Eurovision 2006 - The party

Party was a blast - from what I can remember. Night included great food and loads of alcohol. Everybody was in the spirit, watched the event with scorecards, had a laugh, then went into town to boogie further.

The winning country was Finland who won with their song 'Hard Rock Hallejula'. Looked like Klingons from Star Trek. The kitsch and the kamp win votes. It's all just for fun!

My last recollection of the evening was about 11pm. Most things after that come to me in flashbacks. We danced in a choreographed syncronised fashion to Whigfield's 'Saturday Night' at a bar in Leicester, then progressed to a club where I am told I was loads of fun, couldn't stay off the stage etc etc etc. No memory whatsoever. I'm still recovering from bruised ribs sustained that evening - I can remember how that happenned, but would rather not say.

Eurovision 2006

This Saturday I am attending a Eurovision Song Contest Party. The Eurovision thing is a song contest, in which every country in Europe gets to enter a song, the public votes, there is a winner. Ta daa!

It's got a huge following here, and a friend of mine is hosting a party for him and his mates. Not knowing much about the contest previously, expect that Abba won it once upon a time with 'Waterloo', I'm not sure what to expect.

The UK song, 'our song', is an 'Eminem wannabe' rapper, a white guy in his forties. The song is cheesy as hell, but the cheesier and catchier the better.

If you like to know more, you can visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/eurovision/2006/index.shtml to find out more.

The plan is to watch the event - televised live on TV with scorecards etc., eat some great food, get totally sloshed, then go into town to a club for an afterparty. Altogether sounds like fun. Of course next week there will be pictures to tell the story....

One year

It's been exactly one year since I left South Africa to come here to the UK. One year and 12 hours to be precise. It was the first time that I was actualy leaving the borders of South Africa, and on an international flight. Everything was a novelty, and new experience. I left so much behind, a decent job, great family and friends and a great country on a leap of faith - to experience life elsewhere - if only for a short time. Life was getting a little mundane, and needed a bit of a kick, and that's definitely what I got - mostly in a good way.

The furthest that I had travelled from home was Sun City. Traveling across the african continent. The sun was rising the next morning as we crossed the English Channel. It was amazing seeing the african continent left literally behind, and soon after new land - The UK. Felt kinda symbolic - as cheesy as it sounds. I was like a kid in candy store. Everything felt new, after the 'trauma' of Heathrow, of course. I noticed everything - the trees, the signs, the air, the humidity, or lack of, the cars, the people, clothes. For a while I felt like I was on another planet. It was a whole new world waiting to be discovered, and conquered.

As most of you who read my blog entries know that my journey has not always been an easy one, but highly fulfilling. Certainly not everything has gone smoothly, but in retrospect (and only in retrospect) I would not change a thing. There were valuable life lessons in every situation I found myself in, in every person I met. It's hard to see when you are in the midst of it, but in retrospect you see things with clarity, and the the profound significance it has had on your life, the way it has shaped your character, the way it has moulded your outlook and changed your destiny.

One year later I return to familiarity, routine. I have a job, a car, a place to live. I knew exactly where I was going, what I was going to do. A day after I returned to the UK, I went back to work, to a mountain of deadlines - to my 9 to 5 (ish) routine. Familiarity and routine can be good too. Just less than a year ago before I had found work and was living, or should have been living care-free, I was yearning for this type of set-up. Now I appreciate my circumstances then, and know that life had a plan for me, that all would work out eventually. Kinda taught me that every moment should be savoured. We should stop to take the time and appreciate everything that we have been lucky enough to have right now in our lives. We are exactly, at any given point in time, where we need to be - and we must make the best of our circumstances.

Where to from here???? Who knows. I just intend right now to do and see as much as I can. Who knows if I'll be coming home in exactly 12 months time, stay a bit longer, or come home much sooner for that matter? Nothing is for certain. It's exciting, and actually quite scary as I sit writing this. Scary to know that your future, your destiny, is shaped by every decision you make!!!

I guess the only thing we can do is strap onto the roller-coaster ride that is life and hope for the best. I feel the adrenaline already, no jokes. I'll probably not sleep tonight!

Yeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

South Africa here we come!!!!!!!!!

All packed, just 4 days till I touch down on South African soil!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!! All packed and organised already. But I've gotten so used to going to stay here and there, that packing is pretty easy for me.

Two weeks off from work, now that's cool. Easter break, hot (maybe that's not the best part), friends, family fun!!!

Developed literally about 300 pics of my travels etc. Just can't wait right now.

Sister just emailed me this morning asking what time I arrive. They apparently 'have plans'. Timing, they say, is crucial. They need time to get drunk and embarass me at the airport!!! Here's a pic of us, well a few of us at Gold Reef City, Johannesburg, South Africa middle of 2004. If you know them and can't recognise them it's from left, me, Terry, Charissa, Shan, Nikki, Kaamila, Melvin, Sheryl, and unidentified man number one.



Oh and another member of the crazy family.

hello from birmingham

Just popped into Brimingham for the day. At the Bullring shopping centre, one of the biggest in Europe, so I'm told that Checkland Kindleysides - actually designed!!! Checkland is the company where I work, btw.

At the Apple Store at the moment. Feels like home.

Introducing Brighton

In 2005 for the first time I visited Brighton. One of my favourite places in the UK so far. It's down South - a seaside city a lot like Durban. The landscape and vegetation is hilly and soooo much KwaZulu-Natal. I have so many pics that I will probably make a few posts on the place cos it's so great. But here's a couple of pics to start.

One of the big attractions in Brighton is the pier. I'm pictured there at the entrance very sunburnt. It's a huge structure, with shops, restaurants, amusement arcades - which turns into an ice-rink during the winter, a theatre as well as a amusement rides including rollercoaster type rides.

That's me from the end of the pier - sun too bright - and you can see how far the coast is behind me. It was the first - and last time I tried jellied eels. (!!!) It's cold, and once you get past the tasteless gelatine and the texture of it melts away in your mouth, you are left with the actual eels, which tastes kinda like lightly salted pilchards. Spine included. Thank heavens I'm now a vegetarian.

Gallery - Miniatures

Sometime late 2005 I visited the Motor Heritage museum. There were these miniatures of cars and vehicles in general that appeared in movies or in cartoons etc. Everything from Starsky and Hutch to Noddy.

Excited about HOME

Really excited about coming home!!!!!!!! Sooooooo looking foward to seeing everybody and spending time. Still need to buy train tickets, return flight (!), travel insurance, currency, etc etc, but soooo excited. that's all. ;)

Tate Modern / St. Pauls / Wooden man thing

Picked up this guy at the Tate Modern Bookshop. Um, no not a realy guy, but this wooden sculpture man thing. Friend Noodle (the most talented graphic designer next to me lol) had one on her desk, and I just had to have one too! The one in the middle with the ribbon is the one I took home. Took some pics in the museum, until I was told by staff that photograhy wasn't allowed!

One pic is a sculpture of these life-size human figures.

The other is a view from a chill-out room, which overlooks the Thames. That's the Millenium Bridge that leads from the Tate to the side where one finds St Paul's Cathredal. It's the 2nd largest 'unsupported dome' in the world. Really amazing and grand in person. Isn't that the point - to make these places of worship larger than life - to feel dwarfed and inferiour (spelling?) in front of - almost a display of God's grandeur?

Magician guy

When in London, there was this magician guy doing street magic. Similar to David Blane. Though not as freaky and sinister, ths guy was for real. Can't remember his name. He's a local lad from some rough urban ghetto. He said he was self taught. I had to see for myself, so managed to get right to the front and was literally 15cm away from this particular trick - got real low and put my eyes right near it, so could know for sure.

He took a 2 pound coin and without any effort actually pushed a cigarette through it! The coin in about 3cm wide, and about 4mm thick. The cigarette glided effortlessly through it, as if it wasn't there. Made no sound, no force, just passed through it. Was really amazing and convincing, no smoke or mirrors.

There was there with an MTV camera crew, and was filming for a show to appear on pretty soon. So might be my second appearance. Also did a card trick which Liana (pictured) participated. No doubt this guy is genuine. Look out for it!

My Top 10

At work we have this jukebox system. We get 10 credits a day and can choose from an extensive selection of music, which is then played on a sound system that is linked to the entire company. As I select songs, my songs are added to my 'favourites' with the most played on top and least played at the bottom (duh).

Anyway here's my 10 most played songs as of last week (covering the last 5 months):

1 Boulevard Of Broken Dreams - Green Day
2 Lonely No More - Rob Thomas
3 I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues - Elton John
4 One Step Too Far - Faithless
5 Doo Wop (That Thing) - Lauryn Hill
6 Lately - Skunk Anansie
7 Come Undone - Duran Duran
8 Something Beautiful - Robbie Williams
9 Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
10 Secretly - Skunk Anansie

What is implies about my state of mind - you figure out. And note no Michael Jackson!

what a difference a day makes

Okay maybe I can stick it out. I've chatted to a couple of close friends / advice chat buddies and I do feel better about being here. It's a rollercoaster with any emotion / mood fluctuation - one day is different from the next and you rationalise things differently.

Today being here isn't that bad. I guess I've come a long way. I remember being on the fields of Newmarket Racecourse with 2 miles of grass before me. My job was, together with about 6 others, walk that 2 miles and knock the grass in where the horses had tread. The finish line was out of sight and I thought that this what hell must be like. Just a couple of months before that I was designing opening videos and annual reports for SPAR SA and liasing with the MD of the company. Then I'd think to myself - how the f**k did this happen???

Many months later the situation has changed radically and I have a lot to be thankful for. I come home in 5 weeks around easter. Just for two weeks. I have not yet bought my return ticket, so who knows how I'll feel tomorrow...

Homesick

Just thought I'd share a piece of my mind. Feeling terribly homesick recently. Been having strange dreams that lead me to Durban - the promised land. Been for job interviews (god I hope no-one from work is gonna read this), and questions like: Do you want to be here in this country on a long term basis? We need to invest in somebody'. Em, of course.

The reality is that I miss home. I have so many great people who would add so much to one's life by spending time with and having fun with - in Durban, that's it's a really inviting thought to come home. Of course I've had a great journey and adventure here, but wondering if it's time to throw in the towel???

It won't get warmer for another couple of months or so. A warm day right now would be about 6 degrees.

Still so much that I want to do and see. When I had all the time in the world - no money. And now that I have money - no time. Aint that the irony of life??!!!

I guess the next couple of months are crucial to making that decision.

Madonna 'Sorry' advert

Thanks Noodle!

iPod Hifi

Just released from Apple. Innovative as usual. Well maybe someone's done it before, and they're more high profile. But still cool...

Read more at www.apple.com

Healer

Don't think I mentioned previously that I am a healer. Besides my kick-ass skills at a shoulder massage, I'm also a Reiki level 2 Healer, as well as a Reconnective Healer. Did this course in London last year (don't ask me how much I spent on it), and now, apparently, can heal people. Strange thing about healing is all one can to for the process of healing is to channel it. The energy is intelligent and will go where it's needed. So nobody can perform miracles.

Can do distant healings, so if you send a request, will try it on you - at no cost. Come on - need some gineau pigs!

Is this you?

Sent to me by Emil. So true he says. I can't help but agree.

Quick Reads

Taken from the Virgin Trains UK website to promote their quicker train journeys.

Pronounced Keen-wa

Quinoa.

This 'new' food that's actually been around since the Aztecs. It was revered by them as a sacred seed. Yes it's a seed, not a grain - maybe a sprout of sorts. High in protein - a complete protein. Usually you hae to eat 2 types of protein for your body to correctly metabolise it. Here you can eat just this.

Dead easy to prepare and you can have it savoury as a replacement for rice or pasta, or sweet as a breakfast food. Anyway I still can't cook, but I can make this! When it's cooks, the seed separates to reveal a sprout inside. It's light and fluffy with a slightly crunchy texture. Mmmmmmmm.

Gorse Hill City Farm

Wandered over this Sunday to have a quick bite at their cafe and with camera in hand snapped a couple of animals.