The vuvuzelas had stopped blowing. Flags hoisted down. The media had returned to their regular diet of introspection and gloom. Yes, the World Cup was over. I bet South Africa was now having a very bad hangover wondering what it was all about, what it all meant, and what comes next.
An urgent question had already been raised. What happens next in a country where millions don’t have adequate housing, running water or electricity? Half the population lives at or below the poverty line. Was it worth spending $5.4billion to put on a football tournament when the stadiums were likely to become white elephants and hardly any system in place for development in sport? Scary thoughts huh…
Historians called it the Scramble for Africa, a time at the end of the 19th. century when the European powers were caught up in the murderous rush to exploit the riches of what was known as The Dark Continent.
The British grabbed South Africa, Rhodesia, The Gambia, Nigeria and many, many more. Belgium raped The Congo, Italy attacked Libya, Eritrea and Somaliland. The Germans ruled in Cameroon, Rwanda and Togoland. The Portuguese arrived in Mozambique, Angola and Guinea-Bissau while Spain was in Western Sahara, Spanish Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. The French took Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and whatever’s left. Ivory Coast was kicked from the Portuguese, to the Dutch then the British and finally the French.
And don’t forget, the beginning of European slave trade in Africa with the first shipment of slaves sent directly from Africa to Portugal in 1441. In 1510 was the start of Atlantic Slave Trade. In 1562 Britain begins its slave trade in Africa!!!
After they had plundered and had their fill, these colonial powers left or were kicked out. They left a scarred nation, pillaged and destabilised. They cast the continent adrift and left it dry, trying to fix itself. And then on the 11th of June, they came back. Do any of these ‘visitors’ know the history??? Do they???
Anyway, lets get back to the finals. It was not a classic final, not the kind I expected of 2 nations known for playing excellent fluid football. It was a confrontational, scrappy match where both team didn’t get any chance due to smothering defence and laborious tackles.
Referee Webb was the busiest man on the field, handing out a finals record of 13 yellow cards (8 to the Netherlands and 5 to Spain), which was expected considering the many fouls committed during the finals. Did you see De Jong’s kung-fu kick on Alonso? The Oranje’s Total Football heritage had turned into the Clogs of War.
According to Babe, the World Cup final is an event where great footballers try to cheat their way to win. Amen to that.
Yes, felicitaciones* to the La Rufia Roja. It was a fine achievement to be European champions and World Cup holders simultaneously. Inesta struck a dramatic winner late in extra time to give Espana their victory for the first time and condemned the Dutch to their 3rd defeat in a final.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup will simply be remembered for being held on African soil. So totsiens and dankie** to the Rainbow Nation and ola*** to Brazil in 2014.
On Saturday, Germany defeated Uruguay 3-2 in a highly entertaining third-place match. For me, good old Deutschland was the most enjoyable team to watch. Congratulations to Uruguayan striker Forlan for winning the Golden Ball award as the best player voted by the media, while the younger German striker Mueller crowned the Best Young Player as well as winning the Golden Boot.
Earlier in the day, CC and I joined DB for a picnic at Memorial Park. 
It was a lovely day to be out and about. A heat wave was predicted and everywhere we saw people in their tank-tops and shorts, sun hats and sun glasses. The parks were full of sun worshippers toasting their bodies except for moi :-0
We found a huge oak tree right beside the golf course!!! Be careful guys…I brought fajitas and a Malay dessert, Seri Muka (glutinious rice with a custard topping). CC brought samosas, croissants and cupcakes while DB provided drinks. We’d a lovely time exchanging news, lots of laughter while polishing the food. It was lovely.
Babe came later and we’d a quick nip to Brandon Marsh. We were soo busy photographing butterflies (they were everywhere) that we missed several woodpeckers and a buzzard flying over us.
We checked out the Steely Hide. 
Most of the natives were in the water trying to cool off. As we were leaving, this very noisy Common tern was hovering and squawking right above Babe. I bet that he thought we were intruders. They were nesting on the island.
On Sunday, we made another mid-morning trip to the nature reserve again. We met Andy and Kay and made arrangements to meet for dinner at their place next week, I think. We went our separate ways cos they were here since 7.30am!!!
We went straight to Baldwin Hide and saw this Great Crested Grebe floating peacefully in the lake. He was fast asleep but not for long. 2 angry Coots were in a mood for a fight and woke him up. And guess what, he went back to sleep:-)
Then we checked out Carlton Hide. I haven’t seen the kingfisher yet and as usual he failed to make an appearance for me. But these 3 handsome Green Sandpipers kept us occupied. 
They’d a wonderful time splashing in the waters. Don’t blame them. It was a warm day.
We left early cos Babe wanted to watch the British Grand Prix. Well done to Red Bull's Webber who cruised to a dominant victory from McLaren's Hamilton. The result extends Hamilton's lead over Button in the world championship to 12 points, the equivalent of a fourth place.
I spent the rest of the afternoon pottering in the garden. I’ve transferred 8 sunflowers to bigger pots. 
The chards were flourishing and the blueberry bush were laden with fruits. Yummy. The roses were beginning to fade away but the other shrubs like this Potentilla, St. John’s Wort and Yellow Loosestriffe were flowering spectacularly. All in glorious yellow, the colour of summer.
Be like the flower, turn your face to the sun.
~Kahlil Gibran 1883-1931~
*Congratulations in Spanish
**Goodbye and thank you in Afrikaans
***Hello in Portuguese
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