Party Poopers

We have a Sunday evening, reveal all, show on T.V.. It tends to put a damper on the weekend and while we're not ostriches, I take exception to their motto "You have the right to know". Frankly I don't believe we always have the right to know, some things should be kept secret.
I'm keeping an open mind on the whole Wikileaks saga, where do you draw the line? some revelations are good for us, others may put us in danger. What do I know?
However, in the news recently, the actual original recipe for Coca Cola. Seriously! Next I suppose it'll be the secret seven herbs and spices or maybe the recipe for Britny's latest perfume.
It's not always fair to reveal all, after all the burlesque dancers fully understand the sense of mystery that's so tittilating.
So, why are we to have a T.V. programme revealing how the best magic tricks are done. How to make a tank disappear, how to get out of a giant vat of water while bound with chains and weighted down by three African elephants. (don't try this at home kids).
I don't want to know. I understand that I have the right not to watch and someone else has the right to tune in. I just don't understand why anyone wants to break the spell. It's magic folks, please don't burst the bubble.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow

Yesterday the temperature in Parow was 32c, I walked outside and the heat was like a warm blanket, wrapping itself gently around me and giving a cosy safe feeling.
Today the temperature is around 33c but the humidity is really high. I walk outside and it's like stepping into a Turkish bath (yes, I have been to one). Skin with a damp glow and hair sticking to the back of the neck.
And tomorrow?

That's life

When I was young my mother would recite
"There was a little girl, she had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good, she was very, very good
But, when she was bad she was horrid"
I think that about sums up life in general.
We have so many friends and acquaintances who are going through rough times. Be it health, finance, family ties, work or whatever I'm sure that some days they wonder when it's all going to end.
I also see the resilience of some of these folk, the "get on regardless" attitude, it's good.
This morning, skimming through "snips & snails" I came across a blog on her list - julieliveshere. I read the most amazing open letter to the person who has her wallet, give yourself a treat and read it. I will certainly be checking in on her  posts when I can.
So if it's been  a rough start to the year, just heed the words of the great Mr Sinatra
"Each time I find myself, flat on my face,
I pick myself up and get back in the race."
That's Life, I hope it's a good one.

How the weekend flies

Never mind the fact that we're heading for Feb. at an alarming rate, the weekends go by in the flash of an eye.
We spent most of this one rearranging the furniture in our house. First though we went to a few places to find a low cupboard - I expect there's a fancy name for it - to hold the new TV (so kindly donated by Timothy and Marleze).
We saw 3 really stunning ones at a sort of Indonesian import place, all to our liking and not overpriced.
On Saturday, once "he who works the occasional Saturday" arrived home we went to Green Point. First stop Giovanni's to buy some parmesan, cold meats and bread.
Then on to a store I shan't name because their prices are so over the top that I get the giggles when I look at the tags. The only table/cupboard we vaguely like was on the wrong side of R7000, too steep for us.
What a contrast seeing the  men lining up outside the homeless shelter close by.
Final stop, Tafelburg, they sell a nice range of middle of the road home furnishing and usually come in cheaper than most on their appliances. Hawk-eye spotted the ideal unit, a simple, low counter, 1400cms wide and with just one shelf, simple and really nice. Still, I wouldn't mind something from Ikea.
But you see, this is how we make work for ourselves.All that moving, emptying and the repacking of cupboards. Fortunately Danielle and Kelly dove in and packed my knick-knacks into the cupboard, a huge time-saver.
Talking of time savers, Sara-Jane finished the Meccano clock she and Grandpa were building. I mention the two of them but in truth Sara-Jane did most of the work, Grandpa admitted defeat and left her to finish the job. I may put it away as her wedding present - ho ho ho.
Best of all was having enough space elsewhere to put the record player back on top of the sound system.
It's abour 30 years old I suppose, but it still works like a dream. I don't think the term "built in obsolescence" had been invented back then.
What a treat, going through the LPs (ask your mum).
The grandchildren all came to see how it worked, the first LP was Michael Jackson, 1971, he looked to be about 14. They were suitably impressed.
But Granny had much more fun after they left, music brings back so many memories and let me tell you, vinyl sounds just great.
I put on one of my old favourites, a compilation disc called "All this and World War 2" and sifted through the rest.
What appeared to be the complete Bob Marley and Peter Tosh collection, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Niel Diamond, Francois Hardy (remember her?).
The list is endless, from the Beatles and Queen to the 1812 Overture. So much more to listen to.
I sent the dust bunnies off to find a new home and hopefully by the end of the week order will be restored in our house.

.

Free Range Friday

Many of us are well and truly into Meat Free Monday, it just seems part of our normal lifestyle by now.
However, let's face it, we're not all ready to become vegetarians. Some would say Never, others, like myself, are sort of working towards it.
I see the day when I won't eat meat at all, I don't imagine I'll go vegan but certainly meat free. I do count chicken as meat.
As you no doubt know, none of the takeaways, restaurants etc. use free range chicken, this means that I don't buy chicken sandwiches and sadly have to have a Thai Chicken Sandwich on wholewheat with no chicken. Still yummy.
So here it is. On a Friday, if you're eating meat, make sure it's free range. I do have a chuckle picturing battery sheep, a la Glen Larson,  but apparently it's not all "free range" who knows? Some places already sell free range egg sandwiches so just check up. If you think the beef in your burger is suspect, order something else, likewise the rack of lamb at the fancy restaurant.
My theory is that if we don't buy none-free range every Friday it may lead to the production of less non-free range and the promotion of free range. Quite a mouthful I know and not quite what PETA have in mind.
Baby steps.

Mensa Invitational

Apparently The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational invites readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting or changing one letter and, supplying a new definition.
The list is long and extremely funny, here are a few of my favourites
Ignoranus : A person who's both stupid and an asshole (see this weeks blog)
Karmageddon : It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
Arachnoleptic Fit : The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
The Washington Post also has a contest in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words, e.g.
Coffee : The person upon whom one coughs
Flabbergasted : Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained
Flatulence : Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller
Rectitude : The formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
Pokemon : A Rastafarian proctologist.
Have a laughter filled weekend xx

just a few words

"It is amazing how much people can get done if they do not worry about who gets the credit" -
Sandra Swinney