findingthemojo no 144

Hi there, with the weekend ahead

• last chance to take up the Restaurant Week specials on offer, see www.restaurantweek.diningcity.co.za

• or, try something different this weekend: get that wet-suit on, pick up a board and head on down to Surfers Corner, Muizenberg to take part in the Bos Earthwave Beach Festival  and the Guinness World Record attempt at the 'most surfers riding the same wave', on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 Sept.  More info on http://www.facebook.com/BOS.Earthwave

cheers and enjoy!
jp

findingthemojo no 143

Hi there

• this made me smile this morning - it's sad and funny:  http://screenshotsofdespair.tumblr.com/

via flaxenplaguedoctor

• Kickstarter often has some fabulous new ideas, here's another one, the ostrich pillow - could do with one of those at work but wonder how it would go down in an open plan office....? See http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ostrich-pillow/ostrich-pillow

the ostrich pillow image kickstarter

 Thanks to Emerald Street for both these 'bits'

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 142

Hello

As school holidays start this Friday 28 Sept, you probably need to think ahead and do a bit of planning for  your weekend ahead.  Why not head off to the Overberg and take in

• the Two Oceans Hermanus Whale Festival; which takes place from Fri 28 - Monday 1 Oct  - www.whalefestival.co.za has all the info on accommodation, festivities, activities etc

Cuddling by Per Holmen, Greater Flamingo, West Coast National Park

• and, whilst in that part of the world, you might like to take in the 2012 Stanford Stretton's Bird Fair, to be held from Fri 28 - Sun 30 Sept.  The Fair will include field outings, photographic exhibitions, presentations and Village markets and more.  Go to http://www.stanfordbirding.co.za/stanford-bird-fair for more

Don't forget to visit Raka, Hermanuspietersfontein and the many other estates in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and enjoy some of the fine wine and food on offer, enjoy!

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 141

Hello again - trust you enjoyed a wonderful long weekend.

Here's a quick reminder that there is always more than one way of seeing things

• "Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy" - Adage quoted in The Times, and

•  "Talent is more erotic when it's wasted" - Don DeLillo quoted in The Times 

Have a great day and cheers
jp 

findingthemojo no 140

Team Emulsified Enviromentalists image:junior achievement

Morning

• a good idea: four pupils from Sandtonview High School have won the top prize in the Global Social Innovation Relay competition, their  Emu-Lamp, a solar-powered lamp made from recycled cardboard and foil was voted the "Best Innovation 2012" project.  More info on http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3068:junior-achievement&catid=48:innovationnews&Itemid=115  - just love the team's name

image: news24

• and a different perspective: seems Herge's beloved character Tintin is in trouble in the Congo.  Go to  http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/DRC-questions-Tintin-cultural-status-20120920 to find out more from news24

cheers and have a great weekend
jp

findingthemojo no 139

Morning


Seems, it's going to be a weekend of radically opposite activities, as it so often is

• trust the runners are ready for Sunday's WPA CT Marathon which includes a 10km and a mini-marathon?  All the details at www.wpa.org.za/DisplayLink.aspx?group=Cape%20Town%20Marathon&name=N/A 
  Good luck to those running!

image: WPA

• braaiers met gees will be doing it on Heritage Monday 24 Sept.  Go to www.food24.com and check out their latest newsletter "Braai Hard with a Vengeance" for all the activities planned in and around CT for those who take their vleis seriously

image: ostrichsa.co.za

• and for all the Cape's flower children, this year's Earthdance Cape Town takes place at Nekkies Resort just outside Worcester, starting on Friday till Sunday. www.earthdancecapetown.co.za has all the details - enjoy!

image: earthdancecapetown

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 138

Good afternoon

Things are really hotting up between Obama and Romney, every day seems to deliver fresh 'skandaal'.  More of the same here at home with Mangaung looming..... and with elections in mind

Otto von Bismarck (1871) Corbis image: wwnorton.com

• "People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, or before an election" - Otto von Bismarck, quoted in The Montreal Gazette

image:  dietplanstips.com

• "Democracy is supposed to give you the feeling of choice, like Painkiller X and Painkiller Y. But they're both just aspirin" - Gore Vidal, quoted in The Guardian

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 137

Morning

image: sa-venues.com

• Good news! the City is spending R23 million on restoring our gorgeous and iconic City Hall - at last! 

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain   

• Here's something else to brighten your day, check out The Good, The Bad And The Ugly played by The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLgJ7pk0X-s&feature=player_embedded  Just fabulous!

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 136

image:vectorstock.com

 

 

 

 

Hi

• A reminder that there are plenty of really good Spring Deals to be had at our local restaurants. Go to  www.whalecottage.com/blog/cape-town/springsummer-restaurant-specials-cape-town-and-winelands to find out more - make hay before all the visitors arrive

image:  blindgossip.com

   
Before giving a new restaurant/deli or cafe a try, it's always useful to read the reviews at www.food24.com or www.eatout.co.za






Cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 135

Good day

Loved these

Robert Macfarlane, image: Andy Hall for The Observer

"Walk, and you will probably feel better." Robert Macfarlane, quoted in The Guardian.  Read more about this interesting man, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/27/robert-macfarlane-old-ways-interview

Mitch Hedberg, image:blog.zap2it.com

"The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I'll never be as good as a wall." Mitch Hedberg, quoted in The Montreal Gazette.  Another fascinating character, Hedberg a stand-up comedian, was well-known for his "surreal humour". Sadly he died at the early age of 37.

cheers, lovely weather on the way for your weekend, enjoy!
jp

findingthemojo no 134

Morning - planning your weekend and next week, ahead..... some suggestions

image: Darling Wildflower Society

• If you have not as yet had a chance to drive up the West Coast to view  the floral display, this weekend might be perfect to take in the 95th Annual Darling Wildflower Show at the Darling sports club.  Go to www.darlingwildflowers.co.za for further details

  
 

image: segonku.unl.edu

• Next week, starting on Thursday 20 Sept, thru' to Monday 24 Sept, is the 2012 Open Book Festival, to be held @ various venues in and around the Fringe area of Cape Town, including the Fugard Theatre and The Book Lounge.  Go to www.openbookfestival.co.za for the full progamme.  Interesting line-up of guest speakers

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 133

Hello

       

image:  wallcoo.net

• Fresh strawberries are not just delicious! seems there's another benefit to these delightful fruits.  According to The Daily Mail, researchers now believe that a strawberry's red colour is due to the pigment anthocyanins, a chemical which protects the skin from harmful exposure to the sun.  So eat up, I say!

image: copyright News Group Newspapers Ltd

• Art comes in all forms - even chest tattoos.  Check out this article in The Sun,  http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4530468/Weird-chest-art-tattoos-Top-10-boob-tattoos-after-Rihanna-gets-underboob-inked-with-Isis.html#ixzz269XPV2hj  Ouch!

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 132

Morning
Why do some of us find  Facebook and Twitter  so tiresome...... (apart from the "137 photos of my hike to the top of Table Mountain" or "why do I always have to ask for 'no onions'?")?  The Week has some suggestions

image: rumpleteazer 196

• There are, according to The Sunday Times a "number of firms" that are selling "fake profiles for just a few pounds".  Twitter users ("bloggers, entrepreneurs and aspiring performers") are paying for followers to boost their online reputations.  Sad!

image: mac.asn.au

• Are you strange if you don't use Facebook?  Seems that neither of the two psychopaths: James Holmes (the Colorado cinema murderer) nor the Norwegian mass killer, Anders Breivik were Facebook users and this 'holding-out' according to (some?) experts can definitely be "filed under weird", says Catherine Bennett in The Observer.  Honestly?!

Going for a walk on this lovely Spring day and will chat to fellow walkers on the way
cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 131

Hello again

Ladies ablutions in the middle of nowhere, Kruger Park

Spring is here at last (I think...) and no excuse not to get exploring/travelling around our beautiful country.  Be prepared to be amazed, amused and often, surprised - a reminder that we live in a marvellous place.  Here are two examples from our recent road trip up north

• On my first time visit to Kruger Park, I was delighted to see what a great job SanParks is doing.  Nevermind those amazing animals (yes, we were very lucky!), it was the quality of the accommodation and in particular the spotlessly clean ablution blocks in the middle of the bush - liquid soap, running water and plenty of loo roll.  Some city shopping malls should speak to SanParks and get some tips

front entrance, Matjiesfontein Hotel

•  "A land of contrasts" - we know this but still surprising to see a warning to watch out for the ice on the paving outside the Matjiesfontein Hotel in August (not a great place to stop for breakfast by the way - sad and neglected.......)

on closer inspection, Matjiesfontein Hotel

Cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 130

Greetings

If you have not had a chance to plant a tree this Arbor Week or make a donation towards planting a tree, sure no one will mind if you make amends this weekend....... just do it!  We all have to do our bit, especially now that the powers that be have ok'd frikken fracking in SA ugh! how could they?!

2012 FNB Art Prize winner: Kudzanai Chiurai

• Should you be in Johannesburg this weekend, do not miss the FNB Joburg Art Fair on at the Sandton Convention Centre till Sunday.  Go to www.fnbjoburgartfair.co.za for more details

image:  bris.ac.uk

• And, for all those spaaaaaaced out Capies, this weekend sees the start of the Mother City's trance season.  Alien Safari Sprung is taking place just outside of Stanford from midday on Saturday till Sunday - "while debauchery is certainly on the cards, the key focus of the party is, in fact, on artistic expression, positivity and conscious living" - awesome!  http://www.capetownmagazine.com/events/Alien-Safari-Sprung/2012-09-08/11_37_54585 has all the details

Cheers and enjoy the Spring weather
jp

findingthemojo no 129

Hi there

 

Make an effort to go and see the flowers in the West Coast National Park before it's too late - they are spectacular! Lovely easy drive out there from CT and the humans are not the only ones enjoying the display - we saw loads of zebra, bontebok, a gemsbok, ostriches (including three chicks), three Cape foxes and five tortoises.  Take a picnic and enjoy our beautiful countryside

 

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 128

Morning

Excited to be heading off to the West Coast National Park to view the flowers - report back will follow.  
Two interesting items spied recently in The Week

image: usph.gov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Facebook has been getting a lot of bad publicity recently and compounding this negative vibe is their recent admission that "83 million accounts are fake" and of these at least "14 million are "undesirable" profiles, typically set up to send spam" ..........

image: techshout.com

• In the UK for the first time, sales of e-books have outstripped those of hardbacks and paperbacks, says Amazon.  Their Kindle is selling 114 e-books for every 100 printed books

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 127

Morning

white stinkwood tree image: healingorchids.com

A reminder that it's Arbor Week this week, 1 -7 Sept and the theme this year is "Our Forests our Future" and we are all encouraged to get out there and plant a (an indigenous, please) tree.  Should you not have a garden, here are a few alternative suggestions as to how you can also do your bit by sponsoring a tree or indigenous garden elsewhere

• 'Join the treevolution' at www.greenpop.org - only R100 per tree or R120 for a fruit tree, or

tree of life image: flickr.com

• Sponsor a tree at Food and Trees for Africa on www.trees.co.za for only R90 per tree

• 'Take a step in the green direction' and sponsor a 'tree for life' with Greenworks, go to http://www.greenworks.co.za/arborday.html

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 126

Hello

Start the week with a good laugh




The Nando's Comedy Festival opens at The Artscape Theatre tonight - see http://www.comedyfestival.co.za/cape-town.htm for all the details

G K Chesterton image: faith-theology.com

"Wit is a sword, it's meant to make people feel the point as well as see it." G K Chesterton quoted in the Los Angeles Review of Books















cheers
jp