SHOULD AIR GUNS BE BANNED IN SOUTH AFRICA?

I was shopping at Game in City View Mall the other day, when afterwards I was walking around the mall and passed a shop that sold watches and other goods. On display in the window were BB air guns similar to the one pictured here on the left. Now my question is whether you need a license to own one of these/ after observing the type of people who actually went into the shop and asked to see the guns, I came to the conclusion that this is not the case. Anyone can purchase one it seems, and guns like these can be had on "bid or buy" for under R200. That's about $16 which is cheap for a gun "that looks and feels like the real thing". Considering that under South Africa's strict gun laws, one needs a licence to own a proper firearm that shoots live ammunition it would seem that even though these air guns shoot pellets (small metallic balls) they should have some sort of restriction imposed upon the sale of them. Believe me these air guns can kill. Who is going to argue with the gunman if you are robbed or hijacked whilst having this air gun pointed at you?

These are the pellets used in an air gun.

So what is your opinion of the whole matter? Should these guns be allowed to be sold freely? Should one have to have a licence to own one? This is what the law in South Africa says about the matter: "All air guns are very loosely regulated in South Africa. The only laws concerning them
are that they still count as firearms if used in a crime, and can't be fired or exposed in public areas. Airguns may be carried on one's person concealed, not openly.
It is an offense to shoot animals and human beings, except criminals and animals which are attacking you. It must also be carried in a bag, not on your body, otherwise it is an
offense. It does not require a license because it is not a firearm." I do not know what the law in other countries say, but it is available on Wikhapedia to read. Please share and comment on this post as it would be interesting to hear the good and the bad of all this. Maybe the law can get changed along the way too?

REMEMBERING MY EARLY YEARS (Part 2)

Me when I attended Kenmore Private School.

As  I said previously we stayed with my grandparents in Florida Road for awhile til we could find a flat or house for ourselves. The house was built in the early 1900's and am told that there were stables for horses at the back.After my grandparents died, it was declared a National Monument after the family tried to sell it. It is now a resturaunt. The house had large grounds, with a front garden where my grandfather had made a swing, a see-saw and a roundabout for grandchildren to play on.Those days you could leave your front gates open without any fear of criminals entering the premises. On the one side of the house were tennis courts which they had converted into a large greenhouse for my grandmother's anthirium plants. She was known as the "anthiririum queen" and used to always win prizes at the annual horticultural flower show in the Durban City Hall. She used to grow the plants from seedlings and was known for her monthly sale of anthirium plants. Every weekend she used to cut blooms and pack them for rail transport, with the help of her 2 daughters and my mother. They were sent to florists around the country. When us kids had the silkworm craze, she used to help us collect mulberry leaves, take the "silk" off their cacoons. Our grandmother was interested in many things. I remember her nursing a baby bird that was abandoned by it's mother. Whilst staying at my grandparents I went to a few schools. In Class 1 and 2 (not sure what they call it now) I attended Maris Stella school in Musgrave Road. I remember my teacher was a Cynthia Wood who was an accomplished pianist and organist as well. In Standard 1 I attended Kenmore Private School which was actually right opposite my grandparents house in Florida Rd. Our parents finally got a flat in Rapson Road in morningside a few years later. After attending Kenmore, I went to DPHS in Gordon Road. I recall attending a few years there before we went to St Henry's (Marist Brothers).

295 Florida Road, Durban. It was declared a national monument
after my grandparents passed on.

Should I do a part 3? There are so many stories to tell from our days in Glenwood to when I started work. Hopefully I can get the time to recall my early years of life.

DURBAN PRIDE 2015 IS COMING!!!!

Yes in fact it is all happening tomorrow at the Ampitheatre on Durban's South Beach (opposite the Elangeni Hotel). Are you excited? Are you ready? Do you have your costume or are you going in drag? All I can say is I'm ready and looking forward to it. I'm actually feeling excited and nervous all at the same time. You still have one day to prepare! So we'll see you all tomorrow!!!! Oh and don't foget gates open at 10am and close at 10pm. I believe a lot of entertainment has been arranged after the march at 12noon. It looks like a fun-filled day tomorrow!!

REMEMBERING MY EARLIER YEARS (Part 1)

Left: The Flowerpot Men. Right: Andy Pandy & friends.

Being born in 1953 it made me realize how the world we live in has changed over the years. I was born in Cardiff, Wales. My mother was a Norwegian who grew up in Cape Town and met my father who was studying medicine at UCT. Our family was like a league of nations: a Norwegian mother and a South African father. As far as siblings go my elder sister was born in South Africa, my elder brother in London, myself in Wales and my younger brother in Durban. At the time of my elder brother's birth and mine, my father was in the process of doing his practical for his final exams as a surgeon. Hence him working at various hospitals in the UK. my mother used to recall breastfeeding me w..hilst watching the coronation of HRH Queen Elizabeth on our black & white TV. Growing up I used to watch the children's programmes like "The Flowerpot Men", "Andy Pandy" to name a few.

From left to right: (backrow) my mother & father
(Front row) me, my sister and elder brother.

       At the age of 4 we returned to South Africa aboard the passenger ship "The Windsor Castle", leaving Southampton and arriving in Cape Town just after Xmas.The trip was quite eventful, and the things I remember clearly was a fancy dress contest for the children where I was dressed as an elf in a costume made from green crepe paper. Another teenage boy dressed in drag. On top of that I was sea sick most of the time. My elder brother took part in "the crossing of the line",  a ceremony done for passenger entertainment when the ship crossed the equator. Passengers who partook in the event met King Neptune and his loyal servants before recieving a certificate from Neptune himself. 

        We disembarked at Cape Town and stayed for a week or so with my grandmother (from my mother's side) in Greenpoint. My father had bought a Ford Prefect in the UK and he brought it with us on the ship. That little car got us around for many years to come, in fact my mother learnt to drive and got her driver's licence in it, but that's another story for later. We travelled to Durban from Cape Town in that same car, three small children and two adults. My mother was pregnant with my younger brother at the time. I don't remember much about the roadtrip except for the fact we saw a few tortoises on the way. I think we even took one with us to Durban. On arrival we stayed at my father's parents house in Florida Road until we could find a place of our own. My grandparent's owned a double-storey Victorian styled house so there was enough room for us all.
          I have decided to write these memories in several posts, as there is a story to tell here. Sixty-two years to be exact. I won't bore you with all the details of my life and family but hope you will enjoy reading about some of the stories I have to tell. For now this will Part 1 and soon I'll bring you the next installment.