Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Things that take your breath away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syQT4PbfXEU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBXr15K2uSc&feature=player_embedded#at=197
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNvWuiQjG80&feature=related
As a reasonably creative mind I am fascinated by what drives people to make things. What inspires an artist? How does the story form in a writer's head? What visually stimulates an artist to the extent that he tries something nobody has ever seen before?
I wish I could have 10 minutes in the company of Van Gogh or Da Vinci, men so far ahead of their time, that they were never truly appreciated for their amazing gifts until well after their passing. A man like Terry Pratchett, who seems to thrive on the humour of the human condition. A musician like Beck, who pushes the boundaries with his music.
The modern day artist, who has to compete with an overload of multimedia and visual stimulation.
How do they cope? How do they amaze a generation that has seen everything, done everything and is "bored" to the extent of only JUST breathing?
No wonder most turn to shocking instead of trying to impress!
If you have seen, heard or experienced something that has taken your breath away recently, I would love to hear it! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBXr15K2uSc&feature=player_embedded#at=197
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNvWuiQjG80&feature=related
As a reasonably creative mind I am fascinated by what drives people to make things. What inspires an artist? How does the story form in a writer's head? What visually stimulates an artist to the extent that he tries something nobody has ever seen before?
I wish I could have 10 minutes in the company of Van Gogh or Da Vinci, men so far ahead of their time, that they were never truly appreciated for their amazing gifts until well after their passing. A man like Terry Pratchett, who seems to thrive on the humour of the human condition. A musician like Beck, who pushes the boundaries with his music.
The modern day artist, who has to compete with an overload of multimedia and visual stimulation.
How do they cope? How do they amaze a generation that has seen everything, done everything and is "bored" to the extent of only JUST breathing?
No wonder most turn to shocking instead of trying to impress!
If you have seen, heard or experienced something that has taken your breath away recently, I would love to hear it! :)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Super 15: Too good not to share...
Surgeons say McCaw has plenty of time to recover
Rugby fanatics can stop holding their breath - according to surgeons, Richie McCaw's upcoming operation will be straightforward and the All Black captain should have recovered in time for the Rugby World Cup.
Last week, McCaw experienced pain while doing a fitness test at a training session and a scan revealed a stress fracture. He will need surgery for a screw to be inserted into the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot.
The 30-year-old will miss up to six weeks of the Super 15 season with the Crusaders, but surgeons the Herald spoke to yesterday said the injury should not linger beyond that.
After staying in NZland, where rugby is more than just a sport, it's a religion... I had to laugh!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Gogga!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_wJJ7tjiD8
Dean en Brien went for a motorcycle adventure. They did a bit of camping for one night. The next day they woke up and started their drive again. They stopped at a spot to take a few pictures. That is when Dean saw some long legs appearing from under Brien's bike.
Youtube Video of what happened next.
Dean en Brien went for a motorcycle adventure. They did a bit of camping for one night. The next day they woke up and started their drive again. They stopped at a spot to take a few pictures. That is when Dean saw some long legs appearing from under Brien's bike.
Youtube Video of what happened next.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Rebelling against shouting: "REBELS!"
We went to the rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and the Crusaders last night. What a match! The Rebels by no means pushovers - like we kind of expected them to be. The 13013 strong crowd roaring their appreciation and getting behind their team.
We had so much fun, even though I kept on reminding Leigh that the Rebels are our "B" team. We shout "Stormers!". My daughter got so caught up in the excitement that the cameras caught sight of her and she ended up on the "big TV". I can not think of a nicer way to spend my Saturday evening.
What a beautiful home ground! Can't wait for the South African teams to visit! We will definitely be seeing you there... Melbournians make an effort! It's worth it!
We had so much fun, even though I kept on reminding Leigh that the Rebels are our "B" team. We shout "Stormers!". My daughter got so caught up in the excitement that the cameras caught sight of her and she ended up on the "big TV". I can not think of a nicer way to spend my Saturday evening.
What a beautiful home ground! Can't wait for the South African teams to visit! We will definitely be seeing you there... Melbournians make an effort! It's worth it!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Two thousand and eleven... is SAFFA heaven.
I'm so excited about this year I can hardly contain myself. 2011 is Saffa Heaven.
I started this year with organising a South African day at our church, the expats had a blast! We had a good old South African braai (with the boerewors works) and ended it with all the South African desserts our homesick minds could come up with! Yum.
We'll be going on a month long South African trip shortly. My husband and his best friend (A Pom) will be doing a 12 day motorcycle tour through the West Coast of South Africa (Read more: http://miermoto.blogspot.com/.) While I'll be getting some "gees" at the Klein Karoo Kunstefees. My sister will also be there for 10 days. Mum has a porch where we plan to have lots of Champaign brunches (Hello my friend JC le Roux) and Red wine afternoons accompanied by South African Snackage (Droëwors, biltong, green figs, blue cheese... blindevinkies, cheese sausage, chicken wings, etc, etc, etc). Then there is the exchange rate... R7 to the $1 is not too shabby. We'll pretend there's no crime and just have a good time.
 |
| Brandwag welcome |
 |
| The place settings |
 |
| The salads |
 |
| Madiba welcome... well... if you squint and turn your head to the right |
 |
| Braai in full swing |
We'll be going on a month long South African trip shortly. My husband and his best friend (A Pom) will be doing a 12 day motorcycle tour through the West Coast of South Africa (Read more: http://miermoto.blogspot.com/.) While I'll be getting some "gees" at the Klein Karoo Kunstefees. My sister will also be there for 10 days. Mum has a porch where we plan to have lots of Champaign brunches (Hello my friend JC le Roux) and Red wine afternoons accompanied by South African Snackage (Droëwors, biltong, green figs, blue cheese... blindevinkies, cheese sausage, chicken wings, etc, etc, etc). Then there is the exchange rate... R7 to the $1 is not too shabby. We'll pretend there's no crime and just have a good time.
(Photo: Pieter Louw)
Then, there is the IRB World cup... Go the Bokke! Can they do it again this year?
*Deep and satisfied sigh*
2011 smells like it's got potential! VISION and PURPOSE! I'm off to clean my pigsty of a house. Later!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Nelson
Nelson Mandela was released from hospital yesterday... "frail, but fine".
It was just interesting for me to see all the reactions on Facebook and in the media in general. Yes, Nelson Mandela was admitted to hospital... wait... Nelson Mandela is dead... wait... No, hang on, Nelson Mandela is NOT dead, but he has a collapsed lung... Winnie seen leaving the hospital crying...
Then there is the "urban legend" about what will happen when Nelson Mandela dies. "Night of the Long Knives" or "Uhuru". Where it is said that, when Nelson Mandela dies, there will be a night where blacks will take up weapons and "cleanse" South Africa of all the white people. There are even taxis (those horrible minibus ones) driving around with vinyl lettering on their back windows saying: "Uhuru - not yet". No wonder some of the South African expats were anxiously checking headlines online every now and again.
Are we robbing ourselves of exactly what Madiba stood for, dear South Africa?
A man who was released from prison and became an ambassador for peace and unity? Will there be respect for his legacy? Do you think, dear world, standing outside his hospital room, cameras aimed and pens ready, waiting for him to die (because, let's face it... good news does not sell) is respectful to this living legend? Those singing "kill the farmer, kill the boer" - are you BUILDING? Or breaking down? Stop the hatred. Stop breaking down Nelson Mandela's dream of a rainbow nation.
Let go of the past and grab hold of the future.
“My message to those of you involved in this battle of brother against brother is this: take your guns, your knives, and your pangas, and throw them into the sea. Close down the death factories. End this war now!”
Nelson Mandela
It was just interesting for me to see all the reactions on Facebook and in the media in general. Yes, Nelson Mandela was admitted to hospital... wait... Nelson Mandela is dead... wait... No, hang on, Nelson Mandela is NOT dead, but he has a collapsed lung... Winnie seen leaving the hospital crying...
Then there is the "urban legend" about what will happen when Nelson Mandela dies. "Night of the Long Knives" or "Uhuru". Where it is said that, when Nelson Mandela dies, there will be a night where blacks will take up weapons and "cleanse" South Africa of all the white people. There are even taxis (those horrible minibus ones) driving around with vinyl lettering on their back windows saying: "Uhuru - not yet". No wonder some of the South African expats were anxiously checking headlines online every now and again.
Are we robbing ourselves of exactly what Madiba stood for, dear South Africa?
A man who was released from prison and became an ambassador for peace and unity? Will there be respect for his legacy? Do you think, dear world, standing outside his hospital room, cameras aimed and pens ready, waiting for him to die (because, let's face it... good news does not sell) is respectful to this living legend? Those singing "kill the farmer, kill the boer" - are you BUILDING? Or breaking down? Stop the hatred. Stop breaking down Nelson Mandela's dream of a rainbow nation.
Let go of the past and grab hold of the future.
“My message to those of you involved in this battle of brother against brother is this: take your guns, your knives, and your pangas, and throw them into the sea. Close down the death factories. End this war now!”
Nelson Mandela
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wrapping with my homies...
My daughter and I both have creative minds. We like to make things. She is only 7 years old, but draws the most amazing pictures. I'm a bit of an exhibitionist, but I hate to be one of those mums who boasts about the accomplishments of their little ones. Solution? Christmas 2010: I divided a A4 into 4 by folding it, telling my daughter to do her best "Christmas drawings" on each section. I scanned that and made a JPG of it. Then I made a lot of copies of it onto an A3 and printed it out.
Viola! Wrapping paper, that had the family and friend's tongues wagging...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)