Le Weekly #60 – Old Engine ✨

One quote, one word, one shoutout, one story, one neigh from Philosophical Horse and one question.

Greetings everyone. Happy Monday!

Take a moment to reflect on each snippet. Comment your thoughts below.

Note from Le Editor: I have officially been in the bush for about 32 days and will still be here for another five days before returning to the city.

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Le Quote 🗣

“If no one is with me, I do it alone, but now I have this pain in my back.” – Paulo (while manhandling a 48kg gas tank).

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Le Word 💬

bush (noun) wild or uncultivated country.

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Le Shoutout 🧣

📍 Limpopo

Yesterday, while looking at some birds at a waterhole, a German man named Hans drove towards us in an ancient Land Rover.

“Any animals?” he asked.

“Nothing much, just some birds,” we replied, gesturing to the birds. “And you?”

Without making a sound, he gestured back to the birds as if to say, “Same on my side.”

“There will be animals at the next waterhole for you,” I told him optimistically.

He looked dubious.

“There will be,” I assured.

He smiled, said thank you, and turned the key in his ignition.

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

Nothing.

Eish.

He tried again.

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

Nothing.

He tried again.

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

Nothing.

He tried again.

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

Nothing.

“Land Rover,” he said, smiling.

He sat back in his seat, waited a few seconds, and then leant back forward to try again.

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

*engine starting sounds*

*brrrrrrrrrrrruhm*

As good as new, the old engine started.

“Just patience,” he said, smiling, before trundling away.

Shoutout Hans.

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Le Story ✍️

📍 Limpopo

Last week, I was watching a herd of wildebeest and zebra with Michelle.

“Why are they walking together?” she asked.

I started explaining about “safety in numbers” and how they are both species are “striped animals”, and when striped animals (animals with stripes) run in a herd, the stripes confuse predators, so sticking with other striped animals makes their stripes more effective.

“That’s so cool,” she said.

I nodded, hoping I’d told her the correct story.

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A week later, when my mother and sister arrived in Limpopo, we drove past the same herd.

“Michelle enjoyed how the wildebeest and zebra stick together,” I said.

“Do you know why they stick together?” my mom asked.

“Because of the stripes?” I asked.

“It’s also because the one has good eyesight and the other has good hearing,” my mom said.

“They also have complimentary feeding habits,” she continued. “Zebra eat the high grasses and shrubs, while wildebeest eat the low grasses.”

“And zebra also have good memory,” she concluded.

I smiled, excited to share the newfound knowledge.

It’s always more than just stripes, and thankfully, the zebra will remember.

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Note: These stats were corroborated as best as possible by our mammal book back at the house.

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Le Neigh from Philosophical Horse 🐴

Repost from Le Blogue 2 (Jan 2023)

“Neigh. Everyone wants to be different.

I was thinking the other day: Are all my personal differences equal in importance? Is my external physical appearance as important as my internal character?

Say, for example, I galloped over and stood with a herd of zebras. I’d stand out primarily because I’m a horse. Right? I’d be identified by my “general horse qualities” before any of my true, internal differences could shine through.

Now, imagine I stood with a herd of horses. I’d be distinguished not by my physical appearance but by the core characteristics that make me unique.

So I say this: Before attempting to look different just to look different, make sure your true colours have the chance to shine through first.

But what do I know? I’m just a Philosophical Horse.”

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Le Question 🤔

Who are the zebra to your wildebeest?

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Have a powerful Monday, everyone.

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