Donkeyshott & Xuitlacoche

Hi Tony, Your contact details were passed on to me by Dominic Tweedie whom I'm sure you are acquainted with. I am a Kenyan (almost sounds strange to my ears) who fled into SA in 1998 and have been living here ever since. Recently, I got to know Dominic through the weekly study group meetings at Cosatu house and during one of those street encounters in Braamfontein, we got talking about the Kenyan post-colonial regime including some of its leading players such as Kenyatta, Oginga Odinga, Mboya, Kaggia, Oneko and others. It was really refreshing for me to be talking to someone who witnessed some of the monumental events as they unfolded in the Kenya of the '60s and 70s. Dominic mentioned that I could possibly get to learn more from you about the Kenyan left of those years and the different political struggles that were taking place between the then burgeoning ruling class and those determined to chart a path for the poor working class and the peasantry. No doubt su

Dear Bar   We've just had two thirds of our kids here - the twins Andy and Chris, their wives, kids (7 intotal) and Andy's mum-in-law, for almost a month. The wonderful thing about this house is that it accommodates even that many people without bulging too much. And takes the inevitable litter quite gracefully. We spent a few days in Mozambique, at a very pleasant, simple beach place about 30 min boat ride from Maputo - lovely beach, sea, prawns and fish fresh every day..Maputo not looking too bad, considering. Then three days in the Kruger Park, saw enough beasts to keep the kids happy. It's such a lovely time in the bushveld at the moment, both here and in the Kruger. Here we have several lovely corral trees (known in the bad old days as Kaffirboem) flowering profusely - and the sausage tree, which has the most beautiful big velvety plum coloured flowers that shower down almost constantly; and the white wild pear trees dotted over the hillsides...I could go o

We knew Marius not only through joining COD, but also during his beatnik period. We met him in Cape Town in 1959. Paddy Roome, Tony Levy and  other ex-Jeppe School pupils who were at university with us put Marius in touch with us, when we went down to Cape Town for six months in April 1959. We went to Cape Town because Tony had been newly recruited by the Star and sent to CT to attend the Argus journalist's training course for six months.    We got pretty friendly with Marius while we were in CT, and with him (possibly through him) we met Breyten Breytenbach and Jan Rabie and Ken Parker. At the time, we thought Marius was a bit mad (in the nicest possible way!!) with a great sense of humour but somewhat inclined make up or embroider facts for effect - e.g. to make the story funnier, he didn't mind a joke against himself. We only half believed in his stutter...   He was very goodlooking in those days, and could be extremely charming -as he continued to be, when he fe

My dear granny and grandpa, I wish I could come earlier than in August, that is in 6 months, but I still remember that Christmas that I spent with you. How was the swimming pool, and is it hot out there?  The last day in SA I remember I was in a swimming pool and I remember that I saw a scorpion in the water but it did not bite me. I love so much and I miss you, but one day I will be there. Today I found a worm, a beetle and an ant and Tulula, asked me if I would dare to eat the worm but I didn’t, but I did hold it and I liked it. Katie Gorgon is coming to my house next week. I have been to her house twice and I felt very bad when I saw her garden because it was so big. I’ve got an invitation to go to Ellen’s party next Sunday. My party is going to be in Snakes and Ladders, I’ve been there and I loved it.  They have lots of games and I monster that scares you, I spent good fun there. Now it’s been hot here and I’m going to wear my summer dress for