I found it a strange time of year to take holiday, and the first time I have done so (I think?). Unlike our usual summer beach holidays the days were not nearly as hot, but still much nicer up North (close the Botswana border) than here in Gauteng. Seems like so much has changed since I last sat down & wrote, and I don’t really know where to begin.
Let me try to recall all the events in chronological order… I was sick last week – bronchitus, was booked off for two days but ended up spending only one day in bed, sleeping. I got a fantastic prezzie from my husband – a brand new laptop!!! How cool is that?? I went on holiday, close to the Botswana border, where there is no internet access, and also no mobile phone signal! It was actually quite a nice break during which read a book. We celebrated my Father’s 65 birthday while on holiday!
Apart from the above mentioned which pretty much consumed my mind & time not much else happened. We got home safe, and now I need to try my best to catch up with blogging, washing clothes, tidying the house (which I am forever obsessed about). Oh yes, and then ofcourse, I still make time to explore my new toy – at 1:42am! …Bed time for me!
Instead of giving a lengthy update of what I have been up to lately, and why haven’t posted for such a long time, here are a couple of random photos which I took on the run.
I love squirrels; they’re cute and fluffy – even though I know they are rodents, I still find them adorable.Now, enough cuteness! I was reading a magazine at the hairdresser last week – yes, I am embarrassed to admit, it was the You magazine, which I never read except when I am at the hairdresser or doctor – Anyway – Beth Ditto apparently used to eat squirrels when she was a child. The magazine went on explaining (quite elaborately) how she and her friends used to skin the squirrels and then have a squirrel barbecue.
Now, British chef, Ed Chester went one step further, and added the cute fluffy rodents to the restaurant menu where he works. Squirrel kebab can now be found on the list of scrumptious dishes at this restaurant in Otterton Mill, near Budleigh Salterton, Devon (UK).
Ed Chester reckons squirrel meat is delicious and is also selling pates and fricassees made from the rodents, “I am never going to put anything horrible on the menu. Squirrel is great meat. It is genuinely good and this is not a gimmick.”
I can’t say that it sounds very appealing, and I am just thankful that I don’t have to give this a try. And I thank goodness I didn’t have friends like Beth Ditto when I was a child!
How does the old saying go? If you can’t beat them join them? Well… Vuvuzela’s cannot be beaten, so I will have to join in the buzz (pun intended )
People all over the world have become super aware of these (non)musical instruments, all thanks to the Soccer World Cup, and the fact that its being hosted in South Africa. Had it been hosted in a European country the vuvu’s would probably have been banned, and the cup would’ve passed as any other.
Unlike most of the rest of the world I don’t feel a particular hatred for these noisy instruments, and at the same time I am not particularly fond of them. What I do like about them is that they’ve given this 2010 world cup a very unique flavour (sound). Even though most tourists complain of the mundane buzzing, they still want to take a vuvuzela home with them.
Vuvuzela’s are being sold on e-bay at ridiculous prices – I cannot believe that anyone will buy it!! In South Africa, vuvuzela’s cost under R30 (check this site if you don’t believe me), however on Ebay, the most expensive vuvu I could find is currently being sold for
R100/vuvuzela – and that’s if you buy in bulk (10 pieces). Craziness.
For those of you who want to get into the spirit of things without buying your own vuvuzela, check the Facebook vuvuzela makeover, hehe
I just mastered the most amazing cup of coconut hot chocolate. I tasted it the first time a few months ago at Mugg & Bean, and tried to emulate it for the first time tonight. It was delicious!!! If I may say so myself, it was even better than what I had at Mugg&Bean – definitely more chocolaty!
I used the following…
About 4 teaspoons Cadbury’s hot chocolate powder (no extra sugar)
One spoon coffee creamer
About 50ml coconut milk (canned)
And lastly, hot water to fill up the cup
If you’re fond of Niki bars / Bounty, you have to try this – its so much better!! Perfect for a winters evening like tonight.
I cannot believe this complete idiotic behavior. Where is the sense in burning down the place you work for, in order to get more money? How can that make sense to ANYONE?
Reason why I am making such a big fuss about this is because I used to visit this pharmacy quite regularly as it was a stones throw away from our offices. Pity they’re not going to reopen, however I don’t blame them with R20 million’s damages.
This Dischem store was burnt down on purpose by angry workers who were striking for wage increases. A gas bottle can be seen on the right front of this picture, this was set alight and thrown through the window. A colleague saw the damaged building on her way to work, and we went to look & take pictures shortly after. Later that day (23 June 2010) the windows were closed with wooden panels. It is said that this store will not reopen since the damage is too much – ZAR20 000 000 (+/- US$2 666 666.667).
All that I’ve been seeing – all over the news, in the streets, magazines, the newspaper, EVERYWHERE is SOCCER. WORLD CUP FEVER has hit South Africa, and HOW! I understand its a big deal, but heck people, life as usual is still happening!! Believe it or not there are some of us who would still like an update on things other than soccer.
FIFA has taken over our country for nearly two months and everyone seem to be hypnotized into loving soccer. People who have never even watched a game in their lives are diligently following the cup. [FAKE] Promotional merchandise can be bought on every street corner, there are flags on all the light posts, EVERYONE suddenly has soccer shirts, almost all cars have flags all over them, and vuvuzelas sounding the trumpeting theme for soccer world cup 2010.
For the loyal fans I understand that this is a big deal, but what the heck is up with everyone else just “going with the flow”? Actually spending their money on something which otherwise they would have no interest in?
To get back to my point about FIFA, I read the article about the ladies in their orange dresses, which mentioned that South Africa had some law altered in 2006 to ensure we adhere to FIFA’s standards?!
QUOTING AN ARTICLE ON TELEGRAPH.CO.UK:
“What is shocking, however, is the manner in which the machinery of the state has been deployed to do Fifa’s bidding. Those Dutch women are being held under the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa Special Measures Act (2006) and the Merchandise Marks Amendment Act (2002). The offenses are “unauthorised use of a trade mark at a protected event” and “entry into a designated area while in possession of a prohibited commercial object”. Read Full Article
I feel sorry for the fans who visit SA, in fear for their lives, but at the same time so keen to see their favorite team play live at a stadium. I feel embarrassed at the South Africans ripping of foreigners – charging them more than double what the locals pay for drinks, accommodation etc. For police arresting visitors for wearing orange dresses! Just because FIFA obliges them to?
If I see what some tourists said about not going out after dark, not wearing jewelry when they go out it sounds pretty sad, and a bit like a war zone. On top of all this the weather has been pretty miserable, the coldest part of winter started on the day of kick off, 11 June. I am freezing my butt off, and I’m not even on a stadium, so I don’t want to imagine how cold the fans & players must be.
All in all the spirits are high, the atmosphere is festive, and I guess some of the locals are friendly to foreigners without any mall-intentions, still I cannot imagine this being a too pleasant experience for someone visiting from a first world country…
Today, I only have a photo:
I took this photo on a wooden deck close to my office, on the way to a couple of restaurants. I have often walked on this wooden deck with my high heels, and have gotten my heel stuck between the wooden beams – halting my walk much too abrupt for comfort!! – And my colleagues always crack up at the way that I have to try and keep my balance, with my heel stuck in the wood, one step behind me
I am not too sure what the sign is suppose to help with though? Its not as if I can take my shoes off and walk the way on my stockings? No matter how carefully I tread – there always seems to be a conversation during which I forget to watch my step
What your mom {probably} never told you about mulberry plants is that you can get high from ingesting the white sap in all parts of the plant except the ripe fruit.
Mulberries – Red, Black & White – WARNING: Do not eat the unripe fruit and leaves because they may be mildly hallucinogenic. Ripened fruits are very edible.
Native American Medicine: Alabama [Indians] infused roots and drank as a stimulant for increased energy.
Unripe fruit and green parts of the plant have a white sap that is intoxicating and mildly hallucinogenic.
How cool is that?? I went on holiday, close to the Botswana border, where there is no internet access, and also no mobile phone signal! It was actually quite a nice break during which read a book. We celebrated my Father’s 65 birthday while on holiday!
– Anyway – Beth Ditto apparently used to eat squirrels when she was a child. The magazine went on explaining (quite elaborately) how she and her friends used to skin the squirrels and then have a squirrel barbecue.
)
