puddings, slabs, biscuits and all things decadent

Christmas brings biscuits.  In every form and shape with fillings that are so comprehensive they would require a blog on their own.  I am a biscuit lover - but I have a very precise group of biscuits that I love.  Iced Zoo Biscuits?  Bakers this is top of the list.  And you don't simply shove the entire biscuit in your mouth, or bite off a piece.  There is a Zoo Biscuit protocol - you first lick the icing sugar animal on the top.  Then you scrape off the remainder of it with your teeth.  Then you eat the biscuit off all around the side and then, and only then do you eat the main part of the biscuit.  Go figure ... you got a good thing going.  

Then Enter Cadbury's Luxury Cookies.  An import yes, so the price is higher than normal biscuits, but got a good deal from a specials basket at Pick 'n Pay today.  Their claim to fame is real chocolate chips ... from Cadbury's obviously.  Do you taste the difference?  Is riding in a Porsche better than riding on a bicycle?  Yes - deeply decadent - creamy and very very chocolate-ish.  Have to pace myself. 

Whilst on chocolate let us move to an old childhood favourite of mine RUF Schokolade Mandel Feiner Pudding ...... simple to make - just like custard made on the stove - I use the microwave because my stove seems to be on some sort of go slow action.  This pudding has been a favourite of my dad and I since I was a little girl and yes, it has an eating protocol.  One does not simply hack away with a big spoon from anywhere.  You take a teaspoon and take a small mouthful from the side (note) and then the piece next to it, and so on and so on.  My hubby broke the circle of trust when he grabbed a soup spoon one day and scooped from the centre.  Available from German Butchers and deli's and selected Spar shops.  Also available from Dr Oetker ... but scarce to find. 

And finally .... Milka ..... seriously lekker chocolate from Germany.  It comes with all the normal fillings but Hazelnuts and the one with the Daim honeycomb pieces in it are top of my favourites list. You also get with Oreo filling, Bubbles and much more. Competitively priced and perfectly affordable it should definitely be on your shopping list - it melts well too in the microwave and when you have done that ... pour it into the ice tray ... freeze and drop into warm milk as needed.  Voila!!  Overseas they are available in at least 4 dozen more forms than here .... so importers, come on, get the good stuff over here. 

So it's chocolate all around this week.  Enjoy!

till soon
K xx

fly away ..... if you can afford to

Airline travel.
Always costs an arm and a leg unless you -

a)  log on at the right time - tricky
b) find a sale and want to travel within 3 weeks - always sold out
c) want to travel before 5am and after 9pm on any day of the week that does not have a "Y" in it and only if you want to fly half the route and walk the other half
d) don't want to go there or return on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday
e) have a gazillion Voyager miles
f) book 3 decades in advance

or actually don't want to go at all. 

Having a daughter living in CT means that I and she are regularly perusing the airline pages - Nic has been down to see her, I am going tomorrow and she has been up and down twice.  

To find the best price is not, contrary to what they let you believe, clicking on the "when would you like to leave and return" button and waiting trustingly for the best price.  You have to take into consideration school holidays, public holidays, the moon's position, the MD's mood and much more. 

I am all for free trading and I completely get the supply and demand thing, however what I do not get is the reason why the price can be R699 all day on a Monday and then on Tuesday because the schools closed it is R2100.  These are one way prices.  I know perfectly well what a "lost leader" item is in marketing, but you do not have your lost leader of R699 to R849 running all the time and then BAM.  It is insane.  Milking the consumer are we?

I have also discovered that sometimes you need to mix it up ... go with one airline and return with another.  And be flexible to travel very early or very late.  And be prepared to spend 2 hours hunting for best prices.  Also be aware that Travel sites offering the "lowest prices by searching across all airlines" ... not always so. 

You are lucky if you are one of those people who simply just book.  Log on .. put in dates ... book. BAM - costs what it costs.  

For me and my bestie to visit my chefgirl was a whole logistical exercise involving 1 laptop and 2 cellphones as we went back and forward.  So by flying at 5am we managed to get sorted, but have to come home 12 hours later on the day we want to, due to pricing.

Please also remember that when you get the best price be very sure about the extras ... I know the pitfalls but not all do ..... don't get to the checkout and find that you have to add on R100 for your luggage each way ...... One airline does this and so another one cleverly made their tag line "we take your luggage for free" ... 

Wonderboom Airport is right near my house ... as opposed to ORT which is 40 mins away.  Wonderboom introducted flights to CT and back.  YAY I thought.  Bleh. 

I am going with SafAir for R1750 return .... the cheapest flight via Wonderboom with SA Airlink is R3400 return currently.  I called and checked.  Brilliant marketing ..... lets make flights from Wonderboom and then lets charge so much that only people whose companies are paying can afford to fly from there. 

So shop smartly fellow flyers ........ else you may just have to stay at home. 

till soon 

K x

and boom .... i am a penshioner

It is winter.  My office is freezing.  Outside it is freezing.  And my head of very short hair .... is freezing.  So beanies or whatever else they get called by youngsters, are my thing ... and in typical Karin style mine has bling (yes blah blah blah I like bling get over it).  

However, it is clear that when your hair is a silvery platinum colour like mine (by choice - it was black before and red before that) and you wear a beanie (although my son says the small one that I wear is called a doek) that there could be some misperceptions about you as I learnt at the Spar this week, much to the amusement of all who have heard the tale. 

I went to the Superspar with my son, to get a few things for the office, and his lunch .... when we had paid and were walking to the car, I noticed that I had a pensioner's discount on one of the items.  I giggled.  However it changed to hysteria when I noticed that I had a pensioner's discount listed below every item they had scanned.  At the top of the slip it appears I was logged in as a pensioner. 

Really?  REALLY?  Now there is my son ... simply abandons the trolley in the middle of the mall, lies against his arms on one of the pillars and howls.  I come back to work and tell my friend Makomo and she lies on her arms on the kitchen counter and cries with laughter. My friend Justin then sees that the Spur has a pensioner's special on certain days and cannot wait to tell me and my son reminds me that I can now watch movies at Ster Kinekor way cheaper and ride the bus for free. My husband now calls me Penshi and yes, my friends are a great source of amusement ..... and support as you can see. 

Now the silver hair, I get that.  The knitted doek ... I get that as well.  But my face.  Do I have the face of a 60 year old.  Below is a pic taken about 3 weeks ago.  Now imagine a beanie on that ....... do I look like a pensioner?  And yes, I can hear you laughing .... all of you. 

But when I take my free bus ride to see my discounted movie whilst eating my cheaper chocolate from Spar, I will have the last laugh whahahahaha 

Till soon 

K xxxx

the mystery of the tomato sauce bottle & the cutlery

The family tomato sauce bottle.  Firstly there is never ever only 1 bottle in the fridge. Usually there is a sealed one, a half full one and then my all time favourite, the one with 1 tsp worth of tomato sauce left in it.  Now understand ... no-one is ever responsible for opening a new one before the old one is finished ... the bottles just mysteriously move from pantry to fridge.  And no-one ever thinks to finish the other 2 first ... no we just march forward with the fullest one.   And the lid ... why can salad dressing, chutney, tabasco and a myriad of other sauce friends make it cleanly out the bottle, but the tomato sauce always has to be in full presence around the bottle top and cap.  

Knives and Forks .... I am pretty sure that I buy them in pairs.  Like socks.  But over time I also buy other sets.  But we use them in pairs.  Matching pairs.  So how is it possible that I now have set # 1 made up of 6 forks and 2 knives, set # 2 having 5 forks and 7 knives and set # 3 having only the knives.  The damn things must be eloping with the socks!!!!!!  And that sorter thing in the drawer ... it has 3 divisions ... why can the knives, forks and spoons not just lie in their divisions instead of this continual co-habitation. I would be more tolerant if it at least produced more knives and forks. 

Then the loo paper.  The rule is simple ... I don't care if you want it to roll over or under.  If I get to the loo and you have it under I will simply turn it around .... I am OCD like that .... but when I made the rule in our house "if you finish the loo paper then fetch 2 more rolls and put it in there" I should have thought it through.  Because now I have unleashed the *we go to the loo but then we ensure we leave only one block which technically means we have not finished the loo paper and are thus exempt from fetching more* monster.  Give me strength!!!!! 

And what is it with data usage alerts from Cellular companies?  When you start running out of fuel, you get a light that tells you that it is going to happen ... within a reasonable amount of time .... but somehow with data .... 8pm you are on social media ..... 8.01pm you get a sms "you only have 4mb of data left" and then 8.01pm and 9 seconds later ..... BOOM.  

...... on the subject of petrol and petrol lights ...... mmmmmm ....... that is going to be a story you will really enjoy!!! 

Till soon 

K xxx

malls. maniac face cream sellers & dodging techniques

If you live in SA you must recognize the following scenario ... 

You are walking in a mall ... no matter whether it has 5 or 305 shops in it ... and suddenly there is a blur of movement next to you and a young person jumps out in front of you brandishing either a strip of cardboard with a scent on it, or a tiny jar containing a sample of eye/lip/cheek/face/knee/thigh/arm cream which will change your life.  At the same price as a bond payment.

With all due respect, they have a definite profile when employing their staff - the ladies must have long black hair, good figures and the tenacity of a pitbull.  The men must be slim, look good in black pants and have black hair.  Also here the tenacity of a pitbull is mandatory. 

The jump in front of you comes with the words "try this cream to change your face, you have beautiful skin this will make it better" or my all time favourite slung at me in Menlyn "this will make you look younger" ... that is always a brilliant sales pitch to a 49 year old.  

The problem is that if you say "no thanks", as most do, they then go into full jawlock mode and start following you for a few steps.  This is where it gets awkward.  I have now found the following to be slightly effective: 

• Do NOT make eye contact ... at all.  Whether this means you must burrow in your handbag, adjust your pants zip, walk sucked up against the store windows, get hiccups or vomit ... do not engage them in any way. 
• Put your cellphone against your ear ..... you will become the master of speaking to yourself. Just ensure it does not ring whilst you are doing this. Have an animated conversation ... wave your arms, shout if necessary. 

I remember in December (sounds like lyrics) when Jess, Nic and I were in the mall somewhere.  We spotted aforementioned salespersons (always be vigilant!!!) and Jess and I immediately did the phone to the ear thing.  Nic did not have his with him and started to look around panic stricken.  "Just leave a guy hanging", he muttered before grabbing onto his sister's arm and developing what appeared to be temporary blindness - also meant with great respect. 

So imagine my horror when I was at OR Tambo at the end of May, and whilst walking from Fournos above the arrivals hall, I saw that blur (too late) and ta da "would you like to improve your skin" jumped out of nowhere.  This is an airport, an international one at that.  There are stores, yes, which people CHOOSE to go into.  There are plenty of other vendors in that strip, yes, but they wait for you to approach them.   So I was disappointed to find this there.  Also international visitors, made skittish by the media, may think they are about to be mugged. 

And I tried to be nice, really, but I did tell her where to put that damn cream.  And followed a few steps ....

Till soon 

K xxx

salt, soup and a dash of coffee

There are a number of products leaping onto the market lately and I have been looking at several of them.

First off …. Makro has launched their own brand of cleaning materials with some great packaging labels.  Definitely worth a mention here is their dishwashing liquid, particularly in the Pomegranate scent …. I swear it smells like opening a container of that fruit in a popular supermarket.  Nice and foamy and deep cleaning without that horrible slick little oily layer staying behind that some of the “in house branded” products give. 

Next up is the Salt ‘n Pepper mixed grinder at Woolworths.  I do not know if it has been there for long, but it is a serious step up from the S & P mixes of some other brands.  It has exactly the right proportions and grinds in a reasonable size so that you neither end up with finely crushed powder or great globules that you have to bite through.

Lastly House of Coffees has finally jumped onto the bandwagon of the instant cappuccino sachets idea.  Nescafe firmly leads this market in my mind, with their rich and strongly, very foamy and seriously delicious product.  House of Coffees  has a very aesthetically pleasing box …. Quirky name, bright colouring, but the sachets, as pretty as they are, remind me of cup a soup.  Some of the brands of soup sachets do not use little square packets, they use sachets that look exactly like this … and that is all I could think of.  Sadly I was disappointed by the actual product.  The foam is thin and when you are sipping the coffee, the foam disappears within a couple of sips, leaving you simply with coffee with milk.  A perfect cappuccino keeps foam almost to the end,  so for a coffee snob and somewhat of a fundi like me …. Disappointing.   I will however say that the actual coffee was a good strong one.  And I drink great coffee at home via my Nespresso machine, great coffee at work and spend a lot of time in good coffeeshops. 

 Till soon 

K xxx 

All things in the mouth and on the mouth - choc & lipbalm

Now let us talk about chocolate.  And Cadbury's springs to mind.  Their slabs have always been sublime .... and then came their Oreo slab.  I bought one and cried for a week ... not from toothache but from the emotion of discovering something so decadently wicked and delicious.  And then ....... I have since childhood been a great fan of that granule candy that you put into your mouth and then it makes that popping sound and sensation in your mouth. This is something that has made the subject of divorce raise its head in our house each time I do this .... my husband gets a fit. 

So imagine my delight when I spotted 2 new slabs released from the Cadbury's fold.  I have only seen them once .... in the Superspar in Queenswood and have not found them in any supermarket since then.  They do not appear to be imports and they were priced at less than the Oreo one, so I assume they are yet to reach other supermarkets ... I hope so. Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations .....The one has little jelly and popping pieces .... yes you bite it and then if you open your mouth it makes that sound ..... and yes I am a grown up woman with 2 kids but man I love it .... and the other one has jellies and little caramel bits.  You have to try it .... sometimes you have to be wicked.  Just have to. 

Then on to the new Lipice release ....available in 4 different "flavours" it is a lipbalm, lipgloss and liptint in one.  The packaging is vivid and bright and it looks very very appealing.  Well named flavours and at R20 it is not that expensive compared to some of their Labello counterparts.  I have only been able to find it at Pharmavalu so far, not even Dischem or Clicks up to yesterday, seemingly because it is still a very new release. 

I went for the luminous orange packaged one .... and got my daughter and I each one. Called Summer Melon, it would give the lightest coral tint to the mouth.   They say "subtle" - which means it is "faint", "understated" but very much there!   I was really disappointed by the "tint" part.  It is a balm yes, although I found that after less than half an hour that feeling had disappeared from my mouth and I had to reapply.  The gloss part is ok, not spectacular but a little glossy.  However the tint was non existent.  It looked like absolutely normal lipice on my mouth.  I found this strange as the Labello tinted one definitely leaves a red or pink stain and a long lasting one at that and the Clicks brand leaves a very distinctive tint of sheer pink and that one in particular is great as a lipbalm.  Their pricing is also very competitive. I kissed the mirror to check the colour.  It was simply a mark on the mirror. Nothing even subtle. 

So it was all things "mouthy" today .... choc and gloss. 

Till tomorrow, 

K xxx

The restaurant, the DSTV, the bank & the coffee company

Last month I tweeted Wimpy after my son and I had a very bad experience at their OR Tambo franchise above the domestic arrivals hall.  The response was instant ... I was not only contacted by Famous Brands, the franchisor, but also by Wimpy management, the franchise owner of that particular Wimpy and their manager.  They really were interested in where it all went wrong and in working out why.  After all the apologies had been made ..... no excuses .... no buts ...... simply "we were wrong and we would like to fix it", they invited us over for a replacement lunch.   Today a friend and I had lunch there, on the house, courtesy of the manager - it was delicious, well prepared and we were checked on regularly.  An apology was again offered.  Now that is how you keep a customer.  You don't only keep them when you are great ... sometimes you keep them even more when you can fix it when you are wrong. High 5 Wimpy OR Tambo Landside - Prince & Perfect .. great attitudes!

Also Kudos today to DSTV - I called their customer service number and was really not kept waiting for more than a minute until I was helped with my account query.  Swift, efficient and well handled call - impressive. 

And thirdly a back pat to Standard Bank Customer Service Helpline.  I had to increase my monthly EFT limit and she helped me over the phone.  It was a ten minute process because the security verification is exceptionally thorough, for which they are to be applauded, and the matter was solved first time by a very professional call centre lady. Also worth a mention is the fact that I used SnapScan for the first time recently and Standard Bank called me immediately to verify that I was in fact using it - simply to protect me as I had not done so before.  2 weeks prior to that I got confused about my pin number and when I entered it for the 3rd time they called me while I was still at the ATM to verify that it was in fact me trying to get into the account. 

Am I a super wealthy client?  Absolutely not.  I am a very ordinary client and often joke that the reason they call is to check that I am still around :)

Lastly a big smile for Nespresso SA's online store.  We need capsules and you can order them online, at a competitive price and the delivery is free even for a small order.  If you use them in the office, as we do, or at home, as we do, you can order and they will be there in 2 to 3 days, delivered to your door.  The website is fantastically designed, easy to navigate and secure.  For a cappuccino addict like me .... this is heaven in a capsule so to speak. 

So good service is out there .... and when you get it......say so.  And when you don't ... complain ... not to your friends, but to the right person.   

Till tomorrow
K  xx

Reading, cleaning & all things egg

So a bit of product news today: 

Woolworths have a range of kitchen and general cleaning products that they seem to have re-aligned their pricing on and they are now very competitively priced .... but are of, in my mind, superior quality.  Sold under their own name they cover a wide range of products.  Worthy of a special mention are definitely their automatic washing machine liquid and their dish liquid.  The former comes in attractive packaging and is well priced compared to their 2kg powder competition in the market.  One of the greatest things is the smell which wafts out of both your machine and your clothing afterwards.  The latter comes in a modern bottle and seems to not get that congealing of liquid around the cap.  The scents are great, especially the yellow Tropical one and you really need a minute amount for deep foam. 

Then on to books .... which are becoming mind blowingly expensive and if you are a book maniac like me then you need to be on the look out all the time.   Bargain Books in Centurion are well priced and also have many books on the buy 2 for R149 kind of special.  With the renovations at Centurion Mall they are a bit tricky to reach at the moment but well worth a visit.  Even better is if you know which authors and titles you are looking for when you get there.  Another great source of books is the Annual Exclusive Books book sale ... if you want to go on Day 1 it will be wise to get there an hour before they open.  Alternately pass there every 2nd day during the sale.  They pack out all the time ... also hunt under the table top where they pack many good titles.  Book exchanges are also very useful .. but find out before the time what their exchange system is and also what they charge for buying only.  A good one here is the Magalieskruin Centre in Braam Pretorius Str ... she carries good titles.  There used to be a fantastic one outside the Superspar in the Queens Corner Centre but now after years, it seems to have moved on.  And then of course the old fashioned way .... fetes and markets. 

And lastly eggs ... after seeing an article recently about mismatched weights in a tray, questions about how large Jumbo actually is .... I have done some research and top of the pops for me is Eggbert Jumbo eggs available in most supermarkets.  Competitively priced all the eggs are the correct weight and at least they look like Jumbo eggs, not Large eggs standing on their tippy toes. 

If you find something else fabulous, let me know via my email kikidee@iburst.co.za

Till soon 

K xxxx

fruit & veg from farm to door

Veggie deliveries are not common place in SA yet.  Those that do operate do so mainly in Jhb and CT.  I once used to get a weekly delivery of organic veg, but the price became swiftly unmanageable - and this was 8 years ago - plus they delivered to one common point in Pta ... which became more irritating as each week passed. 

Then along came Farm Fresh Online (www.farmfreshonline.co.za) and their adverts for their good quality fruit and veg - which unfortunately they only delivered in Jhb and the greater Jhb area.  Then out of the blue came the announcement of the Pretoria & Centurion deliveries starting on 1 May.  As long as your order is in by the Wednesday, the box will be delivered on the Friday.  

They have both a family box for R350 and a couples box for R220.  We found the latter to be more than enough for the 3 of us because Nic does not eat all the types of veg.  I am glad.  His great love of fruit and lesser love of veg is saving us R130 :) 

So off I went and ordered, with a touch of trepidation that the variety received would not be extensive or of  top quality.  The online ordering system is easy to navigate and despite it being a public holiday today, the box was delivered at lunchtime. 

The items were really fresh and of a great quality.  Sparkling white potatoes without blemishes, huge onions and everything looked as described in the pic.  The clever thing is that you don't end up with "full" packets of everything.  I would rather have a few pieces of a vast variety than bags full of a few items.  So you find yourself with a brown paper bag with 4 huge potatoes in ..... also a bag with 2 huge onions and a whole garlic ..... 5 naartjies, 6 bananas, 3 avos and so on.  This way we are sure to finish everything and not have any waste. Obviously you get whole lettuce, broccoli, cucumber etc.

You can also tell them if there is something you want them to especially put in or leave out. So if you have enough carrots you can let them know so that they substitute with something else. 

So ... so far so good.  Next week I will update you on what comes with that box. 

You pay when you order so you can skip a week if you don't use it all, or go out or go on holiday.  

This week's box had in it:  naartjies, grapes, bananas, coloured peppers, potatoes, garlic, onions, marrow, avocado, turnips, butternut, lettuce, broccoli, cucumber, rosa tomatoes and carrots

Go on give them a try .... remember the 5 a day fruit and veggie rule!!! 

Till tomorrow 

K xx

Customer Care vs Customer ... we don't Care

If you live in Pretoria and need an eye test, I suggest you try out Dynamic Vision in the Queens Corner shopping Centre in Queenswood (next to the Superspar).  They have a great range of frames available to suit all pockets including the new hot range of Pepe Jeans which are funky and not too crazy priced.  A teenage boy does not want a staid eye experience and there we were laughing so in the testing room I wonder what those in the waiting room thought was going on.  Great optometrist, huge sense of humour and a fun experience.  He needs glasses and contacts and obviously you wait for the glasses but she immediately supplied the first test pairs of lenses which was great.  This time I kept my opinion to myself re the frames.  Last time, at the previous eye place, I offered an opinion and he was co-erced by the optician and hated the frames from the day we fetched them.  Said he looks like a serious dentist (no offence to dentists). Not a look for a 16 year old. 

Talking about the Superspar next door.  When you have a huge flashy colour brochure in the press which offers Pedigree Meaty Nuggets ... in big bold print at R149, specifying Meaty Nuggets and you are selling them for R229 .. an overcharge of R80 and argue about the massive printing error of Spar head office instead of honouring the deal .... not cool Spar, not Cool.  Manager = Management ..... none displayed. 

And OR Tambo Wimpy ..... 5 star thumbs up to you.  One Tweet about the weird meal you served us and you went into action ... Famous Brands reacted immediately, so did Wimpy head office, the franchisee and the manager ... and all were concerned about what had happened as it was quite bizarre.  No arguing from them, no justifying, just apologies and sincere attempts to fix it.  Lots of follow up.  Calls from them all.  THAT is customer service.  We look forward to our meal there next Tuesday to make up for it.  The supermarket could take a leaf out of your book. 

Does not matter whether you work solo in an office, or in a small office, or are part of a bigger team, have a business, work for a large brand or franchise .... give customer service .... be the brand you represent .... when you deal with someone, you represent not only the place that pays your salary, but also your boss, so make that impression one that makes people come back and enjoy interacting with you. 

And when you get it wrong .... admit it and fix it.  We all get it wrong sometimes ... it is how you right it that leaves the lasting impression. 

Till tomorrow 

K xx



  

Life through the eyes of an Archbishop

So yesterday I went to a book launch - an unusual one as it was not the Exclusive Books kind of book launch with the author reading a snippet from his book and answering questions about how, when and where he writes and what inspires him.

This was the launch of the Memoirs of Archbishop Emeritus George Daniel of the Catholic Church and it took place at his Jubilee Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Pretoria.

George Daniel became a priest in the Anglican Church before making the difficult decision to enter the Catholic Church.  He was ordained a Catholic priest after training in Rome and served in the Pretoria Archdiocese as a parish priest.  In 1975 he was appointed Archbishop of Pretoria and served in this position for 34 years.  I was Confirmed by him.

The book is a very enjoyable read so far.  Richly seeped in facts and beautifully told, it follows his journey from birth.  So far I have learnt of his studies in Architecture, his job writing water and lights accounts at the Municipal offices, his lineage to the poet C. Louis Leipoldt and his decision to enter the priesthood.  He writes with honesty and great wit ...

Reading about his school days at Pretoria Boys High and Grey's College, one learnt about a young man who also got caned at various stages for bad behaviour - this beautiful more "human" side is brought out in various parts of the book.

The book has clear footnote references at the back so if you are not familiar with religious terms or names of items in the church, you can quickly find them there.  I had fun first mentally checking if I knew the meaning before having to revert to the back ...... wonderful what you learn after a couple of years working in the parish office!

The book is very detailed, astoundingly so, and it paints a vivid and vast picture of a man who dedicated his life to God and serving others.  The realness of the person, the joys, sadnesses, anguish and happiness he experienced and his forthright way of sharing this, make this a joy to read.

The extensive amount of travelling done by him is mind blowing and he weaves a wonderful tapestry of these trips and his experiences.

One of my favourite anecdotes is when he left his new Episcopal ring on the washbasin on the day of his Ordination as Archbishop.

So put down your novel for a moment .... get your hands on this book via the Catholic Centre and travel a wonderful road with him.

Till tomorrow

K xxxx

SnapScan, Shopping and Being high in the sky

So this SnapScan thing I referred to yesterday.  You seriously need to download this app on your smartphone.  It is so easy to register - you scan your card, then to ensure you are secure, you put in your expiry date and CVV number manually and then "bobs your uncle".  Wherever you shop / go and want to pay via SnapScan (the barcode is clearly displayed at these places) you simply click on your icon on your phone, point it at the barcode, snap the pic and you personally see the name of the vendor and enter the amount.  It processes in the speed of lighting and you receive an sms (as does the vendor) immediately to confirm the purchase.

With a debit card you don't need cash.  With SnapScan you don't need either.  I hope this takes off in many more stores.  Even our parish offers this service ..... progressive as always.

And talking about money ...... if you are booking airline tickets you need to always consult Mango Airlines.  If you know the date of your travel well in advance ... then book.  If you book flights between Jhb and CT and vice versa and you are at least 8 weeks in advance .... the tickets are around the R400 mark.  If you book 4 to 5 weeks in advance you can still get in the R800 mark.  I have spent some time booking to this destination and back with my daughter working there and popping home and my son visiting - there are bargains to be had.  Obviously if you book on a long weekend, in school holidays or at the last minute .... the ticket costs a premium - but still less than many other airlines.  You can also pre-book your seat for R45 and pay a relatively small amount if you have an additional piece of luggage.

All good till tomorrow

K   xx

vintage clothing, cappuccinos & market moments

So I managed to co-erce the husband person into coming along with me and the long child to the Market@TheSheds which was being held in "Pop-Up" form this week at the Fountains Valley .... in the building which used to house Moyo Restaurant.  

It was fun .... i would have liked to see more craft stalls to peruse, but if you are there for good food & music and great beer (hubby) then you are going to be happy here.  It has a very relaxed vibe and sitting outside at the wooden tables under the umbrellas listening to the bands, you get a festival vibe, which is a fun way to spend a Saturday.  Did find 2 really gorgeous t-shirts for Nic ... the lady handpaints the images of the old VW Kombis and then has them put on the shirts ... very nice.  Also one of those scarf things that you wind around your neck 3 or so times and they hang in loops .... I know they have a fancy name.  I found a great one.  Food is provided by a plethora of places and you will definately find something for your taste.  Follow the Market on Facebook. 

And they have SnapScan which I ended up using for the first time ... hell ten years ago we would have laughed had someone told us that we would make a purchase and then take a snap on our phones of a barcode and use it to process the payment on our own phone.  Wow!!! 

Another great idea that I saw today is run under the name of WIA ... Wear It Again (check out their FB page) - a Pop-Up Vintage Clothing store which launched today at the Grounded at Echo Coffee Shop in Pierneef Str in Pta. 
A fantastic concept ... rails of gorgeous previously loved clothing, handbags and shoes - all at affordable prices and sold by a group of really fun-loving and friendly ladies.  I find that if you are looking for a winter coat, very often this is the place to look.  Don't confuse Vintage with Junk - this stuff is really lovely. 
And Grounded at Echo .... as you know by now I am a major fan and once again had a great brekki during a meeting today. 

russians, roadhouses and real fun

Roadhouses.  Still remember them?  Now I still like that …. Pulling up and flicking your lights for service and then positioning your window perfectly when they bring the tray.  Very often nowadays if you flick your lights anywhere you are liable to get a lewd sign from someone, so it is nice to do it there and get a menu.

The best one for me?  Without a doubt the Lollipop Roadhouse in upper Stanza Bopape Street, by the Caltex ….. when growing up it was called the Dolls House.  They are the world class undisputed kings of that old roadhouse item ….. russian and chips.  They serve it crispy and hot and lathered in vinegar and if you wash it down with a chocolate double thick shake …. Mmmmm the ensuing sugar rush headache is almost worth it!!  My son says there pizzas are also well worth it.

For those who were kids around the 1965 – 1975 time in Pretoria you will surely remember the Milky Cove Roadhouse in Gordon Road, Colbyn (a block from the Dolls House) and the Flying Saucer Roadhouse in what is now Pierre v Ryneveld.  I remember many nights in the back of my parent’s car …. With a blanket in winter …. Going off to those 2 roadhouses on the weekend for a treat.  I will never forget what the hamburger sauce tasted like at the Milky Cove.  My mom always fancied a banana milkshake.  Today it has been replaced with a very worthwhile Royal Copenhagen Danish Ice-cream parlour where you can have the most divine waffles with 2 scoops of mouthwatering ice-cream in decadent flavours.

Drooling yet? 

                                                                

I do need to tell you that I regularly take my son down to the Lollipop Roadhouse where we get ourselves a nice soft serve ice-cream … me on a cone …. Him in a bowl.... and then we open the boot of my car and sit on the ledge with our backs facing the boot and our legs hanging down.  We use that 20 mins to catch up on everything and anything.  Very often just hanging out.  It is a special tradition.

Now on a particular day this year I decided that instead of ice-cream, we would eat as my hubby was away and this would take care of supper.  We ordered and the tray arrived and was perched onto the window.  All was well.  Then in an idiotic moment I decided to close my window.  And my car has one of those automatic buttons so when you tap it, it closes the window all the way without having to hold the button down.  So I tapped the button and the window started to shoot up … at this stage Nic shouted “mom the tray” and realising the imminent disaster I tapped the button again and the window shot downwards, completely open in record time.  I will leave you to imagine the force with which the tray shot off the window and landed between us and the car next to us.  Glasses broke, tomato sauce and mustard containers shot in the air … a plate broke and the noise and entertainment value was legendary.  Once we had stopped laughing … and believe me it took a while, I did offer to pay for damages.  They, obviously entertained too, declined.

And then as we drove off, in a last moment of theatrics, I drove over the red plastic tomato sauce bottle which was under my wheel.  It burst ….. well let us just say it wasn’t pretty.

And yes, they do still serve us when we go there.  Even though I had to return the next day as in a grand finale to the evening we realised we still had their cutlery in the car when we got home :)

Go on …. Have a roadhouse meal…..

Till tomorrow

K    xx

2 years. 2 pieces of turkish delight

Today was what I would call EXTREME PAPERWORK day in the office.  It was also the celebration of 2 years in my current job. 

I had an extra cappuccino and toasted myself by eating 2 pieces of turkish delight with it.  I was alone in the office today which was a pity.  

To me getting excited about this is a big thing … I am one of those people who believe in celebrating …. Birthdays ….. Anniversaries of Baptism Days ….. Confirmation Days …. Work anniversaries ….. because I believe we need to count our blessings.  No-one is guaranteed the next birthday or the next day …. Or that they will still have this job in a year’s time …. or that this job will still have them.  So I made today joyful for myself in the office … played a CD and waded through my entire office to ensure that the bookkeeper had every last piece of paper she should receive from my desk.  I like my job.  I am proud to work there.  And that is worth celebrating.

When my hubby fetches me now and we collect Nic at school, I am going to suggest a celebratory roadhouse stop.  Still for that 2 years. Today many people job hop … not too many people of my age change career direction completely as I did 2 years ago …. And that is worth celebrating to me as well.

Pass the turkish delight please …. And damn …. I had no glitter today. 

Till tomorrow

K xxx

perfume, complaints and other online stuff

Complaining helps.  When you don't get the quality or service you feel you deserve or it is an unacceptable standard, do something about it.  Not the long winded, whining, rude, loud and bombastic kind of complaining .... but rather the constructive, quiet and appropriately addressed kind of complaint.  Twitter, I have discovered, is the fastest way to get a response.  When you hashtag the appropriate company, they will, nine out of ten times, respond.

I recently had a very bad experience at a Jhb Wimpy.  I tweeted.  Within ten mins I got a call, then an email and the following day the franchise owner called, then the franchise company themselves and then today the restaurant manager to offer me a free meal for two to make up for the disaster.  I received a verbal and written apology for what was quite a disaster there, and for this they have kept me as a client ..... if you are wrong, say so, apologise and then try fix it. 

Then onto another subject ..... did you know that if you buy a shop "soiled" item in a store ... I mean like a washing machine or similar appliance, that is dented or badly scratched, you can ask for at least a ten percent discount for shop damage.  Most times retailers are quite happy to give this in order to sell the item.  I also found that if the appliance on display is the last one in the store, sometimes they are also willing to give a little off because the item has been opened and shut and touched by many people.  I have great luck with this. 

If you have time to browse a website, then go and have a look at www.mtbeds.co.za where you can get great last minute deals or specials on accommodation all over the country.  They also load cancellations made by clients and if you can grab one of these you will be getting a bargain.  

And lastly if you want to buy genuine perfumes and aftershaves in original sealed packaging, go online and check out Ascot Cosmetics ..... they have a lot of specials and their prices on all brands are very competitive ...... they also deliver! 

See you tomorrow 

K xxx

a little bit of Culture

Movie tickets have soared to the R60 region and if you don't have a Vitality Card, no other movie card discounts on weekend except maybe Edgars Club.  By the time you have a colddrink and popcorn combo you have spent another R50 minimum (bearing in mind that a packet of popcorn kernels costs about R11 and makes 20kg ..... what a massive markup ... oh yes you do get the syrup and soda water drink).   So at a minimum of R120 per person ... movies are getting to be a pricey outing.

Which is why it is such a pleasant surprise to discover that "ordinary" tickets to theatre do not cost an arm and a leg all the time.  Yes if you go to the big shows .... Cabaret etc you will have to cough up.  However you should watch the press for shows at the State Theatre, Teatro at Montecasino and such.  Not all of them are extremely pricey!

The State Theatre has many R50 matinee shows on the go and R100 evening specials. There is secure underground parking and to be double sure we parked right outside the busy lift.  Theatre is still magical .... plush carpeting ... huge fancy lights hanging from the ceiling ... beautiful leather sofas in clusters in foyer and of course the little counters with filter coffee and glossy programmes.

BFF and I took ourselves off to see "Vettie Vettie" with Tobie Cronje ... he does not get older, just funnier, particularly in tonight's role as an aging very camp guy.  The pace is fast, the humour quick and the regular element of risque is beautifully slung in and delightfully wicked.


It was a wonderful evening and way cheaper than a movie outing. 

Go try some live theatre - it is a great night out.


Till tomorrow

K   xx

hockey, hoops & happiness

If you want to do some silly stuff with your kids .... all ages .... I went with my 16 year old son, then the Fun Company (newly and smartly revamped) at Menlyn Centre is quite a lekker evening. 

Gone are the days when you swopped your money for some of those grubby tokens that you used in the various machines, they have now moved into the age of plastic and your credit is loaded onto a "credit card".  Gone also are the days when after playing, a 5m string of winning tickets shot out of the machine .... today the winning credits are loaded onto the card and you "cash in" afterwards. I must say that I missed the thrill of the tickets. 

We had a very fun evening shooting hoops, playing air hockey, hitting crocodiles and other creatures, throwing balls at clowns and then of course there is the photo booth.  You pay for an A5 size photo which is divided into blocks.  Once in the booth you get all the instructions and then you are able to go through all the poses you want as they give directions.... look crazy, look sad etc.  3 mins later you have your photo ... gorgeous memory. 

We had a "half time" break with nice freezos from Happy Me and great sandwiches from Subway and Anat (who make fabulous pita). 

So if your teenager wants you to do something silly and uninhibited with them ... go on ... it is like an old fashioned fun fair ..... just a lot cleaner. 

till tomorrow
K  xx

from viennas to sta soft - all in a day

Two really cool things you should try: 

Firstly .... out on the very top of Pretoria Rd, on the left hand side, is the Food Hub.  In there is the Eskort (as in polony, not hooker) factory shop, Sea Harvest Factory Shop, Aryx Cleaning Materials and Lambertis Juices.  All great.  The food factory shops are not lower quality food or almost expired or anything weird .... it is all marvellously fresh and very reasonably priced.  A 1kg packet of Eskort Viennas sells for R32 .... nowhere in a supermarket will you find it for less than R45.  And they make rib burger patties and and coldmeats all very yummy.  School lunch paradise!! 

The Aryx products are very well priced and of a superior quality and long lasting and the juices ... R85 for the concentrate which makes 25 lit .... no tartrazine and my son is a juice guru ... and he loves it. 

Also there is a meat shop and in it there is a little coffee shop that makes fabulously creamy cappuccinos and the best toasted sandwiches.  Their regular sarmies are always made with 3 slices of bread so you get a jumbo sarmie for the normal competitive price.  Go and check them out. Brilliant, friendly service too. 

OK, that is the how to spend your money wisely info for the day. 

Chat tomorrow 

K xx