TAVERN OF THE SEAS david biggs Interesting aggravations

IT’S FUNNY how this country of ours gets under your skin and burrows right into your heart. We may have one of the world’s most corrupt and inept governments and one of the highest crime rates on the planet, but ask almost any born and bred South African where they would rather live and you’ll probably get the answer: “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world.” That’s the magic of Africa.

I have several Zimbabwean friends who work in South Africa because their own economy has collapsed.

I ask whether they plan to stay in South Africa and they look mildly shocked. “No” they say, “as soon as Zim economy gets back on its feet we’ll be heading home in a flash.”

Not even the dreadful Bob could dull their love of Zim, which is God’s own country to them.

At a recent launch of a new Stellenbosch wine last week I sat next to a charming woman who has business connections in the wine and food world in many countries.

She spends a considerable amount of time in Prague every year and visits family members in Britain and Australia regularly. We sat on the shaded deck of the

Of course I complain about having to go through all that, but it’s part of life and not really a problem. Routine problems like Eskom’s load shedding; and Cape Town’s level 5 water restrictions tend to draw neighbours together.

At the height of the Eskom debacle we shared emergency electrical ideas and now with the city’s water supplies running low, we discuss our water-saving routines. In my neighbourhood we use every drop of water at least three times – cooking, washing and flushing.

It’s amazing how little water you actually need if you realise how precious it is.

So I’m not going anywhere. My country provides me with just the right level of aggravation to make life an interesting challenge.

It’s certainly not boring!

Last Laugh

Sadie went to the police station to report that her husband had not come home from a fishing trip and she feared he might have been lost at sea.

“If we find the body how will we identify it as your husband’s?” asked the sergeant on duty.

“Oh it’s easy to recognise him,” she said. “He walks with a limp and he stutters when he speaks.”