Menshealth “Master Class Braai”
Saturday had dawned and this was a good day for many reasons, The French beat our old rugby rivals the British, summer was showing what it has in stalled for us and most importantly, after a mad drive most of Friday from KZN to Gauteng chasing flights, I flew into the Cape. Shit, was I happy to see Table Mountain. My first attempt Friday had been a nearly 800km drive to OR Tambo, but just missing the flight. Then a mad dash to Lanseria, but missing that flight one as well. Back to OR Tambo, booking into a hotel. Saturday morning dawned and finally managed to get onto the first flight out. You can imagine how I was freaking out, as I had to be in Cape Town Saturday morning to do the Master cooking class for 80 Menshealth readers.
The Otter trail run
Those of you that are familiar with this iconic hike know most people trundle the forests of the Garden route for about 4 to five days along this 45km trail of untouched beautiful pristine coastline. It's no easy hike, each day is a big one and you need to be fit, but the rewards are there.
He has the Madiba Magic
There are some days when I just can’t believe the genuine kindness of the fellow South African. Deep down we are a caring nation and that, I can vouch for. This weekend I was once again astounded by a random act of kindness.
Brave Hearts
Every time I attend a surgical mission, there is a person whose journey just steals my heart. There have been over 350 children that have arrived for screening to see who will be accepted for surgery. Out of them 180 were finally scheduled for surgery. This is always the saddest part, those who have to wait another year, it's eats a whole in everyone’s heart to know that not everyone can be helped.
A Teddy
There is a little teddy journey that unfolded on this mystical island of Madagascar during the past week. Jade my daughter of 6 left South Africa bearing gifts of little Cuddly “Bush Babies” that were given to her by Woolworths to hand out to each of the children receiving corrective cleft surgery through Operation Smile, close to 200 of them. I will never forget a few weeks ago when she arrived back from school, I said to her, “Jade, go and see what is in your room”, she dropped her bags an ran off, this was followed by silence for about 5 minutes as she struggled to open the 2 large brown boxes. Then – yes, chaos broke out.
The Freedom Charter
I was driving into Cape Town a few days ago and this graffiti artist's work caught my eye, it also made me think so much about what we stand for and what we are going through as a young democracy in relation to the freedom of information bill that is causing such public outbursts.
The great shoe debate
I think this is one of those debates that will rage on forever. It has recently been fueled by some sport Doctors voicing an opinion that shoes don’t really matter, they are all the same. Then on the other side the manufacturers saying something different, athletes giving their bit and then of course there is the barefoot brigade with their view. So what is the answer, who knows? My feeling is that it boils down to the individual, but largely influence by the level that you are running at and most importantly terrain that you are running over.
My Africa
So often we go to great lengths and massive cost to travel to a far away land to see something special that will leave a lasting memory and inspire one with its beauty. I too have been bitten by this bug. Often we tend to over look the beauty that sits right where we are, the scenario is much like the cow that always pushes its head through the fence to eat the grass that looks more appetising on the other side.
What Now?
The ocean has been pounding the Cape coast most of the week, huge 6 meter swells have crashed into the shore line, in a way it's so majestic, but also terrifying. I can sit and watch it for hours, but there is another side that scares me, brings back memories of how merciless one feels out there bobbing in a small craft in a raging storm – there is nothing so scary. It was just this that was the cause of the Seli 1 running aground nearly two years ago one stormy Cape Night – but this night has come back to haunt us.
