Blogs from Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa - page 11
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Fairwell Party
Published: May 13th 2012Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town » Victoria and Alfred WaterfrontSlumming it in the Karoo before the trip home
Published: April 18th 2012Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape TownSo our departure from our home at the Graeme for a trip out to the Inverdoorn Game Reserve. Some of the members were a little slow in getting going due to the early starts and hard rugby played. We only left 20 minutes late but a sweep of the rooms turned up the contents of half of Ears' bag. On that note a massive thanks must go to Gregory's Grandma Jenny for looking after us so well, with the Widow Twanky role sewed up it left time for the remaining three to fit in the jobs of all the splitters. 'And then there were three' - name the band?! First job on the bus was to award the sacred mankini to Missile for falling asleep near his mates and 2 permanent markers. The ad hoc tattoos ... read more
The Long Road to Robben and how Rugby led me back to Freedom
Published: April 18th 2012Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape TownIt’s a long and winding story incorporating intrigue, kidnap, lost opportunities, abuse and new friendships. I, Nasser Bin Benstead was kidnapped a week before the tour when I was snatched out of my father Angus’ hands by my grandmother (who I had always considered as my mother) and given to a group of marauding rugby players to toughen me up called the Exiles. I was whisked to the airport in a large scary vehicle which was horrifying, bloody hell you should see the drivers. At Dubai International airport I was put into the hands of an International Bear Trafficking ring and prostituted out to the various members over the following week. Some of them showed me compassion but others gave me the willies….hanging me over balconies, then if that wasn’t scary enough over the side of ... read more
Clean up from yesterday. After lunch we went back to the hotel and all got changed ready for the video debriefing session. We first gathered in the Keymaster's room but IT problems with one of Choir's dodgy cables (oh and thanks for charging the camera, mate) meant we all moved to the penthouse. Missile kept bleating that his giant TV didn't work; Rocket showed him how to turn it on! The session pulled no punches and showed how lateral we had become, how often we were cutting out team mates by trying to run across them. The need to select the right time to pick and drive and the need to use your support once a break had been made. There was an awesome fight on the pitch.....between 3 six year old supporters that was finished ... read more
The Fair Judge Leaves so Nasser Mandela Goes Back to Prison
Published: April 15th 2012Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town » Green PointThe fair Judge Leaves so Nasser Mandela goes back to Prison So up early for breakfast, farewell to the Judge then off to the Waterfront for a trip to Robben Island. But first....a 10km run snaked its way around the city and needed to be crossed twice. No problem for the boys filtering into the runners and sidestepping back to the pavement on the otherside. We got to the Robben Island museum to ready ourselves for departure but first the safety brief: "This is a life jacket, if the time calls, put eet on." Puck became the Capholder as our guide demonstrated. "If the call comes to abandon ship, you have no choice." "We will come and get you, I maybe late, if so sorry but you have a whistle so blow it and it means ... read more
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Terror in the township
Published: April 15th 2012Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town » Green PointSo the third match day commences. The Manager sees the Photographer and Surgeon off as the meet their taxi at 6.30am before nipping out for a jog (yep, starting to feel horribly unfit). All talk of a training sessions seems to have evaporated for the Key and Choir masters due to a dodgy prawn. Ears' Grandma Jenny was at the hotel bright and early with freshly laundered kit waiting for Kingsley to ride shotgun into the township. What weighty subjects would be discussed at breakfast? Einstein's theory of relativity? World politics? No none of the above, the debate focused on whether Captain was having Cornflakes or Frosties for breakfast. How could you tell? Sox got to the nub of the matter when he espoused that to know for sure there was a need to try them ... read more
Day 5 - Cameron's Dream Girl
Published: April 13th 2012Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town » Green PointCleaning up from Day 4, good to see Forest Bywater and include him our tactical decision making discussions. Required an emergency session of the United Boys Security Council to lobby the Judge for a short notice court session. Fortunately we were able to whip up a lynch mob (jury) at short notice and justice was dispensed. Ricko greedily put on his bikini top to fulfil his long held dream of becoming a Victoria Secret Angel; you saw the pictures yesterday, you be the judge! Photog and Manager took the chance to buy some (so the salesman said) "freshly stolen" sunnys for 50 rand a pop. The salesmen said we'd look like George Clooney and Bruce Willis, some said more like Homer and Kojak but the particularly unkind thought Cagney and Lacey. So onto breakfast all the ... read more
Day 3- The Reluctant Tourists
Published: April 11th 2012Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town » Victoria and Alfred WaterfrontThe morning after the night before began with the squawk of the Hadida (an Ibis), how long it will reign as master of the morning remains to be seen. The boys have started to collect an arsenal of slingshots and are plucking (pun intended) up the courage to initiate offensive operations. After an early breakfast Peter our guide for the day met us at 8am to board the bus to go up Table Mountain. The views were simply stunning it would not have been possible to select a better day if you waited a thousand years. Nasser (Nasser) got his picture taken with a lone Dassie and looked set to set-up home until the Ghost snatched him away. Ears looked resplendent in his Bare Essentials swimsuit (Discount available for blog readers, how am I doing Cheryl), ... read more
Welcome to the Blog
Published: April 10th 2012Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town » Victoria and Alfred WaterfrontHi Everyone We have had some difficulties with the Facebbok Blog - it's just not really set up for blogging! Instead we'll be updating this blog each day. You can either just check back to this address each day - or you can subscribe to this page to receive an email each time we post a new message. On the right hand side of this page there is a subscribe button - you can work the rest out I'm sure. The blog from yesterday - which went really well - will be up in a few hours. We're a bit challenged on the IT front still and have to install some triple redundant servers/high speed data cable or something before we can upload the full blog. We'll post on facebook when its uploaded - or you ... read more
Shrien Divani- why he must go back to South Africa to stand trial
Published: April 2nd 2012Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town » Cape FlatsI grew up in South Africa. I have lost many friends to hijackings , assinations..etc. Many of them were purely random...some were hits. Johannesburg is a violent place... but its manageable- I never carried a gun and I walked everywhere - without fear...BUT,...I can understand Shriens anxiety. Will he get a fair and just trial? - or has he already been found guilty?... the answer in short is YES... In the minds of the media ... and the people hes guilty. But that doesnt make it so. If he is maintaining his innocence... he needs to prove it in court. Not only is he ruining his own life and reputation but others also.If he really loved his wife... then he should honour her memory by confronting the accusations in a court of law... LOOK- they dont ... read more
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