Peter and I went out last night for a late anniversary celebration. Thanks to Margaret for holding the fort for us at home.
We had supper first. Seems both of us are feeling a lack of vegetarian cooking in our diet as we both chose salads for starters and vegetarian mains. I would like to cook more meatless meals, only I need some basic recipes that a) the kids will eat and b) I will have heard of most of the required ingredients and c) will not take hours and hours to prepare and d) are reasonably nutritionally balanced.
After supper we saw Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, and thorougly enjoyed it. Not being very familiar with the Bollywood genre, and this being a sort of Bollywood meta-movie, I expect a lot of it was lost on us but it was still lots of fun, with a nice quirky little plot.
Juggling the fun and chaos of family life, keeping track of four kids most of the time, working when necessary, and mountain-biking whenever possible.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
So much for deadlines.
The term ends this Friday anyway, and there will not be any school until next term which starts in two weeks time. We have been asked to pick up school reports for the semester and worksheets from the school before the end of the week. Pity these worksheets could not have been made available over the last three weeks. Now we have school holidays upon us and the kids will have work to do.
I had an incredibly sore throat for about a week which almost drove me over the edge - keep-you-awake, require-paracetamol, agony-to-swallow, swollen-stuck-together-throat sort of sore throat. Gave up on Monday and saw my GP and was prescribed an antibiotic. Didn't like the idea of this (with the baby) but apparently some antibiotics, including penicillin, are safe at this stage of pregnancy. Throat is much better now.
About three months ago my driver's license was due for renewal (it needs to be renewed every five years - no actual driving test but new photos, fingerprinting, eye tests, and fee to pay). I was determined not to be one of those whingers who moan incessantly about the process, the queues, the grim and grimy licensing department, yadda, yadda, yadda. Was going to be good, cheerful example-setting citizen instead.
Well.
The process of submitting my application went smoothly enough. I was probably done in about 45 minutes and told to come back in six weeks. As per the normal procedure, I was issued a three month extension on my license while the renewal was being processed.
Six weeks duly came and went and back I went to pick up my card. Stood happily in line in the (very short) pick-up queue, went happily to the counter. Long, worrying wait followed while drawers were rummaged through. No card yet, and I should come back later. This was due to 'computer problems'. Never a good thing to tell an IT person.
So I was a bit annoyed at the wasted journey but not too concerned. Another six weeks went by and now my temporary extension had expired. There still had not been notification in the post to collect my card but I couldn't drive around unlicensed so back I went.
Stood much less happily this time in the (much longer this time) pick-up queue, went eventually to the counter. Familiar long, worrying wait followed while drawers were rummaged through. No card. This time, just for variety, the lack of card was due to the fact that my fingerprints had been rejected 'by Pretoria'.
!&@#^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$
Threw a few toys (after all, they took the damn fingerprints!). Asked to see a supervisor or at least a written record of this problem. Clerk disappeared into the back and returned with supervisor. No, story not quite right, fingerprints were ok but photos were rejected 'by Pretoria'. Supervisor looked expertly at photos (I had the remainder of the set still in my bag) and airily proclaimed my head to be 'clearly too big'.
Actually I don't think it was intended to be taken personally but rather that the photographs were taken from too close, or too zoomed, or whatever, so the scanner 'in Pretoria' rejected them on grounds of insufficient contrast.
!&@#;^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$
They were the ones who accepted the damn photos in the first place!
So now I have no license and an expired extension and a wasted trip and I am pissed off in the extreme. But not to worry, the obvious thing to do is for them to extend my temporary extension, for me to supply some more photos, and for the application to be re-processed.
Ha.
The temporary extension can not be extended. I need to apply for a temporary license. I need to get two new photos for the new renewal application (locate photographers outside, wait for someone else to arrive so we can share the photo set as I have R27.45 and a set of four costs R40 or you can share with someone and each have two for R20 each), get my fingerprints redone, and fill out 'the green form'.
Swear my way through this lot and return to counter. Ah no. I also need R53 to apply for the temporary license! I also need an additional two photos for the temporary license! The two I just went outside to have done were for the new renewal application!
!&@#^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$
EXCEPT I DON'T HAVE R53 ON ME! I HAVE ONLY R7.45 ON ME!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH.
Get in car. Phone Peter to vent rage. Curse spectacularly. Peter, atypically and fortuitously, does not attempt conciliatory and reasonable comments. Shame. I think he was pretty scared. Drive (unlicensed, but very, very fast) all the way back home (good 10 km) to draw money. Have no idea where closer ATM is. Licensing department far away from anything familiar.
Draw money. Return to licensing department. Pay R53, hand over green form, photos for temporary license (draw modicum of comfort by using remains of photo set that were rejected 'by Pretoria'), fingerprints for new renewal application, and photos for renewal application.
Next time, will not bother to be good, cheerful example-setting citizen in first place.
The term ends this Friday anyway, and there will not be any school until next term which starts in two weeks time. We have been asked to pick up school reports for the semester and worksheets from the school before the end of the week. Pity these worksheets could not have been made available over the last three weeks. Now we have school holidays upon us and the kids will have work to do.
I had an incredibly sore throat for about a week which almost drove me over the edge - keep-you-awake, require-paracetamol, agony-to-swallow, swollen-stuck-together-throat sort of sore throat. Gave up on Monday and saw my GP and was prescribed an antibiotic. Didn't like the idea of this (with the baby) but apparently some antibiotics, including penicillin, are safe at this stage of pregnancy. Throat is much better now.
About three months ago my driver's license was due for renewal (it needs to be renewed every five years - no actual driving test but new photos, fingerprinting, eye tests, and fee to pay). I was determined not to be one of those whingers who moan incessantly about the process, the queues, the grim and grimy licensing department, yadda, yadda, yadda. Was going to be good, cheerful example-setting citizen instead.
Well.
The process of submitting my application went smoothly enough. I was probably done in about 45 minutes and told to come back in six weeks. As per the normal procedure, I was issued a three month extension on my license while the renewal was being processed.
Six weeks duly came and went and back I went to pick up my card. Stood happily in line in the (very short) pick-up queue, went happily to the counter. Long, worrying wait followed while drawers were rummaged through. No card yet, and I should come back later. This was due to 'computer problems'. Never a good thing to tell an IT person.
So I was a bit annoyed at the wasted journey but not too concerned. Another six weeks went by and now my temporary extension had expired. There still had not been notification in the post to collect my card but I couldn't drive around unlicensed so back I went.
Stood much less happily this time in the (much longer this time) pick-up queue, went eventually to the counter. Familiar long, worrying wait followed while drawers were rummaged through. No card. This time, just for variety, the lack of card was due to the fact that my fingerprints had been rejected 'by Pretoria'.
!&@#^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$
Threw a few toys (after all, they took the damn fingerprints!). Asked to see a supervisor or at least a written record of this problem. Clerk disappeared into the back and returned with supervisor. No, story not quite right, fingerprints were ok but photos were rejected 'by Pretoria'. Supervisor looked expertly at photos (I had the remainder of the set still in my bag) and airily proclaimed my head to be 'clearly too big'.
Actually I don't think it was intended to be taken personally but rather that the photographs were taken from too close, or too zoomed, or whatever, so the scanner 'in Pretoria' rejected them on grounds of insufficient contrast.
!&@#;^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$
They were the ones who accepted the damn photos in the first place!
So now I have no license and an expired extension and a wasted trip and I am pissed off in the extreme. But not to worry, the obvious thing to do is for them to extend my temporary extension, for me to supply some more photos, and for the application to be re-processed.
Ha.
The temporary extension can not be extended. I need to apply for a temporary license. I need to get two new photos for the new renewal application (locate photographers outside, wait for someone else to arrive so we can share the photo set as I have R27.45 and a set of four costs R40 or you can share with someone and each have two for R20 each), get my fingerprints redone, and fill out 'the green form'.
Swear my way through this lot and return to counter. Ah no. I also need R53 to apply for the temporary license! I also need an additional two photos for the temporary license! The two I just went outside to have done were for the new renewal application!
!&@#^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$^%$^!&@#&^$^%$
EXCEPT I DON'T HAVE R53 ON ME! I HAVE ONLY R7.45 ON ME!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH.
Get in car. Phone Peter to vent rage. Curse spectacularly. Peter, atypically and fortuitously, does not attempt conciliatory and reasonable comments. Shame. I think he was pretty scared. Drive (unlicensed, but very, very fast) all the way back home (good 10 km) to draw money. Have no idea where closer ATM is. Licensing department far away from anything familiar.
Draw money. Return to licensing department. Pay R53, hand over green form, photos for temporary license (draw modicum of comfort by using remains of photo set that were rejected 'by Pretoria'), fingerprints for new renewal application, and photos for renewal application.
Next time, will not bother to be good, cheerful example-setting citizen in first place.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Government has presented a final offer, with a 6pm deadline. We are waiting for news but not with much real hope.
I took today off as trying to work yesterday was a total disaster. Thankfully Peter's folks spent the day so I was able to lie miserably in solitude as much as I liked - this was a particular godsend with the ongoing strike. They are staying the night and we were going to go out for a late anniversary outing (Monday was our 13th) but I don't feel up to it unfortunately.
I took today off as trying to work yesterday was a total disaster. Thankfully Peter's folks spent the day so I was able to lie miserably in solitude as much as I liked - this was a particular godsend with the ongoing strike. They are staying the night and we were going to go out for a late anniversary outing (Monday was our 13th) but I don't feel up to it unfortunately.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
The girls' school re-opened today. The news on my car radio this morning said that according to the unions, "the strike is still very much on and the education department, calling for schools to re-open, is jeopardising the safety of school principals".
I can't help being a bit anxious about this situation. The girls are so desperate to get back to school that we didn't really consider keeping them at home again this morning. I hope we have not done the wrong thing. If I didn't have to be at work I might be more likely to wait a bit longer as they wouldn't then be bored and miserable at home - instead we would just work on our own projects at home. Numbers are sure to still be down at school as some parents will wait for the situation to settle down completely.
According to this recent news report, a resolution might be achieved quite soon. God I hope so.
More happily, we had a really nice weekend. I used to feel an urge to go out somewhere in order to have an enjoyable weekend; now, although I still enjoy outings, I am just as happy to enjoy what we have at home. This weekend, among other things, various members of our family
I can't help being a bit anxious about this situation. The girls are so desperate to get back to school that we didn't really consider keeping them at home again this morning. I hope we have not done the wrong thing. If I didn't have to be at work I might be more likely to wait a bit longer as they wouldn't then be bored and miserable at home - instead we would just work on our own projects at home. Numbers are sure to still be down at school as some parents will wait for the situation to settle down completely.
According to this recent news report, a resolution might be achieved quite soon. God I hope so.
More happily, we had a really nice weekend. I used to feel an urge to go out somewhere in order to have an enjoyable weekend; now, although I still enjoy outings, I am just as happy to enjoy what we have at home. This weekend, among other things, various members of our family
- went to a birthday party
- gave and received home-made Father's Day cards
- built a bonfire
- played swingball
- braai'ed
- went to watch the Comrades runners run through our area
- sat in the sun and read books
- had a party
- danced
- played musical statues
- made an island out of a molehill (complete with trees, dinosaurs, giant spiders, and many other creatures)
- enjoyed skipping (kids had never done the huge skipping rope type of skipping)
- trampolined
- played cricket (very briefly, child in question has negative interest in ball games of any sort)
- rode bikes
- soared through the air on the tyre swing
- learnt how to swing standing up
- giggled hysterically
- recorded music mixes
- choreographed a dance
- played a new game on the Nintendo DS
- watched The Human Stain (which I enjoyed more than the reviewers, evidently)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
If you're not in the country you may not have heard about the public servants strike which is now in its 12th day. Virtually all schools are closed now. The girls' school was one of those which initially took a decision not to join the strike (though our school had decided to cancel afternoon extra-murals to show a measure of support). On Wednesday last week at 9.30 we suddenly had to come and fetch our children as messages had been received about schooling being disrupted by protestors unless the other schools closed. So all remaining government schools closed down last week. Now this week even the private schools are closing due to the pressure from the unions.
I am amazed how effective and orderly this strike has been. Although there are now mutterings and rumours of things becoming violent (there are always rumours), to date it has been largely orderly and efficient and extremely systematic and well executed.
The girls are desperate to get back to school. I have been leaving them some pseudo school work to do (maths, reading, language, art suggestions) to try and keep them busy but it is impossible to do anything very interesting with them, not being there myself. Just Robyn's luck for a strike to happen the first year she starts to enjoy school. After five years of disliking or tolerating school (first preschool, then grade 1 and 2), she is now, to our amazement, positively inspired and enthusiastic. Lauren has been blazing trails through some maths worksheets which are way more advanced than what she does at school. Though she never says she is bored at school I can't help but wonder how this is possible or whether it can last.
Sunday was Robyn's 9th birthday. For her family birthday outing she chose a movie and supper at Spur. It is so sweet how excited the other siblings get when one of them has a birthday and how much they love choosing and giving presents. Robbie's presents were several lego sets, a swingball set, a junior version of 30 Seconds, and a craft set for making bead creatures.
I am amazed how effective and orderly this strike has been. Although there are now mutterings and rumours of things becoming violent (there are always rumours), to date it has been largely orderly and efficient and extremely systematic and well executed.
The girls are desperate to get back to school. I have been leaving them some pseudo school work to do (maths, reading, language, art suggestions) to try and keep them busy but it is impossible to do anything very interesting with them, not being there myself. Just Robyn's luck for a strike to happen the first year she starts to enjoy school. After five years of disliking or tolerating school (first preschool, then grade 1 and 2), she is now, to our amazement, positively inspired and enthusiastic. Lauren has been blazing trails through some maths worksheets which are way more advanced than what she does at school. Though she never says she is bored at school I can't help but wonder how this is possible or whether it can last.
Sunday was Robyn's 9th birthday. For her family birthday outing she chose a movie and supper at Spur. It is so sweet how excited the other siblings get when one of them has a birthday and how much they love choosing and giving presents. Robbie's presents were several lego sets, a swingball set, a junior version of 30 Seconds, and a craft set for making bead creatures.