Following on my previous 9 posts on the SADF, last night's chat with the Princess's boss did bring back some memories not so good.
a) The young Infantry man, shot in the face by his friend by accident. You don't survive an R1 bullet into the face.
b) My friend, DL, a Luit. with 32 battalion, shot in the back of the head by enemy fire. Dead
c) A family member, (on the Princess's side), a corporal, killed while protecting an injured member of his platoon during an ambush.
d) NB - lost an eye, and many friends when the chopper that was casavaking them got hit by an RPG.
e) A "noddy car" driver, the most careful and safest man I knew in SWA, who took the wheel of our "wolf", and whilst parking it under a tree had his legs blown off by a land mine. His last word to me were, "What the fuck happened?", and then he died.
To those who I can't recall right now, those who I don't know of, I say "Thank You!'.
Salagatle!
LIU - Look It Up!
Friday, January 04, 2008
Stupid bird
On close inspection, you will notice that there is a blue birds egg balancing on this palm frond! It does have a hole in it, so the little one has either got out and pissed off due to being seriously embarrassed by it's parents, or, the egg could have been broken and drained by a predator, like an Indian Minor...
However, it's still a mystery as to how the egg got there? Did it get laid there, or fall out of the nest in the top of the palm tree and just happen to fall to its current position?
Itook this picture from the balcony of the Princess's nephew's apartment.
Salagatle!
Another day, another dime
Been back at the office for 2 days now, not that I was on leave or anything, I just worked from home during the silly season. But what a drag it's been. Although there is not traffic and so it's quite quick to get to the office, there is almost no one there, and work is, well slow....
I started in my new position as of the 1st, and have been reading up on some of the stuff the boss recommended I read - like he knows...LOL! Mostly just rehashing what I already know, and have done for 10 of my 12 years here.
Had the Princess's boss, his wife, daughter, mother, and daughters friend around last night for a visit, and for GMan to load music onto his Ipod for him. Had a long chat, sitting outside on the deck. Nice guy he is, and has an interesting background, especially where his military service is concerned.
Rained like mad from early this am, and by 7 am when I was getting ready to leave for the office we had over 30mm in the rain meter. It's still raining now. But, after the dry spell we have had (a few weeks) and the high temperatures, I don't really mind. If nothing else, good clean pure rainwater is just what the garden, and my new trees, needs.
had to take the car back to have the alternator repaired again yesterday. In all my years of owning cars, I have never had such problems with alternators like I have with this one. it was overhauled not 2 months ago....! But, the guy did it for free, so no sweat there. I think since we re welded the body, it's a bit out of alignment, and this causes the outer bearing to collapse rather quickly.
Saw yesterday on the way home that the sports club is open again. Good, another place to visit every now and then. really enjoy the guys there - no hang ups, no big egos..... And there is the Cherry Master that has been so good to me! LOL - that's probably the prime reason for going there, although I must admit I don't always play. Sometimes it's more fun watching someone else.
This on line poker, even the "free"play is quite fun. However, I think because it's "free" the guys don't really play as they would if there was real money on the table. And that's a bit crappy. Nothing like having some dunce go all in, with a 3 / 7, and you fold a 10 / Q, just cause it's pre flop. But they are out there, and you play around them. Wish i could afford a seat at the Piggs Peak ZAR 1 million poker tournament though. Would love to be there and playing. However, at ZAR 10 k per entry it's not likely to happen any time soon.
Enough for now - keep visiting....
Salagatle!
I started in my new position as of the 1st, and have been reading up on some of the stuff the boss recommended I read - like he knows...LOL! Mostly just rehashing what I already know, and have done for 10 of my 12 years here.
Had the Princess's boss, his wife, daughter, mother, and daughters friend around last night for a visit, and for GMan to load music onto his Ipod for him. Had a long chat, sitting outside on the deck. Nice guy he is, and has an interesting background, especially where his military service is concerned.
Rained like mad from early this am, and by 7 am when I was getting ready to leave for the office we had over 30mm in the rain meter. It's still raining now. But, after the dry spell we have had (a few weeks) and the high temperatures, I don't really mind. If nothing else, good clean pure rainwater is just what the garden, and my new trees, needs.
had to take the car back to have the alternator repaired again yesterday. In all my years of owning cars, I have never had such problems with alternators like I have with this one. it was overhauled not 2 months ago....! But, the guy did it for free, so no sweat there. I think since we re welded the body, it's a bit out of alignment, and this causes the outer bearing to collapse rather quickly.
Saw yesterday on the way home that the sports club is open again. Good, another place to visit every now and then. really enjoy the guys there - no hang ups, no big egos..... And there is the Cherry Master that has been so good to me! LOL - that's probably the prime reason for going there, although I must admit I don't always play. Sometimes it's more fun watching someone else.
This on line poker, even the "free"play is quite fun. However, I think because it's "free" the guys don't really play as they would if there was real money on the table. And that's a bit crappy. Nothing like having some dunce go all in, with a 3 / 7, and you fold a 10 / Q, just cause it's pre flop. But they are out there, and you play around them. Wish i could afford a seat at the Piggs Peak ZAR 1 million poker tournament though. Would love to be there and playing. However, at ZAR 10 k per entry it's not likely to happen any time soon.
Enough for now - keep visiting....
Salagatle!
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
The day before Xmas
we went to a local theme park with some friends. Much fun had by all, even though some of us were stupid enough to go on the "Tornado" right after lunch!
The dreaded Tornado!
Mine shaft - this is a seriously scary ride!
The gold rush loop.... another scary - high speed ride!
Sitting in the front seats of the high speed gold rush loop ride - 0 - 100km / hour in 3.2 seconds......
This is the result of doing the tornado right after lunch!
Salagatle!
The dreaded Tornado!
Mine shaft - this is a seriously scary ride!
The gold rush loop.... another scary - high speed ride!
Sitting in the front seats of the high speed gold rush loop ride - 0 - 100km / hour in 3.2 seconds......
This is the result of doing the tornado right after lunch!Salagatle!
New Casino
The new casino down the road opened it's doors on the 8th of December. i didn't get to go till about the 20th or so, but eventually got there and registered.
As the crow flies it's bout 4 kn from our home. About 5 or 6 km by road. Anyway, on our first visit , (the Princess and I) we spent about ZAR850, but I brought home ZAR2200. On my second visit, alone (the Princess really does not like to gamble) I spent ZAR1000, and came home with ZAR4000!!! On my last visit, a week or so ago I lost ZAR600.
It's a nice enough place. Only the casino complex is open for now, and the rest will be opening end of March. it's already popular (what casino's aren't), and much money is being lost and won on a daily basis. The only fault I have with the place is that it's too close to home.....
Salagatle!
As the crow flies it's bout 4 kn from our home. About 5 or 6 km by road. Anyway, on our first visit , (the Princess and I) we spent about ZAR850, but I brought home ZAR2200. On my second visit, alone (the Princess really does not like to gamble) I spent ZAR1000, and came home with ZAR4000!!! On my last visit, a week or so ago I lost ZAR600.
It's a nice enough place. Only the casino complex is open for now, and the rest will be opening end of March. it's already popular (what casino's aren't), and much money is being lost and won on a daily basis. The only fault I have with the place is that it's too close to home.....
Salagatle!
Old Years eve - New years eve
Which one is it? I refer here to the night of 31 December of any year....
Anyway, we decided to spend it at a public venue for a change, and the most logical one was Monte Casino. It's always a blast (or so they say), and stuff for the kids to do. For me, the fact that it's a casino is enough!
Anyway, I managed to fuck it up good and proper.
I left the Princess to take a spin on the machines while I went in to the smoking casino and played Blackjack. Seems that she wasn't too impressed I never came out again.
Well, I did, at about 11.40 pm. Worked my way through the masses to the outside fountain area. The route there was packed and slow going. I called her on the cell and she was seriously pissed off, wanting to know where I was, and why I hadn't come out earlier.... go figure.
Got to the fountain - there was NO ONE there!!!
Ran through as fast as possible to the OTHER fucking fountain, at the theater end of the buildings - and there was NO ONE THERE EITHER!!! WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY?
Called her again. By now it's 10 past midnight. She's so pissed off she can hardly talk. Confirm her location. Geezzzz - I didn't even know there was another fucking fountain! Work my way there - I can see the Xmas tree, all lit up. She said she's sitting under it. There is no way through the throng of drunken revellers, and after 15 minutes of not being able to move an inch, I turn around and make my way back to the casino floor. I send her an SMS with new years wishes and all.... I mean, what's a guy supposed to do?
Her response was not good. I went out again, and fought my way through, found her, she fucked me off, so I went back inside, and did what I do best - played the tables - won some money and when she sms'd me they were ready to leave I joined them and drove home.
Ok, so I may have left the table a bit late to get to the fountain by 12. In fact - my only error was going to the wrong fountain to start with, as it turned out the one where the Princess found herself was THE CLOSEST TO THE DAMN CASINO I WAS IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, we kinda haven't spoken yet, so it's been, well, a quiet start to the new year.
Salagatle!
Anyway, we decided to spend it at a public venue for a change, and the most logical one was Monte Casino. It's always a blast (or so they say), and stuff for the kids to do. For me, the fact that it's a casino is enough!
Anyway, I managed to fuck it up good and proper.
I left the Princess to take a spin on the machines while I went in to the smoking casino and played Blackjack. Seems that she wasn't too impressed I never came out again.
Well, I did, at about 11.40 pm. Worked my way through the masses to the outside fountain area. The route there was packed and slow going. I called her on the cell and she was seriously pissed off, wanting to know where I was, and why I hadn't come out earlier.... go figure.
Got to the fountain - there was NO ONE there!!!
Ran through as fast as possible to the OTHER fucking fountain, at the theater end of the buildings - and there was NO ONE THERE EITHER!!! WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY?
Called her again. By now it's 10 past midnight. She's so pissed off she can hardly talk. Confirm her location. Geezzzz - I didn't even know there was another fucking fountain! Work my way there - I can see the Xmas tree, all lit up. She said she's sitting under it. There is no way through the throng of drunken revellers, and after 15 minutes of not being able to move an inch, I turn around and make my way back to the casino floor. I send her an SMS with new years wishes and all.... I mean, what's a guy supposed to do?
Her response was not good. I went out again, and fought my way through, found her, she fucked me off, so I went back inside, and did what I do best - played the tables - won some money and when she sms'd me they were ready to leave I joined them and drove home.
Ok, so I may have left the table a bit late to get to the fountain by 12. In fact - my only error was going to the wrong fountain to start with, as it turned out the one where the Princess found herself was THE CLOSEST TO THE DAMN CASINO I WAS IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, we kinda haven't spoken yet, so it's been, well, a quiet start to the new year.
Salagatle!
Xmas day
My brother looking for his missing Xmas present - OR - The local bum digging in the bin for leftovers?
The kids in the pool doing what kids do.....
Xmas pud - baked by an octogenarian.
My idea of pudding - Chocolate Mousse cake!
And, custard for some, brandy for the Xmas pud!Salagatle!
The Trees
The trees are planted - 6 of them. 4 x Acacia's (all different) and a pepper tree, and a wild olive tree.
Koors Boom (Fever Tree)
Black Monkey Thorn
Natal Camel Thorn
Pepper Tree
Soet Doring (Sweet thorn)
Wild Olive.
Some cactus plants from Mom that must still go into the garden
Not to be outdone, my brother decided to also get some garden work done this past weekend. On the trailer is all the stuff he cut out / removed / trimmed back!
Looks neater around the pool now.
Another pic at the pool.Salagatle!
Monday, December 31, 2007
2008
2008 is upon us.
I suppose compliments and best wishes for the new year are in order.
So, there you go.
Salagatle!
I suppose compliments and best wishes for the new year are in order.
So, there you go.
Salagatle!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)