A string of goodbye's

The excitement of having no exams and finishing university forever is slightly tainted at the moment because of the very good friends have to say goodbye to. We really did become a little family and I am so grateful for each and every one of the fabulous people I have grown close to this past year. I wish you all the best of luck and all the happiness in the world, I knwo we will be bumping into eacother in the future...and clinging to our blogs like mad I hope (what a great way to keep in touch!). I dont know how I am going to cope this holiday because for the majority of it I wont have internet access...YIKES! I might go a tad crazy...speaking of contact, maybe MTN would like to sort out their damn network, I have had 'EMERGENCY CALLS ONLY' on my screen for two days now...perhaps a switch to cell c is needed.

I AM DONE

Well, I am officialy finished my university studies!!! I am now no longer a journalism student, but an unemployed...er...I mean 'Freelance' journalist :-). I feel quite liberated in fact, aside form being exhausted because I was up till all hours of the morning finishing my portfolio website, which you can go have a look at : http://nml.ru.ac.za/nmintensives/Angie/index.html I cant believe I actually managed to pull it off! So sleep time now and then later its all about celebrating, starting at the Rat at 1pm! WOO!!!

On the road again...

It is quite a lot to take in actually, I have been studying at Rhodes for four years now...I know it is time to leave and I am ready to move on, but I think this is definitely going to be one of the biggest shifts in my life thus far. Grahamstown becomes a little alter reality, you understand the poeple you study with and socialise with, build little communites and your friends become your family...you even develop a new kind of lingo. My mind is in a bit of a whirlwind at the moment, something I am sure mnay leavers are experiencing. I know I will keep in touch with my very close friends, my Rhodes family, but there are many people I am sure I wont even get a chance to say goodbye too and who I might never see again! Scary thought, but reality I guess. Despite feeling sad and a little bit scared, I am really excited to start the next chapter of my life...however, not before I hang around for a while and soak up the last lil bits of g-town, Rhodes and student life :-)

photo's as promised!

i will put some more on my flikr account soon!!! As you can see, it was one hectic party! I cant believe that is our lounge!

Saints or Sinners...bring it on baby!

So the Redbull VIP party is almost in motion thanks to the hard work and fantastic organisation of the outgoing rebull rep, paula, who has done such a great job, gonna be hard shoes to fill! The punch is going to be plentiful, the decor fab and the people are gonna look oh so sassy kitted out as their choice of saints or sinners...I have chosen a miho look from Sin City :-) This fabulous party is happening at our digs too...what a privelage huh, lil bit worried about over 150 people playing around in our garden, but oh well, all in the name of fun right?And we have the control to sort any problems out!I am so excited, dont think we will get many chances to dress up and go crazy out in the big wide world!!!Sure there will be some great pics to follow...

the cartwheel club

I am slightly biased but this band is going places, their debut single, Best behaviour has just been released in digital format on Itunes. Check out their website to find out more about them or have a listen to some of their music :-)

Paolo Nutini - These Streets - Acoustic

Thanks to Nic for introducing me to this awesome song! I think its great, have a listen

Sharks in Apartments, I mean REALLY NOW!

Ok, so i thought the concept of 'Snakes on a plane' was taking Hollywoods love for blood thirsty monsters a step too far (Though some people I know really enoyed the film, no names mentioned... russel ;-) However, when G Girl (yes, i know, how inventive of the scriptwriters) threw a shark (a very unrealistic looking one at that) into her ex's apartment I was taken to a whole new level of torcher, and the movie only got worse from there. How is it that such crap can make it onto the big screen? It is beyond me!!! I know I am an idiot for paying money to see a movie with this title, but you do hope for a slight comical appeal, some wit, some lighthearted entertainment at the very least...but NO!Please spare yourself the pain of this experience. I am going to climb into bed, read 'Pride and Prejudice' and listen to the rain...and try and forget about what i just witnessed, gosh.

WOO!!!! I did it!

I am so proud of myself, I managed to create a fresh new look for my blog without completely screwing up, I have a few touch ups to do, but so far so good i think :-) I hope you all like, I think it is a nice bright change from my old template which I thought was becoming way too common. It has put me in a great mood and seems to match the stunning spring day outside (unfortunately I cant enjoy it because I am stuck in the AMM)...happy days.

The Budgies have to go

OK, I dont really have much to say, but i think it is about time the slightly annoying image of these two loving budgies get shifted downwards (no offence Gail!). Oh and how insanely jealous I am of those who are partying it up in Cape Town, I have just been phoned during Rihanna singing "SOS" and it sounded awesome! Anyway, enough said, what a boring Wednesday night...come back friends!

of budgies and blogging

I spent my Saturday afternoon lying on blankets in my garden with some friends, staring up into the sky and eating ice-cream (obviously a much wiser choice than writing my essay) and somehow...perhaps because we were looking at the sky...the topic turned to birds. My digsmate Gail exclaimed "What is that???" as she pointed upwards...I replied "It's a Ha-de-da Gail, otherwise known as a Cape Ibis" and so the random conversation continued until Gail was adamently declaring that just because swallows can glide and budgies cant, doesnt mean they are better birds! Indeed my dear Gail. Oh how i love and treasure these insightful moments in our lives, hehe. What this leads me to is the fact that I have started to think in terms of blogging. I have often thought of late,mmm, I should blog about that, or, I have somethign to say about that (yes, my view on PE Mullets is coming soon so stay tuned), which I think is a good thing...I am glad I have entered this space, where people share their thoughts, their views, random info... or just enjoy a big fat...rant ;-)

"The nicest thing for me is sleep, then at least I can Dream" Marilyn Monroe

I think this is something we all wish at times, those mornings where you dont feel like facing the world, you dont feel like leaving the comfort of your pajama's. Where you can just rebel against the day and reality and climb into the surreal, into your subconcious and get lost in it...just every now and again.

Ladies Night: Margarita's and Mexican Food

Comfy couches around a fire place, some Margarita's and Cosmopolitan's...getting a little too tipsy cos the food takes over an hour to arrive and the fireplace has made the one side of your face turn beetroot red (that or the booze), and to top it all, great company! What a great night ladies, thanks! And the food was well worth the wait.

Boys will be boys

Last Saturday, thinking the weather would be as hot as it was in Gtown, a bunch of us decided to spend the day in Kenton. Alas, as we neared the little town a looming bank of dark clouds and a hefty wind awaited us. Tanning was out of the question and the icy water didnt really invite the option of swimming so we opted to join my digsmate Alfie on his fishing venture. Equipped with his brand new rod and his back-pack come fishing chair, he baited up under the guidance of his mentor, Russel. After a couple of tugs and a lot of impatience...and fighting off the vulture like seagulls attacking his bait, young alfred (straight out of Kempton Park I'll have you know) achieved his catch of the day. Fortunately for him, this time it was not a frog, but a stingray! The look of pride on his face, and those of his friends, was priceless...this young body of manhood can provide...man make fire...man catch fish...boys will be boys, hehe.

A Poem for the week

Daffodils
I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay;

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced,

but theyOut-did the sparkling waves in glee;

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company;

I gazed-and gazed-but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils

....William Wordsworth

The Lovebirds Reunite :-)

I would everyone to spare a thought for this fabulous couple, who havn't seen eachother since Graduation and are now spending two weeks together in London!!! Jen and Nic, you guys are great and I hope you have an amazing time!

My New Media blog

I decided to create a 'new media' blog for all the work we are doing in our intensive course, it has allowed for quite a bit of creativity thus far so I have kind of been neglecting this blog...i know, but go check out some of the stuff we have been working on.

Caught in the Net

I would like to congratulate all those involved in the Captivate Student media Conference this past weekend. To my friends: Carly, Jason, Gregor and Nic, you guys did a killer job, I am proud of you all! I really enjoyed the talks that I attended and all the functions. One thing this conference has done for me is get me really excited to be a part of this new media revolution in journalism...I can feel the opportunities in the air for all of us. I feel inspired, so thank you for that. It is really amazing once you get caught up in it all, into the intracacies of the blogosphere. I am glad that I have hopped onto the bandwagon, because I have a feeling that there are many who are going to be left behind in this new craze if they dont catch on soon.

Africa Unplugged

The development of wireless technologies has placed Africa as one of the fastest growing regions for information and communication technologies. The world of wires and fixed lines are being cut loose and in its place comes technology that enables entire communities access to technology and the internet. For years the African continent has lagged behind technologically developed countries where resources and availability have allowed advanced wired communities. Now this opportunity to open the internet, information and access to the rest of the world has emerged in the form of Internet enabled cellphones, PDA’s (personal digital assistants); Wireless local area networks; broadband wireless, and most recently the phenomenon of Blootooth. All of these emerging product are included in the booming world of wireless technology…but what is it exactly?

The installation of cables and wires has been a worldwide mission for the past couple of decades but for some countries It has been both an expensive and impractical process and has thus limited their progress as communication centres. However, now technologies have emerged that do not require cables but instead requires the transmission mechanism http://wireless.utk.edu/overview.html#voice of sending products, such as Bluetooth are the cable replacecment technologies that are cutting the wires of fixed communication centres.

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) are able to connect a mobile user to a wired network within an office or building, allowing users freedom of movement and increased access. It can also act as an alternative to the intracies involve din installing cables between two different geographical locations, particularly in sparsely populated areas.Broadband wireless (BW) increases the amount of information that can be transferred though a wireless connection. It allows for the simultaneous delivery of voice, data and video frequencies. Bluetooth works in a similar manner, yet it incorporated only low cost, short range wireless links between devices such as cellphones and mobile PCs and the internet. Although there are still limiting factors to this product, like limited coverage due to intereference and physical obstacles, it is well on its way to being inescapable as far as global communication is concerned.

Africa became a leading player in the wireless game when it became the first continent where mobile phones replaced fixed lines. The high costs of landline phones dominated by profit seeking monopolies limited the amount of communication that took place amongst a large number of Africa’s population. The introduction of the cellphone and its emerging competitors lowered costs and has opened up the world of cellular communication to those who could not previously afford it. This introduction to wireless communication did not stop with cellphones, now the opportunities and advantages provided by the Internet and web based technology are being brought to communities across Africa. The reasons for the boom in wireless Africa is said to be as a result of the high percentage of youth in the African populations, the linguistic and cultural diversity as well the sparsely populated areas in so many African regions. In many cases the reason for lack of technology in a particular area has been because of the expenses and impracticality of installing wires across vast African regions.

Wireless seems to be the best option for advancing in web based communication in this regard and is currently being used for many new applications like computer connections and remote monitoring and data acquisition. Even with the popularity and benefits of the wireless phenomenon in Africa, there are still mnay densely populated urban centres that are heavily reliant on existing wired infrastructures, clear proof that although wireless may be a solution for new developing communication markets, wired networks are far from being redundant.

The possibilities are endless now that wireless has increased communication on a global scale. Invisible frequencies are racing through the air worldwide, connecting people, places, countries and continents. With the market continuously churning out better and more cost effective products, there is no telling where this unattached wireless revolution will take us, but it is predicted that by 2009 there will be over 300,000

excess Website

As editor of the free student magazine, excess,I am happy to report that we now have a funky website where you can check out some of the stories that have appeared in the last couple of editions, give us your opinion, or get in touch with us if you have any fabulous story ideas for our up-and-coming editions, www.excessmagazine.co.za .Unfortunately we are not releasing our thrid term edition because our designer has had some back problems due to a drunken run in during Tri-varsity, but dont panic, the purple edition will be out early next term!

Snow falls in Middleburg

Our return to Middleburg held some interesting surprises for us and the kids of the Dianne Lang Foundation. It started to snow! For the first time in about three years snow fell in the town of Middleburg, starting as gentle snow flakes that accompanied the rain and building up to leave a white sheet over the dusty town. This was my first experience of snow in South Africa, but the next day the sun was out and by midday not a trace of white was left. Our timing was brilliant and it made for some great footage for our documentary!
Streets that hours before had looked dull with bare trees ravaged by frosty winter mornings soon looked fitted for a winter snow globe.

Of course Paula's car had to be christened!

One of the first snow flakes to fall, much to our excitement and all of the kids in the carehouse, some of which were seeing snow for the very first time.

Back to the burg

Our TV crew leave again for Middleburg tomorrow morning at 6:30am. We have two jam-packed days of filming ahead of us. We have a whole list of interviews to conduct as well as a long list of shots that we have to get in order to piece our documentary together. It is crazy how mnay things you dont take into account the first time around, like lighting, time of day, holding your shots for longer. Documentary making really is an art. Along with getting together all the information you need to keep the viewer interested and intruiged, you really have to concentrate on capturing an element of beauty in your subject matter, the 'realness' of people and in our case, the essence of a small Karoo town on the truck route. Lets hope that when we pull all the strings together it will make a sturdy knot of facts, creativity and relevance.

Crazy times ahead!!!

The time has come, the craziest time of the year for Rhodes students...TRI VARSITY! This year it is on our own turf which always guarantees some extra craziness. Rhodents have been in the process of growing and pruning their mullets for months now, those of us who have been here for four years now (no names mentioned) are pulling out the paint to update our crusty vintage gear. However, along with the festive spirit that fills the air in the pre-party excitement, comes certain worries. An event that has over 7000 people, a good deal of them consuming litres of alcohol, one always has to worry about the consequences. In the past there have been some dreadful ones, lets hope that this year security is javked up and everybody has fun without losing their heads, their dignity or their sense of responsibility!

Off to Middleburg

So tomorrow morning our television crew of four leave for another three hour journey to Middleburg in the Great Karoo (I affectionately refer to it as 'Middle-of-nowhere-burg' ) to continue filming our 24 minute documentary. Focusing on the social problems that have surfaced in a town on the truck route, we are slowly building up all the footage and interviews we need to produce a piece that will make an impact. I cant disclose too much information on our work just yet, but the next three days will be crucial to the development of our doc. So we leave the student world of lecturers and documentary write ups and enter the world of real journalsim and of harsh realities, it will hopefully be a rejuvinating experience.

Mother Nature shows us who's boss

pics: News 24
Often we only think of the crazy weather that has hit our country in terms of our own discomforts. Yes, it has disrupted our routines and flooded the streets of Grahamstown, but there are far more serious things to consider. Port Elizabeth has been hit hard by flash floods that have wrecked houses, cars and caused hundreds of people to evacuate their houses and take shelter in community halls and police stations. A number of people are missing, some feared dead and at least two people have died from flood related incidents. It is during natural disasters like this that we are shown exactly who is in control, and how little power we have against the natural elements. I am sure that there will be thousands of stories that surface over the next couple of days, of casualties, houses being washed away, people suffering. If you have a warm bed to climb into at night and can listen to the howling wind from behind the safety of four walls, then consider yourself lucky, and spare a thought for those who aren’t.

The Travel Bug

So third term has arrived and now we have to seriously start thinking about what we are going to be doing next year and formulating some kind of plan. I am hoping to go to London on a two year working/holiday visa and the reality of it all is sinking in fast! First of all the process is a lengthy one, not to mention very expensive...how easy would it be if we could just go wherever we wanted to go? Instead we are still controlled by little documents, our passports, and limited as to how long we can stay in a country and what we can do there. South Africa, New Zealand and Australia are three of the only countries that have a working visa agreement with the UK, it is a strange and suffocating thought that your country of birth can limit where you want to go, travel or live. The tables have turned for South Africans because back in the day, we weren't wanted anywhere because of the racist reputation that preceeded us. However, now foreign countries are quite willing to accept us and we have built up a reputation as hard workers. Yet this is only allowed for a restricted amount of time. Americans on the other hand are now facing discrimination and rejection when they travel and can only enter some countries on a holiday visa, and other countries dont want them at all. So at the end of the day the freedom we have to move around and travel is constantly shifting, best take advantage of the opportunities that are available to us at present, while we are still young, eager and willing to work as hard.

Wednesday weather

For those of you that are wondering how long this cold and rainy weather will be hanging around for, I have provided a minnie weather forecast for your benefit!

We have another cold day ahead of us!

Wednesday 01 August 2006:
- Min 7% Max 15%
-Partly cloudy with 80% chance of moderate widespread showers
-Fresh South Westerly wind

This update was brought to you by me, compliments of the South African Weather service

Forgotten children

We are currently looking at African Documentaries in our Fourth year TV studies class. Today we watched one called “Soldier Child”, directed by Neil Abramson. Although perhaps not the most impressive documentary as far as filming and structure goes, it is the subject matter that really reaches your gut. In Northern Uganda thousands of innocent children are being abducted from their beds and forcibly recruited into the Lord’s Resistance Army, led by the merciless and heartless leader, Joseph Kony. Ripped from the safety of their family, these untainted youth are poured into a cauldron of blood, murder and brutality. These Brainwashed youngsters soon adopt the eyes of tormented War veterans. Abramson's piece shows us a glimpse of the trauma they experience by visiting one of the safe havens set up in an attempt to save these forgotten children. It is frightening to know that this is a continuing problem, governments are standing by while these children are raped, forced to kill, and robbed of their innocence. There are so many cases like this that seem to be swept under the carpet or pushed to the back of our minds, but these are kids, young children who deserve to be loved, hugged, cared for. Instead they are being marched until their soles are raw, stabbing their friends and relatives under gunpoint and losing their tears and emotions because in the Lord's resistant Army, the punnishment for weakness, is death.

Yes I know, I have been a TERRIBLE blogger! Working for Cue TV this festival has taken up a lot of my time and energy, aside form the fact that I needed a break from spending way too much time on my laptop! This is probably gonna be the last post until term starts because on Monday...that is 3 days time, Phil finally arrives! The snazzy place on the left is where we will be staying in Swaziland for the first two days!It is going to be a good break from Gtown, this town does things to your mind when you spend too much time here. To all, enjoy the last two weeks of the vac. Next term is goign to be a biggie, what with it being the last 'Third term' for most of us. Lots f work, lots of partying...and yes Carly, lots more bloggin ok!!! :-)

Winter has hit us with full force, even old Simon Gear cracked the nod to appear in a news insert tonight. This is my second winter in a row now, the pic is of a hotel I stayed in on top of a Swiss Alp in Lucerne. Although we dont have to deal with snow to that extent, South Africa is not equipped with central heating like the Europeans. For us hot water bottles and mini heaters will have to do, I find it hard to imagine how hard it must be living on the streets in this weather where the only source of warmth is a single blanket or jacket... if you are lucky. Makes you think twice before complaining!

OK, seriously, how could I not put this pic up??? Just shows, dynamite comes in small packages hey!

ok ok ok! are you happy Carly and Gregor? I know I have been slack about blogging! How cool is this pic though, i found it amidst some of my contiki photo's. We were staying in this amazing resort hotel in Vienna, sitting chilling in the lobby and looke dup to realsie that the entire ceiling was a mirror! Pretty cool if you ask me...wonder if this trend extended into the honeymoon suite? This was laso the night of my fist snow experience where we had a snow fight outside the hotel and woke up the next morning with snow covered window sills, amazing :-)

It is so strange how the world works...yesterday Robz, Jen and Phil spent the day together on the other side of the world. These are three of the most important people in my life, all of whom I met at different stages of my life, in different places...but somehow it has worked out that they ended up meeting up yesterday. Sometimes the invisible ties that seem to keep us all together, keep up the saying, "It's a small world", just become so visible. Makes me wonder...
It is so good to know that you three were all together because you are all such wonderful individuals! I cant wait to spend summer sundays and holidays having 'barbeques' at the coast!

Freedom Day

The 27 April is the commemoration of the first democratic elections held in South Africa. It is a day to celebrate how far we have come since the harrowing days of Apartheid's rule in our country. It is also a day rippled with an unfortunate oxymoron...it is bitter sweet. Although we have managed to move along in our 11th year of democracy, there are still so many elements of our society held captive by the long lasting sting of apartheid. Poverty is rife, crime is on the rise, and voters are apathetic despite our new found opportunity to voice our opinions in a 'free and fair' election. On the other hand, we have moved forward, and the progress that has been made in ten years far exceeds what probably should be expected from a country that underwent such drastic and rapid transformations. So although it is important on this day to herald our successes, it is also crucial to keep at the forefront of our minds, the changes that need to be made to ensure that democracy reigns.

Petty Theft

Theft in Grahamstown seems to have absolutely sky-rocketed this year...or perhaps it is just that it has started to affect my world that i have noticed it. In our street alone there have been at least 5 break-ins, or attempted break-ins in the past two months. It seems to be a hopeless situation, poverty is not going anywhere and neither is the huge divide between 'student' Grahamstown and the 'real' Grahamstown. The sad fact is, these 'thieves' are most likely mere kids roped in by older gang members to do their dirty work. Students are getting angry and frustrated at the situation, and many have sworn violence upon any intruders caught on their property. However it is not violence that will solve this problem. It will merely aggravate an already hopeless situation. Police could perhaps help by patrolling our suburbs instead of targeting student drinking holes...or is it that they realise that it is a situation beyond their control..

I have finally begun my blogging venture...but bare with me as I feel it will take some time to get on track! Considering that I have dedicated a fair amount of my Sunday afternoon to setting this up..I feel I am deserving of some applause!