Little coffee shops in obscure alley's

Lavender - the lower level dining area

I've lived in Pietermaritzburg all my life and there are so many awesome places here and nearby that I've NEVER been to and others that I never knew even existed! Lavender is one such place.

We went to Lavender for the first (and only time) a few weeks ago. A lady from church had been asking us to go out for coffee for ages and we could just never find the time, so we finally just made some time and did it. And it was awesome. She's an absolute treasure of a lady and may the good Lord bless her kind soul for treating us that rainy, but lovely, Saturday mid-morning. Anyhoo, this is not a post about the awesome lady from church, its about the coffee shop she introduced me to!

Lavender is just on this little street called Gough Road which is just off Wembley Road (not far from entrance 2 of the Royal Agricultural Show Grounds) (in Pietermaritzburg obviously). If you don't know the place, you will NOT be able to find it. I found that out the hard way. I'd taken hapdash directions to the place and had an idea of its surrounding whereabouts, however, I ended up at the banking complex as I could find no signs. The lady we were meeting had to come find us at the banks and take us to the place. 

We entered through the back, so I didn't exactly get the most picturesque first impression of the place. And it was super cold and rainy. The lady pushed a wooden rolling gate open and let us into the yard. The first thing you see is a plastic sheeted room with a tin (or aluminium) roof. You've got to push through a slit in the plastic to get inside. The inside is a small little room with dainty tables and chairs and just enough room to maneuver around. There is however an upstairs room (or rooms) which I did not get to see as we remained on the "ground floor" at which we entered. 

I love obscure, little known about places but, these places tend to have a set clientele... And when you're a new face (especially when its two Indians coming in with a Coloured lady) people are bound to stare (as we experienced, I bring it up because it happened, not as a speculation). 

However, once you settle in and get a bit used to the place (and ignore the stares from other patrons) its quite a comfy place. And a good place to get away from the crowds - which is something I ALWAYS strive to do. 

I had the "house" cappuccino and my sister and I shared a slice of cheesecake. The cappuccino was pretty much as a cappuccino usually is, nothing super amazing about it or anything, though it was pretty neat that they had chocolate chips in it. I sure did enjoy that. 

A Lavender cappuccino with chocolate chips - yum

The cheesecake was so-so. It was neither the worst, nor the best that I'd had. Though the base had a bit too much coconut than I could handle (I hate desiccated coconut) and I think it was lemon rind that was used as a sort of garnish on the top and just added a not so grand taste to the cheesecake.

All in all, this quaint little place may seem rustic at first, but you warm up to it and I certainly wouldn't mind going there again. I will definitely not be having the cheesecake again though - been there, done that... I would love to try out the other stuff on the menu though, and maybe a go at a meal...

Another reason to go back  - the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming (might be 'cause we went with a "regular", who knows... *shoulder shrug*, will have to see) and the service is pretty good too - a rare thing to come by these days.

(Photos taken from the "Just Lavender" website)
PS: Not too sure on the name, the website says :Just Lavender" but I know it as "Lavender" so I retained the name I was given. Also from the website, it seems that they are more than just a coffee shop... For more check out their website: http://www.just-lavender.co.za/index.html 

Drained (does that suffice for a title/post?)

I'm hoping the picture will say it all and thus save me from having to really say much. But, we know how I am, once I start there's no stopping me... But, my eyes can barely make it so I'll make it short.

It's been a long day, but not overly so, yet I am feeling extremely drained. 

I haven't blogged in a while, and its not for a lack of anything to blog about. I keep getting ideas and they keep piling on top of each other. I first didn't have any internet, then computer issues, then time... And I'm still using this ancient desktop of mine as I have yet to get a charger for my laptop - using this desktop is pure torture! (But I guess I should be glad I have something, what would I do if I were completely computer-less *horrified look*)And now I'm super tired for some strange reason. I'll definitely try and get round to putting forth something more worthy some time this week...

For now, I hope you have all had a lovely, well that's kind of pushing it for a Monday hey so lets make it good, Monday and start to the week. 

Hope you have a splendid and productive week :)

Confessions of a Bookaholic - 11

What gives you the right?!

"Give me your phone or I'll kill you."

Sounds a bit violent hey... But, if you're a South African these words come as no shock to you. It's something you fear every time you step out your front door. Or sometimes even in your own home... Maybe not those EXACT words, but you get my drift... Sure, you think it happens to 'other' people, but not me... But you still live in fear... You walk around with caution... You tell everyone else to be careful and you're always on the look out... The sad fact is that this IS a reality for us. Its something you have to carry with you every moment of the way. And if you forget, you're gonna be reminded...

My sister was held up yesterday. In the middle of town, right at the City Hall. Surrounded by people. She was waiting for her boss to pick her up and a black guy stuck a gun to her side and a knife to her stomach and told her to "GIVE ME YOUR PHONE OR I'LL KILL YOU!" She gave him her phone. He then walked away. She started to walk across the road. I'm assuming it was to get as far away from the guy as possible. He turned around and came back to her. She continued to walk across the road with oncoming traffic. He goes up to her and asks her to give him her laptop too. (She was holding a folder in her hand containing documents - its a big folder about just larger than A 4 size and is sort of synthetic leather. So I guess it could have been mistaken for a laptop). She continued to walk across the road and told him that its just documents she does not have a laptop. And for whatever reason, he decided to believe her and leave her be...

There were crowds of people all around, and no one did a thing. They just watched it happen. I know its not their fault that it happened. And there wasn't much that they COULD do. I know, I myself am a complete scaredy cat and a coward, I would never jump into a situation like that, and obviously don't expect anyone else to. They would just put themselves in the line of fire too instead of really helping much. Its a guy with a gun AND a knife, WHAT CAN you do?! But, someone could have maybe screamed and distracted the guy, or called someone, or maybe taken a photo of him to at least identify him later on... But no one did a single thing?!

Okay, so, I know, that might be asking a bit much. There's a reason why I didn't write this post last night when I found out - I was too angry. I needed to calm down. Yesterday I was livid at every person who just stood there and watched and did nothing! Today, I can understand it. And see that they can't really be blamed for their actions (or inaction). I would very likely do the same. There is no point in getting involved if you're only going to make the situation worse. (And you're most likely just praying the bloke gets it over with fast and doesn't notice you!) BUT, not even one person thought to at least go to my sister afterwards and check if she was okay! After the guy had left and it was obvious he wasn't going to come back, just go to her, gently and visibly (you obviously do NOT want to catch her off guard or sneak up on her or anything after what she's just been through), and be like, hey I saw what just happened I'm sorry, are you okay? Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do or anyway that I can help? Do you maybe want to report it... or SOMETHING!

But yeah...

This guy was brave enough to do what he did in public... And knew full well that he could get away with it...

This just makes me so sick! The fact that there are so many people out there just like him who feel that they can do as they please and take what they what! As if they have a RIGHT to it! As if they're entitled to it! Even though they didn't put in all the time and effort to earn it! (unless the time and effort it took to plan out the theft and then carry it out counts...)

I am so completely angry about this whole situation! Just this year alone so much has happened! A few months ago Sahil's brother was held up just outside his campus by two black guys with a knife and gun. They took his phone and all his cash. A couple weeks later his cousin had her earrings ripped off her ears just outside her place of work (she works for the police in Durban). A few weeks later their house was broken into and wiped clean. A few weeks ago my sister's boyfriend was held up at a garage in Johannesburg when he went to fill petrol. A guy tried to steal his cell phone and refused to let it go and started screaming for help. The people standing nearby heard and came at his screams and looted his boot. All in all he lost over R 12 000 worth of stuff.

WHAT is this world coming to?! I know that it's not just our country. (Sahil had this talk with me trying to calm me down in my rant about crime in South Africa, telling me that its pretty much world wide. America has serial killers and rapists and people who go on killing sprees. Other countries have bombings and terrorist attacks and a wave of other stuff...) So, yes, I know, its not just South Africa. As much as my rage is towards South Africa at the moment. But, for now, given the recent incident(s), I think I can be forgiven for keeping my discussion to South Africa...

The thing I will never understand is WHY. WHY do people do this?! HOW can you just go out and take something that does not belong to you?! Something that someone else worked hard for?!  Why can they not just go out and work for themselves?! Do an honest day's worth of work and live a decent life. HOW the hell can people be so selfish?!

I am just so sick of people taking what they don't deserve and doing as they please! I have to live in fear because of these selfish pricks! I've got to drive with my windows rolled up. I can't wear jewelry if I'm going into town - oh you don't want to 'tempt' them! I've got to be fully aware of my surrounding at all times. If I go to get take out food I feel guilty that I actually have something to eat. I also have to hold on tight to that food if I actually want to eat it.

Its all just too much!!! I can't take this anymore! And, what gives them the right to do this to me, or to anyone. What gives them the right to make us feel this way... To basically have us living as prisoners in our so called free country?! (And yes, I used 'them'. I'm othering them and I do NOT care!)

WHAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT?!

"Hall of Fame" - Glee

On a lighter note (since the previous post), this is the Glee version of "Hall of Fame" originally by The Script featuring will.i.am. I ABSOLUTELY love this song and the Glee version. And the outfits, both guys and girls, are superbly stunning! Simply awesome! Love love LOVE!

Taxi Drivers vs Learner Drivers

Taxi drivers go to hell!

Well they should!

Okay, maybe they shouldn't, I'm just really angry. Taxi Drivers are probably really good people, nice family guys, do their bit for society and what not... when they are not driving taxis of course (I'm not being sarcastic by the way. No, seriously, I'm not. Hey, for all we know it could all be true okay... *shoulder shrug*). But, on the road, they truly are demons. So, maybe I shouldn't say 'demons' 'cause that may be 'politically incorrect', but can you honestly disagree with me here? And I'm not trying to bring religion into things (though I can see how that might be thought what with my hell references and now the whole demon thing...)

Anyhoo, I digress. To get back on point, taxi drivers simply make driving for everyone else TORTURE! We basically put our lives at risk every time we go out onto the roads with taxi drivers.

Okay, so I may be completely angry at the moment, which is why all these rants are just flowing out, but I'm pretty sure most people (if not all people, excluding taxi drivers themselves) feel the same way.
To put you guys in that frame of mind where you just want to sit on your hooter, scream your lungs out in your car, even use 'languages' that normally make your ears burn or even reach the point where you want to just stop your car in the middle of the road, pull out a cricket bat and 'go at' the offending party... let me share my story with you...

The reason why I'm in such a dandy mood... 

So, I'm driving to work this morning. Around 7:00 AM. (And, just to make sure its known, I've got a big red "L" learner sign at the top left hand corner of the back window of the car,  clearly visible.) I reach a robot. Its red, so I stop. I intend to turn right at the robot, so I have my right indicator on. This specific robot has a filter arrow for motorists turning right. I know this. And I'm ready to go the moment it turns green. The opposing robot has turned red so I'm ready to go. I've got my foot off my brake and am slowly inching forward but the robot is still red and as  I do not want to break any laws I wait. The taxi driver behind me, who has been sitting right on my tail, suddenly HOOTS! Startling me. I jerk the car and lose my balance and have to regain it and then go on. (As mentioned, I'm a learner driver, so don't class my driving skills okay, I'm learning, and I'm not so bad anymore, its just awkward situations that still 'challenge' me). Also, the sign is there so people should be cautious and patient! Not make the learner driver more anxious.

Anyhoo, I'm still getting over that situation as I turn right into the next road when another taxi driver SUDDENLY pulls into the road from a driveway on the left. I had to swing to the right and around to avoid being smashed! My sister, sitting in the front passenger seat (which is on the left in South Africa), saw her life flash before her eyes! (I might have caught a glimpse of it too). Thank goodness there were no cars near to me on the right hand lane *swhew*. I am now livid. This is so NOT what I need before getting to work in the morning. But I get back onto the left lane and journey on...

As you continue down the road there is a taxi stop on the left. So you're aware that taxis will be making a stop here so you slacken your speed and drive by slowly and with more caution as taxis will be turning in here... However, the taxis will NOT turn in there and stop to let passengers off or on. NOOOO! They angle the taxi slightly into the space leaving the rest on the taxi pretty much full on on the left obstructing the lane completely. So in peak traffic, you now have to try and get a gap in the non ending line of cars on the right lane to get around the taxi. You've basically got to come to a complete stop and wait to get a gap, make a gap or wait for someone to feel bad enough for you that they create a gap for you or just wait till the taxi finally decides to be done and move! Seriously annoying! A whole space designated FOR them just to stop off and STILL they REFUSE to use it and make everyone else's life difficult!

After somehow making my way out of and around that situation I then find myself behind another two taxis. An extra lane opens out on the left. I need to get onto that lane for where I need to go, and I need to do it quick before there are too many cars on that lane and traffic gets hectically intense. But these two taxis decide to cruise. Huge gaps in front of them, but they're not even crawling! And so I miss my chance to get onto the left lane!

If the common driver were to do these things around a taxi driver you can bet on it that the taxi driver is gonna be sitting on his hooter, swearing you, and might even get out to swear you and wouldn't think twice about knocking your car. But we've got to just shut our mouths and take all their nonsense! Extremely frustrating! And something everyone knows, a dozen traffic cops will be sitting around waiting to catch you and give you a speeding ticket for going 61 in a 60 zone at every corner, but you'll never find one around when a taxi is awol.

So that's pretty much why I'm in such a mood about taxi drivers. Just put me in such a bad mood before I even got to work.

Making the title of this post seem less pointless

BUT, to tie this in with the title of this post (seen as all I've done up until this point is rant and rave and not mention anything related to the post title)... I previously wrote a post "Diary of a Learner Driver" and basically listed a bunch of things that should be gotten rid of in order to make driving life easier. Taxi drivers/taxis were first on that list and I said that they should simply be banned. I'm obviously going to stick to that view. Out of everything on that list, taxi drivers have got to be the most hazardous.

Learner drivers are bad. I know. I'm bad. Not as bad as I used to be, so I now understand more why people hate learner drivers so much. We can be a bit much to deal with. Stalling anywhere and everywhere without warning. Taking FOREVER to take off. Rolling. Cruising on an incline thus making my poor car with its little engine suffer. Keeping to speed limits. Parking poorly. And the list probably goes on (and on). However, no one can say that none of the above does not still happen to them on the rare occasion, even the most experienced of drivers I'm sure. And learner drivers do come with a warning. Also, you were all learner drivers at some stage so you can give us guys a little lee way and be understanding to our situation, unless of course the learner driver is being a COMPLETE idiot, like busy looking at and talking to the passenger on the left instead of focusing on the road (happened to me, stuck behind a tool of a learner driver). If you're learning how to drive, then pay attention and learn! But, yeah, other than that, learner drivers aren't completely bad... right?

On the whole

Learner drivers may be seriously annoying and frustrating, and maybe also a little dangerous on roads, but they are nowhere near as dangerous as taxi drivers. Taxi drivers are also rather obnoxious, and selfish, thinking they own the road and are entitled to do as they please. And, I don't know the stats, but I'd definitely say that more accidents are caused due to taxi drivers/taxis than learner drivers. 

I cannot wait for the day when taxis (the kombies) are done away. A taxi free world... Ah *sigh* (looks off into the distance).

I told you not to laugh...

 Warning: this is a BBM forwarded message.

So yeah I am anti forwarded messages, but hey this one's funny. And also kind of shows just how bad the crime in South Africa really is. But I have way too much to say about that, and this is meant to be a "hahahaha" post lol. So I'll leave that there. Anyhoo here it is:

Don't laugh please its not a joke". In Japan they invented a machine that catches thieves.They took it to different countries for a test. In the USA, in 30 mins it caught 20 thieves. In the UK, in 30 mins it caught 500 thieves. In Spain, in 20 mins it caught 25 thieve. In Ghana, in 10 mins it caught 6000 thieves. In Uganda, in 7 mins it caught 20 000 thieves. In Kenya, in 8 mins it caught 30 000 thieves. In South Africa, in 5 mins, the machine was stolen. I thought I told you not to laugh!!!