While I was going about Green Point taking pics, this guy beckoned me to take a photo of him. As I took aim, he sat up straight in his big vehicle and broke into the most beautiful smile. He wanted to see himself afterwards. Something about being captured on film pleased him. We had a brief chat and he told me his name is Patrick Jack.
That is what I love about my home. The people here are warm and open. We are not a perfect society but there is a palpable warmth about us. It feels like home should.
Green Point Common or the new Urban Park as it is now called hosts a myriad of sporting events.
The area around the common is even wider and incorporates swimming races at sea or to Robben Island as well as various boat races from the Oceana Powerboat Club.
Hamilton’s, one of the oldest rugby clubs in South Africa is a hive of activities most of the time.
Last week Wednesday a block away was the Men’s Health Lighthouse 10 km road running race along The promenade.
This week they are gearing up for the Argus Cycle Tour which is next weekend. The marquee tents are going up and next weekend zillions of people will invade our space.
The million dollar question being asked in South Africa is … how will Bafana-Bafana fare in the Soccer Cup? Will we be proud or die of shame?
Since I know nothing about soccer I have two ways of finding out. I ask people who consider themselves experts and I follow the sports reports, opinions and blogs. Our boys are not in good shape right now. Time spent scrolling through the comments after a Bafana-Bafana game gone wrong is better than a night out at stand up comedy. Disappointed fans give vent to their feelings in the funniest words.
Let’s just say that short of a miracle commensurate with the parting of the water by God for Moses, there is a good chance South Africans are not going to see their team still standing in the finals. Who then do we deem our honorary team so we can feel part of the games?
Photo courtesy Andrew Cross
Mouille Point Lighthouse is reputed to be the oldest – working – lighthouse in South Africa. When the mists roll in over the sea, she starts up and her foghorn reverberates across the bay. Insomniacs unkindly refer to her as Moaning Millie.
I happen to find the long, low, slow sound of a foghorn soothing. Some misty nights when there are ships coming into the harbour there is a sort of Do-Re-Mi of multiple foghorns going on. One can hear Millie calling the ships and the ships answering her. Now how many cities can make that claim?
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
Sometimes it feels like the whole of South Africa is under construction. We did a round road trip a few months back and took in over 3000 kilometres. They were digging up everywhere. So I guess I shouldn’t feel too hard done by with what goes on in Green Point. Hopefully by the time the 2010 Soccer World Cup rolls in we will have new roads.
In the meantime the pavement along Western Boulevard is piled up high and waiting to be laid. And the pavements in town and the ones along the West Coast….
