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Monday 10th December 2007.
A short time ago I was commissioned to write about the way I had got "attached " to a certain nethodological approach when I was asked to undertake a particular research proposal. The idea was that I would hopefully to able to explain why I had used this methodology instead of the more conventional ones in vogue at that period.
I was both thrilled, and also fearful about accepting the invitation. Thrilled, because I had worked so hard, and although quite a lot of my work had been published in various journals, as I had left the country of my birth, I could not, in some instances. remember names or actual dates.
There was a very simple reason for this. When one is working in an authoritarian, oppressive regime, the last thing one does is to keep a diary. In many cases one does not have the time,nor is one able to reflect calmly and logically about one's methodology. Nor is one able to reflect on whether that particular research has to be undertaken. .
I am beginning to think that in fact, phenomenology is the methodology of crisis. By that, I mean, when there is a crisis situation, it is far better to investigate the social problem/situation without any pre-conceived ideas. Only in that way, can the research work be objective and not reflect any pre-conceived "hang-ups" of the researcher.
Actually that is a good point. I must go and deliberate, cogitate and see if I can introduce this concept into a necessary condition for approaching a particular social problem from a phenomenological point of view.
I decided therefore, to start with my earliest memories. It has been fascinating doing this. and I am learning a lot about myself.
Today I was able to give a totally scientific accurate date on an even that happened on the 1st October 1940.
Why?
Because on that day my parents had told me that a hen who had been sitting on eggs was going to hatch them.
Off I went for the Event - being a city born girl I had no idea that chickens came from eggs - which hens hatched. And as I sat on a stool, next to the broody hen, , the sky grew darker and darker, and then the cocks started crowing. I did not worry as my parents had told me there was going to be an eclipse of the sun. Not having any idea of what an eclipse of the sun was, I continued looking at the unfortunate hen, and was then rewarded with seeing a little ball of fluff appearing from under the feathers of the hen. I could contain myself ho longer, and liffted the unfortunate mother up,to see other eggs being cracked with the beaks of the little newborn chicks appearing through the cracks.
I marvelled, never realising that what was happening around me,the eclipse of the sun, whilst I was watching this miracle of nature around me, was in it's own way just as wonderful and magical.
Growing old, is not for sissies. ...
.... it is for those who are brave and strong enough to realise that life changes, and that thanks to the wonderful techonology that has been invented, I am able to check in Wikipedia and see that it was on the lst of October 1940 that I watched my very first chicken hatch from under a mother hen. And at the same time a total eclipse of the sun was was taking place. !!!
And I remain as thrilled and as marvelling as ever.
Lucky, lucky me!!
I see that the total eclipse also took place in Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil and South Africa.
I wonder if anyone can tell me the day?
|   | Subject: Getting old is not for sissies!
Posted Dec 10, 2007 by Gnomon
This is a reply to this Posting.
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The 1st of October, 1940 was a Tuesday.
Thank you Gnoman!,
I kinda guessed that it might be a mathematician like you who would be able to give me that answer.
I am very impressed with that information.
I am equally impressed that I was able to find the date out for myself because this extraordinary jusxtaposition of experiences happened the same day.
I think I am very fortunate in not losing my sense of wonder even though I am so old!!.
RJDV 
| | Subject: Getting old is not for sissies!
Posted Dec 10, 2007 by  Websailor
This is a reply to this Posting.
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What a wonderful story Christiane,
Isn't it strange the things that stick in our minds? I often find that they are nature related too. How lovely to be able to pinpoint it so accurately.
I agree, to maintain your sense of wonderment means you are living not just existing, as so many 'mature' being do! My sons take the Internet, computers and all the techie stuff so completely for granted, but for me it is still a miracle, that I can email a friend in Argentina or Australia, Cyprus, Canada etc. and often get an instant reply. It seems so much more fun than the telephone.
i am so glad you are still online with us, we would miss your particular view on so many things.
Websailor 
Yea! WS, It took me a while to catch onto this wonderful cyberworld as well. I mean, being able to talk in real time to an old shipmate now living the USA, and be able to actually see him via a web cam link up at the same time, was just mind boggling
I remember when I was a kid watching the very first satellite link up between Britain and the USA, then in the same life time, be able to have a video link up via web cam, its just amazing!
Then again, when you research these modern miracles,including the interent itself, you discover that it has all stemmed from military technology, which is a shame in a way when you think about it?
 Smudger.
| | Subject: Getting old is not for sissies!
Posted Dec 10, 2007 by Websailor
This is a reply to this Posting.
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It's nice to know that some good comes of all that money spent on waging war. It's a funny old world.
Websailor
Thank you Websailor and Smudger,
I get so upset when I see that this marvellous development can be so abused by some people,. Like you, WS I am continually amazed about how wonderful it is to be able to make contact with others all over the world.
I remember that when I first saw a computer in 1976 I believe that there were no microchips in it. One had to feed in one's information on a sort of cardboard on which we had written our instructions.
the first time I went to the Comupter building and did what I was supposed to do, I then went to go and have it printed. After what seemed like reams of paper coming up from the bowels of the earth all were totally blank; Then a paper came through with an instruction on it saying
"Grannie seek help (Ihad chosen Grannie as my "run" name)
I was mortified.
We really are so incredibly lucky.
Well. it has been a long day so I must go beddy-byes.
With affection to you both
Christiane
RJDV
Yes, its those "sad folk" who make and send out all those viruses and hack into other peoples computers, who spoil what is a fantastic means of communication
Then again, its the same with everything really, a small few spoil it for the majority!
Its nice to know that there is a wee oasis amongst all this, called H2 where we can all pop in for a refreshing chat 
Smudger.
| | Subject: Getting old is not for sissies!
Posted Dec 10, 2007 by Websailor
This is a reply to this Posting.
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Night night both, i should be offline by now, but couldn't resist a last look.
Sleep tight
Websailor
How lovely to wake up and find those lovely messages.
Sadly though I think I have somehow caught cold so will have to take care for the next few days.
Dear Websailor, keep yourself nice and cosy when you go out to feed your "wild" family. And the same to you smudger when you go out on your errands.
with affection
Christiane.
| | Subject: Getting old is not for sissies!
Posted Dec 16, 2007 by Willem
This is a reply to this Posting.
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Hello Christiane, Websailor, Smudger, Gnomon and anyone else  ing!
To me, almost everything is miraculous. I was into computers from about 1983 and I used to have delicious dreams of the sort of computers I'd like to have ... especially as regards their graphic abilities. Now I actually *have* a computer that in some ways are even better than the sort of thing I fantasized about in the 'eighties! The internet, also, is a miracle to me. Again it's the sort of thing I dreamed about a lot, prior to actually having it. But ... I must say ... the 'net is for me still not as good as I'd like it. But who knows ... ten years from now??
Anyways ... Christiane, I would *love* to read about your phenomenological approach and conclusions about the apartheid system!
'Anyways ... Christiane, I would *love* to read about your phenomenological approach and conclusions about the apartheid system!'
Me too! 
 
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