Myrtle thought the blog's purpose was to document the Turtle's 6-month adventure in the Caribbean. She therefore stopped writing as soon as they arrived in South Africa. Besides, most of the readers are South African and what can Myrtle write that they don't already know? However, the urge to write came back after 6 weeks so here she is, documenting parts of their life again.
The Turtles spent a wonderful two weeks in Johannesburg. They slept at Myrtle's brother's house (for blog purposes known as Byrtle) and visited Tony's family in Pretoria. The Turtles then set off for Uvongo, in Kwazulu Natal, to visit Myrtle's mother. After 10 days they flew to Cape Town where they spent a glorious three weeks. At the moment they are back in Johannesburg trying to finalise various (boring) administration issues. Like their will... and their SAICA (South African Institute for Chartered Accountants) fees... and their stupid policies... and... and... and.
First the update, now the story.
The Turtles have never experienced any kind of racial incident in their 33 years in South Africa. They left South Africa and worked overseas for over 4 years, came back for a holiday to experience just such an incident...
The Turtles packed a picnic basket and headed for the magnificent Camp's Bay beach. There is a huge tidal pool where Tiny loved joining the other kids, catching fish with a net and building sand castles. As the Turtles walked across the beach, they scanned the area for a suitable picnic area. Myrtle spotted a flat rock close to the water and imagined the rock ladened with the tasty treats they packed - like a little table! They headed for the rock but just before they got there, a young black man, who was approaching from the other side, sat down on the rock. Of course he had no idea the Turtles wanted to use the rock as their dining room table.
The Turtles veered off to the right, the disappointment visible on Myrtle's face (she still hasn't mastered the art of expressionlessness (no such word, she knows)). They decided that the second best position was one right at the water so they could watch Tiny closely.
As the Turtles continued to set up the umbrella, lay out the beach towels and food and coaxing Tiny into her swimmers, the table sitter was giving them the evil eye. Myrtle noticed the disapproving looks he shot to them, interspersed with angry mutters. His reaction baffled Myrtle and made her seriously nervous. What was he so worked up about?
After about half an hour of this he disappeared into the bathrooms (yes, Myrtle was watching him like a hawk. Who knows what he was up to? He could have been a child abductor or a murderer and Myrtle was not going to be caught unawares, no sirree). When he returned he stared at the Turtles while walking past on the boardwalk. It became so bad that even Tony, who is normally oblivious to looks and even remarks, noticed the man staring and muttering. When Tony turned to take a good look, the angry man flipped Tony the bird.
Now, everyone who knows Tony will be aware that he is not an easily ruffled or angered man. He normally keeps calm under tremendous stress (which includes his wife's antics) and, as proven by the Havana Check-In story, is able to ignore conflict situations. However. Yes, however... he jumped up like a flash and shot across the beach to the boardwalk - faster than Myrtle has ever seen him run. In Myrtle's haste and surprise she swung her head around to look what her husband was up to. This lead to her hat falling over her eyes so she missed the next couple of seconds.
The boardwalk is about a metre higher than the beach and the bird flipper was also protected by a railing. When Tony asked him what he was up to he said: "You are racists!" Tony's mouth fell open with astonishment. "Why would you say that? You don't know me!" To which the very mature, non-racist answer was: "F*&^ you, you racist!" At which Tony started to laugh and came back to the umbrella.
Myrtle thinks that the man saw the Turtles turn away from the rock right after he sat down on it. He probably thought the Turtles didn't want to sit close to him as he was black... Had he asked why we chose another spot, he would've known that that was not the case. Another case of a stupid assumption: If you are white and Afrikaans you MUST be a racist. Nice one.
Pictures of Camp's Bay - but beware, frostbite possible!
The Turtles spent a wonderful two weeks in Johannesburg. They slept at Myrtle's brother's house (for blog purposes known as Byrtle) and visited Tony's family in Pretoria. The Turtles then set off for Uvongo, in Kwazulu Natal, to visit Myrtle's mother. After 10 days they flew to Cape Town where they spent a glorious three weeks. At the moment they are back in Johannesburg trying to finalise various (boring) administration issues. Like their will... and their SAICA (South African Institute for Chartered Accountants) fees... and their stupid policies... and... and... and.
First the update, now the story.
The Turtles have never experienced any kind of racial incident in their 33 years in South Africa. They left South Africa and worked overseas for over 4 years, came back for a holiday to experience just such an incident...
The Turtles packed a picnic basket and headed for the magnificent Camp's Bay beach. There is a huge tidal pool where Tiny loved joining the other kids, catching fish with a net and building sand castles. As the Turtles walked across the beach, they scanned the area for a suitable picnic area. Myrtle spotted a flat rock close to the water and imagined the rock ladened with the tasty treats they packed - like a little table! They headed for the rock but just before they got there, a young black man, who was approaching from the other side, sat down on the rock. Of course he had no idea the Turtles wanted to use the rock as their dining room table.
The Turtles veered off to the right, the disappointment visible on Myrtle's face (she still hasn't mastered the art of expressionlessness (no such word, she knows)). They decided that the second best position was one right at the water so they could watch Tiny closely.
As the Turtles continued to set up the umbrella, lay out the beach towels and food and coaxing Tiny into her swimmers, the table sitter was giving them the evil eye. Myrtle noticed the disapproving looks he shot to them, interspersed with angry mutters. His reaction baffled Myrtle and made her seriously nervous. What was he so worked up about?
After about half an hour of this he disappeared into the bathrooms (yes, Myrtle was watching him like a hawk. Who knows what he was up to? He could have been a child abductor or a murderer and Myrtle was not going to be caught unawares, no sirree). When he returned he stared at the Turtles while walking past on the boardwalk. It became so bad that even Tony, who is normally oblivious to looks and even remarks, noticed the man staring and muttering. When Tony turned to take a good look, the angry man flipped Tony the bird.
Now, everyone who knows Tony will be aware that he is not an easily ruffled or angered man. He normally keeps calm under tremendous stress (which includes his wife's antics) and, as proven by the Havana Check-In story, is able to ignore conflict situations. However. Yes, however... he jumped up like a flash and shot across the beach to the boardwalk - faster than Myrtle has ever seen him run. In Myrtle's haste and surprise she swung her head around to look what her husband was up to. This lead to her hat falling over her eyes so she missed the next couple of seconds.
The boardwalk is about a metre higher than the beach and the bird flipper was also protected by a railing. When Tony asked him what he was up to he said: "You are racists!" Tony's mouth fell open with astonishment. "Why would you say that? You don't know me!" To which the very mature, non-racist answer was: "F*&^ you, you racist!" At which Tony started to laugh and came back to the umbrella.
Myrtle thinks that the man saw the Turtles turn away from the rock right after he sat down on it. He probably thought the Turtles didn't want to sit close to him as he was black... Had he asked why we chose another spot, he would've known that that was not the case. Another case of a stupid assumption: If you are white and Afrikaans you MUST be a racist. Nice one.
Pictures of Camp's Bay - but beware, frostbite possible!
Hey !! Dis cool om te sien jy's weer online en doenig met die blog !!
ReplyDeleteglad to have you back on here! thinking of you lots and wondering where your adventure will take you next....
ReplyDeletexo