I heard sad news yesterday that dog racing is to be considered here in South Africa. See Citizen Newspaper Article for more information. It is not good and all who can please try to SMS the number on the article, talk to your councillor or even go to one of the public meetings this month. Also see Stop Greyhound Racing Action website. Maxy, our Italian Greyhound is not amused.
Deadline, what deadline? Oh that deadline, well that has come and gone with not much happening. They wanted me to do the Intranet in SharePoint but I am still waiting for a decision on where they will be hosting the server, Head Office or here at Wits Metropark. Well it is like the old army days of hurry up and wait. Anyway it is my manager at Metrorail’s last day with us. Kevin, shown in today’s photo has been absconded to Head Office.
The rains continue to fall. At Metrorail we received news that Ayanda had a baby boy yesterday. Well that’s all I know for those who want sizes and weights, sorry for you. Back at Metro we find Norman going over some stats with José and Sibusiso (who is looking disinterested).
Today started off with soft rain but then the heavens opened up. Reports came in that the storm water drains in Oxford Road could not handle the deluge and water was spouting over a meter high. The electrical transformer outside our complex blew just before seven in the morning. Most of Douglasdale was without electricity until eleven in the evening when it was replaced and switched back on. Back to some good news – I was asked if my post Early bird could be used on the Gautrain website. Today’s photo is an update of that photo taken on 14 May round about the same time. I can see extra special times ahead.
At home cell we started with one of Andy Stanley's series "The Sinai Code". I will give a more in-depth write up about it on my other blog "This is the BBC" soon but I leave you with this. When I was growing I was taught that in the Old Testament God's character was revealed. More than ever this is the case when God handed down His 10 rules. You get to know someone by the rules that they lay down. For example the first one states that you shall not have any other gods but me. This shows me that He is a jealous God. But the first part of the series showed me otherwise. God wasn't saying here are some rules to live by and once you get good at it then maybe we can talk about a relationship. No! He was initiating a relationship first and then giving us boundaries which to keep us safe. Well if you want more then you need to keep your eyes peeled for my soon to be written post on my other blog. While you waiting for that here is Tracy and Gary at the home cell.
On the home front things are looking a bit more positive as I become a beggar in God’s soup kitchen. While at work things are getting busy with an imposable deadline this Friday. I have never implemented a Sharepoint product before and a Sharepoint intranet needs to be up and running this Friday. I am still waiting for a server to place the new intranet on and the days are ticking by fast. Here is Masilo also looking busy for a change.
All around life seems a struggle and at times hopeless. I tried to put aside my pride and say sorry but I get attacked and hurt. Do I keep trying? The answer is yes. If we don’t trust when times are tough, we don’t trust at all. I know that I have little or no choice about success, circumstances or even happiness; but I choose to be cheerful. Staying on the theme of joy in all circumstances here are some friends from BBC: Kate and David with Kate’s two daughters Julia and Jessica.
I need something to shed some light on my doldrums. I can't stay like this for long. It is not good for me. The day started off good with a meeting of the boys. Then it was back to a downer with Carol and I. Not to keep a good man down, the mood bounced back when we went to check out this second hand Vespa. The men in the today’s photo are from left to right Tom, Leon, Frans, Keith (hidden), Jerry, Ted (Father Ted to me) and Nigel.
I am feeling much better about this Friday than the last one. The weeks are improving at it is still some way to go until pay day. I just have to put my head down, stomach in and push for the day. So to keep with my bleak mood here is a shot of what hangs around José’s neck: glasses, a pen and a memory stick.
We started today with Metrorail’s ICT’s first departmental meeting of the year now that everyone is back from their summer break. Not everyone is in the photo but here is half of the department in one photo. Round the table from the left is Refiloe, Daleen, José, Kevin (behind the hands), Ayanda (standing), Motloli, Masilo,Ellen and Thembinkosi. Behind them against the back glass are Mokgosi and Theophylus.
It has been quite hot in the past few days and it is good to see that Metrorail is finally moving ahead with the new installation of air-conditioning. As you can see the contractors have reached our floor with this monster which is one desk down from me. Now we will have some cool air in time for winter.
While the world celebrated the inauguration of America’s first black president, we launched our home cell group meetings for the year with a lovely dinner at the Sims. I must say that Petra’s baked cheesecake was scrumptious. Here is Florence, Poppie (Karen) and Emmelinah who have just shared a joke. Okay pass me sum mor cheesecake.
If looks could spit, I will be surfing. Thoko does not like her photo taken and always puts her hand in the way whenever she sees my camera. I want to have at least one photo of everyone that I work with in Metrorail this year. Thoko works in the same division as me in the ICT department. This was a surprise photo before she could put her hand up.
Angie is glowing when she is holding her precious Braelyn. The glowing reminds me of Yvaine, a fallen star who glows when she is close to Tristan as stars normally glow when they happy (See the movie Stardust to find out more). It was good to see Gary, Angie and little Braelyn for the first time this year.
It is good to have true friends who stand by you when the rest run away. Some of my very good friends meet every Saturday and it was good to start the day with them. From left to right are Dave, Frank, Ted and Keith.
Well last Friday I was all excited for the weekend but it all came tumbling down. Would this weekend be different? I am cautious leading into this weekend. Here is Patrick who works with me at Metrorail. As I mentioned in a previous post he is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and he is known as Congo or as I call him Pongo.
Before you can run you have to pick yourself up and start walking. I have got myself up on shaky ground and if I am not moving then I am not going anywhere. I remember a song my mom used to sing to me as a young boy. It is by The Popes and has the words "Be a proud man and hold your head up high. Walk tall, walk straight, and look the world in the eye". Anyway back to work. Here is Keba on a Metrorail coffee break which is just gossip thickly smeared over all the politics over a cuppa.
It's any day now for Ayanda. Look what you have done now; Bif Naked's song now keeps playing in my head.
January is going to be a hard month but by the end of May life will have levelled out. Here is Kevin, my manager at Metrorail looking all surprised when he sees my camera.
I did not sleep or eat at all yesterday and last night. Stress is a killer. Today was dedicated to saving everything around me and I want to thank God for the true friends that he has placed around me. This reminds me of the film "The Ultimate Gift" and the gift of friends. God is awesome. I did manage to clock some hours at Metrorail in the afternoon but was still picking up the pieces. Sorry but I was not in the mood yesturday and this morning to take photos during the crisis but here is Ellen sporting her new hair style, Mpho and Karabo at Wits Metropark.
I am sorry to say this Sunday started off well but ended as a terrible day. I am so stressed. I pray that this will be the worst day of this year and it can only get better. I will leave you with this photograph that I took this morning before my towers came crashing down around me. Back to BBC from left to right is Pauline, Saskia, Debbie and Leon.
Yes the Saturday Men’s Group has bounced into the new year. Here are five good Christian men who come to the early Saturday get together. Notice the new fashion statement, stripes that would make any Tigga proud. My friends are from left to right Mike, Joe, Rob, Kevin and Gary.
Shoo wee, I don’t know how I made it to the weekend. I need a holiday to recover from the holiday I that I’ve just been on. Today’s photograph is taken just outside the office at Wits Metropark. I then took the photo and applied a tilt shift affect to it. This affect gave it a scale model look. 
José, shown here in the ICT's New Year pose, needs a break. He has worked right through the summer holiday season because he cannot be replaced. In other words he is too essential for the running of Metrorail's network. He has not been on leave for the last seven years. Well he is a sucker for punishment. I suppose every super hero needs to put his feet up once in a while. Girls, you must see José in his cape and underwear on the outside, it's indescribable.
According to popular belief we do work in the ICT department but these days it seems that we’re just only getting started. Don’t you also think so Theo?
Did I say back to work? Now that we are all settled down and back at work we can start planning for the next holiday to recover from December's one. Yes I know you got a photo of Leon yesterday but today's one was too good to miss. I suppose Leon is thinking "where do I start?"
It is back to work for me and the day started with heading out to Wits Metropark. The day was quite not stressful as we catch up with the events of the holidays. Here is Leon ambling in to work.
I tried to sleep in and recover but I think that I am not used to it. So I just had a lazy day looking at how long the grass had grown in 3 weeks. The question is do I cut it or do I wait for the gardener who is coming on Tuesday? Carol fetch mom for the day and I just looked at the grass pondering that while we are searching for intelligent life out there in the cosmos, will they find us intelligent?
1466km in one go is a long drive but we safely home. We left at 6am this morning and by 21:17 we were home. We did 3 short stops and one long one for breaks and were driving for 13:43 hrs. The last bit when it was storming and dark was a bit strenuous and I am just glad that we made it back with only the laptop crashing.
We started our last day in the Western Cape with a tour of the Castle of Good Hope. It was built between 1666 and 1679 by the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or in English the Dutch East India Company. In the afternoon Matthew took in his last swim at Fish Hoek and later when the locals started pulling in the nets, Matthew jumped straight in and gave them a hand. Oh course he was an eager beaver to see what was the catch.
As our holidays down in the Western Cape draws to an end I leave you this photograph of twilight over False Bay with the little villages of St James, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and Simon's Town and the Cape Peninsula in the background being attacked by fog. Although it is near the end of our holidays, it is the first day of this year and we look forward to this spanking New Year ahead. This is the year that Salted Lightly project will be born. With so much promising feedback on the idea, 2009 year of our Lord is the year of new blessings.