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Message from the Editor: belated Valentine wishes
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There is quite a bit of confusion about who St Valentine is, and why we celebrate his day with overpriced roses, chocolates and gooey cards. It seems that, back in Roman times, there were actually three Valentius's, all of whom were martyred at various times during the February fertility feast of Lupercalia.
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The front-runner is a priest who conducted secret marriage ceremonies for young Roman soldiers, even through it was forbidden for a soldier to marry (it was thought that romance and roughhousing did not go together) and was executed for breaking the law. Another contender was imprisoned as a Christian, fell in love with his jailer's daughter, and used to smuggle her notes 'from your Valentine'. But there is another Valentine, a Christian bishop, beheaded by Claudius II who had a taste for that kind of thing.
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The Lupercalia festival, by sheer coincidence, contained lots of naughty rituals concerning love, lust and procreation. So when Christianity tried to replace all those dissolute pagan festivals, it made sense to lump the romantic Valentine with the Lurve-month of February.
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Be that as it may, we hope that you lurve our latest newsletter, which brings you our usual mix of the wise, wonderful, wacky and worthy. Enjoy.
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TURNING GARDEN EXTINCTION TO DISTINCTION
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A new concept aimed at bringing living examples of threatened indigenous plant species to the doorsteps of urban gardeners in the Western Cape has been launched in Cape Town. The 1 000m2 Fynbos Circle on the Grootboschkloof green belt in Constantia and the 1 000m2 Strandveld Circle on the edge of Zandvlei in Muizenberg showcase two of Cape Town’s endemic and endangered …
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roaming >> a calm oasis of a restaurant in the city
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The Olives and Plates Wits Club and Conference restaurant is situated at the University of the Witwatersrand’s West Campus in what used to be known as the WITS Clubhouse. It’s housed in graceful-looking old-Dutch architecture, and it feels like stepping into a calm oasis away from Johannesburg.
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Economic growth, key to boosting South Africa’s troubled retail sector
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South Africa’s low economic growth projections are a major blow to the retail sector, which accounts for about 72% of all retail – nearly R780bn annually.
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Half a lifetime ago, my steps echoed on the cobblestones of Buenos Aires. They were a lasting, solid characteristic of this beautiful city's old quarters. Two eminent Argentine artists, a photographer and a writer, used word and image in homage to the legacies of their birthplace.
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Pride, Prejudice and a Porsche
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Not quite Jane Austen and not necessarily in that order … but possibly about manners and money.
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Jonx Pillemer - Lizzie The T Rex Kinetic Artwork 2016
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“Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m staying safe, I hope you are too.”
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Valentine's Day 2021 is looking quite different to previous years... in fact, it's almost nowhere to be seen.
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RELIGION and Choice – A layman’s guide to the Guru’s dilemma
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We are born into families, religions, cultures, traditions. We have no choice and then become followers of that religion. If you had a choice, which would you follow? Why? Not sure? Check your unexpected options.
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Dissertation and Discombobulation
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The poem was written while discerning the current state of affairs in my life and dealing with my discontent.
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I've been sharing articles about pet care and treatment tips for various ailments from my experience with my two Yorkies. Here I share a brief experience with heart failure in my elderly dog. Sadly, the day comes when there's nothing more to be done but to say thank you for the unconditional love and bid them farewell.
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