June 28, 2008: It takes a Village to...
You've probably heard the proverb "It takes a village to raise a child." Although Hilary Rodham Clinton has sometimes been credited with coining this phrase and using it in the title of her book, It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us, it is more commonly believed that this proverb has its origins in African cultures. For example, in Lunyoro (spoken in Uganda) there is a proverb that says 'Omwana takulila nju emoi,' whose literal translation is 'A child does not grow up only in a single home.' In Kihaya (a Bantu language) there is a saying, 'Omwana taba womoi,' which translates as 'A child belongs not to one parent or home.' In Kijita (Tanzania) there is a proverb which says 'Omwana ni wa bhone,' meaning regardless of a child's biological parent(s), its upbringing belongs to the community.

In this part of Wales, it takes a village has new meaning when it comes time to bring in the silage. With rain threatening, farmers, friends and family members in and around the village where we live all pitched in to help each other get the silage baled and wrapped. When one farm was finished, on they all went to the next farm and the next until everyone's silage was wrapped up and safe from the elements. They worked late into the night and the chorus of tractors echoed around the valley. We wondered how they sort out who owes what for the work. Well, the simple answer is that, for the most part, no-one owes anyone anything. It is all done on a neighbourly basis!!! Fancy that.

They say things are old-fashioned here. How can neighbourliness be 'old-fashioned'? They talk about people in terms of "nice people" or, one we like, "he's a good boy"(and this is said of a burly 45 year old who wouldn't be out of place in the front row of the Welsh rugby team), and not as "horrible people" or "b.....d" (a reference to a child born out of wedlock). They genuinely appreciate a helping hand, never forget to say thank you and always return the favour. Give and take, win-win, success for all. People and integrity matter. Old-fashioned? Oh thank goodness we have stepped back in time. It's a nice place to live.

The rain did come - in buckets - and it has hung around. The hills all around have been covered in a thick fog making training difficult as visibility has been down to less than 50 yards at times. Thankfully none of the rain has headed east to Wimbledon, so we have been glued to TV watching hours and hours of rivetting tennis. We have 'interactive' TV here. That means we can watch 6 games of tennis at once! That's like being a pig let loose in a strawberry patch.

Talking of strawberries...we have oodles of wild strawberries growing up the road where we walk the dogs. Tina and Jet have discovered these strawberries and have taken quite a liking to them. They especially like the idea of picking their own. Kelvin is happy as he often gets hungry out on his long runs, so now he has a feast of strawberries to keep the hunger pangs at bay.

We have both managed to get out for runs on a more regular basis. Angie has been taking Jet, Roy, Meg, Sioux and Bailey with her on her early morning runs. They are all well-behaved, running either beside or behind her. Sioux and Meg jostle with each other to run by Angie's left heel, while Jet happily has the right side to herself. Bailey likes to lag behind on the way out but she can be easily kept in line if Angie sings a very famous New Zealand song called The Gumboot Song by Fred Dagg (see below). We would be somewhat remiss kiwis if our dogs did not know a good ol' kiwi song. Bailey LOVES this song, and will often join in with her own, somewhat barky, rendition. If you want to hear this song, click here.

The Gumboot Song – by Fred Dagg

Righto, kick it in the guts, Trev...

Gumboots, they are wonderful, gumboots, they are swell
'coz they keep out the water and they keep in the smell.
And when you're sittin' round at home, you can always tell
When one of the Trevs has taken off his gumboots.

Chorus:
If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be?
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'coz you would have a dose of the 'flu, or even pleurisy
If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots.

Now there's rugby boots and racing boots and boots for drinkin' rum.
But the only boots I'm never without are the ones that start with "gum".
I've got short ones and long ones and some up to me belt.
I'm never dressed 'till I've got on me gumboots.

Chorus:
If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be?
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'coz you would have a dose of the 'flu, or even pleurisy
If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots.

Whenever I sing at the opera, my gumboots are a must.
They help me hit the high notes, and protect me feet from dust.
They keep the water well away, so me voice won't get no rust.
You will not never see me without me gumboots.

Chorus:
If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be?
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'coz you would have a dose of the 'flu, or even pleurisy
If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots.

Now Rob Muldoon and Rowling, they haven't made a hit.
They're ruining the country more than just a bit.
If they keep on the way they're going, we'll all be in turd.
So you'd better get yer feet up yer gumboots.

Chorus x2:
If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be?
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'coz you would have a dose of the 'flu, or even pleurisy
If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots.

If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be?
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'coz you would have a dose of the 'flu, or even pleurisy
If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots.