Closed For Now

It is the last day of freedom before I start at Websense, and I decide to spend it waiting in the queue at City of Joburg offices, not.

Yes not my idea of fun, waiting in the queue for the city officials to finally get to me. Firstly I was there to renew my Vespa licence and also to check up on our water account to see if it had been sorted. Half a day later, I could not get my Vespa licence renewed because the Vespa that I sold a year ago was somehow still in my name. Good news is that the water issue has been solved.

Now to close this chapter of my life and turn the page to start the new chapter.

Metalcross

Here the man who started what could be stated as the top dent and scratch removal panel beaters in Johannesburg, Metal Cross. Frank started Metal Cross over 10 years ago just up the road from where they are now in between Northgate and Fourways. Next to Frank is his right hand man Laurence who is the estimator manager and between Frank and Laurence, they make sure that Metal Cross humbly remains on top.

Will you Marry Me?

Just after worship, as I was sitting down, I deep voice broke through the hum of seating bums. This chap had walked up to the front and with a rough voice introduced himself as Ren and in a broken voice told us an abbreviated story of why he was up in front. He had relapsed and had just about destroyed his family yet his beautiful wife Adele held onto the God to change Ren and safe the family. God came through in a big way. In a broken voice Ren with permission from his children went down on one knee asked Adele in front of the entire church for her hand in marriage, this time with God as head of the family. The church was ecstatic with the words "Will you marry me?" 

Cooking up a Storm

Our Connect Group is cooking up a storm by making some Cottage Pies and Chicken Pies for future frozen pre cooked meals for those that need them. I am not sure what this ministry is called but we took up the call and got stuck into some cooking. Along with Shaun, Lynda and I; Taryn, Nicolene, Jesse, and Monique who are shown above got stuck into preparations. While Kyle, Lance joined Angie and Kerry wo/manned the kitchen.

Camo Bird

Yay Friday, can a chance to take a walk just to get away from the stressful week. Yay it is over but yet I still feel that it is not over. Just take a walk down into the gorge. On the way back walking through the burnt ridge I stopped our resident spotted thick knee pair. River Song did not even see them as their camouflage is that good even against the black burnt veldt. 

Burnt Offerings

Since the veldt has been burnt, there is not much food to sustain the wildlife. Okay the guineafowls and the occasional scavenger can find some burnt offerings such as dead insects or any carcases of crawling animals that could not get out of the way of the flames quick enough. 

Hungry birds have been flocking to my garden looking food, so out comes the apples and seeds just to help them through this brunt spot.

Where's Mike?

Where's Mike? Well here's Mike wearing a shirt not quite un-similar to Wally's shirt the cartoon puzzle book's Where's Wally?

So here is Michael aka Mike sitting in the morning sun outside the 24/7 call centre of the Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch where he does shift duty manning the OPS Room. With a membership of over 1,800 households of which there are 700 radio users, it is quite a task to operate a OPS Room for 24 hiurs, 7 days a week. And from my interaction with Mike, he is doing a good job, give the man a Bells!

Fledging

Keep watching this space as the eaglets are about to fledge. Officially we have formed the Sugarbush Ridges Coalition, a group representing the Black Eagles Project, the Botanical Society of South Africa, the Proteadal Conservation Association, and the Wild Orchids of South Africa. Here we have left to right, Bill from WOSA; Gerhard from the Black Eagles; Andrew from SANBI and Proteadal; Johann from BotSoc; Dawid the videographer and director; and Ernest from Black Eagles and photographer. Of course missing from the photograph is me from Proteadal who took this photo and Belinda from Proteadal who is away for personal reasons.

Anyway we have a new project in the pipeline so watch this space as we historically take flight.

Beak and Claws

What a noise! I woke up this morning to the guinea fowls cackling like a bunch of old hens. Stepping out onto the patio, I saw a large flock of guinea fowls foraging for food in the burnt veldt. The reason for the excited noise was that there was a cat amongst the guinea fowl, Paddington.

Ahhh so you think you are a lion hunting for prey, Paddy? You can't do it alone, you will need to get a pride of cats together and practice those stalking skills, instead of standing in the middle of a flock of angry guinea fowls who as soon as you turn your back attack you with beaks and claws.

Fire, Fire, Fire!

While we were out searching for a traditional bobotie spice mix at local super markets to use for supper, we got a call from our neighbour the there was a veldt fire heading our way, so we rushed home to find the fire at our boundary wall. 

Along with all the neighbours, we kept a watchful eye on the veldt fire, making sure that it wouldn't pose a danger to any of the residences along the edge of the veldt. While the fire moved up the valley, I took a walk down wind to seek the the source of the fire. As expected I found that the fire started from an abounded camp fire hastily dosed with water. Below is the source, the pilgrims who made this fire must have done a hasty retreat as they left a number of their belongings behind. 

This is the reason why we don't need pilgrims camping over night in the veldt. Other than a security risk, they cut down indigenous tress for fire wood such as the protected Protea tree. There is also the litter and fire risk problem associated with camping. We have also found snares in the area which could only be from the pilgrims as bush meat is a delicacy to them. Yet nothing is being done to stop the pilgrims coming into the area.

Who is your daddy?

Ahhhh Saturday. So here I am, working at my desk when Minky decides that she wants to be with her daddy. So what else can I do but allow her to curl up into my arms while I try to work.

The word is "try". How can I even work with this cat all over me. Who is your daddy? Clearly I have been owned by Minky.

Anyway, I better leave this work for now and go boldly to some binge watching of the old Star Trek series called Enterprise from the early 2000s, before the Federation began.

Pilgrim Intruders

Sitting at my desk on a Friday, the dogs start going ballistic and I looked out to check what is going on, when I saw a glimpse of a person in the veldt carrying an orange bag disappearing amongst the Protea trees. 

I rushed and put on some shoes ideal for the veldt, called River Song, and we were off in pursuit. But by the time we got out into the veldt, the intruder was gone. So called religious pilgrims trespass into the veldt to get closer to their god with an added benefit, they believe that the 3 springs below in the valley are holy waters. I don't mind them coming for the holy water and to pray. what I do mind is the overnight camping, laying of snares to catch bush meat, and the cutting down of trees. The pilgrims normally start moving in from Thursdays and stay till Sunday, cutting down Protea trees for firewood as it has been cold. Last night the valley was littered with campfires, not good at all.

My Little Princess

At the end of a typical day, I have the supper on the go, my feet up, and I am relaxing in front of the TV with the setting sun streaming through the blinds, and my little Princess has other ideas. Somehow I am the only human other than Matthew who she allows to be touch her and not just the gentle loving touch but we play rough yet she always comes back for more.

Chilly Sunset

As the sunset on this chilly winter's day, I was on the phone with my son Matthew, having a deep one on one conversation with him. At that moment all I wanted was to be with him and to hold him tight, never let go.

Earlier Matthew had phoned me, he was lying on his bunk in Res before lectures and was thinking about his mom who past away a few months back. He was missing her and he just wanted to talk to someone. My heart felt so heavy for him that throughout the entire afternoon after that conversation, I was thinking about him and sending every now and then short prayers up to heaven. 

My personality likes to build walls around myself to protect the me, and it becomes hard for anyone to breakthrough or clamber over the walls. When Carol died, I noticed Matthew putting up those same self walls that I used to build. My heart went out to him as I could not reach out to him. All I could do was stand next to him and support him in the best way I know, which I must confess isn't the best as I myself wasn't in a good place. Anyways with our earlier chat, I felt the cracks forming in the wall and I just wanted to be with him.

I phoned him as soon as I could after his lectures and supper. It was during this very sunset, with me out in the chilly dawn on the deck just craving his voice over the phone.

No matter what happens, I know it is going to be alright, Matthew and I. God has a plan, and we are playing a big part in it. It may be a chilly sunset now, it is going to be a hot future. 

Ginger Beer and Beard

Two meetings this evening and I could only go to one so I decided that the neighbourhood watch meeting won over the Connect meeting. So as evening arrived the electricity in the entire area tripped so the watch meeting was postponed and I could now make the Connect meeting which was down the hill and still had electricity and brownies. 

Arriving at Connect this evening, I found Kyle and Lance proudly showing off there latest endeavour, the beard oil and balms. So here is Ginger Beard or aka Ginger Beer showing off a well oiled beard. 

Cold Biker

The gate buzzer rang and expecting our gardener John, I went out to open up for him and found John on top of a bike. John arrived on top of his newly required Pulser 180cc motorcycle looking as cold as can be any biker can be in the middle of winter.

Garden Refuse

What we need desperately in the Roodekrans, Heildekran, and Wilropark area is a garden refuse collection point as what you see above is what is happening in our green belts. Yes dumping of garden refuse, as this gardener is caught red handed breaking the law.

So why should I become a councilman, uhmm I thinking about it except will I be able to handle the abuse that the public dish out to their local councilpersons. I will have to be thickskin to be able to be like water off a duck's back. But if I do go this route, the first thing is that we need a garden refuse depot and a recycling drop off point.

Cold Cat

Well this is one cold cat, Tiger does not like the sudden cold snap that has hit us this weekend. Brrrrrr, here is Tiger trying to stay close in the warm lounge. Feet up with the gas heater on and a blanket will only do to get a cold cat into a hot cat.

Square Foot

Friday the 13th, oh yay, thank goodness I am not superstitious. A meeting came up and I needed to be in Edenvale this afternoon. Okay to get to the other side of Jozi on a Friday afternoon without getting stuck in traffic, uhmmm this called for the Vespa.

Yes the Red Baroness carried me across to downtown Edenvale on time, well as expected I was early as usual, and here I am sitting in the waiting room just off to one side of the reception, and then I see it, a square light shape reflecting on the tiles with my left foot in it, hence a square foot.

Go figure, it is time for the weekend.

Is everything going to be okay?

The story is not over yet, I am standing on solid rock again as I know in my heart that God caught me even though I can see that ground coming ever so closer. Since a new song has been placed on my lips, I have been praising how great God is, so I had an breakfast appointment with Bernard, I of course when he finished telling me his story and asked how I was, it just poured out, my new song that was on my lips, Gadol Elohai.

This morning before heading out to my breakfast with Bernard, I came to that thin place before God. So as I pressed into God in that thin place, I whispered to God, "Is everything going to be okay?"

And He answered, "I love you and I will take care of your needs."

Sad Kitty

"Why do you look so sad, little kitty?"

Oh I am so sorry Rosy, but you are putting of so much weight that I am afraid that you are getting too fat which is why I am trying to cut down of your continuous eating. It is not healthy to have a fat cat so just for a little while you can be a sad kitty. Just know that I loves you even though you are a cat.

Gadoi Elohai

I have been free falling for sometime now and I wasn't hearing from God especially as the ground started rushing up towards me at a great speed. About 3 weeks ago a good friend said these words to me "don't look towards month end but look towards God". I had to tear my sight away from the upcoming ground zero and bury my face in His word. I started at the Psalms and started finding promise after promise of that I could stand on.

What I was looking for was solid ground and I cried out to God...

"In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my saviour. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good." Psalm 25

"In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead me and guide me." Psalm 31

And so did my cries went up to my God, and he turned His ear towards me and heard me.

Today He gave me a new song... Gadoi Elohai.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." Psalm 40

After I read that I felt that God had literally gave me a new song to sing, no more crying out because I felt God had heard my pleas and had answered. Later while doing my social, I noticed a friend had posted a song by Joshua Aaron a Messianic Jew, it was an old song but sung in a new way, in Hebrew, Gadol Elohai, and my heart jumped. I found Joshua's testimony online, and before he gave his testimony he spoke about a new song and that song was Gadoi Elohai. Conformation.

Gadoi Elohai! Shiru ki Gadol. Elohai! Kol echad yirei Ki Gadol elohai.

It's easy to praise God when something great happens. However, I know how hard it can be to praise God in the midst of the struggle. 

So now the words on my lips are Gadoi Elohai, how great is our God. "Lord I thank you that I was free falling with the ground coming up so fast that I could not comprehend what was going to happen. BUT before I went splat, you caught me, dusted me off, and placed me on solid rock. I was broken but now you have given me a new song on my lips, thank you, thank you so much!"

Be Gone Beard

Well this is it, be gone beard. I tried to grow a designer beard for the last 2 months and this is all I have got to show for it. It made me look my real age, old and who wants to live forever. So now it is all gone and I am years younger.

Cousins

Today is Matthew's last day of the holidays and I had to take him back to Pretoria. We dropped his stuff off at Res and then I took him to my sister Theresa's place where he and his cousin Jaen-Jurie went off to the local mall for the evening. 

Sigh these boys of ours are growing so fast.

Water Hyacinth

We took a drive north up the Hartebeespoortdam and were shocked to see the state of the dam with large parts of the dam covered in water hyacinth. This alien plant is one of the worst weeds in South Africa and is killing off the aquatic life in our dams. It is strangling off life yet the authorities don't have any budget nor the will to stop this problem. 

Light on the Wall

At least the writing is not on the wall but light reflecting from the swimming pool onto the wall in the lounge. I have posted about this phenomenon before yet it still intrigues me to see the water patterns being displayed for all to see on the wall. Oh that is me with my cellphone in hand to take this selfie.  

1 2 3 4 5

Lynda is on a well deserved leave yet she braved the cold to venture to Cradlestone Mall not expecting a dinosaur to want to play.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

Once I caught a dinosaur alive,

6, 7, 8, 9,10,

Then I let him go again.

Why did you let him go?

Because he bit my fingers so.

Which fingers did he dite?

All these fingers on my right.

Reginald

Reginald or Reg as he likes himself to be called is working with Tom, a good friend of mine and I had to pop in at Tom's to talk about a way forward. I am helping Reg with his latest endeavour, Corporate Frames. Reg comes from a picture framing background and has been doing framing for the likes of artists, architects, designers, corporate companies, galleries, the hospitality industry, and top end private homes. Now he is on his own and I have to help see if there is a space in the market for a corporate framer and installer.

As for me, well there seems to be a slump in the industry, jobs are getting fewer and companies are tightening their belts by trying to take the digital marketing internally. Oh well all I have is that God loves me because who God is, not because of anything I did or didn't do. I just have to get out there and put 1 step in front of the other and enjoy God in all that I do.

Bird on a Wire

I have heard of kingfishers being seen down by the stream below us but now I can confirm that they are here as I saw my first on, a bird on on a wire, as the song goes. With only my cellphone available here is the proof of a Brown hooded Kingfisher sitting on the overhead fibre cable. Sorry little birdie no fish here but if you flutter over next door, they have converted their swimming pool into a koi pond although koi will be too big for you.

Keep off the Pavements

Keep off the pavements, Matthew has passed his Driver's Licence and is now legally allowed to drive on the road solo. For my readers not from South Africa, pavement is the same as sidewalk. 

Congratulations Matthew, I can't be any prouder. Now to try source you a car. 

Since Matthew's haircut poll was slightly in favour of cutting and because he did so well in his driving exam this morning, I decided to be lenient and only get his hair trimmed and styled.

Walking the Tiger

Taking the dogs out for a walk into the veldt, Tiger one of our cats always loves to join us in our walks. Although he simply ambles along and we have to stop often for him to catch up. It was kind of fun to have a cat walking with us and the dogs. Only River Song, had to always go and check if Tiger was okay, and after a few slaps of the paw, River Song moved on leaving Tiger to his leisurely stroll.