Funny how some songs just work for one's life. The name of this blog was inspired by, well, an inspirational song! The Wonder of it all - Monday Morning

And so, whilst thing are happening in my life and changes are occuring, I have adopted themed songs (ala Alley McBeal style) to get me going. I should warn you, should one of these awesome tracks be heard, it wont be for long, as I will most definately be drowning it out with my singing!


Dixie Chicks - The Long Way Around

"...I've been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
But I've always found my way somehow
By taking the long way Taking the long way around...

good thoughts

"I met the queen of whatever
Drank with the Irish and smoked with the hippies
Moved with the shakers
Wouldn't kiss all the asses that they told me to
No I, I could never follow"

what the world can offer me

"It's been two long years now
Since the top of the world came crashing down
And I'm getting' it back on the road now
But I'm taking the long way
Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess I could have made it easier on myself"

So, I'm going to take the long way around.



And then there is the firm favourite, Nelly Furtado. Reinvention obvious yet the soul is still the same.

Nelly Furtado - All Good things Come to an End (ft Chris Martin)

"Honestly what will become of me
don't like reality
It's way too clear to me
But really life is daily
We are what we don't see
Missed everything day dreaming

Flames to dust Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end?"

So true. A stark reminder. Questions of life, love and everything else are abound. I am a dreamer, but if I hang on to random ponderings of my over-active mind, then nothing will ever happen. I just have to make things happen for myself.

Random thought of the day....

Society is so dumb struck by looking a certain way. Whether we like it or not, everyone has an ideal image of themselves...one that probably still needs to be achieved.

As such, many will try to people will try to preserve their youthful looks.

The answer: PRESERVATIVES!

Surely! Preservatives preserve things. Consider the consumption of preservatives, well, maintenance :-)

Preservatives are mostly found in junk food.

Eat Away and preserve your look today!

...Surely!?!?!

Mr and Miss Gay Gauteng

Winning drag artist - Foxy Brown

After conducting an interview with the organisers, I was asked to judge at the 9th annual Mr and Miss Gay Gauteng - arguably the most prestigious regional gay pageant in SA. It was a blast and I learnt so much.

All the contestants were male - men that looked like men and men that looked like women (drag artists.) I was amazed at the drag artists. For some, it was completely obvious that they were not women...others, however, were drop-dead gorgeous women! I have to admit, during the swim wear section, curiosity got the better of me and I just didnt understand where certain things went.

Mr Gay Gauteng Swim wear musical number

Answer: duck tape!

The before party, on Friday night, also proved to be highly educational and entertaining. A long day of work (live broadcast from one of 213 car dealerships in Boksburg) followed by much needed drinks, which turned into a great story telling session...and Im not to sure what else happened. Great evening!

A Trip Back in Time

A long awaited trip back home took place this past weekend. It was great to get home, even for a short while, and see the old familiar faces. As excited as I was to get home, I almost did not make it on time...

Firstly, I decided to leave my car at the Airport for the weekend. It was a mission finding parking that was legal! People park all over the place there. Despite Tazzy's recent upgrade of vehical status to 4x4, it was decided ramping the pavement might not be the best idea. Eventually a make-do park space was found. I was now late for my check-in. I had brought back a large, old suitcase filled with winter kit that was no longer needed, however the zips were bust, so the case needed to be vacuum packed. Further delays. When I eventually got in the cue to check in, due to my horribly late timing, I was bumped to the front of the cue, seconds before the check in for my flight closed. Shooo!

It should only have been 20 minutes until boarding. However, because I did pay full price for this ticket and because I did arrive 'on time' and flew the superior airline - we were delayed. 25 minutes. Arg!

Things got interesting once we boarded the flight and still were unable to take off. As the airhostess was doing the pre-takeoff checks (which include emergency exits), it was discovered that a Russian couple were sitting at an emergency exit. They did not speak english and for legal reasons must be moved. No worries, people were willing to swap seats...that is, people other than the Russians. A translator who was travelling with them tried to convey the urgency of the matter from the airhostess to no avail. The plane would not take off until they were moved but, for some unknown reason, they just would not! 15 minutes of negotiations and they finally moved. The plane just about broke into a round of applause.

The airhostess then continued with pre-takeoff checks, only to find another Russian at the other emergency exit. She to did not speak english, apart from the ability to say "No!"She was able to say this a few times. At this point the entire plane erupted into moans and groans, and swearing brutes screaming "Take them off!", "Kick them out!", "Call in the muscle!" and "We'll help you throw them off!"

It just about happened! We were now, in total, 45 minutes late and couldnt move until she did. Airport officials were called, the captain intervened and the negotiator/translator wasn't very good. Evenutally, after a round of applause, we did take off!

I had been laughing through the entire commotion and felt bad when I still had to giglle when the latter of the Russians had an asthma attack on board (an ambulance was waiting on the run way.) It was the most eventful flight I have ever been on. The fun just didnt stop!

Finally we landed in Cape Town and the fun didnt stop that weekend! It was great to be able to catch up with everyone again. Tried to see as many people as possible, which often entailed me arriving late to every single appointment (cause and effect!) but it was great to see everyone.

I had hired a car to get around (Golfie seems to have died) and was able to get down to the beach and down to all the essential regular spots.
The license plate was completely fitting! 93.9fm!


I can't believe that Claremont has not changed. After 10months, the same music is still being played at the same times! The drinks are still good at Mitchell's and still cheap at the Lifesaving club.

It was awesome to see all the Nippers again. I am missing them so much and cant believe how much they have grown (in the water too! I'm sure they are growing tails and fins.)

The, nicely pregnant, coaches are doing well and its so exciting that there will be another little nipper next season. To read more about Lauren and Bryan - click the link on the right hand side of this page.


It was so cool to see all the old faces.

hehe! dodgy selfportrait that she never thought would find its way on line!

Its funny how everything, but not much changes! It was a great weekend, and I hope to enjoy many more. I will be leaving Johannesburg on 22 December to pursue travellling opportunities, so i will definately be looking forward to catching up with everyone, have a few drinks and spend some proper time in the sun!

The Day my car Swam

It started like any other Monday. The first day of the weeek does not conjure up thoughts of excitement and adventure, but this is what the majority of Gauteng road users experienced.

I am not used to this type of weather. Its sunny and mild one moment, then a wind starts gusting through and all of a sudden it starts pouring. This evokes thoughts of WINTER, not summer. No wonder Joburg doesnt have a beach, you wouldnt be able to enjoy the sun with all the hail on the sand.

Monday was not a warm day. The clouds moved in early and the rain started slowly. Drizzle turned to rain which occasionally would be accomanied by a drop or too of hail, but nothing to get excited about.





My day finishes around 2pm, so after my obligations I went home for a nap, knowing that I would have to return for the drive show at 4pm. When I went to sleep it was over cast, when I woke up, there was a river out side my door. I kid you not. Such intense rain has only been experienced on campus at UCT (when you are actually closer to the clouds and therefore the rain falls harder.)





So its belting down bullets of water. The grass is under15cm of water, vaguely resembling a pond, and 3minutes have passed. A second look at the pond/grass and it had changed in colour, texture and consistency. 4 minutes passed. It was hail. truck loads of it. An unfortunaet person walking in the streets could, no doubt, have been concused from the amount and force of the miniture bombs of hail.



I was, by this time, going to be late for work. But considering there were no brave souls on the road, I didnt think the body work of my car was worth it.



After 15minutes of ice falling from the sky, I made a run for it. Apparently so did everyone else. My 6minute drive took 25minutes. Main roads were flooded, inaccesible, cars were breaking down, blocking roads and accidents caused stress and further road-havoc.

The above pic was taken from inside my car. The bakkie ahead of me is emerging from the tunnel. The water at the bottom of the tunnel is thigh-deep. My little tazz is low set but today, Tazzy didnt have the option of water wings...SHE SWAM!



During my drive, I passed white-christmas card houses, swimming pools in the middle of the street and countless cars that werent as hard-core as my car (they needed water wings!) The flash floods, hail storm and ridiculously heavy rain fall lasted shortly more than half an hour - all of which I was in the worst place possible, but i have the coolest car. I previously dispised the standard white, mass produced tazz, but she has proved herself as good as a 4x4. Golfie would, *sob, not have done it (he's good on the uphill.)





Zambezi, here comes Tazzy!


hehe!

YOUR NOSE CANT RUN!!!

***claire's arbitrary thought of the day

Dis Hoe Dit Is!

It was only fitting that since living in the heart of the Afrikaans music industry, I go see one of the biggest names in Afrikaans music...Steve "Wie's jou pappie?!?!" Hofmeyr!

Steve was filming his 6th season of the popular music/talk show "Dis hoe dit is" (Kyknet and MNET Open time) at Emperor's Palace. Think Parkinson with a boertjie accent! The hospitality was excellent. Being a media representative, Emperor's really looked after us. VIP lounge, pineapple martinis and "snacks" (which roughly translated means: 5 star gourmet buffet that you can eat without utensils.) After filling up on prawns, fillet steak and chocolate eclares we filed into the Theatre of Marcellus (and, once again into our demarcated VIP section.)


Steve, as usual kicks off the show with a liedjie (song.) Despite my vast Afrikaans music knowledge, I was not familiar with it. Because the crew were filming for TV, there were plenty pregnant pauses where makeup was reapplied, cameras repositioned and microphones checked. From the very beginning Steve proved to be highly entertaining. He really is a top notch performer and entertainer and kept us laughing the entire time.


Just as Parkinson, a musical guest sings a couple of numbers and then joins Steve on the couch to chat about love, life and everything else.

Danny K, the first act, was excellent. Then he sang!

He opened his segment by singing one of his biggest hits with just an accoustic guitar backing him and then went on to sing Unfrozen from his new album This is my Time which is a great track - more mature and vocally motivated. Look out for it. I didnt expect Danny K to be so eloquent. Initially, he comes across as having a pop-star mentality (whatever that really is!) It was an interesting interview. The fact that Danny K isnt half bad looking didnt hurt :-)


DANNY K & STEVE

oh...and the interview was done almost entirely in english! I didnt have to concentrate one bit and didnt feel so bad when Danny spoke afrikaans with a fat 'soutie' accent.
Other guests included Rian van Heerden. He is a former Tuks DJ, Former 702 DJ, former stadium announcer and television personality. He is former, because he has a tendancy to say ridiculous things (like conservative people should help each other out and turn each other's oxygen supplies off!) He also came out the closet recently. He was hilarious!
Ray Dylan is an up and comming rock and country artist. He puts on quite a performance and likes his guitar riffs. Think Keith Urban in Afrikaans. I'll be honest, we play his stuff here and I have found myself singing along many a-time. Steve also chatted with Elisme Theron who is a younger Patricia Lewis (with fewer hair extensions.) Steve introduced us to her anatomy (cup size specifically) before introducing us to the actual woman!

The show ended with Steve Performing an excellent accoustic version of the Thompson Twins' classic Hold me Now.

It was long, and I had a bit of a headache from concentrating so hard, trying to make sense of all the Afrikaans but it was a great show. Steve Hofmeyr really is a great entertainer even before he starts singing. Some of his views were a little too 'white' but at the end of the day, I was really happy that I had seen one of SA's best (at least according to this side of the world.)

THE VIP

In the next decade, when OR Thambo is renamed again, dont be surprised to hear suggestions of the Steve Hofmeyr terminal and Kurt Darren Runway.

It could happen...hell, I went to a Steve show, anything can happen!

• Steve Hofmeyer once sakkied with 10 boere Poppies at once


• The "National Party" is actually a term to describe Steve Hofmeyer's birthday celebrations


• When Steve Hofmeyer stares at raw meat and it turns to biltong


• Klipdrift is actually Steve Hofmeyer's urine...hence one gets pissed upon consuming it

Not even Chuck Norris gets as many fathers day cards as Steve Hofmeyer

Wie's jou pappie?

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "FLAVOURED WATER"

***claire's arbitrary thought of the day

but on to more serious things in life...

There are so many ways to do goodwill this time of the year. Here is one suggestion.

THE DURBANVILLE CHILDREN'S HOME

Please will you help to make a difference again this year, in which ever way you can!
Friends are once again requested another wish list for this year and here are the children's dreams and wishes. Some dreams are a bit tricky, e.g. most children want to go home. You can make this come true by donating towards our transport cost to get there, or non-perishable food parcels to take with as many come from communities that are not able to support them. There are also needs listed for each house.

http://www.durbanvillekinderhuis.org.za/

"The Durbanville Children's Home is a non-profit, church based residential care facility for 169 children in need of care. The Children’s Home is situated in Durbanville, 30km from Cape Town and serves all the communities of the Cape Peninsula.
Originally found in 1883 as a home for neglected children, it became an orphanage and it is now a facility for abused and abandoned children.
The Durbanville Children’s Home is today recognised as a model for child and youth care in a therapeutical milieu as well as special care for severely disabled children.
The Childrens‘s Home receive 30% subsidy from the government. Additionally the Home receives local and foreign funds and donations.
The Durbanville Children’s Home is committed to render a relevant and cost-effective service to provide quality care to children in need."

South Africa to ROCK the World!

Its the Global Battle of the Bands 2006, which brought together bands from around the country, keen to be the chosen one to represent our country on a world stage (and a cool $100 000 to boot.)

The knock out rounds had been taking place at Emperor's Palace over the last couple of months and demanded awesome on stage presence, original songs and audience appeal.

Most of SA's already established bands have been this route. Wonderboom, notably took second place a couple of years ago in the final.

Some of the bands competing this year included: Bloodmoney, Suicide Kings, Same Old Story and Walt.

The final was staged to a full house and top-notch industry judges, who scored the bands performance and eventually made the big announcement:

Drumroll please...

Lonehill Estate

And so, the band will be exported to the UK for the final at the world famous Astoria.

Best of luck to SA's top new band!

www.gbob.com

Monday Morning and its all cloudy upstairs

I went to sleep during summer last night and seemed to have woken up in winter. strange. but then a state of confusion is often one that accompanies my frame of mind (most days but specifically...) on a monday morning.

Added to this, i have been hit hard with a cold! its terrible. i rarely get sick and now i have a cough and a omnipresent nasal touch to my speech. great for a news reader and talk show host. the reason: im eating healthily! STUPID! when i stuck to the oily carbs and sugars - i remained fit and 'healthy' through out winter and now, the detox is having adverse side effects.

The worst thing: i had to cancel an awesome weekend that i had lined up. This included the final of the Global Battle of thh Bands - the SA leg www.gbob.com
Totally bummed and i hardly have a voice to complain about it (thus the blog!)

The newsroom is abuzz this morning since Shabir Shaik's appeal has been turned down. Here's my News Report:

The Appeal Court in Bloemfontein has dismissed Schabir Shaik’s appeal in the criminal case against him. The Appeal Court has agreed with all the aspects of the original judgement against Shaik, and has also affirmed the prison sentence imposed by that court. Furthermore, it has confirmed the finding that there was a corrupt relationship between Shaik and Jacob Zuma, and says it is clear that Shaik negotiated a bride from an arms supplier for Zuma. The appeal court’s finding means that Shaik will soon be in jail and will spend at least 15 years there.

hope your week starts better than mine ;-)

***claire

Remember, remember the fifth of November!

Some how this notion has dissapeared for the sake of convenience. Granted..the whole guy fawks concept is hardly a celebratory contept in today's terms (the guy attmepted to blow up the houses of parliament in the uk) but if you are going to celebrate something thats not yours, at least get it right!

I say this, as every time i hear a bang, it takes me a second to establish whether it is an over excited family blowing up crackers and widow makers (totally just understood the name of that!) or the Johannesburg night life.



i have been struck with a cold. this is a problem when you are paid to talk and your voice disapears. tonight's show is strained. i dont feel to hot and cant even sound enthuiastic because the voice is now limited to monotone and the occasional squeak. Much like a thirteen year old boy whose voice is breaking at an inappropiate time.
Our mantra is: More music, more local, more fun...tonight I am sticking to the 'more music part.'



My friends are in various parts of the world at the moment...including Cheng Wen who is in the States. Looks like she had an awesome halloween!

here is some of her handy work!

it seems the americans go all out for halloween. there is even a festival called: pumpkin chunkin' in which the main objective is launch your pumpkin as far as it will go.
www.punkinchunkin.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punkin

so with the fireworks, joburg hijakers and groot sokkie treffers i must return to work and say something without soundinglike a.) a sex hotline attendant b.) thirteen yearold boy or c.) like i have no voice and a bit of a cold!

hehe!

much love
***claire

Sometimes...I wonder!?!?!

The Idiot Test Are you an idiot?

But then...this blog is labelled as such

Some jobs are harder than others

"News Team and Charity Work"

" Outside Broadcasts"

"Field Reporting"

"The daily grind"

Mine...

is awesome!

Yes, you now find youself reading yet another chapter of my life. Whilst some might suggest my emails are long, I would just like to point out that I am giving my editors plenty to choose from!

hehe! a book! well, theres enough content, although the story line leaves much to be desired ;-)

how to survive the far east (rand)

has a nice ring to it!

I really give this place far too much flack. Things are good, as usual, the east rand holds lots of mundane excitment.

In previous emails I had indicated that I was witnessed my thunderstorm/lightning. Nope. I lied. The first REAL thunderstorm was when I decided to venture into previously unchattered claire territory - Alberton. I was off to check out a few ands and the launch of a new youth/Christian magazine ( www.presson.co.za)

As I left the house it started to rain. then it started to bucket it down. I drove in the general direction of Alberton in the hope off getting on to the highway. I was quite chufed with myself when i did infact get on to the right road! however as i drove, the lightning got closer and more spectacular. it was probably for this reason that i missed the turn offs. one after teh other. it was like guy fawks night! (remember remember the 5th of november) the event was cool, but what wasnt was the lightning. it was hectic! and incredibly intimidating. It was coming from all directions and i was trying to remember those geography lessons with mr paulson when you count the seconds between the lightning and the thunder and then work out the difference which then means so many kilometres===you see! im confused now, was very much so on teh night in question. the point: there was no difference! i was convinced i was about to have a new hairstyle for life following a big strike!


the worst part of the evening was getting lost in buckets of rain and stobe lights of lightning. particulary since i got lost both times - going in and out! eek!

it was my 22nd birthday yesterday. for obvious reasons it would be smaller and less exciting than previous years - especially comming off an awesome party like a 21st, but the pumping east rand, for some reason, unbeknown to me, was not overly pumping on monday the 30th! heheh!

Having a sneaking suspiscion this might happen, i made sure of a good weekend. but it didnt start that way...

Live was playing at the dome on friday ( about an hour from me) and i thought it would be a great early birthday pressie to myself to go. i was going with a friend, who then pulled out due to work. not many people that i know up here are big enough fans to go see live, um...live. So i decided to go anyway. I didnt care that i was going alone, i just wanted to have something to show for my birthday. As i was driving i got a call from the Star newspaper (same as the Cape Argus) and was told i had won 2 tickets!

yay!!!!!

First sms competition i have ever entered, best R2 spent! Unfortunately by this time i was already half way there, and couldnt turn around to find someone who was willing to go with me...so i continued on my solo path. police were escorting some scalpers when i got there (so i def couldnt sell my spare comp.) the dome is quite a nice venue, but standing is definately overrated (i would def go for the cheap seats if i go again ( they have a view.) i met up with a girl from soccer and sang along to live classics with druken strangers. thats what concerts are good for!

it never ceases to amaze me that beer will always go flying at concerts. you will come home smelling like a smoked out beer tanker. always.

saturday was cool as i saw the family and had decent food (always a treat...even the bread tastes better!) and then sunday was just a lazy day. yesterday, the 22 anniversary of my arrival, was not overly exciting. no need for it to be. had a few listeners calling in to wish me well but mostly, people had forgotten (at least the people here) the guys from home reminded me! thanks so much for all your messages and emails! By far the high lights of my day (as as you can see from teh marathon length email...i like emails and messages!)

this week i have a couple of soccer games (in other words: a stomach work out from all the laughing) and a barry hilton gig.

i have moved since my last email. i was pretty bored staying in my little garden house. it was awesome, but i only slept there, was paying quite a bit for somewhaere that i hardly used. im back where i started now - back in the res and im happy to be there. despite having forgotten my birthday, we have done loads already! watch out mr alonso, i am on form in the racing department (go carting, granted, but still!)]

work is good as usual. i do have a cool job, although at times it is difficult getting enthusiastic. everybody has their days.

so after another lengthy word, i must dash and find out all the horrific things making news around the world (the bad part apart my job!)

to all my uni friends:

good luck for the exams!

to all my working friends:

Hang in there!

and to everyone...

much love
***claire

15 September 2006

Its been a long time...

Lots has happened and not much has changed. Strange how time can have that effect.

The seasons have deffinately changed and it has been very noticable since the begining of the month. Its light in the mornings, walking is a pleasure and more trees are green. Even the brown and black landscape of this dry area is turning green.

I have experience my first 'dire need' to get home. The loss of a family friend. It didnt happen, as the I couldnt get a flight last weekend. I was fairly bummed, but am now making arrangements to come down mid November. I reckon this is the perfect time to come on down to the fair Cape, as its 2 weeks past my bday and most of you students (those without degrees - tee hee!) will have finished exams and hopefully not have run off just yet. It should be a weekend of huge parties. Then, as tends to happen to graduates (especially) they disperse all over the world, so it may be a good opportunity to see everyone for a last bash. I wont be completely bummed on my Bday (except that its on a monday) because Live will be in town the same weekend! All i need to do is find a boertjie who listens to something other than die grootste sokkie treffers!

I have joined a gym and have been trying to get fit again. THis is in part due to my total lack of breath on the soccer field and because the gym has a pool, so I can swim. yes. Soccer is goiong well. I play midfield for Springs FC Ladies side :-)

Its a good laugh, although I am now injured and on anti-inflamatories. Its my inner-calf muscle and it is soooo sore. I cant run. I look like an old lady hobbling across the field! I feel fine when IM walking, but CANNOT run! also: i can go up, but not down!

Work is going well. I do have a cool job. Been on air a fair bit more this week as my journalist and afternoon presenter have been sick, so i've added 2 hours and 2 shows to my day. Its tiring waiting for the show, but once it gets going, then its brilliant! loving it!

Been involved in the regional beauty pagent. First I was the MC, then the next run I was a judge in the interview section. Wow...for some girls this is actually what they do for a living. I learnt so much! It really seems to be some skill involved. Some contestants know all the answers parrot fashion and go from pagent to pagent around the province! I can imagine it could get very catty though, as girls who do it often know each other. Its a business, but it was fun to do it. Although, im notordinarily a fan of pagents, it was cool to be involved.
www.missekurhulenisa.co.za

The end of winter and the start of Spring has caused massive sales up here, and since its the only thing that people do here, i obliged! what fun! Bit bummed though, because i've been lookng at the lable of all my clothes and they are nearly all Chinese imports! This mean they would have cost a fortune next month. As you know, retailers have to reduce the percentage of chiese imports and support the local market which means sky high clothing prices. shop shop shop! now! before its too late! hahahaha!

I've also made an effort to get in contact with as many old faces as possible. its been so cool catching up with everyone. thanks for replying!
:-) I get very excited when i see a name that i havenmt seen for a while!!!!

FOr those of you who dont know, I've been dreaming big and plan to travel soon. I havent made any decisions yet, but I will probably start from the UK. Original yes. But it seems the world is more accessible from the uk.

Well, its still early, and still lots of news from around the world to wade through for the next bulletin.

much love
***claire