tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66094813984013179742024-03-14T00:56:25.123+02:00FaVorite FlaVorRefilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-65636455331450713202015-10-04T15:49:00.002+02:002015-10-05T13:51:42.309+02:00The Up & Coming Initiative by Mandisa Bardill is about unearthing new, raw and authentic musical talent<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGSJ-iEfBCgmQ6y-PxTm2TTSghbs183BB42MD92n8hyphenhyphenm0R1bcTLU2SLPM9iqiuhz_0m0N_Lz55wzSQcfMTrWr1ugWDCOagi_19xyME6Asg8o5ZDejDBf2eLiKHHgqIrBfXVE2exidaGAU/s1600/drawntolightDSC_3873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGSJ-iEfBCgmQ6y-PxTm2TTSghbs183BB42MD92n8hyphenhyphenm0R1bcTLU2SLPM9iqiuhz_0m0N_Lz55wzSQcfMTrWr1ugWDCOagi_19xyME6Asg8o5ZDejDBf2eLiKHHgqIrBfXVE2exidaGAU/s320/drawntolightDSC_3873.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandisa Bardill, founder of Up & Coming.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jozi’s number one live music showcase, Up &
Coming, presents an exciting set of emerging talent to perform at
Winnies Soul & Jazz Restaurant, in Woodmead. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Up & Coming is designed to give undiscovered
talent a performance platform. Now in its fifth year and supported by The Departments of Arts and Culture, it provides a monthly showcase of musical
performers primarily within the African, soul, Latin, RnB, jazz and folk genres
every last Wednesday of the month. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDa7q272_ox52vYOGwwsRA_kJ5AFwyRUB4OmfRUqn4mAtAAUD1razlulSrDnkgbIbW8yl03n1jWSrQp-WbNUb5RE591DQeXShe4lZdm-tLuNEPqcq9yxxJZtKRN7VT6R9lbwlbllncL4b/s1600/drawntolightDSC_1378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDa7q272_ox52vYOGwwsRA_kJ5AFwyRUB4OmfRUqn4mAtAAUD1razlulSrDnkgbIbW8yl03n1jWSrQp-WbNUb5RE591DQeXShe4lZdm-tLuNEPqcq9yxxJZtKRN7VT6R9lbwlbllncL4b/s320/drawntolightDSC_1378.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandisa and guests at the show.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This heritage month, it features neo Afro-soul
singer-songwriter Thunzy and rapper Jankie Mokapa, and special guest artist,
SAMA 2014 winner, singer-songwriter, Kabomo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mathunzi
Macdonald (25), stage name Thunzy, said she is extremely excited. “This would
be the second time I’d be performing as a featured artist on this stage. I have
grown in what I do and I can’t wait to share it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She added
that she discovered her music talent and music passion ages ago. “As with most
people, church is where it starts. But moving into the more commercial scene
was driven by my studies in jazz and pop music at the Tshwane University of Technology.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thunzy said
she has other artistic pursuits, such as acting, writing and talent
development. “I am also a student and work on a few philanthropic projects.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jankie
(29)’s music journey started in 2008. Apart from music he is interested in l</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">earning
other crafts such as acting and presenting. “I feel honoured and blessed for
this opportunity by Up & Coming as my album titled Phala is coming out on 12 October
2015.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhREnGFYLjv-P6lITaor352PC01LAWXpJEOjlPPqH_LCAOLH2qsRp7UB-g4Afv_qqPs6LonFm3yB9aESjDtfCtObG5j8YhiDp-Hw0U-Ktt8Ww5fjIfHaSensJxHAJlSwF5E7lddmXBHmK/s1600/drawntolightDSC_0882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhREnGFYLjv-P6lITaor352PC01LAWXpJEOjlPPqH_LCAOLH2qsRp7UB-g4Afv_qqPs6LonFm3yB9aESjDtfCtObG5j8YhiDp-Hw0U-Ktt8Ww5fjIfHaSensJxHAJlSwF5E7lddmXBHmK/s320/drawntolightDSC_0882.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandisa believes is providing a platform for others.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mandisa Bardill, founder of Up & Coming and
Bardill Entertainment, said she is passionate about fresh, raw talent. “This
reflects the unearthed and yet experienced musically talented artists we have
here in SA. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The showcase is not for first-time singers who are trying this thing
out. It is for emerging experienced musicians who are looking for that break,
who have studied music, and, or have been performing for a number of years in
the garage, or at weddings, anywhere they can to gain the experience of
performing, but have never had the opportunity to perform in front of a relevant
audience made up of music industry players, media or entertainment industry
personnel who could potentially assist them with taking their craft to the next
level.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">A performer and artist herself, Mandisa added that she has a passion for
developing talent. “When I see promising talented musicians, I want
to assist, and see them fly and grow to be the best that they can! I am
also passionate about raising the overall standard of our performance art and
work ethic in South Africa.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk_H8jBdDQ3DqOMuDnNxIn_FpJF9OobKCcB2lCcpVXqBc6AY0WeQU_hpgdnZObxabHmUD42zif5r6Dg7srjYFAq5_a2TL3WXKNsQFf8gswfXX4UHBj66Ls3pN2xYj3LipxAWeWe2TpHNp/s1600/drawntolightDSC_1505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk_H8jBdDQ3DqOMuDnNxIn_FpJF9OobKCcB2lCcpVXqBc6AY0WeQU_hpgdnZObxabHmUD42zif5r6Dg7srjYFAq5_a2TL3WXKNsQFf8gswfXX4UHBj66Ls3pN2xYj3LipxAWeWe2TpHNp/s320/drawntolightDSC_1505.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Check the Up & Coming music showcases at </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Winnies
Soul and Jazz Restaurant in Woodmead on every last Wednesday of the month. Tickets sold at the door. </span></div>
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For more info like the Facebook public page: Mandisa Bardill and stay
informed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Follow her on Twitter: @mandisabardill. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">* A summaried version of this article was published in Dailysun in September 2015. ht</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">tp://www.dailysun.co.za/dailysun/news/entertainment/2015-09-22-platform-for-fresh-talent</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">*All photos by Drawn to Light: </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">https://www.facebook.com/drawntolight?fref=ts</span></span><br />
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-41921628666116213422015-10-04T13:56:00.001+02:002015-10-05T13:52:24.155+02:00Emerging local acts get platform through Up & Coming monthly showcase<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSD3RFNi8CetuTZeJ3SYSBbLbUDVbIzo5WSTsob0i_2OmRNYa1uiM5KILlZMPXdvVytVGYhzb_BIhF3UyjoNA3vD72oFgpvx5PoFr08EchZPbCf2nf_i7Y5TyiFHP8KlKtOTCMwouY2UM/s1600/Xoliswa+Mjekula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSD3RFNi8CetuTZeJ3SYSBbLbUDVbIzo5WSTsob0i_2OmRNYa1uiM5KILlZMPXdvVytVGYhzb_BIhF3UyjoNA3vD72oFgpvx5PoFr08EchZPbCf2nf_i7Y5TyiFHP8KlKtOTCMwouY2UM/s320/Xoliswa+Mjekula.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">XoliMJ<br />
Photo: Facebook/Supplied</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By Refilwe Thobega</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Joburg’s number one live music
showcase <i>Up & Coming</i> presents an
exciting set of emerging talent that will be performing at Winnies Soul and
Jazz Restaurant in Woodmead, Johannesburg, on Wednesday 29 July 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Up & Coming</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> is designed to give talented musicians a
well-deserved performance platform. Now in its fifth year and supported by the
Departments of Arts and Culture, it provides a monthly showcase of musical
performers, primarily within the African, soul, latin, RnB, jazz and folk
genres. Next week’s showcase will feature vocalist-guitarist, Xoli MJ,<b><i> </i></b>Afro-soul
singer Vuyokazi, and funk rock guitarist, Urban<b><i>. </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">XoliMj has a bag full of
dreams, passion and soulful lyrics. She is a singer, song writer and a music
lover. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Xoliswa Mjekula, the mother of one, hails from the
Eastern Cape and currently resides in Lombardy East, Johannesburg. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“My genre is folk music, but I call it DopeFolk. I
have been working with Pilani Bubu, another folk artist that I met through
Mandisa Bardill. I write music with a message based on life experiences and
situations I've seen and some that I lived through,” said Xoliswa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like most up and coming artists who are pushing the
hustle on the side, she has a Monday to Friday, eight to five job. She added: “I
studied business admin and management. I am now working as a pastel assistant in
accounts for a small firm in Bedfordview, Joburg.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #500050; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Xoliswa said that she fell in love
with music from the tender age of 13 but didn't have the confidence and means
to pursue it. But thanks to <i>Idols SA</i>
season seven, that passion for music was stirred and she gained all the
confidence and reassurance she needed to follow her heart. She took part in the
competition in 2011. She made it to the top 60 – group stages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #500050; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">She added: “</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
experience was good and bad but mostly an eye opener, which drove me to
actually pursue music seriously. When I left <i>Idols</i>, I doubted myself and wondered if I’m actually meant for
this. I was broken and wondered if this really was my path. I didn't sing or wanna
be seen on stage anywhere, until one day friend, Cynthia Ayeza, told me to
shake it off and be who I was destined to be. I got up and haven't stopped
pushing since.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After
<i>Idols SA</i> she joined the worship team
at her church and started pursuing her music career. “Then one day Mandisa
Bardill spotted me at Nikkis when I was performing with some friends.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mandisa Bardill is
founder and managing director of Bardill Entertainment, which provides event
services and also serves as an artist booking agency. She is the brain behind
the Up & Coming</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> initiative.
She said: “I started it in March 2011.
It was born out of what I saw was a real need for our local emerging artists to
have a platform to showcase their talents. I had the opportunity to meet many
talented artists during the opening and closing ceremonies of both the 2009
Confederations Cup and the 2010 Fifa World Cup in my role as segment producer. Their
stories and frustrations inspired me to start the <i>Up & Coming</i> platform. We also invite members of the music and
entertainment industries to the shows every last Wednesday of the month, in the
hope of creating further opportunities for the featured artists. To date, we
have showcased about 140 local music artists at <i>Up & Coming</i>, the brand that has become known as Jozi's number
one live music showcase.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">And of course, XoliMJ is excited to be
on the line-up. But this is just the beginning. </span><br />
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She said in the next five years she wants to be “</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that artist who has been able to spread her music to any ear or heart
that needs comfort encouragement and love. I want to take my music to the
hearts of men and women. My music talent will go where God leads it.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She added: “The hustle is hard, most times I ask
myself if I’ll ever make it in this business, but the burning desire and being
assured by a power beyond me that I’ll succeed drives me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What does the future hold for determined Xoliswa?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">“I am not signed by any label. I was never really
after any label from the start. I'm finalising my single now. The album will be
determined by how the single does. I won't jump into an album now. I’ll
probably follow on with an EP, something in extension to the single. I take
things one day at a time and if it gets harder, I take it one minute at a time,”
she concluded. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">*This article was also published on Channel24.co.za on 28 July 2015.</span></div>
Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-84153356698469634612015-10-04T13:43:00.000+02:002015-10-05T13:52:50.680+02:00We spoke to International DJ's Schlachthofbronx on their Sub-Saharan Africa tour<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdOFjy91KjVsgTkdtTHXdHYGi1TFJP0IWB0aeQedB7A8wQQj23aqLHlK05Any1uKknVG7tS1nYJJXq9tEeXFu6Yn4FhQiVzPPPUTrWMcWJh-qQ86_cgERv3u1W1v1tUZFlMgFE4pBeupV/s1600/Channel24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdOFjy91KjVsgTkdtTHXdHYGi1TFJP0IWB0aeQedB7A8wQQj23aqLHlK05Any1uKknVG7tS1nYJJXq9tEeXFu6Yn4FhQiVzPPPUTrWMcWJh-qQ86_cgERv3u1W1v1tUZFlMgFE4pBeupV/s320/Channel24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: start;">The duo that make up Schlachthofbronx: Jakob and Benedict. Photo by David Rasche. </td></tr>
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<br />
By Refilwe Thobega</div>
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Last week Tuesday German DJs <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Schlachthofbronx </em>played a live set at Kong Club in Rosebank, Joburg as part of their tour through Sub-Saharan Africa.</div>
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The event was hosted and organised by the Goethe-Institut. Benjamin Keuffel, PR officer at the institute, said: "The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institute, active worldwide. It promotes the study of German abroad and encourages international cultural exchange. Whenever possible, we organise workshops and get togethers with local artists. For example, in the recent TEN CITIES project this idea has led to a variety of musical collaborations between major cities in Africa and Europe, enabling about 50 DJs, producers and musicians to co-operate and produce music together."</div>
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Schlachthofbronx, made up of Jakob (32) and Benedict (34), are known for a very particular sound that is not only influenced by traditional Bavarian music, but also by rave, dancehall, dubstep, baile funk, bounce, and cumbia. </div>
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The event in Rosebank was attended by a mixed audience of people interested in innovative electronic music, as well as some media representatives and bloggers.</div>
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Introducing themselves Benedict said: "We play music that you could put into a lot of different genres: dancehall, hip hop, techno, dub, footwork, etc. But as we play nearly exclusively our own music, it always is something special and has our own twist on it."</div>
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Jakob added: "Basically, we ‘re in the studio during the week, producing new tracks, and do a lot of cooking in our off time. And you know, the usual..."</div>
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The guys are both from Munich, Germany. "It’s a pretty nice and wealthy small city. So growing up there was pretty standard for Germany" said Jakob. He added that they knew each other for a long time because they were in the same circle of friends. Then in 2008 they got into talking music and started to work on some stuff together."</div>
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About the event, the guys said: "We were happy some friends and people turned up. We even had die-hard fans driving to the Rosebank event from soweto, so it was good to hangout as well."</div>
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When asked about what they enjoyed and hated about what they did, they said: "The best thing about what we do is we get to meet so many different people and get to travel to so many exciting places. That is really rewarding and always mind-opening. The hardest thing is difficult to say, as we know our 'job' is a pretty nice one as we are able to do what we love and make a living out of it. Maybe the actual travelling, like sitting in an overbooked early morning plane after you just got from a club playing, heading out to the next thing without sleep or food, sometimes can get a little demanding, but it’s part of the whole greater thing so we will never complain."</div>
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About their thoughts on Mzansi and the Rosebank event Jakob said: "We actually played in Bassline in 2009, together with a friend we collaborated with, spoek mathambo. So it was really nice coming back to SA and Joburg. We love the city, the food and the scene."</div>
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After the SA event, The DJs are travelling to Yaoundé, Cameroon, then to Kampala, Uganda. Then they will be going to end the tour in Nairobi before heading back to the festival season in Europe.</div>
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"The tour has been great so far. It’s an amazing journey. You can get our album as a free download via <a href="http://www.raveandromance.com/" style="border: 0px; color: rgb(10, 95, 137) !important; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">www.raveandromance.com</strong></a>. No strings attached. Just because we love you," the happy duo said. </div>
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*This article was published on Channel24.co.za on 18 May 2015</div>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-45776066608751562382015-07-30T12:56:00.001+02:002015-07-30T13:14:34.528+02:00Lerato got the chance to see Crepuscule. And her review of the play proves she's also one to look out for .<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-scJW-39N7nSyF0lNUFqAXcd_8rwTnprDnCWbslKmOirZ24Ddqo4ik9d0-kO9ypTQfMvRDfMdCd4FY2LoZOP9G4e5A91RrgFU9SPKogQ3HramUycgeGhUu-GUs32EEZHMShF19tXGdKi/s1600/modibedi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-scJW-39N7nSyF0lNUFqAXcd_8rwTnprDnCWbslKmOirZ24Ddqo4ik9d0-kO9ypTQfMvRDfMdCd4FY2LoZOP9G4e5A91RrgFU9SPKogQ3HramUycgeGhUu-GUs32EEZHMShF19tXGdKi/s320/modibedi1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lerato Modibedi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On Friday 17</span><sup style="line-height: 107%;">
</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">July 2015 at Market Theatre, I saw a play called Crepuscule. The play is
an adaptation of a short story written by Can Themba. It is about a love affair
between a married white woman and a black man in Sophiatown. Set in the 1950s/60’s
when interracial relationships where illegal according to the Immorality Act,
it shows two people who are willing to risk their lives because of what they
feel for each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Directed by
Khanyelihle Don Gumede, a dynamic and
award winning young director, performed by Leroy Gopal as (Can Themba), Kate
Liquorish as (Jean Hart), Lerato Mvelase
as (Baby/Kleinboy), Conrad Kemp as (Malcom), Thami Ngoma as (Lethabo/Mama Dora).
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Can Themba
works as a journalist for <i>Drum</i> magazine.
He is smart and sharp in speech. With a charming personality, he is something
of a lady’s man. Jennifer is a young petit lady, who is a photographer, born in
South Africa and educated in London where she met her husband. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In one of
Jean’s trips around Johannesburg, she meets a gentleman who offers to carry her
bags. “Why do you want to carry my bags, do I look incapable?” she said. This leads
to an interesting conversation between strangers. Jean is swept off her feet by
Can’s sharp responses and starts to enjoy his company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After a few
of these meetings, Can invites her over to Sophiatown where he stayed. She’s
met with disapproval by the family but Can continues to charm his way into her
life. Unable to resist Can, they sneak around dodging the police in Sophiatown.
He takes her to the sheeben, where she met his friends, Kleinboy and Stan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They joked
together, enjoyed alcohol, and then spent the nights together. This is an illegal
love affair – with a white, married woman – that would get them into deep
trouble. Can finds himself cast in a world whose rules detail how he’s life is
supposed to play out, who he’s supposed to be and who he is supposed to fall in
love with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In between
scenes the characters sang local jazz music which was popular at the time. The
dancing invited the audience and interacted with them. The style of dressing
was your elegant man’s wear, suits and hats, and cocktail dresses in bright
colours and matching heels for the ladies. The actions during the song made it
more effective as it added character to the performance and made it more interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lerato
Mvelase stands out in the two characters she plays. From the local drunk guy,
to Can’s local girlfriend, her acting and stage presence is exceptional. Leroy
Gopal’s electric voice cut through the audience and commanded you to listen.
The dialogue was natural. The writer did a sterling job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It really
opened my eyes to ideas and proved to me that if you really put your mind to it,
you can come up with such creative, unique and simple ideas that have a huge
impact on to the audience. It also taught me that you don’t need a huge
production with huge costumes to create a power performance. This work will
inspire conversation about who we are trying to become as a growing nation and
what remains from our dark and strong past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">By Lerato Modibedi</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWmnkNE2xuFFo9YXKznW7ZEcJYQAX-cP4anuPI6ORcGUyiTtkLrD5g7EE2gaMev5H5b7edPEIoY1_mjO-7U3VKigE6ns-jofHw6SggJTNj9M-EJ7f8Hzg1_H1zUPsHHWshT9uM1X7YhWX/s1600/drama+masks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWmnkNE2xuFFo9YXKznW7ZEcJYQAX-cP4anuPI6ORcGUyiTtkLrD5g7EE2gaMev5H5b7edPEIoY1_mjO-7U3VKigE6ns-jofHw6SggJTNj9M-EJ7f8Hzg1_H1zUPsHHWshT9uM1X7YhWX/s320/drama+masks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-80027307993135629272015-07-29T12:53:00.002+02:002015-07-29T12:53:28.282+02:00Lebogang Oagile went to see Crepuscule at the Market Theatre ... And this is his take. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI02QRay17sTUxYucbLEjQA6r6ykA-1fAsXlpvKhGhJFnxhlhm9yyQNxkJrD66VHAdpouesf-qEz5xe3u1YrJZedPh5xG_WsZzf0Qj93KfszVkLvu4Vjd5Qu9mmW29ZdFbkJVwKTCziVgk/s1600/Crepuscule-Poster-A1_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI02QRay17sTUxYucbLEjQA6r6ykA-1fAsXlpvKhGhJFnxhlhm9yyQNxkJrD66VHAdpouesf-qEz5xe3u1YrJZedPh5xG_WsZzf0Qj93KfszVkLvu4Vjd5Qu9mmW29ZdFbkJVwKTCziVgk/s320/Crepuscule-Poster-A1_thumb.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Deep
in the wells of the South African literary canon, Can Themba is surfaced
through the works of theatre practitioner Khayelihle Dom Gumede. The Wits
University graduate, through the mentorship of Kgafela wa Magodi, has dug deep
into the archives to bring together a production running at the Market Theatre.
<i>Crepuscule</i> – is an adaptation of one
of Can Themba’s short stories by the same title. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Set
in the infamous Spohiatown – the cultural mecca of Johannesburg that gave birth
to some of the most influential figures in South African history, <i>Crepuscule </i>explores Themba’s love affair
with a white women, an act which under the apartheid regime was forbidden by
law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It
is against this love story that the play introduces the world of Can Themba.
The role of Can is played by Leroy Gopal, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">w</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ho depicts the character of Themba as a charming and witty
intellectual who is full of energy. But it is later revealed that beyond this
charm and wit is a pessimistic mind with and an optimistic spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Can’s
charm proves to be too great for an up-class white woman to resist. Can
romantic pursuit, Jean Hart, is played by Kate Liquorish. Jean is born in South
Africa but is raised in Britain. She returns to South Africa along with her
wealthy husband, who is in pursuit of investment opportunities. Through his
charm and wit, Themba convinces her to come and explore Sophiatown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She
is mesmerised by the scenery and culture of the slum. Perhaps one can argue
that to her, Can was the embodiment of
Sophiatown. It at first appeared to be the case of an eager and intrigued woman
flirting with danger…devouring a forbidden fruit. Such an analogy, it would
appear, is one Can was also aware of. She, however, dispels Can’s belief that
her interests were rooted solely on the prospects of Can’s anatomy as it was
believed to be the case with white woman and black men during that period. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Can’s
affair with a white woman is met with skepticism by his mother and his two
confidants and drinking partners. Themba’s mother, played by Thami Ngoma. She is
quick to warn Jean that she is just one of the many romantic escapades her son
has had. Themba’s life is disrupted by Jean as she explicitly states that their
affair to her was not merely a case of fetishism but that she had fallen in
love with him. Can’s situation is further antagonised by his girlfriend
discovering about his illicit affair. Themba’s girlfriend, Baby, is played by
the talented and Emmy-nominated Lerato Mvelase – who did very well on this play.
She switches with so such ease between two roles of Baby and Kleinboy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
82-minute long production offers a bit of everything, but is not tamed by one
specific thing. An infusion of poetic lingua and melancholic music is executed
to perfection by the talented cast. As can be expected, political rhetoric is
not absent in this unorthodox love story. For most theatre enthusiasts,
political rhetoric often tends to plague any work of theatre, perhaps this can
be argued for all works of art. However, in <i>Crepuscule,</i>
one is made aware of the body politic but there is no real sense of imposition
from the play to the audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Can,
who along with other prolific black writers such as Nat Naksa, Es’kia
Mphahlele, and Henry Nxumalo, worked as a journalist for <i>Drum</i> magazine – the first notable publication that represented the
voice of black people in the metropolis. It is during his years at <i>Drum</i> that Can established himself as the
prodigal son of South African literature. Though not widely published as some
of his peers, notably Mphahlele, Can is highly revered for his coverage and
portrayal of the hardships of African lives during the apartheid regime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dubbed
the “shebeen intellectual”, it is alleged that Can struggled with chronic
alcohol use, which would later be the cause of what some suggest was the
premature death of the <i>Drum</i> journalist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
skeleton of love as the main force behind the narrative brings to the fore
salient themes which are undertaken in the play. Perhaps one which prevails
supreme is that of the ambiguities of apartheid and its effects thereof. For Jean
who’s encounters with the “forbidden fruit” disrupted not only her marriage,
but brought her whole world as she knew it into question. And most importantly,
it would seem that for Themba, the resulting factor of his endeavors
re-affirmed what he had already believed.</span></div>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-10941726920735231602015-06-23T12:07:00.003+02:002015-06-23T12:08:35.102+02:00Drago Lo makes a grand entrance (full article)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj5vMwpHbLNUleAjyrcN59-kv5wIcZNnfxhn1Fic7fpILWI-pDoRsa577pi9TmvlJ5Coa8fdtyJVb7YDGivM-i0TZAIl5rk60hF_-wwGILdjY5tPJBJee60PEDkZnlDTzeCvdhoWj1_ST/s1600/drago+lo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj5vMwpHbLNUleAjyrcN59-kv5wIcZNnfxhn1Fic7fpILWI-pDoRsa577pi9TmvlJ5Coa8fdtyJVb7YDGivM-i0TZAIl5rk60hF_-wwGILdjY5tPJBJee60PEDkZnlDTzeCvdhoWj1_ST/s320/drago+lo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">He says he is that Christian boy from
the hood who grew up to be Drago Lo the entertainer, creator, thinker, a free
spirit, lover and child of the arts. His real name is Xolani Kubheka and he was
born and bred in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Xolani said growing up in the kasi
made him strong. “Thokoza and Kathorus made me. Growing up there was real and the community
raised me. We are the product of our experiences, our past and present shape us
though we choose what they shape us into. I'm grateful to have grown up in
Ekurhuleni. Bezikhipha ekasi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The young rapper says he has always
known that music was his thing. He started writing poetry and plays at age 14
and started writing music in 2010. He said: “When I started writing music I
knew that it was my passion. Nothing else made more sense from that point. While growing up, music and dance helped me
cope. They were my outlets and refuge from the world and all its pains. These
art forms also brought me a lot of joy. And I want to share that joy with the
world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #500050; font-size: 12pt;">Drago Lo’s new album
will be released on 26</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> June. “<i>Grand Entrance</i> is a 14-track masterpiece. It is about my journey
and growth as an artist, lyricist and a visionary. It’s me introducing myself
to the game and the masses. It’s me saying: hey, I have something different,
this is how I view the world; see it through my eyes. This is my story.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Google Play, Amazon, Spotify, EMusic, Nokia music, Rdio, Last FM, Rhapsody,
Digital Virgo, Beats Music, Bozza 37616 store and 20 other digital music
stores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwzZAWtaqZDfPpBYJDo0nxZeYxKuV9aUQqwqv9Hc20R65ImV4-4D1FoBBxV2VP9C7Ci8oFaREEqKwoS_4ugxYIqp-B6EjtPl8trPpmnofkY8JpNegcxk_J1pBnzCARBeV0q3znY6rh6i_/s1600/drago+lo1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwzZAWtaqZDfPpBYJDo0nxZeYxKuV9aUQqwqv9Hc20R65ImV4-4D1FoBBxV2VP9C7Ci8oFaREEqKwoS_4ugxYIqp-B6EjtPl8trPpmnofkY8JpNegcxk_J1pBnzCARBeV0q3znY6rh6i_/s320/drago+lo1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">About the album, Xolani said: “It's
an album made for the club but still has some stories my joy, my life and pain
that speak to the heart. It's a sound that hasn't been done by South African
hip hop. The project is a double-disc album titled <i>Tomorrow's Yesterday</i>. We'll be dropping both halves of the album
digitally before we put out the double disc physical copies on the shelf. <i>Grand Entrance</i> is the first half of <i>Tomorrow’s Yesterday. </i> The Second half titled <i>Black And White Colour Film</i> will drop later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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project came out exactly the way he intended. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">“I have a few gigs lined up for the
month of June, around the country and in Gaborone, Botswana. We have a possible national club tour in
August or maybe in the fourth quarter. Follow me on all my social media
accounts for gig info Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @IamDragoLo. To book
me or any of my artists email: </span><a href="mailto:xl.kubheka@icloud.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">xl.kubheka@icloud.com</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> or </span><a href="mailto:tumotsotetsi@icloud.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">tumotsotetsi@icloud.com</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> or call Tumo Tsotetsi: 072 707 9132. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">@Refilwe Thobega</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Refilwe-Thobega/357142561153837?ref=aymt_homepage_panel</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">*This article was published on <i>Sun Buzz</i> on 23 June 2015.</span></div>
Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-65093724686658988782015-05-18T11:42:00.001+02:002015-05-18T12:42:32.929+02:00Nhlanhla, who is ready to invade Mzansi's entertainment scene, chats to Refilwe Thobega<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If his Twitter
bio is anything to go by, then this is one busy man. It reads: TV producer,
disk jockey, technology and gadget reviewer and music producer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nhlanhla
Sibande (24) from Diepkloof, Soweto says 2015 is definitely his year to soar. “I have been working underground for so long, so this is my time to come out,”
he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nhlanhla’s
busy schedule includes regularly DJing at Liquid Chefs in Rosebank. When he spoke to me, he was heading to Pietermaritzburg to play at Sprytz. The
man of many talents, who looks up to Lulo Café, said he had a lot on his plate.
“I was on <i>CliffCentral</i> about three
weeks ago doing a technology and gadget review on Arye Kellman’s radio show. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have also
worked on and off screen,” he added. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Last year he appeared on Vuzu’s <i>Real Jozi
A listers</i>. He did a coke advert in 2012. TV productions he has
worked on include <i>SA’s Got Talent Season
Five</i>, where he worked as a camera assistant, focus puller and sound boom
swinger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I was also
part of the team that worked on Khuli Chana’s <i>Hazardous Moves</i> music video, directed Thabang Moleya,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Asked what
he was currently working on, he said: “I am working on what I think is going to
be one of Mzansi’s biggest tracks in 2015. I have created the beats and Sammy
Sosa of Channel O and Metro FM will do the vocals.” Nhlanhla even has the song on
his smartphone. He allowed me to listen to it and it turned out he was not just blowing his own horn. The raw
song did sound good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“My dream is
to have the song played in 90% of Mzansi’s radio stations that play house
music. I have also been working on a project with Bricks.” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He says when
it comes to music, his motto is: Classic over hit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For Nhleks,
as he is affectionately known, the sky is not the limit – there is no
limit. <br />
“I think I am multi-talented as far as the entertainment industry is concerned.
This is what I was made for. I have to use one platform to show what I’ve got
and that will create a platform for my other skills and projects to come to the
fore. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I know I’m going to succeed because of my
faith in God and the support that I’m getting from my mom, girlfriend and my
team,” he said. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This article was also published on Daily Sun's entertainment section, Sun Buzz. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">@Refilwethobega</span></div>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-21399444257509641212015-02-19T12:26:00.003+02:002015-02-23T17:54:19.464+02:00Refilwe Thobega chats to stars of "Acapella Jazz" -- Amarayoni. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj2I75Z1js8X29QbGiLI6REDof_fAH0Sr3Voi9jCi1PumL3jcGbXyOc8fKqOCskqGtKAErNvrgaBSyYAVv_Q7cEtiJQI8fm9Wgf_gj-ofGTEbqcW7RrZuvxnv_Wi9_fWRoifawH0yoPdu/s1600/amarayoni+East+London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj2I75Z1js8X29QbGiLI6REDof_fAH0Sr3Voi9jCi1PumL3jcGbXyOc8fKqOCskqGtKAErNvrgaBSyYAVv_Q7cEtiJQI8fm9Wgf_gj-ofGTEbqcW7RrZuvxnv_Wi9_fWRoifawH0yoPdu/s1600/amarayoni+East+London.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Members of Amarayoni Nqobile Mbanjwa, Smanga Ngubane, Zamo Mbutho, Sipho Nxumalo, Thulane Galane and their agent Sfiso Ntuli. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“When I was
younger, my mother sent me to buy vegetables, but I went and bought a guitar
instead. I was punished severely and the kids at school heard about the
incident and they gave me the nickname Sginzi (meaning guitar).”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is what
59-year-old Sipho Nxumalo, co-founder of Amarayoni, said after their
performance at The Bannister Hotel in Braamfontein, Joburg. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They
performed audience favourites such as: </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Summer
Time</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ain’t no Sunshine</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nontsokolo</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meadowlands</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lizzy</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Voetsek</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mbube</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Abe lungu</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The five-men
amarabi group had just arrived from performing in Port Elizabeth, and one their
members, group co-founder Zamo Mbutho (55) prepares to jet off to New York. He is going to join Angelique Kidjo to perform
at Kennergy Hall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the group
sat down to have a meal after their performance, Thulane Galane (40), who is
also a pastor at Rolim Ministries in Roodepoort, urged everyone to observe a
moment of silence as he blessed the food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We’ve been
singing together for 10 years. We meet at Zamo’s place every Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursdays to practise. With the group, I’ve been to Benin and Mexico,” said
Thulane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The group
released their first album in 2000 called <i>Lions</i>,
then produced another one called <i>Azzapella</i>
in 2003 and Zamo released his in August 2014 called <i>Zamo at Last</i>. “The album is
doing well. I perform at the airport on Fridays from 3pm to 7pm to promote it.
Metro FM and Ukhozi FM played some of its songs and I was interviewed by Power
FM recently. I also did an interview on SABC 2’s <i>Weekend Live</i>. So, so far, so good,” said Zamo, father of two girls
and two boys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So where did
it all begin?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Back in the 1980, there was a talent competition at Himalaya Hotel where Sipho
was a drummer for a group called Reunited. “I started music at a tender age of
12. My father was a priest of a Zion church and I used to play the drum and
lead the choir. I come from a big family at Eshowe in KZN. I have 18 siblings,”
said Sipho, divorced father of eight kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I met Zamo
at the competition called Lion Lager Road Show. He was a vocalist and didn’t
have a band, so I backed him. We ended up winning the competition that night.
So from there sa hlangan’e jozi and Amarayoni was born.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other
members of the group are Smanga Ngubane (40), who is expecting a baby boy with
his girlfriend. He sings first turner. Nqobile Mbanjwa (38) sings base. He said
he dropped out of the group from 2003 to 2008 because of overseas work -- singing
and acting. When he is not at home with his wife and one child, and not with
Amarayoni, Ngobile is busy with his freelance work as a studio sound engineer
and music producer. He said he could not explain how being part of Amarayoni
feels like. “It’s hard to explain. It’s home. It feels like home. It’s family,”
said Nqobile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amarayoni
said they were formed in the early 1990s when Zamo came with the idea. “I got
tired of back-up singing and I told the guys that how about we start our own
thing – just voices, without instruments. So I said to them ‘Let’s just sing
boys,’ and we all agreed,” he said. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
“We are not just singing for ourselves, we are singing for God. Many people
enjoy our music.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The group
has backed, sang and performed with musical legends such as Chicco, Yvonne
Chaka Chaka, Mariam Makema, Caifus Semenya, Mercy Phakela, Brenda Fassie,
Stimella, Johny Glegg for 10 years and Rebecca Malope to name a few. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“There isn’t
a place overseas that I don’t know … France, Mexico, you name it,” said Sipho. I
couldn’t help but notice the interesting and beautiful beads on his head and
asked what they represent: “Mina ngi ibhinca, I’m a real Zulu man.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The group
has had its fair share of challenges. They all admit that it has not been an
easy journey but passion and the love of what they do, as well as the support
they receive from supporters, kept them going. “There’s still a lot that we
want to achieve. We’re looking for someone who can dress us,” joked Zamo. “But
on a more serious note, we need a platform. We need to be heard. Most radio
stations don’t play our music, they say we are not their genre. We sing isicathamiya
… African jazz. We also need a manager. We need someone who is experienced and
well connected who will understand our music and manage the business. At the
moment we are trying to do everything ourselves and it’s like pushing a car
with a hand brake on, and we’ve managed to push it this far,” said Zamo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Asked where
they could be reached at, Sipho, who seems to be the funny man of the group,
said: I said ngi ibhinca, I’m not on Twitter. I don’t tweet. You tweet
yourself. I don’t have time for that. When I’m not with the group, I’m alone.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For more
information on the group, their album, or to book them, contact Zamo Mbutho by
e-mailing </span><a href="mailto:rayonni@yahoo.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">rayonni@yahoo.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">@Refilwethobega<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*This
article was also published in <i>Sun Buzz</i>,
<i>Daily Sun</i>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-27191478123622037872014-09-25T17:33:00.001+02:002014-09-25T17:52:58.853+02:00Can you be clear about what you mean in a few seconds?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwSXLv9EVVP6mgBinFEksXO1hTH31Jye8hLCVgxyul3rJ2Sp0vFxQZz4hGViOqsSy3Fk_lcoAF3bim48WNP7Pzb3KozqsvQZBVV-smrRSElwmguUjRPD-3tbTcVCvXc2gVHKr8IhiteO_/s1600/30+seconds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwSXLv9EVVP6mgBinFEksXO1hTH31Jye8hLCVgxyul3rJ2Sp0vFxQZz4hGViOqsSy3Fk_lcoAF3bim48WNP7Pzb3KozqsvQZBVV-smrRSElwmguUjRPD-3tbTcVCvXc2gVHKr8IhiteO_/s1600/30+seconds.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Last night after the braai we played
the game "30 seconds" . It was my first time playing it. I begged to
observe but they all refused. "We are all playing," a new friend
said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">30 Seconds is a fast-paced general knowledge game. Players generally
play in teams of two. One player must guess a word from their teammate's
explanation, with the aim to guess as many possible answers in 30 seconds. The
main restriction on the explanation is that it may not contain the actual word
or part of the word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">As the only girl in my team, I was terrified at first. No girl wants to
appear to be dumb among a group of guys. When I picked up the card for the
first time and it was my turn to explain what's on it and let my team mates
guess what it really is, I froze. I asked if I could pick up another card, they
refused. I asked if I could be skipped, just that once, they refused. Before I
knew it, 30 seconds were over and we hadn't got a single point. I could see the
disappointment on their faces when they picked up the card and realised that
they could have guessed the right answers to all the questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">I'm not a slow learner and I adapt fast. As the game went on, I became
smarter and better and faster and we could get 3 right answers (out of 5) at a
go. I was told that I was not bad for a first-timer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">I heard that a couple once broke up because of the game. They were both
on the same team and the girl could not get any words that the boyfriend was explaining
and he got so irritated when she failed to guess the answer of something they
spoke about the previous night. She was upset that he got so worked up. He got
mad and left with "the party" without her. A friend also told me that
her friend is still not talking to her after she called her
"pathetic" and "stupid" and "disappointing" at
one game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">See, you can't take things personally when you play 30 Seconds. The game
is ruthless. It will expose you. If your general knowledge is up to date, then
you are safe. You must have a vast knowledge of everything: from sport,
international affairs, governments of the world, programmes, name of actors and
movies, to music bands and even capital cities of countries.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11DxO1DrDRAmcuZfUohvlzfaSR9FkJceZrL8Cr52-9iRQBArKumTfWQYrVJ6WJkUA_2Tsd926fOkhj_1k-nIexfE1KsQf4AG_1MMyUFa2ScV5M6o6dHZezVwmGpJJmwSsdCzQTCNu9TBi/s1600/30+secs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11DxO1DrDRAmcuZfUohvlzfaSR9FkJceZrL8Cr52-9iRQBArKumTfWQYrVJ6WJkUA_2Tsd926fOkhj_1k-nIexfE1KsQf4AG_1MMyUFa2ScV5M6o6dHZezVwmGpJJmwSsdCzQTCNu9TBi/s1600/30+secs.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our team member asked us: What is the capital city of Israel?
Someone said Gaza. The other team laughed their lungs out. Of course we lost.
It is Jerusalem and we got it wrong. We also laughed at ourselves for that one.
But had he said it's a place in the Bible, we could have guessed it right.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">At one point I picked up a card and I started to describe:
"It's a cartoon and ..." my teammate screamed:
"Barney". Right answer. Next question... How did he know that it was
Barney? I didn't even get to the "and it's purple" part. There are
many cartoons out there. Sheer luck, if you ask me. The questions can be quite
simple and some a bit tricky.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The secret lies in your ability to explain what's on the card
without saying its name and of course your team members have to be smart or
clued up enough to know what you are talking about.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">On the second round a team member said: "They study the
stars", and we screamed: "Astrologists" and he said "well
... the ones from the bible", and we all said: "the wise men",
and he asked, "well ... how many were they?" We screamed: "Three
wise men". Right. next question.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">We were on a roll. We played on. Eventually we were beaten by one
point -- thanks to the sweet guy in my team who spoke very very slowly and
gently.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The game challenges your mental and emotional abilities. How fast
are you? Are you a team player? Are you supportive? Are you short tempered? Are
you arrogant or self-righteous? Do you think highly of yourself? Do you respect
others as well as yourself? 30 Seconds puts it all in the open, in the presence
of others -- strangers and friends.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">One thing is clear. There is talking, and there is speaking.
Speaking is a skill. You see, sometimes we just open our mouths and words some
out without thinking, that's talking. Now, sometimes you have to think before
you open your mouth and shape and package the words in a such a way that
they are understood by the next person, for a certain purpose. That is
speaking. Something that I definitely need to work on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-82192433982463287182014-06-23T20:04:00.004+02:002014-06-24T11:39:50.103+02:00Play Your Part -- An Initiative by Brand South Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibHZS8VhwKK9CJbqU5I38HVmpOsl8nHa-pSIQVxrg6szYHbwbTyjzytktAbnJkfRp0OYwTWSGzLNlLy-1GhX6RrK0CIxQM30YJ1K69YaEn5lbSI_NgT_HwFLztw-w5hVkEx0affF0dYS9/s1600/unnamed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibHZS8VhwKK9CJbqU5I38HVmpOsl8nHa-pSIQVxrg6szYHbwbTyjzytktAbnJkfRp0OYwTWSGzLNlLy-1GhX6RrK0CIxQM30YJ1K69YaEn5lbSI_NgT_HwFLztw-w5hVkEx0affF0dYS9/s1600/unnamed2.jpg" height="400" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">I was privileged to attend a Brand SA and Nelson
Mandela Foundation youth caucus event at the Centre of Memory in Houghton on
Saturday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">The Play Your Part Campaign event, driven by Brand
South Africa, was attended by different young professionals from different
fields and backgrounds. I met some quite interesting, inspiring and ambitions
young people. And I mean “ambitious” in a very good way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refilwe and Mpho.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">The whole event, from start to finish, oozed
professionalism – from the warm and friendly team of Brand SA to the host:
Nelson Mandela Foundation and its personnel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">My sister, Mpho Akinleye, and I were quite early.
Nice. So after exchanging greetings with the Brand SA team that welcomed us, we
headed straight to the Museum (Centre of Memory) where some special memories of
Tata Nelson Mandela are kept. Exceptional man he was. We saw his letters to and
from different Universities, his certificates, his note pads and books. We also
saw his cologne, his towel and a Vaseline aquous cream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">This comes exactly a week after I watched the film:
Long Walk to Freedom. The timing is completely amazing. I could not watch the
film while it was still showing in cinemas, and I am glad I only got to watch
it now because it made my experience at the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Centre
of Memory more profound. We walked around, took photos and posed next to the pictures
of the great history maker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Gradually the place
filled up and our session started. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Mpumi Mabuza welcomed us
and briefly told us why we were there: </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To
reflect and review the role of youth in driving active citizenship 20 years into
democracy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Shortly after, the
vibrant </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Sithembile Ntombela, Brand
SA brand manager, educated us on the </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Play Your Part Movement and why the active
participation of youth is crucial. She was on fire, her presentation was “pashash”
and she got us hooked with her cool lingo and energetic delivery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ll tweet about all of you,” the “cool mom” joked at the end of her
talk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOplGb3CrgKmM3b5smByBcYu9qgmyrRnksG3TewmFTSZptN1TgBYHZO0e4ENEWvJyYTT1fJyhpq8wVHu-QnpLF4DU1fqofL-pAwNuivkPVBkaW5KGQG90cvbP3U4SLDYzhauOIFkwUuEmB/s1600/65_be28adfff47893c4519c1307dc6b8866_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOplGb3CrgKmM3b5smByBcYu9qgmyrRnksG3TewmFTSZptN1TgBYHZO0e4ENEWvJyYTT1fJyhpq8wVHu-QnpLF4DU1fqofL-pAwNuivkPVBkaW5KGQG90cvbP3U4SLDYzhauOIFkwUuEmB/s1600/65_be28adfff47893c4519c1307dc6b8866_m.jpg" height="142" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Brand South Africa brand manager Sithembile Ntombela.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then Brand SA researcher Leigh-Gail Peterson did the SA’s reputation and
competitiveness briefing and research manager Dr Petrus de Kock followed. All
speakers welcomed questions from the attendees. That was quite interesting and
fascinating. Smart questions were asked. Satisfactory responses were given. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ous Thoko Modise gave the vote of thanks and informed us that the <i>Bloody Miracle</i> <i>documentary</i> DVD, which we could not see at the event because of
time constraints, was in fact, included in our goodie bags. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vSIHuxNdW-uKpZWn1wmScv6v48xK8PlUARJD3nTOBWkwOyS-lVFl-lg73L0Hh-CFo5BIByUmpoaplqXryqbGYJjppJ0VsjfNiT-4f1JKhEDrFcj4fFs6LxG-Eo9EueFNgTU7yDAwvZEY/s1600/unnamed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vSIHuxNdW-uKpZWn1wmScv6v48xK8PlUARJD3nTOBWkwOyS-lVFl-lg73L0Hh-CFo5BIByUmpoaplqXryqbGYJjppJ0VsjfNiT-4f1JKhEDrFcj4fFs6LxG-Eo9EueFNgTU7yDAwvZEY/s1600/unnamed1.jpg" height="180" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some of Tata Mandela's documents.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We continued to take more pictures outside, helped ourselves to some
tasty refreshments and networked with fellow young people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I managed to have a short moment with Dr Petrus and I asked him this:
You mentioned “strengthening the nation” and “creating awareness”. But Gauteng
is only a small part of South Africa. What is being done to reach people in
outer communities in the rural areas who should also rally behind this
initiative and Brand SA as a whole?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He said they were spreading the messages through community radio and TV
and aimed to work with municipalities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Play Your Part is a nationwide campaign created to inspire, empower and
celebrate active citizenship in South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Its objective is to lift the spirit of our nation by inspiring all South
Africans to contribute to positive change, become involved and start doing –
because a nation of people who care deeply for one another and the environment
in which they live is good for everyone. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.playyourpart.co.za/">www.playyourpart.co.za</a> and <a href="http://www.brandsouthafrica.com/">www.brandsouthafrica.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">To make the whole experience complete for myself, I watched <i>1994 The Bloody Miracle</i> documentary DVD
when I got home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcgl_NfqgltmaHfwo3rpPkS6e8zWyKugdiPAO2fNPbI1aLJrK5ezR44gARrLhAGqcuGbYl6EvCe66bF3bjVcmTc70NthM1isChKfiosvO1zwhucoErQx_zXyEJ-UDobZ18QhXkORKVnyk/s1600/1994+The+Bloody+Miracle+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcgl_NfqgltmaHfwo3rpPkS6e8zWyKugdiPAO2fNPbI1aLJrK5ezR44gARrLhAGqcuGbYl6EvCe66bF3bjVcmTc70NthM1isChKfiosvO1zwhucoErQx_zXyEJ-UDobZ18QhXkORKVnyk/s1600/1994+The+Bloody+Miracle+001.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">I was lost for words. We all know that South Africa went through hell in
the apartheid years – with June 16 1976 being a day that will never be
forgotten in SA history – but the 12 months leading to the 1994 election were
filled with even more blood, cruelty and immense pain that words can’t
describe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">The freedom we experience today came through tears, pain, sweat and
blood. People lost fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, comrades and even lost
their own lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">When I attended a Youth Day event on June 16 at the Nike Football
Stadium recently I heard one of the speakers asking: “What is the youth of
today doing to honour the youth of 1976?” and I thought: Maybe she should
rather ask: what is the youth of today doing with the freedom fought for by the
youth of 1976? There is not much we can do FOR the youth of 1976. What are we
doing in honouring and respecting what they did for us, is the question. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pDaCpj_c-PTINgu2ETb04dqQkML7N5BqqiG4i3lfh2PHy1YIWWCpJuqNGzizdzmHKzxDDaDIVpBEiwTaWEyyYBexCN9Aiqyjverw0X2KDCQdg1k23wd9Lp-HvMqVTtJy7um8f1IMJ_AC/s1600/play+your+part.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pDaCpj_c-PTINgu2ETb04dqQkML7N5BqqiG4i3lfh2PHy1YIWWCpJuqNGzizdzmHKzxDDaDIVpBEiwTaWEyyYBexCN9Aiqyjverw0X2KDCQdg1k23wd9Lp-HvMqVTtJy7um8f1IMJ_AC/s1600/play+your+part.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Freedom came at a prize. Let’s respect and appreciate it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">To my younger brothers and sisters: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Young boys, go to school, respect all women and your elders. Violence and
aggression are NOT signs of power. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Young girls, finish school and put having babies while you are teenagers on hold.
You will have all the time in the world to have them. Having a child when you
are only a little girl yourself robs you of your youth. It shatters dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Dream big. Go make things happen. You can make a difference. It does not
matter where you come from -- always remember that the Great Nelson Mandela was
a humble man from a small rural Qunu. This simply inspires me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">You too, can make history! Play your Part! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiiETYrJ2lbfdNaQzwq8CWg8GcTYD9OpTvfYKnuElGfln-xuhEJSAuR9IPqdcCquFlsi35IVP-eLrvlnQQmEYwQMhc6fhM0W30pCmH2Vhyphenhyphen9EHGBrDz_PDDVSGaN69GC78inp0SEN-eR7f/s1600/BrandSA_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiiETYrJ2lbfdNaQzwq8CWg8GcTYD9OpTvfYKnuElGfln-xuhEJSAuR9IPqdcCquFlsi35IVP-eLrvlnQQmEYwQMhc6fhM0W30pCmH2Vhyphenhyphen9EHGBrDz_PDDVSGaN69GC78inp0SEN-eR7f/s1600/BrandSA_01.jpg" height="126" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vSIHuxNdW-uKpZWn1wmScv6v48xK8PlUARJD3nTOBWkwOyS-lVFl-lg73L0Hh-CFo5BIByUmpoaplqXryqbGYJjppJ0VsjfNiT-4f1JKhEDrFcj4fFs6LxG-Eo9EueFNgTU7yDAwvZEY/s1600/unnamed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">A great thank you to the team of Brand SA: Thoko Modise, Anele, Sandisiwe, Onke,
Sithembile, Leigh, Dr Petrus de Kock and Yase and Clive from Nelson Mandela </span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Foundation</span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span>We had fun!<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgSonitz10dntXH_XFHwIA4K8R5d9Onl62l_jbnMfCTbypthUf9KI6k84rC_wTnjm9KLcXGQjOMtM9VAAqCEF42tGZQJdsZqSuaRHe005nLlu4GOT8zQzV7eYgHuvifatbSelNqS0dSlF/s1600/20140621_121925+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgSonitz10dntXH_XFHwIA4K8R5d9Onl62l_jbnMfCTbypthUf9KI6k84rC_wTnjm9KLcXGQjOMtM9VAAqCEF42tGZQJdsZqSuaRHe005nLlu4GOT8zQzV7eYgHuvifatbSelNqS0dSlF/s1600/20140621_121925+(1).jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@Refilwethobega</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BS93ApoicphSCGZZOdTTeI8TaTcB_yJYD3xHyi96Q6hGGDvyhpZB-W0S5akwqV7bEO9YeKN-3Jq8CLn8PycBnjsOpY-kUi4DmKmoyoHx2UYm7gKDNrhpa496k6eIJy7wITxCP13j9tIn/s1600/20140621_122102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BS93ApoicphSCGZZOdTTeI8TaTcB_yJYD3xHyi96Q6hGGDvyhpZB-W0S5akwqV7bEO9YeKN-3Jq8CLn8PycBnjsOpY-kUi4DmKmoyoHx2UYm7gKDNrhpa496k6eIJy7wITxCP13j9tIn/s1600/20140621_122102.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mpho Akinleye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-81793894418308598692014-01-24T13:52:00.002+02:002014-01-24T14:13:41.835+02:00A critical look at Bonnie Henna's Eyebags & Dimples -- by Refilwe Thobega<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">EYEBAGS & DIMPLES <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By BONNIE HENNA <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(published by Jacana Media)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Sy3mMbbAGrv-dKZcUAvOoN5A9QTrUhcYQmKyH0SfNXGN226NcuNr-7PLx3AXLHbNlo3BU-AGtbU42yv83BCa5xIjhjGzVjWjANczJsd1AQ1wxKr7wQKXAgy6-mNpaK4QwHGy6_QTGJBF/s1600/bigger+eyebags+and+dimoles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Sy3mMbbAGrv-dKZcUAvOoN5A9QTrUhcYQmKyH0SfNXGN226NcuNr-7PLx3AXLHbNlo3BU-AGtbU42yv83BCa5xIjhjGzVjWjANczJsd1AQ1wxKr7wQKXAgy6-mNpaK4QwHGy6_QTGJBF/s1600/bigger+eyebags+and+dimoles.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
Kgomotso Moncho recommends that I read a certain book, I don’t hesitate.<br />
Why? Apart from being a great friend:<br />
1. She an avid reader. <br />
2. She’s worked as an arts writer of a national newspaper for a long time and
continues to write for great magazines.<br />
3. I share with her, and often trust her artistic taste, especially in books,
music and film. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So Motso lent
me Bonnie Henna’s <i>Eyebags & Dimples</i>
at Shelley Beach in Durban a while ago. We hadn’t seen each other in about a
year. It was amazing to see a familiar face in a faraway place. She’s happier
and lovelier than ever. Durban is definitely treating her very well, but I told
her that the bright city lights and the loud noise of Jozi are calling her
again. It’s been a well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle of Egoli but it’s
time we both come back “home” – she knows what I’m talking about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eyebags & Dimples</span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is Bonnie Henna’s autobiography. She
needs no introduction. She is a renowned South African actress and has been in a
number of international films including <i>Drum</i>,
<i>Blinded Angels</i>, <i>Catch a Fire</i> and <i>Invictus</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqoq14r4Hr5QPFjMUr9EVRbFGIw0UdRhEKWVKzjx_k8e3KZmUj2_EGGeQh3iAgMmR7ow3ljp7eElaeTIYpMIbWQDMM_A_omqAYVLy8fpP1aPKuaILWWnlLCZfzK3czV44B97sa7ICde6Q/s1600/bonie+actress(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqoq14r4Hr5QPFjMUr9EVRbFGIw0UdRhEKWVKzjx_k8e3KZmUj2_EGGeQh3iAgMmR7ow3ljp7eElaeTIYpMIbWQDMM_A_omqAYVLy8fpP1aPKuaILWWnlLCZfzK3czV44B97sa7ICde6Q/s1600/bonie+actress(1).jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I conclude.
Bonnie is a good writer. She paints very vivid images with words. A</span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">s a fellow reader and friend, Brenda da Silva, told me: t</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">his book's an
easy read. It took me one day to
complete, a huge part of that reason being that I could not put it down. Bonnie
finished every chapter so strongly that you can’t wait to jump onto the next
one. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bonnie’s
mother was a pained and emotionally wounded woman. Bonnie says she used to
beat, shout at her, and call her insulting names at the most innocent things.
She says: “I just wanted her to love me, to see me, to be glad that I existed. I
craved her affection and her approval, but I had to contend myself with
beatings – they were her only real engagement with me”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But she also
reveals all sides of her mother. Who also proved to be a very strong,
sophisticated and quite smart woman. She didn’t hate her children; she was just
battling with her own issues and happened to take out her internal turmoil on
her kids. If she didn’t want the best for her kids she would not have taken
Bonnie to her first audition and supported the process that led to her stardom.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXtFfF3LT1h2xs2yGvewxhDUcv3cdbIACpS5SctExH0M8a5dTaUqmorsvv4PnPG37eXVjoMvfJMUHQN1mpCwHP7P_iGCX8zqRFsXBeZNWjbEDUUkdLc0Z4gVBFZRypdrm_5XCDhfccjLE/s1600/cute+bonnie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXtFfF3LT1h2xs2yGvewxhDUcv3cdbIACpS5SctExH0M8a5dTaUqmorsvv4PnPG37eXVjoMvfJMUHQN1mpCwHP7P_iGCX8zqRFsXBeZNWjbEDUUkdLc0Z4gVBFZRypdrm_5XCDhfccjLE/s1600/cute+bonnie.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether you
like her or not, know her or not, when walking in her shoes – by reading this
book – you’ll laugh and cry with Bonnie. She’s had one hell of a ride. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Regarding
marriage, she says: “marriage was never simple or easy, I came to understand,
but it was also a blessing, and a continuous course in problem-solving. Two
people unite at an altar and vow to do life together, but when the celebrations
end, I discovered, that the real work begins. For we bring to marriage our
childhoods and all our beliefs and opinions about how life should be. Nobody
had prepared me for this. But then building a </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">harmonious life with someone you haven’t
lived with for most of your life is like starting from scratch; no one can ever
prepare you for such a challenge.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvIkM34W65yfLi-OOpAV7k7TCEFfHf27Zovx9tbnvTnO82pU2iJ_vQ7mqNhK4Pp3vV8OeZoNh8NA04AwGbMqBSUyNg2LU0Gpubww3CGeLkkf9W9E_2Vc7Y_HjTKyQPQ62UTpQQWEnUK2q/s1600/Bonnie+talks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvIkM34W65yfLi-OOpAV7k7TCEFfHf27Zovx9tbnvTnO82pU2iJ_vQ7mqNhK4Pp3vV8OeZoNh8NA04AwGbMqBSUyNg2LU0Gpubww3CGeLkkf9W9E_2Vc7Y_HjTKyQPQ62UTpQQWEnUK2q/s1600/Bonnie+talks.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She does not mince her words. She speaks her mind.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">About fans,
back in the day, she says: “I didn’t mind fans at a distance, but they got
under my skin at times. Someone always seemed to ask an inappropriate question
or make a demeaning remark. ‘You are way shorter than I thought’. ‘Have you
gained weight?’ This tendency was most prevalent among black people, who seemed
completely comfortable saying things only the closest of friends and family
should be allowed to say; they took unearned privileges to voice whatever they
liked.” She said this pressed her buttons and annoyed her more than it should
have. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Younger
Bonnie reminds me of Rihanna somehow, actually. Misunderstood. Good girl gone
bad. And she explains why she was always perceived to be “aloof” and a drama
queen.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPseuk20JZrTmG7xzLwEHezL_Rvw-YuUncbSGNsMMIWXHxemFVrfwie8xl8_-Q6eJMt4dmCR7FeauqmAtnmPY5tZPfE0ZQ3QqsTrRVAwceHhyphenhyphenESb4dkKrtrfacWOvSQ7gAhsJPFe0LwLo/s1600/Mr+and+Mrs+Henna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPseuk20JZrTmG7xzLwEHezL_Rvw-YuUncbSGNsMMIWXHxemFVrfwie8xl8_-Q6eJMt4dmCR7FeauqmAtnmPY5tZPfE0ZQ3QqsTrRVAwceHhyphenhyphenESb4dkKrtrfacWOvSQ7gAhsJPFe0LwLo/s1600/Mr+and+Mrs+Henna.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr and Mrs Henna. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">She says
that: “For a long time I felt misunderstood by the world. Now I realise that I
was the one who misunderstood me. I’ve had to forgive myself for being hard on
myself and others. I had misguided and unreasonable expectations, and wondered
around aimlessly seeking </span></span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">fulfillment</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> in all the wrong places.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She lets the
reader in some of the most private affairs of her live. It is revealed for the
first time that Bonnie had a relationship with Vusi Twala, son of the great Shado
Twala. She also tells that for a long time she suffered from and was diagnosed
with depression. One of her friends said, in comforting her: “We are all
struggling with something.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I agree. Hers
just happened to be depression (which falls under emotional problems and mental
conditions). Some people are struggling with addictions, different illnesses –
some chronic and some </span></span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">incurable</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(My mother
always laughs when I say I take comfort in that I know and understand my “issue”,
some people suffer from undiagnosed mental and personality disorders. They are
facing monsters that they don’t even know exist.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizViEGKRmmpYTeqsCOttuKVV_vyjQy6EK46Hu986wTzTUCEw1YpI7RFsnWYRI_5uRhPWC282KKOD1kcZI42yUkSwZDS5DwkjsffSBs8Ozn516RncQaij8t4w4oaUa6rtvqsOFolsA9_K-t/s1600/bold+bonnie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizViEGKRmmpYTeqsCOttuKVV_vyjQy6EK46Hu986wTzTUCEw1YpI7RFsnWYRI_5uRhPWC282KKOD1kcZI42yUkSwZDS5DwkjsffSBs8Ozn516RncQaij8t4w4oaUa6rtvqsOFolsA9_K-t/s1600/bold+bonnie.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Moving right
along … <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">If you know
anything about life, you’ll know one thing for sure: Things don’t always go as
planned. Things have their own way of revealing themselves. It was the same for
Bonnie. She says: “I had </span></span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">traveled</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> all the way to California to discover who my
enemy was. I had fled to pursue a dream, and in turn it had pursued me. All that
took place in LA had needed to happen that way. If God had tried to tell me
this back at home I would not have listened. I had needed the pain, the
desperation, the hunger to force me to pay attention. By stepping into the
fire, everything that wasn’t real had been burnt away, exposing what it was
that I needed to start dealing with.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bonnie says
she learned, on the TV show <i>Survivor</i>,
where she was invited to be a celebrity participant and got eliminated at Top
Three, to appreciate the small things, to live on very little and to appreciate
the diversity and uniqueness of human beings. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEJNwrbDsJFBq9Sf-aTvO8nSh-EQ0YilaThl43lKCuMr7nB1cOqSJiukZU30PnzivnVCYtfwY9O3Dkl-D_3TIOfzWKSkgBQcuXZbDJUk2sV4L52-LcLBNfeb0UrCFzmYxWo8wet0D5w0_/s1600/bonnie+on+TV+show+Survivor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEJNwrbDsJFBq9Sf-aTvO8nSh-EQ0YilaThl43lKCuMr7nB1cOqSJiukZU30PnzivnVCYtfwY9O3Dkl-D_3TIOfzWKSkgBQcuXZbDJUk2sV4L52-LcLBNfeb0UrCFzmYxWo8wet0D5w0_/s1600/bonnie+on+TV+show+Survivor.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie on TV show Survivor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">South
African poet, Lebo Mashile sings nothing but praise for Bonnie’s book. She says:
“From child star to mother and wife. From abuse to transcendence. From public
figure to piercing private pain. This book is a portrait of a woman healing by
owning every part of who she is. Bonnie’s bravery and vulnerability exemplify
the kind of new personal narratives that will inspire the women of South Africa
to self-reflect, reclaim and change the emotional status-quo of our lives as
well as that of our society.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I loved that
she told her story boldly from her point of view, but also revealing all sides
of it, something that it quite rare in memoirs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’a great
book. A great read. I loved it. Check it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgoU6knpoDAiTe7qepySyrsK-55EMOVguMNjmrcir5wLZSAjLEHFJhG5Svyvq5mjuWcnCXMbUBO5Z_g5IJyd52roEbzpLBrWvxokEZ22_GSR9c1zprTmwAjZ7LWd_JFxXWdEmK5Ytl5Nl/s1600/gorg+bonnie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgoU6knpoDAiTe7qepySyrsK-55EMOVguMNjmrcir5wLZSAjLEHFJhG5Svyvq5mjuWcnCXMbUBO5Z_g5IJyd52roEbzpLBrWvxokEZ22_GSR9c1zprTmwAjZ7LWd_JFxXWdEmK5Ytl5Nl/s1600/gorg+bonnie.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even her face just screams: Star! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-76896149602518915702014-01-07T12:36:00.003+02:002014-01-07T12:42:49.950+02:00No baby drama yet! Whose business is it anyway?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKVv0ML-tEkSQxPXlelQZ4Qc_-tCytlgBr__7kYia7QlwvazBzUadTuAh1sEqAFzYYe26DCNxFPYbhBFgO2Yma3Rq7G687Q-JmON3uZwkzF5EftNaP-O1S75cTMpA9x-6RpCTysRxUueH/s1600/babyshoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKVv0ML-tEkSQxPXlelQZ4Qc_-tCytlgBr__7kYia7QlwvazBzUadTuAh1sEqAFzYYe26DCNxFPYbhBFgO2Yma3Rq7G687Q-JmON3uZwkzF5EftNaP-O1S75cTMpA9x-6RpCTysRxUueH/s1600/babyshoes.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Women are expected to have, at least, one child. On top of that, “society”
and other health factors put an age limit to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Times are changing. More and more women are deciding to “wait”,
irrespective of the ticking clock, until they feel that the time is right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Refilwe Thobega</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> catches up with four women, who
want to be ready before bringing a human being to the world. These ladies
represent many others who do not feel pressured into having babies by their
peers, families or societies at large.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">*<b>Mmapaseka Moseki</b> (28)</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> is a f<span style="background: white;">reelance journalist. After staying in Gauteng for more than eight years,
early last year she has relocated to Port Shepstone with her fiancé. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">“He got a job there, and after working for a major newspaper as an arts
writer for almost eight years I decided to resign and go with my man. I craved
change. I needed a new start, and relocating seemed like a great one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Mmapaseka’s fiancé, a mechanical engineer, has just paid “lobola”. They
are celebrating six years together in February 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">At 28, <span style="background: white;">I still feel
I'm not ready <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">“I like kids, but sometimes I am scared of them
because I have had incidents where they cried when I held them, making me feel
like I did something wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">“My sister had her only son at 13, so from the
age of six years I was aware of pregnancy and the idea that you have to be
ready to have a child. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">By my teens, my goal was not to fall pregnant, it was almost like a
phobia. And at</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> 28, <span style="background: white;">I still feel I'm not ready,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Mmapaseka says her husband has a child from a previous relationship. “I
dream of giving him a boy. And I'm a little curious about the kind of mother I
would make. I'm dealing with my own demons like getting in touch with my
emotions (Aquarians suffer from being aloof), so things like that make me wonder
if I would make a good mother.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">We will do it at our own pace<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">As newlyweds, people in their lives expect them
to have a baby soon, if they are not already planning to have one already. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">“My husband and I have just started living together, before this; we
were in a long-distance relationship. We still have to know each other more
before we bring a child into this world.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> <span style="background: white;">We will do it at
our own pace. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e-iZZDRYz3IYg1OmRXZEaOqnzekTF0xSRRzVjldclaXtbdlKIM81ao0YkDM1slaP0mweNmPFOHHdKqN7okrnqFrXSD9TkGJ-6fJ9aVueVIxq7K4zVZUddQiDHdSSWV6GC4XhP8QIhqte/s1600/Now+u+want+me.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e-iZZDRYz3IYg1OmRXZEaOqnzekTF0xSRRzVjldclaXtbdlKIM81ao0YkDM1slaP0mweNmPFOHHdKqN7okrnqFrXSD9TkGJ-6fJ9aVueVIxq7K4zVZUddQiDHdSSWV6GC4XhP8QIhqte/s1600/Now+u+want+me.png" height="220" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whose baby is it anyway?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meet <b>Faith Modise</b>
(34) of Greenstone, Johannesburg. She is a content coordinator for an
e-learning company. She</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
says that a baby is the last thing on her mind. “I have been single for a year
now,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I haven’t found the right man as yet</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Despite not
having them, Faith says the loves kids. “Actually, I adore kids. I simply don’t
have them because I haven’t found the right man as yet who has the same morals
and values.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Society
expects one to have at least one child, if not two, at age 34. If not, one is
sure to expect some remarks, comments and opinions. Most of them not so
pleasant. Faith experiences that. “Yes, of course people talk, but it doesn’t
bother me because I decide what I want to do with my life,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">According to Faith,
there shouldn’t be single mothers “because kids are meant for married couples”.
However, she has great “respect for single mothers who share responsibilities
of being a father and a mother to their kids and doing the best they can to
provide for them.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRkjQVgnB2UZTYGxoYy058b0luwheYV01zZZvi11_WZaXGxWJpTCPKzyBVbdnqN1lKTgc99exlfBVIkqQwYCFZk3n59iRI-uHp3z3S-CbS99D9VyNY1-igadD7O_BhrWzRfdsNhuZ6lxA/s1600/Mr+right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRkjQVgnB2UZTYGxoYy058b0luwheYV01zZZvi11_WZaXGxWJpTCPKzyBVbdnqN1lKTgc99exlfBVIkqQwYCFZk3n59iRI-uHp3z3S-CbS99D9VyNY1-igadD7O_BhrWzRfdsNhuZ6lxA/s1600/Mr+right.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If he's gonna be your baby daddy, chose him wisely.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am awaiting my time<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Faith has a hectic lifestyle which includes being a part-time gym
instructor. She also dances for the Blue Bulls Rugby Team. “I am a health freak
who doesn’t believe that the clock ticks for anyone to have babies,” She says. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">She has recently appeared on the Big Brother Stargame Reality TV Show
training the housemates three times a week. “And that was the best experience of
my life. “I am the oldest Bulls Babe and am very proud of myself for pulling
this physique because this look got a lot of people fooled.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It is clear for Faith, society, family and friends and their expectations
can wait. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The word of God
says ‘wait upon the Lord’. We do not live for ourselves, our paths are not the
same, being overtaken by your peers whether career, marriage or children
shouldn’t matter because God did not mean for us to have the same things at the
same time. I am awaiting my time and only God will decide. In the meantime, I
am living comfortably and I am trusting on Him to turn His clock,” she concludes.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdegyXXK1MCBrK8rLBNVwBUCvct4r7xB9pN1S6NTZwgLPD7ytzaIU5Ks_FOX-WU1pWSzePWBAv9J4iTySNnl_K2Q72FAzoUKvMCaDYxaVFEMYI9Djw48P3pSR2TtOYzZLPR63ZCjkqpaPs/s1600/faithbluebull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdegyXXK1MCBrK8rLBNVwBUCvct4r7xB9pN1S6NTZwgLPD7ytzaIU5Ks_FOX-WU1pWSzePWBAv9J4iTySNnl_K2Q72FAzoUKvMCaDYxaVFEMYI9Djw48P3pSR2TtOYzZLPR63ZCjkqpaPs/s1600/faithbluebull.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faith Modise, Blue Bull Babe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mmakgang Enele</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">, at 40, has no kids. And she is happy
with that. And it was her choice. <br />
<br />
She has a degree in Environmental Science and working as a Deputy Director for
Institutional Establishment. Her work involves engaging with different sectors on
water-related matters and supporting water users for the establishment of Water
Management Institutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kids are such a bunch of joy <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
Mmakgang, who has just relocated from Gauteng to the Western Cape, has been together
with her partner for the past five years. “I don't think I would still be dating him if
there were some abnormalities. The one thing I like about him is that he lets
me be who I want to be and he understands my character,” she’s pleased to say. <br />
<br />
“I am from a big family of six (four girls and two boys). All my siblings have
got kids and I love them to bits. Kids are such a bunch of joy and I love them,”
she says. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Then how come
she does not have kids of her own? <br />
<br />
“I grew up in a stable environment with both parents supporting each other in
raising us. I believe raising a child alone is a big challenge and wouldn't
want to see myself in that situation. I told myself from a very young age that
my parents will be my role models as far as family planning is concerned. It
only makes sense to me to have a child when I am married. I do not see myself
having a child without a supporting structure. A supporting structure is not
only about money, the day-to-day responsibilities of raising a kid also play an
important role,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMYZhdbfDhfVHWr9b_rULzNd1c6yilqaijIK33yAusLdvZQsuwphcFadWrfFdOjh3dnogFCY2kaCLC3RwF_-F_oP98C1Q_NZGfxrNLTw_M2S7_Zhtr8d5TCh_RccPd0sVy6rGXwG_dWDc/s1600/Cute-Black-Babies_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMYZhdbfDhfVHWr9b_rULzNd1c6yilqaijIK33yAusLdvZQsuwphcFadWrfFdOjh3dnogFCY2kaCLC3RwF_-F_oP98C1Q_NZGfxrNLTw_M2S7_Zhtr8d5TCh_RccPd0sVy6rGXwG_dWDc/s1600/Cute-Black-Babies_thumb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't he lovely?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I stand by my decision</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
Mmakgang says that she had “planned” to have kids before she turned 40 ̶ only
if she was married. She then decided that if she turned 40 and still not be married,
she would not like to go through the process of child bearing at that age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“The man who will
marry me should understand that our marriage is for companionship. To have
someone to love, grow old with and enjoy life. I am very content with my
decision and still stand by it. I however, applaud single parents; there are
kids with great mothers out there,” she said.<br />
<br />
And as for people who ask her why she does not have kids, Mmakgang says that “I
always show them my ring finger. It may sound silly but that's how I respond.
They say ‘but you are not growing any younger’ and my response will be, ‘I am
aware’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am
surrounded by so many kids, being from family or friends, and I consider them
my own and love them that much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VjGf840Q4Oxz2y7PIJ88u2p2_6LIAN5u9tnPGRW6BzYjUp7DBhCVZX2jTIRWqa2pVFFQDSay4A_fca_GRjEp3lE2td__nIs2KLk2kfq2VaWDdv71F70vqEfI7GdOqD33mUB9iLzzLXbA/s1600/Singlemother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VjGf840Q4Oxz2y7PIJ88u2p2_6LIAN5u9tnPGRW6BzYjUp7DBhCVZX2jTIRWqa2pVFFQDSay4A_fca_GRjEp3lE2td__nIs2KLk2kfq2VaWDdv71F70vqEfI7GdOqD33mUB9iLzzLXbA/s1600/Singlemother.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Total respect for all the single mothers keeping it together.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am not going to adopt and be a
single parent either</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
Mmakgang says she does not necessarily experience pressure from family, only
friends: “It is not offending statements that I get from my friends but
continuous reminders that ‘you don't have a child!’ For example, when I always
have money to pamper myself (being it on holidays or material things) I would
be told that no wonder I can afford all that, it’s because I don’t have
children. <i> </i>Of course I do not have such
responsibilities. It is great that I don't have to budget for school fees.”<br />
<br />
She says that she has actually thought about adoption. “But I am not going to adopt
and be a single parent either. My boyfriend will support me on any decision I
make in that regard. He promised that he will definitely play a role if I
decide to adopt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXB5lJMxf_xYbXR_Y9RBeom8iCJZaX-bLkddC8HspzOcQ6QUNF3xjhmfc5ngA-vfQI_qJFAZQmea0PkUSUoh6TNiL2hxO0Owrt6q73HrstoYD00BfdqdFPQskAuFP4YDGP32qpxcFQLss/s1600/keep+calm+im+single.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXB5lJMxf_xYbXR_Y9RBeom8iCJZaX-bLkddC8HspzOcQ6QUNF3xjhmfc5ngA-vfQI_qJFAZQmea0PkUSUoh6TNiL2hxO0Owrt6q73HrstoYD00BfdqdFPQskAuFP4YDGP32qpxcFQLss/s1600/keep+calm+im+single.png" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
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<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Thirty-year-old
*<b>Jenny du Plessis</b>, a graphic
designer, is happily married to the man of her dreams. They have been together
for eight years. She is happily – not a mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">She and
her husband have lived in Gauteng all their lives then moved to Knysna last
year. “We wanted to get away from the busy lifestyle and learn to relax and
enjoy life,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">But just not now for us <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv514421897msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> “I do not have kids and do not want to have them
right now. I think they are amazing, beautiful and fun. But just not now for us.
I have a busy life, and want to spend some time on myself to figure out who I
am. I do not think this is selfish, I think it would be selfish of me to have
kids and not really want them. I feel that I am not yet ready for children, and
I want to establish myself first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Jenny
says that she respects single mothers. “They are strong and have immense courage.”
But she has no mercy for young girls who become parents too soon. “They are
irresponsible. No schoolgirl can look after a child,” she concludes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Most
women begin to get worried when they hit or approach 30, but some, such as
these four, know that nothing is random – everything happens at the right
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhun0VlMW3lwZ1u6m-TgQAEODyIfcfpBrBHDJjG_AXJFG_sZMMJqdxTsXrpFsJ-Aza7X3-SUQqy3kJvcX9oE-kxRKQ44w0zXFHVGlbOMDXqyxU8w7WgupGCQkqpF83fMxvIlCY9KWg33i0k/s1600/time+limit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhun0VlMW3lwZ1u6m-TgQAEODyIfcfpBrBHDJjG_AXJFG_sZMMJqdxTsXrpFsJ-Aza7X3-SUQqy3kJvcX9oE-kxRKQ44w0zXFHVGlbOMDXqyxU8w7WgupGCQkqpF83fMxvIlCY9KWg33i0k/s1600/time+limit.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your time is not my time.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, there are risks involved in having babies when the
mother is above 35. According to the Mayo clinic, it might take longer to get
pregnant.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Women
are born with a limited number of eggs. As you reach your early 30s, your eggs
might decline in quality. An older woman's eggs also aren't fertilized as
easily as a younger woman's.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Women are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This type of diabetes occurs only during
pregnancy, and it's more common as women get older.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Chances
of develop high blood pressure during pregnancy are also high.<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Older mothers have a higher risk of pregnancy-related
complications that might lead to a C-section delivery.<strong> </strong>Babies born to older
mothers have a higher risk of certain chromosome problems, such as Down
syndrome, and the risk of miscarriage also increases as you get older. But
despite the odds, many<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pregnancy/PR00115" title="Click to Continue > by Browse to Save"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">women</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">are
delaying pregnancy well into their 30s and beyond, and delivering healthy
babies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
December 2013, 39-year-old Luyanda Buseka of Mpumalanga gave birth to healthy
twins, a girl and a boy, Asanda and Sisanda, weighing 2.5kg 2.6kg, respectively.
“Where are all those people and doctors who said it was too late for me to have
children? I think the timing is perfectly perfect for me. Everything is happening
as God intended it to. I would not have wanted it in any other way. I am
blessed. My angels are here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVFNvCnxZC20WnYseuFlGPJxoXpxKw0CuGeUq3HgX57HlAG7LrUF6Pm_YLl4Cb8B0Ry8IX_yXJeXUrwq5DXhq6Xt7VAWB0TyyaUaD_fFmmj8pYB7ymAsPJkgzA1GrkLPEMwy8p6b0OlKL/s1600/twins3-md.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVFNvCnxZC20WnYseuFlGPJxoXpxKw0CuGeUq3HgX57HlAG7LrUF6Pm_YLl4Cb8B0Ry8IX_yXJeXUrwq5DXhq6Xt7VAWB0TyyaUaD_fFmmj8pYB7ymAsPJkgzA1GrkLPEMwy8p6b0OlKL/s1600/twins3-md.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">According
to Huffpost Celebrity, Cameron Diaz told <i><a href="http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2009/05/cameron-diaz-sunny-days-ahead.html" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Parade magazine</span></a></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span><span style="background: white;">in 2009:
"I have an unbelievable life. In some ways, I have the life that I have
because I don’t have children," she said. "I don’t think it’s a
compromise to have children. I don’t think it’s a compromise not to. I think
it’s just a different choice."</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1-JKBILyoC3HCBircob2mdSwiAUVak9u6xa2ljQluoETipFtFKXsJzJdt-t-z9Dymet2nIh6W5WZ04xvE33qVFtHjgJALahTbprxqz0PK8G4kTOjJ9plVHep6Pjf-QbHF82w90avVZhC/s1600/Cameron+diaz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1-JKBILyoC3HCBircob2mdSwiAUVak9u6xa2ljQluoETipFtFKXsJzJdt-t-z9Dymet2nIh6W5WZ04xvE33qVFtHjgJALahTbprxqz0PK8G4kTOjJ9plVHep6Pjf-QbHF82w90avVZhC/s1600/Cameron+diaz.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cameron Diaz</td></tr>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Media mogul, Oprah Winfrey said she never wanted children for
herself. However, she founded the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in
South Africa in 2007 -- and now counts the girls in her school as
"daughters."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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children. Now I have 152 daughters; and still expecting more. That is some type
of gestation period."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZHTsJQ_mryLyw_-YSPG8B2d-69AJCHmnCvDGvS_nELf7EiIwDSoxpgVQRydSXXHCqi51n_yuKrkEOQbPy8KBP3WDcI0kRezqfyVLCuh2SOn53aAWUdhGomcAXz7wCf_TCFz21eDMUaDK/s1600/Oprah+winfrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZHTsJQ_mryLyw_-YSPG8B2d-69AJCHmnCvDGvS_nELf7EiIwDSoxpgVQRydSXXHCqi51n_yuKrkEOQbPy8KBP3WDcI0kRezqfyVLCuh2SOn53aAWUdhGomcAXz7wCf_TCFz21eDMUaDK/s1600/Oprah+winfrey.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oprah Winfrey</td></tr>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are many other women, famous and not famous, in South
Africa and all over the world – who chose to “delay” having kids or not having
them at all. For some women it might not be intentional, but this article is
about those say that having children is a choice, not some form of a “sign” to
show that one is indeed a woman. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mmakgang summed it up nicely when she said: “</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At my age (40) people
will always want to put pressure, make comments and want to give advice. I do
not succumb to pressure in any way that will affect my way of living and
compromise my way of thinking. Everyone has a choice to decide what they want. There
are people who are very influential and would make one believe otherwise and
change ones way of thinking. Be yourself and believe in your principles.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">@refilwethobega<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(Freelance journalist,
content writer, copy editor, radio personality)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">*Not
their real names.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-80975539429236646432013-06-29T20:59:00.000+02:002013-06-29T21:04:53.050+02:00The Universe is Calling. Will you Answer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjIgHsoGficlkG891PsnTkGn_HDFK8cYRGQc9b63TxHKmLssVvtN-dpVZddeKO2WSnfBlI0BKzSUA9Bc9Ck1n5r5TSpOAQ0aFkeYf1u_HwYhGhdQIxWidihDAfUy-JUR4YOolVWCvyvQU/s1600/Answer+the+call.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjIgHsoGficlkG891PsnTkGn_HDFK8cYRGQc9b63TxHKmLssVvtN-dpVZddeKO2WSnfBlI0BKzSUA9Bc9Ck1n5r5TSpOAQ0aFkeYf1u_HwYhGhdQIxWidihDAfUy-JUR4YOolVWCvyvQU/s1600/Answer+the+call.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">I subscribe to a lot of stuff. The “stuff” ranges
from industry-related mail, news updates and daily inspirations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">I’m also a member of several groups and
professional associations, so latest updates and necessary correspondence flood
into my mailbox almost every ten to twenty minutes. I never really have time to
read all of them immediately. Besides, you </span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">don’t have check your
e-mails 17 times every hour. That’s a huge way to waste time. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">So it’s 23h57, I should be studying but I’m
thinking let me go through my mail and “file” the e-mails since I have not done
it in a while. I have folders for every sort of content that finds its way to
my mailbox. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The night is covered with a blanket of silence and I need to stimulate
my brain – you know, prepare it for massive content consumption that will
follow. So the time is absolutely perfect to go through my mail, file different
e-mails and delete junk, and of course, empty the spam and the trash folders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then bang! I find this piece. I didn’t see it coming in. But here is it.
Its headline catches my attention. And it evokes mixed emotions; because I am
also one of those people who are retrogating against their “callings”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I have accepted calling number one. I have embraced it and it is a
work-in- progress. For calling number two: I am willing, I must just do what
should be done. Calling number three: let’s just say time will tell. I am
slowly releasing resistance. Meditation helps. There’ll be sub-calling number four
and five, as a result of fully answering calling number two. Confusing? The point is: there is a calling</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0IRK3hAjyf41x51xg-D4qPB8ZCebO2-q4ZJHS6kg9P9W12rlw0b8OnAsB3GMcKNAW82z03Hm6oS0YNo8Qv5aaVeOJW31g0KbslWATkoosKvlBxCInjOGh4g3H2jkhmkTp_ID1Uvv9jg6/s1600/scarlett-answer-call.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0IRK3hAjyf41x51xg-D4qPB8ZCebO2-q4ZJHS6kg9P9W12rlw0b8OnAsB3GMcKNAW82z03Hm6oS0YNo8Qv5aaVeOJW31g0KbslWATkoosKvlBxCInjOGh4g3H2jkhmkTp_ID1Uvv9jg6/s320/scarlett-answer-call.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you have a calling, or a natural talent? (We all do) Are you
fulfilling it? If you are, good for you. Kudos. We applaud. But if not: you don’t know what might happen to you tomorrow. Procrastination
is a thief of time. It robs us of the power to achieve goals and dreams. The
worst case scenario will be regretting not doing what you were called to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stop fighting your natural gifts or your calling.
We are all meant to achieve great things. We are all “mean to shine, as
children do”. What is our deepest fear? (You know the poem, right?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check the piece below: may it move you and catapult you to greatness.
There’s got to be more to life. You are not your job. You are not your mind.
You are not your body. You are not your disease or “condition”. You are not
your disability. You are not what people think or say you are. You are an
all-powerful being that can be, do and have everything that your heart desires.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Answer you calling. Take that leap of faith. Jump!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Article by: Madisyn Taylor</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To stop fighting your natural gifts
listen to your internal voice and respond to the knocking universe at the door.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">As human beings we often have a tendency to fight against using our
natural gifts. Many stories of success start with an individual who is ignoring
the call of his or her inborn abilities. There are many possible reasons for
this resistance, from fear that the calling will be too difficult to a
disbelief in the very work one is being asked to do. We may feel too small, too
distracted by other people’s ideas about what we should do, or too uninformed.
Whatever the case, the resistance to actualizing ourselves has very concrete
consequences, and many of us have been called out of hiding by an illness or a
twist of fate that unequivocally dismantled our resistance. In other the words,
the universe knocks, and if we don’t answer it knocks louder.<br />
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For example, if you are meant to be a psychic or a medium, and you aren’t using
that gift, you may get headaches. If you are meant to be a healer and are
trying to be a lawyer, you may have trouble getting or keeping a job. This
doesn’t mean that you can’t still be a lawyer, but perhaps integrating your
gifts into your work is what is calling you. On the other hand, you may simply
feel an underlying anxiety that you are not on the right path, doing the right
thing. Pay attention to this feeling, and ask for guidance from the universe, being
open to all its communications, from subtle internal yearnings to powerful
dreams. As you begin to risk opening the door to your natural gifts, your life
situation may shift in a powerful way. However, you may find that small steps
in the right direction, such as taking a class or setting aside one night a
week to paint or write, is enough for now.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br /></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
The first step on the journey to our calling in life is to listen to our
internal voices and respond to the knocking universe at the door. As we do, the
symptoms and anxieties that have haunted us will fade into the background,
replaced by opportunities, both big and small, to open the door to what we are
truly here to do.</span></span><br />
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-70335299670557647662013-04-26T22:35:00.001+02:002013-06-07T10:40:34.247+02:00Q&A with Kurara FM’s Refilwe Thobega<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[By <b>Kgomotso Moncho</b>]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refilwe Thobega is not a popular name and you might not even know who it belongs to. But Refilwe is one of many young broadcasters starting out at community radio stations. If all goes well, she might be a popular name in commercial broadcasting some day. You hardly ever get to hear the side of the story of youngsters starting out and so she opens up about the beginning of her radio career.<span style="color: #504945;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>How long have you been on air?</strong><span style="color: #504945;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started at Kurara FM on 16 June 2012. So on that day I was celebrating youth day, as well as the beginning of my radio career.<span style="color: #504945;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How long have you been on air?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started at Kurara FM on 16 June 2012. So on that day I was celebrating youth day, as well as the beginning of my radio career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was your first day like?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nerve-wracking. You don’t know if you’ll sound ok, what you’ll say and if you’ll say it right. Fortunately, I was co-hosting with a gentleman called Thabang Loeto, who has experience in radio. We were both starting out at Kurara FM, but the difference is that I was totally new to radio and he had worked in radio before. But he put me at ease. But the truth is if it is really your thing … you gel in quite fast. After the first thirty minutes I simply eased into it. It was nerve wracking and exciting at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are your impressions of radio?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Radio is a great medium. It is powerful. It is personal. What I love about it is that you don’t have to stop what you are doing to listen to it. You can carry on with whatever that you are doing while listening. With Print you have to sit down and read. The same applies to mobile media. With TV you also have to sit down and watch. Maybe it is unfair to compare these platforms because they are totally different and they all play a specific and specialised role. But the point that I am making is that radio lets you carry on with your life while listening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Radio is volatile. It is very easy to switch channels. So, as a presenter, you don’t want to lose your listeners. You can’t be too relaxed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are they what you expected?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never really had any expectations. All I knew is that I wanted to do radio and I had no clue what to expect. I am a big “student” at heart. I always approach things from a “learning” and “experimenting” point of view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What kind of environment are you working in?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a new and young community radio station with great potential for growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are the challenges?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It does not pay. Most community radio stations do not pay. Presenters get a stipend. You can’t really do much with that. This is where passion comes into play. I have had moments when I was feeling very low and down, and sick even, but I had to choice but to go behind the mic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listeners don’t care what your story is, they just want to be entertained.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no right or wrong way. We all have our own styles. The challenge is trying to figure out what makes you you. I don’t want to sound like anybody else. It takes a while to find your own voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In community radio you have to learn to do everything – researching, producing, presenting, operating the deck – you do everything. In the beginning I was intimidated by the system and the deck and once I was taught, I realised how easy it was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other challenge is experienced when you get to deal with different personalities and egos. People want to be territorial and make you feel like you don’t belong or that you are not “there” yet. People can make you doubt yourself. There are so many times that I could have simply grabbed my handbag and my headphones and left. I had to focus and remind myself why I am doing this and where I want to see myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are your tasks and what do you understand about them?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My task is simple: Keep the radio playing. LOL. I educate, inform and entertain. No dead air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What did you do to prepare for your chance in radio?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My preparation goes as far back as 2004 when I did a TV presenting course at the SABC under the company called Media Concepts. I love both radio and TV, and I just told myself that ‘which ever door opened first …’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sure you know of those instances where for example a big radio station will embark on a nationwide search of a mere one presenter. I used to go to those.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While working at this other organisation in Pretoria, we had a radio unit and I took a liking in what they were doing. I always hung around the radio peeps. I did a few voice overs and got exposed to what was going on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then after landing the Kurara Fm gig, I invested in some great courses. I did a radio course with On Cue Communications. It was very hands-on. We went to Primedia at the studion of Radio 702 and Highveld stereo. We went to SABC radio. We had sessions with the likes of Mo-G and Nonn Botha of Kaya FM<span lang="EN-US">, Mark Pilgrim of Highveld Stereo, Sizwe Mabena of Metro FM Sports and so forth.</span> We covered all aspects of on-air presenting: talk radio, news, sports<span lang="EN-US"> and</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">studio </span>DJing<span lang="EN-US"> techniques.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am still trying to choose which beat to follow, because I am so flexible and diverse. At Kurara FM, so far: I have done the Saturday breakfast show (6 to 9h00), I also so-hosted a sports show for a while, I then moved to the weekly afternoon drive slot (15h00 to 18h00) and I am currently doing weekdays Sunshine Drive (12 to 15h00). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, I also went for an individual voice training programme at the Voice Clinic. It was a great eye opener. We take our voices for granted. It is<span lang="EN-US">not just</span> a sound that comes out of your mouth<span lang="EN-US">;</span> there is more to it. People can easily judge you based on how you sound. I figured that if I was going to make a career out of talking then I better invest in my voice. It was money well spent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giuliana Ransic of E! Entertainment said that: if you want a career in radio and/or TV, having a journalism qualification and/or experience sets you apart. And I am sure there are many who will agree with that. So I got that area covered. The journo in me is a great advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Want to share some of your experiences?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever since I started, I grew up a lot emotionally. I had to have some gusto and courage. Like I said earlier, I have had moments when I felt like grabbing my hand bag and storming out because of the drama.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I learned to act not on emotions. Radio is so real and live. It is not easy. When you <span lang="EN-US">smile</span> your listener <span lang="EN-US">"</span>hear<span lang="EN-US">"</span> that. And they can also tell when you are “not in the mood”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At one point a listener called in and said that I was boring. He asked me, on air, that where is the person who used to present the show before I took over. He would call and make nasty remarks and then hang up. I had to hold my head high and do my thing. Now imagine having to go to work every day while nervous and asking yourself who’s going to call now, what are they going to say, especially when it seemed like it was a sabotage thing. I got over it and moved on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend comforted me by reminding me that when DJ Fresh started out at 5fm he experienced a great deal of hate and nastiness from some of the station’s stereotyped audience. And he now has them eating at the palm of his hands. My friends and family, who know me and who know that I am anything but boring supported me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the support at home had been great. It is a blessing that I started out in radio while I was staying at home with my mom and sister. By the time I move on to bigger stations and challenges I’d be tougher and ready to deal with and face whatever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why radio and what would you like to achieve in the radio industry?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always loved radio. While still growing up, as a young girl, I had this pink walkey talkey radio, which had aerials on the head phones. And I had to manually search for a station. It was my most prized possession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you remember those old radios, which we called Hi-fis? My late dad would pluck things and connect things up and make me speak on the mic. I could not even talk properly at the time. And he tape-recorded such incidents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My dad loved music. Name any legendary music icon from ages and ages ago … we had his/her cassette. I am a fan of “golden oldies” type of music because of <span lang="EN-US">my parents.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span>From a very very young age I could sing along and knew the lyrics of songs such as <i>I’m coming out</i> by Diana Ross, <i>I wanna dance with somebody</i> by Whitney<span lang="EN-US"> Houston and <i>Time after Time</i> by Cyndi Lauper</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">because of the musical influence at home.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you want to achieve:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just want to grow, develop my own voice and be better at this. To know what I stand for and what I’m all about. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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This article was published in RadioBiz:<br />
<a href="http://radiobiz.co.za/2013/04/23/qa-with-kurara-fms-refilwe-thobega/">http://radiobiz.co.za/2013/04/23/qa-with-kurara-fms-refilwe-thobega/</a><br />
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-70077118271521369742012-12-12T13:38:00.000+02:002013-05-06T12:04:58.564+02:00Why iLove Christmas<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wrote this piece after I read Sipho Hlongwane's article on City Press (02/12/12) titled: "Why I hate Christmas." It </span>inspired<span style="font-family: inherit;"> me to approach the paper and see if I could offer them my piece: "Why I love Christmas". No one got back to me. But the nice thing about having a blog is that you have a platform to let your writing see the light of day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve heard of people hating Valentines. They have their own
reasons. But I’d never heard of anyone who hates Christmas. So when I read his article I was like: "are you serious?" because my views on Christmas are a total opposite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My “Why I love Christmas” list would be endless, so I’m
going to cut it down. First let me say to Sipho, <i>askies</i> that you feel that way. But I feel even more sorry for your
kids (or future kids, if you don’t have them already) because kids are crazy
about Christmas – that’s when “Santa Clause is coming to town”. Why rob them of
that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was born on Christmas day, my sister was born on December
2, and my mother on December 29. So in my family, the December month has always
been a big deal. To top it off, as Christians, we believe that’s when Jesus
Christ was born. God’s love, kindness and mercy are seen in the birth of
Christ, who eventually died for our sins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I was a child, I noticed with curiosity and knew that
when the grass is green again, flowers in full bloom, trees dripping with ripe
fruit and beautiful butterflies all over the show – Christmas, and my birthday,
were near.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first time my grandfather took me to Sunday schools I
was taught a prayer that concluded with “… (Jesus) Who died for us, and who
rose for us, so that we can have the best of life always.” So I was conditioned
from a super young age to cherish the day that this man was born. His death
(Easter) is a topic for another day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christmas is the only time of the year when most families
come together. People travel and fly from far-away places to spend time with
their loved ones. What’s there to hate about that? It is the only time when
most people really sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of their year-long’s
toiling and sweating. Of course money is spent, a lot. I agree with you (Sipho).
Christmas is expensive. But what is not, really? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t want to change the mind of anyone who hates </span>Christmas <span style="font-family: inherit;">about the way they feel
about it. I only wish that they experience the beauty that it brings one day.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If people overdo it, let them mind their own business. All
that they should do is to be smart spenders/consumers and never to go on
holiday on credit. During the festive season, some people (like myself) rest,
reflect and re-strategise, some party, some shop, some fall in love, some
indulge in whatever they want, some go on spiritual retreats, some go to the
sea (or overseas) – they do all sorts of things that seem pleasing to their
eyes. I don’t think it is “forced happiness” as you put it. Let them be. ‘Tis
the season to be jolly – It’s allowed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Merry Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">@Refilwe Thobega. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-44141590680797283082012-10-19T09:05:00.000+02:002013-07-13T22:12:42.604+02:00The 'wilderness' mentality<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This blog is
purely inspired by friends (and strangers) who continue to “inbox” and send me
e-mails saying that they love the blog and totally appreciate it. One friend
recently said: “People are looking for hope and inspiration, and your last post
(Your Turn is Coming) gave that very well.” Thanks friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I think
celebrity news and gossip are not really enriching. Whether Chris Brown and
Rihanna get back together, does not affect me. (It’s nice to read about it
though.) But I’m not going to blog about it. On some TV Show Pabi Moloi when
asked if she was in favour of them getting back together or not, she basically
said she couldn’t care less : “For us, it is just a story we read about, but
for them, it is real life,” she added. She continued to say that it is the
toxic relationships that we find so hard to let go of. True! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEild88m-FA0et-X3jEdfe5IulQmc7qyELMERzebyiD3MLgckVy8z3mgCYH5k12HAtDyFawv_bvKXI4UjIyjzdIwDJEB6rZCK4SF2fAgy47v4-JV5zQ8hWVUr24KHnRQQvCDE6Htuz5zH_p-/s1600/Chris-Brown-Loves-Rihanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEild88m-FA0et-X3jEdfe5IulQmc7qyELMERzebyiD3MLgckVy8z3mgCYH5k12HAtDyFawv_bvKXI4UjIyjzdIwDJEB6rZCK4SF2fAgy47v4-JV5zQ8hWVUr24KHnRQQvCDE6Htuz5zH_p-/s320/Chris-Brown-Loves-Rihanna.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"... Love in a hopeless place ..." </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So the book
that I just finished reading is called: Battlefield of The Mind by (the ever
inspiring) Joyce Meyer. And I secretly hope that somehow something leads her to
this web page. That would be awesome. She follows me on Twitter. I follow her too
#Teamfollowback. I remember a while ago
I reviewed Hugo Africa’s book whose title I cannot recall. Somehow he saw the
posting and found a way to find my contact details and one evening when I was
out with my sister he called me. Out of the blue. I was super chuffed. He
simply said “thank you” for the positive review and that he hoped that we could
work together in the future. I was like:
are you serious? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unfortunately, some bimbo made some not-so-ayoba comments
about Hugo on the blog, then Hugo kindly asked me to remove the post. Although
I totally understood where he was coming from, my blog was a bit upset to lose
a nice piece. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and whether positive or
negative, that is what they “think” or “heard” about you, especially if you are
a public figure. So I am of the #TeamLetthemsaywhatevertheysay, aslongas
youknowthetruth. But I had to respect his wishes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But my
reviews are not based on whether the author sees them or not. I am doing it
purely based on my love of books, reading and the desire to share … <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24gId8ty-Afz7Q3kXR4NYalCda3ABKDOapQha3U0PaFAiKdkBlYVQJO43rHxeW7MceVQ5cabUvckLJCnupRTe4qxuI-WZZv7j2rIOBbqBRJNX6MNMxSOabjLOh567sYSejxtsTB25z8aX/s1600/Jordan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24gId8ty-Afz7Q3kXR4NYalCda3ABKDOapQha3U0PaFAiKdkBlYVQJO43rHxeW7MceVQ5cabUvckLJCnupRTe4qxuI-WZZv7j2rIOBbqBRJNX6MNMxSOabjLOh567sYSejxtsTB25z8aX/s200/Jordan.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children of Israel ready to cross Jordan.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Battlefield
of the Mind explains why the children of Israel took 40 years to get to the
“promised land”. Apparently that could have been an 11 days’ journey – believe
it or not. One would think they were dunderheads for taking so many years to
get to a place that could have been reached within less than two weeks. But
there was a divine purpose, I guess. They
had what Joyce calls a “wilderness” mentality. Most of us have that mentality.
We are fearful, doubtful, mentally lazy, negative, hypocrites – always
grumbling, fault finding, stubborn, unforgiving, and so forth. Joyce does a
great job of unpacking all these mentalities and behaviours and explains what
the roots of such issues are and how we can free ourselves from the
“strongholds” that poison and imprison our minds, robbing us of blissful and
prosperous lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am not
proud of that I really took a long time to compete the book. My excuse would be
I have been too busy. Besides, it is a very fat book. My sister is currently
reading: Do yourself a Favour: Forgive, by Joyce Meyer still. I will read and
review it as soon as she is done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Battlefield
was a gift from a friend. It wasn’t actually a gift; she lent it to me. We
moved apart and she let me keep it. We were both admitted at the same hospital
at the same time last year (and I don’t think she’d be cool with it if I posted
some pics here). But I think she is amazing. Who has the “spirit” to give while
they, themselves are experiencing pain? We were both going though one of our
lowest points in our lives. She didn’t only meet me there. That was also where
she found her soul mate and love of her life. Yes! In hospital. (Our lives are
filled with such great stories, I tell you! Who would have thought?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soul mates </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Battlefield
of the Mind was more than just a special gift. It is a silent therapist and a
motivational speaker. It speaks volumes. Joyce says: “Worry, doubt, confusion,
anger, and feelings of condemnation … all these are attacks on the mind. If you
suffer from negative thoughts, take heart!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>deal with
thousands of thoughts you have every day and focus your mind the way God
thinks. She shares the trials, tragedies and ultimate victories from her own
marriage, family and ministry that led her to a wondrous, life-transforming
truth. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you can,
get your hands on it. Happy reading … <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 18px;">@RefilweThobega</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy reading, bookworm. </td></tr>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-2243064134019573872012-08-23T08:22:00.001+02:002012-09-11T21:04:03.306+02:00Your turn is coming.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QebhkoL2jP4B_mAe__I4h496SoZiFbgkjoGee6TyB4XOm3kRlLU7JGJgVnaIgTXjJxDIDy7uGeohqLS5UGwKT2hMBlFzSuKhQY61eDpEv-4Uk8eG__HG-xIZ64FERAUM6xoYYtM1KMsR/s1600/guess_what.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QebhkoL2jP4B_mAe__I4h496SoZiFbgkjoGee6TyB4XOm3kRlLU7JGJgVnaIgTXjJxDIDy7uGeohqLS5UGwKT2hMBlFzSuKhQY61eDpEv-4Uk8eG__HG-xIZ64FERAUM6xoYYtM1KMsR/s320/guess_what.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You are not forgotten! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Tuesday I went to Sars in Randburg to do my tax stuff.
What could have just been a 20-minute task ended up in a five-hour ordeal. I
kid you not. Me and my friend walked in and got seated at about 11.30 and we
only got helped after five hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I usually do e-filing. But somehow this year it just
seemed a bit “macho” to physically go to one of the biggest Sars buildings in
Mzansi. I’m kidding. I had my reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do not get me wrong. This is not a complaint. I actually
learned something very important while there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here is what happens. When you walk in, the security personnel
searches your bag, and then you proceed to a gentleman with a little box. In
this box, there are little pieces of paper with numbers written on them. He
asked me what I had come to do. “Personal tax returns” I said. He gave me a
piece of paper with the number 654 written on it. Then he directed us to the
next room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My friend and I proceeded, and got seated. The “hall” was
packed with people. Black, white, young, old.
All sorts of people. Far above on the wall, hanged what looked like a TV
screen. And there were speakers. A voice from the speakers announced what
number should go to which counter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And as a number was called, the same number appeared on
the screen and it also showed the number of the counter where the holder of that
number would be assisted. I paid attention to the screen, I realised that they
were not calling the numbers in chronological order. The female voice (and a
very irritating voice, I tell you) would say “ticket number 428 to counter 12”
and then next say “ticket number 785 to counter 28”. I thought that my number
(654) had a nice ring to it. So I told myself “agg, my number will be called in
no time. One hour max!” At least I was not having unrealistic expectations. “One
hour max!”</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1sFFi9YxgTjg7nwxX1D0ZudxItPCVUU5-efWkLPLJ21ERAdC7PO_9ZcdK8UYdEc9160ugeNXNiDgnJ9XM-TlgNRcqT0MUzrT-rsmPLTuIOlRRCqbBSWXSVUrtsgrkxH_9cHHnvWZIJ9A/s1600/iStock_Tax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1sFFi9YxgTjg7nwxX1D0ZudxItPCVUU5-efWkLPLJ21ERAdC7PO_9ZcdK8UYdEc9160ugeNXNiDgnJ9XM-TlgNRcqT0MUzrT-rsmPLTuIOlRRCqbBSWXSVUrtsgrkxH_9cHHnvWZIJ9A/s200/iStock_Tax.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a pain in the your know what.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Three hours later we were still sitting. Never been
called. People came in and went out. After a while a very, very old man came in
and sat next to me. I felt so sorry for him. He was number 855. “They should
make plans to assist the elderly separately, so that they don’t queue for ages
like the rest of us,” my friend said. And I silently prayed that this oupa’s
number gets called soon, since there was no particular order. Otherwise it
would be torture for him. I generally have a very soft spot for the elderly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eventually his number was called. And off he went. And I
said a silent “Yes!” on his behalf. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then this other guy came in, sat down, and within less
than five minutes, his number was called. Commotion followed. People were like
“what the hell?” But I did not pay attention. My focus was on the TV screen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The watch hit 15.00. Numbers were still being called. People
stood up. Some sat down. Others went up the stairs. Some came down. But my
focus remained on the screen. At some point my eyes started to complain; and I
was not sure if my eyes were sore because of hunger or because of starring at
the blurry screen for long. But I did not care. I kept on hoping: “my number
will be up next.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQA0OWW-mYaPTJjWW2plYu-Btb8lZeFcZRIdsiB-cE1aqo5ZDUTQdGHMs2LAo_PiC3__m96vutj6tNC-ye_Nz9SkK8z9k0I3DuNI-zmgBAB67yky9Vmvi-iCmLHx_zGprsDkDfPkR8RA3q/s1600/long-wait-med1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQA0OWW-mYaPTJjWW2plYu-Btb8lZeFcZRIdsiB-cE1aqo5ZDUTQdGHMs2LAo_PiC3__m96vutj6tNC-ye_Nz9SkK8z9k0I3DuNI-zmgBAB67yky9Vmvi-iCmLHx_zGprsDkDfPkR8RA3q/s320/long-wait-med1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know that my boat will eventually come. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A little later I stood up to stretch my feet. I got a bit
worried when they called out number 1239. I walked up to the gentleman who was wearing
a Sars T-shit. “I have been sitting down since 11.30, it is now 15.30, is there
a possibility that they might have skipped my number?” He took my ticket and
went to find out. After a minute he came back. “No, your turn is still coming.
You will be called soon,” he reassured me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I went back. After about 10 minutes my friend’s number
was called. Up the stairs she went. Then this sophisticated lady waltzed in
with her handsome son. It was impossible not to notice her. She looked very
“upmarket” -- with nice make-up, long straight fake hair, nice red skinny pants,
green blazer,12-inch stilettos. The works. I thought “when I grow up, I want to
be like…” and before I could finish my thought her number was called! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was fuming. How is this possible? I have been here for
ages! This is total unfairness! Somebody please explain this to me … <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When my friend came back, I complained to her. “Sometimes
it is all about who you know inside,” she said in a very calm manner. I let it
go. Being upset about it was not going to make a difference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ticket number 654 to counter 12”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Finally my number
was called. You can imagine the relief that followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1r4IzibYpI95PSgjGfXPvIossYIeds3kho0F0zTqmZOyLeqQPRHm_gGBEfh5t2TqmhaQtvqmfaTHyWukDjtoB-xx2-VGNRWylxgnz8z4-6Y1usPhSkpKVEe6i5xAiBupcYly8GV-afYM/s1600/eyes-25512_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1r4IzibYpI95PSgjGfXPvIossYIeds3kho0F0zTqmZOyLeqQPRHm_gGBEfh5t2TqmhaQtvqmfaTHyWukDjtoB-xx2-VGNRWylxgnz8z4-6Y1usPhSkpKVEe6i5xAiBupcYly8GV-afYM/s200/eyes-25512_640.png" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh cool. Finally ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And you know what? I compare what happened at Sars to
what happens in our lives every day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Sars ordeal reminded me that in life:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Being there first does not guarantee that you will “get
in” first. Sometimes we have to wait patiently for what we need (or want).
Sometimes, people who came after you will get in before you. You’ll just have
to swallow your fury and deal with it. In life, we are all coded with numbers
which are called randomly, and you should never sit back and relax because you
don’t know when your number will be called. You want to be ready when your turn
comes. And if you have been waiting for too long, just hang in there, know and
believe that your turn is certainly coming. Sometimes people will go right
ahead of you and snatch what you want badly… right in front of you. It is life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And very detrimental to the
wait is your attitude. A negative attitude will only make the experience
unbearable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe you are waiting for
God to do something specific for you. Maybe you are whining and winging that
you have been waiting for too long. Maybe you are this close to throwing in the
towel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But before you quit, remember
this poem (Author Unknown): </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Success
is failure turned inside out,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background: white;">And you never can tell how close you are,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background: white;">It may be near when it seems so far,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background: white;">So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,<br />
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So,
my beautiful dear … just wait, your turn is still coming. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ok, now back at Sars. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I
proceeded to counter 12, all I could think was “thank goodness” and suddenly it
didn’t bother me that I had been waiting for ages. I was just happy that my
time finally came.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebGY_Dh5SfI56O2TROAyMORvNAPxFDP23GYDrCLCVRzwU379I1vninSfPBpOqia_mInOWEXOm8Syw9aHg-GPk382lJKvhB5aF-YTHHaxF0wcn4FVvCeCDGlnWUwo7PeQPWk1TOF-sQ4c3/s1600/654images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebGY_Dh5SfI56O2TROAyMORvNAPxFDP23GYDrCLCVRzwU379I1vninSfPBpOqia_mInOWEXOm8Syw9aHg-GPk382lJKvhB5aF-YTHHaxF0wcn4FVvCeCDGlnWUwo7PeQPWk1TOF-sQ4c3/s1600/654images.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not-so-lucky number 654.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-35602600685491474342012-06-07T14:50:00.001+02:002012-06-07T16:07:01.254+02:00The Seven Spiritual of Success<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bI0JaxIHdL5yhJvmcMRjfGqcdLjGmkT1rPUPNooA9KHH3wWj8Hf7Xs0VUPd0Hxxe6kv_0_Cq-rU2u0fDMUNVoo5A6OacQEcmnNpH2t_0AjM0WdYsbj8Nnee1oxmjr8IighUoytaGLPQY/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bI0JaxIHdL5yhJvmcMRjfGqcdLjGmkT1rPUPNooA9KHH3wWj8Hf7Xs0VUPd0Hxxe6kv_0_Cq-rU2u0fDMUNVoo5A6OacQEcmnNpH2t_0AjM0WdYsbj8Nnee1oxmjr8IighUoytaGLPQY/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I haven’t updated my blog in quite a while. Of that, I’m
guilty. However, I have just completed reading <i>The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success </i>by Deepak Chopra. The number
one <i>New York Times</i> Bestseller is supposedly
“a practical guide to the fulfilment of your dreams”. I believe so too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In this book, Deepak Chopra distils the essence of his
teachings into seven simple, yet powerful principles that can easily be applied
to create success in all areas of one’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And I promised myself that I’m going to practise
everything that Mr Chopra advises, and if my life is still the same after 12
months, I’ll seek my money back. No negotiations. LOL.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And now I have moved on to <i>Battlefield of the Mind</i> – winning the battle in your mind -- by
Joyce Meyer. I will post its review here on <b>Favorite Flavor</b> once I have completed reading it. The book “talks”
about wrong and right thinking, positivity and negativity, and how to conquer the
“battle” in your mind. Remember that everything that happens in (your) life is
a product of (your) “thought”. It all begins in the mind – whether good or bad.
So Ms Meyer’s book simply teaches how to master your thoughts to create
success, positivity, health, good luck and all things lovely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am reading this sort of books because I am on a hectic
spiritual journey right now. I am even learning to master the art of meditation.
Slowly, but surely. I’ll keep on sharing what I know and learning on this
remarkable road to self-discovery and self-mastery because I believe that I am not the only one going through this “phase”.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Most of you (who know my other “side”) might be thinking:
where did the controversial Refilwe disappear to? Don’t worry, I’m still here.
Crazy as ever. Mad, mental and irritating as can be. But, I have had to pause,
breath, reflect, face the music (and you know how the truth can really hurt
sometimes), seek divine guidance and “do the work” – as Inyanla Vanzant would say.
You have to do the work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A positive mindset can achieve wonders.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyway, enough about that, let’s go back to Deepak
Chopra. There are seven laws:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the law of pure potentiality<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the law of giving<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">the law of “Karma” (yeah, I love this one. What
goes around comes around; the pain we cause in people’s lives will come back to
us. All the lies, the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">hatred</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">, all that we forcefully take from others, deception,
cunningness – they will make a u-turn and go back to the source)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the law of least effort<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the law of intention and desire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the law of detachment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the law of “Dharma” or purpose in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Deepak also quotes some verses from the Bible to show you
that these laws have always been there. He didn’t make them up. There is a
verse in the Bible that says: Be still and know that I am God (In simple “earthly”
translation: spend some time alone, meditate and let God take care of the
details, you can't know it all, you can’t be in control all the time. Sit down). There
is another one that says: Do not be anxious of anything … (Relax and quiet your
mind. Do not stress) and the other one that says: Do unto others … (This is
where the law of Karma comes in). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkvgRLhyphenhyphen_WJRFo6l5VvKmYhHxIRsHnxap5xblpQ2swa_Oaodc9RMkKDGtMCCefnYBP4uHNumhlfWIsrBCQEHqT2FkgxnHo1Fihq7nrd7W3NQoo0ITXqmA_XUV-sN-PCDu2Y4l2DcHuNnF/s1600/success.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkvgRLhyphenhyphen_WJRFo6l5VvKmYhHxIRsHnxap5xblpQ2swa_Oaodc9RMkKDGtMCCefnYBP4uHNumhlfWIsrBCQEHqT2FkgxnHo1Fihq7nrd7W3NQoo0ITXqmA_XUV-sN-PCDu2Y4l2DcHuNnF/s320/success.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It all begins in the mind.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have read several self-help/motivational/inspirational
books, such as: <i>The Secret</i>, <i>The power of positive thinking</i>, <i>In the meantime</i>, <i>In the Valley,</i> just to name a
few (that immediately come to mind), and I have realised that all of the things
that these books say are actually in the Bible. All of them. It is just that
different authors try to explain and elaborate and make practical examples, but
most, if not all, of these “principles” and “laws” are right there, in our
homes – in the form of a Bible. But being able to understand what the word is
saying is a different gift all together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am not preaching, I just wanted to get that little “discovery”
out of the way. So, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and children of all
ages, I hope that you get to equip your soul and minds with all that they need
to transform your lives, one positive thought at a time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Till next time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God Bless. I love you. (Damn, I have really become
sentimental these days) WTH? *puzzled face* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-66478323231454771492012-03-24T15:44:00.000+02:002012-03-24T15:44:47.659+02:00You are what you are waiting for!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiot9Jk6_Th4bnASPBDZuwZss1Crtjlo32gde1tnNEfuKaMbXcQzhGGOeimhqhGf1KDG6Hj1Oj4o9ZSbooRTye2tnib7cXR6w3p8xYLgXH3RhnFPdNEC4BTzF8I0UnV9qt0ur7NM36QGtrb/s1600/mentor-picture-_-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiot9Jk6_Th4bnASPBDZuwZss1Crtjlo32gde1tnNEfuKaMbXcQzhGGOeimhqhGf1KDG6Hj1Oj4o9ZSbooRTye2tnib7cXR6w3p8xYLgXH3RhnFPdNEC4BTzF8I0UnV9qt0ur7NM36QGtrb/s320/mentor-picture-_-2.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_10_1332593530973642" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #454545;"><i style="font-size: small;"><br />
</i>We spend a lot of our lives looking for role models, mentors, teachers, and gurus to guide us on our path. There is nothing wrong with this and, in fact, finding the right person at the right time can really help. However, it is important to realise that in the absence of such a figure, we can very safely rely upon ourselves. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #454545;">We carry within us everything we need to know to make progress on our paths to self-realization. The outer world serves as a mirror. Or to use another metaphor, our inner world has a magnetic force that draws to us what we need to evolve to the next level. All we need to do to see that we already have everything we need is to let go of our belief that we need to seek in order to find. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #454545;">The path of the spirit is often defined as a journey with a goal such as the fabled pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. In this metaphor, a person begins a search for something they want but do not have and then they find it, and there is a happy ending. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYDGsXUPoWI2BjJcgQfkvYsCGfShyphenhyphene7605bZsSE8yWhoUuahAPiDHy4Tf-y7Mfnzr2uF7Y3_yiDbvwSSal5oRGApxnd4FMgCqSBYl0vlAN9ZcLi0ptZzKMTsdFmwJQqdPIMR5S9Kj8kLr/s1600/inspire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYDGsXUPoWI2BjJcgQfkvYsCGfShyphenhyphene7605bZsSE8yWhoUuahAPiDHy4Tf-y7Mfnzr2uF7Y3_yiDbvwSSal5oRGApxnd4FMgCqSBYl0vlAN9ZcLi0ptZzKMTsdFmwJQqdPIMR5S9Kj8kLr/s320/inspire.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is all within reach, just go for it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, most of us know that getting what we want only makes us happy for a moment, and then the happiness passes until a new object of desire presents itself. Joy is a permanent aspect of our inner selves and is not separate from us at any point. We do not have to travel to find it or imagine that it resides only in the body of another. In fact, what the best teachers will do is point out that this very precious elixir is something we already possess.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<span style="color: #454545;">So when we find ourselves on our path, not knowing which way to turn and wishing for guidance, we can turn to ourselves. We may not know the right answer rationally or intellectually, but if we simply ask, let go, and wait patiently, an answer will come. The more we practice this and trust this process, the less we will look outside ourselves for teachers and guides for we will have successfully become our own.</span></span> -- DailyOM</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10k5gQQvDjBRpXQ8a3SoIqvVXdTJ3BmuIlFEeOcxfo6EmJIiR0Sw1akyGUE-JtG-dC8AfQbzGZqr1-Op9eupvEWaMkRKttDGkT_0HX1YkV9vlX3E5vxo6CAC3ywacynotkpreDjCAOnUZ/s1600/I_can_Fly_by_widjita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10k5gQQvDjBRpXQ8a3SoIqvVXdTJ3BmuIlFEeOcxfo6EmJIiR0Sw1akyGUE-JtG-dC8AfQbzGZqr1-Op9eupvEWaMkRKttDGkT_0HX1YkV9vlX3E5vxo6CAC3ywacynotkpreDjCAOnUZ/s320/I_can_Fly_by_widjita.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe I can fly</td></tr>
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</span>Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-66327198339537947132012-03-12T08:30:00.004+02:002012-03-15T22:04:32.088+02:00SOS: Asking for help is not a weakness.<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWTjbJnnkFuBx0rZILB2N5AcEPG0rZEyaxcQTAXb3i1N-XJCvO71mTc62ZRbmuG1QzYLTA-14t2QjaIszDY949j9ifHD9KlF8zJ56W5_pq1HACfS6A3d_bZtLpqs4AzrMwW50Nnyp7b21/s1600/help_Im_drowning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWTjbJnnkFuBx0rZILB2N5AcEPG0rZEyaxcQTAXb3i1N-XJCvO71mTc62ZRbmuG1QzYLTA-14t2QjaIszDY949j9ifHD9KlF8zJ56W5_pq1HACfS6A3d_bZtLpqs4AzrMwW50Nnyp7b21/s320/help_Im_drowning.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Help! I am drowning. </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;">sking for help is something that we all know and understand. Asking for help is admitting that we all co-exist to help, support, and even serve, each other. But how many people fail to ask for help while struggling because of fear of being judged? Or pride? Asking for help is not a weakness. It has everything to do with knowing that <i>motho ke motho ka batho </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><i>(</i>I am ... because of others). </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYCP2QPpbnArK3vKk8AqM6Uyhhh-axFSN0Pjj14lUFyfM_3cKI7CdqDUie2dUtNO-tPz68kn53bYGKsjLYbSROnAZDPc8ZDaki9jJEHuOXYjmizzPcbk9WKO0XfqYu2gjQLy5XwYUG0K_/s1600/help.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYCP2QPpbnArK3vKk8AqM6Uyhhh-axFSN0Pjj14lUFyfM_3cKI7CdqDUie2dUtNO-tPz68kn53bYGKsjLYbSROnAZDPc8ZDaki9jJEHuOXYjmizzPcbk9WKO0XfqYu2gjQLy5XwYUG0K_/s320/help.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">I came </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;">across</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;"> the below piece of information, relating to asking for help, on the site www.ivillage.com. I was even more attracted to it because of the picture (above) accompanying it. I found it quite catchy and really relevant. You need a helping hand when you can't reach, when you can't see a way forward, when you don't know how you are going to do it. That's when you need help the most. </span></span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Studies show that getting encouragement and support from others is a powerful weapon for changing difficult behaviors. Ask your friends to provide encouragement and offer to do the same for them. </span></span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sharing your struggles with others can be a powerful motivator for change. That’s why groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Weight Watchers are so popular and successful. </span></span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These groups can also provide information and advice. In addition, if you feel ashamed of your behavior, you may find it therapeutic to share your troubles with other women who are going through similar experiences.</span></span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-image: initial; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-image: initial; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;">Source: ivillage.com<br />
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Read More<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.ivillage.com/10-ways-reboot-your-get-healthy-motivation/4-b-428091#ixzz1oqTOVJQA"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-image: initial; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #003399; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">http://www.ivillage.com/10-ways-reboot-your-get-healthy-motivation/4-b-428091#ixzz1oqTOVJQA</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-image: initial; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-image: initial; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-image: initial; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;">Go on, ask for help. And don't forget the magic word: please. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjvZIx2Orqe7lfo0WcyZTqIUga8rFHYr3tDSZGaNnPG7tQveYPH2e-b016fw5GrCgNwjhYXWA3XrY0cQljsSyo6B5u7grbk2JGmAvXQnBeTB8FJXt0pDHZ9UOwbJumalYrfTgdnDFE5k5/s1600/help-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjvZIx2Orqe7lfo0WcyZTqIUga8rFHYr3tDSZGaNnPG7tQveYPH2e-b016fw5GrCgNwjhYXWA3XrY0cQljsSyo6B5u7grbk2JGmAvXQnBeTB8FJXt0pDHZ9UOwbJumalYrfTgdnDFE5k5/s320/help-sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></div>Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-87278159594921178902012-02-23T13:17:00.002+02:002012-02-23T15:20:05.480+02:00Does your career need a makeover? Are you sure you love what you do?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wQduiPbNf2O5UB6b4fEi64AFO0AIYScDm4DDto2cS3lP4Geaj63aKXAGhFQb58dqUlkUHgO3Us7yMQByNQQXq86O1iefDyBpOFrkLk1anfYoYXMtduw5prk6etRLbPivXagt_poV8VQ4/s1600/career+goal+2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wQduiPbNf2O5UB6b4fEi64AFO0AIYScDm4DDto2cS3lP4Geaj63aKXAGhFQb58dqUlkUHgO3Us7yMQByNQQXq86O1iefDyBpOFrkLk1anfYoYXMtduw5prk6etRLbPivXagt_poV8VQ4/s320/career+goal+2.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">It did not take me long to read <i>The Career Clinic</i>. The book, by Maureen Anderson, is about ordinary people who took risks to achieve extraordinary things. The book, just like the title imply, is indeed -- a career clinic. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It is comforting to know that, just like you, other people have fears, regrets, disappointments and expectations in their careers. The book introduces you to those people. You get to travel with them to the turning points in their lives and careers. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are often advised: follow your passion; do what you love! That would also include breaking boundaries and pulling out all stops to pursue what you were born to do. But really, how many of us do that? How many of us are happy at what they do? Were you born to do what you are doing right now? I’m talking about your job. Are you enjoying it? Do you love it? If "yes", Good for you! If "not" <s>(Who are you fooling?)</s> What are you doing about it? These are some of the questions that you get to ask yourself as you read this book. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7tmyoiupxo5QwYMGVNzloQtrzVgzuZ1myKXiSdeLczC77HMZaMNaDo0x4omB6b7JkHiutWSZeYxixpppVpJCDMRFvK8GRhghtLF8yaW42YVjbG43dGJtwNjL1ggJ27NWRCtuJ1wCARKf/s1600/career+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7tmyoiupxo5QwYMGVNzloQtrzVgzuZ1myKXiSdeLczC77HMZaMNaDo0x4omB6b7JkHiutWSZeYxixpppVpJCDMRFvK8GRhghtLF8yaW42YVjbG43dGJtwNjL1ggJ27NWRCtuJ1wCARKf/s320/career+book.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Career Clinic gives you tips to consider: <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Have no regrets, it is the only way to living a guilt-free life; and making mistakes helps you to learn.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Talk to yourself. It is not insanity. Let that inner voice come to life, don’t ignore your intuition.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Stop. Wait. Breathe. Take a break to reflect (I think this is the level I’m at right now (February 2012). I’m glad to see that I’m on the right track. It’s not abnormal. It’ not unheard of. It’s a step that only the brave dare to take. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Ask for free samples. If you can test-drive a car before you buy it and try on the clothes in a shop before you pay for them, why can’t you test the waters of a career you want to follow? If it does not tickle you fancy you simply get to say: thank you very much, I’ll pass. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Say yes! Yes to life, yes to new opportunities. Dare to challenge your old beliefs and systems. Who put them in place in the first place? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Have fun. If you stop having fun, you stop enjoying it, it then becomes a routine. Am I hitting a nerve here? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Try something new if you stop having fun. (Exactly!)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you, like me, enjoy reading inspirational and motivational content, you are going to enjoy reading this book. Accepting that I had finished to read it and that I had to put it down felt like saying goodbye to a friend, not knowing when I’d see them again. Yes, it made that kind of an impact. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABHCNOJvPUwaWdlJCGwI8XL_Esl3qCVUJd6RW1ATMKN2Gz1mRVUm3nWV_fEuxmjnJ9RUXB4zMPZwYccD7wj-GDcKTIrb7T25mSwqsOwwQrD2PRlwM0XEzylNAQ0MqyvjW1SRvntOq63sE/s1600/0923_woman-corporate-ladder_400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABHCNOJvPUwaWdlJCGwI8XL_Esl3qCVUJd6RW1ATMKN2Gz1mRVUm3nWV_fEuxmjnJ9RUXB4zMPZwYccD7wj-GDcKTIrb7T25mSwqsOwwQrD2PRlwM0XEzylNAQ0MqyvjW1SRvntOq63sE/s320/0923_woman-corporate-ladder_400x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stepping up</td></tr>
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</div>Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-50261075169408728962012-02-08T09:58:00.001+02:002012-02-08T10:10:52.718+02:00Lillian Dube chats to me about how she beat cancer<div class="A-FOLLOWPARA" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBBEpne1crKHE55LJlbSsrWvyMB99hy-EnWd7xMybXNFoODxS1NCERGrDU_gADLHlj5ORcJ9V-u73YhEEBdZWlCxP35J-QGCRtIf_2yITeYQ4glTddpmf_tqG5ZfRIDYOwUGpp7WBdxvd/s1600/p3_cancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBBEpne1crKHE55LJlbSsrWvyMB99hy-EnWd7xMybXNFoODxS1NCERGrDU_gADLHlj5ORcJ9V-u73YhEEBdZWlCxP35J-QGCRtIf_2yITeYQ4glTddpmf_tqG5ZfRIDYOwUGpp7WBdxvd/s320/p3_cancer.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talk about laugher is the best medicine</td></tr>
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<tr><td align="left" style="padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" valign="top"><div class="A-FIRSTPARADROP" style="mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 4; mso-element-wrap: auto; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #e3007a; font-size: 52.5pt;">B</span>reast cancer used to be more common among white women and women over 40, but there are increasing cases of breast cancer in black women and women younger than 30. The key is to detect breast cancer early so that you can get treatment and increase your chance of survival.</div><div class="A-FIRSTPARADROP" style="mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 4; mso-element-wrap: auto; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="A-SUBHEAD"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #dd0077;">Who is at risk?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA" style="text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Anyone can get breast cancer, but you are more at risk if your diet is high in fat, if you don’t exercise regularly, are overweight, drink more than two glasses of alcohol per day and if you have a family history of breast cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA" style="text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB">You are also at a higher risk if you are over 40, if you started your period at a young age, went through menopause at a late stage and if you had children after the age of 40 or not at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB">Symptoms include a lump in your breast, unusual swelling, puckering of the skin (like an orange peel), a sore or rash, pain, discharge from the nipple and indentation of the nipple (instead of pointing out and forward, it is pointing sideways or inwards).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="A-SUBHEAD"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #dd0077;">Lillian Dube</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA" style="text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">All cancer patients and survivors will tell you that finding out they had cancer and then undergoing treatment, was one of the biggest challenges they had ever faced. The physical effects of the treatment are tough with a many side effects, but it is also a psychological and emotional challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB">Popular actress, Lillian Dube, is a breast cancer survivor who didn’t let the disease dampen her positive spirit. The bubbly and outspoken actress is renowned for her role as the matriarch and matron Sister Bettina in the TV drama Soul City. She also stars in SABC 2’s </span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Palatino-Italic;">Muvhango</span></i><span lang="EN-GB">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB">Lillian is a very busy lady; everyone wants a piece of her. Her phone keeps on interrupting us, but she manages to tell me how her acting career started. “I was encouraged by my son to get into TV back in the 1980s. He heard on the radio that there were auditions in Johannesburg. He even got a telephone number and address for me,” she says. “At that time I was working as a credit clerk at a retail.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB">She is now working on season two of the TV series, </span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Palatino-Italic;">Skwizas</span></i><span lang="EN-GB">, which is being produced by her production company: Lillian Dube Productions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3ObKR5IK_Bpo6wQXJb1coahgk1TdKM0hCZ5O2tgjyScP1wmuVkXE0gFJMSynsvUFQnFXtR6Y8LrN3f8wMKtVsIY-3U3fnkpPoL98QVV2EV9Xqvtn28nvba984gusuNvKXjhZP79Yy4yA/s1600/8362_dube_lillian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3ObKR5IK_Bpo6wQXJb1coahgk1TdKM0hCZ5O2tgjyScP1wmuVkXE0gFJMSynsvUFQnFXtR6Y8LrN3f8wMKtVsIY-3U3fnkpPoL98QVV2EV9Xqvtn28nvba984gusuNvKXjhZP79Yy4yA/s1600/8362_dube_lillian.jpg" /></a></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
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</span></div><div class="A-SUBHEAD"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #dd0077;">Cancervive campaign</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA" style="text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Diagnosed with the disease in December 2007, Lillian was operated on in January 2008 to remove the tumor. She subsequently received chemotherapy treatment every three days for four months and radiotherapy for 30 days as a safety measure to ensure that potentially remaining microscopic cancer cells were totally destroyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB">“I am an only child, I have only one child and I’m a divorcé, so I received most of the support from the community and my co-workers,” said Lillian. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB">“I am active in creating breast cancer awareness through talks and presentations. I’m now part of the new Cancervive campaign that educates and creates awareness about the shy-cancers. I’m also a member of Bosom Buddies, which is another breast cancer support group, and I have founded a Breast Health Foundation in Lesotho in 2008”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="A-SUBHEAD"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #dd0077;">Treatment</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA" style="text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Lillian’s cancer was discovered in a routine check-up. The first mammogram didn’t detect the tumor; the radiographer only noticed it when she went again the following year. “Because early detection is key, I appeal to women over the age of 40 to go for annual mammograms,” she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB">Treatment for breast cancer depends on the stage at which the cancer is detected. It may include surgically removing the tumor and a mastectomy – removal of the affected breast.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB">A double mastectomy is when both breasts are removed. Radiotherapy is administered to kill cancer cells that may have remained after surgery. Chemotherapy is when powerful drugs are used intravenously and in tablet form to kill the cancer cells internally.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small;">A print version of this article was published in Vuk'uzenzele February 2012 edition.</span></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4p4g-O9fzJljQpDF_uCYhwebqCqUGuXpn0FuV17pewQBRVkXhbNhgsJLDDXzvAAT3p1hQ7E5XaMLR_w35B3xpF0ny_93IyAbHwiwBBSU4x-6JrjqntUunDJ46psmKSB6XoBQw4JnAF1Ec/s1600/lillian+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4p4g-O9fzJljQpDF_uCYhwebqCqUGuXpn0FuV17pewQBRVkXhbNhgsJLDDXzvAAT3p1hQ7E5XaMLR_w35B3xpF0ny_93IyAbHwiwBBSU4x-6JrjqntUunDJ46psmKSB6XoBQw4JnAF1Ec/s1600/lillian+1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="A-FOLLOWPARA"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
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</div>Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-16233437830585107872012-02-03T12:24:00.002+02:002012-08-03T21:25:28.678+02:00Who makes a fuss about a small error in a community newspaper? I do (Singular vs Plural)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ok, I don't think I'm abnormal. I also don't think I'm crazy -- OK maybe just a little. I'm also not a perfectionist. I'm just a little bit passionate about a few things. "Words" are one of them. They have to make sense. They have to be true and correct. I know a whole lot of people who are like that too. They are called copy- or sub-editors, proofreaders, word-smiths, word engineers, and so forth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3ovCl8aiyAUpAtZ8CxG3brGkQlBtN5vs2u-1lvUWQZWhTTpW-mCPZpivuXGxQQYoYtGnnO2096b0BY-M_ZREhueczAtD5Tto73m4_OZ1SSa6RnHV2InebstWK7rsGltHCf0zL0CeHwOM/s1600/Words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3ovCl8aiyAUpAtZ8CxG3brGkQlBtN5vs2u-1lvUWQZWhTTpW-mCPZpivuXGxQQYoYtGnnO2096b0BY-M_ZREhueczAtD5Tto73m4_OZ1SSa6RnHV2InebstWK7rsGltHCf0zL0CeHwOM/s320/Words.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had just woken up. It must have been 11.15am. I know I'm one of the most envied person right now. I sleep and wake up at whatever time I want to. I don't answer to anyone. (Damn I've always wanted to say that) Let me repeat it: I don't answer to anyone. No more crazy traffic in the morning, no more rat-race for me, and definitely no more waking up in the early morning. (Well except for Saturday mornings when I have to get up at 4am to prepare for my 6am to 9am radio show.) And this is how things are going to be for me, at least, for quite a while.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkJ21RJ5p-TArNrp30G_2eYO7uNmSwSCMrdwQCnGCoGv1Tlru8op1KPEoWb4aCWBri0EezpbXxot2sGWxi_DbwkuW7S-z4dqdjJTNIEYelWFwPO0vSCk9huEYldy8x_6HJdzWld1GjjlG/s1600/27-eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkJ21RJ5p-TArNrp30G_2eYO7uNmSwSCMrdwQCnGCoGv1Tlru8op1KPEoWb4aCWBri0EezpbXxot2sGWxi_DbwkuW7S-z4dqdjJTNIEYelWFwPO0vSCk9huEYldy8x_6HJdzWld1GjjlG/s320/27-eyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am watching you.</td></tr>
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So the first thing I did was grab a copy of a local newspaper. Page 1, page 2, then on page 3, I picked up my phone and called the editor/manager. He's not in. So I asked for his e-mail address:<br />
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Dear Mr Dlamini<br />
<br />
My name is Refilwe Thobega. I was paging through the Express Northern Cape dated Wednesday 1 February when I could not help but notice a glaring subbing error.<br />
<br />
It is on page 3, main story, headline: <b>Shucks, there's holes in the condom</b>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The story is about three million freely available Choice condoms in the Free State, which have been recalled because some had holes. </span><br />
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It cannot be there<b> "is" </b>if there are "<b>holes".</b><br />
<b></b>It should have been there're (there are) because there are not one, but many holes.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Plural and not singular.<br />
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Another question: were the holes on only one condom or on a number of condoms?<br />
Answer: there were holes on three million condoms.<br />
<br />
"<b>Shucks, there're holes in condoms</b>" could have been the correct headline.<br />
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I just thought I should bring this to your attention, sir.<br />
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Please just check for errors such as these in the future. Don't underestimate your readers. An average newspaper team should know the difference between singular and plural.<br />
<br />
Kind Regards<br />
Refilwe Thobega<br />
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Then I pressed the "send" button. What would I do without my Blackberry?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyEd6sXEgznSeFgUKfVLYQUs6NS4C0Uczv9np4Kl1TA3l83c60Dcj5zoGGyogkvgpfyTOhWvZEBCDXOd43o8KpXYRdzUMEguuUV8NbeOvdqBrgVB_I-fyv-BC4VImC8Re5-GIDq3fVmy2/s1600/words-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyEd6sXEgznSeFgUKfVLYQUs6NS4C0Uczv9np4Kl1TA3l83c60Dcj5zoGGyogkvgpfyTOhWvZEBCDXOd43o8KpXYRdzUMEguuUV8NbeOvdqBrgVB_I-fyv-BC4VImC8Re5-GIDq3fVmy2/s320/words-1.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-66523854018116369922012-01-26T16:30:00.000+02:002012-01-26T16:30:04.022+02:00The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgzoGBjV-sBQcklhYBwiCAsyDfwfHeIR6kPXMzx7_rSGyACzf4BM680SpxdjMXrgnqfsaTIGbSfj8H0JMRWUXSAe5ln2nXAVuocSK47tRfLMSGt7xvcym03DRSsuTwJ7VJgmyp0zpz_11/s1600/aimee-bender-the-particular-sadness-of-lemon-cake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgzoGBjV-sBQcklhYBwiCAsyDfwfHeIR6kPXMzx7_rSGyACzf4BM680SpxdjMXrgnqfsaTIGbSfj8H0JMRWUXSAe5ln2nXAVuocSK47tRfLMSGt7xvcym03DRSsuTwJ7VJgmyp0zpz_11/s1600/aimee-bender-the-particular-sadness-of-lemon-cake.png" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">People who are true food lovers will always say that eating is an emotional experience. From that point of view, Aimee Bender tells the story of Rose Edelstein who experiences her adolescence through the emotions that she tastes in the food she eats.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When Rose turns nine her mother bakes a special lemon cake for her, and this is where Rose's food tasting journey starts. Rose is horrified with the realisation that she knows what people feel when she eats the food they prepare.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Reality, Rose discovers, is stranger than fiction. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Aimee Bender writes heartbreaking prose that makes you giggle at one point and then plunges you in deep depression the next. She writes her characters in such a way that the reader can identify with them in all circumstances. We have all felt these emotions. We just did not realise that they are evident in the food we prepare or eat.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A thoroughly enjoyable book to read with such beautiful writing, that once you start, you just continue to turn the pages until you realise that the story is done and life goes on again.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Reviewer: Antonia Vermeulen</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNgfTkWFGE9HWJq4dAqaEwHA4t0B1Qd32mDwLekUeCBy8KePsXm6eMu6-54JOZ57P1vNh-p8PsJXgxIbaJ3_kHRFHdSHv8vMy0iRLAQawS7XB4hT_ROu6GEES3JCSIIaJ6oLGdy3n_3c3/s1600/no-bake-lemon-cheesecake-recipe-top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNgfTkWFGE9HWJq4dAqaEwHA4t0B1Qd32mDwLekUeCBy8KePsXm6eMu6-54JOZ57P1vNh-p8PsJXgxIbaJ3_kHRFHdSHv8vMy0iRLAQawS7XB4hT_ROu6GEES3JCSIIaJ6oLGdy3n_3c3/s320/no-bake-lemon-cheesecake-recipe-top.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609481398401317974.post-74385398336858631122012-01-18T11:34:00.002+02:002012-03-01T22:12:52.835+02:00Things are to be used and people are to be loved.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD15qoT7LHoxkLJI8YQvQASurXDaTHUXzXlLOxvS4UkxYegXDvi9bN0bwtvTYOJwGci9bWHyV46bHVXMtBKpgsFDFNBP8dEgTnGt4MT8ukRQxtGJ-S20RrxEMefgzGVJyCHFyti7BxcP3i/s1600/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD15qoT7LHoxkLJI8YQvQASurXDaTHUXzXlLOxvS4UkxYegXDvi9bN0bwtvTYOJwGci9bWHyV46bHVXMtBKpgsFDFNBP8dEgTnGt4MT8ukRQxtGJ-S20RrxEMefgzGVJyCHFyti7BxcP3i/s1600/images-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People are meant to be loved. </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">A co-worker just sent me a message on BBM titled: Loved vs Used. </div><div class="MsoNormal">It says: </div><div class="MsoNormal">While a man was polishing his new car, his six-year-old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child’s hand and hit it many times, not realising he was using a wrench. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father … with painful eyes he asked “Dad when will my fingers grow back”. The man was hurt and speechless, he went back to his car and kicked it many times. Devastated by his own actions, sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches, the child had written: “love you dad”. The next day that man committed suicide. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The message continues: </div><div class="MsoNormal">Anger and Love have no limits, choose the latter to have a beautiful and lovely life. Things are to be used and people are to be loved. But the problem in today’s world is that people are used and things are loved. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In this year let us be careful to keep this thought in mind. Things are to be used and people are to be loved. Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actins, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character it becomes your destiny. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This made me think of the situation that I had with my mom over the weekend. We got home from Resego Mogodi’s funeral (Rest in Peace nana) and we were flippin’ tired, so we both napped. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She woke up before me and realised that my car was not under the shade anymore. While trying to park it nicely, she scratched it on the side against a heap of bricks that were close by.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ooooopss</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">She woke me up immediately to show me and to apologise. I was furious, but tried to contain my anger. Mistakes happen, you know. But, damn, I was mad! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But now, after reading this message from Tendai, I’m reminded that indeed things are meant to be used and people are meant to be loved. </div><div class="MsoNormal">What’s the fuss about? My mom promised to pay for its fixing? So why was I so mad? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We place so much value on material things. How would I feel if things were the other way round? How would I feel if my mom was hit by a car, instead of my mom scratching the car? Now that would be devastating. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Honestly, I rather she scratched the car and she was not harmed. A car is a car, it can be fixed, it can be sold, it can be replaced and as for my mom on the other had – she’s the only mom I have and I can never replace her and life without her would be not imaginable. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m glad that a friend forwarded this message to me as a reminder that these things are just things and we should instead place more value on the people who love us, who would do anything for us, who want to see us happy and whom life without, would be hell. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAvSGzAV1SpjtCaWEpeJ8edhxTnZvj3oTOfBWuyQU0IenzgL9O4JMMI4bUPKFQVcJEGK9uCxIEGjWjtncvgfvFGhyGVdafzzlUAapOv_LLvuRtgb7sr__03FnydqEjiI0ab8HamDia6wr/s1600/Love1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAvSGzAV1SpjtCaWEpeJ8edhxTnZvj3oTOfBWuyQU0IenzgL9O4JMMI4bUPKFQVcJEGK9uCxIEGjWjtncvgfvFGhyGVdafzzlUAapOv_LLvuRtgb7sr__03FnydqEjiI0ab8HamDia6wr/s320/Love1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Refilwe Thobegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224516600622900392noreply@blogger.com2