Back to PRASA

Going back to Metrorail, Park Station, and PRASA was like going down memory lane. I had arranged a meeting with Leon, my old team-mate from MIS, and also to make contact with N from PRASA Cres who along with me are the only two people who know the location of the secret passage joining the Blue Room and the platforms of Park Station.

This passage was sealed up in the late 1950s and remained a time vault since then. I last took a small group of the Joburg Photowalkers down there in 2010 and now another small group of the Photowalkers wants to go down, hence my visit back to PRASA.

Arriving at Umjantsi House, I bumped into more old colleagues from my PRASA ICT days, here is Helen and Thoko.

Old Colleagues

On Sunday there is going to be a Doodle evening at Ansteys and Mark decided that it would be a good idea to do a photo walk before hand so he asked me if I could secure the Blue Room. So off I went to see Intersite and arranged for the Joburg Photowalkers to get into the Blue Room. While I was there I knew my old colleagues at Metrorail would not be please if I didn't pop my head in and say hello. So I popped into Wits Metrorail and saw Anna, Jimmy, Toys, Leon (shown above) and Willie. Our once well oiled office seemed to be deserted of staff, not cool. Interesting, it looks like PRASA's head office will be moving to Pretoria as it is a very political organization and needs to be close to the hub. Pretoria, uhmm that reminds me, it is about time that Jose and I get together again.

Exit Medical

Train, Yacht, Soldiers, Dog, Toy Horse, Stork, Swallow, Cat, Duck, Dog, Elephant, Rooster. I had to do my Exit Medical Exam today. My health is hundreds except for my left hearing. A, O, E, H, L, A, N, T, C, O, H, L, A, O, T, N, T, O, L, A, E, L, N, C, E, T, H, O, A, O, T, L, H, E, N, A, C, L, H, T, O, C, N, E, A.

Uncertainty

I am sure very uncertain about my position here at PRASA. I still haven’t seen any paperwork as many are still on leave. So I slog on without knowing that I would be paid as Leon next to me shows how it is done. Crossing my mind is the UK or even NZ.

Back at Work Day 1

Work Day One Twenty Eleven has commenced. My contract has been extended for three months while the powers that be sort out my employment status, uhmmm! Anyway Refiloe, shown above, was in and out this morning completing her move to the regional help desk housed at head office.

Meet the Risk Dept

The last day till Christmas saw me in the office for the last time this year. Most of the staff were on leave so the few of us had fun. Here are Lee and Sibongile from the Risk Department.

No Power

From about eleven o'clock we had no power at work. Well a whole city block was with out power until after three in the afternoon. A very productive day it was, not. Other than putting my feet up relaxing, I went about taking a few portraits. Here is Sibongile from Risk Department.

Ntsiki

Today dragged on so slowly that it must win the prize as the longest Friday ever. Anyway I will leave you with the photo of Ntsiki from Human Resources upstairs.

Busy Thursday

Since I just about lost a days work yesterday and a very long meeting that I had double catch up today. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. Caroline came downstairs from the second floor which gave me a reason to take a photo as I didn't find much time to look for other subjects. I heard a bit of good news today but I will wait as it is better to get it on paper first before you jump for joy.

We Can Stop HIV

South Africa we can stop HIV and make this place a better place for all colours, race and tribe. Today is International Aids Day and our company decided to make a sports day out of it. Although 4000 staff members were invited only about 1000 turned up. The day started with remembrance of those who have gone before us because of AIDS. The message was that can stop HIV was carried throughout the day. Yes we can.

Leon's Cats

Monday Blues. Everywhere around, round me is blue. The clouds are blue. The moon is blue. Blue is the window by which I stand. My heart is blue, so are my thoughts.

I'm okay

I'm trying to keep it all together but things are falling apart quickly on the home front. While back at work things are steadily coming together in regards to the new train driver simulator in Braamfontein. Here is the first part of the simulator which will be ready for use mid December.

Sibongile

With time running out until Christmas, I realized so was my contract. This along with my other home issues put a damper on my mood. Although many promises were made by various decision makers, pen still has to be put to paper. Talking about putting to paper, after my conversation with Magda, I thought that it might be a good idea to write a book about my life to date. Not an autobiography but maybe a frictional book based on my life or part thereof. Not that my life was more interesting than others but someone out there might like reading it. While the dark clouds hang over my head, it is always good to see Sibongile smile even under stress.

Tints

It is still raining and I feeling very depressed due to what happened last night. I am coming across as the big bad wolf, enough said about. Tintswalo who always cheers me up came down from Pretoria and surprised me with urgent work

Rain and Norman Raids

Rain seems to have set in now with no break visible. So far this has been a very wet summer although the rains were long in coming. This has made Uncle Norman edgy and here he can be seen on one of his food raids.

It's time

The road trip is upon us. Having informed work that I am away for a couple of days they still waited until the last minute to give me work. This stressed me out to no end. I had no time today to think of what photo to take so I took of whoever was in the office at the time. The unlucky person was Motloli, head down working the keyboard as usual. Please excuse the next few days until Monday as I won't be able to post regularly as I am on a road trip. I am leaving Johannesburg at about 5am tomorrow and head to Phalaborwa passing Pretoria, Warmbaths, Pietersburg and Tzaneen. On Friday I'm heading down to Sabie via Hoedspruit. Saturday will be a short hop to Hazyview and Sunday the long trek back. All this on a ET4 Vespa.

Changes Afloat

Monday Office news. Metrorail's ICT staff are starting to get moved around, Refiloe along with Help Desk are now situated at PRASA Head Office which means the office is much quieter. Uncle Norman has cross the invisible line by soaking my chair with water on Friday so today I started plotting revenge. I'm ninja, he won't know when I will strike which means he better sleep with one eye open. Leon's daughter has given birth this to a baby girl. Congratulations grandpa Leon. And finally here is Sello, not sure about him but he seems to be relaxing. Maybe it is lunch time. Well thats all folks, till next time. Good night.

Emergency Response Exercise

What an interesting day. The West Rand Emergency Services with conjunction with Metrorail did an exercise to test the handling and response of all parties to a train derailment with a high number of casualties. It was the first time all the different parties involved worked together. It was a great success not because it went smoothly because it didn't but because all the problems were identified which a great place is to start with improving.

Shosholoza Meyl

This mornings meeting was held at Intersite's office at Jorrisen Street, the old PRASA offices. This is the view from the 12th floor boardroom. You can see the Shosholoza Junction Building with the Shosholoza Rolling Stock sheds next to it.

Collen

Here is Collen, another developer or database person from PRASA CRES. They joined us today for ICT rationalision meeting which took all afternoon.