Strike …

Trade unionists in South Africa are holding a one-day strike in protest against the high cost of living.

Ooookkkkkaaaaayyyy….no problem if you want to strike.  Our constitution gives you the right to do so, so go ahead and make your point.  Peacefully.  Willingly.

Typically though, it’s hardly ever peaceful or willingly.  Just this morning taxi’s had stones thrown at them, should they dare to transport passengers.  People trying to leave the location via bicycle was also attacked and stopped.  Threats warnings were giving that houses will be burnt down if workers went to work.

So much for a peaceful strike.  I personally think most of them don’t even know what the strike is about.  I don’t think those who receive the memorandum even reads it or give any attention to it.

Don’t argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

 

Sagole Big Tree

We normally try to show the boys something different when we go away. I want them to experience as many different things as possible. The only true way to gain general knowledge is by seeing and doing and reading.

The boys recently asked me what the biggest tree in our country is. Now as with most things in life, this is a big dispute but it is said that this tree - the Baobab tree - in Limpopo is the biggest. It is over 3 000 years old or not depending on the source

We decided to take the boys there this past weekend while visiting my brother and his family. It was a long drive, especially back when I wanted to kill my brother and husband for the way they were driving.

It was so worth the trip. This tree is huge. I took loads of photos (just check my flickr). There’s a cave inside big enough to be a dining room….I mean you could fit a table and chairs….big.

The drive to the tree and back was over 300 km. A trip I didn’t plan on doing anytime soon until Jason asked if we could go again. My immediate reply was no because we have now seen it. But then he said that we do need to see it in summer too.

How do you say no to that kind of logic.

 

Change

I had a meeting with SARS (Steal All Resources for Self) (South African Receiver of Service)

 

I’ve obviously been working very closely with them for years.  So has my dad for many more years.

They have always treated everyone like criminals.  Acting as though they are doing you a HUGE service by taking your money.  They had no smile in their voices and even less so on their faces.

 

Recently…very slowly…they have been changing their attitudes.  Wow.  It was almost a pleasure to contact them.

 

Yesterday during the meeting, they actually admitted to treating everyone as criminals.  Even those who they worked closely with.  Accountants they knew were being honest.

 

I’m amazed that they could admit to that.  I see hope that they will actually change their attitudes and work WITH us and not AGAINST us

 

“People have been known to achieve more as a result of working with others than against them - Dr. Allan Fromme”

 

Alarm

I lie there, trying to day dream myself into sleep.  No seriously.  These days I don’t just fall asleep.  I have to ‘day dream’ before hopefully falling asleep.  Horrible feeling that.  Being worried that just maybe you won’t fall asleep.

Finally my dream takes over reality and I drift off to the land of the Sandman.  Just.  Then the house alarm goes off.  There is NOTHING that gets your heart rate up so quickly as being woken up from deep sleep to your home alarm going off in South Africa.

Withing milliseconds I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to protect the kids, when I realize Tommie is up and walking through the house already.  I grab my cellphone, with my finger right on the emergency button…just in case. 

In the end we figure out it’s the main bedroom that set off the alarm and all is fine and well in our room.  I keep the phone with me as the security company should be phoning to hear if everything is okay.  I lie there…phone on my chest…waiting for the call.  Nothing.  I’m almost asleep - this time without the help of day dreaming - when I realize I still have the phone on my chest.  No call.  15 Minutes later.  I put the phone on silent (and vibrating) in case they phone, since I don’t want it to wake up Zander or Tommie.

No call.

It’s now 12 : 19 pm.  It’s the next day already and I’m still waiting for the call.

Much help they are.