Friday August 1
Deadline at the office and the usual problems with slow computers, phones ringing non-stop (mainly readers complaining about municipal issues, etc), checking layout pages before going to print and then to finish off the day, a VIP treat to the Chilli and Wine Festival at The Glen Shopping Centre. Absolutely awesome and we were really treated like ‘very important people’.
Saturday August 2
A day off, yay! It seems so long ago I can hardly remember what I did but I’m sure it did include some shopping for groceries, etc. In the evening my husband and me had been invited to see My Favourite Swings at The Lyric Theatre, with Tim Moloi and ChianoSky, accompanied by Joburg Big Band. Brilliant!
Sunday August 3
Up early and doing what all good housewives do……. Washing, cleaning and ironing. Don’t you do that every Sunday? After that strenuous workout, a relaxing bath and then off to the Chilli and Wine Festival with my daughter, her boyfriend and good friends. The weather was lovely, warm with a slight breeze and we enjoyed good wine and delicious food listening to ??????? . Home later, cooked dinner and spoke to my parents in the UK. Always a special time of the week for me, being able to catch up on their lives over there and hearing about good old England.
Monday August 4
Back to work, catch up time. Check emails, get my desk in order for the week, wonder what will happen to make front page for the following week’s newspaper and then out and about seeing what is happening in the South. There’s always something of interest out there, be it dumped rubbish, readers issues to look into, then back to the office.
Tuesday August 5
This was a definite Bag Lady moment – Woolies Sale began at 07:30 and me and my colleague were there bright and early and waiting for the doors to open. We weren’t disappointed and each of us bought what we set out to. She went off to her work and I went to my first appointment, Queenshaven and a dear old soul celebrating her 100th birthday. She was treated to a lovely party with her friends from Queenshaven. Makes you think doesn’t it? She was born in 1914 and has lived through two World Wars, seen changes in just about everything and as she enjoyed a slice of her birthday cake, she still had a twinkle in her eyes. Next appointment was very different and I was completely out of my league. When I go to an appointment I usually have a good idea of what I’m going to ask and also know something about the issue but not this time! I was thrown by the ?????? of it and flet quite out of my depth.
Wednesday August 6
Day break and off to two schools to take photographs of children who have achieved in their schools. Run of the mill but I still love the innocence of the young children and how exited they are to know they’ll see their photographs in the newspaper. Rushed back to the office and got a call out to a local school which had been burgled and everything of value and importance to keep the school running had been stolen. Received a call from a colleague asking if I was anywhere near Eikenhof and then all hell broke loose. Arrived at the R550 and R554 intersection, near The Lido and walked into a war zone. Protesters were rioting, throwing stones at the police and burning tyres. The mob became violent and the police retaliated by firing rubber bullets. I was trying to get some good shots of it all, amid the total chaos. Unless you have been in a situation like this you’ve no idea how frightening it can be.
Thursday August 7
Up early, relaxing in a bubble bath and the first call came through at 05:15, protesters out in force again. Dashed off and as I arrived at the scene I could see today was going to be worse than yesterday. THE photo is all that matters, get the shot and get the hell out! Burning tyres and tear gas greeted me and I stuffed wet tissues up my nose and wrapped a scarf around my face. The acrid smell was burning my face and at one time I couldn’t see. Common sense tells me to leave but as a passionate journalist I can’t leave the action. Other journos arrived from The Daily Sun, The Star, and other newspapers and we discussed what we thought may happen next. It became worse and huge rocks were hurled at us. Police were everywhere, watching our backs as we tried to get our photos, and as burning tyres blocked all roads I decided I’d got the photos I came for, and the story and left.
To the women and men in blue, some of you I know personally from Mondeor Police Station, I can only commend you on the job you do. You literally put your life on the line every single day for your country and its people. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Friday August 8
It’s 07:00 and I’m writing this at the office. What will today bring? None of us know but you can bet I’ll return to being The Bag lady and enjoy some shopping this weekend, oh, apart from working tomorrow, Women’s Day events.
Next week I’ll be back. Shop till you drop!
Julie
