Nelson Mandela RIP (1918 - 2013): Our #President

Oh this is tragic.

I was just informed by a friend that Tata Mandela has passed. I quickly went to google breaking news and there it was "RIP Nelson Mandela.

On the same article is President Obama is featured on video (below) giving a press conference announcing his death and giving very moving praise.

I know we are all expecting his death because he has been critically ill for so long but that doesnt stop my body from feeling chilled as if in shock.

We will remember you with love and fondness Tatu Rholihlahla. Qhawe lama qhawe...... God sent you for a purpose and you accomplished it. May you find peace and rest and new joy your new journey.

We love you, South Africa Loves you.....THE WORLD LOVES YOU!!!!!

PRESS RELEASE 

Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa, has died at the age of 95.

"Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as the President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999. Mandela had been ill for months and was living on a ventilator.

Photo by Anghy under Creative Commons license.

Update: President Obama makes a statement on death Mandela.

Jacob Zuma's statement announcing Mandela's death:

Go Back In Time at Weltevreden Farm: #Places to visit

This morning I took a trip through time.

After dropping my son at a soccer clinic this morning I stopped at a place I've always seen in passing and thought of as perhaps some sort of tea garden hidden among all that greenery (actually its right across the road from my old townhouse / condo to some I think). Little did I know that there was a piece of the 1900's hidden right in the middle of cosmopolitan Johannesburg.

Driving through the gate you feel like you going into an indigenous forest and yet a very busy main road (John Voster) is a mere 100 steps away, with only a face brick wall, trees and some plush vegetation separating the two of you.

Sounds of chirping birds, mewing of cats (and if early enough)cock 'a doodle doos of cocks crowing confirms your return to nature.

One of the first things you see as you leave the parking lot, headed for wooden sheds and mysterious darkly foliaged areas.

My intentions for the visit were to find a book store I had been referred to but was too early so I had to pass the time. Conveniently an outrageously quaint coffee shop aptly named "The Second Cup" for I had more than one _ was open. Walking into this delightful eating establishment galvanized me into a virtual blogging frenzy.

I could hardly contain my excitement long enough to grab my phone. (I apologise for poor quality of photos, I was not equipped).

As I frantically clicked away all I could see in my mind's eye were my high school history lessons coming alive. Oh how I hated those periods of theory upon dreadful theory about a group of people who named another group of people after trees when they couldn't pronounce their names (e.g Grootboom / Bigtree). In those days of cruel and unusual punishment my mind often times felt  tortuously crowded with "insignificant" details of the Dutch East India Company, the Great Trek and the Battle of Blood River among other frightfully life sapping events for a 15-year-old.

Just to put you in the picture about a part of South Africa history. About 360 years old in fact:

 In 1652 a small company of employees of the Dutch East India Company were settled on the southern tip of Africa to establish a refreshment station for the Company’s ships en route to the Far East.  From this group of Dutchmen the Afrikaners were to develop. (Orville)

These are the Afrikaner people (aka) Boere _ whose past I say came to life for me today at Weltevreden Farm (aka) The Colony. I shall let the pictures speak for themselves about what I saw. I think history does not spend enough time talking about life as  it was, certainly far less than it does about big historical events which are but a small part of life (yes... I understand that they do shape life). I find it a great pity that there is little reference made to people's way of life compared to the multitudes records of events, that are readily available.

Today I came away thinking, "well in that period life cannot always have been about assagias, powder guns, treachery and bloodshed". There was vibrant living, love, laughter, industry, creativity as would have been shown by painters, writers, musicians, dancers, fashion (tailors and seamstresses), family......and so much more..............and I would love to know about it.

Antiques and things I need to have.......(sigh)

As much as it is a place that seems to have stood still in time. It is hub pf activity. Every bosy there has some form of artsy or entertainment enterprise strating with the quaint little bookshop that was my intented target.

Student at The Potter's Place Potter's can be reached at: mail@spine.co.za or pottersplace@vodamail.co.za or +27 824224927            +27 824224927    +27 825734645            +27 825734645

 I want to thank the delightful people I met today at Weltevreden Farm who keep a small but beautiful part of a period in my beloved country's history alive. I hope many people will find a moment to take a country fresh breath in the heart of Johannesburg and reflect on life as it should be.

Shopaholic @ The Belly Button falling for coat.....you'd be one too if
you saw this place, I left with the most divine ring.
Contact Belly Button @ +27 83 440 7276 +27 83 440 7276

EMBROIDERY

Heaven in a Mug: A microwave #recipe for the gods

It's winter in most countries across the pond from South Africa at the moment.
Lots of opportunities to indulge in what maybe not be so good for the body but certainly a must have for winter ambience....think blazing fires on the hearth and thickly knit socks..
Hopefully the fact that it uses cocoa powder instead of chocolate  could be its a saving grace, (the link I put in here by the way takes you to 100% cocoa versions).

This microwave thing of beauty is also brilliant for when feelin' a wee bit in the doldrums too.
Nno psychotic snow storms or blazing hearths necessary.

This is quite possibly the easiest recipe you will ever make in your entire life in the same amount of time it takes  to make a good cuppa coffee....well just about.
The lovely thing is also that these are ingredients that most homes have somewhere behind something in the grocery cupboard.

So get ready to go hunting.
The lady I got it from calls it Heaven in a Mug and so I continue in that vain.
Now let me tell you how to make it.

You will need:

1 large mug
4 Tbl spoons of SR flour
4 Tbl spoons of sugar
2 Tbl spoons of cocoa powder

Mix these ingredients together really well in the mug, then you will need to add:

2 Tbl spoons of cooking oil, I much prefer sunflower oil

3-5 Tbl spoons of water, depends on the consistency you want.

Mix all these ingredients together in your mug, basically we are going for a chocolate cake mix consistency. Need to add more water?.....by all means.
Now you're ready to gear up for the next difficulty....cooking it.
Once you have the right consistency, put your mug in the microwave and cook it for 1 minute.
All microwaves are different so you need to test things a bit. It could take 40 second, 50, etc.
Those few seconds can change your wonderful creation from Heaven in a Mug to Black Bottom Pudding (yummy crunchy burnt bits).

The desired result is a soft gooey top on the pudding, the middle of the mug nicely cooked yet moist chocolate pudding and down the bottom of the mug you should have warm gooey goodness.
That lovely little pot of gold at the bottom of the mug which gives you the will to go on.

If you really want to spoil yourself some more you can add a little scoop of ice-cream on your cooked pudding. But not if it all goes to your hips just by catching a glimpes of it.....sort of like it does to me.

Enjoy!!!!!