Only in South Africa

I often wonder about things as I drive to work. It takes me at least an hour and a half to drive 15 kilometres to my office, and it gives me a lot of time to ponder and watch the world go round.

Lately, I have started to amuse myself by looking at ironic Taxi advertising. Some taxis in this country are mini buses that are painted with various advertising, but the irony comes in with what the slogans say. I wonder if anyone else has ever laughed out loud?

Here are a few that you will only understand if you have been here, and encountered the taxi driver cultlre in SA:

Doom insect spray: Fast, Deadly (not kidding either)
Eno antacid salts: Gets to work in 6 seconds...
Nike: Please to beat you (also true)

South African Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
the South African tradition is
12 Christmas fathers (sic)
11 watermelon coolers
10 pairs of socks
9 fans cooling
8 highveld summers
7 white clouds in the sky
6 bottles of beer on the wall (oops, wrong song)
5 pots of “pap” and “sous”
4 t bone steaks
3 sunburned kids
2 kids a-swimming
and boerewors sizzling on a braai

Christmas Musings

Nativity scenes, giant sock-like stockings, roast turkey, glazed gammon, steamed Christmas pudding, rich fruit cake covered in marzipan and plastic icing, twinkling lights, fake, perfectly round snowmen, crackers with funny sayings in them, odd looking hats, champagne, ginger biscuits, family, Christmas trees looking like – well - Christmas trees, angels, carols, Salvation Army trumpeters at shopping centres who make you weep by the mournful tunes they play on their slightly off key instruments , children rushing around having photos taken with a jolly fat man dressed in red, and presents. This can mean only one thing – it is Christmas time again.

Although the meaning of Christmas is deeply personal and different to everyone, the trappings are the same. The shops have specials on items you simply cannot live without, there is fake snow in the windows, and huge trees grace the open spaces of shopping malls covered with wonderfully coloured, elegant decorations; and the little drummer boy rum pum pum pums through your head.

I find Christmas an ambiguous time – when I am torn in two pieces: the one piece, like a child, revels in the majesty of the superficial and materialistic world created by the cunning marketers and decorators – like a dream full of happy sounds and merry sights; filled with warm smells of baked goodies, and the laughter of family members and children as they meet, and play, and have fun.

The other piece celebrates the advent of the Christ child, the birth of the Saviour. Although Christmas always depicts Him as a little child in a manger, He is the Almighty One, and we remember His birth with praise and thanks, ever mindful of His purpose on earth.

Happy Birthday Jesus, and merry Christmas everyone. May we all be blessed and well-rested over this festive time, and remember the real reason for the season.