80's ...

Last week we had an 80's party at church as a kind of pre-Christmas celebration!
We all dressed up and had loads of 80's music - it was great!

Sadly I was sick, so I only got to enjoy part of the evening - Today I'm thinking about the music, one of the cd's we used is playing in the background. Wow, some of the music was great! Some not!!

Things have changed so much just in twenty or thirty years - makes me think about how we can be relevant as the church today - if trends and fashions etc have changed so much in such a short time - shouldn't we be thinking about how we need to change the way we share the gospel, so that we are relevant today and not just like an old record from the past!

80's music still rocks!

Cool quotes...

Being male is a matter of birth; being a man is a matter of choice (Edwin Louis Cole)

When I think of God I think of a song...

We watched a Rob Bell Nooma message today as part of our service. The message was entitled "Rhythm", (nooma 11 - Rhythm)

In classic Rob Bell style, he asks some rather thought provoking, conversation starting questions. Which lead for a great group discussion in our fellowship.

The central thought that Rob is putting out is that when he thinks about God, he thinks about a beautiful song.
A song that's been playing for centuries, one that we are invited to be a part of, to be in tune with.

The early church was often called "The Way"; with Rob's thinking, might it have been described as the song?

The song is life under God's direction - His design, we see it in bodily form in the person of Jesus.
We see it as we see Jesus live out compassion, love, self giving and so on.

We can relate to the traits that Jesus lived out - we can see such traits lived out and practised in our world today.
If we choose, as Children of God to live out such traits, we are in tune with the song - we are living according to the way - we are living in relationship with the Almighty God.

I enjoyed Rob's picture and use of a progressively growing orchestra - it reminds me that we all enter the song at different times in life with different instruments (gifts) and we all help to enhance (not change) the beautiful song.

Lindiwe Mazibuko elected DA parliamentary leader

I first spoke about Lindiwe Mazibuko back when the country were having the national elections. She really impressed me with her desire to see this country go forward.

Today I'm excited to hear that her career within the DA (Democratic Alliance) continues to advance.

Could this exciting young lady be president of this great country one day - I hope so.

Congratulations Lindiwe Mazibuko on being elected the DA's parliamentary leader.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2011/10/27/lindiwe-mazibuko-elected-da-parliamentary-leader

Gaddafi was 'killed in crossfire'...

I can't celebrate the death of a man - all I can do is wish for commonsense for those who lead countries. If the people you are elected to represent want you to stand down, save lives, one's own life included and let the people elect a new leader. Gaddafi could be alive now, and so could many others if he had done so.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15397812

Blackberry or Gooseberry, I'm not sure...

So, today is day three of the popular Blackberry Internet outage!

And I'm growing more and more disappointed! You don't realises how much you use the service until its gone.

I know many people are now considering alternatives like Apple and Android phones; but living in South Africa, a developing nation, we don't have free Internet for mobiles or even cheap Internet for mobiles. Blackberry has brought services to countries like South Africa that only the privileged West have been able to enjoy.

I'm gutted that the service is down, and trusting that RIM (Research In Motion), will get it sorted soon.

"What did the one BBM user say to the other? Nothing."

So SABC haven't put up there TV licence fees...

So SABC haven't put up there TV licence fees

And I wonder why?

Once again SABC failed its viewers!

Last night my wife and I tuned in to watch the latest episode of the Good Wife, only to find last weeks episode being re-run!

On top of that - one of my favorite shows, "Top Gear" has just finished its last season. To my surprise SABC have chosen to repeat the whole season back to back!

So rather then not putting up license fees, maybe they should consider giving us a refund!!

Buy South African...

Buy South African. The sentiment is fine, but come on...
Zwelinzima Vavi of the Congress of South African Trade Unions was on the news last night getting all in a tiss over the arrival of Walmart to our land.

COSATU believe that Walmart will source their products from outside the country and that this shouldn't be allowed.
I would love to buy South African products, but local is more expensive, and with the regular strikes COSATU members take, no company like Walmart are going to rely on local manufacturing to source their products - can you blame them?

MY ACTUAL QUESTION IS: WHERE DO THE LEADERS OF COSATU BUY THEIR TELEVISIONS, KITCHEN APPLIANCES ETC?

I expect from the store 'Game', (in other words, WALMART)!!

The football season has begun....

So, as the football season starts both in the UK and here in South Africa; our local news has our national team coach (Pitso Mosimane), upset that some of his first choice players are having to play three competitive club games a week!!

Oh dear, those poor, over-paid-players - 360 minutes a week spent doing the job they're paid for!!

Get real will ya!

R.I.P. Arsenal...

Manchester United yesterday routed Arsenal 8-2.

It was Arsenal's heaviest defeat since 1896, when Loughborough Town inflicted a record 8-0 loss, United's biggest victory since an 8-1 win at Nottingham Forest in 1999 and their greatest at Old Trafford since routing Ipswich Town 9-0 in 1995.

It's easy to ask, 'is this the beginning of the end for Arsenal'?

But, I wouldn't write them of just yet!

What an amazing game to watch though - the first half particularly; Man U where on fire!

Delicious delights…

 

Why can’t we have a nice doner kebab restaurant in J’bay!

Ripped off…

 

Why do motorbike batteries last for such a short time!

For the past few months I've been riding my pop-around-town scooter and noticing electrical things starting to give up on me. First it was the electrical start, which was fine because I could kick-start it.

But now my indicators have started to stick in the illuminated position whenever I’ve tried to use them!

A friend of mine who knows a great deal more about bikes then I do, showed me that its my dying battery that’s the issue – I never knew, when I decided to purchase a bike that the battery life is shorter then such things as the brake pads – can you believe it!

R400.00 later and the bike is purring again!

Can you Adam-and-Eve it?

 

My garden of Eden is growing at quite a rate. I purchased a Ryobi Hedge trimmer to start taking control of some of my giant shrubs.

To my dismay I found that my new electric trimmer has a two pin plug and about a 15cm (6 inch) lead!

What a complete joke!

And now I have to either cut the plug of and replace with a standard plug (to do so means I loose my warranty), or I must purchase a special extension lead!

To the owners of the company Ryobi: You’re aving a bubble bath mate!

Flood water washes away bridge…

 

Yesterday I received a phone call from my wife to say that she didn’t think she was going to get home!

She works in St Francis Bay which became the inland of St Francis bay after the opening of a local dam.

A local dam needed to be relieved which led to flood water running down sand river (a river that normally is pretty water-less!).

The unexpected volume of water hit the bridge with such power that it took out the bridge and the only access road into St Francis.

I understand that today they’ve been able to erect some kind of foot bridge that will allow people in and out of the bay.

 

You can also read about it @: http://jbaynews.com/2011/07/08/st-francis-bay-bridge-washed-away-by-flood-water/

And: http://jbaynews.com/2011/07/08/foot-crossing-over-river-for-st-francis-residents/

Water, water everywhere...

 

Recent rain has been very welcome in J’bay where water restrictions have been in place for what seems like forever!

As I looked for the local news (http://jbaynews.com/), I happened upon a rather crazy piece of information. The dams that are local to my town (within the Kouga region) are controlled not by our local municipality but by the neighbouring municipality of Port Elizabeth (Port Elizabeth Metro)! How DAM (little pun), crazy is that! We don’t even own our own water!

So, the folks in PE now are the ones who decide whether water restrictions can now be lifted!

Read more @ Jbaynews.com - http://jbaynews.com/2011/07/05/dams-fill-up-in-kouga-region/

Last updated 04 July 2011

I had a dream...

 

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

 

Martin Luther King Jnr, I have a dream 28th August 1963

 

All men should stand up and stand out, it's what we were created to do!

 

 

Good works...

John Wesley - Good works are no guarantee of a place in heaven. But they are most likely to be performed by people who believe that heaven exists…

Rick Warren on fuel prices...

Rick Warren - Just paid $102 to fill up my truck (an 11 year old Ford) with regular gas. May need to ride bike this summer.

WELCOME TO THE REST OF THE WORLD RICK!!

Blend of the day...

 

1 Orange, 1 kiwi fruit, and 1 banana - man what a lovely drink.

 

Might have to recommend that one to the Sharks as they head of to New Zealand to play the Crusaders!

 

Come on you SHARKS!!

 

 

Photo’s from my little drive today…

 

First a lovely aloe bush

 

And secondly take a look at this beautiful King Protea in flower

 

Aloe’s at the beach – J’bay…

 

Alex McLeish resigns as Birmingham City's manager!

 

Okay, so the resignation Alex McLeish might not be front page news for many, but the suggestion that he may have resigned so that he can take over the vacant managers job at Aston Villa sucks!

How can a man who has worked with Birmingham City as a club, with the team and fans, possibly leave to join Birmingham’s greatest rivals – Aston Villa?

I’m not a fan of either club, but as a football fan, I was discussed by McLeish‘s recent poor choices.

What has happened to loyalty today?

So McLeish, if you do join Villa, I can’t say I wish you all the best, actually I would have to say, “I wish you the opposite”!

Dinner tonight…

 

Chicken cooked on the braai, Cajun rice and a nice curried vegetable chutney...

Saturday delights!

Life without My Blackberry…

 

Towards the end of last year I took out a new phone contract that came with a Blackberry phone.

I was very keen to get on board with Blackberry because of the internet service and push email (you get the emails as soon as they are sent).

When Blackberry first came to South Africa’s shores I found the contracts providing the phones, far to expensive. But like most mobile advancements, prices had to come down.

So yes, I got my first Blackberry!

What I could use the phone for grow and grow and grow. It started for me with the Blackberry instant message service – what a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. But my journey with Blackberry soon grow to include the ability to use Twitter, Facebook and various other social networking sites.

The list of things I started using my Blackberry for just kept growing and growing until a sad day came - my phone died on me!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, the operating system for some reason was lost and needed to be re-installed!

This has meant that my Blackberry has been sent away to be fixed. So I’m currently Blackberry-less!

To say I can’t wait for its return would be an understatement!

How sad that I have become so dependant upon it – is that what the big brothers at Blackberry wanted?

Not like everyone else

I watched the film: "Not like everyone else" last night.

 

It’s a story about a person's civil rights.

 

A young girl is victimised because she looks, dresses and writes a little different to the supposed 'norm'!

She gets treated poorly by other students, the school principle and teachers etc, after they begin to fear that she is maybe disturbed and a fret to others.

It all takes place after the tragic Columbine shootings.

 

It's a very good film that speaks about our fears of what is different.

In a world where we have such things as differences in religious beliefs etc, we need to question ourselves as to how we treat others.

 

Some may say that we also need to protect ourselves; and I would agree. However, making assumptions without taking the time to understand a persons differences is not protecting ourselves, its victimising others.

Not on your nelly!!

So Chelsea are going to make a formal approach to Guus Hiddink. They want the Dutchman to manage the Blues.


Carlo Ancelotti was their last "five minute" manager.
Carlo won the Premier League and FA Cup in his first year. This was the first time the club had won the double.

Carlo also led Chelsea to second place in the league and was then sacked for his efforts!

Another, on the list of parting managers!


Guus Hiddink, if he goes to Chelsea, needs to consider renting a property in London rather than buying one. Lets face it, who knows how long he will last!

 

 

Maybe Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea chairman, should go to Arsenal and sack Arsene Wenger. Better still, maybe he could run the English FA and get rid of Fabio Capello!

 

 

Fabio Capello says England were 'tired' in the draw with Switzerland!

 

• Fabio Capello fears fatigue could hamper Euro 2012 campaign
• Insists England still have quality players after Swiss draw

 

Having been excited about getting to watch the England vs Switzerland game; my excitement soon turned to sheer frustration!

This was England that I was watching or was it?

I believe that the English spirit, which is normally associated with our national team, seems to to have been bottled up with a cork firmly placed upon it!

WHY?

I’m sorry, but I don’t hold with this rubbish that the players were tired – what a lame excuse!

Other countries like Span, France, Germany to name but a few play as much football yet these countries international teams don't seem to have this, “tired issue”!

Maybe the players are tired; but not tired after playing to much football, but tired of a manger that just can’t lead the talent that our players have!

Capello should have fallen on his sword after the 2010 World Cup!

If he won’t leave, PLEASE, PLEASE England Football Association, sack him!!

What a sight...

Today I took the scenic drive back from Port Elizabeth.

After the beautiful scenes that are Seaview and Beachview, I very nearly drove into a rather large family of pigs!

Among the pigs were a great deal of young piglets; how quite were they!

The funniest thing was driving a little further down the road and seeing a troop of baboons.

From farm animals to wild beasts that would kill a piglet in no time, all within such a short distance of each other.

Do the baboons kill the pigs?

Well I don't know; what I do know is I often see the pigs there; maybe that troop of baboons are vegetarians!

Stranger things happen!

When does an actor come to the end?

Ask this question of Jim Carey!

His new film in which he acts with a load of penguins looks like such junk!

Jim, maybe stick to voice-over animation films!

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Blend of the day...

Put one pear, one apple, one banana with ice and blend with cold green tea!

So nice!

Good afternoon blend; the green tea keeps one awake! :)

Jacob Zuma talks to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi

So, the South African president, Jacob Zuma has visited Muammar Gaddafi.

The plan was to see Gaddafi stand down - that hasn't happened!

I think its great that Zuma tried, but I can't say I agree with his statement, declaring his condemnation of NATO's air strikes in Libya.

I to don't want to see innocent people hurt, but that is happening daily, as the people call for the dictator, Gaddafi to stand down.

If NATO don't get involved we are likely to continue to see, in Libya, what is happening right now in Yemen and Syria.

Great white shark in the waters at Plett!

Yikes, I've swam there!

The National Sea Rescue Institute on Monday issued a warning to
bathers surfers and paddlers after a great white shark was spotted
along the Plettenberg Bay coastline a day ago.

Spokesperson Craig Lambinon said 33-year-old surfer Clinton Nelson
from Kommetjie had his surfboard nudged three to four times by a shark
while he and a friend were surfing at The Wreck, a popular surf spot
at the end of Robberg Beach, on Sunday afternoon.

Don't kill the blender!

Just been trying to blend some strawberries with a banana, ice and coconut milk!

All good until my new best toy decided to cut out!

I thought it would have to go back to the shop, but after leaving it for a few moments it started working!

I think it must have a cut off for when its over worked!
I tried 5 ice cubes; was meant to do no more then 4!

Its one thing to know the instructions of life, its another to live them eh?

PS. The strawberry smoothie was so nice!


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Frying onion…

 

Last night I was preparing dinner before heading off to my bible study, as I did I received a tweet on my phone. The tweet was from the BBC’s news twitter page.

Throughout the day, I receive many tweets that share headlines as to what’s going on in the world.

As I’m frying my onions, in parts of the world terrible things are happening.

How insulated I am in my life.

Theirs always more going on in the world then that which is before me. Am I sufficiently aware of it?

Stand up if you love the Don's...

See that Arsene Wenger; that's what silverware looks like!!

Crazy weather...

What's happening to this world?

 

My mother tells me that the UK is having some beautiful sunny weather and that they’re desperate for rain!

And then theirs us here in SA. Winter has certainly come early; we have cold temperatures and probably more rain then we've seen in the past year!

 

Crazy, crazy, crazy!!

Social networking…

I’ve been in South Africa for a little over 5 years now. Since I've been here I’ve started to exploring social networking sites.

I use social networking to keep in touch with family and friends globally. And, obviously to have my say in the world.

Facebook and Twitter are probably two of the biggest runners in this very competitive area of social interaction.

Some say that such networking breaks down social relationship and can actually cause depression (if you only ever see your friends with smiles on their faces, having a good time; you may well feel that your life is incomplete!).

I’m not going to argue with the expert studies that have come up with such thinking. I do however have to say that I, for one, enjoy the positive elements of social networking.

I enjoy hearing from my family and friends; hearing and seeing what they’re doing. Coupled with this, is the opportunity that’s afforded to me to share my faith and some of the things that are speaking into my life.

Do I see any negatives to all this social networking stuff?

Well, yes I do. I think we can spend to much time using such things as facebook. I check in with facebook throughout the day, I know that it has become a bit of a time consuming pastime!

I wonder how school teachers manage with the ease of access children have, to login to the various different social networking sites out there. I get distracted by twitter updates, do school children?

Yes, there are negatives involved in the use and continued growth in social network sites. We do have to except however, that such pastimes are here to stay. Maybe we need to start disciplining ourselves in the use of social networking sites, in the same way we do with such things as, television viewing, and game machine usage.

I believe with such a discipline in place, facebook, twitter and the various other sites offering socialising options can be a very enjoyable addition to life.

What do you think?

Icelandic volcanic eruption...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, volcanic ash is travelling down towards the UK; its causing air travel problems for many already.

 

Last year my brother and his wife were out here in South Africa; it was their first trip to SA.

 

 

 

Having had a great stay they were later caught up in the last major Icelandic volcanic eruption. As a result they went through travel nightmares trying to get home.

 

 

It wasn't all bad; I ended up having Trev and Clare stay with me for an extra couple of weeks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what will this latest eruption mean to the many thousands that are due to travel through British airspace?

 

Will those who control our global airspace take a different approach this time?

 

The cost to airlines after last years eruption was incredible. How do they offset such loses?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13513981

Tweet from @RickWarren

@RickWarren: Advice from 36 years of marriage: Forget trying to figure out the way your wife thinks. Just enjoy the mystery!


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Afternoon naps!

So, afternoon naps, good bad or indifferent?
Louise is always going on about the wonder of a Sunday afternoon nap; friends of ours nap pretty much, every Sunday like this!

Does it work?

Well, I guess my mind did eventually switch off and I did finally fall asleep! However, now I find myself sitting here awake, but with a feeling like I'm in some kind of other world!
Is that normal, will it pass, or is the rest of my day lost to a state of zombiness!

I wonder if the first zombie film came into being after a writer took a Sunday afternoon nap!


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AFC Wimbledon.....

 

 

Don's, we love ya!

Don's enter the football league having beaten Luton Town on penalties!

Nine years after the club was formed - what a great day!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/21/afc-wimbledon-luton-town-play-off-final

Come on Dons…

The fans at City!

Come on Dons!

Second half just started!

AFC Wimbledon in the playoff finals…

Today is a massive day for my home team, AFC Wimbledon.

We enter the playoff finals which could see this great club enter the Football League for the first time.

The game will be played out at Man City’s ground (crazy to go so far up country, but their ya go!). We will be playing Luton Town, who I really have nothing against; but I have to say that, today you're our rivals and you have to lose!

So, I wish my wonderful team all the best and hope all you lucky fans going to the match will have a great day.

I’ll be cheering all the way from South Africa!!

“Come on you Dons” – “Sing up the Dons, sing up the Dons” – “Walking down the Haydons road, to see your Womble aces…”

Lindiwe Mazibuko, Democratic Alliance spokesperson

 

I just watched Lindiwe Mazibuko being Interview on e-news. Wow, what  a great lady she is.

When I hear young politicians like her speak, I know this country has a bright future ahead of it. She talks about the future and doesn’t use the past as an anchor to stop the country going forward.

The past is something we need to learn from and to some point, never forget. But it should never be used to hold this country down.

http://www.polity.org.za/article/da-statement-by-lindiwe-mazibuko-democratic-alliance-spokesperson-on-the-ancs-election-campaign-03052011-2011-05-03

644 hurt in Soweto train crash

644 hurt in Soweto train crash: News24: South Africa: News

Johannesburg - A total of 644 passengers were injured, two critically, when two trains collided in Meadowlands, Soweto on Thursday, Johannesburg paramedics said.

As someone who worked on the railways in the UK. I read such reports as this and I just can not get my head around how something like this can happen!

I know accidents happen but rail incidents are happening far to often here.

Generally the people traveling on these railways are those who can’t afford their own transport. These people deserve better then this!

Port Elizabeth remains ANC...

The DA fought long and hard for Port Elizabeth but it wasn't to be their time.

A lot of the results are now in from the local elections.

The DA have had a lot of gains but have come second. This was expected by most.
I think these gains are a positive thing for this country. For many, the thought of voting for anyone other than the ANC is clearly something of the past.

I hope our government will recognise that the people haven't given up on them but at the same time many are saying they need to do better.

The country is changing and soon their will be a real chance for a strong opposition party to be a viable option for the people.

It'll be a good day when an opposition party is strong enough to challenge for the position of leadership in this wonderful country.

Now come on the ANC, meet the needs of your people.


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Heavy rain..

Wow, we've had some crazy rain this morning!

I had to pop out earlier and felt really unsafe on the roads. One of our problems after rain is the potholes that are opened up.

Many have voted to see basic service delivery improvements in their municipalities. The question many will ask now is, 'will we see a change'?

People's demands go far beyond improvements to roads.

Rain is very much needed, particularly in the Eastern Cape - but can you begin to imagine what it must be like for those living in shacks when heavy rains come.

Come on politicians - make a change!

Election results...

Still waiting for the election results. It seems that a lot more people have voted this year. That's great. :)


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Lie to Me...

Been watching a TV series called 'Lie to Me'. Tim Roth's the main guy. I guess its like a cross between 'The Mentalist' and 'House'. So if you like such shows, you might find you'll enjoy this one.

In the show, Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) and his colleagues in The Lightman Group accept assignments from third parties (commonly local and federal law enforcement), and assist in investigations, reaching the truth through applied psychology: interpreting micro-expressions, through the facial action coding system, and body language.

 

I'm actually on season two of this show and totally hooked.

YouVersion...

YouVersion, the free bible application program, announced that they've reached the 20 million install mark earlier today.

How great is that? The bible in so many hands.

 

 

I've been using YouVersion on my laptop and phone for a couple of months now. I follow one of their reading plans and often read what others are saying about different bible passages. Its like having a living commentary.

I want to encourage my readers to be counted among the next 20 million people who have installed this great program.

Check it out at:

www.youversion.com

 

Enjoy.

Blend of the day...

Apple, pear, naartjie and a banana, topped with crushed ice!

Perfect mix! :)

So, I wonder how all the voting is going. Some of my friends have been on Facebook telling how they are queuing to vote.

Come on guys, use your right to vote!

What happened to unbiased reporting?

I want to watch news that tells it how it is and doesn't lean favourably towards one political party! E-news forget that the ruling party have been trying to restrict the freedom of the press!


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18th May 2011 = Local Election Day in South Africa

All South Africans can vote tomorrow in the local elections.

As a British national living in this wonderful country I'm not eligible to vote, so I plead with you to vote; don't let your vote be waisted.

For me, its not so much about changing the local or national government; its about having a say on issues that impact our lives daily.

Every person, regardless of race, colour or class living in SA have issues that our local and national politicians need to work towards answering.
It might be living conditions for the many who still don't have life's basics like fresh, clean water and a home to live in; it might be rising crime and the state of the roads. Whatever the issue, tomorrow you have a chance to elect people charged with making a difference.'
Don't let the failings of past politicians stop you from giving those standing for election now, a chance.

These local elections may see gains and loses for all parties; my prayer is that, at the very least, these elections will be an eye-opener to those running this country.

Every vote is important!