I just completed wrapping ALL our Christmas gifts. (I say our because I was roped in to wrapping all my sister's gifts, my mum's gifts and the 'family' gifts). I must admit I didn't do too good a job, but hey it's decent! And I'd much rather be wrapping a million gifts than be stuck in the kitchen baking with the mum and sis...
Anyhoo, after doing all of that and sneakily running away to my room to finally get some rest, I saw "Eldest" (the sequel to "Eragon") lying on my bed... And I remembered that I had wanted to finish reading it, along with "Brisngr" before the end of the year.
I did get "Eldest" some time in November, but I had other books to complete first and then I was just not THAT into in and what with being busy here and there... So I now find myself on page 165 out of roughly 600 pages... And as much as I love reading, I'm not a very fast reader... So it looks like I'll have to just try to complete "Eldest" before year end and call it a day.
Disappointed in myself and a bit depro about the situation, but hey, at this point if I manage to finish "Eldest" I think I'm going to allow myself to be glad.
In the bigger picture, I have much worse things to be disappointed about. Such as an entire year has passed and I have yet to get a proper job... Time has run out way too quick for me on that front... *Holding thumbs for next year now*
I guess in some twisted way, if I manage to complete the book before year end I can say that I accomplished SOMETHING this year...
Monday, December 24, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
The incompetence that is SARS
Tax practitioner humour - not everyone's cup of tea...
This past week I had the joy of attending a tax practitioner/stakeholder meeting - what FUN! *sarcasm* (just in case some fool is UNable to read the tone). Yeah I found no joy in it (a phrase I picked up from the tax people).
So we were there from 8:00 am to about 10:20ish am (for a meeting meant to end by 10:00 am). The meeting was utterly boring (surprise surprise - I'm just not cut out for a world of tax and stuff...). There were however a few moments which allowed for a chuckle. I must admit that I do NOT find the tax practitioner jokes hilarious, but some do warrant a wee smile. And tax practitioners can be funny, when not TRYING to purposefully crack a tax joke...
However, I can't say that I really picked up much from that meeting. Other than the fact that SARS gets what they wants, they are always right, are NEVER accountable AND SARS does not have to follow the same rules as everyone else. How FUN!
Basically, YOU as a tax practitioner or tax payer are not allowed to get a little semicolon out of place. If YOU somehow manage to commit such a hideous crime, you will have to pay a hefty penalty. When YOU have to submit documentation (or whatever) to SARS, you're given normal days - such as 21 days or so (which includes Saturdays and Sundays)... If YOU do not submit these documents within the allocated time (even if SARS somehow forgot to notify you of it until the last day) YOU will have to pay a penalty. The teeny tiniest mistake could cost you hundreds of thousands of rands (we're talking possibly R 500 000, could be more).
One businessman was asked to submit tax invoices to SARS. He mistakenly put in an invoice which said "commercial invoice" instead of "tax invoice". SARS returned the documents stating they were incorrect (or something like that). Hence, this dude did not get his tax/VAT return (not sure) AND he was asked to pay a penalty of about 50% for his error (him trying to be fraudulent apparently). No one from SARS had the courtesy to maybe phone the client and let him know the problem and give him a chance to correct it. So the dude lost about 500 grand and had to pay a further 50% penalty on that amount.
SARS on the other hand... Instead of working days, SARS is given WORKING days to complete something. Which means weekends do not count. So if you submit a matter, depending on the type of matter, it could take SARS up to 90 working days to have it done (which equates to about 6 months). SARS NEVER makes any mistakes - well that's what one would think with the way they act... But, they do in fact make multiple mistakes - they just don't admit to them.
In one matter documentation was provided to SARS. The parties involved then waited the allocated time for SARS to sort out the issue, however, SARS did not get back to them. So they phoned SARS, a good few times, and kept escalating the matter. On the final call - over a year later - the guy on the other end of the line at SARS offered to escalate the matter AGAIN. He was told of the prior calls and THEN discovers that the submitted documentation was misplaced somewhere along the line at SARS. No apology given the client is told to RE-submit the documentation! All the relevant documentation (which was a lot) had to be found and gone through again and copies made (you HAVE to always have copies when submitting ANYTHING to SARS as has just been shown...). Then the client had to go all the way to SARS, wait in a queue (just to get a ticket) then wait in another queue to be seen... and eventually hand in the documents (that was already submitted over a year ago). And the client now has to wait ANOTHER 6 months to have the issue resolved!
This is just a 'sample' of the garbage we've got to put up with from SARS (and just a wee bit of what was picked up from the meeting).
Even just calling the SARS call centre is a stressful situation. IF you're lucky you might get through to an agent who's worth their salt and is really nice and sweet ans helpful. But, those are RARE - OH so rare! Sometimes you have to call through at least 3 times to get through to an agent who is actually useful!
I would love to go on about a good few horrible agents I've had to deal with, but I think I made my point (and have said more than enough). So maybe I'll leave the call centre agents for another day when they royally tick me off.
Anyhoo, SARS is mostly horrible. They screw up majorly and don't even admit it. They expect everyone to be perfect, but hey they can do as they please. Also, a LOT of their stuff is extremely questionable... Its completely unfair and aggravating.
SARS needs to employ competent workers. Follow the same rules they expect us to. And learn accountability.
This past week I had the joy of attending a tax practitioner/stakeholder meeting - what FUN! *sarcasm* (just in case some fool is UNable to read the tone). Yeah I found no joy in it (a phrase I picked up from the tax people).
So we were there from 8:00 am to about 10:20ish am (for a meeting meant to end by 10:00 am). The meeting was utterly boring (surprise surprise - I'm just not cut out for a world of tax and stuff...). There were however a few moments which allowed for a chuckle. I must admit that I do NOT find the tax practitioner jokes hilarious, but some do warrant a wee smile. And tax practitioners can be funny, when not TRYING to purposefully crack a tax joke...
However, I can't say that I really picked up much from that meeting. Other than the fact that SARS gets what they wants, they are always right, are NEVER accountable AND SARS does not have to follow the same rules as everyone else. How FUN!
Basically, YOU as a tax practitioner or tax payer are not allowed to get a little semicolon out of place. If YOU somehow manage to commit such a hideous crime, you will have to pay a hefty penalty. When YOU have to submit documentation (or whatever) to SARS, you're given normal days - such as 21 days or so (which includes Saturdays and Sundays)... If YOU do not submit these documents within the allocated time (even if SARS somehow forgot to notify you of it until the last day) YOU will have to pay a penalty. The teeny tiniest mistake could cost you hundreds of thousands of rands (we're talking possibly R 500 000, could be more).
One businessman was asked to submit tax invoices to SARS. He mistakenly put in an invoice which said "commercial invoice" instead of "tax invoice". SARS returned the documents stating they were incorrect (or something like that). Hence, this dude did not get his tax/VAT return (not sure) AND he was asked to pay a penalty of about 50% for his error (him trying to be fraudulent apparently). No one from SARS had the courtesy to maybe phone the client and let him know the problem and give him a chance to correct it. So the dude lost about 500 grand and had to pay a further 50% penalty on that amount.
SARS on the other hand... Instead of working days, SARS is given WORKING days to complete something. Which means weekends do not count. So if you submit a matter, depending on the type of matter, it could take SARS up to 90 working days to have it done (which equates to about 6 months). SARS NEVER makes any mistakes - well that's what one would think with the way they act... But, they do in fact make multiple mistakes - they just don't admit to them.
In one matter documentation was provided to SARS. The parties involved then waited the allocated time for SARS to sort out the issue, however, SARS did not get back to them. So they phoned SARS, a good few times, and kept escalating the matter. On the final call - over a year later - the guy on the other end of the line at SARS offered to escalate the matter AGAIN. He was told of the prior calls and THEN discovers that the submitted documentation was misplaced somewhere along the line at SARS. No apology given the client is told to RE-submit the documentation! All the relevant documentation (which was a lot) had to be found and gone through again and copies made (you HAVE to always have copies when submitting ANYTHING to SARS as has just been shown...). Then the client had to go all the way to SARS, wait in a queue (just to get a ticket) then wait in another queue to be seen... and eventually hand in the documents (that was already submitted over a year ago). And the client now has to wait ANOTHER 6 months to have the issue resolved!
This is just a 'sample' of the garbage we've got to put up with from SARS (and just a wee bit of what was picked up from the meeting).
Even just calling the SARS call centre is a stressful situation. IF you're lucky you might get through to an agent who's worth their salt and is really nice and sweet ans helpful. But, those are RARE - OH so rare! Sometimes you have to call through at least 3 times to get through to an agent who is actually useful!
I would love to go on about a good few horrible agents I've had to deal with, but I think I made my point (and have said more than enough). So maybe I'll leave the call centre agents for another day when they royally tick me off.
Anyhoo, SARS is mostly horrible. They screw up majorly and don't even admit it. They expect everyone to be perfect, but hey they can do as they please. Also, a LOT of their stuff is extremely questionable... Its completely unfair and aggravating.
SARS needs to employ competent workers. Follow the same rules they expect us to. And learn accountability.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Bargain Bizarre
Walked into a shop the other day. Didn't really expect to buy anything or even find anything worth buying. Just walked in to see pretty things and go "ooh aaah I want" - so I walked in pretty thoughtlessly and carefree... Then I saw these!
Going for R30!!! I went absolutely INSANE. I pushed through and got within reaching distance of the shoes and found the only size 4 left! I thought I was going to just die!
Okay, so they're not exactly the best looking shoes around. If they had been going for about a hundred bucks I wouldn't have thought twice. Would have preferred it if there WASN'T a gigantic bow on top, or at least not that orangey diamante thingy on it. But for 30 bucks, they're pretty decent. AND they're PURPLE! How can you say no to purple...
After this huge surprise I decided I'd rather check around, just in case I hit another luck...
And I DID!
I got these going for R30 too!
These were the only pair left (out front at least) and were in a 5! Just my size!
I swear it was God and the universe making up for all the shitty luck they've dumped me with.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Berrylicious
Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries all piled atop some yogurt thrown into a bowl - actually quite amazing. Everyone is on about how we should eat more healthily, but honestly I'm just too lazy for it and I find that healthy food doesn't usually taste too grand. It obviously depends on how its prepared and what not, but some things - just not grand. And other things are just difficult to actually find. Berries and yogurt is apparently good for you, at least from what I've heard and read... And it tastes so amazing! I certainly hope the benefits to berries and yogurt are vast, 'cause this... I could eat every day :) - tastes good, looks good, simple to prepare, AND healthy! :D
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Beautiful tea sets
I absolutely love dinner sets and tea sets (especially the tea sets). I hope to one day have my own awesome collection. And I'd USE my pretty dinner and tea sets - I don't believe in parading them around for display purposes only or just for 'occasions' or when 'special' people come over. Please, who could be more special than me?! And why pickle them and never get to use something that I paid good money for only to die and have someone else benefit off it...
I've already started my tea set collection, only have one tea set, but its SO pretty! Anyhoo, I will not be show casing my tea set at the moment. I came across a photo I had taken of my aunt's lovely tea set.
So here it is...
I've already started my tea set collection, only have one tea set, but its SO pretty! Anyhoo, I will not be show casing my tea set at the moment. I came across a photo I had taken of my aunt's lovely tea set.
So here it is...
 |
| So this is a showcase of the awesome food as well as the side plate... |
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Its a dress day!
I managed to get myself THREE new dresses! *excited face* AND it was 25% off! Woohoo! So yeah, they're all kind of longer dresses, but I still so love them and they are oh so comfortable!
So these are my awesome new dresses (picture quality is pretty bad, I tried):
So these are my awesome new dresses (picture quality is pretty bad, I tried):
 |
| The awesome black dress (and also the tightest fitting piece of clothing I own) |
Friday, November 16, 2012
Divali
So this was my first proper Divali. Yes, we used to celebrate when we were kids, but I was too small to really remember. And though I did spend last year Divali with people who celebrate, it just wasn't quite 'proper'. So, even though I'm Christian and don't celebrate Divali it doesn't stop me from joining in. And I'm just super chuffed with my punjabi (the outfit) so I want to share the pic hehe (even though its not a very good pic, especially of me). Also, I didn't get to get my proper full length, so I make do with what I get. I'm still pretty chuffed lol.
 |
| Tarika, Sahil & I |
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Fishpond
Fishpond is officially the WORST place to buy books online from!
I pre-ordered the Mark of Athena from Fishpond on 21st August 2012 for R179 (which I thought was a good price at the time, until I found out differently). I was told that shipping and delivery was completely free. The Mark of Athena was set to be released on October 2nd. I was to get the book "as soon as possible after publication".
However, something went wrong and I received this email:
Thanks for your order of Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus) with Fishpond.com.
This email is to inform you that there has been a temporary delay in sourcing this item. The stock information we had at the time of your order was out of date so we have had to reorder from another source.
We now expect it to arrive at our warehouse between 27/10/2012 AND 07/11/2012. You will receive an email notification on dispatch.
Well I'd already ordered the book, what more could I do, so I just took it as it came and let it be.
I then receive this email:
Hooray! Your items will be arriving soon:
* Heroes of Olympus
We anticipate delivery between 13/11/12 and 19/11/12.
So I thought FINALLY! I'm finally going to get my book! But I just had to wait. So I've been patiently awaiting my book, thinking that it will be delivered to my home or receive a phone call or email that my book has arrived and needs to be picked up. But today I get a slip of paper in the post saying that it's my "FINAL" notification to pick up my parcel. The "Date notified" states "2012-10-30" - I only received this notification TODAY, 2012-11-15. AND I have to pay R72.96 for delivery!
Over and above this, I was charged a conversion fee on my payment which was converted from rands to dollars (ALSO something that was NOT mentioned).
So I essentially overpaid for this book which is something that really pisses me off! I hate been had and feeling like I've wasted money. And I've wasted a whole lot of money here! Especially seen as the book will be sold for a cheaper price right here at CNA!
NEVER buying from Fishpond again!
I pre-ordered the Mark of Athena from Fishpond on 21st August 2012 for R179 (which I thought was a good price at the time, until I found out differently). I was told that shipping and delivery was completely free. The Mark of Athena was set to be released on October 2nd. I was to get the book "as soon as possible after publication".
However, something went wrong and I received this email:
Thanks for your order of Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus) with Fishpond.com.
This email is to inform you that there has been a temporary delay in sourcing this item. The stock information we had at the time of your order was out of date so we have had to reorder from another source.
We now expect it to arrive at our warehouse between 27/10/2012 AND 07/11/2012. You will receive an email notification on dispatch.
Well I'd already ordered the book, what more could I do, so I just took it as it came and let it be.
I then receive this email:
Hooray! Your items will be arriving soon:
* Heroes of Olympus
We anticipate delivery between 13/11/12 and 19/11/12.
So I thought FINALLY! I'm finally going to get my book! But I just had to wait. So I've been patiently awaiting my book, thinking that it will be delivered to my home or receive a phone call or email that my book has arrived and needs to be picked up. But today I get a slip of paper in the post saying that it's my "FINAL" notification to pick up my parcel. The "Date notified" states "2012-10-30" - I only received this notification TODAY, 2012-11-15. AND I have to pay R72.96 for delivery!
Over and above this, I was charged a conversion fee on my payment which was converted from rands to dollars (ALSO something that was NOT mentioned).
So I essentially overpaid for this book which is something that really pisses me off! I hate been had and feeling like I've wasted money. And I've wasted a whole lot of money here! Especially seen as the book will be sold for a cheaper price right here at CNA!
NEVER buying from Fishpond again!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
What's the point of life if you ain't got a new pair of shoes to strut around in...
It's always a good day when I get a new pair of shoes :)
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Brainless forwarded messages
"If you love your mom pass this on to 20 people. A girl ignored it and her mom died 365 days later. Sorry I can't ignore this I love my mommy..."
This is a broadcast message that I received via BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) the other day. Now why the hell would you wanna bring about such bad luck onto ANY person?! I wouldn't even wish such a thing on my worst enemy. And what if I don't KNOW 20 people to pass this on to... That means my poor mother is now going to die?
Either way I find all these kinds of forwarded messages (if you don't send this to 15 people in 15 minutes you'll have bad luck, if you don't send this message to all your contacts you don't love God...etc) to be utterly annoying and stupid. Not to mention a waste of good time!
Firstly, why would you ever send someone something that could possibly bring them bad luck and basically badness on the whole... You're basically wishing evil upon the person you send the message to and you're kind of pushing them in a corner... (that is if these were in fact based on fact and truth...)
Which brings me to my second point, has ANYONE EVER died because they didn't send a forwarded message? ANYONE? EVER? I certainly don't know anyone who has died of such a cause or had bad luck because they didn't send a BC. I have never picked up a newspaper and seen the headline "Girl's mother dies because she didn't broadcast a message 365 days ago"...
Thirdly, my religious and spiritual beliefs are my own business and no one else's. Plus, I highly doubt God has all the time in the world to be monitoring forwarded messages. *God sitting in heaven* "la la laa... Aaaaaah! There's a new BC about ME! :D Ooooh! I made it. Again! Hey you, angel over there. Come on over here and check this out. They're sending BC's about me again! HOW COOL AM I?! Ooooooh! Aaah so Sam sent the BC. He definitely loves me. Okay, so lets give him something he wants. Ooh eh eh Tom didn't send the BC! *shakes head* AND he just deleted it! Sjoe! Can you believe that guy! I actually thought he loved me, but clearly he doesn't. He would have sent that BC if he did. That's it, he's going to hell. Take his name off our books." Yup, THAT'S what happens hey...
And finally, these messages are a COMPLETE waste of time. I really don't have time to read these stupid messages and to then forward it to others (but yes, I do have the time to write an excessive blog post about it... it would certainly be worth it if I no longer receive lame BC's...) I would much rather use that time to be doing better (more productive) things with my life.
Also, just because I do not forward some dumb message it does not mean that I do not love or believe in God. I'd just rather pray on my own and have a personal relationship with God. It also doesn't mean that I do not love my parents (or whoever) or that I do not believe in a certain cause. There are better ways of showing you care and what not... Sending a forwarded message created by some bored person somewhere doesn't do anything or help it any way. It does not mean a thing. And it does not prove anything (other than the fact that you're a bored idiot who has nothing better to do with their life).
The next time you get a BC or forwarded message (or whatever it may be) please think twice before sending it, and then DON'T send it!
This is a broadcast message that I received via BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) the other day. Now why the hell would you wanna bring about such bad luck onto ANY person?! I wouldn't even wish such a thing on my worst enemy. And what if I don't KNOW 20 people to pass this on to... That means my poor mother is now going to die?
Either way I find all these kinds of forwarded messages (if you don't send this to 15 people in 15 minutes you'll have bad luck, if you don't send this message to all your contacts you don't love God...etc) to be utterly annoying and stupid. Not to mention a waste of good time!
Firstly, why would you ever send someone something that could possibly bring them bad luck and basically badness on the whole... You're basically wishing evil upon the person you send the message to and you're kind of pushing them in a corner... (that is if these were in fact based on fact and truth...)
Which brings me to my second point, has ANYONE EVER died because they didn't send a forwarded message? ANYONE? EVER? I certainly don't know anyone who has died of such a cause or had bad luck because they didn't send a BC. I have never picked up a newspaper and seen the headline "Girl's mother dies because she didn't broadcast a message 365 days ago"...
Thirdly, my religious and spiritual beliefs are my own business and no one else's. Plus, I highly doubt God has all the time in the world to be monitoring forwarded messages. *God sitting in heaven* "la la laa... Aaaaaah! There's a new BC about ME! :D Ooooh! I made it. Again! Hey you, angel over there. Come on over here and check this out. They're sending BC's about me again! HOW COOL AM I?! Ooooooh! Aaah so Sam sent the BC. He definitely loves me. Okay, so lets give him something he wants. Ooh eh eh Tom didn't send the BC! *shakes head* AND he just deleted it! Sjoe! Can you believe that guy! I actually thought he loved me, but clearly he doesn't. He would have sent that BC if he did. That's it, he's going to hell. Take his name off our books." Yup, THAT'S what happens hey...
And finally, these messages are a COMPLETE waste of time. I really don't have time to read these stupid messages and to then forward it to others (but yes, I do have the time to write an excessive blog post about it... it would certainly be worth it if I no longer receive lame BC's...) I would much rather use that time to be doing better (more productive) things with my life.
Also, just because I do not forward some dumb message it does not mean that I do not love or believe in God. I'd just rather pray on my own and have a personal relationship with God. It also doesn't mean that I do not love my parents (or whoever) or that I do not believe in a certain cause. There are better ways of showing you care and what not... Sending a forwarded message created by some bored person somewhere doesn't do anything or help it any way. It does not mean a thing. And it does not prove anything (other than the fact that you're a bored idiot who has nothing better to do with their life).
The next time you get a BC or forwarded message (or whatever it may be) please think twice before sending it, and then DON'T send it!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Love still exists
I heard the sweetest thing the other day. It was so sweet that I ACTUALLY said "Awwwww that's soo sweet!" Yes, it was a pretty lame thing to say. Yes, I would have thought someone who said those words to me was an utter moron or one of those 'aaaahhh!' girls who scream and get excited about EVERYTHING (and don't have a fully functioning brain to come up with anything better). And yes, I regretted it the moment after I said it. But, the thing is, I don't know what else I could have said... And it really was so sweet!
So, I was just chatting to a sales consultant and she tells me how she's only 20 and what not, but that she's already married. She got married when she was 19. And I was like, "Sjoe, why so young?!" And she said, "we just couldn't say goodbye to each other (at the end of the day) any more"...
Come on, don't you feel the tears welling up in your eyes now... And aren't you thinking "Awwww that's SO SWEET!" or "Awwww soooo CUTE!" If not, you don't have a heart!
Okay, okay, slow deep breathes. Calming down. I didn't mean that. If you don't feel all 'awwwww' when you hear that it doesn't mean you don't have a heart. I guess, at the end of the day, I am a romantic (I wasn't always, I WAS once one of those people who would go 'Euw! Gross!' or 'Like really now... Scheeze!' But yeah I'm all grown up now and I've discovered a softer, mushier side to me). So yeah, I'm a romantic and my heart just melted at those words...
Wouldn't you like to feel that...? "we just couldn't say goodbye to each other any more..."
*SIGH*
So, I was just chatting to a sales consultant and she tells me how she's only 20 and what not, but that she's already married. She got married when she was 19. And I was like, "Sjoe, why so young?!" And she said, "we just couldn't say goodbye to each other (at the end of the day) any more"...
Come on, don't you feel the tears welling up in your eyes now... And aren't you thinking "Awwww that's SO SWEET!" or "Awwww soooo CUTE!" If not, you don't have a heart!
Okay, okay, slow deep breathes. Calming down. I didn't mean that. If you don't feel all 'awwwww' when you hear that it doesn't mean you don't have a heart. I guess, at the end of the day, I am a romantic (I wasn't always, I WAS once one of those people who would go 'Euw! Gross!' or 'Like really now... Scheeze!' But yeah I'm all grown up now and I've discovered a softer, mushier side to me). So yeah, I'm a romantic and my heart just melted at those words...
Wouldn't you like to feel that...? "we just couldn't say goodbye to each other any more..."
*SIGH*
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Cinema neurotics
Going to the movies has become an event and a rare occasion for me these days, much like it was when I was a little kid. In today's world we need not go to the cinema to see a new movie, we have direct and immediate access to movies the moment it's released (we won't say much else on this *hush hush*). Hence, there is no real point to schlepping it to the cinema and having to fork out the price of a movie ticket...
So, when I do happen to go to all this trouble I expect it to be worth my while (and my money). I tend to only go to the cinema these days if I truly believe a movie is going to blow my mind completely and it's something that I truly want to see on the big screen and know that I won't regret, like The Avengers.
I also expect the experience to be quite an awe filled one - like *BIG SCREEN* - AAAAHHHHHH - *stares in wonder and amazement*. I want to enjoy the movie in its full glory on the big screen, with surround sound, and just be 'wowed'. If I just wanted to watch a movie, I would have done that at home.
Thus, there are certain requirements that I expect to be met, certain things that should be done and others that just shouldn't be done. (I am a very fussy person, I know this, its just the way I am, but hey I like to think that I just expect better of the world, thus pushing the world towards better qualities and standards. I mean, if you came to my home you'd expect a decent cup of tea, not drain water...).
So this is basically what I expect, as well as what I DON'T expect, when I go to the cinema:
So, when I do happen to go to all this trouble I expect it to be worth my while (and my money). I tend to only go to the cinema these days if I truly believe a movie is going to blow my mind completely and it's something that I truly want to see on the big screen and know that I won't regret, like The Avengers.
I also expect the experience to be quite an awe filled one - like *BIG SCREEN* - AAAAHHHHHH - *stares in wonder and amazement*. I want to enjoy the movie in its full glory on the big screen, with surround sound, and just be 'wowed'. If I just wanted to watch a movie, I would have done that at home.
Thus, there are certain requirements that I expect to be met, certain things that should be done and others that just shouldn't be done. (I am a very fussy person, I know this, its just the way I am, but hey I like to think that I just expect better of the world, thus pushing the world towards better qualities and standards. I mean, if you came to my home you'd expect a decent cup of tea, not drain water...).
So this is basically what I expect, as well as what I DON'T expect, when I go to the cinema:
- I have a ticket with a specific seat number, I DON'T expect to see someone sitting in my seat when I get there and having to deal with the awkward task of asking them to move. Seriously, specific seat numbers were assigned for a reason! Not just for fun. If you cannot read (or see) ask someone else for help.
- Once seated I expect my seat to be clean and usable, NOT broken and sticky with who knows what gunk! (the floor should also be clean, I don't want to have to wash my shoes after a visit to the movies). As a cinema house you are providing a service, you better do it right.
- I'm paying for the surround sound, I'd better get surround sound. If there's a problem, FIX IT. Again, promising to provide a service...
- People with babies, WHY would you take a baby to a cinema? WHY?! Unless you have a super baby who is able to remain silent for hours on end or will just about sleep through anything, you should NOT take a baby to the movies. Get a babysitter or something or just get the DVD and watch it at home. Yeah, babies are cute and all, but I didn't pay money to hear your baby cry!
- The seat in front of you was NOT meant to be a footrest NOR is it a kicking bag. So please refrain from putting your feet on it and kicking it! Its kind of difficult for a person to concentrate on what's happening on the screen when someone's foot keeps bumping their head and when their back is being constantly shoved and kicked. It is also very annoying, uncomfortable and just plain rude and selfish. It can also be painful... (true story).
- I absolutely cannot stand it when people either blow their nose loudly or pull their noses loudly. I can actually hear all the mucus being sucked up their nostrils and into their throat. Disgusting. I do NOT wanna hear (or picture) that, no thank you. So please deal with your mucus some other way.
- Cell phones - please switch them to silent before the movie can begin. Like, yay for you for having such an awesome ring tone, but really now if I wanted to listen to music I'd be at a concert, not the movies. And if you really have such an urgent call - leave and take the call outside! Why be so selfish as to sit in that little theatre and have a fat conversation making it practically impossible for everyone else to watch the movie. Seriously, your conversation (and your voice) is not that fascinating.
- One of my biggest pet peeves about going to the cinema - people who talk during the movie! Okay, so I get that you're super excited to be at the movies and you're so keen to watch the movie of every trailer you've seen and you're so super proud to know all the actors names and where they've acted before and you have such amazing thoughts on every scene and piece of dialogue and what not - but PLEASE, I CAME TO WATCH A MOVIE, NOT YOU. If you really think that you have something to say thats just totally amazing and HAS to be said, think it through (thoroughly) and store it in your memory bank and share it AFTER the movie. Please.
You can call me rude, you can call me impossible, you can say I expect too much, but I just expect certain standards to be met. And meeting these standards would obviously make the world a better place... So people really should try... Its not that hard.
Basically though, cinema houses propose to provide a certain service, so they should ensure that they do so and that its done to the best of their abilities. And people really need to be less selfish. I'm a pretty self centred person myself, but there's a limit. You cannot be so full of it as to completely disregard the needs of others, especially other paying customers.
Basically though, cinema houses propose to provide a certain service, so they should ensure that they do so and that its done to the best of their abilities. And people really need to be less selfish. I'm a pretty self centred person myself, but there's a limit. You cannot be so full of it as to completely disregard the needs of others, especially other paying customers.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
50 Books To Read Before I Die
I recently wrote a blog post "25 Books To Read In This Lifetime". This post was based on books which I HAVE read and thought were so good that one couldn't go through life having NOT read them.
So that got me thinking about the books that I'd like to read before I die. These are books that I've heard about here and there. From people, movies or other books. Intentionally or by accident. And some are just books that are famous worldwide and I think I should read them for myself to see what all the fuss is about.
Without further ado, here is my list (in no particular order) of 50 books I HAVE to read before I die:
- The Shining - Stephen King
- Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
- The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
- The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger
- Utopia - Thomas More
- The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck
- Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy - E. L. James
- Breakfast at Tiffany's - Truman Capote
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank
- The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The Chronicles of Narnia series - C. S. Lewis
- War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
- Lord of the Flies - William Golding
- Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
- 1984 - George Orwell
- The Harry Potter series - J. K. Rowling
- The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
- The Art of War - Sun Tzu
- The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
- Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
- One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- Bleak House - Charles Dickens
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
- Dracula - Bram Stoker
- The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
- Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
- Middlemarch - George Eliot
- Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
- Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
- Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
- The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
- Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
- Diary of a Nobody - George Grossmith
- Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
- The Color Purple - Alice Walker
- Moby Dick - Herman Melville
- The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
- A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
- Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
- Watership Down - Richard Adams
- Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
- What We Talk About When We Talk About Love - Raymond Carver
- The Age of Reason - Thomas Paine
- Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
- Life of Pi - Yann Martel
- A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey
- The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
- The Satanic Verses - Salman Rusdie
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Mark of Athena...
I got my hands on the first book of the "Heroes of Olympus" series : "The Lost Hero" early this year. I couldn't put it down till the end - it was SO amazing! I immediately went out and got the next book, "The Son of Neptune", which was just as amazing and intense!
As the book neared the end I had this great sense of dread that it would not end as I had planned for it to. The entire story of "The Son of Neptune" was basically building you up to a certain point, and I had expected that point to be met by the end of the book... It was however NOT.
I was utterly devastated and on the verge of pulling out my hair! I knew this series could just NOT end, it would be completely lame to end so open ended and unfulfilled. So I went online and saw that there was to be another installment, "The Mark of Athena" - the only problem was that it was only coming out on the 2nd of October!
After some ranting and raving I eventually managed to calm down and accept the reality - I would just have to wait, there was nothing else that could be done. I distracted myself with other books and managed to get by...
THEN, sometime later, I get an email from my cousin telling me that the book is available on "Fishpond" AND it is at a much cheaper price than I can expect to get it at anywhere else. I want to be sure of this before just ordering the book, so Sahil and I check out numerous book retailers online - Fishbond is the cheapest (and they also don't charge a delivery fee). So I order the book. However, something my cousin did not know, is that they charge a conversion fee - to convert our rands to their dollars. (Yes Leri, I'm blaming you for this one, only a little though, just for the bad/incomplete info - actually buying the book from there is my own fault). Alas, it turns out that after this conversion fee, the book works out to the same price as some stores, and even more than others...
So you can imagine the pain I went through on learning of this, but as Sahil put it, the book was already ordered and the money already gone through, there was nothing that could be done... I just had to write it down as a lesson learnt and NEVER to order from "Fishpond" again!
Today, the day "The Mark of Athena" came out, the day I've been eagerly awaiting, I find out that I am only to get my book by the 16th of October! And that's at the least! I guess I should have taken into consideration the travel time and what not, but I had just assumed that they would most probably get their hands on the book and post it for it to arrive to me by the 2nd October! (I clearly was not thinking clearly).
Hence, I am now completely disappointed. I could have just waited and bought the book at Exclusive books today at a cheaper price AND earned points for it!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Bad Borrowers
I personally do not like borrowing anything from anyone unless I absolutely have to. The thing is you never know what could go wrong!
If you borrow an outfit, you've got to be super careful and maybe even starve yourself for fear of getting those darn oil stains on it, but as careful as you may be some dimwit may bump into you and drop a bowl or curry or tea (or something) on you. The outfit may somehow get ripped. How do you then return this person's precious outfit to them after that... I once learnt someone one of my favourite jerseys/hoodies and she broke the zipper. I was traumatized! So I certainly wouldn't like to do that to someone as unintentional and accidental as it may be.
With DVDs and CD's too just about anything can happen, the disk could get scratched somehow, it could get jammed in your player... Or any number of things that I can't even think off!
I think I've made my point, so before I end up on bigger things and a never ending post, I'll stop myself.
The major issue is that, as much as I don't mind helping people out and the whole 'sharing is caring' and what not, I really hate it when people ask to borrow stuff. There are certain things I don't mind lending to certain people, because I know that I can trust them with it. But that's a VERY small list - I'm extremely finicky about how I keep the things that are important to me (such as my books and shoes, among other stuff). The problem is that I have this inability to say no to people. I always end up giving them what they want or doing what they ask for even if it puts me completely out. Which is why I'd rather people just NOT ASK.
I do understand that sometimes things just happen. My friend once learnt me a DVD and I completely forgot about it until a year later and then returned it to her. However, it was in a cupboard in my house all the time!
Anyhoo, so the whole point of this discussion is that last year a friend saw a new DVD at my house and just had to watch it, so she asked to borrow it. Alas, I could not say no. So she took it home with her, and I thought nothing of it. I assumed she was reliable when it came to DVDs and would return it in time. Months passed. I wanted to watch the movie as I had yet to do so. I asked for it, and it turns out she learnt it to someone else, without asking me first! Now this is a HUGE borrowing no-no! You ALWAYS get permission from the owner before lending to a third party!
So I let it slide and said okay, get it back to me when 'third party' is done with it. I ask again a few weeks later and she has forgotten to get it back, but promises to do so ASAP. I leave it to her to get back to me on it as I don't want to seem like a pest constantly nagging about one DVD. Come new year and I decide to ask about it and she has NO idea what I am talking about! She has no recollection of this ever happening and that she owes me a DVD! I'm just angry, but I feel too bad to make a big scene about it and decide to just leave it be and write it off as a movie lost and never to be seen again. (I seriously need to work on my confrontational issues and feeling bad about hurting other people's feelings, 'cause they certainly don't seem to consider mine...).
Then a few months ago, she comes over and helps herself to our DVDs and asks to borrow ANOTHER DVD - I had NO idea what to do. I tried saying no, but it just wouldn't come out! Thank goodness my sister was there and she said no and declared the matter closed - I'd never have been able to it.
The point is, try not to borrow things, and if you do please treat borrowed 'item' with care and remember to RETURN it! Its just rude and bad manners to borrow someone else's stuff and treat it badly and not return it!
If you borrow an outfit, you've got to be super careful and maybe even starve yourself for fear of getting those darn oil stains on it, but as careful as you may be some dimwit may bump into you and drop a bowl or curry or tea (or something) on you. The outfit may somehow get ripped. How do you then return this person's precious outfit to them after that... I once learnt someone one of my favourite jerseys/hoodies and she broke the zipper. I was traumatized! So I certainly wouldn't like to do that to someone as unintentional and accidental as it may be.
With DVDs and CD's too just about anything can happen, the disk could get scratched somehow, it could get jammed in your player... Or any number of things that I can't even think off!
I think I've made my point, so before I end up on bigger things and a never ending post, I'll stop myself.
The major issue is that, as much as I don't mind helping people out and the whole 'sharing is caring' and what not, I really hate it when people ask to borrow stuff. There are certain things I don't mind lending to certain people, because I know that I can trust them with it. But that's a VERY small list - I'm extremely finicky about how I keep the things that are important to me (such as my books and shoes, among other stuff). The problem is that I have this inability to say no to people. I always end up giving them what they want or doing what they ask for even if it puts me completely out. Which is why I'd rather people just NOT ASK.
I do understand that sometimes things just happen. My friend once learnt me a DVD and I completely forgot about it until a year later and then returned it to her. However, it was in a cupboard in my house all the time!
Anyhoo, so the whole point of this discussion is that last year a friend saw a new DVD at my house and just had to watch it, so she asked to borrow it. Alas, I could not say no. So she took it home with her, and I thought nothing of it. I assumed she was reliable when it came to DVDs and would return it in time. Months passed. I wanted to watch the movie as I had yet to do so. I asked for it, and it turns out she learnt it to someone else, without asking me first! Now this is a HUGE borrowing no-no! You ALWAYS get permission from the owner before lending to a third party!
So I let it slide and said okay, get it back to me when 'third party' is done with it. I ask again a few weeks later and she has forgotten to get it back, but promises to do so ASAP. I leave it to her to get back to me on it as I don't want to seem like a pest constantly nagging about one DVD. Come new year and I decide to ask about it and she has NO idea what I am talking about! She has no recollection of this ever happening and that she owes me a DVD! I'm just angry, but I feel too bad to make a big scene about it and decide to just leave it be and write it off as a movie lost and never to be seen again. (I seriously need to work on my confrontational issues and feeling bad about hurting other people's feelings, 'cause they certainly don't seem to consider mine...).
Then a few months ago, she comes over and helps herself to our DVDs and asks to borrow ANOTHER DVD - I had NO idea what to do. I tried saying no, but it just wouldn't come out! Thank goodness my sister was there and she said no and declared the matter closed - I'd never have been able to it.
The point is, try not to borrow things, and if you do please treat borrowed 'item' with care and remember to RETURN it! Its just rude and bad manners to borrow someone else's stuff and treat it badly and not return it!
25 Books To Read in This Lifetime
 |
| The amazing library from Disney's Beauty and the Beast |
Anyhoo, going through my little 'library' I got to thinking about the books that I've read that were just so awesome and some even life changing and I thought about how my life might have been different had I not read those books and that made me truly sad. I do get ever so attached to books. They're much more reliable than human beings are.
And I thought of all those lists out there, "100 Books to Read" and what not... So I decided to make my own list of books to read. This is just based on books that I have read to date, there are many 'major' titles that I have not gotten round to reading yet, and so do not think that I have overlooked them, its just that I simply cannot be a judge of something I have no personal experience/knowledge off. Also, I am sure that as time goes on and I read more books, my list will grow, but this is my list based on the now. So here is my list of books (in no particular order) you should read in this lifetime:
- To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
- The Wind on Fire Trilogy by William Nicholson
- The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall
- His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman
- Shades by Marguerite Poland
- The Percy Jackson series (As well as the Heroes of Olympus series which is AMAZING) by Rick Riordan
- Hamlet by Shakespeare (not usually a Shakespeare fan, but this play is just that amazing)
- The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
- The Heart of Redness by Zakes Mda
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
- To Sir With Love by E. R. Braithwaite
- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Spud by John van de Ruit (there are three more books in the series and while they are good I feel that this is the best and the others just sort of lack something after the first book)
- The Twilight Saga (Because I am also a soppy girl on the inside, and this is not to be judged by the movies)
- The Shadow Child by Judith Lennox
- The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- Noughts & Crosses series by Malorie Blackman
- Chromosome 6 by Robin Cook
- Agatha Christie (any of her books)
- Aidan Chambers novels
- Reginald Hill novels
- Along Came A Spider by James Patterson
- A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Goo Goo Dolls - Slide
Absolutely love this song. Such beautifully music. The Goo Goo Dolls are truly amazing. Currently have this song on repeat. *sigh*
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Best comedy shows to watch...
So, as I was watching this I thought about the comedy series I've watched. I'm a huge comedy fan, but I tend to be a bit fussy about shows (as I am with most stuff I guess). I will watch just about anything, but it doesn't mean I'll think it any good. I'm not very big on slapstick comedy, though I might like the odd one or two and have a good laugh here and there with them, on the whole - not a big fan. And though South Park may have it's moments, its not something I'd watch to have a real good laugh nor do I consider it good comedy. On the other hand though, not everyone shares my sense of humour and taste as such... But such is life and this is mine, so... :)
I thought I'd just list the shows that have given me a great many laughs and are worth wasting time over. I might have forgotten a few, and may have left out a good few that other's would have put on their lists, but this is because I have either yet to have watched it myself, or I just don't think it good enough... So these are some awesome comedy shows (in no particular order) that I have watched and think are awesome (AND hilarious, well DUH):
- The IT Crowd (UK)
- The Big Bang Theory
- That Mitchell and Webb Look
- Father Ted
- 30 Rock
- Robot Chicken
- The Office
- Only Fools And Horses (of course!)
- Sketch U Later (for those few South African's who were fortunate enough to catch the few episodes aired on SABC 3)
- Malcolm in the Middle
- Everybody Hates Chris
- Modern Family
- Friends
- Spin City (the Michael J Fox days)
- Two and a Half Men (here and there, it has its moments, though not so good after the like 5th or 6th season)
- Titus (oh so awesome)
- That 70s Show (it should have ended WAY sooner though, Jackie should NOT have gone through most of the gang and what is That 70s Show without ERIC?! Dumbest last season EVER)
- Arrested Development (heard that it's making a comeback - waiting eagerly!)
- Better Off Ted
- Mr Bean (an all time favourite - classic)
- Mind Your Language
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Knock You Down - Khaya Mthethwa (live)
Khaya Mthethwa, of SA Idols, performs "Knock You Down" at the East Cost Radio Durban Day concert.
"Speech" - is a prank of Parliament by Emily Dickinson
"Speech" - is a prank of Parliament -
"Tears" - is a trick of the nerve -
But the Heart with the heaviest freight on -
Doesn't - always - move-
Random Guy Dancing
Just a random dude dancing in the crowd at East Cost Radio's Durban Day at the Moses Mabhida people's park - 9 September 2012.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
These kids are sooo cute!
I just couldn't help myself taking a few snaps of these adorable little kids. They are just so cute! :)
 |
| Num Num :P |
 |
| Daddy made me cry :( |
 |
| Oooh see how pwetty I can colour mommy |
 |
 |
| Pretty little lady |
Durban Day - FAIL
*Sniff sniff*
Yes, this is a bit of a delayed post. Durban Day was on Sunday, and I'm posting this 2 days later. I just needed some time to be able to deal and get over everything. Alas, I don't think I will. Writing this post and I feel the tears welling up in my eyes...
So this is how the story goes...
I was extremely psyched about Durban Day - to see the Parlotones! I have super love for the Parlotones. So I head off to the Moses Mabhida peoples park all set for an awesome day, the weather was certainly obliging.
Obviously the Parlotones will come on last, as they are the main act, as well as best... So I'm forced to sit through all the other performances, but I don't mind and I find that I actually enjoyed the music and was having a good time, even though they took really long to set up for each performance. Which got most people annoyed as it truly was a waste of time. But I was all good, until Lira came on... No offence, I'm sure she's good and all, but I just don't like her songs. Just not a fan at all. And she was on stage FOREVER! (Well that's how it seemed to me). So I just sat myself down and decided to just chill until the Parlotones came on.
However, luck and good fortune were not on my side. My dear friend could not take it any longer. She was complaining about being tired since around 5pm. I kept trying to stall her and told her she'll definitely be home and in bed by 9pm. Eventually she just gave up asking and suggesting and told me "phone your dad and tell him to pick us up". She wanted to go home and sleep. She had work the next day. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't phone 'cause my dad wouldn't hear me with all the noise. So I HAD to sms him. She watched as I typed and kept asking about it until he called to let us know he was there.
We walked out. I felt my entire body shake. I wasn't even seen clearly I just kept on walking. I felt the tears in my eyes. I had to keep them in though. Even though I just felt like breaking down. And she hugs ma and is like "sorry". I'm like "its okay", when it wasn't. I just felt too bad to tell her the truth. And I was just trying to keep myself from falling apart. I could not believe that I was walking away from the Parlotones! That I was RIGHT THERE and I was just leaving before seeing them! After having paid a hundred bucks, travelling all the way to Durban, and waiting the entire afternoon just to see them perform, to only walk away just before they could...
I wasn't angry. I am now. After everything has set in... And I realised I would have stuck through anything for her... And she knew how important this was to me... And she wasn't asleep by 9... But I wasn't angry then, I was just extremely sad and disappointed. I still am. I'm officially in depression. I now know better than to take her to concerts... I'd rather go alone or not go at all than to get all psyched up and pay for it and not see my band.
I have nothing more to say. Its too painful.
Yes, this is a bit of a delayed post. Durban Day was on Sunday, and I'm posting this 2 days later. I just needed some time to be able to deal and get over everything. Alas, I don't think I will. Writing this post and I feel the tears welling up in my eyes...
So this is how the story goes...
I was extremely psyched about Durban Day - to see the Parlotones! I have super love for the Parlotones. So I head off to the Moses Mabhida peoples park all set for an awesome day, the weather was certainly obliging.
Obviously the Parlotones will come on last, as they are the main act, as well as best... So I'm forced to sit through all the other performances, but I don't mind and I find that I actually enjoyed the music and was having a good time, even though they took really long to set up for each performance. Which got most people annoyed as it truly was a waste of time. But I was all good, until Lira came on... No offence, I'm sure she's good and all, but I just don't like her songs. Just not a fan at all. And she was on stage FOREVER! (Well that's how it seemed to me). So I just sat myself down and decided to just chill until the Parlotones came on.
However, luck and good fortune were not on my side. My dear friend could not take it any longer. She was complaining about being tired since around 5pm. I kept trying to stall her and told her she'll definitely be home and in bed by 9pm. Eventually she just gave up asking and suggesting and told me "phone your dad and tell him to pick us up". She wanted to go home and sleep. She had work the next day. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't phone 'cause my dad wouldn't hear me with all the noise. So I HAD to sms him. She watched as I typed and kept asking about it until he called to let us know he was there.
We walked out. I felt my entire body shake. I wasn't even seen clearly I just kept on walking. I felt the tears in my eyes. I had to keep them in though. Even though I just felt like breaking down. And she hugs ma and is like "sorry". I'm like "its okay", when it wasn't. I just felt too bad to tell her the truth. And I was just trying to keep myself from falling apart. I could not believe that I was walking away from the Parlotones! That I was RIGHT THERE and I was just leaving before seeing them! After having paid a hundred bucks, travelling all the way to Durban, and waiting the entire afternoon just to see them perform, to only walk away just before they could...
I wasn't angry. I am now. After everything has set in... And I realised I would have stuck through anything for her... And she knew how important this was to me... And she wasn't asleep by 9... But I wasn't angry then, I was just extremely sad and disappointed. I still am. I'm officially in depression. I now know better than to take her to concerts... I'd rather go alone or not go at all than to get all psyched up and pay for it and not see my band.
I have nothing more to say. Its too painful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)