Ever had a giraffe problem?

[Ajax Bay]

Yer 'avin' a giraffe

 

[I like Skol]

And you were 37 years old at the time!

Remarkably close to the mark, if not spot on, were you there? I had my two children when I was 30 and 33 so would have been at the attraction when they were young, probably about 37'ish (physical age, much younger mentally)

 

[grldtnr]

I am guessing here, but I doubt they were aliens.
More likely you were at the local Surgery the Doctors & Nurses were having a bit of fun with you.

 

[fossyant]

Nearly got kicked out of Knowlsley Safari Park after I attempted to wrestle a giraffe at the viewing platform! I'm sorry, but we were at head level and it seemed to me the natural thing to do was to grab the horns and hold on tight. The keepers stood nearby disagreed.....

Why does that not surprise me

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Lovely encounter @Cycleops

 

[rydabent]

A guy sold me an anti giraffe bell. It really works, since I have never seen one on any of my rides.

 

[ColinJ]

A guy sold me an anti giraffe bell. It really works, since I have never seen one on any of my rides.

A guy sold me an anti-Basso giraffe head squeaky hooter. It really did NOT work. As you can see from this photo, it wasn't long before I was intercepted by a rider on a nearly identical Basso bike!!

 

[lazybloke]

They're taking over my kitchen...

 

[ColinJ]

Nearly got kicked out of Knowlsley Safari Park after I attempted to wrestle a giraffe at the viewing platform! I'm sorry, but we were at head level and it seemed to me the natural thing to do was to grab the horns and hold on tight. The keepers stood nearby disagreed.....

I found security camera footage of the incident. Did you really think that the keepers would believe that you were a giraffe chiropractor?

 

[Profpointy]

I remember as a little boy being lifted up by my dad to get closer to the giraffe at London Zoo. The giraffe gently licked my hand

As an aside my neighbours have a pet giraffe

 

[DogmaStu]

My Dad used to have a holiday home in a place called Marloth Park which is a residential area South of Kruger National Park in South Africa.

His property was overlooking the fence to Kruger. Giraffes, buck of various kind and a host of other animals roamed freely around his property - the Rangers only endeavoured to keep dangerous beasties out of the Marloth area.

I used to cycle to the local shop and often went past giraffe's sharing the trail with me. Fun times.

My Partner and I have decided to move back to SA next year - or year after - so more of that in my future!

 

[Cycleops]

My Partner and I have decided to move back to SA next year - or year after - so more of that in my future!

That would be a very brave move. As I understand it SA is moving closer to becoming a failed state.

 

[alicat]

My giraffe is only a problem when I don’t take him out hiking.

 

[DogmaStu]

That would be a very brave move. As I understand it SA is moving closer to becoming a failed state.

Not at all, that's a fallacy.

I grew up there. I was born here in Yorkshire but lived in SA from 1973 - 1999. My Father still lives there - since he was 25 years old, so 50 years now.

I've been back every few years or so and seen what 30 years of ANC Government has done. Sure, crime is a massive issue, lots of fraud, incompetence etc. Eskom! Utter disaster albeit now showing signs of light (and power) at the end of the tunnel. However the private sector and the average South African have worked wonders for the country.

My Partner had never been to SA prior to my taking her in March. All she knew about it was from the BBC and local hearsay. People who have never been and disgruntled South African's escaping Affirmative Action. She was utterly amazed. I showed her a 1st World country with beautiful Nature and scenery, beaches among the very best in the World, a local people who lived up to their recently voted "friendliest in the World" moniker, large luxury residential areas comparable with the very best the UK has to offer, shopping malls to rival the best in the World and far exceeding those here, supermarkets that make ours in the UK look pathetic and an outdoors lifestyle in wonderful warm sunshine.

But I also showed her the unavoidable negative. The areas of poverty. The places where crime is rampant, gangs run amok and you just wouldn't want to travel at night. A 3rd World butts up to a modern 1st World. Often within sight of each other.

South Africa is a very big country. Crime is very serious - but it is also as avoidable as crime in the UK. Living in the UK, you know where violent crime generally lives. Same as SA. Just don't go there. Of course, you can't avoid all crime all of the time but having lived decades in SA and 18 years in the UK, I can tell you that I run as much risk of being a victim here! In fact, I have been in both countries. Neither is an example of a low-crime region. In fact, my partner felt more secure in the region of SA that I introduced her to; secure eco-estates, more visible police presence. SA safeguards its tourist areas especially well - so...live there.

The GE that happened recently has broken the ANC's stranglehold hold and a new Government of National Unity is about to be heralded in. This is positive.

Failed state? Far from it! The Lifestyle there is infinitely better and more South African's are returning now than leaving. I intend to join them.

This is my Dad’s house…in Ballito, Durban. Price? Equivalent to £350k. It is a 2min walk to the beach…

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Nosey buggers always sticking their neck out.