18th October 2010

It is ridiculous the amount of time it has been since I last wrote... Who knows what happened?! I have just been so busy and so wrapped up in work that I am always too tired to write... How awful of me!

Lots has been going on as you can imagine, some good, some bad, but I am managing to deal with all of it so that is the good thing! I definitely cannot believe how time flies, it is nearly the end of the year it is insane! I have started to forget little things about my life before in London. That is kind of sad in so many ways, but wow what wonderful things have happened here. I would not change a thing I don't think?!

Marty and I are still in our flat, on our own now after Lisa went back to London and Zuga took to Joburg with Madame Zingara. The spare room has since become a store room, but much needed space! Lots of new equipment, new costumes, and a dryer! I finally managed to buy a washing machine, thank heavens, so now the spare room has a constant flow of drying laundry.

Very exciting things have happened with work, but I will get into all of that another day. I definitely am too tired to even begin with that. All I can say is that I am happy, and things are going well. Long may they continue!

Going to Zimbabwe for Christmas, and have two friends weddings. Should be a fun time I hope. Just waiting to here as to whether Marty is going to be able to come home or WORK! Aaaah! So frustrating, but I am definitely going to go home for at least three weeks. Dec / Jan is a busy time for work so I will just have to make sure I have things together and girlies to take over whilst I am away. My darling friend Jacs is always a superstar and I am grateful to her.

The folks came for a ten day holiday, which was kind of like work in a way, as mum was on a mission. Sorting our flat, chucking things out (why do I have such issues with this?) We also managed to buy me a car. I paid half and borrowed half so will get on the paying back mission as soon as I possibly can. Its a cute little Toyota Yaris and I am very happy with her! Marty has the Auris so we have boy car and girl car!!! Hee hee!!!

Starting with a personal trainer tomorrow from 'Dragon Power Gym,' eeek is all I can say! It is time to start fighting this flab dammit! What has happened to my motivation?! Drives me crazy I tell you?! I am hoping it is going to come back in full force and that I can slim down a little. Old age and food takes its toll on one's body! I wish I could have the bod I had a few years ago! Was jolly happy then... Aaaah!

Anyway... time for bed.... I will try and fill you in on more news soon... So sorry it has been so long! xx Have attached some of the recent work pics for you to see some cool stuff! xx Night all xx

14th July 2010

It has been soooooo long since I last wrote! Can you tell how busy I have been!?

Let me tell you why that has been! 'Madame Zingara!' Pheuw what a job! Great fun, amazing people, but loooong hours, I have been exhausted! It has been my entire life literally for the last month. It is an amazing place, an awesome show, gorgeous food, great people (especially the waitering staff of course!) I have loved every minute of it! However, this truly awesome job offer fell into my lap and I had a week to prepare a presentation and I got the job! Woo hoo!!!! Don't get too excited it is only for a three week period but I am super chuffed and it should hopefully bring great things! Hopefully they will have me back at the circus but I shall leave that up to them?! xx

I am supplying performers to entertain the crowds at the SA's Got Talent TV show on SABC in all the major cities. Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban! Look at me?! Hee hee! It is brilliant! I have all kinds of acts working for me, of course Marty and I shall be doing a bit of stilts, fire dancing, fire breathing and granny dancing! We are going to perform in all the cities except Durban as that is just a one day event and it is not worth our while going for one day. I have an amazing friend in Durban called Linda, who is opening up the Durban office of 'Afrodizzyacts' in the near future and she shall be running the day for me.

The acts I have organised vary from singers, musicians, break dancers, crumpers, hip hop dancers, contemporary dancers, unicycle riders, jugglers, magicians, digeridoo players, belly dancers, african drummers, gumboot dancers, female impersonators, beat-boxers etc! What a wicked line up don't you think!? I cannot believe all this is happening right now. I am such a busy girl, and a real little business woman right now! Let's just hope it continues to fly high! I knew there was a reason why I was mean't to come to South Africa. I love the UK absolutely, but I was only ever working for other companies and not often enough. There is so much competition over there that it was hard to get work, and I would never have thought about opening my own agency. I always had to turn to care work as I didn't have a University degree to fall back on, and I hated being an administrator or anything of the sort! Routine stuff just does not work for me! Over here I believe in myself. I believe I am capable. I am confident. I know what I am doing. I know what works. I know what people like! I am happy that is for sure!

It is definitely a lot harder to keep afloat and it is hard to save and buy things, but we will get there I have faith. Marty has a great job and is working really hard, he is going to go far in his career. He is away at the moment for a whole month (aaaah!) In Port Elizabeth, but I am kind of glad as I think he needed to go away so that I could get my bearings again, you know?! I absolutely miss him so much. He is a wonderful guy, he loves me so much, he would do anything for me. I would be crazy to lose him! He is what I always wanted! I did love my ex very much and he broke my heart, but we weren't right for each other. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with that, and I think that is why I have pushed Marty away so much. I spoke to him the other day and it was really nice. He is happy and has a lovely new girlfriend, the one in between me and his new one was a nutcase! I am happy for him, and I know he is happy for me too. At least we can be friendly after all this time. Marty is my complete match. We enjoy the same things, we have the same goals, we have the same backgrounds, we are lucky to have found each other. Yes, I know relationships are hard, but I will work on myself all the time, I have definitely learn't that. I am not getting any younger, and I do want to be semi-normal one day!? I am sure I want to get married and have babies and all that jazz (but I am just sure not certain, I have a few more years to go yet!) ;0)

I miss all my friends in London, I seem to have lost touch with quite a few and that is pretty sad. Moving is such a big change in your life. I have so many amazingly wonderful people in my life. My whole life! I guess as you move forward things do change. I hope that all my special people (and there are so many) know that I love them and always will, even if we lose touch a little. I am so very lucky to say that I have made some amazing new friends in Cape Town already, wow! People I never would have met if I hadn't have moved here. All the Zingarians, and the special ones know who they are, I am so lucky to have made some absolutely fabulously unique new friends. I have met some of the most BEAUTIFUL people since I have been here. My whole perception has changed being back in Africa. This has been a great experience and continues to be.

The World Cup has been unreal, the vibe, the energy, the feelings of everyone! If you weren't here you certainly missed out, but I know all the Africans around the world could only have imagined! It gives me goose bumps thinking about it all, and I am so sad that it is all over! Let us just hope that it brings more tourism from all over the world, because Africa is an amazing place. Especially Zimbabwe!!! xx

I have written a lot tonight I know. It is my parents 32nd wedding anniversary today. I hope that I am as lucky as them one day. I love them so much and I would never change them for the world. Thank you mum & dad for everything you have done for me over the years. I am very grateful, I think I have turned out alright in the end?! Don't you think!?

Goodnight all xx

12th June 2010 - My birthday weekend!!!

I am so very tired, I cannot even begin to write this properly. I wish I had time to write my blog more but I am so busy and so tired all the time I never get a chance!

So much has been going on. I started working at the circus! 'Madame Zingara' in an area called Century City here in Cape Town. It is a circus restaurant and it is an amazing machine. That is the best way to describe it! It is run on a schedule and it is a crazy busy job but loads of fun. I think the greatest thing of it all is that I have met some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my whole life in the last two weeks. That is the reason why I came to Cape Town and why things have worked out the way they have. Every person is so unique and interesting in one way or another. Generally everyone is quite arty and they all have something a special about them. I am excited to get to know everyone better and have some fun over the next few months (as well as hopefully making some money too!) I have a few jobs booked for 'Afrodizzyacts' but will focus on that a bit more once winter is over and more is going on in Cape Town.

The World Cup started yesterday on mine and my mum's birthday. (Same day if you didn't know!) What a great day! I had worked on the Thursday night and from the stroke of midnight I had several tequila shots bought for me and became a little bit of a drunk bum! Had great fun though! Woke up on my birthday late for my free hair appointment (yay!) I love birthdays! Free stuff! Managed to get there on time and sat like a zombie whilst they blow dried my hair! They then proceeded to bring out a bottle of champagne as a birthday pressie to which I felt horribly ill! Will keep that for another day! Later on in the afternoon we went to meet up with some friends to watch the opening ceremony and the opening game. South Africa vs Mexico. I will never forget the moment South Africa scored their first goal. The partying, the dancing, the vuvuzela's being blown on Long Street was amazing! What an atmosphere and what a great day to have my birthday! We also managed to meet some amazing new people and had a really fun evening talking and dancing the night away!

Tomorrow I am having my official celebrations, and heading first thing in the morning to watch 'Sex & the City 2' at the cinema, dragging poor Marty with me (he loves it really!) Then we will spend the afternoon at a sweet little Chinese and Sushi Restaurant in Long Street with some old and some new friends. I am very much looking forward to it and hope that a fair few people will come. I always have a party as it is always a good excuse for a get together! I am sure I will do it for the rest of my life! Glad my mum had a little party too, I do so hope that next year we can spend it together as it has been nearly 11 years of separate birthdays, and besides.... next year I am going to be 30! Aaaaaaaah!!!!

I wonder when I will ever grow up?! x

22nd May 2010

Gosh it is late, 2am on a Sunday (Saturday really if you know what I mean!) And all I have been doing is hanging with my Grandad and Marty! No alcohol involved so my brain is working on overtime, I can't sleep... therefore the best solution is blog time!

We had a wonderful evening tonight, well it has been a pretty awesome weekend so far! Grandad arrived on Thursday afternoon from Joburg and I went to collect him, then we went and collected Marty from work near Muisenberg, went home to chill out for the evening and Marty and I made a yummy dinner! Crumbed chicken, mashed potatoes, butternut, peas and a mushroom sauce! Yummo!!! Talk about diet OUT THE WINDOW!!! I am so useless when it comes to eating well.... (That is a whole other story!) We parked off on the couch, had lots of chats watched some TV and then headed to bed.

Friday Marty had to go to work (poor man) and so we didn't do much till the afternoon. Went for tea with some other family friends of mine, grandparents too, thought I would do some grandparent match-making! Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't! In the case of my gorgeous late granny it never worked!!! She would always embarrass me in front of my new granny friend (whom I had met at the beautician or at the shops) by lighting up a fag without asking, or asking for a whiskey rather than tea! The one little old duck (who was ten years my granny's junior) gave my gran a dessert bowl to use as an ashtray as she didn't have one... Thinking my grandmother dear would say 'no no, I shall just go outside and smoke,' puffed away and then put her butt out ever so carelessly on this pour woman's pretty bowl! Needless to say we were never invited for tea again! And the main purpose of it was to get my granny some new granny friends in her new granny area (she wasn't very pleased at the thought of moving into an old age complex!) I don't think she ever actually did have many granny friends, all her friends were much younger! She liked it like that as she was so young at heart! x

Back to Friday! Grandad and the other grandparents got on rather well, so it was a nice afternoon all in all. Although I did eavesdrop at one stage and realised that as soon as I popped to the loo, they were discussing what a loud and very excitable girl I was... etc etc!!! Ha ha!!!

We headed out for dinner later that evening to an African restaurant called 'Marco's Place,' I have always seen it but never been in, and have always been intrigued ... Decided I thought it was a little dirty for some reason, but we stayed and the food was actually pretty good... Despite the fact that I could see this African woman eating half a sheep head right near me... Grosse!!!!!

The best part of the whole evening was when the band started playing traditional African music and a dance teacher arrived to teach us an African football dance 'LA DUMA!' I dragged Marty down (us being the only white people! Therefore supposedly mean't to have much less rhythm, if any!) We tried our best to 'shake-shake, kick-kick, head-head, shoulder-shoulder!' I loved it of course, love dancing, all kinds, and especially love it when africans think I can dance well! 'Not bad for a white girl I get told!' Ha ha!!! I was pulled on stage to do some pelvic thrusting dance which was rather fun, but looks slightly rude, next time I see you ask me what I mean and I will show you!!! Lisa came with as it was her last night in Cape Town, but she was a very tired girl having had her farewell the night before...

Today we were up early-ish and headed to the old biscuit mill to the AWESOME food market that they have every Saturday! Love it! We are always full by the time we have walked around as we have picked all the tasters, cheap meal out I tell ya! Grandad enjoyed it, I think I get my love of food from him it seems, but it is nice to see him enjoy his food! We dropped Lisa off at the airport later this afternoon and it was a sad affair, she didn't really want to leave Cape Town, but I am sure she will soon find a new adventure! x

This evening though..... THIS EVENING WAS THE GREATEST FUN OF ALL!!!!! I decided to see if there was anything happening in Cape Town tonight and after looking through the few things I picked a production called 'Boeing-Boeing' which is on at the Theatre-on-the-Bay in Camps Bay. My oh my it was hilarious, we laughed and laughed, and even snorted at one stage! It is a story of a man who has three fiancees, all being air hostesses. He manages for ages until the new faster Boeing aeroplane comes into action and clashes start to happen as it is a faster plane. Man, it was brilliant! Only 2 actors and 4 actresses but marvellous it was! It is on until the 5th June so whoever is in Cape Town go and see it! I highly recommend it! x

Tomorrow we shall head for some fish & chips (Grandad is in need I think! He keeps mentioning it!) So that should be nice, I really don't want him to leave on Monday, but how jolly nice it is seeing him again. That is definitely a plus point at having left London, I get to see my family more than once a year, finally after ten years of only once. Most especially, my wonderful Grandad. If only I had had more time with my Granny.

I shall enjoy every minute of this. I have a brilliant Grandad and I am so very grateful! Hope all is okay with all of you, I guess I better get to bed now... Busy day tomorrow! Good night all! x

19th May 2010

I haven't written for ages... Been soooo busy! I promise! Keep meaning to write but by the end of the night I am so pooped I cannot even bare to think about it. Let me try and keep things as brief as I can as to what has been happening...

I got a job! Only starting on the 1st of June but working for Madam Zingara's circus restaurant, started training today, excited about the new experience and hope things will work out well! I know that it will definitely be fun and I am going to meet some more amazing people, as I already have done so far in Cape Town!

My little company 'Afrodizzyacts' has been going swell too, have had several jobs, fire dancing, fire breathing for a 21st in Stellenbosch, stilts at Virgin Active in Wembley Square, human table at POSH house in Fresnaye (amazing!) Photography job for 'Sitting Pretty' clothes shop at 210 on Long Street, painting, painting and more painting... I am super proud of myself and know that I would never be able to do this in London. I would still probably be a carer, feeling slightly useless, doing performance and painting stuff on the side. At least Cape Town I have been doing it all on my own! I am hoping to find some new young cuties to join my troop so that I can train them up to do all my tricks just incase I am working, and Marty needs a side kick!

I am still in the process of doing the ginormous painting for my Joburg friends, it is just so huge that I can only do it on days that no one is home. I hope they continue to be patient and I hope it turns out marvellously in the end! I also hope I don't get sick of it because it is taking so long! (Fingers crossed!)

Marty had measles last week, well the doc diagnosed him with measles but then wasn't 100% certain, he almost certainly looked and felt like he did though and we all ended up having MMR jabs as I was paranoid! (My wonderful Grandad is coming to visit tomorrow.) He was mean't to come last weekend but we had to postpone as I didn't want him to get sick, but it has all worked out pretty well I think! Marty is better and the weather is better, so I hope we shall have a fun time. Some fish & chips, sight seeing and perhaps a few museums... Think that sounds just along my Grandpop's lines... He is a wonderful old chap and I love him so very much, only wish I had met my Granny. Perhaps my two grannies hang out in heaven and watch us from up there, probably shaking their heads sometimes!

I was very lucky to recieve the most awesome letter ever from my not so telephone chatty dad! I did have to ask him to write me one, but that is okay, because it was the best! I cried nearly the whole way through! I wonder whether I will ever get to live in the same country as my family one day? Wouldn't that be nice? Going on 11 years that I have been apart. I think that is quite ridiculous if you ask me!

Lisa our english friend, who has been living with us the last 5 months or so, is leaving on Saturday. We have had many ups and downs, but a lot of good times, and I think Marty and I will miss her, and it will be sad to say goodbye. Hopefully she will take this experience and grow from it and do something great with her life. Now crazy Zugati will be moving in, and I shall be the mother of the house, no doubt! Ha ha!!! He is 43 and I am his mother!!! At least Marty will be happy having a dude around for a while, I think he goes nuts when there are too many chicks about the house!

Made sadza & stew for dinner tonight! Yummy! Although very fatty I think! Started a 28 day eating plan a while ago and lasted a week, think I just gotta get this big butt down to the gym sometime, because trying to eat less just does not work! I think that when I am older I am going to be a big fat mama! I do warn Marty about this all the time, but he seems content, crazy man! For some reason he just loves me! Who ever knows why sometimes!

Had a panic attack last night, haven't had one for years, it wasn't very nice. Not sure why?! Think I just think about things too much sometimes and then my head feels like it is going to pop. Sometimes I think when you think about some things too deeply you could actually go mental, and then I think I will end up in a mental home and that will be that! See, even now I am thinking about it all too much! STOP!

Alright, think that is it for now. Hope to see some comments, give this crazy bird some advice about her crazy head! Have attached pics of the photo shoot I did, let me know what you think?! Wierd being the photographer these days, but think the modelling days are out of the window now... Turning 29 in a few weeks, and also some 10kgs heavier! Dammit! The joys of contentment! xx Good night all! xx

29th April 2010

I had a lovely weekend away.

As lovely as it could have been I suppose... I made some really big mistakes when I was younger and the effects are a lot worse now than they would have been if I had admitted to them when I was younger. You live and you learn I guess. I certainly have learned...

One of my beautiful friends got married this weekend in Durban. It was a beautiful wedding. She is an amazing girl and has married an amazing guy. What more could she ask for? I was honoured to be there to share her special day. I felt a little spare a lot of the time as I didn't really fit in anymore, but I would have been so sad had I missed it. Things change all of the time, people change, feelings change, friendships change, but love never leaves. Things just change that's all. I will get used to this as time goes on, I know that.

I spent a lot of the time when I was not involved with wedding activities with an amazing lady called Linda. A long lost friend but a true friend and a very special lady. We are so similar in so many ways but have taken such different paths, I think spending time together was good for both of us in very different ways. Thank you darling for a lovely weekend.

Marty and I went off on Monday and enjoyed our B&B voucher in Hout Bay. Gorgeous place called 'Le Marais.' Very french country but gorgeously modern rooms! Loved it and highly recommend it. This weekend has made me realise that I must love the things that I have and hold on to the things I do not want to lose. I am trying to be a better girlfriend and person in every way that I can...

Started a so-called health kick yesterday, it's a 28 day plan, so lets see how I get on... Two years ago I felt more amazing than I ever did before, and somehow I have just let myself slide. It is time I sort myself out, get in shape, feel more confident, not feel so old! I hate feeling as though I am getting old... I feel all panicked at the thought, I am not ready to be a mom, and a wife, and all that jazz... Not just yet, can I please just put it off for another couple of years... Please!?

So the painting in the photo is what I painted for my friends for their wedding present. Pop art. (The other one is Linda & the other, the girls at the hen night!) They loved it (they said they did!) And I hopefully have three more orders, so fingers crossed! I totally enjoyed painting it for them, and hope that I can do more stuff like that! I have only finally today had my inspiration for the order that I am doing for friends in Joburg. It has taken me a while to think of something original and I just had a creative brain wave today, so let's just hope that they love it. I am going to risk it and do it without telling them! Eeek! 2.3m x 1.7m (just a small picture then!?)

Have an interview tomorrow, really hoping it goes well. I am always busy, but I definitely need to bring in some cash soon. Have a few more bookings for 'Afrodizzyacts' but I feel bad hanging at home a lot of the time, and staring at a computer screen for hours on end does get a bit much. Need some activity in my life! Will let you know how it goes.

Time for bed now. Hope all is well in the big wide world. Send some comments my way about the painting! x

20th April 2010

Hello everybody... Hope you all had a good weekend... I am once again in bed pretty early. Am so tired at the moment, think I spend far too much time on the computer everyday and it drains me so much! The problem is, I do so much work, and scouting for work, and finding connections that if I don't go on and I am not working, I feel as though I am being lazy! It is a no win situation!

I am getting to the stage where I feel as though my brain is going to pop! I used to be like this in London, and things changed when I left and I felt a lot less stressed. Now for some reason I think the stress is slowly making its way back! I think I am just trying to do so many things, and don't have enough time you know?!

I am firstly trying to promote my new company 'AFRODIZZYACTS' which of course really needs a website, but I cannot afford to do that right now. I attempted to start making my own one on iweb, which doesn't look too bad, but I reckon it could be done better. I have a lovely friend in Joburg who has offered to help me, which is really kind, but I feel a bit bad asking as I know he is busy too. I then have to get all the information, pictures etc ready to send through to him so we can actually start, so that will be at least a day or two of a mission. I am constantly trying to promote Marty and myself in every way possible, contacting Event Companies, Night Clubs, Restaurants, Bars, Shopping Centres, Hotels, Promotional Agencies - have so many more to get hold of, I haven't even done a quarter of what I am aiming to do. I have however set up a page on facebook, so do have a search for 'Afrodizzyacts' on there and you will be able to see some more pics.

I would also like to get involved in Children's Parties, as we are giant clowns on stilts, I do face painting, teach art to children, and I am sure we could help with the party planning too. As well as hopefully getting some extra baby sitting jobs on the side to make some extra cash, seeing as I do not have a full-time job! We did land a publication in a children's magazine which is being published in May, so fingers crossed that goes well.

I am trying to paint as much as I can too, and trying to find contacts here in Cape Town who would sell some of my art. This is seeming to be a lot harder than it was in London. I have done four paintings so far, and need to spend a day googling every art gallery in Cape Town and sending off my pictures in the hope that one of them at least will put them up for sale. I have a commission of a massive 2.3m x 1.7m painting for friends in Joburg and I am looking forward to doing that. Obviously I will not charge the normal rate as they are mates, but hope to make a little profit anyhow. That is my mission for the month of May. I love painting, and want to continue, but until I find an outlet it is kind of silly filling the flat up with hundreds of brightly coloured crazy paintings!

Oh! I must tell you the good news though! After three weeks of Marty & I sleeping in a single bed, our gorgeous double bed arrived today, and our even more gorgeous charcoal corner couch! The only trouble being the old furniture is still here, once again, fingers crossed that all gets collected tomorrow morning! Then it is just the wait for some money, so we can have some custom made cupboards made (not to worry, have investigated, they are all reasonably priced! If not cheaper than the shops!) We are just getting some white cupboards made for the lounge for all the stilts, fancy dress stuff, art stuff, extra katundoo (african word for junk!) and all my bloody clothes!!! Aaaah!!! (Note... hoarder...Aaah!) We are making a book shelf too and a smaller cupboard for our bedroom.

Okay so the next thing is, the photography world. I still love my photography and I am keen to set up my own wedding photography business but that is a whole other ball game! I know I can do it, and that I am capable, but this is the trouble when you do so many things! It is really good money, but with all the other stuff going on in my life, I just don't seem to be able to focus on that fully. I must try a bit harder in this area though. I went on a book binding course last weekend and very proudly made a beautiful book out of recycled paper which could be a photo album, diary, or anything of the sort. So I could take the pictures, edit the pictures, make the album and have a whole package. Then comes the problem that I need to buy a new flash gun, photoshop for my Apple ($$$ lots of bucks,) add more to my non-existant website, gain some more confidence and make a name for myself... Lots to do hey!?

Marty and I are hopefully doing an advert next week which should be decent money, and then there are a couple more things bubbling for May. Then of course it is the World Cup! Lets hope all that goes well. I don't suppose I will be able to focus on anything permanent or too serious until all that is over, but by then I may pop to London for a while, so crikey, think this year is just going to be a crazy, higgledy piggeldy year! Let's just hope it is loads and loads of fun and that we do end up making some decent money!

I know there must be at least another seven thousand things that I am doing that keeps me busy, and my overloaded mind working on high speed! Trying to exercise, eat healthier (am getting rather porky me thinks!) Writing this blog, trying to keep in touch with all my friends & family, possibly becoming a comedian's right hand man, organising cupboards to be built, organising my crazy props to be built, looking for jobs, advertising myself in every area I can think of (that is relevant to me of course!) Trying to keep on top of the flat in London, and hope that is running smoothly, day dreaming about all the great places I still want to go and see, and how I am going to do it!? Trying to be as good at this girlfriend thing as I can be. Washing, cleaning, tidying, organising, cooking, shopping, trying to stop smoking, watching my two favourite TV shows each week (and not missing them by planning other stuff which I always seem to do!) Looking out for cool fun stuff that is happening in Cape Town, buying tickets, not feeling as though I am missing London... Trying to save money as I have so many things I still need to buy for this flat, for my company... Man... There is so much crap that just swirls around my head! I am not even reading enough, and that was the one thing I was hoping to do more in Africa, I never had time in London. At least I can say that I am a go-getter, and let's just hope that one day I will land my big break! Perhaps then I will calm down a little?!

I have attached pics from our job on Saturday... Human Tables... great fun, but my design is 100 times better... I nearly broke my back! Thank goodness I have an hourly rate! Ciao for now! The crazy woman!

16th April 2010

Pheuw.... Who is a tired girl? Me.... Pheuwee...... snore... snore...!!!

Went to bed far too late and got up far too early! So now I am just tucked in my bed catching up on all the internet business. Not to worry it is not all play, I work on here too! (I do!)

Marty and I were grabbed by a gay nun on Friday night who was outside of a bar in Long Street called Julep! Marty tried to escape but I was intrigued. Turns out this nun is a comedian, who would have guessed? (Note of sarcasm there! x) Sister Mary James is the name, and he is hilarious. We were convinced into buying two tickets for his show which was last Monday, and of course, me being the BIGGEST sucker in the world when it comes to someone selling stuff, we got two tickets! Marty was only slightly touched up, bum, thighs, tummy, biceps, nothing seriously major! Much to my amusement and his panic, and fear!!! Hee hee!!! I am a terrible girlfriend! Like when we are walking around a really gay area, I make him walk in front of me, just to see who checks him out... Hilarious stuff!!! It is only because he is so gorgeous, it is actually a compliment! xx

So basically we popped down to the show, which was great, and I shall do my best to promote it. I love spur of the minute things, and I love doing new and completely random things. It is the best way to live, and the best way to learn. We had a great evening, and needless to say Marty and I were picked on the most, I was called up to sing 'your the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh honey!' With ol' Sister Mary James! Funny, funny, funny! At the end of the evening a few of us went and had some sushi and chinese... (ooooh I am hungry...) And I was asked whether or not I would be interested in becoming the hilarious gay nun's protege! (sp?)

Me? A comedian, well I never!? I would like to think that I am quite funny and that my accents are rather good, but it is always when I am pissed! Sober stuff... No no no!!! Although, you never say never do you?! I didn't think I could act, and I got the part in a play called 'Scrubbers' and I succeeded in learning all the lines for a 90 minute play! I never thought I could do that, or not be shy doing something like that but I did it... So you know what?! I am going to give this comedian protege thing a go! We have rehearsals on Sunday... Eeek!

We won an auction for a dinner, bed & breakfast at a hotel in Hout Bay worth R1500, and we got it for R350, so very chuffed, we need a little romantic break! It will be lovely! Marty hasn't even been to Hout Bay yet! Think my beady eyes at everyone else bidding did the trick!!! Ha ha!!!

Busy old week it has been, did a very cool thing this week, but have to wait a couple weeks before I can say what it is... Marty and I are working on Saturday at the Roundhouse in Camps Bay tomorrow as human tables! Looking forward to it! We are doing an advert on the 2nd of May on stilts and then have very exciting things happening for the World Cup. Won't spill the beans just yet as I do not want to jinx it, but lets just say all you folk around the world, look out for us on TV!!! Woo hoo!!!!

Off to Durban next week for one of my beautiful friend's weddings, can't wait and then the month of May is dedicated to painting a HUGE painting (2.3m x 1.7m) for some Joburgites! So that shall be a big job, but very exciting!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Catch you all soon. Mwah xx

Pictures:-

Marty & I doing a granny & grandpa act at Vortex, just outside Cape Town.

Me doing fire at the Afrikadabra party a few weeks ago at the Castle here in Cape Town.

Human Table... Love it!

Marty & I being human statues at a birthday party at the Butterfly Studios here in Cape Town.

Marty & Sister Mary James!!!

9th April 2010

Man.......

Sometimes I think that we were actually born to be on our own.... I find it so difficult trying to share my life with someone else?! How come so many people make relationships and marriages and all that jazz look so easy?! It is such a crazy thing?!

I have a wonderful boyfriend and I love him to bits, but gosh.... I find this stuff all just too much sometimes!

Perhaps we are all actually just mean't to be single, and have lots of friends rather than picking that one person, and saying, okay your it mate!? Why is it like this?! With all my little OCDness, my bossiness and my control freakness, I seriously think I am mean't to be alone... I don't know how or why Marty or anyone in particular wants to put up with all my nonsense sometimes... I really think I would be better off alone.... I could just be friends with everyone that way and then life would be swell...

Don't get me wrong though, I am not saying it in a sad and miserable way... I am just trying to grasp all this relationship stuff. I have had only one serious relationship in the past I would say. Although when I look back now, I guess I was still young and didn't know anything different. I now live with my boyfriend, do almost everything with him, have to deal with every little thing that comes with all this malarky... Its nuts! He is not me, and I am not him, so how do you make it work?!

I like to have things done how I like them done. I am right in everything that I decide to do. (Most of the time!) I don't want anyone telling me what to do. I just want to get on with the things I want to get on with. How do you fit someone else in, and their needs, and then my needs, and that other thing called 'our' needs... It really is a lot of work! It is not an easy thing I tell you....

Once again, I am absolutely not dissing Marty one bit, I am just trying to understand the whole concept of relationships, why we have them, what the point is... etc etc...

It is times like these that I just wish I knew all the answers, what the point of everything is you know?! I have done some stupid, stupid stuff in my life so far, and I am not even really old yet am I?! How have I managed to do such stupid things? Why didn't I ever think about the consequences? What on earth did I benefit from any of it?! I have no idea... I honestly don't.... I just have no idea about a lot of stuff a lot of the time.

I hope there are other people out there who feel the same? I hope it is not just me and my slight madness that makes me think about things like this... I have been told several times that I think about stuff too much, but I can't help that! How do you stop your mind thinking about things?! I persevere with everything... I am happy most of the time... I have a wonderful boyfriend who does adore me... I adore him too.... I like Cape Town... I miss London... I hope that this is the correct path I have chosen.... I wish I was still 22 and not nearly 29..... I wish I had all the time in the world.... I wish I didn't have to get old... I wish wrinkles never existed... I wish food wasn't fattening... I wish I had pockets of money... I wish so many things.... But mainly I wish that I could get my head together and understand all this love & life business.....

Perhaps then I would be okay?

Perhaps there are people out there who think about stuff just the way I do?

Perhaps I should stop thinking about stuff as much as I do?

What do you reckon?

1st April 2010

I cannot believe how much stuff I have... It is ridiculous! I am a proper hoarder... (Hope that is how you spell it?!)

I shipped 25 boxes from London... 25!!! Isn't that the most absurdly ridiculous thing you have ever heard?! For goodness sakes, I am only 28... I have seven million pairs of shoes, clothes, clothes, clothes, some I haven't even worn for years... I have jewellery, earrings, bracelets, hats, socks, scarves, head bands, bra's, underwear, stockings... More than enough for at least 20 people!

I have magnets, magnets, magnets (I love my magnets though!) I have a magnet from every single place I have been, but not just the country magnets, even the state magnets...

Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Egypt, Jordan, Dubai, Israel, South Korea, Australia - Perth - Sydney -Melbourne - Great Ocean Road, Jamaica, America - Las Vegas - Phoenix - New York, England (won't even name all the England ones as that is just ridiculous!) Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Brussels, France, Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain - Madrid - Ibiza - Menorca -Majorca, Canary Islands - Tenerife - Gran Caneria, Italy - Venice - Florence - Bologna - Pisa, Greece - Athens - Ios - Paros - Naxos - Spetses - Mykonos, Portugal... That is all I can remember now! Think that is it?!

(Perhaps I sound like I am showing off a bit, but it is also nice for me to write it all down and see what I have done!) Ooooooh... That is why I miss being in London! It is so easy to pop to Europe you know?! Guess I can now do the African countries! I still haven't been to Namibia and that is pretty close to Cape Town. There is this huge festival in Tanzania in August which hopefully we will work at?! That would be awesome! I would also like to go to Malawi... It is mean't to be gorgeous... There is definitely lots to do here, we just need to save some money now hey?!

Back to the crazy hoarding.... Now that I am pretty much a professional performer (yay!) I have cupboards full of fancy dress stuff, head pieces, wigs, masks, eye-lashes, feathers (and more feathers,) accessories, bags of stilt pants, angel wings, butterfly wings, belts, crazy cat-suits... It is like a bloody fancy dress shop in our apartment at the moment!

We bought a couch and a bed last week which have not yet arrived. I cannot wait to get rid of all this old mismatching furniture... I will feel so much happier! Although it does not end there because I need LOTS of cupboard space, so cannot wait till we can afford it all. We will have to have a giant cupboard and book shelf in the lounge for extra storage! I feel as though we are just staying in this apartment, but it is not yet ours you know?!

Then there is the painting that I do, the paint, the glitter, the stones, the glue, the paintbrushes, the canvas, the art books, the spray paint... That takes up a WHOLE lot of space, and needless to say we have my paintings plonked all over the house!

You don't even want me to get started on the books.... Aaaaaah! I swear I could start my own library... That is what happens when you work in publishing houses... I worked at two during my stay in London, so cheap books.... Therefore.... Natalie goes completely OVERBOARD! I tried to calculate the other day just how long it would take for me to read all my books, it would be years and years... And that was working on an average read, when sometimes I don't read for months! Too busy doing other stuff to actually relax and read... I really need to sort out my time management....

Then of course, there are the African sculptures, masks, drums, chairs... I already have more than enough here, and I left most of it in London! I guess you could say that I am proud to be an African, but man oh man, there is no need! I live in Africa again now, so perhaps I need to stop that collection....

I started collecting plates as well as magnets (and badges - for my backpack) when I first started travelling, but luckily stopped that a few countries ago... I think that is my mothers fault... She has plates on her wall and I guess I thought I could do the same, but for goodness sake it is not necessary! Magnets are more than enough!

Why am I like this I wonder?! I hate it! It stresses me out, it makes me feel clogged down you know?! It is a huge responsibility and I need to sort myself out soon, or else I will be on one of the 'Clean your house' shows.... Please NO!!! I honestly think I have OCD you know?! I am like that with my food too?! I hate people eating my food, using my things, making mess, I am very pedantic with all most everything... It is ANNOYING!!! Does anyone have any advice for me?! I could honestly do with some right now... We do not have enough space in our new apartment, and I need to learn how to get rid of things, and break down the clutter in my life, because I tell you what, I am sure I will be happier?!

Looking forward to the tips peeps! Come on... Get busy!

xx Happy Easter for this weekend too! xx

31st March 2010

1st of April tomorrow, can you even believe it? That is ridiculous.

So... I am feeling a little worse for wear today. Had a friend of a friend come to Cape Town for a holiday, from Alaska mind you! So we all went out for dinner and then a whole lot of drinks & shots & drinks & shots! Thank goodness today of all days, I do not have a proper job. I felt so sorry for Marty this morning having to get up early and head off to work. Think I will have to cook him a lovely yummy dinner tonight so that he is happy!

It has been a very busy and productive week though, and I am finally getting my visa application running smoothly. I definitely need to get that done as soon as possible, so that I can have at least one semi normal job... It is just better that way I think! I went for an interview at a very fancy hotel at the Waterfront, and they want me to get in touch when I am 'legal.' Fingers crossed that it will be a success. I think I would actually enjoy working in a hotel you know? Lots of people around, lots of tourists, I would definitely enjoy it. (Maybe some free food?! Hee hee!)

I do so wish I just had one thing that I was interested in doing, all these crazy odd things that I do... painting, writing, photography, dancing, fire dancing (and now breathing I might add!) stilt walking, human tables, human statues, angle grinding, face painting, babysitting, care work.... It is just ridiculous! Why can't I be a normal person, and focus on one thing?! I suppose the one good thing is that (it is not good) I cannot model anymore, due to the 10kgs that appeared last year at some stage in various places... Very depressing stuff... I keep trying to run, dance, do crazy things, but nothing seems to be shifting... Maybe this is it... I am getting old, and I have passed my best years, and now I am middle aged.... Aaaaah! Seriously?! That can't be happening?! Please....?! I really was hoping for just a few more years you know?! At least four?! Before I have to face getting old.... What is going on?!

Getting pretty settled here it seems, often can't believe that I am no longer in London, but I am happy and life ticks on you know?! My little sister is heading back to London, I hope she enjoys herself, meets some new and amazing people, and travels the world a little more. Gosh I miss her, and my mummy & daddy! I guess I always will. Wonder when I will see my brother again too... If only Zimbabwe was a better country and we could all live there like the rest of the world can? It is so unfair you know?! Lets just hope one day we can all be together, even if it is just for a little while...

Pics on this blog is of my new artwork that is for sale here in Cape Town.