Wood, Uni-Cycles, and Children

At my regular Knysna haunt, Jesters; I met a man named Raoul Potgieter. He is a carpenter, rides a unicycle, teaches people the art of lucid dreaming, is very apt at juggling and rhythm sticks -- to name a few of his talents. He also make wooden toys and medieval weaponry. He often goes to the Sedgefield Farmers Market, as well as Port Elizabeth's Medieval Fayre. He also remembers the time when my brother and I raised R100 to dunk the king at the very first Fayre; though his eyes really shone when he spoke of his love for children, and his desire to broaden their minds.

If you are in the area and what to learn about lucid dreaming, or even just buy a sword for the fun of childish endeavours; get hold of him. If I was still running around with pieces of wood pretending they were swords I would give part of a limb to have a weapon and shield made by this man. So Mothers and Fathers of the of our dear, humble, suburban South Africa: Stop buying your, kids ages five to ten, electronic games. For their next birthday give them three shields, five play-swords and four play-axes; hell even five wooden suits of armour. Trust me, that kid will be more popular than any child with a 52" plasma screen and a PlayStation 3.  Sure one or two of them might get hurt but they are kids; they are meant to fall down, pick themselves up, snivel over a scraped knee, not talk to the child who pushed them for a week then up and be best friends all over again. That's childhood. By the time they are fifteen they will be too embarrassed to run around in fake weapons and have fake wars -- until they go to varsity and start to cos-play that is.

Tel: 083 5744 551
E-mail: raoultheowl@gmail.com