Still in Bed

 

I peep open my eyes this morning and this is what I see, Lynda on her phone with Minky on her lap still snoozing. Ahhh it is Saturday, let me turn around and go back to bed.

Under a Rock

 

Yay weekend is here, and Axil the bearded drogon, crawled from under the rock that has been his hiding place. Maybe it is the cold that has driven him into hiding as the last cold front of the season is about to hit us.

Martin's Meeting

 

I think the camera on my cell phone is getting worse as this is the result. The light was fluorescence which could be the problem. Anyways here is Martin holding our first RNW Patrollers meeting in the RNW Boardroom upstairs from the RNW Ops Room. The turn out of patrollers was good as was the wors rolls afterwards.

Lots of Lemons

 

Life has given me lots and lots of lemons, yet here I am. My future is a bit hazy but I know, I truely know deep in my soul that God has it all under control.

Lonely Cactus

 

Next door looming over the neighbour's wall near our kitchen is one lonely cactus, so lonely that no-one wants to give it a hug. In the early dawn light, looking at this cactus, my mind wonders to that old western series in the early 70s called the High Chaparral as there was these high cacti all over the place. My hero was of course Manolito, strange that I would side with him. I suppose psychologists will read  a lot into one of my first childhood heroes.

Still Burning

 

I am still in shock with the phone call I got just before lunch seeking a comment about a death which happened this very morning. At first I didn't know what the person was talking about, then I thought they must be lying, surely it can't be true, then I had to sit down.

The across the valley in Mordor was still burning, although today the news of the death in a tragic car accident of Nkokheli its head, shook my previous company where I worked. So while the fires still burn on the other side, the conspiracy theories begin.

Fires of Mordor

 

Looking across the valley into Mordor, I can see the smoke of lots of small fires burning away along the steep sides of the valley. The lands of Mordor is mentioned in the Lord of the Rings and is home to the dark lord Sauron. I call Mogale City, Mordor as it is the home of Bosasa, where I once did work. 

Standing on my deck, I watched the tiny flames causing lots of smoke and I think about the dark lands of the evil empire of Mordor.

No Entry Andia

 

I had 2 things to do today, only 2 quick easy things then the day is mine. First it was to get some water and then some more dog food. Arriving at the Catbox, I found Andia busy drawing up a No Entry sign warn customers from going behind the counter. So it must be a problem.

Better Than Us

 

Got home after the end of a long week, flopped down in the lounge, flipped on Netflix looking for a mind numbing something to watch. It was then that I found "Better than us", a Russian made science fiction series dubbed into English. Not expecting much, I was blown away by the series that I had to binge watch.

I really enjoyed the series, sad that only 1 season has so far been released outside of Mother Russia. I have heard that there is a 2nd season, come on Netflex, make it available to us. And Yellow, Black and White please make more seasons.

Big City Glow

 

I haven't quite gotten over my early starts in the morning and here I am riding my Vespa at the crack of dawn into the city. This morning the sun was causing the big city to have this orange glow as it started to peak over the horizon.  

Home Grown Tomatoes

 

Try focusing on the small tomato in my fingers with my cellphone in the other was not easy and as you can see I didn't get it right, out of focus, sigh.

These are home grown tomatoes freshly picked in my garden this afternoon for the spaghetti bolognese that I rustle up for the family this evening.

Better Results

 

As you can see my doctor is ecstatic with my results. With my blood pressure now a whole lot better than my hypertensive state last week, and along with my ticker and kidneys that are 100% the only diagnoses is that I have a pinch nerve somewhere. This means a physiotherapist is recommended. 

I think I can now sleep better just with these results alone.

BMW Sandton Auto Approved Repair Centre

 

17 days after the Baroness went into the panel beaters BMW Sandton Auto Approved Repair Centre in Wynburg, she came out reborn into this beautiful seductress. They had the magic touch by not only fixing the damage sections but went beyond their duty and restored my 10 year old Vespa into a thing of beauty. The Baroness now looks like she is brand new straight out of the factory.

Do Not Disturb

 

And this "Do Not Disturb" is to prove, I hope, that we did pay attention in church today where it was all about Intimacy. What amaze's me is that we still have this sign, given to us by Centre Church on Valentine's Day.

Peter at 40

 

Well we were invited to share the day with Peter to celebrate his 40th birthday which was actually few days back, but anything to enjoy the beautiful warm Spring day at the Botanical Gardens. Peter even got a World's Greatest 40 year old certificate to prove that he is now 40 years old. 

The certificate is to prove that he is frankly flippin' fabulous and quite fantastic too. No one else does forty quite as well as Peter. Nah, he can't be forty, that's just a huge outrage. We all think he is 10 years younger and just lied about his age.

Well that is what the certificate stated.

Intimacy Cats

 

With Centre Church going to talk about Marriage and Intimacy this coming Sunday, Rosy and Paddy showed us how it must be done by snuggling up to each other at the foot of our bed. These two fat cats really enjoy each other's company.

Bradkyle

 

Bradkyle, interesting combination of 2 names, Bradley and Klye. It was good to get Bradley to Connect Group finally after about a year of absenteeism from the Connect Family. Anyways we had a good evening of catchup at Connect.

Sunrise to Work

 

Now that I have being using my pickup to work and back while my Vespa is in the shop, I have been sitting in traffic. Urgh who likes traffic, especially not me? 

I have to keep myself busy while sitting in the cage on the highway. It is still dark when I set out for work and along the way the sun decides to grace us with his presence and by the time I arrive home it is dark yet again. Oh the joys of working. 

Doctor's Orders

 

The doctor's orders of rest has fallen on deaf ears as I ended up going to work today but I did listen, a little bit by taking it easy was in order.

It is getting warmer now that summer is on its way, so relaxing after work while the sun sets is a perfect way to end the day, doctor's orders.

Doctor Doctor

 

For the last few days I have been having 2 serious symptoms and I have been putting off going to see the doctor. The first one I have had for the last week and it has been getting progressively worse. I been having these sharp stabbing pains that comes in waves in my lower back on the right, right about where my kidneys are. I have been drinking  lots of water but that doesn't seem to help. Then 2 days ago my left arm starting getting a numbness.

Driving home from work, the pain in my side had become excruciating that I drove myself straight to the doctor. My doctor, not taking any chances rushed me to some checks of my heart and kidneys. Thankfully my heart is strong and my kidneys fine. Now my doctor suspects a pinched nerve in my lower back which could be causing the pain and numbness.

Saffron Dharma

 

As mentioned in yesterday's post Nguni Cattle, I kept looking over at the beautiful patterns hoping to catch a glimpse of the perfect one, and you can imagine the second take I had to give when I saw 3 Theravada monks in their saffron robes on the stand, in between the piles of hides, touching and admiring the beauty before them yet I am sure screaming inside. Although these monks are allowed to eat some meats such as fish and chicken, not beef as they are sentient beings, they are mostly vegetarian. Why screaming inside instead of a inner peace as they follow the Dharma belief of the cosmic way of living? Screaming as these lifeless hides were once beautiful sentient beings. Oh yes now smile for the camera.

Nguni Cattle

 

I rather like the colouring of the Nguni cattle. With all the different shapes of patterns they are pleasing to the eye. Yes I rather they be alive cattle than the silent hides on show just across the passage from where I was. 

Another long day at Decorex, yet I kept glancing over to see if I could catch a glimpse of a pattern that would make my heart skip.

Bubbly All Set

 

It is Decorex time again with Women's Day launching the long weekend. With the doors about to open the waitresses were at there stations for the mass to come storming to the hall. Decorex is the premium home decor and improvements show in South Africa. 

Strange I did see SunWorx Solar, the subsidiary of Bosasa or as they called now African Global, at the show like they have been in the past years. Now and then I see their branded vehicles driving up to Bosasa when I am in sitting in traffic and wonder how they are doing with all the publicity that Gavin Watson and Angelo Agrizzi find themselves in. I am not sure if it was last year or the previous year at Decorex that I bumped into Gavin Watson's son, Roth Watson who runs SunWorx Solar. 

Oh well enough  wondering, time for some bubbly and sushi.

Baptist Under Fire

 

Yay it is long weekend with tomorrow being Women's Day, the day women in South Africa stood up for their rights and we now get to have a public holiday to celebrate, no wait to pause and relax. 

Anyway my day was not over until the fat lady sang. First is was a Kloof Security meeting in Kenmare. On the way to the meeting, I heard on the short wave radio the call go out for volunteer firefighters to help relieve the out of control veld fire burning on the ridge slopes by the Baptist Union church. When my meeting was over, I radioed into the Ops Room to ask if they still needed help with the fire. The City of Johannesburg's Fire Department still had not arrived and yes they still needed help.

Arriving on the scene I found the few Roodekrans Neighbour Hood Watch members that had responded to help get the fire under control were getting medical treatment of fresh oxygen before heading back out to the firing line. These few brave men and women did a good job keeping the fire at bay until the fire department arrived, which thankfully they finally arrived.

"I was gonna fight the fire until I got high. Yeah, hey because I got high"! Oh that was the Afroman song that I tried to sing when smell of dagga wafted out of the flames towards us. There must have been some marijuana plants or holy weed in the veld below the Baptist church that went up in smoke.

Doctor Octopus

 

I think that there is an octopus on my head. Really Jerome, now what would an octopus be doing on your head? 

Sometime we think too much, rather than just jumping feet first. There is a word for ruminative thinking, oh it is me over thinking again. Jonathan Foer wrote in his book Everything is illuminated and extremely loud and incredibly close,"I think and think and think. I've thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it".

Well me sits and thinks.

Caged Sun

 

I think I have gotten so spoilt riding to work on my Vespa that this week sitting in my pickup cage during morning and afternoon rush hour traffic has been a test on my patience. Really no wonder bikers call cars cages, as I feel like a caged wild animal biting the bit.

Breathe in...

Breathe out...

Oh look it is the sun setting.

Broken Start

 

I arrived at work nice and early only to find that I left my lunch at home. Not a good start to the week so I decided a nice cuppa rooibos tea with slices of freshly cut ginger would perk me right up. Opening the cupboard to get a cup out, the shelf collapsed and the glasses tumbled out onto the floor. 

Thankfully only 1 glass broke and soon I as relaxing at my desk about to dive into the week calm and collecting my thoughts.Today is my 4,600th post. Here is to the next 400, broken but not finished.

Cat TV

 

Just relaxing at home with Paddy as company watching whatever was on the TV at the time, so I changed channels to the Cat TV for him. With a perked interest, he started crouching and stalking the birds on the TV. Next he was right in front of them trying to figure out how is he going to catch himself a little tweedy. 

Pruning the Trees

 

My neighbour is having a problem with a tree in my garden that is over hanging over into his side of the fence and is also a security risk as low branches are hanging over into the veldt. They approached me and asked if they can prune the tree, my answer is of course yes as it is good to be good neighbourly. 

So this morning , my neighbour arrived with a small team and began trimming back the tree.

Not looking so good

 

Not looking so good Mr Jerome. Yip that right eye of mine is sore and swollen from who knows. During the night I woke up with this irritation in my eye and was not feeling so good. Only thing that is good about today is that it is Friday.

How Not To Polish Your Car?

 

I not only have to get used to driving to work in my pickup now that my Vespa is in the Panel Beater's shop, I have to look at this! Why oh why do people do this to their poor car, oh the embarrassment she must be feeling.

I just can't get it why people leave the polish on the car for days or even weeks, getting more and more difficult to remove. Don't they know that leaving wax or polish on your car too long is BAD for the paintwork as it erodes the protective coat.

Let Kyle show you the proper way to polish your car after given it a good wash.