Das neue Zuhause
House 8 / 9
House 9, Tuksdorp, Grosvenor Street 538, Hatfield, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Meldung vom:
"In Pretoria the weather is always good." - a Taxi driver
Weather
It rains rarely. When storms hit the City, an amazing spectacle of wind, rain and flashes tears the skies in two for hours.
There is certainly few things to match the freshness of the air bearing the scent of hundreds if not thousands of Jacaranda trees embracing the streets with billions of their purple flowers right after a good deal of rain during the spring.
House 9 in the evening, spring (October)
It takes about 10 minutes to turn sunny afterwards.
"In Pretoria the weather is always good." - a Taxi driver giving me a lift from the Oliver Tambo International Airport upon my arrival in Johannesburg.
South African Energy Crisis
Loadshedding
There is plenty to read about this in both the global media and the internet.
Despite technicians leaving, its overused power plants and infrastructure deteriorating and its astronomical debts which would reportedly ruin the state's treasury if it would get any more support - the state's monopolistic company Eskom is generating electricity for South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho. It is crucial to keep in mind, that many of these countries run very energy-intensive operations, especially in the extractive industry, where South Africa is to this day, one of the world's largest exporteurs of platinum and gold.
Of great help comes the app called "EskomSePush" which can be downloaded via GooglePlayExterner Link.
South African Energy Crisis
Water Shortages
Time and again, the City of Tshwane has experienced cuts related to clean water delivery. We have been alterted in advance, albeit at times we'd wish it was a bit earlier.
The residence was then supplied with giant water tanks which have been either re-filled or replaced when empty.
Since the first shortage, we have learned to retain water containers, mainly obtained from the "Water World" shop adjacent to the Hatfield Plaza, where 10 litres fresh drinkable water cost around R30 with- and around R12 without a bottle (re-filling).
The University Campus has been cut off water too, the closest suburbs such as Brooklyn or Hillcrest would be switched off water supply at about the same time - some of us had to learn the hard way but finally, we prevailed.
With about 100 litres of water stored in the water containers inside the house and Water World vendor close to the residence, we are prepared.
birthday surprises
Ad Destinatum Persequor
We had the privilege to celebrate a couple of birthdays where ad hoc surprise arrangements were made, to uplift the spirits. In this picture a custom - made cake by one of our fellow students at the Tuksdorp residence was served.
A toast and a couple of gifts were thrown at the birthday kids and evenings well spent in restaurants or other places of choice! :-)