Work overload

The way I am going I think that I am heading for a burnout. We had a NOSA audit (National Occupational Safety Association) started today and there is a hive of activity on our floor trying to clean up the place. That was my morning and by lunchtime I was at a marketing function at the News Café. I have two corrections to do, a quote to get out and an all nighter ahead for Sure Swipe. The sculpture is outside the theatre where the News Café is situated. I work while these three are forever freckling in the fountains.

Humans ahead

Today was a low day for me at Metrorail for reasons that I can’t go in to because, let call him Mr Unreif, got to me. Anyway here is Gladys from Protection Services who showed me that there are some humans in Metrorail. That begs the question, what does it mean to be human?

Dead Strawberries

What with all my work, it looks like I have neglected the strawberry patch. Last time I saw it, the plant was flourishing with a couple of strawberries on it. Look at it now! It is dying if not already dead. Oh well back to the solar panels.

Solar and more Solar

I have solar panels coming through my ears as I plough straight into doing Teljoy Solar’s website. Matthew had his friend, Lingani over for the weekend. That kept him out of my hair (what hair I should ask) while my head was in the sky.

BAM

This morning I attended a Business as Tent Makers breakfast at Rosebank with Ruth, Stephanie and Dwight. They spoke how businesses can change people's lives in unreached countries that prevent normal tent making' access.

Cisco 7911

The VLANs that Metrorail was putting in the last week was preparing for IP Telephony. Patricia from Dimension Data came to train us in the usage of the 7911 and 7942 IP phones by Cisco. Seating on the boardroom table going clockwise are Konanani, Patrica, Brain and Karabo.

Princess Dipolelo

Still more work for PRASA to be done by when? OH TODAY. Oh well I better get cracking. With more Teljoy and Sun International work loaming over the weekend it looks like I won’t be able to touch sides in the foreseeable future. Back at Metrorail’s Marketing and Commutations Department things are getting back to normal after the PRASA launch. Here is Dipolelo and Gloria fielding calls in the Big Boss’s office. Does’t Dipolelo, who is from the Tshwane’s branch, remind you of Fiona from Shrek. Well she does to me. I think it is her short stature and hair.

There will be days like these

Some days just go to the dogs. I am still doing work for PRASA and the end is not in sight. All this work came on top of news that my Uncle Billy had passed away this morning from cancer. Out of the seven siblings from my dad side, four are now left. What else can I say other than there will be days like this. Let’s get my mind off sad things; here is Greg with his new puppy Smutch at work.

Prasa Ducks

Well SARCC, sorry PRASA, is getting all their ducks into a row and using us here at Metrorail to make them look pretty. Today I spent the whole day making animations showing the 2009 Confederation Cup and 2010 World Cup special train routes to be used in presentations and the PRASA website. I still not have received their new corporate identity. I suppose the Metrorail logo will have to change sometime, as soon as PRASA releases that we still have "Operated by SARCC" in it. In the meanwhile José (shown above) and the rest of the BIM (Business Information Management) were kept out of mischief with the changeover of the LAN system to VLAN.

It’s a Dog’s Life

With more work to do today, Maxy, our Italian Greyhound, knows just what is needed. Soak up the sun on the trampoline.

Krost and Lawn

I have a client’s website to get out by Monday evening so it is work all day today, tomorrow and we will see what happens on Monday. Carol said I needed a break from the computer and there is the lawnmower.

Be Moved PRASA

Finally the South African Rail Commuter Corporation officially changed its name to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. They had a big function at Park Station and had even painted some vehicles and a train set in the new colours of PRASA. Thank goodness the ugly brown of SARCC is gone.

The coming out of ICT

Norm, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore. What is happening at Metrorail’s Information and Communication Technology Department? Norman is seen carrying a pink handbag and we have been informed that we not ICT anymore but BIM or Business Information Management. At least Norman is not wearing ruby shoes or else we would be called BUM for Business under Management.

Frogz Eggz

Wednesday is Frogz Eggz Day and I was looking forward to a lovely thick steak courtesy of the Marketing and Communications Department. Those who help in the WIR about a week ago were all going to meet at a restaurant for lunch today but it was cancelled due to the official name change of Metrorail’s holding company this Friday. Expecting a good lunch I didn’t bring any from home so I had to go to Park Station. At a take-away I found this poster “Lick & find the eggs! “ Doesn’t this poster want to make you go and buy Frogz Eggz ice lollies?

Top of the Morning to you

Well today is St Patrick’s Day and I am not even wearing anything green. Anyway I think it is time for an Irish joke. Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and says to the first man he meets, “Do you want to go to heaven?” The man said, “I do, Father.”The priest said, “Then stand over there against the wall.”Then the priest asked the second man, “Do you want to go to heaven?”"Certainly, Father,” was the man’s reply.”Then stand over there against the wall,” said the priest. Then Father Murphy walked up to O’Toole and said, “Do you want to go to heaven?”O’Toole said, “No, I don’t Father.”The priest said, “I don’t believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don’t want to go to heaven?”O’Toole said, “Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.” Talking about good things; tonight was the weekly Home Circle meeting at Sandy and Andy’s home. We have a few new faces at Home Circle and among them are Joe and Ingrid (shown above, well only Ingrid is as Joe is away on business). I will try get some pictures of the others when I can get away with it.

The glue that sticks

Here at Metrorail ICT Department we tend to lighten up the mood often when the stress of work gets to us. Quite a few of us have contracts which are coming to an end and we are getting no commitment from management of what their plans are. I am not even sure that they know. The equator has been crossed and here is King Norman or was that Neptune ruling over his subjects.

Correctional Services

Let me introduce Lindiwe. She grew up in the Murchison area just north of Port Shepstone, where I also spent my youth running around in the foothills. She works for the Correctional Services as a councillor. Don’t let the prison guard uniform get in the way as she is a lovely person. She had to be on standby today because it is visitor’s day for the prisoners where it sometimes gets traumatic. She dropped off her son, Lingani before she went on duty to spend the day with his friend Matthew.

Swan Lake

At Sandy’s 50th Birthday Party, her husband Andy, Gary, Kevin and Brian (hidden behind Kevin) preformed a 10 minute parody on the Swan Lake. It was ballet like you never seen before. Instead of graceful ballerinas we got bumbling elephants. I think this has ruined ballet for me. The audience was rolling in the aisles in fits of laughter. The boys are back in town.

Paraskavedekatriaphobia

It is the second Friday the 13th out of three this year. Don’t get me wrong I don't have paraskavedekatriaphobia. I am more logical. “Really, doctor? I had no idea that you were trained. Watching you, I thought it was trial and error”. Being Friday the 13th, I spent some time today in the Risk Department and logically here is some of the Risk’s finest, Lucia and Sandra. I miss Henni, their ex-boss who was killed in 2007 when a car drove into him when he was out cycling.

The Grandfathers Club

Hey all, let’s welcome Leon (on the left) to the Grandfathers Club. His daughter just had a baby boy yesterday, no name yet. He weighed in at 2.8 kg and had a perfect AGAR score. You can see that he is a proud granddad just like José on the right and me in the centre. Come to think of it the trio of us must be the only grandparents in the whole Information and Commutation Technology Department of Metrorail. We are the wise older men of ICT. We are the men of the Grandfather Club. We are the Super Granddads!

Gautrain Dawn

It is a dawn of a new era for transport in Gauteng. The rapid transport system is speedily moving ahead at full steam. I just wish that there would be a whole network of subways built that would link the northern suburbs to the existing rail network. It just all makes sense. But anyway enough dreaming, there are extra special times ahead. Met eish ja, met ys.

50 and free falling

Sandi turned 50 yesterday and this coming Saturday we all getting together to celebrate Sandi reaching the BIG FIVE ZERO. I have this birthday hand theory which I think makes sense. You look at your hand with the fingers together. This represents your life and at the tops of the fingers the decades. From the base of your thumb to the top represents the jump from 0 to 10 years old. The big jump from the top of your thumb to the top of your pointer finger is your thrilling teen years. Then it is a little climb from 20 to 30 (middle finger). Now at 30 you’re at the top but it is not big drop to 40 and you’re still near the peak of your life. But from 40 to 50 you start picking up speed as you enjoy the freewheeling through the roaring forties. Well from 50 it is free falling and I suppose that is why they say life only begins at 50. Happy Birthday Sandy!

Scrumptious Sophia

Things are settling back normal here at Metrorail after a turbulent week past. I will leave you with a photograph of my sexy Italian babe, Sophia. Doesn’t she have scrumptious curves?

Rest Day

Today I can put my feet up and chill. Here is Angie with Braelyn at BBC bringing a smile to my face.

The curious case of the high jacking of WIR

With my bingo scorecard in hand I headed for the Women in Rails conference on Sophia in my suit. The bookings were full and crowds of women still tried to get in just by rocking up. The honourable Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe (shown above) arrived late so the women entertained themselves by singing religious songs. The conference was going well until during Douglas’s speech were the microphone suddenly stopped working. I had my MP3 player blearing in my ears and did not hear the problem until I saw everyone including the minister looking at me. Taking off my secret service earpiece realised what was going on. Of all people what do I know about sound? I rushed on stage to find that the batteries of the microphone had run flat. On the way to the sound booth I found two of the four roving mics. They were on but after tapping on mics no sound came through the speakers. On arriving at the sound booth with the video guy in tow we found no sound technician. He was just gone. Now we started to try identifying the two mics in my hand to all the complicated sliders and nobs not realising that because the mics were left on the sound technician had muted them. Not getting the mics working we set off to find the technician. After what seems ages we found him. He said he was busy looking for the roving mics. Yeah right. The problem was solved and off we went. The Minster finally got to speak and the conference went very political as I told you so. Every word on my bingo score was mentioned except one so I could not shout BINGO. The one word was COPE but it was close as he mentioned that "we are the real congress of the people". COPE is the break away party from the African National Congress which is called the Congress of the People which the ANC is unhappy about. After that it was question and answer time and the women complained about tender irregularities and why must they pay R1000 for a tender which Metrorail already know who is going to win it. It got quite heated and the women tried to drag the minster into it but he wisely stayed out of the fray. This is my one and only political rally of the year and I think the slogan of the upcoming elections should change from "Yes We Can" to "No You Can Not".

WIR Preparations

Communications and Marketing Department and I were very busy today getting the final touches to the Women in Rail conference ready before tomorrow. The WIR as it is known is about introducing women to business of Metrorail and trying to get more of them knowledgeable of the tender processes. Here is Dolly, she works with the Edu-Train and loves working with children. In my quiet moments we chat quite alot about the differences of white and black cultures and families. She brings a bit of sanity into what could be a bad day at work. Just before I finish up at 3pm the Minister of Transport’ spokesperson phones and says that the minister will be there and wants to address the delegates. Everything now had to change, the programme, the speakers and the security arrangements. After waiting forever for the Minister to approve of the new programme we went with two programmes, Option A and Option B. I only got out of Metrorail at 6:30pm. It is so sad because it is a Friday evening and here I was working. Later it dawned on me that next month is elections and this must be the reason why the minster is rocking up. With this in mind I drew up a bingo scorecard not with numbers but with words such as ANC, COPE, VOTE, ELECTIONS, MANDELA, JACOB ZUMA ect ect. Let’s see if I am wrong.

On loan

For today and tomorrow I am working for the Communications and Marketing Department of Metrorail to prepare for the Women in Rail function that is to be held this Saturday. Artwork and Presentations do get tiring after awhile when things get changed all the time. Here is Siphokazi the manager of the department.

200 and counting

I am not sure about this. I was asked by Sibusiso (shown above) to do a flyer and emailer that will be handed out at Tembisa during a train safety campaign. He wants me to put down “with over 200 deaths every month, in Gauteng alone, due to suicide and train surfing” as a shock tactic. The figures are average for the year for train related deaths not for a month. Even at 200 per year this figure is way too high as most are preventable.

Guitar Man

Strum me a song Mr Guitar Man. We have started singing at our home group meetings and I must say it is rather enjoyable with Mike plucking away and the rest of us trying to hold a tune. Singing I can do but sing I can’t.

Monday Morning

With the rush of the weekend fading fast, Sello educates us about e-fashion and the township threads. All Sello needs is some Bling Bling and he could be your next Pimp Daddy. Trust José to pipe up from the peanut gallery that we have a giraffe in our midst.

Work and more Work

And now down to some serious work. My client is expecting a look and feel by tomorrow. Excuse the mess on my desk but it is close to the end of a very busy weekend.