Tuesday 8 May 2012

Of younger daughters

My younger daughter is in South Africa. She did not go there to do very silly things but to start her career as a documentary film-maker. The first very silly thing she did was go surfing on a beach with the red flag up.

"What does the red flag mean?" I asked, in my foolishness.

"Well, it's not as bad as the black flag. The black flag means there's a shark in the water."

"OK, so it's not as bad as that. That's good. What does the red flag mean?"

"A shark has been seen recently and basically everyone should get out."

"So, why didn't you?"

"Because the instructor said it was OK and, anyway, lots of other people were in the water."


"Do you have your instructor's phone number??? I would quite like it."

The second very silly thing she did was jump out of a plane. Well, I say "plane". Judging from her description and some of the photos I've seen, it was more biscuit tin without lid. But wings. Well, I say "wings"...

"Weren't you worried about that crappy plane?" I asked, in my foolishness.

"No, I had a parachute on."

?????????????

She's been fascinated by Africa for ages, and would love to end up making documentaries for a big charity there, perhaps an AIDS charity or focusing on women's health and education. She has been doing a work placement with a documentary film-making company in Cape Town, and learning masses. They asked her to stay a few more weeks, which she did, but last week she set off travelling, to soak up and learn more about Africa, taking in Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania, including Zanzibar. On her own.

I don't think that's silly. I think it's brave. But I'm still worried.






18 comments:

  1. I would be worried if you were not worried! That said, if she obeys some basic rules and learns to say "Asante" (Thankyou in Swahili) she will probably have a great time. Hugs though!

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  2. She is very brave surfing in any water that has ever had a shark swin in it. My daughter went to Thailand and Australia on her own but didn't tell us the jumping out of a plane bit until she showed us the video when she was back home. She also phone from Thailand to say there was a military coup and rioting in the streets,I didn't sleep for a week.

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    1. Oh God. (re the coup, especially.) Yes, Rebecca also waited to tell us about the plane till after she had done it, thank goodness.

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  3. This is the cross we have to bear. But at least we can blog about our babies scaring us silly.
    I had just read your earlier post on talking about your children too much, and as I had that very minute finished another one about my eldest, I got a bit concerned. I think we can never know what is too much.
    I found this post very interesting, and I would love for you to tell us more about your young ones. Even if there is no more jumping out of buscuit tins.

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    1. Oh yikes, I certainly didn't mean we couldn't talk about our kids and their exploits. (And I'm glad you want to hear about mine :)) No, it was the boasting about material and academic achievements to people who don't know or couldn't be expected to care. And actually, I probably think a blog is the place where it's ok to say something good about them, as no one *has* to read it, after all. It's all probably more nuanced than I suggested originally, but I think there are lines I'd prefer not to cross. And you are nowhere near those lines!

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    2. I suppose now isn't a good time to..? No, I thought not.

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  4. I am very relieved that both my daughters are the opposite of intrepid ! Will worry about yours instead. And enjoy reading about her exploits.

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    1. Adele, the weird thing is that Mr M and i are both wimps!

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  5. I think it's the really good mums who worry over the children, no matter the age. Exciting times for your daughter!

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  6. Hhayibo! Mama! She's having fun, she's learning at the University of Life (South Africa)and getting some Mzanzi magic - and you don't get a much better university than that for mega experiences at every level! Now stop fretting about our sharks and our planes, and your daughter. She'll be fine so long as she watches out for the tsotsis and skelms.

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    1. I'm not asking. I'm not asking. I'm not asking.

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  7. A chip off the old crabbit block, clearly. And yes, if it was one of mine, I'd be a gibbering wreck. Salutations and hugs!

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  8. This post made me laugh, cringe and think 'awwwww'. I think you're a very brave mum, not sure if I would cope as well as you seem to be!

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  9. Gulp. My boys are 17 and 14, so it won't be long before I have to fret about their exploits in far-flung corners of the world. 17-year old has applied to go on a BSES trip to Kashmir next summer, and climb Himalayan peaks. I'm looking forward to all the worrying.

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