Welsh Rugby Scarf Travel Log in Pictures

[Derek]

Just wondering again if there is any news of the scarf. Its seems to have been in transit nearly 14 days now and were half way through Oct and the clock gonna start ticking. I sure we can squeeze everyone in providing the scarf re appears soon and keeps on the move.
Iechyd Da
Derek

[Mike_Oettle]

Sorry about the delay. The scarf reached me on Thursday, but I was unable to do anything about having it until today.
The South African Post Office clearly pays no regard whatever to urgent delivery, no matter who has paid for it.
A further complication was that I had to visit my urologist on Thursday afternoon, and late on Friday morning I had to book myself into hospital for a bladder resection (the fifth such operation since my prostatectomy in 2008).
But here is the scarf in all its glory – I will be posting it to Robert early tomorrow, although I cannot guarantee that its journey out of South Africa will be any quicker than its journey from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth.
I invited some Welsh folk who I know from my children’s schooldays to pose with the scarf.
The first was Evan McTiffin (a native Welshman with an Irish surname), who met me at the Donkin Reserve.
This is an open space in the heart of Port Elizabeth that was proclaimed in 1820 by the Acting Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Rufane Donkin. The centrepiece of the Donkin (as we call it) is a memorial pyramid erected in 1820-21 on Sir Rufane’s orders in memory of his wife, Elizabeth, who had died of fever in India. Pyramids of this type (sharply pointed) were erected across Europe (from Italy to England) in the same period. This one was erected by soldiers belonging to the Royal Engineers.
Alongside the pyramid is a lighthouse (no longer in use) which served the Port Elizabeth harbour for well over a century. It has been replaced by two other lights, both operated automatically, because its beam was no longer distinguishable from the lights of the city.
The weather was foul, so I took no pictures of Algoa Bay (behind me).



Evan took a picture of me, too, but it was not a success.
In the afternoon I met Welshman Bryn John and his son Darren at Port Elizabeth’s Horse Memorial. Bryn’s wife (Darren’s mother), Eve, is South African, but Darren was born in Wales.
Bryn and Eve are actively involved in animal welfare.
The Horse Memorial is a tribute to the horses used by the British forces during the South African War, and bears the inscription “The greatness of a nation consists not so much in the number of its people or the extent of its territory as in the extent and justice of its compassion.”
It shows a typical British (or colonial) trooper holding a bucket for his horse to drink from. The lower part of the memorial was a working horse trough, but with the disappearance of horses from the streets of Port Elizabeth, its water supply was cut off many years ago.

The inscription:

Finally last evening I called on a Welsh woman who lives near to me, named Gill Tustin. Her husband, Roy, is an Englishman, but Gill (maiden name Lewis) is a proud supporter of Welsh rugby.
Here I am finally in the picture with Gill:

I am wearing my kilt in Mighty Men tartan, which I picked for the occasion because it is close to the Welsh colours.
My sincere apologies for the panic over the scarf. I had not had an opportunity to visit X Marks since it arrived.
It will be on its way to Robert in the morning.
Regards,
Mike

[Downunder Kilt]

Great photos Mike, and thanks for the explanations too. Hope all is well with you on the health front Mike.

[Hamish]

As the penultimate host on its first tour, I am looking forward to welcoming the scarf to West Sussex, here on the United Kingdom's south coast, sometime in the coming weeks. Sadly, due to health limitations, I'll not be able to give it an extensive visit to this area, as I did with the 'Saltire' a year or two ago but, all being well, we'll get some memorable shots to add to the log.

The variety and standard of the images we've seen thus far have been truly remarkable. Well done everyone.

Take care,
Ham.

[Derek]

What a great set of pictures Mike. Thank you and Gill and your friends for taking the time out to take them, Once again it is very much appreciated. Soz to hear you had problems Mike. I have to agree with Hamish that the quality and variation in all the pics from everyone has been simply awesome.
To save anyone having to back up on this thread, here are the remaining scarf hosts this time around.
Ancienne Alliance (France)
Chas (Norfolk UK)
Alex (Scotland)
Chrisupyonder (Scotland)
Hamish (West Sussex UK)
Derek (Wales).
Hopefully the scarf will reach AA fairly quickly and then it will soon be back in the UK where its movement should be quicker in the post (but thats not a guarantee either with the UK post office services)
Pehaps you could all pm each other in advance to ascertain each of the forwarding postal addresses.
Thanks guys
Iechyd Da
Derek

[Ian.MacAllan]

When I wear my Kilt, God looks down with pride and the Devil looks up with envy...

Thank you, John.

.

[Chas]

Any further word?

Norfolk is holding itself in readiness!

Regards

Chas