Quite possibly - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. 
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This is true, but humerous.
We had a power cut last night at 11.30. Heading towards midday today nothing had changed, 'till I saw the light.
I do have the answer to the leccy problem.
Fetch logs from outside
Fetch kindling from outside and mix with dog hair
Put them all together in the approved fashion and squirt liberally with liquid stuff.
Set fire to it and close doors with holes open.
Result, a roaring fire shortly followed by the lights coming on. 
I think itâs called Sodâs Law. 
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Or witchcraft
Burn her, sheâs a witch?
We both absolutely loved that one!
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For some reason, most of my suggested Linked-in connections are people trying to scratch some sort of pretence of a career in the S African visual arts scene, while apparently ignoring that their countryâs collapsing around them.
Much of Joburg has now been without piped water for three weeks and whether or not one has electricity is in the hands of the gods rather than Eskom (the failing public electricity utility.
Not that cheerful either, but topical:-
âYou donât skate around with me, doing melodramatic, synchronized choreography, then lift me up and hold me over your head with one hand while whirling around, then throw me, spinning, through the air, and catch me, as the entire world watches, like you used to.â
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I suspect many artists may not be capable of doing much to stop things falling apart, whether than requires negotiating with Zanu PF for a change in governmental style or fixing a leaking water pipe. Though I may be doing them an injustice.
If theyâve got any sense (and money) theyâll be bailing out of the country! But itâs easier for middle league artists with a PhD - I know a few whoâve recently taken academic posts in Fine Art in Netherlands and Germany universities (but would no longer recommend UK Fine Art depts unless really desperate).
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TBH if youâre an internationally successful S African artist in mid to late career, life can still be pretty good, though like everyone else, you still need water and electricity. OTOH if youâre younger itâs increasingly difficult to make a living unless youâve got a univeristy lectureship or international connections.
Meanwhile everyone whether rich or poor is being hit by the breakdown in infrastructure - thereâs at least three or four different causes of Joâburgâs current water shortage. My sister-in-law who lives in a luxurious suburb 's currently selling her house (in a popular gated community) in order to emigrate while they can.
Whatâs happening now is very different to âwhite flightâ at the end of Apartheid- people are now leaving because the urban infrastructure is actually collapsing due to corruption and decades of lack of maintenance.
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Uxed to live near Newcastleâs China town and would often eat there. I had friends who were international fine art curators who did projects around the world and would often bring in artists from elsewhere. I remember a Sunday dim sum lunch where the Chinese artists (from Vancouver) were given a different, much thicker menu than ours. When we asked why, it was explained that this was the Chinese menu and it contained many things that we wouldnât want to eat.
Nevertheless, as a proud Lancastrian I was happy to try their excellent three stomach tripes and extremities of duck (bill and feet - disappointing).
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That reminds me, years ago we were entertaining the dignitaries from the Hong Kong and Shanghai gas company. Our directors booked a table at a Chinese restaurant in Streatham. Unfortunately the menu was all in English. We asked if they had a menu in Chinese, they answered âno mate, Weâre from Birminghamâ
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Did you ever try the Yang Sing on Princess Street In Manchester ? Their dim sum menu was extensive and had some eye popping things on it. We always went there when we were in Manchester and only ever had dim sum. Itâs closed now unfortunately. A combination of losses due to Covid and the building owner doubling the rent.
Literally, I imagine
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I knew of its reputation, but think it opened after Iâd left M/c . When I lived at Alsager, Iâd a gf from HK and weâd buy things in the Wing Yip(?) supermarket on George St - still use a cleaver that I got there nearly fifty years ago.
As an undergrad, we often ate in a Greek place on Oxford Street that might have been called the Plaka, also a superb Persian place on Princess St / Albert Sqr. And of course the Curry Mile (though it wasnât very long in those days).
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