Yep. The world’s biggest. 464.15g to be exact. Grown in Waboomskraal, near Prince Alfred Hamlet by local farmers. Well, who else was going to do it?
“I am extremely proud of our achievement. It is officially the biggest plum in the world and another feather in the cap for Waboomskraal,” Dean proudly wrote on his Facebook page after receiving the news that they have become the Guinness World Records title holder for the heaviest plum.
Another feather in the cap? That does suggest at least a first feather in the cap for Waboomskraal, and while PAH is a lovely place… mmm… I don’t know.
So that was Dean, the farmer. He’s the son of Deon. And Dean has a son called Wean. Of course he does. This might sound funny, but it’s quite an Afrikaans thing. And I think that these guys are Afrikaans.
[picture some Afrikaans farmers in your head right now]
Aaaaand… Ta-dah!
I can also (like to) guess what card you’re thinking of. But… probably somewhat less successfully.
The world’s biggest plum, then. Not quite as big as the world’s biggest potato, (wow, 16 (sixteen) years ago) but then, it wouldn’t be, would it?
We’ve done the Nuwejaars Wetlands before, and it was very special. And whenever we drive out that way from Agulhas, it’s always like a mini-safari even along the public roads.
The great news is that this week, the NWSMA have opened a new walking trail through the area: The African Marsh Harrier Trail. There’s a lot to see…
… and it looks like a really good day out.
The creation of the trail was funded by WWF South Africa, with the support of the Overberg District Municipality. The relaxed and unchallenging trail is ideal for walkers of any fitness level, including children. It takes around two to three hours to complete. And it’s meant to be enjoyed slowly while taking in the incredible wildlife that lives in the wetlands, especially the bird life.
As mentioned above, just getting there is often educational enough, so I’m looking forward to some decent fun with the long lens next time we are down there.
Temperatures have been into the 30s for most of the last week, and with the still, warm air over the city, the air quality has been noticeably decreasing. But what we’re seeing (or not seeing, because it’s so polluted) at the moment is only classed as “Moderate” on the AQI (Air Quality Index (low numbers are better numbers)) scale:
But look at that: today’s allegedly “Moderate” levels have nothing on tomorrow, where – in the early afternoon – we’re looking at “Very Unhealthy” air quality, before returning to something altogether (well, slightly) more satisfactory on Wednesday and Thursday.
Here’s the AQI scale for reference:
And you’ll note immediately that we run up 3 steps to the penultimate level of nastiness in the next 24 hours. That’s mainly due to high counts for PM2.5 and low level ozone:
PM2.5, (also written PM2.5) are tiny particles of dust or soot – especially prevalent in vehicle exhaust fumes – and which are contributing to the murky, hazy atmosphere over the city at the moment.
Then – and bear with me here – add in those high levels of low level ozone…
Yes, I know it’s a bit confusing: high levels of high level ozone are good – thanks for using your roll-on deodorant back in the 1980s and 90s – but we really only want the ozone about 20 or 25km up there, and not at ground level:
Ground-level ozone or the “bad” ozone that forms closer to the Earth in the air we breathe. This ozone is not usually emitted directly, but rather forms from chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sunlight.
These pollutants can have acute effects on people who suffer with asthma or other respiratory diseases. Especially at these hugely elevated levels. It’s not called “Very Unhealthy” just for shits and giggles (neither of which are symptoms, by the way). Longer term effects can include cardio-vascular problems and issues in pregnancy, but we’re fortunate in Cape Town that while quite ugly, these are fairly rare levels for this little corner of Africa.
A small cold front passing over or near to the Cape on Wednesday will see a lot of this nastiness blown out into the South Atlantic where it can dissipate and harm the wildlife instead of us important humans.
But in the meantime, if you are sensitive to pollution and/or you do suffer from asthma or a respiratory illness, you might want to take steps to protect yourself from what promises to be a rather unpleasant day tomorrow.
We’re looking for a new pool cover for our pool. Mainly (exclusively, some might say) for heat retention and evaporation prevention. The two mainstays of pool cover benefits.
Having trawled several (or more) websites, I noted that there are plenty of different options out there. I thought that would mean having a lot to think about, but then at the bottom of one of the sites, this:
The following information was actually very easy to consider: it took no time at all. I hadn’t realised that this process was going to be so straightforward.
UPDATE: Also, I’m pretty sure that (for a couple of reasons)…
Note: I ran the concept of this post past a reader before I wrote it, and I got the impression that I maybe needed to find a different angle. This can like to be that angle.
Now. On with the post.
Bring back Bok!
That was my cry when I started getting adverts and flyers for this concert all over my socials and emails:
For those who aren’t aware, I have been plagued by Afrikaans singing sensation Bok van Blerk for many years now. Much like Herpes, your presence on his mailing lists is something that you simply can’t get rid of, no matter how many drugs you take or how desperately you try.
But could Lighthouse – that’s these guys:
We are Lighthouse, a family band that loves making music for Jesus, our Lord, and Savior!
actually be worse than Bok?
Yes. Yes, I rather think that they could.
They’ve been aggressively marketing their upcoming Praise and Worship Aand (evening) in Struisbaai this weekend all over my internet. They might even have taken it further: I haven’t looked at the front of my house, but it wouldn’t surprise me if their ubiquitous message had been daubed all over there as well.
They’ve also been punting their BIG SONG: Fear Of The Lord (negative reinforcement is rarely a successful means of control, and this title doesn’t seem to suggest a good way to run any sort of organisation to me) in partnership with the popular series “The Chosen”, on Youtube (76 subscribers). They tell us:
Go stream it free on The Chosen App. It’s a must-watch!
Hmm. Citation required.
At this point, I usually say something along the lines of:
I did this, so you don’t have to.
But in this case: no chance. You’re on your own.
I did watch the music video though:
Part smiley Jesus (especially when he realises that he’s turned the water into wine, lol), part Afrikaans singing family in their local school hall.
But wait. There’s more!
Binge Jesus for Free on thechosen[dot]tv/app
How exactly do you “Binge Jesus”? What does that process involve?
Yes, in the video, it does seem like he’s a nice bloke. Yes, in the video, she does seem to have a pretty good voice.
But that doesn’t mean that you have to get tangled up with what almost exactly half of Americans think saved Donald Trump from that bullet in Pennsylvania.
Let’s cut to the chase: I won’t be down in Struisbaai this weekend, and so I won’t be seeing Lighthouse in concert at the Suiderlig Dienssentrum. I will miss Pastor Walters Joubert from Bredasdorp.
Their appeal to:
Kom geniet die Aand saam met ons!
has fallen upon stony ground.
They should at least understand that metaphorical reference.
Meanwhile, in a cruel twist of fate, look who has pulled into my inbox again this afternoon:
This time, he’s singing about the threat that the Afrikaans people and language are [allegedly] facing, and trying to inspire (and here I quote):
…a new generation of Afrikaners who would like to remember the past, preserve it and build on what was good.
Ah yes. The good old days in South Africa.
Bit awkward. Especially since the title of the song is in Dutch (although there is a lengthy backstory, which I read, so you don’t have to) (see? I am a nice guy, really).
Oh man. Nationalist politics or Organised religion?
My two most very favourite things which are doing somuch the make the world a better place right now.
