They are putting up an electrified fence above their wall today and then I remembered the following…

Mending Wall by Robert Frost

Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
‘Stay where you are until our backs are turned!’
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of out-door game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, ‘Good fences make good neighbors’.
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
‘Why do they make good neighbors? Isn’t it
Where there are cows?
But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That wants it down.’ I could say ‘Elves’ to him,
But it’s not elves exactly, and I’d rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me~
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father’s saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, “Good fences make good neighbors.”

Week One

The first week started with a plane landing accompanied with a warm smile and hug from my aunt. She specially flew over for about 2 weeks to celebrate my gran’s 101 birthday.

Nelson Mandela Statue

We took her around Jozi, although a lot of time was spend with other friends of hers taking us out for dinner. Come to think of it, there’s not a lot of “touristy” places to take someone in this city besides Nelson being an awesome landmark in the square. Did I hear someone say a club or museum? This is my aunt y’all!

Nelson Mandela Statue Plaque

What I mean to say is that all urban cities are the same. They house places for people to work and do some sort of play. I reckon the real places to tour are actually found outside the city. Maybe next time, I would say that 2 weeks is definitely not enough time to visit family, friends and go on tours/Safari’s outside the city. I would appreciate some suggestions from fellow Jozians though.

She told me of my couz and his kids whilst pulling out a few dozen photos (just kiddin but there were quite a few) of the family and kids. They’ve growin up so fast (ages 5 & 7, or was it 7 & 9) if I remember correctly. The one thing that made me think is that she didn’t have to buy them any conventional toys as they play a lot of computer and or TV games. I reckon they will be fine as they’re fans of soccer at least… then again, I used to play a lot of games when I was yay-high and I didn’t turn out so bad?!

Soccer

It was a fantastic Saturday on ma gran’s big 101! Very bright, sunny and tons of people with plenty of smiles to go around. Not to mention plenty O good foood!

Smile!

Wish I could say the following day was as bright or as sunny but alas, I attended a friends’ grandmothers’ funeral. It reminded me of the loss of my grandfathers. I remember wanting to spend time and learn so much from them, something I couldn’t do as they passed away when I was young. One of the gentlemen that I met at my grans celebration told me that my grandfather was a great artist, a principal of one of the early Chinese schools built in South Africa and a good Tennis player. All of which I didn’t know, it triggered that want again as well as the thought to follow. There is nothing I can do to gain that time.

Week Two

This week went as most work weeks went with the exception of a lot intake of human fuel during the evenings, as it was my aunt’s last week. I did get to spend time with my dad’s cousin and their family during the refuelling evenings. We said our good-byes on Friday, she said that I should visit them sometime. Side-note: I think those parking bay occupation detectors are such a good idea.

Waking up early on a Saturday is not my thing but this time, I was willing to make the sacrifice. Crisply iron a pair of black trousers, black shirt and double windsor a black tie. I make one last check in the mirror and step out the door…

As I walk through the entrance, I take a glance down the rows before signing a donation. I see quite a few people already seated upto the entrance foyer and at the tip of the horizon, the casket and several people standing on either side of my view. I wanted to walk down that isle but the thought of “this can’t be happening” caused me to pause. Just then, new visitors entered, passing me and immediately try to locate seats at the rear. At first, I make a step to follow them but then the thought crossed me that “this is the last time that you will get to see her and you won’t even take up the courage to simply walk past a whole lot of people? You just can’t afford to be proud at moments like these”. I walk down the isle feeling eyes poking me at the back of my neck but all that fades as I approach the small glass window stopping two steps away so as to not see too much detail. I tried to stop my mind and eyes but a sea of memories and thoughts came rushing through my softy receptors.

Taking a few steps towards the right row first, then the left row, I tearfully greeted the immediate family before taking a seat in the side hall (all the seats were now taken). I kept thinking to myself that I can’t believe she’s gone but I was comforted and agreed with many of the words that were spoken at the pulpit. “She was selfless”, “one of her ministries was to help out kids that have lost a parent or both”, “she ran a nursery and tried to make ends meet even though she didn’t taking anything or little from some that couldn’t afford to pay”, “she helped raise funds for the old age home”, “she was keen to play her role and not fight to acquire any title”, “she truly led a life that followed Christ and pleasing God”. One of the things spoken that really got to me was that “she secretly wrote everyones name in a journal and prayed for them everyday”… I shouldn’t be sad. She has done much work, leaving a great legacy and many will agree with me, that she has moved on to a better place. Let us try to aspire to at least half her legacy. I still remember her helping me grow my first plant.

We will miss you Ing Mee Blanche Brown. [1929 ... 2008]

Week Three

Chinatown

Please forgive me for not remembering what happened during this week, its probably ‘cos its mostly filled with work anyways… but Saturday was basically an all day gaming marathon which started around 9am till 1am. I did have a break or two. The day started with me leading a driving pack and forgetting to take an offramp (where’s a GPS when you need one?); fighting a war that never ends; chasing some evil looking floating hero around a Dota map with my rockets and lazer beam; not turning a firewall off hence delaying some gameplay (believe me, I tried all the trust options); blasting some dinosaur things and bugs; shooting some aliens and healing some marines in armour from a top down view… and ended with a few zombies getting their heads and other limbs blown off. Contrary to popular belief, this is no way to rest and relax yet it is an effective way to de-stress. ; )

Week 0.6

Right, time to hit the road…

Work work research work shopping work work work…

~ CA

So I’ve been away for a little while, kinda like taking a paintball holiday but I recently got to practise with the guys this past weekend…

How did it go? …it was in short…awesome!

You know how it feels to not eat a lot of things with sugar for awhile, then when you do, it tastes so sweet. Or to not eat McD’s for ages (like a year or so), then to savour each moment of what they now call the McFeast burger (I remember it used to be the “Olympic burger”, funny that, it’s the Olympics now mmm grilled barbeque sauce. Does anyone else share the same notion when I say that the other burgers and meals taste a bit bland after eating a McFeast?!

What specifically made it so awesome?

Spending time with the guys, sometimes, you just need to take a break from your other fast paced life and enjoy the adrenalin rush that flying pigments give you.

I did have one moment. It twas me, Brian and Jono vs Clint and Pat, Brian was at mid left, Jono mid right and I was right back, I know, sounds unfair but this was about the time I had my moment… Brian and Jono had Clint and Pat pinned whilst I gave cover fire for them to move up. I was right at the back (right back can), then pushed to a little before mid, when I saw that they were pinned behind their respective cans (one in each corner), I decided to bolt straight down the line, marker facing forward whilst occasionally blazing off a few towards the opposite corner, I rushed around the corner of the bunker whilst trying to not “let rip” until the last possible moment and found Clint facing away towards Brian. I squeezed off a few, sorry Clint, then moved on towards Pat at the opposite can. I was quite lucky that Jono’s dye painted him first as my ammo depleted just after running past Clint.

I think most of it was spent on the cover fire… future tip nicely pointed out by Pat, make sure you’re fully loaded before attempting any “bolts of glory”.

www.SaintsPaintball.co.za

“Okay, I know this is a bit sick, but seriously what are the chances of this happening? (I just killed these two that were attacking me) ” ~ PhoeniX

1. Laptop – easier to setup and to take down
2. Spare network cable – you or someone always forgets
3. Extra portable hard disk drives – to copy stuff you wanna watch later (DVD’s…don’t be stupid)
4. Pillow – essential softness
5. Sleeping bag – ever heard of catching a cold?
6. Blow up mattress and thingymajig to blow it up for you (if you’re lucky enough to get one)
7. Some dosh, moola, bucks, greenery – useful for acquiring human fuel
8. A six pack of your favourite energy drink – mine being PowerPlay
9. Extra snacks – so you don’t have to get up
10. Get the seat closest to the sleeping, relieving or exit area.
11. Headphones headphones headphones!
12. Make sure you install before.
13. Bring “drivers” and a toolkit in case – you never know
14. Uber Big Coffee flask
15. Last and definately not least…Coffee!

TTFN

~ CA