No. Not Manilow.
White.
You really get all of it here. Diana Ross, Madonna, etc. I know. Dodgy taste in music. You should see what I wear.
Anyhow. My word. What a past couple of days. Tough. All self-inflicted, I may add. But most of the truly worthwhile stuff usually is, I'm beginning to think.
South Africa (what, was it as long ago as 2 weeks, now?) was truly wonderful. As I mentioned, it was to visit my family. Eight years since our last Christmas. And now, hopefully just 11 months until our next. Good news, indeed.
But South Africa is a different place. No, that's wrong. South Africa is the same, beautiful place. I'm the one who has changed.
After being away for so long, I am so out of touch. And I've forgotten just how harsh the African sun can be. On a mission to get a tan to show off to the folk back here in Antwerp, I scoffed at the use of sun cream, t-shirts and hats. After all, Bushmen do not require these things. And therein lay may first revelation of the trip. I am not a Bushman. I was - for all intensive purposes during the first few days of intense sunburn - a Twit.
I was given a fantastic book while on holiday. It's called 'Pale Native' by Max du Preez. It's described as 'memories of a renegade reporter'; it's Max' memoirs of his time as southern Africa's top investigative journalist in the apartheid years, the transition to democracy, and the early governing years of the ANC.
It was such an historical eye-opener! During my early school years, we were taught so many historical truths about heroes. But many historical inaccuracies, too. It was so interesting to read about the real history of South Africa; about heroic Afrikaners, Zulu's, Xhosa's and others who inhabited the land.
Max' style is un-relentless. Therein lay my second revelation of the holiday. That to pursue the truth at all costs and to tell it like it is often causes you to be labelled a maverick. A loose cannon. The rewards can be high. But the punishment is harsh.
The third revelation was this: in the years when the apartheid government was still in power and the ANC still banned, secret meeting were held out of the country with the exiled ANC leadership, and Africans of all kinds and from all backgrounds. Business, religion, art, literature. The thing that was a revelation to me was the art and literature bit. But I guess if you look through history, artists, poets, writers - they all make a significant impact on present-day thoughts and feelings. Amazing.
Anyhow, if you're interested in South African history, I'd highly recommend it.
Another good read is Frank Peretti's The House. Horror book. And I hate horrors. Why? Because they're generally horrible. They clue is in the title. Good book, though. Couldn't put it down.
I've also never laughed so much in a long, long time. I went canoe-ing. In the big ocean. What a silly thing to do. Particularly off a launching beach called Shark's Rock. Again, the clue is in the title.
But, combined with the encouraging and hilarious instruction from my brother, it was an unforgettable, and thankfully shark-less, experience.
I've also re-discovered my love of gardening, having worked with my mum and dad in theirs. Well, 'gardening' sounds awfully convoluted. It's really just digging in the dirt, isn't it? Just like when you were a small kid. I love it.
I'm free (as in available, not as in for nothing) for any gardening you may need done. My contact details are on the homepage.
Anyhow, I'm looking forward to the year ahead. On return to Belgium, it's been a roller-coaster, shaky, uncertain ride so far. But that's a good thing, yeah?
Oh yeah - check out some of my latest pics on Flickr.
