Thought for the day
BE KIND to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32
TENDERNESS and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution. – Kahlil Gibran
ONCE upon a time, long, long ago, in a far, far, faraway kingdom lived a boy who loved the festive season. Of course, when I say “faraway” I am referring to conditions, not distance. And, you may have guessed it already, when I say “boy” I am speaking about myself.
I absolutely LOVED the festive season – everything about it.
I loved how in early December the department stores and supermarkets were all festive and trimmed, and Christmas food started appearing on shelves. It could not have been a very happy time in turkey and pig households, because frozen turkeys, hams and gammons started disappearing from their homes and materialising in supermarket freezers.
The toy departments in stores were my favourite. During this season these areas were extended, trimmed and lit up, and there was a sense of breathless wonder that came over me as I gazed at the toys. Mother and Father had to buy me a bib because of my Christmas time drooling condition.
The smells of baking wafted from homes, and when visiting family you’d see cake tins being filled with cookies. Occasionally, but only very rarely, you’d be given one biscuit to taste, and you were reminded quite firmly that the tins on the high shelves were for Christmas and therefore off-limits.
Toward the middle of the month you were taken shopping for your Christmas kit – the clothing stores made a booming trade. We were shuttled from Ebbies to Bachelors to The Family Outfitters to find the perfect ensemble. While Dad spoke cricket to the proprietors we, the youngsters, fitted on shoes, trousers and dresses.
Wait, that came out wrong. My sisters fitted on the dresses, let me make that clear! I wore big-boy pants.
These days the festive season starts building up toward the end of September already with Christmas trimmings and advertising becoming increasingly prominent.
But of late I have lost my sense of wonder and excitement. Instead I feel like a Christmas pig, or turkey.
The sense of wonder and excitement has been replaced by a sense of fear and foreboding that the tiny minority, who make up their wish lists and plan their “shopping sprees”, will break in to my home and harm my family.
At this very moment there are outlaws planning where to strike next, to not only steal from, but also hurt and humiliate their victims.
These outlaws have probably glamorised their “profession” and they can justify why they do it … usually, according to them, someone else is to blame for their choices and they are the result of a bad deal. I do not know their circumstances, and I know it is stupid to generalise, but what I do know is that we all are free to choose whether we want to hurt or help, provide for or deprive others.
I am ever hopeful that I will open this newspaper in the next few days and read how police have swooped on and shut down a house robbery, hijacking or trafficking syndicate.
That may be up to the average citizen to help the police by being alert and reporting suspicious or out of the ordinary activity in our neighbourhoods.
Maybe if we did this we could undo the plans of those who intend to harm others and we could revive the magic and wonder of the festive seasons of long ago.
Bad people are everywhere, watch out for them. Not only do they rob and steal, but they vandalise, litter and violate basic laws. They steal emblems off cars and remove street signs from street corners; and do other crimes that usually slip under the radar, because we focus too much on the big, sensational crimes that make headlines.
And do you know that another “crime” is perpetrated, especially around this time of the year?
It happens when those who have an abundance make no plans to bring relief and joy to those who have nothing; so in a sense we all have a bit of outlaw inside of us. AIRPORTS Company South Africa’s Kimberley Regional Airport has applied new parking restrictions in front of its terminal building, which will see motorists being fined for non-compliance.
Airports Company spokesperson, Senzeni Ndebele, said yesterday that parking restrictions have been applied to all areas in front of the terminal building, the road behind the car rental buildings, along the airside perimeter wall and in front of the emergency access gates.
“Passengers and those using Kimberley Airport should take note of the new parking restrictions at Kimberley Airport. Unfortunately, passengers were using the drop-off-and-go facility in front of the terminal building as a parking lot, which created congestion and security risks to all airport users. To ensure a flow of traffic through the airport, to minimise security risks and to comply with global aviation standards, we have updated our parking restrictions.”
He added that in accordance with the recent International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) amendment to Annex
17, which recommends security controls on landside areas, access to drop-off and pick-up areas has been partially restricted.
“There is still ample parking space available in the designated parking areas of the airport. We trust that passengers and visitors to the airport will help us to ensure the safety and security of all,” Ndebele stated.
In addition, in accordance to the National Security Aviation Security Programme (NASP), no vehicle may be left unattended in front of the terminal buildings, and three metres from the perimeter wall. “Travellers are not allowed to leave their vehicles unattended in these areas.”
In order to accommodate travellers while keeping aligned to NASP legislation, the Kimberley Airport has clearly demarcated parking facilities.
There is also a demarcated drop-off and pick-up zone, which has been limited to a 15-minute waiting period. Other services including car rental and cargo are not permitted to use this area.
“Fines for parking illegally in front of the terminal building and emergency gates will be issued at R100.”
– Patsy Beangstrom