Home Sweet Home

Hi there ladies
I’m starting to feel a bit of Soccer World Cup buzz around town. I’ve decided to go big: flag attached to my car, Bafana Bafana T-shirt, learn the Diski, miner’s hat with horns – the whole enchilada. I think we’re in for a bit of fun!

So, this week’s page is “Home Sweet Home”. I’ve done this cos I so often think back to my childhood home and wish there were more pictures of it. And sadly, with so many people emigrating, it might be a nice page to put in your kids albums for them to look back on. Or just because, like me, memory fades with age!
The requirements are:
1 A5 landscape – cut to 18.5 x 15 cm
2 (2up’s) portrait – 7.5 x 9.5
1 (2up) landscape – cut to roughly 8.5 x 8.5
4 (4up’s) landscape - 7.5 x 5
(I’ve made a little booklet behind my 2 up landscape so if you wish to do the same you can bring 6 or so extra 2 up’s for this. Also cut to 8.5 x 8.5)
You also need: a sanding block, 3 white brads, 2 orange buttons and brown chalk ink.

Thanks so much to you girls who gave so generously to CANSA. It was so appreciated by the association.

Don’t forget you can still book for Bee’s card class this coming Thursday 18th at the Racing Pigeon Club at 17h30.

Someone seems to have inadvertently walked off with my favourite, most used, most popular punch. It’s the Creative Memories one with the two smaller circles. This punch got used in almost every second workshop so I’d be so grateful to get it back. It clearly has my name on it.
Otherwise, not much in the way of news. Hope to see you some time soon for a little scrapping and some fellowship.

Kind regards

Don’t read this if you don’t wish to but I thought with the World Cup around the corner, it’s a good time to remind ourselves of our rather unique Souf Efriken English!

Understanding South Africans

Braai
What is a braai? It is the first thing you will be invited to when you visit South Africa. A braai is a backyard barbecue and it will take place whatever the weather. So you will have to go even if it's raining like mad. At a braai you will be introduced to a substance known as pap (pronounced “pup”).
Ag
This one of the most useful South African words. Pronounced like the "ach" in the German "achtung", it can be used to start a reply when you are asked a tricky question, as in: "Ag, I don't know." Or a sense of resignation: "Ag OK, I'll have some more pap then" It can stand alone too as a signal of irritation.
Donner
A rude word, it comes from the Afrikaans "donder" (thunder). Pronounced "dorner", it means "beat up." A team member in your rugby team can get “donnered” in a game, or your wife can donner you if you come back from a braai at three in the morning.
Eina
Widely used by all language groups, this word, derived from the Afrikaans, means "ouch." Pronounced "aynah". You can say it in sympathy when you see your friend the day after he got donnered by his wife.
Hey
Often used at the end of a sentence to emphasise the importance of what has just been said, as in "You're going to get donnered if you come in late again, hey?" It can also stand alone as a question. Instead of saying "excuse me?" or "pardon me?" when you have not heard something directed at you, you can always say: "Hey?"
Izit?
This is another great word to use in conversations. Derived from the two words "is" and "it", it can be used when you have nothing to contribute if someone tells you something at a braai. For instance, if someone would say: "The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership." It is quite appropriate to respond by saying: "Izit?"
Jawelnofine
This is another conversation fallback. Derived from the four words: ja means"yes"and is pronounced YA, "well", "no" and “fine", it roughly means "OK". If your bank manager tells you your account is overdrawn, you can, with confidence, say: "Jawelnofine."
Lekker
An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to express approval. If you enjoyed a braai thoroughly, you can say: "Now that was lekk-errrrrrr!" while drawing out the last syllable.
Klap
Pronounced "klup" - an Afrikaans word meaning smack, whack or spank. If you spend too much time in front of the TV during exam time, you could end up getting a "klap" from your mother. In America , that is called child abuse. In South Africa , it is called promoting education. But to get "lekker geklap" is to get motherlessly drunk.
Bakkie
This word is pronounced "bucky" and can refer to a small truck or pick-up. If a young man takes his "girl" (date) in a bakkie it could be considered as a not so "lekker" form of transport if the seats can't recline.
Tackies
These are sneakers or running shoes. The word is also used to describe automobile or truck tyres. "Fat tackies" are really wide tyres, as in: "You've got lekker fat tackies on your bakkie, hey?"
Dop
Pronounced “dorp” this word has two basic meanings, one good and one bad. First the good: A dop is a drink, a cocktail, a sundowner. When invited for a dop, be careful! It could be one sedate drink or a blast, depending on the company. Now the bad: To dop is to fail. If you "dopped" standard two (Grade 4) more than once, you probably won't be reading this.
Saamie
This is a sandwich. For generations, school- children have traded "saamies" during lunch breaks. In South Africa you don't send your kid to school with polony saamies. They are impossible to trade.
Howzit
This is a universal South African greeting, and you will hear this word throughout the country. It is often accompanied with the word "Yes!" as in: "Yes, howzit?". In which case you answer "No, fine."
Now now
In much of the outside world, this is a comforting phrase: "Now now, it's really not so bad." But in South Africa , this phrase is used in the following manner: "Just wait, I'll be there now now." It means: soon.
Just now
This means “in a while” South Africans know the clear distinction of now now and just now but it’s almost impossible to impart this knowledge exactly without being one yourself.
So long
So long does not necessarily mean “good-bye” in South Africa - even though it can be used as good-bye when in context. When we go to restaurants, we often tell the waiter that we will order starters so long and mains after that, so long means “in the meantime”
Tune grief
To be tuned grief is to be aggravated, harassed. For example, if you argue with somebody about a rugby game at a braai and the person had too much dop (is a little "geklap"), he might easily get aggravated and say.: "You're tuning me grief, hey!" To continue the argument after this could be unwise and result in major tuning of grief..
Boet
This is an Afrikaans word meaning "brother" which is shared by all language groups. Pronounced "boot" but shorter, as in "foot", it can be applied to a brother or any person of the male sex. For instance a father can call his son "boet" and friends can apply the term to each other too. Sometimes the diminutive "boetie" is used. But don't use it on someone you hardly know - it will be thought patronizing and could lead to you getting a "lekker klap".
Skop, Skiet en donner
Literally "kick, shoot and thunder", this phrase is used by many South African speakers to describe action movies. A Clint Eastwood movie is always a good choice if you're in the mood for of a lekker skop, skiet en donner flick.
Vrot
Pronounced - "frot". A expressive word which means "rotten" or "putrid" in Afrikaans, it is used by all language groups to describe anything they really dislike. Most commonly intended to describe fruit or vegetables whose shelf lives have long expired, but a pair of old tackies (sneakers) worn a few years too long can be termed "vrot" by some unfortunate folk which find themselves in the same vicinity as the wearer. Also a rugby player who misses important kicks or tackles can be said to have played a vrot game - opposite to a "lekker" game(but not to his face). A movie was once reviewed with this headline: "Slick Flick, Vrot Plot."
Could also be used as an expression" I got vrot last night" (drunk)
Scale
To scale something is to steal it. A person who is "scaly" has a doubtful character, is possibly a scumbag, and should rather be left off the invitation list to your next braai.
Ja-nee
"Yes No" in English. Politics in South Africa has always been associated with family arguments and in some cases even with physical fights. It is believed that this expression originated with a family member who didn't want to get a klap or get donnerred, so he just every now and then muttered "ja-nee". Use it when you are required to respond, but would rather not choose to agree or disagree.
So, there you have it - South Africanisms 101!