Working and Living in South Africa
It looks completely like winter in Cape Town today. Complete with heavy dark grey clouds, high winds and rain.
Rain in Cape Town during winter…who would have thought.
I’m loving it though. Until it’s time to go home!
Not a fan of air conditioning or heaters at home. So its blankets and duvets and hot water bottles.
Since I’ve taken a short break from blogging recently, I thought I’d give a quick update on my life, work, etc.
May month was exams time. I had three subjects last semester – a lot more manageable than last year when I tried to do 5 in one semester and nearly lost my mind in the process.
I’m not sure if I’ll pass all three though because one subject in particular expected us to learn in parrot fashion and repeat answers verbatim. But I only found this out after receiving back assignment results a day after writing the exam.
Not funny.
UNISA was not very good about marking assignments and returning them in time.
I haven’t spent much time with my family this month and when I did it was hard to leave my nieces again. Especially when they don’t want me to leave.
My sister and I spent election morning together like we’ve been doing since she turned 18. We both noted that we enjoy our tradition and that I will probably continue not voting in the area I live.
Co-incidentally one of my nieces turned 18 on election day. She didn’t vote though 
Work is…well, work these days.
I took half day study leave for a week, which meant going back to work after writing exams.
It worked out well.
I felt a bit guilty that I was away from the office for most of April already.
Last week we were told a colleague had resigned which may or may not mean more work for me, on a temporary basis. Not good news.
For the rest…
I’ve taken to Twitter like a – very reluctant at first – duck to water. OMW! I’m loving Twitter, especially a few satirists and comedians I follow.
I haven’t yet been contributing much, but that will eventually change, I’m sure.
Since exams, I’ve been knitting up a storm. Mostly scarves in different colours, although I’m busy finishing a pullover today (I hope).
So life has been going on, as usual there are some good days and not so good ones. None of them bad.
And hopefully soon, I’ll have some interesting news…
With thanks to tvsa.co.za.
Wednesday 1 June 2011
Episode 2493
It’s the day of the big Miss Madeleine launch. Errol is excited about the opportunity to go to America for a youth conference.
Clara pushes things too far with Diederik and Marko – and the sparks fly.
Thursday 2 June 2011
Episode 2494
Clara tells San-Mari why Marko and Diederik came to blows. Maria’s ghost stories might have the desired effect on Paula.
Gita receives bad news about the Heights.
Friday 3 June 2011
Episode 2495
Charmaine and Errol are unexpectedly on their way to America. Kabelo has had enough of his noisy flatmates.
Clara finally chooses between Marko and Diederik.
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Monday 6 June 2011
Episode 2496
Oubaas is back from the Limpopo. Emma takes charge of Oppiekoffie and takes no nonsense from the waiters.
San-Mari has an exciting idea for T & T. Felicity is on the hunt for a replacement for Clara. The guys get an unexpected new flatmate.
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Episode 2497
Annelie moves in with the girls and has her eye on the job in the boutique. San-Mari wonders why Felicity isn’t so eager to work with Herman.
Xander’s amused to hear about the ghost in the Heights. Gita’s onslaught on Bernard intensifies.
Wedneday 8 June 2011
Episode 2498
Felicity gets a new assistant in the boutique. Oubaas has the tenants in a spin about the Height’s re-wiring.
Annelie wonders why Bernard is so absentminded. Bernard makes a decision about Gita.
Thursday 9 June 2011
Episode 2499
Herman thinks it’s time for the public to take notice of T&T again. Diederik is still down in the dumps after Clara, despite his friends best attempts to cheer him up.
Kim thinks she is a designer. Bernards tells Gita how he feels about her.
Friday 10 June 2011
Episode 2500
Pieter’s upset when Bernard is nasty towards Annelie. Neville feels lonely without Charmaine.
Isabelle accepts that there is no hope for her and Ryno. Sanjay asks Felicity out on a date.
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Monday 13 June 2011
Episode 2501
Paula is not at all impressed with the guys’ eating habits. Annelie wants to know why Bernard is avoiding her.
Sanjay admits to still having strong feelings for Felicity.
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Episode 2502
Lukas bowls Paula over with a masterful breakfast. Oubaas misses Hilda terribly.
Herman and Felicity find it difficult to get along. The relationship between Bernard and Gita runs smoothly.
Wednesday 15 June 2011
Episode 2503
Vince bowls Paula over with a masterful breakfast. Bruynwaves are having a rough time.
Isabelle suspects that there is something brewing between Felicity and Herman.
Thursday 16 June 2011
Episode 2504
Paula bowls the guys over with her unique breakfast. Ryno invited the Laan for a fish braai.
Annelie suspects that Bernard has other romantic interests. An unexpected family member visits Ryno.
Friday 17 June 2011
Episode 2505
Bernard doesn’t want to tell his mom about Gita. Vince is looking for someone to help him with the flower shop.
Gita is in a state of panic when she hears that Linda is back in town.
Pieter is stunned by Annelie’s tears.
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Monday 20 June 2011
Episode 2506
Linda is worried about Bernard’s state of mind. Vince is still cut-up about Bonita.
Felicity struggles to cope with the boutique without an assistant. Bruynwaves is all fired up about the possibility of a big new client.
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Episode 2507
Linda is heavily upset about Bernard and Gita’s relationship. Annelie anxiously waits for news about the boutique job.
Zinzi feels sorry for herself for not having had a boyfriend in ages.
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Episode 2508
Ryno is shocked to hear about Bernard and Gita. San-Mari wants to find a guy for Zinzi.
Emma receives a letter from Dawid’s lawyer. Linda confronts Gita about her relationship with Bernard.
Thursday 23 June 2011
Episode 2509
Emma and Rick enjoy each other’s company. Hilda decides to knit a new jersey for Oubaas.
The Laan is in shock about the news regarding Bernard and Gita. Tim is back, wants to see his son immediately.
Friday 24 June 2011
Episode 2510
Bruynwaves sees some light at the end of the tunnel. Oppiekoffie says good-bye to Annelie.
Bernard is taken aback when he finds out that baby Ava is back with Tim.
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Monday 27 June 2011
Episode 2511
Linda pours her heart out to Isabelle about Bernard. Annelie’s first day in the boutique.
Ryno is making head way with his new novel.
Bernard feels like an outsider when Gita only talks about Ava.
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Episode 2512
Lukas thinks Sanjay should give it another go with Felicity. San-Mari and Aggie are determined to match Kabelo with Zinzi.
Gita is frantic because she can’t get hold of Ava. Tim and Bernard have a huge fight about Gita.
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Episode 2513
Tim and Linda are concerned about Bernard’s future. Vanessa feels she doesn’t get enough credit at Bruynwaves.
Isabelle warns Tim that Gita might be considering legal action against him. Kabelo and Zinzi find themselves locked up together in a storage room.
Thursday 30 June 2011
Episode 2514
Kabelo and Zinzi aren’t each others greatest fans after the incident in the storage room.
The girls decide to treat Diederik with a little female tender care. Bruynwaves is ready for the big pitch.
Herman makes a big decision about Felicity.
It might be due to my vitamin B stress complex (or whatever its called), morning meditation or just out of control hormones, but tonight I feel truly thankful.
Here’s the reason…
A while ago I decided to not have long conversations with people I don’t particularly care for. The reasons have been documented to death in many, many blog posts.
That release of pressure to be nice all the time alone could account for the whole thankful energy. But that’s not the whole story.
I walked away from a conversation a few days ago. And felt kind of bad about it, but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do…
Btw. I try to do it as gently as possible – in case you think too badly of me 
Hindsight is usually a bitch…but not this time. This time, with hindsight, ignorance turned out to be bliss.
Anyway, this morning I walked out of the door to be greeted by a huge rainbow over Table Mountain. (Yeah, I know it wasn’t just there for my life lesson, but I noticed and that must count for something.)
I smiled. Because people are supposed to smile when they see rainbows right? Frowning would be just wrong.
Plus I enjoy seeing rainbows and lady birds, even when I’m not hormonal.
Whatever the right reaction is, I had an almost tranquil day at work. Felt half medicated. But could also be attributed to hormones (at my age everything is due to hormones).
The day flew by and before I knew it, someone said something that under normal circumstances would’ve upset me. But since I had no idea of the context, I ended the conversation as I normally would. Quickly.
Truth be told, I think half of the office thought I knew what was going on. Because I got some meaningful glances, which I couldn’t quite put my finger on. But in hindsight…
In reality I had no idea!
The context hit me fast enough though.
I was horrified, but it was nearly time to head home. Less than half an hour and I still had things to do before leaving.
Once I got home it took me a few minutes to piece the puzzle together.
To recap:
Actually it goes back even further back to the events which led to having shorter conversations with people I don’t particularly care for…
Culminating in this blog post which further made me happy!
My sister and I went to our old neighbourhood to cast our votes today.
We chatted in the car about Patricia de Lille – my sister votes for her regardless of which party she is in.
As we arrived in the neighbourhood, my sister asked if I knew who the candidates are. I didn’t.
“It’s uncle M.” An old neighbour.
And lo and behold, there was his poster – an ANC one! Thank goodness I could vote for someone I know!
So we saw and chatted with some old neighbours, which was fun.
We were in and out of the polling station in no time at all. No queues, or anything.
I was happy to cast my vote today and appreciative towards the people who fought to give us all that right.
Can you believe there was a time we couldn’t?
my ballot
