Tag: www.ohsorosie.com

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Yes, I’m a bit risk averse

What is your risk appetite?

Let’s talk in terms of electric blankets. An international measure no doubt.

In Beira, even in winter, there is not really a high electric blanket demand. I came from Johannesburg to Beira with a 40 foot container of household contents. Where those electric blankets are is anyone’s guess.

In Harare, an electric blanket in winter is nice. My lovely man LOVES his electric blanket. Sleeps with it on all night. For a good few seasons my side of the electric blanket has not worked. This winter, with the help of trusty Take a Lot (and they do from me for sure), I rectified this.

When I depart the lounge for my shower and bed (trailed by several animals of course), I go to each side of the bed to switch the electric blankets on.

Zimbabwe, as an aside, seems to have sorted out their electricity problems. Can you believe it? We mostly have electricity in Zimbabwe at the moment and Mozambique has long been stable. South Africa could learn a thing or two.

Of course, there is a general election in Zimbabwe next month. So, we all expect to be switched off again after that shit show.

Anyway….. My lovely man’s side is always already on when I go to switch it on. I estimate that it takes about 10 minutes for the electric blanket to heat the bed. I also estimate he turns it on about 4pm.

Not taking any chances that lovely man.

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Just as you are… Not

My lovely man watched me doing my face the other day. Applying face powder actually. As one does.

What’s that for, he enquired.

This stuff, I said, is what makes me beautiful.

At this point, I waited expectantly, with love in my heart. Because, really isn’t it an opportunity for a compliment?

Insert anything, even if not sincere or true. Recognise the gap and act.

What does my lovely man say?

‘You better order some more’

Honestly.

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I’m saving it for a rainy day

I am a compulsive saver of information received.  Electronically at least. If I have a hard copy of it, I’m likely to throw it in the bin.  But!  If you email me something I’m going to bloody file it see.

Terrabytes and terrabytes of Dropbox. 

At one point this was completely out of hand.  I convinced myself that one day someone was going to be looking for something and I would be able to raise my hand and say ‘I have that filed!’  Literally, I could save the world and be adored.

That New24 2011 article or the BancABC 2014 exchange rate would be dug up and the relief would be palpable. 

So far, it’s only my old dad and my lovely man tapping into this extraordinary, somewhat compulsive behaviour of mine.  And I am frazzled and out of time and NOT adored by all as expected,

So, screw you all, I’m deleting shit. 

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It’s over there already

Have you been in your relationship forever, and also lived in the same house forever?

Sadly, my lovely man and I have not. None of the above. And currently we run two households, in two different countries.

This results in us pondering where things are. And often we will say ‘but I had one of those, where is it now……’ Anyone’s guess really.

In recent weeks, this debate turned to a vegetable rack. Fond memories of various vegetable racks owned (and clearly now missing), by both of us ensued.

Bottom line… We are without vegetable rack.

So, I asked at a seemingly well stocked supermarket if they sold vegetable racks.

Affirmative… They sent me to a section of the supermarket. I found a lot of vegetables, no vegetable rack.

Three times this happened. I asked three different assistants and was always sent to the same place. Vegetables (and fruit), no vegetable rack.

I was bemoaning my story of woe to the lady that does our hair.

What is alarming, she said, is that you fell for this three times and went back to the fruit and vegetable section. Three times.

Anyway, I’m looking for a new hair lady.

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That’s gonna sting

Personal grooming is a thing isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be quite liberating to let it all go? Certainly one way to trend on social media. 

All kinds of unwanted hair, and no sign of us evolving to no longer produce it as a species.

It’s quite big business. Other people removing it for you I mean. Bless them, can that be considered a calling? I ponder if this is discussed at school career days. Or does it come up as an option when one does an aptitude test? 

You are a natural for back, sack and crack maintenance. 

But, it’s all quite time consuming isn’t it?  So, sometimes neglected.

Recently I realised something had to be done. Home job time. 

So, on the way into the shower, I grabbed my lovely man’s shaving foam. 

When I was relaying the story, he immediately asked if I had also grabbed his razor. 

Certainly the fight would start depending on whom, and where, a shaving rash developed. 

Except it wasn’t his shaving foam. I liberally sprayed myself yonder, with Brut deodorant.

Not recommended.

An easy mistake considering the cans are next to each other, and a lovely lingering, somewhat manly, odour.

Aptitude fail really.

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I too am geographically challenged

If you live and work in Mozambique or Zimbabwe, you will, undoubtedly, hate your internet service provider.

So, it was with great excitement we heard that good old Elon Musk was offering Starlink satellite connections. Speed unknown to us in these parts at a reasonable price.

I immediately investigated and my research showed that it was best to order directly through the app. I have ordered one in each country. Starlink, it seems, are still trying to find Zimbabwe, so they have taken my $9.99 deposit and will advise further.

We can only imagine that they are having to negotiate through Dubai just who will benefit from any transaction before it’s actually allowed.

But! The app advised me that they can deliver the kit to Mozambique, and I must pay NOW. So, I gave them all my credit card details.

You know, as you do, on any old playstore app.

The very next day a delightful lady from the bank fraud department phoned to verify it was me and that I was sure.

They phone of course, without any warning. (I like a message two days in advance requesting permission that anyone phone me, so that I can mentally prepare). And then they ask you to pass security checks when your brain is just not in the game.

I amazingly convinced her that it was me. She was very pleasant and patient.

And then she says…. do you want us to allow this payment you wish to make to Mexico.

Mexico? I am trying to pay Elon Musk for a satellite kit I explained, is he in Mexico? Has he bought Mexico?

Oh, she says, Mozambique. Not Mexico.

Who knows really.

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I like your package

Is it just me, or do you also loathe packaging?

Apart from the obvious that it’s mostly all plastic, it’s largely impenetrable isn’t it? And often seems unnecessary and an overkill.

I’m a bit of a shopper. it’s my one talent really. Random spending. But, inevitably, anything new comes in packaging that you have to wrestle off. Take Take A Lot for instance. Those people, bless them, give extra thought to packaging because, presumably, the goods have to survive transportation. So, there is re-packaging in a lot of cases. Not that this always helps. Possibly because my order is then put on a donkey cart or something similar and driven over less than attractive roads to me.

A face wash I ordered recently arrived burst. (Yes, there is face wash here before you ask, we are not a nation of dirty faces). But, I was tempted in this case because it was a charcoal face wash, and I just can’t resist a charcoal anything really. Charcoal is so versatile don’t you find. Like bicarb and coconut oil. There must be 100 uses for these products. Must Google it. I take great comfort knowing that if I ever suspect I have been poisoned, I can just chug down my face wash and I am likely to survive the ordeal.

Back to the packaging. It’s that hard plastic shell that kills me the most. I really have to gird my loins when stuff arrives in that. I ponder on that movie Tom Hanks starred in where he was washed up on a deserted island and his only companion was the American football Wilson (or was it a rugby ball, is there a difference?). Anyway, what if Wilson had arrived in a hard plastic shell? And also washed up with him was a scissor in a hard plastic shell. The movie would not have done as well I’m sure. We would have all been gnashing our teeth in frustration.

Some years ago I met someone in the packaging industry. It was quite fascinating to hear her speak about it because it’s actually very complex and very competitive. Lots of math goes into packaging. She was absolutely fabulous. Hysterical really, very entertaining and great company.

But, that’s how psychopaths are aren’t they? Engaging and charming. Because really, this must be one of the criteria required to be in the industry, to be a complete sadist.

I’m sure she’s the exception.

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Why can’t you just love me?

We recently saved a little tortoise and now he is at home with us.

Tommy I named him. Because… well, I’m lazy and uncreative at my core.

A tortoise, as it turns out, is a remarkably easy pet to have. Completely undemanding and quite reserved.

Found out my neighbour has a tortoise so I asked her for advice and she said that they do nothing. Nothing! Their tortoise lives off whatever is in the garden and only occasionally makes an appearance. He has been in this state in their garden for years she tells me.

This, of course, is totally unacceptable. He is not meeting expectations.

The first few days he seemed determined to break out of our garden. I fretted that perhaps he was a she, and there were abandoned eggs somewhere, but established that Tommy is indeed a male (whatever they may identify as).

The ever intrepid Mandova, almost as excited about Tommy as I was, secured the premises and had all kinds of ideas re. his care.

We have both had our hearts broken at Tommy’s complete lack of interest in our endeavors and outpourings of affection.

I spent many days checking on him, picking him up, crooning to him, scratching his back lovingly, buying a grocery store of tempting veggies and greens to feed him. He wants none of it. Or me.

I brought him in every night out of the cold (although truth be told, the house is a fridge and we would all be better off sleeping in the garden).

Should we make a place for him on the bed I asked my long suffering lovely man, who already has to wind himself around several inconsiderate animals to kip.

Doesn’t he wee on you every time you pick him up was his only comment. Well yes, I said, but I’m sure that’s his sign of affection. He’ll be house trained in no time.

In truth, Tommy, remarkably fast, does everything he can, to hide from me.

How long before he knows his name and comes when I call I asked my lovely man. He probably does know your voice already and is trying to ignore you replied my not so lovely man. He thinks you are a pain he continued, leave the chap alone, he’s a wild animal and wants to hibernate. You keep on getting Mandova to find him and then you wake him up to give him unwanted love and food.

Alfie, I reminded him, was a wild animal once, and he is now domesticated and loving. Alfie, he replied, is a complete mommy’s boy and wouldn’t survive two minutes in the wild.

And that, people, is how I like it. I have high hopes for Tommy’s turn around come summer.

I am not beyond forcing him to love me.

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Yes, I need a coffee ☕

I have been quite disciplined with my eating for some months, and dropped some weight.

But, in recent weeks, have failed somewhat.

So, to kick start myself back to good habits, I decided to do a detox programme I saw advertised.

The lady who promotes this and who kindly delivered my meals for the forseable future is indeed an advert for her product. Fabulously fit and toned. Arrived in skimpy shorts. Get inside I had to say to my lovely man.

Aren’t you cold I asked her, dressed like a polar bear myself. No, I’m just back from the gym she announced.

Of course. Also, I think she’s British. They don’t feel the cold do they?

You might get a slight headache as you are not allowed caffeine she announced.

Oh, I’m not worried, I told her, I’m not a big coffee or wine drinker. It’s quite nice, the fantasy in my head, I make the rules.

So, I diligently downed the first green smoothie thing and my lovely man observed my face and enquired if I was actually paying money to be this miserable.

One of the drinks seemed to be tomatoes and tabasco. I thought it might actually kill me.

How are you feeling my lovely man asked me in the morning. (After day one).

Well, I said, my weight is down, but I think I have a brain tumour and need you to take me to the hospital please.

Aaah, he said, you have a headache, should I bring you a coffee rather?

What I have learnt from this exercise :

I am not brave when in pain.

I would rather never eat again than face that tabasco smoothie.

I can, quite surprisingly, manage without wine, but am, it seems addicted to coffee.