h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

That calls for a drink!

an afrikaans snail on a bike? now there is something you don't see every day

not here in denmark anyway...

malay? in afrikaans? how the did that happen

The Cape Colony was a half-way station for the Dutch East India company between Europe and Indonesia, etc. They brought hundreds of Indonesians back to provide labour and their language found it's way into everyday "kitchen Dutch" from where it grew into Afrikaans.
There are still many hundreds of their decendants (mostly Muslim) living in Cape Town, particularly on the steeper slopes of Signal Hill in the cultural heritage haven called the "Bo-Kaap" or Upper Cape. That's how...

WR

impressed at historical knowledge - tries to memorise facts - gives up - well, it's written here for posterity anyway


PS Just thought I'd mention it - I'm a very old in 2 days time - half a century (in cricket terms )

for the lecture WR

i remember how surprised i was to learn that mahatma gandhi was a part-time south african. the fact that your country fostered great minds like him, nelson mandela, desmond tutu and de klerk in one and the same century strucks me with awe!

enough with the politics already. where's me

*Hands <pirate his .*

Shirps! is that dog years or human years?? not that it matters... sounds like it's PARTY TIME! wOOT!

mari-rae

party?

let the games begin

Half-century? Been there, done that...two runs ago


WR

so you are ... 52? How was it for you - passing that ... line?

oh, jees, i wish i could remember that

Mine was a life altering event.

Really Mari? what happened?

getting worried

only thing i remember is one second i was in my late 40's, next second i was going on 60

don't worry , you'll get used to it fast

I remember my 40th
and then I stumbled headlong into Midlife Crisis.

(No, not the psychological state, it was the name of a rock band! )

I bought a big Beemer motorcycle and the next ten years was a delightful blur of musical performances and many thousands of kilometres of open road freedom, biker rallies and great people.

Then the band got to be less fun than it was Work, so I split at 50.
Then the next generation stared intruding with weddings and university and such like.

So I bought a younger Beemer motorcycle and here I am.
L-o-n-g trips planned for over the next ten years...
dreams beyond that?

Seize the day - ride somewhere!

WR

motto:"The destination is the excuse - riding is the reason"

Well, I won't be able to beat that - the long open road, blue sky & riding into oblivion -

Once my mum is better then it's the ... campervan

Meanwhile I'll hunt out my old ... tricycle

it's only a number afterall & I am a person, coughs, a

Shirps! Have you been watching Crufts??

Yes, I have been watching Crufts off & on - many years I spent on a bench there - they wouldn't let me in again though - there'd be no competition ... preens her tail & checks her claws

I don't understand why they are promoting the Alaskan Malamute so much though - they are a working more than a pet dog & need to be handled very carefully, otherwise they become boss in a serious way - having said that I do think they are beautiful s, but need a strong master.



(aside: I actually did go there for many years & loads of other shows, my mother used to breed s & show some of them. We didn't breed for show, but temperament - occasionally we had a good show though - lots of stories there too )

WR: "the destination is the excuse - riding is the reason"

well put, i like that

"Then the next generation started intruding with weddings and university and such like."

tomorrow marks another important milestone in my life: my youngest turns 18 and is no longer a concern of mine (legally, financially and the like anyway).

maybe it's time i bought meself a beemer?