Category: learning curve

More loadshedding this evening…

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…this time not in the UK or Australia, and not (holds thumbs, crosses fingers, whispers quiet prayer) in South Africa, either. Nope – this time, it’s Shanghai and Chengdu in China.

Uh-oh.

That sounds familiar.

I completely sympathise with the people in these cities: loadshedding is a complete pain in the butt, but once again, it’s somehow reassuring to know that we’re not the only ones suffering.

After all, as the famous old saying goes: “a problem shared is now a problem for loads more people than if you had just kept it to yourself”.

Exam results

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The IGCSE results came out this morning, which has prompted nervousness, anticipation and possibly a little insomnia in the family over the past few days.

We need not have worried.

The Boy Wonder sailed though with some properly excellent marks. A testament to all his hard work and our superb genetic mix. But probably mainly his hard work. And so now, an interview at school which will hopefully be nothing more than a formality, given his results and the criteria they set for continuing studies, and then, from next week, it’s English, Business Studies, Computer Science and Maths.

But first, I think some celebrations are called for this evening. (We would have done so this morning, but… that meeting…)

Proud parents today. And very often at other times as well.

No time for the post I wanted to do

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Because I’m saving battery for the United game this evening.

But I did find out the RGB code for the colour of the purple colour of the “stuff” on the “new” Elizabeth Line which goes across London. Don’t ask how. Or why. (The colour, not the geography of the line.)
But the RGB code for that Elizabeth Line purple is:

R105 G80 B161

Which means that the Hex code is #6a50a1.

Which looks like this.

I have no idea why you would ever need to know this, but if you ever did… well… it’s right there.

Tomorrow’s post will be another compilation of images, but right now, I need to excuse myself and go and do some football. A James McAtee debut is incoming.

Looks Familiar

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Back from a couple of days away and a bit knackered after a long drive. Lovely little road trip though with some great food, wine and experiences.

So here’s a quick snap taken this morning to demonstrate the power of the iNaturalist app to an interested party.

It’s an LBJ – or, if you use the app – it’s a Familiar Chat. Oenanthe familiaris.

The owner of the property on which were staying has seen loads of these birds every day for year. But he never knew what they were. A quick snap and search and now he knows.

We were also able to point a tiny, cute Neddicky out to him, perched on one of his vineyard posts.

Nice to share.

Tube

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It’s been a while since I did a quota photo post, but here one (or even two) quota photos come right now:

This poster tube came our way a while ago (long, uninteresting story), and I just liked how battered and well worn it was. It seemed silly not to use the opportunity to snap a couple of atmospheric pics.

As for the address, it turns out to be one of SA’s most famous brick and ceramics companies, built upon the high quality clay fields near Olifantsfontein in Gauteng. Those clay fields were discovered when siting and building of the railways was taking place in the 1890s and soon afterwards in 1896, the Consolidated Rand Brick, Pottery and Lime Company was set up by diamond magnate Sir Thomas Cullinan. Thus the business became colloquially known as Cullinan Brick.

Sadly, I have no idea when the poster tube was sent to Mnr Schalk van Wyk or what was in it, but it has now made its way safely back to its owner.