Music

We have three new (music) albums.
The first is "Dancing Through the Chakras" an Aussie production, not quite what I was expecting. I thought it would just be music but we have an Aussie lass coaching before each chakra. Actually it's very good. We start with the "tribal rhythms of the earthy base chakra" all the way up to the crown. So instead of the usual slow begining and wild end we start with lots of energy and slowly, slowly relax. Very nice.
Number two is Jay-Z (rapper not dancer). I really like him and I think one day he and Beyonce will be a chubby couple who compliment each other. It's a great album, I don't care for his over use of what we honkies refer to as "the N word" but aside from that it has some really great tracks. I love good rap, Emem, Kanye (how do you spell these names?) as opposed to those wannabees who think if it rhymes it must be rap.
Last but of course, not least, Gorillaz - Plastic Beach. Wow. It doesn't fail my expectations. Featuring among many others another big favourite rapper - Snoop Dog. If there's such a phrase as cohesive randomness it would describe this album. It's different but the same, the favourite, recognisable sounds in a whole new way. Five stars.
Talking of stars, I really must buy a Prime Circle album, they surely are the best to come out of South Africa, but, lest you think that doesn't mean much, please think on the amazing talent this country has to offer. Their cover of Careless Whisper must have George crying into his cornflakes and their original stuff, outstanding.
Play on.

Size doesn't matter

Canyou say Eyjafjallajokull? Me neither but this dumbfounding word has brought half of the world to its knees. It's a hat trick for Icland, a country with a population roughly one tenth that of Cape Town. First they gave us Bjork, then the bank and now the volcano. Who could ever have imagined that the world's aircraft would be grounded for days on end?
The last time Eyj erupted was Dec 1821 and eruptions carried on until Jan 1823, 14 months, give or take. So what will happen in the hypthetical next 14 months?
Well, if you want to attend any of the soccer world cup matches you have paid so dearly for from the U.K. or Europe, start walkng, or book a cruise. On the up side, no plane hijackings but on the down side, no once-in-a-lifetime trips either.
I used to think that the worst commercial problem would be when the electricity goes out but this is way bigger. So much money isn't being spent. No fuel for the planes, no catering or toilet cleaning. No taxi or bus service to and from the airports and of course, no point going on strike.
Isn't it amazing how the small things can just blind-side us and shake up our lives?

Boxing clever

I see that Puma are discontinuing the use of shoe boxes. Instead they will have a "clever little bag" I think they call it. This will of course be much more enviromentaly friendly than chopping down trees.
While I applaude the effort to go green I must shed a tear for the amazing shoe box.
It isn't just for shoes, it can be a doll house, a theatre, a camera, storage for old love letters, recipes, baby photos. Need I go on, the uses are endless. The shoe box must rate as the number one example of how to recycle successfully.
Who makes the boxes? will they be out of work? Some years back while holidaying in Australia we went into covered parking where we paid a machine for the couple of hours our car was there.
"That's never going to happen in South Africa" I said "too many people need work so they'll never be replaced by a machine" I'm not such a good prophet am I?
The fact is, it is cheaper to employ a machine than a human. It works all the time, never goes on strike, never takes leave or asks for a raise. So sad.
The times they are achanging, if we want to save our planet we have to take bold steps like the ones taken by Puma but if we want to save our people we'll have to come up with something for them to do. In SA there are ladies who make the most amazing items out of old plastic bags, perhaps they can take old Puma bags and weave them into shoe boxes so that we still have somewhere to store our stuff.

Sunday

The wedding was really good. I don't wish to offend anyone but I'm not always into those swanky wine farm do's, I prefer a family and friends, kids running down the aisle type wedding. This was a totaly comfortable affair and everyone had a good time. We even danced - Rowland and I were the only ones on the dance floor for Billie Jean, confirming what I've suspected for a while, Michael Jackson is old fogey music. Who cares.
On the way home we came across a most horrific accident which (from a distance) seemed to be between a car and a motorcycle. I think we counted three fire engines and many police vehicles, the road was closed off and what I find totally SICK is how some feel they have to stop their cars and walk over to the accidents scene. Sickoes!
Tomorrow is my mums birthday. I'm sure she won't mind me mentioning that she will be 88 years old. What a life she's had and still around to tell the tales. She has three children, 9 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Way to go Annie.
So, my prayer for today is for a lifetime of Joy for Natalie and Stanley, Peace and Acceptance for the families left behind after the crash and Good Health and Happiness for my mum.

Hairy

As readers of my blog know, my legs are naturally free of hair, however a friend of mine does periodically have to remove some hair from her legs. This friend, we'll call her, oh, I don't know, Louise, went to buy hair removal cream but being a bit cash strapped instead of buying the pump bottle she's used to she bought a small tube, 50ml to be exact.
The thing about applying something from a tube is this, the first squeeze and rub on is fine but after that you have at least one creamy hand which slips off the tube when you try to squeeze out the next lot. Suffice to say both hands are soon very slippery.
But, what I wanted to point out is this, my friend is of average height and her legs aren't fat (quite shapely actually) and the manufacturers should print on the box "If you are taller than Louise you won't be able to do two legs with the contents of this tube". Of course, if you're shorter you will end up with a useless bit of cream that you know you're going to throw away.
Another thing, on the box the tube came in it says "Expiry date 3 years from manufacturing date indicated on the bottom flap of skillet"
What skillet? I didn't get a frying pan with my, I mean her, cream.

Hello again

Sorry, I've been busy and my work computer is messing around big time and I was feeling a bit low and I couldn't even get my really nice comment through to Cabbages and Kings and the dog ate my homework.
The love of my life kept asking for a post but when Brenda Lee (no, not the singer silly, THE Brenda Lee my cousin) asked why I hadn't blogged for a while I decided to discipline up and get going.
I'm just going to hang a load of laundry, I'll be back.
It seems I took longer than I should and the laptop shut down.
I read a very interesting letter from one of the passengers on the flight that went down in the Hudson River. No tales of great heroics but simply people getting on with the task of rescuing and being rescued. At the end he gave a list of things that are important if you're going to fly. The one that stood out for me was "Keep your body fit so that in an emergency you can help yourself and others" This was so true a couple of nights ago. Dear Mr S was having an early night so that I could catch up on the TV he doesn't watch - dear man. As he lay down he looked toward the window to say goodnight to the moon, instead he saw a rain spider at the top of the wall (my side of the bed I might add) near the ceiling. As the official spider catcher (and releaser) I was jolly glad that I can still climb onto the bedside table and catch a spider.
We had a good Easter weekend, four days off work to chill, most of the family came to the Mad Hatters Tea Party on Easter Sunday, Sion and his ladies were unable to attend and were greatly missed. Sadly, the Easter Bunny whispered to me that he won't be coming around to our house next year, what with the young ones not being so young any more and him being needed elsewhere. We'll miss him, hence the introduction of the tea party. I took out the very best china, it was fun.
So, in the short 16 weeks or so that have passed rapidly this year, my web site which I'm really excited about isn't off the ground yet, soccer is only 62 or so days away and will no doubt be a resounding success, despite the attemps of foolish politicians, foolish workers and the press. I can't believe that Lenny Henry and Dawn French are splitting up after 25 years, so sad. The wonder of 3D has already become nothing special, seen it, moving on. My mum has moved into a lovely care centre where she is one of the youngsters (88 on Monday). My sister has been in hospital and is now recovering. My brother-in-law went on a Vision Quest. Daughter-in-law number two is away in the good old USA ice skating - and we wish the Cape Town skaters much success. RX got a new cell phone. Timothy and his ladies went to Sun City - lucky people - and Samantha and I did nothing much. (I won't mention Grey, Okay ?)
On 24 April, Wizards in Claremont are having some sort of Holistic re-opening day so I shall be off to that. Yay.
We recently watched a lovely little film called Son of Rambow. Slow begining but what a treat.
Today, our premier, expensive TV channel is showing Rugby, followed by Rubly and for those of you who not yet glassy eyed, more Rugby. Thankfully my lover and I are off to a wedding.