Impulse buying

Today I had a problem at lunchtime when Blondie (Porsche) gave me uphill. The clutch gave up the ghost, just as I was on my way into town to:-
Get my tyre puncture - in my brand new tyre on my 4x4 - fixed AND
Pay for Ladybug - my new Landrover Freelander. This is a 2 litre Turbo Diesel, full time 4x4 AND automatic! I am stoked as I now have 2 offroad vehicles, and have really enjoyed my Discovery 2. On Wednesday, fuel climbs here by 29 cents a litre. 95 Octane fuel will cost pretty well R 9 per litre (4.5 litres to a gallon) and Diesel will cost pretty well R 8 per litre!

I had to drive through to Empangeni this afternoon (hence I was out in Blondie) to get my 2 week old tyre repaired. It has gone flat twice since I bought them, and at R 1 400 - per tyre - you would expect that 2 week old tyres should not go flat! Turned out that when the tyre was fitted 2 weeks ago, dirt was included - free of cost - between the tyre rim and the 4x4 rim! Air leaked out and the tyre went flat - slow leak. I was not a happy chappy when I had to try to get the wheel off, as the tyre crowd had tightened the nuts up with a pneumatic wrench. Average humans are incapable of undoing the nuts after they have been done up!

Anyway I was loaned a car for the afternoon - a Nissan Almera - thank heavens it was airconditioned! We have to remember that February is our most humid month, and yesterday, boy was summer back with avengance. That enabled me to get to the tyre monkeys and to the bank, to pay for Ladybug! The guy who loaned me the Almera, asked me what I thought of it - and I agreed that it is a "gutsless little crap box" - his words not mine! Boy have I been spoilt by a V8 auto or a 2.5 litre sports car! When you put your foot down, the cars actually do something - unlike the Nissan that rolls over on it's back and wants its tummy tickled!

I am looking forward to driving my V8 again, as I understand that under inflated tyres (the "new"one) makes strange rumblings! I actually had the impression that the wheel bearings had packed in! Thank Heavens, if they have, they are not too much to get replaced! Maybe now the wheels are correctly inflated, the car will again run like a dream!

A day later, "Big Sister) (my Discovery 2) is back on the road, and wonders never cease - the wheel bearing noise has gone!

I only got home after nightfall, so could not photograph Ladybug! The name kind of fits the character!

Is it impulse buying when 3 vehicles are not enough, so you buy another one! I have decided though that I need to sell Blondie. Shame, she is getting long in the tooth, and I wondered if the clutch packing up was not a fit of jealosy! I swear that cars develop characters!

I shocked the teller working on the Toll Gate. En route to Empangeni you have 2 alternatives:-
The N2 freeway - with the toll of R 5 one way OR
Further down the R 102, known locally as "the old road" because before when the N2 was completed, it was the main route between Pongola (on the Swaziland border in the North of Zululand Province!) and the South coast. This was updated by the construction of the N2 freeway.

Generally when I pay my tolls, I hand over a R 10 note, and because the tellers dont want to hand over heaps of small change, I usually get my change in loads of small change! I counted out R 5 in 10 and 20 cent pieces, stored it in a bag, and handed it in as my toll fees. I said to the lady, "you people keep giving me small change! Here it is back!" She looked at the bag and just let me through. She was completely crestfallen! So much for offloading small change on unsuspecting motorists! I was convinced that she was not expecting to have a heap of small change! She did not even bother to count it - too much hassle.

Usually, 10 and 20 cent coins, are just kept by me ad infinitum, the cash is there, but you dont bother with small change! Anything smaller than R 1 (usually the bronze coins) is treated as toy money - it has minimal value but really takes up HUGE space in your wallet!

The toll people cannot object - for a start, it is the change that they offloaded onto me, and it is still legal tender, although it generally will not buy much - if anything! It gives me the absolute zigs when I get my R 5 change in small denomination bronze coins!

In SA the freeways are generally denominated by N numbers:-
N1 from Beit Bridge (Zimbabwe border in the north) and Cape Town in the south through the centre of the counry
N2 down the East Coast from Pongola to Cape Town
N3 from Durban to Johannesburg
I am not sure where the higer N numbers run.

Otherwise you get Regional route numbers (R 102 or R 103 next to the N 2 and N3 routes. I know that there are plenty of R numbers, but am not sure where they run!

Then out in the long grass and sticks, you get D route numbers. Running off the R 103 beteen Durban and Johannesburg, you get D routes to godforsaken little Dorpies (settlements with no distinguishing features, other than a police station. Often they dont even have fuel stations!) Then you get routes that often do not even have numbers because they run between Dorpies (tiny towns). Often these are not even tarred, or have very narrow tar surfaces! Sometimes, they dont even have more than a string of potholes tied together by a laxcework of tarmac. I am convinced that when these holes fill with water, hippos and crocodiles take up residence!

The icon to access "Stats" interests me! I would expect readers of my blog to come from SA, North America and England. What really amazes me is that there are readers from Alaska, Russia and China. I do not think that I have any friends in these countries, but there are regular hits from these countries. Maybe the title - or the content - shows up on a Google Search, and that regularly there are repeated hits! Does this mean that someone out there is searching for detail on Africa out here in the back of beyond! It appears that there are repeated hits, so what I blog has impact on someone!

Is it REALLY a problem?

About 2 weeks ago, I was in Pinetown and at the local mall there, I bought myself some longs - camoflage pants! This was because my jeans in size 38, are too large for me! I have found that in the last 2 weeks, these "camo" pants (suit my 4x4) have gone from being slightly tight, to extremely loose! On Wednesday, I had to buy a new belt to keep them from sliding down around my ankles! The latest trend among teens is to wear your pants below your bum, but I am not a teen and have not been since the 1970's! With me, it is either around your waist, or around your ankles - no inbetween!

My biggest regret is that a decade ago, I tidied out my closit and gave away around 10 pairs of longs to the Relief Society at my Church - for distribution to the needy. Who would ever have thought that I would be one of these needy? I am so fortunate that I can afford to go out to buy new pants. Biggest kicker is that I gave away around 10 pairs of nearly new pants! You have to be concerned when your biggest problem is that you have given away all the pants that will fit you again in the very near future!

Main reason for giving them to the needy was that I never thought I would fit into them again - and I needed the closit space! Still, most people that I know have the usual reverse problem! Their clothes are getting too small! I should not complain, but "man-of-the-world" that I am, I cannot help but feel that I made a mistake by giving away about a thousand rands worth of clothes that were almost new!

What is in a name?

I know that it should not be a big thing, but I was christened - then baptised - with the name "Stephen". That is how it has been for 50+ years, so it is unfair of snotty nosed brats to change it! When I am officially referred to at church, it should be - by rights - by my correct name. I know that familiarity has allowed my friends to call me "Steve" and that is OK by me - friend to friend - but officially my name is spelt with a "ph" not even with a "v".

I have a hang up with people who refer to our District President as "Ted" rather than the more correct "Edward". Goodness, he has earned his position as head of the local District, so should be honoured by referring to him by his name - in the correct version - not by a common abbreviation.

We have a District Presidency member who has the label "Zacharia" and no-one refers to him as "Zack"

I know that the District President was going on about some Zulu members who were recorded on the baptismal records by one name, but are referred to by another! We have one member by the name "Jessica" although try as you might, the Church records show no-one by that name! Her name is on the records - but no mention of "Jessica" - then they wonder when the clerk records tithing donations for Jessica whatever, and come time for tithing settlement, she is recorded as a non-tithepayer! It becomes more serious when a temple recommend is issued in her common name, but when she is recorded at the Temple, she is not a member!

No-one refers to the Branch President as "Bob(by) Van Thiel - he insists on being referred to as Robert - rightly so! He however, is the prime culprit for referring to me from the Pulpit as "Steve" and his uncle as "Ted"! It is not correct to sustain "Steve" from the pulpit, because "he" does not officially exist!

I have other concerns with names! I am recorded on the Church records as being born in Sinoia, ZIMBABWE. That place officially does not exist - and never has! Since Independance the town (barely big enough to be classed as more than a village) has been called Chinoye, and per the records I was born in Zimbabwe. Officially my birth certificate says "Sinoia, Southern Rhodesia" and that place must be an important place - I was born there! How much more important can you get?

Current snapshots

At the school, I had to drop Christine off for the term. Thank Heavens I own a "Ventertjie" a not so tiny luggage trailer. The Landy with its new boots (SERIOUS off road tyres - designated as "All Terrain" tyres) is too small to hold all the crap from a matric! Last year another parent with the same symptoms commented "Thank Heavens that Ventertjies are so handy!" Of the 5 4x4s there dropping off kids, all 5 had little Venter Trailers in tow! Other manufacturers make luggage trailers, but they are kind of too small to cope with the luggage accumulated by schoolgirls.

When I was at school, all of my books for the day fitted in a backpack, but now my daughter needs a HUGE 4x4 AND a luggage trailer to carry all their stuff! Boy have times changed!

This is some of the scenery up near the school. The Drakensbery is right nearby and I love the mountains!

Over in the distance is Midmar Dam, a really good place to go yachting or windsurfing! The water is kind of cold, but at least the water is clean and blue! It is really beautiful surroundings and I love sailing there! On Lake McIlwaine outside of what is now Harare, we used to sail from the caravan park, The lake is not that large, but is pea green from the algae there! The water is warmer (from the algae) but it must be hugely more difficult to clean to drink!

At least Mac was not covered in Water hyacinth like Kariba is! That is kind of wall to wall (or is that shore to shore) Water Hyacinth a really aggressive water weed.

On TV in the background, there is a show that is going on about how unsafe it is for the environment to braai (barbeque to the uncivilised!) but is more environmentally friendly to use electricity! Top Gear had a recent program where they built their own eco friendly Electric car! Dont these people think about how damageing to the environment it is to generate electricity? Usually coal fired power stations (you see them dotted all over the Gauteng region) use up huge amounts of fossil fuel - not that this is bad in itself, but nearby you cannot even hang washing out in the sun to dry because of the acid rain! Talk to the residents of Chernobyl in Russia and ask them if Nuclear power is "environmentally friendly?" I personally have the belief that it can be argued for or against anything as to whether it is "environmentally friendly". I believe that "Global Warming" is a hoax so that the man in the street worries more about "conserving the environment" than he does in worrying about that really matters!

I bought a V8 4x4 Automatic and as far as I can see, that is seen by most in Richards Bay as a monster. I see that it is environmentally friendly since behind the wheel, I get to enjoy the environment! It CANNOT damage the road surface if it is not even on the road!

Heavenly Father has said that it is his mission that man may have joy, and boy do I find joy in driving a V8 auto - with the airconditioner on!

What s happening locally?

I truly believe that this week, the branch was slightly at sea! Although I was treated with authority, I still felt that the branch was looking for SOMETHING. I am not sure that we actually nailed whatever down! The Branch President kept on telling me that soon (how long is that going to be?) we will have our new Elders Quorum President. However he kept on referring to me as if I was already the EQ President. We had a Branch Council meeting where I was in attendance in the place of the EQ President. A lot was discussed where I can get my teeth into the calling, but am kind of at a loss because I do not hold the Pristhood keys to operate properly.

I know that on Saturday I am supposed to be at this meeting on behalf of MY Quorum (I feel that I have the freedom - without the keys - to fly with the responsibility) I was going to be at the meeting anyway, since I am on the District Council.

I wonder if the added responsibility given to the Elders Quorum, is not in fact a learning curve towards future Branch Presidency? When I moved from Sandton to Richards Bay, my Bishop pulled me aside and said to me that he was impressed that he saw the day when I would be Bishop in Richards Bay. He did not see that I would be divorced - or maybe he did? Generally divorcees are not chosen to lead wards, but I was divorced because my ex chose to go her own way! I know she made a mistake, but everyone has agency to do what they feel is necessary! That is going to be a hurdle to cross as Elders Quorum President or as Branch President! People have their agency to use what intelligence they have, to live their lives as best they can! It does not help when you can see as plain as the nose on your face that someone is making choices that you would not make! I also understand that there are members out there who expect that the Branch President/Bishop will make trivial descisions for them, like what they are to defrost for supper! Diplomatically telling them that Heavenly Father expects/demands that they make theese decisions themselves willl be a real test! I KNOW that the Elders Quorum President (has not been released yet) has made a crazy decision to move to Pinetown, but he has made the move and has to live with the consequences of his actions! Maybe he can make it work, and I truly hope he can, but he is old and ugly enough to make his own choices, but I think he realises that he has to live with the consequences.

New actions

I am always trying new things! Part of continuously learning - I know that some people are so anxious to get ahead that they are more keen on the learning suppliied by schools, technicons and universities! They are forever learning, but once they have passed their exams, they tend to forget what they learn, and move onto something else. Is this really going to benefit them in the hereafter?

I have heard opinion that my friends sudden decision to move from the farm to Pinetown, is crazy! I can see that being a qualified mechanic can only help out on a farm. When my brother was an appy (apprentice mechanic) he worked first on repairing tractors, then Bakkies (pick up's) then on heavy trucks! If he were a farmer, he could easily handle repairs to anything on the farm - the cars, 4x4 diesel bakkies, the tractors or even the harvester machines!

It can only be an advantage to be a qualified mechanic on a farm. My friend was, a month ago, proudly a farmer, but is now working as a mechanic. I sense that he was kind of protected on the farm, as he used the farm bakkies, lived in the farm house (was helping to build a new farm house!) and enjoyed being fed by the family. To get to Church he did not have to pay for transport. I fear that he will struggle to make ends meet on an apprentice mechanics salary (food, rent and enjoyment) especially as his lady friend lives in Kloof, nearby but generally the families there come from serious wealth! I know that my ex was kind of hit by the fact that I am a qualified CA, but moving from a rich environment growing up, she battled with having to survive on a salary - even though as a new CA, I was at the bottom rung of a really high earning ladder. I was earning maybe 3 oir 4 times as much as the ladies in the office, but was on my way up to my bosses position (3 or 4 times as much as me!) then on to his bosses position, easily 8 - 10 times as much as I earned!

I was on my way to earning serious cash! When I had my accident, it kind of capped my rise in the firm, and hence my earning power. I seriously believe that this was too much of a shock to my ex, and she saw free spending as a thing of the past, and that scared her. Her dreams of wealth were kind of shattered. She failed to comprehend that it was more of a shock to my system! I was used to being a get ahead in life kind of guy, but suddenly it was too much to start with to learn to walk again! Even now, I battle witb seemingly simple tasks like swallowing or even breathing. I spent 4 months on my back in the coma, then another maybe 6 - 8 months as an in-patient and as an out-patient!Then I was offered the choice between retrenchment or retirement! I chose retirement because I realised that I had lost some of my "killer instinct". It is surely better to get a monthly pension on ill-health retirement, than to be out of work!

Even so, I do get to do things that I really like - drives to the Game Reserve in my 4x4! Beats working in the largest city in Africa! I have learned since retirement that I sufer from a post accident trauma called a "startle response" where sudden actions or noise from surrounding vehicles tends to startle me and I kind of go into a "fight or flight" mode! I dont feel in control of my life if I feel threatened by other drivers! I tense up and would easily kill them if they threaten my well-being! Maybe "kill" is too extreme a word, but I am male and like to feel in control. That is why I gave my ex the divorce she demanded! She felt in control of our relationship, and called all of the shots - including who she shared her bed with. The only way I saw to stop this, was to give her what she demanded - but apparently did not actually want - ie. divorce!

Being divorced, is not great, but I am positive that I am better off now than I would have been if I were still married! If nothing else, it gave my ex the impression that I am not going to be pushed around - by anyone! Somewhere after my accident, I grew a spine! That scared her, so she started threatening divorce - I think, so that I would cave in and accept her authority. Boy was she stunned when the sherrif delivered the divorce summonses on her. That kind of proves to me you should not just pray for "things" - you might just get them!

You live and you learn

I unhderstand that the emphasis at Church is to continue studying for your mortality. I think that schools, technicons and universties have their place, but life can be just as much of an education centre - IF you are willing to learn as you go along!

At school, I did AEB "O" Levels, followed by "A" Levels, then after starting work as an audit clerk, did my University Degree (Batchelor of Accounting Science!) them my Honours degree then I did a post graduate course to qualify as a Chartered Accountant.

Since my MVA accident, my untidy handwriting - that the teachers in Primary school always complained about - has become virtually illegible! The muscles that control my hand movements, are technically spastic since I received brain damage in my MVA. Luckily this brain damage only affected my fine motor skills, and not my mental capacity. The neuro surgeon maintains that the accident knocked a few points off of my IQ but this is only because I cannot write as fast as I used to! I could obviously have stood to lose a few points, although this is more a speed reaction thing than it was a mental ability thing!

One thing that I kind of regret is that my handwriting is terrible, although there are ways and means to survive with this disability!

I dont think that this alone entitles me to park in the disabled bays at shops! I had to laugh because Christine went to get something from the car that was parked in the Disabled Drivers parking at the Pavillion Centre in Durban. Apparently the security guard questioned her right to be there, even though I have Disabled Access stickers in the front and rear windows! I have seen fat vaalies (from Gauteng) who park there because they have a sore finger - or a razor cut from shaving! It riles me that they think they are able park there, and I have to walk miles to the shop door! I have even said to them "Do you REALLY want to qualify to park here? Because I dont recommend it, although it will not be difficult to arrange this!" Generally they dont accept the offer! - I dont blame them for this!