It is often the small things that attract my attention when I am out and about and these do not happily fit into a particular category or are sufficiently interesting to turn into a story of their own. So, here are some of a number of things that caught my eye during November. The first is one of several millipedes one sees at this time of the year. In South Africa they are colloquially known as a songololo or shongololo – a name apparently derived from an Nguni word ‘ukushonga’ meaning ‘roll up’, which is what they do when they are alarmed. They grow to be about 15cm long and can give off a most unpleasant smell when they happened to be crunched underfoot.
Moleheaps, such as this one, are the bane of the lives of perfectionist gardeners who like a smooth and untroubled lawn. We call them moles, but they are actually Cape mole-rats (Georychus capensis) which are endemic to South Africa. These herbivorous creatures feed on bulbs, corms and tubers – you can see why they are loathed by some gardeners.
I found this interesting looking moth on some concrete steps and was taken aback by its attractive colouring.
This metal door handle opens the door to the Church of St. Johns Anglican the Evangelist in Bathurst. The screws look a lot newer than the rest of it.
This is a detail from a metal railing surrounding an historical grave.
Apart from old stone forts dotted around the Eastern Cape, loopholes such as this can also be seen in fortified farm houses dating back to the 1820s.
Something Over Tea 