enrich yourself, hoping you get enriched by what you find on my blog.
Here are a few links – for you to follow up. They are some of the popular links on my blog. Enjoy!
The following links are from my blog and will open in a new window.
Click HERE to read my 2008 entry about Irlen Syndrome, including the book: Reading by the colours.
Click HERE to read about hyperactivity and dyslexia.
On THIS LINK you can read about trees and their personalities! What kind of tree are you?
On this link you can read about ADHD, exercise and learning.
On this link you can read my 2009 entry about playing chess and how it may help the child diagnosed with ADHD.
On this link, you can see translations of what we as trainee teachers had to study – and it’s not even all of it. You will get a glimpse of what South African teachers had to ‘go through’ during our training – before 1994. What is not on the link, is like Yonge says at the bottom of the page: Historical and Comparative Pedagogics. It’s just mind-blowing what we had to study.
On the next link you can see how we as student teachers [trainee teachers] had to structure our lessons. In your first year of teaching it was expected that EVERY LESSON you taught, to be written out according to these steps! They are cemented in your brain forever, ask me.[hehe]
http://www.landmanwa.co.za/ped-eng_06.htm
I have experience of being a Teacher-librarian for 14 years -whilst teaching too. Library studies was ONE of my subjects [skills subject] during my training as a teacher. Remedial Studies was another subject – academic subject – one of many other subjects. Remedial Studies was my 2 year-academic subject and Northern Sotho [one of the indigenous languages in South Africa] my 4 year academic subject. All other Educational subjects were compulsory, e.g. Child Psychology, Pedagogy, Orto-pedagogy, Social Pedagogy, Didactic Method, etc etc [including Maths/Science/History/…etc etc – the normal school-based subjects] We sat exams and tests all year round! You had to get 50% [at least] for a ‘pass’ in each subject. Practical teaching was always in August – for a whole month – all of the 4 years of study.
I do blog about things in life I enjoy/love/like/believe in/find interesting/find fascinating/find stimulating and to express my views and don’t blog to satisfy/impress other people, but more to inform/enrich other people…although I know some topics like music, poetry and chess aren’t everybody’s piece of cake. – but at least it’s mine. [hehe]
I like the following quote – apart of Hamlet’s quotes! Hamlet was my Shakespeare book we studied when I was in Grade 11. ‘Something is rotten in the State of Denmark’ is my favourite Shakespeare quote. I think the quote speaks for itself in many situations!
“He who knows not and knows not he knows not: he is a fool – shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not: he is simple – teach him. He who knows and knows not he knows: he is asleep – wake him. He who knows and knows he knows: he is wise and a leader- follow him.”
Another favourite quote: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” – Abraham Lincoln
I’m a book lover and in particular a lover of children’s books! (believe it or not!) and therefore, you will find posts about great books I’ve come across or used in my teaching….Afrikaans as well as English…you will find books/writers on my blog…also entries about South African writers…e.g. Dalene Matthee and a few others…I do try to write poems too, in both languages, so you can read the page about “poems/gedigte” and I hope you enjoy what you find! You will find a very extensive entry about the British/Boer War as I have a strong connection via my great grandad to the war – he was acting president during the time Paul Kruger was in Switzerland and signed the Peace Treaty with the English. On my blog you will find lots of South African recipes, some entries with photos showing you step-by-step.
I’m not a professional chess player at all – as someone asked me once, but did play for the fun of it online. For 9 years I had two chess teams at my school in South Africa. I had children in my A-team who gained colours in chess. I used to love chess at school, but it was only always boys playing chess, so I always avoid going to the chess club at school. Those boys always gave you the look of ‘you’re a girl and girls don’t play chess!’ It was only during my years as a trainee that I played chess.
As I’m a teacher too, you will find links to educational sites or find educational-posts from time to time. I have lots of posts about chess….some of my own games. I’ve blogged about research that was done in the past on chess/education…big tournaments which the world’s chess grandmasters take part in. You will find Carlsen/Anand/Kramnik’s games here and many other Chess Grandmasters. I grew up with classical music and therefore love it! You will find a couple of entries on classical music too. I always try to find other resources and link it to my posts…enjoy whatever you find here and if you love travelling, then make sure South Africa is your next stop!
You want to know about the history of food in South Africa? This link here, is an Afrikaans Thesis about South African food 1652-1800’s. The link will open in a new window.
44 Places to go in 2009…on this link South Africa is nr 34…click on the South African-image and see why you have to go there in 2009!http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html?hp
Chessalee 
hi Amitabh!
Welcome to my blog!
Thank you for your sweet comments! That’s very kind of you and thanks for your visit and the time to leave a comment!
Hi daar – groot asb help – ek soek dringend ‘n gedig oor liefde van moeder vir kind of andersins maar iets vir September se lente? Groot asb gee voorstelle – Groetnis en dankie vir jou altyd stunning website. Rista
Hi Rista! Goed om jou hier te hê! Baie dankie vir jou mooi woorde! Ek gaan kyk wat ek vir jou kan kry.
Elisabeth Eybers
Hi Rista – ek soek nog, wat van hierdie een.
Die moeder
Die vreemde oorsprong van jou lewe het
soos lig deur ’n kristal deur my gevloei
in al die maande toe ek één was met
die stil geheim van jou verborge groei.
En nou kan niks ons skei – want is jy nie
afhanklik en gebonde aan my bloed
wat met sy onbegryplike chemié
jou wonderlik gevorm het en gevoed?
En of dié uur ver en vergete word,
en of die jare tussen jou en my
hul seile span, die see sy golwe stort,
of selfs die Dood sy somber baken steek,
nogtans sal jy aan my gebonde bly
met die onsigb’re naelstring wat nie breek.
Hier is ‘n ander van haar:
Die vrou
Somer en herfs en winter trek in wye
onafgebroke wisseling deur die land,
maar sy bly draer van die lente want
liefde het haar verhef bo die getye.
Haat en verwoesting plant hul lamfervlae
in honderd stede en oral sink die nag;
vir háár op wie ook bloed en worsteling wag
klink nog die lied van vrede en welbehae.
Die uitgeteerde ruiter neig sy sens
en aarselend voor die klaarheid van haar blik
erken selfs hy sy heerskappy se grens:
in haar wat die onsterflikheid bewaak
ontkiem die toekoms in die flou getik
van lewe wat voorwêreldlik ontwaak.
Hi Rista – ek sal later op die web verder soek. Ek het jou twee gepos van E Eybers, maar dalk soek jy meer iets ‘anders’ as die twee wat so bekend is, maar tog mooi is. Ek het hierdie gedig so ‘n paar maande gelede geskryf en gewonder of jy sal hou van so iets – as ek so iets op die net kry, iets wat ‘anders’ is, maar tog ook op ‘n manier van pas – afhangende wat jy daarmee maak. Dit lyk vir my daar’s ‘n leemte in die digkuns na hierdie tipe gedigte.-tensy daar van ons ‘moderne’ digters is [van wie ek onbewus is] wat reeds so iets geskryf het.
Ek stuur vir jou die goud
Ek stuur jou die goud
oor die dansende blou waters
nie die koue hartelose soort,
maar die goud van ‘n herfsblaar
malend oor ‘n golwende terras
wat ‘n helder skynsel nalaat:
kontrasterend teen die skemer
Ek stuur jou die goud
van ‘n vertroueling met die warmte:
warmte van ‘n spinnende vlam van vuur
wat jou alkant omsingel en dié
van ‘n liefdevolle glimlag
wat jou las sal verlig
en jou plesier sal verskaf
Ek stuur vir jou die goud
van ‘n laatmiddag sonsondergang
langdurig en langsamerhand
die warmligte aanraking
van die strale wat jou deurboor:
laag vir laag tot in jou siel
Ek stuur jou die goud
van goue vonkelende wense en geluk
alhoewel ek nie fisies daar is,
maar my gedagtes wel, wat nooit verwelk:
my gedagtes, altyd aan jou sy!
Ek stuur vir jou die goud!
–Nikita 19:00 17/03/2012
You have an excellent website. Very unique and very refreshingly different. Congratulations!
Thanks for your visit and I think you got an awesome blog. Am also a chess player and can be found at http://www.gameknot.com…user name southcoastsurf
Keep well
hi babobski! Welcome to my blog!
I’m already on two sites, I know Gameknot and have created an account there ages ago, i don’t even know my username anymore on that site, but i don’t want to start on more sites as I have an account on chesscube too. I also don’t play that much at the moment due to studies etc… you’re welcome to register on Chess.com (link on the sidebar) and play me there.
Thanks for your kind words! I’m glad you like what you’ve found here..
Hey Nikita thanks for leaving a comment on my new site, I am sure you can tell its still in the early stages, there is still much site work to be done. I must say though its quite strange how we both seem to like the same stuff! I happen to have played chess forever and I coached KZN for a while as well. I love the berg as you know 😀 and it would seem gathering from a brief look around your site that you are a solid Christian as well….anyway nice site keep up the good work!
hi mkearnels
Thanks for your visit and welcome here! You’re site looks already great. Thanks for your kind words – yes, I am a Christian.. and give me a shout if you want to have a game! 🙂
Thanks for good posts
Waal…this site is outstanding.I intend to browse through every aticle and links.Well done Nikita
hi Johnny…welcome to my blog and thanks for your message!
Hi Pamella! Nice having you around…welcome and enjoy what you find here! 🙂
Thanks for dropping in on my site, Nikita.
Bestest wishes to you too – for the new year.
Already a good start for you.
You must be rejoicing on your nations cricket victory. Winning in Aus is always an achievement.
Hi LittleIndian! Thank you! Yes, I’m glad for the cricket and our team! They’ve done great although I didn’t follow it this time like I used to do. Thanks for your visit and have a great 2009!
Everytime I visit your site, I keep telling myself of reading about women chess players. Is it me missing something or is it that womens’ chess goes under reported
Hi LittleIndian! I think you’re right if you say it goes under reported. But, then you have to bear in mind that the number of female Grandmasters/WomenMasters etc. is small in comparing to the male counterparts, so therefore it might gives you the impression that it goes under reported…maybe there is some truth in it too.
Not a line on cricket!!
Even after the wiining series in Oz?
Hi, came to invite – would you be interested (have time for)
Fantasy cricket
If you are not familiar with the cricinfo – it is user friendly (if I can, everyone can) and is good fun.
I was thinking, we could have our own Silly Point league and start with the SA v Aus series.
I hope you are well, and not got snowed under 🙂
hi Littleindian!
It’s always nice having you around, I still looooove that AVA!! it’s so cute!
I’m really sorry, i’m a bit stuck – luckily not in the snow! lol! – but with studies and all sorts of stuff… I would loooove to checkout the link, but that will have to wait till end of May! unfortunately… snow again tomorrow…don’t know if I’ll be in school…as the school will only update the site with info at 7:30…so, hopefully I’m another day at home…to do more research…i will drop by during the weekend and say hi!
Hallo I am new on the blogging scene, just want to drop in and say Hi!
Frans
hi Frans! Welcome to the world of blogging! Do enjoy and have fun!
Hi, het gewonder speel jy op chess.com? Indien wel wat is jou usernaam? Terloops dis ‘n uitstekende website! Kan sien hier is al baie ure ingesit.
hi Connie
Welkom hier op my blog en dankie vir jou boodskap oor my blog, ja, dit neem nogal tyd om iets ordentliks “aanmekaar te slaan”. 🙂
Ja, ek speel op chess.com, maar nie op die oomblik nie, sal weer na einde Mei speel, as jy op chess.com gaan, kliek op “members” en jy sal my Avatar regs sien… dis ‘n kunswerk wat ek as Ava het en op die oomblik is my Ava daar agv die hoe aantal lede wat deur my blog daar registreer, kliek op my naam daar en dit sal jou na my hp neem! 🙂 Wat is jou username daar?
Het gewonder hoe kry die “A” so baie referals! Het net nooit geweet dis jy nie! My username is Mcbeth. Ek het met ‘n draai by jou blog uitgekom deur chesskids.(het ‘n 2-ling wat nou so jaar al speel) Hoor graag van jou as jy weer ‘n tydjie het. Sterkte met die studies en so aan.
hi Connie… ek sal jou daar kontak dan praat ons verder, eers moet ek nou hier ‘n paar dinge gedoen kry. Dankie vir die sterkte, ek het dit nodig! 🙂 Goeie nuus om te hoor jou kinders speel! Ek wil nie myself graag hier “adverteer” nie 🙂
Hello to all ! Greetings From Poland. very Good Page !
hello Poland! Thanks for your visit! and kind comments!
Hello to all ! Great site. I am new here greetings to all from Poland.
Baie oulike webblaaie. Ek is so bly dat daar poesie is. Verskoon assiblief die Afrikaans – ek bly in Amerika en kry nie baie geleenheid om my Afrikaans te oefen nie, maar as ek wel ‘n geleenheid kry, dan gryp ek dit met beide hande 🙂
Mooi Bly –
hi mahl! Jy is meer as welkom om hier te kom Afrikaans praat! Ek’s hier in London en kry darem die geleentheid tuis, kom weer en gesels hier in Afrikaans as jy so daarna voel! Groete vir jou en mooi bly daar! 🙂
Good informations, keep up the good work.
hi nikita what a refreshing blog – albeit heavy on bandwith! you can check my writings.
ougat blog, moet n ougat nooi wees wat dit skryf. loer in by litnet dit sal dalk jou passie vir afrikaans voed.
hi abrham..Welkom hier en dankie vir jou kommentaar! Ek was al heelwat kere op litnet. Ek weet ek moet meer daar gaan rondkrap om te kry wat ek sal geniet. Was nog eintlik net so handvol kere daar rond. Dankie vir jou link, ek het ingeloer, sal weer so maak sodra ek bietjie minder besig is.
hoe goed is jou vertalingsvermoee. ek wil my eerste roman ‘heita kiewietan’ vertaal. dalk mpoet ek n kopie eers vir jou pos. het’dans van die reen gegoogle en so op jou blog afgekom. ons het vandag tipiese london weer. kan ek jou e mail? jou blog vreet bndwidth wat maar duur is hierlangs.
0833416036@mtnloaded.co.za
hi abrham!
Ek dink nie ek gaan my hand aan die vertaling van ‘n verhaal waag nie! Dis heeltemal anders en dis regtig nie maklik om gedigte te vertaal nie, want jy moet dieselfde boodskap oordra en jy probeer in ‘n mate rym/ritme ens behou.. Jy kan my email, jy behoort my email adres op jou blog te kan sien. Jammer vir die bandwidth wat my blog vreet.. dis iets waaraan ek nie dink as ek blog nie 🙂 Jy kan op my page-link hier wat se “gedigte/poems” lees waar ek ‘n paar vertalings geplaas het, maar soos ek se, dis regtig nie maklik nie, sommige gedigte het ek gevind kon ek vinnig-vinnig doen, maar ander moes ek rerig aan skaaf en heeltyd verander. Dit hang maar af van die tema van die gedig ook. Ek skram weg van vertalings, maar het die gedoen wat ek gedoen het om dit met skaakvriende te deel! Ons Suid-Afrikaanse gedigte (van ons lands-digters) is baie goed en vergelyk met die bestes in die wereld en ek wou dit met hulle deel.
PS: Ek het ‘n niggie wat ‘n vertaalster is, proffessioneel. Sy is geregistreerd deur die hooggeregshof..as jy so iemand soek. Sy bly in die Ooste van Pretoria.
O ja, oor die weer! Geniet dit, ek is mal oor koeler weer en reen-weer! Ek mis die donderslae en blitse/bliksemstrale in SA geweldig hier…jy kry byna nie donderweer hier nie!
Hi, I am the website administrator of the South African Women’s Chess (SAWC) website http://www.sawca.co.za. I am not affiliated to the elected sawca comm, just someone who loves chess and wanted to make info on women’s chess in SA more accessible. In my search for pics and info for the website, your blog kept popping up. You’re doing a great job of putting information out there! Keep up the good work! If it’s all right by you, I’ve included a link to your blog on my site under Links–>Blogs.
Yours in chess,
SAWC admin
Hello SAWC Admin
I’m thrilled by your site!! and so exciting about it!! Good job and well done. I really appreciate the link on your site and want to thank you for the link! I will definitely add your link to my chess blogroll too. I’m so excited about your site and can’t wait to explore it! Thanks for your kind comments too. I look forward to seeing great postings on your site about South African women’s chess. I’ve said a few times that CHESSA IS NOT DOING ENOUGH to promote SA Chess and here come you, the angel, to promote our chess, even if it’s only women’s chess. I would love to hear from you soon and will definitely keep my eye on your site all the time!
Nikita, ek het jou wonderlike webblaaie deurkruis opsoek na inligting omtrent jouself, maar vind niks – waar moet ek soek? Mense interesseer my geweldig, en ek sal dit soveel meer geniet om alles op jou webtuiste te lees en te beluister as ek iets omtrent die hand daaragter kan weet.
Hi Marisa! Welkom hier op my blog en dankie vir jou mooi woorde. Ek het so bietjie oor myself gese, ek het dit nou heel aan die begin gesit, gewoonlik gee ek nie persoonlike inligting op die internet uit nie en as mense nou regtig wil weet wie ek eintlik is, moet hulle vra vir ‘n e-mail. 🙂
hi Nikita
Dit is nou Sondag 18.00Hrs hier by ons.
Ons is 8 uur later as julle. (dink so).
Het nogal die hele middag gespandeer met jou musiek Dankie.
Ook dankie vir jou spoedige antwoord.
Liefde Groete,
Oom Von.
Dis ‘n plesier oom Von, maar ek gaan ongelukkig nie kan help nie. Ek dink daardie ou na wie oom soek sit in SA afgetree! Ek dink die kanse dat hy nog hier werk is soos in nul.
Wat n heerlik blog. Hier geland na n heerlike reenbui in kenia, jy ruik die reen en jy hoor die woud duif en dit het my laat dink aan die dans van die reen…..
woon al 17 jaar aan die voet van mt kenia, baie koloniaal. hier mis n mens afrikaans en soos jy se die britte het altyd iets te se van ons uitspraak en taal. het al baie in die sop hieroor…
ons het ook onlangs die huis van majorie wallace en jan rabie gekoop en gerestoureer in onrus, wat n ervaring en so meer betrokke geraak in hul lewe ……….
seugnet
Hi Seugnet! Baie welkom hier en dankie vir jou kommentaar! Julle bly in ‘n mooi land en dit nog aan die voet van ‘n pragtige berg!! Ek sien op jou site julle ondersteun ‘n kinderhuis daar. Ek ondersteun van tyd tot tyd Armani-kinderhuis in Kenia. Julle is bevoorreg om daar te wees. Klink interessant die huis wat julle gekry het. Kom kuier gerus weer!
Hello dear Nikita 🙂 I hope all is going fine for you.
I would like to let you know that “my” blogs chain for Peace is now on the wordpress community. Here:
http://claudeholdowicz.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/une-chaine-pour-la-paix-dans-le-monde/
You’re of course welcome for any comment and also to join the chain in the way you feel 🙂
Claude
hi Claude! Thanks for the link, I’ve left you a message on your blog too
hi, is dit moontlik om my boodskappe en gedig van jou blog te verwyder? Ek moet eers my security settings reg kry?
dankie
Hi Seugnet! So gevra, so gemaak! 🙂
Hi Nikita,
thanks for visiting the ancient ruins that is my blog these days. I apologise for not responding sooner.
I know longer find the will to write anything,
it has all been written and said by many for years-
but remains unheard.
my very best wishes to you
hi littleindian! IT was good to see you again around! Why not blogging your little doggie again! I’ve thought he was cute!
Hehehe, Nikita!
Ek wou my eers vererg dat jy die tag so weggesteek het, maar op die ou einde het ek so lekker gelees dat ek jou heeltemal vergewe het! Watse interessante mense het jy nie al ‘ontmoet’ deur jou blog nie! Wow!
Nee wat, ek verstaan as jy toegegooi is onder werk, so ek gaan jou nie eens ‘n ou vragie vra nie! Jy’t in elk geval baie van jouself hierso vertel.
Ek gaan nou net meer gereeld hier by jou “About” kom inloer! Klink na die plek om te wees! 😆
Hi Vlam! Ja, ek het besluit om hom hier “weg te steek”, want hier is reeds heelwat oor myself gesê en dan hoef ek nie te herhaal nie. Enige ander vrae sal beantwoord word – so goed as moontlik. 😆
Oor die interessante mense: Ja, hier op hierdie link is nogal heelwat van hulle, het jy na oom Avon se link gaan kyk…’n SA-ner oor die 30 jaar in die buiteland en praat en skryf nog steeds suiwer AFrikaans..en hy het niemand anders by hom om in Afrikaans te kommunikeer nie!! …dus..daardie wat vir 4 jaar in London is en sê hulle “verloor” Afrikaans…BWA!NONSIENS! vir hulle! TWAK! dit gebeur net nie.
Wel, die wegsteek het gewerk want niemand vra vrae nie 🙂
Hi Connie, ek wou nie rerig dit wegsteek nie, ek het eintlik nie tyd gehad vir ‘n behoorlike inskrywing nie en het gedink dit pas goed by hierdie bladsy sodat mense kan lees wat ek reeds geskryf het. 🙂 –ek kies altyd die maklikste uitweg/vinnigste – in plaas van dubbelwerk, sien, as jy nie sterk is nie, moet jy slim wees! LOL!
Dear Lee
I found your website by accident and so glad I did. Congratulations for Joseph and thank you for your interesting articles and info.
Best wishes
hi Donna…Welcome to my bog, but I think you misread the first paragraph. 😉
I’m not Lee… Thanks for your kind comments!
Hey Nikita,
Its a wonderful site that you are maintaining. I specially liked the cute little image of “I know therefore I am”. Surely many have told you that it is a good concept that you are developing – I am not a great fan of chess but went through your postings to know more about games that have been played.
Nice reading…Keep it up.
Hi Nancy! Welcome to my blog and thank you so much for your very sweet words. I’m glad you liked the reading here, although not a great fan of chess! 🙂 I will try keeping it up, with words like yours I’m even more inspired to do so. It was Rene Descartes that said…”..I think, therefore I am…”
Hi Nikita
You have a great site here, it will take me ages to read through it all. Very inspiring and lots of fun ideas. Where do you find the time? Thanks.
hi Donna, welcome back and thanks for your message. Time is little at the moment, I have less time than earlier! 🙂
Nikita,
Sjoe, jy’t my ge-floor. Chat met my dogter in UK en wil vir haar ‘n link stuur van ‘n skorsie omdat sy haar hare groen gekleur het… Tik in ‘gem squash’ en kliek lukraak op jou webblad… Nou is dit amper twee uur later en sal eers moet staak, maar lanklaas so ‘n klomp heerlike inligting saamgeflans gesien…
Wou nou noem van Chesscube, maar met ‘n ‘search’ gesien jy weet daarvan.
Doe so voort…
hi Erich! Welkom hier en jammer dat ek jou so laaank ge”floor” het…[hahaha!] Ek is bly jy het dit geniet. Ek sal graag daardie groen hare wil sien! 🙂
Ja, ek weet van byna elke tweede chess-site en Chesscube is een van my gunstelinge om gou-gou ‘n realtime-game te speel. Ek speel tans net 2 games op chess.com – my gunsteling vir langer games. Dankie, ek sal probeer om “so voort te doet”, tyd is net nou ‘n groot faktor – vir die volgende maand+ ten minste. Loer weer in as jy so daarna voel.
hare – soek linki plus my van (epos), lol
oeps… op Facebook
Dankie Erich, sal gaan loer 🙂
Hi Nikita, I have been wracking my brain to remember you blog name (I lost after a computer failure) and after ages of fruitless attempts I finally found you. Your efforts still never cease to impress and particularly your academic achievements over the past few years. I’m still the troglodyte when it comes to technology and am still stumbling through these new fangled things called computers. I trust all is well and I will lose myself in the potpourri of treats you have gathered. Warmest wishes, Bill.
hi Bill! Are you my chess-friend Bill? If so, I’m so glad you found me.. 🙂 It’s good to have you around here and nice of you to remember and trying to find me! Sorry to hear about your computer. I would like to know if you’re my chess-friend, as we need to chat chess then! 🙂 Bestest wishes to you too! Thanks for your sweet words too.
Hi Nakita,
Yes I’m Bilby. I’m still playing chess and enjoying the challenges those 16 pieces my opponents throw at me. I do miss our games so maybe we can find a place to share our passion for the game. LOL.
hi Bill! Hello! I’m playing on chess.com, if you register there, you will be a friend of me automatically…with the link on my sidebar. 🙂
Hi Nikita, I’ve tried your link and username Nikita without success. My technological skills are still elusive.
hi Bill, the link is the badge underneath the SA-flag – green with “chess.com” on it.- near the bottom of the page on the right. You should register first…like on any other site. You can not put my username in, my username on chess.com is different than other sites. If you register, you will be automatically a “friend” of me on chess.com, but you must register with your own username first. Hope this helps.
Hi Nikita – I was searching for a poem and found your page…
‘and if you don’t know Lee Mead…my favourite in a competition to play the leading role in “Joseph….” that was held in 2007 in the UK….make sure you watch the complete video from youtube if you don’t know Lee Mead…he’s amazing!’
You have actually spoiled it for me now 🙂 It is only been on DSTV in South Africa on BBCE for the last month and we are down to the last 7 Josephs… But don’t worry Lee was the man for me, especially after he showcased on ‘Strictly come dancing’ on BBCE. I knew then he must be Joseph.
Love you blog
Regards
Zelia
Shelly Beach
KZN
South Africa
hi Zelia
Thanks for your visit and kind comments. Yes, they always broadcast certain programmes ages after the actual live broadcast in SA. Sorry for “spoiling” your fun 🙂
Your message didn’t disappear (as you thought in the second one) – it was caught in the Spam filter and I rescued you from there 🙂 [my good deed for the day..lol!]
Shelly Beach!!! Wow!! Beautiful place! Sunny weather, golden beaches…hmmm…how jealous am I now! 🙂
Вечер добрый. Вот меня, как консультанта из Белоруси, волнует вопрос о отношении к нам, так сказать к тем, кто только начинает свою карьеру… Поговаривают, что в других странах накануне праздников, консультантов поздравляют, дарят цветы и подарки, а не обходятся банальной открыткой, как это делается у нас… Ведь это же действительно и приятно и понимаешь, что тебя хоть капельку, но уважают. Расскажите, как у Вас с этим?
hi Ядвига Викторовна
I don’t think I understand a word you try to say here, could you please do it next time in English or Afrikaans/Dutch/German…thank you. 🙂
Hi,
We at Chessboss.com strongly believe in necessity of chess to increase both knowledge and understanding. It is unfortunate that the oldest game in the world (Chess) has a very little fan base, ChessBoss.com aims to change that. We understand the importance of blogs and the information made available on them. We are working towards building a strong fan base around our FREE chess server to better increase the use of Chess online. Your blog seems to have a large viewing public and seems to hold great information which I would love to make available to my viewing public.
I have included the code for the ChessBoss.com banner within the body of this email along with textual link information. I would be pleased to offer you the ChessBoss.com featured blogger badge to post on your site, recognizeing your blog as a leading contributor to the Chess community. Thank you for your great work and dedication, we look forward to your response!Please reply me back with subject line of your Url to avoid spam and to make sure YOU get the Award.
Thank you.
Nicki.
hi Nicki!
Welcome to my blog and thank you for your kind message, I will contact you.
Hey.. just came across your blog – some really great content here 🙂 How long have you been based in the UK? Just came back here for a short contract and looking forward to heading back to SA in Dec 🙂
hi Pratish, Welcome to my blog. Thanks for your kind comments. We’ve been here for more than seven years. You came the wrong time..weather isn’t really nice to be here for a short time..do enjoy!
I have registered and I am ready to continue where we left off.
hi Bill, wonderful! I’ve found you at last! So, now you need to accept the game and we can play! 🙂
Hi Nikita,
This is my first visit to your site and I LOVE it (only the chess part, since my understanding of poetry is virtually non-existent!). It’ll take me quite a while to go through the posts and maybe visit some of the sites to which you have linked.
Hats off to you for the amount of effort you must have invested in creating such a rich site.
I play on chess.com and I came here via the link on your profile page. I too love chess; I just wish I could play it a bit better : ))
Keep up the good work. Maybe we could play a game over there some day.
Best wishes.
hi Knight Pusher! Welcome to my blog and thanks so much for your kind comments. I did enjoy every minute of what I’ve put into the blog as I said in this post – I do blog about what interests me/what I enjoy and I’m not blogging to satisfy other people (but love it if they enjoy and share the joy with me), but more to inform other people. I only do things in life I enjoy or things I’m interested in and will never punish myself with things I don’t enjoy. I would love to play a game. as you know my username, feel free to invite me! Best wishes to you too.
Hi Nikita,
Thanks for having a look at my South Africa and Lesotho page. We still talk about the terror my wife had in facing that chain ladder, and how the guide inched her down.
It was another incredible trip in the world’s most beautiful country, and we hope to do another one soon.
hi Ian
I know what it feels like on that chain ladder, it was a nightmare for me too, only 15 then! The wind was blowing..it was a strong wind..and I felt like I was going to fall down…halfway to the top I stopped and said a few prayers…I think! lol… but made it after all..yes, it is the most beautiful country and hope you can go back soon!!
Hi Nikita
What an amazing site, whcih I stumbled accross looking for a recipe for rusks. I wnat to make some for my brother for his birhtday. He is married to a South African and I lived there for 3 years and go back frequently to visit cousins.
Now I only learnt basic Afrikaans for Hotel workers, so was pleased to see your traslation into English fo rthe recipe. I need your help though please – in English you say 500ml of coconut. In Afrikaans you say 1 K klapper. Please can you let me know what kind of coconut I should used – is it desicated (dried) coconut, and it is 500 ml, or a cup?
I want to get it right!!
Many thanks indeed and for sharing the recipe,
Warm regards
Jill
Hi Jill, Welcome to my blog and thanks for your kind comments. I took a look at the recipe…it is definitely 1K (Afrikaans = 1 Koppie) and I will change the 500ml to 250 ml…and yes, it is dried coconut.[shredded] I did put the Afrikaans recipe up before I translated it and the Afrikaans recipe is the correct one! Thank you so much for pointing it out to me, I think I was absent-minded when I did the translation-one. I do appreciate it – you have an eye for small detail!! 🙂 Enjoy the recipe…one reader has come back to me to tell me how delicious his rusks turned out from that recipe…it’s a friend’s recipe and I love it, the best I ever had. Warmest regards to you too!
Hallo Nikita
Suné du Toit , Gauteng Noord het die U12 afdeling vir dogters tydens die Nasionale Kampioenskappe in Kaapstad gewen met 8/9 en sal SA Oktobermaand tydens die “World Youth Chess Championship” in Griekeland verteenwoordig. Ek dink dit sal goed wees om artikel op jou web te laat aangesien baie skaakspelers webwerf besoek. Blootstelling aan media re skaakspelers is maar moeilik( koerante) aangesien daar nie belange re skaak is nie. Dankie. Engela
http://chessaleeinlondon.blogspot.com/
Hi Engela
Dankie vir die boodskap en jou besoek. Welkom op my blog. Ek het ‘n blogspot-blog ook en gaan van nou af daar verder skaakdinge blog – sodra ek tyd op hande het. Dit gaan maar BAIE dol met skooldinge ens.[ongelukkig]. Jy weet, ek het hoeveel emails vir die Chessa-span gestuur…van hulle af allerlei “lee” beloftes gekry van skaaknuus. Ek het al opgegee met nuus uit SA oor die kinders/jonges wat skaak speel. Ek besoek nie eens mee die Chessa-site vir inligting nie, want hulle is rubbish. Ek verneem ook hulle gaan ontbind en ‘n nuwe “Raad”/komitee – noem dit wat jy wil – gaan gestig word. Ek kry die gevoel daar is heelwat onbevoegde mense iewers in die “top” wat maar vere voel vir Skaak in SA. Ek het uit my pad gegaan om die spelers te blog wat oorsee gaan speel het – baie inskrywings gemaak van die jeugkampioenskappe vir 2 jaar – ure se tyd opgeoffer om hulle games interaktief op my blog te plaas ens ens. Ek is eintlik al 100% negatief om enige iets skaak te blog {wat SA raak}. {JAMMER!!} dis maar soos ek voel. Ek is ‘n groot skaak entoesias – soos jy sal sien uit al my skaakinskrywings die laaste 2+jaar en het elke stukkie skaaknuus opgeraap wat daar was oor enige groot toernooi rakende ons spelers in SA. Ek is nou oor daardie stadium. Ek is bereid om jou kind se foto’s en uitslae te blog – soos ek met Connie se tweeling gedoen het – gaan loer op die link wat ek hier gegee het. Ek het eintlik nog foto’s van hom gekry wat ek moet plaas. Wees welkom en stuur dit vir my by:chessalee2468{at}gmail.com. Ek sal die email na more hier verwyder en hoop jy het dit dan teen more-aand hier gekry. Indien ek niks van jou verneem na ‘n week nie, sal ek aanneem jy wil nie graag die inskrywing geplaas he nie. Baie geluk aan jou dogter! Ek sal graag wil weet hoe sy verder in Griekeland gaan vaar. Natuurlik het ek ook nie verlede jaar s’n gevolg nie, maar wel die jaar voor dit. Chessa het soveel geleentheid om skaak te bevorder, maar wat sal mens nou se? Sterkte daar en ek weet die koerante doen ook maar absoluut niks om die sport te bevorder nie. Joernaliste bly maar ‘n probleem…hulle het hul fokuspunte en as ‘n persoon nie in skaak belangstel nie…wel… ons ken die antwoord.
Groete daardie kant!
Hi Chessalee
I have added your blog link to my new chess blog link at
We once played on CW!
Best wishes & goodluck with chess and everything!
Hi Richard!
Welcome to my blog and tks for stopping by, I tried twice to leave a message on your website, but got a mesg saying: can’t find what you’re looking for….blahblah…will try again later! Good luck to you too!
wow, nice blog nikita. i am coming back for sure. i add you up.
hi Hames, Thank you for your comments, feel free to come back and enjoy! 🙂
dear nikita,
what’s up. you got entangled by the world cup fever, which i can understand. it’s history down there. may you have the best moments watching it.
all the best.
hi Hames!
Seesh! you know… 🙂 the world cup fever got me as I’m busy with a project that links to the WC – at school and it is for this Friday! Fortunately, I was also given South Africa – as team group – therefore, busy with all sorts of great ideas to get my group actively involved in all the activities – even a dance! and…best of all…I have 2 vuvus..but small “English”-ones..with English flag..so still need to cover that with red, which is the colour of my team for the day…will pop-in again soon and don’t have time now for blog-entries as we are also busy writing reports and I’m busy marking end-of-year Course work of Y9’s and Y10’s! -4 groups with about 26 students per group…nightmare…all the things going on the same time.
hi there
thank you for your kind comment about my blog…
i don’t sing anymore… at one stage in my life, i guess i considered becoming a singer… and get this… i took lessons with the one and only south african madame joyce barker at wits university… she was a wonderful teacher… i really should create a blog entry for her…
now i listen to opera a lot and have a vast collection of recordings, and of course i go to performances as often as possible…
hi Operaprince! Wow! So why did you never go into singing? You should have done it.
oh i don’t know… i was so young then… not even 17… i did later sing in the chorus of a regional opera theatre in germany though…while in my wildest dreams i am on a major opera stage, singing either wotan or posa, i am also happy being in an appreciator 🙂
hi Operaprince! it’s great to hear you sang in the chorus. I’m sure you’re a great opera lover, as it sounds to me!
Hi Nikita,
I am an editorial assitant for Pan Macmillan Australia. I am doing some picture research for a forthcoming publication. We are interested in using an image from your website – if you could email me, that’d be great.
Thank you,
cheers
Samantha Bok
Hi
I was watching this film called Knights of the south Bronx. Made me think of you.
So dropped in to say Hi and hope you are OK.
hi my old favourite! Nice to see you again, Littleindian! I still love your ava! Nice film you watched! Thanks for saying hi again! I’m fine thank you, hope you too. Running a chess club-again- at my current school and kiddies are all inspired by Anand! as most of them are from India too [their families etc]. Going def to see Anand Dec. How are you?
Hi,
thanks for dropping by.
I am OK. Just.
Taken up the guitar again. After many years.
What do you think of this?
Are you on Twitter?
hi Little Indian. That was a pleasure, I heard that Karpov didn’t make it…sad. That other man is crazy. I don’t like him. Yes I am on Twitter and I am now following you too 🙂
Hello Nikita.
Ek het via ander links op jou chessaleeninlondon webblad afgekom. Ek vind dit werklik pragtig en vol opbouende inligting. Al die regterkantste links lyk vreeslik interressant, ek sal op geleenthede ook daarna gaan kyk. Dit blyk ‘n blomtuin vir Afrikaans te wees.
Ek is self lief vir skaak maar het nog nooit aan groot kompetisies deelgeneem nie. Die spel is juis so fantasties dat ek glo dit is hemels geinspireerd. Geen gewone mens kon so spel self bedink nie. Daar is geen ander spel met soveel fassette en moonlikhede met soveel wiskundige konnektasies en lesse in so ‘n klein area vasgelê nie. Daar sal ook seker nie in hierdie tydsbestel so een weer wees nie.
Ek het gesoek maar sien geen verwysing hier na die interressante vyf minute annimasie Geri’s Game deur Pixar in 1997 gemaak nie. Dit kan dalk ook ‘n goeie byvoeging tot die blad vorm. Wikipedia gee ook ‘n goeie opsomming oor die stukkie animasie. Ek vind dit nogal heel komies en goed gedoen.
Hou aan met die goeie werk!
Hallo Andry
Baie welkom hier op my blog en baie, baie dankie vir jou baie mooi boodskap. Wat jy oor skaak sê is baie waar. Ek speel ook [wanneer tyd dit toelaat] skaak, maar ook slegs aanlyn, ek het ook nog nooit voorheen kompetisies gespeel nie.
Jy het BAIE beslis my Skaak Humor-bladsy gemis! Daar het ek hierdie pragtige animasie al vir baie, baie lank. 🙂 As jy weer hierlangs kom, besoek gerus die humor bladsy, daar is ander videos ook, [skaak-verwant]. Ek het al ‘n paar weergawes van die video gesien en hierdie een is puik.
Dankie, ek hoop ek sal nog lank tyd hê vir die “goeie werk”. Soos jy kan sien is ek lief vir my taal. 🙂 Lekker week
Dankie Nikita, ek sien toe met my tweede kuier op jou blog die deel met die film en vind toe die skilderye daar net so interressant.
Ook jou resepte afgetrek vir latere smulkanse. Dit lyk waarlik feestelik.
Nogmaals dankie vir jou pragtig saamgestelde webblad. Sterkte en krag vorentoe!
hi Andry!
Welkom terug. Ek is bly jy het van die kuns ook gehou. Ek is net so bly oor die resepte wat jy aan wil gaan smul. Laat weet maar die eindresultaat van wat jy gemaak het. Die blog is ‘n plesier, wens net ek het regtig baie meer tyd gehad, maar die vakansie is darem so 3+ weke ver. 🙂 dankie, sterkte vir jou ook in dit wat jy doen! Terloops, het jy die “Movies”-bladsy besoek?
hi, stuur asb vir my n lys van sielkundiges / arbeidsterapeute / drs wat jy kan aanbeveel in die Pretoria omgewing.
hi Mamma, Welkom hier op my blog. Ek sal vir jou ‘n paar name aanstuur, ek weet nie of van hulle nog in Pretoria praktyke het nie, dis nou ‘n geruime tydjie sedert ek daar weg is, dus sal jy moet seker maak of hulle nog daar is. Hou jy email dop, ek stuur dit bietjie later.
Hi, I wandered onto your site by mistake, as you do(!), and was excited to see the koeksissters recipes – my dad used to make us the malay style ones when we were kids – yum! Anyway, I am happy to report, that sometimes you can buy them at a south african butchers shop, in Chandlers Ford near Southampton, uk – not kept in the meat fridge!!!! Well, i hope they weren’t, cos I’ve eaten them! They are the plaited variety. I don’t know how they match up to south african standards, but my dad and I shared a packet (yes, the whole packet!) over a cup of coffee, and he said that they were not what you get in Cape town, but not bad. The butchers name is Charles Baynham. Very nice chap. Good biltong.
hi Jane! Thank you for the message, will make sure I go there when passing through SH. I’m quite sure they will never be the same as SA’s, but at least near the real koeksister! I guess you enjoyed it with your dad, yummy!
Hi Nikita,
thanks for stopping by and your message.
I wasn’t really doing anything of worth on Twitter. So I quit.
I didn’t think it would be noticed.
I am trying to get motivation to revive my blog.
If you wish to keep in touch, you will have my email from this comment. I always value good friends.
Best wishes.
Hi Little Indian!
Thanks for your kind message. I did miss you, but do understand. I will always check your blog and will stay in touch!
Best Wishes to you too.
Ek doseer Afrikaans in Amerika (www.afrikaans.us). Ek sal baie graag met jou wil kontak maak. Baie dankie vir die wonderlike bydraes in inligting op you blog. Groete, Jacques du Plessis
Hallo Jacques, Baie welkom hier en dankie vir jou mooi boodskap. Ek sal jou ‘n email stuur. Ek dink ek was al jou site ook gewees. Groete aan jou ook.
Ek het op hierdie blad afgekom toe ek die woorde vir “Witborskraai” soek – die tradisionele een gekry, maar ook Laurika se verwerking (het sy dit geskryf?) – dit laat my nekhare rys om sulke lekker Afrikaans te lees/hoor.
Ek weet omtrent niks van skaak af nie, alhoewel ek die basic moves ken, maar meeste van die ander goed hier lyk so lekker, ek het jou klaar op my favourites gesit.
Ek sit ook ver van die huis af in die buiteland vir werk – nog nie so lank nie, so die nuwe en vreemde hou my nog besig, maar die verlang is altyd daar.
Weet jy van die blad funkymunkycoza – beste plek ooit vir tradisionele SA resepte en allerhande ander nonsens – en die olifant-stew stories is altyd good for a laugh.
Hi Janette! Welkom hier op my blog en dankie vir jou vriendelike boodskap. Ja, die buiteland laat mens verlang! – sommer baie. Ek is bly jy geniet die Afrikaans hier, – nes ek – en ja, ek ken funkymunky-het hulle hier op my blog iewers gelink na resepte wat ek daar gekry het. Wees welkom om weer hier langs te kom!
Dis so wonderlik om op hierdie site af te kom! Kan iemand my dalk help met gedigte van Adam Small.
hi Bets!
Welkom hier op my blog, ek sal vir jou ‘n paar van sy gedigte in die bladsy sit wat gemerk is: Afrikaanse digters en gedigte. Ek hoop dit help!
Would love to see a pic [or even cartoon/avatar of you up there rather than some guy, Nikita. It’s you I come to see. 😉
Hi James, seems to me it is time to remove the pic. Glad to see you come here to see ‘me’, shall I turn the kettle on? Tea/Coffee and biscuits, let me know and I’ll get it ready! 🙂
Hello Nikita
Hey you’ve got a very nice chess blog here! I like the way you spread the word about chess, the way you write about it is funny and interesting. “Chess is an art. Chess is a science. Chess is music. Chess is a game. Chess is cool. Chess is fun. Chess is Chess!” I loved this quote!
Could you please contact me? I would like to make a proposal for your blog.
Yours sincerely,
Pablo Ovalle
Member of Social Chess Clock development team
hi Pablo
Thank you for your kind message and welcome to my blog. I guess you’re really joking, just another ‘spammer’? 🙂
lol no I’m not a spammer xD, its just that I made a Chess Clock App for Android devices, and I was hoping that you could try it and give me your comments, so I wanted to mail you the details about the app, but I couldn’t find your mail anywhere. So if you’re interested please mail me.
hi Pablo, OK, I did see your site actually. I will contact you. That sounds interesting – the ‘trying out’ bit. 🙂
thanks Nikita! =D
Hi Lee,
I’d be grateful if you could get in touch via the email on the details box. I’m contacting you from TES and have a question relating to chess in education.
Many thanks,
Rowan
Hi Rowan
I’ve contacted you on Twitter, happy to help you with any question. – Nikita [not Lee :)) ]
How do I get onto your subscription list?
I have changed e-mail addresses recently.
Hi Mike!
Please click on ‘Feeds: Posts’ [Top right corner]
I hope this helps! 🙂
Also, if you can see the link – top left saying ‘following’ feel welcome to click on it instead.
Hi Nikita :), Nice blog !
I saw you link about the life in the UK test, I run a free service to help people pass this exam. So if you are interested I would like to advertise on your site.
Please let me know.
hi James
Thank you for your kind message. Thanks for offering, but I really don’t want to turn my blog in a blog that’s advertising services, hope I don’t offend you, but not going to say yes for this one, sorry. 🙂
Hi. My daughter is reciting one of your poems at school. Does she just say ‘Nikita’ is the poet?
Hi Shafeeka! Welcome to my blog. Wow, this is fantastic, which poem? What school, where? Nikita is my pen name, if you give me more details, I might email you with my name. 🙂
Hi Nikita, het vir 2 jaar in Londen gebly en dit baie geniet, mis sommer die plek as ek hier lees. Jy het n baie interessante blog, ek kom elke keer terug om nog te lees. In elk geval, ek wil n skaakrekenaar vir my dogter, 6 jaar, koop, dalk iets met LED liggies wat aantoon waarheen die rekenaar skuif. Wat dink jy van die Saitek Mephisto, of kry mens beter? Ek wil dit sommer op Amazon in Amerika bestel en met famlie na SA stuur..
Hi Igmar! Welkom hier op my blog, ek’s bly jy vind dit ‘interessant’. London kan verslawend wees. 🙂 Ek moes nou eers ‘n ‘search’ doen op die naam wat jy gegee het, toe onthou ek dat ek dit al voorheen gesien het. Daar is goedkoper stelle ook van Saitek Mephisto. My vraag eerstens is of sy belangstelling toon? Indien sy geinteresseerd is, sal ek sê ja dis goed om in so iets te belê. Andersins, as jy nie seker is nie, sal ‘n doodgewone skaakstel ook reg wees. Ek neem aan jy wil die LED’s hê om dit vir haar meer ‘fun’ te maak? Ek dink nie jy kan verkeerd gaan met die stel indien sy regtig belangstelling toon of geinteresseerd is. Hoe lank speel sy al skaak?
Hi julle, jammer om hier in te chip. Dink ek kan dalk help. Nikita soos jy dalk kan onthou het ek ‘n tweeling dogters – nou 10jaar oud. Altwee het intussen SA span gehaal en is gek oor skaak. Ek dink 6jaar is bietjie klein vir so ‘n rekenaar. Die stukkies is geweldig klein en kan maklik wegraak, en amper onmoontlik om te vervang. Koop liewers ‘n gewone stel en ‘n rekenaar program en miskien ‘n boek met oulike prentjies wat die belangstelling aan wakker.
Hi Connie, Bly om jou weer hier te hê! Ek het bitter lanklaas van jou gehoor! 🙂 Ek stem saam met jou, daarom my vraag aan die einde van hoe lank sy al speel. Met meer detail kan mens ook beter raad gee oor die koop van skaakstelle en veral ook rekenaarsagteware/programme. Ek het bv nou die dag sommer teen $7 ‘n baie oulike program afgelaai.’Sparkchess’ – dit werk met flash en vir my werk dit oulik – verskillende vlakke[4] ook en vir die $7 het ek gedink dis nie te sleg nie.Jy kan selfs ‘online’ speel teen ander spelers.
Dit hang als af van: ouderdom/vlak van belangstelling – vir 6jaar is die stel wat Igmar wil koop nie ‘n slegte idee nie, want jy belê in dit vir altyd – dis ‘n goeie en duursame stel, maar my vraag is op hierdie stadium, stel sy genoeg belang – is sy ernstig genoeg/geinteresseerd genoeg – vir die stel. As sy bv reeds van ‘n jonger ouderdom speel en ernstig is, sien ek nie ‘n probleem daarmee nie. Dit hang ook af van die kind se persoonlikheid. Sommige kinders moet meer geprikkel word deur kleur/prentjies ens as ander.
O ja, Connie, ek wou nog sê: GELUK met jou twee se prestasie! Jy moet ‘n blog net vir hulle begin!
http://www.chessa.co.za/articles.aspx?art=174 Hi Connie, ek wonder of jy weet van die kompetisie. Jou kinders kan deelneem!
Weet van hom, ons gaan iets probeer- maar ek moet ook bysê, die speel baie beter skaak as wat hulle kunstig is:)
🙂 Kry hulle net om ‘n paar idees bymekaar te sit, kunstig het niks daarmee te doen, dit sal Chessa doen – my kinders teken almal elke jaar ‘n klas-logo en kinders kan nogal oulik wees, die sagteware wat jy gebruik laat dit meer professioneel lyk, dus moet nie worry oor hoe dit lyk nie, dis die idee wat tel! 🙂
Wat het geword van Melissa Greeff, ek sien jy het ‘n foto van haar op jou site.
Wat is SA se kanse in die Olimpiade?
Hi Gert – Dis goed om jou weer hier raak te lees! Melissa speel nog skaak. Ek hoop sy gaan aan die SA Vroue Ope deelneem wat oormore in Bloemfontein begin. Ek kon nie ‘n spelerlys op die site kry nie. Wat SA se kanse op die Olimpiade is, is ‘n vraag wat ek nie kan beantwoord nie. Daar gaan baie ervare spelers speel en ek dink hulle behoort BAIE goed te doen. Ons spelers hoef nie terug te staan vir ander spelers nie. Ek gaan hulle beslis volg – maar blog glo ek nie sal daar tyd wees nie. -DALK.
http://istanbul2012.tsf.org.tr/en/component/content/article/2-news-en/150-south-africa-team Jy kan hul name hier sien. Melissa is ook [natuurlik] een. 🙂
Hi Nikita, ek is besig om ‘n engelse boek te skryf. Ek wil baie graag jou engelse vertaling van Eugene Marais se dans van die reen in die boek gebruik met krediet aan jou en die digter. Kan jy my dalk kontak op my epos adres hieronder?
Baie dankie, dit sal hoogs waardeer word.
Hi Eliandrobilize!
Welkom op my blog! Dit klink baie interessant! Ek het so pas vir jou ‘n email gestuur!
Good Day
Do you offer advertising on your website?
Thank you.
Hi Eleanor
Hello to you too and welcome to my blog. No, unfortunately no advertising, sorry!
I like your translation of Op die Hoeveld in English. Lekker, man! But note that you have mistaken the meaning here of ‘spore’ in Afrikaans. In this case he’s talking about spurs, the metal gadgets one puts on one’s boots when riding. They will often jangle against the stirrup, into which one puts one’s foot. So when the poet writes “Dan hoor ek die geklinkel van my spore, saal en toom, sawens. . .” he’s remembering how in the evenings he’s heard “the jingle of my saddle, spurs and bridle” as he rides out to the cattle and sheep.
You’ve translated “spore” as tracks, but that doesn’t work with die geklinkel, which is the little jingling or jangling sound he hears as the metal connectors in the bridle, saddle and spurs touch.
– ‘N ou hoëveldseun en perderuiter.
Please can you se send me a poem that I can use for the eisteddfod I the category of gedramatiseerde gedig
Hi Mic
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t take part in these competitions, so I don’t have any clue as to what you (and they) are looking for.
Hello Nikita 🙂 Hope you are going well! Love from France 😉 An old friend (Claude) from the last MyOpera’s blog…
Hi Claude!! I didn’t forget you!! I was on your blog the other day!! Wow, GREAT to hear from you. I miss MyOpera’s blogs. How are you??
Hello Nikita, I am quite nice. I want to start a small business with my woodburning knives. It seems not so easy that I was thinking. Also I am interested in hypnosis. I tried it several times and saw some images, like a dream but with emotion. Like if I was in the past life a peasant in China, in middle age. So now I learn how to do hypnosis for other people…
And you? What’s about you? Do you still living in London?
Cheers. Claude
Hi Claude, I’m still near London – now just outside but still near enough to be in 30 min at Heathrow. 🙂 Still in teaching too. I’m not a great fan of hypnosis, but sounds interesting what you want to do. I still want to play chess again, but time is just not there.
Hallo Nikita (ek bly maar by jou aanlynnaam), baie dankie vir jou boodskap wat ek op my Facebook-vertalerbladsy ontvang het. Goed, ek maak soos jy gesê het met die name. Ek het net gou weer kom kyk na jou blog, en ek is weer eens beïndruk deur al die wonderlike dinge wat jy hier versamel het. Dis wonderlik om te sien dat jy daar ver in die wêreld (kittie!) so baie doen om Afrikaans lewendig te hou. Beste wense, Errol
Hi Errol, Dankie vir jou mooi kommentaar. Tyd is maar min as jy skoolhou, so ek probeer nou en dan iets doen – vir die taal, moet ek byse. Dankie vir jou besoek ook. Ek sal beslis van jou onthou as ek jou nodig het. Groete en sterkte daar met die virus – maak seker jy’s veilig!
Uitstekende Blog met baie waardevolle informasie, daar gaan baie werk daarin, ek gaan sommer ure hier kuier.
Hi Tokeloshe, Baie dankie vir jou mooi boodskap. Welkom op my blog en kuier gerus. 🙂 Ek hoop jy het tee en koekies byderhand. lol
Sien hierdie en weet nie of dit ‘n aanhaling is nie: “Die grootheid van die mens kan gesien word in hoe hy teenoor sy minderheid optree.”
Maar ek dink dit moet mindere wees ipv minderheid. Lessor mortals.
Hi Erich, Welkom op my blog. Ja, ek dink ek stem 100% saam met jou, dit maak sin!
Haai daar! Ek het nou maar onlangs jou blog ontdek. Vandag kyk ek toe deur die ‘Menu’ en in die ‘about’ afdeling lees ek toe van jou Oom wat die Minister van Onderwys in SA was in 1960s/70s.
Sy seun Johan Op’t Hof was my man (nou oorlede), se strooijonker toe ons in Mei 1966 getroud is. Ek sal n foto stuur as jy wil seker maak dis jou neef.
My naam is Cori en van soos in my eposadres en my man se naam is/was? Desmond. Sal interessant wees om te hoor of hy dit onthou as hy nog leef. (Cori vir die Kiwis wat dit moeilik vind om my naam reg te spel!)
Ek het vroeër gesoek na n gedig, dalk prosa waar hierdie woorde vandaan kom. Ek onthou vaagweg dat een van my ouer broers dit dikwels gesê het: “Geduld, O geduld wat so baie kan dra…” Sal graag hoor of jy daarmee kan help. Dankie!
Hi Corrie! Sjoe, dis darem ‘n verrassing om so ‘n boodskap te kry! Jinne, dit sal interessant wees om die foto te sien. Indien jy nie omgee nie, stuur dit vir my asseblief! Ek sal jou kontak met die epos wat jy gelaat het met jou boodskap. Ek was weg vir 4 dae en vanaand eers terrug gekom – dis nou byna half 11 (in die laataan-nag) hier by ons. Ek sal more jou email stuur sodra ek uitgerus is van die langure op die pad. Dit sal beslis my neef Johan wees. Johan is ‘n hele klompie jare ouer as ek en hy is my bloedneef. 🙂 Hy leef nog. Ek sal kyk of ek die gedig kan kry waarna jy soek. Baie groete!
Haai Nikita, ek het voorheen omtrent 6 weke of twee maand terug sommer op jou blog in Algeme comments geantwoord. Hopelik sien jy hierdie antwoord raak.
Ek het sowaar net één foto van my huwelik waarop jou neef Johan verskyn. Ek glo nie jy wil hê ek moet dit onder algemene comments plaas nie. En ek sien ook nie waar ek die foto kan aanheg nie.
Laat my asb. weet waarheen ek dit vir jou kan stuur.
Ek wens jou n geseënde Kersfees toe of liewer ek hoop dit was n geseënde een. As jy ooit met Johan in aanraking kom, as hy belangstel om van my te verneem i.v m. my oorlede man kan jy maar my e-posadres vir hom gee. My man se naam was Desmond (Des).
Hi Corrie!! Jong, ek moet groot verskoning vra. Ek HET jou vorige kommentaar gesien. Toe ek dit nou weer lees, toe sien ek waarom ek nooit geantwoord het nie. Ek het na die gediggie gesoek – waarvan jy ‘n versreel of twee gelos het – en so het ek vergeet om te antwoord! Ek het heeltemal ‘distracted’ geraak en ek dink dit is omdat ek ook dieselfde tyd hope toetse gehad het om te merk dat ek vergeet het om terug te kom blog toe. Ek is jammer.
Jy kan die foto stuur na: chessalee2468 (at) gmail.com – ek dink ek het ook ‘n vorige keer gese dat jy dit kan stuur na die email wat by jou uitkom – daar behoort ‘n email by jou ook uit te kom. Ek weet nie of WordPress nog so werk nie. Ek plaas die @ in hakies sodat die email adres hier nie ‘aktief’ is vir allerlei goggas wat spam gaan rondstuur nie. Ek sal dit na ‘n paar dae delete – sodra ek weet jy het my antwoord gekry. ‘n Mooi en Geseende Nuwe Jaar vir jou en jou familie ook! Groete – O ja, as ek vir Johan weer sien, sal ek hom se! Ons bly al net so oor die 20 jaar in Engeland. 🙂
Hi Corrie
Ek het ‘n vinnige ‘search’ op ‘google’ gedoen en hier die gedidg gekry met jou aanhaling:
In die konsentrasiekamp
(Aliwal-Noord, 1901)
O, pazienza, pazienza che tanto sostieni! (dante)
Jou oë is nat met die trane van gister;
Jou siel is gemartel, deur smarte gepla;
Van vrede en pret was jy vroeër ‘n verkwister;
En nou, wat bly oor van jou rykdomme? Ja,
‘n Spreekwoord tot steun – daar’s geen trooswoord beslister:
‘Geduld, o geduld, wat so baie kan dra!’
Hier sit jy en koes teen die wind wat daar suie
Yskoud deur die tentseil, geskeur deur die hael –
Jou enigste skuil in die nag teen die buie;
Die Junie-lug stort oor die stroom van die Vaal –
J.C. Kannemeyer
Jy hoor net die hoes van jou kind, en die luie
Gedrup van die reëndruppeltjies oor die paal.
‘n Kers, nog maar anderhalf duim voor hy sterwe,
Brand dof in ‘n bottel hier vlak naas jou bed.
(‘n Kafhuis gee makliker rus: op die gerwe
Daar lê ‘n mens sag, en sy slaap is gered!) –
En hier in die nag laat jou drome jou swerwe
‘n Aaklige rondte met trane besmet.
Hier struikel die kind wat te vroeg was gebore;
Hier sterwe die oumens te swak vir die stryd;
Hier kom ‘n gekerm en gekreun in jou ore;
Hier tel jy met angs elke tik van die tyd;
Want elke sekond’ van die smart laat sy spore
Gedruk op jou hart, deur ‘n offer gewyd.
En deur elke skeur in die seil kan jy duister
Die wolke bespeur oor die hemel verbrei;
Geen ster skyn as gids; na geen stem kan jy luister
(Eentonig die hoes van jou kind aan jou sy!)
Wat sag deur die wind in jou ore kom fluister:
‘Geduld, o geduld, wat so baie kan ly!’
Vergewe? Vergeet? Is dit maklik vergewe?
Die smarte, die angs het so baie gepla!
Die yster het gloeiend ‘n merk vir die eeue
Gebrand op ons volk; en dié wond is te ná –
Te ná aan ons hart, en te diep in ons lewe –
‘Geduld, o geduld, wat so baie kan dra!’
Sjoe! Baie dankie Nikita! Ek is mal oor digkuns. Skryf so dan en wan een in Engels of Afrikaans. Maar dink my kreatiwiteit het nou effe opgedroog want ek het lanklaas een geskryf.
Nog n ding wat ek van baie kleintyd onthou en oor wonder: my ouer broers en susters (ek was die laatlammetjie), het my graag geleer. ‘n Rympie wat ek onthou, maar weet gladnie of dit wel n bestaande rympie is en of hulle dit opgemaak het nie gaan só:
“Spinnekop maak vir baba bang, Baba hardloop dat die stof so staan, (dan het ek dit glo só voltooi ” en piesang agter haar aan”). As jy dit al ooit gehoor het of iets daaroor weet sal ek graag hoor! Mooi dag môre en slaap rustig! TATA, Cori
Hi Nikita, ek het laasweek n boodskap hier gelaat oor Op’t Hof konneksie. Ek het 3 eposbriewe ontvang om my “subscription” te bevestig en almal was presies dieselfde. Toe bevestig net tweemaal. Ek het nou kom kyk of jy my Salies hier geantwoord het, maar sien gladnie my boodskap of een van jou nie. Ek glo jy is seker baie besig.
Geniet jou dag.
Cori
Hi Cori, Sien my boodskap met jou vorige boodskap. Groete!
Dankie Nikita, ma baie gesukkel kry ek toe my epos en jou antwoord! Ek het weer en weer deur al die eposse gescroll. Ek weet nie hoekom ek gedink het my icon wat ek op Fb gebruik hier sou wees nie (!), maar dit is bloedrooi en maklik om tussen ander opmerkings uit te ken en ek het ‘n paar keer net vinnig deur die boodskappe gewoerts en dit nie gesien nie en amper opgegee!
Ek sal vandag n foto probeer inskandeer en vir jou stuur.
Beste groete. Cori.
Dankie, Cori!
Sjoe! Baie dankie Nikita! Ek is mal oor digkuns. Skryf so dan en wan een in Engels of Afrikaans. Maar dink my kreatiwiteit het nou effe opgedroog want ek het lanklaas een geskryf.
Nog n ding wat ek van baie kleintyd onthou en oor wonder: my ouer broers en susters (ek was die laatlammetjie), het my graag geleer. ‘n Rympie wat ek onthou, maar weet gladnie of dit wel n bestaande rympie is en of hulle dit opgemaak het nie gaan só:
“Spinnekop maak vir baba bang, Baba hardloop dat die stof so staan, (dan het ek dit glo só voltooi ” en piesang agter haar aan”). As jy dit al ooit gehoor het of iets daaroor weet sal ek graag hoor! Mooi dag môre en slaap rustig! TATA, Cori
Hi Cori, Nee, ek glo nie daardie is ‘n gedig nie. Ek dink baie mense het daardie frase van: Gogga maak vir baba bang gevat en dan vervang met goed soos die spinnekop. 🙂 Jy moet bietjie van jou gedigte deel! Dit sal lekker wees om dit te lees. Jy kan vir my stuur en ek kan dit in ‘n inskrywing plaas met jou naam daarby – as jy nie ‘n blog het nie. Lekker dag vir jou.
Hello Nikita, jammer ek het so lank geneem om te antwoord. Ek het nou-eers sovêr gekom om die album met my toudagfotos deur te kyk. Ek dag ek het baie foto’s van Johan Op’t Hof maar het net een groepfoto in die album waarop hy verskyn.
Ek sien nie ‘n manier om dit hierby aan te heg nie. Ek het net sy gesig en skouers afgeneem om te stuur want jy wil sekerlik nie my troufoto hier plaas nie. Ek wonder of hy nog vir my oorlede man sal onthou. Ek weet nie meer hoe hulle mekaar leer ken het nie. My man het by die Universiteit van Kaapstad gestudeer. Dalk het hulle daar ontmoet. Ek het vir Johan net een, of dalk tweekeer ná ons troue in 1966 weer gesien. Ek weet nie of my man Desmond, ooit vir hom n foto gegee het nie. Ons het n klein foto op n “dankie-sê” kaartjie laat druk net van ek en my man wat ons vir almal teenwoordig gestuur het. Dis al 55 jaar gelede! Ek kan, as jy kontak het met hom, n volledige foto vir jou stuur.
Geniet jou dag! (Nou twyfel ek of jy in Suid-Afrika is of in Engeland?)
Corrie/Cori