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A Foot-Waggling Tale
The story of one woman’s journey of self-discovery – all the way back to the Highlands of Scotland and the Grosvenor Estate of the Duke of Westminister near Durness.
By Trish Parker
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An Attempt to Overcome Challenges
Prophecy to the Dry Bones
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord’.”
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet — a vast army.
Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off’. Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord’.” (Ezekiel 37: 1 – 14). -
Born to Serve
Deacon Walter Middleton spent 46 years of his life working for organisations dedicated to feeding millions of the world’s hungry. His own special passion in this calling was feeding starving children. In his memoirs, he documents his life of service to the needy, as the quote above from Tanya Pinto, CEO of Baal Dan, indicates. His multiple awards from relief organisations such as The World Food Programme (Recipient of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize) testify to the diligence, love and passion he brought to his work. His ordination to the Diaconate in his retirement puts the cherry on the top of his life of service.
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Cock Tales on the Kowie
Sue Gordon and her husband Neville purchased Richmond House, aka Cock’s Castle, on the top of Wesley Hill in Port Alfred in 1999. For Sue, this was the beginning of a fascinating journey into the history of the house and its original owner and builder, 1820 Settler leader, entrepreneur, politician, and, most famously of all, the man who shifted the Kowie River and created a harbour, the Honourable William Cock.
Sue began collecting artefacts, stories and documents about the house and William Cock, and in 2007 established the Richmond House Museum in the grounds of Richmond House.
Then, ably assisted and encouraged by fifth-generation William Cock descendant, local dairy farmer Ed Cock, she began the monumental task of researching the history of the house and the Cock family.
This eminently readable and meticulously researched book is the result.
“Cock Tales” offers the reader, whether descended from the 1820 Settlers or otherwise, a sense of place and circumstance, a fascinating glimpse into our collective past and a most welcome addition to the existing body of literature on the 1820 Settlers.
Pat Irwin, Professor Emeritus in Education, Rhodes University -
Collared & Content
Life begins at 40!
In this book, S’milo Mngadi, who has been a Catholic priest for 15 years, shares the perspectives he has gained from his first 40 years on earth.
They range from family to society; politics to people; theology to religion, sexuality to identity and much more.
This is not an autobiography nor a memoir, but a collection of viewpoints arising from his life-experience.
He admits that his views are not absolute and humbly confesses that he might be missing the point altogether.
However, he is convinced that it is a proverbial song which may be, and is in most cases, out of tune with many currently popular tunes, but which he must not die without singing. -
Guardian of the Crash
Guardian of the Crash is a remarkable and very personal journey between man and these magnificent beasts, both vulnerable to the circumstances of our time. It’s a story about the voiceless finding a platform to speak out and a growing confidence to be bold when the opportunity presents.
Dr William Fowlds – wildlife veterinarian & conservationistA heart-warming story of the relationship that developed between a group of threatened rhinos and an apparent drop-out, who found his feet while caring for these vast creatures.
Bart Logie – retired headmaster, writer, and nature-loverA story that excites so much inner human emotion and passion to want to contribute and aid in the efforts to protect the rhino species from extinction.
Mark Ralph, environmental ecologist, & Nicola Ralph, veterinary nurseThis story is a message of hope and redemption that inspired me to keep seeking purpose in life. I believe that Justin is one of God’s gifts placed into the world of the rhinos to be a guardian of creation and a voice for the voiceless.
Ilonka Esterhuyse – post-editor of the documentary, ‘Guardian of the Crash’ -
Just Kidding!
When Sally Anne (Sal) Carter – a social worker – and her husband David – a corporate accountant – decided to abandon the bright lights of Cape Town on David’s retirement and go olive farming, some of their friends thought they were mad. Others envied them!
In this collection of anecdotes, stories and vignettes, Sal Carter has captured the joys, sadnesses, trials, tribulations and triumphs of their 20 years on Zeekoegat Farm, just outside the small town of Riversdale, in a most enjoyable and very readable way.
Her descriptions of the characters and antics of their large and ever-increasing collection of farm animals and pets, especially her beloved goats and dogs, are as enjoyable and real as her stories of the interactions and relationships with their neighbours, staff, friends, family and the people of the town and the surrounding area.
Sal describes her forays into goat-milking, animal midwifery, cheese making, event organising and social work in an often self-deprecating and tongue-in-cheek way, sparing no-one, least of all herself.
Shining through it all is the support, guidance and love of her sometimes long-suffering husband, David.
A thoroughly enjoyable read! -
My Career in Nursing: What a Journey!
Nthabiseng Magagula (Born Tsiu) is a Nurse by profession, and this is her story.
Her training started in 1970, and she retired in 2022, way past the normal retirement age – more than 50 years of dedicated nursing.Always aiming to improve the quality of her service to her patients, Nthabiseng embarked on several professional courses, starting with Midwifery and Paediatrics and picking up a BA Cur and Master’s degree along the way, as well as qualifications in Infection Control and Biotechnics. This constant drive to improve herself, and her commitment to care for her patients (instilled by her mother) led to her receiving numerous awards and rising to senior management positions in the Public Health Sector. Following her retirement from the Public Sector in 2008, she worked with a number of Health NGOs in support of Public Sector health Districts with regard to HIV and Antiretroviral rollout programmes, and was closely involved with those NGOs’ support efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nthabiseng has served on a number of boards and Committees, including the Nursing Association, which is now DENOSA, as well as the Cancer Association, the Lesedi Centre of Hope for HIV Management Committee, the Victim Empowerment Centre, and the Nursing Council Appeal Committee. She is a devout Catholic, and a long-standing and active member of the Catholic Women’s League.
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The Paul Heinamann Story
In this Paul Heinamann documents his illustrious career in as a leading executive in South Africa’s corporate world, but it is far more than that.
It is also the highly personal story of his life and that of his family: his wife Melanie and their two sons, Nicholas and Jonathan.
Paul became interested in his origins and genealogy from an early age, questioning his grandmother about the family while he was still at school.
This book is the culmination of that interest, and it delves in fascinating detail into the branches of his and his wife Melanie’s family trees. In so doing, it provides an intriguing glimpse into some of South Africa’s highly complex and often swashbuckling immigrant history.
The book illustrates that while many descendants of immigrants to South Africa (and other colonial countries such as Canada, the USA and Australia) may identify with a specific “mother” country – England, Ireland, Holland, Germany and so on – in reality their bloodlines have of necessity become incredibly mixed. As Paul puts it, he is: 1/8th German Jewish, 1/8th German, 1/4 Dutch/Schleswig Holstein, 3/8th English, 1/8th Spanish/Gibraltese!
This book seeks especially to provide Paul’s children, grandchildren and future generations with an understanding of who they are, where they come from and the events that shaped all their destinies – world wars, persecution, colonial migration and much more. -
Throw Off the Bowlines
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover. – Mark Twain
Picture this: A successful Johannesburg businessman of 35, with an accomplished young wife of 30 and three children aged 8, 6 and 3, suddenly sells everything – house in Rivonia, shares in the business, cars, the lot – and with his family embarks on an adventure most of us can only dream of!
The year is 1976, and the Sutherland family is away – they buy a world-famous 36-ton, 50-foot (16 m) yacht named Gaucho in Buenos Aires and set off on a four-year adventure, sailing up the coast of South America and all around the Caribbean! -
Toasted Marshmallows & Obies
This, the ninth offering from adventurer, historian and raconteur Bartle Logie, departs somewhat from the pattern established in his previous books. Here Bart offers a very entertaining mixed bag of short, sharp stories – 72 of them! We get a glimpse of his life and adventures as a young man in England and the Cape, as well as anecdotes from his childhood visits to the Lower Albany area in the Eastern Cape, where his father was born and spent his early years.
Interspersed are acute, insightful and entertaining observations of the people, the rich history and the diverse flora and fauna of this fascinating region of the Eastern Cape.
What has not changed is the meticulous research, both on the ground and from reference material, and an easy, personal story-telling style.
All in all, vintage Bartle Logie! -
Window into Wendy
At the age of 87, Wendy Barker thought it was a good idea to record some of the interesting and amusing events in her long life, hoping they would be enjoyed by family and friends.
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“Firty-free Helephants, Oom!”
Mike Nunan has combined his skills as a keen observer, both of his natural surroundings and his fellow man, and as a fireside raconteur of note to produce this wonderful collection of reflections, stories (both humorous and tragic) and reminiscences of his life in the bush, both as a child and later as a Lodge manager and safari guide.
Mike Nunan, former maths teacher, bank manager, athletics administrator and Green Number Comrades runner (11 runs completed), has spent the past 20 years of his life managing game lodges throughout Southern Africa – as far afield as Tanzania and Botswana.
He grew up in the frontier bush environment of Northern Botswana, which instilled in him a deep love and respect for nature, wildlife and conservation.
He has combined his skills as a keen observer, both of his natural surroundings and his fellow man, and as a fireside raconteur of note to produce this wonderful collection of reflections, stories (both humorous and tragic) and reminiscences of his life in the bush, both as a child and later as a Lodge manager and safari guide.
He is obviously a deep thinker, and many of his stories reflect the philosophising that must have taken place at dawn, while sipping on his gallon mug of tea, on many a lodge and cottage veranda across the southern part of our continent.
As you read the book, you can picture Mike holding forth to guests from all over the world around the fire in the boma.
A worthy read, indeed!
