Saturday, March 31, 2007

Cape Coons

A coon posed with us for a group pic during interval
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I've just attended a performance by the Cape Coons at the Guild Theatre here in East London. I never knew the background of the Coons before tonight and its history is really quite interesting. During the period of slavery in South Africa, coloured people were given time off from work to celebrate New Year. The celebrations included face painting, dancing and singing and this continued years after slavery was abolished.

The Cape Town Coon Carnival is held annually in Cape Town beginning on New Years Day and continuing right into January. The festivities include street parades, singing, costume competitions and so much more...

Here is just a tiny clip of what the show was like: .....it would have been longer, but my memory card was full :(



Here's another short clip of one of the songs that were performed:

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Tagged!

So I was tagged by Mosilgaer
Here goes...

3 things that scare me
ET - as in the alien
Clowns - as in IT (the movie)
Reptiles

3 people who make me laugh
Mr Bean
My friend, James
Steve Urkel

3 things I love
My laptop
My cellphone
Jewelry

3 things I hate
Hypocrits
Waiting in ques
When people don't respond to my calls/sms's or e-mails

3 things I don't understand
War
Why relationships have to be so complicated
Why life must end

3 things on my desk
External Hard Drive
Cellphone
March edition of SA India

3 things I'm doing right now
Watching Family Matters with my brother
Chatting
Blogging

3 things I want to do before I die
Travel to every continent
Direct a movie
Meet my soulmate

3 things I can do
Give sound advice
Bake
Talk to strangers

3 things you should listen to
Devotional music
Classical
Jazz

3 things you should never listen to
Goth

3 things I'd like to learn
Play the tabla
Speak Gujarati fluently
Thread

3 favourite foods
Steamed veg
Cadbury's flake
Ice cream

3 beverages I drink regularly
Water
Water
Water

3 childhood TV shows / books
Smurfs
Enid Blyton
Roald Dahl

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Chatterbox March '07

THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDHOOD

I have always been fond of children and go weak at the knees at the very sight of baby clothes! So you can imagine my excitement and glee when my friend, Shakeela recently gave birth to a baby girl. Keera van Vuuren is a healthy and beautiful bundle of joy, and shares features of both her parents – mum, Shakeela and dad, Quinton van Vuuren (pictured).

When I was younger, people used to always tell me to enjoy my days of being a child. When I stressed about school projects or tests, my parents told me that I had more important things coming in life to worry about, like paying accounts and earning a living. When I was 16, I couldn’t wait to be 18. When I was 18, I couldn’t wait to be 21. I always envied girls older than me. They seemed so independent, and I couldn’t wait to be just like them.

These days I find myself giving my younger cousins the same advice I was given when I was their age – to enjoy their days of being at school and to savour the little moments of still being a child. Life zooms past us so quickly that before we know it, we are laden with responsibilities and life-altering choices to make.

Feeling a bit nostalgic recently, I was just thinking how care free it was to be a child. I’d be dropped off at pre-primary, where my days were filled with painting, singing and playing on the jungle gyms. I didn’t have a care in the world – even my clothes were picked out for me everyday! Oh …what days of utter bliss! When I started school, my friends and I collected and swapped stickers during break time, and the most homework I got were colouring in or mini research assignments. Back then, my priorities were those of an average teenage girl. They have since changed and I am now more concerned about my career and interests as an adult woman.

When I am in the company of little children, I’m so intrigued by their inquisitive nature. Having recently spent some time with my three-year-old cousin, Tashil (pictured), I am still so amazed by his alertness to things around him. I’d look at him and wonder what the world looks like through his bright and eager eyes. In some strange way, I envy him. His mind is so pure and innocent and hasn’t yet been ‘brainwashed’ by propaganda portrayed in the media. As young as he is, he is so kind, sweet and considerate to those around him.

I have said time and time again that I wish he could stay the age he is now, because he really is the epitome of innocence. Sadly, as we grow older, our innocence as children is lost and we become immune to the atrocities surrounding us on a daily basis.

I’m so glad that I grew up with things like Bugs Bunny, colouring in books and wax crayons, yoyo’s and of course – the likes of Humpty Dumpty and Little Bo Peep. I was only introduced to computers during Primary school whereas today, children as young as 3 years are able to access and operate cellphones and computers.

There are days when I wish I could still be five – only because life was hassle free back then, and I had no concerns about world wars and the exchange rate. Above all, my mind was pollutant-free of discrimination and hatred. As much as I wish to turn back time, I can’t – but I guess I can always hold on to the fact that with all the problems in the world today, there was once a time when we were all oblivious to evil.

Both my parents are celebrating their birthdays this month, so to end off this month’s column, I’d like to wish the two most important people in my life a very Happy Birthday.