Probus Book Club Uncertain Light by Marion Molteno
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IGH in the mountains of wartorn Tajikistan, rebels abduct inspirational UN peace negotiator, Rahul Khan. The reader gradually meets all of Rahul’s closest friends whose lives begin to unravel, and who eventually make contact with each other. Tessa, now married with two children, has never stopped loving Rahul. Lance, a dedicated aid worker, has used Rahul’s friendship to avoid facing up to the gaps in his own life. Hugo, his UN supervisor feels responsible for the abduction and is driven to uncover the truth. Tajik translator Nargis owes Rahul a personal debt but has secrets she cannot share. Set in Central Asia following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the story vividly evokes a sense of place and atmosphere. With an authenticity and attention to detail that perfectly capture the nuanced compromises of relationships, the author weaves the strands of these interlocking worlds into a story of intimacy, hard choices, heartache and courage. Running through this moving story is a thread of Urdu and Persian poetry, which forms a reflective commentary on what Rahul and those closest to him are going through. It was an enthralling read, introducing me to a part of the world I knew little about, beautifully written and a page turner. I felt I was right there, inside the pages, living all of those characters’ worlds. I would highly recommend this book. Sheila Bing
Skateboard ramp
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S this year went on, the state of the skateboard ramp in Probus deteriorated to an extent that it became unsafe to use. Parish Councillor Nik Budden formed a task force to investigate what repairs were necessary, and who had the right skills to carry them out. He consulted widely with the users of the ramp and supported by fellow parish councillors and the clerk, made a proposal and received the budget necessary for the repairs to be carried out.
While this activity was underway, the ramp had to be fenced off for safety reasons, much to the chagrin of the teenagers who use it. In September, a contractor was engaged to remove the deck to stop it being ridden. Cornerstone Building Works of Mount Hawke were then commissioned to carry out the repairs. Repair works went on through October and on 19th November the ramp was inspected and signed-off as safe to use. Probus News went to check on the ramp on 28th November and found a queue of youngsters waiting their turn to do their thing. It was busy with a really positive buzz from those on it. All clearly very happy to be back on the ramp. Well done to all those involved in getting this important sporting (yes, it’s now an Olympic sport) facility reopened. More overleaf -> December 2020 | 45
