CENTURION TOUR AND ELECTIONS

SOUTPADSBERG ROAD

Dirco building in Soutpadsberg Road

I have to get time to photograph this building properly. Its a gorgeous building by the road. Its where the Department of International Relations and Cooperation sits. The weather was still cloudy and dripping when I drove there today, pity.


CARS ARE SWIMMING

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Not a joke. It's been raining for days. I feel like a European. How can anyone survive not seeing the sun every day. Took this photo today in the flooded road. This is a disaster.

BUNNIES ARE OUT

Easter Bunnies Already

Time flies. Easter eggs already out. Spotted at Cornwall View Pick n Pay today. No surprise because winter is knocking already.

DESIGNING ANTIQUELY

Antique Furniture

The antique shop in Hatfield is forever in my mind. I visited it today and it didn't disappoint. Everything inside there is amazing. An amoire I spotted was unfortunately too high up there at R400,000. I asked myself.. "who buys that?" Someone clearly does. I loved everything.

BACK TO THE SANCTUARY

The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary

The Geek's project is due tomorrow. Today we had to take another look at it just to be sure its completed. Its the project that took us to the bird sanctuary a few weeks ago. We saw lots and lots of bird species. This bird was one of the strangest. I must have taken tens of its shots whilst it gave a very strange peformance. Nature is amazing. 

THREE PARKS AND A BIRD SANCTUARY

Three Parks and a Bird Sanctuary

I find I am a primary school learner again. The Geek's homeworks and school projects keep me on my toes. I also learn a lot from all this. I'm very grateful.

In search of a pond with some life (plant and animal species) we visited The Fountains park, Venning Park in Arcadia, Magnolia Dell in Nieuw Mackleneuk and Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary in Groenkloof today. I took about a hundred photos of bird species. I loved every minute of that silence. So gorgeous.

MEETING IN ARCADIA PRETORIA

Meeting in Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa

Lots of new developments in Arcadia. Most of what is in this image is newly demolished structures that are in the process of re-construction. I just cant believe how quick this place is evolving. Not so long ago, I was driving past this area daily. Well, that's a country at work for sure.

Anyway, today I had a meeting in Arcadia Pretoria. Whilst everyone was packing, I took a couple of photos through the window of the boardroom we were in. Other photos show the other side of Pretoria, towards the CBD. Its a gorgeous city.

PRETORIA SUNNYSIDE

Pretoria, Sunnyside

Someone let the sun out today. Its one of the hottest days in Pretoria. I'm told Australia is worse. I just happened to be in great view of the two apartments I lived in, in my single days in Sunnyside. When I arrived in Pretoria I stayed in the first apartment block to your left, with a friend. Long moons ago, this complex was gorgeous. There was no security. I miss those days. Anyway, I moved to rent solo and later bought in a block that is not even showing well behind all these blocks. I had a very nice apartment there, and walked to work everyday. I miss those days, sometimes.

Reminiscing on my days of singlehood and living apartment today.

PRETORIA VIEW POINTS BY FORT KLAPPERKOP

Pretoria viewpoints by Fort Klapperkop

We now officially love to drive in the sloppy viewpoints by Waterkloof Golf  club. The houses there are just to die for. Cant stop clicking on my phone camera. I really need to buy me a new camera. Anyways this post is about nature.
Today we drove past this pair of zebras in those Pretoria viewpoints by Fort Klapperkop. I never passed any wild animal that close. They are as gorgeous as they are from the distance.

LEBANESE RESTAURANT IN HATFIELD

Lebanese restaurant in Hatfield, Pretoria

Uncle Faouzi, a Lebanese restaurant in Hatfield, Pretoria is where I had lunch with a hot date today. I know that plate looks very sorry but t sure tasted great. Rice mixed with lentils, grilled chicken breast, salad and some sauces on a bed of wrap. I couldnt eat the wrap because I avoid wheat, but the date said it was delicious. I also managed to buy 5 books including 3 for my son and "The Warren Buffett Stock Portfolio" plus "Your money or your life". Oh well, I'm a sucker for a good personal finance book. I couldnt find any other books I liked. I may be starting to read tomorrow or tonight, YAYYYYY!!!

GAUTRAIN RIDE

Gautrain Ride - Pretoria Bosman Train Station

Today I worked in Rosebank again. I took Gautrain from Pretoria city (picture of Pretoria station above). I usually take the train from Hatfield train station. It was amazing traveling with a colleague. We were all chats until we passed Rosebank...how embarassing. We were too early, which helped. We sat still as the machine announced "all passengers must now get out of the bus". Well we went back to Rosebank with the train heading to Pretoria. Gautrain is way better than any driving. I choose it over and over again. Who wants to sit in traffic.
I am falling in love with Rosebank rather quickly. It seems to be a great place to work and live. Not necessarily for me though. I'm more than OK with my Tshwane really.

CULLINAN DIAMOND

CULLINAN DIAMOND, Pretoria, South Africa

Most people know that the biggest diamond on earth was found in Cullinan, Pretoria. Wikipedia states
"The Cullinan diamond is the largest gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3106.75 carat (621.35 g, 1.37 lb) rough weight. About 10.5 cm (4.1 inches) long in its largest dimension, it was found 26 January 1905, in the Premier No. 2 mine, near Pretoria, South Africa."

Me and darling hubby went on a tour of Cullinan last Saturday. I have a lot of images, which I will be posting about more later. I actually bout a nice ring there... seeing ita a home of amazing diamonds. My ring is a snake shape, which seems to be making everyone around uncomfortable. I am a Christian, yet I loved the ring the minute I set my eyes on it. I didnt think it will actually bring all sorts of craziness, interpretations and fear from my friends and family. The ring was not cheap and I love it. I am wearing my snake ring at work today and we are having a conversation around it. Conversation is good. I see a snake as any other animal. I dont worship it, I am not as freaked by its sight as most people are. But the ring I am wearing is just attractive because of its artistic shape, nothing more. Below is the passage from Numbers 21:4-9 (NKJV)

The Bronze Serpent
⁴ Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. ⁵ And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” ⁶ So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.

⁷ Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

⁸ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

God can use anything for the good of His people. Stop being freaked by snakes, frogs, etc.

A TRIP TO THE DAIRY FARM

A TRIP TO THE DAIRY FARM

Trips to Du Plooy dairy farm in Rayton, Pretoria are some of my amazing times. Rayton is a small town near Cullinan. I love the farm itself. Today, we took one of those trips to the dairy farm. I honestly wish to live in the farm at some stage in my life. Were it not for my fear of crime, I would probably living in an isolated kind of ranch with rolling hills of landscape. I wish, I wish... One day is one day.
We bought the usual, raw milk. But we did add eggs, manure to dress our lawn and some handmade jewellery. The lady of the house makes some. We'll be there in another two weeks, I think.

JACARANDA TREES

Jacaranda Trees

Pretoria Jacaranda Trees

"The name JACARANDA is believed to be of Guarani origin, meaning fragrant." Wikipedia. Its a nice name, I think. But what is even more interesting is that "The Chinese use the leaves to make a distinctive purple dye" and that "Brazilian Jacaranda is also used as the wood for the body of acoustic guitars".
I live in the city passionately refered to as the Jacaranda city (Pretoria, South Africa). These trees grace our city with a purple glow every single year, in October. Its a beautiful reminder that its still Spring and close to the year end. Gorgeous reminder in that. Almost everyday I drive or walk past Jacaranda trees. I never tire of them.