Sunset

Over another strange day in Cape Town. Sleep well city, sleep well streets, sleep well love. It will start all over again tomorrow but then it will be pleasant.

Mensa or Mense

Friday's Riddle:

M1Y L1I1F1E

For once in my life

Today's Riddle:

The Love Rock

I found this Rock on our hike, and it was so appropriate, coz thats all I felt on the entire walk. For Nature, for God's creation, for friends like Kate, and mostly for Tristan....

Day 265 of our 2 day walk...

I haven't been posting for a few days, because I have been away. We (Tristan & I, and Kate & Steye) went on a two day hike in the Cape Point reserve this weekend. It was such a beautifull experience. We decided to start with the longer route first so we could take the second day easy. That proved to be a very VERY good idea. At first it was a little cloudy and we thought its great weather for hiking, coz its not too hot. But then it started to rain, and we got wet, coz Tristan & I had no rain gear. The rain didn't last very long though, it was a light drizzle for about 5 minutes. After that the walk was very pleasant (apart from the very disappointing wreck). About 2km from the over night hut, Tristans knees gave in, and we had to take it real slow coz he could, in the end, not even bend them anymore. Eventually got to the hut and we had a nice fire going with a great braai, and then the Swede crept up on us. A lone Swedish hiker, who got given a 5 man hut, all by himself. He didn't want to spend the night there, so he came ans slept in our hut. We didn't really sleep coz we were full of pains and aches and all sort of stuff.

The next morning Tristan and I decided to skip the walk and go to the gate because his knees were not up for the walk. After trying, with no success, to get a lift home from the gate, we decided the only other alternative was to press on with the walk. Not a good idea. His knees were shattered and Kate & Steye were done about an hour before us. We did however do the 6 hour hike in 6.5 hours, so we didn't take that mush longer, but the walk was excruciating for Tristan. He could barely walk, and there were so many up hills and down hills, that he had to do with almost never bending his knees. Eventually we got to the end and we were relieved but shattered.

Take all happenings into account, it was a very good weekend, and a really exciting hike.

On my return.

This beautifull sight greeted me when I got home tonight.

Mensa or Mense

Yesterday's riddle:

LATE LATE
GO GO
OUT

Too late to go out

Today's riddle:

M1Y L1I1F1E

Good Bye

Its always so difficult for me to leave Joburg and go home, even if I don't like it here anymore. Its difficult because I have to leave my family behind again. Its difficult because I only get one night in about 6 months with my family. I miss them so much and its like loosing a family member or a loved one every time I leave. I feel sad because I think about how my folks are getting older and how they are stuck here in this crime ridden invested city, and I fear for their safety. I get sad because my sister, who cant fend for herself, drives around alone and is vulnerable, and has a daughter who has to grow up in this horrible place.

Every time I leave Joburg to go home, I feel like I am leaving another piece of me behind. Will I ever be ok to leave my family and return home? Saying good bye is the saddest thing at the best of times, but when I say good bye to my family, its like I die a little inside.

Mensa or Mense

Yesterday's riddle:

CUT
CUT CUT CUT

A cut above the rest

Today's riddle:

LATE LATE
GO GO
OUT

Pro's and Con's of Joburg

There are some things about Joburg that I like and even miss. Things like the frost on a winters morning, covering everything in a blanket of white crystals. Transforming the city into a fantasy wonderland out of a Luc Besson movie. I miss the cold nights where you have to sleep under a feather duvet and another duvet AND a blanket. I miss my friends and my family. But then I have to make one early morning trip to Pretoria and my whole they of Joburg changes. There are soo many cars on the road like drone ants all following each other to a fantam nest. Rows of ants inching forward towards nothing. The worst of all about the traffic is that there is no reason for it. There are no traffic lights, there are no stops, there is no accident. Its just a bunch of idiots who forget how to drive when there are more than 10 cars on the road. I miss Cape Town, I miss my 7 min trip to the office. I miss my dogs and I miss Nana.

Guidance

Would you take spiritual advise from someone who looks like this? Your poor spirit!

Mensa or Mense

Yesterday's riddle:

UCTION

Reduction

Today's riddle:

CUT
CUT CUT CUT

Joburg

Ok so Joburg also has nice sunsets, but only when you zoom in and because the air is sooo polluted. Miss you Nana

Mensa or Mense

Yesterday's riddle:

FUNNY FUNNY
WORDS WORDS
WORDS WORDS

Too funny for words

Today's riddle:

UCTION

Cape Town Airport

Its 7:30 and I am sitting at Cape Town Airport again waiting for my flight to depart to Joburg. There used to be a time when I really enjoyed coming to the airport and going on a flight, but that was for pleasure. Since I have had to travel for work, it has become the pubic hair on my soap. I have to get out of this mindset, because I really enjoy travelling and flying, and at this rate, I am going to start hating it because I have to do it all by myself, for work, while my three guys are in bed still sleeping. Well no use in prolonging the inevitable. Lets board and get board!

Boiled Eggs

I went to see my sick 30 year old during lunch, and he wanted soft boiled eggs and toast...Like his mother used to make him when he was sick. (That should have been my fist sign to run a mile). I got the toast ready and boiled the eggs, but as true JT Inc. we had a 15 min discussion on how long to boil eggs to get to soft boiled. Obviously by the time I took the eggs out to serve, they were hard boiled. No "as my mother made it" for lunch to make him feel better, and we still don't know how long to boil them till they are soft. Someone should invent an instrument or something to measure eggs while they are boiling or see the inside without breaking it open, so you know when it is soft boiled. Lets get those creative juices flowing and invent something, for me, to use to boil eggs....or I can just use an egg timer....

Start of week

So its another Monday, after the great birthday weekend, and once again I am feeling very melancholic. Its because it is a Monday, and I spent the night alone last night, and I am going to Joburg tomorrow for the whole week, so I will be away from home and my guys, and from everything once again for an entire week. Why is it so horrible on a Monday? Why cant we have another day as part of the weekend? At least I will be seeing my family again.

Mensa or Mense

Friday's riddle:

PAID
SUM R
WORKED

Sum are over worked and under paid.

Today's riddle:

FUNNY FUNNY
WORDS WORDS
WORDS WORDS

A walk on the beach

Went for a walk on Milnerton beach with the dogs. Saw amazing clouds and low mist. Nice to be with all my guys.

Day after the night before

The birthday party was good and got a little hairy towards the end. Great food and lots and lots of wine. Needless to say this morning not everybody is in the best of spirits... No pun intended. Smoothy is done but bears a stricking resemblance to the kitchen and outside of the fridge last night.

30

Its the big day! 30 years today, and a hell of a party to come tonight! Happy Birthday Nana!!!

Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking (also called somnambulism or noctambulism) is a parasomnia or sleep disorder where the sufferer engages in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness while he or she is asleep or in a sleep-like state. Sleepwalking is usually defined by or involves the person affected apparently shifting from his or her prior sleeping position and moving around and performing normal actions as if awake (cleaning, walking and other activities).

I encountered something like this for the first time in my life last night. I have always thought that people pretend to sleepwalk or do things in their sleep but they were very conscious of what they do. Well I have to admit defeat and admit that maybe there is something in this sleepwalking thing. What happened last night to me woke me up and the sleepwalker fell right back to sleep. This morning he had absolutely no recollection of what had happened. Or did he......

Mensa or Mense

Yesterday

1S2A3F4E5T6Y

Safety in Numbers

Today

PAID
SUM R
WORKED

T 1 D 2 30

Share

Last night was a very emotional night. A very close friend had an anniversary for clean for a year. I made my way to me second ever NA meeting, and it was emotionally charged form the first minute. My friend shared about her life and where she is now and others shared about their experiences. I felt so unbelievably lucky. Lucky because I have never experienced the harsh situations they were in, and lucky because I was sitting in a room full of people who had all at some stage of their lives been in such a dark and dangerous place, but have somehow come out of that and realised they have a problem, and were busy fixing it. Not many people get to that realisation in their lives. Most of us go through our entire lives thinking "that's so normal". I am just so blessed to have my friend around in such a sober state, because there is so much I can take in of her in this state and she is such an amazing person that you just want to be with her all the time.

I love you, and Congratulations on such an amazing milestone!!!

Mensa or Mense

Yesterdays riddle:

HEAD
HEELS

Head over Heels

Today's riddle

1S2A3F4E5T6Y

T 2 D 2 30

Mensa or Mense

I have decided to replace the Rumi for the day with a new feature. The MENSA test of the day. This is a fun test designed to see if your brain is word or picture orientated. I will give you a clue every day and you will have to decipher what it says. The next day I will give you the answer.

Lets start with an easy one:

HEAD

HEELS

Good Luck!!

T 3 D 2 30

1000 Hits

I have had 1000 hits on my blog since I started it. That is 1000 times someone has opened and read what I have said. Its a very good feeling to know that others read what I have to say, even if it is just all my friends. From my side, this blog has been the most revealing, relaxing, invigorating, spiritual, caring outlet I have had in a very long time. I have spilled my heart on here, I have confessed, I have spoken my mind, I have raged and there is so much more to come. 1000 hits in 4 months is not too bad I think. So for all those avid Hill readers, thank you so much, and keep on reading, coz I intend on keeping up the writing. Yes, sometimes it might get a little weird, or a little boring, but hang in there and push through, coz every now and then, there is one great post (according to me) that will make it all seem better.

Happy 1000 Thoughts from the Hill!!!!!!!!

T 4 D 2 30

deQuervain's Tendinitis

I have been suffering from the above for over a month now and finally got an injection for it on Friday. I think I finally know what caused it.... Got the new Tekken game a moth ago and played it non stop all night long... Go figure

Hillsong

So went to the opening of the Hillsong Church in Cape Town. Its a Sydney based church who has come to South Africa. I was expecting the normal evangelistic youth type of vibe where there is allot of signing of gospel inspired songs accompanied by a band of young people playing cool rock instruments and rock music. Then a cool young preacher will come up and preach to the masses and everybody will be shouting "amens" and "hallelujah". Well, that was exactly what it was. It was very interesting especially for me, who have been going to the NG Church for the past 30 years. I was extremely uncomfortable in the beginning with the rock like singing and hands in the air worshiping, and even when the preacher was giving his sermon, I was still not comfortable with the hands in the air thing. I do however think this is a great way to get youngsters back in church and get them excited about God. Its the "cool kids church". There were allot of youngsters who looked like they were really enjoying it. I will go back to this church from time to time, but I think it is going to take some getting used to for me, the old traditionalist Afrikaans boy with the Creepy Crawly Christmas tree....

The aftermath

All tired out from the little walk in the forest...amateurs

On the mountain

Went walking in the forest on the mountain today (sorry Linda it was private time) and had great sandwiches made with rolls we baked last night. Can it get any better than this?

View from the top

This is the view from my Nana's place. Its so cool to wake up to this view. Let the Saturday begin.... At 12:30

40 Tips for a better Life

Courtesy of Richard Arthur

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water.. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Time heals almost everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) 37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Forward to everyone you care about.

Wasted time

"So much of human life is wasted in waiting..."

A quote from a new release movie, but rings so true to me. We are so constantly waiting for the perfect person, the perfect job, the prefect house, the prefect car, that our lives go past us without us even partaking in it. Most of us are so buy waiting around that we cant see the beauty in what we have. Yes sometimes it pays to wait a little longer, but don't wait too long. If we had waited in Knysna, we would never have been together.

Stop waiting for something to happen to you, go out there and make it happen!!!

Wise words from an Amazing man

Worry looks around
Sorry looks back
Faith looks up

Today's Rumi

Deafened by the

voice of desire you

are unaware the

Beloved lives in the

core of your heart.

Stop the noise and

you will hear His

voice in the silence.

-Rumi

A first for me

Well this morning was a first for me ever. I have done many things while still keeping all my clothes on...all legal and above the belt thing....get your minds out of the gutter, but this morning I did something for the first time with all my clothes on. It was very exciting because I didn't want to mess any foam on my shirt, so I had to be very careful. Also there could have been blood that I would not have been able to stop. In the end it all went well, and now I am clean shaven and I didn't even take my shirt off to do it!

what were you thinking of........

Today's Rumi

Be careful not to regret
the past. Be a Sufi,
don't talk of the past. You are
the son of the moment,
you are young,you have
vanquished time. This
short present moment
must not be wasted.

- Rumi

My Arabic Life

I have often wondered about this reincarnation thing. I naturally don't believe in it, as it goes against my Christian values, but why is it then that I, a very Afrikaans young man, am so interested in the Arabic culture and music and countries. Might it be that I was an Arabic prince in a previous life, or even better, a Sufi from Persia. That sounds awfully nice and something I could so get into and milk for a while. Maybe its just that I like alternative cultures, or maybe I have watched one too many Falcon production! Whatever the reason, I prefer Arabic music to Afrikaans music, I love the Arabic countries, I love Arabic architecture and have always fantasised about wearing a Thobe or specially a Bisht (look it up). Maybe its just my inner drag queen wanting to come out (Bruce, are they hidden or do the come out from the beginning?).

Lunch

Had such a nice lunch today at home. Was good to see you in the middle of the day, and dessert was so tasty. Thanks for bringing it.

The Back Door

I had a chat to a friend of mine today, as we both sat waiting to be interviewed for the same job. We spoke about many things but the one thing that I remembered most was when we spoke about love and lovers and the past. He made such a good point, that I have proven myself. You can not go on with the future or with anything in the future, if you haven't dealt with and closed the book on the past. I think of my house in Walmer Estate. I keep the back door open for the dogs all the time. When I get guest, and it is windy, I can not open the front door unless I have closed the back door first. If I do, the wind will slam the back door and probably break something in the process. Therefore, deal with the back door first and close it, before you open the front door, otherwise you might break not just our heart, but that of others. I have closed that back door, and when I opened the front door, the wind drifted in bringing with it the sweet smell of the flowers and the rain that fills my house.

Fruit flavoured air fresheners

Why is it that people always have the urge to make, and use a fruit flavoured air freshener. Do they think poo smells better when its mixed with strawberries....It doesn't!! it just smells like shitty strawberries!!!!

Today's Rumi

Dance when you are
broken open, Dance when
you have torn the
bandages off, Dance in
the middle of the fighting,
Dance in your blood,
Dance when you are
perfectly free.

-Rumi

What we can learn from Dogs

For the first time ever, my blog post does not belong to me. I got sent this, and thought it was brilliant:

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
-When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
-Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
-Take naps.
-Stretch before rising.
-Run, romp, and play daily.
-Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
-Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
-On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
-On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
-When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
-Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
-Be loyal.
-Never pretend to be something you're not.
-If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
-When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

He's back

Tristan is back and its all good. In front of the TV and glowing.

Saturday in Solitude

I am sitting in a very clean house that I spent most of the afternoon cleaning, with my dogs now resting after driving each other insane. I have butternut in the oven for the cous-cous salad, and we won the rugby (not very convincingly). All in all its a great Saturday. Except for the fact that I am sitting here all by myself. Tristan is away for the weekend and is only returning tomorrow, and I cant stop thinking about him, about what he is doing and how he is laughing. But there is only one more night and then he is back. So for tonight, I will sit here in my solitude, enjoy the company of my dogs and take some 'me time'. Yes I now take 'me time'.

T.G.I.F.

Its Friday, and I have nothing but the weekend to look forward to....by myself....how nice....I cant believe how much I live for the weekend. There is nothing better and it is waaayyyy to short. Lets start a petition to extend the weekend by one more day...who is in?

Great meal and Good friends

Last night was another one of those evenings where I was surrounded by good friends, great food, and conversation varying from stimulating to utter crap. It was great! Went to Chandani (Indian restaurant in Woodstock) for Linda's birthday, and we laughed and spoke and ate and drank (some more than others) and cuddled and kissed. It was a great evening out with great friends, and fantastic entertainment, thanks to Haji and numerous other characters out of the Naked Drag Queen kist. It made me realise once again what is important in life. Living it, with loved ones and friends around you, around a dinner table and just letting each person be who they want to be.

I love my friends.

Happy Birthday Linda!!!

Today's Rumi

The minute I heard my first love story

I started looking for you,

not knowing

how blind that I was

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere

They're in each other all along.

- Rumi

Bathing in your Love's rays

Saw this title last night for a song we were listening to, and it was so apt. I feel like I am being engulfed by love and being overwhelmed by the sheer goodness and bliss of being at this point in my life. It is always so nice to be wanted by someone and be liked by someone else. In a small way I suppose it quantifies your existence. Not that it should dominate your existence or direct your path in life, but it is nice none the less. Just being held with a loving touch and being told how wonderful and sexy you are. These are the basking moments, and I enjoy them and cherish them for as long as they last.

Today's Rumi

I asked for a kiss

you gave me six.

Whose pupil were

you to become such

a master? Full of

kindness,

generosity... You

are not of this

world.

- Rumi

Dogs vs Life

So last night Lucca was violently sick and was vomiting the whole night. It was very distressing to me, because not only is my one and only little boy sick, but I also had to be conscious about the people in the house, and Tristan trying to sleep coz we all had to go to work in the morning. I am finding it more and more difficult to balance my life outside of the house, with that inside the house. It is nobodies fault and there is nothing to be done, its just that it has been myself and my dogs for over a year, and all three of us have to get used to that changing.

Xenophobia continues

Ok so we are proving to be a very giving and forgiving nation.....NOT. After two weeks of fighting and killing and stressful hiding a fleeing that foreign nationals from all over Africa had to do, they finally all got out of the townships, and hiding in police stations and churches, and settles in makeshift refugee camps. So we all thought it was all over now. These people could finally be helped by other South Africans who are the majority and who don't act like these few rogue citizens in the townships. Well that was what we all thought. Now the issue is with the rich. These camps have been set up in the suburbs of more affluent neighbourhoods, because this is where they will be safe. Now the residents wants them out of there, because they now feel these people who have been in South Africa working hard, and have been forced from their homes, beaten and killed, are going to pose a security threat to them and their children. How bourgeoisie of them. Maybe one day, someone, somewhere will actually extend a hand of peace and help to these poor frightened, unsure, unsafe people of Africa and make them feel welcome. And maybe that hand will come from Zimbabwe, coz it sure ain't coming from South Africa.

3 May - 3 June

Sick at home

Well I am sick and at home and am being kept company by my babies. Need some hugs nana

The Broken Heart

I had a conversation last night. When you start seeing someone, you always get told by everybody around you, to not 'fall too fast' and 'take it slow' and 'hold back'. Why the hell would you want to do that? I have never understood those statements. When I fall in love with someone, I can only love with my whole heart and whole being. There is nothing better than giving yourself completely over to someone else and placing your emotions and heart in their hands. Its that unconditional surrender of self that makes life and love so interesting. Yes, there is the possibility that you will get hurt. They might drop your heart and shatter it into millions of pieces. I always imagine the heart to be like Mercury. All those millions of pieces find their way back to each other and melt together to form your heart again. Sure every time when they melt together again the heart doesn't quite look the same as the last time, but those are the scars and bumps and cracks that forms your heart and gives it character. There is no other way for me but to love with my whole being. To me, that is what a relationship is all about. Its like taking a piece of green clay and a piece of red clay and mushing it together. You get one piece of clay, with streaks of green and streaks of red. And if you keep on mushing it and playing with it, you get a piece if clay with a totally new colour. So my advise to everybody is, be daring, be reckless, entrust your heart to someone else, if they drop it, then get those pieces to together and patch it up again, but can you imagine how spectacular it would be if that person cherishes and loves and caresses it and heals all the broken pieces and scars. I will risk the break to have a little bit of caressing.

Rainbow

As I lie in bed trying to go to sleep, I think of all the wonderful things that have happened this weekend. We saw a swollos rainbow on the way to the party. I met some nice people. I woke up in freezing weather and mist in your warm embrace. We shared some Thai and some stories of who we are and what shaped us. And now I am watching my dogs play before we go to sleep. Maybe there was a pot at the end of the rainbow, but it was not gold. It was blessings from nature and the universe.