Man, you know the more I think about it the more I think the world is being unfair on Tiger Woods (I jumped onto that band wagon a few days ago) then I thought wait, I don’t remember Tiger Woods ever standing in front of me and saying I am a saint. I will never cheat on my wife. I will never do this or that. I am the ultimate role model. The whole world can look at me as a picture of morality. I remember no such thing. If me as a person perceived him to be as such and he ends up not being such a person, well whose problem is that? Not his man. I guess to some extent I understand why some sponsors would want to withdraw their sponsorships, but don’t blame him for anything.
The funnies thing I ever read was the Rev Al Sharpton, blasting Tiger for the lack of diversity in his misteresses, I mean have you ever???!!!
This is an extract from his comments: “Why is it that a man who calls himself black can’t bring himself to cheat on his wife with a black woman?” said Sharpton, speaking to a group of supporters in Harlem. “What does it say to young black girls everywhere when you pass them over? Shame on you, Tiger Woods. What would your daddy say?”
I don’t know anymore, but enough of that
18th December, that’s insane, last year this time I was with Ingo in Miami, had just seen Busta Rhymes got pretty vrot, missed my flight for the first time ever, got my baggage misplaced, missed my connecting transit from DC to NYC, got into a makeshift bus where the driver thought he was Michael Schumacher. My life flashed before my eyes many times. The bus was sliding along the roads like Tonya Harding on an ice rink. But I made it to a bitterly cold New York, hustled and bustled to get to some warmth. I smiled quietly. A few hours got on a plane to head home and said to myself 2009 will be a year to live.
Now I sit here afoot the cloud covered Table Mountain reminiscing of the year gone by and yup on a whole this year has definitely been a memorable one. The value of TRUE friends and family was entrenched. There are few things better than the comfort of knowing that true thick and thin, trials and tribulations, there are certain people who will always come through for you. The other fake artists must be exposed as Julius would say and put where they belong….over there ;). I have fallen I have stood up, laughed…sighed, many an emotion bar love but we will work on it next year ;) even started learning how to swim properly happy days.
It wasn’t by any means a perfect year but it was indeed an adventure for which I have no regrets and nothing I desire to have altered.
And to ME that’s the key about life in general just accepting things that have happened for what they were/are, taking the learnings and moving forward in a positive light with the hope of bettering what was wanting and enhancing what was positive. But then again what do I know, oh wait I know that that frame of mind and also helping others in your little way has helped me in my almost 34 years on Gods good earth.
Anyway here’s wishing you all the blessings that 2010 has instore for you. May it be the year you make it once again. Whatever you want is out there foro you but its up to you to make it happen!!
Birthdays
12th Bary
13th Si, Clauds, To, Dom
14th Lolly
15th Gamaliel
16th Stud Nana
17th Tshepiso
18th Renier
20th Thembi Mbengashe, Carla
21st Stephanie Deutschmann
22nd Sasha
23rd Mia
28th Mbumbs/Victoria
29th Biscuit
30th Thabang Skwambane
And that’s me for this year
Safe travels
Y
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
“nothing in any life, no matter how well or poorly lived, is wiser than failure or clearer than sorrow. And in the tiny precious wisdom they give to us, even those dreaded and hated enemies, suffering and failure, have their reason and right to be…” Shantaram
Who would have thought the 4th of December so soon this year, man its so clichéd but its been one helluva a whirlwind year, where did it go and where is it in such a hurry to go to? Its been a pretty eventful so far ey.
Both personally and in the world as a whole. I have quite enjoyed these 4 mth hiatus from formal employment I cannot lie, and dear Leila you were so right, the creator does provide if you trust in him to. In these 4 mths I have read some interesting books ey.
The journey started off with a book called the 4 hr work week which I just rounded off to the zero hour work week ☺ ok not entirely true but it made for good reading no. Great book about increasing efficiencies if you have your own business whose processes can be streamlined. Another well advertised book that I read was called Outliers by Malcom Gladwell. I found the book rather interesting in the points that it raised about what disappointed me was the follow through on those points. They just didn’t seem to go anywhere.
2 other noteworthy books I have kept myself busy with were Catcher in the Rye and most recently Shantaram. I don’t think I can tell you enough about this book. For me it was such an enchanting read man, I was spell bound, even when I was at gym trying to look sexy (just the body ofcourse) I was thinking of Prabu and Linbaba ☺. There are parts of the book that I think are extremely Ramboesque and far fetched but on a whole the book was deep. The philosophical and life lessons it delivered man…wooow read it.
What else, I met a wealthy haphazard Englishman who I am trying to do some work with but man is he a breaker??!! Drama personified I tell you. Days of our Lives have nothing on this man.
Anyway a huuuuge thing I have come to grips with lately as well is that I am really a fake Christian. Its not something I am proud of in any way and its something I am working on but man I preach the good speak about God and I truly believe in a being higher than myself who I have been brought up to believe takes the form of a Christian God. I read my Bible daily. I try walk the talk as best as I can, but in my heart of hearts there is something just amis. And I try but then I analyse and I fall short. I want to believe that the only way to God is through Jesus but then I think about my Muslim friends who walk the walk and talk the talk very religiously. I look At Buddhists, I think to the actions of some really good people who aren’t necessarily Christian, but their hearts purer and their actions more Christian the most Christian will they be cast into the fiery pits of hell because even though their lives was lived according to Gods way, they hadn’t accepted Jesus as their saviour? I believe my God to be more just than that? But anyway Aluta conituna, found a new church in Rondebosch thanks to Simone, that’s also a funny story, a week before, my bro and my cousin were lamenting the fact that we were struggling to find a church that speaks to us, then honestly no jokes less than a week later I got a message from my friend Simone who haven’t spoken to in a loooong time. She was just saying hi then she asked if I was still going to church I said nope cos I am struggling to find one that speaks to me so she told me about this Common Ground church. Tried it out last Sunday it was a ripper so will give it a shot again…happy days…
The best thing I have done though is I have finally started going for swimming lessons. Started last week after 5 or so years of failed new years resolutions. But the more I go the more I realize this fat as$ was built for land. Breathe, kick, arms…floating whats that ☺ but ey we persevere.
Tsk tsk tsk, whats this world coming to. Mr Squeaky clean Tiger Woods, extra marital relations, I don’t know no more man, just in the week I decide ok enough now, let me see if I can sommer find me that ordinary girl (but extraordinary for me ofcourse) like Lionel Richie sings about. But nooo tiger had to go and play out of bounds whats the world coming to I ask??
Another thing that grated me for a while a few weeks back was this Reitz 4 thing. For those of you know the story there were these 4 students at the Free State university who thought it would be interesting to initiate some of the university workers. Now from my view point. These workers are quite elderly and seemed to participate in these events of their free will. From where I sit, I think they could have said no at anytime but they didn’t and they looked like they were having fun. But alas, it became a big racial thing and there were criminal charges drawn up against these 4 dudes. Anyway a few mths later I think what transpired is the university rector decided to drop the charges against the 4. Well done to him I say.
These are 4 youngsters, I think they have learnt their lesson in these last few mths. To consistently pollute my ears and eyes with random headlines about political parties getting involved in the Reitz 4 scenario, come now peeps?? How many of us laugh at Leon Schuster when he ridicules unsuspecting people. I lie we don’t laugh we roll over hysterically. Nehooo
Anyway when I started writing this on Monday I had so much to write and now on Friday, I look outside at this beautiful day we have been given. So on that note I say to you peace out and you all go have yourselves a gem of a weekend!!
Birthdays
23rd Mukthar, Cobbs
27th Juzzy Moore
30th Chelsea, Acha Leke
1st Emmanuel Wayoe
3rd Scotty G
That’s me till next time.
Y
Who would have thought the 4th of December so soon this year, man its so clichéd but its been one helluva a whirlwind year, where did it go and where is it in such a hurry to go to? Its been a pretty eventful so far ey.
Both personally and in the world as a whole. I have quite enjoyed these 4 mth hiatus from formal employment I cannot lie, and dear Leila you were so right, the creator does provide if you trust in him to. In these 4 mths I have read some interesting books ey.
The journey started off with a book called the 4 hr work week which I just rounded off to the zero hour work week ☺ ok not entirely true but it made for good reading no. Great book about increasing efficiencies if you have your own business whose processes can be streamlined. Another well advertised book that I read was called Outliers by Malcom Gladwell. I found the book rather interesting in the points that it raised about what disappointed me was the follow through on those points. They just didn’t seem to go anywhere.
2 other noteworthy books I have kept myself busy with were Catcher in the Rye and most recently Shantaram. I don’t think I can tell you enough about this book. For me it was such an enchanting read man, I was spell bound, even when I was at gym trying to look sexy (just the body ofcourse) I was thinking of Prabu and Linbaba ☺. There are parts of the book that I think are extremely Ramboesque and far fetched but on a whole the book was deep. The philosophical and life lessons it delivered man…wooow read it.
What else, I met a wealthy haphazard Englishman who I am trying to do some work with but man is he a breaker??!! Drama personified I tell you. Days of our Lives have nothing on this man.
Anyway a huuuuge thing I have come to grips with lately as well is that I am really a fake Christian. Its not something I am proud of in any way and its something I am working on but man I preach the good speak about God and I truly believe in a being higher than myself who I have been brought up to believe takes the form of a Christian God. I read my Bible daily. I try walk the talk as best as I can, but in my heart of hearts there is something just amis. And I try but then I analyse and I fall short. I want to believe that the only way to God is through Jesus but then I think about my Muslim friends who walk the walk and talk the talk very religiously. I look At Buddhists, I think to the actions of some really good people who aren’t necessarily Christian, but their hearts purer and their actions more Christian the most Christian will they be cast into the fiery pits of hell because even though their lives was lived according to Gods way, they hadn’t accepted Jesus as their saviour? I believe my God to be more just than that? But anyway Aluta conituna, found a new church in Rondebosch thanks to Simone, that’s also a funny story, a week before, my bro and my cousin were lamenting the fact that we were struggling to find a church that speaks to us, then honestly no jokes less than a week later I got a message from my friend Simone who haven’t spoken to in a loooong time. She was just saying hi then she asked if I was still going to church I said nope cos I am struggling to find one that speaks to me so she told me about this Common Ground church. Tried it out last Sunday it was a ripper so will give it a shot again…happy days…
The best thing I have done though is I have finally started going for swimming lessons. Started last week after 5 or so years of failed new years resolutions. But the more I go the more I realize this fat as$ was built for land. Breathe, kick, arms…floating whats that ☺ but ey we persevere.
Tsk tsk tsk, whats this world coming to. Mr Squeaky clean Tiger Woods, extra marital relations, I don’t know no more man, just in the week I decide ok enough now, let me see if I can sommer find me that ordinary girl (but extraordinary for me ofcourse) like Lionel Richie sings about. But nooo tiger had to go and play out of bounds whats the world coming to I ask??
Another thing that grated me for a while a few weeks back was this Reitz 4 thing. For those of you know the story there were these 4 students at the Free State university who thought it would be interesting to initiate some of the university workers. Now from my view point. These workers are quite elderly and seemed to participate in these events of their free will. From where I sit, I think they could have said no at anytime but they didn’t and they looked like they were having fun. But alas, it became a big racial thing and there were criminal charges drawn up against these 4 dudes. Anyway a few mths later I think what transpired is the university rector decided to drop the charges against the 4. Well done to him I say.
These are 4 youngsters, I think they have learnt their lesson in these last few mths. To consistently pollute my ears and eyes with random headlines about political parties getting involved in the Reitz 4 scenario, come now peeps?? How many of us laugh at Leon Schuster when he ridicules unsuspecting people. I lie we don’t laugh we roll over hysterically. Nehooo
Anyway when I started writing this on Monday I had so much to write and now on Friday, I look outside at this beautiful day we have been given. So on that note I say to you peace out and you all go have yourselves a gem of a weekend!!
Birthdays
23rd Mukthar, Cobbs
27th Juzzy Moore
30th Chelsea, Acha Leke
1st Emmanuel Wayoe
3rd Scotty G
That’s me till next time.
Y
Friday, November 20, 2009
> Top of an absolutely sun-drenched morning to you all. Missed you guys
> maaan!! :)
> Tired as all hell i am today and meeting with my mate trying to get
> potentially our first little project to fruition... oh happy days.
>
> Anyway was just popping in to say howdee and that i will be writing a
> more meaningful email once i have had been released from the clutches of
> an insanely absorbing book i picked up a few weeks ago called
> Shantaram, man what a read but i am almost free cant wait till that day
> cos really i get home at 4am from the jol and i pick it up na man its
> gotsta stop.
>
> Anyway just a few stolen pearls of wisdom for you all...
> a fanatic is someone who wont change his mind and cant change the
> subject - Winston Churchill
> fate gives us 3 teachers, 3 friends, 3 enemies and 3 great loves in our
> lives, but these 12 are always disguised and we can never know which is
> which until we have loved them, left them or fought with them...too deep
>
> anyway let me get back to my thing and let you all get back to yours.
>
> you all have an insanely blessed weekend. Vaughan and Jem, hope you guys
> have a ripper in Ghana, its a great think you guys are doing and would
> have loved to have joined you all, but next time!!
>
> Birthdays
> 27th Oct Chief
> 1st Nov Izzy and Zara
> 2nd Isabel and Ez
> 4th Shashi and Tanya M
> 6th Sister Adoma and Lesley
> 10th Shan
> 11th Akin and Rachel
> 14th Celeste
> 15th Rowan and Ylanda
> 17th Donna
> 18th Fede
> 21st Neelesh
>
> And on that note I am outta here you all have yourselves an entertaining
> weekend.
>
> Be a blessing
>
> Y
>
>
>
> maaan!! :)
> Tired as all hell i am today and meeting with my mate trying to get
> potentially our first little project to fruition... oh happy days.
>
> Anyway was just popping in to say howdee and that i will be writing a
> more meaningful email once i have had been released from the clutches of
> an insanely absorbing book i picked up a few weeks ago called
> Shantaram, man what a read but i am almost free cant wait till that day
> cos really i get home at 4am from the jol and i pick it up na man its
> gotsta stop.
>
> Anyway just a few stolen pearls of wisdom for you all...
> a fanatic is someone who wont change his mind and cant change the
> subject - Winston Churchill
> fate gives us 3 teachers, 3 friends, 3 enemies and 3 great loves in our
> lives, but these 12 are always disguised and we can never know which is
> which until we have loved them, left them or fought with them...too deep
>
> anyway let me get back to my thing and let you all get back to yours.
>
> you all have an insanely blessed weekend. Vaughan and Jem, hope you guys
> have a ripper in Ghana, its a great think you guys are doing and would
> have loved to have joined you all, but next time!!
>
> Birthdays
> 27th Oct Chief
> 1st Nov Izzy and Zara
> 2nd Isabel and Ez
> 4th Shashi and Tanya M
> 6th Sister Adoma and Lesley
> 10th Shan
> 11th Akin and Rachel
> 14th Celeste
> 15th Rowan and Ylanda
> 17th Donna
> 18th Fede
> 21st Neelesh
>
> And on that note I am outta here you all have yourselves an entertaining
> weekend.
>
> Be a blessing
>
> Y
>
>
>
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
So anyway this week, even though i have a pretty decent pad in Barbeque Downs, a mate of mine asked me to house sit his super styling pad in the MichaelAngelo Towers, reluctantly I agreed, but thats only cos he asked me so nicely and i didn’t want to seem an ungrateful sod by declining ;) So as i write this I am looking out of paradise in the sky at the beautiful lights of Joburg stunning.
But this my good friends is a view and a lifestyle that only very few people will ever experience. Anyway, i guess thats the way of the world, because those rich few i guess make it possible for the poor few to buy bread and milk, i mean who is going to scrub those showers and toilets, make dinner, build these lovely drapes, wall paper, the electrical and telephone cables that service these places, the front desk concierge, security and so we move on...its life i tell ya, how its been and how it will always be!
Speaking of security, I must admit, I am pretty concerned about this talk about the police being given the right to shoot first then ask. From where i sit, it looks like its giving the police the ability to take peoples lives into their hands. I am all for fighting crime. I say this fresh after having an incident at my house last week. CRIME is South Africas greatest enemy and it needs to go. Is shoot to kill the correct solution....eeeeh i think not!
And why do i think not. Lets start off with the fundamentals. I have had maaaaany a run in with the authorities, funnily enough only in Joburg. And I cant find a more polite or PC way to put this, but the majority of the police I have encountered are power hungry, bullying, bumbling idiots. I really did try find better words to describe them but this alas was the best i could do. A lot of them display the mentality of a playground bully wait better still a looser who became prefect and now he feels he has arrived, oh wait oh wait even better, a steroid filled bouncer at a night club who feels that because he bounced you from the club he has a humungous penile extension and a bank balance to match Richard Branson’s. I think you get my drift. Many of these people have a grade 12 certificate but if i am not mistaken this was recently implemented, I think prior to that, a grade 8 would do. Now lets look at the demographic of the police force shall we. Majority = black. We all know the state of affairs in an average school in South Africa.
Thats just one facet I have delved into, not in depth by any means, but education my dear friends is key in most things particularly in instances where you decide whether someone lives or dies.
But wait there is more. Now these self same people work in an insanely risky job. They put their lives on the line to save our properties and our lives. They are constantly attending the funerals of their colleagues because they were not protecting their own homes, no man, they were downstairs here in Sandton responding to a call from someone who has had his BMW X6 nicked.
Lets throw in another dynamic, these people are insanely under paid in my mind, because if they were adequately paid they wouldn’t always be looking for cooldrink ;)
Let me give you an example of something that recently happened to a mate of mine, I was in Cape Town so I called in a substitute to be harassed my the popo in my absences. Lets use an arb name, lets call my mate Tim. So Tim and some friends had gone for a few drinks on a Thursday night. It was the wee hours of Friday morning, knowing work was around the corner, Tim decided to head on home. Smart man. He stopped at the traffic lights. They turned green he proceeded. A little while on his way he hears, weee o weeee o we, weeee o weee o we, weee o weeee o we, like a cop car (Lil Wayne ;)) yup and it was a cop car. Step out the car...Mr Officer what might be the problem sir he asks, boss u just jumped a red light there they said. You must be joking Tim replies. No seriaaas. You have been drinking ne? Tim may have had one or two, possibly over the limit, but not hammered. Tim begs them to go and breathalyse him, at this stage i think its the right time to tell you all that Tim plays poker compulsively too as evidenced by his call on the Cops. He was convincing. They told him. No but my man, you were driving like a mad man and you nearly caused an accident. We are going to take you to Jail. Tim logically asks. So where is this car that i nearly crashed into, please give me an indication of the colour or the number plate because they must come and lay a charge against me. At this point the cops realised, ey this one he is not a stupid ne. So they just uprooted him and in the back of the van he was shoved. They then proceeded to drive, might i add unnecessarily, like raving mad lunatics around the block, ofourse trying to put the fear of God in ol Tim. They then stopped and tried to make like a snake charmer and extort some cash from him for a crime he didn’t commit. He refused and so to the station he went. In the slammer he was put with proper hard criminals, murderers and a rapist i think he said. Now thats no way to spend a Thursday morning. They let him out in the morning and charged him. So what can Tim do....errr nothing!! Absolutely nothing, a typical case of you damned if you do and you damned if you don’t. I mean say he had to go after these bras, your life will be hell man, Every cop will be out to get u. Especially not being a South African born South African/resident. They laid a charge against him and now he has a record of negligent reckless driving. ABSOLUTE B*** S*** if you had to ask me, but you didn’t so i take it back.
Now you give these self same people a loaded gun and a licence to use it at their discretion with no consequence. But then again how can you blame them when they earn such pitons yet their boss lives the lifestyle of the rich and famous, racking up hotel bills amounting to half a million South African, IN THE PROVINCE WHERE HE LIVES!!! Why couldn’t he have just stayed at home eh? Up until a few mths ago his house was perfect ne? I don’t understand really i don’t!!
Anyway so life in SA has been alright lately you know, a man has been trying his luck with his Caucasian sisters and you know there seems to be some positive feedback, ya know work in progress... and then comes that bra Terblanche again, eish man that bra is messing up a brothers flow i tell you!! Jusus!! You know I thought falling off the horse and spending some time in the slammer had made him mute. The ladies had forgotten that us brothers are the swart gevaar, so much so that hanging with brothers was like almost cool (so i hear ofcourse), the beats 50 cent, Jigga, Kanye, Lil Wayne, The Game, all hot right now, low hanging jeans, caps bling, funky hand shakes are the way forward. Life was becoming integrated. Then he rises from the dead and starts mouthing off about forming a breakaway Afrikaner nation. I thought we were over this now. Can’t we all just get along?
This bra is calling for a separate state because in his words “It's now about the right of a nation that wants to separate itself from a unity state filled with crime, death, murder, rape, lies and fraud." This being the same guy, who was imprisoned in 2001, for the attempted murder of a security guard and almost beating a petrol attendant to death. Errrr
Nah man, his time is done. As a nation i think we have moved on in the right direction. There are a few fundamentals that concern me most of which were highlighted in that Nedbank document last week. But on a whole we have moved forward. Economically we are stronger, as a nation we are becoming more tolerant, we had 2 of the best Currie Cup semi finals I had ever witnessed this past weekend. Dont be fooled there is much to be done still, but the signs of progress are there. I have just returned from a visit to other parts of the continent and as i look out the window right now i realise how far head we are in some respect (yet behind in the humanity side of things).
He has a point in some ways though, because crime is our biggest problem at the moment and in some ways i can see how a person can choose crime. I have to be honest, man as a nation, we South Africans just ooze violence and aggression. Take for instance the semi finals between Province and the Bulls, I am sure everyones most memorable moment was Schalks tackle on Fourie. And that my friends is part of the undercurrent of this crime filled reality we live. Yes there are those who feel disenfranchised blah blah and I am loathe to use the excuse of the past, but unfortunately the chickens have come home to roost. This aggression and crime is becoming a part of our realities its almost an institution. On Friday when i heard that we had an incident at our house, i was away at the time and all i wanted to know if my brother was unharmed he said he was and i was like ok cool. It was like it was normal. It’s almost like its normal to have an incident with crime, if you haven’t then its only a matter of time. Thats wrong man. Because what that says to me is that crime is becoming institutionalised. ITS NOT RIGHT DAMNIT AND NOR IS IT ACCEPTABLE!! But change starts with me man, the small things, gotta go man they have to G......O!
K bedtime tired as knock knock jokes
Birthdays
9th KC
11th Nkululeko
13th Vuyani
15th Simon H
16th Anjita
17th Tshepo M
18th Sylvia
19th Mogul
20th Thandi M, Candice
21st Koo
24th Dr Phil
Just remember right now is the right time!!
Have a blessed week all
Y
But this my good friends is a view and a lifestyle that only very few people will ever experience. Anyway, i guess thats the way of the world, because those rich few i guess make it possible for the poor few to buy bread and milk, i mean who is going to scrub those showers and toilets, make dinner, build these lovely drapes, wall paper, the electrical and telephone cables that service these places, the front desk concierge, security and so we move on...its life i tell ya, how its been and how it will always be!
Speaking of security, I must admit, I am pretty concerned about this talk about the police being given the right to shoot first then ask. From where i sit, it looks like its giving the police the ability to take peoples lives into their hands. I am all for fighting crime. I say this fresh after having an incident at my house last week. CRIME is South Africas greatest enemy and it needs to go. Is shoot to kill the correct solution....eeeeh i think not!
And why do i think not. Lets start off with the fundamentals. I have had maaaaany a run in with the authorities, funnily enough only in Joburg. And I cant find a more polite or PC way to put this, but the majority of the police I have encountered are power hungry, bullying, bumbling idiots. I really did try find better words to describe them but this alas was the best i could do. A lot of them display the mentality of a playground bully wait better still a looser who became prefect and now he feels he has arrived, oh wait oh wait even better, a steroid filled bouncer at a night club who feels that because he bounced you from the club he has a humungous penile extension and a bank balance to match Richard Branson’s. I think you get my drift. Many of these people have a grade 12 certificate but if i am not mistaken this was recently implemented, I think prior to that, a grade 8 would do. Now lets look at the demographic of the police force shall we. Majority = black. We all know the state of affairs in an average school in South Africa.
Thats just one facet I have delved into, not in depth by any means, but education my dear friends is key in most things particularly in instances where you decide whether someone lives or dies.
But wait there is more. Now these self same people work in an insanely risky job. They put their lives on the line to save our properties and our lives. They are constantly attending the funerals of their colleagues because they were not protecting their own homes, no man, they were downstairs here in Sandton responding to a call from someone who has had his BMW X6 nicked.
Lets throw in another dynamic, these people are insanely under paid in my mind, because if they were adequately paid they wouldn’t always be looking for cooldrink ;)
Let me give you an example of something that recently happened to a mate of mine, I was in Cape Town so I called in a substitute to be harassed my the popo in my absences. Lets use an arb name, lets call my mate Tim. So Tim and some friends had gone for a few drinks on a Thursday night. It was the wee hours of Friday morning, knowing work was around the corner, Tim decided to head on home. Smart man. He stopped at the traffic lights. They turned green he proceeded. A little while on his way he hears, weee o weeee o we, weeee o weee o we, weee o weeee o we, like a cop car (Lil Wayne ;)) yup and it was a cop car. Step out the car...Mr Officer what might be the problem sir he asks, boss u just jumped a red light there they said. You must be joking Tim replies. No seriaaas. You have been drinking ne? Tim may have had one or two, possibly over the limit, but not hammered. Tim begs them to go and breathalyse him, at this stage i think its the right time to tell you all that Tim plays poker compulsively too as evidenced by his call on the Cops. He was convincing. They told him. No but my man, you were driving like a mad man and you nearly caused an accident. We are going to take you to Jail. Tim logically asks. So where is this car that i nearly crashed into, please give me an indication of the colour or the number plate because they must come and lay a charge against me. At this point the cops realised, ey this one he is not a stupid ne. So they just uprooted him and in the back of the van he was shoved. They then proceeded to drive, might i add unnecessarily, like raving mad lunatics around the block, ofourse trying to put the fear of God in ol Tim. They then stopped and tried to make like a snake charmer and extort some cash from him for a crime he didn’t commit. He refused and so to the station he went. In the slammer he was put with proper hard criminals, murderers and a rapist i think he said. Now thats no way to spend a Thursday morning. They let him out in the morning and charged him. So what can Tim do....errr nothing!! Absolutely nothing, a typical case of you damned if you do and you damned if you don’t. I mean say he had to go after these bras, your life will be hell man, Every cop will be out to get u. Especially not being a South African born South African/resident. They laid a charge against him and now he has a record of negligent reckless driving. ABSOLUTE B*** S*** if you had to ask me, but you didn’t so i take it back.
Now you give these self same people a loaded gun and a licence to use it at their discretion with no consequence. But then again how can you blame them when they earn such pitons yet their boss lives the lifestyle of the rich and famous, racking up hotel bills amounting to half a million South African, IN THE PROVINCE WHERE HE LIVES!!! Why couldn’t he have just stayed at home eh? Up until a few mths ago his house was perfect ne? I don’t understand really i don’t!!
Anyway so life in SA has been alright lately you know, a man has been trying his luck with his Caucasian sisters and you know there seems to be some positive feedback, ya know work in progress... and then comes that bra Terblanche again, eish man that bra is messing up a brothers flow i tell you!! Jusus!! You know I thought falling off the horse and spending some time in the slammer had made him mute. The ladies had forgotten that us brothers are the swart gevaar, so much so that hanging with brothers was like almost cool (so i hear ofcourse), the beats 50 cent, Jigga, Kanye, Lil Wayne, The Game, all hot right now, low hanging jeans, caps bling, funky hand shakes are the way forward. Life was becoming integrated. Then he rises from the dead and starts mouthing off about forming a breakaway Afrikaner nation. I thought we were over this now. Can’t we all just get along?
This bra is calling for a separate state because in his words “It's now about the right of a nation that wants to separate itself from a unity state filled with crime, death, murder, rape, lies and fraud." This being the same guy, who was imprisoned in 2001, for the attempted murder of a security guard and almost beating a petrol attendant to death. Errrr
Nah man, his time is done. As a nation i think we have moved on in the right direction. There are a few fundamentals that concern me most of which were highlighted in that Nedbank document last week. But on a whole we have moved forward. Economically we are stronger, as a nation we are becoming more tolerant, we had 2 of the best Currie Cup semi finals I had ever witnessed this past weekend. Dont be fooled there is much to be done still, but the signs of progress are there. I have just returned from a visit to other parts of the continent and as i look out the window right now i realise how far head we are in some respect (yet behind in the humanity side of things).
He has a point in some ways though, because crime is our biggest problem at the moment and in some ways i can see how a person can choose crime. I have to be honest, man as a nation, we South Africans just ooze violence and aggression. Take for instance the semi finals between Province and the Bulls, I am sure everyones most memorable moment was Schalks tackle on Fourie. And that my friends is part of the undercurrent of this crime filled reality we live. Yes there are those who feel disenfranchised blah blah and I am loathe to use the excuse of the past, but unfortunately the chickens have come home to roost. This aggression and crime is becoming a part of our realities its almost an institution. On Friday when i heard that we had an incident at our house, i was away at the time and all i wanted to know if my brother was unharmed he said he was and i was like ok cool. It was like it was normal. It’s almost like its normal to have an incident with crime, if you haven’t then its only a matter of time. Thats wrong man. Because what that says to me is that crime is becoming institutionalised. ITS NOT RIGHT DAMNIT AND NOR IS IT ACCEPTABLE!! But change starts with me man, the small things, gotta go man they have to G......O!
K bedtime tired as knock knock jokes
Birthdays
9th KC
11th Nkululeko
13th Vuyani
15th Simon H
16th Anjita
17th Tshepo M
18th Sylvia
19th Mogul
20th Thandi M, Candice
21st Koo
24th Dr Phil
Just remember right now is the right time!!
Have a blessed week all
Y
Friday, October 09, 2009
So you know when i cruise the long long loooong streets of joburg, even though i don’t mean to, i tend to notice that the young ones i.e. the ladies tend to give the brother an eye, sometimes even a smile too. So a couple of weeks ago when my pops had the scare, he is by his Creators grace, doing much better, and thanks to all those who dropped us a line etc, much love..., so a couple of weeks ago I was in Jozi, right, cruising around in my folks old school Daewoo, you know what i noticed... no looks, nada, not even like a sneaky, NIKS! So much for me being hot, but you know what i dealt with it...ok dealing with it....waaaa kaaa kaaa ka
Hello guys, my name is Yaw and I live an absolutely charmed life, not throwing it in anyones faces or nothing, just sitting here and appreciating every single lemon and lemonade life has dished out to me. And to be honest and not to sound like i am trying to convince myself of anything, there is nowhere else i’d rather be than right here where I am. Its. 02.40 am. I am just about to hit the hay from such an ordinary day, yet such a blessed day. Let me explain.
Yesterday I went to the big blue, Standard Bank, you know just to say hi to my old colleagues, cos i do that quite regularly, because they truly are a great bunch and yesterday well Wednesday, i got reminded of just that. It was meant to be a quick 30min visit i think i spent about 3 hrs if not more there, just chewing the fat with some genuine decent people. I mean lets take for instance Dave King who is like the big boss of the Corporate and Investment Bank in Cape Town, not that I am trivialising anyone else who made time to catch up with me, but the man is busy, he’s got shiznit to do, but nope, he got out of his desk took me aside into one of the boardrooms and we had like a real full on conversation about life his and mine and just generally chewed the fat. To many people its like whatever, but man to me it left such an impression but i am sure you can tell. That whole 3 hrs or so, just walking around there like i was still part of the familia, chatting with the security guards receptionists the whole crew. That my good people is what this life is about. Being real and being sincere about it all.
Another illustration of some of the charm in my life is, so a few hrs ago i was like invited to go to a fashion show with a mate of mine, to be frank that place was full of phonies and the whole environment made me want to bust a gut, but my mate was a belter and we come a long way so the company made up for it, anyway from there we shot off to Jade, yup u know this, Thursday nite = Jade nite. Anyway so my mate and I are shooting the breeze, but its loud inside so we decide to head on out onto the balcony where there are some chairs to have a yarn about this and that. Anyhoo, I have developed this new habit of wearing tight jeans, apparently its sexy, i am struggling with em at the moment cos my cellphone and the pocket aren’t talking nicely to each other. So i took out my phone and put it on the table. Anyway we decided to go inside. K let me tell you in my defence, my mate is quite alright hey and she was wearing everything low cut...top...skirt...everything. I never thought i was like this but apparently I am, so a man may have had a slight touch of confusioscalitis, better known as confusion, lack of focus or rather focus on the wrong things. Totally out of character cos i never ever ever leave my mobile everrrrr. Anway I did. Oblivious to this we head off to the bar shoot the breeze order our drinks and cackle away. Then all of a sardine this very cute young lass strolls up to me and says to me sorry to disturb, but what is your name, I looked around for the candid camera cos i was like u gotta be joking me...stuff like this doesn’t happen to me ;), anyway so I say Yaw, hi, she is like hi, I found your phone...what are the chances?? She found it on the table anc called my last dialled number a mate who gave her a description of what i look like, imagine that...Its so good to see that there are still some good people left in this world i tell ya. That leads me to this weeks email
I know I sound like a nag alot, but man it bugs me. Charmed life aside, my stellar mates aside and i mean the great ones who know exactly who they are aside, the world is such a messed up place man. People aren’t for real. Its so coincidental that a mate of mine gave me this book The Catcher in The Rye, which i read this week a truly captivating read and I cant get over it. The main character to many might seem slightly disturbed, but in a lot of the issues he raises he is spot on and so in tune with how the world around him is so phony. Like the fashion show today for example, some of the items of clothing were beyond random, but there was tumultuous applause, I sigh. But worst still is how we as a people treat each other. How everyone is on such a mission to succeed irrespective of the price or who they have to do what to to get there. How we are all so deceptive with each other so we can get our way, be it sex, career, acceptance you name it someone is always looking to screw someone over to get ahead, and then you get there and then what? Are you now the king or queen, no my dear so and so, you are still the same loser you are trying so hard to hide away from. Unless ofcourse I have it all wrong, but thats not possible, this is me we are talking about here ;). I just look at the world at the moment we are in such a marginal place because, of peoples greed and desire to rule all. Zim, the USA, Korea, Iran, DRC, Angola, Bosnia, Croatia, Sudan, Guinea, Palestine, man I could go on for days, but I think you all get my drift. I look at this continent. So rich in resources, people, for crying out loud most of the western world was built on the back of Africans (slaves), natural resources, landscape, scenery, there is absolutely noooooooo fathomable reason for this continent to even be remotely in the state that its in. Many blame colonialism, dear friends that institution was gone eons ago, lets move on. I take my country of birth Ghana, 50 or so years ago we gained independence, what have we done, fair enough we are starting to gain some momentum, but man why so long and why don’t so many simple things work? I don’t understand. We have a humungous unemployment rate. Broken infrastructure or outdated infrastructure. We claim not to have money, yet we can spend millions and millions on random presidential palaces...COMEON??!!
You know the beauty about time is you have a huge opportunity to assess and observe yourself and your environment. And what i can say without a doubt is I am truly blessed, yes for what i have, but most importantly for who I have. I have a mate here in CT and he and I are trying to set up an entity what do we do....everything, mainly how do my Naija broddas say...import...export ;) but u want it we know someone who has it and thats the deal for now, very informal but we managed to close our first trade this week, happy days, bond is covered for a few months, wikkid. We have no shareholders agreements nada, ya some might say its immature etc, and i guess I should know better, but to me the soul of a man and the nature of his being is worth so much more than any piece of paper...ey oh oh ey, this tune may change when we start making millions, momma didn’t raise no fool but the essence will remain the same. Cos dear friends whether you like it or not, one thing thats for damn sure is we are all going to DIE, yep DIE, and the only thing you leave behind other than all the millions you amassed is the impression you left on those around you...
It’s funny how when I started writing this I had absolutely no idea what I was going to write about yet a page and a half later I hope I made some sense...
I say this all the time and it may seem so put on, but if you are lucky enough to be alive and reading this, remember that your maker has given you another day to be the best you you can be, for yourself and others. Dont waste it, cos many would love to be in your shoes. Many who have walked through Heavens gates way before their time. Trust you me none of us are immortal. Ok 03.00am i must get me some sleep for my insanely busy day of nothing tomorrow
Birthdays
28th Sept Meglic, Mohi
30th Brett
1st Oct Herman
2nd Linda
3rd Monkfish
9th KC
Good night world! Maximum respect in all sincerity. Give a damn about the world around you...
Y
Hello guys, my name is Yaw and I live an absolutely charmed life, not throwing it in anyones faces or nothing, just sitting here and appreciating every single lemon and lemonade life has dished out to me. And to be honest and not to sound like i am trying to convince myself of anything, there is nowhere else i’d rather be than right here where I am. Its. 02.40 am. I am just about to hit the hay from such an ordinary day, yet such a blessed day. Let me explain.
Yesterday I went to the big blue, Standard Bank, you know just to say hi to my old colleagues, cos i do that quite regularly, because they truly are a great bunch and yesterday well Wednesday, i got reminded of just that. It was meant to be a quick 30min visit i think i spent about 3 hrs if not more there, just chewing the fat with some genuine decent people. I mean lets take for instance Dave King who is like the big boss of the Corporate and Investment Bank in Cape Town, not that I am trivialising anyone else who made time to catch up with me, but the man is busy, he’s got shiznit to do, but nope, he got out of his desk took me aside into one of the boardrooms and we had like a real full on conversation about life his and mine and just generally chewed the fat. To many people its like whatever, but man to me it left such an impression but i am sure you can tell. That whole 3 hrs or so, just walking around there like i was still part of the familia, chatting with the security guards receptionists the whole crew. That my good people is what this life is about. Being real and being sincere about it all.
Another illustration of some of the charm in my life is, so a few hrs ago i was like invited to go to a fashion show with a mate of mine, to be frank that place was full of phonies and the whole environment made me want to bust a gut, but my mate was a belter and we come a long way so the company made up for it, anyway from there we shot off to Jade, yup u know this, Thursday nite = Jade nite. Anyway so my mate and I are shooting the breeze, but its loud inside so we decide to head on out onto the balcony where there are some chairs to have a yarn about this and that. Anyhoo, I have developed this new habit of wearing tight jeans, apparently its sexy, i am struggling with em at the moment cos my cellphone and the pocket aren’t talking nicely to each other. So i took out my phone and put it on the table. Anyway we decided to go inside. K let me tell you in my defence, my mate is quite alright hey and she was wearing everything low cut...top...skirt...everything. I never thought i was like this but apparently I am, so a man may have had a slight touch of confusioscalitis, better known as confusion, lack of focus or rather focus on the wrong things. Totally out of character cos i never ever ever leave my mobile everrrrr. Anway I did. Oblivious to this we head off to the bar shoot the breeze order our drinks and cackle away. Then all of a sardine this very cute young lass strolls up to me and says to me sorry to disturb, but what is your name, I looked around for the candid camera cos i was like u gotta be joking me...stuff like this doesn’t happen to me ;), anyway so I say Yaw, hi, she is like hi, I found your phone...what are the chances?? She found it on the table anc called my last dialled number a mate who gave her a description of what i look like, imagine that...Its so good to see that there are still some good people left in this world i tell ya. That leads me to this weeks email
I know I sound like a nag alot, but man it bugs me. Charmed life aside, my stellar mates aside and i mean the great ones who know exactly who they are aside, the world is such a messed up place man. People aren’t for real. Its so coincidental that a mate of mine gave me this book The Catcher in The Rye, which i read this week a truly captivating read and I cant get over it. The main character to many might seem slightly disturbed, but in a lot of the issues he raises he is spot on and so in tune with how the world around him is so phony. Like the fashion show today for example, some of the items of clothing were beyond random, but there was tumultuous applause, I sigh. But worst still is how we as a people treat each other. How everyone is on such a mission to succeed irrespective of the price or who they have to do what to to get there. How we are all so deceptive with each other so we can get our way, be it sex, career, acceptance you name it someone is always looking to screw someone over to get ahead, and then you get there and then what? Are you now the king or queen, no my dear so and so, you are still the same loser you are trying so hard to hide away from. Unless ofcourse I have it all wrong, but thats not possible, this is me we are talking about here ;). I just look at the world at the moment we are in such a marginal place because, of peoples greed and desire to rule all. Zim, the USA, Korea, Iran, DRC, Angola, Bosnia, Croatia, Sudan, Guinea, Palestine, man I could go on for days, but I think you all get my drift. I look at this continent. So rich in resources, people, for crying out loud most of the western world was built on the back of Africans (slaves), natural resources, landscape, scenery, there is absolutely noooooooo fathomable reason for this continent to even be remotely in the state that its in. Many blame colonialism, dear friends that institution was gone eons ago, lets move on. I take my country of birth Ghana, 50 or so years ago we gained independence, what have we done, fair enough we are starting to gain some momentum, but man why so long and why don’t so many simple things work? I don’t understand. We have a humungous unemployment rate. Broken infrastructure or outdated infrastructure. We claim not to have money, yet we can spend millions and millions on random presidential palaces...COMEON??!!
You know the beauty about time is you have a huge opportunity to assess and observe yourself and your environment. And what i can say without a doubt is I am truly blessed, yes for what i have, but most importantly for who I have. I have a mate here in CT and he and I are trying to set up an entity what do we do....everything, mainly how do my Naija broddas say...import...export ;) but u want it we know someone who has it and thats the deal for now, very informal but we managed to close our first trade this week, happy days, bond is covered for a few months, wikkid. We have no shareholders agreements nada, ya some might say its immature etc, and i guess I should know better, but to me the soul of a man and the nature of his being is worth so much more than any piece of paper...ey oh oh ey, this tune may change when we start making millions, momma didn’t raise no fool but the essence will remain the same. Cos dear friends whether you like it or not, one thing thats for damn sure is we are all going to DIE, yep DIE, and the only thing you leave behind other than all the millions you amassed is the impression you left on those around you...
It’s funny how when I started writing this I had absolutely no idea what I was going to write about yet a page and a half later I hope I made some sense...
I say this all the time and it may seem so put on, but if you are lucky enough to be alive and reading this, remember that your maker has given you another day to be the best you you can be, for yourself and others. Dont waste it, cos many would love to be in your shoes. Many who have walked through Heavens gates way before their time. Trust you me none of us are immortal. Ok 03.00am i must get me some sleep for my insanely busy day of nothing tomorrow
Birthdays
28th Sept Meglic, Mohi
30th Brett
1st Oct Herman
2nd Linda
3rd Monkfish
9th KC
Good night world! Maximum respect in all sincerity. Give a damn about the world around you...
Y
Sunday, September 20, 2009
When I was slaving away in the corporate world, time was generally at a premium but somehow i always managed to steal some to write my weekly emails but not now, now that time is in abundance, sitting my bum down to jot down a few ideas, eish its a problem! Hmmm
Well howdeeho to you all, yes its been a while and other than pure laziness i cannot for the life of me think of one valid reason for not writing in so long. But alas today I write. So much has gone down in the last few weeks ey, Usain Bolt running the 100m and 200m in super human times, our poor Caster Semenya being put through hell on earth. The All Blacks were beaten 3 times by one team, I have never seen such a travesty ever. Barack is getting hammered in the USA, interest rate cut (happy days for the self unemployed), Rand strengthening, but watch let me go and buy a plane ticket and the damn thing will find a reason to devalue! Interesting times
So as u do when you have nothing but time on your hands, I have been doing a copious amount of thinking over the last few weeks and by George I think I have found it! Found what you ask, well the meaning to this thing we call life.
Life is definitely not a journey to be lived alone. It’s all about community, friends and family. Yes but i guess we all knew that hey?! So much for cracking the code, next time i tell u next time!! Over the last few weeks I have realised that in my life I have crossed paths with many people because thats me and thats what i do, but real true friends are few and far between and man am I blessed!!
Fair enough I have put myself in the position to be open or approachable to this but in the last few weeks I have had a good few people throwing assistance my way. People have been mailing or calling me with potential income generation opportunities, place to stay, u name it. Not to take anything for granted at all, its really eased the stress so that I can try and really focus on what it is that i want to spend the rest of my life doing...And what is that some might wonder...well to be honest I don’t think I am any closer to that one, but I think I do have an idea of what it is i don’t want to be doing at the moment. But I guess things change and maybe in a month, a year or so’s time things may well have changed again. But this my dear friends this is what its all about.
Alot of people especially my dear mother would be glad to hear this argument I have been having with myself lately. Up until very recently the idea of marriage and a family of my own, if my maker was willing to ‘bless’ me with such wasn’t a topic that I gave much thought to. I think in my life there have been maybe 2/3 women that i have even thought sheesh I could marry this woman or a woman like her...anyway 3 weeks I saw the true value of family and stuff. On 2 or so weeks ago I got a message from my sister that my pops had suddenly fallen ill. Now let me put it into context, my old man NEVER gets sick. The one other time he was sick, he had to have an operation on his stomach. Anyway so this was pretty serious, there was issues with his blood sugar levels. They were more than 10 times the normal rate and he had to be hospitalised. But just the way the family unit pulled itself together was truly amazing. My brother is a doctor so he called my dads doctor to get the low down on what was happening. My bro and sisters in Joburg, went to get my moms to make sure she was ok, I had to leave my insanely busy life of not too much and flew up to Joburg to keep the old lady company and make sure all is well whilst everyone else carried on with work and normal life. I was really glad I was in a position to be of assistance. But what truly was amazing was how friends were always asking how things were, family from all over the world were calling in to check on us and him. It was a ripper man. I remember saying to my mate Philip that I think it may be time to start considering this M thing, but then I went back to living life as me and that idea got doused somewhat, but at least its stronger than it was before the happenings of the last few weeks. But I am in NOOOOOO rush.
It hasn’t always been all these constructive thoughts floating through my head. Here is one thought and action that made me shake my head somewhat and to be quite honest I am well pleased i went through the process...as you can see these last 7 weeks...shoo its been a while ey, imagine i came here for what was meant to be a quick 2-3 week trip and here i am 7 weeks later and to be quite honest it doesn’t look like I will be heading back to Jozi any time soon ;)...I digress...so anyway as i was saying. So i came back to the house I lived in when I was living here in Cape Town in 2004 – 2006. When I first got back here, I found myself thinking about the ex of THREE BLOOODY YEARS AGO waaaay too much. It was bordering on obsessive behaviour something I am not prone to, other than you know the usual, don’t eat in the bedroom or in the lounge, wash my hands after cutting the chicken before i cut the green pepper, you know normal stuff that everybody else does ;)...anyway i found myself texting her and stuff now mind you I don’t have her mobile number on my cellphone, so it meant i had to switch on my laptop and then retrieve her details before the text was sent, and my laptop took a while to load up, so clearly i really wanted to send the text. Anyway it was only after a week or 2...and an return text from her asking me what i was trying to do that the penny dropped. Well so I made myself believe cos thats what its all about my beliefs. Here is the prognosis that i came up with that made sense to me. I dated her from 2004-2006. All my life in that house bar a month or so she was a part of it. So in my mind i think i associate that house with memories of her. I left to move back to Joburg a little after we broke up and I have not spent any more than a few hrs or days in that house since then, well not until now. It all seemed to make sense. It was me having loads of time and deciding to take a trip down memory lane and trying to drag her along with me....interesting huh...NOT COOL though!
Another wierd incident that took place happened whilst i was in joburg visiting but the aftermath was only felt last week. Whilst up in Jozi, I decided to go pay my former colleagues a visit. To see how they were getting on without the life of the party, well so i’d like to believe, and ey its my story so i tell it ne. I went in on Tuesday, cracked a few jokes, made myself comfortable, took my laptop with me so i could download a few songs from my Nokia Music account, ey bandwidth is expensive if you are not working ekse. It was a ripper afternoon, like the old times. The guys asked me to swing by again before I left, on Friday afternoon I had some time, as I surprisingly tend to have nowadays...so I pulled in and we carried on and we all headed home. Anyway, during the course of last week I received a call from one of my colleagues that there was a major hoo ha about me going into the office and that i was downloading things and I shouldn’t be allowed back...this was followed up by an email from one of my other former colleagues based here in Cape Town saying the same thing. My first thought was what the *$%!! What could i possibly want to download from them that firstly i couldn’t have in July when I left, and secondly why would i want to either. I faeces you not I was a tad peaved. And then I thought about it and realised i guess some people have to take themselves and their work seriously because the world is out to get them and i should have known better than to just make myself at home at an institution which I am no longer a part of...anyway i sent my note of apology to them all and closed that chapter...
As you can tell, its been a pretty decent time of self examination/assessment and diagnosis. I have realised as I grow older that I tend to accept my life as it currently is and strive as best as i can to make a better me for me and the world around me. Other than being in Heaven with my maker, there is no other place I would rather be than right where I am....for now that is, because doing not too much can be taxing on a mind that is used to activity...ie boredom is kinda setting in, who knows maybe i will travel soon...
My mantra at the moment is “EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE”. A lot of people might say its a cowards way of looking at the world and to them I say perhaps it is, but the time might come for me to be the hero that you are but till that time, everything is as it should be.
If this email is incoherent or scattered i beg your pardon, because as you all know as i think i write...
Man after writing this I have realised how much I really missed writing this stuff. I hope to be back more regularly.
Birthdays
23rd Aug Jem
26th Leyya,Gareth and Charl
29th Norm
30th Benj
3rd Sept - JC, Rob
5th Vusi Riba
9th Declan
10th Sefa and Morule
14th Anoka
15th Gooch
16th Maskew
18th Tahir, Thuls, and Chetan
19th Naasei
21st Nats,Mickey Moo
23rd Palesa, Si Black
24th Vaughan
28th Mohi and Kells
To infinity and beyond...I am out, just like a thief in the night....been listening to too much DMX
Lovely chatting again all have a pleasant week. Eid Mubarak and Shana Tova to all
Maximum respect and massive love, those travelling this way for the Loeries, safe travels and holler when you get here.
Y
Well howdeeho to you all, yes its been a while and other than pure laziness i cannot for the life of me think of one valid reason for not writing in so long. But alas today I write. So much has gone down in the last few weeks ey, Usain Bolt running the 100m and 200m in super human times, our poor Caster Semenya being put through hell on earth. The All Blacks were beaten 3 times by one team, I have never seen such a travesty ever. Barack is getting hammered in the USA, interest rate cut (happy days for the self unemployed), Rand strengthening, but watch let me go and buy a plane ticket and the damn thing will find a reason to devalue! Interesting times
So as u do when you have nothing but time on your hands, I have been doing a copious amount of thinking over the last few weeks and by George I think I have found it! Found what you ask, well the meaning to this thing we call life.
Life is definitely not a journey to be lived alone. It’s all about community, friends and family. Yes but i guess we all knew that hey?! So much for cracking the code, next time i tell u next time!! Over the last few weeks I have realised that in my life I have crossed paths with many people because thats me and thats what i do, but real true friends are few and far between and man am I blessed!!
Fair enough I have put myself in the position to be open or approachable to this but in the last few weeks I have had a good few people throwing assistance my way. People have been mailing or calling me with potential income generation opportunities, place to stay, u name it. Not to take anything for granted at all, its really eased the stress so that I can try and really focus on what it is that i want to spend the rest of my life doing...And what is that some might wonder...well to be honest I don’t think I am any closer to that one, but I think I do have an idea of what it is i don’t want to be doing at the moment. But I guess things change and maybe in a month, a year or so’s time things may well have changed again. But this my dear friends this is what its all about.
Alot of people especially my dear mother would be glad to hear this argument I have been having with myself lately. Up until very recently the idea of marriage and a family of my own, if my maker was willing to ‘bless’ me with such wasn’t a topic that I gave much thought to. I think in my life there have been maybe 2/3 women that i have even thought sheesh I could marry this woman or a woman like her...anyway 3 weeks I saw the true value of family and stuff. On 2 or so weeks ago I got a message from my sister that my pops had suddenly fallen ill. Now let me put it into context, my old man NEVER gets sick. The one other time he was sick, he had to have an operation on his stomach. Anyway so this was pretty serious, there was issues with his blood sugar levels. They were more than 10 times the normal rate and he had to be hospitalised. But just the way the family unit pulled itself together was truly amazing. My brother is a doctor so he called my dads doctor to get the low down on what was happening. My bro and sisters in Joburg, went to get my moms to make sure she was ok, I had to leave my insanely busy life of not too much and flew up to Joburg to keep the old lady company and make sure all is well whilst everyone else carried on with work and normal life. I was really glad I was in a position to be of assistance. But what truly was amazing was how friends were always asking how things were, family from all over the world were calling in to check on us and him. It was a ripper man. I remember saying to my mate Philip that I think it may be time to start considering this M thing, but then I went back to living life as me and that idea got doused somewhat, but at least its stronger than it was before the happenings of the last few weeks. But I am in NOOOOOO rush.
It hasn’t always been all these constructive thoughts floating through my head. Here is one thought and action that made me shake my head somewhat and to be quite honest I am well pleased i went through the process...as you can see these last 7 weeks...shoo its been a while ey, imagine i came here for what was meant to be a quick 2-3 week trip and here i am 7 weeks later and to be quite honest it doesn’t look like I will be heading back to Jozi any time soon ;)...I digress...so anyway as i was saying. So i came back to the house I lived in when I was living here in Cape Town in 2004 – 2006. When I first got back here, I found myself thinking about the ex of THREE BLOOODY YEARS AGO waaaay too much. It was bordering on obsessive behaviour something I am not prone to, other than you know the usual, don’t eat in the bedroom or in the lounge, wash my hands after cutting the chicken before i cut the green pepper, you know normal stuff that everybody else does ;)...anyway i found myself texting her and stuff now mind you I don’t have her mobile number on my cellphone, so it meant i had to switch on my laptop and then retrieve her details before the text was sent, and my laptop took a while to load up, so clearly i really wanted to send the text. Anyway it was only after a week or 2...and an return text from her asking me what i was trying to do that the penny dropped. Well so I made myself believe cos thats what its all about my beliefs. Here is the prognosis that i came up with that made sense to me. I dated her from 2004-2006. All my life in that house bar a month or so she was a part of it. So in my mind i think i associate that house with memories of her. I left to move back to Joburg a little after we broke up and I have not spent any more than a few hrs or days in that house since then, well not until now. It all seemed to make sense. It was me having loads of time and deciding to take a trip down memory lane and trying to drag her along with me....interesting huh...NOT COOL though!
Another wierd incident that took place happened whilst i was in joburg visiting but the aftermath was only felt last week. Whilst up in Jozi, I decided to go pay my former colleagues a visit. To see how they were getting on without the life of the party, well so i’d like to believe, and ey its my story so i tell it ne. I went in on Tuesday, cracked a few jokes, made myself comfortable, took my laptop with me so i could download a few songs from my Nokia Music account, ey bandwidth is expensive if you are not working ekse. It was a ripper afternoon, like the old times. The guys asked me to swing by again before I left, on Friday afternoon I had some time, as I surprisingly tend to have nowadays...so I pulled in and we carried on and we all headed home. Anyway, during the course of last week I received a call from one of my colleagues that there was a major hoo ha about me going into the office and that i was downloading things and I shouldn’t be allowed back...this was followed up by an email from one of my other former colleagues based here in Cape Town saying the same thing. My first thought was what the *$%!! What could i possibly want to download from them that firstly i couldn’t have in July when I left, and secondly why would i want to either. I faeces you not I was a tad peaved. And then I thought about it and realised i guess some people have to take themselves and their work seriously because the world is out to get them and i should have known better than to just make myself at home at an institution which I am no longer a part of...anyway i sent my note of apology to them all and closed that chapter...
As you can tell, its been a pretty decent time of self examination/assessment and diagnosis. I have realised as I grow older that I tend to accept my life as it currently is and strive as best as i can to make a better me for me and the world around me. Other than being in Heaven with my maker, there is no other place I would rather be than right where I am....for now that is, because doing not too much can be taxing on a mind that is used to activity...ie boredom is kinda setting in, who knows maybe i will travel soon...
My mantra at the moment is “EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE”. A lot of people might say its a cowards way of looking at the world and to them I say perhaps it is, but the time might come for me to be the hero that you are but till that time, everything is as it should be.
If this email is incoherent or scattered i beg your pardon, because as you all know as i think i write...
Man after writing this I have realised how much I really missed writing this stuff. I hope to be back more regularly.
Birthdays
23rd Aug Jem
26th Leyya,Gareth and Charl
29th Norm
30th Benj
3rd Sept - JC, Rob
5th Vusi Riba
9th Declan
10th Sefa and Morule
14th Anoka
15th Gooch
16th Maskew
18th Tahir, Thuls, and Chetan
19th Naasei
21st Nats,Mickey Moo
23rd Palesa, Si Black
24th Vaughan
28th Mohi and Kells
To infinity and beyond...I am out, just like a thief in the night....been listening to too much DMX
Lovely chatting again all have a pleasant week. Eid Mubarak and Shana Tova to all
Maximum respect and massive love, those travelling this way for the Loeries, safe travels and holler when you get here.
Y
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
“Tears from my eyes keep on falling; cause you are leaving, leaving with another; Things that we've done together I'll always remember though you're with another, baby.
I've done everything one man can do, girl; Said every word one man can say; The thing that we had has gone astray, girl; I'm missing you from day to day.”- UB40
As i opened this word document, those were the song words that came to mind...and u know me and sharing
Its been a long while hey. And the funny thing is now I have nothing but time but seem to be really busy doing not too much, go figure. Last we chatted I was on my way out of my previous job at Habari and venturing into uncharted waters. Anyway that day came on Friday, the 31st of July when i set off on what was to be a pretty fun road trip. Edward a very old and good mate of mine and I, headed down to Durbs. Ed was accompanying me just on this leg of the trip. It was such a ripper road trip cos I really haven’t spoken much to him in a while, i guess these things happen when a mate has a kid and becomes all responsible. Anyway I made an MP3 or 2 with some really good tracks that we used to cruise the streets of Fortgale in Umtata to. We arrived in Durbs missioned around a little because Ed was heading there for some work for the Tri-Nations. Part 1 vs 2 of the road trip was to visit another great man called Saul and his lovely wife Mandy. That went down pretty well too. Good times with the Cobbings. Saturday we milled around a bit then we made our way to ABSA Park for the rugby (Boks v Abs), i believe this is where things started to go horribly wrong, the Abs got their bums handed to them on a platter but they didn’t help matters much with their dumb football they tried to play, but thats a story for the rugby blog.
So along came Sunday, my day was greeted with some precipitation, which got me in a bit of a tizz, what kind of a road trip will this be?? But i was pretty excited nonetheless. N2 to Umtata, visit the old town that is responsible for a lot of who I am, then off to East London to spend the night with Grant and also hang with some really old class mates I haven’t seen in over 10 years maybe even 16 years some less. Anyway, I was too excited. The next day I was to head along the garden route. Stop at the Storms River Valley, pay some good money to throw myself off a bridge all in the name of fun and then continue my trip along the garden route till i got tired and then find another place to lay my head and then continue the trip the following day to the fairest cape. The plan was fool proof. All the Ts were crossed I’s dotted. Anyway so I leave Durbs, heading to the Eastern Cape. I head past Stanger, all I see signs of are a place called Pongola (not Margate, Port Shepstone, Kokstad...Pongola), no issue, I continue...but let me put this into context somewhat. For the first 60km or so of my journey i was in close proximity to 2 large Police transport vehicles. I am assuming they were transporting prisoners because there was a convoy infront and after them as well as guards at the toll gates and beyond. Anyway I wasnt travelling that fast so for a lot of the time I was either behind them or just infront of them or slowly overtaking them. I am assuming this was the reason i got the attention that I received. On a few occasions over this 60km stretch I had members of the convoy (in unmarked panel vans) coming up to my bumper and flashing and hooting, or a police car next to me then slowing down and then racing on and then pulling up next to me again...all rather unsettling but in the end i lost them. But i pooed in my pants hard.
Anyway 400km and 4 hours later no sea, no Shepstone, Kokstad, Mount Frere...log onto GPS....yip I had a GPS...WHAT AN IDIOT!!! But I had done this trip so often even as recently as 2004 when i was moving back to CT...i know this trip like the back of my hand....NAAAT. The penny really only dropped when i saw a signboard showing me to the Swazi border post, man was i livid. Rain, trucks road works all this endured to go the wrong way....un happy times. GPS reading Durban 402km Johannesburg 408km...408km is the winner, but it wasnt really. Man such a shocking trip road works aplenty trucks rain shooo, but i made it home, felt like a total plonker, slept the whole of Monday and on Tuesday hit the N1 from Joburg directly through to Cape Town. Such a good trip its been so far.
When you are in car by yourself for 26 odd hours (the wrong route and then the boring, direct N1 route) you tend to have loads of time to reflect on the last few years of my existence, think about what’s next. The reflection part was quite hard in a way because I looked at this last work setup that I have just left. I had time to think about things like my friends and how fortunate I am to have so many mates that are genuinely interested in what becomes of me, thought about the familia and how no one has stressed me about the fact that in these times I have left a job without having another proper job. I thought about the relationships I have had, or lack thereof and realised the fault definitely lies with me. Rectifying it well thats the hard part because i am pretty set in my ways...then there was work...For me out of all the jobs that I have had (not that there are that many) and left, this one was the one that has thus far disappointed me the most in terms of it not working out as I had hoped but in the same breath it was also the one job, out of every job I have ever done(along with swiping cards at the Health and Racquet) that I don’t think I would ever go back to. Which in my mind was quite random because it was one of the jobs I have enjoyed the most, but then I thought about it and I guess with this one I had made some pretty hectic decisions to take this direction and alas the disappointment of ‘failure’ was a much heavier burden than were it just another desk job, but alas the realisation and the great many learnings, as we do gain from all such endeavours that don’t meet our desired expectations, can only be carried forward, making us the better we’s that we are destined to become. What’s next is a tad blurred but it seems to be taking some shape or form. There are quite a few opportunities presenting themselves at the moment and in between listening to and watching the rain fall, heading out to Kalk Bay to just park off or drinks with mates at Camps Bay or doing absolutely nothing but sleep, I have been meeting with or telephonically engaging with one or 2 people who are helping that next step take some shape.
All in all so far, I have realised that I am one blessed summama b... some might say no Yaw you create those opportunities for yourself through your actions, and I guess that is your reality and helps you live your life the way you do. From where I sit, I strongly believe in a being higher than myself as the centre of my universe. It gives my life so much more meaning. To some its a sign of weakness or following a ‘man made belief’ to others such as myself its a reality one which I am grateful for, something that isn’t always easy to fully get and i struggle hard with it alot, but thus far everything in my life good or bad has been a blessing from my creator. Yep so I went the wrong way on the N2, stupid oh very much so, but who knows what was awaiting me on my trip? Yes I am no longer doing something that i would have liked to have worked, but I had almost 3 years of it, learnt and met a good few people, who knows what lies ahead for me? But in all this I am in a currently wet but lovely city called Cape Town, meeting some good people old and new, roof over my head and a bed, juice in Snowy’s tank, just got back from an introduction to the Landmark Forum, which even though was 3 and a half hours, was in my mind very deep. You know things could be well worse.
Anyway I am blabbing on and its 2.30am, not that i have anything to do tomorrow though but before I leave, just something that I am learning more and more and that is our lives are always without a doubt a product of how we choose to live and what we choose to allow to manifest and become what we believe to be the truth...but i will get more into that another time. But if you are stuck in something you, yip you, no one else can change it!! You’ve wronged someone you can do right by them. Someone has wronged you, well you can harbour the resentment and let it eat at you, but believe you me this, only one really suffering is...yip you guessed it, YOU!! You can change or create your circumstances, no yeah buts, make like Nike and just do it!!
Birthdays
12th July Marc C, Yao
13th Mel H
14th Nats D
15th Garth, Yashie,Naeem
21st Belinda M
22nd Mich Wats
26th Karabo, Gina, Tanya
27th Tabi, Mike Harold Rea and Courts
28th Folks 36th wedding anniversary, yip 36th!!
29th Sheya and Reids
30th Lesley D and ETO Maravanyika
3rd Aug Deen Woodman
8th Blochie
12th Ang, Elly, Caroline
14th Degs
15th Sarika
19th Rob
Thats a wrap folks... hope you are all well or on the way to being well, because the reality is we cant all be well all the time, nor can we all be winners all of the time cos in life our best lessons are learnt through our trials and hardships but just working through all that clutter makes us winners in every sense.
Let today be another day of being a more complete you
Y
I've done everything one man can do, girl; Said every word one man can say; The thing that we had has gone astray, girl; I'm missing you from day to day.”- UB40
As i opened this word document, those were the song words that came to mind...and u know me and sharing
Its been a long while hey. And the funny thing is now I have nothing but time but seem to be really busy doing not too much, go figure. Last we chatted I was on my way out of my previous job at Habari and venturing into uncharted waters. Anyway that day came on Friday, the 31st of July when i set off on what was to be a pretty fun road trip. Edward a very old and good mate of mine and I, headed down to Durbs. Ed was accompanying me just on this leg of the trip. It was such a ripper road trip cos I really haven’t spoken much to him in a while, i guess these things happen when a mate has a kid and becomes all responsible. Anyway I made an MP3 or 2 with some really good tracks that we used to cruise the streets of Fortgale in Umtata to. We arrived in Durbs missioned around a little because Ed was heading there for some work for the Tri-Nations. Part 1 vs 2 of the road trip was to visit another great man called Saul and his lovely wife Mandy. That went down pretty well too. Good times with the Cobbings. Saturday we milled around a bit then we made our way to ABSA Park for the rugby (Boks v Abs), i believe this is where things started to go horribly wrong, the Abs got their bums handed to them on a platter but they didn’t help matters much with their dumb football they tried to play, but thats a story for the rugby blog.
So along came Sunday, my day was greeted with some precipitation, which got me in a bit of a tizz, what kind of a road trip will this be?? But i was pretty excited nonetheless. N2 to Umtata, visit the old town that is responsible for a lot of who I am, then off to East London to spend the night with Grant and also hang with some really old class mates I haven’t seen in over 10 years maybe even 16 years some less. Anyway, I was too excited. The next day I was to head along the garden route. Stop at the Storms River Valley, pay some good money to throw myself off a bridge all in the name of fun and then continue my trip along the garden route till i got tired and then find another place to lay my head and then continue the trip the following day to the fairest cape. The plan was fool proof. All the Ts were crossed I’s dotted. Anyway so I leave Durbs, heading to the Eastern Cape. I head past Stanger, all I see signs of are a place called Pongola (not Margate, Port Shepstone, Kokstad...Pongola), no issue, I continue...but let me put this into context somewhat. For the first 60km or so of my journey i was in close proximity to 2 large Police transport vehicles. I am assuming they were transporting prisoners because there was a convoy infront and after them as well as guards at the toll gates and beyond. Anyway I wasnt travelling that fast so for a lot of the time I was either behind them or just infront of them or slowly overtaking them. I am assuming this was the reason i got the attention that I received. On a few occasions over this 60km stretch I had members of the convoy (in unmarked panel vans) coming up to my bumper and flashing and hooting, or a police car next to me then slowing down and then racing on and then pulling up next to me again...all rather unsettling but in the end i lost them. But i pooed in my pants hard.
Anyway 400km and 4 hours later no sea, no Shepstone, Kokstad, Mount Frere...log onto GPS....yip I had a GPS...WHAT AN IDIOT!!! But I had done this trip so often even as recently as 2004 when i was moving back to CT...i know this trip like the back of my hand....NAAAT. The penny really only dropped when i saw a signboard showing me to the Swazi border post, man was i livid. Rain, trucks road works all this endured to go the wrong way....un happy times. GPS reading Durban 402km Johannesburg 408km...408km is the winner, but it wasnt really. Man such a shocking trip road works aplenty trucks rain shooo, but i made it home, felt like a total plonker, slept the whole of Monday and on Tuesday hit the N1 from Joburg directly through to Cape Town. Such a good trip its been so far.
When you are in car by yourself for 26 odd hours (the wrong route and then the boring, direct N1 route) you tend to have loads of time to reflect on the last few years of my existence, think about what’s next. The reflection part was quite hard in a way because I looked at this last work setup that I have just left. I had time to think about things like my friends and how fortunate I am to have so many mates that are genuinely interested in what becomes of me, thought about the familia and how no one has stressed me about the fact that in these times I have left a job without having another proper job. I thought about the relationships I have had, or lack thereof and realised the fault definitely lies with me. Rectifying it well thats the hard part because i am pretty set in my ways...then there was work...For me out of all the jobs that I have had (not that there are that many) and left, this one was the one that has thus far disappointed me the most in terms of it not working out as I had hoped but in the same breath it was also the one job, out of every job I have ever done(along with swiping cards at the Health and Racquet) that I don’t think I would ever go back to. Which in my mind was quite random because it was one of the jobs I have enjoyed the most, but then I thought about it and I guess with this one I had made some pretty hectic decisions to take this direction and alas the disappointment of ‘failure’ was a much heavier burden than were it just another desk job, but alas the realisation and the great many learnings, as we do gain from all such endeavours that don’t meet our desired expectations, can only be carried forward, making us the better we’s that we are destined to become. What’s next is a tad blurred but it seems to be taking some shape or form. There are quite a few opportunities presenting themselves at the moment and in between listening to and watching the rain fall, heading out to Kalk Bay to just park off or drinks with mates at Camps Bay or doing absolutely nothing but sleep, I have been meeting with or telephonically engaging with one or 2 people who are helping that next step take some shape.
All in all so far, I have realised that I am one blessed summama b... some might say no Yaw you create those opportunities for yourself through your actions, and I guess that is your reality and helps you live your life the way you do. From where I sit, I strongly believe in a being higher than myself as the centre of my universe. It gives my life so much more meaning. To some its a sign of weakness or following a ‘man made belief’ to others such as myself its a reality one which I am grateful for, something that isn’t always easy to fully get and i struggle hard with it alot, but thus far everything in my life good or bad has been a blessing from my creator. Yep so I went the wrong way on the N2, stupid oh very much so, but who knows what was awaiting me on my trip? Yes I am no longer doing something that i would have liked to have worked, but I had almost 3 years of it, learnt and met a good few people, who knows what lies ahead for me? But in all this I am in a currently wet but lovely city called Cape Town, meeting some good people old and new, roof over my head and a bed, juice in Snowy’s tank, just got back from an introduction to the Landmark Forum, which even though was 3 and a half hours, was in my mind very deep. You know things could be well worse.
Anyway I am blabbing on and its 2.30am, not that i have anything to do tomorrow though but before I leave, just something that I am learning more and more and that is our lives are always without a doubt a product of how we choose to live and what we choose to allow to manifest and become what we believe to be the truth...but i will get more into that another time. But if you are stuck in something you, yip you, no one else can change it!! You’ve wronged someone you can do right by them. Someone has wronged you, well you can harbour the resentment and let it eat at you, but believe you me this, only one really suffering is...yip you guessed it, YOU!! You can change or create your circumstances, no yeah buts, make like Nike and just do it!!
Birthdays
12th July Marc C, Yao
13th Mel H
14th Nats D
15th Garth, Yashie,Naeem
21st Belinda M
22nd Mich Wats
26th Karabo, Gina, Tanya
27th Tabi, Mike Harold Rea and Courts
28th Folks 36th wedding anniversary, yip 36th!!
29th Sheya and Reids
30th Lesley D and ETO Maravanyika
3rd Aug Deen Woodman
8th Blochie
12th Ang, Elly, Caroline
14th Degs
15th Sarika
19th Rob
Thats a wrap folks... hope you are all well or on the way to being well, because the reality is we cant all be well all the time, nor can we all be winners all of the time cos in life our best lessons are learnt through our trials and hardships but just working through all that clutter makes us winners in every sense.
Let today be another day of being a more complete you
Y
Monday, July 06, 2009
I was driving back from gym this evening and i looked out at the sky and the moon was full and a few clouds hovering around it, there was a bit of a chill in the air but the world felt alright with me and i smiled...
How cool is this, parking off here on my bed with some classical music blazing whilst i type, Turandot (Act III): Nessun Dorma, what a classic, don’t understand a word, but soooooo powerful, very different vibe but man its refreshing, a bit of a break from “i’ll take you to the candy store, i’ll let you lick my lollipop....” so sorry can’t put up any lyrics today
I have been but soo slack this year regarding these emails and I think I may have realised why. This year I have been in such a random place. Everything in my life has been pretty good, but I realised I was caught up in a monotonous existence, but that i guess was tolerable, cos ey that’s life, but something else was eating at me pretty slowly ey. What was it? I have a decent life, great friends and familia...most important I tell ya, they haven’t repossessed my car and house yet, so financially I am ok, I can still run around with the boys on Sundays albeit very slowly, I walk past a mirror and it says to me juslike, u r hot!!I joke . Ladies, well thats a story on its own and yip its my fault, but i have made peace with that, so that couldn’t be it...And work is going pretty darn well in terms of the financial side of it...
Something was still amiss and it was affecting everything, so much so that my mates were asking me what was wrong. I was in the wilderness...I was here but not really. U know when you get that feeling that something is bugging you but you cant really put your finger on it. I love that stuff i tell you. When i was growing up one of my favourite things in the world was putting together puzzles and the more broken it was (ie the more pieces) the happier i was. So i started to fish, quickly eliminated anything to do with finances cos i don’t stress that stuff, one way or another the boss provides, girls, nope not that either, family and friends, nah not that, where do i spend most of my waking hours...WORK!!!
But what about work, we are still making bucks, i have just taken on a new role which was to set up our representation on the rest of the continent, which from where i sit hasn’t been bad going. We have reps in Ghana, Kenya, people we work with in Senegal and a potential partner in Nigeria, so we were covered and that was still quite exciting, but there were little things that were nagging me man. It was once bearable but the last month or so its been breaking my spirit, its been taking a toll on me. Which is a bummer because when i gave up the life of finance, I had huge hopes for this new venture. But ey as with most things in life, just as life itself, the end will come! So you take your lessons and the good times and move on.
I wasn’t sure what or where my next move would take me to, I haven’t firmed it up at all, so i wanted to take some time out think things through, but had a chat with my partner during the week and it was decided that we should call it. I most probably would have come up to the same conclusion after my time out. Now here is the funny thing. I received a bible for my birthday from my mate Phil earlier in the year and my mommy gave me the 2009 Our daily bread which helps you read the Bible. As you know as things currently are, these aren’t the times to be making such decisions without feeling a tad anxious as to where to from here.
The world felt alright with me, but i would be lying if there wasn’t any anxiety floating around. Anyway the morning after we had our chat about parting ways, I woke up to read my Bible and i s** t you not, the message was “to be anxious about nothing and to pray about everything” I smiled hard and still am. So how is this, yesterday I was at my folks as usual, watching the Wimbeldon finals, but i was starting to feel very comfortable and I was dozing, so I decided to make my way home, to finish watching the game, because there is absolutely nothing worse than slipping into a coma and then having to wake up and mission. Anyway on my way home, something said bra go to church so i said to myself, Federer will most probably win, if ARod wins well good for him cos he is better than just one grand slam, so that was settled and off to church i skipped, in snow white ofcourse;). Anyway at church they had guest speakers. The first speaker was so speaking to me.
His message was about being in the wilderness, when you don’t know what you are going to do next or how you are going to do it or if you should do it, but if it feels right within, you should seek counsel from your maker and those close to you, because your maker speaks through them and things around you and just do it. There was more to it but it was soo relevant....
Not there yet, but i can feel things falling back into place. I am the old me is back in many ways, I am still uncertain as to the next move, but if you guys know of anyone looking for a real life talking marketing CA holler at a black ya? But please no rigid 9-5ers i need fun and spontaneity but still making dollars and a difference oh how complicated i am
Anyway the lesson in this for me at least is believe what you want but your life isn’t yours really. Makhtub...It is written...All you can do is learn and try be the best you you can be. Just believe even when the chips are down, don’t focus on the negative and the world will be alright, hey who knows maybe in a month or 2 my song will be different, but thats a story for a month or two from now...but ey back to the drawing board I am, so lets do this!!
Birthdays
17th Laila, Tasneem
18th Lebo, Satish
20th Jake and Kgash
21st Hamish Alexander Paterson
22nd Simmybunny, Dan Cader, Zul,
23rd Pete K, Red head Ed
24th Gretchen
26th Kemi
27th Studs Tebs and Seanie
29th Simone
30th Dineo
1st July Keith John
3rd Jenn
8th DJ, Nadia, Mel
11th Rudi and Santie
May you all be blessed with pleeeeeenty more, but more than that may your lives be filled with joy and a sense of moving forward most times if not all the time
And thats a wrap folks, i wish you all a sublime week. You know not so long ago i used to hate it when teachers used to ask us to write essays of 400 words, nowadays i write 1 300 words for fun, isn’t it ironic, don’t you think ;-)
Maximum respect and light to you all man!!
Y
How cool is this, parking off here on my bed with some classical music blazing whilst i type, Turandot (Act III): Nessun Dorma, what a classic, don’t understand a word, but soooooo powerful, very different vibe but man its refreshing, a bit of a break from “i’ll take you to the candy store, i’ll let you lick my lollipop....” so sorry can’t put up any lyrics today
I have been but soo slack this year regarding these emails and I think I may have realised why. This year I have been in such a random place. Everything in my life has been pretty good, but I realised I was caught up in a monotonous existence, but that i guess was tolerable, cos ey that’s life, but something else was eating at me pretty slowly ey. What was it? I have a decent life, great friends and familia...most important I tell ya, they haven’t repossessed my car and house yet, so financially I am ok, I can still run around with the boys on Sundays albeit very slowly, I walk past a mirror and it says to me juslike, u r hot!!I joke . Ladies, well thats a story on its own and yip its my fault, but i have made peace with that, so that couldn’t be it...And work is going pretty darn well in terms of the financial side of it...
Something was still amiss and it was affecting everything, so much so that my mates were asking me what was wrong. I was in the wilderness...I was here but not really. U know when you get that feeling that something is bugging you but you cant really put your finger on it. I love that stuff i tell you. When i was growing up one of my favourite things in the world was putting together puzzles and the more broken it was (ie the more pieces) the happier i was. So i started to fish, quickly eliminated anything to do with finances cos i don’t stress that stuff, one way or another the boss provides, girls, nope not that either, family and friends, nah not that, where do i spend most of my waking hours...WORK!!!
But what about work, we are still making bucks, i have just taken on a new role which was to set up our representation on the rest of the continent, which from where i sit hasn’t been bad going. We have reps in Ghana, Kenya, people we work with in Senegal and a potential partner in Nigeria, so we were covered and that was still quite exciting, but there were little things that were nagging me man. It was once bearable but the last month or so its been breaking my spirit, its been taking a toll on me. Which is a bummer because when i gave up the life of finance, I had huge hopes for this new venture. But ey as with most things in life, just as life itself, the end will come! So you take your lessons and the good times and move on.
I wasn’t sure what or where my next move would take me to, I haven’t firmed it up at all, so i wanted to take some time out think things through, but had a chat with my partner during the week and it was decided that we should call it. I most probably would have come up to the same conclusion after my time out. Now here is the funny thing. I received a bible for my birthday from my mate Phil earlier in the year and my mommy gave me the 2009 Our daily bread which helps you read the Bible. As you know as things currently are, these aren’t the times to be making such decisions without feeling a tad anxious as to where to from here.
The world felt alright with me, but i would be lying if there wasn’t any anxiety floating around. Anyway the morning after we had our chat about parting ways, I woke up to read my Bible and i s** t you not, the message was “to be anxious about nothing and to pray about everything” I smiled hard and still am. So how is this, yesterday I was at my folks as usual, watching the Wimbeldon finals, but i was starting to feel very comfortable and I was dozing, so I decided to make my way home, to finish watching the game, because there is absolutely nothing worse than slipping into a coma and then having to wake up and mission. Anyway on my way home, something said bra go to church so i said to myself, Federer will most probably win, if ARod wins well good for him cos he is better than just one grand slam, so that was settled and off to church i skipped, in snow white ofcourse;). Anyway at church they had guest speakers. The first speaker was so speaking to me.
His message was about being in the wilderness, when you don’t know what you are going to do next or how you are going to do it or if you should do it, but if it feels right within, you should seek counsel from your maker and those close to you, because your maker speaks through them and things around you and just do it. There was more to it but it was soo relevant....
Not there yet, but i can feel things falling back into place. I am the old me is back in many ways, I am still uncertain as to the next move, but if you guys know of anyone looking for a real life talking marketing CA holler at a black ya? But please no rigid 9-5ers i need fun and spontaneity but still making dollars and a difference oh how complicated i am
Anyway the lesson in this for me at least is believe what you want but your life isn’t yours really. Makhtub...It is written...All you can do is learn and try be the best you you can be. Just believe even when the chips are down, don’t focus on the negative and the world will be alright, hey who knows maybe in a month or 2 my song will be different, but thats a story for a month or two from now...but ey back to the drawing board I am, so lets do this!!
Birthdays
17th Laila, Tasneem
18th Lebo, Satish
20th Jake and Kgash
21st Hamish Alexander Paterson
22nd Simmybunny, Dan Cader, Zul,
23rd Pete K, Red head Ed
24th Gretchen
26th Kemi
27th Studs Tebs and Seanie
29th Simone
30th Dineo
1st July Keith John
3rd Jenn
8th DJ, Nadia, Mel
11th Rudi and Santie
May you all be blessed with pleeeeeenty more, but more than that may your lives be filled with joy and a sense of moving forward most times if not all the time
And thats a wrap folks, i wish you all a sublime week. You know not so long ago i used to hate it when teachers used to ask us to write essays of 400 words, nowadays i write 1 300 words for fun, isn’t it ironic, don’t you think ;-)
Maximum respect and light to you all man!!
Y
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
I dunno bru. What is it about me that makes me the friend guy. What makes me that guy? Man i don’t get it. Lets see you are pretty darn fly, got a personality on you, you have a few guys hitting on you here and there, what makes me not fit into that box of those guys, what makes me the guy to be your friend?? I think the other week i got hit with 3 of those. Totally my fault though because i know these lasses are off limits in one way or another but alas, shoo bra, haven’t been on dates ever in my 33 years on this Gods green earth, so decided to give it a bash, its been helluva fun...u know i think i know what it is, i must change my dress sense, from now on only wife beaters and toothpicks and afro combs in my hair, oh wait no afro comb, you need hair for that and nature decided to be my barber ...ya man wife beaters and toothpicks....in summer cos its pretty darn chillos in Jozi at the moment...Yaw’s happy season. I used to think that guys and girls could be friends but the more i think about it the more i kinda doubt it, or maybe its just me, but alot of the girl mates i have, i have either had an episode/short story with, wanted to have one with in the past and got over it/had to get over it or am hoping to catch a gap sometime ;)...it is what it is, where do u fit. Ar ar ar.
Yip, i have been pretty scarce lately, just haven’t really had much to say lately, nothing really exciting going on to blog about. You know the usual, work, home, eat, family, mates, oh growing up what a bore .
Oh wait forgot to add this one. I have this girl mate of mine and yes i screwed this one up cos i crossed that friendship line you know the line that u cross and sometimes becomes near impossible to cross back over. Well anyway she told me once, Yaw, I am going to pay you the biggest compliment i’ll ever pay anyone. You will be my friend forever, because i want you in my life forever...if you could see my face you would see the expression of bemusement and confusion even as i write this a good few months later, i was like forever...for ever ever??? Not quite, but i did ponder how in Wolverines name that was a compliment...hey oh my dawg u will never be any more than a friend but u will at least be my friend??? I am quite a simple man so sometimes i need someone to draw pictures for me . But alas we move on
Oh wait I really don’t mean to be so vorentoe (forward)/vain, but i hit the big time a few weeks ago, got my first radio interview about the internet on the continent http://www.classicfm.co.za/talk/the-internet-economy/podcasts/reuben-talk-to-habari-medias-general-manager-yaw-peprah-about-their-push-into-africa. I had to go for special elocution lessons to learn to speak like that so don’t mock the accent see ;)
Anyway here’s something for you. A few weeks ago i am out with some peeps and we have dinner, once done with my dinner, i.e. plate is clear, not even a grain left, even a blind man (no disrespect intended at all) could see i was done, but alas my fork and knife were not together. This lass i am with gets a hissy fit and starts telling me how rude it was to not have my fork and knife together, this she says with her elbows on the table...I am like please if you are going to throw this aristocrat bull my direction you cant pick and choose which ones are ‘ruder’ than others no? Or am i missing a trick again? Its almost like someone telling me no Yaw you can rob that store but you cant kill those people...That’s the first part of my dismissal of her attempt to colonise this young African lion...hardly, focus Yaw focus...the second part of my argument is that in as much as it is good table manners and all, its pretty darn archaic and really serves me no purpose.
My folks did try and get me down the straight and narrow and for many years it worked till i realised all these prim and proper things aren’t just my thing. Don’t get me wrong, if by some miracle I am blessed with offspring, they too will learn all this to help mould them into ‘model’ citizens but when they are on their own, they are just that...on their own. All this stuff like making your bed, polishing your shoes, packing your clothes neatly into the cupboard, washing cars, mowing the lawn, you know the chores that some of us had to endure whilst growing up. All of them i think go a long way in developing as a young man, if nothing at all you learn discipline which i think is a necessary grounding, but when you get older you pick and choose which of these teachings are applicable in your life, kinda like learning Biology and Woodwork all at higher grade during school and you end up being an accountant...how the hell is knowing where or what the hypothalamus is or how to do a dovetail joint is going to help me when i have to calculate and report on the revalued financial instrument...oooh just got the shivers, be gone IFRS, be gone
Ok thats 2 pretty interesting things, next thing Africa Day, I have written about it before but anyway it came and just as quickly as it came it went. It was on the 25th May, but hardly a whisper was said. Valentines day...from the roof tops its heard, Mothers day...Fathers day...Americas independence... Guy Fawkes day...Halloween we all know way too well about these days, but nooo not 25th May, the day where many of us should be celebrating our continent we claim to be so proud to born of. Yes the continent has not reached its full potential and frankly it may never will if we persist with some of the leaders we currently have. But man isn’t it just sad, that a continent as rich in everything, people, cultures, diversity, resources, fails to ‘grow’ a people proud to be born of its soil. Africa Day, whatever...and so it continues. And that attitude of apathy and disinterest is all part of the reason why we allow leaders to rule for 43 year, thats how many years the late Omar Bongo of Gabon ruled for, how is that ever healthy, and its also reported that his son will take over the reins, think i missed the episode when the powers that be said this is Gabon, aka Bongos playground. The sad thing is that we keep on letting it happen, Gabon, Zim, Libya, Ghana, Malawi, Congo, Zambia, all countries that have had rulers who ruled for at least 20 years, how is that a healthy state of affairs?
Anyway, thats me for another little while or not, who knows, thanks for indulging me again. But right now i think my pillow and CNN are calling me. You all be safe and excited about life now you here, cos you only get one chance at it, so Carpe Diem and as they say, better to do and regret than to regret not doing...
Birthdays
24th Amrain, Rich Marshall
25th Inge
26th Sharon
27th Monica
28th Nielfaar
29th Delia, Lauren Wick, Brett Keyser
31st Rachey S, AC, Dear Cous Nana Yaa
2nd Mame Ekua
6th HQ, Jill
9th Ivan
11th Ameer
12th DC, Samantha, Eckmar001
13th Fifi
Well once again it has been fun, till next we e-speak, let me embrace our diversity and sign off by saying Shalom!
Mad love!!
Y
Yip, i have been pretty scarce lately, just haven’t really had much to say lately, nothing really exciting going on to blog about. You know the usual, work, home, eat, family, mates, oh growing up what a bore .
Oh wait forgot to add this one. I have this girl mate of mine and yes i screwed this one up cos i crossed that friendship line you know the line that u cross and sometimes becomes near impossible to cross back over. Well anyway she told me once, Yaw, I am going to pay you the biggest compliment i’ll ever pay anyone. You will be my friend forever, because i want you in my life forever...if you could see my face you would see the expression of bemusement and confusion even as i write this a good few months later, i was like forever...for ever ever??? Not quite, but i did ponder how in Wolverines name that was a compliment...hey oh my dawg u will never be any more than a friend but u will at least be my friend??? I am quite a simple man so sometimes i need someone to draw pictures for me . But alas we move on
Oh wait I really don’t mean to be so vorentoe (forward)/vain, but i hit the big time a few weeks ago, got my first radio interview about the internet on the continent http://www.classicfm.co.za/talk/the-internet-economy/podcasts/reuben-talk-to-habari-medias-general-manager-yaw-peprah-about-their-push-into-africa. I had to go for special elocution lessons to learn to speak like that so don’t mock the accent see ;)
Anyway here’s something for you. A few weeks ago i am out with some peeps and we have dinner, once done with my dinner, i.e. plate is clear, not even a grain left, even a blind man (no disrespect intended at all) could see i was done, but alas my fork and knife were not together. This lass i am with gets a hissy fit and starts telling me how rude it was to not have my fork and knife together, this she says with her elbows on the table...I am like please if you are going to throw this aristocrat bull my direction you cant pick and choose which ones are ‘ruder’ than others no? Or am i missing a trick again? Its almost like someone telling me no Yaw you can rob that store but you cant kill those people...That’s the first part of my dismissal of her attempt to colonise this young African lion...hardly, focus Yaw focus...the second part of my argument is that in as much as it is good table manners and all, its pretty darn archaic and really serves me no purpose.
My folks did try and get me down the straight and narrow and for many years it worked till i realised all these prim and proper things aren’t just my thing. Don’t get me wrong, if by some miracle I am blessed with offspring, they too will learn all this to help mould them into ‘model’ citizens but when they are on their own, they are just that...on their own. All this stuff like making your bed, polishing your shoes, packing your clothes neatly into the cupboard, washing cars, mowing the lawn, you know the chores that some of us had to endure whilst growing up. All of them i think go a long way in developing as a young man, if nothing at all you learn discipline which i think is a necessary grounding, but when you get older you pick and choose which of these teachings are applicable in your life, kinda like learning Biology and Woodwork all at higher grade during school and you end up being an accountant...how the hell is knowing where or what the hypothalamus is or how to do a dovetail joint is going to help me when i have to calculate and report on the revalued financial instrument...oooh just got the shivers, be gone IFRS, be gone
Ok thats 2 pretty interesting things, next thing Africa Day, I have written about it before but anyway it came and just as quickly as it came it went. It was on the 25th May, but hardly a whisper was said. Valentines day...from the roof tops its heard, Mothers day...Fathers day...Americas independence... Guy Fawkes day...Halloween we all know way too well about these days, but nooo not 25th May, the day where many of us should be celebrating our continent we claim to be so proud to born of. Yes the continent has not reached its full potential and frankly it may never will if we persist with some of the leaders we currently have. But man isn’t it just sad, that a continent as rich in everything, people, cultures, diversity, resources, fails to ‘grow’ a people proud to be born of its soil. Africa Day, whatever...and so it continues. And that attitude of apathy and disinterest is all part of the reason why we allow leaders to rule for 43 year, thats how many years the late Omar Bongo of Gabon ruled for, how is that ever healthy, and its also reported that his son will take over the reins, think i missed the episode when the powers that be said this is Gabon, aka Bongos playground. The sad thing is that we keep on letting it happen, Gabon, Zim, Libya, Ghana, Malawi, Congo, Zambia, all countries that have had rulers who ruled for at least 20 years, how is that a healthy state of affairs?
Anyway, thats me for another little while or not, who knows, thanks for indulging me again. But right now i think my pillow and CNN are calling me. You all be safe and excited about life now you here, cos you only get one chance at it, so Carpe Diem and as they say, better to do and regret than to regret not doing...
Birthdays
24th Amrain, Rich Marshall
25th Inge
26th Sharon
27th Monica
28th Nielfaar
29th Delia, Lauren Wick, Brett Keyser
31st Rachey S, AC, Dear Cous Nana Yaa
2nd Mame Ekua
6th HQ, Jill
9th Ivan
11th Ameer
12th DC, Samantha, Eckmar001
13th Fifi
Well once again it has been fun, till next we e-speak, let me embrace our diversity and sign off by saying Shalom!
Mad love!!
Y
Friday, May 22, 2009
Hello all, I am so all out of emails to write at the moment, I was so blocked that I was about to write an email about me, but then I thought that may well be seen as pretty arrogant to think people actually want to know about you so i parked it, but yesterday, someone told me a story they had received on email and i thought it was such a good story not to share
I sincerely hope you guys are all well and life is treating you kindly and even if its not too kind your mind and will are both strong enough to help you see and find a better day...
Here is the story
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village.
A tourist complimented the local fishermen on the quality of their fish and asked how long it took them to catch them.
"Not very long." they answered in unison.
"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"
The fishermen explained that their small catches were Sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families.
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children, And take siestas with our wives.
In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, Have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs.
We have a full life."
The tourist interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch.
With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."
"And after that?"
"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, You can buy a second one and a third one And so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, You can then negotiate directly with the processing plants And maybe even open your own plant.
You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City!
From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?"
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting," Answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, You can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen.
"After that you'll be able to retire, Live in a tiny village near the coast, Sleep late, play with your children, Catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife And spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
And the moral of this story is: ... Know where you're going in life... You may already be there ! !
Birthdays
10th Adjoa
11th Liezel and Shereen
12th Naomi
13th Gillie and Mel
15th June and Sanette
22nd Harps
And thats a wrap folks, have a great weekend all, and to my dear friends who lost their mother over the past week, my thoughts are with you all, i guess if nothing at all you will find comfort in the fact that she is in a better place
Big love to you all (some more than others ;-))
Respect
Y
I sincerely hope you guys are all well and life is treating you kindly and even if its not too kind your mind and will are both strong enough to help you see and find a better day...
Here is the story
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village.
A tourist complimented the local fishermen on the quality of their fish and asked how long it took them to catch them.
"Not very long." they answered in unison.
"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"
The fishermen explained that their small catches were Sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families.
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children, And take siestas with our wives.
In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, Have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs.
We have a full life."
The tourist interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch.
With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."
"And after that?"
"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, You can buy a second one and a third one And so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, You can then negotiate directly with the processing plants And maybe even open your own plant.
You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City!
From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?"
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting," Answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, You can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen.
"After that you'll be able to retire, Live in a tiny village near the coast, Sleep late, play with your children, Catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife And spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
And the moral of this story is: ... Know where you're going in life... You may already be there ! !
Birthdays
10th Adjoa
11th Liezel and Shereen
12th Naomi
13th Gillie and Mel
15th June and Sanette
22nd Harps
And thats a wrap folks, have a great weekend all, and to my dear friends who lost their mother over the past week, my thoughts are with you all, i guess if nothing at all you will find comfort in the fact that she is in a better place
Big love to you all (some more than others ;-))
Respect
Y
Friday, May 08, 2009
Now is the winter of our discontent; Made glorious summer by this son of York; And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our house; In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. – Shakespeare
Nothing glorious about this approaching winter i tell you. Absolutely love this time of the year, leaves falling, crisp mornings warmish afternoons and that evening chill that screams no gym, TV and blankie...
Its a beautiful day to be alive isn’t it? A day to right the wrongs of yesterday or to keep on doing what’s right to make a difference in the life of another, or just another day...i guess the choice is yours really and so to the consequences of that choice
Some say he is corruption personified and that inspite of his plethora of wives he prefers extra marital affairs. Yes we call him Mr President. How normal life has become post the frenzy of the 22nd April 2009. We all cry so hard for this western phenomenon called democracy and this my dear friends is true democracy in action. The people have spoken. We have our president.
Whatever you might say or think about how he got where he is, on Saturday the 9th May, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma will be inaugurated as the 3rd democratically elected president of this our rainbow nation. Oh wait that would be fourth, forgot about the current caretaker president. I read his opening speech very reconciliatory, humble and positive, and word is (media) that it was one of the best speeches by any president/president in waiting of our country in the last little while. He has come a long way, it was almost 3 years ago to the day that he was acquitted on rape charges that threatened his freedom let alone his quest to be the peoples president. He managed to dodge how many counts of corruption, racketeering and tax evasion. He sprung his personal financier and friend Shabir from jail, squashed the scorpions and look at him now. From herd boy to the president of Africa’s rainbow nation...look at him now.
The new issue is that he will be flanked by 3 first ladies. My question is and so? I am all for live and let live, if the man decides polygamy is his way forward, the women he has married say its our way forward too who are we to judge? His culture allows for more than 1 wife so too Muslims and Mormons, I don’t hear anyone saying anything about that. In April this year the Russian president made a statement encouraging men to take more than 1 wife to protect the honour of unmarried women. Bottom line, polygamy is accepted in many cultures and religions, you don’t like it, don’t practice it, but u must respect the thing its part of our diversity.
But Yaw, we are a nation struggling to contain this thing called HIV and AIDS, but polygamy goes against all we have been telling the young ones about having just one partner. I say fair point there. But that being said if you are FAITHFULL to all your wives and they to you, well no external forces will be introduced to your little party and thus you should be ok.
But i guess that wasn’t the case here, which is unfortunate, but he fessed up, said what he did was wrong, he erred, he is human. Bill Clinton erred you shrugged it off, Sylvia Berlusconi erred and we are like lets see how it plays out cos its prime time telly this, speaking to their therapists etc. Will his actions lead to the moral decay of South Africa as a nation? Well if he jumped off a building will we all? Some might yes i know, but thats why I say education is the key here,
Time will tell just give the man a chance, he may well be better than most...or not, but we don’t know that, just like we don’t know what we had instore for us post 1994 or when we went to school for the first time or when we started the new job...time will tell but one thing to bear in mind is that we are on a good wicket here. Tell me how many nations can boast hosting a rugby world cup, a cricket world cup, the African nations cup, the inaugural 20-20 world cup, the IPL, the Confederations cup, the soccer world cup, world summit on sustainable development, the head of the UN security council, the head of the African Union, have one of the most respected people to have ever lived being from its soil, all this in a space of 15 years...irrespective of our perspective of how bad things are here the world doesn’t seem to see it. Our job, all of our jobs is to make this the place we want it to be. Government can only do so much. A population of 48million, say maximum 50 000 in government maybe more, lets say even 1 million, who can really make things happen if they decide to work together? Simple things...tolerance and embracing of our differences, removing this negativity we choose to let run our lives here, help each other, each one teach one!!!
I sound like i am about to break into song, so let me stop there. I too have my reservations, but I am looking forward to what lies ahead, i hope these words don’t come back to bite me in the buttocks. I am looking forward to the new cabinet, how this new government interacts and carries itself. I cant do anything about it now, i did all i could do on the 22nd April the rest is in Gods hands, so why must i stress???
Another massive thing this weekend, even though I am not totally convinced about this whole commercial aspect of some of these days, Valentines, Womens, Secretaries, Fathers day etc. One day i have maximum respect for is Mothers day, which is this weekend. Guys just incase you haven’t taken the time to sit down and analyse what it means to be a mother, let me put forward my observation and mothers correct me if I am wrong.
You start off by doing the dirty...guys this is where our involvement ends, well other than dealing with mood swings (however this is nothing a few “work deadlines” or late meetings can’t sort out ;-)
But no not her! This little being becomes a part of her. Eating what she eats, passing off what it doesn’t want into her. She has mood swings, her body changes shape, she becomes a pie eater, morning sickness, back pains, she gets tired she still has to go to work up until its time for the little one to enter into the world. For 9 months this carries on 9 LOOOOOONNNNGGGGGG months. Our role hey love anything i can do (yeah how about you take this morning sickness every Tuesday and Thursday, i need some time out nah man no can do. We just carry on as usual and show a little sensitivity especially if you know whats good for you. But our load is light.
Enter 9 months, little Yaw is tired of his happy place, its getting too damn small for him, he feels he is a big boy now and he wants to come into the world...maybe...maybe not...maybe...maybe not....20 odd hours of labour later yip thats me, he decides ok enough fun and games and he pushes his way into this mad crazy place we call earth. Now i DON’T even want to imagine what it would feel like pushing a 3kg elongated life form out of an opening that could snugly fit an object that is on average 5cm in diameter. I don’t want to know. Guys have kidney stones and we half die...maximum respect.
But it doesn’t end there, hell no. Thats only the beginning. Breast feeding, changing nappies, taking to hospital, waking up at all hours to feed them, cleaning bottles, shaping their heads understanding what each cry means. Even worse when you are a single mother because all this is just you and you also have to go and make the moola to look after this little one. School fees, discipline, attending to injuries, nursing to health, making school lunches, covering school books, and after this you decide you want to have another one??!!!....nah man, guys we have life pretty good ey.
Maximum respect to all you mothers out there, you definitely play a massive role in making us who we are. You deserve your day on Sunday and hopefully more!!
Birthdays
01 Nic
02 Michael B
04 Gareth M
05 Nana Sao and Peace
06 Taz Magill
07 Shakira and Bish
09 Dear Sis Nana S
And that’s me for yet another week, you all be good now and show your mothers or mothers of your little ones some love, if you and your mother (blood or foster) aren’t on good terms, just take some time to remember all the rubbish you have put her through, whew thank goodness i didn’t put my mother through any of that ;-)
Massive love to you all
Y
And in the end its not the years in your life that matter but rather the life in your years!!
Nothing glorious about this approaching winter i tell you. Absolutely love this time of the year, leaves falling, crisp mornings warmish afternoons and that evening chill that screams no gym, TV and blankie...
Its a beautiful day to be alive isn’t it? A day to right the wrongs of yesterday or to keep on doing what’s right to make a difference in the life of another, or just another day...i guess the choice is yours really and so to the consequences of that choice
Some say he is corruption personified and that inspite of his plethora of wives he prefers extra marital affairs. Yes we call him Mr President. How normal life has become post the frenzy of the 22nd April 2009. We all cry so hard for this western phenomenon called democracy and this my dear friends is true democracy in action. The people have spoken. We have our president.
Whatever you might say or think about how he got where he is, on Saturday the 9th May, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma will be inaugurated as the 3rd democratically elected president of this our rainbow nation. Oh wait that would be fourth, forgot about the current caretaker president. I read his opening speech very reconciliatory, humble and positive, and word is (media) that it was one of the best speeches by any president/president in waiting of our country in the last little while. He has come a long way, it was almost 3 years ago to the day that he was acquitted on rape charges that threatened his freedom let alone his quest to be the peoples president. He managed to dodge how many counts of corruption, racketeering and tax evasion. He sprung his personal financier and friend Shabir from jail, squashed the scorpions and look at him now. From herd boy to the president of Africa’s rainbow nation...look at him now.
The new issue is that he will be flanked by 3 first ladies. My question is and so? I am all for live and let live, if the man decides polygamy is his way forward, the women he has married say its our way forward too who are we to judge? His culture allows for more than 1 wife so too Muslims and Mormons, I don’t hear anyone saying anything about that. In April this year the Russian president made a statement encouraging men to take more than 1 wife to protect the honour of unmarried women. Bottom line, polygamy is accepted in many cultures and religions, you don’t like it, don’t practice it, but u must respect the thing its part of our diversity.
But Yaw, we are a nation struggling to contain this thing called HIV and AIDS, but polygamy goes against all we have been telling the young ones about having just one partner. I say fair point there. But that being said if you are FAITHFULL to all your wives and they to you, well no external forces will be introduced to your little party and thus you should be ok.
But i guess that wasn’t the case here, which is unfortunate, but he fessed up, said what he did was wrong, he erred, he is human. Bill Clinton erred you shrugged it off, Sylvia Berlusconi erred and we are like lets see how it plays out cos its prime time telly this, speaking to their therapists etc. Will his actions lead to the moral decay of South Africa as a nation? Well if he jumped off a building will we all? Some might yes i know, but thats why I say education is the key here,
Time will tell just give the man a chance, he may well be better than most...or not, but we don’t know that, just like we don’t know what we had instore for us post 1994 or when we went to school for the first time or when we started the new job...time will tell but one thing to bear in mind is that we are on a good wicket here. Tell me how many nations can boast hosting a rugby world cup, a cricket world cup, the African nations cup, the inaugural 20-20 world cup, the IPL, the Confederations cup, the soccer world cup, world summit on sustainable development, the head of the UN security council, the head of the African Union, have one of the most respected people to have ever lived being from its soil, all this in a space of 15 years...irrespective of our perspective of how bad things are here the world doesn’t seem to see it. Our job, all of our jobs is to make this the place we want it to be. Government can only do so much. A population of 48million, say maximum 50 000 in government maybe more, lets say even 1 million, who can really make things happen if they decide to work together? Simple things...tolerance and embracing of our differences, removing this negativity we choose to let run our lives here, help each other, each one teach one!!!
I sound like i am about to break into song, so let me stop there. I too have my reservations, but I am looking forward to what lies ahead, i hope these words don’t come back to bite me in the buttocks. I am looking forward to the new cabinet, how this new government interacts and carries itself. I cant do anything about it now, i did all i could do on the 22nd April the rest is in Gods hands, so why must i stress???
Another massive thing this weekend, even though I am not totally convinced about this whole commercial aspect of some of these days, Valentines, Womens, Secretaries, Fathers day etc. One day i have maximum respect for is Mothers day, which is this weekend. Guys just incase you haven’t taken the time to sit down and analyse what it means to be a mother, let me put forward my observation and mothers correct me if I am wrong.
You start off by doing the dirty...guys this is where our involvement ends, well other than dealing with mood swings (however this is nothing a few “work deadlines” or late meetings can’t sort out ;-)
But no not her! This little being becomes a part of her. Eating what she eats, passing off what it doesn’t want into her. She has mood swings, her body changes shape, she becomes a pie eater, morning sickness, back pains, she gets tired she still has to go to work up until its time for the little one to enter into the world. For 9 months this carries on 9 LOOOOOONNNNGGGGGG months. Our role hey love anything i can do (yeah how about you take this morning sickness every Tuesday and Thursday, i need some time out nah man no can do. We just carry on as usual and show a little sensitivity especially if you know whats good for you. But our load is light.
Enter 9 months, little Yaw is tired of his happy place, its getting too damn small for him, he feels he is a big boy now and he wants to come into the world...maybe...maybe not...maybe...maybe not....20 odd hours of labour later yip thats me, he decides ok enough fun and games and he pushes his way into this mad crazy place we call earth. Now i DON’T even want to imagine what it would feel like pushing a 3kg elongated life form out of an opening that could snugly fit an object that is on average 5cm in diameter. I don’t want to know. Guys have kidney stones and we half die...maximum respect.
But it doesn’t end there, hell no. Thats only the beginning. Breast feeding, changing nappies, taking to hospital, waking up at all hours to feed them, cleaning bottles, shaping their heads understanding what each cry means. Even worse when you are a single mother because all this is just you and you also have to go and make the moola to look after this little one. School fees, discipline, attending to injuries, nursing to health, making school lunches, covering school books, and after this you decide you want to have another one??!!!....nah man, guys we have life pretty good ey.
Maximum respect to all you mothers out there, you definitely play a massive role in making us who we are. You deserve your day on Sunday and hopefully more!!
Birthdays
01 Nic
02 Michael B
04 Gareth M
05 Nana Sao and Peace
06 Taz Magill
07 Shakira and Bish
09 Dear Sis Nana S
And that’s me for yet another week, you all be good now and show your mothers or mothers of your little ones some love, if you and your mother (blood or foster) aren’t on good terms, just take some time to remember all the rubbish you have put her through, whew thank goodness i didn’t put my mother through any of that ;-)
Massive love to you all
Y
And in the end its not the years in your life that matter but rather the life in your years!!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Ow man another superb Autumn morning in Joburg i tell you, a bit of a brisk chill in the air, but man sunshine blue skies (well with a thick layer of goo) but alas u cant have it all. I trust this email/blog finds you well wherever you are and if it doesn’t, my honest sincere apologies to you for whatever you are going through, but also if I may I’d like to offer some advice in that whatever you are going through that is pulling you down, is essentially of your own making. Whatever it is has happened, but you are deciding how to react. I know it may seem a very callous assessment on my part, and that is not the intention, but you have no idea the power of the mind.
The week before last I was once again stuck in no man’s land for a variety of reasons, but nothing too serious, it was getting to me, but I decided enough of this shaite. I decided to change my attitude, I am still sorta stuck in no man’s land a bit, but I know its just a phase (cos it happens most years when i start thinking is this as good as it gets or is this all that there is to this thing called life, you know that discussion, which generally results in you discovering a better you, but that whole process, is tiring and quite frankly sucks)and it too shall pass. Started hitting the gym some more, communicating with mates and in the words of JayZ the bounce is back....I so hope that whatever you are going through it too passes soon but it starts with an attitude shift.
Speaking of an attitude shift, I hope you are not one of those people that are saying to yourselves, I am not going to vote on Wednesday, because what difference will my vote make??!! Utter nonsense. You must go out there and vote damnit. Because people made the effort to vote, the leader of the free world (as they call it), America is of mixed decent, I mean who would have ever? Take nothing away from the man, because he was better than his rivals by a gap as wide as the one Hussein Bolt left between himself and his competitors at the Olympics, and he wasn’t even at full tilt near the end!! But who would have ever thought that America would have a president who would largely be seen as a member of the minority
This is by far our must crucial elections since 1994. In 1994 it was about the new dawn, 1999 and 2004 was about consolidation, and i guess this year is about endorsement or change. The past few months in South African politics has been by far the most interesting in yonks. We had the happenings in Polokwane, which for me and in all honesty was a huge wake up call. I was hugely appalled by the disrespect shown to the lady who was trying to conduct proceedings. Then we had president being recalled based on judge’s ruling which was later overturned, which should bring into question the process of recalling the president, which in some quarters is seen as unconstitutional (i cannot profess to be an expert on the workings of the constitutional court so i will have to just go on hearsay. Then the scorpions got dissolved. Schabir Shaik was allowed out of jail because he was terminally ill, which was such a dumb a$$ excuse because I have no idea how many people die in prison. The NPA’s independence has been called into question. We have a high court judge in the dock for allegedly interfering with judgements...then I hear the president in waiting telling me that the ruling party has never abused its electoral mandate.
I was watching Carte Blanche yesterday and frankly i was quite disgusted. The evidence of poor service delivery is but shocking. The apathy or lack of concern from those in power is nauseating. Here we are the citizens, coughing up plenty every month to ensure that our roads are driveable, we have water in our taps, electricity to our TVs and this doesn’t happen because of incompetent and unperturbed ignoramuses in positions of power. Nah man, this can’t be right!! Then there is the question of plenty money being spent on fixing Chapmans peak but Chappies still remains closed.
Now this may sound like I am slating the ruling party and this is not my intention. My intention is rather to highlight some questionable developments of late. So now how do we know all this, well thats because the ANC government has been ‘transparent’ enough to let those who are willing investigate and comment on its affairs, this cant be said of the previous government. Yes, I know it doesn’t negate the fact that they have let plenty people down, but at least they have done some...plenty right!!!
Just so you know and I didn’t know this till this weekend. If you have registered to vote in Cape Town but moved to Johannesburg and didn’t register to vote in Jhb, you can still vote! I repeat you can STILL VOTE in the national elections, but just not for local government.
This week I was going to do some investigation as to the all the political parties taking part in this years elections and to my surprise, and trust for I, I was surprised there are 40 parties, yip you read me, FOUR TIE!!! Just out if interest sake i will list them below (the ones in bold being the household names):
A Party Democratic Alliance Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
Africa Muslim Party Dikwankwetla Party of South Africa Pan Africanist Movement
African Christian Alliance Peace and Justice Congress
African Christian Democratic Great Kongress of South Africa
African Independent Congress Sindawonye Progressive Party
African National Congress Independent Democrats South African Democratic Congress
African People's Convention Inkatha Freedom Party South African Political Party
Al Jamah-Ah
Alliance of Free Democrats Keep it Straight and Simple United Christian Democratic Party
Azanaian People's Organisation United Democratic Movement
Minority Front United Independent Front
Black Consciousness Party Movement Democratic Party Universal Party
Cape Party National Alliance VryheidsFront Plus
Christian Party National Democratic Convention Christian Democratic Alliance National Party South Africa Women Forward Congress of the People
New Vision Party Ximoko Party
Now doing some research on all 40 of these parties would be dom to say the least so I will just briefly touch on a couple of the household names. Last years top 8 were the ANC, DA, IFP, UDM, ID, NNP, ACDP and FF+, the NNP has since died and COPE has been born.
Before i delve into the details, I must just make it abundantly clear that I am but disgusted with most of the political parties with regards to their electioneering. My worst, not the party, but its message is the DA’s stop Zuma campaign, I mean really. Tell me what you are going to do for me, don’t tell me about Stop Zuma, how does that make sure my water and electricity flow as they are supposed to, jobs for the jobless, give me peace about the safety of my folks who are 60plus living on their own etc. Stop Zuma, i mean really!! I think Helen Zille is a great person with good intentions, honestly i do, but in my mind she has to be her own person other than taking over from Tony Leon and trying to be everything that the ANC is not. Then there is COPE. A party i believe is a godsend to South Africa, well hopefully. But what do they stand for? I like their presidential candidate Dr Dandala. He seems a good soul, one not yet tainted by polotics as Julius would say. But the jury is still out on the party. They were part of the ruling party for many a year. Yes understandable the ruling party was a tripartheid alliance along with COSATU and the SACP which could have hamstrung them quite a bit, but in the end thats what leadership is all about, making those hard decisions and making things work. So for me to now come and say that service delivery is the fault of the ruling party when it was you running the ruling party all these years is not altogether, in my mind a sound argument. With the recalling of President Mbeki came the reshuffling of the deck chairs which meant that the problematic minister of health was removed...a positive step, a new minister of safety and security, who i am yet to be convinced of is in place.....BUTTTTT, the bulk of people that have left the ANC to join COPE are intellectuals, and this may sound short sighted of me but in certain situations, there is very little substitution for education and this my friends is one such situation.
I would like JZ to have is day at the helm and for his sake prove his doubters wrong, because in my opinion, he is just one of those nice common people who was more than likely a victim of a smear campaign because of his perceived ineptness, by some of his peers in the upper echelons of the ANC, of representing the party without embarrassing himself or the party. Sometimes i have to agree. Especially when i have to compare him with other world leaders. The man is charismatic and he definitely does speak to his electoral base, his dancing and singing isn’t for you or me who have gone to school and are looking for real solutions to real problems and not milking struggle credentials. So when he dances and sings Umshiniwam and you and i cringe, hundreds of thousands gleefully sing along, i lose 2 but gain hundreds of thousands and those hundreds of thousands give me the power, well, tough choice that!! Another concern i have with him is the fact that when it comes to big speeches he tends to read every word as opposed to other party leaders who use their notes as merely that...notes. It makes me question his sincerity, but then again Thabo Mbeki and Nelson to some extent read their addresses too if memory serves me well.
Ok to the parties, who they are, their leaders and what they stand for...alphabetically
African Christian Democratic Party
The leader of this party is Reverend Kenneth Meshoe. This party was formed in December 1993. It was a result of Christians from a diverse background coming together to promote moral values as opposed to the divisive politics practised in the past.
Here is an extract from their “About Us” section of their website:
As a fast growing party in the country, the ACDP offers a fresh start based on Christian and family values. We are determined to address issues such as education, unemployment, health care, security and poverty, based on proven successful policies. We aim to rebuild the foundation of the nation by protecting families from the destructive effects of gambling, prostitution, pornography and abortion.
We are committed to rooting out corruption and creating accountable leaders that do not compromise their principles but serve with integrity, wisdom and accountability.
My opinion: it has its merits but its name suggests division in itself, so that which it was set up to guard against is being inadvertently/intentionally promoted
The African National Congress
No points for guessing who the ruler of this party is. It was first founded in 1912 as the South African Native National Congress. This party morphed into what we all now know as the African National Congress in 1923. The reason for its formation was to protect the black majority from the injustices that were being heaved upon them.
I have put plagiarised an extract from www.myanc.org for you all to read below:
Since 27 April 1994, we have built a new nation, one that all South Africans can call home, and in which the old conflicts have been consigned to history. We have worked together, black and white, women and men, to improve the lives of all our people.
In 15 years we have shown what can be done when people come together in a common effort.
We have made significant progress in tackling the apartheid legacy, building our economy and sustaining economic growth. While carefully managing public finances, we have invested significant resources into tackling poverty, meeting people’s basic needs, and expanding access to education and health care.
We have built democratic institutions that serve the interests and safeguard the rights of all South Africans.
Recent events have shown the capacity of these institutions to effectively perform their constitutional mandate even in the face of heated political and legal disputes. Where there have been abuses of power, these institutions have been able to act as a check on such abuses and to correct the problems.
As we face the challenges of tomorrow, we need to show the same spirit, determination and unity in building a prosperous nation.
In government, the ANC has worked with all South Africans, not only its supporters, to tackle poverty, grow the economy, build peace and stability, and improve lives. It has shown that it can work in partnership with all South Africans in a common cause.
As we work to accelerate the process of change, the ANC remains the one party that is able to mobilise a broad cross-section of society in the reconstruction and development of South Africa.
My opinion: I will give this to the ANC, they have done much for us all. They have also failed many, but theirs is a 15 year legacy to unwind some of the atrocities of the prior umpteen years. By no means will it be a mean feat. RDP, ASGISA, GEAR, all policies that have been implemented to try and ignite the economy. Even the most hardened member of the opposition will agree that this economy is sound and foreigners are more than interested in doing business here. The recent awarding of the IPL to South Africa is testament to that. Inspite of all the perceived concerns about crime and corruption, foreigners see this country as a viable place to operate. BUT I can’t in all good conscience say I am not concerned about the party and its growing arrogance and smugness. This is not a result of anything that people are saying but i guess my own opinion based on what i have witnessed. And what I have witnessed is an attitude of we can and we will and you can’t do anything about it and on top of it all we will laugh at you too!! Not cool!! Epitomised by the celebratory Siyanqoba (to conquer) rally held on the weekend.
The Congress of the People
The party’s president is Mr Mosiua “Terror” Lekota, a former Minister of defence and Premier of the Free State. The party’s presidential candidate however is the Bishop Mvume Dandala. I googled him and from what i see he has no political past up until recently his vocation and dedication was to his family and the church which i guess translates to serving the people. COPE was formed after a national convention held in November 2008 in order to find a way forward and to protect the democracy that many South Africans so longed for. It was really exciting to be around when the concept of COPE went from conversations with people who may know something, to reports in the newspapers to its eventual actual formation. Much excitement was generated about its formation from all corners of not only former ANC supporters, but South Africans as a whole. It really was good to see South Africans of all walks of life looking forward to and supporting this party and hoping for its success. But has it lived up to its hype?? Well i guess time will tell. For those of us who don’t know below is an extract of its vision, mission and objectives obtained from www.congressofthepeople.org:
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision for South Africa is for a democratic, inclusive, prosperous country which shuns all racial, ethnic, gender, narrow chauvinistic stereotypes and prejudices in favour of a caring society, where shared national identity and pride are deeply rooted; and where the freedoms of the people are untrammelled by a selfish political leadership; and where as a country we are at peace with our neighbours and the world.
MISSION STATEMENT
Ours is to instil respect for our hard-won democratic and constitutional rights and the respect for the rule of law that all shall be equal before the law. We will give back dignity; pride and self confidence to the South African people to have a voice; to dream; to work; and to live in peace and prosperity. We will build an inclusive non-racial democratic modern nation with high moral values; guided by principles of ubuntu; and a sense of personal integrity. We will strive for a nation that guarantees personal and property security so that people may live their lives free from fear and want.
POLICY OBJECTIVES: Towards rebuilding a people-Centred South Africa
* To respect the sovereignty of the South African people;
* To pull our people out of the misery of abject poverty;
* To expedite our economic growth for large-scale labour absorption;
* To deepen and consolidate our democracy as this is a prerequisite for a modern progressive democratic state;
* To manage a modern and efficient depoliticised institutions of state;
* To recruit an appropriately qualified and professional civil service.
My opinion: The best thing to happen to South Africa, purely for the reason that I don’t believe any democracy with one party dominating is healthy for anyone except i guess those running the party that has the majority rule. We saw what happened with this country when the Nats were running it unopposed. Same thing can happen or might even be happening right now. I can’t say that I am entirely convinced by this party just yet. I will admit though I was sooo excited when I heard about its formation and was but too ready to nail my colours to its mast, but my excitement has since been doused. It is definitely still early days for the party, but the involvement of the youth of all walks of life is very promising. Even though in my mind they haven’t formed a proper identity of their own, they have started something that I hope and pray will live for a long time and prosper and benefit the people of this nation.
The Democratic Alliance
Helen Zille, the leader of the DA has spent her life serving. Before politics, she was a reporter who was once brave enough to do an expose on the death of Steve Biko. In her expose she reported that Steve Biko had died as a result of torture. For this she was found guilty of misreporting by the then apartheid government. Fluent in Xhosa she is, that in itself tells me she takes an interest in all people, just based on the fact that she made an effort. Below is an extract of a speech she delivered on the 18th April 2009, its a pretty long one but pretty deep: (http://www.da.org.za/newsroom.htm?action=view-news-item&id=6638 if you want to read it)
Truly, ours is a party united in diversity. A rainbow party for a rainbow nation. A party that lives the change we want to see: one nation, with one future. Een nasie met een toekoms.
In this campaign it has been a great privilege to witness what is best in South Africa, in the stories and in the faces of the men and women I have met throughout our country.
I have met remarkable people. They are ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things to bring the vision of the open, opportunity society to life – often in the most difficult of circumstances.
I am thinking of December Mpapane, a maths and science teacher at Nkomazi High School in Mangweni, Mpumalanga. For the past 18 years he has given up his weekends to tutor learners. And every year for the past five years, between 90% and 100% of his pupils have passed maths and science in matric.
I am thinking of Gwynneth Marmetschke from Fernglen in Port Elizabeth. For the past 18 years, Gwynneth has been involved in the Baakens Valley Preservation Trust, which does everything it can to preserve the valley from destruction, pollution and decay, and save it for future generations.
I am thinking of Madikeledi Moita Khata, from Bataung in the North West. She runs a crèche for orphaned children – and cares for them and feeds them.
I am thinking of Dawn Philemon, from Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal. For many years, Dawn has waged a fearless – and often lonely – campaign against drug dealers in her community. Every day, she wages her battle to put drug dealers behind bars where they belong.
People like December, Gwynneth, Madikeledi and Dawn are “Everyday Heroes”. They symbolise everything that the DA believes in. They live out our policies.
These everyday heroes of South Africa are doing more than the government to fight poverty, hunger, homelessness disease and crime. It is a disgrace. It should be the other way around. And that is why the time has come to vote for people who understand that government is about service to the people. And to vote against a party that wants to put criminals into Parliament.
My Opinion: I think the DA missed a trick here. Instead of telling the voting public about who they are and what they stand for and can do for me as a voter, they tried the George Bush rule by fear tactic, you know the one about Al Qaeda and Osama. The Stop Zuma, vote to win campaign in my mind was really more about playing the man and not the game if that makes any sense and more often than not when you do that you tend to not get the desired result. This was the most opportune time for the DA to tell us more about what they have done and will keep on doing I unfortunately didn’t hear any of that.
The Freedom Front plus or Vryheids Front plus as they appear on the Voters roll as
This party makes no apologies for itself and I say good on them. They are a party that strives to protect the interests of the Afrikaner. I was listening to 702 the other day and a representative was telling us about some of the good that they do, which was pleasing to see. They claim to be a party for all people but truth be told i don’t think so. I went to their website earlier and it was in Afrikaans, so unfortunately I cant get any extracts to copy and paste here. The current leader of the VF+ is Pieter Mulder. He became the leader of the VF+ in 2001 when the founding president Constand Viljoen retired from politics
My opinion: definitely my party...NOOOT!! no disrespect intended to anyone, but regardless of what they try and tell me in my mind they are not an all encompassing sort of party and once again good for them, I have absolutely no disregard nor disrespect for any individual that identifies with what they stand for. And there are many such people seeing as they came 4th in the 1994 elections but 8th in the 2004 elections, i guess their base is reducing (they may all have left in fear of the swart gevaar) just an observation...
Independent Democrats
A party lead by another woman i have much respect for, Patricia De Lille. Because of her insistence, the stink about the arms deal came to light and Schabir Shaik was convicted and charges against Mr Zuma and a few other organisations were laid. Tony Yengeni did some time as a result of this. She in my mind is a woman of action even if she does talk she backs it up with a whole lot of action. She formed the ID in 2003 after a good few years with the PAC. She is not without her own controversies though. She has been accused of nepotism because her sister was given one of the ID’s 3 seats in the Western Cape provincial legislature, she has been accused of some deal with PAGAD (remember them??). In May 2007 she made a statement about the public abusing blogging and she wanted to see it regulated, this after someone accused one of her party members of paying him for sex...
That being said here is an extract from their website:
What is the ID?
The Independent Democrats (ID) was founded by Patricia de Lille in 2003 and was the first political party in South Africa to be led by a woman, contest elections and win seats.
The ID's plan for a better South Africa
The ID believes that the most important problems facing the country are: Unemployment, Poverty, Crime, Corruption, Housing, HIV/AIDS, Education and Health. Below is a summary of what the ID would do to improve the lives of all South Africans.
What has the ID done?
The ID has fought corruption on a massive scale, has campaigned for the extension of the Child Support Grant, for a greater increase in Pensions and Social Grants, for better care and treatment of people with HIV/AIDS and for a National Crime Summit to deal urgently with the problem of safety and security.
What will the ID do for you?
The ID will focus on the most important problems facing the country including Unemployment, Poverty, Crime, Corruption, Housing, HIV/AIDS, Education and Health.
The ID's Constitution
Here you will find the latest version of the Independent Democrats constitution.
My opinion: a very solid and sound choice for the undecided. She like us all have our flaws but her track record of exposing corruption and stirring things up a big speaks volumes of her willingness t fight corruption. Here is a link to the transcript of her final campaign speech: http://www.id.org.za/newsroom/speeches/news_item.2009-04-20.0098023429/
The Inkatha Freedom Party
This party in its current form only came into being in 1990, prior to that it was the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement, founded by Prince Mangosutu Buthelezi in 1975. He has been running this party since I started watching TV.
Here is an extract of the party’s vision as extracted from their site: http://www.ifp.org.za/
OUR VISION
What society do we want for ourselves and future generations? It is, in short, a just,
prosperous and moral society whose citizens engage with each other on the basis of
ubuntu/botho.
A just society is one which is fair, which has successfully addressed the challenges of
our past and, unfortunately, even the present – the lack of access to basic services, to
sustainable jobs, to quality education and healthcare, and to security. It also results in
freedom and equality for all before the law, irrespective of who you are and where you
come from.
A prosperous society is one in which mass poverty has been eradicated and in which
our people are able to pursue a better life, in which everyone is able to develop to his or
her fullest human potential. A prosperous society provides opportunity for all, provides
high quality services and contributes towards stability and unity.
A moral society is one governed by timeless moral precepts of good, unlike the
situation in South Africa today which is characterised by fear, violence, crime, greed and
corruption. We believe in a society based on strong family and strong community. There
is a contrast between many amoral leaders and elites and the essential goodness of
most South Africans – we believe everyone has a role to play in making South Africa a
better place.
A society underpinned by the spirit of ubuntu/botho must necessarily promote
justice and prosperity and morality for all. We believe such a society is a possibility, and
is not merely a dream. We believe our values of solidarity, freedom and unity, and our
principles and policies coupled with bold leadership and political courage, can achieve
this vision.
My opinion: To the mans credit he has fought the good fight for a long time. He has stood up and spoken against the things he found fault with. My personal opinion is he has now become stale. As i mentioned before, he has been ruling this party before I was born and bra i is old man. For this party to be taken seriously, by non-Zulus, it needs a serious shake up in its leadership. I don’t know a single leader of the IFP bar Prince Buthelezi.
United Democratic Movement
Major General Bantu Holomisa, my boss when we lived in the former Transkei. The man makes sense when he speaks and he holds no punches. I listened to him speak to the youth at a gathering at the end of last year/the beginning of this and he had solutions not just emptiness. He has promised much though but delivered less, but i guess those are some of the realities that face smaller parties...lack of resources, but then again a true leader would have made a plan. I read his last campaign speech and it really was compelling, well worth the read, below is an extract for the(http://www.udm2009elections.co.za/elections-2009/holomisa-campaign-closing-rally-speech.html) :
We have taken note of the clarion call by the population for reform of the criminal justice system. However, the situation has been exacerbated by the Polokwane lynch-mob, who came with one objective, namely to remove any person or institution which they believed would be stumbling blocks to their leadership. Thus whether it was the Scorpions, or MPs, or judges, or the NPA, if they asked questions about the Arms Deal or Travelgate or any corruption, they would be harassed, vilified and purged.
This behaviour has undermined the rule of law. To prove that they meant business, this lynch-mob closed down the Scorpions which was highly respected, this lynch-mob paroled Schabir Shaik under cloudy circumstances.
This lynch-mob formed a committee headed by some of the Cabinet Ministers to see to it that the charges against their leader are withdrawn at all costs.
We have all witnessed how this lynch-mob tried to brainwash us into believing a simple corruption case was part of a conspiracy. We saw how they turned a suspect into a political victim.
Indeed we are still puzzled; can anybody from this lynch-mob show that it was Mbeki who made Zuma meet with Shaik or meet with arms dealers?
Indeed, was it was Mr Mbeki who instructed Mr Zuma to go to Mauritius to prevent a diary of an arms dealer being brought to South Africa as evidence that would implicate him?
Indeed this lynch-mob has successfully dented the image of the NPA and its leadership. It is the programme of this lynch-mob, which has once again used its leader to attack the Constitutional Court. Only last week he questioned the integrity of Constitutional Court judges, just because they ruled against him.
The concept that we are all equal before the law has been vehemently opposed by this lynch-mob.
It is not the court, nor any individual political party, that will change that pattern of behaviour. It is you, the voter, who must change that.
Nor must we fall into the trap that we have witnessed elsewhere on the continent where people flaunt their struggle credentials and commit acts of corruption. One thing is certain, if you put all your eggs in one basket, we will continue to experience these embarrassing tendencies.
My opinion: I am not ashamed to say I am biased towards this man. He and his crew did a good job in governing us in the former Transkei for 7 years. He was quite a popular figure in the ANC, but for one or other reason he and the party didn’t get along and he was expelled from the ANC, it could have been his ego, or their fear of the personality he would become. I don’t see how a person who received the highest number of votes in the National Executive Council of the ANC can just fall out of favour in a matter of a year...
Anyway thats my bit for your election tomorrow. I so hope everyone goes out and exercises their right and my right for a better life and country.
Birthdays
13th Debbie, Jonty
16th Samantha
17th Louise
18th Eman
19th Bron and Dini
21st Lovely Ravi and Anthie
24th Kirst G and Tasneen
25th Shaka and Lizzy
Another short week followed by another, ordinarily i’d be chuffed but soo much to do and it feels a sin to do it on a public holiday but what to do
You all be safe and keep on making you a better you
Y
The week before last I was once again stuck in no man’s land for a variety of reasons, but nothing too serious, it was getting to me, but I decided enough of this shaite. I decided to change my attitude, I am still sorta stuck in no man’s land a bit, but I know its just a phase (cos it happens most years when i start thinking is this as good as it gets or is this all that there is to this thing called life, you know that discussion, which generally results in you discovering a better you, but that whole process, is tiring and quite frankly sucks)and it too shall pass. Started hitting the gym some more, communicating with mates and in the words of JayZ the bounce is back....I so hope that whatever you are going through it too passes soon but it starts with an attitude shift.
Speaking of an attitude shift, I hope you are not one of those people that are saying to yourselves, I am not going to vote on Wednesday, because what difference will my vote make??!! Utter nonsense. You must go out there and vote damnit. Because people made the effort to vote, the leader of the free world (as they call it), America is of mixed decent, I mean who would have ever? Take nothing away from the man, because he was better than his rivals by a gap as wide as the one Hussein Bolt left between himself and his competitors at the Olympics, and he wasn’t even at full tilt near the end!! But who would have ever thought that America would have a president who would largely be seen as a member of the minority
This is by far our must crucial elections since 1994. In 1994 it was about the new dawn, 1999 and 2004 was about consolidation, and i guess this year is about endorsement or change. The past few months in South African politics has been by far the most interesting in yonks. We had the happenings in Polokwane, which for me and in all honesty was a huge wake up call. I was hugely appalled by the disrespect shown to the lady who was trying to conduct proceedings. Then we had president being recalled based on judge’s ruling which was later overturned, which should bring into question the process of recalling the president, which in some quarters is seen as unconstitutional (i cannot profess to be an expert on the workings of the constitutional court so i will have to just go on hearsay. Then the scorpions got dissolved. Schabir Shaik was allowed out of jail because he was terminally ill, which was such a dumb a$$ excuse because I have no idea how many people die in prison. The NPA’s independence has been called into question. We have a high court judge in the dock for allegedly interfering with judgements...then I hear the president in waiting telling me that the ruling party has never abused its electoral mandate.
I was watching Carte Blanche yesterday and frankly i was quite disgusted. The evidence of poor service delivery is but shocking. The apathy or lack of concern from those in power is nauseating. Here we are the citizens, coughing up plenty every month to ensure that our roads are driveable, we have water in our taps, electricity to our TVs and this doesn’t happen because of incompetent and unperturbed ignoramuses in positions of power. Nah man, this can’t be right!! Then there is the question of plenty money being spent on fixing Chapmans peak but Chappies still remains closed.
Now this may sound like I am slating the ruling party and this is not my intention. My intention is rather to highlight some questionable developments of late. So now how do we know all this, well thats because the ANC government has been ‘transparent’ enough to let those who are willing investigate and comment on its affairs, this cant be said of the previous government. Yes, I know it doesn’t negate the fact that they have let plenty people down, but at least they have done some...plenty right!!!
Just so you know and I didn’t know this till this weekend. If you have registered to vote in Cape Town but moved to Johannesburg and didn’t register to vote in Jhb, you can still vote! I repeat you can STILL VOTE in the national elections, but just not for local government.
This week I was going to do some investigation as to the all the political parties taking part in this years elections and to my surprise, and trust for I, I was surprised there are 40 parties, yip you read me, FOUR TIE!!! Just out if interest sake i will list them below (the ones in bold being the household names):
A Party Democratic Alliance Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
Africa Muslim Party Dikwankwetla Party of South Africa Pan Africanist Movement
African Christian Alliance Peace and Justice Congress
African Christian Democratic Great Kongress of South Africa
African Independent Congress Sindawonye Progressive Party
African National Congress Independent Democrats South African Democratic Congress
African People's Convention Inkatha Freedom Party South African Political Party
Al Jamah-Ah
Alliance of Free Democrats Keep it Straight and Simple United Christian Democratic Party
Azanaian People's Organisation United Democratic Movement
Minority Front United Independent Front
Black Consciousness Party Movement Democratic Party Universal Party
Cape Party National Alliance VryheidsFront Plus
Christian Party National Democratic Convention Christian Democratic Alliance National Party South Africa Women Forward Congress of the People
New Vision Party Ximoko Party
Now doing some research on all 40 of these parties would be dom to say the least so I will just briefly touch on a couple of the household names. Last years top 8 were the ANC, DA, IFP, UDM, ID, NNP, ACDP and FF+, the NNP has since died and COPE has been born.
Before i delve into the details, I must just make it abundantly clear that I am but disgusted with most of the political parties with regards to their electioneering. My worst, not the party, but its message is the DA’s stop Zuma campaign, I mean really. Tell me what you are going to do for me, don’t tell me about Stop Zuma, how does that make sure my water and electricity flow as they are supposed to, jobs for the jobless, give me peace about the safety of my folks who are 60plus living on their own etc. Stop Zuma, i mean really!! I think Helen Zille is a great person with good intentions, honestly i do, but in my mind she has to be her own person other than taking over from Tony Leon and trying to be everything that the ANC is not. Then there is COPE. A party i believe is a godsend to South Africa, well hopefully. But what do they stand for? I like their presidential candidate Dr Dandala. He seems a good soul, one not yet tainted by polotics as Julius would say. But the jury is still out on the party. They were part of the ruling party for many a year. Yes understandable the ruling party was a tripartheid alliance along with COSATU and the SACP which could have hamstrung them quite a bit, but in the end thats what leadership is all about, making those hard decisions and making things work. So for me to now come and say that service delivery is the fault of the ruling party when it was you running the ruling party all these years is not altogether, in my mind a sound argument. With the recalling of President Mbeki came the reshuffling of the deck chairs which meant that the problematic minister of health was removed...a positive step, a new minister of safety and security, who i am yet to be convinced of is in place.....BUTTTTT, the bulk of people that have left the ANC to join COPE are intellectuals, and this may sound short sighted of me but in certain situations, there is very little substitution for education and this my friends is one such situation.
I would like JZ to have is day at the helm and for his sake prove his doubters wrong, because in my opinion, he is just one of those nice common people who was more than likely a victim of a smear campaign because of his perceived ineptness, by some of his peers in the upper echelons of the ANC, of representing the party without embarrassing himself or the party. Sometimes i have to agree. Especially when i have to compare him with other world leaders. The man is charismatic and he definitely does speak to his electoral base, his dancing and singing isn’t for you or me who have gone to school and are looking for real solutions to real problems and not milking struggle credentials. So when he dances and sings Umshiniwam and you and i cringe, hundreds of thousands gleefully sing along, i lose 2 but gain hundreds of thousands and those hundreds of thousands give me the power, well, tough choice that!! Another concern i have with him is the fact that when it comes to big speeches he tends to read every word as opposed to other party leaders who use their notes as merely that...notes. It makes me question his sincerity, but then again Thabo Mbeki and Nelson to some extent read their addresses too if memory serves me well.
Ok to the parties, who they are, their leaders and what they stand for...alphabetically
African Christian Democratic Party
The leader of this party is Reverend Kenneth Meshoe. This party was formed in December 1993. It was a result of Christians from a diverse background coming together to promote moral values as opposed to the divisive politics practised in the past.
Here is an extract from their “About Us” section of their website:
As a fast growing party in the country, the ACDP offers a fresh start based on Christian and family values. We are determined to address issues such as education, unemployment, health care, security and poverty, based on proven successful policies. We aim to rebuild the foundation of the nation by protecting families from the destructive effects of gambling, prostitution, pornography and abortion.
We are committed to rooting out corruption and creating accountable leaders that do not compromise their principles but serve with integrity, wisdom and accountability.
My opinion: it has its merits but its name suggests division in itself, so that which it was set up to guard against is being inadvertently/intentionally promoted
The African National Congress
No points for guessing who the ruler of this party is. It was first founded in 1912 as the South African Native National Congress. This party morphed into what we all now know as the African National Congress in 1923. The reason for its formation was to protect the black majority from the injustices that were being heaved upon them.
I have put plagiarised an extract from www.myanc.org for you all to read below:
Since 27 April 1994, we have built a new nation, one that all South Africans can call home, and in which the old conflicts have been consigned to history. We have worked together, black and white, women and men, to improve the lives of all our people.
In 15 years we have shown what can be done when people come together in a common effort.
We have made significant progress in tackling the apartheid legacy, building our economy and sustaining economic growth. While carefully managing public finances, we have invested significant resources into tackling poverty, meeting people’s basic needs, and expanding access to education and health care.
We have built democratic institutions that serve the interests and safeguard the rights of all South Africans.
Recent events have shown the capacity of these institutions to effectively perform their constitutional mandate even in the face of heated political and legal disputes. Where there have been abuses of power, these institutions have been able to act as a check on such abuses and to correct the problems.
As we face the challenges of tomorrow, we need to show the same spirit, determination and unity in building a prosperous nation.
In government, the ANC has worked with all South Africans, not only its supporters, to tackle poverty, grow the economy, build peace and stability, and improve lives. It has shown that it can work in partnership with all South Africans in a common cause.
As we work to accelerate the process of change, the ANC remains the one party that is able to mobilise a broad cross-section of society in the reconstruction and development of South Africa.
My opinion: I will give this to the ANC, they have done much for us all. They have also failed many, but theirs is a 15 year legacy to unwind some of the atrocities of the prior umpteen years. By no means will it be a mean feat. RDP, ASGISA, GEAR, all policies that have been implemented to try and ignite the economy. Even the most hardened member of the opposition will agree that this economy is sound and foreigners are more than interested in doing business here. The recent awarding of the IPL to South Africa is testament to that. Inspite of all the perceived concerns about crime and corruption, foreigners see this country as a viable place to operate. BUT I can’t in all good conscience say I am not concerned about the party and its growing arrogance and smugness. This is not a result of anything that people are saying but i guess my own opinion based on what i have witnessed. And what I have witnessed is an attitude of we can and we will and you can’t do anything about it and on top of it all we will laugh at you too!! Not cool!! Epitomised by the celebratory Siyanqoba (to conquer) rally held on the weekend.
The Congress of the People
The party’s president is Mr Mosiua “Terror” Lekota, a former Minister of defence and Premier of the Free State. The party’s presidential candidate however is the Bishop Mvume Dandala. I googled him and from what i see he has no political past up until recently his vocation and dedication was to his family and the church which i guess translates to serving the people. COPE was formed after a national convention held in November 2008 in order to find a way forward and to protect the democracy that many South Africans so longed for. It was really exciting to be around when the concept of COPE went from conversations with people who may know something, to reports in the newspapers to its eventual actual formation. Much excitement was generated about its formation from all corners of not only former ANC supporters, but South Africans as a whole. It really was good to see South Africans of all walks of life looking forward to and supporting this party and hoping for its success. But has it lived up to its hype?? Well i guess time will tell. For those of us who don’t know below is an extract of its vision, mission and objectives obtained from www.congressofthepeople.org:
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision for South Africa is for a democratic, inclusive, prosperous country which shuns all racial, ethnic, gender, narrow chauvinistic stereotypes and prejudices in favour of a caring society, where shared national identity and pride are deeply rooted; and where the freedoms of the people are untrammelled by a selfish political leadership; and where as a country we are at peace with our neighbours and the world.
MISSION STATEMENT
Ours is to instil respect for our hard-won democratic and constitutional rights and the respect for the rule of law that all shall be equal before the law. We will give back dignity; pride and self confidence to the South African people to have a voice; to dream; to work; and to live in peace and prosperity. We will build an inclusive non-racial democratic modern nation with high moral values; guided by principles of ubuntu; and a sense of personal integrity. We will strive for a nation that guarantees personal and property security so that people may live their lives free from fear and want.
POLICY OBJECTIVES: Towards rebuilding a people-Centred South Africa
* To respect the sovereignty of the South African people;
* To pull our people out of the misery of abject poverty;
* To expedite our economic growth for large-scale labour absorption;
* To deepen and consolidate our democracy as this is a prerequisite for a modern progressive democratic state;
* To manage a modern and efficient depoliticised institutions of state;
* To recruit an appropriately qualified and professional civil service.
My opinion: The best thing to happen to South Africa, purely for the reason that I don’t believe any democracy with one party dominating is healthy for anyone except i guess those running the party that has the majority rule. We saw what happened with this country when the Nats were running it unopposed. Same thing can happen or might even be happening right now. I can’t say that I am entirely convinced by this party just yet. I will admit though I was sooo excited when I heard about its formation and was but too ready to nail my colours to its mast, but my excitement has since been doused. It is definitely still early days for the party, but the involvement of the youth of all walks of life is very promising. Even though in my mind they haven’t formed a proper identity of their own, they have started something that I hope and pray will live for a long time and prosper and benefit the people of this nation.
The Democratic Alliance
Helen Zille, the leader of the DA has spent her life serving. Before politics, she was a reporter who was once brave enough to do an expose on the death of Steve Biko. In her expose she reported that Steve Biko had died as a result of torture. For this she was found guilty of misreporting by the then apartheid government. Fluent in Xhosa she is, that in itself tells me she takes an interest in all people, just based on the fact that she made an effort. Below is an extract of a speech she delivered on the 18th April 2009, its a pretty long one but pretty deep: (http://www.da.org.za/newsroom.htm?action=view-news-item&id=6638 if you want to read it)
Truly, ours is a party united in diversity. A rainbow party for a rainbow nation. A party that lives the change we want to see: one nation, with one future. Een nasie met een toekoms.
In this campaign it has been a great privilege to witness what is best in South Africa, in the stories and in the faces of the men and women I have met throughout our country.
I have met remarkable people. They are ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things to bring the vision of the open, opportunity society to life – often in the most difficult of circumstances.
I am thinking of December Mpapane, a maths and science teacher at Nkomazi High School in Mangweni, Mpumalanga. For the past 18 years he has given up his weekends to tutor learners. And every year for the past five years, between 90% and 100% of his pupils have passed maths and science in matric.
I am thinking of Gwynneth Marmetschke from Fernglen in Port Elizabeth. For the past 18 years, Gwynneth has been involved in the Baakens Valley Preservation Trust, which does everything it can to preserve the valley from destruction, pollution and decay, and save it for future generations.
I am thinking of Madikeledi Moita Khata, from Bataung in the North West. She runs a crèche for orphaned children – and cares for them and feeds them.
I am thinking of Dawn Philemon, from Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal. For many years, Dawn has waged a fearless – and often lonely – campaign against drug dealers in her community. Every day, she wages her battle to put drug dealers behind bars where they belong.
People like December, Gwynneth, Madikeledi and Dawn are “Everyday Heroes”. They symbolise everything that the DA believes in. They live out our policies.
These everyday heroes of South Africa are doing more than the government to fight poverty, hunger, homelessness disease and crime. It is a disgrace. It should be the other way around. And that is why the time has come to vote for people who understand that government is about service to the people. And to vote against a party that wants to put criminals into Parliament.
My Opinion: I think the DA missed a trick here. Instead of telling the voting public about who they are and what they stand for and can do for me as a voter, they tried the George Bush rule by fear tactic, you know the one about Al Qaeda and Osama. The Stop Zuma, vote to win campaign in my mind was really more about playing the man and not the game if that makes any sense and more often than not when you do that you tend to not get the desired result. This was the most opportune time for the DA to tell us more about what they have done and will keep on doing I unfortunately didn’t hear any of that.
The Freedom Front plus or Vryheids Front plus as they appear on the Voters roll as
This party makes no apologies for itself and I say good on them. They are a party that strives to protect the interests of the Afrikaner. I was listening to 702 the other day and a representative was telling us about some of the good that they do, which was pleasing to see. They claim to be a party for all people but truth be told i don’t think so. I went to their website earlier and it was in Afrikaans, so unfortunately I cant get any extracts to copy and paste here. The current leader of the VF+ is Pieter Mulder. He became the leader of the VF+ in 2001 when the founding president Constand Viljoen retired from politics
My opinion: definitely my party...NOOOT!! no disrespect intended to anyone, but regardless of what they try and tell me in my mind they are not an all encompassing sort of party and once again good for them, I have absolutely no disregard nor disrespect for any individual that identifies with what they stand for. And there are many such people seeing as they came 4th in the 1994 elections but 8th in the 2004 elections, i guess their base is reducing (they may all have left in fear of the swart gevaar) just an observation...
Independent Democrats
A party lead by another woman i have much respect for, Patricia De Lille. Because of her insistence, the stink about the arms deal came to light and Schabir Shaik was convicted and charges against Mr Zuma and a few other organisations were laid. Tony Yengeni did some time as a result of this. She in my mind is a woman of action even if she does talk she backs it up with a whole lot of action. She formed the ID in 2003 after a good few years with the PAC. She is not without her own controversies though. She has been accused of nepotism because her sister was given one of the ID’s 3 seats in the Western Cape provincial legislature, she has been accused of some deal with PAGAD (remember them??). In May 2007 she made a statement about the public abusing blogging and she wanted to see it regulated, this after someone accused one of her party members of paying him for sex...
That being said here is an extract from their website:
What is the ID?
The Independent Democrats (ID) was founded by Patricia de Lille in 2003 and was the first political party in South Africa to be led by a woman, contest elections and win seats.
The ID's plan for a better South Africa
The ID believes that the most important problems facing the country are: Unemployment, Poverty, Crime, Corruption, Housing, HIV/AIDS, Education and Health. Below is a summary of what the ID would do to improve the lives of all South Africans.
What has the ID done?
The ID has fought corruption on a massive scale, has campaigned for the extension of the Child Support Grant, for a greater increase in Pensions and Social Grants, for better care and treatment of people with HIV/AIDS and for a National Crime Summit to deal urgently with the problem of safety and security.
What will the ID do for you?
The ID will focus on the most important problems facing the country including Unemployment, Poverty, Crime, Corruption, Housing, HIV/AIDS, Education and Health.
The ID's Constitution
Here you will find the latest version of the Independent Democrats constitution.
My opinion: a very solid and sound choice for the undecided. She like us all have our flaws but her track record of exposing corruption and stirring things up a big speaks volumes of her willingness t fight corruption. Here is a link to the transcript of her final campaign speech: http://www.id.org.za/newsroom/speeches/news_item.2009-04-20.0098023429/
The Inkatha Freedom Party
This party in its current form only came into being in 1990, prior to that it was the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement, founded by Prince Mangosutu Buthelezi in 1975. He has been running this party since I started watching TV.
Here is an extract of the party’s vision as extracted from their site: http://www.ifp.org.za/
OUR VISION
What society do we want for ourselves and future generations? It is, in short, a just,
prosperous and moral society whose citizens engage with each other on the basis of
ubuntu/botho.
A just society is one which is fair, which has successfully addressed the challenges of
our past and, unfortunately, even the present – the lack of access to basic services, to
sustainable jobs, to quality education and healthcare, and to security. It also results in
freedom and equality for all before the law, irrespective of who you are and where you
come from.
A prosperous society is one in which mass poverty has been eradicated and in which
our people are able to pursue a better life, in which everyone is able to develop to his or
her fullest human potential. A prosperous society provides opportunity for all, provides
high quality services and contributes towards stability and unity.
A moral society is one governed by timeless moral precepts of good, unlike the
situation in South Africa today which is characterised by fear, violence, crime, greed and
corruption. We believe in a society based on strong family and strong community. There
is a contrast between many amoral leaders and elites and the essential goodness of
most South Africans – we believe everyone has a role to play in making South Africa a
better place.
A society underpinned by the spirit of ubuntu/botho must necessarily promote
justice and prosperity and morality for all. We believe such a society is a possibility, and
is not merely a dream. We believe our values of solidarity, freedom and unity, and our
principles and policies coupled with bold leadership and political courage, can achieve
this vision.
My opinion: To the mans credit he has fought the good fight for a long time. He has stood up and spoken against the things he found fault with. My personal opinion is he has now become stale. As i mentioned before, he has been ruling this party before I was born and bra i is old man. For this party to be taken seriously, by non-Zulus, it needs a serious shake up in its leadership. I don’t know a single leader of the IFP bar Prince Buthelezi.
United Democratic Movement
Major General Bantu Holomisa, my boss when we lived in the former Transkei. The man makes sense when he speaks and he holds no punches. I listened to him speak to the youth at a gathering at the end of last year/the beginning of this and he had solutions not just emptiness. He has promised much though but delivered less, but i guess those are some of the realities that face smaller parties...lack of resources, but then again a true leader would have made a plan. I read his last campaign speech and it really was compelling, well worth the read, below is an extract for the(http://www.udm2009elections.co.za/elections-2009/holomisa-campaign-closing-rally-speech.html) :
We have taken note of the clarion call by the population for reform of the criminal justice system. However, the situation has been exacerbated by the Polokwane lynch-mob, who came with one objective, namely to remove any person or institution which they believed would be stumbling blocks to their leadership. Thus whether it was the Scorpions, or MPs, or judges, or the NPA, if they asked questions about the Arms Deal or Travelgate or any corruption, they would be harassed, vilified and purged.
This behaviour has undermined the rule of law. To prove that they meant business, this lynch-mob closed down the Scorpions which was highly respected, this lynch-mob paroled Schabir Shaik under cloudy circumstances.
This lynch-mob formed a committee headed by some of the Cabinet Ministers to see to it that the charges against their leader are withdrawn at all costs.
We have all witnessed how this lynch-mob tried to brainwash us into believing a simple corruption case was part of a conspiracy. We saw how they turned a suspect into a political victim.
Indeed we are still puzzled; can anybody from this lynch-mob show that it was Mbeki who made Zuma meet with Shaik or meet with arms dealers?
Indeed, was it was Mr Mbeki who instructed Mr Zuma to go to Mauritius to prevent a diary of an arms dealer being brought to South Africa as evidence that would implicate him?
Indeed this lynch-mob has successfully dented the image of the NPA and its leadership. It is the programme of this lynch-mob, which has once again used its leader to attack the Constitutional Court. Only last week he questioned the integrity of Constitutional Court judges, just because they ruled against him.
The concept that we are all equal before the law has been vehemently opposed by this lynch-mob.
It is not the court, nor any individual political party, that will change that pattern of behaviour. It is you, the voter, who must change that.
Nor must we fall into the trap that we have witnessed elsewhere on the continent where people flaunt their struggle credentials and commit acts of corruption. One thing is certain, if you put all your eggs in one basket, we will continue to experience these embarrassing tendencies.
My opinion: I am not ashamed to say I am biased towards this man. He and his crew did a good job in governing us in the former Transkei for 7 years. He was quite a popular figure in the ANC, but for one or other reason he and the party didn’t get along and he was expelled from the ANC, it could have been his ego, or their fear of the personality he would become. I don’t see how a person who received the highest number of votes in the National Executive Council of the ANC can just fall out of favour in a matter of a year...
Anyway thats my bit for your election tomorrow. I so hope everyone goes out and exercises their right and my right for a better life and country.
Birthdays
13th Debbie, Jonty
16th Samantha
17th Louise
18th Eman
19th Bron and Dini
21st Lovely Ravi and Anthie
24th Kirst G and Tasneen
25th Shaka and Lizzy
Another short week followed by another, ordinarily i’d be chuffed but soo much to do and it feels a sin to do it on a public holiday but what to do
You all be safe and keep on making you a better you
Y
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Whose morality is it anyway?
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