Reviva Schermbrucker

Driving back through the Akkedis Pass in the Richtersveld, I was intent on spotting a halfmens which despite all efforts had eluded me the first time through. When I saw a spiky silhouette on top of this rocky ridge, I shouted out, insisted on a stop and scrambled up the rough slope to shake hands with my first halfmens…except this shy little mens had no arms, his cabbage head was soft and vulnerable and overhung with frilly teenage locks and even his spiky torso was not nearly as sharp as it looked but kind of rubbery and tender. I had expected to be confronted by a machismo presence based on a biological response to the unbelievably dry, inhospitable environment but there was such sweetness there, such a core of softness, I was immensely moved.  A real mensch, as my granny would say.

On the road to Perdekloof, near Kamieskroon, 29 March…thanks to Ducky Booker ( “same as the literary prize”) and Lita Cole ( “like a liter coke”) for taking us to this magical piece of land all decked out in mad pink balls. Never knew that there is a second flower season in these parts in autumn. Psst, pray don’t tell (although the brunsvigias are doing a good job of it themselves: positively blaring).