My daughter was watching the video "Titanic"
Daddy, Titanic was a real ship, wasn't it?
Yes - I think it was around 1912 .....
Would it still be the biggest ship in the world?
No, there are bigger ones these days.
Daddy .... where do the dogs poo?
Silence.
Anywhere, I guess. In the First Class I guess they pick up after them.
Funny .... now the image of those damn little dogs messing all over the place supersedes that wonderful nude painting image in my mind. Sad. It wasn't a fair trade.
Monday, 30 July 2007
Jozi Kids Calender, First Week of August
www.jozikids.co.za
presents an events calender for the week starting July 30th,
Party Venue Open Days from Monday to Friday
Party venues with jungle gyms, wendyhouses, sandpits, tea/coffee facilities, open their doors to the public at a very reasonable rate so that you can enjoy these wonderful facilities with your children during the week.
Pinocchio at the Roodepoort Childrens Theatre
The ever popular children's story presented by Frans Schoeman and Pieter Botha of Ilumbo Productions. An experience your child will never forget! 24 July - 17 August.
Tennis Holiday ClinicMini Tennis (3-6yrs)
2hr session: lesson plus fun ball/co-ordination activities.
Half-day Camp (from 6yrs) 4hrs: includes a full terms coaching program plus World Cup Sports event everyday!
Make Wind Chimes with moyo artists at Moyo at Zoo Lake
Moyo Magic - Children's 1-hour Workshop on 4 and 5th August,
Coca Cola Wildlife Walk at Emmerentia Botanical Gardens on Sunday, 5th August
Walk or run once a month. Everyone recieves a medal that depicts an animal. 5/10km and 1km for children.
For more details Go to www.jozikids.co.za Click on a calender day and a list of ideas will emerge.
If its too long , go to JUMP TO at the top of the page and select a category that interests you.
presents an events calender for the week starting July 30th,
Party Venue Open Days from Monday to Friday
Party venues with jungle gyms, wendyhouses, sandpits, tea/coffee facilities, open their doors to the public at a very reasonable rate so that you can enjoy these wonderful facilities with your children during the week.
Pinocchio at the Roodepoort Childrens Theatre
The ever popular children's story presented by Frans Schoeman and Pieter Botha of Ilumbo Productions. An experience your child will never forget! 24 July - 17 August.
Tennis Holiday ClinicMini Tennis (3-6yrs)
2hr session: lesson plus fun ball/co-ordination activities.
Half-day Camp (from 6yrs) 4hrs: includes a full terms coaching program plus World Cup Sports event everyday!
Make Wind Chimes with moyo artists at Moyo at Zoo Lake
Moyo Magic - Children's 1-hour Workshop on 4 and 5th August,
Coca Cola Wildlife Walk at Emmerentia Botanical Gardens on Sunday, 5th August
Walk or run once a month. Everyone recieves a medal that depicts an animal. 5/10km and 1km for children.
For more details Go to www.jozikids.co.za Click on a calender day and a list of ideas will emerge.
If its too long , go to JUMP TO at the top of the page and select a category that interests you.
Friday, 20 July 2007
"Sharashkas" - Alexander Solzhenitsyn
"Sharashkas"
"You have the right to arrange your own life
under the blue sky and the hot sun,
to get drink of water, to stretch,
to travel wherever you like....
What about the main thing in life, all its riddles?
If you want, I'll spell it out for you right now.
Do not pursue what is illusionary - property and position:
all that is gained at the expense of your nerves,
decade after decade, and is confiscated in one fell
night. Live with a steady superiority over life ...
don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn
after happiness: it is, after all, the same: the
bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never
fills the cup to overflowing.
It is enough if you don't freeze in the cold and if
thirst and hunger don't claw at your insides. If
your back isn't broken, if your feet can walk, if
both arms can bend, if both eyes can see, if
both ears hear, then whom should you envy? And why?
Our envy of others devours us most of all. Rub
your eyes and purify your heart - and prize
above all else in the world those who love you
and who wish you well. Do not hurt them or
scold them, and never part from any of them in
anger; after all, you simply do not know: it
might be your last act ..... "
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
"You have the right to arrange your own life
under the blue sky and the hot sun,
to get drink of water, to stretch,
to travel wherever you like....
What about the main thing in life, all its riddles?
If you want, I'll spell it out for you right now.
Do not pursue what is illusionary - property and position:
all that is gained at the expense of your nerves,
decade after decade, and is confiscated in one fell
night. Live with a steady superiority over life ...
don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn
after happiness: it is, after all, the same: the
bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never
fills the cup to overflowing.
It is enough if you don't freeze in the cold and if
thirst and hunger don't claw at your insides. If
your back isn't broken, if your feet can walk, if
both arms can bend, if both eyes can see, if
both ears hear, then whom should you envy? And why?
Our envy of others devours us most of all. Rub
your eyes and purify your heart - and prize
above all else in the world those who love you
and who wish you well. Do not hurt them or
scold them, and never part from any of them in
anger; after all, you simply do not know: it
might be your last act ..... "
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Jozi Kids Events Calender for Week Starting 16th July
http://www.jozikids.co.za/ presents an events calender for the week starting July 16th 2007
It's the last week of the school holidays, and believe it or not, there's still a lot on offer to keep your little ones busy. Here are some ideas taken from the Jozikids calender:
HOLIDAY SOCCER CAMP
Activity-filled camps giving fundamentals of soccer in fun, game-filled environment. Older kids enter 'Soccer Star Challenge'. Each kid receives a certificate of attendance, as well as drink/snack. 16-20 July.
HOLIDAY COURSES - Pretoria Zoo
WHO IS EATING WHOM? 1-day course about about how animals search for food and avoid being eaten! Bring own lunch. Afrikaans course on 25 June.
OLIVER TWIST - National Children's Theatre!
A new version of the ever-popular, rattling good Dickens story, directed by multi-award winning Joyce Levinsohn
For more details Go to http://www.jozikids.co.za/,
Click on a calender day and a fabulous list of ideas will emerge. If its too long for you, go to JUMP TO, at the top of the page, and select a category that interests you.
Thanks
Merle
It's the last week of the school holidays, and believe it or not, there's still a lot on offer to keep your little ones busy. Here are some ideas taken from the Jozikids calender:
HOLIDAY SOCCER CAMP
Activity-filled camps giving fundamentals of soccer in fun, game-filled environment. Older kids enter 'Soccer Star Challenge'. Each kid receives a certificate of attendance, as well as drink/snack. 16-20 July.
HOLIDAY COURSES - Pretoria Zoo
WHO IS EATING WHOM? 1-day course about about how animals search for food and avoid being eaten! Bring own lunch. Afrikaans course on 25 June.
OLIVER TWIST - National Children's Theatre!
A new version of the ever-popular, rattling good Dickens story, directed by multi-award winning Joyce Levinsohn
For more details Go to http://www.jozikids.co.za/,
Click on a calender day and a fabulous list of ideas will emerge. If its too long for you, go to JUMP TO, at the top of the page, and select a category that interests you.
Thanks
Merle
Monday, 9 July 2007
A Man and his Dog
Just a nice little pic in parenthesis.
My niece's five year-old son, Carl, patiently awaiting a resolution to the the Teachers' strike.
Hopefully, next Monday will be back to school and back to relative normality.
If we're not plunged into darkness by Eskom, of course.
Friday, 6 July 2007
Jozi Kids Update
I'm delighted to announce that Merle, of Jozi Kids, will be keeping us up to date on a regular basis, with news and upcoming events. Here is today's update. Thanks, Merle. Remember that you can check the Jozi Kids website at any time by using the links provided on this site.
You live in Joburg, its halfway through the holidays and your kids are crawling
up the walls. We can put a stop to this.
If your children like to create, here are some great arts and crafts workshops
on offer this coming week brought to you by www.jozikids.co.za
Click on day next week on the calender , then go to the JUMP TO menu at the
top of the page and select the Holiday Arts/crafts category. Some of the
offerings you will find are:
Sewing Workshop where your child can make themselves something to wear
Arabellas Arts&Crafts workshop for making a cardboard tank or Cinderella
carriage
Creativity Holiday club for a range of crafty creations
Marissa s Arts & Crafts workshop in Melville
and this is just a small taste of what you will find on the very extensive
JOZIKIDS calender. Take a look. www.jozikids.co.za
Holidays will never be the same.
Regards,
Merle
You live in Joburg, its halfway through the holidays and your kids are crawling
up the walls. We can put a stop to this.
If your children like to create, here are some great arts and crafts workshops
on offer this coming week brought to you by www.jozikids.co.za
Click on day next week on the calender , then go to the JUMP TO menu at the
top of the page and select the Holiday Arts/crafts category. Some of the
offerings you will find are:
Sewing Workshop where your child can make themselves something to wear
Arabellas Arts&Crafts workshop for making a cardboard tank or Cinderella
carriage
Creativity Holiday club for a range of crafty creations
Marissa s Arts & Crafts workshop in Melville
and this is just a small taste of what you will find on the very extensive
JOZIKIDS calender. Take a look. www.jozikids.co.za
Holidays will never be the same.
Regards,
Merle
Thursday, 5 July 2007
Jennifer's Pregnant!
I was drifting in that wonderful netherland of fleeting, unrelated pictures and thoughts, just before one falls asleep. Then I heard a screech from my daughter's bedroom: "Jennifer's pregnant!" My blood curdled. The screech, the message, the cruelly sudden snatch from peace; the combination of all those.
My mind raced. I had time to think, because my voice didn't work. Jennifer .... all her friends are in their early teens. Do I know a Jennifer from my side? Don't flatter yourself.... This can't be good.
I manage to clear my throat, then I hear a familiar sound. Japanese... Sims. She playing SIMS!
For the uninitiated, The Sims is a computer game, where the player creates characters, families, communities, builds houses and neighbourhoods, then all these characters have to interact in everyday activities. They have to work, clean house, visit, relate to each other, create friendships, marriages - yes, and they can even have babies. Strangely, the dialogue has never been translated - it is still in, what I presume to be, Japanese.
"That's really cool," I hear a voice say, sounding remarkably like mine.
She screeches again in delight, then is suddenly totally absorbed by her addiction again.
How I love the sound of Japanese. There again, I consider as I drift back to the state from which I was so cruelly snatched, perhaps it's not Japanese. Perhaps it's a computer-generated language just for the game, that nobody understands. Much like 'teenager' language, I speculate.
It's hard to fall asleep with curdled blood.
My mind raced. I had time to think, because my voice didn't work. Jennifer .... all her friends are in their early teens. Do I know a Jennifer from my side? Don't flatter yourself.... This can't be good.
I manage to clear my throat, then I hear a familiar sound. Japanese... Sims. She playing SIMS!
For the uninitiated, The Sims is a computer game, where the player creates characters, families, communities, builds houses and neighbourhoods, then all these characters have to interact in everyday activities. They have to work, clean house, visit, relate to each other, create friendships, marriages - yes, and they can even have babies. Strangely, the dialogue has never been translated - it is still in, what I presume to be, Japanese.
"That's really cool," I hear a voice say, sounding remarkably like mine.
She screeches again in delight, then is suddenly totally absorbed by her addiction again.
How I love the sound of Japanese. There again, I consider as I drift back to the state from which I was so cruelly snatched, perhaps it's not Japanese. Perhaps it's a computer-generated language just for the game, that nobody understands. Much like 'teenager' language, I speculate.
It's hard to fall asleep with curdled blood.
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Kibbutz
Ever wondered about Kibbutz?
I have changed the format of my other blog site, Chicken Soup and Boerewors. It is now a chronicle of my letters home from Kibbutz during the 1980's.
However, if you want to know more about Kibbutz, the Kibbutz experience, or volunteering there, my site has the relevant links you may require. Try it.
Chicken Soup and Boerewors
I have changed the format of my other blog site, Chicken Soup and Boerewors. It is now a chronicle of my letters home from Kibbutz during the 1980's.
However, if you want to know more about Kibbutz, the Kibbutz experience, or volunteering there, my site has the relevant links you may require. Try it.
Chicken Soup and Boerewors
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Dear Eskom
Dear Eskom,
Please don't let your workers strike. Some of us have teenage children and we need the essential services.
You see, if there is no electricity, there is no TV. And there is no computer. And there are no MP3 players, because we cannot recharge the batteries. All that is left are the cell phones and Mxit. And we cannot recharge the cell phones. And that makes teenagers mad.
And at night they cannot storm outside to meet in the streets because there are no street lights and their outfits cannot be seen. Which reminds me, they cannot check their make-up, so they have to stay in. And, in any case, the backup batteries for the electronic gate will be flat, so they cannot get out anyway.
All that is left is for them is to sit in the dark and light matches. And then we have to buy new carpets. And to talk. Do you know what it is like talking to teenagers?
Please, Eskom, don't let your workers strike.
Yours sincerely,
"Power to Parents"
Please don't let your workers strike. Some of us have teenage children and we need the essential services.
You see, if there is no electricity, there is no TV. And there is no computer. And there are no MP3 players, because we cannot recharge the batteries. All that is left are the cell phones and Mxit. And we cannot recharge the cell phones. And that makes teenagers mad.
And at night they cannot storm outside to meet in the streets because there are no street lights and their outfits cannot be seen. Which reminds me, they cannot check their make-up, so they have to stay in. And, in any case, the backup batteries for the electronic gate will be flat, so they cannot get out anyway.
All that is left is for them is to sit in the dark and light matches. And then we have to buy new carpets. And to talk. Do you know what it is like talking to teenagers?
Please, Eskom, don't let your workers strike.
Yours sincerely,
"Power to Parents"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)