tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40422401515201577032012-01-20T18:37:06.156+02:00Doodles of a journoTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.comBlogger5751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-53295082155865010662011-11-30T14:25:00.001+02:002011-11-30T15:04:11.026+02:00Christmas CupcakesFor my church small group's last meeting for 2011 tonight:
Not nearly as professional as those made by The Cupcake Lady or Yummy Mummy, but they'll have to do.
I went with blue and red instead of green and red just for a change from the Christmas paraphernalia. They have caramel hidden centres. They took me forever - I forgot how sticky plastic icing gets. I've only worked with it once beforeTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-25074121601845209192011-11-25T15:15:00.001+02:002011-11-25T15:16:17.473+02:00Frustrated on a Friday......By people who think I work for them when I don't.
I swear I have a sign on my head saying "Expect me to do your job for you".
Grrr.
That is all.
Have a good weekend. I'm going to find some wine.Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-69311351530271440912011-11-17T18:20:00.001+02:002011-11-17T18:26:08.335+02:00Right now......All I want to do is something creative. It's like the annoying mosquito bite on my ankle - an itch that just won't stop. I've made heaps of jewellery, but I'm looking forward to a point in time when writing gets less hectic so that I can wrap some presents, make some cards and do some general "prettifying". I also need to do a little sewing and baking. If I can just hold out a bit longer!
Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-26372930838553224752011-11-11T15:45:00.001+02:002011-11-11T16:05:56.698+02:00Happy 11/11/11I am so glad the week is over, although the weekend looks pretty exhausting too. I need to do some work and sort out my tax documents for my accountant (blergh) and we also have lots of social stuff planned and then quite a serious meeting with some of our church elders to discuss some niggles on Sunday afternoon (not looking forward to that).
What I am looking forward is spending 11/11/11 eve Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-65475087337312148472011-11-09T10:15:00.000+02:002011-11-09T10:26:02.366+02:00Multimedia PostFirst, you HAVE to watch this super awesome music video made with jelly bean stop-animation (yes, you read that right):
Here are some more flowers from my garden:
And here are a few jewellery pics...
This is just a small sample - I'll never get around to photgraphing it all! But I'm happy to post more if you like?
Off to rewrite some articles on paint trends now (for real)Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-88249909861094339242011-11-04T14:25:00.001+02:002011-11-04T14:25:59.955+02:00Long overdue catch-up postIt's that insanely busy time of the year where freelancers are trying to make enough money to get through December and January, when the industry goes dead for two months. This means I've been working every hour that is sent and still struggling to fit everything in. Hence the lack of blogging.
Thankfully my huge 6 600-word report is done and dusted. Now it's just the client amendments and Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-39847107629698459492011-10-31T18:55:00.004+02:002011-10-31T18:55:50.415+02:00Forget Halloween......It's my fourth blog birthday today.
That's right - four years ago on 31 October, I randomly decided to start a blog. And it's been some ride.
Thanks for reading. Will be back with a proper post as soon as I get a chance to breathe. So much I want to blog about!
Enjoy your trick or treating.Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-41804530769477291852011-10-20T13:00:00.002+02:002011-10-20T13:01:00.181+02:00R12 a day: Day 4This is my last day of doing the challenge because we fly out to Cape Town this evening (woo hoo!) and we'll miss the final day of R12 a day tomorrow.
Last night's dinner with our small group went well. They all brought their R4 and we served soup with bread and then jelly for dessert.
For the soup, I bought a sachet of Creamy Chicken Soup powder. I fried up the one and a half big onions we hadTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-8859672767243100792011-10-19T13:51:00.000+02:002011-10-19T13:51:15.697+02:00R12 a day: Day 3I have new empathy with those who live on less than R12 a day and have to visit the shops. Last night, I went in to PnP to buy a sachet of mix-up juice powder, which we decided would be better than tea (seeing we haven't budgeted for milk). They cost R2.50 and make 1litre of juice.
It was before we'd started cooking supper (homemade potato gnocchi with tomato and onion sauce) and I was hungry. Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-61046227454873433832011-10-18T11:32:00.001+02:002011-10-18T11:32:23.879+02:00R12 a day: Day TwoOne thing I forgot to mention about the R12 a day challenge yesterday is that I'm so grateful that I'm married to TSC and we can each have R12 a day. This challenge s really tough for single people. We've encouraged members of our small group to club together so that they can get a greater variety of ingredients. According to the rules we have to cost for whole items. In other words, you can't Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-29934200665918651482011-10-17T16:41:00.002+02:002011-10-18T09:47:46.142+02:00R12 a day: Day 1I'm doing the R12 a day challenge. If you'd like to know more about how you can do the challenge or if you want to donate money towards food for those in my church living below the bread line, please mail me at doodlesofajourno at gmail dot com.
Here's the menu for the next few days:
Today:
Breakfast: mealie meal porridge
Snack: banana
Lunch: 2min noodles
Supper: spaghetti with soya mince and Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-39807132334541455022011-10-14T14:24:00.002+02:002011-10-14T14:24:51.914+02:00R12 a day challengeMy church has issued a challenge to its members to feed ourselves each on R12 a day from 17 to 21 October. Here's a bit about the R12 a day challenge:
Why R12 a day?  The World Bank defines ‘extreme poverty’ as living on less than US $1.25 or R12 per day.
In support of ‘World Food Day’ on the 16TH October and ‘International Day for the Eradication of Poverty’ on the 17TH October.Â
1.4 Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-89711679804070945772011-10-13T12:05:00.000+02:002011-10-13T12:05:19.100+02:00Still hereIt's just been... manic, sad, hard...
I've been quite sick. I had terrible gastro. It started last week Tuesday morning. By Friday, I thought I was better, until I got on the bus for the Coldplay concert on Saturday and threw up again. Sorry to everyone who was on that bus with me. They all probably thought I was drunk. In actual fact, I think it was the smell of all the booze and smoke that setTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-39389597616597663152011-10-04T09:16:00.000+02:002011-10-04T09:16:09.859+02:00RIP little JenniferMy heart is crushed today. Two of our dear supper club friends were expecting their little girl - their first child - to arrive this week. We had dinner with them on Sunday afer church and laughed together about nappy duty and our nicknames for her.
Less than 24hours later, baby Jennifer died after a tight knot in her umbilical cord cut off her blood supply.
Her poor parents are broken. My Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-50004984798703848542011-09-27T13:48:00.001+02:002011-09-27T13:48:50.162+02:00Was it something I said?Where did you all go? Seriously. Am I talking (writing) to myself?
Don't reduce me to begging you for comment love. Please.
I'll try to be more interesting, promise. I'll write about sex, drugs and rock n roll. No, I won't actually. I'll continue writing about my cats, my work and other (apparently not very) scintillating aspects of my life. Whether you comment or not.
But comments would be Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-12916046081855502652011-09-23T12:34:00.004+02:002011-09-23T12:36:12.484+02:00Stuff
There are a lot of birthdays in September. All the New Years' babies... Flip. You're bankrupting me, people!
We have a charity ball tonight. I can't wait. It's themed too. I love dressing up! Must remember to take my camera.
It's a busy weekend. We also have a friend's 30th bday bash tomorrow (the third this month) and then our church small group is refurbishing a room at the children's home we Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-61380654300262178612011-09-19T17:00:00.001+02:002011-09-19T17:01:01.735+02:00Perfect weekendThis weekend was one of those rare occasions where we managed the perfect blend of socialising and chilling. We haven't had a non-frantic weekend in months, so we really enjoyed it.
Supper Club was at our house on Friday night and I made a few things from one of Jamie's 30-Minute Meals menus, expressly ignoring his advice to not mix and match menus, and then put together a few of my own Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-78268386230508344582011-09-16T12:43:00.000+02:002011-09-16T12:43:09.400+02:00Spring flowers
Snapped in my garden this week... I hope to spend some time there this weekend. Have a good one.
Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-10344471650336884672011-09-14T16:22:00.000+02:002011-09-14T16:22:11.543+02:00A rant on writingI love writing. I really do. Sometimes I forget this (usually when I'm 3000 words into a report on a boring subject like mining legislation and have lost my sense of humour a wee bit).
Writing, however, really is a weird job. There's a whole bunch of people who think that anyone can be a writer and can't see the need to hire someone with a journalism or copy writing qualification to do the work.Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-15704011444162882062011-09-09T13:12:00.000+02:002011-09-09T13:13:12.783+02:00Itchy feetI don't know if it's as a result of being stuck in my house while the renovations took place, or if it's just that time of year, but I am desperate (DESPERATE) for a break. Like everyone else I guess.
It does not help that we've been invited to a destination wedding in the very furthest part of the Kruger in December and I've been checking out pics of the camp on the web. It's going to be Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-26999150271606929912011-09-06T15:20:00.012+02:002011-09-07T11:05:48.805+02:00Before and AfterIt's taken me long enough, but I can finally show you some renovation pics!Bathroom:When our house was built, the owners at the time decided to change the plans for the en-suite bathroom in the main bedroom. They were elderly and didn't want a bath, so they built a wall in the middle of the room that would be the bathroom and installed only a shower, toilet and single basin, using the other half Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-29098680208381523972011-09-01T10:56:00.002+02:002011-09-01T10:57:03.061+02:00Flip!Can the world please slow down? Just for a second?
I just need a second to stop for breath.
Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-34556549611234232442011-08-25T11:24:00.000+02:002011-08-26T15:30:23.235+02:00It's been a week already......Since I last blogged. Crazy.
Here's a quick update of what's been potting:
It was my bday on Sat and I got spoilt rotten. TSC surprised me with my gift (for almost the first time ever - usually I know exactly what I'm getting). He gave me this:
He already got us Cold Play tickets awhile back, seeing they are my fave band ever, so I feel very blessed with my "bonus" present Jamie book and Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-41394327230253286162011-08-19T16:54:00.000+02:002011-08-19T16:55:14.308+02:00Bullet point updatesHello! Been desperate to blog all week and catch up on my reading, but it's been more of the same manic pace, I'm afraid.
So here are some quick bullet points:
It's my birthday tomorrow. Renovations were supposed to be complete by then, but alas it was not to be. The cupboard guy's materials were delayed, so he can only come on Thursday. But the new carpets are in and they look amazing! And Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-78748297605577783252011-08-11T14:08:00.004+02:002011-08-12T12:04:32.901+02:00Never been happier it's a FridayWhat an admin week! Goodness.
Not only have we been running around trying to manage builders, plumbers, tilers and painters while still getting some work done, but I've also been sorting out tax stuff (hate, hate, HATE) and we've switched our insurer. Finally.
In between, the dishwasher has stopped working, the expensive Floor Wizard mop (or whatever other euphemistic name it has been given) Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-32892252672264432112011-08-05T16:08:00.004+02:002011-08-05T17:07:18.217+02:00I'm in the wrong generationAside from obvious things like the fact that I would rather listen to Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles or The Platters than Rihanna, The Parlotones or The Black Eyed Peas (or the fact that I can't even think of more current bands to mention here because I refuse to listen to most radio stations because "it all sounds the same to me") there are certain things that make me suspect I was born in the Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-50801806112467394882011-08-02T10:18:00.000+02:002011-08-03T17:28:25.631+02:00Renovations & RecommendationsI'm big into social buying and am signed up to Groupon, WiCount and now Daddy's Deals. They're having a competition where you can win a fab adventure for you and three friends along with loads of other cool prizes, so if you want to enter too... click this magic button:Ended my work day well today - got a phone call from a potential new client. She was given my number and a recommendation by one Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-68314315186639906252011-07-29T10:38:00.004+02:002011-07-29T13:56:59.931+02:00General Chaos et alGeneral Chaos and his troops have invaded our house. Major Mess has taken up headquarters in our spare bedroom while Private Breakdown was allegedly crying in the downstairs toilet, although there is no hard evidence to substantiate this rumour.Yes, renovations are on the go, despite our plumber failing to show up yesterday as agreed and our tile-remover dude being three hours late today. Still, Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-78742303966929083732011-07-27T14:17:00.004+02:002011-07-27T14:27:34.036+02:00Blogging as rewardI can't believe it's only been a little over a year since I've been fully self-employed. I can believe, however, that my blogging has been way less regular since then.Blogging used to be part of my morning ritual... Go to work. Check emails. Blog. Work. Have coffee with boss and discuss any urgent jobs for the day, etc.But working as a freelancer means there's not much of a routine. Sometimes Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-49135151441129501492011-07-25T12:57:00.005+02:002011-07-25T14:13:11.654+02:00Assorted updates: count down and cat warfareI'm so glad last week is over. What an insane few days! Presentations, deadlines, power plays and boundary laying... Not so much fun.That said, there are things to smile about this week:Renovations! Commencing in T minus 2 days (or 3, depending how quickly we get our upstairs packed up). It's going to be hell, for sure, but I am SO looking forward to the end result. Note to self: Must remember toTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-60778420953044616482011-07-20T10:50:00.007+02:002011-07-20T11:53:03.833+02:00Minor journo rantWhen I write a magzine story, it generally requires a couple of interviews. I quite enjoy interviews. I always learn something new. Unless the interviewee is completely useless, which thankfully doesn't happen very often.I need to explain something though: If my story is 2000 words long and I'm interviewing four people, it means that I have at most 500 words per interview. That's one typed page Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-82156084689195742992011-07-15T10:19:00.001+02:002011-07-18T09:37:19.365+02:00Help urgently requested!Right, last week was absolutely mental, which is why I'm only getting to this rather late... I need some blogger / Twitterer advice. Before tomorrow.I have a lovely client who wants to get some of the people he works with to take up social media. He's asked me to come in and teach them how to use Twitter and how to write good blog posts.Eep!I have explained to him that I am not the best person Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-26435071550176739722011-07-04T16:03:00.003+02:002011-07-04T16:20:53.649+02:002011 - not a fanI can't believe it's July already. 2011 is just rushing by. I'm hoping for a less frenetic second half. I did not enjoy the first part of the year. Work stuff, family stuff, life stuff, church stuff...It's not all been bad, as TSC reminded me the other day. He found a job, which has been a major worry lifted off our shoulders. He graduated from his diploma and has now passed all his exams (found Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-67436375007995289402011-06-29T12:17:00.009+02:002011-06-29T13:39:41.942+02:00Awards, apologies and bending the rulesI feel like all I ever do on this blog is apologise for not blogging. But I don't like blogging when I'm in a bad headspace. And I have been fairly strung out and miz of late, so I decided not to inflict that on you.Thankfully my sick bugs are finally starting to clear up, which means I am feeling a little less sorry for myself and not quite so pathetic today. Yesterday was the worst. Have you Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-79219619740705918632011-06-22T20:53:00.003+02:002011-06-22T21:10:30.703+02:00The facts from this weekI'm off to Durban tomorrow for the weekend. I will visit my gran, who had a mastectomy on Monday. She only found out on Friday that she needed one, so it's been a shock.The op went well and we're just waiting for the histology reports. My granddad has been beside himself - he lost his first wife (my biological gran) to cancer after a marriage of more than 40 years. I was still in primary school Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-72946401292903702002011-06-17T14:23:00.005+02:002011-06-17T15:33:24.121+02:00Movie stuffLots on the go. What I thought would be a quiet week turned out to be very busy. Haven't had time to post anything of substance, but here's a bit of fluff for you in the form of two movie reviews and some cinematic thoughts ;-)X Men: First ClassI'm not generally a fan of movies based on comic books. They tend to have lame plots, stilted scripts and simplistic characters. But the X Men movies haveTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-63167045739824004042011-06-08T09:47:00.003+02:002011-06-08T09:54:16.267+02:00Rain?!Joburg is meant to have summer rains. We don't expect a drop of the stuff in winter. But in the last few hours it has bucketed with rain. And then some hail, just to really confuse us poor Gautengers.TSC and I didn't sleep very well with the storm raging, so both of us were wide awake when we heard water trickling somewhere inside the house at about 3.30am. We flicked on the light switch and wereTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-38278899966055076992011-06-06T11:26:00.003+02:002011-06-06T11:44:35.759+02:00Monday morning thoughtsThat was a pretty good weekend. Some highlights:Watching Defending the Caveman at the Pieter Toerien Theatre - hilarious! TSC and I are still laughing about it.Supper club breakfast (oxymoron, I know. But we decided to do something different this month) at my favourite breakfast restaurant in Jozi - Grand Central Cafe.Watching ancient movies in front of the fireplace with a hot, home-cooked meal Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-42583275870027138172011-06-03T13:20:00.004+02:002011-06-03T13:33:19.595+02:00My life is a pie chartIs it just me or has this week gone on FOREVER?I am so glad it's finally Friday. Bring. It. On.In other news, I found a graph that describes my life:Have a wonderful, warm weekend, people. I will be spending mine avoiding emails, consuming hot food and bonding with my fireplace.Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-61724201257508562152011-06-01T09:28:00.003+02:002011-06-01T10:13:08.929+02:00Celebrating one year of self-employmentToday is exactly one year since I took the plunge and gave up my half-day job for fulltime freelancing. Lots has happened in this year (clients have come and gone, I've ghost written a book, TSC has found a job) and lots has stayed the same since my first post about it (I still work in my slippers, spend too much time on the internet and stress about my tax stuff).Here are a few things I've Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-36188826524936579222011-05-31T10:07:00.001+02:002011-05-31T10:08:54.841+02:00TSC graduated last nightNational Diploma in Civil Engineering.I couldn't be prouder.Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-14462419869528365042011-05-28T13:26:00.004+02:002011-05-28T14:03:58.377+02:00A tribute to Stephen WatsonI recently found out that oneof the lecturers who most influenced me in my time at UCT, Stephen Watson, passed away in April. He was 56.Although I was only taught by him directly for one semester, he made such an impact on me that I will never forget him. Stephen Watson was the man who helped me to fall in love with poetry.He was the man that convinced me that writing is what I want to do with myTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-53882813391856012832011-05-17T14:40:00.004+02:002011-05-17T15:35:47.582+02:00Mulling and navel gazing againI've been thinking about this post for awhile. And, to paraphrase the words of dear SleepyJane, it's probably all been said before. But not by ME *grins*. So I'm going to say it anyhow... Because I can:Blogging is weird. Because when you're blogging you're yourself but you're not.Backing up a bit...Remember a few weeks back I said I'd run into an ex-colleague and she's doing well and I was glad Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-43741574536463004522011-05-13T19:11:00.001+02:002011-05-13T19:13:16.658+02:00I Love ColdPlayThey are one of my favourite bands. EVER.They're coming to South Africa.Why are tickets SOOOO expensive?!?Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-67939363355070728412011-05-05T15:08:00.010+02:002011-05-05T18:35:24.689+02:00My opinion on various things. And pics.As I'm sure you are all aware, I have an opinion on pretty much everything :-) So here are my thoughts on a couple of things:Movies: Unkown: I love Liam Neeson. I love action movies and thrillers. One would think this was a match made in heaven. And it was definitely edge-of-your-seat engaging. The only problems are the plot holes the size of JuJu's ego and the fact that it's all been done beforeTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-9713910831913219762011-05-03T13:10:00.009+02:002011-05-03T18:38:42.328+02:00Good stuff. And pics.I do not feel like being back behind this screen, hard at work. The past few days have been such a good break that I don't want them to end. I survived the farm in Namibia, with all its millions of mosquitoes and its one loo that doesn't work properly. TSC went off hunting and then spent much time cutting up all the meat (three springbok) to make biltong, mince etc, while I ploughed through Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-7226404200033863872011-04-19T17:56:00.005+02:002011-04-19T22:08:40.868+02:00Catch-ups againI've been planning to blog every day, but something gets in the way, whether it's power failures, rush jobs, clients who behave badly or just the inability to remember hat I wanted to say.So here's a quick run-down of what I planned to post about:The weekend, which was sublime. It was our turn to host supper club on Friday and I was pretty chuffed with my menu. B is pregnant (SO happy for her - Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-54356621109950469392011-04-12T11:18:00.003+02:002011-04-12T13:18:33.520+02:00Some navel-gazingI think my dad reckons I'm a total idealist. And my best friend thinks I'm a sad, jaded cynic. Honestly, I would say I'm a mix of both. I think a lot of South Africans are, actually.This schism between my two personalities is never more evident than in the period leading up to elections. 2011 is local election year in SA and as the campaigning kicks in, the uglies come out.I oscillate between a Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-87569796188060082612011-04-06T11:05:00.003+02:002011-04-07T15:16:46.217+02:00I should not be allowed out in winterWe've had three cold days and my brain has frozen. And it's only going to get worse.Argh... CAN'T. THINK. PROPERLY.If you could listen to my thoughts, this is what you'd hear today:It's cold. It's so cold. Why is it so cold? Must quote that new client. Open quote template, Tamara. Insert client name: Sue.Sue.Soup.Souuuuuuuup... Must have soup. FOCUS! Hmmm.... what was I doing? Quote.Quote, quote,Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-34053791527154399752011-04-05T12:46:00.003+02:002011-04-05T12:52:07.594+02:00This about explains it...Deadlines are tight right now, folks. But obviously not tight enough yet if I'm still blogging, right?Off to a meeting with a prospective client now. Should be reading up on their company, not pasting silly graphs.The Queen of Procrastination is still on her throne. Long live the Queen.Laters.Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-86639847077207093622011-04-04T09:16:00.007+02:002011-04-04T15:48:47.300+02:00Peanut butter and picnicsSuch a good weekend was had. A proper weekend, if you know what I mean - enough rest and socialising. Balanced, for a change.On Friday night TSC and I finally got to try Gourmet Garage's peanut butter burgers. Yum! I understand now why they're famous. I love, love, love peanut butter. It goes with anything (except toothpaste and avocado. Trust me on this - you don't need to try it). We're Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-62342894641072083732011-04-01T14:11:00.002+02:002011-04-01T14:18:20.544+02:00Updates on a FridayRemember I was having issues with my colleagues / business partners? Well, it's all sorted. One decided that the other's business is not really in her business interests, so they are parting ways, leaving me to work with each of them separately in peace. So, lots of emotional emails and tears later, it all sorts itself out. Yay for answered prayers.In the past week I've had a website, two Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-77043400599839966142011-03-31T14:38:00.000+02:002011-03-31T14:39:29.683+02:00Truth is stranger than fiction...Click here for proof of that. Weird.Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-15114042151195209072011-03-28T09:21:00.000+02:002011-03-30T14:55:18.399+02:00Please explain......Why I always get called by idiots with the wrong number who don't understand when I tell them they've got the wrong number!*Sigh*Some quick, random catch-up points:Embarrassing event of the week:Had to take my car back to the panel beaters on Friday. Since it had been worked on it was taking in air by the windscreen (which is an annoying sound, according to TSC) and also had a weird rattle or Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-75488430498031008102011-03-23T10:00:00.004+02:002011-03-23T10:51:14.105+02:00Happy Birthday, SchmeeIt's my brother's birthday today. I know he's not going to see this, but...Happy birthday my not-so-little-anymore brother. I know I'm not a great sister, but I love you and I'm thinking of you and praying for you on your special day. We don't always see eye to eye, but you have a great big piece of my heart. I can picture you rolling your eyes at that, but hey - it's the truth. Imagine me sayingTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-44271444576646957582011-03-22T19:06:00.003+02:002011-03-22T20:38:36.567+02:00The Tuesday that thought it was a MondayIf I had to describe today in a word, it would be green. But more about that later.For those of you who don't live in South Africa, yesterday was a public holiday here. It was Human Rights Day. So today, Tuesday, was the first day of our working week here. And Tuesday decided that seeing that was the case, it would take on Monday's usual responsibility of being miserable. Here's a run-down of my Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-9863710174867465652011-03-16T15:16:00.002+02:002011-03-16T16:55:29.529+02:00The good, the bad and the fuglyGood:TSC starts his new job next week. He's super excited and I am so pleased for him. I think that adjusting to the new routine may take some time, but this really is a wonderful opportunity.I'm really bonding with some of the women in my small group that I've been trying to get to know better for ages now... great break through! I met with one for coffee yesterday and another one today and I'm Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-51548326812621718472011-03-14T15:09:00.003+02:002011-03-14T15:23:08.070+02:00NEWS!Pic from here.TSC got a job! And it's a great opportunity, not like the last dodgey offer he got. He starts next week. So proud of him!Stability - at last.Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-76784205843913368722011-03-10T11:47:00.007+02:002011-03-10T12:49:47.464+02:00Worry warriorI worry too much. People are always telling me that. And it's true. But I'm good at worrying. If worrying were a competitive sport I would be like the Tiger Woods (except no dodgey hanky panky) or the Fernando Alonso (except with better kept eyebrows).Random aside: I just realised I know very little about female sportspeople. Sad.Anyway, the point is that I could kick your ass at worrying. And Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-91517777683869554132011-03-09T09:08:00.006+02:002011-03-09T10:04:11.476+02:00Food fix and funny faux pas...As mentioned yesterday, I have two guys staying with me who are not used to eating with a knife and fork. I'd already bought those giant mushrooms for TSC and I (we eat vegetarian once or twice a week), so I decided to make the mushrooms into burgers. They were awesome.I grilled the mushrooms with a little olive oil and garlic and popped them onto breadrolls spread with basil pesto and a little Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-31868669273775589612011-03-08T10:23:00.004+02:002011-03-08T13:57:33.721+02:00Words and picturesIt's been a busy time. TSC's dad was in hospital for a few days to have a kidney stone removed. The process was more painful than expected and TSC and his family have been quite stressed. We also had a lot on this weekend and TSC's helpers, Isak and Johannes, have been staying with us on and off to help him out on the odd jobs he's doing, which has meant no real privacy for a bit.The weekend was Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-357654188116811582011-03-02T09:45:00.005+02:002011-03-02T14:25:18.683+02:00Another listShot in my gran's garden in GraskopStuff I love:People who reply to comments left on their blogs.My new hair. Hah - wait till I wash it tonight and my salon blow-dry is no more. Then I'll hate it for the next week. Predictable.Ginger and peach tea with a little honey.My cats. One is currently sitting in the drawer of my desk next to me, just so she can be close.My camera, which is the most Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-14298140312799890872011-03-01T15:24:00.006+02:002011-03-02T08:53:29.918+02:00Hello Tuesday.I'm so glad it's you and that Monday's gone for this week.Especially seeing Monday started with a fight with Honda about my car's service plan, which ended in a draw. Well, that's how I'm choosing to see it. Then I got told by their service department that I need new tyres. Joy. More money spent on something that's fallen apart. It appears my car and my house are in collusion. I feel betrayed.NotTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-41027966698076691792011-02-23T12:38:00.007+02:002011-02-23T13:39:54.238+02:00Random outpouring of my thoughtsHow is it that stuff all falls apart at once?And no, I'm not moaning about my family and work stuff this time. I mean actual things, like our bathroom towel rail that's literally fallen to pieces this month (the various bits are lying on the bathroom floor and not even our best glue will keep them together anymore). And the lid of our kitchen pot, which I've had since varsity. It fits both my Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-30531900198168402282011-02-22T11:44:00.003+02:002011-02-22T14:54:49.374+02:00Recently discoveredA few things I've recently discovered and am enjoying...Peanut butter and chocolate bars from Tart at the Leaping Frog centre. It's like a piece of heaven in your mouth. Mmmmmm. Everything here is delicious though. It's hard to choose!Homemade iced tea. I use the Woolworths' Fruit Infusions Apple, Cranberry and Cinnamon Tea, which is divine hot or cold with a little bit of honey.WhatsApp. Yay forTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-78617047119927801382011-02-18T12:06:00.003+02:002011-02-18T12:22:02.132+02:00ContinuationHow much can happen in one week? Seriously. This feels like a year.Just found out one of my best friends is moving to Cape Town :-( We've been friends for seven years and she was one of my bridesmaids. Since then she's lived in Kenya, the UK and USA, and our friendship has always survived. I'm sure it will survive this too, but it has been so lovely having her close by and seeing so much of her Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-86255550895254809122011-02-16T12:29:00.002+02:002011-02-16T13:03:24.624+02:00The upside of down timesIt hasn't been a great week for me or my kin. But when life is giving me lemons, I always realise again how blessed I am with such an amazing support system.My dad called on his way home from work yesterday, having read my blog post, and we had a lengthy, helpful chat. Shortly after that, my mom phoned too and we also talked for ages about some of the stuff. My parents both soldier on together Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-45848545694371416822011-02-15T15:02:00.003+02:002011-02-15T15:09:21.982+02:00Today has not been a good oneYesterday at lunch I got more news on the family stuff. I can't talk about it here. But thinking about it is like being kicked in the stomach. It breaks my heart. But I'll keep praying about it and trusting that things will be fine.Then today I got the news that my biggest retainer client has decided not to renew my contract, despite the fact that he previously had said he would. This company Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-36192138860522081172011-02-14T11:02:00.005+02:002011-02-14T13:02:52.279+02:00Assorted updatesHello people. Happy Valentine's Day.How do you feel about V Day, out of interest? I have mixed feelings. I love the idea of a day to celebrate love, spoil TSC and eat chocolate. But I hate the plastic roses and restaurants filled with smug couples and drunk singles offering exhorbitant V Day set menus.It's a day that makes some people go totally overboard with cheesy rhyming Hallmark cards and Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-47026441500566489192011-02-09T12:15:00.009+02:002011-02-09T13:03:37.930+02:00Toll woes - a rantFor those of you not living in Gauteng, let me explain that we're about to get all our freeways tolled in this tiny little economic hub of a province (they'll have to change that name - payways instead of freeways, maybe?).If I visit my folks in Pretoria during a weekday from June when this comes into play, a round trip will cost me more than R50 just in toll fees! For all you lucky Jozi dwellersTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-66363083901335210482011-02-08T14:18:00.005+02:002011-02-09T13:45:31.587+02:00ReflectionsPic shot at Keimoes, Northern Cape.Stuff is going on with my family. Stuff that won't get blogged about here, because it's not my stuff to discuss. But it made me think.And so I wrote a very emo post reflecting on our journey as a family. And then deleted it. Instead I leave you with a reflection in picture form.And a link to the Kalahari Ads Valentine's competition - place a free ad and stand toTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-65627022669910988982011-02-07T11:02:00.008+02:002011-02-07T12:22:04.451+02:00Some listsExcuses for last week's lack of blogging (a quick summary tour):Got sick and spent three days between bed and couch with a box of tissues.Painted the house (finished at 2.30am on Tuesday morning).Started operation clean-up after the epic painting mission.Spent a night in Pretoria to celebrate my mom's birthday with her and the family at the most awesome restaurant - Hemingways (best creme brulee Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-51382118135356212682011-01-27T14:20:00.004+02:002011-01-27T16:00:33.086+02:00Pictures and apologiesI'm sorry. Again. I know I've totally sucked at blogging and reading everyone else's blogs this year so far. I've been distracted. TSC's job hunting and frustration at the lack of availability of civil engineering posts suitable for him have sort of taken centre stage of our little world.In fact, the job issue has pretty much taken over everything at the moment. He can't think of anything else. Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-65832393630713739842011-01-12T14:13:00.003+02:002011-01-12T16:44:30.920+02:00Off to a disorganised startEvery year I have great intentions of being more organised and less of a mess. And generally I start off very well and then descend into my usual bad habits by about mid-February (dumping my shoes in the kitchen as soon as I get into the house, not keeping my log book up to date, forgetting to file my telephone bills, losing my diary etc).But this year not even my smooth start has been possible. Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-64704796142796883292011-01-10T12:09:00.003+02:002011-01-10T12:19:00.304+02:00Howzit, 2011.I composed the perfect post in my head at 3am this morning, explaining my long absence and detailing my adventures since the last post, along with some sage wisdom for 2011. But I woke up and I'd forgotten it all, so you're stuck with this post.Hello blog. Hello readers, if there are any of you still hanging around.Happy belated Christmas, New Year's and assorted other holidays. I missed you. ButTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-65792583900022156222010-11-22T10:22:00.000+02:002010-11-23T13:57:21.111+02:00All sorts of updatesWhere do I start? I thought that because my work has slowed down, life would slow down. Hah! It's been busy. So here's a bit of a catch-up.Jolie (the French-speaking lady who fainted at my jewellery sale): She's fine and says it was low blood pressure. Apparently the hospital did some tests and they're all ok. She looks much better and is up and about as usual. Yay!My supper club's Christmas Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-22018463984848170692010-11-17T08:38:00.002+02:002010-11-17T08:50:14.979+02:00Off to MpumalangaI'll have to wait to write about the things I wanted to and to post those pics, coz we're off this morning to Mpumalanga to help my gran move some furniture and will only be back on Friday afternoon.I finally confirmed that we could go on Monday as I had a quiet week ahead with no hectic meetings and projects scheduled. Of course, no sooner had I made the decision, everything fell to pieces and Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-9271471179160593522010-11-15T10:19:00.004+02:002010-11-16T10:58:21.229+02:00Wrote this yesterday......But my internet went down for most of the day. Am posting this from an internet cafe before I head home to fight with Telkom some more. Joy.It has been a really eventful weekend. I feel completely exhausted, actually. But the majority of the weekend was good fun, so it was worth it.My jewellery sale on Saturday was pathetic. I made a fraction of the sales I made last year and feel very bleak Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-60919399709652839102010-11-10T10:28:00.003+02:002010-11-10T12:56:47.650+02:00Good startMy dad called me yesterday morning to tell me he'd been reading the articles I gave him on the weekend (poor man - I dumped three of my longwinded reports for a business mag with him over the weekend to trawl through). He said he just wanted to let me know that he thinks I'm a very good writer and that he's proud of me.How sweet is that? It started my day off really well. Never underestimate the Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-67146531137565113302010-11-09T11:25:00.004+02:002010-11-09T13:46:40.258+02:00Family, Formula One and irrational fearWhile everyone else is rushing madly towards the end of 2010, my work has quietened down a bit as editors wrap up the last bits and pieces for Jan / Feb and even March editions. I've still got enough to keep me going, and it's actually lovely to have time to breathe again.I've been making jewellery like crazy for this Sat. (as always, give me a shout if you want to come along to shop or sell). Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-49420673358608288132010-11-04T10:27:00.003+02:002010-11-04T15:01:43.918+02:00More jewellery pics and my kittiesHow cute are my darlings? Well, I think they are. You don't have to ;-)My little Sapphire cat...My gorgeous Marble boy...It's been a bland day... rain, updating a client's website with all the press releases I've ever written for them, laundry, invoicing and photographing my jewellery. *yawn* Nothing exciting.Deep blue necklace with pendant...Some alice bands. This is the first time I've tried Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-38764445537223647612010-11-03T15:07:00.007+02:002010-11-03T16:07:23.630+02:00Long catch-up postSorry I haven't blogged. Here's an update (more because I haven't had much conversation over the last few days and need an outlet, rather than because I think you'll find this interesting)...I had a great weekend, although it was a bit mental. Friday night TSC and I had a date night and headed to our favourite sushi spot, Best of Asia. We normally only eat there on Tuesdays, because it's their Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-34778700355575545512010-11-01T17:46:00.004+02:002010-11-01T21:45:50.936+02:00Flora photosSome pics I took at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens this weekend, on our class outing. I had fun, even though I'd only had 2.5 hours sleep the night before and could barely focus.Will definitely be going back when I'm less exhausted ;-)Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-89872617601902332262010-10-28T09:32:00.004+02:002010-10-28T11:02:13.594+02:00Various updatesIt's a rainy, dark day in Joburg and I feel like watching DVDs in bed. But TSC is writing his first exam right now and I must get work done. The problem is that my major, hectic, scare-the-living-daylights-out-of-me deadlines are all done at the moment, so all I have left is the admin and routine monthly work. There's just not the same sense of urgency, which is bad because that routine work is Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-36452798750022292842010-10-26T13:50:00.003+02:002010-10-26T14:11:54.072+02:00Jewellery picsHello all. Still recovering. It's frustratingly slow.That said, I have kept myself busy. Been making jewellery for my annual Christmas open house, which I'm hosting this year on 13 Nov. If you're a crafter and would like to sell your wares, or if you want to come along and browse the jewellery for Christmas gifts or just to spoil yourself, drop me a mail at doodlesofajourno at gmail dot com and Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-61402204554104900392010-10-22T11:12:00.003+02:002010-10-22T12:14:55.342+02:00Urgh again.Still feeling rubbish today :-( I have finally given in and emailed my editor to ask for an extra day for my story that's due on Monday. I've done all the interviews, collated all the info and just need to sit down and write the thing and send it off for approval, but I can't think straight and I keep being interrupted by having to rush off to the bathroom. Let's hope the editor is understanding!Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-498011626920814732010-10-21T08:54:00.003+02:002010-10-21T10:39:34.359+02:00Urgh.I have spent the last day and a half between bed and bathroom with a horrible gastro bug. This is the second time this year! At least it's taught me something - if we ever redesign our bathroom, it should be so that I can sit on the loo and throw up into the basin or bath at the same time.Sorry for that charming mental picture.My cats and my husband have been wonderful. TSC has sorted himself outTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-60494630351029220462010-10-18T13:38:00.001+02:002010-10-19T12:32:13.087+02:00Can I just say...I LOVE MY NEW CAMERA. And *ahem* all my new goodies from the Photo and Film Expo.Yes, after my rant about consumerism, off I went like a true Joburger and bought myself a second lens and a Manfrotto tripod. And PhotoShop Elements (which I could not pass up at the special show price).I was seriously stressing about spending the money (work funded this not so little spree), but TSC has convinced meTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-8155625841771646262010-10-13T09:43:00.005+02:002010-10-13T11:04:45.584+02:00Joburg ate my work/life balance (and a long ramble about consumerism)Today is just one of those days where I feel absolutely shattered. I worked until midnight last night to finish a story for deadline today. I sat down at about 7pm and wrote 2 400 words in one sitting on a controversial and complicated subject. And today the work continues. I have another deadline on Friday, along with routine work for my retainer clients that needs to be completed this week.My Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-69007585035499498702010-10-12T11:04:00.005+02:002010-10-12T12:27:33.981+02:00Various stuffA selection of what is going on in my head...Looking forward to camera lesson two on Thurs, which should hopefully be less theoretical and more about taking pics! I'm now the (broke) owner of a new 2TB hard drive for my photos, a spare camera battery, a spare SD card, an SD card reader and a UV filter that fits my DSLR's lens.Having to organise people is a pain. TSC and I lead a small group for Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-9950562232939616192010-10-11T12:40:00.005+02:002010-10-11T13:44:09.499+02:00Many, many moviesFor those of you who've been reading this blog for any length of time, you'll know that I am a bit of a cinephile. But, because I am VERY opinionated on the subject of movies, I try not to blog about films too often and bore you all to tears. So here are some very short (one-sentence) totally subjective reviews on movies I've seen recently. Feel free to argue or agree in the comments section ;-)Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-67528883648931972822010-10-08T11:17:00.009+02:002010-10-08T13:20:56.345+02:00Shopping and photographyThere are only certain types of shopping that are bearable, in my opinion. I love shopping for gifts, craft supplies and, if I have money, for clothes. But I loathe shoe shopping and I could happily do without grocery shopping if someone volunteered to do it for me. I'm also not big on shopping with other people, unless it's my mom or TSC. I've never been one to go shopping with my girl friends. Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-14037802266536118822010-10-07T09:02:00.003+02:002010-10-07T12:58:21.705+02:00Post no.500That's right - this is my 500th post on this blog. It's been a long time coming, seeing I'm often not as regular at posting as I'd like to be.But seeing how I am celebrating this little milestone, thank you to everyone who reads. Some of you I know, some of you I don't, but thanks to all of you. Blogging, I have come to realise, would be far less entertaining sans an audience ;-)In my Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-27069522385804402282010-10-06T09:05:00.003+02:002010-10-06T09:30:30.496+02:00Awesomeness is...Despicable Me. Hilarious! Steve Carell is much funnier as a cartoon. And I want me some minions. They are awesome. TSC was laughing so hard in the cinema I thought he was going to pee in his pants.Tin Roof Cafe. This restaurant in Pretoria is beautifully decorated, the service is good and the food is AMAZING. We tested lots of it on Sun with the family for lunch. If you go, note that the map on Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-65414722451530709782010-09-30T10:29:00.002+02:002010-09-30T10:44:04.382+02:00Unexpected benefits of bloggingI know I've written lots about how I stumbled into blogging and didn't expect to find a group of wonderful friends, glimpses into other people's lives and a place to vent and share special things that happen. But one of the other amazing benefits of blogging is that this has become a great reference system for me.For example, I was trying to remember the date when something happened and then I Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-37029356908977916912010-09-28T09:11:00.006+02:002010-09-28T09:51:54.357+02:00Why cats are awesomeI came down with a nasty head cold on Friday. By Saturday I was feeling miserable and that's how I've felt right until today. So the long weekend wasn't quite what I'd planned (although thankfully I didn't have to cook for the whole weekend, and I got to go to the R3 and R5 nursery and spend time with my folks and TSC).There's no sick leave when you work for yourself, so yesterday was spent Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-25608031503798440982010-09-23T14:58:00.004+02:002010-09-23T15:31:34.069+02:00I nearly wrote TGIFBecause tomorrow is a public holiday in South Africa, it feels like today is Friday. Yay for long weekends!TSC and I will be house-sitting for my folks while they are in Durban. I'm looking forward to sitting next to the pool (even if it's with my laptop to get my big story done in time for Monday's deadline) and just being away from home. It means that I have an excuse not to do all the niggly Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-29843365784412905422010-09-21T12:21:00.004+02:002010-09-21T12:32:07.529+02:00You know when......You've been looking for something EVERYWHERE and you finally give up and there it is, sitting right in front of you?If it were a snake it would have bitten me.In other news, we have booked and paid for all our December stops in our mammoth road trip from Johannesburg to Upington to Durban and back. So, if anyone has recommendations of interesting and/or unusual things to do or see in Keimoes, Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-44914834895507236142010-09-20T10:29:00.004+02:002010-09-20T10:33:35.400+02:00Reasons I won't be posting (much) todayI have to go to all those annoying meetings this afternoon, so only have two hours to work before I have to leave.I will probably only be back this eve at about 6pm. And I will want supper then. Words feed my head and my heart, but chicken stirfry feeds my stomach ;-)I am bored of my blog. By that, I don't mean that I am bored of blogging. I am just bored of the look and feel of this blog (what Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4042240151520157703.post-36593176750412642812010-09-16T09:05:00.003+02:002010-09-16T12:39:34.314+02:00Learning on the jobThis freelancing thing that I've been doing over the past few years has definitely taught me the importance of editors (by that, I mean editors of magazines). An editor can make or break a publication. So one would think that the editors of successful magazines out there would be brilliant, right? Sadly, it's not always the case, although there are a lot of passionate, knowledgeable and Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875207633073348136noreply@blogger.com7