OK. OK! So it's THAT time of the year again. Hmmmm! Time to turn on the annual Christmas depression! Quite frankly I blame Verwoerd and Vorster for my anti-Christmas disposition. Ja! It's Apartheid's fault! Back in the 60's and early-70's I remember the insanely brutal "Pass-raids" that took place at Glenfair Shopping Centre. The large vans would come charging into the complex with police thugs hanging off the back. Armed with batons (and God knows what else), they'd charge into the bush around the shopping centre triggering a wild and vicious chase around the suburbs.

Their target's were fellow South Africans who, because of the colour of their skin, required special permission to be in "White" areas. As work was scarce, many black people ignored this racist legislation by working in parts of the country where they could find employment, but where (by their very presence) they were breaking the law. The rule was most vigorously applied on public holidays when the racist oppressors felt that that people of colour should not be "loitering" in the more affluent "White" parts of town. The fact that it was Christmas meant that labourers and domestic workers in the "White" suburbs had a little extra disposable income and (quite understandably) used that to socialise with their friends. These parties were the police's targets.

The Pass-raids terrified me and I will never forget them. At the age of seven, eight or nine, I didn't really understand what was happening. I remember crying and I remember my father hiding people in our flat and lying to the police. I felt threatened and scared. For this reason holidays, and especially Christmases, were never warm and fuzzy events for me. Heavy shit huh?! Phew!

In the early 70's my parents and I started doing something that also affected my attitude to Christmas. Yup - the annual trek down to the coast where "YOU WILL HAVE FUN GODDAMNIT"!! Oi!! I hated the long road down to East London - the heat and the dust and the tedium. I also found it difficult to be with the extended family. Having grown up in relative isolation in the Transvaal, I really didn't know the people and was not very comfortable with strangers. So Christmas became this time when I would have to kiss old people I didn't know and play with kids that I didn't want to know!

As soon as I was old enough, I escaped the annual Christmas-ritual and went off to do my own thing. In fact, I don't think I spent a single Festive Season with family of any sort until the late 80's or early 90's. But during the 80's the long finger of PW Botha continued to make Christmas a misery for me. Every year for about 10 years I was called up to do between one and three months operational service in the South African Defence Force. During those years Christmas meant walking patrol in northern Namibia or facing rioters and teargas closer to home. Fun-fun-fun!! Ho-ho-ho!!

When I could finally afford to do so I left South Africa and based myself in Europe. It was there that I started to understand what Christmas was really supposed to be about. No - it's not an over-commercialised shopping frenzy. Neither is it an instinctual mad rush to the Natal coast, schlepping a Venter trailer at break-neck speeds, killing hundreds of follow "holiday-makers" in the process. No! It's a time to relax at home with your wife and brats and to visit traditional Christmas markets. A time for crisp, cold weather, snow, glühwein, balloons, grog, real Christmas trees, carol singers, kids, families and friends. Relaxation. Goodwill. Tradition. Peace and love. A time to reflect and do good things. A time to be part of your local community. A time to recharge. A time to read and sleep and fornicate!

OK - I admit it, since coming to Europe I've started looking forward to Christmas. I like the insular winter months and all that goes with them. This year Debs and I will be home in Prague for the Festive Season and are going to enjoy it to the full. Wherever you are, I hope you have a great one too. We can only hope that that farquit, George W., does not start a global conflagration at this holy time of the year for some. Yes, he's a "Christian" too. Yes…may we all live to see another Christmas.

Yo-ho-ho!! So Debs and I were out shooting some panoramic shots in Prague's Old Town Square last night. It was misty and cold, and I hope that the pictures give you a feeling for Christmas in this special part of the world:

In closing, here's a self-portrait of Debs and I at the Chrismas Market on the Old Town Square.

Have a great 2003 everyone!!

Love,

MARK & DEBS xxx
December 22, 2002

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