Middle aged white male living in Africa: Wreckless Euroafrican

Update on the new employment opportunity

2012-01-30T13:12:00.000+02:00

Had a nice call this morning from my mate down under - Solomonster - those of you who know him, he sends his regards. Those who don't, well, same to you I suppose :).

Anyway, I'm going to refer to him as SM from now on (short for Solomonster). He asked about the accident, our health (esp. mom's) and other stuff. And then asked about the now employment opp. I didn't want him to spend another 15000 AUD on the call, so said I would post details here.

So, I recently read an article which was a piece from an interview with a very successful German butcher here in South Africa. When he had finished school, he had no idea what line of business to go into, and approached his grandfather. The response he got was something like this :- "My boy, people will always eat, drink and shit! If you are involved in anything, it must address one of these needs!" And he did, and made good of it.
Now, the food industry isn't for me - hours are way too long. And it's damn competitive. A bottle store (liquor shop) is very profitable, but I'm not sure I want to be partly responsible for more of the worlds problems, what with drunken driving, killing innocent people, spousal and child abuse attributed to alcohol abuse....... Fuck that.

So, that leaves me with shit. No, seriously. A massive problem around the world is shit. Not that which you all deposit into the big white telephone, and flush down to your local sewerage works, where it can be processed and stuff, but the tons of crap being generated in deep pit latrines, and other such make shift locations, in squatter camps etc. Where there is no proper sewerage processing, and where disease, mostly contributed to by the presence of shit, is rampant.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not suddenly becoming a bleeding heart "green world" styled terrorist, about to attack and bomb capitalism, and all the rich people who done even know this problem exists. No, I intend to exploit the situation for my own personal gain, and if some poor bastards out there do benefit from my actions, well then good for me!!!!

A mate of mine (and future employer) is a metallurgist by trade. He's also self employed, and quite the inventor, especially when it comes to filtration / separation / conveying of various forms of materials. He was approached by a big Metro here in SA to help them design a machine to resolve some of the above mentioned crap problem. They had for some years been cleaning out the deep pit latrines in their squatter camps, and so had managed to keep health problems down. But due to the number of latrines, they only go around once every couple of years. The other problem, and probably more of a problem, was disposing of the tons of human shit that they we re collecting.

Most of you have heard of the Valley of a 1000 hills, in Kwa-Zulu Natal? Well, it was fast becoming 1001 hills. According to my mate the shit pile is so big, it will take years to clear, with 4 machines to process it all! That's, ZAR100,000 x 4 per month - for years!!!!!! AND THAT'S ONE METRO, ONE PILE OF SHIT. WITH TONS OF SHIT BEING ADDED EVERYDAY TO THE EXISTING PILE - A NEVER ENDING SOURCE OF SHIT.....

OK, so I'm getting ahead of myself. What he designed (AND PATENTED) is a machine that you dump the shit into (use a front end loader - it's safer), at about 70% dry (30% moisture content). This goes through a screw conveyor that separates hard materials from the shit. (Hard materials have included things like cellphones, TV remote controls, tins, bottles, railway truck wheel ??? {WTF???}) and other stuff. The shit is squeezed out through hundreds of holes in the sides of the screw conveyor, and the hard material is ejected at the top to be disposed of in any other way possible. The "spaghetti" strings of shit then travel through an enclosed conveyor system, fitted with a heating apparatus (this is the secret product) which in effect completely dries the product, kills off all germs / bacteria / other nasty stuff, and dumps it off the end of the belt. At this point the material is safe to handle, has no smell, and gets bagged for sale to anyone who wants it as a damn fine fertilizer for gardens or farms / etc. Stru.......!!

Because of the fact that these machines are mainly to be located in remote sites where the recycling of anything / everything is the main source of income for the inhabitants of these places, they needed to secure the plant. I did a design for him and put the whole contraption into 2 x 20ft containers, with a small container attached which houses a generator - diesel powered. The "end product" bagged and sold brings in about 6 x the overall cost of the running of the plant, diesel included!
The upside to this is that it creates jobs. People are needed to run the plant on a day to day basis. There is ongoing maintenance required, which is shopped out to one of the local engineering companies, and there is employment for the people who bag the material, and sell it.
And, the client pays a build deposit for the plant, and a monthly fee of ZAR 100,000 (depending on the size) for a minimum period of 36 months. And they are responsible for running costs and maintenance costs. Geezzz.... can u believe this shit?!?:)

Oh, and the Bill Gates Green World Foundation is talking to us, and are keen on an initial order of 1000 machines in the next 18 - 24 months! These, however, will be for export to the East, and we would sell them outright. But probably still be the prime source for spare parts and stuff. But should I care? 1000 MACHINES - If I pull that one off, I can probably make a fair commissions, and retire!!!!

Also, we are talking to several companies who want to take up a franchise. South America is the main one here.

So there you have it. I will be running the company that will sell / rent / market / produce these machines. I will, over time, have to recruit various people to assist as the business grows. I am trying to secure a share in the business. We will be taking other peoples shit and turning it into money. Sounds like a damn fine idea to me...

Salagatle!

GMan

2012-01-27T12:10:00.000+02:00

After wasting 2 years playing poker, and probably losing a ton more than he ever won, GMan was approached by some guy he met at one of the high flyer games he used to deal at. The guy own a Venture Capital company (from what I can understand) and seemed impressed by GMan. He offered to employ him, and train him. And, I understand, one of the conditions of employment is that he stops gambling - that to me is first prize!

Anyway, he started work at the beginning of this year. His boss is very status conscious, and has many visitors / business men coming in from China, Russia, Switzerland, so wants his employees that collect them at the airport to make a good impression. His first "company" car is a brand new Jaguar. And as they only keep their cars for 6 months, his next car, a brand new Range Rover, is already on order!!!

I think he has finally been given a good chance to make something of his life, and if this goes well, he can make a damn load of money. His starting salary s up there where some graduates don't even get to, and there is some commission scheme in place as well. Whatever, as long as he's not playing poker, he's making money!!!!

Salagatle!

Ballito 2011 / 2112

2012-01-27T12:07:00.000+02:00

Ok, so we took an extended leave from work. From my side, management were not too happy - fuck them. For the Princess it was no problem. We were very blessed to be given the use of her employers place down in Simbithi, a golf estate. His place has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, etc, and a view to die for.

We left Sunday 18th, early in the morning, driving in LuckyL's car, (he had taken her car - see previous posts I think), and I drove all the way down. I managed a fuel consumption of 14.3 km/l - damn good if I must say so myself.

Anyway, our time down there was fantastic. We did what we had set out to do - as little as possible - resting, reading, eating, drinking, nothing...... My brother and his brood joined us for a few days over Xmas, as did GMan, and we did Old Years Eve with friends at the Barnyard in the Gateway. Other than that - nada.
We eventually had to come home on the 2nd of January, as the Princess had to get back to work. Me, I still had a whole two weeks at home, and made plans to do some serious maintenance, as well as spend some time at my future place of employment!!!

View From the balcony

Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans - been standing for 15 years. I found it, and now want to buy it.

View from kitchen area, through lounge, to the deck, and beyond.

Now this is a view to get up for everyday!

Some monkeys around, and the wild species too. Didn't pose any problems for us though.

This flag which was being "towed" by the chopper was massive!

They had problems with water supply due to the massive influx of visitors to the town, but wasn't a big thing.

Fantastic!

Found this silver fork between some rocks while doing some rock pool walking.

Same fork after 4 days in vinegar, and some polishing.

So, we went to see an old school friend of the Princess, and it turns out she's married to a guy who was at school with me! At his house I found the Moto Guzzi in the foto above. He rode it home one day, about 15 years ago, and just never rode it again! So I'm chatting to him to sell it to me. e has kept the license updated, so it needs a bit of work, but I already have a buyer for it! Can make some good money on it and LuckyL will have money for his planned trip to Italy!

Speaking about LuckyL - he got very good results for his Martic finals. His overall average is 71.5%!! Made me very very proud. Overall, he spent a whole month down at the coast, so had a very good break. Unfortunately he decided too late what he wanted to study, so we could not get him into uni this year, and now he's getting very bored. But we might get him a job at a place where he will be involved in mechanical stuff first hand, so that will help him decide if it's actually what he wants to do.

Overall, a great holiday, and I ended my trip to the coast on a high note, with a very positive attitude!

Salagatle!

And then it exploded

2012-01-27T12:03:00.000+02:00

So, I was looking at a better year than last year. I had decided I would be leaving my current employer, and was stoked to get involved in what would be my new place of employment. I had plans to get a whole lot of maintenance done at home......

Since the Matriarch moved into the retirement village, it has become my responsibility to pick her up every Saturday evening and take her to church. No problem. Saturday the 7th January was no different, except that she had offered a friend at the home a lift to church with us, as her usual transportation was not available.
i picked them up at about 5.30 pm, in my Toyota Corolla. Due to the fact that the friend has in the past had a massive stroke, it's easier for her to sit in front, with mom at the back. Off we go. Church is from 6 - 7. We left the church at between 6.55 and 7pm. Nice casual drive back to the village. As I am approaching an intersection, ans stop street, I do what I always do. Check speedo (60km/h), move foot to brake pedal, and at the same time check rearview mirror so that if there is someone following me, I can see if they note that I am slowing down. No car behind me. I look front - and the world ended!!!
Coming at me, in my lane, at a very high speed I see a car! WTF! is probably all that went through my mind, and I floored the brake pedal. And the whole world exploded. It's a fantastic thing that it all seems to be in slow motion, but is in fact a split second and the destruction that takes place is almost unbelievable!
The car stops, and there's this deadly silence. Mom is lying between the seats, with her head more or less on the gear lever. I try to lift her, but there is not response. I turn to open my door, it unlocks, but wont budge, so I kick the crap out of it - open. Get out, rune around the car to open the passenger doors. They are locked from inside. Run back around, get in the car - reach over, unlock both doors, try ans help mom again - nothing, get out run around - open both doors - check the lady in front, looks OK???? - look down at mom - not looking OK, reach in through the back door to see if I can help her up from there - and I see a steel pin stuck right through her left leg - ans I know I cant do anything.......

Run back around, feel around under her head where I remember putting my cellphone, find it, and dial the Princess! By now, people are coming to help, and two ladies ask me to stand aside, and I do. Light up a smoke (no, i didn't think of the tank full of petrol - WTF!).

Stepping back, I do a quick assessment of the situation. The driver of the other car has climbed out - no injuries that I can see. I ask the nearest to me to make sure he does not run away. i notice that from the point of impact, my car traveled backwards at least 20 meters! How fast was this fucker driving?
People have already called for assistance. ow truck drivers arrive - and pass out blankets, cushions, and first aid kits!! Awesome. Next to arrive - after a while - paramedics, that's good, cause I really need them to work on the two ladies in the car. The local Community Police Forum people arrive, and immediately one of them is tasked to attach themselves to the driver of the other car. Make sure he has nothing to eat or drink, and does not leave before the cops get there.

Next to arrive, ambulances - soon after the paramedics, then, later, the firebrigade, and much later, the SAPS. (Where the fuck were they?).

Anyway, after more than an hour of working on her, they got mom into an ambulance, her frined in another one, and we all went off to the hospital. GMan, summoned by the Princess had arrived, and between the teo of them they sorted out the stuff in the car, and arranged to have it towed. And then followed us to the hospital.

This was my Toyota Corolla

The other car - A VW Jetta, older model

At the scrap yard

Now I know why me chest hurts - check that steering wheel

Chest 1 - 0 Steering wheel

Mom's arm

So, overall I got off lightly. Cracked a bone in my left wrist, and have a hairline crack through the sternum. Not that it's not sore, going to take a while to heal. And I had bruises all over.
Mom shattered her wrist, hence the brace in the foto above,and broke her left leg, above the knee, steel pins and plates, and smashed the dashboard with her face - you have no idea how black and blue her face was, and loads of bruises etc. We now on day 20, and she is still in hospital.
Moms friend - Broken left wrist - has a brace similar to moms. Plenty broken ribs - rhs - And they had to insert a plate and a whole lot of screws to fix a bunch of broken ribs, and repair a hole in her lung ( caused by the ribs), and loads of bruises. The scariest was that she went into some kind of shock induced coma, and was non-responsive to any interaction at all for just over a week. But now she's doing great, and should be home soon. Mom has to do a week or so of rehab, after she leaves hospital, before she can go home.

I spoke to the cop who came to the scene that night. He says the other driver was not drunk. But, he quickly assesed that he was on drugs, and arrested him, and took him for a blood test. He would have spent the weekend in jail, and probably released on bail only Monday sometime. Now we wait for the results. I have to call the cop soon for an update, and so tat I can get some info to initiate the Road Accident Fund Claim.

We survived - I am very blessed to have come off so lighlty, but would gladly take all the injuries from my mom, and her friend if I could, to spare them the pain they have had to suffer the past 3 weeks.

More to follow as it unfolds.

Salagatle!

So, I need to replace my car.....

2012-01-27T12:02:00.000+02:00

After the accident, GMan brought me his car to use as a trade in. That's the VW Passat that I've been writing about, and have had so much shit with. He's getting a company car, so didn't need his own anymore. Anyway, between LuckyL and myself and the internet, it took one visit to a second hand dealer near the house, and a second visit to another dealer a bit further away, and I bought a Mitsubushi Outlandr. R60k trade in for the VW (that's R35k below trade price) and paid the rest in from the insurance payout for the Toyota, and I have transport. It's bigger, has a descent bonnet, and is also automatic. Just thirsty on petrol, but what the hell.

My "new" Wheels.

2005
Make    Mitsubishi
Model    Outlander
Variant    2.4 gls at
Price (new)    R 251,900
http://www.um.co.za/specifications/mitsubishi_outlander_2_4_gls_at_%282003%29.aspx

However, my insurance covers me for a rental car for a few weeks, so I have been driving tht for now, but have to take it back tonight. It's a VW, 1.6 Polo, auto, and gives around 7.4l/100km!!! Awesome car, 6 speed auto box, very comfortable - but I couldn't afford one anyway.

So, from tonight, I drive my new car, and LuckyL is back in his Opel. He's been driving my car since we bought it - just so we could iron out any defects, and while GMan was using his car waiting for his BRAND NEW JAGUAR to be delivered (more on this in another post).

Salagatle!

Updates

2012-01-19T12:07:00.001+02:00

Hi Guys,
Sorry that I have not posted recently, but I have had a hectic time of late.
To post shortly:-
a) Our vacation in Ballito
b) My head on collision
c) Attempted break in at home

Yup, a lot to post, and pics as well.
Will be updated shortly!

Salagatle!

2012

2012-01-04T07:33:00.001+02:00

And a Happy New Year to all 5 of you out there who occasionally read my drivel! Hope it's going to be a good one!

Salagatle!

LuckyL's car - the saga continues

2011-12-23T07:52:00.000+02:00

Ok, so in a previous post I deliberated on the problems we had with the car, and how I managed to kind of sort it out. Had no problems driving down to the coast with it, in fact, we managed 14.3km/lt. (am I repeating myself here?) No matter. What is important is that the problem is still there. If the car is started when hot, and you a) don't wait for the lights to run through the test circuit, or b) the car does not fire up immediately, then the warning light are back.
Basically, I think it's got something to do with the heat sensors on the car. Maybe a broken / loose wire. Maybe a faulty sensor. Maybe, and I'm almost certain here, something was broken / disconnected / damaged when the shop did the service to the starter motor.

Will have to take some time out to check it out, but for now, it's going OK so I'm not too bothered.

Salagatle!

Update on work, and the evil USA Corporation

2011-12-15T09:53:00.001+02:00

Reading the title to this post should tell you that either I don't have much to post, or I just don't have a better title. Either way, I'm not going to argue the point.

So, what's going on with me. Well, as I type this I am sitting at my desk in the office for what should be the last time till the 17th of January!!! Yup, I am taking my vacation, all 19 days of it, and I am taking it at the company year end, against all the company management guidelines and woishes that no one take leave now as they have to bring in every single deal possible before the 31st. Well, go fuck yourselves, I have no deal that will close between now and then, and those that could maybe close, should have done so in the past 8 weeks, but because you don't have the capacity and capabiloity to get the shit through your broken process, the documents are not yet done, so nothing can go to the lcient to sign.

What I am expecting is for the senior manager to come back with a "Who approved your leave for this time?". Well, no-one actually. I informed my manager more then 8 weeks ago that I had applied for leave on the system. He had the option of going on-line and either approving it, or declining it. He has done neither. So by default, it is approved! And as far as I am concerned, now it's too late to cancel it, so do what you must, I am on leave - even if you cancel now, I will not be back in the office before the 17th Jan 2012, and then we can sort it out. I am quite happy, and willing to take this up via a legal route if I have to.

So, earlier today I got an invite to a meeting with my executive for the 21st of Dec. to discuss how I plan to make my number in Q1 2012. Well, there is two sides to this.
1) I don't know what my number is / will be - and if I share my opp. with you, who's to say you wont set the number according to my pipeline as opposed to what the business wants?
2) I am on leave then, so if you really want to meet to discuss this, better you make it a conference call. I have no problem dialing in from my apartment in Ballito, but I will not be in the office. Not even if you offer to pay the airline ticket to get me here and back down again!!!

As for my opportunities for Q1 - well, how's this for a pipeline:-
12 Opportunities with a total value of USD 18.5m!!! If that's not enough, well then shove it! If I sign just 33% I still make the number for the half year, never mind the quarter!

Management are still talking about putting me on a PIP (Performance Improvement Plan). Basically used most times to try and get rid of an employee. It is biased and usually the measurement of achievement is subjective, however, I have had the initial discussion with the manager, and agreed to the PIP - BUT, he needs to be very careful on what they put in as the detail of the document.

Basically they can't challenge me on product Knowledge, Pipeline creation, Process and Procedures, Client Knowledge, Client Satisfaction, Team working, Peer assistance...... The only "Fail" I have for this year is not making my signings target. OK, so I have a spreadsheet of the deals i worked on (and lost) and for every single one of those I have a comment which basically shows that either a) We fucked up with the pricing, b) or took to long to respond, c) or didn't respond. Basically, in many / most instances, I was let down by the company, it's processes, procedures, back office support (or the lack of it). So, don't know what they plan to challange me on, but will be interesting to see.

Then, about 6 weeks ago I submitted a travel claim. We get an allowance for travel to clients, but have to submit a claim form, on-line, to get paid. I don't always bother with it, but did this time as over the two preceding months, it worked out to about R5,5k. Nice money to have to take on vacation.
So it goes through the system. I get a notification that there was a problem with the server / process, but will be sorted out soon. Last week I raised it with my manager. He shot off an email requesting payment to be processed. On-line in the claim system it shows as paid. I get another apology email to say they have a problem with the process. Fine, just get it sorted out.
Today I got my payslip - we get paid on the 15th in Dec, so that people have money over the holiday period, makes no sense to me but whatever.
Anyway, on the payslip the travel payment is reflected, and so I have been taxed on it - BUT I STILL DON'T HAVE THE FUCKING MONEY IN MY BANK ACCOUNT YOU MORONS!!!!!

So, send off an email, copy my manager and my executive:-

Good day,
I see that my payslip shows payment for travel of R5282.00
However, I have never received this payment. I have escalated it, and got some notification about a problem with process, but nothing else.
If it is on my payslip, I have been taxed on this, but have not got the money yet!
If this payment ever does take place, what's to say I wont be taxed again!!!!

This is not professional at all. Another indication that off-shoring of services is not working.

Not sure how it will be received, but I am way beyond caring now anyway. Fuck them - more ammo for the Labour Lawyer!

Yup, it really is fun working here! You have no idea how bored I would be anywhere else!!!! I know 2 of my readers also work for the same shit hole, and I know they feel much the same as I do. At least I seem t have an option to abandon this stinking ship in the near future. I just need to get the offer upped a bit so that I don't take a knock from an earnings perspective. Have some ideas around how to reduce my monthly expenses, and will do so if I have to. Anything to be able to get the other job, as I do see a lot of potential there, and I will be away from this American Corporate crap!!!

Finally, I am working on a rather large deal, due to close end Q1, early Q2, 2012. What is interesting is how the corporation are "loading" the opportunity. What's more interesting is that I have access to the information. It will not be beyond me to use this information for personal benefit and gain.

So, looks like we in for a great ride.

Salagatle!

LuckyL's car

2011-12-14T09:09:00.000+02:00

So, in a previous post I mentioned the problems we have had with LuckyLs car.
Here is a brief synopsis of events:-

The car was running fine. No problems at all, apart from a sticky starter every now and then. As he was traveling to the coast with 3 friends for their matric year end, I decided to do some preventative maintenance. Two new tyres on the front. Then, send it to the mechanic for a starter service (better than waiting for it to break) and while it's there, an oil change service - at 148000 km it's due anyway. We also booked it for a tow bar fitting for the following Tuesday as they were taking the trailer down with them.
Get the car back from the mechanic, and the shit starts. The "spanner" warning light comes on, as does the "anti-skid" light, which, when activated mean there is something wrong, so the car goes into limp mode - maximum speed is reduced to around 80kmh, and rev's limited to 4000rpm.

Take the car back to the shop. They put it onto the computer, and error P0340 comes up - "Cam belt tension sensor faulty". Yea right. This is Saturday morning. I call all the Opel dealers. Cost R 2200 - availability maybe 3 - 4 days from ordering. RIGHT!!! I go online, call around and find a place in Pretoria Opel A.S.A.P., they have stock, original parts, R1300. What time do you close? 12.30 - OK, it's 11.30, see u in a few..... And off we go. Thanks to the Garmin we drove straight there, and found what we needed.

Monday morning, deliver said part to the mechanic. A few hours later he calls, same fault. Yea right - I collect the car - Tuesday we take it for the tow bar, thereafter back to the mechanic. Now we are running out of time. Crank sensor is removed and checked. Fine. Wheel sensors checked, one has moved and wires have rubbed through onto the brake disk. Remove - repair - refit. CV sensors checked. Fine. And still the light comes on. By Wednesday afternoon I was getting desperate - LuckyL and his mates were to leave Thursday morning at 5 am. The mechanic says, it must be the cam belt, and tensioner. Liik in the service book - yup, this was supposed to be replaced at the 150000km service - so maybe thats it. Phone around. Everyone is closed.
Thursday morning early, drop LuckyL off at the mechanic, and I go to work. Plan is that as soon as the car is ready, he leaves, picks up his mates, and drives to the coast.
By 12.30 am, it was obvious that the problem was not resolved. Cam belt and tensioner replaced, and still we had the same error. So I tell him to drive home, call the Princess, and take her car. As it is they are 6 hours + late in leaving, and with the roads busy, and rain predicte, they would be arriving after dark.
So he does, and he goes. In the meantime the mechanic has a chat with the Opel workshop supervisor about the proble, and he says thay had something similar recently. Seems that the computer got confused, and would not reset and kept showing the same error. So thay disconnected the battery, and the computer, left it for 24 hours, reconnectd everything, and the car was fine.
Ok, so I will try that.

The Princess goes to work with LuckyL's car Friday morning. When she left, the warning light was off!! That afternoon when she leaves the office - same! Great. She stops at the shop on the way home, is inside for maybe 10 minutes, comes out, starts the car and the fucking warning lights are back!?!?!?!?!?

Friday night, I disconnect the batter and computer. Saturday afternoon, 20 or so hours later, I reconnect everything. Start the car - no warning lights!!! I drive 1 km to the filling station. Switch off. Fill up. Start the car - no warning lights!!!!!!! Drive to the bottle store - 6 km - and I push th car - I have a feeling about this now. Stop, go in, buy some stuff, come out - maybe 6 - 7 minutes, get in - start the car - warning lights are back on. Drive to the club, go in for 30-40 minutes, go back out, start the car - warning lights off! Thats it then, the lights only seem to come on when the car is started when hot, not when it's cold / been standing long enough to cool down. - Did it again a few times on Sunday when the Princess to the car to work.

I relay this information to the mechanic, and drive the car down to him Monday morning. Leave the car there and ask him to please get it sorted by the end of the week. I need this car to be ready for us to go to the coast with. Even if he has to take it to the Opel dealers.

At 4.30pm, I have not heard anything yet. Princess asks if I have called him yet, and I say no, figure if he had news he would have called me. Will wait for Tuesday. 5.40pm, he calls. Says "Come fetch this piece of shit!" "Why", I respond, "I don't want it, you keep it!". Anyway, he says the car is fixed, I can come fetch it. So me and the Princess drive through and she drops me off and goes back home to prepare dinner. I chat with the mechanic.

So, at some point he was sitting int the car, with his other mechanic under the hood. He would turn the key to start while the other guy would wiggle wires, and plug points, and stuff, to see if it was a faulty wire / connection, which was making and breaking. At some point the dude under the hood decided to wiggle the computer, and nearly burned his hand off!!! So he grabs a cloth, wets it, and uses this to hold the computer so he can wiggle it. AND THE FUCKING WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF!!!!! Lets' go, and they come back on, each time as the car is started of course.

Put the wet cloth back - off, take it away - on!!!!
So they loosen the computer plate from it's mounting, and move it away from where THE STUPID FUCKING GERMAN DESIGNERS DECIDED THE BEST PLACE TO MOUNT IT IS AGAINST THE ENGINE as opposed to the firewall or wheel arch as pee the Chinese / Koren / Japanese designers!!!!!

Takwe the car for a run. Get it hot. Switch off. Start it, no warning lights, off, / on, off / on..... lights are forever gone.

So, back at the workshop the make a heat displacement plate. Metal plate wrapped with double layer of asbestos cloth, and mounted between the computer box and the engine, and the problem is solved. Seems that, coincidentally it happened at this time, the heat resistant materials inside the computer (ECU) box is breaking down, and coupled with the engine heat, and increased temperature of the climate, the hot environment is causing the ECU to give out a warning. Fetched the car, took it home, ran it ragged, start / stop on and on - no problem.

So, after spending a lot more money than I planned to, and LuckyL having to take the Princess's car on holiday, and now us having to take LuckyL's car on holiday, it's all sorted. But who do I have to thank for the trouble? Those stupid moronic German Designers that decided to save 75c (US) on a shorter harness, and monted th ECU on the side of the engine!!

Salagatle!

12/12/2011

2011-12-12T10:36:00.000+02:00

Been a while (again) since I posted anything here. Well, anything worth reading I suppose. But hey, I also got stuff to do you know! Anyway, here's an update on the status of stuff, and if I am repeating anything, tough!
The Matriarch is now comfortable in her new home, settled, and making friends. The house is sold, and registered under the new owners, so that's also sorted. I bought her car from her for the amount offered to her by the second hand dealers, and then, a month later, sold it for a small profit! Every Saturday evening I pick her up, and take her to church. This last weekend I fitted a sliding Xpanda security door (LIU) to her patio door. They all say it's not really necessary, that it's safe, etc, blah, blah, blah, but if you come from an unsafe environment, there is no way you buying into that shit, so I fitted it for her, and now if she wants to she can sleep with the patio door open, or, when she goes out during the day, she dos not have to close up / lock up everything, her home and stuff is safe. Was a bit of a challenge fitting it, especially as I was on my own, but I got it done - good.

LuckyL has had a bit of ad luck with his car - just as I was bragging that he made such a good buy. So, We had 2 new tyres fitted - R 1750 (including wheel alignment), we had the starter serviced (was sticking occasionally, so cheaper to service it now than wait for it to break) and we had the car serviced - 148000km, needed to be done anyway - R 2500, and all this so that he could be safe going down to Ballito for the matric vacs. Oh, and we had a tow bar fitted - R 1950.

get the car back fro the service, and it starts giving error codes on the dashboard. Take it back to the garage. Turns out that the warning light is for a faulty Cam position sensor. OK, call around - Opel - R2200 - 4 days to come from the factory. OPEL A.S.A.P. in Pretoria - R 1300, and he has stock. It's Saturday morning, but we scream through to get it. Monday morning deliver to the mechanic. He fits it - still shows an error. Tuesday and Wednesday we do a million tests, changes, repairs, no help. Thursday morning we fit a new cam-belt and tension pulley. Same shit. By now I know we got shit, and as he was supposed to leave Thursday morning, we let him leave, at 1.15 in the afternoon, with the Princesses car, and trailer in tow!
Friday, and the mechanic says take off the battery terminals, and unplug the computer, leave over noight, and reconnect. Could be that the computer is now confused with all the errors and changes, and maybe needs to be reset.
Funny thing I identify though - if the car has been standing for a few hours (ie it;s cold) it starts and there is no warning light. Then you drive it for a while, stop to pick up something, and then start the car again after say 5 / 10 minutes, the fucking lights come on!!!! Anyway, I do the battery / computer thing, and Saturday afternoon, affter fitting the door for the Matricah, I reconect all the bits, start the car, and it's OK! Great, drive to the petrol station, 2 km away, stop. Fill up. Start, no problem. Great! Drive to the bottle store, push the car a bit, 8 km away. Stop. Go inside, buy some stuff, come out (6 minutes maybe?) and start the car - fucking light is back. Go home. Leave the car for 45 miutes - now it's cold again, start the car, no light.

OK - so I have discovered that the light only comes on if you are starting the car when it's hot. Should make it easier for the mechanic to fault find, with assistance from the Technical Manager from OPEL assisting. Here's hoping - I dropped off the car this am, and need it back by Thursday, as Friday is a public holiday here, and we want to leave for our vacation on Sunday!!!!

OK, so the Princess is using my car, and I'm commuting on the bike.......Fucking cars with fucking stupid ECU's! Gimme a pre 80's muscle car any day!!!!

So, for most of this year I was telling management that if they don't allow me to take leave during school vacations, which happen to coincide with company quarter ends, I will take my leave in December. Not sure if they thought I was joking, but 6 weeks ago I put in for leave from 19th Dec to 3rd January, and I still have another 8 days due to me before end January!!! When I informed management that I had put in the application, I also informed them that if they did not approve it, I would go on leave anyway, and we could sort it out with the CCMA (LIU) afterward!!! Needless to say, it has not been officially approved online, but neither has it been declined, so I go on leave, as of Thursday this week!!! Princess managed to arrange free accommodation with her boss in his apartment on the coast, so I'm looking forward to some serious "do nothing" chilling for a few weeks.

On the transport front, apart from LuckyL's car, my old Toyota is also gettin gto the end of it's life, but I need to nurse it along for a while longer - no finances for replacing that now. I've put all the motorbikes up for sale though, LuckyL's Aprilia RS 125 - he does not ride it anymore anyway, my Yamaha XJR 1200, or his XJR 1200, we need to keep one of them in the family for occasional rides, and. like now, when we short of one car.

I've also started to clean out 'stuff" in the garage. I've given away boxes of tools I don't need (old stuff, miming tools, inherited from a friends late dad) really big stuff that can only be used really in industry, or on farms. A box full of lathe cutting tools. A couple of old Micrometers (still in inches), and so on. When I get back from vacation, going to do more cleaning out - will do a coule of trips to the antique shop to sell of some old stuff, as well as the local Cash Crusaders / pawn shop, to get rid of other unwanted stuff just stored in the garage - bicycles, bird cage, fish tank, hi-fi stand, double bunk bed, double bed with mattrass... fuck there is a whole houshold of stuff in the basement and garage. Going to clean out, and pocket the cash.
Then I'm getting into the stuff upstairs - the study / library has become a storeroom for stuff. No, I have no idea what it is, but it's going - Dump / pawn / trash / donate - whatever. There is also stuff in the safe that I know I am never going to use / wear / look at / bother with. Need to find a new home for that, as well as some of the stuff in the bar - loads of shit to get rid of. Suppose I'm heading towards a minimalistic lifestyle, makes more sense - hell we work all our lives to buy "stuff" which, one day we realize we really don't need / want / adds no value to our lives. Fuck it - time to clean up!
OK, that was a long paragraph!

Back in a bit - need a smoke.

OK, so on the home front - I fired the gardener, and got a new one. You would think these morons would appreciate a steady, regular job. No way, they start to skip a day here, come late the next ... so I sent him in his moer, and told he he can starve next to the road along with the rest of his brothers. Then I had a chat to my neighbor who has a gardener in twice a week, and got this guy to come in on Saturdays. Didn't turn up this week, but probably due to the fact it had been raining most of Thursday and Friday, and looked like rain on Saturday morning. Hope he comes in next week, or else there will be a jungle of lawn by the time we get back from our vacation.

GMan - well, he joined us for dinner on Saturday, and seems like he might join us for Xmas down at the coast. His girlfriend is in the UK, visiting with her mom and brother and step dad. Other than that, no other news on him.

Enough for now - will post more, if I feel like it, whilst sitting on the deck in Ballito, watching the sea......
Later all

Salagatle!

Have you noticed......

2011-12-02T12:31:00.000+02:00

Those of you who work for the same slave park that I do, have you noticed recently that some sites are blocked out? Unable to view due to company policy.... Whatever.
One of them is www.nationallottery.co.za!!!! And the other is one I reference here "interesting text (SMS) messages - as per the link down on the left somewhere.
Wonder what's up with that?

Edited to protect the guilty!!!!

Salagatle!

Email from Jayne (with a why)

2011-11-30T15:37:00.000+02:00

This is a scary set of photos, but what's more amazing to me is the photo's of the biker. And NO, it's not gory pics of body parts - scroll down and be as surprised as I was.

Safe for sensitive viewing - and NO I didn't get permission to post these pics, not am I intending to - if they come to me in an email, they must be common property.

Injuries:-
-Fractured right ankle.
-Broken right toe.
-Broken right collar bone.
-Shattered right wrist.
-Shattered right humorous.
-Soft tissue damage left & right.

And One Ex.Super - Bike !

This guy was so lucky, I cannot begin to explain. Suffice to say he was wearing the right gear, and I am sure he managed to get away from the bike just before impact, or on impact, as the bike continued on it's way to self destruction, he was probably skidding along the tar......

Salagatle!

No posts for a while - but then nothing to post.

2011-11-25T12:37:00.000+02:00

So, as it's Friday, I'm posting this for your consumption.

Aparently this woman is 28. In 2008 she ate some fish which gave her a skin disorder. She then used "natural" remedies to clear up the rash, but this left her looking 80 years old. Found this on Yahoo News. Wonder what her hubby thinks?

This stupid person - from the USA (where else) decided she was not happy with her thin lips, and has since had over 100 botox lip enhancing operations. And, she thinks she looks great! So do her mom and dad (Trailer trash comes to mind). And she does not intend to stop yet! How much bigger does she want them. Oh, and she's planning boob jobs, and other cosmetic surgery as well!! Yahoo News, somewhere.

Salagatle!

Mom never taught me how to do this!

2011-11-17T08:09:00.000+02:00

Got these in an email. They are great.
In my usual law abiding manner, I have not checked if I need permission to post these, I don't know anything about copyrights and stuff, as far as I am concerned, if they on the internet somewhere, they are public domain.
Enjoy

Salagatle!

I stole this from http://www.watkykjy.co.za/

2011-11-16T12:14:00.000+02:00

One of the links I have to the left of this "Really South African". It's good fun to read. Some seriously "ZEF" stuff out there.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this and felt I needed to post it here.

The write up - for all my hundreds of readers who don't speak the taal:-
TOP:- This aunt is 51. Gillian McKeith is a health guru that has a holistic approach towards food and nutritional values, and health. She's a leader with regards promoting regular fitness training and a vegetarian diet. She recommends organic vegetables as well as colon irrigation.
RIGHT:- This aunt is 51. She is Nigella (L)awson, a (TV personality) cook. She likes meat, butter, puddings and eats basically anything she wants to eat.

Salagatle!

Shoveling shit?

2011-11-16T08:45:00.000+02:00

I posted an email here some time ago re a job offer a friend is making me. Yesterday he was in Durban, where he attended a long workshop with the representatives from the Bill Gates foundation, some German Bankers, a contingent from Brazil, and some from Peru. The discussions were around manufacture and supply of the shit processing machine.

It seems that this thing is gaining momentum at a rapid pace, and hopefully, they will be placing an order for around 100 machines shortly. If they do, I'm away from here like a bullet. I will have to project manage the manufacturing and then the installation of these.

Have already worked on the scope. There is currently a single source of manufacture. I would keep it that way, however, get most of the pastes manufactured by other engineering companies, and do mainly final build in the current factory. Once the parts start to arrive, we could probably produce a finished product a day. So, from placing of order, 3 - 6 weeks for manufacture, then build, probably a turn around of 6 months to complete 100 machines.

In the event this number grows, I would consider doing part manufacturing in the East. Cheaper and probably faster. Ultimately, I really want to get into this business.

I sms'ed him yesterday "I hope you get a nice big order quickly, as I need to get away from this shit". His response was, "Away from virtual shit, into the real stuff - but at least it will come with more money" - Now that's what I like to hear!

So, I'm biding my time, and biting my tongue, and keeping most people happy whilst I'm still here, but I hope it's not for too long.

Salagatle!

Been too serious lately - so here's some lighter stuff

2011-11-15T08:32:00.000+02:00

Title: Fool's Garden - Yellow Lemon Tree lyrics

Artist: Fool's Garden Lyrics

This version - Wreckless Euroafrican
Renamed - Yellow Lavatory

I'm sitting here in the boring room
It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon
I'm wasting my time
I got nothing to do
I'm hanging around
I'm waiting for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I'm driving around in my car
I'm driving too fast
I'm driving too far
I'd like to change my point of view
I feel so lonely
I'm waiting for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just a yellow lavatory
I'm turning my head up and down
I'm turning turning turning turning turning around
And all that I can see is just another lavatory

I'm sitting here
I miss the power
I'd like to go out taking a shower
But there's a heavy cloud inside my head
I feel so tired
Put myself into bed
While nothing ever happens and I wonder

Isolation is not good for me
Isolation I don't want to sit on the lavatory

I'm steppin' around in the desert of joy
Baby anyhow I'll get another toy
And everything will happen and you wonder

I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just another lavatory
I'm turning my head up and down
I'm turning turning turning turning turning around
And all that I can see is just a yellow lavatory
And I wonder, wonder

I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see, and all that I can see, and all that I can see
Is just a yellow lavatory

Salagatle!

Blog Hopper

2011-11-14T12:21:00.002+02:00

I have added "Blog Hopper" to the bottom of this page.
Go have a look - u might want to have it on your blog - or not.

Salagatle!

And another thing -

2011-11-14T11:07:00.002+02:00

They changed the way the blog page looks (for new posts and stuff) and as usual made a cock up of it. BUT - I found a link that reverts to old format, and it works.
Wish they would stop messing with this thing.

Salagatle!

RIP Emily

2011-11-11T10:39:00.001+02:00

Last night, the Princess and I are on our way out, again, to the BarnYard Theatre (LIU) at Cresta Shopping Centre. Someone was having a charity fund raiser, and we had been invited by one of the Princesses slaves.

Anyway, on the way there I get a phone call, a number I don't know, on my work phone, which means it's either a client, colleague, or someone who got my number off of one of my calling cards. Very few know my personal number.

So it's the old man that lives next door to Emily and her family, at the location/squatter camp where I took her to on Sunday. He called to tell me the has passed away!!!
WTF?!?!?!?!

Don't have all the details, yet. Suffice to say I have learned that they had decided to send her to Lesotho (that's where she originally came from, so I assume the "family home" is there, and her 2nd daughter, so possibly all the grandchildren and any other family members) Anyway, I think they sent her Tuesday, and she died on Wednesday! Hopefully she had a chance to see and greet everyone.

I am a bit disappointed though, as I had told her children to get her to a clinic asap, as she was not well, and I don't know if they did before they sent her to Lesotho. Not that it woyld have made a differance I suppose.

The upside, they got to see her one more time, after thinking she had alredy died sometime ago, and they would never know where she was buried.
They get to give her a proper burial, where they can visit her, and ensure her soul is restful and at peace with the world, and them!

Been thinking I should go across to the home this weekend, to maybe get an understanding of what went down during her last few days, or maybe I shouldn't.

Salagatle!

RIP Emily - now you are with Witness once more!

End of an Era - another one.....

2011-11-07T15:52:00.000+02:00

So, most of you regular readers (all 4 of you) will know the story about Witness (scroll down my links and find the relevant posts), as well as the fact that I have been taking care of his widow for the past 2 years (or so).
On Sunday morning I decide it's a good time to take the Princess for a breakfast. Clearwater Mall sounds like a good place, and whilst I am there I can go look for an espresso machine for Mom.

On the way I get a call from Sara (Witness friend with the cellphone) to say Emily is not well, and they have convinced her that she should go to her children in Orange Farm (LIU). And would I be able to assist. So first thing I ask them is to see if there is someone there with a bakkie / truck, that is willing to take her, and how much they would charge. So they go ask, call me back, and put some moron on the phone. 1.5 he says (ZAR1500)! Are you fucked in the head I say - don't worry I will sort it out myself. I speak to Sara, and tell her I will be there in a while.

We go for breakfast (at this time it's brunch) LuckyL and the Princess go do some shopping for him, I go look for the espresso machine. Then LuckyL stays behind - he's going to movies with his girlfriend / ex-girlfriend / girlfriend (who the fuck knows if they on again / off again), and the Princess and I drive to the squatter camp.
There I find the locals have packed up all of Emily's stuff, and have it all outside her room! OK, so I chat to her (via a translator) and hear she is not well. I offer to come back and move her to her children in Orange Farm. Put all the stuff back into the room till I get back I say.

Off home, change cars, hook up the 5 foot Venter (LIU) and fill up the tank - off I go.
Not much to lead, trailer full, some stuff in the cars trunk, and a bedside table and two plastic chairs on top of the trailer. I ask Sara to go with, and another young man also gets into the car!?! Who the fuck are you? Albert. And where are you going? He was asked to go with. He speaks Sotho, like the old lady does, and the folk thought it would be better if I had a black man go with me.
OK, no problem. I punch Orange Farm into the Garmin, and we are off. I had an idea where it was anyway, but hey, if you have a Garmin, use it. 65 km and 40 minutes later we arrive at the outskirts of Orange Farm.Emily is slumped across the back seat, leaning against Albert. I swear she looks like she's going to die. I need to find her people quickly. Even Sara remarked that she didn't look so bad before I collected them - so she figures it's much of a put on. Whatever. I punch in "Police Station", and the Garmin says "go this way". When we get to where it points us - fuckall, there's a Natural remedy / herbal wellness centre there. OK, punch in "Fire Station". I figure that if there are so many damn houses, they would know where 361 is. After all, they need to find the houses fast in the event of a fire.

On the way, we spot house numbers - 5698... 14637.... oh boy, I think, we never going to find this 361.

And then we find the SAPS. I send Sara and Albert in. I want to know which direction we should go to find this house. They offer an escort. We wait 5 minutes, a SAPS bakkie arrives, they cop goes inside, then comes out, with two other officers in tow, and shows me to follow. Into the heart of the location / squatter camp. Some tar roads, some seriously fucked up dirt roads, and eventually we arrive at 361. All get out - I'm chuffed that we have achieved ...... FUCKALL. It's not the right place. SO the cops start talking to people around there - everyone comes over to stare at a) The old lady to see if they know her and b) this fucking stupid white man who has the cojones to come into this place!!!!

They direct us to a family nearby with the same surname. Off we go. Get there, and it's more of the same. Another pointer. There we go. No one home - this is not 361 - but someone with the same surname. As we about to leave - a seriously fucked up taxi pulls up, and a couple of people get out. I walk over and see some rust on the back, above the rear light cluster, and poke at it with my finger, and punch a hole right through the body work!! The driver owns the house we had been sent to. He comes over, and checks out the old lady. Nope, does not know her. Has a bit of a chat, and she drops a few names of places that make his eyes light up. Another squatter camp, nearby, but not Orange Farm, and a shop called Springbok Supermarket. The cops know the area - it's not their area, but offer to take me back to the station, and give me directions. On the way they point me on, and say they just have to respond to a call, and will meet me there in a few. I drive to the station, punch the name of the other squatter camp / township into the Garmin

We drive on. Past the place we had stopped when we got there - the natural remedy place. Onwards to the Golden Highway (LIU) and into the township. The "Police station" according to Garmin, turns out to be a Primary school. Thanx for nothing you dumb bitch!!! So there we ask for directions to Springbok Supermarket, and we quite close. Drive down there, and park. Stop a passing cop car, but turns out he's not from that area - (probably doing some work on the side) and he drives on. Sara and Albert start talking to anyone / everyone in the street. Many come to stare - at the old lady, and this damn stupid white man.....

Eventually one lady says - she knows where 361 is. Load her up - I now have 4 of these heathens in my car. All windows are down, aircon is blasting full speed. We get to the house - no one home, but the neighbours kids go and find the owners. Wrong place - again... For Fuck sakes!!!! But there we get told that the houses on the other side of the railway line, also have similar number. We race off (as fast as off road type riding will allow when in a Toyota Corolla with 4 adults inside, and towing a trailer will allow). Get to the other side, and it's strange that on one side of the first road all the houses are numbered 32x..... even numbers, but the other side is 458x.......odd numbers. But not like we have them in the "white areas, where you follow the numbering down the road. I work out that unlike "white" areas, their houses are numbered odd and even back to back. So, drive around the block. Half way down I find 361, and stop. No one home... You got to be kidding me.

Start the questioning process with the neighbours and again it seems we have found the right house number, wrong house. Start asking anyone / everyone passing by if they know the old lady. No, no, no, no...... and then a younger man walks over. Looks like he's approaching me, but is just being inquisitive, and also wants to look into the car to see what everyone is looking at, and talking about. And suddenly he says "Gogo!" And I grab him like a man possessed. Do you know her? Yes, he says, she lived about 3 houses from me... but she's been gone a long time - we though she was dead. Well, she's not, I say - get in!!!!! Now I have 5 of these heathens in the car!!!!! Make a u turn he says - yea right, this is a squatter camp, very narrow roads - if you can call them roads..... but I managed.
Bottom of the road, turn left, left again. A few hundred meters down, turn right, first one left..... right.... left again - ....

By now I'm convinced he's taking me to a dead end, run by Nigerians, and he's going to sell me to them for a fiver. My leatherman is unscheathed, and main blade deployed, locked into place, leatherman on the carpet at my feet. If this goes belly up, I'm gutting him first. Third house down, on the left, number 74, and he says stop. NOW I KNOW I'M FUCKED!!!!!!

And he gets out and walks to the door and knocks. No one home. An old (very old) man from next door approaches. I get out. He asks, what brings us here? I tell him about the old lady. he looks into the car, and his face lights up like the Eiffel tower on new years!!!!! He can't believe it's her. On his cellphone, and calls her daughter! Takes him some time to convince her to come home and that it really is her mum. In fact, he had to pass the phone to that lady from over the road to do the final convincing. In the meantime, the young man who took us there, has gone off (with ZAR10.00 in his hand from me) with Albert, to find the son who is at a local shebeen. They soon come back, with said son in tow. I can see he is confused, wondering what this story is about, and what this white man wants here..... Takes one look at the old lady, and bursts into uncontrolled sobbing. MUM!!!!!! Finally, the daughter gets there, and also, very sceptically approaches the car. Takes one look - and is bawling!!!!!!

And the old lady gets out of the car, and walks to the house like there's nothing wrong with her. WTF? 5 Minutes ago she looked like she was going to die!!!!!!

Anyway, turns out that she left home to go to Jo'burg 10 years ago. And never came back. Her kids had been looking for her on and off for some time, even walking the streets of the city in case she was living in the streets. About 2 or 3 years ago they decided that she must be dead, as they had had no communication from her all that time. It took me all of 5 minutes to unpack the car and trailer, and dropped ZAR300 into her handbag whilst I was at it. it took us more than 30 minutes before we could leave, as people were coming from all over to see this woman presumed dead, and everyone wanting to hear the story from Sara, and then coming over to thank me and shake my hand. Her son must have shaken my hand 50 times. It was, ultimately, an amazing experience. Apart from the time I thought I was being directed into a bad space, I never felt threatened. Everyone was nice, friendly, even if they were surprised to see a white guy in their area. I swear, the way some of the smaller kids looked at me at various stops, they have never seen White man before!!!!

So, I won't be buying monthly groceries for Emily anymore. Probably, I wont ever see her again. No matter, the people back at the squatter camp where she lived till yesterday were very grateful for what had been done, and I was asked to please not forget them now that she's no longer there. And, please don't forget the kids......
So, although I don't think I will be doing X-Mas hampers for the kids like last year, I might just turn up there one day, before Xmas, with a boot full of sweets and stuff, and just hand it out to all the kids. We will see.
For now - my work is done there.

Salagatle!

Typical American "Over the top"

2011-11-01T10:05:00.002+02:00

Halloween!

http://m.wimp.com/videos43ll/218faa010ac407ca3d6d5e4e81b99830_rock.flv.blackberry.lq.mp4

Salagatle!

Have been waiting for this email for a while now......

2011-11-01T07:55:00.000+02:00

Hi "Wreckless",

Had a call over the weekend , Representatives of the Bill Gates Green Fund want a meeting in Durbs 22 – 25 Nov ,
Re : rolling out the technology !

I want you to handle this, are you up to it ?
I will set it up, need you to expand the market ,ie you manage it. Pat C will set it up so that every unit can be checked on the internet, ie motors , MIR , and all operating features etc !
Supply will be on a rental basis ,and maintenance contract ,

We can kick off in January / February, We will work it on a sliding scale wrt income, to make sure you can survive with only the first 4 plants and participate in a profit scheme, or may do this business through xxx Holdings whereby you earn a share in this company currently 50 /50 owned by Werxxx and Myself .
We can discuss , this business will be big. Think we will be looking at 500 units in 5 years time ?

Let me know what you think ,

Rgrds
RB

The end of an Era.

2011-10-26T11:09:00.000+02:00

October 31, 1957. A recently arrived emigrant from the North of Italy to South Africa moves into her 'new" home.
October 31, 2011. The same person leaves this pace she has called home for 54 years.

Whats this about? Well, let me tell you.
When my dad emigrated to RSA in about 1954, he had already planned to marry my mom, and bring her out to this country. 3 years later, they got married by proxy. OK, what's that 1 of you are asking (so, only one out of my 4 readers, not bad). Mom went to a church in her home town, accompanied by her "father-in'law" to be. He stood in as proxy for my dad who was supposed to be in a church here in SA. (He was probably in a pub somewhere!) So they got married by proxy. The a few weeks later she was on the plane, those days it was probably a 3 day flight, what with all the stop overs for fuel etc. and arrived in SA at the beginning of October sometime. They stayed with an Italian family in Randfontein for a couple of weeks, while dad arranged for a house from his employers - Venterspost Mine. Those days everyone (white) who worked on the mines, and was married got a mine house. Very, very low rent, free water.

He got the house, and they moved in - with very little furniture - just the basic necessities. Dad didn't believe in buying on creit. So they bought stuff as they had the cash for it. First was a bedroom suite, and a fridge. Slowly they developed the house into their home. It was basic, and brand new.

Over time dad created flower beds, got lawns growing, created a vegetable garden, poured a concrete driveway.....

9 months later, in July, my sister was born. Their first child. Dad planted two palm trees in the front lawn to celebrate this event (probably a few days later, once he'd finished celebrating at the pub!!) 11 Months later, I came along. Not too sure if he planted anything then, or just went with the liquid celebrations!!!

And then in 1968, my brother came along. A "glipsie" as they say in RSA. but much loved by all.

Over the years much changed, was improved on. it has always been "home", even after we all got our own places - that was "home. I have so many incredible memories of home, and will at some point post some of them here.

Anyway, around 1995/6 dad got very ill, and was nursed for over 8 months at home till he passed, by mom. She was fine with stating on her own, and looking after the home, so we didn't consider any move. Soon after I build my place in 2004, I offered to build a flat / cottage for her on our property. There was no way she was moving! As far as she was concerned, she would die in her home.

But as time passes, things change. She is always complaining about her maid. Only comes in once a week, but she does not work like mom wants (think this is the 5th one she got). Thing is, mom always cleaned her home herself, and it's only in the past few years she has needed the maid, and it does not work.
She always is complaining about the garden services. I have spoken to them, I have explained to her what they are contracted to do, and what not. She is adamant they not doing their work. But then, she just wont listen.
Armed response - she gave them my number as the alternative contact person, in case something happens. So she gets pissed off every time they call me, and I call her to check if all's OK.......
But they have been good, and efficient.
And then there's the ongoing maintenance of the property, the fact that after 54 years as a member of the local Catholic church she's really pissed off with the black priest, the way the darkies are fucking it up, and the fact that they do not look after the people who, ultimately built, and kept going, this church
And she nearly did, a my earlier blog on her operation and recovery from it showed. This time we raised the option of her moving into a retirement village (something we have broached on and off over the years), and she agreed. We managed to get her a place in a Retirement village 3 km from where I live! It's a lovely develpoment, with varius sizes of accomodation, but also has high care, and frail care facilities. So, as you get older, and or sick, you can move into the part that you require to be for the care you need.

You buy the unit you going to live in, and furnish it. Then there is a monthly charge (currently ZAR5000 per month) which covers 3 meals a day, laundry, apartment cleaning, water and lights, security, garden services. Basically, she will not want for anything for day to day living, other than some stuff (snacks, coffee, tea) which she might want to keep in her paratment.

It's a small place to move into after living in a 3 bed-roomed house for 54 years, but it's OK. A bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette / open plan living area. Ground floor so she has a "veranda (Covered) and access to the gardens. Nice. Cosy. Comfortable.

So, my brother is now driving up from the coast, and on Friday we will move mom into her new "digs". By Saturday evening, she will be settled.

For the past few weeks I have been going round to the house to clear out. Loads of stuff went to the dump. (It's amazing what "stuff" you keep for "in-case / one day"). Also moved some stuff to my place - temporary storage till she decides what she wants do do with it.

Furniture - we got the local pawn shop to come out and make an offer. The bedroom suite which my dad bought 54 years ago (laminated wood), consisting of two wardrobes, a double bed, and dressing table 0 they offered her ZAR2500!!!! Abut ZAR1500 more than I thought they would! Kitchen table, with 4 chairs, ZAR250. There's also a wonky book rack, and some other odds and ends which they will make an offer on in the next few days.

The house - this was a worry, as the market is flat / down. The house is in what is now the "old" area of Westonaria. Most of the people living there now are darkies (nice people though, ave been very good to mom). So the estate agent says market value is about ZAR450k. I am happy with that, as I had that figure in mind. Have been watching the market in that area for a few years anticipation this requirements. So mom gets 2 or 3 agencies on board to find a buyer. She has 3 couples come through the house in about 3 weeks. All want to buy. First couple - darkies - wife wants the house, husband says it's too much for a house in that area. Second couple, don't make a decision soon enough. Third couple - a white couple, walk in, like the place make an offer for ZAR440k, and are cash buyers. The deal gets closed today! Money is deposited (full amount) with the conveyancing lawyers, so there is no risk, and the deal is done! This is a big relief, as we didn't want a protracted sale situation. So we move mom over the weekend, and on presentation of proof of funds being deposited in the holding account, the new owners can move in!!!

Then it's all the other stuff. Telephone account - new owners are transferring to their name. ADT armed response, they taking over the contract. All concerned parties have been notified of moms change of address. She has taken over the phone in the unit she has bough, so already has a new number.

Basically, everything is sorted, packed up, ready to go. Although she's still driving, occasionally, she decided she didn't want to drive anymore after she moves. Not sure why, she said she's scared of the steep driveway to come out (it's not steep at all) but anyway, so she got a valuation from a local second hand dealership, and then I bought the car for the same amount. Not sure I will need it, but maybe GMan can use it, or I will sell it later. What I want to do is after she has moved in, I want to visit her in her car, then get her to go for a drive. But let her drive. a) She will see that the driveway is not as steep as she thinks it is. b) She wont get lost. c) She can get to the shops, and the church safely. Then maybe she will decide that she was a bit hasty in her decision, and I will give the car back to her. Let's hope!!!

Anyway, I'll post some more on this later, and some interesting pics to go with it.

Here is the first one -

Photo from some Google Earth function. In front are the two palm trees, now 53 years old.

The end of an era is is - and for me - old Mr. Sentimental - it's not an easy closeout!!!

Salagatle!

Bike accident Photos

2011-10-22T22:15:00.000+02:00

ZAR100k scrap metal! Check the damage to the armco rail!!!!

Front rim shattered - never seen this before, and I have seen many smashed bikes.....

Honda Civic "R" - this is probably a sure sign of a 120km/h+ collision!!!

The skid marks in the middle of the photo are from the bike. Those to the left of the picture are the route taken by BA. he his the armco with his chest and abdomen, finishing up on his back, with his arse against the paving stone, and his legs under the armco, his head in the road.

Salagatle!

Says it all!

2011-10-21T12:30:00.000+02:00


Swiped this off Google - Do I have permission to post it? FUCK NO!!!!!

Salagatle!

It's his time......

2011-10-21T10:42:00.000+02:00

Last night we attended what is officially the last High School function of LuckyL's school career. 12 years that have passed so fast, I can't believe it. The Valedictory ceremony is a very posh affair, with lots of pomp and ceremony, all the teachers and staff coming in their Uni gowns, etc. A guest speaker. All the martics there in the full school uniform. It's a time to celebrate their achievements, and to award those amongst them that stand out from the rest. It's a very special night, and for many a culmination of everything they have done in their 12 years at school.

The sports awards were great, some very talented kids there, and many having achieved well past their school level, and getting provincial colours, and even Springbok colours, and have competed, successfully, overseas.

There are awards for almost every facet of high school life, sport, drama, the various subjects, debating, and those who gave their time in support of the above.

For the more learning types, there is the usual "challenge" for top pupil in each subject category. In the subjects that two specific boys were not represented, there was much expectation, and cheering as the top achiever was named, and went up for their trophy.

For the top achievers, two boys, one a black kid, one a white kid, there was a real contest, with one pipping the other, in various subjects, with a point here or there separating them. I'm talking about kids who get 99% + 98% more advanced mathematics - at martic level.

Anyway, LuckyL got full colours for technical support. He has been responsible for the lighting and sound for all the drama, musicals, and Mr&Miss competitions / shows for the past 3 years. "Technical support" is on the scroll!! Well done my boy.
he also got a partial bursary for the Professional Draughting Academy, value ZAR8250.00 (this for a course that costs ZAR75,000.00), as he was planning on studying Mechanical Draughting. However, he's since decided to do Mechanical Engineering - so we will see what to do with the bursary. Maybe they can give it to someone else at the school.

The last two award sessions came up.

Top (Dux) student for the class of 2011. It was a closely fought battle, with the white kid just piping the black kid to the post! He's going to be studying Actuarial Science at the university of Pretoria - On a full bursary!
The black kid managed to land himself a full bursary to study Chartered Accounting at another university. Well done to both of them. (now go out and discover that there is more to life than just books and learning!)

Then came the Honours roll. The names of those who make this are inscribed on a big board, hanging in the school foyer, and will be there for as long as the school exists. Usually there is only 2 names for each year. Sometimes only one..... And, usually the names are those of head Boy and Head Girl.

When the deputy headmistress went up to do these awards, she said "Everyone believes that the Dux award is the most important one to get at this time. However, it's limited to those that have the capacity to study and recall information over a long period of time. So, the contest there is not for everyone."

"The Honours roll, however, is a place where anyone can compete, and anyone can make the effort to achieve this level of recognition. It is the space for those who add value, make a difference across many functions in their school career."

She then read through the "story" of the first recipient - The head girl. The second one was the head boy, usually the two recipients of this award, as to have a achieved the highest accolade anyway, they must have stood out from the rest.

Then she said, "This year, I have the pleasure of announcing that we have a 3rd nomination, and recipient for the honours roll!!!" She started to read through this persons career.....

His Grade 1 teacher said he was a quiet child, and worked well with the rest of the class. His Grade 4 teacher said he was a helpful child, worked well in a group. In high school, during his first or second year there, we had to send his parents a note, as he had been involved in a fight at school!!!! It was after this incident, that he started to change, and show his real make up. He spent most of his high school career in his older brothers shadow, but this ended when his brother finished school.

He has proven himself to be up to to any challenge, delivering on his duties to perfection. he gave no lee way to friend or foe, if you broke the rules, he took you down. In some instances, he literally put himself at risk, to ensure that whatever issue arose, was brought under control.

Between the 3 Deputy Headmasters, we came to this decision, and I may add that in 30 years of teaching, I have never before had the pleasure of knowing, and working with, a more dedicated, and leading prefect.

LuckyL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
His name is forever inscribed on the Honour Roll, in the schools reception foyer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Salagatle!

Invincible?

2011-10-19T09:12:00.000+02:00

So, as we grow up we go through various level of thinking with regards being "invincible"! let me explain. "That wont happen to me". "I'm not one of those guys".

So, what am I talking about. Let's take riding a motorbike. As a young man I believed that I was in complete control of the machine, I thought that if anything happened I would be able to react fast enough to avoid a collision, falling, whatever. Speed at time of incident became irrelevant - I mean, what's the worst thing that can happen? Then a friend will be in an accident, and for a while I would ride more carefully, for a short while. But then confidence kicks in, and you back to riding it like you stole it.

As you get older, and wiser, you learn to properly read the traffic around you, and to better anticipate the possible / probable actions of them who are driving the chicken coops on our roads. White line up the right side of a row of slow moving / stopped cars, and you watch to see if a) One of them is going to come out into your lane, b) maybe turn off. I keep an eye on the wing mirrors, and watch to see if they see me! I keep an eye on the indicators, in case one of them actually decides to use them. And, I keep a speed that will allow me to stop very suddenly if one of them decides to come out in front of me.

But that's after years, and years of experience. So whats the point of this?

Saturday, 5.30 pm. The Princess and I are on our way to meet with some friends to go out for dinner. On the way I get a frantic call from LuckyL. BA (his best friend, and fellow biker,) has been involved in an accident!! Where I ask? Down Hendrick Potgieter (LIU). Ok, it's kind of on our way. Switch on hazard lights, and instruct the Princess to GO - take no prisoners! We get to the accident in about 4 minutes! But LuckyL overtook us on the way there! he was in his car. As we approached the accident scene, I spot the bike, shoved under through the armco barrier (LIU), and without waiting for the Princess to stop and park, I'm out of the car and running hard to the scene. Two things go through my mind - a) I hope this kid is not dead!1 b) get to him before LuckyL, in case he's badly bust up - don't want LuckyL to suffer any trauma here!!!

So with a quick glance I can see the bike is fucked. Look left, and I see BA lying on the road, paramedics working on him. I drop onto my knees next to him, and start to talk to him. He recognizes my voice, and try's to sit up. Hold him down, and ask him just to respond, and he does. A quick assessment of his lay, and I see serious trauma with his left thumb and pointing finger. The last digit on each is basically gone. They are there, but crushed, and hanging on a thin strip of skin. I cover his hand with mine, so LuckyL does not get a view of this. Holding his other hand, to keep his arm still, I start to talk to the paramedics. What's up here? He has a hole in his side. We want to stop the bleeding. OK. Who took his helmet off? We did, after appropriate checks. OK. How old r u ? asks one of the para's? 17 he says. 18 I say. Are you allergic to anything? No... his responses are good, he is breathing well, but obviously in pain. And getting paler by the minute. I look at the left arm? Funny angle there? Point it out to the para. Quick look - yup, broken. They cut his jacket off before I got there. While we talking to him they cut off his t-shirt, and start to work on the hole in his abdomen - left side. Another para is cutting off his jeans. Quick check on feet, ankles, knees, rhs knee has some road damage, quite deep to. Upper legs, thighs, no further damage, no broken bones. Now the para asks me to let her work on his left hand - with the fucked up fingers. I call out to LuckyL to find out what the fuck happened here!! He's already chatting to the owner of the car that was involved in the accident! Now go find me some witnesses.... He couldn't seem to find anyone who had seen what had happened, except the young guy who was riding with BA, (on his own bike) and who was seriously shaken.

Now they getting ready to load him onto the board. All together, they lift, I keep the board from sliding / moving. Onto the board, quick lift, onto the stretcher, into the ambulance.
The friend gets in too. LuckyL takes his bike and follows the paramedics to the hospital. I take his car for him. In the meantime, the Princess has been onto the phone, to BA's mom and dad. Tell them to meet us at the hospital I shout....

Somewhere during all this, the paramedics asked me if I was BA's dad. No I said, but close enough! Didn't want to explain the relationship, but they appreciated the fact I kept talking to him, keeping him calm (as much as I could). I think the shock he suffered also helped to mask a lot of the pain.

By the time I get to the hospital, they already have him inside, checking him out, and prepping him for X-Rays. get on with it I say, fuck the paperwork. I'll sign if I have to. His mom and dad are on their way. And so they carry on with whatever they needed to do. When his parents arrive, I am outside, and LuckyL comes running out - "Dad, come quick, his mom has gone ballistic!!"

Seems she walked in, down the row of casualty beds, ripping open curtains and shouting "where's my son?" As expected - a Mom in shock with the news she received. I get to her as they are giving her the paperwork to complete, and she rips into me - man, all I could do was absorb the tirade that she threw out there - I fully knew where she was coming from, and accepted it.

Turning to BA's dad, I quickly gave him the update I had. I had spoken to the para outside.
Hole in the side. 2 fucked up finger tips. Broken left arm. Possible internal bleeding (he was very pale - sign of bleeding) and possible cracked, fractured pelvis. Otherwise he's fine......

he was clam, (I know him like that) and apologised for his wife ripping into me (no problem I said).

Then I left, the Princess had arrived with our friends whom she had gone back for, and we went to dinner.

Here is a summary of the events since Saturday - 6.30pm......

Doctors were looking him over, x-rays didn't show up much. At some point the doctor told his dad that he was now critical, they were not sure he would make it. They didn't know what was causing the deterioration in his condition. Then they went in! And found that his spleen was shattered! They removed it, sorted out the hole in his left side, and moved him into ICU. During the op they had to give him 4 units of blood, that was how much he had bled out!

ICU was not an easy trip for him or his parents. Sunday came and went, with him regaining consciousness every now and then, asking confuse, where he was and what had happened, his dad explaining it all to him, him getting agitated, blood pressure and pulse rate going through the roof, and then passing out again. His dad says he had to repeat the story of the accident probably 15 times between Sunday evening and Monday night! During this time they had him heavily sedated, and on morphine, probably explains his situation.

Tuesday evening the Princess calls his mom to ask if the boys (LuckyL and DK - the boy who was riding with BA) can go and visit BA. Initially she said no, as he was still very confused, easily agitated, and they needed him to stay calm so as to get well enough to have the second operation - this to fix his broken arm, and sort out the fingers. Then, about 5 minutes later she called and said, "Stuff it, let them come - if he gets agitated they just need to leave". So I took the boys through. We met BA's mom and dad at the hospital. At 7.30pm they went in to see him, told him the boys were there, and wanted to see him. When his dad came out, I could see that there was good news. He told us that he could not believe the improvement in BA from that morning, and said he was very keen to see the boys. So LuckyL went in first, then BA's mom came out, and DK went in too. A while later, me and BA's dad went in. I didn't want to, but BA's mom said "You have to go in! You are his biker DAD, and he sees you as his biking mentor!" OK, so I went in. Had a chat with him, and saw that he's definitely looking much better than expected. He was looking a bit sheepish when he saw me, maybe a bit embarrassed, but hey, he's alive, and I told him that was all that mattered.

Out side again, and his mom asked that as soon as he's out of hospital, I must come and fetch him to go for a ride on the bike!!! On the back with me that is. She wants to make sure he does not have a fear of riding, as loss of confidence in this, can have an extended affect on him. Makes sense. If you fall off a horse, get straight back on again! So I agreed. No problem. His dad did add that he wont be comfortable to get him another biuke again immediately, as if something else had to happen, he would not be able to live with himself, but he also acknowledged that BA will, one day, get another bike. He knows the boy loves riding, but hopes he will wait a few years till he's a bit more grown up, and mature.

Anyway, apart from all this, he is going to miss his matric final exams. He will have to write them next year when the others write their supplementary exams. A big pity, as he's a straight A student - 7 A's!!!! In fact, his Grade 11 final marks were so good that when he applied to Pretoria University to study Chemical Engineering, thay accepted him without him having to sit their "compulsory capability" exam!!! Oh well, it means he will have a gap year. Probably not a bad thing.

So, spleen removed, hole in his side repaired, broken left shoulder blade, cracked pelvis, broken left arm, hole in right knee, left thumb and pointing fingers, first digits to be amputated, left lung bruised, and has a light infection... some few scratches here and there, and some bruises...... But he's alive, and will recover.

I will post some photos later tonight. I have them on my personal laptop.

Cheers for now
Salagatle!

It's Monday

2011-10-03T09:43:00.000+02:00

and I am back in the shithole. It's getting harder and harder to come to the office these days.
This morning I sent management an email giving them 4 days to sort out my client kist and commissions, after which I will present the facts to the CEO - and to CCMA for further action.
Done - in writing. Let's see if they take me serously or not.
Worst thing they can do is pay me to go away. Thank you, a golden handshake right now would do fine. Ultimately, they are screwing with me earnings potential, they don't seem to be taking my concerns seriously, they keep saying it will be corrected AT THE NEXT REITERATION, and it never is, they refuse to pay out commissions out of the cycle time, so if you have a correction done after the 15th of the month, they say you must wait for the end of the next month, and if it's not done, then you get to wait another month. FUCK THAT!!

Went to a great wedding on Saturday, drank way too much for one who does not drink anymore, and suffered a headache from hell from about 10pm Saturday, till about 10 pm last night. Geeezzzz, and to think I could open and finish a bottle of rum just a few years ago.

Sunday saw us at the Matriarch's house, sorting and throwing away stuff, and deciding what's to be kept, what gets given away, what's going to the hospice.... eish, not an easy thing for me to do, but we got a lot done. She's going to move into a retirement village in the next month, so we have to get rid of a ton of stuff - remember, she has lived there since 1957!! And even though my dad was never one for hoarding stuff, neither is she, but there is always the stuff you keep for "one day". Anyway, I have a friend who lives on a farm, and they can always use more stuff - old tools, saws, benches, tables, and the like.
I also found Dad's old Grappa Still!!! That's going to come in handy - we going to be making some moonshine on the farm!!!!

Anyway, suppose I better try and get some work done.

Later all

Salagatle!

The wall.......

2011-09-27T12:42:00.000+02:00

I'm in a strange space right now. "Hitting the wall" is probably the best description I can think of for this space. So, ultimately, I've been trying to rationalize everything that's been going on, and can't!

Stuff is just all over the place, upside down. And I can't get a grip on any part of it.

The Princess is seriously the backbone of my existence right now (probably has been for longer than I think), and that's probably compounding my dilemma. The whole reason for wanting to make head or tails of all this "stuff", is because she deserves to have me back in control of the "stuff".

But, for now, all I can say is "Stuff it"!

Salagatle!

Another quick update

2011-09-22T10:50:00.000+02:00

I finally shut my FaceBook page. Apart from the Princess, I only had one other person inquire about it. So, I'm not missing it, and no one is missing me!

Work wise, it's slow going, have been told that I will probably be put on a PIP next quarter (those of you who work for the organisation will know what that is), and I'm not too concerned - more like pissed off, but hey, what's a guy to do?

My "mentor-ship" offer has come to naught - no surprises, the VP who made the offer is renowned for making statements / promises, and not delivering anything!!!! And my trip to the USA is also 'dead" as far as I can see - no feedback at all, and the guy I was to travel with has confirmed he's going mid-October. Enjoy!

Got a call from a close friend in the week. Said he had had a chat with GMan a few weeks ago, about going back to varisty! I said I didn't know about it. Then he said he had made GMan an offer - he would pay all the fees if GMan went back to varsity to study! He was going to call him again to see if he had thought about it. i mentioned that I didn't think he would, but there was no reason not to try. Not sure why he's pushing for this - other than he had made the same offer to me when GMan was still at school. Anyway, Spoke to GMan on Monday, when he popped in for a minute, and although he didn't say it outright, I got the feeling he wasn't going to take the offer. Stupid boy. How often do you get that chance - twice!!!! He's going to learn a very hard, and long lesson. But it's his call.

LuckyL is nearly finished with Prelims. After tomorrow, he has one more maths paper next week - then he's done till finals start in abut a month.

I'm still out there - looking for another job. Note, I didn't say better - anything would be better than this right now. Can't believe how things have gone backwards in this place. And I have so much opportunity, we just can't seem to close out on them. Or I'm not getting the proper back office support - and they fucked up my commissions statement again - it's the same crap, over and over and over...... FUCK IT!!!!

The Princess is just brilliant. Definately a lighthouse in my stormy dark sea right now. I think if she wasn't in my pictiure, I'd be some drunken bum, lying on Durban beach, looking for another drink! (Thinking about it, that's not a bad picture!!!!!)
Anyway, time for another internal meeting.
Chat later.

Salagatle!

The weekend

2011-09-19T09:20:00.000+02:00

OK, so for the past few weeks (months?) I have been going through what can only be a depression phase. (My personal assessment). Can't seem to get going on anything, no interest in getting stuff done around the house, etc. Not sure what the cause might be, but I have my own ideas on that.
Anyway, this weekend I decided that the only way to get the stuff needing doing done, is to just do it.
Friday, got home a bit earlier, and got into work clothes, and pressure cleaned the top, and ground floor decks. They need to be resealed before the rains come.

Done. Saturday morning, straignt into work clothes. Down to where I started to rebuild a Wendy hut (LIU) - with some modifications, a month or so ago, and decided that I was at the very least going to get the roof up. LuckyL joined me, and we did a sterling job, even if it took us all morning, and part of the afternoon to do it.
Then he went upstairs to wash and sweep the decks again.

Following this, I got out the sealer, and finished sealing the top deck, and 4/5 of the ground floor deck. Had to leave the last part as the patio furniture was standing on that.
Sunday afternoon, after the heat of the day, we moved the furniture and I finished off the deck. Two big jobs done! In no time at all. Now why did I leave it for so long?

So what still needs to be done? Next weekend I'm sealing the front door area and the steps coming up to the door, as well as those going down the other side. Ans if I really have courage, might just do the whole of the stairs and deck for Queenies flat!

Also need to make a plan with the sides of the now roofed Wendy Hut conversion, but I have some ideas around that. It's going to be the new garden shed, so that I can get some space where all the garden tools are now. Not that I need the space, it will just be neater. However, having said that, LuckyL is saying that the Wendy might make a nice parking place for his 2 x 250 XL Honda off roads... mmmmm... maybe.

Sunday, drove through to the Matriarch's home to see how she's doing (weekly visit). Took her to town to do some shopping, and had a few laughs with her. Just me and LuckyL as the Princess was working.
Mom's doing very well. Walking much stronger than she was before she went for her operation! And, she seems to have accepted the fact that the house is just too much for her to look after, so is considering our offer to move her into a retirement village. We have been to look at the place. It's nice, well planned, properly laid out for senior citizens, 3 km from where I live, and has all the amenities she would need. On her doorstep.
Also, included in the monthly fee is 3 meals a day, tea and coffee in the communal lounge all day. Apartment cleaning service, laundry service..... there is a 24x7 medical service. They have medical care (if you are ill, have had an operation) so that you can be looked after till you well enough to go back into your own apartment, and they have frail care, for them who's just too old / ill to look after themselves.
They have a panic button system installed so that for any event, the residents can call for assistance. And that's even for if you want someone to be around whilst you take a shower in care you not feeling well!

So, all round a nice place, and I think Mom will fit in OK.

Overall, a good weekend, and more of the same to come. Work, well, that's work. Say no more!

Salagatle

Worth a read - with reference to LuckyL

2011-09-15T09:45:00.000+02:00

every year, when the new prefects are named at out kids school, the outgoing Head Boy and Head Girl get to address the school. It has become commonplace now to have something to say about the mkost outstanding prefects during the past year, and or all of them.

This year. LuckyL was a prefect. and this is the speech written, and given by the out-going head Girl. Names have been edited to protect the innocent!!!!

For speed of read I have highlighted the part about LuckyL, in case you don't want to read all of it.

Two points to make here before you read - I was recently chatting to Mrs. Deputy, and she mentioned that in the 20+ years she has been at this school, she can safely say that LuckyL is probably the best prefect they have ever had!!!! And, a few days later I was in a restaurant with the Princess, when Mr. Deputy walked in, came over to say hi, and then said that in his eyes, LuckyL was absolutely fantastic as a prefect, and had delivered on his duties beyond their expectations!!!

A very good morning to Mr. Headmaster, Miss Deputy, Mrs. Deputy, my fellow RCL Executives, all staff and pupil of Our High School as well as to all the parents who have joined us today.

As we all know, today is both exciting and saddening, as the day that the RCL Exec of 2011 was elected is still very fresh in many of our memories and so I urge the new RCL Exec of 2012 to cherish and love every moment of the highly honorable responsibility bestowed upon you.

Love your fellow RCL Exec members; explore their each and every one of their personalities – form memories and bonds unique to yours and their understanding. Support each other, as I can guarantee you that the day will come when they will support you. Become a unit, an unbreakable chain – for only then is strength and success achievable.

I say this because the people chosen to stand along side you and uphold the prestigious name of Our High School. Are the most extraordinary people you will ever come across. The reasoning for my confidence is because the RCL Exec of 2011 has proved it throughout the entire year: welcome to Our High’s own DSTV.

First up is one of our top series – starring a muscular beef cake, who dons a rather slick-nick hairstyle and possesses a unique woman-chasing personality. Using wit and suave, he attempts to gain the love of many women – often resulting in a blue eye, and remains forward enough to announce “she wants me!” this character is of coarse our very own J F, starring as none other than Johnny Bravo.

The next program boasts her beautiful, fun-loving personality. Prone to shopping and fashion, she is a strong, lady-like character, with the ability to speak her mind no matter what shes up against …. Or how tall they are….. Our own M P sparkles in the role of Minnie Mouse.

The following star needs no verbal introduction – his report card is more than enough. Starring in his very own series, L O A is Jimmy Neuton – Boy Genius. Explaining almost everything scientifically, even non-scientific subjects, his intelligence is mind blowing and a shorter explanation is often required. His friendliness and strong belief in himself does however, round him off as an amazing person.

Flicking over to the movie magic channel, we find ourselves watching a film based on the god of thunder –Thor. This character is physically the strongest of his kind and possesses superhuman speed, agility and reflexes. An excellently skilled combatant, immune to all magic and perhaps even love, we are introduced to our awe-inspiring B A. Using his mystical hammer, Thor is able to travel at supersonic speed and the destruction of his hammer would cause Thor’s death. Much like Thor, B travels at supersonic speed as well – without his bike … B would most likely die as well.

Pouncing on to the scene we have cat woman - represented by K N. Quiet and timid she may appear but deep down inside she is a totally different person. Stealth is one of her greatest attributes and contributed to her great prefect career.

Switching back over to cartoons, we see SpongeBob dancing and skipping across our screens. This hyper-active, happy-go-lucky character shares his kind-hearted and innocent personality with us. Rarely mean to anyone, he is a determined little sponge. Our own Mr. D K is of course SpongeBob.

Roaring onto the scene is a noble, wise and powerful king. This lion carries himself with the grace and nobility expected of an RCL Exec member and is very protective over his pride. M M is Mufasa from the Lion King, who refuses to see the darkness in people.

Bringing us to Nala – another playful spunky star of the Lion King. She is not easily defeated and will not go down without a fight. She never gives up and challenges are her favorite activity. She displays skill and wisdom far beyond her years. This loving and strong character is of course, our J F.

Speaking of animals reminds me of speaking TO animals and guess who automatically comes to mind – Dr. Dolittle. Passionate about animals and craving the opportunity to help those around him, Dr. Dolittle shares these traits with one other stunning young lady – J C. She has taken her love for animals and adapted it to her role as an RCL Exec member. She has truly proven herself to be an incredible leader.

Kicking her way onto our screens is the highly confident, independent and head strong Lara Croft. She displays her bravery and lack of fear in very difficult situations. This feminine, light-hearted person proves most definitely to be C K – Krugersdorp High’s female warrior, successfully fighting for law and order out there on the Petermay.

Another warrior fighting his way through the channels is the almighty Rambo. A great heroic character, demonstrating violence and skill, even when he’s outnumbered, charges into fights with no planning – risking it all for the concept of what is right. This is commonly known as “doing it Rambo style”, or more recently “doing it Donovan style”. Yes, Rambo is none other than our mighty D S.

Skipping through the channels, I begin to hear music. I have come across a beautifully inspiring movie named August Rush. It stars a remarkable little boy, Evan Taylor, who has the ability to hear music wherever he is. He uses faith to achieve his desires and all efforts are directed towards his goals. Evan Taylor is B R. He reflects not only intelligence, but the human ability to imagine and desire. He strives to make his dreams come true and works hard in order to fulfill them. B influences the people around him to be more progressive. He has definitely achieved his goal of being an outstanding leader.

As the music continues flowing, a voice is faintly audible. Despite its volume it melts heart and awakens all the butterflies in your stomach. Romantic, sensitive, humorous and very masculine is the wonderful combination that is K M. He represents the film Music and Lyrics and its entire musical splendor.

The beat however, has suddenly hastened and the tempo has sped up. We find needing to keep up! And so we are introduced to the hotheaded, stubborn and sassy character of step-up’s Nora. She is a strongly opinioned character who is not afraid to prove her inner and outer strength... including her flexibility. Dancing over into the scene is our own J-M v N. A truly talented dancer who applies this talent to her prefect duties on a daily basis.

Jumping over to law and politics, we see Miss Elle Woods of Legally Blonde debating the “dumb blonde” theory all the way onto our screens. Driven to do her best, Elle Woods gives hope to women everywhere and believes in the impossible; she encourages others to do as well. Elle Woods does as she pleases, preventing anyone from obstructing the path to her dreams and has no time for others opinions of herself. She is extraordinarily exceptional, she is T T

Just passing through the political channels and I’m suddenly presented with the bibliography of Maria Peron, also known as Evita. She was the wife of Argentine president Juan Peron. Evita was a gifted speaker and a tireless worker. She dedicated her life to making Argentina a better place for the disenfranchised, and for this she is still is loved by many. Evita can most certainly be likened to our beautiful Z W.

Action-X is the next channel destination and here lies half-man, half-machine. He operates with perfect logic, and although many have tried, nothing gets passed him. It’s his iconic voice that sends fear into many hearts and transforms rebels into soldiers instantaneously. He is a shameless character of immense self discipline and equipped with metal armor for those who dare to defy him. Our character is Robocop, represented almost perfectly by our heroic LuckyL – an immaculate leader.

Another stern face creeps slowly onto our screens … it’s the ‘who-hating”, wicked tempered Grinch. He is an awesomely skilled architect though, creating his own success from nothing while possessing superhuman strength as well! The Grinch appears cold and sour-faced, but beneath the illusion lays an over-sized heart and highlights his selective ability to love and care. The Grinch is represented by our gentle C S.

Now Dorey just happened to swim up onto the screen and probably couldn’t tell you where or why she’s traveling. Dorey of Finding Nemo and her child-like innocence, teaches those around her the art of patience and tolerance – whether they like it or not. She is a sincerely gifted fish who, if befriended, soon becomes a precious asset to ones life. Fun-loving Dorey is our talented, free-spirited S C.

A quieter, less verbose character appears to prance onto our screens – Bambi. In his youth he had spindly little legs – very unsure of himself with large wide eyes and curious nature. But as he grew, he gradually matured and even now he is very young at heart. Bambi cannot be represented by anyone else but our delicately petite G L. Dynamite does however, come in small packages.

Scrolling through the channels again, a decadent duo caught my eye – Men in Black played by none other than our living legends P and D. These young men are so mysterious and unstoppable, the names agent k and agent j are better suited for them. We don’t know much about these super spies … because when we asked they replied in synchronization: if we told you we’d have to kill you. So you’ll just have to settle for what we do know and that is these two agents never strayed from the righteous path of their prefect duties … while including tons of fun along the way of course.

Speaking of righteous paths, there is no one more dedicated to the righteous path of rock and roll than Dewey Finn of School of Rock. A hysterically charming character, Dewey brings life to every situation he finds himself in. he is our own O R. O makes the joy, the passion and the value of music just a little bigger than life. His energy is infectious and his friendship priceless.

Romance… life would be incomplete without romance and so would our RCL Exec group. C C life has literally been a reenactment of the film – the notebook. From marvelous matric farewell requests, to romantic flower deliveries in the office – C gentle nature only compliments the delicate screen play of her life.

Speaking of romance... we have our very own thoughtful, gentle yet extremely masculine prince. Thought to be ultra smooth and charming his way out of Cinderella and into our hearts, is the heart-melting, knee-weakening … M W.

We have now auto-reminded onto a new channel where we meet the person most knowledgeable about life – B C. If honest advice is on your to-do list then B would your go-to girl. She is a breath of fresh air when it feels like all of yours is running out. This is why B is our Oprah.

Lights, camera, action!! A new show is just starting and Hannah Montanna is our glamorous spotlight girl. She has all the right moves and the voice of an angel coupled with a desperate longing for the stage. Bouncing off the walls and spinning sentences faster than formula 1 racing cars, Our High’s spotlight girl is the fabulous D D S, over-flowing with talent; her potential is her greatest gift.

As for the gifted, you might not all be aware of this, but we have four superheroes sitting amongst us as we speak! Without fear they patrol these dangerous corridors, sniffing out bunkers. They effortlessly survey our battle grounds, and are always ready for what lurks behind the corners and lies hidden beneath the desks. They venture into where many dare to tread – the boy’s bathroom, and risk it all to ensure the secure continuity of our assemblies. These school soldiers I’m proud to announce are T W, G C, K v d M and T S – our very own Fantastic Four.

But now, what about the drama?? You may ask... well do not fear as it is well known that no high school is complete without drama. It is therefore up to our jerseylicious representatives to provide us with our daily dose of drama. It is apparent that without fail, they fulfill their drama duty on schedule, complete with all the necessary accessories such as a make-up kit, expensive shoes, and an array of various handbags and an endless supply of fashion. It is most certain that these work hard despite their drama duty, and their contribution they’ve made to the RCL Exec group of 2011 is tremendously appreciated. Jerseylicious proudly presents B T, C L R and M W – our beautiful drama bunnies.

The other day a recorded Spud and realized we have a Spud as well... our own hostilite – G L. Like Spud he too questions his own sanity after sharing a partnership with mad T T. Spud aspires to be an actor in the future, a career of high status. Like spud G too wishes follow in same level of status and become a world-renowned engineer. G reflects the same intellect level of the scholarship winning Spud and displays personality filled with imagination and creativity.

Oh wait! Hold on, a news clip just appeared stating that Our High is rumoured to go on tour! Due to a rather recent discovery that’s been made... we have our own spice girls!!! G is our own skilled sporty spice. K our unique tiger spice as she possesses the perfect combination of both aggression and affection. R is our scary spice – defy her if you dare. M is of course sexy spice – long gorgeous legs and eyes of an angel, boys – be careful of this one!! And N with her heart of gold is our precious baby spice.

Finally there is one last channel to explore as a single movie or character is not enough. This channel ranges from hairspray and Pearl Harbor, to happy feet and cars. He is a young man of vast achievements excelling in all areas of sport, music, acting and academics. He is a person you have to stop to catch your breath and catch up with him later. He is loyal, honest and the most thoughtful person I know. It is his humor that brightens my day, his take on Michael Buble songs that make my day and the absence of our trademark gangster raps steals the purpose of my day. When my feet begin to sink below the surface, it is G who picks me up, keeps my feet moving and assures me that together we’ll get to higher ground. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner. He is without doubt my favorite movie, and if I had to lose the remote... i don’t think the urge to change the channel would develop.

To my fellow RCL Exec, my partner, Miss Deputy, Mrs. Deputy as well as our standard heads, thank-you for all the support and the timeless memories we’ve shared.

To the matriculants of 2011 thank-you for an adventurous unforgettable five years and remember as a grade we the a-team – we are all super heroes in our right and its time for us to achieve further than we already have.

Thank-you pupils of Our High School for allowing us the opportunity to guide and help you to where we stand today.

In conclusion, I’d just like to leave you with this

Live without pretending

Love without depending

Listen without defending

Speak without offending

Good luck matriculants and RCL Exec of 2012

Thank-you

Salagatle!

Facebook

2011-09-15T08:58:00.000+02:00

For a while now I have been finding FB very useless, and today, I shut down my page. First I deleted all my photo's, albums and all. Then i removed all my friends, and then I shut it down. So although I know it's stii "there" so to speak, it's useless, and would be too much of an effort to recreate.
Done.

Chat soon.

Salagatle!

Abandoned for 2 weeks, starving dogs in Indonesia eat owner

2011-09-08T10:36:00.000+02:00

I don't really subscribe to posting stuff directly from the online press (except photos), but this deserves the exposure! Revenge of the dogs!

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Seven dogs starved of food and water for two weeks are suspected of eating their Indonesian owner after he returned to his hometown in Manado from a holiday, local media reported Tuesday.
A neighbourhood guard was curious when he saw luggage lined up at the front of Andre Lumboga's house, days after the 50-year old arrived back home. He approached the house, smelled something foul and called the police, according to a report.
"His skull was found in the kitchen, and his body was found in the front of his house," Eriyana, a local police chief in Batam, an island off Sumatra, told VIVAnews website.
Lumboga arrived home last Wednesday, but his body was just discovered Monday.
"We suspect that the dogs were hungry, so they attacked Andre, because they had not been fed for 14 days," he said. Police also found bones of two other dogs, believed to have also been eaten by the hungry canines.
Lumboga was from northern Sulawesi island, a predominantly Christian area, where the local spicy diet is famous in Indonesia for including dogs, bats and forest rats.

Salagatle!

The Princess

2011-09-08T09:42:00.000+02:00

has been away for a break for a few days. So, Mom had a major op, and then we sent her to live with my brother and his wife to recuperate. The SIL does not work, so she was able to look after Mom.
Now that Mom is ready to come home, the Princess thought it might be a good idea to take the SIL on a break, to say thanks for the effort, and to let her also de-stress / chill out for a while. So the Princess asked her boss for his apartment in Ballito (LIU), booked the flight, and invited SIL to join her there. She flew down on Tuesday morning, and they met at the airport in DBN. She comes home, with Mom in tow, this Saturday.

From the chats we have had, and the pics I have received it seems like they having a good time - lots of rest, and fun. Good, they both need and deserve it!

In the meantime, LuckyL is doing his prelim exams, started this week Monday. I must say he has been diligent, and working hard at it. I hope he gets the marks he deserves. Today he does the last exam for this week, then he is going to chill for a while, till the next one sometime next week - probably Monday.
We have been managing ok without the Princess, but it's just not the same - I don't care what the guys out there say, we really need our women!

Work wise, we carry on. My trip to the USA for the first week in September didn't happen, although they had said it might happen in the first week of October due to the availability of the new guy who also has to go. But, I have also heard that there is (again) a freeze on travel, so my gut tells me the newbie darkie gets to go, and I don't. But hey, that's how the bones fall.

I have made it quite clear to my management that this clown will not be riding on my back with regards the opp. that I have created. He's come in at a probably very high price, as the "expert" on the offering (seems he was the "architect" of a similar solution at a competitor), and as the Business Development Manager (I think that's his title), he better go generate some business - there is no way in hell he's getting any kudo's from any of my deals. - Hey, that's just me - OK!

GMan - well, actually the easy answer is "I don't know", but I do know some stuff. Met with him the ohter day at a motor dealer to look at another car for him. Trying to arrange a straight swap - his car for one on the floor. But that's another story. SO he says he's had a job offer. Seems like one of the guys that plays GMans poker game regularly is very well off. Has a couple of businesses. Manufacturing and distribution part of the set up. he wants to open a distribution presense in Cape Town, and has asked GMan to go run it for him! Maybe later he will add a amnufacturing presence there as well, as part of the package!!!
So, apart from a really good salary, (and a real job I might add), he's offering 25% shares in the company, and free accommodation in a house he owns in CT!!!

He said he wanted to come chat to me and the Princess about it, but have not heard from him since - maybe he will still come round - although, he probably knows the Princess is away, so will come round when she's back?

Anyhow, this is my short update of the current state of affairs - will post again soon.
Salagatle!

The Old Pilot

2011-09-07T15:00:00.000+02:00

You think you have lived to be 80 and know who you are,

then along comes someone and blows it all to hell !
An old Marine Pilot sat down at the Starbucks, still wearing his old USMC flight suit and leather jacket and ordered a cup of coffee.
As he sat sipping his coffee, a young woman sat down next to him. She turned to the pilot and asked, 'Are you a real pilot?'
He replied, 'Well, I've spent my whole life flying planes, first Stearmans, then the early Grummans.... flew a Wildcat and Corsair in WWII, and later in the Korean conflict, Banshees and Cougars. I've taught more than 260 people to fly and given rides to hundreds, so I guess I am a pilot, and you, what are you?
She said, 'I'm a lesbian. I spend my whole day thinking about naked women. As soon as I get up in the morning, I think about naked women. When I shower, I think about naked women. When I watch TV, I think about naked women. It seems everything makes me think of naked women.'
The two sat sipping in silence.
A little while later, a young man sat down on the other side of the old pilot and asked: "are you a real pilot?"
He replied, 'I always thought I was, but I just found out I'm a lesbian.'

Salagatle!

Been a while since......

2011-08-16T08:41:00.000+02:00

I last posted here. A bit of lazyness, mixed in with some hectic events mean I just didn't bother. And added to that the fact that I don't think anyone reads this anymore means I probably have not been letting anyone down anyway.

So whats been happening?
Well, I last posted that Mom went into hospital for a major operation. She came through fine, and is now down in Richards Bay, with my brother and his family, where it's a bit warmer, and she can recuperate. However, whist she was still in hospital, mom-in-law also got very sick.
It was a Saturday. She called upstairs, at about 4 pm, to say she was not well. The princess went down stairs, and immediately called me to say she had to take her to hospital. Mad dash down to her hospital, get her admitted, x-rayed etc, and they had to do an emergency operation for a perforated peptic ulcer!!!

Yup, and to make it worse, she had woken up at 2 am with an incredible pain, but didn't want to disturb us, so waited till sunrise. Then remembered that the Princess was working that day, so didn't want to disturb her, so waited till she got back from work! In the meantime all her stomach acids were leaking into her abdomen!!! 4FS!!!

And, it seems that she had been walking around with this condition (peptic ulcer) fro about a year, but had not bothered to go and see a doctor about it.
So much for common sense.

So, apart from running around between hospitals, working and trying to maintain some form of sanity......

Last Sunday the garden boy turns up at home. He had not come to work on Saturday, so I was kind of pissed off. Thought he might want to work Sunday cause he missed Saturday.... Anyway, he comes into the yard, and I ask him what's the story. He need R350.00. OK, what for? So, he lives in a squatter camp (which darkie doesn't?) His neighbors asked him, on Friday, to go to the bottle store to buy a couple of crates of beer (quarts). On the way he gets mugged, and they take the R350 from him. He goes back to the camp, and these clowns take his hands and shove them into the fire, burning his palms!!! And then say, if he does not make a plan to return the R350, they going to burn down his shack! 4FS! Normal people would go and see if they can find the muggers. Not these fucking kaffirs. No, much easier to threaten the victim! Anyway, so I gave him the money and he will have to work it off..

LuckyL is still doing great. School marks are good, still enjoying his bike, and his car. Recently had a big sound system installed into the car..... typical. It's not about the sound, but about going round and bragging with what he has. Kids today....!

Gman - don't know.

The princess is great. Too some time off work to look after m-i-l after she came out of hospital, but now is back at work. She is an absolute star!

On the work front - same old same old. But, I have been asked to attend training in the USA for a week, probably the first week in October, and one of the VP's from the States has offered to mentor me! Not sure I need it (suppose I do), but apparently it will be good for me from a "network" perspective. Will see what value it adds to my life.

Overall, things are OK. And we just carry one, one day at a time.

Chat soon,
Salagatle!

This would get me a serious snot klap!

2011-07-25T14:23:00.000+02:00

Salagatle!

GREAT AD (Kak car)

2011-07-20T12:50:00.000+02:00

Salagatle!

Back at the ranch

2011-07-12T09:33:00.000+02:00

Last week Wednesday morning my mom called to say she was going to phone for an ambulance to take her to the hospital. I told her not to, and drove through and fetched her myself.
Arriving at the hospital, we ran into her doctor who was doing the rounds, and who was surprised to see here there. Seems like, as usual, there was a bit of a communication gap. The day before, mom had asked to see the doctor. When they called her back, she said she couldn't get to their rooms! (Don't know why she wont ask the neighbors). Any way, so they told her that if she felt bad during the night, she should call an ambulance to take her to hospital, otherwise they could see her the next morning at 10.
She assumed they meant if she felt crap during the night she should call the ambulance in the morning......

Anyway, so the hospital is full, no beds.
I have to take her around to casualty entrance, where they admit her, do the mandatory vitals check, and keep her there till a bed comes available - this happens at about 12 midday.

Then it's a whole bunch of tests, x-rays, scans. Friday they do another CT scan, and confirm she has an Abdominal aortic aneurysm.

So, having looked it up I know that this is serious shit. But no one says anything about doing an operation. Not Friday, nor Saturday! Eventually on Sunday afternoon they come to her to say she will be staying in hospital till Thursday, when they will do the operation.

Anyway, it's been a bit stressful, worrying about mom, running up and down between the office / home / hospital. Keeping all the family updated. Arranging stuff. But hey, I don't mind - it is my Mom!

Anyway, we hoping all will be well with her. But, the post op. recouperation period is quite long. So we have my brothers wife coming to stay with her for a few weeks after the op. And then, if need be, she will mve in with us.
In the mean time we looking at what we can do to get her into a senior citizens home, with care facilities. It's about time. And for a change, she's not insisting that she will stay at home...

My brother and his wife arrive tomorrow to see her before she goes under the knife. My sister has been to see her a couple of times. And she's had the usual process of visitors.

if nothing else, the hospital room is warmer than her house, she's getting 3 meals a day, and she's comfortable.

Salagatle!

Volkswagen - Part VI

2011-07-11T09:29:00.000+02:00

Ok, so I sent them this email -
I recently lodged a complaint regarding the warranty terms, and replacement of a turbo in my car. I today met with the Regional Service Manager (or whatever his designation is) and presented the details of my problem / complaint to him. He has now come back with an offer which I do not find to my satisfaction.
Please advise what my next avenue is for raising this issue?
Or do I have to now peruse a legal route?

Vehicle details -
VW PASSAT 2.0 TDI
Reg:- xxx 000 XX

The problem is with the reoccurring failure of the turbo, every time within a 12 month period, and the fact that VW seems to be trying to hide behind some small print - Which does not appear on your website, which can then be construed to be misleading - which implies that the warranty is only valid if the client paid for the parts. In this case, it has been a warranty replacement 3 times, and each time within 12 months. The fact that the client may, or may not have paid for the part is irrelevant as your Mission Statement on the internet, The VW Web Page, does not make any reference to the above terms and conditions.
In fact, the statement, which did occur on older statements / invoices issued by the dealership did include the statement, but has been removed from your invoices, so I cannot see how this can be referenced as a term and Condition, if it is not posted / printed / explained anywhere.
My car has once again been in the repair shop now for more then 4 weeks. Again due to VW not wanting to make a decision (based on it's warranty terms). I am not going to go away. I need be, I will get legal opinion, and will also look at the Consumer Protection Act, to discover where this issue is covered.

X Xaaaaa
xxx xxx xxxx

A very, very unhappy client.

And got this response -
Dear Mr Xaaaaaa

Please see attached.

Best regards

Carol Petrus
Volkswagen Connect
Customer Interaction Centre

Tel: 0860 434 737
Email: support@vwconnect.co.za
Fax: +27 41 394 5170
(here is the contents of the attachment)
Dear Mr Xaaaaaaa
We refer to your e-mail received on 06 July 2011.
We have reviewed all previous correspondence and communication
regarding this matter and wish to comment as follows:
The previous two turbo charger repair costs (to the amount of R35 832.86 on
parts only) were covered as a gesture of goodwill.
Please note that any goodwill decision taken after the warranty has expired is
dependent on the merit of the situation and is at Volkswagen of South
Africa’s discretion.
Our Regional After-sales Manager, Mr Lutendo Mudau, has reviewed your
concern and due to the fact that the vehicle is out of warranty, we regret that
we are unable to cover the entire repair costs.
However, as a loyal customer and in light of your previous experience, we
will make a financial contribution of R13 595.16 inclusive of VAT toward the
cost of the turbo charger only.
This offer expires on 18 July 2011. Please notify the dealer of your
acceptance.
Any financial contribution after the warranty has expired is offered as a
gesture of goodwill and not is an admission of liability.
We trust that this will go a long way in restoring your trust in our commitment
to service excellence.
Best regards
Carol Petrus
Specialist: Customer Interaction Centre

So, this is my next response to them.

Dear Volkswagen
I refer to your web page - which is in the public domain, and therefore the VW "voice" to it's customers / clients / potential clients, where it is clearly stated that

"The benefits of servicing your vehicle at a Volkswagen Dealership are numerous, but aimed at providing you with an inexpensive, efficient and uncomplicated service
experience which is attractive both in terms of quality and expertise!
Volkswagen Dealers are equipped with special tools and equipment that have been developed to work on your vehicle. The technicians are well-trained and backed up
by an extensive After Sales support infrastructure.
Volkswagen Dealers are instructed to use only genuine parts, designed to meet the manufacturer’s specifications. All genuine parts carry a 12-month parts and labour
warranty that is valid at any Volkswagen Dealership."

To this end I therefore dispute your "good will " statement. The parts were replaced under the warranty terms of your service, and as such had to be done.
The fact is that this turbo has once again failed within this 12 month warranty period, and so should be replaced, at your cost.

Please advise....

Lets see what they have to say now -
Salagatle!

Volkswagen - Part V

2011-07-08T21:38:00.000+02:00

Collected the broken turbo, and sent it in for a recon. Will get it fitted in the mean time, to get the car out and going. Then I'm selling it. In the meantime I'm giving them beans!!!
Have posted this on a page I created on Facebook in the meantime.
Volkswagen South Africa - Service Please

So, if you follow this link - http://www.vw.co.za/en/service/servicing_information.html - you will see the following statement:-
"Volkswagen Dealers are instructed to use only genuine parts, designed to meet the manufacturer’s specifications. All genuine parts carry a 12-month parts and labour warranty that is valid at any Volkswagen Dealership."

This is not completely correct, and somewhat misleading. You see, there are "T's & C's which they don't spell out here (not anywhere else from what I can see) that influence this statement AGAINST the customer.
Let's say you have a turbo replaced after the vehicle warranty expires. This will cost you in the region of R36,000.00!!!! (You can get the same turbo from Goldwagen for R13,500.00, or have your old one refurbished for R3,500.00!!!!), Anyway, so this comes with a 12 month warranty. Lets say this part fails in month 10, or 11. VW will (after much haggling and trying to find a way around it) replace the part, at their cost. Now this is where it gets underhanded. The new turbo they fit under the warranty does NOT come with another 12 month warranty, even though it's new, genuine VW parts, supplied and fitted by an authorised VW dealer. It will only carry the remainder of the warranty of the previously fitted part, in the above example, 1 - 2 months!!! So, if this "new" turbo fails within a month after the original warranty period expires, you have no recourse, and will have to fit another turbo at your own cost - R36,000.00!!!!

Basically, they don't warrant any parts that they may fit under a warranty replacement! So, do they fit new parts, or reconditioned units? Don't know.

The bigger problem is the following - a) they don't tell you this upfront. b) It's not written anywhere on the paperwork you sign for (Job card, invoice, etc). And it is definatley not stipulated on their public website.
So, they are guilty of false advertising / misleading the public.

More to follow on other related issues.
Any comments?

Please invite your friends to join this discussion group.

And this

Another piece of misleading information, from the same web page referred to in my earlier piece is this - :
"Volkswagen Dealers are trained to work according to standard procedures and prescribed labour times that cover all repairs as well as the standard maintenance services. This is done to ensure that your vehicle operates safely with associated low running costs. The vehicle also retains resale value when it has a complete service history exclusively performed at Volkswagen Dealerships."

So, the car we have has a current book value of R102000.00 trade, and R124000.00 retail. 165000km on the clock (2005 model). FULL SERVICE HISTORY WITH AUTHORISED VW DEALERSHIP! I go and chat to the VW used car section manager, and ask what they would offer on the car.

As a buy out (cash, no other car bought from them) R70000.00. As a trade in, on their top of the range Passat, VW will add "UP TO" R20000.00 in trade assist as they call it.
So, if you want to get anywhere near (but not actually at) the book value of the car, you have to buy another piece of crap from them, so that you can continue to suffer with their bad service and warranty support!!!

His statement was that it's a high mileage (165k/6=27,5k/annum), and that as it is a diesel, this is too high!!!!

Comments?

Salagatle!

Volkswagen - Part IV

2011-07-06T21:27:00.000+02:00

So, today met with the goon from Volkswagen. Still not sure what his title is - but something like Regional Service Manager - so I will refer to him as RSM for now.

This dude just happens to be black. Does it matter? Yes it does. He thinks like a darkie, so he sees a White Man, who probably has money, not wanting to pay for the repairs to his car. So fuck him.
I met with the dude, and explained the situation. As expected he pulled the "The small print says..." line. I fucked him over with that one. If it's not on your web page along with the "12 month warranty" statement - it's rubbish. And as it no longer appears on the invoice (in fine print or any other) it's more crap. So although I hear what you say, I'm not buying it.
I then showed him a previous issue with a pump that had been replaced twice in 7 months. That put him back a step.
He conceded that they had done 2 x warranty replacements (Good will he called them) and that their investment had been ZAR36k. Anyway, we finished with me saying I want a response by end of business today, and I want to know what my next steps are if he does not give the go ahead. I also made sure he knew I was pissed off with the fact that the car had been in the garage for more than 4 weeks again!!!!
Got a call a few hours later. He says that as I have spent some money already, he's willing to go 50/50. Cost of Turbo replacement he says ZAR36k, so 50% is ZAR18k!

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!!

I can buy a new turbo from Goldwagen for ZAR13,5k!!! And guess what - the parts come out of the same factory, just different packaging.
So I called them back, and told them I am not interested. I want a final response tomorrow.
In the mean time I have sent another email off to VW head office, asking them who my next contact should be, or if my next option is legal advice, with the Consumer Protection Act in tow.

Will wait a day or two, then go see my friendly lawyer!

Salagatle!

Trafic fines

2011-07-05T11:16:00.000+02:00

On the basis that there seems to be more road blocks around again, and the fact that I don't want to have to try and get myself out of a situation due to outstanding fines, I yesterday settles all outstanding fines against my name - well, nearly all. I didn't settle 2 which are 2+ years old as I had at that time raised an issue around them, and am still awaiting a response.
But for the rest - I paid R6645.00!!!
Yup, some are mine, some are GMan's - he will have to make monthlu payments to me to pay it back. Oh, and I'm going to take his car off my name. Stuff this points demerit system.

Salagatle!

Further to a previous post about Traffic violations and stuff.....

2011-07-04T20:31:00.000+02:00

Beating the Speedys

The intention of the article is not to circumvent the law but to be aware of it and what to do when you are in the right. Firstly we will deal with what is stipulated in the law
TRAffIC CONTROL AND TRAffIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT (TCSP)"
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES fOR TRAffIC CONTROL AND TRAffIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT (TCSP)
Prosecuting Guidelines for Speed Measuring Equipment (SME) and Traffic Light Violation Monitoring Equipment (TLVME) JANUARY 2006 Prepared by: The TCSP Contact persons: Adv T Dicker , Ms A Swanepoel
GUIDELINES FOR PROSECUTION WITH REGARD TO SPEED AND TRAFFIC LIGHT PROSECUTIONS
1.1. The provisions in this document are operational guidelines only and noncompliance does not influence the accuracy or reliability of measurement results. The decision whether or not to prosecute remains in the discretion of the prosecutor.
1.2. The operator for purposes of these guidelines is a traffic officer appointed in terms of road traffic legislation.
1.3. The operator shall have attended and passed a course on speed measurement and, if applicable traffic light monitoring, as approved by the National Training Committee.
1.4. That the operator shall be in possession of an operator's certificate for the specific type of SME and, if applicable, TLVME.
1.5. An accredited laboratory shall calibrate -
1.5.1 All speed measuring equipment;
1.5.2 All distance measuring equipment; and
1.5.3 All time or time interval measuring equipment,
at least once every six months and shall issue a calibration certificate. If the six month calibration period has expired, equipment must be recalibrated before it may be used for prosecution purposes.
1.6 All distance checking markers for validation of SME's shall be checked and validated by a Professional Land Surveyor, registered with the S A Council for Professional and Technical Land Surveyors or an accredited laboratory at least once every twelve months. A certificate of the validation shall be issued.
1.7. No prosecution may be instituted where the speed measurement was taken within 300 meters of the commencement of the speed limit zone, except with permission from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
1.8. That maintenance and repair of equipment and accessories that will result 'In the calibration seal being broken, shall only be attended to by the manufacturer, distributor, or their appointed agent, in accordance with the SANS 1795 and the equipment shall be recalibrated thereafter.
A person qualified to effect repairs to equipment, which is authorized in writing by the manufacturer, distributor or an appointed agent of the manufacturer of such equipment, may effect repairs in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
1.9. All results required to be recorded shall be recorded in an appropriate register.
1.10. A copy of the following must be available at all times at attended sites where SME's are being operated:
1.10.1 A valid calibration certificate; and
1.10.2 The operator's certificate.
TCSP PROSECUTION GUIDELINE FOR SPEED MEASURING EQUIPMENT AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS JAN 2006
1.11 The driver shall be afforded the opportunity to view the speed-reading and the documents referred to in 1.10, if stopped by a traffic officer.
1.12 The authority responsible for the speed measurement shall have the following documents available at their offices-
1.12.1 a certificate showing compliance with the relevant part of SANS 1795 (applicable to equipment acquired after the re-publication of SANS 179S 20067); and
1.12.2 certificates for any distance required in terms of this guideline.
2. GUIDELINES FOR PROSECUTION WITH REGARD TO SPEED MEASUREMENTS BYRADAR EQUIPMENT NOT LINKED TO A DATA ANDIMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE
2.1 SITE SELECTION
When selecting a site for a speed measurement exercise, the following must be adhered to:
2.1.1 Site selection must be done during daytime for day and night-time operation.
2.1.2 There shall be no large, stationary, or metal objects (e.g. patrol vehicle, bus shelter) within a radius of 50 meters in front of the radar SME.
2.1.3 There shall be no metal road signs or vertical flat surfaces within 15 (fifteen) degrees on either side of the aiming direction, within a distance of 200 meters of the antenna.
2.1.4 The equipment may only be used where there is a clear view, any obstruction taken into account, within 45 degrees of the direction of aim over a distance of 600 meters.
2.1.5 There shall be no high-tension cables within a radius of 100 meters of the antenna.
2.1.6 There shall be no discharge type lamps (e.g. sodium or neon) in operation within 45 degrees of the direction of aim within 100 meters of the antenna.
2.1.7 (a) Equipment modified or permanently set that no signals are received and processed from vehicles more than 300 meters away may be used on straight roads. Vehicles used to test the modification are vehicles with a tare of not more than 750 kg.
A copy of the certificate verifying the modification or setting has to accompany the equipment at all times.
(b) Equipment not modified as referred to in paragraph (a), shall only be used where rises and bends in the road take all vehicles further than 300m out of the measuring area of the SME.
2.1.8 The SME shall at all times whilst being operated be mounted on a firm and stable surface and if mounted in or on a vehicle, the vehicle must be stabilized before the SME is used.

Salagatle!

Are you Kidding me?

2011-07-04T10:08:00.000+02:00

Smoking whilst filling up with petrol could help you quit forever!

Just for fun!
Salagatle!

Volkswagen - Part III

2011-07-04T09:34:00.001+02:00

So, I still have not me with the Regional Service Manager person. He just didn't come back with a meeting date / time. I know he's supposed to be at the dealership on the 6th, so will meet him there. But he's done himself, and VW no good by not being responsive! now I'm seriously fucked off. He's wasted another week of the car standing, inoperative!

I put together a spreadsheet of all that's been done to the car over the years, based on the information I have. I also want to get the missing stuff from VW that would be available on their computer systems.

3 things come up -
Turbo problems - reoccurring,
Turbo / engine monitoring harness - replaced twice,
and injectors pump - replaced twice.

09/07/2009 - Breakdown - Replaced Fuel Pump

10/07/2009 - Breakdown -
23381936 1&4 Injectors
97094151 Injector Wiring
03G130073D Pump
03G971033M harness

21/11/2009 - Breakdown - Replace Turbo

17/02/2010 - 120k Service - 03G130073D Pump - this was within 12 months - I did not get the warranty claim refund! Will address this with them now for sure!!!!!

24/05/2010 - Breakdown - Waste gate?? (Turbo problems) - here they addressed the "problem" by fucking around with the waste gate for about 4 - 5 weeks. They "temporarily fixed the problem - but not properly!

30/12/2010 - Breakdown - 03G971033m Harness - this was a repeat failure - but after 17 months - makes you wonder how good their shit is?

16/11/2010 - Breakdown - Turbo error on Computer test - this was down in Umhlanga Rocks. But they said he could drive back to JHB no problem, which he did.

18/11/2010 - Breakdown - Turbo error on Computer test - he then had the same reading in Krugersdorp, where they told him to take the car back to the last dealer as the turbo problem was still under warranty.

And there they stuffed around for another few weeks, having one test done after another, and never really fixing anything. At this time, even though the vehicle on board computer said that there was a turbo problem, the Regional Service Manager decided that the 'noise" was at acceptable levels. Somehow they got the "warning lights" to stop indication a problem, for a while anyway, and the problem has now come back.

These are just the items that all reflect to a bigger problem as far as I am concerned, and VW has each time addressed the symptoms, but not investigated the problem. So, We wait for the 6th, and then we go to war.

Salagatle!

Traffic offences and associated penalties

2011-07-03T20:15:00.000+02:00

OK, so I trust the originator of this email, But have no idea where he may have got the info from.

Please note that the De-Merit system is in place as from twelve o' clock last night. Points are put on scale under your ID No. on the system for any traffic violations and thus you can unknowingly lose your license.
This morning, numerous people from Unisa as well as from Onderstepoort animal research station (Cruvet) were pulled over and received serious fines.There is no longer a 10km/h grace for exceeding the speed limit. They fine as from km one.
Starting today, they are going full-out.
Please share this information with all drivers you know!!

Registration and licensing of motor vehicles:

Violation	Fine	Pts
Motor vehicle not registered	R 1 000	3
Motor vehicle not licensed	R 1 000	3
Operating vehicle with special licence on public road	R 500	1
Motor vehicle with number plates not SABS approved	R 500	1
Motor vehicle displaying no number plates	Court	6
Motor vehicle displaying only one number plate	R 500	2
Motor vehicle with plates not applicable	Court	6
Motor vehicle with number plate obscured or illegible	R 250	0
Motor vehicle with both plates obscured or illegible	Court	6
Licence disc not displayed	R 500	1
Licence disc obscured or illegible	R 500	1
Licence disc on trailer exposed to weather	R 500	1
Operator did not change address particulars	R 500	1
Operator did not change particulars of proxy	R 500	2
Disposing of unregistered or unlicensed vehicle or of a vehicle with no registration or licensing papers	R 1 000	3
Owner did not report motor vehicle stolen	R 500	1
Owner did not report motor vehicle permanently unfit for use	R 500	1
Motor vehicle does not have an engine number	Court	6
Used motor trade plate for other purposes than described	R 500	1
Motor trade plate not displayed or displayed incorrectly	R 500	1
Transport persons on goods on vehicle with special permit	R 500	1
Temporary or special permit not displayed correctly or illegible	R 500	1
Display temporary or special permit not applicable to motor vehicle	Court	6

Fitness of drivers

Violation	Fine	Pts
Driver not licensed	R 1 250	4
Driver does not have licence with him in vehicle	R 500	1
Driver did not disclose disqualification when applying for learner’s licence	R 1 250	4
Driver fails to submit licence to licensing authorities of the onset of any disqualifying disability	R 1 000	3
Driver did not notify authority of change of address	R 500	1
Employ or permit unlicensed driver to drive vehicle	R 1 250	4
Driver does not have professional driving permit	R 1 250	4
Failed to produce PrDP to court	R 1 000	3
Failed to produce licence to court	R 500	1

Fitness of vehicles

Violation	Fine	Pts
Not displaying roadworthy certificate	R 500	1
Operating motor vehicle without roadworthy certificate	R 1 000	3
Operating vehicle on public road, contrary to notice to discontinue	R 750	2
No emergency/parking brake on non-RWC vehicle	R 750	2
No emergency/parking brake on RWC vehicle	R 750	2
Parking brake inadequate on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Parking brake inadequate on RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Brakes not in good working order on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Brakes not in good working order on RWC vehicle	R 750	2
No airbrake warning device	R 750	2
Steering gear unsafe or too much free play	R 750	2
Illegal left-hand drive vehicle	R 500	1
Horn not working properly	R 250	0
Illegal window or windscreen	R 250	0
No windscreen wiper	R 250	0
Defective/no rearview mirror	R 500	1
Defective fuel tank, pipes	R 500	1
Defective/no fuel tank cap	R 500	1
Electrical wiring not properly installed / maintained / insulated etc	R 500	1
Engine not covered	R 250	0
Inefficient/no silencer	R 250	0
Excessive exhaust smoke	R 250	0
Fumes in cab	R 250	0
Oil dripping onto exhaust	R 250	0
Illegal entrances and exits	R 250	0
No reverse gear	R 250	0
Worn, damaged or illegal tyres (per tyre)	R 250	0
Missing seat belt	R 500	1
Defective seat belt	R 250	0
No speedometer	R 500	1
Defective speedometer	R 250	0
Defective/no wheel flaps	R 250	0
No rear underrun bumper	R 500	1
Defective/incorrectly fitted rear underrun bumper	R 500	1
Illegal axle on semi-trailer	R 500	1

Lighting and reflectors

Violation
Fine	Pts
Driving between sunset and sunrise without lights	R 750	2
Not using dipped beam with oncoming traffic	R 500	1
One rear or stop lamp not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 250	0
One rear or stop lamp not working on RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Two rear or stop lamps not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Two rear or stop lamps not working on RWC vehicle	R 750	2
Lamps showing incorrect colour on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Lamps showing incorrect colour on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
No chevron or incorrectly fitted	R 500	1
Chevron not SABS approved type	R 500	1
One direction indicator not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 100	0
One direction indicator not working on RWC vehicle	R 250	0
Both direction indicators not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 250	0
Both direction indicators not working on RWC vehicle	R 500	1

Vehicle and load dimensions and projection

Violtion
Fine	Pts
Too long	R 500	1
Drawing more than two trailers	R 500	1
Too wide	R 500	1
Too high	R 500	1
Turning radius too great	R 500	1
Rear/front overhang too great	R 500	1
Load projects too far at front/rear/side	R 250	0
Load projection improperly marked	R 250	0

Taxis and buses

Violation		Fine	Pts
Overloading permissible number of passengers by:
	1 to 5	R 500	1
	6 to 10	R 1 000	3
	11 or more	R 1 500	5
Bus overloading permissible of passengers by:
	1 to 10	R 500	1
	10 to 15	R 1 000	3
	16 or more	R 1 500	5
Not complying with regulations concerning the operation of vehicles carrying paying passengers		R 1 000	3

Loads on goods vehicles

Violation		Fine	Pts
Exceeding the permissible maximum massloads per axle, axle unit, axle group, vehicle or combination by:
	Up to 3,99%	R 250	0
	Between 4% and 5,99%	R 500	1
	Between 6% and 7,99%	R 750	2
	Between 8% and 9,99%	R 1 000	3
	Between 10% and 11,99%	R 1 250	4
	Between 12% and 13,99%	R 1 500	5
	Above 13,99%	Court	6
Total vehicle mass exceeds 5 times the mass on drive axle by:
	Up to 3,99%	R 250	0
	Between 4% and 5,99%	R 500	1
	Between 6% and 7,99%	R 750	2
	Between 8% and 9,99%	R 1 000	3
	Between 10% and 11,99%	R 1 250	4
	Between 12% and 13,99%	R 1 500	5
	Above 13,99%	Court	6
Mass on the steering axle of articulated vehicle is:
	Between 8% and 10,9% of total mass	R 500	1
	Between 4% and 7,9% of the total mass	R 1 000	3
	Less than 4% of total mass	Court	6
Mass on the steering axle of rigid vehicle is:
	Between 14% and 19,9% of total mass	R 500	1
	Between 7% and 13,9% of the total mass	R 1 000	3
	Less than 7% of total mass	Court	6
Load on one side of axle exceeds that on the other by:
	Above 10% up to 20%	R 500	1
	Above 20% up to 30%	R 1 000	3
	Above 30%	Court	6
Incorrect/no (load data) information plate		R 500	2
Insecure load		R 1 000	3
Load coming into contact with road surface		R 1 000	3
Passengers carried in the goods compartment not safely enclosed		R 1 000	3

Operator fitness

Violation	Fine	Pts
Operator not registered	Court	6
Operator card not on windscreen	R 500	1
Operator did not notify authority of change in particulars	R 500	1
Operator did not report loss of card	R 500	1
Operator did not exercise proper control driver	R 1 250	4
Operator did not ensure that motor vehicle complies with fitness requirements	R 1 250	4
Operator did not conduct operations with due care and safety	R 1 250	4
Operator did not comply with dangerous goods requirements	R 1 250	4
Operator did not comply with loading requirements	R 1 250	4

Dangerous goods

Violation	Fine	Pts
No fire extinguisher	R 1 250	4
Incorrect or missing placarding	R 1 250	4
Did not remove placards on emptied packaged goods vehicle	R 1 250	4
Placards damaged or not clean or clearly visible	R 1 250	4
No danger warning diamond at front	R 1 250	4
Left vehicle unattended in an unsupervised area	R 1 250	4
Incorrect or missing transport emergency card/s or dangerous goods declaration/s	R 1 250	4
No designated space for documents	R 1 250	4
Did not ensure that load is compatible	R 1 250	4
Transport emergency card older than 3 years	R 1 250	4

Road traffic signs

Violation	Fine	Pts
Disobeying stop sign or robot with non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Disobeying stop sign or robot with RWC vehicle	R 750	2
Overtaking on a white line with non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Overtaking on a white line with RWC vehicle	R 750	1
Pedestrian or cyclist disobeyed regulatory sign	R 100	0

Speeding

Violation		Fine	Pts
Exceeding the speed limit by:
	11 km/h to 15 km/h	R 250	0
	16 km/h to 20 km/h	R 500	1
	21 km/h to 25 km/h	R 750	2
	26 km/h to 30 km/h	R 1 000	3
	31 km/h to 35 km/h	R 1 250	4
	36 km/h to 40 km/h	R 1 500	5
	Above 40 km/h	Court	6

Lane discipline

Violation	Fine	Pts
Failing to keep to the left	R 1 000	3
Driving on the wrong side or across a dividing strip or traffic island	R 1 000	3
Overtaking illegally on the left	R 1 000	3
Cutting in after overtaking	R 1 000	3
Overtaking on the shoulders or verge	R 1 000	3
Overtaking on a blind rise, a curve, or where view is restricted	R 1 000	3
Accelerating while being overtaken	R 1 000	3
Encroaching the right half of the road obstructing oncoming traffic	R 1 000	3
Passing a stationary bus without due care	R 500	1
Driving on shoulder when circumstances do not permit	R 500	1
Driving across a road when it is unsafe to do so	R 1 000	3
Entering a road when it is unsafe to do so	R 1 000	3
Obstructing other traffic while changing lanes	R 1 000	3
Failing to use indicators	R 500	1
Failing to indicate when changing lanes	R 500	1
Failing to yield to the right at a traffic island	R 750	2
Failing to keep left while making a left turn	R 750	2
Turning right while unsafe	R 750	2
Failing to keep left while making a right turn (cutting corner)	R 750	2

Stopping and parking

Violation		Fine	Pts
Stopping or parking
	Alongside/opposite another vehicle where road is less than 9 metres	R 1 000	3
	Alongside or opposite an excavation or obstruction	R 1 000	3
	At or within 6 metres of a bridge or tunnel	R 1 000	3
	At or within 6 metres of narrow portion of road	R 1 000	3
	Constituting a danger or obstruction	R 1 000	3
	Within the railway reserve of level crossing	R 1 000	3
	On the wrong side of the road	R 1 000	3
	In contravention of a “no-stopping” sign	R 750	2
	On a freeway illegally	R 500	1
Parking:
	In contravention of any road sign	R 250	0
	Double parked	R 250	0
	At excavation or obstruction	R 250	0
	Within the railway reserve of level crossing	R 250	0
	Within 9 metres of an approach to pedestrian crossing	R 250	0
	Where width of road was constricted	R 250	0
	Within tunnel or on a bridge	R 250	0
	Obstructing a fire hydrant	R 250	0
	Obstructing a traffic sign	R 250	0
	On the sidewalk	R 250	0
	On non-urban road within a metre of the edge	R 250	0
	Blocking entrance to public road	R 250	0
	Within 5 metres of an urban intersection	R 250	0
	On the actuating mechanism of a robot	R 250	0
	Further than 450 mm from the kerb	R 250	0
	On road less than 5,5 metres wide	R 250	0
	On a traffic island or pedestrian mall	R 250	0

Towing

Violation	Fine	Pts
Towrope or towbar exceeds 3,5 metres	R 500	1
Towed vehicle not securely attached or not under control	R 500	1
No licensed person at the wheel of towed vehicle	R 500	1
Towing at over 30 km/h (unless a tow bar is used)	R 500	1
Conveying passengers illegally (over 30 km/h) in towed vehicle	R 500	1

Accidents

Violation	Fine	Pts
Failing to stop at an accident to ascertain injuries and assist	Court	6
Failing to stop where there is third party damage	R 1 000	3
Failing to report accident	R 1 000	3
Removing vehicle from accident involving injury or death without police authorization	R 750	2
Removing vehicle without the owner/driver’s permission	R 1 250	4

Reckless driving and driving under the influence

Violation		Fine	Pts
Reckless driving		Court	6
Inconsiderate driving		R 250	0
Driving under the influence		Court	6
Blood alcohol level for:
	Ordinary motorist not less than 0,05 g per 100 ml	Court	6
	PrDP driver not less than 0,02 g per 100 ml	Court	6
Breath alcohol level for:
	Ordinary motorist not less than 0,24 mg per 1 000 ml	Court	6
	PrDP driver not less than 0,10 mg per 1 000 ml	Court	6
Smoked before blood/breath specimen was taken		R 1 250	4
Refusing to give blood or breath sample		R 1 500	5

Miscellaneous

Violation	Fine	Pts
Failing to comply with traffic officer’s instructions	R 500	1
Unauthorised tampering with vehicle	Court	6
Furnishing false information	Court	6
False number plate	Court	6
Not wearing seatbelt	R 250	0
No warning triangle	R 500	1
Warning triangle not as prescribed	R 250	0
Warning triangle not displayed or displayed incorrectly	R 250	0
Reversing too far or dangerously	R 1 000	3
Following too closely	R 1 000	3
Permitting a person to occupy a position in a vehicle restricting the driver’s full control	R 1 000	3
Permitting a person to interfere with the steering or operating mechanism	R 1 000	3
Driver not positioned to exercise complete control of vehicle	R 1 000	3
Leaving vehicle unattended and unbraked	R 250	0
Pulling away from kerb before it is safe	R 500	1
Failing to give way to emergency vehicle sounding an alarm (eg ambulance or fire engine)	R 500	1
Part of driver’s body (elbow) protruding from moving vehicle	R 250	0
Allowing person on roof or step while in motion	R 250	0
Engine emitting smoke	R 250	0
Leaving engine running unattended	R 250	0
Spillage of oil petrol or rubbish	R 250	0
Running engine while filling up	R 250	0
Jumping on or off moving vehicle, endangering others	R 100	0
Driving on the sidewalk	R 500	1
Driving while using hand-held cell-phone	R 500	1
Excessive noise	R 250	0
Hooter used illegally	R 250	0
Failing to yield to pedestrian at crossing	R 500	1
Pedestrian moving into path of vehicle suddenly at crossing	R 100	0
Overtaking stationary vehicle at pedestrian crossing	R 500	1
Racing on public road	R 1 000	3
Driving in convoy during weekend	R 500	1
Wilful obstruction of traffic flow	R 750	2
Abandoned vehicle	R 500	1
Damaging public road	R 1 000	3
Using chocks between wheel and road	R 1 000	3
Trading illegally on public road	R 250	0

Salagatle!