Absent

The car guard usually sits on this upturned milk crate. But today he was absent.

UPDATE: From the comments it seems that the ubiquitous car guard is a curiously South African phenomenon. Here is a short explanation. Some car guards are appointed by local businesses to look after cars in streets and parking lots. (We do have a lot of crime, including the more petty kind such as car break-ins and car thefts.) Other car guards (probably most) are self-appointed. Yes, it may be a glorified form of begging, and I am not sure what a car guard will actually do if someone breaks into my car (in most cases, nothing, I suspect, and I do not blame them - why become involved and possibly risk your life for a few measly rand that you may or may not get from the car owner?), but I guess they can act as a deterrent. A little bit like locking your front door when you go out - it makes you feel safer, and prevents a chancer from just walking in and helping himself, but it is of course useless if someone really wants to break into your house. This is my take on it - the car guard feels that he has a job and I feel that I am helping to support someone. It annoys me very much when locals say that car guards should get "proper" jobs - there are very few of those around here. Proper jobs, I mean.

The Power of the Other

I really enjoyed reading your interpretations of my previous art journal page. I call this one The Power of the Other after these two words popped out at me from the text on the page. Let me know how you interpret it. Again, I had something specific in mind as the page developed, which is really explained by the title!

Summer doodles

Summer is here! 31 degrees, sun shining, what more can I say?

PS Anne from Frayed at the Edge will be choosing the new Weekword for this week. Leave her a comment if you would like to play along!

Weekword: History

A (quick) History of the World - mine. Starting at the top with grandparents on both sides; my mom, a student teacher, meets dad, a dashing fighter pilot in WWII; me in high-chair and as a toddler, the littlest of three sisters. A brother was later added to this ménage. Unfortunately this union (my mom and dad), no doubt a romantic and happy one to start off with, did not last. Such is life. The rest (from toddler to now) is not included - it is not history, it is my life.

For other participants, see:
Linda Sue, Sarah, Leenie , Anne, Valentina, Aris, Aimee, Esti, Alexandra, Veja Cecilia, Nicky, Sarah the jeweller (who is having another amazing giveaway of a beautiful pendant), Line, Cindy and Fruenswerk!

Weekword - update

I'm late! I'm late!! I am working on a project, and in the midst of this did something very naughty: I slipped away for a few days, partly to visit this place, which is indeed part of my personal history - my dad grew up here:

So I am not at all ready for weekword yet. I hope to post mine on Sunday evening. In the meantime, here are the other participants:

Linda Sue, Sarah, Leenie (possibly), Anne, Valentina, Aris, Aimee, Esti, Alexandra, Veja Cecilia, Nicky, Sarah the jeweller (who is having another amazing giveaway of a beautiful pendant), and Line. Also Cindy!

Have a great time visiting their blogs. See you a little later!

Processed - Not Transferable

I found these two office stamps at a sale, and they were ideal for this page. Hmm, the subject is something I have been battling with, but I won't comment on it. I'd be interested to know how you interpret it!

Two things

Firstly, the new weekword! It is history. I know, I know. It seems like such a boring word, especially if you are like me. I fully agree with Jane Austen's character Catherine Morland, when she laments:

"History, real solemn history, I cannot be interested in ... I read it a little as a duty; but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars and pestilences in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all - it is very tiresome."

But I love personal histories - the story each person has to tell of how they became what they are now. Everything has a history - people, objects, concepts. And of course, what we do right now will become the history of the future. So, all in all, perhaps not quite such a boring word. I would love to see your interpretation of it! A photo, a drawing, a poem, a crafty thing, any creation really. Let me know if you want to play along by leaving a comment on this post, and post it on Friday or the weekend.

Secondly, I was invited (well, actually, I invited myself, and so can you!) to Candace's Second Mad Hatter's Tea Party on October 24th. If you want to go along, drop her a comment. I am busy making myself a magnificent hat. A magnificent hat!!