Phuthu Stay Phut, Don't go!

The Durban Chocolate Carnival will drive any chocoholic wild. There will be an indulgent line-up of exhibitors and entertainment with a chocolate deli and chefs cooking with chocolate. there will be a variety of organic, exotic and plain chocolate, chocolate fountains, chocolate showpieces, chocolate candles and even chocolate make up – chocolate, chocolate chocolate!

There is a kiddies corner that will keep the ‘lighties’ entertained with activities like chocolate painting and moulding, while mom and dad indulge a bit.. on chocolate.

Yes I know that I have used the word ‘chocolate’ at least 1000 times in this post, but isn’t it amazing that just by saying the word ‘chocolate’, it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside as you think about the velvety, creamy, smooth, decadent treat lovingly caressing your taste buds, turning you tummy into a rainbow of happiness……Mmmmmmmmm……chocolate…… *sigh*…… Right moving on.

Venue: Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World, Durban
Times: Friday and Saturday 10h00 to 22h00, Sunday 10h00 to 18h00
Cost: Adults R40, Children and Pensioners R20 – tickets are available at the door.
Telephone: +27 (0)31 584-6856

If you ask me, education is the most important thing in the world. Well, at least one of the most important things in the world. And even more so in South Africa. Which is why I am happy to hear that free education for poor university students has moved up a tad on the government’s priorities list.

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, needs advice on how to provide it, however. So a ministerial committee has been set up – lead by Marcus Balintulo, vice-chancellor of Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science.

According to the Mail & Guardian, “the government’s R2-billion bursary and loan scheme for poor students, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), has been repeatedly criticised for the inadequacy of the amounts it provides and for not disbursing all the funds at its disposal.”

The biggest question now is: How do we define poor? Who qualifies and who doesn’t? Personally, I don’t think any money going towards educating our future politicians, doctors, engineers and social workers is wasted. In fact, educating anyone in any field of work is never a waste.

Education is the knowledge of putting one’s potentials to maximum use. And we’ve all got potential. We just need to know how to use it. Sometimes we even need to be taught how to use it. Or at least get help to fulfill it and develop it. But most importantly of all, we need to be able to afford to use it.

So let’s hope our new government is less talk and more action, which will allow tertiary education to become a reality for those South African youngsters who really can’t afford it.

“Next in importance to freedom and justice is education. Without education neither freedom nor justice can be permanentely maintained.”
James A. Garfield
American President (1831-1881)

I became a statistic late yesterday afternoon. Snatch-and-run. I was so high on adrenaline that I jumped in my car and chased after the two guys who snatched my handbag (how rude!) but lucky for me an angel in the form of an Indian guy appeared out of nowhere and cornered the one skebanga. Long story short, I got my bag back and all was intact. With all I mean the R3000 cash that was in my handbag. Yes, very irresponsible of me. If I lost my money it would’ve been due to my own stupidity.

At Phuthu we like keeping it real. We are not blind to the problems in South Africa; we just choose to stay positive in spite of it. This doesn’t mean that we approve or accept it. We all know that the crime rate is ridiculously high and we live in hope that our new President will indeed bring about change in this regard. I don’t know what the future holds and I will never commit to saying never but for now I take things like this in my stride. I live for the good moments and I deal with the not-so-good moments if/when they show themselves.

We are all good. Perhaps just a bit more awake and aware.

How cool is this business idea? Ever ridden a bicycle to work or college only to arrive with sweaty clothes? Well, a new innovation from Penny Farthings Pushbikes (PFP), called the Green Pod, creates a useful and eco-friendly solution.

The pod, comes in two forms, one that has a single shower, 10 lockers and space for 10 bikes and the other with double those facilities. According to PFP, the pod’s features include “a solar hot water system, electronic locking system, LED lighting activated by motion sensors, timed showers and a grey water treatment unit that discharges grey water into green areas”.

The pod also has a self-cleaning system that works similar to one found in hi-tech public toilets that can detect when no one’s inside and automatically self-locks for cleaning. Only registered users can access the pods via swipe cards. Nifty!

Why not try and partner with the creators of Green Pod or alternatively, create a similar concept for colleges and large office blocks in South Africa?

Visit their website for more info:  www.pushbikeparking.com/green-pod

…buy it!

The only thing to be taken really seriously in life is one’s shoes.
- Dion Chang, entrepreneur

And I mean it. Besides the important stuff like life, death and afterlife, shoes are next on the list of Importance. Clothing can be anything from a no-name brand T-shirt from Mr P to a unique creation by Mr X. The same with jeans (apologies to all those Levi lovers). Now shoes… shoes need to be picked with love, care and passion. From comfy slops and practical but classy slip-on’s to dainty and delicate sandals and conspicuously sensual platforms. Yes, I have it real bad.

I have a huge shoe issue. I don’t have enough. And not because I can’t afford shoes. I just can’t find shoes that I like at the price I like with the limited time I have for shopping. I like the real thing. Leather. Nothing fake for me, thanks. I would much rather go barefoot. To find these shoes I need a whole day or two just to browse around for the perfect pair/s. And I just don’t have that luxury right now. So in the meantime, I dream about a pair of red spiky heels. And in my dream, I can actually walk in them without injuring my ankles.

Just look at these babies. Aren’t they beeaaauuutiful?