Anniversary.

To celebrate our first ten years in Canada, in May 2008, I decided to create an archive of our adventures.
Hopefully it will also help me document our photos and be interesting to our descendants.
Come back with us in time to the year 1998 when we immigrated to Canada from South-Africa.

Index to newer Posts

There are some gaps, which I will try to fill.

Some of the posts are in Afrikaans.

Enjoy,
Tokeloshe ©

Tokeloshe

The Tokeloshe is South Africa's version of the boogeyman. It is said to be a short, furry, demonic creature that exists partially in a mystical realm, giving it the ability to appear in spirit form.

The creature is feared in the Zulu-dominated rural areas of South Africa, where it has been described as having an appetite for sour milk. It also is said to have an appetite for those who use "snuff," a tobacco-infused powder inhaled through the nasal passages.

Legend has it that attacks by the Tokeloshe can be thwarted by placing bricks under the corners of one's bed, thus raising it to a height the small beast can't reach.

http://www.scifi.com/

Tokeloshe

Eau Claire, July 2000

We went to Eau Claire market. There were many buskers inside and outside, which gives a lovely atmosphere. I see “Dolphins” and Michael Jordan is showing at the Imax. There were many different nationalities as usual with different shops and flavors in the food-court from Sushi to Tacos. There are 2 Egyptian shops, a Mexican shop, etc., beside all the other shops; one shop just sells Canadian Mounty souvenirs.

At the Egyptian store they sell lovely silver jewelry with small hieroglyphs, scarabs etc. carved into them. At another shop we saw toe rings, fidget rings. (Two loose bands with which you can fidget) and rings the “Goths” wear from $100. These are Mediaeval claws that fit your whole finger. There is also an Oxygen bar in Eau Claire market now.

Some buskers tie animals etc. from balloons, one has pies thrown in he’s’ face, some make drum music, some play trumpets, two teenagers were dancing (“Popping”) Robots to music, some paint faces, tell fortunes, one sells Bungee balls. (A ball, which you throw away, it comes back because it is on a piece of elastic) and there was a guy on a unicycle.

Then we walked over the bridge to Prince’s island where there were more buskers. (Apparently the buskers, especially the jester with the cow costume, has been banned from the parade, as they are a safety hazard.) The Folk festival was being held there. Lovely weather, because it is sheltered from the wind with all the trees.

Tokeloshe

Party, May 2000

Friday night was the biggest party we have ever been to. The building is in downtown, right on the C- train. With paid parking below. Even the foyer is b-i-g. We sat at a nice table. The catering was excellent. They must have had a hundred waiters, whose timing was spot on. The best was the desert, I am not a Cheesecake lover, but this was lovely. They had about 6 big screens hanging from the ceilings, on which we could see the guy, who made the speech. (Not too long) and the music videos (new stuff) which they danced too. Besides the lazer lights show, we even had a few fireworks inside the building. On the table was a large vase with a colorful, abstract arrangement, which consisted of party whistles, long colored pipe cleaners etc. Well, once the whistles were discovered, we saw a side of the Canadians we didn’t know. You would think it was Xmas. Many tied the pipe cleaners around their heads.


Tokeloshe

Canoeing, May 2000

Mr. T got a canoe and sometimes goes out on th Bow river.

I went with him in the canoe from Marquees d’ Lorne trail to Policemen’s flats. As it was the first time we did this stretch we had no idea how long we would be, our guess was anything from 3-6 hours. Mr T. didn’t know that I couldn’t row, I didn’t
know, that Mr. T. didn’t know. So I packed sun-tan lotion, a book, etc. in a denim rucksack.

We hardly got in, when before I could put my bag in the plastic tote, small rapids hit us, which wet my shoes, my butt, my bag, my nice soft pillow, etc. Fortunately it wasn’t cold so it was not to bad. No reading for me. Mr.T. fishes and I try and keep the boat from the sides and facing front. After and hour of this, we tried to moor, crashed into the bank, is more of a description. We lay under the trees on a sleeping bag and made hot tea and I thought I am not going to make it. Fortunately we arrived at our destination an hour later. So next time we can hopefully take it slowly, go around the islands, take more photographs and enjoy the scenery. We saw lots of birds, ducks, Geese, seagulls, Finches etc. It was very nice.

Tokeloshe

4x4, May 2000

Mr. T. got a Jeep again and it isn't automatic, which isn't easy when you are used to your gears on the other side and I am always getting in trouble with it.

We went in the S.W.D without canopy to K’ country, where the 4x4’s play. There were thousands of groups, mostly youngsters camping. Vehicles like trucks with big wheels, four wheelers, spiders etc. messing up the country. They call them O.H.V: Off Highway Vehicles. The ruts are full of mud puddles, the grass full bogs; the best “sinkplaatpad” was full of “boggels”. The drivers choose the worst routes, have walky talkies and towropes ready on the bonnets.

We of course also got stuck in the mud, but was fortunately helped out quickly, imagine cooler box, seats, etc. in the back full of dust and mud. At least the Jeep we just took through the car wash

Tokeloshe

April Fools, April 2000

Last weekend Mr. T. and I went skiing at Lake Louise. I don’t know if it was because of April Fools day, but there were more people than usual with Jester’s caps, Afro wigs etc.
On our way back we had a look at the frozen waterfall at Johnson’s canyon. We had been there before in summer. The catwalk was covered in old snow, mushy and slippery. But, there were still many people, most had spikes attached with elastic to their shoes.
The falls were beautiful, unfortunately we didn’t have our camera, as the excursion was unplanned.

One our way back we saw two Elk in the road, it looked as if they would take food from us. Closer to home we saw a whole herd.

Tokeloshe

Potluck, 3.2000

The South-Africans sometime get together for Potlucks. The food is great, Boerekos! Bobotie, Koeksisters, melktert etc. We have met some nice people there.

Tokeloshe

Snowdays

Tuesday evening it started snowing! The next morning it was knee deep. I don’t think the postman came. Mr. T. says some people didn’t go to work. Anna, our cat took one look and stayed in. She didn’t feel like ploughing through life-size snow. It snowed all through the day and night and is still snowing. I considered fetching our son, from school, but Mr. T. says it was a good thing I didn’t. The bus got stuck twice. I started snow shoveling.
Our next door neighbor’s car got stuck. He shoveled around it and he’s son helped push. He said that is, as bad as it gets. It is what we imagined when we were in S.A.

When I started to shovel, I couldn’t see where the sidewalk was. The street, lawn, sidewalk etc. was all the same height. So I started shoveling where tracks were, but that was off. As our street is like a cul-de-sac, the traffic leave a track in the middle, but the parking bays are covered with snow.
During the day, I heard radio reports on the traffic, they said Deerfoot Trail looked like a parking area. But, fortunately Mr. T. came home in good spirits, even though it had taken him an hour. The news headline reads: “Storm paralyses city.”

Wednesday evening and Thursday we had more snow. I took photos as the sun was out. You can do cross country skiing in our road. I don’t even know what the rest of Calgary looks like. I believe Calgary’s annual snow removing budget is $14,5 Million!
There were many accidents, one fatality. A 75- year old man had a heart attack while snow –shoveling. Shame.

After I took photographs I did some snow shoveling again. I made a tunnel on the deck, to get to the garbage. The snow on top of the patio table is about a foot high. On Sunday Mr.T. made us Boerewors outside. Then I started the front again.

My arm muscles are sore today. My back stiff.

I WANT TO GO SLEDDING!

Tokeloshe

In the mist - 2000

On Monday (Holiday) we met friends at Sunshine ski resort. We headed up the mountain. Into the mist, it was a mistake. Visibility was very poor. So I joined the others on the T-bar. Mr. T. enjoyed himself thoroughly in the mist. The ride was full of bumps and many people fell of the T-bar, our friends once took a few skiers and snow-boarders along. For once I didn’t fall. Can you believe it? It snowed as well. The powder was fantastic.

As you can imagine we were dead tired that night. Was I sore the next day, even from holding onto the T-bar?

Tokeloshe

Skating, 2.2000

On Saturday we went to the South –African skating at Bowness Park. There were many other people as well, and we were looking out for the promised S.A. flag. Fortunately one guy wore a hat with the flag on. A friend wore a Springbok jersey. It was a lovely day. There were bonfires again and the people were roasting hot dogs on sticks. Something we will try when we go again. As it was our 2nd skate for the season it was tough.

It was tiring and tricky to stand and chat on skates, so we took off our skates and put on our shoes. Eventually a woman came past saying: “There aren’t any South Africans here” So I asked her what was wrong with us. We laughed; She hadn’t been able to find a S.A. flag.

Tokeloshe

C-O-L-D!

Last week was C-O-L-D-! Minus 21 plus wind-chill. How cold was it?
It was so cold…

… you walk in the parking lot your eyebrows and nose hair freezes.
… you wash the car, the doors freezes up. Apparently you must knock the doors a bit
…you spray the windscreen; it freezes, even though it contains anti- freeze.
…the garage door remote won’t work.
…all the block plugs are taken up by the time Mr. T. gets to work.
…you drive to the shop next door.
…we put hand and feet warmer gels in our boots when we ski.
…there are fewer people on the slopes, makes for better skiing.
…a water bottle left in your car freezes.
…you have to turn your outside water off, otherwise the pipes can burst.

Tokeloshe

Ho-Ho-Ho, December 1999

Monday afternoon, I quickly put up some Xmas lights, wearing shorts, a fleece long sleeved top and shoes. That night it snowed. Traffic was terrible the next morning.
Many cars and even buses had accidents, as the roads were so bad. They showed people on TV driving at a snail pace (about 30kmpu) and driving against curbs to stop.

I snow shoveled, when the sun was shining, as I did a proper job, doing steps deck and all, it took me about an hour. An hour later everybody’s sidewalks had melted anyway. Some people really do a god job of shoveling; their driveways are spotless. They sweep the last snowflake away with grass brooms. They must see this as exercise.

We went to a company dinner. It was at the Savoy Faire Restaurant. The food was different, but the best was the desert: It came in a big plate, looked like Nouveau cuisine. It consisted of bananas, cream, nuts, chocolate etc. The banana cream was in an edible goblet; (milk chocolate) placed off center in the pate, with a delicate spider-web made from dark chocolate, pressed into it like a wafer. In the plate were also some chocolate triangles with spider (feather) effect on it. Suffice to say it was delicious. All the ladies got a lovely gift-wrapped box with a glass blown candle stand and candle.

Tokeloshe