Fireworks!

Sigh.  It's that time of the year when the ignorant, the inconsiderate, and the animal-haters team up. Divali was this last weekend.  It was once a festival of light and enlightenment. It has since degenerated into an event for show-offs to try to out-do each other with the loudest bangs. The South African Hindu Maha Sabha used to call for "no big bangs over Diwali", but they seem to have given up.

Diwali/Deepavali at least has cultural significance, but how does one justify Guy Fawkes?  Who cares –or should care today– about a failed plot to blow up the English Parliament in 1605?  Particularly as it was long a focus for anti-Catholic hatred?  Nor is there reason to pollute Christmas or New Year disturbing the neighbours, terrorising their pets, and driving our remaining wildlife mad.

We are in the 21st century, not the 1600s.  We understand how these explosions harm animals whose sense of hearing is many times more sensitive than our own. Every year there are reports of dogs getting lost, horses injuring themselves on fences, birds abandoning their nests. How about stopping it? There are ways to celebrate quietly with decorum and respect.  Let's use them.

Someone may now haul out the well-worn race card (as we do when anyone asks us to behave like a decent human being). So: Is Protestant a race?  Is Hindu a race?  More to the point, is "inconsiderate antisocial" a "race" you want to belong to?

Odd Jobs

How do Geologists explore whether they are romantically compatible?  They use Radiometric dating.

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• Reopened 22 Oct after renovations: Doppio Zero, Shop 42 in Chilli Lane Shopping Centre Sunninghill – Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant: Pizza, pasta, steak, fish.
• Bibi Rouge moved from Cambridge Crossing to Shop G55 in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Fashionable affordable locally made clothing for women: Jackets, Coats, Pants, Skirts, Shorts, Tops, Shirts, Accessories, Casual Dresses, Formal & Cocktail Dresses, Swimwear, Bridesmaid Dresses.
• Cycloworx moved from Cambridge Crossing to Car Service City diagonally opposite on Witkoppen Road – "The bicycle workshop": Servicing bicycles, making friends. Saturday specials for riders.
• Maverick Gaming, moved from Building B to a much bigger store on the left of Building A in Rivonia Crossing 2 – Matrix Warehouse's gaming centre offers 140 PC gaming stations.
• Super Vision Optometrist, Shop 03A in Petervale Shopping Centre.
• VIP Gym Training Centre, 1st Floor in Petervale Shopping Centre – Ultimate boxing, MMA, cardio, toning, conditioning, agility, speed, kids & women's self-defence. Group classes and private sessions.
• Abina's New Look Hair Salon, Upstairs in 90° on Rivonia – Ethnic Hair Salon: Hair extensions, wig installations, cornrows, weaving, styling, cutting, braids, dreadlocks, weave, twists relaxer.
• Carbon Black Auto, Upper Level in Rivonia Crossing 2 – High-end new, pre-owned and luxury sports cars. Finance available if you don't need it. Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Aston Martin.
• Bosch Car Service, Building B in Rivonia Crossing 2 – Vehicle Service and Maintenance: Lubrication, Major Service, Vehicle Diagnostics, Diesel/Petrol Fuel Injection, Electronics, Brakes, Clutch, Shock Absorbers, Battery, Aircon, Suspension, CV-Joints, Engine Overhauls, Gearbox Overhauls.
• Bikeshop Rivonia, Building B in Rivonia Crossing 2 – Authorized Dealership for Suzuki motorcycles. New and second-hand motorbikes. Motorbike accessories.
• Rivonia Midas, Shop 10, Building B in Rivonia Crossing 2 – Car care, Outdoor, Tools, Trailer Accessories, Vehicle Accessories, Wheel Accessories, Tyre Repair Kits, Wheel Spacers.
• Mahindra Rivonia, Building B in Rivonia Crossing 2
• Advance Medical Centre in Cambridge Crossing – Dr Johan Schutte: X-Rays.
• Hugo Aesthetics in Advance Medical Centre in Cambridge Crossing – Cosmetic Procedures: Botox, Dermal Fillers, Chemical Peels, PDO Threads, Weight Loss Injections & program.
• Woodka Interiors in Cambridge Crossing – Home decor, stylish furnishings and interior design services for your home. Affordable interior design packages.
• Capitec Bank, Shop G39, Ground in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre.
• Donnas Flowers, Basement in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre.
• Eden Tech, Shop G38, Ground in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Gadgets.
• Kingsmen Tailor, Shop G15, Ground in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre.
• Nikkis - The Gift Shop, Shop 124c, 1st Floor in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre.
• Pick N Pay Liquor in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre.
• Skin Strategy, Shop G14A, Ground in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre.
• Major Kids, Shop G52, Ground in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Children's clothes.
• West Pack Express, Shop G06, Main Square in Hobart Grove Centre – Plastic Chairs, Storage Containers, Catering, DIY, Hardware, Household, Kitchen, Home, Office, School, Outdoor, Toys, Party.
• Lucy's Beauty, Shop 09D in Morningview Shopping Centre – Salon specialising in ethnic hair and beauty.

Restaurant Reviews by Judith Back to top

**** Motherland Coffee Company, Cor 10th Ave & Rivonia Boulevard, Central Rivonia

Went there for coffee and a snack between doctors' visits! I had an Americano and their Avo Toast Classic. My partner had a Cappuccino and finished my toast, as I couldn't manage two slices. Avocado was good but too salty. Really busy coffee bar with good access to parking, friendly service by everyone there, but you have to go to the counter to place your order.

Can recommend for a midmorning break!

Contact Details for Motherland Coffee Company.  Back to top

***** Jozi Gin Local Eatery (formerly "Morningside 011"), The Wedge, Morningside

Silly when you can share excellent oxtail at a lower cost than making your own! Washed down with Franshoek Chardonnay and Appletiser. Great service from Christin.

Contact Details for Jozi Gin Local Eatery.  Back to top

Funny Language, English...

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

Spiritless:  Back to top

• The Deli Store, Shop 51-54 in Morning Glen Mall – Kosher Butchery and delicatessen. Opened early November 2012. Was Upper Level.
• Real Kung Fu, Shop 73 in Morning Glen Mall – Chinese Restaurant and Sushi bar. Also soups, Curry, rice, noodle dishes, and tempura. Sushi Buffet. Catering. Was Upper Level.
• Green Café, Shop 09 in Morning Glen Mall – Directly outside Pick 'n Pay: hot beverages and snacks. Replaced by Café 2B from upstairs.
• Ballet Début in Petervale Shopping Centre – Ballet for children from 3 years old. Ballet and Contemporary for adults Beginners to Advanced. Pointe work, fitness, stretching, open and private classes. Was 1st Floor.
• Planet Nails Distribution, Shop 05 in Petervale Shopping Centre – Wholesale nail and beauty products, Training courses, products Showroom.
• DeLé Beauty, Shop 04 in Petervale Shopping Centre – Ladies Beauty Salon.
• BeeGee Café in The Square Sunninghill – Coffee shop, was in Mezzanine.
• Roasting Jacks, Shop 05 in The Wedge, Morningside – Chicken meals, rotisserie chicken, chicken sandwiches, burgers, salads, breakfast until noon, coffee, juices (bottled, not fresh), desserts. Was Upper Level.
• Executive Toys in Rivonia Crossing 2 – Premium quality vehicles: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, etc. Sport utility vehicles and 4x4s by Toyscom. Was Building A.
• mcore in Rivonia Crossing 2 – "Multi-national company that provides leading edge technologies and products" but is not able to show them on its web site. Probably a CIA front. Was Building B.
• Cherokee Hair Salon, Shop 03 in Cambridge Crossing – Hair extensions and wigs. Natural, 100% human hair extensions with virgin Remy Indian hair, Brazilian hair, Peruvian hair, Cambodian, Malaysian hair extension weaves and wigs.
• Applebee Office Supplies, Shop G39 in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Wide selection of good quality, unique stationery for corporate and personal shoppers.
• Attaché, Shop G18A in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Fashion. Clothing - Unisex. Men's and ladies corporate upstairs, schoolwear and tailoring downstairs. Men's Executive Corporate, Ladies Executive Corporate, Schoolwear.
• PSG Gadgets, Shop 124 in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – PCs, cell phones and accessories. Was 1st Floor.
• The Tea Merchant in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Loose leaf tea, teapots, cups, accessories – a complete tea solution.
• W & S Flowers, Shop LGA01 in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Florist. Was in Basement.
• Standard Bank, Shop U01 in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Banking, Forex & ATM.
• TrenDIY, Shop G06 in Hobart Grove Centre – DIY and home décor centre: Garden, pots and plants, braai & patio, paint, hardware, electrical, plumbing, power tools, glass, timber. Coffee shop. Was on Main Square.
• Studio Fix, Shop 09D in Morningview Shopping Centre – Salon specialising in ethnic hair and beauty.

Thought for the Week:

These are my lucky socks: They are lucky I haven't thrown them out yet!

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

Lillian of Morningside writes: "My lawn is dead at this time of the year and I'm ashamed for the neighbours to see it.  How can I get it green in the midst of Level 2 water restrictions?"

The Brigadier replies, "Green? You want green? Then you should live somewhere damp like Ireland. No, my dear, military khaki is the natural colour for the Highveld lawn until the summer rains.

"But you could rig up an outdoor shower, like we used when on manoeuvres. That will allow you to water the lawn, while giving the neighbours something more interesting to look at."

Repaired M2 Motorway reopens on 4 November.

It's an event much more worthy of fireworks than Guy Fawkes Day. TimesLive reports that the refurbished M2 in Johannesburg will be reopened to commuters on November 4, soon-to-be-ex-mayor Herman Mashaba has announced.

"The highway, which closed to traffic at the end of February, cost the city close to R160M to refurbish. The M2 is one of the city's main motorways and links the N3 and M1 with the city and the western parts of Johannesburg."

The eight-month closure of this major arterial caused massive traffic disruption. It also forced Krav Maga classes to a later time slot, since our instructor works in the central city.

Overheard at the Checkout

"This warm, rich, ruby red wine shows great complexity... There is a mixture of bright and dark red berry fruit with a hint of dark chocolate and well balanced oak on the palate. Sweet spicy undertones give this wine great depth."
"Do they have a wine that tastes like grapes?"