Routine and the Game of Shopkeeper Shopkeeper

I usually have the same routine every weekday. I get up at the crack of dawn, in the morning I catch the same bus at the same bus stop with the same few ladies. We will smile and exchange awkward hellos with one another. Similarly glum faces already inside the bus will greet me as I board, I’m sure all with the similar thought to me “are we really doing this again today?”  Work will pass by and I will be back on another bus travelling home this time with slightly cheerful passengers inside, I’m sure all with the similar happy thought to me “this day is over we are finally going home”. There is a spring in my step as I walk home for what follows is a routine that is my most exciting part of the day.

Ask any working parent of a young toddler or what is their favourite part of the day and they will usually reply it’s when they get home to their children.

It’s no different for me, I am not sure who is more excited me or my 3 year old daughter. We usually do the same routine the past few months, I will get home – she will hide away in a spot clearly visible making lots of noise. I will “not see her” and look for her and she will surprise me with a “here I am” when I get close. She will then run to the end of the passage while I wait at the beginning of the passage. She will say “On your marks ready steady go” and run towards me and give me the biggest hug. We will exchange greetings and ask each other “how was your day”, her reply always being “fine”. What follows then is one of her current favourite games “Shopkeeper Shopkeeper”.

Shopkeeper Shopkeeper" is a game where we play a role game where the one of us will be the shopkeeper who sells goods while the other is the customer buying the goods. Whatever is lying on the table will be used as props to sell. I will be the stern shopkeeper who never has what you looking for, who will give you incorrect change or tell you to go buy somewhere else. She will be the sweet customer always with a smile who will come to support you even though you not the greatest with service. I will be the customer who wants impossible stuff like pizza , she will be the sweet shopkeeper who will help you no matter what and even bake you the pizza – sometimes for free. It might sound the silliest game but for her it is the most exciting game, that 15 to 30 minutes we get to bond and play which every kid loves. Her eyes seem to glisten more as we play out our roles – her laugh infectious as we make silly jokes with 1 another. In that few minutes I have managed to unwind, forget what ever troubles or stress I might have had during the day. We all need that unwinding moment during a day be it reading a book, watching a soapie, a nice hot shower – a routine that gives us a mental break from the rat race we seem to find ourselves in. In a few years she might not want to play with me or the game might be to boring for her, I have to make the most of it.

This past weekend my daughter was playing with her grandfather and explaining to him how the game of “Shopkeeper Shopkeeper” works even though he has been a real life shopkeeper for the best past 30 odd years or so. I observed from a distance as this time she was a stern shopkeeper telling him “you listen to me this how we play and if I don’t have the chips it’s not my problem”.  My father in law was laughing and playing along – he was getting to unwind.  Later my daughter was selling flowers that she had picked (more like destroyed) from her grandmother’s garden, oops now that will be 1 person not happy or unwinding with the game “Shopkeeper Shopkeeper”.

Satori Camel Run 10 Miler Classic

Satori Camel Run 10 Miler Classic

What better way to bring in Spring than by running my first 10 mile race!


Date 1 September 2013

Event: Satori Camel Run 10 Miler Classic (16.1kms)

Venue: Noordhoek Sports Fields off Chapmans Peak Drive. 

So Spring arrived officially in the southern hemisphere, one would not say so in Cape Town considering the awful wet weather we had in the week leading up to this race. I entered this race back in July, only 1000 entries allowed and judging by the rapidness that entries went this is a very popular race. Entries closed sometime in August whereupon additional entries were made available at much higher price with proceeds going to charities. The 1001st entry is then usually auctioned off to the highest bidder with proceeds once again going to the various charities. Training for this race from me consisted of some gym work and a 12km training run the weekend before. With the wet weather in Cape Town there was a bit of concern that the race would not happen but my fears were allayed on collecting my registration pack the Saturday day before race where they advised the race would take place and the forecast was for good weather. I received also a sms the night before advising of parking arrangements as well as that there was minor adjustments to the route and that we should expect some muddy fun. Kudos to the organizers for keeping us in touch. The weather on the day was bit chilly with no wind involved. Left house at around 6:25, got to the venue around 7:10 (40km distance to venue from my house), parking was an issue as we arrived quite late but we managed to get a spot not too far from the start. No registration required as it was all done beforehand and because of the popularity of the race no registration done on the day. Cost was R70 for a temp runner like me. Let’s be clear though this is not your normal road running event and consists of running some trails as well which made for great fun. As the website states “A beautiful yet challenging 'road' run with a difference.The Satori Camel Run route will lead you past equestrian estates, with scarecrows keeping a close watch on you at Noordhoek Farm Village, along shady tree-lined roads and through Ohio Farm where you will absorb our tranquil, country-feel surroundings”. These words definitely rung true as I ran this fabulous route. Close to the 3km mark we ran past the Cape Vineyards with an almighty steep hill, I decided to conserve energy and rather walk that hill. The downhill past the vineyard was much better. We also ran through or past the Monkey Hill Valley Resort. The camel run passed through 7 pieces of private land, nothing more refreshing than to awaken the senses than running a trail filled with steep hills past the vineyards, equestrian estates, in mud & horse shit with soaking wet shoes. This race was tough but in the end I managed to complete in a respectable (for me) +- 1h55min. I was aiming for under 2 hours. I would not recommend this race for novices. My partner Unfit Gal who usually runs but never trained for this race struggled big time and never made the cut-off time which was 2h30min. She however did complete the race so well done to her. So all in all it was a fun race, the scenery and trail were awesome so let’s give out some stars (5 being excellent, 4 very good, 3 average 2.poor 1.weak) 
 Organization (from Marshall's to volunteers to traffic officials to registration) = 5

• Scenery (Countryside, Horses, Green Grass Vineyards) = 5 p.s there is a stretch on Noordhoek beach as well which was unfortunately cut from the race due to the heavy rainfalls

• Ease of Race (Tough) = 4

• Effect on Legs next day = 4 (For Unfit Gal this was 5)

• Refreshments (just water along the route with coke midway and at the end) = 3

• Crowd to Support = 2

(Unfortunately Early Sunday mornings do not attract crowds however there were some enthusiastic children at the water points who provided laughs and encouragement)

• Quality of Medal at Finish (I think all completed runners received) = 4 Awesome running buff given at the end which was different from the usual plastic medals and something you can use in future.

• Fellow Runners (1000) = 4 (People seemed to be having a blast)

• Overall Rating = 5

If you enjoy running in Cape Town this is an event you should do once in your running lifetime. Just remember enter early; I will definitely be back next year for this race.

McKenna Scott Pinelands 10 km Road Race

Time for a new blog post and new review of another road running race on the Western Province Athletics Calendar that I completed

Date 11 August 2013
Event: McKenna Scott Pinelands 10 km Road Race
Venue: Lower Oval Pinelands. 

The month of Ramadan was complete and what better way to work off the extra sugary unhealthy foods I might have consumed on Eid by doing a road running event. Just to put you in the know how Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset by Muslims. Eid is celebrated at the end of Ramadan which is on the 1st of Shawaal which is the next month on the Muslim calendar. People usually end up partaking in an eating feast on the day. So in preparation for the race I partook in no running or training for the past month, not even gym (Note this is usually a bad thing to do), unfortunately or fortunately (depending on my point of view) I was keen on running once again and decided to do this race as I need to urgently get running fit for a 16km race I'm attempting at the end of the month. The weather on the day was cool, bit of chilly wind which never affected running at all. Left house at around 6:45, got to the venue around 7:00, there was ample free parking in the vicinity and it was a 5 minute walk to the start point. Registration took about 1 minute and the cost was R50 for a temp runner like me.Race started at 7:30 and consisted of 2 X 5km laps around the "garden city" suburb of Pinelands which is located on the edge of the southern suburbs of Cape Town. There is also a fun run option available of which it is a 5km run. The race was flat with no particular uphills or downhill’s and it is actually an ideal race to set your personal best. Johannesburg Guy who I entered the race with completed his 10km in a personal best of +- 54min while I completed in the not so bad +- 63min. I was happy with my time as 1. I never walked 2. It was under 70minutes which I was aiming for. So all in all it was a decent race and was good fun so let’s give out some stars (5 being excellent, 4 very good, 3 average 2.poor 1.weak)

• Organization (from Marshall's to volunteers to traffic officials to registration) = 5
• Scenery (nice leafy suburb , lots of trees) = 4                                                  
• Ease of Race (Flat Race - not strenuous) = 5
• Effect on Legs next day (I was hardly stiff) = 2
• Refreshments (just water along the route and coke at finish)  = 1
(p.s. this was disastrous as the water table at the 8km mark ran out of water and the coke given at the end was just enough for 1 sip , c'mon was there a shortage of coke or what ?) p.s. I love my coke at the end of the race)
• Crowd to Support = 1
(absolutely nobody,couple of guys shouted encouragement from the train station we ran past but where was the people of Pinelands? Sleeping??)
• Quality of Medal at Finish (only 1st 800 got) = 2
• Fellow Runners (832 in total as per athletics club) = 4
(not much talking from strangers;people were too busy setting personal bests)
• Overall Rating = 3

Nothing memorable of this race stands out that will want me to rush to do it again, however I think it has the potential to do better next year as it should not clash with Ramadan / Eid Period which should encourage a bigger crowd.

Jive Slave Route Challenge - 12 May 2013

It's been a while since I blogged, lots of happenings the past few months / years has unfortunately kept me busy. I recently became a father which has naturally changed my whole outlook on life - that however is another story or blog for another day. I thought I would start off my re-entry into the blogging world with a review of the Jive Slave Route Challenge 21km Race I did on the 12 May 2013.I started running about a year ago, a bit of first following friends and family who were doing it, I found that I quite enjoyed it. I'm not yet quite the professional but try and train as much as I can where possible. For this particular race my second half marathon my training consisted of running a 10km race the weekend before and 2 sessions in the gym in the week. Not the best training I admit. The race started at 7am, I did my registration beforehand which ensured I did not have to register on the day, always good to avoid last minute rushing around and stress on the day to get registered in time for the start of the race. I arrived in Cape Town about 6:30 and parked at the Golden Acre Mall Parking, the roads were quite busy in the vicinity of the start for a Sunday Morning. The pre-race speeches were given by the sponsors representatives as well as quick good luck by the mayor Patricia De Lille. The start was not the usual bang from a gun but boom from the canon on top of Signal Hill. We started promptly at 7am from the City Hall , our run took us for the first time through Cape Town Castle – only the beginning of a historical journey through District Six past the Cape Technikon and the two mosques in that road, Gardens and Wale Street. The next stop was the Bo’Kaap with the highlight for me being the steep hill aptly named Koesiester Hill. There was a lot of support from the residents of Bo-Kaap for that portion of the race, with some residents even offering us tasty Koesisters upon our conclusion of this hill. What followed as a further 9km flat run through the Fan Walk, Green Point Park, V&A Waterfront and then finishing back where we started on the Grand Parade. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful races in Cape Town, it was brilliantly organized and I would highly recommend any runner to do it once in their life. My time was just under 2:30 which I aimed for, off my personal best but I was quite pleased considering my lack of training beforehand as well and the fact that this was quite a tough course. For those not so serious runners there is also a 10km run, 5km run and 10km walk offered. Not sure of the amount of people that did the races but it was well attended, I would estimate about 1500 people might have done the 21km race. All in all a great race, great atmosphere that I will look forward to doing another slave route challenge next year. Till the next blog post see you around. (Photo taken from www.itheko.org 2011)

Meeting The Million Rand Man Himself JP Duminy....

My cut from Malaysia !! Eina...

A woman dropped by a bakery to order a cake with her boss's picture on it.
Instead of providing an actual photo of him to the bakery staff, she handed over a USB flash drive containing his photo on a JPEG.When she later returned to pick up the cake, instead of finding her boss immortalized in frosting, she discovered that the bakery had recreated the Lexar Jumprdrive USB Flash drive she handed over.
By the looks of the picture above, she still took it.

Seven Pounds

Off the bat this must be the worst Will Smith movie I have ever seen. This was boring and very painful to watch. I never laughed , I never smiled , heck I showed no emotion as I was tortured by this mess of a movie. What was Will thinking making this piece of junk. Will has this same tortured "sad little panda" look during the whole movie , like he suffering from diarrhea or something. Plot is stupid and not worth explaining.
Strongest recommendation to avoid , it scores 1 out of 5.

We need more Driving Centres South Africa !!!

This is still not enough but at least a start here in Cape Town, A person has to wait up to a year for an appointment...

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=&art_id=vn20090210020254877C393907

Back to Blogging...

After years of hiatus I have decided to return back to my blog like the triumphant hero..I can't recall why I stopped in the first place but it must have been a good reason.
Lets start off with by celebrating with China as China auto sales overtake US

http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Channel=News_Home&ArticleId=1518-1783_2467269&IsColumnistStory=False