Sunday, September 11, 2011

9/11

Ten years ago today I flew home from Grahamstown where I had been at Rhodes University for Highway Africa with a few colleagues including one from our New York office.

TV screens were set up throughout the media centre and as we left the lecture hall where he had given his presentation we saw the first images. Small groups of people gathered around the screens watching the now-familiar plume of smoke coming from the first tower. PLANE FLIES INTO TWIN TOWERS was scrolling across the bottom of the screen.

We assumed it was a small plane; a tragic accident, but surely not enough to justify all the news channels broadcasting the same footage? What could cause so much smoke? A little later a jet came into view in a steep turn and disappeared behind one of the towers. The initial speculation was stilled, quickly followed by hands clapped over mouths and wide eyes. People were quite literally struck dumb as it slammed into the second tower. Disbelief and silence in the middle of a media conference.

We drove back to our small B&B without saying a word, my colleague desperately trying to call his New York-based family but unable to get a connection. Our hostess, an absent-minded gentle soul, was watering her flowers and called us over, proudly pointing out the new blooms on some rare bush she was nurturing. We told her what had happened, tried to explain, but how do you tell someone that the very axis of the world has shifted and nothing will ever be the same again? She smiled brightly "I'm sure it was an accident dear, not to worry. Can I pack you some sandwiches for the trip?" and wandered off to switch off taps and re-pot petunias.

Our transport arrived to take us back to Port Elizabeth airport, two hours away by road. The driver got out to help us with our bags, and introduced himself "I'm Rashid, let me help you with that, ma'am" A colleague called me aside "Tell Dan not to speak, the driver must not know he's American" I ignored this and calmly introduced myself. We gave Dan the whole back seat of the combi to himself, he kept trying his wife and teenage sons. The rest of us sat silently, staring out of windows while Rashid fiddled with the radio until he found a station.
I wondered, a few years later, if he knew all along, and had just pretended not to know to try and keep the mood light.
When he dropped us at the airport he turned around and spoke directly to Dan "I do not understand. I pray your family is safe"

At PE airport I searched out the station manager (yes, it's an airport, but they refer to station managers nonetheless) and explained the particular situation we were facing. Our colleague would need a private room, with a working telephone and email facilities. He leapt into action, clearing his own office and laying on a supply of food, tea and coffee. I remain touched by this response; we were not dignitaries or VIPs; but he understood how important this small act of kindness was and how terrified my colleague was for his family - out of touch and so very far away in a home turned frighteningly hostile.

More reports came in; other flights had been hi-jacked, apparently America was under attack. Both towers were burning furiously now, why couldn't they stop the blaze?

There was talk of all flights being grounded, even flights from PE. We were searched and finally boarded our flight home in silence. Dan had managed to change his flight home, bringing it forward by a week and routing via Europe but could not get a connection to the US. He would spend many days in London, waiting for US airspace to re-open and finally making it home via Canada and a hired car. Fortunately his family was safe, but I can't help thinking how terrifying it must have been not to know for so long, watching your city burn from another continent.

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Sunday, September 4, 2011

Bath day

The Burmese are not amused, I bathed them yesterday.

Poor things won't even look at me. It went quite well though, don't think I need more than six stitches, max.

The Siamese made a dash for freedom when she heard the bath water running, only reappeared late last night.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Smog

The apparent clarity of the air above Johannesburg while you're sitting safely on the ground waiting to take off



is quite shockingly shown to be a lie when you climb to around 5,000 feet



There's around 1000 feet of sludge sitting over Johannesburg. No wonder everyone has been so sick this winter.



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Location:25,000 feet

Another trip

Happy spring day!

Off to Durban for the day, it's a beautiful day in Johannesburg.



B737-300. Yay!


The Air Angola 747 is still here...

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Location:York St,Kempton Park,South Africa