DAILY NEWS FROM MAMLAKAT KALAHARI 11 March 2019
(http://mykalahariblogaddress.blogspot.com)
and the Flickr accounts of
Afraa al Abid https://www.flickr.com/photos/165591728@N03
Nilasso https://www.flickr.com/photos/157272874@N03
Tasha Weston https://www.flickr.com/photos/145085904@N03
EDITOR: Afraa al Abid
PHOTOJOURNALISTS FOR THIS ISSUE:
King Hassan ibn Trrrol, Minister Nilasso
SCENE DESIGNERS:
Ehline, Solondra, Sky Rich, Willow
MUSICIANS:
Willow, Jemima Larkspur
SINGER:
Minister Nilasso
DANCE LEADER:
Ehline
PARADE LEADERS:
Queen Nathalie, Willow
ROYAL PONY:
Minister Afraa al Abid
CRIMINAL:
Captain Minghus
King Hassan ibn Trrrol, Minister Nilasso
SCENE DESIGNERS:
Ehline, Solondra, Sky Rich, Willow
MUSICIANS:
Willow, Jemima Larkspur
SINGER:
Minister Nilasso
DANCE LEADER:
Ehline
PARADE LEADERS:
Queen Nathalie, Willow
ROYAL PONY:
Minister Afraa al Abid
CRIMINAL:
Captain Minghus
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GRIEVING EHLINE BIDS FATHER FAREWELL!
THORGRIM GIVEN A FIERY SENDOFF!
EHLINE RAISES MONEY FOR ORPHAN CHILD!
CAPTAIN MINGHUS TESTIFIES TO HERO'S LAST MOMENTS!
SHOCKING NEWS ABOUT EHLINE'S INHERITANCE!
KALAHARI DANCERS JOIN EHLINE IN THE FLAME DANCE!
STUNNING ARRAY OF GUESTS!
SHOCKING NEWS ABOUT EHLINE'S INHERITANCE!
KALAHARI DANCERS JOIN EHLINE IN THE FLAME DANCE!
STUNNING ARRAY OF GUESTS!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ATTENDEES
King Hassan ibn Trrrol, Queen Nathalie, Minister Afraa al Abid, Minister Nilasso, Grieving Ehline. Captain Minghus, Sheik Franco Carfield, Sidi Zomaster, Sir Peace Furst, Willow, Ambassador Yasemin von Engelhardt, Sky Rich, Sonia Tairov, Tina Wo, Salma, Karima, Jemima Larkspur, Elyssa Kalaratri, Pia, BudRyan, Port Master Bri Modan, Doctor Albert Glas, Solondra, Orelia, Kate Blackwood, Irina Kotech, Renzi, Bella, Marcus.
NON ATTENDEE
Thorgrim
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE SETTING
When the reports of Thorgrim's death, incomplete as they were, reached Kalahari, his daughter Ehline immediately tempered her grief by preparing a fitting funeral for her crafty father.
The first item she prepared showed that Ehline most definitely has Thorgrim's blood in her veins: she set up a gift and offerings table for his grieving daughter, namely Ehline herself!
Ehline also managed to arrange for a Pirate ship, in honor of her father's criminal past, to serve as a funeral pyre
and a tasteful memorial to her father, with a lovely card by Sky Rich.
FUNERAL PROCESSION
The ceremony memorializing Thorgrim began on a somber note: as the many guests gathered, they realized that Thorgrim was gone, at least according to the testimony of his friend and partner, Captain Minghus.
The Procession leaders, Herald Nathalie, and Musician Willow, soon managed the guests and formed the procession line to accompany the deceased's grieving daughter to the Funeral Ship.
On the path to the Funeral Ship, the Procession stopped at the Tavern, to pick up the Royal Cart, which bore the empty coffin of Thorgrim.
There, King Hassan and the grieving Ehline mounted the cart, and gave the signal to Royal Pony Afraa to pull the cart to the Funeral Ship, at the New Landing.
King Hassan ibn Trrrol
When the reports of Thorgrim's death, incomplete as they were, reached Kalahari, his daughter Ehline immediately tempered her grief by preparing a fitting funeral for her crafty father.
The first item she prepared showed that Ehline most definitely has Thorgrim's blood in her veins: she set up a gift and offerings table for his grieving daughter, namely Ehline herself!
 |
| Funeral offering table for Ehline |
Ehline also managed to arrange for a Pirate ship, in honor of her father's criminal past, to serve as a funeral pyre
 |
| Thorgrim's funeral pyre |
and a tasteful memorial to her father, with a lovely card by Sky Rich.
 |
| Pirate and Royal Secret Agent remembered |
FUNERAL PROCESSION
The ceremony memorializing Thorgrim began on a somber note: as the many guests gathered, they realized that Thorgrim was gone, at least according to the testimony of his friend and partner, Captain Minghus.
 |
| Sad gathering |
The Procession leaders, Herald Nathalie, and Musician Willow, soon managed the guests and formed the procession line to accompany the deceased's grieving daughter to the Funeral Ship.
 |
| Queen Nathalie, Procession Herald and talented musician/dancer Willow lead |
On the path to the Funeral Ship, the Procession stopped at the Tavern, to pick up the Royal Cart, which bore the empty coffin of Thorgrim.
 |
| Funeral cart at Tavern |
There, King Hassan and the grieving Ehline mounted the cart, and gave the signal to Royal Pony Afraa to pull the cart to the Funeral Ship, at the New Landing.
 |
| Pony Afraa pulls the cart containing Thorgrim's coffin, and King Hassan and Ehline THE FUNERAL CEREMONY |
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| King Hassan calls the ceremony to order |
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| Guests gather at Pirate Ship |
King Hassan ibn Trrrol
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| King Hassan makes Opening remarks |
My dear residents.....today Kalahari will have the first
funeral in its history. (Ehline starts to weep.) So far we had many weddings.......we
had many births......., we had divorces......and gender
changes........., but there is nothing to final in our
existence.....as a funeral.
Our hero Thorgrim brought us so many
good things during his life......: He made several women happy..., he raised a wonderful daughter...., (Ehline waves)
he made our commerce flourish by making
friends with the captains of the sea. He negotiated about ransoms with
pirates...., he tried to tame some slaves
All such are good contributions to our
society.
(Salma calls from the back of
the crowd, "And he made one woman miserable by stealing her dowry and
neglecting her when he owned her as a slave!")
I am sure that everybody of you has
some very good memories of my friend Thorgrim.
(Minghus and Peace Furst shouted support of Thorgrim: "No man is perfect.")
So I ask one minute of silence.....to
contemplate and think about him....and his achievements.
(Salma shakes her head
vehemently.)
Silence!
Thank you all. Ehline do you have the
courage to speak some words?
 |
| The King asks Ehline to give her eulogy of Thorgrim |
Ehline
(Wonders how the collection will work)
(Wonders how the collection will work)
Dear almighty King and subjects! I know my father was frowned upon by some
people, but for me he was a hero. He left his poor family on Iceland when I
was a year old. Without him we only had dried fish to eat, but we starved happily because we knew that Thorgrim
was on his way to help the Irish people.
(Afraa al Abid thinks he was fleeing the
civil authorities.)
Wipes a tear, and says Thorgrim or "the saint of Ireland"
specialized in visiting the Irish monasteries to help the monks give their riches to the poor.
(Afraa al Abid mumbles "Help the monks
"donate" their art to Thorgrim!")
In Kalahari he found a safe harbor for his
ship and loot....sorry, goods! In return for generous donations to the King, the King let him anchor and hide here.
The King let him anchor here, having his base in Kalahari. Thorgrim who always wanted to help, also brought many Kalaharian women on exciting travels to foreign countries. Many of them choose to stay with their new owners .. oh,
I mean friends!
 |
| Ehline holds the crowd spellbound with her Thorgrim eulogy |
According to old Icelandic funeral
traditions we should all give gifts to Thorgrim that will help in the
afterlife. Place your gifts close to the boat later. Remember also the special collection for the
kings orphan daughter, she wipes away a tear, finally touched....
(Afraa al Abid thinks we should have used a
collection basket not a coffin.
Salma "I already left my
"gift" on the ship last night.")
And now Minghus, the judge of the sea, will
tell about Thorgrim's last brave moments. Are you read Sir Minghus, friend of Thorgrim?
(Jemima Larkspur whispers "I think everyone's going
to be touched, for a few bucks, at least.)
 |
| Captain Minghus gives eyewitness account of Thorgrim's "death" |
Minghus
Brothers and women: I was there, I saw it happen. I can't say how sad I am to have lost my brother, my Sailmaster. I was in Damascus which is a city in civil war. It has nothing to do with Sailmaster Thorgrim, he tried to solve the conflict ... but his wife wanted it otherwise
Brothers and women: I was there, I saw it happen. I can't say how sad I am to have lost my brother, my Sailmaster. I was in Damascus which is a city in civil war. It has nothing to do with Sailmaster Thorgrim, he tried to solve the conflict ... but his wife wanted it otherwise
(Ehline tries to follow the complicated politics.)
I guess you all know Thorgrim's wife ... its
always difficult with wives.
Thorgrim's wife, he finally found her in
Damascus, and took back what was his.
Yes, Ehline, your mother.
(Jemima Larkspur whispers: "The time for a wife to be
difficult is in the pre-nuptials.")
When I found him in the fuming city he was
in bed, likely his life was running out because of poison in his stomach. He whispered to me, in a very low voice:
"Minghus, take over all my properties in York, Alexandria, and Kalahari.
You are my brother, I give you everything."
(Ehline looks wide eyed at Minghus and shouts: "What?!?")
I kissed his forehead, while hearing his
wife's security enter the building. I Jumped out of the window and ran to the
harbor to get help.
(Ehline looks furiously at Minghus.)
His Chinese cook was greeting me by the
ship, and I sent him to get Thorgrim back. But alas, a huge explosion shook the ground beneath us. The city was moaning in pain as the flames roared their
anger out.
(Ehline shouts "My inheritance!")
(Salma asks "And what of our
son Andris Dogon? Has he been settled somewhere he can grow into a fine young
man?")
I had no choice other than to flee from the city.
Thorgrim was dead in the flames. I miss my brother, but I
promise you, I will take over his properties and continue his fight for the
good life.
(Afraa al Abid thinks there is no honor among thieves.)
Thank you King Hassan, thank you Ehline,
daughter of a brave sailor.
(Trrrol Toll puts a frown on his face and looks at his
Ministers.)
(Afraa al Abid answers "Majesty, I am sure Kalahari
Justice will decide all this.)
(King Hassan adds: "After the funeral, the Court of Ministers will decide about property law in Kalahari.")
(King Hassan adds: "After the funeral, the Court of Ministers will decide about property law in Kalahari.")
(Ehline whispers "My father was killed by poison, fire, and explosions!)
KALAHARI ROYAL DANCERS
(Minister Afraa announces "And now, the Kalahari dancers perform the ‘flame dance’ symbolizing the heat needed to send Thorgrim to the afterlife.")
(Minister Afraa announces "And now, the Kalahari dancers perform the ‘flame dance’ symbolizing the heat needed to send Thorgrim to the afterlife.")
 |
| Kalahari Dancers |
The Kalahari Royal Dancers then performed the Flame Dance in their usual splendid fashion, guided by the grieving Ehline. At the conclusion of the dance, Ehline and the other dancers hurled their flame sticks into the ship, which immediately ignited in spectacular flames. Accompanying the dance, Minister Nilasso sang a mournful dirge.
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| Crowd mesmerized by the neated performance |
.
"Amis, partons sans bruit (friends, let us go quietly)
La pêche sera bonne (fishing will be good)
La lune qui rayonne (the moon that radiates)
Éclairera la nuit (will light up at night)
Il faut qu’avant l’aurore (it’s necessary
that before the dawn)
Nous soyons de retour (we are back)
Pour sommeiller encore (to sleep still)
Avant qu’il soit grand jour (before it is midday)
Partons, la mer est belle (let us go, the
sea is beautiful)
Embarquons-nous, pêcheurs
(let us embark, fishermen.)
Guidons notre nacelle (handle our little ship)
Ramons avec ardeur
(pull back with ardor)
Aux mâts hissons les voiles, (the masts sail the sails)
Le ciel est pur et beau (the sky is pure and beautiful)
Je vois briller l’étoile (I see the star shine)
Qui guide les matelots (who guides the sailors)
Ainsi chantait mon père (thus sang my
father)
Lorsqu’il quitta le port (when he left the port.)
Il ne s’attendait guère (he hardly expected)
À y trouver la mort (to find death there.)
Par les vents, par l’orage (by the winds, by the storm)
Il fut surpris soudain (he was suddenly surprised)
Et d’un cruel naufrage (and of a cruel wreck)
Il subit le destin (it undergoes destiny.)
(Minghus sighs, feeling the words make his heart beat
extra hard.)
Partons, la mer est belle (let us go, the
sea is beautiful)
Embarquons-nous, pêcheurs (let us embark, fishermen.)
Guidons notre nacelle, (handle our little ship)
Ramons avec ardeur (pull back with ardor.)
Aux mâts hissons les voiles, (the masts sail the sails)
Le ciel est pur et beau (the sky is pure and beautiful)
Je vois briller l’étoile (I see the star shine)
Qui guide les matelots ! (who guides the sailors !)"
((End))
And then came the most dramatic moment of the ceremony: when Ehline and her sister dancers ignited the Pirate Ship in a final farewell to Thorgrim.
A hush fell over the crowd as the flames consumed the ship.
RECEPTION |
| Ehline lights up her father's funeral pyre |
And then came the most dramatic moment of the ceremony: when Ehline and her sister dancers ignited the Pirate Ship in a final farewell to Thorgrim.
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| Funeral Pyre |
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| The fiery end of Thorgrim Night fell as the spirit of Thorgrim departed. |
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| The end comes for us all |
The assembled guests lost no time in partaking of the delicious food and drink, and the dancing, inspired by the Kalahari Royal Dancers, was intense. Socializing with friends new and old ruled the day.
SCENES FROM THE PARTY
SCENES FROM THE PARTY
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| King Hassan peeking at Yasemin von Engelhardt, Queen Nathalie, and Tina Wo |
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| Minghus, Yasemin, Tina, Nilasso, at Thorgrim reception |
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| Solondra, zomaster, Marcus, Tina, Afraa, and Nilasso at Thorgrim Funeral |
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| Thorgrim Funeral Party in full swing |
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| Afraa, Franco Carfield, Karima at Thorgrim Funeral |
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| Pia, Sky, zomaster, at Thorgrim Funeral |
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| Minister Afraa, Dr Albert, Sir BudRyan |
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| Salma feels the heat with Minghus, or Minghus extorts a dance from Salma |
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| Minister Afraa and Captain Minghus at Thorgrim Funeral |
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| Solondra and zomaster dance at Thorgrim Funeral |
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| Renzi and Bella at Thorgrim Funeral |
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| The diversity of Kalahari |
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| Port Master Bri Modan at Thorgrim Funeral |
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| Tina Wo, Yasemin, Afraa, Irina Kotech at Thorgrim funeral |
THE AFTERMATH
BREAKING NEWS!
As Minister of Justice Afraa al Abid began the investigation of Thorgrim's death, as mandated by the King, some shocking facts have emerged.
Though Captain Minghus claims Sailmaster Thorgrim died from fire, poison, AND explosions, a close examination of his eyewitness testimony shows that he was NOT exactly an eyewitness. In fact, when the violence in Damascus reached the height of intensity, Minghus fled to the Harbor to save his own life, and never actually saw Thorgrim die.
To be fair to Ehline, Minghus, and especially the King's treasury, a further, widespread investigation must be undertaken to ascertain the truth of the matter.
Further details will be released to the Kalahari community as they become available.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and peace and beauty as well!
Afraa al Abid
Kalahari Herald
