Till Friday 1 May 2009 - A short working week this week with two public holidays, one Monday and the other on Friday. The public holidays in South Africa wonderfully mark a special day within the countrys history, the downside being they are date specific and therefore not always attached to a weekend. Monday being Freedom Day and Friday Workers Day.
Couped in the office catching up on Monday, yes there is no rest for the wicked, I decide I have had enough and will take advantage of the sunshine breaking through the clouds this afternoon and explore the veld. Three quarters of the way to the Rest camp, I am joined by a Lycra clad cyclist, namely Ben, with a homemade freshly baked loaf of bread for me.
At home, I enjoy a couple of slices of the wholemeal loaf unspoilt with just a thin spread of marg. Keeping some for my tea, I say to Ruhan to help himself. Thinking it might be nice to take Cynthia at reception a slice, I turn to cut another piece to find the remainder of the loaf, smothered with butter, a virtual doorstop half eaten. How that lad remains as thin as a rake is beyond me!
So as my new boss covers the length and breadth of the Overberg with Bulelwa under the pretext of 'Public Relations', muggins here is left with only a Praying Mantis for company and the Kids in Parks budget to finalise, together with the aftermath of the Honorary Rangers Open Day.
Thursday morning finds a spectrum of colour descending from the clouds delicately touching the veld. Unlike any rainbow I have ever seen, I drag Phiebe from her desk and with arms wrapped around each other, the two of us share a magical moment looking at the distant horizon.
Bulelwa and Aldo, partners in crime and meddlers that they are, return with an organised 'date' for me with the teacher that had called me on Wednesday to ask me out for dinner. The four of us are going to the Faerie Sanctuary on Saturday! Gawd I hope they are pulling my leg!
Friday morning brings some ominous sms messages (texts to you English folk) from Asanda. Last night, she has driven the Rangers bakkie (without the proper papers or authorisation) to the gate for late comers, and bumped the bakkie whilst parking. What a predicament, she dare not tell management for fear of being dismissed.
Thankfully I can escape to Marloth for the evening, away from all the accusations and worry, for supper and movie 'Strange than Fiction'. Although a comedy, the film highlighting how fragile life really is, that its course can be changed in a heartbeat by the slightest of actions, or in the films case, an inanimate object.
At home in the UK, I have word from my tenant. The credit crunch must be hitting hard, someone has taken my front gate. Amanda optimistically thinks that some kind soul is hammeriting it for me. I like her style, but seriously fat chance!
