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