Collect Memories not Things
The last of the winter sun Port Elizabeth
The Cockatiels’ Message from Manly, Sydney, Australia.
Please scroll down and read to the end. Thank you.
The message of the Manly Cockatiels – John Bartels
They dive. They shriek. They call.
They are the Corsa cockatiels.
Their call is urgent.
Do the crowds on the Corsa hear them?
The young surfer heading beachward.
People walking dogs.
Young mothers pushing prams. Sharing coffee.
Young men walking quickly as they WhatsApp.
All are surfing the ever-living wave of life.
The call of the cockatiels grows louder – more urgent.
*
He sees his beloved Manly as his ship passes the Heads.
Already he is missing his last walk with her to Shelly Beach.
The waves gently approaching the rocks and then bursting with joy.
He remembers:
How soft she was when he held her.
Her gentle hands.
The intoxicating scent in her hair.
How they spoke of children. How thy spoke of what dog they would get.
How he promised he would come back.
How they tightly embraced.
How they kissed goodbye
How they both cried.
*
The Heads are far behind now. The ship goes on. out to sea. And on and on.
He thinks of her constantly.
He crosses the endless Southern Ocean.
Then its beauty of Cape Town.
Then it’s the Atlantic.
Then its London.
Then finally, Flanders.
*
The call of the cockatiels grows more urgent now.
Diving, shrieking, and calling they swirl around the Corsa Cenotaph.
Their call grows strangely quiet as an elderly woman gently places flowers at the base of the Cenotaph.
Carefully she sprays the flowers with scent. She waits a while. She leaves and slowly walks away. She is going to Shelly Beach.
The cockatiels watch her go and then start again their diving and shrieking.
Their message is clear to all on the Corsa and beyond :
“Never forget”
END
Facts demolish unsupported opinions
This is what happens when solid facts are thrown at opinions not supported by empirical evidence.
Danger: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Don’t judge a Statute by a fair sounding name given to it by the body that enacts it. This is because the name of a Statute may be no more than a statement of intent designed to get public approval. The choice of name may be a ploy to conceal a hidden agenda. Don’t be fooled. The name could be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Rather judge the Statute by the results it produces. Results are all that count.
Dangerous cliffs
Stepping outside your area of expertise is as dangerous as stepping off a cliff.
The metaphor is from Dr. Thomas Sowell
Do words speak for themselves in argument?
No. Words do not speak for themselves. So, what do words do? Words support or refute an argument or theory.
Shark Warning Flags 7 July 2022 Plettenberg Bay
Two warning lags flying in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa following the tragic shark attack there on 28 June 2022. The two flags prohibit bathing and are a shark warning. A very sad time.
Beautiful Kettle Beach Boardwalk July 2022
Please scroll down for pictures and video.
The boardwalk to Kettle Beach at Keurboomstrand in Plettenberg Bay in South Africa gives you great views of the waves surging against the rocks just below. Look at the pictures and video below. If you go to “Plett” don’t miss it. It is very easy to get there. It is about 6 km from Plettenberg Bay on the Cape Town side. At the start of the walkway is Enrico’s Restaurant.
On video please turn up sound and turn iPhone on side if necessary.
Witch Gatecrashes Model Plane Air Show
Breaking news: 3 July 2022. A witch gatecrashed a model plane airshow in Port Elizabeth today. One of the spectators took a video of the intruder. See the video below. (See note for kids below video). Please scroll down and turn up the volume.
Note for kids: It is all fun. That is not a witch! It is a model plane dressed up like a witch! The sound is play play too!
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