Lyric of the Day

This is my feel-good, sing-along-at-the top-of-your-lungs, happy song of the moment. It is so happy and upbeat. I love it. this has to be shared. Enjoy and pass on the good vibes. Peace. Haha.

"...And I told my bandmates, they are my soulmates

And I hope we can understand

That this year has been a big one, yeah

We following what we don't plan

So do you got that sweet devotion

Oh will you follow your heart's plan

Oh why not jump in to that ocean

And run your fingers through your hair

Waited enough to find the truth, the pain, again then say oh well

Don't say oh well 

Don't say oh well 

Don't say oh well 

     Don't say oh well ..."

- Don't Say Oh Well by Grouplove

Vacation Envy

My parents have been on a Eurotrip for about two weeks now and are due back on Saturday. They went to my cousin, Simon's, wedding in Tuscany. We were all invited alas financial constraints meant that just my folksies could go. So they extended the trip and went to Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Tuscany, Italy and London, England. I'll make it too someday.

With them being away it makes me think of when I turned 21 and my uncle gifted me with a ticket to the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix, and thus my parents gifted me with a trip to the South of France and London. A week in the South of France with my aunt, uncle and two cousins. Cannes, St Paul, St Maxime, Monte Carlo, Marseilles, Dijon, Paris, St Tropez... to name a few of the cities I went to in France. It was truly spectacular. I fell deeply in love and can readily admit to being a Francophile. Cannes was fantastic as it was the 60th Annual Film Festival, and being a video editor, and at the time a film student, for me was literally a dream come true. We saw stars on the red carpet. We were walking the famed streets of Cannes for goodness sakes! The Grand Prix was everything and more. We had spectacular seats close to the tracks whereby I could try and spot my beloved Kimi Raikkonen. I found the race hard to follow as the screens were so far away and the commentary in french, and my grasp thereof, well... non existent. However the vibe in Monte Carlo was sublime. Just to know that you are walking around the streets of a small principality ruled by a royal family where Grace Kelly was a princess. It blew my mind. The South of France is literally one of the most magnificent places in the entire world and I could easily see myself living there.

View from the train

Dijon

Dijon

Marseilles

St Tropez

Cannes

Cannes

   

Cannes

Cannes

Monaco Grand Prix 2007

Kimi Raikkonen Monaco Grand Prix 2007

Prize Ceremony at Monaco Grand Prix 2007

Prize Ceremony at Monaco Grand Prix 2007 

Epic sweet store in St Tropez

Yum, scallops in St Tropez

St Paul

Jess takes a drink from a fountain in outside St Paul

Alleys and streets of St Paul.

Alleys and streets of St Paul.

Best thing I have ever eaten.

I was then left to my own devices when my family left and I moved onto London. I was alone for all of the time. Staying with cousins and a friend, all of whom were working at the time. My first night there I had booked to see From Autumn to Ashes, they were on their final tour, they played with Drop Dead Gorgeous (a band I would love years later). I met Kayleigh at the one train station and we missioned to the Carling Theatre, bag in tow. The bands were awesome! Over the next few days I simply took the streets and explored London and it's rich history for myself. From The National Gallery to Madame Tussauds. I walked and I walked, but I guess that is what it is all about, the sightseeing when you are a tourist, and I wanted to see it all. It would have been great to have shared many of the moments with family or friends and I spent a long time on the phone to my mom or dad just chatting. Next time I vow to travel with a partner, group or my family. As I learned very quickly that I may be confident, independent and travel smart but when something awesome happens or is seen, it has to be shared. Life is for sharing.

From Autumn to Ashes - Carling Academy Islington

From Autumn to Ashes - Carling Academy Islington

Virgin Mega Store - Picadilly Circus

St Margaret's Church - Westminster Abbey

Big Ben 

South Africa House

The Globe Theatre

London Bridge

The Gherkin

Picadilly Circus

Madame Tussauds - Little Britain

Madame Tussauds - Oprah

Madame Tussauds - James Dean

Madame Tussauds - Dalai Lama

Madame Tussauds - Oscar Wilde

Famous beheaded faces.

Camden

Bath More

I have decided to bath more. Winter may be over, but my new found love for luxurious bubble and bath salt laden baths is not. Time to chill out, get warm, unwind, read, and vegetate. 


My dog is fascinated with this concept. She herself is bathed regularly (once using Toni & Guy shampoo - I ran outta the doggie stuff). It is strange that she would have such a curious mind for bathing and water considering that she is a Basset Cross, and those little legs are not made for swimming. Needless to say, on Tuesday night, during one of my bath sessions, Ella decided that she wanted to bath too.  Moaning by the edge, then climbing onto the side amongst the assortment of glass containers and soaps. My sister, Cayla, thought this was hilarious and just put her in. Ella loved it. The warmth, the smell, the floating lavendar. She sat in my lap. Too cute, too funny. Much to the dismay of my parents who are currently on vacation overseas. This act was worse than a houseparty!


So I will be making time to bath more. Making time for me. 

This is kinda what she looked like.

All Dogs Go To Heaven

Today marks the 6 month anniversary of my little Sabrina's passing. Still the memory of her last spluttering breath haunts me, and I hate that it is the last memory I have of her, but I refuse to let it shape my memories of her.


I have posted a few times about her. She was such a warm, beautiful character. Anyone who ever owned a staffie was well aware of their human-like facial expressions. I swear she smiled at me, and there were times when I could tell she was crying. This may be me humanising her, but I'll take it, crazy label and all. 


I cannot believe it has been 6 months since she has been around. Her last days were certainly not active ones, yet her spirit filled the house. Her ashes lie in a small wooden box next to my bed. I have placed a very small brown buddha on it and a small golden luck cat next to that. My good energy knick-knacks to keep her safe. Both gifts as these items cannot be bought by you, but given to you. You cannot buy luck, karma etc, it must be transferred from one person to another. This is what I have taken from this idea.


Sabrina, my heart. I hope you are kicking ass in heaven, taking names, eating lots of biscuits, chasing lots of birds, gnawing on lots of ropes and comfortable in your doggie heaven bed.

I love and miss you.

 

Little Erra

I have posted a few times about my Basset Cross, Ella. She is my heart. She is now a hefty 18kgs and growing. She has just turned 7 months, and she is still such a puppy. She sleeps in my bed with me. She is a tunneller, making her way under and down my duvet. Later emerging for some cool air. She is such a smart, smart dog. She is obsessed with tennis balls, soup bones, ropes, plastic flower pots and her Kong (which we stuff with peanut butter and Doggie Snax). She hides her toys under the couches, and then sticks her head underneath to moan, whine and bark at her lost items. She is also completely smitten with Caesar our Alsatian Cross. She bugs and bites him to no end, making him emit this high pitched whine, that drives us crazy. 


On Sunday my sister and I took them for a walk along the Sandspruit River, which runs along the boundary of the houses in my area. Our dogs love the walk. They are off their leashes, free to roam, run, shit, rub themselves in bird poop and mingle with other pooches. I had Ella's ball tosser loaded with new tennis ball. I was throwing, she was catching. We get to our usual stop off point by the water's edge, a sandbank. She runs onto the bank, ball in her mouth, which she promptly drops in the water. I watch it for a few seconds float on by me, sister hollering behind my head. I then attempt to retrieve the ball. Fail, fail, fail. I walk further along, placing my feet and self closer to the ball, unaware that Little Ella was bounding on behind me right into the water to save her toy. She however got swept up by the current, went scooting on her bottom down the green, moss and slime laden rocks, surfing the rapids, all the way down to the swirling water below. Swimming, swimming, oh the little legs that couldn't. Cayla screaming, screeching! I gingerly placed my feet on the slippery rocks in an attempt to save my child. Fail, fail, fail. Cayla still screaming. I go around the trees to a grassy embankment and show Little the way out. She clambers up and out. Safe. Drama over, well kinda. Cayla, is fuming and storms off. I let her walk it out. Ella is fine apart from being drenched to the bone, but full of beans. The walk back commences, and Ella attacks every sand trap on the way back. Oh hell dog, you are totally getting a wash. 


My Little Erra.

I got shave-ed for my oprayshun.

  

In my Winter Collection