Archive for the ‘Life’ Category
Monday, January 30th, 2012 |
One of the closest kept secrets in all the world is the lengths black women go to for our hair to look presentable to the rest of the world.
Most black men have no idea, much less people who were born with hair that can be washed and styled within half an hour and look like they’ve walked out of a hairdresser when they walk out of the shower in the morning.
Of course it’s our own faults. Instead of working with what we were born with, some of us (or our mothers when we were younger) opted for to straighten our hair to look like European women. Sort of.
For a lot of women that look comes at a price. For instance, my sister has very seldom, if ever, washed and styled her own hair. She’s been going to hairdressers on a weekly basis for most of her life.
I on the other hand have had a love/hate relationship with hairdressers. I wanted my hair to be straight, but not look too straight. Those poor hairdressers could very seldom please me.
However, I have spent hours at home trying to get my hair to behave. Typically about two and a half hours each time after I washed my hair.
After washing, it has to be put into rollers, dried for about 20 minutes and then straightened with a flat iron. And that is on days when it is not chemically straightened or dyed!
Well, I’ve had enough!
I have always loved natural black hair – especially curly hair and have always complimented people who wore their hair that way. Actually more than just complimented.
My newest colleague sometimes wear her natural hair curly and her hair is pretty much similar to how mine would be if I left it un-straightened. That poor woman must have wondered if I have a crush on her, because I have stared longingly at her lovely locks.
I mentioned to her that it’s her hair that I love!
So I have decided about two months ago to grow my hair without using chemical straightener ever again. To embrace my natural thick hair and deal with it as best I can.
There’s a transition phase that takes between one and three years – so the process will take time. Lots of time. I have tried to do it before – unsuccessfully – but this time I have found lots of resources online, including YouTube videos, with loads of advice.
And last Saturday I went and got my first fake hairpiece so I can try different hairstyles during the first few months. But that’s another story.
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Friday, January 27th, 2012 |
Last Friday, just before leaving work, I was told to be prepared for a meeting with our Director and some other colleagues on Monday morning. As usual I tried to get as much information as I could by asking who else would be in attendance and what was on the agenda.
No one could or would tell me anything.
Monday morning I still tried to figure what the meeting was about by finding out who else would be there. But the mystery was soon solved when we sat down for our meeting and were told that some changed were about to take place in our job descriptions.
From 1 February my main job task would include IT support, information systems and online media!! Not that I wasn’t doing all that before. I was.
But there were other tasks that I had been doing for many years and was bored to tears. This was now tasked to someone else.
If I would have been asked what my dream job was, this would be it! I’ve been blogging, Facebooking, Tweeting and studying IT all towards getting this, my dream job!
Not everyone is as delighted as I am with my new job.
I should be flattered that my colleagues I worked with don’t want to see me leave my previous post, but at the same time I was a bit disappointed that they were not excited for me.
That’s life though…we have to move forward at some point. And I was languishing in that job for far too long.
So the year has started off with some excitement and new challenges.
Just today I was tasked with presenting information in our staff meeting. Something I have never been good at, but I relaxed and shared what was asked of me as best I could.
Of course now I have to deliver…
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Friday, January 13th, 2012 |
My year will be starting in earnest on Monday when it’s back to work and studies, so this is likely the right time to be looking ahead and setting some goals for the year.
Looking back at last year’s goals I have reason to set some more for this year.
I just came back from a trip to Australia that I stated I wanted to do at the end of December 2011. I went into apathetic mode for a while but was somehow pushed by life-happenings to book my ticket. Consequently, everything fell neatly into place. And I had the time of my life!
So for 2012 my goals are:
1. To put in the extra effort it will take to pass all 8 subjects I registering for this year. If I pass them all, I will be well on my way to completing to my course on schedule.
2. Socialise a lot more than in 2011, including visiting my Mitchell’s Plain aunty more often. I almost forgot how to deal with people outside of work! And they would probably say that I have no idea how to deal with people AT work 
3. Take photos! Arghhhhh I loved walking around with a camera in Melbourne – shooting all sorts of pictures. Some of which are on this site. The best pictures I couldn’t publish because they contained family pics.
4. Take another holiday in December – an island one – or a cruise! A water holiday!
5. Save, save, and save! Money, electricity, water, food, etc. by living a more conscious life.
6. Meditating daily. I do this most of the time and I’m not sure if meditation has made a difference, growing older or just a change in attitude, but I’m a lot calmer and accepting of life’s little annoyances these days.
7. Committing to a relationship. Probably my most challenging goal of the year!
8. Exercise, eat properly, spend time with my family, laugh as much as possible, read as many books as possible.
9. Go with the flow of what ever life throws my way in 2012.
10. Use my all my skills at work and step up to the challenges and opportunities that will surely come my way.
That’s one busy year that lies ahead! Let me get to it!
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Thursday, January 12th, 2012 |
While we spent a lot of time walking visiting the beaches and playgrounds around Melbourne we managed to go into the city a few times.
I simply fell in love with Melbourne for the first time. I could have spent every day just walking around and absorbing the atmosphere.
The city felt a lot more vibrant and lively than I remembered. Or maybe I was just a lot more open to enjoying the city.
Either way, I promised myself to spend more time in the city if I ever made my way back to Australia.
We took the train to Flinders Street Station and navigated our way from there.
We passed these three quirky statues of businessmen – on the corners of Collins and Bourne Streets – that looked very real, until you get up close and personal. I wouldn’t even have noticed them if it wasn’t pointed out to me. I couldn’t miss the photo opportunity, of course!
Then it was off to see the Meyer Christmas Window in the Bourke Street Mall. The window wasn’t that spectacular in the daytime, but I spotted a reminder of home. It would be me 
I insisted that my trip to Melbourne would be almost worthless without a trip on a tram. Not really. But a 3 minute trip down Collins Street to the Paris end did the trick. Waiting for the pram/stroller friendly tram took longer than the ride itself! But I got my tram ride!
We were in the city at lunch time and came across a whole host of runners, walkers and cyclists doing their lunch
time workouts. One of my favourite aspects of the city of Melbourne is the very apparent culture of exercise. There is just so much space to run/walk or just relax. Pathways and resting areas are well serviced and used!
We decided to go to Federation Square via a walk along the Yarra River.
As we approached Fed Square, I saw this amazingly beautiful building that I was told is St Paul’s Cathedral. Just that whole area had me enthralled.
Then it was on to Fed Square.
Federation Square is seen by many Melbournites as an eyesore . Although it is also the gathering place visitors and residents alike. There was so much colour and vibrancy around the area, that I’m sure the city planners would be forgiven for coming up the concept.
Walking around Melbourne made me feel like a child in a sweet shop. I didn’t know where to start because there was so much to see. I wanted to take everything in and tried to remember everything I saw.
Immediately I thought that I wanted to return and spend more time in the city centre.
Posted in Life, my australian holiday | No Comments »
Sunday, January 1st, 2012 |
I’m loving my holiday in Melbourne so far and since I’ve been here before, decided to not do the usual tourist things.
Not that it always turned out that way
On 23 December we went to a Carols by Candlelight in Docklands. There were a few traditional Christmas Carols, but was mostly a festive music festival on a perfect evening.
We also we went to the MCG to watch cricket Australia play India on Boxing Day. My holiday gift from my family and also one of the highlights of my last visit, and this one as well.
I had to buy a Permaculture 2012 diary for my colleague, so ended up in Ackland Street in St Kilda – famous for it’s cake shops and their window displays.
We came across another Nando’s slap-bang in the middle of the busy street. (Nando’s franchises are on every street corner, it seems.)We instead stopped for ice-cream at 7 Apple Gelato where I bought a Ferero Rocher and French Vanila cone.
Then it was off to take a touristy picture at the entrance of Luna Park – a sort of Ratanga Junction.
I was more interested in getting photographed with a tram!
As luck would have it, someone mentioned a community garden so off we went.
gives flat-dwelling residents of Melbourne the opportunity to grow vegetation of their choice. Some grew fruit trees and vegetables and others flowers. We even passed by a family playing with toy trucks with their daughter in what looked like a sandbox.
Someone saw a reference to Cape Town and offered to photograph me next to the sign. I declined but took a picture anyway.
Next we visited Collingwood’s Children’s Farm since my nieces love farm animals.
They loved petting the goats and sheep. My 2 year old niece referred to the goats as “bokkies” in her Aussie accent. Too funny!
In between we visited the beach and a few parks. But I will write about that in another post.
Happy New Year to you, dear reader!
Posted in Life | 2 Comments »
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