There's a Zulu on my stoep...

The images below are stick figures that I saw in the spare bedroom of my uncles house. I captured them to share with you because they remind me of the history lessons on the Zulu's I learnt at school. In particular Shaka Zulu's war tactics like cow horn formation which won the Zulu's many a victory over the invading foreign enemies who came with rifles. The Zulu warriors are some of the greatest when we think of African history and as it is currently Black History Month, I could not think of a better way to mark the occasion than to celebrate the strength of Africa...

This figure is my Shaka Zulu

Read more about Shaka Zulu here

Cage of emotions

Writing Assignment from the Red Dress Club:

Brief: "Think of a person you don't like, and describe what you might say if you had to share an elevator ride together. Then describe what happens when the elevator breaks down. For six hours."

The cage.

'Oh No! Help! help! down here!!!! Please help...hel-p...Oh nooooooo! nooooooo! nooooooo this can't be happening!!! Noooooo....' 

[Silence fell in the tight darkened space. All cries for help echoing through space ascending and descending the elevator shaft...but no voice called back.]

{Well...here we are...alone in this cage that incarcerates us for only God knows how long...I shall not speak of things past, those painful things and the heart ache it brings...No...I cannot..will not even dare to think upon it...no...}

[Three hours pass...the silence is deafening...the undertone of emotions run high... temperatures soared as the dam of emotion broke within her and she could not help but give voice to her heart as it became awash to the point of drowning in its own tears...]

'Suffocated...

Desolate...

Displaced...

Imprisoned....

Rejected...

...yes, that is how you have made me feel all my life! how you make me feel now...

Almost. Yes almost is who I am...who I have always been to you...

Almost present...
Almost worthwhile...
Almost good enough...

Almost worth loving...
Almost worth hearing...

Almost what you want...

Almost worthy of your time...

Almost pretty enough to entice you...

Almost beautiful enough to captivate you...
Almost strong enough to support you...
Almost weak enough to need your strength...

Almost woman enough to hold your attention...

A...l...m...o...s...t... That is all you see when you look at me... 

Almost...is all you hear when the melody of my voice resounds in your ear...

ALMOST

Yet like an optical illusion your lips speak mockingly of my being worthy...what a woman I am...a wife and mother I would make...a partner, a shoulder, a friend... They speak of a place you have reserved just for me, a life you have designed with me in mind...A joy sweeter than the honey comb's first fruits...Then you look away, gazing into the distance...and with no more than a sigh you switch on me and your actions SCREAM...almost!

Why the disguise? The lip service that has no one fooled but foolishness itself? Why the words that are like a westerly wind, blowing my sail high and low turning me over to the point just before I capsize... Know you not that with every whispered word and screamed action, you defer my hope and make my heart sick? I've tried, oh yes I've tried to rationalise why? Yet I come up short and perplexed at how you make me dance through the mine field of emotions you present with a red bow tied around it and call it a gift of love... 

I look within for answers. Question who I am, or at least who I think I am; who the world says I am and try to reconcile it with who you say I am... 

The world says I am;

Beautiful... Intelligent... God fearing... Loving... Woman... Passionate... Kind-hearted... Maternal... Headstrong... Straightforward... Inspirational... Loveable... Compassionate... Driven... Funny... Silly... Demanding... Trusting... Worshipper... Energetic... Enthusiastic... Down-to-earth... Positive... Hopeful... Believing... Charismatic... Flexible...No-nonsense... Focused... Smart... Intuitive... Dreamer... Honest... Influential... Warm... Open minded... Fearless... Zany... Encouraging... Open-book... Friendly... Friend-for-live... 

But the books don't balance every time...Your 'almost' withdrawals are always so much more than any deposits of good will and well wishes the world can give me...


...almost...

[Three more hours pass then suddenly a voice...]

'Hello...hello, this is the rescue services, we are coming to get you. Can you let us know how many people are in the elevator? over'. 

'Hello! hello! please come quickly!!!! How many people?... Oh..th-here is just me...

Man's best friend?

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that humans can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts them, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is their dog."

George Graham Vest, Senator of Missouri, 1855

I have often stated the truth that 'people are relational creatures and not only is man not an island, man cannot exist fully in isolation'.  We were created to be relational by a relational creator who seeks relationship with us so it is no surprise that all people seek out connections with other people. Where these connections fail to develop into tangible relationships we tend to turn to pets  to find this connection we so desperately seek. 

 I must admit I have never understood the concept of a dog being man's best friend. Vest suggests that dog's are considered to be such because as human's we are so incredibly suspicious and devoid of trust for one another that we turn to animals to make that close bond / connection that we crave, dogs in this case but any pet of choice can be slotted in here. 

Whilst there is an element of truth in the point that it is difficult to find trustworthy people in our increasingly selfish and introverted world, this is not an impossible feat. The difficulty lies in man's innate selfish disposition that gives rise to untrustworthy behaviour and distrust where one approaches relationships from a purely self-seeking perspective. In an environment where one esteems others above self, one can create and foster genuine connections with other people and the effort in seeking these connections out is  often what many choose not to employ, deciding on focusing their efforts on a bond with an animal who wont talk back, tell them the truth, make demands on their time and money (beyond what is necessary for its health and life) or disagree with them. Not to mention those who turn on the owners children out of jealousy and attack them or those that do run away.

No I find it difficult to subscribe to the concept of a relationship with an animal (a dog in this case) being a better connection that that with another human. I would go do far as to say that a dog (or cat etc) is not any man's best friend but a selfish man's escape from genuine human relationship and connection with other people, because said man does not want to compromise, to partner with or be exposed and vulnerable with another person where accountability and faithfulness will be expected...a truly sad state of affairs indeed...

Flying School...A day in the life of a flock of seagulls

The following gallery is a collection of images  taken on Hayling Island, England. 

A flock of seagulls 

In this photo story, we see a flock of seagulls. as I captured this group I imagined that they were an academy flying school and that this was their final maiden voyage flight for the young cadet seagulls. (Over active imagination I know!). Therefore the group of pictures above set the scene for the Hayling Island Academy Flight School (for seagulls).

Take off!

This second group of images shows the majority of the class of 2010 taking flight as they have learnt and doing so without hesitation and to perfection.

The story takes a turn as we settle on one cadet I have named Bernie.

Bernie feather high in water yet still not budging!

Bernie is unsure about the whole flying thing, especially after so many false starts and falls. he is a keep your feet on the ground kinda guy (even if in so doing your feet get wet!). Bernie considers his options once the rest of his class had flown away and he realised quickly that it is going to have to be do or drown!

And Bernie is off!

Bernie gathers himself and every amount of courage he can summon and prepared to take flight. As Bernie ascends he finally finds his wings and has victory!!!!

The end.