My First Wine Tasting Experience

“Thrill your taste buds” was exactly what I intended to do when I ventured off to Stellenbosch on the 14th August 2010, to experience an unforgettable wine tasting first. My first stop was JC Le Roux, home of sparkling wines and the first cellar devoted solely to the production of sparkling wines in South Africa. This is where I was introduced to a range of “bubbly”and my favourite aspect was being able to taste 5 different wines paired up with a range of delectable nougat and fudge. This was definitely a great enjoyment for the ladies and one that deserved to be savoured.
Our tour guide explained the process of how exactly the wines were made, bottled, rotated into a specific angel and stored. This was indeed a timelessly process and here the saying that goes good wine takes time was in order.

We were also shown the process of “le sabrage” which means opening a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine with a sabre and how it was originally done years ago to signify the celebration of a ceremonial occasion. That also signified the end of our tour at JC Le Roux, our next farm was Berg Kelder which was only 10 min away and was sure to be another fascinating experience.

Our tour began inside the Berg Kelder cellar which is where we were given an introduction into where the wines originated from. Something interesting I learned was that a Pinotage 2008 or Cabinet 2005 means that the grapes were picked in that year and went through a process of stomping, being placed in wood and simply waiting. Red wines indeed had a more complicated process but it is important to note that the older the year on the bottle, the better the taste of the red wine. Wines that seem to overwhelm your taste buds means that the wine is young and was not in wood for a very long time.

At Berg Kelder we also tasted 5 types of wines, 2 being red, the other 2 white and a delicious dessert wine. All of these wines had their unique taste and texture and by smelling it you were able to identify a series of elements. Wine is a personal thing because every individual taste and smells something different, but after our tasting at Berg Kelder my senses seemed to have shut down, luckily I had a designated driver who was able to get me home safely.
After our visit to Berg Kelder it was off to Franshoek where the weather was amazing, the air was clean and the feeling of tranquillity had me feeling like I wanted to stay there all day.

My Experience in Pretoria and JHB

As research assistants working under the supervision of Prof. Nirvana Bechan, we had been instructed to conduct interviews with various ambassadors in Pretoria. The research topic that was under discussion was nuclear exploration, particularly the affects that it has on international communications and how countries such as China, Netherlands and France are affected by North Korea and Iran who are actively involved in nuclear exploration.
The first step was to compile a formal letter that provided information such as who we were, our request to interview the ambassador and what the purpose of the research was. It was indeed a topic that scared many countries and resulted in a negative response. Traviss and myself also compiled a list of embassy’s and proceeded to making contact with them. At first it seemed like an impossible task as ambassadors where either too busy, overseas or on holiday and could not accommodate us in the first week of October 2010. After weeks of phone calls and correspondence via email we successfully confirmed four embassy’s in Pretoria which were Argentina, Netherlands, South Korea and Norway. We compiled a list of questions which would be directed to the ambassadors, these dealt with three sub topics which were international relations, the activities of an ambassador and nuclear exploration.
I think the biggest motivator for myself and Traviss was the fact that we would have the opportunity to travel to Johannesburg by air, be exposed to different cultures and meet ambassadors of different countries. Prof. Nirvana Bechan confirmed that we would be going to Johannesburg on the 5th of October 2010 on the 05:45 flight and would return on 6th October 2010 on the 19:00 flight. We had been booked into the Southern Sun Hotel where each of us had our own room with a flat screen television and a bath and shower, but nothing could replace my bed and pillow at home when I woke up several times in the same night. My experience on the flight was so exciting, everyone around me was sleeping and I was having an adrenaline rush, looking outside through the window and patiently waiting for takeoff.
The experience has taught me so much, firstly when I was younger, I always wanted to be an air hostess and on the morning of the 5th October I realised it was one of the worst jobs one could do and that these individuals were nothing more than glorified waitresses having to deal with impatient and difficult individuals on the aircraft.
On a lighter note, we had such a lovely and spacious car that safely took us to Pretoria with the help of a GPS (you saved our lives). The interviews with the ambassadors and diplomats provided us with such knowledgeable information that we would not be able to find in any academic material and has greatly improved our interview skills. We had learnt valuable information like Ambassadors and diplomats only stay in a country for a period of 3-5 years and have to return to the country that they are originally from and apply with Foreign Affairs to be sent to another country. The job truly requires the ambassador to have passion for people which was evident in every interview, even though our cultures and backgrounds we different there was a common understanding. These ambassadors and diplomats are really passionate about their countries and genuinely wanted to help us in gathering sufficient information on our research topic.
When interviewing the ambassadors one realises how severely these countries are affected by North Korea’s involvement in nuclear exploration giving particular reference to what Ambassador Kim had said about a South Korean house wife who stepped on the North Korean border and was murdered which gives us an indication of no respect for human life because the people of North Korea are starving and their focus is on producing nuclear arms.
Johannesburg and Pretoria is so different from Cape Town, all the roads look the same and there are so many one ways. There are huge buildings everywhere and everyone is in a rush to some or other place. In Cape Town all you have to do is look to the mountain to find your way home and travelling to a destination does not have more than 2-3 different routes.
Overall I had an amazing learning experience and I look forward to travelling the world in future and meeting people of diverse cultures.

I need a holiday

This has been such a long year and so incredibly busy, all I really want to do is go on holiday to a quiet place where there are waterfalls and the sound of birds can be heard all around.

I feel physically and mentally exhausted and a few days aways from all this madness can only be good. So I am searching for the perfect location and I have come across a few namely "the round house" in Gaansbaai, Dolphin holiday resort, the famous Goudini Spa and much more.

So I am mentally preparing myself and my pocket for the holiday which I will be going on very soon.

Friendship poem by Angela Lee Hillsley

This is a such a beautiful friendship poem...

You are friendly, kind and caring
Sensitive, loyal and understanding
Humorous, fun, secure and true
Always there... yes that's you.

Special, accepting, exciting and wise
Truthful and helpful, with honest blue eyes
Confiding, forgiving, cheerful and bright
Yes that's you... not one bit of spite.

You're one of a kind, different from others
Generous, charming, but not one that smothers
Optimistic, thoughtful, happy and game
But not just another... in the long chain.

Appreciative, warm and precious like gold
Our friendship won't tarnish or ever grow old
You'll always be there, I know that is true
I'll always be here... always for you.

- Written and owned by Angela Lee Hillsley -

Sadness and Depression

I am sure that all of us can agree, that we all feel sad at some point and it is a normal emotion that can make life more interesting. Sadness almost always accompanies a lose of some sort. Sadness helps us to appreciate happiness and when our mood changes from sadness to happiness, the sense of contrast adds to the enjoyment of the mood.

There is a big difference between sadness and depression - these are the signs to look out for.

Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
Restlessness, irritability
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.

If you are experiencing a few of these symptoms at the same time, it would be wise to visit your family doctor.

Why you should never lose hope

Do you have a dream. I do and no matter how hard things seem to become I hold on to that in which my heart desires to do.

Hope is a goal setter
Hope sets the goal for some future event to come to pass. Whether you realise it or not, you have the power to hope for something better.

Hope makes you feel better
It can be seen as medicine for the soul, if you are stuck in a terrible situation - starting hoping for things to change.

Hope is a templete for faith
Hope sets the goal and the templete for you to believe.

Hope builds the optimism for the future
Hope is having faith and knowing that at some point you will experience your future dream.

Watch this space

A star is Born
A successful business women
and....A change maker

The last lecture

I cannot believe that our BTech year is almost year and in the past two weeks we have had many "last lectures" and although it is sad to say goodbye, it is time to go out into the real world.

I have learned so much on my journey and met so many interesting people but everything has to come to an end at some point. Just as one door closes, another will be opened and the learning begins again.

I have enjoyed everything about this year and now we have come to not only the last lecture but the very last media studies blog.

Farewell everyone...

My favourite Cat in the Hat book is...

The Cat in the Hat: The Fish tale, I think it is so cute and amusing at the same time. The story tells the tale of a fussy, rule obeying fish who is the classic comic foil to the unrestrained Cat.

In the story the fish explains his experiences and day with the Cat in the Hat. I really enjoyed this story and they way in which it was conveyed - you could allow your imagination to run wild and the possibilities would be endless.

Why I have conversations?

I have conversations because I love talking, talking and more talking. I enjoy listening to other people as well because we have such diverse people in this world. I have conversations with my friends when I miss them, am troubled or simply just an exchange of interesting facts.

I have conversatiosn with my parents because they are wise and knowledgable about a great deal of topics and issues.

I think we would not be able to function without some form of conversation wheather it is via email, facebook, twitter, face to face or over the telephone.

Write you bucket list/ 100 things to do before you die?

1. Sing at the Baxter Theatre
2. Walk on the moon
3. Get married
4. Have children
5. Skydiving
6. Visit Thailand
7. Visit the Great Wall of China
8. Pyramids of Egypt
9. Go Shark cage diving
10. Shop at Milan
11. Own a flat
12. Purchase a Ferrari
13. Bungee Jumping
14. Travel through Europe
15. Own my own Events Company
16. Own shares in a few large corporations
17. Be Wealthy
18. Go to the Carnival at Rio de Janeiro
19. Climb the Eiffel tower
20. Swim with penguins
21. Travel all around the world
22. Learn a new language
23. Go snowboarding
24. Water rafting
25. Snorkelling in the Sea
26. Learn horseback riding
27. Pursue my passion
28. Make a difference in someone’s life
29. Write a book
30. Fly in a hot air balloon sipping on Champagne
31. Experience a Sunrise and Sunset in Mauritius
32. Donate money to children who are starving
33. Witness solar eclipse
34. Buy my boyfriend a guitar
35. Dye my hair purple
36. Go Champagne tasting in France
37. Learn to play the drums
38. Take up dance classes
39. Take up an art class
40. Go on a road trip
41. Be featured in the Cape Times or Cape Argus for a good deed
42. Bake a cake for someone special
43. Take up cooking classes
44. Do something good for at least 5 strangers
45. Camp out in the wild
46. Visit a waterfall
47. Walk in a valley
48. See snow and make angels with my body
49. Volunteer at an NGO
50. Be a vegetarian for 30 days
51. Watch cherry blossoms in Japan
52. Visit South Korea
53. Be an audience member at the Oprah Winfrey show
54. Live in an Igloo for a week
55. Taste snails
56. Taste Oysters
57. Be the Head of a Department at a Tertiary institution
58. Give someone a car that really needs it
59. Create global change
60. Do something completely crazy and out of character
61. Camp outside my house
62. Visit a Spa
63. Go on the MSC Ship
64. Experience an out of body experience
65. Forgive everyone who has hurt me and caused great unhappiness
66. Fly business class
67. Visit a volcano
68. Have dinner with a well known actor
69. Learn sign language
70. See the Mona Lisa in Paris
71. Go to a costume party and dress up as an Alice in Wonderland character
72. Own a Labrador
73. Go on a romantic getaway
74. Do a somersault
75. Visit a castle in England
76. Ride a roller coaster at Disney World
77. Invent something
78. Publish a magazine
79. Star in an American movie
80. Visit Hollywood
81. Book in at the Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town
82. Wear red lipstick in public
83. Design my very own bag
84. Learn to ski
85. Karate
86. Compose a song
87. Drive a sports car
88. Ride the world’s largest Ferris wheel
89. Watch a rocket launch
90. The Dome of Rock, Israel
91. Learn to juggle
92. Make a list of 100 books I would like to read
93. Watch 10 of my favourite movies in one day
94. Learn to say no without feeling guilty
95. Get a Masters
96. Donate blood
97. Publish a poetry book
98. Shop at Harrods
99. Create a website
100. Become a billionaire

One week to go

I really can’t believe that in just one week my Tech career will be over, it’s actually scary and exciting at the same time. I can’t believe how quickly 4 years has gone by, how I have matured and the learning that I have encountered. Now I stand at the cross over from student life to employee life and my learning begins once again. Closing one chapter and opening another to great opportunities and adventures. Here’s to 4 years of learning and a lifetime of working...laughs

My big fat BIG Dream

To be a successful business women and own an events company

To travel abroad and meet people of diverse cultures

To live a fulfilled life and help others whenever I am able to do so

Use my voice and create change in a world that is so corrupt

To believe in myself and continue to impart knowledge from others and experiences

To set goals and achieve them no matter how long it may take...

But most importantly to never stop dreaming big and thinking big because that is how dream are achieved.

Conventional is a good fallback position isn’t it?

I totally disagree, as conventional is a safe approach to situations and life, knowing exactly what is going to happen and when. I think this prevents us from growing as human beings and exceeding things beyond our expectations.

Change is very scary and many of us may feel like being in our comfort zones is the best option.

But what would life be like if we did not take risks and take that giant leap of faith. It is important to be the best person that you can be in life and use every opportunity in life to grow and gain as much knowledge as possible.

You cannot chase two rabbits at the same time

I think that everything in life takes time and chasing two rabbits at the same time could be really exhausting. Personally I would concentrate on one goal, give it all my energy and successfully achieve it.

At the end of the day it also depends on what your rabbits are – if something simple than yes it can be done at the same time like boiling rice and watching your favourite television programme.

At the end of the day it depends on the person and how much they really want to achieve something. To some chasing two rabbits at the same time is possible while others prefer to chase one rabbit at a time.

“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when you only have one idea”

So I guess you think you have the best idea when you can develop something within minutes and rush off to present it. This could at times cause more harm than good as ideas need thinking and brainstorming.

As human beings we are so quick to move forward with an idea that it might be incomplete or not perfect.

You first idea might not always be the best idea but from this great ideas can be developed by bouncing ideas off others and asking advice. It is always important to be prepared and have a plan B.
Always remember to develop more than one idea –

Benefits of laughing

Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.


Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Trust

I am sure that many of us can agree that trust is a vital aspect in our lives, it can be defined as being both an emotional and logical act. Emotionally it is where you expose your vulnerabilities to people, where as logically you have assessed the probabilities of gain and loss and predicted that the person in question will behave in a predictable manner.

But what happens when someone breaks that trust? Can trust be restored? Well personally I would not trust someone again who has broken my trust because many people do not realise how precious it is and your relationship can never be the same again. Almost 80% of the time the person who has been betrayed never completely trust another person again which is a real shame.

So value trust in all your relationships as it is increasingly hard to restore.

Self Belief

Self belief is very similar to self confidence and it moves between two extremes.

"At the low end, where you feel depressed, worthless; everything is difficult or too much trouble; the world looks as if it's closing in on you and is full of people who ignore, abuse or bully you - and you are powerless to do anything about it".

"At the high end, you feel elated; life is full of pleasure and opportunity; people respond positively to you; you have that power to make a difference and you feel really good about yourself"

Generally as we move through life we thrive towards the high end until something happens that completely upsets our equilibrium like we lose our job, fall ill, end a relationship or lose someone close - these things can drag us to the low end and completely deplete our self worth.

Remember when your self belief takes a knock and that inner voice wants you to concentrate on the negative just mentally say thanks but I'm going to look at things in a more positive light. Your brain is so powerful and what you believe, you are able to conceive.

Have you figured out the second head fake?

Randy Pausch is truly an inspirational man who saw the positive against all odds and expressed his ideas and philosophies on life.

Did you figure out the head fake? "It's not about how to achieve your dreams. It's about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way ... the dreams will come to you.

"The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough".

Sometimes we wonder why we have to go through difficult situations and why things have to change as we are comfortable in our current situation. Things happen to get us moving and allow us to push our own boundaries. We also need to realise that sometimes situations become difficult so that we can leave it behind and move forward. I believe that everything happens for a reason in life.

How hard is it to follow instructions

Well instructions can be given in many different contexts, it can be a direction which is a message describing how something is to be done or it could be education which are the activities that impart knowledge or skill.

Instructions can be extremely hard to follow if we do not follow it in the correct manner or listen carefully to what the instructions entail. Instuctions are meant to make life easier and tell you exactly how to join A-B and B-C but sometimes we do not agree with certain instructions or simply want to do things in the manner that we see fit - this is when instructions could become a nightmare as they have been tested before and there are reasons for them on products and appliances.

Sometimes we do not agree with our parents or employers when they instruct us to do certain things or not to do them. Remember instructions are there for a reasons, so that you may follow them.

Andy Warhol said "In future everybody will be famous for 15 min." Why would you be famous?

I am sure that everyone has the burning desire to be famous even if it only lasts for 15 minutes. We are all human and being famous makes us feel important and possibly special because we are being recognised on a huge scale. Most of us wonder what it would be like when we see well known personalities on television and if it is really as glamorous as it seems.

Well if I was given 15 minutes, I would be world famous for empowering people and encouraging them to rise up and become great world leaders. There are to many people in this world that walk around without purpose and this results in crime being committed and people wasting their lives. I would like to tell people, there is hope and a way out of their situation no matter how hard it may seem.

I would be world famous for changing the mind sets of individuals and helping them to lead a better life.

What makes you smile?

I think the smallest things are the ones that I appreciate the most in life. Waking up in the morning and seeing a beautiful day makes me smile, hearing the birds chirp gives me reason to get out of bed in the mornings and be positive about the day ahead. If birds can be so happy...What are you depressed about?

Having family and friends who care about me, gives me the greatest joy because their are so many people who are without loved ones. Seeing my dog jump up and down with joy when she sees me makes me smile as it is amazing to me how ones presence can make a dog so overjoyed.

I smile simply because I am alive, I am healthy and I am on a journey to accomplishing all my goals. I smile because I am happy and I am looking forward to a great future.

A skill set called leadership

Are you a leader? or a follower? Being a leader is something I believe that an individual is born with. The person is born with leadership characteristics such as being able to delegate, take control, be task driven and in all aspects get the job done. These characters are enhanced through knowledge and experience.

Leadership is an important aspect as they create change and find different solutions to problems. It is simply a skill that you have or do not have, remember not everyone in this world can be leaders, who would the leaders manage then?

I believe that being able to effectively manage people, makes a good leader. At the end of the day it all comes down to being able to relate to other individuals and creating change.

My Experience at the Cango Wildlife Ranch

On Sunday 19th September 2010, myself and 3 friends visited the Cango Wildlife Ranch in Outshoorn and the experience was truly an unforgettable one. The Ranch is known to be the Valley of Ancients and an endangered species breeding facility extraordinaire.

The ranch has the oldest and biggest cheetah contact centre world-wide which offers visitors the rare opportunity of interacting with hand-reared cheetahs and getting actively involved in saving this species and others from extinction.

The most amazing experience that I encountered was viewing real life crocodiles being fed, these animals are truly extraordinary and did you know that they are the only reptiles that consider humans as food. I would not want to get to close to those jumping jaws, they are not friendly at all. I also experienced crocodile meat for the first time and it really is not that bad – It Taste like Chicken lol.

I would recommend the ranch to anybody as it is an experience of a lifetime.

Draconian Censorship

"A continous stuggle for freedom of expression" First and foremost I believe that the Media Appeals as well as the Protection of Information Bill should be rejected. It feels as if our country would be taking 5 steps back if these laws are passed. Freedom of expressin would not exist and every indivdual would be living in a world where the truth is hidden and we are living in total ignorance. Do we want our children to grow up not knowing how to use their voices and being able to freely express themselves without judgement or punishment.

Government needs to understand that they simply cannot control everything. Television programmes such as 3rd Degree which is investigative journalism would be banned. How can we be a democratic country if the government wants the media to be silenced and report only on things that they feel are suitable to reveal.

"As individuals we have a right to freedom of expression"

Rock Journalism

The mental journalist is different to your ordinary music journalist, the ordinary music journalist would review the latest jazz album to hit stores over coffee while the mental journalist who you will find alongside another 50 thousand metal heads screaming Maiden Maiden at a life or Death, Promo Tour.

Here are the 10 Commandments of Rock Journalism

Know your music - this is the easiest way to avoid criticism all the time.

Know your metal-Just knowing the theory behind Sabbath will not make you a metal journalist.

Be open to all forms of metal-You may already know this, but metal is the single genre within which one can find the most number of sub-genres.

Listen/watch/read before you write-This is an essential part of metal. Maybe it is due the complexity of the genre. Whatever the reason is please know what you are going to review about.

It’s not just the riff-Metal has a lot of elements within it. The most amateur metal band may produce a demo which can more complex than all the Christina Aguilera albums put together. So, when reviewing metal, draw focus onto every single aspect of it.

Have your say-You are a metal journalist, you are supposed to be loud. And Heck!Why not?Be harsh if you want to, but please be insightful too.

Be you-As obvious as it may sound, being unique is crucial.

Prepared be hammered and hammer back-This is a part of metal. The occassional hammering from whom I would like to call “the third party” may occur at any moment.

Go against the rules-That’s what metal is all about. Do not stick to the traditional “by the couch” reviews.

Finally, Just be Metal-Yes, just be metal, stay true the sound, the vibe, the lyrics, the culture.

My Top 200 Achievements

First and foremost allow me to start by saying that although I have achieved many things in my life, it simply does not reach 200. So I am not even half way there yet but really give me a break...

1. Taking my first step as a baby - there are many people who are unable to walk.
2. Saying my first words
3. Deputy Head Girl in standard 5
4. 2nd place for the top 10 students in standard 5
5. Passing standard 5
6. Being accepted at Parow High School
7. Award for Mathematics & Science and Technology
8. Passing Matric
9. Graduating from High School
10.My First Bike ride without falling
11.My First set of rollerblades - I mastered the art of it
12.Being able to read and write - many people are unable to do this
13.Cracking the technique of working on a PC
14.Awarded a certificate in First Aid
15.Passing First Year of Tertiary education
16.Passing Second Year of Tertiary education
17.Passing Third Year of Tertiary education
18.Being accepted to study my BTech
19.Receiving my Learners
20.Receiving my License
21.Learning the art of using a Mac
22.Using Twitter
23.Joing Facebook
24.Worked at a well known publication company
25.Discovering my voice and using it to inform and to empower
26.Learning the art of being a good leader - Project Management
27.Being able to make strategic decisions
28.Making my own chocolate
29.Arranging my very first event - My own 21st
30.My First Car
31.Joining the gym
32.Reading more and watching less television - accomplished
33.Planning my short term and long term goals
34.Finishing the Project Management assignment on Time
35.Having the opportunity to travel

Feeling the pressure

I am sure that the entire BTech class can agree with me, that the last week of last semester was the most stressful time of our lives. Some of us arrived at tech at 7am in the morning to get a fresh start and others left at 9pm at night. It was a crazy time because it simply felt as if the Project Management Assignment and the second year students drained every last drop of energy we had.

Personally I have never experienced so many challenges and stress while dealing with one task and felt so mentally and physically exhausted. Many negatives could be said about the assignment but allow me to focus on the positive as well. The Project Management assignment has taught to have a huge amount of patience, to delegate, take control and find a solution to every problem. It has indeed build character and I can truly say that the experience is one that I will never forget.

Tips for Saving your pennies

I think we can all agree, that saving is something, not many of us do very well. We are all about the here and now. Lets face it money has always been an issue for students...

Here are some great tips:

1. Nights out can be very expensive so why not have a night in or at a friends house which is much cheaper. Why not take turns to provide food and entertainment this way you'll be saving so much more.

2. Don't feel like you need to buy the latest clothing, CD's or video games - NO ONE will be impressed and besides there are better things to spend your money on.

3. For those of you living alone, learn to cook. Takeaways are so expensive and it is much cheaper to buy ingredients and cook for yourself.

4. Do not forget to make the most of student discounts and offers.

5. If you are driving to university, start a lift club, this way you are driving the exact same route but receving an income from 2 or 3 people.

6. If you really need to hit the clubs and get your body moving, try to do so twice a month and not every single week.

7. You know all those R5, R2 and R1 coins we take for granted, make a point of collecting them and placing them in a jar - You'll be surprised to see how much money you can save.

8. Draw up a budget and allocate money for certain things like R200 for entertainment, R 200 for petrol ect. This way you are able to identify where your money is going.

So thats your tips for saving, it is best to start while you are young before you end up wasting lots and lots of pennies...

What motivates me?

Curiosity

What would life be like if we were unable to learn and explore, being curious teaches us new things everyday.

Beauty

What motivates me is being able to see the beauty not only in this world but in the people I meet.

The Sunrise

Watching a new day begin - motivates me to be positive as yesterday has gone and today I am able to do things differently.

Love and Happiness

Knowing that you are surrounded by people who love you and bring so much happiness to your life is simply priceless.

Family

Makes life a little easier and is your soft place to fall upon when things are tough.

Hugs

Hugs brings a warm embrace and is vital for a human, it makes one feel cared for and loved.

Where has the time gone...

Where has the time gone when we actually enjoyed being at University, sat on the grass and socilized because our classes where 2 hours apart and had minimul work, our lives have simply become to busy. We are always running around, finishing assignments, having to see lectures and having to post that blog before the deadline. The only thing that we do say is "I am so tired, and I want my Wednesday back so I can sleep late"

Most of us simply live rushed lives even when we are at home, where its family functions, friends, weekend jobs and of cause trying to fit in some ME time which evidently seems impossible.

We are actually in the 8th month of the year - Like really where did the time go, we almost at Graduation, receiving Degree's and facing the World of Work. I am amazed at how time has passed so quickly and what most of us are doing is complaining, well I have decided to start enjoying evey moment because you can never bring it back - 2 months of tech, enjoy it guys and realise that everything comes to an end.

We need to embrace life and enjoy the time that seems to be rushing past...

10 Most unexpected consequences of being online

1. When there is a blackout or email crash,the whole world ends as the internet cannot be accessed.

2. Social networking sites such as facebook, twitter and myspace are distracting especially when you have work to do.

3. Downloading an important document, getting to 95% and having your computer freeze - well that means starting all over again.

4. You are the 1000th visitor to the site notification and not being able to get rid of it - how irritating.

5. Everybody knows everybody, you might come across a "freak" and this could be dangerous.

6. Emailing the wrong person - " I hate my boss, he is such a loser" oops

7. Clicking on a link that directs you to a totally different web page.

8. SPAM - Welcome viruses

9. No number policy - Looking for contact details of a company and only being able to find those stupid email contacts.

10. People tend to have no patience as the web is so fast, people simply become annoying because they talk so slow.

What your lips say about you

Ladies I am sure that we have all read those tips on how to dress to impress for a date - don't wear red lipstick it will make you seem desperate or goth eyes make you seem to intense. But now it is official as a study reveals that a womens makeup actually holds truth. Many women revealed that their lipstick colour gave vital indications as to how they were feeling. The survey also indicated that red lips gave an indication of self confidence or an intention to seem more self assurd; nude or bare lips may give an indication that a women is feeling less attrative.

My personal view on this issue, I disagree as I love nude colours as well as light pinks and glossy colours and this definetely does not mean that I am feeling less attrative, maybe your lips could give an indication of your character traits but I do not think it gives an indication of how you are feeling. At the end of the day the lipstick as well as the makeup that you wear is a personal choice and 90% of the time is applied because women like makeup and looking good.

Elephant in the room

We could also say elephant in the sitting room or in the living room or even on the coffee table. "Elephant in the room" is an english idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. The idiomatic expression also applies to an obvious problem or risk no one want to discuss. The idiom is based on the idea that an elephant in a room would be impossible to overlook, thus people within a room who pretend as if the elephant is not there have made a decision/choice. These people choose to concern themselves with small and irrelavant issues instead of dealing with the big looming issue.

I am sure that many of us have experienced an elephant in the room more than one time and choose to ignore certain things because it is upsetting or difficult to speak about. For example a year ago myself and my boyfriends family witnessed a suicide in Port Elizabeth and even though it is a year later this month all of us choose not to speak about it, we sort of speak around the issue like mentioning that we visited Addo Park and Jeffreys Bay but the topic of the suicide remains silent as we feel that many might be offended or taken back to that very moment causing an unpleasant situation. An elephant in the room could also refer to a women being pregnant before she is married or arranged marriages. Many times people are not really happy to speak about there teenage daughters being pregnant or getting married at a very young age.

An elephant in the room is generally ignored by people because it is embarrassing or a taboo. So whatever your elephant is be sure to deal with it head on.

Rushing to everywhere...

Where is everyone rushing to? I ask myself this question so many times especially as I make my way into Cape Town. Like this morning, I was peacefully driving when another driver drove past me in the left lane and rudely crossed over right infront of me. We also get the typical impatient driver who changes lanes continuously from the left to the middle to the right and back again, it just makes me so dizzy at 07:30 in the morning.Why do these people find a need to be so impatient in peak hour traffic where ideally one can only move at 30km/h.

I am sure that this rush and impatient bahaviour was the reason for the accident scene at Panarama today, all I felt was sympathy for that person as paramedics surrounding him/her as they would be going nowhere slowly from that very moment on.

Rushing to everywhere automatically means that we are speeding and creating even a bigger danger for ourselves and others around us. Really it is called setting your alarm, getting an early start and moving on time - But guess what the whole world is always late and take their frustrations out on the folk who are early.

I am sure that if we stick to the basics, we would not have to rush but people are simply lazy and do not have any respect for time. It is so not worth it to rush, it makes me wonder what our lives have become as we are always chasing our tales.

Take it easy and remember that rushing to everywhere is not worth it as it contributes to accidents and people being impolite.

Everyday is a good day

The moment we start living in absolute peace, free of greed, aversion, delusion and accept things without grasping for more or turning away, we adapt the mental state known as Nirvana which means that heart-mind is at peace with what is.

Many of us do not realise that our words shape our feelings, this then has a direct affect on our actions and we can then question if everyday is a good day?
Everyday may not be perfect, filled with fun and excitement but it can be good and a day well utilised. We do not realise that we are to blame for our bad days as we allow people and insignificant things to get us down and spoil a beautiful day.

Make everyday a good day and enjoy life and all it has to offer. Change your attitude and approach to life - You will soon see that everyday can be a good day.

Surviving a break up

Many romantic relationships that start with joy, butterflies and excitement can also end in a painful break up. At some point or another most of us will experience the sorrow of a break up and feel the pain of a broken heart. But only time will heal and while dealing with things it is important to mourn the relationship and slowly work through the steps of mending your broken heart.

It is ok to be sad after a break up, as you are no longer with someone you deeply care for and moving forward without them. Your sadness only means that you enjoyed being with the person and miss them. Do not be afraid to cry, it is a healer and allows you to slowly release the sadness and hurt.

Figure out who are the people that will be supporting you through this hard time and reach out to them. It is important to talk to more than one person as your thoughts can drive you insane.

Remove reminders of the relationship but only when you are ready to do so, get a box and pack away pictures, gifts and reminders of the person and events relating to happy times with them. Now is probably a good time to remove that person as your wall paper and place their emails in another folder where they cannot be easily viewed. The point of packing away reminders is so that you may deal with what is happening in the present and deal with these reminders when you are in a better state of mind.

Remember that it is ok to be selfish and dealing with your own sorrow and dissapointment comes first before your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend.

Minimize your contact with your ex as the end result is to move on with your life, that is of cause if there is no chance of a reconciliation. You might be tempted to call but call a friend instead and tell them how you feel.

Socialize with single friends and go out and just have fun, friends in a relationship or married couples could be to much of a reminder and might make you feel depressed and sad instead of having fun.

Visit friends and family as you probably have not done that in a while, reconnect with them and spend time in a different environment, surrounded by different people.

Do not date immediately after a break up as you need to mourn the past relationship and move past the sorrow. The start of a new relationship while in this state of mind will only be a rebound relationship, is not wise and likely to be unsuccessful.

Finally, learn something from the relationship and think about what went wrong as well as your shortcomings and what you can do better in the future. It is important to learn from ones experiences as engaging in a romantic relationship is a huge emotional investment.

Break ups are really hard and painful but remember, you can overcome them.

Our greatest strengths are our greatest weaknesses

Our strengths and our weaknesses are actually two sides of the same coin. If you look at them, you can see how they fit together and that our weaknesses are simply our strengths out of balance. All of us are born with certain characteristics and others develop over time as we grow older. These traits are not necessarily good or bad, it is what we do with them that make them good or not so good.

Take this for example you might be a creative person and enjoy creating new things but might also be messy and not put things back into there rightful places because you are to busy creating. It just goes to show that every strength has a weakness, they simply go hand in hand.

Every trait that you may have can become out of balance if used in the wrong way, most of us use our traits in different ways. Remember that you to portray your traits negatively at times but remember to reframe your positive and negative traits and turn your negative traits into positive ones. By doing this you are able to balance your life.

Remember your strengths and weaknesses are two sides of the same coin...

Time Management

So we have reached the Btech year and one of the problems that we are sure to be faced with is time management. For most of us, we have to make time for our families, boyfriends, friends and of cause the huge amount of tech work that is sure to come our way over the next few weeks. Let us not fall into the same trap as last semester, stress, stress, and more stress, doing things last minute and not allowing our bodies sufficient sleep. For many of us last semester seemed like a nightmare that we simply could not awake from.

Here are some hints and tips for dealing better with your tech load this semester,
* Do not procrastinate, you are not doing yourself a favour but increasing your levels of stress and anxiety.

* Plan your daily tasks and stick to them

* Allow yourself me time and let your hair down but do not take more time that is really needed, this leads to laziness and eventually doing something else like playing XBox.

* Do a small amount of tech work everyday to decrease your workload,

Also remember to look after yourself by eating a balanced diet and exercising...
Lets get through these next few months and Get that Degree guys!

Try a Cliche

I woke up on Saturday morning ready to get dressed and go for a job and I discovered that it was "Raining cats and dogs", what a huge dissapointed as all my plans for the day was outside and of cause I had my first idols audition, "Break a leg" said my Dad as I rushed to get the perfect outfit, hair and makeup done and out the door.

What a disaster I realised that there were roadworks and traffic was not moving, eventually I got to the venue an hour late greeted by one of the judges who said, "Better late than never" I felt a sense of dispair come over me and all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and cry, "There truly is no place like home" I sighed but tried my best to see the sunshine through the rain.

As I sat there, this young lad came up to me and said well you can't just give up "Are you a man or a mouse" my spirits were immediately lifted. I eventually went for the audition which was a huge success and I progressed to the next round.

So I thought to myself, "All's well ends well" and it surely did...

We all make Mistakes

I am sure that all of us can agree on this - that indeed we all make mistakes, sometimes it is a lesson well learned and sometimes we face regret. But the reality is that it is okay to make mistakes, the world is not going to end and everything happens for a reason.

Sometimes we say hurtful things and wish we could take it back, we break someone's heart or we simply let the family crystal slip and shatter to pieces, these are all mistakes and are irreversible. All we can do is look to the future and learn a valid lesson.

As a young women, I sometimes find it so frustrating and irritating that my parents scream and yell when I have mistake...I mean HELLO - Don't act like you never made a mistake in your life before? I always ask myself why they do that..

My point is that no one is perfect and we live in and unperfect world where everyone does not think or behaviour in the same way. We are unique and have our own way of doing things.

Yes...we make mistakes - but should we be reminded about them forever?

Feelings Follow Behaviour

The saying goes, we are what we do and it is so true. Many times our actions are an indication of what we are feeling. Writing this blog right now, I am experiencing feelings of anger and sadness and it's making me want to scream, cry and just be in another space.

Our behaviour depicts events or situations that we are currently dealing with. Like many teenages have problems and drink and party to forget - people might see them as the life of the party but most of the time, they are dealing with serious issues and hiding behind all the partying.

Our feelings depicts our behaviour and our behaviour shows the world what kind of individual we are. Sometimes we need to replay, sit down and take a deep breath and think about what we are feeling and why at a certain point in time.

Do not act based on your emotions...it could lead to many regrets.

It is better to practice a little that talk a lot

I am sure that all of us have experienced this at some stage in our lives, the joys of people who talk to much and practice what they preach to seldom. So you met this awesome speaker who gives you insight into a number of events and advice on day to day issues, but does he/she really know what they are talking about and are they living their lives according to the messages that they portray?

Most of the time the answer is no as to many people only say things to gain recognition and to feel a sense of importance. They may not even have experienced a particular situation but speak from the experience of others.

I think that many of us need to practice what we preach and we need to chit chat less, to much talking has turned our society into one that only says things to gain power - look at our very friend Julius Malema, all he has done is cause chaos hence talking about things that he has limited knowledge about.

Lets see you walk the walk and talk the talk - knowing exactly what you are saying

The significance of dreams

Have you ever woken up feeling extremely happy or sad due to a particular dream. Well just this morning I awake from a really frightening dream and believe it or not guys it had me in total tears and all of a sudden I felt this wave of confussion, not knowing if it true or not and not knowing what to say or do. So I sat down, calmed myself and realised that it was all a big dream and I sighed with relief.

So do our dreams have a significant meaning? or can it be due to an overworked brain? Well wheather we are conscious or not all of us dream and most of the time we do not remember them. Yet dreams often contain important information, casting light on events that has happend in our lives or what is happening and providing insight into the future.

Sounds really scary to me as I don't want to know my future because it may create a different perception of life.

So do we just forget about our dreams even though the memory is so distinct or do we search for a hidden meaning?

How do you perceive your dreams?

Wedding cake in the middle of the road

Strange topic, I thought to myself when I saw "wedding cake in the middle of the road". As I thought about it I realised that all of us receive a wedding cake in the middle of the road at some time..

It simply refers to the fact that we reach road blocks, hurdles or problems along life's journey that causes us to stop, stare and wonder how we are going to get over this huge and uncommon issue. Well the answer is simple we can allow the wedding cake to stop our journey or we can see it as a challenge and taste the sweetness of it afterwards.

Currently in our studies we are facing lots of wedding cakes in the road and its making us feel demotivated and tired but remember all the effort is for your future and the least you can do is try and find a way to get over that hurdle.

When we graduate next year, that's the best part of the cake and the melting taste of the iceing - we have reached the end and achieved success at the end of the journey.

Remember that cakes in the middle of the road normally at the wrong times in life are there to make you stronger and to build character. So the next time you reach a wedding cake in the road remember to smile and hold you head high...

You are almost there,

Some interesting facts about our liver

Your liver loves you, here are 9 different ways:

Your liver stores iron reserves you need, as well as a lot of vitamins and other minerals. Without it, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THE STRENGHT TO CARRY ON...

Your liver makes bile to help you digest food. Without it, YOU WOULD WASTE AWAY TO NOTHING...

Your liver detoxifies poisonous chemicals such as alcohol, drugs and even prescribed medication. Without it, YOUR BAD HABITS WOULD KILL YOU...

Your liver stores energy like a battery by stockpiling sugur, cabohydrates, glucose and fat. Without it, YOUR SUGUR LEVEL COULD DRAMATICALLY FALL AND YOU COULD GO INTO A COMA...

Your liver makes the blood that got your system going even before you were born. Without it, YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE...

Your liver manufactures proteins that your body needs to stay healthy. Without it, YOUR WOULD NOT GROW PROPERLY...

Your liver removes toxins that are inhaled such as chemicals. Without it, YOU WOULD BE POISONED BY POLLUTANTS...

Your liver makes clotting factors so that you stop bleeding when you accidently pricked yourself. Without it, YOU WOULD BLEED TO DEATH...

Your liver kills and weakens germs that enters your body such as the flu bug. If it was not for your liver you would be a sitting duck for every infection known to man.

Now that you are aware of the huge task that your liver performs....
Show it your appreciation and live a good life

LOVE YOUR LIVER

It is a poor idea to lie to yourself

Indeed it is and what would you be achieving if you lied to yourself, only feeling good for a short while. This is a problem in so many people's lives because they do not face reality and what is really happening. Sometimes it is to painful to face the truth or you might feel like it could destroy you or the lives of others.

Lying sometimes seems like the best option in order to paint a picture of what you want others to see and think. But at the end of the day you end up more unhappy and insecure within yourself.

A start of a lie means that you would have to continue and this leads to a vicious cycle of lies. Even if it takes a decade - somehow a lie finds its way to the surface and the truth is revealed.

Do not lie to yourself as your whole life could become "one big lie". Face the music of your life including its daily issues and problems.

Step into the Truth as it is a poor idea to lie to yourself.

The media portrays images of the perfect women

I am sure many of you have seen all the magazine covers with titles reading lose the flab and look fab, get thin in 14 days, soup diets and diet pills that magically work overnight. The list seems to be endless and this is what today's women believe, that they need to look a certain way in order to be accepted by society.

So many problems have derived from this issue such as insecurities and eating disorders due to the fact that we want to be the perfect women with the perfect body. I hate to break the news to all of you ladies out there but their is simply no such thing as perfect - no perfect man, no perfect body, hair, relationship, the list is endless. As women in society we need to start loving ourselves for who we are with our without the fat, you are unique and there really is no one else on this planet like you.

Please stop trying to be Jessica Alba or Madonna, I can guarantee you that they've got their issues as well and only trying to portray the perfect women to the media. Ladies love what your mama gave you and embrace it, no one else is going to love your love handles or skinny legs except you.

At the end of the day it comes down to self belief and being confident in who you are and you own abilities, society especially women are captured by the media and are receiving information that is not true.

As women we need to stand proud and be proud of who we are and where we come from, you are a beautiful being and no one can ever take that away from you. I am sure many of us have seen this before - an attractive guy dates a not so attractive girl and we ask ourselves, how did that happen?. At the end of the day a guy loves a confident women who is not insecure about her body and what uniquely makes her who she is, it is simply to much effort dating someone like that.

We are special and made in the eyes of God...Don't you think it is time that we started acting like it?
Be your own perfect women...

The sound of one hand clapping

Weird, I thought to myself as often we use both our hands to express feelings of excitement and happiness but how would our reaction be with one hand clapping. One hand clapping is silent and may not make such a loud noise as two hands but to me it paints the picture of self believe whether it is you or someone else.

One hand clapping is you patting yourself on the back for achieving something that someone else might not see as a huge accomplishment. Many times in life we feel like we always needs someone to cheer or clap their hands to feel like we have done good, but in actual fact clapping for yourself is the greatest thing that you can do. The sound of one hand clapping is not distinct and sounds like no one is there but has a secret message saying, you are not forgotten.

One hand clapping can also be applied to our relationships with others, sometimes all it takes for a relationship to change is for one party to change, you might be alone like one hand clapping but sooner or later the other party will feel a need to change, but we are so afraid of deviating from two hands clapping that we seem to be stuck in our situations on a daily bases. We think to much and to critically about things instead of just doing it and following our intuition.

Not everything in life needs thinking...follow your heart and do not be afraid to stand out from a crowd

The sound of one hand clapping is one of the greatest thing that you can do for yourself, self belief

We cannot turn back time

This is something many of us know, but have we actually thought about the phrase "we cannot turn back time" We can never take back what we said, undo what we did or enjoy the same moment for a second time.

This is why we need to appreciate life and what we have, live it to the fullest and do not take things for granted. Time is simply priceless and precious and if used productively we will be sure to be successful and enjoy all of lifes pleasures.

Never neglect to say what is on your heart as tomorrow may never come and you may never get the chance to say I love you again so go on...do it now.

We may not be able to take back what we said or done but we can move forward and learn from our mistakes, we can make better life decisions and appreciate people and things for who and what they are.

Many of us are complaining about the work load in BTech and wishing for it to be over but do remember when it is over, its over forever...so enjoy this year, feel the pressures of being a 4th year student and party hard. Most of us will not have the luxury of coming home at 1pm in the afternoon and taking a nap next year.

Life does not become easier, all we can do is deal with things in a more positive light and remember to smile.

We cannot turn back time so make the most of it...

Not all who wander are lost

Life is a journey not a destination...how would we get there if we never wandered?
We are simply on a journey of discovery, sometimes a bit of wandering is good as it makes you think more and ask questions and be curious. Wandering does not mean that you are lost, you are simply discovering who you are and where you would like to be.

Knowledge is power and the more you know through research and wandering, the more you are learning. We are so quick to judge people when we see them wandering around, they are not necessarily lost..they are just deep in thought about where their journey is taking them.

Sometimes in life we are so focused on getting to the destination that we forget about things that might have made that journey easier and more pleasant. Wandering helps many individuals to realise what their life plans are and if they are happy. Wandering is vital for the growth of the spirit...

Sometimes we wander about issues because we need to make an important decision and are thinking about the pro's and the con's.

Every individual has their own plan, idea and path that they take in order to get to their goals. If it's not a set plan, does not mean that the individual has not made a good life choice.

If you question a belief, value or religion does not mean that you are deviant and lost to the world, sometimes asking questions is the best way to find answers to untainted answers.

Flash Forward

I'm sure by now all of us have seen the series "Flash Forward" where the entire world goes into a deep sleep for a few seconds at the same time and sees their future 6 months in advance. At first I was fascinated by it and after much thought I realised that it's way to much Science Fiction and actully freaky.

Can you imagine seeing your life 6 months from now? Yes it could be really inlightening or just plain scary. I think our country would be in total chaos bacause people would act in a certain way to a situation before it even took place. We are just not meant to know what the future holds, we would simply live our lives in fear and anticipation...always waiting.

As humans we are intended to live everyday as it comes and appreciate every moment with our loved ones, as life is so short. Live in the moment and don't take life so serious, relax, put your feet up and enjoy.

You do not want to know your future, well not that far in advance....

How do you step from the top of a 100-foot pole

Wow, many of us would say how am I possibly going to step from a 100-foot pole...Immediately fear gets the best of us and all we want to do is run into a corner and hide. This is what happens so many times in our lives when hurdles or obstacles come along, we seem to look at them and already be defeated without even trying.

So many times all it takes is having a bit of faith and a positive attitude, you are able to do anything that you put your mind to no matter how great. If you believe it, you can do it.

How do you step from the top of a 100-foot pole? or conquer your fear?
Simply one step at a time and always remember to breath and pat yourself on the back after stepping down once. Our problem as individuals is that we always look at how big and difficult something is, but if we did it in various sections...Would'nt life be so much easier?

Taking 100 steps one at a time is going take a really long time but you would have learned something instead of rushing through the steps to get to the finish. This can apply to our tech lives as well, sometimes just rushing through work because it is so much and all we want to do is relax, but have we asked ourselves What is the point? cause we are not learning anything.

Take every step as a learning curve and become more knowlegable....
You can step from a 100-foot pole... All you have to do is believe

Why do women allow themselves to be controlled by men?

This issue sprang to mind a few days ago when I realised how many young women are being controlled in today's society. I find it so hard to digest that young women can allow their boyfriends to control and abuse them. Ladies don't you know that you can find so much better, remember that marrying that person will destroy you.

Many women long to be loved so badly that they would endure just about anything by that person. If he makes you feel guilty for small things?, and he knows exactly what to say to make you feel a certain way and makes you cry?....you are being controlled emotionally and you better wake up and send him packing.

Many boyfriends control their girlfriends because they can and it is allowed, only you can put a stop to it. Trying to make things work after it is visibly clear that the relationship is doomed is placing yourself in a position of more heatache and pain. As women we allow ourselves to be humiliated and treated as a floor rugs because we want to believe that the heartache is all in the name of love. After all love is pain right? Wrong...real love treats you like gold and you'll feel loved no matter how much you change, or weight you gain.

Women need to realise that being controlled is letting yourself go, you become who that person wants you to be as your actions and words would be done to please them. Do not allow a man to change you, and take the sparkle away that shines brightly in your eyes.

Women always remember you deserve better in life and you will receive better if you open your eyes and just "let it go" make peace, stand tall and become a strong, bold women.

Do not allow to be controlled and abused...Stop it today....

We are what we do

Indeed we are what we do and our actions and words give us a title in society. Someone who steals, is a thief, a women with a child is a mother,someone who speaks bad about others, a gossip or backstabber.

Society labels us for what we do and we will always be judged for not doing right by society. It is therefore so important to think before you act. What you do in life could have life long consequences and could have a negative affect on your future.

What you do is automatically a reflection of your personality, your level of education and possibly the situation that you find yourself in. It is highly unlikely that a person who steals is rich.

If we allow to be treated a certain way, that is who we will become, a helpless and voiceless person.

What you do, portrays what you want to people to see and you are telling the world "This is who I am"

So may your actions and words be positive.

3 words that describe me best

Assertive, Optimistic and Loyal

Procrastination, Good or Bad?

So you focused on completing everything, but actually end up completing nothing? You've got a presentation or assignment due tomorrow and you end up going to bed at
12 the next day. Sound familiar?

Procrastination got the best of you, but is it always bad? Many articles always focus on how to cure or avoid procrastination, but the real question is how can we procrastinate well? Procrastination can be divided into three different categories:
a)Doing nothing
b)Doing something less important
c)Doing something more important

I believe C is a good form of procrastination and means avoiding errands and small things in order to do real work. If you are ignoring things such as house work, laundry, writing out thank you notes or replying to unimportant emails to focus on an important task, then you are procrastinating well. Procrastination is a huge problem for many students and here I speak for myself, sometimes things become so much we end up doing nothing which later results in stress and feelings of anxiety.

So we ask ourselves, why did I do that? and why did'nt I plan? but yet we find ourselves in the same rut over and over again.

One of the best ways in which to deal with procrastination is to make a list of all the things that need your attention and categories them into:
a)Most Important - deadline over a few days
b)Important - deadline over a few weeks but requires you to become familiar with topic.
c) Unimportant - can be done whenever there is a free moment.

To me procrastination can be a good thing as it enables you to structure your life and tasks, it is however not possible for many individuals. Thus these individuals have to avoid procrastination completely and focus on getting as much done as possible within a certain time frame.

So remember it is not bad to procrastinate as long as you are productive and procrastinating well....

We are afraid of the wrong things

Are we really? With all the disasters happening around us, children going hungry, women being raped and children being abused.We often are afraid of the most trival things like what people will say if you wear the wrong dress or if you hairstyle is in fashion...Really who cares?

So many of us are afraid of dying and why? Truth is I think many of us know that we are living a life that is not pleasing to God and if we die, the doors of heaven will not be opened to us. So should we not be afraid of the life that we are living?

We are afraid of being unique and standing out from a crowd, so often we refuse to be bold because we are afraid of being judged, but what makes the person who is judging better then the person who is being judged? I say we all need to realise that everyone has faults, makes mistakes and is created magnificently in the eyes of God.

We are afraid of saying exactly what is on our minds, because we do not want to anger others and think about it, thats your voice...Let it be heard. We live in a society where people are way to sensitive and take offence for practically everything. How can we create change if we can't speak differently and have opinions that clash?

I think many of us can relate to the following...We are afraid of failure, how many times have you simply given up and placed negative thoughts in your mind before even trying. We really have to start altering our thoughts and words into thoughts and words of positivity.

You are able to do anything if you think success and perserverance.

We need to take charge of fear and realise that we should be fearing the dark, snakes, heights...the lists goes on, basically we need to stop fearing ourselves...

When I woke up this morning...

I realised that I am laying in the middle of a Queen size bed leaving my sister with a small space to sleep on and as I moved, her hand came over slapping me on the head. Wow so much for being considerate! I guess she was doing karate in her sleep. I woke up and realised that I have so much to be grateful for and that life is not as hard as it seems, tech is just a chapter in life and would pass in good time when another chapter started. What was the point of stressing and yelling yesterday and bursting out in anger? when it could have been resolved in a normal conversation. We really do cause our own stiff necks and aching muscles.

I woke up and heard the birds singing and thought to myself that so many mornings we wake up sad or moody and do not realise the huge differnce between our lives and that of birds and yet they are so happy and joyful.

I woke up and told myself that from today I would change my attitude towards everything and become more positive and enthusiastic about life. We say life is for the living, but how many of us actually do this and enjoy it. Our lives are so busy and rushed, have you stopped lately and just looked around, thought about where your life is heading? Where you want to be in 3 years time and how this will be achieved?

Well I woke up inspired this morning and with a song in my heart, my eyes opened and the sun was shining, I have a family who loves me unconditionally,a faithful God, a roof over my head, wonderful friends, a lovable boyfriend and the ability to learn and keep on going in order to reach my goals.

Always appreciate everything in your life and most importantly be thankful that you were able to wake up this morning...

Fish falling from the sky

Can you imagine "fish falling from the sky" I ask two questions, are the fish dead or alive? and where are they falling to? As dead fish could leave the entire city with an awful sting, many unhappy citizens as they would be surrounded with wet and slippery creatures and not to mention a shortage of fish and food in our oceans. I seem to ponder on somethings,where are these fish falling from? The sky...or magically absorbed by the clouds?

Fish falling from the sky although sounding odd and making you want to close you nose and mouth with a feeling of nausea, could also be something spectacular, imagine fish falling from the sky and into the ocean?

We would be looking at a diverse school of fish and types of fish, all uniquely made and gently dropping back into their habitats and living their fishy lives as normal. This would indeed be somthing spectacular to see.

An interesting fact though is that fish falling from the sky became a reality in Ethopia in 2000, when creatures such as fish and frogs were indeed falling from the sky. Although the theory has not yet been proved it is believed that in certain countries where tornadoes severe storms and water spouts occur, these creatures are often lifted from the water, sometimes carried for miles and then dropped over land.

Bizaar? Well I surely have a different view of "fish falling from the sky"

Is the grass greener on the other side?

So often we hear this saying, the grass is greener on the other side all you have to do is A, B and C. But do we really know what this means? and how do we know the grass is greener then here where we are standing at this present moment, and if the grass is greener on the other side, who is to say you even wanted grass in the first place?

Well it's one of those things in life, and we go through it taking risks and making decisions that could actually make the grass look dull and weak on the side or maybe even dying. It's amazing how we go through life always wanting what someone else has or thinking to yourself how happy someone else is, saying they've got a better life, a better partner or a better family.

Is the grass greener on the other side? Well it's simply what you make of it, how you choose to live your life, how happy you decide to feel when you awake in the mornings..the grass will be greener if you follow in life that which can make you successful and happy.

When you ask yourself is the grass greener on the other side? Maybe the more appropriate question would be what do I want in life? and how will I make this happen. Anything is possible.. Let the grass be green on your side..

What is the colour of the wind?

So I am standing in the surroundings of nature and looking left and right, feeling this rush of air blowing through my hair and gently touching my skin. It takes my breath away but yet calms my spirit...calming calming calming.

What colour is the wind? Is it yellow, pink, black or blue, when it's playing with my hair does he do the same to you? When the wind is dying down, does it have a lighter shade? Or does it remain the same through Summer, Winter, Autumn and Spring?

It is an amazing force of nature and it simply cannot be ignored. When I'm driving my Atos, the wind surely tries his luck, but I simply hold on to my steering wheel and say enough is enough.

If the wind had a colour I'm sure it would be blue as it brushes over my body like cold sea water in June. How amazing it would be to see the colour of the wind, can you imagine the burst of colours and scents. The colour of the wind is something mind boggling, interesting and natures way of looking after it's self.

The wind is simply one of the wonders of the Earth and feels like a free spirit blowing gently and other times strong. The wind is calming, calming, calming irrespect of its colour.

Does "Marijuana" have medical value

Marijuana has therapeutic properties that derive from the cannibis plant, the stalk consists of fibre and pulp and is high in nutritional seed oil.

Many of us may think that Marijuana in its natural form is healthy but in actual fact short and long term use can have long lasting effects even in its natural form. Short term effects include memeory loss, distored perception, problem thinking, loss of motor vehicle skills, decrease in muscle strengh and an increase heart rate and anxiety.

According to the National Institute of Health it has been reported that an individual who smokes five joints a week may be taking as much cancer causing chemicals as someone who smokes one full pack of cigarettes a day.

Marijuana contains more then 400 chemicals. Smoking one marijuana joint deposits four times the amount of tar onto your lungs then a filtered tabacco cigarette. So in actual fact we are slowly killing ourselves everytime we feel like having a bit of fun or experimenting.

Reports also convey that the risk of a heart attack is five times higher then usual in the hour after smoking marijuana. Although we might think that it takes as much as 1500 pounds in 15 minutes to induce death, marijuana is a dangerous substance.

There is no safe way of using marijuana and many may believe that it have medical value but the cons outweigh the pros and no study has reported that marijuana is a vital substance that can cure diseases for a long period of time.

So if you decide to take a puff in future, be aware of the risks involved as Marijuana has no medical value, it is simply a getaway drug.

If I were the boss

If I were the boss I would ensure that my business was the best it could be and develop it into a gold mine. I would treat staff with the utmost respect and give credit where it is due, employee of the month would be sure to receive a weekend away to a magnificent location. I would make it my duty to ensure that staff are empowered and specialise in their various working sectors, because without their knowledge and skills the business would not be able to grow so rapidly.

If I were the boss Fridays would be a working day that lasted until 12pm(noon) and employees could relax and help themselves to snacks and refreshments or leave and spend the rest of the day with their families. I would enjoy all the perks of being the boss which would include flexible working hours, enjoying the sights of exotic islands along with its fruity beverages, spending priceless family time and building business contacts throughout the world.

If I were the boss I would ensure that a portion of the business profits were donated towards creating a better education for underpriviledged children. I would adapt an attitude of perseverance and diligence towards growing my business.

If I were the boss, I would live a life of luxury but also ensure that good financial decisions were being made in a business and personal capacity. I would enjoy having the opportunity to sit back, place capable individuals in charge and watch the business florish.

I would try to be the best boss that I could possibly be by implementing mutual respect and understanding and maintaining a well structured organisation.

Two people came out of a building and into a story

Where they discovered that they had supernatural powers and were surrounded by super hero's. Tom, 22 and Jane, 25 no longer had to spend endless hours in the office slaving away.

They no longer needed a job because office jobs did not exist in the world of super hero's. They had a higher calling, one where they had a duty to serve and to protect the people of Avatar world. The inhabitants of Avatar were being destroyed by mankind.

Tom and Jane simply could not stand aside and do nothing so they united hands, trusted in their powers and flew to the rescue of these people.

Surrounded in a forest of fruit and breathtaking beauty, Tom and Jane suddenly heard an alarming noise....

It was their alarm clock and it was time to get to work, back to reality Tom and Jane.

Does love at first sight exist?

So you are walking down the street with a pile of books, a dog suddenly rushes past you and you stumble over your feet and all the books fall to the floor A shadow appears in the near distance and lends a hand, as you look into his eyes, your heart melts and it seems as if the world came to a stand still. Just for a moment you are lost in each others eyes but does this mean that you are meant for each other?

Many of us may think that this is love at first sight which may be true in those unique situations where the two love birds end up being life partners but in the real world love takes hard work.

Males and females are made for one another and have been put on this earth to procreate and fall inlove.

So does love at first sight exist?

My answer to this is NO. It is simply the hand of fate that brings us together along with the chemistry of love.

What does exist is at first sight is sexual attraction?

If I ruled the world for one day

I would wake up in the mornings and be proud of my country as it would be without shame. I would give freely, laugh uncontrollably and live a long and fulfilled life. If I ruled the world for oned day street children would be one of my first priorities, they would be clothed, feed and placed in a safe and secure environment. I would ensure that every citizen was aware of their rights.

Jacob Zuma would not exist if I ruled the world, he would be sent to a land of torture because the man thinks he is a God and untouchable. If I ruled the world for just one day love and kindness would make the world go round and not money because it has created a society of greed.

Every women would be respected and honoured for their role in society and polygamy would not exist. A female president would led this country and do so with pride and great honour.

If I ruled the world for one day opportunitites would be endless and the future bright.

South Africa would be a country of unity.

Designer PR

When we think about "designer products" we think fresh, new, innovative, something that is different and has a style of it's own. Can you imagine a world where PR is no longer in the background and formed part of the Marketing and Advertising Departments? What if Public Relations led the way and created new and innovative communication strategies that would enable organisations to grow? Well PR your day has come and the future awaits.

Organisations need to realise that PR is a vital and powerful tool to keep their companies ahead in a competitive market place. Practitioners have to adapt a model of excellence and realise that the future for Public Relations could be huge if we adapt a greater understanding of our stakeholders, strategic public relations and communication management. A world filled with opportunities could be ahead for the field of Public Relations.

Is polygamy a feminist issue?

Yes. Polygamy is a feminist issue because men and women do not share equal rights. Women should be able to live freely chosen lives just as men do and this is not the case in a polygamist marriage. When women marry into a polygamist marriage they have a duty to bear children and raise them, they are therefore not provided with the opportunity to be career minded and be career women. Polygamy is degrading to women because they are not recognised as having human dignity. They are also at a financial disadvantage because they are dependent on the sole provider which is the man and are not given the opportunity to empower themselves. Women should be able to enter freely and leave freely within a marriage just as men.