New digs?

How I hope not.

So while I was away I got an email from my landlord telling me the way my lease expires on the 31/07/07 and if I would be willing to sign a new lease. The catch is that with the new lease the rent goes up by 8%. I honestly don't feel I should pay that much but I really love this area. This is the 1^st place I've stayed at in Jhb that I'm really in love with, I mean I just love the thought of coming home and doing nothing in my house, I'm filled with joy every time I'm in sight of my complex. It's so quiet and ideal and up-market without being too expensive and now that I've started running I've discovered that the roads are always sooo clear in the evenings, and did I already mention that this area is the 2^nd safest area in Jhb? Why should I have to give up this one thing that I really love now when I've only just managed to "furnish" it?

I have asked my landlord for extra time till the middle of July (I know he won't agree), so that I can "review" my options aka so that I can look around to find anything that I would even remotely like as much as I like this flat. So far, after looking in the classifieds today, the pickings are slim! I know I will just end up here for another year, and curse myself every end of month when I have to shell out this new inflated (in my opinion) rent.

Oh, and did I mention also that my motor vehicle insurance is also being hiked by about r50? And that fuel is scheduled to come down but go up yet again, and this time I'm sure even higher than the r7.11 that we currently pay? Of course this all means that everything else has become more expensive, everything except our salaries which haven't increased accordingly. In my opinion they should be increased every time the fuel is increased!

Weekly Achievements

• Managed to drive part-way home yesterday and the whole way to work this morning with my shoes on! Yes, that is a big deal for me. I have never been able to drive with shoes on because I always believed that I could not, and this was confirmed to me because the only way I finally managed to learn how to drive (and we all know how long it took and the number of lessons too) was barefoot. So yesterday I just gave myself this stern talking to and I just got into the car, didn't remove my shoes and drove home at 40kph (thankfully it was only 4.2km to my house) all the way and I did it! So this morning I did the same and drove at the usual speeds I usually drive and it's gotten much easier. What can I say? I'm proud of me, and I'll take my small victories wherever I can thank you very much.
  
• Run 1.6km on Tuesday night, well more like jogged/walked. It took me about 15 minutes and I wasn't too tired after but the next day I was surely feeling all the muscles in my legs thanks to the pain. Anyway, I have decided to start running for exercise and I hope that I can keep it up and run a 10km marathon before the end of the year. Yes, you can all laugh at me, but I will do it! J

No heading

Still here, nothing new or fun to write about. Looking forward to going home, yay!!!

Things I like about this country

I so often am very critical of this country and yet this place has truly been very good to me. I think I have achieved so much more than I would have if I hadn't come here. So in an effort to become less critical and learn to like (maybe even love) this country, I'm going to be putting down a list of things that I like about this place in an effort to count my blessings.

1. The wonderful singing
   As evidenced by this, though I haven't had an opportunity to see them yet. I'm constantly amazed by the way the people here sing, especially the black people. Even when they are demonstrating on the streets, their protest songs are just so nice, one would think they actually meet and practice and yet it's spontaneous. I think the men sing better though.


2. Amazing race
   Though this series is not actually South African. This is where I discovered it, and boy do I love this show!
   
3. The amazing job opportunities.
   There are soooo many jobs here. I mean, look at all these here. Where else in the world would one find so many jobs listed. Mark you, this is just one of many websites.
   
4. Graduate recruitment
   This is kind of related to 4 above. Not one company came to recruit students from my university. While at Wits, they have whole 2 month period of graduate recruitment. Blows my mind. Again just goes to show how many opportunities there are here.
   
5. Clothes that fit - Need i say more?

Baby talk

Arabo = Ayabo
Vroom Vroom = Vyoom Vyoom
Rat = Yat
Rice = Waish

30 Things...

As the clock ticks relentlessly towards that big milestone age, here are a few fun things I would like to do/achieve. I originally meant to post this on my birthday but forgot. Hopefully, the achievement of the things in this list should distract me from the all – consuming fear that age inspires in me. So without further ado, presenting below is a list of 30 things I would like to do before I get there.

1. Learn to play an instrument, preferably the violin.
   
2. Learn to speak a new language, preferably French.
   
3. Leave the African continent.
   
4. See a real circus.
   
5. Watch a play at the theatre.
   
6. Go for the ballet.
   
7. Go for a concert.
   
8. Learn how to swim.
   
9. Participate in a protest match.
   
10. Eat sushi.
    

Ok, evidently, it is not yet quite 30 things yet, but your comments, suggestions and other wild ideas will be considered for my list. I will update the list periodically as and when i achieve any of the listed items or when I receive new ones. This idea was stolen from my littlest sister J

More photos

Sterkfontein caves

Bus to Suncity theme park from the parking
At the theme park
Man-made waves/sea
Death defying water slide