Nice Desert!
Auckland is busy but relaxing at the same time
I can see my wife also going to struggle without bruglar bars, gates, etc
I had a proper WTF moment this morning…. So some background first.
Got up, went to the train station as normal, boarded the train and started to read some local news. The train then proceeded to stop in the second tunnel and the driver comes on over the loudspeaker to say there is a small problem with the link past the tunnel and they trying to fix it.
Another 10mins later and the train driver informed us we going back to the station as they struggling to fix the line and the service is canceled until further notice.
Once back at the station we got off and they informed us busses will come to pick us up but I proceeded to walk about 1km to the nearest normal bus stop in the hopes it will come earlier.
The first bus was 20mins late and FULL! I decided, screw it and drove the 5km to work as my boss said I can use the company car park to park in as CBD parking is $20-$30 a day!! 
Now the WTF moment is while standing at the bus station, with another 5-8 people, no less than 3 people stopped to offer people rides into town and to the closer bigger bus stop…. I mean complete strangers, stranger stopping and saying I can take 4 people into town, or to the nearest station. WTF
…so friendly and trustworthy. SA you wouldn’t dare for fear of being hijacked or worse. 
Yip, isn't it just awesome to live in a place where that can happen? 
I [have completely lost my fears of crime, I no longer see each situation and wonder how I am going to become a victim because of it. It's incredibly liberating
Difficult to explain that and the concomitant stress one is under without being conscious of it...
Took me a while and still probably not 100 percent relaxed about it, guess it’s a bit like PTSD.
Last night I walked to the cycle club AGM, it’s a bout 2 kms and I generally walk wherever I go but last night I knew I was goin to have a couple of pints so walked. The club is across a large park, an I mean large with a walkway that is not lit up. Leave the AGM bout 22:30 and admire the clear sky and the lights in the distance from the town I live in. Lost in thought and suddenly I hear footsteps behind me, large adrenaline shot, fight or flight syndrome kicks in as it does with us ous, just a jogger out jogging at 22:30 ...he got a fright cos I got,a fright I suspect.
I thought I was over it, still have a way to go I guess.
It’s incredibly liberating to be able to walk outdoors late at night and not have to worry. The locals I have friended laugh at me and take it for granted. Sad hey. Or when I cycle deep in the woods an see lil old ladies with their dogs, completely vulnerable but not a problem here.
It's true what you're saying ICM... We live in a constant state of PTSD. It's sad.
Friday night at 23:15 while sleeping, I was awoken by a loud thud and a loud scream in our bedroom. It wasn't even a split second and I was up screaming NOOOOO! running towards the bedroom door. I cannot even explain what went through my mind....
It took me a few seconds to realize what happened. Our 2,5 year old crawled in his sleep and fell off the bed. (He's co-sleeping in his cot next to our bed)
I cannot explain the shock I STILL have.
I have this thing (I'm sure many people do) when sometimes, when I lay down and as my head hits the pillow, I get flashbacks of dreams I had.
A few minutes after the indecent, when I went to lay down, I relived the scary thoughts and feelings that shot through my body.
Also, having had a break-in in March this year, we've installed beams. Even after numerous tuning, every now and then we'll get a false alarm during the night.
Unfortunately, I cannot go to bed without setting the alarm.
It's such a sad country we live in.
PS. I had a final interview last week for a job in the Netherlands. Holding thumbs.
Jammer vir die hi-jack Hannes.