War-Mongering

A random flame war online somehow got my head twisted around a favourite activity we used to indulge in annually as a family.

Every New Year's Day at my grandpa's farm was Klielat day! Dunno what kleilat is?

Well it has two elements - the "klei", also known as nice firm clay mud from the banks of the river or dam. And the "lat", or smooth, bendy, peeled stick.

You take a nice wad of klei, stick it on the end of your lat, and "gooi" (throw) as far as you can - the clay of course leaving the end of the stick at one heck of a rate, in the direction of your nearest relative if you've aimed well. (I've heard this is a tradition that is known by other names across the world, probably harking back to our cave-man days)

One has to wonder why any family would consider this a bonding activity, but it was! Loads of fun, a couple of tears and some close calls every year. Bring in Uncle Kelly on your team with his deadly aim, and you're a winner. But gramps with his farmer's muscles wasn't too bad either - and even the youngest kids got it right. As for the dogs - they either chased the klei or hid.

I remember one day the fun and games was nearly at a close. Dad took one more good fling with his lat - and neatly knocked a bottle of water right out of my very little brother's mouth...! So close...

Of course, adding stones or thorn-tree bits to your klei is a definite no-no. Unfortunately they would get in now and then, being a game played beneath trees and along shale-ridden rivers. But usually the worst injuries were some pretty even red-turning-black marks from direct hits all over the body, and perhaps a thorn through your shoe (and most of your foot).

Nowadays the family is scattered far and wide. Uncle Kelly with wife and sons lives in the USA. Dad is in Australia (mom no longer with us). My brothers are all grown up and settled in city suburbs far from the farm. Aunt Priscilla's still on the farm, caring for gran and gramps - Aunt Des and family just down the road from them. Gramps is getting old - but I reckon he's still up for a game if we should all get together again.

Perhaps it's time to introduce the art of Kleilat to the next generation....

- image from someone else who seems to know what kleilat is about