The Return

I started working on my blog in November during my first month here. Unfortunately, a family tragedy had us flying back to the UK at the beginning of December, and we ended up staying there through to February, punctuated by a trip to Antigua.

So it feels like another new start! We’re now staying in an apartment within walking distance of Sandton City. The walk is uphill, just what the doctor ordered to lose those kilos gained over Christmas (nomading is not good for the waistline!), and just the right distance to make it not worthwhile to Uber! Perfect! Like most South African malls, Sandton offers a real range of ‘stuff’, from designer to cheap as chips and plenty in-between. It’s also great to see work by African designers and artisans alongside the run of the mill ‘western’ offerings (out of our price bracket at the moment, but looking’s free).

Apparently Sandton is the richest square mile in Africa, and the buildings back up this assertion. Very much like shorter versions of the ones in Hong Kong, they are often able to spread outwards because there’s no shortage of space here. 

I’ve always loved the buzz of Johannesburg. Everything is busy and moving, and people-watching is a joy: Office workers in their snazzy suits and shiny shoes – everyone seems to wear a jacket here, despite the heatwave; friends catching up in the cafes talking any number and combination of the languages spoken here. (there are twelve official ones and over twenty unofficial!); and young people just strutting their stuff, looking a million dollars in their designer gear and attitude.

So life is good!

But, this is Africa, so there has to be a fly in the ointment. Loadshedding – there’s even a phone app for it!

Depending on what ‘zone’ you’re in during any particular week, your power may go off once, twice…four times per day. The app tells you when and for how long! To me one of Africa’s tragedies and triumphs is that despite the stupidity of loadshedding, people manage to live and enjoy life. We have rechargeable lightbulbs and an inverter to keep us connected to wifi through the power cuts. When we move into our place, we’ll have a bigger inverter, or solar, or something else to keep us going, so we probably won’t really suffer too much. But what a waste – what is this doing to an economy which already has so many young people unemployed? How do you run a viable business to build employment without reliable electricity. And we’re well enough off – we have options. What about those who don’t?

On that note, a shout out to my pedi lady, Winnie, who, despite having virtually nothing herself, every month buys and cooks food for those in need.