http://www.brenontheroad.com/
A blog about travelling - and a really cool article on Bulgaria, will have to explore!!!
A blog about travelling - and a really cool article on Bulgaria, will have to explore!!!
Monday, July 13, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Was Rene Zellweger abducted by Aliens and an imposter taken over?
I just think there is no way someone can change their looks so drastically, even the eyes are different and normally when someone changes their face, you can still recognize them from their eyes.
Has she perhaps been kidnapped and held hostage while someone else claims her fame?
Was she abducted by Aliens? From the photo above, even the neck bones seem different - has anyone done a DNA test to ensure it is her?
What do you think ?
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Why people leave South Africa ....
Note: I am not writing this post to stir up a hornets nest or to be hung out and lambasted because of what I say, these are just my own thoughts on leaving South Africa. I am not a proffessional writer and my thoughts maybe all over the place.
Before I go into my reasons that I think people leave South Africa I have to go back to where we came from. I am still and always will be a patriotic South African but I don't see myself living there again, at the age of 51, I don't want to start over again. So here are my thoughts ...
I often wondered where my origins started as my mothers family had been in South Africa for a couple of hundred years before I came along. They were or could have been part of the French Huguenots that landed in the Cape in 1687 or they may have arrived at a later stage.
So when we were visiting Paris recently and of course my mothers maiden name which is "Marais" seems quite prominent in the districts of Paris - Le Marais is the closest you will get to the feel of medieval Paris and has more pre-revolutionary buildings and streets left intact than any other area in Paris. A glance at some of the beautiful buildings and houses indicates the wealthy status of the former residents. After the revolution, much of the area was abandoned by the rich, and poor bohemian types moved in.
My mothers Mother maiden name was "De Villiers", so I had to ask why and how did they come to South Africa, I tried doing the whole genealogy thing, but there were too many Marais and too many with the same first name, so I really just gave that up. So lets just concentrate on the French Huguenots arriving in South Africa.
Who were the French Huguenots?
The Protestant Reformation began by Martin Luther in Germany about 1517,
spread rapidly in France, especially among
those having grievances against the established order of government. As
Protestantism grew and
developed in France it generally abandoned the Lutheran form, and took
the shape of Calvinism.
The new "Reformed religion" practiced by many members of the French nobility and social middle-class, based on a belief in salvation through individual faith without the need for the intercession of a church hierarchy and on the belief in an individuals right to interpret scriptures for themselves, placed these French Protestants in direct theological conflict with both the Catholic Church and the King of France in the theocratic system which prevailed at that time. Followers of this new Protestantism were soon accused of heresy against the Catholic government and the established religion of France, and a General Edict urging extermination of these heretics (Huguenots) was issued in 1536.
Nevertheless, Protestantism continued to spread and grow, and about 1555 the first Huguenot church was founded in a home in Paris based upon the teachings of John Calvin. The number and influence of the French Reformers (Huguenots) continued to increase after this event, leading to an escalation in hostility and conflict between the Catholic Church/State and the Huguenots. Finally, in 1562, some 1200 Huguenots were slain at Vassey, France, thus igniting the French Wars of Religion which would devastate France for the next thirty-five years.
The Edict of Nantes, signed by Henry IV in April, 1598, ended the Wars of Religion, and allowed the Huguenots some religious freedoms, including free exercise of their religion in 20 specified towns of France.
The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in October, 1685, began a new persecution of the Huguenots, and hundreds of thousands of Huguenots fled France to other countries. The Promulgation of the Edict of Toleration in November, 1787, partially restored the civil and religious rights of Huguenots in France.
Since the Huguenots of France were in large part artisans, craftsmen, and professional people, they were usually well-received in the countries to which they fled for refuge when religious discrimination or overt persecution caused them to leave France.
Most of them went initially to Germany, the Netherlands, and England, although some found their way eventually to places as remote as South Africa.
Considerable numbers of Huguenots migrated to British North America, especially to the Carolina's, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Their character and talents in the arts, sciences, and industry were such that they are generally felt to have been a substantial loss to the French society from which they had been forced to withdraw, and a corresponding gain to the communities and nations into which they settled.
Here is another link with interesting facts about the Huguenots
If you think about it, it is so similar to what is happening today, people in the middle East and Africa fleeing their countries by the boat load on a daily basis in search of a better country, only these days they don't encounter open spaces to settle, but are faced with incarceration in a detention centre some for a few years before they are re-settled in a country in Europe. But that is a whole different post, especially in light of over population in the world today!
Facebook
There have been a lot of debates on Facebook recently with people wanting to leave South Africa because of the crime, and of course some slating them because of their choices. I am sure hundreds of years ago when people were fleeing France because of persecution, people were probably doing exactly the same.
If any of you have been following my blog or my interview on the expats blog you will know that I never left South Africa, we decided to go on a working holiday and somehow we just never went back, not that we did not think about it all the time as our plan was only to spend 5 years abroad and then go home.
In our case when you finally realize that there is no going back, mainly due to our situation it stirs up all those emotions that people who decide to leave for good have. The depression, the anxiety, the loneliness.
People have been migrating from Europe to South Africa backwards and forwards for centuries. I am sure not all the French Huguenots stayed, some of them must have returned.
So why do people leave South Africa
This is a choice a personal difficult choice, when they find that they can no longer live in a country that cannot guarantee their safety. That dictates to companies who they can and cannot employ. When friends and or family are being attacked and murdered and you fear your own safety, when you feel that you can no longer live like that.
I have read some horrific stories on Facebook recently, the debates are endless, back in the 90's at the end of apartheid when people were leaving in droves, the called it "the chicken run" and yes I was one of those as well, when my friends and their parents were leaving for Canada and the UK, I said they were on the Chicken run.
But one day I sat back and spoke to my best friend who was born in Scotland and I said to her, why don't you leave you have a passport, and she said I love South Africa, I love the weather and if the Sh!t hits the fan, the British Embassy will protect me as I am a british subject, if there is war they will fly us all back to the UK.
Where did that leave me, I was South African through and through for the past 300 years my family had been there, we were so mixed in culture, from being solely from a French background on my mothers side, I then found out that my mother's grandmother was German and there was Dutch somewhere along the line too. My father destroyed all his papers and although we thought he came from Australia there was hints of Scotts and Irish too, so if I wanted to leave I had to do it on my own, with No help from the family tree.
Our New Home
We have been in Ireland now for 14 years, my daughter was born here it is the ony home she knows. She loves South Africa and she knows it was our home, but she has said that she never wants to live there. She loves the fact that she can climb on her bicycle and ride down the road to Girl Guides on a Friday or ride to her friends house. We do have a burgler alarm and there is crime in our area, but it would be classed as Petty theft if you lived in SA.
There are a few murders, but most of these are drug related and unfortunately there have been a few murders because of mistaken identity. Recently we have had a few car jackings, but very very seldom are people killed, tortured or raped. My aunt was raped in SA while she was visiting her late husband's grave to put flowers on the grave.
For now I choose to be here in Ireland but who knows this may change in a few years time, we just wait and see.
Before I go into my reasons that I think people leave South Africa I have to go back to where we came from. I am still and always will be a patriotic South African but I don't see myself living there again, at the age of 51, I don't want to start over again. So here are my thoughts ...
I often wondered where my origins started as my mothers family had been in South Africa for a couple of hundred years before I came along. They were or could have been part of the French Huguenots that landed in the Cape in 1687 or they may have arrived at a later stage.
So when we were visiting Paris recently and of course my mothers maiden name which is "Marais" seems quite prominent in the districts of Paris - Le Marais is the closest you will get to the feel of medieval Paris and has more pre-revolutionary buildings and streets left intact than any other area in Paris. A glance at some of the beautiful buildings and houses indicates the wealthy status of the former residents. After the revolution, much of the area was abandoned by the rich, and poor bohemian types moved in.
My mothers Mother maiden name was "De Villiers", so I had to ask why and how did they come to South Africa, I tried doing the whole genealogy thing, but there were too many Marais and too many with the same first name, so I really just gave that up. So lets just concentrate on the French Huguenots arriving in South Africa.
Who were the French Huguenots?
The Huguenots were French Protestants most of whom eventually came
to follow the teachings of John Calvin, and who, due to religious
persecution, were forced to flee France to other countries in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Some remained, practicing their
Faith in secret.
The new "Reformed religion" practiced by many members of the French nobility and social middle-class, based on a belief in salvation through individual faith without the need for the intercession of a church hierarchy and on the belief in an individuals right to interpret scriptures for themselves, placed these French Protestants in direct theological conflict with both the Catholic Church and the King of France in the theocratic system which prevailed at that time. Followers of this new Protestantism were soon accused of heresy against the Catholic government and the established religion of France, and a General Edict urging extermination of these heretics (Huguenots) was issued in 1536.
Nevertheless, Protestantism continued to spread and grow, and about 1555 the first Huguenot church was founded in a home in Paris based upon the teachings of John Calvin. The number and influence of the French Reformers (Huguenots) continued to increase after this event, leading to an escalation in hostility and conflict between the Catholic Church/State and the Huguenots. Finally, in 1562, some 1200 Huguenots were slain at Vassey, France, thus igniting the French Wars of Religion which would devastate France for the next thirty-five years.
The Edict of Nantes, signed by Henry IV in April, 1598, ended the Wars of Religion, and allowed the Huguenots some religious freedoms, including free exercise of their religion in 20 specified towns of France.
The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in October, 1685, began a new persecution of the Huguenots, and hundreds of thousands of Huguenots fled France to other countries. The Promulgation of the Edict of Toleration in November, 1787, partially restored the civil and religious rights of Huguenots in France.
Since the Huguenots of France were in large part artisans, craftsmen, and professional people, they were usually well-received in the countries to which they fled for refuge when religious discrimination or overt persecution caused them to leave France.
Most of them went initially to Germany, the Netherlands, and England, although some found their way eventually to places as remote as South Africa.
Considerable numbers of Huguenots migrated to British North America, especially to the Carolina's, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Their character and talents in the arts, sciences, and industry were such that they are generally felt to have been a substantial loss to the French society from which they had been forced to withdraw, and a corresponding gain to the communities and nations into which they settled.
Here is another link with interesting facts about the Huguenots
If you think about it, it is so similar to what is happening today, people in the middle East and Africa fleeing their countries by the boat load on a daily basis in search of a better country, only these days they don't encounter open spaces to settle, but are faced with incarceration in a detention centre some for a few years before they are re-settled in a country in Europe. But that is a whole different post, especially in light of over population in the world today!
There have been a lot of debates on Facebook recently with people wanting to leave South Africa because of the crime, and of course some slating them because of their choices. I am sure hundreds of years ago when people were fleeing France because of persecution, people were probably doing exactly the same.
If any of you have been following my blog or my interview on the expats blog you will know that I never left South Africa, we decided to go on a working holiday and somehow we just never went back, not that we did not think about it all the time as our plan was only to spend 5 years abroad and then go home.
In our case when you finally realize that there is no going back, mainly due to our situation it stirs up all those emotions that people who decide to leave for good have. The depression, the anxiety, the loneliness.
People have been migrating from Europe to South Africa backwards and forwards for centuries. I am sure not all the French Huguenots stayed, some of them must have returned.
So why do people leave South Africa
This is a choice a personal difficult choice, when they find that they can no longer live in a country that cannot guarantee their safety. That dictates to companies who they can and cannot employ. When friends and or family are being attacked and murdered and you fear your own safety, when you feel that you can no longer live like that.
I have read some horrific stories on Facebook recently, the debates are endless, back in the 90's at the end of apartheid when people were leaving in droves, the called it "the chicken run" and yes I was one of those as well, when my friends and their parents were leaving for Canada and the UK, I said they were on the Chicken run.
But one day I sat back and spoke to my best friend who was born in Scotland and I said to her, why don't you leave you have a passport, and she said I love South Africa, I love the weather and if the Sh!t hits the fan, the British Embassy will protect me as I am a british subject, if there is war they will fly us all back to the UK.
Where did that leave me, I was South African through and through for the past 300 years my family had been there, we were so mixed in culture, from being solely from a French background on my mothers side, I then found out that my mother's grandmother was German and there was Dutch somewhere along the line too. My father destroyed all his papers and although we thought he came from Australia there was hints of Scotts and Irish too, so if I wanted to leave I had to do it on my own, with No help from the family tree.
Our New Home
We have been in Ireland now for 14 years, my daughter was born here it is the ony home she knows. She loves South Africa and she knows it was our home, but she has said that she never wants to live there. She loves the fact that she can climb on her bicycle and ride down the road to Girl Guides on a Friday or ride to her friends house. We do have a burgler alarm and there is crime in our area, but it would be classed as Petty theft if you lived in SA.
There are a few murders, but most of these are drug related and unfortunately there have been a few murders because of mistaken identity. Recently we have had a few car jackings, but very very seldom are people killed, tortured or raped. My aunt was raped in SA while she was visiting her late husband's grave to put flowers on the grave.
For now I choose to be here in Ireland but who knows this may change in a few years time, we just wait and see.
Priceless things my Daughter has said over the years ..... #Emily
Emily recently celebrated her 12th birthday and I was thinking about priceless things she had said growing up and here are a few.
#1. When we lived in an apartmet block in Milltown on the 3rd floor and she was about 3 years old, I asked her to go and call the lift which was right out side our apartment door, she went out and called "Lift, Lift", it was so adorable.
#2. When showing her how to put her runners on, I said before she laces them she need to pull out the tongue, my adorable 3 year old, stuck out "her" tongue!
#3. We have a picture of a lot of famous Hollywood actors and actresses hanging on the wall, her father used to carry her up to the picture and poing out Elvis and say that's daddy and then poing out Marilyn Monroe (I wish) and say that's Mommy, so first year at school she told everyone her father was Elvis - poor child was mocked! (Never do this to your kids).
#4. I was rescued from a sinking ship *The Oceanos* back in 1991, I was telling Emily about it at some stage, when a few years ago they were doing The Titanic at school, she told her teacher that her mom was on the Titanic! (Face in Palm, shake head).
#1. When we lived in an apartmet block in Milltown on the 3rd floor and she was about 3 years old, I asked her to go and call the lift which was right out side our apartment door, she went out and called "Lift, Lift", it was so adorable.
#2. When showing her how to put her runners on, I said before she laces them she need to pull out the tongue, my adorable 3 year old, stuck out "her" tongue!
#3. We have a picture of a lot of famous Hollywood actors and actresses hanging on the wall, her father used to carry her up to the picture and poing out Elvis and say that's daddy and then poing out Marilyn Monroe (I wish) and say that's Mommy, so first year at school she told everyone her father was Elvis - poor child was mocked! (Never do this to your kids).
#4. I was rescued from a sinking ship *The Oceanos* back in 1991, I was telling Emily about it at some stage, when a few years ago they were doing The Titanic at school, she told her teacher that her mom was on the Titanic! (Face in Palm, shake head).
Loving Summer...#Summer 2015
I thought I would share some photos of our climbing Rose bush in our back garden, it always seems to be in full bloom at the beginning of June when it's Emily's birthday.
Yesterday we played badminton in the garden and it seemed to have even more Roses than when I took these photos on Emily's birthday, will have to take some more!
Friday, June 12, 2015
Saturday, April 11, 2015
The Statue Debacle
In South Africa at the moment the locals seem to have a problem with Statues that represent "Apartheid" or anything that is not African, I know this can spark many debates but as a new Irish person and still a South African Citizen I just need to voice my opinion on this.
My question is "Why", many of the statues are from pre-apartheid, and are of people who helped build South Africa to what it is today. If Jan Van Riebeeck and all the discoverers had not landed on South African soil, where would South Africa be today?
I don't agree with Apartheid or any of the wrong doings that people have done, but surely to have peace and reconciliation, the past should be left in the past.
Ireland for instance was occupied by Britain for over 800 years and yes statues that represented the occupation have been removed "civilly", Queen Victoria for one, the statue was removed from it's position in front of Leinster house (parliament) and sent to Sydney where is now stands in front of the Victoria shopping Mall.
So Why do we need to be barbaric and burn or decapitate these Statues in South Africa, if the ANC government insist on removing them, then do so - maybe Holland would like the one of Jan Van Riebeeck.
Most people that came to South Africa were seeking a better life and trying to escape persecution, which is exactly what is still happening today. People from all over Africa are trying to escape persecution or hardship in their own country and are coming to South Africa. Just like the Zimbabweans.
I can't believe that the ANC government welcomed Robert Mugabe with open arms when his people are doing everything to get into South Africa because he has ruined his country so much so that his people are starving.
Why not move these statues to the Apartheid Museum or to the Voortrekker monument so that people can see who the "evil" orchestrators of apartheid were, but burning and decapitating that's just barbaric.
I just get so Angry with what the ANC allow to happen in it's beautiful country, and I worry for my friends and family still there, what does the future hold. Since leaving in 2001 I have always dreamt I would one day go back, but with events unfolding in front of me and being and outsider looking in, will I ever go back now? I don't know.
My question is "Why", many of the statues are from pre-apartheid, and are of people who helped build South Africa to what it is today. If Jan Van Riebeeck and all the discoverers had not landed on South African soil, where would South Africa be today?
I don't agree with Apartheid or any of the wrong doings that people have done, but surely to have peace and reconciliation, the past should be left in the past.
Ireland for instance was occupied by Britain for over 800 years and yes statues that represented the occupation have been removed "civilly", Queen Victoria for one, the statue was removed from it's position in front of Leinster house (parliament) and sent to Sydney where is now stands in front of the Victoria shopping Mall.
So Why do we need to be barbaric and burn or decapitate these Statues in South Africa, if the ANC government insist on removing them, then do so - maybe Holland would like the one of Jan Van Riebeeck.
Most people that came to South Africa were seeking a better life and trying to escape persecution, which is exactly what is still happening today. People from all over Africa are trying to escape persecution or hardship in their own country and are coming to South Africa. Just like the Zimbabweans.
I can't believe that the ANC government welcomed Robert Mugabe with open arms when his people are doing everything to get into South Africa because he has ruined his country so much so that his people are starving.
Why not move these statues to the Apartheid Museum or to the Voortrekker monument so that people can see who the "evil" orchestrators of apartheid were, but burning and decapitating that's just barbaric.
I just get so Angry with what the ANC allow to happen in it's beautiful country, and I worry for my friends and family still there, what does the future hold. Since leaving in 2001 I have always dreamt I would one day go back, but with events unfolding in front of me and being and outsider looking in, will I ever go back now? I don't know.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Ex-Pat Blog Comments
I haven't for a long time gone back to the interview I had with the Expats Blog until today. I found many people had left comments which I only found out today, my apologies for not getting back to anyone of you with regards to your questions: - Unfortunately I don't get notified when anyone leaves a message for me on the Expats Blog, so here I am going to just go through some of the comments that were left.
Maria Roll wrote 1 year ago: Rose and Derrick Have the right attitude.They decided to immigrate, got there.. embrassed, respected and adapted to Irish living, unlike some people that immigrate to another country and demand the host country to adapt to them. Good luck Rose and Dirreck you are doing SA proud whatever your future plans are.
Thanks Maria, miss you tons!!!
Susi wrote 1 year ago: Hi guys. I'm new here and just wanted to say Hello. Loved reading this interview. I have always wanted to visit Ireland and one day that dream will come true. For now I'll just enjoy reading about it! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great message Susi!
Catherine wrote 1 year ago: Hi Guys, Thanks for your blog, its amazing how far you've come, I admire you so much for this. My husband & I are planning on moving to Dublin,Ireland. My mom & dad live in Germany & is a citizen there, but she also wants to join us there to live in Dublin. My parents are pastors of a church in Germany, but want to move cos of church ministry purposes. My husband is in the Building Management Business & we are finding it a bit difficult finding jobs in Ireland while we are here. Most applications come back saying we need to be there in order for consideration. Please can you give us some advise on steps to take & how to go about moving. thanks so much. regards Catherine
Catherine - please send my your email address and I can mail you
Ilze Heydenrych wrote 11 months ago: I loved reading the blog. Took me quite a while, as I went right back to the beginning! I am also in IT and came across the blog and this site when I researched the possibilities of finding a job in Ireland. I desperately want to move to Ireland! Any ideas or advise? Regards Ilze
Ilze where are you from? There are loads of IT jobs in Ireland at the moment so long as you have a European passport, what do you do - the company I work for are employing!
Dennis Mkhulisi wrote 9 months ago: Hey Rose\r\n\r\nThanks for a fresh insight on the expat life. Am a medical officer and tried once to \"recharge\" my batteries by working in Canada. Age cut-off (50yrs)and family commitments made me shelve the idea. However, it\'s good to know that we have to appreciate things that we take for granted (eg a good banking system, the weather etc).\r\nAm 58yrs old now and cherish the hope of travelling the world on a working holiday-staying in a country, work thrice a week for nominal pay, board and travel a bit... Wishing your family well. Cheers!!
Thanks Dennis for the comments I hope it all works out for you :)
Maria Roll wrote 1 year ago: Rose and Derrick Have the right attitude.They decided to immigrate, got there.. embrassed, respected and adapted to Irish living, unlike some people that immigrate to another country and demand the host country to adapt to them. Good luck Rose and Dirreck you are doing SA proud whatever your future plans are.
Thanks Maria, miss you tons!!!
Susi wrote 1 year ago: Hi guys. I'm new here and just wanted to say Hello. Loved reading this interview. I have always wanted to visit Ireland and one day that dream will come true. For now I'll just enjoy reading about it! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great message Susi!
Catherine wrote 1 year ago: Hi Guys, Thanks for your blog, its amazing how far you've come, I admire you so much for this. My husband & I are planning on moving to Dublin,Ireland. My mom & dad live in Germany & is a citizen there, but she also wants to join us there to live in Dublin. My parents are pastors of a church in Germany, but want to move cos of church ministry purposes. My husband is in the Building Management Business & we are finding it a bit difficult finding jobs in Ireland while we are here. Most applications come back saying we need to be there in order for consideration. Please can you give us some advise on steps to take & how to go about moving. thanks so much. regards Catherine
Catherine - please send my your email address and I can mail you
Ilze Heydenrych wrote 11 months ago: I loved reading the blog. Took me quite a while, as I went right back to the beginning! I am also in IT and came across the blog and this site when I researched the possibilities of finding a job in Ireland. I desperately want to move to Ireland! Any ideas or advise? Regards Ilze
Ilze where are you from? There are loads of IT jobs in Ireland at the moment so long as you have a European passport, what do you do - the company I work for are employing!
Dennis Mkhulisi wrote 9 months ago: Hey Rose\r\n\r\nThanks for a fresh insight on the expat life. Am a medical officer and tried once to \"recharge\" my batteries by working in Canada. Age cut-off (50yrs)and family commitments made me shelve the idea. However, it\'s good to know that we have to appreciate things that we take for granted (eg a good banking system, the weather etc).\r\nAm 58yrs old now and cherish the hope of travelling the world on a working holiday-staying in a country, work thrice a week for nominal pay, board and travel a bit... Wishing your family well. Cheers!!
Thanks Dennis for the comments I hope it all works out for you :)
deStijl Hotel - Gariep, Karoo, South Africa
While writing about my trip to Paris and various highlights I remembered that I was going to do the same with our trip to South Africa but have not done it yet.
For those of you who follow my blog, we spent 3 weeks in South Africa in December visiting friends and family and having a holiday too. Our trip started in Jo'burg and we drove down to Kimberly, Outshoorn, the wilderness and Cape Town, and then on the way back we stopped just outside Colesburg and back to Jo'burg.
While I was looking for accommodation for the way back, most of the really nice hotels and B&B's were just so expensive especially as all you really want is a bed to lay your head on.
I found the deStijl Hotel in the Karoo - Gariep, most of the time I don't read the review and go on instincts but this time I did a bit of research, some people liked it some people didn't but I thought we would give it a try. We arrived late in the evening in December just before Christmas and the hotel was packed. Some idiot in a big SUV had parked over 2 parking spaces and of course one of them was ours, however the hotel soon found the person and got them to park properly.
All I can say about this hotel is WOW it's like a 5 star haven in the middle of the desert, the cost for one night accommodation for 3 of us was R1,370 about €100 bed only. For this we got a clean apartment type room, with a "mini" kitchen, two super king size beds and a beautiful bathroom with a rain shower, a humungous balcony that overlooked the Dam.
Not since our holiday in Zimbabwe have I seen so many Stars, there was nothing I could fault this hotel on, the food in the Restaurant was outstanding, the rooms so comfortable and the view just breath taking, I wish I could have stayed longer, I wish I could live there in this quiet peaceful haven. I will go back and when I go back I will stay for longer.
So if you are looking for somewhere to stay between Cape Town and Johannesburg, my recommendation is The deStijl Hotel, Gariep - but don't just stay for one night, stay for 2 or more and discover what the Karoo has to offer.
For those of you who follow my blog, we spent 3 weeks in South Africa in December visiting friends and family and having a holiday too. Our trip started in Jo'burg and we drove down to Kimberly, Outshoorn, the wilderness and Cape Town, and then on the way back we stopped just outside Colesburg and back to Jo'burg.
While I was looking for accommodation for the way back, most of the really nice hotels and B&B's were just so expensive especially as all you really want is a bed to lay your head on.
I found the deStijl Hotel in the Karoo - Gariep, most of the time I don't read the review and go on instincts but this time I did a bit of research, some people liked it some people didn't but I thought we would give it a try. We arrived late in the evening in December just before Christmas and the hotel was packed. Some idiot in a big SUV had parked over 2 parking spaces and of course one of them was ours, however the hotel soon found the person and got them to park properly.
All I can say about this hotel is WOW it's like a 5 star haven in the middle of the desert, the cost for one night accommodation for 3 of us was R1,370 about €100 bed only. For this we got a clean apartment type room, with a "mini" kitchen, two super king size beds and a beautiful bathroom with a rain shower, a humungous balcony that overlooked the Dam.
Not since our holiday in Zimbabwe have I seen so many Stars, there was nothing I could fault this hotel on, the food in the Restaurant was outstanding, the rooms so comfortable and the view just breath taking, I wish I could have stayed longer, I wish I could live there in this quiet peaceful haven. I will go back and when I go back I will stay for longer.
So if you are looking for somewhere to stay between Cape Town and Johannesburg, my recommendation is The deStijl Hotel, Gariep - but don't just stay for one night, stay for 2 or more and discover what the Karoo has to offer.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
BLACKLANE TAXI
I mentioned in a previous post that I arranged a taxi from the airport, as this was our first time arriving in Paris and late at night we weren't sure how the buses, trains etc. ran so I did a bit of internet research and found the Blacklane Tax service, it was the best thing I had ever done.
I received update text messages from the time we left Dublin to say that the driver would be at the airport to pick us up and to let them know we had landed. We landed early and as they had our flight details they were constantly checking on our flight. When we came into the arrivals hall, our driver was waiting for us with a Tablet with our name on in Big bold letters.
He helped with the luggage and took us outside to where our Black Mercedes Benz was waiting. Em and I sat at the back, between us was an arm rest with cup holders which contained a bottle of water and a glass of sweets, much to Em's delight!
It was about a 25 minute journey from the Airport but so smooth riding in style. Our driver found the place with no problem at all. Once he helped us with the luggage he drove off. All payments were taken directly from the Credit card about 2 days after the event. I will definitely use them again as they were so professional The trip from Charles De Gaul Roissy Airport to the Republique Metro cost us only €52.00 including a tip, whereas friends of ours paid over €70 with a normal taxi from the same airport.
So if you are ever in Paris do it in Style and take a Blacklane Taxi!
I received update text messages from the time we left Dublin to say that the driver would be at the airport to pick us up and to let them know we had landed. We landed early and as they had our flight details they were constantly checking on our flight. When we came into the arrivals hall, our driver was waiting for us with a Tablet with our name on in Big bold letters.
He helped with the luggage and took us outside to where our Black Mercedes Benz was waiting. Em and I sat at the back, between us was an arm rest with cup holders which contained a bottle of water and a glass of sweets, much to Em's delight!
It was about a 25 minute journey from the Airport but so smooth riding in style. Our driver found the place with no problem at all. Once he helped us with the luggage he drove off. All payments were taken directly from the Credit card about 2 days after the event. I will definitely use them again as they were so professional The trip from Charles De Gaul Roissy Airport to the Republique Metro cost us only €52.00 including a tip, whereas friends of ours paid over €70 with a normal taxi from the same airport.
So if you are ever in Paris do it in Style and take a Blacklane Taxi!
Monday, April 6, 2015
Moulin Rouge Birthday Treat
So Thursday was also my birthday and I had long wanted to see the show at the Moulin Rouge, we managed to get tickets for the 11PM show which were a lot less than all the other show, it just meant it would be a late night especially for Emily.
We took the Metro to Blanche and were surprised when we came out that the Moulin Rouge was right there. We then went and had a bite to eat and headed over about 10:30 the queue was already down the road. When I booked the tickets it said that the dress code was no runners, jeans and men should wear a suit. I guess maybe that is the dress code for all shows except the 11PM show as most people especially the men were in Jeans and runners. But needless to say, my man was wearing suit trousers, good shoes and a tie. (He was not very impressed). 
The show was 2 and a half hours long and what a show, it really felt like you were back in the 50's, it was very retro. I am so glad I saw it as the first time I visited Paris I did not have the money to go to the show, so this was a real treat for me! 
Friday, April 3, 2015
Thursday .... still Paris and sore feet
So we left the apartment rather later than normal - I was intending to visit our Paris office after a visit to the Louvre, however after Skyping J-C he said it's better for us to come early. So off we went to the Metro 9 and out at Rooseveldt Franklin Station where we came out at the Champs Elysees right by the Disney Store and the Citroen shop and our office is literally round the corner.
It was so nice to meet the guys that I work with and Nicolas who I had not seen since we attended a training course together in London in 2013. After a coffee and a chat we headed over to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa.
I was really disappointed not so much with the fact that the Mona Lisa is not very big, but the fact that the Louvre do not have any organization, they should have a roped off area where everyone can file past, but it was just total Chaos, I thought I was at a Rock Concert with everyone trying to get to the front to see the artist.
And of course they have put The Mona Lisa behind glass because everyone just ignores the rules regarding flash photography. There is so much to see in the Louvre, we really only touched on it and saw the Spanish and Italian section and a few statues. And of course we went upstairs and the rains came down, so we headed over to my favourite lunch place "Pret-a-manger" for a prawn and crayfish sandwich and a cappuccino. At least you can get away having a really good lunch with soft drinks, coffee and sandwiches, including crisps and apple for €20.00 and everything is really fresh.
Lafayette
After lunch we head over to Lafayette to see the inside of the shop, wow is all I can say, I will post photographs here later. It looked like a theatre inside, really really awesome and of course every known designer brand and perfumery you can think of, and the prices ..... well we won't go there! We headed up to the top floor (8th), to see the view but because of the rain we could barely make out the Eiffel tower through the clouds.
We then headed back to the apartment for a rest as it was going to be a late night, but did not have too much of a rest.
Judging from the Queue for personal shopping at "Chanel" in Lafayette, the Chinese have all the disposable income as there was no one else in the queues except them.
It was so nice to meet the guys that I work with and Nicolas who I had not seen since we attended a training course together in London in 2013. After a coffee and a chat we headed over to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa.I was really disappointed not so much with the fact that the Mona Lisa is not very big, but the fact that the Louvre do not have any organization, they should have a roped off area where everyone can file past, but it was just total Chaos, I thought I was at a Rock Concert with everyone trying to get to the front to see the artist.
And of course they have put The Mona Lisa behind glass because everyone just ignores the rules regarding flash photography. There is so much to see in the Louvre, we really only touched on it and saw the Spanish and Italian section and a few statues. And of course we went upstairs and the rains came down, so we headed over to my favourite lunch place "Pret-a-manger" for a prawn and crayfish sandwich and a cappuccino. At least you can get away having a really good lunch with soft drinks, coffee and sandwiches, including crisps and apple for €20.00 and everything is really fresh.
Lafayette
After lunch we head over to Lafayette to see the inside of the shop, wow is all I can say, I will post photographs here later. It looked like a theatre inside, really really awesome and of course every known designer brand and perfumery you can think of, and the prices ..... well we won't go there! We headed up to the top floor (8th), to see the view but because of the rain we could barely make out the Eiffel tower through the clouds. 
We then headed back to the apartment for a rest as it was going to be a late night, but did not have too much of a rest.
Judging from the Queue for personal shopping at "Chanel" in Lafayette, the Chinese have all the disposable income as there was no one else in the queues except them.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Paris Hop on Hop Off bus and free coffee in Paris ...
Wednesday: We went over to the Big Bus company near the Opera to fetch our hop on hop off tickets for the day, which comes free with the Paris Pass - the lady wasn't very friendly first thing in the morning, but we did find out that we could have picked them up the previous day and she could have validated them for any day our Paris Pass was valid for.
Couple of things about those Hop on Hop off buses that I always forget, if you sit upstairs it is going to be cold, especially on a chuking filly day that we had, although it is the best way to see the "most" of Paris remember to take Scarf / hat / Gloves/ thermals etc. or otherwise sit downstairs - but of course you don't get the view down stairs that you get upstairs.
We first did the full route that takes you past all the tourist attractions including:
The Arc De Triomphe
The Eiffel Tower
Along the Champs Elysees
The Louvre
The Opera House
All the Palaces and famous bridges
But you can see the route here
How to get a free coffee in Paris:
Once we had done the full route, we then got off at the Opera and headed down to the Lafayette to "Pret a Manger" for some lunch, we discovered it on Monday when D and I went to Printemps to see the view. They always have nice sandwiches, pastries and coffee.
After Lunch we had to go to the Lindt store to get Em an ice-cream (of course) and then I saw the "Nespresso" shop, there is a Nespresso machine in the apartment and I have been wanting to get myself one for ages, so after talking to one of the sales men I purchased 10 capsules for €4.50 he then told me to go downstairs and get a coffee, so I called D and we both headed down for a FREE cup of coffee, the reason I go on about it is because a small coffee in a Parisian Café costs between €4.50 and €5.00 a cup, so to get 10 capsules and a free coffee is a real bargain.
And apparently you can do this in any City where there is a Nespresso shop, so long as you are buying something in the shop, you get a free coffee.
Later: The Opera House and the Eiffel Tower
We headed into the Opera House, however all the English guided tours were finished for the day, so we just did our own thing. Looked around took loads of photos and then headed for the shop and exit. Will post all my photos later.
We then got back on the Hop on Hop off bus and headed out to the Eiffel tower. Although it was windy and cold on the bus, when the sun came out it was really nice and warm. We got to the Eiffel tower and once again had to queue and that cold wind from the snow on the alps was cutting right through us.
What a majestic structure, it was well worth the wait in the cold to get on the vernacular and go up to the 2nd level and then from there to head up to the Summit, we saw some awesome views and the one that really struck me was from the 2nd level looking towards the Sacré Cour. The view from the Summit was just as awesome, but I was glad to get down to the bottom where it was much warmer.
Couple of things about those Hop on Hop off buses that I always forget, if you sit upstairs it is going to be cold, especially on a chuking filly day that we had, although it is the best way to see the "most" of Paris remember to take Scarf / hat / Gloves/ thermals etc. or otherwise sit downstairs - but of course you don't get the view down stairs that you get upstairs.
We first did the full route that takes you past all the tourist attractions including:
The Arc De Triomphe
The Eiffel Tower
Along the Champs Elysees
The Louvre
The Opera House
All the Palaces and famous bridges
But you can see the route here
How to get a free coffee in Paris:
Once we had done the full route, we then got off at the Opera and headed down to the Lafayette to "Pret a Manger" for some lunch, we discovered it on Monday when D and I went to Printemps to see the view. They always have nice sandwiches, pastries and coffee.
After Lunch we had to go to the Lindt store to get Em an ice-cream (of course) and then I saw the "Nespresso" shop, there is a Nespresso machine in the apartment and I have been wanting to get myself one for ages, so after talking to one of the sales men I purchased 10 capsules for €4.50 he then told me to go downstairs and get a coffee, so I called D and we both headed down for a FREE cup of coffee, the reason I go on about it is because a small coffee in a Parisian Café costs between €4.50 and €5.00 a cup, so to get 10 capsules and a free coffee is a real bargain.
And apparently you can do this in any City where there is a Nespresso shop, so long as you are buying something in the shop, you get a free coffee.
Later: The Opera House and the Eiffel Tower
We headed into the Opera House, however all the English guided tours were finished for the day, so we just did our own thing. Looked around took loads of photos and then headed for the shop and exit. Will post all my photos later.
We then got back on the Hop on Hop off bus and headed out to the Eiffel tower. Although it was windy and cold on the bus, when the sun came out it was really nice and warm. We got to the Eiffel tower and once again had to queue and that cold wind from the snow on the alps was cutting right through us.
What a majestic structure, it was well worth the wait in the cold to get on the vernacular and go up to the 2nd level and then from there to head up to the Summit, we saw some awesome views and the one that really struck me was from the 2nd level looking towards the Sacré Cour. The view from the Summit was just as awesome, but I was glad to get down to the bottom where it was much warmer.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Paris
So last year I had a big birthday and two of my friends each bought me a gift voucher for Aer Lingus which is our national airline here in Dublin. I used one of the vouchers on a business trip to London and the other I decided to book us a week in Paris - because of course a week-end is just not long enough to see everything.
We took the late flight out on Saturday night and arrived in Paris at 20:30, as a surprise I had organized an executive taxi service from the airport Blacklane who were just brilliant, they cost less than a normal taxi from Charles De Gaul airport. I received a text message saying that the driver had arrived before we came out, and there was our driver in his suit with an iPad with our name on it.
The Black Mercedes was parked outside with all kinds of treats in the taxi. It was so well worth it, we drove in comfort for 40 minutes to our apartment in the heart of Paris. Our drive was really quiet but very friendly.
Sunday: On Sunday morning we got the Metro over to Opera from Republique - If you are reading this and intending doing a trip to Paris, we are 2 adults and an eleven year old child. On Sunday I asked for a family ticket and they told me that children were a special price on a Sunday but the tickets still ended up costing us over €25.00 where on Monday we got 3 Adult day tickets for in and around Paris and it was only €21.00.
We met Bran and Laurie at Starbucks close to the Opera House and from there we walked, and walked and walked - we walked past the Opera to the Lafayette Shopping centre which was closed, as will as Printemps, but it was lovely looking at the windows and the fashions for Spring. We then headed over to the Chámps Elysées and walked up the Chámps Elysées to the Arc de triomphe and then over to the Eiffel Tower, it took us all day but then it was a long way. We also did not rush and stopped in at the Citroen shop so that the "Kids" could go down the slide, look at the link, it's quite a weird thing to have in a Citroen shop. We also had lunch at an Italian Restaurant - don't know how they get away with charging €5.00 for a cup of coffee or a Coke, it's just ludicrous.
After the Eiffel Tower, Bran came back with us as we made plans to meet him and Laurie at the Chatelet Metro, as they were taking Em to Disneyland for the day.
Monday: Up at sparrows fart, to get to Chatelet by 8:30 a.m. once D and I dropped off Em we headed back to Opera and over to the Printemps department Store. It only opened at 9:30, so we went over to the coffee shop across the road to try and get some breakfast. Breakfast consisted of a cappuccino, Raisin Danish and apple for me, a cappuccino and a banana for Derrick, but still worked out to the cheapest meal we had in Paris yet. The Printemps departments store has a restaurant on the very top floor which overlooks the whole of Paris and was the only reason I wanted to go there. There is a nice write up here about it. D and I took some great photos and then headed down to use the luxury public toilets on the 1st floor for a cost of €1.50 (and really not so luxurious), but at least they were clean, although I have found Paris to be mostly clean.
We then headed back to the Metro to get the Metro out to the Pére Lachaise cemetery as D wanted to see "Jim Morrison's" grave which is in the same cemetery as some other famous people like "Oskar Wilde" and "Frederic Chopin" and many others including "Edith Piaf". We left there after many hours of walking through rows and rows of dead people. We stopped for lunch close to the Metro at Café Richard and then took the Metro to the Rex Cinema to go and fetch our Paris Pass and then home. After doing a bit of shopping, Bran called to say they were on the train headed back from Disneyland, so we hopped on the metro again and of to Chatalét to meet them all. From Chatalet we took a metro to "Olympiades" to go and check out "Bercy Village" a quaint little village with loads of places to eat, we had dinner at "Chai 33" which was very elegant and the food was very very nice.
Tuesday: Today we lazily got up after 9:00 a.m. we then went off to fetch our hop on hop off bus ticket, but abandoned that idea after they told us we would have to use it today, so back we will go tomorrow for 9:30 in order to get an all day use out of it. So we then headed off to Notre Dame to meet up with Bran and Laurie for the last time, before they headed back to St. Tropez to the day jobs on a luxurious yacht!
I can't believe how many tourists there are in Paris, every where you go is mobbed. So we went into Notre Dame after queuing up for what seemed hours, it was very beautiful inside, but what gets to me is the lavishness and money spent on the catholic churches. Surely when poor people see how much money the church has they must wonder about religion.
After Notre Dame we found somewhere for lunch, where I had "French Snails" in Garlic butter, they were very nice! And they were still in their shells. After lunch we left Bran and Laurie as they headed off to catch their train, we walked over to the "lock" bridge, this is the bridge with all the "love locks" - we heard the next day on the bus tour that this started as a fad in 2006 where lovers would lock a key to the fence on the bridge and then throw the key into the Sein River, after the last episode of "Sex in the City" where Big comes to Paris to fetch Carrie and propose to her, it became even more popular to do this. There are places all over Europe where these locks of love can be seen, I remember we saw one on the bridge over the Danube in Vienna, and in a park in Budapest.
We took the late flight out on Saturday night and arrived in Paris at 20:30, as a surprise I had organized an executive taxi service from the airport Blacklane who were just brilliant, they cost less than a normal taxi from Charles De Gaul airport. I received a text message saying that the driver had arrived before we came out, and there was our driver in his suit with an iPad with our name on it.
The Black Mercedes was parked outside with all kinds of treats in the taxi. It was so well worth it, we drove in comfort for 40 minutes to our apartment in the heart of Paris. Our drive was really quiet but very friendly.
Sunday: On Sunday morning we got the Metro over to Opera from Republique - If you are reading this and intending doing a trip to Paris, we are 2 adults and an eleven year old child. On Sunday I asked for a family ticket and they told me that children were a special price on a Sunday but the tickets still ended up costing us over €25.00 where on Monday we got 3 Adult day tickets for in and around Paris and it was only €21.00.
We met Bran and Laurie at Starbucks close to the Opera House and from there we walked, and walked and walked - we walked past the Opera to the Lafayette Shopping centre which was closed, as will as Printemps, but it was lovely looking at the windows and the fashions for Spring. We then headed over to the Chámps Elysées and walked up the Chámps Elysées to the Arc de triomphe and then over to the Eiffel Tower, it took us all day but then it was a long way. We also did not rush and stopped in at the Citroen shop so that the "Kids" could go down the slide, look at the link, it's quite a weird thing to have in a Citroen shop. We also had lunch at an Italian Restaurant - don't know how they get away with charging €5.00 for a cup of coffee or a Coke, it's just ludicrous.
After the Eiffel Tower, Bran came back with us as we made plans to meet him and Laurie at the Chatelet Metro, as they were taking Em to Disneyland for the day.
Monday: Up at sparrows fart, to get to Chatelet by 8:30 a.m. once D and I dropped off Em we headed back to Opera and over to the Printemps department Store. It only opened at 9:30, so we went over to the coffee shop across the road to try and get some breakfast. Breakfast consisted of a cappuccino, Raisin Danish and apple for me, a cappuccino and a banana for Derrick, but still worked out to the cheapest meal we had in Paris yet. The Printemps departments store has a restaurant on the very top floor which overlooks the whole of Paris and was the only reason I wanted to go there. There is a nice write up here about it. D and I took some great photos and then headed down to use the luxury public toilets on the 1st floor for a cost of €1.50 (and really not so luxurious), but at least they were clean, although I have found Paris to be mostly clean.
We then headed back to the Metro to get the Metro out to the Pére Lachaise cemetery as D wanted to see "Jim Morrison's" grave which is in the same cemetery as some other famous people like "Oskar Wilde" and "Frederic Chopin" and many others including "Edith Piaf". We left there after many hours of walking through rows and rows of dead people. We stopped for lunch close to the Metro at Café Richard and then took the Metro to the Rex Cinema to go and fetch our Paris Pass and then home. After doing a bit of shopping, Bran called to say they were on the train headed back from Disneyland, so we hopped on the metro again and of to Chatalét to meet them all. From Chatalet we took a metro to "Olympiades" to go and check out "Bercy Village" a quaint little village with loads of places to eat, we had dinner at "Chai 33" which was very elegant and the food was very very nice.
Tuesday: Today we lazily got up after 9:00 a.m. we then went off to fetch our hop on hop off bus ticket, but abandoned that idea after they told us we would have to use it today, so back we will go tomorrow for 9:30 in order to get an all day use out of it. So we then headed off to Notre Dame to meet up with Bran and Laurie for the last time, before they headed back to St. Tropez to the day jobs on a luxurious yacht!
I can't believe how many tourists there are in Paris, every where you go is mobbed. So we went into Notre Dame after queuing up for what seemed hours, it was very beautiful inside, but what gets to me is the lavishness and money spent on the catholic churches. Surely when poor people see how much money the church has they must wonder about religion.
After Notre Dame we found somewhere for lunch, where I had "French Snails" in Garlic butter, they were very nice! And they were still in their shells. After lunch we left Bran and Laurie as they headed off to catch their train, we walked over to the "lock" bridge, this is the bridge with all the "love locks" - we heard the next day on the bus tour that this started as a fad in 2006 where lovers would lock a key to the fence on the bridge and then throw the key into the Sein River, after the last episode of "Sex in the City" where Big comes to Paris to fetch Carrie and propose to her, it became even more popular to do this. There are places all over Europe where these locks of love can be seen, I remember we saw one on the bridge over the Danube in Vienna, and in a park in Budapest.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Am I the one who holds all my friendships together?
I don't make new years resolutions, but at the start of the year I decided that I would not contact any of my friends and see how long it took them to contact me first.
I have been in my adopted country now for 14 years and have made many friends, mainly from companies I have worked for, so who long did that last - well I broke down in February when it was Bob's birthday and called him, he didn't answer, I didn't leave a message - but he called back and we had a really nice long chat.
So now it's just past St. Patrick's day and of the old crowd that I always organize the "Get togethers" - I have spoken to Bob and Trsh who I happened to bump it at my favourite Coffee shop, who hadn't replied to any of my email or text messages, but was thrilled to see me ... or was that just a put on?
Maybe my expectations of my friends is just too much, we're not all the same and perhaps we outgrow each other and don't feel the need to see one another or talk to one another that often anymore. I was told by a friend in South Africa that she sees me on Facebook all the time, so it feels like she is in contact with me all the time, is that just an excuse for not making actual contact with someone? Have we become reliant on our Social Media to feel close to our friends?
On another side frenimies that I have not kept in touch with for reasons other than I have been too busy, have suddenly crept out of the woodwork. I bumped into my ex boss on a flight back from London, she pretended not to see me, was so funny as there is a story there. Then Pete who came to visit us in Dublin about 3 years ago and then dropped off the face of the earth, called. I got a weird email from the mother of one of Em's frenimies who hadn't spoken to me since last year August, I replied but heard nothing since. And then an old work colleague phoned and started asking really rude personal questions about our finances, so I cut him short .... I think I have become so less tolerant in my more mature years.
I guess at times you discover who really are your real friends.
I guess once again, I am going to be the one to pick up the phone and phone all those people I haven't spoken to in ages, make arrangements to see them and then see once again how long it will take before they contact me again, or will I just be the one who reaches out all the time?
I have been in my adopted country now for 14 years and have made many friends, mainly from companies I have worked for, so who long did that last - well I broke down in February when it was Bob's birthday and called him, he didn't answer, I didn't leave a message - but he called back and we had a really nice long chat.
So now it's just past St. Patrick's day and of the old crowd that I always organize the "Get togethers" - I have spoken to Bob and Trsh who I happened to bump it at my favourite Coffee shop, who hadn't replied to any of my email or text messages, but was thrilled to see me ... or was that just a put on?
Maybe my expectations of my friends is just too much, we're not all the same and perhaps we outgrow each other and don't feel the need to see one another or talk to one another that often anymore. I was told by a friend in South Africa that she sees me on Facebook all the time, so it feels like she is in contact with me all the time, is that just an excuse for not making actual contact with someone? Have we become reliant on our Social Media to feel close to our friends?
On another side frenimies that I have not kept in touch with for reasons other than I have been too busy, have suddenly crept out of the woodwork. I bumped into my ex boss on a flight back from London, she pretended not to see me, was so funny as there is a story there. Then Pete who came to visit us in Dublin about 3 years ago and then dropped off the face of the earth, called. I got a weird email from the mother of one of Em's frenimies who hadn't spoken to me since last year August, I replied but heard nothing since. And then an old work colleague phoned and started asking really rude personal questions about our finances, so I cut him short .... I think I have become so less tolerant in my more mature years.
I guess at times you discover who really are your real friends.
I guess once again, I am going to be the one to pick up the phone and phone all those people I haven't spoken to in ages, make arrangements to see them and then see once again how long it will take before they contact me again, or will I just be the one who reaches out all the time?