A Musical Evening.
When I was at the local government clinic, Centro de Saúde, having the twenty-seven staples removed from my stomach last Friday, the nurse, Margrida, another angel, whose husband is the President of the local orchestra, informed me they were having a concert that weekend at the auditorium in the Penela Library and suggested I attend. Rather than being an avid music fan, I suggested to Rozanne we should attend to offer her support as she is always accommodating when I require local medical assistance. She has always carried out my post-hospital care after my now numerous surgeries, so we have gotten to know her very well. She said the start time was nine pm on Saturday. We were surprised to find very few in the auditorium on our arrival at that time. I commented to Rozanne that it did not bode well; it was free, after all. Perhaps I had misheard her; the actual starting time was officially nine-thirty or ten o’clock Portugal time by which time there was standing room only. The first entertainment on the program was with a male cappella whose harmony was wonderful, followed by a male and female mixed-cappella who were later joined by a junior and then senior band. Once the choir completed their acts, they were happy to join in from their standing places on the fringes of the seating area; their rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody was particularly impressive. What an enjoyable evening it was, and to my surprise, one of the songs in their repertoire was the Skye Boat Song, while even more surprising in the final act, ‘God Save the King’, was included in the medley. Neither was as surprising for us to see a local young waiter who serves us at our favourite barbecue chicken restaurant being the conductor of both the band and the music-accompanied choirs, known as the Sociedade Filarmonica Penelense. It is made up of local amateur musicians and singers. Sure, all are amateurs, but still really surprising that the
Maestro was someone we thought was only a waiter.
“Never underestimate a person’s ability by limiting them to their vocation. Often even the most humble amongst us have hidden talents that far exceed our own.” - Peter McSporran
The one challenge was that Penela Library was built on a steep gradient, with the auditorium in the lower reaches. I found myself having to face fifty-odd steps to return to the car parked on the street above. Going down, we thought each flight would be the floor with the auditorium on it, hence our descent without thought of the return trip until nearing the bottom. I managed to climb them without too much difficulty and am now also capable of walking at ease one and a half kilometres daily as a measure of my recovery.
“It is quite disconcerting when you become that old man struggling to climb the stairs, you used to skirt around while silently feeling sorry for. You should not because individual goals of physical achievement change with age. Unseen victories.” - Peter McSporran
Next week, I have a review with my stomach cancer surgeon, then a break until March before further scans and consultations by the other surgeons, of which I have three now. Whatever shall be shall be.
A number of people have commented on me being tough; remember, I have no alternative but to accept my medical challenges. Rozanne is the tough one; she has to deal with an ill me who, even when healthy, is difficult at best. She ensures I stay positive; in truth, I am too scared to be otherwise in her presence.
No Restitution Wanted by Me.
I am a member of the group on Telegram known as Compensation Awareness Group (CAG) that keeps ex-Zimbabwean farmers who lost their farms (TDHs) informed on ongoing events in regard to compensation. Most comments are conjecture rather than fact, which is not important; it at least gives us a common link to air our views, even if misinformed generally. It is so important to be able to do that to ease our individual stress regarding this elusive dream.
This week, some contributors stated that about twenty-five per cent of TDHs would like their land back in place of compensation. That is restitution. It may be historical data because what is there now will never be equal to what we lost. The first thing I find wrong with this wish is that land without improvements is worth little; land without the financial means to develop is worth little other than what the open market would offer if you are permitted to sell. Under present circumstances and the foreseeable future, it would be highly discounted. Do not forget the Government wants to turn all agricultural land into a leasehold. Further, what is to stop the present Government from coveting it if you bring it into a viable operating farm once again?
If you lose your farm when you are only thirty, the challenge to return and make a living on the farm in your mid to late fifties would be extremely difficult. Let alone in your sixties and beyond, which the vast majority of us would be. From my experience, your enthusiasm and energy levels decrease despite resistance to such from the mind. If you were in your forties, forget it. I can remember the hard work and long hours it took us to establish our farms. The thousands or more likely millions of dollars we sunk into its improvement, not just infrastructure but the clearing of the land, improving the soil’s fertility and the conservation measures typical on an operational commercial farm in Zimbabwe. In those years, service utilities worked, and there was a huge reservoir of expertise easily available, both professional agriculturists and your neighbours. Further, the banks worked, there was one fairly stable currency, and most importantly, there was a semblance of law. I drove past my Mazowe Valley farm about four years ago. I could not even recognise it, with the council road reverted back to an overgrown footpath that was hard to negotiate in a four-wheel drive vehicle.
“In life, I have learned over the years that it is extremely hard to go back because nothing other than the terrain and the view remains the same. Even the view can change with the removal or addition of flora. The people have changed, the standards will have changed, and most of all, you will have changed. Not just in age but in our views of what is acceptable for yourself and your family.” - Peter McSporran
Due to my age and, not least, my health, there is no chance I want my farms back. I want only hard currency compensation if they are lucky in my children’s lifetime. Like many, my children have taken up professions other than farming and would have no wish to return, nor do they have the skills to do so. Perhaps those young enough still residing in Zimbabwe, having learned to survive in that lawless society could. The trouble is even for them when stable currency returns and capital items and inputs have to be procured at real market value, not cushioned by inflation before your crop sales, things will become a lot tougher financially before they return to some form of equilibrium.
“There is nothing worse than inflation in business other than deflation. This can lead to falling demand for your production coupled with poorer prices.” - Peter MacSporran
Therefore, I agree with Adrian Conradie, who is much younger than me, when he wrote in CAG on Telegram strongly stating that he had no wish to get his farm back. For me, I have suffered enough. I also like having electricity, water and a health service that works.
Today, I took some time to tune into the Matelbele farmers' meeting under the auspices of SACFA. It was a good lesson in transparency. David Conolly gave a thought-provoking presentation while the chairman, Mac Crawford, clarified some of the recent machinations in regard to the elections and the preparation of the proposed agreements at the Commercial Farmers Union. It was good to see my old friend Cedric Wilde still at the top table and some old friends in the audience. I will rewatch it as I missed some of it, but I am sure the openness of Mac was appreciated not just by the Matebele farmers. The recording is on 'YouTube'.
Disclaimer: Copyright Peter McSporran. The content in this blog represents my personal views and does not reflect corporate entities.
Comentarios