G-g-greetings friends! The proverbial ‘brass monkeys’ springs to mind when we endure our localised version of icy Arctic conditions.
We really are spoiled: we live in a glorious climate, with wall-to-wall warmth, sunshine and friendly faces. Along comes a few days of really cold, miserable weather, and the end of the world is upon us.
But look on the positive side, folks, you can bring out that 20-year-old moth-eaten jumper or cardigan you haven’t worn in donkey’s years, and look the height of fashion, if only for a few days. On with the show.
ALSO READ: Rob in the ‘Hood: ‘We’ve been together now for five whole years’
Despite considering myself a progressive when it comes to this day-and-age phenomena euphemistically referred to as MSM (mainstream media), and even knowing how to turn on a computer – before screaming for help – I am not into these buzzwords and fads, Facebook, Twitter, et al.
Add to that, I get enough exercise when the CO calls me from the far end of the house shouting ‘come, have a look at this’, to the point of mental distraction.
One of her favourite topics I am obliged to have a look at is ‘Why I Live In Africa’, showing everyday life in South Africa. Overloaded taxis, animals travelling first-class on the roofs of vehicles; crazy mis-spelt words on cardboard signs, etc.
The other day, in our very own Uvongo, we witnessed a scenario, which, as they say, ‘can only happen in South Africa’. A delivery of concrete walls, blocks and pillars was being made.
Now, folks, you have to agree, concrete is really heavy to lift and carry. Even I have to pull rank on the the CO ordering her not to even try lifting anything heavy, especially concrete pillars.
An amazing sight unfolded: four of our very best local women showed us how to do it, carrying those heavy loads, no problem, all with a laugh, a smile, and strength we could only marvel at.
We think we are having a tough time of it, but there are many whose lot in life is far more challenging.
We all agree that the past few months have brought upon us much hardship, plus life-changing challenges we were not anticipating. Despair and disappointment are in abundance during these trying times.
I am certainly not immune from these trying times and conditions. Especially when a certain football team is scheduled to play at 9pm and load shedding is still on.
Saturday saw us having another double dose of no electricity, totaling some five hours. Generators and inverters swung into action, bringing temporary relief.
It was touch and go: will the inverters have enough juice to see us through? It was a race against time. The dreaded ‘bleeps’ came on, signalling we were running on nigh-on empty.
Ten minutes’ supply of electricity were left: ’10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2…’ then miracle of miracles: the power came on! Let there be light! Sighs of relief all round.
The Sky Blues (although playing in black) were back on the South Coast – not our South Coast, friends – but in Brighton, Sussex-by-the-Sea. See you, Rob.
Ed’s note: Man City, after a 5-0 thrashing of Brighton, seem to be shining again, while Liverpool’s hopes for a record total of points were singed a touch at Burnley.
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