Wordless Wednesday #329 - Winter solstice - chasing sunrise in the city

Wordless Wednesday #328 - Short winter days

Wordless Wednesday #318 - Wake Cup

5 Reasons why school holidays are the best even though we did not go away!

We have three weeks of school holidays during winter in South Africa!
It was back-to-school yesterday already, and we are back to reality!

Although we did not go away this year, it felt like a break for us as well!
We continued working and Little Miss had to go to Holiday School, but it was a break from the daily rat race!


Five reasons why school holidays give everybody a break

1. The traffic is tolerable and we get a break with regards the volume of the traffic and the time we need to get out of the house! Especially in winter where it is still dark at 6 am.
This alone gets all the marks for school holidays! My daily commute is a lot less stressful and shorter!

2. We can sleep in for a bit longer! I had 30 minutes more in bed each morning, and Little Miss could also get at least an hour more!

3. We don't have to rush home to do homework, and we can be more relaxed with bed-times.

4. We don't have to rush from one extra-mural activity to another!

5. At work it is also a more relaxed as many people are on holiday, and we have to give them time to get back in the office again. My calender was not as full as always!


I can have more of these, and you?
How was the holidays?

Escape from the daily commute with The Sorcery Code #scorcerycode

The Scorcery Code, by Dima Zales

I love reading books, but I really struggle to finish a book. I only get to turn four or five pages a night, which takes me ages to finish a book! (I am really impressed with some of you who gets to read more!)

I think I have found a way! I turned on my Kindle's text-to-audio, and listened to it on my daily commute. It did not even take me a whole week to listen through the book, and I was in a much better mood arriving at work each day. Especially with the horrendous traffic that we have had to deal with since February.

Disclaimer: I found this book through a Tomoson promotion on my email, and could upload it for free through Amazon.

The Scorcery Code on Amazon

I was in a mood for a bit of escapism and this totally ticks all the "magic" boxes! (sic)

Who doesn't love a handsome hero who is a sorcerer as well, and who comes up with the best magic from The Spell Realm? It does not take long to be immersed in this totally different world with spell realms where a magical object appears in the human form of  beautiful Gala. The rest is fantasy, but the emotions and human conditions are real! I loved being transported to a different world, where the characters are introduced through the first person. It makes the reading experience intimate and believable!

I can't wait for the rest of the books in the series!

It is worth the audio commute read!

The post about the traffic and how to survive it

In February each year we notice a drastic change in our traffic! Maybe it's the universities that are starting with classes, or everybody is back from their holidays? Who knows? But we have to get up earlier to get away earlier!

I spent roughly two to two and half hours each day in traffic. Some days it really gets to me, as I am of the opinion that it impacts on my quality of life!
Maybe it is just a perspective that I should change? (I need to put "perspective change" on the list!)

I am surprised at how bad our manners are in traffic. We all get to deal with examples each day.
Last week I was speechless. I was in a parking mall, and spotted an opening. There were two open parking areas in front of each other. The lady from the other side went in first, and I thought I would give her time to park before I went in from my side. She saw me! She drove through to my side, did not look at me, and walked away! I did hoot and I did shake my hands, but I was only giving myself the "lecture"! (*Speechless!*)

I came to the realization that although I hate the traffic, I have made it better for myself by changing small things. These are the things that I do that keeps me sane!


How to survive the traffic in Gauteng

- Change your perspective about looking at the Traffic as "Bad"! (This needs a bit of mental work from myself!)

- Listen to the radio, a podcast or an audio book.
I personally love the radio, as I get updates on the news, love the music and listen to radio that makes me laugh! I switch constantly between 3 radio stations, at least!

- The Waze app helps to notify of hazards and heavy traffic and it knows of all the side roads to take. How did I do it before this little magician?

- Do not get upset with the taxis. I even give them space when they are near! They have to stop and cut in because they have people to upload and off-load! The other day we also heard on 94.7 that the taxi drivers get a low basic salary, and they have to meet quotas each day! That's why they are speeding, overtaking and ignoring traffic rules! (Not that it should be a reason to ignore traffic rules!)
I noticed that most people don't hoot at them anymore. It's part of South African life!
It really helps to calm the commute when we give them "space"!

- A Drink. I have found Rooibos tea to be very beneficial, but coffee or a smoothie also makes a difference!

- Discussions with passengers. I love talking to my passenger in the afternoon! That's where I learn about her day and also pick up great anecdotes from her perspective. I see it as a great way to connect!



Do you have more coping tips for handling the traffic?


Related posts:

- Traffic and floods - I wish there was an Auntie Traffic

- Practising the finger

Waze - an app that I use daily!

I am lost without a GPS or Sat-Nav navigation system in my car.

I used to get lost so many times in the dark old days (only yesterday) when there were only maps, and I struggled my arse off to read the maps. When I went around a wrong corner, I did not know my front from my back...

That's why I love the Waze app on my phone. I use it daily on my commute. The app learns your normal route, and starts warning if there's an issue. I love the fact that the community can contribute and we know where there are issues, such as accidents, road block, hazards, etc. As soon as Waze starts to redirect me from my normal route, I have learnt to listen!

It is very easy to report an issue. You can also thank other Wazers who have reported an issue.

The voice can be changed and I have been getting directions from C-3PO (the Star Wars robot)  in December, to the Colonel Sanders and a British Boy Band. Little Miss and I have favourite voices - the Safe Mode Kids who tells mommies and daddies to drive safe, and sometimes pitch in at a turn with "Number one, like my Mom!"


The app is free and downloadable in the App Store, Google Play store and from the Windows Phone store.
It chows battery.
It also uses data, but I have not found it to be excessive!

I can recommend it to all who does the daily rat-race traffic in cities worldwide!


Related post:

- A GPS for my head as well, please!


Disclaimer! I have not been paid or compensated in any way for this review!
                  I LOVE this app!!

Traffic and floods - I wish there was an Auntie Traffic

My view each morning and night

I phoned my dear husband last night in traffic, after we had been moving two metres every two minutes, and there was no end in sight... He wanted to make a few suggestions of how to get out of there! But it was impossible! I was stuck in four lanes - which became two lanes, which became one lane - going very slowly towards a flooded area in the road on Barry Hertzog.

I said I was just complaining!
I just wanted to tell someone!

I wish there was an Auntie Traffic that I could direct my complaints to? @EWNTraffic and @PigSpotter and @TrafficSA just doesn't do it for you! The best is when they retweet one of our tweets, but most of the times it is the same as swearing through closed windows at the taxis coming past in the wrong lane and sneaking back in front of you! (Which happens every day in any case! Just more so when there are rains and floods and back-up traffic on the road.)

The flooded area on Barry Hertzog

We went through this water last night, and my car gave a little flicker, but it made it to the other side.
High five!
Never again! (If I can help it!)


Thanks for listening! I needed to get a complaint in somewhere!


How is your traffic each day?

Mondays come to soon

and blah-blah...

The normal feelings for a Monday, after a great weekend.
Yawn!
It is the time of the year when everything feels blah-blah...

Lots of things to do, and to get done!

We are beginning to look forward to the end of the year, but it still too far away. The Christmas decorations in the shops does not help! I find it disconcerting, and think they are spoiling the fun! By the time Christmas does come around, I am going to wring its neck!

This photo was taken on the road this morning. The clouds were ominous, and there was an icy wind blowing.
We were hoping for some rain, which did not come...

But I got the Monday dusted, and the week does not seem so bad anymore!

It is back to school tomorrow, and the normal traffic chaos will be back.


It seems the empty road this morning was not such a bad start to the Monday!

Please explain? Seen next to the road this morning

A guy working on an extremely small motorcycle next to the road.
It is half past six in the morning.

Is he planning to ride it to work?
Is he planning to play with it?

Strange...

Winter, you've got me slumped

On my way to work at nearly 7am

I really don't do winter very well!

This time of the year when it is cold and dark...
And day after day feels like a struggle to get out of bed.

All I have are the winter groans, and the winter cragginess that have set in...
It feels like my head is frozen in a slump of ... nothing!

I know I should pep-talk myself into gratefulness, and that the winter sun goes a long way to help getting us out of this!

I don't like the winter!

I feel like signing out for the next two months!
Signing off! For now! (Not really!!)


Tomorrow it will look better again?

Practising the finger!

If you see me walking around while throwing the Finger...

Please don't be offended!

I desperately wanted to throw the finger in traffic today!
A person of the female species hooted behind me!
Because I slacked down for a car to pass...

I could not get my left hand to go up fast enough in the middle finger to show her how I felt about it, and all she saw was a hand waving with all fingers...

I need to practise for next time!
(Not very Zen, I know! I don't care!)

The traffic that we have now in Johannesburg is not for sissies!

I need appropiate traffic communication skills mastered!
Sometimes you need the Finger!

Thursday photos - clouds & ice-cream

Johannesburg traffic on Beyers Naude

I had a bit of a traffic fail yesterday when I decided on a whim to drive another route to work...
There is a reason why we take the suburb routes to work in the mornings. The rest of the roads are a no-go! A murdering-no-go-not-moving-hell!

I had to turn back and go my usual route.
(I will not do it again!)

I love the clouds, especially now with the heavy downpours we have. See also the photos taken yesterday afternoon of the clouds from the University of Johannesburg.

Johannesburg city in the background

University of Johannesburg - Auckland Park campus

Another photo taken from the bridge from UJ over Kingsway

As I spend most of my working days indoors (without a view on the world), I love it when I have an opportunity to be outside.
 Although we are in the city, we can still enjoy a bit of Mother Nature, can't we?

Clouds are one of my favourite things to look at!
What do you love looking at in nature?

____________

And we had a perfect ending to the day.
Totally unrelated, but also totally worth it!

Ice-cream at Milky Lane

Best time of the year

Jacarandas & Johannesburg city in the distance

The sun is blazing here each day! It is hot hot HOT, and I love it! It is truly summer here!
You can give me hot any time. I don't like winter and grey and cold!

Driving to work each day, I am confronted by the Jacarandas in full bloom each day.
Johannesburg is lovely this time of the year!

December and Christmas is around the corner, and we are beginning to look forward to holidays.
The plans have been made for lots of get-togethers and parties and family gatherings!
(I am even contemplating a small party for the Toddler on her birthday...)

My brother is going to visit us from America. We can't wait to see him again!

We spend each evening outside. Watching the sun set!

The Toddler plays ball, and we - mostly Dad and me, because her sister is learning for the final exams - has to play along!

Especially her most recent games of make-believe.
Her favourite is going to Kyle's party now!
She "fasten" our seat-belts and "drives" us to his party, where we "do" all the fun  party stuff, such as "eating" cake, and "jumping" on the jumping-castle.

One of the "games" she plays outside:

Exercising, but getting very upset that the dogs take up her exercise mat space...

Do you like this time of the year? If not, why not?

I am grateful for the best time of the year. Linking up with Maxabella's
"I'm grateful for..."

December: I love this time of the year

Reasons why December is the best time of the year:

• It is summer with glorious weather and long sunny days.

• Everyone is more relaxed.

• We are beginning to get into the spirit of the festivities of Christmas time.

• Traffic is great, because there is none!

• I can sleep a bit longer in the mornings, because of less traffic.

• Our holidays are around the corner.

• We are on Holiday! Duh!

• More time to spend with the family.

• No more school. No taxiing!

• Presents!

• Time for looking ahead to a New Year which is just around the corner.

Why can’t it be December the whole year long?

What do you like about Decembers?

(Graphic: Microsoft Clip Art)

Breastfeeding moments

Following a weekend with the toddler, it is very difficult to get into the weekly routine on a Monday morning. Especially with regards the breastfeeding routine.


On a weekend we stretch the mornings in bed a little longer with the toddler snugly on the breast. She wakes anything from 5, but we are able to stretch sleeping well after 7 o’clock.

This Monday was the last time in a very long time where I could sit a little bit longer with her. The schools start today, and because the traffic is going to be back to normal (hectic), I stretched it until 6 while sitting with her on the breast.

I was looking down on the sleepy child with her arms wrapped around me. A picture of contentedness! How I wish I could sit her every morning until she wakes up in her own time... One of the working mom’s guilt trips! At 6 I had to start dressing her and take her down to her dad who made her a bottle while I had to rush to get dressed myself. Luckily the traffic played along and I was not late.

But today is going to be a whole different story. The schools start again after the end of the World! No more stretching the special moments with the toddler...

Stop complaining, Powerwoman, you’ve got it covered! (Chin up, smile wide!)

Traffic headaches

These roads being under construction is everybody’s headache nowadays. For how long is it going to go on? You would think that they would be in a hurry to finish it for the World Cup, but apparently not!
My longest time this year was two and a half hour already, where it should take me no longer than half an hour. Nowadays I spend more than an hour on the road going to work and coming back a little bit less: three quarters of an hour.
Two hours a day of precious time being wasted… It’s got to have an impact on quality of life!
Powerwoman try to take it in her stride (ride), taking my breakfast with me in the mornings, and drinking herbal tea (note, not coffee) along the way. Listening to the radio!
BUT it is a PAIN! Grumble, grumble, grumble…

Thanks for listening. I feel a bit better already on this TGIF-day!

(Photo: Kingsway road under construction, going past the University of Johannesburg. You would think that they would have tried to finish it quickly with all the students… NO, not happening here!)

Related post:

Working mother's guilt

Working mother's guilt

Yesterday afternoon I was trying to avoid getting stuck in the traffic in Auckland Park where I work, and the more I tried to avoid the long queues, the longer the queues got in the side streets. I ended up in Brixton, even more stuck. It is all these road works going on everywhere, and some roads are closed and some narrowed to one lane only. I quickly googled it just now , and apparently it is for the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, intended for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The road works have been going on for months now, and I presume it is going to get worse until the Word Cup. My only goal in the afternoons is to get to the baby as quickly as possible. It is terrible to leave her there from half past six in the mornings until quarter past four in the afternoons. It adds up to nearly ten hours, more hours than I spend at work during a day. Aargh! And then we have about five hours of her each night before she goes to sleep. We sometimes have more with the not sleeping, and in that I can find a positive outlook on the sleeping problem. (Smile) The hours that I am not with her, contribute to my guilt as a working mother. But I know, millions of women have to cope with the same thing…