A brief response

Someone finally commented on my ramblings, so to the anonymous poster here is a quick response....

Basically it is true, and label me a hypocrite for it, that I (we) have landed on the muddy shores of this land to sap the very fat from the wealth of the country itself. As is the case with many foreigners as shown here. And it is true that the UK is responsible for the generation of literally millions of revenue used to bail out third-world nations, and to feed the starving masses of Africa.
However the question is really an historical one. The great British Empire colonised virtually the whole planet (well exaggerated but check this). And through a series of frontier factions, independence struggles and economic manuveures, we have the independant world of today. With all its problems of third-world debt, struggling African nation-states obsessed with achieving freedom from the imperialist grips of the wealthy northern nations.

True the intervention of first world countries is generally openly embraced by most African states, and this results in the cycle perpetuating itself in that imperialism is welcomed in Africa (and other continents ie India). Even though the nations will rebel and rally for indepence and freedom from these ties. Why?

Well maybe the Northern powers dwell in the guilt and regret at not better equipping leaders in Africa to run political states (a Western imposition), maybe African's are confused over their ethnic identity because the 'race for Africa' divided the continent along geographical borders rather than ethnic ones. Maybe if the Empire had the interests of the natives in hand from the beggining the glow of the gold reserves would have dimmed as they focused on development rather than exploitation and slavery. Maybe Social Darwinism imbedded the root of racism into the heart of men, maybe it was religion which brought the divide?

The fact that money flows out of the pockets of Europeans into the mouths of Africans, South Americans and Asians is an unfortunate result of historical mistakes. The world we live in upside down. The problems generally unsolveable, only open for discussion.

Until you have lived in the heart of a South African township (I have for nearly 6 months) you cannot conceptualise the difficulties of Africa. Not until you have held a baby dying from AIDS can you feel the pain of diesease. Until you watch a mother grieving the loss of her son because of a curable diesease being misdiagnosed, simply because of a lack of facilities, can you understand the desperation of the masses. All of this may make one sit back and think.

I wonder is money enough? Can I earn enough to give my pennies to charities who feed a bottomless cavern of European guilt in Africa. Can this finacial powerhouse of the world, this creator of nations, redeem itself?

It is indivduals who make the difference. It is the social worker hiding out in the squatter settlement making the difference. It is the Pastor pointing his congregation toward a hope and a future that inspires change. It is the nurse in the hospital cleaning a wound that brings a loving touch and a chance of life. The answers are in the people, not in the money.

This 'capatilist driven' nation has its place in the world it created. It has done good and bad things for our world. Yet it forgot to look for the answer to the problem, rather act on the symptoms....

and if you are really brave....click me....

And if you are unsatisfied with my spiritual implications of this then let me know, we can discuss them.

How not to go wireless....

Firstly I would like to point out that customer service in the UK retail industry is appalling. Secondly, just because you walk into a computer store filled with computer geeks doesn't mean they know anything about computers. And thirdly, there is value in using news forums on the net.

I went into Maplin asked for a wireless router, the dude said here, I said thanks end of transaction. Then later that evening after ripping my hair out, spending 3hrs on the phone to India (call centres in UK located geographically in India?) I get it running. 3days later my housemate tries to connect and what happens - nothing. So he's on the phone. I'm like "don't skrew it up!" So we find out we have an 'access point'! (linksys WAP54G) only 1 computer can connect to the wireless connection at a time!!

Rubbish, who invents this stuff?

So then I return the thing, and have to wait three days for the refund to come through before I can buy the correct gadget online (linksys WRT54GL) from Amazon for less than in the store!

Anyway took me 30 seconds to connect that up! and so here we are - free to roam the house and surf the net.

Just needed to vent.

Oh we on facebook now. SO look me up, Tam hasn't set up a profile just yet but hopefully soon.

Where is the sunshine??

So I got news today that my wedding dress was actually officially sold!! It came as a shock after all this time of thinking that it wasn't really going to happen! I feel like I've lost part of myself... I will get over it at some point. It is just the finality of something of such significance practically disappearing, and I am only left with the photos and the memories of wearing the dress for that one special day. But I was lucky enough to get to wear it twice, I guess there aren't many women who had that opportunity!!

At least I will get to buy the machine which will enable me to make lots of clothes!! Hopefully stylish ones that will generate some kind of income when we go back home!!

Speaking of home, I can't wait to lie on the beach and catch a tan. Although the weather is not miserable anymore. It is really nice, comfortable. My work colleagues are moaning that it is 'boiling' hot - I didn't see any of them sweating!! Amazing how contexts change when you cross borders. Winters at home really aren't that chilly anymore. And well summers here, are really only just warm.

Classic

Stuck in the office....

So I was sitting here staring out the window wondering considering the prospect of doing some actual work during work hours....

We've been in the UK for nearly 8 months now (since 29th Sept 2006) and away from SA for an extra month on top of that which we spent in Zim. Tam and I were discussing the other day the prospect of travelling around a bit, and we realised that Africa is where it's at. The European continent may seem historically appealing, but now that we are here, now that the whole world appears to be our oyster, we realise that we don't want it. All those images from travel magazines advertising the tuscany landscape of Italy, or the Parisian skyline flash in my mind but we realise we want the rolling hills of Africa, the desert plains and stretching beaches.

Well I'm being quite nostagic I guess, but the bottom line is that Africa is booming with possiblity - and I know I sound like a tear jerking "Prouldy South African" advert but there it is.

I want the open sky, blazing heat and choking humidity - not this commercialized, capatilist driven skysrcaping air over here.

I'm beginning to appreciate all that we had back home. Sure money was tight and life was hard. But then our faith was strong and the action behind it tangible. The atmosphere was spiritually charged, and you always have the hope that things can only get better, and even if they get worse you convince yourself that the very hand of God is about to pull you out of the mud.
Here though the atmosphere feels dark, choked by religion, killed by the forces of humanism and human rights.

Everywhere you look are old churches, cold to the very stones of their foundation. Its as if the country that 'gave the world Jesus' during glory days of the Empire left him somewhere and promptly forgot to bring him back. You can scan through the channels on the television and watch countless 'supernatural' programs relating to ghosts, phsycics and the like but find something about the church and its generally some pale face old man hiding behind his robes, sitting in his pulpit tower chanting scriptures.

Where is the fire?

I'll tell you its right here....

Truth is you can travel the world but until you do something about it, it will never happen!

Busy Weekend!

So we went away to Surrey to visit Bobby and Anne for the 'May day' weekend. We had an amazing time - super busy - leaving us exhasted by the end of it.


Firstly we went rock climbing...


Tam and I were quite weary, not having climbed before. We ended up climbing the 'pinnacle' which is basically just a column of rock! Nevertheless our nerves were tested and the view was beautiful from the top. This is Symonds Yat - along the river Wye in Wales.

We headed off to Tintern Abbey after lunch. This was pretty spectacular we got some aweome pic's check them out here I think they speak for themselves. Some other info here.

Then when we thought it was all over we went to Chepstow castle nearby. Unfortunatly it was closed for viewing but we went for a walk around anyway. Really awesome sight - a real ancient castle!

And to top off an already great day, by some miracle of satellite tracking Booby got us to Stonehenge. Check out our pics here. Again it was late so we never got to actually touch the stones. But we got to tick one of those boxes marked 'things to do before I die'!

We were exhausted by the end of the day....

The following day was spent in Brighton on the English south coast. The weather was pretty raw so it put a dampner on our spirits. But is was fun to walk around 'the lanes' which are famous for the shopping. (apparently) then of course 'The World Famous Brighton Pier' -

Well it must be it says its Famous???

(click the pic to see our album)

Monday was spent chilling before heading up to London. Where we found the Queens house.

And the highlight was of course being able to see Third Day and Toby Mac live in concert. A priviledge that we may never have had back home in SA. The concert was actually to raise funds for HIV/AIDS in Africa. and featured the African childrens choir. Check out all the artists we saw here.

We won't forget this experience for a long time.

I really recommend having a look at this site - it highlights one of the most culturally relevant AIDS awareness programmes we have seen. Really making a difference without imposing western ideals on a people. Meeting people in a way that is REAL!

The day came to a close and we ended up arriving home in Norwich at around 1:40am on Tuesday morning....