Briony French

Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened?

2013-03-13T11:51:00.001+02:00

Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened?: Watch this recently aired BBC documentary Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened? The film attempts to give the most complete picture of what may have happened in the early hours of February 14th.

Dear Mr President and all your Advisors

2012-09-21T14:24:00.001+02:00

Dear Mr President and all your Advisors

5 Months in Hell

2012-07-25T08:20:00.000+02:00

Beware when renting property…

I am writing this to all of you to make you as aware as I am now. At the End of January this year my landlord had informed me that he needed to take occupancy of his home back and that I had to move.

So myself and a friend decided let’s get a house together instead of us living in two separate flats. This sounded like a great idea because technically we should save together instead living separately. So we missioned to find a house. We searched all the property places on the internet, Property24, Private Property, GumTree, and then the local papers.

I went and saw some very small pokey places claiming one thing in the ad, and wow some owners really have delusions of grandeur when it comes to the price of a property. Mind you it is also the market. So we looked at some really nice houses and some really nasty ones. But there was one house in Vorna Valley that we just fell for. But it wasn’t the house it was the garden we fell for should I say.

It seemed perfect, 4 beds, maid’s quarters (if we ever wanted to get a domestic), lapa, pool, even jungle gyms for all our friends’ children. It was going for R10,500 per month excluding water and lights. We jumped at the house, we signed all the legal documentation, paid the deposit and the rent and the place was ours…

We took occupancy the Saturday the 25^th February 2012, giving my old landlord also time to move back into his home. We off loaded the trucks and bakkies and started trying to find each piece of furniture’s new home.

In the first hour we discovered our dream home had plumbing issues, we would flush the toilets and nothing would go down, we would run the tap and water wouldn’t empty out the basin, shower, or bath. So we spoke to the new landlady, informing her of this issue. That night we went to bed and my buddy battled to sleep as she is a light sleeper and there was something in the ceiling. She told me the next morning and I said I heard nothing as I am a very heavy sleeper. Needless to say I went home after work and heard the noises myself; on a closer examination outside I could see rats/ mice tails sticking out of the roof where the tiles and wall meet.

Again we informed the owner, we also then filled out a snag list of all the issues within the house when we took occupancy, we were supposed to get a copy of the owners and previous tenants list but for some reason we never did. Probably because they were not done by them. As you can see by the list we listed many things wrong.

After being promised that these things would be amended we continued to unpack and prepared to live in this house, looking back now I ask myself why? But in that moment we took the landladies words on good faith that she was keen to keep us as her tenants and keep her home in a good order. Boy were we wrong.

The plumbers that came out were not your normal run of the mill plumbing service like Rotor-rooter or something. This was two very old very over weight Afrikaans boys who arrived with a plunger to remove roots from the plumbing and it ended up taking them over 3 hours to this job instead of it taking a max of 30 minutes.

The landladies ex husband/ boyfriend came over to fix the lapa lights and threw rat poison in the ceiling and slowly the rats ate that and started to die… once the silence came so did the smell of rotting rats and mice in our ceiling, Maggots started falling through the light fittings in the lounge and this started happening the day before we opened our home to our friends so they could see our home. Spraying doom frantically to kill the maggots hoping none would fall onto our guests….

Our House warming was the 31^st March and the night before Johannesburg and Pretoria had a freak storm and we woke up to 5 cm of water in our house, Ruining the TV cabinet, the power had tripped, and we had no idea the extent to the damage of the electrical appliances yet, we let the Landlady know and she came over to see what she could do. We started mopping up and trying to save what we could of the furniture.

Her plan was to knock a hole through the wall. Making the water run upstream (which doesn’t normally happen) up the gradient, over the step and down the drive way instead of straight into the lounge. What a joke? Anyways, the only way I proved this theory unsound was with the hose pipe as it never rained again whilst we stayed there to test my theory on its failure. Anyways, just before I forget no, maggots didn’t fall on anyone but did fall on the couch and were noticed.

That night when we tried to put on the lights they didn’t come on, I assumed it was water from the rain or the rats from before. Then we discovered my T.V didn’t work, obviously it didn’t work it got fried between the water and electricity, thankfully I bought an extended warranty with my TV which was two years old. That extended warranty allowed me the privileged of having my TV inspected by the maker to see if it was fixable, to be fixed if fixable, or replaced. The mother board had fried and so on the TV wasn’t fixable. So I had to get replacement T.V.

Then I tried to use my iBurst internet which is another blog all on its own, but it didn’t work due to signal and well I wasn’t and am still not about to purchase some extra booster without knowing and seeing it working, seeing as I bought into their product originally without seeing it or knowing it working and it doesn’t... So from experience I don’t trust them. Anyways... so we noticed there was a Telkom plug in the main room, so we asked the owner was there a phone and would she put the fixture in place and we will pay the rental and the internet we then got to go with the line. She asked us to do all the leg work, do all the research and we did it, hoping that spoon feeding would move it along and basically making it so that she only had to Call Telkom and order the line... But finally when it came down to it, she pleaded poverty, saying she is a single mom, and if we want it so bad we must pay for it and just cancel the line when we leave... This response did not impress us, why would we add features to someone else’s home?

Then my friend plugged her pc in and it too started beeping and wouldn’t work, so she took it to her office and asked the I.T guys there to have a look at it and guess what??? The mother board is fried. So now she has to upgrade and replace the parts damaged by the power surge.

When we again tried to speak to the owner about the issues still un-resolved she gave us an ultimatum, which usually blow up in people’s faces, anyways, our options were foot stoets and or leave, so we gave her our notice for the end of June. We also contacted Alan Levy Attorneys after I did some research online about the new Consumer Protection Act, as well as our normal rights as tenants.

I came across The Estate AgencyAffairs Board website, and there they have a page where you can type in the estate agency that did your lease and who we dealt with from them, the agent. Not to my surprise they weren’t registered. So I began the process of asking them to do an investigation. Sending them all the proof and documentation plus we took photographs of the house, and all the other problems us to girls never saw when we looked at the house. Exposed wiring, shoddy roof and wiring work. Quoting the handyman saying,” this house probably isn’t earthed and he doesn’t think it’s safe.” Alan Levy wrote us a letter informing the owner and Rental agent of our notice and that we had the right to take matters up legally and are awaiting our request to proceed.

Again we had to search for a home, trolling the internet websites, seeing lots of houses, and discovered a little treasure closer to what we feel is civilisation after our experience in Midrand. This time we paid more attention to the house, and less to the garden, all we looked at was size for our two puppies.

Since we have moved we have been hassled and had accusations of theft of something we have no clue what they speaking of, I have gladly offered to take a polygraph test at the owners expense to prove our innocence in their so called accusations, as well basically requesting hand outs from us. We have also been informed that the Estate Agency Affairs Board is doing a full investigation into the going on of the rental agency that keeps changing names every time this house has a new tenant.

All I ask of all of you looking at a home. No matter buying or renting, Know a lil about your rights, I know you think you do but really most of us don’t. Do your homework, make sure where you’re moving to allows what you currently have to continue to work or run, i.e. Internet, mobile phone signal and so on. Also really look around before you sign that offer to purchase or that lease. Make sure you have checked inside the ceiling, wiring is a big thing, you don’t unwanted fires, or sorting/ power surging, also view the house more than once. Go as many times as you want. Take pictures. Don’t take a home on face value. You will be sorry.

Go onto the Estate Agency Affairs Board website and check to see if the agent is registered and actually allowed to work. Instead of someone de- frauding you. Also use the internet to Google the agent or agency you’re dealing with. If they legit they have a website, business cards with a registration number on them, There name will come up on property searches, use Facebook to see if you are dealing with someone who says who they say they are.

Good luck, may your home experiences be better than this one.

Property24 has an article on knowing your rights as a tenant, I suggest you read this as well.Knowing your rights

Reflective gear for our pets

2012-07-10T09:02:00.000+02:00

This last weekend I went shopping for curtains for the new house I just moved into, and I came across what I think is a brilliant idea...one I wished I had around when I was growing up. Maybe just maybe many lives could have been saved and many tears saved.

Its a Bow Miaow flouorescent pet vest! Thats right... a pet vest like what I as a biker wear so motorist can see me in the early hours of the morning.

I had to buy one, for my sister, especially as she had to put her beloved cat down last week because someone didnt see him. Whether he was in the road, under their car or behind it, either way he wasnt seen and the person broke his paws and fractured his hips. The operation would have cost R15 000. When weighing up his age, quality of life after the operation, it was decided to put him to sleep. Would Tigger Thomas James Taylor be alive today if he was wearing this reflective jacket, most probably... so I purchased this vest for my sisters other cat Stark who is a black and white Tuxedo cat.

Today we put this very clever jacket on Stark and he darted around the room and collapsing on his side as cats do when something is around them. It was very entertaining to watch, but slowly they get used to it.

Where to find this great discovery?

Mr Price Home, they are R49.99 which is nothing to help make our furry friends and family members more visible to everyone at night.

Can cannabis cure cancer?

2012-05-15T07:21:00.001+02:00

Can cannabis cure cancer?: I've never been one to shy away from controversy. A useful attribute to possess in a country like South Africa.

Video: Saving dolphins on a beach in Brazil

2012-05-08T11:38:00.001+02:00

Video: Saving dolphins on a beach in Brazil

ToxiNews: Gross wages of SA government employees higher than...

2012-05-07T13:24:00.001+02:00

ToxiNews: Gross wages of SA government employees higher than...: When this happens to a country it spells the end of the economy. South Africa is busy sinking under the weight of the public service. ...

You know there is something wrong when....

2012-04-18T07:10:00.000+02:00

You know there is something wrong when....

When you have to wait 5 hours for an ambulance to try save a life only to have to wait another 4 hours for the hearse because the ambulance didn’t get there in time. Sick to think about, isn’t it?

Well sadly this is the reality of a person in South Africa without medical aid, and you can’t classify this person into any class or race as anyone will tell you the first place people cut back on in tough times are medical aid, insurance and so on. Sadly this story is one of my other mom, the mom that brought me up when my biological mom had to go to work, and no this was not a lesbian relationship my other mom is my mom’s domestic worker Catherine. The mom who’s been in my life as that role since I was two and a half, who now that I am out the house I see played a huge part in who I am today. Which is why I can’t just accept what I am about to share with you.

On Sunday the 15^th April Elizabeth Radebe was released from hospital and came to stay with her mother Catherine who resides with my mother in Sandton Johannesburg, as her live in domestic of over 30 years. Today Tuesday the 17^th April, Catherine came to my mom and sister and said Elizabeth doesn’t look well and she thinks she must call an ambulance. My mom gave her the 10111 number because Elizabeth didn’t have medical aid.

Catherine first started dialling 10111 at 7 am this morning. At some stage she finally managed to get hold of someone and request an ambulance. This was when her wait began... she waited and waited, but Elizabeth couldn’t wait any longer and passed away in her mom’s single bed. Catherine had to wait till 11:20 before the ambulance finally arrived, only after having to walk up to the Gallo Manor Police station to ask them to call the mortuary.

The death piece of paper that the ambulance emergency staff left Catherine and her deceased daughter declares her deceased at 11:47. Which is when I got notified of what had happened? I being the closest left work to go and be there for her. We sat there waiting and waiting.

At 15:45 the hearse finally arrived, and removed Elizabeth’s lifeless body from her mother’s bed. I’m sorry I cannot see how anyone can think this is okay? Would Elizabeth have lived if 10111 wasn’t always engaged? If the ambulance had come when initially called? If she hadn’t been discharged from hospital? Whose fault is it that there are two sons with no mother or father? Why is it that our health system stinks so bad one really can’t actually say where they need to start because it’s all collapsed? Is it the governments fault that money isn’t being used for what it meant to be?

This same day the 17^th April, In Sunninghill a taxi had an interesting incident where he was speeding and the traffic light changed and to avoid hitting cars and going through the intersection of LeeuKop and Witkoppen, (DRA Corner),he ramped up the embankment and straight into a telephone line and then slide into the storm drain. When myself and a colleague went to go see what happened and take a photograph because how often do you see a taxi in a storm drain? She started speaking to all the people around and found out that this happened an hour ago and they awaiting someone to help the driver who needed to be checked out. I went back to work and when I heard the fire trucks I went out again and had a look see at their work. They attended to the driver and looked at the accident and tried to figure out probable possible ways to retrieve the vehicle from the drain.

Basically what I want to know is what is up with our Emergency services.... not even the private ones are up to scratch. When someone calls this service it’s because of an emergency, accident, death, shooting, house robbery, How is it okay to allow a traumatised and grieving mother to sit with her dead child’s body all day? Imagine how insignificant she felt and how she has now been shown that life isn’t precious, no one cares, if you have money then you might have more chance of survival than someone without money. Seriously? Is this our reality? Is the man on the street nothing more than some sort of pimp for the ANC government to use in election time? There is clearly no response team unless you’re someone in government.

Everyone has a right to life; a right to have someone believe your life is worth saving.

There is something seriously sick in the world when people are left for hours on end to stare at the cold lifeless body of someone they love dearly because no one but them sees the urgency in this. There is no respect or regard for the living, nor the dead in South Africa.

I want to know for the public;

1. How many people die a day waiting for emergency services to arrive?

2. How many people die due to poor medical conditions in hospital as well as Doctors?

3. How many South Africans really have medical aid and how many really don’t?

4. Is this conducive to a healthy happy country?

5. Are our lives being lost because our standard of education is lower than it’s ever been?

I want to hear how many other people have suffered because of poor health care on the part of our government? I want to know how many people have suffered at the same hands of our murdering ANC government. This is pure Negligence.

Speak up, let’s be heard. Take a stand! For yourself, a friend, a family member, a work colleague. No one deserves to be disregarded like I witnessed today.

Today I am embarrassed and disgusted to be a South African Citizen. No one should have to wait Five hours for an ambulance and the four hours for a hearse. I don’t care who it is.

Other related articles I have found of complaints againts 10111:

IOL

News24

The Tokoloshe

2012-01-20T04:59:00.000+02:00

The Tokoloshe: 400 years ago Africa might as well been another planet in our solar system.

ZARFEST

2012-01-19T19:07:00.000+02:00

When i heard that Lil Kim, Ciara and Timberland were coming to South Africa and all performing together, I was totally amped and informed my friends that enjoyed this type of music and off we went to Computicket to go and book our tickets. We were extremely worried as we were buying our tickets a day before the concert.

We were very surprised to be able to still get tickets and we each paid our R500 per ticket. The 3rd of June was the day of the concert, and we created a group for ZARFEST where we could share our excitement, and the whole day we were going on and on about how awesome this was gonna be.

We all got to our meeting spot which was a mates house where we all got ready together and worked each other up about Timberland and Ciara, the rest we weren’t so excited for but thought we were scoring, R500 for Lil Kim, Ciara, Timberland, Fat Joe and Dj Scratch.... What a line up seriously.

What a score....

Before we knew it, it was time for us to head on over to the Coca-cola Dome in Northgate, we drove into the parking lot and were shocked... What? Where are all the cars, We checked our tickets we are on time, so we go right up to the Dome and see cars and people and shew the concerts still on. YAY!!!!

We park, empty out what we don’t need from our pockets and head for the gates, we prepare to be searched and have our tickets torn as we get closer to the door... Excitement levels are so high.... and then we walk into the Dome, and they had Barricaded up half the dome, to push the crowd forward... hmmm... was this a bad marketed concert? Well the answer is yes.

Ticket sales were very poor and I’m sure the organiser Kenny Kunene for Club Zar lost millions in doing this whole thing and I keep thinking to myself why? Why didn’t you get a promoter? You could have made a killing. Once the ticket is sold the money is there.

It wouldn’t have mattered if this was probably one of South Africa’s poorest put together concert ever, and to be honest I don’t think the artists when they saw the outcome, took it seriously and didn’t put in their best show effort, Fat Joe and his entourage were off and out and no one could hear much, Lil Kim, well i don’t know... she seemed off too, maybe Rapping isn’t meant to be live, maybe it was a sound issue. I’m not really sure, Ciara came out and looked like she wasn’t singing but lip singing... and Timberland, well let’s just say we left whilst he was on. The performer was DJ Scratch and why, because it was just music.

The 10 minute sound checks between artists also seemed a lil tacky and to be perfectly frank the whole thing was a big disappointment for everyone who attended the concert, and I’m pretty sure it was for even Kenny and the artists that came.

Next time in my opinion get a promoter, and go BIG!!! People want to see these artists. Just do it properly...

Sites:

• Kenny Kunene

• Briony French

• Computicket

• Lil Kim

• Ciara

• Timberland

• Fat Joe

• Coca-Cola Dome

• DJ Scratch

1984

2012-01-19T18:37:00.000+02:00

This is the title of Josie Field’s third album which I attended her launch at Tings and Times at 1065 Arcadia street Hatfield Pretoria.

Now me being into music, found it kind of weird that Josie slipped under my radar before, but since meeting Josie and then going to her launch made me realise the amazing talent this young South African is.

She isn’t how you expect someone of her stature to be. She isn’t pompous or full of herself like so many other local celebrities, she is actually very down to earth and true to herself and after now hearing her music and watching her perform, her music is true to her, and expression of who she is. I was proudly South African listening to Josie Field sing songs off her latest and greatest album 1984.

I was very impressed when she opened with a ukulele (small guitar) and then in the next song she changed to an acoustic guitar and then later moved onto an electric. Josie Field captivates her audience with her charm and character, and then lures them in with her incredible voice. I can’t express to any of you how blown away I was by this South African gem on an artist.

Josie Field is so much of a gem, she was also nominated for SAMA (South African Music Awards) in categories such as Best Female and Best Adult Contemporary in English for her Leyland album in 2009 and in 2010 she got a MK Award nomination for her music video “Law of attraction”

Josie Field also opened for British talent James Blunt in 2008, who will be visiting our shores soon again, and I can’t help but wonder if she will get the honor again.

Josie Field’s first Album Mercury came out in 2006 and then her second album Leyland in 2008, and now in 2011 we get her third album which is 1984, labelled this because it’s the year she was born and her album was released on her actual birthday in March. Since then Josie Field has been traveling throughout South Africa, doing lives gigs and showing off her new album 1984.

Josie Filed is back up by some brilliant talent behind her, Max Lehr on Drums, Warren Leicher on all guitars and bass and Kevin.

As I have read somewhere in doing some research on Josie Field, Someone put it as Field who may have her roots in South Africa but is perfectly poised to move onto the world stage. I think there right. Go out and check out her album and if you don’t have her previous ones buy them to. I can promise you, you won’t regret it at all.

If you keen to see Josie Field and her band live join her Facebook page, Go visit their website, or keep an eye out for one of their gigs. You won’t regret it, unless you don’t book a table. Go out and buy her albums and support Local talent.

Josie Field, Thank you for another brilliant album, you and your boys Rock. Keep making South Africa and the rest of the world proud of who you are.

Websites:

Tings & Times:

1065 Arcadia street Hatfield Pretoria

+2712 430 3176/7

Moving on up

2012-01-19T17:35:00.001+02:00

At the end of last month, I took myself on a path to freedom, a path of moving out of my mother’s property and into my own home, and what a stressful adventure I have been on.

I started firstly in November of last year seriously looking for a place of my own, trailing the local papers and the internet for places to see, for a home to be mine. So after scouring the internet for 3 months i came across a site called Gum tree .This site became my favourite and the one to lead me directly to my home. Every day in January I sent out requests to ads;” Is this place still available and is it pet friendly.”

It’s amazing how many companies advertise or have sites on the internet that they don’t maintain. Websites with no updates in ages, request never answered. Another thing I discovered is that majority of these are NOT pet friendly. Which to me is sad, every child should grow up with a pet as far as I am concerned.

Anyway, after sending out many enquiries, I got some responses and the first place I went to go check out I took because I loved it so much. It’s a stunning home with a view of Sunninghill in Johannesburg.

Then I started to go through my boxes in my mother’s garage and check and take stock of my belongings I moved in with. A lot had disappeared. So I started I decided to start with the kitchen. So I visited the Home stuff store in Bright Water Commons in Randburg Johannesburg. They are reasonably priced and you can find almost everything. I got quite over whelmed with all the stuff one needs to think of for the kitchen, that I started thinking about the rest of the stuff I would need too for the rest of my home.

Then as it drew closer for me to move I started thinking about the actual move. I started packing my stuff and clothes into boxes I had gotten from Pick n Pay, I started thinking do I go with a removal company, how much does it cost? But as soon as I told people I was moving it was amazing how many people offered to help me moved, from friends to co workers. So i collected my team of movers and we moved in three hours. Not bad, right? Well it took me two days to un pack completely.

And now I am hunting for the perfect couches for my new home, and I’m looking at Mega Couch and Furniture city as these are the two closest furniture stores from my office, another thing I haven’t done is have a home cooked meal yet in my home, why you ask, well because I don’t have pots, the one thing I forgot in my overwhelming shop in the Home stuff shop in Bright water commons.

Another thing I had to do when I moved into my own home was take out household insurance and for quotes I visited Hippo so that they could get me quotes and the one I went with was First for woman. I was very impressed with the fact that it took 30 minutes on the phone from a call they make to you, and after that your insured immediately. It’s great cos now it’s one less thing to worry about.

Links:

• Gum Tree

• Hippo

• First for woman

• Furniture city

• Mega Couch

• Furniture Removal on Yellow pages:

• Bright Water Commons:

Home Stuff store: G58/U107 Bright Water Commons Republic Road in Randburg Johannesburg

(Tel) 011 886 8124

(Email) alok@iafrica.com

And they open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Gays: Facts, myths and religious prejudice

2012-01-19T06:32:00.000+02:00

Gays: Facts, myths and religious prejudice: I could not help but notice the massive amounts of prejudice, misconceptions and ignorance towards the sexual orientation of people.

The Battle for the Carcass of the African National Congress

2012-01-19T06:31:00.000+02:00

The Battle for the Carcass of the African National Congress

La Vie en Rose gets my two thumbs up

2012-01-17T06:08:00.000+02:00

I have just come home from an amazing, romantic journey with my girlfriend to this beautiful restaurant on the boarder of Sandhurst and Illovo called La Vie en Rose. This calm garden setting with white and bits of pink tables leaves you feeling at peace and relaxed.

The feeling of coming home when going out just created this feeling of nursery just without all the plants accept the ones that were naturally there. Greeted by friendly, warm, smiling faces as we waited seated on a white leather lounge suite under the blue Joburg sky for our table. The gracious owner Yanky is such a great guy.

We were seated at table under this big tree in the garden where it was so nice to be able to smoke in the open air and not be caged in by fishbowl where we smokers feel like a show. The tables are well distance from each other giving you the feeling of privacy and space, which added to me feeling extremely comfortable there.

Once seated, I noticed our knives and forks tied together in a pink ribbon placed on side plate beside me. I ordered the, Classic burger and my girlfriend had, the unusual 69 day salad. Both meals arrived and where really large portions. All I can say is I have never tasted such delicious tasting burger in all my 31 years of living. It was huge and with every bite you could taste all the different herbs in the meat. Even though when we arrived I had just before eaten a Wimpy breakfast. So I wasn’t very hungry but with each bite of this burger I wanted more. I shocked myself and managed to finish my entire meal and then still made space for desert. We had the Tiramisu and the Tickle pink 32 which is very creamy strawberry and vanilla ice cream.

Between the great food, beautiful company, and homely feel and friendly staff and owners, I give the La Vie en Rose my two thumbs up, and I recommend that you should give this place a try next time you feel like lunch or breakfast. They Open from 7am to 5pm, Tuesday - Sunday. Open Thursday evenings for dinner and there available for private functions in the evenings. They are fully licensed and have ample safe parking.

You can find La Vie en Rose at 48 Melville Road corner of Ferguson Illovo.

For more information please visit there site La Vie en Rose or call them on 011 268 6144. You won’t regret visiting this one, I most certainly didn’t and I am even trying to think who I can take the next time I visit this gorgeous secret garden restaurant in the heart of our big Johannesburg city.

Liquid Chefs – The Zone Rosebank

2011-12-14T09:55:00.000+02:00

Address: The Zone 2, Rosebank, Thwyitt Avenue, (Next to Piza Vino)

This last weekend my girlfriends and I were invited to a birthday at Liquid chefs in the Zone in Rosebank and us only knowing that Liquid chefs was a travelling bar service, we found it intriguing that they had now set a camp site in Rosebank.

We decided that we wanted to let loose and relax and not have to worry about the road blocks, so one of my girlfriends booked us a cab for our birthday party trip. Just to be on the safe side and off we went with our, “woman’s cab” driver name, Patricia.

We arrived in Rosebank and walked through the Mall into the Zone and the entire place has transformed completely. Yes granted I don’t regularly visit Rosebank but I was impressed, we felt like we were walking in London, It’s so clean bright, and bustling with people.

After finding Liquid Chefs, which is situated just down the escalators from the movies and Spur. We watched as a bouncer asked the people in front of us for Identification and then allowed them in, and then it was our turn to be greeted by this tall well dressed hostess who was very friendly and seemed to remember us every time we went near the outside because we wanted to smoke. Sadly our egos weren’t stroked and we weren’t asked to present our identification.

This venue is as you can see a very well thought out and brightly lite place, with barmen and women flaring and serving drinks, but this venue is very small, and they allow a lot of people into it and what’s worse is you need to leave the venue and visit the Malls restrooms, which is a pain in itself.

The vibe here is a little uptight and pretentious, and not somewhere you could go and have some drinks with your friends and actually have a conversation. The music even though very good is just too loud and with all the seating around there isn’t much room to move yourself around and with such loud music you would want to dance, but the place is just a loud bar that doesn’t facilitate dancing to the beats its pumping out. Which was very disappointing.

So after our second drink we decided we would give this place a skip as the vibe was not our scene and we were actually hungry. We decided to visit the Spur up above us. Only to find out that we had gone a Haalal Spur, and they didn’t serve any alcohol. We still decided we would still stay and eat as we were quite hungry.

Our food arrived at our table colder than room temperature, but I decided to just eat and get out of there so we could go home and have a glass of wine at home instead.

Would I recommend Liquid Chefs? I would say try it and find out for yourselves. I did and now I know it’s not my type of place. Will I eat at Spur in Rosebank again? No never will I visit that Spur again.

SA execution: Zuma tried to intervene

2011-12-12T11:41:00.000+02:00

SA execution: Zuma tried to intervene: President Jacob Zuma tried to intervene to prevent the execution of a South African woman in China but to no avail, the department of international relations says.

Tis the Season to be Jolly!!!

2011-12-08T07:25:00.001+02:00

Yes, that’s right, the festive season is upon us yet again, and oh boy do the years seems to move faster and faster as we get older.

It’s at this time of year that almost everyone from the Gauteng Province flocks to the coast for a much needed break away from School, Work and life, and it’s at this time when we lose the most amounts of citizens on the roads. Where they are driving or passengers or even pedestrians.

So I have come to you all today to ask you all to Arrive Alive this festive season. Don’t rush your journey because you want to get there with in so many hours. Pace yourself, make sure there is more than one person able to drive, and share the load. Before even leaving go and get your tyres checked and replace them if they need it, Sort out your wheel alignment and make sure your brakes are safe, Check that all your indicators and lights are fully functional, But most of all its our rainy season so check your wiper blades.

Plan your Journey so you have many pit stops, and this doesn’t mean we need petrol so now we must stop. Stop stretch the legs, get some much needed fresh air in your lungs, have a bite to eat at one of the many rest stops on the way.

Obey the speed limits, everyone knows the Metro Cops are on the war path with saving lives on the roads and so they are and will be doing a lot of trapping and road blocks. Make sure your licence disk isn’t expired, that you’re fully sorted out with SARS, that you have paid all your outstanding fines and that you are not breaking any laws.

If you’re going away, make sure whoever is watching your home and your pets, is reliable and responsible. You don’t want to come home from a great vacation to an empty home because you have been robbed, or your animals confiscated or dead due to lack of love and supervision.

If you’re not going away and staying in Gauteng. You are wise because this big city becomes a quite ghost town, still be safe and be wise, Just because you haven’t flocked to the seaside doesn’t mean you don’t have to be cautious. There will still be road block and your car still needs to be road worthy. And if you find yourself wondering what to do, there is still plenty to do.

Also remember this is also a sad time for some. This is the time where more people take their own lives than any other time of year. So if you feel someone might be sad or down, offer support, or a joke or make some time to make there day. It could be the day they wanted to end it. http://www.sadag.co.za/

Please remember Christmas is a time for family, friend and lots of love. Spread the love this Christmas, Touch someone’s heart, and give a helping hand… But most of have a Merry Christmas, a happy holiday and please come home safely.

ROXETTE to rock our shores....

2011-12-08T07:15:00.001+02:00

Is yet another Big Concerts , Jacaranda 94.2 , 94.5 KFM and M-net , find to bring to the shores of South Africa as part of their World Tour. They have two destinations and have given both destinations two live concerts. These shows are happening in Cape Town at the Grand Arena Grand West 10th and 11th May 2011 and well as North West Province at the Sun City Super bowl on the 14th and 15th May 2011. This World Tour Kicks off March 2011 starting in Kazan in Russia and then dashing through at least four different continents in the following year. And this World Tour kicks off just after the release of their new album “Charmed school”, on February 11 2011.

Now my main reason for wanting to go to this concert is because I can remember being a kid, and singing, ”The look” into my hair brush as I danced in the mirror imagining I was Marie Fredriksson singing on stage.

So after finding out who was also going and starting to make plans for so far ahead of time which is out of character for me, I have booked mine and my sister’s tickets to the first concert on the 14th May at the Sun City Super bowl.

For those of you who don’t recall some of Roxette’s hits and or know who they are? Where were you in the late eighties and early nineties? Roxette are a pop group that came out of Sweden with two people, Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle.

They have had nineteen UK top 40 hits and 4 US number singles with songs such as “The Look”, “It must have been love”, listen to your heart” and “Joyride”

Sadly in 2002 Marie Fredriksson was diagnosed with a Brain Tumour, putting Roxette onto a back burner and some even said they would never return. But after eight years in 2009 they took the stage together for the first time during the Gessle’s European Party crasher tour. They sold an estimated 60 million records worldwide and over 3.5 million in America alone. Achieving Platinum for Joyride and Look sharp.

It must have been love made the soundtrack for the movie which came out around the same time. Pretty woman with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. Roxette was approached by EMI and Touchstone to create a new song, but with Per said they should use this song and after much work they did. This song proved to be the most successful song they ever wrote. It spent two weeks at number one.

Since 2009 and their public appearance they have been recording a new album “Charmed school”, working on putting together a world tour and hopefully bringing the world attention back to the band and the music they have loved for years.

So if you haven’t gone and booked your tickets for what promises to be the best World Tour and concert they have ever done. I suggest you do so and fast. Tickets are available from Computicket. Lets get dressed for this concert and have a blast in May 2011.

Magalies park Country resort, Golf course and timeshare resort–Hartbeespoort North West Province

2011-12-08T07:05:00.001+02:00

This quaint little place is found just beyond the bridge of the Hartbeespoort dam wall, in an area called Magaliesberg just before Sun city in the North west province and as their website states, "Nestling at the foot of the Magaliesberg Mountains, in a declared bird sanctuary, on the banks of the renowned Hartbeespoort Dam, Magalies park is one of South Africa’s Premier Timeshare and Golfing Estates.”

I recently visited Magalies Park with my entire family even the visiting ones from the United Kingdom, we were all very excited about us all going on holiday for the first time in probably years and years. And so off we drove for roughly 45mins from Sandton to this nice place called Magalies Park.

We arrived and our chalet was pristine clean barring an interesting cocoon in the bathroom which we were all convinced was some sort of spider and after seeing the be aware of the snakes and what nots around the area we decided we would only use this bathroom if the other was busy. I did bath in that bathroom once but i just couldn’t stop staring at the cocoon, and ended up freaking myself out.

Sadly our trip out to Magalies Park was not one of fun in the sun, and swimming like we had all planned as it is summer and my family from London had just come from -4 degrees, all they wanted was to thaw out and go bright red, but we went the week we had the constant down pours of rain, and being trapped in a chalet with limited TV and not the greatest signals on 3g we ended up finding ourselves really bored.

Even if we were golf players that trip would have been wasted because the lightning prevented anything from going down at this resort, I still remember my brother and his girlfriend walking to there superette which is terrible and having to call us to collect them because the rain just couldn’t stay away for 5 minutes, and trying to get to them through all the run and rain was just horrible.

Yeah they got entertainment centres, but more designed for kids. What adult wants to go play pool with arcade games screaming at you? They should have had an entertainment centre for the kids and then close by one for adults where one can actually have something to do when it rains there.

All in all this was my second time round to Magalies Park and my first experience was much better than this last one, but we didn’t stay as long and the weather was better. You can’t cater only for sunshine and that the problem with this place... If it rains tough you stay in your chalet. But imagine if we had small kids with us? What a nightmare....

I would give Magalies Park 4/10 as a week getaway... You need to work on stuff...

Magalies Park Country Club

Main Skeerpoort Road, Skeerpoort, North West Province

PO Box 3138, Brits, 0250, South Africa

Tel: +27 (0)12 207-9000 +27 (0)12 207-9000 and Fax: +27 (0)12 207-1373

E-mail: info@magaliespark.co.za

Website: www.magaliespark.co.za

Tags: Briony French; Magalies Park; South Africa; Hartbeespoort; weather; London; United Kingdom.

REPORT BACKS ON THE NO GO ZONE

2011-07-25T07:28:00.000+02:00

Today I come to you with two report backs on two complaints I made knowledge in my blogs. The first came from Casa Da Galinha who in my previous blog, was taken over by the Cod Father and re-named the Cow Father, and our time there was horrific and extremely unpleasant.

Well I am pleased to inform you that they closed, reopened and back under their first name Casa Da Galinha, And I visited there the other weekend besides some minor hiccups with over eager waiters and them all wanting or thinking they were working on our table, but I am happy to report back that the evening was very nice, the food was better but a wine base for pork ribs in their sauce was not something I would want to taste on my ribs, especially as I’m not a big drinker in the first place but the cozy atmosphere was back, from being welcomed in by the managers and staff to them all seeing us off when we left. But all in all I give them a one thumbs up.

The other report back I have is from MacDonald’s Woodmead. I don’t know if you recall my previous blog where I was getting sick from MacDonald’s food.

Well after my blog I got a call from MacDonald’s Head office and the Woodmead Branch urgently trying to find out more about what had happened to me, as well as they wanted to invite me to see the running’s of the branch. After many phone calls and discussions, they called the health and safety people out to have a look at their one grill, and it turned out to be a setting on the grill that was preventing the food from getting to the desired heat so that it can be good for our bodies to consume.

Also I was invited around for a tour of the MacDonald’s in Woodmead and got to see every little detail, From where the food is packed and how, to how many patties they can cook at a time, to the toasting of the bread roll, to the perfection of the garnish, everything. I spent the afternoon with some of the Managers and we had lunch, and this time I was not ill.

Whilst I was at this branch there were a whole bunch of renovations taking place. They were making the restaurant bigger, as well as they putting in a Mac Café’, which will be great for those who want to, go for a quick coffee and do some work.

All and all I would say that both these venues, Casa de Galinha and MacDonald’s Rivonia have picked up there game since my last visit and I am comfortable to say they are now “Go zones”.

Casa Da Galinha: Corner of 1st Avenue and Rivonia Road Morningside Sandton Johannesburg

+27 11 803 9691

MacDonald’s Woodmead: Corner of Woodlands drive and Kyalami road Woodmead Sandton Johannesburg

BROWNS RIVONIA

2011-07-25T07:10:00.000+02:00

Last Thursday I went to my company Christmas dinner which was held at the “Fancy” Browns restaurant in Rivonia located at21 Wessels Road. Unfortunately the weather was wet and cold with soft drizzle the whole evening. We were placed in the cellar as to not disturb the normal runnings of the restaurant. Also I am sure we got quiet noisy. So we are greeted with a choice of non alcoholic and alcoholic Strawberry daquiri’s which were amazing evening in the cold whilst smoking outside.

Once we were all seated and we had browsed the set menu options available and placing our orders and ordering our drinks, we had some festivities and awards and a magic talking spaghetti spoon thingy that got passed around forcing people to say something and contribute to the event.

Then our starters arrived and Calamari was placed in front of me and me being someone who doesn’t really eat fish I know I didn’t order it. So I spoke the waitress who told me I did. And only when the whole one side of the table backed my order did I get my Venison sausage with pap. This was very pretty in presentation but very salty in taste.

Then our main course arrived and most of the people order the lamb shank which was huge, with a small dollop of mash potatoes on the side. But I went with the Egyptian chicken, which looked great with its couscous heap adjacent. But trying to cut this chicken breast was extremely difficult and the chicken seemed burnt or over cooked. It was dry and every piece felt like I was chewing on bones. So I gave up on the chicken and tried to eat some couscous and again this was extremely salty and again very disappointing as again the presentation was pretty and impressive.

Then our deserts arrived and I was extremely happy that I hadn’t allowed the waitress to talk me into the chocolate Torte and stuck with my gut and gone with the sorbet arrangement of vanilla, caramel and strawberry which was perfect, the three colourful balls of sorbet each in their own dish were so good. I just wish I had that for my starter and my main too. Because the desert was my favourite experience there.

After the meal was concluded we had a few more festivities, jokes and cigars and we all started leave before it got too late as we still had to go to work the next day. Some people had been clever and arranged taxi cab transportation just in case they had drunk too much. This is something I think companies should look into as a safety precaution for such events. Because anything could happen to a member of staff after something which involves a celebration.

Browns Rivonia

21 Wessels Road

+27 011 803-7533

30 SECONDS TO MARS LIVE IN JHB

2011-06-22T07:06:00.000+02:00

Yes if you didn’t know they have been here and now gone again back on their world tour. They arrived hours before going live on Friday in Johannesburg at the Coke Cola Dome with a small break before going live in Cape Town on Sunday at Grand Arena.They were brought out here by Big Concerts, M-net and 5fm.

Friday seemed to drag with the excitement of my favourite band of all time coming to Johannesburg for their second time. Their first time was at Coke Feast but this time it was part of their world Tour. I watched patiently as the day grew to an end, with nervousness in my stomach. This was also because I felt bad because I gave away a ticket meant for someone else, out of spite but to be perfectly honest I wish I hadn’t.

We finally arrived at the Northgate Coke Cola dome, and had to go running off to meet some other people in the entertainment business that ended up being so much fun and such a nice bunch of guys. We finally managed to worm our way through the masses to get ourselves trays of drinks because we didn’t want to do that again. And some ran off to grab themselves a bite to eat at one of the nearest kiosks.

We had our meeting spot near the merchandise at the back of the hall. Which even when we did get lost, we ended up having to find our own way back because no one came looking…giggles.

We finally found our spot and we stood in a circle around the drinks and jerseys and bags and we waited patiently for in my opinion one of the sexiest men alive Mr. Jared Leto and his band 30 Seconds to Mars

Finally 21:10 the band starts playing and the lights start flickering and He appears from the darkness and smoke… The first song “Escape” off their new album “This is War”. And I was enthralled, covered in goose bumps, there he was singing like the cd like the song I heard earlier that day. It was amazing.

He sang my favourite songs “Bury Me” which brought me to tears not just because I was there and he was singing live and I had goose bumps everywhere imaginable but because I was missing my best friend. The person who’s ticket I gave away.

At one stage Jared Leto moved to one of the camera stand with a mike and his guitar and played in the middle of the arena practically. Giving everyone a different view and coming closer to the people who couldn’t get their golden circle tickets before they sold out like me.

Over all it was my best and worst concert, my best because it was 30 Seconds to Mars and I can sing almost every one of their songs. I just love them. But my worst because the person I intended on sharing it with, I didn’t and she ended up sharing it with someone else. And I lost out.

Cafe Culture Pineslopes Centre

2011-01-14T09:28:00.001+02:00

This was my first experience at this new venue, and yes I do not know how it is usually run, but this is my experience of this venue. How I understood the venue to be was very loungey and when I picture loungey I see warm colours, big comfy couches and big bright cushions scattered on the floor and on the couches for everyone to feel cosy.

My girlfriend and I arrived at the venue pretty early, it was probably around 9pm, the place had many of well known and prominent women in the community sitting outside at tables, laughing and drinking and basically winding down from their stressful weeks of work.

We entered the venue to and went to the bar to order drinks and we looked around inside. It’s all very white, clean like a hospital, Two beautiful bubble chairs hanging from the ceiling occupied to two people swinging around having a good time, Beautiful light fittings beam bright light down on the venue showing us the u-shaped leather seating area just in the back.

We looked up and there was the infamous DJ Lindi Lush spinning on the decks. She is a very popular DJ in the community and she is regular at most of the gay and lesbian venues. She seems to have a regular set though and if you go to enough of these places you know which song is coming up next and my only issue with her set really is the fact that we hear the same songs more than once.

After we got our drinks we went and found ourselves a place to rest our weary bodies and wait for the friends we were meeting there. There is staff will wait on you with drinks. I did also notice that we had to keep asking for ashtrays and they seemed a lil short on those as I watched a few times they would just bring us one from another table. Which we didn’t mind but the people at the other tables still needed them. And so it was a bit of a game of musical ashtrays....

Once our friends arrived, we moved a bunch of tables pushed together in a row and we all sat there catching up as for some of us we hadn’t seen each other since the festive break and some even longer than that. We sat there sipping our cocktails and other alcoholic drinks laughing as the other women were. After our second drink my girlfriend and I decided it was time to get home as Douglasdale and Pineslopes is known for their road blocks and heavy police presents and we also wanted to be responsible.

On the way home I discussed my confusion on the venue with my girlfriend, If it’s a lounge feel then its missing all the colours and warmth and if it’s a cocktail bar, then its missing something too. I don’t know how to put this across but there needs to be a vibe, something that makes you want to stay there and continue to have a party, and this place yes granted is new and still a work in progress but I think once the vibe has been placed I won’t be left wondering what it is, and I am sure more others feel the same. I think with a little bit of TLC this place could be the new Lesbian and gay venue for an after work drink.

Cafe Culture is situated in the Pineslopes centre next to the Keg.

Address: Pine Slopes Centre, Corner Witkoppen Rd & the Straight, Fourways, Johannesburg

Sonique to ROCK Johannesburg PRIDE

2010-10-14T11:17:00.000+02:00

That’s right people, Gay pride is happening on the 2nd of October 2010. And it’s just been announced by the Pride Organisation that they have managed to bring out British pop-star DJ Sonique to our warm sunny shores for a guest appearance at the actual pride parade party but most and foremost for their Official Pride after party, to be held at our world class Standard bank Arena on the same Saturday just in the evening of the 21st annual Johannesburg Pride parade and day.

Tickets already went on sale at Computicket for this event and are available for a minimum charge R56 including Computicket fees and VIP tickets are limited to the first 500 and I am one of those 1st 500 people for a price of R100. These are not available from Computicket rather you should call 082 567 8894 to book as there are so few.

How did this come about?

Sonique has been brought to us by a new energy drink Cintron Liquid Energy and the Pride Organisation wanted to bring back the official after party experience some of the older members of the community will remember back to the pride march. Over the last few years there hasn’t been an Official pride after party leaving room for other event organisers to try their hand at hosting such an event and one never caters for all. There is something for the men something for the women, people travel to Boksburg’s Ramps ,The Dome for the Fire mans ball and Pretoria to where they host there after party, But this year we have the chance to unit under one roof again to re- bump into the people we met doing the march or on a float. Never mind the person who let you slip into their spot at the bar, as they leave.

I am too excited for this event as I was one of the people who has had the joy of experiencing an old after party and this is the first time that I am aware of that they have brought us someone who can appeal to the entire Lesbian, Gay, Bi and trans-sexual community.

DJ Sonique has been a part of my memories since I can remember with hits like “Fly so high” and “It feels so good.”And I am just too excited to see her, to hear her live mixing up her beats and singing.

DJ Sonique who has previously visited the country will be supported by two dancers and a line up of South African DJ’s, this to me sounds like it’s going to be a rocking evening.

For those of you who haven’t purchased your tickets do it now. It’s going to be a night to remember for a very long time, until the Joburg pride organisation out does themselves again. Buy those tickets with less than a month till Pride. Make sure you’re not left wondering where to go and why you couldn’t go see this Award winning British pop-star Live here in South Africa.