Wasp

5:15AM, I was out and about, showing face among the sombre early morning running community.  Then I got stung by a wasp.

Finding myself in the middle of a debate about whether or not I should even have gotten up this early, I was interrupted by a burst of stinging pain in the center of my palm.  It's been a while since I had a run in with a wasp, I was amazed at how freaking painful it was.  At one point I found myself thinking theres no way getting shot in the hand could be much worse.

The thing with getting shot is, there's at least a loud noise, screaming women and children or at least 100 grams of coke and a 25 year jail term to keep your mind off the burn.  Where as a wasp sting is like being stabbed by a ninja in the library.  You're left alone, without any distractions, only a feeling of being one upped by nature.

I stomped my foe, then stood awkwardly in the middle of the road trying to suck the venom out of my hand.  All indications are that I failed completely; my hand is still puffy 6 hours later.

Hungry Lion, Vincent

I've just finished my first Hungry Lion purchase.  I've always wanted to try it, but haven't been keen enough to go and find one down town.
Fortunately, the clever people at Hungry Lion have opened a branch at Vincent Checkers.  I know what everyone in Nahoon is thinking... You shop at Checkers?!  Vincent is different.  Its nicer.

I bought a Meal Pack.  I had some misgivings when the lady said "How many?", and I said "One." - I qualified it with "It's just a snack".  And it was... I was at Checkers buying things for supper.  At R9.95 one must measure one's expectations.

Issues of oil and grease aside, which would probably only put it on par with other fried chicken outlets, you get a piece of chicken, punnet of (alledgedly) mash/gravy and a roll.

And now a brief food review:

• The chicken was legitimately good.
• The mash wasn't.  It didn't resemble potato any more... it was like thick white sauce, and the "gravy" came out of a packet.
• The roll also came out of a packet, which is unusual... but was good too.

This won't be a regular occurrence, this sort of food isn't just unhealthy.... it's anti-healthy.

Download a Hungry Lion Menu here

Back shopped

I haven't done a weekly shop in ages... my route home from work almost always goes past Checkers Vincent (don't judge me, its not as bad as you think...).  Yesterday I nipped in to grab some things for a braai; including tomatoes.

I went to get my tomatoes weighed - I've been carefully learning how to use the scale, by obesrvation, because if there's someone who's likely to be awol, it's the fresh-goods weighing guy.  Last week I gave it a shot, in his abscence, and left it beeping with an error message.  More observation required.

So I return to my trolley with the weighed-veg, and find no trolley.  After searching the veg section a few times, I get the eery feeling someone's nicked my trolley.  A man hunt ensued.  It got me thinking though, if you just stole someone's trolley and left their polony lying on the chocolate stand at the till (as one does)... you would save sooo much time.

I found my goods, they were being back shopped.  I wasn't impressed - seems like an unwise business move to compete with your customers like that.  I went with a basket for round 2.

Dentist

Just been to the dentist,

When I arrived, the last patient was leaving, she sort of sang goodbye, very much on a first name basis 'Ta Zane...'.  This was in stark contrast to my situation...  I hadn't been to the dentist for so long I honestly have no recollection of where or when it happened.  I think I went to Medicross.  It could have been over a decade ago.

So I found a new dentist, referred by my sister, Jules.

Not much has changed, but the arsenal of dentistry equipment has multiplied.  I expect dental-instrument fares are a highlight on a dentist's calendar.  There can't be many highlights on a dentist's calendar.

I swallowed a filling.  It was a little unnerving when I realised he'd dropped it, as he was placing it... I couldn't help myself, gag reflex and it was gone.  I like to get my money's worth.

I certainly made good on the anaesthetic... its been 4 and a half hours and face ith still numb.

Dentist, Zane Vosloo Contact tel: 043 735 2189. Nice guy.