This week I received an e-mail from a friend I'd met in Israel in 1984, who lives in the U.K. She'd been browsing the web, came across my site, and decided to make contact. Something similar happened earlier this year.
The primary thrill, of course, is the contact with people one hasn't seen or heard from in a couple of decades, but from a blogging point of view, it's also quite a thrill that people actually find my site while browsing!
However, thinking back to those times and to my travels, I finally understood just why I like blogging so much more than the social networking sites. When I travelled, I travelled alone. I would meet people in faraway places, make friends, team up occasionally for specific travels, then move on. Travelling alone made it easier to be spontaneous, easier to get involved in spontaneous activities or to simply change plans at the drop of a hat, because a new-found friend had a more interesting schedule than mine. I enjoyed meeting people, both locals and other travellers; yet I enjoyed being alone and maintaining a degree of privacy.
Blogging is like that. I visit sites all over the globe, drop in, spend time with the writer, interact, then move on. Some sites just click with me and I enjoy repeated, or daily, visits. See what's happening, say "Hi", leave a comment. Keep up to date with the author's life and events, without imposing.
Some sites are special. For example, Carl Galloway's Life in Spain. Carl writes about Ronda, the town in Spain where he and his wife live. His posts about his surroundings and activities capture me completely. I feel that I know Ronda - that I can feel the atmosphere, taste the tastes and smell the smells, so to speak. He captures the 'spirit of place' wonderfully. For a few minutes, while I'm on that site, I am on holiday - not to a new destination, but to a familiar and friendly place that I enjoy returning to. If ever I get to travel again, Ronda would feature high on my list. Communicating with Carl is a regular pleasure, like meeting in the village, exchanging a few words, and continuing with the day.
Then there's a young fellow who lives in Singapore, who calls his site Kid Tech Guru. Xavier is just fourteen years old, but a guru he certainly is. He writes about the stuff that I want to know, in a pleasant and easy manner that even I can understand. But one visits his site consistantly, not just because of his technical skill and the knowledge he shares, but simply because he is Xavier. I say "one" rather than "I", because it's quite obvious from the comments on his site that Xavier is a favourite of many people all over the world.
Another fascinating site is A Postcard A Day. Sheila posts a postcard a day from a collection that her father, an avid traveller, started. She has continued her father's hobby and shares those cards with us, along with posts about the cards. The cards themselves are fascinating to see - but somehow it's nice to share someone's hobby in such a way that we can enjoy the intimacy of it without imposing.
I haven't made any money out of blogging. To me, the love of blogging is the people who do it, the experiences I gain from their experiences, the armchair travelling, and the unimposing intimacy - as opposed to the hype and the chat room atmosphere of the social networking sites.
It's not about which is better - it's simply about what suits my peculiar personality!
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Jozikids Play Zone
From the desk of the Jozikids team:
The highlight for us this week is the JOZIKIDS Play Zone. We hope to see many of you there. See details below.
We have already started receiving information about holiday activities and camps for the next school holiday period.
New HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES for Sept/Oct:
Esperanza Riding School
Inkwenkwezi Camp
Rainbow week at YEESH!
New AUG/SEPT EVENTS:
Polka Dot Arts & Crafts
Salvation Army Bumper Fete
K-TV Market Day
Hollywood Rocks: Music from the Movies
The Boys are Back in Town
Jazz on the Lake Concert
A Program of Jewish Music
Halloween at the Jhb Zoo
Yebo Gogga Yebo Amablomma
Rietvlei Spring Carnival
Genius LAB
JOZIKIDS PLAY ZONE @ DSTV-GETAWAY SHOW
We are creating a secure, supervised kiddies play area called the JOZIKIDS PLAY ZONE at the DSTV-GETAWAY Show at the Coca Cola Dome this weekend, from Aug 29-31. You can leave your kids with us for R10 an hour, while you enjoy the show. The following Jozikids listers will be providing 3 days of fun filled activities and entertainment.
SHOWS Croc City Croc Farm - Reptile show Fri 1-3pm, Sat and Sun 11am-1pm
A-Z Creative Entertainment - African dancing and face painting on Fri 3pm and Sat 2pm
Rhythmania - Drumming workshops on Sun 2-4pm
LOTS OF FUN Jumpsafe Trampolines.
Kinglets and Queenies - A big slide, ball pond and Barney.
Little Kickers - Soccer games.
ABig Party Explosion - Games like musical chairs, bowling plus a sandpit.
Enchanted Forest - Block building, finger painting and face painting.
Picolino's Events - Chocolate fountain, party packs and face painting.
Cupcakes Catering - Decorate your own cupcake.
Kids Haven - Competitions.
Airborne Adventures - A parachute (only Sat and Sun).
Zenone Connection - Games with party packs and Shrek (only Sat and Sun).
Toi Toi - Face painting (only Sunday).
There’s also a skate park nearby for older kids. So the kids can play while mom and dad check out the camping equipment, holiday destinations, outdoor gear, have a chance to win prizes, find great deals or participate in a photography or GPS workshop on offer at the show.
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
ANIMALS Montecasino Bird Gardens in Fourways until Aug 29.
Zoo-mazing , holiday program at the Johannesburg Zoo, Aug 25-29
Mythbuster Tour, visit the nocturnal animals at the Johannesburg Zoo, Aug 27.
Esperanza Riding School Holiday Program, Pretoria. Sept 29-Oct 3.
ARTS/CRAFTS Polka Dot Arts & Crafts in Parkhurst, Aug 25-29
Hedgehog Lane holiday program in Bryanston, 9am-5pm, until Aug 31
Scribble and Splot Art workshops in Fourways on Aug 27,29
Smudge Art Centre workshops, Craighall Park, Aug 26-31.
Rainbow week at YEESH! indoor play area in Woodmead, Sept 24-30
CAMPS Shepherd's Fold Stables Holiday Pony Camp at Elandsdrift on Aug 27-28.
SA Basecamp weekend for kids at Hartbeespoort, Sept 26-28
Inkwenkwezi Junior School Holiday Camp, Magaliesberg, Sept 29-Oct 3.
FUN River Cafe holiday program in Parkmore until Aug 29.
Fantasy Park holiday program in Chartwell until Aug 29.
MATHS Master Maths branches all offer a 33.3% holiday discount.
Educ8 Tuition Centres in Melville has matric revision classes in math/science/accounting.
SPORT Tennis, ITA clinics, Pirates Tennis Club, Greenside, Aug 25-29.
Bat Man- Kidz Cricket Clinic in Fourways, Aug 25-28, special discount w/ JOZIKIDS voucher.
TECHNOLOGY icamp Technology Workshops on Aug 25-30, Sept 22-26.
AUG/SEPT EVENTS
ACTION Wild Cave Adventures, abseiling at the Cradle of Humankind, every Sunday.
DANCE Romeo and Juliet at the Dance Factory in Newtown from Sept 5-7.
La Traviata - The Ballet at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, until Sept 7.
FOOD Cooking Demo - Healthy snacks & lunch box at Greenlands in Parkview, Aug 27
Choc Delight Chocolate Moulding Classes in Florida, Aug 30, Sept 27
Linda's Bake and Pack baking/craft courses, Westdene, Aug 30, Sept 6,13,20
FUN DAYS Salvation Army Bumper Fete at Firlands Childrens Home, Aug 30.
Spring Carnival at Jeppe Prep, Aug 30.
Spring Day at the Johannesburg Zoo on Aug 31
Funtasia Fun Day at Rivonia Primary School on Sept 6.
Dream Day w/Reach For A Dream & Global Village, Bruma Lake, Sept 6.
Rietvlei Spring Carnival at Rietvlei Farm Alberton, Sept 7.
GENIUS Genius LAB Mathe-magics & Science for Wiz-Kidz, Sept 5.
HALLOWEEN Halloween at the Johannesburg Zoo, Oct 25.
HERITAGE Heritage Month at Maropeng in Hekpoort, W Rand from Sept 1-30.
MARKETS Alberts Farm Spring Fair, Greymont on Aug 30.
Bunny Park Crafter's Market in Benoni on Aug 30.
K-TV Market Day Brightwater Commons Randburg, Sept 6.
Craighall River Craft Market every 2nd Sat of month at Craighall Park.
Holistic Fayre in Edenvale on Sept 6,7.
MUSIC Sundowner Concerts at UJ Auckland Park on Mon evenings, Sept 1,8,15,22.
Jewish Music Program at the RCHCC in Houghton on Sept 7.
Jazz on the Lake at Zoo Lake Jhb, Sept 7.
NATURE Yebo Gogga Yebo AmaBlomma Exhibit-insects,animals,plants at Wits, Sept 27-30.
SALE Fairy Dust Interiors Closing Down Sale in Randburg until Aug 31.
SHOWS DSTV-Getaway Show with JOZIKIDS Play Zone, Coca Cola Dome, Aug 29-31.
South African Tattoo, at Montecasino Fourways, Sept 11-14.
Fly me to the Moon, 4D Movie now showing at Gold Reef City.
SPORT Slo-Jo Little Mugger Adventure Challenge-Bike at Maropeng, Hekpoort, Aug 31.
Vit-T-Go Afriman Duathlong at Maropeng Hekpoort, Sept 7.
THEATRE WAM! , Roodepoort Theatre, Aug 4-29.
Liewe Heksie, a Joburg Promusica, Roodepoort Theatre until Aug 30.
Lord of the Dance, at Montecasino until Aug 30.
La Vida :Pop & Rock Sounds of Latin America, Barnyard Theatre-Broadacres until 31 Aug.
Hollywood Rocks: Music from the Movies!, Barnyard Theatre-Broadacres, Sept 2-Oct 12.
The Boys are Back in Town, Barnyard Theatre-Cresta Sept 2-Oct 12.
Bollywood Love Story: A Musical at The Market Theatre, Sept 4-14.
Aladdin, at the National Children's Theatre, Sept 8- Oct 18.
Little Red Riding Hood and Other Stories at the People's Theatre, Sept 8- Oct 15.
TRAINS Various train trips, Aug 31, Sept 3,5,6,7,24,28 .
WALKS/HIKES Check the calender every weekend for a list of regular walks or hikes in Gauteng.
The Zoo Trot at JHB Zoo, every 2nd Sunday of the month.
WORKSHOPS Life Skills 4 Kids workshops for kids and parents at Triba during Aug.
ADHASA's Annual ADHD Seminar at WITS West Campus on Sept 13-14
The highlight for us this week is the JOZIKIDS Play Zone. We hope to see many of you there. See details below.
We have already started receiving information about holiday activities and camps for the next school holiday period.
New HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES for Sept/Oct:
Esperanza Riding School
Inkwenkwezi Camp
Rainbow week at YEESH!
New AUG/SEPT EVENTS:
Polka Dot Arts & Crafts
Salvation Army Bumper Fete
K-TV Market Day
Hollywood Rocks: Music from the Movies
The Boys are Back in Town
Jazz on the Lake Concert
A Program of Jewish Music
Halloween at the Jhb Zoo
Yebo Gogga Yebo Amablomma
Rietvlei Spring Carnival
Genius LAB
JOZIKIDS PLAY ZONE @ DSTV-GETAWAY SHOW
We are creating a secure, supervised kiddies play area called the JOZIKIDS PLAY ZONE at the DSTV-GETAWAY Show at the Coca Cola Dome this weekend, from Aug 29-31. You can leave your kids with us for R10 an hour, while you enjoy the show. The following Jozikids listers will be providing 3 days of fun filled activities and entertainment.
SHOWS Croc City Croc Farm - Reptile show Fri 1-3pm, Sat and Sun 11am-1pm
A-Z Creative Entertainment - African dancing and face painting on Fri 3pm and Sat 2pm
Rhythmania - Drumming workshops on Sun 2-4pm
LOTS OF FUN Jumpsafe Trampolines.
Kinglets and Queenies - A big slide, ball pond and Barney.
Little Kickers - Soccer games.
ABig Party Explosion - Games like musical chairs, bowling plus a sandpit.
Enchanted Forest - Block building, finger painting and face painting.
Picolino's Events - Chocolate fountain, party packs and face painting.
Cupcakes Catering - Decorate your own cupcake.
Kids Haven - Competitions.
Airborne Adventures - A parachute (only Sat and Sun).
Zenone Connection - Games with party packs and Shrek (only Sat and Sun).
Toi Toi - Face painting (only Sunday).
There’s also a skate park nearby for older kids. So the kids can play while mom and dad check out the camping equipment, holiday destinations, outdoor gear, have a chance to win prizes, find great deals or participate in a photography or GPS workshop on offer at the show.
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
ANIMALS Montecasino Bird Gardens in Fourways until Aug 29.
Zoo-mazing , holiday program at the Johannesburg Zoo, Aug 25-29
Mythbuster Tour, visit the nocturnal animals at the Johannesburg Zoo, Aug 27.
Esperanza Riding School Holiday Program, Pretoria. Sept 29-Oct 3.
ARTS/CRAFTS Polka Dot Arts & Crafts in Parkhurst, Aug 25-29
Hedgehog Lane holiday program in Bryanston, 9am-5pm, until Aug 31
Scribble and Splot Art workshops in Fourways on Aug 27,29
Smudge Art Centre workshops, Craighall Park, Aug 26-31.
Rainbow week at YEESH! indoor play area in Woodmead, Sept 24-30
CAMPS Shepherd's Fold Stables Holiday Pony Camp at Elandsdrift on Aug 27-28.
SA Basecamp weekend for kids at Hartbeespoort, Sept 26-28
Inkwenkwezi Junior School Holiday Camp, Magaliesberg, Sept 29-Oct 3.
FUN River Cafe holiday program in Parkmore until Aug 29.
Fantasy Park holiday program in Chartwell until Aug 29.
MATHS Master Maths branches all offer a 33.3% holiday discount.
Educ8 Tuition Centres in Melville has matric revision classes in math/science/accounting.
SPORT Tennis, ITA clinics, Pirates Tennis Club, Greenside, Aug 25-29.
Bat Man- Kidz Cricket Clinic in Fourways, Aug 25-28, special discount w/ JOZIKIDS voucher.
TECHNOLOGY icamp Technology Workshops on Aug 25-30, Sept 22-26.
AUG/SEPT EVENTS
ACTION Wild Cave Adventures, abseiling at the Cradle of Humankind, every Sunday.
DANCE Romeo and Juliet at the Dance Factory in Newtown from Sept 5-7.
La Traviata - The Ballet at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, until Sept 7.
FOOD Cooking Demo - Healthy snacks & lunch box at Greenlands in Parkview, Aug 27
Choc Delight Chocolate Moulding Classes in Florida, Aug 30, Sept 27
Linda's Bake and Pack baking/craft courses, Westdene, Aug 30, Sept 6,13,20
FUN DAYS Salvation Army Bumper Fete at Firlands Childrens Home, Aug 30.
Spring Carnival at Jeppe Prep, Aug 30.
Spring Day at the Johannesburg Zoo on Aug 31
Funtasia Fun Day at Rivonia Primary School on Sept 6.
Dream Day w/Reach For A Dream & Global Village, Bruma Lake, Sept 6.
Rietvlei Spring Carnival at Rietvlei Farm Alberton, Sept 7.
GENIUS Genius LAB Mathe-magics & Science for Wiz-Kidz, Sept 5.
HALLOWEEN Halloween at the Johannesburg Zoo, Oct 25.
HERITAGE Heritage Month at Maropeng in Hekpoort, W Rand from Sept 1-30.
MARKETS Alberts Farm Spring Fair, Greymont on Aug 30.
Bunny Park Crafter's Market in Benoni on Aug 30.
K-TV Market Day Brightwater Commons Randburg, Sept 6.
Craighall River Craft Market every 2nd Sat of month at Craighall Park.
Holistic Fayre in Edenvale on Sept 6,7.
MUSIC Sundowner Concerts at UJ Auckland Park on Mon evenings, Sept 1,8,15,22.
Jewish Music Program at the RCHCC in Houghton on Sept 7.
Jazz on the Lake at Zoo Lake Jhb, Sept 7.
NATURE Yebo Gogga Yebo AmaBlomma Exhibit-insects,animals,plants at Wits, Sept 27-30.
SALE Fairy Dust Interiors Closing Down Sale in Randburg until Aug 31.
SHOWS DSTV-Getaway Show with JOZIKIDS Play Zone, Coca Cola Dome, Aug 29-31.
South African Tattoo, at Montecasino Fourways, Sept 11-14.
Fly me to the Moon, 4D Movie now showing at Gold Reef City.
SPORT Slo-Jo Little Mugger Adventure Challenge-Bike at Maropeng, Hekpoort, Aug 31.
Vit-T-Go Afriman Duathlong at Maropeng Hekpoort, Sept 7.
THEATRE WAM! , Roodepoort Theatre, Aug 4-29.
Liewe Heksie, a Joburg Promusica, Roodepoort Theatre until Aug 30.
Lord of the Dance, at Montecasino until Aug 30.
La Vida :Pop & Rock Sounds of Latin America, Barnyard Theatre-Broadacres until 31 Aug.
Hollywood Rocks: Music from the Movies!, Barnyard Theatre-Broadacres, Sept 2-Oct 12.
The Boys are Back in Town, Barnyard Theatre-Cresta Sept 2-Oct 12.
Bollywood Love Story: A Musical at The Market Theatre, Sept 4-14.
Aladdin, at the National Children's Theatre, Sept 8- Oct 18.
Little Red Riding Hood and Other Stories at the People's Theatre, Sept 8- Oct 15.
TRAINS Various train trips, Aug 31, Sept 3,5,6,7,24,28 .
WALKS/HIKES Check the calender every weekend for a list of regular walks or hikes in Gauteng.
The Zoo Trot at JHB Zoo, every 2nd Sunday of the month.
WORKSHOPS Life Skills 4 Kids workshops for kids and parents at Triba during Aug.
ADHASA's Annual ADHD Seminar at WITS West Campus on Sept 13-14
Monday, 11 August 2008
Beijing Time
For those of you lucky enough to be following the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, I have placed the current Beijing time on the top right of this page.
Enjoy the Games!
Enjoy the Games!
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Home, James!.... Sipho, Calvin, David......
Do you have a GPS receiver in your vehicle? And is your home address saved as "Home"?
If you live in S.A., that may not be a great idea.
Our hijackers are bright young men, highly motivated to succeed in their chosen profession and always on the lookout for ways to improve their efficiency. They understand technology and subscribe to the principle of "working smart".
They have figured this out: When they steal or hijack a vehicle that has GPS, they hit "Home". They have your address. They quite probably have your remote in the car, and possibly even your keys. They know exactly where you are going to be - without transport, and trying to get the theft reported to the police. So they pop over to your house and relieve you of the burden of worldly possessions while you're preoccupied by the theft of your vehicle.
Cases like this have already been reported - so consider a safer way of saving that destination!
If there's one thing to be said for this country, it's that there's never a dull moment - and plenty to keep those little grey cells creative and alert!
If you live in S.A., that may not be a great idea.
Our hijackers are bright young men, highly motivated to succeed in their chosen profession and always on the lookout for ways to improve their efficiency. They understand technology and subscribe to the principle of "working smart".
They have figured this out: When they steal or hijack a vehicle that has GPS, they hit "Home". They have your address. They quite probably have your remote in the car, and possibly even your keys. They know exactly where you are going to be - without transport, and trying to get the theft reported to the police. So they pop over to your house and relieve you of the burden of worldly possessions while you're preoccupied by the theft of your vehicle.
Cases like this have already been reported - so consider a safer way of saving that destination!
If there's one thing to be said for this country, it's that there's never a dull moment - and plenty to keep those little grey cells creative and alert!
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