Freedom Day

27 April marks the day we cast our first democratic vote for a new government.

I am proud that I was old enough to be part of that.

Its a significant day. I only hope that we will not go into to the opposite direction and forget about the minorities in our country. We over threw political oppression of the majority people in our country - but the fight on a social, economic and even a spiritual level is not over. We can all vote but that is not the only thing we need to be free.

I pray that we do not lose sight of the ideals that we fought for and that we continue to question ourselves and our government and we continue to work towards creating a better country.

100 Things I have Accomplished

1. Learning to read and write

2. Completing primary school education close to the top of my grade

3. Completing High School education 3^rd in my grade.

4. A symbols for Mathematics and Biology.

5. Made up some songs for the cheerleading squad.

6. Wrote my own poetry and was published in the University poetry book.

7. Carried the torch in Durban that was taken to Woman’s Beijing conference 1995.

8. Got my drivers license.

9. Got PDF license – drove a 15 seater combi with passengers.

10. Got an international drivers license and drove safely on the opposite side of the road.

11. Completed my BA degree Education and History majors.

12. Completed my professional qualification for teaching.

13. AuPaired in the USA for a year.

14. Teaching Mathematics certificate

15. Compu Typing certificate

16. Computer Application technology certificate

17. Career Guidance Education certificate.

18. Breathe Free certificate.

19. Helped people to stop smoking

20. Public speaking in various places

21. Performance poetry in the Durban City Hall

22. Sang in the choir in primary school for the mayor of Durban

23. Was a litter monitor in primary school.

24. Represented the school in DYIC

25. I became the Vice chairperson for DYIC

26. Involved in organizing and running youth participation in contributing to South Africa’s Constitution.

27. Part of the training team that went to do Youth training inland Kwa Zulu Natal

28. Part of the mission team to Malawi.

29. Completed a number of 5km Fun Run/Walks

30. Completed a 5km walk in 49min.

31. Completed a 1km open swim race.

32. Helped organize a 48 Indoor Cricket tournament to fundraise money for Charity.

PR and administration of charity event for Reach for A Dream i.e. Organise Action cricket teams, sponsors, media coverage, typing and faxing of minutes, setting up meetings, banking, invoicing, collecting prizes and

cheques, progress reports and project evaluation

33. Learned American Sign Language.

34. Volunteers in Public Service (US)1997-1998

35. Top Chess female player in my school.

36. Toured with Mayville youth group – I played the role of Judas in the play.

37. I received total in my drama class for the Judas monologue.

38. Got married in 1999.

39. I am still married.

40. Had one daughter (emergency Caesar)

41. Breastfed her for 11months despite having inverted nipples.

42. Doing Missionary work in Malawi for a month.

43. Helping setting up and running a Technology Lab at Mangosuthu Technikonvia PROTEC – Programmes for Technology training ( I was 19 years old).

44. The same year I also gave a fundraising presentation to important people in Big business.

45. First Aid certificate twice.

46. Helped several people to stop smoking through talks I gave in various churches in our community.

47. I helped some learners to stop smoking by running a Breathe Free program.

48. Learned to Belly Dance.

49. Learned and performed Liturgical Dance.

50. Won a talent contest playing the recorder.

51. Won a group talent contest for modeling.

52. Been part of a drum circle.

53. As a child I recited all 13 memory verses learned in the space of 13 weeks in front the church.

54. Preached in various churches.

55. Led the AIDs awareness campaign in 1992 which led to our school winning the first trophee for the best campaign and most signatures of the community (my mother was not very happy with the bags of condoms given to us – I had to keep it until school opened again.)

56. I was elected to the position of deputy head prefect in our school.

57. PRO of the prefect body

58. DUX award

59. Teenagers Against Drug Abuse (TADA)

Vice-Chairperson in 1991

60. Chairperson 1992

61. PRO 1993

Church positions

62. Youth Leader 1999

63 Adventurer Director (Ages 0-9) 2000

64. Family Life Director 2000, 2001

65. Children’s Ministries Director for Conference 2001

66. Beginners Teacher 2003- 2008

67. Pre-Adventurer Co-ordinator 2006

68. Environmental Club

Vice-Chairperson of Organisation 1990

69. Chairperson 1991

70. SCA - School Christian Association

Member, Media committee 1991-1993

71 AEISEC

Member (DBN Westville University) 1994

Got a sponsorship for one their projects

72. Nature Guide at Bendigo Reserve 2001

73. Modelled Miladies Clothes for Woman’s event 2001

73. Assisting with organising sports events 1995, 1996

74. Tutoring Maths, English, Physics and History 1995-1997 and 2007

75. Facilitator at Bergville Winter School 1993

76. Basic Science Certificate 2005 Physiology

77. Took a group of drama students to Botswana to perform and promote our boarding school.

78. Successful set a number of blogs.

79. Have my own website.

80. Forgiving my Father

81. Facilitating a school magazine at two of the schools that I have worked in.

82. Ran a Career Expo at DBN Westville University for High School Students 1994.

83. Climbing up Lion’s Head.

84. Abseiling

85. canoeing and swimming

86. Roller-skating and Ice Skating

87. Riding Bike (still not very good with hills – going up or going down) prefer riding on the beach front where it is flat.

88. Rode a camel once – Really scary when it gets up and its time to get off.

89. Worked as an Educational officer for 4 months for WESSA- Wildlife and Environment society of South Africa:

Plan, Organise and Run leadership and Environmental Education camps, document impacts of Outcomes Based Education in practical field work. Training of educators in Outcomes Based Education and Environmental Education.

90. Head of Department of Extra Mural Activities at Sedaven High School – and I am very proud of the fact that many of the things I established as the first HOD are still in place after I left.

91. Made a DVD for mom for her birthday – it was quite a project and real trial and error. Scanned in photos and put it to music.

92. Did a 3 day hiking trail – in Mpumalanga.

93. My daughter stayed with my sister for those 3 days which was another accomplishment for her and for me. She was 2 ½ years old.

94. Knitting socks.

95. Trying out new crafts in 2006/7 including ATC’s , card making, bead making, scrapbooking and Digital scrapbooking. Then actually swapping my crafts.

96. Completing 9 100 lists.

97. Maintaining a perfect 5 score after 67 swaps.

98. Making the top 7 a side Girls soccer team that played in the boys tournament (also played soccer for the school team)

99. Choosing life – even when I have felt down and felt like giving up.

100. Recently passed the IETLS exam to get a visa to go work in Ireland. Fingers crossed that my next accomplishments will be traveling through the Irish country (hopefully Europe too – will be a dream come true), study more (want my get my honours, masters and eventually doctorate in Education) and serving the community.

Ingrid Jonker Memorial at Gordon's Bay

(Taken by me)

Also known as South Africa's Sylvia Plath because of the intensity of her work and the tragic course of her turbulent life. Ingrid Jonker (19 September 1933 - 19 July 1965)

At the base of the monumnet are the words of her poem which was read by Nelson Mandela, Die kind : wat doodgeskiet is deur soldate by Nyanga) (The child : who was shot dead by soldiers at Nyanga)), in Afrikaans, during his address at the opening of the first democratic parliament on May 24, 1994.

Read the poem in Afrikaans and English: Click here

Monument in the daytime Picture by Tonymac64.

Direction?

Head or Tails by Skittles

Direction. This word conjures up memories of getting lost. Being too scared to ask for directions and then getting to the point of desperation that I finally build up the courage to ask and then I can't find anybody to ask or if I do they still cannot help. In the end I go on pure instinct and faith and eventually find my destination.

This happened to me when I was walking and when I was driving. In South Africa and in USA.

The next thing that comes to mind is decision making.Which way do you go? Left or Right?

You Are 35% Left Brained, 65% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Exercise

I have been exercising pretty regularly for the last 2 weeks. Walking up the mountain, on the beach and on Campus (to the gate and back up to our flat). But its Autumn and its starting to get colder. It rains in winter here. So I am looking for interesting alternatives.
Wish I could buy a walking dvd - there seems to a lot on the market - none that I can get here in South Africa. That unfortunately pushes the price up. I also know from experience that all exercise DVD's are enjoyable.

So I have been sampling on You Tube.

Unconscious Mutterings

Meme run my Luna Nina

"Rules are, there are no rules." There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head. AND you don't have to have your words up on Sunday.


I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Questioning : curious, irritating, unbeliever
2. Immunity :safe
3. Online dating :unsafe,desperate,a possibility, exciting
4. Calcium :milk, bones, health
5. Dressing :up, going out
6. Bucket :of rain
7. Stain :pain, rain, main
8. Advanced :technology
9. Dramatic :effect
10. Self-medication :FOOD, overdose, self-healing

Competitions and Giveaways

Bloggers/readers are the judges. Please vote for your favorite entry (a voting poll will appear in this post) beginning at 5:00 p.m. U.S. central time April 18th to 8:00 p.m. U.S. central time April 21st.

Here is my my entry: http://simonesbutterfly.blogspot.com/2008/04/write-from-karen-photo-contest.html

Please vote for me. Thank you.

You go here to vote:Photo Contest Theme - Spring Time!

Now for the Giveaway/Competition



Please no the following:

1. This contest is only open to U.S. addresses. My humble apologizes to my International friends, but these prizes are bulky and heavy and would cost too much to ship outside the United States - I’m so sorry.

Go read more about it on Write from Karen.

WW - Cartoon

Got this in my e-mail box today. We are a major power shortages and have been asked to use less electricity.

Biker Girl - WW

Want read about the road and see more photo's? Go to my husband's blog: Gomoto Diaries

Tips

Heads or Tails meme

The first photograph was taken from the Lighthouse.

This is Southern most Tip of Africa. The residents enjoy the distinction of being the Africans living closest to the South Pole. It is also the point where the two mighty oceans, Indian and Atlantic, meet.


"At the end of the 15th century the early Portuguese seafarers christened this tip "Cabo das Agulhas" which means "Cape of Needles" and refers to the needle of the compass which at this point shows no real deviation between true north and magnetic north. A truly magic and desolate place, where suddenly one begins to understand the difficulties the early seafarers faced." http://www.lagulhas.co.za/

6 Fours

Picked up this tag from Crystal - sun, moon & stars:


A) FOUR PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER: church, grocery stores, the beach and library.

B) FOUR PEOPLE WHO EMAIL ME REGULARLY: Claire, Claudelle, Weiers and Preston.

C) FOUR OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT: Spur, Mug & Bean Coffee Shop, Migeul's Al forno at Gordon's Bay and Nando's (specilise in Portuguese chicken)

D) FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: Ireland, Western Europe, Namibia or a Health Spa

E) FOUR PEOPLE I THINK WILL RESPOND:
Addie from Addie's Random Ramblings
Gill from Gill's Jottings
Melanie from Livin With Me!
Wakela from Wakela's World


F) FOUR TV SHOWS I WATCH OVER AND OVER: there are not any TV that I will watch again except maybe children's programs like Gummie Bear and Thundercats which I have watched again with my daughter.
Movies on the other hand - Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, Greece and Joseph (also Sound of Music)

Quote for the week

You will never leave where you are, until you decide where you'd rather be. ~Dexter Yager

Journalling with the Modern Day Goddess

I received my journal about 3 to 4 weeks ago. I didn't start it for 2 reasons. I had a lot of other books I was and when I read the first page I had just nothing to write.

Today I attended a workshop dealing with the topic of spirituality and solitude. I needed to take a notebook with. I could not find my notebook so I took my Journal for the Modern Goddess. And WOW was that the right thing to do!

I knew that I needed to start dreaming again I needed to new life vision. I had reached the point where I have basically reached all the goals I had set out for myself as a teenager. Now that I am married and have a child I found it more difficult to do. My husband and I used to regularly relook, rethink and dream together about the future. But since we have been here in Cape Town its been harder. I have had to deal with a lot of 'other' stuff that has taken a lot of our energy.

At the end of last year I finally felt I had reached a point where I am ready and need a change and my husband felt the same. I also felt myself hesitant, almost too scared to dream too big. Even with this possible move to Ireland, I have felt myself holding myself back. Not wanting to get too excited because I did not want to be disappointed. Now its just one more letter and our application is ready to handed in to the British High Commission. We have a house to rent and a school for my daughter.

Today in the community of solitude I had a break through and I know that I will be using my journal everyday.

Thank you Nicole and Tara for the tools, thank you Gordon for creating the environment for my breakthrough.

The Simone's caterpillar is stepping into the cocoon.

Write From Karen Photo Contest

I found it very difficult to choose, so I asked my blogging friends to help. This is the one we chose. This was taken at the West Coast National Park last year. It is my daughter looking through the binoculars trying to see some zebra and wildebeeste in the distance.

Camera used: Kodak EasyShare C603 (nothing fancy)

Vote for your favorite photo. Voting begins at 5:00 p.m. U.S. central time April 18th and will end 8:00 p.m. U.S. central time April 21st.

WW - Sunset

Heads - Express

Heads or Tails hosted by Skittle

I have really being enjoying taking photographs. When my husband suggested that we get something more expensive I was resistant to the idea. I did not see photography as a hobby that I wanted to develop. I just wanted to capture some special moments and places. Plus I have started hobbies before, spent money on them and then not continued with them with the same passion. In fact I have even given away some of the tools and "materials" I have bought.

I have not written a poem since 1999. But recently I have felt that I should write something to go with the photographs that I have taken.

When I saw the prompt Express, my immediate thought was I need to take a photograph and express it in words. So I think I am going to play another game - Unconscious Mutterings i.e. write the first few things that come to my mind when I look at this particular photograph.........

Adventure

Natures climbing gym

Friendship

Be brave, be strong

You can do it!

See the head and the tail - what can it be
A big Whale!

Four Day Win in a Nutshell

This a great podcast where Martha Beck gives you a book in nutshell. At least this is a nut you don't have to avoid!!

From SimonSays Podcasts


http://www.simonsays.com/assets/isbn/0743564154/PC65_0743564154.mp3

Spring Photos

I am thinking of entering Write from Karen's Photo Competition.


Its starts on the 11 April 2008. Voting starts on the 18 April 2008.

These are photographs from Spring 2007, West Coast Nature Reserve

A

B


C
C

D


E

PollPub.com Vote

Which Picture should I enter into the Competition?

A
B
C
D
E



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100 Day Health Challenge

Got this message in my e-mail. I signed up for the 100 Day Health Challenge with Mary Anne Shearer.

Thought I should share it. It so applicable !

Day 6

OK.. so maybe you thought you blew it once or twice this week, remember that there was nothing to give up and no restrictions, so any restrictions you have were created by yourself. And even if you did eat after 9pm, no one was counting except you. Get over it and get on with what you can do.

You will fall and make mistakes, thank God we all do, but that is a wonderful opportunity to make better choices and do things better at the next meal.

Bless you!

Mary-Ann

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

You formed me in my mother’s womb.

I thank you, High God – you’re breathtaking!

Body and soul I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration – what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

How I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

All the stages of my life were spread before you,

The days of my life prepared

Before I’d even lived one.

Psalm 139:14-16

Will the insomnia pass?

I wonder if I should delete the nonsense post I wrote ...... then I figure it reveals a different side to me that one day I might look back on and have a good laugh.

I have sorted my issue out without causing any emotional upheaval to anyone. So hopeful tonight I will be able to rest.

Right now I need to go sort the student who lives above office. His music is loud and the vibrations are penetrating my room. Arghhhhhhhhh

Haunted

I have been sleeping extremely badly since Monday. I have been trying to figure out what is causing insominia, on the surface nothing came to mind. I have improved my eating this week, I ahve been exercising, started taking good supplements, my menstrual cycle final ended last week, I am on holiday and I am not feeling particularly stressed about anything.

But I knew that somewhere in my subconscious something was not okay and i obviously did not want to face it. And now 3:40am it suddenly hit me. I feel so silly and upset with myself but I know its true but I also have no idea how I am going to verbalise it. I know I must if I am going to make peace and start sleeping again. I just feel so stupid for having the feelings I am having. I know once verbalized it will not be taken seriously. I babbling......

So why haunted? Cause my mother warned me about this and I laughed at her, told her she was silly and totally ignored her advice. In fact it was something she wanted me to and I refused and so she did it for me. Now someone else actions similar to mine is hurting me. Not intentionally. And in my logical mind I have no reason to feel hurt. Maybe hurt is not the right word

Okay so what is my problem you maybe asking. I am sure you realise by now I feel very embrassed to say what it is but I am also trying to figure out the best way to deal with. As it is still to early in the morning to call one of my friends and I think better when I am talking, I have resorted to blogging but I the people affected may not appreciate me implicating them in my problem. It really is my problem but I choose to act or react if you like will either have no impact or negative on them.

Now I wish blogger had the feature wordpress has to password protect a post - cause I could do with imput from some of blogger friends.

I do suspect that most women would be just as upset as I am. I know what my mother would say.

Oh hell I better get some rest so I can at least be thinking more clearly on issues.

Post 501

I think should be celebrate the fact that I have stuck to this blog for 501! posts. Well while I think about ............

I have spent the evening making handmade postcards and bookmarks with my daughter. She is in her first two postcard swaps with Swapbot. She is so excited she is writing about it in her journal!
We are also including bought postcards. Her partner is also 7 years old. Her other swap is to a sister and brother in California who are home schooled and are collecting postcards from all over the world.

This morning we went to Gordons Bay with her friends: Cayden (almost 2), Jared (4) and Michael (6 turning 7 - his also known as Bobo and his from China), to collect shells. Then we went to Caydon and Jared's house to swim and had a picnic on the lawn. Afterwards they watched a movie.

She and Bobo (Michael) went to play with Elenora (she is from Italy).

All in all a very active and fun day!

Gala # 2

Gala # 1 is below.
Pictures of learners at our school Gala take by Mr Van Horsten

Gala # 1

.Taken at the school Gala Feb. 2008 by Mr Van Horsten

Heads: Fool

Meme/Game: Heads or Tails by Skittles

I have been caught once. It was a few years ago - 1999, I remember because I was working as a tempt at Telkom and I got married later on that year.

It was a newspaper article about approved name changes to roads and monuments in the City of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, as well as structural changes to our national monuments. Still a very sensitive issue in our Country. Oh we got so upset and then the radio confirmed the Newspaper reports. I think most of the morning went on like that before someone realised that it was the 1st of April.

Here is an interesting fact - no joking.

"In 1903 the Town Council invited architects to submit designs for a new town hall. The winning design was submitted by Stanley G. Hudson who was inspired by the City Hall of Belfast, Northern Ireland and replicated it. On completion in 1910 it was considered a 'very bold and progressive design'." from eThekwini

Another reason i should feel at home if I move to N. Ireland.