Dizzy Dee

Somehow we always misjudge a mountain. Why is that? When I look at it, I think “that’s not such a big mountain - in fact, I’d be able to climb it, no sweat”… Hahahaha. Till I’m about half way, I don’t have any air left in my lungs, and I need the water which I forgot to bring, or was too brave to think about.

We went to climb a ‘koppie’ (South African word for a small mountain, kinda like a hill I guess) anyway, so we went to the Wonderboom Nature Reserve (me and my family). Which was really cool!! The reason for wanting to climb to the top is that we wanted to see the fort which is up on the koppie.

I was gonna write you some interesting facts on the fort, but found a good summary on the net (its quite long, but a good read all the same). Please let me know if this post takes too long to load - I have added three photo’s, but they might take a while to load…

Wonderboom Nature Reserve, Pretoria: Named after the wild fig (Ficus salicifolia) Wonderboom, for which the reserve is famous, and which grows at the foot of the northern slopes of the Magalies Mountain range, the Wonderboom Nature Reserve lies to the north of the city - a 200 hectare reserve that has as its heart a 1 000 year old specimen.

A legend that places the remains of a chief of an indigenous tribe beneath its roots serves to explain the size of this particular Wonderboom (miracle tree). It was originally a lot bigger, so big it was reputed to provide shade for 1 000 people at a time, or 22 ox wagons. But the combination of a fire in 1870 and a more recent parasite infestation, that had the tree in quarantine for 20 years, has left it a shadow of its former self.

However, the sheer weight of its branches, which grew longer and lower, rooted themselves and produced daughter trees, which have in turn produced a third generation that now surround the original specimen.

If this weren’t enough of an invitation to visit the Wonderboom Nature Reserve, it is also the site of the Wonderboom Fort - one of four built to defend the city against the British - at the top of the Wonderboom Hill. At the foot of this same hill lie two adjacent archaeological sites - one an example of the Iron Age, and the other one of the best Stone Age sites in the area - the largest single collection of stone artifacts ever discovered in Africa was excavated here.

The reserve is also the dwelling place of a number of small antelope, monkeys, dassies and an array of birds.

Source: SA Venues

Photo’s Source: My sister

Sticky posts are boring and irritate the living daylights out of me. I have tried it now, and I can tell you that it seriously sucks. If you were considering it, its dumb. It looks as if you don’t update your blog, and it doesn’t help much. I have made a link for the top of my widget instead which now links to the competition for the Rooibos tea.  The only purpose I see for it, is if you move your blog.  But then again, you wouldn’t need a sticky post, cause you wouldn’t post anymore…

Hope you all have a fabulous week!

I don’t like sport really. Not to watch, and not to participate. But on Saturday it was the rugby world cup final, and South Africa was playing against England. People started getting ready for the game early on Saturday already — some people painted their faces, and cars with the SA flag, and some slogans like “Go Bokke”…

In the afternoon they started driving up and down the streets, hooting (honking?), and screaming, singing and dancing, and of course - buying loads of booze. The truth is, South Africans started partying long before the game started, cause we all knew that we were going to win. Or if we didn’t know, maybe we hoped so much that it just had to come true…

Though it was not the best rugby game ever, (there wasn’t even ONE tri!), South Africa still won, which was the whole point!

So this post is entirely dedicated to the South African Springboks, champions of the world cup 2007

We are proud of you!!

If you could live forever, would you, and why?
I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever.
Miss Alabama, in the 1994 Miss USA pageant

Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean … I’d love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff.
Mariah Carey

Smoking kills. If you are killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life
Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign.

Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.
Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, D.C.

Capital punishment is our society’s recognition of the sanctity of human life.
Orrin Hatch, Republican Senator from Utah

I have opinions, strong ones, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I agree with them.
George Bush

China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese.
Charles de Gaulle

We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees.
Jason Kidd, upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks

I’ve never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body.
Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward

I’m not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president.
Hillary Clinton commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents

The police are not here to create disorder. They’re here to preserve disorder.
Former Chicago mayor Daley during the infamous 1968 Democratic Party convention

I haven’t committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law.
David Dinkins, New York City Mayor, answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes.

The Internet is a great way to get on the Net.
Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole

Things are more like they are now than they ever were before
Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Traditionally, most of Australia’s imports come from overseas
Former Australian cabinet minister Keppel Enderbery

Researchers have discovered that chocolate produces some of the same reactions in the brain as marijuana…. The researchers also discovered other similarities between the two, but can’t remember what they are.
Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today show, August 22

It’s like an Alcatraz around my neck.
Boston mayor Menino on the shortage of city parking spaces

Half this game is ninety percent mental.
Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark

They’re multi-purpose. Not only do they put the clips on, but they take them off.
Pratt & Whitney spokesperson explaining why the company charged the Air Force nearly $1,000 for an ordinary pair of pliers

It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago.
Former U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle

I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have was that I didn’t study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people.
Former U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle

It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.
Former U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle

The streets are safe in Philadelphia. It’s only the people who make them unsafe.
Frank Rizzo, ex-police chief and mayor of Philadelphia

The president has kept all of the promises he intended to keep.
Clinton aide George Stephanopolous speaking on Larry King Live

After finding no qualified candidates for the position of principal, the school board is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of David Steele to the post.
Philip Streifer, Superintendent of Schools, Barrington, Rhode Island

That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I’m just the one to do it.
A congressional candidate in Texas

Without censorship, things can get terribly confused in the public mind.
General William Westmoreland, during the war in Vietnam

I joined the gym this week! Since I work practically next door to it, I decided that now is a good time to join. That, and the fact that I hear horror music in my imagination when I picture myself in a bikini - seasons are changing to summer in SA.

I went yesterday for the first time, very conveniently in my lunch, and felt sooo good afterwards. Though I am unfit, I completed ten minutes on cardio - that’s A LOT for me I did a bit of muscle exercises, and then had a lovely shower.

The bathrooms are really clean, and that is a strange thing in SA. These ones were particularly nice. I was however shocked when I was joined by an oldish lady starting to undress right there in front of me. I realize that I was after all in the change rooms, but still - it was a shocker. She walked around there in her knickers!! Weighing herself, going to the steam room, and eventually to take a shower - the whole time parading like she was a show horse or something. I was there long enough to see all this, because I myself was still getting dressed, and doing make up and all, but still, I don’t walk around butt naked :O

Anyway. Hopefully I will get into a gym routine, and I will be ready for my bikini before the summer is over. Wish me luck

“PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A STICKY POST WHICH WILL REMAIN AT THE TOP UNTIL THE ROOIBOS TEA COMPETITION IS OVER [31 OCT 2007], AND NEW POSTS WILL ONLY APPEAR BELOW THIS ONE!!!”

After Beth mentioned that there was Rooibos tea for sale on e-bay, I had a I decided to send out some Rooibos tea to my international fans (just kidding). But really now, I will send three readers from abroad a packet Rooibos tea each. I won’t send to South Africa, or neighbouring countries, as this is senseless. The whole point is to give the international readers the opportunity to try Rooibos. I will pay for the shipping, but you will be responsible for import tax if applicable, as this is only charged when the parcel is picked up from your post office (works that way in South Africa in any case). The winners will be selected randomly by myself on the 31st of October @ 6pm GMT+2, and the winners will be announced shortly afterwards. The parcels will be sent out a.s.a.p. after that - depending on how quickly you provide me with your mailing address. Your real name, mailing address, and any other personal information will be kept confidential.

The conditions for entering are as follows. Each person can enter as many times as they like. You can:

a) leave a comment, [1 entry]
b) do a short post about me giving away rooibos tea (provided that you link back to this post) [3 entries]
c) refer a friend, the friend can leave a comment or do a post with your name in the comment or post.(also provided that you link back to this post) [comment = 1 entry, post with link back = 3 entries, referral = 1 entry]
d) adding my blog to your Technorati favourites [2 entries]

Please note that you MUST notify me about your entries either by commenting, or e-mailing me. If I am not aware of your entries, I cannot include them in the draw.
Because I want to treat every person fairly, I may change the rules or add rules at any time, should I see fit. I may also disqualify any person should I believe that they didn’t comply with the rules as stated above.

I was having dinner with my family last night. Its so nice to have them around - my sister and her family lives in the US, and they have come to visit, and I really love having them around.

My nephews are almost done with school, and I can’t believe how big they have gotten. I miss having them around so much. Its amazing to see how much they change in one year. Makes me wonder about myself

Whilst still sitting chatting about the table with my sister, my two nephews and my parents, we started with really weird conversations. One was about silicon implants and how they must look when you’ve aged.
Now this isn’t something that we would normally discuss. We have our limits, but last night, we just couldn’t stop laughing at the thought of perky breasts in an old saggy body. Maybe even perky breasts hanging somewhere between an old ladies chest and stomach. ROFL. Maybe they adjust everything again, after some sagging took place - who knows.

And no matter how strange the conversation might have been, it was just so nice to sit and chat and laugh, with a glass of wine in hand, together with my family. Some times are just truly priceless - and last night was one of those times.

I’ve recently subscribed to the Whackhead podcasts, because I start work earlier than usual, which means that I miss Whackhead’s Window on the World at 07:h10. Which is why I subscribed to his podcasts… Now you might ask what this is all about, and who the heck is Whackhead? Well, in South Africa, by now, Whackhead is a household name.

Something sad, was that I heard one of the podcasts where Whackhead interviewed some French people during the RAW visit to Paris recently, asking them if they have ever heard of the Rude Awakening (aka RAW), and NONE of them had heard about it!

For those of you who don’t know who Darren “Whackhead” Simpson is, and have never heard of the Rude Awakening, please try to stream to this station one morning, they’re on 06:h00 - 09:h00 (GMT +2) each weekday & Saturday morning, and I really love their show. Whackhead is possibly the best prankster I have ever heard. He pranks someone everyday, and most of the time, they fall for it! If you don’t want to stream, subscribe to the Whackhead podcast, and if you honestly don’t like it you can unsubscribe again.
I’m sure that at least SOME of you will love it, and find it a great way to wake up, and start your day

If you would like to subscribe to the podcast, just search for “Whackhead” in your iTunes store, and you should get the podcast.

1. Project Manager is a Person who thinks nine women can deliver a baby in one month.

2. Developer is a Person who thinks it will take 18 months to deliver a baby.

3. Onsite Coordinator is one who thinks single woman can deliver nine babies in one month.

4. Client is the one who doesn’t know why he wants a baby.

5. Marketing Manager is a person who thinks he can deliver a baby even if no man and woman are available.

6. Resource Optimization Team thinks they don’t need a man or woman; they’ll produce a child with zero resources.

7. Documentation Team thinks they don’t care whether the child is delivered, they’ll just document 9 months.

8. Quality Auditor is the person who is never happy with the PROCESS to produce a baby.

9. Tester is a person who always tells his wife that this is not the right baby

10. Team Lead is a person actually knows how many men and women required to deliver the baby , but will not tell anyone

- A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.

- Approximately 75% of human feces is made of water.

- It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

- One human hair can support 3kg.

- Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

-The attachment of human muscles to skin is what causes dimples.

-Your thumb is the same length of your nose.

- A woman’s heart beats faster than a man’s.

- If the average male never shaved, his beard would be 13 feet long when he died.

- Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the
liver than men with hair.

-There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

- Side by side, 2000 cells from the human body could cover about one square inch.

- Women blink twice as much as men.

-The average person’s skin weighs twice as much as their brain .

- When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, they do the
same when you are looking at someone you hate

- It takes twice as long to lose new muscle if you stop working out than it did to gain it.

-Your ears secrete more earwax when you are afraid than when you aren’t..

-Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are standing still.

- If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.

-The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.

- Checked out the length of your thumb..Didn’t ya?

*yes you did, you know you did…. admit it*