Ok as promised here is a pic of the little guys after effects of playing hairdressers over the weekend

Guys seriously now we have known for years the soccer world cup is coming. This week has seen the move from triple digits to single digit numbers, some of the pitches do not have grass on them yet however every one is told it can be done in 3 weeks. OK cool will have to take your word for it – imagine the mayhem when trying to mow the sand we have for pitches. The past few months have seen excited soccer fans apply for tickets for the opening final and the SA games, great guns, we again were told “the lack of support from SA is worrying?” HUh ? Are you guys serious? The games for SA are sold out and know a few people that have applied for these games to have declined/ rejected applications? Is it really necessary to have a million people apply for 10 000 tickets for these games – so it looks great? So the fat cats are fed properly? Does it really matter how many people apply when you are over subscribed already? Or is it the boasting factor that you need? What is it really? Does it make that much of a difference?

Well done soccer city you take the pie so far for being 1 Billion rand over budget! Guess this is a modest calculation as if there is such gross incompetence in the projections then one must expect that this figure is an understatement and I definitely believe that in line with gross negligence all round that we will be surprised with more figures once the for runners of the projects calculate to drop the bomb shell of the actual figures. Why were the building costs not fixed and negotiated correctly at the start of the project?

OK while we are talking about planning – building soccer fever in the country to be the best hosts of the world cup 2010 – someone came up with the idea of wearing soccer kit on Fridays to see the fever along and show your support. Cool, like diligent South Africans we went shopping this weekend for the replica shirts. First went t Sneakers replica at the Dome – guess what – Sold out – yup sold out and we are just over 3 months away from the opening? They did have stock, training shirts they were however the clerk had no idea what shirts they were, took a guess and read the label? Guys please – know your product – this is surely lesson 101 in any salesman’s handbook!

Next on to sportsmans warehouse – really thought they would not let me down. Should not have got my hopes up, they had 1 shirt left and it was again a training shirt of sorts. Again let me state the obvious, we are 3 months away and you do not have stock! Spoke with the manager on duty – Steven, now Steven’s take on the situation is to blame Adidas directly, they cannot supply enough stock. ” We have ordered 20 000 shirts coming in and they are all reserved”, now Steven I may be a bit green behind the ears however no major offence however I have been on the receiving end of sheer incompetence in your store a few times in my life and really doubt that your store is capable of running a *reserving* system of any sorts – let alone one where you can maintain a list of 20 000 shirt orders , unless of course they are all going to 1 person. So a few things here – 1) Are  you taking the piss Steven and really could not care less about my comments to you and need to shed the incompetence and foresight of your store? – 2)  Adidas – you have made such a mess? Did you not see what happened at the Rugby world cup recently where supports went though a similar draught – that however was just for the final match not 3 months before the start of the event!

Guys the dots are not joining up so nicely, take it any way you want, results and action is what counts not hot air, it is the fans and the guys on the streets that are going to watch the matches, they are the guys that are gonna help in creating the awesome atmosphere in this coutry for the soccer world cup 2010! Have we forgotten about the basics and the actualy clients in this case?

Was watching a TV show called Monsters VS Aliens and one thing that struck me is the fact that the characters have more life like attainable figures. This is what I mean, have a look at Suzie in this pic:

Notice this hips on Suzy and those curves? Much for real than the animated predecesor of Babie. See this straight up and down figure is really not a REAL role moedl now is she.

I must admit that as far as kids and entertainment go I much prefer the action and curves of Suzie than an animic Barbie anyday!

Well for a while now I have wanted to put words down on why I stopped drinking. I am hoping that by sharing it with you can use what I say and my path in a way that will be beneficial in your life. See I was a binge drinker at the best of times – sure it may have only been once a month or every few months regardless I reached a point in my life where it was not OK. Did not do anything hectic or really stupid – sure there have been moments however having a few pots never adversely affected my life, it was not every day nor even every week. The last time Xmas 2008 – that was the last time, got stuck in to some red wine and port and need to be chauffeured home, now with 2 boys and a loving wife I found myself in a situation where regardless of what I felt at the time there was no way that I could look after them that nite in any matter or form. Call it a male ego what ever you like, I did not like being in the position I found myself – helpless – sure may not have recognised it that nite however I saw the light. Decided to stop drinking for a month, that month became 2 months , then 3 , then 6 then till the end of the year. Well the new year is really in full swing now as we find ourselves in March 2010 already.

You know – I do not miss it, sure there are moments when I think wow would be great to sit here viewing the sunset with an ice cold beer, well you know have that feelings some morning – ohh what it would be like to have coffee and a cigarette. Well all that has changed – started riding again and feeling really awesome on the bike, had a terrible 94.7 however looking forward to an excellent argus next weekend. Change your focus and energy and you will amazed at what you find. Sure this is a new road for me even though I am a year along however I can share with you that I do believe I have not missed out on a helluva lot.

So sure you can stop and you can change things in your life that you are not happy with – I certainly feel that if I had said to myself I will never drink again I am not sure if I would have seen the year out like I did nor enjoy the riding like I do. There is a saying – how do you eat an elephant? – 1 mouthful at a time! So true really it is , sometime the hardest part of anything in life is starting it!

Another thing I have learnt is the following saying which I try and apply when I can:

Energy flows where attention goes.

See at MMC 2009 Angus said something that has stuck with me: If the world is going to end tomorrow when do you plant the tree?

TODAY!

It is amazing how times flies – go to gym today, you do not know what challenges you will face tomorrow. Do it and get it done – do it now!

You can change things in your own life , only you can make the decision to change and the commitment to yourself to change, do it for yourself and your family however ultimately do it for YOU!

Heard this story a week or so ago and have not yet had a chance to express my opinion of it. Here is a snap shot of the article from EWN:

Relatives of a South African woman who died in a Venezuelan prison said they are battling to find the money to have her body repatriated.

Siphiwe Lukhele died, apparently from natural causes, last week.

She was imprisoned on drug smuggling charges.

The International Relations and Co-operation Department has advised Lukhele’s family to consent to having her cremated, as this would be cheaper.

However, the family has refused, saying the practice is contrary to their culture.

Ok now seriously there are numerous things wrong with this. You go abroad – you break the laws of that country for what ever reason – we are all adults – stand up and be counted for what you have done and been caught doing. You knew the risks when you did it in the first place. You were caught – own up and take the punishment, that goes for you the prisoner as well as the family – this effects you all – now the family points fingers at government saying they are insensitive? As you do not have the funding to bring your families body back it’s the governments problem! Then on top of that you have the audacity to say they are insensitive, insensitive for fitting the bill to bring a prisoner home? To cremate their body and bring it back to SA. To what ends do you use the word tradition to point fingers and demand. End of story Siphiwe was a drug dealer and if you want the body home as a family then you must decide on the cremation or have them buried in the prison grounds.

Call  me insensitive!

I seriously cannot believe how difficult it is to find a *globe* you know a model of the earch – a small one. Sen them on the side of the road however at inappropriate times so have not managed to get one yet. So we went on a saturday morning mission in search of one. Toy shop right? Nope – well Northgate now has lost ladder of learning and does not have another toy shop. Game did not have anything close. Well off to Toys R Us in Fourways – nothing – they can help with a book or an atlas that is it. Must be over 2500 sq meters of yup toys! No earth. Off to cresta – ladder of learning – nothing – they were soo doff they said go to showbizz – a party / fun store.The toy shop – nothing. Then we found one at Reggies – R1200 and the thing talks to you – yea nice a tad out of the budget though for a 4 year old. We finally found something at some educational shop in Cresta – the closest they had was a model – so guess this weekend we are building our earth and solar system. CNA – also – zip….crazy times!

Ok this has been around for a while by the loooks of Google. However first time I have recieved it so I thought I would share. Email goes something like this:

Dear Taxpayer ,

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 682.50 ZAR. Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 2-3 days in order to process it.

A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline. To access the form for your tax refund, please
Click here : www.sars.gov.za/taxpayers/refundation.stml

Note: For security reasons, we will record your ip-address, the date and time. Deliberate wrong inputs are criminally pursued and indicated.
Thank You
South African Revenue Service

Now investigate the link and you can see it is a scam. Have a look at the below:

Note this link leads to a site that is NOT SARS!