New kid on the block

There's a new granny in the neighbourhood, I saw her out walking her (obligatory) small dog and appearing to be familiarising herself with the area.
How difficult it must be to reach a stage where you move into "the granny flat". Do you feel old? less in control? or is it a feeling of relief to be with loved ones.
My mother once pointed out that it's a sad time of life when you have to ride in the back of the car with the kids. No more front seat for you, you are no longer in control. My dad died 45 years ago today, it means that my mum is just a few months short of spending half of her life without him, her soul mate. She's been through it all, single mother, granny, great granny, granny flat and finally a lovely assisted living facility where she is very happy.
She talks about the ladies (for most of the residents are female) who have wonderful family visits and the ones who are forgotten and neglected. Not even the back seat of the car for them!
I wish our new kid all the very best that Edgemead has to offer, it may perhaps take a while for her to settle in but it's a very friendly area and there's nothing wrong with starting the road to old age here.

Growing up

I was stuck in a traffic jam this morning, most unusual because my route to work is against the traffic, I'm glad I don't have that every day. It got me to thinking (sorry Sandra) about my childhood, a sure sign that we're getting older.
I grew up in a small Welsh town and my parents didn't own a car, in fact as I recall there were only two cars in our street, the puddle jumper across the road and the black taxi owned by John James, a man with a most interesting vocabulary and a lovely black spaniel called Mickey James.
But I digress.
We walked to school and the shops and only took the train when visiting Manchester. Everyone walked or so it seemed unless they took the bus or train. The man from the Prudential rode a bicycle as did the District Nurse.
I don't recall any traffic jams.
Later we lived alongside the Chester Bypass and yet crossing the road was not a serious mission although when my dad bravely bought a silver Volkwagen (pronounced vokes wagon) they would sit in heavy traffic when visiting family in Rhyl or Colwyn Bay.
In the early days of our marriage, living in Pinelands, if I had a need to go to Claremont I would gather the brood, probably aged around 2 and 4, we would walk the half mile or so to the main road, catch a bus to Mowbray and then another to Claremont. It was nothing out of the ordinary but, the traffic was certainly getting heavier. (I wasn't, with all that walking).
Edgemead in the seventies had no bus service but we had splashed out and bought a bakkie (LDV) for Rowland and I had the use of the mean gold Cortina. I ran out of petrol three times, just couldn't learn!
 Our children either rode their bikes or walked to school, Fairbairn is about 5kms away. We all survived this healthy lifestyle. I remember a friend of Rowland's, he lived at the YMCA and walked everywhere, miles and miles.
Today, it's all about personal transport. From the parking boom on the roof of Canal Walk to my front door takes about 4 minutes by car, how could I waste the hour or so that it would take me on foot.
That's just it, we have to chase around far too much, our grandchildren have schedules that would make Barac Obama even greyer than he is now. It's rush to school, sport, dancing, music, art and for the grown-ups, rush to work, to the shops, to  home, rush around the house.
I don't believe there was any road rage when I was growing up, perhaps this generation needs a more relaxed pace, after all, the baby boomers created so much with, I think, far less stress.

The evolution of the trouser pocket

Once upon a time all a man needed when he went out was a hanky in his left pants pocket, his wallet - either in the right front or right rear pocket and, if he was fancy, a comb in his sock.His wallet contained only money and perhaps a condom as the devil hadn't yet invented credit cards.
What a happy fellow he was and, he was able to scoff at the ladies with their silly handbags that held everything except the kitchen sink.
Sadly most women still carry those small suitcases but, no matter the designer label, they can't compete with
THE MANBAG
What do they keep in there you may ask, as do I. Let me guess
His wallet, cellphone, Ipod, Ipad, Wii, Swiss army knife, Leatherman, lip ice (I'm clutching at straws here) and perhaps a change purse.
I see younger men walking through the shopping centres wearing backpacks. Are they perhaps due to embark on a safari? going to gym? or do they have to carry a laptop, just in case.
Well, I vote for the bumbag, it's reasonably compact and doesn't hurt your shoulder. It seems that we're becoming slaves to gadgets and even though the love of my life has a modest manbag which he rarely carries,  I guess he'd be happier with just the pants pocket.
And no, he doesn't have a comb in his sock.

Whatever

I played hookey today. I decided to join Rowland when he went out to do collections. It was really good, sitting in the car, driving around on a "work day". It's almost like meditation, you sit still and comfortable and allow your mind to wander, noticing things along the way.
Alongside the freeway, in a large grassy area is a pizza oven. It's been there for years, sitting, all alone, no advertising board near it. I often wonder, do the vagrants have Friday night pizza, is there some secret Italian Pizza Clan who come along at full moon and have pepperoni pizza?
whatever.
It's good to see all the renovations going on in and around Cape Town, old buildings being given a facelift, they must feel so good.
On the way out of town, walking along the shoulder of the highway towards us was a man pushing a wheel chair. The cushion still had that sitting indentation hhmmm. "So tell me Sir, where is your patient?"
Eish
We stopped off at Canal Walk, managed to find parking and even found time to glare at the 40 something woman and her two teenage daughters who had just parked the Merc in the "Elderly" parking bay. We don't even park there and we ARE elderly - or so they tell us.
Rushing through the centre I passed an underwear store - his and hers. In the window was a set for him, matching vest and briefs with a twirly design on the fabric. Seriously? Do you want your man to look like a 1920's wrestler?
whatever.
I've just been visited by friends, he is very ill but doing so well and she is ever strong and supportive. What a good way to end the working day and week, on a happy positive note.

The best laid plans

We'd been talking about it for ages, finally taking leave. Thanks to all the public holidays by taking three days off work we could have 11 glorious days to ourselves. Wake up in the morning at around 7.30, stretch and say "Hmm, what shall we do today?"
HAH!
Fate has a wicked sense of humour.
Days one to four, pleasant, 
Danielle and Kelly slept over on Saturday, Easter Tea, family and 90 garments to embroider for a customer. As they say in Oz "No worries Mate".
HAH!
Tuesday, much anticipated, the first official day off work, we planned a trip up the West Coast to Paternoster, lunch somewhere and we wanted to buy some local jams.
01.05, the hot water cylinder burst. It's situated just a couple of metres away from Rowland's Mom's bed, we heard the electricity trip, the burglar alarm went off and she stepped out into a minor bog.
The love of my life is very handy and in no time he had water turned off, mom placated and we were back asleep by 01.30.
Santam insurance were outstanding and by 11.30 two hard working young men had removed the old geyser (not me) and fitted a new one. There was, however, a gaping hole in the ceiling. No prob. number one son brought over a piece of rhino board, he and Rowland hammered it to the ceiling and, voila, almost as good as new. Who am I kidding, just as Mom was falling asleep the board fell down!
Wednesday, public holiday, did some cleaning. Thursday the ceiling guys came in, Friday the carpet people were there. We were feeling so sorry for ourselves by then we went to buy an IPad2, do I really have to tell you they were completely sold out, everywhere. Wha, wha, their loss, we changed our minds and bought a fireplace instead. Who says retail therapy doesn't work?
Saturday morning the love of my life started embroidering some caps, of course the embroidery machine broke. Sob. He's nothing if not versatile and though it took about three hours, he (my Hero) repaired the machine.
Sunday morning, free at last, we went to Green Point and had outstanding coffee and croissant at Giovanni's, we'd been home for around an hour when I felt as if someone had laid into me with a hand made selection of sledge hammers. My thoat was sore, nose bunged up, running a temperature and with aches in every joint. I should point out that I haven't had a cold for some 15 or so years.
I took Daisy to have her nails clipped and popped into the only pharmacy I could find in that rotten part of town, I described my symptoms to the "pharmacist",  sore throat, aching body, headache and shortness of breath and really bunged up nose, thinking that I could have a bit more than Panado and Strepsils. He indicated that I was either (I promise this is true) having a mild .heart attack or an anxiety attack!!
I went home. got into bed and slept for more or less 22 hours. Dear sweet Rowland made toast soldiers with Bovril and looked in on me. Today I feel much better, why wouldn't I? we're back at work tomorrow.

Ooops

Silly me. As my loved one pointed out, Nokia make cellphones and Nikon make cameras. What can I say?

Above average?

I happened upon a list of the top companies in the world, I think it's based on their share value.  I've worked out that it's not just those with money who make a brand, the rest of us contribute to the enormous earnings of the big boys.
Here they are, from number one to number ten.
It seems your average family will drink COCA COLA, they'll have at least one MICROSOFT computer and perhaps something from IBM. Their appliances will be made by GE ( I believe once known as General Electric) and those computers the kids use will light up with the words INTEL inside.
The family camera will be a NOKIA and no doubt mum will drive a TOYOTA. Toys, clothes, funfair visits, movies and books will revolve around DISNEY and after a visit to the theme park they'll fill up on MACDONALDS before getting into dad's MERCEDES.
Happily I've also heard of the next ten and it seems a lot of folk bank with CITI and MARLBOROUGH man will no doubt have a few HEWLETT PACKARD appliances in the office. She'll use her AMERICAN EXPRESS card to shop and might even try to use it to buy a BMW for her dad. Her dad still uses a GILLETTE razor and her mum would love to own just one item from LOUIS VUITTON.
The neighbours are more interested in CISCO computers but of course, they drive a HONDA and have a SAMSUNG big screen TV.
Are we all totally predicatable? I know that in our home (and the driveway) we have ten of those products and we're just poor church mice.
P.S. Yes, one is a Louis Vuitton:)