Saffers

[FalseBayFC]

You must have important neighbours!

We're in Harfield Village which abuts the Metrorail railway line. Thats the only thing I can think of.

I know of some areas in KZN and in Gauteng where they don't do loadshedding because everytime they do Loadshedding in those areas, Eskom infrastructure gets stolen and needs to be replaced, so eventually they stopped loadshedding because it became to costly
My neighbour's parents live in 1 such area.

We're at Stage 6 and should be load-shedding right now. But lights are on! We must be on one of those hard to turn off circuits.

[bok_viking]

We're in Harfield Village which abuts the Metrorail railway line. Thats the only thing I can think of.

I know of some areas in KZN and in Gauteng where they don't do loadshedding because everytime they do Loadshedding in those areas, Eskom infrastructure gets stolen and needs to be replaced, so eventually they stopped loadshedding because it became to costly
My neighbour's parents live in 1 such area.

We're at Stage 6 and should be load-shedding right now. But lights are on! We must be on one of those hard to turn off circuits.

Very lucky indeed. Where i am we have the added problem that the substation does not seem to be able to handle loadshedding, it blew out 3 times in last 6 months, every time leading to the neighbourhood being without power for 2-4 days.
And Eskom never seem to haves spares locally, somehow they always have to bring spares from the far corners of the country.

Maybe they need to buy spares from the people who stole the spares in other areas.

[handyman]

Any particular reason why the illegal strikers were not harshly dealt with?

[assfly]

Any particular reason why the illegal strikers were not harshly dealt with?

That could make matters much worse. They've probably chosen now to strike as they know Eskom have very little pressure them to return to work.

[Sards]

My inverter has stopped charging my batteries. I bought new batteries to be sure. It's a coil that converts 220v to 24V. Try get it repaired. It's a nightmare. The guys are too busy installing new inverters to worry about repairs. Think I finally found someone. Waiting for him.

My wife's shop is another story. I designed the equipment so its loadshedding proof. Problem is the extraction. Too much smoke. Now the fan is a 1.5 kw 3 phase fan. I would need 7.5 KVA 3 phase to handle the start up of the fan. You are talking serious money for that.
Now understand I have been puzzling this situation for a year.
Alternative is to take out the fan motor and put in a single phase fan. Now the requirement becomes 7.5 kva single phase. A third of the price but still very costly. And remember I need to replace the motor and that is around 10k....if there were single phase fans available...
Finally I think I have found a solution. Forget replacing the fan or buying a huge inverter. I am going to build a front to the Charcoal oven and suck out the smoke that happens when the doors open through flexible ducting using 2 small fans that are probably less than 0.4 A. So I can go to a 1kva inverter single phase.
Now if load shedding could just stop so we can get up to date with production at the factory I can solve my wifes problem.

[OomStruisbaai]

I am just starting building a new home. This stage 6 have me thinking about gas and solar from the start.

[assfly]

I am just starting building a new home. This stage 6 have me thinking about gas and solar from the start.

I'd go completely off-grid if I were you. Next it'll be the water supply that's an issue.

[OomStruisbaai]

I am just starting building a new home. This stage 6 have me thinking about gas and solar from the start.

I'd go completely off-grid if I were you. Next it'll be the water supply that's an issue.

It's very expensive but I am looking at it. I am not to worried about lights, gas stove and solar geyser look like the way to go.

[bok_viking]

Another hilarious insight into how Eskom leadership thinks. A friend of mine outfitted his house with solar panels that produce more energy than the house requires, so he has been selling the extra power to Eskom. 2 weeks ago he got a letter from Eskom that said if he does not buy at least 50% power from them they will stop buying electricity from him. I was just thinking WTF, you are desperate for electricity but still want people buy more than they sell to you. Of course my friend was like FU, then he just stop selling to them and go off grid

[average joe]

Are you surprised? Our ANC overlords want to implement a special tax for people who generate their own electricity. They know their cash cow Eskom is dying and if everyone just starts to do their own thing there wont be a cow left to milk. So the ANC now says they own the sun and if you want to use it you'll have to pay.

[bok_viking]

Are you surprised? Our ANC overlords want to implement a special tax for people who generate their own electricity. They know their cash cow Eskom is dying and if everyone just starts to do their own thing there wont be a cow left to milk. So the ANC now says they own the sun and if you want to use it you'll have to pay.

Not surprised, just hilarious how anyone or any industry one related to our government thinks. I am many years past the stage of getting surprised by anything our government does, and that includes the 15 years I travelled around the world

[handyman]

When do you guys think the ANC will not be the governing party any more, when will even the die hard ANC supporters say enough is enough?

[troglodiet]

A couple of weeks ago our substation had a fire. Apparently a field fire that got out of control or somesuch.

Was 4.5 days without electricity. Ice cold showers at 5am, in the cold East Rand, isn't fun btw.

Small price to pay in the end.

Since they fixed the power station, which included importing a transformer via air freight, we haven't had one second of load shedding.

My mother-in-law stays in the Freestate. 8-10 hours of load shedding per day, every day. Probably great fun having no electricity in a place where -10` isn't that uncommon.

[bok_viking]

When do you guys think the ANC will not be the governing party any more, when will even the die hard ANC supporters say enough is enough?

That might only happen when the older generations that can remember 1994 and before are no longer around. Their loyalty to the ANC is bigger than their loyalty to the country and a better future. The younger people do not seem to as loyal but they are still outnumbered by the older generations. But unfortunately we have a big uneducated population and it is easier to promise them the moon and stars, brainwash and have them vote for you.

[OomStruisbaai]

The EFF will replace the ANC.

[Wilson's Toffee]

The EFF will replace the ANC.

Same thing - EFF is just the old Youth League in protest. As soon as the ANC runs into trouble, they will kiss and make up (and bribe) with Juliaas and they will regain their majority.

[OomStruisbaai]

The EFF will replace the ANC.

Same thing - EFF is just the old Youth League in protest. As soon as the ANC runs into trouble, they will kiss and make up (and bribe) with Juliaas and they will regain their majority.

Nipper will be happy

[FalseBayFC]

A tune for the weekend!

[FalseBayFC]

Kevin Savage and Barry Ronge RIP. Lots of good memories I had of them. Real icons.

[Chilli]

Kevin Savage and Barry Ronge RIP. Lots of good memories I had of them. Real icons.

Very sad.

[OomStruisbaai]

Finally a weekend without load shedding.

Cape Town mayor have a 10 point plan to stop load shedding

The City of Cape Town has published a 10-point plan to end load shedding in the city and move away from Eskom’s grid.

The plan, which is addressed to president Cyril Ramaphosa, comes as the country faces a ‘fully-fledged socio-economic crisis’, said mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

“We need urgent, strong and clear leadership that shows Government has a plan to end load-shedding and achieve energy security.

“In Cape Town, we have begun to procure additional capacity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to alleviate the burden on Eskom and end load-shedding here over time. This will, in turn, improve the situation nationally. But we need the National Government to help us bring more capacity online, quicker.”

Hill-Lewis said the 10-point plan is as follows:

Abolish the 100MW licensing threshold for embedded generation and ensure a registration period for IPPs not exceeding 14 days. Not only is this threshold arbitrary, but it makes little financial sense. Due to economies of scale, the optimal size for new energy projects is far larger than this, and larger projects offer cheaper electricity per unit.
Implement an income tax write-off for capital investment into small-scale generation and battery storage projects. This could also be used to subsidise and incentivise home installations of solar PV and battery storage, making home generation affordable to more South Africans.
Exempt financially-healthy municipalities from all unnecessary legislation and regulations (including those governing municipal procurement) that will delay bringing new generation capacity online. A minimum-compliance approach must be allowed in respect of tenders for IPP procurement and the construction of municipal own-generation projects.
Declare in clear and unequivocal terms that municipalities do not require approval from energy minister Mantashe for electricity procurement. Uncertainty in this regard is having a chilling effect on municipalities’ ability to procure new generation and introducing delays; there is no good reason for this to continue.
Offer National Treasury guarantees in respect of any borrowing — by municipalities and private entities — necessary for IPP generation projects and municipal own-generation projects.
Waive the Department of Trade and Industry’s local content requirements on solar PV modules until energy security is achieved.
Exempt electricity traders from onerous National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) licensing requirements, substituting a registration process in which traders are required to demonstrate compliance with a basic list of requirements only designed to protect public distribution networks.

Remove the substantial red tape on the establishment of natural gas imports and transport in the Western Cape, unlocking the use of natural gas-powered turbines. These are cleaner and cheaper than the diesel and jet fuel turbines currently in use.
Convert Eskom’s Ankerlig plant in Atlantis, Cape Town to natural gas and run the plant on a mid-merit basis, with dynamic output adjusted according to fluctuations in demand.
Immediately establish a Power Crisis Unit in National Treasury, with representation from municipalities and technical experts as well as the Finance Minister, with the mandate of expediting all interventions that could end the power crisis. The Unit must not just be another Government “task team”, and must in fact have power to make regulatory decisions. This includes decisions needed for interventions described above, as well as demand-side management, battery storage, new natural gas projects, and increasing Eskom’s operational efficiency.
“Though we are only midway through July, the year 2022 is already the worst year of load-shedding on record. The last two weeks’ Stage 6 load-shedding — in which South Africans had to endure up to 12 hours a day without power — cost the national economy R4.2 billion per day.

“Unless president Ramaphosa immediately implements bold steps to increase electricity generation capacity, we stand to lose even more than the 125,000 jobs that load shedding destroyed in 2019 alone,” Hill-Lewis said.

“My message to president Ramaphosa is that this problem is solvable if we all work together. But it requires clear and decisive leadership, and a willingness to do things differently. I am hopeful that we can end load shedding for the benefit of all in South Africa. Now is not the time to meekly accept our fate; it is the time to think big, to be decisive and to make a real difference.”

According to him they are ahead of this 40 month project. Their biggest frustration is the red tape from central government

[troglodiet]

Question to all you nature lovers and especially bird watchers (the feathered type).

Yesterday I saw a male Masked Weaver building a nest in my garden. Bright yellow. Very chirpy. Ready to mate with a girl or 20.

It's mid-July. The East Rand isn't exactly known for its mild winters.

I'm no David Attenborough, but did learn a bit about animal behavior when I used to do photography. According to me this colouring and nest building is supposed to start end of August/ mid September. So this guy is 6 weeks early.

Is he:
1) a sign of climate change?
2) very jags and cannot wait another 6 weeks to patla patla?
3) bipolar?
4) Joe Biden level delusional?
5) a sign of a very early Spring approaching?
6) the fucker who kept on messing with my marijuana plants 2 months ago?

[FalseBayFC]

Question to all you nature lovers and especially bird watchers (the feathered type).

Yesterday I saw a male Masked Weaver building a nest in my garden. Bright yellow. Very chirpy. Ready to mate with a girl or 20.

It's mid-July. The East Rand isn't exactly known for its mild winters.

I'm no David Attenborough, but did learn a bit about animal behavior when I used to do photography. According to me this colouring and nest building is supposed to start end of August/ mid September. So this guy is 6 weeks early.

Is he:
1) a sign of climate change?
2) very jags and cannot wait another 6 weeks to patla patla?
3) bipolar?
4) Joe Biden level delusional?
5) a sign of a very early Spring approaching?
6) the fucker who kept on messing with my marijuana plants 2 months ago?

On our family farm in the southern Drakensberg we have journals stretching back to the 1880s when my great grandfather first settled it. Lots of unusual weather and climate variations including snow on the peaks every month of the year including the height of summer. The Cape Weavers down here in CT are already active too, different climate here of course. But as far as I know July is the start of the egg laying season for Southern Masked Weavers.

[OomStruisbaai]

I think that we haven't had winter yet. In my area, Overberg is the home the Blue Crane. What a majestic bird. I stop when I see them along the road. Close to home I met Stompie. Kwikstertjie that lost his one foot through vislyn. She nest at a garage close by but go in my house to collect her cheese.. I also got some mak bee catchers, lots of mossies and a few Jan Fredericks. Pickle eyes aswell. Heard malmokkies at the neighbors. Nothing beats the sound of birds and waves when you wake up in the morning.

[Wilson's Toffee]

Here in the Verre Noord Transvaal (Warmbad) it has been a cold as fuck winter. Went as cold as far as -6 Celsius....

Bird population is down, bloody Indian minahs took over. Also saw a lone weaver building a nest, the other day.

Guess America should vote Democrat, to stop this "climate change"

[troglodiet]

It gets worse...

I saw a fruit tree (peach I think) with blossoms this morning on my way to work.


By worse I kinda mean better obviously. I don't do winters, can't wait for Spring.

[Chilli]

[OomStruisbaai]

Struisbaai fluids. I rarely see an All Black jersey nowadays. Let's hope it stay that way. They'll be back in a flash.

[Sards]

My wifes Gyuto is finally finished. Kept the same wild plum wood , brass spacers and African ironwood as her previous knife. Only went for a SS blade. Also had her shop name Lazer etched on the blade

Gyotu

[Sards]

Got dibs on this Serbian chefs knife.
The bloke my knifemaker made it for is ignoring his calls. If he doesn't respond in a week it's mine. Or he gets to make me a new one. I need to research this knife. It's deceptive in the pics. It's s big and heavy knife. When I held it I wanted it
. Not sure what the holes for. Maybe weight maybe to break bone
Just checked. It's a boning knife/ cleaver....almost viking in design.
Maybe Chilli can give some input.


Serbian chefs knife

[Sards]

Her previous high carbon knife. It holds the edge better but is harder to sharpen than the SS This is unusual because it's normally the other way around. Anyway. Its super cool.
This Honeseku has a tanto type point. For digging into cartilage etc. The Gyuto has a drop point. So you can push down on the point

[Sards]

Viking cleaver

Don't know where the knife maker got Serbian from

Chilli....how would you use that hole in the blade when deboning or as a cleaver

I have watched some reviews on this type of knife and apparently it's fantastic for deboning because of its curved blade. Watched some deboning and it's very similar to a Skinner. Just bigger and heavier. So it can be used as a multi purpose kitchen knife.

4th from top is a skinner I made. Same curved blade. Same action in application . Just smaller to get into those tight spots when skinning small prey

Favorite knives

[Chilli]

No idea Sards.

I wonder how many of those knives are actually practical for all day, every day use?

I have had my set of Zwilling knives for close on 20 years now, and they are just practical every day knives.

[Sards]

No idea Sards.

I wonder how many of those knives are actually practical for all day, every day use?

I have had my set of Zwilling knives for close on 20 years now, and they are just practical every day knives.

I watched a review on YouTube that covered the latest trends in chefs knives. He is a chef for 25 years. Saved up and bought his first decent set. After awhile he was forced to buy another set. Now he only has 2 knives left from each set. Apparently there are real light fingers in the kitchen. Especially for your favorite high quality German or Swiss knives.
What happens next is you end up keeping your remaining knives at home and build a mixed set at work.
I was shocked.....mind you.
My wifes griller guards his Honesuki....its never out of his sight. And I must say it has become his favorite knife for all the prep he does. Remember he portions. All proteins.
I think it's the tip. You can really dig into your proteins.
Regarding the Gyuto. Will have to see how that works. Only just got it.

Just remember. It's not all about the knives. Although they are certainly fun to play with. It's about helping a hard working and decent guy build up his reputation by taking commissions that are attracting attention. His following is growing. He is making more high end knives.

BTW I got the Serbian. His other client backed out.

https://web.facebook.com/carl.philander.5

If any of you are looking to commission a knife, give this bloke a chance. He is a cop that does this part time to earn extra money. I think he charges too little which is great if you are looking for good value in a knife. He puts his heart into all of his blades.

[OomStruisbaai]

Ramaphosa had his Eskom family meeting last night. Look like solar is the way forward for households. My worry however is the talk about government levies on it.

[Wilson's Toffee]

Sards - beautiful knives.

Like Chilli I am almost overstocked with knives, but somehow another and another manage to creep in.... yet I use only a few. My favourite is the deba.

[average joe]

The hole is for indexing.

[OomStruisbaai]

The hole is for indexing.

Padda Slagter.

[average joe]

Did oom mean parra slagter? That would explain the fingering hole.

[OomStruisbaai]

Did oom mean parra slagter? That would explain the fingering hole.

yes ja, Sards to old for parras.