An Afternoon of Picasso & Moonshine

Last week Tarryn spoke of an art class that her friend had recently started up. It was a casual and fun afternoon held at Glen Eagle Estate Clubhouse in Kempton Park. All art supplies were included in the price, as well as three drinks of the guests choice (ranging from cocktails to beer to wine to soft drinks).

It sounded like so much fun, and something different to do on a Saturday afternoon. I mentioned it to Angie who was also very keen on the idea, and we booked for the next class which took place yesterday.

Not having much artistic flair myself (best drawing I can do is a stick man) I was a bit nervous, however excitement overruled the nerves.

Sam, the facilitator, is such a warm and accommodating (needless to say talented) person and made all of her students feel comfortable and at ease.

We had two cherry blossom pictures to choose from, which we would then replicate using acrylic paint on canvas. Sam gave lots of pointers on how to start, which parts to do first (background and the tree) and "if your artwork doesn't look good, take a step back and then look at it again". We were a group of six ladies and two young ladies, and we all had such a great time chatting and admiring each other's interpretation of the picture (absolutely no judgement was passed!).

Ange and I thoroughly enjoyed the class and will definitely be back for the next one with our mothers in tow.

Thank you Sam, for this refreshing and relaxing afternoon and we wish you every success in the future.

Anyone interested in attending a Picasso & Moonshine class can contact Sam on 079 878 5634 or email picassoandmoonshine@gmail.com.

Ange in action

Concentrating veeeeery hard 

Finished product

Nice from far:)

Gone Skiing

This time last week we were at Afriski, a ski resort situated in the Maluti mountain range of Lesotho.

Our friends, Shannon and Colin, whom we met on a Contiki tour in 2010, invited us to join them and six other people on a midweek ski getaway. Neither William nor I had tried skiing before, so we were keen for an adventure and always up for the opportunity to travel to a new country.

We left last Saturday, and spent the night in Clarens, a small artsy town in the Free State to break the six hour journey to Afriski. We stayed at Knock Out View Lodge and what stunning accomodation it was, and with a competitive price to match. Our cabin was beautifully furnished and had an amazing view of the mountains (as the name suggests). We lunched, shopped, watched the rugby at the local pub (go Sharks!) and eased into holiday mode.

Clarens crew

Accomodation at Knock Out View, Clarens

Everything is within walking distance in Clarens

Sunday morning we had breakfast at the Clarens Inn, before embarking on the final stretch of the road trip. We reached the Caledonspoort border post shortly after 10:30 and after discovering new laws and customs surrounding the kingdom of Lesotho, were waved onwards.

We arrived at the resort a bit later than intended, and had roughly twenty minutes to suit up into ski boots and snow proof clothing. Our introductory lesson went well for some, as they grasped the skiing concept with ease (myself excluded). We were taught the correct positioning and posture and more importantly how to stop (pizza slice). I gave up on the lesson about 15 minutes in, after my calf muscles cramped so badly due to the tightness of the boots. 

The following days were filled with fun, laughter, videos of us falling, playing board games and laughing until we cried. We ate like kings and queens. The others advanced to the intermediate and advanced slopes whilst I pottered around the beginner's slope getting more acquainted with these extra length appendages on my feet (read trying not to cross the ski tips while skiing).

By far the most fun of this entire trip was the bumboarding. Each afternoon, after the slopes closed at 4pm, guests were invited to go down the advanced ski slope on a bumboard, which effectively was a thin piece of plastic shaped like a shovel. The speeds we attained during the descent was amazing, and some spun around in circles or completely veered off course into the snow barrier. Absolutely far too much fun was had during this time.

Advanced, intermediate and beginner's slopes

Geoffrey, the resort mouse, whom I made friends with while everyone else had their ski lesson

View from the top of the beginner's slope

Our four days flew by, and before we knew it it was time to head home.

Bumboarders, day three

William and I atop the intermediate slope

Afriski crew with the resort mascot Pudi (a mountain goat)

All ten of us bumboarding on the last day

Thank you Colin for organising such a wonderful trip, we appreciate it very much. To Shannon, Cara, Mike, Leigh, Nevan, Duncan, John, William and Colin for the fantastic company - thank you. 

Reunion trip in the Alps!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

This past Saturday was Angie's bridal shower, and what an awesome day it was,

Jackie (Angie's sister) and Fatima (Angie's future sister-in-law) pulled out all the stops to ensure fun was had by all, and more importantly, that Ange enjoyed her last night out as a single woman.

Grapes (a well known bar and restaurant situated in Western Extension, Benoni), was the venue for the festivities and Jax & Fatima decorated the room beautifully.

Decor

Food

Fatima (bridesmaid) and Jackie (maid of honour)

The first part was of the afternoon was the Kitchen Tea. Ange was suitably dressed in an apron, and "doek" in preparation of fulfilling her role as the cook and cleaner in the Dias household. Just kidding:)

We played some games such as Bingo, match the celebrity couples, pin the cucumber on the man and roll the orange over the finish line using nothing but a banana attached to a string around your waist. As you can imagine, these games provided a good few giggles.

The second part of the day belonged to the bachelorette party, and were we in for a few surprises or what!

Whilst Ange opened her gifts, a bachelor gate crashed our party. Meaning well he probably just wanted to introduce himself and wish his fellow comrade in marriage well, but it started a chain of events that provided some...entertainment, if you will.

One of the bachelor's crew decided to do an impromptu striptease! He casually walked over to Ange and proceeded with his routine, taking off his shirt and shorts. Ange was a good sport and played along until this Chippendale wannabe faced her and started to remove his underwear. Now I don't know exactly what Ange saw, but it was enough to scare her and she ran away. Thankfully no more of the man's anatomy was revealed and he quickly gathered his clothing and left. This may have not been too bad if Ange's gran wasn't in the audience! I reckon all of us ladies had a blush on her behalf.

Later in the evening, Jenna, one of Ange's friends that does pole dancings treated us to a basic pole routine. The ladies practiced the moves where they stood before taking turns to try it out on the pole. Some ladies surprised us with how naturally they took to the pole, but others (like myself) had to basically be dragged up there. Afterwards, Jenna did a demo of one of her advanced routines and we were AMAZED. She climbed to the top and hng upside down using only her leg to hold on. It was something quite astounding and one doesn;t understand the enormity of the situation unless it is viewed first hand. Well done, Jenna, we thoroughly enjoyed your performance!

Jackie and Fatima hired a jukebox for the evening, so we ended the party off dancing till late.

Thank you so much to the ladies for such a fun afternoon, we had a ball!

Oh, and Ange - just one more song! Ha ha :)

A Mosaic Tray for Jenny's Birthday

Firstly, allow me to apologise for my absence and subsequent non existing blogging. I have been writing end of year exams which have just about consumed me. I wrote the last one today so at least life can return to normal now.

Onwards (march!)

Earlier this month, my close friend Jenny celebrated her birthday. We met at high school (Ashton College) in 2000 and became fast friends. Since then we have shared good times and bad times, and as it happens we've even drifted apart for a while but we'd always reconnect. Jenny is an actuary (yes my friend the genius!) for a well known short term insurer in Centurion, and is married to Bevan (salesman of high repute) who originally hails from East London.

Jen & Bev were married on the 31st of December 2009 at Mangwa Valley Game Lodge near Hammanskraal. Yes, a new year's wedding and it was absolutely stunning. Being mid summer the heat was something else but that didn't deter Jen and she remained in her wedding gown the entire evening. Guests admired the beautiful table centre
pieces, and who could forget their legendary first dance? Well done team Webb, we loved it. 

In January 2012 I took up mosaicing. After starting out slowly, with chipboard animals I progressed to trays. And yes, they must be used to serve. I have made a few couples a tray as a gift in the past and reckon it's becoming a tradition. 

So I made Jen a tray as a birthday gift.

Step one: boarder and heart and photographs

                                                              Step two: filler tiles

Step three: grout, paint and seal.

Unfortunately the flash reflects off the glass surface hence not being able to produce a decent photograph.

Hope you like it Jen, and Angie - your tray is coming soon!

Wakaberry Comes to Benoni

It's the fro yo (frozen yoghurt) that has taken South Africa by storm - Wakaberry.

The newest branch in Gauteng opened on Saturday 14 September at the Oakfields Shopping Centre in Northmead, amidst much fanfare. The queue was out the store and down the corridor with customers eagerly wanting to try out the latest culinary craze.

Having sampled a Wakaberry or two previously at Bedford Centre (and absolutely loving it), I decided to wate for the hype to die down and rather go during the week when it would be quieter. So I rounded Linsey up, and this morning we went to get our Wakaberry fix.

What's so nice about the Wakaberry concept is VARIETY. There are so many flavours to choose from:- vanilla, condensed milk, mixed berry, strawberry, creme soda and peanut butter (just to mention a few) and that was only the frozen yoghurt. Toppings are a whole different ball game. One can choose from crushed Oreos, fruit, nuts, sours jelly sweets, smarties, Tumbles, jelly beans and much much more. Top it off with some extra sauce (chocolate, honey or Milky Bar) and you have a winner.

 

                         

The people of Benoni and the surrounds thank you for coming to our neck of the woods, Wakaberry, although our diets may not. Just playing. 

But on a serious note, why no Nutella fro yo flavour?

I Just Don't Want to

Have you ever been invited to an event/party/concert/movie/festival that you really really have no interest in? And instead of being honest and saying "Nah, that's not really my scene", you come up with an excuse. A lame one.

Like...

"My dog is going through a rough phase right now and I need to spend quality time with him/her." Or "I've already committed myself to going curtain shopping with my mom."

Why do we behave like this in this day and age? Why do we need to lie to cover up our true feelings of just not wanting to attend the event in questions? The answer is we don't. We're all adults and if your friend/sibling/coworker is offended by your honest reply of "I just don't want to", then he/she is not very considerate of you. 

Too bad, so sad. They'll get over it. Remember, what goes around comes around and that person will probably experience something similar in the near future, and then he/she will understand.

So, be honest. If it's not your thing - say so. Life is too short to do things they don't want to. 

A 30th and Some Child's Play

On Saturday we attended Bill's friend Caro's 30th birthday party. It was a "kids" themed party, centred around minions - you know those banana characters in the Despicable Me films.

What is a party without dressing according to the theme? I wore a Hello Kitty t-shirt, black tutu, tights and pink takkies. Bill opted for the Batman shirt.

                                        

Here is a pic of the birthday girl:

Caro and her husband, Jon, went all out. There was a boxing ring jumping castle, complete with oversized boxing gloves, party packs, a pinata, pens to draw on people's faces, stick on tattoos and sparklers. Bill and Robyn even got into a competition: who could blow the biggest bubble with ten Chappies!

  

                       
                                  

Thank you Caro & Jon for a fun filled afternoon where we were able to relive our childhoods!

The Weekend that was 30 Aug - 1 Sep

Happy Spring to all those in the Southern Hemisphere! I know I am sure glad to see the back of winter although, as some have said "we haven't really had a winter". Hello??! Did you not feel how cold it was those nights in July? Pfft. Crazy people.

The weekend got off to a good start when GWM Fourways kindly returned Black Betty to me in working order. Friday evening was ladies night out at Movida. So, Colleen, Candice, Carey-Anne and myself got all dolled up and off we went. There were a whole lot of exhibitors including hair stylists, lingerie boutiques, false eyelashes, a gym, and a confectionery stand amongst others. Ladies watched demos of products, and were even treated to a live show by a hip hop dance troupe. There were also loads of prizes and each of us won something with the exception of Carey-Anne, which is quite unfair seeing as though she extended the invite to all of us. Here are some pics from the evening.

Our group of ladies

Colleen and I before we headed out

Saturday was quiet, what with William going to the local casualty unit to have a football injury he incurred on Tuesday checked out. The doctor ordered x-rays of his knee but thankfully nothing was broken or dislocated, but rather the ligaments were damaged and there was fluid on the kneecap. He was treated with anti-inflammatories and sent home with a knee brace.

Sunday was Spring Day, and our local community forum Atlasville Organisation organised a walk around the suburb. With a turnout of approximately 50 adults, childrens and even babies in prams, we walked the 5km route and enjoyed the lovely weather. It had been rather chilly on Friday night and Saturday so we were stressing about Sunday's weather, but for once Murphy stayed away.

After the walk, we went for a late lunch at Tashas Bedfordview with Linsey and her mom Karen. It was my our first time dining there and we loved it. The menu caters to all tastes and appetites, and the cakes were far too good to pass up. Linsey and I shared a slice of the bar one cheesecake - absolutely delicious! 

So how was your weekend? What did you get up to?