Day 30 – Waka Waka

Forgive me, for I have sinned. I have found myself guilty again of negatively pre judging someone who, it turns out, is not at all like I was expecting him to be. I had been led down this path based on what I had heard about him. I had listened to people who probably didn’t know him either, people who themselves had probably formed and passed their own judgment based on what they had heard.

I sat next to this man at the reception for Plumb’s wedding yesterday. I had met him once before, in a business appointment and if the truth be told we have little in common. He is quite a bit older than I, is very affluent and owns a monstrously successful business. But yet we clicked like old friends and drank beer together like, well like, we were racing each other. (Can’t think of a good analogy?) You just never know who you’ll get along with. Please forgive me.

That the world is a small place was also ably demonstrated last night. Here we were at this wedding. Chatting to a guy I sort of know the subject of travel came up and it turns out that for years and years he lived and worked on the island of Jersey. Not very remarkable I agree but years ago I had a good friend who also worked on the island so as a throw away, keep the conversation going kind of thing, I asked if he knew him. Now this is like asking if I know your sister who lives in Didyoubringyourgrogalong, Australia. Well he did. They were mates. They used to hang out together. The tester? He also knew that my mate had a watch and T shirt fetish. Scary how small it all is.

The wedding took place at Shalwyn Venue and Conference Center in the Tala valley. Stunning place and well worth checking out I think. Having owned a wedding venue and conference center before I know, or at least I think I know, the effort that goes into it, the effort that goes into placating a bride to be on suicide Thursday and the effort that goes into making sure every person in that room gets a hot plate of food and bar service like they’re the only person in the room.

Something else that started the juices flowing. A while ago an email joke did the rounds and it went something like this; “ A bloke walks into a store and asks the shop attendant in which aisle are the Irish Sausages. The attendant asks him “are you Irish?” Surprised, he says, ‘yes I am actually but why would you ask me that? If I had asked for Bratwurst, would you ask me if I was German, or if I asked for tacos, would you have asked me if I was Mexican?’ “Well, no” the attendant says. ‘So why did you ask me if I was Irish then?’ the customer angrily asks. The shop attendant replies “because this is a Builders Warehouse.”  

Ha ha quite funny and I promptly forwarded it to a few mates, like you do when an email joke tickles you. And thought no more about it. An article in today’s paper really got me thinking this morning about this; the writer of the article also received this e mail and forwarded it, like I did, and only later was it pointed out to him that this email actually originated from a way too bright PR person, working for Builders Warehouse. The joke went viral, the advertising was free, the distribution channels uncountable and here I am writing about it too. Effective? Can’t be purchased! Not even by Mastercard!!

As I write this it is pouring with rain. Our Mothers Day breakfast yesterday because we couldn’t do it today because we had kids soccer match’s on could have actually happened after all. The soccer game was cancelled. Field is water logged, and so, staying with the theme, Mothers Day is also a bit of damp squib. It seems that our kids suffer from acute cabin fever when its raining so, taking the easy way out, the not used very often Wii is working overtime. I think everyone has had a go today including granny, my son has destroyed more tanks that I think were ever manufactured, fish have been caught but not eaten unfortunately, planes have been flown down volcanoes and into hot air balloons, wake boarders have hit the cliffs, swords have been drawn and more flamenco dancers have been mown down by running bulls than the Spanish would like to admit to. And it’s still raining.

And finally, in true African tradition, our very own sufferer of persevering stupidity, the future commander for life, General of the revolution, the right honourable and Gods chosen one to lead the South African populace Julius Malema declares in an election speech (we have local elections here on the 18 May – yet another public holiday!) that all whites should be considered as thieves as we stole their land. He also says that any land should be reclaimed without payment from the whites. Now he is not known for his intelligence but is known for saying stupid shit, and this would fit right into this category. However, and this is the sit up and take notice moment. When he made that speech and said those things he was physically sharing the stage with….our countries president! And our president did nothing! Like I’ve said before, stash your cash, and make sure your passport is up to date.

Have a stooooopendous day! Until tomorrow.