Waning

It's the reek of chopped onions. The sound of early evening traffic, the last of peak hour on Main road, Rosebank, seeping in through the open, barred, windows.

They're closing down the flat for a quarter of a year; their last exams were written today. They leave for Kzn at 2am.  The flat is to be mothballed. They're back in February, for the new academic year. 

Overheard from the kitchenette:
'Do you want some wine gorgeus?'
'I'm good.'
'Cold drink?
'Thanks!'

He pours a blue and silver foil-fresh packet of salt and vinegar Simba crisps, made in Africa, into a large white tupperware bowl, made in China. Nice, my addiction sorted!

I pour - glunk glunk - a cheap but practical thick-glass wineglass full of burgundy (I instinctively knew it was colour as I drunkenly peered at it).

I bought the bottle, after a little thought I admit, at a threadbare Checkers on the way here; the pedometer app on my phone informs me that I took 8792 steps between home and here. By needing my space I burnt 302 calories.

I love walking. Especially when I'm ratty, like today, and pissed off. Piss off Lee, you're getting on my tits.

Odd Bins number 921.
Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2012.
'Wild berries and liquorice, with hints of pepper on a lingering finish.'
From the Swartland.

Now I'm well drunk. But I'm ecstatic that it's summer and that the country will be shutting down for the summer holidays in two to three weeks.

I will work home later, after supper.

Have a safe journey guys.

The moon is waning.

Call for media to join campaign for more press freedom in China

PARIS: The World Association of Newspapers (WAN), the global organisation of the world's press, is calling for newspapers and other media world-wide to join the campaign for more press freedom in China by publishing new advertisements that highlight Chinese repression and call on authorities to allow more freedom of expression.

The campaign advertisements, available in both print and website formats in English, French, Spanish, German, Russian and Chinese, are to be found at www.wan-press.org/china/home.php.

WAN and World Editors Forum (WEF) have also written to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to welcome the relaxation of media regulations for foreign journalists and to ask that the government "take further steps to uphold international standards of press freedom."

China recently extended rules that allow foreign journalists greater freedom to travel in the country without prior government permission, and to talk to anyone who is willing to be interviewed.

But the rules, which were introduced for the Olympics and extended on 17 October 2008, do not include domestic journalists and do not address fundamental rights.

"For example, there is no protection of news sources, it is not possible to report freely on Tibet and hotels are obliged to report the arrival of a foreign journalist to police," the letter said. "Furthermore, with more than 30 journalists and at least 50 cyber reporters imprisoned, China jails more journalists than any other country."

The letter called for the new regulations to be extended to domestic journalists, for the release of all jailed journalists, and for the introduction of further reforms. The full letter can be read at www.wan-press.org/article17921.html.

WAN and WEF had previously written to Wen on 7 October, asking that the relaxation of media regulations for foreign journalists be extended. The rules would have expired on 17 October if the authorities had not decided to extend them.

• WAN defends and promotes press freedom and the professional and business interests of newspapers world-wide. Representing 18 000 newspapers, its membership includes 77 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 11 regional and world-wide press groups. The WEF is the organisation for editors within the World Association of Newspapers (www.worldeditorsforum.org).

China - the world's biggest jailer of journalists

For more info: http://www.wan-press.org/china/home.php