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

Hello! My real name is Willem and I live in South Africa! I came in from the United Friends Space and read your page. You sound like an interesting person! Me, I'm 30 years old, and I'm an artist. I also cultivate indigenous South African plants. I'm interested in Nature, in human health and wellbeing - mental and physical, in philosophy, in human society, communication and the internet. And many things more besides! Well, anyways, I'm a young guy, but I've been into computers since the eighties and I've seen some pretty primitive stuff since us here in SA is a bit behind the rest of the world anyways. So, to me, all of this technological stuff, with the internet and all, is pretty amazing!

Anyways, just thought I'd say hello and see you around a lot, I hope!

- Willem

Dear Willem, Thank you for your email. It was good to hear from you. I did see your name when I first joined but I was wondering how the flying pillowcase would react to hearing from an old lady!!.
I love South African flowers and have at the moment some miniatire blue aganpanthus and some big white ones flowering in pots. Last year I had a bouganvilliae but unfortunately although, I wrapped it up in fleece and put it under a big fir tree the frost got at it.
I am also growing plants in England that I was never able to grow in South AFrica like lilies of the valley, paeonies and rhododendrons. I love both proteas and leucospermum. I had beautiful ones in my garden at Somerset West where my husband and I lived. Now I have managed to buy five artificial ones (I am afraid/ashamed to say) and I have them in a vase. But they are incredibly well made and look real. we shall have to see if we are on common ground in philosophy.Kind regards AR1

Hello again Also Ran 1! I saw a pic of you and Amy the Paper Lady from the recent meet! What old lady?

You may know I actually cultivate South African plants ... what I most want to do is to test the different species to figure out how to cultivate them, to promote them for gardening *in South Africa*, and for other purposes, and to educate people about them. In Southern Africa we have THIRTY THOUSAND different species of flowering plants. That's a record-breaker. And most of them are *extremely* poorly known. I mean, nobody knows how they're pollinated, how their seeds germinate, what kinds of life cycles they have in nature, which animals feed on them, what kinds of interesting chemicals they contain, and so on. So basically I'm into research as well as conservation and I want to involve the 'common person' in it as well. Everybody with a garden, no matter how small, can actually do something to help with the project! And of course I'm not the only one currently involved ... I'm working with the fine people of the National Botanical Institute and some private individuals as well. My own 'project' is still in its infancy as I need to gather a significant collection over here ... and with 30 000 species, even if I manage to expand my collection by a 100 species a year, it's still going to take me 300 years before I have them all!

But anyways, what I encourage people is to *first* find out everything they can about the plants *in their own countries*. I'd advise Americans to be most interested in American plants ... Europeans to be most interested in European plants ... and so on. Because people should first take care of their *own* environments, the places where they themselves live, and the natural plants and animals that have lived and live there.

My own ideas about philosophy ... merely involve that people should think things through ... and want to know about what's really going on in the world.

Dear Willem,
Thank you for your nice reply. I am fascinated that you love indigenous plants. South Africa has the finest collection of indigenous plants in the world and in the 18th and 19th centuries when botanists from all over the world were looking for new species many were taken from South Africa and were lodged in Kew. There is a new place which I have visited quite near where I live called Wakehurst Place. It was wonderful to see all the South African plants (which I am sorry to say I would have called "weeds") being given their true status.
I have a miniature blue agapanthus which is flowering for the second year in a tub, and a big white agapanthus flowering for the first time in a tub. I had a bouganvilliae flowering last year but sadly the frost killed it.
I think that it is wonderful what has happened to the dear little Barberton daisy which now has the grand name of Gerbera. From being a humble, single, flame coloured daisy, it has metamorphosed into a double, exotic beautifully formed flower in the most increidible colours. I also love the harebells which we used to have around Caledon in the Western Cape. Over here they are called Angels something or other. (It is such a silly name that I cannot remember it!)
Well keep your good work going and continue with your collection. Something which I love, and which I ahve not found over here are Flame Lilies or Gloriosa supberba. They always remind me of Christmas. Kind regards AR1 <schooloffish?

Dear Willem,
Hoe gaan dit? I have not heard from you for ages so hope you are well. I am very interested in the Earth Summit and wonder if you have been able to follow it where you live. I have just been given a site where I can get details of the talks because sadly there is not much over here on either TV or the radio. And I cannot read the papers because my eyes are not that good.
Did you find out about Gloriosa Superba?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely, AR1

Hello again! Met my gaan dit goed! Well, I just don't come to h2g2 a lot any more, because the site is too slow on my computer. I prefer talking to people by email ... I asked Amy Pawloski in fact to ask you if we could talk by email, because then I can send you pictures! I really love sending people pictures. If there's one thing I'd like to do with my life, it's to brighten other people's lives.

Gloriosa superba I know well ... its the Flame Lily, and I photographed one that was growing wild on the Natal Coast. If I have your email address I could send you the picture!

You still well?

I'm not really following the Earth Summit closely. I intend to look over the papers before this weekend, because another of my friends also asked me about it ... when I do, I'll tell you as well.

Dear Willem,

thanks for your letter. I have been reading a lot about the earth summit conference. It just seems to me amazing that people all over the world do not realise what we are doing to our mother earth.

I believe that it was in the Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner that the Karroo used to hav thick tall grass and elephants, and all sorts of will animals living there in the 19th century.

Overstocking the veld, and consequent overgrazing has reduced it to the state it is in now. With every Karreebossie hanging onto it's little fraction of soil for dear life. Now that happened less than two hundred years ago. Now we have all sorts of chemicals to kill the bugs and everything else with it.

I received my RHS journal and was reading it today whilst waiting to see the ENT specialist. In it I saw that the European Union have banned a whole lot of chemicals as from the beginning of 2003. They include important ones like the the chemical to get rid of carrot worm and blight (I think it is) on cabbages. What do you know about pyrethrum. I used to use it on my garden pests in Zimbabwe and then it was outlawed.

I do not have a scanner so it is is not much use sending me photos. But I do like to hear from you and hope you will continue to be in contact even without my email address.

With warm greetings AR1

Hi again! Yep I agree, I think everybody in the world should be conscious of how 'The World' is doing. Right now, it's not doing well at all.

Pyrethrum? Well, I found out a bit about it, and apparently it's not very toxic, it comes from a natural biological source and it breaks down rapidly. I haven't seen any info as to its being outlawed, but I did see that it's more useful for killing insects like mosquitos and less useful for protecting plants because it breaks down rapidly so doesn't offer long-term protection.

Just for your info, you don't need a scanner to be able to receive image files! You only need a graphic program that can display images, which usually comes with Windows (Paint).

But anyways, I hope you're still doing well!

Dear Willem,

Waar is jy?

I need help tomorrow for my virtual braai on the beach at Plet. I hope that you will be able to help me as you are the only South African I know and so you must come and help me with the fires. I hope the weather is nice. Can you catch crayfish or abalone.? I shall have to get my son to do that!!.

See you tomorrow. virtually!!

Your friend

AR1

Hello again Also Ran 1! I'm sorry I wasn't available when you needed me ... the thing is, I'm at the moment having troubles with my computer and my internet access. It's very, very slow! And h2g2 and other BBC sites are slowest of all. So many times I log on, but it takes me hours to view all my messages ... and many times I can't even see them all, because my connection gets severed. I can't afford to be on the internet very much as well, so I can't go online for hours every day. I mostly only can afford to go online on weekends, and even then I don't have time to do everything I'd like to.

So I'm sorry for not helping out with the virtual braai ... how did it go? Was the weather nice? But anyways, I won't catch crayfish and abalone, because they're animals, and I don't kill animals for eating! Not even invertebrates. I love all animals!

Willem dear,

Sorry I asked you to catch some kreef and some abolone. I did not realise that you were a vegetarian. That is quite rare in SA.

Incidentally is the posting on the Aardvark your work. It is very good. Is an Aardvark also called an antbear?

AR1

No problem Also Ran 1! Yep, I am vegetarian, and I think it's a great thing to be. For me it was quite wonderful to realise I could exist, and do well, without having to eat the meat of other creatures.

And yes, I wrote the Guide Entry about the Aardvark, and yes, it is also called an Antbear!

So how are things with you?

DEar Willem,

I see that it is an age since I last wrote. Please forgive me. I have had a bad time with my hands and it has been very difficult to type. Now I am not only feeling better , but also have had very encouraging news from another specialist whom I went to see in London. He has really given me hope about walking again. Wonderlik!!
Now I am planning all sorts of trips to Cape Town, and Joeys, to go to my granddaughters wedding, and all sorts of things like that. The only problem is that I would have to win the lottery to do all of them./

I hope that you had a nice Kerfees and Nuwe Jaar. My Christmas was nice. New Year was very quiet.

We have had a lot of snow and it has been, and still is bitterly cold. In fact I have to go to bed every night in order to warm up!!.Have you heard the news that Amy P. and her husband are having an infant. That is really exciting. and I am the Hon. GrandMa!!.
Well I wish you well and keep up the good work of writing about our lovely South African mammals.

Very sincerely,

AR1

Hello again, AR1! I'm sorry to hear your hands have been bothering you. But don't worry about how long it takes you to respond. I'm not in any hurry! But thanks for writing when you can!

The news about your being able to walk again is fantastic! If I may ask, how does this specialist propose to do it?

I had a good Kersfees and Nuwejaar, alright. I think 2003 is going to be a great year for me! Just to mention one thing ... I decided that I was not going to 'pig out' during the holiday season. I ate absolutely no candies and desserts at all! The result has been that I managed to lose about 10 kg (22 pounds) of bodyweight from Christmastime until now! I'm starting out 2003 in just about the best shape I've been in years!

And with my art things are going well also. My works are now starting to sell.

With my plants, they've not begun selling yet, but I don't want to sell them just yet. I first want to enlarge my collection some more. It's coming along OK. I now have a lot of little baobab trees here! I hope I can find buyers for them.

Yes, and while it's cold over there, it's hot over here. It's been one of the hottest summers ever. We've had a bit of rain to cool things down a little, but not enough!

Yes, I know about Amy P's coming baby! I find it very exciting news as well.

As for writing about mammals ... yes, I will, if my internet could get its act together!

Anyways, do let me know about your prospects of walking again. And I hope your hands improve as well! And that you get a chance to come to SA again.

Best wishes,

Willem

Dear Willem,
I have been very negligent but my son has developed diabetes as a result of the medication he has been taking. As a result we have had to take him off the medication and try and find another one. It has all been dreadfully stressful and very sad. Anyway, I am hoping that after a consultation with his wonderful psychiatrist in London on Friday he will be guided in the right direction.
It has been bitterly cold here.It is amazing how plants survive. Now it really seems as if Spring is coming and the bulbs are coming up. Yesterday I went shopping and I bought some lovely polyanthus to put into one of the pots in my patio garden.
You ask me about walking again. Well I have had a ramp placed at my front door and I can now get out by myself. In addition I have two rails at the side so I practise walking up and down the ramp. This is good exercise. I hope that I shall be able to do it by myself soon.
My eldest granddaughter is getting married and they are having their receiption at a game farm outside Pretoria. I am sad that I shall not be able to go. If I manage to get myself mobile I am planning to go to the Cape in January/Bebruary next year. That would really be a dream come true.!.
Hope you are keeping well.
Sincerely,
AR1

Oops! I forgot to mention how impressed I was with your baobab trees. That is wonderful. Do you also have Gloriosa Superba? It is a wonderful climbing lily that comes out at Christmas. In Zim it is called the Flame Lily.

AR1

Howzit AR1 and Willem!
I haven't noticed you two before - more's the pity! I have a son (17) who is totally besotted with plants and trees, Steven is in charge of the garden and decides what goes where. He buys books on plants with the book vouchers he wins for his academic prowess (91% ave!) at Pretoria Boys High School. He gets very frustrated when the scientist change the scientific names of plants, because then he has to unlearn and relearn them again...
AR1 - thank you for the comment on my seashells item. I was in a very philosophic frame of mind at the time and found inspiration in the situation.
We had most perfect evening on our holiday I would like to share if I may...?
We had had two days of wind and rain and were suffering a little cabin fever. That evening the wind dropped completely shortly after sunset and after supper I invited the family to join me on the beach to look at stars. A beautiful cloudless sky revealed many millions of stars and we lay on the rocks pointing out all sorts of galaxies and interesting things
After an hour or so, the air was just starting to chill and the kids were getting bored and got up to leave. I said to wait and Steven look out to sea: "What's that light?" he asked. "It's the moon rising" I was able to reply. We watched the full moon rise in silence, each with our own thoughts. Once the lovely lunar light was clear of the sea, I said: "Now we can go in again". It was one of those 'perfect' moments in life with parents and kids spending quality time together. I'm sure we will all remember that evening for the rest of our lives...!

My stepfather is also reliant on a wheelchair due to Parkinsons disease and he's going a bit deaf, too. A good innings though for an octogenarian!

By the way, you may enjoy my first edited contribution to hootoo on Stoep-sitting.
A814899

Hi wrinkled rocker,.
I went straight to your entry and loved it. and I have commented on it there.
It is nice to meet friends. I am a septugenarian - not quite as "respectable" as your grandfather. But I am actually a great grandmother as one of my granddaughters had a baby son on the 9th January!!.
Sincerely,
AR1

Thank you AR1! I'm only just this side of 50 myself, so there is less than a generation between us.
There are some lovely spots on False Bay to stoep-sit. I spent a year in the SA Navy in 1972 and on my night duties used to watch the sun rise from behind the Hottentots-Holland mountains. A more magnificent sight you are not likely to see..!