The Argus 2008
Another day, another big bike race. The Cape Argus cycle challenge (or simply The Argus) is the world's largest timed cycle event. Over 30,000 people take part each year, and this year yours truly featured among the masses. My friends Geoff and Barney had flown down from the UK for the event (some take their cycling more seriously than others - ahem!) so I stayed with them in Camps Bay, which is one of the most scenic residential areas in Cape Town.
As usual, a ridiculously early start was required - although at least the sun was up - just. We cycled the 10km to the start line and joined the huge throng of people being herded through pens like lambs to the slaughter! Thankfully comparisons with the slaughter ended as soon as we started. The race was a delight - after about 30km we reached the beautiful coastline near Simonstown.
I suppose I must have done enough training because I had time to enjoy the scenery - and it really was beautiful. Sweeping roads down past huge cliffs, beaches - you get the picture.
Anyway my time was around 3:40 - fairly respectable I thought for a first time. See you again next year!
10.3.08
1.3.08
An Interesting Thing in the Bank
Today I was in the bank to pay the rent as usual, and as is also normal for the first few days of the month, a large queue had developed. The woman a few places in front of me in the queue was chatting on her mobile phone when a guy walked up behind her and slapped her round the side of the head, and grabbed her phone. Needless to say her reaction was immediate and furious. She berated him (in good English) and he didn't seem too concerned about arguing his point or responding to her complaint. It transpired that he worked as a security guard for the bank, and apparently in South Africa it's generally not allowed to use your mobile phone in a bank - something unfathomable to do with security. So instead of asking her politely to desist, he considered it appropriate to slap her and grab the phone!
Anyway the point is that the people around me murmured their approval at the way he had treated her! Very strange I thought - but talking to friends afterwards revealed that in black culture, it's quite normal to treat women like this. A man talking on his phone would never have been treated the same way.
Today I was in the bank to pay the rent as usual, and as is also normal for the first few days of the month, a large queue had developed. The woman a few places in front of me in the queue was chatting on her mobile phone when a guy walked up behind her and slapped her round the side of the head, and grabbed her phone. Needless to say her reaction was immediate and furious. She berated him (in good English) and he didn't seem too concerned about arguing his point or responding to her complaint. It transpired that he worked as a security guard for the bank, and apparently in South Africa it's generally not allowed to use your mobile phone in a bank - something unfathomable to do with security. So instead of asking her politely to desist, he considered it appropriate to slap her and grab the phone!
Anyway the point is that the people around me murmured their approval at the way he had treated her! Very strange I thought - but talking to friends afterwards revealed that in black culture, it's quite normal to treat women like this. A man talking on his phone would never have been treated the same way.
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