The online home of Guy Laister, containing news of past, current and future activities as well as photo’s of trips far and wide. I was born in South Africa with the benefit of Her Majesty’s passport, and I am currently living in Surrey with my wife. I am a civil/environmental engineer and a founding director of an engineering consultancy in London.
I documented the build-up to the trip in a few posts, and the Windies website, so you probably all have a good idea about where we went and what we were up to. I can honestly say that we weren’t disappointed on any front…..
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By now, you’ve probably heard about the fatal shooting of Mrc Joubert at St Troupez restaurant on Sat night. Sarah knows the family and friends, and this is all a bit close to home. See the story on IOL. I didn’t realise that so many restaurants and bars were getting hit in the area, but when you consider teh incomptenance of the police, the risk of getting caught is slim and the severity of the consequences if these killers do get caught are minor. A quote from the article online from Director Johan Booysens, the head of the SAPS Organised Crime Unit in KwaZulu-Natal: “We are still investigating the case; we don’t have any leads and no arrests have been made.” You dont have any leads? An armed robbery and killing of an innocent diner took place in a packed restaurant on a Saturday night and you dont have any leads? Excuse me? You should have more leads than Cruella De Vil. I really hope these animals get found.
UPDATE
For all those in London, a memorial service will be held in Clapham Common on Friday 1st June 2007 at 6pm
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Most of you will be familiar with the International Wine Challenge’ rosettes, featured on many South African wines. It was good to see South Africa feature strongly in this internation event again in 2007, winning a total of 195 medals, including 12 gold. The total number of awards to SA wines is up on last year but the number of gold did not follow this trend. The whites seemed to do better than the reds a s SA continue to attempt new adn exciting varieties of grape. For instance one gold went to the Fleur de Cap Viognier. The b-e-a-utiful Brampton Sav Blanc rightfully scooped a gold, although the much raved Jordan didn’t. Klein Zalze took gold for their Cab, although the disgustingly overpriced Ernie Els wines (at about £40 a bottle in the UK) only got bronze - haha. The full results are here.
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Next week is going to be a long week.
Plenty new environmental and planning legislation to be released/debated. Yet the government continue to focus on residents, and not big business, with regards to energysaving and waste reduction. I wonder why?
Liverpool are the best team in Europe, you just can’t win them all unfortunately…….
South Africa smashed the poms in Bloemfontein, and you wouldn’t believe how many excuses the media are using here. Funny that the Heineken Cup and the Super 14 finished on the same weekend, both involved only teams from England and South Africa. The poms are big whimps.
I am quite possibly the worst card player in the world.
Pirates of the Caribbean is growing old.
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Loving the rain. yes, that’s right, in my selfish world, I love the rain. Long may it continue to rain. Don’t care that it’s bank holiday weekend, and it’s raining, I have to work anyway.
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Todays installment of ‘Did you know?’.
With climate change on everyone’s agenda at present, and in the knowledge that a significant proportion of the world’s Methane emissions originates from cows……
Did you know: That Kangaroo’s can’t fart?
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This has always been a topic waiting to blow-up, and by reaching the main pages of the traditional UK Sunday Times, it must have exploded. There are not many stories which make the ‘World’ section of the Sunday Times, and today an article appeared on the renaming of Durban’s roads. I’d love to get some feed-back from SA on this…………..
Rumour has it, no less than 194 roads will be renamed in Durban with the likes of Solomon Mahlangu, Andrew Zondo, and Griffiths Mxenge. Now, bear with me, because I will be the first to admit that history is not my strong point, and I also don’t have a great memory for any knowledge unscientific.. However, can I please have an honest show of hands for everyone who first thought ‘WHO’????
Moving along, and assuming these people are hero’s that I have never heard of, good people, pioneers, decorated war veteran’s, doctors, freedom fighters, etc…..
You know when something makes you so mad, it almost doesn’t affect you? It’s so implausable, impossible, unthinkable that its almost laughable and you put it too the back of your mind? Kensington Drive, in Durban North, and the road on which my old high school is located, will become Fidel Castro Drive. Fidel Castro? HOLY SH!T! Come again? What the *&^% has Fidel Castro got to do with South Africa???!?!?! Fidel - the communist president of Cuba - Castro?? Now, I know the history of Cuba’s assistance to Angola in the 70’s, and Mandela’s admission of Cuba’s role in Africa’s independance, but its more than a reach. Its like claiming a back foot drive through point as an attempt at hitting a leg side delivery landing on the adjacent pitch is a valid attempt at ‘playing a shot’. Whatever. I suppose a road name is not that important at the end of the day, but erasing history with the name a communist from halfway round the world smacks of making a statement for no other reason than that.
Oh, and Solomon Mahlangu was hanged for sabotage, Andrew Zondo was hanged for bombing a supermarket in which five people died, and Griffiths Mxenge was an ANC activist. Hero’s, every one.
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This summer’s test cricket has already been tarnished by the decision of one Brian Charles Lara to retire from cricket, but today it took on new meaning - for two reasons. England have long been tagged as the International XI, and today with Andrew Strauss installed as interim captain and JHB born Matt Prior picked as the new keeper, England are doing whatever they can to be South African. That’s 3 frontline players now, and I’m sure there are plenty more lurking in the background….. cos the other 8 aren’t that good!!!
West Indies are typically the neutrals 2nd XI to support, but I have to admit that I will always support the poms against anyone except SA. Now its even easier! So, for the summer’s cricket - SA B vs West Indies!
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As usual there’s a sh1tload going on, but today I did something I don’t think I’ve ever done - worked a public/bank holiday…. Strangely I got tons done, no phones ringing, no email distraction….
As for yesterday (Sunday 6th May 2007), Sarah and I did nothing. NOTHING. Nought. Niks nie. Just chilled. Nothing else. At all.
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Yesterday signalled the start of the UK cricket season for the Surrey Downs cricket league. Rog has decided to play for East Horsley this season, and roped me into the 1st XI for yesterdays game at Albury CC. Albury is a stunning ground, located on the high heathland of the North Downs. The pitch was in good shape, although with a rather disturbing tinge of green. Unfortunately a combination of hot, dry weather, and local wildlife burrows rendered the outfield a hazard. Anything punched through the infield went to the boundary which suited me fine!
We won the toss and put the opposition in to bat. After they got off to a flyer we pegged them back to 81/4 before a 150 run stand seemingly put the game out of reach. East Horsley were ultimately set 243 to win in 45 overs. An early loss brought Rog in to dominate the attack will a cool, quickfire 91 before holing out chasing the runs. It was the highest innings on the day and littered with devastating drives over, past and ocasionally through the bowler. Roger’s demise brought me to the wicket at 3 down and with 65-odd runs from victory. After losing 3 batting partners, I ended on 30 not, and victory was sealed with 6 overs to spare. A great way for East Horsley to begin their campaign, and hopefully they pick up where we leave off!!
The one-and-one-halves continue their work.
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