Celebrating good times
Life has a funny way of reminding us that we should enjoy each and every day! Sad though that this reminder more often than not follows the death of somebody who for some strange reason we thought would live forever.
My husband celebrated his birthday yesterday and one of the perks of having young children is that they just want to have a party. So we had a wonderful afternoon tea party with cupcakes hardly suitable for a grown man. He loved it and I’ve no doubt they loved it more.
Celebrations are not just for special occasions. Each day that you rise should be an occasion to be celebrated. It seems a weird thing to say but I’m so glad to be alive. I hope you will join me in my celebration of life!
The world is but a stage!
I’ve had the privilege of meeting many new people since arriving in England. Of course some are once off meetings, others acquaintances and some I count amongst my closest friends.
Anybody who knows me knows that I thrive on good honest conversation and a lively debate occasionally.
I’m not one who wears my heart on my sleeve but if the situation calls for it I will give more information if required.
Communication is a really complex tool! Give too much and you’re a blabber mouth. Say too little and you’re regarded as too secretive.
If I had a few wishes one would be for conversation to be based on complete honesty and understanding. In the meantime though as a self-confessed “overly extrovert” individual I have got to be a little more understanding when it comes to people who don’t view things and express them as I do!
So while the world is considered a stage everybody has got to be allowed to play their part as best they can.
Lights! Camera! Action!
Out with the old…in with the new
So today I walked into a hair salon and my instruction was simple. I needed my hair cut really short and I also needed to have no regrets in the morning. Obviously the morning hasn’t arrived as yet but for some unknown reason I am already filled with regret and dread. Now anybody who really knows me knows that I love to cut corners when it comes to my morning prep. Right now the options are all but gone. I’ll now be required to set aside hair styling time and that does not suit my clock chasing lifestyle!
The long and short of my story is that radical change does not come without its discomforts. On the other hand in a strange way I look forward to embracing my new adventure. Hair raising I’d say!
Domestic goddess
Now I’m no Martha Stewart or Nigella Lawson so I guess I can be forgiven for not always feeling like puffing cushions or preparing a meal fit for a king.
Today I stood ironing what felt like a truckload of laundry just a by-product of having three young princesses. I started wondering what would happen if I just let them wear their clothes creased because I’ve no doubt it would free up lots of time for me.
Domestic goddess or not these time-consuming duties like dishes, laundry and my old friend cooking are not going anywhere in my lifetime so I might as well get a grip and find a way to live in harmony with them.
So my journey to freedom from domestic chores shall continue although somehow I doubt I shall ever be free of this domestic yoke!
Counting blessings
I’m so grateful for my many wonderful blessings. When an opportunity presents itself to show your gratitude don’t delay…just do it. The time is always right to be thankful.
Gratitude is the best attitude – Author Unknown
Princess diaries
I’ve been following the story of a Londoner Katie Piper who was the victim of an acid attack by an ex boyfriend. He has since been prosecuted and jailed. Fortunately for her she had access to ground breaking treatments for burn victims. Since the attack she has undergone over one hundred operations. Katie is well and truly on the road to recovery. I’ve no doubt it will take much longer for her psychological wounds to catch up to the physical ones.
Domestic violence is so rife in modern-day society. It’s not just common people who fall victim to physical, verbal and psychological abuse. Since the Grammy awards and a win by Chris Brown the story of his vicious attack on his ex girlfriend has resurfaced. He was prosecuted and given a lengthy probation sentence. In my opinion it was a lenient sentence. He should have served jail time like other criminals do!
There is never an excuse for violence of any kind. Communication is the key.
Relationships are so complicated because they can bring you so much pleasure and as much pain. A certain level of maturity is needed and it seems quite clear that break ups cause some people to become irrational.
We all deserve to be treated like royalty. We’re too special to be treated any less. I don’t believe in fairy tales but I do believe you can choose the kind of life you want. Then perhaps the happily ever after will follow.
The greatest
Today Muhammad Ali celebrates his 70th birthday. I find it quite ironic that the sport which made him world-famous is now under serious scrutiny after a rather unfortunate incident between two British boxers in Munich. It’s usually said that there are two sides to every story. I’m just not sure what reason either of these boxers can come up with that will justify acting like hooligans. David Haye and Dereck Chisora are a disgrace to their sporting code.
Much has been said about the boxers that has nothing to do with the sport. Chisora is a Zimbabwean born British boxer and it is quite shocking to see how many people are calling for him to be sent back to Africa. I’m just going to put those comments down to general ignorance and blatant racism.
Since arriving in the united kingdom I can’t help but notice the double standards particularly in sport. If you do well and excel you’re more than welcome to raise the British flag. Just ask Murray the tennis star the moment he is less than fantastic it is made very clear that he is Scottish. I’ve not heard one complaint about the five South African born cricketers who took England to the top of the cricket rankings. It’s just unacceptable to treat people in this dismissive way. By all means call for the banning of the sportsmen who’ve brought their sport into disrepute. It doesn’t have to be personal!
Where do broken hearts go?
Today Whitney Houston will be laid to rest. Sadly what should be a fitting end for someone whose music impacted so many lives will end with many unanswered questions. The rumour mill has been in overdrive since the shock announcement of her premature death. I guess that is the ultimate price to pay for fame. No privacy even in death.
A family has been left devastated and broken-hearted. I wonder if her songs which brought comfort to many will comfort them now?
We’re all in this together
People often speak about the suffering and plight of the less fortunate. You may not have money or other resources to save the whole world. The truth is that the hungry and oppressed will always be among us. However, that does not mean we shouldn’t try to make a difference.
Take a look around your community and see where you can make a difference. Then go and make a difference!
The joy of reading
It’s funny how you forget the early days of learning a skill. A bit like being annoyed with a learner driver because the truth is no matter how good you may be now you had to have learnt at some stage.
I’ve had to brush away the cobwebs of my memory in an attempt to remember the days when my grade one teacher Miss Redman taught me how to read Jack and Jill book one. Truth is I can’t imagine a time I needed to be taught to read. Alas that cannot be true because I was definitely not self-taught.
Once again I’m at a stage in my life when the importance of teachers is being highlighted. While parents do have quite a bit of homework to do you just can’t ignore the amount of work done in the classroom.
Gemma my four-year old is learning to read and the truth is that I just can’t wait for the fluency to kick in. Every time she gets her reading register out I just cringe when I think of every letter in every word being spelt out like only a early learner can do.
On the positive side though I know this phase won’t last forever and soon enough she’ll be like her older sister reading everything from my texts to my emails.
Reading can transport you to amazing places where you meet interesting characters between the covers of a book. Happy reading!
Thoughts on friendship
I’ve heard it been said that if you want good friends then you should be a good friend. Friends need to be nurtured and taken care of. Sadly though for some friends the wheel of friendship only seems to roll on their terms.
Throughout my life I’ve been blessed with some of the most amazing friends. Over the years some friendships have dissipated but thankfully in the circle of life there is always room for new friendships.
Friendship is a gift that should be cherished and never taken lightly. Good friends are not very easy to come by so when you find them treat them like a precious commodity.
Love is a many splendid thing
Love and the celebration of it is as diverse as the people giving and getting love. Whether it involves spouses, friends or relatives the expression of love is as beautiful as it is complex. The truth is everybody longs to be loved and appreciated.
Happy Valentines day to one and all. May the martyrdom of Saint Valentine inspire you to do over and beyond what is expected of you! Loving selflessly, endlessly and eternally.
Death
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleepe as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
John Donne
My tribute to Whitney
Like so many people who’ve been impacted by her music I shed a tear for a music talent that is yet to be rivalled! As condolences pour in from around the world many will no doubt remember the way her music captivated and had a way of making you feel that she understood how you felt. That in itself is remarkable.
Sadly though her life has ended like so many others before her shrouded in uncertainty and unexpected tragedy. I believe that in every life changing event there is a lesson to learnt and the lesson I’ve learnt is that the music is just not enough. The show of life has to go on.
No doubt people will be talking about the songs that meant the most to them. I was going to attempt to list my favourites but as it turns out I would’ve listed most her songs. The first song I can ever remember hearing was the “Greatest love of all” and that will remain a top tune for many years to come.
Rest in peace Whitney Houston your remarkable talent will long be remembered.
The not so beautiful game!
My dad has always been of the opinion that no player is bigger than the game or even their team. Hopefully Liverpool will look back and realise that when you give power to a player that power can change the dynamic of the game. Sadly today’s match between Liverpool and Manchester United turned out to be a bit of a soap opera from the pre match discussions, the handshake that didn’t happen, the pushing and shoving in the tunnel at half time and finally Patrice Evra’s over the top celebration of his teams three-point haul.
I’ve been watching football for as long as I can remember and I guess there’ll always be personality clashes and bantering. Luis Suarez needs to be given the sportsman manual along with the other rotten apples in the premier league. However it would do any player well to realise that no player is bigger than the game. Just ask David Beckham…
Proud and pushy moms
What is it about parents particularly moms who seem to have this insatiable appetite for comparing their children to their peers. Quite frankly I find it a bit ridiculous. I really would like my daughters to be the brightest and best they can be. I have no desire to measure them against their weaker or academically stronger classmates. Perhaps I’m the laid back type who annoys other parents terribly. I always tell my girls that their best is good enough but mediocrity is unacceptable. At their age though I define what is acceptable. That’s ironic!
Perhaps I missed the child comparison memo. Children are an amazing gift who need to be nurtured and that is all that is required. I just wish that in their enthusiasm to nurture mighty oaks and not carefully cultivated bonsai trees they’d show some consideration.
Happy parenting!
Misery thy name is…
The common cold!
It’s so crazy how you can’t think past the illness that plagues you at that moment. I swear the worst pain is a migraine and another time I say it’s definitely a toothache. Today the worst feeling is absolutely the many symptoms that accompany the common cold. Headache, blocked nose or runny nose (depending on the time of day), sneezing and a very irritating cough. These symptom can best be described in one of my favourite South African words ‘naaring’!
Please excuse me while I get my potion ready for a what I hope will be an incident free night.
All in a days work
Yet another really busy day at the central food bank. I’ve done many shifts and it always surprises me just how in need people are. I work with a fantastic team of people who I now call friends.
We have many ups and downs in a day but it all works out in the end.
At the end of the day I’m just really grateful for all my family has. I feel blessed to be able to help in this small way!
God save the queen
Today her royal highness the queen of England celebrates her sixtieth year on the throne. I’m not sure how that is considered an achievement! She certainly did not earn it and has done nothing since to retain it except to stay alive.
I must admit that the royal family and what they actually do remains a complete mystery to me! At the rate they are introducing so-called commoners to the royal equation soon enough there will be no reason to refer to them as the royal family. I look forward to that day.
I guess all that’s left to say is congratulations Ma’am on staying alive. Just don’t outlive Charles that would be too cruel for words. Can you imagine waiting your whole life for something that just never happens?
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