Friday, April 1, 2011

My hobby reinvigorated

It's taken me a long time to get my ass into gear and get back into scrapbooking.
I am at last scrapbooking my photos from the most amazing cruise ever (2009...so only a year and a bit late!). A dedicated post and scraps from the pages to follow soon.
Pictured here is the card I've made for Curly for our 4 year anniversary (we deserve medals I tell you!) and although there are no pics so it's not quite scrapbooking (those were reserved for the gift), I've decided that making the effort to make cards will save a lot of unnecessary moola (I mean you're paying R20 for a card that's going to get chucked away anyway) and they're a little more meaningful (well that's what I'm going to claim anyway!)
Yay for rekindling the creative spirit!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

A letter to my beautiful

Dear Beautiful,

I am sorry for neglecting you.
I apologise for leaving you locked up in my cupboard at work where you have even grown a light blanket of dust.
I also have to say that I am sorry for cheating on you with my work colleague - she may be smaller, lighter and more glamorous looking in silver, but nothing compares to your quality.
The excuse that you have become admin and a mission to take with me is not fair - I knew this when we got together.
And for the shear amount that you cost me, I should be making better use of you, taking advantage of all your talents.
I also need to show my appreciation and improve my own skills, to further utilise your talented features.
I therefore pledge that this weekend, you will be my constant companion - I will play, experiment and enjoy you to the utmost - and I hope that I will be able to reap the rewards.

Once again, I'm sorry. Please forgive me Canon SX20IS.

A dialogue worth discussing

  By Jonathan Jansen - courtesy of Times Live

Sipho: "As an old buddy from the struggle, I have to confess to a major decision that I have made with respect to the upcoming elections. Now that COPE has shot itself in both feet as a legitimate black alternative, I have decided to vote for the DA."


quote I also want a party that is anti-racist quote
Nosipho: "You bloody swine. I always doubted you. Don't you remember the struggles we went through together? You were the one who used to tell me that Zille is too much of a white madam that reminds you of what your father went through as a domestic at the hands of those Rondebosch madams in Cape Town. Now you sell out?"

Sipho: "Eish, slow down, comrade. I listened to Helen's speech in Soweto the other day, where they launched their Election Manifesto. And while it was too cerebral for the poor - people want to hear calls for machine guns, songs that sound like 'kill the boer' and how an ANC vote gets you through the pearly gates - you simply could not argue with the facts: the DA is much more efficient than the ANC in delivering to the people on the ground. It's not just Cape Town but wherever the DA controls a municipality, like the one in the Eastern Cape, they make a difference in the lives of human beings."

Nosipho: "Okay, maybe you've got a point there, but I want a party that is not only concerned about those liberal values like a strong constitution, free enterprise and clean government. I also want a party that is anti-racist, and that speaks out against racial atrocities in the country on a regular basis. That you don't get from the DA - all they harp on about is corruption, corruption, corruption. What about poverty? All they do in Parliament is to find fault. Did you ever once hear the DA praise the ANC-led government for what it is doing? No. Like those old madams of Rondebosch and Parktown, they still teach their domestics to live by two rules only. Rule No 1, madam is always right. Rule No 2, if madam is wrong, see Rule No 1."

Sipho: "Com, I don't think you're being fair to constantly portray the DA as a white party of madams and bosses. Look at those beautiful pictures along the country's lampposts. Three women - one white, one coloured, one African. Has the ANC ever had this picture of gender equity in its top ranks? You know as well as I do that Trevor Manuel will never become President, but people like Jimmy Manyi will score every time."

Nosipho: "You seem to have a short memory, broer. The people who suffered most in this country were Africans. That is why the movement is clear that the struggle was about 'Africans in particular'. Did Zille ever carry a dompas, or Patricia, for that matter? So it is our time to eat, and it is far too early to see a white woman running this country after they ran South Africa for centuries. No, dammit, don't you have any self-respect as a black man?"

Sipho: "I understand where you're coming from. In fact, you sound like this columnist who wrote a very honest confession in one of the Sunday papers. He made the point that whites in the DA still look like the people who oppressed him, and that he cannot do otherwise than "to vote with his scars." But what does that mean? That a black government can treat its people with contempt - as in Zimbabwe or the Ivory Coast - and still be guaranteed support for its leaders simply because of their struggle credentials? Is this not racist to in fact argue that black people cannot think beyond their skin, and that we make decisions only on the basis of our emotions?"

Nosipho: "No, no, I am not saying that. What I am saying is that your experience informs your decisions. You are asking me to wipe out memory and to buy into this reconciliation nonsense when I still see that the majority of the poor are black, that whites have given up very little since 1994."

Sipho: "True, but whose fault is that? It is your party that dominates the government, and that did little to change the situation for the poor. You have not convinced me. I am off to vote for the DA. But first I need to find Shilowa and Lekota to give them a hard kick up their bloody backsides."

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Deal or no deal?

I admit that I may have a new addiction and time-consuming way to spend my day which should otherwise be dedicated to writing/ organising and all things editory.
Social buying networks.
The first one I came across was
 wicount which had me gawking at the number of awesome (and for the most part unnecessary) deals I could get my hands on - spa treatments, half price meals, bungee jumping, romantic getaways, golf lessons...the list seems to be endless. And there is no better way to ease into a day at the office than sipping on some Frisco and checking out what could hypothetically be mine.
And then I found Ubuntu Deal. So another newsletter to prolong the coffee break and more deals to drool over.
And then things started going crazy - a friend recommended I join My City Deal (which turns out to be part of Groupon since January) She also got 'cash' in her wallet for recommending me (smart!!)....and then yesterday I came across a whole lot more from a simple search on the web. Take a look:


And yes I may or may not have joined them all....perhaps.
The concept is fantastic: A massive discount is offered on a product / service e.g. half price manicure - if you want the deal you 'buy' the deal [you need to enter your credit card details in your account details...privacy assured of course] and only when enough people have 'bought' the deal is it 'on' and your account is debited with the amount. You then get sent a voucher number and use that to book / pay for your manicure.

At least I can say that I am currently only at browsing status due to a tragic financial status (at this moment I wait expectantly for the ping of my phone to tell me that my salary is in my account!). My only real experience is 'buying' the Voucher at Global Wrapps...which was completely free...for Wicount's birthday. Still need to claim my R70 wrap & smoothie....yum.

But as soon as my financial status improves (come on ping!) I fear that spending on these unnecessary but delightful things (and I do have a couple of friends with birthdays coming up.....) will reach new heights.
So I better learn some self-control quick...or else I won't even have any petrol to get to my romantic weekend away at that game reserve....

Quote of the week

There's a world of difference between a person who has a big problem, and a person who makes a problem big 
 ~ John Maxwell
So stop making mountains out of molehills Missy!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wedding lessons

Pretty sash on the chairs in the venue chapel, the ribbon alternated between this, pink and white (just like the invitation colours!) Simple, yet stylishly pretty!
  1. Don't rely on the weather - and if it pours, make the best out of it by having your official photos in pink gumboots...quirky!
  2. But do warn guests that they will be travelling on a dirt road (luckily we left our Ferrari at home!)
  3. Don't overdo the speeches - seriously! Best man, father of the bride and groom - the end!
  4. Buffet style dinner is the way to go!
  5. Gift registries do make life easier for guests - but bear in mind people's pockets!
  6. Cash bars just make a lot of sense - but perhaps subsidising the beers and cidars is quite a good idea too!
  7. More champagne on the tables is always appreciated by your guests :) else they might resort to stealing!
  8. Have fun with your guests - dancing, drinking and sharing the special time together is what it's all about. And hats off to the bride & groom still in the bar when we left at 2am!
  9. Simplicity is always the winner - your wedding shouldn't be a competition!
  10. Being at weddings makes you think of your own....thank goodness I've got time and plenty more weddings to go to and learn from!

Finding of the week

A banana, covered in a sprinkling of cinnamon...tastes remarkably like a banana & cinnamon pancake, without the pancake.
i.e all the taste, none of the fat!
Plus, The Office cafe is a much cheaper place to get your coffee than the BP down the road :)

I spent my morning break enjoying a banana pancake at The Office cafe!