Cheeky!!!

Not too long ago I was ranting and raving about sales people aka
landlords...
This time... well, it still is landlords!!
I think there should be a Dummy book on 'How to be a Good landlord'.
Here I am referring to a friend of mine who rents from an African lady
who has obviously forgotten her roots. My my! She acts and behaves
like a royal right from the heart of Europe. Though her tenant is an
African like herself, she shows no mercy. Not that she needs to show mercy.
She only needs to show some good organizing skills, some ethics and well,
respect. Where have you ever heard of a landlord who just walks into
your room, unannounced, and insults you for whatever reason they want to.
If a five year old child can have enough rights in this country to sue his parents,
a tenant surely must have more rights!!
To my landlord back home, I just want to say; you are the best I have come across!!

My own white blanket

"Vaida Vale Mist - Andrew Paul Carr"
I woke up this morning in the strangest of weather. It literally looked like someone

was folding the whole earth in a soft, white blanket. There was no harsh light to

make me squint, no rough edged buildings or loud noises. Everyone was entranced

by this 'blanket'. Though it was freezing cold, nothing could take away the beauty of

it all. Puffs of smoke left my nose as if I was a dragon and indeed, it did feel like I was

walking on another earth in another era.

But then I entered the underground, and the dream was suddenly over.

My train was late, my fingers red cold and my nose was running. Though it all turned

back to normal in a matter of minutes, it was a soft enough start to make me realise

how wonderful this earth really is...

Fashion Mistakes...

On Friday night I had to wait for my friend at the station and instead of grabbing a newspaper, I watched those that passed me by. As it was Friday evening, loads of people were rushing either home or on their way out. It is then that I realised that watching people has just turned into a whole lot more fun than before. With the current fashion being tight pants and the shortest possible skirt or pant you can find, it provides plenty to stare at. Have you, the fashion icon, ever considered, that if you are quite short, that a pair of high heels will never make you tall? It does make you look like a parrot on an ice rink, but not taller. For those of you who have been blessed with height, why on earth do you wear top of the range high heels? Do you have a full-length mirror? Or do you do it because Posh Spice does? (Honey, she has someone that dresses her and tells her when she looks crap. You, on the other hand, can make the same fashion mistake all your life with your friends laughing behind your back…) Have you seen the way you walk? A giraffe is more graceful my friend. Please, the next time you get ready for the night out, please find a full-length mirror, and have a look. Make sure you walk in front of it to assure yourself you do not look stupid. And those going for the tights and short pants please wear shoes that fit the outfit…

Sales People

Toe ek op skool was, het ons 'n gedig van 'n verkoopsman gedoen.
Ek kannie onthou wat die gedig se naam was nie, maar ek onthou
dat dit die eerste keer was dat ek besef het, dat verkoopsmense
van 'n ander planeet is. Hierdie is mense wat 'n diens verkoop wat
sommige mense in skuld laat beland en ander mense laat kners op
hul tande oor die blatante leuens. Ek val iewers tussen in. Somtyds
is ek impulsief en koop, ander kere wonder ek hoe op dees aarde
hierdie persoon met homself saamleef?

Siende dat ek nou in London is, het ek besluit om sover moontlik
van afrikaanse diens gebruik te maak. En wat 'n gemors! Hier sit
ek, nog steeds rooi van aggressie. Blykbaar het my landsgenote se
verkopers besluit dat dit die belegging van 'n leeftyd is om hul eie
nasie te verneuk en slegte diens te lewer waar moontlik. Ek kan dit
eenvoudig nie glo nie. Maar nou ja. Soos ek heel aan die begin gese
het, verkopers kom van 'n ander planeet. Ek wens net ek kon onthou
wat daai gedig se naam is, want die duiwel weet,
dit was 'n raak beskrywing!

Huwelik Herdenkinge

Dit is my ouers se 27ste Huweliks Herdenking vandag. En hoewel dit nie noodwendig 'n groot gebeurtenis in ons gesin is nie, het ek besluit dat dit dalk een moet word. Die hele wereld gaan mal as 'n Hollywood paartjie trou, maar min van hulle haal die een jaar merk en nog minder die tien jaar merk. En my ouers staan op 27! Ek dink dit is iets om voor dankbaar te wees. Hoewel dit in baie opsigte 'n 'celebration of the differences' is, is dit steeds iets om op trots te wees. So, van my aan my ouers: Geluk. Aan al vandag se jong paartjies wat na Hollywood kyk, dink weer. Kyk bietjie na die geslag voor julle en leer 'n les. Aan die van julle wat oppad is om te trou of nou net getroud is, sterkte!

First World vs Third World

So vanoggend is ek vir 'n slag betyds uit die huis. Eintlik 'n paar minute vroeg. En raai wat? Ek kom net-net betyds by die werk. Die simpel trein was vertraag as gevolg van een of ander tegniese fout. Die resultaat is twee treine se mense op een trein. En soos ek reeds genoem het, maniere is ongehoord in hierdie donker tonnels. Waar is die tyd toe ek 15minute voor werk in my motor gespring het, en deur die verkeer gevleg het werk toe? Waar is die adrenalien van voet in die hoek sit om 'n oranje verkeerslig te vang? Ek mis dit. Ek mis die bekende motors met wie ek elke oggend 'ge-race' het. Hier hardloop ons vir 'n trein, duik in 'n donker, vuil tonnel in en hoop om die lig oor 'n uur te sien aan die ander kant.
So gepraat van tonnels. Ek besef vanoggend op pad werk toe, dat al die plekke waar ons stop, eintlik geboue aan die buitekant het. Sommige van hulle is nogal bekend. Ek dink ek gaan 'n punt maak om hierdie Engelse stad te verken - te voet. Ek is seker daarvan dat daar 'n paar roetes te voet is wat vinniger gaan wees as 'n 'tube'!
En o ja, die son het vanoggend vir 10min geskyn! Die hoogtepunt in enige afrikaner se dag!

London Underground

I think there is some kind of unspoken rule on the London Underground which I certainly am unaware of. Coming from Southern Africa, I grew up with Emsie Schoeman who obviously did not include these finer rules in her idea of what is good manners. Where shall I start? It seems rude to get on the Underground if you are awake. You have to look sleepy and just well, not of this world. Then, you are not allowed to look up and don't even think of greeting someone. That is simply not allowed. And youngsters, don't even think of getting up for an older person or pregant lady, that is just rude. Please remember never to use the words 'excuse me' or 'thank you', that is so not part of the London Underground.
For once, I think I prefer to be old school!

By die huis is reen spesiaal en almal is opgewonde as dit reen. (Ek verwys spesifiek na die Namibiese platteland.) Hier (in Engeland) is dit asof almal in 'n gat val die oomblik as dit begin reen. Ek moet erken, die gebeurtenis maak my nou ook nie juis opgewonde nie, maar dit bly reen! Reen maak skoon, dit verkoel en dit laat groei! Dit maak nie saak of dit elke liewe dag reen nie en of dit vir 5sekondes eenkeer in 'n jaar reen nie, die eienskappe van reen bly dieselfde. Plante en diere verander positief om by die reen aan te pas. Ons as mens word of opgewonde of diep depressief. Wat het van ons sintuie, ons waagmoed geword? Wat van net vir 'n slag gaan stil staan en die vars lug inasem. Die nuwe reuke probeer onderskei van die ou vuil reuke... Die koue druppels op jou vel voel en jou uitskud soos 'n hond na 'n draf in die reen... Wat het van ons menswees geword?