Vote local

The vote has come and gone and now they are trying to build coalitions (without having to compromise), but these were my thoughts then.

I was so thankful when we voted on the 3 August because it was getting to a point where we couldn’t bear to watch another politician slinging mud, not listen to another false promise, not look at another poster with an insincere smile.

So the morning started with our neighbourhood vuvuzela blower calling us to vote at 6:00, just as the birds were starting to chirp and the dogs went out to pee. He blows that vuvuzela often but never this early, usually it’s late afternoon or before a soccer match. I have pulled out my vuvuzela from time to time to converse with him. He often sounded so lonely, like a Black-collared Barbet trilling uninterrupted all day and getting no reply.

Then Helen phoned me. I thought Mmusi Maimane was the DA leader, so why on earth would Helen be phoning me. Although I must admit I did not let her finish her recorded message, for all I know she wasn’t even canvassing for votes but trying to sell insurance.

Soon after I received an SMS from both the ANC and the DA. Another thing that had been driving me crazy during the election period, the constant SMSes with no stop option. STOP.
So the queue at the voting station seemed long but I had only got to page 3 in my book before I had to pluck my ID out of my handbag. 15 minutes from the back of the line to back in my car.
Last time it had taken two hours so now I had the rest of the day off. Yay! I bought jeans, plants and had a nap.

As I was driving to the nursery they were discussing, on the radio, whether families all voted for the same party, was there this shared loyalty etc. Whoa, the calls were so entertaining. The one girl had proudly put on her DA t-shirt and her mother told her to take it off, she can’t go out dressed like that. Another woman phoned in to say that her and her husband have never discussed politics in all the years they were married, I think she said 37 years, I can’t remember the exact figure. It reminded me of the time I went to lunch with a friend and before the bill even arrived we were no longer friends. She was screaming at me eventually because I was too thick to realise things were better before. For whom, I asked. Politics, dis ‘n lelike ding. A hateful email received and a hateful email sent. Then the end. I have seen her once since, in Woolworths, I pretended I hadn’t and she probably did the same.

Anyway, back to the present. So the next day you would have thought we had the IEC as a client at the agency because every screen was open on that map tracking the vote. Some of my colleagues were more enthusiastic with this process than I have ever seem them. Let see some of that on the next project please.

They interviewed a professor from Unisa days later, after the official results, and he said yes, the writing was on the wall for the ANC. Another statement he made that provided food for thought was that history has shown that liberation parties don’t survive. And why is that?

The local elections are behind us now and they were pretty intense. I wonder whether the next national elections will surprise. Wait and see.

July snapshots

In order of appearance, from left to right.

For Mandela day 27 PrettyUglys volunteered at the Johannesburg Children's Home. Hope it makes the children happy. Love the swirly, twirly design of this creeper, at Nirox. Revisited the Mosque in Midrand. I really wanted a meal at the Turkish restaurant but one look at the menu made me think I would be disappointed. The food didn't look anything like the food I had in Turkey. Such sadness about all the happenings there lately. Goose, flowers and child bought at the Field and study market. I love the attention to detail, that they put as much effort into the price tag as in the hanging of the artwork. Got these flowers and they never opened for a week and a half because they thought they were still in cold storage. I had to move them close to the fire to get them to open. A fire almost every night, we have burnt most of our split tree we chopped down earlier this year. At Wits Art Museum they asked the group visiting to comment on the African Art display. This card asks you to speak to the security guard to speak about his favourite piece. inspiring. A new quilt that I have started, African in every way. Yippee, yay, the sun is travelling south again. Our the earth is turning, I think the sun is still in the same spot. A moment in the garden before work. It's aloe season, love it. And then it got really cold, rained and hailed. And ice on my windscreen. Pretty table display at the Irene market. Ceramic display at Irene market. Wire cactus at the Irene market. inside the Clay Oven Cafe. Would like to go back there when it is not a market day to explore it properly. the stone elephant at the Big Red Barn. Made these twins for a baby shower, Saami and Salma. Yes, the lady is having twins, a boy and a girl. the party is almost over, the kitchen at the Artists Studio. A nice display at the Studio Collab exhibition.

A Nicola Spurdle original

I went to Nicki's student exhibition a while ago and admired her work, then a week later she gives me  this divine necklace. M'wah! Thank you, my angel.

The best art fair by far

Honestly, every year I go and, again and again, I thoroughly enjoy the Turbine Art Fair. The venue, atmosphere and quality of art makes it an event to look forward to.

We were there at opening time on Sunday and left well after lunch.

It is so inspiring and there is so much to absorb. So many pieces I loved. I had to fight the urge to make an impulse buy. And I won ;-)

A place in time (at Nirox)

The winter sculpture exhibition closes next weekend, end July, so we spent Saturday afternoon at this wonderful park. Strolling along the paths, around the dams and on the banks of the river, from exhibit to exhibit. The sun just warm enough to make you mellow and slow your pace, taking the time to look at everything properly. Although looking didn’t bring clear understanding on some of the pieces.

I am also sure we missed a few, although not number 11, which you could have mistaken for a real spider’s web if it wasn’t numbered. I bought a catalogue but didn’t really consult it. I thought I would read through it later but I haven’t yet. Sigh.

There were monkeys running around, up the trees and a cat crouched in the grass not wanting to be seen. Benches and chairs placed to the edge of the water invited you to sit and indulge your laziness. Close your eyes and listen to nature. Bliss.

Fook Island

On 702 Hugo Fraser raved about the Walter Battiss exhibition at the Wits Art Museum. Last year Trish and I saw a very poorly curated Battiss exhibition so I was hoping Hugo Fraser’s review would not disappoint. And it didn’t. The exhibition is fantastic.

Walter Battiss wanted to be a good landscape painter when he started out and his incredible journey eventually created the most amazing and diverse art.

The exhibition is called: I invented myself.
He also invented his own alphabet and Fook Island. Awesome stuff.

There’s plenty of time to see it but please don’t miss the exhibition, on until October.

Walter Battiss: “I invented myself”. The Jack Ginsberg Collection. 6 July - 9 October 2016.

Field and study, without the studying

To tell you the truth I had nothing in the house for breakfast and didn’t want to sit indoors at a restaurant so we took ourselves off to the Field and Study market. What a great surprise. It was casual and comfortable, nice vibe. Unhurried and engaging. A great family market.

I meet the two ladies at the Umba stand. They make crocheted soft toys, really beautiful and with lots of personality. We swopped stories on toy making and I would like to get together with them again. Their group meets every Friday in Parkhurst and I might take a day off work to join them.

I bought proteas, a goose, a gift for a friend and ordered some Christmas decorations. A man on the guitar provided background music. A sweet young woman tried to persuade me to have a draught of beer for breakfast. No thanks. Loved her display, though. We settled for an almond croissant, eventually.

We will most certainly be back here. You should go, take the kids, there are activities for them and some horses to ride.