Why I enjoy the internet

This post from Wendy made me chuckle.

The concept is brilliant,the execution will no doubt make an interesting read. Where else can this be done and reach side a wide readership but on the internet.

Wendy.... You go goil!!!

(and let us satisfy our vicarious needs by reading about it)

*g*

SAA, Delays and the case of the Broken Engine

The fact that I am still in SA means I get more access to mainstream news. I do not even have to rely on the company internet to get the news due to The Star and Business Day being available.

There was an interesting article on SAA passengers at JHB International that complained bitterly about a 12 hour delay on a flight to Washington. That perked me slightly as obviously the SAA flight to Washington goes via Accra.

A small amount of investigation led me to the reason for the 12 hour delay. They flight was delayed due to the fact they had to find a spare 747 engine, load it up on the flight departing JHB and drop it off in Accra due to the returning 747 having had a problem with an engine and not taking off.

Visions of the engineering facilities at Kotoko International flashed before my eyes and I hoped that a few of the seats on the JHB flight had some boffin engineers and techs on them.

Another horrible thought crossed my mind. What would 230 americans do for a day in Accra when the delay was not exactly a planned one. There are not too many decent hotels in Accra and I am sure one or two of the unlucky ones got to spend a night at the "wonderful" Regency!

Poor Buggers!

Another thing that has caught my eye - to do with SAA - is the cost of Tickets.

SAA advertise a flight to Washington on the same plane we fly to Accra at R5999.00. The cost of our ticket to Accra is R6300.00

Now in theory, it is cheaper to buy a ticket to Washington and get off in Accra. There is the issue that you would have to get a visa for the states to be allowed on the plane and your luggage would not stop off in Accra, but that shows the stupidity of the whole supply demand curve.

When you are the only direct flight from Accra to JHB, you can afford to charge the maximum the market can bear!

And there are times that your luggage does not make the stop in Accra and still finds it's way to Washington.

Manny was the victim of this a while back, and making sure you never get anything for free, it was apparent that in order to pay for the luggage to get back to Accra from Washington, they had to remove some stuff from the luggage and sell it.

I continually look at National Carriers with interest and pity their PR people for having to justify patent rip offs.

That said - I will be flying them on the 15th Feb which is my return date to Ghana.

In between now and then, I am spending a week in a lecture hall on the MDP program and a further week making sure we complete all our assignments.

In between I celebrate my Birthday!

Another year passes under the bridge of life - and I am still having fun!

You have fun 2 you hear!

Finally Recognition!!! *chuckle*

I have finally been published in the main stream on www.reporter.co.za firstly commenting on the unfairness of the legal system and a hard news story on the Earth Tremor we had on the East Rand.

*hand to brow*

Oh how to handle the fame *chuckle*

(and yup - they did correct my grammer Nessers)

What did you do over Xmas?

What has happened in my world since I hopped on a plane just before Xmas, and started the holiday thang!

As I mentioned in previous blogs, we got very busy very quickly in December. Methinks it had something to do with the gold price shooting to $550/oz and staying there.

All that meant was that there were a load of stuff to do before I got on the plane.

The fact that I got on the plane meant it was done and dusted to everyone’s satisfaction. For that – I was eternally grateful. Spending Xmas in Ghana was not very high on my to do list I had to admit.

Xmas was a family day at the house; my wonderful roasts, salads and real ice cream went down a treat! (with me! – not too sure about anyone else grin) I scored well with a wonderful watch (branded as well!!) from Nessers, great French wine from the old man and some nice stuff from the kiddies. I also received a dance game, which deserves a paragraph.

I am not too sure how many of you frequent arcades. But there is this interesting little dance game which basically consists of a floor unit with 4 touch pads and a screen. The song plays (honkey tonk style) and on the screen a list of symbols scroll by telling you where to put your feet. The result of the game is you dance like a frog in a blender.

The reason why the game made its way into my present pile was mainly due to my total lack of rhythm when dancing. (according to some people – according to me I dance like no-ones looking – chuckle).

The fact that in order to crack it you need to do the frog in blender routine, it was no surprise that the highest score (after some libation) was obtained by ME!!!!!!

Enuff said!

26th saw Nessers and I take the lemming run to Durbs for a few days. The drive was pleasant and the speed traps many. The fact that you cannot go really fast in Ghana has rubbed off onto my South African Travel and the boys in Khaki did not stop me once. A Chevy Blazer had a horrendous start to their holiday by been pulled over at around 180kmph. This happened right in front of me near Escourt and to be honest the cop that jumped out into the fast lane to pull him over must have balls of steel.
How he got away without becoming a hood ornament could only have been due to three angels watching over him.

The weather was fine in Durbs, despite the incessant rain they had experienced, and we managed to shop some, see movies, eat from restaurants and have take aways and suntan.

I did mention previously that Nessers finally got onto the clothing optional beach and we worked on our all over tans. (SPF 40 on my tender bits). Was quite a chuckle as most of the sun worshippers were over 60 and men, but there were a few similar types on the odd day.

The one classic was the arrival of the Metro Police at the lagoon and the announcement over the loudspeaker that “ This is not a nudist beach, please get sort of decent or you will be charged with public indecency” Everyone dutifully put something on and the cop drove away happy. Everyone duly took off his or her clobber once he had crossed the dune.

The time at the coast was stunning and I must admit I came back very relaxed.

Relaxed enough not to be concerned with the fact that the lads who run our computer system were not around to run restatements on the ledgers. I managed to waste four half days at work waiting for this to be done so I could do my recons and get back on holiday.

As I mentioned a few months ago, I am busy doing a course through Unisa. There is a study school at the end of January and instead of me flying back to Ghana and then back to SA the following week, I get to stay at the office and run Ghana remotely.

I am thus taking advantage of this extended period at home to do some much-needed home repairs. Barret Pools turned out to be a total waste of time after finishing off the relining of the pool in October, but failing to install the solar heating. When I was finally able to get hold of them, it appears they under quoted so are just walking away from their quote. The only good thing about it is that I did not pay them the final R3000 for the pool and they can whistle for it.

So I am having the solar done by another “reputable” supplier for slightly above the original cost, finally removing the window in the bar and replacing it with a sliding door so I can get into the back garden without going through the kitchen and removing the breakfast nook wall in order to open the kitchen up more.

Lisa is painting the flatlet and it has been decided that we will let it out as it is a waste of resources not to,

My pool is still not coming right and apparently you have to replace the sand every three odd years? That is now been done next week.

Gawd I wish I knew more about swimming pools.

I have also signed up at www.reporter.co.za - go have a look at it. A wonderful local news concept, which may or may not take off.

So there you have it! An update on my time in SA. Not as interesting as my time in Ghana, but I do enjoy the food here – pat of rotund tummy – and the regular nookie is a bonus!

More soon!

Update from Cool and wet SA

Well the lack of posting does not mean I forgot my password... It means I am still in South Africa.

(Insert HUGE smile here)

I have a training course at the end of the month and rather than fly back to Ghana only to fly back to SA a week later, of course it is more financially viable to stay in SA until the course is complete.

So I am here until the 13th odd of February!!

I am once again having regular nookie, regular sushi, tender meat, fresh salad and catching up on all the movies.

I have also applied for DSL at home due to my loving daughter running up scary phone bills on the ISDN line, am doing some work on my house and trying against all odds to get the Kreepy to clean the entire pool as opposed to only 20% of it. Once I succeed I am going to patent my solution and sell it for a million.

Once I succeed....

(COPYRIGHT) - the current solution involves a old roof slate, wire from a broken mouse and a few knots......

Scary huh!!


Keep your eyes peeled people - I have an update from SA coming soon, complete with (finally) getting Nessers to reveal all on a "clothing optional" beach and her getting a warning for public indency

*wicked chuckle*