Book review: Border Crossings (Michael Weems)

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Book review: Full Cirlce (Mona Ingram)

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Public restroom, bathroom, toilet, ladies, loo - Naah! Rather tinkle at home!

Restroom, bathroom, toilet, ladies, loo - Naah! Rather tinkle at home!

After running around the streets of Pretoria for half a day I desperately needed a restroom. Yes, I was pretty tired... haha. It was going to have to be a public facility - so not my favorite choice - but this day I didn't have much of a choice. Luckily I had change in my purse - a rare phenomena for me. If I didn't, I would have had a serious case of 'wet my pants'. 

Right in front of the restroom door was a lady seated behind a small make-shift table with a sign indicating that you need to pay R1 in order to use the restroom. What is this world coming to?

Book review: The Lonely Mile (Allan Leverone)

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The Voice

I first saw The Voice advertised on American television just over six months ago and immediately decided that it was something I wanted to watch and follow. I was unable to do it then, but it is currently broadcast in South Africa. I caught the tail end of the first competition, but tonight they are scouting the contestants for the second one.

I don't know all the ins and outs, but in essence it is four singing coaches that each build a team of twelve contestants who are then shaped and mentored by the coaches and competing against each other for a recording contract and the title of The Voice.

All about the animals (and some have fur)

I did not sleep well last night. It was a battle of survival of the fittest and the mosquito won; yes. "the", implying one! #hangmyheadinshame :( I've tried everything I can think of - with exception of poison. I have a parrot, you see, and their sense of smell is more sensitive than a humans. People can say what they want about "odourless" insect spray - I still smell it the same way as the normal brand - even hours after it has been sprayed. I just can't help it: my brain keeps yelling, "You're smelling poison! You're smelling poison!" How can I ignore such a sensible warning? "Odourless" my behind, pff... #eyesrolling

I have tried a repellent that you use on your skin. I think it has certainly helped to prevent the little buggers from landing and feasting - and I still seem to wake up in the same place I fell asleep; I'm clearly too heavy for a take-away - but the odd one seems to be more interested in being an irritating menace rather than having a meal, and so the games begin! That one little "brave heart" literally gets in my face (eyes, nose, ears), and sometimes it lasts all night. Ugh!! AAARRRGGG!!! Whatever!

Book review: At Risk (Steve Cline Mysteries) - Kit Ehrman

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When your GPS is as lost as you are

When your GPS is as lost as you are, you know you're in trouble.

"In 500m turn left," she says in an American accent. 

"I'd love to, darling," I reply, "if only I wasn't standing at a T-junction! (Soo... is straight to the left or the right? I wonder to myself. Oh, what the hell, just make a pic and let her recalculate. 

Next, she tells me to turn left at a three way intersection with only a street to the right. I wonder whether my GPS is blond or is it the accent?

Then she tells me to continue for two and half kilometers and a kilometer later she recalculates as if I had missed a turn that I wasn't suppose to make... yet! 

I was just about to shut the bloody thing down, when she actually pointed me in a legitimate direction. Whatever was wrong seemed to be right then. She can thank her lucky stars... mumble, mumble.

Book review: A Very Special Delivery (Linda Goodnight)

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Puppy Love Collection

Every now and again I take a look back at the photographs that I took when I just started out with my camera roughly eighteen months ago. I love seeing how I've grown in photography. I've also enjoyed seeing how the subject matter changes as I try to figure out what kind of photographer I am exactly. Some people are good at weddings, portraits, babies, etc., while others try to (or have) perfect(ed) wild life, nature, sunsets and so on. 

What is it exactly that I want to do? I can't tell yet but I can say this: I want to capture beauty. Hopefully that shows in whatever I photograph.

If you recall from my previous post (Old McDonald has a farm) I made mention of what a fruitful season it's been with all the young ones running around, including the dogs. At the time I didn't yet have any really nice photo's of the pups but I've taken a few since that I feel very proud of indeed! I call these my Puppy Love Collection. One or two of these are Hallmark Card quality, I'm sure ;) Enjoy!

Love reading? Check out my new page

I've always enjoyed reading but since I got my Kindle for Christmas last year I've been devouring books - or so it would seem - like a hot knife through butter! In the last six weeks I've read in excess of ten books. Wow! In light of this I have created a little literature corner - a new page on the menu called "Yada yada books". I like it a lot! Now I'm even more excited about reading because I have this fun corner to share my thoughts about each book that I finish. 

At the moment I'm playing a bit of catch-up but I've already done my first two books. Check it out and tell me what you think.

I've always wanted to be in a book club, so why don't you let me know what you're reading at the moment, or if you have any suggestions of books you think I should read. Or, do you have a corner for me to check out where you share your book reviews?

Book review: The Secrets They Kept (Joanne Tombrakos)

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Old McDonald has a farm

I've been in transition for - what feels like - forever, but I've also learned a lot. One thing I've learned is that, when you look through the eyes of a tourist, you see many things with new eyes and when you look through a lens you can find a good picture almost anywhere. So I've resolved to look through the lens with the eyes of a tourist.

I've never been much of a farm "gal" but I find myself enjoying the animal sounds, especially at night. When I close my eyes and listen to the bullfrogs I imagine that I'm in a bungalow at a beautiful holiday resort somewhere, and during the daytime I've taken a few beautiful pictures of the animals. 

Right now my life is literally a journey and I'm trying not to miss one moment of it. So here's a few of those moments :)

This is the view looking out of the back door.