Prof and the Baroness

The Prof, aka Richard is a professor at the Wits Medical School and the current owner of Anastasiya the famous black Vespa that conquered Sani Pass in the middle of winter and who took on the took on the Baviaanskloof and won. No the Prof is not here for the Baroness but for papers that I had of Anastasiya. 

It's Friday, we have no electricity at work for some obscure reason that is just a waste of  what would be a productive day. Oh well let the weekend begin.

Handle with Care

I arrived home this evening only to find that we still have no water, instant stress headache! The valley has water and we are getting conflicting reports. This morning all the reservoirs were full yet by this evening, ours was still empty.

To add to the unwashed bodies, the hungry stomachs, Lynda was in pain. Monday morning I gave Lynda a big bear hug and I think she might have broken a rib, as she is in lots of pain. And by today it is adding to the no cooking and to the fresh smells of the unkempt.

It is time to put this headache behind me by ordering some pizza and not to forget to handle Lynda with care as she is fragile or as they say breekbaar, hanteer versigtig.

Saddlewoods

On Monday our water supply was sabotaged by what is looking more and more like political terrorism as today the refuse depot was set alight too. Yip with elections coming up next year, it looks like some group is trying to destabilise the party that is currently running City of Joburg, by hook or by crook.

With no water in our taps, I decided that it would be a perfect time for a date night, and since the place I had in mind Saddlewoods Steak Ranch had its own borehole water, it just made perfect sense.

I always wanted to try out this restaurant that was tucked away near Featherbrook, but when we arrived we saw that the l and e letters of Saddlewood was just about falling off, or maybe it was designed to look that way. Not a great first impression. When we arrived the steak ranch was not that full yet there were reserved signs on majority of the tables. Uhmmm looks like a lot of people are going to be eating out tonight.

The review, what can I say, the service was not up to scratch, maybe they weren’t expecting the amount of people on a Wednesday night. When our food finally arrived, the plating skills were lacking but wow, did it taste good. Rough and ready is all I can say, other that good tasty food, even by Lynda’s standards as you can see by her plate which she just about licked it clean.

This is Just to Say

This is just to say, no one has yet claimed responsibility for this act of terrorism against the residents of the City of Johannesburg, as we queue up at the Cresswells for our shower. We have just received a press statement from Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, and in it, he states that the fire that damaged the substation that feeds Johannesburg’s main water pumps yesterday afternoon was an act of sabotage.

Sabotage? This is just to say that this is way more serious. This is an act of terrorism, as the US Code of Federal Regulations defines terrorism as "the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives".

The fire originated outside the transformer and it was not caused by an electrical fault. Furthermore the transformer was maliciously damaged so that it would leak oil onto the fire. This transformer supplied a large area electricity and powered the pump station that feeds approximately 40% of Johannesburg with water, as well as Rustenburg.

One word Mr Mayor - "Terrorism!"

So now we queue for our showers while Lance aka Duff shown above shares with us the 84 year old poem that Jesse just had in her exam, "This is just to say" by William Carlos Williams...

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

This is just to say, that someone ate our plums, and while I take a minute to think about it, those plums in the icebox where meant for all to share.

Cold View

It is a cold start to the week, and this morning I found myself outside on the balcony as the accountants were busy in the open plan office, hence the step outside moment. So here I found myself in the cold watching the Angus Buchan press conference for It's Time that will be held in 2 months time. All the while a view of a cold Sandton was ignored. Uncle Angus this is HOT news on such a chilly morn.

1st Braai of the Season

The weather has been good leading up to this weekend, so we decided to have our first braai of the season. A braai to my readers who are not South African is a barbeque. Not too soon as tomorrow I believe a cold front is going hit. So I cleaned up the gas braai, and prepared the patio.

Soon after the family members arrived, I would not wait any longer, and got the ribs, wors, and rib-eyes on the grill.

It was a great braai, and an awesome start to the summer season. In the next week or two, Lynda’s daughter Robynne is going to give birth. Here she is sitting on the patio with her daughter Rebekah. 

White Elephant

Since we moved into this home, there has been a white elephant in the garden. I have never posted about it as it has been an eyesore. The previous owner had a catering business, the kitchen and office we converted into a cottage but the 2m by 4m walk in fridge in the garden was the problem child, the white elephant. We wanted it gone but it was easier said than done, a smaller 2m by 3m reconditioned fridge was going for about 20k but we could not find anyone willing to take this elle off our property.

After a lot of prayer, research, we dropped the price to take into account that the new owner needs to break down and rebuild the walk in fridge, and positioned our marketing to big game hunters, butcheries, and township pubs. As soon as our lure was in the water we had a bite, then another, and another.

So today came the white elephant’s final day, as Kobus the new owner came with his team to move it away and give it new life.

Birthday Boy

Yesterday it was Graham’s birthday but I was so busy trying to finish up a lawyers website that I didn’t get to take a photo of Graham for my blog. Thankfully Lucky the cat came to the rescue for the photo nor did I get the opportunity to sing not that I am a soprano. Today another opportunity arrived for a birthday photo as a cake arrived from Graham’s daughter, ooooh this time I had more time and more cake. Happy birthday Graham. 

Lady Luck

For the last 3 days I have been busy after work and this evening is my first free time this week. I arrived home early while it was still light, so I took a long expected walk in the garden. In the front, our tenant’s dog Lady and their cat Lucky came to greet me.

Wow, Lucky has these awesome green eyes that hold a universe in them. I could stare into those big green eyes all day but just my luck, I have to get supper on the go or else I would have drowned in those green eyes.

Green Fingers

Being behind a desk now, I don’t get around much, so after work I pop into Tom and Glenda’s home to catch up on things.

Now I don’t know if it is Tom, Glenda, or their gardener that has the green fingers but these orchids in Tom and Glenda’s garden are beautiful and there are so many of them, oh how I just love orchids. The light was dying and I had to be on my way home, so I just had enough light to snap this photo of this sexy flower. 

Printer on the Blink

Last Friday our printer went on the blink and today Eliazar arrived with the new fusion drive that had to be ordered in. Oh it looks like a messy job, lining up the warp coils, but on good authority, that is Chief Engineer Eliazar, that we will be firing on all cylinders shortly. 

What a Dump!

Riding home after work, my route took me along Okavango Road, and then I saw this! What a dump. This builder's rubble was not here yesterday but sometime today did it appear. It is this dumping along the road that makes this suburb a target for any other would be illegal dumpers. This is not going to help the broken window theory.

Worship Differently

So why was worship different today at Centre Church than it normally is? It felt very different today, so much so that I quite can't put a finger on it. Was the Spirit moving more today than at other worship or was it just me?

The worship team that leads us in worship at Centre Church, did something different this morning. Instead of facing us the worshipers, they stood with us, among us with their instruments and mics, and lead worship together with us.

Another Busy Day

Another busy weekend. Today started early, down the valley to fetch a trailer and 2 labourers and then off to Pretoria to pick up Matthew from the university's residence before heading to Benoni.

Matthew's old townhouse is getting prepared for rental and his stuff needs removing. One trailer load later it is was all safely pack into the storeroom at home. Now let the weekend begin, oh is that the sun setting already?

Eliazar

"I dannae is she can take any more, Captain, the fusion drive is rusted!" Yes the printer part in Eliazar's hands is the fusion drive. From the looks of the rust in the cogs, this worn out part is the cause of all the paper jams. Well that puts the printer out of commission for a while until a new fusion drive can be sourced. Anyway a fusion drive sounds like we have a nuclear printer on our hands that can go at warp speeds.

That's it folks weekend is here. Let's all enjoy. Beam me up Eliazar!

Spring Blossoms

The spring blossoms are all over bursting into life, as the weather warms up. Although there is usually a cold snap round about the 1st of September which heralds spring into season, it feels sure like spring is already here with temperatures reach 27°C.

Ahhh spring is in the air, with the birds and the bees, well they are doing what they have to do.

Minky Winks

Coming home after a long day at work and a visit to my mentor Tom afterwards, I just collapse onto the couch. Lynda was finishing up with supper so it wasn’t long before a scrumptious plate of wors on cauliflower mash and roast vegetables. A healthy supper to finish the day, except for Minky.

"Say what?" Minky perched on the arm of the couch while I wound down, waiting for supper to be served. Minky Winks just turned to me and gave me this air of authority type look, as if asking me "what you looking at look?"

Strelitzias and Strawberries

 It was a beautiful spring morning, when I stepped out of my garage while preparing to mount my Vespa and slice through the rush hour traffic towards work. Then it caught my eye, a brightly coloured strelitzia, in my garden. Not just one but a number of them all flowering orange and purple.

And now this, Monique arrived at Connect group still eating her lunch of fresh fruit. And she pulled this super large strawberry out of her supper box of fruit.

Graham's Apple

I must have yawned throughout the day, not tired just that it wasn't quite a restful weekend and I overslept this morning. After hearing the 5am and 5:30am alarms, I must have fallen back to sleep as I was woken up at 6:30 with a cup of coffee and the question, "don't you leave for work at 6:45am?" Oh boy!

Anyways I got through the day alright I think expect for a few yawns. Towards the end of the day, Graham asked if it was my apple under my desk. No I didn't bring an apple to work, I looked and sure enough there was this tiniest apple under my desk. I picked it up and handed it to Graham, well it wasn't his either, must be Taleesha's. 

But why such a small apple? well Graham speculated that it could be that it was made to fit into lunch boxes. Genius idea, lunch box apples. Just the perfect size to eat as this apple was screaming for me to eat it.

Field of Giraffes

I am not sure how I am holding out, with no weekend, just non stop work but these giraffe carvings caught my eye. A field of colourful giraffes, ahhhh just made my day, the last day of Decorex for the year. I am tired that I didn't even get the stand name, oh well.

Crocodile Matt

It is late, nearly midnight, it has been a long day. I was at Decorex at 9:15am, early as the doors only open for the public but working at a stand helps get in early so that I can walk around and check out some of the stands. 

After the show, I picked up Matthew and went across to his old home to start packing up his valuables as painters are coming on Monday. Ahhh I found out that Matthew is very sentimental. He still had this crocodile toy that I bought him. It was the very first toy that I bought for him while he was still in his mother's womb. And he still has it.

Bananas in Pyjamas

Okay Bananas in Pyjamas, who has now got that song trapped in their minds, bananas in pyjamas. While you sing along to bananas in pyjamas, I will eat my banana, while I work to the sounds of Banana Brain by Die Antwoord. It is the weekend but it is going to a long working weekend at Decorex for me.

Cone Light

I love hanging light features that are different, my favourite are these hanging lights that look like jellyfish. I saw them once on the world wide wait, but never again did I find them. They were beautifully eerie similar to real jellyfish and I was instantly in love. 

I came across these hanging lights at Decorex, not quite as blown away as with the jellyfish lights but these cone lights well, the the best I've seen so far.

Drive by Shoot

What a long day. I had to pick up Matthew from Gautrain's Marlboro station after work which means I needed to take the pickup instead of the Vespa. Going by vehicle meant that I had to leave at 6am this morning and leave work at 6pm to pick Matthew up at 6:30pm.

After a long long long day at work, I arrived at Marlboro to find the station all closed up. The security guards would not even speak to me, it took a shack dweller next door to come across to tell me that the Gautrain staff are on strike. The train does not stop here any more only Sandton.

I had to phone Matthew and tell him to go past Marlboro and get off at Sandton, I'll meet him there. So off I drove back to Sandton.

Finally I had Matthew safely in the pickup and we were off towards home but on the way we past this veldt on the side of the road on fire. So we had a drive by photo shoot. I was just tired and wanted to get home and crash, so drive by would have to do.

Lady V

What is this, another new person and her name too begins with a V. Not V for Vendetta but V for Valerie. 

Valerie comes in twice a week to clean the offices so that I don't have a messy desk because Val will make sure that it is speck and clean.

Vanessa

Ahhh a new face in the office, Vanessa or as Graham calls her Van. Bookkeeper Van comes once a month to tally up the books here. From the sounds, she too is from Natal. 

There is not too many people in the office here, so seeing a new face other than Graham and Taleesha, does help make the day feel a little shorter.

Have a Dummy

Trying to keep a secret this morning when Robynne sat next to me in church this morning was hard as I am not one for fibs. Oh Lynda can't make it this morning as she is busy preparing your baby shower was not my answer. Anyways when afternoon arrived the cat was out of the bag with a SURPRISE!

Here is Rebekah trying to get mommy to take her dummy, or what they call in the states a pacifier, a super sized one at that.

First Concert

Ahhh beautiful Rebekah performing her song routine during her first concert performance. She is in front on stage on the right about to touch her toes. It was an early start to get to her school by 8am on a Saturday nogal. Really there goes my sleep in but it was worth it. Yip just to see Rebekah performing for the first time on stage.

Palm Sunrise

Now this is a sight that I haven't seen in a long time, a sunrise. I am normally still in bed having my quiet time and here I am. I just left home and this beauty of the one eyed sun peering over the ridge just made me stop in my tracks and enjoy the faint fingers of light try find me.

God in all His glory just filled me about now, my face turned to the soft warmth as the world was painted orange. It is going to be a beautiful day.

Earlier, much earlier while still in bed having my quiet time, much earlier than usual, I shared this message on my groups...

Happy Friday.  Yes I know it is the new month and everybody is running around like headless chickens. You know what, this week was the splat moment in my life when I hit the ground at terminal velocity but as I was about to go splat, a hand appeared and caught me, not the Maradona hand of god, but the real hand of God.

At the moment when I closed my eyes waiting for impact, I felt this inner peace and calmness.

For those who don't me, I am a Christian and I don't know where each one of you are so sorry for you, you getting it now. Happy Friday, yay! 

So when your world is falling apart around you, I'm going to leave you with this BOW.

B= Bow before your God. Bring yourself before the cross and know that Jesus the Messiah is God and that He loves you.

O= Offload your angst at the cross. Humbly hold each thought up to the Word of God. Take your worry, your anxiety, your fear, your unbelief, your anger and bring them to the Lord.  Lay them at the feet of Jesus. Humble yourself before Him. 

W= Worship the Lord. Fix your eyes upon Him. Let there be a new song on your lips. Praise the almighty God who is a good good father and a great God. Take your eyes off of yourself and off of your circumstances and set them securely upon your Lord. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and come into His courts with praise. Thank Him from the bottom of your heart. Humbly acknowledge that you can't see all things, but He can. Worship Him in the spirit of holiness, praising and thanking God because He knows what is best. He is all powerful. He is in control. He knows what He is doing. No one can stay His hand. And He has you in the palm of that mighty hand.

Wow that was long. Okay to finish up. I'll leave you with today's verse... 

I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.

Philippians 3:13‭-‬14 The Passion 

Enjoy your Friday and don't forget to BOW

Back to Rush Hours

Wow, I need to get back into things again such as rush hour traffic. Thank goodness I have a Vespa, as chaos erupts due to a back log on Wilgerood. Vespa be nimble, Vespa be quick, see all you suckers on the other side.

Lunch with Taleesha

Okay first day with Websense, and I found myself diving straight into the deep end with some MySQL work to fix an Internal Server Error 500. I think today went fine. There is only 2 others in the office, Graham and Taleesa. During a break, I managed to get a photo of Taleesa having a lunch break.