War-time Chess

A HUGE thank you to Anton Roetz, who visited my blog a little while ago. Anton made me aware of this piece of interesting history. I absolutely love to know that this is what some soldiers did during the Anglo-Boer War to entertain themselves and even more to know what one farmer did. Read this interesting piece of information. Information from the site of Cradock-info.

During the early 1900s, British soldiers created a chessboard or chequers board on the top of Saltpeterskop, a 1514m high koppie (hill) in the Park. While using the peak as a lookout point during the Anglo-Boer War, they played chess or chequers with their fellow soldiers on the next lookout point, the Old Fort in Cradock, transmitting moves by means of a mirror, which had the official purpose of communicating warning signals.

The story goes that a certain farmer – unbeknown to the soldiers – picked up the signals and started a game against the soldiers while sitting on the stoep of his farmhouse.

The chessboard and the names of the soldiers are etched onto a flat slab of rock at the top of Saltpeterskop, which is the first koppie on the right as one drives into the Park.

Names recorded include Corporal Pegram of the 1st Coldstream Guards, Corporal Hutchinson, Private W. Chambers of the 5th Lancaster Fusilliers, and many others with dates in 1901 and 1902. The chessboard is still visible today and can be accessed on a guided hike with a SANParks guide.

Salpeterkop was supposedly named after a cave on the hill which provided a supply of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), a substance used in the manufacture of gunpowder for firearms in the early days. The cave was reported to have collapsed and its location is not known today.

Salpeterkop Graves Image: Cradock-info.co.za

Salpeterkop image: Thegreatkaroo.com

Twitter – SANParks

Mountain Zebra National Park – Chessboard — It is believed that the chessboard was created
during the early 1900s by British soldiers. They created the chessboard or draught board on a rock on top of Saltpeterskop, a 1 514m high hill.

Names of the British soldiers engraved on the chess board on Salpterkop

Resource link: https://www.cradock-info.co.za/town/article/1270/mountain-zebra-national-park-cultural-heritage-sites

https://www.thegreatkaroo.com/listing/cradock_excursions_salpeterkop_hike

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Britain’s bastard child

We know apartheid was instilled by the British – the introducing of pass laws, before it was an actual law written in the law books of South Africa. This case study seems to be very interesting. For so many years many countries were shouting ‘apartheid’ – but did they know what was really going on in the country? Did America or Britain look at themselves to see what was actually going on in their own countries, the same time? What is happening in America at the moment? Why is there still so much ‘hate’ between black and white – after all these years? I rest my case. We all know the rules of the (chess) games people and politicians play. They change the rules to suit them only. They instigate events to suit them as and when necessary to avoid checkmate. Just look around the world and you will (probably) notice what they (still) do. This was just one more, but one more too many.

Please click HERE for the first resource link.

Abstracts from the ‘Introduction’ of the book:

“Afrikaners, my people, have long been accused of being the originators and engineers of apartheid, one of the most disreputable institutions in modern history. Yet the accusers have, on the whole, not taken the trouble to understand the historical genesis of apartheid. That is the purpose of this book.

My aim is not to justify apartheid, but to shed light on the historical events and psychological factors which informed its origination. It is not a history, but rather a case study steeped in history.”

————–

“What compelled the Afrikaners, a people traumatised by British barbarism, to inflict the legalised racism of apartheid on their black countrymen? In other words, what does trauma do to a people?

This question constantly ringing in my head would eventually lead me on the most unexpected of paths, and keep me busy for nearly 15 years, something I couldn’t foresee even in my wildest dreams. It led me to the discovery of the abusive relationship between Englishman and Afrikaner, one of unrelenting humiliation of the Afrikaner by the English, since the British arrival in Southern Africa in 1795, and the tragic consequences this relationship had for South Africa, including, inter alia apartheid.”

——

“Fifteen years of research for this book has yielded evidence of at least 200 years of prejudice against Afrikaners. My psychotherapy practice in Cape Town and Swellendam continues to uncover many stories of humiliation. It is important that Afrikaners understand their own history. Otherwise how do you live with the guilt? How do you explain the past to your children – without creating new ghosts and falsehoods? How do you mourn and heal without knowing about the past which has shaped who you are today?

Although this analysis focuses on one group, the Afrikaners, the fact is that trans-generational re-enactment of trauma and humiliation is a universal theme, playing itself out all over the world. A lack of understanding of trans-generational trauma and the impact of humiliation on nations is one reason why ‘people never learn from history’. This book is an attempt to learn from ours.”

Another link:

The myth that there has never been democracy in South Africa is linked to a second myth. Most people think they know that apartheid was an invention of the Afrikaners and their belief that South Africa should be ruled exclusively by whites. Conversely, it is usually thought that the English tradition in South Africa was non-racial and democratic. In fact, the British tradition, as purveyed by both English-speaking South Africans and the parliament at Westminster, has played a less than glorious role in establishing democracy.
Read more on the link of the Independent.

One more…
Link here to read. If you do some in depth research, you will find many more…

An actual fact many of these were a formalisation and extension of existing British pass laws and land acts that kept blacks from travelling freely, obtaining employment, and owning land.

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Afrikaans sal bly! Afrikaans will not fall!

For English readers: This is a poem by someone who is totally frustrated – and fed-up –  by what is going on in South Africa. Watch this video and you will understand. For us who know why these things are happening, we feel the same and we all know who actually to blame for what is going on in this beautiful country we all love to bits! For those who are disrespectful towards other people and their native language, we do excuse you for being uneducated – as we guess it’s again Apartheid that gets the blame, even after more than 20 years, but we have a clear message: #Afrikaanswilnotfall

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The desert garden

A video to enjoy on a Sunday evening. Have you been to this place? 

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Three Cities

 At random times, I get asked by friends what cities in South Africa are like. They usually want to know if they are ‘big and busy‘ – similar to London. On Instagram, I saw these lovely photos and thought to put together this collage to share on the blog. These pictures are from two accounts: ‘SouthAfrica‘ and ‘CityofPretoria‘. From the Pretoria account, I’ve chosen six pictures as they are all amazing pictures and I couldn’t resist them. If you look at the ‘SouthAfrica‘ account, you will agree with me that there’s only one beautiful country in the world and not just a country with random beautiful places. #SouthAfrica

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Die beiteltjie – The Little Chisel

Die Beiteltjie
Ek kry ’n klein klein beiteltjie,
ek tik hom en hy klink;
toe slyp ek en ek slyp hom
totdat hy klink en blink.
Ek sit ’n klippie op ’n rots:
– mens moet jou vergewis:
’n beitel moet kan klip breek
as hy ’n beitel is –
ek slaat hom met my beiteltjie
en dié was sterk genoeg:
daar spring die klippie stukkend
so skoon soos langs ’n voeg:
toe, onder my tien vingers bars
die grys rots middeldeur
en langs my voete voel ek
die sagte aarde skeur,
die donker naat loop deur my land
en kloof hom wortel toe –
só moet ’n beitel slaan
wat beitel is, of hoé?
Dan, met twee goue afgronde
val die planeet aan twee
en oor die kranse, kokend,
verdwyn die vlak groen see
…from the day I see the night
far beyond opening up
within a crack that from my chisel
runs through to the stars
en op die dag sien ek die nag
daar anderkant gaan oop
met ’n bars wat van my beitel af
dwarsdeur die sterre loop
Klik die link vir NP van Wyk Louw huldeblyk-dokument.

Van Wyk Louw – one of the most distinguised Afrikaans poets– I agree with Breyten Breytenbach. ‘The chisel, a metaphor for the poetic word – splits a stone, then the rock under the stone, then the earth beneath the rock, then the poet’s country, then the planet, until… 

…from the day I see the night
far beyond opening up
within a crack that from my chisel
runs through to the stars [Breytenbach]

Lees HIER ‘n breedvoerige verduidelik oor Die Beiteltjie op Oulitnet.

‘n Pragtige gedig – In die dokument verskyn heelwat feite en inligting oor van Wyk Louw. Ek het ook Cecile Cilliers se artikel raakgelees op die internet en kan met haar  en van Wyk Louw saamstem met: ‘n Donker naat loop deur my land. 

Verward deur die donker naat van ons geweld

2013-02-18 22:52

Cecile Cilliers

Die donker naat loop deur my land / en kloof hom wortel toe – Dít is die eerste twee versreëls van die vierde strofe van N.P. van Wyk Louw se “Die Beiteltjie”, waarskynlik een van die bekendste gedigte in die Afrikaanse letterkunde. Dit word vertel, of miskien het hy dit self in Rondom eie werk vertel, dat die gedig volledig een Kaapse oggend na hom gekom het. Hy was te voet op pad universiteit toe, toe die woorde plotseling in sy kop verskyn. Agter sy lessenaar het hy dit heel en in sy geheel neergeskryf.

Die eenvoud van die gedig ten spyt, laat hy hom nie maklik verklaar nie. Die beiteltjie dui glo op die woord en die mag van taal – meer as wat dit vir die swaard moontlik is, kan dit wêrelde verander. Maar die gevare wat taal inhou, bly nie uit nie.

Daardie versreël, die eerste reël van die rubriek, bly die hele week in my kop dreun: die donker naat loop deur my land…

Ek raak stram om te lag, staan verward, verneder en gedeprimeer deur die donker naat van geweld wat deur my land loop, en wat besig is om gesinne, families, gemeenskappe, uit mekaar te ruk. Is dít wat van ons geword het?

Amalie bel uit Amerika: Mamma, wat gaan aan? Op elke voorblad, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA TODAY, word die gewelddadigheid van Suid-Afrika uitgebasuin.

In 1994 nog die liefling van die wêreld, 20 jaar later opnuut die muishond. Natuurlik is daar ’n yslike hap leedvermaak. Net soos ons leedvermakerig vertel het van die bloeddorstige skietery in die VSA, van die verskrikking van die busverkragting in Indië.

Maar met of sonder die veroordelende woorde van die buitelandse verslaggewers – tot van Fidji het hulle glo gekom – het dit tyd geword dat ons lank en eerlik en ondersoekend na onsself en na ons gemeenskappe kyk. Sonder die gewone skindernuus. Want elkeen het ’n eiertjie te lê, ’n stuiwer in die armbeurs te gooi, of dit nou die dood  an Anene of van Reeva is, ons práát daaroor. Ons praat ja, blý praat, maar wat dóén ons?

Hoeveel sulke berigte, hoeveel sulke stories kan ’n volk se psige verduur voordat dit gewoon aan die werklikheid onttrek? Of erger nog, mettertyd alles gewoond word, hoe grusaam ook al? Is ons dan nie bereid om verantwoordelikheid vir ons land te aanvaar nie?

Tydens die apartheidsjare is daar groepe gevorm – Vroue vir Vrede, Kontak, Black Sash, Vroue vir Geregtigheid – wat daadwerklik vir ’n nuwe, beter Suid-Afrika gewerk het. Moet dit nie maar weer gebeur nie? Kán dit weer gebeur?

Soms vrees ek geweld het in ons bloed kom sit, eie geword aan ons mense en ons land. En dit kloof hom wortel toe.

In die wit nag bid ek saam met Dawid: Laat my weer blydskap en vreugde belewe…

beeld.com/Rubrieke/CecileCilliers/Verward-deur-die-donker-naat-van-ons-geweld-20130218

Hier is ‘n Engelse vertaling deur Uys Krige en Jack
Cope van “Die Beiteltjie.”

         THE LITTLE CHISEL

Here in my hands a small cold-chisel,
I tap it and it rings;
and I hone it and I stone it
until its bright edge sings.

I prop a pebble on a rock;
 –  you’ve got to get this clear:
a chisel that’s a real cold-chisel
can crack a boulder sheer –

I slam it with my chisel edge,
its toughness is a gift:
straight the pebble flies apart
as clean as on a rift:

next, under my ten fingers split,
the granite rock divides,
below my feet I start to feel
the softened earth subside,

and dark the seam runs through my land
and cleaves it to the core –
so a chisel cuts that truly is
a chisel, or what’s it for?

Then with two gold-red chasms
the planet falls in two
and down the rockfalls boiling,
drains the ocean flat and blue

and in the day I see the night
below me open far
with a crack that from my chisel blow
runs to the furthest star

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The ‘unknown war’

If you don’t know about it, you can view plenty of videos on youtube about the Bush War – South Africa vs Angola – a war fought more than 20 years… This is a beautiful Afrikaans song. Visuals are great in the video.
Found this link: warinangola.com

I like this video clip more, as it’s not just still images – like the above video. South African troops can be proud of what they have achieved during the Bush War – they were real heroes.

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Memories are made of this

Femme à Côté d’un Échiquier, by Henry Matisse -[credit:chessbase]

Images: http://www.pbase.com/arnomeintjes/drakensberg

Missing ‘The Berg‘ today! Wish for a mountain – a proper mountain – to climb.

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Do they know?

This photo was taken yesterday about 4pm

The first Afrikaans Christmas song written in South Africa – about a Summer Christmas – and I’ve found a youtube video about it. It’s beautiful, the boys singing in this choir reminded me of the Drakensberg Boys Choir of years ago – beautiful singing. The translation of the song was found on the site of: openlanguages.net

Somerkersfees

[1]

Welkom o stille nag van vrede,
Onder die suiderkruis,
Wyl stemme uit die verlede
Oor sterrevelde ruis.

[2]

Hoor jy hoe sag die klokke beier
in eeue-oue taal.
Kyk, selfs die nagtelike swye
vertel die ou verhaal.

[3]

Voel jy ook nou Sy warm liefde
As ons die dag gedenk,
Toe Hy sy Seun aan ons gegee het –
Ons grootste Kersgeskenk.

KOOR

Kersfees kom, Kersfees kom –
Gee aan God die eer.
Skenk ons ‘n helder Somerkersfees
In hierdie land, o Heer.

English-version

[1]

Enter in quiet peace filled night
beneath the Southern Cross
Lend now your ear this starlit night,
to whispers from the past.

[2]

Do you hear how softly the bells
are chiming, in ancient dialect
Even the evening’s starry silence,
on prescious history reflects.

[3]

Can you also feel the warmth of His love,
as we celebrate the day
God loved us so much He sent his son,
no other gift as great.

CHORUS

Christmas nears, Christmas nears
Bow before the King
Grant by Your grace in this great land
A bright summer’s Christmas Lord.

This next video is for everyone reading here and I do hope your Christmas will be a wonderful Christmas.
I want you also to think about South Africans and pray for my country and its people, you can see photos of how black kids are being trained how to kill/execute whites- and best of all, the WORLD is turning a BLIND eye. If it was whites killing blacks, it would be DIFFERENT story, but who cares, it’s blacks killing whites, even a three year old girl! I won’t go into the detail how she was killed as you won’t believe it. Read the link to know what is REALLY going on in South Africa. The British screwed up big time – with Zimbabwe and they screwed up ONCE again – not just the British, but America too – this time. And …oh please, don’t come to me with your Apartheid excuses, as Apartheid was nothing like this and has nothing to do with this – 1994 is …er…how many years ago? Using Apartheid as an excuse also shows how uninformed you actually are about South Africa and its past – as that’s the only thing most people know about – well, actually those who know something about South Africa – apart from lions and rhinos roaming the streets/cities of our country – like some people think. So, I would suggest to read the link if that was going to be your excuse too.  These people are demon possessed and they do not know about God and the love of God and Jesus. They need your prayers too and they need people to spread the love of God, so they can stop with their killings. If you are interested in more reading, follow the link on my sidebar – with the photo of Anthony LoBaido – to read more.

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Report Crime – South Africa

Please click on the image for a large view

Report Crime is something thats been in the back of my mind for a while now and 6 months ago, If not longer I decided to implement it. It will be an on-going project that I really want to get off the ground. Its a community based crime notification and awareness tool. It’s currently a free service and I intend to keep it that way. However it needs to look after itself financially in the end, and that would be supported by advertisers.
My main focus rite now is to build up users for the site, Ive already started advertising on Facebook. I originally tested the idea by putting up a very simple crime logging system, and the response I got from advertising though Google was very good. However that system had no methods in place to track users. It was extremely simple and was setup in less than a week, I wonder if the current system is too complex and the key to its success is to be ridiculously simple.

Look at Craigs list, as ugly as hell as there is no styling and no js, but that makes it fast and is one of the most successful sites around the world.
Please click HERE to visit Derrick’s site to read more and HERE to visit the Report Crime-site where you can also report a crime if you know about one!

I think this kind of site is the first in the world and I personally think it is great! I’m in contact with Frederic on Twitter – his twitter-name is Deighardt and through him I got to know about this site which is his cousin’s mastermind – Derrick.  I hope people will find it useful and use it too as it is a great tool to even report crime too. Planning to visit South Africa…check out this site for crime hotspots! Planning to travel…from Pretoria to Durban…or wherever…check it out. You know of any crime…report it!  You can even search for places in South Africa or set up an email/sms-alert. This is what we need in our country…maybe all over the world!

It’s a shame that crime is such an issue in South Africa. We have a beautiful country…as many visitors have said what these two also say…

This is my second week in South Africa. What a stunningly beautiful country. The people are diverse and lovely. The food is fabulous. The vistas are varied and magnificent…Diana Mason…June 2009 from http://ajnoffthecharts.com

South Africans know how to put relationships ahead of tasks. You can stop by someone’s house for coffee ,and even if they were on their way to the store, they will stop everything and spend an hour with you. Feb 2010 -An American in Pretoria…http://anamericaninpretoria.blogspot.com

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Bygone Times

On THIS LINK you can watch some short clips about Cape Town but also take a virtual tour! This link is worth visiting.

Do yourself a favour and take a look at Etienne’s Flickr photos  – even if you are from the US or the UK you will find pics you will appreciate. On this image you can see the cable car on Table Mountain being inspected – 1977. He has pictures that cover a variety of topics and you will surely find something to your taste. This next pic is Adderley Street – Cape Town  – 1960.

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Let’s ride the wind

Cape Town – with its surrounding beaches – is the place to go – for many tourists. If you haven’t been to South Africa, everybody will encourage you to go to Cape Town first.  There are various reasons why people will tell you to go to CT first. Of course I will suggest it too, as it is a touristy city, lots of activities for tourists, beautiful historical sites to visit, beautiful views and Table Mountain to enjoy on a picnic outing. – My next stop for anyone that’s been to South Africa before, will of course be my favourite: The Drakensberg Mountains! There are various hotels in the Mountain range and the most beautiful spots for anyone that loves hiking. Back to Bloubergstrand. If you search Bloubergstrand, you will find the most beautiful pictures, some of which you can see in this entry. Laurika Rauch sings the song  Op Blouberg se Strand, but this time I have the song as sung by Juanita du Plessis. I’ve roughly translated the song for English readers. This song describes some of the activities at Bloubergstrand. I’ve also found a very interesting piece of reading about Bloubergstrand. Do enjoy it.

If you’re in Cape Town and desperate to play chess, do visit the Goodwood Chess club…see their website for a map and details. They exist since 1963.

http://goodwoodchess.tripod.com/

http://goodwoodchess.blogspot.com/

 Organised club league chess is over 100 years old in Cape Town. Cape Town chess club, the oldest in South Africa (founded in 1885) together with Woodstock, Tokai and the YMCA club formed a union of clubs in 1907.

At Bloubergstrand

The waves know where the billows break
They think they’re free
The clouds drift in the sky
but they must ride the winds
It’s early in the day, at Bloubergstrand
The wind will be blowing, the sun will be burning
But it’s cool after the long night
and we greet the day

Choir

Good morning my sunshine
Good morning my child
Let’s jog alongside the beach
Let’s ride the wind
The sun will scorch us
and the rays will burn
But it’s early in the day
At Bloubergstrand

There are lime-washed houses
and old Table Mountain
There are anglers with rod and hat
pestering fish from early on
Daddy says: my child, we must find black mussels
we love the sea, I love my child
Yes, it’s cool after the long night
and we greet the day

Choir

Good morning my sunshine
Good morning my child
Let’s jog alongside the beach
Let’s ride the wind
The sun will scorch us
and the rays will burn
But it’s early in the day
At Bloubergstrand (2x)

Image: New York Times

Op Blouberg se strand

DIE GOLWE WEET WAAR BREEK DIE BRANDERS –
HULLE DINK HULLE’S VRY
DIE WOLKE WENTEL IN DIE HEMEL MAAR
OP DIE WINDE MOET HUL RY
DIS VROEG IN DIE DAG, OP BLOUBERG SE STRAND
DIE WIND GAAN NOG WAAI, DIE SON GAAN NOG BRAND
MAAR DIS KOEL NA DIE LANG NAG
EN ONS GROET DIE DAG
KOOR:
GOEIE MÔRE MY SONSKYN
GOEIE MÔRE MY KIND
KOM ONS DRAF LANGS DIE STRAND
KOM ONS RY OP DIE WIND
DIE SAND SAL ONS SKROEI
EN DIE STRALE SAL BRAND
MAAR DIS VROEG IN DIE DAG
OP BLOUBERG SE STRAND

DAAR IS WITGEKALKTE HUISE
EN OU TAFELBERG
DAAR IS HENGELAARS MET STOK EN HOED
WAT VROEG VISSE TERG
MY PA, SÊ MY KIND, ONS MOET SWART MOSSELS VIND
ONS IS LIEF VIR DIE SEE, EK IS LIEF VIR MY KIND
JA DIS KOEL NA DIE LANG NAG
EN ONS GROET DIE DAG

KOOR ( X2)

Its pristine beaches and modest lime-washed historic fisherman’s houses have been immortalised in song. Its spectacular, classic view of Table Mountain across Table Bay has been captured on countless photographs, postcards and brochures, which are used to lure tourists to nearby Cape Town.

Yet Bloubergstrand (which is Afrikaans for ‘blue mountain beach’) itself has always had much to offer those willing to make the approximately 25 kilometre journey north of the Mother City to pay it a visit and linger for longer than the amount of time it requires to take a snapshot of the mountain.

Incidentally, one would be forgiven to assume that Bloubergstrand’s name comes from that world famous postcard view of Table Mountain, but one would be quite mistaken. The suburb is actually named after Blouberg, a hill located not too far inland from the coast.

The consistent summer winds sweeping across the bay stirs up the waves, making Bloubergstrand a watersport heaven. In fact, Big Bay – home to the annual, recently held Oxbbow Big Bay Classic windsurfing championship event – is arguably the premier windsurfing and kiteboarding spot in the world.

Strollers and shell collectors can be seen meandering up the wild stretch of Milnerton Beach which lies between the city and Bloubergstrand.

But Blouberg’s beaches and ground are blood-soaked. History buffs will be intrigued to know that a small but significant battle was fought here in1806. It was called the Battle of Blaauwberg and it established British rule in South Africa.

During that time, the Cape Colony belonged to the French controlled Netherlands (then called the Batavian Republic). But the sea route around the Cape was important to the British, so in order to prevent that from also coming under French control, they decided to seize the colony. A British fleet was despatched to the Cape in July 1805 to forestall the French troopships sent by Napoleon to reinforce the Cape garrison.

At the time, the colony was governed by Lt Gen Jan Willem Janssens (Blaauwberg House is located in Gen Janssens Str). He was also commander-in-chief of the colony’s military forces. The forces were small and of poor quality and backed up by local militia units.

The first British warship reached the Cape on Christmas Eve 1805, marking its arrival by promptly attacking two supply ships off the Cape Peninsula. When the main fleet sailed into Table Bay on 4 January 1806, Janssens mobilised his garrison, declared martial law and called up the militia.

Two British infantry brigades, under the command of Lt Gen Sir David Baird, landed at Melkbosstrand on 6 and 7 January 1806. Janssens moved his forces to intercept them with the intent of attacking them right there on the beach and then to withdraw to the interior where he had hoped to hold out until the French troopships arrived. He knew that victory against the stronger and bigger British forces wasn’t possible, but he thought the honour of his fatherland demanded a fight.

However, on 8 January 1806, Baird’s brigades reached the slopes of the Blaauwberg mountain before Janssens and his troops did. Janssens halted and ordered his men to form a line across the veld.

The battle began at sunrise. At the onset, Janssens had 2 049 troops. They were far outnumbered by Baird and his 5 399 men. At the end of the battle, Janssens had lost 353 in casualties and desertion. Baird had 212 casualties.

Following the battle, Janssens and his remaining men moved inland to Elandskloof in the Hottentots-Holland mountains.

The British forces reached the outskirts of Cape Town on 9 January. To protect the town and its civilian population from attack, the commandant of Cape Town, Lieutenant-Colonel Hieronymus Casimir von Prophalow sent out a white flag. He handed over the outer fortifications to Baird, and terms of surrender were negotiated later in the day.

However, Janssens, who was still the Batavian Governor of the Cape, still refused to surrender himself and his remaining troops. He was still sticking to his original plan to hold out as long as he could in the hope that the French troopships for which he had been waiting so long for would still arrive and save him.

Eventually, on 18 January, he finally agreed to capitulate. The terms of the capitulation were reasonably favourable towards the Batavian soldiers and citizens of the Cape. In March 1806, Janssens, along with other Batavian officials and troops, were sent back to the Netherlands.

The British forces occupied the Cape until 13 August 1814, when the Netherlands ceded the colony to Britian as a permanent possession. It remained a British colony until it was incorporated into the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910.

Much to our relief, the only battles taking place in Blouberg these days are the ones between the windsurfers, kiteboarders and other athletes.

Source:www.malatabeach.co.za/Info.html

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South Africa’s Woman Chess Grandmaster!

FIDE has recognised the achievements of Melissa Greeff [15] by indicating that she will be awarded the prestigious title of International Woman Grandmaster.CONGRATULATIONS Melissa!! You do us PROUD!  Baie Geluk, Melissa, ons het hiervoor gewag, ons het eintlik geweet jy’s  reeds ‘n Grandmaster, ons het slegs vir die aankondiging gewag! We already knew you were one… we’ve been waiting for the announcement only!! [news:official site: chessa.co.za]

You can see her Fide profile on this link. The link will open in a new window.

Click on this link this link to see her games during the “First Saturday” tournament in Budapest and on this link to play through her games interactively on chessgames and 365chess. Links will open in a new window.

Melissa – 15 year old student in her school uniform- photo:

herschel.org.za/news/senior-news/165/check-mate

Melissa vs Groetz at the Arctic Chess Challenge

The same time, congratulations to the Springboks! You are still my heroes when it comes to rugby!

The following message from Jennifer Shahade  to Melissa:

Nikita: Send my congrats to WGM Greef! Her family was so hospitable when I was in SA, hope to visit again sometime soon.

[message on her site: jennifershahade.com]

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Afrikaans! Afrikaans! Afrikaans!

You can click on this mosaic for a larger view.

English readers: This poem in this entry is about South Africa. I dedicated the 14th August 2008 to Afrikaans, the language I love and my mother tongue. This is, in our history, used to be an important day as we celebrated Afrikaans as our language. Afrikaans was forbidden to use by Afrikaans speaking people in the Cape when the English occupied the Cape. A sign/tag was placed around children’s necks in schools saying, “donkey”, if they had dared to speak Afrikaans.

On 14th August 1875 the GRA was founded. Their task was to promote Afrikaans. They also requested – on the 24th August 1878 – for the Bible to be translated into Afrikaans.

In this poem I refer to some places and nature.  On the link of my 2008-entry, you can see the Afrikaans Language Monument. Good news for Afrikaans too: WordPress and Facebook have gone Afrikaans! If you choose Afrikaans as your language in the settings in WordPress, you will find most terms on your dashboard in Afrikaans. 

Hoogenhout, a famous South African poet, said the following after Afrikaans was forbidden in schools in the early 1920s.

“English! English! All is English! What you see and hear

In our schools, in our churches, our Mother tongue is killed”

Was dit Hoogenhout wat in ‘n gedig gesê het:

“Engels! Engels! Alles Engels! Engels wat jy sien en hoor;
In ons skole, in ons kerke, word ons moedertaal vermoor.
Ag, hoe word ons volk verbaster, daartoe werk ons leraars saam.
Hollands nog in seek’re skole: is bedrog, ‘n blote naam!
Wie hom nie laat anglisere, word geskolde en gesmaad.
Tot in Vrystaat en Transvaal al, oweral dieselfde kwaad.
‘Dis vooruitgang’, roep die skreeuwers, ‘dis beskawing wat nou kom!
Die wat dit nie wil gelowe, die is ouderwets en dom…’.”

 I‘ve been to a few countries and many places in the UK. I still think South Africa is the most beautiful country in the world. We have such an abundance of beauty and  diversity in nature. We have the greenest canyon in the world- which is also the 3rd largest in the world, we have the highest waterfall in Africa and the 2nd highest in the world, the 3rd longest Tufa waterfall, the deepest mines, the largest zoo, the smallest butterfly, the largest diamond, the second largest amount of windmills on farms (280 000), the largest impact crater on earth, white lions, the largest ostrich population and much more.

On this link of the  The Drakensberg Mountains, you can read about my hiking trip in the Mountain when I was 15. I was on top of Mount Aux Sources, the highest peak of the mountain range in South Africa. The actual highest peak of this mountain range is in Lesotho and the peak is called, Thaba Ntlenyana (which means: beautiful little mountain). “Thaba” means “mountain” – the attributive “yana” means “little”. 

You can see a pic of one of the two chain ladders you have to go on to reach the summit. At the bottom of this post I have included an Afrikaans song by the Art teacher in my Secondary school. He was one of the two teachers on our hiking trip! He sings about “sidewalk people” and I’ve translated it roughly for you to understand.

More interesting facts – from quite a few years ago:

*Pretoria has the second largest number of embassies in the world after Washington, D.C.
*The University of South Africa – UNISA – is a pioneer of tertiary distance education and is the largest international correspondence university in the world with 250,000 students.
*Afrikaans is the youngest official language in the world.
*The Singita Private Game Reserve in the Kruger National Park was voted the best hotel in the world by the readers of travel publication, Conde Nast Traveller.
*Stellenbosch University was the first university in the world to design and launch a microsatellite.
*South Africa houses one of the three largest telescopes in the world at Sutherland in the Karoo.

South Africa is the first country to host a Fide rated Chess tournament where players from different countries played their games online! See my entry about the South African Open Chess Championships that took place in Cape Town.
Read HERE my post dedicated to Afrikaans only- last year 14th August. 

This stamp was issued October 1975. It was issued on the Inauguration of the Afrikaans Language Monument  and features the 1st edition of the Arikaanse Partiot (January 15, 1876), one of the first newspapers in Afrikaans rather than Dutch.
On this link you can see more stamps of South Africa.

Met die stigting van die Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners op 14 Augustus 1875 in die Paarl is ‘n tydvak van georganiseerde stryd om die Afrikaanse taal ingelui. In artikel IX van die Genootskap se bepalings word beoog om ‘n Afrikaanse maandblad uit te gee. Op hierdie dag in 1876 verskyn die eerste uitgawe van die maandblad Die Afrikaanse Patriot, wat die orgaan van die GRA sou wees. C.P. Hoogenhout was die eerste redakteur onder die skuilnaam Oom Lokomotief, wat deur die redakteurs na hom oorgeneem is. In Die Patriot dek die GRA die terreine van hul doelstelling, naamlik die van land, volk en taal. Daarin is leiding gegee ten opsigte van landsake, die Afrikaanse taal, geskiedenis en belangrike nuus. —lees meer op die link!

LEES HIER!!

Jan 2015 –Indien jy beplan om my eie gedigte te ‘leen’ vir jou Facebook bladsy of jou privaat blog of website, kan jy asseblief so vriendelik wees om my daaroor in te lig en daarna ook my skryfnaam ‘Nikita’ daarby te publiseer -soos dit by al my eie gedigte hier op my blog is! Dit is ‘n klein en simpel versoek. Ek vind my eie gedigte op heelwat ander websites and dit is vir my aangenaam om te weet dat ander mense my gedigte waardeer, maar daar is kopiereg reëls en ek sal dit waardeer indien jy dit sal respekteer en erkenning gee aan die skrywer van die gedig. Dan — vind ek ook my gedigte op internet bladsye van mense met sekere politieke sieninge en oorweginge waarmee ek nie saamstem nie. Ek het herhaaldelik gevra om my gedigte te verwyder en my versoeke word bloot geignoreer. Dit wys dat daar mense is wat nie ander se werke (eiendom) respekteer nie. Dit is die groot rede waarom ek die boodskap hier plaas.

Suid-Afrika: my land

Jy’s indrukwekkend, manjifiek
jou sondeurdrenkte landskappe
weerkaats helder beelde in my siel
jou pragtige wonders flikker oneindig
lank in die stilte van jou nagrus

Mount Aux Sources – so elegant en grasieus
verrys jy vanuit die voetheuwels, soos
‘n fakkel by die Spele ets jy lekkende
beelde teen die muur van my geheue
en voel ek jou hitte gloeiend teen my hart

O Blyde! ek fantaseer oor jou
magiese kragte wat jy sorgloos
en galant in die galery van my
stille gemoed stilletjies uitpak terwyl
my dawerende applous eggo
oor die velde van my gedagtes

Moederstad! hoe inskiklik laat jy my
telkens hakkel wanneer ek my herinneringe
sagkens koester – jou fasades!
waar ek jou gambiet betree
en gewillig my pionne oorgee

En saans voel ek jou fluweelagtige
skoonheid van elke sonsondergang
stadig neerdaal in my gemoed terwyl
ek stadig drink van jou geloofs-fonteine
wat borrellend bruis in oorvloed

Fragmentaries vier ek feeste
ek dans en omhels jou en jy –
jy blus my gees telkens met jou
magiese heildronke: een-vir-een
op ‘n toekoms – wat mag wees!
–Nikita –14/8/09 14:00

Sidewalk People

Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move like shadows in the street past me
Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move faceless past my heart

Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move like shadows in the street past me
Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move faceless past my heart

I wish I could look at a photo
to see what your world deep inside is like
borrow a piece of your dreams
I wonder who you are

I wish I could understand the language
in which you channelled your thoughts
I wish I could for a moment
share your path of life

Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move like shadows in the street past me
Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move faceless past my heart

perhaps it’s best for sure
‘cos if we know all of all
the sadness maybe
too hard too much
the love too beautiful

walk past one another
I stay I and you stay you
a single road leading somewhere
I wish I could understand

Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move like shadows in the street past me
Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move faceless past my heart

Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move like shadows in the street past me
Sidewalk People Sidewalk People
Move faceless past my heart

—translated–nikita

image: google

Sypaadjie Mense

Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg soos skimme in die straat verby
Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg gesigloos voor my hart verby

Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg soos skimme in die straat verby
Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg gesigloos voor my hart verby

ek wens ek kon ‘n kiekie kyk
hoe jou wêreld diep daar binne lyk
‘n stukkie van jou drome leen
ek wonder wie jy is

ek wens ek kon die taal verstaan
waarin jy jou gedagtes baan
ek wens ek kon ‘n oomblikkie
jou lewenspaadjie deel

Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg soos skimme in die straat verby
Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg gesigloos voor my hart verby

miskien is dit dalk beter so
want as ons iets van almal weet
die hartseer dalk te swaar te veel
die liefde dalk te mooi

stap maar bymekaar verby
ek bly ek en jy bly jy
‘n enkelpaadjie iewers heen
ek wens ek kon verstaan

Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg soos skimme in die straat verby
Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg gesigloos voor my hart verby

Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg soos skimme in die straat verby
Sypaadjie mense Sypaadjie mense
Beweeg gesigloos voor my hart verby

Sypaadjie Mense – Johan vd Watt

Sonja Herholdt, Ek verlang na jou.

Herman Holtzhausen – Transkaroo

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South Africa – a distorted view

Image: bornagainredneck.blogspot.com

Since I have started teaching in  Secondary schools in the UK, it has been interesting to know what is being taught in schools and to compare to what we teach in South Africa. Curriculum-wise, the contents is of course exactly the same when it comes to all subjects, apart from history, as all countries teach the history of their country more intensively for obvious reasons. Colleagues are always interested to know about the country you’re from  and you do enjoy the diversity in students/teachers – all from different countries and to get to know the different cultures too. I’ve met teachers from Spain, France, Canada, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Greece, Poland, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, Nigeria, too many to name! One thing is for sure, teachers are teachers, it doesn’t matter from which country you are, your background, we all share some personal traits. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to chat with a history teacher and I was given a text book and when paging through the book, my eye caught the topic on South Africa – and it was interesting to read through the text, but then when I read the section about slavery, I couldn’t believe the distorted account of the events/history during the 1700’s-1800’s, e.g. one “fact” was that the British abolished slavery (which is the truth), but then the distorted view:  it was the cause of the Great Trek.  As if the “boers” had wanted to have slaves and decided to trek due to the abolishment of slavery. Ee….e.r… that’s not the cause of the Great Trek in 1838… I would suggest that you read Patrick’s blog if you were taught that distorted fact at school. Also, if you are/were under the impression that we had slaves in SA –  after slavery was abolished – then you really do have a distorted view of SA and what really happened there. I would then urge you to make sure you have the facts.

 I’ve found Patrick’s blog with a clear explanation of our history. He explains it clearly, in an interesting way. I have really enjoyed reading his entry and I would like you to make an effort and visit his blog-entry. You will find the link at the bottom of this entry. I also have a link to one of my early-entries, which you might want to follow too. I’ve found tons of information and many links which you will enjoy. I think history-textbooks need to be rewritten for Secondary schools in the UK… but, we all know why history always got written the way it is written, don’t we?

C.D. Jewell, author of Liberalstein, says about Born Again Redneck:
“This blog interested me first because of the title. But the quality of Patrick Joubert Conlon’s writing has kept me coming back. His style is not presumptuous or pompous or condescending; it’s plain and simple. Good old American English. Which is funny because Mr. Conlon was born and lived in South Africa for his first twenty one years and after that spent eight years in England before finding his home here in the U. S. His blog provides a rare outsider/insider perspective on the U. S. of A. He’s been linked to by CNN on a couple of occasions and one of his posts was cited by the official Fred08 website. He does a lot of politics but also some lighter fare as well. He frequently posts spectacular photos taken on his Oregon farm.”

A quote from Patrick’s blog… and I do hope that you will follow the link and read the complete entry. All links will open in a new window.

They first introduced a law to force the Khoi and other so-called “free” blacks to work for as little as possible. The Hottentot Code of 1809 required that all Khoi and other free blacks carry passes stating where they lived and who their employers were. Persons without such passes could be forced into employment by white masters.

Parliament in London then established a circuit court to monitor conditions in the western Cape. This court offended many Afrikaner sensibilities by giving equal weight to the evidence of “servants” and “masters,” black and white alike. The British also raised a force of colonial police, including Khoi, to enforce the court’s authority. The British also forbade the use of “Cape Dutch” (which patois eventually developed into the Afrikaans language) in court.

In 1815 a Dutch-speaking Afrikaner farmer who refused to answer a court summons for mistreating a Khoikhoi employee was shot dead while resisting arrest. Relatives and neighbors rose in what became known as the Slachter’s Nek Rebellion, but their resistance was soon crushed, and the British hanged five of the rebels.

Some Afrikaners migrated eastward. These Afrikaners were known as Trekboers (itinerant farmers – “trek” is Afrikaans for “travel” and “boer” means “farmer.”) Then the British stopped the Boers eastward trek by annexing all of the Eastern Cape and establishing their own colony there in 1820. That is when my father’s ancestors, the 1820 Settlers, arrived in South Africa.
Read a clear explanation by Patrick HERE

You can read my blog-entry on the following link:

https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/boer-war-art-poetry-and-history/

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South African Open Chess Championship 2009

 CHESSA: Click on Chessa’s logo – first image in this post –  and it will take you to the official site of Chess South Africa. The link will open in a new window. Click here to follow some of the games live on Chesscube. If you are not registered on Chesscube, it will take you a few seconds and you can watch live games. You can click on “play” to register. Games start 18:30 and 9:30 local time. The final round on Saturday – 11th July – starts at 11:00-16:00 local time. To follow the games, you need to go to the SA Open-room on Chesscube (on the chatroom-list). Enjoy!

Images: SAOpen2009.com

In Cape Town, the South African Open 2009 is taking place, it started yesterday. Players from all over the world are taking part.  GM G Jones (ENG), GM D Komavor (UKR) and a few FM’s and IM’s are taking part too –  from countries other than South Africa. Exciting news: Ryan van Rensburg (2106) (SA) drew a game against  GM Dimitri Komarov (2530) (UKR).  Ryan has also beaten IM Watu Kobese (2493) (SA) in round 7 and in round 8 he drew a game against IM MABUSELA, JM (2244)! Ryan drew in round 9 his game against IM P Wang (2453) and in round 10: Ryan drew his game against FM NP van der Nat (2322) and also,   FM CCA De Villiers -2179- (SA) drew against GM G Jones-2550-(ENG).

GM A Simutowe (Zambia) is the winner of the SA Open 2009. Please click HERE for the final results. The link will open in a new window. Visit the next link to see some photos of the players.

https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/sa-open/

GM Amon Simutowe from Zambia. He gained his third norm (rating of 2500) and qualified as a GM, the first for Africa, south of the Sahara. Please click here to play through his games on chessgames.com. The link will open in a new window.

From Chesscube: The South African Open is being contested by 208 with the following nations being represented in the field: AUS, ENG, EB, EK, FRA, GER, HUN, KEN, MAW, MOZ, NAM, NWP, NZL, RSA, UK, UKR, WP, ZIM. With 2 GM’s, a handful of IM’s, and a couple of FM’s/CM’s in the field, you are for sure to see good chess. There are 3 games being played live exclusively to ChessCube of SA Open. To watch these games all you have to do is go into the SA room and you can watch straight away. Games are commencing at 9:30 and 18.30 each day – local time.

In a world first for chess, some of the matches will be played online. This is a format many internet chess players have been waiting for – an online event being played simultaneously over 2 continents, yet officially recognized and rated by FIDE!

From Melbourne, Australia, behind the computer screens will be GM Gawain Jones (GBR, ELO 2550), IM Puchen Wang (NZL, ELO 2453), IM Mirko Rujevic (AUS, ELO 2282), and IM Leonid Sandler (AUS, ELO 2332) on standby. On the other end of the computer terminal at Cape Town, South Africa, will sit their opponents. The South African opponents will be paired each round, as will all the other players, using the Swiss Pairing system. This means that three different South African players will play online every round.

“Having these players compete in the tournament from another location using the Internet is a world first. Each Australian player will use a computer to connect to ChessCube and play their game, and will be supervised by the arbiter on that side. Similarly the players paired against them in Cape Town will play their games online using a computer, and will be supervised by an arbiter on this side,” commented Mr. Mark Levitt, founder of ChessCube. FIDE rated event over the internet! FIDE have agreed to officially rate the games played over the Internet.
ChessCube powering the community and the SA Open
ChessCube as a playing platform has been bringing innovative ideas into online chess playing for the last couple of months, turning into one of the busiest and most populated web chess servers with player peaks reaching over 3000 players online simultaneously, and a growing base that has eclipsed half a million users. The platform has turned into something that the chess world has been missing at previous online chess communities – it is a place where one can socialize and have fun at the same time.

Now ChessCube are taking a step further and create a tournament, part of which will take place online, and will be officially recognized by FIDE.- source: chessdom

All links in this post will open in a new window. You can also find the link to the official site of the SA Open 2009 on my blog’s side bar.(top)

At the same time, the African Youth Chess Championships are taking place in Cape Town too. This is a very first for Africa and South Africa has been fortunate to be chosen to host the tournament. Please follow this link to follow the results.

Schedule – please click on the image for a larger view

Click here for the Official site of Chess South Africa – Chessa – This championship started in Cape Town yesterday.  The venue is Wynberg Boys High School in Cape Town. Click here for the venue-details.
Chess Cube is a South African chess site to publish the results and you can follow the results/pairings on this link, another site where you can play chess online too. I’m quite sure you will be impressed with the interface of Chess Cube. Click here to play chess on chesscube. Chess Cube is also the site which the English Chess Federation uses for playing chess. You will find different chat rooms on Chess Cube for different countries too, so, have your chat in your language if you wish!
Chessa chess calendar. Follow this link for all details of chess tournaments in South Africa throughout the year.

Top 40 Chess players in South Africa, Anzel Solomons (F) is in position 41 with a rating of 2043
On this link you can see the complete list of the top 100 chess players in South Africa as by 28th April 2009.

RESULTS: SA OPEN 2009

Results of the first 13 players in round 1. Please click HERE for pairings in round 2 and you will find the menu to more results on the top menu-bar.

On these  3 images you can see the scores of the first 38 players after round 2. On the official site – link in this post and on my side bar – you will find links to more results and the pairings. Click on the images for a larger view.

SA Open 2009: Results round 3 – top 14 players

SA Open 2009: Pairings round 4 – top 13 boards

SA Open round 4: results – top 14

SA Open : Pairings round 5 – Top 14 boards

SA Open: Results round 5 – Top 14 players

SA Open: Results round 6 – Top 14 players

SA Open: Results round 7 – Top 14 players

SA Open: Results round 8: Top 14 players

SA Open 2009: Results round 9- top 14 players

SA Open 2009: Results Round 10 – top 14 players

SA Open 2009: Results round 10: Position 15-28

SA Open 2009: Results round 11 – Top 14 players

Chess games of participants  during the SA Open via the internet on Chesscube

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.03”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Smit, L”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “1848”]
[ECO “C45”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. d4  exd4 4. Nxd4  Bc5 5. Nxc6  bxc6 6. Bd3  d6 7. O-O  Ne7 8. Nd2  O-O 9. Nb3  Bb6 10. c4  Be6 11. Kh1  f5 12. Qc2  fxe4 13. Bxe4  h6 14. c5  dxc5 15. Nxc5  Bd5 16. Be3  Qc8 17. Rfd1  Bxe4 18. Qxe4  Nd5 19. Rac1  Re8 20. Qc4  Kh8 21. Bd4  Qf5 22. Re1  Nf4 23. Re3  Rxe3 24. fxe3  Nh5 25. Rf1  Qg6 26. Kg1  Rd8 27. b4  Rd5 28. Nb3  Kh7 29. Rc1  Bxd4 30. Nxd4  Re5 31. Qxc6  Qd3 32. Qc2  Rxe3 33. Qxd3+  Rxd3 34. Nb3  Rd7 35. Rc6  Nf4 36. Ra6  Nd3 37. b5  Re7 38. h4  Re1+ 39. Kh2  Re2 40. Rxa7  Nf4 41. Kg3  Nxg2 42. Nd4  Rb2 43. Rxc7  Rxa2 44. b6  Rb2 45. b7  Ne3 46. Nc6  Nd5 47. Rd7  Rb3+ 48. Kf2  Nf6 49. Re7  Nd5 50. Rd7  Nf6 51. Rf7  Kg6 52. Re7  Nd5 53. Re6+  Kf7 54. Rd6  Rxb7 55. Nd8+   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.03”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “Akande, T”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “1830”]
[ECO “C88”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. Bb5  a6 4. Ba4  Nf6 5. O-O  Be7 6. Re1  b5 7. Bb3  d6 8. c3  O-O 9. h3  Bb7 10. d4  Re8 11. Nbd2  Bf8 12. d5  Ne7 13. Nf1  h6 14. N3h2  c6 15. dxc6  Bxc6 16. Qf3  Ng6 17. Ng4  a5 18. a3  a4 19. Ba2  Bd7 20. Ng3  Nh4 21. Nxf6+  Qxf6 22. Qxf6  gxf6 23. Nh5  Bg7 24. Bxh6  Bh8 25. Rad1  Ra6 26. Be3  Bxh3 27. gxh3  Nf3+ 28. Kf1  Nxe1 29. Kxe1  Re7 30. Ke2  Kh7 31. Ng3  Bg7 32. Nf5  Rd7 33. Rd5   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.03”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “Swanson, D”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “1818”]
[ECO “C18”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 c4 8. Qg4 g6 9. h4 h5 10. Qf4 Nc6 11. Nf3 Nce7 12. Ng5 Nf5 13. f3 Qc7 14. g4 hxg4 15. fxg4 Ng7 16. a4 f5 17. exf6 Qxf4 18. Bxf4 Nxf6 19. Be5 Ke7 20. Be2 Bd7 21. Bxf6+ Kxf6 22. Rf1+ Nf5 23. gxf5 1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Lewis, M”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “A57”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  c5 3. d5  b5 4. cxb5  a6 5. b6  g6 6. Nc3  Qxb6 7. e4  d6 8. Be2  Bg7 9. Nf3  O-O 10. O-O  Bg4 11. Nd2  Bxe2 12. Qxe2  Nbd7 13. Kh1  Qc7 14. Nc4  Nb6 15. Bd2  Nxc4 16. Qxc4  Nd7 17. f4  Rfb8 18. b3  Rb4 19. Qe2  Rb7 20. Rac1  Nb6 21. Nd1  a5 22. Bc3  a4 23. Bxg7  Kxg7 24. b4  Nd7 25. a3  Qb6 26. bxc5  Nxc5 27. Rc3  Qb5 28. Qxb5  Rxb5 29. Nf2  Rb3 30. Rfc1  Rab8 31. g3  Rxc3 32. Rxc3  Rb3 33. Rc2  Rxa3 34. e5  Rb3 35. exd6  exd6 36. Kg2  a3 37. Ra2  Na4 38. Nd1  Rb2+ 39. Nxb2  axb2  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Vermaak, F”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1953”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “B12”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c6 2. d4  d5 3. e5  c5 4. dxc5  Nc6 5. Nc3  e6 6. Nf3  Bxc5 7. Bd3  f6 8. exf6  Nxf6 9. Bg5  O-O 10. O-O  Bd7 11. Qe2  Qc7 12. Bh4  Rae8 13. Rae1  a6 14. Bg3  Qd8 15. Ne5  Nxe5 16. Bxe5  Re7 17. Nb1  Be8 18. Bxf6  Rxf6 19. Nd2  e5 20. b4  Bxb4 21. c4  e4 22. Bc2  Qc7 23. Rc1  Qf4 24. Nb3  Rh6 25. g3  Qf5 26. f4  Qh3 27. cxd5  Bb5 28. Qg2  Bxf1 29. Rxf1  Qxg2+ 30. Kxg2  e3 31. d6  Rxd6  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Cruywagen, J”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1931”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “C77”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. Bb5  a6 4. Ba4  Nf6 5. d3  b5 6. Bb3  Be7 7. O-O  d6 8. c3  O-O 9. Nbd2  Na5 10. Bc2  c5 11. Re1  Re8 12. Nf1  Bf8 13. Bg5  h6 14. Bd2  Nc6 15. Ng3  g6 16. a4  b4 17. h3  Be6 18. Bb3  Bxb3 19. Qxb3  Rb8 20. c4  Bg7 21. Be3  Nd7 22. Nh2  Nd4 23. Qd1  b3 24. Bxd4  cxd4 25. a5  Nc5 26. Ne2  h5 27. f4  Bh6 28. Rf1  Rb7 29. Rf3  Ne6 30. g3  Rf8 31. Kg2  Kh7 32. f5  Nc5 33. Nc1  Qg5 34. Ne2  Kg8 35. Nf1  Qd8 36. Qe1  gxf5 37. exf5  f6 38. Nd2  d5 39. cxd5  Qxd5 40. Nf1  Nxd3 41. Qb1  e4 42. Rf2  Nxf2 43. Kxf2  e3+ 44. Kg1  d3  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Van Der Nat, N”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2322”]
[ECO “B23”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nc3  Nc6 3. f4  g6 4. Nf3  Bg7 5. Bb5  Nd4 6. O-O  a6 7. Bd3  d6 8. Nxd4  cxd4 9. Ne2  Nf6 10. Kh1  O-O 11. Nxd4  Nxe4 12. Bxe4  Bxd4 13. Qf3  Rb8 14. c3  Bg7 15. f5  b5 16. d4  Qc7 17. Bg5  b4 18. Rae1  h6 19. Bd2  bxc3 20. bxc3  gxf5 21. Qg3  Kh7 22. Rxf5  Bxf5 23. Bxf5+  Kh8 24. Qh3  e6 25. Bd3  Rfe8 26. Bxh6  f5 27. Re3  Bxd4 28. Rg3  Qh7 29. cxd4  Rg8 30. d5  Rg6 31. Rxg6  Qxg6 32. dxe6  Qxe6 33. Be3+  Kg8 34. Bxf5  Qe7 35. Be6+  Kg7 36. Qh6#   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “Mabusela, J”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “2244”]
[ECO “A05”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. Nf3  Nf6 2. c4  e6 3. Nc3  c5 4. g3  b6 5. Bg2  Bb7 6. O-O  Be7 7. d4  cxd4 8. Qxd4  Nc6 9. Qd3  O-O 10. Rd1  Qc8 11. Bg5  Rd8 12. Rac1  h6 13. Bf4  d5 14. cxd5  Nxd5 15. Nxd5  Rxd5 16. Qb3  Rc5 17. Rxc5  Bxc5 18. a3  Ne7 19. Qd3  a5 20. h4  Nd5 21. Be5  Qe8 22. e4  Ne7 23. b4  axb4 24. axb4  Bxb4 25. Bxg7  Kxg7 26. Qd4+  Kh7 27. Qxb4  Ra4 28. Qxb6  Bxe4 29. Rd8  Qc6 30. Qb2  Ng8 31. Ne5   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “McCallum, B”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “1614”]
[ECO “B62”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nf3  d6 3. d4  cxd4 4. Nxd4  Nf6 5. Nc3  Nc6 6. Bg5  e6 7. Be2  Be7 8. O-O  O-O 9. Ndb5  Ne8 10. Bxe7  Qxe7 11. f4  a6 12. Nd4  Nxd4 13. Qxd4  Bd7 14. Rad1  Bc6 15. Bf3  e5 16. Qe3  Nc7 17. f5  Rad8 18. a4  b5 19. a5  b4 20. Nd5  Bxd5 21. exd5  f6 22. Be2  Rb8 23. Rf4  Qf7 24. Rg4  Kh8 25. Qd2  Qd7 26. Rxb4  Qxf5 27. Rb6  Qe4 28. b3  Rxb6 29. axb6  Nb5 30. Bxb5  axb5 31. Ra1  h6 32. b7   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Amini, D”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1675”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “E71”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  g6 3. Nc3  Bg7 4. e4  d6 5. h3  O-O 6. Nf3  Qe8 7. Be2  e5 8. dxe5  dxe5 9. Be3  b6 10. O-O  Bb7 11. Qc2  c5 12. Nd5  Nc6 13. Nc7  Qb8 14. Nxa8  Qxa8 15. Nd2  Nxe4 16. Bf3  Nxd2 17. Qxd2  Rd8 18. Bd5  Nd4 19. Bxb7  Qxb7 20. Kh1  f5 21. Bg5  Rd7 22. Rad1  f4 23. f3  Rd6 24. Qe1  Qa6 25. Qe4  h6 26. Qa8+  Kh7 27. Be7  Rc6 28. b3  Rc8 29. Qd5  Nf5 30. Qd7  Rg8 31. Rf2  Kh8 32. Qe6  Qc8 33. Qxc8  Rxc8 34. Rd8+  Rxd8 35. Bxd8  e4 36. fxe4  Ng3+ 37. Kh2  Be5 38. Rf3  Nxe4 39. Kg1  Bd4+ 40. Kh1  Be5 41. a4  g5 42. Kg1  Kg7 43. Rd3  Bd4+ 44. Kf1  Kg6 45. a5  bxa5 46. Bxa5  Ng3+ 47. Ke1  Kf5 48. b4  Ke4 49. Rf3  Nf5 50. bxc5  Bxc5 51. Bd2  Nh4 52. Rb3  Nxg2+ 53. Kf1  Nh4 54. Bb4  Bd4 55. c5  Kd5 56. Rd3  Nf5 57. Ke2  h5 58. Rd1  g4 59. hxg4  hxg4 60. Bc3  f3+ 61. Kd3  Bxc3 62. Kxc3+  Kxc5 63. Ra1  Ng3  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Phiri, R”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “2145”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “D86”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  g6 3. Nc3  d5 4. cxd5  Nxd5 5. e4  Nxc3 6. bxc3  Bg7 7. Bc4  c5 8. Ne2  O-O 9. O-O  Nc6 10. Be3  Bd7 11. Rb1  cxd4 12. cxd4  Rc8 13. Bd3  Na5 14. d5  b6 15. Ba6  Ra8 16. Qd3  Bc8 17. Rfc1  Bxa6 18. Qxa6  Qd7 19. Qd3  Rac8 20. Bd4  Bxd4 21. Qxd4  Qd6 22. Rc3  e5 23. Qd3  Rxc3 24. Qxc3  Nb7 25. f3  f5 26. Rd1  fxe4 27. fxe4  Nc5 28. Qe3  Rf7 29. Nc3  a6 30. Rf1  b5 31. Rxf7  Kxf7 32. Nd1  Nd7 33. h3  a5 34. Qf2+  Ke7 35. Qh4+  Nf6 36. Nf2  h5 37. Qg5  Kf7 38. Nd3  Nxe4 39. Qxe5  Qxe5 40. Nxe5+  Kf6 41. Nc6  a4 42. a3  Nc3 43. d6  Ke6 44. Ne5  Kxd6 45. Nxg6  b4 46. Nh4  b3 47. Nf5+  Kc5  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Peretz, L”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1875”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “A48”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. Nf3  g6 3. Bf4  Bg7 4. Qd2  O-O 5. Bh6  d6 6. Bxg7  Kxg7 7. Nc3  c6 8. e4  Bg4 9. Ng5  Qa5 10. h3  Bc8 11. Be2  h6 12. Nf3  Nbd7 13. O-O  e5 14. Rae1  Re8 15. Bc4  Re7 16. a3  Nf8 17. Re3  Qc7 18. Rfe1  a5 19. Nh2  b5 20. Ba2  b4 21. Ne2  Qb6 22. dxe5  dxe5 23. Ng3  Be6 24. Bb1  Rd8 25. Qc1  bxa3 26. bxa3  Red7 27. c4  Qc5 28. Rc3  Rd2 29. Rf1  Bc8 30. Nf3  R2d6 31. Kh1  Ne6 32. Nxe5  Qxe5 33. f4  Nxf4 34. Rcf3  g5 35. Qe1  Rd2 36. R3f2  Rxf2 37. Qxf2  Qd4 38. Qf3  Be6 39. e5  Qxe5 40. Qxc6  Rd2 41. Be4  Nxe4 42. Nxe4  Rc2 43. Nd6  Nh5 44. Ne8+  Kg6 45. Qf3  Ng3+ 46. Kg1  Nxf1 47. Qd3+  Qf5  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “C69”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. Bb5  a6 4. Bxc6  dxc6 5. O-O  Bg4 6. h3  h5 7. d3  Qf6 8. Be3  Bxf3 9. Qxf3  Qxf3 10. gxf3  Bd6 11. Nd2  Ne7 12. Rfb1  g5 13. Kf1  f6 14. b4  Ng6 15. Ke2  Nf8 16. a4  Ne6 17. Nc4  Kd7 18. c3  Rhg8 19. Na5  b6 20. Nb3  Kc8 21. a5  b5 22. d4  Kb7 23. Nc5+  Bxc5 24. bxc5  Rad8 25. Rd1  Rge8 26. dxe5  fxe5 27. Rxd8  Rxd8 28. Rg1  Rg8 29. h4  g4 30. fxg4  hxg4 31. h5  Nf4+ 32. Bxf4  exf4 33. h6  g3 34. Kf3  Rg6 35. Rh1  g2 36. Rg1  Rxh6 37. Rxg2  Rh3+ 38. Kxf4  Rxc3 39. e5  Rxc5 40. e6  Rc2 41. Ke3  Rc1 42. Kd2  Rh1 43. f4  Rh8 44. f5  Kc8 45. f6  Kd8 46. Ke3  c5 47. f7  Rf8 48. Rg8  Ke7 49. Ke4  c4 50. Ke5  c3 51. Rxf8   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “Simutowe, A”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “2481”]
[ECO “B28”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nf3  a6 3. c3  d5 4. exd5  Qxd5 5. d4  Nf6 6. Be3  cxd4 7. cxd4  e6 8. Nc3  Qa5 9. Bd3  b5 10. O-O  Bb7 11. Re1  Nbd7  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.06”]
[Round “6”]
[White “Simutowe, A”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2481”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “B22”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. c3  d5 3. exd5  Qxd5 4. d4  Nc6 5. Nf3  Bg4 6. Be2  cxd4 7. cxd4  e6 8. Nc3  Qa5 9. Be3  Nf6 10. Qb3  Qb4 11. Qxb4  Bxb4 12. h3  Bh5 13. O-O  O-O 14. Rac1  Rfd8 15. Rfd1  Nd5 16. Kf1  Nxe3+ 17. fxe3  f6 18. Ne4  Bf7 19. Nc5  Bxc5 20. Rxc5  Nb4 21. a3  b6 22. Rc4  Nd5 23. Kf2  Be8 24. e4  Nf4 25. Bf1  Bb5 26. Rc3  Bxf1 27. Kxf1  f5 28. Re1  Rd6 29. g3  fxe4 30. Rxe4  Nd5  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.06”]
[Round “6”]
[White “Masango, S”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “2130”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “D91”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  g6 3. Nc3  d5 4. Nf3  Bg7 5. Bg5  Ne4 6. cxd5  Nxg5 7. Nxg5  e6 8. Qd2  h6 9. Nf3  exd5 10. e3  O-O 11. Bd3  c6 12. O-O  Qe7 13. e4  dxe4 14. Nxe4  Be6 15. Rfe1  Nd7 16. Qf4  Rad8 17. h4  Kh8 18. Qg3  Qb4 19. a3  Qb6 20. Nd6  Bxd4 21. Rxe6  Bxf2+ 22. Qxf2  fxe6 23. Ne4  Ne5 24. Qxb6  Nxf3+ 25. gxf3  axb6 26. Be2  Rf4 27. h5  gxh5 28. Kf2  h4 29. Rg1  Rdf8 30. Ke3  h3 31. Rh1  Rh4 32. Rh2  Rf5 33. Bf1  Rfh5 34. Nf2  Re5+ 35. Ne4  Reh5 36. Nf2  Kg7 37. Rxh3  Rxh3 38. Bxh3  Kf6 39. Ne4+  Ke7 40. Bf1  Rh2 41. Nf2  Rh5 42. f4  e5 43. fxe5  Rxe5+ 44. Ne4  Rh5 45. Nf2  Kd6 46. Ne4+  Ke5 47. Nf2  Rg5 48. Nd3+  Kf6 49. Nf2  Rg1 50. Ke2  h5 51. Bh3  Rg7 52. Bc8  Ke5 53. Nd3+  Ke4 54. a4  h4 55. Nf2+  Kd4 56. Kf3  Rg3+ 57. Kf4  Rg7 58. b4  Kc4 59. a5  Kxb4 60. axb6  Kb5 61. Ne4  Kxb6 62. Be6  Kc7 63. Ng5  Kd6 64. Bc8  b5 65. Nf3  Rg8 66. Bf5  Rh8 67. Kg4  Rg8+ 68. Kf4  Rh8 69. Kg4  h3 70. Kg3  Rg8+ 71. Kf4  Rf8 72. Kg4  c5 73. Nh2  c4 74. Be4  Rh8 75. Kf3  Kc5 76. Ke3  b4 77. Bf5  b3 78. Kd2  Rf8  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.06”]
[Round “6”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “Mabusela, J”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “2244”]
[ECO “C11”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e6 2. d4  d5 3. Nc3  Nf6 4. e5  Nfd7 5. f4  c5 6. Nf3  Nc6 7. Be3  cxd4 8. Nxd4  Bc5 9. Qd2  O-O 10. O-O-O  a6 11. Nb3  Bb4 12. a3  Be7 13. Ne2  b5 14. Ned4  Nxd4 15. Bxd4  Nb6 16. Qa5  Rb8 17. Nc5  Nc4 18. Qxd8  Rxd8 19. Bd3  Na5 20. Rhe1  Nc6 21. Bf2  a5 22. g4  a4 23. c3  d4 24. cxd4  Nxd4 25. Ne4  Bb7 26. Nd6  Nb3+ 27. Kb1  Bxd6 28. exd6  Bd5 29. f5  Bf3 30. fxe6  fxe6 31. Be2  Be4+ 32. Bd3  Bf3 33. Be2  Be4+ 34. Bd3  Bf3  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.07”]
[Round “7”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “C03”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e6 2. d4  d5 3. Nd2  dxe4 4. Nxe4  Nd7 5. Nf3  Ngf6 6. Nxf6+  Nxf6 7. g3  b6 8. Bb5+  Bd7 9. Bxd7+  Qxd7 10. O-O  Bd6 11. Qe2  O-O 12. Bg5  Be7 13. c4  Rfe8 14. Rad1  h6 15. Ne5  Qc8 16. Bxf6  Bxf6 17. Nc6  e5 18. dxe5  Re6 19. Qf3  Qe8 20. exf6  Qxc6 21. Qxc6  Rxc6 22. Rfe1  Rxf6 23. Rd7  c5 24. h4  h5 25. Kg2  a5 26. f4  g6 27. Kf3  Rc8 28. Red1  Re8 29. Rb7  Kg7 30. Rd3  Re1 31. Rb3  Ree6 32. Rd7  Rd6 33. Rd3   1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.07”]
[Round “7”]
[White “Makoto, R”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2157”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “A05”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. Nf3  Nf6 2. d4  g6 3. g3  Bg7 4. Bg2  O-O 5. c4  d6 6. O-O  Nbd7 7. Nc3  c6 8. h3  e5 9. e4  Re8 10. Re1  Qc7 11. Be3  a5 12. Rc1  Qb8 13. Qd2  b5 14. dxe5  dxe5 15. cxb5  cxb5 16. Nd5  Nxd5 17. exd5  Bb7 18. d6  Nf6 19. Rc7  Ne4 20. Qd3  Ra6 21. Ng5  Rxd6 22. Qxb5  Nxg5 23. Rxb7  Nxh3+ 24. Bxh3  Qd8 25. Rd7  Rxd7 26. Qxd7  Qxd7  1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.08”]
[Round “8”]
[White “Komarov, D”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2530”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “A48”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. Nf3  g6 3. c4  Bg7 4. Nc3  O-O 5. e4  d6 6. Be2  e5 7. O-O  Nc6 8. d5  Ne7 9. b4  c6 10. Nd2  a5 11. bxa5  Qxa5  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.08”]
[Round “8”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “Mosethle, K”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “2169”]
[ECO “B90”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nf3  d6 3. d4  cxd4 4. Nxd4  Nf6 5. Nc3  a6 6. Be3  e5 7. Nf3  Qc7 8. a4  b6 9. Be2  Bb7 10. Nd2  d5 11. Nxd5  Nxd5 12. exd5  Bxd5 13. O-O  Be7 14. Bf3  Bxf3 15. Qxf3  Nc6 16. Qg3  O-O 17. Bh6  Bf6 18. Ne4  Qe7 19. c3  Kh8 20. Nxf6  Qxf6 21. Be3  Rab8 22. f4  e4 23. f5  h6 24. Rad1  Rfd8 25. Rxd8+  Rxd8 26. Bxb6  Rd2 27. b4  Rd3 28. Qf4  Rxc3 29. Qxe4  Rb3 30. Bc5  Rb2 31. h4  Kh7 32. Rd1  Nxb4 33. Bd4  Qd6 34. f6+  g6 35. Qe7  Qd5 36. Bxb2  Qxd1+ 37. Kh2   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.08”]
[Round “8”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “Solomons, R”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “1921”]
[ECO “B23”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nc3  a6 3. a4  b6 4. Nf3  d6 5. d4  cxd4 6. Nxd4  Nf6 7. Bd3  e6 8. O-O  Be7 9. f4  Qc7 10. Qe2  Nbd7 11. Bd2  Bb7 12. Rae1  Nc5 13. Kh1  O-O 14. b4  Nxd3 15. cxd3  Rac8 16. Rc1  Qb8 17. Qf2  Rfe8 18. Nc2  Ba8 19. Ne3  d5 20. exd5  Nxd5 21. Ncxd5  Bxd5 22. Nxd5  exd5 23. Bc3  b5 24. a5  Qd6 25. Qb2  Qg6 26. Rf3  Qd6 27. Rb1  Bf6 28. Bxf6  Qxf6 29. Qxf6  gxf6 30. Kg1  Rc2 31. Rf2  Rec8 32. g4  R8c3 33. g5  Kg7 34. h4  Kg6 35. f5+  Kh5 36. gxf6  Kxh4 37. Re1  Kg5 38. Rxc2  Rxc2 39. Re5  Kxf6 40. Rxd5  Ke7 41. Kf1  Rb2 42. Rd4  h5 43. Rh4  Rd2 44. Rxh5  Rxd3 45. Rh6  Rd6 46. Rh4  Kf6 47. Rh5  Ke5 48. Ke2  Rf6 49. Ke3  Rxf5 50. Rh8  Rf6 51. Rb8  Kd5 52. Kd3  Re6 53. Rf8  f6 54. Rf7  Ke5 55. Ke3  Rd6 56. Rf8  Rc6 57. Re8+  Kf5 58. Rb8  Ke5 59. Re8+  Kd5 60. Kd3  f5 61. Rf8  Ke5 62. Rb8  Rc4 63. Rb6  Rxb4 64. Rxa6  Ra4 65. Ra8  Kf4 66. a6  Kf3 67. a7  f4 68. Kc3  Rc4+ 69. Kb3  Rc7 70. Kb4  Rb7 71. Kc3  b4+ 72. Kb3  Kf2  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.09”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Mabusela, J”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2244”]
[ECO “C07”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e6 2. d4  d5 3. Nd2  c5 4. Ngf3  Nc6 5. exd5  exd5 6. Bb5  Bd6 7. dxc5  Bxc5 8. O-O  Ne7 9. Nb3  Bd6 10. Re1  O-O 11. Bg5  Qc7 12. Bh4  Nf5 13. Bg3  Nxg3 14. hxg3  a6 15. Bd3  Qb6 16. Re3  h6 17. Qd2  Nb4 18. Nfd4  Nxd3 19. Qxd3  Bd7 20. Nf5  Bxf5 21. Qxf5  a5 22. a4  Rac8 23. Rd1  d4 24. Nxd4  Qxb2 25. Rb3  Qa2 26. Rxb7  Bc5 27. Nb3  Bb4 28. Rxf7  Rxf7 29. Qxc8+  Rf8 30. Qc4+  Kh8 31. Nxa5  Qxc4 32. Nxc4  Rc8  1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.09”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Van Rensburg, R”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2106”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “D11”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  d5 2. c4  c6 3. Nf3  Nf6 4. Qb3  g6 5. Nc3  Bg7 6. g3  O-O 7. Bg2  dxc4 8. Qxc4  Be6 9. Qd3  Na6 10. O-O  Nb4 11. Qd1  h6 12. Re1  Nbd5 13. e4  Nxc3 14. bxc3  Qa5 15. Qc2  Qh5 16. Rb1  b5 17. Ne5  Ng4 18. Nxg4  Bxg4 19. Qd3  Rad8 20. f3  Be6 21. Qc2  Bc4 22. Qf2  f5 23. exf5  Qxf5 24. Ba3  Rfe8 25. f4  Bd5 26. Rb2  e6  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.09”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Quirk, T”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1495”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “B01”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  d5 2. exd5  Qxd5 3. Nf3  e5 4. Nc3  Qe6 5. Bb5+  c6 6. Ba4  Bd6 7. O-O  Ne7 8. Re1  f5 9. d4  e4 10. Bg5  O-O 11. d5  Qg6 12. Bxe7  Bxe7 13. Nd4  Rd8 14. Nce2  Bd6 15. f4  cxd5 16. Bb3  Bc5 17. Kh1  Nc6 18. Nb5  Qf7 19. Qd2  a6 20. Nbc3  Be6 21. Rad1  d4 22. Bxe6  Qxe6 23. Na4  Bb4 24. c3  dxc3 25. Qe3  cxb2  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.10”]
[Round “10”]
[White “De Villiers, C”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2179”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “E76”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  g6 3. Nc3  Bg7 4. e4  d6 5. f4  O-O 6. Nf3  Na6 7. e5  Nd7 8. c5  c6 9. Bxa6  bxa6 10. Be3  Rb8 11. O-O  Rxb2 12. Qa4  Nb8 13. Qa3  Rb7 14. cxd6  exd6 15. Ne4  d5 16. Nd6  Qe7 17. Bf2  Rb6 18. Bh4  f6 19. Rae1  Be6 20. Re3  Qd7 21. exf6  Bxf6 22. Bxf6  Rxf6 23. Ne5  Qd8 24. Ng4  Bxg4 25. Re8+  Qxe8 26. Nxe8  Re6 27. h3  Rxe8 28. hxg4  Re2 29. Rf3  Rb1+ 30. Kh2  Rbb2 31. Re3  Rxg2+ 32. Kh1  Rge2 33. Rxe2  Rxe2 34. Qd6  Re8 35. Qc7  a5 36. f5  gxf5 37. gxf5  Rf8 38. f6  Rxf6 39. Qxb8+  Kg7 40. Qxa7+  Kg6 41. Qxa5  Kf5 42. Qc7  Rh6+ 43. Kg2  Ke4 44. Qe5+  Kd3 45. Kf2  Rh1 46. Qe3+  Kc4 47. Kg2  Rb1 48. Qe2+  Kc3 49. Qe3+  Kc4 50. Kf2  Rb2+ 51. Kf3  Rxa2 52. Kf4  Ra8 53. Qe7  Kxd4 54. Qb4+  Kd3 55. Qb6  Ra4+ 56. Ke5  Re4+ 57. Kd6  Rc4 58. Qb1+  Kd2 59. Qxh7  d4 60. Qh2+  Kc3 61. Qe5  Kb3 62. Qe4  Kc3 63. Qe1+  Kc2 64. Qe2+  Kc3 65. Qe1+  Kc2 66. Qe2+  Kb3 67. Qd3+  Kb4 68. Qb1+  Kc3 69. Qa1+  Kd2 70. Qb2+  Ke3 71. Qb6  Rc2 72. Ke5  c5 73. Qh6+  Kd3 74. Qg6+  Kc3 75. Qg1  Kc4 76. Qg8+  Kc3 77. Qg1  Kb2 78. Ke4  Rc3 79. Qf2+  Kb3 80. Qf7+  Kb2 81. Qf2+  Ka3 82. Qd2  Kb3 83. Qd1+  Kb2 84. Qe2+  Kb3 85. Qb5+  Ka2 86. Qa6+  Kb1 87. Qb5+  Kc1 88. Qf1+  Kd2 89. Qf2+  Kd1 90. Qf1+  Kc2 91. Qe2+  Kc1  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.10”]
[Round “10”]
[White “Komarov, D”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2530”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “A11”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. c4  c6 2. Nf3  d5 3. e3  Nf6 4. Nc3  e6 5. d4  Nbd7 6. Qc2  b6 7. Bd3  Bb7 8. O-O  Be7 9. b3  Rc8 10. Bb2  dxc4 11. bxc4  c5 12. d5  exd5 13. cxd5  Nxd5 14. Nxd5  Bxd5 15. Rad1  Bf6 16. Ba6  Bxf3 17. gxf3  Rc7 18. Bxf6  Qxf6 19. Bb5  Ke7 20. Bxd7  Rxd7 21. Qe4+  Qe6 22. Rxd7+  Kxd7 23. Qb7+   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.10”]
[Round “10”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “Mare, M”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “1828”]
[ECO “C33”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. f4  exf4 3. Bc4  Qh4+ 4. Kf1  Nc6 5. Nf3  Qh5 6. d4  d6 7. Bxf4  Bg4 8. c3  O-O-O 9. Nbd2  Nge7 10. d5  Ne5 11. Be2  N7g6 12. Be3  f5 13. Nd4  fxe4 14. h3  Bxe2+ 15. Qxe2  Qh4 16. Bf2  Qh6 17. Nxe4  Nf4 18. Qd2  Nxd5 19. Qxh6  gxh6 20. Kg1  Be7 21. Rd1  Nf4 22. Nf5  Rde8 23. Nxh6  Nfd3 24. b3  Ref8 25. Bg3  Nf4 26. Kh2  Nfg6 27. c4  Bh4 28. Rhf1  Bxg3+ 29. Nxg3  Rxf1 30. Rxf1  Rf8 31. Rxf8+  Nxf8 32. Ne4  Nd3 33. Nf5  Nc1 34. Nc3  Kd7 35. Nd4  c6 36. g4  Ne6 37. Nf3  h6 38. Kg3  Ke7 39. Ne1  Kf6 40. h4  Nc5 41. Kf3  N1d3 42. Nc2  Ne5+ 43. Kg3  a5 44. Nd4  Nf7 45. Kf4  Nd3+ 46. Ke3  Nde5 47. Ne4+  Ke7 48. Kf4  Ng6+ 49. Kg3  d5 50. cxd5  cxd5 51. Nf5+  Ke6 52. Nc5+  Ke5 53. Nxb7  a4 54. bxa4  d4 55. Nc5  Kd5 56. Nb3  Kc4 57. Nfxd4  Nd6 58. a5  Kb4 59. a6  Nc8 60. Nc6+  Ka3 61. a7  Nb6 62. Nbd4  Kxa2 63. Nf5  h5 64. gxh5  Nf8 65. Nce7  Kb3 66. Nd5  Na8 67. Nf6  Kc4 68. Kf4  Kc5 69. Kg5  Kb6 70. h6  Kxa7 71. h7  Nxh7+ 72. Nxh7  Nc7 73. h5   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.11”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Simotowe, M”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2110”]
[ECO “C42”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nf6 3. Nxe5  d6 4. Nf3  Nxe4 5. c4  Be7 6. Nc3  Nxc3 7. dxc3  O-O 8. Qc2  Nd7 9. Bd3  Nf6 10. Be3  c6 11. h3  Qa5 12. Bd4  Re8 13. b4  Qc7 14. O-O-O  g6 15. Rhe1  Nh5 16. Qd2  Be6 17. g4  Ng7 18. Qh6  f6 19. Ng5   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.11”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “De Villiers, C”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “2179”]
[ECO “B30”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. c3  d5 4. exd5  Qxd5 5. d4  Bg4 6. Be2  e6 7. h3  Bh5 8. c4  Qd6 9. d5  exd5 10. cxd5  Bxf3 11. Bxf3  Nd4 12. Nc3  Nf6 13. Be3  Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3  Be7 15. O-O-O  O-O 16. Bf4  Qa6 17. d6  Bd8 18. Rhe1  Ba5 19. Kb1  Bxc3 20. Qxc3  Nd7 21. Re7  Qa4 22. Qf3  c4 23. Rd4  Qb5 24. Rd5  Qc6 25. Rd4  Qb5 26. a4  Qxa4 27. Bh6  gxh6 28. Rg4+  Kh8 29. Rxd7   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.11”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Meintjies, J”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “1915”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “C77”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. Bb5  a6 4. Ba4  Nf6 5. d4  Nxe4 6. Qe2  Nd6 7. dxe5  Nf5 8. Qe4  g6  1/2-1/2

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My Sarie Marais

Sarie Marais (Mare) 1868

This audio file is Sarie Marais played by the Royal Marines
Any South African knows this song very well. If someone from South Africa doesn’t know this song, then he pretends his a South African- hehe. Sarie Marais is a song which runs in your blood if you’re a Saffa. Interesting to know that the British Royal Marines have adopted it…even the French! Near to the bottom of this post you can find the link to the Royal Marines’ site and I’ve found the translation of this song in English/French too. I grew up in the Transvaal, but the Eastern Transvaal, which is now called Mpumalanga and I will always sing…”bring me back to my dear Transvaal”! I have the history of Sarie Marais in Afrikaans and if you want it translated, give me a shout and I’ll do it in a week’s time. At the bottom of this post, you will find a link to an entry about Die Huisgenoot…uit Toeka se dae!

http://www.geocities.ws/paulmare69/stories/sarie_marais.htm

Sarie Marais Rose – image: sariemarais.com

Sarie magazine, first published in 1949 under the title, Sarie Marais

Image: sarie.com…the first Sarie published 6th July 1949! volg die link na Sarie-webadres. The link to Sarie’s site will open in a new window.
http://www.sarie.com/lees/artikels/waar-het-sarie-haar-naam-vandaan-gekry

Sarie is 60! Image: sarie.com

Sarie on the web! at sarie.com

Susara Margaretha (Sarie) Maré
Die eerste dogter van Jacob Philippus Maré en Cornelia Susanna Jacoba Erasmus was Susara Margaretha. Sy is op die plaas Eendraght, Suikerbosrand, distrik Heidelberg, gebore op 15 April 1869. Haar pa was Jacob Maré, wat later ‘n lid van die uitvoerende raad van die Transvaal geword en na wie ‘n straat in Pretoria genoem is.

Hierdie is dié Sarie Marais (eintlik Maré) wat in die wyk van die Mooirivier gewoon het, ook bekend as Tant Mossie, volgens die SA biblioteek se katalogus-inskrywing AP.1998-227.

Haar ouers was Voortrekkers, en het hulle in die omgewing van die Suikerbosrand gevestig. Die dorpie Heidelberg het toe nog nie bestaan nie. Die grootste konsentrasie Voortrekkers het hulle in die wyk Mooirivier bevind, waar die dorp Potchefstroom aangelê is.

In hierdie tyd was daar vyf wyke in Transvaal:

Mooirivier (Potchefstroom)
Magaliesburg (Rustenburg)
Marico (Zeerust)
Ohrigstad
Zoutpansberg (Pietersburg).
Suikerbosrand was in die wyk van Mooirivier geleë, wat gestrek het vanaf Potchefstroom tot die huidige Wolmaransstad en Makwassie.

Toe sy 16 jaar oud was, het sy vir Jacobus Petrus Toerien, ‘n verslaggewer van Di Patriot van die Paarl, ontmoet. (Hy was toe in Pretoria om ‘n onderhoud met haar pa te voer). Hy het onder die skuilnaam Jepete in “Ons Kleintje” geskrywe in sy hoedanigheid as subredakteur van “Di Patriot”. Hulle is getroud en het 16 kinders gehad, van wie net 8 grootgeword het.

Hy het by Amerikaners wat in Transvaalse myne gewerk het die liedjie Sweet Ellie Rhee gehoor, wat sy oorsprong in die Amerikaanse Burgeroorlog gehad het en deur Septimus Winner (Alice Hawthorne) geskryf is. In die tydperk tussen die Eerste en Tweede Vryheidsoorloë het Jepete die woorde vertaal en só sy vrou, Sarie Maré, verewig. Die lied het ook nie aanvanklik al die versies en presies dieselfde woorde gehad het as wat ons vandag ken nie. Maré het later weens ‘n drukfout Marais geword.

 

Teen 1899 was Sarie Marais reeds ‘n treffer in Pretoria. In die Anglo-Boereoorlog het dit nie net gewild by die Boeremag geword nie, maar ook by ander soldate. Dit het later wêreldbekend geword omdat duisende Suid-Afrikaanse soldate dit in die Eerste en Tweede Wêreldoorlog gesing het.
Die gewildheid het het só gegroei dat die Britse Royal Marines dit as regimentsmars aangeneem het. Hul opleidingskip heet ook Sarie Marais. Dit is ook die regimentsmars van Paraguay se seinerskorps. Die eerste Suid-Afrikaanse seiljag se naam was ook Sarie Marais en duisende besoekers het al in die Durban-hawe op die Sarie Marais-plesierboot gevaar. Die eerste Suid-Afrikaanse rolprent se naam was Sarie Marais. Sarie, sustertydskrif van Die Volksblad, heet ook na haar. Tot hotels en woonstelblokke is na haar genoem.

Op die eerste internasionale radio-uitsending tussen Suid-Afrika, Brittanje en Amerika op die verjaardag van mev. Isie Smuts, vrou van die destydse premier, generaal Jan Smuts, het die sangeres Gracie Fields Sarie Marais gesing.

In die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het ‘n buitestasie van soldate in Noord-Afrika die naam “Sarie Marais Calling” gehad. Die Suid-Afrikaanse weermag is steeds lief om die mars op parades te speel, terwyl die Franse Vreemdelinge-legioen dit ook gebruik. Dit is ook die amptelike lied van die Girl Guides in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) wat dit aan die begin van die vorige eeu by die Boerekrygsgevangenes daar gehoor het. In die jare dertig van die vorige eeu is dit verkeerdelik op die Olimpiese Spele in Amerika as Suid-Afrika se amptelike volkslied gespeel. Duitsers het ‘n pienk roos met die naam Sarie Marais gekweek, waarvan voor die Pantserskool in Tempe, Bloemfontein, geplant is.

Inligting: sien die geocities-link soos hierbo aangedui.Daar word beweer dat “My Sarie Marais” se “oorsprong” is van die Amerikaanse liedjie:

Sweet Ellie Rhee

Sweet Ellie Rhee, so dear to me
Is lost forever more
Our home was down in Tennessee
Before this cruel war
Then carry me back to Tennessee
Back where I long to be
Amid the fields of yellow corn
To my darling Ellie Rhee.

My Sarie Marais

My Sarie Marais is so ver van my hart,
Maar ‘k hoop om haar weer te sien.
Sy het in die wyk van die Mooirivier gewoon,
Nog voor die oorlog het begin.

Koor:

O bring my trug na die ou Transvaal,
Daar waar my Sarie woon:
Daar onder in die mielies by die groen doringboom
Daar woon my Sarie Marais,
Daar onder in die mielies by die groen doringboom
Daar woon my Sarie Marais.

Ek was so bang, dat die kakies my sou vang,
En ver oor die see wegstuur;
Toe vlug ek na die kant van die Upington se sand
Daar onder langs die Grootrivier.

Koor

Die kakies is mos net soos ‘n krokodillepes
Hul sleep hou altyd watertoe.
Hulle gooi jou op ‘n skip vir ‘n lange lange trip
Die josie weet waarna toe.
Koor

Verlossing het gekom, en die huistoe gaan was daar,
Trug na die ou Transvaal,
My liewelingspersoon sal seker ook daar wees
Om my met ‘n kus te beloon.

Koor
English translation:

Sarie Marais

My Sarie Marais is so far away from my heart,
But I hope to see her again.
She lives in the district of Mooiriver,
Since before the war began.

Refrain:

Oh, take me back to my dear Transvaal,
To where my Sarie lives:
There down by the maïsfields near the green thorn tree,
That’s where my Sarie lives.
There down by the maïsfields near the grren thorn tree,
That’s where my Sarie lives.

Refrain:

I was so scared that the English would catch me,
And send me away accross the sea;
That’s when I fled in the direction of the sandflats near Upington,
There down by the Orange River (formerly Great River)

Refrain:

The English are just like crocodiles,
They always drag you down to the water.
They trow you on a ship for a very long trip,
Only the Lord knows where to.

Refrain:

Liberation came, and it was time to return home,
Back to my dear Transvaal.
The person I love will certainly be there,
To reward me with a kiss.

SARIE MARAIS was also adopted by the French Army

Sarie Mares

Chant d’amour Sud-Africain du XVIII° siècle, il est chanté dès 1946 au peloton d’Extrême-Orient. A partir des années 1970, il s’impose comme chant de marche à l’EMIA.

O Sarie Mares, belle amie d’autrefois
En moi tu demeures vive.
L’amour est plus fort que la pluie et que le vent.
Qui peut arrêter son élan ?

Oui, je veux revoir, dans mon vieux Transvaal,
Ma ferme au toit de chaume.
Où le parfum du miel, et des conifères embaument.
L’air pur est clair comme un cristal. (bis pour les deux derniers)

O Sarie Mares est bien loin de mon coeur
Mais je crois en son amour.
Car c’est entre ses bras que j’ai connu le bonheur.
J’irai la revoir un jour. (bis pour les deux derniers)

Quand j’étais petit, je croyais qu’un démon
Venait me ravir ma maison.
Mais lorsque je fus grand, ce fut une horrible guerre
Qui m’emmena loin de mes terres. (bis pour les deux derniers)
http://www.nationalanthems.us/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1136108511

Sarie Marais
Arranged Sir Vivian Dunn
This march was adopted by the Royal Marines in 1953 as the offical march of the Royal Marines Commandos and is played after the Regimental March on ceremonial occassions. This recording is taken from the CD ‘The King’s Squad’ by the Band of HM Royal Marines Commando Training Centre and features the Adjudant giving that famous order “Royal Marines, to you duties… quick march”

http://www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/audio/Index_audiomp3.htm

Helmut Lotti – Sarie Marais – with a perfect Afrikaans accent!

 Royal Marines Commandos – Sarie Marais

On youtube you can watch the French version too.
And Sarie Marais in the movies!

Op hierdie volgende link kan jy lees oor die Huisgenoot uit Toeka se dae! Die link sal in ‘n nuwe bladsy oopmaak.
https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2009/01/17/from-ye-olde-and-not-so-old/

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Wind beneath my wings

I’ve come across this fantastic image. I love thunder/lightning and I do miss it here in London. You don’t get it here and if you do, you would think it was just another plane to touch down at Heathrow. I’ve taken the quote from this travelblog too. Also, enjoy the music of Bette Midler – The wind beneath my wings. South Africa, you are the wind beneath my wings!

Images here from a Cape Town-awardwinning-travelblog, worth to visit! The link will open in a new window.

Cape Town doesn’t get that many thunderstorms so when we do we tend to get very excited. This morning’s spectacular storm had us getting out the cameras and snapping away, but I think Cape Town local John Maarschalk wins with this incredible image.

John says:

“We had a marvellous electric show this morning around Cape Town. This was taken from inside my car with the camera balanced on the camera bag, with the wind blowing and the occassional squall of rain coming through. It wasn’t the best conditions to shoot, hence the movement in the image.

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Klein Karoo – Little Karoo

http://www.derust.org.za/gallery.htm

The Karoo is one of the beautiful places in South Africa. If you travel from Pretoria to Cape Town, you have no choice of travelling through the Karoo too! There are some spectacular places, like this small town called De Rust! We stayed a night at a B&B and I always say I would like to go back to De Rust one day! I have two Afrikaans songs about the Karoo, do yourself a favour and listen/watch it for the beautiful music firstly and secondly for the beautiful scenery.  The second song is about the Trans Karoo Train that takes you to Cape Town. I haven’t travelled by this train, but by looking at the video, I think it can be fun! Oudtshoorn is famous for the ostrich farms and you can go and have a ride on an ostrich! I’ve done it…it’s great fun! All images in this post are from the different websites in this post. If you click on the “movie”-page of my blog, you will find 3 links to movie-entries on my blog  about places in SA.

This is a donkey taxi in De Rust!

http://www.earthfoot.org

http://www.littlebrak.co.za/content/view/26/

Image: routes.co.za
All these places in the Western Cape is a must! Next stop for me when I go there, will surely be Matjiesfontein!

http://www.matjiesfontein.com/About/

Spring in the Karoo – image: http://dan-yvonne.myopus.net/travels/

A poem about frogs – Karoo frogs! An Afrikaans poem for Primary children

Karoo-Kikkers
(Uit: Goue Lint my storie begint: Tafelberguitgewers)
Kikkerland is op Kransplaas in die Karoo.
elke dag as die son skyn, sit die kikkers on ‘n
stokou karee by die diep, koel kuil op die klippe en kik.
Snags, as die maan op sy rug in die kuil dryf, sit
hulle in die biesies in ‘n kring en sing in die kikkerkoor.
Die klein kikkertjies klik-kliek-klik, klik-kliek-klik.
Pappa-Kik en Mamma-Kik kwaak. Oupa-Kik maak
sy keel dik en kra-a-a-k …. kra-a-a-k kontrabas.
Klein Hikkie-Kwik wip na Oupa-Kik se sitklip en vra:
“Oupa-Kik, hoekom staan ou Reier altyd op een been
in die vlak water van die kuil?”
“Ek wag en wag en wag en jy vra nou eers “ sê
Oupa–Kik. Hy loer alkante toe en fluister toe asof hy
bang is iemand luister: “Slim ou Reier staan op een
been in die vlak water van die kuil om klein kikkertjies
te kul. Hulle dink s lang, dun been is sommer ‘n rietjie.
En as hulle naby kom – SWIEP!”
“Swiep, Oupa-Kik?”
“Ja-a-a, Dan rek hy net sy lang sweepnek en hy
kry ‘n kikkertjie met sy snawel beet!”
“En dan, Oupa-Kik?”
“O-o-o, Dan sluk hy die klein kik in!” Oupa-Kik maak sy
keel dik en sy oë rek groot. “Julle moet mooi loop vir ou
Reier. Hier in die droë Karoo vang ou Reier
koggelmanders en kewers, krieke en kwarteltjies,
kiewietkuikens en klein kelkiewyntjies, as hy hulle kan
kry. En kikkertjies!”
Hikkie-Kik wip plieps! in die koel kuil in. Al die ander
kikkertjies moet eers hoor wat Oupa-Kik gesê het:
“Klik-kliek-klik,” klik die kikkertjies –
“KIK!
Die kikkies moet vir Reier Skrik!”
Daardie aand dryf die goue maan op sy rug in die
diep, koel kuil. Die kikkertjies sit op die koorklip.
Hulle sit in ‘n kring en sing:
“Ou Reier, ou Reier Rietjiebeen,
ou Reier met sy sweepnek,
ou Reier , ou Reier met sy Rietjiebeen
het mos mooitjies sy nek verrek!”
Die klein kikkertjies klik-kliek-klik, klik-kliek-klik.
Pappa-Kik en Mamma-Kik kwaak. Oupa-Kik maak sy
keel dik en kra-a-a-k … kra-a-a-k kontrabas.
Hulle sing tot die son opkom.

Image:themaxefiles.blogspot.co.uk/2010_05_01_archive.html

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Fook Island

Fook Gallooper

Image: artthrob.co.za artist:Norman Catherine

I’m not a big fan of  Walter Battiss, but do like some of his art. He got his inspiration from Picasso – some of his art appeals to me and other…well…appeals to other people…The art in this post is what appeals to me. What I really like about him, is his imagination! He created the fook characters and fook island, a fookian passport, fookian banknotes! His fookian drivers license was accepted in the USA , his colourful fookian passport has stamps from Australia, Britain and Germany and he exchanged a fookian banknote at the airport at Rome…hehe..I think it’s so funny. In these credit crunch days, why not trying your luck! You might just be lucky and your fookian banknotes will be accepted too..good luck!! This second piece of art is a self portrait by Battiss and I quite like the “fook gallooper” – done by another artist. He also created a fookian language, I wish I could see what that is like! Read what Wikipedia says about him in this post. Links in this post will open in a new window.

Image and read more about Battiss here

Image here: A self portrait by Walter Battiss

Walter Battiss: Zwartkrans

Walter Battiss: Streetmarket

Somerset East is named after Lord Charles Somerset.[ image]
Read here about Somerset East and things to do and see.

Walter Wahl Battiss (January 6, 1906 – August 20, 1982) was a South African artist, generally considered the foremost South African abstract painter and known as the creator of the quirky “Fook Island” concept.

Born into English Methodist family in the Karoo town of Somerset East, [South Africa], Battiss first became interested in archaeology and primitive art as a young boy after moving to Koffiefontein in 1917. In 1919 the Battiss family settled in Fauresmith where he completed his education, matriculating in 1923. In 1924 he became a clerk in the Magistrates Court in Rustenburg. His formal art studies started in 1929 at the Witwatersrand Technical College (drawing and painting), followed by the Johannesburg Training College (a Teacher’s Diploma) and etching lessons. Battiss continued his studies while working as a magistrate’s clerk, and finally obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts at University of South Africa at the age of 35.

Battiss was a founding member of the New Group and was unique in that he had not studied overseas. In 1938 he visited Europe for the first time, and in 1939 he published his first book, “The Amazing Bushman”. His interest in primitive rock art had a very profound impact on his ideas and he regarded San painting as an important art form. He was also influenced by Ndebele beadwork, pre-Islamic cultures and calligraphy.

In a 1949 trip to Europe he befriended Picasso who would have an influence on his already quirky style.

He visited Greece in 1966-1968 and the Seychelles in 1972, which inspired his make-believe Fook Island.

Battiss published nine books, wrote many articles and founded the periodical “De Arte”. He taught Pretoria Boys High School students for 30 years at the Pretoria Art Centre, of which was the principal from 1953-58. He also taught at UNISA where he became Professor of Fine Art in 1964 and retired in 1971. In 1973 he was awarded a D. Litt et Phil (honoris causa) from UNISA.[University of South Africa]

In 1981 he donated all his work to the newly opened “Walter Battiss Museum” in his birthplace of Somerset East.

Walter Battiss died in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal of a heart attack on 20 August 1982.

Walter Battiss’ long career as an artist has been devoted to the study of man in his environment; first in the context of Africa and rock art, then, later, in the interpretation of this concept in its broadest sense. His versatility and influence as in innovator, and the incentive he has provided for many aspiring artists, have secured him a very special place among leading South African artists.

Walter Battiss was a legendary figure – to such an extent that Professor Neville Dubow of the Michaelis School of Art, University of Cape Town, once remarked that had Battiss not existed, we would have had to invent him!

Battiss’s weird and wonderful appearance, his colourful and eccentric persona, his insatiable curiosity about life, and his remarkable work ethic, continue to challenge intellectual exploration of his work and capture the imagination of art lovers both at home and abroad.

Fook Island
This “island of the imagination” was a materialisation of Battiss’ philosophy for which he created a map, imaginary people, plants, animals, a history as well as a stamps, currency, passports and driver’s licences. He created a Fookian language with a full alphabet as well. This utopian ‘island’ was a composite of the many islands he visited – which included Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Madagascar, Fiji, Hawaii, Samoa, the Greek Isles and the Comores – blended together in his customary imaginative fashion. In Battiss’s words, “It is something that does not exist. I thought that I would take an island – the island that is inside all of us. I would turn this island into a real thing … I would give it a name”.

Fook was a result of his fertile imagination as well as his opposition to the Conceptualist Art movement of the 1960s and 70’s, in Europe and America. The movement espoused that the construction of art was confined to the ‘moment’ in which it was created. He believed on the contrary that all art exists in the now and this he argued to represent with Fook Island, which was always in the now and always an essential part of reality.

South Africans such as actress Janet Suzman, artist (and Battiss protegé) Norman Catherine, writer Esmé Berman and many others embraced the philosophy of Fook Island. The journalist Jani Allan interviewed Battiss in 1982 and also agreed to his request of becoming a ‘resident’ of the imaginary island.[1]

Battiss’ Fookian Driver’s License was accepted in America and the colourful pages of his Fookian Passport has official stamps from Australia, Britain and Germany. A Fookian banknote was also exchanged at a Rome airport for $10!
Source: Wikipedia

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Another time another place

Mount-aux-Sources

D J Opperman

Ons eerste liefde was
‘n wit galop van hingste
kniediep deur die gras:
ontdekkings, avonture
in die grot te, ‘n geil slaap
in holtes langs rooi vure.
Nou starend van die koue krans
voed een bron ons vergesigte –
‘n hoër vreugde, dieper angs.

This poem is an Afrikaans poem by one of our National Poets. As you can see from the title, it’s about Mount Aux Sources! Thank you Kop for the poem!

Mount Aux Sources is the highest peak of the Drakensberg Mountain range in South Africa. Note: the highest peak of this mountain range is actually Thaba Ntlenyana (thaba means “mountain” in Sotho) and this peak is in Lesotho, an enclaved country in South Africa.

Image: the dailykitten.com…beautiful kitty!

On the 22nd April 2009, all Saffas are going to vote..again. Saffas outside South Africa can vote on the 15th April. Please read HERE on the site of South Africa House, London, for more details.

Please click HERE for the Elections website and to check if you are registered to vote! You need to send in your VEC10-form by Friday 27th March to be able to vote! The form is available on this link too! Links will open in a new window.

Wow! I like this chess position! I’ve just resigned the other game as I haven’t had any chance to win it…I lost my Queen a few moves ago! but this game is an exciting one….just look at that fork! Usually I like to castle in my games, but for some reason, I didn’t castle in the two games against this player. He’s rating is a bit more than mine, but a few months ago, his rating was about 500 higher than mine. I guess you figured out that I played white in this game…

And…here’s the final position, my opponent has resigned. Click on the link to play through the game. The link will open in a new window.
Nikita1 vs. P79

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Saturday Morning Thoughts

Namakwaland/Namaqualand image: trekearth.com

I’ve received these next three images of Namaqualand via email and when looking at it, I realised again what a wonderful and beautiful country South Africa is! October/November is Spring time in South Africa and that’s when you will find Namaqualand covered in these beautiful flower blankets. You can also go on Namaqua-trips to see the flowers! Many tourists go on these trips and will tell you they are going to “see the flowers” and then you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about. It’s just amazing! I haven’t been to Namaqua during the “flowering-time”, but would love to go one day! On the map you can see exactly where Namaqualand is and follow the link to “Namaqualand” to make sure you don’t miss out next time! The link will open in a new window. The youtube video about Namaqualand is unfortunately in Afrikaans, but you will see a donkey chart, some beatiful images about South Africa and some flowerbeds too… the artist sings about Namaqualand.

map image: namaqualand.com

http://www.namaqualand.com/index.htm

 

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South Africa at Dresden 2008

Please click HERE to see more results of games played in round 1 and round 2. The link will open in a new window. At the bottom of this post you will find a link to play through games of round 5, where South Africa played Luxembourg.

On this link you can play through games played in round 6. The link will open in a new window.

http://chessaleeinlondon.blogspot.com/2008/11/south-africa-dresden-and-round-6.html

 

Click on the top image/logo to access the official site of Dresen 2008, it will open in a new window and on the “live” image for the live games.

 

South African players: Men

South African players: Ladies

Dresden Schedule

The South African women’s team at Dresden

All images in this post: HERE the official chess blog of Chess SA. The link will open in a new window.

Carmen de Jager

Monique Sischy

Melissa Greeff

Jenine Ellappen

Anzel Solomons

Henry Steel

Watu Kobese

Please click HERE to play through a game of Watu Kobese against Jennifer Shahade played in Philadelphia in June 1998. The game was Kobese’s.

Kenny Solomon

Johannes Mabusela

Daniel Cawdery

Some of the round 3 results- click on images for  larger view

Melissa Greeff round 3 move 39 …0-1

Melissa Greeff round 3 move list

 

Daniel Cawdery round 3 end position 1/2

Daniel Cawdery round 3 move list

Monique Sischy round 3 end position 0-1

Monique Sischy round 3 move list

Round 4  16 Nov women’s team against Norway and men’s team against Pakistan

Melissa round 4 move 18

Jenine round 4 move 17

Anzel round 4 move 17

Monique round 4 move 17

Daniel round 4 move 17

Henry round 4 move 14

Kenny round 4 move 12

Johannes round 4 move 12

 

South Africa vs Pakistan Images from players: chesssaol.wordpress.com

South African Ladies’ team vs Latvia

Results of the ladies’ team after round 4

Results of the men’s team after round 4

Round 5 results: South Africa vs Luxembourg 17th November 2008

Henry Steel vs Jeitz Christian Dresden round 5…1-0

Mietek Bakalarz vs Kenny Solomon Dresden round 5 …0-1

Pierre Gengler vs Johannes Mabusela Dresden round 5…1/2

Watu Kobese vs Fred Berend Dresden round 5…1-0

Watu Kobese round 5 move list

Kaydanovich vs Monique Sischy Dresden round 5…0-1

Round 5 Monique Sischy move list

Anzel Solomons vs Gelina Melnik Dresden round 5 …1-0
Please click HERE to play interactively through the games of round 5. The link will open in a new window.

Results: Ladies Round 6 South Africa vs Egypt

Results: Men Round 6 South Africa vs Italy

 

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South Africa humiliate England

South Africa humiliate England
Eurosport – Sat, 22 Nov 19:06:00 2008

World champions South Africa pounced on another error-strewn performance by England to consign the hosts to a record 42-6 defeat at Twickenham.

 England v South Africa

First half tries from Danie Rossouw and Ruan Pienaar were added to after the interval by Adi Jacobs, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana as South Africa ran in five scores despite having a man sent to the sin-bin in either half.

“It was a brutal lesson,” Johnson said. “We created a lot of opportunities but the execution was poor.”

“It’s a real character week for all of us now. We can either pack it all up or come back and try to win the game. We have to bounce back and play our hearts out.”

England made a solid start to the match with Danny Cipriani giving the hosts a three point lead within a minute, but Pienaar quickly levelled up for South Africa when England were penalised for not releasing the ball at the breakdown.

Cipriani had a second chance to put England in the lead but his effort for the halfway line fell just short.

It was a decent effort from the young England fly-half but South Africa took the escape as a signal to run riot as England produced another error-riddled performance.

Roussow forced his way over for the first try after an attacking line-out for the hosts when the England defence was exposed.

Pienaar added the extras before single-handedly exposing England’s inexperience – Cipriani took far too long over a clearance kick allowing the Springbok to charge the ball down and run away for an unchallenged solo try that he also converted.

England once again found themselves penalised at the breakdown, allowing Pienaar to add another penalty to South Africa’s tally.

Cipriani recovered his composure enough to double England’s output in the first half but it was scant consolation to the hosts who were being dominated in all aspects of the game.

Things were to go from bad to worse though for England as, not only did they fail to put any points on the board while Tendai Mtawarira was in the sin bin, but they were also forced to defend frantically for the last 10 minutes of the half to keep the score down at 20-6.

There were better signs from England at the start of the second half as Ugo Monye and Delon Armitage, both bright points for England, strung some moves together. But again the final ball was a problem and the hosts were unable to capitalise.

South Africa quickly recovered though and Adi Jacobs scored their third try of the afternoon after a brilliant decoy run from Jean De Villiers had opened up acres of space for JP Pietersen.

Pienaar again added the conversion before kicking a third penalty when Nick Easter was caught playing the ball off his feet.

South Africa saw Conrad Jantjes sent to the sin-bin for a late shoulder charge on Armitage, after the London Irish man had already chipped the ball away upfield.

But again England failed to take advantage of the opportunity and the final 10 minutes will be some that Johnson will want to forget the most as South Africa ran in another two tries.

Fourie got the first by out-muscling Paul Sackey for a loose ball before running through to touch down unchallenged. Replacement Francois Steyn added the conversion before the Boks finished with a flourish working the ball across the field for Habana to cross over on the right wing.
Source: Yahoo http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22112008/58/south-africa-humiliate-england.html

This report is from Yahoo…minute-by-minute and you should start reading it from the bottom:)

FT Referee Rose calls time on England’s misery and that concludes out coverage for now as well. Stick around for Wales v New Zealand in an hours time. England face the All Blacks next week of course in their final match of the year

80′ Steyn misses with his second conversion attempt but South Africa have already consigned England to their heaviest ever defeat at Twickenham

79′ It’s too easy now for South Africa as they work the ball across the field to Habana, who touches down on the right wing to add salt to England’s wounds

76′ Francois Steyn takes over from where Pienaar left off and adds the conversion. This is embarassing for England now

76′ TRY SOUTH AFRICA! Jacque Fourie sprints away with the loose ball after muscling Sackey off the ball. Armitage does well to track back and ankle tap Fourie but the South African does well to get back up and has an easy run in for the try

75′ Easter has the ball but he is driven back again and Cipriani spills the ball forward

75′ England now are within sight of the line as Monye breaks … Armitage is with him … he finds Shaw but England are hassled into touch

73′ South Africa break again as Burger gets within inches of the line but England’s defence stands firm this time and they turn the ball over

69’To their credit, England are still pushing for territory but again their passing is letting them down as a ball out wide to Sackey goes astray

66’Again South Africa push them back and Januarie turns the ball over before clearing downfield

65’England take the scrum and quickly get another – this time on the five metre line – when South Africa are penalised

64’Armitage breaks for England … he could be on here for the try … he chips through but Conrad Jantjies shoulder charges the London Irish man after the ball has gone and he is off with an immediate yellow card. Shocking from the South African

63’PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA! Pienaar doesn’t miss chances like that – he thumps the ball between the posts and South Africa have 30 points at Twickenham

62’Easter is penalised for going in off his feet and South Africa hav another chance to extend their lead – again

60’Monye picks up the ball and looks for something positive again but he is driven back a good five metres and that just sums up England’s day

58’England decide to go for the corner and push for the try – they are forced back but Danny Care again is almost away. The ball finds it’s way out to Cipriani, whose pass out wide is shocking. He is having a horrible day. All that needed was a simple pass to Flood, who had Sackey outside him, but Cipriani put the ball into the middle of nowhere and it dribbled out into touch

57’Rossouw then adds another horrible tackle on Nick Easter – really very high with one arm before grabbing Easter’s head with the other arm. England have the penalty

56’Monye and Armitage are the two highlights for England today as the former is on the receiving end of a horribly high tackle from De Villiers

50’Pienaar, unsurprisingly, adds the extra two points and the Boks are well and truly in control of this match over every inch of the park

50’TRY SOUTH AFRICA! De Villiers provides a brilliant decoy run off the back of a line-out, to create acres of space for Pietersen, who offloads to Jacobs for the third try of the afternoon

47’Sackey is in acres of space on the right wing but the pass out wide to him is a poor one and he has to stop dead to pick it up off his feet and South Africa turn the ball over before Pienaar clears down field. How did England not score there?

46’Sackey picks up a loose ball on the right wing but he is dragged down five metres out – England recycle the ball across the pitch to the left wing where they get within milimetres of the line with Danny Care

45’Monye makes a great break down the left wing making a good 30m or so after receiving the ball from Armitage. Habana brings him down but England still have possession

44’A high ball causes havoc as De Villiers puts a lot of pressure on Armitage at the back … but England escape when South Africa knock on

43’Care on the break as England look to make a better start to this second half

41’Second half underway at Twickenham .

..40+2There is the half-time whistle and England have held on to remain just the 14 points down! They really need to come out firing on all cylinders after the break if this match is to be turned around. It’s been a furious first half, go grab a brew (or a beer if you prefer) and we’ll be back in about 15 minutes time40+1England turn the ball over again before Cipriani finds Monye, who in turn charges away on the right wing … he kicks upfield before being taken out and the ball has gone out on the full

40’The ball only goes as far as Habana but Care has chased his kick on and puts in a great tackle to stop the South African’s charge

39 ’90 seconds until half time should be called and England must not concede again as South Africa work throught the phases before Danny Care comes to the rescue to clear

37’Oh dear, oh dear – England are in all kinds of trouble as they spill the ball and Monye is forced to collect, run the ball back over his own tryline before being able to clear36’Pienaar has another chance to kick at the posts albeit from inside his own half. But his kick doesn’t quite have the distance and England escape

35’Another Cipriani kick bounces off a South Africa player and the visitors have possession back – with Januarie looking to fashion a move after a stunning, through the legs offload from Smit! South Africa are looking really confident now, and why wouldn’t they be?

34’Flood makes his first impression on the South African’s as he kicks upfield and chases himself. It doesn’t fall kindly for the Leicester man but Sackey is there to help tackle Pietersen, who has collected

32’Simon Shaw has also been brought off to be replaced by Tom Palmer and Martin Johnson is looked to address this bad start quickly which is a good sign

31’Flutey limps off but Flood will replace him and his right footed kicking game should just help Cipriani settle into his left footed game now

29’The referee has had enough of the penalties at the breakdown and Mtawarira has been sent to the bin for 10 minutes

28’PENALTY ENGLAND! Much better from Cipriani there as he holds his nerve to put another three points on the board with a solid kick from the right wing. Still 14 points in it though

26’It’s become really quite scrappy now as England desperately search for a way to get back into this match

24’PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA! A great kick from Pienaar from the left touchline and the visitors are beginning to run away with this

23’England are penalised once again for being off their feet at the breakdown and Pienaar will have another chance to extend South Africa’s lead

20’Care to Rees, to Haskell. Haskell finds Armitage on his outside and the London Irish man is away down the left wing … brilliant covering from South Africa as Pietersen and Botha shove Armitage into touch with just millimetres to go to the line

18′ Pienaar again adds the easy conversion kick and South Africa have 14 points from two trips into the England 22

18′ TRY SOUTH AFRICA! That’s just embarassing from England’s point of view as Cipriani, with 10 metres space to clear, sees his kick charged down by Pienaar, who then has an easy run in over the line for the Boks second try

16′ Pienaar adds the straight-forward conversion and South Africa have a seven point lead after just quarter of an hour

15′ TRY SOUTH AFRICA! Danie Rossouw receives the ball after a moment of brilliance from Januarie and the Springbok back rower touches down just to the right of the posts

14′ Scrum five to South Africa now as Pienaar tries to find his man on the right wing

12′ South Africa steal the ball from Haskell and make a break of their own – they’ve made it out of their own half. Bryan Habana with the ball and it’s great play from Sackey to get his fingertips on the ball and knock it out of the hands of the South African winger

11′ England pushing for the try line from a five metre scrum – they work the ball out wide through the hands of Cipriani, Rees, Haskell, Noon, Flutey

9′ Cipriani with a chance to put England in the lead again but it’s the kick is from the half way line and it doesn’t quite have the legs to get there 6′ PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA! Ruan Pienaar levels up for South Africa after England are penalised for failing to release the ball

2′ PENALTY ENGLAND! A great start for England as Cipriani quickly puts a simple kick in between the posts to snatch the early lead 1′ Here we go then – we’re underway at Twickenham for a replay of last year’s World Cup final …

14:23 Hello and welcome to Eurosport Yahoo’s LIVE coverage of England’s third autumn Test against South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA VS WALES

Images: uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
Fourie Du Preez… the latest addition to my Springbok-heroes! Where is Percy! I do miss you today Percy!! The score is now 13-3 …of course South Africa leading..so far…it’s half time now! GO BOKKE!! MWHUAH! to Jean De Villiers! 20-3 now. Hmmm….20-12…South Africa…come on! I’m not even aware of the existence of Habana in the team today…is he getting “old” or what! and Schalk Burger (having the same name and surname as my great grandad..but luckily not family!) you shouldn’t be in the team…firstly, get a good hair cut! (before playing as a Springbok again) and don’t be “all over the place”! Also, you have calmed down a bit, but you can calm down a little bit more…Game over! 20-15 and South Africa: you are not as good as you were before! Wales played a good game and Alan Powell (Wales) is a great player! Congrats South Africa!! Glad you won! but too many penalties! All the points Wales scored were just because of penalties!! No good, my favourite team!! and I guess you know it! But, at least you fought a great battle against Wales as they couldn’t score a try although they tried very hard. Well done to the Boks being there every time the players of the Wales-team thought “now is that moment”…and then you were there to tackle them!

Jean de Villiers

I have a few countries’ National Anthems here for you too…South Africa’s in Afrikaans, then in English, then the new Anthem of SA…in all the official languages of SA- 11 of them!! -..then the British/American anthems too. You can also listen to SA’s in both languages.
Here are the words to Die Stem: written by C J Langenhoven

Uit die blou van onse hemel, uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes waar die kranse antwoord gee.
Deur ons ver-verlate vlaktes met die kreun van ossewa –
Ruis die stem van ons geliefde, van ons land Suid-Afrika.

Ons sal antwoord op jou roepstem, ons sal offer wat jy vra:
Ons sal lewe, ons sal sterwe – ons vir jou, Suid-Afrika

In die merg van ons gebeente, in ons hart en siel en gees,
In ons roem op ons verlede, in ons hoop of wat sal wees,
In ons wil en werk en wandel, van ons wieg tot aan ons graf –
Deel geen ander land ons liefde, trek geen ander trou ons af.

Vaderland! ons sal die adel van jou naam met ere dra:
Waar en trou as Afrikaners – kinders van Suid-Afrika.

In die songloed van ons somer, in ons winternag se kou,
In die lente van ons liefde, in die lanfer van ons rou,
By die klink van huweliksklokkies, by die kluitklap op die kis –
Streel jou stem ons nooit verniet nie, weet jy waar jou kinders is.

Op jou roep sê ons nooit nee nie, sê ons altyd, altyd ja:
Om te lewe, om te sterwe – ja, ons kom Suid-Afrika.

Op U Almag vas vertrouend het ons vadere gebou:
Skenk ook ons die krag, o Here! om te handhaaf en te hou –
Dat die erwe van ons vad’re vir ons kinders erwe bly:
Knegte van die Allerhoogste, teen die hele wêreld vry.

Soos ons vadere vertrou het, leer ook ons vertrou, o Heer –
Met ons land en met ons nasie sal dit wel wees, God regeer.

Here are the words to The Call of South Africa:

Ringing out from our blue heavens, from our deep seas breaking round;
Over everlasting mountains where the echoing crags resound;
From our plains where creaking wagons cut their trails into the earth –
Calls the spirit of our Country, of the land that gave us birth.

At thy call we shall not falter, firm and steadfast we shall stand,
At thy will to live or perish, O South Africa, dear land.

In our body and our spirit, in our inmost heart held fast;
in the promise of our future and the glory of our past;
In our will, our work, our striving, from the cradle to the grave –
There’s no land that shares our loving, and no bond that can enslave.

Thou hast borne us and we know thee. May our deeds to all proclaim
Our enduring love and service to thy honour and thy name.

In the golden warmth of summer, in the chill of winter’s air,
in the surging life of springtime, in the autumn of despair;
When the wedding bells are chiming or when those we love do depart;
Thou dost know us for thy children and dost take us to thy heart.

Loudly peals the answering chorus; We are thine, and we shall stand,
Be it life or death, to answer to thy call, beloved land.

In thy power, Almighty, trusting, did our fathers build of old;
Strengthen then, O Lord, their children to defend, to love, to hold –
That the heritage they gave us for our children yet may be;
Bondsmen only of the Highest and before the whole world free.

As our fathers trusted humbly, teach us, Lord, to trust Thee still;
Guard our land and guide our people in Thy way to do Thy will.

This is the official version of the national anthem, combining Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stem / The Call of South Africa

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika.

Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,

Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

God Save the Queen (standard version)

God save our gracious Queen,1
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.
O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.
Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.*

United States of America National Anthem: Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see,
By the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
Through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there.
O, say, does that
Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free
And the home of the brave?

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Goue Storie-Golden Story

Alida Bothma 

Alida Bothma’s biographical detail Born and bred in Pretoria, and now a Greyton resident, Alida obtained a diploma in Graphic Design, with distinction, at the Cape Town Technikon in 1973 and then worked as an illustrator with an advertising agency.

At the age of 26 she had her first international recognition when her work was included in a watercolour exhibition in Western Germany. The early 1980’s saw the beginning of her involvement in the illustration of children’s books and to date they number over 150.

Her paintings are often inspired by the written word or thoughts, prose, poetry and Scripture. Alida works in a variety of techniques and usually uses a mixture of different media.

She is the recipient of many national awards, among others, the Katrine Harries Medal in 1985; the MER Medal in 1988 and the ATKV Awards in 1993, 1997 and 2000. Her work has extensively been seen abroad in Japan, Belgium, Canada, Italy, the Slovak Republic, Iran and India.

In 1994 she received a merit award and in 2005 a bronze medal from the NOMA Concours (Unesco), Tokyo, Japan. Her work is represented in South Africa and internationally and she has held numerous solo exhibitions. She and her husband relocated from Port Elizabeth to Greyton in 2014, where she now has her studio.

I came across Alida Bothma’s art when searching for a topic and then remembered how beautifully she used to illustrate South African children’s books. In 2004 she was a runner-up in the Noma Concours Picture Book illustrations-award.

The Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations has been organised biennially by Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) supported by Noma International Book Development Fund. This Concours is to discover up-and-coming illustrators, graphic designers and artists in Asia (except Japan), the Pacific, Africa, Arab States, and Latin America & the Caribbean, to provide an opportunity at which they can present their works to offer incentives for their creative activities.

Source: http://www.accu.or.jp/noma/english/e_index.html

 

http://www.nomaaward.org/winners.shtml

Goue Lint My Storie Begint..(A book of verse for little children also Illustrated by Alida)

The Katrine Harries Award, originally the only and most prestigious award in South Africa for children’s book illustrations, but which had been dormant for the past nine years, will soon be awarded again.

Protea Boekhuis has kindly agreed to sponsor the Award on a continuous basis. The award that was made for the first time in the early 1960’s by the SA Library Association and later the South African Institute for Library and Information Science (SAILIS) has been awarded to South Africa’ s most well-known illustrators: Katrine Harries personally received the award twice before it was named after her. Thereafter illustrators such as Niki Daly, Joan Rankin, Alida Bothma, Cora Coetzee, Jeremy Grimsdell, amongst others, have received it, with Jude Daly finally receiving it in 1997 for Gift of the Sun.
Resource: http://scbwigauteng.blogspot.com/2007/09/katrine-harries-award-for-childrens.html

In 1997 her art was on display with other artists from South Africa in Belgium…see this link http://www.childlit.org.za/exantwerp.html

These two images immediately captured my attention! 
Deeply Morbid
by Stevie Smith

Deeply morbid deeply morbid was the girl who typed the letters
Always out of office hours running with her social betters
But when daylight and the darkness of the office closed about her
Not for this ah not for this her office colleagues came to doubt her
It was that look within her eye
Why did it always seem to say goodbye?

Joan her name was and at lunchtime
Solitary solitary
She would go and watch the pictures
In the National Gallery
All alone all alone
This time with no friend beside her
She would go and watch the pictures
All alone.

Read the rest of the poem here:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=176218

Images from this link:

http://www.durbanville.info/alida_bothma/
Awards Alida has received

INTERNATIONAL:
1. Merit award: NOMA Concours (UNESCO), Tokyo, Japan 1994 – illustration in “Die Wit Vlinder by Corlia Fourie.
2. Bronze Medal and Runner-up award: NOMA Concours (UNESCO), Tokyo, Japan 2005 for a volume of poetry, Woordreise.
NATIONAL:
1. Katrine Harries Medal for illustration in 1985 for two books: All Everest’s Birds (Rona Rupert) and The Earth must be free (Pieter W. Grobbelaar).
2. M.E.R. Medal in 1988 for illustrations in the book Goue Fluit my storie is uit (compiled by Linda Roode).
3. ATKV Award for illustrators in 1993, 1997 and 2000 for the books Caty Collie Wobbles (Elsabe Steenberg), Stippe Stappe Stories, and Steweltjies na Wonderland (Hester Heese).

All art below: see her Facebook page: Alida Bothma Art.

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I am an African

Quite recently I’ve translated a poem written by Wayne Visser into Afrikaans. The poem can be found here with Wayne’s comments:

https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/ek-weet-van-n-plek-in-afrika/

A couple of days ago, he asked me to translate this poem: “I am an African” into Afrikaans and I felt it was an honour to be asked by him to do it. I’ve tried my best, as all my Afrikaans-bloggers know I’m no expert in translations, but I do try to convey the “message” of the poem, but sometimes, specially when not asked to do a translation, I might want to change the poem slightly to what I like, although I will keep the overall “message”, like the poem written by Wordsworth…”I wandered lonely like a cloud.”  Wayne also understands Afrikaans. He liked my interpretation of Wordsworth’s poem and I felt happy that a professional poet could also view his opinion, as you would agree that you sometimes don’t know really if you do any poem justice by translating it. I’ve done some translations from Afrikaans to English too and if you want to read some poems of some of South Africa’s best poets…you can click on the page that says…”my poems-gedigte” and read a few there. You will find Eugene Marais’s poem…”The dance of the rain” and Totius’s poem…”oh the painful thought..” and some others too. I do like to write my own too, which you will find on that page too. I want to stress it out …that I’m no professional, so enjoy whatever you find here and there’s always poetry sites where you can find poems written by professionals! Today, Sunday 7th Sept 2008,  I had two people putting in “Is Wayne Visser an Afrikaans writer” in  a search and were directed to my blog…as far as I could see, he doesn’t write in Afrikaans, I couldn’t find any of his poems or works in Afrikaans, but he does understand the Language…he speaks Afrikaans too. I do hope this helps, you can contact him via his website address…link at the bottom of this post – and email him!

Image: DK-images…Langebaan, Cape Town

Ek is van Afrika

Ek is van Afrika
Nie omdat ek daar gebore is
Maar omdat my hart met Afrika klop
Ek is van Afrika
Nie omdat my gelaat donker is
Maar omdat Afrika my gedagtes omgrens
Ek is van Afrika
Nie omdat ek van haar leef
Maar omdat my siel tuis is – in Afrika

Wanneer Afrika oor haar kinders ween
Is my wange deur traandruppels deurweek
Wanneer Afrika haar voorvaders eer
Buig my hoof in respek daarheen
Wanneer Afrika oor haar slagoffers rou
Is my hande in gebed gevou
Wanneer Afrika haar oorwinnings vier
Dans ek op die maat van die oorwinningslied

Ek is van Afrika
Met haar asemrowende ylblou lugruimtes
Laat sy die toekoms skitterend skyn
Ek is van Afrika
Waar ek gegroet word asof familie
En ek ervaar die gevoel van meervoudig
Ek is van Afrika
Want haar wildheid bring vertroosting vir my siel
En bring my nader na die bron van Lewe

Wanneer Afrika-musiek in die wind weerklink
Volg my polsslag die ritmiese klop
En word ek een met die klank
Wanneer die Afrika-kleure in die son glinster
Verdrink my sintuie in haar reënboog
En is ek die natuur se pallet
Wanneer die Afrika-verhale om die vure op-klink
Volg my voete hul tydlose ‘wink
En is ek die spore van die verle’

Ek is van Afrika
Want sy’s die krip van geboorte
En troetel die oer-oue wysheid
Ek is van Afrika
Want sy leef in die skadu van die wêreld
En brand met ‘n gloeiende inspirasie
Ek is van Afrika
Want sy is die land van môre
En ek eer haar tydlose geskenke

©Nikita — 2nd September 2008

The English version:
I Am An African

I am an African
Not because I was born there
But because my heart beats with Africa’s
I am an African
Not because my skin is black
But because my mind is engaged by Africa
I am an African
Not because I live on its soil
But because my soul is at home in Africa

When Africa weeps for her children
My cheeks are stained with tears
When Africa honours her elders
My head is bowed in respect
When Africa mourns for her victims
My hands are joined in prayer
When Africa celebrates her triumphs
My feet are alive with dancing

I am an African
For her blue skies take my breath away
And my hope for the future is bright
I am an African
For her people greet me as family
And teach me the meaning of community
I am an African
For her wildness quenches my spirit
And brings me closer to the source of life

When the music of Africa beats in the wind
My blood pulses to its rhythm
And I become the essence of sound
When the colours of Africa dazzle in the sun
My senses drink in its rainbow
And I become the palette of nature
When the stories of Africa echo round the fire
My feet walk in its pathways
And I become the footprints of history

I am an African
Because she is the cradle of our birth
And nurtures an ancient wisdom
I am an African
Because she lives in the world’s shadow
And bursts with a radiant luminosity
I am an African
Because she is the land of tomorrow
And I recognise her gifts as sacred

Copywright: Wayne Visser – 2005

Read more of his poetry at: www.waynevisser.com

Images: hotelsbible.com/travellog 19

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Kyk dis September weer!

Image: dailymail.co.uk

In South Africa, today it’s the first day of Spring! Everybody in South Africa…ENJOY SPRING!! I’ve got a couple of our wonderful poems that can be sung too and they’re all about Spring…there’s many more, but these are some of my favourites. I’ve got the audio file of the last one (instrumental only) and I hope you enjoy it!

DIS HEERLIKE LENTE

Woorde: THEO W. JANDRELL en G.G. CILLIÉ
Musiek: Wysie uit die Alpe; verwerk: G.G. CILLIÉ

Dis heerlike lente, die winter’s verby;

weer nooi berg’ en klowe vir jou en vir my.

Hol-la-dri-o-ha, hol-la-dri-o. Hol-la-dri-o-ha, hol-la-dri-o!
Die bergklim is heerlik, dit hou mens gesond.

Die vroe-, vroeë môre het goud in die mond.

Hol-la-dri-o-ha, hol-la-dri-o. Hol-la-dri-o-ha, hol-la-dri-o!

AL DIE VELD IS VROLIK

Woorde: C. LOUIS LEIPOLDT
Musiek: J. WEBER; verwerk: PIETER DE VILLIERS

Al die veld is vrolik; al die voëltjies sing;
al die kriekies kriek daarbuit’; elke sprinkaan spring.
Al die koggelmannetjies kom om fees te vier;
hier galop ‘n goggatjie, daarso dans ‘n mier.

[KOOR]
Nou gaan die kinders draai, nou gaan hul speel!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!

Selfs die vissies spartel teen die kafferskuil;
in die groot ou eikeboom droom ‘n oupa-uil.
Oral in Karooland is ‘n ruik versprei:
boegoeblom en appelkoos–kan jy beter kry?

[KOOR]
Nou gaan die kinders draai, nou gaan hul speel!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!

Bind vir my tesame katjiepiering wit,
bobbejaantjies blou en bont, rose in gelid,
varings van die klippe, oral, ai só mooi,
rooi kalkoentjies uit die vlei–blomme uitgestrooi.

[KOOR]
Nou gaan die kinders draai, nou gaan hul speel!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!

Vrolik is die wêreld, vrolik rant en vlei!
Elke koggelmannetjie het sy maat gekry.
Elke gons’rig’ goggatjie is getroud of vry:
vrolik is die wêreld hier, vrolik veld en vlei!

[KOOR]
Nou gaan die kinders draai, nou gaan hul speel!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!

KYK, DIS SEPTEMBER WEER

Woorde: C.G.S. DE VILLIERS
Musiek: Italiaanse melodie; verwerk: CHRIS LAMPRECHT

[2x]
Kyk, dis September weer; laat al die vure brand!
Dan hou ons weer ‘n keer braaivleis doer by die strand.

[REFREIN]
Laat alle boeke tuis, laat sorge agterbly;
Jeug en lentetyd gaan snel verby, ja, hulle gaan verby.
Laat alle boeke tuis, laat sorge agterbly;
Jeug en lentetyd gaan snel verby, gaan snel verby.

[2x]
Lente is oral weer, blou branders aan die strand,
velde vol blommefleur; knoop nou die liefdesband.

[REFREIN]
Laat alle boeke tuis, laat sorge agterbly;
Jeug en lentetyd gaan snel verby, ja, hulle gaan verby.
Laat alle boeke tuis, laat sorge agterbly;
Jeug en lentetyd gaan snel verby, gaan snel verby.

Meer Volksliedere wat jy kan aflaai op hierdie link! Kliek op die musieknoot vir die musiek en op die liedjie-naam vir die woorde. Dit is almal midi-leêrs wat jy lag-lag kan omskakel in ‘n MP3! en ek plaas nog ‘n gedig van Leipoldt…wat ek op Laerskool moes leer! Pragtige gedig…Die Beste!

update: 1/9/2013 – Gelukkig het blerkas net geskuif na ‘n nuwe link, die ou link het ‘verdwyn’. 

http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/~lochner/blerkas/

Die Beste

Geil lusern in die laagste landjie,
geil groen blare en blomme blou;
aalwyn rooi op die voorste randjie,
rooi soos bloed teen die rotse grou;
somer en son en saffier daarbowe,
ruik van die keurbos rondgesprei;
kort klein skaduwees oor die klowe;
somer en son en saffier vir my !
Wonder van kleure uitgesprei –
wat is daar meer die dood te rowe ?
Somer en son en saffier vir my !

C. Louis Leipoldt

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World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad in Mersin

I do apologise for not updating this post the last week of the Olympiad as we suddenly went away for a week!
World Under-16 Chess Olympiad started yesterday in Mersin, Turkey with the participating of 125 players from 19 different countries and a total of 27 teams participating. It is going to be held between 16-25 August. The coverage of the event is going to be available from the
official website.

Schedule:

South African participants:
Coach: Martin Botha
CRAIG BORNHEIM
WERNER KANNEMEYER
ANDE MEYER
FRANCOIS VAN NIEKERK
JAISHIL MODI
STEPHAN ENSLIN
SAYEN NAIDU
STEFAN DU TOIT
GAWIE HENDRIKSZ
LAETITIA VAN WYK

On these images – from the Official site – you can see some of the South Africans taking part in this Olympiad in Turkey.

 

Team results round 2 played 18/08/2008 at 10:00

2.3 GEORGIA FED 3 – 1 ENGLAND FED
1 FM BREGADZE Levan 2399GEO 1:0  ZHOU Yang-Fan 2259ENG
2  JANIASHVILI Irakli 2192GEO ½:½  KILPATRICK Callum 2203ENG
3  DAVARASHVILI Nodar 2220GEO 1:0  YNOJOSA Felix Jose 2101ENG
4  NIKOLASHVILI Giorgi 2197GEO ½:½  SEN Subin 2050ENG

2.8  SOUTH AFRICA-A FED 1-3  TURKIYE-B FED
1  MEYER Andre 1702RSA 0:1  ATMAN Berkan 1941TUR
2  BORNHEIM Craig 0RSA 0:1  KANLI Kaan 1972TUR
3  MODI Jaishil Bhadrashil 0RSA 0:1  KERIGAN Demre 1892TUR
4  HENDRIKSZ Gabriel 0RSA 1:0 TEKELI Taylan Can 1829 TUR
2.10  SOUTH AFRICA-B FED 1½-2½  TURKIYE-GIRLS-AFED
1  KANNEMEYER Werner 1862RSA 1:0  KAYA Emel 1889TUR
2  ENSLIN Stefan 0RSA 0:1  SOP Selen 1870TUR
3  DU TOIT Stefan 0RSA 0:1  SOYLEMEZ Cansu 1849TUR
4  VAN NIEKERK Francois 0RSA ½:½  SASMAZEL Burcu 1837TUR

WORLD YOUTH UNDER-16 CHESS OLYMPIAD
  Round 3 on 2008/08/18 at 16:30

1  TURKIYE-A 7½  1 – 3  7½ ARMENIA
2  GEORGIA 7  2 – 2  7 PHILIPPINES
3  AZERBAIJAN 6  1 – 3  6½ INDIA 
4  SLOVAKIA 5  2 – 2  5 ENGLAND 
5  SWITZERLAND-B 4½  1½ – 2½  4½ SWITZERLAND-A 
6  RUSSIA 4  3½ – ½  4½ GREECE 
7  TURKIYE-B 4  2½ – 1½  4 SRI LANKA 
8  TURKIYE-C 3½  3 – 1  4 BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 
9  TURKIYE-GIRLS-B 3  1 – 3  3 SOUTH AFRICA-A 
10  TURKIYE-GIRLS-A 2½  2 – 2  2½ TURKIYE-MERSIN
11  AUSTRALIA 2  2½ – 1½  2 SYRIA 
12  ISEK AQUAMATCH 2  2 – 2  1½ SOUTH AFRICA-B 
13  KENYA 0  2 – 2  1 ALBANIA 

Team pairings and results: Round 4: 19/8/2008 at 10:00
1  ARMENIA 10½ 3 – 1 9½ INDIA 
2  PHILIPPINES 9 3½ – ½ 8½ TURKIYE-A
3 RUSSIA 7½ 3 – 1 9 GEORGIA 
4 ENGLAND 7 1 – 3 7 AZERBAIJAN 
5 SWITZERLAND-A 7 1 – 3 7 SLOVAKIA 
6 TURKIYE-C 6½ 4 – 0 6½ TURKIYE-B 
7 SOUTH AFRICA-A 6 0 – 4 5½ SRI LANKA 
8 GREECE 5 2½ – 1½ 6 SWITZERLAND-B 
9 BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 5 3 – 1 4½ TURKIYE-GIRLS-A 
10 TURKIYE-MERSIN 4½ 3 – 1 4½ AUSTRALIA 
11 TURKIYE-GIRLS-B 4 2 – 2 4 ISEK AQUAMATCH
12 ALBANIA 3 ½ – 3½ 3½ SOUTH AFRICA-B 
13 SYRIA 3½ 3 – 1 2 KENYA 

Team Pairings and results: Round 5 20th August 10:00

1 7 ARMENIA 13½ 2 – 2 12½ PHILIPPINES 4
2 2 INDIA 10½ 3 – 1 10½ TURKIYE-C 14
3 8 SLOVAKIA 10 1 – 3 10½ RUSSIA 1
4 3 AZERBAIJAN 10 2 – 2 10 GEORGIA 6
5 13 SRI LANKA 9½ ½ – 3½ 9 TURKIYE-A 5
6 18 BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 8 ½ – 3½ 8 SWITZERLAND-A 10
7 11 SWITZERLAND-B 7½ ½ – 3½ 8 ENGLAND 9
8 16 TURKIYE-MERSIN 7½ 2½ – 1½ 7½ GREECE 12
9 21 SOUTH AFRICA-B 7 ½ – 3½ 6½ SYRIA 26
10 15 TURKIYE-B 6½ 4 – 0 6 TURKIYE-GIRLS-B 19
11 20 ISEK AQUAMATCH 6 2 – 2 6 SOUTH AFRICA-A 24
12 17 TURKIYE-GIRLS-A 5½ 4 – 0 3½ ALBANIA 22
13 25 AUSTRALIA 5½ 1 – 3 3 KENYA 23

Standings after  round 5
1 ARMENIA 15½
2 PHILIPPINES 14½
3 INDIA 13½
4 RUSSIA 13½
5 TURKIYE-A 12½
6 GEORGIA 12
7 AZERBAIJAN 12
8 TURKIYE-C 11½
9 ENGLAND 11½
10 SWITZERLAND-A 11½
11 SLOVAKIA 11
12 TURKIYE-B 10½
13 SRI LANKA 10
14 TURKIYE-MERSIN 10
15 SYRIA 10
16 TURKIYE-GIRLS-A 9½
17 GREECE 9
18 BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 8½
19 SWITZERLAND-B 8
20 ISEK AQUAMATCH 8
21 SOUTH AFRICA-A 8
22 SOUTH AFRICA-B 7½
23 AUSTRALIA 6½
24 TURKIYE-GIRLS-B 6
25 KENYA 6
26 ALBANIA 3½

Pairings and results round 6: 20th Aug at 16:30

1 1 RUSSIA 13½ 4 – 0 15½ ARMENIA 7
2 4 PHILIPPINES 14½ 1½ – 2½ 13½ INDIA 2
3 5 TURKIYE-A 12½ 1 – 3 12 AZERBAIJAN 3
4 6 GEORGIA 12 3½ – ½ 11½ SWITZERLAND-A 10
5 9 ENGLAND 11½ 4 – 0 11½ TURKIYE-C 14
6 8 SLOVAKIA 11 4 – 0 10½ TURKIYE-B 15
7 26 SYRIA 10 1½ – 2½ 10 TURKIYE-MERSIN 16
8 13 SRI LANKA 10 2 – 2 9½ TURKIYE-GIRLS-A 17
9 12 GREECE 9 2½ – 1½ 8½ BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 18
10 11 SWITZERLAND-B 8 2½ – 1½ 8 ISEK AQUAMATCH 20
11 24 SOUTH AFRICA-A 8 3 – 1 7½ SOUTH AFRICA-B 21
12 22 ALBANIA 3½ 1 – 3 6½ AUSTRALIA 25
13 23 KENYA 6 1½ – 2½ 6 TURKIYE-GIRLS-B 19

Tomorrow, 21st Aug is a free day

 Pairings and results: round 7 Friday 22nd Aug 16:30

1 4 PHILIPPINES 16 3 – 1 17½ RUSSIA 1
2 2 INDIA 16 3½ – ½ 15½ GEORGIA 6
3 7 ARMENIA 15½ 4 – 0 15½ ENGLAND 9
4 3 AZERBAIJAN 15 3 – 1 15 SLOVAKIA 8
5 16 TURKIYE-MERSIN 12½ 0 – 4 13½ TURKIYE-A 5
6 10 SWITZERLAND-A 12 1½ – 2½ 12 SRI LANKA 13
7 14 TURKIYE-C 11½ 2 – 2 11½ GREECE 12
8 17 TURKIYE-GIRLS-A 11½ 2½ – 1½ 11½ SYRIA 26
9 18 BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 10 3 – 1 11 SOUTH AFRICA-A 24
10 15 TURKIYE-B 10½ 2 – 2 10½ SWITZERLAND-B 11
11 19 TURKIYE-GIRLS-B 8½ 3 – 1 9½ AUSTRALIA 25
12 20 ISEK AQUAMATCH 9½ 3 – 1 4½ ALBANIA 22
13 21 SOUTH AFRICA-B 8½ 3 – 1 7½ KENYA 23

Standings after round 7:

1 INDIA 19½
2 ARMENIA 19½
3 PHILIPPINES 19
4 RUSSIA 18½
5 AZERBAIJAN 18
6 TURKIYE-A 17½
7 GEORGIA 16
8 SLOVAKIA 16
9 ENGLAND 15½
10 SRI LANKA 14½
11 TURKIYE-GIRLS-A 14
12 TURKIYE-C 13½
13 GREECE 13½
14 SWITZERLAND-A 13½
15 BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 13
16 SYRIA 13
17 TURKIYE-B 12½
18 TURKIYE-MERSIN 12½
19 SWITZERLAND-B 12½
20 ISEK AQUAMATCH 12½ 
21 SOUTH AFRICA-A 12
22 SOUTH AFRICA-B 11½
23 TURKIYE-GIRLS-B 11½
24 AUSTRALIA 10½
25 KENYA 8½
26 ALBANIA 5½

Team Pairings and results: Round 8 – 23rd August 10:00

1 3 AZERBAIJAN 18 – 19½ ARMENIA 7
2 5 TURKIYE-A 17½ – 19½ INDIA 2
3 9 ENGLAND 15½ – 19 PHILIPPINES 4
4 1 RUSSIA 18½ – 14½ SRI LANKA 13
5 6 GEORGIA 16 – 16 SLOVAKIA 8
6 12 GREECE 13½ – 14 TURKIYE-GIRLS-A 17
7 10 SWITZERLAND-A 13½ – 13½ TURKIYE-C 14
8 26 SYRIA 13 – 13 BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 18
9 24 SOUTH AFRICA-A 12 – 12½ TURKIYE-MERSIN 16
10 11 SWITZERLAND-B 12½ – 11½ TURKIYE-GIRLS-B 19
11 23 KENYA 8½ – 12½ ISEK AQUAMATCH 20
12 22 ALBANIA 5½ – 12½ TURKIYE-B 15
13 25 AUSTRALIA 10½ – 11½ SOUTH AFRICA-B 21

Round 7…Image: Official site

Round 7

Round 5..image: Official site

Games played in round 4: South Africa’s A+B-teams:

[White “VAN NIEKERK, Francois”]
[Black “DOKSANI, Paulo”]
[Result “1-0”]
[PlyCount “49”]
[EventDate “2008.08.19”]
[EventCountry “TUR”]
[WhiteTeam “RSA B”]
[BlackTeam “ALB”]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 h6 9. Bh4 Bg4 10. O-O Re8 11. Rc1 Nb8 12. Rb1 c6 13. b4 a6 14. a4 Qc7 15. Qc2 Bh5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nxd5 Qd6 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Ne5 Qg5 20. b5 axb5 21. axb5 cxb5 22. Rxb5 f6 23. Bc4+ Kh8 24. Nf7+ Bxf7 25. Rxg5 1-0

[Event “WORLD YOUTH UNDER 16 CHESS OLYMPIAD”]
[Site “MERSIN-TURKIYE”]
[Date “2008.08.19”]
[Round “4.12”]
[White “RASHA, Blerim”]
[Black “VAN WYK, Laetitia”]
[Result “0-1”]
[BlackElo “1607”]
[PlyCount “66”]
[EventDate “2008.08.19”]
[EventCountry “TUR”]
[WhiteTeam “ALB”]
[BlackTeam “RSA B”]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. c3 c5 6. Ngf3 Nc6 7. Nb3 f6 8. Bb5 cxd4 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nbxd4 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 fxe5 12. Nxc6 Qc7 13. Nb4 Be7 14. O-O O-O 15. Be3 Bb7 16. a3 Rf5 17. Nd3 Ba6 18. Re1 e4 19. Nf4 Rxf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4 21. g3 Qf5 22. b4 Bd8 23. a4 Bb6 24. Qd2 Rf8 25. Ra2 Bc4 26. Rb2 a6 27. Ra1 Qh3 28. b5 a5 29. Kh1 Bf1 30. f4 exf3 31. Re1 f2 32. Qxf2 Bxf2 33. Rxf2 Rxf2 0-1

[Event “WORLD YOUTH UNDER 16 CHESS OLYMPIAD”]
[Site “MERSIN-TURKIYE”]
[Date “2008.08.19”]
[Round “4.12”]
[White “DU TOIT, Stefan”]
[Black “YZEIRAJ, Diamant”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “A00”]
[PlyCount “33”]
[EventDate “2008.08.19”]
[EventCountry “TUR”]
[WhiteTeam “RSA B”]
[BlackTeam “ALB”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Bg5 f6 7. Bh4 Bg4 8. Nbd2 Nb6 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. O-O g5 11. Nxg5 Bf5 12. Nge4 Bxe4 13. Nxe4 Be7 14. Qh5+ Kd7 15. Qf5+ Ke8 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxf6 1-0

[Event “WORLD YOUTH UNDER 16 CHESS OLYMPIAD”]
[Site “MERSIN-TURKIYE”]
[Date “2008.08.19”]
[Round “4.12”]
[White “ASHIKU, Franc”]
[Black “KANNEMEYER, Werner”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “A00”]
[WhiteElo “2056”]
[BlackElo “1862”]
[PlyCount “73”]
[EventDate “2008.08.19”]
[EventCountry “TUR”]
[WhiteTeam “ALB”]
[BlackTeam “RSA B”]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 f5 4. e5 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Ne2 Nxe5 8. dxe5 Bxb5 9. Nf4 Qd7 10. a4 Ba6 11. Qh5+ Qf7 12. Qxf7+ Kxf7 13. Nf3 Be7 14. h4 Rd8 15. Bd2 b6 16. a5 b5 17. b4 cxb4 18. cxb4 Rc8 19. Nd4 Rc4 20. Ndxe6 Bc8 21. Ng5+ Bxg5 22. hxg5 Ne7 23. Ra3 Re4+ 24. Kd1 Rxe5 25. g6+ Nxg6 26. Nxg6 Kxg6 27. Rg3+ Kf7 28. Bc3 d4 29. Bb2 h6 30. Rd3 Rd8 31. Rh4 Rde8 32. Rhxd4 Re1+ 33. Kc2 R8e2+ 34. Rd2 Re4 35. Rxe4 Rxe4 36. Bd4 a6 37. Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event “WORLD YOUTH UNDER 16 CHESS OLYMPIAD”]
[Site “MERSIN-TURKIYE”]
[Date “2008.08.17”]
[Round “4.7”]
[White “KOTTAHACHCHY , K O V.”]
[Black “MODI, Jaishil Bhadrashi”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “1965”]
[PlyCount “141”]
[EventDate “2008.08.19”]
[EventCountry “TUR”]
[WhiteTeam “RSA-A”]
[BlackTeam “SRI”]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Be2 Ngxe5 7. a3 a5 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. b3 Bf5 11. Bb2 Re8 12. Nd5 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Ne5 14. Be2 Be4 15. Nc3 Bc6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 c6 18. Qd2 Qe7 19. Bd4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 f5 21. Bd3 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qe5 23. Rfd1 Rad8 24. Qd4 d5 25. Qxe5 Rxe5 26. Kf1 Kf7 27. Rd3 Ke6 28. Rad1 g5 29. f3 Rd7 30. Kf2 h6 31. g3 g4 32. f4 Re4 33. Ke2 a4 34. cxd5+ cxd5 35. Rc1 d4 36. bxa4 Rxe3+ 37. Rxe3+ dxe3 38. Kxe3 Rd6 39. Rb1 b6 40. Rc1 Kf6 41. Rb1 Ke6 42. Rb5 h5 43. a5 bxa5 44. Rxa5 Rb6 45. Kd4 Rb2 46. Ra6+ Ke7 47. Ke5 Rb5+ 48. Kd4 Rb2 49. Rh6 Rxh2 50. Ke5 Rh3 51. Rh7+ Kd8 52. Kxf5 Rxg3 53. Rxh5 Rxa3 54. Kxg4 Ra4 55. Rh7 Ke8 56. Kg5 Kf8 57. f5 Ra1 58. Kg6 Rg1+ 59. Kf6 Kg8 60. Re7 Rh1 61. Re8+ Kh7 62. Kf7 Ra1 63. f6 Ra7+ 64. Re7 Ra6 65. Kf8+ Kh8 66. f7 Ra8+ 67. Re8 Ra7 68. Re4 Ra8+ 69. Ke7 Ra7+ 70. Kf6 Ra6+ 71. Re6 1-0

Mersin..Kiskalesi..Image: Picasa

Image: Picasa Caption with pic:

At Mersin, there are at least two castles, the one “by” the sea (Korykos) and the one “in” the sea (Kiskalesi). Actually, you can’t drive up the coast and not see marble ruins scattered all over the place. Supposedly, a king built the one on the island to keep his daughter ‘safe’ from suitors, but he might have put it in deeper water. As it is, you can swim to it.

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Afrikaans 14 Augustus 1875

The Afrikaans Language Monument, Paarl, Cape Province, South Africa

The Afrikaans Language Monument…from a different angle

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Africa/South_Africa/photo600228.htm

The original idea behind the Afrikaans Language Museum in the 1970’s was to honour the members and work of the society – GRA – founded in 1875 in Paarl. Their aims were to establish Afrikaans as a written language, to standardise the language and to start publishing in Afrikaans. Gideon Malherbe was one of the founders.

This post will be mainly in Afrikaans…You can enjoy the images with the captions in English. As 14th Aug is an important day for Afrikaans, the language, -the most beautiful language in the whole wide world! -I would like to dedicate this post to Afrikaans, the language of my mother tongue, the language I love and the language I cherish! I do write many posts in English, as I have chess players on Chess World that come here often to read and the whole idea of my blog in the start was to blog about South Africa- the country I love – and to introduce them all to the most beautiful country in the world!  On this link – on my blog – you can see magazine covers in Afrikaans and also read some bits from the family magazine – “Huisgenoot” dated 1916 – Advertisements in English.https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/huisgenoot1916/
Here’s an extract of Steve Hofmeyr’s song…”Gatvol”

Net een ding irriteer  my meer as ‘n Engelssprekende Suid Afrikaner   wat aanmatigend oor sy taal is. Daardie een ding wat my so grensloos irriteer en wat ek selfs verafsku, is Afrikaners wat probeer Engels wees. Sulke spontane kulturele selfverkragting is tipies van ‘n sekere tipe agterlike Afrikaner. Ja, diegene ly blykbaar aan’n intense minderwaardigheidsgevoel oor hul herkoms…http://www.praag.org/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=37

Die  inligting wat nou volg,  het ek van Roosmaryn se blog gekry. Ek geniet haar blog geweldig en kuier gereeld daar. Jy sal haar blognaam kry in my verwysings. Hierdie inligting is alles wat in my soektog op haar blog opgekom het toe ek na inligting oor die GRA gesoek het. Sommige van julle sal weet dat 14 Aug altyd as “Afrikaanse dag”  – “herdenk” is. Dit is die dag waarop die GRA (Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners) gestig is ..14 Aug 1875. Lees hierdie brokkies van Roosmaryn, dis werklik interessant. Aan die einde van hierdie pos is daar twee gedigte…jy kan op die bladsy “my poetry-gedigte” nog meer Afrikaanse gedigte ook vind.
FAK se Taalkomitee gestig
2 Junie 1967

Die Hoofbestuur van die FAK het sy Taalkomitee gestig om hom te adviseer oor die wyse waarop die FAK sy taak ten opsigte van die handhawing en bevordering van Afrikaans kan uitvoer. Die komitee het van meet af aan doelgerig aandag geskenk aan die bevordering van Afrikaans onder meer in die sakewêreld, die hotelbedryf, die staatsdiens, die vervoerwese, op alle onderwys vlakke en die naamgewing van strate en dorpsgebiede. Dit is gedoen by wyse van gereelde briefwisseling en persoonlike onderhoude. Boek uitstallings, soos die omvangryke boeke fees in die Taalfeesjaar in die Paarl in 1975, is ‘n gereelde projek van die komitee om die lees van die Afrikaanse boek te bevorder. Die Langenhoven fees is in 1973 gereël, die gevierde skryfster M.E.R. is met haar honderdste verjaardag vereer, en huldigingsfeeste vir Totius (1977) en A.G. Visser -1978- is gehou. Die publikasies Afrikaans ons Pêrel van Groot Waarde en GRA Herdenk is op inisiatief van die komitee in 1974 en 1975 uitgegee. Afrikaans was by verskeie Algemene Vergaderings die kongres tema, en gereelde artikels oor al die aspekte van taalbevordering word vir Handhaaf gelewer. FAK–365Spore.blogspot.com

22 April 1923
D.F. (Oom Lokomotief) du Toit oorlede

Daniel Francois du Toit, D.P. seun, in later jare alombekend as Oom Lokomotief, is op 15 Januarie 1846 op die plaas Kleinbos, Daljosafat, gebore en is in Bloemfontein oorlede. Hy was ‘n stigterslid van die Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners. In 1878 word hy redakteur van die Afrikaanse Patriot, en hy oefen op die wyse geweldig baie invloed uit op die Taalbeweging. Van Die Patriot het hy ‘n gevestigde koerant met invloed gemaak. Hy het so eie met die lesers gesels dat hulle vertroue in sy koerant gehad het. Alle moontlike vrae word daarin beantwoord; daar word raad gegee, moed ingepraat en koers aangedui. Daar ontstaan ‘n onverbreekbare band tussen leser en redakteur. Met die veranderde politieke houding van sy ouer broer, ds. S.J. du Toit, leier van die GRA, kon hy nie saamgaan nie, en hy verlaat saam met C.P. Hoogenhout in 1891 Die Patriot. In 1892 verhuis hy na die Vrystaat, waar hy later in Bloemfontein argivaris was. Aka fak P.J.N–365Spore.blogspot.com

1874
W. Postma gebore

Willem (dr. O’kulis) Postma was ‘n Gereformeerde predikant, baanbreker skrywer en streng Calvinis. In Bloemfontein beywer hy hom vir die erkenning van Afrikaans as taal en voorspel dat Afrikaans een van die amptelike tale van Suid-Afrika sal word. Hy het as CNO-man die Engelse Onderwysstelsel in die OVS heftig teëgestaan. Gevolglik stig hy die eerste CNO-skool in 1905 in die voorportaal van die Gereformeerde Kerk, Bloemfontein. In 1916 word hy voorsitter van die provinsiale onderwyskommissie in die OVS. Op die eerste vergadering van die Bybelvertalings kommissie (22November 1916) verteenwoordig hy die Gereformeerde Kerk en in dieselfde jaar verskyn uit sy pen ‘n vertaling in Afrikaans van die Nuwe Testamentiese boek Titus. In 1914 word hy die regterhand van genl. J.B.M. Hertzog tydens die stigting van die Nasionale Party. In 1909 verskyn sy werk, Die esels kakebeen. Hy is op 13 Desember 1920 op Reddersburg oorlede. Aka fak D.E

1876
Eerste Beginsels van die Afrikaanse Taal gepubliseer

Die voorstanders van Afrikaans het dadelik besef dat ‘n Afrikaanse spraakkuns onontbeerlik is. Nog voor die stigting van die Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners skryf Een Ware Afrikaander (ds. S.J. du Toit) op 30 Januarie 1875 aan Klaas Waarzegger jr. (C.P. Hoogenhout) oor die Eerste Beginsels van die Afrikaanse Taal onder meer die Eerste Beginsels van die Afrikaanse Taal onder meer Die eerste vraag sal wees …wat is die Afrikaanse taal? Die eerste boekies is geskryf en gedruk ooreenkomstig ‘n bepalingin die statute van die GRA. Die naam van die vroegste werkie is Eerste Beginsels van die Afrikaanse Taal (1876), wat veral die hand van ds. S.J. du Toit verraai, maar waaraan ook eerw.. J.W. van der Rijst en C.P. Hoogenhout meegewerk het. Dit was maar dun en het slegs 29 bladsye leesstof bevat. Ses jaar later is dit herdruk en in 1897 deur ds. Du Toit enigsins omgewerk, toe 6 000 eksemplare van die Fergelykende Taalkunde fan Afrikaans en Engels, soos dit nou heet, gedruk is. In 1902 was ‘n herdruk al nodig. Die GRA is op hulle vergaderings gereeld op die hoogte gehou van die vordering wat gemaak is met die skryf en publikasie van Eerste Beginsels. Aka fak P.J.N

1859
E.J. du Toit gebore

Erns Johannes du Toit, oorlede op 12 Januarie 1924, was hoof van die drukkers firma D.F. du Toit en Co. en later lid van die Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners. Hy het verskeie van die eerste Afrikaanse boeke uitgegee en ook die laaste jaargange van die koerante Die Afrikaanse Patriot en die tydskrif Ons Klyntji.
Aka fak prof. dr. P.J. Nienaber

1876
Die Afrikaanse Patriot verskyn vir die eerste keer

Met die stigting van die Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners op 14 Augustus 1875 in die Paarl is ‘n tydvak van georganiseerde stryd om die Afrikaanse taal ingelui. In artikel IX van die Genootskap se bepalings word beoog om ‘n Afrikaanse maandblad uit te gee. Op hierdie dag in 1876 verskyn die eerste uitgawe van die maandblad Die Afrikaanse Patriot, wat die orgaan van die GRA sou wees. C.P. Hoogenhout was die eerste redakteur onder die skuilnaam Oom Lokomotief, wat deur die redakteurs na hom oorgeneem is. In Die Patriot dek die GRA die terreine van hul doelstelling, naamlik die van land, volk en taal. Daarin is leiding gegee ten opsigte van landsake, die Afrikaanse taal, geskiedenis en belangrike nuus. ‘n Rubriek van vrae en antwoorde is ontwerp om weetgierigheid op te wek en te bevredig. Afrikaners is aangemoedig om bydraes te stuur, sodat hulle kon leer om hulle taal ook te skryf. Die redaksie het lesers aangespoor om gedigte hou foutief ook al, in te stuur. Deur taal bespreking wou die GRA liefde, eerbied en belangstelling opwek vir die Afrikaanse taal. In eenvoudige spreektaal sou die lesers ingelig word oor die vernaamste nuus. So kon plattelandse Afrikaners bereik en opgevoed word vir wie die Hollandse en Engelse taal moeilik leesbaar was. Die Patriot het sterk teenkanting ontvang sowel van Hollandse as van Engelse kant. Medewerkers het onder skuilname geskryf en moes dikwels onder growwe spot deurloop. Die sterkste teenkanting het van die voorstanders van Hollands gekom, wat Nederlands as die volkstaal gesien het en Afrikaans as ‘n “patois”, ‘n Hotnotstaaltjie beskou het. Ten spyte van teenkanting het die redaksie soms met groot opoffering voorgegaan, en teen 1880 was Die Patriot die mees gelese blad in Suid-Afrika. Dit was veral te danke aan die politieke houding wat die blad aangeneem het, gebaseer op Christelike beginsels en die strewe om die Afrikaanse volksaak te bevorder. In 1904 is die blad gestaak na kwynende belangstelling, veral as gevolg van die veranderde politieke beleid van S.J. du Toit, wat sy steun aan Rhodes toegesê het. Die redaksie van Die Patriot het insig in die behoeftes van die volk gehad en was daarop ingestel om by die eenvoudige Afrikaners die behoefte aan geestesvoedsel op te wek en dan daarin te voorsien. Die blad het leiding gegee in landsake en die Afrikaner laat belang stel in die politiek. Die Patriot het baie bygedra tot die ontwaking van ‘n Afrikanernasionalisme deur die Afrikaner bewus te maak van die skoonheid van sy taal, sy eie grootse geskiedenis en sy unieke geestesbesit. Dit het die Afrikaner leer lees en skryf en hom laat besef dat sy spreektaal nie vir Hollands as skryftaal hoef terug te staan nie. As die eerste Afrikaanse koerant, het Die Patriot ‘n onberekenbare bydrae gelewer tot die opheffing van Afrikaans tot skryf- en volkstaal. Aka fak prof. dr. P.G. Nel

1865
Jan F.E. Celliers gebore

Johannes Francois Elias Celliers was ‘n bekende Afrikaanse skrywer, digter en dramaturg. Hy lê sy Landmeters eksamen in Nederland af, maar word later ‘n amptenaar in die onderwysdepartement van die ZAR en in 1894 staatsbibliotekaris in Pretoria. Met die uitbreek van die Engelse Oorlog, sluit hy hom by die kommando’s aan, en in 1902 vertrek hy na Europa, waar hy sy beroemde gedig: Die Vlakte skryf. In 1907 keer hy na Suid-Afrika terug en werk by die Departement van Binnelandse Sake in Transvaal. In 1919 word hy ‘n buitengewone professoraat aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch aangebied. Baie van sy verse weerspieël sy huislikheid en liefde vir kinders. Behalwe sy digterlike arbeid, werk hy ook mee tot die stigting van Die Brandwag. Hy was ‘n volksdigter, “een wat in woorde vaslê wat in die hart van die nasie omgaan” (Preller). Sy prosawerk is van weinig literêre waarde, maar as digter beklee hy ‘n besondere plek in die Afrikaanse letterkunde. Hy vestig hom na sy aftrede aanvanklik in Kaapstad maar later op Harrismith, waar hyop 1 Junie 1940 oorlede is. aka fak prof. dr. P.G. Nel

Vryheidslied

Vrome vad’re fier en groot!
Deur vervolging, ramp en nood,
was hul leuse, tot die dood:
Vryheid! Vryheid!

Erfnis van hul moed en trou
is die grond waar ons op bou.
Juigend tot die hemelblou:
Vryheid! Vryheid!

Ere wie die dood mag lei
om te rus aan hulle sy,
met die sterwenswoord te skei:
Vryheid! Vryheid!

Op dan, broers en druk hul spoor,
voorwaarts, broers, die vaandel voor,
laat die veld ons krygsroep hoor:
Vryheid! Vryheid!

Woes geweld mag hoogty hou,
kettings mag ons lede knou,
maar die leuse bly ons trou:
Vryheid! Vryheid!

Jukke mag vir slawe wees,
manneharte ken geen vrees,
duld geen boei vir lyf of gees:
Vryheid! Vryheid!

Woorde: JaN F.E. Celliers
Musiek: Emiel Hullebroeck

Die vlakte

Ek slaap in die rus van die eeue gesus,
ongesien, ongehoord,
en dof en loom in my sonnedroom,
ongewek, ongestoord.
Tot die yl-bloue bande van die ver-verre rande
skuif my breedte uit,
wyd-kringend aan die puur al-omwelwend asuur
wat my swyend omsluit.

Jong aarde se stoot het my boesem ontbloot
bo die diep van die meer;
en volswanger van lewe ‘t oor die waat’re geswewe
die gees van die Heer.
Uit die woelende nag van haar jeugdige krag
brag die aarde voort
Lewiatansgeslagte, geweldig van kragte –
storm-ontruk aan haar skoot.
Diep in my gesteente berg ek hul gebeente –
die geheim van hul lewe en lot;
maar gewek uit die sode herleef uit die dode,
na die ewig hernuwingsgebod,
die van d’ verlede in vorme van d’ hede,
in eindeloos komme en gaan;
wat die dood my vertrou ‘t, ek bewaar dit as goud,
en geen grein sal ‘k verlore laat gaan.

As die son oor my vloer in die more kom loer,
en die dou van my lippe kom kus,
dan kyk ek net stom met ‘n glimlag om
en ek le maar weer stil in my rus.
Hog bowe die kim op sy troon geklim,
is hy heer van lewe en dood;
na wil of luim gee hy, skraal of ruim,
verderf of lewensbrood.

Uit die gloeiende sfeer brand hy wreed op my neer,
tot my naaktheid kraak en skroei,
en my koorsige asem in bewende wasem
al hygend my bors ontvloei.
In sy skadetjie rond om sy stam op die grond
staat ‘n eensame doringboom,
soos die Stilte op haar troon, met dorings gekroon,
wat roerloos die eeue verdroom.
Geen drop vir die dors aan my stofdroe bors:
my kinders* versmag en beswyk,
en die stowwe staan soos hul trek en gaan
om my skrale dis te ontwyk.

Soos ‘n vlokkie skuim uit die sfere se ruim
kom ‘n wolkie aangesweef,
maar hy groei in die blou tot ‘n stapelbou
van marmer wat krul en leef –
kolossaal monument op sy swart fondament,
waar die bliksem in brul en beef.
En o, met my is die windjies bly:
hul spring uit die stof orent
en wals en draai in dwarrelswaai
oor my vloer, van ent tot ent:
die gras skud hul wakker om same te jakker,
tot hy opspring uit sy kooi
en soos mane en sterte van jaende perde
sy stingels golf en gooi.

Met dof-sware plof, soos koeels in die stof,
kom die eerste drupples neer,
tot dit ruis alom soos deur die gebrom
en gekraak van die donderweer.
Met kloue vooruit om te gryp en te buit
jaag ‘n haelwolk langs verby,
soos ‘n perde-kommande wat dreun oor die lande
vertrap en gesel hy-
en sy lyke-kleed sien ek ver en breed
in die awendson gesprei.

Stil in die duister le ‘k so en luister
hoe die spruite gesels en lag;
maar bowe die pak van my wolkedak
het die maan al lank gewag:
nou breek en skeur hy ‘n baan daardeur
om te deel in my vreug benede;
hy sprei die waas van sy romig-blou gaas-
en ek lag so stil-tevrede.
Plek op plek, soos die wolke trek,
sweef die skaduwees onder mee,
soos eilande wyd oor die waat’re verspreid
op die boesem van die grote see.
Met ‘n afskeidskus gaan die maan ook ter rus,
en ek wag op die daeraad-
so skoon en so mooi soos ‘n fris jong nooi
wat lag in haar bruidsgewaad.

Oor die bukte se rug slaat die gloed in die lug
van die brande wat ver-weg kwyn,
en doringbome fluister in rooi skemerduister
van gevare wat kom of verdwyn.
Uit slote en plas, uit die geurende gras,
styg ‘n danklied op ten hemel;
en dis net of ek hoor hoe die kriekies se koor
weergalm uit die sterre gewemel,
waar wêrelde gaan op hul stille baan
tot die einde van ruimte en tyd.
So, groots en klaar, staat Gods tempel daar,
wyd – in sy majesteit.

* “kinders” is wildsbokke
Uit “Die Vlakte” -1908-

1847
Ds. S.J. du Toit Gebore
Stephanus Jacobus du Toit is op Dal Josafat by die Paarl gebore. Hy het sy skool-en teologiese opleiding respektiewelik aan die Paarlse Gimnasium en die Kweekskool op Stellenbosch ontvang. S.J. du Toit was onder die invloed van Arnoldus Pannevis ‘n vurige voorvegter vir Afrikaansas selfstandige taal. Sy politiek-nasionale doelstelling- “om te staan vir ons taal, ons nasie en ons land” – het hy deur die stigting van die Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners (GRA) op 14 Augustus 1875, met as spreekbuis Die Afrikaanse Patriot, die Afrikanerbond in 1879 en sy aandeel in die opstel van die Afrikaanse Volkslied, bevorder. Hy kan daarom as die eerste Afrikaanse Nasionalisbeskou word. In 1882 het hy Superintendent van Onderwys in Transvaal geword. Sy onderwyswet het die onderwys in die Republiek bevorder. Sy eersug en betrokkenheid by Transvaalse politieke aangeleenthede, soos die Wesgrens-kwessie, die Pretoria-Konvensie, aandelespekulasies in die Goudstad, leerstellige aangeleenthede en sy teenkanting teen die regering se konsessiebeleid, het hom in regeringskringe ongewild gemaak. In 1888 het hy as Superintendent van Onderwys bedank en hom weer in die Paarl gaan vestig, waar hy hom met die vertaling van die Bybel in Afrikaans, ‘n taak deur die GRA in 1885 aan hom oorgedra, besig gehou het. Hy was dus ook ‘n baanbreker op die gebied van die Afrikaanse Bybelvertaling. Na sy terugkeer in die Paarl het hy die beleidsrigting van Die Patriot gewysig. Sy kritiek op die Krugerbewind en pleidooie vir konsiliasie tussen Brits- en Afrikaanssprekendes het hom verder van sy mede-Afrikaners vervreem. Die gevolg was dat die Eerste Taalbeweging, waarvan hy die vader was, teen 1900 doodgeloop het. In sy tweede Paarlse tydperk het ds. S.J. du Toit egter verbasend veel ter bevordering van die Afrikaanse taal en letterkunde sowel as oor algemene en godsdienstige onderwerpe gepubliseer. Hy het verskeie Afrikaanse boeke geskryf, soos Die Koningin van Skeba (1898), die eerste Afrikaanse gepubliseerde drame. Hy het ook gedigte geskryf, maar hulle is nooit gebundel nie. Hy is algemeen beskou as die “Vader van die Afrikaanse taal; stigter van die Afrikanerbond en stryder van die Calvinisme”. (Die inskripsie op sy graf). In sy lewe was hy predikant van die NG Kerk, Calvinistiese teoloog, Bybelvertaler, leier van die Eerste Afrikaanse Taalbeweging, skrywer, Superintendent van Onderwys in Transvaal, en koerant- en tydskrifredakteur. Op ‘n besoek aan Calvinia in Augustus 1910 het sy perdekar omgeval. Die ernstige beserings wat hy in die ongeluk opgedoen het, het uiteindelik gelei tot sy sterwe op 28 Mei 1911 op Kleinbosch, Dal Josafat. Dankie aan Roosmaryn! 365Spore.blogspot.com

The National Afrikaans Literature Museum in Bloemfontein

Charlize Theron…Afrikaans speaking..and proud to admit it!

This T-shirt says…”my dad is bigger than your dad!”…you all know that one for sure!

As jy ‘n DelaRey t-shirt het…sal jy die woorde ken!

This t-shirt says: Daddy’s little sperm!! hehe

This card says…”I love you” in Afrikaans.

Afrikaans on T-shirts…image found on google

Jou afwesigheid
Die son se stilte sprei oor die more-dou
en maak jou afwesigheid soveel moeiliker
Tyd kan nie uitvee die herinneringe
En moeiliker die misverstande
Nog die gebroke siel heel
Maar die soete verlede van lank gele’
Steek vas en onderhou my geheue
Verblydend is jou bestaan
Wat my wêreld  verkleur!

–©Nikita–

 

Afrikaans
Die taal wat ek liefhet
Afrikaans
Die taal wat ek praat
Afrikaans
Die taal waarin ek dink
Afrikaans
Die taal waarin ek droom
Afrikaans
Die taal van my hart
Afrikaans

Die taal wat ek koester
Vir nou en altyd
Afrikaans
Jy is myne
Afrikaans
Jy is nou
Afrikaans
Jy is besonders
Afrikaans
Jy is uniek
Afrikaans
Jy is getrou
Afrikaans:
My denke
My wese
My lewe!

©Nikita 2008

Nadat ek die kort gediggie geskryf het, het ek dit op verskeie webbladsye gelees – en ek is bly julle almal geniet dit! Maak asseblief net seker dat jy krediet gee aan wie dit verskuldig is.

Afrikaanse stories op hierdie link op my blog:

https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/wolf-and-jackal-stories/

Dankie weereens aan Roosmaryn: 365Spore.blogspot.com

O, BOEREPLAAS

Woorde: C.F. VISSER
Musiek: JOHANNES JOUBERT; verwerk: ARTHUR ELLIS

O boereplaas, geboortegrond!
Jou het ek lief bo alles.
Al dwaal ek heel die wêreld rond,
waar so gelukkig, so gesond?
O boereplaas, geboortegrond!
Jou het ek lief bo alles.

O moederhuis, waar ooit so tuis?
Jou het ek lief bo alles.
Die wêreld, rykdom, prag en praal
kan jou verlies my nooit betaal.
O moederhuis, waar ooit so tuis?
Jou het ek lief bo alles.

O moedertaal, o soetste taal!
Jou het ek lief bo alles.
Van al die tale wat ek hoor,
niks wat my siel ooit so bekoor.
O moedertaal, o soetste taal!
Jou het ek lief bo alles.

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Only in South Africa…

Image: http://gsport.co.za

I think this is brilliant! Just think how the children can keep themself busy playing chess during breaks! and you will get more children interested in the game! As you can see from these images, these stands can be placed anywhere! I think these people deserve a 10/10 for this idea. See more info on this site: http://www.ramlodi.co.za/

There is little doubt that a development plan that benefits all the parties involved, is a development plan that is bound to succeed, and Mind Sports SA believes its development plan backed by Ramlodi Outdoor Advertising can put together an exciting and dynamic programme, where everyone wins.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is an affiliate of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee, and is responsible for the good governance and promotion of Historical figure games (also known as wargames), Board games (such as Diplomacy, Checkers, Draughts, Morabaraba, etc), and Computer games (whether they are played on ‘cell phones, Sony® PSP’s, personal computers or similar).

The programme is based on open-air game stands at schools, which receive a monthly payment while the game stand is sponsored, and MSSA is focussed on ensuring that the games played in an ever increasing number of schools.

The Morabaraba game stand, which has been used to develop strong mathematical skills. The programme’s official rollout has been aided by the Tshwane University of Technology, which has sponsored a number of game stands being distributed to schools, beginning at Pretoria West High, where a delighted Headmistress Rita Coetzee took delivery of the first two stands.
As soon as the stands were positioned in the quad, learners descended en masse to the game stands and began to play. Only when the bell rang signifying the end of break did the learners leave the stands.

Steven Kekana of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) was also delighted with the response of the learners to the game stands, as the game of Morabaraba is well known to have a strong linear mathematical background, and has previously been used by Tshwane University of Technology to identify learners who have strong mathematical skills.

Additional stands will be set up at schools in Benoni, Johannesburg, Witbank, Nelspruit, Attridgeville, and Mamelodi within the month.

Source: http://gsport.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1681&Itemid=52

Images: ramlodi.co.za…IM Watu Kobese…The “Lion” of South Africa (right)

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

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South African Junior players: Turkey

Daleen, Pratish and Corno practicing chess on the rooftop of the hotel.

I do hope you enjoy this report from Corno and the few pictures…all from the Official site : Chessa. I do hope to update this post soon with more info on the South Africans taking part in the World Junior Chess Championships in Turkey, as well as the World Junior Girls Chess Championships the same time. See my post about the World Junior Chess Championships for more results on the two Saffas with other results too.

Results : Round 8

 29  ANTON Sarah 1681 AUS 2½ 0 – 1 2 WFM WIID Daleen 1931 RSA
45  RAMSURRUP Pratish 1809 RSA 2½ 0 – 1 2½  OLIVER Gareth 2196 AUS

Pairings and results: Round 9 : 11th Aug 15:00

49 FM GROVER Sahaj 2306 IND 2½  2½  RAMSURRUP Pratish 1809 RSA-1-0

27 WFM WIID Daleen 1931 RSA 3  3  BOYARCHENKO Marie 1895 LUX –1-0

Pratish in round 9 Image: Official site

Pairings and results: round 10 August 12:15:00

26 WFM WIID Daleen 1931 RSA 4  vs 3½ WFM BERKE Ana 2100 CRO-1-0
52  RAMSURRUP Pratish 1809 RSA 2½ vs  2½  OZDOVER Mustafa Berkay 1768 TUR-0-1

Pairings and results: round 11 – 13th Aug 15:00

17 WIM DAULYTE Deimante 2288LTU 5 vs 5 WFM WIID Daleen 1931RSA-0-1
48  AYDOGDU Ataman 2050TUR 3½ vs 3½  RAMSURRUP Pratish 1809RSA-1-0
25  HEGARTY Sarah 1966ENG 4½ vs 4  IKONOMOPOULOU Maria 2074GRE-1-0

Pratish in round 11

Pairings and results – round 12: 14th Aug 15:00

18 WIM IVAKHINOVA Inna 2248 RUS 5½vs5½  HEGARTY Sarah 1966 ENG-1-0
22 WFM WIID Daleen 1931 RSA 5vs5 WFM LEKS Hanna 2198 POL-1-0
50  RAMSURRUP Pratish 1809 RSA 3½vs4  ULUDOGAN Lutfullah 0 TUR-1-0

Pairings and results: Round 13: 15th Aug 10:00..the final round

17 WIM DAULETOVA Gulmira 2267 KAZ 6vs6 WFM WIID Daleen 1931 RSA 1 – 0
23  HEGARTY Sarah 1966 ENG 5½vs5½ WFM DAVLETBAYEVA Madina 2155 KAZ 1 – 0
46  PLENCA Julijan 2295 CRO 4½vs4½  RAMSURRUP Pratish 1809 RSA 1 – 0

We left South Africa proudly on the 31st July 2008 filled with enthusiasm. The flight was lovely and our night at Istanbul was just as good. We did a lot of sight-seeing in Istanbul as we knew we were in for a hard time in Gaziantep as this tournament is regarded as the hardest junior chess championship in the world. We arrived in Gaziantep, which has a population of 1, 25 million and average temperature of 40 ° in summer. From the airport we left for our hotel, the Ugur Plaza Hotel, which is a very nice 5 star hotel. The tournament is very strong as there are more than 10 Grandmasters and over 20 International masters playing. Turkey is growing rapidly in chess and they have over 2 million youngsters taking chess courses in schools. Here are some pictures of Turkey.

Pratish enjoying an ice-cream on Istanbul square.

The South African team with Hou Yifan.

Round 1:

South Africa had a difficult start with Daleen playing Padmini Rout from India with a rating of 2257 and Pratish playing Ashwin Jayaram from India with a rating of 2436. Daleen was on the backfoot with the black pieces. Pratish played a very nice game with some interesting ideas and held his opponent for a long time but got outplayed in the endgame. Here follows his game:

(1) Ramsurrup,Pratish (1809) – Ashwin,Jayaram (2436) [B90]
World Juniors (1.1), 03.08.2008
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qf3 g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Be3 Bd7 9.g4 Nc6 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.Kb1 Rc8 12.Qg3 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 e5 14.Ba7 Qc7 15.Qe3 b5 16.Qb6 b4 17.g5 Ne8 18.Qxc7 Rxc7 19.Bb6 bxc3 20.Bxc7 Nxc7 21.Rxd6 Be6 22.Rc6 Nb5 23.Bxb5 axb5 24.Rxc3 Rd8 25.Rd3 Rxd3 26.cxd3 Bf8 27.h4 Bc5 28.Rh2 h5 29.Kc2 Kf8 30.b3 b4 31.Kd2 Bg4 32.Rg2 f6 33.gxf6 Kf7 34.Ke1 Kxf6 35.f3 Bxf3 36.Rc2 Bd4 37.Rc6+ Kg7 38.Ra6 Bg2 39.Rc6 Kf7 40.Rc7+ Kf6 41.Rc6+ Kg7 42.Rc7+ Kh6 43.Rc6 Bh3 44.Ke2 Bd7 45.Rc7 Bg4+ 46.Kf1 Bh3+ 47.Ke2 g5 48.Rc6+ Kg7 49.hxg5 h4 50.Rh6 Bg4+ 51.Kf1 h3 52.Rh4 Bc8 53.Rh6 Bd7 54.Ra6 h2 55.Kg2 Bg1 56.d4 Bh3+ 0-1

Round 2:

South Africa got their first point through Daleen Wiid. She convincingly won her game against Milian Salatic.
Pratish Ramsurrup got outplayed in the opening and lost against Vitaly Neimer of Israel with a rating of 2316.
The top seed Rauf Mamadov also lost in round 2 and was a big upset for the tournament. He is a Grandmaster from Azerbaijan with a rating of 2627. Although with a 13 round tournament there is still lots to play for.

Round 3:

Unfortunately both the South Africans lost and had problems with their openings. On this top level you cannot make one mistake and a lot of opening knowledge is required.
One of the tournament favorites’ Hou Yifan the current women’s World Champion is playing in the open section. She is seed number 16 with a rating of 2554 a Women Grandmaster from China. It was an honor to meet her.

 

Round 4:
Pratish got his first win to open his account we hope he will get much more wins and gain much more experience from this tournament. Daleen unfortunately lost to an experiences player from Norway. She played an interesting game and learnt a lot from it especially how to play this specific opening with the different ideas and structures. In this round the top seed Rauf Mamedov again lost. He is only on 2 out of 4 so as we can see this is a very strong tournament. So the South Africans must just be strong and gain a lot of experience from this tournament. Hou Yifan played a very nice game and she has a score of 3,5 out of 4 in the open section. I will publish her game tomorrow.

Coaches Report
Turkey 2008
Corno Klaver

Other Chess news: Congratulations to our 2 top players and coaches Daniel Cawdery and Monique Sischy who will represent South Africa at the Olympiad in Dresden, Germany in November. We are proud of you.

Update from Corno on the South African players in Turkey!

Round 5:
Here is Hou Yifan’s game from yesterday. A very attacking, aggressive game to claim the win.
(4) Hou,Yifan (2557) – Arun,Prasad (2492) [B53]
World Juniors Gaziantep Turkey
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Nc3 h6 8.Be3 e5 9.Qc4 Nf6 10.0-0-0 Qc8 11.Qd3 a6 12.Nh4 b5 13.f4 b4 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.Nd5 Bb5 16.Qd2 Qc6 17.Nf3 Nd7 18.Nxb4 Qc4 19.Nd5 Qxa2 20.Nc7+ Kd8 21.Qc3 Qa1+ 22.Kd2 Qa4 23.Nd5 Rc8 24.Bb6+ Nxb6 25.Nxb6 1-0
Daleen wasn’t feeling well today and lost due to lack of concentration. Many of the players are getting ill and this tournament isn’t just a test of playing strength but also of endurance and stamina.
Pratish played a good game against a 2218 but lost by choosing the wrong attacking plan. I thought he missed a few opportunities to win the game.
(5) Vavric,Pavel–2218 –..Rampsurrup,Pratish –1809– [B50]
World Juniors Gaziantep Turkey
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.0-0 e6 8.Nbd2 Be7 9.Nc4 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nfe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 0-0 14.c4 Nb4 15.Qb3 Bd6 16.Nxg6 fxg6 17.Be3 Rf7 18.d4 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Nc6 20.Be3 Qh4 21.c5 Bc7 22.Kg2 Raf8 23.Rad1 Kh8 24.Rd2 Ne5 25.f4 Nc6 26.Qxb7 Na5 27.Qe4 g5 28.Rf3 gxf4 29.Bf2 Qf6 30.b4 Nc6 31.Qxc6 e5 32.Qxf6 gxf6 33.Bd3 Rd7 34.Re2 Rfd8 35.Bf5 Rg7 36.Rd3 Rb8 37.a3 a5 38.Be1 h5 39.Kf3 hxg4+ 40.hxg4 axb4 41.axb4 Kg8 42.Red2 1-0

Round 6:
Pratish scored his second win of the tournament by outplaying his Turkish opponent. Daleen’s condition worsened and she withdrew from this game to rest and hopefully get better. Here is a rating of the tournament so far:
Rated things: Rating out of 5 with 5 the best:
Flight 4
Hotel 5
Food 3,5
Playing venue 2
Player interaction 4
Round 7:
Daleen came back with a vengeance and played a nice combination to go two pawns up in the endgame. Well done Daleen.
(6) Wiid,Daleen – Dai,Irmak [C24]
World Juniors Gaziantep Turkey
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.0-0 Bc5 7.Re1 f6 8.h3 Nde7 9.Nc3 Bf5 10.a3 Qd7 11.Ne4 Bb6 12.Ng3 0-0-0 13.b4 a6 14.Rb1 Na7 15.a4 c6 16.Qe2 Be6 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.Qxe3 Kb8 19.Nxe5 Qc7 20.Bxe6 Qxe5 21.Qxe5+ fxe5 22.Rxe5 1-0
Pratish also played a very good game. The game preparation went perfect and he gained a useful advantage. He was a pawn up and missed lots of winning chances, but he couldn’t convert it to a win in the endgame and drew the game.
(7) Sousa,Ricardo (2133) – Rampsurrup,Pratish (1809) [A08]
World Juniors Gaziantep Turkey
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.0-0 e5 5.d3 f6 6.Nbd2 Be6 7.e4 Nge7 8.c3 Qd7 9.a3 d4 10.c4 g5 11.Rb1 Ng6 12.Qa4 a5 13.Rd1 h5 14.Nf1 h4 15.Rd2 hxg3 16.fxg3 Bh3 17.b4 cxb4 18.Rdb2 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Ra6 20.Bd2 Bd6 21.axb4 Nxb4 22.Qxd7+ Kxd7 23.Ne1 b6 24.Kf3 Ne7 25.Kg4 Raa8 26.Bxb4 Bxb4 27.Nc2 Bc5 28.h3 Nc6 29.Nd2 Nb4 30.Nxb4 axb4 31.Nb3 Ke6 32.Rf1 Ra7 33.Rff2 Rha8 34.Rh2 Bd6 35.Rhf2 Ra3 36.Rfc2 Rc8 37.Rb1 Rc7 38.Rbb2 Ra8 39.Rb1 Bc5 40.Rbb2 Bd6 41.Rb1 Be7 42.Rf1 Rca7 43.Rff2 Ra3 44.Rb2 Rc8 45.Rfc2 Rc7 46.Rb1 1/2-1/2
Tomorrow is a rest day and we going to do some sight seeing. We are going to visit an old castle and some museums.
Round 8 to follow and it’s a tri-nations match up today. Both the South Africans are playing Aussies. Make us proud bokke!!!

Coaches Report
Turkey 2008
Corno Klaver

Round 8:
Daleen Wiid won comfortably after the opening with a kingside attack. Pratish Rampsurrup had a drawn endgame but missed the draw in time trouble in the end.     South Africa 1 – Australia 1. Here is a picture of the mosaïek we saw in the museum on the rest day.

Round 9:
Pratish had a tough opponent in round 9. He played Fide Master Sahaj Grover from India with a rating 2306. It was a very complicated Najdorf position where Pratish had a queen for 3 pieces. I think he misplayed the position and had a chance to have a better position as black. Here is the position:

Pratish played, 18. …Rac8 which I think is to slow. He should either play 18. … f6 immediately or even better 18. … b4 follow by 19. Ne4 f6! This will give him an advantage. It is still complicated to play but the dangerous e7 pawn will fall and Pratish can start to organize his pieces.
Daleen swapped of queens early and outplayed her opponent in the endgame.

Round 10:
Daleen played a spectacular game to win her 4th game in a row. She is on fire. Here was the position she reached and made a nice sacrifice and finished her opponent off.

Daleen played 20. Nxh7! exd4 21.Bg5 Be7 22.Rfe1!

Round 11:
Daleen now faces her toughest challenge of the tournament playing WIM Deimante Daulyte from Lithuania with a rating of 2288. Good luck Daleen, mate it 5 in a row!

Coaches Report
Turkey 2008
Corno Klaver

 

Free day …chess junior players on their trip in Turkey…I can see Corno and Pratish…but wonder where is Daleen…Corno?

Follow this link for more about the World Junior CC in Turkey

https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/08/01/world-junior-chess-championships-2008/

Some of the participants of the SA Juniors Closed in March 2008

Some of the SA junior players…

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South Africa Women’s Open Chess Championship 2008

GM Dimitri Reinderman in SA…image: www.chessa.co.za the Official site.

Well done to Marlene Roets who was the only player to draw against special guest Grand Master, Dimitri Reinderman, in the simultaneous event, where he participated against 25 women.

EZET ROOS: SA Women’s Open Chess Champion 2008

Source: www.gjca.co.za

 Other Chess news: Congratulations to our 2 top players and coaches Daniel Cawdery and Monique Sischy who will represent South Africa at the Olympiad in Dresden, Germany in November. We are proud of you.

Image: gjca.co.za

SA Women’s Open 2008

SA Women’s Open : Pairings round 4…source: Gauteng Junior Chess Association

This is only the pairings for the first 10 boards, see  http://www.gjca.co.za for more pairings

SA Women’s Open 2008: Final results after round 5

Small message to Chessa: Please, this is an Official Tournament! It could make my task a lot easier if this was published on your Official site, which is Chessa! Gauteng Juniors is not SA’s official site!

As soon as I have more news… I will update this post! hmmm…I could update it at last! with hours of searching and sniffing….and at last found info on a non-official site…Gauteng Juniors…thank you! Gauteng Juniors for publishing the results and the pairings…I do hope Chessa take notice of my message to them! Meanwhile, if you have zillions to spend, then Cresta is for you…a shopping centre in Randburg..near Jo’burg..hop off your flight and hop into this shopping centre…

Cresta 

Results of the SA Open Chess Championships- Section A : July 2008

See more results here: http://www.chessa.co.za/SAOpen2008.html

South Africa’s top 10 female chess players…19/8/2008

The number after the date of birth, is the number of games played…

1 SOLOMONS, A (ANZEL) 1978/01/06 2025  38
2 GREEFF, M (MELISSA) 1994/04/15 1947   27
3 SISCHY, MS (MONIQUE) 1987/12/04 1872 0
4 WIID, D (DALEEN) 1991/11/06  1861  50
5 PISTORIUS, R (RIANI) 1985/03/07  1845  12
6 DE JAGER, C (CARMEN) 1989/01/17  1843  28
7 ELLAPPEN, J (JENINE) 1986/03/25  1821  0
8 FRICK, D (DENISE) 1980/11/26  1812  19
9 ROOS, E (EZET) 1991/03/22  1783  29
10 DE WAAL, I (INGRID) 1990/07/17  1749  34

See the rest of the top 100 female players on this link:

http://www.chessa.co.za/TopWoman.html

Other chess news: from Chessa-site: Congratulations to D Solomons, A Goosen, D Van den Heever, J Ophoff, H.R Steel and D Cawdery who have been awarded their CM Titles

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England vs South Africa II

Pietersen…say your prayers!!

Sorry Chess fans…it’s cricket again! and today is an important game! I’m with Cowers again. I actually have about 3 of my own games waiting on draft to be blogged, so keep “watching”…this is England vs South Africa and not…South Africa vs England…hehe

ENGLAND VS SOUTH AFRICA 4TH TEST- THE FINAL: THE OVAL

Well done, Kevin! EISH!! The English can’t go without the South Africans in their teams… hehehe…

England 316ao (95.2 overs): LUDICROUS! Panesar is run-out attempting to sprint through for Harmison to make his 50. Monty is so, so slow. He’s a genuine liability with anything other than the ball in his hand. Harmison is left stranded on  49 not out. Overall, a wasted effort from England. 

England 316-9 (95 overs): WHAT A PITY! Anderson decides to leave a ball from Harris he thinks is turning down leg-side….it turns out to be an arm-ball,  and he is trapped LBW right in front. Monty comes to the crease with Harmison on 49 not out… 

England 313-8 (94 overs): Loving this. A fabulous clip over mid-wicket off the bowling of Harris brings Harmison to 49. Anderson then attempts a reverse sweep – and is lucky not to get bowled. More conventionally, he hoiks through square-leg for a couple. The partnership is up to 53…

England 294-8 (92 overs): Smith looks a little lost as to how to break this stand; he just needs to be patient; Harmison and Anderson have been so lucky so far; it has to run out eventually. Doesn’t it?  

England 283-8 (89 overs): The ball continues to fly everywhere. Both Anderson and Harmison are fortunate to escape with lofted drives that fall in between fielders, before Harmison edges off a huge drive, the ball flying down to third man for another boundary. Excellent runs for the home side as the lead approaches 100. 

England 276-8 (87 overs): This is what Test cricket is all about; two tailenders swishing and belting against the new ball; ball flying everywhere, catches going down (Boucher off Harmison), boundaries down to third man and long on. Comedy circus cricket.

England 270-8 (85 overs): Harmison lofts Ntini for two over the top of mid-on, before edging just short of Kallis at slip. Next ball, he crashes a big heave over mid-wicket for four. Entertaining stuff from the returning England bowler.

England 263-8 (83.2 overs): BROAD EDGES TO SLIP! England’s best batsman nicks Ntini through to slip as the new ball does for the number eight. Writing on the wall now; let’s hope Harmy goes a bit mental for a couple of overs. 

England 260-7 (82 overs): South Africa have taken the new ball. Harmison drives Ntini for a lofty drive through extra-cover to move to 10 from 18 balls. 

England 254-7 (80 overs): Harmison is usually good for a bit of fun. He takes a while to get off the mark, but then steers Kallis down to third man for four. I’d like to see Broad and Harmy smite a few in an entertaining half-hour or so. 

England 248-6 (77.2 overs): COLLINGWOOD OUT! 61, BEFORE KALLIS SNARES HIM C&B! Kallis gets one to rear up off a length, the ball takes the shoulder of Collingwood’s bat and the bowler takes a simple return catch. England are doing an excellent job of royally stuffin this up.

England 248-6 (77 overs): Broad is not yet off the mark, but he is playing with a nice confidence, and he is showing great discipline to Harris in particular. The spinner is firing the ball in at Collingwood’s legs in a very defensive tactic, but Colly isn’t biting at the moment. 

England 245-6 (74 overs): Broad comes to the crease. If he could bowl a few Chinamen, he’d be the new Gary Sobers. But he can’t, so he’s only the new Derek Pringle.

England 241-5 (71.5 overs) AMBROSE GOES! HIS SECOND-LAST DISMISSAL IN INTERNATIONAL CRICKET? Another failure for the hapless England keeper, who edges a decent Kallis delivery through to Smith at slip. A second wicket for all-rounder Kallis. Ambrose shows again his inability at this level. 

England 239-5 (71 overs): Some chat down there about the competition prize. Was anyone within one run-per-hundred-balls? If they were, I’ll have to think about a prize. How about some Eurosport headed letter paper, with a (very) short story written by Cowers? 

England 233-5 (69 overs): Ambrose is the new batsman. Pietersen called him “Timmy” in an interview the other day. Surely an indication of how little respect the rest of the England side have for him. Timmy? It’s like calling Strauss “Andy Pandy”. 

England 233-5 (67.4 overs): KALLIS WINS THE BATTLE OF THE BRUTES! The Saffa all-rounder tempts Flintoff with a little nibbler, Flintoff prods through to Boucher. His struggles continue.

England 232-4 (67 overs): Flintoff and Collingwood have the job of pushing on this evening, really driving England in front. The home side still have their best batsmen waiting to come, Stuey Broad, so 500 is still possible.

Evening session: 39 overs remaining.  

England 232-4 (67 overs): TEA: FLINTOFF JOINS THE PARTY! AND HE’S BROUGHT SOME BOOZE! GIN! AND GINGER LIQUEUR! Freddie steps down the wicket to pound Harris for six over long on. Great stage for a Flintoff assault, this. Just play himself in for a while, then BAM! 

England 219-4  (63.4 overs): PIETERSEN GOES FOR EXACTLY 100! Two balls after bringing up his ton, the captain fishes well wide outside off and Kallis takes a good catch at second slip. What a shame. Great knock, but he couldn’t kick on. That’s four wickets for Ntini.

England 219-3 (63 overs): CENTURY FOR PIETERSEN! CAPTAIN MARVELOUS! Pietersen registers his 14th Test ton with a flick through mid-wicket for four; it comes from 135 balls and features 15 boundaries. 

England 208-3 (62 overs): Very slow going out there. Pietersen is playing with rare-seen discipline to make sure he gets his century; Collingwood is up to 39not out in a typically gritty knock as England edge their lead up to 15 runs. 

England 203-3 (59 overs): The players have had drinks after what has been an arduous first hour in the afternoon session. Pietersen is into the 90s. He won’t want to stuff this up, as he did on 94 in the last Test. 

England 200-3 (57 overs): OOH! Harris is into the attack…Collingwood comes down the wicket and drives…straight into the chest of Amla at short leg. That had to hurt; it was fairly full-bloodied. Pietersen is just short of the 90s now; he’ll be keen to kick on once he has passed his ton, I guess. 

England 184-3 (54 overs):  Pedestrian stuff, really. Until Pietersen rocks back and pulls Morkel through mid-on for four. He then drives handsomly down the ground for another boundary.  I bet he fancies a huge score today. Fifth ball of the over he cuts through cover, before clipping through mid-on for three more. 15 off the over. 85 not out, the England skipper.

England 164-3 (51 overs): DOWN! Ntini puts down a second very difficult chance off Pietersen in the space of half-an-hour; this time, the England skipper mis-times a pull, but Ntini can’t hold onto the ball, diving backwards towards the boundary as he ran back from mid-on. 

England 161-3 (50 overs): England have become a bit bogged down since lunch, with the interuption and some disciplined bowling from the tourists. KP needs to break free from the shackles. 

England 153-3 (48 overs): England are back out. The gloom has passed. 

England 151-3: (47 overs): BAD LIGHT! It has got a little gloomy, and the umpires offer the light. KP (a big fan of attacking, offensive cricket, remember…) accepts the light and pegs it. 

England 148-3 (46 overs): Oh, I forgot to say, Pietersen has made his half-century. Good knock, too. Nine fours in it. The captaincy, if anything, has made him a better player. If that were possible. Because he is already, basically, the best player ever to pick up a long-handle. 

England 144-3 (45 overs): Pietersen has gone to the toilet. I repeat: Pietersen has gone to the toilet.  

England 139-3 (43 overs): Kallis does the old hands-on-hips as Collingwood pulls him one-handed through mid-wicket for four. That was one of the ugliest shots Cowers have ever seen. A shot so ugly I’d prevent my sister from marrying it.

England 134-3 (42 overs): South Africa have got a couple of interesting field placings at the moment; one man at a very straight, silly mid-on. Ntini has a nice rhythm going; he is going wide on the crease and darting them in at KP. An edge down to third man brings four off the final ball of the over. 

England  124-3 (40 overs): Nice start for England: Collingwood nicks a couple of boundaries down the leg-side. You can’t afford to bowl at him there. England are just 70 runs behind South Africa. No sign of Harris, the spinner, yet. 

Afternoon session: Off we go. Hold on to your hats. 

England 116-3 (38 overs): LUNCH:  67 runs, two wickets. Probably even in the morning session.

England 111-3 (35.4 overs): GONE! YOU NUMPTY! Ntini angles the ball across Cook, who has a completely unneccessary swipe, edging through to Boucher. No need to play at that one; Cook is disgusted with himself. Stoopid wicket to lose, just before lunch. In comes Collingwood. 

England 106-2 (35 overs): Cook is just struggling a bit in this final half-hour before tea. He can’t quite get the ball away to get KP back on strike. Kallis is bowling well to him, certainly. Ntini is back on for a couple of overs before lunch. 

England 103-2 (33 overs): South Africa are trying to bowl wide to Pietersen, trying to tempt him into a rash shot. Kallis is bowling wide of off-stump, but KP isn’t playing. When Kallis does bowl a little straighter, the England skipper punches down the ground for four. A wonderful shot. A shot so good I’d let my sister marry it. 

England 94-2 (31 overs):  Pietersen punches Kallis for three through cover. 26 not out and progressing sweetly. Just half an hour until lunch, if England can get through unscathed, it will have been their session. Incidentally, Cowers doesn’t want g_hine kneeling before him. He only wants busty German farm-girls in lederhosen kneeling before him. And then, only to milk his udders. 

England 91-2 (29 overs): Pietersen greets Kallis into the attack with a four through the leg side. Nice welcome. Jeez, I wouldn’t like to invite KP to my house for a dinner party. Probably throw dog-feces in my face as I opened the door to him.

England 81-2 (27 overs): KA-POW! THWACK! Pietersen hammers two successive short balls from Morkel for four through square-leg. The skipper is up to 19 from 31 balls, that’s a strike-rate of…ooh, just a minute…31 divided by 19, times 100, divided by the square-root of pi…61.29.

England 70-2 (26 overs): Gunther has made an appearance. Pietersen takes a couple of steps down the wicket to Nel, defending back to the bowler. Nel fields the ball and hurls it at the stumps, although KP has got his bat down in plenty of time. Next ball, as Nel is in his run-up, KP pulls out and prods the wicket down, infuriating Nel. He looks like an angry 12-year-old who is going skitz on e-numbers after eating four bags of Skittles. 

England 69-2 (24 overs): Cowers is not “in a mood”. The next person that says that is going to get charged at. “A coward you are, Withnail; an expert on bulls you are not…” Greatest line in film history? It’s up there. Along with: “We want the finest wines known to humanity. We want them here, and we want them now.” Cook ruins a Nel maiden with a single down to third man.

England 67-2 (22 overs): Nel is into the attack. Pietersen is adopting a very wide stance; he looks like he is attempting a rather complex yoga position. Nel grunts and gurns his way through a maiden, attempting to engage Pietersen in some hostilities. Like a grubby street urchin prodding a stray dog with a big stick. 

England 66-2 (20 overs): Pietersen looks in the mood, my friends. Boom! He flicks from outside off-stump through mid-wicket for four. Boom! He drives down the ground three balls later for another boundary. Huzzah! Pietersen is going to be the greatest England captain ever. England are going to win every single match they play with Pietersen as captain. I can feel it in my water. I can feel the Pietersen-love in my water. Either that, or an effervescent vitamin C tablet.

England 58-2 (19 overs): Pietersen is immediately off the mark, and already looks keen to impose himself on the match. Cook flicks a four off his legs last ball of Morkel’s over. He meets his skipper in the middle at the end of the over; they chat, calmly, resting on their bats. Seems a serious discussion. Perhaps Cook has left the gas on at home.

England 51-2 (17.4 overs): GONE! BELL NICKS TO SMITH! Bell makes a couple with a nice shot through cover, before pushing forward and nicking through to Smith, who takes a low catch at slip. Bell departs the field on the brink of tears…to make way for the entrance of the England captain. “YAY! YAY! YAY! WOO! WOO!” the crowd cheer.  

England 49-1 (17 overs): The overhead conditions are perfect for swing bowling, and the pitch may have been spruced up a little by the rain, so there might be a spot of movement early this morning. Ntini sends down the first over…

11.28 – Here we go. The South Africans are out there, Cook and Bell follow. Bell really is very short, isn’t he?  

11.11 – Covers starting to come off, and we are due to start at 11.30, with the lost time made up at the end of the day. Great news, eh? Great news that Cowers has to stick around an extra half-hour at the end of the day, possibly longer if the shocking over-rates continue. But it’s fine, it’s fine. No problem. It’s only Friday night. It’s not like Cowers will miss anything by sticking around for an extra hour.

11.02 – Shaun Pollock looks odd in a suit. There is something about his shoulders that looks peculiar in a suit. Also, he looks lobsided. His left shoulder and neck is much bigger than his right. Perhaps the left shoulder is the one he carries the chip on. Anyway, he is in the Sky Sports studio, banging on about South Africa only playing at 80% against England in this series; he reckons the Proteas can beat the Aussies in their upcoming tour. Good gag, Shaun. 

10.54 – Poop! Some rain, and the covers are coming on at the Oval. Richard Illingworth, that crappy left-arm spinner of the 1990s, is spotted under an Npower umbrella, mooching around the square. He looks serious, but that is of a direct consequence of his wearing of a moustache. Moustache = serious countenance. 

10.48 – Hey, don’t feel sorry for Cowers. Cowers don’t need no-one. There’s only one person Cowers looks out for…Cowers. I’ll give you a competition. How about strike rate of Kevin Pietersen over the course of his innings. You have to be within 1 run-per-hundred-balls to qualify for the prize, which I shall reveal when the entries close – at the start of KP’s innings, whenever that may be.

10.36 – g_hine accuses Cowers of going through the motions a little yesterday. Interesting. An interesting accusation. Don’t we all have off-days, g? Days when things just don’t feel right? A strange, empty feeling in your soul? Days when The Absurd strikes, unexpectedly, as it always does? Or are you always on top of your game? Is every day a good day for g_hine?

10.14 – Confidence isn’t usually a characteristic you could associate with Steve “I wanna go home” Harmison, so how about this for a quote, from yesterday’s post-match chat: “Hopefully this is a long road to a more successful 12 months forward than the 12 months I’ve just had.” Go Stevie. Who da man?

10.05 – Hi there; welcome to the second day from the Oval; the first day of Kevin Pietersen’s captaincy went jolly well – can the second day be as good? The weather forecast is a bit mixed; it is very gloomy at the moment, although the boffins at Met Office say things should brighten up later…

England 49-1 (17 overs): CLOSE: FINE DAY FOR ENGLAND. The home side lose Strauss early on, but Cook and Bell combine to see them through to the close with an unbroken 42-run stand. 

England 42-1 (15 overs): Good progress from England this evening, eight overs remaining. Bell and Cook haven’t given the South Africans a sniff since Strauss’

England 34-1 (12 overs): Ntini is still slanting the ball across Cook, who is doing well to maintain his discipline. The light is fine at the moment; a beautiful summer’s evening. 

England 29-1 (9 overs): Good stuff from the England boys at the moment. Bell helps himself to successive fours from the bowling of Ntini, one through square-leg, the other through cover. 

England 15-1 (6 overs) Bell has come to the crease, back in his number three position left vacant by Michael Vaughan. These two could do with taking England through to the close… 

England 7-1 (3.4 overs): NTINI GETS STRAUSS! The clever Ntini goes wide on the crease to fire one down to Strauss…the England man can’t resist a nibble, and edges through to second slip! Breakthrough for the tourists! 

England 6-0 (3 overs): Morkel and Nel have got the new ball for South Africa, but the England boys are coping fine, nudging and working away singles on the leg-side. There are 20 overs left today, but it is getting a little gloomy overhead… 

England 0-0: Cook and Strauss come out as England attempt to eat into South Africa’s lead over the next 24 overs… 

South Africa 194 (64.5 overs): MONTY COMES ON. HE BOWLS AT THE STUMPS, AND THEN HITS THEM. INNINGS OVER. Ntini is bowled for nine, and England finish the job. Great effort. 

South Africa 190-9 (64 overs): Stumps. Stumps. Stumps. Not one ball at the stumps in the last three overs. Not one ball would have hit the stumps. The wickets. Removed the bails. The timber. Not one. 18 balls, and not one was directed at the stumps, the things the bowlers are supposed to aim for. The three stumps are the key to England finishing this off. Absolute key, the stumps. Flintoff has been brought on by Pietersen, presumably to try and hit the stumps. He can’t. He doesn’t really get anywhere near. 

South Africa 184-9 (61 overs): This is ridiculous. It’s not like Ntini and Harris are flaying the ball all over; it’s just that England aren’t bowling at the stumps. They’ve got a much better chance of getting one of these two tailenders out if they just bowled at the stumps. It’s not rocket-science. The stumps are the key. Bowl at them. The batsmen may miss the ball. Which will then hit the stumps. Bowl the ball so it will hit the stumps. Stumps. Stumps. Stumps. Bowl at the stumps. Try to hit the stumps.

South Africa 175-9 (58 overs): England have done well to get up to this point…all they need to do now is bowl at the stumps. Instead, Harmison and Broad are bowling about two foot outside off, and Ntini and Harris are swinging and missing at everything. Most frustrating. 

South Africa 174-9 (54.4 overs): ANOTHER FOR BROAD! Straight and full, and Nel edges through to Ambrose. Rather lacklustre appeal from England, but Nel is on his way, and only Ntini stands between the home side and the close of innings.

South Africa 168-8 (53 overs): What does Cowers know? Broad bangs one in short, Morkel gets a glove on it, trying to fend away down to third man, and Bell takes a diving catch at short-leg. Broad gets the breakthrough after tea, and England are on the brink of a fine first innings effort. 

South Africa 164-7 (52 overs): Broad and Monty are doing the bowling at the moment. Can’t help but think that Pietersen should turn to Harmison, Anderson and Flintoff to clean up the tail.

South Africa 158-7 (50 overs): The evening session is underway…still 40 overs to bowl, England will be keen to shoot the tourists out and get themselves in bat… 

South Africa 158-7 (49.3 overs) TEA: MONTY STRIKES WITH HIS THIRD BALL! SHOCKING LBW DECISION, BUT WHO CARES? I care. Anyway. Monty has AB de Villiers caught LBW as he attempted to force away off his back foot in the final over before tea. Great boost for England just before the interval. 

South Africa 147-6 (45 overs): Morkel is the new batsman, coming in with an average of 15 or so. Anderson is still in the attack, partnered by Broad. No sign of Monty yet, Pietersen is making him wait – which is a good decision, with the seamers getting so much joy. It would be a boost to the over-rate, though; which is appalling at present.

South Africa 132-6 (42.1 overs) AND ANOTHER! GREAT BOWLING FROM ANDERSON! Jimmy fires one in towards off-stump, allowing the swing just to move it away a couple of inches…Boucher flicks his bat, gets an outside edge, and Ambrose takes a simple low catch! The wickets continue to tumble, and all is going well for Pietersen! —ok, i will pack up and go home!

South Africa 127-5 (40 overs): de Villiers and Boucher are doing a good job in trying to see off a fired-up England at present. Anderson is still getting a bit of movement, but his line has gone a little. Flintoff has a word with Pietersen, who in turn has a word in the ear of the bowler; Freddie must have spotted something.

South Africa 119-5 (38 overs): And thank you to those messageboarders who recognise that the ludicrously pedestrian nature of the updates to this blog are nothing to do with Cowers and rather more to do with the lumbering techical machine that powers it.

South Africa 118-5 (37 overs): YES! ANDERSON STRIKES AGAIN! Prince rather lazily drives at one that moves slightly away from him, and Bell takes a comfortable catch at gully! England’s golden spell continues! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo!! SA!!

South Africa 113-4 (35 overs): AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince are the batsmen charged with trying to lead South Africa out of their rather tricky little spot. Anderson is getting just enough movement still to cause some problems, though. Hey, hey, South Africa!! 4 out…no good!!

South Africa 105-4 (32.5 overs): WHAT A SPELL FOR ENGLAND! ANDERSON TRAPS KALLIS! Beautiful inswinger from Anderson, dips back in and strikes Kallis on his front leg, in front of off-stump! No hesitation from the umpire! England are on fire here! 

South Africa 103-3 (31.5 overs) BOWLED HIM! TWO IN TWO FOR HARMISON! The batsmen had crossed so Amla was taking strike…Harmison yorks him with a full one which beats Amla’s jab, taking out middle stump! Harmy is back, and delighted! 

South Africa 103-2 (31.4 overs) SMITH GOES! TOP-EDGED PULL, ANDERSON TAKES THE CATCH AT FINE-LEG! Harmison has his first wicket on his return to the Test side, digging one in, which Smith hoiks down to Anderson. 

South Africa 100-1 (31 overs): Anderson is back into the attack; Smith really doesn’t look in great nick, but he is gritting it out. He survives a strong LBW shout from Harmison, before getting an inside edge on to his pads from Anderson. 

South Africa 87-1 (29 overs): Flintoff’s painful toe forces him off the field for some treatment, ending his post-lunch spell. Broad is trundling in at the other end, although Amla has crashed the youngster for four boundaries in his last two overs, and has reached 30 from just 27 balls. 

South Africa 70-1 (26 overs): DROPPED! COOK AGAIN! Tough chance for Cook; Amla flashes at a Flintoff delivery…the ball flies high to Cook at second slip, but he can’t cling on above his head, the ball running away for four. Flintoff shakes his head in mock disbelief. 

South Africa 65-1 (24 overs): Smith is approaching a half-century, on 40 not out. Flintoff calls for a pain killer; he seems in some discomfort in his bowling action, thanks to a painful toe. Still, he snorts one past Smith final ball of the over.  

South Africa 64-1 AFTERNOON SESSION: The clouds have cleared and the rain has stopped. The afternoon begins under bright skies at the Oval; can England snatch an early breakthrough.

South Africa 64-1 (22 overs): RAIN STOPS PLAY: The drizzle becomes a little heavier and the umpires call on the covers. The players will take an early lunch, with South Africa having made 64-1 in the morning…England will be a little disappointed they couldn’t add to their one break through. 

South Africa 56-1 (20 overs): More frustration for England as an outside edge from Smith falls just short of Strauss at second slip. Smith also plays and misses at a couple of widers ones, which raises a wry smile from Flintoff. AND THEN THE BREAKTHROUGH COMES! COOK MAKES AMMENDS FOR HIS EARLY DROP BY SNARING A GOOD ONE AT SLIP AS MCKENZIE EDGES!

South Africa 47-0 (17 overs): Broad is into the attack for the first time, and his first over is a good one, beating McKenzie three times in a maiden. Pietersen is bounding around like a puppy in a new home at the moment…unfortunately, a puppy would perhaps have more clue as to how to break this partnership.

South Africa 44-0 (15 overs): Not for the first time, Cowers was wrong; Harmison is continuing…although perhaps Pietersen will wish he had taken him off an over previous as Smith pulls him for two fours through the leg-side. 

South Africa 32-0 (13 overs): Harmison has Smith in a spot of bother in what will probably be his final over of the spell, a bouncer causing him a moment of panic. Pietersen looks rueful as he searches for his first wicket. The first hour is negotiated well by South Africa. 

South Africa 31-0 (12 overs): Bit of a run-spurt; McKenzie helps himself to two fours off Harmison, the first a remarkable short-arm jab through mid-wicket, before Smith welcomes Flintoff to the attack with a pull through mid-on. Freddie is steaming in at 87mph in his first over. 

South Africa 19-0 (10 overs): Smith clips a four through the leg side…Monty escorts it to the boundary like a middle-aged gentleman chaperone escorting home a lady of equally mature years after an awkward first date at an Italian restaurant.

South Africa 14-0 (8 overs): Few spots of rain about, a few brollies going up. Harmison gets one to jag back…raps McKenzie on the pad…big appeal…going over the top. Next ball a similar delivery squirts off the outside edge, bouncing once before third slip. 

South Africa 10-0 (7 overs):  Harmison is bowling well, that’s for sure. He is firing down with plenty of pace and bounce. Anderson is getting a little swing and has troubled Smith now and again, but nothing too alarming. There are some fairly ominous clouds in the distance, though.

South Africa 7-0 (5 overs): The over-rate clearly doesn’t fall into Pietersen’s category of “aggressive” cricket; it is quite embarrassingly slow at the moment. There appears to a problem with movement behind the bowler’s arm; restless members. Or just some ignorant divs.

South Africa 6-0 (3 overs): Another good over from Harmison; McKenzie gets an inside-edge that misses his off-stump by a foot or so. Ambrose is still feeling his nose after that blow a couple of overs ago. The first positive stroke of the match, a push through covers from McKenzie, brings a couple. 

South Africa 1-0 (1 over): Ambrose needs some treatment on a bloody mouth after the final ball of Harmison’s first over got a little big on him, went through his gloves and struck him in the face. Very eventful first ten minutes of the Pietersen captaincy. 

South Africa 1-0 (1 over): DROPPED! Harmison almost gives Pietersen the perfect start! He bangs one in, Smith cuts…but Cook puts down a relatively simple chance at gully! Later on, he gets one to nip back and strike Smith in the unmentionables. Good first over from Harmison, who is already up into the high 80mphs.

11.00: OFF WE GO! Pietersen leads out England for the first time in a Test match; lots of manly hugs and little shoulder-barges from the home side as they come out on to the pitch. No huddle, though. 

10.51: “Starting to feel muggy, might well swing here,” says Botham at his pitch report. “Rock-solid hard, it will have that tennis ball bounce. But will it swing? Maybe in the first hour.” Great stuff. That’s why he’s an “expert”.

10.42: That close-up photo of KP does demonstrate he has good skin, doesn’t it? Must use a lot of Jessica’s cleansing products. 

10.34: Graeme Smith wins the toss and bats…“It’s a pretty good wicket,” says Pietersen. “I’ve played here for eight years and it has always been a good wicket at the Oval. We’re going to have to give it a real good go this morning.” 

10.28 – Cowers has indeed chosen a particularly menacing photo of Pietersen to use on the blog…perhaps an indication of his style of captaincy. IN….YOUR….FACE! 

10.19 – All-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who will bat at six in this match, is keen to end a run of eight England Test defeats in his last eight appearances: “Two defeats is not the way I envisaged coming back with England. I didn’t wait 18 months to get beaten.”

10.08 – Hello, fans of cricketing endeavours; welcome to our coverage of the fourth and final Test between England and South Africa from The Oval, in south London. It is a warm, muggy day here…but crucially dry. We should be able to get off on time, and that is a blessing to all.

Cower’s Ava

While I’m on Yahoo… I saw this headline: and I’m asking myself…WHY oh WHY do you always HAVE to get drunk!! even just to be “in”… it’s part of the culture over here!! oh my goodness, get something to do in your life and stop boasting about how drunk you were on a party or the previous night! You don’t impress me!

Drunken Brits face holiday crackdown

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080807/twl-drunken-brits-face-holiday-crackdown-41f21e0.html

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England vs South Africa

WELL DONE! SOUTH AFRICA!! Well Done, Proteas!!

and to Kevin…a South African leading the English team! in the next test….

South Africa’s team…yesterday…image: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com

How can I blog chess, my favourite, but not cricket! my other favourite! and in particular, the Proteas!! I like Cow’s corner on Yahoo…read about “him” at the bottom of this post. “Cow” has got a good sense of humour. I want to be positive and predict that South Africa will take this test too… sorry English mates here… lol! I will update this post as the game goes… oh, of course you have to start reading at the bottom of this post! ….uhm…wonder what others think about my prediction I’ve made here this morning… (silence…that’s all I can hear…and “silence is golden…”— 😉
On THIS LINK you can follow the 1st day, 3rd Test played yesterday, 30th July. At the bottom of this post there’s a link to Australia’s sport forum, if you’re interested…

South Africa’s Ashwell Prince hits four runs
Cricket – npower Third Test – Day Two – England v South Africa – Edgbaston Image: Yahoo

Superb Smith sends England crashing

Saturday Aug 02…Day 4 of third test

SA 283-5 (80 overs) – ALL OVER – SMITH SMASHES SOUTH AFRICA TO VICTORY. A final four, in the event off the final ball of Pietersen after he swiped unsuccessfully at a few Panesar deliveries, completes the job. He ends with 154no as the tourists celebrate their first series win in England since 1965. Well-deserved.   

SA 277-5 (78 overs) – Smith reaches his 150 with a single off Pietersen; Boucher reduces the runs required to five with a slash at a wide delivery. Perhaps England will be dumped out of this

SA 268-5 (76 overs) – SMITH BRILLIANCE TAKES SOUTH AFRICA TO THE BRINK – A massive drive under the diving, desperate captain Vaughan followed by a pull to deep square leg – both off Flintoff – takes Smith to 147 and within 13 runs of victory. South Africa are going to finish this match off today, there is no doubt about that: they are not going to bring back the fans to see a couple of boundaries tomorrow. The fans wouldn’t show up!   

SA 248-5 (73 overs) – Boucher doing what Ambrose couldn’t this morning: scoring runs. He slices Anderson to the rope, pulls Panesar for four and drives Flintoff through the on side for another boundary. South Africa only need 33 runs to win from here.

SA 225-5 (69 overs) – Smith drives Anderson through the off side for four as the light meters continue to be consulted. Panesar returns as South Africa need 56 to win. Looks like Cowers’s prediction of a four-wicket win for SA could well come true…

SA 201-5 (65 overs) – Kevin Pietersen has a bowl alongside Sidebottom. Smith suffering with cramp and receives attention; 80 runs to win; all very lethergic, even the chants from the fans evidently tinged by that seven-pint weariness. The light meters are out, but it looks fine.

SA 182-5 (59 overs) – It looks like play will go on until 19:00 tonight. SA need 99 to win with 18 overs left to play in the day; England really need a couple of wickets in that time, or they’ll be in trouble. don.wheeler has little respect for Smith’s ton, saying he should have been out LBW ages ago – the tourists could say the same about Collingwood yesterday though.

SA 178-5 (57 overs) – SMITH BRINGS UP HIS HUNDRED – The South Africa captain plays Panesar easily and runs two for his 16th Test century and fourth against England. The facts: 11 fours, no sixes, 177 balls, 243 minutes. It is a great captain’s knock and one that could well lead his country to victory. 103 to win; England are successful in their attempts to introduce the new ball. Flintoff to come in from the Pavilion End.

SA 171-5 (53 overs) – FIFTH WICKET DOWN!!! De Villiers gone – gone like the wind, gone like Radiohead’s song-writing talent, gone like Cowers’s tiny little mind after 17 Jagerbombs. Monty Monty Monty Monty Pan-e-sar has it, a clear edge to Collingwood at first slip. 24 overs left of the day’s play.

SA 169-4 (52 overs) – Leave the cow alone people. Read it again: COMPUTERS ARE TO BLAME. Cowers would love to kick back with a Pimm’s and lemonade and put its hoofs (hooves?) up while watching, but its computer keeps turning into a computer-shaped turd and spoiling its enjoyment of proceedings

SA 156-4 (48 overs) – Anderson comes in for Flintoff and is largely left alone – like a drunk on the night bus to Kingston – by De Villiers outside off stump. SA are happy to let the remaining 30-odd overs trickle away and edge their way towards the required 281.

 RAMPS FINALLY SECURES HIS 100TH TON – After three months of painful suspense akin to (delete as appropriate) The Sixth Sense/Unbreakable/Signs/The Village/Lady in the Water, Mark Ramprakash finally records his 100th first-class century for Surrey against Yorkshire in the County Championship. The England hero is the first player to manage the feat for a decade – Graeme Hick was the last – and the 25th in all.

SA 153-4 (45 overs) – ANOTHER CHANCE GOES BEGGING… Panesar should have had Smith! There was glove on the ball as it kicked up and Ambrose took the catch, but the appeal was half-hearted… and on the next ball Andrew Strauss is a fraction short as he dives in to take the ball after a pull. Monty thought the wicket was his… England should have claimed it on the ball before though.

SA 145-4 (43 overs) – MISSED RUN-OUT CHANCE – De Villiers tapped to leg and sought a quick single; Ambrose threw at the stumps but missed and Ian Bell failed to take the ball cleanly as he swung his hands into them. It would have been out, if the naked eye serves. The crowd try to lift their fielding side as the partnership moves past the 50 mark. Smith has 80 and has certainly done his job today. 

SA 134-4 (39 overs) – South Africa need only 147 for victory now although the boundaries have dried up. Flintoff, who England don’t want to run into the ground, returns while Panesar is also ‘unleashed’ – he was unlucky not to get Smith LB after turning one in from wide, the angle working against him at decision time. It is now a lovely day in the West Midlands, with fluffy white clouds drifting about the place, humid with a slight wind. But England should not fall into the comforting nature of their surroundings in this final session… or they will lose the series.

SA 119-4 (35 overs) – Sidebottom and Anderson resume after tea as Smith bats on. His innings is crucial to the visitors’ chances as a nervous calm descends over Edgbaston. Cowers went to uni just down the road in Selly Oak and was once chased off the square by an irate steward as he sought to retrieve a ball his mate had just driven from the boundary in between sessions. Nicky Knight scored 233 that day against Glamorgan and the Cow missed it by slipping off for a beer after five hours without anything happening. Glorious, drink-fuelled days.

SA 111-4 (33 overs, tea) – South Africa get to the end of the session without further loss, De Villiers slapping Panesar for four to keep the score ticking over. They would do well to bat out today and tomorrow – so their best bet is to go for it. Good to see biased, unladylike commentary from anne_helm regarding Kallis – you would never catch Cowers indulging in such mockery.

SA 93-4 (29.2 overs) – THE PRINCE AMONG MEN IS NO MORE – Left-hander Ashwell stays at the crease only long enough to pick up two runs, edging Anderson behind the stumps. Before that there were appeals aplenty from Panesar, Dar dismissing each – even when Prince appeared to get some glove on a rising ball. England on the warpath, and now looking a good bet for victory.

SA 85-3 (26 overs) – KALLIS GONE FOR FIVE!! – More heroics from Flintoff as a full toss smacks Jacques right in the balls – and I’m not referring to the red leather ones – on its way towards the middle stump. What a way to go – I hope his box was firmly in place or that will be the single most painful walk of shame ever experienced by human kind. 196 needed for victory, seven wickets left intact.  

SA 78-2 (23 overs) – MONTY SENDS AMLA BACK TO THE PAVILION!! The short ball straightened on bounce and caught him top of the pad – it was a big call and one that Davis controversially decided in England’s favour. Amla leaves with six runs to his name after only nine in the first innings and the experienced Kallis enters. Don’t blame the cow for slow updates, as for much in life computers are to blame.

SA 78-1 (22 overs) Flintoff, who has been tasty with the ball again today, dispatched through the covers by Smith, who moves on to 40.

SA 65-1 (17.3 overs) – FREDDIE HAS MCKENZIE!!! He lost his bearings on what was practically a full toss and turned away; the ball struck him bang on the foot and up went the finger. Breakthrough for England, more joy for Fredalo. 

SA 61-0 (17 overs) – After some dude was earlier blissfully ignorant of furiously gesticulating South African batsmen as he sat above the sightscreen, now a cameraman has to sprint over to remove a microphone. The 50 been and gone for SA – Smith and McKenzie each help themselves to a four off Panesar, the first sent to deep square leg and the second a well-executed drive.

SA 42-0 (13 overs) – FREDDIE INTO THE ATTACK – Cries of ‘Soopa, Soopa Fred’ all around Edgbaston as the Lancastrian comes in to chip away with Panesar at this South African innings. Monty appeals for a catch but Aleem Dar turns it down – the bat again causing the noise on the ground rather than a top edge.

SA 29-0 (9 overs) – The runs are coming, an ominous sign. McKenzie picks up three but is denied a fourth when Vaughan slides to flick back his drive just short of the rope. Speaking of shaggy hair: did anyone see that sheep on the roof of a house in the paper this morning? How in the hell did a sheep get on to the roof of a house? It’s been nagging at Cowers all day. Oh and as for a bovine prediction: SA to win with six wickets down. Monty back in the attack.

SA 17-0 (7 overs) – A bit of movement from Anderson and Sidey outside the off stump. Smith clipped the former just short of Collingwood at gully, while the latter has a weak LBW shout before Smith cracks him to backward point following a poor, wide, short delivery. He shakes his shaggy hair around in frustration. 

13:37 – England take to the field for the afternoon session under a blue sky – the clouds are breaking up overhead. Little chance of rain and plenty of sunshine.

SA 11-0 (5 overs, lunch) – BURGER TIME FOR FREDDIE ET AL. – Smith again misses an Anderson ball outside off stump – there is an appeal but the sound was that of the bat striking the ground – and Panesar bowls a maiden before the end of the session. First job done for the tourist openers.

SA 3-0 (2 overs) – Anderson forces a play and a miss from Smith that brings a wry smile to the face of England captain Michael Vaughan. How the home side will be desperate for the early wicket of the skipper; or any wicket, for that matter. Desperate like… like… that 33-stone teenager will be for a burger if she is indeed now on a diet. And if she tries to cut a steak out of my rump, she’s got a well-aimed kick to the gut coming her way.

SA 0-0 – Sidebottom to bowl the first over of the fourth innings. Smith to face the first ball. And Neil McKenzie at the other end of course.

Eng 363 all out – LIKE USAIN BOLT PASSING BY – It’s gone in a flash, the England innings that is. First Anderson (1) is bowled via an inside edge by Jackie Kallis then Collingwood (135) follows off Morkel after edging through to keeper Boucher. The one-day skipper given a standing ovation by the fancy dress-day crowd. The target for SA stands at 281 – game on! We are in for a cracking day’s play from here. And Jamaican world record-holder Bolt has just been confirmed for the Olympic 100m, if you were wondering or give a monkeys.

Eng 363-8 (97 overs) – MORKEL HAS HIS REVENGE – Whether he is a character in Lord of the Rings or not – are you thinking of Mordor swads43? – he exhibits the snarling menace of an Orc general after Collingwood and Sidebottom added further boundaries. But rest easy, English fans, it is the tail-ender who is walking after he tamely looked to pull a rising delivery and gloved it, allowing Hashim Amla to take the catch. He leaves with 22 as ‘see you’ Jimmy Anderson comes in.

Eng 343-7 (94 overs) – AB de Villiers claims a catch off Sidebottom in the slips, but after consulation with the third umpire Sidey is given not out. Hard to say whether he knew he had plucked it off the floor – at least his appeal was muted, as should be every Coldplay concert they show on television. England rolling along nicely after the early blow of Ambrose.

Eng 339-7 (93 overs) – A NEL OF A SHOT!! Left-hander Sidebottom smashes the bowler to square leg before nudging another for four on the off side. SA captain Graeme Smith looks on pensively from behind his Bunnies, perhaps mentally removing him from the attack… some sawdust is called for to repair the wicket. England settling into their stride.

Eng 326-7 (90 overs) – Sorry about that, g_hine – here you go. Collingwood survives another appeal, this one off the bowling of Ntini, but it hit above the knee roll – and in his next over the all-rounder smashes him for two fours, making it look as easy as spending the night with Danielle Lloyd.

Eng 315-7 (86 overs) – Andre Nel comes into the attack in place of Makhaya Ntini. It’s fairly overcast although blue sky is poking through in places – doesn’t look like there’s much chance of rain, at least for now.

Eng 310 (85 overs) – Good to see the Smurfs have made the trip to Birmingham, while Danger Mouse is also in the stands. No sign of Penfold – no surprise really, given that the poor bugger is blind as a bat. Very true, anne_helm – anyone got any stories about lucky underwear or such? Morkel unlucky when the first big appeal of the day is turned down by Steve Davis – the ball was headed for leg stump as Collingwood looked to turn it down leg side. Before the end of the over he sits one up and Colly rubs it in by hooking to the fine leg boundary.

Eng 299-7 (82 overs) – Colly adds the first runs of the day off the bat while Sidebottom is yet to get off the mark.

Eng 298-7 (81 overs) AMBROSE GONE!! Second ball from Morne Morkel defeats him and England are seven wickets down. Rubbish start before Edgbaston has had a chance to fill up. Ryan Sidebottom in next.

11:00 – The South Africa fielders emerge, followed by Tim Ambrose and Collingwood.  

10:50 – England counterpart Monty Panesar is keeping his cards close to his chest as usual: “Colly and KP put us right in the game yesterday. Batting here on a fourth innings pitch will be difficult. Hopefully we can pressure on the SA batsmen, although the pitch is holding up quite well. There is some slight turn and skiddiness on it though.”

10:45 – Paul Harris reckons SA have it in the bag: “The advantage is still with us. It’s a batting wicket. We didn’t bowl as well as we could, but due respect to Paul Collingwood who took his chance well. Spinners need overs and I hope to get a few under my belt by the end of the match.”

10.30 – Morning to all, and that includes jude_surf – Cowers is in a positive frame of mind this morning, teeth flossed, sugared double espresso downed and ready for the fourth day of the third Test between England and South Africa at Edgbaston.

Fri Aug 01 10:26AM

Eng 297-6 (80 overs) – STUMPS!! Ambrose pulls Ntini away for his second boundary and England will take a 214-run lead into day four. Join us at 10am for coverage – you never know, it might be fun

Eng 287-6 (77 overs) – WHAT A SHOT, A CENTURY!! Collingwood walks down the tracks and plants Harris into the crowd for the six that brings up his fifth Test century. A great comeback and is met with rapture from the crowd but reserved determination from the batsman. England now lead by 204 – time for a couple of more overs.

Eng 279-6 (75 overs) – Colly flicks a low Morkel full toss through mid-wicket to move into the nineties. Stumps will be at 7.11pm so more action yet. England will be 200 up by the close. Any plans for tomorrow? Cancel them, follow the cricket.

Eng 267-6 (70 overs) – Morkel has been more expensive than a loaf of bread in Bulawayo and he returns to be met by a thick edge by Collingwood which eludes the wide third slip and goes to the fence.

Eng 256-6 (67 overs) – Ambrose tickles Kallis off his pads for his first boundary and the lead is 173. The highest fourth innings score to win a Test on this ground is 211 by England against New Zealand in 1999. The satchel swingers still have SA at 1/2 with England at 5/2.

Eng 242-6 (63 overs) – Collingwood slog sweeps Harris and drives Kallis to the pickets as England eke out a few more precious runs. Eke is one of my top five words along with temerity, alacrity, vanguard and hermaphrodite. What is yours? Suck I guess.

Eng 228-6 (58 overs) – Collingwood turns Harris off his toes for another boundary. It’s time Tim Ambrose stepped up to the plate and by plate I mean wicket and by stepped I mean stepped. 74 runs at 19 in the series so far – very average. There are 23 overs left today, get a pizza in, we will be here for a while.

Eng 221-6 (54 overs) – OUT!! Pietersen looks to hit Harris over long-on for the six that would bring up his century but he manages to pick out AB de Villiers who takes a sharp catch. KP is furious, smashing his bat into his pads not once but twice. It’s up for grabs now as Brian Moore once said before Michael Thomas stood on his head. Freddie comes to the wicket and is greeted by a streaker – gender, unclear. MORE OUT!!  Flintoff faces three balls before offering Amla a bat-pad off Harris and this game has been turned on its head again.

(it’s 18:10 and I’m adding a bit more)Eng 219-4 (53 overs) – RAZZLE DAZZLE!! Pietersen does execute the switch hit, hitting two left-handed boundaries in the space of three balls off the frankly useless Harris. The crowd are going wild and a huge cheer as Collingwood collects his fifty off just 61 balls. People in their living rooms in Durham all jerking all round the room, pulling down all the furniture and fittings, and, er, grabbing hold of the carpet and being sick in the ashtrays, you know, really having a good time. England lead by 136 runs!!

Eng 74-3 (23 overs) – AND ANOTHER!! Morkel attacks Strauss from around the wicket and it reaps its reward as he gets squared up and edges to Kallis at second slip. Just a hint of away movement, the sort of hint your girlfriend would give you. Really, really subtle but if you get it wrong, there’s only one response: DEATH!!! ….(this is where I stop to update this post…will do it again when South Africa plays….it’s now 15:00 in England…)

Eng 56-2 (18 overs) – Pietersen and Nel are exchanging words – not nice words like “I love you, can I make you a scone” but bad words like you are below average at cricket. KP then lashes Gunther through the covers for his first boundary. the_kop2003 & g_hine – who should replace Vaughan as skipper and as number three. Owais Shah, Rob Key, Mark Lathwell??? That nice lady anne maybe.

Eng 46-2 (15 overs) – KP strides out to the wicket like a man with the weight of a destiny of a pair of flip flops on his shoulders. Jacques Kallis is now having a trundle at one end while Nel, a qualified accountant, bowls at the other. I bet he gives you a right earful if you forget to carry a three on your tax returns.

Eng 39-2 (11 overs) – CAPTAIN CALAMITY!! Vaughan drives Ntini superbly off the backfoot through the covers and then clips Nel off his pads for boundaries drei and vier respectively as they say at Innsbruck CC. But he then departs for 17 as he drives on the up and Hashim Amla takes a superb diving catch, just above worm height, at extra cover. Edgbaston is like a morgue as he walks off. A wicket for Gunther, gunther kobus001 gunther….definitely Gunther.

Eng 28-1 (8 overs) – EAT MY FOUR!! Vaughan comes to the wicket on a King Pair and is met with plenty of chat. Silenced when Nel offers up a juicy leg-stump half-volley that is dispatched through mid-wicket. Gunther lets out a scream and then the skipper pulls Ntini away past square leg. The sun is out, the beer is flowing, the Myleene Klass 2009 calendar is due in the shops very soon – does it get any better.

Eng 15-1 (6 overs) – COOK BURNT!! Ntini’s first ball is a rank half-tracker that is pulled away to the fence by Cook but he attempts to repeat the trick next ball to a fuller delivery. The ball goes 4.3km up in the air and ends up in Boucher’s hands after a fine, running, diving catch.

Eng  10-0 (4 overs) – Strauss clips Morkel for four off his toes and we’re off and running. Cook does likewise to Nel and the big pantomime villain’s antics have seemed to woken the crowd. They call Edgbaston the Bull Ring – we once asked former Stockport manager Danny Bergara how he thought the weekend game with Rochdale would go. His answer was “It’s going to be a bullfight.” Actually that was his answer to everything. Do you think you will beat Oldham? ‘Weeeeeeeellll it’s going to be a bullfight.’ Does your wife get to use the bath first? ‘Weeeeeeeellll it’s going to be a bullfight’ 

Eng  0-0 (2 overs) – OH MY GOD!! Cook must have some polaroids of Aleem Dar. First ball he is stuck on the crease and trapped plumb in front by Nel but the umpire says not out. It would have smashed over middle and leg halfway up. It certainly pumps up Gunther who is waving and gesturing to the crowd like a demented air traffic controller. anne_helm – You won’t be interested to know that this is the first time in four years that Ntini has not taken the new ball. Are you married to John btw?

WE’RE BACK. Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook stride out to the middle. It’s cloudy but dry in Birmingham after in truth a pretty ugly lunch. Derek Pringle just wouldn’t admit that Clement Attlee was the biggest sex symbol this country has ever produced. Well they didn’t call him Clem the Gem for nothing did they. Anyway back to the action, Morkel with the new ball and the very contentious sightscreen is unchanged.

You are not missing anything – we’ve had some rain which allows everyone to get a pint and rip the proverbial out of Monty. An early lunch has been called so nip out, get yourself a bag of twiglets and play will resume at 1.10pm.

SA 314 (90.2 overs):  COMPLETE IDIOT!! It’s official – Monty Panesar has the athletic ability of Hattie Jacques. Boucher pulls Sidebottom straight down his esophagus at long leg and he shells it. Sidebottom gives him a look like he’s just shot his pet cat and left the head in the bed. BEAUTY!! But in the next over Vaughan shows him how to do it by taking a ripsnorter, running around from deep cover and diving full length to end Boucher’s innings at 40. South Africa lead by 83. 

SA 293-9 (88 overs): GET YER COAT MORNE!! The ‘Burnley Bronco’ Anderson removes Morkel lbw. It pitched just in line with leg-stump and umpire Aleem Dar raises the deadly digit. ZGRUPPP!! Andre Nel lasts four deliveries before Sidebottom demolishes his middle stump with a nice in-ducker and South Africa lead by just 67 runs. CMJ runs over and changes his earlier prediction to seven inches.

SA 288-7 (86 overs): Umpire Steve Davis right on cue with a couple of lbw decisions. Sidebottom is getting the ball to swing back into Boucher but on two occasions his appeal is met with a firm headshake and Hawkeye says going over the top. Still not a full house, the queues outside are akin to those outside a 1982 Moscow bakery. sikka316 says: “For breakfast Freddie earned himself a full fry up, Vaughan on the other had was given a straw and told to drink the fat left over in the pan after.” That’s known as the Rik Waller diet.

SA 287-7 (83 overs): Morne Morkel slashes Flintoff just wide of the diving Jimmy Anderson at backward point. A small child, possibly a ballboy, possibly a toddler who has worked his way through the police cordon, throws the ball back in. The next shot by the big quick is a Stewart Goddard stroke – “stand and deliver” – as he drives superbly straight down the ground. Stephenaanderton “Where are we in the tiddly winks world rankings?????” I don’t know but I know that the Dutch and Belgians have contested the last eight World Championship korfball finals – that’ll impress the girls in the clubs tonight.

SA 268-7 (80 overs): WHERE’S THIRD SLIP? A lifting delivery from Flintoff squares Boucher up and an outside edge flies straight to third slip. Oh damn, Michael Vaughan has got him down at fine leg. Paul Collingwood dives full length to his right like Joe Corrigan on steroids and gets one hand to the ball but can’t hold on. The skipper finally realises he has got an excited bowler and throws him the new cherry which is in fact much harder than a cherry even a Netto one.

SA 264-7 (78 overs): THE ARTIST FORMERLEY KNOWN AS PRINCE!! Ashwell goes and it has only taken 12 balls. Like Georgia Davis when a pork pie is placed just out of her reach, he chases a wide one and gets an edge through to Tim Ambrose. A second wicket for Ryan Sidebottom who gets a great ovation from a crowd who have collectively postponed their first pint of Banks.

SA 256-6 (76 overs): Ian Botham has just squatted down to tell the viewing public that the pitch is a bit dusty and he expects variation in bounce late on. Richardpmjones asks “Is there an atmosphere of expectation in the ground this morning??” Less expectation, more when does the bar open. But there is a decent round of applause as the players come out on to the pitch, followed by the extremely dislikeable Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince who wouldn’t say boo to a goose (or a Cow).

10.50 – We have just asked Christopher Martin Jenkins to rate England’s chances of victory on the width of an average post office elastic band. His answer – eight inches. I like those odds. Remember South Africa lead by 25 runs with four first innings wickets intact.

10.40 – Some early messageboard action from the_kop2003 who asks “What’s de weather like Cowers me bru?” Well like jude_surf’s sheets there is some moisture. We had a storm overnight but it’s dry now although certainly a bit fresher than yesterday and Vic Marks has kindly lent me his reserve Pringle sweater. Some rain is forecast for later but hopefully, like Rik Waller, we manage to avoid the showers.

10.30 – Good news!!! Thankfully Cowers recovered from his world record bid for downing mini Baileys at the Holiday Inn in Tamworth to raid the Yahoo! store cupboard. And we have a competition. Tell me how many runs Kevin Pietersen will score today and you can win a pair of Yahoo! flip flops – the perfect sand accessory for August. Personally we have no time for the British seaside although walking around the seafront at Scarborough and looking at the clientele can only enhance your self esteem what with us having all our teeth and an IQ in three figures.

10.20 – Also in the papers, 33 stone teenager Georgia Davis admits her weight is “partly my fault”. Which is a bit like Charles Manson saying all those murders were “partly my fault”.

10.10 – Mike Selvey has “literally” wet himself in The Guardian after Andrew Flintoff’s spell gave England hope: “For 15 minutes yesterday evening, as the crowd bayed and adrenaline pumped, a day’s cricket that had carried a dull inevitability about it was stripped down to bare-knuckle fighting, a gladiatorial contest between a great batsman and a colossal fast bowler. And at the end it was Andrew Flintoff who almost single-handedly had pulled his side back from the brink to a position from which, if they can draw further strength from his deeds, they may go on to win a match that after the first day had seemed doomed.”

10.00 – FRIENDS, ENEMIES, LOVERS, g_hine – welcome to the third day of the third Test between England and South Africa at Edgbaston. If you left early yesterday you must feel like the guy who sat through the entire back catalogue of Black Lace and then went to the toilet before they played Agadoo.
Friday 1st August…game continues….3rd day of test 3….

Fredalo, Let’s Go!

South Africa 256-6 (75 overs) It’s all got a bit Ken Loach – too dark – and the players have gone off for the day. That was an exciting hour, some wickets for Flintoff and England have a sniff of getting back in this game. In sniff terms – it’s a Michael sized nose rather than a Pete Townshend’s sized jumbo conk – but a sniff nonetheless. Join us at 10am tomorrow when we will adapt our nose analogy throughout the day.

South Africa 255-6 (75 overs) Mark Boucher could have an argument in an empty room. This time he’s got some England fielders to join in his favourite pasttime…he don’t like the sightscreen, he don’t like the light….Vaughan tells him to shut his pie hole and bat. So he does and clips an attempted Flintoff yorker to Cow Corner for an all-run four.

South Africa 239-6 (73 overs) FOUR FOR FREDALO: A few too many adrelaline pills for AB de Villiers who only gets to five before attempting to pull Flintoff into Handsworth but it’s quick and well directed and Sidebottom takes a “oh no, if I drop this I will look like a right goon” catch at fine leg. Flintoff is a national treasur, like The Queen and Myleene Klass.

South Africa 226-5 (69 overs) REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED YORKED!!: No need for Aleem Dar this time as a superb late swinging yorker sends the off-stump flying out of the ground. A superb delivery from a fired-up Flintoff.

South Africa 217-4 (67 overs) SHOCKER!!!!: Freddie bamboozles Kallis for four balls in a row, before trapping him on the toe with a ripsnorting yorker that was absolutely, definitely, positively, heading for middle stump. That was more OUT than Graham Norton. How on earth did he not give that one? Freddie is understandbly flabaghasted. Kallis survives. Lucky, lucky boy.

South Africa 207-4 (65 overs) IT’S ON, KALLIS GETS HIS 50: The players are back on, and no sooner do they get at it, than Kallis eases to a confident half-century. England need some inspiration here. Oh, if only Darren Pattinson were out there. He’d know what to do.

South Africa 205-4 (63 overs) RAIN STOPPED PLAY: The curse of the English summer has struck at Edgbaston, but the good news is we’ll be back into the entertainment at 4.50pm. If the cockles of your heart need further warming it appears Cowers regulars kobus001 and g_hine have grown rather fond of each other. “I can invite you for a proper bbq we can grill some some sausages and burgers in the flames like you used to,” writes kobus001. Ah, what Cowers would do to be a fly on the wall at that festival of meat.

South Africa 205-4 (63 overs) TEA: If temporary cryogenic freezing were an affordable option, the latter part of that session would have been a perfect time to utilise it. To tea they go, with South Africa in a commanding position and only Fredalo looking mildly threatening for England. Back to the performance-related food debate – ianpetermills: “An Ostrich kebab for Anderson…and maybe a glass of Stellenbosch claret.”

South Africa 199-4 (60 overs): If the last six overs were a band they’d be The Feeling – dour, predictable and bereft of excitement. The Kallis-Prince partnership has now reached 64, and looks fairly comfortable. Freddie is chucking down the odd jaffer, but predominantly pushing it wide of off stump to both players. Monty has a wildly optomistic LBW shout turned down. Meanwhile, the rain is gently falling and spectators are reaching for their umbrellas…ellas…ellas…eh…eh…eh.

South Africa 178-4 (50 overs): Prince edges through a vacant third slip off the bowling of Anderson. Much hands-on-hips and ruminating in the press box about gaps and field placings, as if people know what they’re talking about. Next over, with Ambrose stood up to the stumps, Kallis gets an inside edge to a Collingwood delivery…the ball ricochets off the keeper’s gloves before he has time to react.

South Africa 162-4 (47 overs): happy_camp3r asks whether Cowers is being “a little one-sided”. Cowers takes that as an insult. That would imply that Cowers cares one way or the other who wins this match, when the truth is that he couldn’t give a hoot. In fact, Cowers cares so little, he just fell asleep in the middle of typing this unnecessarily long-winded and rather obtuse comment. The truth is, of course, that England batted like a team of Scotsmen; South Africa bowled with discipline. This morning, England bowled like second-rate circus-performers; South Africa have batted sensibly and with restraint. But if Cowers wrote merely that…well, it wouldn’t be very interesting, would it?

South Africa 158-4 (46 overs): The players are taking drinks after an hour or so of the afternoon session. Another couple of wickets before tea, and England will feel reasonably content. Not happy, but content

South Africa 147-4 (44 overs): A woman in the crowd is holding up a sign saying: BRING BROAD BACK. She has a wide face and big lips. Looks a bit like the Joker in the new Batman film.

South Africa 137-4 (41 overs): Flintoff is still roaring in. Vaughan must be tempted to keep him going, to let him pound himself in to the ground. He’s bowled 14 overs already this innings. Prince is the new batsman. He’s a little scrapper. If he were an animal, he’d be an aardwolf. Look it up. Tell me I’m wrong.

South Africa 135-4 (39 overs) COUNT HIS WICKETS! 200 UP FOR FREDDIE! McKenzie looks to be getting the measure of Flintoff when he works him for successive fours…but the bowler roars back to trap him LBW in front of off, attempting to whip again through the leg-side. The wicket is Flintoff’s 200th in Test cricket; he roars like a bear with toothache.

South Africa 126-3 (38 overs): Kallis is the new batsman. Worryingly for England, he is due some runs. About 342 of them.

South Africa 117-3 (37 overs): GREAT WORK FROM ANDERSON! EAT HIS DIVE! Anderson ducks one in to Amla; the batsman gets an inside edge on to his pad, attempting to work it away on the leg-side…the ball loops up towards short-cover, where the bowler takes a wonderful running, diving catch!

South Africa 111-2 (36 overs): SALT IN HIS WOUNDS! HIS GAPING, WEEPING WOUNDS! Collingwood puts down a low chance at slip off the bowling of Flintoff. Good job they’re mates, because Flintoff is absolutely fuming.

South Africa 111-2 (34 overs): Three overs back after lunch. South Africa have got a few runs. We aint got any wickets.

South Africa 104-2 (31 overs) LUNCH: McKenzie reaches his half-century with a push for three through cover. South Africa’s morning, without a doubt. England wasted the opportunity to put the batsmen under pressure with a swinging ball, bowling much too wide. Consequently, it took them 90 minutes to get rid of nightwatchman Harris, their only wicket this morning.

South Africa 94-2 (28 overs): SIDEBOTTOM DOES IT! HARRIS EDGES, COOK CATCHES! Sidebottom doesn’t even bother celebrating as Harris edges him to Cook at third slip. Well, why would you celebrate? There is no need. It was obvious, wasn’t it? Sidebottom is much too good for Harris. It only took him 90 minutes to get rid of him.

South Africa 94-1 (27 overs): Harris flicks Sidebottom off his legs, the ball landing just short of Bell at short mid-wicket. Sidebottom smiles smugly at the batsman, as if to say “Ha! That’s what happens. You see, I am a world-class bowler, and what tends to happen when I bowl to tail-enders is that I get them out. Because I am a fantastic bowler. Much, much too good for a tailender like you. I am the mighty Ryan Sidebottom. Even opening batsmen struggle against my skills. I pity you. You are nothing to me.”

South Africa 86-1 (25 overs): How has Harris managed to make 18 runs, and survive 43 balls, against a much-lauded seam attack in perfect swinging conditions? If you asked that question, you’d be well within your rights to expect an honest answer. The honest answer is, because Flintoff, Sidebottom and Anderson in particular, have bowled like they have had their brains removed overnight. Which, I’m told, does happen in some city-centre Birmingham hotels.

South Africa 85-1 (23 overs): Frustration for England; Harris drives to Sidebottom, gets a thick outside-edge, the ball flies between third slip and gully and runs down for four. Next over, Anderson drops a little short, McKenzie cuts off the back foot through backwards point. Lots of “Oooohs” and “Aaahs” from the slip cordon, primarily made up of underperforming batsmen who seem to believe that making encouraging noises in the field every now and again will justify their place in the side.

South Africa 75-1 (21 overs): Anderson is mixing it up, trying some induckers and outduckers; Harris gets a bit of pad on a vicious one that comes back into him, the ball whizzing past Ambrose for four leg-byes. A couple of balls later, a repeat. 19 leg-byes so far. Which is more than double what Vaughan, Pietersen and Collingwood made combined.

South Africa 66-1 (19 overs): That one carried: McKenzie cuts a short, wide one from Anderson straight through Collingwood. No great surprise there, though: Collingwood batted like the invisible man, why should he be any different in the field? Have you ever seen the film, Memoirs of an Invsisible Man? Chevy Chase? Good film. Not as good as National Lampoon’s European Vacation.

South Africa 59-1 (18 overs): EDGE! CATCH IT! GOT HIM! HAS HE? NOT SURE! LET’S GO TO THE THIRD UMPIRE? OKAY! McKenzie edges from Flintoff…Strauss takes the ball low at second slip…England celebrate…Strauss looks a bit sheepish…the replays aren’t hugely conclusive, although they do suggest the ball might have just bounced in. Not out. Huge anti-climax.

South Africa 54-1 (17 overs): Anderson is struggling to control the swing a little. So he digs one in short…and McKenzie rocks back and pulls through mid-wicket for four. “Catch it,” someone in the slips shouts to Panesar at mid-on…Panesar looks confused, as if he has just been woken up. Remember when Anderson first burst onto the international scene and he had red hair? That looked good, didn’t it? Really good, really cool. Made him look really hot; a bit edgy, a bit “street”. Like he had fought his way up from the meanstreets of Harlem, and not Burnley.

South Africa 51-1 (14 overs): Flintoff completes his second over of the day; Harris, the nightwatchman, fends him off like a nine-year-old girl poking a pencil at a spider that has trapped her in the bathroom doorway. Covers are off. I repeat, the covers are off. Meanwhile, in the Sky studio, Shaun Pollock is banging on about his mate Kallis, something about it being “a real luxury to have him around.” Like a dishwasher, or an electric can-opener. The rain has been quite hard, but appears to have eased. It’s going to be “one of those days,” Cowers believes. You know, on-and-off more than Ross and Rachel. The covers are being removed. the_kop2003 – are you comparing Vaughan or Anderson to Joey Barton? Either way, it’s a bit harsh.

South Africa 51-1 (13 overs) Two boundaries in Sidebottom’s first over; one, flicked off McKenzie’s pad down to fine-leg, the second ran down to third man. The ball is swinging, without doubt. A slightly ominous sign as the groundstaff emerge mysteriously from the dank underground cave they inhabit…before the rain comes and play is suspended.

South Africa 38-1 (12 overs): Flintoff fires down the first over of the day. A bit of seam and swing in the air, aided by the heavy cloud-cover. Flintoff is going to have a lot of overs today, I reckon. The television cameras showed him giving a pep-talk to an England huddle before play began. I’d like to say it looked “rousing” but there was a lot of shoulder-shrugging going on. Less Churchillian, more Iain Duncan-Smith-ian.

11.00: Play will begin at 11.15am. Ian Botham is down there, taking a close look at the pitch. He has a massive head. Too big for his body. He gets down and prods the ground. “Still looks a very good surface…” we’re told. His trousers look very strained around the groin area as he crouches down; hope he has a reinforced gusset.

10.48: Aah, yes. I forgot to tell you. The covers are on at Egdbaston. We’re going to have a delayed start. There was some rain earlier this morning and the groundstaff are endeavouring to dry things out. Lots of athletic-looking men of middle-age, weathered faces and hairy legs protruding from slightly-too-short shorts, wandering round the outfield with brooms and brushes and ropes.

10.35 – There’s no denying it; yesterday’s Cowers was a real grumpy-bump. Something to do with the time of the month. And, you know what readers? Cowers liked it. Being downright mean and dirty and heartless – it felt good, you know? Liberating. So expect more of the same, because Cowers has realised something. Cowers has had an epiphany. Being nice and pleasant and friendly and “You know what? Michael Vaughan deserves his place in the side for his captaincy alone…” and “Oooh, that’s a nice dress. Where d’ya get it from?” and “Oh, your hair looks nice: what shampoo do you use?” – well, all that bull gets you nowhere in life. Just makes you look like a girl.

Vaughan is crap at the moment; your dress makes you look like a prossie; and your hair looks like it’s been cut by a barely-trained chimp.

10.26 – The problem is that they are just too many people to blame for yesterday’s debacle: chairman of selectors Geoff Miller, one-time King of Spain Ashley Giles, Captain (Mainwaring) Vaughan, Sad Sack Collingwood, couldn’t-score-on-a Middlesbrough-sink-estate Ambrose. There’s just too many to choose from. Cowers needs a definitive fall guy; one guy we can bully into a corner before beating relentlessly and remorselessly with the big blame stick. Where’s Darren Pattinson when you need him?

10.08 – Here’s a question; who is the more loathsome bowler: Andre Nel or Ryan Sidebottom? Sidebottom’s huffing and puffing at Monty Panesar’s efforts in the field at the end of play yesterday were downright embarassing; like a child, stomping around Toys ‘R’ Us, screaming and wailing and tugging at his mum’s mini-skirt because she won’t buy him a petrol-driven go-kart.

09.58 – Cowers always believed g_hine to be a respectable man of high morals…and here he is talking about digging up holes in the Edgbaston strip? Disgusting behaviour. Quite a frightful business.

09.37 – Some early messageboard action. the_kop2003 predicts a dropped catch from Ambrose. That would necessitate someone bowling well enough to take the edge, so I think we can rule that out for a couple of hours.

09.17 – Stephen Brenkley, in the Guardian, accuses England of bullying the speccie kids: “In the six series since Vaughan came back as captain, England have already lost series against India and Sri Lanka and are well behind in this one against South Africa. They have beaten West Indies and, twice, New Zealand. This is the equivalent of kicking sand in the face of the seven stone weaklings and then being buried up to your neck in the stuff when the bigger boys arrive.”

09.10 – England have been getting plenty of stick in the newspapers this morning. Rightly so, too: yesterday was absolutely abject. A real stinker. Here’s what former England skipper Mike Atherton had to say in The Times: “There were single-figure scores for two people – Michael Vaughan and Collingwood – who needed the runs the most. Collingwood’s innings was the most tortuous of all, a 40-minute, 22-ball affair that was agonising to watch. Here was a man fighting for his very survival as a Test match player, taunted by the knowledge that his place owed as much to past glories and to his captain’s assertion that he is a “good bloke”.”

And Simon Briggs in the Guardian: “If England lose the series here, as must now be a distinct possibility, they will at least have a free hand when it comes to picking the side for the Oval. A few orthodoxies may have to be challenged. And the starting point should be to restore Flintoff to his rightful place at No6. Time in the middle has always been the key to the big man’s batting: when he first comes back, he seems ungainly and uncoordinated, as if struggling to balance his gargantuan frame. But with a couple of decent innings behind him, his sheer size becomes an advantage. The bat starts to look like a toothpick in his hands, and the stumps seem dauntingly small.”

09.00 – Good morning, lovers of leather, devotees of the willow. Welcome to the second day of the third Test between England and South Africa; skies are relatively bright over Edgbaston at the moment, and the forecast suggests we should get another full day’s play. Doesn’t that just send a shiver of excitment down your spine?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/cricket/cow-corner/article/4426/

Cow’s ava..hehe..

Anyone interested in following Australia’s sport forum?

http://forum.sportal.com.au/yaf_postst28847p4_england-v-south-africa-3rd-test.aspx

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Mooi! Great! Cricket

Image: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/080714/2/139gr.html
England foiled in victory bid
Eurosport – Mon, 14 Jul 17:41:00 2008

South Africa frustrated England’s attempts to force a result on the final day of the first Test at Lord’s with more stubborn defence on a somnolent pitch to earn a draw. Read the entire article here:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/14072008/58/england-foiled-victory-bid.html

Mooi man! Volgende een seker ‘n wen! Great South Africa…we want victory!

I love cricket! We used to play it a lot on the farm during holidays when there were big family gatherings….that’s during December hols…I had one uncle that was really good at cricket and in his younger days he played really well, I think he played for a province, I will have to make sure about that one again…but he was really good, he could hit a ball with a bat that you would have to ask Noah if he’d seen it!
UPDATE …2nd Test South Africa vs England

Image: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
England’s Kevin Pietersen (actually…South Africa’s Kevin Pietersen playing for England….hehehe) congratulates South Africa’s Graeme Smith after the match Cricket – npower Second Test – Day Four – England v South Africa – Headingley — South Africa beat England with 10 wickets on Monday.

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Wolf and Jackal Stories

T O Honiball

Thomas Ochse Honiball was born on 7 December 1905 in Cradock. He attended school in Stellenbosch and did drawings for the school magazine. He studied architecture at the University of Cape Town (until 1926). In 1927 he continued to study commercial art in Chicago, where he was introduced to American cartoons. On his return to Cape Town in 1930 he worked in advertising and later as freelance caricaturist and cartoonist. From 1936 he worked for Nasionale Pers newspapers and in 1941 took over from DC Boonzaier as political caricaturist.

T.O. Honiball married Iona Boesen in 1934. They had four children.
Iona died in 1971. Honiball was married to Essie de Villiers – Dreyer in 1973. (Essie Honiball)
He retired in 1974 and held his first one man exhibition in Pretoria in the same year.
He continued to sketch political caricatures until 1978.

In 1977 he donated his Honiballiana – collections to Stellenbosch University and the National Library Museum (NALN – Nasionale Afrikaanse Letterkundige Museum en Navorsingssentrum) in Bloemfontein. In 1985 he bestowed his collection of political caricatures to the Nasionale Pers.
1986: Foundation of TO Honiball-Promosies
T.O. Honiball died on 22 Februarie 1990 in Montagu.
Source: HERE…and read on WIKIPEDIA more about him.

Image: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/78/247418341_9131adefc8.jpg?v=0

English readers: There’s an English story at the end of this post for you….! Do enjoy!

On this next link you can read about Afrikaans stories and there are some PDF’s to download about Stories/poems – in Afrikaans, mostly for use by teachers or parents doing homeschooling. The link will open in a new window.

https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/storietyd-storytime/

Afrikaans Children’s stories are loaded with stories written about Wolf and Jackal. You can say It’s part of our culture…and almost our history. If you’re an Afrikaans speaking child and you don’t know about Wolf and Jackal-stories – written by PW Grobbelaar, you definitely have a H-U-G-E gap in your upbringing…and your culture… I can’t even think that it would happen, only if you’re now living in another country, yes, that’s possible…but then it’s your parents’ fault if you don’t know about these stories! In these stories, Jackal always plays the joke on Wolf….. We have the most wonderful stories about Wolf and Jackal and the most wonderful people to bring these stories alive to us and our children. One such a person was Dana Niehaus. Sadly, he passed away more than ten years ago…and we’re lucky to have his son, Danie! Danie is a singer and he’s got that wonderful personality his dad had too.  I’ve got a cd with some of these Wolf and Jackal stories where his dad tells those stories and would like to upload one favourite here later today. I just LOVE his way of retelling these stories. I used these stories with my grade 3 children in listening skills activities and they used to laugh more than they’d listen, so we all listened the story out first, laughed ourselves to bits and then the second time we sat with straight faces…- even though it was a bit hard – to listen to the story again…I’ve found a couple of stories on the internet…the source is at the bottom of this post…do enjoy them on the audio files too… luckily these stories are also in many other languages available! and they always have the most wonderful illustrated images and TO Honiball was one of the best to illustrate these books……...ok…now in Afrikaans…Ek hoop julle geniet hierdie stories en ek het gewonder, is daar enige Afrikaanssprekendes in die buiteland wat hulle tuis Afrikaans leer…ek sal graag van jou wil hoor as jy hier lees en jy een van hulle is…
Hier is een van Dana Niehaus se vertellings : Jakkals wil mos jok…van ‘n Bollie-plaat. Gepraat van “Bollie”…dis so jammer dat Huisgenoot die Bollie verander het na Bobo!! waar gaan die lewe heen!! ons arme kinders het net lief geword vir Bollie…en nou moet ons hoor dat Bollie nie meer bestaan nie! Bollie was so DEEL van ons “kultuur“…!! Further down in this post you will find more audio stories.

Jakkals en Wolf is honger

Audio file: Jakkals vertrou sy eie vrede nie

Jakkals vertrou sy eie vrede nie…
Die Mooiste Afrikaanse Sprokies
uitgesoek en oorvertel deur
PIETER W. GROBBELAAR

JAKKALS VERTROU SY EIE VREDE NIE
Op ‘n oggend snuffel Jakkals tussen ‘n klompie bome rond, toe hy Hoenderhaan op ‘n hoë tak gewaar.
“Môre, my liewe Haan,” groet hy vriendelik.
“Môre, Jakkals,” groet Haan. “En waar stap jy dié tyd van die oggend nog rond?”
“Ek soek ‘n bietjie ordentlike geselskap,” sê Jakkals vinnig. “Maar dis nie lekker om so kop in die lug te staan en praat nie. Kom sit liewers hier by my.”
“O nee,” antwoord Hoenderhaan. “Ek ken jou streke. As ek naby jou kom, eet jy my op.”
“Nog nooit nie!” roep Jakkals uit. “Het jy dan nie gehoor nie? Daar is vrede in Afrika onder al die nasies.”
“Koe-ke-le-koe!” lag Haan.
“Hoekom lag jy?” vra Jakkals.
“Nee, ek lag sommer vir al jou stories,” antwoord Haan. “En dan lag ek vir my eie storie ook.”
“Wat se storie is dit?” vra Jakkals.
“Gisteraand het Wildehond my bekruip,” vertel Haan. Toe moes ek die bome in vlug. Nou is Boer met sy honde op pad om my te soek. Ek kan hulle al sien aankom.”
“Nou ja, dan groet ek maar eers,” sê Jakkals skielik haastig.
“Hoekom wil jy al loop Jakkals?” vra Haan. “Ons gesels nou eers lekker. Jy is tog seker nie bang vir die honde nie. Daar is mos vrede in Afrika.”
“O ja,”‘ antwoord Jakkals, “maar die vraag is of die onnosele honde daarvan weet.” En hy draf vinnig weg.

Sop

Die Mooiste Afrikaanse Sprokies
uitgesoek en oorvertel deur
PIETER W. GROBBELAAR

Die Boesmans het die dierewêreld fyn deurgekyk. Daarom is Leeu vir hulle die sterke, Wolf soos Hiëna dikwels genoem word ‘n wreedaard, en Jakkals ‘n lafhartige bedelaar.

Wolf het ‘n ver pad geloop om by sy broer te gaan kuier. Nou is hy honger en dors. In die veld kry hy Leeu wat aan ‘n sebra lê en eet. ‘n Entjie weg sit Jakkals vir ‘n bietjie oorskiet en wag.

“Naand, Leeu,” sê Wolf vriendelik.

“Mmm,” sê Leeu, en hy kraak ‘n murgbeen oop.

Wolf gaan op sy hurke sit. “Hoe lyk dit, nooi jy my dan nie om ‘n stukkie saam te eet nie?”

“Ja, ja!” sê Jakkals gretig.

“Bly stil!” sê Wolf, en Jakkals gee ‘n paar tree pad.

“Nee,” sê Leeu, en hy skeur aan die boud se sagte vleis.

“Net so ‘n bietjie soppies om op te lek,” vra Wolf. “Ek is baie dors.”

“Ek lek my eie sop,” sê Leeu.

“Net ‘n ou murgbeentjie om af te eet,” soebat Wolf.

“Dè, vat dan!” sê Leeu, en hy gooi vir Wolf die been wat hy nou net self droog gesuig het.

“En wat van my, Leeu ? ” vra Jakkals met ‘n huilstem.

“Trap!” sê Leeu, en hy mik met sy voorvoet.

Jakkals verskuif nog ‘n entjie verder weg.

Wolf vat die been, en hy kou daaraan asof hy tog te lekker kou, en
hy suig daaraan asof daar baie te suig is. Toe staan hy op. “Baie dankie, Leeu,” sê hy. “Ek sal sulke vriendelikheid nie vergeet nie. Kom eet gerus môreaand ‘n bietjie sop by my.

“Dankie, ja,” sê Leeu, en hy lek al klaar sy lippe af, want hy weet Wolf se maats is dood as dit by sop kook kom.

“Dankie, ja!” sê Jakkals asof Wolf hom ook genooi het, en hy gaan lek die droë been af wat Wolf laat agterbly het.

Agter die bultjie kom Wolf op ‘n volstruis af. Dis net vere en voete, en toe begin Wolf weglê. Die stuk wat oorbly, sleep hy saam huis toe. “Eet julle maar die vleis, ” sê hy vir sy vrou en kinders. “Laat bly net die bene vir my.”

Die volgende dag sit Wolf twee potte op die vuur vir die volstruissop. Die een pot haal hy betyds af om koud te word, maar die ander pot hou hy kookwarm.

Dis ook nie te lank nie, of hier kom Leeu aan met Jakkals op sy spoor. “Hoe lyk dit met daardie sop waarvan jy gepraat het, Wolf?” vra Leeu.

“Ja, hoe lyk dit met die sop?” vra Jakkals.

“Kom sit maar hier in die ry,” sê Wolf, en hy beduie waar sy vrou en kinders al wag.

Vrou Wolf hou haar mond oop, en Wolf gooi in, maar dis van die koue pot s’n. So gaan hy van kind tot kind, en hulle drink tog te lekker. Maar toe hy by Leeu en Jakkals kom, skep hy twee bekers van die vuurwarm sop uit.

“Maak wyd oop!” sê hy, en hulle maak so.

Toe gooi hy.

Leeu wil nog sluk, toe spu hy al dat die sop met so ‘n wye boog staan. “Sjoe, vriend Wolf,” sê hy kortasem, “maar jou sop is vandag darem kwaai.”

“Dis van ‘n volstruis se bene,” sê Wolf. “Dié voël kan mos so kwaai skop. Wil jy nog ‘n bietjie hê?”

“Nee, dankie,” sê Leeu, “ek dink ek loop maar weer.”

En Jakkals? Hy kan nie insluk nie, want dis te warm. En hy kan nie uitspu nie, want hy is te bang vir Wolf. Daarom sit hy so met die trane wat oor sy wange loop. Maar toe Leeu wegdraf, draf hy saam, en hy maak sy mond agter ‘n bossie leeg. En nou nog as Jakkals so in die maanskyn wag dat Leeu klaar moet eet, en hy dink aan daardie sop, dan begin hy sommer van nuuts af huil.

Luister maar mooi.

“Kwaai sop!” tjank Jakkals. “Volstruissop! Volstruissop met ‘n skop!”

Vat hom Jakkals!

Die Mooiste Afrikaanse Sprokies
uitgesoek en oorvertel deur
PIETER W. GROBBELAAR

VAT HOM, JAKKALS!
Deur hul aanraking met mekaar, het die sprokies van die verskillende rasse so vermeng dat ‘n mens soms nie weet waar die Boesman storie ophou en die Hottentot invloed begin nie om van die invloed van wit en swart mense nie eens te praat nie. Maar die belangrikste bly die verhaal self.
i. Ryperd
Jakkals is kwaad vir Hasie, want hy het stories by vrou Jakkals gaan aandra, en nou het sy haar man die huis belet. Maar Hasie het baie planne. Op ‘n dag hoor hy Jakkals suutjies in die paadjie draf. Toe gaan lê hy in die bossies en kreun.
“Ha! nou het ek jou, Haas,” sê Jakkals, en hy wil net spring, maar Hasie antwoord met ‘n swak stem: “Vat my maar, Jakkals. Ek is te siek om te vlug. Tel my op jou rug, dan dra jy my huis toe.”
En Jakkals dink dis glad nie so ‘n slegte plan nie. Nou sal sy vrou sommer weer vir hom goed word as hy met ‘n lekker stuk haasvleis daar aankom. Jakkals laat loop in die paadjie af, en Hasie moet net klou.
Jakkals, Jakkals!” roep hy later, “Die vlieë pla baie. Pluk tog vir my ‘n taaibostakkie dat ek hulle kan wegjaag.”
“Ai, jy is lastig,” sê Jakkals, en hy gaan pluk maar.
Toe hulle nog van ver af na Jakkals se huis toe aankom, staan sy vrou al op die stoep om te kyk wat haar man hier kom soek. “Vrou, vrou!” roep Jakkals. “Ek het vir jou ‘n lekker vet haas gebring.”
Maar kyk, nou sit Hasie regop, en die pyne is skielik uit sy lyf, en die taaibostak is ‘n lat. “Vrou, vrou!” koggel hy Jakkals. “Ek het vir jou ‘n lekker vet jakkals gebring!” En die lat gesels oor Jakkals se blaaie, en Jakkals bokspring en galop. Toe wip Hasie van sy rug af en verdwyn lag lag in die bossies.
“Nee, so ‘n treurige man wil ek nie hê nie,” sê vrou Jakkals. “Waar het jy al van ‘n jakkals gehoor wat hom deur ‘n haas laat ry? Maak dat jy wegkom hier voor my oë!”

ii. Die Byekerk
Hasie hardloop na die berg se kant toe, en daar sien hy ’n bynes diep in ‘n klipskeur. “Ai!” sê Hasie:
“Lekker is lekker,
en goed is goed –
en die beste lekker
is heuningsoet!”
En Hasie druk sy kop diep in die skeur om die nes by te kom, maar hy het nie geweet dat Jakkals al weer spoorsny nie. Hy sit nog so, toe Jakkals hom aan die hakskeen gryp. “Ha! nou het ek jou, Haas,” sê Jakkals, en hy wil hom sommer sy tande laat proe.
Maar Hasie het klaar geskrik en ver gedink. “Sjuut, Jakkals,” sê hy. “Kan jy nie hoor my vriende hou kerk nie?”
“Waar?” vra Jakkals nuuskierig.
“Hier in die klipskeur,” sê Hasie. “Ai, hulle sing tog te pragtig!”
“Laat ek hoor, sê Jakkals, en hy druk sommer in. Dan trek hy sy kop weer uit en sê: “Nee wat, hulle kan nie sing nie. Dis net brom brom brom, al op dieselfde wysie.”
“Hulle is seker moeg,” sê Hasie. “Steek ‘n bietjie ‘n stok daar by die voordeur in dat hulle weet ons is hier. Dan moet jy hoor.”
En Jakkals gryp ‘n stok, en hy werskaf in die klipskeur rond, en toe druk hy sy kop in om goed te luister.
Nee kyk, dit was ‘n sonde. Die bye mors met Jakkals; hulle verniel hom; hulle steek hom byna dood. Hy spring om en hardloop, maar die bye het nie tyd nie. Dis net zoem tjiek! “Eina!” Zoem tjiek! Zoem tjiek! Zoem tjiek! “Eina! Eina! Eina!”
Hasie lê soos hy lag. Hy rol soos hy lag. Hy maak hom eintlik seer. Nee, Jakkals sal hom nie gou weer pla nie.

iii. Vat Hom, Jakkals!
Maar Hasie is glad te gerus. Sing sing in die paadjie. Wirts warts om die bossies. Kyk nie waar hy loop nie; trap nie waar hy kyk nie. Woep! daar sit hy. Jakkals het voëlent aan ‘n stomp gesmeer en dit in die paadjie neergesit. Hasie spook, maar hy sit al hoe vaster. Hy ruk en pluk en skree.
Jakkals kom tussen die bossies uit. “Ha! nou het ek jou, Haas!” sê hy. Sy lippe is nog altyd skeef geswel van die bysteke sodat dit lyk asof hy nie kan ophou lag nie.
Hasie word stil. Ja, jy het my, Jakkals,” sê hy. “Nou kan jy my maar opeet. Dis net jammer om so dorstig te sterwe. Ek was juis op pad rivier toe.”
“Nee, ons kan ‘n bietjie gaan drink,” sê Jakkals, wat hom heeltemal droëtong gehardloop het om die strik vir Hasie reg te kry. Hy pluk Hasie los van die voëllym af, gooi hom oor sy skouer en stap af na die drinkplek toe.
Ai, hoe stil en blink is die water nie. Jakkals laat sy kop sak om te drink. Maar kyk die ongeskik! Hierdie ander jakkals druk sommer sy snoet tussenin. “Gee pad!” brom Jakkals.
“Wat is dit nou, Jakkals?” vra Hasie agter sy skouer.
“Kyk self,” sê Jakkals, en hy sit hom neer. En: “Staan soontoe!” sê hy vir die ander jakkals wat hom al weer beskou.
Hasie sien dadelik dat Jakkals met sy eie weerkaatsing baklei, maar hy sê niks nie.
“Loop weg hier!” sê Jakkals vir die derde maal, en hy wys tande, maar die waterjakkals wys terug.
“Moenie so met jou laat speel nie!” roep Hasie. “Kyk hoe staan daardie ander dier se mond soos hy jou uitlag. Vat hom, Jakkals!”
Toe Jakkals gryp, gryp die ander jakkals ook. Toe Jakkals duik, is hulle doems! al twee binne in die water. Toe Jakkals verdwyn, is alles weg.
“Ha ha ha!” lag Hasie:
“Kwaai is kwaai,
en kwaai se voet:
ou Jakkals soek
sy eie bloed!”
En toe Jakkals hangstert uit die water klim, sing Hasie al ver in die paadjie af.

Audio file: Vat hom Jakkals!

Antjie Somers

Die Mooiste Afrikaanse Sprokies
uitgesoek en oorvertel deur
PIETER W. GROBBELAAR

ANTJIE SOMERS
As paaiboelie het Antjie Somers geen gelyke in Afrikaans nie. “Oppas vir Antjie Somers. Hy sal jou in sy groot sak stop!” is ‘n dreigement wat baie geslagte kinders soet gehou het. “Hy“, ja, want Antjie Somers was natuurlik eintlik ‘n man. Hier volg een van die talle maniere waarop die verhaal vertel word.
Andries Somers was ‘n voorman onder die Strand se vissers. Wie kon soos hy ‘n treknet vasvat? Wie ‘n spaan met hom laat sak? Nee, niemand nie. En dapper! Waar iemand in gevaar gekom het, was Andries Somers eerste by. Nes ’n see-eend kon hy swem, en talle drenkelinge het hy land toe gebring as die ander al lankal moedverlore was.
Maar afguns is daar altyd, en skoorsoek is g’n kuns nie. Eendag op die strand pak ‘n klomp vissers hom. Andries laat nie met hom speel nie. Hulle kantel voor sy vuiste. Maar een bly te stil lê waar sy kop ‘n klip gevang het. Andries moet vlug, anders hang die mense hom dalk op. Hy kry ‘n sisrok van sy suster. Hy bind ‘n kopdoek om. Hy haak ‘n mandjie oor sy arm. Toe kies hy koers, diep na die binneland.
Op ‘n plaas agter die berge gaan verhuur hy hom. En hy werk weer soos net hy kan. Van die voordag staan hy bak tot dit laat word in die aand. Wingerd spit of pars of mis ry maak nie saak wat hulle doen nie. Andries Somers word die voorman op die plaas.
Maar die afguns het ore en ‘n storie baie tonge, en voor lank skinder die mense kliphard onder mekaar.
“Vertel ons,Andries, van die sisrok wat jy in jou huis wegbêre,” por die ene.
“En die kopdoek, Andries Somers ? Of is jou naam dalk eintlik Antjie?” pla ‘n ander.
“Antjie Somers! Antjie Somers!” koggel hulle.
Andries Somers laat sy kop sak, en hy maak of hy nie hoor nie, want naderhand kom daar weer nuwe rusie. Maar die derde dag toe kan hy hul geterg nie meer verduur nie. Daardie aand pak hy sy bondel, en hy maak dat hy daar wegkom.
Nooit weer keer Andries terug nie. Nêrens slaan sy spoor weer uit nie. Hy het soos ‘n gees verdwyn.
Maar al meer vertel die kinders wat saans teen die berg gaan hout soek van ‘n ou vrou wat hulle verjaag.
“Sy het ‘n rooi kopdoek,” sê een kind.
“Sy het ‘n sisrok met groot strepe.”
“Sy het ‘n lang mes.”
“En ‘n mandjie.”
“En ‘n streepsak oor haar skouer.”
“Sy wil ons vang en in haar sak prop!” kerm hulle.
En die grootmense skud kop. “Dit is daardie Antjie Somers,” sê hulle onder mekaar.
Andries Somers raak vergete: dapper Andries, flukse Andries, Andries wat altyd kon voorvat. Maar een storie word al luider en geslagte lank herhaal: “Antjie Somers! Antjie Somers, Antjie Somers gaan jou vang!”

Audio file: Antjie Somers

Source: http://www.logoslibrary.eu/pls/wordtc/new_wordtheque.w6_start.doc?code=196&lang=af
This next story….comes from this site…:
http://students.ou.edu/F/Christine.R.Frederiksen-1/Mythology%20Story%20Two.html

Once upon a time there was a Wolf and a Jackal walking down the road that led to town. As they were walking, they found a wagon on the side of the road. The Jackal and the Wolf decided to see what was in the barrels that were on the wagon. They couldn’t believe their eyes! It was butter.
So the Wolf and the Jackal sat there for a moment just looking at their discovery. They couldn’t figure out how to get those big barrels off the wagon and take them home. They talked about it and decided that the Wolf would go to the front of the wagon and play dead. Then when the farmer loaded his body in the wagon and drove off, he would quickly roll one of the barrels off the wagon. The Jackal would go hide in the tall grass and wait.
The farmer came back and saw the Wolf lying on the ground in front of the wagon. He took his donkey whip and whipped the Wolf a couple times to make sure that he was “dead”. He then picked up the Wolf and put him in the wagon.
(Their plan was really working. I bet that whip really hurt the wolf. Sometimes when people are naughty they get spankings. I one time got spanked with some bamboo. I will never be naughty again).
When the farmer started driving away, the Wolf pushed the barrel off the wagon and up ran the Jackal. He took the barrel to the side of the road. A few minutes later, the Wolf jumped off the wagon and made his way back to the barrel and the Jackal. The wolf couldn’t wait to dig into the butter. He was so hungry, but the Jackal insisted that they wait. He told that Wolf that fresh butter will make you die if you eat it. He told him that they would have to let it get ripe. The Wolf was so disappointed. They then made their way back home, excited about what they had found.
Well a few days later the wolf couldn’t keep his mind off the barrel of butter, so he ran to the Jackals house and asked, “is the butter was ripe yet?” The Jackal replied, “Umm, to tell you the truth, Wolf, my wife just had a baby. We named him Good Start. I am more worried about getting him baptized than I am about the butter. Why don’t you come back by in a couple of days and then we will check on the butter.” The wolf agreed and went on his way.
(Did you know that the Jackal was really in his house eating all the butter? His wife really didn’t have a baby).
A few days later the Wolf ran to the Jackal’s house. He was pounding on the door. The Jackal came running to see who it was. “Oh, Wolf, you scared me to death. I thought I was being robbed,” said the Jackal.
The Wolf replied, “I want to go check on the butter and I want you to come!” The Jackal snarled back, “Well, I have some bad news. My wife just gave birth to two more sons, so I am off to get them baptized. We named then First Hoop and Bottom of the Barrel.” The Wolf was even more mad and he was more hungry for the butter. The Jackal promised that tomorrow they could go get the butter.
That night the Wolf couldn’t sleep because he was so excited. The Jackal had been waiting for him when he got there. They ran to the barrel only to find that the butter was gone. The Jackal blamed the Wolf and the Wolf blamed the Jackal for eating all the butter and not sharing. They began to fight. The Wolf was much bigger than the Jackal and could win the fight easily. The Jackal screamed to stop the fight. He made a suggestion about how they could find out who ate the butter. He said, “We will both go lie on those rocks and take a nap. The sun will make us warm and we will sweat out the butter. When we awake from the nap we will see who has butter on him.” The Wolf that this was a great plan because he knew he hadn’t eaten any of the butter.
(Did you know that you really can’t sweat out butter?).
Well, the Jackal really didn’t sleep. He just lay there waiting for the Wolf to go to bed. He then ran over to put the rest of the butter on the Wolf’s body. A few minutes later the Wolf woke up and looked at the Jackal. They looked at each other and the Wolf had butter everywhere. The Wolf knew that he really hadn’t eaten any butter, but the Jackal insisted that he had. The melting butter around his mouth proved it. The Jackal was so mad they didn’t speak for days….The End.

Tyl Uilspieël Storie

Uilspieёl neem die dorp op horings

Op ‘n dag sê Tyl vir sy ma: “Ek gaan op ‘n tou loop soos hulle in die sirkus doen.”Wat makeer jou?” vra sy ma, verskrik .“Jy sal afval en jou nek breek.”

“Nee Ma, ek oefen lank reeds in die geheim op ons solder om op ‘n tou te loop. As ek dan ook boonop soos ‘n hanswors aantrek, en grappies maak, sal ek twee keer soveel geld maak.”

“En as jy afval?” vra sy ma benoud.

“Toemaar Ma, ek sal nie val nie, vir die veiligheid sal ons ‘n matras onder sit. Ek het reeds vir my maats belowe om môre vir hulle ‘n vertoning te lewer. Ek gaan ‘n tou bokant ons venster vasmaak, en dan weer oorkant die straat aan die bure se huis.”

“Ag Tyl, waarom is jy tog so stout?” sug sy ma, Maar hy steur hom nie aan haar nie. Hy het die tou gespan en daarop geklim.

As hy maar geweet het van die plan wat die bure in die mou gevoer het, het Tyl dit sekerlik nooit gewaag nie. Omdat hulle vir hom kwaad was oor die poets wat hy hulle vroeër gebak het, het hulle ‘n plan beraam om hom in eie munt terug te betaal.

Net toe Tyl op die tou op sy een been gaan staan en sy arms uitsteek om sy balans te behou, sny die bure se kinders skielik die tou af en daar tuimel hy neer. Gelukkig het hy op die matras geval, maar vir dae lank kon hy skaars sit of loop. Terwyl hy daar op die matras op sy rug lê, het hulle hom lekker uitgelag en gespot. Uilspieël het gemaak of hy hulle nie hoor nie, maar in die stilligheid het hy gedink: “Toemaar, ek sal julle terugkry.”

‘n Paar dae later kondig hy aan dat hy op die mark ‘n tweede vertoning gaan gee. Die dorp se mense is almal daar om die pret te aanskou. Uilspieël se vriende kom almal hand gee en sê met ‘n spotlaggie: “Ons hoop dat dit hierdie keer beter met jou sal gaan.”

“O, julle gaan verstom staan oor al die wonderlike toertjies wat ek vandag gaan uithaal,” belowe die voornemende koorddanser. “Maar voor ek begin, moet julle my help. As die toeskouers elkeen hul linkerskoene uittrek en vir my aangee, sal ek vandag sorg vir heerlike pret.”

Ewe onnosel voldoen die mense aan sy versoek en kort voor lank het Tyl ‘n hele klomp skoene bymekaar. Hy ryg hulle almal met ‘n tou aanmekaar en klim bo-op een van die hoë pale waaraan die tou vasgemaak is. Hy gaan sit op die paal en waai vrolik vir die mense.

“Toe nou,” skree die toeskouers ongeduldig. “Begin nou met jou grappies. Hoekom het ons dan ons skoene vir jou gegee?”

“O, ek wil hulle eers sit en bekyk,” skreeu Uilspieël bo van die paal af. “Hier is ou Ryk Soul se flentertoiings wat al seker honderd maal versool en gelap is. Dit is ‘n skande vir so ‘n ryk man. Hierdie blinkleer stewel behoort seker aan Fanie Fyntrap. Ek wonder of hy al ooit daarvoor betaal het.”

Een vir een bekyk hy die skoene soos ‘n bobbejaan. Die toeskouers word al kwater vir hom. Elkeen is doodbenoud dat sy skoen aan die beurt sal kom. “Ons was gekke om ons skoene vir die mannetjie te gee”, dink hulle.

Maar Tyl geniet homself gate uit. “Aan wie sou hierdie skeefgetrapte, slordige ou stewel behoort?” skreeu hy. “Tog nie aan Meester nie? Wat moet die skoolkinders van hom dink? En hierdie skoentjie met die fyn spitsneusie? Hoe sou Ellie Platvoet ooit haar breë platannas daarin kry?”

“Gee terug ons skoene!” skreeu die toeskouers woedend.

“Dê, vat julle toiings!” sê Uilspieël meteens, en hy laat die skoene soos reën op die mense val.

Almal koes en elkeen probeer weer om sy eie skoen in die hande te kry. Dit tel op en pas aan vir ‘n vale. Een ruk ‘n skoen uit die ander se hande. Hulle skel en raas en slaan onder mekaar dat die stof so staan. Die hele markplein is in rep en roer.

Maar wat doen Uilspieël? Hy sit daar bo-op die paal en hou sy maag vas soos hy lag. “’n Mooier konsert sou ek nooit kon gee nie!” skreeu hy. “Julle behoort my te betaal. Ek het lanklaas soveel pret gehad.”

Eers nadat almal terug is na hul huise, het Uilspieël vinnig van die paal afgeklim en die hasepad gekies na sy eie huis voordat die ander seuns hom in die hande kon kry.

Deur iets van die skoen te sê, het Uilspieël eintlik iets van die persoon gesê aan wie die skoen behoort. Stem julle saam dat ons haarstyle en kleredrag dinge van onsself verklap? [Source: cnx.org]

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My Vuurtjie

English readers: you can find my translation of this first poem on “My Poems-gedigte” page on top of my blog. I hope you will enjoy it.

EENSAAMHEID – JAN F.E. CELLIERS
My vuurtjie en ek is op wag –
my vuurtjie en ek alleen;
die awend-ster
wink al van ver,
en die velde slaap omheen.

En stadigies sterwe die dag,
soos een in sy armoed verlaat,
ongesien, ongeag,
sonder suggie of lag,
waar niemand van weet of van praat.

Nou bly die lug alom
in stil aanbidding staan –
geen tampende bel
wat die ure tel:
net die sterre wat kom en gaan.

Die osse, met koppe gebuie,
herkoue nog stil in die nag,
tot één vir één buk
en gaan lê by sy juk,
met `n sug, ná die trek van die dag.

My vuurtjie is al wat nog leef
in die eindeloos ruim met my,
en sy stemmetjie dwaal
soos `n deuntjie wat draal
om dae lank verby,

om jonkheids blye môre
en laggies lank verlewe.
Dan voel ek `n traan
in my oë staan
en ek fluister: “Heer, vergewe!”

Die slapende velde lê wyd,
en wyer die donker see,
wat my vuurtjie en my
vanawend skei
van die wêreld se vreug en wee;

ek weet daar`s fees vanaand
in menig verligte saal,
maar geeneen wat my mis
by die dans en die dis –
`n balling vergeet en verdwaal.

Maar al is ek, ver van die skaar,
in eensaamheids wonings getrede,
ek voel my soos een
met die Heer alleen –
`n kind aan Sy boesem tevrede.

image: digitalcameraclub.co.za

I’ve read something this morning on Zee’s blog that reminded me about this poem : “Eensaamheid” by Jan F E Celliers I also came accross this poem on a  website and it also reminded me about this very same poem! “Eensaamheid” means…”loneliness…or…solitude…”

Ver op hoë berge
Pagina: 431/431

Ver op hoë berge, o-o-o…
Sit ek eensaam in die nag,
by my vuurtjie stil op wag,
ver op hoë berge.

‘k Denk nou kom my liefste, o-o-o…
k’ Sie van verre kom die wa,
die my liefste skat daar dra,
ver op hoë berge.

Droom is weer voorbij nou, o-o-o…
‘k Sit weer eensaam in die nag,
by my vuurtjie stil op wag,
ver op hoë berge.
http://www.carpegeel.be/lied.aspx?id=857

Read on WIKIPEDIA more about him.
Kliek HIER vir meer gedigte deur Celliers…
Enjoy the music of Sweet People …terwyl jy  “Eensaamheid” lees

On THIS LINK –on my blog- you can read two poems of Jan FE Celliers.

Afrikaanse kindergedig!
Digter? Wie kan help?  Titel?
Daar stap ‘n klein mannetjie
In die rigting van die klotsende waterstroompie
Hy het ‘n emmer in sy handjie
En jy hoor net:die suisende windjie!

Hy stap, voete slepend
Hy stap, tande knersend
Hy draf, voete knarsend
Hy draf, hande swaaiend

Oppad hoor hy ‘n kwetterende voëltjie
Hy val skielik: kaplaks!
Daar lê hy onderstebo op die bruggie
“Ai”, sê hy, “dis seer”, vervlaks!

Nou loop ons klein ou mannetjie
Baie stadig, hy sien hy ‘n bobbejaan
Wat al blaffend en al strompelend
KADOEF! en PARDOEF!
Teen ‘n boomstomp kom gejaa’n

Die kabbellende rivierstroompie
Stroom al jubelend oor die klippies
Daarnaas is ‘n verdwaalde lam
Hy blêr! Ai tog! Dis ‘n ram!

Oppad terug stap die mannetjie
Met sy kleine, swaaiende kannetjie
Geluidloos deur die woud heen en weer
Wat het geword van die brullende
En krakende donderweer?

Ek weet! Die sissende slange
En kwakende padda
Het almal op skrik gejaag
KABOEM! Daar blits hy
SJADOEF! Daar flits hy

~~~~~~

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Song for the World

Nadine sings Celion…

Nadine…Song for the World…
Nadine is a young South African artist. In the following video you can listen to a song in Afrikaans with the English sub-titles. The song was written by Nadine and it’s about South Africa…enjoy!

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Suid-Afrika my skaduwee

I’ve got this CD of Hilary Stagg…beautiful music…enjoy this track and do get yourself this CD!!

This is an Afrikaans poem, just my thoughts about life as a child…

Indien jy ooit by die Opelug Museum in Pretoria ‘n draai maak, maak gerus ‘n draai by die Watermeule. Hierdie watermeule het op ons plaas gestaan en is hy klip-vir-klip gemerk en net so herbou in Pretoria. As kind van ongeveer 7/8 jaar oud, het ons gedurig op die wiel gespeel en was dit ‘n heerlike wegkruipplek vir die kat om haar kleintjies te kry!! Daarom dat my gedagtes ook in hierdie gegriffel ‘n draai gaan maak het op die watermeul se wiel! Ek kon vir ure die miskuiers volg wat in veld hulle bolletjies gerol het…wanneer ek gaan stap het om verdroogde stukkies takkies te versamel en grassade vir my versameling wat ek gedurig in my kamer uitgestal het…die gedrooge takkies…spesiale mooi uitgesoektes natuurlik, het ek in gebruik in rangskikkings en was my kamer omtrent ‘n “nes” van alles wat ek van die veld aangedra het. Selfs verdwaalde tarentaal-vere het hul ere-plekkie gehad…en hoe kon ek die karretjies uitlaat, dit het ek meer gespeel as met my poppe wat altyd net op my bed gelê vir die mooiheid…

Baie dankie aan Francois vdM wat vandag [18/6/2011] hierdie pragtige foto van my geliefde waterval op ons familieplaas – waar ek ure kon sit en ontspan, rondklouter en saam met familie/vriende geniet het, aangestuur het. Francois bly ook in die omgewing en ken dit ook alte goed. In die volgende gedig lees jy juis van die waterval!

Suid-Afrika – my skaduwee

In die skadu’s
van die groot ou Eik
stoot ek weer in die sand
Boeta se karretjies een-vir-een
‘is verstommend hoe die mierleeus uit hul tonnels
krioel met kierang-hier en kierang-daar

Langs die waterval
sit ek, halfbewus
my gedagtes vind perspektiwiteit
en rol ragfyn ligstraaltjies voor my uit
op die kabbellende water

Op die meulwiel van vervloë
versamel ek babakatjies
pas gebo’, versteek
teen elemente daar buit’
en ek streel die sagtheid
wat ek koester
verder op my reis

Ek verdwaal tussen rante
soekend na onweerstaanbare
toktokkies en miskruiers
‘k neem ‘n honger teug
uit die kom van fluisteringe
“ons-vir-jou-ons-vir-jou”

Hoe sal ek jou kan vergeet
jou alledaagse ontwykende
en eindlose horison
onwetend
bly jy daar vir my
en ek vir jou
Hoe kán ek dan
Vergeet van: “ons-vir-jou”…?

©Nikita 17 Junie 2008

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Blatant lies

‘Blatant lies’ in history book
13/05/2008 19:48 – (SA)
Durban – The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is arranging a series of protests to stop the use of a Grade 12 history book it describes as “biased propaganda… poisoning the minds of children”.

National protest organiser Albert Mncwango said on Tuesday that the book titled In Search of History is currently being used by schools throughout South Africa.

“The IFP is protesting viciously (about) biased propaganda masquerading as Grade 12 history,” he said in a statement.

“This Grade 12 history book, which is being used in some schools as a prescribed work, tells blatant lies and deliberately distorts facts about the role of the IFP and the contribution made by its leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi,” he added.

He said protests would start in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.

“We cannot allow our children to be poisoned with this… abominable propaganda and the deliberate twisting of history to distort who did what, when and where.”

He stressed that schools should be places of learning and “not propaganda incubators where learners are brainwashed”.

Two protests are scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Empangeni and Port Shepstone where a memorandum is expected to be handed over to representatives of Education Minister Naledi Pandor.

Well done, Buthelezi…I’ve always thought you’re a better leader than “some” other leaders in South Africa…for standing up/speaking  out  for what’s wrong…and wished that more of our young children in other countries could have been better informed about South Africa too…as they are also getting brainwashed about “certain” facts which is in my opinion…wrong…some of those facts …e.g. is…that ALL white South Africans are racists…and that we in South Africa used to have slaves in our “modern” days…they don’t know that slavery was undone in the 1800’s by the British…this is only two of about twenty or more facts….EISH!! …..
Read article HERE …

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Hallelujah

Image: Beautiful South Africa by Tessa Jouhin

Vryheid – Freedom
In the Gregorian calendar, 31st May is the 151st day of the year.

This day is also a very important day in South Africa’s History. The day when South Africa became a Republic.  

31 May was a significant day in South African history, being both the day in 1902 on which the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed, ending the Second Anglo-Boer War, and the day in 1910 on which the Union of South Africa came into being, which then came to an end and was re-established as the “Republic of South Africa”.

Enjoy this piece of music by Handel

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Kyk hoe glinster die maan…dreams…

Image:eso-garden.com

This song is one of my favourites, sung by Laurika Rauch, also one of my favourite South African artists. Laurika is a legend in South Africa and many South Africans love her for her music…and I’m definitely one of them. If you click on the page-link that says…”don’t miss this song”, you can listen to her singing another song together with Valiant Swart…and I’ve translated that song for you to understand the song that’s about a sun catcher… This song is about her as a young girl, where she says she used to believe in Santa ….she saw Santa walking through the corn fields one day and her brother asked if Santa was from Clocolan….then one day  she saw Santa’s suit…and she realised that he wasn’t real…all her dreams were scattered… she also sings about girls having dreams about their future partners and she wrote a letter to Santa …describing him her dream partner…

WOW! This image is from THIS SITE where you can see more fantastic breathtaking images! This is the road to Clocolan…the small town Laurika mentions in her song…in her song her little brother asks her if Santa was from Clocolan…
 

EK HET IN MY KINDERJARE VAS GEGLO IN KERSFEESVADER
IN WERKLIKHEID RY HY MOS MET ‘N SLEE
MAAR HIER STAP HY DEUR DIE MIELIES, MET ‘N STREEPSAK
EN ‘N KIERIE
EN MY BOETIE VRA, “BOER HY BY CLOCOLAN?”
KOOR:
WAAR IS JOU RENDIER EN SILWER SPORE?
WAAR IS ONS DROME VAN GISTERAAND?
VLIEG OOR DIE BOME MET MY DROME
KYK HOE GLINSTER DIE MAAN

DIE WINDE VAN DIE WINTER HET MY KINDERHART ONTNUGTER
EK EN BOETIE KRY ‘N ROOI JAS IN DIE LAAI
JONK VAN JARE, OUD VAN DAE, HUIL EK HARTSEER
IN MY KAMER
WANT DIE FANTASIE HET SOOS ‘N DROOM VERDWYN

KOOR

IN ‘N BRIEF VAN LATER JARE, SKRYF EK “LIEWE KERSFEESVADER
ELKE MEISIE HET ‘N SPESIALE WENS
VIR ‘N MAN SO SOET SOOS SUIKER, MET ‘N MOTOR SONDER DUIKE
EN SOEN HY JOU DINK JY DIS NET ‘N DROOM”

KOOR

EK STAP TOE OP ‘N AAND LAAT, MET ‘N KÊREL UIT DIE VRYSTAAT
AL BESTUUR HY ‘N OU BAKKIE, SÊ EK “KERSFEESVADER, DANKIE!”
WANT AL SY SOENE IS SOOS SUIKER, EN IN SY HANDE ‘N DIAMANT
VLIEG OOR DIE BOME MET MY DROME
KYK HOE GLINSTER DIE MAAN

HIER’S ONS KINDERS OM DIE BOOMPIE, HULLE WAG NOU VIR DIE OOMPIE
MY DOGTERTJIE IS NET ‘N BIETJIE BANG
MAAR HY STAP SOMMER UIT DIE BRANDERS, JA DIE TYE HET VERANDER
MY SEUNTJIE VRA, “WOON HY IN JEFFRIESBAAI?”

KOOR
Read what Wipneus says in her post about “dreams” HERE , but it’s an entry in Afrikaans. The link will open in a new window.

Image:Childrenshospital.org

On THIS LINK you can read about dreams….The link will open in a new window.

From the book “Dreams”…by Olive Schreiner…

 And God laughed at me; and I wondered why he laughed.

God said, “Come, and I will show you Heaven.”

…

And partly I awoke. It was still and dark; the sound of the carriages had
died in the street; the woman who laughed was gone; and the policeman’s
tread was heard no more. In the dark it seemed as if a great hand lay upon
my heart, and crushed it. I tried to breathe and tossed from side to side;
and then again I fell asleep, and dreamed.

God took me to the edge of that world. It ended. I looked down. The
gulf, it seemed to me, was fathomless, and then I saw two bridges crossing
it that both sloped upwards.

I said to God, “Is there no other way by which men cross it?”

God said, “One; it rises far from here and slopes straight upwards.

I asked God what the bridges’ names were.

God said, “What matter for the names? Call them the Good, the True, the
Beautiful, if you will–you will yet not understand them.”
Please click HERE to read the entire book …”Dreams” online written by a South African writer…Olive Schreiner….the link will open in a new window….and on THIS LINK  you can read more about her…the link will open in a new window.

Image:http://zar.co.za/schreiner.htm
other works of Olive include:

The Story of an African Farm as Ralph Iron, 1883
Dreams, 1890
Dream Life and Real Life, 1893
The Political Situation (with S C Cronwright-Schreiner), 1896
Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland, 1897
An English South African’s View of the Situation, 1899
Women and Labour, 1911
Stories, Dreams and Allegories, 1923
From Man To Man, 1926
Undine, 1928

 

Olive Schreiner rose to international fame as the first major South African writer of fiction, as an eloquent advocate of feminism, socialism, pacifism and free thought, as a trenchant critic of British imperialism and racism. Perhaps best known for her novel ‘The Story of an African Farm’, Schreiner wrote political and social treatises as well as allegories and short stories.

She was born into a poor family of a Boer father and English mother, the ninth of 12 children. She lived a life of incredible hardship: her father was a missionary of implacable religious zeal and her mother aggressively attempted to maintain a European sensibility as the family nomadically wandered from mission to mission throughout the Transvaal. Schreiner was self-educated; her early influences included the philosophers Herbert Spencer and John Stuart Mill, and the naturalist Charles Darwin.”..read on the link I’ve given about her…more…

On THIS LINK you can visit the site of the movie based on her book…”The Story of an African farm”…
The link will open in a new window.

by Gustavus Hindman Miller.
Fireside; 1st Fireside Ed edition, 1985 | 592 pages | PDF | 1.4MB  Click on the link to download the dictionary of dreams…the link will open in a new window.
the_dictionary_of_dreams_10_000_dreams_interpreted

 
What do you believe about dreams….read this interesting article if you want to dream like an Egyptian! I’ve got a Dutch dream book…more like a dictionary, but quite old…unfortunately packed away in SA…would love to have it so I could blog it..it was always interesting to read what they say if you dream about something, what it means… it has happened to me twice that I dream about people and funerals..then it was when there was really going to be a funeral in the family! The first time it happened was when I was a student…and a couple of days later, my beloved grandma died! After the second time, I really believe that there is some meaning we can attach to dreams!

 

Image: eso-garden.com

DREAMING LIKE AN EGYPTIAN

by Robert Moss

The ancient Egyptians understood that in dreams, our eyes are opened. Their word for dream, rswt, is etymologically connected to the root meaning “to be awake”. It was written with a symbol representing an open eye.

The Egyptians believed that the gods speak to us in dreams. As the Bible story of Joseph and Pharaoh reminds us, they paid close attention to dream messages about the possible future. They practiced dream incubation for guidance and healing at temples and sacred sites. They understood that by recalling and working with dreams, we develop the art of memory, tapping into knowledge that belonged to us before we entered this life journey, and awakening to our connection with other life experiences.

The Egyptians also developed an advanced practice of conscious dream travel.

Trained dreamers operated as seers, remote viewers and telepaths, advising on affairs of state and military strategy and providing a mental communications network between far-flung temples and administrative centers.

They practiced shapeshifting, crossing time and space in the dreambodies of birds and animals.

Through conscious dream travel, ancient Egypt’s “frequent flyers” explored the roads of the afterlife and the multidimensional universe. It was understood that true initiation and transformation takes place in a deeper reality accessible through the dream journey beyond the body.
Please click on THIS LINK to read the entire article. The link will open in a new window.

 DO BABIES DREAM?

Babies dream, says Dr. Charles P. Pollak, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell hospital in the New York Times.

In what seems like a rather gutless attempt to explain why he thinks babies dream, Dr. Pollack says, babies sleep because babies experience REM sleep (I have experienced REM sleep, too, any time you put in one of their last five albums). Because infants have REM sleep, Dr. Pollack says, “It is a well-based inference that babies are dreaming in REM sleep.”
Click HERE to read about babies’ dreams…The link will open in a new window.

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The Past

I came across this brilliant site….www.fad.co.za/default.htm…..this is about Durban, a coastal city in South Africa… I was actually looking for vintage postcards! I’m a collector of them…have a couple packed away in SA! and would really love to have it now to blog it… so, enjoy this picture about Durban in the 1950’s…and if you go to the site…you will find the most wonderful pictures and links…

I love history…anything  history. I can’t resist books about historical events…and now even websites!  I’ve got two more books to read!! why can’t I just walk passed these books and not looking at them! They always have to jump at me! “Russia under the last Tsar” and “The American Revolution”… and I’m still busy with the Irish book…and that book is a fat book. What do you call someone that’s addicted to books…I can remember when I was a child I even read all the advertisements…every single one…and I couldn’t go to the bathroom without something to read! Is this a “syndrome” or something?

By Neil Gould – May 2007

“Greetings Alan, since posting my picture of The Nest and Cuban Hat, I am truly inspired by your website. I left Durban in 1974 as a 19-year-old lad on board the Pendennis Castle, to Southampton, England, where I lived until 1995, after which my family and I settled in Hong Kong. Although I paid for my ticket I did spend time on board entertaining the passengers.”

Read more on this link….www.fad.co.za/Resources/memoirs/gould/gould.htm…….

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Ek weet van ‘n plek in Afrika

 
English readers… I translated an English poem wich I posted 2 days ago…”I know a place”…by Wayne Visser…in Afrikaans…you can read the poem at the bottom of this post in English. One Afrikaans-blogger has asked me for a translation as he’s thought that this poem would be fantastic  in Afrikaans  too….and I would like to agree with him, although Wayne’s poem is already a very good poem to describe your feelings/places about Africa and I believe only a person who knows Africa can describe it the way Wayne has done. I’ve sent him an email to respond on the translation I’ve done and he has responded…you can read his comments…he also responded in Afrikaans, saying that Afrikaans is a beautiful language for poetry…which I’ve said many times to my chess player friends…I do love English poetry too, but my favourite poems are without doubt the Afrikaans poems….not because it’s my mother tongue, but for the reason that Afrikaans is such a rich language and you can play with words a lot more than the English language.

As a native-speaking English person I know how much Afrikaans people are constantly ripped off by the English. Having a completely mixed up family I am also lucky to be completely bilingual. This all means that i have the best of both worlds, which I would like to share a bit of.

Afrikaans is an extremely expressive and descriptive language with words that can’t even possibly be translated into English…This is what meggwilson says on HER BLOG here…

  Visit Wayne’s website HERE to read his English poems…
 

 Nadat ek Wayne se gedig geplaas het, het Bib my gevra vir ‘n vertaling en gedink dat dit net so mooi gedig in Afrikaans kan wees. Wel, ek het probeer en ek glo ek sal nog oor die volgende paar dae “werk”/skaaf aan wat ek nou hier plaas. Ek het geen idee of Wayne Afrikaans magtig is nie en sal graag wou hê hy moet self ook ‘n vertaling doen, sou hy Afrikaanssprekend ook wees…ek het hom nou gekontak per email en hom gevra vir sy kommentaar …laat ons sien of hy gaan reageer…
nuusberig…nuusberig…nuusberig…Wayne het ‘n boodskap gelos oor die plasing van sy gedig, jy kan dit in die “kommentaar-blok” lees…

Ek weet van ‘n plek in Afrika

 Ek weet van ‘n plek in Afrika
Waar ek die son op my rug voel skyn
En die sand tussen my tone speel
Waar ek die seemeeu op die windjie hoor
En  golwe op  eindlose strande breek

 

Ek weet van ‘n plek in Afrika
Waar die berge die blou lug ontmoet
En valleie die groen wingerde huisves
Waar bome hul pers kleed sprei
En die bosveld sy room kleed dra

Ek weet van ‘n plek in Afrika
Waar die dondergode hul stemme laat hoor
En sien ek hul weerligspiese neerdaal
Waar ek die reuk van reenwolke intrek
En die soet van die stowwerige doudruppels proe

Dis ‘n wildernis, die plek
Van Evolusie en dinosorusse
Waar lewe begin het, hier was die eerste mens
Van lewende fossiele en olifante
Waar leeus brul en springboktroppe spring

Dis die plek van swaarkry
Van woestyne en doringbome
Waar paaie doodloop en jagters jag
Van horisonne en grense
Waar reise begin en sonsondergange bloei

Dis die plek van vryheid
Van ontdekkings en pioniers
Waar donkerte geskuil – en die lig deurgebreek het
Van ware legendes en wonderwerke
Waar dagbreek begin en hoop helder brand

My hart is tuis in Afrika
Waar die tromme se ritme in my klop
En  tydlose liedere in my ore sing
Waar die reenboogmis in my oë skyn
En vriende se glimlagte my welkom heet

My gedagtes ontspan in Afrika
Waar die mense na aan die aarde leef
En seisoene die veranderde gemoed aandui
Waar besige markte handel dryf
En die Skepping sy stadige gang steeds gaan

My siel is gelukkig in Afrika
Haar strome bring lewe in my are
Haar winde bring genesing vir my drome
Wanneer haar verhaal vertel is
Verenig dit ons in ons noodlot.

© Nikita…Mei 2008

Image:digitalekameraklub.co.za

image: digitalekameraklub.co.za

I know a place in Africa…
Inspiring poetry written by Wayne Visser,
a South African currently based in Nottingham, UK.

I know a place in Africa
Where I can feel the sun on my back
And the sand between my barefoot toes
Where I can hear the gulls on the breeze
And the waves crash on the endless shore

I know a place in Africa
Where the mountains touch the skies of blue
And the valleys shelter vines of green
Where the trees spread out a cloth of mauve
And the bushveld wears a coat of beige

I know a place in Africa
Where I can hear the voice of thunder gods
And watch their lightening spears thrown to earth
Where I can breathe the scent of rain clouds
And taste the sweet dew of dusty drops

This is the place of wildness
Of evolution and dinosaurs
Where life began and mankind first stood
Of living fossils and elephants
Where lions roar and springbok herds leap

This is the place of struggle
Of desert plains and thorn trees
Where pathways end and hunters track game
Of horizons and frontiers
Where journeys start and sunsets bleed red

This is the place of freedom
Of exploration and pioneers
Where darkness loomed and light saw us through
Of living legends and miracles
Where daybreak came and hope now shines bright

My heart is at home in Africa
Where the sound of drums beat in my chest
And the songs of time ring in my ears
Where the rainbow mist glows in my eyes
And the smiles of friends make me welcome

My mind is at ease in Africa
Where the people still live close to the soil
And the seasons mark my changing moods
Where the markets hustle with trading
And Creation keeps its own slow time

My soul is at peace in Africa
For her streams bring lifeblood to my veins
And her winds bring healing to my dreams
For when the tale of this land is told
Her destiny and mine are as one

© 2006 Wayne Visser

Hierdie ou het op sy blog die gedig geplaas sonder enige erkenning aan die vertaling wat ek gedoen het of die verwysing na Wayne Visser se gedig! Ten spyte van ‘n boodskap wat ek hom gelaat het, ignoreer hy dit steeds.
http://www.suid-afrikaners.co.za/magazine/read/ek-weet-van-n-plek-in-afrika_14.html

Image: digitalekameraklub.co.za

 

images:digitalekameraklub.co.za

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What do you miss?

 

This image: the cable car…Cape Town…Table Mountain…Lion’s Head…is the head you can see

Images: south-africa-tours-and-travel.com

On this image you can see the beach …near George…Wildernis-area.

On the chess site I was asked by a Capetonian….”What do you miss about South Africa?” and I replied to him this afternoon…EVERYTHING! … enjoy this beautiful nature video about South Africa…fantastic song too..Afrikaans lyrics of the song…maybe I should try and translate this song ……it’s one of those beautiful Afrikaans songs…with a bit of a mix with Zulu/Xhosa…

Halala Afrika

Toe die wêreld hier nog jong was en die horison wyd en oop
Was dit groen hier in die halfrond, suid van die ewenaar
En in die skemer as die son sak en die beeste huis toe loop
Klink die roepstem van die vroue oor die heuwels van die land:
Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami,
Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm

Toe kom die skepe uit die weste, wit seile oor die see
Om te vra vir koos en water en te bly vir so veel meer.
En die land wat een tyd oop was, die land het ons verruil
Vir die ghetto’s van die stede is ons koperdraad gegee.
Halala, ewig is ons Afrika
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami,
Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm

Daar was rykdom in die maag van ons moeder Afrika
Diamante en ook steenkool, goud, edel metaal
En die mense word die slawe hier want die mense word betaal
Om te tonnel in die aarde elke greintjie uit te haal
En die groot en oop grasvlaktes span dit toe met doringdraad
En van die olifant tot die gemsbok al die diere moes kom buig
Voor die mag van die grootwildjagter voor die mag van sy groot geweer
Totdat net die stilte oorbly, totdat net die stilte heers.

Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Sasidjapolutjoloythina
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Source: southafrica.com/forums/language/5041-zulu-translation-request.html

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I know a place

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve blogged poetry! I love poetry, as I said before…on this link here on my ..blogger-blog I once blogged one of Wayne’s poems and I want to blog it here too…as I do love South Africa –which is part of Africa…one secondary school child argued with me a few weeks ago about our country’s name..said that..there isn’t a “West Africa” as a country nor “East Africa” as a country, so how can I say that I am from South Africa and I say “South Africa” is a country! hehehe…Wayne visited my blogger blog-post and left me a message at that particular post…so let’s see if he will find this one too…lol! 
I came across Meggwilson’s blog where she says exactly what I’ve said so many times…even on my blog too….

As a native-speaking English person I know how much Afrikaans people are constantly ripped off by the English. Having a completely mixed up family I am also lucky to be completely bilingual. This all means that i have the best of both worlds, which I would like to share a bit of.

Afrikaans is an extremely expressive and descriptive language with words that can’t even possibly be translated into English…you can read it HERE ….

I’ve translated this poem of Wayne in Afrikaans on this link and you can also read Wayne’s comments about the translation on this link.

I know a place in Africa…
Inspiring poetry written by Wayne Visser,
a South African currently based in Nottingham, UK.

I know a place in Africa
Where I can feel the sun on my back
And the sand between my barefoot toes
Where I can hear the gulls on the breeze
And the waves crash on the endless shore

I know a place in Africa
Where the mountains touch the skies of blue
And the valleys shelter vines of green
Where the trees spread out a cloth of mauve
And the bushveld wears a coat of beige

I know a place in Africa
Where I can hear the voice of thunder gods
And watch their lightening spears thrown to earth
Where I can breathe the scent of rain clouds
And taste the sweet dew of dusty drops

This is the place of wildness
Of evolution and dinosaurs
Where life began and mankind first stood
Of living fossils and elephants
Where lions roar and springbok herds leap

This is the place of struggle
Of desert plains and thorn trees
Where pathways end and hunters track game
Of horizons and frontiers
Where journeys start and sunsets bleed red

This is the place of freedom
Of exploration and pioneers
Where darkness loomed and light saw us through
Of living legends and miracles
Where daybreak came and hope now shines bright

My heart is at home in Africa
Where the sound of drums beat in my chest
And the songs of time ring in my ears
Where the rainbow mist glows in my eyes
And the smiles of friends make me welcome

My mind is at ease in Africa
Where the people still live close to the soil
And the seasons mark my changing moods
Where the markets hustle with trading
And Creation keeps its own slow time

My soul is at peace in Africa
For her streams bring lifeblood to my veins
And her winds bring healing to my dreams
For when the tale of this land is told
Her destiny and mine are as one

© 2006 Wayne Visser

 

Image:flickr

I am an African…

This poem was written by Wayne Visser.

I am an African
Not because I was born there
But because my heart beats with Africa’s
I am an African
Not because my skin is black
But because my mind is engaged by Africa
I am an African
Not because I live on its soil
But because my soul is at home in Africa

When Africa weeps for her children
My cheeks are stained with tears
When Africa honours her elders
My head is bowed in respect
When Africa mourns for her victims
My hands are joined in prayer
When Africa celebrates her triumphs
My feet are alive with dancing

I am an African
For her blue skies take my breath away
And my hope for the future is bright
I am an African
For her people greet me as family
And teach me the meaning of community
I am an African
For her wildness quenches my spirit
And brings me closer to the source of life

When the music of Africa beats in the wind
My blood pulses to its rhythm
And I become the essence of music
When the colours of Africa dazzle in the sun
My senses drink in its rainbow
And I become the palette of nature
When the stories of Africa echo round the fire
My feet walk in its pathways
And I become the footprints of history

I am an African
Because she is the cradle of our birth
And nurtures an ancient wisdom
I am an African
Because she lives in the world’s shadow
And bursts with a radiant luminosity
I am an African
Because she is the land of tomorrow
And I recognise her gifts as sacred

© 2005 Wayne Visser

Please click HERE to visit Wayne’s site.

On this image you can see Wayne…image from his site.

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Chess the Musical..South Africa

This musical is currently running in South Africa…and you have the option to see it in either Johannesburg or Cape Town…make sure not to miss it! Click on the images for a larger view.

 Please click HERE to book your night with the Chess Musicals! in Cape Town. All images from the site too and there’s a link to the review in a PDF document. Please click HERE to book your night in Johannesburg and you can click HERE for more information too ….
On my blog HERE you can read more about Cito and there’s also a link to his MySpace site.
 

100th PRODUCTION AT PIETER TOERIEN’S MONTECASINO THEATRE!

Pieter Toerien presents
CHESS – The Musical
22 March – 25 May 2008
Now on stage: MAIN Theatre

Set during the Cold War, CHESS involves a romantic triangle between two players in a World Chess Championship, and the woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters’ personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer. The show is not so much about the game of chess, but rather about how the Cold War affected the lives of those it touched.

Freddie, the American, is supported by Florence. During the course of the Championship, Florence falls in love with the Russian Anatoly, and leaves Freddie. This sets off a sequence of events that tears Anatoly from his wife Svetlana and his manager Molokov, who happens to be connected to the KGB. Who wins the World Chess Championship? Do the politics of the Cold War have the last say? CHESS is very dark, portraying a world where you can trust no one and love cannot survive.

From the Alpine heights of Merano, Italy to the sultry heat of Bangkok, Florence, Anatoly and Freddie find themselves swept towards the show’s climatic conclusion! Tim Rice teamed up with ABBA+s Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus in 1984 and, following the formula of JC Superstar and Evita, a concept album of CHESS was recorded. The cast for the album included Elaine Paige as Florence, Barbara Dickson as Svetlana, Tommy Korberg as Anatoly and Murray Head as Freddie. The CHESS album contained the chart-topping hits “One Night in Bangkok” (sung by Murray Head) and “I Know Him so Well” (sung by Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson).

CHESS debuted on the London stage in 1986 and played for three years with a cast led by Elaine Paige, Tommy Korberg and Murray Head, while the subsequent short-lived Broadway company featured Judy Kuhn, Philip Casnoff and the late David Carroll. The score includes such tunes as “Nobody’s Side,” “One Night in Bangkok,” “Anthem,” “I Know Him So Well,” “Pity the Child” and “You and I.”

CHESS is a ‘cult’ musical which is hugely popular with musical theatre fans and the general public alike and was voted in the All-Time Top Ten in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the United Kingdom’s “Number One Essential Musicals”.

South African Premier

Pieter Toerien’s South African Premier of CHESS will begin previews at his Montecasino Theatre on the 22nd March and run till 25 May before moving to the Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town. CHESS is the 100th production on stage at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre.
Source: HERE …

 

Cito…as Frederick…image: Montecasino

On THIS LINK you can read about Chess, the Musical in London.

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Al die veld is vrolik

For English readers… this is a short Afrikaans song about Spring and the second song/poem is about the little mini-beasts, birds, children and even the small plants are happy…they all want to dance and sing and play…

DIS HEERLIKE LENTE

Woorde: THEO W. JANDRELL en G.G. CILLIÉ
Musiek: Wysie uit die Alpe; verwerk: G.G. CILLIÉ

Dis heerlike lente, die winter’s verby;

weer nooi berg’ en klowe vir jou en vir my.

Hol-la-dri-o-ha, hol-la-dri-o. Hol-la-dri-o-ha, hol-la-dri-o!
Die bergklim is heerlik, dit hou mens gesond.

Die vroe-, vroeë môre het goud in die mond.

Hol-la-dri-o-ha, hol-la-dri-o. Hol-la-dri-o-ha, hol-la-dri-o!

AL DIE VELD IS VROLIK

Woorde: C. LOUIS LEIPOLDT
Musiek: J. WEBER; verwerk: PIETER DE VILLIERS

Al die veld is vrolik; al die voëltjies sing;
al die kriekies kriek daarbuit’; elke sprinkaan spring.
Al die koggelmannetjies kom om fees te vier;
hier galop ‘n goggatjie, daarso dans ‘n mier.

[KOOR]
Nou gaan die kinders draai, nou gaan hul speel!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!

Selfs die vissies spartel teen die kafferskuil;
in die groot ou eikeboom droom ‘n oupa-uil.
Oral in Karooland is ‘n ruik versprei:
boegoeblom en appelkoos–kan jy beter kry?

[KOOR]
Nou gaan die kinders draai, nou gaan hul speel!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!

Bind vir my tesame katjiepiering wit,
bobbejaantjies blou en bont, rose in gelid,
varings van die klippe, oral, ai só mooi,
rooi kalkoentjies uit die vlei–blomme uitgestrooi.

[KOOR]
Nou gaan die kinders draai, nou gaan hul speel!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!

Vrolik is die wêreld, vrolik rant en vlei!
Elke koggelmannetjie het sy maat gekry.
Elke gons’rig’ goggatjie is getroud of vry:
vrolik is die wêreld hier, vrolik veld en vlei!

[KOOR]
Nou gaan die kinders draai, nou gaan hul speel!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!
Kom Sus, gee handjie! Almal moet draai!
Boet gee ook handjie! Nou gaan ons swaai–
dis tog so prettig! Wie dans met my?
Al in die rondte, vrolik en bly!

Kry AL daardie liedjies wat jy nooit kan onthou nie, se woorde op hierdie link!

Die foto’s is geneem so 3min se stap van ons huis af. Moenie dat die weer jou flous nie, dit het gesous gedurende die oggend. Die foto’s is om en by 5:15 nm geneem.

Update 1/9/2013 : Ek was net bly om te sien dat die link met die musiek [blerkas] net geskuif het en nie verdwyn het – soos die oorspronklike link.

http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/~lochner/blerkas/

 

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Pumpkin fritters and other delicious recipes

South Africans like pumpkin soup…and I lo–ove…pumpkin fritters! One blogger-friend….Ray…from “bookstoysgames”… has asked me for a soup recipe…..Ray has also joined the chess site and he’s beating me up in every game! He’s quite a keen chess player! I’ve found this video about pumpkin soup on the site.. : videojug.com This is a fantastic site! But, due to the code that WordPress doesn’t support… I had to download it and so, here’s the video showing step-by-step how to make pumpkin soup! If you click HERE, it takes you straight to the pumpkin soup-link where there are instructions which you can print off too… this is a good site for teachers teaching instructions to children in Literacy. I love pumpkin and pumpkin fritters is of course my favourite! Enjoy the video.

 

Image: decsey.com

Image vegbox recipes: Gem Squash

Image: organicbabystyle…Butternut…

Image: eb-art.com : This is basically all the types of pumpkins you get in SA.

Pumpkin fritters ….Pampoenkoekies. This is not my own recipe…but looking at the recipe…it looks very much like the fritters I would have. Read my comments at the bottom of the post.Scroll down for a recipe in English.

PAMPOENKOEKIES IN STROOP: resep: funkymunky.co.za

KOEKIES:
500ml gaar boerpampoen 250ml gesifte koekmeelblom
10ml bakpoeier 2ml sout
1 eier, geklits kookolie

STROOP:
15ml botter 375ml suiker
200ml melk 15ml mielieblom
175ml koue water

Maak pampoen goed fyn. Voeg meel, bakpoeier, sout en eier by en klop tot gemeng. Skep teelepelsvol in warm kookolie, druk effens plat en bak aan weerskante tot goudbruin en gaar. Dreineer op kombuispapier en skep in opdienskottel. Verhit botter, suiker en melk tot kookpunt. Los mielieblom in water op en roer in ‘n straaltjie by melkmengsel. Verhit tot kookpunt en gooi oor koekies. Dien warm op. Lewer 3 dosyn koekies.

 Ingredients

325 ml flour
20 ml baking powder
salt, to taste
625 ml butternut squash, cooked
2 eggs, separated
oil, for frying
125 ml boiling water
250 ml sugar
60 ml butter
250 ml milk
10 ml cinnamon
15 ml flour
salt, to taste

Directions

1. Sift all dry ingredients.
2. Mash pumpkin finely and beat in egg yolks.
3. Whisk egg whites till light and fluffy – not too stiff.
4. Gently mix egg whites into pumpkin and then fold pumpkin mixture into dry ingredients.
5. Fry tablespoonsful of fritter batter in hot oil until golden brown.
6. Drain on paper towel and place into ovenproof dish.
7. Now preheat the oven to 180°C.

SYRUP:
Bring water, sugar, butter, milk, cinnamon, and salt to the boil, lower heat and thicken with flour.
Pour syrup over fritters and bake for 15 – 30 minutes
recipe..: recipe bazaar .com
My comments… If I make fritters… I don’t add a syrup to it… I would only have a cinnamon/sugar mix to sprinkle on the fritters… this syrup sounds a bit too sweet to me. It doesn’t go into the oven if you don’t have the syrup…

This next video is about…a carrot cake! Another big yummy! Follow THIS LINK to print off the instructions.

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Comrades 2008

Comrades Update!

Image:http://eng.rusathletics.com/nov/nov.php?ind=2504
Results: First 5 men and women…source:comradesblog.com
Men

Leonid Shvetsov – 5:24:49
Jaroslaw Janicki – 5:38:30
Stephen Muzhingi – 5:39:41
Oleg Kharitonov – 5:42:05
Grigory Murzin – 5:43:08

Women

Elena Nurgalieva – 6:14:38
Olesya Nurgalieva – 6:15:53
Tatyana Zhirkova – 6:17:46
Marina Myshlyanova – 6:30:50
Marina Bychkova – 6:38:03
Shvetsov sets Comrades record
15/06/2008 11:02 – (SA)
Russian winner Leonid Shvetsov has won the 2008 Comrades Marathon, setting a new record for the ultra marathon.

After crossing the finish line he raised his arms once in joy and then fell to the ground in what appeared to be a mixture of exhaustion, relief and happiness.

He arrived at the Pietermaritzburg Oval shortly before 11:00.

Shvetsov was the favourite to win the race and not only won first place, but set up a new record, breaking the previous record of 5:25:33 set in 2000.

Sheets ran ahead of the pack for the last 30km.

His final time had not yet been confirmed by officials

Read the article HERE …

Elena Nurgalieva wins Comrades
15/06/2008 12:27 – (SA)
Pietermaritzburg – Russian Elena Nurgalieva was the first woman home in the 2008 Comrades Marathon in 6 hours 14 minutes 36 seconds, despite having fallen twice during the race and running with a bleeding knee.

In second place was her twin sister, last year’s winner, Olesya Nurgalieva (6:15.51) and third was Tatyana Zhirkova (6:17.44). Source: News24.com

Today (13th April) is the London Marathon…read on THIS LINK about this marathon in London… 40 000 runners hope to finish the 26 miles-marathon!
In South Africa, we have an ultra marathon, the Comrades…I think it’s 92 km… it’s very tough and many people in the country want to run this prestigious ultra marathon…thousands of runners from all over the globe run this marathon too. Unfortunately, not all of them can finish this marathon… you have to be tops to finish it! When I was a student I used to have friends running this marathon… and it was always “fun”… seeing them afterwards…I think if you’re an ultra marathon athlete…you know exactly what I’m talking about…the PAIN!

Click HERE to read about the Comrades Marathon. It takes place on the 15th June 2008. On this link you can find all the information you need! Good luck!!
THE COMRADES MARATHON:
HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Arguably the greatest ultra marathon in the world where athletes come from all over the world to combine muscle and sinew and mental strength to conquer the approx 90 kilometres between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the event owes its beginnings to the vision of one man, World War I veteran Vic Clapham.

Vic Clapham was born in London on 16 November 1886 and emigrated as a youth to the Cape Colony in South Africa, with his parents. At the outbreak of the South African War (Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902) he enrolled as an ambulance man into the Cradock Town Guard at the age of 13. He later moved to Natal and worked as an engine driver with the South African Railways.

With the outbreak of the Great War 1914-1918, Vic Clapham signed up with the 8th South African Infantry, and fought and marched 1700 miles of the eastern savannahs of Africa in pursuit of Glen Paul Von Lettow-Vorbecks askari battalions.

The pain, agonies, death and hardships of his comrades which he witnessed during those awful days left a lasting impression on the battle-hardened soldier, especially the camaraderie engendered among the men in overcoming these privations. Thus when peace was declared in 1918, Clapham felt that all those who had fallen in this catastrophic war should be remembered and honoured in a unique way, where an individuals physical frailties could be put to the test and overcome. Remembering the searing heat and thirst of the parched veld through which he had campaigned, he settled on the idea of a marathon and he approached the athletic authorities of the day to sound their views. His enquiry led him to the doors of the League of Comrades of the Great War a corpus of ex-soldiers who had formed an association to foster the interests of their living companions who had survived the War.

Clapham asked for permission to stage a 56 mile race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban under the name of the Comrades Marathon and for it to become a living memorial to the spirit of the soldiers of the Great War This was strenuously resisted by the League, but Clapham persisted maintaining that if a sedentary living person could be taken off the street given a rifle and 60lb pack and marched all over Africa then surely a fit and able athlete could complete the distance. Applications in 1919 and 1920 were refused but in 1921 the League relented and gave permission and 1 for expenses, which was refundable.

The first Comrades Marathon took place on 24th May 1921, Empire Day, starting outside the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg with 34 runners. It has continued since then every year with the exception of the war years 1941-1945, with the direction alternating each year between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the so called up & down runs.

The Comrades Marathon is a cherished national treasure and attracts thousands of runners, spectators and television viewers every year. We invite you to participate in this great event and experience the worlds greatest race.

WALLY HAYWARD…the man…the legend! What a remarkable man!

Having competed on the track in his early 20s, Hayward represented South Africa in the Empire and Olympic Games in the standard marathon, and set world records for ultra-marathon distances.Hayward was best known for his achievements in the Comrades Marathon.

Friends persuaded him to participate in the 1988 Comrades Marathon – at the age of 79.
Boshoff said: “The nation was stunned as the 79-year-old hero crossed the finish line in a remarkable nine hours and 44 minutes.

“Wally’s most dramatic moment came the following year, 1989, when he completed the down run at the age of 80.

“Wally was cherished as an icon and will be remembered as an inspiration to thousands of runners.”

Wally won the Comrades in 1930 (pictures on the link) In 1950, after not having run in the Comrades for 20 years, Wally lined up once again for the world’s ultimate ultra marathon. He won the race again in a time of 6:46:25.
On 26 September 1953, at 45 years of age, Wally Hayward shattered the 80 Km London-to-Brighton record by 22:42, winning in 5:29:40. He also established his first World record for 50 miles (5:14:12) along the way.
Read more about WALLY HAYWARD and his records…here. There are photos too.

Celebrity…chef….. Gordon Ramsay has also run the Comrades..on the link you can read about it. I would love to add more celebrities…if I know about them!

Steve Cram…sport man…and broadcaster…. completed the Comrades Marathon raising funds for Bosnia, Kosova and Sport Aid South Africa… a few years ago. Source: cmmol. net /steve_cram. htm

5FM DJ Koula…also ran the Comrades and you can see her on the video report HERE …or you can listen to her here on this link!
koula
The first of the youtube videos gives you a good idea of the spirit amongst the people…everybody wants all athletes to finish before that final second!! On this day…if you are not running…you are “running” in front of the tele!! and you feel like crying for those not making it and got cut off!

 

Bruce Fordyce..South African marathon athlete

Winner of: Comrades Marathon 1981, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90; London to Brighton Marathon 1981, 82, 83; US 50 mile Championship 1984; Nansivik Ultra Marathon Baffin Island 1987, 1992; Standard Bank 100 km Ultra-Marathon 1989; World Ultra-Marathon record holder. Source: whoswhosa.co.za

Hydration—What You Need To Know

Can you drink too much?
Ironically, while you can’t drink enough to replace all fluid lost, you can drink too much. Researchers have noted the dangers of excess hydration during events lasting over four hours. Dr. Tim Noakes collected data for 10 years from some 10,000 runners participating in the Comrades Marathon. This 52.4-mile (84.33 km) race, held each June (winter) in South Africa, ranks as one of the world’s premier ultra-marathons. Noakes showed that endurance athletes who consumed from 16-24 fluid ounces per hour (approx 475-710 milliliters) typically repleted as much fluid as is efficiently possible. He also noted the prevalence of hyponatremia (low blood sodium) during ultra-marathons and triathlons in runners who hydrated excessively. This condition can arise from several different physiological scenarios. For endurance athletes, it usually results from sweat-depleted sodium stores diluted by excess hypotonic (low electrolyte content) fluid intake. When blood sodium concentration becomes too dilute, you can develop severe cardiac symptoms leading to collapse.
Read on the bottom of THIS LINK more about hydration and how to prepare yourself for a marathon like this!

 

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Somewhere my love

Image:http://www.kwathabeng.co.za/limpopo-marulaneng-hoedspruit-gallery.html

Wat is a Tufa waterfall? and where can I find one in South Africa? and how can I get there…this post and this link here, give you all the answers! enjoy!
 https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/what-is-a-tufa-waterfall/ The Link will open in a new window.

I hope you enjoy this “movie” about South Africa. The images are from the Eastern part of the country… the Mpumalanga province, previously called the Easern Transvaal. It was August…end of winter…and not holiday for South Africans, so we were lucky…. places were not crowded…. You will see mostly images about the third largest/deepest canyon in the world…the Blyde River Canyon. As it was the end of winter, the area wasn’t as green as it used to be during summer! The Grand Canyon is the largest, then the Fish River Canyon in Namibia… This canyon is the greenest canyon in the world. You will also see the potholes at Bourkes Luck. Then, in this canyon, there is a waterfall, called a Tufa waterfall. On one of the images I tell you in short what a tufa waterfall is… where other waterfalls wear away the soil…this kind of waterfall does the opposite! This tufal waterfall is called the “weeping tufa”, as it looks like a face with an eye…and the water flows from the “eye”…A Tufa waterfall is a waterfall where the calcium rich water builds the rock face over which it is flowing as the calcium and mud hardens in beautiful forms, that’s why it’s a “growing” waterfall. This link HERE has got a brilliant picture of the Tufa waterfall – the one you can see in my post too – in this canyon and awesome pictures and many links to places/resorts in that area. Here you can see the “face” of this waterfall…brilliant! The link will open in a new window.

You will see a cave, which can only be seen on the boat trip. You will also see some images from the Sudwala caves. You can put “Swadini” in my search box to find those fantastic links and to see more pictures of that area. I focused on this movie mostly on nature images …do enjoy! On THIS LINK you can see more pictures and links to sites to book a holiday! and on THIS LINK you can see pictures of Pilgrims Rest area and maps/info if you want to tour that are…really beautiful to visit!
If you have enjoyed this movie…Links will open in a new window. Click HERE to see another movie about South Africa which I posted a few days ago.

 

 

Somewhere my love…by the
Ray Coniff singers.

Somewhere, my love,
There will be songs to sing
Although the snow
Covers the hope of spring.

Somewhere a hill
Blossoms in green and gold
And there are dreams
All that your heart can hold.

Someday we’ll meet again, my love.
Someday whenever the spring breaks through.

You’ll come to me
Out of the long ago,
Warm as the wind,
Soft as the kiss of snow.

Till then, my sweet,
Think of me now and then.
God, speed my love
‘Til you are mine again.

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Wonderboom

This tree is really big! It’s the Wonderboom….it’s huge! We used to go to this nature reserve to have a picnic, sometimes with school children as well- as an outing. Read about this “wonder/miracle tree”…this is in Pretoria, on your way to the northern part of the city, depending which way  you go.

Wonderboom Nature Reserve