That plane is very cool. It is great when a company can have some fun and make it fun for the people that spend their money with them.

The safety announcements by the crew have similar humor......and people actually listen to them. At one stage their uniforms were matched T-shirts, jeans and "sneakers" - totally practical, especially if the plane had to land in water or something.

Hi Gerald & other SAers !

In regard & follow up of this post, I thought you may enjoy knowing that, a Canadian national radio is honoring African music & life !
Although the page & texte are in French,Here’s the link for those who may be curious
Amicalement, Robert ;)

We have a particularly obnoxious wannabee politician in this country by the name of Julius Malema. Here is a bad outburst: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcmqX6klUJY.

But, he is good material for a joke like this:

Julius and the Pope

The Pope and Julius Malema are on the same stage in front of a huge crowd.

The Pope leans towards Julius and says, "Do you know that with one little wave of my hand I can make every person in this crowd go wild with joy? This joy will not be a momentary display, like that of your followers, but go deep into their hearts and they'll forever speak of this day and rejoice!"

Julius replied, "I seriously doubt that. With one little wave of your hand? Show me."

So the Pope gave him a moerse klap. (smack across the face)

Gerald did you get the defenition of a octopus?

No.

Malema's handbook is Mein Kampf. My mother survived WWII, she says he behaves exactly like Hitler, same style, same retoric, same methods to sow racial divides.

The only thing we have learnt from history is that we don't learn from history.

You should have it now

Mike Metalhead gets the mail for anybody @mechmate.com these days . . . . that mail address is no longer mine.

sent it to the other mail

I like Juluis. He has done more to discredit his own organization in the last year than the official oposition could do in the last 15! :D

I think he is just a puppet taking the heat off the president when he is doing funny things ...like marrying several wifes and having childeren out of wedlock.....make me think I could be right here.

Did Zuma's recent formal visit to Obama make the press over there, and was it mentioned that his partner was his fiancé and not one of his wives?

Google "Jolly julias malema" there is a song about him doing the rounds on the tune of waltzing matilda.

I see Zuma was praised by Obama for dismantling our nuclear weapons, doesnt Obama know we dismantled them before they came into power so that him and the likes of Julius couldnt get their grubby paws on them, or wasnt that lesson part of Presidential Knowledge 101?

Franschhoek Motor Museum
 

Had some glorious autumn (fall) weather today and took a drive into the country, up to the Hex River valley, to see the fall colours in the vineyards. On the way back, stopped at the Franschhoek Motor Museum, a private collection of 220 cars. I grew up as the son of a garage owner, and a lot of those cars brought back memories of my old man's customers and their cars. :)

That must be the most beutiful place on earth!
I remember a friend had one of those old Volvo's. Those cars had no end to them. Just kept on going. They don't make them like that anymore.:(

Johan, old cars did well if they managed 100 000 miles without a major engine overhaul....the modern car easily does that. And with air-con, I am sort of glad that they aren't made the old-fashioned way anymore. :)

You are right Gerald. We used to visit Durban every year in the December holidays. As a high school 'Laaitie' me and my brother used to count the cars standing next to the main road. Some with clouds of steam boiling out under open hoods.:)

Today spend some father and son time. This time my youngest or the little 'pension eater' as I call him. Hopped on the bike and went to the air show at Rand aiport. http://www.randairport.co.za/randairport_new.htm . Check out the AIRSHOW button.

Took some pictures of my favourite ones.

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I still have a photo of the Tigermoth my brother used to fly. I was in standard 2. Many many moons ago in the 60's!:D
I heard a story about a pilot that did some low flying with a Harvate(spelling?) on a farm. When he landed the bottom of the engine cowling were gone. They found it next to a 1.2m high crumpled fence on the open veld. That is low flying Boet!

Is that flying boat (Catalina?) a musem piece, or still in use?

Still flying...what a pleasure to see it.

HARVARD... also known as the American AT6 I think. About 10 of them flying today.

Google Street View came online for a lot of South Africa yesterday. The MechMates are near to S33 55.840 E18 27.501. My office is near S33 58.117 E18 34.772.

If anyone wants a scenic drive, try going from S34 05.750 E18 21.360 to S34 04.689 E18 21.652 on a motorbike :)

Very nice
 

Gerald

Very interesting but I had to replace the S with - and the E with +

Would love to do the motorbike trip but I still have to fix it after the clutch gave up the ghost :-(

Regards

Graham

Dangerous road brother But very good views and a lot of tourism.

Nice cruiser. Is that the LT with the reverse gear ?

Yes
 

It is the LT or Light Truck. Bit of a pig at low speeds but once it gets going :-))))))) It has a better spec than my car.

We were headed here http://tinyurl.com/applecross-pass-on-street-view

Regards

Graham

Here is an interesting article about SA and the world cup by an outsider.

The Huffington Post - Shari Cohen

Trip to Cape Town (birth of the MM) to pick up bike
 

On Saturday morning early myself and my eldest son left for Cape Town to go and pick up my new old bike.

Waiting for the dealer to pick us up at CPT International with a Bank Guaranteed cheque.
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Did the paperwork and by 11:30 we were on our way...a little site seeing as Cape Town is really a fantastic place.
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Also visited Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.
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For our friends DOWN UNDER....this is how far we are from each other.
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Bought some salted and fresh SNOEK (fish). The fresh one went on the BBQ at a friends house on Saturday evening.
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My friend also have the ugliest dogs on the earth...African SAND DOG.
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Left Cape Town at 05h00 this morning. and was home at 17h26....what a ride.
A bit sore in the bum, but overall a wonderful weekend spend with my son.
The Beemer cruised at 160 kph almost all the way.