Caught in time - Times Online

Wonderful story of real men playing a real game...the likes of which I doubt we shall ever see on a Rugby pitch again...there would be no place in a modern Rugby team for the likes of Willie John, Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennet, JPR & JJ. An interesting statistic: the average weight of the 1997 British Lions Backs was more than the average weight of the 1974 British Lions forwards...makes you think... However, is it a better game now? I don't think so. It is quicker...but no longer is there a position for all shapes and sizes.

Caught in time - Times Online: "The tourists then went off to the Kruger National Park for three days while their hosts licked their wounds. The Lions took two planes, one for the players and the other stacked with beer. The second plane came back a day later for a refill."

South Africa and Iraq: the missing example David Mikhail - openDemocracy

Hmm; an interesting, thought provoking article. But I do feel that the author slightly underplays the significance that the world's only living statesman played in all this: Mandela (or Madiba, as he is affectionately known by all here).

South Africa and Iraq: the missing example David Mikhail - openDemocracy: "The successful transition to democracy in South Africa could be an inspiration to Iraqis struggling with their own legacy of violence and dictatorship, says David Mikhail."

Jan Smuts

Jan Smuts has been a fascinating historical character for me, and the more I learn about this fascinating man, the more I am in awe of him. Not only did he write the preamble to the League of Nations (which went on to become the United Nations), but if he had been allowed to implement the results of the Fagan Commission, then Apartheid may never have happened. In my former career, I came across his name many times, as I was researching different African plants as he was a world renowned botanist.

Lord Todd, the Master of Christ's College (Cambridge University) said in 1970 that "in 500 years of the College's history, of all its members, past and present, three had been truly outstanding: John Milton, Charles Darwin and Jan Smuts"

On this day in history - a Great Man Assassinated:

Mahatma Gandhi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "On January 30, 1948, on his way to a prayer meeting, Gandhi was shot and killed in Birla House, New Delhi, by Nathuram Godse. Godse was a Hindu radical with links to the extremist Hindu Mahasabha, who held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by insisting upon a payment to Pakistan.[15] Godse and his co-conspirator Narayan Apte were later tried and convicted, and on 15 November 1949, were executed. Gandhi's memorial (or Samādhi) at Rāj Ghāt, New Delhi, bears the epigraph, (Devanagiri: हे ! राम or, H�Rām), which may be translated as 'Oh God'. These are widely believed to be Gandhi's last words after he was shot, though the veracity of this statement has been disputed by many"

Sunday Times - Article

Sunday Times - Article: "Gang kills legendary SA war expert

Legendary tourism personality and Anglo-Zulu War expert David Rattray has been killed by a gang at his home near his Fugitive’s Drift Lodge

Legendary tourism personality and Anglo-Zulu War expert David Rattray’s killer entered his house and fired a single shot before being ordered to re-enter the building to fire another two rounds, according to a source close to the scene."

This is such sad news. South Africa has lost a hero; we are all robbed by his murder. I have his audio tapes of the Battles at Isandhlwana & Rorke’s Drift; it is impossible to listen to them with a dry eye. He was a great ambassador for South African culture and tourism, and he brought communities together by the way he passionately portrayed our collective histories. Rest In Peace ubhuti