‘i can imagine the connections between the words on the bats and what is on the ball, then what about if you switch and use different bats, with different words printed on them . . .or should all bats have the same words, and it’s just the balls that have different words on them . . .?’ suggestion from Tawona
I have been thinking again of trophy cloth and red flannel pieces and have been patching a tennis ball with stroud red cloth.
’some of it in N America started as ‘trophies’ - small pieces cut from the jackets of captured/killed British soldiers and then attached to or worked into artifacts and garments as a decoration, to show off a Native American’s ‘victory’ (much the same as scalps, but there was more of it and it would be more easily divided up’
I thought i would post Tawonas comment relating to the post red flannel pieces relating to trade,colonialism and slave trade.
‘the battle continues: being African, i find it interesting that our story is most often told through the eyes of the enslavers themselves – the written accounts of the ‘great’ missionaries and explorers. my schooling in a former British colony was thoroughly British and socially, many Africans continue to live in awe of ‘Great’ Britain. When people think of slavery, not often would one consider the experience of those Africans who were not transported, but remained on the African continent; initially to work on plantations there, and then later to live in segregation under oppressive regimes. In common usage, the term ‘colonialism’ has a somewhat romantic and often nostalgic connotation, which inadvertently renders it a euphemism of slavery. whether the former empire is too ashamed, afraid or unwilling to confront this issue, the tendency to resort to ‘tokenistic’ gestures which lack meaningful impact, or any real sense of justice - leaving a lot of African descendants frustrated and often angry. as time carries on, the untold story lingers like cobwebs in an abandoned home’
see TED talk by Chimamanda Adichie HERE the danger of a single story
A game similar to tetherball is swingball (also called Totem tennis). It uses a smaller, softer ball that the players strike with raquets. It is more popular in the United kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and south africa . In these countries, tetherball is virtually unknown.
Swingball has a shorter pole (about 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height). It is portable, and the ball flies around the pole at a constant distance (also about 1.5 metres (4.9 ft)) on a helical screw. The game ends when the ball reaches the top or bottom of the screw. Generally the ball used for these games is either a tennis ball, or a softer, sponge-rubber ball. The racquets are usually the size of tennis racquets, but are constructed of hard plastic . The game is played informally, usually with the pole being driven into a lawn or other grassy area,
totem tennis ……totem pole
‘Although made before the arrival of Europeans (late 1700s), totem poles became increasingly popular during the 1800s. The fur trade had made people wealthy, and encouraged greater displays of privilege and rank’
martina navratilova plays swingball HERE
Poet Tawona Sithole is beginning to comment on previous posts and we are working together exploring words associated with the research so far . So keep an eye on the comments on the right to hear his thoughts and words.
Red Coat or Redcoat is a historical term used to refer to soldiers of the British Army because of the red uniforms formerly worn by the majority of regiments . From the late 17th century to the early 20th century, the uniform of most British soldiers, (apart from artillery, rifles and light cavalry), included a madder coat or coatee. From 1870 onwards, the more vivid shade of scarlet was adopted for all ranks, having previously been worn only by officers , sergents and all ranks of some cavalry regiments
From the modern perspective, the retention of a highly conspicuous colour such as red for active service appears inexplicable, regardless of how striking it may have looked on the parade ground. Bright colours enhanced morale and provided a means of distinguishing friend from foe without significantly adding risk. Furthermore, the vegetable dyes used until the 19th century would fade over time to a pink or ruddy-brown, so on a long campaign in a hot climate the colour was less conspicuous than the modern scarlet shade would be
Red museum object : red coats in museum staff room 
as you can imagine football isnt really my thing but there was news today of a footballer being give 4 red cards. The footballer was sent off for stamping on an opponent in the course of a 64th minute brawl on the pitch as his side trailed 2-0. He went on to receive further red cards for first arguing with the referee, then throwing water over him, and finally confronting him angrily in the clubhouse following the match.
Red card may refer to:
red museum object: playing card 
I have had a great conversation with Tawona about words associated with the colour red and he mentioned red for stop and green for go.
Red lights are associated with Port and Green for Starboard in maratime use. Vessels at sea do not actually have any ‘right of way’ - but if two ships on courses that intersect. The rule is that the ship on the left must give way. The stand on vessel sees the green light on the starboard (right) side of the ship on the left. The give way vessel sees the red light on the port side of the stand on vessel. The helmsman gives way to a red light by either turning away and showing a stern light, or by going around the stern of the stand on vessel
Hudson Bay trading ships
.. whatever they traded they made their own
stroud cloth traded for beaver fur … stroud red beaded by north american indians…………
beading a top hat ? patching a hat with stroud red ? a beaver fur hat lined with beaded Stroud red?
i had a great suggestion from a young visitor the museum this week : making a military jacket from high vis tennis ball fabric! funny but also poignant.
sitting duck: n. Informal An easy target or victim.
shot: An attempt to score in a game. The firing or discharge of a weapon, such as a gun. The distance over which something is shot; the range. An attempt to hit a target with a projectile.
sudden death: (General Sporting Terms) (in sports, etc.) an extra game or contest to decide the winner of a tied competition. An unexpected or quick death
