A New Home

The house hunt is over. Last night S.O* and I picked up the keys to the place we bought. That's right, we have bought a house! Since then, I have had this silly smile on my face. I can't help it. Who knew that something as simple as keys would turn me into this sentimental, mushy character? You know, the one that wants to shed happy tears, hug everyone and tell them how much I love them...that sounds awfully a lot like my tipsy/drunk-self too!

The thing is, I always wanted a place of our own. I have desperately wanted to leave my parents' place for many reasons. After living on my own in London, I could not wait to do it here in Johannesburg! For various reasons (safety, cultural aspects, financially) I have not gotten a place sooner. It feels right though, to do this with my S.O. Once we are married, we will move it together - that is because of the traditions our parents hold dear. In the mean time, we will start to furnish the house, re-do the kitchen and a few other things.

The seller and his family seem like lovely folk. He bought us a pot plant with a card that read: "To wish you everything of the best in your new home, may you spend as many happy years as we did in it."

*S.O = Significant Other 

I'm baaaack

Those times when work is all consuming, and you're working long hours and weekends, and that does not seem to be enough...that has been me over the past few months.

If you do not know what I do, I am a journalist. My career has veered off to an online medium in recent years and now I am in a role that involves certain South African TV shows - amongst them Idols and MasterChef. Being the online person, everything seen on the official websites and social media comes from my team and I. The new skill I picked up is live social media interaction over Facebook and Twitter during broadcast of these shows. It is nerve wrecking and exciting at the same time. But God help you if you make a typo - the online audience descend on it like vultures to a carcass! I cannot say it is my dream job, but hey, if it helps me pay the bills, so be it. If you're in SA and you watch these shows, you know they are over. So it is time for me to:

1. Pause.
2. Breath.
3. Learn to live my life again! I think I've forgotten...
4. Breath some more.
5. Get neck deep into my wedding planning.

I have also sorely neglected my wedding planning during this time. Now when I think about it, I begin to hyperventilate knowing that March 2013 is not at all far off (I am not counting December 2012 and January 2013 because everything comes to a standstill in those months). When I see my  to-do list, what I have ticked-off as complete seems far too little compared to what still has to be done. Sigh... (Ward off panic mode!)

The S.O* and I have also managed to find a place to stay! Can I get a round of cheers, please? And pop the champagne! I am so happy about that. I am so glad we are getting a chance to live out lives and not stay with the in-laws. They are great people, but I really do want us to have our own space. The paper work is still in process and we shall only move in once we are married. This is the part that I cannot wait for. The wedding itself I can do without, but this what is important to me - a life, together. Look at me, getting all soppy this early on a Tuesday. Hahaha...

What has Bloggerville been up to? What has changed? What is new? Please, do tell! You know, I've missed everyone!

*Significant Other.

Driving debacles

Imagine getting ticketed for 'driving too slow'? It happened to my dear friends driving around in the Gulf, and I have to say, I am appalled. I think cops should prioritise helping people in need (my friends were lost and trying to figure out where they were) instead of going on that power trip of issuing tickets.

It ties in to the cops here is South Africa. Across the highway, they sit in various spots with their cameras to ticket speedsters. While I do not mind this because some drivers are absolutely reckless speed demons, their presence has irked some South Africans.

In one of the spots, someone spray painted the word "Asshole" with arrows pointing to the cop with the camera. Tsk tsk. That was removed, and after a few days I saw "Asshole" was replaced with "Still a asshole". While that is grammatically incorrect, I still snickered. "Still a asshole" was painted over and while there was a few days of peace....it now says: "Ok ok dipshit". LOL, really I laughed out loud when I saw this. Further down the highway on the opposite side, I only noticed this morning someone painted on different spot: "Another baboon". Someone clearly has issues with the cops!

PS: Happy Friday the 13th!

When I hit the road

I live quite far from work so I spend a lot of time on one of South Africa's major highways. Here are a few thoughts, pet peeves, observations and what not:

• I hate it when trucks, vans, buses, lorries and any other big, heavy vehicle moves into the fast or second fast lane. They will inevitably slow down on an up hill. 
• If a car passes me really fast, my 'Lil One feels like it is going to veer off my driving lane. The same happens the minute the wind picks up.Yes I drive a very little car and it is very light, in comparison to other vehicles.
• People stare at the (fake) sun flower I attached to my aerial. It makes kids smile and wave at me, sometimes adults too!
• Said sun flower sometimes acts like a beacon for some drivers - I assume they get scared of a "girl" driver and stay far behind me. That actually suits me just fine. 
• Those who drive smart, expensive and fast cars (yes, you who drive BMWs, Mercs, Volvos, Lexus and 4x4s) tend to be very impatient and aggressive on the road. 
• Mini bus taxis really do stop anywhere on the road and at any time. And they make their own rules on the road and do not follow existing rules! They really do make me so damn mad. 
• That said, I think I suffer from, ahem, road rage - after all when you are driving, it is everyone else who is in the wrong. 
• Over taking metro cops makes me feel so guilty, even though I am within the speed limit. I irrationally feel they will want to pull me over and fine me on the spot!
• People rarely stick to the speed limit in the fast lane. 
• In cases of grid locked traffic, which happens very often in Johannesburg, I loath those who make the emergency lane an additional driving lane, then gap in at a later stage. Those assholes tend to make traffic only worse!
• In conclusion, I generally do not like driving. If Johannesburg had a wide network of safe and reliable public transport, I would be the first to use it. 

Chocolate Monday

I found this image immensely hilarious! I cannot take credit for any of the creativity though. I found and took the pic from Imgfave.