I have recently been on the hunt to try and find my family on the Meinhold side. I have to say that it has been pretty difficult.
So to try and effect this, I have decided to post all that I know here so that anyone searching for me, might find me.
I will update this as I gain information:
My Meinhold Family information (Not all confirmed yet):
I know my Grandfather was Max Reinhard Meinhold and I know my Grandmother was Johanne Gertrude Meinhold (nee Schmalfuß who lived at 123 Bremer Strasse, Hamburg. I spoke with her a few times and wrote a bit to her.
My father was Dieter Wolfgang Meinhold. born 17 October 1930, in Albertstadt Dresden. Also known as Derek Meinhold.
I know that he was married at least twice before my mother and I suspect twice.
I know his first marriage was to an Erika Meinhold and I believe I now know I have a half sister named Gabriele Rose (nee Meinhold) born in 1954. We are now in contact.
I know his second marriage was to Jean Maureen Nash in 1955 and that there were 3 children from this marriage. Stephen Meinhold, Anita Meinhold and Johanna Meinhold. I am now in contact with all three of these half siblings as well.
This is as far as I have gotten to date. If any of this sounds familiar to you, please contact me as I am really keen to meet more of my family.
After my mother, my father was married to Jackie and then Lillian.
Please help me.
Tuesday, 03 July 2012
Thursday, 05 April 2012
An Open Letter to the Current Government of South Africa
Let me tell you who I am!
I was born in the mid sixties, grew up in the seventies and eighties in South Africa under the National Party Government. As a child, on the farm I grew up for a part of my life, my best friend was a Black South African. I visited and slept over in his room and we played together everyday and I suppose I loved him and he was my best friend. When we moved to Cape Town, I went on the upper deck of the bus, was friends with the domestic workers my mother hired and I did not understand apartheid and racism. I was not brought up to hate or to fear.
In my late teens and early twenties I ran a multiracial nightclub in Cape Town and often got arrested for serving alcohol to black people and for allowing black people to dance with white people. We even held clandestine ANC meetings on the premises and all the slide shows we presented, showed South Africa as it really was.
Yes, I got an education in this country when people with darker skins could not. Yes, I went to the army and did National Service in the then South African Defense Force instead of going to jail for disobedience. Yes, I lived in white suburbs and had privileges that other races did not.
I was excited on the day the ANC was unbanned, I ran to Cape Town city to listen to Nelson Mandela’s first speech and I cried with joy that things were finally changing in this country.
I supported the change and I voted in the first true democratic election with pride. The beautiful African lady who worked for us as a domestic came with us to vote. On the day I asked her, “Aren’t you excited that you will now have a new life and a new government?” She humbled me when she said, “Yes, but I understand that this change will only benefit my children. It is too late for me but I have hope for my sons.” That made me want to cry as it showed me the lost generations that apartheid had caused. This helped me to understand affirmative action and the process of RDP.
I accepted the new South African Constitution with pride and I embraced the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, realising that the truth had to be revealed for closure to occur and for us to move on for a new future.
Since then, I have listened and read as the white race and I are continually blamed for the past and the injustices of this country. I have accepted that you are angry that I did not do enough to stand up against the previous regime, that I was not directly part of the struggle, that we just carried on with our lives while you suffered and went without.
You taught me well because I will now stand up for myself as an adult. I will not make the mistake I made before and live in fear to say something against my government when I believe them to be in the wrong.
This letter is about that. After all that all South African’s have been through I am ashamed that you have become just like the previous regime. You too want to hide your secrets from the world and all South Africans. You spend millions on parties and avert justification for your actions. You wish to change the magnificent constitution more and more.
Seeing the Protecting of State Information Bill adverts this morning has infuriated me beyond belief. You are doing a great job attempting to become like the previous regime and I am disgusted. Look at the number of dislikes you are getting on the video’s versus the number of likes, and you will begin to see that we South Africans are not stupid and we can see you are trying to deceive us.
Yes, I have always agreed that South Africa would not go the way of other African countries under the ANC and I have spoken out against people who were negative and held onto their racist opinions.
Let me tell you my fear. You are showing your people that you are no better than the National Party was, that you are just stuffing your pockets and riding the gravy train while they still suffer much the same as they always have. You have let someone like Julius Malema become so powerful that I can see he has a credible chance of opposing you politically and winning. I believe that man has a larger following that you would care to have noticed or realised. I fear the South Africa; post an election, won by a man like that. I believe you have created and nurtured your own adversary and that he will now stand against you and end up undoing all the good you have helped create.
Please seriously consider what I am saying, get rid of the rot and get back on the magnificent course you started off on and make us all proud to be South African in the Rainbow Nation.
Yours sincerely
Paul S Meinhold
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Monday, 25 July 2011
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Let in the Love... It's yours to keep....
The magnificent thing about love is that it arrives unannounced and often unexpected. You never know when it's going to come or the form it'll take.
Thank the Universe for the fact that you cannot choose when or from where love will come. So often it arrives from a direction that you are not observing. You are watching the sunset admiring it's beauty but your heart is growing in the sunrise, opening with the dawn flowers.
The Dalai Lama says, "The Universe expands in the direction you are looking." which, incidentally, matches the findings of the new physics. Make sure you look in the right directions before you manifest what you do not need.
The Universe does not give you what you want, it gives you what you need. Accept It's gifts to you.
An herbalist once told me that every cure is within walking distance. The Universe puts all you need at your fingertips. Just reach out and touch it, it's a gift to you.
Once Love takes hold, it cannot be extinguished by the mind, it can only be carried inside you. Look around yourself and see that it is just possible that the love you crave might already have arrived and could just be waiting, quietly, right next to you, inside you. See it, recognise it, accept it, treasure it.
Remember that looks will fade and are not the miracle. The miracle blooms in your heart and cannot be controlled by the mind and is timeless and ageless.
You do not choose love, it chooses you to experience it's exquisite pain and wonder.
Just accept it and let it in... Even if it is not reciprocated!!!!
It belongs to you and must not be used as a sword or currency.
Thank the Universe for the fact that you cannot choose when or from where love will come. So often it arrives from a direction that you are not observing. You are watching the sunset admiring it's beauty but your heart is growing in the sunrise, opening with the dawn flowers.
The Dalai Lama says, "The Universe expands in the direction you are looking." which, incidentally, matches the findings of the new physics. Make sure you look in the right directions before you manifest what you do not need.
The Universe does not give you what you want, it gives you what you need. Accept It's gifts to you.
An herbalist once told me that every cure is within walking distance. The Universe puts all you need at your fingertips. Just reach out and touch it, it's a gift to you.
Once Love takes hold, it cannot be extinguished by the mind, it can only be carried inside you. Look around yourself and see that it is just possible that the love you crave might already have arrived and could just be waiting, quietly, right next to you, inside you. See it, recognise it, accept it, treasure it.
Remember that looks will fade and are not the miracle. The miracle blooms in your heart and cannot be controlled by the mind and is timeless and ageless.
You do not choose love, it chooses you to experience it's exquisite pain and wonder.
Just accept it and let it in... Even if it is not reciprocated!!!!
It belongs to you and must not be used as a sword or currency.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Our Fear, our responses and our defences
A quick note!
We all have behaviours and mechanisms that stood us in good stead whilst we were growing up. These forms of self protection kept us safe as children and allowed us to cope with the stresses of growing up and protected us. They allowed us to feel less pain when attacked by others and to feel safe when the world around us was falling apart or just plain scary.
Our parents and educators warned us about interacting with others out of fear of being taken advantage of in some or other way. This was important at that stage of our lives, however we need to acknowledge that we have grown up and have other defenses we can use. We have to acknowledge that we DO want to interact with other people on various levels and for all sorts of purposes. We now want and need to be held and loved and comforted by others.
The difference between Humans and the rest of the animal kingdom is that we have a sense of discretion. We can choose who and want we want to be. This ability to choose is what makes us incredibly special. We do not have to perpetuate our past, our beliefs or our upbringing. People who were abused or witnessed abuses do not have to become abusers. They can choose to be more. They can choose to reject ways of living that do not suit them. They can also choose to step out of their fears and begin living. This is the true sign of coming of age. Unlearn what does not serve you and relearn it and understand it in a new way.
We each need to analyse which of our behaviours serves us and which enslave us and we need to unlearn so much and replace old ways with ways that now serve us a adults.
Trust is such a difficult concept and so many of us live a stunted life because we just will not allow ourselves to trust. I see so many people pulling back from intimacy out of fear of loss. The main reason you fear loosing something is because it IS what you want. You need to allow love in, even though the chances are good that it will fail often and we will be hurt. This kind of pain is not something to fear, it is something to face, over and over again until we find our place. It makes us strong because we learn that as adults we are able to face and handle anything. "The only unbearable thing in life is that NOTHING is unbearable!" - (Love and Eternity).
Remember a special relationship is special because you do not find it easily. So you have to persevere until you find it. You need to approach each possible relationship without using your past experiences as a hindrance. You need to approach each relationship with fresh eyes. I'm not saying be foolish but I am saying that each person you see is NOT the person you last dated or where hurt by and thus do not prejudice them by what others have done. You need to make yourself vulnerable because it is only by trusting that we can learn whether someone can be trusted or not.
A previous note dealt with expectations in relationships and how damaging they can be so maybe go back and read that again at this point.
So take the time to evaluate which of your learned behaviours serve you and which of then hold you in chains.
We do not have to lie to others and fool ourselves by telling ourselves that we are protecting others. We can learn to say no to the behaviours others try and force on us. No is such an important concept. As much as us knowing what we do want, we also need to express what we do not want.
Once we have unlearned and relearned, we need to set boundaries with ourselves and with others. It is making decisions counter to our habits and our upbringing, with our true needs in mind, that builds our own self-esteem.
Unlearn, relearn and grow... Remember it is only through trusting that we learn to trust and be trusted!!!
We all have behaviours and mechanisms that stood us in good stead whilst we were growing up. These forms of self protection kept us safe as children and allowed us to cope with the stresses of growing up and protected us. They allowed us to feel less pain when attacked by others and to feel safe when the world around us was falling apart or just plain scary.
Our parents and educators warned us about interacting with others out of fear of being taken advantage of in some or other way. This was important at that stage of our lives, however we need to acknowledge that we have grown up and have other defenses we can use. We have to acknowledge that we DO want to interact with other people on various levels and for all sorts of purposes. We now want and need to be held and loved and comforted by others.
The difference between Humans and the rest of the animal kingdom is that we have a sense of discretion. We can choose who and want we want to be. This ability to choose is what makes us incredibly special. We do not have to perpetuate our past, our beliefs or our upbringing. People who were abused or witnessed abuses do not have to become abusers. They can choose to be more. They can choose to reject ways of living that do not suit them. They can also choose to step out of their fears and begin living. This is the true sign of coming of age. Unlearn what does not serve you and relearn it and understand it in a new way.
We each need to analyse which of our behaviours serves us and which enslave us and we need to unlearn so much and replace old ways with ways that now serve us a adults.
Trust is such a difficult concept and so many of us live a stunted life because we just will not allow ourselves to trust. I see so many people pulling back from intimacy out of fear of loss. The main reason you fear loosing something is because it IS what you want. You need to allow love in, even though the chances are good that it will fail often and we will be hurt. This kind of pain is not something to fear, it is something to face, over and over again until we find our place. It makes us strong because we learn that as adults we are able to face and handle anything. "The only unbearable thing in life is that NOTHING is unbearable!" - (Love and Eternity).
Remember a special relationship is special because you do not find it easily. So you have to persevere until you find it. You need to approach each possible relationship without using your past experiences as a hindrance. You need to approach each relationship with fresh eyes. I'm not saying be foolish but I am saying that each person you see is NOT the person you last dated or where hurt by and thus do not prejudice them by what others have done. You need to make yourself vulnerable because it is only by trusting that we can learn whether someone can be trusted or not.
A previous note dealt with expectations in relationships and how damaging they can be so maybe go back and read that again at this point.
So take the time to evaluate which of your learned behaviours serve you and which of then hold you in chains.
We do not have to lie to others and fool ourselves by telling ourselves that we are protecting others. We can learn to say no to the behaviours others try and force on us. No is such an important concept. As much as us knowing what we do want, we also need to express what we do not want.
Once we have unlearned and relearned, we need to set boundaries with ourselves and with others. It is making decisions counter to our habits and our upbringing, with our true needs in mind, that builds our own self-esteem.
Unlearn, relearn and grow... Remember it is only through trusting that we learn to trust and be trusted!!!
Tuesday, 09 November 2010
Tomorrow is D-Day!
In this case the D is for diet, Raw and Living food diet actually.
It's been a while since I did this diet properly and it is definitely time.
I have stopped smoking again and I'm ready.
Tonight we take pictures and measurements (which will NOT be posted at this point!)
Watch this space for updates as I go along.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
It's been a while since I did this diet properly and it is definitely time.
I have stopped smoking again and I'm ready.
Tonight we take pictures and measurements (which will NOT be posted at this point!)
Watch this space for updates as I go along.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
How to be happy
Why are we often so unhappy? Is it because we aren't getting what we wanted?
Here is a great secret to life: The outcome is NOT UP TO US!
All we have control over in this life is the effort we put in and the attitude we present to the world. The rest is simply not in our control yet we get so disappointed when stuff does not go according to our plans.
Life is what happens whilst we are planning something else. Life ALWAYS works out, just not always our way and if we accept and enjoy what we do get, we will realise we ARE actually already happy.
Happiness is NOT an outcome, it's a realisation that we are actually happy. We put things in the wrong order. When we realise we ARE happy, we will BE happy.
People, places and things can only satisfy us for a short while until we get bored of them and then we believe that when we get the next thing we will be happy. I suppose it's born out of our upbringing and an advertising and marketing based life. We are taught to want what we don't have and live in disappointment because of this.
Happiness does not come from anywhere outside of ourselves. Happiness is contentment with what we already have and in appreciating that.
There will always be something and someone better and if our happiness depends on that, we will NEVER be truly be happy.
This does not mean one should not have ambition or strive towards a better future. We should however derive pleasure in the moment, trusting that the present will constantly change into the future and know that the future will be as perfect as the present is.
Mystics and others teach us that living in the moment is all that there really is, yet so few of us live there. We either spend our lives regretting the past or dreading the future yet that is NOT where we are.
We have no ability to change the past, no way of defining the future but we CAN savour the present and do the right things now. When we have a GOOD present, we end up with a good past and a confident future.
We can decide to be happy NOW and put in the effort to BE the best person we can NOW. We all make mistakes and that is OK, providing we learn and grow from them. If we keep making the same mistakes unconsciously then we are doomed to keep making the same mistakes. The saying goes: If we do not change, we stay the same! Everything in life changes and so should we... Consciously!
We all fear change and dread change and yet if things stay the same, we get bored and unhappy. Embrace change, accept it as a fact and we can decide what changes we can make to ourselves to best present to the world who we are. This requires introspection to determine who we really are. We are all constructs instead of being who we are. Trust in the understanding that becoming who we
really are, is the most honest way to live. Honesty is so important especially self-honesty.
Why are we so scared to show the world who we really are and what WE really think? Instead we present to the world an image of what we think others want to see. We express opinions that others express instead of thinking things through for ourselves and deciding what is true to us. Just because someone said or wrote something does not mean it's true for us. Because our parents say something or because it's written somewhere does not make it right. If we don't challenge everything and come to terms with how we feel, we are nothing but parrots.
We are not perfect and we all make mistakes but it's through those mistakes we realise what does not represent us and we can change and grow.
Realise you already have enough to be Happy Now!
Here is a great secret to life: The outcome is NOT UP TO US!
All we have control over in this life is the effort we put in and the attitude we present to the world. The rest is simply not in our control yet we get so disappointed when stuff does not go according to our plans.
Life is what happens whilst we are planning something else. Life ALWAYS works out, just not always our way and if we accept and enjoy what we do get, we will realise we ARE actually already happy.
Happiness is NOT an outcome, it's a realisation that we are actually happy. We put things in the wrong order. When we realise we ARE happy, we will BE happy.
People, places and things can only satisfy us for a short while until we get bored of them and then we believe that when we get the next thing we will be happy. I suppose it's born out of our upbringing and an advertising and marketing based life. We are taught to want what we don't have and live in disappointment because of this.
Happiness does not come from anywhere outside of ourselves. Happiness is contentment with what we already have and in appreciating that.
There will always be something and someone better and if our happiness depends on that, we will NEVER be truly be happy.
This does not mean one should not have ambition or strive towards a better future. We should however derive pleasure in the moment, trusting that the present will constantly change into the future and know that the future will be as perfect as the present is.
Mystics and others teach us that living in the moment is all that there really is, yet so few of us live there. We either spend our lives regretting the past or dreading the future yet that is NOT where we are.
We have no ability to change the past, no way of defining the future but we CAN savour the present and do the right things now. When we have a GOOD present, we end up with a good past and a confident future.
We can decide to be happy NOW and put in the effort to BE the best person we can NOW. We all make mistakes and that is OK, providing we learn and grow from them. If we keep making the same mistakes unconsciously then we are doomed to keep making the same mistakes. The saying goes: If we do not change, we stay the same! Everything in life changes and so should we... Consciously!
We all fear change and dread change and yet if things stay the same, we get bored and unhappy. Embrace change, accept it as a fact and we can decide what changes we can make to ourselves to best present to the world who we are. This requires introspection to determine who we really are. We are all constructs instead of being who we are. Trust in the understanding that becoming who we
really are, is the most honest way to live. Honesty is so important especially self-honesty.
Why are we so scared to show the world who we really are and what WE really think? Instead we present to the world an image of what we think others want to see. We express opinions that others express instead of thinking things through for ourselves and deciding what is true to us. Just because someone said or wrote something does not mean it's true for us. Because our parents say something or because it's written somewhere does not make it right. If we don't challenge everything and come to terms with how we feel, we are nothing but parrots.
We are not perfect and we all make mistakes but it's through those mistakes we realise what does not represent us and we can change and grow.
Realise you already have enough to be Happy Now!
Little Light of Love - The Fifth Element Soundtrack
From a little light of love
I was born and in my cry, my cry
Was a little light of love
For the honoring of life
And the pharons of my soul
Is this light of love
Precious little light of love
There's a candle burning on
In the breezy shades of night
I keep up my faith and underset my hope
To call the realm of light
A treasure
Your shiver
In the middle of the shady desert
Brings on a field of light
In a light of love
Fairy light of love
Only one religion
Will lead us to the love we aim for
Over the dark illusions
Of the warring nations
And when the figure leads to power
The destruction glorified higher
And when the war is nearly over
How come the leader's held in highest honors
Would you die
For their lie
The greedy hunting cry
You rely
On your light
Little loving light
A little light of sole religion
Well a little light of love
A little light of soaring freedom
Just a little light of love
A little light of sole religion
Take this little light of Love
I was born and in my cry, my cry
Was a little light of love
For the honoring of life
And the pharons of my soul
Is this light of love
Precious little light of love
There's a candle burning on
In the breezy shades of night
I keep up my faith and underset my hope
To call the realm of light
A treasure
Your shiver
In the middle of the shady desert
Brings on a field of light
In a light of love
Fairy light of love
Only one religion
Will lead us to the love we aim for
Over the dark illusions
Of the warring nations
And when the figure leads to power
The destruction glorified higher
And when the war is nearly over
How come the leader's held in highest honors
Would you die
For their lie
The greedy hunting cry
You rely
On your light
Little loving light
A little light of sole religion
Well a little light of love
A little light of soaring freedom
Just a little light of love
A little light of sole religion
Take this little light of Love
A little light of love and freedom
Take me
A little light of soul religion
A little light of love and freedom
Take me
A little light of soul religion
A little light of love and freedom
Sunday, 25 July 2010
It's not up to you - Björk Lyrics
I wake up
And the day feels
Broken
I tilt my head
I'm trying to get an angle
'Cause the evening
I've always longed for
It could still happen
How do I master
The perfect day
Six glasses of water
Seven phonecalls
If you leave it alone
It might just happen
Anyway
It's not up to you
Oh it never really was
It's not up to you
Oh it never really was
It's not up to you
Well it never really was
It's not up to you
If you wake up
And the day feels
Ah broken
Just lean into the crack
(Just lean into the crack)
And it will tremble
Ever so nicely
Notice
How it sparkles
Down there
I can decide
What I give
But it's not up to me
What I get given
Unthinkable surprises
About to happen
But what they are
It's not up to you
Well it never really was
It's not up to you
Oh it never really was
It's not up to you
Oh it never really was
It's not up to you
Oh, me, share
It's not up to you
It's not up to you
Oh, it never really was
It's not up to you
Well, it never really was
It's not up to you
It's not up to you
It's not up to you
It's not up to you
There's too much
Clinging
To peak
There's too much
Pressure
And the day feels
Broken
I tilt my head
I'm trying to get an angle
'Cause the evening
I've always longed for
It could still happen
How do I master
The perfect day
Six glasses of water
Seven phonecalls
If you leave it alone
It might just happen
Anyway
It's not up to you
Oh it never really was
It's not up to you
Oh it never really was
It's not up to you
Well it never really was
It's not up to you
If you wake up
And the day feels
Ah broken
Just lean into the crack
(Just lean into the crack)
And it will tremble
Ever so nicely
Notice
How it sparkles
Down there
I can decide
What I give
But it's not up to me
What I get given
Unthinkable surprises
About to happen
But what they are
It's not up to you
Well it never really was
It's not up to you
Oh it never really was
It's not up to you
Oh it never really was
It's not up to you
Oh, me, share
It's not up to you
It's not up to you
Oh, it never really was
It's not up to you
Well, it never really was
It's not up to you
It's not up to you
It's not up to you
It's not up to you
There's too much
Clinging
To peak
There's too much
Pressure
Friday, 09 July 2010
Some points on Love and Friendship
This last few weeks I am finding myself having the same conversations over and over again so I thought I’d put my thoughts and opinions into words, in point form and put it out there.
These are my thoughts and opinions, use them, don’t use them.
Call me old, call me experienced, call me anything you like but the fact is I have been around and I’ve seen and done a lot, some things I’m proud, of some things I’m not.
I look at everyone I know and I often have friends and acquaintances coming to be with their fears and troubles with regards to love and relationships. With that in mind this is the knowledge I have gained on these matters. It also applies to many friendships:
More to follow!
These are my thoughts and opinions, use them, don’t use them.
Call me old, call me experienced, call me anything you like but the fact is I have been around and I’ve seen and done a lot, some things I’m proud, of some things I’m not.
I look at everyone I know and I often have friends and acquaintances coming to be with their fears and troubles with regards to love and relationships. With that in mind this is the knowledge I have gained on these matters. It also applies to many friendships:
- You are NOT in love with a person you just met. You are infatuated. This stage can last months. Love comes later. Many people end a relationship at this time not realizing that love comes after infatuation and often even after a period of apparent boredom has set in.
- Loving someone belongs to you. It does not give you any rights over that person. Your expectations over them will only cause distance.
- Love is neither controlling nor manipulative. You cannot make someone love you nor make you love them. Either they love you the same way in turn or they don’t. Accept that.
- When you try to control someone you begin to lose them. If they are going to cheat on you, they will. There is nothing you can do to stop that. By trying to control another person you force them to lie to you in order for them to live their lives.
- Trust comes from trust. You will not trust someone until you allow them the space to prove that trust.
- We often don’t trust others because we know that in the same situations we might not be trustworthy ourselves. They are not you. Allow them to show you who they are.
- Expectations ruin the reward of appreciating what is.
- True Love requires absolute honesty. Be willing to express how you feel and to hear how the other person feels and accept that. It is how you or they feel. I always say that if your best friend cannot tell you that your breath stinks, who can? When you lie to someone you are NOT protecting them, you are protecting yourself.
- Don’t EVER give up your friends and friendships at the request of another and NEVER request or expect that from them. Friends often last longer than relationships and are the constant in your lives.
- Respect your partners right to privacy and space. If you cage someone they will want to escape.
- It is only very seldom that you will find someone who loves you as much as you love them. Love is special and true love only comes around a few times in your life. Appreciate it when it happens.
- You are not someone’s other or better half. You are a whole person and do not require another to complete you. A relationship will best survive when it has two whole people living their separate lives together.
- Your partner as well as you yourself deserves space and room to live. Give them that space and take that space for yourself. Being apart is not a sign of distance.
- Until you love yourself others will find it difficult to love you. You are a lovable person and often the ONLY one not to see that is you yourself. People are attracted to people that love and respect themselves. Spend sometime in introspection and learn that you are perfect as you are providing you have learned who you really are.
- Do not subject yourself to the morality of others. You know what is right for you and what makes you respect yourself. Who you truly are, is ultimately who you should be. Don’t try to be someone or something else.
- You have the right to find true love. Rather leave a relationship that is not fulfilling you than stay in a compromise. While you are compromising true love could pass you by.
- We all find true love at some point. Do NOT feel anxious if it hasn’t come to you yet. It will. Often love comes once we stop searching for it.
- Stop looking at every person you meet asking yourself, “Could this be the one?” By doing that you already begin manipulating situations and thus change the dynamics.
- Do not place expectations on others as you just doom the relationship to failure. We often cannot live up to our own expectations. Why should others then be forced to live up to ours? Accept a person as they are.
- If who they are, is not who you want, trying to change them is not an option. They will end up resenting your attempts. Rather move on.
- Do not base your relationship and behaviour on your parents.
- Do not take your fears from previous relationships into your new ones. Let them go. This is not the same person. Your fears make you start to try and control.
- If a person wants to be with you they will. If they don’t, let them go. Holding onto someone who does not love you is pointless. You will find someone who loves you equally.
- Never allow your partner to make you feel less. That is not the way you deserve to be treated. You deserve to be treated with respect and it is your obligation to treat others with respect.
- You have not right to manipulate another to do things your way. What is the point? They will only resent it. Tell them how their actions make you feel. Never allow another to manipulate you. You are worth more.
- Rules are made to be broken. Don’t make them. If you have to make rules you are trying to control or manipulate.
- In any situation tell the other person how you feel about a situation. It is up to them to respond. Sulking and bitching etc is just an attempt to control and manipulate.
- Don’t react, observe, think, pause and then act. We are not animals that can only react.
- A gay relationship is not a copy of a straight relationship. Two people of the same sex have different needs that a heterosexual relationship.
- If you are in a relationship where you are not getting sex, that is called a friendship. Down grade it to that! Anything else is a compromise. Why compromise. You and they deserve more.
- Never accept abuse in any form. You are worth more than that and you are NOT lucky to have them. Someone else will love and respect you.
More to follow!
Tuesday, 08 December 2009
Sea Point, late seventies.
Whilst browsing for old pictures of Cape Town to use in marketing for work, I discovered this picture.
The lady in the brown pushing the child on the see-saw is my mother pushing me.
This was so serendipitous!
It has made my day....
The lady in the brown pushing the child on the see-saw is my mother pushing me.
This was so serendipitous!
It has made my day....
Saturday, 28 November 2009
The Past lingers - Memories of Johan Swart
Empty buildings, forgotten faces
Whispering voices, happy places.
I stand, remembering how we laughed, how we joked.
How we drank, how we smoked.
Engines starting, planes taxiing out
Warmups at the end of the runway.
The approach is clear.
Line up.
Take off.
Climbing, looking, flying,
remembering what you taught me.
Being here,
the memory of you haunts me.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Whispering voices, happy places.
I stand, remembering how we laughed, how we joked.
How we drank, how we smoked.
Engines starting, planes taxiing out
Warmups at the end of the runway.
The approach is clear.
Line up.
Take off.
Climbing, looking, flying,
remembering what you taught me.
Being here,
the memory of you haunts me.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, 01 August 2009
Raw Food Diet begins again
I am living proof that a vegetarian who does not eat properly can be fat and unhealthy.
For many months now I have been eating really really badly out of pure laziness. Take out after take out has piled on the weight and made me feel terrible. My skin is looking tired and old, my energy levels are way down and my lust for life is dim.
The happy side to this is that I knnow from past experience that a good detox, great diet and exercise will soon have me thinner, healthier and thus happier.
I have decided to Tweet out my diet as I go along and partly with to shame I tell you that my starting weight is 109.8kg!!!! I have been 112kg before but this is still pretty bad.
I really feel excited to be doing this again. I'm off to Joseph, my seed supplier, to buy more seeds later.
Will post pictures of the sprouting process too!
:-)
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Grace Jones says......
I’VE LOOKED THE DEVIL IN THE FACE, AND GOD, AND SOMEHOW I'VE FOUND A BALANCE. BUT BEING EXTREME IS AT THE SAME TIME A BALANCE - ONE EXTREME BALANCES THE OTHER. - Grace Jones
IF YOU'RE OUT THERE YOU'RE VULNERABLE. PEOPLE PREFER TO DISAPPEAR IN LIFE, TO REPRESS THEIR PERSONALITY. THAT'S NOT LIVING. IT'S DYING. I SEE THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE, THE WALKING DEAD. - Grace Jones
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A REBEL. I NEVER DO THINGS THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. EITHER I GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR I CREATE A NEW DIRECTION FOR MYSELF, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE RULES ARE OR WHAT SOCIETY SAYS. - Grace Jones
TIME HAS MADE ME STRONGER IN MY BELIEF THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS TO PLEASE YOURSELF IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT COMPROMISE. I DO WHAT I WANT AND I'M SATISFIED WITH IT, WHETHER OR NOT IT PLEASES EVERYBODY. THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME FEEL WHOLE. ACTUALLY THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO PLEASE. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE I'M LIKE 'OH NO, PUH-LEEEZE DON'T LIKE ME!' - Grace Jones
MEN ARE TERRIFIED OF ME. I CAN EASILY STEP INTO THE MANS SHOES -THAT'S WHAT SETS OFF THE TENSION. IT PUTS THE MAN IN A POSITION WHERE HE HAS TO BECOME THE FEMALE. BUT MY IMAGE IS SUPPOSED TO FRIGHTEN MEN, SO ONLY THE GOOD ONES COME THROUGH. - Grace Jones
I HAVE A TERRIBLE TEMPER, TERRIBLE. WHEN I HEAR 'THIS IS THE RULE' OR 'THE COMPUTER SAYS..' I GET MAD. PEOPLE TRY TO STOP ME EVERY DAY. - Grace Jones
PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN MISTAKEN ME FOR A MAN. BUT I AM ALL WOMAN TO ME! BUT WHAT’S A WOMAN SUPPOSED TO FEEL LIKE? I LIKE HARD THINGS. I LIKE SOFT THINGS. I GO FEMININE, I GO MASCULINE. I CHANGE ROLES IN LIFE. I AM BOTH. - Grace Jones
I WASN'T BORN THIS WAY. ONE CREATES ONESELF. I BELIEVE WHATEVER I DREAM. WHATEVER I DREAM I WANT TO DO. - Grace Jones
I THINK MY ACT HAS A CERTAIN SCARINESS BECAUSE I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A SCARY WAY. BUT I CONFRONTED IT THERAPEUTICALLY. WHEN I PERFORM ON STAGE I BECOME ALL THOSE MALE BULLIES, THOSE DOMINATORS FROM MY CHILDHOOD. - Grace Jones
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I WASN'T ALLOWED TO HANG OUT WITH RASTAS. YOU HAD TO RUN AND HIDE IF YOU SAW THEM COMING. NOW THE RASTAS AREN’T ALLOWED TO HANG OUT WITH ME. OHAHAHAH! - Grace Jones
I WAS BORN INTO A VERY RELIGIOUS FAMILY WHERE EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT SETTING THE RIGHT EXAMPLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HAVING TO OBEY ORDERS BLINDLY. WHEN YOU'RE A BISHOP IN JAMAICA YOUR FAMILY IS ALWAYS SCRUTINISED, SO EVERYTHING WE DID WAS CONTROLLED. I WASN'T ALLOWED TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO. I WASN’T ALLOWED TO WEAR FINGERNAIL POLISH. I WASN’T ALLOWED TO RECEIVE PRIVATE LETTERS. IN JAMAICA THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH WAS VERY BRITISH, VERY PROPER. HYMNS. NO DANCING. VERY QUIET. VERY FUNDAMENTAL. I WAS BAPTISED AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES AT EIGHT. HELLAMEESHERRACK. MEESHELLACKALLAH! - Grace Jones
I’VE GOT MY OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. GOD KNOWS ME. HE KNOWS MY HEART. WE ARE FRIENDS. I HAVE MY OWN SPECIAL BELIEF IN THE PSYCHIC WORLD. I BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION, THAT IF A FORCE IS STRONG ENOUGH IT CANNOT DIE. I BELIEVE IN RELIGION AS MAGIC. PRAYING MAKES THE WILL STRONGER. - Grace Jones
GROWING UP I ALWAYS HAD TO MASK MY EMOTIONS. EVERYTHING I DID WAS WRONG. IF I WAS FIVE MINUTES LATE HOME IT MEANT I'D STAYED AND PLAYED AFTER SCHOOL INSTEAD OF COMING HOME TO CHURCH. IF I TALKED BACK MY LIPS WERE YANKED HARD. I GOT BEATEN IN SCHOOL. I GOT BEATEN AT HOME. I WAS SCARED EVERY DAY. I HAD NO CHILDHOOD REALLY, SO I IMAGINED MORE THAN I PLAYED. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY BUT BY THE TIME I WAS TWELVE, WHEN WE MOVED TO AMERICA, I'D HAD ENOUGH. - Grace Jones
I THINK IT’S OUR NATURE TO BE MAN AND WOMAN ALL IN ONE. TO GIVE AND TO RECEIVE. I THINK THAT ALL MEN NEED TO BE PENETRATED AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO RECEIVE. IT’S MY OWN THEORY, WHICH I THINK COULD HELP TAKE SOME OF THE AGGRESSION OUT OF THE WORLD. - Grace Jones
SURVIVAL IS MY PRIMARY INSTINCT. I'LL DO ANYTHING. IT'S OUT OF MY CONTROL. IT'S STRONGER THAN ME. IT'S AN OUTSIDE FORCE, A VOICE THAT SAYS 'DO THIS FOR YOUR LIFE OR IT WILL DEVOUR YOU'. - Grace Jones
I WAS BORN TO BE A STAR. ONCE I DECIDED TO ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY I WOULD NOT BE PLACED IN ANY MOLD THAT WAS LIMITING AGAIN. - Grace Jones
I WAS PAINFULLY SHY UNTIL I HAD ACID THERAPY, SWEETHEART, UNDER DOCTOR’S SUPERVISION. I WAS REBORN. IT WAS ENLIGHTENING. AT THE TIME THEY WERE EXPERIMENTING WITH STP, THE SUPER TRIP PILL - TALK TO TIMOTHY LEARY ABOUT THAT ONE! I TOOK IT WITH A DOCTOR AND I STAYED THERE FOR THREE DAYS UNTIL I THOUGHT 'OK, I SEE. NOW I CAN COME DOWN'. AFTER THAT I DIDN’T NEED ANY MORE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. - Grace Jones
AFTER I LEFT HOME I REALISED THAT I WAS NOT MYSELF. WHEN DOES ONE DECIDE TO BE ONESELF? I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO. I DECIDED FIRST TO DISCOVER LIFE AND THEN DECIDE WHAT I WANTED FROM LIFE, WHAT MADE ME HAPPY, WHAT WAS EASY FOR ME. BECAUSE WHATEVER ONE IS, ONE MUST FIRST KOW THE TRUTH ABOUT ONESELF - Grace Jones
I BELIEVE IN HAVING CERTAIN RELEASES, CERTAIN OUTLETS. ONE HAS TO INDULGE. IF YOU DON'T INDULGE YOU DON'T LIVE. I BELIEVE IN INDULGING AS A USER AND NOT AN ABUSER. EVERYONE SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES WITHOUT COMPLAINING. WE’RE ALL INDIVIDUALS AND OUR BODIES ACCEPT AND REJECT DIFFERENT THINGS, AND CERTAIN DRUGS WORK FINE AS LONG AS YOU DON’T ABUSE THEM. I THINK THEY SHOULDN’T ALL BE ILLEGAL. ALCOHOL’S THE SAME. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE SOME POISON SOMETIMES TO SURVIVE, LIKE A VACCINE. LOOK AT ALL THE DRUGS THEY PUT IN FOOD. - Grace Jones
ONCE I WAS OUT OF THE FORMULA OF SCHOOL OR A NINE TO FIVE I CREATED MY OWN HOURS. I AM NOCTURNAL. FOR ME CREATIVITY COMES AT NIGHT. THERE’S SOMETHING NEW ABOUT NIGHT. IT HAS A DIFFERENT ENERGY. NIGHT'S A VOID I CAN CREATE IN. - Grace Jones
MY LOOK IS FOR GIRLS ON THE RUN. I'M ALWAYS IN A HURRY. FOR ME, SUNGLASSES ARE EYE MAKE-UP, EVEN AT NIGHT. HALF OF MY FACE IS SUNGLASSES, THE OTHER HALF IS LIPS - I USE FOUR COLORS TO DO MY LIPS. MY OTHER TRADEMARK I SUPPOSE IS THE HOOD. - Grace Jones
I REMEMBER FLYING TO EUROPE THE CHEAPEST WAY POSSIBLE - WHICH WAS ON ICELANDIC AIRLINES VIA LUXEMBOURG - AND THEN HITCH-HIKING TO PARIS. I'M LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED REALLY. I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I WAS. I DIDN’T KNOW A WORD OF FRENCH AT THE TIME AND I ONLY HAD TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ON ME, BUT I GUESS I WAS BRAVE. I HAVE SO MANY GUARDIAN ANGELS. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE PRAYING FOR ME THAT IT BRINGS ME THROUGH. - Grace Jones
IT WAS MUCH FREER IN EUROPE. THEY WERE A LOT MORE INTO INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITIES THAN MAKING EVERYONE LOOK ALIKE. IN THE STATES THEY TOTALLY BRAINWASH YOU. THOSE BIG MODELLING AGENCIES ARE JUST THE SAME AS BIG RECORD COMPANIES. WHICH IS HOW I LEARNT I SHOULD NEVER EVER GO WITH A BIG RECORD COMPANY. - Grace Jones
PHOTOGRAPHERS OFTEN MEET ME AND SAY ‘I STILL HAVEN’T SEEN A PICTURE OF YOU THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU’, AS IF THEY FEEL THEY ARE THE ONE TO DO IT. PERHAPS I JUST HAVE ONE OF THOSE FACES. PERHAPS THE ABILITY TO SEE ONESELF THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE’S EYES IS A KIND OF SIXTH SENSE. ALL I KNOW IS THAT PHOTOGRAPHERS CAN GET TOTALLY CARRIED AWAY AND SHOOT UNTIL SIX OR SEVEN IN THE MORNING. MY WORD, I ALMOST KILLED JARELLE AT AGE 83. HE ACTED LIKE HE’D HAD A SHOT OF ADRENALINE. - Grace Jones
AS A MODEL ONE IS FORCED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR AND I JUST STARTED TO FREAK OUT, LIKE I WAS GOING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR. I MOVED EVERY MIRROR OUT OF MY HOUSE WHEN I STOPPED MODELLING. - Grace Jones
WHEN I WAS ASKED TO DO A RECORD I MADE THE COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW MY DESTINY. - Grace Jones
I USED TO GO ROLLER SKATING ON QUAALUDES. QUAALUDES WERE MY DRUG OF CHOICE ACTUALLY. THE QUAALUDE HIT WAS SEXY. IT MADE YOU HORNY AND WANT TO LOVE ANYBODY. IT WAS CLOSER TO A GOOD ECSTASY. NOBODY REALLY KNOWS HOW TO PARTY WITH ME ANY MORE. THERE IS NOWHERE LEFT TO GO. SO I STAY IN A LOT. I HAVE MY OWN LITTLE PARTIES AT HOME. - Grace Jones
IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES WE ALL HAD OUR FUN, AND NOW AND THEN WE WENT REALLY TOO FAR. BUT ULTIMATELY, IT REQUIRED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CLEAR THINKING, A LOT OF HARD WORK AND GOOD MAKE-UP TO BE ACCEPTED AS A FREAK. - Grace Jones
STUDIO 54 HAD THIS CRAZY MIX OF NOBODIES AND SOMEBODIES, AND SOME IN BETWEEN. IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE ATTITUDE. SO IT WAS STRAIGHT, IT WAS GAY, BUT IT WAS ALL JUST ABOUT CHARACTER. IT DIDN’T MATTER IF YOU WERE THE PRESIDENT’S SON, IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE, YOU NEVER GOT THROUGH THE DOOR. I WAS WITH CARMEN D’ALESSIO WHEN SHE FOUND THE LOCATION. I TESTED OUT MY VOICE IN THE SPACE AND SHE ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE OPENING ACT. WELL, OF COURSE! - Grace Jones
"I WANDERED AROUND SOHO FOR A WHILE BEFORE THE MAPPLETHORPE SHOOT KNOWING THAT GRACE WOULD BE GOOD AND LATE - TWO HOURS USUALLY TIMED IT RIGHT FOR HER. THREE HOURS LATER I FINALLY TRACKED HER DOWN AT BERGDORF'S GETTING A FUR COAT OUT OF THE REVILLON COOLER. SHE SPENDS ALL HER MONEY ON FURS AND STORES THEM IN THE COOLER. I TOLD HER TO BUY JEWELRY INSTEAD, THAT FUR HAS NO RE-SALE VALUE. BUT I ALWAYS GIVE GRACE THE WRONG ADVICE - I TOLD HER SHE'D NEVER MAKE IT WITHOUT TONING DOWN HER LOOK, THAT THE PUBLIC WEREN'T READY FOR ANYTHING THAT EXTREME." - ANDY WARHOL
ARTISTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INSECURE BUT I’M NOT. I FEEL THAT IF I’M ENJOYING WHAT I’M DOING IT DOESN’T MATTER IF I MAKE A FEW MISTAKES. I’M VERY OPEN TO EXPERIMENTATION. I LOVE TO TRY THINGS, COLLABORATING WITH MY ARTIST FRIENDS, EXPERIMENTING WITH IDEAS. THAT'S WHAT PUT ME ON THE CUTTING EDGE. THERE’S ALWAYS BEEN A MAGNET THAT PULLS ME TOGETHER WITH CRAZY ARTISTS, UNUSUAL PEOPLE, EVEN WHEN I’M NOT LOOKING FOR IT. IT IS PREDESTINED THAT WE CROSS EACH OTHERS PATHS. - Grace Jones
I PERFORMED A LOT, AND STILL DO, IN GAY CLUBS. I THINK THEY ARE MY BEST AUDIENCE REALLY. YOU CAN GO AS FAR AS YOU WANT TO GO. THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN'T BE. I THINK WE RECOGNISE EACH OTHER. MOST OF THE REAL ROOTSY SCENE IN NEW YORK STARTED IN GAY PRIVATE CLUBS WITH GREAT MUSIC AND THE BEST, MOST FANATICAL DJS. THOUGH WHAT'S HAPPENED TO IT NOW IS JUST TYPICAL OF THE WAY OF LIFE IN NEW YORK - THAT'S CAPITALISM - IT JUST DESTROYS THINGS. - Grace Jones
I DEFINITELY WANTED TO SEARCH AND EXPERIMENT FOR A SOUND THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY GRACE JONES RATHER THAN THAT OF ANY PRODUCER. I’M BEST AT KNOWING ME AND DEVELOPING ME, AT FEELING AND ATTRACTING THE PEOPLE THAT I LIKE TO WORK WITH AND FOLLOWING THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. - Grace Joines
I CAN’T RUN OUT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS.I AM DIFFERENT. WHEN CAN I RUN OUT OF ME? - Grace Jones
I STARTED WITH MODELLING AND ADDED SINGING AND THEATRICS. I ASSUMED AN EXPRESSION AS WILD AND CLOWNISH AS POSSIBLE. I KNEW HOW TO USE A ROOM. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY I GOT THE IDEA FOR A TYPE OF FASHION SHOW IN A DISCOTHEQUE. - Grace Jones
MUSIC I GREW INTO, BUT VISUALLY IT WAS ALWAYS EASY. THAT’S WHERE MY TRUE, TRUE TALENT LIES. I WAS ALWAYS AN ACTRESS. I ALWAYS ACTED OUT A SONG, EVEN WHEN I WAS JUST SINGING IT IN THE STUDIO. - Grace Jones
I DON’T BELIEVE IN MARRIAGE BECAUSE I DON’T BELIEVE IN DIVORCE. I THINK THE CONVENTIONAL WAY IS SO UNROMANTIC. IF THERE’S ANYTHING TO END A MARRIAGE, MARRIAGE WILL. YOU CAN STILL LOVE SOMEBODY AND NOT WANT TO MARRY THEM. BESIDES, MARRIAGE DOESN’T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR OTHER MOODS - LIKE WHEN WHEN YOU'RE FEELING MEAN AND UNLOVING. - Grace Jones
"GRACE LIKES TO PARTY. IN THE END I LOST HER TO IT. SHE WON’T WORK. SHE'LL SHOW UP WHENEVER SHE FEELS LIKE IT. SHE HAS AN ENTOURAGE THAT ENCOURAGES IT. BUT IRONICALLY, THE FACT THAT SHE'S FUCKED UP HER CAREER ONLY PROVES HOW GENUINE SHE REALLY IS." - JEAN PAUL GOUDE
TEQUILA IS THE DEVIL IN MY LIFE. I ONCE DRANK SO MUCH ON MY BIRTHDAY IN BEVERLY HILLS THAT MY BOYFRIEND LET ME OUT OF THE CAR AND DROVE OFF. I WOKE UP UNDER A STAIRWELL IN MY BULGARI JEWELLERY AND CLAUDE MONTANA FUR WITH A BUMP ON MY HEAD. AND I ALMOST KILLED A MAN IN A TEQUILA DRINKING CONTEST IN BELGIUM. AN AMBULANCE HAD TO COME AND GET HIM. HE WAS IN HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS...FOR ALCOHOL IT’S THE BEST HIGH. - Grace Jones
There is so much I will have to do a part 2!!!!! What do you think!!!!!
IF YOU'RE OUT THERE YOU'RE VULNERABLE. PEOPLE PREFER TO DISAPPEAR IN LIFE, TO REPRESS THEIR PERSONALITY. THAT'S NOT LIVING. IT'S DYING. I SEE THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE, THE WALKING DEAD. - Grace Jones
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A REBEL. I NEVER DO THINGS THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. EITHER I GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR I CREATE A NEW DIRECTION FOR MYSELF, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE RULES ARE OR WHAT SOCIETY SAYS. - Grace Jones
TIME HAS MADE ME STRONGER IN MY BELIEF THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS TO PLEASE YOURSELF IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT COMPROMISE. I DO WHAT I WANT AND I'M SATISFIED WITH IT, WHETHER OR NOT IT PLEASES EVERYBODY. THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME FEEL WHOLE. ACTUALLY THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO PLEASE. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE I'M LIKE 'OH NO, PUH-LEEEZE DON'T LIKE ME!' - Grace Jones
MEN ARE TERRIFIED OF ME. I CAN EASILY STEP INTO THE MANS SHOES -THAT'S WHAT SETS OFF THE TENSION. IT PUTS THE MAN IN A POSITION WHERE HE HAS TO BECOME THE FEMALE. BUT MY IMAGE IS SUPPOSED TO FRIGHTEN MEN, SO ONLY THE GOOD ONES COME THROUGH. - Grace Jones
I HAVE A TERRIBLE TEMPER, TERRIBLE. WHEN I HEAR 'THIS IS THE RULE' OR 'THE COMPUTER SAYS..' I GET MAD. PEOPLE TRY TO STOP ME EVERY DAY. - Grace Jones
PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN MISTAKEN ME FOR A MAN. BUT I AM ALL WOMAN TO ME! BUT WHAT’S A WOMAN SUPPOSED TO FEEL LIKE? I LIKE HARD THINGS. I LIKE SOFT THINGS. I GO FEMININE, I GO MASCULINE. I CHANGE ROLES IN LIFE. I AM BOTH. - Grace Jones
I WASN'T BORN THIS WAY. ONE CREATES ONESELF. I BELIEVE WHATEVER I DREAM. WHATEVER I DREAM I WANT TO DO. - Grace Jones
I THINK MY ACT HAS A CERTAIN SCARINESS BECAUSE I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A SCARY WAY. BUT I CONFRONTED IT THERAPEUTICALLY. WHEN I PERFORM ON STAGE I BECOME ALL THOSE MALE BULLIES, THOSE DOMINATORS FROM MY CHILDHOOD. - Grace Jones
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I WASN'T ALLOWED TO HANG OUT WITH RASTAS. YOU HAD TO RUN AND HIDE IF YOU SAW THEM COMING. NOW THE RASTAS AREN’T ALLOWED TO HANG OUT WITH ME. OHAHAHAH! - Grace Jones
I WAS BORN INTO A VERY RELIGIOUS FAMILY WHERE EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT SETTING THE RIGHT EXAMPLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HAVING TO OBEY ORDERS BLINDLY. WHEN YOU'RE A BISHOP IN JAMAICA YOUR FAMILY IS ALWAYS SCRUTINISED, SO EVERYTHING WE DID WAS CONTROLLED. I WASN'T ALLOWED TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO. I WASN’T ALLOWED TO WEAR FINGERNAIL POLISH. I WASN’T ALLOWED TO RECEIVE PRIVATE LETTERS. IN JAMAICA THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH WAS VERY BRITISH, VERY PROPER. HYMNS. NO DANCING. VERY QUIET. VERY FUNDAMENTAL. I WAS BAPTISED AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES AT EIGHT. HELLAMEESHERRACK. MEESHELLACKALLAH! - Grace Jones
I’VE GOT MY OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. GOD KNOWS ME. HE KNOWS MY HEART. WE ARE FRIENDS. I HAVE MY OWN SPECIAL BELIEF IN THE PSYCHIC WORLD. I BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION, THAT IF A FORCE IS STRONG ENOUGH IT CANNOT DIE. I BELIEVE IN RELIGION AS MAGIC. PRAYING MAKES THE WILL STRONGER. - Grace Jones
GROWING UP I ALWAYS HAD TO MASK MY EMOTIONS. EVERYTHING I DID WAS WRONG. IF I WAS FIVE MINUTES LATE HOME IT MEANT I'D STAYED AND PLAYED AFTER SCHOOL INSTEAD OF COMING HOME TO CHURCH. IF I TALKED BACK MY LIPS WERE YANKED HARD. I GOT BEATEN IN SCHOOL. I GOT BEATEN AT HOME. I WAS SCARED EVERY DAY. I HAD NO CHILDHOOD REALLY, SO I IMAGINED MORE THAN I PLAYED. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY BUT BY THE TIME I WAS TWELVE, WHEN WE MOVED TO AMERICA, I'D HAD ENOUGH. - Grace Jones
I THINK IT’S OUR NATURE TO BE MAN AND WOMAN ALL IN ONE. TO GIVE AND TO RECEIVE. I THINK THAT ALL MEN NEED TO BE PENETRATED AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO RECEIVE. IT’S MY OWN THEORY, WHICH I THINK COULD HELP TAKE SOME OF THE AGGRESSION OUT OF THE WORLD. - Grace Jones
SURVIVAL IS MY PRIMARY INSTINCT. I'LL DO ANYTHING. IT'S OUT OF MY CONTROL. IT'S STRONGER THAN ME. IT'S AN OUTSIDE FORCE, A VOICE THAT SAYS 'DO THIS FOR YOUR LIFE OR IT WILL DEVOUR YOU'. - Grace Jones
I WAS BORN TO BE A STAR. ONCE I DECIDED TO ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY I WOULD NOT BE PLACED IN ANY MOLD THAT WAS LIMITING AGAIN. - Grace Jones
I WAS PAINFULLY SHY UNTIL I HAD ACID THERAPY, SWEETHEART, UNDER DOCTOR’S SUPERVISION. I WAS REBORN. IT WAS ENLIGHTENING. AT THE TIME THEY WERE EXPERIMENTING WITH STP, THE SUPER TRIP PILL - TALK TO TIMOTHY LEARY ABOUT THAT ONE! I TOOK IT WITH A DOCTOR AND I STAYED THERE FOR THREE DAYS UNTIL I THOUGHT 'OK, I SEE. NOW I CAN COME DOWN'. AFTER THAT I DIDN’T NEED ANY MORE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. - Grace Jones
AFTER I LEFT HOME I REALISED THAT I WAS NOT MYSELF. WHEN DOES ONE DECIDE TO BE ONESELF? I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO. I DECIDED FIRST TO DISCOVER LIFE AND THEN DECIDE WHAT I WANTED FROM LIFE, WHAT MADE ME HAPPY, WHAT WAS EASY FOR ME. BECAUSE WHATEVER ONE IS, ONE MUST FIRST KOW THE TRUTH ABOUT ONESELF - Grace Jones
I BELIEVE IN HAVING CERTAIN RELEASES, CERTAIN OUTLETS. ONE HAS TO INDULGE. IF YOU DON'T INDULGE YOU DON'T LIVE. I BELIEVE IN INDULGING AS A USER AND NOT AN ABUSER. EVERYONE SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES WITHOUT COMPLAINING. WE’RE ALL INDIVIDUALS AND OUR BODIES ACCEPT AND REJECT DIFFERENT THINGS, AND CERTAIN DRUGS WORK FINE AS LONG AS YOU DON’T ABUSE THEM. I THINK THEY SHOULDN’T ALL BE ILLEGAL. ALCOHOL’S THE SAME. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE SOME POISON SOMETIMES TO SURVIVE, LIKE A VACCINE. LOOK AT ALL THE DRUGS THEY PUT IN FOOD. - Grace Jones
ONCE I WAS OUT OF THE FORMULA OF SCHOOL OR A NINE TO FIVE I CREATED MY OWN HOURS. I AM NOCTURNAL. FOR ME CREATIVITY COMES AT NIGHT. THERE’S SOMETHING NEW ABOUT NIGHT. IT HAS A DIFFERENT ENERGY. NIGHT'S A VOID I CAN CREATE IN. - Grace Jones
MY LOOK IS FOR GIRLS ON THE RUN. I'M ALWAYS IN A HURRY. FOR ME, SUNGLASSES ARE EYE MAKE-UP, EVEN AT NIGHT. HALF OF MY FACE IS SUNGLASSES, THE OTHER HALF IS LIPS - I USE FOUR COLORS TO DO MY LIPS. MY OTHER TRADEMARK I SUPPOSE IS THE HOOD. - Grace Jones
I REMEMBER FLYING TO EUROPE THE CHEAPEST WAY POSSIBLE - WHICH WAS ON ICELANDIC AIRLINES VIA LUXEMBOURG - AND THEN HITCH-HIKING TO PARIS. I'M LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED REALLY. I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I WAS. I DIDN’T KNOW A WORD OF FRENCH AT THE TIME AND I ONLY HAD TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ON ME, BUT I GUESS I WAS BRAVE. I HAVE SO MANY GUARDIAN ANGELS. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE PRAYING FOR ME THAT IT BRINGS ME THROUGH. - Grace Jones
IT WAS MUCH FREER IN EUROPE. THEY WERE A LOT MORE INTO INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITIES THAN MAKING EVERYONE LOOK ALIKE. IN THE STATES THEY TOTALLY BRAINWASH YOU. THOSE BIG MODELLING AGENCIES ARE JUST THE SAME AS BIG RECORD COMPANIES. WHICH IS HOW I LEARNT I SHOULD NEVER EVER GO WITH A BIG RECORD COMPANY. - Grace Jones
PHOTOGRAPHERS OFTEN MEET ME AND SAY ‘I STILL HAVEN’T SEEN A PICTURE OF YOU THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU’, AS IF THEY FEEL THEY ARE THE ONE TO DO IT. PERHAPS I JUST HAVE ONE OF THOSE FACES. PERHAPS THE ABILITY TO SEE ONESELF THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE’S EYES IS A KIND OF SIXTH SENSE. ALL I KNOW IS THAT PHOTOGRAPHERS CAN GET TOTALLY CARRIED AWAY AND SHOOT UNTIL SIX OR SEVEN IN THE MORNING. MY WORD, I ALMOST KILLED JARELLE AT AGE 83. HE ACTED LIKE HE’D HAD A SHOT OF ADRENALINE. - Grace Jones
AS A MODEL ONE IS FORCED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR AND I JUST STARTED TO FREAK OUT, LIKE I WAS GOING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR. I MOVED EVERY MIRROR OUT OF MY HOUSE WHEN I STOPPED MODELLING. - Grace Jones
WHEN I WAS ASKED TO DO A RECORD I MADE THE COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW MY DESTINY. - Grace Jones
I USED TO GO ROLLER SKATING ON QUAALUDES. QUAALUDES WERE MY DRUG OF CHOICE ACTUALLY. THE QUAALUDE HIT WAS SEXY. IT MADE YOU HORNY AND WANT TO LOVE ANYBODY. IT WAS CLOSER TO A GOOD ECSTASY. NOBODY REALLY KNOWS HOW TO PARTY WITH ME ANY MORE. THERE IS NOWHERE LEFT TO GO. SO I STAY IN A LOT. I HAVE MY OWN LITTLE PARTIES AT HOME. - Grace Jones
IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES WE ALL HAD OUR FUN, AND NOW AND THEN WE WENT REALLY TOO FAR. BUT ULTIMATELY, IT REQUIRED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CLEAR THINKING, A LOT OF HARD WORK AND GOOD MAKE-UP TO BE ACCEPTED AS A FREAK. - Grace Jones
STUDIO 54 HAD THIS CRAZY MIX OF NOBODIES AND SOMEBODIES, AND SOME IN BETWEEN. IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE ATTITUDE. SO IT WAS STRAIGHT, IT WAS GAY, BUT IT WAS ALL JUST ABOUT CHARACTER. IT DIDN’T MATTER IF YOU WERE THE PRESIDENT’S SON, IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE, YOU NEVER GOT THROUGH THE DOOR. I WAS WITH CARMEN D’ALESSIO WHEN SHE FOUND THE LOCATION. I TESTED OUT MY VOICE IN THE SPACE AND SHE ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE OPENING ACT. WELL, OF COURSE! - Grace Jones
"I WANDERED AROUND SOHO FOR A WHILE BEFORE THE MAPPLETHORPE SHOOT KNOWING THAT GRACE WOULD BE GOOD AND LATE - TWO HOURS USUALLY TIMED IT RIGHT FOR HER. THREE HOURS LATER I FINALLY TRACKED HER DOWN AT BERGDORF'S GETTING A FUR COAT OUT OF THE REVILLON COOLER. SHE SPENDS ALL HER MONEY ON FURS AND STORES THEM IN THE COOLER. I TOLD HER TO BUY JEWELRY INSTEAD, THAT FUR HAS NO RE-SALE VALUE. BUT I ALWAYS GIVE GRACE THE WRONG ADVICE - I TOLD HER SHE'D NEVER MAKE IT WITHOUT TONING DOWN HER LOOK, THAT THE PUBLIC WEREN'T READY FOR ANYTHING THAT EXTREME." - ANDY WARHOL
ARTISTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INSECURE BUT I’M NOT. I FEEL THAT IF I’M ENJOYING WHAT I’M DOING IT DOESN’T MATTER IF I MAKE A FEW MISTAKES. I’M VERY OPEN TO EXPERIMENTATION. I LOVE TO TRY THINGS, COLLABORATING WITH MY ARTIST FRIENDS, EXPERIMENTING WITH IDEAS. THAT'S WHAT PUT ME ON THE CUTTING EDGE. THERE’S ALWAYS BEEN A MAGNET THAT PULLS ME TOGETHER WITH CRAZY ARTISTS, UNUSUAL PEOPLE, EVEN WHEN I’M NOT LOOKING FOR IT. IT IS PREDESTINED THAT WE CROSS EACH OTHERS PATHS. - Grace Jones
I PERFORMED A LOT, AND STILL DO, IN GAY CLUBS. I THINK THEY ARE MY BEST AUDIENCE REALLY. YOU CAN GO AS FAR AS YOU WANT TO GO. THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN'T BE. I THINK WE RECOGNISE EACH OTHER. MOST OF THE REAL ROOTSY SCENE IN NEW YORK STARTED IN GAY PRIVATE CLUBS WITH GREAT MUSIC AND THE BEST, MOST FANATICAL DJS. THOUGH WHAT'S HAPPENED TO IT NOW IS JUST TYPICAL OF THE WAY OF LIFE IN NEW YORK - THAT'S CAPITALISM - IT JUST DESTROYS THINGS. - Grace Jones
I DEFINITELY WANTED TO SEARCH AND EXPERIMENT FOR A SOUND THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY GRACE JONES RATHER THAN THAT OF ANY PRODUCER. I’M BEST AT KNOWING ME AND DEVELOPING ME, AT FEELING AND ATTRACTING THE PEOPLE THAT I LIKE TO WORK WITH AND FOLLOWING THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. - Grace Joines
I CAN’T RUN OUT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS.I AM DIFFERENT. WHEN CAN I RUN OUT OF ME? - Grace Jones
I STARTED WITH MODELLING AND ADDED SINGING AND THEATRICS. I ASSUMED AN EXPRESSION AS WILD AND CLOWNISH AS POSSIBLE. I KNEW HOW TO USE A ROOM. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY I GOT THE IDEA FOR A TYPE OF FASHION SHOW IN A DISCOTHEQUE. - Grace Jones
MUSIC I GREW INTO, BUT VISUALLY IT WAS ALWAYS EASY. THAT’S WHERE MY TRUE, TRUE TALENT LIES. I WAS ALWAYS AN ACTRESS. I ALWAYS ACTED OUT A SONG, EVEN WHEN I WAS JUST SINGING IT IN THE STUDIO. - Grace Jones
I DON’T BELIEVE IN MARRIAGE BECAUSE I DON’T BELIEVE IN DIVORCE. I THINK THE CONVENTIONAL WAY IS SO UNROMANTIC. IF THERE’S ANYTHING TO END A MARRIAGE, MARRIAGE WILL. YOU CAN STILL LOVE SOMEBODY AND NOT WANT TO MARRY THEM. BESIDES, MARRIAGE DOESN’T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR OTHER MOODS - LIKE WHEN WHEN YOU'RE FEELING MEAN AND UNLOVING. - Grace Jones
"GRACE LIKES TO PARTY. IN THE END I LOST HER TO IT. SHE WON’T WORK. SHE'LL SHOW UP WHENEVER SHE FEELS LIKE IT. SHE HAS AN ENTOURAGE THAT ENCOURAGES IT. BUT IRONICALLY, THE FACT THAT SHE'S FUCKED UP HER CAREER ONLY PROVES HOW GENUINE SHE REALLY IS." - JEAN PAUL GOUDE
TEQUILA IS THE DEVIL IN MY LIFE. I ONCE DRANK SO MUCH ON MY BIRTHDAY IN BEVERLY HILLS THAT MY BOYFRIEND LET ME OUT OF THE CAR AND DROVE OFF. I WOKE UP UNDER A STAIRWELL IN MY BULGARI JEWELLERY AND CLAUDE MONTANA FUR WITH A BUMP ON MY HEAD. AND I ALMOST KILLED A MAN IN A TEQUILA DRINKING CONTEST IN BELGIUM. AN AMBULANCE HAD TO COME AND GET HIM. HE WAS IN HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS...FOR ALCOHOL IT’S THE BEST HIGH. - Grace Jones
There is so much I will have to do a part 2!!!!! What do you think!!!!!
Saturday, 23 May 2009
The New South African Police - Proof of a New South Africa
Often we just simply don't notice the changes going on around us and believe me they are happening and they are both radical and amazing.
I grew up with a police force I was ashamed of and I was scared of. They inflicted the views of a racist, sexist, bigoted government.
When I ran a nightclub in Cape Town called "The Mix", we were raided and arrested so often it became a joke all because we allowed peoples of different skin colours to frequent the same place and drink and dance together, rights we now take totally for granted.
When I ran a nightclub in Cape Town called "The Mix", we were raided and arrested so often it became a joke all because we allowed peoples of different skin colours to frequent the same place and drink and dance together, rights we now take totally for granted.
As a gay man, I knew to watch my back and that given the slightest chance I would be locked up and prosecuted for being with other men. A once good friend was once forced to move away from a park bench when he was accused of loitering. All he was doing was sitting on a bench on the Sea Point Promenade.
Before the days of the Internet and Gaydar and Facebook, you either met someone at a nightclub, through friends or you even cruised "The Wall" which was a stretch along the Sea Point Promenade to pick someone up. if you wanted a "Rent" boy you went either to Burg Street in the city or you went to the Cape Town or Rondebosch Station at night. You lived in fear as the police targeted "gay" spots and lifestyles. You lived in fear of being arrested and beaten up just for being gay. We forget that the previous government did not look very favourably on homosexuality.
Sure things have changed in our country and crime seems much higher but trust me we had crime back then and often the crime was perpetrated by or at least sanctioned by the Police.
As manyf people already know, last week I was hijacked at Gun point together with a friend of mine. Two men came at us with guns on the boundary between Kenilworth and Claremont and forced us out of my car ensuring us they they would not hesitate to shoot us if we did not do exactly as they said. We complied and my heart sank as I watched a villain drive away in my car along with some of my prised belongings.
Then began what I thought was to be a nightmare in trying to get assistance. Using my friends mobile phone which he had shoved into the back of his jeans when the robbers were asking us for our personal effects, I attempted to call 112, the cellular emergency number. Let me advise you right now, DO NOT BOTHER WITH 112 on a mobile. The system they have is just way to slow, cumbersome and ineffective to use when you are in a crises. Save the police and other important numbers to your phone. Rather dial information and get the number for the closest police station. That will work! 112 DOES NOT WORK!
After trying for a few minutes to use the 112 system, we rather used one of my friends neighbours land line, we got hold of the Claremont police station and asked for help. The police woman efficiently took down the details of where we were and then began taking other details. As she battled with getting my surname down I became slightly irritated thinking "while you are asking me all these question the bastards are getting away with my stuff." I was wrong because whilst still on the phone to the police station, the police began to arrive. First a police van and then more and then the detectives began to arrive. I was amazed!
Five minutes after my call there was total controlled, efficient action. Our statements were taken whilst other police started to disseminate the information on cell phones and police radios. I learned that I was the 3rd victim of hijacking in that area that night and that two the other two vehicles had already been found parked in Rondebosch. I told the police that my mobile phone was still in the vehicle and that it was still on. An inspector immediately placed a trace on my phone and they began tracing my things around Cape Town.
Not for one second did our being gay, in any way arise as an issue. We openly described one of the identifying features of my car as being a gay rainbow sticker on the back. When asking how we had reacted to the hijackers by friend responded by telling them that "I am a gay boy and I'm hardly going to try anything stupid in a situation like this."Not one snigger or even a look came our way. The police continued to do thier jobs. I felt safe again. I felt I could trust this new police force. I knew and could see that they knew their work and they were doing it well for me.
The next thing we started getting sms's from the police to notify us that our case had be lodged and that my car had been listed as missing. We were still at the scene and this data began coming through. I was so impressed.
Another detective arrived and we were shown mugshots of criminals to see if we might recognise any of our attackers which unfortunately we were unable to do.
Then the police came and suggested that we take trauma counselling which they offered us. At first I said I did not need it but after advice from ALL my Friends changed my mind and spoke with the Claremont police counsellor. Again I was totally impressed and I will be going back for more counselling to deal with this.
The whole week I kept in touch with the police regarding my goods and my car.
Yesterday afternoon, just as I'd given up any hope of seeing my car or goods again, the police called and left a message on Tom's phone to say, "Please call to make an appointment to come and identify your vehicle."
Let me end this by saying, "I am impressed! VERY impressed!" Well done SAP!!!!! Well done and thanks!!!!
Tuesday, 05 May 2009
Pink Loerie disappointments
At the last minute I decided to attend The Pink Loerie in Knysna this year. After being turned onto the idea by a friend, I desperately asked around to get a friend to share the petrol costs.
We drove up excited for what was going to be on offer. Having never been before I had no idea as to what to expect but knowing that people travel from all over the country as well as some people come from all over the work to attend, I was expecting something akin to the Mardi Gras in Sydney, Australia.
Let me start off by saying that I did have fun and a lot of it at that ...... However:
Keeping in mind that MOST people travelled long distances to get to Knysna, I would have expected better organisation and more glitz from this potentially amazing event.
I found most of the event organisation to be amateur at best. Nothing went smoothly. I could not hear the announcers. I did not hear the band, "The Magic of Pegasus". The contestants in the Mr. Mardi Gras contest were unrehearsed.
I do need to say that I take my hat off to the event organisers for doing this but I really think they need to get a professional MC to host the events. They need to hire a decent sound crew and PA system and decent sound equipment for bands etc. Things need to start when advertised.
I really believe that albeit that Zanzibar was amazing fun as a dance and party venue, it is not good for bands and pageants. It could be improved with a decent sound rig.
Rumours abound about money grabbing and profiteering and I unwittingly became involved in the politics of the event and choose to back out of that subject.
I cannot believe that the short comings are the result of financial shortages. If an arm band allowing entrance to all the events were to be sold long before the whole event in all the major cities, I really believe people would be ready to subscribe. This would help with ensuring the quality of the events. Looking at the Booklet, one can see it is a major source of advertising revenue.
On discussing the booklet, I also found the basic errors to be shoddy and once again showing the lack of attention to detail. Mr Mardi Gras 2008???? Then the website still has the program for 2008!!!!!! Attention to detail guys!!!!!!!!
The Pink Loerie could be a world class event! Why isn't it?
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Don't choose Christmas Hell
Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, love and celebration. It is however a period of greed, commercialism and gluttony.
Animals are reared in a cruel manner to be slaughtered, to end up on tables around the world and served up as a meal in celebration of this holiday.
We distance ourselves from this murder of living beings and choose to identify this form of food as meat. We unwrap it from it's plastic packaging and prepare it never thinking of the life that has been lost. Then we go and pet our dogs, cats and caged birds. It was a living breathing feeling being.
This animal had as much of a right to life as your pets!
I have eaten meat in my life and I have to say that I did love the taste and in some ways I even can say that I miss the taste. I can however not justify that as an excuse to eat animals. As a thinking human I have the sense of discretion to make a decision to eat meat or not to eat meat. I choose NOT to eat meat.
This link (http://www.peta.org/cooking-mama/index.asp) is a game from PETA to try and get people to realise that animals ARE living feeling beings.....
Anyone who has ever kept a bird as a pet knows just how loving they can be and how intelligent they are and that they do feel fear and pain.
All I am asking you to do is think about this and make an informed decision as to how you want to celebrate the life of Christ.
Some interesting links:
- http://www.psyeta.org/hia/vol8/barber.html
- http://www.bihartimes.com/Maneka/humanintelligenceofbirds.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_intelligence
- http://www.all-birds.com/brain.htm
Leave intelligent comments please!
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
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