Pretoria Catholic

Forecasting is often regarded as both an art and a science. Science in the sense that econometric techniques help create equations that predict the future, but an art in the sense that "judgement" needs to be imposed on a model that cannot always be explained by an equation. So forecasting is the business of predicting the uncertain future. Forecasts help decision-makers (in my case, the government) to make informed decisions around fiscal planning today that will influence the future. There is no such thing as a "good" forecast when predicting the future, as the future is uncertain.  Holy Family Art by Cassandra Joel  A key driver of an objective forecast is based on the quality of the assumptions. An assumption is defined as "something accepted as true" and can be regarded as a fact or statement. Obviously, poor or weak assumptions can be hopelessly wrong and far from the truth!  Outside of the world of forecasting, we would lose track of how many assump...

The one thing I find most frustrating is poor instruction guides, or it could be that I simply overcomplicate things?! I recently assembled a bookcase for my son's room. The diagram that accompanied the product was not very helpful. I spent a good half-hour figuring out the missing steps. The bookcase is simple and relatively easy to assemble. Still, the shelves are designed to fit together abstractly so that each frame has a different shape. That is where it gets tricky to get the structure to fit together as an off-centre cross.  Bookcase fully assembled Each shelf fits into the other using a dual support system: a set of dowel pins and screws. When the bookcase is assembled, the dowel pins are hidden, strengthen, and support the bond between the planks of wood. These dowel pins keep the structure aligned and ensure a tight fit. The bond between the shelves is strengthened by those tiny dowel pins, yet it is not visible to the eye once assembled.  I am convinced the action o...

A week ago, I took a short trip with my family to Hazyview, Mpumalanga, in the east of South Africa. South Africa offers such diverse and beautiful landscapes. We visited the majestic Mac Mac Falls, drove the scenic route of the Panorama, climbed to the top of the lookout of God's Window, and visited the Kruger National Park. The area is home to tree plantations that stretch for hundreds of kilometers. The trees form beautiful tree canopies that can be seen as you drive along the road. The trees are planted in perfect rows creating organised forests. When the trees reach full maturity, they are cut back into logs for transporting for further manufacturing. The area is then burnt, and after some time, new trees are planted to recreate a new canopy of trees for future harvesting.  Road en route to God's Window, 14 June 2021 These trees serve an essential purpose over their lifetime. They will provide shelter to various forms of animal and insect life. They will absorb tons of car...

On the 11th of May, my wife and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary. I still remember our sacrament of matrimony so clearly. Some of my friends took wagers on how soon I would cry after seeing my beautiful bride. Well, before Cassandra reached the end of the aisle, my eyes were filled with tears. The ceremony was surreal as if time had temporarily paused and everyone around us vanished. It felt like we were alone with God at that moment.  11 May 2019 - Nazareth House Pretoria When God created the earth, he did so with a purpose in mind. Nothing God creates has no meaning, which is evident in nature. From the beginning of creation, God has written the story of love deep within our hearts. He plays a love song that guides us to our heavenly home. That home is the wedding feast of the marriage of the Lamb. Therefore, borrowing a catchy phrase from Christopher West, if we were to summarise the entire Bible in five words, it would be "God wants to marry us!". 1. "So G...

Monte Casino Bird Sanctuary, 24 April 2021 Two months ago, walking on the edge of a tennis court, I found a series of spider webs. I spent some time trying to get some good shots for my blog post on sanctifying my work like a spider . It was late afternoon, around 5 pm, when I heard in the adjacent hedge the sound of running water. I stopped and thought that were no nearby water pipes, so where could the sound be coming from?  The sound became more distinct and appeared to be approaching closer and moving swiftly through the dead leaves. My eye caught something moving that was thicker than a garden hose and about a meter and a half in length. My initial thought was a snake, and I took one step closer to examine and take a shot (suspense…). As I did that, the head of a highly venomous snouted cobra revealed itself. Thinking I was safe inside the tennis court, I pursued a step further to get a better image. Suddenly the cobra raised its head and flared its wide hood indicating that I...

The long weekends are great opportunities for family time. We had a good family reunion among my niece, my cousin's son and daughter, and my son. They range from 4 years to 8 months old. Watching little children play is a lesson on the creation story we read about in Genesis. Little girls have such a distinct and inherent desire toward motherhood imprinted in their bodies and souls (their entire person).  Layla and Micaela, March 2021 Layla (my niece is about 20 months old) often cradles her baby dolls around in her arms. She tries to feed Noah (my 9-month-old son) with the bottle from her dolls, or she strokes his head as if she is reassuring him that he is alright. My cousin Melissa has a daughter just under three years old, Micaela. Outside in the garden, she played a doctor's role with her toy stethoscope, examining her far removed cousin's health. Noah was only interested in the wheels on his fire truck and striking it with his toy hammer. Melissa's eldest son, Gia...

The height of the summer heat is about to start fading (nooooo!!!!). The end of summer and some freedom with lower lockdown levels have meant more time for outdoor activities. I have walked into a couple of spider webs over the past few weeks (not cool). Spider webs have been quite prominent this summer and sparking my admiration for their craftsmanship in more detail.  Spiders are remarkable creatures creating elaborate and complex webs that conform to angular symmetry and precise degrees. The webs are constructed regularly. Within record time, the average spider spins a new web every day in about one hour. The webs are strategically placed and quite resistant to water damage. The nets are shiny and exquisite tools for trapping their food, but many spiders go further and decorate their webs.  Shot this spider web at a family get-together, 13 March 2021 Going to work every day can be challenging and sometimes even feel like a punishment handed down to Adam and Eve after the fa...