Journal Entries
Birding Big Day 2019
Posted Nov 29, 2019
Tomorrow is Birding Big Day! We are going out to see how many bird species we can find within 24 hours and within a 50 km radius. This year we're aiming for 235 species! It starts in a few hours … I hope I can get enough sleep!
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Latest reply: Nov 29, 2019
Traffic Accident
Posted Oct 23, 2019
I witnessed a traffic accident this afternoon while walking to the gym. At the corner of McDonald Avenue and another street (I forget which) as I prepared to cross the stop street I saw a white car coming charging towards me. I stopped and watched … it's a four-way stop so all cars from all sides need to stop, and that car's driver obviously didn't get the idea. He was coming at a big speed, it looked even faster than he's allowed to in town - 60 km/h is the general speed limit. I didn't see it at first but there was another car, a blue one, coming into the crossing from my side. That car should have stopped - I didn't see if it did - but of course ALSO coming into a four-way stop, you SHOULD make sure the other cars have stopped before you drive on. So: the white car charged into the crossing and I heard its brakes squeal and then it hit the blue car with a huge crashing sound. The noses of the cars collided at a 90-degree angle and the blue car went spinning coming to rest against the curb of McDonald Avenue on the opposite side. A woman was in it, air bags had deployed, the car was so damaged that the door wouldn't open easily but I helped her out. She was shocked of course but showed no signs of injury. The driver of the other car had got out as well and also seemed fine. The cars were both pretty messed up, though. Soon there was a crowd of people. I didn't have my phone so couldn't call the police but I gave the woman my phone number in case I was needed as a witness. I then went on to the gym.
This is the second most serious accident I've seen. The worst one was not far from there, where Grimm street crosses the highway to Tzaneen. A car there went over a red traffic light at huge speed, and crashed into another car whose driver didn't pay attention - and was killed in the collision.
So anyways just another caution, folks … be very attentive when driving!
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Latest reply: Oct 23, 2019
Traffic Accident
Posted Oct 23, 2019
I witnessed a traffic accident this afternoon while walking to the gym. At the corner of McDonald's Street and another street (I forget which) as I prepared to cross the stop street I saw a white car coming charging towards me. I stopped and watched … it's a four-way stop so all cars from all sides need to stop, and that car's driver obviously didn't get the idea. He was coming at a big speed, it looked even faster than he's allowed to in town - 60 km/h is the general speed limit. I didn't see it at first but there was another car, a blue one, coming into the crossing from my side. That car should have stopped - I didn't see if it did - but of course ALSO coming into a four-way stop, you SHOULD make sure the other cars have stopped before you drive on. So: the white car charged into the crossing and I heard its brakes squeal and then it hit the blue car with a huge crashing sound. The noses of the cars collided at a 90-degree angle and the blue car went spinning coming to rest against the curb of McDonald's street on the opposite side. A woman was in it, air bags had deployed, the car was so damaged that the door wouldn't open easily but I helped her out. She was shocked of course but showed no signs of injury. The driver of the other car had got out as well and also seemed fine. The cars were both pretty messed up, though. Soon there was a crowd of people. I didn't have my phone so couldn't call the police but I gave the woman my phone number in case I was needed as a witness. I then went on to the gym.
This is the second accident I've seen on McDonald's Street. The previous one was where the street crossed the highway to Tzaneen. A car there went over a red traffic light at huge speed, and crashed into another car whose driver didn't pay attention - and was killed in the collision.
So anyways just another caution, folks … be very attentive when driving!
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Latest reply: Oct 23, 2019
Afrikaans Music Video
Posted Sep 6, 2019
Hi folks! Some of you have already seen and heard this, but for the rest, please watch this music video, called 'Piramide' (Afrikaans for 'Pyramid'). It is a light pop song sung by Kaylyn Botha, the daughter of my friend Adri Botha, who (Adri!) owns the local art gallery where a lot of my art is displayed and sold. Kaylyn is still in school, and very talented, maybe even going into a musical career! I've written a song for her to sing, maybe also making it into a music video. Imagine if it became a hit!
Anyways here is the video - tell me what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHGfVVYPvvU
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Latest reply: Sep 6, 2019
December and January Sketch Practice
Posted Dec 14, 2018
For me, it's holidays now! I've just returned from a trip to the Leolo Mountains with CREW (the plant folks) and now, back home, I've a few restful weeks to look ahead to. I've decided that the rest of December and most of January is going to be sketching and drawing practice time! I desperately need to level up with my art … I'm going to work really hard at it. I'll do both speed sketching and detail/polished drawings. I'm going to try to finish at least one thing every day.
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Latest reply: Dec 14, 2018
Willem
Researcher U168712
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