Sporty

I'm a fan of Extreme Sports. You know, the ones where slightly unstable guys (usually) pit themselves against all odds. It's living vicariously because, let's face it, I'm never going to climb a mountain in my bare feet, with no ropes and while eating a bar of nougat. I won't be the one doing a triple, double backward flip on a unicycle while crossing a rope suspension bridge over a pit full of Piranah fish. Well, probably not.
However, if there was a prize for Extreme Alliteration I would gladly award it to Die Burger for this mornings banner...........
TATTAA
TATA
TUTU
and say "Hear, Hear"

67 reasons to move on

Well, it's Friday once again but this time the Football Friday T shirt is packed away, there's no-one blowing a vuvazela outside the window and life is almost back to normal. What a ride! I thoroughly enjoyed the fun of the world cup, good memories.
But, now, we're moving on and what better way than by celebrating Tata Madiba's birthday. We've been asked to contribute 67 minutes of community service or anything else we can think of on Sunday.
We're not able to contribute time, we have an embroidery order to complete, but we have come up with an alternative that works for us.
If you're also pressed for time how about another type of 67 donation.
67 cents (upward of course) to a needy person.
67 pairs of gloves for a school feeding scheme or, for that matter, 67 days of lunches.
67 of almost anything that crosses your mind. Each small or big gesture will, I'm sure, be of value in this too fast paced world, there are so many needing help and even the poorest of us can find time or money to help out.

Tuesday Tip

I read a small article on MSN about ten old fashioned things we should no longer be using. Quite a scary perspective I must say, it included things like a fax machine and dvd disks. In answer to that I feel we have to cling on to some of them. Just in case.
The typewriter - how will you write the next great novel if the electricity goes off?
Fax machines - yes, I do like to have human writing on pieces of paper that I've transmitted.
Landline 'phone - here's where the suspicious me comes in to play, I like to think the person I'm calling is NOT of "no fixed abode".
Instant camera - well, I'm a sucker for a picture I can hold in my hand and return to whenever so yes, an instant photo is quite cool and also, see my first point about no power.
Disk drive. You see, the love of my life and I have been collecting DVDs, yes, we buy them and then either watch the movie or file the disk away for later. The theory being that the day will come when we can no longer afford to pay for television and so, in our dotage, we will have lots of old movies and series to watch.
The remaining five on the list
Telegrammes - only if Kevin Costner delivers them on horseback.
Turntable - only if there is a ready supply of stylusses (?)
Cash register - I almost kept that one but I couldn't think why.
Tube TV - well, to me a TV is a TV so I don't care whether it has a tube or not.
CB radio - truth to tell, we do still have one but surely it has to operate through some sort of radio transmitter and I don't know if the ones disguised as pine trees would work.
My tip, be careful what you discard, who knows what we'll need after 2012!
10/4 good buddies.

Love hurts

Going to sleep has always been pretty simple for me. I lie on my back, close my eyes and go to sleep, lucky me I know. Recently we've been taking advantage of the school holidays and sleeping a little later than usual, all that ends next week!
Because of the later start I can't fit in a few minutes of meditation so I decided, after reading the latest Reiki News, to meditate while falling asleep.
It's a simple Reiki meditation, and I started on Monday night, Very nice. Tuesday night, still nice and "Hello", Amber (the cat) decided to join me.
Last night, well, I won't call her the cat from hell but boy, did she disrupt my sleep. You see, Amber just loves the whole Reiki experience - ask Caroline - and it really enhances her love for her human companions.
Last night, falling softly into sleep, just at that drifting stage when the purring began. You know how cats can land without even the lightest of movement, there she was, totally in love. First purring next to my face, so I gently tucked her under the top blanket. No good, "I must be next to the one I love so much" so out she came, landing on Rowland's side of the bed, climbing over his body and coming down, paws first on my stomach. When a cat does that to your tender belly it feels like a punch from Iron Mike, really sore.
At that stage the grandfather clock struck midnight, I counted the gongs and then the crazy neigbour with a vuvazella decided to celebrate Spain's victory. Ho hum.
Amber settled, I started to drift away when the love of my life decided to turn over. This is no skinny malinky person, he's a man -sized man and as that arm landed on my already tender tum I realised I was trapped between a gazillion decibels of purring and so much love.
That fool with the vuvu is still awake, surely his lips hurt after four weeks and Amber is wedged up against my right side.
I get cramp in my foot! it really hurts but if I leap out of bed as I'd like I'll disturb my companions, let sleeping cats (and husbands) lie. But now, I need the bathroom, the clock chimes 12.15 and as my bare feet hit the tiles I realize I'm actually walking on a glacier and my toes will likely fall off before I get back to bed.
I sneak under the covers - good lord, when will that vuvazela fool go to bed?, squish my pillows, close my eyes and go to sleep.
So what do I do tonight?

Tuesday Tip

If your day has been no laughing matter, here's a link to cheer you up

http://hellocomputer.posterous.com/best-cat-mail-ever

it's true, it is the best cat mail ever

cheerio

Monday Morning

Off to the local post office, empty the box, collect a parcel and chat. Soccer, soccer, soccer. How much fun we've had during this World Cup, even those of us who haven't been to a game. The atmosphere is unlike any I've experienced in South Africa. A sort of "One nation, one goal" mentality. I pray that it continues after the event. I'm also hoping we get the Olympics, I don't think I'll be too old to enjoy that.
Hit the road and off to Bellville post office. From the parking area I can see some 150 people queueing. As people do when they are scared to lose their place these are almost body to body. It's 13 degrees outside but under the post office verandah it's a lot colder. As I approach the P O Box entrance there's a sad young lady, about 18 years old, baby in her arms. I say "good morning" and smile, she beams back at me and steps aside to let me through. I guess these folk are here to collect a govenment grant or pension. Does it feel good to wake up on payday or do the days just roll on? As I'm leaving I can smell the strong scent of orange, the line hasn't moved and a kind woman is sharing her orange with the young lady's baby.
It would be churlish to complain about anything this Monday morning, I have so much.

We be jammin'

Today is International Reggae Day and we just luuuv reggae.
In our work office, behind my desk are 5 photos, all black and white. One is those high-in-the-sky workmen against the New York skyline. Two pictures of my dad with his band at a Glenn Miller Tribute evening. One of Marilyn Monroe - as one wit put it, "You were a lot younger there Louise". The other is Bob Marley. I can't tell you how many people walk in and want to buy that picture, no sale.
So, my favourite, corny, Bob Marley joke.
"So how do you like your sandwiches Bob?"
"Wi' jam in"
"and your friends, Bob, how do they like theirs?"
"Me hope dey like jammin' too."

Peace.