Gift of Giving

Okay, Matthew pointed out this Durex advert especially the next board with 2 boxes of condoms with Christmas hats. So what do condoms have to do with giving of gifts? Maybe stopping a person getting an unwanted gift? Matthew even chirped that they might be Christmas flavoured condoms. Eeuw! The gift of giving.

These sex billboards are getting out of hand, for example on the N14 near Cradlestone, there is one by the Department of health that states, "I rather give my clients pleasure than HIV". What is it we trying tell our youth? There are vibrator and condom ads on nearly every street corner and lately a new trailer trash one from Prodate that has this sexy lady in lingerie lying on a pile of cash with the tag line "Get Paid to Date". So now we have ads for escorts. Where is this going to end?

Back to ADS

After only going to bed at 2 o’ clock I struggled to get up and make it to African Defence Systems by 8 o’ clock. Today was handover at ADS. Driaan is concerned that the intranet and QMS system have been dumped on him to look after. He is partially concerned that the new internet will be going live on his watch and I will be back at Metrorail.

Final

Today wasn’t as stressful as yesterday. The problem I had with the database yesterday afternoon was solved early this morning. That made my last day more of a breeze. Morkel asked if I can come in tomorrow and a few other days in February. Anyway my Friday and Monday are filling up quite fast. Carol moved mom from Rynpark to this new place in Bryanston. It is own by a Pippa whom I am sure to meet soon. Mom's temporary room is very small so some of her stuff has arrived here to be stored in my already full garage.

The cleaners

Today was a bright sunny day and ended with a typical Johannesburg thunderstorm with hail. Just a few days left of my contract at African Defence Systems. So today’s photo is of the lady who keeps my office nice and tidy. This morning I took the lawnmower in for repairs. It has been broken since 2 January. It is still under guarantee but I can’t seem to find the purchase slip. It took all this time to finally give up looking and take it in. I do believe the slip will turn up when we don’t need it.

Moth rain

It continues to rain. The Afrikaners have a wonderful word for this type of rain, they call it "mot reën", translated it is moth rain, in other words drizzle. The rain is so soft it is like the wings of a moth. Afrikaans is so descriptive it's wonderful. The rain did hamper the 6 million kids going back to school today. I heard on the radio the enormous cost of school uniforms and stationary. At least Matthew is home schooled. Talking about home schooling Andy's kids are also home schooled. Remember I mentioned my friend Andy yesterday; well here is a photo of him. Today he was not a happy camper as his office is on the third floor and the only elevator is broken for the second time this week. This time there is someone in it, stuck between floors. You got to be tough to work in the defence industry.

Cookie

Cookie, my boss’s secretary at African Defence Systems, is a lovely lady who always has a smile and is willing to help. Anyway Day 2 at ADS is now over and I am still in the dark about how long I am to be here. The ADS project is about over, just a few loose ends to tie up. In the meantime other smaller projects are also near completion. I saw my friend Andy for the first time this year and heard that he was bed-ridden for nearly 2 months because of a bad back. I thought he was on Christmas break. If only I had known, we would have visited him and his family in Centurion during the holidays. Coming home tonight, I found Matthew making these scrumptious cupcakes. Uhmmm, excuse me as I go get another one. (See Matthew’s Groove for a photo)

Maria

Today was just rain, rain and more rain. The rain didn’t affect me as I was back to African Defence Systems again but for how long I don’t know. It looks like I have to be here only for January. It was quiet at ADS as only half the company is back from holidays. It was good catching up on holiday news. A major coding stumbling block which hanged over my head when I left for the December break was solved quite early in the morning. A permissions problem on IIS. Just goes to show you that we need more leave to rest our brains.

Final Day at ADS

Ruanne

Ferny

Arnold

Busisiwe in pink

Mach, Knots, nautical miles and metres per second

2G35

Sharon

Tshepo and Marry

Busisiwe's new hair style

Mavis at Reception

Quiet, IT at work

Morné and Almari

Off to Oz

Trevor