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!


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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!


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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!


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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.


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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. :)


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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!


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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!

Crazy...

How can withholding your vote possibly give you the gain you're looking for?

A community here in SA are currently fighting for homes in the Cape Town area (and I'm behind them in their desire to be given homes. This should be a basic for all people).

They have stated that they will withhold their vote in the coming local elections as a means of protest. How on earth will change come for them if they don't vote for change in the elections?


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Brothers from a different mother

50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Matthew 12:50

Ajax's Maarten Stekelenberg drops Eredivisie trophy from team bus

• Dutch keeper unable to keep hold of his club's silverware
• Stekelenberg joins Ramos and Kompany on butter-fingers list

Ajax's Maarten Stekelenberg has added his name to the growing list of butter-fingered players capable of winning trophies but seemingly unable to hold on to them.

The Ajax goalkeeper was celebrating the club's Eredivisie win on Sunday, proudly wielding the shield aloft as the team bus travelled through Amsterdam, when he allowed it to slip from his grasp and drop under the wheels of the following bus.

The gathered fans were unperturbed by their goalkeeper's poor handling skills, however, and joined in the parade themselves, picking the trophy of the tarmac and carrying it through the streets.

Stekelenberg joins Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos – who allowed the Copa del Rey to tumble from his grip last month – and Vincent Kompany – who dropped the FA Cup en route to the team bus after Manchester City's 1-0 win over Stoke – on the list of footballers unable to keep a firm grasp on their silverware.

John Ashdown
guardian.co.uk, Monday 16 May 2011 16.51 BST

Smile Foundation SA

Just watched a report on e-news concerning the "Smile Foundation".

They are making it possible for children to have that precious smile.

Many parents in SA can't pay to have corrective surgery for their children; Smile Foundation make dreams a reality.

The report finished with a beautiful smile on a young boy.

Check out "Smile Foundation SA".

http://www.smilefoundationsa.org/

 

Thanks.

 

 

A need to escape...

Sometimes we need to be able to switch off and go to that place!
(Scary, Oprah's on! And no, its not the norm for her to be on our TV).
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

The season endings...

I can't believe that West Ham are going down!

They've seemed to have been able to hang on in their for so long; I for one am pretty gutted to see another London club out of the big time!

But hey, If AFC Wimbledon can pull it out of the bag on Saturday against Luton, and win promotion then my sadness will be quickly replaced with JOY!

(Who knows, they could even be competing with the big clubs in a few years!)

Come on the Dons!

Who to use to host my blog!!

Well, finally I've gone back to "blogger"!

I liked tumblr but its a pain that only those who are members can comment or follow my blog!!

CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY!!

Anyway, I'm up and running with blogger, and you'll see that I've posted all my former entries from my 1st micro blog!

Enjoy and keep in touch!

Latest blend…

Breakfast blend of the day = Oats mix with various dried fruit, yogurt, a pear and milk! Very nice breakfast blend…

Monday mornings…

Why do I wake up on Monday mornings and feel like somebody stole the weekend?

Confused dinner!

I asked Louise to get a frozen curry out of the freezer for me. Defrosted it and smelt it (yep I smelt it; don’t ask!).

Anyway, I thought there was something wrong with it; it didn’t smell right. Turns out it wasn’t curry but bolognese!

Very yummy though!!

Juice it…

Just used my pocket money to purchase a jug blender!
I blended an orange, apple and a plum with crushed ice! Man, it was so nice! :)

Perfect Sunday evening viewing!

Can you believe that I never watched ‘Top Gear’ until I moved here to South Africa?
Now I’m hooked!

What to expect…

Well, I have plenty to say, so I’m lead to believe from my wife (I’m sure she switches of when I get up on my soap box), so I guess I’ll be posting anything from my views of politics to my deep understandings of the “Beautiful Game”!

I hope that anyone who reads what I have to say will remain civil in your comments! After all, its all fun and needn’t be taken to serious! :)

Sunday ramblings

Home; its a hard life!