Thanksgiving Day is the day that America gives thanks to their God, Mammon, for the bounty they have received. And for this year, their god has dished up a massive bounty for the majority of Americans. We are talking about the people of God’s Own Party, the Republicans. They have been delivered control of the House, the Senate and the Supreme Court, all guided and ruled over by their Ayatollah, the Supreme Turkey embodied on earth by Trump. The Turkeys are running Thanksgiving and, for at least the next four years, will be running the farm and going feral.
Continue readingPort Elizabeth of Yore: Samuel Hudson – Diarist exposes Cape Society
In writing a historical piece, at worst one is confronted by a set of facts that reveal little of the real person, their motivations and their personality. At best, only glimpses of the inner person will be exposed usually insufficient to no more than titillate.
The release of the book entitled Pepysian Perceptions of the Cape 1798 to 1828 has led to a numerous long-held assumptions being debunked in spite of previously being cast as immutable and indelible.
The blog will cover the extraordinary life of Samuel Eusebius Hudson as well as pealing back invalid assumptions of life in Port Elizabeth from 1810 to 1825.
Main picture: Sketch of Samuel Eusebius Hudson by Lady Ann Barnard
Continue readingPort Elizabeth of Yore: Early irrigation schemes on the Gamtoos River
The Gamtoos Valley is a very fertile region. All that it required to convert it into a lush farm was water. Even prior to the 1820 Settlers arriving in Algoa Bay, various people were aware of its significance, but none could not actualise its potential as both the Khoi and the Trekboers were nomadic by nature and lived off the land. Hence fertile arable land was not a priority.
It was a countrywide tour by Frederick Korsten that would plant the seed of combining cattle and the salt from the saltpans near Bethelsdorp to produce salted beef for export. Once ensconced at Papenkuilsfontein, having purchased it from Thomas Ferreira in1812, Korsten spotted the nearby Hankey on which to create a farm.
This blog covers the disastrous attempt by Korsten to create an irrigated farm on the Gamtoos as well as briefly dealing with two subsequent successful schemes.
Main picture: Philip’s Tunnel
Continue readingPort Elizabeth of Yore: Pre-1820 Traders and Merchants
The advent of British soldiers stationed at Fort Frederick as well as the seizure of the Zuurveld in 1811-1812 opened up commercial opportunities for merchants. The first business to exploit these opportunities was Frederick Korsten.
To do so required an investment in the area. In the case of the contract with the British forces on Mauritius to supply 3000 barrels of salted beef, Korsten was compelled to make a substantial investment in cattle, mills, warehouses, smithies, tanneries, granaries and cooperages.
Notwithstanding that, other entrepreneurs also perceived the same opportunities albeit on a smaller less grand scale
Main picture: Cradock Place painted by Thomas Baines
Continue readingA SMAC in the Face #78: Trump – Demagogue or Demigod
Is the surprising Trump victory going to be like a James Bond martini where the world ends up being shaken but not stirred? Will the ‘Despicable Me 2’ Gru and his Minions lead the post-truth world across an event horizon into a black hole? For SMAC’s look at this conundrum, read on.
Continue readingPort Elizabeth of Yore: Business acumen of Frederick Korsten assessed
Korsten possessed the temperament to succeed as an entrepreneur in spades, yet as will be shown, he was not necessarily successful in every venture which he tackled. In comparison with his friend Samuel Hudson, he was less dogmatic and more disciplined, but ultimately only marginally more successful.
Samuel Eusebius Hudson was a friend Korsten of long standing who was also an entrepreneur at heart. From his diary one is able compare their management and business styles and divine the flaws in each’s business character.
Main picture: Cradock Place painted by Walford Arbouin Harries in 1870
Continue readingA SMAC in the Face #: The Ozempic Games
TRIGGER WARNING: The excessive and egregious use of outrageous puns might lead to vomiting, induced or involuntary particularly amongst bulimics.
The best thing that can be said about the US presidential election is that the farce is over and what a farce it proved to be. Between the dominating issues of Ukraine, the Middle East, the US Elections and that trusty old standby, the corrupt and incompetent ANC, SMAC has become about as much fun as treating piles. It’s time to put the p (not a typo) back into fun as we move from weighty world issues to weighty personal issues. It’s time to take a weight off our shoulders and lighten the mood as we look into the world of weight loss. For SMAC’s take on that 3-ring circus (Ozempic, Weygovy, Rybelsus) comprising the Ozempic Games, read on.
Continue readingA SMAC in the Face #76: Going, Going, AGOA!
Well, the egregious grifter did it. He won the 2024 US Presidential election by a landslide. How he did it will have the pundits pondering and pointlessly pontificating for years. In fact, it’s likely to become a university course – you’ll be able to study Political Science majoring in Blowing Your Own Trumpet and the Art of the Steal amongst many other fawning indigestible courses. The question now is what is he going to do with his victory? We know that he likes to do things on a whim but we can be sure that his presidency will be anything but whimsical.
Continue readingPort Elizabeth of Yore: Military Record of John Gilfillan Bunton in WW2
Just over a century ago, the name Bunton was well known in Port Elizabeth as John’s father and grandfather in their day were both owners of the Grand Hotel in Belmont Terrace. When John’s father, Henry, changed careers in 1927 and went farming in the Selbourne district near Kirkwood, the name Bunton would never again resonate with the residents of Port Elizabeth.
John would attest to serve in the artillery. Later his younger brother, Peter, would join him in the same unit. It was during the opening stages of the battle of El Alamein on the 13th July 1942 that John would be mortally wounded, and Peter, who served in the same unit, would see his brother for the last time as he was stretchered away never to be seen again by him.
Such is the madness and futility of war.
Main picture: John Bunton in North Africa
Continue readingPort Elizabeth of Yore: Military Record & Life of Henry Bunton
Henry Arthur Bunton was the son of Walter Bunton and Marie Louise Pfeiffer. Their son, Henry Arthur Bunton, was born in July 1883 making him only 17 years old when the Anglo Boer War erupted in October 1899 yet at the age of 19 he joined Gorringe’s Flying Column. This force was raised by Lt Col G F Gorringe in 1901 and served in Cape Colony against numerous Boer Commandos.
In 1916 Henry would again participate in a war but this time it would be during WW1 fighting not in the trenches in France but would serve in the South African Heavy Artillery Regiment.
Main picture: Henry aka Harry Bunton with his wife Grace on honeymoon
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