After one years absence I'm back...

I have been busy with work, but will start posting soon.

Well, this says it all...

Was on the outside of a store... H would like this.

Sar was down for the weekend

Sar was down from Sydney for the weekend. Like H, she loves to shop and everyone knows how H likes (loves) to shop. Sar was wearing some cool cowboy boots (which I neglected to get a close up). She also wore a cool scarf (again neglect to get a close up).

Den and his Bvlgari

From Patek Philippe to Bvlgari. Quite the opposite, they tend to keep in front of horological fashion. This is good in many ways, as it gives you a fresh look in watches (instead of the very conservative look of Patek), it exhibits your brand and generally gives a it unique appeal (ie the watch Dennis is wearing, not for everybody, but to some). However, my gripe seems to be that you spend $4000 on a watch, that actually dates in aesthetics!

The above Bvlgari is the Scuba, which was launched 6 years ago. It was conceptual back then, as it was a steel watch with a "hardened" rubber strap. Not your flimsy, bendy, stretchy rubber, but a solid unbendable rubber. Anyway, the style has now been done to death. Bvlgari has come out with newer versions... But as I reiterated before, $4000 on a fashion piece!

Shoinie with a Patek Philippe Annual Calendar

Out to Dinner with Shonie, when I spied his new watch he was wearing. A Patek Philippe 5035 Annual Calendar. This differs to the Perpetual Calendars by the fact that this complication only takes into account the yearly variances of short months and it permutations, whilst a Perpetual Calendar takes into account the four year cycle (ie Leap Years).

Patek Philippe is regarded to be the premium brand and the one that commands the highest auction prices. Patek Philippe are an anomaly in the watch market (aside from Rolex). They do not follow trends or care what the competition does, but regard themselves as a true manufacturer doing their own thing. Perfectly.

H on a cold morning with her new bag...

By popular demand, some more scans of Zimbabwe

Will have more fashion and watch ones later this week...

My mate Gazi

Gazi is a photographer. His bread and butter are weddings! But he does quite a lot of commercial work during Winter.

He is a G Star aficionado. He has more pairs of G Stars (Jeans and Tops) than anyone I know. Above Gazi is showing off his Panerai.

Also many congrats to Gazi and Figen (wife) for their new baby!

here is Gazi's link
www.gaziphoto.com

What new on H...

Obviously, H missed her shopping trips whilst in Zimbabwe... so when she got back she bought something that definitely made up for the missing weeks... Can you guess what it is in the above scan? Hint, it is quite bright!

Some Rolexes from friends today...

I saw two friends today (on separate occasions), both were sporting their new Rolexes. Top, is Bernie's new 16750 Rolex GMT on a Jubilee bracelet, a transitional reference. I keep saying these transitional references are quite sought after.

The second, bottom scan is Ed's mid 1990's Explorer II white dial. They used to be rare, but now are more available, but I consider them one of the better looking white dial sport watches on the market.

H's braids and her Africa Necklace

Some more scans from "deepest, darkest Africa"

Above: H's Bro Tony on the Safari Drive... "we see Elephants everyday", note this Bull was only 10 meters from us!

Above: Well it really explains itself


Above: An Zimbabwean road and transport...

We're back from "deepest, darkest Africa"

We arrived yesterday from Harare, Zimbabwe... after a slight mix up with flights, which lead to some quick phone calls and a slight panic.

Impressions of Zimbabwe: soaring inflation, the official rate is 1200% p.a. The largest bill is $100,000, but as you can see from the third scan, we needed 13 of these to pay for coffee! The official bank rate is approx. $110,000 for each USD, whilst the black market rate is $550,000 for each USD!
People are really friendly, but the economic situation is showing some strain in this department. Food is becoming scarce and unless you are a business owner, it is quite tough.
There are constant power cuts, shortage of certain products... but overall people seem to be very optimistic.

Above are some scans... Top, H handling a baby Python. Middle H and her new favourite friend - Dumpy the Elephant (we did an Elephant ride and "Dumpy was her name...").

I will post more scans later...