Rising the Dead

It is that time again when the ghouls rise up from the dead and walk from the cemetery to Melville for some beers. Who said Zombies like brains?

Empire Tattoos held their 6th Zombie Walk for charity and it was a record turnout for the Zombies and press. Along with the few Joburg Photowalkers who could get time off work, there was Top TV with a film crew, the Star Newspaper photographer plus quite a few professional togs. But it was all for Marang House. There is one photograph in my album of a little girl from Marang House who only got her new donated kidney last week and today she was walking with the Zombies.

Click here to see the Rising the Dead (2012 Album), Zombies Shuffle (2011 Album, and Nom Nom Nom (2010 Album). Enjoy but remember not for sensitive viewers.

Samsung

Starting early this morning and just ploughing through the work didn’t leave me much time to think about taking photos for my blog. Just before I had to leave this evening, my blog popped into my head. Looking quickly around for something to photograph, the thin red line around my new 23 inch Samsung LED monitor that I got just over a week ago caught my eye. Expecting the light to move like KITT the high tech crime fighting car used in Knight Rider or one of the Terminator cyborgs with its faint red glow but it only the Samsung monitor.

After another busy day at work behind the computer screens and the week is already half way through. Warning tomorrow Zombies are preparing to walk the streets. Are you prepared to fight for your survival?

Noma Jeane

Oh my, doesn’t Noma look like she is suffering from post weekend blues, sweetie? Mondays, ahh the start of a fresh new week. All too soon it will be weekend again, and before we know the year will be over and we will start the new year all over. 56 days till Christmas. 5 weeks till Matthew finishes Primary School and next year he will be in High School. Time flies, as Dr Seuss once said "How did it get so late so soon?"

Iggies Sun Tanning

After a few days of rain, the sun broke free this morning. Jade and Maxy took full advantage of the early morning sun to tan. Like most Italian Greyhounds, my iggies love sunning themselves and up on the dog kibble box they catch the first rays plus it gives them an even higher perch to survey their kingdom.

Magic Mike

Saturday has arrived with lots of plans for the day but a spanner was thrown into the deck by Skye who virtually was coughing his lungs out. So the first order of the day was off to the vet. Now because my budget for the coming month was very tight I could just go to my normal vet. Lynda had told me about her vet who was more affordable.

Arriving at this vet, I just want to turn around and run as the first impression was a hillbilly establishment. After waiting for a why in reception come office come pet food shop come store room, the vet arrived from doing his banking and put me at ease with his bed side manner. Skye was diagnosed with Kennel Cough. Uhmmm, my dogs socialise a lot so he could have picked up this virus from any of the dogs we come across. Poor Skye is now on a course of antibiotics but will be alright.

After dropping Skye back home it was too late for the Zoo Photowalk and I had to rethink about getting a new battery for my cellphone due to vet costs, so I went off to the Outer Limits as it is Matthew’s birthday next weekend and it was there that I met the Grand Wizard Mike who holds Magic the Gathering tournaments every weekend at the Outer Limits in Melville. Ohhh look a Lightsaber, oh no even better a Sonic screwdriver. Everywhere I looked I battled to choose what Matthew would like as he would have liked everything there. No power in the universe can stop the Daleks! Bazinga!

When an Angel Dies

When growing up, I used to gaze in wonder at the ominous storm clouds building up in the distance. And in between the clouds, the crepuscular rays broke though. At these times it was for me as if God was showing me His Glory and the rays were the hairs of his brush as He painted on His canvas on the sky. Now when the anticrepuscular rays, they are the parallel shafts of sunlight from holes in the clouds, shine down from heaven, I as little boy used to say an angel has just died and was been taken back up to heaven.

Schnapps Schnauzer

Every night this week so far has been a late night for me instead of going straight home after work like a good little boy. Monday it was roast chicken dinner with Tom and Glenda, Tuesday Can-Sir meeting at the Donald Gordon Hospital and little sandwiches, Wednesday sushi and wine with Ann, and tonight back to Tom and Glenda for dinner but this time yummy beef olives.

Tom and Glenda have two Schnauzers, and this one is Schnapps with his Bismarck type moustache. Talking about moustaches, November is Movember time again were we Mo Bros grow moustaches from scratch to raise awareness of cancer in men. A little close to home this time round.

Shy Kalinga

After another long day at work, I went over to Ann's home for sushi and wine. And here in Ann's lounge was this stunning painting that she bought when she was in the Philippines of a shy Kalinga woman. I never heard of this ethic group Kalinga until today. The Kalingas are a shy people who live in a small landlocked province of the same name on the Luzon Island of the Philippines. It is a powerful painting of a shy Kalinga woman and I was compelled to take a photograph.

Then it was Tuesday

When I was leaving for work this Tuesday morning, Skye climbed up on the Vespa wanting to go with me to work. It was sad not to take him but I had to go earn my keep and what a busy day it turned out to be. With lots of reports to do, I only just managed to see the light of day towards the end of the day.

Then it was off to Can-Sir for their monthly Men's Cancer Support Group. Here we had a good discussion and my biggest concern as with most of us was the unknown. And being able to talk with men who have gone through similar experiences helps a lot with the anxiety.

Then before it got too late I headed back home to my dogs especially Skye who although didn't get to go with me was very pleased that I was back safely.

Garden Bliss

After work, I went round to Tom, my mentor and his wife Glenda's home for supper. We sat out on their patio while the final preparation for dinner was done. It was wonderful sitting outside in the last light of the day with the smell of all sorts of scents from spring lingering in the air. And the sounds of nature, wait this kind of brings me back to the thoughts I had this morning. It's a strange moment... when you realise that the sound of nature is the sound of millions of animals, birds, and insects desperately trying to get laid.

Leon

I was sitting on my patio watching a storm brew while dusk crept up. Now it is lashing down and I had to rush and batten down the hatches. Uhmmm I love the smell of rain after a hot African day.

This morning, I was on duty at BBC with Leon, shown above. We were the ushers and no one messes with large ushers with big smiles, no one. After BBC, Matthew and I went to check out Zaps at Brightwater Commons for his birthday Xbox party in two weeks time. Then back home for a lazy Sunday afternoon. I woke up after a cat nap with my right knee aching. It must be my old horse riding injury or I wonder, maybe I getting to be like those weird folks whose knees ache before rain comes. Oh dear, that is a sign that I am getting old like Noah. Sigh!

Tula tula baba tula Jade

Hush now little Jade, go to sleep. You are safe in my arms while you go chasing rabbits in your dreams far away.

Thula tu thula baba thula mtwana. Thula thula baba thula Jade. Thul'u babuzo ficka, eku seni. Kukh'in khan-yezi, zi-holel' u baba. Zim-khan yi-sela indlel'e ziyak-haya. Sobe sik hona xa bonke be-shoyo. Be-thi bu-yela u-bu-ye le khaya. Thula, thula, thula Jade.

It is so beautiful, when my smallest iggy falls asleep on my lap and here is Jade far away in dream land.

Dudududududu...

Samsung LED Monitor

An early Christmas pressie arrived at my desk this morning. A 23 inch LED monitor to replace my 19 inch monitor. Well all of us got pressies here at work today from laptops to monitors as we become a full Samsung branded company. The Samsung LED Monitors were the new series 3 Model 370 with full HD capabilities not that I will be watching movies with it but with two monitors; development work and reporting becomes more efficient.

Baby Strelitzia

Hey before I continue, I need to let you know, tomorrow, yes tomorrow is Friday. Just in case you were like me, losing track of all these days in this long week. Anyway I wasn't sure what photograph to take today and I was taking photos of reflections of myself, Noma's hand and even nearly started a foot fetish with a few photographs of Delia's naked feet. I am opening bids for anyone wishing to add to their collection of naked feet.

Luckily Delia saved the day, by bringing me the subject you see above in the photo, a baby strelitzia. What? Yes seeds from the beautiful flowering Strelitzias, even their seeds are awesome.

Dennis

This evening I had planned pizza with my mentor and a friend of his but that was postponed till next week early in the day. So with nothing much else planned I was expecting a quiet evening at home. But my life seems so busy lately that quiet was far from what happened. Jenny, a pancreas cancer survivor which I met only once before heard from Desiree, a mutual friend, about where my health is at the moment, invited me to dinner at Desiree and Marilyn's place. Jenny wanted to speak to me about where I am at health wise and mentally and she invited me to a support group of cancer survivors where I can get all my questions answered.

As for supper, Dennis cooked an awesome spicy pasta and mince. Dennis is Desiree and Marilyn's tenant staying in their cottage. He is from France and is in South Africa on a contract with Arcitel pimping their affordable smart phones and tablets to our local cellular companies.

Peafowls

I have been staying at Treesbank which is on the banks of the Jukskei River between Dainfern and Glenferness for over a year now and I have been hearing the cry of peafowls but never seeing them. I have heard and seen the jackals at the bottom of my garden never peafowls, that was until today.

After arriving at work nice and early on my Vespa, I received a phone call about a family emergency unfolding so I rushed back home to fetch my vehicle which I needed for the emergency and went to fix. But just as I arrived Anthony, my brother, was already there taking care of things so all I could do was to go back to work. Communication peoples. Now getting back to my photo of the day, it was when arriving back home to swop back to the Vespa, I spotted a peacock or is it a peahen in my driveway. So it was true, there were peafowls in my neighbourhood, nice.

Mashooda and Mo

Mashooda, Richard’s daughter came round to the office today sporting a rather large tummy and her husband Mo in tow. It looks like Mashooda is expecting any day now, but being a man I never asked when but I chatted to Mo for a while. I find this photo interesting with its horizontal, vertical and diagonal stripes while Mo looks bored but like a dutiful hubby is close at hand. Any day now.

Oh Pick Me

Sitting on my steps in the late afternoon with my camera, thinking of what photo I can take for the Photo of the Day. I have been all photographed out from yesterday's photowalk but I still needed a photo for today so I sat on the steps thinking away while my dogs vied for my attention. Now how can I not ignore Jade as she yelped "Ooohhh Pick me! Pick me! Me! Me!"

Commer's Web

In conjunction with Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photowalk, the Joburg Photowalkers held a photowalk at Modderfontein. Here at Modderfontein explosives were manufactured for the gold mining industry from 1894 and it is at The Dynamite Company Museum in Modderfontein that I stumbled upon this Commer lorry used by James Sydney Transort (PTY.) Ltd. to carry explosives from the Modderfontein Dynamite factory to the mines. The lorries replaced the ox wagons drawn by a span of 14 to 16 oxen in 1925 but I am not sure which year is this Commer Explosives Carrier.

The Commer lorry was interesting to me and brought back so many memories as our family owned a Morris Commercial lorry which I used to drive. Although the Commer is much larger than the Morris there was some similarities which why the memories. The Morris had a split bonnet but under it were a very similar straight 6 diesel engine, and the sound of the motor came flooding back. The wind wiper motor design was exactly the same but in different positions and even in this spider web photograph the hooter stork off the steering column is exactly the same.

I can still picture driving that old girl down from Nelspruit all the way to Durban to bring my merger belongings up to the Slowveldt. Ahh some memories will never fade.

Stormtrooper

With all these storms throughout the day and me doing my work diligently like a trooper, I feel like an important Stormtrooper hoping to please the teacher with a bright red apple. Well not really, it is Friday and we SEO Stormtroopers are pushing hard towards day end when we can crumple up our timesheets and head home to be un-policed for the entire weekend.

Sunset Warning

Africa is always full of surprises. This afternoon as the air raid siren wails across the suburb, golfers dash for shelter from the pending storm. Although the wailing siren brings back memories for some of a telephone call in Belfast warning of a bomb and within half an hour an explosion. For some the wail brings back memories of incoming rockets into a Israeli village from neighbouring territories. Even though this afternoon the wail was the automatic warning siren of impending lightning while the golfers scurry for cover, it sent a chill up my spine. Eeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! My mind was screaming warning. Put my head between my legs. Warning! Warning! Africa is always full of surprises.

But the biggest surprise was after the storm, God presented an awesome sunset. It is as if God paints you a beautiful picture before your very eyes and says everything is going to be alright. After the terror there was the peace of an African sunset with the crickets chirping and the bats scooping. And the stress of life simply melts away. Now where did I put my glass of wine?

Valpré

"Drink lots of water" ordered the urologist, so in response I have stepped up from one litre of water to two per day, well week days only as weekends I try recover from over diluting myself. Normally I use the premium water from the water cooler but now I am supplementing the water with sparkling bottled spring water from Valpré in Heidelberg. Somehow sparkling makes it easier to go down and I also like it because of their so called "plantbottle" which is made with 30% plant material and is 100% recyclable. Yes I know a marketing ploy but I try to do my part.

African Farm

Tuesday has come and with it the summer rains to soak up the dust and grime. Being on a Vespa, rain is not too welcomed but what else can I do but to ride on into the distance with thoughts wishing I was on the road to nowhere and hopefully at the end of that road is a farmhouse somewhere in Africa.

Tonight was home cell at the Sims' home in Bryanston and in that home is this painting one an African Farmhouse. It is one of my favourites as it brings a sense of peace in my heart, of a place called home in Africa with its wide open veld and nothing between you and God.

St. Jerome Croatian Catholic Church

Interesting, just down the road from my work is my namesake, a Croatian church named after me. Well my ego isn't that big, can the real St. Jerome please stand up. St. Jerome lived around 400 AC and he is known for one of the earliest translations of the Bible into Latin. Meanwhile back in the present era, this Jerome found the gate to the St. Jerome Croatian Catholic Church locked but I am very keen on being allowed inside and hopefully take a few photographs. We Jeromes must stick together, saints and all.

Mo and I

Today started slowly. I didn't get any reminders that I was on duty at BBC but somehow thought I was. So after double checking, I found that it is still a month to go till I’m next on duty. Well on Matthew’s birthday, now that won't do.

I day was starting to look like a wonderful summer's day, blue skies and not too hot. So I rounded up the dogs and off we went to Emmarentia Dam for a long walk. On this walk I bumped into some friends Mo and his wife Rihanna from long past. Here is a photo of Mo and I with Patch and Skye looking on. We walked for a while together catching up on things while my dogs and theirs ran together for a while.

When I finally got back home Matthew was still fast asleep after another late night with dad so on went the music and the washing machine.

The Settlers of Catan

It is Rage 2012 weekend which meant that one of the days Matthew has to spend at Rage. Now for those who don't know, Rage is the biggest Computers, Gaming and Technology Expo in South Africa. Well it is rather small compared to Gen Con and other gaming conventions in the States but by our standards the busiest thing since cheese was discovered on the moon.

Anyway Matthew and I went again this year and as usual it was packed like sardines in domed venue but Matthew soon found his passion, board games and that is where he spent the entire day, playing board games. One of his favourites which he won twice against experts was The Settlers of Catan. Here he is looking like a serious poker player contemplating the strawberry and cherry smoothie that I just brought him as refreshment. I had to as he didn't want to move from that spot, not even for a drink break.

Summer Flowers

Spring is about over with the heat starting to climb towards the summer heights. The rains haven't come yet and the flowers are starting to bloom in expectation.

It is Friday and I am about ready to start the weekend but the hours at work are dragging. I changed a few minutes outside the air-conditioned offices to work on the grass bare feet admiring the beautiful Strelitzias. The grass was damp because the garden mist sprinklers were on keeping the flowers moist. It was kind of therapeutical to feel the grass between my toes but it was Friday and the day couldn't end fast enough.

George

Someone once said that it doesn't rain it pours. My workload is piling up long side the medical bills. I am not sure how I am going to make it without stressing out too much but I will try my best to keep my head above water. I will not sink, oh no, not I. But the more the load piles on the more I realise that I can't do it all in my strength.

Today's photograph is of my brother George who I met after work to give them a hand.

Socks and Flowers

Forget about Delia's flowers in her hair, Norma came to work this morning in shorts with socks and flowers on her flip flops. Yes this was very fascinating as you can see in the photograph above. Brown feet inside the green socks inside the blue flip flops with a brown base on a grey carpet. It was just begging to be taken. Well what was I doing so low down, uhmmm quality control. Now I better get back to work.

The Urologist

For those who just stumbled onto this blog, no I am not pregnant and for my ardent followers, the urologist is 70% positive that it is not cancer.

At this moment I am so mentally tired but want to apologise for the weird introduction to this post. Anyway I have been put on a long course of antibiotics and in a month's time I am scheduled for more tests and if my levels drop from 10.19 down to 2 ng/mL, I will be in the clear. So stay tuned as I am going to beat this.

Some Nights

The day before the test to confirm or not to confirm the other two tests is here. Just one more night to see through as the sun disappears and the smog is seen through the haze. Just one more night I scream into the darkening sky as the chorus of the song Some Nights by Fun keeps churning over and over again.

Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some nights, I call it a draw
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know anymore

I did a Delia on the way home today, sort of a resolve of the last push. While shopping for some chicken soup, I saw these fresh organic carrots and they looked yummy so I added them to my basket along with apples, pears along with the Cranberry Juice. While the sounds of the snare drum roll out into the night sky I look up and mumble the words oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for anymore. For some nights I'm scared and some I stand tall. And tonight Lord I'm just trying to be brave.