My Exploits are sure to Leak Out

Greetings from The Heart of Scouting

Now that the festive season is over, and what a really packed calendar of events I had, I will get back to the usual notes of what us Scouts get up to at Gordon Park next week. For now though, a thank you to those of you who have sent your seasons greetings to me over the past two weeks. On hearing from those who wrote, it struck me that many of you know the Matopos and Gordon Park first hand and that you had the pleasure of exploring the hills, finding caves with Bushmen paintings, that hidden valley where there was that special waterfall that no one else had seen before you and naturally that exclusive braai site under a huge fig tee or next to a small clear stream gurgling over the granite rocks.

In my two brief notes over the festive season, I did not say what I was doing, for I am sure that those of you who have tramped the Matopos and camped in Gordon Park, would have been in tears to know that I was enjoying the Hills as you did in days long past. Well, as for me nothing has changed, for life is to be enjoyed at every possible opportunity, plus I have the added bonus of still living in Bulawayo. During the holidays my eldest nephew phoned to wish me a Happy Christmas, bless his little cotton socks to be thinking of grumpy uncle Norman. He ever so politely pointed out that my Christmas Greeting was, " Rather succinct". Cheeky fellow.

However, you will have the opportunity in the near future of getting to know what I was up to, for I was observed. Inguluvane, my short wheel base Land Rover is well known in the Matopos, going where no self respecting Land Rover should go. So word about my exploits is sure to leak out.

Temperatures for the week ending 3 January 2010: 62 F or 17 C and 92 F or 33 C. Rainfall: 0.05 or 12.5 mm. Total 10. 51 inches or 262.75 mm.

Cheers
Norman

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A few Seasonal Greetings messages from around the world:-

From:- Grant.Baker
31/12/09 13:49
And a happy New Year to you too Norman, from a snowy Canada where it's only 8:48 am on New Year's Eve.

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From: Neil and Barbara UK
1/1/10 9:29
A very Happy and Healthy New year to you all.
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From:- Clinton Jones USA
31/12/09 13:49

Happy New Year!

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From:- Susan Campbell, UK
31/12/09 13:49

We wish you all a PEACEFUL, HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2010
The Campbells

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From:- Jen Harmer, Australia
27/12/09 17:56

Dear Norman
Many thanks for your greetings. I hope that you had a very happy Christmas, and that things get better for everyone in Zim, next year. Mum (Mrs Wilcox) is now going on 88, and is always glad to get your news. With my very best wishes

Jen Harmer

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From: Vernon Roberts
17/12/09

Hi from Texas
We wish you and your family a Happy family gathering over Xmas and that 2010 will be a good year for you all. Norman Scott is still sending me the Gordon Park news letter and I enjoy reading them, takes me back in time.
Regards to you all,
Vernon G Roberts

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"A Thought For The Week"
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What I learned from Noah's Ark:-

1. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
2. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
3. Don't listen to critics -- do what has to be done.
4. Build on high ground.
5. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
6. Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.
7. If you can't fight or flee -- float!
8. Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth.
9. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.
10. Stay below deck during the storm.
11. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.
12. Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside.
13. Don't miss the boat.
14. No matter how bleak it looks, there's always a rainbow on the other side.
15. When God shuts the door on this world for the last time, be sure YOU are on the right side.

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African Wanderer Safaris Around Zimbabwe, In the Matopos Ian Harmer P.O.Box 1976, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Tel + (263) (9) 72736 Cell:- + (263) (0) 91 224 069 Email wanderer@telconet.co.zw

ANDREW BARKER   Development Consultant          Trp(SA), Bsc. TRP. CVE (SA) 144 Berrymead Avenue, Mondeor, Johannesburg, 2091 South Africa Tel/Fax: +27 (0)11 680 9791 andrew@andrewbarker.co.za      Postal Address: PO Box 1073 Mondeor, 2110 South Africa Mobile: +27 (0)83 274 4424 www.andrewbarker.co.za

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Bulawayo, 4/1/10