Category Archives: My World

Surviving the week – Hannah Montana style

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If it’s not Taylor Swift telling me she’s like, never ever, whatever getting back together, or Bieber believer vomit fever, there’s just no escaping the teeny bopper music dominating the airwaves today.

But there is one song, sung by Miley Cyrus which I just can’t get enough of. In fact, it’s the cheesiest one of the lot, but the words are so incredible that I often listen to it, just to remind myself that no matter how stressed out I am at work, no matter how tough my running races are, no matter what I may be going through right now, I’ll get through it…

Below are the words and I trust you will survive Monday and have a good week!

I can almost see it. That dream I am dreaming. But there’s a voice inside my head saying, “You’ll never reach it.”
Every step I’m taking, every move I make feels lost with no direction. My faith is shaking. But I gotta keep trying. Gotta keep my head held high.

There’s always gonna be another mountain. I’m always gonna wanna make it move. Always gonna be a uphill battle. Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose.
Ain’t about how fast I get there. Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.

The struggles I’m facing, the chances I’m taking. Sometimes might knock me down, but no, I’m not breaking.
I may not know it but these are the moments that I’m gonna remember most, yeah just gotta keep going.

And I got to be strong. Just keep pushing on.

‘Cause there’s always gonna be another mountain. I’m always gonna wanna make it move. Always gonna be a uphill battle. Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose.
Ain’t about how fast I get there. Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb, yeah!

There’s always gonna be another mountain. I’m always gonna wanna make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle. Somebody’s gonna have to lose.
Ain’t about how fast I get there Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side It’s the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing. Keep the faith, baby. It’s all about, it’s all about the climb. Keep the faith, keep your faith…

“The Climb” – Miley Cyrus

What you don’t get from books

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I always chuckle when I see the looks on people’s faces when I tell them I studied librarianship. I can even imagine the thoughts running through your head as to why the hell anyone would study librarianship (or Information Sciences as I like to point out). I can confirm that there’s a hell of a lot more to the Dewey Decimal system or ensuring the bookshelves are neat and tidy.

More than my love for books and reading is my huge passion for research and non-fiction books. I absolutely love to research topics about history and documentaries. And don’t get me started on biographies! *love, love*

Even when it comes to running, I have immersed myself in some of the best known books on the topic and studied all the articles and research on foot injuries, running techniques, you name it.

But what I have discovered lately is that as I grow older, I am relying a lot more on people around me to get the answers I need.  I’ve been ‘consulting’ those close to me every day for their opinion and advice on a range of issues that are bugging me. This is so out of character for me.

What I have found has been an amazing, eclectic mix of opinion, thoughts, advise and stories from so many angles, so many perspectives. What it has done is made me realise that with every problem in life, there are so many directions one can take. So many choices to choose from and so many different ways of looking at situations.

The books present facts. But the beauty in speaking to people is that they come with wonderful life experiences. Some of it good. Some bad. I am loving their stories and fascinated by their own experiences. I am not alone in some of the problems I am grappling with. It’s comforting to know this.

Their advice to me has also revealed a lot of how they ‘see’ me and what they think is the best for me. I like that.

Lunch with Pablo Picasso and the boys

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I have no real interest for most things artsy fartsy. Growing up, I was always more interested in reading the entire Virginia Andrews series or doing research into the Kennedy assassination than getting my fingers full of paint or putty. I was the brains of the family while my sister was the creative one. Even today, I’d prefer to spend three hours running a half marathon than browsing through an antique shop – something my mom and sister love doing.

So you can imagine my surprise when I visited the Standard Bank Gallery to see the latest French Masters of the 20th Century exhibition. The artwork is original works by Degas, Renoir, Manet, Matisse, Picasso and many more and shows how each artist depicted the human body through painting, printmaking, film and photography. I was filled with such awe and admiration!To see artwork that dates back to the early 20th century left me breathless. The detail. The colours. The frames.

Every time someone accidentally stepped too close to the paintings, an alarm would go off and the security would give a disapproving look. I’ll admit that some of the art looked way too weird for my liking. Some of them I did not understand and there were one or two that looked as if my niece had painted it. (mmm, a giveaway of my fine arts knowledge). However, how many chances in life do you get to stand in front of a Picasso or Renoir painting?

Visitors to the gallery get the option of strolling around unguided daily or a tour by the curator on Friday’s between 1pm and 2pm. Some of the facts she highlighted about the artists where really interesting and made me look at the paintings in a whole different way. (before I got bored and giggled every time the alarm buzzed.)

My colleagues and I felt like VIP’s as if we had “back stage passes” to the gallery and the curator allowed us to take a few photos (without a flash, of course). Just a perk of being part of the marketing team at the blue bank. Thank-you Mandy. And to you, Mr Picasso!

Do NOT phone me at 10pm tonight!

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I must be the biggest fan of Opening Ceremonies. I love them! (I know, pretty nerdy right?)

The only opening ceremony I have been fortunate enough to attend was the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Soccer City. It’s a day I’ll never forget! When tickets sold out for it so quickly, I was devastated. But not giving up hope, I registered on a website which would send updates to my phone when tickets to games became available. I remember clearly waking up on a Saturday morning just after 7am and seeing the alert that opening ceremony tickets were available. I was shaking as I bought them! Unforgettable!

But wow, the Olympic Games opening ceremony is on a whole different level. Do you remember at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta when the great Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic flame, shaking from Parkinson’s? Oh wow…Legend.

Or at the 1992 games in Barcelona when that archer received the flame on the special tip of his arrow and shot it into the cauldron? Reports the next day were that it totally missed and technicians lit the flame themselves. People like me didn’t care.

Remember those giant footprints in the sky during the Beijing games? Awesomeness!

So I’ve given KK strict instructions not to make plans to go out with any friends tonight. If anyone knocks on my door, I’ll pretend we aren’t home. Nothing and nobody is going to stop me from watching it.

News reports have hinted that it is going to be spectacular! Spectacular! The music, the dancing, the celebrities, the crowds, the thousands of volunteers, the fireworks finished off with the walk of nations. Caster, you will make me cry, I just know it!

I have *goosies* already! I can’t wait!

Let the Games begin! *cheese alert*