22 Aug 2007
Daddy-like-husbands
Why is THIS "new" news if I know it for ages! Hey world...wake up....some people are fast asleep.....
Am I dumb or what!
I'm getting really frustrated and start thinking it's just me being daft! I tried for about an hour to do a search like it is described HERE
(slide down to about the middle of the page).
I clicked on "images"...then typed my search...e.g. "news &imgtype=face"...and it doesn't work...next I typed...."news&imgtype=face"....still doesn't work (where i closed the space between "news" and the next bit....so...can anyone please help this daft woman....i tried a different topic...e.g. "girls &imgtype=face"....still no results...so....why am i not getting it....! (btw...i didn't put in the converted commas)
"Search for Faces or News onlyGoogle Image now allows users to restrict search results to faces-related or news-related images. You can search for faces by adding &imgtype=face behind the search results URL and Google uses face detection technology to select only images that contain faces. If restricted to news related images, it will include only images posted to news sites like BBC or New York Times. Here is what you get if you search for "Google" but restricted to face-related images: see this site
21 Aug 2007
Guinea pig and diet
I'm on a diet! I have to lose weight! I think I put on about 10 kg during holiday! I don't want to get on the scale, it will surely break! I ate today: 1 pear, 1 banana, about 300 ml yogurt, about 8 glasses of water so far.....2 small muffins, baked with wholewheat....only with butter...NOT with honey too....the honey was put in the dough mixture....a small portion of fish....forel....and some greens....and I need to hoover the rest of the house tonight....for that little bit of exercise! haha....We got another guinea pig.....a little baby, Penny. Now, Paint likes her....but at the moment she needs to get used to Penny. They are both female, so the chances for babies are zero....luckily!
I spent a lot of time on Brunel's site.....I need to spend more time there to go through all of those resources.
I got a site from one of the "in-laws" last week....Torrents...but there's another site to access first and then you find the Torrents link on it....to download applications.....
School
This is Annette, Head of Department of the Junior Phase. She's a very caring person, will stretch herself to lengths to have something to eat for everybody for any reason! Always busy organising food-stuff for any simple occasion! Here, I caught her red handed with the scones! I arrived a bit earlier than I said....she's teaching grade 3's and I used to be her colleague teaching the other grade 3-class.
The staff room.....notice board .....and on the next photo, the table with cups ready...playtime is in a minute or two if the table looks like this! Always so neatly and tidy.....as I'm used to it.
And on this pic....Annette's grade 3's! They were busy writing a poem and were so quiet, concentrating on their work!
Children's work on display....and some still thinking what they want to write....
Forgot!
I forgot to say....our one guinea pig went missing during our holiday! Both were still safe and sound till last week Thursday. Tony, our neighbour, kept an eye on them and in his note he left for us, before leaving for their holiday, both were fine. It must be a fox. We found some fur in the garden and it looks like there was a struggle. So, poor Ticky isn't anymore. Paint will get another friend today. We used to have hamsters, but I must say, that these guinea pigs have more personality than hamsters. The grass needs a cut! I wonder why Tony...from the chess site.....didn't come to do his job! Promises, promises, I will have to get somebody else to trust next time! Tony!!! stop playing chess, duty before pleasure! :)
Also forgot to say.... that the roads we travelled on in Mpumalanga ....Graskop, Pelgrims Rest, Sabie, between Sabie and the Sudwala Caves, from Middelburg to Swadini via Lydenburg, Middelburg to Groblersdal, were all VERY clean! But....if you travel between Johannesburg and Pretoria, that is a VERY big sore eye! Plastic bags alongside the roads! and the shacks! It is really not nice seeing it....but, the Government prefer spending R3.5 million (£2 500 000)to commemorate Samora Machel's death instead of cleaning up the cities. Priorities....lack of common sense.....
When we arrived at Johannesburg International....oh, I forgot...OR Tambo International...I was standing by the luggage belt waiting for the luggage. An official with a sniffer dog did their job and next.....doggie sat by my hand luggage! "Have you got fruit or food in your bag...", the official asked me. "Yes, three apples..." Clever doggie....she was so cute and still a puppy-in-training. I thought she was very clever. She sniffed and immediately sat as if she wants to say..."I'm not moving....not an inch....there is something in here and I know it!"... I, of course, handed over the apples and couldn't resist patting her for her cleverness. She got her reward from her trainer.
When we travelled from Middelburg to Lydenburg, we took a road to find Boschfontein Primary School....which my grandad started....and we travelled later on a dusty road with lots of farms. At one point, we were not sure if we are still on the right road, because we were told to follow a tarred road, we came across a farmer busy working along the road with two labourers. We stopped and asked him and asked him also about farming in the area. Sadly, he told us that all the farms we passed so far, at that point about 6, were bought from the original farmers - by the government - and given to "people in need" and that NOTHING is going on on those farms anymore. Where we stopped, just on our left, was a house, he said that there is no electricity in that house anymore, we could see that the windows were broken, he said that the wooden tiles inside were all broken up to use as fire wood.....we could see some of the roof tiles not there anymore.... we were told that a farmer in his 50's used to live there, he used to have crops and it was a fantastic place to see.... we only saw long grass and weeds....why can't some people not use common sense!! What will the people in the country have in about 5 years to eat....NOTHING! A second Zimbabwe.....here we come!
Also forgot to say.... that the roads we travelled on in Mpumalanga ....Graskop, Pelgrims Rest, Sabie, between Sabie and the Sudwala Caves, from Middelburg to Swadini via Lydenburg, Middelburg to Groblersdal, were all VERY clean! But....if you travel between Johannesburg and Pretoria, that is a VERY big sore eye! Plastic bags alongside the roads! and the shacks! It is really not nice seeing it....but, the Government prefer spending R3.5 million (£2 500 000)to commemorate Samora Machel's death instead of cleaning up the cities. Priorities....lack of common sense.....
When we arrived at Johannesburg International....oh, I forgot...OR Tambo International...I was standing by the luggage belt waiting for the luggage. An official with a sniffer dog did their job and next.....doggie sat by my hand luggage! "Have you got fruit or food in your bag...", the official asked me. "Yes, three apples..." Clever doggie....she was so cute and still a puppy-in-training. I thought she was very clever. She sniffed and immediately sat as if she wants to say..."I'm not moving....not an inch....there is something in here and I know it!"... I, of course, handed over the apples and couldn't resist patting her for her cleverness. She got her reward from her trainer.
When we travelled from Middelburg to Lydenburg, we took a road to find Boschfontein Primary School....which my grandad started....and we travelled later on a dusty road with lots of farms. At one point, we were not sure if we are still on the right road, because we were told to follow a tarred road, we came across a farmer busy working along the road with two labourers. We stopped and asked him and asked him also about farming in the area. Sadly, he told us that all the farms we passed so far, at that point about 6, were bought from the original farmers - by the government - and given to "people in need" and that NOTHING is going on on those farms anymore. Where we stopped, just on our left, was a house, he said that there is no electricity in that house anymore, we could see that the windows were broken, he said that the wooden tiles inside were all broken up to use as fire wood.....we could see some of the roof tiles not there anymore.... we were told that a farmer in his 50's used to live there, he used to have crops and it was a fantastic place to see.... we only saw long grass and weeds....why can't some people not use common sense!! What will the people in the country have in about 5 years to eat....NOTHING! A second Zimbabwe.....here we come!
20 Aug 2007
Just a short view
This is just a short view of how we experienced South Africa after being away for about 4 years!
Firstly, I was quite surprised by the condition of the roads. All roads we travelled on were in an excellent condition, except one road in Mpumalanga - Ohrigstad -where there were a few potholes for about 1km. There was even a sign put up by someone in his own writing saying...."MOERSE SLAGGATE", which means.....HUGE potholes.....
Secondly, the house market is booming...and shopping centres are getting erected in places outside cities in the suburbs. One huge, upper-class shopping centre, which we found really nice to shop at, between Middelburg and Witbank, was a surprise. I think people there are really enjoying that shopping centre, I will post a pic or two here later which I took there when we stopped to relieve ourselves before continuing our trip to Groblersdal. That was really a nice surprise to know that people there have access to a centre like that and don't have to travel to Menlyn in Pretoria, which is apparently not any more the place to be nowadays....according to the grapevine....
It was really SAD to know that I couldn't go to Barclay Square in SunnySide anymore, because...SunnySide is nowadays the "Little Hillbrow"....How sad! that drugs ....and all things that go with it...have taken over THE place to be during my student years! And even Hatfield isn't anymore THE place to be....how sad...
I was delighted....or lucky.....that we didn't have any "bad" experience ...apart from the newspapers and what friends/family tell you and what you know is happening. The Government is busy messing up the Educational system....completely! They don't have a cooking clue what they are doing....I visited my previous school...will post the pic of my colleagues later too......it was SO good seeing them again! They had tea and scones ready when I came there!
I have 2 "in-laws" also teaching in a school for black children ....lucky for those children and parents for they know what they do....but not the Government...they still teach what they KNOW is right and don't teach what the government want..... because the Government don't know what they want....or...shall I say, what they want is messing up children's education!...and their future!
At the airport...please take note...it isn't anymore Johannesburg International...but...O.R.Tambo International....(don't ask me what good he did for the country....I only know one thing of him which I won't mention here)....an official asked me to take part in a survey for the South African Tourism Board....(I agreed to do it).... and when he came to the question about "a bad experience"...I said "no"...which is the truth...but I could easily say "yes" and gave him an endless list of everything I know....what a pity - for South Africa is such a beautiful country.
TWO WORLDS in ONE country. First World and Third World. We had a fantastic time, a royal time, but that is just not enough to get me back in the country....there is a lot to change before I go back! The most important one is Education...for sure! Secondly, to be fair to ALL people sharing the country. And also, to have people having common sense to run the country.....colour doesn't matter, as long as there is common sense! There are also a lot of fat cats in the government, minding their own pockets and not the people on the ground.
What struck me most is that people try to stay positive - despite of what's going on - and in even in the countryside, they do support one another, colour is no problem...was no problem for years...but the "world" MADE it a problem! Newspapers blew everything up and the outside world believed what they WANTED to believe! All over the places we travelled, friends/family admitted...the people who murder are NOT "locals"....but those who come in the country from neighbouring countries.....they come and cross the borders illegally....a small percentage of the "locals" might be involved too, but the big problem is ........those from Zimbabwe....and I just "wonder" who gave the power to Mugabe in 1980!! If you don't know that answer....ask me....or do a search on the internet and go back in history.
That's enough for one day!
Firstly, I was quite surprised by the condition of the roads. All roads we travelled on were in an excellent condition, except one road in Mpumalanga - Ohrigstad -where there were a few potholes for about 1km. There was even a sign put up by someone in his own writing saying...."MOERSE SLAGGATE", which means.....HUGE potholes.....
Secondly, the house market is booming...and shopping centres are getting erected in places outside cities in the suburbs. One huge, upper-class shopping centre, which we found really nice to shop at, between Middelburg and Witbank, was a surprise. I think people there are really enjoying that shopping centre, I will post a pic or two here later which I took there when we stopped to relieve ourselves before continuing our trip to Groblersdal. That was really a nice surprise to know that people there have access to a centre like that and don't have to travel to Menlyn in Pretoria, which is apparently not any more the place to be nowadays....according to the grapevine....
It was really SAD to know that I couldn't go to Barclay Square in SunnySide anymore, because...SunnySide is nowadays the "Little Hillbrow"....How sad! that drugs ....and all things that go with it...have taken over THE place to be during my student years! And even Hatfield isn't anymore THE place to be....how sad...
I was delighted....or lucky.....that we didn't have any "bad" experience ...apart from the newspapers and what friends/family tell you and what you know is happening. The Government is busy messing up the Educational system....completely! They don't have a cooking clue what they are doing....I visited my previous school...will post the pic of my colleagues later too......it was SO good seeing them again! They had tea and scones ready when I came there!
I have 2 "in-laws" also teaching in a school for black children ....lucky for those children and parents for they know what they do....but not the Government...they still teach what they KNOW is right and don't teach what the government want..... because the Government don't know what they want....or...shall I say, what they want is messing up children's education!...and their future!
At the airport...please take note...it isn't anymore Johannesburg International...but...O.R.Tambo International....(don't ask me what good he did for the country....I only know one thing of him which I won't mention here)....an official asked me to take part in a survey for the South African Tourism Board....(I agreed to do it).... and when he came to the question about "a bad experience"...I said "no"...which is the truth...but I could easily say "yes" and gave him an endless list of everything I know....what a pity - for South Africa is such a beautiful country.
TWO WORLDS in ONE country. First World and Third World. We had a fantastic time, a royal time, but that is just not enough to get me back in the country....there is a lot to change before I go back! The most important one is Education...for sure! Secondly, to be fair to ALL people sharing the country. And also, to have people having common sense to run the country.....colour doesn't matter, as long as there is common sense! There are also a lot of fat cats in the government, minding their own pockets and not the people on the ground.
What struck me most is that people try to stay positive - despite of what's going on - and in even in the countryside, they do support one another, colour is no problem...was no problem for years...but the "world" MADE it a problem! Newspapers blew everything up and the outside world believed what they WANTED to believe! All over the places we travelled, friends/family admitted...the people who murder are NOT "locals"....but those who come in the country from neighbouring countries.....they come and cross the borders illegally....a small percentage of the "locals" might be involved too, but the big problem is ........those from Zimbabwe....and I just "wonder" who gave the power to Mugabe in 1980!! If you don't know that answer....ask me....or do a search on the internet and go back in history.
That's enough for one day!
Boabab tree
This tree was pictured on the way to the Blyde River boat trip at Swadini. The boabab tree is one of the oldest on the continent. The boabab tree is also on the car number registration plates of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. See the first picture- background of the letters....Some boabab trees are huge, take a look here to see how comfortable a boabab tree can be!(click on the link on the right saying:boabab tree) Boabab Tree
Red tailed boa
When arriving at the Blyde River Forever Aventura Resort- to take a break and have a kit-kat! we saw this Red tailed boa and I only wanted to take a picture of the guy holding it.... He then asked if I want to hold it! I'm not scared of snakes....I'm scared of spiders! Spiders are all over the place and you can't see them so easily! ....It was a bit funny, this very thick snake - having it all around your neck! This snake is a pet snake of the resort! I got a "reward" afterwards...an ice cream! (not from the resort!) One of my favourite flavours!
Virtual Mpumalanga ...worth taking a look at this site:
Upsetting news
Apart from the daily news of people being murdered which you read in all newspapers on the first 5 pages - at least - and most murders never get published, because it is "bad publicity" for SA and for tourists visiting the country.....this article published in a newspaper in Mpumalanga, which we read while on holiday at Pelgrims Rest in August, was REALLY upsetting!!This shows you how the government of the day spends the country's money! R3,5 million on the commemoration of the death of President Samora Machel (of Mosambique) 20 years ago!! Divide R3,5 million by about 14 and you get the amount in pound. Just think how many houses they could build with that money for people who don't have it.....think how much they could do to improve the country's education, which is in a state! think how much more they could pay teachers to improve the quality of education in "certain" schools, think how many new computers they could buy for schools to educate the children in a modern way! What about AIDS! The list is endless!! But,..... the outside world don't care, they just pour more and more money into the pockets of the people who are in charge....doesn't matter WHAT they do with the money! WAKE UP world!!
19 Aug 2007
End of Holiday!
We're back home! All good things must come to an end! Our holiday was fantastic in South Africa, we're back in London (a gray and rainy London greeted us this morning!). I will post more pictures once it is sorted, I took about 2000 pictures - perhaps even more! Our holiday started with a strike of the fuel truck drivers! For two days they had a strike going on, as my picture here explains! This picture was taken in a street in Pretoria on the second day of the strike!
7 Aug 2007
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