I’ve been driving to work along the same route for over two years now and almost every day I see this guy out for a run. At first I noticed him because I always saw him running up a steep hill. I started silently cheering for him and encouraging him on his mission up the hill…

Now I look for him every morning, and almost feel worried when I don’t see him. I have no idea who this man is and we will probably never ever meet, but somehow his daily run has become part of my routine. I miss him on the days he isn’t there.

In these two years I’ve been driving past him, so much has changed. I’ve got a new job, some new friends, lost some old ones, helped loved ones through heartache… I’ve been oversees with my best friends and even finally performed Shakespeare on stage. So much is always evolving, so it’s nice to have a few constants in life.

It’s strange how something so random as seeing the same stranger every day can be comforting… I guess it’s nice to know that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

In honour of That Scottish Play opening this evening, I thought I’d share some Scottish wisdom with you

1. Money cannot buy happiness but somehow, it’s more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes Benz than it is on a bicycle.
2. Forgive your enemy but remember the bastard’s name.
3. Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.
4. Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them.
5. Alcohol does not solve any problem, but then neither does milk.

FYI, That Scottish Play is the one that Shakespeare wrote that’s apparently bad luck to talk about… Please don’t make me say the name!!!

Upon the heath

Today marks 100 days until the kick off at this year’s Rugby World Cup. Any die hard rugby supporter should be happy about this day. In fact, in South Africa, we’ve been encouraged to wear our Springbok Rugby jerseys in support of our boys I’m wearing mine with pride!

In commemoration of the build up, I thought I’d make a list of all the things I’ve learnt while supporting the Bokke:

• Anything is possible

• True love is hard work
  • we love our team, but sometimes management makes bizarre choices (firing Jake White?!)
  • and sometimes our the boys just can’t get it together and we lose must-win matches.

• • Every true rugby supporter knows that heartache

• • But still we love our boys, they are our team forever!

• Madiba magic is real

• South Africans are incredible when they join together in support of something

• OK, fine. The ref can’t hear me when I scream at my TV… But I’m pretty damn sure he can feel what I’m shouting.

• 47 million people shouting “run!” really can make a team move quicker and better and can help them win.

• You don’t have to be born of the gods to be a hero of epic proportions.

• Having said that, if I put someone up on a pedestal and make them out to be more than a mere mortal, I mustn’t be upset if they stumble and fall.

• Making fun of the opposition is a wonderful family bonding experience

I'm sorry, what did you say England? All the good teams have gone home already?

• When it’s true love, it really is forever!

So GO FOR IT, BOKKE!!!! We’re with you every step of the way!!!

I finally figured it out! I know why I object so strongly to the Stormers’ new jerseys.

I don't think the players look too happy about the jerseys either...

If you look at all the other teams, they are all branded up the wazoo, so why shouldn’t the Stormers be. So the fact that the jerseys are branded is not the issue. And I’ll admit, I do have a beef with DHL (had really really crappy service from them over Christmas) and yes that does annoy me that they now sponsor my team. But the main issue I have is the yellowness of the logo and the way clashes so completely with the jersey and the history of the jersey. Never before have we had this giant block of yellow on our jerseys.

And now if you look at the other teams, you’ll see some have even more branding than us. Look at the Sharks, Mr Price is written absolutely everywhere!!! But it is just the writing. There is no massive block of colour stating “here is the advertising, pay attention to me”. The writing is part of the jersey, you are aware that it is there but it isn’t an afront to your senses.

And now I see that our dancing girls are in yellow and red… I’m sorry, but which team are they supporting? I’m completely confused by that one! How rude to have the Stormers girls not in blue!!!
So please Stormers management and sponsors, get a clue and give us nicer jerseys next year!

So here it is… The obligatory 2010 in a nutshell post. The post where I look back on the year that has been and say some stuff about it… It’s been a year like most others, some good stuff happened, some bad stuff happened, some really crappy stuff happened. Most importantly I think I actually learned some really important lessons about life and friendship this year. I’ll probably relearn the lessons again next year because that’s how people are, but right now, I’m kinda happy about it all

So what happened in 2010? Deep breath… Here we go:

• I discovered blogging and created this lovely little home for myself! It’s been great fun and I can’t wait to build up my blogs even more next year.
• I worked very hard, at one point I think I was working about 4 jobs at once (freelancing, part time job, plays, voice overs!!!)
• I did two very successful plays this year: Rumours and Gigi. SO MUCH FUN!!! I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard in my life before than I did backstage during Gigi.
• I made some awesome new friends this year! Truly awesome people
• I also cemented two friendships that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and the best part is that they are as close friends with each other now as they are with me. We are all three quite different but somehow that just works. And I take it has a huge complement to me that they took the time to get to know each other and become friends!

Oh. Em. Gee. BFFs

• So on the down side, I lost some friends, which sucks. Not sure exactly what happened and I don’t want to dwell on it. I’m glad the worst of the nastiness is over and I’m actually past the emotional part of it.
• On the losing side still, we lost a family friend to the Son of a Bitch that is cancer. The less said about that the better. RIP Carla.
• So what else happened… My family had some ups and downs but we’re still together with all our animals too.
• I got a new phone! Yeahness! And a new laptop… which switches itself off for no reason and is still doing it after being “repaired”
• I discovered Google Calender! Life changing! Facebook events you can eat your heart out!
• I started a bucket list. And I’m filling it slowly with things that I really want to do or try or accomplish and hopefully, one day, I will.
• I had a personal trainer for 2 months, trying to give myself a kick up the arse and get fit. It worked! I fell off the wagon a bit but I definitely think it was worth the money.
• Oh yeah, there was that World Cup that happened How much fun?!?
• There was also a lot of giggling, cocktails, drinking games… Well the drinking games was just that one time and NEVER AGAIN, EVER! Until next time…
• I also re-found my direction. After a lot of hesitation and messing up (well I think I’ve been messing up), I think I may have actually found something that will work and I can be happy with

And I think that was most of the highlights…