The Highveld 94.7 Rude Awakening Team have embarked upon a drive to correct the negative attitude prevailing in Jo'burg. Over the next 21 days, the focus is on being positive, sharing and thinking positive thoughts and doing positive deeds. The goal is to try to convert the neurological paths of our minds from negative to positive. The thought is that it takes 21 days to change a habit, or to reprogramme our minds to accept a new habit.
With a team as vibrant as theirs leading the way and providing the encouragement, I have no doubt that a great deal can be achieved in that time.
Let us support this initiative. If you have done, or know of, something positive and uplifting, publish it, share it, or let the Team know about it.
Anyone can be destructive. It takes character to be constructive. I - and the Rude Awakening Team - know that this city has an enormous wealth of people with strong, vital characters. Please let us hear from you.
We all know that there is a lot here that really, REALLY sucks - but with a sense of humour, some sheer guts and a lot of real, genuine caring, we can overcome these hurdles and reclaim this city as a friendly, caring, pleasant place to be. The bad guys know how to make their presence felt. It's time for the Good Guys to do it better. There are more of us. Many more. Let's do it.
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
The Manto Solution
In the light of recent "revelations", if one follows a diet of beetroot, garlic and lemon juice, should the lemon juice be taken with a shot of tequila?
It's Spring in Jozi
Yup, it's definitely happening. I distinctly saw green buds all over the tree when I looked through the window this morning. And I thought I heard a couple of them speaking......
"Hey, Bud! Where do you think we are?"
"Jozi."
"You think...?"
"I just saw a pigeon side-swipe a sparrow and steal his crust."
"Oh...."
"And..." lowering his voice..."I think I saw that bird over there bribing that municipal worker to let him nest in the street lamp ...."
"Cool!"
"That too...." (Involuntary shudder)
No doubt, the new season has begun. We just have to wait for the seasonal "unseasonal" cold snap - if it's not stolen before it can get to us.
"Hey, Bud! Where do you think we are?"
"Jozi."
"You think...?"
"I just saw a pigeon side-swipe a sparrow and steal his crust."
"Oh...."
"And..." lowering his voice..."I think I saw that bird over there bribing that municipal worker to let him nest in the street lamp ...."
"Cool!"
"That too...." (Involuntary shudder)
No doubt, the new season has begun. We just have to wait for the seasonal "unseasonal" cold snap - if it's not stolen before it can get to us.
Housework is Women's Work
Sarah Britten's blog, The Art of the South African Insult, reflects someone's opinion that housework is women's work. If only! And if so, please may I have one who agrees?
I agree that men are definitely not suited to doing it properly! If you have any doubts, try being an ageing single father to a teenage daughter, without domestic help! Cooking (hate it!), washing, ironing, cleaning, tidying, nagging, (not to mention homework), shopping, playing taxi, handling tantrums, trying to strike the balance between sympathy, empathy and straightforward honesty about the many boyfriends and "love affairs", (all with a dishcloth on your shoulder), remembering where you put things that she left lying around and suddenly can't live without .......
Then add a thermometer, a fever, a bucket, a collection of medicines each to be administered at different times ....
I guess there's always the bright side - like no in-laws, Mr Muscle in a bottle, and the prospect that one day she'll be an adult.
(Notice that it's "Mr" Muscle", "Mr Min", "Handy Andy" - never the other gender?)
If I ever reach old age, I'll dribble, pass wet ones, and be impossibly demanding! Actually, I'll probably just sleep all day, every day!
I agree that men are definitely not suited to doing it properly! If you have any doubts, try being an ageing single father to a teenage daughter, without domestic help! Cooking (hate it!), washing, ironing, cleaning, tidying, nagging, (not to mention homework), shopping, playing taxi, handling tantrums, trying to strike the balance between sympathy, empathy and straightforward honesty about the many boyfriends and "love affairs", (all with a dishcloth on your shoulder), remembering where you put things that she left lying around and suddenly can't live without .......
Then add a thermometer, a fever, a bucket, a collection of medicines each to be administered at different times ....
I guess there's always the bright side - like no in-laws, Mr Muscle in a bottle, and the prospect that one day she'll be an adult.
(Notice that it's "Mr" Muscle", "Mr Min", "Handy Andy" - never the other gender?)
If I ever reach old age, I'll dribble, pass wet ones, and be impossibly demanding! Actually, I'll probably just sleep all day, every day!
Friday, 24 August 2007
Monday, 20 August 2007
Jozikids Events Calender Aug 20th
www.jozikids.co.za
presents an events calender for the week starting August 20th, 2007
You live in Johannesburg or somewhere in Gauteng and you're looking for ideas of things to do with kids.
Take a look and if its not quite what you need, visit the site.
For those who are still on holiday there are several holiday programs this week:
COOKING programs
for toddlers at Little Cooks Club in Rivonia and
for over 7 year olds at Ushef Cooking School in Olivedale, Sandton
HORSE RIDING camp at Horse Haven in Kyalami for over 6 year olds
TENNIS clinics at the International Tennis Academy in Melville/Parkview for kids from 3-16yrs.
ARTS / CRAFTS program at the Colour Your Life studio in Petervale, Bryanston.
If your kids are not on holiday there is still great weekend entertainment
Swan Lake at the Civic Theatre in Braamfontein
The SA ballet Theatre's rendition of this classic tale of prince who falls in love with a beautiful princess transformed into a swan by an evil magician. 24 Aug -16 Sept.
ANNUAL FETE: Firland Childrens Home in Linden , starts at 8h30
27 different stalls: kiddies market, creative stalls, excitement stalls, book stalls, games, food stalls, spiderman trains, shooting range, jumping castles, barney sing-a-long, sky diving. Fun for the whole family. Proceeds for Firland Childrens Home.
ME-Games Exhibition at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown.
Exciting ultra-modern interactive games exhibition, uses games that trigger the visitor to play, to think on their feet, to make quick decisions, to work in teams and be innovative - a fun activity for families and children. From 8 August.
For more details Go to www.jozikids.co.za
Click on a calender day and a list of events will emerge.
If its too long , go to JUMP TO at the top of the page and select a category that interests you.
Enjoy.
presents an events calender for the week starting August 20th, 2007
You live in Johannesburg or somewhere in Gauteng and you're looking for ideas of things to do with kids.
Take a look and if its not quite what you need, visit the site.
For those who are still on holiday there are several holiday programs this week:
COOKING programs
for toddlers at Little Cooks Club in Rivonia and
for over 7 year olds at Ushef Cooking School in Olivedale, Sandton
HORSE RIDING camp at Horse Haven in Kyalami for over 6 year olds
TENNIS clinics at the International Tennis Academy in Melville/Parkview for kids from 3-16yrs.
ARTS / CRAFTS program at the Colour Your Life studio in Petervale, Bryanston.
If your kids are not on holiday there is still great weekend entertainment
Swan Lake at the Civic Theatre in Braamfontein
The SA ballet Theatre's rendition of this classic tale of prince who falls in love with a beautiful princess transformed into a swan by an evil magician. 24 Aug -16 Sept.
ANNUAL FETE: Firland Childrens Home in Linden , starts at 8h30
27 different stalls: kiddies market, creative stalls, excitement stalls, book stalls, games, food stalls, spiderman trains, shooting range, jumping castles, barney sing-a-long, sky diving. Fun for the whole family. Proceeds for Firland Childrens Home.
ME-Games Exhibition at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown.
Exciting ultra-modern interactive games exhibition, uses games that trigger the visitor to play, to think on their feet, to make quick decisions, to work in teams and be innovative - a fun activity for families and children. From 8 August.
For more details Go to www.jozikids.co.za
Click on a calender day and a list of events will emerge.
If its too long , go to JUMP TO at the top of the page and select a category that interests you.
Enjoy.
Friday, 17 August 2007
Driving test question
This question has just been added to the South African DRIVING THEORY test.
There is only one answer , but be careful now !
Driving Test Question
You are driving along a two lane road with a NO OVERTAKING sign,
and come upon a bicycle rider. Do you follow this slow-moving bicycle rider
for the next 2 kms, or do you break the law and pass?
Which is the correct choice?
???????
???????
???????
???????
???????
???????
???????
???????
Why take unnecessary risks ?
ARRIVE ALIVE !!
There is only one answer , but be careful now !
Driving Test Question
You are driving along a two lane road with a NO OVERTAKING sign,
and come upon a bicycle rider. Do you follow this slow-moving bicycle rider
for the next 2 kms, or do you break the law and pass?
Which is the correct choice?
???????
???????
???????
???????
???????
???????
???????
???????
Why take unnecessary risks ?
ARRIVE ALIVE !!
Thursday, 16 August 2007
The Army ...
This e-mail did the rounds some time ago, but I still love it ...
LETTER FROM A FREE STATE FARM KID, NOW DOING BASIC TRAINING AS A COMMANDO
Dear Ma and Pa
I am well. Hope you are. Tell my boetie Wouter and my other boetie Koos that being in the Kommandos beats working for Oom Piet by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before maybe all of the places are filled. I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 am, but am now starting to enjoying sleeping late.
Tell Wouter and Koos all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things. No varke to feed, no cows to milk, no mampoer to mix or braai wood to split. Practically nothing. Manne get to shave but it is not so bad, there's warm water.
Breakfast is strong on fruit juice, pap, eggs, bacon, etc. but short on steaks, boerewors, chops, potatoes and other regular food like vetkoek.
But tell my boeties you can always sit between two dorpies that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon, when you get fed again.
It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much. We go on "route"
marches, which the Sersant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it is not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our postbox at home. Then the dorpies from the city get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.
The country is nice, but awful flat.
This next will kill my boeties with laughter.
I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a dassie's head and doesn't move at all. And it isn't shooting back at you like those bl*ks*mse Venter boys from the next door plaas. All you have to do is lie there all rustig like and hit it. You don't even have to make your own cartridges. They come in boxes.
Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with the dorpies from the city. I have to be really careful though, they break real easy. It's not like fighting with Swart Duivel, our old bull at home. I'm about the best they got in this platoon except for that GrootJan Jordaan from somewhere in the Noord Transvaal. He joined up the same time as me. But I'm only 5'6" and 130 pounds and he's 6'8" and weighs over 300 pounds dry.
Be sure to tell my boeties to hurry and join before other okes find out about this Kommando setup and come stampeding in !
Your loving daughter,
Esther
LETTER FROM A FREE STATE FARM KID, NOW DOING BASIC TRAINING AS A COMMANDO
Dear Ma and Pa
I am well. Hope you are. Tell my boetie Wouter and my other boetie Koos that being in the Kommandos beats working for Oom Piet by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before maybe all of the places are filled. I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 am, but am now starting to enjoying sleeping late.
Tell Wouter and Koos all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things. No varke to feed, no cows to milk, no mampoer to mix or braai wood to split. Practically nothing. Manne get to shave but it is not so bad, there's warm water.
Breakfast is strong on fruit juice, pap, eggs, bacon, etc. but short on steaks, boerewors, chops, potatoes and other regular food like vetkoek.
But tell my boeties you can always sit between two dorpies that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon, when you get fed again.
It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much. We go on "route"
marches, which the Sersant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it is not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our postbox at home. Then the dorpies from the city get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.
The country is nice, but awful flat.
This next will kill my boeties with laughter.
I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a dassie's head and doesn't move at all. And it isn't shooting back at you like those bl*ks*mse Venter boys from the next door plaas. All you have to do is lie there all rustig like and hit it. You don't even have to make your own cartridges. They come in boxes.
Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with the dorpies from the city. I have to be really careful though, they break real easy. It's not like fighting with Swart Duivel, our old bull at home. I'm about the best they got in this platoon except for that GrootJan Jordaan from somewhere in the Noord Transvaal. He joined up the same time as me. But I'm only 5'6" and 130 pounds and he's 6'8" and weighs over 300 pounds dry.
Be sure to tell my boeties to hurry and join before other okes find out about this Kommando setup and come stampeding in !
Your loving daughter,
Esther
Friday, 3 August 2007
The Gender of a Car
A little while back the immobilizer on my car decided to totally immobilize our lives for at least a day. Not making it to school didn't phase my daughter too much, but the subsequent trek to Auto Electricians and their difficulties in getting a new one to work, highlighted the car as a centre of our lives. We were talking about it that evening, when my daughter got that puzzled expression:
"Is your car a He or a She?"
"She," I said, without hesitation. "For some reason, people seem to refer to cars as 'She'.
"I know. A friend of mine also called his car 'She' the other day. Why?"
"I have no idea." Her expression excluded the possibility of not knowing why. "Well, I guess - perhaps - it's because we treasure our cars, and we're proud of them, and we can't do without them. And because they need care and attention and we enjoy giving it to them?"
She gazed at me thoughtfully.
"Or perhaps," I continued hesitantly, "it's because they're sensitive and tempremental, cost you a fortune to maintain and are generally full of sh.t."
She grinned. "More likely, I think."
It got me wondering about how many other objects we assign genders to without being conscious of it , but frankly, I didn't come up with anything significant. I guess our cars really are so special to us that they defy "object" status!
"Is your car a He or a She?"
"She," I said, without hesitation. "For some reason, people seem to refer to cars as 'She'.
"I know. A friend of mine also called his car 'She' the other day. Why?"
"I have no idea." Her expression excluded the possibility of not knowing why. "Well, I guess - perhaps - it's because we treasure our cars, and we're proud of them, and we can't do without them. And because they need care and attention and we enjoy giving it to them?"
She gazed at me thoughtfully.
"Or perhaps," I continued hesitantly, "it's because they're sensitive and tempremental, cost you a fortune to maintain and are generally full of sh.t."
She grinned. "More likely, I think."
It got me wondering about how many other objects we assign genders to without being conscious of it , but frankly, I didn't come up with anything significant. I guess our cars really are so special to us that they defy "object" status!
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