Fidler in the Hood: Going ‘Chinese crackers’ … and a growing reputation

Hello, friends. It’s been another week of lockdown with more to come, such fun.

Confucius once said: ‘Husband and wife living under one roof, under lockdown, are most tranquil people in the world’.

ALSO READ: Fidler in the Hood: It’s getting to be a lot like Christmas

Seeing that Confucius was Chinese, and with this virus coming from the Land of Mr Wu, maybe it’s just Chinese crackers!

Jokes aside, on with the show.

The reputation of the South Coast Herald seems to have no boundaries.

I received a call from someone in Johannesburg, no less, thanking me for highlighting the German Embassy’s efforts in assisting stranded German nationals to get home.

Well, more specifically, it was my story was about Horst Mohr, who was ‘stuck in Southbroom’.

Peter Rokitta, of Fourways, Johannesburg, contacted me to say he had read the story.

As a Rotarian he had been one of the helpers with the exodus of the ‘volk leaving for the Fatherland’.

I asked Peter how he had come to know about the Herald and the story.

It would appear that local Port Edward resident, Monika Dahlstrom of Banners Rest, had seen sent it on to him and the German ambassador in Pretoria.

Peter said embassy staff had pulled out all the stops, with the German ambassador even accompanying the ‘refugees’ to the steps of the aircraft.

He went as far as to invite everyone to return to ‘this wonderful country, South Africa’.

ALSO READ: Fidler in the Hood: He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

Speaking of international attention … a couple of years ago, I received a call from the editor of a Yorkshire newspaper asking about the popularity of Pontefract cakes here on the South Coast.

For those who are not knowledgeable, Pontefract cakes are the perfect antidote for combating this coronavirus bug.

It’s a ‘guarded secret’ which has been handed down by generations to ward off evil spirits and illness, including the dreaded football withdrawal symptoms.

I jest, of course.

It appears that my fellow scribe, Leila Edwards, and myself made local and even national headlines (online) for all the wrong reasons.

Last weekend Leila and I both received phone messages pleading for help, financial, of course.

Seems we were in Empangeni at the same time, and both of us ‘lost’ our credit cards, etc.

Could I ‘lend’ Leila some cash ‘until tomorrow when the banks opened’ (the next day happened to be a holiday); simultaneously, I wanted to borrow ‘a couple of bob’ from Leila, repaying her the next day as well.

We can laugh, but, as they say, there’s a lot of it about.

In the meantime, Leila, when the lockdown is finally lifted, let’s get together and have a good laugh over a friendly cup of coffee.

At the same time, Leila, you can give me the R5000 cash I put into your account as a loan. Don’t forget the brown envelope.

The weekend ended on a ‘feel good’ factor. Shown on television were four ‘back-to-back’ Manchester City matches from the victorious 2011-12 season.

My winning mood was tempered somewhat by the CO calling out: “When the football does start up again, you are NOT watching each and every match. Okay?”

See you, Rob.

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