Problem leopards, marauding lions and hyenas, crop raiding bulls, the start of DG hunting for me...

[IvW]

Thanks for sharing these great stories. Your way of telling us your experience is magnificent, as I read your stories I fill like if I'm actually there.

When I hunted in SA in the Limpopo area, we came across a Chameleon, and our driver ran like if he had seen the devil. He wouldn't come near us, and he stayed quite a bit away until we got rid of the Chameleon. My PH explained to us that they were very superstitious and there was some believe of witchcraft or something about the Chameleon.

Ah the Chameleon, indeed seen as an evil. The Shona and Matabele believe the great Spirit in the sky had sent the rabbit to inform all villages where to find big herds of animals that would be easy to hunt and feed their families. The rabbit ran as fast as he could to the first village and told them. He had run too fast and was tired. He then sent the chameleon to forward the message. The chameleon however had a spell cast on it by the evil spirits. the chameleon could only give very slow steps, as it still does today, rocking forward and back each time before giving the next step. By the time the chameleon reached the next village the herds were long gone and they went hungry. Till this day they believe if you touch a chameleon you will go hungry for the rest of your life, therefore they will not get close to one.

Fascinating stuff the beliefs in the spirit world.

 

[IvW]

Ivor, politics have long been gone and without hijacking your wonderful writing what is it that you don't like about the scoring system?

I will send you a PM, I do not think everybody here needs to know my views on the differences I had regarding the scoring system used at these shoots.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Great story IvW, i'm looking forward to the next chapter.

 

[Frederik]

I will send you a PM, I do not think everybody here needs to know my views on the differences I had regarding the scoring system used at these shoots.

Looking forward to both your next installment and the PM

 

[spike.t]

Ah the Chameleon, indeed seen as an evil. The Shona and Matabele believe the great Spirit in the sky had sent the rabbit to inform all villages where to find big herds of animals that would be easy to hunt and feed their families. The rabbit ran as fast as he could to the first village and told them. He had run too fast and was tired. He then sent the chameleon to forward the message. The chameleon however had a spell cast on it by the evil spirits. the chameleon could only give very slow steps, as it still does today, rocking forward and back each time before giving the next step. By the time the chameleon reached the next village the herds were long gone and they went hungry. Till this day they believe if you touch a chameleon you will go hungry for the rest of your life, therefore they will not get close to one.

Fascinating stuff the beliefs in the spirit world.

Owls get bad press too....not popular..... Friends found an injured one and saved it but it lost a wing.....they kept it in a big cage in the garden..... One time when they went away for few days they came back to be told by the workers it had died...... They knew the staff had killed it because of their beliefs.... But obviously couldn't prove it....So yes lots of beliefs in strange things...

 

[CAustin]

And the next chapter begins.........

 

[IvW]

Soon....sorry gents been very busy and my 15 year old son is in Russia since the 1st for wrestling, things a bit hectic....

 

[Shootist43]

IvW, this is a fantastic story, I'm looking forward to the rest of it when you get the time to continue writing.

 

[cem rona ergin]

Soon....sorry gents been very busy and my 15 year old son is in Russia since the 1st for wrestling, things a bit hectic....

Where in Russia ?

 

[Ridgewalker]

Soon....sorry gents been very busy and my 15 year old son is in Russia since the 1st for wrestling, things a bit hectic....

No problem. Family should always come first!
Hope your son did well? Or at least had fun!

 

[IvW]

Where in Russia ?

A Sanatorium close to Voronezh Chertovitsy I believe about 450 KM south of Moscow.
There is a statue of this guy in front of the sanatorium Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky("Iron Felix") 1877-1926

 

[cem rona ergin]

A Sanatorium close to Voronezh Chertovitsy I believe about 450 KM south of Moscow.
There is a statue of this guy in front of the sanatorium Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky("Iron Felix") 1877-1926

I know the city .. very friendly civil people ..

 

[cem rona ergin]

Let me know if he needs anything..

 

[IvW]

I know the city .. very friendly civil people ..

Yes the people have been wonderful and the Russian coach training them (Victor) has been coaching since 1978, it is the first time that a group of South African wrestlers have been permitted to train in one off the Russian training centers and it has been a wonderful experience for them so far. Very tough and hard training but the experience has been exceptional for them.

 

[IvW]

Let me know if he needs anything..

Thank you so much for the offer.

He is looking to buy some new wrestling shoes and singlets, however 4 of the eight that are there have been chosen to take part in a Kadette provincial championship competition tomorrow and they have said he can buy some there.

He is only 15 and the competition is for 17 year old but they said due to his size he can compete and they chose him. He weighs 91kg/200lb. Gonna be tough but I am sure he will survive it, against the best wrestling nation in the world...

They went there on the 1st and will start travelling back tomorrow evening.

Thank you so much again for the kind offer, next year he may go again and we could perhaps arrange something(one or two of us may go with)...

 

[cem rona ergin]

Thank you so much for the offer.

He is looking to buy some new wrestling shoes and singlets, however 4 of the eight that are there have been chosen to take part in a Kadette provincial championship competition tomorrow and they have said he can buy some there.

He is only 15 and the competition is for 17 year old but they said due to his size he can compete and they chose him. He weighs 91kg/200lb. Gonna be tough but I am sure he will survive it, against the best wrestling nation in the world...

They went there on the 1st and will start travelling back tomorrow evening.

Thank you so much again for the kind offer, next year he may go again and we could perhaps arrange something(one or two of us may go with)...

Please let me know if you are coming next year .. I might arrange a hunt for you I live about 500 km to the east of Voronezh ..
As for the best wrestling nation of the topic .... hmmm being Turkish I would say the Turks are the best wrestlers but lately our performance has been so poor We have no recent victories to back up my claim
One word of caution though .. at 15 his bone density is still weaker than the 17 year olds .. do not push him too hard ! We made the same mistake with one of my cousins .. and he .. I should not go on ..I do not want to worry you .. when it comes wrestling do not hurry .. that is all I am going to say .. and I wish your son good luck ..!

 

[flat8]

Tremendous writing. Are you working on a book?

 

[BRICKBURN]

I just read the thread title and hoped it was in the Deals and Offers section.

 

[IvW]

Tremendous writing. Are you working on a book?

Lol...I was writing a journal but the hard drive got damaged and is non recoverable...

Will continue soon...my son has been stuck in Dubai since sat evening...they have thankfully just checked in and looks like he will be home tomorrow at about 10h30 local time..

 

[BRICKBURN]

OK, I assume you retrieved your son. Sit down and start writing!!!