The Great Wild Coast

I finally got to visit the British Science museum with a friend last week.
There was a 3D show on at the time called  "Wild Ocean" which we decided to watch. To our amazement and wonderful surprise it was based on one of the  world's spectacular and great natural annual phenomena, which occurs in the winter months along the untouched and sheer cliff drops off the Wild Coast, in South Africa. It gave our hearts a sense of warmth and belonging as the distinguishable voice of John Kani narrated the expedition of the SARDINE RUN!
Every year millions of these silver fish make their way north along the east coast of Kwazulu-Natal, swept along with the cold current of the water.

Pictures taken fromhere

They tend to form a huge bait-ball so as to confuse their predators and somehow choreograph their movement with their parallel swimming partner, thereby defending themselves. Their migration is tracked and followed by legions of predators, the common and  bottle nose dolphins, Cape gannets (that dart into the water with missile-like speed), sharks, seals and the biggest one of all, man, to commence the greatest yearly underwater feast! The hump back whales usually migrate aound this time of year as well, adding to the pomp and spectacular yearly event.

These shoals create such an extravagant phenomena that it is visible by satellite. People crowd the beaches every year around this time to watch shoals of it being netted in by business hawking seamen, and also to make their claim by spending early hours of the morning fishing the conventional way.

This natural occurence might be a thing of the past  as the years pass on and as man claims more of it than they require.

After watching this beautiful and extraordinary event in an IMAX cinema, it made me appreciate so much more of our beautiful country with unspoilt coasts, and also very fortunate to have witnessed it in my lifetime.

It's something you might take for granted every year because you're fortunate to see it happen and because you're fortunate enough that it happens some 20 minutes away from home, but next time you do experience it, consider yourself lucky and also very proud!

A love so strong..

so close and still so far

Video link from HERE...

Link from HERE...

...will live on forever


Link from HERE

True love never dies

Just have a little faith

Video from here



In life there are some people you just trust and have alot of faith in, naturally. When I think of the grander scale of things in life, how we are all here for a short while, and how we live our lives on a daily basis, I just want to grab every precious moment I can and do as much as I can.

There's just so much that we all take for granted in life, the way we talk to people, the way we talk about people, the way we treat people,there seems to be so much anger within some people and for no reason, when we are all in fact the same, just on different journeys in life. It's amazing how almost immediately a bond can form when people are left in the same boat in life, facing the same situation, like the natural disasters that occur, that automatically bring people together, and they trust and have faith in those helping them, even though they have never met them before.

We shouldn't have to wait for moments of crisis to be nice to people, we should have respect for the next person. It doesn't cost anything to be JUST NICE and SMILE! Respect begets respect, when you give it, you should receive it!

Have some faith in those around you. We're all human with the same needs, some more than others.

I BELIEVE IN YOU...powerful words!

I was watching a video about the world famous paediatric neurosurgeon, Dr Benjamin Carson, who is an inspiration worldwide, and I felt so inspired by his story , that I had to share it! My brother had mentioned him a while back, and I decided to read up on his biography. He and his brother were born in Detroit brought up by their mom, who was married at the age of 13, and she had a grade 3 education. She used to work two or three jobs at a time to support her boys. By the fifth grade  he was at the bottom of his class, and he was called 'dummy' by his classmates. Their mother realising this, limited their television watching and encouraged them to read books, and made them submit book reviews to her, that she could barely read. She believed in them. Within weeks he amazed his classsmates with identifying a rock sample his teacher had brought to class. Within a year he reached the top of his class, and later  graduated with honors from his high school, earned his psychology degree at Yale University, and thereafter pursued an interest in neurosurgery.

He has since then performed complex neurosurgery, is a public speaker and has received the nation's highest civilian order, the Presidential medal of Freedom, and has written four books, one of which is called Thinkbig. He created the acronym for Thinkbig:


Talent
     Honesty
           Insight
                Nice
                     Knowledge
                          Books
                               In-depth learning
                                   God





                                             Biography from this page &  video site &HERE!



The person who has the most to do with you, is YOU!

Handbags, handbags and more handbags

Ever have that problem of having to change handbags for different occassions, and you have to swap your items to the next bag that you're going to use that day? Its the handbag dilemma! Never mind the fact that you've got to change the handbag, but to choose which one suits the occassion! Whether it's a lunch date, out shopping in the high streets, just a trip to the grocery store, a trip to the movies, or a night out, each bag is designated to a specific use. It's like you have to prepare your handbag the night before in order to have everything you need. Little things like your purse, your compact mirror, lip balm, lipstick, handcream, tissues, pen, brollie, sunnies, alcohol handgel, gloves, hat, scarf, and my fave, my litttle notebook for my cafe writing moments, and maybe the novel I'm busy reading; not forgetting the items for your phone, the charger, the earphones, some mints for those breathfreshing moments (just in case you have a George Clooney look alike sitting next to you on the bus~~~ not likely in London~~but hey, one can dream!). It's the process of transferring everything, and not forgetting anything! Handbags are getting biggger and bigger, so much so they're more like overnight bags, and I have to admit, I love it! Truth be told, you can never have enough handbags...right?!

And what do men have to carry? Just a wallet, mobile phone and maybe a handkerchief? Well, there are those brave and courageous men out there actually carrying a man bag, or a satchel these days...good on you guys!

Wear your bags with pride ladies,...and gentlemen!

                                                              Photos taken from THIS SITE

Thankyou for the inspiration, my love....

My Musical Hero....





The loves of my heart....

If music be the food of love, play on... (William Shakespeare)






My love forever.  Thankyou for the inspiration Mr Clayderman!






Just awesome!

Videos fromTHIS SITE,THIS SITE AND HERE!

                                

                                                                                   

Have a Nice Day :)

Picture taken from :)

Who knew the simple expression 'Have a nice day' had a history of it's own! It was first used in the 1949 movie 'A Letter to Three  Wives' and became popular by truck drivers on their CB radios.
It's seen as a polite and genuinely nice phrase used in Israel and America merely to express a 'thank you', and quite surprisingly seen as offensive and artificial in Europe, and hence very rarely used.
In the early 70's the Spain brothers designed coffee mugs and bumper stickers with the phrase and a yellow smiley face on them.
Today we use smileys in our texts, in our emails, and even on post-its, and it's become part of a universal language!

When I think of all the everyday stresses one goes through at work and home, sometimes we just need a little kind word from someone to change our whole day. Some people at work seem to forget that we're all human at the end of the day , and forget the meaning of respect for one another. These are just natural human pleasantries in life. I think people can get so caught up in their status and line of authority at work that they tend to treat the people below them in a demeaning way! Respect begets respect...do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It's not just about being a leader, but leading with respect so that others can look to you as a role model and find motivation and inspiration from how you set the bar.

At the end of the day, we're all striving to work towards a similar goal, a sense of self achievement and fulfillment and helping others to the best our ability, for the common good.

I've known people to whinge and moan the minute their day starts, and I can only help but feel sorry for them. If  you're in a position to change someone's day to make it a good one, use your potential to do so. A simple smile goes such  a long way, to whoever it maybe. My dad always says that when you meet someone and have a chat with them, always leave them with saying something good, because you never know what they're going through, and how your words can even make the slightest impact in their life. My mum used to say that a smile costs nothing!
Use your leadership to LEAD and guide in the most positive way!


A smile costs nothing, but gives a lot.

It enriches those who receive it without making poorer those who give it.
A smile takes only a moment, but the memory of it can last forever.

No one is so rich, or so mighty, that they can get along without a smile.
And no one is so poor that they cannot be made richer by a smile.

A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business and is the counter sign of friendship.

A smile brings rest to the weary,  cheer to the discouraged,  sunshine to the sad and is nature's best cure for trouble
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen
for it is of no value to anyone until it is given away.

Some people are too tired to give a smile so give them one of yours as no one needs a smile so much as he who has no more of his own to give.

( Tate Gallery )

 Have a Nice Day, be nice and spread the word!

WELCOME 2011!!

Here's to a great year!

As a new year has dawned upon us, we are overloaded with articles about new fad diets, detox diets, superfoods, beating the winter blahs and how to feel more energised, living a healthy lifestyle and how to be more positive...and so we should take heed, because it all sounds so good, and is very relevant! True enough, we all need a little bit of motivation at the start of the year just to take off on a good note, but consistency becomes the turning point sometimes. We get so excited about making a new start and turning over a new leaf for the new year, it's like starting to write in a brand new book, on a clean blank page!

We all have a list of our things to do, and changes we would like to make and improvements that we need to address, and we probably do so every year, because every new year we say it's going to be a better year! We focus so much on our big plans and dreams, that sometimes we lose track of our actual goal that we want to achieve in life. It's important to appreciate what we have got right here and now, and yet still dream and plan.We don't know what lies ahead, but enjoying life is part of the adventures of this journey that we're on. The year will be as according to us and how we perceive it to be. Be positive ~ it's an attractive quality, and people like being around those who are positive, upbeat, confident and happy.


A few years ago while I was holidaying in Australia, I was on the Whitehaven beach, one of the uninhabited islands of the Whitsundays. When I dusted my towel off the almost white sand, something terracotta coloured showed through the sand. On clearing the sand, I found a book called 'The Four Agreements' by Don Miguel Ruiz. To me, this was definitely some sort of sign!! (For what, I haven't quite yet figured out, suffice to say I have learned some valuable lessons about basic human nature, and the timing seemed ever so perfect at that stage of my life.)
This book has been very inspiring and portrays a code of conduct that encompasses the following:

1. Be impeccable with your word
2. Don't take anything personally
3. Don't make assumptions
4. Always do your best

As basic and natural as this list may sound, it's amazing how it can make a simple and fulfilling difference to your life. Try it!


Be strong and brave to embrace the adventures that lie ahead for you and make 2011 work for you in a positive way.

Have A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!



Photo from THIS PLACE

THANKYOU 2010!...the world in review

As 2010 draws to an end, some people will make a list of resolutions for the new year, some will look back to all the highlights and events that took place, and some people will just get a new calendar for their office or home.


This year at large saw  thousands lose their lives in the Haiti earthquake, millions of Toyota vehicles were recalled after problems with sticky accelerators, Apple launched the fascinating IPad (tablet computer), the Iceland ash disrupted flights over Europe,the Worldcup took place in South Africa and Prince William proposed to Kate, and while we're at it, Playboy's Hugh Hefner, 84, gets engaged! There's obviously much more that made memorable moments, but every year there will be more memorable moments to look back on, and eventually forget some! With South African heartlands deep within me, it makes me so proud to recall the Worldcup in our beautiful country!

From the bottom tip of the African continent, South Africa was put on the map and became the top talking point of the world; 2010 WORLDCUP WAS HERE!! (André S Chetty)
Waka waka was on the lips of people world over!! And to help you remember, "JUST" in case you've forgotten.......


Proudly South African!
                                               Video from THIS SITE  and HERE

With the first decade in the naughtie years almost over, there's definitely so much to look forward to. So here's to happy endings and memorable moments, and to new and happy beginnings! May your dreams and hearts desires be fulfilled and fruitful. Life is about the journey, enjoy it!
"All of life is a journey which paths we take, what we look back on,and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there"  ~ Lao Tzu ~
Wishing you and your family a blessed and exciting 2011!!!
                                                              
                                                             HAPPY NEW YEAR!




...as aptly as always!!    
                                                                                       

A Beautiful Life... For those I will always remember

We all know and have experienced the painful loss of someone close and dear to us at some point in our life. As much as it may be such a sad part of life ( ironical as that sounds), it is very much a reality that we must all accept. We may mention it jokingly, talk about wills being drawn up, just never want to talk about it, or just try to change the topic, but the fact of life is that one day our time too will come.

Today a school friend I've known for a long time was laid to rest. The day I came to hear the news of her passing away, brought a painful shock. She was a beautiful person inside and out. Even though I haven't seen her since we've matriculated from high school, the memories I have of her and our childhood friends seem to appear so vivid. And even though I'm a continent apart from home, my thoughts and prayers go out dearly to her family.





The shock was to realise just how suddenly life can be taken away. It's challenging to allow out hearts to say goodbye to our beloved, and even though the pain never really seems to ease, somewhere down life's road we find the courage to accept it. When we think of them, we have treasured,priceless and beautiful memories that will live in our hearts forever, and we know they've moved on to a beautiful life. These moments make us learn to appreciate life much more and also be greatful of those around us. There's no time for squabbling and worrying about the things that aren't going to make our lives any healthier. Material things have so little value in life, and no value when we finally leave.

Love those around you, and let them know how much you appreciate them. Don't wait till it's too late...there should be no regrets in life.
Goodbye to our dear beautiful friend.