Grief and Maintaining Equilibrium

As readers of my previous post know, our fur child Salem passed onto the next realm last week. At risk of sounding like a crazy cat lady (and people are welcome to think this), William and I are still mourning her.

The initial shock of her premature passing has made way for heart wrenching sorrow, and the thought of life without her becomes too much to bear at times. What some don't understand is that our cats are our children. They have personalities and we consider them our family members. Other people talk about their children and show photographs at social gatherings.We do the same - with our cats.

Colleen sent me this message on Monday night, and at the time it brought on a fresh round of tears at the realization yet again of her absence, today I read it again and it brought some comfort.

I stood at your bedside last night, I came to have a peep.

I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear.

"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea.

You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today, your arms were getting sore.

I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care.

I want to reassure you that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house as you fumbled for your key.

I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "It's me".

You looked so very tired and sank into a chair.

I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.

It's possible for me to be so near you everyday.

To say to you with certainty "I never went away".

You sat there very quietly, then smiled. 

I think you knew in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over, I smile and watch you yawning.

I say "Good night, I'll see you in the morning"

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,

I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.

Be patient, live your journey out, then come home to be with me.

Courtney shared this picture with us, and like the passage above, it reminded us that our loved ones are only gone from sight. Their spirits remain with us.

Thank you to everyone that has sent us messages of support over the past few days - we are so grateful to you all.

The universe needs equilibrium. What goes up must come down. Yin and yang. 2014 had been going so well for us, we were thrilled. I'd managed to tick off two of my goals for the year in less than six months, and the prospects for the remainder of the year were bright. There was/is so much to look forward to. However, with every action is an equal and opposite reaction.

This had occurred to me recently, but I'd brushed the thought aside. Something wasn't right but I didn't entertain the notion. It never crossed our minds that such an event would happen, throwing the world as we knew it, into total disarray.

Good with the bad. It wouldn't be life if things ran smoothly.

If things aren't going well, don't give up hope. Something good is on the horizon. Hang in there.

On the other side of the coin, nothing can go well all of the time. I realize this may sound pessimistic, but we do need to be realists.

Salem's untimely passing has taught me a valuable lesson. Don't take anything for granted. Tell your family member/friend/cousin/colleague and fur child that you love them. One never knows when that person/pet will no longer be with us.

I regret not taking more photographs, and have made this me mission in life. If you thought I was annoying with my camera before - just wait! At the end of the day, that is all we have left of our loved ones.

So adjust your hair and neaten your outfit, then SMILE for the camera. These are the memories we'll keep forever.

Goodbye, Salem

Salem, named after the town where the witch trials of 1692 were held because she was black and therefore a witch's cat, went missing yesterday morning. We searched the surrounding area, calling her name, asking fellow neighbours if they'd seen her and even printing flyers to put in postboxes. It has been 36 hours of hell.This evening we received a phone call from a neighbour to say that he was very sorry but he'd found Salem's little body in his backyard yesterday and he had subsequently buried her.

While we are grateful for the closure, and the forfeiture of wondering where she was each day, if she cold or had enough to eat, the news came as a blow. Everyone has hope that the worst possible outcome may not be the actual outcome. We are devastated, and I hope this pain eases over the coming days. Our cats are our children.

We adopted Salem from the SPCA in March 2012. She was already 5 months old then, and because she was not the cutesy kitten anymore, people overlooked her and went for a younger kitten. We adopted Ninja at the same time so they would have each other for company, and we can easily say they had the sibling relationship of humans. They fought and bit each other, but let the other cats know that only they were allowed to interact with each other in that manner. They protected, loved and slept next to each other. Where one was the other was not far away. Salem and I formed a special bond during the two years I was at home. She became an extension of my shadow, and we'd spend hours together. I would study and she would sleep on my lap. When I returned to work this year, I missed her during business hours but always looked forward to going home and seeing her.

William and I joked that Salem was a new spirit to the world, in that she found everything so fascinating. From the birds, to the trees to toys to chasing the other cats - she was full of life and happiness. She could also be a real madam at times, when she sat on the coffee table and swatted any other cat that happened to pass by. These were her "Queen Bee" traits.

Salem - we are going to miss you terribly but know that you will always be in our hearts. Our time together was too short, but I am thankful that we had time at all. Some of our fondest memories of you include the following:

• Drinking water straight from the bathroom tap (trying to get the right water pressure was a task in itself);
• Kneading my gown, and purring so much you would almost throw up;
• Digging in my make up box to fish out my hair elastics which would then lay strewn throughout the house;
• Demanding belly rubs by laying face up on whatever surface was in front of me; and
• How affectionate you were. You would rub yourself along the walls, doors and anything else you could find, purring all the while.

Go well our feline family member, thank you for the memories.

xxx

After some milk

With her brother, Ninja

In the snow, August 2012

Queen Bee moment

5 Things Thursday - Exams are Over & There's so Much to Look Forward to

So the exam of my life is over, and whilst I'm experiencing the elation that only a fellow student released from his/her academic duties can understand, I also feel worried. Extremely worried.

Did I do enough to pass? Last night I barely slept. Thoughts of items I'd forgotten to include, and mathematical errors I'd made constantly entered my mind. There's nothing I can do about it now, so while I hear you think aloud that I should put it to the recess of my consciousness (how badly I want to do that) - as much as I've told myself this and tried - it does not work. Doubt creeps in and the stress starts all over again.

The curse of a student.

To make matters worse, results will only be released in approximately six weeks.

In an attempt to be positive, last night I thought of all the wonderful things that I can do now that I have a break from studying. They are:

1) Having more than a one day weekend. Attending lectures at Edge Business School each Saturday from 8am - 5pm (on a conservative day - some weeks ran until 9pm) meant that I only had Sunday to do all my errands, grocery shopping, free time to see friends, etc. My mom was so helpful during these past three months, cooking dinners for us and doing my weekly shopping - thank you so much mom. Had I not been working the lack of weekend would not normally affect me, and it dawned on me how fortunate I was to have had that opportunity of free time last year.

2) Reading books and not my study guide. I love reading. Non-fiction crime thrillers are my favorite. Best author is James Patterson hands down. Diversity is the spice of life as they say, so I will be looking for new genres to read in the forthcoming six months. Any suggestions?

3) Spending more time with my friends. I only saw my friends a handful of times during this semester. I rarely visited for more than an hour or two, and due to chores associated with running a household, my chats over BBM were short, and more often than not ended in "I have to finish my assignment" or "I need to do my homework for Saturday's lecture". Thank you friends for being patient and supportive during this rather crazy time. I look forward to making up lost time with you in the coming weeks.

4) Now that I am earning my own money again, I want to see and do everything. Try new things. And spoil myself. Buy myself clothing or perfume or whatever catches my eye, and feel like I have well and truly earned it. 

5) My goal for the second half of the year is to challenge myself. Possibly take a photography course or learn a foreign language. Spanish and Italian have always appealed to me. Leaning towards Spanish as it is spoken in more countries worldwide. 

There is so much to look forward to because life is beautiful, and it feels like it has only just begun for me.

Elections 2014

Today, May 7, South Africans go to the polls in our fifth democratic election.

Being the 20th anniversary of freedom, a lot of hype has surrounded the event and political parties have all tried to outdo each other in the hopes of winning the majority vote.

Today has been declared a public holiday to allow all working class South Africans the opportunity to vote, and stations are open from 7am - 9pm. I believe in voting, and encourage everyone that is 18 years and older to cast their ballot.

Too many people feel that their vote doesn't make a difference, but what they don't realize is when all of those "one votes" are added together they DO make a difference. The difference between a majority vote and a minority vote. We have the power to change our country, but it requires us to get up off our bums and do something about it. Unfortunately the culture is to complain but not take any action. I also feel that those that did not vote, yet still took the day off work, should have a day's leave deducted from them. That may seem harsh, but why should someone have a day off for not carrying out the purpose it was created for?

Many of my expat friends made a concerted effort to vote in the election. They voted on the 30th of April, and most had to travel far to their nearest voting station (a clever ploy by the government to deter voters in my personal opinion). This was done at their own cost, and they had to take a day's leave from work. That is dedication and very admirable. Well done guys, you have my respect. For example, Nadia lives in Zurich, Switzerland, and after writing an exam in the morning, she and her husband travelled to Bern to vote. Briony lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and flew to Bangkok just to cast her ballot.

To those that I have not acknowledged, please accept my apologies. I am eternally grateful to you as you have set the example for the rest of us.

It took my mom and I 1 hour 45 minutes to vote. We arrived at our voting station just before 10am and although the queue moved slowly, it did move and once our ID's were scanned the process sped up. Approximately 260 people voted per hour at our voting station.

If you have not yet voted, or did not intend voting and have since changed your mind, the voting stations are still open for another 6 hours. Remember, no vote = no complaining.

Your vote is your voice.

Bill's new haircut

Mom and I standing in the queue

The queue when we arrived

Blackened thumbs later

The Problem With... Debt

The average person cannot go through life without being indebted to a financial institution at some stage.

Be it buying a car, a house, clothes from Edgars or even that new gadget on your credit card, we have all experienced being a debtor to someone else.

Not all debt is bad, and if managed properly it can work for you. Having a good credit rating is important. Having a credit rating in totality? Imperative.

According to Transunion and the statistics released for the first quarter of 2014, consumers could not meet their obligations. This is extremely worrying. Not paying month 2's installment results in the balance outstanding attracting interest, and therefore interest being charged on interest when month 3 isn't paid. Once in this spiral of destruction it is hard to get out. 

In my personal opinion, not enough education is provided on the subject of debt and credit. Some understand credit as 'free money' and once the financial services providers see the individual spending (beyond his or her means) they offer MORE credit. I blame the providers. They are giving the individual the spade to dig his or her own credit grave and playing on the consumer's ignorance.

Our domestic worker recently got herself into a difficult situation by running up an almost R5 000 Rand bill at an upmarket clothing store. She was unable to meet the monthly repayments, and when I confronted her about the numerous phone calls from the store, she admitted that she'd gotten herself into trouble. We made a plan to withdraw some funds from a policy we have set up for her retirement to release her from her obligations, but not without explaining the credit concept and how dangerous it can be. 

Last month I paid off all of my outstanding debts. I did not have many, but the repayments each month were cutting into my disposable income. I decided to take control of the situation and paid every cent I owed. Wow, what a feeling of relief! My car isn't under a finance lease, but I have considered trading it in and getting something that's a bit more fuel economical (my consumption rivals that of an SUV). Is spending a few thousand more each month to pay off a new car really smarter than just footing my sub R1 000 fuel bill? No. I'd rather not get a new car. Besides, those repayments could go towards our next overseas holiday.

Read up on credit. Educate yourself. There are many credit bureaus in South Africa that are able to give you sound financial advice in order to proactively reduce your debt. Don't be too proud to ask for help.

I Confess

I have a confession to make. A few, actually.

1. I am a comfort eater. Yes, when the going gets tough I make a bee line for the cupboard. The sweet cupboard. Not being a fan of crisps, my poison is biscuits and chocolate. Once the packaging is open there is no telling where I might stop, if I even do before reaching the bottom of the packet, or the last rows of the slab. I function almost on auto pilot, and automatically my hand keeps reaching for more in an almost robotic fashion. My mind is blank during these times, my only concern is the next mouthful of whatever it is that will make me feel better. The operative word being 'feel'.  Realistically there is no way a box of Oreos or a slab of Cadbury's will change the cause of my comfort eating, nor do I expect it to, but in that instant I feel the weight lift off my shoulders. I am able to forget about my troubles and focus on something good. It is probably equivalent to smoking or drinking for other people. If only chomping on a carrot or slice of cucumber yielded the same result in terms of satisfaction, my waistline would be eternally grateful.

2. I hate being called 'Sim'. Something about this nickname just makes me want to climb the walls. Be it the connection to a cell phone Sim card, or the hugely popular PC game 'The Sims', or even an abbreviation for 'simulation' (recall the movie Simone which was a conjunction of 'simulation one'). I'd prefer people rather call me by my full name instead of Sim. Having said that I can probably expect everyone to call me Sim simply because I've admitted it irritates me, and that's OK. No offence intended toward those that have called me this in the past, you were not aware and therefore I bare you no ill well. Do it again now though, and we're going to have to talk. Just playing!

3. I am a huge germ phobe. I clean my phone and laptop with alcohol swabs on a regular basis. This is largely unfair of me and I accept that, but I don't like people touching the items mentioned above, and yes I will wipe them down afterwards. I almost cringe when one of the IT people at work need to carry out some task on my laptop. Being two of a person's most essential tools, I see it as an invasion of my privacy. Overkill? Yes. Am I being unreasonable? Most definitely. 

Confessions are supposed to relieve the burdens we carry around, and even if no-one reads/hears them, the act of admitting those home truths is enough.

A Weekend Spent at Jugomaro Predator Park

My mom, William and I spent the long Easter weekend at Jugomaro Predator Park, near Groblersdal in Mpumalanga. The park is roughly 200km from Benoni, and two and a half hours by car.

The park was opened in 2008 by the Fernandes family: Goosey, his wife Rosa and their son Justin. From humble beginnings with only one tiger, Panjo, the park is now home to 10 tigers, four lions, a pack of 10 wolves, a gennet, a serval, a jaguar and two caracal.

The park owes its success to Panjo's disappearance in July 2010. During a routine journey between the park and Gauteng, Panjo escaped from the bakkie he was travelling in. The news made local and international headlines, and in response to Goosey's plea for assistance many corporate and individual benefactors came forward. Panjo was found after two nights roaming the Verena area.

The exposure and visitors that resulted from Panjo's disappearance has been highly beneficial to Jugomaro. A restaurant was built, and new enclosures were created to house more of the rescued big cats the family adopted over the next few years.

Jugomaro feeds the animals at 2pm every day, and this draws numerous visitors. Visitors are able to hand feed the tigers, lions and wolves and take photographs of the animals. Justin leads the tour and gives detailed info on the respective animal, it's history and eating plan.

The ace up Jugomaro's sleeve is the Tiger Walk. Visitors are given the opportunity to walk alongside an 18 month old tiger, feed him chunks of meat and then give him a bottle of milk. Best yet is the chance to kiss the tiger on the nose. A DVD with all the photos from the walk is also available for sale. We did the walk and it was one of the most amazing experiences ever.

The park is open to day visitors (entry fees R100 per adult and R50 per child under 10 years of age) and also has four chalets on the premises (see prices on website) in which guests wanting a longer getaway may stay.

I would highly recommend everyone visit this Park . It is ideal for a family day, as children of all ages are able to feed Taariq the Tiger, the youngest feeder being only 14 months old.

Here are some of our photographs from the weekend.

Month One Down And Two Causes for Celebration

Starting with the good news, recently our friends Guy & Kirsty Lidbetter announced they are expecting a baby.  Kirsty - you have such a beautiful nature and a motherly instinct that comes so naturally - watching you interact with Ella and Lexi during our visit last year proved this point hundredfold. Guy - you are going to be spending many a weekend teaching baba how to hold a baseball bat, and hit that winning shot (if it's a little boy), or practicing your batting skills for when your daughter brings her first boyfriend home. Just playing. Congratulations Guy & Kirst, you are going to make the most fantastic parents and we are so happy for you. Baby Lidbetter is due October or thereabouts. 

A picture of the parents-to-be taken whilst adventure golfing in July last year

Ali & Lee welcomed their son, Patrick James Piron into the world on Saturday afternoon - congratulations to big sister Georgia, both sets of grandparents, and all the aunts, uncles and cousins. May Patrick bring much joy to you all. We look forward to seeing some photographs of baby and his family. Best wishes Ali & Lee!

The Piron trio at the beach last July

 I may be a week or so late but I did it! I survived my first month at the office (insert happy dance here). I'll blame month end madness and having to submit an assignment as the cause of the delay of this post.

It was not a smooth ride, and at times I felt frustrated that I wasn't at the level I wanted to be - not knowing what where when or why. I referred to this period as the "washing machine days". Life continued around me, but I felt I had no control over anything, nor did I know which way was up. As the days and weeks passed, I slowly acclimatized and started settling down. If anyone says they knew exactly what they were doing in a new position from day one, I think they would be stretching the truth. Just a little.

Here is a summary of my first month:

• I locked my boss out of SAP by incorrectly entering her password three times (I felt like a real idiot).
• I almost fell down the stairs. Luckily only one person saw my near miss though. He laughed, I laughed and then he carried on working - thank goodness for small victories.
• I have made an enemy out of the IT department. They refuse (OK it is protocol so I can sort of understand their side) to answer any questions or assist with anything - even if it will only take a minute of their time - until *dum dum dum* a call has been logged! This was before I even had a laptop, so just how was I supposed to log a call? Grrrr, frustration is. Now I joke with them in asking if I need to log a call with them before they can respond to an email. Yep, this is going to be a love/hate relationship.
• I have called many people by the wrong name and (felt extremely embarrassed when they corrected me).
• I called five people into the office and explained the reasoning behind their salary increases. This gem fell onto my plate as my boss was on leave that day otherwise I normally wouldn't handle such matters.
• I have used much more Excel than anyone should ever have to in their time on Earth. Yowza, death by cells and formulae.

These points may all sound negative, but looking back on the month, they are the ones that stick out the most. There have also been good experiences, like meeting and getting to know the people within the Finance department, and meeting the Financial Director of Africa and the Middle East. I have learnt alot about the logistics industry, and been rather chuffed to be given responsibilities that require trust. 

I am also no longer the newest person in the department, after the Accounts Payable Team Leader started this past Tuesday. Today, myself and the newest addition to the team commenced our three day official induction. It was extremely interesting and so many blanks have already been filled in. We even visited the company depot at OR Tambo International Airport, and were taken through the life-cycle of a parcel. Excited for day two tomorrow.

Wishing you all a pleasant week.

It's not Goodbye, it's See You Later

This week, one of my mom's oldest and dearest friends (we worked it out to 20+ years) Jill, moved down to Cape Town to start the new chapter in her life.

After investigating the option for some time, everything fell into place at the beginning of the month when Jill's official employment transfer papers were signed, and her first day at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital was determined as 1 April. Jilly was moving to the Cape, to be nearer to her daughter, Kelly. The news registered, but reality hadn't quite sunk in.

My mom was thrilled for her friend, and supported her during those rather busy weeks. The night before the two day journey to Cape Town, Jill stayed at my mom's house and the two of them went for a last dinner together (only for a few months). I said goodbye to Jilly that evening, not being very strong when it comes to farewells, and after trying in vain to stay dry eyed, I broke down. This was it. 

Jill worked a registered nurse at the Linmed Hospital in Benoni, and always the first person we'd contact for advice when someone we knew had fallen ill, or had some sort of medical issue that we weren't sure of. She was also our go to lady when a friend or family member was having an operation or procedure performed at the hospital, and would diligently check in on that person in the recovery ward then let us know how they were doing. Jill popped in when Courtney was in theater preparing to deliver Dylan, and checked on William when her damaged his knee playing football last year. Her wealth of medical knowledge has proven invaluable to us and to all the other patients that she has treated/cared for over her many years at Linmed. We thank you, Jilly.

The things I'll miss most is discussing the latest films at the cinema, and Jill relaying some interesting general knowledge to us - we've all learnt so much from you!

Jill and my mom were both single parents and that shared bond meant we did many things together. Jill, Brad & Kel were regular features at our family events too. Memories of many weekends spent away at the farm, trips to the beach and game reserves, flood our minds and we have so many photographs to remind us of these happy occasions.

BUT, it's not goodbye. It's see you later.

Cape Town is a two hour flight away, and you can count on us visiting soon. My mom has two other close friends in the Cape - Michelle and Hayley - so when we go down our visits are always filled with wonderful catch ups.

Jilly - we are so happy and proud of you, and wish you every success in your new home and workplace. You are an asset to any company and although we will miss you, bigger and better things await. Johannesburg's loss is Cape Town's gain, and I know Kel will be so happy to have her mum nearby again. 

This photograph was taken at my 21st birthday in 2007, Jilly dressed as a surgeon as part of the "S" theme

My mom and Jill at the Barnyard Theatre, August 2012

Kelly, my mom and Jilly at my mom's 50th birthday lunch last year

"Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they are always there."

Why I Love Birthdays

Birthday. That day of the year when the pendulum swings into the next year of our lives.

Some people don't like birthdays and will go to extreme measures to downplay the occasion. Whether this is due to not wanting to accept the fact that they are getting older, or don't like being in the spotlight, the reason varies from person to person.

Personally I LOVE birthdays. Obviously the age bit is less than ideal, but the huge plus factor, in my opinion, is the celebration. Birthdays (and unfortunately funerals) are the two occasions that bring people together, and that quality time (birthdays only) is what I treasure. Having a casual braai at home (having a house full of people is one of my all time favorite things in life), or going out to a venue -  the 'what' isn't the operative word. Rather the 'who'. The pleasure of your friends and family's company.

We don't celebrate enough. We get wrapped up - or tunnel visioned - in our lives and stress over many facets of our existence (finances and work to name but a few), that we actually forget that life is passing us by. We'll never get those days back, and one day when we're watching the replay of our time on Earth, what will we regret? I'll regret the days spent worrying over matters I have no control over, instead of the time that I said yes to a friend's invitation. There's nothing more expensive than regrets, and that I truly believe.

It's not about being the center of attention either. Yes, you'll receive more calls and messages than any other day, but why not think of it as a compliment that so many people treasure you and want to wish you a happy birthday? Honestly, I think a lot of birthdays would go unacknowledged if it weren't for Facebook and it's daily reminders, however, the wisher still took the time to send the wishee (is that even a word?) a message.

What makes a good birthday? In addition to the advantages I've mentioned above, CAKE! If there's one day of the year (OK, Christmas makes two)  where it is absolutely imperative to stray from the diet it's a birthday. Eat, drink and be merry! Have your cake and eat it too. Life is too short not to.

Gifting. This is where the waters get murky. The average person cannot afford to buy every single friend a present. Sadly, in today's world, a 'decent' present (if buying a voucher or contributing cash) is considered approximately R300. Multiply that by the number of friends you would normally buy gifts for and it's rather expensive over a year. If there's one thing I hate it's being invited somewhere just to give a present. The host (possibly a friend of a friend of a friend) doesn't care for your presence, and you may only be acquaintances -  but you've been invited to their birthday party. Why? 

William and I have decided to only buy gifts for friends on landmark birthdays and special occasions (weddings, baby showers, etc)  as it is simply too expensive. By the same token, we do not want or expect gifts from friends on our birthdays. So friends -  if you're reading this, please don't be offended that we haven't bought you gifts, this is why. Age brings with it life lessons, and what was important 5 years ago is not up there on the list of priorities now. As a child I was always excited to open my birthday presents, the higher the number the better. As an adult my values have changed, and now gifts are the least important.

I make big deals out of birthdays. Celebrations would last a week if I had it my way. There's nothing better than showering your loved ones with love and attention, for no other reason to show them how much you mean to them. And yes, we should show this appreciation every day, it's that much more special on a birthday. I plan William's and my birthday parties a month in advance, and countdowns start at more or less the same time.

You're the oldest you've ever been, and youngest than you'll ever be again.

Powerful statement. Make the most out of life.

William is the most recent person in our family to celebrate a birthday. Here are some photographs taken today.

5 Things Thursday

A fellow blogger created this series called '7 Things' and I found the idea extremely appealing as it would bring variety to each post. Instead of rambling on about one subject for 12 000 characters which could possibly result in a reader (or even myself) losing interest, I am able to include multiple topics without making them seem inane or irrelevant of one another.

So here goes, a wrap up of the week that was:

1) The Oscar Pistorius Trial. No matter where one goes in South Africa, we are bombarded with up to the minute coverage of the trial. We have a dedicated radio and television channel broadcasting the proceedings live (a world first - fist pump for SA), newspaper headlines lead with the latest developments - it's even all over social media. Now in its' third week, and with no prospect of the end in sight, some members of the public are getting frustrated. What started off as interest has been replaced with boredom. The fact of the matter is he shot dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. No question about it. Now, the issue at hand is whether it was premeditated or self defence, and the sentence he receives will be based on this outcome. Witnesses of all calibers have been called from neighbours of the paralympian athlete to experts from the USA. Everyone has an opinion on what happened that fateful night, but only the court's verdict counts. 

2) The disappearance of flight MH370. The aircraft, carrying 239 people, disappeared on 8 March. No distress signals were transmitted, and according to engineers all modes of communication were severed  a mere hour into the flight, setting off theories of a hijacking. If it was a hijacking, wouldn't the captors have made contact and given their demands? I find the "Lost" theory very hard to believe. Basically the aircraft has landed on some remote island (possibly as part of the hijacking). Seriously, it's a Boeing. It requires a certain distance of runway on which to land, and wouldn't someone have spotted the plane? The chances of these people being found alive are virtually zero. They would not have had enough supplies on which to survive, and if the aircraft landed/crashed into the sea, they would have required immediate rescue. Another interesting theory (and one I'm tending to agree with) was compiled by Chris Goodfellow, a pilot. Read it here.

Earlier today, assumed pieces of wreckage off the western coast of Perth were spotted via satellite. Ships from multiple nations converged on the area but the weather was poor and visibility limited. The search will resume tomorrow, and hopefully some closure will be brought to the matter. I can't imagine what the families of those on board may be experiencing, but to find out what happened may ease their sadness somewhat.

3) William celebrates his birthday this Sunday! My other half will be celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the day of his birth, and we are going to spend the day doing whatever he wants. It's only right seeing as though it is his birthday. Happy happy birthday my love, I wish you a year of health, wealth and happiness and a lifetime of joy in abundance.

4) Tomorrow is Human Rights Day in South Africa. Ramsey Clark said "A right is not what someone gives you; it's what no-one can take from you." Be kind to your fellow man, and accept them for who they are. Humanity has fought enough fights. Live and let live.

5) This week I received my first compliment from my boss! Happiness is. 

Wishing you all an awesome long weekend. 

Time Management - A Skill I need to Develop

Having re-entered the workforce last week, and therefore not being able to keep my own hours, I have been forced to budget my time. 

Balance and moderation is everything.

I need to factor in all my time drivers such as gym, walking, preparing for my Saturday morning lectures, social events, blogging and everything in between. Last week (the first week) was an abomination. I actually felt like I was in a washing machine. The world continuing around me, but I didn't know which way was up. I was disorganized and unprepared for the major change that had just taken place. Disorganized. Unprepared. Two words not normally used to describe my character. As much as I hated it, I needed that wake up call to kick start my survival mode and figure out a plan of action.

I normally reply to any sort of communication immediately, but being new and under the watchful eye of my manager and colleagues, my phone remained securely in my handbag. Previously I was ever present on social media, constantly refreshing my news feeds on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I felt compelled to stay up to date with every event happening in people's lives - from close friends to acquaintances, I had to know everything. Now I sneak in a few minutes on the above mentioned platforms (waiting for the kettle to boil or while dinner is in the microwave). Strangely enough, I don't miss it. Missing out on some status updates is of no consequence or effect in my life. Quite a powerful realization that was.

Many people all over the world juggle their time every day, some are even married and have children. Granted I don't have children so I skip the homework and extra mural taxi service gauntlets, but I still have to prepare dinner and make lunches for both William and I. Yes we have a domestic worker three days per week so cleaning the house isn't on my checklist, but I do still want to keep it tidy. Making the bed, packing the dishwasher, sorting laundry and the dreaded grocery shopping all take time out of my day. These items must be included.

My working hours are 7 - 3:30 Monday to Thursday, and I attend lectures every Saturday from 8am -  3pm. We are given homework to complete before the next lecture. I have worked and studied before, and somehow managed to get everything done then so this time will be no different. If I set aside one hour per day, four days per week I can complete the homework and will be in a better position come exam time in May. From June onward I have no intention of studying until January when I register for Honors. The break will do me good, I can regroup and enjoy not having to study -  the first time in 8 years.

In addition to all of the above, I want to see my friends, go to movies, catch up with my mom (yes, we live a few steps away from each other but still), and generally have fun. I realize I will have to choose between walking and the calisthenics class I attend for an hour Monday to Thursday. As walking has yielded the best results in terms of losing weight and fitness (a story for another post), it seems to be the most logical choice. I can always attend a class if the weather is unfavorable for walking, and other days when I can squeeze it in.

This week has gone a lot smoother as I am finding my groove (or keeping the balls airborne) and although I don't have a set timetable it may not be a bad idea to create one (this is a typical Virgo trait so please don't laugh).

Have a fantastic weekend all.

Being the Newbie

My first week at my new job is complete, and it has been challenging to say the least. Sunday night I barely slept, nerves got the better of me and come Monday morning I was still out of sorts. I don't think anyone can't NOT be nervous when starting a new job.

I've always wanted to work for a "big" company, and am loving the vast number of employees (approx 150 in Johannesburg alone), and the professional environment. I was, however, unprepared for the amount of admin I would be required to complete - and that was only part of the new employee take on procedure! I have manuals covering just about every facet of the Human Resources function and apparently I am attending an induction next month, where new employees will be taken on a tour of the entire premises and have the finer details explained to us. I'm looking forward to this as I'm one of those people that like to have a broad understanding of the bigger picture. Completeness if you will.

I joined the finance team (consisting of 30 people) at their busiest time - month end. As the company is a multinational and is required to report it's financial information to the holding company in the Netherlands, major month end reports are run and the figures contained therein has to be completely accurate. This places a huge burden on the team to ensure the variances between budgeted and actual values stay within an acceptable range, or a very good explanation for the difference must be provided. We have four days to run the procedures (on the accounting program and Excel),  make any adjustments, then investigate unacceptable differences before reporting the end result by midnight on the fourth day. 

Now I know this doesn't sound like much, but considering the volume of transactions and the fact that we are required to prepare Namibia's financial information as well, I felt like a goldfish in the Atlantic. The month end procedures will fall under my duties so I asked many questions and even performed some of the tasks under the supervision of the financial manager. It was... Interesting. The tasks are not difficult, but the person needs to have a firm understanding of the business and the transport industry in order to produce accurate results.

Whilst my colleagues have been friendly and welcoming, I sense they suspect I will not last long in my position. I was asked numerous times on Friday alone, how I felt month end went and it was so awful etc. I said no, it was not that bad but because I'm new to the company it is obviously more demanding. Come next month I'll be even more familiar with everything, and it will run smoother. My predecessor apparently only lasted a year in the position, so maybe they think the job will get the better of me and I too will resign.

Not going to happen. I'm not a quitter (my love of chocolate has proven this) and I will master this job and it's responsibilities. Their doubt in me has pushed me to prove them wrong, and that is my aim for the future.

Have an awesome weekend further!

The Job Hunt is Not for Sissies - but it's OVER!

7 Interviews,
5 recruitment agencies,
3 tanks of petrol,
2 calendar months,
1 box of tranquilizers, and
Countless competency tests and explaining myself to so many different individuals later...

I AM NO LONGER UNEMPLOYED!

Whoohoo!!

It has been quite a journey, one that definitely built character, but I am glad it is over nonetheless.

I started my new job as an accountant at a multi-national freight company today. I did not post this news until the signatures were on the dotted line (one never knows, anything may happen) but now that they are I am able to share the news. The office is situated a mere 13km from home, and with a professional environment and flexi hours, it is a match made in heaven.

The very first recruitment agent I met with secured the interview, which took place last Thursday. After a rather challenging interview comprising both Excel and Accounting competency tests as well as a personality assessment on top of the usual interview questions, and loads of competition, I felt that I would not get a call back. That afternoon my self esteem was at such a low, while doing my grocery shopping, I found an empty aisle in the store and proceeded to have a quick quiet cry! At home, I even went back on to PNet and applied to a few adverts. Imagine my surprise when the agent phoned a few hours later to say I had been selected for a second interview this time with the Financial Director. Nerves! I was elated. Low to high instantly. The second interview focused on interpersonal skills and how I would handle certain situations in the office. I answered to the best of my ability but when my interviewer's face didn't register any clues, doubt instantly set in again. Besides, they were still interviewing people and while I was waiting for my meeting, another applicant was undergoing the competency test! I told myself to hope for the best but expect the worst. Later that afternoon, the recruitment agent phoned with excellent news. I had been offered the job!

I am excited (but also nervous) to start this new chapter in my life. It has been a long time coming. And I can tick an item off my list of goals for 2014. Things are going great this year.

Thank you to everybody that supported me throughout the process, from letting me cry on your shoulders to forwarding my CV to your contacts to sending words of encouragement when I needed them most - it means more to me than I can put into words!

Oh, and thanks for keeping the economy going and paying your taxes whilst I was out of the workforce (haha).

Wishing you all a pleasant week.

The 2014 Budget Speech in a Nutshell

Finance minister, Pravin Gordhan (pictured below), delivered the annual budget speech at the Parliamentary buildings in Cape Town earlier today. If you missed it, here are a few highlights:

Sin tax

• Bottle of 750ml wine - 13c
• Bottle of 750ml spirits - R4.76
• 340ml can of beer - 9c
• Ciders & alcoholic fruit drinks - 9c
• Cigarettes (box of 20) - 68c

Fuel and environmental levies

• Fuel levy - 12c/l
• Road Accident Fund levy - 8c/l

Social grants

• Elderly and disabled persons - R1 350 p/m
• Foster care - R830 p/m
• Child support - R315 p/m

Retirement policies

The tax free lump sum threshold has been raised from R315 000 to R500 000.

Rebates for individual taxpayers

Primary rebate (all taxpayers) - R12 726

Secondary rebate (aged 65 - 74 years) - R7 110

Tertiary rebate (aged 75 years and above) - R2 367.

Follow this link for more information http://www.fin24.com/Budget/Infographics/Budget-infographic-20140225