Road Trip

Six Vespas with their riders myself, Francois, Andrew, Magda, Romi and Staford left Johannesburg at 5am this morning and headed to Phalaborwa. Ten hours later we arrived, bums sore but all in one piece. After booking into luxury tented lodges with air conditioning we went on a 3 hour evening game drive. Moment of the Day: Our game ranger while waching 3 young hyenas said there is the mother calling her young while it turned out to be Romi snoring away. For more photos see Mille Day One on Facebook

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.

Refiwe

Wow, it has been a downpour this morning in Jozi. Even the highways were flooded. I was safely tucked away at Intersite's head office taking photo's of all the staff new InterSpace application. Refiwe, from Intersite Marketing Department, was a lovely host and even took me out for lunch.

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.

Wind down day

Today was a wind down day for me. Just relax and don’t do much other than load the dishwasher and turn it on. So I leave you with Saskia and Grant. Goodnight.

Retirement

What supposed to be a quiet weekend turned out to be very busy. Up early to take the dogs for a walk in the park then off to buy some clothes for me because I need to and I never do. In the evening I was in Benoni for the launch of Spessit, my friend David's new start-up with tons of potential. On top of that it was good to see old friends Andy and Julie at the launch. Andy has just retired but I am sure that won't be the last we hear from him.

Summer Storm

Soon after I arrived home, a thunderous storm broke out with this tree getting struck about 100m up the road from our home. The storm didn't last long, that goodness. Later one in the evening it wasn't thunder that was making all the bangs but the fireworks and crackers going off as people celebrated Diwali. On checking, our dogs seem very relaxed with the noise and are half asleep. One of the neighbours is shouting across the fence to another neighbour to stop the with the fire crackers as their dogs are terrified. Poor things. I feel these things should not be done in residential areas but pre-designated areas.

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.

Monthly Progress

It was a busy day of knuckling down and doing some work for a change as tomorrow I will be out of the office all day on a shoot. Subject Top Secret only only for those in the know. You know what I mean. And I am in the know because they want photos of the event. I will leave you with my monthly photo of the progress of the Gautrain Braamfontein terminus.

First Christmas Party

It is that time of year again. Our home cell celebrated their annual Christmas dinner with the usual style. A perfect time to practice my evening photography. I am going to post all the images on my Facebook album but in the meanwhile here is a lovely photo of Carol.

Ten Days

With only ten days to go, Sophia went in for a full service in preparation. We are now ready.

Purple Snow

A busy day today. Firstly monthly shopping, then after lunch rush off to the Zombie Walk and later to the Purple Snow Photowalk. Very busy. I have posted the good images up on my Facebook profile (Jerome West) so just pop in there to see the Nom Nom Nom and Purple Snow albums.

Scuba Party

Today's Matthew's 12th birthday and we had an underwater scuba party for 10 kids. It was a splashing success with even Carol going to the bottom. Here is Justin and Matthew about to do their first pool dive.

Brenda's 60th

Our home met at Fratelli in Ferndale Village to celebrate Brenda's sixtieth birthday. Round the table from the left is Mike, Tracy, Gary, Carol (hidden behind Gary), Andy, Petra, Sandy, birthday girl Brenda, Linda and Denise with her back to the camera. We had a wonderful time with friends.

Stormy Traffic

Last night there were many thunderstorms which cause many accidents during this mornings rush. Here is a photo of one accident of a minibus taxi which jumped a red traffic light outside the Gautrain Braamfontein Terminus and hit a pickup. This caused a back-up for quite a few hours.

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.

Hans and the Gautrain

After a busy day at work, I was wondering how to get my brother-in-law Hans from the airport to my house and be back in time for cell. Matthew was at baseball practice and Carol waiting for him would only be back about six thirty. This gave me no time to drive across town and back before seven thirty. The Gautrain was the answer. I drove my Vespa to the Sandton Station hop onto the Gautrain and was in Rhodesfield before Hans could blink an eye. Soon we were gliding back to Sandton passing frustrated commuters in their cars trying to get home. The longest part of the whole operation was waiting for Carol to pick Hans up at the drop-off zone on West Street. Anyway this was Hans' first experience of the Gautrain so a perfect photo opportunity.

16 Days to go

As the days count down to V Day, Sophia and I start preparing. Today we got new treads for Sophia. With all the rain, they will make it much safer on the wet roads.

Mai Ling and Uwe Jens

Today was supposed to be a quiet day. Carol and Matthew out hiking and me with me feet up. Soon after midday, the phone rang and it was Mai Ling and Uwe Jens, they wanted to know where we were as they have been waiting for us at the Indaba Hotel. Oh my goodness, I'd forgotten our lunch appointment made over a month ago. They are returning to Germany a few weeks time. So after apologizing for Carol and Matthew, I sped over to join them for a lovely afternoon lunch.

Best Buds

After a walk to Golden Harvest Park, Maxy, my mischievous Italian Greyhound, came home up to his armpits in dried sewerage. What a good opportunity for Matthew to take him for a swim and a ride on the board afterwards. Best buds for life.

Buzz

You're on Buzz! Let the games begin! What a wonderful time had by all at BBC tonight in the first quiz Game show to be held, Buzz. Hosted by Stu and his team of judges, score keepers, technical staff, three Dorises and the lovely assistant. Check out my Facebook album for all the photos. Here is Stuart, keeping a tight leash on his two score keepers Russell and Troy.

Collen

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

Ste is outta here

I am not sure if this is Steven or Stephen. He is the Oracle and SAP developer from Intersite or now as they are known as PRASA CRES or if you really want to know Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa Corporate Real Estate Solutions. Maybe it is Services not Solutions as no one really knows what goes on at PRASA and I am not sure if PRASA knows too.

In the Fishbowl

Meetings upon meetings on how we are going to fit into the new business unit of PRASA ICT are being held in the Fishbowl. Here is the Back-End stream sitting the whole afternoon. Not a pleasant sight. Oh dear, it's our turn tomorrow.

Love Africa

Mondays for most people are depressing but for some a new opportunity represents itself nearly every day including Mondays. This is what Rayne comes across as, a free spirit looking for next opportunity to soar. So far this Monday for her has been frustrating having to deal with people but after I left, there was a glimmer of a smile.

Dog Walk

This afternoon I decided to take my new Canon along to my usual weekend dog walk. My aim was to test the different settings on fast moving Italian Greyhounds. The conclusion, I need a lot more practice. Here is Michael with his Italian Greyhound, Nike.

My new toy

Yes this is me, the very first photo taken on my new toy, the Canon 550D. Thanks Robyn for taking the first photo. I brought my new baby at the Photo & Film Expo for a very good price. It was just too good to resist as I was like a kid in a candy store.

Out of time

I was in Yeoville today looking for the army surplus store that used to be in Rockey Street as I am after an old style gas mask to wear on my bike. Although I could not find the store, I did stumble upon this strange looking water tower on Yeoville Ridge. It is like out of place and out of time. Joburg is so full of surprises, that is why I am part of the now famous Joburg Photowalkers. After a bit of research found that the Yeoville Water Tower was built about 1914 and is a national heritage site. I sense a Photowalk coming in this area.

Which Mac are you?

I'm Makatini from Maritzburg. Yes a memorable Cadbury's Lunchbar advert from yesteryear but when Makatini comes to my office from Marketing, he always reminds me of this advert. It's all in his name and you need to have seen the advert to appreciate this.

Remember the name

Know that we are PRASA ICT or in the process of becoming from all the different business units, I am getting work not just from Metrorail. Today Vuyiswa from PRASA Rail's Marketing Department had an urgent request for an electronic flyer series for the National Level Crossing campaign. I had to get her name right because I battled with it with my dyslexia. Tintswalo is much easier to say. Anyway today I give you Vuyiswa.

Tuesday's Whine

Yes the server room alarm is still whining away. We even duct taped the speakers in hope of deafening the noise but to no avail. Nkgadi, shown above, came round to start the process of the SMS system ingratiation into Intersite.