How hard is it to follow instructions?

We are taught from such a young age to follow instructions, in fact our early years are just a constant stream of instructions making us into little lemmings blindly doing as we’re told.

When rational thought processes take over and we develop the ability to think for ourselves, following instructions becomes that much harder!!

Some instructions are used to protect us from danger, and make our lives easier, others seem to be implemented just to be irritating.

I won’t follow instructions that I don’t understand and those that seem pointless.

So people try not to be a lemming question instructions and make an informed conscious decision.

Teacup pigs

Give it six months and I may be the proud owner of a teacup pig…..

I am so excited I am going to visit the farm in Somerset West where they breed these mini marvels.

Miniature, micro, nano and teacup pigs are meant to be incredibly affectionate and highly intelligent. When fully grown they range between 8 – 15 ” high and can weigh up to 30lbs.  

Miniature Pigs live between 12 -20 years, they can be house trained and even taught tricks. They are clean and odor-free, they do not get fleas and don’t drop there hair like cats and dogs.

They need regular walks to ensure they don’t get fat and their food must be limited as they will eat anything they can get their cheeky little snouts on.

It’s not all a bed of roses or lack there of, once they’ve been rooting around in your flower beds, pigs naturally root around for food which can leave you with a mud pit of  garden they can also become manipulative and aggressive if not disciplined from a young age.

The question is do I tell the body corporate of our flats my intentions or do I sneak the little squealer in? I really want a mini pig J

Picture courtesy of http://www.google.co.za/imgres?imgurl=http://f00.inventorspot.com/images/teacup-pigs.jpg&imgrefurl=http://inventorspot.com/articles/tea_cup_pigs_are_hottest_pet_trend_britain_heres_low_down_them_33337&usg=__tx453uAFNX6H5__ciy2JCQ3vsNk=&h=273&w=514&sz=31&hl=en&start=2&sig2=lrouQ8qx8OBUQdrAIQMDEQ&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=6zYMic3YBEwvKM:&tbnh=70&tbnw=131&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dteacup%2Bpigs%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D624%26tbm%3Disch&ei=bxU1Tsz1Es72mAWr-7XwCg

Retro revival *** Part II

My second acquisition was a little round retro style table. With classic mid-century, style tapered legs and a white laminate top. The top of the table was a little chipped and dirty. It was also a little small to be used as a coffee table.

So I decided to take the legs off and design a new top for it. I bought a pine plank from builder’s warehouse and drew out the new shape that I wanted for the table top.

I then used a jigsaw to cut out the shape and then beveled the edges at a 45 degree angle.





Before



After

I found this awesome blog for anyone interested in Décor http://thedesigntabloid.com/2011/06/

Andy Warhol said “in the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes” – you cant choose the 15 minutes but why would you be famous?

Fame and fortune, I would quite like the fortune without to the fame. It must be really tough being in the public eye all the time. The media knowing your every move and picking out every speck of cellulite when their stalking you in your bikini on beach.

I wouldn’t be able to handle the public humiliation of a break up that is tough enough without the daily reminders on TV, in magazines and news papers.

I would want my 15 minutes of fame to count for something not a big brother type experience.

I would some day like to make a meaningful contribution to society that is recognized by the media and granting me my 15 minutes of fame!

Picture courtesy of http://www.michaelarnoldart.com/Warhol-Campbell_Soup-1-screenprint-1968.jpg

England knows how to do summer – St Paul’s Carnival

The weather over the duration of an English summer can be unpredictable, one day blistering heat and the next cold, windy and rainy. What it does have stacked in its favor are the long summer days, the sun rises at around 4:45 am and sets around 10pm.

These long summer days and little glints of sunshine bring the Brits out of their winter hibernation.

Any open space becomes a hive of activity from dusk till dawn. London along with other major cities throughout the UK put on a number of music festivals and free carnivals over the summer.

My personal favorite is Nottinghill Carnival, which normally falls over my Birthday weekend in August.

Whilst I was home I decided to check out Birstol’s, St Pauls Carnival, a

Caribbean street

party. It’s not quite on the same scale of Nottinghill, but had a huge turnout. All the streets are closed off and there is a procession in the morning. There are then performances from artists of all different genres including reggae and drum and base on the various stages throughout the city.

The streets are filled with revelers and of course the smell of jerk chicken Yum.

 

Pictures courtsey of http://bristol.indymedia.org/attachments/jul2008/photo006.jpg, http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/113/carnivalpic1dc5.jpg/, https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1N_KLMPn5w-fTqwZvC-0nRma6s1HxN7EB83sMkC0Bkj52E68FeKP1dPoQn5j5fr1m-M5je4-UCG6PRdbEXTQ2OAZKnppIBtTse6Bcqh3jEiXrgogNk58F_emKmg-iJxVvyD17zrgusM/s400/DSCF2098.JPG, http://www.photoshelter.com/gal-kimg-get/G00004OE9pAwxVTg/s/1024/684



A Skill Set Called Leadership



Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Hitler, Gandi, Franklin.D. Roosevelt, Gloria Steinem, Fidel Castro, Golda Meir, Martin Luther King, Pope John Paul II, Genghis Khan, Julius Caesar, Karl Marx, Margaret Thatcher and Benazir Bhutto.

All of these people have one thing in common their ability to lead. Some of these people used their leadership skills to make positive changes in the world and others used their skills to manipulate people for their own gain.

Leadership isn’t a new skill set! There have been phenomenal leaders throughout history. Do you think someone coached Julius Caesar how to be a good leader? I don’t think so.

It was his innate characteristics, his charismatic ways, his vision, his ability to persuade those around him and the relationships he formed.

I do believe that a person can become a better leader through training and a deeper understanding of people, but you have to have that Je ne sais quoi to be an amazing leader!

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

During one of my shopping sprees I came across this poster. I couldn’t resist and it turns out there is a bit of a story behind it……..

The 'Keep Calm and Carry on' poster was one of a series of three, produced by the British government’s ministry of information during WWII. It was meant to be distributed in the event that Germany invaded England.

2.5 million posters were printed but never circulated as those crafty Germans didn't make it that far!

It was thought that all the poster's had been destroyed after the war. That was until a book shop owner found one in a box of books he bought at auction. He put it up in his book shop and it received a lot of attention.

The other two posters that were designed and put in circulation during the war read:

“Freedom is in Peril”

“Your courage, your cheerfulness, your resolution will bring us victory”

All three messages are so Typical of the stiff upper lip attitude Brits have, I love it!

‘Rock Journalism is people who can’t write, interviewing people who can’t talk, for people who can’t read’ Frank Zappa

I think rock journalists have the best job ever, getting paid to watch bands perform, going to music festivals and meeting the artists. I would love to be a rock journalist.

Rolling stone magazine was established in the 1960’s and was seen as the authority on all things rock n roll. The publication has produced a number of world renowned journalists, photographers and artists enabling them to get recognition on a global platform.

The editor Jann Wenner wrote that Rolling Stone "is not just about the music, but about the things and attitudes that music embraces". The magazine incorporated photography, popular culture and politics, especially in the 1970’s when they covered stories on feminism, the Vietnam War, abortion and gay rights.

Music is such a huge part of everyone’s life, I know that when I get nostalgic about times gone by there are sound tracks that go with those moments!

It would be amazing to contribute to such an awesome industry.

Picture courtesy of http://www.barewalls.com/i/c/489400_John-Lennon--Yoko-Ono.jpg

From England with love

As we have about two months off for our university holiday, I have decided to take my annual trip home in July this year rather than over Christmas, so that I get to enjoy a bit of the world renowned Great British Summer! As it turns out the weather was actually better in Cape Town than in England, but enough about the weather, I love my trips home for four reasons;

1. Spending time with family and friends

2. Home cooking

3. The a Great British Countryside

4. Shopping

I save my money all year for an annual shopping splurge, I love the shops in the UK, it’s my familiarity with the different brands and the vast variety. I love Zara, Topshop, H&M, GAP, French Connection, Oasis, Miss Selfridge, Warehouse, my word the list is Endless I just love shopping that all I have to say on the matter!!! 

 

Pictures courtesy of http://www.englandtravelpictures.com/England-travel-Yorkshire-hchalkley.jpg, https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYdXyxkHTFUag6xkgAfE3zGhyphenhyphenfxoKiHYvFEDqVAR78FIL0kb4ThzmGmcdbKikqDIXbGCtic7WbKQB-eY2gP-DaQrsi0MlziLZi5Rzebjvy4UYsC_1-1Fnkt7svMWYA5JOldbyMQgUzmM/s1600/flagship_landing.jpg

My top 200 achievements

Just being able to wake up everyday and function 'normally' is a major achievement. I feel that I have achieved a lot in my life, but I still have a long way to go.

Listing my top 200 achievements would make pretty boring reading. So I will spare you the details.

I often find that something that seems like a major achievement to me, may seem pretty insignificant to the next person, but that's fine because they are milestones in my life not theirs.

My most memorable achievements include; passing my driving test first time, winning various show jumping competitions, finishing a half marathon, completing the Argus Pick n pay cycle tour, traveling, studying and working all over the world, finishing school, college and graduating my first three years of university cum laude.

I hope that one day I will have a career that I am proud of, a family and a whole host of other achievement's to add to this list.

Retro Revival


With the holidays in full swing it has given me some breathing space, and time to do the things that I love.
With the immanent move to our new flat, I have been raiding Cape Town’s antique shops, for some retro style pieces that I can revamp a little.

I have found a number of Antique dealers in Wynberg, one at the top of Kloof street and another in Mowbray, just off Liesbek Parkway.

I found a pair of retro chairs that were in need of a bit of TLC, first I sanded down the arms and legs and varnished them.

I then staple gunned new elastic on the seat to support the cushion. I also had to get two cushions made up of high density upholstery foam.  Once the chair was able to function as a chair again I got them reupholstered.


Before






After









What motivates me

I know it sounds corny, motivation 101ish, but I am motivated by the goals I set myself, if I have something to work towards it makes me work harder.

I am also motivated by money but not when it costs me my morals, I don’t think there are many people that would say that money isn’t a motivating factor, it certainly motivated me to enter the euro millions whilst I was home in the UK. Imagine winning 166 million Pounds.

That sort of money would make you richer than the Beckams! I am sure it comes with its problems. Personally I think it could solve a few of mine. I could spend half the year in Cape Town and half the year in the UK. Summer in both places of course. I would have stables in each country and compete until my heart is content, pop out a few babies and be the women of leisure I have always dreamed of.

P.S I wasn’t the winner L

Picture courtesy of http://www.puppiesandflowers.com/blogimages/july07/20Quid.jpg