Supporting Sport Teams

I've got this supporting sport teams thing figured out:

1. If your team wins, say 'we' won, even though they won and you watched.

2. If your team looses, become extremely defensive and find the oldest jokes available on the internet and replace the punch-line with opposing teams' name.

3. Make sure that you hate a player as soon as he leaves your team. Sure, he's still the same person only now he wears a different top.

4. Remember every statistic about your team. It does not matter that you cannot remember family birthdays, your child's milestone dates or your anniversary

5. Pause, rinse and repeat if necessary.

...Me

How to preserve the Islamic Heritage in Makkah and Madinah

After reading the online article “Mecca for the rich: Islam's holiest site 'turning into Vegas'” on the Independent website (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mecca-for-the-rich-islams-holiest-site-turning-into-vegas-2360114.html ), I realised that many Muslims feel that it is valid for the Saudi’s to remove and destroy the Islamic historic sites in Makkah and Madinah due to the ongoing innovations (Biddah) performed by many pilgrims to these two holy lands.

 What is the root cause of Biddah? A lack of education by most pilgrims can be attributed to these novelties. Instead of merely demolishing these traditional sites, which is an easy cop-out for the Saudi’s, hidden under the banner of Wahabism, it may serve the Saudi’s and certainly the Muslim population better to focus more attention and money on education.


A simple suggestion – the Saudi’s can close off all heritage sites and only allow officially endorsed agents to take groups to view the sites. Rules and behaviour must be communicated to pilgrims by the agents. All sites should be protected by tourist police (similar to what is done in Cairo) and if anyone is caught performing Biddah, they should be dealt with appropriately. In this way, education and appreciation for these holy sites will increase and the heritage can still be preserved.


If we don’t start questioning the Saudi’s now, who knows what they would close up next? Imagine having a fence around the Holy Ka’abah. May Allah make it easy for us.

...Me

Never forget Phuket

The warm waters of the Indian Ocean gently caress your feet. The turquoise water seems like it never touches the ground. Beach sand as soft as a new babies blanket shift under your feet as the cool breeze kisses your face. This is Phuket – a magnificent island in South East Asia, situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. The people are as warm as the waters that surround this beautiful island. With a smile you can never wipe off, they greet you in a humble tone “Sawatdee”.

The airport is tiny in comparison to major air traffic hub but operates efficiently. Security guards, the first Thai people you see are friendly and chatty, asking about South Africa and it’s culture. Once we passed passport control, our Club Med driver quickly whisked us away to the southern part of the island, Kata Bay. Enclosed by mountains and as serene as waves, the site is something to savour.




After spending 2 days at the beach and pool, lapping up all the tranquillity I could handle, I decided to take the taxi and go into Patong Town. In striking contrast to Kata Bay, Patongs streets are lined with clubs and bars. Go Go Girls welcome tourists to Thai boxing. We quickly walk into a night market which is run by Indians. Hot, bustling and exhausting, we decide that the air conditioning Junkceylon Mall is a better option. Here we are dazzled by the shops and spas. Queues line the spa’s as they offer facial treatments for as little as R80 for a full hour.

The next day, we decided to be more adventurous and try the Phuket Zoo. Elephants walk freely, snakes creep anywhere and tigers sit in the open. The zoo is not well maintained and for the price (R125), they really should preserve this area. We were quite alarmed at how bad the animals are treated but they still put on a good show. With the mercury rising, we head back to the pools and beaches.

Whilst at the Juckceylon Mall, we were offered a free trip to the Splash Water Jungle. After a long drive and a short presentation, we finally get into the resort - a water wonderland, with amazing slides and water features. Certainly an experience we will not forget.


We spend our last 2 days lazing at the beach sipping smoothies and enjoying spectacular views. However, a trip to Thailand is not complete unless you’ve been to Premium Outlet. Adidas, PUMA, Nike and others are available here at a slightly higher price that the markets but are definitely not fakes.

A quick tuk tuk ride, neck massage and tropical showers and we sadly have to leave this tropical paradise.

Phuket – we hope to return next year!!


...Me

Club Marvellous



Club Med Pool Side

Club Med Phuket located in Kata Beach, Phuket is truly an awesome resort. Surrounded by well kept greenery and forest, it’s a tranquil retreat in the serene neighbourhood of Kata.

From the moment you step into the Phuket airport, the G.O’s look after every single need of yours. They ensure that you are hydrated after the long flight, luggage is taken care of and the ride to the resort is smooth. The welcome is nothing short of royalty. They provide guests with cooling towels and iced tea before providing the overview of the resort.

Accommodation – We were in the Deluxe Room which is spacious and clean. We travelled with our 17 month daughter, so they ensured that the camp cot was already setup and the bedding prepared. The room has excess to the gardens and views of the beach. They provided gowns, bottled water (everyday) and a stocked up mini bar for the first day. Forget about the negative reviews you read on Trip Advisor, the rooms are impressive. The bathroom is cosy with a baby bath and some luxury amenities. The only negative was a slight leak from the shower.



Food – All inclusive means that there is always food and drinks available at the resort. The fish, vegetables, fruit and dessert were always scrumptious. Drinks can also be taken to the beach and you don’t have to worry about returning it as they will come around to collect.

Beach – The best beach in Phuket is just in front of the resort with astounding views, smooth sand and warm waters. There is a small road to cross but there is always an officer assisting Club Med residents.

Activities – Club Med has so many activities that you probably won’t have time to do all of it. Trapeze, bungee, golf, tennis, soccer, archery, table tennis, aerobics, yoga etc etc. The G.O’s are just tremendous – positive and energetic. They will go out of their way to assist the guests. Big thanks to Kardek for all his assistance!

Overall – Best beach holiday I have ever been on, thanks to Club Med ... will definitely return.

Club Med - your happiness certainly means the world to them!

Me ...

Concentration like a F1 Driver

Its all systems go, go, go!!!

The highways, freeways and byways in Gauteng, South Africa have become an adrenalin pumping rush every morning and evening for regular motorists. Weaving through the narrowed lanes with a concrete barrier so close you can actually reach out and touch it, will make any driver who travels these roads comparable to the F1 drivers. The only difference is, we seem to be getting somewhere. Drivers, these days, won’t even dare take one hand of the wheel to change the radio dial. The concentration is more than a F1 driver – it’s more like a Zen Buddhist!

...Me

Are we all born leaders?

Each of us are born into genius. Sadly most of us die in mediocrity - Robin Sharma

What does leadership mean to you? For me, leadership is doing the best you can do each and every day. Its when your each act or task is done at a level of mastery. Leadership is when you make a positive impact, influence yourself and others and do it with inspiration. Leadership is having uncapped enthusiasm and living each day to its fullest. Its about serving our communities and societies and helping others.

We live in a world, where people, are more engrossed in what Charlie Sheen and Paris Hilton are up to, rather than focus on themselves and what they can do today. We live in a world, where we get so angry when someone cuts in front of us in traffic, rather than getting angry with ourselves for not achieving our best today.

Success is small seemingly insignificant acts which done consistently will over time infuse our lives and leave a legacy. Lets live our lives as leaders and remember we don't need the title of a leader to lead.

... Me

Baby keeping you up?

Baby keeping you up - try sleep training from Baby Love.

Our little bundle of joy was about 4 months when we decided to try out the Baby Love routine. Prior to this, she slept for approximately 1 - 1½ hours during the day and about 6 hours at night, awaking for feeds thrice during the night. However, worse than the lack of sleep was her behaviour whilst she was awake. She would be happy for about 10 to 15 minutes before the crying and screaming started.


Putting her to sleep was a challenge equivalent to challenges I'd seen on Survivor and Fear Factor. Like the bewildered contestants on those shows, we too, tried every possible method of putting her off to sleep including singing, praying, pushing her in a pram, rocking, shaking and hypnoses (ok, maybe not the last one but we joked about it a few times). And even when we managed to get her to dose off, as soon as we placed her in her camp cot, she awoke, jumping like the Roadrunner from the famous Wile. E. Coyote cartoons.


After placing her on the program, she immediately started sleeping through the night i.e. she has no feeds from 8pm until 7am in the morning. She has 3 naps during the day and when she awakes, she is friendly, happy and hardly cries. The first 2 weeks of the routine were tough as we had to endure her angry crying but that was a small sacrifice for the benefits she and us have received.


There will be days that she still gets up in the night and sometimes refuses to sleep in the day; however those occurrences are less that 3 times a month. She is now turning 14 months and is truly transformed. I truly recommend Baby Love to all prospective parents. It'll be the best baby shower gift you can give yourself.

... Me

Movies that were not green lit

1. Last of the Beauticians – In a futuristic world, where plastic surgery, make up and facials have all been forgotten, a young girl from the slumps of Mumbhai, makes it her mission to save the world from in grown hairs and bad complexion.


2. The Fart Locker – A group of nerds are tired of getting bullied and decide to take revenge on their adversaries by kidnapping them and subjecting them to the ... drum roll ... Fart Locker.


3. Rocky vs. Rocky – A washed up ageing boxer takes on flying squirrel who is assisted by his best friend Bullwinkle.


4. Saturday the 14th – A circus troupe arrive at Crystal Lake, only to find the disfigured remains of horny teenagers. They recruit the hockey masked killer to join their gang. The consequences are deadly


5. Pimp Friction – Two male pimps decide to have a torrid affair near Brokeback Mountain. They stumble across two cowboys engaging in similar activities and decide to kill them off.


6. The 2nd Wives Club – A club consisting of women who are the second wives of wealthy Arabs decide to blackmail the first wives.


7. Mayor of Castertower – A retelling of Thomas Hardy’s famous novel that tells of a man who returns to Castertower to inflict terror into the lives of the politicians for not fixing the potholes.


8. No Country for Old Women – Due to over-population, elderly women are asked to leave their country. They make a defiant stand against the tyranny of the countries people.


9. The Real Frost/Nixon - An evil snowman, Jack Frost decides to take on Richard Nixon, his worthiest foe yet.


10. The X-rated Men – A few men from the seedy red light district decide to form a crime fighting unit to take on the priests that have been abusing little boys.


11. Look who’s stalking – This fourth instalment has the furniture talking to each other and plotting to stalk their owners that sold them off in a garage sale.


12. Die Hard ... of hearing – A retired New York detective has to solve a series of unexplained murders that have gripped the old age home he now lives in. Yippee Kay Yay!


13. Mizrahi’s List – Planned as the third instalment of the Jewish Films (Schindler's List and Munich), this film tells the tale of the gay Jewish designer Isaac Mizrahi and his dream of becoming the host of Project Runway Canada.


14. The Dinner Club – Misfits from high school get together after detention to discuss new ways of inflicting pain on teachers and nerds. The first rule of Dinner Club – Watch the Breakfast Club.


15. Free lunch Willy – Willy tries to return to Sea World, however, he gets caught and is turned into tuna and fed to the poor.


... Me

Does Your Body Cry for Water?

Dr. F. Batmanghelidj (no, he is not a superhero), author of the best-known book called Your Body's Many Cries for Water states that many of the worlds illnesses can be cured by simply consuming sufficient water. He claimed that drinking pure water can help reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, improve looks, reduce stress, prevent headaches and even cure Aids. Okay, the last one was just thrown in there, in the hope that Jacob Zuma would stumble across this blog and quote it.

Now, I read his book, Your Body's Many Cries for Water (just the introduction and the cover) and there might be some truth to his statements. I believe that we are too quick to grab the bottle of aspirin or any other over the counter socially acceptable drugs at the first sign of a headache, toothache or body ache.

So my experiment and I encourage you to do the same, is over the next 1 month, try at minimum to guzzle 8 glasses of water a day. I never figured out the size of the glasses but I’ll leave that to the tumbler dimensions available to you. If you have a headache, back pain, need to get into the mood etc. consume more water and test if his theory works. Send me your comments. If it does work, we maybe, just maybe, can bring down those evil money grabbing medical aid businesses sooner rather than later.

... Me