Opening with a Bang

It is exactly a year since the last Opening Ceremony at Belgium Campus when my Ford pickup caught on fire on the way there and this evening another traumatic incident happened this time on the way home afterwards.

It was great being with Matthew and friends at the Belgium Campus' Opening Ceremony 2019 and we enjoyed the company of Hans, Theresa, Jaen-Jurie, Anika, Gary, and Brendan. But it was the drive home that was the problem.

A huge storm was threatening as we bundled into Lynda's car and squeezed out of the parking. We headed on the most direct route out towards the N14 as possible and as we stopped at a traffic light still in Pretoria, there was a large BANG. My first thought a gunshot and a hijacking was in progress. Our hijacking, as I turned towards Lynda, I saw a man hitting the window for the 2nd and then 3rd time trying to smash the passenger window where Lynda was sitting. I had put the car in 1st gear as a man dived through the window, pushing the side window which was protected by smash and grab film onto Lynda's lap pinning her handbag and cellphone. 

With this person half through the window, grouping for the phone but battling to get through the side glass window pane on a screaming Lynda's lap, I was accelerating forward through the red traffic lights. This person was eventually dragged back out of the gaping window with complete piece of side window pane in his hands.

It happened so fast. Next I knew we were racing home. It was pouring with rain. Adrenalin was pumping and we were just so thankful that we weren't seriously hurt other than some cuts on Lynda's forearm from the glass pane pining her down and that nothing was taken other than the side window.

I am worried what next year is going to be like. First the car on fire, now a smash and attempted grab but God is in control and we are in His hands.

Sugarbush

Our first Sugarbush Ridge Coalition meeting took place this afternoon. It was a rush to get from Sandton to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens but I made it although slightly late at least I beat Andrew who lives on the property as he arrived after me. From left to right are Tony, Belinda, Dawid, Gerald, Johann, and Andreas. 

Let there be light

Coming home tonight, I notice that the street light is working. This street light has never worked in the 2 years that I lived in this street even though I have reported in numerous times and now it has been finally fixed. Thank you. 

The Pickup

It has been just under a year since my Ford pickup caught on fire and while it was away being repaired the alarm system was stolen. Only now is the alarm being replaced. It has taken Discovery Insure just under a year to pull finger and replace the alarm system that went missing on their watch.

To orchestrate the logistics of getting my pickup to the alarm installer and then get to work, I devised an ingenious plan to put my Vespa at the back of the pickup, off load at the installer and then ride the rest of the way to work. 

Less Sugar

I am doing rather well in respect to taken less sugar on board. I used to have 3 teaspoons of sugar in my coffee and since the beginning of the year I have cut it down to only 1 teaspoon. Not bad but I still have a long way to go to get rid of this extra baggage. 

PnP Strikes Again

Pick n Pay Hyper at Princess Crossing strikes yet again with absurd pricing. This time all the Pronutro 500g were marked at R29.99 each yet they were offering sales special of buy 3 for R100. Now lets see who did the maths on this. I was too scared to buy 3 packs in case PnP automatically added a R10 onto my overall price. Go figure.

Overkill

While changing a lock on a display unit Graham and his son Matthew didn't have the right tools so a wheel spanner fitted the barrel lock perfectly. Take about overkill but the job was done and the weekend started in ernest. 

The Lion King

Bayete Inkosi Paddington, Bayete. It looks like we have the lion king in our presence. Sometimes I swear that he has this Trump air about him as he swaggers around the house. Paddy loves to be close to me when he doesn't disappear for most of the day doing his rounds of his kingdom. I must have the secret ingredient as Paddy loves to bury his head into my armpits. Bayete Paddy.

Settling In

With peace that passes all understanding I drove Matthew up to Pretoria where he be staying with my sister while he does his 2nd year at university. New beginnings mean exciting times ahead as Juan helps Matthew to setup his computer in his new residence.  

Thank You God

It has been a rather stressful month, in light of organising finances for Matthew's 2nd year at university. Education does not come cheap in South Africa, and student loans are more geared to make the banks money than helping the country get better educated. 

For student loans I first tried Standard Bank and everything was done online with no human interface. This was problematic as I needed special attention. Then I looked at FNB, and the lady at the counter said that the university that Matthew is going to was not listed and they could not help. Strange because on open days at the university I saw FNB represented. I just think that the lady at FNB was racist and did not want to deal with a white person. Then we tried Absa, I must say that Karabo, the person who helped us was very helpful but then it all fell apart when he had to send it to the Student Loans Department for help, which simply didn't come. 

We then tried a different branch of FNB and they were more helpful but time was running out as tomorrow Matthew needs to go to his residence and today is the last day he can sign any paperwork. Then Kennith, Matthew's brother stepped up to the plate and saved the day. Thank you God.

State Capture 101

Since last week I have been glued to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, as their witness turned out to be none other the Angelo Agrizzi, the ex COO of the Bosasa Group of companies. 

Those who know me, know that I used to work for Bosasa. My job was to look after all their digital properties especially in line with reputation management. I remember sitting with my boss Rob once and speaking about the fires online that I need to negate with good news. I was a firm believer that there is no smoke without a fire and he simply stated that there was no corruption as Bosasa was a company run with Christian principles. And now this, Angelo is singing like a canary and it is coming across as How to Capture a State 101. 

So with earphones on while I do my work, I am blown away at how deep the rabbit hole is going. Somehow I don't quite believe Angelo's reason why he is singing as I feel that his motive is about the same as I felt when I was retrenched from Bosasa, thanks to Jason and Julius aka Judas. But I am happy that he is singing to save himself, his family, and friends. Riveting stuff.  

3 Years

Happy 3rd birthday Centre Church. We joined you in the 2nd year and celebrated your 2nd birthday and now we reached the terrible threes, lets just say things will be exciting. We are so thankful to be part of this.

Timeless Saturday

Matthew has never been to a Timeless Board Games' Saturday and to get our minds off the stress of the University finances, I decided to take him to Matthew to his first Timeless. Matthew loves board games and was so excited to go that he was ready early. Since we did not hearing any news from 1 of the banks that we were expecting, so off we went early.

The rest of my "Geeks wif boards & card" group that I am loosely associated with only arrive after lunch, by that time Matthew and I had some fun.

Blue Sunset

It is the last weekend before Matthew starts his second year at university and I am so stressed. Finances have not been easy and trying to organise at the bank have made this month rather blue, hence even the sunsets have matched my mood.

I normally don't make New Year Resolutions other a resolution of never to make any New Year Resolutions. So far I have been very good at keeping to that one resolution, until this year. At the beginning of the year I made not my usual 1 but 5. Yes 5 resolutions.

1. Matthew's Student Loan
2. Reduce my Debt
3. That my online business endeavors find favour in God's eyes.
4. Wisdom in all I do
5. For God to take me to the next level

There, now you have the 5 resolutions that I have been praying about from the start of the year. Now for this blue sunset.

Back to Connect

Tonight Connect restarted for the year but before we arrived I had cooked up a storm of chicken schnitzel served with baby potatoes, sweet corn cobs, gem squash, and salad, so supper first while a storm ragged outside.

After the thunderstorm we left for Connect and arrived just as they were about to start. Timing is everything. A new comer to our family is Colin, the son of an old Joburg Photowalker friend of mine Walter. Here is Jess showing Colin how to pour chips into the bowl, as if he didn't know already.

The Guitar

It is great to see Matthew getting into his guitar, singing the blues, no, not quite. Matthew was given this guitar as a gift many moons ago by a good friend Mike. At first Matthew went to lessons but after a while the guitar got packed away and gathered dust. Well that was until these holidays. The guitar came out, a new string was purchased, and Matthew started strumming away. He still has a long way to go but he is getting there.

10 Years

10 Years of Service, well done Trish. Loyalty to one company has changed since Millennials have come along. I remember a time when loyalty was everything but now, that is the first thing that goes out the window in this dog eat dog world that we live in.

Trish doesn't like her photo taken but a photo of her hard work last night baking is for her better. 

Green Pool

So this is the result of all the thunderstorms and rain, our pool is full but green. Eish, so green you could walk on the water. Oh well green is better than empty.

More Rain

And so more rain starts to fall. This has been a good week rain wise, in the last 2 days alone we have had over 30mm in my my rain gauge. I forgot to check yesterday, hence for the last 2 days. Wow that is a lot of water. Earlier this week it was raining even harder.

Baby Changing Pod

While down at my local mall visiting the banks, I stumbled upon this Baby Changing Pod. What a wonderful idea although it wasn't very clean inside. Maybe it was my timing yet an awesome idea, what do you think? 

Shopping with children especially babies can be quite stressful. This Baby Pod goes a long way in making it easy for mothers.

Another Week Down

Two weeks down, another 50 to go. The rain has been wonderful this week which has been good for the water level of my swimming pool. Let the weekend begin.

Challenge Accepted

This whole week has been a challenge as Lynda has been on a baking mission, from melktert to chocolate brownies, and now this delicious looking trifle. This is not going to help my lifestyle change at all, not one iota. 

Umbhaba

Umbhaba Organic Bananas looks like a Cavendish verity of banana which is grown in the Hazyview area of Mpumalanga, South Africa. Well so far this year I have reduced my sugar in take from 3 teaspoons to only 1 in my hot drinks. Fizz pop and starches have also been cut and more fruit has been added to my diet.

So here I am with 2 bananas on my desk and a handful of tree nuts, someone would think I am on a diet, no I am trying a lifestyle change, not easy hence the word try.

Hold the Storm

Lynda's car went in for a service today, we dropped it off last night. It has to be collected this afternoon or evening and it was forecasted that the chances of a storm is 60% to hit from 4 to 7pm. I needed to leave my pickup for Lynda, and didn't want to get stuck in traffic trying to get back home to pick up Lynda's car. So I chanced it on the Vespa.

Ominous clouds started building up from 2pm, as I watched in trepidation. On the dot of 4, I raced out to start my race for home but it looked bad. I sent Lynda a message that I was going to start my swim for home and put on my rain suit. I sent out a prayer to God, to please hold back the storm just so that I can make it home.

Wow, the wind was terrible. At first I was buffered by a side wind, and on the highway with a screen that acts like a huge sail, did not help at all. As I passed the Malibongwe offramp, the highway turns south and all of a sudden riding at about 130km/h, the sidewind became a headwind, and it was slamming into a wall of air, before I knew it I was only doing 100km/h. The Vespa and its sail was all over the road. I had to hold on to the bunking Vespa.

But it did not rain.

The mountain ahead of me was covered in black rain clouds, I needed to go up there. I thanked God that he was holding back the storm, and headed up into the mountains. 

Riding through the hilly parts of my ride home, it dropped a few big drops but no rain. I passed a few fallen over trees, but I made it home, just as the heavens opened.

God held back the storm, just so that I could make it home safely. Thank you Lord, thank you so much.

Disconnect

It is getting quite stressful for me as I am some major issue that needs to be resolved but the boss is back at work and here I am, disconnected. Okay for the record I am working, just that my mind is elsewhere. God has come through in a big way twice before, yet why do I find myself here fretting.  

Terrible Trio

Okay the Terrible Trio, is not the best way to describe these 3 friends as they are not so terrible but I needed something rhyming with the word three. These 3 Kerry, Cindy, and Jon, are working hard getting ready for this morning church service and here I am taking a selfie, or that is what they thought I was doing. Sorry snap!   

What I love about this photo is their facial expressions, each thinking something totally different from the other.

River Matthew

Today was spending what little time I have left with Matthew as I don't know what the future holds. Matthew enjoys the animals, now that Maxy has crossed over River Song has become his favourite. 

Homemade Melktart

Arriving home early from work, because it is Friday, I found Lynda busy in the kitchen making melktart. Yummy 2 large trays were made which didn't last long in our home. 

Fun in the Mud

After the great flood waters subsided, the dogs were slipping and sliding in the mud. I had to start going back to work from today, don't know why as it was dead at work with everybody else still on holiday until next week Monday except the 2 kippes sitting at work.

On arrival back home, River Song was so happy to see me, "Come play with us, daddy. Look at all this mud."

Wave Goodbye

Lynda had to go down the mountain to babysit, so I got Matthew out of bed and spent a father son day at the movies. At the mall we went to, the movie I wanted to see was only was only in the Prestige cinema which is triple the price of the other movies, oh well Bohemian has to wait.

We were a little early for the showing, so we ambled around the mall and somehow found ourselves at one of Matthew's favourite stores, Typo. It was this store that we found the interesting 1 finger salute waving goodbye to 2018. 

Hello 2019!

Blessed Start

A few days ago the water in our swimming pool was over 30cm low and below the weir so we had to turn off the pool pump because municipal water is expensive and we didn't want to add to our expenses. 

Yesterday, the last day of the year it started raining, and raining. Firstly we were happy that the pool was finally getting full and secondly the rain would put a damper on Old Year's Eve firework celebrations which happen in the suburbs so much that all the local pets are terrified and a few even die.

We went to bed only after midnight just in cause some arsehole decides that fireworks in the rain would be fun. Once our dogs and cats were safely tucked away, we crashed only to crawl out of bed about 11 in the morning to find our garden flooded and pool overflowing. 

What a blessed start to 2019. This year is going to be way better the last horrible one.