Halloween prank

So Halloween was last week and I found a pretty funny video online which I think you guys might enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YQpbzQ6gzs&feature=player_embedded

I guess kids are pretty attached to their candy lol

Of all the forms of courage the ability to laugh is the most therapeutic

So here is the issue Children laugh about 400 times a day, while adults laugh on average only 15 times a day. Why do I say this is an issue well if you read the list below of why you should laugh by Rob Mansfield you will clearly see why it is an issue that adults laugh so rarely.

1. Laughter boosts your immune system

Researchers have found that laughter actually boosts the immune system, increasing the number of antibody-producing T cells. This then makes us less likely to get coughs and colds. It also lowers the levels of at least four hormones that are associated with stress, so after a good giggle you should be far less tense and anxious.

2. Laughter relieves pain

A good chortle has been found to reduce pain. Not only does it distract you from aches, but it releases feelgood endorphins into your system that are more powerful than the same amount of morphine.

3. Laughter improves your social life

If you can make people laugh, then you're likely to have more friends, because everyone loves a joker. You're also likely to achieve more at work: if you have a good sense of humour you'll be more productive, a better communicator and team player.

4. Laughter helps relieve depression

Laughter has long been known to help people who are suffering from the either SAD or full-blown depression. Laughing reduces tension and stress, and lowers anxiety and irritation, which are all major factors that contribute to the blues.

5. Laughter boosts your relationship

If you're looking to find a new partner, then laughter will help you find a new mate. Men love women who laugh in their presence and women actually laugh 125% more than men.

6. Laughter gives you a mini-work-out

In fact, laughing 100 times is the equivalent to 10 minutes on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike, so break out those Only Fools And Horses DVDs and start watching!

7. Laughter protects your heart

Laughter has been found to benefit the way blood flows around the body, reducing the likelihood of heart disease. The research said that 15 minutes of laughter a day is as important for your heart as 30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week!

8. Laughter lowers your blood pressure

People who laugh a lot on a regular basis have lower blood pressure than the average person. When people have a good laugh, the blood pressure increases at first, but then it decreases to levels below normal.

9. Laughter improves your breathing

Laughter empties your lungs of more air than it takes in resulting in a cleansing effect - similar to deep breathing. This is especially helpful for people who are suffering from respiratory ailments, such as asthma.

10. Laughter helps you lose weight

Burning off calories by laughing might not sound as if it has much use, but a hearty chuckle raises the heart rate and speeds up the metabolism.

Keeping up with the Kardashians…

It seems Kim Kardashian’s fairytale wedding has not lasted very long at all. With a total of 72 days under her wedding belt many are not very impressed with her especially after finding out she supposedly made around $18 million off her big day.

Kim says in the blog post below that this is all hogwash but who do we believe when it comes to these reality shows??

This is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write. I see all of the support and I am so thankful for my fans, friends and family who are helping me through this difficult time.

I am trying not to read all the different media reports but it’s hard not to see all the negative ones. First and foremost, I married for love. I can’t believe I even have to defend this. I would not have spent so much time on something just for a TV show! I share so much of my life on a reality show, that contemplating whether to even film my wedding was a tough decision to make, and maybe it turned out to not be the smartest decision. But it’s who I am! We filmed Kourtney giving birth, Khloe getting married, break ups, make ups, our best moments and our worst moments. These were all real moments. That’s what makes us who we are. We share, we give, we love and we are open!

Everyone that knows me knows that I’m a hopeless romantic! I love with all of my heart and soul. I want a family and babies and a real life so badly that maybe I rushed in to something too soon. I believed in love and the dream of what I wanted so badly. I felt like I was on a fast roller coaster and couldn’t get off when now I know I probably should have. I got caught up with the hoopla and the filming of the TV show that when I probably should have ended my relationship, I didn’t know how to and didn’t want to disappoint a lot of people.

I’m being honest here and I hope you respect my courage because this isn’t easy to go through. But I do know that I have to follow my heart. I never had the intention of hurting anybody and I accept full responsibility for my actions and decisions, and for taking everyone on this journey with me. It just didn’t turn out to be the fairy tale I had so badly hoped for.

There are also reports that I made millions of dollars off of the wedding. These reports are simply not true and it makes me so sad to have to even clarify this. I’m so grateful to everyone who took the time to come to my wedding and I’ll be donating the money for all the gifts to the Dream Foundation.

I’m sorry if I have hurt anyone, but my dad always told me to follow my heart and I believe now that I really am.

Im not so sure but who am I to judge?

A statute of limitation has expired on the most of our childhood trauma

This statement was taken out of Dr. Gordon Livingston book “Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart”. The book was a compilation of 30 essential truths.

Below is the list of chapters 1-30 in the book and you can see how this book could be rather inspiring if you feeling down or overwhelmed.

1. If the map doesn’t agree with the ground, the map is wrong. We are given mental maps as children. Our parents and other adults tell us what is right and what is wrong – sometimes they don’t always get it right.

2. We are what we do. We are not what we think, or what we feel, or what we say, we are what we do. Actions do indeed speak louder than words.

3. It is difficult to remove by logic an idea not placed there by logic in the first place. By nature, we are emotional creatures. Often we live and react based on feelings, not logic.
4. The statute of limitations has expired on most of our childhood traumas. No matter your past, change is the essence of life. In order to move forward in life we need to learn to live in the present.
5. Any relationship is under the control of the person who cares the least. When relationships end it is typically because of unmet expectations or one person is not feeling love or cherished by the other.

6. Feelings follow behavior. No matter how hard we try, we don’t control what we think or what we feel. But, we do know which actions bring us happiness, pleasure and confidence.
7. Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid. When we step out and claim what we want from the world a wonderful thing happens – the Universe responds.
8. The perfect is the enemy of the good. While it’s important to have control over our lives, it can be counterproductive to attempt to control our lives.

9. Life’s two most important questions are “Why?” and “Why not?” The trick is in knowing which one to ask. Understanding why we do certain things is the first step to change.

10. Our greatest strengths are our greatest weaknesses. One of my biggest strengths as a person is I’m caring, sensitive and emotional – it is also my greatest weakness.

11. The most secure prisons are those we construct for ourselves. What is your fear of change costing you? Too often what keeps us stuck is the belief we can’t move forward.

12. The problems of the elderly are frequently serious but seldom interesting. The thought of our own mortality and demise can be a frightening one. Therefore, our attitude towards the aging can be callous because they are unwanted reminders of what’s ahead for us.

13. Happiness is the ultimate risk. No matter how painful, sometimes what we know is more comfortable than what we don’t know, even if we are depressed and miserable.
14. True love is the apple of Eden. True love is fair compensation for the obstacles and burdens of being human.
15. Only bad things happen quickly. When we think about the things that can change our lives in an instant we usually think of the negative ones first.
16. Not all who wander are lost. It’s OK to step outside of the lines in order to follow what your inner wisdom is suggesting you do with your life. It’s not that you are lost when you wander; it’s just the opposite.
17. Unrequited love is painful but not romantic. Love is meant to be shared. When you give your heart to someone who is uninterested, it will only result in loneliness and disappointment.
18. There is nothing more pointless, or common, than doing the same things and expecting different results. This truth also provides a very good definition for insanity.
19. We flee from the truth in vain. Somewhere along the way there are truths about ourselves we never allow to see the light of day. But remember, we cannot change or heal what we do not acknowledge.
20. It’s a poor idea to lie to oneself. While good intentions are important, living the truth has far greater value in our life.
21. We are all prone to the myth of the perfect stranger. It takes maturity, patience and trust to look across the fence and know your grass is greener.

22. Love is never lost, not even in death. To lose what means the most to us is the ultimate test of helplessness and survival.

23. Nobody likes to be told what to do. Rather than telling my children what to do, my job as a parent is to give them hope that they can be successful in a very uncertain world.
24. The major advantage of illness is that it provides relief from responsibility. In an ironic twist, the days we feel under the weather can be some of the healthiest for us.

25. We are afraid of the wrong things. For the first 18 years of my marriage I feared the wrong things. I should have feared losing my wife and family instead, because I almost did.

26. Parents have a limited ability to shape children’s behavior, except for the worse. Our hope is our children will have the self-love and confidence needed to live a rich and full life. With that said, we are far from being perfect parents.

27. The only real paradises are those we have lost. Too often we may view the past with a special fondness, perhaps reverence, too. But the past for most of us may be no different than the present, it just feels that way.

28. Of all the forms of courage, the ability to laugh is the most profoundly therapeutic. Yes, things can go wrong in life. Yes, there are issues and problems to solve. But we have a choice.
29. Mental health requires freedom of choice. No matter how bleak or desperate a situation may appear to look, we always have choices.

30. Forgiveness is a form of letting go, but they are not the same thing. Don’t just let go, forgive and truly surrender the feelings of anger and pain. This may seem difficult, almost impossible, until you attempt to do it.

I wrote this article on FNB for Realmdigital the company I have been interning with and felt I should let you guys read about it as well as I find it pretty interesting.

FNB seems to be ‘the bank’ to bank with in the 21st century. In line with the release of their new FNB Banking App, they have decided to go against the grain and provide their FNB Gold and Platinum Cheque Account holders with smart phones and tablets at a reduced rate. This reduction could be as much as 35% on these devices. Not bad when you looking at paying R4, 800 (16% off) for an iPad2 as opposed to R5, 699 or R1, 680 (35% off) for a HTC Wildfire S which normally retails for around R2, 600. Customers who wish to take up this offer should SMS "phone" or "tablet" to 32812 (standard network rates apply).

FNB have taken note of the transition from “traditional banking” to online banking and are vigorously promoting day to day banking via electronic banking channels, such as the FNB Banking App, Internet and Mobile banking, as well as paying for your goods with your card rather than cash.

The FNB App allows customers to do:

• Day to day banking
• View Forex rates
• Buying Prepaid airtime
• Make calls within South Africa at the cheapest rates
• Make cheap international calls with no roaming activation
• Find FNB branches and ATMs using location-based services

Will this increase the mobile adoption rate?

With this latest innovation from FNB the mobile adoption rate in South Africa is predicted to grow at phenomenal rates. But what does this mean for brands and consumers? Brands have to work on including a mobile strategy into their traditional marketing strategy. They need to realise that although the feature phone usage in South Africa highly dominates the smart phone and tablet usage, innovations such as these are set to change the mobile landscape. Niche brands need to start targeting their consumers via their smartphones and tablets. Apps are the way forward in this mobile landscape and companies like FNB have realised this early in the game by providing FNB clients with a FNB mobile banking app. You will also begin to see more brands embarking on strategies for Mobile Commerce targeting the smart shopper.

Kartik Mistry, Product Owner at FNB Core Banking Solutions explains that "this initiative is aimed at putting smartphones and tablets, including the world's most popular tablet, the Apple iPad 2 in the hands of our customers in order to promote access to electronic banking. A key feature of this offer is the affordability both in terms of bank fees and mobile devices. “

South African brands and consumers who have their doubts should keep an eye out for the increase in smart phone and tablet statistics. If you don't own a tablet and still complain about how terrible your bank is then you should highly consider moving to FNB today!

Elephants Eye

Last week Sunday I decided it was a good idea to go on a little hike. Summer is on its way and no one wants to be the fatty on the beach.  Junk and winter foods are definitely on their way out (with much resistance from my belly and persistence from my head) and hiking, walks and all other forms of exercising are in.

Anyway, so I contacted my cousin and he asked another friend to join us, Daniel and off we went. It was a fairly slow climb, with my cousin running circles around me (him being the fit one) and me stopping every so often stopping for a long drink of water.

When we were ¾’s of the way up we found a mini waterfall and as it was fairly hot we all put our heads under and filled our water bottles. I did regret the idea to wet my hair about 15 minutes later as the weather turned almost immediately and I was then wet and cold. We eventually reach the eye and decided to sit and rest for 30 minutes and look at the views.

The boys kept saying we should run down for fun and because the clouds were starting to roll in. I thought this was a silly idea and couldn’t understand why they would want to do it. Of course being competitive I joined in on the running down and it turns out I don’t hate running I love it but only running down a mountain.

I did learn one thing though, after being seriously stiff for around 3days afterwards, stretching before and after is essential if you need to walk for the next 3 days.

Only bad things happen quickly…

This statement is not something I can readily agree with by any means. I mean the saying “time flies when you’re having fun” is far truer and holds far more value for me in this situation.

I’m pretty sure any victim of violence would tell you how seconds felt like hours and hours felt like days and anything longer felt like a life time. I cannot think or get my head any around any bad situation that has taken place in a short amount of time.

I mean even being shouted at by a friend or your parents or whomever it may be seems to go on forever so much so that often your brain tries to take you to a place that doesn’t seem as bad as where you are at that point in time or perhaps that’s just my brain.

I’m not sure who believes this concept but if anyone can give me one decent example of what, when and where “bad things happen quickly” I will eat this page right off my computer cause I can’t think of one…

Be bold and mighty, forces will come to your aid

Generally this is actually true those who make bold moves or statements always seem to have a little possie behind them routing for them to be right. 

My mom has always taught me if you do or say something with confidence people will immediately believe you and see you as a person of authority and throughout my life I have used this advice to my own advantage, never taking advantage of it but still managing to use it to get me further in life.

Strong people will never stand alone and will always have the right people surrounding them. It may be scary to be brave and make bold and mighty steps but with time you will learn that even though in the begging you may feel along and terrified in the long run you will always have people standing by your side.

Whether you are successful in what you do or not, people always look up to bold leaders and respect them for taking the leap they were not willing to take. So never be afraid to do things out side of the box, be BOLD be MIGHTY and take the leap because were ever your journey may lead you there will ALWAYS be a group of people willing to support you.

Impi Challenge

Woke up at around 7:30 yesterday morning (yes way too early for a Saturday) as I had to be on the road at just before 9am for the Impi Challenge and as I was house sitting I needed to get the dogs fed and make sure everything was fine before I could leave.



Eventually we were on our way (my aunt and uncle) to watch my cousins and a few friends make idiots of themselves. The Impi Challenge is a 12.5km run, through several farms near Paarl and with many obstacles along the way with some being called the ‘snake pit’ and ‘lily pads’.

On arrival we say my cousins busy being kitted up with paint and other accessories for the race and then they were off. We walked along the spectators root (me with my two baby cousins taken turns on my back-my own Impi Challenge) to get to the Lily Pads as we heard it was the funniest obstacle.

Basically the lily pads are pieces of wood strung together with string that create a floating bridge over water. The idea is to run very fast over the planks so you do not sink and trust me it is much easier than it sounds.

After several laughs we decided to head back to watch the guys come in. Finally it was time to get some food and a beer or two for the champions of the day. All in all it was a fun filled day that made me think that perhaps next year I could get involved.

Sense of a Goose

Next Autumn, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in a “V” formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

• People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

• If we have the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are heading the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

• It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

• What message do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally – and this is important – when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of the formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their own group.

• If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

The Last Class

Whilst deciding what to write I stumbled across this short story and to me it felt like it tied in perfectly with what is about to take place in our lives as we all finish our final year of studies. There is only a handful of weeks left before we complete our degrees and if we have not done enough this will fall upon our own heads as we were given the opportunity to forge our own paths in terms of our education.This short story helped me to realise that in the end it is up to us to do our best and no one else.
 
Told by a little Alsatian

This morning I was very late getting to school and I was afraid of being scolded because M. Hamel had said he would be quizzing us on the participles and I didn’t know the first word. It occurred to me that I might skip class and run afield. The day was warm and bright, the blackbirds were whistling at the edge of the woods, and in the meadow behind the sawmill the Prussians were practicing. Everything seemed much nicer than the rule of participles; but I resisted the urge and hurried toward school.

Passing the town hall, I saw a group of people gathered in front of the notice board. For the past two years that has been where we’ve gotten all the bad news, the battles lost, the demands, the commands; and I thought without stopping: “What now?” Then as I ran by, the blacksmith Wachter, who was there with his apprentice reading the postings, called to me: “Don’t rush, boy; you have plenty of time to get to school!” I thought he was teasing me, and I was out of breath as I reached M. Hamel’s.

Normally, when class starts, there is noise enough to be heard from the street as desks are opened and shut, students repeat lessons together and loudly with hands over ears to learn better, and the teacher’s big ruler knocking on the tables: “Let’s have some quiet!” I was hoping to use the commotion to sneak into place unnoticed, but today all was silent, like a Sunday morning. Through the open window I saw my classmates already in their seats and M. Hamel, who went back and forth with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to open the door and enter amidst this great calm. You can imagine how flushed and fearful I was!

But no, M. Hamel looked at me evenly and said gently: “Take your seat quickly, little Franz, we were starting without you.” I hopped the bench and sat at my desk right away. Only after I had settled in did I notice our teacher had on his fancy green coat, his ruffled shirt and the embroidered silk cap he only wore on inspection or award days. Also, the whole room seemed oddly solemn. But what surprised me most was at the back of the room where the benches were always empty now sat people of the village, quietly like us: the old Hauser with his tricorn, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and some others. Everyone looked sad; and Hauser had brought his old primer, worn at the edges, which he held open on his knees with his glasses resting on the pages.

While I was taking all this in, M. Hamel stood by his chair and in the same grave, gentle voice with which he had welcomed me told us: “Children, this is the last time I will teach the class. Orders from Berlin require that only German be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine … the new teacher arrives tomorrow. Today is your last French lesson. I ask for your best attention.” These words hit me hard. Ah! Those beasts, that’s what they had posted at the town hall. My last French lesson …

Yet I hardly knew how to write! I had learned nothing! And I would learn no more! I wished now to have the lost time back, the classes missed as I hunted for eggs or went skating on the Saar! My books that I had always found so boring, so heavy to carry, my grammar text, my history of the saints—they seemed to me like old friends I couldn’t bear to abandon. It was the same with M. Hamel. The idea that he was leaving made me forget his scolding and the thumps of his ruler. Poor man!

It was in honor of this final class that he had worn his best Sunday outfit, and now I understood why the old men from the village were gathered at the rear of the class. They were there to show that they too were sorry for neglecting to attend school more. It was also a way to thank our teacher of forty years for his fine service, and to show their respect for the country that was disappearing.

I was pondering these things when I heard my name called. It was my turn to recite. What wouldn’t I have given to say that vaunted rule of participles loudly, clearly, flawlessly? Instead I tangled the first words and stood, hanging onto my desk, my heart pounding, unable to raise my head. I heard M. Hamel say: “I won’t scold you, my little Franz, you must already feel bad … That’s how it is. We always say: ‘Bah! I have time. I’ll learn “tomorrow.”’ And now you see it has come … Ah! It is Alsace’s great trouble that she always puts off learning until tomorrow. Now people will be justified in saying to us: ‘How come you pretend to be French and yet don’t know how to read or write your language!” You are not the most guilty of this, my poor Franz. We all have good reason to blame ourselves.

Your parents did not press you to learn your lessons. They’d prefer to have you work in the fields or at the mill to earn some more money. Myself, I am not blameless. Haven’t I sent you to water my garden instead of work? And when I wanted to go fishing, didn’t I give you the day off?"

Then, from one thing to another, M. Hamel spoke of the French tongue, saying it was the most beautiful language in the world, the most clear, the most sensible. That we must keep it ourselves and never forget it, because when a people if they hold onto their language it is like holding the prison key …

Then he took a grammar text and read us our lesson. I was stunned to realize how well I understood it. Everything he said seemed so easy, easy! I believe also that I had never listened so well and that he had never explained to us so patiently. One might think that the poor man wished to give us all his knowledge, to fill our heads in a single try.

After grammar, we moved on to writing. For this day, M. Hamel had prepared new examples, written in beautiful, round script: France, Alsace, France, Alsace. They looked like little flags floating about the classroom, hung from the rods atop our desks. It was something to see everyone set to our work, and so silently! The only sound was the scratching of pens on paper. Once some beetles flew in but no one paid them any attention, not even the little ones who were assiduously tracing their figures with one heart, one mind, as if this also were French … On the roof the pigeons cooed softly. When I heard them I said to myself: “Will they be forced to sing in German, too?” From time to time when I’d raise my eyes from my writing I would see M. Hamel still in his chair staring at the objects around him as if he wanted to memorize exactly how things were in the little schoolhouse.

Imagine! For forty years, he’d been in the same place with his yard before him and all the class likewise. The benches and desks were polished, worn with use; the walnut trees had grown, and the hops he’d planted himself now climbed around the windows to the roof. How heart-breaking it must be for the poor man to leave all these things, to hear his sister packing their things in the room above.

They would have to leave the country the next day, forever.

All the same, he bravely kept class to the very end. After writing, we had a history lesson, then the little ones sang together their BA BE BI BO BU. At the rear of the room, old Hauser put on his glasses and, holding his primer in both hands, chanted the letters with them. It was obviously a great effort for him; his voice trembled with emotion and it was so funny to hear him that we wanted to laugh and cry. Ah! I do remember that last class…

Suddenly the church clock struck noon. During the Angelus we could hear the Prussians’ trumpets beneath the windows as they returned from their exercises… M. Hamel rose, colorless, from his chair. Never had he appeared so large.

“My friends, say, my, I … I…” But something choked him. He couldn’t say it.

He turned to the board, took a piece of chalk and, using all of his strength, he wrote as large as he could:

“VIVE LA FRANCE!”

He stayed there, his head resting on the wall, and wordlessly used his hand to motion to us: “It’s over … you may go.”

Let us be HORNY in peace

Last week Thursday, 22 September 2011, was National Rhino Day. I have felt heart sore since the breaking news of how far the rhino poaching has come over the past few years, in 2008 12 rhino’s were killed in 2011 a rhino is killed every 22minutes!!

When I found out that our city had decided to pull together and have a friendly protest, I immediately got involved and that morning instead of pulling on a green shirt o support our rugby team, I wore a red t-shirt to support the rhino’s.

I arrived at the protest which didn’t seem to have a great turn out but I wasn’t leaving so I grabbed a sign and started to sing along with the people who were there. After about an hour the group of protestors had grown significantly and we now had a huge man made rhino in the middle of our group, cars were hooting and people were cheering us on. It was such a special feeling and so incredible to have been given the chance to be part of this amazing cause.

When it was time for the formal speakers to give us the facts, Searle Durman from Aquila came up and spoke about Absa, the incredible rhino who survived for 5 days after his horn was HACKED off by poachers, my eyes filled with tears and my emotions took over.

When the protest was over I was sad and hurting for these beautiful creatures but I also felt a huge amount of HOPE for their future something I never would have expected to feel.

Please guys you can help in your own small way all you have to do is sign up and get a Woolworths ‘My Planet’ card and specify that it must be the one that helps the rhino’s it will take 5minutes out of your life and it could help to save a life of a rhino.    

Watch this Space

I have spent my life growing into the woman I have become; I am still growing and learning everyday but am ay the point where I am able to make an impact!

I have always been open minded and for me this is the only way to move forward, judging people will get you nowhere, and it will get you there VERY QUICKLY! Accepting people is easier than rejecting them because by accepting them, you are helping both of you to move forward in this world. Rejecting someone only puts another one-way street in the street plan that is your life and we all know how difficult and irritating it is to have one-way streets one after another, you will never get anywhere.

So that’s where my (for lack of a better word) ‘creative mind’ is at this point in time; now when I think about my ‘scholar mind’ that poor part of my mind has been hacked at for the past 24 years and in some ways coming to the end of my studies makes this part of my mind think it can have a break now, little does it know…I am about to hit the REAL working world and I plan to hit the ground running, so all I can say is…Watch this space.

My favourite “Cat in the Hat” book

This is a topic I have been dreading as I didn’t know what I could write about because I have NEVER read a “Cat in the Hat” book; Ok, I skimmed through “Green Eggs and Ham” once but I just never got into the style of the book.

The images never appealed to me at all and I found the wording…boring. This of course is my own opinion and I do know many people who loved the books as children and some still do. I also understood that each book had a unique message but this still didn’t make the books anymore appealing to me.

NOW, a book that does stick out in my mind from my childhood is, “Me Too. “Me Too” was a book about a brother and his little sister. It shows how the little sister wants to do everything her bother does and each time he does or gets something she squeals, “Me Too”.

She doesn’t get anything and seems to be very sad until the end of the book where her big brother has a big lolly pop and she says “Me Too” and her big brother turns around and says “You Too”.

The reason why this book appeals to me is because I gave an older brother and I always felt like that little sister mouse always saying, “Me Too”.

Weekend Away

After a loooong day of learning at the WTF media conference this year, I drove home got into another car with my brother and drove directly to Langebaan. This weekend had been planned in advance as a good family friend was down from New Zealand.

So off we went and on arrival we were welcomed with a hot meal and friendly, familiar faces. We sat chatting for a while but most of the group were dog tired after a jam packed week of work so headed off to bed rather early.

Saturday was spent relaxing and just easing into the weekend. Lots of food and conversation were readily available and this made for the perfect relaxation setting. The best was that if I needed a solo mission I could walk upstairs to my room which had a stunning balcony overlooking the golf course and most of Langebaan; needless to say I abused the beautiful surroundings for a good session of RnR and magazine gossip catch-up.

Then Sunday hit us and we knew the weekend was almost over but we also knew that we had been blessed with sunshine, laughter and an awesome amount of relaxation which was needed all round. We packed and tidied and headed down to the lagoon for one last little walk in the sand before heading back to the city below the table.

It's a Matter of Fact

Just a couple of interesting facts I found on good old Google that interested me and decided to share with you guys:

1.    Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled ’ Gentlemen Only..Ladies Forbidden’…and thus the word GOLF entered into the English Language.

2.    The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

3.    Everyday more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.

4.    Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

5.    The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this…) The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

6.    I n the 1400’s a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have “the rule of thumb”.

7.    Coca-Cola was originally green.

8.    Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

9.    A Blue whales tongue weighs more than an elephant.

10.  Bruce Lee was so fast that actually had to slow a film down so you could see his moves. That’s the opposite of the norm.

11.  Bone is five times stronger than steal.

12.  Tiger shark embryos fight each other in their mother's womb. The survivor is born.

13.  You grow by about 8mm (O.3in) every night when you are asleep, but shrink to your former height the following day.

14.  It would take 1,200,000 mosquitoes, each sucking once, to completely drain the average human of blood.

15.  A normal person will die from total lack of sleep sooner than from starvation. Death will occur about 10 days without sleep, while starvation takes a Few weeks.

16.  About 75 acres of pizza are eaten in the U.S. everyday.

17.  If you are locked in a completely sealed room, you will die of carbon dioxide poisoning first before you will die of oxygen deprivation.

18.  315 entries in Webster's 1996 Dictionary were misspelled.

19.  When glass breaks, the cracks move at speeds of up to 3,000 miles per hour.

20.  During the 2,475,576,000 seconds of the average length life, averagely we speak 123,205,750 words, have sex 4,239 times, and shed 121 pints of tears.

And thats a FACT!

Why I have conversations

I have conversations to meet people; I have conversations to get to know those people that I meet. Whilst having these conversations I decide what type of person they are and if they are the kind of person I would like to have more conversations with in the future.

I have conversations to learn and to further my knowledge in this life. I have conversations to make those I love know I care. I have conversations to help those I love when they are in need. I have conversations to make people laugh and smile.

Sometimes I have a conversation when I am angry to get rid of my anger so that my body does not need to deal with the stress – I do not have these conversations enough as I don’t like confronting people and therefore kept the stress all pent up inside, never a good plan.

I have conversations with little children and babies in order to teach them new words and things sometimes I have these conversations with adults cause they also need to learn new things.

Conversations are there to make people feel happy or sad, angry or free. Conversations are there to teach people new things and to bring people together. If I never had a conversation I don’t think I’d be where I am today and I would definitely not be studying Public Relations.  

Why are we killing our planet??

Beautiful

Being the animal lover that I am, the current issue of animal poaching has seriously affected me. I am constantly brought to tears by the cruelty man has inflicted on these beautiful creatures and I wish there was more I could do. I have purchased my Woolworths card that donates money to the Rhino fund and I am planning on taking part in the walk to parliament
on the 22^nd of this month in order to gain attention from those at the top on the matter of the rhino poaching. I still feel this is not enough and if I had the funds I feel there is so much more I could do but creating awareness is the most I can do for now.

WHY??????????

Here is my latest issue; a girl I know fairly well, Megan Lategan has been working with Cheetahs on a game farm for the past few years now and she has recently had a poaching incident which I feel is far worse than any animal lover should ever have to experience. Here heartfelt words really touched me and made my heart ache for her. Read her story about her beloved cheetah Thulile here http://www.letterdash.com/AfricaNotion/my-nightmare-comes-true-my-cheetah-is-gone

We need to start making a difference in our world. Every small bit counts. So get involved and make your mark NOW!!!