I've had a start to 2008 where I've regularly found myself wondering whether certain things are meant to be - or if I am forcing them to happen. The Nigeria trip was a case in point, and so was our driveway saga, that saw a three day job take almost 6 weeks to complete...

The next even to grab this sort of focus was the saga of me new camera lens... I find out in Cape Town that my back-up camera (which usually takes better pics than my expensive camera, due to a poor lens on good camera body) pack up and takes pictures that looking eerie, scary... but simply not saleable.

So I debate the pros and cons of buying a new back-up camera (eyeing the Canon G9) or whether to buy a better lens for the fancy camera. The new lens won the day... and I confidently phoned up the supplier who had promised, when I visited the store over the weekend, a two day turn around...

That was Monday morning. On Tuesday morning I called to confirm that the lens was on its way as I was due to leave for a media trip to Knysna on the Wednesday. I'm told that the lens was not despatched as promised and would not be in Durban in time for my trip.
After some phoning around I discover that nobody in Durban has the Canon lens I want in stock - but one supplier thought they might still be able to get it for me in time. I give them the go ahead. 

They called me first thing in the morning (at least they called me and not the other way around) to say that the lens was on its way, but would not be at the shop before I needed to leave for the airport... do we put plan in motion to courier it down to me...
The lens arrived in Durban around 6pm and was despatched with the courier the same evening - and was due to arrive in Knysna on Thursday. Late on Thursday I get a call to say that the lens did not ship as planned as SAA had a power failure... is it OK if they deliver on Friday? Well, no! It's not OK - but what choice do I have.

The much awaited lens did eventually arrive at lunch time on Friday and was delivered to me in time to make its debut use for a helicopter flip over Knysna... I flew back to Durban early on Saturday morning wondering if all the stress and palaver had been worth it - especially as I now HAVE to lug a heavy camera around without the benefit of a light weight compact point and shoot... although I do have to admit that the mew lens does take delicious pics!!