tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26997332669236299102012-01-31T22:09:40.978+02:00This blog records one photograph per day in the life of Jerome West.Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.comBlogger18571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-78654744598804055942012-01-31T22:09:00.001+02:002012-01-31T22:09:41.024+02:00

It is month end and the large monthly reports are needed to be started sprinkled with some onsite work. My day was busy from the word go. I suppose all my month ends will be like this. It was a long day for me and so will tomorrow with the reports for a large 4x4xfar company and an accounting software company to be done; I hope I can have a good sleep. My evening was sort of just a collapse at

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-33446668657889258512012-01-30T21:08:00.000+02:002012-01-30T21:13:29.833+02:00

I rushed early from work this afternoon to get to BBC on time as it is our Home Circle's turn to man the kitchen for "Under the Bridge" program which is a feeding scheme the homeless living along the streams and rivers in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. It is hard to believe that in a well to do areas of Johannesburg there are people living on the edge with nothing but the clothes on

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-67666918143255483182012-01-29T22:04:00.000+02:002012-01-30T22:21:19.875+02:00

There is a new kid on the block, well not so new if you see their toys. Scoots.mobi is a Vespa, LML and Lambretta scooter shop right here in Fourways. They specialize in the real retro and go for the Mod look. They sell, restore and repair the ever so popular two stroke scooters. The partners of Scoots, Bruce and Shaun, invited the Posers Scooter Club, that is us, to join the Aces and

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-77579511359735058882012-01-28T19:14:00.000+02:002012-01-28T19:14:22.549+02:00

The tomatoes that are growing in my garden looked so delicious that I went, fetch a container from the kitchen and started harvesting fresh tomatoes, stuffing my face as I went along. My container soon overflowed and there are still lots of fruit waiting to be picked. I better leave that for another day. Seeing all that yummy tomatoes gave me an idea of what to prepare for supper tonight,

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-65455350808508563102012-01-27T23:54:00.000+02:002012-01-28T00:16:49.909+02:00

The core of the Poser Scooter Club went out for a celebratory dinner at the Throbbing Strawberry in Douglasdale. Well I can see why Paulo chose this place as it was filled with eye candy. Anyway that wasn't the reason why we went out on the town; the reason was that Magda got accepted to study B.Tech Pharmaceutical Sciences. And that was all the reason us Posers need to hit the town on our

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-5680888666364290192012-01-26T21:38:00.002+02:002012-01-27T06:04:14.020+02:00

After work I headed towards Dainfern Valley Shopping Centre to meet a friend at the Piatto Restaurant. Now this friend is about to start her second year Animal Behaviorist studies and is interested in making me and my four dogs part of her practical. So we met to discuss it over coffee. On arriving, I did my normal thing, I checked in on Foursquare and was astounded to see a tip left by

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-17651078215737222862012-01-25T22:38:00.000+02:002012-01-25T22:39:17.450+02:00

It is important to have friends who enjoy being in your company and you theirs. And the small group of friends that have become the Posers Scooter Club are just that, friends who enjoy being in each other's company. Paulo is one of the Posers and spending the evening with him was great. Chilling, drinking wine and catching up on all the events since we last met while the salmon steaks slowly

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-70846928770501306962012-01-24T22:54:00.001+02:002012-01-25T06:23:14.652+02:00

Someone once said that it is impossible to watch a sunset and not dream. The sunsets in Africa viewed from my patio are so beautiful, that sometimes I feel that I am getting a glimpse into heaven. Yeah, now don't get all theoretical on me, it is just the peaceful quietness away from all the busyness of life and then God paints this stunning sunset as he joins me on the patio. This year has

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-81243107113927682732012-01-23T22:42:00.002+02:002012-01-23T22:42:55.219+02:00

The dragon has sure roared as rain is continuing to fall hard all over Johannesburg this afternoon. Last night being the start of the Year of the Dragon in traditional Chinese culture. The Chinese dragon does not breathe out fire like depicted in many movies and books but is a water dragon which brings the rain. Well somehow they had explain to the children the sound of thunder when the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-57818775305061409602012-01-22T23:35:00.001+02:002012-01-23T21:25:42.258+02:00

Here be Dragons. Not just any dragons, but the Yang Water Dragon. The Joburg Photowalkers and the Poser Scooter Club all trekked north to the Buddhist's Nan Hua Temple outside Bronkhorstspruit to celebrate with thousands of others the start of the Year of the Dragon in traditional Chinese style. The Water Dragon only occurs once every 60 years so you can imagine how big the event at the Nan

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-37785477535151911412012-01-21T19:52:00.001+02:002012-01-21T19:52:31.892+02:00

Saturday has been a rest day, sometimes you just need to take a nap and get over it. Okay I did a bit of cleaning around the house like putting my clothes in the washing machine and setting the program, mopped the floors and when the load of washing was finished I hung the clean clothes for the coming week up. Then it was feet up and relax. Here is Matthew showing how it is done. Plop on the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-76529322706161320672012-01-20T22:27:00.000+02:002012-01-20T22:27:34.381+02:00

Wow, I am sure dedicating quite a few posts to my dogs lately. Well after the holidays I am heads down at work and don't get much time to have a break or even think about a photograph a day. Luckily this is my weekend with Matthew, so I left early from work and headed for the East Rand to pick him up. Driving east gave my my time to rest from all the reporting and coding in the week. Ahh, the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-48830963070709661462012-01-19T23:25:00.000+02:002012-01-19T23:49:47.118+02:00

Every morning, except weekends of course when I leave for work my three Italian Greyhounds and one Whippet say goodbye and then watch me disappear into the distance. They look so sad when I leave but I can I return they bounce around celebrating that I have returned. Even when I return on my Vespa, I see them standing on the patio, looking out and trying to see if it is me buzzing down the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-73737131855136291182012-01-18T22:20:00.000+02:002012-01-19T06:39:17.182+02:00

Yesterday Erika asked if I could photograph my latest addition, Skye a Whippet puppy together with my three Italian Greyhounds. Well this is my first attempt. First of all I had the wrong lens on and secondly trying to keep four sight hounds still in one place was near impossible. Remembering that Erika suggested that I put a cookie on the camera worked like a charm, well I didn't use a

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-5610745560996642292012-01-17T23:24:00.000+02:002012-01-17T23:24:17.865+02:00

I belong to this amazing home group were we have become a family, supporting and building each other up. This year the Home Circle started off as usual with an incredible dinner, but this time we had this amazing nachos dish made by Sandy and then we finished the Mexican off with a wonderful homemade ice-cream and fruit salad. It was a great start to the evening and we finished it off with a

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-2050488962936331482012-01-16T21:04:00.000+02:002012-01-17T11:48:00.624+02:00

Wake me up when Monday is over. Friday was not such a great day at work either but it was an awesome weekend in between. And then Monday had to happen. I decided to test leaving Skye for the whole day with the other dogs. So I gave him a big breakfast then set off for work and only after arriving did I realise I left the office keys at home. Rather than heading back home to fetch them, I

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-33651304808987388662012-01-15T22:47:00.000+02:002012-01-15T22:47:13.613+02:00

With her last day in hospital, the doctors have one more blood test result still outstanding, and then Theresa is out of hospital but only as sort of a day patient. I posted on Friday that Saturday would be her last day, but it looks like Dr House can change his mind. I visited Theresa at lunch time and while there her lunch arrived so she was tempted to try the soup of the day. She managed

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-15756390284969526102012-01-14T22:20:00.002+02:002012-01-15T17:31:58.568+02:00

Joburg Photowalkers' first photowalk for the year was into the township of Alexandra because this year Alexandra celebrates their 100th year in existence. Alexandra is that dark secret of Sandton where most of us keep well clear from because of memories of their violent past have stayed with us. Now The Alexandra Heritage Centre is trying to change that perception and they gladly lead the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-36956196905194274092012-01-13T21:24:00.000+02:002012-01-15T06:01:14.695+02:00

Well Dr House, not his real name, gave up today after exhausting the entire medical journal of all known illnesses, diseases and syndromes. Or maybe with all the people praying for Theresa, that she has been miraculously healed because when they went in with the endoscope all they found was bruising. Not even a sign of the possible hernia, nothing. Dr House was at a loss for words. Theresa is

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-60351977796559186732012-01-12T21:19:00.001+02:002012-01-15T06:01:40.454+02:00

Dr House, not his real name, and his team still hasn't found what is causing my sister not to be able to eat. The specialists and doctors can see all the swelling in the throat walls but nothing indicating what is causing it. With another battery of tests completed today and nothing to show for it, just another likely cause to cross off the list of possibles. They even x-rayed her hands, now

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-53665025444888648012012-01-11T22:01:00.000+02:002012-01-15T06:02:22.257+02:00

If you fall I will catch you, time after time. With Theresa my sister lying in hospital and all the tests and prodding still ongoing it has been hard for her family. Hans (her husband), Danielle (her daughter shown above) and Jaen-Jurie (her son) are all in town supporting Theresa. The days are long and the end is not in sight. As I am writing this blog post, Dr House still hasn't found the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-25493557017118809682012-01-10T22:48:00.001+02:002012-01-15T06:02:40.536+02:00

It is day two of the working year and my sister, Theresa was driven up by her husband Hans and their two kids from Nelspruit to see the specialists at Linksfield Hospital after being hospitalised because she could not eat. See my earlier post Skinny Malinky for more information. After work I went round to visit her and also to lead her family to where I stay so they could crash for the night

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-15645995937359658872012-01-09T22:23:00.000+02:002012-01-15T06:03:05.240+02:00

I have just come back from a wonderful holiday at Ballito but three things really irked me down there and that was... 1. The town of Ballito running out of water over the Christmas holidays, their busiest season due to bad planning. The holiday seaside town taps ran dry for a week at their most busiest. There were even reports of holiday makers packing up and cancelling their accommodation

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-38124657254044448432012-01-08T20:58:00.000+02:002012-01-08T20:58:13.542+02:00

Ah look, there is a good looking man with a pretty puppy. They look so cute. As my holidays draw to a end, today is wash day and bonding with Skye day so after putting a load of washing on, Matthew, four dogs and I joined a Italian Greyhound Walk at Golden Harvest. Thankfully there were four other Whippets on the walk although fully grown. Matthew had to carry Skye most of the way because his

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-54075802876343413212012-01-07T21:51:00.000+02:002012-01-15T06:03:30.480+02:00

As some of you might know that I always wanted a Greyhound, Whippet and an Italian Greyhound. Why? Well because I am tired of people calling my beautiful Italians something they not and by having all three I can educate them the difference. So when I was offered a pedigree Whippet puppy I didn't have to think for long, now I have one dog too many but who cares as I am on the road to having

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-40467156349970949302012-01-06T22:00:00.000+02:002012-01-06T22:26:55.040+02:00

The drizzle turned to heavy rain last night but by that time we had finished our braai on the patio and were safely tucked in bed. By morning it was all blue skies so we headed down to the beach before it got too hot for the dogs. We parked at Sheffield Beach and explored the low tide pools. After about two hours, Matthew wanted to go boogie boarding so we took the dogs back to Paws for

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-46466085629816976652012-01-05T20:03:00.000+02:002012-01-06T21:16:22.432+02:00

It is much cooler than yesterday's humid blast with soft drizzle falling. A perfect day for the beach. So at 5 am I headed for Salmon Bay, the most southern of Ballito’s beaches and walked north with my Italian Greyhounds in the early morning sun. We have been told that the beaches have been cleaned after the New Year long weekend but there was broken glass, beer bottles, chicken and chop

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-46775647529516267582012-01-04T22:27:00.000+02:002012-01-04T22:27:47.473+02:00

It was a long hot drive down from the Lowveld to Ballito with a number of stops along the way for my Italian Greyhounds. But once here it was walking into luxury for dogs. We have booked into the self-catering cottages at Paws for Thoughts and were pleasantly surprised to found it so much better than what the website showed. We are tried and bushed after the drive and it is very humid here so

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-58249481130032308562012-01-03T20:56:00.000+02:002012-01-15T06:03:59.050+02:00

Theresa, my sister, has a health problem that has crept in recently. She hasn't been able to eat solid food for over a week now. And this has resulted in the weight melting off her body. The doctors diagnosed Sjogren Syndrome, it is when the immune system starts to attack the salivary glands, tear ducts, and mucous membranes, but now she can't swallow at all so she sits all day sipping

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-15560660807998002942012-01-02T22:48:00.001+02:002012-01-02T22:48:39.402+02:00

"I don't know what we did, no no no, I don't remember, no no no" said Robyn when I asked her about today. Day Two Twenty Twelve started as any other day, except we weren't in Kansas anymore but in the Slowveld. "Why the Slowveld" asked Robyn, well the area we in is technically called the Lowveld but time slows down here hence it is also known as the Slowveld. And we can do slow very well when

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-68475272029294869102012-01-01T23:10:00.000+02:002012-01-01T23:10:08.121+02:00

Before I say anything, I want to wish all my readers a happy New Year and may 2012 be so much better than the previous, oh I know it will be. The first day of 2012 fell on a Sunday and Matthew and I went up to a small disused railway sliding called Hendriksdal which in the middle of a forest plantation to visit my folks for a Sunday roast. Oh course my three Italian Greyhounds were dragged

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-9057790036828919132011-12-31T23:45:00.000+02:002011-12-31T23:47:24.432+02:00

Our trip down to Mapumalanga wasn't without incident. Oh we had a safe trip but all around us chaos reigned. Half way down the heavens opened up and it was monsoon type rain all the way to Nelspruit. By monsoon I mean even the roads were flooded so much so that I feared we would be stranded because my car does not like water but we slowly inched our way to our destination while other cars

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-6398408185340958562011-12-30T22:15:00.000+02:002011-12-30T22:15:23.459+02:00

Wow, after a hectic fast pace start of the summer holidays, today is where the rubber meets the road, well just about. Matthew and I got stuck into my small cottage and did a top to bottom spring clean. I am not sure we could call it a spring clean but our sort of old year cleaning which marks the start of the Hogmanay. So before the Auld Lang Syne can be sung full cleaning needs to be done so

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-88701245399386606002011-12-29T23:37:00.002+02:002011-12-30T21:27:44.007+02:00

Gone is the past, let us start a new Let this hope of peace, always remain Spirit of Scotia, be strong and true Then your children will smile again. And the lone piper piped Highland Cathedral as we bowed our heads one last time in a small chapel in Benmore, Johannesburg, to the memory of Jon Hrusa. The Highland Cathedral is one the most popular bagpipe melodies, it is played before all

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-18491937002864959852011-12-28T22:11:00.001+02:002011-12-29T08:03:36.988+02:00

Africa can have these awesome sunsets and that includes Johannesburg. This evening is no different with its clouds which were the remains of a week of rain storms, now painted with the final rays of the sun. It is so beautiful and as I sit on my patio contemplating the year, my thoughts dwell on the Joburg Photowalkers which have become a big part of my photographic life. Good memories

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-13209477729744267612011-12-27T21:08:00.001+02:002011-12-28T08:36:33.396+02:00

Now this will teach me not to forget my camera wherever I go. It rain heavy last night especially in the early hours of this morning. About 7o'clock the rain let up and remembering that there was going to be a dog walk at the bottom of my garden I jumped out of bed, washed, grabbed my raincoat and off I set with my three Italian Greyhounds bouncing with excitement. Only Sam turned up and the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-32287209418895803012011-12-26T21:11:00.002+02:002011-12-27T09:12:41.190+02:00

No before you ask I do believe that we humans are made in God's image as the bible states it but also believe God made all the other humanoids. I must also say that I find the Aquatic Ape Theory interesting as it others an alternative hypothesis that we were already different from the apes when our ancestors moved onto the savannah. You can see Elaine Morgan's spirited defense of the Aquatic

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-66615318733250592802011-12-25T20:38:00.000+02:002011-12-26T08:06:46.226+02:00

Fur trees or better known as Christmas trees have only sneaked into the Christian tradition round about 12th century in Prussia although stories have been around that it was used earlier but only as a teaching method explaining the Trinity. They were known as God's tree due to their shape as opposed to the oak tree which had deep pagan connections. During the Georgian era (18th Century)

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-88192817433717866972011-12-24T21:56:00.001+02:002011-12-25T07:30:09.255+02:00

Jade, a Italian Greyhound, came into my life as a small puppy on the 22 December 2010 and she turned out to be a beautiful loving dog. This morning Maxy, Jade and myself headed off very early to hike the Linksfield Ridge. Patch was left behind because of dog gout or arthritis creeping into his old bones. The plan was to meet other dog walkers at 07:30 at Gillooly's Farm but I wanted the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-4659296802504213912011-12-23T22:14:00.000+02:002011-12-23T22:24:27.044+02:00

Christmas is just about upon us and many people are heading for holidays or heading back home to family from the big cities. Emmelinah, a good friend of mine, needed a lift home to Middleburg about 2 hours drive away after working as a migrant worker in the big city of Johannesburg. The local taxis tend to charged way too much when the commuters arrive with tons of stuff bought over the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-23919802740741061372011-12-22T22:57:00.001+02:002011-12-22T23:43:18.925+02:00

Only a few in South Africa would know that today was the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere because majority of us are on holiday or about to go so summer solstices are the furthest from our minds. Kids, holidays, final summer break, buying pressies (presents), New Years Eve parties, the beach and many more distractions. But they would have enjoyed the longest day. I had to go meet a 

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-78706460982450473702011-12-21T22:15:00.001+02:002011-12-21T22:17:56.944+02:00

Matthew has been on holiday for over two weeks already while today mine only starts. 2011 has been another hard year but hopefully I am over the hump and one day I'll look back and only see the molehills for what they were. With only ten days left until the new year begins and this year will be in the past. Here's to the future whatever it may bring. Sometimes when looking at Matthew I

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-79882873059326989842011-12-20T22:21:00.002+02:002011-12-20T22:43:31.019+02:00

For today, I am going to change a little because I can. I have already taken a photo for today of Mashooda, my boss's daughter but I am going to post another photo which I took yesterday, the day Jon died. In memory of Jon Hrusa, who loved to photograph the constantly changing clouds its incredible array of colours. Where all we see is the rain, he opened his eyes and saw beauty. This

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-17968969042588708582011-12-19T23:44:00.000+02:002011-12-20T09:30:05.215+02:00

Ah cool dude we have da mountain and if you wake up it's still there, awesome dude. But Cape Town lacks one thing and that is friendliness, I mean genuine friendly not this oh wow friendliness. Yes Cape Town is beautiful with its stunning scenery but beauty is only skin deep. Don't get me wrong I have awesome friends and family in Cape Town but sadly that is were it ends. Well time to let

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-69634000533711696262011-12-18T20:39:00.001+02:002011-12-18T20:39:03.845+02:00

Lebogang who was born in March this year, proudly shows off her two front teeth to me. Since my first photo of her at 3 weeks she has grown fast. I suppose babies do that nowdays, oh they always do as they are just one eating machine. It was been a hectic long weekend for me but as we head towards Christmas in a week's time it becomes important to slow down and reflect on the whose birthday

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-69066064550200633412011-12-17T23:32:00.000+02:002011-12-17T23:32:35.230+02:00

Wow this has been a busy long weekend and today no exception. I have to thank Magda for volunteering me to be Santa at the Compass Community Provision and Social Services orphanage in Edenvale. Maybe it was my girth size that gave me away or maybe it was my jolly personality. At first I wasn't sure what to expect being Santa at an orphanage but I was surprised when I arrived there in the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-19353103891937798452011-12-16T23:38:00.000+02:002011-12-17T23:35:34.366+02:00

I was asked by Empire Tattoos to take photos of their 10th Birthday celebrations. Now I am associated to Empire Tattoos from the Zombie Walks that they do yearly for charity, which are awesome by the way (see photos at Nom Nom Nom and Zombies Shuffle). Matthew being my assistant wasn't quite sure what he was in for, body piercing, body suspension, pole dancing, punk rock and fire breathing.

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-34454731147097244192011-12-15T20:50:00.000+02:002011-12-15T20:50:30.004+02:00

Tomorrows Day of Reconciliation marks the official start of the Christmas holidays for many South Africans. The builders break for the summer today.  All the children are on their holidays for a few weeks already. And all of the sudden all the roads leading out the city become jammed with holiday traffic. People rushing down to the coasts or head north to the neighbouring states. 

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-73949539620702053872011-12-14T21:43:00.001+02:002011-12-14T21:51:43.340+02:00

This evening's awe inspiring sunset stretched across the entire horizon reminding me of the Spiritus Mundi, the soul of the world at the end of time. There I sat on my patio watching this awesome painting spread before me and while the tentacles of burnt orange reached towards me as the poem The Second Coming by Yeats trickled off my lips... Turning and turning in the widening gyre The

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-3592239773543566532011-12-13T22:44:00.000+02:002011-12-13T22:44:18.516+02:00

A few days ago I shared on Facebook a video by Louie Schwartzburg, an award-winning cinematographer, director, and producer on Gratitude. (For those who missed it here it is). Well today I took this photo of a man many of my friends would know as Merville. Now Merville wouldn't tell you but he has been on his journey though life along many ups and downs. Well in the later part of his life has

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-2660235383956284102011-12-12T23:26:00.000+02:002011-12-12T23:26:48.008+02:00

Today was a strange day. By strange, I mean it left like it was Sunday. Riding to work on my Vespa was a breeze with very little traffic. And once at work, only one other person pitched up to work today and that was at 12pm for about an hour and left. I had to check if it was Monday and that I didn't go to work on a Sunday. After work I went round to Paulo's place for a braai and some wine.

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-54215385417199313632011-12-11T22:00:00.001+02:002011-12-11T22:11:37.526+02:00

Coming to Africa has one drawback. And that drawback is that Africa gets into your blood and makes it difficult to leave. If you do manage, Africa remains coursing through your blood calling you back. My friend Karen, from Singapore stayed here for about a year and she is quoted on her blog "Story of Bing" "It's amazing what Africa does to a person"; "South Africa has wormed its way into

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-65694472785160153982011-12-10T22:15:00.001+02:002011-12-10T22:36:37.763+02:00

Canon UK walked in two recently launched Canon EOS 1D Xs into South Africa for the Canon SA Expo this weekend. And under Canon South Africa's hawk eye gaze I laid my grabby paws on the 1D X. And what a beast it is, I know can't afford it but continuous shooting RAW at 12 frames per second was heart stopping. Forget lens envy this is now Xenvy but how am I going to afford the estimated

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-69704848228927593142011-12-09T23:33:00.001+02:002011-12-10T00:01:33.221+02:00

Today started with a sheet of water pouring down from the heavens. This ruled out taking the Vespa to work. So off in the Sussette, my pickup, I went but didn't get very far. One part of the road had this overflowing stream bursting across the road. Taking a change I edged across and once I was safely on the other side Sussette decided to that she didn't like the swim and started miss firing.

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-33537280538633464682011-12-08T21:07:00.001+02:002011-12-08T21:18:01.846+02:00

With only one week to go until the workers break for the Christmas holidays and 16 shopping days left until Jesus' birthday, it has become all rush to get things finished before the break. The question I am starting to ask is what is all the fuss about? Lots of parties and death on our roads? It looks like the world has forgotten what Christmas is all about. Next week I have been asked to

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-9149451419840377842011-12-07T23:27:00.001+02:002011-12-07T23:54:59.161+02:00

I have just come home from yet another awesome Joburg Photowalkers' photo walk, this time it was Braamfontein at Night. At first I was afraid, I was petrified, wait I feel a song coming on... Kept thinkin' I could never walk down these streets at night. Thinkin' how we could be so wrong. What have we've missed.  Johannesburg is just like any other major city in the world. Yes there is

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-57480666735316250482011-12-06T20:39:00.001+02:002011-12-06T20:52:32.762+02:00

Today felt like a Monday even though it is a Tuesday. The day just flew by without touching sides. I had a lot of coding work on a site in the United Kingdom lined up for today but somehow never got to it due to delayed details from the client. Anyway our offices which is based at the AstroTech Conference Centre, get a weekly spring clean by this team of cleaners who come in like a hurricane.

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-39007761886676121372011-12-05T20:21:00.001+02:002011-12-05T20:22:30.677+02:00

I must say that I am a proud dad today because Matthew's school report came late this afternoon and he did exceptionally well. Matthew got two distinctions Mathematics 85.7% and Life Orientation 80%. Followed hotly on its heals were Technology 78.5%; Natural Sciences 77.6%; English 77.5% ; Economic & Management Sciences 76.5% Social Sciences 67.9% and Art & Culture 65.6%. With Afrikaans,

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-64717995872766241042011-12-04T19:03:00.001+02:002011-12-04T19:10:52.449+02:00

This Sunday, Matthew acted in his first play. He played the husband in a nativity play held by the God First East Rand church which meant that I had to go all the way to Boksburg to watch him do an Oscar performance. Well the entire play was beautiful with all the children performing grandly and all deserve Oscar nominations. What a way to start a week with dazzling angels singing. 

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-38547523196982272032011-12-03T20:35:00.001+02:002011-12-04T17:26:17.453+02:00

With only 21 days till Christmas, Matthew and I braved the malls to try find the best and most realist Santa in Johannesburg. Well we do know they all pretend Santas, the real one lives at the North Pole is rather busy preparing all the presents for the good children. They not impostors but simply running interference for a somewhat busy Santa. Matthew wants everyone to know that he did this

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-69956336378822924802011-12-02T21:13:00.001+02:002011-12-02T21:21:23.508+02:00

Fred or Fossil as he's affectionately known as held a dancing show at the Franklin D Roosevelt Primary School in Roosevelt Park. The dancers were most school children from the school and they put on a wonderful dance show for the parents. Friends of ours Bonnie and John were performing tonight and as good friends are we came in support. It was encouraging seeing how much fun the children had

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-46237738751706965862011-12-01T20:48:00.001+02:002011-12-01T20:57:10.040+02:00

In the early hours of this morning, my gout re-appeared after just over a week of absence, this time at my left Achilles tendon. Now I thought I had this all beat but not so as I lay in pain thinking of what I ate and drank the day before that could have triggered this episode off. Because I was running late, I started yesterday off without breakfast but with the first of my two cups of

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-81767904538418355652011-11-30T21:41:00.001+02:002011-11-30T21:54:14.692+02:00

Whilst all the eyes were on the purple Jacaranda flowers, the Agapanthus came into bloom. National Positions' offices in Parktown are awash with purple and is a sight to behold. With so many flowers I started playing around with depth of field. Native to South Africa, Agapanthus africanus are beautiful plants and are also commonly known as the African Lily or Lily of the Nile but they are not

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-22989467837511553102011-11-29T23:36:00.001+02:002011-11-29T23:39:26.857+02:00

So far these last few days I have been to three year end functions but tonight was my first Christmas one. Our homies had our annual Christmas dinner of roast beef and turkey with all the trimmings at the Sim's home. Our annual dinner was kind of like a large Thanksgiving dinner, well in a way it was. We were all thankful, especially me who had lots to be thankful for. We had two guests join

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-42940443591468564882011-11-28T20:31:00.001+02:002011-11-28T20:32:56.219+02:00

Ever since I saw the Lego Darth Vader key ring on the Joburg Photowalkers' June 16 Youth Day Photowalk, I wanted to buy Sophia one. But the tiny Darth Vader key rings were always out of stock and only the other Lego Star Wars key rings were available. So yesterday when I had to go to the Fourways Mall for some extra internet data to see me through to the month end, I had a look see at the

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-15106709377017031842011-11-27T22:38:00.001+02:002011-11-27T22:38:21.559+02:00

On my way home in the wee hours of this morning, two pork pies pulled me over but luckily I don't drink a lot and after checking my drivers licence they waved me on. Trying to crawl out of bed this morning was with some difficulty but the Toy Run was already on its way, also too late for BBC so my choice was made, the Sight Hound Walk at Delta Park, that was if I could get out of bed. It

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-16241701484255395412011-11-26T23:57:00.000+02:002011-11-27T19:35:14.901+02:00

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles - Isaiah 40:31 Today has been a very busy day for me. First off the starting blocks was the Italian Greyhound End of Year Picnic at Golden Harvest Park. So with my three iggies eager to get going we headed out for a morning of dog walks and braaing. There were little scallywags everywhere,

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-62223435919549520322011-11-25T20:58:00.001+02:002011-11-25T21:08:44.187+02:00

The weekend is finally here felt surreal as I left work this afternoon under perfect blue skies with not a cloud in sight after all the rain this week. So a perfect start. Tomorrow the parties begin, the first being a Italian Greyhound End of year picnic, then it is off on the St John's Photowalk and in the evening the Joburg Photowalkers End of Year Shindig. Sunday it gets a bit difficult as

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-25664897707478400792011-11-24T21:04:00.001+02:002011-11-25T08:09:58.280+02:00

It looks like all I am doing now is product shots. No, the problem is that I work in a small office and there is not many interesting things left that I can photograph and spending most of my time at the office doesn't leave much left once I arrive home and spend time with my Italian Greyhounds, cook supper, relax then get ready for bed. But no worries, tomorrow is Friday, yeah (air punch).

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-90178332129920418102011-11-23T20:23:00.001+02:002011-11-23T20:28:57.696+02:00

On Monday night I was invaded by literacy millions of mosquitoes and I battled to get a peaceful nights sleep. So yesterday I went to the closest Pick n Pay near my work, which is at Killarney Mall, to by a mosquito repellant. Wanting to buy something small and cost efficient, I spent some time looking at all the different products available on the shelves. What caught my eye was the Raid

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-57804955000789594362011-11-22T21:00:00.001+02:002011-11-22T21:03:28.351+02:00

Today was a sad day for South Africa and Democracy. Today our parliament voted if the Protection of Information Bill should be made law. And the African National Congress (ANC) jeering as they trampled on what Mandela promised would never happen, voted the bill though. It was obvious the ANC were not representing the majority but were trying to cover their own corruptness. Many South Africans

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-12951067514339583322011-11-21T20:53:00.001+02:002011-11-21T21:06:00.367+02:00

On Saturday I wrote about the history of the Italian Greyhounds, well as best as we can trace it. Well this is Maxy, our first Italian Greyhound. He came to us on the evening of 31 October 2007 as a spritely puppy, sporting an impressive lineage. At first Matthew named him Max but by the next morning his name was changed to Maxy due to Y on his chest. Matthew and Maxy became inseparable

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-83475939785985018772011-11-20T19:06:00.001+02:002011-11-20T19:25:10.528+02:00

The Posers Scooter Club tried to beat all the road closures today due to the 94.7 Cycle Challenge and do a scenic ride to breakfast at the Vovo Telo. So the Pretoria chapter of our Vespa club met the northern suburbs chapter at Fourways Vespa with Paulo late as usual. I am sure I heard Martin say that Paulo had turned over a new leaf and is on time from now onwards. In his defence he was only

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-54371171290165196622011-11-19T21:58:00.001+02:002011-11-20T06:47:35.894+02:00

I have been stopped many times and been asked are my dogs Whippets. No they are not Whippets nor are they miniature Greyhounds or even rescue township dogs and defiantly not a buck; seriously I was asked once if Maxy was a baby buck. I should put little horns on Maxy and confuse everyone. Italian Greyhounds have been around a very long time, and perhaps they could be one of the first

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-4137316088128687062011-11-18T21:50:00.001+02:002011-11-18T21:56:15.528+02:00

With news yesterday evening that Sophia, my sexy Vespa ET4, is ready, I was excited all morning and could not wait until lunch time to slip out and fetch her. When I arrived at Vespa in Wynburg, they were all busy unpacking their latest shipment of Vespas, perfect photo opportunity. I was more relieved getting Sophia back in perfect working order. Now to plan rides for the weekend. But

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-30341511616823224392011-11-17T22:29:00.001+02:002011-11-18T19:24:21.868+02:00

First thing this morning on my agenda was to drop Sophia, my Vespa ET4, off at Vespa South Africa. I did so with fear of expecting a huge bill, but that is still to come. Anyway for this reason my heart was heavy as I buried myself in SEO reports all day. Being a very hot day and sitting for long hours behind a computer screen, I started to nod off by mid afternoon. I needed oxygen. I needed

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-62004980052937772922011-11-16T23:55:00.001+02:002011-11-17T12:37:37.002+02:00

Would you offer your throat to the wolf with red roses? Late afternoon I went to pick up Sophia from Paulo's mechanic and the plan was to join our small group of Vespa friends, the Posers Scooter Club for another evening run. But it was all disappointment when Sophia with a new clutch still had a problem. She is trying to take off in third gear which is not right. This time a roller is

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-81756299294095230072011-11-15T23:22:00.001+02:002011-11-16T08:56:08.133+02:00

And she played bare feet, yes Shotgun Tori played bare feet, she always plays this way so if you haven't heard her sing yet, you better get out of your cardboard box and come listen to our own home grown indie folk singer. Or better still Shotgun Tori has just tonight launched her new EP called "are we fine yet?" so go, yes go demand it from your local music store. It was awesome just

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-88261345802458287522011-11-14T20:03:00.001+02:002011-11-14T20:08:42.680+02:00

With news of Sophia's new clutch parts arriving today and that she may be ready by this afternoon kept my spirits up throughout Monday but towards the end of the day the news came in that the mechanic didn't have time to get to her, suddenly I wanted to unlike Monday, unfriend her or even block her but Monday was nearly over so all I could do was limp home with my tail between my legs. Ahh

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-10915732872100200312011-11-13T19:14:00.001+02:002011-11-13T19:23:49.434+02:00

I limped into the chemist this morning to get some relief from this awful pain. The pharmacist reached for this pre-prepared cocktail of pills labelled gout which he said will make me feel right as rain within 15 mins. Well it took an hour and my left ankle was feeling much better but by evening the gout was returning. I don't think I will be able to live on pills. I have cut out most common

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-38890404000612950642011-11-12T21:32:00.001+02:002011-11-13T10:22:02.530+02:00

I started getting gout early last year and I identified the cause after eating some health bread and yogurt which I then cut out of my diet. From June this year the gout returned with vengeance and I haven't yet put my finger on the dietary problem. The gout medicine and health products don't seem to cure my gout which is coming more frequent. I woke up this morning after a terrible night

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-57404907898746836602011-11-11T19:25:00.001+02:002011-11-11T19:38:39.498+02:00

Ahh product placement, I think I need to raise some money for the upcoming Canon Expo from the 9 to 11 December 2011 at the Sandton Convention Centre here in Johannesburg. So first Canon gets a great mention on my blog, cough cough, Roger Machin I could do with a new lens even if it is for test purposes. Yes that may be a wonderful idea, the Joburg Photowalkers testing Canon lenses, I surpose

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-1031792914107813852011-11-10T20:32:00.003+02:002011-11-10T20:33:15.543+02:00

With temperatures in the mid 30s, Johannesburg wasn’t the place to unless you had air-conditioning. Our office’s aircon is on the blink but luckily Sassette, my blue smurfy pickup had. Since Sophia, the Vespa, is in for repairs, I have been using Sassette and this messes with my fuel budget but the aircon has been a blessing. I am sure Pretoria would have been much hotter than the 36°C here.

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-34149464986264731002011-11-09T20:58:00.002+02:002011-11-10T06:39:56.241+02:00

This past month saw the Westcliff Heritage Trust, the Johannesburg Photowalkers and the Pretoria Stadstapper Fotoklap do walks under the majestic purple flowers of the Jacaranda trees. Sadly I missed the walks this year but to make it up, this is the view just outside my office in Forest Town. After a rainstorm, the fallen flowers make the roads look like they covered in purple snow. The

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-76649083875407480882011-11-08T23:57:00.001+02:002011-11-09T08:31:07.094+02:00

My day started out sad as I loaded Sophia onto Sassette and drove to the C2 Construcoes Moçambique workshop to deliver Sophia into the hands of the mechanic. Thankfully it was a Tuesday and no Monday blues to be had. This evening I joined the small Japanese and the Joburg cultural community for the Siyabonga Charity Concert held at the Joburg Theatre. Tonight was special as one of the greatest

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-25843945708120622522011-11-07T22:22:00.000+02:002011-11-07T22:37:23.906+02:00

Driving home this evening Sophia decided to pack it in. She would not go any further. She had no power at takeoff and only once we got going did she purr. Luckily we were not too far from home with one slight hill which we walked up and then cruised slowly down towards home. I went over to Paulo's home and here we discussed Sophia's symptoms over dinner and wine. We came to the conclusion that

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-90806672138524417072011-11-06T23:10:00.000+02:002011-11-06T23:11:12.679+02:00

Despicable me. All my plans for today just went straight out of the window. Nothing happened, the birthday bash in Edenvale, the Medieval Fair and the Jacaranda Walk. The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. In the end I did managed to take a photo of the old Arkleton House which is now used by the High Commissioner of India. Some thing did go right. I also managed to limp my way

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-31694135557171177622011-11-05T23:41:00.000+02:002011-11-06T08:06:47.973+02:00

Why Johnny? Why two you may ask, well Matthew held a small lunch party with a few select friends at Northgate today and afterwards we went to watch Johnny English's latest film Reborn that was released a few weeks ago. Johnny English, played by Rowan Atkinson, is a James Bond styled secret agent, well an inept one at that. The kids, I include myself in that term :-P enjoyed the movie. The

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-81533617366919034412011-11-04T20:34:00.001+02:002011-11-04T20:37:33.882+02:00

Fridays are the anti-Monday. It is the start of the weekend and not to forget Matthew's thirteenth birthday. Whoop whoop! Ahhh Friday! By mid morning, I had a surprise arrived at the office, a new desk and a way more comfortable chair was delivered to Sean and I. This took up quite some time with Louise trying to make it fit just right. Other than my new furniture, I did some easy coding for

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-68605936624885705632011-11-03T21:33:00.001+02:002011-11-09T23:06:38.353+02:00

I'm starting a band babe, starting a band. What could have come over me? Well today I attended Google's g|south africa 2.0 at the Turbine Hall in Newtown and I better put the hash tag here or I'll never here the end of it #gsouthafrica Anyway, side tracked there for a bit, this is the next iteration of digital according to Google. Here they showed us an in depth understanding of their products

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-75404168388446171732011-11-02T23:40:00.001+02:002011-11-04T06:27:04.674+02:00

According to stand up comedian, Mark Sampson, if the End is Naai, then the Afrikaners would be looking forward to it while us English are well in a pickle aren't we. Tonight Craig had invited a few friends to the Theatre on the Square to watch a comedian that even I have never heard of. Who the heck is Mark Sampson, another Trevor Noah? Well off I went, not sure what to expect from what I’ve

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-83176613936801547332011-11-01T22:40:00.000+02:002011-11-03T22:53:06.527+02:00

This year has glided past so fast that I am not sure if it really happened. It is nearing the end of my fifth year of this blog with this being my 1766 post with 18089 page views. In numbers terms it is not a lot but you must bear in mind that it did start off slowly. Today is the start of the final month before Christmas which means one more pay day till then, as Emmelinah (shown above) said

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-3101662428365023862011-10-31T19:52:00.002+02:002011-10-31T19:52:35.948+02:00

Warning you are leaving the Quarantine Zone. No patrols beyond this point. Be on high alert for the undead. Yes bolt up your doors tonight as the undead have been seen rising up near the Westpark Cemetery and the infection is spreading. Every Halloween, Empire Tattoos, from Fairlands hold a Zombie Walk from the Westpark Cemetery to Cool Runnings in Melville, all in the name of charity. As last

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-30624323119858107722011-10-30T21:51:00.000+02:002011-10-31T11:51:21.545+02:00

Having Matthew with me the weekend before his birthday was a blessing. We had each other, seeing friends and sitting out storms. After we got back from dinner on Friday night there still wasn't any electricity so Matthew started building the Lego Starwars gift by gas lamp. It is an Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter, or simply an ARC-170 which was the predecessor to the well known T-65

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-21422369586787462902011-10-29T20:23:00.001+02:002011-10-29T20:23:16.516+02:00

Saturday has finally arrived and the weather has improved. I dropped Matthew off at his friend, Luciano, who lives down the road from me in Craigavon. Knowing that Matthew would have a good time, I braved the malls during month end, what was going through my mind, I don't know but I was just happy to get back home in one piece.

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-16608532905769955172011-10-28T23:14:00.001+02:002011-10-29T01:13:58.046+02:00

It is Friday and the weekend with my turn to have Matthew. It is his birthday in a weeks time but we are starting today. He is finally turning into a well balanced teenager. I left work early to go pick him up in Benoni and on the way I stopped at Skazi Clothing to pick up a lovely printed T-shirt for Matthew. While there this cart plodded past me which just made me stop in my tracks. Not

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-79776946179677797542011-10-27T21:07:00.002+02:002011-10-27T21:07:51.486+02:00

Poor Sophia, my Vespa, this is the third incident to befall her. The first was late in 2009 when the vehicle in front of us suddenly stopped without brake lights. The stopping distance was acerbated by the wet road and we came to abrupt stop centimeters away from the vehicle with Sophia on her side and my foot. The second incident was last August on the ice roads of Sani Pass. I stopped to help

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-45455575453840229152011-10-26T20:51:00.000+02:002011-10-26T20:51:16.745+02:00

What is SEO? or What does SEO have to do with today's photo?Well let's start at the first question. SEO is the acronym for Search Engine Optimisation and it is the process of improving the visibility of a website in search engines. And that is what I do for a living, SEO, SEM (Search Engine Marketing) and SMO (Social Media Optimisation). As you can see my industry is full of acronyms, I suppose

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-3884393369133267262011-10-25T22:35:00.001+02:002011-10-26T20:51:16.753+02:00

After a hot summers day we used to have these awesome thunderstorms in Johannesburg but that has changed. The climate here has started to become more a tropical sub-climate. I do believe it is because of all the trees that have been planted in and around Jozi. It is not called the biggest man made forest in the world for nothing. And like yesterday, today was a scorcher but no thunderstorm.

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699733266923629910.post-4271792937573225082011-10-24T20:58:00.001+02:002011-10-24T20:58:49.793+02:00

Is it Tuesday yet? If not, then why am I awake?Well now that I am awake, I might as well do something productive. Henry, National Positions' SEO consultant from Cape Town was in the office today. So it was maybe one of the few chances that I would have to get his mug shot onto my blog so I whipped out my camera. Other than that, working on Mondays need getting used to again.

Jerome Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04289726069545031798noreply@blogger.com0