Two Bits: Confidence conquers the world

A couple of Giant Kingfishers haunt our beach, their favourite spot being the Chaka’s Rock tidal pool. At least I presume there are two, though it is not easy to tell the difference between the male and female and they are quite wary of us approaching them. They generally fly away before we can get close enough to tell the difference, which is in the colouring of the breast.

They like to perch on the No Fishing sign overlooking the pool and I’m sure they’re saying “Just watch me!” Once one of the birds was so absorbed with his (or her) fishing it let us get quite close, and we saw it swoop into the water, quick as a flash, and come up with a little fish firmly clasped in its beak. Hope it doesn’t make a mistake and try for one of the large parrotfish in there, or a lionfish, or else it might never come up again. The picture here isn’t real I never have my camera when they perch on the sign, so cut and paste in Photoshop has to be the best I can do!

The glorious weather through May and June has meant many long beach walks and the holidaymakers have been out in large numbers over weekends. Last Saturday we walked north to Villa Royale and watched a pair of Pied Kingfishers busily working the pools north of Tiffany’s. It’s such a treat to live here and have so much at our doorstep.

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Life has dealt me a cruel blow, ‘cos year after year I am a judge in the Miss Ballito pageant. I appreciate your sympathy, but someone has to do it.

With these things there has to be only one winner, but I find it really difficult to summon up the ruthlessness needed to pick a clear winner. Thank goodness we are a panel so it’s a shared call. Thing is, MB is not a beauty pageant. If it was, it might be easier. The girls have to put together community projects, then stand in front of the panel and tell us about them, together with Powerpoint presentations.

So how do you choose between someone who comes from a well-off home, with resources and family support (and a slick presentation) and someone with few resources and not the means to put together a great slideshow? I try to look for confidence and heart. The second can be faked, the first not so much.

Watching the girls parade their projects the other day, I came to the conclusion that confidence is probably the key to just about everything in life. To lack confidence as a teenager is one thing, to stand up straight and believe in yourself takes some doing. Some come across as brash, but that’s mostly a cover, isn’t it? I watched this one girl, from a tough background, stand up straight and tall and talk for five minutes without notes, no umming and erring, with a smile and with knowledge. I was blown away. Oh wow, if I had been like her at 20 I could have conquered the world!

One of the Miss B organisers, Karen Landman, said a contestant had told her that Miss B had made her realise for the first time in her life that she had value! It makes you want to cry. How sad is that, for someone to think they have no value?

That example, for me, is the whole point and value of the contest and why the Courier is committed to be a major sponsor year after year. If we can help make a difference, that’s great. But in case you wanted to know, I do not cover my eyes during the bikini parade. Hardships have to be endured.

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Father: “Son, you were adopted.”

Son: “What? I knew it! I want to meet my biological parents!”

Father: “We are your biological parents. Now pack up, the new ones will pick you up in 20 minutes.”