Saturday

I woke up somewhere after lunch to the voices of my male housemate, A, and our very good friend and neighbour, L.  I heard talk of ICU and hospital.  I was very confused.  I stumbled out of bed once L had left.  Apparently, my other housemate, J, was in ICU.  She had had trouble over the past week or so with speaking.  She just couldn’t get the words out.  She had an appointment with the neurologist on Friday, and that was the last time we had seen her.  During her MRI, she had her first seizure.  This was all a little mind blowing.

There was a sms from a friend I had promised to do brunch with.  She wanted to know if I was still alive.  In her awesomeness, she excused my tardiness, and we met for  brunch – At 3pm.  She let me bitch about my previous evening, and she bitched too.  I value her friendship very dearly, and appreciate being her Coop.

I went to Oblivion that evening to see an old friend who was now back in Cape Town after a medium stint in Londontown.  It was good having her back and joking with her and her clearly over- (or painfully under-) sexed friends.  I had a good little chuckle about one of these friends:  Her boyfriend, who’s birthday it was, seemed to have something against me.  Or his friend did.  Either way, I heard them talking about slapping me.  I waited patiently, but alas, there was no outcome.  In the mood I was in, it would’ve been interesting.  A good night was had.

Sunday

The morning was spent at the hospital.  I really don’t want to be insensitive, but I’m a little tired of hospitals.  After the last few weeks with my gran, I can barely handle being in them right now.  But A and I were asked to be there.  We, eventually, met with the surgeon for him to explain what was going on.  J has been diagnosed with Encephalitis.  The problem is, they don’t actually know which form.  She had a Lumbar Puncture, and they know what, they just couldn’t see why. It could, hopefully, be one of two reasons – one being so new and rare, that only a lab in Oxford could do the tests.  And that may take up to two months.  They’ll still be doing other tests, though.  He explained to us that she’ll be there for at least 10 days, but when she comes home, we need to monitor her.   She won’t be back at work for 3 months, and will not be allowed to drive for around a year due to the seizures.  Yes, this is pretty hectic.

The afternoon and evening and night was spent with a girl.  A girl I have been seeing for a few months.  Spending time with her has always been about us.  And most of it was spent in bed, and rightly so as whatever went on in that bed was most certainly worth it.

Monday

I had Monday off as I was going to see Portugal take on Korea DPR for a lunch-time kickoff, so I had a bit of a lie in with the girl as she called into work saying she was going to the doctor as she was sick.  A valid excuse.  Almost.

Met Grum at his office just before 12 and we made our way to the Green Point Stadium.  Seating was pretty awesome, on the 2nd tier of the Korea goal for the second half, which meant we witnessed 6 goals at that end, which was pretty spectacular.

A friend sent me a song in the evening.  A song I’ve been looking for for a while and really couldn’t find it.  Not even on YouTube, and here she was sending it to me.  If you can, listen to Evermore’s This Is Love. I love it.

Tuesday

I worked like a trojan.  Not sure what was different, but I got a lot done.  I think it might have been the different type of work, but either way, there was a strange inkling that wanted me to work through the Bafana game.  But that was foolish thinking and I eventually trundled off to the Mexican Shebeen.  They were fairly expensive, but the girls really made up for it.  Their little dresses and very attractive legs gave us a good football distraction.  Plus their half-time dance is definitely worth seeing. (Really!)

The night was perfectly capped off with a great big fat Royale burger and brilliant company.

Wednesday

Today was not a good day.  Today brought out my worst insecurities.  I have bad bad trust issues.  After my ex cheated, and then lied to me, I’ve learnt that trusting people has become difficult – Especially as truth was one of her biggest values.  So now, I have issues with it.  My mind plays tricks on me, even when it’s wrong.  This was one reason my last little relationship failed, and it is why this one did too.  I couldn’t anymore.  I couldn’t lie in bed not knowing.  Knowing the type of people she was with.  I had been broken before and I just couldn’t.  So today, I did the difficult thing and ended things with the girl.  Again.  We had not even been properly dating, which only made things worse, or at least much more complicated.  I’m not going into more details now, but there were feelings involved from both of us.  I just wasn’t in a good place and jumping with two feet now would have only meant one of us, or both, would get hurt.

Thursday

Today was a good day, perspectively.  Work has some very interesting things going on.  More interesting than I can actually mention here.  And today, I did something completely out of the blue that both upset and overjoyed people.  I have a good friend that has been trying her hardest to get a ticket to a World Cup game, but without success.  So, after seeing four games already, I decided to sell her my ticket.  I was online, and even that was enough to know she was going to explode with excitement.  It made her very happy, and I’m glad I could help her.

But no good deed goes unpunished.  I managed to upset no less than three people in selling this ticket.  The first being someone who I was going with.  To be honest, I’m not entirely sure why it upset him so much, but it did.  He threw his toys, but I didn’t see a point, and he eventually put on his big girl panties and went.  The second was a friend I said I would do the whole thing with because she was going with randoms.  I’m not too concerned about this as she actually needs to learn about being around more people.  The last, and probably the one I’m most intrigued about was someone who I said I would take a photo of.  But not just any photo – A really different and brilliant photo that I could only take at this game.  She is a very very new friend, but I feel like I let her down.  I’m not sure she’ll get over it.

Looking at the pros and cons of this decision, however, I am happy with what I did and I know Robyn really appreciates it.

It’s been an interesting few days, but I’m started to feel more myself now.  I’ve made some mental changes, and certainly will be doing more for myself in one or two ways.  Times like this make you realise who your friends are, and sometimes, you need it.

And so, basically, the crux of the matter?  I’m back…

Related Posts:

• A Little Something About A New Life
• A Little Something About Randomnessness
• A Little Something About The Rebound-Girl
• A Little Something About My Personal Space
• A Little Something About Platonic Relationships

As you know, I recently ended things with someone after a few weeks. But before I did, I was witness to some of the most malicious, childish behaviour that I have ever seen. 13 year old girls would have been embarrassed about it.

The girls in question had no right to do what they did. They think they do, but they never did. They were mean, stupid, and it was completely unwarranted. She was nothing but lovely. They will never have what she had. They were, and never will be, even close to what she had.

I have lost all respect for them, if in various cases, there was any to begin with anyway. But, I don’t know the full story. There is lots missing, but I have enough to be able the write this with some certainty.

I didn’t handle the situation properly when it happened. I didn’t really know what to do in that position. I was surrounded by some people I call my friends, and I didn’t want to create any more tension there. But I know I didn’t do it well.

Then, there was the ensuing public conversation. The not-so-cryptic Twitter messages; the smses talking about us. All this lovely behaviour that most people get out of their system at high school when you first start dating.

I’m not perfect, I know this. But generally, when it comes to other peoples’ feelings and well being, I know how to behave like an adult. My rant is now over, and please excuse me if I have been too cynical and harsh.

“Jealousy makes you nasty, nasty makes you ugly, ugly makes you fat. And nobody likes the fat kid!”

Related Posts:

• A Little Bit About Being Wrong
• A Little Bit About Being Right
• A Little Something About My Absence
• A Little Something About Speaking Too Soon
• A Little Something About Randomnessness

My blog has been down for a while. The second time in a month or so. It’s annoying. And so I’m considering moving. In fact, I’ve already begun this process. Asking around, everyone has an opinion, and very rarely are they the same, so it’s one of those things where you make a decision and you’re that one example of that provider being crap. But we’ll wait and see what happens. In other news, however, my blog (me actually blogging) turned one.  Yaaaaay! I posted my very first blog post, Your Everything, on the 17th of March, 2009. I love my blog and was such a big part of getting to where I needed to be, and hopefully, will continue to be that.

I went on a desert adventure into the Namib desert a few weeks ago. For this, there will be at least one post on just to share some of the experiences, because it really was a spectacular one.  This photo here is from there.  You can check out the other pics on my Flickr page.  Go check ‘em out.

And, in a complete turn of events, I may have met someone. Okay, no wait. I have met someone. I’ve met a lot of people. But this one is very different. Silly girl is crazy. And walled off. And unsure. And apprehensive. But so am I. We’ve spent a bit of time together. Know absolutely nothing of each other, yet you wouldn’t think that looking at it from the outside. But, I must admit, it’s weird being in this situation after so long. And it’s been a very, very long time since I’ve been in this type of thing. The beginningness, and unsureness and high, ummm, energyness. It’s all very new to me. Each new relationship is different as you get older. You learn to be a new person each time. You grow up, and are educated just that little bit more in life. So it’s new, different, and freaking exciting. She must just open her eyes and realise not all boys are stupid.

I’m in the process of buying a car. I’ve only been looking for seventy million months, but I have finally found one. All I need now is for the current owner to transfer the car into his name from his bank’s and then I send the docs away. I’m hoping it’ll be done next week, and I will be the proud new owner of a silver Polo. I am very excited about this, but the stress given to me during has been a real pain in the ass.  My poor brother will now get the Ratmobile… I should really get the clutch fixed for him.

Work is going well. Mostly. Sort of. The work-load type has changed, and I’m not sure if I was ready for it. I’m spending a lot of time in the office, and seeing the same people every day is taking it’s toll. Not that they’re bad people, but we’re a small company, and a change would be nice. I should really start taking a lunch break and getting out. I should also find a way to deal with problem employees. They’re just adding to the stress at the moment.

Cricket is finished for another year. Sad but true. there is, luckily, another geek cricket match coming up soon on the 18 of April. Love the socialness of them. I think I’ll bowl at this one. I haven’t at the last two and I feel I should see how many I can get.
This is my first year since 2002 that I will not be playing rugby. I’ve hung up the boots. Last year, I was still playing in the internal league at UCT, which is really decent rugby, but I think it’s enough. Besides the fact that my one knee is really playing up, I got concussed again last year. Granted, they’ve all been mild, I actually don’t know how many I’ve had, coupled with the two broken noses (nosii?) (yes, I know I only have one), I think I had better stop before something bad happens in my head. I can already hear my mom singing. Rugby is a contact sport, you’re going to get hurt, so I think it’s enough now. But what the hell am I going to do during the winter? I’m a team-sport person, and will only gym when I get off my ass, so I need to figure out something. Touch rugby will hopefully still happen, and I’m thinking of joining a 6-down team, which is great for fitness, but we’ll have to see.

And on that note, winter is quickly approaching, and I’m very excited. I love Cape Town winters. I love the rain and the cold. The evenings are beginning to get cooler, the days are shorter, and the sun has begun its angular descent. It won’t be long now.

I’ve planned a holiday at the end of April to Plett. We went last year and have never been so relaxed, except this year it clashes with something else I really want need want  to do. I’m a little bit confused as to what to decide, but a decision needs to be made, one way or another. What would you do?

So, I think that covers all the randomnessness that has happened recently. I’ll try not let friends telling me that my blog is boring affect me so much again. That kinda stops you from wanting to write. But I assure you, there will be posts coming. In the meantime, read some older ones

Related Posts:

• A Little Something About A New Life
• A Little Something About My Absence
• A Little Something About My Personal Space
• A Little Bit About Forcing Issues
• A Little Something About The Last Few Months

If I’ve left anything significant and interesting out, add it as a comment.

Saturday

11:17 – My alarm goes off waking me after only 6 hours of sleep.  I lie in bed for a while, slowly waking up.  Then reality hits me.  I had completely miscalculated my departure time.  My flight was leaving at 2pm, and I was planning on leaving my house at 13h30.  You see my problem.  I bolt out of bed, now fully awake, and start packing.  Pack everything and see socks and underwear still in drawer.  Whew, reminder to self: Don’t forget that.

12:30 – Packed, showered and the lift has arrived.  Last minute check, looks good.  I hope to all that are listening that I’ve got everything.

12:55 – Arrive at airport, pull bag out of boot, and like smashing into a brick wall, I realise I hadn’t packed my socks and underwear.  Brilliant.  I suppose of all the things I could’ve left behind, this is probably the least important.  But still.  I’m only wearing one pair of boxers now, and I like clean underwear.

13:14 – Checked in with Kulula without any issues.  Asked for an aisle seat near the front to make a good getaway.  “The nearest to the front is near the middle”, she tells me.  Sure, I’ll take that.  Best I can do.  With all do respect, but I wish the bitch had told me that there were two entrances on the plane.  One at the back too.

13:30 – Check in with lift to make sure she knows I’m coming today, and will be arriving in 2.5 hours.  She knew it was today, but had no idea it was already after lunch.  I told her she had 2 hours to get organised.  I’m a little worried she goes to the wrong airport.  Too embarrassed to tell her I’ve left my underwear behind.  Will wait ’til I arrive to actually see the tears running down her face while she laughs.

13:50 – Seated and waiting on the plane.  The crowd seems civilized.  There are no screaming babies or overly large people.  There is a rather attractive brunette sitting 3 rows in front of me, but I still need to learn the art of chatting up a girl on a plane. Besides, she has a window seat, and would require me speaking over 2 other people, asking her if she’s like to go see how large the facilities are.  It would probably be easier if I hijack the flight attendants mic and announce that I will be in toilet A in 5 minutes, and all interested parties should knock 3 times.

Kulula are going through their safety checks now.  They love their dry comedy, and I must admit, offering “Wind In The Willows” as the inflight movie to anyone that disobeys the non-smoking signs was quite funny.

14:00 – On the runway on time.  Impressive.  No hitches.  Best part of the flight is the take off.  I love how the acceleration presses you back into your seat.  The engineering of these metal birds is amazing.  It’s at this point, circling over False Bay, that I remember the black cat that quickly ran passed us as were were leaving my house.  Hmmmm… I wonder how different people might react in pressure times.  I imagine the highly strung lady to my right would freak out.  I imagine slapping her to calm her.  Now I want to slap her anyway.  I read the inflight magazine to try entertain me, until I can pull my laptop out and start writing.

14:15 – We have leveled out, but the seat-belt signs are still on.  Why? Has the pilot forgotten?  I see the head flight attendant go into the cockpit.  The light turns off.  Awesome.   The food trollies move into place.  The only perk I’ve discovered by sitting in the middle, is that I got served first.  Although, this would have been the case if I were in the front like I had asked.  Have just realised that there must be 9 free seats in the front 3 rows.  Bitch.  I consider moving there, but I don’t wanna be that guy that has to take all his bags and such to the front.  Besides, I’m likely to hit some old lady on the head in the process.  I don’t want that on my record.

I order a chicken roll, coke and orange juice.  It comes to R38.  R20 for a chicken roll isn’t really bad, if the roll were a man-sized roll.  There is a 5 year old girl to my right, she would still be hungry after eating this.  It was, however, delicious.  The coke and juice are also barbie sized.  This must be how cheap airlines make their money back, even if there aren’t that many people buying.

15:09 – There is nothing exciting happening.  No crazy gun-wielding, bomb-strapped Taliban officials.  Although, the hot brunette walked passed to go to the loo,  I wonder if she wanted me to follow.  Needless-to-say, she has a very nice bum.

The male flight attendant today isn’t gay, he’s just annoying.  And the hostesses aren’t very attractive either.  Boring.

15:13 – I’ve just realised I might not watch the rugby today.  It starts at 5.  Shebee, if you’re listening, I want to watch the rugby.  Time to try and finish off that post about the rebound girl.  Sigh.

15:18 – Tall mildly-attractive redhead comes back from the loo wearing jeans.  She was definitely wearing a short skirt before.  Just how cold is Joburg?!

15:23 – Just discovered that brunette with nice bum is – and please excuse me for being rude – a bit of a butterface.  Overly large eyes, and nose that almost indents.  Note to self: Be more observant.

15:27 – We’re 10 minutes ahead of schedule.  It’s 14 degrees in Joburg. Get beanie out.  I’m being told no more electronics – As if it’ll really mess with navigations

15:58 – Met at the exit by SheBee and Bergen.  He’s here as her body guard in case I turn out to be a serial murderer.  We walk out of the smallest airport in the country, only for them to argue over where the car is.  I think they’ve lost it, but it eventually shows up exactly where they left it.

16:05 – We discuss several plans to go watch the All Blacks take on the Bokke.  No decision is made.

16:25 – Arrived and unpacked at the farm.  The discussion about what we’re doing for the rugby has come up again, but nothing concrete has been decided. We’re out in goodness knows where, and no decision about where we can watch is made.  Oh yay, they’ve decided on tea.

The Farm

16:59 – rugby is about to start and we leave the farm.  Going to Four Ways somewhere.

17:05 – Bergen calls from the car in front that we’re following him in . He’s changed plans, we’re going to Rosebank to meet up with his girlfriend.   Everyone agrees.  Awesome.

17:06 – We call Bergen back saying it’s easier if we still go to Four Ways.  He whines a bit, but we sadly part ways.  Radio man says we’re 6-3 up in Bloem.

17:20 – Rock up at Woolworths in Four Ways mall.  SheBee finds the male boxers.  She wants to know why there is a weird pocket that feeds from the right, but that opens again on the inside, on the left.  I couldn’t answer.  I actually didn’t know.  Bought a 3 pack plus socks, and left.

17:40 – End up at Spur for a drink.  Manage to catch the Boks leaving the field.  14-3 up.  Awesome.

18:00 – I order soemthing from the menu and make sure it doesn’t have pig.  Shebee looks at me wide-eyed, remembering I’m Jewish.  She’s making pasta tomorrow.  Bacon pasta.  Fail.

18:20 - 8unny arrives for drink.  She talks a lot.  We’re winning the rugby, but only just.

18:40 – We leave the mall and head for pizza.  Find some place.  Looks decent enough.  We get some chicken for my pasta tomorrow too.

19:00- Leave for the farm.  I’m told not drive fast, but this GTi likes to move.  I reluctantly obey.

20:30 – Settle in front of the TV with Pizza. Fantastic 4 is on.  Haven’t seen it before and decide it’s a good call.

23:00- Settling inthe cottage.  Seahorse, SheBee’s cat, is pretty crazy. It’s currently eating itself.  Apparently it likes to wrestle as it’s an only child.  It’s doing it all wrong…

Seahorse, eating herself

Sunday

10:33 – Tweetup day, and I have been reacquainted with the Highveld cold.  As much as I love Cape Town winter, I can’t say I missed this.  Thank goodness I found my beanie.  I’m reminded people are arriving at 11:30.  Why someone would schedule something so early on a sunday is beyond me.  Have also woken up with the worst allergy attack in years.  Wheezing, sneezing, sore eyes.  No antihistamines around. Lovely.

11:00 – Have a nice hot shower with one of the most awesome shower heads ever.  Well, it was nice and hot until the hot water decided it was done making me happy.  He organised his long lost cousin, freezing cold, ice-water to replace him, and without notice too.  Kind words of warning: unless you are trying to get rid of a “passion organ”, there is little reason for anyone to do this to themselves.  Thank goodness mine came out of it still attached.

11:15 – I made eggs for breakfast to attempt to show my host that I can, in fact, cook.  Mine were awesome. Isn’t that all that really matters?

11:35 – I go walk around the farm for a little bit, in the hope I see some proper wildlife, ie, snakes and more importantly, spiders.  But it was in vain.  It’s hibernating season for snakes, and spiders in this type of environment will only be out at night.

12:09 – First lot of people arrive.  Laura-Kim and Sally, – who is apply named (as poinkharigirl) – with children in toe.  They got lost getting here, after SheBee gave directions.  This does not bode well for others.  I’m still not sure where we are exactly, but it certainly isn’t Joburg.  I’m not even sure we’ve even in Gauteng.

12:24 – Some more people call, because they’re lost again following Shebee’s directions.

12:45 – Have met a whole lot of people.  Michael, Exmi, Angel and the boyfriend - Neels, Sass, Liv, Craig and Martha.  We’re all milling around chatting.  (Really hope I haven’t left anyone off this)

13:00 – There are some fairly hungover faces today.  The Boyfriend (of ExMi’s) has refused to take off his glasses the whole day.  (He eventually does later to reveal bleeding eye-balls.)

13:10 – Food is served, and it’s good.  People are preferring to eat my chicken pasta, as opposed to Shebee’s bacon.  (Bacon pasta, that is).  It’s all a great success, although, Shebee does wait ’til we’ve all had a sufficient amount of food, and not died, before she helps herself.

14:00 – My allergies have taken a weird twist.  I now have this weird rash on my head, neck and over my right eye.  It looks swollen and as if I’ve been punched.  I drink more.

15:00 – Most people have started to file out.  I’m exhausted.  People are blaming the altitude, but I’m pretty sure Friday night has caught up with me.

16:00 – Shaun and Heidi arrive.  Better late than never.  Gossip a bit more about the incestuous life of tweeple in Joburg, and wow, it really is.  GossipGeek really needs to make an appearance.  We venture outside and the geese are heard in the distance.  The goose gets more excited than I’ve ever seen anyone.  Ever.  And runs off to try chat up a few.  I’m quite embarrassed as how lame I’m being around guests by being so out of it.  I hope they realise this isn’t normal for me.

17:30 – Everyone has left now.  I’m pooped.  Definitely chill time.

18:00 – The Ex calls and wants to meet up.  Not sure how I feel about it, but I agree.  10am pick up, tomorrow morning.

20:00 – Settle down and eventually decide on a movie – “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” for the 173rd time, but I still love it.  “I wonder if the carpet matches the pubes”.

21:55 – Decide to see another movie, but can’t decide, so settle with Robin Willians on Broadway.  Also seen is a few dozen times, and it’s brialliant.

Monday

09:01 – Alarm goes off, and I inevitably snooze for about 20 mins.

09:45 – Up and dressed and ready.  I sit on the floor in the lounge, in the smallest spot of sun, trying to stay warm.  The cat is with me, and so are the allergies.  It’s a good thing I love animals and will tolerate the swollen eyes.  I call The Ex to see how close she is.  She hasn’t left yet.  I see that Joburg hasn’t inspired her to start being on time.  Perfect – I could’ve slept another hour.

Seahorse, eating me

10:55 – She arrives, and found the place easily.  I’m quite surprised, knowing her directional skills, but then I remember I gave her directions. Becasuse she’s so late, we only have an hour before she has to leave again, so we go the to Cultural Village for food of some sort.

11:10 – The restaurant only opens at 12 and the Shebeen only sells beer and soft drinks.  There is an awesome lady at the reception area that will oranise ham sandwiches for us.  What is it with pork in this place?!  I decline and go with the cheese and tomato variant.

12:00 Things go pretty well, and to be honest, it wasn’t enough time with her.  I miss her, but now it’s more of a her, than what she once offered me.

15:30 After some wandering around, and attempting to write more, and fetching the kids from school with Shebee, it was chill time.  Or so I thought.  Was throwing a ball with one of the 8 years olds.  I mean, I love exercise, generally, as long as it’s sporty, so this would be good.  Hah!  What started out as a chilled throw around with one 8 year old, ended up as me getting beaten, by three of them.  I’m not entirely sure where they came from, or what spurned it on, but they took advantage of two facts: 1 – I was unfit, and running around for over an hour was taking its toll. 2 – Being very young, they really have no idea how vulnerable a guy can be in that place, so they repeatedly attempted to take me down in this manner.  I did the admirable thing, and coil over like a scared criminal protecting his jewels, and threw in the towel.

15:45 – I’ve just been instructed that Bergen will be coming to fetch us in an hour or so.  Off I go to shower again, only to find that there has just been someone in the shower.  I have fear of ice water running over me.  I planned my shower to not last more than 3 minutes to come out alive.  Looked out of the windows to see that they’re not frosted like most bathroom windows.  Well, I hope they enjoy the show.

15:48 Took too long and had to settle for luke warm.  Not pleasant at all.

17:07 I’m ready and Bergen has arrived.  Shebee is not ready.

18:05 – Arrive at Manor Bergen where we faff around for a while.

19:15 – Arrive at FTV Village Walk.  We’re obviously late as it’s PACKED.  Finally meet msbehavn and find she’s saved us seats.  I mill around for a little and find Cape Town Support Shawn Jooste near the front, where I also find free cocktails.  There are a few of us Cape Tonians here, Desrie, Marianna, and Jozi weekly-resident Elan.

19:30 – First intro by Mike Stopforth, followed by talk by Justin Spratt.  It should be noted that we had to really squint our ears to listen as there was no mic.  Broken, apprrently.  It’s a good talk about the economic situation and how it effects us, and what we should do, etc, etc.  There we lots of pretty graphs.

19:45 – We had some guy from Google, (The SA manager actually, Stephen Newton Country, to be precise), give us a talk about something, but to be completely honest, couldn’t hear a word he was saying, but I’m sure it was very informative.

20:30 – After spending R60 on a burger, yes, it still burns, we did the good thing and mingled.  Met a lot of people that i’ve wanted to for a long time, including, Za5 (don’t worry, that’s not his real name), Melody, Liam, Cherylann, Nafisa, Brad, Nadia, Vincent, Nick, Dave, Samantha, Walter, Saul, Shahil, Melissa, Ratmo, and so many other that i know I’ve forgotten.

21:00 – I’m asked by newly-met-friend that they’re going to find some sort of herb.  I presume oraginum, basil, or rosemary or soemthing along those lines.  As my food is finished, I decline saying I’d rather have a drink.

23:00 – Tequila time approched, as a few of us man enough to drink them headed to the bar.  Apparently, Mike Stopforth is petrified of tequila, so chickens out in fabvour of cough-medicine flavoured Jager, while Bergen nailed back a Potency.  Shawn whines a bit about it, but eventually drinks.

Exmi, Shawn, Myself and Sheena

Photo courtesy of Cherylann

23:30 – We’re pretty much asked to leave the venue.  Do these Joburg people not know how to party?  Too concerned with work has made them lame and boring.  We make a good decision to find food.

00:10 – Leaving the 24 Steers with food in hand.  I have absolutely no idea where I am.  It’s very quiet, though.

00:40 – We get a bend in the road, and there are two rabbits chilling there.  Bergen is going at about 341.8 km/h, and the one uses his bunny-like reflexes to get out the way.  The other looks at us for a while, then moves in the direction we’re turning to avoid it.  I’m struggling to find the words that describe the sound it made, but you get the idea.

00:50 – Steers really does taste better at this time of the night.  Plus the sauce I added to the chips is totally a winner.

01:00 – We bid Bergen a Bon Voyage.  He’ll probably inspect his car again when he gets home, and again in the morning, to see if there’s any bunny damage.

01:40 – Spent far too much time copying stealing buying borrowing movies when I should have been sleeping.  5 hours is not enough.

Tuesday

6:56 – My alarm goes off.  I push my hand out, push snooze for just 9 more minutes. Please.  Hand comes back under the duvet, covered in frost.

07:04 – What?!  Already? Surely that’s too soon? And it was.  This was the seconds alarm I had set, just in case I had turned off the first one.  Hit snooze.

07:05 – Please leave me alone already? I just want to sleep.

07:13 – FINE!  I’m up.  Please just stop singing.  I try get Shebee awake.  She’s not interested.  Just begs for water.  It is VERY cold this morning.  I’m told the cat was stuck inside the duvet in the night.

7:30 – I’m ready and waiting to get a move on.  So glad I hadn’t booked that 6am flight.  Shebee isn’t ready yet.  I don’t like being late at the best of times, but when I could miss a flight, not cool.

7:35 – She’s finally done.  I think.  Moaning about being drunk or something.  ”No tequila ever again”.  Whole Sahara in her mouth.  You know the drill.  I don’t have sympathy for people that can’t take their drink.  And, besides, it was only one tequila.

7:55 – Arrive at the airport.  Fairly emotional goodbyes, a lot of tears.  From Shebee too.  Walk into the terminal.  It’s even smaller than before.  I can see both the international and domestic departures as I stand at the door.  I don’t stand in a queue, and walk straight to an overly happy guy behind the Kulula (and only) airline counter.  Doesn’t he know how early it is?! Freak.  I again ask to sit on the aisle.  Boarding at 8:20.

08:00 – Head to the one and only shop that’s there.  Get a good looking chicken mayo sandwich and a coffee.  Amazingly, and now, unsurprisingly, I don’t have to sell a whole kidney to afford this.  I love this airport.

08:05 – I go through the metal-detectors unscathed.  I’m half asleep and it takes me ages to get myself organised with laptop-jacket-bags.  I forget my boarding pass in the tray.  Downs coffee.  There is a really awesome lounge here, equipped with a coffee machine, making me having to buy this one redundant.  I take a seat in the really comfy chairs and stare at the people around.  They’re much more businessy than the flight to Joburg.  There is a “Complimentary Internet Terminal” right next to me, but I don’t have the energy for that.  And good thing too, a guys sits down, and then I hear the ominous sound of a modem dialing a number to use the web.  Wow.  What century do we live in?!  I finish the last of my coffee after spilling most of it.

8:30 – Each Kulula plane is branded with “funny” marketing on the side.  This one has a cow on it, and mentions something about mooving something something.  They really take their comedy seriously.  I take me seat one row from the back, on the aisle.  Perfect.  They must have listened to my previoulsy moaning about it.  @Kulula FTW. #brandplus.

The plane is fairly empty.  There is a gap between me and the overly stressed lady sitting at the window.  The guy in front of me is on the phone telling someone he’s on the plane.   Every time he moves, his whole seat nearly hits me in the teeth.  There are no pretty girls on the flight either.  Even the flight attendants aren’t.  Surely that’s a prerequisite? That and any male should have the dignity to be gay* to be more entertaining, but the “head-boss” is straight and boring .  The doors are closed, and we’re asked to turn off all electronic devices.

*Disclaimer – I just think gay men are entertaining.

Kulula’s “camo” themed plane

08:44 – The attendants have just finished giving their sately demonstration, and the I’m-so-important man in front is again on his phone telling someone how he’s on the plane and he’s important and all must halt until he’s back. Scary looking flight attendant glares at him.

08:50 – I’ve already said it, but take off is my favourite part of flying.  The huge accelration that pushes you back into the seat, the sudden white facial expression of the overly-stressed lady next to me as she grabs the magazine to distract her.  Gotta love panic.  I wonder if I should ask her if she’s heard about yet another plane crash.  Although, I don’t really want to be restained the wing with the smokers, as told by Kulula’s stand-up comedian.

08:55 – This plane is quite old.  There is a heck of a lot of noise.  Not nice, safe noise either.  Meh – Another plane won’t go down, NOW, right?

09:05 – Seatbelt signs go off and I head to the toilet to splash my face with water in the effort to wake up.  This “room” is tiny.  I don’t know how they expect anyone to hook up in here.  Honestly, where are their manners?

09:15 – I’m-so-important man doesn’t sit still.  He’s constantly bouncing around.  Seat, equally as active.  i imagine how he’d react to an elephant tranquilizer.

09:44 – Another boring flight.  I suppose there’s nothing really they can do to entertain.  Didn’t Axe come up with strippers on a plane?  That would seriously work.  But then they’d have a snake problem again.

09:48 – There are a few jock-looking guys joking around in the front of the plane, all wearing the same yellow/blue team-representing golf shirts.  All have their collars popped.  Don’t they realise that there are enough jocks in Cape Town, and we really don’t need more.

09:50 – Awesome.  Seat-selt sign has just come on and we’re being informed of some turbulance.  “Use of toilets are stricly prohubuted at this time.” How bad is it?  Overly-stressed lady next to me starts playing with her hair and leans forward.  If she throws up, I’m moving to the front, no questions asked.

10:00 – Seat-belt sign is still on, but it’s pretty mundane, if you ask me.

10:10 – A bit bumpier now, and I imagine Ace Ventura bouncing around in his Jeep, even though he’s on tar.  Okay, that was random.  What was in that water?

10:25 – We’re ahead of schedule and they want me to put my electronic device away again.  Ugh.

10:40 – Tyres hit the ground, calmly and without problems.  I can see my mountain again.  I’m extremely excited to be back in Cape Town.  Jozi was fine, but I missed Cape Town. Weird, it was only 3 days.

10:45 – Turns out that they’re not using the back exit and I have to go all the way to the front anyway, but I actually don’t mind waiting.  I eventually pop my head out, and really smile, looking around like an idiot (like you see in the movies), seeing my mountain again.

10:51 – I walk through the terminal and say hello to a new day…

Things I’ve learnt on my travels:

• I do not wish to live in Joburg.  Yes, money does make you happy, but I would have to get a lot to be happy there.
• There are awesome people in Joburg.
• There are a lot of hot nerds there, too.  Cape Town might have beautiful women, but for the most part, they’re not nerdy in anyway, and this is unfortunate.
• Sheena is pretty awesome for putting up with me for 3 days.
• I have not outgrown my allergies, they’ve just been hiding and waiting to strike.  All at once.
• Lanseria airport makes a lot of sense.
• Kulula really impressed me.
• I love Cape Town.  A lot.  If you’ve never been, I’m really sorry.  I don’t see myself living anywhere else.
• I need to get myself into gear and aim for that successful place I really want to be at.  I met a lot of successful people that make their own luck.
• Joburg tweeps are very incestuous and love to gossip.  And I liked it too.  Dirt is good to have, just not on your own hands.
• 27 Dinner is really awesome.  So, thanks for Mike and Melody for all the effort.
• I’ve grown up a lot in the last year.  Perhaps it was necessary to match the age I apparently look. I’m not 27.  I promise.
• This post took way too long to be put up.

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I grew up in another country.  My family did not up and leave because of “the way South Africa was heading”.  We left because my father received a job opportunity he could not say no to at the time.  We didn’t go far, though – To Gaborone, Botswana.  A mere 4 hours from Joburg. But what a different place it is. I was seven at the time, so I was still a sponge, ready to absorb anything that was thrown at me, and much of the South Africa I knew before leaving was pretty much a distant memory.  I started school at a British run private primary school with 29 different nationalities being represented by the students.  Once a year, there was a day where we would all bring our own national dishes, clothes, etc, and share it amongst each other learning about everyones heritage and home. I am Jewish, and my best friend throughout most of the next 7 years was Muslim.  At high school, of the 600 students, 240 were from other countries. 33 different counties to throw another number in there.  My best friends for the next few years was of Hindu descent.  I’m basically showing you my background and what type of lifestyle I grew up in.  There were no politics about admittance into the schools on racial background, nor was there any problem about who you scrummed with each Saturday morning on your way to becoming the top side in the country.  These things didn’t matter.

I guess I never really understood this whole racism thing until midway through high school.  It came in the form of a fat, Afrikaans man from Rustenburg.  Yes, the banality is there, however unintentional it was, the truth is authentic.  There were words spoken out of his mouth that I had only read about, and seen in movies talking about things from the ’70s.  It was nauseating. But, you learn to live with it, I mean what can you really do?

I think a lot South Africans, (By this, I mean my generation – born somewhere in the ’80s), were brought into a different world.  A world that is trying really hard to rectify a problem that ran for decades – A problem that they didn’t cause but they’re trying.  The worry is, there are still people from a previous generation  that are fighting for a cause that has ended.  So now we sit with this mosaic of problems lying on the floor and a colourful way to fix it.   This solution started 15 years ago – officially.  So when will South Africa stop telling everyone that it’s still in the growing phase.  They need to grab the bull by the horns and sort itself out.  Do people honestly believe we are further along than we were even 5 years ago?  You only have to look at sport to know there are still problems.  The phantom it’s-there-no-there’s-no-such-thing “quota system” proves it.  Why must we force players of colour into a team that means a performing white player should be dropped?  Ntini of the Proteas earned his caps; Donald wasn’t dropped for him.  Gibbs waited for his turn and performed, cementing his place properly with his own flair.  But when a player, I’ll throw in one K. Pieterson, is blatantly dropped because there is a player of colour that might be better, it’s a problem.  KP is one of the best players in the world, and will be for some time.  That player of colour is tottering around in the provincial system because when he had his chance, he just wasn’t good enough.

There are some words I don’t use. By words, I mean foul language that shouldn’t be spoken.  There are some that start with C’s and some with P’s, but the one with the K still causes the worst pains. When I moved to South Africa, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but at times, within the right crowds, it isn’t that bad.   But I still hear it every so often. From friends even.   A couple of my best friends know how I feel about it, and they’ve stopped (around me?). Why am I friends with these people then?  Because they are still good people, and it really isn’t their fault that this is what they’re been brought up with. I suppose they are still there to learn and to adjust.  It just proves how ignorant some people are, though.  They know about the problems in the passed, but instead of making a concerted effort to change, and be part of a solution, they continue to babble on in their own way, adding to the mess of the current lingering conundrum.

People are being educated properly and slowly the tides are turning in the social circles.  It’s the bigger picture that I think still needs a lot of work.  It’s not meant to be a political discussion, I prefer to leave that up to the politicians, but in this country, it definitely is political:  We a have a probable future president that recently said Afrikaaners are the only true white South African’s., then sings about his bloody machine gun.  I know he’s trying, but come on. He’s as stupid as his youth leader.

So again, what can you really do? This is my way.  What’s yours? This post may get me into trouble, in fact, I hope it does.  Maybe it’ll open some eyes.

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I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but I’m pretty sure there are just as many poor people everywhere else as there are in South Africa.   And there are a lot here.  Rich people, black, white, brown, red, blue, whatever race you are,  are pretty much the same.  I say pretty much because there are always exceptions.  Note, though,in this comparison, there is either rich or poor.  You either have money to eat, or you don’t.  South Africa has a large amount of people begging for money at every place rich people will be:

• Malls – Because rich people love to spend their money by making themselves look pretty,
• Parking lots – because rich people love to drive their beautiful, expensive gas guzzlers,
• Large clubbing venues – Because rich people love to drink away hard earned money.

Rich people avoid these poor people at all costs.  But let’s be honest, this is a capitalist, dog eat dog world.  We all work hard for our money, some of us more than others.  So it’s all understandable, right?  I believe it is.  Except these rich people should not be shallow, and I hate to admit it, but even I am.  Me, this wonderful, caring, full-of-life-and-love person.  It’s disgusting.  I often try tell myself to behave differently, and sometimes I do.  Depending on the mood, obviously, I will give food or money to one of the unfortunates at the robot.  But sometimes I am the person I do not want to be, the person who i despise.  On the way home from work this evening, I was exhausted.  It had been a long, hot and very busy day.  And I was on my last reserves for the day.  It makes a good excuse, doesn’t it.  There was the regular at the robot near my house, and he walked passed as usual, and in my mood, I ignored him.  As usual.  This time he said something, opposed to normally just walking passed with his sad expression.  My window was open and not really hearing what he had said, I replied, “No, I’m sorry.”, and looked around my car as if to signify I had nothing.  He bent down lower, looked at me, tapped his wrist, and said, “The time.”.  I said ten passed six, and shamefully drove on.  I was angry at myself.  And I want you all to be angry at yourselves too.  We are all superficial and frivolous and plain old horrible.  You’ve all done it. But don’t.  You can’t always be one of those people that always gives money to the blind lady that is guided down the isle on the train.  But rather be someone that makes yourself feel better.  And actually do something.  I bet you think of this the next time you drive passed a “poor” person.  Be nice, listen, give – it feels really good.

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