Voetsek 2021, Hello 2022 – Will You be Better?

2021 has been another tough year.  Some of us plan to stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve, not to see the New Year in, but to make sure the old one leaves.

Here's wishing you and yours whatever cheer you can manage at this time of year.  Many have had sickness, losses of loved ones, of jobs, of whole businesses.  Many of us have had to reassess our priorities in life, our beliefs, our faiths.  That may bring new life, new growth, new beginnings.  The sun is shining (sometimes).  The rain is nourishing the earth.  We are still here.  There is some possible inspiration below.

Encouragingly, people are still opening new shops.  A DIY Depot off Rivonia Road, with longer hours than Morning Glen Mica (and open Sundays, except Christmas and the Day of Goodwill). The wonderful Country Meat, and Praia Prawns, in Morningside Shopping Centre. Taste of India has moved to a bigger and better restaurant opposite in Rivonia Village Shopping Centre. And more.

Too bad the art gallery didn't stay: Maybe Modderfontein is more arty than Morningside? Or cheaper. at least.

Give Now, While You Have it in You

Even though many of us are clinging to the ledge of solvency by our fingernails, it is still the season of giving.

What can you give that has no monetary value to you, yet is priceless?

...

450ml of your blood.  Taking half an hour of your time.

With it, you can give the gift of life to three people.

Isn't this a bargain, giving so much to the nation for such  a small individual contribution?

If you are in northern Johannesburg, your nearest donation centres are:

• Fourways Donor Centre (in the Pineslopes area): Shop G1-08, Forest Road Design and Decor, 11 Sunset Ave (corner Forest Road), Sandton.  Phone 011 767 9959.

• Northgate Donor Centre, cor Olievenhout & Northumberland Ave  Phone 011 761 9325.
• Upstairs at The Colony, cor 349 Jan Smuts & Rothesay Avenues, Craighall, Johannesburg. Phone 011 447-6665.

Operating Times: Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00, Saturday & Sunday 08:00–14:00, Public Holidays 08:00–13:00.

Visit the SANBS website to find out more or chat to them.

Do you own or manage a shopping centre in Sandton?  Increase traffic to your centre –and do something good for society– by volunteering an empty shop to SANBS for a blood donation clinic.

An Xmas Mondegreen

"Deck Us All With Boston Charlie"

(as popularised in the classic comic strip "Pogo" by Walt Kelly –instead of "Deck the halls with boughs of Holly")

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

Late last month Morning Glen Mall reopened its main entrance on Kelvin Drive after renovations.  –Good improvements they are too.  They have raised and levelled the driveway, eliminating the dip as one comes in, and removing most of the hill as one exits. There are now two lanes in both directions deeper in, and much-improved signage.  Unfortunately they have eliminated the sidewalks.  Presumably pedestrians are expendable, since they don't spend as much money as people who can afford cars.

• DIY Depot (Cor Rivonia & Winter Rds), Rivonia 12th Ave in Rivonia North Shops – Entrance 17 Autumn Rd. Industrial, hardware, electrical, tools, measurement equipment, soldering equipment, paint, wheelbarrows, keys cut, pool requirements, DIY, tools, much more.
• Moto & More (Cor Rivonia & Winter Rds), Rivonia 12th Ave in Rivonia North Shops – Under DIY Depot, entrance 17 Autumn Rd. Motor vehicle maintenance. "People You Auto Know".
• Anasa, Shop L10, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Ladies' boutique.
• Country Meat, Shop L16-17, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Meat market, artisan butchery, delicatessen. Fresh beef, lamb, pork and chicken. Dairy products, Baked goods, cold meats, sauces, spices, Free State biltong and droëwors.
• Xtreme Nutrition, Shop L27, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Muscle-building supplements and sports nutrition.
• Praia Prawns, Shop L26, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Specialised food deli. Prawns, seafood, pre-prepared meals.
• Telkom (kiosk), Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Kiosk under the escalators. Telephone service.
• Red Square Morningside, Shop U07, Upper Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Health & Beauty: Facials, makeovers, cosmetics. Chanel, Blv, Armani, Dior, Issey Miyake, Estee Lauder, Clarens, Aramis, Clinique.
• Thomarts Gallery, was Shop U07 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Artist-owned contemporary art gallery: African artists including Nkosinathi Thomas Ngulube, Art Director. Art workshops. Exhibition, art curating, art consultancy, art sales. Moved to Unit 1A Flamingo Shopping Centre, Modderfontein, Johannesburg.

Life is Not a Victory March

From Daily Stoic:

It would be wonderful if life were easy. It’d be wonderful if things went our way every time. If people we loved didn’t die. If plans didn’t fail. If evil didn’t exist. If planes didn’t crash and pandemics and wildfires didn’t rage.

Marcus Aurelius described life as "warfare and a journey far from home". Leonard Cohen was speaking about love but also life when he said that it was not a victory march but a cold and broken hallelujah.

A Stoic is resilient because they have to be. Life is no soft affair. It challenges us. It rolls obstacles in our path. While there may be victory marches in our future, there will also —inevitably— be defeats and retreats, failures and foibles and funeral processions. We will suffer. We will grieve. We will screw up and be screwed.

But we keep going. Because that is our fate. Because it’s our only option. We move forward. We move with growing confidence, in ourselves, in our ability to adapt and to grow and to survive.

How? Well, we’ve been there before. Because of what we’ve been through, we are tougher as a result, more experienced as a result, wiser as a result.

Thought for the Day:

"I was waiting for inspiration to strike, but I found that inspiration was already on strike." –Rick

Deceased:  Back to top

• The Fridge Wine & Spirit Emporium, Shop L25 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Former Liquor store.
• Café Patisse (kiosk) in Morningside Shopping Centre – Was a kiosk under the escalators. Patisserie, chocolatier and confectionary. All-day Breakfast. Salads. Five lunch items. Catering.
• Nitro Health & Nutrition, Shop L27 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Muscle-building supplements and sports nutrition. Was Lower Level.
• Pick n Pay Clothing, Shop L16-17 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Clothes and fashion for the whole family: shoes, tops, dresses, trousers, shirts, hats, swimming costumes etc. Was Lower Level.
• Trellidor (2 Autumn Road) in Rivonia North Shops – The "Crime Barrier" people. In Autumn Road just off 12th Ave.

You know you're South African if...

Someone says "the Queen" and you automatically think of Modjadji, not Elizabeth II...

Deadline to Make an Arrangement on your Joburg City Debt

31 December 2021 is the closing date to take up the City of Johannesburg offer for a municipal debt arrangement plan. Only 10% down payment, as opposed the 25–50% usually required. The repayment period can be up to 48 months.  Pensioners can get 60 months.

To apply, send an email or visit the CoJ website to access online application forms. You may also visit any of the Revenue Customer Service Centres across the City to apply..

Overheard at the Checkout Beach

"Mummy, Mummy, can I go swimming?"
"No, dear."
"Why not?"

"Sharks."
"But Daddy's swimming!"
"Daddy's insured."