Big Fat Noma

Are you putting on weight or are you pregnant? This is something you never ask women, I learnt the hard way many moons ago when I asked someone if they were pregnant only to get them very mad at me as they were just putting on some extra pounds around the waist line. Wow now this I can get away with as Noma, one of my good friends, is sure glowing at 6 months into her pregnancy of her 2nd child. Okay maybe still not the right thing to say, as I duck out of Noma’s swing.

So Noma Jean, congratulations as you and Richard approach a new chapter in your lives. May this baby be a blessing to both of you.

Spot the Minky

Yesterday Minky was high on catnip, today she was back to her normal self, climbing trees especially the high ones, no pun intended, and getting lost in the branches. Thankfully she hasn’t found the owl box, on this very tree but on the other side. Paddington is starting to follow her example of enjoying climbing trees. Both Paddy and Minks are starting to quite nicely in the garden, stalking and pouncing on each other, then running at break neck speeds up a tree.

The Catnip Drug

Oh wow, we knew that the herb catnip was loved by cats but with a fresh catnip plant in our vegetable and herb garden we have to barricade it up as the cats love to roll into the herb getting high on its potency.

We found a drug induced Minky today in the catnip, nose deep into the fresh catnip. Oh no how are we going control this habit?

Lynda at Custom Couches

Lynda and I went across to see the new showroom at Custom Couches which has been a long time coming and of course to spend time with granddaughter Rebekah.

Furniture is something people are always looking for a bargain for and where else can you get a quality build couch from only R2750 in Johannesburg other than Custom Couches, uhmmm quality for quality nowhere else I think. Anyways Lynda and I test sat all the couches that were on display in the new showroom in North Riding, Randburg, looking for the best fit couch for our style and budget. As they say at Custom Couches, affordable is not just a name, it is a promise at Custom Couches.

I love you Matthew

I know it must be difficult for Matthew, having to be split between 2 homes, one in Benoni and the other in Roodekrans. Because humans are complicated beasts.

After driving all the way across from West to the East Rand to pick up Matthew for the weekend, we arrived back home tired, but glad to be back home. Forget happily ever after, we got messily ever after but we here now and have to make the most out of life. I love you Matthew.

Humble Ubuntu

We have a saying here in isiZulu that goes like this, umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. Directly translated it means that a person is a person through other people, and one needs to stay humble.

Today Velile and I, interviewed some of the staff at Metal Cross Vehicle Makeover Clinic because next week Friday they turn 10 years old, and we were blown away about how this very saying rings so true in the staff, the managers, and the owners of this scratch and dent repair centre that is tucked away between Randburg and Fourways. Both Velile and I spoke afterwards how we noticed the difference between the god-worship of the supreme leader at our old company compared to the genuine humble words coming from these staff members about ubuntu, their family called Metal Cross with their father Frank and mother Liz.

Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu.

So I will leave you with this truth and remember don’t shine so others can see you, shine so that through you others can see God.

Peek a Boo

I spent the morning at the Vodacom Commercial Park in Midrand and I knew I had to meet an afternoon meeting with a potential client based in Randfontein but no time was set until I got a message at 11am that the potential client can meet me at 12pm, oops that was 1 hour to wrap it up here and race across Gauteng. Randfontein was a good hour’s drive away. I told them that I can finish up in half an hour then leave.

I rushed towards Randfontein from Midrand and by Krugersdorp I saw a message on my phone that a brief was taken for me and can they meet me at my place to debrief and prepare pricing for a quote. So I headed home.

After the home meeting, I was exhausted with all this rushing, but I started going through all the things that needed to be done and heard some rustling and turned and saw Paddington playing inside an empty packet that I left on the couch in my office. Peek a boo, ahhh the simple things in life, slow down, life is not the rush it used to be, enjoy life, even the simple things.

Chill down Jerome, God is in control, as my scripture that I am holding dear onto says "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." - Psalm 32:8

Custom Couches Showroom Upgrade

Custom Couches have been going for 3 years now and they have come a long way from their humble beginnings out of the single family garage. The demand for quality couches at affordable prices grew as people came, and came, and came. By the end of their first year the couch manufacturing had spilled out into the yard and soon up the driveway.

In Custom Couches' 2nd year they had to take a leap of faith and move into a mini factory and now by the end of their 3rd year even this factory has become too small. Happy birthday Custom Couches. Thank you for making great furniture at better prices.

First impressions count, so now Custom Couches have decided to expand and revamp their showroom into something that will wow potential buyers even more than the prices. With Custom Couches quality doesn’t have to be expensive.

Cat Selfie

Yip, Monday morning blues. A cold front has moved in and the warm wet air that last week’s cyclone brought inland is pushed up by the wedge of cold air and now it rains, and rains some lot more.

This week is going to be a wet week, perfect time to bury into the couch. Princess, thought it was perfect time to snuggle up to daddy and get this cat selfie.

Cabbage Tree View

Our garden consists of mostly indigenous plants, living long side a nature reserve has its price, nature overflows into our garden. Beautiful plants welcoming beautiful creatures who visit. In the veldt there are a proteas, cabbage trees, and wild peach trees.

This cabbage tree is in our property, the cats love climbing up its soft trunk, and the from the tree the dogs have a nice vantage point into the veldt. Here are my 2 Italian Greyhounds, Maxy and Jade doing what they do second best, gazing into the distance, hoping catch a glimpse of some guinea fowl or a rabbit or two. Second best as the best is all in the chase, baby!

Fire in the Sky

With the cyclone passing over us with not much hoo-ha other than gusty winds and an increase in rainfall but the clouds during the sunset was fiery spectacular. A short post for a change as I enjoy this sundowner moment.

Unknown Rare Aloe

In the corner of my garden is this aloe growing, and while chatting to my neighbour on this side of the garden about security co-operation, he saw the aloe and asked me if I knew that that aloe is very rare. According to my neighbour it only grows in this gorge that runs along my property all the way to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens below. But for the life of the neighbour, he couldn’t remember the name. I tried to do some internet research on this unknown aloe as one does now days but had no joy on a rare aloe growing in this eco sub-system.

So if any one might know, please comment below.

Oh so Pretty

I feel pretty, oh so pretty. How in the world can I work in these conditions? I am sure these cats are conspiring for my attention. Don’t let me cough up a hairball but I have to do my work, Minky. Breathe in, Jerome, breathe out. Now stroke the pretty, oh so pretty kitty cat. Ahhh there you go, soon the cats will take over the world.

Acraea Horta

The other day I saw a small caterpillar on our front gate pillar. At the time I didn’t have my cellphone with me to take a photo. Today I saw the caterpillar still there but on closer inspection, I saw it was a pupa. Ohhh I had to take a photo.

In the photo you can see the silken mat that was spun onto the wall and the pupa uses this to attach himself to the wall. Soon a garden acraea butterfly will emerge and flutter around my garden. I haven’t identified a Kiggelaria Africana tree or Wild Peach tree on which these caterpillars feed on in my garden but there must be one nearby.

Ahhh it is quite nice having a established garden that attracts all kinds of birds, butterflies, and bees.

Rooster Valentine

In our hectic busy lives, it is important to stop every now and again and reflect what is important. Today is Valentine’s Day or Single Awareness Day depending what side of the bridge you on. At the end of a hectic busy Tuesday, I had booked a table at Lucios Pizzeria in Northcliff which in my humble opinion one of the best Italian restaurants in Johannesburg.

Arriving at Lucios we found the place packed and their seems to be a train smash in the kitchen as they were flooded with take away orders as well as being full to the brim. Knowing that there would be a long wait for our food, I ordered a focaccia with our drinks. The drinks arrived, then an hour and a half later our main course, somehow our starters got forgotten or never put through. The table next to us also never got their starters. I am not sure what happened but it seems that the kitchen battled to recover from the train smash with many customers waiting nearly 2 hours for their food. I know of one table walking out without getting their food and another, a take away customer telling the front of house staff to give their food to the car guards outside once the kitchen decides to make what they already paid for. Shame this might hurt Lucios.

Still an awesome restaurant in my opinion even if it looks like Lucios failed Valentine’s Day by taking on the flood of takeaways at the same time. For their sake let’s hope they learnt their lesson as I really do want to go back and try again, this time on a quieter more romantic evening.

Queendom

Why is it that when I work at my desk, both Minky, shown above, and Paddington both love to sleep as close to me as possible. Sometimes they choose a spot virtually right on top of me and it is a battle to actually do any serious work, especially when Paddington gets distracted by the mouse cursor on the screen and he has to catch it. A couple of times I have looked up and seen Paddy fast asleep entangled in all the wires and cable behind the PC. Today Minky has chosen the printer as her cat perch, close enough to me and high enough to survey her queendom.

How do you wash a Toaster?

Eish, Dael walked into the scullery and found his mom, Lynda, washing the toaster. So how do you wash a toaster? Lynda would answer this question with; easy, just put it in the sink and wash.

Okay a bit of back story is needed explain why and what the heck.

One of Lynda’s cats, Shammy has this nasty habit of spraying on every electronic item he can find, so much so that I would love to get rid of him but Lynda loves him and well, I could never do that to an animal. Anyways, Shammy has wrecked my large screen TV, my computer screen, an external hard drive full of my work and photographs, lots of plugs, and now the toaster. I would have, like the cat simple dumped it but Lynda decided to wash the toaster. Now can we wash the cat too?

Nora 91

Last Thursday, Nora fell while getting out of bed and broke her hip; it was a bad break according to the emergency doctor. Two days later, today Nora turned 91 years old and her family and friends gathered at her hospital bedside and wished her a happy birthday and a speedy recovery.

Yes, a tough Nora may only be 91 years young but she is an active and positive woman, still looking after her two daughters, Marilyn and Desiree. Now sporting some titanium parts in her hip, bionic Nora can’t wait to get out and back on her feet. Well I think she should take this time and rest, she deserves to be pampered.

Silver Medal

I had to go all the way south to see a potential client in Germiston, and thought that since I was halfway to Matthew, I might as well meet him after school for some lunch.

I was waiting before 1:30, the set time I was told that he finishes school, but today the school went over to Germiston for an Inter-school athletics meeting. And the busses only got back to Benoni at 2:45. Sigh. Why am I waiting?

Anyway Matthew ran for his school’s relay team and they won silver by coming second. Yay silver, it is a rather heavy silver medal, I doubt there's no silver in it but it is heavy whatever it is made from. Well done Matthew, I am proud of you.

2 Be Breakfast

Yesterday morning, I got a call from Andy, one of the elders at my church to meet him for breakfast this morning at a small café called 2 Be in Epson Downs. Oh dear what have I done wrong was the first thought that raced through my mind. Later I thought, what the heck, trouble I am always in, just the depth varies mainly because I always have my foot in my mouth or it could be just a catch up breakfast to see how I am doing, now that I have been retrenched. More likely I hoped is that I could use it as a networking moment. Wow that last sentence is long and fast paced just as my mind was racing though many possibilities.

So we met for a lovely breakfast, and just caught up what is happening in my life and a bit of guidance as expected from an elder of the church. My future is in God’s hands, yes I am scared as I don’t see the bigger picture but all I have is that God is in control.

Texan Steak

Yesterday and now today, I had clients over late in the afternoon and by the time they left, well there was not much time to prepare a wonderful supper. Yesterday I just threw together a pasta and chicken and today I was lost.

I quickly popped into the supermarket down the road, no not the one advertising a steal, and bought a Texan steak, ready prepared roast vegetables, and baby potatoes. The potatoes went straight into a pot to make some rough and ready mash, with their shins giving the roughage. The vegetables went straight into the oven for a good roasting, and Texan steak onto the grill. All set to a slow cook while pour myself a glass of red wine and put my feet up.

Granny Nora

This ninety year old woman continues to amaze me with her never say die attitude. After visiting two of my clients this morning, I popped into Art & Décor to talk to Marilyn about a project that I would like work on with her. Nora, Marilyn’s mom was there at the shop as usual, offering me a cup of tea or coffee. When things look gloomy financially for her family, Nora is always positive; she is a strong woman who inspires me.

Did I mention that Granny Nora is turning 91 this Saturday?

Dog House Deluxe

A few years ago we commissioned a dog and cat house to be build that had two parts; the bottom part housed the dogs who exited the house through the bottom stable door; the top stable door was used to feed the cats and they used the window to get in and out. Both dogs and cats loved their house. In winter we even put in a blanket doorway at the bottom stable door and window to make it nice and cosy plus we also put in a panel heater for those cold nights. The animals loved it in winter so much so that it was a struggle to get them outside during the day.

When we moved to our new home, the dog and cat house could not be moved to the back unless breaking the whole house apart, so it was left in the front unused, that was until today.

Today we broke apart the dog and cat house and re-assembled it in the back. This time we converted it solely for the dogs by building a ramp to the top floor, so now the dogs have a deluxe double storey home for themselves.

Rebekah Jade

Robynne and Rebekah came round this afternoon to visit and to see Lynda’s vegetable and herb garden which is growing very well. Jade our Italian Greyhound and Rebekah got on very well, I should say Rebekah was more Jade’s size in terms of humans should be.

Tenderised Steal

Hello, hello, hello, what do we have here? The Pick ‘n Pay super market chain is offering bulk tenderised steals at R74 per kg. Uhmmm I never had a steal before, as I have never thought of paying for something that was at a steal. Oh maybe they meant to say tenderised steak instead of tenderised steal. Someone at PnP Hyper in Roodepoort should learn to spell. Anyways R74 per kg for tenderised steak is not a steal.

Dragonfly’s Last Breath

We often have dragonflies coming into the garden but never did we find one dying on our patio. At first we thought that a cat had caught it but we concluded that it was at the end of its short life of a few months. We have plenty of birds and cats who could have made a meal out of this dragonfly but it was in one piece when we found it this morning taking his last breath. Most dragonflies don’t live to old age as they are caught by predators, but this one made it as it was a big one.

Lynda, Lynda, Quite Contrary

With Lynda’s vegetable and herb garden doing very well, that question everyone is asking is, Lynda, Lynda, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Well I would like to answer with silver bells, cockle shells, lettuces and peppers all in a row.

Snip Snip

Oh no, daddy put me in this plastic box and we went on a drive along with granny cat, Kitty. He left both of us cats at the vets. I found out that Kitty is here to get her teeth done whereas no one wants to tell me what’s going on. The female vets just smile this sadistic smile and say that this won’t hurt at all. I woke up well and... how can I say this without crying... I woke up all drowsy and in pain down there where my tom cat parts used to be. MEOW meow!