Sunday 17th January, 2010
I spent yesterday making sample bonbonierres for my daughter's wedding. I bought netting, ribbon and sugared almonds and set up my dining room ready to await a friend for tea and help. According to Google, the concept behind Bonboniere, originated in France, around 300 years ago, when a small box of sweets (the french word - bonbons) was given away to guests on happy occasions. Over time the idea spread to other parts of Europe, and in particular to Italy and Greece. Wedding Bomboniere (the Italian spelling) consisted of an uneven number (typically 5) of sugar-coated almonds, representing the bittersweet life of a married couple. The five almonds have significant meaning - wishing the new husband & wife: happiness, health, wealth, children & a long life. The Greeks call them 'Koufeta'.
As I prepared for the afternoon's experiment, buying the netting from the Indian factory shop, the ribbon from an Afrikaans woman who is great with screen printing, the crystals from the Chinese market, the sugared almonds from a Greek shop, I thought about the benefits of living in such a cosmopolitan society such as Johannesburg has become. Every single nationality and culture is represented in Johannesburg. There are people here from every part of the world. And since 1994 our diversity is encouraged and celebrated - Nelson Mandela talks with pride about the Rainbow Nation.
Differences make life more interesting I suppose. Especially now that young people ae fusing the various customs and traditions, creating new ones. It was not always so..... no, definitely not. I remember as I was growing up under apartheid only one tradition and one way of life was celebrated or even acknowledged - that of the Afrikaner. Everything was ruled and managed according to the Calvinist tradition. It was a limiting outlook on life - a laager mentality - security was revered above freedom. It created apartheid and we all know the human devastation that resulted from that type of narrow thinking.
South Africa today is one of the freeest countries on the planet - we have one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, which enjoys high acclaim internationally. I feel priviledged to live with such freedom to be who I want to be - and worship whoever and whatever I want - it is a priviledge - and I suppose there is a price to pay for such freedom - the price I am paying for this type of freedom is horrendous crime.
I used to live in a crime free South Africa, where the government regulated every aspect of my life in order to protect me from myself - all forms of entertainment and shopping was closed from Saturday lunch time until Monday morning so that we could play sport on Saturday afternoon and go to church on Sunday. There were laws for everything - from buying of toilet paper to where you could live and who you could marry - all in an attempt to make us a safer society. As they made society safer they slowly chewed away our rights, liberties, and our personal freedoms. Where is the balance? Is a safe zombie society worth giving up our freedoms for? Where is the line between where our right to choose is more important than the government's right to impose their standards on us. Even if it's for our own good?
I am currently undediced about whether the type of security provided by a government that constantly invades my personal choice space is worth my freedom and liberty - I do know however that I am very happy to be able to celebrate my daughter's wedding freely and without restrictions - to be able make bonbonierres for fertility, happiness, health, wealth and long life. Need to go and think more about the price of this freedom .....
Till tomorrow
17 January 2010
16 January 2010
An Alien Experience
Saturday 16th January 2010
Last night, I went with a friend to see Avatar. As I am not a science-fiction fan, I went along purely because it is one of those films you feel you must see to keep up with the conversation. We watched it at the Il Grande at Nu-Metro, Montecasino, because it is a block away from where I live and also because it is in 3D animation - and I wore the 3D glasses provided by the cinema. Well I was gobsmacked! What a movie!!
In a true jaw-dropping, Pandora box, experience, I was introduced into a world that I could have not imagined without the help of James Cameron's creature designers, motion-capture mavens, stunt performers, dancers, actors, music and sound magicians, to turn this science-fiction movie into a 21st century fairy tale with flying dragons, magic plants, weirdly hypnotic creepy-crawlies and feral dogs rolled up into a rain forest with a highly advanced spiritual design. The cinematography is dazzling as it blends all the visual elements together with the design, and bring the movie to life for 163 breathtaking minutes. The musical score never intrudes, and the movie maintains a breathless pace that exhilarates rather than fatigues.
The movie is based on the age-old love story that love conquers all. However it does have a clear message - well a couple of messages actually - the strongest of all for me was the danger of mega multi-nationals with power and resources, driven by unstoppable greed. We are shown the importance of protecting the environment and living in harmony with all of nature. But the strongest message was that the heart is the most important weapon we have with which to fight evil.
Cameron changed my concept of aliens from the little green men on Mars, into blue-skinned, golden-eyed, slender giants with long, supple tails from Pandora. It is amazing to note that the Barbie-doll phenomenon is alive and well embedded in the human psyche as the standard for sexiness. I dont know whether this was a conscious or subconscious choice but it will create more anorexic and bulemic girls and boys - my only negative comment on the movie.
However, I did like the big Elphin ears, hopefully for better listening which we all need if we are to stop ourselves murdering one another. This technical breakthrough with its new generation special effects full of action, colour and great sound provided truly sensational entertainment.
Living in South Africa affords me the opportunity to watch world class shows in the comfort of world class cinemas a block away from my home.....
Good enough for me... to feed my movie addiction ..... Tot siens.....
Last night, I went with a friend to see Avatar. As I am not a science-fiction fan, I went along purely because it is one of those films you feel you must see to keep up with the conversation. We watched it at the Il Grande at Nu-Metro, Montecasino, because it is a block away from where I live and also because it is in 3D animation - and I wore the 3D glasses provided by the cinema. Well I was gobsmacked! What a movie!!
In a true jaw-dropping, Pandora box, experience, I was introduced into a world that I could have not imagined without the help of James Cameron's creature designers, motion-capture mavens, stunt performers, dancers, actors, music and sound magicians, to turn this science-fiction movie into a 21st century fairy tale with flying dragons, magic plants, weirdly hypnotic creepy-crawlies and feral dogs rolled up into a rain forest with a highly advanced spiritual design. The cinematography is dazzling as it blends all the visual elements together with the design, and bring the movie to life for 163 breathtaking minutes. The musical score never intrudes, and the movie maintains a breathless pace that exhilarates rather than fatigues.
The movie is based on the age-old love story that love conquers all. However it does have a clear message - well a couple of messages actually - the strongest of all for me was the danger of mega multi-nationals with power and resources, driven by unstoppable greed. We are shown the importance of protecting the environment and living in harmony with all of nature. But the strongest message was that the heart is the most important weapon we have with which to fight evil.
Cameron changed my concept of aliens from the little green men on Mars, into blue-skinned, golden-eyed, slender giants with long, supple tails from Pandora. It is amazing to note that the Barbie-doll phenomenon is alive and well embedded in the human psyche as the standard for sexiness. I dont know whether this was a conscious or subconscious choice but it will create more anorexic and bulemic girls and boys - my only negative comment on the movie.
However, I did like the big Elphin ears, hopefully for better listening which we all need if we are to stop ourselves murdering one another. This technical breakthrough with its new generation special effects full of action, colour and great sound provided truly sensational entertainment.
Living in South Africa affords me the opportunity to watch world class shows in the comfort of world class cinemas a block away from my home.....
Good enough for me... to feed my movie addiction ..... Tot siens.....
15 January 2010
The Dream African Wedding
Thursday 15th January 2010
My one and only daughter is getting married. I cant actually believe that my baby is really starting her own family - a woman in her own right and no longer just a daughter. Where have all the years gone? What a cliched question!! I suppose I feel lost and afraid. I used to feel strong and full, like a tree with branches and thick leaves, creating a shade and protection for my children to grow and live under - and now I feel that my leaves have fallen and I am no linger needed and only there to obstruct and get in their way. But no more of that - this is an uplifting blog - it is about the advantages of living in SA.
SA has become the wedding destination for many global Jetsetters - and now that we are in the midst of the wedding preparations, which could have been very stressful had it not been for my uber organised daughter, I know why. SA gives the best bang for your buck, whether you choose a safari wedding, a beach wedding, a country wedding or a city wedding, the venues on offer are on par with any in the world. There are even Winelands Weddings on offer. They are elegant, sophisticated and definitely fit for purpose. Whatever your religious or non religious persuasion, from traditional AFrican weddings, to Greek weddings to Protestant, Muslim or even Bahai weddings, we can offer it. Gay marriages were legalised in 2006. And those who want a quickie with magistrate, you can do that to, without having to run to Las Vegas. In fact ANYTHING goes. My daughter has chosen a fusion which will be part Catholic, part Greek Orthodox in a garden weddding, combining the three traditions into one, creating her very own unique and exclusive ocassion. This is a first for me and I am excited beyond belief.
I must say that the value on offer is amazing. The venue she chose is Shepstone Gardens, in Johannesburg. On their website they advertise it as the best kept secret and I have to say I agree with them. It is absolutely beautiful and most of all affordable.
It is going to be a wonderful wedding made possible because we live in this country..... Will tell you more as we get closer to the date...
Till tomorrow.....
My one and only daughter is getting married. I cant actually believe that my baby is really starting her own family - a woman in her own right and no longer just a daughter. Where have all the years gone? What a cliched question!! I suppose I feel lost and afraid. I used to feel strong and full, like a tree with branches and thick leaves, creating a shade and protection for my children to grow and live under - and now I feel that my leaves have fallen and I am no linger needed and only there to obstruct and get in their way. But no more of that - this is an uplifting blog - it is about the advantages of living in SA.
SA has become the wedding destination for many global Jetsetters - and now that we are in the midst of the wedding preparations, which could have been very stressful had it not been for my uber organised daughter, I know why. SA gives the best bang for your buck, whether you choose a safari wedding, a beach wedding, a country wedding or a city wedding, the venues on offer are on par with any in the world. There are even Winelands Weddings on offer. They are elegant, sophisticated and definitely fit for purpose. Whatever your religious or non religious persuasion, from traditional AFrican weddings, to Greek weddings to Protestant, Muslim or even Bahai weddings, we can offer it. Gay marriages were legalised in 2006. And those who want a quickie with magistrate, you can do that to, without having to run to Las Vegas. In fact ANYTHING goes. My daughter has chosen a fusion which will be part Catholic, part Greek Orthodox in a garden weddding, combining the three traditions into one, creating her very own unique and exclusive ocassion. This is a first for me and I am excited beyond belief.
I must say that the value on offer is amazing. The venue she chose is Shepstone Gardens, in Johannesburg. On their website they advertise it as the best kept secret and I have to say I agree with them. It is absolutely beautiful and most of all affordable.
It is going to be a wonderful wedding made possible because we live in this country..... Will tell you more as we get closer to the date...
Till tomorrow.....
13 January 2010
Finding Value in South Africa
Wednesday 13th January 2010
I revisited the article by John Mauldin, an investment expert who sung SA's praises, for inspiration for todays musings. He reminded me of the huge number of exceptional wildlife regions and game parks, nature reserves, and lodges, forming the heartbeat of the nation, found all over this beautiful land, encompassing every possible landscape from deserts to forests, mountains to coast, teeming with wildlife species.
Many species are under constant threat from poaching, drought and degradation of habitat and the only way to secure their survival is to translocate them to secure environments where, under the protection of recognised nature reserves or through breeding programmes, their future may be assured. Apart form their beauty there are a great deal of valuable lessons we can learn from the wildlife, especially Africa's majestic Big 5 -Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and Buffalo. In order to survive they need to learn to adapt to changing conditions. It seems to be the only way to survive this century, for man and beast. I should, therefore, not complain about living in a 'nature reserve', a gated community myself. If animals can adapt and thrive in a changing world, so must I. All I need to do is adapt my 'brushstroke accordingly', a beautiful expression I found used by a well-known Johannesburg artist, Grant Netherlands, who is a product of King Edward VII School for boys.
When I feel like an endangered species, which I often do, (because as a white baby-boomer woman in darkest Africa, I am becoming an endangered species), I will focus on all the things that I can do rather than the things that have been taken away from me. Walking is a great example. I love walking. I find it a marvelous experience - a meditative experience - because of the beautiful landscape and the great weather. Walking allows me to be in the present moment, in the 'now', the only moment there is. The amnesic yesterday or the 'who knows' tomorrow are illusions and delusions of the ego. So my walking experience has to change as I can no longer walk alone on the beach or in the park. However I can walk in a group - it requires more effort but it also more beneficial as it improves not only my mind and body but my heart and spirit as well. It requires more planning and less spontaneity, a manageable price to pay.
As long as I focus on the beauty around me and not on the restrictions placed on me for my survival I will begin to find the value in life - not just here but anywhere in the world. Maybe I am fortunate that I live here and have to question these things - its through the questions that I can find meaning and purpose. We humans are complicated beigns, however, we have no choice - we must adapt or die. One thing we all have in common is that we soon take things for granted. I cannot take anything for granted in South Africa, and perhaps this is a very good thing ............
Bye for now .....
I revisited the article by John Mauldin, an investment expert who sung SA's praises, for inspiration for todays musings. He reminded me of the huge number of exceptional wildlife regions and game parks, nature reserves, and lodges, forming the heartbeat of the nation, found all over this beautiful land, encompassing every possible landscape from deserts to forests, mountains to coast, teeming with wildlife species.
Many species are under constant threat from poaching, drought and degradation of habitat and the only way to secure their survival is to translocate them to secure environments where, under the protection of recognised nature reserves or through breeding programmes, their future may be assured. Apart form their beauty there are a great deal of valuable lessons we can learn from the wildlife, especially Africa's majestic Big 5 -Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and Buffalo. In order to survive they need to learn to adapt to changing conditions. It seems to be the only way to survive this century, for man and beast. I should, therefore, not complain about living in a 'nature reserve', a gated community myself. If animals can adapt and thrive in a changing world, so must I. All I need to do is adapt my 'brushstroke accordingly', a beautiful expression I found used by a well-known Johannesburg artist, Grant Netherlands, who is a product of King Edward VII School for boys.
When I feel like an endangered species, which I often do, (because as a white baby-boomer woman in darkest Africa, I am becoming an endangered species), I will focus on all the things that I can do rather than the things that have been taken away from me. Walking is a great example. I love walking. I find it a marvelous experience - a meditative experience - because of the beautiful landscape and the great weather. Walking allows me to be in the present moment, in the 'now', the only moment there is. The amnesic yesterday or the 'who knows' tomorrow are illusions and delusions of the ego. So my walking experience has to change as I can no longer walk alone on the beach or in the park. However I can walk in a group - it requires more effort but it also more beneficial as it improves not only my mind and body but my heart and spirit as well. It requires more planning and less spontaneity, a manageable price to pay.
As long as I focus on the beauty around me and not on the restrictions placed on me for my survival I will begin to find the value in life - not just here but anywhere in the world. Maybe I am fortunate that I live here and have to question these things - its through the questions that I can find meaning and purpose. We humans are complicated beigns, however, we have no choice - we must adapt or die. One thing we all have in common is that we soon take things for granted. I cannot take anything for granted in South Africa, and perhaps this is a very good thing ............
Bye for now .....
Am I a Product of my History?
Tuesday 12th January 2010
Why is it that I have spent a lifetime trying to build a legacy instead of concentrating on my own financial security? Probably due to my education which created a responsibility in me to want to make the world a better place. And of course, I find this such a mammoth task that I become negative.
According to popular pub talk most people are hypocrites - their true desires are not for self improvement or to fight for justice or fairness. Most people just want a job to finance their aspirational lifestyles - and they will do whatever it takes to get the job - if it is a piece of paper that will get them the job, they'll either forge it or toi-toi to get it. They do not want to see past a fancy car, designer clothes, good food, drink, and fun in the sun. No wonder we cannot make a dent in our social problems - marriage and family are not very well supported or respected - hence the unstoppable spread of AIDS with all its devastating effects. Success is measured by money and not by achievement. Most people don’t want to think too much about anything more than how to finance their next item on the conveyor belt of insatiable greed.
So what is it that I want to do about it? I suppose I naively want to put a dent in this flow of consciousness - make people aware of their personal responsibilities to develop real skills, not just paper qualifications, so that we can all help build the country’s assets instead of just plundering them. We need to take up the challenge and compete with the rest of the world on an equal footing - we can do it, we have done it before...
While South Africa concentrates a major part of our efforts in creating more and more government jobs, the gravy train jobs, the slow train to nowhere jobs, the world is galloping past us developing cutting edge expertise. And even though we are spending more GDP on education and training than most countries in the world, it is horrifically evident on the lack of skill that exists. In fact, I see a progressive and evident increase in functional illeteracy, this in the twenty first century, in a world thirsty not only for expertise but more importantly, for state of the art skills. There appears to be a lack of understanding of how the world works. We do not want to accept that the world rewards innovation, productivity, speed, application, relevance. However we reward incompetence, laziness, corruption and stupidity. I dont know why this is because there are intelligent people - many intelligent people around - I meet quite a few.
Ok, so as this is a positive column I will focus on how can I turn this around? Well I don’t really know how - that’s my problem. To find a way to positively influence the status quo, I have to understand the thinking of the majority of the people living in my country, that is the black people. I am reading Antjie Krog’s book, ‘Begging to be Black’,in which she is grappling with the same questions, hopefully once I complete it I will have more insight.
For now I will use Mahatma Ghandi to guide me as he wisely stated that we 'have to be the change we want to see'. If I desire to live in a country that produces people with world-class skills, I have to start with me - I have to become world class. I know that I have enough education and am smart enough (according to Malcolm Gladwell to be successful, that's all I need laced with some luck). However what I do need is a compelling product or service and a strong belief in myself. So here goes…… my positive thought for today is that I live in a country with immeasurable opportunity to develop a world class business – I have the know-how, and there are resouces available to help me do this. All I have to do is go out and do it - I can't blame history, I cant blame anything or anyone, if I cant get this right.... opportunity is there for the taking ..... I just have to open my eyes, open my mind and most of all open my heart to take in all that is on offer...............
Till tomorrow .....
Why is it that I have spent a lifetime trying to build a legacy instead of concentrating on my own financial security? Probably due to my education which created a responsibility in me to want to make the world a better place. And of course, I find this such a mammoth task that I become negative.
According to popular pub talk most people are hypocrites - their true desires are not for self improvement or to fight for justice or fairness. Most people just want a job to finance their aspirational lifestyles - and they will do whatever it takes to get the job - if it is a piece of paper that will get them the job, they'll either forge it or toi-toi to get it. They do not want to see past a fancy car, designer clothes, good food, drink, and fun in the sun. No wonder we cannot make a dent in our social problems - marriage and family are not very well supported or respected - hence the unstoppable spread of AIDS with all its devastating effects. Success is measured by money and not by achievement. Most people don’t want to think too much about anything more than how to finance their next item on the conveyor belt of insatiable greed.
So what is it that I want to do about it? I suppose I naively want to put a dent in this flow of consciousness - make people aware of their personal responsibilities to develop real skills, not just paper qualifications, so that we can all help build the country’s assets instead of just plundering them. We need to take up the challenge and compete with the rest of the world on an equal footing - we can do it, we have done it before...
While South Africa concentrates a major part of our efforts in creating more and more government jobs, the gravy train jobs, the slow train to nowhere jobs, the world is galloping past us developing cutting edge expertise. And even though we are spending more GDP on education and training than most countries in the world, it is horrifically evident on the lack of skill that exists. In fact, I see a progressive and evident increase in functional illeteracy, this in the twenty first century, in a world thirsty not only for expertise but more importantly, for state of the art skills. There appears to be a lack of understanding of how the world works. We do not want to accept that the world rewards innovation, productivity, speed, application, relevance. However we reward incompetence, laziness, corruption and stupidity. I dont know why this is because there are intelligent people - many intelligent people around - I meet quite a few.
Ok, so as this is a positive column I will focus on how can I turn this around? Well I don’t really know how - that’s my problem. To find a way to positively influence the status quo, I have to understand the thinking of the majority of the people living in my country, that is the black people. I am reading Antjie Krog’s book, ‘Begging to be Black’,in which she is grappling with the same questions, hopefully once I complete it I will have more insight.
For now I will use Mahatma Ghandi to guide me as he wisely stated that we 'have to be the change we want to see'. If I desire to live in a country that produces people with world-class skills, I have to start with me - I have to become world class. I know that I have enough education and am smart enough (according to Malcolm Gladwell to be successful, that's all I need laced with some luck). However what I do need is a compelling product or service and a strong belief in myself. So here goes…… my positive thought for today is that I live in a country with immeasurable opportunity to develop a world class business – I have the know-how, and there are resouces available to help me do this. All I have to do is go out and do it - I can't blame history, I cant blame anything or anyone, if I cant get this right.... opportunity is there for the taking ..... I just have to open my eyes, open my mind and most of all open my heart to take in all that is on offer...............
Till tomorrow .....
11 January 2010
Land of endles opportunitues
Monday 11th January 2010
Today is the official beginning of the 2010 working year, however as schools open on Wednesday, most of my clients are still in holiday mode - slowly idling along, reluctant to get into first gear. I now have some time to reflect about my business and the window of opportunities that surround me - everywhere look I see gaps - all that is required is for people to have the desire for work hard and some appetite for risk. And yet most people just want a job - preferably a government job where they can do little and earn a lot. And when they dont ge’t such a job they are full of complaints…...
Complaining here is a mixture of pleasure and pain for both black and white. Take the word EISH for example, its used to express both negative and positive as it means surprise, wonder, as well as frustration or outrage. Another word that describes a pain/pleasure feeling is 'shame' which broadly denotes sympathetic feeling, 'shame, he got fired' or a castigating remark, 'shame on you for letting her down' and at the same time it can be used to emphasise a puppy's cuteness by "Ag shame!". There are many 'Sef Africanisms' on
http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/saenglish.htm
It is safe to say that living in this country makes life's contradictions seem pretty normal. Driving down William Nicol which has become the busiest road in the whole of South Africa, a byway that resembles a highway, I saw a billboard in big bold letters stating that 'Africa is not for sissys' - no better way to describe life in SA. This country has wonderful weather and filled, surrounded by breathtaking beauty, and yet at he same time this beautiful environment is laced with the most violent and horrendous crime as well as crime caused by a careless attitude to life. Sometimes I think that all their energies and risk-taking appetite is wasted on dangerous and self defeating behaviour such as drinking and driving, substance abuse, domestic violence, critical overspending, that there is nothing left to use to better their lives and get out of the poverty mindset that requires instant gratification to keep it alive. Most people around me are conservative when it comes to their livelihood. They are afraid to take a risk on themselves, to start a business, to learn new skills or any of the many opportunities to improve their lives.
I believe that many of us are suffering from a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness, and speaking for myself, it stems from the continuous political avalanche that bombards me daily through the media. There are no leaders who inspire us to a better life for all – they are all trying to earn brownie points by playing many limiting cards – the race card being the favourite but there are also the class card and others. We love to use smokescreens to camouflage the real problems like the continuous degradation of the education system - the public health system has already collapsed. Instead of focusing resources on improving them the solution seems to target what works and bring it down to the same level of dysfunction. Enough of that….. this is a positive column…. And there is no greater positive than to live in a land of many opportunities…..
I see this sea of opportunity for me to make a difference - I can help to change the much of the negativity – in myself first and then in others. I can begin by spreading the information of how the world of work is changing. This is a world wide change. Countries are experiencing jobless growth, which means more poverty or the threat of poverty for many people if they don’t change their thinking and especially their expectations. New technologies are allowing multinationals to streamline operations and outsource their non core functions. The formal sector is not creating enough jobs whether it is in South Africa, in the US, UK, Europe and even China. And yet at the same time there is a huge skills shortage everywhere.
You don’t need to be an Einstein to know that there is a mismatch between what people can do and what the world needs – this is where I come in and offer my expertise …. This is what I can do … I align skills and expectations… I have opportunity galore …. I must just go out and get it….
...............
Today is the official beginning of the 2010 working year, however as schools open on Wednesday, most of my clients are still in holiday mode - slowly idling along, reluctant to get into first gear. I now have some time to reflect about my business and the window of opportunities that surround me - everywhere look I see gaps - all that is required is for people to have the desire for work hard and some appetite for risk. And yet most people just want a job - preferably a government job where they can do little and earn a lot. And when they dont ge’t such a job they are full of complaints…...
Complaining here is a mixture of pleasure and pain for both black and white. Take the word EISH for example, its used to express both negative and positive as it means surprise, wonder, as well as frustration or outrage. Another word that describes a pain/pleasure feeling is 'shame' which broadly denotes sympathetic feeling, 'shame, he got fired' or a castigating remark, 'shame on you for letting her down' and at the same time it can be used to emphasise a puppy's cuteness by "Ag shame!". There are many 'Sef Africanisms' on
http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/saenglish.htm
It is safe to say that living in this country makes life's contradictions seem pretty normal. Driving down William Nicol which has become the busiest road in the whole of South Africa, a byway that resembles a highway, I saw a billboard in big bold letters stating that 'Africa is not for sissys' - no better way to describe life in SA. This country has wonderful weather and filled, surrounded by breathtaking beauty, and yet at he same time this beautiful environment is laced with the most violent and horrendous crime as well as crime caused by a careless attitude to life. Sometimes I think that all their energies and risk-taking appetite is wasted on dangerous and self defeating behaviour such as drinking and driving, substance abuse, domestic violence, critical overspending, that there is nothing left to use to better their lives and get out of the poverty mindset that requires instant gratification to keep it alive. Most people around me are conservative when it comes to their livelihood. They are afraid to take a risk on themselves, to start a business, to learn new skills or any of the many opportunities to improve their lives.
I believe that many of us are suffering from a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness, and speaking for myself, it stems from the continuous political avalanche that bombards me daily through the media. There are no leaders who inspire us to a better life for all – they are all trying to earn brownie points by playing many limiting cards – the race card being the favourite but there are also the class card and others. We love to use smokescreens to camouflage the real problems like the continuous degradation of the education system - the public health system has already collapsed. Instead of focusing resources on improving them the solution seems to target what works and bring it down to the same level of dysfunction. Enough of that….. this is a positive column…. And there is no greater positive than to live in a land of many opportunities…..
I see this sea of opportunity for me to make a difference - I can help to change the much of the negativity – in myself first and then in others. I can begin by spreading the information of how the world of work is changing. This is a world wide change. Countries are experiencing jobless growth, which means more poverty or the threat of poverty for many people if they don’t change their thinking and especially their expectations. New technologies are allowing multinationals to streamline operations and outsource their non core functions. The formal sector is not creating enough jobs whether it is in South Africa, in the US, UK, Europe and even China. And yet at the same time there is a huge skills shortage everywhere.
You don’t need to be an Einstein to know that there is a mismatch between what people can do and what the world needs – this is where I come in and offer my expertise …. This is what I can do … I align skills and expectations… I have opportunity galore …. I must just go out and get it….
...............
10 January 2010
Movie Magic
Sunday 10th January 2010
Today I will definitely continue with the promise I made myself to do more of the things I love so I will go to movies - the big screen - which I absolutely love. After lunching with my family, up the road, in Dainfern, I will go to Cinema Nouveau at Cedar Square to see Swan Lake - yes its at the movies, believe it or not!!!
I love going to the movies. My particular love is art movies, especially European art movies, and offcourse any movie with Meryl Streep, - I mean ANY movie - The first movie I saw her in was Sophie's Choice, a movie that is imprinted in my being. Since then I have seen her change from a harlot, to a politician, a magazine editor, alesbian, an unmarried mother, a nun, you name the character, Meryl Streep has done it. She is my absolute idol - I wish I had one tenth of her creativity and talent.. Her latest movie is Julie and Julia in which she is Julia Childs, the eccentric food presenter of the 50s - again an Oscar winning performance. In fact I got the idea of doing this blog from that movie. Julie was a woman whose life was going nowhere. She decided to spice up her life by learning to cook using Julia Child's cookery book and videos and then blogging about it. Her thinking began to change one day a time, and offcourse her life changed. I am attempting to change my thinking in the same way, focusing on one positive aspect of life in Johannesburg one day at a time.
Hopefully, in doing so, I can to stop blaming the outside environment for my own shortcomings in not being able to build a meaningful life for myself here. By highlightign the positive I will unfocus from the negatives and hopefully something new can find a place to be born inside my thoughts. I guess that's the theory anyway... My goal has to be to interract with the world around me as best I can without blaming or shaming, or making excuses for my own weaknesses. 'Energy flows where attention goes' or something like that... I used to use it as part of my e-mail signature until I got so fed up of its platitudanal overtones I replaced. All this positive thinking is all good and well but how do you see things that you dont believe are there? How do you stop wanting certain things that are beyond your control?
Back to the movies, which is my great addiction. I must say that Cinema Nouveau at Cedar Square and even Nu Metro at Monte Casino, must be not only world class, but top of the best in the world. The seats are comfortable and spacious with lots of leg room. The aircondition is usually pleasantly cool. The sound and visuals are amazing. I get lost in the darkness, enveloped in the sensual experience of sight and sound, in an ergonomically and easthetically perfected sensual incubator. However, my sensual experience has to include taste, so popcorn and TAB are a must. Ster Kinekor has without a doubt the best popcorn around - I dont know if it is the oil they use or what but no other popcorn tastes the same - and I should know because I have been eating plain popcorn for a long time - no additional salt or flavours - just popcorn - yummy, yummy....
OK, so I love that whole movie experience .... especially now that Cimena Nouveau includes ballet and opera performances. Last year I watched The Met Opera production of La Rondine (The Swallow), by Puccini. Produced by Nicolas Joël, and starred the singing world’s much-touted love couple, the soprano Angela Gheorghiu and the tenor Roberto Alagna. This sophisticated, charming and poignant performance complete with art Deco sets and costumes,set in the mid-19th century Frances,was a first for me.
Although I am a lover of Opera, The Met Production was somethign amazign and different. Not only was the sound quality exceptional, my experience was enhanced by the subtitles, allowing me to follow the story word for word. The Interviews before and after the show, of the conductor, the singers, the producer, the director, and others, provided much information that added to my appreciation of this operetta. For example, I learnt that La Rondine was considered Puccini’s problem child as he attempted to crossover from bittersweet Viennese operetta to a ligh romantic comedy. The story is about a young Parisian, Magda, who is the lavishly maintained mistress of a rich older banker, Rambaldo. A modern yet vulnerable woman who harbors fantasies of romantic love, Magda falls for Ruggero, the earnest and adoring son of a respectable family in southern France. Its very first performance was at the Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo on 27 March 1917. . . For the next two and a half hours I felt that I was in Monte Carlo.. watching this beautifully sad love story play itself out - that's the magic of the movies...
I am looking forward to Swan Lake as it is one of my favourite ballets...
will report back tomorrow....
Today I will definitely continue with the promise I made myself to do more of the things I love so I will go to movies - the big screen - which I absolutely love. After lunching with my family, up the road, in Dainfern, I will go to Cinema Nouveau at Cedar Square to see Swan Lake - yes its at the movies, believe it or not!!!
I love going to the movies. My particular love is art movies, especially European art movies, and offcourse any movie with Meryl Streep, - I mean ANY movie - The first movie I saw her in was Sophie's Choice, a movie that is imprinted in my being. Since then I have seen her change from a harlot, to a politician, a magazine editor, alesbian, an unmarried mother, a nun, you name the character, Meryl Streep has done it. She is my absolute idol - I wish I had one tenth of her creativity and talent.. Her latest movie is Julie and Julia in which she is Julia Childs, the eccentric food presenter of the 50s - again an Oscar winning performance. In fact I got the idea of doing this blog from that movie. Julie was a woman whose life was going nowhere. She decided to spice up her life by learning to cook using Julia Child's cookery book and videos and then blogging about it. Her thinking began to change one day a time, and offcourse her life changed. I am attempting to change my thinking in the same way, focusing on one positive aspect of life in Johannesburg one day at a time.
Hopefully, in doing so, I can to stop blaming the outside environment for my own shortcomings in not being able to build a meaningful life for myself here. By highlightign the positive I will unfocus from the negatives and hopefully something new can find a place to be born inside my thoughts. I guess that's the theory anyway... My goal has to be to interract with the world around me as best I can without blaming or shaming, or making excuses for my own weaknesses. 'Energy flows where attention goes' or something like that... I used to use it as part of my e-mail signature until I got so fed up of its platitudanal overtones I replaced. All this positive thinking is all good and well but how do you see things that you dont believe are there? How do you stop wanting certain things that are beyond your control?
Back to the movies, which is my great addiction. I must say that Cinema Nouveau at Cedar Square and even Nu Metro at Monte Casino, must be not only world class, but top of the best in the world. The seats are comfortable and spacious with lots of leg room. The aircondition is usually pleasantly cool. The sound and visuals are amazing. I get lost in the darkness, enveloped in the sensual experience of sight and sound, in an ergonomically and easthetically perfected sensual incubator. However, my sensual experience has to include taste, so popcorn and TAB are a must. Ster Kinekor has without a doubt the best popcorn around - I dont know if it is the oil they use or what but no other popcorn tastes the same - and I should know because I have been eating plain popcorn for a long time - no additional salt or flavours - just popcorn - yummy, yummy....
OK, so I love that whole movie experience .... especially now that Cimena Nouveau includes ballet and opera performances. Last year I watched The Met Opera production of La Rondine (The Swallow), by Puccini. Produced by Nicolas Joël, and starred the singing world’s much-touted love couple, the soprano Angela Gheorghiu and the tenor Roberto Alagna. This sophisticated, charming and poignant performance complete with art Deco sets and costumes,set in the mid-19th century Frances,was a first for me.
Although I am a lover of Opera, The Met Production was somethign amazign and different. Not only was the sound quality exceptional, my experience was enhanced by the subtitles, allowing me to follow the story word for word. The Interviews before and after the show, of the conductor, the singers, the producer, the director, and others, provided much information that added to my appreciation of this operetta. For example, I learnt that La Rondine was considered Puccini’s problem child as he attempted to crossover from bittersweet Viennese operetta to a ligh romantic comedy. The story is about a young Parisian, Magda, who is the lavishly maintained mistress of a rich older banker, Rambaldo. A modern yet vulnerable woman who harbors fantasies of romantic love, Magda falls for Ruggero, the earnest and adoring son of a respectable family in southern France. Its very first performance was at the Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo on 27 March 1917. . . For the next two and a half hours I felt that I was in Monte Carlo.. watching this beautifully sad love story play itself out - that's the magic of the movies...
I am looking forward to Swan Lake as it is one of my favourite ballets...
will report back tomorrow....
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