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.