Category Archives: Uncategorized

When the day nearly came

Posted on June 18, 2013 by

In our newsroom it is called Operation M. Now Operation M is bit like the US president’s football, that emergency satchel that contains the codes and authorisation for a nuclear attack. What Operation M is is the paper’s plan for … Continue reading →

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The Search for the Soldier Without a Name (Part 3) – Ten photographs

Posted on September 28, 2012 by

So here they are, ten photographs taken as trophies of war. Some of them are 79 years old, if the dates on the back of those photographs are correct. Black and white pictures that through the World Wide Web and … Continue reading →

Posted in artefacts from the attic, Smillie family history, The search for the Italian officer, Uncategorized, world war two | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Search for the Soldier Without a Name (Part 2) – An encounter in the desert

Posted on September 11, 2012 by

This was a foolish act that cost the Italian officer everything he had. Everything dear to him, was taken off him, including those black and white photographs I now have. That act took place somewhere in the Western Desert probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Smillie family history, The search for the Italian officer, Uncategorized, world war two | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Namibia

Posted on September 10, 2012 by
A dunescape on the outskirts of the coastal town of Swartkopmund

This gallery contains 14 photos.

A week in Namibia with its miles of gravel roads that take you into the most desolate of landscapes and where you can find the tastiest apple pie in the world. Here are a couple of pictures.    

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Mystical marks in virgin forest explained-used for food

Posted on July 16, 2012 by

Reblogged from Ancientfoods: Topic: Bark used to make flour The article below is fasinating it goes to show just how far man will go to feed himself as well as preserve nature around him. The mysterious scars on ancient pine … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Here lies Bobo

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

Sergeant Woodward’s grave lies in a dusty forgotten cemetery, but there is something strange about the resting place of this Scottish  soldier. For you see, Woodward has two graves, that would have been side by side if it wasn’t for a memorial in … Continue reading →

Posted in south african history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Hell and high water… and the refugees from the newsroom.

Posted on April 3, 2012 by

The smoke could be seen from Kensington, black plumes against the highveld blue of an early morning autumn sky. Twitter announced it: “Fire at The Star newspaper building”. A fire took out part of the second floor of the building. … Continue reading →

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beer

Posted on March 1, 2012 by

A hop field I am on a beer manufacturing tour at the moment so here are a couple of interesting facts about the nectar of the gods. -Do you know that it takes 155 liters of water to make one … Continue reading →

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South America’s earliest killer revealed.

Posted on January 16, 2012 by

Meet the Pampas Killer, a 265 million-year-old mammal-like reptile that stalked what is now Brazil. The embargo has broken and I can now reveal that the Pampas Killer or Pampaphoneus biccai is the earliest land living predator to be discovered … Continue reading →

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3:30am

Posted on January 1, 2012 by

The end of the New Year’s eve shift. Rain is falling, which is probably what kept the fatalities and injuries to a minimum this year. We will only know in a day or so, if this is correct. In the … Continue reading →

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