Rock bands, rock hard heroes and a public holiday dedicated to women

I’m over ten days late on this post, but better late than never. Clemma made me realise I hadn’t posted in a while and I need to catch up. Thank you Lady!

So 10 days ago South Africa celebrated National Women’s Day. And as a Fanatics member I got a FREE movie ticket on the day. Hehe! I love freebies! Of course freebies offered to women don’t right the fact that so many women today are still being persecuted and treated as lesser citizens. We still have a long way to go in that respect. I’m a feminist in the sense that women should be treated as equal to men; that we should not be persecuted; that we have the right to decide what we can or cannot do with our own bodies and that no religion or state can decide for us (that is the true meaning of being Pro Choice); that governments should ensure women get educated, get healthcare, are not abused, have the same legal rights as men, are protected from patriarchal bullshit and chauvinistic attitudes. Simple human rights really. Helen Moffett wrote a great article about how much we still to do to achieve this.

Anyway,  I trotted off to Hyde Park for a late afternoon tea and cake (hello Lemon Meringue pie) at Tasha's and finally got around to watching Dark Knight Rises. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt it finished the trilogy really well. I admit I figured out who the baddie actually was (no spoilers as there may be peeps out there who have not seen it yet). It kept that lovely darkness of the first two, though I don’t think any villain can compare to Heath Ledger’s Joker. Anne Hathaway was a very sexy and fun Catwoman; not sultry twisted Michelle Pfeiffer and thank goodness not cheesy Halle Berry, but an awesome character in her own right. That girl has some serious talent.

The night before I headed off with a workmate to watch Switchfoot live at Carnival City (if there ever was a hideous Casino, this one beats it hands on). It was a small concert, but quite intimate. At one stage the lead singer actually climbed off stage and walked through the crowd, shaking hands, giving out hugs. Now that’s not something you see very often. The opening act was Gangs of Ballet, a really good band from Durban. I heartily recommend them. I love discovering awesome local bands. I told my mate Clifford that in two years it must be his band, State Society, who will be opening for international rock bands (and I want backstage passes). The challenge is on!

On the subject of bands: I HAVE MY TICKETS FOR LINKIN PARK! WOOHOO! Can’t wait!

Peach Cafe

Saturday I was supposed to see an exhibition with Talita. As fate would have it, her car refused to start. So we decided instead that I would pick her up and we would go out for lunch.

Talita took me to a lovely place called Peach Café in Fourways. It’s a darling quaint venue slap bang in the middle of a peach farm which has survived the encroaching of townhouses. A bit of country in the city.

The café has recently opened and the owners are in the process of improving the place. You get to sit outside (or under a lapa like roof) in a very rustic set up, inclusive of geese honking in the background on their way to the pond.

The owners are two young chefs and you can imagine that the food is rather tasty. The menu is not extensive, but the flavours of the dishes you will get make up for it. I had a lovely ice tea, more like a granita (not too sweet, not too tart), a focaccia with pesto, charred cherry tomatoes, roast mushroom, buffalo mozzarella and rocket and a strawberry tartlet for desert. Talita had the mezze platter (mushroom pate Hello!) and the chocolate fondant with ice cream.  It was delicious! We had such a great time we didn’t notice how time flew by.

It really is a gorgeous little place, ideal for a Saturday or Sunday lunch, for a giggle of girls to get together, for families with kids (lots of place for spawnlings to run around), for a first date even. In early summer you can even go pick peaches and nectarines!

Peach Café is quite busy on a Sunday, so bookings are essentials. I recommend waiting 2 weeks until all the peach trees are in bloom for a truly gorgeous experience.

Peach Café

83 Selbourne Road, Fourways

www.camdeboofarm.co.za

011 704 3661

Fifty Shades of Indifference

It would seem that the book trilogy of Fifty Shades of Grey has taken the world by storm. By world I mean the world of child-bearing 30+ women who have nothing better to do in their lives than escape to the sad and pathetic world of BDSM “mommy porn” (as the book is being marketed).

The only reason I heard about the book is because I follow MrsStephenFry on Twitter and she retweeted a funny post by 50ShedsofGrey, which also featured in HRHPrincessKate and PrinceWillsUK’s tweets. Anyone who follows these characters would know that anything they retweet is silly and not to be taken seriously (but highly entertaining). As I started following the tweets and laughed myself off my couch, I was at the same time puzzled by the nature of the tweets. Then from outer influences I started hearing about Fifty Shades of Grey. With the help of my trusty research sidekick (thank you Google) I found out a bit more. Unfortunately.

I read up the synopsis and can quite frankly say that Mills & Boon’s “The Spanish Billionaire’s Pregnant Wife” has more of a plot than 50SoG. I know because I read the Mills & Boons on a holiday when I had read all my other books and there was nothing else to read in the holiday house where I was staying. When desperate you will read the back of cereal boxes, admit it.

I could not understand how this trilogy could become so popular (but I guess it’s the same with Twilight, and note that 50SoG started off a Twilight based fan fiction. Need I say more?). Then realisation dawned. I have grown up in a liberal household. The naked body and sex was never a taboo subject. My parents even have the complete works of Gustav Klimt’s erotica. I remember asking my mom how babies were made. She told me, not the birds and the bees, but the real deal. I was cool with her answer. It didn’t shock me, and I was 4 years old! My dad once told a teacher of mine that I was a late baby (10 years into their marriage) but that him and my mom had lots of fun practicing. You can therefore understand why I never had this mind block that is so prevalent in English speaking countries. English speaking countries are still VERY prude. Continental Europe is much more relaxed.

My theory is that if you have grown up with something that is viewed as taboo and scandalous then when you come across it and you partake in it, you feel naughty and wicked doing so and it gives you a frisson. You feel bold and like a risk taker. Hence the books’ popularity.

The demographic of readers is predominantly housewives and mommies. Why? Because they live dreary dull lives that they want to escape from (if BDSM erotica can be considered spicy. It reflects more the fact that you have some serious issues and you need to see a shrink if getting spanked and chained up is the only way you can get your rocks off. Yes I have met people in the “community” and yes they major unresolved issues.). Of course I’m not saying that ALL moms have dull and dreary lives. But those that subscribe to this nonsense sadly do. The fact that many of these women’s’ lives are dull and dreary is quite sad actually. Rather than hiding in this erotic fantasy the ladies should GO AND SHAG THEIR HUSBANDS! I can guarantee the husbands will appreciate it. If they want to use a bit of kink to spice things up, by all means. But no book will “rescue” them from dull dreary lives. One is responsible for one’s own sexual happiness.

So you Ladies who might be reading the book: put it down and get a life. Put the kids to bed, you are not their slave, and get frisky with thine husbands! You’ll be much happier for it. Oh, and follow the twits I mentioned. You’ll have a good giggle.

In honour of 50ShedsofGrey:

Ever since she read THAT book, I’ve had to buy all kinds of ropes, chains and shackles. She still manages to get into the shed though.

“I’m a very naughty girl,” she said, biting her lip, “I need to be punished”. So I invited my mother to stay for the weekend.

“Hurt me,” she begged, raising her skirts s she bent over my workbench. “Very well,” I replied, “You’ve got fat ankles and no dress sense.”

“I am your master. You will obey my rules.” She rolled her eyes and walked out of the shed. That’s definitely it -  I need to get a new cat!

Happy IVGLDSW Day!

Today is International Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman's Day!

Remember these mottos to live by: 

• Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, totally worn out and screaming 'WOOO HOOOOO what a ride!' 
• Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.
• Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut her up with cakes. 
• The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy. 
• I refuse to think of them as chin hair.  I think of them as stray eyebrows.    
• Old age ain't no place for sissies.
• Thirty-five is when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.
• If you can't be a good example then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. 
• I'm not going to vacuum until Dyson makes one you can ride on.
• Behind every successful man is a surprised woman.
• Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission. 
• When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me over!!

Food for the soul

I am happy to announce that my new medication seems to be working. I am finally sleeping a lot better. I only wake up once a night and I fall asleep fairly quickly. It’s a glorious feeling. On the secondary symptoms side though, I suddenly developed the munchies. All I wanted to do was eat and eat and eat. And it was not cravings orientated. I just wanted food. But that too has calmed down. I think that I was probably resetting my appetite from meh, I don’t feel like food to yes, food is nice and I will have some.

My snotty nose is still around however. When I will get rid of it I don’t know. One day I will come across meds that will help. However, I will not let that get in the way and I’m FINALLY going back to gym. Next Sunday is the 702 Walk the Talk and I am doing the 8km walk. I need to remind my body that walking is easy.

The end of last week I was feeling rather frazzled (due to a mix of circumstances I won’t get into right now) and I needed to talk to someone and get a new perspective. So on the spur of the moment I went to visit Clemma. We have not seen each other in a while and it was awesome to catch up. We have one of those lovely friendships where even though we have not seen each other in ages we pick up right where we left off. We don’t get annoyed with each other if we don’t have weekly news.  It’s very low maintenance but we are quite close. Ooh the stories I could tell of the shenanigans we got up to at university. Awesome memories! And to think when we first met she thought I was an aloof bitch. Hehe!

Anyway, I brought scones, cream and strawberries and we sat, had coffee and had a long heart-warming chat. There is nothing better than having an awesome friend who will help you see through the forest and offer great advice. Thank you ma Cherie!

And while we sat and chatted, we oohed and aahed over Clemma’s brand new Jack Russel puppy, Lilly. Lilly is tiny and adorable. You could just eat her up. Clemma and Jono already have a JR called Oscar, a cute endearing little monster. Oscar is besotted with Lilly. She’s the best thing since doggy treats. It was utterly adorable watching the two play together. Oscar could get a bit rough and she would growl at him, resulting with him rolling onto his back for forgiveness. You can already see who will be the boss! They played tug of war with Jono’s old slipper, they ran across the lawn into the flowerbeds (thank goodness Agapanthus are forgiving  plants). When I left, they had both crashed and were sound asleep, together, in Oscar’s bed. Snoo and Squeeness!

It is unbelievably rejuvenating to watch animals play together. You forget all your worries and issues and realise that all you were worried about is really not that big a deal, that you will cross the bridge when you get to it, and that you will be calm when you do.

Thank you Clemma for all your sound advice and letting me recharge my batteries in your lovely home.