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As we started making (map) our progress up the steps the sun came up to greet us and the cool breeze made the trip pleasant. Elmarie stopped regularly but the going was good. Every time she stopped I took photos with my camera phone (an excuse for the photo quality).Little Gino was running back and forth leaving us amazed at the natural fitness of the friendly creature. And he inspired us to continue. As we got closer to Just Nuisance’s grave the renewed energy was evident in our step as we knew we have made it.We lingered for a while at the top and absorbed the magnificent Simon’s Town; the place where people appreciate the contrast because of its life giving power. Amazing!
Walking down was easy but it can be tough on the knees. As we stepped down we realized we did the round trip in 35 minutes. While we thought it would take us hours.
We had time left for a quick trip to Long Beach. As we arrived a friend phoned and wanted to continue on ww.skype.com. The call was important but Gino did not know this. He had to go and make his mark…again.
In our haste we got the whippets in the car but left Gino on the beach.Arriving home we realized that Gino was not with us. This is a long story. Apparently Gino started running down St Georges, the guys at Shell saw him as cars gave way for this fast running dog. But the trail got cold. Gino is missing.
Thanks to lingering homeless people we were reunited after an hour of searching. I am not sure who were the most relieved. But the meeting was intense as we both apologized and made-up. Relieved and happy to share the Simon’s Town adventure with our dog friends.
SimonsTownRealty: Sell, Buy A Simon’s Town Property? Phone Today 021-7864028 or 082 870 2004 How Do You Care For Your Second Home When You Are From Out Of Town? Ask The Local Eye To Take Care.
Hi my name is Just Nuisance Junior. I was asked by Just Nuisance Senior to come down and spread the message. He wanted me to tell you the truth about his life and explain the reason why dogs exist; to share love.
As you may know Just Nuisance Senior was the only dog ever to be officially enlisted in the Royal Navy. Because dog loving sailors wanted to protect him from bad people, people who wanted to ban him from the trains in and around Simon’s Town. He was a Great Dane who from 1939 to 1944 served at a Royal Navy shore establishment in Simon’s Town, South Africa.
Humans speculate about Just Nuisance Senior’s birth date. It may be 1 April 1937, in a suburb of Cape Town. Apparently Benjamin Chaney tried to be his owner. But Just Nuisance Senior had other plans. He decided to be popular with the navy. By sharing love in return for fun and food at the naval base and dockyards. Because he could not always entertain people he would fall asleep on the decks of ships and unfortunately in the way of everybody. My huge Great Dane friend presented a sizable nuisance for those trying to board or disembark.
The BBC said that Just Nuisance Senior got his name because he injured his tail and wagged blood on his friends. It may be true but he prefers the sailor’s version. Sailors called him Just Nuisance because he was always trying to be close, but always in the way.
My heavenly friend Just Nuisance was allowed freedom, he followed the sailors, took train trips as far a field as Cape Town, 35 km away. Unfortunately the conductors were not fond of him, and kicked him off regularly. Just Nuisance Senior was not sensitive to abuse; he waited for the following train or walked to another station and boarded the next train that came along.
Do you know what unconditional love is? It’s when a conductor wants to kick Just Nuisance of the train and amused travelers offer to pay his fares. Eventually the railway company threatened to put Nuisance down if he was not stopped from being a nuisance.
When sailors fall in love with you and other people threaten to kill you, you may wind up being a sailor. The Navy decided on clemency and officially enlisted him as a morale booster, for the troops serving in World War Two. This qualified him for free rail travel. He was enlisted on 25 August 1939: under the surname “Nuisance” and he was christened “Just”, the “Bone Crusher”, the religious “Canine Divinity League”.
People today believe that Just Nuisance Senior never went out to sea. All they agree is that he fulfilled roles ashore. They think he only accompanied sailors on train journeys, and escorted them back when the pubs closed. Just Nuisance Senior conducted navy duties of his own choosing; he was a marketer for dogs he even promoted his own “wedding” to Great Dane, Adinda. They had five pups, two of which were auctioned off in Cape Town by humans to raise funds for the War effort. Can you believe this?
Just Nuisance Senior said that people say his service was not exemplary. Ok. He did travel on trains without his free pass, he went being absent without leave, he lost his collar and he refused to leave the pub at closing time, apparently he was sentenced to have all bones removed for seven days for sleeping in an improper place. Just Nuisance Senior asked me to never agree to any of these unjust allegations.
Just Nuisance Senior knew he was in the way but he never thought humans driving cars would not see him. And one day it happened. He was struck by a car and the injuries sustained gradually paralyzed him. On 1 January 1944 he was discharged from the Navy while his condition continued to deteriorate; on 1 April 1944 he was taken to Simon’s Town Naval Hospital where naval veterinary surgeon decided to put him to sleep.
The next day his body was draped with a Royal Naval White En-sign, and he was buried with full naval honors, including a gun salute, and the playing of the Last Post. Today a simple granite headstone marks his grave, but a statue was erected in Jubilee Square in Simon’s Town to celebrate.
When I left Just Nuisance Senior he asked me to celebrate life, to celebrate the unconditional dog love and to share it with people.
We love you Just Nuisance Senior
You are a true dog
Just Nuisance Junior
Contact the Simon’s Town Museum at stmuseum @ mweb . co . za
The Simon’s Town Museum provide organised tours and lectures.
SimonsTownRealty: Sell, Buy A Simon’s Town Property? Phone Today 021-7864028 or 082 870 2004 How Do You Care For Your Second Home When You Are From Out Of Town? Ask The Local Eye To Take Care.
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