NEWS
Rainfall : We may JUST be lucky this summer
OK , it ' s dry … little rain had fallen this season by the time of going to press , namely mid- October . But it ' s still not the driest start to summer that we ' ve had in the past seven years . No fewer than three years have experienced sparser rainfall than we have enjoyed this year since the
MAILBAG
From page 5
visit when I had to listen to how incompetent her colleagues were , the real " No 7 " was revealed . Basically , it was a hi-jack attempt . Trees were cut down on the grazing land ; the Fire Department and the Eskom meter readers and the local environmental visitors were approached as if " No 7 " owned the plot . " No 7 " poses as a knowledgeable , caring , animal advocate , yet my friendly Saga-trained Labrador was beaten for going into her dustbin after chicken bones . ( I ask tenants NOT to feed my dogs .) This was ignored and during her beginning of September , with 2010 having been particularly dry , with only 5mm having been recorded up to mid
tenancy they were constantly suffering stomach disturbances . It ' s a long tale . Suffice to say that when " No 7 " and her illegal groom departed so did a 9ct gold brooch ( a unique copy of Thoroughbred racehorse made for me by a George Street , Edinburgh , jeweller ), a 9ct gold chain and matching stirrup earrings , gold horse-head stock pins , and gold lapel wings from my flying days . Even two pairs of gardening gloves and the booklet in which I recorded plantings ! Oh and then there was the R700 phone bill for calls to Zimbabwe .
October ( this year we have enjoyed 22,5mm of rainfall so far ).
Continued on page 7
( I had stupidly left my cottage open , trusting that my privacy would be respected as I ' d respected that of " No 7 .") And of course , thousands of rands worth of my timber ~ removed by a gang of labourers breaking down the stables , and a pal of " No 7 ' s ” a large blonde who , when asked for a name , " cleverly " said , " Agatha Christie " but who clearly knew she was assisting in theft ~ and who threatened me physically . To close . " No 7 " is still out there . So , landlords and ladies , If you ' re renting a cottage , you may be next . Conned Big Time . By email
6 www . sasmallholder . co . za