Birds flee from toxic waters

David Biggs|Published

There were no birds at at Marina da Gama. A coot’s nest and a grebe’s nest near the shore stood empty. Usually they are both buzzing with avian activity.

To future generations we'll just be a bunch of silly clowns. . .

David Biggs|Published

"It's always interesting to look at old photographs and see how fashions change, and how ridiculous yesterday's fashions look when seen through today's eyes. "

No substitute for flavour of a handmade life

David Biggs|Published

"I enjoy cooking. I'm not particularly good at it, but I think it's a peaceful pastime, and a civilised one too. "

‘Cushions’ and cookbooks may spoil the broth

David Biggs|Published

"I sometimes wonder whether the people who design things ever get to use them. I often feel this way about magazines and books. "

When without, ’n Boer Maak ’n Plan

David Biggs|Published

"It works best in Afrikaans, but translated, it means a farmer makes a plan. Basically it?s about improvising to solve problems. . . "

Apoptosis has me racking my brain cells

David Biggs|Published

"I was slightly shocked to learn the other day that I am suffering from Apoptosis. Actually, so are you. "

Don't rely on politicians, do it yourself

David Biggs|Published

"Politicians should know that protests is what happens when you make promises you know you will be unable to keep. "

Simple and effective just won’t do today

David Biggs|Published

"I recently asked readers if anyone knew what Preservene soap was and who made it. It was mentioned many times in a book of household hints published in 1926"

Breaking the cycle of debt

David Biggs|Published

I read somewhere recently that the world was now more than $70 trillion in debt. I suspect the Earth?s debt could be described as a ?circular debt?

How, like, overused, is the word like?

David Biggs|Published

"I sometimes wonder whether a great many of the world?s problems could be the result of sloppy communication. "

Capetonians in the age of Aquarius

David Biggs|Published

"Since Cape Town became a water-stressed city the citizens have become Aquarians - water carriers. "

City proves it does work for us

David Biggs|Published

"I told him we had a telephone number dedicated to pothole repair, and if we called to report one, it wasn?t long before a team of workers arrived and filled it. ...

Trivial headlines keep us from going mad

David Biggs|Published

"Over the years I have read hundreds of apparently trivial headlines that were nevertheless important to the people who read them. "

Vets' advice is something to chew over

David Biggs|Published

"I grew up on a sheep farm and dogs were a vital part of farm life. Apart from the working sheepdogs, my mother always had a pet dog of her own"

Why suits are largely unsuitable for real work

David Biggs|Published

"Frankly, I couldn’t see myself standing in a muddy pigsty talking to a successful pig farmer dressed in a three-piece suit," writes David Biggs.

#LandExpropriation: All land once belonged to someone else

David Biggs|Published

"Land ownership and ?restitution? is an interesting one legally and historically because almost all land everywhere once belonged to somebody else"

#EveryDropCounts: Amid uncertainty, wine becomes a water substitute

David Biggs|Published

I wonder whether untreated water goes bad. Are there any kinds of bacteria that may breed inside those bottles of water? asks David Biggs in his daily column.

#WaterCrisis: The unlikely tale behind 87 litres of water a day

David Biggs|Published

In his daily column, Tavern of the Seas, David Biggs writes about how the Cape Town City Council came to it's calculated figure of 87 litres for water consumption. ...