Hi Jim,
Thanks for that.
Jasper, I agree with you comments and the word 'moving' is most appropriate.
The story got to me to such an extent that I wrote a letter to the 'Letters to the Editor' column of our local morning newspaper, the 'Cape Times'. It was published on Friday and a copy is attached below.
The reason for my blunt comments in the letter is a recent personal experience and as this situation could be typical anywhere in the world please bear with me for a minute or two.
From the time we moved into our house, on a corner, in a townhouse/condo complex in 1988, the lawn which slopes down at an angle in front of our front door has never grown properly. The soil is sandy and oily which means that the water just runs straight off down into the gutter. I decided to do a bit of lateral thinking and with Home Owner's Association Committee approval I decided to do an horizontal excavation about 15 feet in length and to turn that area into a temporary car park. It's an attractive new feature with stone wall, plant bins and pavers with stone chips. Just as I started excavating one of my neighbours informed me rather aggressively that he does not approve in contrast to some other neighbours who say how nice it now is.
In addition there's a speed bump in the roadway right opposite our front door. Some disrespectful and inconsiderate hooligans drive up onto the grass, which also does not grow properly, with their left wheels and churn up what little grass there is. Bear in mind that we drive on the left. I then made a square box mould and made two flower bins from concrete. Whilst I was still making the bins some people rushed off to the chairman to complain.
The bins have been painted white , there's a band of reflective tape around the tops and there are plants in the terracotta plant pots that were moulded in with the casting. Now that the bins have been completed and are an attractive feature that forces drivers to go over the speed bumps with all four wheels the fault finders have suddenly gone quiet.
Thanks to the 'Cape Times' publishing my letter I will in future give petty, nitpicking whingers a copy and tell them to read Elena's Chernobyl story. I'll also remind them of the expression, 'There but for the grace of God go I!'
Ron, once again it's thanks to this website that this type of amazing communication is possible right around the world. Motivated by the love of a car the website has allowed members to wander off into many other subjects such as dolphins, jokes, vintage and replica motor cycles and much more besides. Apart from being fun it's all a big learning curve and it makes one realise what a global village the world has become.
Thanks again, Jim, for having the foresight to tell us about Elena's dramatic story.
Thank your lucky stars!
Andre 40