Bloodbath at The Bridge, Buccleuch

How's that for a clickbait headline?

No injuries or deaths of people, fortunately, but a lot of shops have died since last we visited.  As you can see in the Closed Shops section below.

The Bridge is the only shopping centre in Buccleuch. It has remained unrenovated for years, serving the basic needs of this community. It's a suburb separated from the rest of Sandton by the M1 Motorway and Frankenwald, and itself split by the Jukskei River and the N3 highway. The Bridge was named for the nearby bridge where Buccleuch Drive crosses the Jukskei. But the name could now also be for the adjacent flyover of the N3 over Buccleuch Drive.

Sadly, the centre is not being maintained and has become quite seedy. Only the KwikSpar seems to be looking after its shop and sidewalk. The rest of the centre is falling into disrepair, it's no wonder that there are many vacant shops. Or perhaps that's the reason! With less rent coming in to pay for maintenance, the centre goes downhill, more shops leave, and it creates a death spiral.

Odd Jobs:  Back to top

Jobs where you can get it wrong most of the time and not be fired:
Weather Forecaster.
Horse-Racing Tipster.
Soccer player for Bafana Bafana.
SA Public Protector.
ANC Government Cabinet Minister.

New Padel Courts at Morning Glen Mall

Padel Perfect has opened its first South African club at Morning Glen Mall in Morningside Manor and Gallo Manor, Sandton. You can play, eat and shop, all in one location. With free parking, ablutions and a food truck.

What is Padel?

Padel is a racket sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court roughly one-third the size of a tennis court. Scoring is the same as normal tennis.  The balls used are similar, with less pressure. The main differences are that the court has glass walls and the balls can be played off them in a similar way to the game of squash and that solid, stringless bats are used. The height of the ball being served must be at or below waist level.

It is said to be great fun and easier than tennis.  Book here to try it out.

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• Praia Prawns has become Medley Speciality Grocers, Shop L26, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Specialised food deli. Prawns, seafood, preprepared meals. Vegetarian/vegan, Halaal, and Spice Route (particularly Indian) groceries.
• Absolute Pets, Lower Level in The Wedge, Morningside – Vet Shop: Veterinary-quality Pet Food: Vet's Choice, Eukanuba, Hills, Iams, etc., pet toys, dog and cat beds. Unusually, sells tropical fish. Has a grooming parlour.
• Car Time, Lower Level in Chilli on Top Shopping Centre Sunninghill – Service Centre. Repair, service and maintain your car with us: All popular brands of vehicle, Merc a speciality. Opened 1 Sept 2022.
• Fish Focus (Pty) Ltd., Central in Rivonia Area Shops – Design and build fish tanks to compliment your home or office. Maintain your aquarium. Regular live coral and fish imports for clients. 4 Second Ave, Rivonia.
• Shawn Marshall, Shop L10, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Men's boutique. Luxury brand for the modern professional.
• Morningside Telkom, Shop L22, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Cell phones, contracts, data.
• Bespoke Bootlegger, Shop L25, Lower Level in Morningside Shopping Centre – Liquor shop.
• Buccleuch Cellphone Shop, Shop 11, Ground in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Wholesale and retail: Cell phone repair centre for all kinds. Accessories, pouches, computer monitors, screen protectors.
• Healing with Crafts, Ground in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Fabric painting, decoupage, mosaic, diamond dotting and much more. Enquire about their fun workshops.
• Clamira Hair & Beauty, Ground in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Avon products.
• Ladies' Prayer Facility, 1st Floor in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Ladies only, probably Muslim. Not the place to pray that you find a lady.
• Romis Fashion, 1st Floor in The Bridge Shopping Centre.

Today's Mondegreen

“Chopping wood to warm his arsehide”.

Correct lyric: “Chopping wood to warm his hearthside” from Shawn Phillips’s "The Ballad of Casey Deiss".  Thanks, Mike, for this (nearly 5 decades ago)!

The Restaurant Review! Back to top

Our second review since lockdown.  Last of the Big Spenders.

You know you're in South Africa when...

Load shedding is such a pain that you look into emigrating to Nigeria.

Expired:  Back to top

• Kemetic Fish Bar in The Wedge, Morningside – Fried and grilled fish. Calamari. Prawns. Wings (not clear from which fish). Burgers (hake, chicken). Russians. Ukrainians? Was Lower Level.
• 3@1 Business Centre, Shop 28 in The Wedge, Morningside – DHL Express counter to counter national courier, Kodak Express offering photos, collages, block mounting, photobooks, ID and Visa, photos. Business, print, broad format print and related services like binding, laminating. Business registrations and many SARS-related services. Was Lower Level.
• Anasa, Shop L10 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Ladies' boutique. Was Lower Level.
• Cottage Flowers & Gifts, Shop L22 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Florist, décor, giftware. Was Lower Level on the right of Pick 'n Pay.
• 786 Mobile Zone in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Cell phone and computer repair. Cellphone accessories. Batteries. Videos. Shoes. Was on Ground floor.
• Merchant of Spice, Shop 10A in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Spices, soya products, prayer goods, samoosas, roti, basmati rice. Was on Ground floor.
• Saheli's Boutique, Shop 10A in The Bridge Shopping Centre – In Merchant of Spice: Eastern wear direct from India. Punjabis, saree sandals, bridal outfits, sharwanis, accessories. Alterations and saree blouses done in store. Was on Ground floor.
• Tailor, Shop 10A in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Was on Ground floor In Merchant of Spice: Ladies and Gents alterations.
• Hair Evolution in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Hairdressers, stock Ladire. Was on Ground floor.
• Ladies & Gents Suits Specialist, Shop 10B in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Was on Ground floor.
• Curry Leaf, Shop 02 in The Bridge Shopping Centre – South Indian Speciality Restaurant and Take-Away. Curries, breyanis, rotis, bunny-chow, savouries and sweetmeats. Catering for office functions, weddings and other occasions. Was on Ground floor.
• Tiffany's Collections, Shop 14 in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Bags, Shoes, African Fashion. Was 1st Floor.
• The Study in The Bridge Shopping Centre – Tuition for high school "learners", after school homework assistance. Math, English, Afrikaans, drama and art. Was 1st Floor.
• Gracelyn Preschool, Shop 05 in The Bridge Shopping Centre – from 3 months old to grade R. Transport available Was 1st Floor.
• Vortex Healthcare, Shop 02 in The Bridge Shopping Centre – "The future of quality healthcare". Was 1st Floor.

Thought for the Week:

If you got your legal training by watching American TV courtroom dramas, you might be Dali Mpofu.

<< Fire Hydrant?

Funny, I could have sworn it was a tree.

(Stuart Ave, Morningside, a while ago.)

Blood Drive at Morning Glen Mall

Only 533,434 out of an estimated 60.6 million people in South Africa donate blood to SANBS, the SA National Blood Service.  That's under one in a hundred.  Pretty pathetic when you consider that most of us will need blood at some time in our lives.

Come and give blood; it won't kill you.

If Pineslopes and The Colony seem too far, there are blood drives at Benmore Gardens.  And now two at Morning Glen Mall, planned for Monday 5 December and then Sat-Sun-Mon 7,8,9 January 2023.

It couldn't hurt to come along!

Well, OK, it does hurt --a bit.  But your donation can save three lives.  Isn't that worth a little pain and half an hour of your time?

Overheard at the Checkout

"Should we get an air fryer? I see a lot of ads for them."
"It could certainly help your slimming programme."
"You think so?"
"Sure: How many calories can there be in fried air?"

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