THE SWEDES COME TO TOWN

Neil and Ragnhild Crawford who hail from Kärna, Sweden, had stayed with me in September 2006 and toured the southern and western areas of the Cape in search of elusive plant species and were indeed rewarded for their diligence.
It was thanks to their stopover at Dolphin B&B+S/C that good friends Lars and Kerstin Peterson, through referral, spent two nights exploring the West coast and although their sights were set on flora, it extended also to avifauna, Lars being particularly pleased with species he could tick off on his 'life' list.
I was struck by the observations that Lars had made through their travels in South Africa so far: "European Union citizens and white citizens in South Africa are in many cases in a similar situation. Farmer political and economical dominance is broken" He went on to encourage us to "continue to protect the biological diversity" of our country, adding that "Ecotourism is a growing market" and that "managing nature reserves is good investment". I can relate to that, Lars.
From here to Cape Town, then via the southern Cape (Knysna etc.) to Prince Albert where they've been put in touch with Sue Milton-Dean (PhD) who, with her husband Richard Dean (PhD), manage RENU-KAROO Veld Restoration cc and are deeply involved in and committed to Karoo veld assessment, vegetation surveys, indigenous seed and plants for Karoo restoration and landscaping. Three years ago I spent two of the most enlightening hours in Sue's company as she led a small group of us through her 'patch of perfection' - a small holding that she and Richard have left pristine and where lithops compete with gymnosperms and Khoi middens give us a glimse into an era long gone. Highly recommended.

MONKEYING WITH A GOOD WRITE IS PURE MONKEY BUSINESS

I don’t know about you, but trying to follow the Dewani case has been jolly hard work, what with the hype from spin publicist Max Clifford and the surmisations and suspicions voiced by a polarised public. And so it was with delight that I learned that long-time friend Mike Nicol's book, Monkey Business, was to be launched at the Open Book Fair last month.

Personally I think journalist Zelda Venter lost the plot when she wrote (in her review of the book) of ‘being disappointed’. Read the full review at http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/books/no-new-light-shed-on-anni-s-murder-1.1156402

Layman I might be, but I couldn’t but fail to gasp at how Mike has mastered the chain of events – and in the short while it took him to put it all together. Had I the time – or, for that matter, the inclination - I still wouldn’t have known where to search to read about this fascinating case and yet this author has been able to capture the intrigue in brilliant chronological order - and probably from the confines of his office.

I’m sorry the book is only a centimetre thick and, yes, I wait expectantly for the case to come to trial. Who knows that we mere mortals won’t have the benefit of reading the sequel which captures all that. Certainly the book is not ‘premature’; Mike has just been very resourceful in seeing a gap and taking it. It smells of professional jealousy that a journalist didn’t see it first.

DIVINE INTERVENTION OR WHAT?

My day was touched by the gentle impact of a gentle man in the form of Father Elsey. Knock-knock (or truth be told, ring-ring) at my door and there stood this larger-than-life bearded priest ("I'm of the bell's and smells discipline," he claims) from Devon who has just spent three months filling in for the Calitzdorp ngk Dominee who took a sabbatical allowing Father Ed time to explore the port capital of the world - you got it - in between the 92 recitals he played during that time.

I was to learn so much from him during his 48 hours' sojourn here and, no, he doesn't mind at all that I write openly about his gayness (or is it gaiety?), his having come out six years ago and very comfortable with himself.

I was so comfortable and charmed by this intellectual and his bonhomie, not to mention his zest (dare I say lust?) for life. We spent quality time swapping lifestyles (mine is much more mundane) and sharing a meal at Beira Mar for which Father generously paid - sorry there were no whales!

As he wrote in my visitor's book (under the column of "How did you find us?") 'Chance/Divine'. A bigger and better man knows why ours paths should have crossed and I am all the richer for it.