Why do you come here...When you know I've got troubles enough..

Why do you call me...When you know I can't answer the phone..

You make me lie...When I don't want to...And make someone else...Some kind of unknowing fool...You make me stay...When I should not...Are you so strong...Or is the weakness in me...(Keisha White)

Its been a while hasn’t it? Hope everyone is all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Once again its insane how quickly the year is zooming past, can you believe its almost March. Hope you aren’t putting off saying or doing anything that you could do today...  I am trying but my oath its hard, cos tomorrow is always there no??

A few days ago I was in Kenya for a week. Man what a styling place, I was pleasantly surprised. The weather was awesome in Nairobi, just the way i like it not insanely hot and minimal humidity i wanted to shed a tear. I thought it would be like Ghana, hot and sticky...But that was the least thing that impressed me. The place as a whole was pretty well developed, but traffic....yo!! But i guess it’s typical in most countries. The thing that really got my attention was the people and the warmth and acceptance of the people. It was really so refreshing taking into consideration where the country was a few months ago post their elections. Anyway I had a pretty decent time there and then i got home on Saturday. So begins my disappointment/confusion...

So on Saturday I was invited to a mates house for some drinks etc. Good bunch of people. I got there a bit late because I was tired from my travels so I passed out most of the day. When i got there my mates were well oiled and as with most gatherings round about this time of the year our conversation turned to polotics (as Julius would say) I wasn’t paying much attention because the Bulls were playing the Reds and the England were playing Wales I think it was, I had plenty to concentrate on. A while into the conversation, one of my mates, who like me is of Ghanaian decent but residing here comes to the area where i am sitting and makes a comment almost in disgust about a comment made by another of our friends. The comment was that although he has been residing here for 10 years has a child here etc. he should not be allowed to vote. Rugby?? What rugby...My interest was piqued. I did some investigation to get the scoop.

From what i gathered, one of my (black) South African mates was against the fact that foreign born South Africans are allowed to vote in the upcoming elections, particularly i guess us foreign born nationals holding 2 passports. I engage in a discussion with her to understand what her thinking is. Her thing is I am not truly committed, i am here because it benefits me and also a guy like Jabu who lives in Diepsloot (a township here in SA) has not alternatives this is his only choice when he votes he is looking out for the best interest of the country.

I was a tad baffled by this. I am 33, fortunate enough to have been afforded a decent education. I can pretty much live in most places, but i choose to live here because it is my home, (even though plenty people around me make it difficult for me to fully feel as if this is my home). Yes it is beneficial for me to live here, just as much as it is for her to live here to, because she is equally educated and also quite mobile. But she, like I choose to live here because it benefits us and not only that I think it benefits SA for me to be here too. I guess just as it benefitted both parties when some of our parents were ‘imported’ here as teachers and doctors back in the day, but how soon we forget when things start going right ;-).

To be honest in my opinion, I think the argument is flawed. As humans we always hedge our positions. I buy insurance not cos i want to wreck my car, but just incase...A bit of an extreme example, but i think it illustrates my point. I don’t use my Ghanaian passport for much other than to go to Ghana. I am allowed to have it by law so why not keep it, it is my birth right to have it. Does that change my attitude for my home country, not a sausage. I love this place man, but to be honest the mentality of some makes me glad that i do hold 2 passports, as was evidenced a few months ago when there was an attack on foreign nationals based purely on appearance and nothing else.

I had this blog so well scripted in my head 2 weeks ago but eish today its a problem, but i hope you guys get the gist of what I am trying to say and i’d like your thoughts on it too. I wrote the race of the person involved on purpose because I have had this conversation with a few other people too and the only people who seem to have a problem with other (and it seems like its only other black) foreign born nationals voting are blacks. Something that just dawned on me which may well blow the whole argument out of the water too is in the case of say a Comrade who was living in exile has a child in the exile country, should they be allowed to vote? I am guessing the answer would be yes and rightly so

Anyway, for many Christians, Wednesday was the beginning of Lent, many people tend to give up random things like booze, meat, chocies or sex for the period. Now thats all good and well, but in my mind it defeats the whole essence of the period. If i am not mistaken, its meant to be a period representing the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert enduring constant temptation from the devil. Now my thinking is this. Its all good and well to deny self some of the pleasures we enjoy, but tell me how often do you drink? Eatc chocolate, meat etc? My guess is once a week maybe even twice, how much of a challenge is giving up something that is sporadic? Not so much ne? So what say u for the next 38 days you go out of your way to make a difference in someone elses life, be it a compliment, less bitching, or my personal favourite, helping out the less fortunate than you, but I don’t mean giving them R5 or so, cos thats easy, I am thinking more along the lines of a loaf of bread, litre of milk or something that will require a conscious effort.

Pure of mind, good deed, Each one help one...

Anyway I’m outta here, but before I leave i’d like to point you all to a mates blog about poor consumer experience in SA...http://letsbegreat.blogspot.com...

Birthdays
8th Bibi and Kwaku
9th Vivi
11th Zahir
12th Garrin
14th Barbs
16th Jane
17th Nadya
18th Lourie, Susan, Sarah
22nd Anja, Lindsay, Kim, Vixie
24th Paddy, Kirsty
25th Seemie & Abbey
26th Chaks, Sarah, Louise and me
27th Zuraida
28th Leah, Tumi, Brett, Richard

And thats me for another week...

Have a great weekend

Y

Monday Mail

Monday Mail

“‘It's amazing, I'm the reason, Everybody fired up this evening
I'm exhausted, Barely breathing, Holding on to what I believe in
No matter what, You'll never take that from me, My reign is as far as your eyes can see
It's amazing, so amazing, so amazing, so amazing, it's amazing
so amazing, so amazing, so amazing, it's amazing (Let's go)” Amazing - Kanye West

Listening to the leader of the largest or one of the largest super powers in this on national tv, saying he screwed up and he is solely responsible for his stuff up. How refreshing, how amazing. Will that ever happen on this continent i wonder? We have our esteemed president of the ANC, with a huge cloud over his head and his integrity called into question. Now i ain’t saying that he did it, but had it been me and in my heart of hearts knew without a shadow of a doubt, I’d go to court and clear my name once and for all. If my day in court hasn’t come before election day, well i’d do the right thing and bow out gracefully. Not because I am guilty or because it proves my guilt but because I cant worry about just myself and what else I am going to do with my life outside of politics, but because it may be best for the country and its people, those self same people i long to serve...emphasis on SERVE. But then again that may well be why I am not a politician because i think I haven’t read the manual of an African politician...

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Interest rates got cut buy 1% we are having some pretty decent rains up here on the Highveld, some may say its like London, but we see the sun in between, oh wait and you guys make pounds ;-). The Gautrain is on the horizon, average trip prices of R20. I am looking forward to 12 – 15 min trips to and from the airport. Hopefully it wont be a white elephant, but i guess regardless at least some jobs have been created because apparently on any given day there are roughly 10 000 people working on its development happy days. Confederations Cup starts in June, my only disappointment is the fact that we haven’t gotten behind it at all. There is zero excitement about the soccer amongst my peers. SA has the opportunity to stage the biggest event on the world sporting circuit next year yet zero (minimal) advertising, zero fanfare...nada...its such an opportunity for us to sell ourselves to the world but we are letting the opportunity slip by...

Speaking of opportunities slipping by we have such a huge opportunity to make a difference here in the next few months. How, you might ask? Well we are holding elections and yes the ANC will still be in charge BUTTTTTTT all i say is let your voice be heard. Yes this weekend is the start of the six nations. Yes you are tired or Saturday is the only day you have for groceries and Sunday is church and family day, yes we will always have our excuses, but please go and register to vote. 7/8 Feb GO AND REGISTER, exercise your right and don’t bore the rest of the world with how bad the government is doing things if you didn’t try and make a difference.

Moving along...I was listening to 702 a few nights ago and they were taking about an African Sex workers convention that was held in SA recently. Now what i have to say about it is prostitution just like drugs will happen whether its legal or not, so why not legalise it? To each their own. As i sit here, i don’t see myself ever DIRECTLY paying for sex(because you always do pay, yeah i said it ), but there are those that do, and i don’t frown upon them who am i to judge? Lets draw a comparison here. David Beckham uses his feet to entertain the world, well parts of the world that love football. He is using his given talents and ability and there is a demand...a huge one at that which he caters to. A sex worker uses her God given body to satisfy the need of someone out there. Please tell me the difference other than man...us making the one immoral and illegal and the other not. In both instances no ones rights are violated, through circumstance or skill, you have realised that you can do this and you are pretty good at it. So you will be earning a living from it. Clearly there is a market for prostitution otherwise the trade wouldn’t exist no? Prostitution is apparently the oldest profession. Its going nowhere. There are people killing and raping others, how about we focus our resources on catching those people and allow Midnight and her badself to get her freak on or better yet let Steve Urkel get some game!! There are other things that go with legalising prostitution. Prostitutes get given some rights too, better health care and education is offered to them too and many more...What are your thoughts?

Birthdays
25th Anna
27th Ingo
28th Dil and Stilwell
31st Refiloe R
1st Feb Leils and Nezaam

There is a humongous chance that I may be in Kenya next week, please let me know if you or anyone you know will be there because its boring being out on your own 

Outta here have a great Friday!!

Big love and maximum respect as always

Y