Dodgeball

It is recovery time for me while Matthew enjoys himself at BBC playing Dodgeball with the other kids.

Father Carter

My diet is gone out of the window after yesterday’s party start and today’s events. My day started with breakfast at Doppio Zero with the men’s group and in the afternoon lunch at Heronbridge while watching a cricket game. Father Christmas came during the cricket game to see if there were any good children. My good friend Gary was rather hot in the red outfit and here is Matthew sitting on his lap.

Off to see the relatives

The ICT Department at Metrorail held their year end function at the Joburg Zoo. I enjoyed myself and got paid to. Because Madagascar 2 is showing at the cinemas, I decided that a photograph of a ring tailed lemur might do instead of any relatives.

Purple Train

It is just another day at Metrorail and the song Purple Rain by Prince is ringing in my head. I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain.

How to start rumors

Hey what is happing here? Helen and Karibo getting a little too close for normal office interaction.

Turn up the heat

With temperatures reaching over 30 degrees C, it is a pleasure to sitting in a climate controlled building. Maxy disappeared at 4 in the afternoon and was no where to be found when it got dark. We started a neighborhood search with posters at all complex entrances. We started hearing reports of him down by the Jukskei River and in the complexes boarding the river. At 10pm we received a call from a lady in the complex next to ours. She had just returned home and found Maxy with all her female dogs. Luckily they have been spade. It was one of the posters that she saw at the entrance of her complex that helped. The sweat is over and with this heat only an ice cold drink can reach the spot.

The bunnies

The year is fast coming to the end and we all looking forward to the summer break. The temperatures are already soaring towards the 30 degrees C. which is enough to monkey around in the ICT department. Here Keba pulling bunny ears behind José and Karibo backs.

Little ones with Attitude

BBC had a family service today where Noah’s Ark and Sunday School entertained us. Here is Matthew (second from the right) with his mates singing away.

Last meeting

Today is the men’s last meeting for this year. Here is Keith, Ted and Gary sharing a joke before we get started. Next week we will have a breakfast somewhere. I later took Maxy to the park for his weekly run and finished the day off slouched on the couch watching the Springboks kick England’s butt by a record margin.

And Action!

On my way down to the car park at Park Station there was a local film shoot on Platform 12. It must be a low budget one or students from the university’s film school. At least for me it is the start of the weekend. The client mentioned on yesterday’s post will contact me next week which means a free weekend ahead. I can breathe out now.

Who’s the man?

Friday is coming fast and still no news from one of my clients who needs a site up by you guessed it Friday. When do you want it? Now! Well José just folds his arms and says that people take advantage of me.

Koffie Kapitaal

Aaah Creamora! One of my clients, Tankiso, wanted to meet with our loosely formed team of freelances for a briefing on two websites. So Unisda, Smish and I met at Mugg & Bean in Lonehill but moved onto Cappelo because the M&B was closing. Tankiso was running late and joined us much later.

Nero’s feast

Be careful when you pull a tongue Mike, as you never know where the picture will end up. Sandy is trying to smile next to that face. Doesn’t Mike look just like the Roman Emperor Nero? This evening our home cell had our Christmas dinner. Andy, Sandy, Rob, Denise, Mike, Denise, Emmelinah, Poppie (Karin), Jackie, Francis, Johanna, Carol and myself all enjoyed ourselves. The water mains were turned off in the area so we had no running water, which was okay until we needed to refill the toilet cistern from the swimming pool. As usual the food was scrumptious. We started with avocado pear topped with shrimps in home made mayonnaise sauce. For main course there was roast turkey, roast beef, roast potatoes, roast vegetables, other vegetables, salad and garlic bread. After that I was too full but that was the end of my diet. With ice-cream topped with strawberries, cherries and melted chocolate what could I do. There was also some tangerine and cream pudding and not to forget Emmelinah’s cupcakes. We ended the evening with coffee, tea and more chocolate.

Repair Man

Here is Thandekile, one of Metrorail’s computer technicians. He started off this year as a student on an internship and now he is contracted to Metrorail.

94.7

Today was the12th Pick n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge and over 25 000 cyclists took part. It is a 94.7 km long race that winds itself through Johannesburg and all the roads that are affected are closed to vehicles. It is these road closures that cut a number of people off from their destinations and they have to go a long way round. The route goes near our house which makes getting to BBC a pain. Why can't they make it on a Saturday? Don't get me wrong I don't mind the race, it just must not affect me adversly. I might even enter if it wasn't for being on a Sunday.

The Cousins

We popped up to Pretoria in the afternoon to visit my cousin Robert and his family. It was good just spending some time with them and Matthew just loves playing with his cousins. Here is Gayle and Robert during afternoon tea.

My! What long legs you have!

After a long week at Metrorail I am happy to be back at home with my family. When I arrived back home today I found Maxy, our Italian Greyhound, lying on my bed. ;-)

Reverent

I am sure Masilo is no angel but who am I to judge. That reminds me of an old joke. It uses the insufferable black and white issues of the old apartheid area. Don’t shoot the messenger but here goes…

This old white Dominee (Afrikaans word for minister) dies and arrives at the Pearly Gates expecting to be ushered in with a lot of fanfare but is told to wait. Some time later a black man arrives and after giving his name to St Peter he is warmly welcomed in. The Dominee having just witnessed this furiously demands from St Peter an explanation. St Peter then asks the Dominee “Every time you preach on a Sunday, how many of your congregants fall asleep?” “Many!” answered the Dominee. “Well you see,” says St Peter, “that man you just saw been welcomed into heaven, he is a taxi driver and every time he drives, his passengers are all praying.” ;-)

Camera Shy

Anna says that photos don’t flatter her so she dislikes them. Here is a rare photo of her smiling reflected in the elevator mirror.

APF march

The Anti-Privatization Forum decided to start marching to the municipal buildings demanding 50 liters of water free per month per household. Well it is not an unreasonable request. It works out to about a liter and a half of drinking water per family a day. Only a small group of protesters turned out due to the rainy weather.

RCC

Even the RCC department is not too sure what their abbreviation means. Something like the Regional Computer Centre. It is the old name for IT before it became vogue. So why do we have a separate RCC and ICT departments in Metrorail? Greg is scratching his head while Mario just shrugs his shoulders.

I wonder

Yes I wonder if ever Grant and Saskia will ever hit it off. Grant came back from Zambia this week and it looks like they both happy. Come on Grant make your move. Back at home the family came round for a braai and spend time with Matthew.

I am ten

Matthew had some friends over to spend the day with him because he turned double digits on Tuesday past. He even baked his own birthday cake and while he was away with his friends at the movies I decorated it with his favourite fruit, strawberries.

Woza Friday, Woza Weekend

This week has been rather very busy with me jumping between Metrorail, Cyberkinetics, Flex Group, Zero27, Dave Baker and home. Matthew had his 10th birthday on Tuesday and this weekend it is party time. Here is a photo of Leon plugging away at his databases and cubes before the weekend gets earnestly underway.

Keba Keba

I am continuing here at Metrorail with an unknown future. I don’t think Keba is enjoying Metrorail as she has had some personality clashes.

Mozaltov

Hey David, if you’re reading this, then congratulations that Di is pregnant. Remember if it is a boy, name him after me. With that surprised look on your face, it is hard to tell what you thinking but I know Di is ecstatic. Back at the ranch I’m sure you are too. We should all shout “Yes he can!”

Funny face

Oh get over it. José just likes to pose for the camera. He says if I upload this photo of him shopping around for something to drink at the bakery in Park Station, he will kill me. Nah I don’t think so.

Daniel in Thoko’s Den

Arriving at Metrorail this morning, I found some staff members protesting at the gate for some reason. I heard that they wanted a station master to be re-called. What’s this re-calling nonsense that started when the ANC re-called the president of the country? Why don’t they just call a spade a spade? Re-calling is just a stupid way of saying “You’re Fired!” Today’s photo is of Daniel from the Finance Department meeting with Thoko.

The pregnant fairy

With just over a month to go, Angie needs to sit down. Gary is always doting at her side. With my diet doing well, I must say the Angie is now officially bigger than me.

Maurizo

Ah, I have not seen Maurizo for a long time. He has been away for a while. He joined us at BBC to have a Men’s Breakfast. It was good to sit down and chat with him over a scrumptious breakfast. Behind him to the left are Trevor, the back of John and Gary with his “What a Potjie” t-shirt. On the right, I am not sure who the person with his back to me is except for Jason on the far right.