"My life has a superb cast ...

... but I can't figure out the plot." Ashleigh Brilliant

In the early '90s I spent a lot of time in the outdoors - camping, kayaking, throwing hissy fits, doing archery and climbing - and pretending to study at the University of Pretoria (but that's a story best forgotten). My regular climbing partner was a short student-veterinarian by the name of Megan Beaumont, aka The Morning Monster because she terrified many a camper with her wild look and sleep-hair as she emerged from her tent well after dawn. My nickname at that time was The Pregnant Giraffe, but that's not relevant here. Megan introduced me to the quotes of Ashleigh Brilliant, and I've loved them ever since.

But back to life here. On Saturday night after my run-in with the VW Beetle (see previous post) I returned home to clean up, only to find that my water had been turned off by the so-called plumbers who had been working on the property earlier in the day. Getting mudless was a laborious, only-partly-successful process. (One can only do so much with wet wipes and a trickle of water gained by maniacally shaking the shower head)! The next day the electricity was knocked out for several hours by another afternoon thunderstorm and I sat at home in the dark, still in need of a shower, wondering what would be next. Maybe the gas would die as I was making a cup of tea, or the plumbing would back up (again).

Well, I received the answer this morning, when I found my Internet gasping for life. (I think in pictures, ok?) After struggling to send an email, it too died. I'm sure I  remember someone once saying, "When all else fails, go back to bed". And so I did - until lunchtime. On days like this I sometimes ask myself why I'm here. Not on earth, just here - in a country where so little goes right; in a country creaking under the strain of a dictatorship; in a country that only has one coffee shop! I mean, come on, surely one deserves a regular supply of good coffee, at least!?!

But then this evening I went for a walk in my neighbourhood, just as another storm was building, and laughed with the kids, chatted to shopkeepers, scared away ladies carrying water back home, kicked a ball of twine with some teenagers ... and watched normal, everyday people just living - uncomplaining and with a smile. 

Need I say more? (As usual, click on pictures for larger, better versions)

Just Beautiful!

This old guy is also his grand-daughter's private tutor. Neither ever stop smiling!

Water collection from a central "stand pipe" twice a day, rain or shine.

The bucket carriers were quick to flee the scene at the sight of my camera ...

Wash day on rain day

Three kids playing outside one of the little "we-sell-everything-and-more" shops