While it is not raining as yet, another sign has arrived that rain is near. While putting my Vespa away I noticed a large spider on the side door. Taking a closer look it reared up in defence and that's when I recognized a beautiful Rain spider with a diameter of over 10 cm. Using a torch to take the photo did not do justice with the beautiful markings and colour. Matthew was keen on having it as a pet but I said no because it is better off keeping are garden safe from pests.
I haven't been able to touch sides at work. It has been go go since Monday with PRASA pouring work my way, not that I am complaining. I spotted Bafana watching something while I was taking a break and it demanded a photo.
I am busy as usual at Metrorail and I am wondering what photo to take to remind me of today. Late in the afternoon I went to PRO Design to discuss work but only had my cellphone with me so it was all I could use to take Rayne and Ricky’s photo. Rayne is the owner of PRO Design.
After a great photowalk down in Paul Roux it was kind of a let down been back in hectic Jozi. I only thing I didn't miss waking up this morning was that !@#$%^&* rooster. Anyway I had to have a serious talk with Sophia today to gently inform her about Gina.She is not impressed about a new Vespa in my life so I promised her I would use a photo of her in today's post.
Maybe we should change our name from Joburg Photowalkers to Joburg Roundloopers because we are sure getting around. I started the day by climbing the koppie over-looking the town to watch the sunrise and drink coffee. We left Paul Roux soon after breakfast heading for home via the Dinosaur Footprints but somehow we got waylaid by another Free State dorppie called Tweeling. Here we found what we first thought was a Boer War Blockhouse but it turns out to be a turn of the century mill which also was used as a hospital during the Great Flu Epidemic of the 1920s. Now the shell was restored into a quaint guest house.
There are so many photos to publish, that I am not sure what to put up. Last night we supported Doug as he played a one man show at the local drinking hole, well the only drinking hole in the town. Anyway today we did our official Paul Roux Photowalk which was interesting as Maritha shows us. I posted the good photos on my Facebook page. I also may be the proud owner of a Vespa Ape which I came across but have to somehow get it home.
Today is Heritage Day so while most of the Joburg Photowalkers travel down to Paul Roux we went off to Clarens and the Golden Gate. I came across the dilapidated Vespa 50S at Janlee's that the Vespa Club also found on their Ficksburg Cherry Festival tour. Our Denlin B&B is like a museum with the owner been a collector of note.
Long weekend is here so is Heritage Day at Metrorail with large numbers of employees all dressed in their tradition clothes. But most important is that I am on my way down to a little Free State village of Paul Roux.
Oh boy, I'm feeling tired. Just half a day left then I will be winging my way down to Paul Roux for the long weekend. In a way I am hoping to get some rest while there but deep down I know that rest won't come with the Joburg Photowalkers around. I don't think I will be able to post photos while down there other than a few words via my cellphone so please bear with me. Photos will follow. In the meanwhile here is Tu, she is the marketing manager for Shosholoza Meyl and now also the acting marketing manager for Metrorail Gauteng.
Wow, work is starting to pour in from all sectors of the PRASA group and there is only me doing it. I can only hope that I do what needs to be done to the best of my ability and make them all happy. After this busy day I had to report to Matthew's school for Parents' Evening. This is where we can meet Matthew's teachers and discuss issues on a one to one basis. While waiting to see one of the teachers I snapped this photo of Carol with my Samsung Galaxy Spica.
Not sure to take on this Monday so I decided to take a photo of these three figurines of a Xhosa family sitting on Ayanda's table.
Once again no electricity in our suburb for the whole day due to scheduled maintenance. What is Joburg coming to? Here are our good friends Gary and Angie with their daughter Braelyn just finishing their breakfast at BBC. This is only part of their one male and four females’ family. Next time I try get Hayley and Carlie in the photo.
Today I decided to venture into Delta Park which is quite close to where we live. I haven't done before because of a couple of horror stories that I've heard but I was pleasantly surprised. It had very wide open spaces, lots of cyclists, couple of picnickers but very few dogs. I think I will come here again as it gives the dogs plenty of space to stretch their legs.
Arshana, shown as today's cover girl, is full of laughs and she brings a smile to all those she comes in contact with. Inside scoop, her husband calls her vampire because she always shows teeth on photos when she smiles but we just know her as Ash.
What a busy day. PRASA is pouring work our way so I better show them that I can do more than what they expect I can do. I am like a complete advertising company all in one. Well this can only do me good in the long run. Let the BE ONE campaign start. For a break, I took a walk to the station to try my hand at street photography and secretly snapped away with my cellphone. Lighting not the best but here is the bakery lady selling her wares.
Upon arriving at work today, the government had a surprise for us, a personnel audit. Government departments have a big problem of ghost workers being on there payroll with unknown people collecting their pay for themselves. I didn't think parastatals had the same problem but why else do a personnel audit when the business already have everyone on the SAP HR system. So off we went to Human Resources on sixth floor to partake in the audit under the else we won't be paid threat. I didn't have my ID documentation with me because I don't carry it around so my Drivers License had to suffice in identifying me. Mavis, shown here, had to photostat my proof of identity for the audit. I wonder if the Ghost Busters would find any ghosts.
PRASA loves my Jazz Festival design. Yeah brownie points. It is about time they employ me full time. Better start making my way back home. As Masilo (shown) is indicating, I'm of outta here.
Get me outta here
'Cause my eyes are burning from these silly tears
I must say that it hasn't been such a bad Monday after all. There I was loathing all Mondays. Anyway other than what has been a productive Monday, Metrorail MIS department had a meeting with our sister company Intersite's equivalent department to look at ways to collaborate in future endeavors. Nkgadi (shown here) and Steven constitute the development arm of Intersite.
It was overcast this morning but the sun soon made short work of it and there was no rain in sight. It was a lovely day to sit in the garden and relax but I was in bed with a queasy stomach and headache. I did crawl out of bed just to enjoy the garden a bit with Maxy and Patch, our Italian Greyhounds.
Rain clouds have gathered but nothing has fallen at the time of writing this entry. I am having doubts but I would gladly be proven wrong. Today it was family visiting time again, so off to the east rand we trekked. First it was a flying visit to Carol's aunt Enid and uncle Phil in Thornhill Manor then it was off to Carol's granddaughter Amy's birthday party in Boksburg. So here is Amy about to do some sand art.
No rain has fallen yet to officially mark the beginning of summer but the days are certainly warming up. I love the smell that fresh summer rains make on a hot tarmac. It is something that can only be appreciated here in Africa. For those who have never been to Africa, there is this amazing smell just after a thunderstorm on a hot summer’s afternoon which few words can describe. So now we wait for the first rains of summer. In the meanwhile we get ready for the summer which Matthew is showing how it is done by getting the pool ready for the summer splash.
After a busy day at work watching the exco members and senior managers meet all day in the fishbowl, which was rather arduous, I ended up supporting Louw on his suped up Vespa LX150 and Bryan on a stock Vespa GT200. Here is Louw with a new day-glo paint scheme on his Vespa and Bryan just behind him. Louw says that he is busy building a new Vespa to race with a motor that is getting up to 8 seconds faster to top speed.
After a busy day at work, it is back to home for supper, homework, bath and bed. Oh no that is Matthew's schedule although without the work part. Here is Matthew in the bath.
Thank goodness Monday is under the belt, now for the rest of the week. It is downhill from here. The roof of the Gautrain’s Braamfontein Terminus is nearly completed. Things are coming along nicely.
What a busy Monday, no wonder many hate Mondays. At least we have fun while we are busy as Refiloe tries to do some sort of medical examination on Norman.
What a busy weekend. Shopping on Saturday morning, then rush off to do community work. BBC on Sunday morning, a power naps in the afternoon then rust to take the dogs to the park. Today’s photo is of family who also come to BBC, Nicky with her son Ethan.
With the public servants strike about to enter its fourth week, a group from BBC members planned to go to Helen Joseph Hospital to help out because it is the patients who are suffering the most in the strike. But on Friday the call went in the media that the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital desperately needed volunteers to help clean and feed in the pediatric ward. So we decided to go there instead.
Once arriving in force this afternoon we found already volunteers working and after asking around found that the other wards did not need us. So off we went to help out at Helen Joseph as per our original plan. The hospital staff split us up into smaller groups took us to the areas in need. Our group started with delivering the meals to the wards. Afterwards the kitchen group split into even smaller groups with our group sweeping the car park while the others mopped the wards.
While picking up the leaves I came across this protest sign. Although I am not sure why the striking nurses are asking POPCRU (the police union) where their loyalty is. Yes before you ask we have unions for the nurses, police and even the army. Posted the rest of the days photos on my Facebook page.
Down Girl. Phansi Nomthana Phansi. Today is Casual Day in South Africa and Nomthana is dressed to the tee. For a small nominal fee which goes to charities that look after the disabled, employees can dress up or down for work. It is great fun seeing how different people interpret what it means to come casual.
Carol got bitten by the mangy dog next door late yesterday afternoon. She decided to take a walk up the road and along the way she past this scruffy dog who is always in the road. The dog just attacked her maybe thinking that Carol was already injured due to her disabilities. I went up to the owner's house to confront them and although seeing me did not come out to investigate. I then called the police to lay a charge and had to take Carol to the doctors for a Tetanus injection. Not good for an evening. Anyway back at work we're all up to our ears keeping the ship afloat. Although it doesn’t seem like with Theo's faraway look.
It is the 1st of September which is the first day of spring but it is a scorcher of a day. Priscilla, shown above is the new acting manager of Human Resources and is trying to sort my problem out. Time will tell not that I have much.