Journal Entries
I cannot believe it....
Posted Jan 31, 2003
I cannot believe that once again my poor dear darling son has to go through another agonising period.
It was discovered, by accident, ten days ago that he had diabetes that has proved to be uncontrolled. In a desperate attempt to try and lower it he was taken off anti-psychotic drugs. fortunately it has dropped, but now he is as confused and lost as he ever is. What a dreadful illness he has. He has always tried to be happy, and friendly and loving, and for me he is the most precious of people. But now we appear to be at square one again. As much as we ever were all those thity odd years ago when his "friends" spiked his drink with LSD.
It is hard to be brave about it. Please pray that very soon we shall be able to find something that will stabilise him and bring him back to us.
Thank you.
A very sad AR1
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Latest reply: Jan 31, 2003
Stirring Memories
Posted Jan 2, 2003
I am always amazed at the way articles "come" my way. This morning I have spent the most wonderful morning on a website which I read about in the January 2003 edition of "The Garden", the journal of the Royal Horticultural Society.
This website, donated by a certain firm of experts, tells the story and recounts the work of an enterprise which was started in the Western Cape Province some years ago.
The years rolled back and I was once again thick in the struggle trying to share expertise and research skills in the area which I knew best which was African Housing. I remembered the first research project I had ever undertaken as a First year student in 1972. A "squatter" camp was to be demolished and our Sociology professor had been asked by various people to undertake a demographic study of the site. In my innocence I found myself the "leader"of the research team in spite of not being unable to speak any African language nor indeed Afrikaans. I remember the amazement of the architects concerned when I asked them what the names of the roads were in the squatter camp. There were, of course, no roads and and one prerequisite of the research study was that it should be completely anonymous so that no one in authority could trace who the "illegal" squatters were.
Because of our lack of skills in the Afrikaans language the sociologists concerned had to rapidly translate the interview schedule so that the eight students concerned in the study would be able to at least mouth the relevant questions. I remember particularly the response to one of the questions which asked whether the respondent would like to live in a 2 or 3-bedroomed house; another question was whether they would like a garage. Fortunately the researchers had left a space for difficult questions to have their answers coded. Practically every question was answered in this way and one response has always stuck in my mind.
"What sort of a house would you like?"
The response was
"One with a roof that does not leak".
Which of us priviledged had ever had that problem therefore that question was basically not even considered.
Now with this magnificent enterprise, the ABALIMI project, efforts are being made not only to enable the poor and the unemployed on the Cape Flats to both feed themselves and earn some money. In addition I really think that this project will, in some small measure, attempt to offset the quite devastating effects of the ignominious Group Areas Act which so divided and shared land so inequitably in South Africa. I think I could really call this exercise Serendipity - a self-help project.
I am sure that is why I felt such pleasure and joy when reading this website. It has long bothered me as to how the effects of the GA Act could be negated. I do believe that his is one way in which it can be done.
With much affection
Also Ran1 
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Latest reply: Jan 2, 2003
HAPPY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS
Posted Dec 25, 2002
TO ALL MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS ON H2G2 A
HAPPY, BLESSED AND WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND KINDNESS DURING 2002.
MY WONDERFUL GRANDDAUGHTER FROM BRISBANE IS WITH MY SON AND I AND HAS ALREADY PUT UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE, HUNG THE CHRISTMAS CARDS AND WRAPPED UP THE PRESENTS.
HOW FORTUNATE I AM TO HAVE SUCH AN ANGEL AROUND.!!
Much affectionate love from
Also Ran 1 (and still trying!!)
Discuss this Journal entry [62]
Latest reply: Dec 25, 2002
A day in the Pas de Calais
Posted Nov 2, 2002
When my dear friend came to me saying
"Come on. I am taking you to France" I was both thrilled and frightened.
Would I be able to make the trip? I desperately wanted to go having not visited France for over five years.
I need never have worried. Those marvellous day trips travelling on the channel shuttle are tailor-made for people who have problems getting around.
Shiv put me into her little car, packed the faithful wheelchair in the back and off we went. It took us under an hour to reach the terminal near Folkestone. I had booked on line the night before and we were treated with much courtesy and kindness and having a disabled sticker meant that we were right in the front of the train
Going under the Channel was a first for Shiv. I had travelled on Eurostar five years ago when I was still self propelled, but the novelty and excitement of travelling under the sea had not lost its wonder or its magic.
I thought of the engineers who had worked long and hard both to design and to complete this epic junction of Europe. I thought of that tragic blaze when the tunnel, trains and people had been so mindlessly attacked. And I thought of all those at Songatte seeking freedom from oppression and the right to work and taking such mind-blowing risks to try and obtain both. So the time fled and there we were.
"Tenez votre droite".
Shiv did wondefully and once we had found the disabled car park we were in this people-made hangar of tempting goodies I was able to transfer from my hand-propelled wheelchair to a nippy little number which had Shiv panting to keep up with me.
Admittedly there was no history, no old buildings, no fountains, no trees in this people-made artefact, but I heard French being spoken all around me. Everyone was so kind and we had a really memorable day.
"Vive le tunnel sous la manche" and bless all all those who conceived and executed this wonderful entente conrdiale.
And to crown my happiness my baby brother has just phoned. I thought he was in New York and he is here is London and coming out to lunch!!. Hoorah, a thousand times hoorah.
AR1 the very happy and ambulant
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Latest reply: Nov 2, 2002
Psoriatic arthritis
Posted Oct 27, 2002
Dear friends,
For the moment please forgive my not answering your lovely letters. My fingers are sooooo sore that I can do absolutely nothing with my hands. Not even type on my beloved keyboard, until there is an improvement in this 'orrid state of affairs. 
My thoughts will be with you and I shall enjoy reading all you have to say.
With much affection AR1
Discuss this Journal entry [3]
Latest reply: Oct 27, 2002
Also ran 1
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