Water shortage has given all a reason to chip in

CAPE Town’s water shortage is not much fun for anybody, but one thing it has taught us is how important our water supply is – not in a sort of theoretical way, but very personally. I was visiting a friend recently and he remarked he had recently installed two large water tanks to collect the run-off from his roof.

On a more detailed subject, he said: “Do you know, it takes three litres of cold water to run through the hot tap before I can shave in the morning?”

We all know that feeling. You turn on the hot tap and wait for the water to become hot while a substantial amount of cold water drains away unused.

My friend now runs this into a plastic jug and tips it into a bucket that is used to flush his toilet.

Only three litres at a time, but think of the millions of litres this would save the city daily if every male shaver did it.

Another friend told me she now showers instead of bathing, but stands under the shower only long enough to wet herself before switching off the water, soaping herself all over and then turning on the water briefly to wash off the soapy water.

After centuries of taking water for granted, we are quickly discovering it’s not a “freebie” like the wind and the air, it’s a valuable commodity more precious than diamonds.

Think I’m exaggerating? See how long you can survive without diamonds.

Then try it with water.

Service please!

Maybe some local businesses should take note of some interesting statistics recently release in the UK.

A Shoppercentric Survey has found that price is no longer the most important factor when customers choose their supplier. The most important factor is now service delivery. Think about that. It’s all very well to announce: “Ours is the cheapest price in town,” but if you really want to pull in the customers, how about: “Ours is the fastest and friendliest service in town”? It works for me. I am, frankly, tired of being ignored in shops and restaurants. In Cape Town it’s the accepted routine to have your meal delivered to you and then to become invisible. And would it cost you too much to look up when a customer enters your shop and say: “Good morning”?

Give me prompt and friendly service and I don’t mind an extra few rands on my bill. I’ll come back.

Last Laugh

Joe arrived home early to find his wife naked on the bed and apparently having a heart attack.

He was about to phone for an ambulance when his small son said to him: “Dad, there’s a naked man in the wardrobe.”

Joe opened the wardrobe and there was his best friend, Sam, hiding behind the dresses.

“I can’t believe this!” yelled Joe. “Here’s Julie having a heart attack and you’re playing hide and seek with the kids!”