Stumbled Upon This

"We are born at a given moment, in a given place and, like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season of which we are born.

ASTROLOGY does not lay claim to anything more."

Stumbled upon this sometime ago. Thought I should share.

I need an alarm clock

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 1:11pm

This morning.

I woke up from an amazing nightlong dream that I had gone on a road trip with my cousins & friends.

Feeling happy from the dream I leisurely got up to get ready for work. I looked at the nearest cell phone – it’s 11:48am! I switched on the T.V to see if there was anything on that I could recognize was a show that played while I normally get ready for work…Generation repeat, Rhythm City repeat, countless insurance adverts, SHIT! No morning live here!

Panic-stricken I rush to the bathroom, brush my teeth take the shortest shower I’ve ever taken in my entire life, got dressed, ran downstairs, grabbed my car keys, ran to the car barefoot.

The guy who does the complex garden opens the gate for me, I ask him (hoping for the best) what the time was…he doesn’t know. I ask “Is it after 11am?” his reply: a vigorous nod followed by a firm “YES”.

Jump into Herbie, switch my phone on, text my boss “I overslept badly, coming in now, so so sorry!” drive like a mad woman to work (it took me 20 mins from the time I woke up to get to work) rush in to open the shop (we have strict rules about when the shop should be open 10am sharp etc..) breathing heavily – panthing rather- I enter the shop switch on lights and prep the shop. As I put my bag down. I glance at the credit card machine….

Its only 9:24am.

Glaceau Vitamin Water Pop Up Store: Dubstep Boogie

Apart from the fact that I have fallen hopelessly in love with Dub step; on Friday night, despite the stay-in-go-nowhere-snuggle-up-movie-marathon weather, we weathered the storm & headed to Loop Street (a rare occasion I might add) but anything for my beloved Dub step.

We were quite curious also to inspect the concept of "Pop up store". The style of the store was precisely what my imagination had concocted before hand: Predominantly white with bursts of colour. Modern, clean design with an area to cool chill (The term I use to describe the phenomenon of relaxing while looking/seeming fashionable...)

There were endless supplies of free Vitamin water (this would describe the odd handful of drunk individuals making their way through the crowd). Being me, I sampled each & every variant available from berry flavoured Power C promising to boost the immune system to XXX : acai-blueberry-pomegranate (in case you were wondering the XXX stands for "triple oxidants").

The bunch that had gathered in this space would be best described as hip, trendy & relatively fashion conscious, the accents circulating the room lead me to believe that there were a lot of international visitors in this venue.

The vitamin water concept is growing on me at snail's pace, but growing nonetheless.

The funky, quirky labels on the bottles make you want to support this brand & product in a strange manner. Here's a label I peeled off.

While we glugged our oh so healthy H₂0 we grooved to the delicious & equally addictive beats of Miss Funafuji.

The Pop Up Store will be available until June. So you best get over there and check it out.

Find out more about vitamin water here

Numerous pics here

The Joys of Public Transport (Yes, they do exist, even in SA)

After a series of extremely distasteful events, I find myself in a situation where I need to make use of public transport once more. I've been a taxi commuter for the greater part of my life & therefore have absolutely no problem utilising this form of transport since I've been forced (by circumstances - partly within my control at that that-it's complicated) to suspend Ruby's most-times-capable engine.

The minute I stepped into the taxi this morning, I slowly; gradually recalled the little things I love and consequentially miss about public transport. So in order of importance here goes:

• Being able to look out the window (for any reason apart from checking my blind spot) & actually take in the sights.
  
• Not having to visit a petrol station & sigh in despair at the price of fuel. I now pay R5 each way.
  
• Encountering different people that unknowingly remind me that happiness is a choice.
  
• Exposing myself to absolutely no risk of picking up any kind of traffic fine (deserved or disputed)
  
• Worrying about getting people safely to our desired destination. Big relief.
  
• Passing places I would otherwise never come across because I need to walk.
  
• Stumbling upon bargains whether it be clothes or food, but bargains nonetheless.
  
• Nodding my head in disapproval as the taxi driver does something totally illegal (but quietly take a mental note if it works...)
  
• Having the door opened & closed for me.
  
• Listening to random music I would never willingly commit myself to listening to because I don't control the radio. It can be surprisingly enjoyable at times.
  

Public transport in SA has a long way to go to meeting 1^st world requirements. The new BRT system will undoubtedly give us a shove up the ranking scale. It will open up the possibility of public transport usage to a wider range of people. Many will feel safer & will be more efficient warranting a reliability sticker. I hope the issues surrounding it are resolved soon so that we can fast improve our current system.

Image obtained from this webpage

Kids on Leashes

They are attracted & amazed by the most peculiar of things. They take off unannounced & pursue their latest interest; whether it be a broken off lizard's tail, a duck, a cute fluffy pup or toys in a toy store. So I absolutely positively understand that an eye needs to be kept on them at all times. But a leash?

A leash?

Like miniature speaking, crying dogs they are manoeuvred through shopping malls & markets.

This invention makes sure they stay within about a 1m radius from mom or their keeper. But a leash?

There was a lady that walked into the store with an adorable young chocolate boy in her arms. Very sweet. 

Later the young man loosened up a little and was let down from mom's safe arms. As he explored the shop he became increasingly absorbed by the sights; he went on to open a cupboard adjacent to mom's knee & explored the world which was the inside of the cupboard...

It's now time to leave and he is livid. He wants to run around and giggle but something unnatural about his tiny movements prompts me to investigate. 

He is on a leash (a short one at that) and in that moment right then & there, there was an uncomfortable; incorrectness in the air. Wow.

Leashes are for dogs not children. Parents have to learn that children need to roam free. It seems a tad more than selfish to restrict them only because you lack a certain something (bar disability) that allows you to keep up. 

Children need to chase after their limited understanding of interesting, wonderful, amazing. It's their right. A necessity. I can't begin to contemplate the plateau of possibilities of issues these young ones will uncover up years later.

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I'm nocturnal

I come alive when everyone goes to sleep I feel like my brain works the “wrong way round”. At night when everyone scrambles off to bed I want to stay up and watch movies, I want to head out and go sit on the beach I want to go to signal hill and watch the city wake up slowly, gradually. I want to stay up and watch the city go to bed, I want to observe that silent, pure moment in the city when everything just comes to a complete and utter halt (it seems time is in on this one too) just for a little while nothing is wrong and everything feels just right.

My mental scrap booking takes place after dark too. I archive all my memories and experiences of the day, sometimes I just replay moments gone by, like looking at photos from the past and reminiscing on those feelings while giggling within at all the goofy antics that take place around me, involving me or not.

I love owls, there are known to embrace solitude and the night. I don’t know so much about constant solitude but solitude alas is wonderful.

Contrary to popular belief not all owls are nocturnal; in fact the colour of their eyes will tell you precisely when they come out to play.

Dark brown or black eyes = nocturnal activity

Orange = dawn or dusk

Yellow eyes are diurnal and hunt during the day

The last time I checked mine fell under Dark Brown/Black eyes.

And the plot thickens.

Portobello On Long

I went to a vibrant, different event 2 days ago organised by someone I know. I had previously agreed to go to it and made a mental note to remember when I get back from the big bad city – Johannesburg.. It was hosted at Portobello on Long Street (vegetarian dining spot). I have many a time been attracted to that spot but just never went in there. Sadly enough it was the last time an event such as the 1 attended would ever be held there, and the last time those meals would be served, and the last couple of cups of green tea, espresso, cuppa chino would be served. The event was a sort of happy beautiful goodbye to that lovely, welcoming, homey space. Urban Peacock hosted the event and it was a true feast for the soul. If I were a man named Portobello and I was being laid to rest under such circumstances I would truly be a little more than just delighted. I would be content with the send off.

We were indulged in performances by a range of highly talented yet down to earth performers. What an interesting concoction. The first performer was a young lady called Thobekhile on the guitar she seemed to know as well as the back of her hand. She sang 3 pieces that made me think and most importantly feel. Wow. Second was Simphiwe who spoke with great fluency and expression. Involved us intellectually in a way that would forever stay with me, my favourite “Hip hop I love you, Hip hop I love you not” (yummy title).

A few minutes later and I was informed for the 1^st time ever that there were a whole bunch of fully completed election ballots in a car in Khayelitsha ( a township in Cape town) this after word that DA had won over 50% of the Provincial vote (Western Cape). What a heavy chunk of information to take home. Better to be aware than not. Lutho sang for us. So beautifully we just wanted him to continue. On and on and on. Until until.

A surprise and undoubtedly different vivid performance was served loud and warm ( I didn’t catch the name) then Meridrian :comprised of beautiful Kim & Seth raised hairs and summoned Goosebumps in their near flawless in sync music. Before they began they explained where they were coming from “a stratosphere where everything was okay & right” or something close. It was clear after their performance what they meant. If I was forced to box & lable their sound I would describe it as a dreamy, floetic blend of lyrics & flow that sucks you in. Not sure that labels them much but that’s my answer and I’m sticking to it.

Then there was Moratiwa Molema; I just love that name. It means “My love” or “loved one” in Setswana. I’m Tswana. I later spoke to her and found out she is from Botswana. She calmed us down and got us clapping rhythmically to her sharp subject matter and rhythmic piece.

I was intending on staying for 30mins max but ended up meeting new interesting people that I would have otherwise never come into contact with. Having inspiring conversation and scrumptious vegetarian cuisine (I’d describe myself as a carnivore, yes, not quite omnivore – there should be a name given to those with eating habits between omnivore and carnivore) and Yet I enjoyed the meal immensely.

The performances were chillingly relevant to how the world’s ticking right this moment. I was a sponge absorbing as much as I could of this little nook – Portobello that is to be no more after that evening. But as one of the staff said “only the lord knows”.

Either way I’m glad my soul reveled in its presence for the short time it did.

What a place.

(I have to mention this - Sivuyisiwa; pictured above; was a lovely, confident, eloquent host – her passion is contagious. There were several acts that were not at all planned...that’s quite something) Urban peacock I look forward to your next offering

PICTURED BELOW: Sergius my lovely photographer (I kinda hijacked him and asked him to please forward me the pics he took there, he's back in Singapore now and sent me this amazing pic he took on the -YES- GREAT WALL OF CHINA!)

Thobekile

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Lethu

Kim & Seth make up Meridrian

Moratiwa & her entrancing flute

The weird...

& Wonderful surprise performance.