International Nelson Mandela Day - 18 July 2011

So what are you doing on Monday, July 18 2011? Madiba will be 93 on Monday and what a blessing that is in it's own right. To have lived a life such as his and still be inspired to do good; always considerate and thinking of ways to help others because - that is what our Tata illustrates. Offer only 67 minutes of your time in honor of the 67 years that Madiba spent fighting for a rainbow nation. 

If you are unsure as to what you will be doing here are 24 of the 67 ideas as per Madiba which can be found by clicking the following link 67 Ways to Change Our World 

24 Ways to make a difference

1. Make a new friend. Get to know someone from a different cultural background. Only through mutual understanding can we rid our communities of intolerance and xenophobia.
2. Read to someone who can’t. Visit a local home for the blind and open up a new world for someone else.
3. Help out at the local animal shelter. Dogs without homes still need a walk and a bit of love.
4. Find out from your local library if it has a story hour and offer to read during it.
5. Offer to take an elderly neighbour who can’t drive to do their shopping/chores.
6. Organise a litter cleanup day in your area.
7. Get a group of people to each knit a square and make a blanket for someone in need.
8. Volunteer at your police station or local faith-based organisation.
9. Donate your skills!
10. If you’re a builder, help build or improve someone’s home.
11. If you’re a lawyer, do some pro bono work for a worthwhile cause or person.
12. Help out at your local hospice, as staff members often need as much support as the  patients.
13. Many terminally ill people have no one to speak to. Take a little time to have a chat and bring some sunshine into their lives.
14. Talk to your friends and family about HIV.
15. Create a food parcel and give it to someone in need.
16. Donate your old computer.
17. Teach an adult literacy class.
18. Buy a few blankets, or grab the ones you no longer need from home and give them to someone in need.
19. Clean out your cupboard and donate the clothes you no longer wear to someone who needs them.
20. To the poorest of the poor, shoes can be a luxury. Don’t hoard them if you don’t wear them. Pass them on!
21. Organise a friendly game of soccer, or sponsor the kids to watch a game at the local stadium.
22. If you play an instrument, visit your local old-age home and spend an hour playing for the residents and staff.
23. Learn the story of someone older than you. Too often people forget that the elderly have a wealth of experience and wisdom and, more often than not, an interesting story to tell.
24. Take an elderly person grocery shopping; they will appreciate your company and assistance. 

Let's all do something special for our brothers and sisters this Madiba Day!!

Victoria Hospital - Cape Town

I've had the unfortunate opportunity to spend some time at the Victoria Hospital in Wynberg, Cape Town over the past week-end and all I can say is...

I don't really visit public hospitals and therefore I have to thank God for medical-aid! The first thing that caught my attention was the sign that read that there was a waiting period of six (6) hours. Really? Yes really, that part is actually true although it depends on the severity of the incident / wound. I witnessed a woman who came in with an open wound above her left eye, she was off-balance, swaying and being held up by another woman go straight through and emerge about 10 to 15 minutes later with the wound bandaged (or her head bandaged for that matter).

The staff were helpful and friendly which was quite welcome on a Friday evening at a hospital - starting with the administrator at sign-in, the nurses and even the security officers. There was a Doctor with an attitude but I discovered later that it was his way of being nice, you know the kind who have a weird sense of humor... like me. They had wall-mounted heaters that were switched on and no, there's nothing wrong with that especially in the middle of Winter but it was so stuffy in there that I eventually pulled the string attached to the fan mounted on the wall. It was amazing when that air hit me in the face - it was good, real good.

The smell in there was terrible and I found it quite refreshing to get some fresh air outside every 10 to 15 minutes. It was a bit difficult to understand how people could eat in an area that was obviously very unhygienic but they ate and drank and I wondered if it was only my sisters' and I who could smell the stench in that waiting area. The hospital had a lady cleaning i.e. mopping the floor but I was still concerned that I was going to leave with some or other germ. We were out of there after about three hours, so no luckily there was no six hour wait for us. 

I have to thank the medical staff because I don't think that they receive the appreciation that they deserve - it takes a strong person to work at a public hospital and not many people are able to do that - so here's to those special few, thank you ladies and gentlemen for your outstanding work! 

About the back-up plan

Since I've seen this movie I've wanted to blog about it! Yes, you're right, I loved it! It's the perfect girlie movie.... Yeah, not really me but this one just got me! Jennifer Lopez was great but the ''back-up plan'' itself is one that I've considered before and I'm sure that there's many ladies out there who's had that idea at some stage. 

I started dating my husband when I was twenty nine which was later than the norm... I wanted to do some travelling and experience some other cultures before settling down so I left Cape Town and headed for London. I returned about two years later and a few months down the line, I started a relationship with my husband. 

I've had relationships but nothing was really serious i.e. it didn't feel like the the real thing was going to come along. So being the Capricorn that I am, I thought of what I would do if I didn't meet Mr. Right... we girls have to plan - that's what we do, right? My problem though was where the sperm would come from - the idea of a sperm bank does not bode well with me. Imagine the re-action if you asked a guy for a donation? Anyway, would they donate if you explained what you wanted it for? Would it be the actual act though or do you hand them a little cup? The cup will have to accompanied by some magazines and movies... too technical? 

Looking back now, I'm glad that I never followed through with that idea. Imagine meeting Mr. Right after you've followed through and you're pregnant! 

I know that in the movie Mr. Right decides to stay and become the loving father - reality check, that only happens in the movies! In real life the men will run like the wind and you'll never see or hear from them again.

You've got to love the movies and their happy endings!