Happy New Decade!

Welcome to 2020!  We wish you a good decade!  (There is some debate about whether the decade starts this year or next, based on whether there was a year zero or not. Never mind: we're happy to take a quick win.)

The biggest Sandton shopping news this month is probably the much-anticipated opening of Food Lovers Market in Morning Glen Mall last Thursday. We went on Saturday afternoon and, boy, was it busy!  We must have spent as long in the checkout queue as we spent shopping.  There were some good special offers, particularly for those buying in bulk.  In some cases, they discounted items below the advertised prices.

Be kind to Food Lovers Market: Weigh your pre-prepared food before eating it.
Otherwise they have to weigh you before and after, and it's hard to fit you on their scales!

In contrast, Pick 'n Pay downstairs was dead quiet. Not even the Smart Shopper terminal was working.

Odd Jobs

If a Medical Doctor can help sort out my medical problems, can a Doctor of Philosophy help me with my ethical challenges?

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• Food Lovers Market Morning Glen, Upper Level in Morning Glen Mall – Grand Opening on Thursday 23 January 2020. Fruit, vegetables, fish, meat (full butchery), cheese, freshly baked bread, doughnuts, buns, sticky treats and cakes from their own bakery. Also some groceries.
• Signarama has moved from 331 Rivonia Boulevard, next to the Shell Garage in Rivonia, to 50 Bowling Avenue, Wendywood, near Wendywood Shopping Centre – Signage and Branding.
• Natural Effects Hair Design is back in Shop 71, Upper Level in Morning Glen Mall – Ladies' and men's hairdressers.
• Workshop 90 has moved from Morning Glen Mall to Shop LL05, Basement in Sunninghill Village – Teplov and Block Pointé shoes, Ballet, Jazz. Ballroom, Gym, Spanish and Tap Shoes; full range of Leotards for gym and Dancing; Kryloan make-up; fancy dress and masks.
• CoCo has become MoMo, Shop 16 in Early Dawn Mall – still fresh tea and juice. Slush, coffee, cream and milk.
• Bodytec, Shop L12, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Personal trainer-guided “Electro Muscular Stimulation” (EMS), a full body training exercise using impulse current.
• Nitro Health & Nutrition, Shop L27, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Muscle-building supplements and sports nutrition.
• Shirt Story, Shop U10, Upper Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Opening soon.
• Paul depuis 1889, Shop U50, Upper Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – French restaurant, bakery and patisserie.
• Envy, Shop U20, Upper Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – South African fashion: Ladies' clothes and accessories - handbags, earrings, glasses, belts.
• Sorbet Man, Shop U16, Upper Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Men's haircuts & shaves, massages, facials, waxing, hands & feet ("man"icure and pedicure).
• CBD Shop (Kiosk), Upper Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – CBD oils from the hemp plant. Reputed cure-all. Kiosk opposite Freddy and Frozen for You.
• Pizza Perfect, Shop 02, Lower Level in Morning Glen Mall – Wood-fired Oven pizzas. Sub sandwiches. Salads. Garlic bread. Snacks. Next to the new Entrance 3.
• Gadgets Exclusive, Shop 32, Lower Level in Morning Glen Mall – Gadgets, accessories, wireless, airguns, cheap Chinese knives, laptops, repairs.
• Daisy Dumpling House, Shop 15 in Early Dawn Mall – Dumplings of all kinds: Pork & Leek, Beef, Vegetarian, chicken, seafood. Noodles, rice, soup, salads.
• Chef Chen Asian Kitchen, Shop 17 in Early Dawn Mall – Japanese and Chinese Restaurant.
• New Little India Spice & Grocery, Shop 19 in Early Dawn Mall – Indian spices, rice and groceries. Lentils, soya, frozen foods. Prayer goods. "We bring India to you".
• My Basket Supermarket, Shop 1 in Early Dawn Mall – Asian supermarket. Japanese and Chinese foods.
• Bags & Baggage, Shop 08, South Wing in Woodmead Retail Park – Bags, wallets, suitcases, leather goods, handbags, shoulder bags. Electric plug adaptors for other countries. Travel locks.

Restaurant Reviews by Judith Back to top

***** Paul depuis 1889, Morningside Shopping Centre, Morningside

A boulangerie, patisserie and great place to go to eat. The service, from greeting to seating and eating was superb. We ordered Carrot Juice (which was freshly squeezed) and Chenin Blanc. Have you ever eaten Traditional Onion Soup out of a hollowed out loaf? Well my partner did and declared it very good. I had the Pesto Chicken Sandwich. Both were excellent and we had takeaways! Felicia was great.  This is definitely a place worth trying.

Contact Details for Paul.  Back to top

***** Saigon Restaurant, Rivonia Junction, Rivonia

First venture in many years because of access problems, but worth the climb up the stairs. We ordered Appletiser and Durban Hills Sauvignon Blanc for drinks and shared the Duck Breast and noodles: A useful aspect for people with small appetites! The courtesy was very southeast Asian. Fortune looked after us well. A lovely place to go for a special meal and to enjoy the view. Recommended.

Contact Details for Saigon Restaurant.  Back to top

Funny Language, English...

Do lively zombies have vigour mortis?

Angels Carried Them Away:  Back to top

• Twisp (kiosk) in Morningside Shopping Centre – Kiosk on Lower Level outside Morningside Pharmacy. Electronic cigarettes.
• Morningside Toys, Shop L12 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Small toy shop selling small toys. Was Lower Level.
• Rugs Original, Shop L21 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Large stockist of Persian, Oriental and modern Belgian carpets and rugs. Was Lower Level.
• Optimum Nutrition, Shop L27 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Muscle-building supplements and sports nutrition. Was Lower Level.
• Classic Hair & Beauty, Shop 48 in Morning Glen Mall – Hairdressers; treatments for beauty care, skin care and nails under one roof. Manicure, pedicure, facials, tanning, hydrodermi, waxing.
• Café Coton, Shop U10 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Opened July 2013. 100% cotton men's shirts imported from Paris and 100% silk ties Imported from Italy, and a range of accessories.
• Bensimon Collection, Shop U41 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Opened July 2013. French ladies' clothing and accessories.
• Love Fish, Shop U51 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Fish & Sushi Experience. Closed, deservedly.
• Infinity Elegance Studio, Shop 15 in Early Dawn Mall – Hair, Nails, Eyelash.
• TAB - Totalisator Agency Board in Early Dawn Mall – Bets on horse racing. Sports betting.
• Ink 4 Less, Shop 19 in Early Dawn Mall – Toner and ink refills. Ink cartridges. Digital and large format printing. Canvas printing. ID and Passport photos. Framing.
• Louis Datnow Luggage, Shop 08 in Woodmead Retail Park – Bags, wallets, suitcases, leather goods, handbags, shoulder bags, Zakumi dolls. Electric plug adaptors for other countries. Travel locks. Stockists of Samsonite, Cellini, Paklite, Gino de Vinci, and Polo.
• Water Control Co in Thatchers Corner, Bryanston – Waterproofing, damp proofing, drainage.

Thought for the Day:

What with the publicity that the Corona virus is getting, Amstel and Heineken must be scrambling to name the next virus....

Feature: Gardening with Brig. (ret'd) "Nuke" Killer:

Jane of Bryanston writes: "How can I bring desirable birds into my garden, while discouraging Mynah birds?"

The Brigadier replies, "I made an Owl box out of an old ammo case.  Don't have any owls yet.  Tried rounding some up at gunpoint: It didn't work.  Same with other birds – for some reason they don't like my garden.  Except when there is fruit.  A bird feeder might help, but I don't want them to become dependent on me.

"To get rid of Mynah birds, I tried the flamethrower that I use for the weeds.  Works a treat. Pity about the thatched lapa.  Might be a bit difficult for the average householder to get hold of.  You could try a catapult.  Or a cat."

New Mayor, Same Old ANC

It might be confirmation bias. Or maybe just the rainy weather. Yet somehow, the number of unrepaired potholes seemed to increase as soon as the ANC took over the Johannesburg Metro again. Our garbage collection, scheduled for Fridays, now seems to take place on Sundays. If we are lucky.

There is a municipal election next year. Will a majority of voters –or at least, those who bother to vote– still support the ANC?  Why?  What's the point of voting ANC on Wednesday, and then holding service delivery protests on Friday?  We know the DA has its problems, but it's much better at providing municipal services.

Overheard not so near the Checkout

"Dear, do we have any bacon?"

"Only on the shopping list!"