We are just about ready to leave for the Toastmasters International Convention in Calgary, Canada.

Lois and myself will both be flag-bearers at the opening ceremony. As District Governor, Lois will be carrying the South African flag, and I will be carrying the Zimbabwe flag. I am doing this in support and recognition of the Zimbabwean Toastmasters that have had such difficulty over the last few years. I have become friends with many Toastmasters from Zim, and it constantly amazes me how much spirit and determination they seem to have, despite the situation they are stuck in.

It looks like there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, but Zimbabwe has a long way to go before it turns around.

Many of you know Lois and her guide dog Eccles. You have seen how amazing a guide dog is, and what a different they make to people’s lives. So why don’t you help to make a difference?

Yesterday we walked past a First National Bank ATM, and there was a sign up advertising that you can make a donation to SA Guide Dogs via SMS. All you need to do is to send an SMS to 38051 with the word “see” in the body of the message, and you will donate R10 to SA guide dogs – simple!

The cost of training a guide dog is over R10000 per dog, so every cent counts. SA Guide Dogs receive no funding from government, so they need all the heop that you can give (apparantly they are an animal charity – even though the dogs actually help people)

Go on, make a difference!

Here are two experiments with perspective – what do you think?

Foreground

Background

In case you are wondering, Muizenberg Main Road is in the process of being upgraded – the pipes are going to replace the old water pipes under the road.

Here are some pictures that I took of Zandvlei on a warm winter’s morning. It makes a lovely break from all the rain that we have been recently having. It is wonderfully warm, with not a breath of wind outside. Perhaps I should make a braai later. All of the pictures were taken from the top of Old Boyes Drive – where it meets Boyes drive itself.

Looking towards Muizenberg

Sports fields, with Marina da Gama in the background

The vlei

About two weeks ago, I bought a USB memory stick from Chaos Computers in Kenilworth. The stick cost about R250. Well, get this – they gave me a courtesy phone call yesterday afternoon to check that all was fine and could they do anything to assist further.

No sales pitch, no special offers. Just a friendly call to check that all was ok. Well done, that is great customer service (their prices are also pretty good).

Two orchids to Chaos.