2-29pm
Apart from it being the season to be merry, it’s also the season of load-shedding – that’s regulated power cuts for those who are reading this from other parts of the world. There’s a schedule released by Eskom and (if you remember to check it), you’ll know when your area will be in the dark. Sometimes, they say there will be no electricity and there is. That’s mainly what has happened where I live, but yesterday at 4pm the lights went out and only came back on at 6pm. They say it will be the same today and throughout the weekend, soooo we’ll wait and see.
Meantime, yesterday, while there was no access to electricity, I made a list of 15 things to do during load shedding.
1. Mike was quick to get on with this one – sleep!
2. Read a book….a real book, not a digital one!
3. Go to the mall and see if any shops are open. I did this. It was quite weird seeing most of the shops closed at 4 in the afternoon. Some were open, but had security at the door preventing people from entering. Pick n Pay was open with dim lights and working tills and credit card machines. The whirr of generators could be heard behind the store. There were quite a lot of people around.
4. Sort out paperwork and do some filing. It’s got to be done sometime!
5. Water the garden.
6. Go for a walk.
7. Hand write a note to a friend, thanking them for their friendship.
8. Go for a drive and admire our beautiful city – if it’s night time, be careful – the traffic lights that are down become hazardous.
9. Get out of doors with the family – head for the beach.
10. With the night time load shedding, lie on a blanket under open skies and admire the stars.
11. Married couples – I don’t need to spell out what you can do!
12. Play board games by candlelight.
13. Tell stories of your childhood.
14. Light a few candles and have a long bubble bath.
15. Have an impromptu sing a long. A picture etched in my mind comes from 2008. My Dad had died and my brother and I were in Harare for his funeral. We were staying with my step-mom and almost every night the electricity was out. Miriam sat down at her piano and, in candlelight, started playing old well known hymns. She has such a lovely voice and it was so poignant hearing the words of some of the traditional songs written so many years ago. It was comforting and memorable.
If you can get it to open, the Cape Town loadshedding schedule is here.
One other thing about load shedding….no one escapes the inconvenience….
From News24
16. Avoid lifts!
John 8:12
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
I am in Swellendam tonight, celebrating Stacey’s birthday. 🙂
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
Gratitude ….there was a massive fire in the Ocean View/Kommetjie area on Wednesday evening. The hill with the cross went up in flames. Steve de Witt captured this stunning photo. .A great reminder that Jesus will be with you, whatever you go through
Photo by Steve de Witt – Kommetjie Cross – 11pm Wednesday 3rd December 2014