This is very, very strange.... Twice this morning I've typed in a Google search term in my FFox browser. Twice I've come up with Very Weird Errors! Like no error I've seen on a Google search before.
Either Google is broken, or there's something fishy going on via my computer.
Peace & Quiet
Take one work day, sandwhich it betwen a weekend and a public holiday, and what do you get? Peace and quiet!
The roads are empty. Schools are closed today. The office is basically empty too - with merely a few representatives in each section (I'm it in mine), some perhaps here only for the free coffee.. :-)
(Of course, out of the entire area it would be my phone that suddenly decides it won't log on. The joys of having things running of servers!!! ::update:: now fixed by my friendly tech bloke, but I'm considering writing a "Getting Started Guide" for new staff, who have no clue how these things work)
Yet it's not a nothing-day. I've got a load of stuff to do, and one monthly report-back on what I've achieved to write up. Trouble is, I haven't been keeping score too well, cos I didn't know I'd have to do this. So I'm going to have to do some serious thinking and remembering - the past month's been a bit of a learning-curve blur. I know I've done a lot - but what??? :-)
This morning it's grey outside. Clouds drifting past the mountains, one or two rays of sunshine breaking through, low cloud snaking over the gap. With no colleagues to bother (reflections, sunshine etc on screens) I have the blinds open and a view to admire, for as long as I want to today. Variety for the eyes, varied focal length so I don't end up with strain. The mind's doing a varied focal length thing too, settling on thoughts of today, tomorrow, yesterday, things that need doing, things I'm sure of, stuff I have gathering dust on the back shelves of the head. I'm going to have to make a concerted effort to be concentrated today it seems.
At least I've got the silence I need to do so. I plan to take full advantage of it.
The roads are empty. Schools are closed today. The office is basically empty too - with merely a few representatives in each section (I'm it in mine), some perhaps here only for the free coffee.. :-)
(Of course, out of the entire area it would be my phone that suddenly decides it won't log on. The joys of having things running of servers!!! ::update:: now fixed by my friendly tech bloke, but I'm considering writing a "Getting Started Guide" for new staff, who have no clue how these things work)
Yet it's not a nothing-day. I've got a load of stuff to do, and one monthly report-back on what I've achieved to write up. Trouble is, I haven't been keeping score too well, cos I didn't know I'd have to do this. So I'm going to have to do some serious thinking and remembering - the past month's been a bit of a learning-curve blur. I know I've done a lot - but what??? :-)
This morning it's grey outside. Clouds drifting past the mountains, one or two rays of sunshine breaking through, low cloud snaking over the gap. With no colleagues to bother (reflections, sunshine etc on screens) I have the blinds open and a view to admire, for as long as I want to today. Variety for the eyes, varied focal length so I don't end up with strain. The mind's doing a varied focal length thing too, settling on thoughts of today, tomorrow, yesterday, things that need doing, things I'm sure of, stuff I have gathering dust on the back shelves of the head. I'm going to have to make a concerted effort to be concentrated today it seems.
At least I've got the silence I need to do so. I plan to take full advantage of it.
Wind
Sjoe.. what a weekend! First we have rain and cold, now it's wind and cold! And a bit of blown-rain too. Just to add some variety. (I seriously need a fireplace)
I have two cars that leak. The Ford ends up with damp carpets from wherever during winter, the Landy comes with a 1cm gap above the driver's door - which keeps the floor washed out during the rainy season, provided I remove the rubber mats (wonder if it's ethically wrong to drill a small drainage hole in the middle of the floor?).
And now I've found a wind-leak...
My bedroom window is wood-framed. It's closed, yet the blinds cord is moving slowly as the wind rushes by. Last night was a disaster with regards to sleep (for reasons other than the wind, but we're doing "wind" here not "other"). The gale howled through whatever tiny crack there is between fully-closed and not-actually-fully-closed at the window catch from around 2 this morning, and hasn't let up yet.
I'm starting to think... while I'm looking at damp-sealing the vehicles, I may have to look at wind-sealing the window! Especially from black South-Easters. The violently-moving air hits it at exactly the right angle to whistle and scream. Whew.
I have two cars that leak. The Ford ends up with damp carpets from wherever during winter, the Landy comes with a 1cm gap above the driver's door - which keeps the floor washed out during the rainy season, provided I remove the rubber mats (wonder if it's ethically wrong to drill a small drainage hole in the middle of the floor?).
And now I've found a wind-leak...
My bedroom window is wood-framed. It's closed, yet the blinds cord is moving slowly as the wind rushes by. Last night was a disaster with regards to sleep (for reasons other than the wind, but we're doing "wind" here not "other"). The gale howled through whatever tiny crack there is between fully-closed and not-actually-fully-closed at the window catch from around 2 this morning, and hasn't let up yet.
I'm starting to think... while I'm looking at damp-sealing the vehicles, I may have to look at wind-sealing the window! Especially from black South-Easters. The violently-moving air hits it at exactly the right angle to whistle and scream. Whew.
Perfectionist
Do you ever find yourself re-inserting toilet rolls in communal pee-palaces so the paper rolls the "right way"?
Or tearing it off until there isn't a half-square hanging loose or torn raggedly?
No?
Guess it's just me then! :-)
Or tearing it off until there isn't a half-square hanging loose or torn raggedly?
No?
Guess it's just me then! :-)
The one good thing about rain...
... is that you don't have kids running around shouting, skateboarding, arguing or generally screaming at the top of their lungs while you're trying to indulge in an afternoon nap! :-)
Ah well - better luck next time.
Ah well - better luck next time.
Shift
Here's something I was pondering this morning, while soaking up some very welcome sun after an extremely chilly night. (Hope I can put this into words sufficiently)
It's that my focus has shifted quite a bit in the last few months. Specifically when it comes to the time I spend at home and what I choose to do with it.
At the old place I'd usually be out in the garden at every opportunity, digging, weeding, planting, or just checking out what's growing. It was a very home-base-focused lifestyle, and quite honestly I barely went anywhere most times. Weekends were spent at home, lunchtimes and after work was all at home. I wasn't the most sociable of creatures, and hardly entertained.
Now I have no garden. I have a few pots of things I brought with me, but that's it. There's no garden pottering to be had.
Instead my focus is shifting to outside-of-home things. I'm working on the Landy with a view to being out and about in her. I spend lunchtimes away from home, and after work am more likely to be doing something related to inside-home management along with a bit of getting-out planning. Home is now a base from which life happens, not merely the place where it does. I've entertained more in the past month than I have in ages. The kid's getting out more than he ever has. And I'm taking back my own life too.
Thing is this - I'm a lot more focused on where I want to be down the line, and what I'm doing now is steps toward that future. In little ways I can't (or won't) explain out loud, I'm shifting my lifestyle to match up with the goals I have, the dreams I dare to dream, and where my heart tells me I need and want to go. It's meant a change in priorities, in activities, in goals, in interest in some ways. Yes, I still love growing things and digging in the soil, but it's not going to happen here. So life is shifting elsewhere.
It's not a bad thing. It's a natural progression as things change and you discover new places to be, inside and out.
Yet again - a way-marker on the journey. A place to say "here, things have changed, the road has forked". I love where it's heading... though I'm still stepping tentatively.
And thus said - it's on to a couple of those tasks that will take me toward where I want to be! :-)
It's that my focus has shifted quite a bit in the last few months. Specifically when it comes to the time I spend at home and what I choose to do with it.
At the old place I'd usually be out in the garden at every opportunity, digging, weeding, planting, or just checking out what's growing. It was a very home-base-focused lifestyle, and quite honestly I barely went anywhere most times. Weekends were spent at home, lunchtimes and after work was all at home. I wasn't the most sociable of creatures, and hardly entertained.
Now I have no garden. I have a few pots of things I brought with me, but that's it. There's no garden pottering to be had.
Instead my focus is shifting to outside-of-home things. I'm working on the Landy with a view to being out and about in her. I spend lunchtimes away from home, and after work am more likely to be doing something related to inside-home management along with a bit of getting-out planning. Home is now a base from which life happens, not merely the place where it does. I've entertained more in the past month than I have in ages. The kid's getting out more than he ever has. And I'm taking back my own life too.
Thing is this - I'm a lot more focused on where I want to be down the line, and what I'm doing now is steps toward that future. In little ways I can't (or won't) explain out loud, I'm shifting my lifestyle to match up with the goals I have, the dreams I dare to dream, and where my heart tells me I need and want to go. It's meant a change in priorities, in activities, in goals, in interest in some ways. Yes, I still love growing things and digging in the soil, but it's not going to happen here. So life is shifting elsewhere.
It's not a bad thing. It's a natural progression as things change and you discover new places to be, inside and out.
Yet again - a way-marker on the journey. A place to say "here, things have changed, the road has forked". I love where it's heading... though I'm still stepping tentatively.
And thus said - it's on to a couple of those tasks that will take me toward where I want to be! :-)
Silent
Why am I sometimes too scared to say what's really on my mind? What do I fear? Why can't I just be honest and blurt it out?
Instead I say nothing at all, or many words that boil down to too little... and that scares me almost as much as imagined reactions to what I might have said.
Instead I say nothing at all, or many words that boil down to too little... and that scares me almost as much as imagined reactions to what I might have said.
More Winter
Rain, rain - go away
Come again some other day
... and perhaps a bit of snow too, they say!
It's hard to keep at an outdoor task when you have to run from downpours every half-hour or so. Instead of spending an entire day working on Olivia/FFord, I've had to find alternatives for when the rain comes down.
Fortunately I'm inspired today. And "driven" (though not driving... gotta hit the grocery shop later). I've actually accomplished quite a bit, in spite of sleeping in, then nestling under the duvet daydreaming a bit longer, taking a leisurely get-up time, lengthy shower and late breakfast.
You get busy days, and you get not-so-busy days. This is a busy day and I'm taking full advantage of the chance to get things done. Check a lot of house stuff off my to-do list and make a start on the Landy. I'm already pretty bushed (afternoon nap is horribly attractive, especially in this weather), but it's good to see progress.
Public "holiday"? Perhaps - but more work than lazing around for me. And besides, busy hands keep me completely out of mischief! ;-)
Come again some other day
... and perhaps a bit of snow too, they say!
It's hard to keep at an outdoor task when you have to run from downpours every half-hour or so. Instead of spending an entire day working on Olivia/FFord, I've had to find alternatives for when the rain comes down.
Fortunately I'm inspired today. And "driven" (though not driving... gotta hit the grocery shop later). I've actually accomplished quite a bit, in spite of sleeping in, then nestling under the duvet daydreaming a bit longer, taking a leisurely get-up time, lengthy shower and late breakfast.
You get busy days, and you get not-so-busy days. This is a busy day and I'm taking full advantage of the chance to get things done. Check a lot of house stuff off my to-do list and make a start on the Landy. I'm already pretty bushed (afternoon nap is horribly attractive, especially in this weather), but it's good to see progress.
Public "holiday"? Perhaps - but more work than lazing around for me. And besides, busy hands keep me completely out of mischief! ;-)
Perchance to dream
OK, after the minor clothes-related meltdown below, I've shaken it off and moved on. As I do tend to do, mostly.. :-)
Anyhoo!!
In the process of shaking (like a wet dog - an appropriate analogy for tonight's rather damp weather), some of my dreams got all shook up and surfaced again.
I like sitting and just daydreaming sometimes. It does wonders for the soul. And I find it's in those quiet do-nothing moments that my brain starts firing off good stuff. It's then that the big decisions get made, that the issues get worked out, and direction found.
I've been doing too little of it lately. Too little just-sitting. I'm always busy, working, caring, cleaning, dashing here and there. Purposeful and driven to some or other goal.
And yet...
Dreams don't form nor come to fruition when you're too busy to notice them knocking ever so quietly, asking for a bit of your attention. Some of them may seem rather scary so you tend to ignore them. Others seem insignificant. But they're all there for a reason.
Tonight, just-sitting, I can see a whole pile of them starting to connect up. I think a little more just-sitting is in order! :-)
Anyhoo!!
In the process of shaking (like a wet dog - an appropriate analogy for tonight's rather damp weather), some of my dreams got all shook up and surfaced again.
I like sitting and just daydreaming sometimes. It does wonders for the soul. And I find it's in those quiet do-nothing moments that my brain starts firing off good stuff. It's then that the big decisions get made, that the issues get worked out, and direction found.
I've been doing too little of it lately. Too little just-sitting. I'm always busy, working, caring, cleaning, dashing here and there. Purposeful and driven to some or other goal.
And yet...
Dreams don't form nor come to fruition when you're too busy to notice them knocking ever so quietly, asking for a bit of your attention. Some of them may seem rather scary so you tend to ignore them. Others seem insignificant. But they're all there for a reason.
Tonight, just-sitting, I can see a whole pile of them starting to connect up. I think a little more just-sitting is in order! :-)
Peeved - take 2
OK, so it's not only cars that can get you all peeved. And this is one I've found out how many times!!! But do I learn? Nah...
My boss kindly sent us home at around 3 this afternoon, so I took the opportunity to drop by the mall and get a head-start on some of the shopping I need to do this weekend. I need jeans, underwear, tops... just about everything! And that's no easy task.
An hour and a half later I came home with ONE T-SHIRT. Totally peeved.
It seems that I don't conform to any known body type. Looking in those awful top-lit changing room mirrors I can well believe it. I hate those things. Almost as much as I'm starting to hate straight-up-and-down chicks who seem to rule the clothes-horse scene. I can feel myself reverting to the "let me curl up and die 'cos I'm not perfect" mode, but am backpeddling for all I'm worth.
I found one pair of jeans. But there's no way I'm paying half a grand for them! I tried on various other things and came to the conclusion/s that:
a) I've got a ways to go on the body I want. Further than I like. Further than I'd hoped. I'm pretty discouraged. If I weren't so damn practical I'd probably become a temporary anorexic just to get a move-on.
b) I need to re-measure the boobs before I try on anything more. I haven't lost a cup size after all, but things have changed. And not all brands sizing is the same - very, very far from it.
c) I may need to walk around nude for a while, cos nothing's fitting everywhere - it's too loose in one area and too tight in another. Walking around nude will probably scare the neighbours.
d) I seriously hate clothes shopping.
e) I'm starting to like the dark more. Or at the very brightest, candle-light.
f) Completing my shopping list is going to take longer than I thought, more traipsing through crowded malls full of holiday-spirit wanderers, more effort, and a whole lot more cash than I'd like to be spending. See "c)".
And now I think I'm going to go sulk somewhere until at least 9. At which point I may be able to cheer up if I'm lucky.
And thus Thursday dies a slow and terrible death.
PS When it rains and a public holiday starts all on the same day, everyone else on the roads turns into idiots. The queue to get over the mountains started well before my turn-off! Very glad to be staying right here.
My boss kindly sent us home at around 3 this afternoon, so I took the opportunity to drop by the mall and get a head-start on some of the shopping I need to do this weekend. I need jeans, underwear, tops... just about everything! And that's no easy task.
An hour and a half later I came home with ONE T-SHIRT. Totally peeved.
It seems that I don't conform to any known body type. Looking in those awful top-lit changing room mirrors I can well believe it. I hate those things. Almost as much as I'm starting to hate straight-up-and-down chicks who seem to rule the clothes-horse scene. I can feel myself reverting to the "let me curl up and die 'cos I'm not perfect" mode, but am backpeddling for all I'm worth.
I found one pair of jeans. But there's no way I'm paying half a grand for them! I tried on various other things and came to the conclusion/s that:
a) I've got a ways to go on the body I want. Further than I like. Further than I'd hoped. I'm pretty discouraged. If I weren't so damn practical I'd probably become a temporary anorexic just to get a move-on.
b) I need to re-measure the boobs before I try on anything more. I haven't lost a cup size after all, but things have changed. And not all brands sizing is the same - very, very far from it.
c) I may need to walk around nude for a while, cos nothing's fitting everywhere - it's too loose in one area and too tight in another. Walking around nude will probably scare the neighbours.
d) I seriously hate clothes shopping.
e) I'm starting to like the dark more. Or at the very brightest, candle-light.
f) Completing my shopping list is going to take longer than I thought, more traipsing through crowded malls full of holiday-spirit wanderers, more effort, and a whole lot more cash than I'd like to be spending. See "c)".
And now I think I'm going to go sulk somewhere until at least 9. At which point I may be able to cheer up if I'm lucky.
And thus Thursday dies a slow and terrible death.
PS When it rains and a public holiday starts all on the same day, everyone else on the roads turns into idiots. The queue to get over the mountains started well before my turn-off! Very glad to be staying right here.
More Gadgetry
I'm a regular Lifehacker lurker, and picked up this nifty entry recently on turning an old hard-drive into an external hard-drive. Brilliant!
So of course now I'm thinking... with the price of EHDs quite horrific, what will it take to simply get the innards, the case, and do it myself? I'm pretty sure even a blonde like myself can figure it out. Hmmm.. wonder if you can attach a couple of them in tandem and pimp the capacity.
Off to email someone who may just have a few old drives lying around that I can play with... :-)
So of course now I'm thinking... with the price of EHDs quite horrific, what will it take to simply get the innards, the case, and do it myself? I'm pretty sure even a blonde like myself can figure it out. Hmmm.. wonder if you can attach a couple of them in tandem and pimp the capacity.
Off to email someone who may just have a few old drives lying around that I can play with... :-)
Blue Teeth
Since I got my new cellphone I've been having loads of fun playing with all the nifty features it comes with. The old one suddenly seems so outdated! Yeah, I'm a bit of a gadget chick.. :-)
But it's taken an entire week and a bit to set up Bluetooth and get the darn thing talking to the laptop. Remember those idiocy levels I mentioned? Yup, they kicked in big-time on this one, to the point of forgetting that the phone actually came with an installation disk for the PC! But now that that's sorted, it's all good.
(OH, before I forget - one and a half weeks. That's how long it took Virgin to port my number. Not 24 hours as initially promised. But thankfully the darn thing is through at last.)
I have big plans for my little cellphone. To start with I've given it a cool wallpaper. An Olivia wallpaper - so you'll know it's mine. In fact I'm surrounded by Olivia - cellphone, computer background and one pic stuck up on the frosted glass divider by my desk. I figure if I have enough of her to look at I can't avoid getting stuck in to what needs doing! Except that, as Steve reckons, I may need a wetsuit to work on her this weekend...
So that's the first thing done to the phone. I've been checking out other free downloads online too, seeing as it's so easy to transfer stuff to the phone now. A while ago I bookmarked a Lifehacker tip on creating your own cellphone ringtones. I got some Tchoons waiting for reworking!
I've also customized one particular ringtone and added an image, and just yesterday managed to send my first MMS.
Getting there! Slow and steady, bit at a time. There's still a lot of functionality to explore.
But these blue teeth totally rock.
But it's taken an entire week and a bit to set up Bluetooth and get the darn thing talking to the laptop. Remember those idiocy levels I mentioned? Yup, they kicked in big-time on this one, to the point of forgetting that the phone actually came with an installation disk for the PC! But now that that's sorted, it's all good.
(OH, before I forget - one and a half weeks. That's how long it took Virgin to port my number. Not 24 hours as initially promised. But thankfully the darn thing is through at last.)
I have big plans for my little cellphone. To start with I've given it a cool wallpaper. An Olivia wallpaper - so you'll know it's mine. In fact I'm surrounded by Olivia - cellphone, computer background and one pic stuck up on the frosted glass divider by my desk. I figure if I have enough of her to look at I can't avoid getting stuck in to what needs doing! Except that, as Steve reckons, I may need a wetsuit to work on her this weekend...
So that's the first thing done to the phone. I've been checking out other free downloads online too, seeing as it's so easy to transfer stuff to the phone now. A while ago I bookmarked a Lifehacker tip on creating your own cellphone ringtones. I got some Tchoons waiting for reworking!
I've also customized one particular ringtone and added an image, and just yesterday managed to send my first MMS.
Getting there! Slow and steady, bit at a time. There's still a lot of functionality to explore.
But these blue teeth totally rock.
Winter
Winter has, apparently, struck.
I usually take a fast walk through our mini-mall over lunchtime for a bit of fresh air and exercise. Today there's rain. And Rain. And more RAIN. Oh, with a bit of wind for variety. I have a big umbrella here, but don't want to end up hang-gliding. The poor smokers have had to cower on what protected balconies they can find today.
And the smell of constant coffee-making has had me very close to giving in and concocting a huge, steaming cup of the stuff (if I could figure that machine out). I might succumb if it weren't for the certainty that my caffiene-deprived system would still be bouncing around at midnight tonight.... But perhaps that's not a bad thing after all.
Meantime I'm lunching inside today, at my desk, watching the rain pour down and thankful that my windows at home are closed. I pity the poor dogs in their boxes out back (and talking boxes... eish! still got a few out there to clear too! the weekend's work, among other things). The kid's gonna get wet, whatever lift he takes homeward (and insisted on going to school sans jersey). On days like this I'm almost glad to have a desk-job.
Tonight though.. oh, tonight! My bedroom has the rain hammering just above ceiling height, and there's no better sound on earth to doze off to. Except perhaps whispers from a favourite voice...
I usually take a fast walk through our mini-mall over lunchtime for a bit of fresh air and exercise. Today there's rain. And Rain. And more RAIN. Oh, with a bit of wind for variety. I have a big umbrella here, but don't want to end up hang-gliding. The poor smokers have had to cower on what protected balconies they can find today.
And the smell of constant coffee-making has had me very close to giving in and concocting a huge, steaming cup of the stuff (if I could figure that machine out). I might succumb if it weren't for the certainty that my caffiene-deprived system would still be bouncing around at midnight tonight.... But perhaps that's not a bad thing after all.
Meantime I'm lunching inside today, at my desk, watching the rain pour down and thankful that my windows at home are closed. I pity the poor dogs in their boxes out back (and talking boxes... eish! still got a few out there to clear too! the weekend's work, among other things). The kid's gonna get wet, whatever lift he takes homeward (and insisted on going to school sans jersey). On days like this I'm almost glad to have a desk-job.
Tonight though.. oh, tonight! My bedroom has the rain hammering just above ceiling height, and there's no better sound on earth to doze off to. Except perhaps whispers from a favourite voice...
All my children
Well, all my cars - actually. If they were my children, they'd both be on medical aid.
I've been more than a little peeved this week.
The FFord decided yesterday to develop a new sound - a little bit like a diesel bakkie, to tell the truth. It's whining on take-off, and my commute requires a lot of take-off. Add that to the rattle (which my dad informs me is timing - will be Googling "how to use a timing light" shortly). And the back wheel scraping noise, which only disappears at high speed because it's spinning so fast the sound merges into one continuous noise.
Day before last I hauled off the Ford wheel, crawled underneath to examine things (fending off the neighbour), then whacked the hub nut with a hammer a few times. It helped. Briefly. As did doing 120 on the highway recently. But that's not going to go away on its own, and I need to do replacing instead of rebooting (or re-kicking, as the case may be). Meantime I get peeved at the various noises going to and from work - much worse than the drivers who nearly rear-end me at speed or tear along like complete and utter idiots. And then I get equally or more-so peeved at my lack of ability to just fix the damn thing.
Enter Landy. I really do enjoy fiddling in Oliva, and have already managed to:
* sort out fuel starvation so she Actually Goes
* sort out fuel filters, fuel tank (x1)
* figure out why the lights are acting up (with help - and add to my idiocy levels on one account (no, not going to confess here too))
* check and top up all the oils in various oily bits under and in
* replace half the spark plugs (and figure out how to do the rest - have recently invested in a proper plug spanner to do them with)
* clean all air filter bits and breather cap
* get the idling at the right speed
* replace one flat tyre (with difficulty) - one of the hard ones to replace, involving removal of the wheel hub winch
Which is a good start. But I know nothing (yet) about wiring, timing, half the engine, most of the underneath bits and assorted interior and exterior things that need sorting out. And that gets me both peeved and frustrated.
Fortunately, the Landy comes with a mahoosive instruction manual. Unfortunately, the FFord doesn't. Therein lies a lot of the frustration. And both Googling and "phone a friend" comes into play, with aid of a digital camera and the internet. There's some pretty helpful forums too with people quite forgiving to blonde chicks who like to fiddle with cars. Especially when they ask stupid questions or don't click first time round.
I guess I'll get there.. *sigh* .. eventually. The plan is to fix up Olivia, then drive her while the Ford gets thoroughly sorted, then sell the Ford for as much as I can and invest in a small, nifty commuter-car. That's the plan, anyway.
Meantime the extra-long weekend approaches. Closely followed by a darn cold front which is going to make working on cars most unpleasant. Nevertheless, I will persevere. I'm armed with an AutoZone shopping list and my favourite expert on speed-dial (I should probably just import him... :-) ), will stick the cellphone in cellophane to protect it from grease, and sally forth to swear at things mechanical / garner a fresh crop of bruises, cuts and assorted injuries.
Peeved, frustrated, or not - these things will be sorted. Just wish I had a big covered garage, unlimited knowledge and full range of tools to do so.
I've been more than a little peeved this week.
The FFord decided yesterday to develop a new sound - a little bit like a diesel bakkie, to tell the truth. It's whining on take-off, and my commute requires a lot of take-off. Add that to the rattle (which my dad informs me is timing - will be Googling "how to use a timing light" shortly). And the back wheel scraping noise, which only disappears at high speed because it's spinning so fast the sound merges into one continuous noise.
Day before last I hauled off the Ford wheel, crawled underneath to examine things (fending off the neighbour), then whacked the hub nut with a hammer a few times. It helped. Briefly. As did doing 120 on the highway recently. But that's not going to go away on its own, and I need to do replacing instead of rebooting (or re-kicking, as the case may be). Meantime I get peeved at the various noises going to and from work - much worse than the drivers who nearly rear-end me at speed or tear along like complete and utter idiots. And then I get equally or more-so peeved at my lack of ability to just fix the damn thing.
Enter Landy. I really do enjoy fiddling in Oliva, and have already managed to:
* sort out fuel starvation so she Actually Goes
* sort out fuel filters, fuel tank (x1)
* figure out why the lights are acting up (with help - and add to my idiocy levels on one account (no, not going to confess here too))
* check and top up all the oils in various oily bits under and in
* replace half the spark plugs (and figure out how to do the rest - have recently invested in a proper plug spanner to do them with)
* clean all air filter bits and breather cap
* get the idling at the right speed
* replace one flat tyre (with difficulty) - one of the hard ones to replace, involving removal of the wheel hub winch
Which is a good start. But I know nothing (yet) about wiring, timing, half the engine, most of the underneath bits and assorted interior and exterior things that need sorting out. And that gets me both peeved and frustrated.
Fortunately, the Landy comes with a mahoosive instruction manual. Unfortunately, the FFord doesn't. Therein lies a lot of the frustration. And both Googling and "phone a friend" comes into play, with aid of a digital camera and the internet. There's some pretty helpful forums too with people quite forgiving to blonde chicks who like to fiddle with cars. Especially when they ask stupid questions or don't click first time round.
I guess I'll get there.. *sigh* .. eventually. The plan is to fix up Olivia, then drive her while the Ford gets thoroughly sorted, then sell the Ford for as much as I can and invest in a small, nifty commuter-car. That's the plan, anyway.
Meantime the extra-long weekend approaches. Closely followed by a darn cold front which is going to make working on cars most unpleasant. Nevertheless, I will persevere. I'm armed with an AutoZone shopping list and my favourite expert on speed-dial (I should probably just import him... :-) ), will stick the cellphone in cellophane to protect it from grease, and sally forth to swear at things mechanical / garner a fresh crop of bruises, cuts and assorted injuries.
Peeved, frustrated, or not - these things will be sorted. Just wish I had a big covered garage, unlimited knowledge and full range of tools to do so.
Laws of Attraction
This post has been languishing in drafts for nearly a week. I'd almost forgotten about it - almost.. - but was reminded of its existance over lunchtime.
So, with a bit of a tweak and an update, here it is!
------------
Meetings are interesting beasts. Sometimes they drone on for so long that you start to amuse yourself. You begin examining your meeting-mates in-depth on the sly, and using them to fuel all sorts of ponderings.
This time round I had a go at the whole Physical Attraction thing. What it is that makes one person more attractive to you than another. Funny thing this, but I could find something attractive about all the humans gathered there, varied as they were! If you lined them up next to each other you might not be able to see common ground though, to figure out just what I'd consider appealing.
I saw an online amusement-thingie (those fill in the blanks and we'll tell you your fortune type sites) a while back that had you measure attractiveness on a variety of faces, and then it either threw up your "ideal" or told you all about your personality. Which sounds a bit on the dodgy side, yet has it's entertainment value when bored.
But here's the thing. And this is after some meeting-pondering and beyond.
If you asked me to define my "ideal" of what I find attractive, I wouldn't be able to pin it down. Nor could you garner it by examining the last 10 year's worth of my crushes and madly-loves - except that "tall and nutty" makes up a good percentage of that number, and always has.
When I was younger I had a "wish-list" of traits - some of which make me shudder in horror today, but nevertheless. I guess it was the teen thing of pin-up boys, where you followed the herd when it came to drooling over men, and stuck up whatever centerfold was in this week's You.
Today - well I'm older. Wiser (we hope, though my idiocy factor is running high this week). More sure of me and how I move in the world I inhabit. And my "wish-list" has turned from outer to inner. OK, so the bloke with the incredibly bluegreen eyes and shock of dark hair I spotted in Pick 'n Pay had me do a double-take (unfortunately co-incided with his double-take.. blush :-) ), and now and then I'll go "wow" (no, not out loud! well, not usually) over a passer-by or think "hell, he's cute!" when introduced to someone. But as I said - line them up and there's very little common ground. All you'll gather from that exercise is that South Africa is populated by some damn fine men, whatever your taste is. (And that I seriously drool too much - but hey...!)
Which leads me - finally - to a conclusion of sorts. That it's the person inside shining through that I find more attractive than a bullet-list of handsome. You can have model-chiselled looks, but I'll say "no thanks" if there's no naughty gleam in the eye or layers of fascination to examine. Correction - probably wouldn't have said hi to the model type anyway, as generally speaking they're shallow and vain (and I'm shallow enough myself to brush them off based on stereotype alone! :-) ).
Laws of attraction? Nah - no set in stone laws here. Guidelines perhaps (a girl must have standards after all!), with a liberal dose of gut feel and connection-karma thrown in. A "I know it when I see it" thing, my own version of the X-factor.
Though if I turn over half-asleep in the dark, take one look and scream - that might be a subtle sign the guidelines need reworking.... :-)
So, with a bit of a tweak and an update, here it is!
------------
Meetings are interesting beasts. Sometimes they drone on for so long that you start to amuse yourself. You begin examining your meeting-mates in-depth on the sly, and using them to fuel all sorts of ponderings.
This time round I had a go at the whole Physical Attraction thing. What it is that makes one person more attractive to you than another. Funny thing this, but I could find something attractive about all the humans gathered there, varied as they were! If you lined them up next to each other you might not be able to see common ground though, to figure out just what I'd consider appealing.
I saw an online amusement-thingie (those fill in the blanks and we'll tell you your fortune type sites) a while back that had you measure attractiveness on a variety of faces, and then it either threw up your "ideal" or told you all about your personality. Which sounds a bit on the dodgy side, yet has it's entertainment value when bored.
But here's the thing. And this is after some meeting-pondering and beyond.
If you asked me to define my "ideal" of what I find attractive, I wouldn't be able to pin it down. Nor could you garner it by examining the last 10 year's worth of my crushes and madly-loves - except that "tall and nutty" makes up a good percentage of that number, and always has.
When I was younger I had a "wish-list" of traits - some of which make me shudder in horror today, but nevertheless. I guess it was the teen thing of pin-up boys, where you followed the herd when it came to drooling over men, and stuck up whatever centerfold was in this week's You.
Today - well I'm older. Wiser (we hope, though my idiocy factor is running high this week). More sure of me and how I move in the world I inhabit. And my "wish-list" has turned from outer to inner. OK, so the bloke with the incredibly bluegreen eyes and shock of dark hair I spotted in Pick 'n Pay had me do a double-take (unfortunately co-incided with his double-take.. blush :-) ), and now and then I'll go "wow" (no, not out loud! well, not usually) over a passer-by or think "hell, he's cute!" when introduced to someone. But as I said - line them up and there's very little common ground. All you'll gather from that exercise is that South Africa is populated by some damn fine men, whatever your taste is. (And that I seriously drool too much - but hey...!)
Which leads me - finally - to a conclusion of sorts. That it's the person inside shining through that I find more attractive than a bullet-list of handsome. You can have model-chiselled looks, but I'll say "no thanks" if there's no naughty gleam in the eye or layers of fascination to examine. Correction - probably wouldn't have said hi to the model type anyway, as generally speaking they're shallow and vain (and I'm shallow enough myself to brush them off based on stereotype alone! :-) ).
Laws of attraction? Nah - no set in stone laws here. Guidelines perhaps (a girl must have standards after all!), with a liberal dose of gut feel and connection-karma thrown in. A "I know it when I see it" thing, my own version of the X-factor.
Though if I turn over half-asleep in the dark, take one look and scream - that might be a subtle sign the guidelines need reworking.... :-)
Wanderlust
I've been hit with a serious case of itchy feet lately. It isn't helping that a lot of folk are off to places far and near for the upcoming long weekend and beyond. I may be the only one here on Monday..! :-) If you're not in SAfrica, here's the deal - we have Friday off, then Tuesday again, so a lot of folk are simply taking Monday too and making an expedition of it.
Talking of expeditions... I could really really do with one about now. Yes, I know winter's starting to set in so it may not be all that pleasant in the great outdoors, but hey - the sun's always shining somewhere, and there are still many places left to explore. Especially for me, who hasn't seen a whole lot - not even locally.
This week my imagination's been on holiday - it's been touring deserted corners of the globe, populated places I have yet to see, deserts and mountains and gorges and bushveld. It's turned a nice shade of gold wearing very little on a pure-white beach. It's hit the long road on an impromptu road-trip with it's arm out the window. It's seen shimmering heat and torrential rain, a touch of snow and a couple of rivers.
It's been keeping me going as the rest of me works hard...
But it's also been inspiring me, injecting a dose of determination and focus. That Landy sitting outside, waiting patiently? It's time (again - yes, you've heard this one before). I started last night, and with the long weekend ahead the work will continue in earnest. The computer will stay off so I'm not tempted by Online. I have a long to-do list, and more to be added, one end to the other. Things I can do myself, and those I'll need to call in an expert for. A few steep learning curves, and some I've already covered. Talking of covered - I'm likely to end up rather dirty (again)! But that's what showers are for, and I wear my ingrained grease with pride. Bit by bit, starting this week, Livi's getting back on the road and ready to roll.
After which it won't just be my imagination going places. Watch out world - there's a woman Landy driver joining the fray (once more).
Where will I be going? Watch this space. There are definite plans afoot!
Talking of expeditions... I could really really do with one about now. Yes, I know winter's starting to set in so it may not be all that pleasant in the great outdoors, but hey - the sun's always shining somewhere, and there are still many places left to explore. Especially for me, who hasn't seen a whole lot - not even locally.
This week my imagination's been on holiday - it's been touring deserted corners of the globe, populated places I have yet to see, deserts and mountains and gorges and bushveld. It's turned a nice shade of gold wearing very little on a pure-white beach. It's hit the long road on an impromptu road-trip with it's arm out the window. It's seen shimmering heat and torrential rain, a touch of snow and a couple of rivers.
It's been keeping me going as the rest of me works hard...
But it's also been inspiring me, injecting a dose of determination and focus. That Landy sitting outside, waiting patiently? It's time (again - yes, you've heard this one before). I started last night, and with the long weekend ahead the work will continue in earnest. The computer will stay off so I'm not tempted by Online. I have a long to-do list, and more to be added, one end to the other. Things I can do myself, and those I'll need to call in an expert for. A few steep learning curves, and some I've already covered. Talking of covered - I'm likely to end up rather dirty (again)! But that's what showers are for, and I wear my ingrained grease with pride. Bit by bit, starting this week, Livi's getting back on the road and ready to roll.
After which it won't just be my imagination going places. Watch out world - there's a woman Landy driver joining the fray (once more).
Where will I be going? Watch this space. There are definite plans afoot!
Thunderstorms and Lightning
At precisely 5:20 this morning I was woken up by a rumble in the distance. One of those rare Cape thunderstorms moving in!
Now there's few things I love as much as a good thunderstorm. Growing up in Zimbabwe, summer was all about heat and storm, rain pelting down while the heavens crashed and shuddered after a day of cicadas zinging in the trees and dusty dryness. (It was as a kid that I developed my "rain-sense" - I can smell it coming to a two-day accuracy - someone should pay me for this one.. :-) )
So of course I simply had to get up and take a good look in my half-awake state.
After shutting down my son's computer I opened the blinds in my bedroom wide, lay in bed, and watched the skies flicker, felt the vibrating thunder roll through the room, and heard the rain start to pelt down, hot and heavy. It was mostly cloud-lit high sheet lightning, but at least one large bolt snaked down to earth in full view of my little square of glass.
I don't know what it is that attracts me to voilent weather. If I could, I'd be chasing tornados for a living. Yes, one of my favourite movies happens to be "Twister" and I hang out at this site a lot.
Although we make the trek to my grandparent's farm upcountry to see them whenever possible, I secretly go in the hope of catching a couple of good summer storms... :-) Our last trip netted an incredible hailstorm that chased us home on Christmas day, the colour of the tar road in my rear-view mirror, swirling in a gigantic circle of power and wind. My car still bears a couple of chips out the windscreen where the stones struck as we sheltered beneath a big tree, not quite making it home in time.
I've spent many a night with the lights off, either glued to the window or buffeted by gusting winds outside, feeling the power of nature whip around me, giving just the smallest tingle of fear and awe at what the elements can do.
As the seasons shift and cold and heat clash together, you'll find me watching, listening and experiencing the wilder side of nature at work, goose-bump happy right down to my toenails.
Now there's few things I love as much as a good thunderstorm. Growing up in Zimbabwe, summer was all about heat and storm, rain pelting down while the heavens crashed and shuddered after a day of cicadas zinging in the trees and dusty dryness. (It was as a kid that I developed my "rain-sense" - I can smell it coming to a two-day accuracy - someone should pay me for this one.. :-) )
So of course I simply had to get up and take a good look in my half-awake state.
After shutting down my son's computer I opened the blinds in my bedroom wide, lay in bed, and watched the skies flicker, felt the vibrating thunder roll through the room, and heard the rain start to pelt down, hot and heavy. It was mostly cloud-lit high sheet lightning, but at least one large bolt snaked down to earth in full view of my little square of glass.
I don't know what it is that attracts me to voilent weather. If I could, I'd be chasing tornados for a living. Yes, one of my favourite movies happens to be "Twister" and I hang out at this site a lot.
Although we make the trek to my grandparent's farm upcountry to see them whenever possible, I secretly go in the hope of catching a couple of good summer storms... :-) Our last trip netted an incredible hailstorm that chased us home on Christmas day, the colour of the tar road in my rear-view mirror, swirling in a gigantic circle of power and wind. My car still bears a couple of chips out the windscreen where the stones struck as we sheltered beneath a big tree, not quite making it home in time.
I've spent many a night with the lights off, either glued to the window or buffeted by gusting winds outside, feeling the power of nature whip around me, giving just the smallest tingle of fear and awe at what the elements can do.
As the seasons shift and cold and heat clash together, you'll find me watching, listening and experiencing the wilder side of nature at work, goose-bump happy right down to my toenails.
Random Thoughts
There's nothing cohesive enough in my head to make an entire post of, so here are some of the snippets currently going through my brain:
* Virgin - one week later - has still not ported my Vodacom number. I've been stuck at "level 3 of 13" for most of the week, and bugging them once a day isn't helping. I honestly don't know what to do next. Except wait it out and keep bugging them, topping up my current number in small increments just to keep some airtime available. Funny thing this - I lose whatever credit I have when the Vodacom number ports - yet it's all on the same SIM card and no-one can tell me exactly when my current number will disappear, so I can't let the airtime run out before it goes! Mass confusion reigns.
* I've had to do some re-prioritizing today. As life shifts and settles into new places, so timelines and plans have to change too. I had a big thing planned with Olivia this coming weekend. It's having to be shelved in favour of another plan, with an adjusted timeline. Other things I was planning at the beginning of the year have completely fallen away when I changed jobs/homes. New things have been added. Life is flexible and fluid - if you insist on clinging to set schedules you're only going to stress out.
* I'm home alone tonight. My social butterfly teen has gone to Cape Town with his peers for a story-telling evening! He'll be back whenever. Good thing I'm a pretty relaxed parent.. :-) So tonight I get to do... what? Not quite sure yet. Except sit here in the half-dark, blogging and watching the neighbour across the way cooking his supper (wonder what's in the pot?}.
* I feel like I've shed so many things lately. Along with the few kilo's my sis-in-law noticed yesterday (more is yet needed - but I suspect I'm missing a cup size on the chest as a result.. dammit - must.eat.chocolate!), I've been shedding some set ideas I had about life in general. There are so many layers that I can't really blog about here that are slowly disappearing, once again exposing the real me, the soft and vulnerable me, the one that wants to trust and give and experience life in-depth without fear. It's been a work in progress for ages, but I feel like I'm finally getting there. Along with the shedding comes a new unshakeable confidence in who I am, in who I will yet be. It's very hard to put into words, it's easier lived. But it's good.
* I realized yesterday how much I like our little complex where the new home is. My brother, sis-in-law and nephew came by for lunch and we spent a good deal of time out on the communal lawn, dipping feet (and most of the kids) into the communal pool, hanging with some of the neighbourhood kids, or just sitting with doors and security gates wide open. One little 5 year old chick decided she'd come in and sit around my house - which was also fine. They dropped by to eat bananas and naartjies, and we took a look at the boy's YuGiOh card collection and took turns hitting a plastic bottle with his BB gun. It's more community than security complex. The shops are a short walk away, the neighbours not too bad at all. It's a comfortable, easy place to live - except for the idiots that tend to roar around with noisy cars and blaring music at all hours, but you get those everywhere. Here within our complex walls people walk in the evenings with their kids and their dogs, the guys gather for cricket on the lawn as the sun goes down, and whomever you come across gets a warm greeting exchange. Very nice.
* As much as I tend to pour the general contents of my brain onto this blog - there are still things that I don't talk about here, yet which fill up my days and my nights and my head and my heart and make me smile ear to ear... Who woulda thunk.
* I had the strangest dreams last night. If I wrote them down here you'd fear for my mental health. Hell, sometimes I do myself! :-)
* I am seriously better behind a camera than in front of it. Self-portraits especially suck.
* Virgin - one week later - has still not ported my Vodacom number. I've been stuck at "level 3 of 13" for most of the week, and bugging them once a day isn't helping. I honestly don't know what to do next. Except wait it out and keep bugging them, topping up my current number in small increments just to keep some airtime available. Funny thing this - I lose whatever credit I have when the Vodacom number ports - yet it's all on the same SIM card and no-one can tell me exactly when my current number will disappear, so I can't let the airtime run out before it goes! Mass confusion reigns.
* I've had to do some re-prioritizing today. As life shifts and settles into new places, so timelines and plans have to change too. I had a big thing planned with Olivia this coming weekend. It's having to be shelved in favour of another plan, with an adjusted timeline. Other things I was planning at the beginning of the year have completely fallen away when I changed jobs/homes. New things have been added. Life is flexible and fluid - if you insist on clinging to set schedules you're only going to stress out.
* I'm home alone tonight. My social butterfly teen has gone to Cape Town with his peers for a story-telling evening! He'll be back whenever. Good thing I'm a pretty relaxed parent.. :-) So tonight I get to do... what? Not quite sure yet. Except sit here in the half-dark, blogging and watching the neighbour across the way cooking his supper (wonder what's in the pot?}.
* I feel like I've shed so many things lately. Along with the few kilo's my sis-in-law noticed yesterday (more is yet needed - but I suspect I'm missing a cup size on the chest as a result.. dammit - must.eat.chocolate!), I've been shedding some set ideas I had about life in general. There are so many layers that I can't really blog about here that are slowly disappearing, once again exposing the real me, the soft and vulnerable me, the one that wants to trust and give and experience life in-depth without fear. It's been a work in progress for ages, but I feel like I'm finally getting there. Along with the shedding comes a new unshakeable confidence in who I am, in who I will yet be. It's very hard to put into words, it's easier lived. But it's good.
* I realized yesterday how much I like our little complex where the new home is. My brother, sis-in-law and nephew came by for lunch and we spent a good deal of time out on the communal lawn, dipping feet (and most of the kids) into the communal pool, hanging with some of the neighbourhood kids, or just sitting with doors and security gates wide open. One little 5 year old chick decided she'd come in and sit around my house - which was also fine. They dropped by to eat bananas and naartjies, and we took a look at the boy's YuGiOh card collection and took turns hitting a plastic bottle with his BB gun. It's more community than security complex. The shops are a short walk away, the neighbours not too bad at all. It's a comfortable, easy place to live - except for the idiots that tend to roar around with noisy cars and blaring music at all hours, but you get those everywhere. Here within our complex walls people walk in the evenings with their kids and their dogs, the guys gather for cricket on the lawn as the sun goes down, and whomever you come across gets a warm greeting exchange. Very nice.
* As much as I tend to pour the general contents of my brain onto this blog - there are still things that I don't talk about here, yet which fill up my days and my nights and my head and my heart and make me smile ear to ear... Who woulda thunk.
* I had the strangest dreams last night. If I wrote them down here you'd fear for my mental health. Hell, sometimes I do myself! :-)
* I am seriously better behind a camera than in front of it. Self-portraits especially suck.
Virgin vs Pizza
Last night on the way home I stopped in to order pizza from our favourite place down the road. And while I was waiting I dialled Virgin customer service to find out why my Vodacom number has STILL not been ported to the Virgn network - 4 days after they promised it would be. In the meantime the Vodacom number has completely died, and it's the number everyone has as my only contact while we wait for Telkom to install a home DSL/phone line (2 months?! I'm probably not as lucky as Aquila!). My work phone number only kicked in a day ago - I wasn't aware it had issues and only found out my extension/number when someone tried to phone me from another office and reported the problem (yes, I should have asked - but am still finding my feet), which then took another 3 days to sort out. So basically, without my Vodacom number working I'm stuffed.
Well, being a Friday, apparently the Virgin lines were all busy and I was placed in an information-overload queue, bombarded with useful facts about Virgin while waiting.
And thus the Pizza Timer was born. Which would happen first? Would my pizza be ready, or would I have a real live Virgin operator on the line and my problem solved?
It was a close call, I tell ya! The Virgin line made it by about 2 minutes. Which is kinda shocking considering a pizza takes 15 minutes to cook.
Did I get my problem solved? No. The helpful bloke on the other end was going to look into it and contact me personally today. Didn't happen. More than a day later and I'm still not ported. I phoned again this afternoon, and this time was at least given a case number and told "24 hours". We'll see.
As much as I like the whole Virgin experience, this part of it is SO not on...
Well, being a Friday, apparently the Virgin lines were all busy and I was placed in an information-overload queue, bombarded with useful facts about Virgin while waiting.
And thus the Pizza Timer was born. Which would happen first? Would my pizza be ready, or would I have a real live Virgin operator on the line and my problem solved?
It was a close call, I tell ya! The Virgin line made it by about 2 minutes. Which is kinda shocking considering a pizza takes 15 minutes to cook.
Did I get my problem solved? No. The helpful bloke on the other end was going to look into it and contact me personally today. Didn't happen. More than a day later and I'm still not ported. I phoned again this afternoon, and this time was at least given a case number and told "24 hours". We'll see.
As much as I like the whole Virgin experience, this part of it is SO not on...
Blog Silence
This blog is usually overly verbose. However, on the 30th - next Monday - it will be silent.
Will yours?
Please visit the One Day Blog Silence site for details.
Will yours?
Please visit the One Day Blog Silence site for details.
Something in the air(con)
I'm convinced there's something dodgy about the aircon here. A good few folk are feeling very dozey lately. I can barely keep my eyes open for much of the day - not at all like me. I actually want to curl up under the desk and sleep.
If I head outside for some fresh air, within seconds I'm "normal" again - clear-headed, wide awake, able to do complicated mathematical equations in my head (OK, perhaps not the last one).
There's something very weird going on...
If I head outside for some fresh air, within seconds I'm "normal" again - clear-headed, wide awake, able to do complicated mathematical equations in my head (OK, perhaps not the last one).
There's something very weird going on...
Work hard for a living
How easy is it to come to work when this is your first-thing-in-the-morning view?! Yup, right outside my office window. Eat your heart out.
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Ooooooooh! - take 2..
OK, I've finally gotten around to setting up The Monitor in addition to The Laptop. Issues were wrong plug, wrong adaptor - and then I went and got a new power cable from the gadgetry bloke, so now it's up and running.
I admit I had to do a bit of fiddling to get it set up - I've never done this before. But what a difference it's making!
I'm busy working on something that requires constant check-back on a different screen to make sure the info's going in correctly. Now I've stuck all that on the big monitor, and am simply referring to it as I go instead of clicking things open and closed!
Ooooooooh indeed.. :-)
I like it muchly.
I admit I had to do a bit of fiddling to get it set up - I've never done this before. But what a difference it's making!
I'm busy working on something that requires constant check-back on a different screen to make sure the info's going in correctly. Now I've stuck all that on the big monitor, and am simply referring to it as I go instead of clicking things open and closed!
Ooooooooh indeed.. :-)
I like it muchly.
Lunch
You know what happens when you forget your lunch at home? You end up paying R25 for a Woolies Greek pasta salad!!!
Never again...
Never again...
Cottonhead
OK, this seriously has to stop. I'm sitting here feeling like my brain has disappeared. It's as if I'm experiencing the world through a haze, a fog, a layer of cottonwool. I'm constantly tired, worn-out, unable to think, energy completely gone.
This. Is. Not. Lekker. And I can't afford it. I have a lot of thinking to do for work in the next little bit. I need to be sharp, not dull.
That fancy coffee machine is looking mighty tempting... but I know it's not going to do me any good at all. It's only going to make things worse.
What to do? Well first up I'm going to go get some fresh air. Immediately. And then, from tomorrow, I'm going to try to NOT forget my well-thought-out lunch, sitting patiently on the kitchen counter at home, waiting for me.. Energy crashes and starvation - two things I can't afford.
::update::
Don't supposed I can blame this on having my head close to bashed in by my car boot coming down on it on Sunday? It's still sore... but probably not, hey.
This. Is. Not. Lekker. And I can't afford it. I have a lot of thinking to do for work in the next little bit. I need to be sharp, not dull.
That fancy coffee machine is looking mighty tempting... but I know it's not going to do me any good at all. It's only going to make things worse.
What to do? Well first up I'm going to go get some fresh air. Immediately. And then, from tomorrow, I'm going to try to NOT forget my well-thought-out lunch, sitting patiently on the kitchen counter at home, waiting for me.. Energy crashes and starvation - two things I can't afford.
::update::
Don't supposed I can blame this on having my head close to bashed in by my car boot coming down on it on Sunday? It's still sore... but probably not, hey.
Tropical
You can tell Autumn's setting in. It's not just the chilly mornings and evenings, that rapid drop in temp when the sun disappears. Nor the fact that all the vineyards along my commute (eat your heart out!) are dropping their leaves and turning a variety of golds and reds. It's not just the mist or the cold fronts.
Nope - it's that I've got this sudden hankering for tropical heat.
You know that kind? Think humid and you're half-way there.
I had a sudden flashback just now to time spent in Queensland and on the Gold Coast of Australia. Where you step out to find the air warm and damp, not chilly-biting. Where walking out of an aircon environment is like stepping into a sauna. Putting your toes in the sea is the same as sticking them in a warm bath. Even when it rains it's hot. And you don't have to layer on the clothes to survive - it's shorts, shirts and sandals weather all the time, complete with golden skin and fruit-for-supper.
That's what I have a hankering for today.
Oh, and probably the holiday spirit and utter relaxation associated with those two spots. Yup, still on an inner mission for escape/holiday/break - though I'm getting there slowly. As both home and work settle down I'm starting to regain equilibrium.
Nevertheless, every now and then I get these sudden urges for a place, a feeling. Today it's all tropical.
Nope - it's that I've got this sudden hankering for tropical heat.
You know that kind? Think humid and you're half-way there.
I had a sudden flashback just now to time spent in Queensland and on the Gold Coast of Australia. Where you step out to find the air warm and damp, not chilly-biting. Where walking out of an aircon environment is like stepping into a sauna. Putting your toes in the sea is the same as sticking them in a warm bath. Even when it rains it's hot. And you don't have to layer on the clothes to survive - it's shorts, shirts and sandals weather all the time, complete with golden skin and fruit-for-supper.
That's what I have a hankering for today.
Oh, and probably the holiday spirit and utter relaxation associated with those two spots. Yup, still on an inner mission for escape/holiday/break - though I'm getting there slowly. As both home and work settle down I'm starting to regain equilibrium.
Nevertheless, every now and then I get these sudden urges for a place, a feeling. Today it's all tropical.
Only Tuesday
It's been a bit of a Day. I'm not even entirely sure why, as things are going pretty well all-round. But I found myself wanting to cry a few times, and actually crying (quietly, so no-one would notice) at least once. I did hit an "up" a few times, but generally it's been a low-key, lay-low, low-down day.
However, on the good stuff front:
* My car lights are fixed! There was a switch not working too well, and it couldn't be replaced. I now have a pull-button lights-on switch! Mod-Ford... :-) It works, it was cheap, and I have added one very good autoelectrician to my contacts list.
* I have found someone to sort out Olivia's basic service and compression test, a kick-start in the right direction. At least I think I have. I'm still trying to negotiate when his hands are not greasy. I'll be happier when she's back on the road full-time, even if it takes some doing.
* I had the surprising experience of being greeted out loud with a friendly "HI!" by a cute stranger in the middle of a parking lot! Now that doesn't happen every day.. :-) OK, so us humans do perhaps pass along a smile or a nod or some eye-contact now and then, but an out-loud Hello with warmth and friendliness like you've run into your best friend just doesn't happen. So I was suprised. Pleasantly.
* I've achieved one of the goals I've been putting off for a while - adding something to my house that I've been meaning to, and which will make me feel happier coming home to. Actually, I've been fiddling with my bedroom a lot this week. Tonight I chucked out some sentimental stuff from my teen years, things I've hung on to for who knows what reason, but one last look and they're outta here. A giggle at the "man ratings" we assigned to guys we knew in high school (perhaps I should pass that on - saw one of them last night, and he featured pretty high up on the list!). A shudder at some of the horribly-80's clothing I thought was nice and had clipped out of magazines. Along with a Don Johnson in a suit/t-shirt - with rolled up sleeves. How the hell did we ever like that stuff???!!! Last night I chucked the small TV out of my room and stuck it downstairs for the cricket addicts (the only set picking up the channel it's on at the moment). Now my room is all mine - no-one has any excuse to come in and use it for anything unless they're invited to. For the first time in a very very long time, my room is my refuge.
* I've arranged for a good friend to bring his truck along on Friday and load up stuff for the auctions. I'm getting rid of all the things I don't need, don't want, and don't feel like having in my house any longer. Clearing space for good to flow in. Mentally and physically. Creating room for the future I want.
* I made a few other positive steps and decisions today, beneath the surface, not readily noticeable, and not really bloggable. Got excited at some possibilities, dreamt some dreams.
But I also spent too much time discouraged, fearful, worried and stressed. I just wish the good had completely overridden and swept out the bad.
I think I need an early night...
However, on the good stuff front:
* My car lights are fixed! There was a switch not working too well, and it couldn't be replaced. I now have a pull-button lights-on switch! Mod-Ford... :-) It works, it was cheap, and I have added one very good autoelectrician to my contacts list.
* I have found someone to sort out Olivia's basic service and compression test, a kick-start in the right direction. At least I think I have. I'm still trying to negotiate when his hands are not greasy. I'll be happier when she's back on the road full-time, even if it takes some doing.
* I had the surprising experience of being greeted out loud with a friendly "HI!" by a cute stranger in the middle of a parking lot! Now that doesn't happen every day.. :-) OK, so us humans do perhaps pass along a smile or a nod or some eye-contact now and then, but an out-loud Hello with warmth and friendliness like you've run into your best friend just doesn't happen. So I was suprised. Pleasantly.
* I've achieved one of the goals I've been putting off for a while - adding something to my house that I've been meaning to, and which will make me feel happier coming home to. Actually, I've been fiddling with my bedroom a lot this week. Tonight I chucked out some sentimental stuff from my teen years, things I've hung on to for who knows what reason, but one last look and they're outta here. A giggle at the "man ratings" we assigned to guys we knew in high school (perhaps I should pass that on - saw one of them last night, and he featured pretty high up on the list!). A shudder at some of the horribly-80's clothing I thought was nice and had clipped out of magazines. Along with a Don Johnson in a suit/t-shirt - with rolled up sleeves. How the hell did we ever like that stuff???!!! Last night I chucked the small TV out of my room and stuck it downstairs for the cricket addicts (the only set picking up the channel it's on at the moment). Now my room is all mine - no-one has any excuse to come in and use it for anything unless they're invited to. For the first time in a very very long time, my room is my refuge.
* I've arranged for a good friend to bring his truck along on Friday and load up stuff for the auctions. I'm getting rid of all the things I don't need, don't want, and don't feel like having in my house any longer. Clearing space for good to flow in. Mentally and physically. Creating room for the future I want.
* I made a few other positive steps and decisions today, beneath the surface, not readily noticeable, and not really bloggable. Got excited at some possibilities, dreamt some dreams.
But I also spent too much time discouraged, fearful, worried and stressed. I just wish the good had completely overridden and swept out the bad.
I think I need an early night...
Note
Do not place new bluetooth-gadgetry cellphone next to new optical mouse nor next to new fancy keyboard. Every time the cellphone rings you're going to get some sort of interference and have to restart!
So noted...
So noted...
Escape - take 2
I would still dearly love to run away today. Unfortunately my car's in getting its lights fixed, and I doubt I'd get too far on foot! :-) (If it's not done by 5 I may have no choice but to get somewhere on foot - it's only a 20km walk home.)
So instead of escape, I have to suck it up and attend to life as normal.
So instead of escape, I have to suck it up and attend to life as normal.
Thieving... &*#@%!
There's something that's got me really p'd off lately - the absolute audacity of what has become known as "affirmative shopping". Taking that which others have worked and paid for, just because you can. Without a stitch of concience involved.
It's happening more and more frequently. Especially in certain parts of the country. If it's not secured, locked down, armed and dangerous (and comes with a matching pittbull), it's going to get lifted. Actually, even if it is they might steal it AND what it's bolted to.
Many of these theives have got the process down to a fine art - so well organized that they have the tools handy to rip you off within seconds, without you even noticing it. You stop at a traffic light, and it's gone.
That gets me very, very angry. What the hell happened to concience in society? To a sense of right and wrong? To working for what you want instead of just swiping it off someone else? And how do you stop it short of carrying a shotgun? It's like an infectious disease that just seems to be spreading everywhere.
A while back one of our large political figures was talking about "fear mongering" - how certain parts of the population are over-reacting and/or trying to make everyone panic. But this is day-to-day life. This is what happens each and every day - you get ripped off, replace it, get ripped off again, replace it... endless blerry cycle until you get so peeved you take a weapon to anyone who looks like they might have ripped you off in the past / are about to rip you off / may rip you off in the future.
You put up 9ft walls topped with spikes and broken glass, within more walls until it looks like very complex is a fort. You double up on security doors and fit bars to every inch of the windows (only to come home and find they've actually cut into the walls and removed them to break in). You call in armed response and hire security (who then sees a profit where there's one to be made and gets in on the crime deal). You give up, move to the countryside - and end up a victim of farm murders.
There's no escaping it seems. And that gets me very, very discouraged. And yes - angry.
I've got no answers on this one. So instead I'm just gonna stew a while.
It's happening more and more frequently. Especially in certain parts of the country. If it's not secured, locked down, armed and dangerous (and comes with a matching pittbull), it's going to get lifted. Actually, even if it is they might steal it AND what it's bolted to.
Many of these theives have got the process down to a fine art - so well organized that they have the tools handy to rip you off within seconds, without you even noticing it. You stop at a traffic light, and it's gone.
That gets me very, very angry. What the hell happened to concience in society? To a sense of right and wrong? To working for what you want instead of just swiping it off someone else? And how do you stop it short of carrying a shotgun? It's like an infectious disease that just seems to be spreading everywhere.
A while back one of our large political figures was talking about "fear mongering" - how certain parts of the population are over-reacting and/or trying to make everyone panic. But this is day-to-day life. This is what happens each and every day - you get ripped off, replace it, get ripped off again, replace it... endless blerry cycle until you get so peeved you take a weapon to anyone who looks like they might have ripped you off in the past / are about to rip you off / may rip you off in the future.
You put up 9ft walls topped with spikes and broken glass, within more walls until it looks like very complex is a fort. You double up on security doors and fit bars to every inch of the windows (only to come home and find they've actually cut into the walls and removed them to break in). You call in armed response and hire security (who then sees a profit where there's one to be made and gets in on the crime deal). You give up, move to the countryside - and end up a victim of farm murders.
There's no escaping it seems. And that gets me very, very discouraged. And yes - angry.
I've got no answers on this one. So instead I'm just gonna stew a while.
Luggage
I've noticed a horrifying phenomenon lately. Bags under eyes upon awaking! It's like I've been up partying all night - 'cept I haven't... Or running on a diet of caffiene and cigarettes - not a chance.
But I think I've figured it out.
I tried to take two afternoon naps this weekend. Both of which were interrupted. I got to bed near 1 on Sunday morning. I tossed and turned a good deal of last night. And the aircon at work is drying out my skin big-time.
So.. remedies.
Earplugs for the afternoon naps? Perhaps - but I'm weird, I've never liked to stuff things into my ears that dull my sense of hearing. No, I don't own an iPod (I like to listen to my environment as I move through life). Sticking my hands-free cellphone bits into the ears this morning irritated me too and I took one out so I could hear the car, the road etc. I'm not one for putting things on my eyes either - so making it all dark and quiet is probably out - unless I can sort out noise-proofing for neighbourhood kids and redirecting the afternoon sun.
The sleep-at-night thing is going to have to get a relook - I have to find out why I'm not falling asleep immediately, why I'm awake at 3 rolling from one side of the bed to the other (OK, sometimes my headspace is to blame). I suspect I need a lot more exercise and fresh air to sort out balance and flow, all that stuff. So need to stick a slot in the schedule that involves movement and the great outdoors.
The aircon - well, I'm upping my moisturizer slathering, and making sure I get through a few bottles of water every day. Hot water perhaps, as not only is it rather chilly out, but the aircon here is set to icicle.
If all else fails, I'll just have to pack those bags under the eyes and take a holiday.
But I think I've figured it out.
I tried to take two afternoon naps this weekend. Both of which were interrupted. I got to bed near 1 on Sunday morning. I tossed and turned a good deal of last night. And the aircon at work is drying out my skin big-time.
So.. remedies.
Earplugs for the afternoon naps? Perhaps - but I'm weird, I've never liked to stuff things into my ears that dull my sense of hearing. No, I don't own an iPod (I like to listen to my environment as I move through life). Sticking my hands-free cellphone bits into the ears this morning irritated me too and I took one out so I could hear the car, the road etc. I'm not one for putting things on my eyes either - so making it all dark and quiet is probably out - unless I can sort out noise-proofing for neighbourhood kids and redirecting the afternoon sun.
The sleep-at-night thing is going to have to get a relook - I have to find out why I'm not falling asleep immediately, why I'm awake at 3 rolling from one side of the bed to the other (OK, sometimes my headspace is to blame). I suspect I need a lot more exercise and fresh air to sort out balance and flow, all that stuff. So need to stick a slot in the schedule that involves movement and the great outdoors.
The aircon - well, I'm upping my moisturizer slathering, and making sure I get through a few bottles of water every day. Hot water perhaps, as not only is it rather chilly out, but the aircon here is set to icicle.
If all else fails, I'll just have to pack those bags under the eyes and take a holiday.
Gadgetry
Today was a serious gadget day. I gave my bank account a few sleeping pills and went to buy a new cellphone!
It's not the latest or greatest - it doesn't do tricks or make coffee - but it's niiiiice! It's a Nokia 6111 (black - just like this one), a big step up from the one I've now passed on to my oh-so-chuffed son. While at it, we both switched to Virgin Mobile and my Vodacom number gets transferred sometime tomorrow. Not on a contract, so it's paid for and up to me to determine how much I spend per month on calls.
So of course today I've been playing with the thing, getting to know how it functions and Actually Reading The Manual. Some bits were glossed over - things I don't plan on using often. Others were trawled in-depth and settings changed. I now have one particular ringtone when someone special phones - which the old phone didn't do. I still have a bit of goodie-enabling to do once I'm all the way over to Virgin and the new SIM card - things like picture/video messaging (MMS) and some other network-specific stuff.
In the meantime the kid's figured out how his one works, has got his mom's and gramps's numbers stored, and sent his first SMS. I'm going to be happier knowing he's contactable and can contact me - our home line will still take a while to install. He can also keep in contact with all those chicks he's been hanging out with, though has been warned that buying airtime after this first free bit is going to be his responsibility. He's set up his screen, set up his ringtones, sorted his PIN.
The third Nokia in the family being played with today was dad's. Yes, Nokia owns us. He's got a model somewhere between our two, and at one stage we were all head-down, doing phone things.
Oh, mine came with a hands-free set, which is another thing I was aiming for today. What a pleasure to yak on the phone and wash dishes/walk/make pancakes at the same time! Though it does look strange talking to yourself, it makes the world of difference. No more cramped up wrist or neck from chatting at a funny angle.
So that's today's gadget update. The first of a few, done in small increments so we don't bankrupt ourselves just yet. Deep down, I'm a closet geek.
It's not the latest or greatest - it doesn't do tricks or make coffee - but it's niiiiice! It's a Nokia 6111 (black - just like this one), a big step up from the one I've now passed on to my oh-so-chuffed son. While at it, we both switched to Virgin Mobile and my Vodacom number gets transferred sometime tomorrow. Not on a contract, so it's paid for and up to me to determine how much I spend per month on calls.So of course today I've been playing with the thing, getting to know how it functions and Actually Reading The Manual. Some bits were glossed over - things I don't plan on using often. Others were trawled in-depth and settings changed. I now have one particular ringtone when someone special phones - which the old phone didn't do. I still have a bit of goodie-enabling to do once I'm all the way over to Virgin and the new SIM card - things like picture/video messaging (MMS) and some other network-specific stuff.
In the meantime the kid's figured out how his one works, has got his mom's and gramps's numbers stored, and sent his first SMS. I'm going to be happier knowing he's contactable and can contact me - our home line will still take a while to install. He can also keep in contact with all those chicks he's been hanging out with, though has been warned that buying airtime after this first free bit is going to be his responsibility. He's set up his screen, set up his ringtones, sorted his PIN.
The third Nokia in the family being played with today was dad's. Yes, Nokia owns us. He's got a model somewhere between our two, and at one stage we were all head-down, doing phone things.
Oh, mine came with a hands-free set, which is another thing I was aiming for today. What a pleasure to yak on the phone and wash dishes/walk/make pancakes at the same time! Though it does look strange talking to yourself, it makes the world of difference. No more cramped up wrist or neck from chatting at a funny angle.
So that's today's gadget update. The first of a few, done in small increments so we don't bankrupt ourselves just yet. Deep down, I'm a closet geek.
Here comes trouble
Or, as we say in Afrikaans, "Hier kom 'n ding...!".
Earlier this afternoon my dad dropped by on the way to officiate at a wedding. With his date.
Oh - let me first backtrack a bit. This is an internationally-organized wedding. My sis-in-law's cousin (I think) from the UK is getting married here to a British bloke, with dad from Australia doing the ceremony and a local marriage officer doing the legal bit. Fortunately it's all come together nicely. But when dad arrived and went visiting around the campus we used to live/work at - he found that a rumour has been doing the rounds that he was here to GET married! And that rumour, as is the way with such things, has spread by email to Australia, the UK, the USA... Quite amusing, actually.
But back to today.
Dad's taken an old family friend to the wedding so he wouldn't rock up alone. We've known her since forever, from Zimbabwe days - our families hung out all the time, and we've kept in touch ever since. She's been through a divorce or two, and dad's always been the good friend whose shoulder she could cry on, etc. When mom died in 2005, she returned the shoulder-favour. She's a wonderful woman - if he were to remarry, there would be no objection from any of us if it were her. 'Cept I'm not sure she's keen to move to Australia.
Anyhoo - dad's taken her as date to the wedding. They turned up here on the way past so she could check out the new digs and say hi, and lo and behold - they're wearing matching outfits by accident! Dad's in a lovely lilac shirt, she's in a peachy-purple pants suit. Good-looking couple they are.
And dad's in quite the mood too! (Dad - if you read this, don't.. :-) )
He's got a naughty sparkle in his eye (yes, I've been told more than once I'm my dad's child), teasing poor Ingrid like crazy about marrying her, and kissing her and who knows what else. And he's only half-joking I think!!! Now dad's a pastor - and comes from a rather conservative background when he lived and worked in SA. At my little brother's wedding he didn't want to set a bad example by dancing or carrying on. Things changed a lot when they moved to Australia, and he's always been up for keeping ahead of change - surprised the heck out of us on occasion (we still don't know what he wants to be when he grows up). Today - well, lets just say there WILL be dancing, and there WILL be some serious partying going down! I've warned him not to pitch up here drunk (wholly and soleley unlikely) - if he pitches up at all. It's anyone's guess.
YOU GO DAD!
I was laughing myself silly when they left. Hier kom 'n ding!!!
Earlier this afternoon my dad dropped by on the way to officiate at a wedding. With his date.
Oh - let me first backtrack a bit. This is an internationally-organized wedding. My sis-in-law's cousin (I think) from the UK is getting married here to a British bloke, with dad from Australia doing the ceremony and a local marriage officer doing the legal bit. Fortunately it's all come together nicely. But when dad arrived and went visiting around the campus we used to live/work at - he found that a rumour has been doing the rounds that he was here to GET married! And that rumour, as is the way with such things, has spread by email to Australia, the UK, the USA... Quite amusing, actually.
But back to today.
Dad's taken an old family friend to the wedding so he wouldn't rock up alone. We've known her since forever, from Zimbabwe days - our families hung out all the time, and we've kept in touch ever since. She's been through a divorce or two, and dad's always been the good friend whose shoulder she could cry on, etc. When mom died in 2005, she returned the shoulder-favour. She's a wonderful woman - if he were to remarry, there would be no objection from any of us if it were her. 'Cept I'm not sure she's keen to move to Australia.
Anyhoo - dad's taken her as date to the wedding. They turned up here on the way past so she could check out the new digs and say hi, and lo and behold - they're wearing matching outfits by accident! Dad's in a lovely lilac shirt, she's in a peachy-purple pants suit. Good-looking couple they are.
And dad's in quite the mood too! (Dad - if you read this, don't.. :-) )
He's got a naughty sparkle in his eye (yes, I've been told more than once I'm my dad's child), teasing poor Ingrid like crazy about marrying her, and kissing her and who knows what else. And he's only half-joking I think!!! Now dad's a pastor - and comes from a rather conservative background when he lived and worked in SA. At my little brother's wedding he didn't want to set a bad example by dancing or carrying on. Things changed a lot when they moved to Australia, and he's always been up for keeping ahead of change - surprised the heck out of us on occasion (we still don't know what he wants to be when he grows up). Today - well, lets just say there WILL be dancing, and there WILL be some serious partying going down! I've warned him not to pitch up here drunk (wholly and soleley unlikely) - if he pitches up at all. It's anyone's guess.
YOU GO DAD!
I was laughing myself silly when they left. Hier kom 'n ding!!!
Oops
Late afternoon I got stuck into Olivia for a quick fiddle and an attempt to get the last 3 spark plugs in before it got too dark / cloudy / whatever. She's made in such a way that those ones at the back literally require the bonnet to either be removed or a part of it to be disconnected so you can flip it up as far as it will go.
I did the latter - found out the roofrack's in the way - located a strap to secure the bonnet to the rooftop tent closure - and stuck 'er up. Only to find that the distributor's actually in the way too. With the tools I have I can't get two of the three plugs out or in (note to self - get actual plugs spanner and quit trying to make do with a socket spanner...). With night coming on fast I thought I'd better leave it for the day - reconnected the bonnet, slammed it down...
... and then.. OOPS!
The bonnet's held in place by two "unofficial" hinges - mere plastic thingies that keep a bar in place and allow it to move up or down. The bar had slipped out on one side and there was a serious gap between bonnet and bodywork! Worst of all, the bonnet wouldn't open. And it's not built like the Ford - you can't go crawl underneath and fiddle with a screwdriver to pop it. There's half an engine in the way!
Deep breath. Tried again. Sjoe - this time it opened. I had to re-undo the nut holding the bonnet lever in place, lift it high enough to pop that hinge back in, lower it carefully to make sure it stuck where it was supposed to, re-attach the nut, and close. And this time it worked.
So in the end I actually did nothing new on poor old Olivia today other than learn how a hinge and a nut works - and that some things require more time than you thought you needed. Which, I guess, is a learning curve of note - and not too bad for a quick job.
I did the latter - found out the roofrack's in the way - located a strap to secure the bonnet to the rooftop tent closure - and stuck 'er up. Only to find that the distributor's actually in the way too. With the tools I have I can't get two of the three plugs out or in (note to self - get actual plugs spanner and quit trying to make do with a socket spanner...). With night coming on fast I thought I'd better leave it for the day - reconnected the bonnet, slammed it down...
... and then.. OOPS!
The bonnet's held in place by two "unofficial" hinges - mere plastic thingies that keep a bar in place and allow it to move up or down. The bar had slipped out on one side and there was a serious gap between bonnet and bodywork! Worst of all, the bonnet wouldn't open. And it's not built like the Ford - you can't go crawl underneath and fiddle with a screwdriver to pop it. There's half an engine in the way!
Deep breath. Tried again. Sjoe - this time it opened. I had to re-undo the nut holding the bonnet lever in place, lift it high enough to pop that hinge back in, lower it carefully to make sure it stuck where it was supposed to, re-attach the nut, and close. And this time it worked.
So in the end I actually did nothing new on poor old Olivia today other than learn how a hinge and a nut works - and that some things require more time than you thought you needed. Which, I guess, is a learning curve of note - and not too bad for a quick job.
The Afternoon Nap
There's something to be said for that post-lunch lie-down. Weekends are perfect for it!
This morning I took a brief squiz at my complex's rules and noticed that not only should we be silent after 23h00 (they don't mention until what time in the morning) - but also between 14h00 and 16h00 on a Sunday. In other words a forced period of quiet, just right for recovering from Sunday lunch!
After a chilly start to the morning, the day warmed up nicely. Now it's starting to cloud over again, perhaps with rain on the way in the next few days. But that's perfect for snuggling up and snoozing - even if it's been mere hours since you got up.
Lately I've noticed I'm looking tired. On more than one morning I've seen dark shadows under the eyes instead of the healthy glow that should be there. OK, I've been working long days and sorting out various things both physically and mentally - so I could be worn out. The aircon in the office is drying out my skin dramatically, which could be a factor. Stress seems to be affecting me in other ways too - losing more hair than usual while brushing, having sudden energy-crashes mid-afternoon (though that may equally have to do with the wrong kind of lunch and working in a lack-of-fresh-air environment). This whole life-change stuff may have taken more of a toll on me in the last month than I realized.
Which is where the weekend afternoon nap comes in. A chance to let my body recover from whatever abuse I've thrown at it during the week. Time to luxuriate in dreams and a good stretch under the covers. Somehow I seem to sleep more solidly in a 2-hour nap than I sometimes do at night - provided I don't get interrupted just as I'm dropping off.
So this weekend it's what I'm indulging in. Once I've sorted out lunch for those that are hungry, I'm kicking back, stripping down and sleeping. Tucked up to the nose under the duvet, door closed, blinds down, far off in dreamland.
This morning I took a brief squiz at my complex's rules and noticed that not only should we be silent after 23h00 (they don't mention until what time in the morning) - but also between 14h00 and 16h00 on a Sunday. In other words a forced period of quiet, just right for recovering from Sunday lunch!
After a chilly start to the morning, the day warmed up nicely. Now it's starting to cloud over again, perhaps with rain on the way in the next few days. But that's perfect for snuggling up and snoozing - even if it's been mere hours since you got up.
Lately I've noticed I'm looking tired. On more than one morning I've seen dark shadows under the eyes instead of the healthy glow that should be there. OK, I've been working long days and sorting out various things both physically and mentally - so I could be worn out. The aircon in the office is drying out my skin dramatically, which could be a factor. Stress seems to be affecting me in other ways too - losing more hair than usual while brushing, having sudden energy-crashes mid-afternoon (though that may equally have to do with the wrong kind of lunch and working in a lack-of-fresh-air environment). This whole life-change stuff may have taken more of a toll on me in the last month than I realized.
Which is where the weekend afternoon nap comes in. A chance to let my body recover from whatever abuse I've thrown at it during the week. Time to luxuriate in dreams and a good stretch under the covers. Somehow I seem to sleep more solidly in a 2-hour nap than I sometimes do at night - provided I don't get interrupted just as I'm dropping off.
So this weekend it's what I'm indulging in. Once I've sorted out lunch for those that are hungry, I'm kicking back, stripping down and sleeping. Tucked up to the nose under the duvet, door closed, blinds down, far off in dreamland.
Winter-warmers
I was all too uneager to get up this morning. It's very very chilly - with a cold wind blowing in spite of the clear skies. Two duvets are just about right, and a hot water bottle was required at bedtime last night too. Total cuddle weather.
It's on days and nights like this that I miss a fireplace. The last house that had one saw it used often - firing it up at the least provocation, throwing pillows and duvets down in front of it and spending hours staring into the mesmerizing coals. I slept in front of it, I sat in front of it, I even got into a couple liplocks in front of it. It's a real pity fireplaces aren't on the high-list of requirements when building houses these days.
But it's also comfort-food weather. Soups, stews, curry & rice, stir-fry with my awesome sweet & sour sauce, vast sheets of home-made pizza, roast potatoes, pies, stodgy baked puddings swimming in their own sauce. Mugs of hot chocolate or milo or rooibos chai. Although I sat outside and admired the brilliant sunset last night, I suspect that won't be too high on my to-do list today.
Instead it's off for a hot shower to thaw the bones loose. Some warm clothes. A breakfast of stuff that requires cooking. And a seeking out of as many sheltered spots of sunshine as I can find.
It's on days and nights like this that I miss a fireplace. The last house that had one saw it used often - firing it up at the least provocation, throwing pillows and duvets down in front of it and spending hours staring into the mesmerizing coals. I slept in front of it, I sat in front of it, I even got into a couple liplocks in front of it. It's a real pity fireplaces aren't on the high-list of requirements when building houses these days.
But it's also comfort-food weather. Soups, stews, curry & rice, stir-fry with my awesome sweet & sour sauce, vast sheets of home-made pizza, roast potatoes, pies, stodgy baked puddings swimming in their own sauce. Mugs of hot chocolate or milo or rooibos chai. Although I sat outside and admired the brilliant sunset last night, I suspect that won't be too high on my to-do list today.
Instead it's off for a hot shower to thaw the bones loose. Some warm clothes. A breakfast of stuff that requires cooking. And a seeking out of as many sheltered spots of sunshine as I can find.
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Ooooooooh!
OK, here's one of those TOTALLY random posts you all love my blog for.. Well at least try pretend you do, ok? :-)
I've got a laptop at work. However, I was recently informed a laptop isn't enough for my work purposes, and that a Beeeeg flat screen and mouse would be on my desk shortly.
Well - they arrived today. But I was too busy to unpack them until late afternoon.
And the screen's still in its box...
BUT the mouse is attached and installed and ready to rock. It's a nice silver and black thing with all the usual bells and whistles, and a button on the side. Me, being used to rather simpler things in life, wasn't quite sure what this did.
Until I clicked it a few seconds ago.
Ooooooooooh! ZOOOOM! Large print for those of us whose eyes are failing! And you can fly it all over the screen!
I can think of all sorts of very cool uses for that particular feature. I may need to go trawl up a few photos I have somewhere and zoom over them a bit... hmmmm :-) This could be fun!!!
I've got a laptop at work. However, I was recently informed a laptop isn't enough for my work purposes, and that a Beeeeg flat screen and mouse would be on my desk shortly.
Well - they arrived today. But I was too busy to unpack them until late afternoon.
And the screen's still in its box...
BUT the mouse is attached and installed and ready to rock. It's a nice silver and black thing with all the usual bells and whistles, and a button on the side. Me, being used to rather simpler things in life, wasn't quite sure what this did.
Until I clicked it a few seconds ago.
Ooooooooooh! ZOOOOM! Large print for those of us whose eyes are failing! And you can fly it all over the screen!
I can think of all sorts of very cool uses for that particular feature. I may need to go trawl up a few photos I have somewhere and zoom over them a bit... hmmmm :-) This could be fun!!!
After the move
The Move has come and gone, and over the past two days I've been thinking about all the stuff I put off until "after the move". And there's a lot of it.
Granted, there are still a few things that will be done at home this weekend - some boxes to be sorted out, things to be thrown out, organized or found place for. I'm missing my lock-up garage. All of Olivia's stuff is in Olivia - and there's a couple of boxes in the "back yard".
But we're moved in - we're moved out of there - I'm doing the new job thing, J's making his new friends, and it's time to turn my thoughts toward neglected tasks and the future.
First up, Olivia is getting some attention (at last! say a few of you.. and I know who you are). While waiting for the kid/keys (third day in a row he's been out with the chicks), I was looking her over, making note of what I need to do, what I need to get on our shop-trip this weekend, what I can do immediately and what I need to send to the expert (early next week). I have two weeks until the whole Landy Event and she needs to be self-going - so she doesn't end up either only making it halfway there, or being towed to her destination. Got a few other trips she needs to make soon too, so the time has come. I was also thinking that I may use her as a daily ride once she's nicely organized.
And sell the Ford...
I need to anyway - but here's the funny thing. I fixed the rattle last weekend, the lights will be done on Tuesday and she's going like a bomb! Smooth, quiet - but chilly yet. Every time I threaten to sell her, she sorts herself out. Friggn' Ford... We'll see. I'm supposed to get a lighter, commutable car. It may take a while (hence Olivia's coming in to her own).
There's the cash-flow ideas that have been perculating for ages and which need to be put into practice. Some of them can keep ticking over nicely, they just need a jumpstart. Time to sit down and think them through carefully, then actually do something about it. ASAP. There are things that need money, dreams to achieve, a solid base to get going.
Home stuff is coming right. J and I have started to get into our two-person-family routine here. Along with the housecleaning has come a new sense of responsibility in the kid - and so the reigns (which were rather slack to start with) get loosened again.
I've been thinking about some of my skills - ones I want to improve on. Ones I need to add to. A first-aid course, a watch-and-learn car maintenance session, a knowledge of online buying/selling/e-commerce website building. I've got things to learn online, and things to learn offline. I feel like I finally have the space, time and capacity to take it in.
There are some personal things that are getting attention too. Ones I can't mention here, but which are important to me and making me happier than I have been in a while. There's ripples of stuff around them that I want to do, to experience, to accomplish. And some of them overflow into other things I've mentioned above - all interconnected in ways big and small.
I will, unfortunately, be rehoming the dogs. They can't live like they are at the moment. The yard's not good enough, and with my work schedule and J's school/social stuff they're not getting the attention they need. They need grass to run on, full-time love and attention. What's theirs now is far from sufficient.
And finally I have a "look" and "feel" to create in my home - a sense of calm and peace that needs to be cemented, furniture to be bought and sold, bedding and soft bits to be organized. My room is one place I want to tackle in depth. I've brought all my old stuff with me, but a little at a time I'll be replacing a lot of it with things that make me feel good around them.
The main thing is this - the move is done. Our "new life" has started. It's time to get going on everything else - I'm looking forward to many, many things. It's all good.
Granted, there are still a few things that will be done at home this weekend - some boxes to be sorted out, things to be thrown out, organized or found place for. I'm missing my lock-up garage. All of Olivia's stuff is in Olivia - and there's a couple of boxes in the "back yard".
But we're moved in - we're moved out of there - I'm doing the new job thing, J's making his new friends, and it's time to turn my thoughts toward neglected tasks and the future.
First up, Olivia is getting some attention (at last! say a few of you.. and I know who you are). While waiting for the kid/keys (third day in a row he's been out with the chicks), I was looking her over, making note of what I need to do, what I need to get on our shop-trip this weekend, what I can do immediately and what I need to send to the expert (early next week). I have two weeks until the whole Landy Event and she needs to be self-going - so she doesn't end up either only making it halfway there, or being towed to her destination. Got a few other trips she needs to make soon too, so the time has come. I was also thinking that I may use her as a daily ride once she's nicely organized.
And sell the Ford...
I need to anyway - but here's the funny thing. I fixed the rattle last weekend, the lights will be done on Tuesday and she's going like a bomb! Smooth, quiet - but chilly yet. Every time I threaten to sell her, she sorts herself out. Friggn' Ford... We'll see. I'm supposed to get a lighter, commutable car. It may take a while (hence Olivia's coming in to her own).
There's the cash-flow ideas that have been perculating for ages and which need to be put into practice. Some of them can keep ticking over nicely, they just need a jumpstart. Time to sit down and think them through carefully, then actually do something about it. ASAP. There are things that need money, dreams to achieve, a solid base to get going.
Home stuff is coming right. J and I have started to get into our two-person-family routine here. Along with the housecleaning has come a new sense of responsibility in the kid - and so the reigns (which were rather slack to start with) get loosened again.
I've been thinking about some of my skills - ones I want to improve on. Ones I need to add to. A first-aid course, a watch-and-learn car maintenance session, a knowledge of online buying/selling/e-commerce website building. I've got things to learn online, and things to learn offline. I feel like I finally have the space, time and capacity to take it in.
There are some personal things that are getting attention too. Ones I can't mention here, but which are important to me and making me happier than I have been in a while. There's ripples of stuff around them that I want to do, to experience, to accomplish. And some of them overflow into other things I've mentioned above - all interconnected in ways big and small.
I will, unfortunately, be rehoming the dogs. They can't live like they are at the moment. The yard's not good enough, and with my work schedule and J's school/social stuff they're not getting the attention they need. They need grass to run on, full-time love and attention. What's theirs now is far from sufficient.
And finally I have a "look" and "feel" to create in my home - a sense of calm and peace that needs to be cemented, furniture to be bought and sold, bedding and soft bits to be organized. My room is one place I want to tackle in depth. I've brought all my old stuff with me, but a little at a time I'll be replacing a lot of it with things that make me feel good around them.
The main thing is this - the move is done. Our "new life" has started. It's time to get going on everything else - I'm looking forward to many, many things. It's all good.
Blue
I have just one thing to say about commuting in winter in a car with no heater, and a not-very-effective defrosting system (which then requires the windows to be open at 100km/hr). OH, and slightly damp carpets too.
Brrrr....
Brrrr....
Surprise!
The kid was home alone for the first time today in the new house. Dad kinda moved with us last week.. :-) But dad's with the brothers this week. Of course, new neighbourhood and not much to do. Internet is still to be installed, he's beaten all his PS2 and PC games - a couple times over.
So he watched some Dr Phil (!) and Days of our Lives (!) - before he ended up on a "date" with two chicks (!!).
OK, let me start at the beginning.
Yesterday he and my dad went with a friend of dad's to Cape Town to go ice-skating. Her granddaughters were along too, and one other loose attachment (baby brother?) - so quite the crowd. They also went to a movie and grabbed supper (which means the supper I made last night ended up uneaten...). They had an absolute ball and got on like a house on fire. One girl is a grade above him, the other probably a grade below him.
So today the girls decide it's movie weather, and perhaps J would like to join them? I got a call from granny on the cellphone, but J doesn't have a phone here (and, amazingly, no cellphone neither - in this day and age!), so I told her to take a chance and drop by. Hoping the kid was at the VERY least dressed.. :-)
They did - picked him up, took him off (with the house keys - which star shortly in this story) and entertained him with DVDs all afternoon. Meanwhile I arrived home around 5, waiting for the kid to get home (granny said she'd drop him off). At 6:30 my cellphone rings and granny's on the line - please can I come get Jason, she's going out. Now it's just after sunset, I've been reading in the car for an hour and a half (thank goodness for my emergency Reader's Digest Condensed Book in the cubby!), and my car Has No Lights. It's getting dark. So I dash through the back streets, hitting every out-for-a-drive driver in the place (or rather being stuck behind them), and get there in serious dusk. Greet great-gran (who wants to chat - sorry, gotta run), meet the chicks and the bouncing-around boy-kid, stuff my teen in the car and race home, holding the lights on brights (only way they work, makes turning and changing gears interesting), but watching them and the dash lights slowly fade away..... until near darkness once home! Serious issues there. Hope the car starts tomorrow - and again, thank goodness for a spare one of those just in case.
So finally it's 7, pitch dark, we're home, I can go pee at last, the house is opened etc.
And then the kid tells me what ELSE he's done with his day.
He got SO bored he CLEANED THE ENTIRE HOUSE! He washed all the bathrooms, basins, taps, the kitchen sink and surrounds, swept the floors, WASHED THE WINDOWS (well, tried to) upstairs, cleared out the last of the unpacked boxes in his room, chucked out the junk...
SJOE! I think I should leave him home and bored more often. In the meantime I've shown him where the vacuum, the sponge mop and bucket and extra paper towels are.. ;-) I've also managed to arrange that he keep the house clean in exchange for his allowance going up.
Then more suprises. He reckons he can WALK the 4km THROUGH TOWN to go visit his new chick friends! This from a couch potato. He says he now knows the way, and will need a cellphone. As I've been wheedled into getting one with MMS and other fancy things (shortly), I think that's doable. He can have my old one, which is on prepaid and which he can top up from his allowance - and I can go fancy. I'm also going to need to cut another set of keys.
Anyhoo, he and his two chick friends are off to Century City in Cape Town on Friday. The kid is finally getting a social life. Getting off the couch, away from the computer, and doing stuff!
Between that and the house-cleaning I'm completely blown away...
So he watched some Dr Phil (!) and Days of our Lives (!) - before he ended up on a "date" with two chicks (!!).
OK, let me start at the beginning.
Yesterday he and my dad went with a friend of dad's to Cape Town to go ice-skating. Her granddaughters were along too, and one other loose attachment (baby brother?) - so quite the crowd. They also went to a movie and grabbed supper (which means the supper I made last night ended up uneaten...). They had an absolute ball and got on like a house on fire. One girl is a grade above him, the other probably a grade below him.
So today the girls decide it's movie weather, and perhaps J would like to join them? I got a call from granny on the cellphone, but J doesn't have a phone here (and, amazingly, no cellphone neither - in this day and age!), so I told her to take a chance and drop by. Hoping the kid was at the VERY least dressed.. :-)
They did - picked him up, took him off (with the house keys - which star shortly in this story) and entertained him with DVDs all afternoon. Meanwhile I arrived home around 5, waiting for the kid to get home (granny said she'd drop him off). At 6:30 my cellphone rings and granny's on the line - please can I come get Jason, she's going out. Now it's just after sunset, I've been reading in the car for an hour and a half (thank goodness for my emergency Reader's Digest Condensed Book in the cubby!), and my car Has No Lights. It's getting dark. So I dash through the back streets, hitting every out-for-a-drive driver in the place (or rather being stuck behind them), and get there in serious dusk. Greet great-gran (who wants to chat - sorry, gotta run), meet the chicks and the bouncing-around boy-kid, stuff my teen in the car and race home, holding the lights on brights (only way they work, makes turning and changing gears interesting), but watching them and the dash lights slowly fade away..... until near darkness once home! Serious issues there. Hope the car starts tomorrow - and again, thank goodness for a spare one of those just in case.
So finally it's 7, pitch dark, we're home, I can go pee at last, the house is opened etc.
And then the kid tells me what ELSE he's done with his day.
He got SO bored he CLEANED THE ENTIRE HOUSE! He washed all the bathrooms, basins, taps, the kitchen sink and surrounds, swept the floors, WASHED THE WINDOWS (well, tried to) upstairs, cleared out the last of the unpacked boxes in his room, chucked out the junk...
SJOE! I think I should leave him home and bored more often. In the meantime I've shown him where the vacuum, the sponge mop and bucket and extra paper towels are.. ;-) I've also managed to arrange that he keep the house clean in exchange for his allowance going up.
Then more suprises. He reckons he can WALK the 4km THROUGH TOWN to go visit his new chick friends! This from a couch potato. He says he now knows the way, and will need a cellphone. As I've been wheedled into getting one with MMS and other fancy things (shortly), I think that's doable. He can have my old one, which is on prepaid and which he can top up from his allowance - and I can go fancy. I'm also going to need to cut another set of keys.
Anyhoo, he and his two chick friends are off to Century City in Cape Town on Friday. The kid is finally getting a social life. Getting off the couch, away from the computer, and doing stuff!
Between that and the house-cleaning I'm completely blown away...
Winter
It's been raining all night. I caught the one gap for my commute (and a smooth one at that - only one stop!) before it started to come down again. It's pouring outside, a background roar on the roof - in the distance someone walks twirling a red and orange umbrella.
Last night while waiting for the family to arrive I sat at my bedroom window, rain rattling against the glass and turning the dark world outside reflective.
This is winter in the Cape. Water everywhere. Windscreen wipers in full use. Road markings only guessable under orange street lights, so you follow in the tracks of the car in front of you. Clouds moving in, taking turns to alternately dump water on the world or create marvellous vistas of greys against the mountains. Although I'm a summer chick who digs being a golden tan, this is cuddle weather and I love it. All I'm missing is a big fireplace...
Peace
For some reason this day exhausted me. I got home ready to just sit somewhere in peace and quiet (dad and kid had gone ice-skating). Instead I came home to things scattered all over - breakfast/lunch stuff piled up, random bits of laundry drying here and there, floor strewn with a few leaves that had blown in, a neglected toy here, a scatter of sugar and crumbs there, the flotsam and jetsam of two guys on holiday.
And it got to me. Just a little bit. I would have loved to come home to order and peace, everything tidy and clean and all I had to do was sink into a chair with my feet up for a while.
But life seldom plays out like that. Instead I did the dishes, cleaned the floor, sorted out the dogs, covered up some outside un-unpacked boxes with plastic to keep the rain out, made supper, located the rest of the family (twice), took washing to various parts of the house for their owners to sort out, etc etc etc. I gave up waiting and ate supper on my own.
And now I can sit. At last. If only there were a neck and back rub available at the same time...
And it got to me. Just a little bit. I would have loved to come home to order and peace, everything tidy and clean and all I had to do was sink into a chair with my feet up for a while.
But life seldom plays out like that. Instead I did the dishes, cleaned the floor, sorted out the dogs, covered up some outside un-unpacked boxes with plastic to keep the rain out, made supper, located the rest of the family (twice), took washing to various parts of the house for their owners to sort out, etc etc etc. I gave up waiting and ate supper on my own.
And now I can sit. At last. If only there were a neck and back rub available at the same time...
Bruised/Battered
Slowly but surely folk are stumbling in to work. Looking the worse for wear after a 4-day weekend, generally speaking. I'm not sure if anyone's really enthusiastic to be here this early in the morning (well - I was only the second one here, at 7:20.. some have yet to pitch up). A bit too much relaxing appears to have been had by all, and it's going to take some doing to get back into the swing of things.
Some of my colleagues leave this week for a show, others will be gone next week - only 2 or 3 of us in this section will be at it in a week's time!
So yes, there's much to do but probably not a whole lot of enthusiasm.
It's not only the bruised and battered in spirit that are here today. Apparently I stuffed up my back worse than I thought yesterday with all that crawling around under cars stuff. Where the car seat hits me, where the office chair sits at my lower back - that's exactly where there's a large, bruised, very sore spot. Another between my shoulder blades. And assorted bruises everywhere else. I'm starting to look like a leopard! Add in a slight stiffness from wrestling with things car and otherwise and I think I'll be sitting very still today.
Here's to Monday.. or rather Tuesday :-) Oh hey - it's a short week after all!!!
Some of my colleagues leave this week for a show, others will be gone next week - only 2 or 3 of us in this section will be at it in a week's time!
So yes, there's much to do but probably not a whole lot of enthusiasm.
It's not only the bruised and battered in spirit that are here today. Apparently I stuffed up my back worse than I thought yesterday with all that crawling around under cars stuff. Where the car seat hits me, where the office chair sits at my lower back - that's exactly where there's a large, bruised, very sore spot. Another between my shoulder blades. And assorted bruises everywhere else. I'm starting to look like a leopard! Add in a slight stiffness from wrestling with things car and otherwise and I think I'll be sitting very still today.
Here's to Monday.. or rather Tuesday :-) Oh hey - it's a short week after all!!!
Only Human
It's a pity, but it appears I may not be Superwoman after all.
Today was Car/s day. Sort out the Ford, sort out the Landy. Ummmm... ja. Well some of it got sorted. Some things I hadn't planned to got done. Some other things, not so much.
The Landy got its new trailer plug (thanks E!), and I found out that all trailer plugs are not created equal. Some the wires stick in from the side, some from the top - which may lead to swearing. And sometimes you need to make holes to accommodate the bundle of wires heading off into the chassis. And sometimes there IS only one screw-hole to hold the thing on (mental note - drive Landy to within reach of non-cordless drill and make some extra holes). But I got it right, and it looks good. One day I may actually be able to plug in a trailer and check my connections! BUT - in the spirit of technological car-maintenance - I'm sure I do have it right. I employed my old standby of "carry camera, take pictures, put it in the way it came out". See, I can be a clever chick on occasion! :-)
Then the Ford. I took the front panel off to get at the lights wiring, but for the life of me can't see where the issue is. This week I'm looking for an auto-electrician near work who can take the thing for the day while I sit in the office. Then I jacked the car up to take a look at gearbox oil. But my jack is not very lekker - it's a flimsy affair indeed, and the Ford sits close to the ground so I can't just crawl under. I managed to stick an axle stand under one axle while it was jacked up... but didn't trust the whole contraption. And when I got to the gearbox plug.. well then I got a little peeved. You see, the last guys who serviced the car ticked off "checked gearbox oil" but there's no way that plug's been taken out in years. It's stuck fast - gunked up. I tried to shift it.. but the car started to move on its flimsy jack and axle stand, and I seriously don't want to end up flattened. My yard has a slight slope to it, and I'm not sure how effective the bricks at the back wheels would have been if things had gone awry... So I left that one for now. Fixed some rubber seals on the boot and bonnet instead, then gave the thing a thorough vacuum, and am just waiting for the sun to subside a little before it gets a wash too. It won't know what hit it!
But - and here's the non-Superwoman part - I couldn't fix the lights. I don't know what's the problem there, and it frustrates the heck out of me. I also haven't finished what I wanted to do on the Landy (diff and gearbox oils, last three plugs) - though I did manage to collect quite the garden down the back of my jeans sliding around on the ground under both cars.
There are days I wish I had all the knowledge in the world about how my cars work. That I could open them up, go "aha!" and fix whatever needs fixing. I know, it's impossible to know everything. But some days I wish I knew more. A lot more.
::update::
WARNING - sliding around under cars on tar and brick surfaces may lead to extreme lower back bruising...
Today was Car/s day. Sort out the Ford, sort out the Landy. Ummmm... ja. Well some of it got sorted. Some things I hadn't planned to got done. Some other things, not so much.
The Landy got its new trailer plug (thanks E!), and I found out that all trailer plugs are not created equal. Some the wires stick in from the side, some from the top - which may lead to swearing. And sometimes you need to make holes to accommodate the bundle of wires heading off into the chassis. And sometimes there IS only one screw-hole to hold the thing on (mental note - drive Landy to within reach of non-cordless drill and make some extra holes). But I got it right, and it looks good. One day I may actually be able to plug in a trailer and check my connections! BUT - in the spirit of technological car-maintenance - I'm sure I do have it right. I employed my old standby of "carry camera, take pictures, put it in the way it came out". See, I can be a clever chick on occasion! :-)
Then the Ford. I took the front panel off to get at the lights wiring, but for the life of me can't see where the issue is. This week I'm looking for an auto-electrician near work who can take the thing for the day while I sit in the office. Then I jacked the car up to take a look at gearbox oil. But my jack is not very lekker - it's a flimsy affair indeed, and the Ford sits close to the ground so I can't just crawl under. I managed to stick an axle stand under one axle while it was jacked up... but didn't trust the whole contraption. And when I got to the gearbox plug.. well then I got a little peeved. You see, the last guys who serviced the car ticked off "checked gearbox oil" but there's no way that plug's been taken out in years. It's stuck fast - gunked up. I tried to shift it.. but the car started to move on its flimsy jack and axle stand, and I seriously don't want to end up flattened. My yard has a slight slope to it, and I'm not sure how effective the bricks at the back wheels would have been if things had gone awry... So I left that one for now. Fixed some rubber seals on the boot and bonnet instead, then gave the thing a thorough vacuum, and am just waiting for the sun to subside a little before it gets a wash too. It won't know what hit it!
But - and here's the non-Superwoman part - I couldn't fix the lights. I don't know what's the problem there, and it frustrates the heck out of me. I also haven't finished what I wanted to do on the Landy (diff and gearbox oils, last three plugs) - though I did manage to collect quite the garden down the back of my jeans sliding around on the ground under both cars.
There are days I wish I had all the knowledge in the world about how my cars work. That I could open them up, go "aha!" and fix whatever needs fixing. I know, it's impossible to know everything. But some days I wish I knew more. A lot more.
::update::
WARNING - sliding around under cars on tar and brick surfaces may lead to extreme lower back bruising...
Home again
My weekend of quiet is over! The family has arrived back.. :-) And it falls to Cinderella to feed and wash and entertain - and be entertained by stories of what everyone's been up to.
Like shocking themselves on electric fences for fun... and cows that pee when you look at them, and 4-wheelers and boats and chocolate for breakfast. Much fun was had, apparently.
And my newly-cleaned car has been borrowed for a quick trip to the mall. Back to routine, it appears.. :-)
But I really did enjoy my time here alone. It was super to have the freedom and space to do whatever the heck I wanted for nearly 4 full days. To come and go, to wander clothed or naked, to eat if I was hungry or not eat if I wasn't - and then to eat whatever I wanted to, instead of catering to those who don't like this or that. To throw myself down and laugh - or cry - or dance like a silly thing to loud music. To take random naps at odd hours, or stay up until way too late.
Yet life kicks in again. And I guess I'd better go make supper for 3..
Like shocking themselves on electric fences for fun... and cows that pee when you look at them, and 4-wheelers and boats and chocolate for breakfast. Much fun was had, apparently.
And my newly-cleaned car has been borrowed for a quick trip to the mall. Back to routine, it appears.. :-)
But I really did enjoy my time here alone. It was super to have the freedom and space to do whatever the heck I wanted for nearly 4 full days. To come and go, to wander clothed or naked, to eat if I was hungry or not eat if I wasn't - and then to eat whatever I wanted to, instead of catering to those who don't like this or that. To throw myself down and laugh - or cry - or dance like a silly thing to loud music. To take random naps at odd hours, or stay up until way too late.
Yet life kicks in again. And I guess I'd better go make supper for 3..
Lunch with Jen
Jen and her family finally made it! They got a bit lost on the way (new territory), but it was so great to meet her, Dave, Madelaine and Carter. Thankfully they survived my cooking.. :-) Even seemed to enjoy it!
It's funny how bloggers can connect suddenly in person. If we were to meet as non-bloggers on the street it would be a dance of getting-to-know you, a circling to find similarities to build on. But us bloggers just dive right in there as if we've been talking forever. Sure there are some aspects of "meet someone new" that are the same, blogger or not - but with writing online in common, with a chance to have gotten to know each other through words on the screen, without fail it's been a simple transition into carrying on a conversation we haven't actually started yet! Strange to try explain, but that's how it goes.
From here Jen and co are off to Knysna - a couple of hours drive away and a different world in terms of landscape and experience. South Africa is such a vastly-differing country from one end to another that you could go everywhere and still be surprised by its variety. I have no doubt they'll love it.
So what's Jen like? AMAZING. As is the rest of her family. She has this comfortable, beautiful vibe that just flows out of every pore - exactly as she is in cyberspace, but more so. I'm so honoured that she stopped by to say hi.
So here's us - Jen, Madelaine and me - and a free shot of my Landy while we're at it. :-)
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It's funny how bloggers can connect suddenly in person. If we were to meet as non-bloggers on the street it would be a dance of getting-to-know you, a circling to find similarities to build on. But us bloggers just dive right in there as if we've been talking forever. Sure there are some aspects of "meet someone new" that are the same, blogger or not - but with writing online in common, with a chance to have gotten to know each other through words on the screen, without fail it's been a simple transition into carrying on a conversation we haven't actually started yet! Strange to try explain, but that's how it goes.
From here Jen and co are off to Knysna - a couple of hours drive away and a different world in terms of landscape and experience. South Africa is such a vastly-differing country from one end to another that you could go everywhere and still be surprised by its variety. I have no doubt they'll love it.
So what's Jen like? AMAZING. As is the rest of her family. She has this comfortable, beautiful vibe that just flows out of every pore - exactly as she is in cyberspace, but more so. I'm so honoured that she stopped by to say hi.
So here's us - Jen, Madelaine and me - and a free shot of my Landy while we're at it. :-)
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Bright and Early
Sunday morning, and I could be sleeping in. SHOULD be sleeping in, as I spent a good deal of the night tossing and turning - and even got up and sent an email at 3 this morning. I was battling mozzies, heat, cold, neighbours arriving home and hooting, and one car whose wheels squealed so long and hard I expected it to end with a crashing crunch.
So why am I up early? Well Jen and her family are coming to lunch! And I still have quite a few boxes standing between me and entertaining them.. :-) The entire garage's boxes, actually. Yesterday was a minimal-box day, I cleaned a few in my room and one downstairs, but that's about it.
So this morning I get to make up for lost time. While many of my neighbours head off to their usual Sunday Easter services, I'll be cranking up the tunes yet again and flying through all the stuff I didn't deign to sort a month ago. Washing the floor, doing the dishes, and getting a mean meal going.
Here's to Sunday! And happy Easter..
So why am I up early? Well Jen and her family are coming to lunch! And I still have quite a few boxes standing between me and entertaining them.. :-) The entire garage's boxes, actually. Yesterday was a minimal-box day, I cleaned a few in my room and one downstairs, but that's about it.
So this morning I get to make up for lost time. While many of my neighbours head off to their usual Sunday Easter services, I'll be cranking up the tunes yet again and flying through all the stuff I didn't deign to sort a month ago. Washing the floor, doing the dishes, and getting a mean meal going.
Here's to Sunday! And happy Easter..
Rockin'
There's NOTHING like a couple of decent tunes to get you going on clearing boxes. Yesterday I hauled out a huge pile of CDs I'd burnt of favourite stuff and did about equal amounts of dancing, cleaning and blasting the neighbours (good thing my big system doesn't play mp3s...).
While wandering the mall this weekend I heard a song I hadn't heard in ages - Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine". Actually I think the entire mall was in retro mode today, playing stuff in every shop that took me way back when.
Well thanks to the joys of the internet, Bon Jovi's been rattling my windows now. Yes, I have serious old-school rocker tendencies. I used to mildly headbang to ACDC's Thunderstruck. I still completely rock out to way too many things - much to my son's embarrassment.
And thus said, I think I'm going to go crank up the tchoones and get those dishes done.
While wandering the mall this weekend I heard a song I hadn't heard in ages - Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine". Actually I think the entire mall was in retro mode today, playing stuff in every shop that took me way back when.
Well thanks to the joys of the internet, Bon Jovi's been rattling my windows now. Yes, I have serious old-school rocker tendencies. I used to mildly headbang to ACDC's Thunderstruck. I still completely rock out to way too many things - much to my son's embarrassment.
And thus said, I think I'm going to go crank up the tchoones and get those dishes done.
Shy
You'd think after 35 years I'd be past the whole shy thing - right? That I wouldn't blush or stammer. Ever.
Yah right.
I still do it. Remember the bloke I found among the travel books at Wordsworth a few months ago? That's merely one example.
But I was sitting here thinking (uh-oh...not something blondes should indulge in too often - right? :-) ) about how being shy has made me not go out and get a lot of things. And how it has gotten me into a lot of other things.
OK, the "out of" - there have been way too many times where I haven't stood up for myself as much as I should have. Where I haven't been aggro and gone for what I wanted. Where I missed out because I wouldn't speak up or make a nuisance of myself. Sometimes I envy those who can, who go after what they want with confidence and power. Instead I've ended up being walked over too many times and then quietly beating my head against a wall later.
And the "into" - I can remember in grade one (and this is going to be WAY too much information for some of you) I was so shy that I'd rather pinch all day than put up my hand to ask to go to the toilet. One day I couldn't pinch anymore... and ended up the butt of many jokes for a very long time. Another one - it took me 8 years to confess to one guy that I was into him. And guess when I did it? On his wedding day - just before his bride arrived! :-) Yah, too late - WAY too late.
Lately I've found myself more confident, more sure of who I am and where I want to be. Yes, that shyness still turns up now and then and has me tongue-tied. Or very quiet. Or turning a rather deep shade of crimson at exactly the wrong time. Or only being struck later by what would have been the perfect come-back, 'cept I said nothing at the time. But compared to a year ago - two years ago - I think I'm getting there. More sure of myself, able to stand up and speak up.
Well.. usually. :-)
Yah right.
I still do it. Remember the bloke I found among the travel books at Wordsworth a few months ago? That's merely one example.
But I was sitting here thinking (uh-oh...not something blondes should indulge in too often - right? :-) ) about how being shy has made me not go out and get a lot of things. And how it has gotten me into a lot of other things.
OK, the "out of" - there have been way too many times where I haven't stood up for myself as much as I should have. Where I haven't been aggro and gone for what I wanted. Where I missed out because I wouldn't speak up or make a nuisance of myself. Sometimes I envy those who can, who go after what they want with confidence and power. Instead I've ended up being walked over too many times and then quietly beating my head against a wall later.
And the "into" - I can remember in grade one (and this is going to be WAY too much information for some of you) I was so shy that I'd rather pinch all day than put up my hand to ask to go to the toilet. One day I couldn't pinch anymore... and ended up the butt of many jokes for a very long time. Another one - it took me 8 years to confess to one guy that I was into him. And guess when I did it? On his wedding day - just before his bride arrived! :-) Yah, too late - WAY too late.
Lately I've found myself more confident, more sure of who I am and where I want to be. Yes, that shyness still turns up now and then and has me tongue-tied. Or very quiet. Or turning a rather deep shade of crimson at exactly the wrong time. Or only being struck later by what would have been the perfect come-back, 'cept I said nothing at the time. But compared to a year ago - two years ago - I think I'm getting there. More sure of myself, able to stand up and speak up.
Well.. usually. :-)
Salon
What is it about the Beauty Salon that entices us chicks in? The pampering? The lighting? The free champagne/coffee/tea - while we're treated as princesses? The promise of beauty and health on stepping out the door?
I had a chance to head off to my nearest one this weekend - not for anything pleasant (unless you count ripping hair out of your body pleasant, in which case more strength to you!), just a routine check-in type thing. I was up first thing in the morning, basically straight out of bed, but the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxing the minute you step through the door.
About a year ago I booked myself in for a 2-hour Ultimate Spa Experience, a rare indulgence of cash and time while I took a few days off work. From the full-body massage, the salt scrub, the facial, the head massage, the moisture wrap... wow. I came out of there feeling all new and rejuvinated.
Which was just as well, becuase a few days later I was hit with the hardest situation I've yet had to face, and which took me months and months of recovery and ultimately led me to leave my last place of employment...
Anyway, back to salons. I had an ex who worked at an incredible place near here. We dropped by to say hi one day and I immediately wanted to move in. There's just something about a place made for pampering that is horribly irrisistable to women - and lately the Metrosexual Male too... Or even just the bloke who knows the value of a skilled pair of hands (massage - what were you thinking??!!). It's great to every now and then chuck in life's troubles and let yourself be taken care of for a while.
I'm probably not going to make a habit of it (kinda pricey..), but I do think I'll indulge every now and then. Some days you really need it.
I had a chance to head off to my nearest one this weekend - not for anything pleasant (unless you count ripping hair out of your body pleasant, in which case more strength to you!), just a routine check-in type thing. I was up first thing in the morning, basically straight out of bed, but the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxing the minute you step through the door.
About a year ago I booked myself in for a 2-hour Ultimate Spa Experience, a rare indulgence of cash and time while I took a few days off work. From the full-body massage, the salt scrub, the facial, the head massage, the moisture wrap... wow. I came out of there feeling all new and rejuvinated.
Which was just as well, becuase a few days later I was hit with the hardest situation I've yet had to face, and which took me months and months of recovery and ultimately led me to leave my last place of employment...
Anyway, back to salons. I had an ex who worked at an incredible place near here. We dropped by to say hi one day and I immediately wanted to move in. There's just something about a place made for pampering that is horribly irrisistable to women - and lately the Metrosexual Male too... Or even just the bloke who knows the value of a skilled pair of hands (massage - what were you thinking??!!). It's great to every now and then chuck in life's troubles and let yourself be taken care of for a while.
I'm probably not going to make a habit of it (kinda pricey..), but I do think I'll indulge every now and then. Some days you really need it.
Never blog when...
You know that whole seasonal thing us chicks get, where we feel fat and sad and unworthy and like crying ourselves to sleep? Yah, that one. Not good to blog then either...
But today is another day. I may still feel a bit imperfect compared to your averave supermodel, but I'm a real woman. I'm not shallow, nor testy. I'm good, and kind, and occasionally sweet (take now for example - just done munching a Magnum Toffee Affair - I'm both sweet and sticky! :-) ). I have a life, I'm a mom, I've done things I'm seriously proud of, and some I regret. Sure I have bits of my body I'm not happy with, that are getting attention although it takes a while - but I'm happy with the inside, and that's more than many can say. I'm content with where I'm at on the journey, and looking forward to the road ahead - wherever it goes. I love and am loved, am even ogled in malls on on streets now and then (sjoe!). I'm passionate, I'm willing to get my hands dirty, I'm fond of velvets and silks, I make a mean focaccia. Not one-dimensional, not just a pretty face.
So there's hope for me. My blue eyes remain unchanged, the essence of who I am stays constant - the whole body thing can come and go. I'm just going to try not let it get to me anymore. Not compare myself and feel unworthy.
And definitely not blog when.. well the list is growing! :-)
But today is another day. I may still feel a bit imperfect compared to your averave supermodel, but I'm a real woman. I'm not shallow, nor testy. I'm good, and kind, and occasionally sweet (take now for example - just done munching a Magnum Toffee Affair - I'm both sweet and sticky! :-) ). I have a life, I'm a mom, I've done things I'm seriously proud of, and some I regret. Sure I have bits of my body I'm not happy with, that are getting attention although it takes a while - but I'm happy with the inside, and that's more than many can say. I'm content with where I'm at on the journey, and looking forward to the road ahead - wherever it goes. I love and am loved, am even ogled in malls on on streets now and then (sjoe!). I'm passionate, I'm willing to get my hands dirty, I'm fond of velvets and silks, I make a mean focaccia. Not one-dimensional, not just a pretty face.
So there's hope for me. My blue eyes remain unchanged, the essence of who I am stays constant - the whole body thing can come and go. I'm just going to try not let it get to me anymore. Not compare myself and feel unworthy.
And definitely not blog when.. well the list is growing! :-)
How to depress yourself
Step 1: Go to Victoria's Secret.
Step 2: Start windowshopping.
Step 3: Glance in the mirror next to you by accident.
Step 4: Realize you're not a teen no more, nor are you one of them lithe, big-sexy-hair model types with perfect everything - in fact you can spot at least 9 flaws right now. And that there's no way you'll ever look that good in underwear. And that you may actually be scared to be seen naked.
Step 5: Log off.
Not depressed yet? Repeat with another lingerie site. :-)
Step 2: Start windowshopping.
Step 3: Glance in the mirror next to you by accident.
Step 4: Realize you're not a teen no more, nor are you one of them lithe, big-sexy-hair model types with perfect everything - in fact you can spot at least 9 flaws right now. And that there's no way you'll ever look that good in underwear. And that you may actually be scared to be seen naked.
Step 5: Log off.
Not depressed yet? Repeat with another lingerie site. :-)
Echo
I'm starting to get the impression I'm one of the few people who isn't out and about today. Overnight I had the fewest emails I've had in ages - and not much more today (other than one poor person who had a whole pile of mine to respond to.. :-) ). The lists I'm a part of, the groups I've joined - barely a peep.
Town's quiet too. There weren't many shops open today, though I'm not sure about the big mall down the road (which I'll be braving later this weekend). There's only one house I can see with lights on in the complex at a glance. Traffic this morning was basically non-existant. When I went to get the last of my stuff, the place was deserted.
I guess that's how it goes on Easter weekend. Just you and me, keeping the internet ticking over...
Town's quiet too. There weren't many shops open today, though I'm not sure about the big mall down the road (which I'll be braving later this weekend). There's only one house I can see with lights on in the complex at a glance. Traffic this morning was basically non-existant. When I went to get the last of my stuff, the place was deserted.
I guess that's how it goes on Easter weekend. Just you and me, keeping the internet ticking over...
Freedom
I've just handed in the last of my keys for the old house. The garage is cleared out, the boxes halfway sorted here. There's no reason to go back unless it's to drop the kid at school. Life has finally moved on. Completely.
Although I'll miss my garden and my view, it's slowly sinking in that the freedom I've craved is upon me! That life is once again mine to live, the way I want to. Driving through those gates for the last time as a "resident" was like feeling a weight come off my shoulders.
Today's a free day all round though. Kid-free (woke up late, only ate what I wanted when I wanted, got to wander around in minimal attire without anyone complaining), appointment-free. The only plans I've had is boxes sorting, and I've done a good deal of that today. Turned up the tchoons loud, danced my way through all sorts of things, and it's starting to look a whole lot better.
3 more days in this weekend. I have only one task set for each day. The rest is free indeed.
And now I think I'm going to go bake hot-cross buns. From scratch. In my underwear or less. Because I can. :-)
Although I'll miss my garden and my view, it's slowly sinking in that the freedom I've craved is upon me! That life is once again mine to live, the way I want to. Driving through those gates for the last time as a "resident" was like feeling a weight come off my shoulders.
Today's a free day all round though. Kid-free (woke up late, only ate what I wanted when I wanted, got to wander around in minimal attire without anyone complaining), appointment-free. The only plans I've had is boxes sorting, and I've done a good deal of that today. Turned up the tchoons loud, danced my way through all sorts of things, and it's starting to look a whole lot better.
3 more days in this weekend. I have only one task set for each day. The rest is free indeed.
And now I think I'm going to go bake hot-cross buns. From scratch. In my underwear or less. Because I can. :-)
View
Remember my old view of False Bay, mountains etc? Here's the new view from my bedroom window. Yup, still got a mountain! :-)
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Burning down the house: Thoughts on Complexes
We've been here nearly a week now - oh, hold on, no... only 4 days. OK, that's nearly a week. Now where was I..
Oh yes - observations on life in a Complex, otherwise known as the "rich man's squatter camp". Mine is one of 8 or so in this area. They're springing up like well-guarded mushrooms! And within my complex are 140 houses. Actually, you can see us all here. Nicely packed in like sardines in a tin. But anyhoo.
So here's a couple of conclusions after nearly a week / 4 days in a security village.
1. It's safe. Kids wander, people leave their front doors open when they're home, little girls ride their bikes up and down. Cool!
2. There are advantages and disadvantages to living right by the entrance gate. You get home soon which is cool - but anyone getting home late passes right by your bedroom window, and that gate is not the quietest of beasts. It tends to clang open and shut. And exiting the area means a circular tour of the entire place every morning.
3. I have strange neighbours. Or rather one so far. The other was kind enough to hold on to my house key for me while the rest of the fandamily went off for their weekend, and hand it over when I got home from work. But back to said neighbour. I may have inherited either the noisiest, most breed-like-bunnies family in the block, or they just tend to collect everyone else's kids. This evening I was enjoying sitting ON my desk, feet nearly out the window, laptop in lap, drink on windowsill, admiring the sunset. Neighbour rocks up, dumps half a tree in small pieces out of his bakkie (truck), and fires up a bonfire in his braai (barbecue). Hence the title of this post. I'm sure I could feel the heat from my room. The flames could have guided ships home. Add in that the fact that he then positioned himself on the other side of the fire and surreptitiously checked me out.. :-) Funny, that.
4. You get to run into people in a complex. Like fellow Overlanders. And blokes who used to work at your previous place of employment. And the guy that was the youth pastor at the last church you attended, but who is now running Breach. I have yet to meet a lot of my neighbours, but it's a start.
5. Having the first parking bay right as you drive in is a good way to showcase your Landy.. :-) BUT it attracts climb-on kids, who - when shouted at from bedroom window to "Oi! Get off the car!" - become cheeky and ask "what's your name?" etc...
6. I still have a view. Albeit including rooftops. I can see Helderberg Mountain from my bedroom window on the right, and the sunset to the left. Not bad at all.
Tonight the complex is quiet. It seems many are away for the weekend. Only a few lights still on and the weird neighbour's retreated to his abode.
So far so good...
Oh yes - observations on life in a Complex, otherwise known as the "rich man's squatter camp". Mine is one of 8 or so in this area. They're springing up like well-guarded mushrooms! And within my complex are 140 houses. Actually, you can see us all here. Nicely packed in like sardines in a tin. But anyhoo.
So here's a couple of conclusions after nearly a week / 4 days in a security village.
1. It's safe. Kids wander, people leave their front doors open when they're home, little girls ride their bikes up and down. Cool!
2. There are advantages and disadvantages to living right by the entrance gate. You get home soon which is cool - but anyone getting home late passes right by your bedroom window, and that gate is not the quietest of beasts. It tends to clang open and shut. And exiting the area means a circular tour of the entire place every morning.
3. I have strange neighbours. Or rather one so far. The other was kind enough to hold on to my house key for me while the rest of the fandamily went off for their weekend, and hand it over when I got home from work. But back to said neighbour. I may have inherited either the noisiest, most breed-like-bunnies family in the block, or they just tend to collect everyone else's kids. This evening I was enjoying sitting ON my desk, feet nearly out the window, laptop in lap, drink on windowsill, admiring the sunset. Neighbour rocks up, dumps half a tree in small pieces out of his bakkie (truck), and fires up a bonfire in his braai (barbecue). Hence the title of this post. I'm sure I could feel the heat from my room. The flames could have guided ships home. Add in that the fact that he then positioned himself on the other side of the fire and surreptitiously checked me out.. :-) Funny, that.
4. You get to run into people in a complex. Like fellow Overlanders. And blokes who used to work at your previous place of employment. And the guy that was the youth pastor at the last church you attended, but who is now running Breach. I have yet to meet a lot of my neighbours, but it's a start.
5. Having the first parking bay right as you drive in is a good way to showcase your Landy.. :-) BUT it attracts climb-on kids, who - when shouted at from bedroom window to "Oi! Get off the car!" - become cheeky and ask "what's your name?" etc...
6. I still have a view. Albeit including rooftops. I can see Helderberg Mountain from my bedroom window on the right, and the sunset to the left. Not bad at all.
Tonight the complex is quiet. It seems many are away for the weekend. Only a few lights still on and the weird neighbour's retreated to his abode.
So far so good...
Chocolate
JUST in time for Easter, here's a quote for you:
"Chocolate causes certain glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behaviour by making you happy. Therefore it reduces stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate!"Now go forth and buy chocolate - eggs, bars, fancy shapes, imported, local.. whatever!
Elaine Sherman, Book of Divine Indulgences
Holiday Spirit
It seems everyone's already chilling into the holiday spirit here today. There's not much of an urge to work - "breakfast" (donuts, muffins, custard slices) was fetched earlier, and now many have gone off to Mugg & Bean for lunch. It's more a biding of time, waiting until a respectable hour to disappear, than a full-on slog today.
I suspect it's the same the world over this Thursday. We're all living in the not-so-far-off future, tapping our fingers on the desk, waiting for the long weekend to arrive so we can go out and play.
And that said, I think I'll go indulge in some time in the great outdoors while I ponder my lunch.
I suspect it's the same the world over this Thursday. We're all living in the not-so-far-off future, tapping our fingers on the desk, waiting for the long weekend to arrive so we can go out and play.
And that said, I think I'll go indulge in some time in the great outdoors while I ponder my lunch.
Milestone
WOW. My blog has just reached a BIG milestone! As of a few minutes ago, I have had 300 hits today, and just reached 92,000 in total!!! 114,964 page views.
My 92,000th hit was a Google image search for "g-string" from a French address using a Mac and Firefox! The joys of Sitemeter.. ;-)
I'm completely blown away. That's a whole lot of hits. I know many visitors get here thanks to google searches and links from elsewhere, so I bow to the Google gods and say thanks - and to my regulars and even bigger thanks. Thanks for putting up with my ramblings. The ups and downs. The various stages of this one woman's life.
Stick around - I ain't done yet! :-)
My 92,000th hit was a Google image search for "g-string" from a French address using a Mac and Firefox! The joys of Sitemeter.. ;-)
I'm completely blown away. That's a whole lot of hits. I know many visitors get here thanks to google searches and links from elsewhere, so I bow to the Google gods and say thanks - and to my regulars and even bigger thanks. Thanks for putting up with my ramblings. The ups and downs. The various stages of this one woman's life.
Stick around - I ain't done yet! :-)
Easter alone
Call me weird, but I've only just realized it's EASTER weekend. Yeah, I know - it's not like there aren't chocolate bunnies breeding everywhere you look lately (and have been since Xmas ended! exactly how fresh is that chocolate..?) - have stocked up on marshmallow eggs for the family that's going off tomorrow.
Here's the thing. This is the first Easter that's going to be very very different.
Back in the day it was tradition for the whole church group to go off to Hartenbos for Camp Meeting - a long-weekend religious gathering that's still happening this weekend, and is echoed in many other groups all over the world. I haven't done that since my kid was 1 though. (For the young folk it usually ends up as a hook-up session... but we won't go there)
And then I was quite church-involved at one stage, so Easter was a Big Thing. Special services, lots of planning (seeing I was the worship team pianist, I ended up working pretty hard for my holiday), a great deal of focus on the Meaning behind the weekend.
This year it's all changed. I'm not religious at all. I haven't actually admitted HOW not religious I am to anyone. In addition to that I'm going to be on my own for the first entire long weekend in a very very long time. 14 years at least. No family gatherings, no special nothing. Just me and my thoughts, my time, my schedule, my dreams & fantasies - to do what I please when I please. A 4-day weekend of empty house and to-do lists.
I've filled it up a little. Cars, last few boxes, organizing, a weekend spent cleansing my body (either a fast or a serious raw food thing, no Easter choccies). I'm likely to spend some time hanging out online. I may spend a good deal of it sleeping or just being quiet and still. I may push my body and run a bit. I've got some house things to organize too (phone line, security disks to get us in the gates).
Yup, a very different Easter this year. Who knows what next year will look like. Hey, it's one big journey.
Here's the thing. This is the first Easter that's going to be very very different.
Back in the day it was tradition for the whole church group to go off to Hartenbos for Camp Meeting - a long-weekend religious gathering that's still happening this weekend, and is echoed in many other groups all over the world. I haven't done that since my kid was 1 though. (For the young folk it usually ends up as a hook-up session... but we won't go there)
And then I was quite church-involved at one stage, so Easter was a Big Thing. Special services, lots of planning (seeing I was the worship team pianist, I ended up working pretty hard for my holiday), a great deal of focus on the Meaning behind the weekend.
This year it's all changed. I'm not religious at all. I haven't actually admitted HOW not religious I am to anyone. In addition to that I'm going to be on my own for the first entire long weekend in a very very long time. 14 years at least. No family gatherings, no special nothing. Just me and my thoughts, my time, my schedule, my dreams & fantasies - to do what I please when I please. A 4-day weekend of empty house and to-do lists.
I've filled it up a little. Cars, last few boxes, organizing, a weekend spent cleansing my body (either a fast or a serious raw food thing, no Easter choccies). I'm likely to spend some time hanging out online. I may spend a good deal of it sleeping or just being quiet and still. I may push my body and run a bit. I've got some house things to organize too (phone line, security disks to get us in the gates).
Yup, a very different Easter this year. Who knows what next year will look like. Hey, it's one big journey.
Not so much a "spree"...
At lunchtime today I ducked down to the small mall next to work to check out some clothing that had caught my eye in passing recently. Very nice stuff - but SJOE! - pricey!
There seems to be a bit of a trend in SA. Prices shooting sky-high on everything. Today we had a 69c per litre increase in petrol costs. That's going to rocket off into space and come back pushing up food prices, clothing prices, cost of living in general...
Already people are taking fat chances charging whatever the heck they want to - and the meek folk that we are, we pay up. Shrug our shoulders and say "oh well, that's life". While getting seriously ripped off.
The thing is this - we're sometimes paying way, way more than many other places for our goods. The same thing will cost a fraction of the price in another country, but our suppliers see fit to simply push things up to as much as they can get away with.
Our steel, our wool - all get exported for processing elsewhere and we buy them back at a higher price. Across industries it's the same story.
And what does this have to do with my shopping spree? Well there was a lovely knit top - heavy t-shirt material if you will - in the window of a smaller shop. I figured it was a boutique, so I'd probably have to fork over about a hundred bucks. Actually no - it was 300... for a T-SHIRT basically!!! Needless to say, I'm a bit disillusioned.
And that shopping spree I was hoping for might not materialize after all. At least not to the extent of my wishlist. Not if this is the general trend, which I suspect it is.
Meantime I wonder why 4 bags of groceries cost me over 500 bucks this afternoon, and whether I'd better start commuting by horse.
There seems to be a bit of a trend in SA. Prices shooting sky-high on everything. Today we had a 69c per litre increase in petrol costs. That's going to rocket off into space and come back pushing up food prices, clothing prices, cost of living in general...
Already people are taking fat chances charging whatever the heck they want to - and the meek folk that we are, we pay up. Shrug our shoulders and say "oh well, that's life". While getting seriously ripped off.
The thing is this - we're sometimes paying way, way more than many other places for our goods. The same thing will cost a fraction of the price in another country, but our suppliers see fit to simply push things up to as much as they can get away with.
Our steel, our wool - all get exported for processing elsewhere and we buy them back at a higher price. Across industries it's the same story.
And what does this have to do with my shopping spree? Well there was a lovely knit top - heavy t-shirt material if you will - in the window of a smaller shop. I figured it was a boutique, so I'd probably have to fork over about a hundred bucks. Actually no - it was 300... for a T-SHIRT basically!!! Needless to say, I'm a bit disillusioned.
And that shopping spree I was hoping for might not materialize after all. At least not to the extent of my wishlist. Not if this is the general trend, which I suspect it is.
Meantime I wonder why 4 bags of groceries cost me over 500 bucks this afternoon, and whether I'd better start commuting by horse.
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