Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
People just like us
People like you and me……
The people of Pompeii lived along with their husbands, wives, mistresses, children and animals for many centuries in this busy city.
They had schools & businesses, just like us.
There were houses for the rich with under floor heating – and gardens with fountains and pools.
There were houses and apartments for the poor citizens.
There were merchants, shops, theatres, sport arenas, brothels. (With a clear sign carved into the stone).
The Romans provided for water - 1000 liters per person per day.
There were more fountains & Communal Steam Baths
They had an earth quake or two but never realized this was part of the fury of Vesuvius so they patched up where they could and hoped for the best……...
How could they know?
"You could hear women lamenting, children crying, men shouting. There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death. Many raised their hands to the gods, and even more believed that there were no gods any longer and that this was one unending night for the world." —Pliny the Younger, circa A.D. 97 to 109
It all lasted 19 hours.
Then, there was only a long, deathly silence. Pompeii lay buried in the shadow of Vesuvius for nearly 1,700 years. It wasn't until 1748 that archaeologists began slowly uncovering the ancient city, preserved under 9 feet of volcanic ash and frozen in time.
The people of Pompeii lived along with their husbands, wives, mistresses, children and animals for many centuries in this busy city.
They had schools & businesses, just like us.
There were houses for the rich with under floor heating – and gardens with fountains and pools.
There were houses and apartments for the poor citizens.
There were merchants, shops, theatres, sport arenas, brothels. (With a clear sign carved into the stone).
The Romans provided for water - 1000 liters per person per day.
There were more fountains & Communal Steam Baths
They had an earth quake or two but never realized this was part of the fury of Vesuvius so they patched up where they could and hoped for the best……...
How could they know?
"You could hear women lamenting, children crying, men shouting. There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death. Many raised their hands to the gods, and even more believed that there were no gods any longer and that this was one unending night for the world." —Pliny the Younger, circa A.D. 97 to 109
It all lasted 19 hours.
Then, there was only a long, deathly silence. Pompeii lay buried in the shadow of Vesuvius for nearly 1,700 years. It wasn't until 1748 that archaeologists began slowly uncovering the ancient city, preserved under 9 feet of volcanic ash and frozen in time.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Bijou, the King
She adopted Bijou (and Fred who went to a friend) when he was still a tiny baby at Kalafong Hospital. His mother was a real wild untamed woman with questionable morals, his father of unknown origin. But somewhere along the line there must have been some royalty in the blood line because Bijou became a Prince …..And later, the King of the Complex.
He became a well seasoned traveler too. First short test trip was here to us, where he braved 2 ferocious dogs and drove them absolutely crazy sitting on the roof looking down upon them. From Pretoria they moved to East London…..and this must have been his favorite place. The townhouse was on the edge of a wooded area and a river with many interesting creatures. And he made new friends too; in fact he fell in love with Gaby, brought her home and allowed her to sleep on his couch and eat his special food.
All in all M and Bijou moved 8 times (he even spent six months on a wine farm while M was overseas), until they finally settled and put down roots where he became the King of the complex.
He only got lost once in all this time and that was in a tiny little ‘dorpie’ in the middle of nowhere de Aar, where they had to occupy a flat on the second floor. He was not used to roughing it and was eventually found by the dentist’s daughter who phoned the number on his Bijou disk. This was after M cycled around the whole of de Aar for 7 days calling his name!
He also witnessed the mysterious disappearance of the two hamsters belonging to a housemate in another town. Rumors are the hamsters were abducted by aliens.
M was away on a well-deserved holiday but Bijou prefered to stay behind. After all, he has his special door and the neighbor comes to fill up the bowls once a day. Apart from that there is the ‘green belt’ where he can hunt and be part of nature. Back home there is always his blanket on the couch….in the morning sun… or Fletcher’s bed with the beautiful white linen.
One night the neighbor phoned me. When S got home, Bijou was lying in HER house on the white chair and she immediately noticed some blood and his hind leg sticking out at an uncomfortable angle. She wrapped him in a towel, put him in a basket and rushed him off to the vet. They suspect he had been hit by a car, all very suspicious because he has been afraid of cars all his life, and avoided them at all costs.
The vet eventually had to amputate the leg, after getting a second opinion from the surgeon. The neighbor just wanted to know from me what to do – it is going to be very expensive +++. For me, as for M, there would have been no choice. Bijou is our family – he must get the best treatment at all cost.
But how did he know to go to the neighbor? And to go and lie on the (usually out of bounds) white chair where she would immediately notice the blood…? We underestimate the intelligence of our wonderful furry friends.
He became a well seasoned traveler too. First short test trip was here to us, where he braved 2 ferocious dogs and drove them absolutely crazy sitting on the roof looking down upon them. From Pretoria they moved to East London…..and this must have been his favorite place. The townhouse was on the edge of a wooded area and a river with many interesting creatures. And he made new friends too; in fact he fell in love with Gaby, brought her home and allowed her to sleep on his couch and eat his special food.
All in all M and Bijou moved 8 times (he even spent six months on a wine farm while M was overseas), until they finally settled and put down roots where he became the King of the complex.
He only got lost once in all this time and that was in a tiny little ‘dorpie’ in the middle of nowhere de Aar, where they had to occupy a flat on the second floor. He was not used to roughing it and was eventually found by the dentist’s daughter who phoned the number on his Bijou disk. This was after M cycled around the whole of de Aar for 7 days calling his name!
He also witnessed the mysterious disappearance of the two hamsters belonging to a housemate in another town. Rumors are the hamsters were abducted by aliens.
M was away on a well-deserved holiday but Bijou prefered to stay behind. After all, he has his special door and the neighbor comes to fill up the bowls once a day. Apart from that there is the ‘green belt’ where he can hunt and be part of nature. Back home there is always his blanket on the couch….in the morning sun… or Fletcher’s bed with the beautiful white linen.
One night the neighbor phoned me. When S got home, Bijou was lying in HER house on the white chair and she immediately noticed some blood and his hind leg sticking out at an uncomfortable angle. She wrapped him in a towel, put him in a basket and rushed him off to the vet. They suspect he had been hit by a car, all very suspicious because he has been afraid of cars all his life, and avoided them at all costs.
The vet eventually had to amputate the leg, after getting a second opinion from the surgeon. The neighbor just wanted to know from me what to do – it is going to be very expensive +++. For me, as for M, there would have been no choice. Bijou is our family – he must get the best treatment at all cost.
But how did he know to go to the neighbor? And to go and lie on the (usually out of bounds) white chair where she would immediately notice the blood…? We underestimate the intelligence of our wonderful furry friends.
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