Tales of a Zulugal

So after much long deliberation and little bit of resistence on my side. We have decided to take a plunge into doing the infamous mentally challenging detox programme called The Master Cleanse. I have done it 3 times before. The first two times were a huge success. The last attempt, was an attempt at best. I barely lasted four days! The mental challenge is due to the fact that one literally has no solid food for at least 10 days. The only form of energy comes solely from the lemonade mix. This mix is compiled of fresh lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup and water. This lemonade mix is delicious compared to the other rituals that go along side by side with this detox programme.  The first 4 days are the most challenging. As one experiences food withdrawal symptoms. Such as the increased acute smelling capability.  The art of smelling every sublime and delish aroma even if it's a mile away! Unlike the 3 times times I have done the cleanse, this time around I have decide...

The Commonwealth games have kicked off in Glasgow last night. As usual the South african team has a home away from home. Ekhaya is back! Located at the Trades Halls in Glasgow in Glassford Street. Bra Huge Masekela opened Ekhaya last night.   These are some of the acts lined up to perform over the next 11 days: the soil, Vusi Mahlasela, Mahotela Queens, Freshly ground and more. Share and forward my blogs link. This is where I will update the info regarding Ekhaya and commonwealth games. Whichever part of Uk you are in, do you utmost best to catch Ekhaya at some point in the next 11 days, you will not regret it. Ekhaya 2012 was awesome, the community spirit, the laughter, the networking and connecting with new friends and the Live entertainment was memorable and uplifting. I was reminded, once more, why I am proudly South African.  

Nothing takes away the blow that hits your shallow pit of your stomach.  Closely followed by the stream of tears that involuntarily drip from your face. As I continuously and repeatedly moaned "No! No!" It can't be I thought out loud. I have just learnt that the mother of one of my best friends has passed away. What's upsetting is that a gentle shining star has been returned to her Creator. She was a woman of faith. Having been through the loss of one of her daughters recently, she stood in her faith and kept marching on. Through the pain of loss. She trusted and depended on the Author of her life. She was the one who told us off as we tried to go to places where we were not supposed to.  She never minced her words nor her opinions which were based on her faith. The same faith that we professed and tried to lead. But as teenagers, we thought she was cramping our style. Yet she tried to protect us. It's true we do not know the hour. Her hour came wi...

I am a girl.  My sister and me.  By 5 we were sent to work the fields.  To fend for my family and me.  By 7 I could cook, clean, wash and be  Useful  Working hard for my family and me It didn't help one bit I was a girl  I was also  an  Untouchable Untouchables  Shunned  Despised  Amount to nothing  Are nothing  Or so they think Me, I have a dream A dream that I could read and write Extending my new knowledge  Touching the untouchables That they may unearth from the ancient fields, who they really are  The untouchables  Soaring with eagles  They are Untouchable  Living with self worth and dignity They are untouchable  As I lay in the dirt of the field  One after the other  They took turns  Tarnishing my purity Stealing my sanctity  Burning strongly and soundly  In the peacefulness of my mind  Me, I have a dream And the dream is in me I am untouchable  Th...

High hopes and expectation, we all have as the year begins. One more week to go and the first month of 2012 will be over. Have you taken the baby steps necessary to see the change you have determined to make this year? I said baby steps not giant steps. Baby steps are enough to begin the change. So go for it! Don't allow what you lack or don't have stand in your way. Kick those excuses out of your way and take those baby steps. Honestly speaking - this is MY baby step. I have a long list of "Things to do", instead of calling it a day and procrastinating about my To Do List. I have decided to take a few minutes and write quick blog before going to bed. This year I want to up my blogging and be more consistent at it, to name just one item on my To Do list. So, no matter what it may be, get on it now. Not tomorrow, not in the next hour, nor in the next half hour - no - get on it now. Baby steps is what will get you where you want to be at the end of this year.

This morning at Chancery Lane, I hopped onto Central line. Straight to Nottinghill Gate - 20 minutes tops. Took a short cut onto the platform to catch my 2nd and final train, just one stop - usually takes 4 minutes max.  As I near the stair case I see a sea of people coming down the stairs from the direction of the platform - a sign that my train has arrived and is on the platform. I sprint, half way up the stairs the doors of the train shut. I slowly walk onto the platform, I look at the forelonely at the tail of train as it snaked its way out the station. Looking up at the digital train time notification board thingie, it says : Cirle Line and Hammersmith and City Line, no indication of time - as usuall. How helpful is that? Five minutes, nothing, 10 minutes pass, still no update. The clock is nearing 9am, my start time, still no train!  After 15 minutes of a dead end wait, an announcement.  "There are no trains from this platform, there is an engineering ...

I have lived in London for almost 6 years, I have overcome a series of hurdles with regards to cultural differences and so forth. But there is still one thing that gets to me, it bugs me to bits - every single time it happens. The fake smile. Working in front of house most of the time. I need to always look up each time someone passes by. When our eyes meet, I smile.  The other person "smiles", yet the smile never reaches the eyes. In fact before they pass me, the so called smile has already vanished. This to me, means one thing and one thing only. This was not a real smile, it was fake, pretend, "just being polite" smile. A smile should be genuine, and meaningful. I would rather they do not acknowledge my smile rather than tossing in my direction a fake one. Maybe we should blame all the magazine articles that have been written about the benefits of smiling that its good for your health to smile. Usually, if not all the time not mentioning that it should be a rea...