Finding the fire within

This video and should make us all realize how awesomely wonderfully the Universe is being created before our very eyes.

This past Sunday I decided to tone down my blogging and other online activities to meditate with the Bible and have some solitude. It was not something I read in Scripture but an idea that I felt I had to carry out. I am so glad I did because very often I do not...

On Monday loaded all my Christian, instrumental and classic music... I have been missing this. Checked my mail and answered what had to be done then went back to some cleaning... both of the flat and my soul. My reading for the day was Colossians 2:10 how we are completed in Him with the Holy Spirit and 4:12 where we are reminded to pray for one another.
On Tuesday I did what was needed for the weeks reports then I went shopping for some music, I was looking for some Gregorian Chants and managed to find 2 albums... One by Canto Gregiano and the other by St Dominic's Priory... plus I bought Daughtry... their songs just touch my soul but I will be listening to them later this week, in the meantime my soul has a hunger for Chant... something in the Latin words is just filling a hunger in my heart plus all my Christian music... I must listen to it more often and get Winamp to play more of it. My reading for the day was Psalm 119... a prayer for purification, sanctification, blessings and guidance. Read the whole psalm, you will be astounded.
On Wednesday I had a Physio appointment... She is very happy with my progress and attitude. I also had electro therapy... at first I felt nothing but as the current started to stimulate my nerves it kicked in, a pleasant tingle. Since then the exercises have been easier to do. I compare it to becoming aware of how the Holy Spirit has slowly revitalised my spiritual life.
I was also invited for a drink by my best friend at their bike club, I had quite a good time but the amazing thing was that I got a chance to have a chat to another biker that is planning a trip on his father's bike, something they had spoken about but never done as the father had been killed in a car accident a while ago. I gave him a short version of my 12 days in the Cape and encouraged him to do the adventure they had planned as tribute and witness to his fathers memory. Never say no to following a shared dream, even if one of you is no longer there. God speed Max and go with the memory of your dad and the best wishes from me. I will be thinking of you. As I drove home in the spring rain I knew that rejuvenation had returned to the dry countryside as well. My reading for the day was just browsing through and reading some passages I had underlined in the past, a sort of review of where I was and had come from. Amazing how many times the word seven is used, yet my concordance has no references to look up... I think this is a study on it's own so I am going to do so some time soon.
On Thursday I read some of my regular blogstops and found that somehow they were also having introspective episodes... quite amazing as their experiences sort of found an echo in my soul. Just Peachy was giving advice on keys, Scully has also taken a break and her next one is also a good read.
But BWH's one had me smiling because I feel like partying as well after realising that I have been welcomed back with open arms. The reading for the day was Isaiah 59:17 and Ephesians 6:10-18, how we are to armour ourselves and be a witness. Just like I should have had all the kit on the day of my accident we have to dress for spiritual success.
On Friday we said goodbye to my assistant at work, Monday means I have to start training a new assistant... Then I dropped off M as he and the Lady Cheetahs are on their way to Pretoria for the Semi finals... Holding thumbs for Saturday's game. Watched some of the RWC games and had an early night. The reading for the day was from quite a few passages, almost a summary of Renewal if you like; Psalm 51:10 Renewal and Cleansing, Isaiah 40:31 and Psalm 103:5 given the Strength of eagles, 2 Corinthians 4:16 Renewal of our spiritual being, Ephesians 4:23 Renewal of our Attitude and Romans 12:2 our minds being renewed to focus on God's will. WOW
On Saturday Shrek got delivered and I parked it on it's spot in the carport, had this urge to kit up and take a spin... that will have to wait till I can put weight on my leg (sigh)... Then I went to visit my best friend, to chew some cud and have a chat about bikes and life. After that I headed to the MX track and had a ball until the sun set trying out the sprinkler system with Anton and watching all the guys practice... the smell of damp earth, petrol and exhaust fumes made me feel so alive again. Now that the track is watered more often we have more and more blokes wanting to ride and join... this was money well spent and I am also thankful to all the firms that chipped in to fund the system. This sport is now so part of my life I cannot think of not being involved in some way or another. Then we all headed to Duggie's place for a sundowner...Caught the last few minutes of the Sharks/Cheetahs game... The Cheetahs won... both the Currie Cup team and the ladies team that my son M assists as sport scientist, he had sms'd me earlier the day, I am so glad that his team is on the way to the final, all his and the coaches hard work this season has paid off and it is another notch in his CV. My kids make me so proud! L has been busy all the time this break with assignments, I would have left them for next term if I was in her shoes. The reading was Isaiah 41:10, God assures us of his presence... and on Sunday Pastor had a sermon based on Revelation 3:20-23 on how we can Overcome the world through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and it just summed up what has been happening all week on a spiritual level. So looking back I realise it was the Holy Spirit that had put that idea of taking a break in my head... He wanted to spend some time with me and I was blessed to be obedient. So next time you have a crazy idea it may well be a prompt from Heaven for you to find the Fire Within. I have...

This is the second awesome video and should make us all realize how awesomely wonderfully we are created. Pity about the commercial at the end though, not my favourite make of car, now if it were Subaru...
It's the thirst for approval, validation and justification, from sources outside of yourself, that blinds you to the fact that they need not be earned.

Secrets and lies

Well the only lie is that there are no lies in this posting (that is oxymoronic) but the title just sounded good. Sometimes when one picks up a book in a bookstore you just know that you have to have it, so it was this evening on my way home. I stopped off at the Mall to get some Steers burgers and while waiting I popped in to Exclusive Books... saw that the new PopMech mag was out and then I saw the book... it lay beckoning... waiting to be opened and skimmed through... it had weight, far more than a book that size should have, like it contained a secret treasure waiting to be discovered... was it worth buying? Only time will tell if the secret of The Secret is revealed, so tonight it is me with the three B's... ummm no not Beer/Blonde/Book... but Book/Book/Bottle, hot water bottle that is plus my very own copy of Race to Dakar. The inspiration for my Big Dream , plus 3 cats as well... it is chilly and they usually come and pin me down on cold nights, not that I mind, having 3 living hot water bottles has it's advantages on crisp nights like tonight... Must try and get Long way Round as well...
L has been laid low by the winter bugs... so far I seem ummune and I ask for it to stay so each day, I hate having a cold or the flu, I would rather wrestle with a pack of wild boars thanks! I hope the meds start working soon, so glad she enjoyed the burger, I take that as a good sign. Gotta make some salad again tomorrow with plenty of sweet peppers, they have more Vit. C than citrus, especially the red or yellow ones...
Yesterday I also revealed a secret of sorts, albeit with much trepidation but in so doing got an answer that I had already known but having it confirmed today made me realise that by communicating with my whole being and with all tools available life becomes so much easier, both for myself and people I care deeply about. Looking back I can see I have made some progress in this thing called communication, something us men find so hard to do, we would rather go out "Hunting". More about that metaphor one day maybe, KatieB laid it out so well for me. Now where is that bow and arrow?
I just hope my communication tomorrow with the powers that be at MSA bear the same fruit.
This all reminds me of this song from yesteryear... 1983 in fact.

Talking In Your Sleep - Romantics
(Jimmy Marinos/Wally Palmar/Mike Skill/Coz Canler/Peter Solley)
When you close your eyes and go to sleep
And it's down to the sound of a heartbeat
I can hear the things that you're dreaming about
When you open up your heart and the truth comes out
CHORUS
You tell me that you want me
You tell me that you need me
You tell me that you love me
And I know that I'm right
Cuz I hear it in the night
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talking in your sleep
When I hold you in my arms at night
Don't you know you're sleeping in a spotlight
And all your dreams that you keep inside
You're telling me the secrets that you just can't hide
CHORUS
When you close your eyes and you fall asleep
Everything about you is a mystery
CHORUS

KatieB will appreciate the quote and yes, I am learning to tame the storm in my heart with sunscreen for my soul... communication, I really enjoyed our conversation this evening, there is an adventure in each one we have. No more Tsunamis for now... just a gentle brook running over pebbles, the water of communication gently shaping them as they rub against each other. Did I just write that? I think that is a keeper...
"The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart." Saint Jerome (374 AD - 419 AD)
PS - Very wierd... can only put 200 characters in the labels field... have I got too many labels now?

Corrosive Transformer

This weekend I have been in in a Blue Funk. I know I have to get a few things done but am in this horrid mood, not very good company and I seem to be as emotional as a teen. I wondered why and thought I may just read my horoscope to see if I could get cheered up somewhat, I mean they usually are so vague and positive I may even feel better so I went to a site and got this back after filling in my profile.
Saturday - Maximum restraint
During this time you are touchy and unsure of yourself, and so you are easily hurt or insulted, or you tend to be hurtful yourself - there may be triggers for these situations but in reality no obvious cause. Maximum restraint is called for in interpersonal interactions. You should really treat everyone with kid gloves to avoid doing harm to your relationships or to yourself. If you are already in dispute with someone, you should try to avoid this person at this time. Whatever it is about, an argument or difference of opinion that you want to settle or continue during this time, it would only lead mutual hurt.
Maybe that is why I decided to stay at the Karting all day... the one person there that I have a slight disagreement with about the Moon Hoax and other Conspiracy Theories before tried once again to convince me... I sensed a need to run away or punch him in the face... I only phoned M to find out what his plans were for the day... Felt that the less people I talked to the better. On the way home I picked up some salad things as I wanted to cook some boerewors and chips with salad. I was pleasantly surprised that L had made some Macaroni and Cheese with mince... no need for cooking so we had a decent meal and after watching TV we went to bed...
Sunday - Your negative side
Weak, transient effect: Today during the day you are inclined to keep your feelings and innermost thoughts to yourself. A sense of loneliness or isolation frequently accompanies this period of time, or depression and a general sense of pessimism. Domestic problems may also accompany this influence, usually because you feel that in some way your domestic life is not giving you what it should. This is part of a larger feeling that you are not getting support or assistance from anyone or anything, which may or may not be true. Your real problem is either that you are cut off from your emotions or that your emotions are too unpleasant to deal with. This influence may force you to briefly experience what you consider to be your negative side. Thus there is a strong conflict between what you think of yourself and what you think you should be.
Yeowch! This is scary... That is spot on, this morning I had woken up really feeling funky, I had these weird dreams and I think I actually cried in my sleep, my pillow was damp! My feelings are not A1 at present, in fact they are rather a deep shade of purple tinged with magenta. The reason being I dreamed that I had lost a friend and it really upset me because at present this friend is precious to me, however if we were to have met over the weekend I think my corrosive mood would have dissolved it like a pearl in vinegar... that cannot be allowed to happen.
So all this has made the muse in me put these words down to try and make sense of my feelings.

Lost without you - Robert Le Noury
Hot salty tears flow down my face
Thinking about you
To be lost without you would be unbearable
Thinking about you
You said you are not ready for more
You want my friendship
That is a given, it is unquestioned
But thinking of you
Hot salty tears flow down my face
Thinking about you
To be lost without you would be unbearable

Back from the mall... L wanted to go to the movies so just before lunch we went to the mall, bought tickets to see Transformers, had lunch at Catch22. The trout was delicious but the service was lacklustre, do not think I will be there again. (See the foul mood thing again?)
Transformers was awesome... the TV trailer does not do it justice, I was blown away by the CGI animation of the robots. At least that made me feel somewhat better. The Simpsons trailer had us laughing too, I just hope those were not all the gags... The Arnie character's line "I vos voted in to lead, not read" is classic.
Got to see a beautifull sunset as well, went to the track and moved the caravan just before sunset, the Cirrus clouds turned orange then pink as the sun set. Wish I had grabbed the camera!
So all in all I am feeling much better, Monday may just be a good day after all.
"I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy". J. D. Salinger (1919 - )

Duct Tape for the Soul

I still have a score to settle with that Cherub, he and Murphy are on my hit list... but I know the crush is over and I have a friend for life. As Dr Phil says "What were you thinking", must have been all that wind in my ears the last two weeks! They say the wind whispers and puts ideas in our heads...
As I sat pondering our last conversation this played over the headphones:

All I Really Want - Alanis Morrisette

Do I stress you out
My sweater is on backwards and inside out
And you say how appropriate
I don't dissect everything today
I don't mean to pick you apart you see
But I can't help it
There I go jumping before the gunshot has gone off
Slap me with a splintered ruler
And it would knock me to the floor if I wasn't there already
If only I could hunt the hunter

And all I really want is some patience
A way to calm the angry voice
And all I really want is deliverance
Do I wear you out
You must wonder why I'm so relentless and all strung out
I'm consumed by the chill of solitary
I'm like Estella
I like to reel it in and then spit it out
I'm frustrated by your apathy
And I am frightened by the corrupted ways of this land
If only I could meet the Maker

And I am fascinated by the spiritual man
I am humbled by his humble nature
What I wouldn't give to find a soulmate
Someone else to catch this drift
And what I wouldn't give to meet a kindred
Enough about me, let's talk about you for a minute
Enough about you, let's talk about life for a while
The conflicts, the craziness and the sound of pretenses
Falling all around...all around
Why are you so petrified of silence
Here can you handle this?

Did you think about your bills, your ex, your deadlines
Or when you think you're gonna die
Or did you long for the next distraction
And all I need know is intellectual intercourse
A soul to dig the hole much deeper
And I have no concept of time other than it is flying
If only I could kill the killer

All I really want is some peace man
a place to find a common ground
And all I really want is a wavelength
All I really want is some comfort
A way to get my hands untied
And all I really want is some justice...

The song sort of put in perspective all the chaotic amazing things I have experienced these last few weeks, well sort of... the "apathy" line is pure bull... but the one about dropping pretenses is true... This got me realising that more than once my music collection has pulled me from the brink of some chasm or another and helped me resolve this thing we call life, duct tape for the soul of sorts. That and my three manuals, The Book and two sets of lists for life...
It is true that music soothes the troubled soul. Whoever discovered that was a genius... I think that person lives on as Winamp!
The following poem from the website link sums up my thoughts up perfectly.

Musical Healing
by Kate Clifford

I grasp upon musical notes to save my tortured soul.
Tortured by the anguish I have allowed into this lifetime.
Notes bring pain from inside, humming through my lips.
I feel it leaving like a prayer with words I cannot say.
Releasing a sorrow of pent up dreams forever broken.

Ripping guts, unspoken pain screams to the universe.
Fears are leaping as the music continues to play on.
A prayer forms in energy that I do not understand.
Lips quiver as I feel the answer without thoughts.
Musical notes break chains I have not yet named.

Hearing the flute begging me to dance with life energy,
I can’t help but snap my fingers to the irresistible beat.
Inside vibrations lift me to a new feeling of exultation.
Not one word spoken as the humming continues on.
Pain releasing a new healing with these musical notes.
Now I understand why we enjoy multifaceted music, it blends with us multifaceted humans in such a wonderful way, another Gift we should be grateful for, just like friends...
"Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, and a dark side, and it holds the universe together." (Just like friendship.)
Carl Zwanzig (This is the first time I am adding to a quote... makes that truism seem more like wisdom!)

Goosing out the bay

The back of Helderberg mountain, in wine country...
Gansbaai harbour and a gull in perfect focus!
Kelp harvesters... how those boats do not sink beats me...
Shrek on the pier...
The bikers favourite roadsign = fun!

day 8 of 12 Days with Shrek

Thanks Dad

Today was fathers day so I took my Dad and the rest of us for a slap up lunch at the Bush Bub at Bains Lodge... We both gazed in wonder as we watched the kids fooling around with their latest electronic gizmos... I must be getting older and wiser.
Luv Ya Dad! even though you do not use a computer and will not read this.
Going on for 80 and he can still weld a mean bead!

"The words that a father speaks to his children in the privacy of home are not heard by the world, but, as in whispering galleries, they are clearly heard at the end, and by posterity." Ricther

Where I want to chill a while...

watch some whales and run some passes before heading back to the daily grind a month from now.
If all works out I will be flying Mango and returning 2 wheeled via Route 62, then via the Eastern Cape to KZN and back via Maloti route or I may even do a round route via some northern provinces... time will tell. I may even blog if I find a net connection.

I have 5 routes planned so far...
Brown, 1000k around the Cape.
Green, Route 62.
Blue, to my Boet via Maloti route then to Mapumalanga via Red.
Red, to my Boet via Wild Coast then Klerksdorp and back home via Maloti route.
Yellow, back home via Witsand and Kimberley.
I still have to plot out the exact roads and work out exact distances... but it any one should be fun.
So to the words of the immortal hit from Steppenwolf...
BORN TO BE WILD
From the 1968 release "Steppenwolf"
Words and music by Mars Bonfire

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space

I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin' with the wind
And the feelin' that I'm under
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space

Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die

Born to be wild
Born to be wild
"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost." H. Jackson Browne, from P. S. I Love You

Walkabout of the Old Farts

The Aborigines do it and I am planning to do it too... go walkabout that is. I am planning a holiday for 2008 and with a few mates of former military persuasion we have tentatively hammered out a plan to do a battlefield tour of the places we trod as troopies last century. As this is a major operation of epic proportion it has to be well planned to ensure a flawless execution. So I will be updating the project from time to time.
An appropriate name will also be needed, I suggested "Ops Grumpy Old Fart", so far it seems to have been accepted!
More to follow...

Tida...

means Tired in Da Arse... thanks Nissan... my butt is still sore after two days in this cars abominable seats! I am not putting it on my list of possible wheels to purchase...

Otherwise my trip to rectify the attack of the mutant rats on our cables was not too unpleasant.

The damage to the cable was around 70mm of gnawed cable, what rats do with pvc, mylar, aluminium and copper in their digestive tract beats me! Rough guess of the actual cost? Around R3000.00 for my time and travel expenses, dunno what it cost to have the cable re buried properly after our makeshift repair to get things online again...
The trip had a few plusses too, I was able to take a lot of pictures of some interesting and noteworthy buildings and monuments in Harrismith.

This building has been beautifully restored but alas the Town Hall needs serious attention, maybe I will do a article on its own about the scars on it's facade on a later date.

The monument to WWII soldiers is very striking and would also fit into an article of it's own.

So how was your Friday the 13th week?
Hopefully we will have good weather for tomorrows MX Regional, hope I can get some pictures taken but once again being COC will dictate...
As to my wish list on cars... give me a

Subaru Impreza WRX STI Limited or a

Shelby Mustang GT 500 ... now I must just try and justify renting one on my next trip!
"All American cars are basically Chevrolet's."
Herb Caen

Every drop counts... 50 and counting!

My 50 donations medal and lapel pin... thanks for the Cookies SANBS!
Now for the next 50, I hope I get that done in 10 years not 25!
As a donor and former recipient I am glad to get to donate every 65 odd days... I really hope I can still be doing my bit when I am old and bent...



And this says why we donors do it!

The wall

Just a short note as I head for bed... I need an early night tonight, feel as if I have hit the wall. I need to recharge...
Somehow I feel as if I have done all of the following this week...
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects.
Excerpt from the notebooks of Lazarus Long, from Robert Heinlein's "Time Enough for Love".
Billy Joel's River of Dreams is playing now, quite apt as I do feel like I am sleepwalking..
In the middle of the...I go walkin in the (3X)
In the middle of the night, I go walkin in my sleep
From the mountains of faith, to a river so deep.
I must be looking for something, something sacred I lost
But the river is wide, and it's too hard to cross
And even though I know the river is wide
I walk down every evening and stand on the shore
And try to cross to the opposite side
So I can finally find out what I've been looking for
In the middle of the night,
I go walking in my sleep
Through the valley of fear, to a river so deep
And I've been searching for something, taken out of my soul
Something I would never lose, something somebody stole.
I don't know why I go walking at night
But now I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore
I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life
Until I find what it is that I've been looking for.
In the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep
Through the jungle of doubt, to a river so deep
I know I'm searching for something, something so undefined
That it can only be seen, by the eyes of the blind
In the middle of the night.I'm not sure about life after this
God knows I've never been a spiritual man
Baptized by the fire, I wade into the river
That runs to the promised land
In the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep
Through the desert of truth, to the river so deep
We all end in the ocean, we all start in the streams
We're all carried along, by the river of dreams
In the middle of the night.

"Finish each day before you begin the next, and interpose a solid wall of sleep between the two. This you cannot do without temperance."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

ESP or Intuition

I was worried today, I been having this sense of impending doom for a few days now and it is not PTSD or related to the robbery on monday, it is just a feeling that something is not as it should be, got a call from I and my feelings were confirmed, all is not well with her, she is still suffering from this stomach thing, how does one tell a friend they should stop smoking and stop stressing so much? I cannot explain this at all, never before have I had this almost pshycic ability to know that something is wrong and exactly what and who... I really hope that the therapist can help next week... will miss her at the regional though... will have to dig up an extra scorer somwhere.
Tidied up my dot net front page today, I must say I quite like the simple layout and will keep the KISS theme on the rest of the site from now on... Will be culling some pages and a heap of images as well...
Music playing now is really cool... once again the PC seems to be doing its own ESP thing and playing the right song for the mood... This was one of them...
THE PEACEMAKER - Albert Hammond / Mike Hazlewood
Get out, damn it
Close the door, don't slam it
Let me be alone a while
To give my nerves a rest
Whatever you do I love you
No matter what you do I love you
And I want to run after you
But I don't know what's best

If you will take good care of me, I'll be your caretaker
You'll be the maker of the peace, I'll be the peacemaker
If you will take good care of me then I'll be your caretaker
You'll be the maker of the peace, I'll be the peacemaker

Hours later I hear the key in the front door
We look each other in the eye
A timid sorry pair
There's a little more conversation
Just a little more conversation
A battle's lost, a war is won
I think we've cleared the air

If you will take good care of me, I'll be your caretaker
You'll be the maker of the peace, I'll be the peacemaker
If you will take good care of me then I'll be your caretaker
You'll be the maker of the peace, I'll be the peacemaker ....
Well it has been quite a day, rain for the track, a long meeting with all the bike shop owners and intuition helping me guide proceedings... now my intuition tells me to get some rest...
**Intuition comes very close to clairvoyance; it appears to be the extrasensory perception of reality** Alexis Carrel

Bridges...

Sms mystery cleared up today, it was all about a proposal to do a Rock Concert at our track next month... talk about cryptic "can I have your place for some rock and roll... call me tomorrow". I seem to be collecting a lot of contacts lately, never used to be into this networking thing but I must say it has it's good points especially when trying to tie loose ends for an event. Building briges is sometimes very interesting and fun.
I hve been watching Survivor All-Stars (dont click on the link if you don't wanna know the result!) tonight, Richard da nude irritates me no end... hope they vote him out at the first opportunity, come to think of it tonight will be the last time I watch the present series, I wish they could get hold of some of my ex army buddies and then we will see who are real survivors... As far as I am concerned the whole show has run out of ideas and is boring me to tears.
My Winamp is in an oldie mood tonight, Unchained melody by The Righteous Brothers, Dont get me wrong by The Pretenders, Wheel in the sky by Journey... when does a song become a Oldie? in my book 10 years sounds sufficient. Reminds me of a Seven Single I bought... Burning Briges by Mike Curb Congregation from the film Kelly's Heroes as I recall and the result of my movie date with a girl called, well, lets just call her A, we had some great times, she taught me to dance the twist and the two-step, she was my Matric Dance date as well... last I heard she was in Carnavon in the middle of the Karoo. One bridge I burnt or did I get burnt? I think it was the latter...
Burning Bridges - Mike Curb Congregation
Friends all tried to warn me
But I held my head up high
All the time they warned me
But I only passed them by
They all tried to tell me
But I guess I didn't care
I turned my back and
Left them standing there

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Joey tried to help me find a job a while ago
When I finally got it I didn't want to go
The party Mary gave for me
When I just walked away
Now there's nothing left for me to say

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Years have passed and I keep thinking
What a fool I've been
I look back into the past and
Think of way back then
I know that I lost everything I thought I that could win
I guess I should have listened to my friends

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Wow, heavy words when you come to think of it, somehow I do not see myself in the picture, I tend to open doors and leave them open these days... you never know when you have to duck and run through one... probably my inquisitive but mischievious nature... however there may be one or two bridges I should mend from my bridge burning days...

**When you build bridges you can keep crossing them.** Rick Pitino

Mysterious Times

Today we wus robbed... wel not me personally but one of the tellers in the same complex where I have my office... why was I not on time today? I got up early but something just seemed to make me waste a bit of time, made 2 cups of coffee instead of the usual one, decided to change my shoes to sneakers, forgot the car keys after locking the door... I shudder to think what would have happened if I was on time... criminals would not understand that I have nothing to do with the Tellers! Amazing how we are protected by Angels but once you know they are at work it is nothing more than a miracle! Miracles are but a coincedences in laymans terms, but I know better. Truly Mysterious Times...
Lots of blame and fingers being pointed today after the robbery, the fact is the whole setup was ill though and no research was done nor were the promised security systems put in place... More mystery...
Got quite a bit to arrange but tonight I want to chill out and relax and contemplate my next move so to speak... Cold Case is on again and tonights case music has been pretty good. The episode is titled "Greed" and features Culture Club Karma Chameleon Tears for Fears Everybody Wants to Rule The World ZZ Top Sharp-Dressed Man Journey Separate Ways Talk Talk It's My Life Kurtis Blow AJ Scratch Thompson Twins In The Name Of Love Tina Turner Better Be Good To Me Don Henley Dirty Laundry Cyndi Lauper All Through The Night. However I think the lyrics to suit the theme is this one from Sash!
Mysterious Times - Sash!
Life
Mysterious life
Where we're moving around, dancing the rhythm of life.
Time
Mysterious time
Where we're counting the hours and days to the end of our time.

And we're feeling the change and we don't know why
Choose one direction just one more time
Don't say I'm thinking too much if you see what's behind.

[Chorus]
And these are Mysterious Times
Mysterious Times
No trick of the mind
For this moment I feel like we live in Mysterious Times.
If you see what's behind, these are Mysterious Times.

SoulI
feel my soul
For this moment nobody can stop me from flying so high.

Real
Nothing is real
In a world of illusion you only see what you feel.

And we're feeling the change and we don't know why
Choose one direction just one more time
Don't say I'm thinking too much if you see what's behind.

[Chorus]
If you see what's behind, these are Mysterious Times.

Here is the recipe for Track Potjie:
Ingredients
This was for a No 3 pot.
2 Kg lamb or sheep stewing meat, knuckles, neck and any bit not braaiworthy. Not too much fat.
1 Large onion
1 pack Potjie vegetables
1 can tomato & onion mix
1 can 200g tomato paste
2 cans mushrooms in brine, the stalk and offcut type is ok
Some olive oil
Pack fresh herbs for lamb
Pack Maggi Hearty Stew flavouring

Method
Put the pot over a few coals on your braai, have a seperate bank of coals to add from if needed.
Put about 2 tablespoons olive oil in the pot and as soon as it is hot enough start adding the meat and brown.
Add onions after meat has browned.
Add the herbs, throw out the woody bits though.
Add the veggies, add the flavouring and pour the can of paste and tomato mix as well, do not stir!
After 30 min add the mushrooms, brine and all.
Let the pot talk to the coals for at least an hour, add water if needed, the mushroom's should have added enough though. The pot should be ready about 2 hours from when you started. Serve with rice and a salad. Enjoy!

More mystery is the sms I got a while ago... will have to follow it up in the morning, maybe the path is not as rocky as I thought.
"It is better to obey the mysterious direction, without any fuss, when it points to a new road, however strange that road may be. There is probably as much reason for it, if the truth were known, as for anything
else." H. M. Tomlinson

Boys will be boys

Today was great! A was in his element! two tractors and two front end loaders to play with, we bit the bullet and took the two machines because next weekend is on month end and most operators do not work on month end weekend... we have finished about 80% of what we wanted to do... the rest should be done by tomorrow... yeah... motocrossers build tracks on Sundays and boys will be boys... It's just the size of the toys!
Winamp is doing it's thing as I write and once again suitable to the mood... Bee Gees, Saturday night fever as I feel my face is slightly sunburnt... I must get myself a decent hat before summer arrives! Will have to be up bright and early again tomorrow to get all the things organised for our day at the track, I will be doing my Jamie Oliver thing behind a pot of Potjiekos... I may just have the recipe up on Monday's blog. Will have some pics of the trackbuilding up by then as well.
Oh yes! I almost forgot! The Boys came through in Durban! We are the champions! Go Bokke! and more medals in Athens!
Lyrics for the day come from our national anthem as sung at the begining of the game in Durban...
Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika
(Xhosa and Zulu)
Nkosi SikeleliAfrika
Maluphakanyiswu phondo lwayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu.
Nkosi sikelela
Thina lu sapholwayo.
(Sotho)
Morena boloka Sechaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho.
O se boloke O se boloke.
SeChaba sa heso.
SeChaba sa.
South Afrika, South Afrika.
Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die dieptevan ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes waar die kranse antwoord gee.
Sounds the call to come toghether, and united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom in South Africa, our land.
**I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.** Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

So you wanna be a Botanist?

I have decided... next year I am starting a degree course... will be doing an aptitude test to make sure my choice is compatible with my abilities... crazy? Botany would be my first choice but let us see what the experts say...
I was wondering today why I felt so tired, obviously the weekend had taken its toll but it seems more than that, then I checked my biorythm... waay down the scale... ah well they start turning upside next week, so there is something to look foreward to again. The older I get the more I come to realise there is more out there than meets the eye.

This image reminds me of Tree63 and The Darkness Between the Stars, or even Roxette and Stars in any case the Universe is an awesome place, interesting to hear that some astrophysicists believe that our solar system is unique... makes me think that the Bible has more truth in than most people believe. David wrote in Psalm 8:3, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained." and Psalm 147:4 tells us that "He counts the number of the stars, He calls them all by name." It is impossible for mankind to know how many stars there are, not to mention the *name* of every star! Yet God does. Amazing concept! Amazing truth!
Stars - Roxette
You keep on walkin' on the other side
Other side, other side
You keep on walkin' on the other side
Other side, other side
Wherever you go, I'm going with you
Shouldn't you know I'm bound to follow
Whatever you say, whatever you do I give you a clue,
I'm gonna follow

And the stars will show
Where the waters flow
Where the gardens grow
That's where I'll meet you

Why don't you let me, let me come along
Na na na, na na na
Why don't you open, make me come along
Na na na, na na na
Wherever you go, I'm going for you
Oh, I was truly born to follow
Like fire and wood and paper and glue
Only a few were born to follow

And the stars will show
Where the waters flow
Where the gardens grow
That's where I'll meet you
And the sun will glow
Melting all the snow
Knowing all I know
That's where I'll meet you

Stars will show
Where the waters flow
Where the gardens grow
That's where I'll meet you
And the sun will glow
Melting all the snow
Knowing all I know
That's where I'll meet you

And the stars will show
Every breeze will blow
Knowing all I know
That's where I'll meet you
By the way... I fixed the comments section, you do not need to belong to Blogger.com to send me a comment...
**The wisest mind has something yet to learn.**
George Santayana (1863 - 1952)

Retro

Looking back over the weekend I discovered I had forgotten to publish my last two Blogs! amongst other things... Just got back from a great evening out at the local Spur... They have this Sunday special on burgers, I still think the idea is to get people to spend money on other items though... well it was a fun evening with friends, so glad the events of the weekend are forgotten... true friends never bear grudges... The music was great and we had fun singing along... must find out who the lad was that was singing, may just be an idea to get him to entertain the crowd at our next event... One of the songs was an Afrikaans song made famous by Theuns Jordaan, a great South African singer and songwriter but the song Beautiful in Beaufort-Wes was written by Gert Vlok Nel, here is the Chorus:

Ek kon nie meer slaap nie.
Nie nie meer lag nie,
nie meer iets vir mekaar doen nie
en nooit ooit weer vir jou soen nie.
Translated:
I could not sleep any anymore
Not laugh anymore
Not do anything for one another again
and never ever kiss you again
I really enjoy his songs as well as most of our Afrikaans singers these days, just a pity most of the world does not understand the words!
**As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.**
Leonardo da Vinci(1452 - 1519), The Notebooks

Eating dirt

What a day, wind wind wind and dust, this must go down as one of our windiest days ever, it did not help track conditions at all and the races had to be shortened due to all the time lost in keeping the dust under controll, then we ran out of water! Murpy at his best... Had a slight argument over the shortening of the event due to conditions... Safety first I say... As this has been a long day I have decided to just ramble on and get to bed.
**Performance is directly affected by the perversity of inanimate objects.**

Los Ojos

The eyes have it, the window of the soul... strange how as wisdom grows one tends to look at the eyes and not at the rest, not that I dont look at the rest mind you, I am male and not dead yet!
Looking back I remember a pair of blue eyes, blue as the midday sky on a hot summer day, so blue you seem to fall into them... but that was a lifetime ago... and a fantasy as only a 10 year old could dream... never looked at girls for a long time after that. Some say one never forgets that first love, that puppy love... I sure don't... maybe I still compare all the women in my life to her. Girls if you are reading this... remember the song To all the girls I've loved? I particularly like Julio Iglesias's version. Ok I may be a tad concieted here, but that is how things are...
Coming back to the spanish theme, Osjos asi by Shakira is one of my favourite latin songs, not just because of the singer, who has great eyes by the way... but because of the blend of Spanish and Arabic in the song, come to think of it Flamenco has strong arab influence as well. Some other singers and groups I like are No Mercy, Santana, Marc Anthony, and too many to mention here! So to the lyrics that started the train of thought;
Eyes Like Yours "Osjos asi" - Shakira
Oh, you know I have seen
A sky without sun
A man with no nation
Saints, captive in chains
A song with no name
For lack of imagination
Ya he...
And I have seen
Darker than ebony

Ya he Ya he Ya la he

And now it seems, that I
Without your eyes could never be
My one desire, all I aspire
Is in your eyes forever to live
Traveled all over the seven oceans
There is nothing that I wouldn't give
Came from Bahrein, got to Beirut
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours

Came from Bahrein, got to Beirut
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours

Oh, You know I seen
A woman of means
In rags and begging for pleasure
Crossed a river of salt
Just after I rode
A ship that's sunk in the desert

Ya he Ya he Ya la he

And I have seen
Darker than ebony

Ya he Ya he Ya la he

And now it seems, that I
Without your eyes could never be

My one desire, all I aspire
Is in your eyes forever to live
Traveled all over the seven oceans
There is nothing that I wouldn't give

Came from Bahrein, got to Beirut
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours

Came from Bahrein, got to Beirut
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours

rabboussamai fikarrajaii
fi ainaiha aralhayati
ati ilaika min haza lkaaouni
arjouka labbi labbi nidai

Came from Bahrein, got to Beirut
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours.
The girl with the blue eyes? Michelle was her name... Yep I remember her well... used to buy her sweets from the shop across the railway tracks from school, today the station is gone as well as the playground where we would sit and share wilson's toffies and sugus... but the memories remain.
**El amor más fuerte y más puro no es el que sube desde la impresión, sino el que desciende desde la admiración.** The purer and strongest love is not the one that rises since the impression, but the one that descends since the admiration. Thanks freetranslation.com