Lynda in her Stride

Monday, and my holidays are over. By mid afternoon it was starting to catch up to me and meeting Lynda after work for some shopping didn't help. All I wanted to do was close my eyes and simply nod off but here is Lynda taking my feet dragging in her stride.

Marina and the Long Trip

Not much to write as I am tired as I just arrived home after the long drive from Durban but I am home safely, tired but safe. Before leaving Durban, my cousin Marina, came to see me off. Now I only met her once before some 20 years ago, and today the second time. Anyway, my holidays are over and I'm heading for bed, good night.

Cousins Selfie

After an awesome week at San Lameer, the day it all ends, the rains come. And did the rains come. I had planned not to drive all the way up to Johannesburg but to break up the journey by stopping at Durban to stay over at my aunt and uncle's place.

It was good meeting up with family of long past. Here is my cousin Eleasha and I doing a selfie, go figure.

Birdie on the 10th

Gary, Rob, and I crawled onto the San Lameer's pristine champion golf course just after 6 this morning. Up and down the 18 fairways we trudged in the golf cart only stopping after the 9th hole for a satisfying breakfast at the clubhouse. Now I can’t remember which hole this photo was taken at but here is Gary and Rob on the green. Now I promised Rob, what happens at San Lameer, stays at San Lameer, especially when it comes to the birdie that he hit on the 10th.

Beached Whales

Well the boys, Rob, Gary, and myself, decided that it is time to get off the beach and into the surf. Well we are not quite beached whales but we must have looked close. The weather down here on the lower south coast of Natal has been gorgeous all week. After a good splash in the surf, we joined the ladies who were already enjoying milkshakes at the Marina Beach cove.

Afterwards it was off to Mac Banana for lunch under the banana trees. Wow, there are so many ways that pancakes can be served from sweet to savoury. Forget whales, now I feel more like a walrus.

Lonely Footprints

I awoke early this morning with my dark passenger, a headache which inevitably comes when sleeping badly. So I headed for the beach for some me alone time and headed south down the coastline.

The sand was cold but the water warm and by the time the sun finally peeked above the horizon, I had left a lonely trail of footprints in the sand. Looking back it did look like I was all alone on that beach while the surge tried to erase my lonely existence.

In the Rough

After a beautiful first day at San Lameer, the second started with a swim in the ocean. Cold at first, but once you in, refreshing. Other than scuba diving off Mozambique, it has been a very long time since I played in the surf.

No rest when you are having fun. Under peer pressure it was onto the golf course for the second time in two days. Thank you to the handicap system, as it put me winning both games. Here is my good friend, Gary playing from the rough on the second last hole.

Because We Can

I decided to start my holiday at San Lameer with an early start of a sunrise on the beach with a couple of whales frolicking off the backline. And the song "Because We Can" by Bon Jovi was playing on the radio. Just what I needed to start the renewing of my soul.

I don't wanna be another wave in the ocean
I am a rock not just another grain of sand
I wanna be the one you run to when you need a shoulder
I ain't a soldier but I'm here to take a stand
Because we can

Because I can

Back in the Old Country

Going back to the old country was like driving into the twilight zone. You see familiar places and faces but all have gotten older even me. It is Sunday morning and I walked into a chapel from my distance past and everyone is so happy to see me. Friendships continue as if they never left off. Kids I once knew are all grown up with kids of their own.

The old folks, those who are still around are a little older; with a few more wrinkles and a bit greyer but other than that nothing much has changed except me. For I have grown sideways, the naughty face still the same but the body has grown. Here a special person in my young life, Aunty Kathy. I wonder how many hours of prayer has Kathy prayed for me? Must have been lots, but here I am and it is good to see her and her husband Uncle Ronnie after all these years.

And as we sing a hymn dating from 1933, memories of us when we were kids running amok come flooding back. And as I stand singing “Only Trust Him” I know I am back in the old country.

Blast from the Past

Yes picture of this futurist woman is a blast from the past. But firstly I want to say, is that it is freezing down here in Hilton. From upper 20 to 30 degrees Celsius in Johannesburg, to freezing cold rain and mist and cold and brrrrr, just cold. I am here at my best friend's home in Hilton, overlooking Pietermaritzburg. It is my first part of my holiday which I have been looking forward for a long time.

Now I suppose you are wondering, what is this futurist drawing which I have used on today's post. Well it is my blast from the past. I met Robbie some 30 years ago and we’ve been good friends all that time. This is the first time I have been to his new home in Hilton which is across the road from his brother, Timothy. Robbie is still settling in and after lunch he pulled out this drawing which I drew, yes I drew many moons ago. It is dated 30/05/1988. Who would I thought I had a little right brain thing going back in the days.

Ponta Dolphins

Shani and Paulo are up in Johannesburg for a few days, and because I haven’t seen them for many months it was a perfect opportunity to get together for some coffee with friends. So at lunch I met Shani and Paulo at Rosebank, and caught up with old times. It is a pity that lunch is over so quick. Maybe next time it will be in that bar on the beach somewhere in Northern Mozambique.

Robynne and Marco

Okay first some feedback from yesterday's post. Warren, who claimed to be the store manager of Epsom Downs Pick n Pay phoned to apologise and to give his side of the story. The aisle shown in yesterday's photo is the aisle which the staff are busy in re packing the shelves and that is why it looked like it did. The packers must have already gone home and left all the price tags scattered all over the floor with empty boxes and crates lying about. As for the no plastic bags in the entire store, well that was not correct as they did according to Warren have plastic bags at the back. Well what good are they in the back when none of the tills had bags to place the groceries in. Warren also stated on the phone that when he heard that someone (us) was making a noise about the store not having plastic bags, he tried to find us to offer us an alternate but we had already left. Uhmmm, ja right.

He did say that he will get the packers to clean up after them and refund us the money we had to spend to buy alternate bags to put our shopping in. So we have to go back although we afraid to but not today as we have guests over for dinner which was the reason why we had to make an unscheduled stop at a Pick n Pay.

Here is Robynne, Lynda's daughter and her fiancé Marco. Dinner was sweet buttered chicken on rice with vegetables plus yummy dessert. Now I am ready for bed.

Pick n Pay Rubbish

Wow, walking into the Pick n Pay at Epsom Downs in Bryanston after work was a shock to the system. Are the Pick n Pay staff on strike already? The aisles were littered with price tags, empty boxes and crates. Here is proof of what I had to endure at a Pick n Pay in a up market suburb.

To add fuel to the fire, when I arrived at the tills, there were only two cashiers, okay to give them credit, it was near the end of the day but the shock came when we were told sorry but there are no plastic bags to put my groceries in. Not one in the entire Pick n Pay, nada. Now the greenies will be happy but all I can see is another nail in the Pick n Pay coffin.

Lamp in the Window

There is something about a light in the window that is warm and inviting. Tonight this lamp in the window of the entrance hall of the Sims made for an interesting photograph with all its shapes and geometry.

There are many reasons why people place lights in the window but tonight as I looked at this light; my thoughts went out to two friends, Dwight and Shelly. May their hearts be at ease as they are guided by the Light of the World in their perilous journey ahead and may He grant them a safe return.

African Iris

It is like butterflies fluttering in my garden, the African Iris is starting to bloom and as the myth states before the rain. This means that the summer African rains are on its way which means the end of this dusty Johannesburg.

Someone to Love

Matthew and I washed all our dogs this morning as this dry warm wind was blowing through. It is their first wash of the season now that is getting warmer. Soon we will be in full blown African summer with the thunderstorms to cool down the insipid heat. But now the lands stay dry and parched will we wait for the summer rains to come. Here is Matthew saying goodbye to Skye before I take him back.

A Fish Called Lynda

While Matthew went to OMG this evening for prayer and killing of Zombies; Lynda and I spent the evening at Montecasnio. This photo of Lynda was taken through the fish tank at Scoobs, a quaint bookshop. I enjoy books and we relaxed here for a few hours with a good wine and some books.

Oppan Gary Style

The week finished off with a bang, at the Barnyard Theatre, Cresta, gangnam style. BankservAfrica held one of their community services evening and Gary, my good friend invited Lynda and myself to join him and his family at an evening of Strictly No 1s, a Barnyard production of No 1 hit songs of the past 60 years. And here is Gary showing us how it is done, Gary Style, you know what I'm saying.

Circus Back in Town

The media circus is back in town since Nelson Mandela was discharged from hospital last week. Now that he is back at his home in Houghton the media is camping outside. They must know something that even our government doesn't know. Serious, when he was discharged the foreign media reported it and our ANC elected government denied the next day that he is still at hospital in a stable yet critical condition. It is as if the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. So when the media start camping outside, they not there for fun.

23 Days

23 days, yes it took South African cellar company Cell C, 23 days to replace the screen of my Samsung Galaxy S3. A friend of mine had his phone, also a S3, cracked in the same way as mine. And he took it to the Samsung store in Clearwater Mall and had his phone returned to him in 14 days.

So what did I learn about Cell C from this terrible experience. Firstly Cell C's Call Centre was a horrible experience from the get go. Secondly never believe Cell C when they say anything plus many more mistruths added to the other confused deliberate lies, we are busy upgrading our network and you should experience a marked improvement by July. And the same we are busy upgrading our network and you should experience a marked improvement by September, yeah right.

It will take a phenomenal miracle to trust Cell C again.

Fallen Angel

Like a fallen angel, a bird caught most likely by Maxy, lay as a defeathered gift on my lawn when I arrived home from work. Maxy has become quite the hunter as nearly three birds a week falling to his lightning strikes. Once I saw him watching a bird fly up and down just out of his reach, or so thought the bird as he sprung from a sitting position nearly a metre and a half into the air to pluck the bird out of the air.

Dwight and Shelly

Wow, it feels like centuries, since I last saw Dwight and Shelly, but I think it was only last year or the year before. My I am getting old while these two are looking younger than ever before. They only here for a short while then they off again but it doesn't stop me basking in their glow. Keep safe in your future endeavours and I'll keep you close in my prayers.

Fifty Something

Happy birthday Pierre, yes I know it is later on in this week, but is great when a group of friends get together for an impromptu birthday braai. The weekend nearly ended in a domestic disaster but somehow it didn't and we ended the weekend with a wonderful afternoon with friends.

Bacon and Avo Burger

After a late start, to do nothing for the weekend, I stopped into Maxi's for a quick reasonably priced breakfast but it was nearly mid-day so a bacon avocado burger was just what the doctor ordered. Not bad a R50 ($5) burger and from a diner with the same name as my Italian Greyhound. Maybe I should become a food blogger, righteous.

Springtime Noma

Spring is defiantly here, flowers are starting to bud, the weather is getting warmer and the spring colours are starting to be worn. Here is Noma, looking very French in this summer outfit. Let the summer roll on.

Pick n Pay Online

It is amazing that the Pick n Pay online is still operating as their service has been leaving a wake of bad service. They never deliver the right items order by either replacing a not in stock item or leaving it off totally when delivered. I suppose it is not the drivers fault but they should have a not in stock in the ordering section. Maybe they should have used a Piaggio Ape instead of a Mahindra 3W.

Slutcat

Yesterday, Sean tried to take his cat that is known as Slutcat, to the vet because there is a growth growing on her side. But Sean didn't get very far because apparently Slutcat bounced off the windows and sprayed cat urine everywhere in his car.

Today I brought a cat carrier from home so he can take Slutcat safely to the vet. I also advised Sean to cover the carrier with a blanket to help calm Slutcat. Now I know you are begging to know why Sean calls his cat Slutcat, well from what I have been told, Slutcat has rather loose morals.

Coffee Time

Anytime is coffee time or more importantly, Nespresso Time. Now that my man-flu is about over, it is time to start enjoying some good coffee again. Yes I agree that it is faux'spresso but that are so easy to pop in a capsule and enjoy a cup. No fuss and no mess only nespresso.

Peek A Poo

Monday, a start of a busy week of Google +, Places and switchboard operators. Ah the joys of my job. It has been fifteen days since my cellphone was sent to Cell C for repairs and the maybe, just maybe it will be returned to me soon. And that is the thought that keeps me going on, oh and the thought of coming home to my family at the end of the day. Here is Kitty, still weary of me and the pack of bouncy Italian Greyhounds and a Whippet.

World Robot Olympiad Winners

Here is Matthew with his two cousins, Juan and Danielle, who came up to Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria to compete in the open category of South African National’s leg of the 2013 World Robot Olympiad and they came away with gold.

With this year's theme of World Heritage, Juan and Danielle presented a Lego robot that conducted tours of Robben Island. Here is Matthew among geniuses.