No place like Mitchells Plain

I am a girl, born and raised on the Cape Flats. Although I can most likely regale you with stories of living in Mitchells Plain with my parents and in Retreat with my grandparents during my former years, but that is not on this evenings agenda.

I recently relocated to the Northern Suburbs of the Western Cape to be closer to work, but after living here for about 10 months, I have come to realise that there is no place like home. Home being Mitchells Plain. Last Monday, whilst driving to my mumsie's place in Mitchells Plain, as I got into 'The Plain', a vehicle had stalled and the driver could not get the engine going again. His male passenger got out of the car to push the car to the Motor Spares shop (there are a few of these around) about 100 meters away. So as this one guy is pushing the car, which by now is slowing down traffic quite considerably, within less than 30 seconds of him pushing the car, people walking on the pavement, who in all likelihood,  did not know the driver nor his passenger, came to their aid. Eventually about 6 men pushed the car to their destination at the motor spares shop. When they stopped the car, everyone smiled, gave a simple 'thumbs-up' and they yelled to the driver "Safe my bru".  That was it. Done. Dusted.
At this point I was taken aback by the sense of participatory community of practice I had witnessed. Community. Gemeenskap. Saamewerking. Only in The Plain!
This is not the first time I had witnessed this type of activity, but it was only then that I realised what a  wonderful sense of community is experienced in these parts of the Cape Flats. I often see cars broken down on the side of the road in other areas, with the driver sitting in the car, usually on the phone, waiting for help to arrive. Oh no...not in Mitchells Plain. Help is right there. On the street. With a smile on his/her face.
This type of practice is also manifested in other ways as well. Go an sit in the barbershop or hairdresser for an hour and you'll write dozens of blog posts in this regard. Jy sal my weer ko se!!!  Neighbours are always there to help one another out, whether it's with groceries, money for transport or electricity or just to lend a friendly ear.

The point I am trying to make here is that we don't often see, read or hear of brotherly or sisterly help. We only see, read or hear about the bad things yet at the same time, we witness magical accounts great acts on a daily basis, but we never get to share them because we are bombarded by negative press.  Although I have relocated, Mitchells Plain will forever be in my heart.

I love 'The Plain'. Salute.

Fluit Fluit, my storie's uit.

And so the journey begins...AGAIN

In 2010 I decided that I should start a blog, with no real idea as to why I should. I never really actively engaged with the blog, but alas...I am back.

Since becoming a mom, my interests have shifted quite substantially and I will be sharing much of my interests on this platform soon....

See ya!!!