We’re planning to touch down on the 1st September which is just around the corner. Eeeeek! This means lots of work, tea and Romany Creams..but we’ll get there…all thanks to a great team!

Watch this space!

I had an awesome Women’s Day! It revolved around eating!

My man took me to breakfast in the morning, we went to a friend’s house for a laid back lunch in the afternoon and in the evening we had a “fend-for-yourself-dinner”. And that means there was no cooking involved and more importantly – no extra dirty dishes to add to the pile! Bliss!

Kerry

Ok well my husband decided that he would surprise me with breakfast in bed, unfortunately I stuffed the plans up by getting out of bed before he had time to complete the task, so I was not very popular, but breakfast was fantastic anyway (thank you sweety, I appreciate it). The weather on Monday was perfect to stay indoors, undercover and slob away the day watching DVD’s and eating lekker comfort food with of course chocolate for dessert.  Would I ask for anything better………Hell no!

Elzet

I actually totally forgot why I’m having a day off; was just thrilled that I was part of this rosy Monday at home, not realising that it was
all about me.

Found myself in front of the TV at 6 am (thanks to two busy toddlers), desperately trying to get a little bit more shut-eye. My very sweet man tried to surprise my daughter and myself with tea and snacks but we wouldn’t have it. He had to eventually spell it out:

*sigh*
“Sit up girls, I have something for you.”

Then I clicked. 9 August. Women’s Day.

My daughter (4) just, well, refused to have her early-morning surprise. Which made me eat my snack that I didn’t even like just to make up for her insensitivity. Was a long chew.

Overall just a lazy day with him doing most of the work in and around the house – isn’t that true love? Ended off with an hour in the bath with a book. Peace and a good book – what more can any woman want? Okay, perhaps a pair of heels.‎

“All I want out of life is a moments peace, a good book, and a great pair of shoes”
- Katherine Hepburn

I totally forgot about this post… *guilty flinch* …wonder what this was about?

*crinch*

You can wrap these goals with positive names like My Plans for the Year or What I Would Like to Achieve this Year but all they really come down to are those good ol’  New Year’s Resolutions. Those positive, what-on-earth-were-we-thinking moments when we enthusiastically vow to give up something or start something that we hardly ever can keep up. That being said, we do need these resolutions to keep us going. To keep us trying. Imagine the joy when we actually achieve some of these.

There is of course a less harsher way of looking at this (there is always, you just have to look hard and long). We can call these Our Goals simply because a goal does not have a date connected to it. Well, it shouldn’t. Then we try to work towards these. Life does have a way of happening, or taking over, rather, which can complicate matters slightly, as long as we get back on track once we’ve hit that bump in the road, all’s good.

A good place to start is to remember those vows

Kerry
Team Ayoba – translates to “they will be a team”

Louise
Boys with Balls

Elzet

• Amabhubesi, which means Lions. King of the African Jungle. Perhaps there’s a Xhosa or Sotho word that’s a bit shorter?
  Even Inkosi (King) Bafana
• The Real Bafana (would the Real Bafana please stand up?)

Louise

What did I get from this World Cup – An appreciation for soccer in general and the realisation of the enormity of the event. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a soccer world cup game in all my life up until now. And to be honest – and don’t shout at me now – I don’t think I had ever watched Bafana Bafana play up until a few weeks ago. But now I have!  …And I will be a complete supporter of the Soccer World Cup forever and ever.  I loved every minute of it.

Throughout the tournament I felt that sense of patriotism, especially when everyone got their cars kitted out with flags and window socks. At one point you could almost feel the panic in the air, the frenzy to get a flag perched on one’s window.

And contrary to many a critic, we, South Africa, pulled it off and it only can mean bigger and better things for the future…Olympics South Africa 2020? Hell yes, we can do it!!!

Elzet

If I have to be brutally honest, the only soccer matches I watched were the ones at gym while riding my bike on the road to nowhere. And to my surprise I actually enjoyed it. So it’s quite obvious that the soccer itself wasn’t the highlight for me. I’m just not that into soccer. But I am very proud that we pulled it off successfully. What I loved most though was the fact that South Africans could come together, temporarily forget about all their issues and be one. Being the optimist I am, I really hope that we can continue in this mindset. We’ve burn them bra’s, now please burn those struggle songs, mkay. It brings division. We can be such an incredibly strong country if we stand together.

Kerry

I was very impressed with the opening and closing ceremonies, we managed to show the world that we can put on quite a performance, yet still keep it uniquely South African. Seeing those big mama’s shaking their booty and having the best time of their lives, brought a patriotic tear to my eye. The camera work was amazing, picking up emotion rather than spectacle. Overall I thought that this was the highlight of the world cup for me.

What did I get from the world cup experience, well pride of course, South Africans were happy, they were proud of what the country had accomplished and just for a short time we forgot about everything else, all the negativity and problems that we faced from day to day.  We finally achieved what this country had been striving for all along, which can best be described in this famous extract from a very famous song “Sounds the call to come together and united we shall stand, let us live and strive for freedom, oh South Africa our land”. All we can hope for now is that we can continue in this light and not scuttle back into the dark.

Ayoba South Africa, you did well.

Let us know what YOU got from this amazing event and whether you are still waving your flag.

We wish you and Neil happiness, loads of cozy late night chats, laughter (together, at each other and at yourselves) and above all, love – and lots of it!

Mrs. Kerry Paterson looking beautiful.

Her proudly South African bouquet.

Neil & Kerry.  I love this photo, she looks so happy.

Louise

Love: Range Rover Sports
Hate: Red Ferrari

Kerry

Love: Astin Martin DB9
Hate: Fiat Multipla

Elzet

Love: Jeep Cherokee (green)
Hate: A red BMW (any model)

Kerry
The song that best describes my way of thinking is ‘I’m Yours’ by Jason Mraz, It’s a very happy-go-lucky kind of song that seems to instil in its listeners the need to love as much as you can. Don’t make your life a mine-field of complications. Simplify it, by living it. Peace Man!!

Lyrics: I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and then you’re free
Look into your heart and you’ll find love love love love

Listen to the music of the moment people, dance and sing
We’re just one big family
And it’s our God-forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved

Elzet
It’s not my favourite song but the first one that popped up and a real golden oldie that I always used to sing when life wasn’t working with me. It sort of  sums up the way I do life -  I’m on a mission and nothing’s gonna stop me from doing what I gotta do and living the life I chose. I apologise for making you watch the music video.. eish. She’s very old and straight from the 80′s! Watch it when you need some cheering up (check out those dancers, baby!).

Lyrics: Break my Stride by Matthew Wilder:
Ain’t nothin’ gonna to break my stride
Nobody’s gonna slow me down, oh-no
I got to keep on movin’
Ain’t nothin’ gonna break my stride
I’m running and I won’t touch ground
Oh-no, I got to keep on movin’

Louise

Pick a favourite song with lyrics that represent your attitude to life.

Houston,we have a problem!

Did you Rodger that? Over.

I’m one of those people who loves music but half the time doesn’t know who’s singing a fab tune on the radio, hasn’t the foggiest idea what the name of the song is and lastly, pays little attention to the lyrics.

But after a bit of thought, I made my choice. It was tough. It’s one of the greatest hits of all time but it’s instrumental. I hope that still counts. Obviously there are no verses to pinpoint and I think it’s quite apt taking the above into account. I don’t know if I could ever pinpoint a verse that describes my life motto – I’ve got a lot of mottos and so I would be doing a lot of pinpointing! It could turn into a thesis.

When I listen to this song, it full’s me with love and a few tears at the same time – the tears because it’s so beautiful.…just as life is.

Going Home by Kenny G

Let us know which song best describe your tude to life.

1. Where would you go?
2. What three (3 only) things would you miss the most (besides friends and family)?

Elzet

I’ll go somewhere where the culture shock won’t be too harsh on my sensitive African soul, so I’ll do some research on places close by like Namibia, Botswana or Mozambique, I guess. What I’ll miss most? Virgin Active, Woolies and the familiarity of all things South African (the way we do things, the way we talk, our history, my roots etc.).

But for now I dig my heels in very deep; it will take a lot to make me leave. I am South African Woman, hear me roar.

Kerry

I am very fortunate in that my soon-to-be husband and I have many options if the proverbial s#&%t had to hit the fan in this country, I have family in the UK, he has family in the UK and access to New Zealand and Australia if needs be, but this option is definitely not ideal. Our biggest problem would be our dogs, so our third option and possibly most desirable option is immigrating to another more stable African country like Mozambique, wait for the crap to die down and hopefully get the opportunity to come back again and rebuild our lives [nice one, Kerry].

• I would miss my home the most, from its most perfect shower to the most gorgeous view and all that’s in between.
• I would miss the modern conveniences like shopping centres and tarred roads, but not that much.
• I would miss being able to say that I live in South Africa, it’s got a good ring don’t you think?

Louise

You must know that I was chased around the house, pinned down on the lawn and bribed with supplies of fresh Easter eggs in order to give an answer to today’s question.

What can I say. I had to answer. I was hungry.

I honestly believe in never saying “never” so I can’t say I would never leave South Africa although at this moment in time I couldn’t imagine my life anywhere else.

If we were close to walking the plank and had to swivel a plastic globe, I’m guessing my finger would conveniently land in Africa – Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Morocco or Kenya. As long as Africa gets to remain in my circulation, I’m happy. And if the situation really deteriorated that badly, I would assume friends and family would also swivel the globe and seek greener pastures. My only hope would be that we’d all move to the same place and embark on a new adventure together.

I would obviously miss the familiarity of things, the diverse landscapes and the lifestyle here in SA. But hey, if you’re in a new place, new things become familiar, you get to discover new landscapes and enjoy a different lifestyle.

Things happen exactly how they are supposed to happen…

• R471 million was allocated for projects linked to the World Cup Event. This included R170 million for three soccer fields in every province as well as R20 million for Bafana Bafana’s training in Brazil and Germany.
• R20 million was given to the cup local organising committee towards the event’s opening and closing ceremonies.
• R88 million went to the Trust for Health Systems and Planning for procurement of HIV testing kits and TB prophylaxis.
• And then eventually R1.869 billion was paid to 2285 charities in the 2009/10 financial year.

I don’t know about you, but I have a major problem with this:

• Surely issues like crime and poverty should take priority to World Cup events? All this money is being spent on something flashy and fleeting instead of bringing about long-term change that will improve the situation in South Africa.
• As we all know, this country is not immune to corruption, so why open the door to temptation? Is every cent really accounted for? Personally I would love to see the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund’s books.
• If the plan was for all the lotto money to go to charity organisations, then this is exactly where this money should be going. If the plan changed for some reason, certainly there should be certain procedure to follow, which should include letting the actual lotto players know where their money is going. This is just wrong in so many ways.

If you justified the purchase of your weekly lotto ticket with some vague idea that you are doing good, may I suggest you rather donate to recognized NGO’s? This way you can at least enjoy the tax rebate.

By Elzet
Reference: Sport24

Louise’s 5c’s worth

When I think of Lotto, I think of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – thousands of people flocking to candy stores to buy a Willie Wonka Chocolate bar in the hope of finding a lucky golden ticket that will change their lives forever! Supporting a charity is not something that comes to the forefront of my mind. And to be honest, I don’t think anyone buys a Lotto ticket for the noble cause of supporting one of it’s charities. But, surprise surprise, in case you didn’t know, Lotto actually supports charities with a percentage of their takings. Lovely concept, isn’t it? They take a little money from all the hope-to-get-rich ticket holders and give it to the poor.

Nevertheless, it was with some kind of uneasiness that I received news of Lotto donating well over R20 million to Bafana Bafana.

Excuse the rhetoric but is Bafana Bafana a charity? Are they poor and needy? Do they have no commercial sponsors? Do they need to have training camps in Brazil? With corruption almost – and I hate to say this – ingrained in the psyche of South African leaders, it makes me question whether all this money will be accounted for. But besides that, I think Lotto should stick to a.) Creating millionaires through the draw of lucky numbers and b.) focusing on real needs and not the opening and closing ceremonies (and whatever else, the list is long) for Bafana.

Kerry’s 5c’s worth

Ok, well it has become fundamentally clear that the funds generated by the National Lottery are not being used as originally planned i.e. for charities, when over half of the gross income was allocated for projects linked to the 2010 World Cup event. I mean why does the local cup organising committee need 20 mil for the opening and closing ceremonies of the World Cup, when billions have been invested already by both FIFA and other similar international organisations? How do the people of South Africa benefit from soccer training camps in Brazil and Germany? If the money is not being used to help the needy, but rather being pumped into government organisations and projects, then why not use the money for something that would positively affect the lives of all working, taxpaying South Africans, why not subsidise ESKOM’s  financial woes which would in turn ease the pressure off of us, 25% electricity hike for the next 3 years can easily be avoided. I mean let’s be honest, it looks like ESKOM has officially become an charity anyway.

I think we should insist that the ‘Fund’ must disclose all lotto recipients. I think that there would be some really interesting donations made. In conclusion I don’t think I will be supporting the National Lottery from now on, Euro lottery or UK lottery would be better.

What is your take on this?