One of my failures is that I tend to take things for granted, especially all the blessings that have showered down on me, especially in the later years of my life. My work and my work environment are two of those blessings.
Last Tuesday while I had one of the grade four classes for their weekly library period, (08:40 to 09:40). (I get to work at about 6:50, but I only start working at 08:40, school starts at 07:30) I was walking among them checking their work, when I happened to look out of one of the southern windows. Suddenly it struck me what a beautiful day it was, with just a touch of autumn freshness in the clear air. Then I realized how blessed I was to be able to look out of a window at my place of work and see what I see.
Not factories, no high-rise building, or so called office-parks, no parking lots, (we do have a small parking lot in front of the school and one at the back), no highways or (un)freeways, just trees, green grass, and mountains and hills all around! That's when I took out my cell phone and started taking pictures.
Click to enlarge.
The first photo I took was looking south, south - east, Looking over our netball fields right in front and the rugby fields further on, and trees. Every year, on Arbor day we plant at least four trees and this been happening for more than 50 years.
Then I walked over to the northern widows and took a photo looking west-north-west. Below left is our pre-primary school, ages four to five. Further out is our hallowed cricket field, (shades of British Imperialism, we bless them for the cricket, rugby, and the English language, (in that order)) (Myself, I put English first, I'm not a great sports fan). To the right out of view is our swimming pool and tennis courts.
Looking north-north-east across the school to the "suburb" of Drakensview, better known as snob hill.
West-south-west with the Drakensberg peaks of Giants Castle on the horizon. Right below is the pre-primary's play ground.
And for a bibliophile like myself, the inside is as close to heaven on earth as one can get.
In this photo most of the learners have finished their assigned task and are reading. The boy with the glasses, on the right, asked me why I'm taking their photo, so I replied, "to put your photo on TV's "Police file", "wanted for bank robbery." Quick as a flash he replied, "I rob jewellery stores, they're much easier."
To say that "I earn my bread by the sweat of my brow," would be an exaggeration. I work hard, but it is not onerous work. During the year I access, classify, catalogue and prepare +- 2,000 books, I issue and re-pack about 15,000 returned books on the shelves, that's why I arrive at 6:50, and leave at 15:15. Time driving to work? About 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the "traffic".
1 comment:
The little three-room grade school that I attended through fifth grade was in the country, though the views weren't as impressive as those of your school. My other years of schooling were spent in town.
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