This seems to becoming a habit lately and I don’t really have a good reason or excuse. Sometimes blogging just falls to the back of my head when other life is carrying on.
Things haven’t really been too exciting I must admit. There has been some IPL cricket going on where we (mate and I) have attended the matches at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth. Again today is another match at 4:30 which we will be cheering for excitedly. I have no idea who is playing but we just go along for the atmosphere.
Voting was pretty kewl. Actually I found it very funny. I had to vote at the wrinkly farm, which is the unofficial nickname that we have given the old age home around the corner from my house, and I got there early to avoid crazy queues. Just as well because queues around the country went ballistic and were 500+ people long in some places. Getting there early though before opening time meant that I had to wait anyways for the door to open. I was now surrounded by residents of the wrinkly farm and I couldn’t help but laugh. It truly seemed like a snippet out of an episode of “Waiting for God” or “Grumpier old men”. Some old duck who must have been 95+ wobbling through on her Zimmer was ordered to the back of the line by some sour looking old fart of about 65. He just barked, “We are all waiting here, what gives you the right?” Fortunately sense prevailed with the assistance of some other old ducks and she was led up to the front otherwise I think she really would have kicked it before reaching the voting booth.
Voting results were announced and of course to no surprise, Egghead Zuma and his fuckwit cronies have taken the seat of power. What the country is very relieved about though is that he never did achieve the 2/3rds majority so we have some level of sanity hopefully. What does fuck me off intensely though are the lethargic, bleating, cry me a fucking river, pseudo South Africans abroad. After all the complaints and fighting with the Constitutional Court etc for the RIGHTS of South Africans to vote abroad, less than 10 000 bothered to show up! Roughly 7000 in London and around 1500 in Canberra I think it was. Thanks very much to those who did. For those who didn’t, unless you had a very good reason like you were not registered (which is questionable in its own accord), or you were in theatre donating a kidney to save the queen, or you were busy saving 14 kids from a burning bus at the time, you can all fucking go to hell! Burn your South African passport as you should no longer have the right to carry it. You have forgotten about your country and so your country should forget about you. Stop wearing the Springbok jersey “with pride” and bleat about how fucked up your country is getting back home. You let South Africa down in her time of need but still we managed to curb the ANC without you. We don’t need you! Think of that, less than 10 000 cared enough!
I have to go out now. I will continue catching up later!
Peace!
Marcel
April 28, 2009 at 2:02 am
Geeze Chris, pretty emotional about expats not voting. Your feelings are understandable, but reflects only one side of the perspective.
I am an expat, and to be honest, have absolutely no interest anymore about what influence I could have in SA by voting. I emigrated because I preferred the opportunities available elsewhere, and as such left SA behind in my psyche. While I have a passing interest in the goings on in SA, I am now living in another country, which is my home and where I can and do make a difference, because this is where it counts. If I hang on to too many emotions about SA, it only leads to unhappiness about what was, where its going, and what the future holds..and in my opinion this is totally counterproductive. I have no intention of ever moving back to SA. That is the mindset of most of the happy and successfull emigrants that I have met here. Those that dwell too much on what happens in SA never really left the country emotionally, and inevitably are unhappy and eventually return with their tails between their legs…and trust me, there are a few of them around. As a result on being so focused on SA and on “how things worked or were done or whatever” in SA, they struggle to fit in to the new culture on an emotional level. It’s these “Hangers on” or “When We’s” that really struggle and soon head back “HOME”. For me “HOME” is Australia. SA is a country I visit to go on holiday and to see family and friends, but to be honest, I have not been back yet..too many other countries to visit that I have not seen yet.
Good luck to all in SA, I wish only the best outcome for SA and it’s people in the long run. However, on a personal level, whatever happens in SAhas no bearing on my current life and is therefore of no concern to me at all…so why should I vote?
WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE!
April 28, 2009 at 1:32 pm
YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR THIS AND ONLY THIS REASON…. THOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY YOU TALK ABOUT COMING TO VISIT ONE DAY… THEIR LIVLIHOOD AND FUTURE ARE IN YOUR HANDS!! SO YOU LIKE BEING AWAY FROM SA…GREAT FOR YOU BUT MOST OF US CANT LEAVE AND SO YOU VOTING WOULD BE A GIFT TO THOSE YOU LEFT BEHIND.
It annoys me to no end that people such as yourself feel the need to justify why they didnt vote… seriously if you still even have a passport to SA you should turn it in. That should be your only reason for not assisting us, the people who havent left… in preventing a corrupt leader coming into power! I wonder.. do you still support SA in cricket or Rugby…if so then there is part of you that is still attached. Dont try and justify why you didnt take the time to help it would have cost nothing but a bit of your own time!
I am with Hoox on this one… you are a complete chop for not helping if you could have!
and ANYWAY…DESPITE YOUR LACK OF REMOTE EMPATHY TOWARDS US WE STILL MANAGED TO PREVENT A MASSIVE FUCK UP! SO AS HOOKS SAID WE DONT NEED YOU ANYMORE!! AND YOU CAN F**kING BURN IN HELL!
Morgan
April 28, 2009 at 10:25 pm
I wanted to vote but I don’t have a ‘Valid’ ID book so couldn’t, I do however have a valid SA Passport … but that wasn’t good enough … maybe I SHOULD burn it?!
HooX
April 28, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Marcel – I do see your point. But all I am getting at is having listened to all the bleeding heart When-We’s from Zimbabwe complain about how great life used to be and how Mugabe was “allowed” to take control and destroy the country. They were the same complacent colonials that never assumed that anything bad could happen to them so why bother, whether they were home in Zimbabwe or living abroad in SA or further afield. It was those same people of the land at the time that allowed the shit to hit the fan. Now this all happened before my time (or while I was too young to truly understand it) but I am old enough now to see the changes in South Africa. Of course I have been abroad for many years and have listened to many similar bleeding hearts complaining how the current government is “fucking things up” and someone should do something about it. If the country fixed itself then they would return in a heartbeat because “there is no place like home in South Africa”. Well these people had the chance. That “someone” was ALL of us, home and abroad!” They had the opportunity and they never came to the party. Well none bar the less than 10 000 which I just think is a piss poor performance. If you have made the choice not to return then so be it. That is completely your choice. And I really don’t have an opinion about your choice to vote or not. This is nothing personal, just an overall scathing complaint at lethargic South Africans everywhere that simply expect the country to fix itself. I am just sick of hearing my fellow countrymen complain but not get off their asses for a few meager hours to assist in protecting this beautiful place. Especially now when the 2/3rds majority vote was so important to keep away from Asswipe Zuma and his Fuckwit Cronies! If I for some reason I had an opportunity to vote to save destruction in Timbuktu even though I have no personal ties to that place, I like to think I would take that chance just to help and do the right thing. Even if I was never even considering to visit the place.
WSYV – Dude, this isn’t a personal dig at one single person. No one individual allowed or saved anything. It’s a collective effort from everyone concerned. All we can say is thank God Zuma never got his numbers so hopefully the DA has been left with enough power to keep our heads above water. For the future however, if ever you hear someone at home or abroad complaining about the state of the nation, ask them if they voted. If they say no and don’t have a great excuse along the lines of ones I mentioned above, then rain blue murder on them and tell them to shut the fuck up and go back and hide under the rock they chose to hide under on this very important day. Any expat settled abroad hoping one day to return when the place miraculously fixed itself, finds a place left in ruin and burning had better be happy with the snow and ice and get used to singing God Save The Queen. And don’t dare to call yourself South African anymore.
HooX
April 28, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Morgan – Ok, I have to admit, the current ruling government never exactly made it easy for people overseas since they knew full well it would only assist the DA and other opposition parties. Good to see you at least tried. The green mamba strikes again!
Marcel
April 28, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Mr WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE
Thanks for those really constructive comments, adding valuable insights to this debate.
WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE!
April 28, 2009 at 11:13 pm
thats Mrs… and i hope you were not being scarcastic!! my pleasure to offer pearls whilst you slap some shhrimps on the barbi!!
Barbi…Braai..same thing we just do it better here!!
WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE!
April 28, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Morgan.. you passport is completely sufficient and you are wrong to think otherwise! Valid ID book ornot they needed proof of citizenship that all! many of my mates in the UK and US used theirs!! In fact i used mine here in SA! so it is ligit!
Morgan
April 29, 2009 at 10:47 am
I am not making it up, I know a number of people that couldnt and didnt vote becuase of the ID Book issue.
Besides, Zuma did ok without my vote
Morgan
April 29, 2009 at 11:29 am
FYI:
http://www.elections.org.za/Voting_SpecialVoting.asp
‘green, bar-coded South African ID book or valid temporary identity certificate; AND passport’
Marcel
April 29, 2009 at 2:29 pm
He He WYSV
Over here we put Prawns on the Barbi, the size of crayfish- we use shrimps as live bait to catch a big feed of fish, and we use the fish carcasses to catch huge mud crabs, and keep the crocs away from ourselves when we are fishing…
HooX
April 29, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Great. Now I’m hungry. I’m booking my ticket mate. Are you cooking?
Hehe
Marcel
May 9, 2009 at 12:38 am
Hoox,
Just seen your comment. Mate- welcome to visit us anytime- can catch up over a couple of Double Vodka and Red Bulls, just like old times
Sad to see you are stopping posts on this blog- understandable I suppose.
HooX
May 11, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Marcel – I look forward to it mate! Im scared of the DV & RB these days. They remind me of the feeling of “malaria” the day I was meant to leave! Hahahaha. How embarrassing! The worlds largest hangover!