Weekend Notes

Since we last spoke, Germany lost their match against Italy and I was left utterly dismayed, and perhaps even heartbroken - especially when the whistle was blown and the germans team members looked crestfallen. Mesut Ozil (I don't have a fancy keyboard so I can't put the two dots on the "O" unless I am being technologically illiterate) sat on the field, hands in his head. That broke my heart (maybe because I have a little crush on him and I don't care who judges me.) However, as a german friend of mine commented, (a german friend who does not support germany - TRAITOR) "they are confident in themselves but graceful in defeat". They really are a beautiful team and they fought hard. Hopefully we will see them defeat Portugal, and land themselves in third place...

Today I am going to the Lion and Cheetah park. I can't actually remember if I have ever gone there before, but either way, it will be an experience and is also something that I can make a part of Project Joburg. We're staying overnight, and it's for a friend's eighteenth - ain't no average day visit!

Until I am reunited with my Macbook, I will leave you with a couple of blogs that belong to a couple of my friends. I am always stunned by the extent to which my friends are remarkable writers.

Lemon Drops and Lingerie - the new blog belonging to our very own, Busang Senne. She is a fashion-ista, cynical but aiming to be not-so-dark, writing-enthusiast with a crush on Alexa Chung and a dream to be a top journalist. I have no doubt that she will be the best of the best.

Automatic For The People - by Lara Unsworth. Lara and I weren't friends until late last year. It all started when I wanted to delete twitter for exam-purposes and wanting to be completely focused, when Lara told me not to - such a bad influence. It didn't take long for us to become really close. She is one of the funniest people I know. She has such high inspirations and such a beautiful heart, even when she is ... expressing ... the delights of her hangover into every bathroom in my house - we love ya, baby!

With the reluctant decision to love and leave you beauties, I will be back with more stories of Africa.

Lazy Days

I only started holidays last Friday (okay - technically I started the Friday before that, but I still had to return to the place that shall not be named for one day for winter school. Uhm... hello? WINTER SCHOOL?) and I am already sick.

I was getting very emotional today and after some grease ball of a human being made me angry on the road, I resigned myself to my bed. My mom brought me Berocca (ew - but it had to be done) and salt and vinegar chips to indulge in. I plan to stay like this for the rest of the day, not moving in any kind of way but to tap at my Mac's keyboard.

Not much has been going on lately, because, as mentioned, it is holidays.

I'm wearing my German football top as they are playing tonight against Italy. I will cry real (manly sporting) tears if they mess up in any way, causing them to lose. Actually, I'll also cry such tears if they win. I believe the latter will happen.

Look at the World A Little Differently

I just found this YouTube video via another blog I read and I thought it to be one of the greatest things I have ever seen. Coca Cola never fail to impress.

Dad's and Strawberries

I only tried this restaurant once, a couple of months ago, and I really love it. The name is suggestive, and makes me feel a bit dirty, but it's all part of the atmosphere inside. They have very unconventional meals to offer, which is my favourite part and it makes you feel as if there is always something new to try.

On my second visit, I went with my sister and dad for Father's Day. It is quite a satisfactory feeling when you find something that my dad likes, and I think anyone will stand behind me on that statement. He thoroughly enjoyed the Throbbing Strawberry on this occasion, as did I. I always tend to have the same things at restaurants - especially if they have sushi on the menu - but this time I stepped out a bit (although I still had sushi) and I indulged in a kebab starter of fillet, haloumi and tomatoes. For my main course I had sushi (obviously) as well as a tantalising salad (and not your usual one) with strawberries, bacon and brie. Laura had a pizza - she is the less-adventurous family member - and dad had the salmon, with a side of vegetables.

They had live musicians, and were extremely good. Dad kept commenting on how good they were. They did a lot of covers of a lot of good songs. It was a brilliant atmosphere for an enjoyable afternoon.

The musicians.

My sushi - delicious as ever.

My salad - one of the best things about the afternoon!

Dad's salmon - and good salmon is hard to come by.

The side of veggies - always a healthy option.

The pizza.

Classy NO U21 pub in the restaurant. 

Dad and I.

Dad and Laura.

Thus, I conclude a lovely afternoon.

Food is the ultimate pleasure. You can find The Throbbing Strawberry in Douglasdale.

P.S. I forgot my camera at home, much to my annoyance, so the photo's were taken by my dad on his iPhone: thus, the shaky quality. Sorry folks!

Cape Town Adventures

I am writing this post off my new Macbook. It is my new best friend.

As mentioned in the previous post, I was in Cape Town for four days this week to take a look at my sister's boarding school for next year, and my academy that I am looking into studying at. I have been to Cape Town quite a few times over the last year or so - since February last year - because my heart and soul lives there - my boyfriend. Each time I return I fall more and more in love with the city. This time, I did not stay with my boyfriend as he is all the way in Poland watching the Euro Cup - yes yes, everyone sigh and gasp. I went with my sister and dad and we stayed at the Ambassador Hotel. It was right on the beach, and it had the most phenomonel views.

I just had to share. This post is a bit picture heavy. I am going back to visit my boy next month, otherwise I would have had to wait over a month to see him and my heart cannot handle such an absence. I will be sure to take more pictures of more incredible views. Feast your eyes on these... (awkward that the first photo is of me... you can move swiftly on!)

Breakfast snapshot

My rooibos tea against the beautiful backdrop of the Atlantic ocean

The flags outside of our hotel, and the beautiful match they make with the sky behind them.

Cape Town's version of the London Eye.

I wish I was a male, just so that I could feel legitamate when coming here. 

My dad getting a Hot Towel Shave.

One of the most beautiful views in the city - the V&A Waterfront.

I found this sign while walking to the Clock Tower to ask about bookings for Robben Island, and it made me smile and my eyes twinkle in thought of the world out there.

On the way to one of my favorite spots - Camps Bay. There have only been good memories made there.

My sister and I.

The best cocktails. The best food. The time they did not have sushi. This did not make me happy.

Shake what your mama gave you.

I went for a walk one afternoon, down to a little cafe I'd seen and took a liking to. This was a view from the road - The Lion's Head.

This was the cafe I had seen and taken a liking to - tucked away inside an old train. Unfortunately it was not a coffee shop, but a restaurant. It had a rooibos tea anyway.

The view from our breakfast table each morning.

Since Robben Island was unavailable - we went on a helicopter ride!

The view from above.

Dad and Laura up in the air.

Isn't she beautiful? My home, as of next year. I am so lucky.

A Looming Fear of the Future

I've been in Cape Town for the past 3 days: I leave back home to Joburg-town tomorrow. I was waiting for my arrival home to post my updates about the past week or so - Father's Day, and bits and pieces from this beautiful, beautiful, beautiful trip but certain events have bestowed upon me an urge to post this right now, using my iPad which is far from ideal because it always gives me some kind of problem but such is life, no?

Life has become real for me while on this mini-holiday. I think many of us have been looking forward to 2013 as our first year of 'Freedom' but I now wonder how many of us have actually thought about the reality of the upcoming year.

I took a look at the Academy at which I want to study next year, and I had my interview, so to speak. It's a fantastic course and, I think, will prove to challenge me as a person which is the best part about it. But - and there is always a but - the area in which it is situated leaves little to be desired. It reminds me of a darker time in my life when the only fun and games came from the vivd imagination I had as a child. However, reflecting on such times, I have no urge or need to ever return, and this place makes me feel like I'm going back on myself and returning to such times. It is the only part of Cape Town I haven't fallen in love with: quite the opposite actually.

I had a bit of a panic attack, thinking that I didn't know where my life was heading anymore, and what I really wanted to do after school, and so my family, beautiful as always, consoled me. My mom voice-noted me from England and my dad took me to have a drink, along with my sister, at the V&A Waterfront to talk it out. After this, and much brooding that evening which led to a loss of sleep, I realised this: I can't change the place in which the Academy is situated and so all that I can do is change my attitude towards it. I can make my first year of my independent life as incredible as I want it to be, or I can come at it with a bad image, an even worse attitude and make it a living hell for myself. The course is going to challenge me, and that is what I crave: challenges in life. I don't have to base myself in that area. My parents are incredible and they will never make me do something that I don't want to do.

As well as the course, I think that next year, as a whole, is going to be a huge challenge for me. I'm going to have to do things I don't want to do, face issues on my own and stand on my own two feet. I do already, to some extent but next year it will be me, on my own, in a new city and no matter how much I think I have it all under control, I probably don't. I don't think the all-winning vision in my head of living on my own, and exploring my new home is everything it is going to be. I think there are going to be some very hard times and I'm going to feel very weak in every way.

I'm scared shitless, but I think I am as ready as I will ever be. All I know is that I don't want to shy away from the difficulties in life. My dad, having left school at 17 and started his own life of supporting himself at this age, is a very wise man and during our talk over drinks, he said something very inspirational. I told him I am scared, and he said, "use your fear as a weapon" and I will live by these words and do just that. I never want to "escape". I want to always be honest with myself, deal with the uncomfortable days and face life head on.

Life is not always going to be glamarous, and I think that, next year, I will quite often misplace the rose-coloured glasses I wear, but, knowing me, I will always dig out the best things about life and use those to get me through. It's going to be alright.

In other news, it is home tomorrow and I have much to post about: good food, good company, upcoming plans and the best thing of all: Fifty Shades of Grey.

Until then.

Afternoon Guilty Pleasures

I'm waiting for my next Project Joburg Mission to take place. It's exams at the moment, but only for another week and then Project Joburg will commence next Saturday before I'm off to Cape Town for a couple of days with my sister and dad, checking out the academy I'm looking into studying at next year, and from what I've heard so far it sounds incredible. More details on that after I visit the Academy though.

Today I wrote my last exam for the week and spent the rest of the day reading blogs, and finding new ones - my guilty pleasure. I found some really stunning ones and so I thought I would share them with you in case you want to indulge in some of your own guilty pleasure.

Until my next blog of stories - and I promise there will be many.

Woza Albert!

The first mission for PROJECT JOBURG. Status: accomplished.

Mission: A trip to The Market Theatre in town, to watch the play Woza Albert! which we have studied this year in drama. It is an incredibly emotionally moving play - one that focuses around the question: what would happen if Jesus (Morena) returned to Apartheid South Africa? Theatre, and this production specifically, brings to life that which we have been learning for years in the confines of the history classroom.

Before the play, my family and I, and a friend and her family, went for dinner at the very South African restaurant Sophiatown (ironically - another play we studied this year). It really dug deep into my soul and made me very proudly South African; from platters of South African meat, to African soul singers that played and sang louder than the volume of our voices, forcing us to shout to each other, and eventually give in to listen to the sounds of South Africa, Johannesburg. It was a beautiful evening at one of my favourite places in Joburg - one of the places I am going to miss the most.

From left to right

1. The restaurant sign - Sophiatown

2. The menu

3. The platters and my Caipirinha (throwing a bit of Brazilian in there)

4. The literature version of our meal

5. African singers - one of the essentially- South Africa arts

6. Everything is written in stone

7. The walkway in stone

8. My sister and the epitome of the South African man

9. My personal favourite - The Nelson Mandela bridge. At night. How wonderful.

PROJECT JOBURG

I've started a new project: Project Joburg.

At the end of this year I will be matriculating and, with my sister, moving to Cape Town. This is a huge step for myself, my sister, and the rest of my family. We are all going our own ways. My sister is going to boarding school, I am going to study and my mom is moving back home with my dad. It is going to be unlike anything any of us have ever experienced, but we are going into it with open minds, and a deep appreciation and gratitude for our past, and the few years that my mom, sister and I have spent together with my dad living away - just the three girls. I have truly had some incredible memories, and South Africa has grown to be my home. It is a part of me, and I consider myself more of a South African than anything else, despite the fact I wasn't born here and didn't live here until I was almost a teenager. South Africa will always be one of the biggest parts of who I am.

In honour of this, and my change in path next year, I want to take in as much as Joburg as I can. I have to admit, I shouldn't be doing this just because I am leaving. I should have done it from the beginning. That's human nature though, I guess. You only appreciate things when you know they are coming to an end. You don't take things for granted anymore. People only start living life when they know their time is running out. When I move next year, I'm going to make a point to experience everything about Cape Town while I live there; not just before I move on to other pastures.

I've created this project, and I have a list, that I will keep private, of all the places in Joburg I want to go to and experience. Some places I have been to before, and most of them I haven't. I will write about each place I go to, and post pictures, of course.

Tonight, I am going to the Market Theatre in town to watch the play, Woza Albert!, and to have dinner before the show in a very cultured restaurant.

Johannesburg is one of the most beautiful places in South Africa. Granted, it is not like Cape Town with its beautiful mountains, sea air and sunny weather. It isn't like Durban, with its sandy beaches, and windy, sunny weather. These places are absolutely beautiful, as most places in South Africa are (I do tend to see the world with a pair of rose-coloured glasses on. No seriously.) But Joburg - it isn't like most places on earth, come to think of it - but it is Johannesburg and it has a soul all of its own. It has passion. It has a story. The CBD is one of my favourite places, and if you glance over that part of Joburg, you wouldn't think so, but when you go into the heart of it, it's incredible. It has so much culture, so much life and so much soul. It has the most unique vibe to it - I can't explain. You have to experience it for yourself.

So, this is the beginning of an end: PROJECT JOBURG.