Wearily upward

A while back, my friend Richard and I were talking about camping and it turns out we have the same philosophy when it comes to certain pieces of equipment: It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. We weren't talking about the trademark Bear Grylls survival kits or the latest off-road adventure vehicles. No. We were talking of the gear you don't even realise you need until you need it. Like shoelaces. That's why I bought an extra set of shoelaces before a Central Asia trek some years ago. I also bought a small sewing kit and extra zipper pulls (don't judge me) because you never know... Can you imagine getting ready for the day's 20 km hike through rough and rocky mountain terrain, and rivers of snowmelt? Can you see yourself putting your high tech Vibram-soled hiking boots on, pulling on the laces... only to feel that gut-wrenching snap and the realisation that you have just doubled the number of shoelaces in your hands, but wrecked...

Dear neighbours The aim of this letter is to sincerely and honestly thank you. Thank you for teaching us so much about neighbourly love, acceptance and welcoming others. Through your perfect example we now know what the opposite of these virtues look like. You have shown me exactly what I do not want to be like as a neighbour. Thank you also for making our kids and their friends feel unwanted and unwelcome – even sad and afraid at times – by your racially charged comments and yelling out of windows. They too have learnt what the opposite of being a kind neighbour is through your sterling example. It gave us, as parents, the opportunity to teach our kids that there will be places and people in this world who do not like them or welcome them, and that this is okay, because they will always be loved by their parents. It is, however, unfortunate that this lesson had to be learnt at the place we have called home for 5 years. Finally, my sincere thanks to you all for making life “at home” so...

Today I started running (again). This was because I wore a piece of clothing yesterday that I would have labelled as "loose fitting" before wearing it yesterday. Just to make it abundantly clear: the piece of clothing (an old rugby shirt) can no longer be described as "loose fitting", but borders on "being sprayed on" like the Waratahs jerseys of the early 2000's... I started using the Couch To 5K app (again), which is brilliant. I have the amazing Sarah Millican telling me when to start walking and when to start running with a "Are you ready? Gooo!" in her inimitable accent with just the right balance between optimism and realism. When I was younger I would never have thought I'd need an English comedian telling me when to run or walk on an app because I was so unfit. I played rugby, coached squash, ran half-marathons, for goodness sake! I was fit and healthy! It was also at that time that my rugby shirt was, very much, "loose fitti...

My family and I visited friends and family in South Africa recently. For a part of our trip we stayed on a game farm, so, naturally, we went on loads of game drives. A photographer's paradise!  On one of these drives we were completely surrounded by a herd of about 10 elephants. There's something special about being that close to something that wild and that big, but also that peaceful; to be at the mercy of such immense power, but not feeling afraid (sound familiar?). If it sounds spectacular, it really was!  It would almost seem like a bit of a let-down seeing this bird and its young a few minutes later. It is a picture of a Greater Painted Snipe ( Goudsnip in Afrikaans) protecting its young from a bunch of people in a big game viewing Land Cruiser. But the more I think about it, the more I am amazed at this incredible expression of love, care, courage and sacrifice. I am reminded of Psalm 91:3-4 (NIVUK): "Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the...