Just a comment about this Blog and Me

Over the last few years, I have had many comments about the postings on my blog. In fact, most of them have been very positive, but a number are negative. Basically the whole idea of my blog was to correspond with my family left in South Africa instead of writing letters and e-mail, in order to keep communication channels open. I still have my own son living in Cape Town, by Mother, Brother and many many family members too.

Obviously many friends and people whom I know, follow what exploits we are up to, generally keep in touch and are aware of what we are doing, where we are going and are genuinely interested in our well being from the time we moved to Australia. (which for those who have not done so, is a life changing and very scary thing to do) especially when you are in you late 40's.

I am not an advertising agency for either South Africa OR Australia, Isn't free speech a good thing, I can say and do what I like, It's MY blog. If you don't like it start you own....or crawl back into your laarger and get on with YOUR life!.

The one thing that frustrates me, is the fact that some people look at us in their own paradyme be it that they are left behind in South Africa and feel very protective of where they live (which is great)or feel trapped, because they cannot move to a better place maybe? and then they feel it their right to criticise me, or us, because we are happy and feel we made a good move for us, when we came here.

Now don't get me wrong, I guess sometimes I may come across as criticising things back in the country of my birth as well, but one thing is very clear to me. Those of my family and friends that have actually been over to Australia and seen , and experienced first hand where we live, what we do, and how we live here, have to a person, never criticised the move we made, or what it meant to us.

Australia is by no means utopia, there are many many things wrong here too, and we do not have it all easy, but and this is the big BUT, we live in a generally peaceful, prosperous country, where the rule fo law means something, and I can plan for my future knowing that my plans and aspirations for myself and my family have a better than no chance of working out. I now think long term (which I was never able to do in South Africa)have bought property that is appreciating in value due to the country being stable as opposed to the currency just being devalued by natural attrition, and my children have a bright future ahead of them, where they can be and do whatever they wish in a society that is the same as when I was growing up and had values.

I guess sporting rivalries are the most out there targets, and I have noted some while ago that I now support the Australian teams when they play South Africa, sorry if you don't like that. I do however support South Africa when they play anyone else - after all I lived the first 46 years of my life as a South African. Win , loose or draw, at the end of the day it's only a game of cricket or rugby you know!!You know what, I get it in the neck from the mates we have here, I get it in the neck from those back in South Africa, so I simply do not care anymore as to what you may think. I support the teams I want to and you support the teams you want to.

In April, I will become an Australian. To me, I never in my wildest dreams a few years ago, thought I would ever say that, but, how times change. I was given a break, and I took it. Like I was given a break with my business and took it (which worked okay for nearly 10 years, and then fell over), but at the end of the day, I live my life to the fullest, whilst being an upstanding (or trying to be) member of the community I live in, have values, principals and beliefs whilst trying to be a good husband and father, so if that gets up your nose, I'm also sorry.I won't die wondering IF I did this or IF I didn't..

So, when I criticise something that happens back in RSA, don't take it as a personal affront. I'm not trying to GET at you, I am genuinely concerned about what is happening. I think, having lived in 7 different countries, and worked in many more in the last few decades qualifies me to draw some conclusions. If they don't agree with yours, sorry again I am obviously in a different Paradyme to you.

In fact, many times I have said to Jan "I'll just hit the delete button " on this blog - it's easy then this will solve all the problems of me posting something someone disagrees with, and everyone said - PLEASE DON'T. I don't dream up the news, I don't dream up the articles that are being written BY SOUTH AFRICANS, in SOUTH AFRICAN PRESS. If you don't like it, I'm not sorry, don't read my blog please.

Hope that clears up some of MY issues, and hope that you will enjoy following my family's exploits further down the line, if not I'm also sorry,(as the advert says here in OZ) there is something very wrong with you! so, don't read it!It's really that simple, enjoy the rest of your life