Wild tales and wobbly knees

I have been watching as Florida gets covered in snow and the shock and surprise the inhabitants are showing at this display of Global warming, yup I know it's cold, but it is still a result of too much greenhouse gases etc. It reminded me of Durban (Natal) Railway station. Yup, not really the way you thought my brain was going to go was it? Anyhow in 1891 Durban built a beautiful railway station in the Queen Anne revival style. It took until 1903 to be completed and in the nascent colony of Natal there were no engineering companies that could construct the roof for the red brick building.  In the same era, the Montreal, Canada station was being constructed. Similar style but totally different look. They subcontracted to a Continental firm to build the roofs to the specifications they sent via mail.  And hope for the best. In Zululand vernacular, they had to hold thumbs that all would be right. We don't cross fingers or toes in Zululand for luck, it's holding thumbs or nothing. Well, maybe a quick visit to a witch doctor in a pinch, but yup, luck is guaranteed by holding thumbs. Now you know. The company of engineers who built both roofs, then shipped them to their respective buildings by ship. Long voyage around the Cape of Good Hope for the Durban roof. Wild seas and crazy times. But oops something went slightly awry. The roof of the Montreal station was supposed to be able to withstand a large weight of snow and somehow ended up in Durban where snow never falls from one year to the next. And the Durban roof went to Montreal. There were some discrepancies in shape and size and the Durban station didn't quite fit its roof, or should I say the roof didn't fit the building. No problem, the construction crew adjusted and adapted where they could until it was watertight. After all, they were in the wilds of Africa and sending a whole roof back to the Continent was just not a good idea. 120 years later and the building still stands but is no longer a railway station. Of course, the powers that be deny that the roof was a mistake and that they received Montreal's in error. But I like the story of the mismatched roofs. It gives that old building a bit of romance and interest that it might otherwise not have. I think of my grandparents standing in that building on their way to their new life in Empangeni and wondering if they would be leaving civilization behind forever. The roads back 100 years ago were primitive to say the least. I know when we got married in 1973 some of our Cape Town friends and family asked if they would need donkey carts and covered wagons to reach Zululand for the wedding. Nope by then the roads were actually tar seal and the rivers even had bridges over them. No more drifts across rivers full of crocodiles and hazards.  And today, living in New Zealand, I get asked by friends about the exotic life we lived in the African jungle of their fantasies. No, we did not have to dodge lions on the way to school, but yes, we didn't swim in the rivers because of the crocodiles and hippos. What we consider normal, we just shrug our shoulders at, but it elicits shock and awe from friends. "You had a snake as a pet?" or "Monkeys look so cute, why didn't you let your children play with them?" Well, those cute monkeys have vicious teeth and love to steal food from my childrens' hands and mouths. Nope, not on my watch. I would rather my children cuddle up to a cute little snake with big brown eyes than an agitated ape of any sort. I talk about the "monkey man" who chased marauding monkeys from eating the sugar cane and they think I am joking. Yes, it was a real job that required skill and dexterity.  So many things we look at as normal, our friends now ooh and aah over. A friend even suggested I write a book about my life. Really? 

My youngest daughter and her family have moved in with me for the foreseeable future. Well, until they decide what they envision their future to hold. It has encouraged me to sort through my stuff and decide what to keep and what to get rid of. I have moved photographs into my bedroom and my walls are now festooned with pictures from years gone by. We have taken boxes to the dump and the op shop, found space in cupboards that can accommodate extra stuff and generally tidied up my life. My 9 year old granddaughter has scheduled time with me to learn art and the other three are setting up a timetable to have Saturday lunches at cafes with me. So much easier to do now that they are just upstairs. I can stand in the lounge and yell when I'm ready to leave. No, I would never do that. My grandmother would turn in her grave if I was that uncouth. I have an eclectic taste in movies and the other night I was watching something with slightly risque scenes. I usually fast forward through them, and never even fuss about nudity etc. So, to suddenly realise that my 14 year old granddaughter was watching from the top of the stairs has made me adjust my watching schedule and choice of movies. If it had been my 16 year old grandson, he would have been oblivious and in a world of his own and not even noticed, but yup, Grandma had better pull up her socks and adjust her settings asap. And as to colourful language. Well, I'm sure the kids hear worse things every day at school. They have another week of Summer holidays and then it will be back to the grind and craziness of the school year. My older daughter has already returned to school, (she's a teacher) my youngest daughter returns next week to her school, and my son has one more placement before he can look for a permanent position teaching in a Primary school. 

I was at the pool this week (when am I not?) and I met a lady from Malawi. She asked if I was still working and I said that at 71 years of age, absolutely not. But so many of my generation are still clocking on to work to pay for the bills. I am very privileged. I have a roof over my head, food on the table and money in the bank. Plus, blessing of blessings, I live in a safe and secure country. The Malawi lady said what she appreciated the most was being able to go for a drive and stop along the highway to look at the views without first checking for danger. Yes, I never even think about that aspect anymore. But it is a factor on why I often sleep with my patio door wide open and rest peacefully. No, I'm not giving you my address so that I can be robbed and bring me back to earth. I lie in bed and listen to the quails chirp in the garden, I smell  the perfume of flowers in the gully and the gentle breeze of  the zephyrs. I remember once waking up in Zululand to the sound of the sugar cane burning right next to the house. Flames all around us with no way out to safety. Snakes and cane rats and even a few porcupines scuttling away from the conflagration. We stood at our bedroom window and watched the Guinea fowls flying through the smoke and black smuts. After the fire passed us by, the silence descended and it almost hurt your ears with its lack of explosive noise. Fire sounds like a freight train on steroids and is one of the most frightening moments you can imagine. Adrenaline rushing through your body leaves you shivering in the 40 degree C (104 degrees fahrenheit) heat. Teeth chattering and knees like water. And then your four children are hanging around you asking for protection from things that you cannot save them from. You put on a fake smile and laugh until the children think there is nothing to worry about. After all, their parents are superman and supermom and nothing can damage them while you are around. I sang songs and just hoped my kids didn't hear the wobble in my voice. Oh to be that young again that a silly childish song could banish fear. The fires in California are horrendous and my heart goes out to all those affected by them.

So let the cane fields burn, and let the flames burn higher and let us dance in the rain of a hot African afternoon shower. Lift your face and allow the drops to wash away your fears and rinse the black "Zululand snow" aka smuts, into the earth. Let the Guinea fowls return to scratch through the burnt fields and the critters come out of their hidey holes and repopulate the land. May the roof on our homes be fitted to perfection and when you hold your thumbs, may your luck garnish your life with happiness and peace.