The Lady Hooligan’s Page

She came into my room again tonight. Not to find out how I was (I have a terrible cold!) but to start criticising everything she reckons I do wrong! She never comes to my side of the house for any other reason than that. Yes, I’m not a neat person. That’s ok, I can live with that one - but at least my mess is confined to a 3 x 4 m space in the house!

I have decided to move out in January. How I shall afford it, God only knows. But there’s a choice between starving to death and being belittled all the time. And I’d rather starve my body than my soul.

Well, we’ll see when we get there, I suppose… Only four more months….

I

Bentley and Me

took yesterday off. Sick-leave, you might say (sick of work!), but the truth is I just needed a change of environment, even for only one day. Breathe some different pollution….

So, I went through to Sandton. And yes, I was the idiot travelling at 80 km/h on the highway, but then I kept up to a Merc CLK so maybe the speed wasn’t entirely my fault!!!

Anyway, the day started at the Amway Business Centre in Longmeadow. Decided that since I was in the area anyway, I could just as well pop in! Got myself some hair stuff (shampoo, etc) and a whole shopping list for my clients. Considering that it was the last Friday of the month, it was extremely quiet and I was done in 20 minutes. After that I relaxed in the coffee shop on the premises. Bottomless coffee. Yum!

Second stop was the Mandela Square in Sandton. That’s where all the exclusive stores are. However, I did not feel like going window shopping much, so I sat on the square itself, with a glass of red and a pizza and watched the world go by. So interesting to see all the people rushing about. The businessmen with their Bluetooth hearing aids wildly gesturing to no-one that could see them, the rich bitches from the area relaxing for a wine and a gossip after spending a big chunk of their husbands’ money, the overworked office and service staff and ME.

Then I went up William Nicol drive, towards the Fourways Mall. I knew that there were a few exclusive vehicle (you can’t call them cars!) dealerships en route, so I took it really slow (again, apologies to my fellow road users!) until I reached the Bentley Dealership. I parked my ‘75 VW Beetle in front of the exclusive interior decorating shop next door and walked in. I was met by an extremely friendly fellow, Thabo, who did NOT treat me like something the cat dragged in and who had no issues about taking a picture of yours extremely charmingly seated in the back of a beautiful black Bentley Continental. I did not ask the price of the car - that would have been tacky - but the smell of the interior was expensive enough. Photo taken, I thanked him profusely and left with a smile and a wave. Exclusive cars, exclusive customer service. I now know where to spend a few million on a car.

Before I left the premises, I went into Hartman & Keppler (the decor shop) just to see how the “other half” lives. Believe me, I could definitely get used to living that way, too! I guess what attracts me is that everything - although way too above my budget (for now!) - is arranged in such as way to look inviting and lived-in. No stuffy formality, like a Garden&Home showcase home. Yep, I could get used to living that way….

Last stop was Fourways Mall… Estoril books and Mugg&Bean (and the worst service in the country!!!) Got me a John Maxwell book and off to home. By then it was past 16:00 and the traffic had picked up. I got stuck in a traffic syrup for the last 10 km out of the city, but from them it was plain sailing home.

So ends my ME DAY. Yes, I plan to do that more often - just for myself!

OK, people who know me well would really giggle at the idea, but today was the day that I bought myself a GPS navigation gadget! And no, my mom doesn’t know yet, but she’ll either be jealous or freak at the expense (which - to me - is utterly worth it!).

And for those who DON’T know me - I am not the type who gets lost easily. Ergo, I do not really NEED a gadget to help me navigate. However, carrying a map book in the car is cumbersome, no matter how up to date and user friendly it may be. And I can’t always pull over to consult it, either!

To me, the GPS means pretty much the same as my drivers’ license did - FREEDOM! It’s the first step towards my planned Southern African road trip! Could be serious fun in the forseeable future!

I got myself the tomtom White Pearl. It’s a BEAUTIFUL GPS receiver. Pearly white, with silver flowers. And it was made for us girls, with directions to beauty salons and shopping centres all over…. (Just thought I’d mention that!) I’ll see if I can scrounge a pic somewhere off a site to add to this entry.

Anyway, now you know what I’ve been up to today…. I’ll be having a “me” day on Friday - going window shopping in Johannesburg - so this device could be handy after all! I’ll let you know…