Apparently I'm the one of the VERY FEW people who thinks that Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince none so impressive. I've read a couple of reviews and raised my infamous left eyebrow as I read the international ravings on the book. Either these people are busy sucking up to fit in with the 'wow' club or I must be all-time weird for missing the wow-factor completely. No debate required. I am sure it is more aptly the latter. But no, I'm not going to re-read this book and bore myself all over again with whiney dialogues.
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Denial.
Don't we love being in denial?
Pretending that the world has ceased to exist and ignoring whatever form of life that may exist beyond the walls of my denial haven.
Oblivion is like an art movie.
The world zooms at 400 miles per hour whilst the time in your world stands still...
14th July 2005
12:26 a.m.
Dear Owners,
Just to let you know No.2 was hijacked inside the complex last night around 8:40pm. It seems 3 to 4 hijackers followed him on his way to the complex ? and pointed AK47 at both the security guard & the owner to gain access into the complex - they took the owner?s car. Luckily no one got hurt. More details will be given at the meeting tomorrow evening.
Unfortunately the hijackers took the security guard?s remote control, so we need to change the RM codes by tomorrow if possible. I have asked ZED & ADT to provide us with tight security tonight & maybe tomorrow ? at least until we have changed all the remotes.
Please bring your remotes to the AGM tomorrow ? we?ll see if it?s possible to organize the company to come out & do the change as you come in/out tomorrow. All the owners without working remotes should sort that out as the security guards will not be allowed to open for anyone. We?ll also issue security car stickers tomorrow.
By the way, while standing at the gate with the police ? they got a call that 2 more hijackings were taking place around Rivonia - cnr 7th & Rivonia and somewhere on South. It seems these guys were on a mission.
It?s very important that you attend the meeting tomorrow at 18:30 or fax your proxy form if you can?t make it. We need a quorum to adopt some serious/necessary changes.
And this was when reality sort of hit a little. I read this email whilst having my usual early morning coffee. A morbid smile. "Ahhh.... London bombing, Hurricane Dennis, suicide bombing in China.... now hijacking... how exciting... all in a week... ", I thought to myself. Morbid thoughts to go with morbid smile.
Then it hit me.
Hang on.... #2 got attacked by hijackers.....
I almost spat out my coffee.
That is my NEXT DOOR neighbour!
What the f***?
I quickly ran through my groggy memory, "8:40 pm last night. What was I doing? How is it possible that I didn't hear a single thing?"
Blank. Zero recollection.
I mused to myself, "Wow. I sure have mastered the art of oblivion."
I bow to myself.
In this estate, I live closest to the security gantry yet I managed to miss all that commotion with AK47 and (very little imagination required) police cars zooming around Rivonia. I found out later during the evening meeting (just for the record, that was my first time in 1 year of living here that I officially met the people living in this estate AND I still don't know them) a total of 5 attacks that evening.
I scare myself.
Don't we love being in denial?
Pretending that the world has ceased to exist and ignoring whatever form of life that may exist beyond the walls of my denial haven.
Oblivion is like an art movie.
The world zooms at 400 miles per hour whilst the time in your world stands still...
14th July 2005
12:26 a.m.
Dear Owners,
Just to let you know No.2 was hijacked inside the complex last night around 8:40pm. It seems 3 to 4 hijackers followed him on his way to the complex ? and pointed AK47 at both the security guard & the owner to gain access into the complex - they took the owner?s car. Luckily no one got hurt. More details will be given at the meeting tomorrow evening.
Unfortunately the hijackers took the security guard?s remote control, so we need to change the RM codes by tomorrow if possible. I have asked ZED & ADT to provide us with tight security tonight & maybe tomorrow ? at least until we have changed all the remotes.
Please bring your remotes to the AGM tomorrow ? we?ll see if it?s possible to organize the company to come out & do the change as you come in/out tomorrow. All the owners without working remotes should sort that out as the security guards will not be allowed to open for anyone. We?ll also issue security car stickers tomorrow.
By the way, while standing at the gate with the police ? they got a call that 2 more hijackings were taking place around Rivonia - cnr 7th & Rivonia and somewhere on South. It seems these guys were on a mission.
It?s very important that you attend the meeting tomorrow at 18:30 or fax your proxy form if you can?t make it. We need a quorum to adopt some serious/necessary changes.
And this was when reality sort of hit a little. I read this email whilst having my usual early morning coffee. A morbid smile. "Ahhh.... London bombing, Hurricane Dennis, suicide bombing in China.... now hijacking... how exciting... all in a week... ", I thought to myself. Morbid thoughts to go with morbid smile.
Then it hit me.
Hang on.... #2 got attacked by hijackers.....
I almost spat out my coffee.
That is my NEXT DOOR neighbour!
What the f***?
I quickly ran through my groggy memory, "8:40 pm last night. What was I doing? How is it possible that I didn't hear a single thing?"
Blank. Zero recollection.
I mused to myself, "Wow. I sure have mastered the art of oblivion."
I bow to myself.
In this estate, I live closest to the security gantry yet I managed to miss all that commotion with AK47 and (very little imagination required) police cars zooming around Rivonia. I found out later during the evening meeting (just for the record, that was my first time in 1 year of living here that I officially met the people living in this estate AND I still don't know them) a total of 5 attacks that evening.
I scare myself.
I am not kidding when I say that I can't remember a single thing that happened on the 13th of July.
ZILCH.
In my state of self-induced denial, I have no idea where had the last 25 days gone to.
I stare at my almost-empty calender for the month of July (at least it is not showing June or I'll really be freaked out).
Errrr..... *scratching my head*
Let me attempt to track back -
I stare at my almost-empty calender for the month of July (at least it is not showing June or I'll really be freaked out).
Errrr..... *scratching my head*
Let me attempt to track back -
- 21st of June : My last blog entry, the start of my decision to go into denial which includes frumpy pjs, alternating between the couch and work desk (spending endless hours playing ridiculous games on the computer and chatting), practising remote control clasping with my permanent three-layer fats whilst watching telly in a zombified state, reduced visits to the driving range, working only when necessary and personal emails procrastination.
Finally ordered my sewing machine.
Cause of Denial : Attack of the Babies. Ha! - 22nd of June : Early morning meeting, golf lesson, rushed to Oriental Plaza to buy some sewing equipments and stuff. Made back home in time to watch the 3rd day of Wimbledon. Received my new noisy toy - the sewing machine.
- 23rd of June : 4th day of Wimbledon. Not moving from couch.
- 24th of June : 5th day of Wimbledon. Still not moving from couch. OK.... maybe I did move alittle to play with my new toy.
- 25th of June : Ahhh... good 'ol Saturday, Wimbledon. Couch.
- 26th of June : Sunday always comes and goes too quickly. Wimbledon. Couch.
- 27th of June : Definitely Wimbledon, but can't remember what the heck I did.
- 28th of June : Slight diversion. Day-trip to Durban with the boss for business.
- 29th of June : Oh yes. Golf lesson. Rushed back for Wimbledon. Federer was playing. Was not going to miss this one (p.s. I had deliberately scheduled the Durban meeting NOT to coincide with the big matches ie Mens quarter finals onwards). Bibik ME won her election. She is the new Lady's Captain of Warren Club. Yay.
- 30th of June : Boss came to Johannesburg. Dinner with customer. Missed Wimbledon AGAIN. Couldn't decide which was worse - tolerating long hours of chats with the boss or cringing whilst watching Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams grunt-and-play. I think that was the day with the big rain delay.....
Oh yes, brought the boss to the driving range and had to hear hours of philosophies about golf-play. Must have hit at least a thousand balls that day. Played for 3 consecutive hours and boy did I pay for it the next few days..... I overexerted and sprained my wrist. That pain... that excruciating pain. Never again a thousand balls in one day.
I have to admit though, the boss does have some pretty good golf techniques. He is a single-handicapper and I heeded one of his advise to correct my club placement. It did work wonder.... only during the next practise (pride darling... pride) when I tried it ALONE and was amazed with the results. I called to thank him. - 01 July : Definitely couch. Wrist was screaming from the day before and using Durban and Boss's visit as my lame excuse for slacking, that was when denial officially started. Men's semi-finals for Wimbledon. Federer defeated Hewitt for the 8th consecutive time.
- 02 July : Couch. Ladies' Finals. God knows how Davenport managed to lose... but she did.
- 03 July : Mens' Finals. Federer did the hattrick. Yay Federer.
- 04 July : Received the shocker news of the millenium. Foo-Foo's finally proposed to Jeanne. Another early morning shocker news from Fizzy Fish, who was bursting to tell me.....
To : Chooeypoo
Subject : Hello!
Attachments : hello.psd.jpg (49kb)
No message.
Nothing.
I opened the attachment file.
What a sparkling diamond....
Photo compliments of Fizzy Fish
Hmmm..... did Fluff just get Mummy-Fizz a new ring?", I thought to myself but something told me that wasn't it.
Just then, I realized that Fizzy was online.
Chooeypoo : What's that ring picture all about?
Then it hit me.
Fizzy : I've got news.....
Chooeypoo : Oh my god.... it's Glenn isn't it? He's finally proposed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And Fizzy kindly filled me in with all the details.
I won the bet (nothing at stake, unfortunately).
My second marriage prediction come true.
I've apparently got the knack of predicting everyone else's marriage.
I was in shock.
Not so much that Foo-Foo is getting married.
That was expected.
But it was coming into reality with turning 28.
Marriages and babies.
Babies and marriages.
I knew then that things ARE never going to be the same again.
I think this was when my state my denial fell ten notches lower.....
Just then, I realized that Fizzy was online.
Chooeypoo : What's that ring picture all about?
Then it hit me.
Fizzy : I've got news.....
Chooeypoo : Oh my god.... it's Glenn isn't it? He's finally proposed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And Fizzy kindly filled me in with all the details.
I won the bet (nothing at stake, unfortunately).
My second marriage prediction come true.
I've apparently got the knack of predicting everyone else's marriage.
I was in shock.
Not so much that Foo-Foo is getting married.
That was expected.
But it was coming into reality with turning 28.
Marriages and babies.
Babies and marriages.
I knew then that things ARE never going to be the same again.
I think this was when my state my denial fell ten notches lower.....
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