All Grown Up

Oh what a surprise, there I was on my phone checking social before church, and who pops up in my space? David, yes you heard correctly David, my old friend from over five years ago with his entire family.

I last saw David and Kate in February last year and the two girls Jessica and Julia way back in 2009. Okay I can’t call them girls anymore because they have all grown up now.

Kate and David

What a surprise, Kate and David walked into BBC this morning. I haven't seen my friends for over a year now, since they moved down to Pietermaritzburg. It was a quick catch up as I was on duty. Reminder to self, next time I am in the Sleepy Hollow, I must send more time with them.

Beyond Our Universe

I stand here and proudly proclaim that I am a Creationist, and that belief was strengthened after listening to a leading astronomer Professor David Block’s talk called Beyond Our Universe – Accident or Design? Professor spoke about how finely tuned the universe is with easy to understand examples, designed rather than accident.

Another astronomer, the late Sir Fred Hoyle, once said about this finely tuned universe and our unique intelligent life form called Homo sapiens, “A junkyard contains all the bits and pieces of a Boeing 747, dismembered and in disarray. A whirlwind happens to blow through the yard. What is the chance that after its passage a fully assembled 747, ready to fly, will be found standing there? So small as to be negligible, even if a tornado were to blow through enough junkyards to fill the whole Universe. The chance that higher life forms might have emerged in this way is comparable with the chance that a tornado sweeping through a junk-yard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein.”

Here is Vickers, from God First Church interviewing Professor David Block after the professor’s presentation at the El Grande Theatre at Monticasino this morning. Why are we here? Where did we come from? Where are we going?

What’s the Crack?

These last few days, it has been very cold here in Johannesburg, well compared to my friends in the northern climes, not that cold but our homes are not built for the cold so we really feel it here. So here I am, this evening at home trying to feel cozy, listening to some of my favourite Celtic punk music and my dogs tucked under the blankets in their bed. I am feeling morose on this chilly evening, no maybe a little bored. Let's crank is music up a notch or three. Today's photograph is of the photograph that is on the wall above my computer. It is of my friend David which I took while he played the fiddle at the Market on Main. David is from Waterford in the Emerald Isles, well at least he's not a Kerryman. Erin go Bragh.

The Art of using an iPhone

What this lately that I am posting photos of people engrossed in their cellphones? Uhmmm don't know but I just love the way the colours came out in this photo compared to the others I took of David so I used this one of David as he was texting or is that SMSing on his iPhone instead of one where he was facing the camera. I was using my cheap kit lens as it was already on my Canon EOS 550D but it how the deep oranges, reds and the browns that came together did it for me. I call it the Art of using an iPhone, I better not say by an iSnob because David might take offense. I call all Apple product users of iPhones, iPads, and iTV - iSnobs because they love rubbing it in your face that they have one and we don’t. But I don’t think David has ever done that to me, yet. Android is the Future! Resistance is Futile! You will be Assimilated!

David is also a good friend and even better photographer as he enjoys the old school of photography by using film instead of digital like me; check out his new blog David Epstein Photography.

David and the Sax

An old friend of mine, David, which I haven't seen in yonks phone me up with possible work. So we ended up meeting for coffee. It was just great seeing him again. Later on I met up with Bonnie and John for cerebration drinks on their engagement. For my lady readers it was a big stone, as a matter of fact it was John's grandmothers diamond. Bonny had it reset in her own design. There was a sax player at the street cafe. Bonnie and John danced some waltzes and the cha cha to the soulful music on the pavement to our delight.

Say what?

Craig and I decided to try a new way of playing with light and sound so off we went to Cool Runnings in Fourways to catch 2nd Guess’D and aKing live. It was so difficult to get in focus with the musicians and lighting moving so much but it was fun and deafening. I have posted more images on the FaceBook album for you to see what you've missed. Now I need to stop this ringing in my ears.

12 Decades

On Main Street is Jozi’s only art hotel, the 12 Decades. Each of the 12 rooms is designed by a different designer depicting each of the 12 decades of Johannesburg’s existence. The Joburg Photowalkers are going to do a project at the boutique hotel. Later a few of us headed down to the market at Arts on Main just down the road from 12 Decades. To my surprise I found David playing the violin and a girl with a stunning voice signing. I met David at the oDD Café some time ago so to keep with the theme of music...

The Halletts

With my passport in hand I ventured into the East Rand as far as Benoni to meet with David. Yes I know it is dangerous to cross over to the dark side of the far east but I had to. David asked me to is the only reason I can give, for now. Here is David with his family, Ali, Jemma, Jack and Gracie. (Dave and Ali, I am not sure I got your beautiful children's names right. Just shout and I will correct).

Siemens Mobility

The Siemens Mobility Division from the UK is busy putting the final touches to Metrorail's RailCom system. It is an integrated system for controlling multiple communications into one graphical interface. Here are Graham and David from Siemens working at the Metrorail's ICT offices in Wits. Just before I go, my blog is getting large number of hits due to my post on Saturday, Gautrain after Eight, got reposted on the Gautrain history website.

Reunion

Today was the big day, when I met my sister Julie again since 1996.But before that we spent the morning at Addington Beach. The waves were small and the sea surface like a mirror. Matthew did not want to leave but we had to as my reunion was barrelling up. Anyway I was not sure that I would recognise Julie since I last saw her the week of my dad’s funeral when she was only 14. She arrived with her husband, David, in tow and like me she seemed nervous at first but Carol soon put her at ease. They have been married for six months now I did not even know she was married. I only found out she was in the country six months ago through my cousin Jo-Ann who has kept in contact with her. David is a systems analyst and is from the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. This made Carol happy as she has someone else to practice her French on even though it is with a Creole accent.

I Choose

All around life seems a struggle and at times hopeless. I tried to put aside my pride and say sorry but I get attacked and hurt. Do I keep trying? The answer is yes. If we don’t trust when times are tough, we don’t trust at all. I know that I have little or no choice about success, circumstances or even happiness; but I choose to be cheerful. Staying on the theme of joy in all circumstances here are some friends from BBC: Kate and David with Kate’s two daughters Julia and Jessica.

Mozaltov

Hey David, if you’re reading this, then congratulations that Di is pregnant. Remember if it is a boy, name him after me. With that surprised look on your face, it is hard to tell what you thinking but I know Di is ecstatic. Back at the ranch I’m sure you are too. We should all shout “Yes he can!”

The boys from Durbs

David and Bruce have moved up with their families from Durban. BBC is getting overrun by Natalians. David lives in Benoni while Bruce in Dainfern.

Prodigal Son

David rocked up at BBC today. We hardly saw him after he broke his engagement with Kate many months ago. Here is David posing next the Janet who is getting her wedding plans sorted as she has just less than 4 months till her wedding day.

The Neighbourhood Boys

Bed, Bed, Bed, I am tied of this bed. Every time a cough or laugh my bruised lungs ache. Matthew had friends over which kept him out of the house. Here is the neighbourhood boys, Philip, David, Tino, Brian, Matthew and Maxy, the Italian Greyhound.

The Dinner Party

I worked in the morning on the International Property Solutions’ website. In the evening we went to a dinner party at David and Di’s house. They are the ones in the picture. The most exciting part of the evening was when the espresso pot exploded and sprayed coffee all over the kitchen. Well not quite exploded. David left out a filter which goes between the coffee and the pipe that connects the top part. This must have got blocked with the coffee and the pressure built up. This pressure then blew the lid open and coffee sprayed everywhere. Well to cut a long story short we had a great evening.

David's Party

David, Brian, Matthew and Philip

Hosing Down

Fireman Kevin and Matthew hose down Karin,Caitlin, Connor, Justin, Kristen,
Jeremy, Jessica, Carol, Marius, Daniellie, Cassie, Brian, Philip and David

300th Post

Semaho, Philip, Brian and David