Countdown to Annual Leave

Wish you could join me....

Weekend Madness

Well, its been a while since I've put something new on the pages... seems I'm not one of those daily bloggers, but I like it like that. To my friends and family that does pop in once in a while, you know me... LOL!

Anyways: We were blessed in sunny South Africa with yet another long weekend (with Monday, 24 September being Heritage Day). But: Before we get there weirdly enough the month of September my birthday list is BOMBARDED by friends, family and "How did that get there?"

Of importance is: 1 - Wifey's birthday, followed by: Sister in laws 1,2,3... True!

René, Elmarie, Glynis and Joylene.

This year I wanted to spoil Elmarie a tad - even though it was after the fact, we took her and our kids to Wimpy Zevenwacht Mall for a quick breakfast and shopping spree!

Strike a pose!

Aunt Elmarie: Can I have anything on the Menu? LOL!

Aunt & Jojo

The Wimpy Kids

Wimpy Mega Coffee - Nothing more!

Hello Kitty Ride afterwards for JoJo!

Arent they too cute for words?

Quality family time

With the days getting warmer and the weather definately

playing along... Its family time!

Brother in law (Justice) pad (in Panoramic View)

 While we prepare for a lovely feast with a lovely Curried Chicken Potjie,

my daughters jumped into the bath after their swim!

JoJo enjoying bathtime

Do you have time?

I've often wondered how my parents managed to get through a day - and still have the energy and time to spend some quality time with us, have some friends over - all without sitting in front of a television or movie or whatever... The days feel so rushed, we feel so tired and the nights seem to withhold that needed sleep to revitalize! Are we running out of time? Or is it a case of not understanding and utilizing out time effectively? THINK-on-THAT!

Beloved, on your birthday

To my Darling Wife,

on her birthday.

I'm sending you this special birthday wish,

kind and gentle, sealed with a kiss.

I cannot count exactly what you mean to me,

you've brought me so much happiness, I sing with glee!

I wish to return the favour, without a doubt...

But you'll have to trust me on our lives route.

So on your birthday I wish everything for you,

love, peace, and happiness, just to name a few.

May God bless and keep you, now and forever more...

I try my whole life making it up to you - with with you ain't no bore!

I love you my Angel!

With all my heart.

Your Hubby Jx

Outstanding

From a mail circling our offices! Gotta Love it!

Jumping to conclusions

So yesterday, Thursday, 06 September 2012, I meet up with my regular travelling buddies at Cape Town station - Platform 11, 2nd carriage... can't say which train or the time now can I? LOL! The conversation was all over the place, just as I like it - when on-no... #METROFAIL... the train stops for no apparent reason. And it did so more than once on my journey that should have been complete within 40 minutes!

Boy did I have a change in attitude when we neared Kuils River station. Apparently 2 people were run over close to the station. Typically the reports I heard was confusing (2 men, a man and a woman, a mother and child) - so I can't say exactly. But my heart goes out to them, whoever they may have been - a loved one, a friend, a companion, a mother, a father, a parent, a child... It really affected me.

Which got me wondering... Why do we JUMP TO OUR OWN CONCLUSIONS?

Especially if we don't have all the facts? Its a case of immediately responding to something that's affecting me somehow, but not taking into account all the evidence. I was quick to say: #METROFAIL! But after some time and coming across the accident it was clear it was not Metrorails fault... due to an unforeseen accident.

Question is: Can we change? Can we just for once set aside our personal needs and look at the bigger picture. It isn't easy... but let's be fair... should it?

Slow Cape Town

People always say that Capetonians are slower than the rest of South Africa... That we've relaxed our pace... blaming the mountain and ocean... Well now it looks like we're truly headed that way, with a proposal by Transport MEC Robin Carlisle to further cut road deaths by doing the following:
 - Reducing the speed limit by 10km/h, from 120km/h to 110km/h -
    and from 80km/h to 70km/h (WHY, why I'd like to know)
 - Banning blue-light brigades transporting VIP's (this I like)
 - A 1.5m passing law for motorists overtaking cyclists (not bad either)
 - Special consideration at shools, around busses, places with high passenger numbers
 - Compulsory wearing of seatbelts for ALL passengers

As you can see, I'm not saying everything is bad... just why reduce the speed limit? What will 10km/h do? Most taxi's can't even do 100km/h, yet they are causing havoc! Are we working a symptom here? A Cause? What? I don't see the need... Cars are getting safer, smarter, better equipped... when was the last time the speed limit was INCREASED? Hmmm?

Everything is going up... Look at petrol, as of today (or last night 12pm) petrol is costing us 93c/l MORE! Food prices will go up, but speed limits are coming down... LOL! Probably the Govt's way of fooling the general public!

SO, lets take things super slow... as only we can!!!

For more information - and to comment on this proposal (by 20 September 2012) refer here.

Blue Monday

So I had a Blue Monday. Who doesn't?

The weekend went so well (even typically not as planned). It was a mission getting up and coming to work, especially as I had to do my brother and his wife a favour and drop someone to babysit their kids for the day.

Then the day at work - It was okay-ish... But I had to do a late transaction for someone nearly resulting in me missing my "buddy-train." I eventually made it, with legs aching, only to find that I had to stand all the way home as the train was already full with NO seats available for me...

When I got to my station - noticed a fine on my window... turned out to be for an expired disk (car) licence. I can't believe I missed that! Expiry date 31-07-2012 - and since you only get 21 days to renew your licence - a lovely R500 fine came my way! R500! And the best part? I must still renew my car licence for the year... There goes my savings (that I don't have). Wish me luck!

Belated Spring Day!

H a p p y  S p r i n g  D a y !

Yes, the 1st of September 2012

is Spring Day in South Africa!

Once again we were greeted with a rainy, cloudy day... Okay - maybe somewhere there might have been a typical Spring Day, but we've been missing it for a few years now. Hence a few of my pals bringing in the Equinox, "an occurrence twice a year (around 20 March and 22 September), when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator."

Needless to say, they're planning to celebrate the day later - on 22 September.

I just hope that all of us willl enjoy this change in season - as we move towards the warmer days and summer that's looming at year end. Hmmm.... Can't wait. Can you?