To my faithful study-buddy

I use to know what was happening in Grey’s Anatomy, the CSI Trilogy, The Good Wife, Desperate Housewife, Private Practice and whatever was showing during M-Net’s primetime.

These days I watch about every second episode of Desperate Housewife, only because it is the final season, and ok, I hardly miss an episode of CSI Miami. I love Horatio’s one-liners. But when it comes to Grey’s Anatomy, I really couldn’t care which doctors are shagging, or whose rights Alicia Florrick is defending in the next hour.

When I get home the only thing on my mind is that night’s study session. Some nights are easy. Other nights are not so easy.

It’s on these not-so-easy nights that I become aware of, and appreciate, my study-buddy. Since Meeko and Tulip joined our family of two in January, Meeko has been with me during those late nights. I dedicate this blog post to Meeko, the most faithful study-buddy ever!

 

 

 

 

Jozi life is buzzing!

Before I became a part-time student I had quite an active social life. I still love going out, but don’t quite get to do it as often as I’d like to. I found that people tend to think because we don’t have an “ocean”, there is nothing to do in Joburg. Wrong. Wrong. The Jozi life is buzzing!

Here are some hotspots for you to indulge in;

Fun family activities

• Star gazing – http://www.planetarium.co.za/
• For cheese, picnic and wine lovers – http://www.vangaalen.co.za/
• Rosebank Food Lovers Market – http://www.jozifoodmarket.co.za/
• Go to the Zoo. I love the zoo, it is by far one of my favourite outings, and no, you are NEVER too old.
• The Home Of The Chicken Pie. En route to Magalies is a café come restaurant. While the chicken pies are not what they use to be, the burgers are amazing. Plus the kids get to run around.
• Bruma Lake Flea Market. Why not indulge in some shopping, or just walking about.

Museums

• History lovers – http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/
• Bensusan Museum of Photography and Library – http://www.photography-now.com/institutions/I7399633.html?land=ZA
• Bernberg Museum Of Costume – http://www.places.co.za/html/bernberg.html
• The Voortrekker Monument – http://www.voortrekkermon.org.za/
• Constitution Hill – http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/constitution-hill.htm

Leave the kids at home

• Beer Tour – http://www.worldofbeer.co.za/
• Gilroy’s Beer – http://www.gilroybeers.co.za/. I *heart* Gilroy’s! Good food and good beer. Even if you don’t like beer, you’ll like Gilroy’s.

Or go Meandering. The Magalies (http://www.magaliesmeander.co.za/) and Harties (http://www.hartiesmeander.co.za/) Meander respectively have loads to offer.

This covers such a small percentage of things to do in Joburg. So this weekend, whether you have children or not, go and do something different, and, when in doubt, Google.

Note: No night-life places have been included because I don’t do the club thing. The latest dance tunes will make me lose my mind and I believe there is a special place in hell for LMFAO. \m/

I must confess, I am disappinted

I love children’s novels. I have a section on my bookshelf dedicated to Roald Dahl, Hans Anderson, Dr Seuss, A.A Milne, and my two prized possessions – my first fairy tale book (received sometime between 1983 and 1984 from my godparents) and my first children’s Bible, which was a Christmas present from my grandparents. 

My most recent acquisition is the Beatrix Potter collection. Some of my favourite tales, all wrapped in a gorgeous box;

Over the weekend I read The Tales Of Two Bad Mice. I nearly cried. On page 18 I spotted the following; “Hunca Munca had another disappintment.” Disappintment? 

I must confess, I am disappointed with the editors at Frederick Warne & Co. and I am fairly sure Ms Potter would be just as disappointed. I have not been able to get past it and read another tale, much to my disappintment. 

I will keep on writing

Yesterday I finally went live with my blog – a brave step. Let me explain;

I first “started” my blog in September 2009, but I never wrote anything – it was just there, dormant. In a previous lifetime a large chunk of my job involved writing. While I did it, I was often, consistently, told what a crap writer I am and that clearly I have no comprehension of the English language. (I am by birth Afrikaans so my 'is and are', 'was and were', are often a tad muddled).

Despite criticism, which I didn’t take too well – otherwise I would’ve started blogging years ago, I persevered. Practice makes perfect, right?

While I have no dream of becoming a writer, I do believe that in any business you should at least try and string a sentence together, without disintegrating the language completely, and heavens! Pick up a dictionary ever so often.

Bill Stout once said that it didn’t matter whether or not you could write well, but that you should write bravely. It is because of these words that I will keep on writing – bravely.

Why I started blogging

Someone once said that if it can’t be said in 140 characters don’t say it. Well sorry, I’m a woman and on average I use over 7,000 words a day. Yes. A day. So 140 characters just won’t cut it.

Reason number two: With Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and other social media platforms out there, I figured it was time to push aside my hardcover, pink-frilled, paper-based diaries and enter the 21st century.

The third, and final, reason for the blog is that I am conducting an experiment. Yes, you are now exposed to my thoughts, and be a part of a Pinky and the Brain conspiracy. You may insert an evil laugh right about *here*.