This is what the unit looks like...

Rustenburg does not have great water… Yes, it’s safe to drink on paper - which only means that the powers-that-be have not considered any long-term effects of the chlorine and heavy metals in it! - but it tastes revolting, like muddy swimming pool water!

And besides being extremely expensive, bottled water isn’t much safer, what with the plastic compounds dissolving into the water over time…

What’s nice about having my own place, is that I can actually INSTALL a purifier!  And yes, I chose an eSpring.  Sure, I can buy it relatively cheaply through my business, but I’ve also done some cost calculations…

The unit comes with a filter that’s good for one year or 5000 litres of water, whatever happens first.

So, if I buy it at R6099,00 (my price!), I’ll have a year’s worth of clean drinking water at R1.23 per liter for the first year, and 29c per liter thereafter!  OK, maybe more if you consider the cost of the original water and the electricity, but that still won’t bring up the price to the same level as some really dodgy bottled water…

eSpring also doesn’t strip water of its beneficial minerals the way reverse osmosis does, but combines UV light with an active carbon block filter to kill both bugs (bacteria, viruses and cysts) and take out heavy metal and other poisonous contaminants (of which clorine is only ONE).  I heard something interesting about this system too.  The water tests on which the claims were made, were done AFTER 5000 liters of water have passed through the filter (at which point it has already long been screaming that one has to replace it!).  That gives me a lot of peace of mind, as I know that the water quality is even BETTER than the tests show!

Then there’s the “Duh” factor!  eSpring units are pretty sexy.  No bulky bottle stuff taking lots of space.  You don’t even have to plumb it in, either, so anyone and install it in their homes! (I’m going to, because I need the counter space!)  The filter is easy to replace as well, after a year!  It tells you when it’s running low, as well, so you don’t have to guess!

So… other than the obvious (to me) financial benefits of owning an eSpring unit, I reckon it makes sense in every other way!

Here’s the URL to a comparison web site I found.  The only two units comparable to the eSpring in quality can’t be bought in South Africa.  But then I also don’t know when that water was tested - at the beginning of the filter’s life, or at the end?

Let you know in 20 years’ time….

http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.com/water_filter_comparison.php

I’ll ask my mom to get me some norephenedrine tablets…  My doc won’t be pleased, but it’ll stop MY frustration!

The first of the scaffolding goes up!

The floor has been cast!

After 5 months of frustration, the construction has finally started! I have changed a few things on the original plan (no structures, but substituted a sliding door for a hinged one!) and it’ll be interesting to see what my bathroom will look like in the end…

I’m on site every day. Tomorrow’s a public holiday and I don’t think they’ll do anything, so I’ll go and take a picture again on Tuesday afternoon. If all goes well, the structure will be completed by the end of August, and then the long wait for the finishings will begin… Fortunately, the developer is in as much a hurry as I am. He won’t take any chances, but I reckon he’ll start with the plasterwork and small stuff as soon as he can…

Still only the concrete pillars, but at least the rubble has been cleared away!

I do need a cat. At least that’s someone to talk to who sometimes answers back! When he feels like it, obviously! I’ll get one first thing when I move into my new place. Maybe a Maine Coon. Maine Coons are cool. They eat miniature dobermann pinchers… <Evil Grin>

My sugardaddyperson and I visited the building site today. I just wanted to show him where the flat was going to be and how far the building process had progressed. He has never been at the site before, even though he helped me with a lot of legal paperwork regarding the purchasing of the apartment. And he’s very enthusiastic about the progress as well.

The official completion date is the end of October 2010. Let’s hold fums.

And before I get crucified, I have no beef with Christianity or any other religion for that matter.  I am a Christian myself!  I just find it very interesting to watch this phenomenon and I always wonder how long it’ll take before the Bible verses stop…

It’s always bad when animal family pass on.  I’ll really miss him when I get home in the afternoons, as he was always first at the car, begging for sweeties.  And he could slobber you to death no problem!  We always had to look out for our clothes…

Yes, I was the “token pinky”, but one of quite a lot of women!  Seems like single women take on a lot of responsibility these days.

What this piece is all about, is a big, black man of about 50.  He was loud, obnoxious and he accused me of being racist and Apartheid-minded.  I’m neither.  (I’m spietkopsist, if anything!)  It was quite interesting that he also gave the facilitator a bit of mouth.  That is, until Mpai silenced him with some choice words.  He was going on about how he knew everything, because he was an estate agent for the past FOUR YEARS!  And then he demonstrated his ignorance in front of the whole group of about 25!  Ouch!

I am a firm believer that everything in life happens for a purpose.  The years I spent in my dad’s office came to good use yesterday, as I knew about most of the costs and what they were for.  I had my questions answered as well!  The ones I asked, as well as the ones I didn’t.

I’m waiting for the place to be built, now.  Concrete slab should be in place by next Friday! Yippppeeeeeeee!

However, I’m a bit depressed at the moment.  It’s like when you were on a camp, and it was wonderful, but now it’s over…  There has to be a “What Next?” to look forward to!

So, my dear country, what’s next?

Wanted: Single white guy, 35 - 39, 5′11″+, athletic to average build. Needed for friends with benefits. No cohabitation, no wedding ring necessary, must enjoy nature. Honesty, trust, dignity, courtesy, respect a necessity. Must be able to support himself financially. If we have a physical connection, a test drive will be obligatory. Mind blowing sex is a pre-requisite. It could potentially turn into a long term arrangement.

Thanks, Kim!