Ode to Eggs

What's this ode to eggs? I decided that this photo of 2 eggs that I had for breakfast was perfect for my blog. Now for a title after thinking about green eggs and ham by Dr. Seuss, then it just came to me ode to eggs but when I put that title into the internet search, I came up with many odes for eggs results, too many for my liking. 

A pat of butter on my toast followed by a pair of farm eggs, freshly collected from the hens outside. Sjoe, these yolks are really yellow and they are so tasty, yum, I love these eggs, I do. 

Duck Feet

Duck Tales, oh that now that is bringing back memories, of Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Okay maybe that is not their names but ducks are not telling no tales of whose feet are those in the photos as they woddle their tails. So let me end by quoteing Dark Wing Duck, "Let's Get Dangerous!"

Early Start

I was supposed to be in Pietermarizburg last week but due to personal reasons, I had to delay my trip down. So with an early start, I found the sun peeping over the flat lands of the Free State. Out of city and to my best friend for a week in Hilton, away from the bustle and the hustle of life. Yes I have had enough of life for now. Too many emotions for a lifetime behind me. 

Memory of Carol

It was with trepidation that I walked into that God1st hall in Benoni. But suck it in buttercup, you here for the living, and I had to leave all that hurt and sorry at the door. Most of the people there haven't seen me for years, as I in my mind was the ogre but here I was at Carol's memorial. Some didn't even know that I was he. With sad fluttering butterflies in my stomach I stepped forward, putting on a brave face for Matthew, in loving memory of Carol.

There was many tears in the hall today, as people shared their fun yet sad anecdotes, then Matthew stepped up to the stage, and my heart proudly beated as he recollected flawlessly memories of his mother. I know he must have been butterflies but he stood tall for his mum as the memory of her will live in him.

Give a Dog a Bone

Look what I found my dog River Song playing with! 

Okay before the police comes kicking down my door. I bought an ostrich leg bone for River Song, my German Shepherd cross with a Belgium Shepherd puppy and put a old shoe at one end to scare any possible intruders. I mean who wouldn't think twice when they see this.

River Song loves her bone. Rather she chew on this than pull any more washing off the line. 

You Are Next

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. It has been one of those weeks. My mind was taken off my situation and brought squarely onto my son Matthew. Last Friday he lost his mom, and he demeanour came across as blank. He was hard to read, yet at the same time I found him vulnerable. 

I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name. This week also came the news of my best friend's oldest brother's father-in-law passing away. Now Howard was one of the Brethren elders that was from my past and now he has gone to be with the Lord after serving faithfully. When was on the phone with my best friend early this week, he reminded me that my prediction I gave Howard many years ago did not come true. Now I had forgotten all about this prediction that he had to remind me. At my best friend's father's funeral I said to Howard that he was next. Oops I don't remember how that conversation started or that I said those words but it sounds just like me to have said them and it was witnessed by my best friend. 

But wholly lean on Jesus name I rest on His unchanging grace. "You are next" at a funeral, uhmmm, okay I promise I did not say those words today to anyone at Howard's memorial service which was held in Kliptown West. Typical of most Brethren events, the Gospel has to be preached in case there were any chance of an unbeliever present. 

In every high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil. Looking down at the Hymns of Light and Love serving as doorstops, a familiar hymn started, and I listened to every word as words of songs are very important to me. Words mean a lot. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand. what is with these old hymns whose words of truth can cut so deep. His oath, His covenant, His blood supports me in the overwhelming flood when all around my soul gives way. He then is all my hope and stay. And the door is still being held open for me.

On Christ the solid rock I stand 

All other ground is sinking sand 

All other ground is sinking sand

15 Bodies

Last night River Song, my German Shepherd cross Belgium Shepherd puppy would not stop barking. It was a windy night with an ill feeling in the air. After many checks with a touch, I resigned myself that I must have a problem puppy as she is just barking at the wind but this morning I learnt that I was far wrong.

Last night another pilgrim fell to the Mamlambo, a mermaid snake like African spirit/goddess that can shapeshift her form at will. Well the Mamlambo that lives here in the splash pool of the Manie Mulder waterfall was on the prowl last night which according to statistics here in this gorge she does on average just over 3 times a year when she is hungry. Our stats count last night's victim as body number 15, the 2nd one this year to be fished out of the Muldersdrift Se Loop, a stream which springs out of the rocks between Roodekrans and Krugersdorp. For the record, the 1st victim this year was on Sunday the 21 January 2018 and a Police helicopter was sent to retrieve the body.

Come on 15 bodies in 4 years! This has to stop. This is a very strong spirit that lives down in the splash pool of the Manie Mulder waterfall, very strong. This Mamlambo, she is very unhappy about all the Protea Trees that are being cut down for firewood and the sewerage that plagues this stream and the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens downstream.

The only fix I can see is to stop people going down into this gorge at night. And to do this I propose that this, the deepest gorge in Gauteng, home to the last 2 African Tree Ferns in the wilds of Gauteng, to be incorporated into the National Botanical Gardens. Yes this area needs to be protected! Alien trees to be removed and the area returned to its natural state. Allow access only during the day for the pilgrims to collect the Holy Water, and to wash themselves spiritually but then leave before dark. No one should be allowed to stay overnight in this spiritual realm, no one. That way the Mamlambo will be happy again.

Well according to the statistics, 1 more pilgrim has to feed the hunger of the Mamlambo before the year is over. Surely 15 deaths is way too much for one stream to cause. Let us put a stop to this and at the same time protect the environment

Red Peg

Sigh! Not much gets to me, well except the dog barking all night for no apparent reason. Yes I have been outside with a touch and nothing. And then it is this! Don't let me go outside onto to patio and take a photo let alone bring a guest over. Sigh.

Sigh, young adults who haven't quite grown up yet and expect the world to owe them yet they can not clean up after themselves. I suppose I wasn't much better myself when I was in my early 20s.

The question that is begged to to be asked, why is there a red peg by flotilla of empty cups, glasses, and beer bottles?

I can Only Imagine

With so many people around me, going on to be with the Lord, it is a little worrying of what God has set in motion. Is it well with my soul?

Frank, the guy in the middle invited a group of men to watch the movie "I can only imagine" with him. Okay it is his 3rd time he saw the movie and it has just been released on the the circuit. In the photo is Clint, Stephan, me, Frank, Maurizio, and Morné. Okay Tim who is missing was taking the photo. Someone at the table quoted "Show me your friends and I will prophesy your future". This is a great bunch of men.

So back to the movie of Bart Millard and MercyMe, and of how the song "I can only Imagine came into being, not in 10 minutes it took to write it down but a lifetime of hurt and sorry. The words that Bart's dad said to him "Dreams don't pay the bills. Nothing good comes from them. All it does is keeping you from knowing what is real." Hit real hard as I remember Carol once said to me that I taught her to dream and look what all that dreaming became, bitterness and sorrow. If God can change Bart's dad from bitterness of his destroyed dreams, then what can God do for me. 

Yes in my wildest dreams I cannot imagine what I will do once I too stand before the throne. "Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine." 

I can only imagine

Goqwana

What is with me and queues today? First was the City of Joburg to try sort out our water issue and afterwards Home Affairs to pick up my documentation. Oh well that is my day virtually written off. You know come to think of it waiting in queues is an art form. Not everyone has the patience and ability to stand in long rows just waiting. The trick is to keep your mind busy, don't let it rage inside as it will only consume you. Breathe in. Breathe out.

A few people in front of me is a lady who apparently self exploded yesterday in this very queue and now she is back waiting in the same queue. Now she is a perfect example of what not to do in a queue as it just makes those who are there to help you not wanting to be there plus if their day is messed up be assured that they will make everyone else's day messed up too. Thankfully she was on her best behaviour today, but she had to tell her captive audience all what happened yesterday, yet here she is.

In front of me is a very quiet lady, not looking up once from here e-book that she was reading and behind me was this gogo going by the name of Goqwana. Ah this Xhosa gogo knew how to master the long queues by bringing along her knitting. Striking up a conversation as one does in queues, I found her to be quite an intelligent gogo even helping me get the pronunciation of the Xhosa click q. She said that at her age she has to keep her mind busy hence she has taken up knitting blankets. Oh sorry I forgot my non South African readers, a gogo is not erotic style of dancing but the South African word for grandmother. 

This queue at Home Affairs was quite diverse as the Chairman of an large international audit firm joined the queue a few people behind me. I am not going to mention names, but we recognised each other, as we knew each other from Bryanston Bible Church. iT goes to show no matter who you are, at Home Affairs you have to queue. Thankfully today's queues did not take too long.

His Lordship

Its all quiet after the weekend flurry of Royal Wedding watching other than the aftermath of wedding watches gossip. Did you see all those ugly hats? Oh why is there an empty space in front of the queen? And pray why did Megan's mom sit alone? Okay I confess I must be one of the few who did not watch as I don't care about some wedding far away. And no I don't want to watch in case you missed it video.

Anyways, driving to the local Walmart to buy some pool chlorine, this car past me with a pooch in the rear seat being driven around like royalty. At first I thought that he looks like Harry, no wait what is his dad's name Charles or was that Mark. Uhmmm you can see the resemblance of his lordship?

Okay I am going get some haters, but I still don't see what all the fuss was about.

Deceiving Desert

In the early winter sun, I sat on the cold step outside Centre Church, and before me stretched an expanse of astroturf at my feet. With my head down soaking up the little warmth, I noticed movement. Yes there was this ant in this expanse of falseness battling to make his way. Was this little fella lost like me? Surely there is nothing of nutritional value in the plastic grass. (If you look carefully you can see the ant in this photo. No? Well how about I zoom in for you.)

Staring at this ant, my thoughts started wondering about the last few weeks. A week ago my thought at the time was that we should put earphones on Carol and play the old hymns that she grew up with, songs that she held dear to her heart. And now she is gone to be with the Lord, resting at His feet. She always grappled with the issue of her disability and now she can ask Him directly and she can find peace so that it can be well with her soul.

The ant has moved on. Then why do I feel lost? I know I have to be the brave one, and Matthew can see that I am struggling even as he tries to work through his own issues. Am I the ant, up against all this same old repeating plastic grass. Nothing of nourishment here that it actually is a deceiving desert. Why has God brought me through this desert? What am I to learn?

I long for the living waters, for the life. I don't want to be a sad christian walking around all mopping, head down. I want to be the flame that attracts others to God. I want to be the hand that pulls someone into the light. I used to be so scared of singing songs to God about asking for more faith, knowing deep down what it means to let go and trust God. So now I find myself in a place that I have no more choice but to let go. So let go my soul and trust in God.

I am Fine

After yesterday, I just want to curl up and sleep like Paddy and Rosy were doing this morning when I had to get up and face the day. I left Matthew with his friends, it is where he feels most comfortable, the shock to me was when he walked out of his room after getting changed after bringing him down from Pretoria to Benoni was that I have an Emo Kid on my hands. He was dressed with a black bennie on his head, long hair hanging down over his eyes, black jeans, and a black long jacket. The saving grace was that he had a red t-shirt on. Oh thank God, a little hope with the splash of colour.

I had to leave him there with his friends, although my inner self was screaming no. But even though he answers all questions of how he is with a non committal "I am fine", I know that he is not but his heart is in the hands of God.

This morning, there was lots of excitement in the air as it was the day of the Royal Wedding. Oh so what was my response as I had to go do some work. To me standing still I start sinking. I have to keep moving, 1 foot in front of the other even though I feel like these 2 cats, wanting to just curl up into myself as I am emotionally exhausted.

Okay I see

I woke in the early hours of the morning with a pain in my chest, on the left but more left than where the heart is situated. Sitting up in bed, I pushed my hand into the side of my rib cage and the pain subsided. Since I was up, I might as well go to the toilet, but Paddy seeing me stumble into the on-suite bathroom, jumped up onto the basin cupboard and I had to turn the tap on for him to drink.

After my toilet, I sat on the edge of the bed looking at my cellphone waiting for Paddy to finish drinking. All of a sudden my phone started ringing. I saw the name of the caller, Simone, and I knew straight away that Carol, Matthew's mom has crossed over. In trepidation I answered "Hello Simone", and Simone then asked if I was Jerome, I answered "yes", and she asked again "Jerome West" and I said yes again. She then told me the sad news that Carol has past on and she asked if I can let Matthew know.

It was 03:31 and I just sat there on my bed. Emotions were raging through me. Matthew was my biggest concern. It was too early to get ready and drive to Pretoria to see Matthew, but I got up and made some coffee. It was dark in the lounge and I didn't want to put any lights on as my emotions remained hidden in the dark. I opened the blinds so that enough light came in from outside for me to make coffee and not stumble over any cat.

On my drive up to Pretoria, in between my tears, I had so much time to think of how I am going to break the news to Matthew that his mom has past away, one way was that I would knock on his res door, wake him up, and as he answers the door still half asleep, I would stand there, just shake my head, then give him a big hug. While in my thoughts, the phone rang again, it was Simone. She told me that news of Carol's passing was spreading fast and she feared that one of Matthew's friends might message him before I got to him to break the news, so I had to phone him. As suspected I woke him up with the call. Matthew said hello dad, and I could not say a word, I just choked up.

Nothing was said between us for what felt like ages...

Then I managed to say, "I am on my way to fetch you".

He answer, "okay, I see" and the call ended.

In those 3 words, okay I see I just knew that he knew, no other words were needed than okay I see.

The Duff Intervention

We have been going to the Centre Church for some time now and we got our first dinner invite. It was a normal winter's evening and when we arrived Lance had just taken the burgers off the grill. Perfect timing. Vida and Jesse, Lance and Kerry's 2 little ones were warmly wrapped up ready for bed but they were excited as they were going to sit at the big people's table for some yummy burgers.

When we first got the nod from the Duffs, I wondered if it was an intervention but noooo it was an awesome evening with some kwel friends.

Blind with Fear

Music from Zach Williams is playing in the background. The sun is getting low through the blinds in the lounge. The words, ...Fear, he is a liar, he will take your breath. Stop you in your steps... comes out of the speakers. What fear is a liar? 

I stopped the video track, re-winded and played the song from the beginning. Oh I am not sure I can use the word re-wind any more, well any way you know what I mean. I watched the images of a girl coming home, her mom angry because she is late. A man reading his termination notice. A lady getting the results from her cancer tests. It these times when fear tells you that you are not beautiful. You are not worthy. You are not loved. The scenes of the music video become more sombre as the young girl starts to write her suicide note. The man sits in his car and starts the engine in a locked garage. And the woman is lost in fear of her future.

It is the sms from her mother, You are beautiful. It is the loving touch of his wife that stops him. It is the care basket anonymously dropped at her door that gives her hope that she is not alone. His Grace never changes as a tear runs down my cheek. Sorry very confusing post but watch the video Fear is a Liar by Zach Williams. And then this happened...

A poem is shared with me on social and I am blown away. I just have to share with you. It is writeen by Abdullah Shoaib.

ʎʇʇǝɹԀ Ugly

I'm very ugly

So don't try to convince me that

I am a very beautiful person

Because at the end of the day

I hate myself in every single way

And I'm not going to lie to myself by saying

There is beauty inside of me that matters

So rest assured I will remind myself

That I am a worthless, terrible person

And nothing you say will make me believe

I still deserve love

Because no matter what

I am not good enough to be loved

And I am in no position to believe that

Beauty does exist within me

Because whenever I look in the mirror I always think

Am I as ugly as people say?

(Now read bottom up)

Wot No Kilroy?

Wot no Kilroy?

どうもありがとうミスターロボット  また会う日まで Above my desk in BankservAfrica is this white board with a Kilroy was here with a red marker. So who is Kilroy? He first appeared writing on toilet walls just after the 2nd World War. I haven't seen much of him as he must be old, but Kilroy was here.

Growing up in the 80s there was 1 song that my best friend Robbie introduced me to, and that was Mr. Roboto by Styx. 秘密を知りたい And at the end of the song, the robot unmasks himself and proclaims "I'm Kilroy! Kilroy!"  See offical video below which has become one of my most favourite songs of all time.

Breakfast Meeting

We have this solar geyser on the roof above our bedroom. Now this model has this temperature release valve that allowed water to drip out when the temperature got close to freezing and last night it did. In the morning the dripping got a little too fast and we were very concerned that water was wasting so in first light I went out to check and came straight back in.

"There is water everywhere", I said to Lynda, "what, where is it coming from", queried Lynda in a shocked tone with her mind rushing on possibilities of how to claim from insurance. "From the sky", answered I. It was raining and we weren't even the wiser.

The rain was making me just wanting to stay in bed. Ahhhh a duvet day is all I need now but I was needed at BankservAfrica. Due the cold rain, I couldn't use the Vespa to beat the traffic into downtown Jozi, I had to use the pickup to fight the rush hour traffic.

I arrived at Bankserv Africa, a little late, with Gary and Madelyn eagerly waiting me and what way to start the week with a breakfast meeting with these 2. 

Morning Gorgeous

Morning gorgeous, is how I woke Lynda up this morning. Ahhh a cup of coffee to start the day, before rushing out of the door. 

It looks like the world owes you a hug, and here I am. It was only mid afternoon when I arrived back home to a sad Lynda. Mother's day has not being good to her this morning but nothing that a hug and a bit of quick organising, we were out for afternoon tea... not. Well I wanted high tea, and well it was Lynda's choice and so we ended up at the Berlin.

Surrounded by Friends

As a chapter in my life,  slowly draws to its end, grasping for breath, I sit in confusion watching the sun go down. With all that has being happening around me, I worry for Matthew, yet listening to him and his dreams of going to Mars, I see myself in him, my dreams of being someone.

So here I sit and thinks. Although waking up in an empty house, thankfully today Matthew is surrounded by his friends, keeping his mind off the realities that surround him, just for a while until he can find his feet in all this.

Soul Food

This is not an easy post to write. News on Carol is not good. I picked up Matthew from his Uni in Pretoria and took him down to see his mom. From the reports I received, she has had a stroke and was not doing well so now here we are, Matthew and I, standing next to her bed at the hospital. Carol is unresponsive, she is wearing and oxygen mask and is staring into nothing.

Staring into nothing, I have seen this before, the abyss is a dark place to be in and I once found Carol in this exact place, staring into nothing. Oh how I hate bi-polar. It is a condition that has stricken Carol a long time ago and researching up on bi-polar, I was determined that it would not break up our family against what the stats were saying. I hopelessly failed. I failed Carol. I failed Matthew. I failed God. I failed myself. I failed. I failed period. I hate bi-polar. And now I find myself standing next to her hospital bed with Matthew by my side.

Once I woke up sometime during the night and Carol was gone, I found her sitting in the passage on the floor staring into the nothingness. That time I managed to get her back from the edge and she said that she was on her way to the kitchen for something, got halfway and released that she forgot why she was going to the kitchen, so sat right down to think. Hours later, I found her in that same place, just staring into nothing. Just like she is now but I am not sure with the stroke that we can get her back. Did I say how much I hate bi-polar.

A phone rang somewhere in the ward. "Look Matthew, her eyes blinked", yes Carol reacted and moved trying to see where the sound was coming from. Her eyes found Matthew and fixed onto him, but when he moved, she continued staring into that nothing. Both Matthew and I, finally left her bedside as empty vessels. Nothing to say to each other but I put my arm around him. I worry about him as he is emotionless. Maybe all these years of looking after his mom has taken its toil on him. Maybe he is just bottling it all up. Oh my Matthew, I am so sorry.

We ended up at the only place that serves Matthew and my soul food, sushi. At first we just sat there, the sushi conveyor was not really fill of our favourite so we just sat as it went round and round. The waiter was somehow slow or maybe we weren't altogether there but finally we had to get our lives back on track so we ordered salmon handrolls to start followed by californian fashion sandwiches. After filling up our rice stomachs, I drove Matthew back to his mom's place. He stared out to the few stars that were strong enough to break through the evening's gloom and he mumbled that he wishes that he was out there among the stars away from all these earthly troubles. After dropping Matthew off at his mom's empty townhouse, I drove home late in the evening with this nothingness hanging over me. I hate bi-polar along with the likes of the mosquito. I wrestled with God on my lonely drive back home. Why would he make such things, things like bi-polar and mosquitoes. Why?  

Orange Flower

I am in a state of flux at the moment. I am either here or there, not sure. News from Matthew is that his mom has had a stroke and it is being complicated with infections. In the meanwhile it looks like I will be in Pietermarizburg towards the end of the month and here I am either here or there.

Arriving home on Sunday afternoon, Lynda pointed out some flowers that were about to blossom, so here I am in the front garden taking a photo of that very flower that is now in full bloom. Since the 2 big trees have been removed, the front is really putting on a show of colours. 

I seem lost, but somehow God is still there showing me that He still cares. Look how he has taken care of my front garden without much intervention from me. If there was it would have been a mess.

My Favourite Things

This is Minks writing. My human is getting a bit slack with his daily postings so I thought as any respectable cat does, well to guide him on how to post. I know his one friend Gary is rather tired of my human's cat posts but come on Gary, cats are everything. 

Ahhh now where was I, oh yes I follow the Melville Cat and her posts on 2 Summers. Well I don't know what all the the fuss is about blogging cats, I didn't get a mention but do you see the worry in my eye? There are plenty of us felines who have secretly taken over the world. Take my human for example, he by the way gives the best cat massages and neck rubs in the cat universe, now he blogs daily and includes me time to time in his posts, but his heart is in it only for me and now he is at my bidding.

Oooooh just there, you got the spot.

Headmaster Duff

Ahhh Headmaster Duff, demonstrating his normal during a day at the office, drinking coffee on the go. It is strange having a friend who is also a headmaster of a school, I mean he is normal in a weird kind of way. Being a friend to a headmaster goes to show my age.

I remember my headmaster, the late Mr Rowe at Port Shepstone High. I mean he cut a intimidating character to us teenagers but I am sure he too was a down to earth person just as my friend Lance who is clearly setting the example of what headmasters are actually. Human. 

I remember in my Standard 9 year (Grade 11 for the young at heart) at Sheppie, when we History students set up a protest for "Less Homework" as an experiment of crowd behaviour. Other than our class, our History teacher Ms Naude, and our headmaster Mr Rowe knew about it. It was an unforgettable protest as the teachers locked themselves in the staffroom. Thank goodness there were no cell-phones at the time and just commandeering the switchboard was all that was required in stopping the news of our protest getting out to the police. Ahh headmasters.

Not a Good Place

I left early this morning, headed to Pretoria to pick up Matthew at his university res and I took him down to Boksburg to see Carol, his mother. Carol is not well and we got a message yesterday that she became critical condition and was hospitalised. 

We arrived at the hospital expecting the worse but thank God, Carol has stabilised. Although she can not talk nor has any ability to move much, Matthew spent the morning with his mom, just talking to her and playing with her hair. I feel she heard Matthew and turned her head towards him. She must have recognised Matthew and tried to speak. 

The doctors are not sure what happened to Carol as the CT scans show nothing abnormal. Currently the doctors are re-hydrating her in hope that she comes right by her self.

Matthew is trying to stay brave but deep down I can sense he is devastated. 

Its a Wrap

After a late Sunday sleep in, and Lynda and I decided just to have a slow day in the countryside. So we headed out to Magaliesburg for a lazy Sunday afternoon. We stopped at the Vintage Amber padstal for a awesome light lunch of wraps. The owner Adri was attentive and made sure that we had a lovely experience. Oh and the carrot cake, uhmmm yummy. 

Enough is Enough

After 10 days in the platteland, is was just good to get into the car and head for home. Visiting new places can be exciting but there comes a point where you just can't wait to sleep in your own bed and eat a home cooked meal even if it means leaving at 8pm and driving through the night but enough is enough. Ons gaan huis toe. Eish I am starting to talk only Afrikaans now. See ya all in the morning.

Mighty Small Demo

With very little budget allocated, it was amazing that the South African Airforce could get a Saab JAS 39C Gripen into the air for a flypast in Bloemfontein in today's Mighty Small Demo. Don't get me wrong, all we need is budget and we can go places. 

This city has 4 major groups of people, the university students, the surrounding farmers, government officials, and the military. 

The military here play a major part as it is home to the 1st SA Infantry and the Parachute regiment, the School of Armour along with the Tank regiment. Not to forget it is also home to the Helicopter Flying School. So along with the students, the farmers, bureaucrat workers, there were the soldiers and their toys. South Africa produced some awesome Mine Resistance vehicles do to the necessity of the Bush War and the Arms Embargo. Some of them are in the US Marines. 

Above is the Ratel ZT3. it is an infantry fighting vehicle that has been converted as a anti-tank missile carrier. Below is the Atlas Oryx helicopter flying in UN colours demonstrating delivering troops. 

Zenobia

The other day I met a lovely lady called Zenobia. She has a stall called Farmgirl Ribbons and her husband Herman is a local boer (farmer) towards Brandford, if my memory serves me correctly. Now Zenobia was so keen on hearing my experiences in Bloemfontein and wanted to know if I tried any of the local cuisines. At the time of asking, sadly I wasn't brave enough to try anything strange but the challenge was set.

Okay this eina looking thing is Zenobia's favourite at the show, a Piesang Karamel. It is a banana on a stick that has been dipped in caramel. Very sweet, I can taste why many are queuing up for this delicacy.

Another local treat is a Do-Fill. It is a crispy pastry stuffed with caramel. What is with all this caramel? Where is the biltong en vleis? 

Siwelele sa Masele

So this morning I was dragging my feet on my way to my job for the day as it was going to be a quiet next 2 days between the busy weekends. Along my route I saw this green toy bus that was parked next to the walkway.

It was a Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club bus with the name Siwelele sa Masele. It reminded me of those wire cars that we had as kids but this was a more fancier version. I asked the chap selling them, and yes he made the bus and the assortment of other models on display. He said his name was Seun but I am sure his name must be Siwelele as it was proudly displayed on the side of the bus.

Red Cappuccino

As I write this blog post, my heart is heavy. Work is chugging along, as there is still a mountain in front. The episode of the snake in the shower is behind, and yet here I sit, with a red cappuccino while the bustle of the day is about to begin.

Carol's health has taken a turn for the worse, and Matthew is really struggling with life decisions under the heavy weight that has been put on him. I am too far away to help him. So I now sits with a heavy heart.