Monday, 29 November 2021

Farm attack, 10 heavily armed attackers overpower, rob family, Bothaville

South Africa: Farm attack, 10 heavily armed attackers overpower, rob family, Bothaville

Oorgrens veiligheid

November 29, 2021

Farm attack, 10 heavily armed attackers overpower, rob family, Bothaville

A farm attack took place on 29 November 2021, at 09:30, at Yukon farm, in Bothaville, in the Free State province of South Africa. Godfrey Venter (59), his wife, daughter, a child and the domestic worker were overpowered by ten attackers armed with an AK47 assault rifle, pistols and a revolver.

The attackers demanded cash and after robbing the family of what money they had, the attackers threatened to kidnap the child should they not receive more.

The farmer was assaulted with the butt of the handguns on his head causing injuries. He was then tied up viciously assaulted and kicked while the attackers demanded more money.

The attackers then fled the scene and drove off with the farmers Isuzu D – Max bakkie with Free State number plates.

The neighborhood watch and local security companies responded and kept a look-out for the heavily armed attackers and the vehicle.

The bakkie spotted and was followed by Neighborhood Watch members until it was abandoned by the attackers who fled on foot into Kgotsong location.

Welkom K9 Unit and the SAPS Airwing were also involved.

The follow up operation resulted in two of the attackers, aged 27 and 40 years old, who originate from Tembisa, Gauteng Province being arrested.

Four cellphones belonging to the attackers were found on the back of the bakkie which was also seized.

The eight remaining attackers are still being sought.

A case of house robbery has been registered for further investigation. Anyone with information leading to the additional eight suspects who are armed, can contact Colonel Ben Bolsick, Provincial Organized Crime Unit who can be contacted at cellphone number 082 466 8530 or Police Emergency number 08600 10111.

Read about more farm attacks here

Information supplied by Oorgrens veiligheid

South Africa Today – South Africa News

https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/free-state/farm-attack-10-heavily-armed-attackers-overpower-rob-family-bothaville/

Snowstorm strands 61 in pub in Yorkshire, England, for third night, ‘plenty of beer available’

The snowstorm made driving on roads in the area unsafe

The last thing guests at one pub in Yorkshire, England, will need is a cold one.

A strong snowstorm stranded about 61 people on hand for a concert Friday night and there's a good chance they will not be able to leave until Monday--at the earliest.

The guests were hunkered down at the Tan Hill Inn after attending the Friday concert by an Oasis tribute band called Noasis.

"I’m quite chilled about being stranded, it’s quite exciting, but we’re missing our son who is with his nana," Stephanie Overton, one of the guests, told the BBC. "I am wondering how long we will be here for though."

The report said the storm dumped about three feet of snow in the Yorkshire Dales, which is about 1,732 feet above sea level. Besides the snow, fallen power cables have created a dangerous situation outside. The guests are all getting along, and the report said managers set up sleeping quarters in the pub’s lounge.

The New York Times reported that a man at the pub was evacuated by a local rescue group because of a previous medical condition. The guests have been passing the time by singing karaoke and watching movies like "Grease," the report said.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/snowstorm-strands-61-in-pub-for-third-night-plenty-of-beer-available

Dung beetles and MPs who are ‘pink pigs’

Letter from Zimbabwe

Dung beetles and MPs who are ‘pink pigs’

27th November 2021

by Cathy Buckle

Dear Family and Friends,

The rains have returned to Zimbabwe, breaking an unbearably hot couple of weeks which had left us melting the moment we stepped outside. Green is everywhere and with it has come the weird and wonderful, the absurd and the insulting and the downright shameful.

First the weird and wonderful: the noise of the rain on the roof at night; searing flashes of lightning streaking down the purple sky; teeth marks in the soft green flesh of avocados that have fallen during the rain; a grey bone-filled owl pellet under a big msasa tree; freshly churned mole hills marching in a line across sodden ground; figs so big that they almost fill your palm, being gorged on by barbets and louries, bulbuls and white eyes. And out there in the bush dung beetles in a frantic frenzy, digging holes in the soft damp ground, running to grab balls of dung, rolling them backwards to their holes and burying their precious food or using it to make underground breeding chambers.

Then comes the absurd as politicking and electioneering moves up a gear as election 2023 gets nearer. In the past fortnight the Chairman of Zimpapers (Zimbabwe Newspapers Group) said: “we want to do the best we can to support the government, to support the system”… Editors “should not be ashamed of supporting the ruling party, ”as this was a “national agenda.” Next came the words of Vice President Chiwenga who was speaking in Beitbridge and said: “Zanu PF will rule forever and if they dare (the naysayers), we will amend the law that we want President Emmerson Mnangagwa forever.”

Next there was the insulting which came from the ZANU PF Director of Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi who called British MPs ‘pink pigs.’ This came after UK MPs expressed concerns about the declining political situation in Zimbabwe. Lord St John Blesto said the British government would only support Zimbabwe’s bid to rejoin the Commonwealth when Harare restored the rule of law, protected freedom of speech and political freedoms. Mr Mugwadi responded by saying: “The UK Embassy and UK Ambassador to Zimbabwe Melanie Robinson must be the most embarrassed by such classical stupidity. Sit down pink pigs.”

Finally there was the downright shameful. After telling civil servants they would get US dollar bonuses, this week they heard it would be to a maximum value of US$700 and would not be paid in US dollars but in Zimbabwe dollars at a conversion rate of 97 to one. So for your US$700 you will get Z$68,000 whereas if you got the US$700 in your hand and changed it on the black market you would get Z$122,500 where the street rate is 175 to one at the moment. A huge difference of Z$54,500 and a major loss to civil servants who have been kept in near penury for many years; they find themselves the losers again and again and again.

Until next time, thanks for reading this Letter From Zimbabwe, a country in waiting,

love cathy

27 November 2021.

Cathy

Cathy Buckle is well known for her writings of daily life in Zimbabwe. These are sent to subscribers around the world and are regularly featured by a number of international print and broadcast media outlets.

https://cathybuckle.co.zw/dung-beetles-and-mps-who-are-pink-pigs/

Donna Hay's raspberry yoghurt scrolls

Raspberry yoghurt scrolls

The beauty of these scrolls is that all the magic happens in your humble frying pan. Plus, the yoghurt keeps them super moist and fluffy.

Serves 9

RASPBERRY YOGHURT SCROLLS

2 cups (300g) self-raising flour

1½ cups (225g) wholemeal self-raising flour

⅓ cup (75g) raw caster sugar

1½ teaspoons baking powder

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1½ cups (420g) plain thick yoghurt

½ cup (125ml) light-flavoured extra virgin olive oil

Pure maple syrup, for brushing

Filling

2 cups (250g) frozen raspberries

2 tablespoons raw caster sugar, extra

1. Preheat oven 180 °C.

2. Place the flours, sugar and baking powder into a bowl and mix to combine. Place the vanilla, yoghurt and oil into a bowl and mix to combine. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients. Pour the yoghurt mixture in and mix with a butter knife until you have a rough dough.

3. Roll the dough out between two sheets of baking paper to form a 20cm x 35cm (8 inch x 13¾ inch) rectangle.

4. Remove the top layer of baking paper. Sprinkle the dough with frozen raspberries and the extra sugar. Working from the long edge, roll the dough over tightly to enclose the berries and then slice into 9 equal pieces.

5. Place scrolls into a 23cm (9 inch) ovenproof frying pan or 23cm (9 inch) cake tin lined with non-stick baking paper. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until golden. Brush with maple syrup while hot and serve.

Once you master these scrolls, you can get creative with so many different filling combinations! From apple and cinnamon, to blueberries tossed in elderflower cordial.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-drink/recipes/300455443/donna-hays-raspberry-yoghurt-scrolls

New Variant

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/cartoon/new-variant/

UK Bureaucrats Ban Word ‘Christmas’ for Fear It Will Offend Minorities

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2021/11/28/uk-bureaucrats-ban-word-christmas-for-fear-it-will-offend-minorities/

Hollie Adams/Getty Images

PETER CADDLE

28 Nov 2021

2:44

UK Civil servants have axed the word ‘Christmas’ from a proposed government campaign, for fear the term will offend minorities.

British civil servants have apparently embraced their inner Scrooge, vetoing the use of the word ‘Christmas’ from being used in a coronavirus testing drive aimed at students, arguing that the use of the term runs the risk of offending minorities within the country.

The campaign, which reportedly would have revolved around ministers using the slogan “Don’t take COVID home for Christmas,” is part of a larger government effort to limit the spread of the Chinese coronavirus after two cases of the Omicron variant were discovered on-shore.

‘We have been advised by Cabinet Office that we should not use the word Christmas – as the Government campaign needs to be inclusive and some religions don’t celebrate Christmas,” an email seen by The Mail on Sunday read. “The other option was ‘festive season’ which keeps the emotional motivation.”

“We have gone with ‘Don’t take COVID-19 home for the holidays’ – as it links to school and university Christmas holidays,” the email continued. “The alliteration with ‘home’ and ‘holidays’ scans well and is memorable.”

Despite the politically correct alliteration, this suggestion was also shot down in a follow-up email sent by a different British bureaucrat.

“We don’t refer to Christmas as the holidays (that’s an Americanism),” the email read. “Please can we say, ‘Don’t take Covid-19 home’.”

Conservative MP Saqib Bhatti lambasted the decision to remove the mention of Christmas from the campaign.

“As a Muslim, I find it ridiculous we can’t enjoy this special time of year. I look forward to showing my new son his first Christmas tree. The idea you can’t mention Christmas is completely ridiculous,” Bhatti said.

“It’s a time to celebrate, whatever your background. It’s part of the British culture I love. It’s the celebration of all cultures that makes this the most welcoming country in the world.

“I’m proud of that and proud to celebrate Christmas. The Blob needs to stop waging war on Christmas and get on with delivering for the British people,” Bhatti concluded.

The British government is not unique in waging a woke war on Christmas traditions this year, with a short film produced by the Norwegian postal service seeing Santa fall in love with another man.

The advert — which British left-wing newspaper The Guardian has called “heartwarming” — follows St Nick and his new love interest, Harry, who at one point tells Santa: “All I want for Christmas is you.”

The film ends with the pair passionately embracing with a kiss.

Sunday, 28 November 2021

The Coconuts Recipe Corner: Italian-American Lasagna with Meat Sauce and Ricotta

Italian-American Lasagna with Meat Sauce and Ricotta

Published on Nov 23, 2020 by Jim , Sip and Feast

https://www.sipandfeast.com/italian-american-lasagna/

What could possibly be more comforting than the smell of a tray of Italian-American style lasagna fresh from the oven? Beneath the crispy, melty top lies layers upon layers of cheesy, saucy goodness. A creamy ricotta and herb mixture is slathered between thin sheets of pasta, each of which is topped with mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, and a hearty meat ragu, culminating in one of the most beloved of all Italian-American baked pasta dishes.

Tray of lasagna being held with gloves.

American Lasagna is a recognizable menu staple in many Italian eateries. It is one that is pleasing to even the fussiest of eaters making it a dish that is sure to please a crowd.

In fact, you will often find lasagna on the tables of many Italian-American families on holidays, such as Thanksgiving (served as the first course way before the turkey), Christmas, and Easter.

This recipe is for how to make Italian-American Lasagna. This is the one that many Americans know and love. There are a couple of tricks to making a perfect lasagna that's not runny and easy to assemble. This classic lasagna recipe with meat sauce is made with a hearty ragu, ricotta, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano cheese. Make sure to let the lasagna rest for at least 30 minutes prior to eating. Enjoy!

Use this MEAT SAUCE RECIPE: https://youtu.be/TDXaeTehT9o

INGREDIENTS:

4-5 cups meat sauce

1 pound lasagna noodles - Dececco brand works well

1 pound mozzarella cheese - sliced

1 cup Pecorino Romano - grated

For the ricotta mixture:

1 pound ricotta - drained overnight or for at least 2-3 hours

1/4 cup parsley - minced

1/4 cup basil - minced

2 eggs

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt and a touch of olive oil to it. Boil the lasagna noodles (work in batches) to very al dente (about 4-5 minutes). Scoop out sheets with a mesh strainer or pasta spider and shock in cold water. Lay flat the lasagna noodles on parchment paper or clean dish towels.

2. In a 9 by 13 (or 10 by 15) baking dish place a drop of olive oil and wipe the bottom and sides. Next add a thick layer of meat sauce, completely coating the bottom of the baking dish.

3. Place 6 lasagna noodles on the first level (they should slightly overlap). Spread a thick layer of the ricotta mixture onto the noodles, then layer 1/3 of the mozzarella, another thick layer of meat sauce, and finally 1/3 of the grated Pecorino Romano cheese.

4. Add 2 more layers to the lasagna. On the top layer just add the sauce, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano.

5. Cover the lasagna with a lightly oiled tin foil cover. An even better way to cover the lasagna is to place parchment paper on top of it, then the foil.

6. Bake the lasagna covered at 375f for 45 minutes in the middle of the oven. Remove foil after 45 minutes and bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes more until the side noodles are crispy and the cheese is bubbly.

Enjoy!

NOTE: Let the lasagna rest at least 30 minutes before eating. This will help it settle and not be runny.

For more Instructions watch the video