Reading matter and a visit to the "Place of the Cheetahs!"

At presently I am reading four books. Okay, one I am about to start! It just happened that way. I went away on holiday and bought a book at the airport. The aim was to read this on the airplane. This book is called: "The Richest Man in Babylon" by George S. Clason. This is the classic story about desires and the key to fulfill these desires. Basically it teaches you the everyday secrets of how to make money but most importantly, it teaches you the secrets how to keep this money and how to make more. It is the basic principles you and I know although we do not apply it. 

The second book I am reading I have mentioned before in one of my blocks. This is the book: "1001 Days that shaped the world". For more information on this book visit www.1001beforeyoudie.com. 

The third book is a book a friend gave me to read. This book is kept in the cubbyhole of my car and whenever I have a spare minute when waiting for someone, I take out: "Life after death" by Neville Randall. It makes interesting reading. I am sure we all have this age old question of what happens to us after we die. This is irrespective of your beliefs. This is an easy reading book and I must admit fairly reassuring. I think what makes it reassuring as well is the fact that we will be surrounded by our pets. On this basis alone it is worth it to read this book.

At this stage I think you are all wondering where on earth did I go to on holiday? Well, I did not go to any exotic destination. I went for a few days to Bloemfontein, the capitol the province of Free State,  one of the nine provinces of the Republic of South Africa. http://www.southafrica.info/about/geography/provinces.htm.

To be more exact about this province, read more at this link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_State_(province) 

I enjoy going to Bloemfontein. The pace there is much more relaxed. Bloemfontein I regard as a very large town and a small city. The City of Mangaung (Place of the Cheetahs)   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangaung_Metropolitan_Municipality 

The City of Roses it is known by as well. The entrance to Bloemfontein along the Nelson Mandela Drive.   

One of my favourite places to go to on a Saturday morning is the farmer's market held every Saturday morning in Langenhoven Park.

Many think Bloemfontein is just another city in South Africa. Little is known that this the birth place of the African National Congress as well as the Nationalist Party of the Apartheid regime.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_African_National_Congress (1912)

and

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Party_(South_Africa) (1915)

The airport of Bloemfontein is small in comparison to other airports of cities. It is named after a very prominent Afrikaner, Bram Fischer, who fought apartheid and who was a communist.

Earlier in my blog I have mentioned four books. Well, the fourth book is the Afrikaans version of  "Commando - of Horses and Men" by Denyes Reitz. This is a journal of the Anglo-Boer War and the consequences of this war. www.cederbergpublishers.co.za

I have previously written about the Anglo-Boer War and its terrible legacy to the Afrikaner nation and concentration camps where thousands of woman and children died. These woman and children where placed in these camps following the Scorched Earth Policy of the British soldiers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorched_earth 

Hunger

Woman and Children waiting for  rations.

Therefore I think it is apt that the Memorial for Woman and Children who died in this war was built in this city. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Women%27s_Monument 
http://www.travelground.com/attractions/national-womens-memorial-and-war-museum

For more books and any other reading matter remember to visit http://www.bestforreading.com 

      

 

    

                 

My dog is a Canis Africanis- A dog from Africa!

I am an animal lover and if you have a look at my on line store at http://www.bestforreading.com, you will notice that, especially if you take a tour through my pet section.. In my store at http://www.bestforreading.com I have amazing pet products as well besides books. Have a look at this wonderful bed.

K&H Lounge Sleeper Self-Warming Pet Bed, 16-Inch by 20-Inch

by K&H Manufacturing 

4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (185 customer reviews)

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List Price: $41.95 Price: $24.99 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details You Save: $16.96 (40%) In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available. Want it Tuesday, June 11? Order within 16 hrs 17 mins and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details Colour: Mocha/Green Self-warming material radiates heat back to your pet Non-slip bottom for stability Warmth with no electricity needed Fill made from recycled plastic bottles Easy wash and care 29 new from $24.16  I have to tell you about my dog. If people ask what type of dog it is, then I just answer them it is a big brown loyal dog. My dog is actually a Canis Africanis, or "dog from Africa". Sometimes the concept is too long to describe to people. All that I know is that my dog is a loyal, friendly and happy dog. Intelligence is high on the list as well. He grasp any thing very quick. I have never had to discipline him. He just knows what is wrong and what is right.  This my Canis Africanis as a puppy about three months old.  The stick gatherer. At least three sticks in his mouth!  I am very, very inquisitive!  In his prime, about two years old! I believe that I did not chose him, he chose me. He was a small puppy and vagrants found him under  a bush. They could  not look after him and ask my nephew to take him. When he arrived at my house he   collapsed as he was so tired. I rushed off to the shop to buy food and when I though what he can called, the name "Roger" popped up and that became his name.       He loves his toys, especially his Frisbee as this photo shows: A fast runner. Even I struggled to keep up with him!                                                                   https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150498009236337&set=vb.609056336&type=3  What brought me to my dog Roger? Well, as mentioned before I told you that he is a Canis Africanis. A very old breed that was naturally selected and not specially bred like most Western dogs. Read this link; http://www.southafrica.info/features/africanis.htm  and http://www.africanis.co.za/ Below are a few examples of this type of dogs. Roger's feed is different as he is fed on a top brand dog food, unlike the dogs on the photos below. They get fed on scraps and whatever food is available from the table.          I believe that you have enjoyed this insight on a very old breed of dog that is from Africa. Some believe that the lineage of these dogs comes from North Africa about 5000 years ago and "migrated" south through the ages.  For you need on products for your pets and many books to chose from, remember to visit my website. Go to http://www.bestforreading.com My recipe of the week in once again a very traditional Afrikaans recipe. Sweet Potatoes (the yellow type) 1 kg sweet potatoes Salt 90 g butter (100 ml) 200 g yellow sugar (250 ml) 25 ml honey (optional) dried tangerine (naartjie) peel or orange peel cinnamon sticks or whole ginger 1. Wash, peel and slice sweet potatoes in salted water. 2. Place sweet potatoes in heavy-bottom saucepan 3. Add butter, sugar, honey, tangerine peel, cinnamon or ginger  4. 200 ml or more water 5. Cook until water has disappeared. 6. Shake the saucepan instead of stirring the ingredients to prevent the sweet potatoes from breaking. 7. Increase heat and fry to golden caramel colour. 8. Remove tangerine (naartjie) peel and cinnamon and ginger before serving. Enjoy with a hearty meal and for more ideas visit http://www/bestforreading.com. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cold weather, a book, a glass of red wine and wine soup!

It is winter in the southern hemisphere. The cold has suddenly arrived after a fairly balmy autumn. The Cape Town region has been living up to its old historic name; The Cape of Storms. Have a look at one of my previous posts. Since Saturday we have been blasted with heavy rains, strong winds and hail. These pictures where taken on Sunday afternoon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MLV0BQEOPUc   

Photos by Passionate about Cape Town:

It is reckoned to be one of the coldest cold fronts in many years. On Sunday the temperature dropped to 12 deg Celsius. Now to my readers from other continents and even in certain areas of South Africa this might not be very cold, but we here in Cape Town usually have a mild winter not only due to the influence of the sea, but this area has a Mediterranean climate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_climate . The Western Cape is only just visible as an Mediterranean climate. Read the following link as well  

lhttp://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/climate.html   

When it so cold, what better thing is there to do to curl up with a book either in front of the fire place or  under the duvet in bed. Obviously a glass of red wine will accompany you just for that extra bit of heat. For that reason you must visit http://www.bestforreading.com to purchase on line the latest releases and the best selling books. For good wines it is worth your while to investigate some of the wines from South Africa. In other countries South African wines are available at your local outlet. When I travelled in Beijing, I even managed to buy a good bottle of South African wine there. http://www.wine-sa.com/red-wine/. You can make your way to http://www.voilacapetown.com/types-of-red-wine.html

         

While you are reading and enjoying your red wine, it is time to cook a pot of thick traditional South African soup. 

Believe it or not, but wine soup is a very traditional soup. This recipe comes from Hetta van Deventer-Terblanche.

You will need:

1 litre milk

a pinch of nutmeg

2 pieces of naartjie peel (mandarin-orange)

50 ml sugar

5 ml butter

3 cups sweet wine (muskadel)

a pinch of anise seed

5 ml ginger, cleaned and chopped finely

Place milk, nutmeg, naartjie peel, and butter in a pan and heat up to boiling point over low heat. Place sweet wine, anise seed, and ginger in a separate pan and bring to boil. Add this to the milk and throw it through a sieve. Dish up in soup bowl and grate more nutmeg over it.

And remember to visit http//www.bestforreading.com for any type of on line purchases. In certain countries you will receive free delivery.