Tonight I interviewed John Bayley, who’s been down to SA on holiday in October, and he tells us about place he went to in SA, what he saw and experienced.

From Johannesburg to Addo, Oudshoorn to Hermanus, Cape Town to Windhoek …. The Baz Bus, the Dolphin Statue in Plett, and everything in-between.

Special mention for the Harbour Vue Guest House in Hermanus, and I quote “From Mossel bay, we went to Hermanus and stayed at a fantastic Guest House (called “Harbour Vue”) — we simply cannot recommend this highly enough: Barry is a God to me !”

John, thank you again for talking to me about your trip to SA.

Saffa Kakhuis (Ron) het sy eerste potgooi gegooi, gaan check dit uit by www.kakpot.com (rss feed om te subscribe: http://www.kakpot.com/kakpot.rss ) Hy vertel so n bietjie van homself, speel n paar songs en n gedig of 2.

Nico Baird is ook al weer aan die woel al die pad van Bloemfontein af, en het n Afrikaanse Fotografie Podcast nou beskikbaar by www.fotopret.co.cc   – Net vir die record Nico – dis POTGOOI nie podcast nie   Anyway, die potgooi word aangebied deur Igno Van Niekerk. So vir jou tips en trieks oor fotografie, gaan luister sommer vandag nog daarna !

Om nie te vergeet van Skaaptivis, Goggabyt, Cybersakkie, Die Moddereiland Potgooi, Afrikaans in Sydney, Janie in Spanje, The ZA Show, en dan natuurlik daar nog Die Uitsaaines - Die Afrikaanse Internet Radio Stasie

Natuurlik kan ek nie van Alexander vergeet nie – check sy blog uit www.afrikaanslondon.co.uk

Nou die dat ek wil kla en kerm nie, maar ons het nog meer potgooie en potgooiers nodig – kompetisie is goed, dit hou die res op die punte van hulle tone. My tone krul sommer om as ek dink ons het nou 4 potgooiers in London – hoe lyk dit nou met nog n paar uit die res van Engeland / Skotland / Wales of Ierland uit ??? Wat van die VSA ….. Europa …. die Ooste ….. New Zealand, India ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  So kan ek aangaan en aangaan. COME ON, moet dat ons vir jou wag nie.

So daar is iets vir almal om na te luister, en as jy nie iets kan kry om na te luister nie (of wat nie na jou smaak is nie), stel ek voor jy begin dink daaraan om jou eie potgooi te gooi !! Dis regtig baie maklik, sal jou niks kos nie, behalwe n bietjie tyd om te record. Ek sal jou help om die ding van die grond af te kry, so laat weet as jy belangstel.

Ek het Maandag-aand gekyk, en lyk my nie die bliksem update iTunes nie …. hoekom sal ek nie weet nie, maar ek het nou weer terug geskuif na podpress toe – wat ek weet ek werk ….

As jy enige problem het om die mp3’s te download of te luister, laat weet my asb.

Musiek deur Thys Nywerheid (dankie Dawid), oor Kirkwood, en ek kan nie nog ondou waaroor alles nie.

Ons kom ontmoet Vrydag aand in Clapham – as jy wil saamkom, of ons daar ontmoet, laat weet my. Hoe meer hoe beter soos hulle se. Kyk hier na waar die pub is (link na die pub se website) So kom join ons !!

En dit is dit vir vanaand.

Ek begin met Jack Parow se “Jy dink jy is cooler as ekke”, praat oor Afrikaanse musiek, 15 jaar getroud, Nina wat more ingaan om vir Boeta te gaan haal, en n ontmoeting volgende Vrydag-aand in Clapham (miskien) Speel uit met “onder draai die duiwel joints”

Dis dit vir die week ….. laat weet wat julle dink van Jack

PS Dankie Jack Parow vir die songs.

Ek het op www.watkykjy.co.za se website n post gesien oor Jack Parrow  , waar hulle ook n song van hom opgesit het. Na die song “Cooler as Ekke” geluister, en ek like dit. n Paar (goeie) vloekwoorde in, maar dit fase my nou nie. 

Hy beskryf homeself as “Jack Parow Is ‘n gevaarlike afrikaanse romantiese superster rapper uit die rowwe gange van N1 City.” Kom glo n CD uit 20 November uit. (Sal moet kyk of ek n copy kan kry)
Ek het hom sommer so op die ingewing van die oomblik n email vir hom gestuur, en hy het vir my 3 van sy songs ge-email – wat ek die naweek op die potgooi gaan insit.

Installation nie te moeilik nie, en hy het self die ou potgooi episodes ingetrek ….. painless eintlik, sal sien of hy iTunes update, wat die die groot vraag en toets gaan wees.

So as jy enige probleme het met die feeds /potgooi files, laat weet my asb.

20 Gb White, Shuffle, 80 Gb, iPhone and the new baby, iPod Nano 16Gb

Die Potgooi is op my nuwe iPod Nano opgeneem ……. en ek het so n bietjie background music ingesit ook. Laat weet wat julle dink

Ek moan so n bietjie oor mense wat my afpiss, hoe ek in Waterloo opeindig – en al die stasie tussenin mis …… en myself n lateform moet gee by die werk …..

Enjoy !

PS Comments altyd welkom

So ek gaan nie vanaand n potgooi maak nie, die bek is te seer om te gesels. Miskien more of Sondag, sal sien hoe dit gaan.

So stel ek die tandarts uit en uit, today ek heeltemal daarvan vergeet – tot eergister toe, toe die tand my remind dat hy nie reg is nie. Sukkel die laaste 2 aande om te slaap, want my bek is seer ( seker hoekom ek so moerig is die laaste paar dae ook). Voel asof iemand op my kop gedabs het, en vir goodluck sommer n paar keer die kant van my kop geskop het.

Kyk op die Internet, en kry n tandarts wat naby my is. Bel, en gelukkig bo geluk kan hulle my sien vandag om die tand uit te sort. Gaan my omtrent 100 Gbp kos om die ding te last trek, maar fokkit, betaal dit enige tyd om van die pyn ontslae te raak !

Ek is natuurlik kak bang vir n tandarts – maar ek kan dit nie langer uitstel nie !!!

Wish me luck ek gaan oor 20 min daar wees

Jy staan tog vroeg genoeg op om alles klaar te maak, en dan die pad werk toe te vat – of verstaan ek dit verkeerd ?

So now the contract is up for renewal, and I thought that I would go into the store, and get Anja a new phone. Mind you I have had a look on the internet, and they say that I can upgrade for free. No problem, would expect the same service, as it is a Vodafone shop, in Kingston High Street ….. how fucking wrong can you be …….

Stand there and wait for the people to finish (shop was very busy – but no problem). Get this woman sitting behind the counter, greet her all nice, and ask her if I can upgrade my phone and change the package as well. Looks at me with her sour face ….. (should be able to curdle milk !), taps away on the keyboard (reminded me of the “computer says nooooo” woman !) , and says in a snotty tone “yes you can upgrade, but the phone will be £140 !”  Thought to myself – Fuck off …. on the nest I can upgrade for free. Asked her about upgrading on the net says fro free, she just looked at me, and says “well, then upgrade on the internet then …….. ”

Now let me just mention this as well, this is the same shop that lost Anja’s phone a few months ago when it went in for repairs – because one of their salesman was to stupid / incompetent to complete the a simple form.

Now this makes me wonder why Vodafone even bother to open shops on the High Street, when they employ people that looks like they don’t want to be there. Such a shame – 2nd time that I have received shit service from them.

Anyway, went to Phones4U, and the guy working there got me upgraded (still on Vodafone as Anja wants to stay with them !) in 15 min, the phone I (Anja) wanted, at no cost. So why the fuck could Vodafone not do it themselves ? Because these “people” working in Kingston Vodafone shop got no idea – think they should all be fired !!

So hier is n boodskap vir al die politicians, tree huggers, almal wat strike, en so kan ek aangaan !!

Check my kontak details uit op www.jdv.tel (as jy in kontak wil kom)

Gaan net goed geruik wat verniet beskikbaar is op die web, ie om jou soundfiles te host ens.

Geluk aan Eben ook met jou verjaarsdag !

Gaan na www.goggabyt.com toe, click op die potgooi blad, en luister na die potgooi (en los haar n comment om te se julle het geluister !!)

Ons trap toe eers vas by Nando’s – kan nie genoeg daarvan kry nie – lekker stukkie hoender, maar Fran was so n bietjie oorgretig, en het die Hot betsel. My bek het gebrand asof n duisend skatters vuur gemaak het in my bek – want ek verkies meer die med as hot Nando’s. Dit het vir my meer smaak (of ek is maar net n bang gat wat nie die hot kan handle nie – besluit maar self !)  Die ander ding waarvan ek like by Nando’s, is daai custard pie’s wat hulle maak – kan nie die naam ondou nie, maar dis moer lekker. Ek het dit die 1st keer in Lisboa (Lisbon) ge-eet, en van toe af so half en half verslaaf daaraan geraak. Kan nie daar gaan eet sonder om tenminste een vir myself te koop nie. het vandag 2 gekoop, en hulle staan hier langs my, reg om verorber te word. (Cybersakkie het daarvan gepraat in sy laaste potgooi, gaan luister !)

Met die terug stap, loop ek toe sommer vinnig by Game in (verkoop net games / consoles – hence die naam !), sien dat hulle die Wireless Adaptor vir Xbox het, en koop hom sommer. Met die wat ek till toe sluip, sal ek sien hulle het ook n kabel, wat jy jou Xbox op n PC Monitor kan speel – en siende ek het n extra monitor, gryp ek die ook sommer. (hulle roep dit n VGA Cable)

Kom terug by die huis, plug die wireless adapter in, en hy tel die netwerk op, so daar is hy online – no fuss. Die VGA Cable, ook ingeplug, die PC screen opgekoppel en daar werk hy. Die kleur is darem baie beter as wat dit op n TV is. Waar is die ou dae toe dit omtrent onmoontlik was om n netwerk by die huis op te stel, om nie eerst te praat van online gaming nie …..

So dit was / is my Sondag …… niks gedoen nie, en tog baie gedoen.

PS … Nog net van Phil af gehoor met n soundfile vir die reload potgooi wat ek wil maak – waar is die res ??

• Geluk aan Attie en Lene met die geboorte van hulle dogter.
• Potgooi Reloaded
• Nuwe Afrikaanse Potgooi deur Chris de Bruyn – www.skaaptivis.com
• www.afrikaans.me website – as jy n potgooi wil maak sal ek hom host vir jou
• dik gat in die server kamer
• iPhone stadig na 3.0 software upgrade ?
• Anja se vakansie, en Nico Baird wat een van die dae trou
• Facebook se Farmville
• irecord en designer baies

En dis die potgooi vir vanaand. Hy gaan ook gepublish word as n once off op www.afrikaans.me (net om die feed aan die gang te kry)

Chris de Bruyn het sy maiden Potgooi vandag gegooi, kyk sommer nou na sy website – www.skaaptivis.com

Ek sit en luister nou na hom, en ek moet se ek is impressed, dis glad nie sleg nie. Baie aangenaam om n nuwe stem op die Potgooi scene te hoor. Het baie lekker gepraat oor n hele paar dinge, van waar hy af kom, AC/DC tot die ou Suid Afrikaanse Vlag ! (en hy het notas gemaak vir die show, goed wat ek NOOIT doen nie !)

Hy werk nog aan die website, so jy kan nog nie comments los nie, maar dit sal kom, alles gebeur nie oornag nie.

Well done met die Potgooi ! ! Sien uit na die volgende een.

Ek besit n domain name, www.afrikaans.me, en kan dit gebruik om n site op te sit, waar mense hulle potgooie kan publish, totdat hulle kans sien om hulle eie ding aan die gang te kry (of hulle kan dit permanent van die website af publish)

Ek kan ondou Boerseun het dit probeer so n paar jaar terug, en hy het vir Machiel en Charlene (www.potgooi.nl) en vir Rudi “Chivas” de Wet (www.dewetonline.com) aan die gang gekry.

Dis baie maklik eintlik om n potgooi te maak, en te publish. Jy het nie n meesters graad in rocket science nodig nie, inteendeel, jy moet net n bietjie common sense he, en nie bang wees om na jou eie stem te luister nie.

So nou wil ek die ding aan die gang probeer kry, en kyk of ons nie nog n paar potgooie hier vanaf die Moddereiland op die interweb kan kry nie. Baie maklik:

• Laat weet my as jy belangstel, en ek help jou met so n paar ideas, en tips. (al die software wat jy nodig het is verniet op die internet, al wat jy nodig het is n mike as jy op n computer record, of n mike vir jou ipod)
• Neem n potgooi op op jou computer / ipod / voice recorder.
• Ek sal jou n address gee om die potgooi na toe op te laai.
• Ek gee jou access na die website toe, jy laai jou show notes, en skryf jou dinge.
• Link die soundfile na jou show notes toe, en publish.
• Jou potgooi is op die web ……
• OF …. ek sal al die werk agter die screens doen, jy record net die show, upload hom na my toe, en ek sal sorg dat dit gepublish word !

Nou los ek dit julle om oor te dink vir n dag of so, en dan my n email te stuur, en ons kan jou potgooi aan die gang kry.

Nie te lank wag voor jy my email en se jy wil n potgooi maak nie – doen dit sommer nou !!!!!!

Skaatscats …. weg

Potbollie …. weg

Potgooi.nl…. hulle maak huis reg / kinders groot – Tyd vir n moerse comeback dink ek !

Cybersakkie …. hy gooi nog – waar is die nuwe een vir die week ?

Massyn …. leef jy nog, wat maak jy, en wanneer hoor ons ?

Rudi “Chivas” de Wet …. heeltemal verdwyn – laas gehoor maak kinders groot

Boerseun (en dogter) …. het retire – dink dis tyd om uit retirement te kom !

Attie en Lene …. kind / eie besigheid / nog een oppad (good luck Lene – dis ALLES ATTIE SE SKULD !!)

FP de Wet …. speel minder rugby, en maak n potgooi saam met jou suster.

Nakie, Kaas en Kie …. Nakkie is terug SA toe, en nou MIA (om nie eers van Kaas en Kie te praat nie !)

The ZA Show …. Ons Ingels man doen dit nog – selfs nou n video stream as hy record.

Die Moddereiland Potgooi …. Het retire, weer begin, weer retire, en nou weer terug. Supposed om elke week te gooi, kry dit nie altyd reg nie.

Janie in Spanje …. lanklaas van gehoor, maar ek weet sy is op Uitsaaines !

(Wie het ek vergeet ……. ? )

Dit is heeltemal te fokken stil op die oomblik, heeltemal te min gaan aan ! Kom maak n plan ! Ons behoort ons koppe in skande te laat sak dat ons so kak is ! Ek weet daar is ander potgooie, maar dis waar dit begin het so n paar jaar terg !!

Ek het gisteraand n potgooi probeer record, en toe ek vanoggend daarna luister het ek besef dis een wat ek nie kan laai nie …..   Sal hopelik vanaand n potgooi opneem, een wat sin maak.

My Twitter URL, www.twitter.com/moddereiland , so sign op, en kyk wat se kak en kwyt raak daarop.

Looking at the line up, they only have 3 players of colour playing today, with the bulk of the players being from European heritage. Now don’t get me wrong, if you play sport at that level, then you have needed to earn that, but I do think that there should be more players in the team that is from non European heritage.

Now I know a lot of people is going to tell me I am going a bit soft in the head with a statement like that, and a place in any team needs to be earned. Agree with that, but do you want to tell me that in a country like SA, that there is not more players that can play up at that level, or be able to make it into the SA team.

Might not go down to well with a lot of people, but i do think that it’s become time that the National Team should be more representative of the population of SA.

Look at the 7’s team as an example, and they won the title this year. How about a few of them in the Springbok side in the near future ?

Kan wees nou dat Anja SA toe is, is die huis baie stil. Niemand om te terg nie ….. “kom terug Anja, alles is vergewe !”

Die week het ek vir ons n Intranet by die werk geskryf. het nog so n bietjie werk nodig, maar die buls is klaar. Hopelik kan ek dit volgende week launch vir die staff. Moet net eers die grootbaas se permission kry. Verder probeer ek n .xls spreadsheet bou vir HR, wat na dinge soos vakansie, siek, laat ens kyk. Alles in een screen uitgooi, sodat as jy na die speadsheet kyk, jy onmiddelik weet wie wat gedoen het. Makliker gese as gedoen, maar dit sal ook volgende week klaar geskryf kom.

Dan natuurlik die naweek is dit weer rugby ….. SA v NZ, verlede week dit amper gemis, maar die week is ek daar. Party is weer aan die naweek. Sondag gaan ons vriende ontmoet in Windsor – sien nogal daarna uit – en hopelik sommer n Potgooi ook opneem van daar af.

Wel dis dit, het nog so n paar uur voor ek kan pak en move, en die naweek in alle erens kan begin.

Gister op die lughawe het ek nogal redelik baie mense gesien wat met die surgical masks rondgeloop het – gratnted meeste van hulle lyk asof hulle van die “Ooste” af gekom het. Nou wonder ek of die masks regtig help, en of die mense wat dit dra nie soos n poephol voel met die masker op nie.

Iemand by ons werk het vandag die email gestuur, oor hoe die Swine Flu hulle laat voel het, en hoe die medies spannetjie haar so n bietjie van n run-a-round gegee het, maar lees self …

Good Morning,

I thought I would just send a quick email to everyone as I am sure you heard that I have had the Swine Flu and just thought that I could maybe shed a little bit of light on the subject and let you know my experience and symptoms.

First I would like to point out that although I still have a chest infection, there is only a 5-6 day incubation period for adults and 6-8 for children, so there is no need to worry as there is no way that any one could catch this from me now as it has been over 8 days.

The first symptom that I got was headaches; I then felt my chest going tight with a tickling cough. The rest of the symptoms come on quickly after that (within 24 hours) –  temperature and deliriousness, diarrhoea, vomiting, difficulty breathing and aching body.

At first I had no idea on how to go about this as I have heard that you are not allowed to go to the Doctors Room. I did attempt to call NHS direct Helpline however, they are only interested in talking to people that have underlying health problems (like asthma and heart conditions). I then called my Doctors rooms and they gave me yet another help line to call. This helpline was an automated system and the first advice given was to call your doctors room and discuss they symptoms. So after going around in circles I called the Doctors Surgery and insisted on speaking to someone. I eventually received a call back from my Doctor later in the day and discussed the symptoms and he confirmed that it was Swine Flu and prescribed the Tamiflu. My husband had to collect the prescription and the medication with Identification (The doctor explained that this is a according to the government rules).

The Tamiflu seems to control some of the symptoms, however the medication does make you feel nauseous and tired.

This Swine Flu is very similar to the flu but the red flag would be to watch your temperature and those with asthma to watch the chest infection. All I can suggest is that once you have at least 3 of the symptoms to attempt to get the Tamiflu.

Regards,

 

Leanne

Gelukkig is sy darem nou okay, en weer terug by die werk.

Laat hoor bietjie van jou as jy na die Potgooi geluister het …

Malware en viruses …. nog nie n probleem in die laaste 2 jaar met die Mac opgetel nie. Maar in elke geval laat ons nou nie weer die Mac v Windows debat begin nie.

As jy nou n goeie program wil gebruik om jou (windows) masjien te scan, gaan na www.malwarebytes.org toe , en download die free version. Install hom, scan jou masjien, en kyk wat daar op jou hard drive wegkruip …..

Almal weet ek is n baie groot fan van enige iets Apple, maar hulle (Apple) is besig om my gat te krap. Sit en kyk nou n add op die Tv oor die nuwe iPhone, en skielik is dit nou die nuwe uitvinding wat jy kan copy en paste op n iPhone, of nog beter, jy kan nou MMS stuur met jou iPhone. Fok weet, dis nie rocket science nie, baie ander mobile phones kan dit al vir jare doen, hoekom vang Apple nou eers op.

Ek het nou my werk email ook op my foon (Exchange) en dit werk soos n droom. Maklik om op te stel, en dit werk, no fuss. Downer van dit is dat hulle (die werk) my nou enige tyd in die hande kan ry, maar dit beteken ek kan van my desk af beweg, en nog steeds in kontak bly.

Elk geval, Apple, sort die kak uit met die nuwe iPhone G’s (battery wat nie charge hou nie, die iPone wat warm raak en nog so n paar dinge wat ek van hoor waaroor die mense moan), sodat ek vir my een kry !

Hoeveel manier het ons om in kontak te bly ?

• SMS
• Blogg
• MMS
• Mobile phone
• Landline foon
• Twitter
• Skype
• Email by die huis
• Email by die werk
• Potgooi / Podcasting …
• Facebook
• MySpace
• Messenger / Yahoo Chat / Google Talk

(Voel so al asof ek iets vergeet het in die lys ……)

Hoveel mense ken jy wat NIE n mobile (cell) foon het nie?

• Ek ken 1 ( Dis iemand wat saam met my werk nogal !)

En dan natuurlik my groot ou fav van alles(en niks met tech uit te waai het nie);

Hoeveel Suid Afrikaners wat op die Moddereiland bly, wat die hele dag kla hulle is nie gelukkig hier nie, oor die “Engelse” wat almal dose is, en hoe kak dit hier is (van die weer af tot die verkeer) – en sommer lus is om terug te gaan Suid Afrika toe, maar dat dit ook opgefok is, en hulle nooit weer hulle voete daar sal sit nie.

Nou wonder ek weer – IS (PARTY) MENS OOIT TEVREDE MET ENIGE IETS WAT IN HULLE LEWENS AANGAAN ?

• notes op stukkies papier
• n paat lighters (x4)
• n hand vol penne (almal cheap)
• 2 notebooks
• 2 gig memory key
• 4 gig memory key
• 16 gig memory key
• 80 gig ipod
• 8 gig iphone
• cable vir my iphone / ipod
• earphones
• sambreel
• Lite koerant (free newspaper wat jy by die stasie kry)
• geel neon marker
• business card holder
• huis se sleutels

Dit verbaas my al die goed wat ek saam met my dra elke dag, en die sad part is, ek gebruik meeste van die goed (ja, elke memory key het software op / encrypted files wat ek gebruik !)

Dink miskien moet ek van party van die goed ontslae raak, maar dan soos dit gaan, los ek dit by die huis more, en dan het ek dit by die werk nodig.

Nou wonder ek wat dra ander mense in hulle sakke rond ? (net soveel kak kak soos ek ?)

Ek het die foto’s van die vetkoek op my Flickr Account gelaai, of kyk op Facebook na die foto’s.

]]> http://devries-inter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=239 2 18:20 Daar is ek weer terug na n week of so wat ek nie n Potgooi gemaak het nie. Praat sommer so oor MJ se memorial, ... Daar is ek weer terug na n week of so wat ek nie n Potgooi gemaak het nie. Praat sommer so oor MJ se memorial, die koste van goed oor die algemeen, Anja se SA Trip, verkoek wat ek vandag gemaak het, en my 13de birthday. Ek het die foto's van die vetkoek op my Flickr Account gelaai, of kyk op Facebook na die foto's. Potgooi Johan de Vries no No http://devries-inter.net/blog/?p=239http://www.devries-inter.net/mep/modder_20090712.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/moddereiland/~3/XnQKid0k79c/ http://devries-inter.net/blog/?p=235#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:46:13 +0000 johan@devries-inter.net (Johan de Vries) http://devries-inter.net/blog/?p=235 Vanaand was MJ se “farewell” gewees, en ek het die “highlights” (as jy dit kan noem) gesien, terwyl ek gewag het dat CSI Miami begin het.

Die hele MJ saga raak nou n bietjie baie vir my, want dis al waaroor almal nou aangaan. Hoe goeie mens hy was, hoe hy omgegee het vir die mense, die aarde, die fokken kakkerlakke, en al die kak stories wat daarmee gepaard gaan. Dis nou dieselfde mense wat so 2 weke terug bets wou opsit dat MJ nie n verskeining gaan maak in die O2 nie, en dat hy die konserte gaan afstel. Om nie eers te praat van die sad fokkers wat selfmoord pleeg nie, want hulle hero is dood. Come on, get a grip !

Miskien is ek n bietjie kras en ongevoelig, want hy was iemand se pa / broer / seun, maar die hele storie vanaand was vir my een groot stage show as enige iets ander. Meer n grotesque display van wie daar gesien is, en hoe hulle pose vir die kamera. Ek het die laaste 10 min so sit en kyk, en hier teen die einde toe hulle al die mense op die stage opbring, kon jy sien almal wornder waar die kamera is, en sodra die kamera op hulle wys, dan sing en klap hulle, waai die arms in die lug ……. lyk erg bedroef.

Hoeveel van dit show, en hoeveel voel hulle regtig ? Is dit maar net n kwessie van op die regte tye en plekke gesien word ? Dis wat ek dink.

Wat my so n bietjie laat crack het, was toe sy dogter teen die einde haar speech gemaak het (was dit gestage wonder ek nou ?) Het my laat dink aan die dag toe ons my pa se memorial in Hermanus gehou het, en daai raw emotion wat ek gevoel het, wat deur my gehardloop het. Die wanhoop, en magtelose gevoel wat jy het, dat daar niks is wat jy kan doen of se nie. Niemand kan enige iets se om jou beter te laat voel nie.

En nou na amper 8 jaar vandat my pa dood is, raak ek nog so nou en dan n bietjie moedeloos (magteloos). Saterdag was een van daai dae gewees. Ek kan nie ondou wat dit was nie, maar ek het myself gevra “Sal die ou toppie dit nou gelike het nie?” Snaaks net, hoe ons totsiens se, maar nooit regtig goodbye nie.

Dit bring my nou weer terug na MJ toe, en die freak show vandag;

• Was hy (MJ) n groot invloed op my ? Nee
• Gaan ek vanaand in my kussing huil dat hy dood is ? Nee

Ek weet nie, maar die hele memorial was vir my (net so n bietjie) vals gewees, so n bietjie “te” gewees, maar each to his own.

Die jaar wat die hele werled varander het – op sy kop gedraai is, van die Berlyn muur wat plat gemoer is, tot Mandela wat op sy lang pad begin het. Die jaar wat ek my kinder skoene uitgeskop het, en die grootmens wereld gejoin het.

Lees die post waar ek 1989 vir myself opgesom het, en luister na Cybersakkie se potgooi ook !

Eerlik te wees kan ek hulle nie sien wen nie, en ek sal baie verbaas wees indien hulle enige van die toetse wen. Ek vewag om n klomp stick te kry daarvoor as hulle verloor, aangesien almak nou al teen die tyd weet dat ek my aangenome land se sport spanne ondersteun.

Wat dit lekerder maak, is dat ek nie hoef te reel dat ek n Saterdag kan afkry nie, of hoef een te swop om die game te sien nie. Met die nuwe job is ek in elk geval elke Saterdag af …..

So ons sal beslis n vuurtjie aansteek die naweek, n paar lank koue Magners knak, en Sondag-oggend weer soos die dood voel – maar dis beslis die moeite werd. Nou moet ek nog net vir Anja leer braai, en dan is alles in place vir n moerse party.

Praat nie meer met mense op die foon nie, gaan my tyd nou net gebruik vir IT / Web testing, desktop support, en om nog so n paar ander goed te doen. (En ek hoef nie meer Saterdae te werk nie !!!!!!! Yeah haaa !!) 

AT FUCKING LAST, het nie gedink dit sal ooit gebeur nie, en daar moer hulle die wind uit my seile uit vandag !! Ek is so gelukkig soos n hond met 10 trille vanaand. 

Wat kan ek se, life is sweet vanaand !

I have said my piece, done my bit (maybe a bit overboard), and with that it seems the friendship bond’s been broken. From that I take it that the friendship was not that important to start off, and maybe I have been used in a sly little ploy, a game maybe that I got caught up in. But enough of that, it’s over and done with. Lets move on. 

On the plus side, for every door that you think closes, there is also a door that opens.

On the theme of gut feeling – did I have a massive attack of man flu last week. First time in 2 years that I did not feel well enough to go to work for 2 days. Felt like a naughty schoolboy this morning when I got back to work, and there was a lot of piss taking when I got to work. But that is the nature of the bast.

So lets see what the rest of the weeks brings, if anything it cannot be worse than last week ….. bright eyed and bushy tailed again as from tomorrow.

I have been wondering about this for a while now, and have been giving it some thought. To tell you the truth, I cannot come up with a satisfactory answer to the question. Yes there is ways that you can “measure” friendship I suppose, but then the thing that bothers me, is that if you have to start to “measure” a friendship, then it is really worth keeping the “friendship” alive. 

I am one of those people in life (and I freely admit it), that might know a lot of people, will mingle with every one and anyone, but have a very select few people that I would call “true friends”, like I think most people have. 

But you get to a point, where you start to question the friendship, or certain actions, and the more objective you try and be, the more you see the flaws (not that I am flawless), and then you start getting a bit concerned, and start to question the friendship – which brings me back to my original question, how can you tell if someone is a real friend.

Rather confusing to say the least, but I have learned one thing in my life, and that is to go by my gut instinct or feeling. Yes, it’s failed me once or 2 in 38 years, but it’s normally spot on. So the natural conclusion would be, do you “trust” this person, and what is your gut feeling (and I am not even going to go into trust – will be here the rest of the year) 

You know what, I think I have answered my own question.

(Ek het al weer die datum verkeerd gekry, maar dis laat Sondag middag, so moenie worry nie!)

Bel die aap my van ons outsorced IT company my, maar ek kan hoor aan sy stem hy stress nogal heelwat. Hulle het een of ander lisensie probeer updat, en nou het dit ons email heeltemal opgefok.

Wil he ons moet allergande goed doen, maar as die emails nie inkom nie, maak ons nie geld nie. Vra hom hoelank dit gaan wees voor die emails weer gaan werk, naastenby.

Klim die fokker in my keel af, onbeskof, allergande verskonings en goeters – maar dis hulle wat dit opgefok het.

Ek wag nou vir more, en gaan hom dan aanvat. Hy kan so met sy eie staff praat, maar nie met my nie. Ons betaal hom vir sy werk, en nie om fokken slim te speel nie. Hy vergeet ons is sy klient. Die res van sy staff is goed – net jammer hulle werk vir so n groot doos.

Dis nou 6.00pm, en toe ek by die werk wet is, het dit nog steeds nie gewerk nie. More gaan ons fun he !

Congratulations on completing the requirements for the A+ IT Technician (220-602) certification. 
You became certified on 05/20/2009. 

Confirmation gekry, vir die baas gestuur by die werk, nie dat hulle veel gese het nie, ook maar net hulle se skouers opgetrek. 

Nou wonder ek, miskien moet ek n move maak, en kyk of ek permanent in IT kan inkom. In so n geval, luister mens na jou hart of jou kop ? Sal ek move of sal ek bly …. ?

 hope you can help me. 
At the Tricycle Theatre, from June we are welcoming two South African
productions – first is from the Baxter Theatre Centre, Cape Town; KAROO
MOOSE by Lara Foot Newton. It has won 14 awards back in South Africa, and
Cape Times described it as ‘An immersive, generous and soulful piece of
theatre’. 
After that, we welcome back David Kramer with his new show KOOS SAS: LAST
BUSHMAN OF MONTAGU. This piece is going to be performed in Afrikaans, with
English surtitles, and stars Loukmaan Adams
Jody Abrahams. 

We are really keen to engage a South African audience for the season,
particularly Afrikaans speakers who will hopefully jump at the chance of
seeing a piece in their native tongue, in London.

Do you think you might like to mention the season on your blog? Our website
is www.tricycle.co.uk.

Hope to hear from you soon,
Kind regards,

Elly Hopkins

Ready to join the grownup word, going on a 2 year (Army) adventure (at that stage it was still 2 years – but all changed very soon afterwords). At last being able to smoke in the open, and not skelm like I used to. Having a drink or two with my old man. His pride in me for going to the Army. 

1st Year in the Army (Mech Leader Wing, 1 SAI, Bloemfontein) and then shipping out to 61 Mech in Walvis (wanted to go to the border, but everything was being pulled back). Shooting guns, drinking and causing kak in Walvis and Swakop. Riots in Umlazi, the sarge we had, that pissed under a table in a night club, and the pulled his 9mm on someone that evening, threatening to shoot them. Can not remember his name for the live of me. 

From a laaitie to man within a year (with a lot of kak inbetween) – but looking back, one of the best years on my life.

A few weeks ago I signed up to do a A+ Certification Course, and was up in the city this week (11-14 May) to do the course. They course trainer, Jee, was probably on of the best trainers I have seen in a long time. Full of confidence, knew what he was talking about, and a very pleasant guy all round.  Could answer questions, and everything that goes with leading a class. 

How it works, is that you sign up with a collage, pay what is due, and then they tell you where to go to do the actual classes. Was a bit confusing, as they were not very clear on where I should go, but thanks to the iPhone and Googlemaps, managed to find the place. Typical “campus” – lots of rooms, with lots of PC. Normal run of the mill things. One the second day of the course, I asked why there were so many people standing in the passage. Explanation was that are “students” (and I use this phrase rather loosely) who’s come to sign on for their courses. The impression that I got was that they just come in, sign on, and then piss off again to carry on what they are doing (you fill in the rest !) One thing about these students, 95% foreign I think. 

But anyway, on the last day of the course I send a email off, to get my attendance certificate, and this was the email that I received back. So it looks like my email was forwarded, and then the person that got it, just hit forward again, and emailed it to me. Now I am not language purest, or claim to speak the Queens English at all, but if I send out a email from work, then at least I will check the spelling, make sure the subject like is relevant to the email, or message that I want to pass along to a client / supplier. 

This email I received is not doing a lot for my confidence with this collage that I signed up, if they struggle to send a email that is grammatically incorrect, makes me wonder if they would understand if I had a complex query. But thankfully, I don’t have to deal with them, as I have a test centre close to home, where I can go and write the test (and hopefully pass and get my certificate) 

To be fair, A+ is not rocket science, as it is very basic. Without wanting to sound to much like an arsehole, but there was a lot of the stuff that I knew, but there was a bit of learning as well. Saw a few things that will be very handy in my day to day job. 

So hopefully by next week I will have completed the test’s (and have passed), and can then start looking towards the next course that I want to do.

Margaret Beckett

The face of sin 1, 3, 6 and 9 ?

What a waste of space. Giving it all large last night, blaming everybody for the expenses fuck up – except herself. Trying to tell us that we as the public don’t understand, and that it is to complicated. BULLSHIT Margaret, you (and all the other politicians) are number 3 of the 7 sins – GREED. Money that you claim, can rather go for the troops in Afghanistan, who is getting killed due to the lack of equipment.

Very defiant last night (on Question Time), saying that she wont be paying back anything, even though she knows she is wrong. I hope that when the voters go to the polls, that she is voted out of politics, never to make a come back. Then she is trying to tell the public as well that we have bigger things to worry about – you are right. If you abuse your expenses like you have (and all politicians for that matter), how the fuck can they run a country ? or the get Economy sorted out ?

I think we need to send a clear message to these (morally) corrupt politicians in the next elections – vote them out ! !

Maybe they should have a look at the 7 sins, because they fit all the (UK and worldwide) politicians (and Bankers) like a glove: 

1. luxuria (extravagance)
2. gula (gluttony)
3. avaritia (avarice/greed)
4. acedia (acedia/discouragement)
5. ira (wrath)
6. invidia (envy)
7. superbia (pride)

So lets hope enough people is going to have the balls in the next election, and vote the self enriching MF’s out of politics for ever !

Each and every politician (in the UK) is  crook / thief / lair / out to line their own pockets. So I would like to suggest that we vote these fuckers out in the next elections. They are supposed to work for us, but no, fuck us (the public) they say, we will make ourselves rich, and that is that. Now they are saying they are going to pay some of these claims they have made back – to little to late. Dave and Gordon - stop moaning and groaning, and stop making false promises (that you will sort this scandal out !), because I don’t believe a word you are saying any more. 

I might as well vote for the BNP – because we know where we stand with them – but theses other crooks that is stealing without even thinking twice about it !!

I would go to say that even Zuma looks like an angel next to these clowns that is our MP’s …….

It grinds me that in a place like Tescos you have to do your own scanning (if the machine works !) and then gets these looks from the people standing and watching over your shoulder (the staff) standing there and watching you. God forbid if you ask for help, the looks you get is enough to kill (most of the time).

Saying that, in my local Tescos is this one woman that works on the cig. counter, and I have never seen her smile. Ask for something, and it is like asking her if you want to sleep with her (or if she swallows !). Always a look about her that scares me. Just waiting for the day that she is going to jump out from behind the counter, and stab me.

But anyway, enough slagging Tescos. They are cheap, not always cheerfull, but that is what we want.

Walked into KFC today in Baker Street, and they have a self service now as well. You place you order on this flatscreen, shuffle along to the next counter, pay what you owe, and then get in the Q and wait for your food. I think it is shit, might as well buy something from a vending machine (and they have more personality than some of these till jockeys ….) The companies using the self service counters are saving themselves some man hours / less staff, but no saving passed on to me, the consumer.

So I think from now on I am going to use places that have people on the tills, and if they don’t have any, then demand a person to serve me at a till.

(Reading this again, makes me sound like a grumpy old man, and I might be !)

They scream and shout about being proud to be South African, how much they miss the country, how South Africa is the best country in the world, and how much they would like to go back one day / at some stage to “their country” …….

Then in the same breath they slag South African off, from crime to corruption (and everything in between), to SA (maybe?) opening their borders for the Zims to come in without Visa’s. How they miss the “ousie”, “meid”, “maid”, “garden boy”, “gardener” or any other form of cheap labour that they might have had when they stayed in South Africa. Paid them peanuts, for long hours slaving away doing the house work, washing and ironing the cloths, cleaning the house, making the beds, cleaning up after them  …. and I can go on.  

But before I move to far away form my point here, these so called PSA’s are quick to open their mouths, and shout at the top of their voices “We told you so, you voted for the blacks / ANC, now they are fucking up the country”. “Zuma is a crook, he is going to take the country down” , or  ”Xenophobia – now they are going to kill each other again”, and then I saw “SA jobs for SA People” , “We moved because of the crime, and there is no work for us” 

Make no mistake, I am not for the ANC, or will ever vote for them, but the attitude of (some of) the ex-pats sometimes really just makes me shake my head in disbelief. If you want to moan and grown about “things back home”, the I hope you voted in the election last month, if not, then shut your mouth. If you want to make a difference,  pack your bags, give up your (foreign) passport and move back. Go and make a difference in SA, put your money where your mouth is.

Stop shouting shit from the sidelines (in the UK), stand up and be counted, move back, and go and make a difference !

I can get access to Twitter via the web, but would prefer to us a text to update to Twitter. One thing must be said about Twitter - wonderful little tool, but the Customer Support is SHIT SHIT SHIT ! 25 Days since I have asked them to delete my phone number, but still no luck – and only 2 replies in all that time. 

That is it for me and Twitter then, fuckit, taking that long to delete a number from the system …. not impressed with them at all.

Granted there is one or 2 few good acts, but that makes me wonder even more about this whole thing. Take as an example this you lad they had about 3 weeks ago – he starts singing, he gets stopped, and mercy me (no pun  on Duffy) SC tells him to sing another song, and just as luck would have it, he’s practised another song …… and ready to go.

Look at the video here (video) just look at SC’s face, he knew. As convincing as George W when they told him the WTC was bombed. All drama, stop the show, get another song on …… and then this little wonder is discovered amongst all this chaff. Funny that they discover at least 2  people every show. 

So I think, that they do “sex up” the show (a bit) – and lets face it, if it wasn’t for some of the fuckwits that makes you cringe with their “acts”, and make you hide behind the couch, then it would not be worth watching !

Subject: Membership Renewal

Dear David

This is a friendly reminder to let you know your gym membership expired
last week. Your membership is important to us and we would like to take
this opportunity to show our appreciation by offering you a 20% discount
on your membership renewal. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

All the best, Jeff Peters

From: David Thorne
Date: Wednesday 8 April 2009 1.37pm
To: Jeff Peters
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal

Dear Jeff,

Thankyou for your friendly reminder and the kind offer to reduce my
membership by twenty percent. I own a calculator but I could not work out
how to do percentages on it so have estimated that I save around $372.10
off the normal price of $420.00 – Please confirm that this is correct and
I will renew my membership immediately. Also, do I get a Fitness First
sports bag with towel and drinking bottle included in the price? I own my
own legwarmers and headband.

Regards, David.

From: Jeff Peters
Date: Thursday 9 April 2009 10.01am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Membership Renewal Due

Hello David

How did you come to that amount? Our half year membership fees are
actually $460 but with the 20% discount as an existing member your
renewing membership fee would be only $368 for the six months saving you
almost $100 off the normal price. We are not Fitness First so do not have
those bags.

Cheers, Jeff

From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 April 2009 10.18am
To: Jeff Peters
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Membership Renewal Due

Dear Jeff

Do I get free shipping with that?

Regards, David.

From: Jeff Peters
Date: Thursday 9 April 2009 12.48pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership Renewal Due

Free shipping with what? The $368 covers your membership fees for six
months.

From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 April 2009 2.26pm
To: Jeff Peters
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership Renewal Due

Dear Jeff

By the power of Greyskull that is a lot of money but I admit to being in
desperate need of increasing my body strength. My ten year old child often
turns the taps off in the bathroom very tightly and I have to go several
days without washing. I feel bad constantly having to ask the lady from
next door to come over and loosen them for me, what with her arthritis and
limited wheelchair access to my apartment. To be honest, I originally
joined your gym with full intentions of attending every few days but after
waiting in vain for someone to offer me steroids, I began to suspect this
was not going to happen and the realisation that I may have to exercise
instead was, quite frankly, horrifying. My aversion to work, along with
the fact one of your employees, Justin, was rather rude, telling me to
‘lift this’, ”push that’ dulled my initial enthusiasm of becoming
muscular and I stopped attending.

Regards, David.

From: Jeff Peters
Date: Friday 10 April 2009 9.17am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership Renewal Due

Hello David

Not sure how to take your email, nobody here would offer you steroids, it
is illegal and none of our staff would do this. Justin is one of our most
experienced trainers and if you found him rude while he was trying to be
helpful and just doing his job then there are plenty of other gyms you
could look at joining instead.

Cheers, Jeff

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 April 2009 10.02am
To: Jeff Peters
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership Renewal Due

Dear Jeff

Yes, I have noticed that there are many gyms in my area. I assume the low
qualification requirements of fitness trainers means that there is an over
supply of these buffed but essentially otherwise purposeless
professionals. I knew a guy in high school who couldn’t talk very well and
collected sticks, he used to call the teacher ‘mum’ and during recess we
would give him money to dance. Then sell him sticks to get our money back.
He went on to become a fitness instructor so I view gyms as kind of like
those factories that provide a community service by employing people with
down syndrome to lick stamps and pack boxes. Except with more Spandex
obviously.

Regards, David.

From: Jeff Peters
Date: Friday 10 April 2009 10.32am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership Renewal Due

Go f * ck yourself.

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 April 2009 11.38am
To: Jeff Peters
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership Renewal Due

Dear Jeff

I was, at first, quite surprised at your response; one minute you are
inviting me to renew my membership and asking me for money, the next
insulting me. After doing a little research however, I have learnt that
mood swings are an expected side effect of steroid abuse. As another side
effect is a reduction in the size of your p#$%, this gives you
understandable cause to be an angry person. I have also learnt that
Spandex contains carcinogenic properties so this does not bode well for
yourself and your shiny friends. If I woke up one morning and my p#$% was
a quarter of the size I would probably take my anger out on those around
me as well. There are probably support groups or websites that could help
you manage your problem more effectively and picture based books available
on the subject for people with limited reading skills. When I am angry I
like to Listen to music by Linkin Park. The added angst and desire to cut
myself works similarly to the way firefighters fight forest fires by
burning off sections, effectively canceling each other out and I find
myself at peace. I understand that you guys usually listen to Pet Shop
Boys or Frankie Goes to Hollywood so this may be worth a try.

Regards, David.

From: Jeff Peters
Date: Friday 10 April 2009 1.04pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership Renewal Due

DO NOT EMAIL ME AGAIN

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 April 2009 1.15pm
To: Jeff Peters
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership Renewal
Due

Ok.

From: Jeff Peters
Date: Friday 10 April 2009 1.25pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership
Renewal Due

Is that you being a smartarse or agreeing not to email me again?

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 April 2009 1.32pm
To: Jeff Peters
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Membership
Renewal Due

The middle one.

Op n meer erenstige noot, dit laat my wonder vir hoeveel Tesco dit aankoop, en wat hulle wins daarop is. Kry hulle dit verniet iewers ?

Ek sien nie die probleem nie, hulle is goed genoeg om in die weermag te dien, goed genoeg om vir die land te veg, goed genoeg dat almal hulle lof sing – maar ten spyte daarvan mag hulle nie in die land bly as hulle ontslaan word uit die weermag nie. Dis n bietjie van n double standard, dat hulle goed genoeg is om te sterf vir die land, maar nie hier kan bly nie. Aan die ander kant, laat hulle 100′de mense in om hier te kom bly, wat eintlik fokkol gedoen het nie, maar tog al die voordele wil he. Sit hulle in die weermag vir 2 jaar, en dan kan hulle bly – wonder hoeveel sal dan wil bly …….  

Dit gaan hopelik nou verander, nadat hulle vanaand gevote het in parliment daaroor – lekker egg of Brown se gesig. (Ek dink sy dae is ook getel – en hoe vinniger hulle hom uit die regering kry, hoe beter vir die VK)

Ek wonder of ek nie miskien te skepties is oor dit nie, en miskien te paranoid is oor wat die regerings ons elke dag vertel nie. Kan dit wees dat met al die slegte nuus wat die laaste paar maande rondgegooi is, mens half hard word vir slegte nuus. Dis maar nog n nuus berig waar ons almal vertel word ons gaan dood binne dae van die pandemic. 

Wat my verbaas is hoe vinnig so iets kan versprei oor die aardbol, van Mexico af, tot in New Zealand, so half binne n eye blink, en die hele wereld is siek. Wonder of die global village so n goeie idee is …..

Met so n bietjie commen sense, luck, en so n bietjie tyd, kan jy Wordpress verander en dinge laat doen wat baie van die ander blogging software nie kan doen nie.

Om nie eers te praat van die templates wat jy kan verander nie. het vanaand weer gesien die hoeveelheid templates daar is wat jy kan gebruik …  soos die nuutste een wat ek nou gelaai het.

As jy n groot Facebooker is, sal die theme baie bekend lyk.

Nou is die elections ook verby in SA, Jay Zee en sy cronies het gewen (asof mens iets anders sou verwag), COPE het in die pomp gekak – glad nie eers naby gekom nie. Die DP het die Wes Kaap gewen, en die lewe gaan aan. 

Wys jou net hoe min die mense hier in Europa eintlik belangstel – dit was so n paar keer op die nuus gewees, en dis oor. So hier en daar n klein bietjie geskryf in die koerante, maar eintlik nie heel nuuswaardig nie (in Europa). Daar is n paar mense wat dit genoem het op FB, en wat so n bietjie oorboord gegaagn het daarmee, maar verder nie veel nie. 

Baie mense moan nou dat die ANC weer gewen het, en dat SA nou heeltemal in sy moer sal wees, maar ek wonder tog. Kan ou Jay Zee dit miskien doen ….. time will tell soos hulle se. Ek het vanoggend n stuk gelees op n website oor die nuwe regering wat hy wil saamstel, en n paar name daar gesien wat ek jare terug gesien het, name soos Cyril, en nog een of 2 waaraan ek nie nou kan aan dink nie. Dit laat my meer en meer wonder of Jay Zee miskien almal gaan verbaas nie. 

Ja, hy is aangekla van verkragting / en fraud en die moer weet van wat nog(al 783 klagte), maar daar het niks van gekom nie (en dit is n storie heeltemal op sy eie !!). Nie dat dit veel beter hier in die Uk gaan nie. Die fokkers wat ons verkose parliment is plunder maar net so erg as wat die African Brothers dit doen. Allowances vir 2de huise, expenses en dies meer. Hulle is maar net so corrupt as die span aan bewind in SA. Die veskil is, meeste van die kak word hier weg gesteek, en as dit uitkom, dan hardloop almal rond vir n paar dae, skeeu rumoer en blaas, en dan waai dit oor, tot die volgende keer toe. 

Snaaks, dat as jy dink ons kies die bliksems, sit hulle in parliment, en tog het dit iewers verkeerd gegaan, want in plaas dat hulle vir ons werk, werk ons vir hulle. Hulle plunder so veel soos hulle kan, maar hulle eie sakke vol, en se gat met die res. 

Maar so gaan dit, of dit nou n African Democracy is, of die sogenaamde Western Democracy – all politician are out to enrich themselves.

There is this old toppie walking next to me, spitting snot all over the place. Blowing snot out his nose on, one nostril at a time as well.

He looks like some form of a proffesional, suit, laptop case the works – but moer, gobbing all over the place. Feel like I can just take him and give him a snot klap …..

Nee fokkit ouboet !!!

These people that are now all “crying victim”, are the people that stand in the front line, spitting at the police, verbally abusing them, shoving the police, causing mayhem and destruction, but then they are the first to sell their stories to the newspapers, trying to make a quick few pounds. the impression that you get, is that they were the victims of police brutality, were just standing there all innocent, and then attacked by the policy. I beg to differ very much. 

So, I support the police, I think that they are still a bit soft on these protesters.

I have asked them for a copy of the call, but they said that they haven’t got one, but first, here is the reply I got yesterday; 

Dear Sir

 

I have now established that you were called by our Indian call centre on our weekend Omnibus survey. This is a survey of 1000 interviews across a broad section of the country and of different household types. The method used to select the telephone numbers on this project is a process called RDD (Random Digitally Dialled numbers); a normal practice within the market research industry whereby the last digit of a randomly selected telephone number is automatically changed prior to being called.  Because of the nature of how the telephone numbers are selected, we do not have any personal information identifiable to or connected with the telephone number, therefore the process does not enable us to screen the number against ex-directory telephone numbers and does not identify you with that number. Using this recognised method ensures that we are able to speak to a wider selection of the public.

 

GfK NOP is bound by the Market Research Society’s (MRS) Code of Conduct, the emphasis of which is on respondent confidentiality; in addition, we take our obligations under the UK Data Protection Act very seriously.  If you require further information on the application of the data protection requirements within market research you can view the MRS Society’s own guidelines “The Data Protection Act and Market Research” available on their website at:http://www.mrs.org.uk/standards/dp.htm#dpa98. 

The Industry Guidelines within the MRS Code of Conduct to state that Market Research Companies can make calls to households up to 9pm, Monday to Friday and at weekends. Our Indian call centre make calls manually and do not use an auto dialler, therefore the call was not recorded, so I am unable to assist with your request. GfK NOP is however accredited with ISO 20252, for which specific levels of monitoring of interviewing are required to be documented and this is always upheld.

I will look into your query regarding the interviewer being unable to answer your questions for you and please be assured that appropriate  action will be taken as necessary.

Your numberr has been removed from the Omnibus sample base and I have added your number to our ‘do not call’ list which will prevent you from being called by us again.

Very Kind Regards

Now I have a few problems with this reply:

• If my number is randomly generated, how will they know not to use my number in future again, seeing that it is randomly generated ? So if some error occurs – and they phone me again, then I have a fair case to take further steps against them. 
• “The Industry Guidelines within the MRS Code of Conduct to state that Market Research Companies can make calls to households up to 9pm, Monday to Friday and at weekends.” –  Yes, according to the law you can make calls till 9pm, but now that makes me wonder if they have any common decency.  Phoning someone on a Sunday-evening at 8.45 pm …… With an attitude like this, makes me wonder if these faceless (people in) companies think they can just ride rough-shot, do whatever they like. Tell them what, pay for my telephone line, and you can phone me. Otherwise, don’t bother me with your rubbish calls. 
• “Our Indian call centre make calls manually and do not use an auto dialler, therefore the call was not recorded, so I am unable to assist with your request. GfK NOP is however accredited with ISO 20252, for which specific levels of monitoring of interviewing are required to be documented and this is always upheld.” – BS ! How are you going to look into the call and what this “interviewer” asked and told me, when they do not record the call. What do they do then to document the calls, write it on the back of a fagg packet, and file it in file 13 ?!? 

So all in all, not 100% convinced by the answer, as I see a few shortcomings, especially when it comes to the monitoring processes and checks, but then again if my number’s been removed from their system, and they don’t call me on a Sunday evening (or any other evening), then I feel like I have won my little battle with them. 

P.S. I was talking to one of the guys at work, and he was telling me that he got a call as well the other day. He just went the opposite way. As soon as they asked him about his mobile, he enquired about the callers mom – and not in a polite manner either. Says the call lasted all in all about 15 seconds after that. Maybe I will try that next time …..

Dear Sir

Thank you for your email which my colleague Amanda Wheeler had forwarded to me for attention.

 

Please accept my apologies for the inconveniene caused. If you can let me know your phone number then I can start an investigation into what happnened and ensure your number is removed from the sample base. 

 

Very Kind Regards

 

(Name and Surname removed)
Quality Manager 

Now I am not going to take the piss out of them, because they actually impressed my by taking time to reply to my original email. Not that they have said much, but at least they have acknowledged me.

I think the time has come for us to reclaim our phone lines back from these people that keep phoning us at all hours of the day, trying to sell us stuff, or services, or any of these other bullshit that they harass us with day to day. 

So my tip to you if you get theses calls: 

• stay cool – play the fool with them
• don’t swear and curse at them – it’s not worth it, you just work yourself up
• ask questions, and challenge them
• know your rights (or get a few buzz words) about cold calling
• they work on call figures – so waste their time. It hits them in the pocket
• tell them to hold on, put the phone down, and carry on with what you are doing – see how long you can make them hang on 
• Find out if they have a UK office (if you stay in the UK), email them and complain about it. 
• Ask them to remove you from their data bases, if they don’t, then hammer them with the telecoms regulators.

So, I have replied to them,  and just send them another email, asking for a copy of the call. (Hopefully there was a call recording of it -would make a FANTASTIC podcast !!)

So tonight I get a call from some idiot from India, wanting to know if I want to participate in a Customer Survey about some shitty product / company or something that they are trying to flog. The more I ask him to tell me which companies he is phoning about, the more says he cannot tell me, as it is privileged information. Asked him about his call states, cannot answer that one either. Asked him if he would give me his number, so that I can call him tomorrow night at 9pm at his house, just to have a chat with him, did not want to give me his number either. So I asked him where he got my number, and he says that it is a machine that makes the calls.

Evil in me took over, and quoted some EU Directive about Data Protection, and it sounded like this man had no idea. He said he was going to make a note on my file, which I asked why they have a file on me ….. at this stage you could hear that he was getting to that stage that he was busy giving up. Shame, he was only doing his job after all – and they probably paying him  next to nothing to slave away for 12 hours a day in a call centre (they might even be paying him in peanuts for all I know) 

It pisses me off when you get these calls at night, even more when they call you at 8.45pm on a Sunday night. 

Had a look at their website, and found this: 

GfK NOP operates an integrated quality management system which conforms to the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001 : 2000 Quality Assurance Standard and ISO 20252:2006 Market, opinion and social research (formerly BS 7911:2003 – Specification for Organisations Conducting Market Research).  The quality management system undergoes an external assessment twice yearly by the British Standards Institute (BSi).

In addition, GfK NOP is wholly committed to meeting the requirements of, amongst others:

• UK Data Protection Act 1998
• European Directive EU 95/46/EC
• Market Research Society’s (MRS) Code of Conduct*
• ICC/ESOMAR (The World Association of Research Professionals) International Code of Marketing and Social Research Practice

 

*GfK NOP is a member of the MRS Company Partner Service and the Interviewer Quality Control Scheme.

The GfK NOP Quality Management System seeks to continually improve the ways in which we work and the products we deliver to our clients. GfK NOP’s culture encourages creativity and innovative thinking in order to give clients clear guidance and to address business issues.

They can belong to all these associations – but by calling me at 8.45pm, makes me wonder if they adhere to any of the above – bullshit me says. 

I did manage to get a website from him, GfKNOP and found a name on there, Amanda Wheeler, so decided that I might as well send her an email to say thank you for the call on a Sunday evening, and this is what I send her: 

Hello Amanda (if I may be this informal)

Just a quick thank you, to you from me, for the nice surprise that I got from your Call Centre in India tonight.

Now I don’t want to bore you with all the details, but me and the Mrs have been relaxing on Sunday evening. Had some pasta with pesto, olives, bacon and mushrooms, and the nicest red wine that I have had in a while. South African if I remember, you must try it. You can email me, and I will send you the name of the wine. So, low and behold, the phone rings. daaa daaa dum …. First thing I think – problems, after all it is 8.45pm, ON A SUNDAY ……. who would phone me ?

Thank you for thinking about us, and trying to stay in contact (even if it is on a Sunday evening !), but next time, why don’t you phone yourself, would much rather speak to you, than some fellow in a call centre on the other side of the world.

Not that I am moaning, but they have got no clue about what they are talking about. Cannot answer me the most simple question, like: what is your name, on behalf of which company are you calling. You know, the normal questions that I would expect them to answer. I think he was telling lies when I asked what his call stats was ? A company without call stats – how on earth do you know how many calls they make during their shifts. I would query that, because I think they are maybe claiming for calls that they are not making. (You might be paying for something that is you are not getting – and with us being in a recession ….. every penny helps !)

Amanda, all I want to say to you, is that if you want my opinion on anything, please feel free to personally give me a call yourself, even on a Sunday night. I will make time to speak to you (but only you !), as I don’t have much of a life, and some days just sit by the phone, waiting for someone to call. Sad that someone can look forward to a cold call, but hey, that’s just me and the way I roll. 

So anyway, I must love you and leave you now Amanda. Hoping that you will call me next Sunday evening – say at about 8.45pm on the landline (but no later, as I watch Lost at 9pm – it’s the best program, or what do you think ?)

Regards 

I am just tired of all these shit calls, and I think it is time I take a stand, and let them know what I think of them.

So let’s see if they reply to my email – don’t think they would, but lets see what happens.

These last few weeks I have been wondering about friendship, or rather the wedge that can start to form between people that was very close friends. Things have been going downhill for a while now, and I think the time might have come to break the friendship bond we did share, and revoke the friendship for once and for all. 

When it comes to friendship, friendship is unconditional, without any false promises.

I think myself a funny old creature when it comes to friendship, and people whom I count as true friends. Once I have taken someone into my “circle of trust”, I would (literary) trust them with my life / possessions / family. Open up to things that would normally be buried deep and far away (It’s all or nothing)

But on the other hand, by putting conditions on the friendship (that I consider as a bit unreasonable), then that is it for me. Once the cracks start appearing, and the chinks in the armour start to show, then it’s not long before the circle is broken, and once broken, then there is no way back. 

None of this might make sense to anyone, and for the record, nothing to do with Fran. I am just trying to understand someone that is trying to convince me that we are friends, but their actions shows me the opposite.