Transported into the Past
During the Book Fair ending yesterday a talk was given about early transport in Durban, including a display of amazing miniature trolleybuses. It was related that they were nicknamed ‘Silent Death’ because of their relative silence in creeping up on unaware pedestrian – as opposed to their noisy predecessors, the tramcars.
He also mentioned that the first steam train in South Africa, in 186o, ran from the Point to Durban centre, beating Cape Town by two years. Entertaining references were also made to earlier days of radio in South Africa, bringing in many personages who were household names during, particularly, the halcyon days of Springbok Radio.
Beware of Limericks Roaming Free
At ‘Limerick Off’ of Mad Kane
With rhyme-words of ‘vein’, ‘vane’ or ‘vain’,
I used up all three,
Which, as you will see,
Allowed me an Hon Mench to gain!
My entry:
Les a/k/a Colonialist:
In vain he consulted the vane
In seeking a windfall to gain;
But how winds will blow,
One never can know,
So, done in that vein, it’s a pain.
My response to the Mention:
My honorability, now,
Does give me great pleasure, I vow;
To be here upon a
Position of honour*
Is something I treasure, and how!
Colonialist's Blog 
still suspicious of trams in general that still exist for similar reasons
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You have perhaps been put off by the delightful old rhyme:
‘Oh, mother dear, do come and look
At this nice strawberry jam!’
‘Hush, hush, my dear, it is your Pa,
Run over by a tram.’
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I like limericks. 😉
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Thank you for liking these ones!
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Anytime Col. 😀
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Nothing like a bit of history to make me smile. And on that note, I forget to comment on the Alice post, I got so engrossed. Let me pop back.
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It was entertaining history, indeed. I wish I had taped it.
Alice Sal Regkom?
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Trolleybuses in Glasgow were known as Creeping Jesus!
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Very descriptive – typical dry Scots humour!
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. . . if I ever own an electric car, I’ll name it Silent Death.
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There’s a thought!
Reminds me of the best models of Rolls Royce, where one couldn’t tell from sound whether or not the engine was running.
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