Bladada blada blada...

I've been a bad, bad boy... Well, not really, but one has this love for 'local' art, and these pieces just caught my attention in a big way, so now, they are part of the collection...

These are by a local artist and he 'makes' them by dropping idian ink on partchment, and then blowing the ink with a straw! AMAZING! The two on the left are called moondancing, and the one on the right is called moon gazer.


In my mother tounge, there is a saying that says 'Hy is met die maan gepla', and this means touched by the moon - basically, he's a bit crazy, so make your own deductions here...

Been really busy the last few days with no chance to really update by blog. We've launched a new product, will be launching a new product in a few weeks, and have a whole new team of people on board that need to be 'initialized' in the company culture. All fun, but real hard work...

Anyhoo, better get back to the grindstone.

Hope y'all are having a sunshiny day!

TTFN

New Meds.

Feeling a bit 'under the weather' this morning - had to get up at the crack of dawn - no bull, it was still pitch black when the alarm went off, to attend a working breakfast... Who the hell functions this early in the morning? People who are awake and chipper early in the morning should be dragged into the street and shot! As a result, I do not feel very 'creative' today, so this is a mail received from a friend, and posted here...

New drugs on the market:


DAMNITOL
Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full
hours.

EMPTYNESTROGEN
Suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding
you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait
till they moved out!

ST. MOMMA'S WORT
Plant extract that treats mom's depression by rendering
preschoolers unconscious for up to two days.

PEPTOBIMBO
Liquid silicone drink for single women. Two full cups swallowed
before an evening out increases breast size, decreases
intelligence, and prevents conception.

DUMBEROL
When taken with Peptobimbo, can cause dangerously low IQ,
resulting
in enjoyment of country music and pickup trucks.

FLIPITOR
Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage
and the urge to flip off other drivers.

MENICILLIN
Potent anti-boy-otic for older women. Increases resistance to such
lethal lines as, "You make me want to be a better person. "

BUYAGRA
Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping. Increases potency,
duration, and credit limit of spending spree.

JACKASSPIRIN
Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your
birthday, anniversary, phone number, or to lift the toilet seat.

ANTI-TALKSIDENT
A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too
eager
to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators.

NAGAMENT
When administered to a boyfriend or husband, provides the same
irritation level as nagging him, without opening your mouth.
Hope y'all have a pretty day now!

TTFN

Crouch, Touch, Pause... ENGAGE!

The rugby world cup is about to start soon, and as a good 'Souf Efrikan' boytjie, I will be watching most games in anticipation to see how my 'bokke' perform. To be honest, not really too excited about their prospects, but will still support them with all my heart...

The caption for the pic on the left is:

Crouch, Touch, Pause... ENGAGE! (Really 'tickled' my funny bone!)

Makes me think of my 'youth' to an extent as well. You see, I spent my high school years in an Afrikaans High School in the years when segregation was still 'the law' in SA, and as a warm blooded afrikaans boytjie, you had no real choice in the matter when it came to inclusion in a rugby team - that, or you were branded a 'moffie' (Faggot). Boy, did they make a mistake with me...

I've always been a bit left of centre, and flatly refused to be included in a rugby team. (In hindsight, I think I would have loved to play the game, but was just trying to be difficult and not a conformist...) So, I chose to play hockey instead, and got branded for it. If they only knew... Would have loved to 'scrum' with a few of the first team rugby players! Now, at least, I enjoy watching the game and enjoy supporting my team. It's also a good way to socialize with friends.

That's all for today folks - now, y'all have a fruitful day, see!

TTFN

Weekend & Shopping.

We were blessed with a nice sunny/rainy/sunny weekend. Did a few things, but in general did not really occupy my time too much - in fact, Sunday was spent around the house - in vegetable mode...

On Saturday I did a bit of shopping - my laptop bag broke a while ago, and have not found something that I really like to date, but popped into 'Sand & Storm' and found this 'butch' little number - made of canvas and leather and I think it suits my 'African' lifestyle to a tee... (Mine is more a green colour canvas.)

I'm very hard on a laptop, travel a lot and this poor thing gets lugged all over the place, so me thinks its good to put it in a bag that is a bit more sturdy, and can take all the paraphernalia that goes with business travel.

Then I did the first 'drive trough' furniture shopping I've ever done in my life! All over Kenya you get the 'jui kali' shops - jui kali in Swahili means 'in the hot sun' and it basically means guys that make their living by manufacturing furniture, gates, metal works etc etc next to the road in the hot sun. Here is a picture of my 'jui kali' guy, Peter in his little place on earth. I call him my 'jui kali' guy, 'cause his done a lot of work for me, and I will not go to another one - he knows my little 'idiosyncrasies' by now... Basically, the drive trough bit came this Saturday 'cause it was pouring with rain in the morning, and it was extremely muddy next to the road where his shop is. As Peter knows my car by now, he came up to the car when I stopped to order a new 'outside sideboard' for my veranda. We duly did the whole transaction while I was seated comfortably in my car, and poor Peter ran to and from his little shop to show me samples, colours, finishes etc. I will post a picture of the sideboard when it's done - which should be next weekend! Handmade, custom made and cheap as chips...

Sunday I made a stunning leek and sweet potato soup and spent the day lounging around the house. Oh, I nearly forgot - also purchased three pieces of art for the middle guest room - just having it framed and will be able to collect on Friday. Will also post a picture of these when done.

All this shopping is surely a sign of something - think it's me trying to reward myself for quitting smoking! Not quite there yet, but down to three fags a day now (The dirty nasty kind, not the nice 'edible' variety! - Keep your minds clean guys!)

Gotta get back to my life now, been trying to post something intelligent all morning!

Hope y'all have a wonderful, fruitful day!

TTFN

Sunny Skies.

Woke up this morning to a wonderfully sunny day, for the first time in what feels like forever. A beautiful sunny day to me, is like a little peace of heaven on earth. It gives me the will to live again - the energy to go ahead and achieve that 'extra' little bit, and it puts me in the most wonderful mood. Think this is part of the reason I love to live in Africa so much, cannot stand the dreary gray days that so much of the 'western' world is subjected to... My mood is wonderful today, and I'm starting to feel alive and 'fitter' for not pumping my body so full of toxin all the time! Have not completely quit smoking yet, but it's getting there, and already has a positive effect on my wellbeing... (But, this will not be another post on my personal little struggle, as it seems it's all I can talk about at the moment...)

Thought I'd share a few more pictures from my 'travels' across East Africa. Above is a pic from a beach house in Diani on the South Coast. I can sit and watch the sea for hours on end - helps if you're surrounded by good friends and a ready supply of Pina Colada's (Made with fresh coconut milk straight from the tree/palm!)

This is called a 'Dawa' - swahili word for medicine. (Luckily, does not taste like cough medicine at all!)

Recipe is:

A double tot of Vodka in a short glass,

A big spoonful of honey,

Cut a few limes in in thirds, place in the glass and give it all a bit of a squeeze,

Top up with crushed ice, place a straw cut in half in the glass and serve.

Prepare to see your friends and family turn into fools in a REALLY short time! This stuff tastes wonderful, but it does have a bit of a kick!

Last one for today - time has caught up with me...

This is a baby elephant at the elephant sanctionary in Langata in Nairobi - precious little baby was taking a nap and was covered in a blanky! How utterly adorable, and to adopt one costs only Ksh4,000 per year - that is about US$60 per year! That feeds them and helps to rehabilitate the 'little' critter back into the wild. Don't know if I've mentioned this before, but of all the wild animals out there, Loxodanta Africana (African Elephant) is my favourite!

Well, that's all for now.

Hope y'all have a most wonderful day!

TTFN

Thanks...

A 'friend' sent me these...

Quite appropriate I thought!

Now, I hope y'all have a pretty day now!

TTFN

Ps: Going a lot better today, not so moody, starting to really dislike the 'taste' that the fag leaves in my mouth, and had my first siggie after 9 this morning - instead of first thing as I wake up...

Baby steps...

Smoking & my mood!

I know it's probably all in my head (as in phsycological you dirty bastards!) but I'm in a bit of a mood today! I've cut down to one every four hours or so, and in between I'm CRAVING a fag! (Well, that too, but this one comes with a Camel logo...) Oh, and it's payroll time - so sitting here checking spreadsheet upon spreadsheet of data to make sure we don't skip anybody at the end of the month. My desk is covered in a multitude of colourful files - red (temporary staff), orange (contract staff), blue (permanent employees - editorial), green - well, more turquoise really (permanent employees - advertising) etc etc etc.

So why am I quitting? Besides the obvious reason - it's not good for me, I actually have this all worked out in my mind - should make no sense to another human being, but these are my reasons...

1. I hate the smell of smoke on my clothes! (BTW - have never smoked in my own house or car - cannot stand the smell of it!)

2. Dawie and I are saving for a long, expensive holiday - We worked out that between the two of us, we spend nearly R1400 ($200) per month on smokes, and if we save this money, we can take a trip to a favourite holiday spot next year December. (Holidays are cheaper in SA) We've opened an additional savings account for this purpose, and will be depositing the money there every month. This is our incentive...

3. Smoking has become a hassle - no smoking areas, no smoking in public places... Now it's a 'schlep' to go for a siggie...

4. It controls my life, instead of me controlling it!

There is surely a lot more that I can say here, but these are the main reasons. I refuse to be controlled by a smelly, expensive addiction any longer. (Self talking to self!)

Now, y'all keep your fingers (and toes) crossed, cause this is going to be a battle - but it's still SO worth it!

TTFN

Weekend.

Just a quick little bitch -

What is it with 'blogger' at the mo - keeps taking my 'very precise and artistic spacing' out of my post, and makes me look like an illeterate fool. (OK, I am word-ly challenged, but do I need reminding from a machine?)

Planning to spend as little time as possible outdoors this weekend - still pretty miserable and cold (about 12C) outside, and in weather like this I become a bit of a hermit. Going to catch up on some of my recorded shows (have a few episodes of Desperate Housewives I need to watch), planning to cook a big pot of Butternut and Sweet Potato soup (With Orange, Ginger and Cinnamon), and then just try and relax a bit. Also bought a few new books last time I went trought 'duty free' and want to start reading...

Hubby took a long weekend in SA, and he is visiting friends in the Vaal Triangle at the moment. Really jelous, would have loved to see Mark and 'bruid' (Bride) again - not his real name... Such good people, lovely soft hearted couple that have also been together forever. Mark is such a teddy bear... This is a pic of him and my hubby a while ago when we were on holiday in Mapumalangha. Mark and I are both about the same lenght, so now you can see how 'tiny' my wonderful man is... (Or how bloody gigantic I am.)

So, here's to a wonderful, love filled and fruitful weekend to y'all!

TTFN

Woman's Day.

Today is Woman's day in South Africa - a public holiday there, and a celebration of events that took place on this day in 1956. On that day, 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria with a petition for the Prime Minister, and demanded the abolishment of the pass laws.

Pass law - for those not familiar with SA history, was a law whereby all black people had to carry a pass to enter 'white' areas, and if they did not have this pass, they would face arrest and imprisonment. What this basically meant, was that to work in the 'white' areas, you had to carry a silly little book with you giving you the right to be there...

Now that Apartheid has been abolished - thankfully, I would like to use this day to celebrate women in general.

So here's to you girls! All my dear female friends, and even the one's I don't know -

big shout out to you!

(But I still don't wanna sleep with you, sorry...) ;-)

On another note, a new (well sorta) club has opened in Nairobi, and finally gay folks have a place they can go to and be themselves. Apparently (Have not been there) people are quite open and actual PDA takes place!!! This is a big step folks - I've never been in such a closeted society in my life. But now some bigoted fool wants to go there and 'out' these people in the media.

Obviously the fellow has the mental capacity of a warthog dropping, but more importantly what happened to live and let live? In my youth, I fought very hard in SA for the abolishment of apartheid, walked in Pride Marches to get the message across that gay people are actually not directly descended from Lucifer himself, and fought very hard (In my own little way.) to have a constitution instituted in SA that gave freedom to ALL people, just to be faced with the same type of bigotry in a country that should be free.

Now I realize this is Africa, and I realize that religion still rules this world, but come on folks - get over your own little fears and obsessions - after all, every time I meet someone that protest so vehemently about something, my first thought is ' The lady doth protest too much!'

OMG - suddenly my very meek and mild little blog has become a soapbox - will be getting off now and getting back into my shell. Thank you for bearing with me, and 'listening' to my rant!

Hope y'all have a fruitful day - and give a woman a hug today!

TTFN

Terrible weather.

Today is a really gray, cold day in Nairobi. I've come to the conclution that the main reason the British decided to colonize Nairobi, was because the weather is exactly like that in London, and they felt at home...

I'm just taking a little stab - so don't take me too seriously, but the weather is really getting to me. At one stage in my life I was transferred to Cape Town (Picture above of Table Mountain from Bloubergstrand - taken in summer, so this is about 20H30 at night) by a company I used to work for. In the beginning, this was very exciting, new city, chance to make new friends, very active gay lifestyle etc etc, but then the first winter came along. I do not mind cold weather, but if this is accompanied by rain and sleet, and everything remains damp and mouldy, I get a little upset. In fact, at that stage I gave them an ultimatum that if they did not take me back to Johannesburg, I would resign... Obviously, the rip roaring laughter from the HR department could be heard by human and animal alike...

Cold gray weather is fine if I have a chance to stay indoors and don't have to drag (pun intended) myself to the office - dressed like an eskimo hell bent on not making a single piece of flesh show. Sniffling, dribbling, miserable 'not so little' me.

As you can see, did not really have much to say today, so decided to keep you busy with a whole load of 'bollocks'.

Hope y'all have a wonderful, fruitful day!

TTFN

Blessings...

Lewis commented yesterday, and made me think for a second or two - 'Count your blessings, not your lack of them.' How wonderful a outlook on life that is, that we can count the good things, and let the things that upset us 'slide'! Sometimes, I forget just how blessed I am. Sometimes I forget that - 'but for the grace of God, there go I'! (My mom used to say that when we saw somebody that was less previledged than we were.) I've always had a plate of food on my table, I've always had a warm place to sleep, friends to talk to, family to support me, and I'm not always truly thankfull about these blessings.

My life has not always been a bed of roses, but to be completely honest, the good times far exceed the bad memories, and bad memories have faded with time. The sadness has passed but the lessons remain. In fact, I bear no grudge towards another human being, and even thought some friendships have fallen by the wayside for whatever reason, I feel no ill will towards these people. I am truly blessed.

I hope your days will also be filled with good memories, smiles and laughter!

TTFN

Ps: Started quiting smoking this week and going a bit crazy at the moment! Went from a pack a day man to just 5 a day, and really battling at the moment... Keep your fingers crossed! Plan is to be on zero by the end of August!

Weekend's without my love...

Was the first weekend back in Nairobi for a while, and with no specific travel plans for the next bit, not sure when I'll be back in SA to see my hubby again. On the one side I'm glad to be 'home' for a bit, and able to catch up with my staff and work, but on the other side, it also means that my personal life gets 'left behind' a bit.

This weekend Estelle spent Friday and Saturday night at my place, and we watched a few movies, ate a bit (a lot, actually!) and just had a good time. Saturday afternoon Elize joined us, and had a 'girls' afternoon. This basically means, we put on face masks, did heat packs, cooling eye patches, pedicures, manicures, body exfoliations, etc etc. Really rediculous, but it was fun. Used every product in our arsenal, and also went out a bought a few extras... What is really fun about this is that we drink a few bottles of wine, and then follow this up with a meal. Saturday was Oso bucco made in red wine and tomato with steamed basmati rice. (It's still a little chilly here, so nice 'comfort' food is on the menu most of the time.)

Sunday I watched a movies called Gray Matters - a bit silly really, but a good 'coming out' story for our 'thesbian brotheren/sisteren'. I have a lot of really great gay female friends, and love spending time with them - so you gals go and rent this movie now, see!

Just read trought what I've written and it's a whole bunch of hog wash. Trying to write something inbetween all the work, emails, phone calls, instant messages etc etc. Not working really, so going to stop rampbling now. Need to do something here when I have more time to concentrate on what I'm doing. Maybe it's true what they say - a man cannot multi - task...

Hope y'all have a wonderful day, filled with love, hugs and kisses!

TTFN