Around the World with Bradley: Photos of The Farm

 

Around the World with Bradley: The Farm.

We go to see Sherry, Leslie and Clinton. We stand around eyeing each other warily. Clinton shows us his khaya. Concrete floor. Corrugated iron roof. Nothing is finished. Dark spot for a spa. Was working catching game. Outbreak of foot and moth means no transfer of any stock (including game). Leslie has dressed up.  She has stayed home all day with Sherry watching TV.

Neal arrives at the farm. Talks about his trip to Japan. Ma says he won’t be going back unless they ban blacks from his group.

Neal then says: Everytime we went anywhere and had to be in the lobby at 6:00 the blacks would turn up at 6:30 keeping the others waiting. Wesley’s mobile phone rings and he leaves the room to answer it. Comes back and it rings again. He has a new girlfriend who everybody likes though she has not been vetted by Ma and Pa.

The house at the farm was built devoid of building regulations. No plans. Built over a number of years. Everything is a shortcut.  With recycled materials. Almost impossible to maintain and deteriorating very rapidly. They are continuously wandering dabbling and patching.

Ma looks at Ron and Leslie’s house and says: We don’t know how long we are going to be here.

It’s why she has lost interest in the garden. No planting of trees. Very little interest in the buildings. Rapidly deteriorating. Lack of windows. The windows are small and covered on the outside with metal bars. Burglar guards.

Clinton has built a khaya on the hill behind his parents’ house. Walls are solid. I don’t remember one window. Windows are a security risk. Inside his khaya everything is half finished. A big hole in the ground for a spa. An open fire place with a chimney too small. It sends smoke into the room. He says he will replace it with a bigger one.

Two Scottish visitors arrive at the farm.

Ma: Look they have a home in Scotland and every year they come out here for three months because its better here. They prefer it here.

Scottish visitor: Well naturally we feel safer there but the weather…

Ma: Shush. Shush. Don’t say that.

 

Garrett arrives and I ask Garrett: What do you do at home all day?

Garrett: Watch TV.

Me: All day?

Garrett: My mum wants me to stay and watch the maid because she is lazy. Doesn’t work. She has baby.

XXXX: You are paranoid about getting robbed. There’s nothing to worry about.

I don’t want to prove XXXX wrong.  They can win this argument.

 

Ma: You let me down. You said you were going to do some weeding.

Ma: I just made 10 bottles of jam. Peach jam. I sell them for R4/5 a bottle. Aunty (Mrs. Murdock) has been very good to me. Morag sold them to all here doctors for R10. She took 80 jars.

Ma: I got Elliot to pick all the peaches while they are still green. These are a bit too green. I then peel them, stone them and boil them. Make syrup jam or stew and freeze some. We have enough to last us all the year.

Ma: Sherry’s been very good to me. She’s got such wonderful children. As soon as they wake, they want to come here. “You like your Nana don’t you.”

Ma: As soon as Neal walks in here he takes a rusk slice. Wesley is taking over from him now. What an appetite.

Ma: During the week I save all the water I cook vegetables in. then on Sunday I add some spinach and maybe other vegetables and make a soup. I take it down to our church. We started a cheap meals restaurant on Sunday evening. Three meals for R5. It was meant to be for the poor. Now everybody goes. The people in town who own restaurants are complaining. Taking the business away.

Ma: I tell you Dr Zuma was very good to Pa. She said this man needs to be seen straight away. She referred him and went down with us to see the specialist. Next time we backed her some nice tarts. They said she was busy and couldn’t see us so I poked the door open and showed her the tarts. She said she would see Dad straight away. Now she’s gone. Not there anymore. We have to wait in the queue.

Ma: I have people I make mince tarts for. They like my tarts and place orders.

Ma: I spend all day in the kitchen. From the time I get up till night. Cooking, peeling, washing.

 

Pa: TV’s no good. The blacks have taken over the best channels.

Me: what do you do with all the eggplants?

Pa: You see we have a lot of friends in the church. We like to share with them. We give them something. When they have too much, they give to us.

Pa: Ronald wasn’t always my favourite but I’ve become quite fond of him.

Pa: You see this is what they did. The ANC they encouraged the blacks not to pay their rates, electricity and now they still won’t pay. The country is going bankrupt.

Pa: They are corrupt. They always look after their friends.

 

Ronald Smith: I tell you this oke XXX is bad news. Everybody says it. I keep hearing all the time. Even his own aunty says she won’t have any time for him.

Ronald Smith: You know he’s a bad egg. He’s been sacked from two jobs. He was defrauding the company.  Bluffing that he was going to TAFE in PMB and they found out he’s not been there. Then at the sweet place same thing. Sacked over money.

Ronald Smith: If Clinton sees him, I don’t know what he’ll do to him. He’ll bash his head in. I try and keep Clinton away from him.

Ronald Smith: XXX had a friend. He says to Zuma (the traffic cop in Howick) look out for this oke on a scoter he doesn’t have a license. So I walk into Merrivale pub and I see this oke and I say is it true what you said and he says yes and I thumped him. Knocked him out. We both got kicked out But I tell you it was worth it.

Ronald Smith: I have to be on call all the time. They don’t know what to do. Have to ring me up. If I resign, they will have to replace me with a black man. There’s a guy there. My assistant worked there for 12 years. They won’t give him the job. Give it to some black guy. They have to. They ring me 10/12 times a day. They know nothing.  I am on leave but I go in every day.

Ronald Smith: Look at the jacket they gave me. They gave jackets to all the workers. Even the blacks.

Ronald Smith: At Christmas we are going camping for two days. Just by ourselves nobody else. Fishing.

 

Ron L. is at Debbie’s. He wants to take two baby dwarf rabbits back to Cape St Francis.

Ron L.: The rabbits bred like dogs.

Everybody laughs.

Ron L.: Well, I couldn’t say they bred like rabbits. I could say they bred like Indians.

Sheila L.: How blessed we are living down at Cape St Francis.

Sheila L.: We should all pray for our political leaders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around the World with Bradley. The plane trip over.

 10.12.2000

Wake up at 3:44. Alarm clock is set for 6:00 o’clock. I won’t get back to sleep. Could get up and watch the Davis Cup on TV. Or just lie here waiting for the clock to explode and officially wake up.  

6:00 o’clock arrives. What do I need to remember? I must remember all the things I normally forget. Need some cash for the airport. What else? Turn on the TV. The doubles is just about to begin.

Airport virtually empty. Dribs and drabs of people checking in.

Check-in staff: Did you pack this suitcase?

Check-in staff: Has the suitcase been tampered with since you packed it?

Check-in staff: Has anybody had the opportunity?

Check-in staff: I have to ask you these questions.  

I sit in the café and have coffee with Melissa. My money belt is very irritating. I don’t need it on the plane. Have I got my sunglasses?

People are accumulating. Sitting down and waiting. The TV drones on in the background.

On the plane the airhostesses are old with neat hair. Not glamorous. What happened. You know you are getting old when the police seem young and the airhostesses old.

Rituals on the plane. Stewardess are important but…

Pilot: This is your pilot speaking.

I look for sympathy. The stewardess looks at me with contempt. Another passenger who hates flying.

Last time I flew to South Africa what was I thinking. I was flying towards no job and no contacts with no money in my pocket. What would have happened If I had not got a job? I didn’t have any money. Perhaps I could have got to London. I had a return ticket to Perth. That was all.

I am more frightened now. Frightened of the dangers, the crime, the violence. Last time I craved stories. The more dangerous the more exciting the stories would be.

Board the international flight. The airhostess says welcome abord while looking at my knees. Wait until the end of the flight and then she really will be bored. Must stay calm and relaxed on the plane. I watch the Drew Carey Show. I keep on thinking this is quite funny. I don’t laugh out loud. I just say to myself this is funny. Nobody on the plane is laughing. Everybody is quiet as the cabin staff (I don’t know what to call these people) deposit food and collect empty plates. No fuss. They know what to do.

I hear the Afrikaans language behind me. Sitting in front of me they have got to be more Afrikaners.

The plane is suspended above the ocean. Time is frozen.

Arrive in Durban. Grab my bag. Big queues for foreign passport holders. That’s me. RSA passport holders go straight through.

 

Driving up the highway from Durban to Howick is a journey through hell. Semi-trailers speed and overtaking on the left and right. Flashing lights from cars hovering behind us.

Lionel drives and talks.

Lionel: Even Elliot won’t vote for the ANC. Says they will steal from you. Mind you he’s a good one.

Lionel: This man put a laxative on his sugar. The next day his boy doesn’t come to work. He turns up and is just about to speak and rushes off to the toilet. The man grabs the boy and says I hope you have learnt not to steal the sugar. He says: Yes Baas.

Lionel: Anything I bet you name a sport and South Africa can beat Australia. No, not netball. Our team is full of blacks.

Lionel: Look at these peanuts. Good SA peanuts. 100% SA grown.

Lionel: Don’t fall for the trick of them not having any money. They give everything they’ve got to XXXX and her husband. Don’t encourage them. They are like little children. You have to steer them away from certain topics. They are embarrassing. Always putting their foot in it.

I arrive in Howick at 8pm after leaving Hobart 9pm yesterday. Too tired to sleep.

Ma greets me by telling some good news.

Ma: On TV they interviewed a black man who has been living in Sydney. He’s been mugged, robbed and had his car stolen and he lived in Joberg for years and nothing happened. He’s coming back to South Africa.

 

 

 

 

From Sunshine December 2000

 

Sunshine

Christmas 2000

Dear Lorna,

The envelope with this letter contains money for Christmas for Stacey. The best thing to do would be that she gives you the money and when you are overseas she can buy something for herself. You will know how to work out the money exchange in the country or countries she wishes to spend money. When Jolene and Melissa are here for Christmas they will take back the other presents especially Bradley.

Stacey told me on Sunday night he is moving himself now. They certainly aren’t babies for very long so you might as well enjoy while you can. It seems so short when you look backwards. It doesn’t seem that long ago that you arrived here with Stacey just a baby. The time just goes too quickly.

I do hope you have a lovely time with your family and have a wonderful Christmas.

Love Dorothy

Photos 2000 (E)

 

FromAthabasca December 2000

 

Athabasca

10^th     December 2000

 

Fall Roundup

Halloween was the usual sweet feast. The day before George and the boys carved three jack-o-lanterns which I had grown. Two were small but one was a whopper. As usual I finished Robert’s costume that morning (he was a bat) and Neyland was finally convinced to wear the Robin Hood costume I had made two years before. Not long after Robert got off the bus we were trick ‘n treating with me driving the boys around the neighborhood (we don’t go to anyone we don’t know), two and       a quarter hours and twelve houses later we were back home. It is time to visit people you should have visited over the summer: in our case a Lou Gehrig’s sufferer who’s funeral we went to yesterday. Neyland could no longer carry or even drag his loot bag because our neighbours get so few visitors they pile the kids up with treats. They get more stuff than two full arms of Royal Melbourne Show bags. Unfortunately the boys don’t see other children in costume so next year we may take in a community Halloween party as well. It is time I dressed up as well.

We had a god harvest. We got off to a bad start, three weeks of miserable weather, then by the middle of September the weather was glorious and the har vest done in record time. We only grew barley, but the yields were excellent. Prices are still terrible. We were lucky to find an excellent man to help George who is also a mechanic. Last year George did it all himself, it was so much better to have help. It is better to pay someone, than not get the work done or George stressed out. They must be having an election soon because the provincial government is giving us $6.00 an acre (we have 800 in total, but 707 arable which is what is counted). The Alberta government which benefits from the oil and gas industry is rolling in it. I don’t mind them throwing money our way. They are not giving us a fuel rebate, though each tax filing Albertian got $150. Our gas bill is enormous and we finally got a man to install basic wood stove in the basement, it was burning for the first time on Friday, hopeful it will heat the basement and cut our fuel bill. We got a new window for our bedroom and the room is much warmer, so it may pay to replace all the windows. We still don’t make any money farming, we still cannot get for our crops what it costs to grow them. Our little cow herd is doing fine, we have 19 cows, 17 calves, 1 bull and 9 heifers. We sold 9 steers and a barren heifer this year for excellent prices. One calf was stillborn and one cow, who had calved in July 1999, didn’t calve. Eight of our heifers are beautiful, the ninth had a dislocated pelvis and still moves awkwardly. The calf was pulled, because it was hoof first, still is lame. Our home pasture was further divided this year into four fields and despite below average rainfall kept our cattle from June until early November. We have in the past few weeks got 165 feeders but have had a lot of problems with illness. Five have died, and a sixth will die tonight and unfortunately our own calves have been very sick. George wants to get about 200. We had 143 last year and sold them in early August for I think a small profit.

I planted tulips again this fall and 17 new lily bulbs. My lilies were wonderful this year, I have them in colours from pale pink to burgundy and hot red. White through apricot to orange. Even the almost ugly bright yellow. They really love our dreadful climate. I’m still trying out new plants, most I get mail order, but I buy a few plants from local nurseries and check out a couple in Edmonton. My kodak moment this year came from a salmon oriental poppy although it only flowered for 10 days, dominated the garden skyline. Next year I think I will concentrate on small shrubs, but don’t hold me to it, If I ever find the white with pink edging oriental poppy it is mine.

Robert is finally in full-time school and actually likes it. He has to catch the bus at half past 7 and isn’t home until after 4. He is in French Immersion Grade 1 and there are 23 in the class. He has the same teacher as he had last year and she finally seems to be teaching something. He excels at math (he got a certificate from the principal) and science, but still cannot read, though last week seemed to make a big break through and was sounding out all his words – he was doing the OU sound – words like mouton, poule, soupe. I cannot help him, he already pronounces French beautifully. He plays hockey twice a week. Friday after school and Saturday morning. He loves it and is good at it. He scored his first goal against Lac La Biche at the beginning of November, but yesterday they got slaughtered by Slave Lake, so wasn’t very happy. I only saw the first 20 minutes, and had to leave Neyland and Robert with a baby sitter, the first time ever. Elena is 15 and is just a wonder reading the new Margret Atwood at the moment. Her father is a full Cree, her mother has George’s old job as boss of business at Athabasca University. We now have a pile of her old books to read Robert; they have started “Gentle Ben”. The young ones don’t;’ play in a league just the occasional match against another small town team. He is very athletic, he spent the summer riding his bike up and down the drive. Once he roe toa neighbours (one a and a half miles away) without telling me. For a special treat he is allowed to ride to the field, but he is not normally allowed on the road. There will be no cars for hours, then someone will come speeding past. When we first came there were only two houses on our road, but now there are four. For over seven years we never heard another voice, just the tractor noises, now sometimes on a still night you can hear voices.

Neyland turned four and just wants to play all day with Play-Doh. He wanted and got a green cake for his birthday. He just got an award winning picture book, which received the governor Generals prize for French illustration. He is finally going to Playschool, which is now at the primary school, every Monday afternoon, and some Friday afternoons, he is the class clown. Neyland is very independent and tough. He doesn’t think about doing things for himself he just does it. Robert thinks so long the opportunity some times passes him by. We have gone public skating at the town rink, three times and Neyland has progressed from holding on to George, top refusing anyone’s help. He won’t even get off when it is time to go home. Today he was skating for the first time, not “walking”. It is likely that he will start hockey next fall, the only year the boys will be in the same age group. My skating is at about the same level, I have stopped clinging to the sides, but cannot glide. Our rink is twice the size as last year and the boys were out this afternoon. Orca, our border collie, has a straw bale kennel, but never did get a run built for him. There are two cats and two kittens to keep away the mice (and Hanta virus).

Snow finally came the first weekend in November, but only a couple of inches. It snowed again at the weekend

, but only a couple of inches were added. The ground froze very quickly. Our land needs a lot of snow, which we haven’t had for several years. It is cold now always below zero, most of the day is overcast, grey and dull. It was the coldest day of the year today, somewhere in the minus 30s, the tractor wouldn’t start despite been plugged in all night, so I had to help shovel silage to the animals. The backhoe did start so George would get scoops of silage and dump it near the pens. Your breath makes your hair turn icy white and the collar of my parka freezes. There is two inches of ice INSIDE the windows of the living room. Neyland is trying to scrape it away with a screwdriver, but found it wouldn’t budge. But the morning sunrises are wonderful, neon pinks and purple silhouette the bare trees.

I know I should keep a journal, but I don’t, we do keep a farm journal, but it says things like ”5^th feeder died” and nothing else. It is mainly things to do, people to phone, items to buy. Rarely George will write something of note like “harvest over”. Occasionally George will admonish himself, “always harrow after seeding”. Last week he moved the cows to a large field without water (they have to eat snow); the normal practice around here, but because we have five waterers, (they are big job to get in place, the water line has to be over 8 feet deep to avoid freezing, and the last 8 feet up to the bowl and the bowl itself have to be heated all winter) the last two winters they had water. George said it would take three days for the cows to get used to it. I was on the cow’s side. On the fourth day when he opened their gate to bring in silage they bolted. They told Gorge he didn’t understand a cow’s true needs.

Pam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos 2000 (D)

 

From Athabasca November 2000

 

Athabasca

17 Nov 2000

Dear Alan,

                I’m probably too late, can you send shoe, coat, and hats sizes? We have a little snow on the ground and night temps of -10 C and daytime about zero. We have had one snow storm which I had to drive home from Athabasca in and it wasn’t very pleasant. Robert scored his first hockey goal so winter has begun,

                                Love Pam

Photos 2000 (C)

 

From Merrivale October 2000

 

Merrivale

8/10/2000

 

Dear Melissa, Jolene @ Stacey,

Thank you for your letters@ phone call. My heart is very sore because you live so far away @ I so seldom see or hear from you.

We are looking after a friend’s house in Scottburgh. We arrived on Friday afternoon, spent the day in Durbs shopping @ visiting family @ friends. Uncle Neal, aunty Vanessa 2 boys plus girl friend @ boy friend spent the weekend here. Unfortunately the weather was miserable, but yesterday we were able to walk to the beach then had along walk along the beach then home again @ we had a barbeque last night. There is a balcony @ we can see the bathing area from there.

Tomorrow old Rhodesian friends are coming for the week @ the Besters next weekend.

The whole family went to Tam-lyn’s wedding which was held at the Natal Spa which is hot springs. Tam-lyn looked lovely @ was so happy @ sincere when she took her vows. There were 5 attendants dressed in bottle green2 they also looked lovely @ the hall was beautifully decorated @ the food excellent. The kids clubbed together @ paid for us to spend the night in the hotel @ they were very clever as they gave us Aaron @ Leah to keep for the night. Everyone went for a midnight swim then all camped @ in the morning we all had a champagne breakfast, so a good time was had by all. Leah looked too cute @ was admired by all she looks like Sherry @ I had made her a very pretty pink frock, then I bought her pink bobby socks @ a pair of white leather shoes. Sherry unfortunately fell 2 broke her ankle on Monday so she has been staying next door with her parents so as soon as Aaron wakes up he puts on his satchel @ he comes over to our house 2 spends the day with us.

Well must end now @ counting the days to November 28^th.

Miss you all. Love you all toooo much

Papa @ Nana

 

 

 

Photos 2000 (B)

 

From Merrivale August 2000

 

Merrivale

4-8-2000

 

Dear Alan, Lorna, Girls @ Bradley

Congratulations from the whole family on the safe arrival of Bradley Solomon, sorry it has taken me so long to write, but I did write then tore the letter up, as I felt it was full of moans.

Thanks for the photos Bradley looks too cute @ we are all trying to meet him. We hardly recognised the girls, I think it is the first time we’ve seen Melissa @ Jolene with long hair. Debbie still can’t believe that the one is Jolene.

We had a lovely holiday with the Hayes, the first eek the weather was good @ I managed to get in 3 swims @ 2 long walks on the beach, the next week it was very cold @ we never even went once to the beach, but I got a lot of knitting done @ managed to get in quite a few games of scrabble.

I’ve not been too well as my heart plays up @ keeps on fibulating 2 I get into a panic @ rush into the Doctor. Greys Hospital is now just a referral hospital, so if we take ill we have to either go to the Indian Hospital at Greytown or the African Hospital at Edendale not much of a choice. Neal has tried to get us on his medical aid, but its R900 a month each so that’s out, so we struggle along, I said to the Doctor I have to make @ sell a lot of pickles @ jams to be able to pay him a visit.

Petrol goes up every month @ is now about R3.50 a liter so our travelling has been curtailed.

You remember Sharon, uncle Richard @ Aunty Bonnies daughter well her 13 year old son, Gareth died 15 months ago from leukemia @ last week her 13 year old daughter Jemma-lee fell of the back of a bakkie @ was killed. We went to the funeral on Wednesday it was awful with Sharon keeping on breaking down. I feel so sorry for that family as they have so much bad luck @ Sharon has really had a hard time.

Leah wins baby queen of the year @ baby of the month so Juan @ Sherry are very chuffed. They are so good to us. Leah was a year old on the 2^nd @ we all went to an animal farm @ a BMX track for her party of course the next doors didn’t pitch, I am wondering if they will go to Tam-lyn’s wedding. I hope they stay away especially Clinton as he is the trouble maker. After Leah’s party we went to Neal’s braai.

Daddy has been doing a lot of work for Neal. Never hear from Jenny but believe they are going to live in England from the end of the year. I just said to Dad I can’t believe the way she has treated us after all we have done for her 2 kids. We are battling along as prices go up @ up @ our pension stays the same, but Dad @ I are just happy to have each other. He had another seizure while we were on holiday but he is very touchy on the subject so we don’t mention it. Hope you are able to come out at Xmas as we are both getting older.

Tons of love, Dad, Mum @ family

 

 

 

Photos 2000 (A)

 

From Melbourne June 2000

 

Melbourne

22 June ‘00

 

Dear Lorna and Alan,

                I am extremely happy and thrilled for you both.

                Bradley is a great name. (it makes for BC initials!)

                What is his middle name?

                Hope you are well.

                                                Beverley

                                                XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

From St Francis Bay January 2000

 

St Francis Bay

Jan 2000

Dear Alan, Lorna @ Girls,

Very many thanks for the money which you sent for Xmas. It paid for our trip down here 1,006 kms + 12 hours of solid driving we were famished by the time we arrived to a very warm welcome.

I think that this spot is one of the most beautiful spots that I have been to @ relatively safe. Daryl Montague was murdered on 2^nd January @ since we have arrived here another friend’s son has also been murdered. I think Kevin @ family are staying permanently in Australia @ Gary has gone to England for 3 years, been sent there by Sasol, but despite the two murders things are really quite safe as long as one is not foolhardy @ takes care. We are having a hard time medically as Greys is now a referral hospital, so if we take ill we must go to Northdale so I am trying to put money aside each month so that we can go to a private Dr if we really need to.

The Besters are all well @ Debbie said she spoke to you yesterday. The next doors still not talking to me but talk to Daddy. Daddy was most upset with Jenny as Tara phoned to talk to us (she @ Tam-lyn always do) so Dad said is your mother there @ then asked to talk to her then I spoke to her next thing she comes down to visit Debbie @ doesn’t even bother to come @ see us, so Dad is furious. I mean he will be 80 years old next year @ I hope she doesn’t leave it too late to come @ see him.

Neal is still a darling slipped me R100 as we were leaving. Vanessa like Ronald suffering from foot in the mouth disease, she was so rude to Sherry @ Juan who had gone to the trouble of getting cheap meat for Alyson, Then Alyson not bothering to pay @ these kids without money, but when Sherry phoned today she said Vanessa had phoned her @ apologised. Sherry, Juan @ kids well @ give us so much pleasure. Daddy adores Leah @ everytime Aaron sees me its “water Nana” as I always take him swimming. Ronald Lumgair is always very good to us @ tonight said again we could live permanently with him, but hey are too unreliable although he is doing very well in his business. Taryn is enjoying her year of her life for Christ @ Donavan doing waiting at a restaurant @ earning good money. Run out of space @ time now 10pm.

Lots of love from Mum, Dad, Sheila, Ron @ family