Suikerbosrand

In the afternoon quite a few members from BBC went to Suikerbosrand near Heidelberg for a hike and picnic. Although Angie and Gary did not join us because it is their wedding anniversary today, many did. As you can see from this photograph Sonia and Lu-Marie enjoyed the hike. The wind picked up to gale proportions but that did not impede us.

Father Ted

Spring is in the air with the expected last cold front on its way. I started the day admiring all the flowers on my way to the Men’s Ministry. Here is Ted from the men’s group with John in the background. Afterwards we dropped Matthew off at the Youth Mountaineering Club of South Africa practice climb and went off to the bank and Post Office. Later on in the day we watched the Springboks kick some Aussie butt and took Maxy to dog training.

Farewell

It was the last day for the interns at Metrorail’s ICT Department. They were given an Acknowledgement of Service certificate and sent on there way. Here is Thandekile and Theophylus showing off their certificates.

Budding Journalist

Petunia wishing to be a reporter is back at Metrorail. Her contract ended on Monday but we think they are trying to renew it, as always at the last minute. With the stories floating around who do we believe?

Typical Metro Day

I arrive at Metrorail between 6 and 6:30 in the morning. At about 12:30 a group of us tend to go to Park Station to stretch our legs and full our tummies. Today on the walk to the concourse we passed this small battered pick up (bakkie) which was under repair in the road. It looks like its wheel bearings are been replaced. After the break it is a short slog until 3’o clock and I head back home.

Sibusiso

Metrorail’s Marketing Department’s assistant manager is Sibusiso. Here he is at his desk looking busy without Petunia. Sibusiso tells me that he is trying to renew her contract.

Leon

Leon went down to Durban last week to load a new Train Operation Management System. He came back yesterday late and has only today to recover before he goes down to Cape Town to do the same there.

Catching up

I stayed in town with Robbie because he was going back to Durban in the afternoon. In the meantime Carol, Matthew and Steven went to the UIAA Olympic “Friendship and Peace” Youth Hike and hiked up to the highest spot in the North West Province with the Mountain Club of South Africa. Back in town Robbie saw some old friends at BBC. Here is Rene and Robbie catching up on news.

Franco

After Men’s Group I popped in to see Frank at his shop.

Protest season

Yesterday Pick n Pay and Woolworths did a protest march and today students did one. This is an interesting photo because just before the marches arrived there was a car accident. In Rissik Street the traffic flows from the right to left. A car (silver Opel Corsa) came out of the Park Station upper parking to turn right and not seeing any cars coming from his left he preceded. He did not expect a police car (white Ford Territory closest to the camera) to come down the wrong way leading the student protesters. Although not much damage, both cars had to stay put while the riot police and protesters past. On the wall of Park Station the old South African coat of arms from the apartheid era can be clearly seen. Not to mention the new terminus of the Gautrain being built.

Robbie's visit

Robbie came up from Durban to meet with potential suppliers for his new business in Pietermarizburg. This is going to be a good weekend.

What winter

What has been a mild winter is on its way out with a cold snap. Here is some downtown locals keeping warm and having breakfast outside Metrorail.

Thula Masilo

Thula, thula, thula, Mtwana
Thula, thula, thula, Mtwana

Ungakhali
Umama akekho
Umama uzobuya

Be still, be still, be still, my child.
Be still, be still, be still, my child

Do not cry
Mother is absent
Mother shall come back.

Sleep well Masilo

Woman at work

Darleen, Metrorail’s Intranet Administrator is seen here hard at work or is that play.

Prodigal Son

David rocked up at BBC today. We hardly saw him after he broke his engagement with Kate many months ago. Here is David posing next the Janet who is getting her wedding plans sorted as she has just less than 4 months till her wedding day.

Nearly 50

It is Keith’s 50th birthday this Tuesday and we celebrated with muffins at men’s group. Here is Keith (right) sitting with Gary and ? while Ted and Glen are busy making coffee at the back.

Petunia Pickle Bottom

Well not quite named after the funny named website Petunia Pickle Bottom (which makes chic baby diaper bags) nor Looney Tunes’ Petunia Pig but after a beautiful trumpet shaped flower. Petunia is the hard working intern in Metrorail’s marketing department.

South of the station

I took a walk to the other side of Park Station to take this picture of informal traders selling their wares to pedestrians. In the photo you can see the building with a cross on top and can just see the church with the beautiful rose window. A CCTV camera can also be seen on top of a pole monitoring the pedestrians.

Lover of iPod

Here is Theophylus, one of the interns in the ICT Department, rocking away on his iPod. His name is definitely not Xhosa but has a Greek origin. The Greek word Theophilia which means “Love of God” becomes Theophilos “Lover of God”. The name seems to have changed over the years to Theophilus and even Theophylus.

Groot Krokodil

Just like the Big Crocodile, Toys is seen here wagging his finger while talking to another Metrorail user over the phone.

Good weekend, when's the next

After a good weekend of shopping, I had to return to Metrorail only to find the police sleeping. Well after a long night on duty even the police need their beauty sleep.

Coffee after BBC

It is good to have coffee and catch up with friends after church. Here is Lu-Marie, Angie, ? and Gary.

Black cat

Brandy our black cat came home tonight hotly chased by a much larger cat. She had blood on her but I could not find the source. Brandy seen here with Whiskey was last seen on Monday evening. I don’t think she has been eating as she wolfed down her food of dry pellets and roast chicken. Brandy does not meow but chirps like a bird which should have helped her attract helpless birds.

Farm girl and Anna

Finally I managed to get a photograph of Anna smiling although only a part of her. She is a very bashful person here at Metrorail. I had to pretend to take a photo of Refiloe in her farm girl outfit and sneak the camera to the right to include Anna.

Mother and Child

Took my poor sick computer in to Sterling because it is still under warranty and she is not well. Ken and Simone brought Steven back from Midrand and stayed for supper. Here is Kenneth with Carol relaxing after supper.

Red Ants

The controversial Red Ants arrived today to block off part of Loveday Street outside Metrorail and started evicting a bus rank that caters for the long distance trade. Bulldozers arrived as soon as they moved the people off the land and demolished all structures. They chose a quiet day as COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) held a national strike against rising food, fuel and electricity prices. They marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria which kept the Red Ants free to do their dirty deed in Johannesburg.

Zanele

Matthew brought home a new friend today, Zanele. She is staying with family in our complex while on school holidays. Matthew and Zanele seemed to have hit it off.

Thandi Joy

Ivy our maid brought along her 2 month old baby girl, Tandi. Doesn’t she look alert? The name Thandi means Joy or Happiness in isiZulu.

Belgian French

Jackie came back from spending the summer in Europe and skipping our rather warm winter. It was good to see her again after all this time. Jackie and her husband are French speaking Belgians who spend half the year in South Africa and the other in Europe.

Mother and Child

Took Matthew to the Mountain Climbing Society of South Africa’s Youth Day which he really enjoyed and wants to join. Arriving at the club we got a puncture from the automated gate runner. Later on Matthew and I took Maxy to Emmarentia for a walk and past this lady sitting at the traffic lights with for small child begging. Look at the child trying to keep out of the sun. I don’t know if I should be angry or what?

Mud Pies

I came home from Metrorail tried only to find Matthew and Brian making mud pies. Well I once was a young boy too.