A good night's rest can do wonders for your mind, body and soul. Sleep is such a nice invention! Made me get some perspective about yesterday's 19 hour roadtrip. Gave the bus a go there!
You wouldn't believe the amount of raodworks on the N14 between Coligni and Krugersdorp. Not to mention the other factors - bad tempered drivers, storming rain, darkness decending upon us, no backlights(and visibility) and no dashboard lights. Then we took one wrong turn and ended up in Pretoria's city! I had to guess how fast I was driving and hit the brake every few minutes to make sure other drivers could see our bakkie. That being said (and it sounds so mild now), we were so blessed to have my sister in the area so she and her GPS could come and save us.
Still, I am amazed at our beautiful country. The summer rain areas answered the rain with the most beautiful green grass lands and fat sheep and cattle. Rivers and dams and a spectacular sunset round it off perfectly. Who am I to get all worked up when I was blessed with such a beautiful day, a trip through Pretoria central and a safe arrival at my aunt's?
Now that I have myself together again, let's tackle my admin day. Washing, flat-hunting and office wear shopping...here I come!
Beautiful Boklammetjie
Monday, 31 January 2011
Sunday, 30 January 2011
To wake up before the sun
Today is the return day. Returning to my new home (where I don't have a home yet). Unfortunately our farm is like forever away from Pretoria, so my mom and I had to start our little roadtrip at about 04h00 this morning. I set my alarm for 03h30, but it didn't go off! Lucky me - I have this strong conscious and inner clock, so I woke at 03h45 and the engin started 04h10.
Despite the bumpy start, we enjoyed the most beautiful sunrise over the flat horizon of the Boesmanland (Bushmanland, called so after the local people who lived there long ago)you can imagine. The golden touch of the sun on the few clouds was breathtaking and the promising silence of the new day filled the air. Do yourself a favour - the first chance you get to watch the sun rise (in the east, don't let a mountain or something spoil it for you) somewhere in nature - TAKE it! There is just something about that quiet time of the day...
My mom took the first shift, but shame, she struggled with keeping her eyes open, so I took over from Aggeneys. O, how I love to drive! Just put in my new Juanita du Plessis(another legendary South African singer) CD and I am as happy as the cattle enjoying the grass-result of the resent rain. But don't give me a flat tyre, man! And that's exactly what happened. This seems to be a new talent which our family developed, because only three weeks ago my brother also experienced the irritation of a bursted tyre. But I love a challenge, so I pulled over, put on the emergency lights and, together with my mom, jacked the bakkie and changed the tyre. Go, go women! :) Then we had to test Upington's Sunday business buzz...and found that there was life! Dear Jan (lekker ou Jan!) put on two new tyres and we were good to go(but lost two hours in the process).
So we're on the road again and what do you know, there is little boklammetjies in the field where we drive now (it's mom's turn again, hence the blogging). What a beautiful country we have! I think it is going to rain again soon. Bring it on - we have wipers!
Despite the bumpy start, we enjoyed the most beautiful sunrise over the flat horizon of the Boesmanland (Bushmanland, called so after the local people who lived there long ago)you can imagine. The golden touch of the sun on the few clouds was breathtaking and the promising silence of the new day filled the air. Do yourself a favour - the first chance you get to watch the sun rise (in the east, don't let a mountain or something spoil it for you) somewhere in nature - TAKE it! There is just something about that quiet time of the day...
My mom took the first shift, but shame, she struggled with keeping her eyes open, so I took over from Aggeneys. O, how I love to drive! Just put in my new Juanita du Plessis(another legendary South African singer) CD and I am as happy as the cattle enjoying the grass-result of the resent rain. But don't give me a flat tyre, man! And that's exactly what happened. This seems to be a new talent which our family developed, because only three weeks ago my brother also experienced the irritation of a bursted tyre. But I love a challenge, so I pulled over, put on the emergency lights and, together with my mom, jacked the bakkie and changed the tyre. Go, go women! :) Then we had to test Upington's Sunday business buzz...and found that there was life! Dear Jan (lekker ou Jan!) put on two new tyres and we were good to go(but lost two hours in the process).
So we're on the road again and what do you know, there is little boklammetjies in the field where we drive now (it's mom's turn again, hence the blogging). What a beautiful country we have! I think it is going to rain again soon. Bring it on - we have wipers!
Friday, 28 January 2011
The people on the bus...
Yeah, still on the bus. Nowhere to go but to my blog and the words streaming through my mind.
I wish the American would talk to me. Yes, I could be the one to go first with the conversation, but thinking and blogging about it makes it awkward. Well, I like her. You know, she just has a good air about her. She smiles when required and for the rest of it she's absorbed in her iPod. She even has movies on that thing. What I loved most was the one moment when she forgot she wasn't alone and joined in the song she was listening to. O, and she's definately human 'cause from a phonecall she made to one Sarah I got the idea that she needs a physiotherapist.
It's not like we ignore each other. Except for the fact that we respect each other's daydreams and thoughts, we shared a laugh about another girl on the bus who had a fight over the telephone. She, on the other hand, seem to be quite vocal and extrovert. I now know that she borrowed a friend R1300 and never got it back! I probably would also not mind that people could hear me.
Some free tips for when you have to travel with a South African bus (I can't account for other countries' bus services):
1. Try chatting with your closest companyon as soon as possible, otherwise you reach the awkward phase.
2. To avoid disappointment and starvation, do not count on the scheduled bus stops.
3. For almost the same reason, use the bathroom when you get the chance (and ALWAYS have tissues/toilet paper with you).
4. If you don't get motion sickness, take a thick book with you.
5. Relax, sit back and enjoy watching your fellow passengers - they (as all people) are jewells with personality!
For some reason only a South African would understand, I now think of Laurika Rauch. What a legend!
I wish the American would talk to me. Yes, I could be the one to go first with the conversation, but thinking and blogging about it makes it awkward. Well, I like her. You know, she just has a good air about her. She smiles when required and for the rest of it she's absorbed in her iPod. She even has movies on that thing. What I loved most was the one moment when she forgot she wasn't alone and joined in the song she was listening to. O, and she's definately human 'cause from a phonecall she made to one Sarah I got the idea that she needs a physiotherapist.
It's not like we ignore each other. Except for the fact that we respect each other's daydreams and thoughts, we shared a laugh about another girl on the bus who had a fight over the telephone. She, on the other hand, seem to be quite vocal and extrovert. I now know that she borrowed a friend R1300 and never got it back! I probably would also not mind that people could hear me.
Some free tips for when you have to travel with a South African bus (I can't account for other countries' bus services):
1. Try chatting with your closest companyon as soon as possible, otherwise you reach the awkward phase.
2. To avoid disappointment and starvation, do not count on the scheduled bus stops.
3. For almost the same reason, use the bathroom when you get the chance (and ALWAYS have tissues/toilet paper with you).
4. If you don't get motion sickness, take a thick book with you.
5. Relax, sit back and enjoy watching your fellow passengers - they (as all people) are jewells with personality!
For some reason only a South African would understand, I now think of Laurika Rauch. What a legend!
Thursday, 27 January 2011
The bus is late...no kidding!
A warm welcome to you (who may or may not be only me). I love that there is the possibility that someone I never met and/or will never meet might read this. Brace yourself and my spelling/grammar or any other kind of wrong-writing. I am just an Afrikaans farm girl, on my way to extend the existing life that I have to the city of Pretoria. This bus I'm talking about is not going to Pretoria though, but to a town near you! :) Well, the town near this farm I grew up on. I am going there to prepare for the Groot Trek a.k.a the big move to Pretoria.
I took a step in faith and came to Gauteng to find a job. You would think that with my awesome BAccLLB degree the work would find me and not the other way aroud. But you are terribly wrong. A degree definately means that you have an edge, but that edge is sometimes unseen to the experienced eye of an employer. I started to doubt these eyes, but also (and wrongly so) my own capabilities. That was untill I found THE JOB and life as I knew it changed forever.
Thus, here I am travelling with a very reserved, cut-out-for-Africa and dressed-for-success, American on the bus to my little town where I once enjoyed the pleasure of counting our boklammetjies (little goat lambs). I used to wake up early in the June/July winter holidays to go count the new lambs and see our shephard walk the mothers to the field to eat. I'd play with the lambs or just sit very still and wait for them to start sucking on my clothes, because they are so inquisitive. I still think that a boklammetjie is one of the most beautiful and soft animals that God created all those years ago. I'll be sure to put on a photo of a little goat lamb when I am settled and not only typing on my BlackBerry(which, by the way, made a huge difference in my jobhunting days).
Well, so, that's the background of the blogger. I'm not giving away too many names and places, since I thought it is better to be safe and protect myself against, well, I don't know what. I sure do feel protected!
You have a good day now.
Boklammetjie
I took a step in faith and came to Gauteng to find a job. You would think that with my awesome BAccLLB degree the work would find me and not the other way aroud. But you are terribly wrong. A degree definately means that you have an edge, but that edge is sometimes unseen to the experienced eye of an employer. I started to doubt these eyes, but also (and wrongly so) my own capabilities. That was untill I found THE JOB and life as I knew it changed forever.
Thus, here I am travelling with a very reserved, cut-out-for-Africa and dressed-for-success, American on the bus to my little town where I once enjoyed the pleasure of counting our boklammetjies (little goat lambs). I used to wake up early in the June/July winter holidays to go count the new lambs and see our shephard walk the mothers to the field to eat. I'd play with the lambs or just sit very still and wait for them to start sucking on my clothes, because they are so inquisitive. I still think that a boklammetjie is one of the most beautiful and soft animals that God created all those years ago. I'll be sure to put on a photo of a little goat lamb when I am settled and not only typing on my BlackBerry(which, by the way, made a huge difference in my jobhunting days).
Well, so, that's the background of the blogger. I'm not giving away too many names and places, since I thought it is better to be safe and protect myself against, well, I don't know what. I sure do feel protected!
You have a good day now.
Boklammetjie
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