My Buddy Jody

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have a Fox Terrier named Jody! For those of you have not spent this week in Johannesburg, we have had continual on/ off periods of rain through out the day and night.

Anyway Tuesday morning turned into a bit of a nightmare, I could not get my B into G (could not get going) and ended up running late. Now Jody sleeps inside at night and in the morning just before I go I open the sliding door and put some fresh food and water down for her. I then let her out. This process of letting her out can take a good few minutes. We have to scratch, talk and help her stretch.

I was already late, so I did not bother rushing the process unfurther. Anyway eventually I insisted that she go out- I wish I had a camera to show you the look I got. She must have sensed the weather. Anyway that was a sight on it's own. The best was still to come!!!

She walked onto the patio where her kennel and food are, smelt and checked that there was food. That all in order, I thought she would make a run for the grass to do her toilet business. Not this morning, she placed 1 paw on the wet grass after a long stare at the grass. She then looked at this wet paw and looked back at me as if to say I must come and dry it. I had already closed the door and security gate and just stood watching this.

The next move was a reverse step and into her kennel! I then proceeded to gather my keys, fruit and yogurt and work bag and after putting the alarm on, I proceeded out the side door. Now I am always meet at the door by Jody and we have a good bye chat for the day. Not this morning- she did not come and see me off. I decided to put my belonging's in the car and went back into the yard to see what was going on- there was madam Jody lying in her kennel. She was not venturing into the rain!!

I thought this was so strange, yet it put a smile on my face. On arriving home I was greeted like usual, she must have realised that she would have to get wet sometime.

I was tagged

Well the other day I was tagged and the process is to look at where you keep your photo's and choose the 6th file and then the 6th photo. I unfortunately do not have my photo's well grouped so I double clicked on my pictures and choose the 6th file which contained 1 photo and that is a scanned photo of my brother (Allan) and his wife (Ros) on there wedding day, 15th January 2000.

This was a special day for them and everyone that was there. It was also the last time we spent together as a family before my dad died and for me, it was the day I injured my back.

Shayamanzi II

Shayamanzi is the Zulu term for Hit the Water, and that is exactly what we did for our 6 monthly strategy meeting. We arrived at Jozini Dam on Saturday afternoon.

Our home and conference venue was the house boat called Shayamanzi II. This is a 20 sleeper house boat on the Jozini Dam which is situated in Northern Natal on the Swaziland Border. The lake is 30 km's long and 10 km's wide.

This was a first time experience for me and cannot fault it one little bit. It was amazing to live on the water for 3 days. These are just some of the photo's of the boat and the sights we saw.

Some of the animals we say where elephants, Hippo's, Crocodiles, Zebra, Rhino and Tiger Fish.

A Working Weekend

I am currently on a work strategy meeting. As I mentioned in my last post, the venue was a surprise! Anyway all can be revealed we are on a dam in Northern Natal known as Geseni (spelling?) Dam. And no we are not at a venue at a dam, we are ON the dam in a house boat. Each of us has a cabin and upstairs is a bar and a lounge and dining area that services as our conference venue.

It is 11pm and I am sitting on my bed with my sliding doors open listen to fish jumping out of the water, frogs, insects and a few birds. Nothing more relaxing. I am leaving the doors open and curtains as well. This is so African and so beautiful!

As we work, we can watch the world as the boat cruises. We break to look at different things. Today's high light was looking at Rhino on the shore and cruising near Hippo's. I can actually handle working on a Sunday if it was always like this.

Anyway I am off to bed to listen to nature and have sleep like a baby! I will post pictures on my blog when I get home. I cannot download them without the cable.

Busy Start to the New Year

So we are into the second week of the new year already- WOW! It has been a rather busy 2 weeks. My brother went back to the UK last week Friday, so it was the hated good-byes and then trying to get back into the normality's of life.

I have been rather busy at work- all the normal happenings and catching up with projects and jobs that involve companies that were closed for periods during Christmas. To top it all I have been sick, started with Gastro 2 days before new year and then a dose of flu this week- I am now on my second antibiotic! However I am thinking positively and I will get over it soon- I hope.

This week is also just as hectic and to make matters more interesting I am out the office a LOT. I am in Bloemfontein on Wednesday and Thursday and then we are are on conference from Saturday to Tuesday. Conference is rather interesting, all we know is we away from Saturday till Tuesday. The venue is a surprise till Friday, all we know is we are heading to the Zululand area (Northern Natal). I am guessing we are going to a Game Reserve was we have been told to bring camera's and binoculars. Also it is near to were we went last January and the whole area is game parks- my favourite. Although I like surprises, except I need to know where I am staying. If my MD and his wife (my boss), have there way there will be big surprises and they tend to be special- elephant experiences and the similar. So I am sure I will have stories to share.

SO I would like to end this post by saying a BELATED Happy New Year. May it be a year filled with happiness and success. To my friends who are starting new chapters of there life in new jobs are in moving to new areas- Good Luck and I am sure you will be happy. I am so gratefully to have such special friends I have made through blogging.