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I've
been living in South Africa for 25 years but try to get back to
Lincoln whenever I can. My dad, Lincoln born and bred, has just
completed his 80th year in Lincoln, apart from a few years in the
RAF when he too was 'getting his knees brown' in Africa.
But, you know that old phrase - it's a small world! Well, it really
is. My husband and I were having a drink in our 'local' (closest
we can find to an 'English-style' pub) and chatting to complete
strangers at the bar as Lincolnians are often wont to do when they
find themselves miles away from home (!) when this handsome young
cove I was 'chatting up' told me he came from Lincoln.
He was probably about 10 when I left! But we old Lincolnians are
getting together across the worldwide web through 'Friends Reunited'
and learning about life, the universe and everything through the
miracles of the technological age!
Keeping in touch with friends from home means so much when one is
so far away. So much has happened since we left - my husband and
I have become old boys of the same school even though I went to
South Park and he went to the City School and that same school is
now firmly ensconced at the top of my father's road when I had to
trek across miles of windswept moor (South Common) to get there!
Brayford Pool has become 'The Marina' and is overlooked by that
bastion of educational excellence - Lincoln University! What a
lot we missed.
But what of the 'rainbow nation' in which we live now. South Africa
- braaivleis (pronounced bryvlase - barbeque), sunny skies and Chevrolet
as the advertising slogan announced on our arrival 25 years ago
still holds true - except for Chevolet which has been replaced by
the Japanese and of course, apartheid is a thing of the past.
The economy shifts as the currency plummets but South Africa remains
one of the most stable countries on the continent and the sun shines
every day. Preparations are underway in Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg,
for hosting the World Summit in September, providing much needed
employment opportunities for a wide variety of skilled and unskilled
labour, so roadworks abound and traffic snarls at peak hours cause
endless frustrating delays - same as any other country!! Except
of course for the 'Black taxis' which are a law unto themselves!!
European road rage is nothing compared to what is sometimes referred
to as 'the taxi wars'. The unwritten rules of the road are 'drive
on the left' but always give way to the black taxis! South African
taste-buds thrive on boerewors (a sort-of-sausage - w(v)ors is meat),
koeksisters (a pastry-thing soaked in treacle) and mealie-meal -
the staple diet of the poor, but delicious covered in a tomato
and onion sauce and served with meat char-grilled, straight off
the braai, washed down with ice cold lager or a South African wine...
But what of pork pies, haslet and other exclusive Lincolnshire fare?
Well, much like Simon we
have to 'stock up' when we go home but in the meantime Woolworths
(Marks and Sparks here in SA) make the best of a poor selection.
Last week we saw a sign outside a family butcher - English Pork
Pies, Black Pudding etc. just like home. My husband screeched to
a halt and scorched the tarmac in his haste to get to these tasty
morsels but came back a beaten man, grasping a pale and dejected
replica of the 'real thing'.
We can get fish and chips from a British couple who dispense this
staple fare in a homely little restaurant and take-away not too
far afield but when we get home to Lincoln we make our way to Langworth
to a fish and chip restaurant my father 'swears by' - no names,
no pack-drill! but that's where you'll find the Simpsons on any
occasion of note such as my Dad's 80th birthday! Yes, it's our
delight on a shiny night in the season of the year!
Bye for now - we'll chat again...
Are
you an ex-pat living abroad? Would you like to write a short ex-pat
diary on a regular basis? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Email us today at:
lincolnshire@bbc.co.uk
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