Creating opportunity one bite at a time

I thought this slogan from Khayelitsha Cookie is so remarkably true and had me thinking about the rise of these entrepreneurs in SA. With so many wasted talents overlooked when you find someone begging at a robot, I often stop and think that money feels better in your pocket if you have worked hard for it.

Here is a story of unemployed women from the rural township areas who are trying to make a better life for themselves instead of waiting for a hand out. We all know that life can be cruel and unfair, if you have to wait on hand out...you may just wait forever.

The Khayelitsha Cookie hire previously unemployed women from Khayelitsha and then train and skill them in permanent, affirming employment. These women are able to keep stable jobs to sustain themselves and their loved ones. Now this I can respect and support.

They offer delicious biscuits such as choc chunk, ginger snap, brownies, safari flavour and mamma rusk. So next time you compiling gift sets for clients or wanting to give someone something that is proudly South African, you should definitely give them these cookies - it is sure to have them going back for more.

Now while you think it can’t get any better, Khayelitsha Cookie is spreading the wealth amongst the community by supporting Learn to Earn. The organisation, also based in Khayelitsha, offers life skills to empower the individual to contribute to society in a meaningful way.

For more information visit their website www.khayelitshacookies.co.za

“In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes” - Andy Warhol

Is this guy on crack? This is not the case for everyone…some people’s lives are filled with poverty and despair. Some have the potential yet are just another number, cardboard cut-out; pencil pusher in the corporate world. No Andy...not everyone will be famous. Some will drop of the face of the earth without a single person knowing of their existence. Ok so enough with the gloom talk.

The above statement makes me question, if I had the opportunity to be famous…what would it be for? Now I know most people would rant like a Miss World pageant contestant and say “World Peace” but I am a simple girl…

I would like to instate that people only work 3 days a week instead of five and that Monday is always a public holiday. Perhaps I will invent breathable stockings that that doesn’t rip just before that important meeting.

Maybe I will team up with Bill Gates and invent a rubber bouncy computer so that when technology pushes me over the edge…I can throw the machine out of my two story building without having to suffer the expensive repercussions.

What if I became a top agency for the plus size model…kicking the anorexic models to their nearest Mc Donalds to get a double cheese burger.

Perhaps I will be become a famous exercise instructor like Billy Blanks or create affordable tastey meals like Jamie Oliver – what are the chances...I’m dreadful in the treadmill and kitchen lol.

Perhaps I will become a lecturer teaching common sense classes to society, that we don’t need multi billion monuments when there are people starving. We don’t need to pumps thousands of Rands into the sport industry to watch people play with a ball when so many are unemployed.

So what would I be famous for? I would be ‘famous’ for doing my small bit, volunteer work and speaking out about causes that make our society a better place to live in.

Fantabulous is an understatement

Life can be quite a daunting thing…prices are always going up, work and family life is demanding, the unexpected curve balls of life which seem to happen all at once make it hard to sit back and enjoy the little pleasures in life. That’s why when my boyfriend surprised me with tickets to go see Madame Zingara I was over the moon.

I was dying to see the show; I heard numerous excellent reviews about the show and was sure to whisper them in my boyfriend’s ear. The initial reaction was that tickets are quite expensive but if he wants to spoil me…who am I to say no.

You walk through the demarcated area, noting each and every piece of décor carefully selected to transform you on the Love Magic Show. What was so amazing about the show was that you were constantly entertained from the moment you walked through those doors, there was no curtain to showcase the start and end but rather from the moment you entered performers where interacting amongst the crowd.

The costumes were elaborate, it made you want to buy a feather bower to feel part of. The characters of the performers were beyond entertaining and their performances were jaw-dropping. Characters ranged from a woman on stilts, a midget who had the bubbly personality bigger than any I have ever seen, a clumsy magician, a dark angel, Russian acrobats, beautiful woman displaying art bound to make your heart skip a beat, a soulful rapper, contortionists, a woman who took a childhood playtime, holla-hoops, to another level and three voluptuous singers who had us linger on every note. Be careful though, if you see a large woman flirting with you…don’t’ be fooled…that is actually a man – you have been warned. I think the act that sent shivers down my spin was a couple, who managed to perform with roller skates whilst doing flips, dips and swings.

Now many of you may think that the tickets are overpriced, after the show, I beg to differ. With riveting entertainment to keep you enthralled in the show and scrumptious food throughout…what more could you wish for. The show provides a four course meals which is pure taste bud perfection. You receive a free non-alcoholic Motjio As you may know, the show is famous for their choc chilli steaks…I now understand why. This unusual combination is utterly delectable…the steak is so soft it melts in your mouth. If you are looking to be mesmerized, I highly recommend this meal to anyone going to the show. If steak is not your thing…trying their Thai curry or their generous portion of Lamb Shank.

One of the things that struck me was that the food was served perfect and on time. How often does that happen in a restaurant?! There were hundreds of people seated at round tables yet the service was spectacular – 5 gold stars. Staff was dressed to the T in the theme, friendly yet professional and highly efficient.

I left the show not wanting it to end, entertained beyond my wildest dreams and my stomach satisfied from all the mouthwatering food. We were unable to take photographs of the extravagant performances but take it from me it was impressive. Perhaps it’s a good thing that photographs were not permitted so that you can go and experience this show for yourself. Taking someone to see this show is the ultimate gift, so grab and friend, colleague or loved one and make your booking to see this unforgettable show.

To the Madame Zingara Love Magic Show…the show was magical, extravagant and worth EVERY penny. I can’t wait to see the show again on your next tour!

A skill set called leadership

What is leadership and why is it on everyone’s lips? Leadership is more than the conventional definition to lead a situation by achieving goals or leading (managing) a group of individuals. It contains many characteristics, such as setting out new ways to strategically meet goals; it is not about managing people but advising and giving insight in how best to reach a mutually beneficial destination for all publics. The most important shift in leadership is the knowledge that leadership does no longer has to happen top-down in the hierarchy scheme of things and that there is a difference between leadership and authority.

The reality of life is that not everyone will go on to be a CEO of a big corporation. Despair not…not all is lost. We all have the ability or potential to nurture the skill set called leadership, whether it is be the leader of your household, the leader of your own life not waiting on others or life to go out and achieve what is that you want in life or just showing leadership skills in your office teams.

The Cluetrain Manifesto stated a remarkable evolution taking place…that management can now seek counsel from those at the bottom of the corporate food chain. The guys at the bottom are often overlooked, however, they are the ones who understand what it is that the customers are interested in or what there concerns are. This information is more vital than what can be achieved by a piece of paper stating you achieved an advanced qualification obtained at some University.

So don’t leave it up to the big boys to lead the way…get in there and play the game. Not all of us will become our own boss one day but given the right knowledge of our product/service, our consumer’s needs and concerns and the industry, the application of how to meet those goals can assist us in being leaders in our own right.

Most rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read – Frank Kappa

I wonder whether Frank Vincent Zappa was referring to himself when he spoke these famous words. Seeing as he was an American composer, electric guitarist, record producer, and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral, and musique concrète works. He produced almost all of the 60 albums he released with the band Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist – according to Wikipedia.

I never got hard core rock ‘n roll, it’s a whole lot of screaming that leaves me feeling on edge and aggressive for no other reason than that the poison is filling my ears. Nonetheless, the saying goes ‘different strokes, for different folks’. It is a genre that has made many famous – Elvis and the Beatles.

According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website, Rock and Roll, in all its forms, gives us a microphone to communicate with the world. It has the power to bring nationalities and generations together, to elect world leaders, and to move people. No other art form has the social significance of Rock and Roll. You simply cannot understand Western Culture without taking a serious look at this music. One has to question with all the screaming, is a microphone really necessary? I can understand that the music can unite and move people but election of world leaders is a bit far fetched lol.

Well, there must be something about rock ‘n roll as more recent stars take a crack at this music genre - some which I secretly listen to. Britney was one such individual to take a different direction from her Oops I did it again school-girl look. There is something for watching a Rock ‘n Roll performer, the outfits are outrageous, the high energy always seems to be off-the-hook and the lyrics (when you can make it out) sometimes isn’t too shabby either.

That being said, seriously now…I see his lips moving but I hear nothing of value coming out. This can be described for most of what Rock ‘n Roll peeps have to say when being interviewed. Let’s keep the deep and intellectual talk to the professionals…

Love at 50 something

I have come across various people in life….different cultures, religious backgrounds, status and race etc. Some of them just cross my path with no real meaning or impression left. Then there are the few that makes me sit back and take a few minutes out of my life to reflect.

This is the case with one of our volunteers who helps us on a regular basis - let’s call her Gloria. She straight off is a remarkable woman; she is in her mid fifties and she speaks about 4 different languages. Is originally from Germany but relocated to Namibia before coming to the Mother City. She has traveled the world and has had a book store in the family for generations. She never watches television yet her knowledge on life around her is outstanding. When she speaks you, you linger on her every word.

Gloria is nothing short of amazing; she has blown the lid on child abuse and survived her late husband taking his life after enduring a long and painful battle with Cancer. She later discovered she had Cancer and moved back with her parents whilst receiving chemo treatment. She told me about her struggle with Cancer…how the worst part was others seeing her slowly die. Despite it all, she has survived.

She now embarks on a new journey of love, which seems to be a scary and uncertain path. She tells me how her first kiss with her new love interest feels natural – this said as she squirms like a little girl. I enjoy watching her blush and burst to tell me new developments on the blossoming of their love.

How the first experiences feel as though she had never done it before. How to be sharing a house with a man after so many years of solitude feels like a brand new experience. We have many long talks about his 3 children and their discovery and acceptance of their relationship. Not forgetting his horrid ex-wife we call the ‘Rottwieler’. She is beyond entertaining as she mentions how she would go ‘Jungle-Jane’ if the Rottweiler stepped out of place.

She mentions how at the fifties they are all of a sudden young at heart and playful as he does the Charlie Chaplin and she laughs the night away. She recalls the evening where she drew a heart with her lipstick on his car mirror and how hard she found it not to tell him it was her who did it. Listening to her is the kind of thing that makes your heart warm and smile at how delightful life can turn out. How amazing it must feel to find love at their age and find another reason to live.

I ask whether she is at all weary of being hurt, or being left alone again. She casually replies that she has spent her life cautious and has died once before…now is the time to start living.

Top 200 achievements - Under Construction

1. Top 200 achievements
   
   What a task? 200 achievements is a lot if you but only 24. So here is my crack at the topic without stringing it out too much…
   
   1. Leant to walk
   2. Learnt to run
   3. Learnt to speak
   4. Obtained my National Diploma in Public Relations
   5. Enrolled and doing my BTech in Public Relations
   6. Paying for my own studies
   7. Working full time and studying part time
   8. Worked overseas
   9. Played sport
   10. Was a sports captain at school
   11. Was a Quality Representative at school for the Discipline Community – ironic don’t you think?!
   12. Never submitted to the pressure of my peers or society to be a drinker
   13. Traveled to Scotland
   14. Traveled to Austria
   15. Traveled to Dubai
   16. Traveled to Germany
   17. Traveled to Paris
   18. Traveled to Venice
   19. Traveled to Rome
   20. Traveled to the United Kingdom
   21. Traveled to Johannesburg
   22. Traveled to Durban
   23. Traveled to Eastern Cape – actually I drove all the way there
   24. Traveled to Pretoria
   25. Traveled to Port Elizabeth
   26. Traveled to Namibia
   27. Traveled to Mozambique
   28. Met SA Cricketers Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher
   29. Met SA Rugby players, Bryan Habana and Breyton Paulse
   30. Climbed Table Mountain thrice and moan all the way up on all 3 occasions
   31. Ate sushi and survived the disillusion of the avo-looking wasabi
   32. Only broke one bone in my body and it was the smallest bone (pinkie toe)
   33. Passed all my grades at school
   34. Passed Matric with an exemption
   35. Wore my Matric Ball dress to a function two years later and surprisingly I had to have the dress taken in
   36. Bungi jumped – even though I had to be pushed off the ledge
   37. Managed to suppress my road rage everyday despite people giving me a reason to get out and do something crazy
   38. Never been in a car accident which I caused – driving into our electric gate does not count.
   39. Being a reliable friend
   40. Being a faithful partner
   41. Got stitches and survived the ridicule from my peers calling me Scar Face – kids can be so mean
   42. Survived the embarrassment of going to school in casual clothes and it wasn’t Civvies Day
   43. Managed to pass at a tertiary level despite bunking all too often
   44. Was in a Freshly Ground music video – look carefully, it’s but a brief moment of fame
   45. I have no debt
   46. Experienced going for (many) interview(s)
   47. Been a responsible member of society – been employed
   48. Never been late for work – in fact, always at least there an hour before the time I start
   49. Overcome an addiction
   50. Having a friend teach her class about my life experience to inspire good decisions by the youth
   51. Given many inspirational talks to youth, church and sport groups
   52. Always had good references from employers
   53. Organised Harley Davidson 50th Africa Asia Anniversary in Cape Town
   54. Completed the Blisters for Bread 10km – on more than one occasion
   55. Survived being held at gunpoint while the table I was serving robbed the restaurant I was waitressing at – and no…it was not because of my service
   56. Survived many long, pointless and boring meetings
   57. Volunteer my time for those less fortunate
   58. Have been given the opportunity to intern at the Children’s Hospital Trust, the fundraising arm of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital
   59. Experienced the gees of the 2010 Soccer World Cup
   60. Learnt how to blow a Vuvuzela
   61. Learnt the importance in believing that your country can host an international event
   62. Proudly South African – been abroad and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side
   63. Passed my Learners – first time round
   64. Passed my Drivers License – first time round, although I did at some point beg for another chance to try the parallel parking
   65. Learnt how to ride a tri-cycle
   66. Learnt to ride a bicycle
   67. Learnt too roller-blade – although I am not very good at it
   68. Learnt to ice skate, although its more like I learnt to shuffle on the ice
   69. Managed to lose 15kg – dreaded Heathrow Injection
   70. Opened my first account – and happy to say I haven’t gone on any mad shopping sprees
   71. Learnt how to Tweet and all the other bits and bops of the Twitter world such as hash tags etc.
   72. Learnt the new world of blogging
   73. Was a Facebook addict – but that is so last season now.
   74. Learnt how to work the backend of a website and all the other HTML stuffies that goes with it
   75. Managed to ride the wave of Indesign and win – I learnt…I did…I conquered the beast
   76. Work for an NGO and survived the highs and the lows of fundraising in today’s economic climate
   77. Managed to adhere to most of my deadlines – impressive if you know my reputation
   78. Managing the process of developing a new website for the company I work for – exciting times
   79. Obtained a library card – and managed to return all books loaned on time
   80. Did Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVD – this should be a number 1 achievement, if you have ever done his exercises you will know what I mean
   81. Always managed to tip e.g. waiter, petrol attendant etc.
   82. Managed to survive in a male dominate industry with tack and whilst also being taken seriously
   83. Managed to go to gym for 6 consecutive months – winter is just such hard months to motivate myself to get out from under the covers
   84. Managed to paint my nails in a moving car…at night – can I get three gold stars for being amazing
   85. Survive the passing of my dad (RIP) – despite every bone in my body saying that it no longer wants to go on
   86. Survived putting our chow-chow, Bruno, down due to old age.
   87. Survived putting both our Rottweilers, Chip and Ringo, down due to Cancer
   88. Survived a Cancer scare when I discovered a lump
   89. Being content with my body image despite society saying anorexic is fabulous
   90. Waited to find someone who respects me – even though for many years I had to endure being the third wheel with friends or being known as the single friend. It was so worth the wait.
   91. Not entertaining gossip in office or in the circle of friends
   92. Paying the bills – on time, every time
   93. Being able to be mature enough to admit I am wrong and apologise – this is very hard for me to do – so it may take a few minutes for me to churn up the words
   94. Being able to take criticism and try and improve on what was said
   95. Managed to form my own opinion about who I am and where I want to go in life
   96. I believe in God and realise all I have is by the Grace of God
   97. Respect my elders – many of the youth today lack this today
   98. Managed to not learn how to cook – instead have an amazing boyfriend who is fantastic in the kitchen – BIG BONUS
   99. Drove on a Harley Davidson and only after 5 turns did I not resist and take the turn with the turn
   100. Being able to list 100 achievements
   101. Learnt how to Salsa
   102. Learning how to Jazz – boyfriend an amazing teacher
   103. Learnt how to fly fish – although I wasn’t really good at it
   104. Learnt the art of clubbing whole night in killer-heels and then feeling as though I want to crawl to my car
   105. Been faced with situations which compromised my morals and values in the work places and I took the high road without a thought to do otherwise
   106. Asked to be the God-Mother of my cousin’s baby – if you know me and babies, you will know this is an accomplishment of note
   107. I am a aunt of 3 kids
   108. Managed to eat half a gatbsy – I couldn’t move after that…do not try this whilst at work
   109. Bought the Allen Carr book on how to stop smoking – first steps to a healthier me
   110. Having my first press release published
   111. Buying my first cellphone
   112. Owning my first car
   113. Celebrating my 21st and being able to thank my parents for helping me get there and guiding me to be the person I am today
   114. Learning how to Harvard Reference in my BTech – how did I get through those first three years?!
   115. Eaten dog food as a bet – don’t ask me why
   116. Able to shower in less than 10 minutes – record breaking time I reckon
   117. Learnt Xhosa in grade 7 – can’t remember a thing though
   118. Learnt French – can’t remember a thing here either
   119. Maintaining long hair – I mean I should get a Nobel Peace prize for the effort – it takes me an hour to blow dry my hair
   120. I have driven a camel in the desserts of Dubai
   121. Belly danced with a professional in Dubai – I had to show her a thing or too…on a serious note, it’s harder than you think
   122. Did pole dancing – it will have every muscle aching.
   123. Driving whilst putting on my makeup – not a proud moment, there are times when there just aren’t enough hours in the day
   124. Got interviewed by Carte Blanche on the Julius Malema saga – and boy did I have a lot to say
   
   To be continued…watch this space...pics to come soon