One Small Seed is renewable

The lovely Drummer Boy was in this viral and I wondered what the beeg news was. Well here it is: One Small Seed has renewed its old self and become a new self and just in time to have its new edition on the shelf.

Check out the new website here.

I liiiiiike. The old site was, well I wasn't a fan but his new and improved site is purdy.


Also I got the Mahala number two printed mag and they gave me a surprise: p.h. fat's Dinosaur Blood album. It's rad you should have in your ears.

A little birdie told me you can subscribe to Mahala's printed mag for free so that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

These South African publications; they know how to make a chappy happy.

Image from here. 

The Weekend that was...

I took it super chilled this weekend. This weekend I...

+ Had pancakes twice.
+ Watched Howl's Moving Castle.
+Ate the most delicious lamb chops (thanks Scal).
+ Spent some time on our 1000-piece puzzle of Marilyn Monroe (most difficult puzzle ever!)
+ Had some serious discussions.
+ Felt ovcerwhelmed about the craziness of the current world and my miniscule place in it.
+ Sorted out some issues.
+ Went to the wonderful Meh's house-warming braai (twas lovely).
+ Didn't see any of the Argus cyclists.
+ Spent Sunday evening in Kalk Bay at Cape to Cuba.

What did you get up to this weekend?

Image from here.

so what if i'm a bit soppy?

i really like the ide of this blog, kissssing.

it is a celebration of all things old-school love. Porter Hovey russles through the thrift-store boxes and find old pictures of elegant looking couples photographed in (mostly) black and white.

love was so stylish back in those days. here are a few of my favourites:

 

enjoy the love everyone!

the weekend that was

wow Ramfest was brilliant!

this weekend i...

+ went to Ramfest
+ got really really dusty
+ cut my hand
+ danced for hours
+ saw P h Phat, Mr Sakitumi, Die Antwoord, Bruce Willis, Isochronus, Alkaline Trio, Funeral for a Friend and Tommy Gun
+ made some new friends
+ got lost
+ got found
+ only slept about four hours
+ swam in the river
+ spent a lot of money
+ got home and bathed
+ spent Sunday at a chilled family braai
+ finally watched Forgetting Sarah Marshall

what did you do this weekend?

image from here. 

first things first

yesterday i went with the lovely Se to get tested for HIV and Aids at UCT. technically i'm not a student anymore but shh.

every semester the university sets up booths in the jammie hall and invites students and staff to get tested for free with the goal being to eradicate the stigma around the disease by getting people to know their status.

we waited in line for about 20 minutes and chatted about condoms, same-sex relationships and plans for Ramfest. i didn't stop to think about what i do and don't know about HIV and when i was called into one of the nurses booth i got quite a shock.

firstly it was very hot and when its very hot your blood doesn't seem to flow quite so easily so not only did i have to get two jabs but i had to "let" myself by pushing the bright red liquid up and out of my finger. those of you who know me know that that is the scariest notion for me. but my nurse was so gung-ho she wouldn't even listen to my mumbling about being scared of needl...ow!

more importantly though, i learnt something about myself.

you see was totally clueless about the most simple aspects of the disease that so many people in Africa suffer from. these things i did not know:

1. there is a window period in which if you've been infected the antibodies will not show up. my nurse said they say that it's about 12 weeks.

2. HIV is the first stage of the disease. the bad cells start to kill off the white cells that keep your body healthy.

3. you only have AIDS when the bad cells have successfully killed off pretty much all of your white cells and other illnesses (such as TB, flu etc) can kill you.

4. HIV/Aids doesn't kill you, it affects your immune system allowing the other diseases to have a fatal effect on your body.

the thing is, i honestly thought i knew all this kinda stuff but when asked about them i came up blank. it was really a learning curve for me.

it's a good idea to be in the know about this disease especially because it is such a problem in our country.

on a positive note, happy Thursday lovelies.
anyone gonig to Ramfest this weekend? i am *so excited*

ps, i also don't know what my blood type is (very bad!) do you know what yours is?

image from here.

clothes on another girl's body

Image from here.

so i really loves clothes, and i especially love scouring thrift stores for awesome once-in-a-lifetime pieces.

i also tend to watch people and occasionally admire their fashion sense. i'll sometimes be out or at a concert or an event and look at what everyone's wearing and then allow myself to pick one item from every person to have (Even though i know i'm not really goin to have it) and it's kinda fun.

i love the outfits that these girls are wearing.

also,

 

 Image from here.

and, 

Image from here.

the weekend that was

Hey lovelies! I hope you’re all having a fabulous Monday? I am indeedy. This weekend was a very chilled one with a few wonderful highlights, this weekend I …

+ went to the Baxter Theatre Taste, Tweet and Theatre event
+ met a few Tweeters in person who are lovely
+ tried (and enjoyed) the pinotage from Diemersfontein, and I don’t usually drink red wine
+ read comics in bed
+ celebrated my gran’s 70th with her and all her friends with a mouth0wateringly good spit-braai (sorry little lamb)
+ went to Sirocco in Kalk Bay and tasted the most delicious mojito I’ve ever had
+ had four visitors (two from Joburg, two from south korea) staying at my house
+ chilled with some friends at Banana Jam
+ listened to the interview with U2

What did you do this weekend? 

Also, how cool are these stairs?My favourite ones are the first ones that criss-cross and the ones in the libraries.

a sunday afternoon cocktail

my uncle and aunt have a friend down from England so my mom spent the day with them at Cape Point today. on their way back home they decided to go to Sirocco in Kalk Bay for a quick cocktail so picked me up on their way (lucky me).

If you like mojitos then i suggest you make your way to Sirocco; man, oh man it was good! so tangy and pepperminty!it has to be one of the best-tasting mojitos i've ever tried.

i had a plain croissant to go with it and wasn't impressed, to me croissants are supposed to be light and flaky but this one was quite heavy and dense. but someone at our table ordered a piece of carrot cake and it was lovely; all caramelised and natural-tasting.

hope you've had a wonderful Sunday!
image from here. 

the BaxterTTT

Last night was lovely. I was invited to attend the second Baxter Theatre "Taste, Tweet and Theatre" event and took along the lovely drummer boy. I wasn't too sure what to expect and it turned out to be an awesome evening.

Diemersfontein made sure that everyone's glass was full with tangy whites and full-bodied reds. I don't often drink red wine but simply fell in love with the Pinotage - you have to try it. We were also treated to some scrumptious morsels of canapes, what a perfect way to spend a Friday evening!

I also think a visit to the wine estate's "Pinotage on Tap" is in order. It's happening sometime around October and if you enjoy live music, wine and the outdoors then I'll see you there.

It was really cool to meet some of the Tweeps in person too. I often wonder what my Twitter friends are like in person and was a little nervous about actually meeting them but everyone I met was friendly, fun and full of interesting stories.

I'm quite a shy person when I don't know people so it was quite intimidating for me to just go up to complete strangers and start up a conversation but last night made me realise that most people are naturally warm and inviting, and once the wine started to warm the insides it felt like some of us had known one another for much longer than half an hour.

We were then ushered into the theatre space to watch the show. Wow, I was completely blown away. Neo Muynga's "Memory of How it Feels" has been described as "inspired by the traditional Zulu practice of exchanging beads encoded with secret messages between lovers". The play's central theme is love, but it's message extends all boundaries. The amalgamation of visceral movement, the musicianship of the piano-, cello- and violin-players and the passionate story-telling was more than a glimpse into the intimate moments of people who love; it was an invitation into the very essence of those moments.

I love the theatre and it's because of shows like this one. The female performer, Chuma Sopotela, for me was phenomenal. Her potency flows outwards through her muscles and her vocal chords and she demands your attention when onstage in a way that endears you to her.

You should definitely go see it if you get the chance!

Happy Saturday lovelies.

Image from here. (I can't believe I did not take one photo lastnight!)

The Baxter Theatre's Taste, Tweet and Theatre Event (number 2)

Ooh I'm excited, I've been invited to the Baxter's second Taste, Tweet and Theatre evening.

I get to take a partner with me (oh, how lucky you are lovely drummer boy) and enjoy a cultured evening tasting wine, snacking on canapes and watching a show at the theatre!

I can't wait! It's this Friday, so at least I won't be stuck at home while the Marja goes to the U2 concert.

Happy Monday everyone!

Oh, and how beautiful is this theatre? I found it here.

do i make the cut?

so i've been wanting to cut my (very long) hair for a while now but just haven't had the guts to go out and just do it, but now i've found the perfect reason to:

i'm playing with the idea of donating my more than 30cm-long ponytail to cancer patients.

last year i had two family friends pass away and two family members suffer from some form of cancer. it was hard, and made me realise that you really never know when something so serious and heart-wrenching will hit home.

the CANSA organisation welcomes donations of hair under these conditions:
+ it must be 22cm or longer
+ it must be dry
+ it must be tied with an elastic band
+ it must be sent in a sealed jiffy bag

i'm quite set on donating my hair but haven't spoken to a hair dresser yet so will let you all know how it goes.

oh, and happy Tuesday lovelies.
x
photo from here.

the weekend that was

This weekend I packed my bags, said goodbye to Cape Town and headed for the hills. We went to Beaverlac for an all-girls camping trip and it was wonderful!

This weekend I…

+ Only ate vegetarian food.

+ Swam in a rock pool.

+ Slid down a natural bum slide into a pool.

+ Forced the wonderful Meh to go skinny dipping with me.

+ Played 30 Seconds under the night’s sky.

+ Met an adorably small Jack Russel puppy called “Jack”.

+ Went on a hike with the wonderful Meh, lovely Se and Rah and found a secluded piece of paradise in the mountains.

+ Saw a water snake swim by.

+ Star gazed.

+ Smelt liked sun cream and fire a lot.

+ Had no phone signal.

What did you do this weekend?

ps, *my* photo...

baaad energy

ok, so i'm convince that there's some baaad energy following me around at the moment because in the space of one month i've had kidney stones, had problems with my work, had fights with two friends one of which cut me out for good and have been fighting more with the marja.

i thought maybe if i just acknowledged the baaad energy here that maybe it would feel satisfied and then leave me alone...so here goes.

me: baaad energy, i know you have your reasons for hanging about but i'm kinda tired of finding myself in less than satisfying situations.please go away. it's not that i don't think you're cool to hang out with (note to readers: don't ever piss off baad energy by making it feel like it's not wanted) i just think maybe we should be a part for a bit. my smile muscles haven't really been worked in a while. i accept that not everyone can have the best time in the world always and that for someone to be super happy balance says another person has to go through some shitty times but i'm ready; i'm totally ready for some good times and a bit of a smile and maybe even a laugh or two. here's hoping you'll find another best friend for February,

sincerely,
me xxx

baaad energy: ok, see ya around.

phew. that was easier than i expected.

here's toa great weekend. i'm going to Beaverlac this weekend and cannot wait! what are your plans?
x

daily walk on the beach

i'm worknig from home now and while it's super cool to work my own hours i got sick earlier this month so have a bit of a backlog which means i'm super (work) stressed among other stresses.

so when the marja got home we decided to go for a stroll along the beach. we walked all the way to the other end and she had a quick swim before we headed back. as we approached the busier side of the stretch of sand the shark siren went off and suddenly the energy on the beach changed.

it was so eerie just standing there, watching every single person on the beach turn to the water. there was one surfer still in the waves and it was almost as if everyone held their collective breath. he took his time but eventually stood on the shore, walking out of the waves, and the sense of release was palpable.

it's incredible that a creature mostly unseen can create so much fear when it's existence is forced into our minds.

oh. and i like sharks.

on Sunday...

the lovely Se and i caught a train to Muizenberg, walked alongthe beach and chatted. she has just got back from a trip exploring Africa (so jealous) and it was nice to catch up.

then we stopped off at The Ice Cafe in Kalk Bay (they sell the most amazing ice-cream) and i had Pistachio and Romany Cream flavours that really sent shivers along my tastebuds. we sat on the end of the pier in Kalk Bay Harbour and took in the sunshine. it was the perfect day.

Later we got a DVD and made a delcious dinner from the vegetarian recipe book i got for my birthday! will put up pics tomorrow!

ps, I'm going to the cricket today at Newlands! am so excited - Go Proteas!

Happy 2011!

Hello lovelies, sorry I've been so quiet of late. It's been a fiesty, busy, spicy festive season so far. We had a Mexican-themed new year's eve house party and it was phenomenal!

Will tell you all about it soon, but for now hope you're all enjoying this deliciously overcast Cape Town weather.

And that you're supporting The Proteas in the third test match against India. Go SA!

x

another thought

Just some words springing to mind on a summer drive to somewhere more important than the most beautiful feeling...

oh,

and i saw a butterfly for just a while.

she was free and flighting as we sat,

trapped inside plans already set in a motion towards town.

our wheels spun and we listened to some summer liquid gold.

i couldn't help feeling like i wanted to be somewhere else,

closer to that feeling inside the song.

but i loved the moment.

x

Hope you like them.

x

A quick hello.

Hope you’ve all got you’re Christmas shopping done and dusted because tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

I’m so happy that today is my last day at work but my day kinda started off miserably. I made myself a scrumptious sandwich and packed a piece of the most delicious cheesecake for lunch. Before my colleague picked me up I quickly shot off to the shop to get some airtime and when I got back home my key wouldn’t work in our gate.

What. The. Hell.

As hard as I tried the key, pleaded with the gate and grumbled in exasperation the key and the gate were not friends this morning. So, as a result, I’m lunchless. This is a big deal for someone like me – I’m the grumpiest person alive on an empty stomach.

It’s going to be a long day. *Sighs*

How’s your day going though?

Ps, just in case he’s reading, I’d love it if the lovely drummer boy would surprise me with a beautifully setup lunch spot like the one in the photo.

THAT would be romantic…

Found the pic here. 

Three more days til Christmas

Last night the Marja and I went for a walk along the beach. It was great to be out in the fresh air after sitting at a desk for over seven hours.

Everyone on the beach seemed to be in a good mood which was really refreshing. We stopped off at a few shops on the way home and picked up some small add-on presents and then we went home to wrap!

I always find that presents look so much more interesting and intriguing when they’re wrapped. The decorative paper and perfectly placed celotape is one of my favourite things about Christmas or birthdays – I just love getting gifts that are a complete surprise.

After bundling a few things into their respective wrappings the Marja and realised we still have so much shopping to do and loads more wrapping! The idea exhausted us so we decided to chill out and watch The Big Bang Theory (I absolutely LOVE Sheldon).

So now, when I get home from work I’m probably going to have to submerge myself in sticky-tape, gifts and reindeer bedecked paper.

I’m tempted to ask you all what you’re getting your loved ones for Christmas but don’t want you to ruin the surprise so mum’s the word.

Just one thing – I know puppies and kittens are cute, and can potentially be the perfect gift of all to give a friend, child or partner but please think really hard before you decide to buy a little dog or cat for someone else. Taking care of an animal is a huge responsibility and if the receiver isn’t really ready to look after a new “Snowy” or “Patches” they may end up on the street. Every year after the 25^th of December thousands of small animals are abandoned because they can’t be looked after properly which is the saddest thought ever. If you do want to buy a pet as a gift rather tell the person beforehand to see if they’re ready for it. You might even have a great time going along with that person to choose the kitten or puppy.

Otherwise please have the most amazing Christmas. I know I’m looking forward to the scrumptious dinners and lunches and leftovers.

My stomach is already growling to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (if that’s even possible).

What's your favourite thing about Christmas?

Much love, Red Noses and Snow-flakes,

x

i'm sick...and Paul Ward's pics from the Caves music video launch

I don't get sick very often so when I do I get very very very sick.

On Sunday I had a slight scratch in my throat and by Monday afternoon I was so woozy that while I was sitting upright in my chair at my desk, I felt like I was twisting and turning at 90degrees.

Blergh. Yesterday I stayed at home in bed and the lovely drummer boy came to my rescue - he came with me to the doctor (I'm petrified of docters, hospitals, dentists - I hate going on my own and always Always cry).

I have body flu so am on quarantine. I'm bored and achey and coughy and this sucks.

Wouldn't mind a bit of cheering up...anyone? please?

Sighs.

Also, here are some awesome pics by Paul Ward of The Plastics' music video launch of Caves at the Grand Daddy Hotel. Lovely! Can you spot me?