Welcome to my blog.
I started my blog in April 2011, hit my 100th post in July 2014, and I’m still blogging away. But now (2017) I’ve decided to split my posts between Despatches and a new Book orientated blog . It’s called The Booksmith, here’s the link: http://thebooksmithblog.wordpress.com
Books and reading are my passion which I’d like to share with others. But this said, I also enjoy writing about just about everything else – for example food & cooking, gardening, social issues, current events, politics, a travelogue, Tarot, Mahjongg, or maybe a piece of my flash fiction or short fiction; occasionally my cat, Chocolat, adds a short bulletin about what’s going on in our lives.
This is the joy of having one’s own blog: I can write what I like. The following quote is a perfect description of Despatches from Timbuktu:
soapbox: an improvised platform used by a self-appointed, spontaneous, or informal orator; broadly : something that provides an outlet for delivering opinions [Miriam-Webster Online]
Why the Timbuktu title ? This African city was once a centre for learning, scholarship, and books. But I live way, way further south than the fabled city. I’m writing from a Southern African perspective. I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world : Cape Town.
Please leave comments –I enjoy interacting with my readers.
despatchesfromtimbuktu 
Hey, just thought you might like to know that I’ve awarded you a Sunshine Award 🙂 Enjoy! Sian
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Oh, and here’s the link!
http://sianinturkey.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/a-ray-of-sunshine/
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Hi Alison,
We’ve been enjoying your blog and have nominated you for the Liebster Award! Check out our blog post to read about the award and rules:
We hope you enjoy the attention it brings you and that you’ll pass it on.
Carol & Al (the Travelling Mudskippers)
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Gosh! Thank you! I looked at your link and am a bit overwhelmed by the 11 Qs etc. etc. but will do my bnest. Plus there is now the dilemma of the pass-on. Okay. Will get to it. It certainly is a good way to discover new blogs and make new friends.
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Alison, would you be interested in doing a guest post on my site to give a. Insight on literature from South Africa?
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Thanks for the offer. Yes – provided you are not in a hurry for it. When would you like it and how many words?
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wonderful to know that. how it works is that I send you some questions so it looks more like an interview. you can decide how short/long your answers can be – if you want to get an idea of the style, take a look here at previous pieces http://bookertalk.com/world-literature/the-view-from-here/
As for the timing, would it be possible by the end of February?
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Yes, end of Feb can do. Suggest you send Qs to my e-mail addr – can’t remember if I gave it to you or not? if not: felix41.as@gmail.com . Look fwd to next instalment
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Hello Allison, discovered your blog this evening through your comment on “Cats and Chocolate”. Was wondering if I could write to you in Afrikaans, but it doesn’t look likely, since you grew up in Rhodesia. Anyhow, aangename kennis!
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Hello Tannie Frannie – aangename kennis to you too! sorry – English is my taal. My Afrikaans is poor – rapid, and poor. I have comprehension but fluency not so good. P,S, my name is spelled with one ‘l’.
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It impresses me no end that you do have knowledge of Afrikaans! I’ll remember the one l – you have probably had to point that out many, many times 🙂
Ek hoop ons gaan nog lekker kuier hier op die blogs.
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Thank you very much for this site… It reminds us about a more recent glory times in Africa-the City of Timbuktu.
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Thanks for following my blog.
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Africa–i’m confused. thot you were living MUCH farther north.
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Thank you for liking a comment I wrote on Belleza’s blog. I looked you up and like your blogs too. Have signed up to follow. I live in Tasmania and write about travels with my friend the Penguin (he has been on 4 continents), books and life in general mainly in Tasmania. Nice to meet you.🐧🐧🐧
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Hello Travelling Penguin – thanks for the blog follows. Will pop into yours once I’ve caught up with the mountain of mail lurking on my PC after my Christmas away break with the family.
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Thanks for the follow. Chuffed.
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Your comment on my blog post gave me a chuckle and I knew I should find you and see what you are up to. I must say I am impressed by your longevity as well as your writing. I will be following you in future and hope to see you again soon. Keep doing you – you’re good at it! 😀
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Thank you for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed my blog – or some of it, at least. I could see from my WP Stats that someone in the States had discovered my blog, and was exploring my Archives. Strength to your arm/pen/keyboard too!
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You’re from Cape Town? The most beautiful city in South Africa (maybe even in the world) … yes, I’m biased for sure. I think I’m going to have a good read here on your blog – Afrikaans is my home language , so ek sê graag: “Bly te kenne”
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Alison, i have only known cape town from the cricket matches being played there. Its welcoming here also when a blogging veteran visits your blog after an ‘extraordinary’ comment and you end up here. Thank you. I am here for good now 🙂
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Welcome!
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