The Diaries of a ........................................................................



 Got an e-mail from a reader this week, basically telling me that I had wasted mine as well as his time on putting out the blog last week because it was “Bad”, well in my defence  “Homer”  I did say I was NAAFI (No ambition and F%$k all interest) last week, and to be honest don’t think that the level has dropped much from last week, so this one could be just as shit...........................”So don’t waste your time” 

Maybe the Blogs are not what they should be because I lead a boring life at the moment, I am happily married, not having an affair, have not turned into an alcoholic yet, been really busy the last year or because I don’t live in a village anymore, that at times made desperate housewives look like a children’s novel So let me see if I can conjure up anything that will make you reading this blog worthwhile and not fall into a coma (“unconsciousness................... not a grammatical punctuation mark”).

It seems that on Sunshine Island (the UK) there is a bicycle stolen every minute, yeah I know WTF..............................who cares. Probably all the East European and African refugees that need transport before they..........”Ah hell who cares”. 

Gabby and Tania took me to the Snake park for father’s day, Gabby wanted me to see the snakes that she works with and Tania wanted food, so it would have worked out pretty well for all of us except  we did not get to eat at snake park as everything was booked, so you see it’s not just the men that book tables for lunch, (we had a real dads lunch Takeaway Pizza, beer and donuts). It seems  that women do it to.  So while I remember Happy father’s day to all you dads out there, hope that you are as blessed as I am to have a great family.. Do yourselves a favour go to you tube and search for  1) Derek Redmond and Team Hoyte (I can) to watch two inspirational videos about dads, believe me if you don’t have a tear in your eye after watching these you are not human.        

Well The Sharks beat the Bulls at loftus, who would have thunk that it could happen, So next week the Sharks play the Crusaders and the Waratahs play the Blues (think they will be singing the Blues at end of the game) Reds and Stormers get to rest before their home semi finals the week after. Have to say thought that the game between the Brumbies and the “Taaaaaaaahs” (as the Aussie commentators like to call them) would have been better, the Brumbies only managed a consolation try in injury time in the second half to avoid the whitewash.............very disappointing as a South African team supporter. I see the Bulls supporters are as magnanimous as ever in defeat “NOT”, they can never seem to get it right , but i suppose that’s what living at altitude does to the brain after a number of years. Like the RWC the playoffs will be early games, how are you supposed tpo drink beer with breakfast, unless of course you have not gone to bed yet and ..........”you get the picture”  

While we were sleeping or watching rugby the following was happening : Johannesburg - South African Airways (SAA) flights are no longer suspended and are back to their normal schedules, the company said on Sunday."The flights were only suspended for that evening [Saturday], and everything is okay now," spokesperson Dileseng Koetle said. On Saturday evening, all SAA flights to and from Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London, as well as one flight from Johannesburg to London, were suspended due to ash clouds caused by a volcano in Chile. "Suspending them was just a precautionary measure. We provided accommodation for the evening and all of the passengers have reached their destinations." SAA would be keeping a "close eye" on the situation, and inform passengers if further flights were suspended. 

Now this news report scares the shit out of me, because it’s a distinct possibility:

Johannesburg - Julius Malema has not only secured a second term as president of the ANC Youth League but also an undeniable place in society as one of the most powerful politicians of our time. Is it premature to begin to profile him as a president of the country in the not too distant future? (F#$K I hope so), but many think not. Four of his close allies last night suggested it could become reality by as early as 2027.In the last 10 years he has risen through the ranks from COSAS president to two-time holder of the position of ANCYL provincial secretary to president of the league, finishing off his first term this weekend as a political force to be reckoned with.

You know what I don’t feel like writing any more so “Homer”  have a great week and hope your kitchen is now working properly and that the queen comes to visit soon.

Ciao
SPAD

Singing in the rain



Heavy rains this week saw the PE area become a waterlogged. with rivers bursting banks and the lunatic asylum letting out patients to drive on the roads. Driving to Uitenhage on Thursday to do training at VWSA i saw 3 cars spin off the roads, two cars crash into each other and many other idiots hit water on the roads so fast that they managed to get the cars engine to stall.  The Swartkops river that has been a mere stream came down in flood and at one stage I was worried that I may have to sleep in Uitenhage.

So from a combined dam level of 31 % 3 weeks ago it now looks like we are bursting at the seams and the combined dam levels are now at  66 %, restrictions on water use have as yet not been lifted and to be honest I hope that the municipality don’t declare open season but rather raise the daily water allowance to say 750 litres per family per day.

For some reason I have felt NAAFI this week, don’t know why to be honest, just seem to have highs and lows, maybe it’s  just  old age? (No smarmy comments please)

Gabby has arranged herself a weekend job (voluntary at the moment) at a local snake park, a couple of her friends work there so she is giving it a go, Tania is worried that she may get bitten by a poisonous snake, which is a valid concern, but at the moment Gabby would only be allowed to handle non-venomous reptiles.
 
Keith (Tania’s dad) is on his way to England and then Canada tomorrow, he will be away for 5 weeks, going to miss him, but sure he will have a great time.    

Sports this weekend saw the Super 15 drawing to its close with the penultimate games before the playoffs, so lots at stake for certain teams. The Sharks managed a draw against the lions (they were lucky to get the draw), the Bulls beat the Stormers by 3 points setting up next week for a few have to win games, by 9pm on Saturday we will know which SA teams are in the top 6 so far the top 6 teams are in order: Reds, Stormers, Crusaders, Blues, Bulls and Sharks with the Waratahs at 7th also in with a shot. Probably the game of the weekend will be the Bulls vs Sharks at Loftus and to be honest I don’t see the Sharks winning  in front of that home crowd with the Bulls having just beaten the Stormers at Newlands, my prediction tight game but Bulls will take it. The Stormers take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein that could see them being robbed of a number 2 spot on the overall log

For those that are interested Audi completed 355 laps to win the Le Man 24 hour race.

I wonder how many of you realise that on Friday it was a year to the day that the Football World Cup started in SA................”Yep a year ago” 

Well that’s it for this week
Hope next week I ain’t so NAAFI
Ciao
SPAD  

"Dam thats good"


As you may be aware Port Elizabeth has been in the grips of a drought for 2 and a half years now, with dam levels 2 weeks ago being a combined 31%, after some more good rains in the catchment areas over the last 2 weeks dam levels have now risen to 43 %, so that is really great news.

Having spent a week in Gauteng I can honestly say that the decision to settle in PE was not just a good idea it was an inspirational one “Thanks Tania”,  and it was DAM good to get home.

So I spent  a week in Gauteng, “that felt like a month” and apart from having family there, Gauteng is a place that you can keep. It actually reminded me of how miserable I would probably be if I lived overseas. People that live there argue that it’s were the money is at................”Well money is not everything”. 

Arrived early evening Sunday evening and drove to Afrika Lodge (my guest house for the week), It was like I was going to go and live with the Flintstones (if you have seen one of those fake rock houses, you will know what I mean). Checked into my room that looked like it had been decorated by ‘Nathanial and a blind, gay, adventure sport, crack addict’...................”Dutchman Kitch”. Drove to my folks and had a cup of coffee with them and then went back to the guest house. 

Monday I woke up to a Frikken cold day in my man cave  and decided to leave early for the company I was training for as I was not sure of the distance and what the traffic would be like. The drive was a lot better than I thought it would be and go there fairly quickly. I did however see something I have not seen since winter 2009....................”Frost”.  Driving home on  Monday going back to the guest house “Cassa Man Cave”  I drove past this accident...................”yeah my thoughts exactly”. Parts of the wall and palisade fence had been deposited 100m+ away from point of  contact, want to hazard a guess the sex of the driver? 

By Tuesday I had flu and felt like death warmed up ( I had woken up at 3am and could not get back to sleep), so as you can imagine training was not the best (2 x 4 hour sessions of Hazardous chemical substance training) near the end I was on auto pilot. It also did not help that the road I was using to get to the company was busier than the day before and just to make it even more interesting none of the traffic lights along that road were working so you can just imagine the chaos, it was like being in the video game...................... Grand Theft Auto.

Wednesday I  thankfully did not have to train as I still felt like Shit, woke late and then went to moms house and we went shopping together, was really nice as I have not done that since I can remember, the shopping centre has pensioners day on a Wednesday so you can imagine the chaos in the parking area. Throw in free cake and coffee and you have a scene worse that the start of a Harrods sale. Mom bought me enough cold and flu medicine to stat my own chemist, but by the end of the day was feeling  a 1000% better. That night my dad treated us all (Mom, me , Karen (my sister), Gavin (her husband), Christine (my niece) and Craig (her husband) to dinner at Mikes kitchen, you must know when the Dunkley Clan get together there is usually chaos, but it was a really lekker evening and a tonic that I needed, missing Tania and Gabby as much as I did.       

Thursday I was feeling better but still taking medicine, I was at the company at 6.40am to get ready for training at 7.30 and realised that training that day was only from 9am, trained 2 s and a half hour sessions and headed to see the family again..............Traffic was BAD and took me 30 minutes to do about 2 kms, due to all the traffic and lack of knowledge of basic road rules...........ones like you should not drive from back of queue to push into the front or at a 4 way stop you give people turns to drive..............Nah total frikken Chaos. Had a great dinner with folks, sister and Gavin, so the day ended ok.

In SA Albertina Sisulu widow of the late Walter Sisulu died at home age 92 on Thursday night, it reminded me of how frail Madiba is and if he will also make it to 2012. Many think of these old struggle activists as devils and evil but if you compare them with today’s crop of corrupt and stupid, career politicians who are only in it for what they can get out of it, they will be missed as they did have the people’s wishes at heart and did not do what they did for money or recognition.............There are not many today who can say that. RIP Mrs Sisulu.           

Friday morning I was feeling like a kid just before Xmas, I was going home, all I needed to do was 1 more session on Noise induced hearing loss and I was then free. I was a little nervous because Zola (the health and safety liaison at the company) had told me that the Plant Manager was sitting in on the session, but I must say it went well and Karen is a really nice lady. I was going to leave at 12 but was invited to their WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL Day celebration and watched a 20 minute presentation called  “The story of stuff” was very thought provoking but waste and re-cycling is very much like Global warming there are arguments for and against that can make you feel the person presenting the information is correct. Having said this I do believe that we could do so much more to make the planet a better place for both ourselves and future generations. So remember today 5 June 2011 is world environmental day.     

I was amused when I checked in through the security area at, Jan Smu.....”No”.... Jhb Inter........”No” ah yes OR Tambo international on the way back home. Announcement over intekom advising passengers that we are not allowed to take the following  dangerous items onto the flight: nail clippers, knives, crochet needles, pins, guns, explosives....etc etc. Now I would have thought that Guns and explosives should have topped the list, but I guess not.  

The trip back home was a tad frustrating due to time delays and the never ending yada yada from 2 young ladies sitting behind me......................”but I digress”. The boarding gates opened at 10 past 5 and after 5 minutes all the passengers had boarded the bus, that waited till 5.35pm to go and look for the plane (I must have read my ticket wrong as thought the plane was departing at 5.35 and not then bus). After a scenic drive around the airport we found the plane but could not get off the bus as it still had to be vacuumed. and re-stocked with airline food and luke warm beer. we were eventually allowed on then plane and after a few moments we started to taxi out, only to reverse back in because the flaps were not functionin properly. The captain announced that the computers were not talking to the flaps so they would have to get a techy to sort out the problem, whether he hit the computer with a 10 pound hammer or used other methods after 10 minutes we were hurtling down the runway and on the way home........."Yay"    
  
Saturday was wake up ( And it’s always good to wake up in your own bed, next to a woman that you know, “Just joking”...................................................................(”Sorry was getting beaten up by the missus”). Did a few chores, collected the Triumph and then went to watch rugby at the Duck with a couple of friends, it’s taken a year but now feel like one of the “family” at the Duck and I now enjoy going to watch rugby there (i am also getting to be like my old self, those who knew me at the Friends rugby supporters club will know what I mean) . One of the people I watch with is a lady called “Cheeky” she is 75 a avid Sharks supporter and full of shit...................”I like her”. Cheeky’s daughter Cindy who is also a nice lady usually  joins us and then there is Sheryl, Brian, Joe, Sue and Paddy as well as a number of other customers you say hi to. The pub also now has a policy of no smoking inside which is great as u don’t go home smelling like the bottom of an ashtray.  

Sports this weekend 

 Before I forget last Sunday the Blitzbokke (fast Boks)beat Australia in the final of the IRB 7’s by coming from 27-8 behind to win 36=35 and take second spot for this season. Can’t wait to see the IRB 7’s being played in PE in December........................Should be awesome.

This weekend’s rugby fixtures saw  the Bulls beating the Waratahs 23-16 .... The Stormers beating  the rebels 40-3. The lions losing again and unfortunately the Cheetahs lost 15-23 against the Sharks, but showing that without any real “stars” in their side they can beat anyone and if they had taken all their chances and kicked over their penalties the Sharks would have been beaten. With only two more games left before the playoffs 3 SA teams are in the top 6 positions and 2 games that I am definitely watching next weekend will be Crusaders vs. the Blues and the Stormers vs the Bulls.  
  
I see that Graeme “The Biff” Smith is resigning as the Protea test captain “Yahoo”, probably because he would not be the first choice of new coach Peter Kirsten. I also see Allan Donald has been taken on as Bowling coach, that’s also good news, so who will be the new Proteas captain?..............good money is on de Villiers or Amla, I believe that while Amla would make a great captain, the choice will be de Villiers. But hold the presses, because I’ve  just read that Biff has said sorry for being an asshole and that he should have come home to face the music instead of going to shag his girlfriend in Ireland after the CWC and the CSA executive will probably forgive him...............SHIT  another season of crap from the Proteas because of Smith being the captain.  
 
Saw this Vuka scooter at a local mall today, and being a fan of websites that post fails or make a plan photos I could not pass up an opportunity to take a couple of photos.     
Well that’s it for this week  folks, apart from me saying to Lisa Cronje (Meatbombs, squeeze) Happy burfday to ya happy burfday to ya ,happy buuuuuuurfday”.....”Thanks Stevie”. 

CIAO

SPAD 
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