Greetings friends! As the old song goes ‘It’s Been a Long, Long Time’.
Where have we been, you may ask?

Well, to be honest (sort of) the CO and I have been looking at property and prices in Montevideo and Punta del Este, Uruguay, South America. You may laugh; titter ye not!

Uruguay has much to offer. We are asked: “Why Uruguay? There’s nothing there; nothing happens.”

That is exactly why we fancy Uruguay: it’s a beautiful country: peaceful and quiet, no load shedding and plenty of water. The football there is very good, too.On with the show.

ALSO READ: Fidler in the ‘Hood: ‘It’s very nice to go travelling, really?’

Tent City: A Million Dreams Ago

Old friend Johnny Louch contacted me the other day. Pleasantries put aside, John had a tale to tell: of sadness, gladness, compassion, and why South Africans are a special breed.

‘Louchie’ happened to be driving past Marina Beach when a young girl waved him to stop. Hesitant at first, Johnny asked the youngster if she was okay, and where was she going. “Home,” was the reply, at the same time asking Johnny for a lift, pointing in the direction of where exactly ‘home’ was, ‘over yonder hill’.

Still hesitant, Johnny drove the little lady along a dirt road, leading to a completely unknown, obscure ‘Tent City’, a commune for homeless people and their offspring. As John poignantly put it: it was a sight for sore eyes in more ways than one.

Here was a tented township, the people destitute in our lovely beautiful South Africa, with no hope, no future.
Johnny welled up in tears as he told his story.

There are about 130 people living in this ‘settlement’, including little children.

Asking the woman in charge, who did not want her name mentioned, the ‘manager’ told John about the camp: originally a pig farm; it has no ablution facilities; everyone shares what little they have. They sleep under canvas, on stretchers, and are fed on basic foodstuffs, but, mainly cabbage, which was the prevailing smell in the camp.

Ex Pro to the Rescue

Johnny’s mind went into overdrive: well-known for his philanthropic work with charity organisation Ex Pro, Johnny has raised millions of Rands, and received thousands of children’s toys over the years, giving children a much-needed spoonful of sugar over the Christmas festive season.

As he has told me on previous occasions: there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing a young child open his/her Christmas present, their knowing that somebody ‘out there’ loves or cares for that child.

Johnny asked the woman in charge what were they actually doing for Christmas? “Nothing,” was the reply.
John replied: “How would all of you here like a Christmas Day lunch? All for free.”

Hope springs eternal. Johnny contacted Ex Pro, his business colleagues and friends. They have all ‘come to the table’, so to speak.

In these hard times here in South Africa, with less money to splash around (for everyone), he has raised enough funds, received generous donations including hampers, foodstuffs, sweets, toys and gifts to make the Tent City Christmas party dream come true.

Many thanks to everyone concerned, including the Hibiscus Retirement Village bowling club which donated the food hampers.

Every little bit helps, friends. If you wish to help, either through a donation, clothes, toys, anything, it all helps. Contact Johnny on 083 2539825.

In Spain They Say Si Si (and Uruguay, too!)

Just for the record, folks, this is my first contribution to the Herald in a long time. Why the absence? Well, besides Uruguay, the CO and I have had our ‘downers’ this year.

Family bereavements, the CO having to make a dash to Dublin.

Really, I had no time ‘baiting’ editor David Rush and his Liverpool supporting colleagues in their forlorn attempts to topple my beloved Manchester City. Plus, I had to devote much of my time encouraging the winners of the football World Cup. Viva Argentina, and all that jazz. If you ask the editor nicely, maybe I can make a ‘comeback’ of sorts. Missed you lad and lassies, too.

In the meantime, back to the Spanish language course. The CO has become surprisingly fluent in Spanish. She can say ‘si’ and ‘no’ with much conviction. Not forgetting ‘Viva Uruguay’. She does have a way with words.

As we say in Uruguay: “Feliz Navidad y Ano Nuevo”. Have yourselves a very Merry Christmas, and may 2023 be so much better for everyone.

Cheers, Rob.

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