Editorial Festive Wishes

This month we're early, hoping to catch readers who might be going away.  If we're already too late for you, sorry! –Read us in the New Year.  Speaking of which,

If you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, ChriFSMas, Yule, Arba'een, Mawlid an-Nabi, the Solstice, the Festive Season, Kwanzaa, or the New Year: Have a Great Time, and stay safe!

With dog-in-the-manger Eskom, led by our incompetent Government, determined to destroy the economy rather than allow independent power producers to help, there is little cheer this Festive Season.  Why are we not toyi-toyiing at Megawatt Park and the Union Buildings?  Too tolerant, too busy trying to keep our lives and our businesses running, that's the problem.  Nevertheless, there is some cheer to be had (see Restaurant Review picture below) and some ways of mitigating the blackouts (Green Tip below).

Despite the short month, we still have plenty of changes for you: in Rivonia Village, Rivonia Junction, Bryanston Shopping Centre, Cambridge Crossing, and Petervale Shopping Centre.  The famous Codfather Restaurant has moved, and the delightful Winnie's Soul & Jazz Restaurant has reopened.

Odd Jobs

The Statistician, when the spouse says, "you're impossible!", replies, "no, dear, just very highly improbable".
 

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• The Codfather Restaurant has moved from the Codfather Village of Restaurants in First Avenue, Rivonia, to Sandton Skye, 3 Stan Road off Grayston Drive between Rivonia Rd and Benmore Rd, Sandton. It is not clear what has become of the other restaurants from that centre, which is closed for renovations.
• Vida e Caffe, Ground in Rivonia Village – Coffee shop opposite Checkers. Wide variety of coffees, some tea, frio, sumo, Portuguese rolls, croissants, toasted sandwiches, salads, muffins, other snacks.
• Roco Mamas, Ground in Rivonia Village – Burger Restaurant. Cheeseburger, cheese+bacon burger, mushroom, shoe string fries, design your own, wings, salads, dips.
• Dominos Pizza Rivonia, Ground in Rivonia Junction – Wide variety of pizzas: Three choices of bases, many standard pizzas or design your own; drinks and dips. Free delivery in 30 minutes.
• Chesa Nyama, Shop G1, Ground in Rivonia Junction – Serving the best matured A-grade meats, flamed-grilled in our open-plan kitchen, accompanied by a secret traditional pap and sauce or freshly-cut chips.
• Golden Rose Chinese Food and Sushi Bar, Shop 18, Ground in Cambridge Crossing – Chicken, pork, beef, duck, vegetable, prawn, calamari, fish, noodles, noodles, rice, desserts. Sushi of all kinds.
• Ladylike Hair and Barberazzi, Shop 16, Ground in Cambridge Crossing – Unisex hairdressers sharing the same premises.
• Sorbet Beauty Salon Paulshof, Ground in Cambridge Crossing – Health & Beauty: Face and body professionals for Ladies, Teens and Gents.
• Bryanston Hair Studio, Shop 3, Ground in Petervale Shopping Centre – Ladies' Hair Salon. Open Monday to Saturday.
• Cycleworx, Shop 2a, Ground in Petervale Shopping Centre – "The bicycle workshop": Servicing bicycles, making friends. Saturday specials for riders.
• Ballet Début, 1st Floor in Petervale Shopping Centre – Ballet classes for children from 3 to adults; Beginners to Advanced.
• Carbon Black Auto, Rivonia 7th Avenue in Rivonia Area Shops – High-end new, pre-owned and luxury sports cars. Finance available if you don't need it. Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Aston Martin.
• Executive High Class Car Wash, Basement in Rivonia Junction – They will wash your car and pray for it at the same time. The car wash works, the prayers may not.
• Winnie's Soul & Jazz Restaurant, Ground in Wendywood Shopping Centre – Reopened! Music and food! Prices on the high side, probably to pay for the entertainment.
• Café del Sol Botanico, Shop 89, Upper Level in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Monday closed, Tuesday to Saturday: Lunch and Dinner, Sunday: Lunch Only.
• Black Betty, Shop 18A, Lower Level in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Jewellery & Accessories. Hand-cut precious- and semi-precious stones in handcrafted pieces by Kristin Weixelbaumer.
• The Christmas Shop, Shop 11A in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Lower level, across from FNB.
• @home The Sleep Shop, Shop 29A, Upper Level in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Everything you need to add impeccable style to any bedroom.

Restaurant Review by Judith Back to top

Funny Language, English...

Lost and Gone Forever:  Back to top

• Grooming Centre, Shop G1 in Rivonia Junction – Caucasian and ethnic hair and beauty.
• Delhi Palace in Cambridge Crossing – North Indian Tandoori Restaurant and take-away.
• Video Spot in Cambridge Crossing – The (former) Video specialists.
• Yasuqi Cuisine, Shop 18 in Cambridge Crossing – Chinese food and sushi.
• Therabeautic Skin and Body Clinic in Cambridge Crossing – Professional skin and body care therapists.
• Tshukudu Biltong, Shop L04 in Nicolway Bryanston – Game biltong.
• The Multisport Basement, Shop 5, Lower Level in The Square Sunninghill – Support and equipment for cycling, swimming, trail hiking, trail running, triathlon, ultra running and mountain biking. The Bike Basement is still open in Rivonia Crossing 2.

Grammar and Grandpa

Santa's elves: Are they subordinate Clauses?

Green Tip: Weather the Electricity Cuts   Back to top

In February, we bought a 1400 VA Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).  While mains power is on, the batteries charge from mains. When the power trips, the UPS cuts in and supplies AC power until mains power returns.  At R9,462, the unit was not cheap, but with the recent constant blackouts it has proven itself essential. It gives us lights for the office, and can run five computers, a server, and their screens, for 4½ hours and more.  It is also wonderful to have for the short power interruptions that previously forced desktop computers to be restarted.  To get yours, contact Emergency Reaction Services, Tel 011 234 6000, email kevin@ersos.co.za.

Strictly speaking, that is not a "green" tip, inasmuch as the UPS is a net user of electricity.  It does, however, keep us from going red in the face!  It is also more ecological –and cheaper in the long run, not to mention much quieter– than the alternative: a generator.  To make it greener, we are looking at adding photovoltaic panels to generate our own power from the sun.  We will keep you posted on progress.

Overheard at the Checkout:

"Hi Joe! How did your experiment with ride sharing go?"

"It worked for the first week, but then I got a wrist inflammation from driving through too many underpasses."

"That's odd... what was it?"

"The Doctor called it 'Carpool Tunnel Syndrome'."