Rob in the ‘Hood: Things are looking up, that’s for sure

Greetings. Yes, definitely, we are back in business down here and everyday life seems to be returning.

South Coast 100 Prayer Run

Lilliecrona Boulevard, Uvongo, was the scene of several sporting activities last weekend.

This year’s virtual South Coast 100 Prayer Run/Walk, organised by Pastor Daan van Niekerk of Members in Christ Church, took place from Friday to Sunday.

ALSO READ : Rob in the ‘Hood: Summer of ’42 and Winter of 2020

This is the kind of run-race I appreciate – time slots and distances of your own choice, no world records to be broken; just take your time and run for fun, even in your own home.

All you had to do was pray on the day for countries badly hit by coronavirus, for the front-line workers who are putting their lives on the line in these challenging times, and for those in need.

Donations to help support the community with food parcels were an integral part of the race.

Feel Good Factors

Our favourite restaurant in St Mike’s is doing great, just like old times.

The Rotary Flea Market, adjacent to the Douglas Mitchell Sports Ground in Uvongo, is back in business and browsers are slowly returning, looking for that special collector’s item.

Then there were the roars of the crowd watching the five-a-side football tournament at Douglas Mitchell.

SHAFTS (Self-Help Association for the Seniors) is also up and running after a hiatus of some six months.

Its first monthly braai of the year will be held at the Strider’s clubhouse in Uvongo on Sunday, September 27 at 11.30am.

There’s lots of space, making social distancing a piece of cake, but bring your own personalised face masks, so we can play a game of who’s who.

Hold your breath

The fishing pier, overlooking Uvongo beach, was also doing brisk business at the same time as the prayer run.

However, it was no fun for those fishermen who were looking for a bit of privacy in the privy.

The public toilets at the end of Lilliecrona Boulevard were locked, the lavatories blocked from not being attended to for several months.

The result was that those in desperate need were forced to relieve themselves using the toilet building, walls and all, the smell and filth being pestilential.

With the mini-holiday season upon us, it does not augur well for our main Christmas season.

Are you listening, whoever is supposed to be listening? At the moment, it is not the right time to wake up and smell the coffee.

Be grateful for small mercies

However, we should still be thankful for some things.

After self-imposed exile for six months, I ventured north to the once-fair city of Durban, to see old friends and to team up once more with Summer of ’42 star, Jennifer O’Neill.

Well, the DVD of the movie, at least.

All was fine and dandy until I hit the EB Cloete interchange, where east meets west and north meets south.

Total gridlock at Westville – nothing moved for several hours.

The traffic was terrible, the nerves were fraught, resulting in a forced stop-over in Umhlanga for the night.

Back home next day, to the loving arms of someone I am very fond of.

Conclusion: don’t knock living down here on the South Coast! It really is a wee bit of paradise and we still have a lot going for us.

See you, Rob.

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