Mobile Police Station

Today Prasa launched the first mobile police station based on a train unit. If I remember correctly Lucky Montana, CEO of Prasa, said that they planned to make 6 of them.They will be used with the Shosholoza Meyl on their long distance corridors. The mobile train unit has a charge office, kitchen, sleeping area, shower and small two cells. I asked one policeman how people can they hold in the cells and he said about 15 as they don’t need to be comfortable. All getting ready for the 2010.

Dropped Sophia

As I was heading home because Carol was not doing too well and I felt I needed to be there, a Corsa pick-up in front of the car I was behind suddenly stopped. Both the driver in front of me and I slammed on brakes but I could not stop Sophia in time. Just before I was about to slam into the back of the car I dropped the bike. The worst part of the experience was that the driver of the pick-up did a u-turn, stopped next to me and looked out of his window while I was getting up then he simply just drove off. Didn't even care to help me up and see if nothing was broken. He knew he was in the wrong so he vanished. That made me mad. There is minimal damage to the car that I hit as I had slowed done quite a bit and I am not too concerned about my roasties but poor Sophia. There is a dent on the rear wheel arch where my foot got caught between the bike and the tar. That I am sure can be easily popped out. The side front piece needs some spray painting. As for my limping, I can do with a few war scars.

Elke huis het sy kruis

The thing that I am going through but cannot mention here is something a family should never ever go through. I never wanted to be a statistic but that is the way it looks like its heading. Why did God ever allow bi-polar to exist? I hang my head in shame and guilt. I at a nice chat with Marthinus (shown above) who is a big 3D and gaming fan about getting some LAN games set up for Matthew.

Days like this

Yes there will be days like this where I just want to throw in the towel. But it doesn't help to complain. Back at BBC we started a new series called iJesus. So far so good. Here are two ladies, Karen and Athena, afterwards who also come to our Home Group.

Back to the Men's Ministry

This morning I woke up to a beautiful summers morning and decided that it would be a good time to go to the men's group that meet at seven on Saturdays. Maybe it was meant to be as when I was returning, I saw this man walking that I recognised. It was a friend that had immigrated to Australia about two years ago. He had come back to sell the South African part of his business. We ended up at the side of the road in Bryanston chatting away. Well today's photo is of some of the men that meet regularly at BBC, they are Keith and Dave in the front and Gary and Leon at the back.

1,000 Post

Wow, I have finally reached my 1,000 post by posting one photograph every day since the 1st January 2007. It has been fun but tough at times. Thank you all who keep coming back to see what has been happening in the life of Jerome. Many people had taken today off and turned yesterday’s public holiday into a long weekend. Here is Steven (obvious he doesn't know how to pick a soccer team), Jimmy and Refiloe (in a tradition dress as yesterday was Heritage Day). You wouldn't believe me if I told you that they are discussing a clip found online of one of Michael Jackson's weird but spectacular dance movements.

Small Trains and small boys

Matthew and I went down to Edenvale to visit the 14th SA National Model Railway Convention. We saw some stunning displays like this one shown above. I had also arranged to meet with Craig, a model train builder from Austria. Matthew enjoyed himself even more when he found a comic store nearby.

What happened to Kaizer Chiefs?

I found this Kaizer Chiefs' supporters flag all tangled up on some razor wire at Wits Metropark. It is fitting for a soccer team that was once at the top of the local rankings and now find themselves near the bottom. Well else is there to say, "Once a Pirate always a Pirate."

Juta

This morning I had to go to PRASA, Metrorail's holding company to talk about the website. On the way I found some interesting artwork in Juta Street.

Friendly wave

Monday morning is here again. Thank Goodness that this week is rather short with Thursday being Heritage Day or better known as National Braai Day. That is why José is so pleased.

Boaz

Today was the last of the series of Ruth at BBC. Ross concluded with the differences of Religion and Redemption. His very last point was to find joy in all circumstances. This is not easy. How is the question which keeps playing in my mind? Well I have a long way to go to understand this fully. Anyway here is Graham and Bruce having a discussion afterwards.

Klein Jukskei

This afternoon I took the boys to the small river that runs near us, the Klein Jukskei River. Matthew and the Italian Greyhounds loved exploring along the river bank while I enjoyed looking at all the lovely decks built overlooking the river. The word klein means small in Afrikaans which rightly means that there is a bigger Jukskei river. This smaller river runs into the Jukskei River about 11km downstream where this photo was taken. Now there is only one word which you may not know that is the Afrikaans word Jukskei. This is an Afrikaans folk sport that originated about 250 years ago in the Cape and become popular during the Great Trek in the early 1800s. Skei is the pins used in the yokes that were attached to their cattle to pull wagons. A peg is planted into the ground and the object is to try throwing your skei to knock over the peg.

Left or right?

What I do today, or the next few days might have a huge difference in my future. We as a family are at a cross roads and I am in a situation that no man should be. Ahead of me as in the photo is a fork in the road. Which way to take is the question I am pondering? Today's photo is taken towards the war memorial near the Johannesburg Zoo. I went past here on my way from Sun International to Metrorail. I went this way because there was a police road block on Jan Smuts and I didn't want the inconvenience of sitting in the traffic jam that the road block causes.

Bongi

Now Mr Jerome, you just stop that pleads Bongi while at the same time wags her finger. Bongi is the Marketing and Commutations Senior Manager's personal assistant who at this moment is Sibusiso. Bongi is a cheerful lady and I have never seen her not smiling.

More Taxis

The Metro Police had sealed the Bree Street Taxi Rank off. What for is anybody's guess. It is most likely another raid although there seems to be two trucks on the ramp with what looks like the Red Ants loading things into the back of the trucks. The Red Ants is the nickname for the company who dress their employees in red overalls and forcefully remove squatters ect. As you can see in today's photo the taxis are queued up as their entrance is blocked.

Thinking Mode

How do we solve problems that can't get solved by normal means? Problems that even a stick of dynamite won't do. We put on our favourite music; our feet up and start drawing pictures in our minds. Soon through the haze the solution becomes clearer just as Leon shows how.

Monday Noord

Back at Metrorail it is work as usual. Here is the view from Umjantshi Houselooking south towards the Noord Street Taxi rank.

Rest Day

It was a busy start to the weekend which started with Matthew and I going to the ReGeneration Tour concert and enjoyed John Ellis from Tree63. Then yesterday was rock concert recovery and today was just a relaxing day. Here are some friends from BBC this morning, Dennis, Esther, Sonia and Belinda.

What happened to Spring?

Summer is on the way. The evenings are starting to stay warm as shown by Brian and Matthew who are enjoying their evening on the trampoline.

Meet my Bodyguard

Today I joined the Read Educational Trust for the Nedbank Readathon 2009. They aim to develop the culture of reading in South Africa. At the prize giving ceremony I met Baby Jake Matlala for the second time in my life. After an illustrious boxing career, Baby Jake retired in 2002 still holding his WBU junior flyweight title. In today's photo you can see the size difference of Baby Jake with Big Boy me. He is a little man with a big heart as he is the Read Foundation’s spokesperson. Later on Matthew and I are going to watch John Ellis from Tree63 play at the ReGeneration Tour.

Departmental Meeting

Here is Fannie showing us his slick moves at the ICT's monthly departmental meeting which was held in Vosloos Gat, Braamfontein Rolling Stock. Fannie says it is all in the technique.

Konanani

Today I tried to look unimportant because I thought the enemy might be low on ammunition but I got seriously wounded. Oh well, I don’t know how I am going to get out of this one. At least Metrorail work is on track, so here is Konanani from RCC upstairs.

Mad Metro

I stumbled onto these three train units straight out of the Mad Max movie. They were in a rolling stock shed behind the training centre. I asked around and was told they from the 70s and are still working. The same person said that they were last used in about 2004. How true that is, I don't know. This one looks like a version of a Casspir, land mine protected vehicle, just plopped onto a set rail wheels.

Toys at work

We not all play here at Metrorail; we also do some serious work as you can see by Toys' staid look as he is distracted by me.

My, she has grown

Wow Angie, your daughter Braelyn is growing fast. Soon she will be walking and before you know it running. It was good to see you three again. We must get together some time.

Fun in the Sun

The first weekend of Spring means having fun in the sun. We joined Bryneven Primary School for a lovely Spring Festival. Here is Matthew having a ball in the water.

Friday at last

Yes this week has flown by. Although spring has officially started I think we already into summer as the temperature reached the lower 30°C. Here is Karibo enjoy some music on his MP3 player on a Friday afternoon at Metrorail.

Umjantshi

I went across with Jose to Umjantshi House, just the other side of Park Station, to help PRASA with a network problem. I took the opportunity to take some splendid photos of the Gautrain Braamfontein Terminus (shown above), Hilbrow, Joubert Park and the Noord St Taxi Rank.

Who’s Bigger?

Here is Annah and Norman comparing tummy sizes. Well Norman is and I am sure that he is sucking it in. At least Annah is going to lose the weight much quicker than Norman.

Spring has Sprung

The first day of spring has always been cold in my memory. I remember as a child playing by the stream in Kokstad with my kingdom of tadpoles on the 1 September and snow began to fall. I ran home all excited about the snow. This day has always been cold for me but today was different. As the sun peep over the Johannesburg skyline I knew, no felt the warmth in the air. Spring was here. Here is the Gautrain Terminus at Braamfontein in the early morning light. Happy Spring Day! May it be one that you remember with many blessings.