Phuthu Stay Phut, Don't go!

I was dreaming about working with wildlife orphans again the other day, and when I did some research on the net I came across a truly wonderful website called Gap Year for Grown Ups. This site will take you beyond the typical tourist experience – whether you are looking to take a career break and travel the world, volunteer abroad or simply discover something new.

Based in the UK, Gap Year for Grown Ups is all about providing a service for anyone who doesn’t fit the stereotype of someone who wants to take a gap year. Most travel companies specialising in providing ’round the world’ or ‘off the beaten track’ gap year travel experiences are geared towards younger travellers. The aim of Gap Year for Grown Ups is to re-dress this balance by opening up this type of travel to anyone, whatever their age.

Gap Year for Grown Ups provides help and advice to anyone from the age of ’30ish’ upwards who is considering taking a gap year or career break. Gap Year for Grown Ups is extremely flexible in its approach – whatever your age, however long you are planning to travel for and wherever you are planning to go, Gap Year for Grown Ups can tailor-make an itinerary to match your individual requirements.

The website is oh so helpful for those who know they need a break but have no idea how, what, where and when. Simply choose an option which to some extent relates to what you’d like to do, or choose a country you would like to visit. You’ll then be given numerous projects that fit in with your choice – whether it’s volunteering at an orphanage in Peru, teaching English in Malawi, caring for injured wolfs in New Mexico, living on a working US ranch, assisting at a Giant Panda sanctuary in China or working at the Namibian Bushman Clinic.

With exciting travel programmes in over 45 countries, you can go on a two-week taster trip or plan month-long trips incorporating several destinations.

So… if you are fed up with your job and desperate for a career break or voluntary work abroad, look no further! Maybe your children have just left home or turned you green with envy talking about their gap trip? If the thought of another beach holiday or city break does nothing for you, contact Gap Year for Grown Ups on info@gapyearforgrownups.co.uk

I had a good laugh when I saw this clip the first time.. and every time thereafter. Zapiro has Thabo doing his number on Idols… and so on and stuff like that.

Reference: Z News

The family is going camping and to be honest, I have no idea what to expect. I’ve obviously been camping before, but I’ve never been this adventurous with two small children in my care 24/7 – a whole different ball game! We’ve booked a few days away and I’m busy doing what I do best: Trying to control everything so that I can guarantee a great camping experience. Deep down I know that none of my controlling can achieve that – on the contrary… I might just spoil the whole trip. So I’ve decided to put together a kick-ass camping list and then let my hair down and go with the flow. Come what may.

This is the Absolute Essential Camping List, according to the Phuthu girls. You are welcome to deduct from it if you prefer a more primitive outdoor experience or add to it if you’re planning a larney camping trip:

Main stuff

• Tent
• Mattresses and bedding
• Pump (for blow-up mattresses)
• Ground sail
• Gazebo (if you don’t have one attached to your tent)
• Camping chairs and table
• Gas bottle for lamp or skottel – optional
• Lamp and torch (spare batteries)
• Grill
• Cooler box and ice

Kitchen stuff

• Paper plates
• Knives, forks, spoons, spatula
• Cutting board
• Spices
• Fire kettle (if there is no electricity)
• Braai tongs
• Can opener
• 5 L Drinking water
• Tin foil
• Food

Boring but important stuff

• Dishwashing liquid
• Dish cloths
• Holder to wash dishes in
• Mozzie stuff (the ones you burn rules)
• Sun block
• Rubbish bags
• Charcoal/wood and firelighters
• Loo paper
• Doom

Emergency stuff

• First aid kit containing antiseptic cream, plasters, headache tablets, Imodium etc.
• Coffee/Tea
• Enough nibbly’s and drinks

Stuff to remember:

• Warm jacket
• Marshmallows and skewers
• Games
• Fishing rod
• Rusks
• Bread pan to make a cheese and beer bread

By Elzet

Check out some hot camping spots in SA

Baking cupcakes is something very close to my heart and so when I read about Le Dolci, a London-based business that offers baked goods by subscription, I thought what a wonderful idea it was!

Launched in September 2009, the bakery uses as much seasonal, organic and free-trade ingredients in its delicious creations as possible.  Club members get a different box of home-baked goods delivered to their doorstep each Friday. Goods range from biscotti and scones to brownies, cupcakes and Sicilian treats.

Le Dolci offers three subscription levels – the Mini delivers 4-6 servings each week, the Mezza Luna offers 7-10 servings and the Grande package offers 11 to 15 servings. The subscriptions range from 14 GBP to 30 GBP each week plus delivery.

I can see something like this being offered in busy hubs like Johannesburg and Cape Town. Come on entrepreneurs, get baking!

Reference: Springwise.com

Answer to yesterday’s brain game:

The letters A-Z are valued 1-26. In each set, the difference between

the top and bottom values on the left, plus the difference between

the top and bottom values on the right, equals the middle value, so

the mystery letter is G (7).

I’ll give you a hint: A-Z = 1-26

Answer in tomorrows Biz Tip

Ras Dumisani was asked to sing our national anthem for the opening of the epic battle between the Springboks and France. Might I say that he opened with quite a bang or should I say a bong! What was that man smoking?

He sang off-key and was not in tune to the music, and at times it sounded like shouting rather than singing. The Springboks struggled to sing along with the well-known reggae singer, who, according to his MySpace profile, grew up in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal and now lives in France. Shame, Skalkie looked like he was ready to ‘moer’ him.

Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African rugby union, has sent a letter of complaint to the French rugby union regarding the version of the South African anthem performed on Friday evening. So far there has been no formal apology from the French quarter.
Oh ja Mr Hoskins, while you’re at it, maybe send a similar letter of complaint about the shoddy refereeing as well. The badly sung national anthem seemed to set the tone for the rest of the evening………… shocking.

Have a look at the video and let us know what you think.