“Your stuff does not own the home; either control your belongings, or they will control you. - Author: Janet Morris
So many of my friends have their belongings still in storage after twenty years in Zimbabwe. Why, I ask? I am no different, we are just getting rid of ours now. The fact that it was in a house means little, we do not use them. Our belongings in Africa have become burdens.
Next week, on Friday Rozanne and I head for Zimbabwe. Rozanne had retained her house in Harare, which has become difficult to manage from Europe. Coupled with the recent travel restrictions, along with difficulty in dealing with tenants from a distance, she has decided to sell. This we have done, next week we head off to complete the deal and sell off our belongings in that country. A few small items including books and pictures we will ship back for the children. I suppose it is cutting the final ties, although hopefully we will still visit the region. Yes, furniture that we have had for many years now must go.
“From what I have learned in life, material household belongings, while nice, do not necessarily contribute to your well being. You may gain happiness in using or viewing them while they have little influence on your life. The exception is when you lose your home. A home offers shelter, an address along with a feeling of being safe. A lair. When I lost the farm they took my home. That affected me more than losing the farm. It took away my sense of belonging...” - Peter McSporran
I had a good brainstorming session with my son, Selby, on Sunday to help me with my blog. I called for his help, as a number of readers seem unable to open the link I share to my website. Computers to me are probably as complicated as a wheel was to a Neanderthals. The concept is beyond my full comprehension, while my kids (grown up) move around in it as if it was their school playground. For me, every new task is a challenge.
My call to Selby was instigated by a number of my readers complaining of not being able to open my web page to read my weekly blog. I had, nor do I have a solution for them. According to my son, as most other visitors to the webpage are able to open it, it’s likely the reader's browser or their browser settings are at fault. Should I say maybe a user error? I will not say, as they are of similar age. Bound to get a reaction here.
Selby suggests those unable to open the page let me know if you are having a continued problem, or if you want to discuss any other issue please add your comment at the bottom of the blog or send me an email directly. If there is a common cause, we can try to address, but in saying that, if it is only a few individuals, it may well be their browser, therefore outside of my ability to address.
In the discussion we also talked about my blog content. After writing it weekly for the past forty odd weeks I decided to take his advice in looking up the ideal length. Oops! Should have done this earlier. My blog is too long, six to seven minutes is the most people can concentrate before losing interest. Mine have taken between thirteen and fifteen minutes to read. It seems 1,500 to 2,000 words is the ideal length, not the 2,500 to 3,500 I have been writing. I then thought how long is a novel, 50 to 70,000 words on average I learn from Google. That means since becoming ill, I have written the equivalent of nearly two novels. No wonder it was becoming a task both to write, edit and read. 3,500 words with two slow fingers and one old brain is a long task, slowly lengthening as time goes by.
We also discussed actual content. Currently, I talk a bit about present day contentious events or my philosophy on some sensitive subjects. This may include actual events in my day to day. I then talk about my fight with cancer, which has not appeared for a while as I am in remission, the longer the better, so writing about that is also in remission. Then my life story, rounded up with investing in Africa. Selby, whose work often involves internet publishing, informs me not everyone will be interested in all these subjects. For instance some interested in my fight with cancer will have no interest whatsoever in investing in African Agriculture.
What to do about it?
One thing I can and will do is break these subjects into consolidated categories over time by means of a tool (button) on my web page which will deal only with the historical content in regard to that specific subject matter.
Also over the next few weeks, especially as I will be travelling, I will start to write blogs separating the content. That will be for example, one week investing in Africa while the next maybe about my life story. I think I will include the first part about my life philosophy or my thoughts on some controversial subject as an opener every time. I like to let off some steam every week. I will not speak this week about the refereeing or the TMO performance on the Springbok versus Lions first test, although debatable. That is even too contentious for me.
What I would really like from my readers are some thoughts about the blog, its length and its content. I really appreciate those that regularly comment, but perhaps others can also give guidance. Even a short note would be appreciated. The comment section is at the end or bottom of each blog.
I have been reading some really interesting blogs from others recently, they are always short compared to mine, although in general, in slightly worse English than my own which is some consolation. I have been fascinated by PeeBee Brown's story of his family, so well known in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, he has paused writing due to the tragic loss of his wife Delia to Covid-19. The other is Darrel Watt's take on events during the Rhodesian War. Darrel was a fearless soldier. His take on some of the events that took place are recounted first hand, sometimes contrary to official record. Great reading for those and others who were in that war. There is no doubt the betrayal ran much lower within the security force apparatus than what Smith called, “The Great Betrayal.” No doubt both contributed to events in that country in a very negative manner. Nobody in Europe seems to talk about the continued betrayal of the people of Africa by their respective Governments. Recognising someone's gender or non-gender seems much more important. Would it still be so important if they were as hungry in Europe as they are in Africa?
African Governments in many cases not only misgovern, but use all their energy to amass great fortunes. The people are already impoverished yet they steal further by denying their people medical care, education and the normal services taken for granted in most of the world. They say road building is a great money maker, visually there is little difference between a bad and a good road when first built. The difference comes with use over time. I think the British betrayal to Zimbabwe up to and post the Independence election is difficult to explain. Was it partly due to a feeling of superiority over errant colonialists, whom they had actively sponsored in earlier years, wishing to punish Smith or was it a total lack of responsibility coupled with lack of will to do what was needed.
I have not even started on this week's subject in my blog with already eleven hundred words written, well over half the ideal length of the blog my son informs me. This week I will include a little bit of my life story while the investing in Africa section consists of a link to a podcast Rob Shaw made with me a couple of weeks ago. There will be a total of four over the coming weeks.
Please share your comments so I can start addressing some of the layout and content issues.
A Weird Coincidence
In Norfolk, life had taken on a comfortable while an unambitious routine. As stated last week I learned of my graduation and set off for my final party at Auchincruive. The place had not changed, the people had. And as mentioned in an earlier blog, I even played rugby for the college that weekend. I remember it well as I dislocated my finger, always painful. I also felt out of place. Things had moved on there without me. How startling.
Following our graduation, Bill gave me a lift as far as Peterborough as he was returning to his home in Northampton not Norfolk. Of course we pulled into the station at Peterborough late, Bill running off to try and delay the train while unloaded my suitcase and locked his car. I safely managed to alight the train waving to Bill thanking him profusely with his car keys safely in my trouser pocket. Of course there were no cell phones in those days, so I only found I had them on my return to Postwick. That evening we chatted, rather I listened to his expletives. The next time we spoke was at the Police Grounds in Salisbury, Rhodesia at a Penguins rugby match. He was sitting in the seat right in front of me. How is that for a coincidence? Not a word between us for two years since our heated telephone call then I find him right in front of me in Africa. He had travelled overland by Landrover from the UK and like me, was to stay in Zimbabwe for most of his remaining working life after he joined The Ministry of Internal Affairs. Internal Affairs were responsible for the welfare and development of the black African rural population. Bill spent most of the war stationed at Victoria Falls where I visited him on occasion. I was billeted at Wankie for a while. Internal Affairs, although spending most of their time on the frontline, were exempt from call up, often in very vulnerable positions. Unfortunately Bill on returning to the UK a few years ago passed away due to a rare cancer.
How did I end up in Rhodesia? On returning to Paddy’s farm in Postwick I continued to supervise the Sugar Beet Co-op, although somewhat troubled by a new personal phenomena. Having passed my exams I was beginning to get an irritating itch caused by ambition. I decided to chat to my boss Patrick about it. I remember my opening remarks, as it was a cold Saturday lunchtime before setting off to rugby. On Saturdays we did not lift beet, rather spent the day back on our respective farms. That particular morning I spent loading frozen sugar beet tops onto a trailer by hand for the dairy cows. “Patrick,” I said, “There must be more to life than loading sugar beet tops. I think I want something more. Also it is too bloody cold here. Maybe I should go to Africa.'' He said, “More would come after loading sugar beet, it just would take time. Anyway, Africa still has not learned to govern itself.”
Come November, I received a call out of the blue from my father. How he had found my number I only discovered much later. He had been ill, it was a heart attack, but was back home. He informed me, my sister Morag was going to Rhodesia and perhaps I could see her off in London that weekend. I was saddened to hear father had been ill, chastised for not keeping in touch, and duly set off to London to see my sister briefly at the airport. My sister informed me father had learned of my graduation in the Scottish Farmer while in hospital, but only following graduation was he able to track me down through one of my fellow students who knew of my whereabouts.
About six weeks later, another call, just before Christmas 1971, father had a second heart attack, while my sister was due to be married in January in Rhodesia. He asked if I would go to represent the family? I said yes ecstatically! Paddy appeared sad to lose me, was it rugby or my work? I am sure it was not my sugar beet loading capabilities. My wish to go to Africa was becoming a reality. Was this coincidence or driven by will?
Investing in Africa
Rob Shaw’s first podcast with me. I am looking particularly grumpy! I do not know why, certainly not due to Rob who is a charming young man.
Introduction to Rob Shaw
Rob Shaw of Geeraff is an independent expert in agriculture and food production specialising in intensive livestock and dairy production from field to fork.
He has a comprehensive knowledge of food production and processing through the value chain. In particular, practical farm level production in all sectors of intensive livestock and upwards through processing, logistics and the sales/marketing function.
He is highly skilled and experienced in managing expansion projects; from feasibility, planning and budget control to facilities completion. He is committed to all aspects of running a food business from hands-on management to executive management as required.
Extensive experience in developing markets and the particular challenges and opportunities they produce.
His Linkedin address is: linkedin.com/in/robert-shaw-54b9057
Disclaimer: Copyright Peter McSporran. The content in this blog represents my personal views and does not reflect corporate entities.
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