Love actually is, everywhere

In procrastination for studying for my Drama exam today, I was surfing Youtube and came across the new T-mobile advert in England. They have another one where everyone sings in Trafalgar Square, but this one reminded me so much of one of my favourite films, Love Actually. This quote says it all:

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around."

Love is probably one of the most important things in life, without it - you really don't have much. Whether it is love of a family, a friend, a companion or love for the world - it pops up somewhere in your life. In big or small pieces, love is everywhere. Finding love in life makes you realise how important it id, and how important it makes you feel :) When that person leaves - its shows how much they mean to you, and how hard it would be to not have them around.


When we are born, our parents forget about their own hunger and turn to ours, they feed us love and when we are old enough, we learn to give back. Loving someone in any shape or form means having to give compassion, no matter what kind of love it is. It brings with it all other kinds of emotions, and without love - those emotions wouldn't be as powerful as they are.

With that, I leave you with this video - and getting this down means I can continue with some Drama learning, because after all, I may not enjoy studying, but I love Drama.

I remember

As I was sitting in my room the other day, temporarily minding my own business with Season 8 of Friends on in the back ground – I realised it was a mate’s 20^th birthday coming up. Having realised that, my own age jumped out at me too. Twenty. Two decades. Well, shit that went fast. So I subconsciously skimmed over my life and as two decades flashed past, I had an urge to put some of those mental panoramics into words. This is inspiration from something we did at the beginning of the year for Journ. I’m sure I will be adding to it and randomly remembering other things that should be here.

I remember being brought up as a South African.

I remember the first time I put on a school uniform, just to go to school with my mom for the day.

I remember taking baths, and sitting in them for ages after the water had run out.
I remember episodes of Barney and Banana’s in Pyjamas

I remember learning how to tell the time with my mom

I remember playing kissing catches. And soccer.

I remember the Bee, Dragonfly and Butterfly classes at Klerksdorp Hebrew Nursery School.

I remember getting a baby brother.

I remember being at a 20/20 Cricket Match with my parents and colouring in.

I remember my first day at school, with my maroon pinafore, my brown-box suitcase and my denim pencil bag.

I remember learning to read.

I remember Christmases and the day I decided they were by far the best day of the year.

I remember making up dances and songs in my room and performing them for the family.

I remember Holy Rosary School; choir competitions, jungle jims and the tuck-shop.

I remember giving my brother a tea party when he was upset.

I remember my Barbie house and spending ages in the toy room making up their life stories.

I remember Greg’s spider man outfits, batman outfits and power ranger outfits to the tee.
I remember Grandad building the treehouse.

I remember sleep over’s with Megan every Christmas Eve.

I remember my Dad’s tickle attacks.

I remember Greg singing Jeremiah was a Bullfrog for his school concert.

I remember holidays at the Cavern, Drakensburg Sun and Manaba.

I remember times spent with Megan: dolls, make-over’s and drawing up hordes of TV Guides, cheque books and lists of children.

I remember Aromat on toast.

I remember Brownies and Girl Guides.

I remember caravan holidays with Gran and Grandad.

I remember digging in the sand to find the ball and flooding the stoop from bathing our babies.

I remember my Mom, for she makes up most of the better part of my two decades.

I remember my first “BFFs”: Alyssa. And Meagan, Seona, Kailynn, Laura, Gaby and Kristin and Tubz.

I remember the day Laura and Mom fetched me from Kailynn‘s house and told me Dad was in hospital.

I remember my First Holy Communion – and going to visit Dad at Milner Park in my dress.

I remember when he came home. And I remember Mom’s valour.

I remember the first time I flew by myself from Rowing camp to Durban – a prelude to all the flying I would do in the future.

I remember my first time overseas to England – with Megan, Gran and Grandad.
I remember having a Princess Diana dress up doll, and I remember her death on the news.

I remember putting salt instead of sugar into the crumpet mix for Grade 5 crumpet day.

I remember getting two gorgeous baby cousins, and loving them eternally after that.

I remember being in the shows My Fair Lady, A Midsummer night’s Dream and A Lad ‘n a lamp during school.

I remember my trip to Robben Island, and learning about the man who played a massive part in saving South Africa.
I remember failing my first test and getting my first A

I remember my holiday to Ireland and England with my family; falling in love with the country but learning to appreciate South Africa.
I remember seeing the Twin Towers fall on the TV.
I remember getting ready for the disco with Kristin...

I remember being on the First Aid Committee in my last year of Primary School.

I remember entering high school, my Matric year, my gap year and my first year at Rhodes.

I remember getting kicked out of class in Grade 8 with the nun in the corner.

I remember the 4-O, really well; laughing, dog piles and Mrs Lourenco’s office.

I remember Hockey tours; the dodgy camping guy who stalked Simone, Amy kicking me out of my bed and taking photos on Katie’s phone.

I remember Katie.

I remember my innate love for Eminem.

I remember Rowing for HRS, egg and bacon rolls on a Saturday, being involved in the titanic like sinking, winning in our A-crew and getting a silver at SA Champs in the pair.

I remember Buffalo regattas and J.A.R

I remember dancing with my Dad at the Debs Ball.

I remember being introduced to the royalty of Friends – and quoting it in at least one conversation a day from then on.

I remember discovering my love of writing, and the day I decided that’s what I want to do.

I remember filming over our English project with Tubz and Katz dancing.

I remember Musa, and how I learnt not to care what society thought.

I remember how my mom and I spoke, how I could and can always talk to her about anything.

I remember experiencing World Youth Day in Australia.

I remember Irene Flee Market trips
I remember bird watching with Mom

I remember movies with my friends and “fishin’ for love just like a good girl should”

 I remember laughing for ages with Greg and Ryan.

I remember Dad running the Comrades again, and going on to do the London, NY and Berlin marathons.

I remember leadership camp.

I remember Grandad’s singing, and Gran rolling her eyes – but secretly loving it.

I remember Mom introducing me to St. Elmo ’s fire, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink.

I remember walks home from school with Katie; and stopping off at each others houses for egg on toast.

I remember discovering the greatness of The Beatles.

I remember Lady and Mojo.

I remember Fall Out Boy, 46664, My Coke Fest, Nickelback and Pink Concerts.

I remember after school Art and Mrs Mac.

I remember Maths Lit classes and Wimpy breaks.
I remember the day Greg became more than a brother to me; he became a best friend

I remember KFC runs with Katz, and auditioning for Idols.

I remember Sun City; trying to get into an 18+ club – and not.

I remember the first time I got drunk.

I remember falling in love for the first time and how special it was.

I remember my Debs Ball, and my Matric Dance and Valedictory. And the cuts on my arm after wearing that dress.

I remember my 18^th birthday, singing karaoke till the early hours of the morning with a Champaign glass in my hand.

I remember Vaal holidays; the stuffed lion and the utensil puppet show.

I remember the airport and leaving home.

I remember meeting Rose when she was jetlagged, and driving up to the glory of Canford School.

I remember our little flat; our Harry Potter marathons and our gossip.

I remember the Common Room, babysitting the Burlie kids and coaching the girls.

I remember London, with all my heart.
I remember the day I started to build up my dreams.

I remember spontaneous Barcelona trip with Rose, and walking almost every inch of that city until our feet gave in.

I remember working in the White Hart, and the locals Mic, Jim and Richard.

I remember travelling the UK, spending hours on a train at a time.

I remember the raucousness of the Henley Regatta, Topdeck and the Pub Parties.

I remember the warmth in my heart when I saw my Mom, Grandparents and Greg for the first time in 8 months.

I remember philosophical talks with Niall at the White Hart

I remember discovering Eddie Izzard.

I remember my hockey team, and how bleak they got at the thought of exercise.

I remember catching the last bus to get back to Wimbledon after a night out in central London.

I remember being helplessly broke on sam's couch.

I remember buying a dress for the Summer Ball.

I remember Camden Markets, Nottinghill Carnival and seeing a play at Shakespeare’s Globe.

I remember The Church.

I remember when it snowed.

I remember nights out in Bournemouth.

I remember Roz.

I remember my trip around Europe, and being in awe for all of it.

I remember browsing the Tate Modern, the Picasso museum and Louvre.

I remember Sam, Beans and Tess.
I remember being lost in Wimbledon with Jordan.

I remember the friends I made, and the smiles they brought.

I remember seeing the Lion King at West End.

I remember saying good bye, and getting on a plane to come home.

I remember listening to Johnny Clegg as I saw the South African sunrise out the plane window.

I remember feeling the African sun again.

I remember that Christmas, and it being particularly special for me.

I remember seeing my friends again, and partying with them, Joburg style.

I remember the night I almost killed Katz, and how she still drove with me after that.

I remember arriving at Rhodes, O-Week, serenades, the Friars experience and when the word chilled became a part of my vocabulary.

I remember Greg and I telling each other we had made friends.

I remember the O-Week field party. But not really.

I remember discovering Mama Pans, and late night walks up the hill.

I remember George and mine’s first DMC at the Wimpy.
I remember Ben screaming PENIS in the dining hall.

I remember Dress to get Laid, bad-taste party, St Paddy’s Day, Trivar, Boatraces and Nicky’s 21^st.

I remember meeting Matty, and falling in love with him.

I remember learning things, academic things.

I remember the Rhodes Drama Department – and the many hours spent there (and the rewarding feeling after bowing at the end of a performance)

I remember George flinging me across the room with a single kick.

I remmeber Nicky and Nuni.

I remember my first interview for Activate, and my interview that got me Arts & Entertainment editor.

I remember the night Greg was brave enough to come out to his friends.

I remember laughs with George. Endless. endless laughs. And her getting into bed with me when the electricity went out.

I remember pre-drinks with the Walker girls.

I remember having naps with Greg.

I remember Nicky doing my make-up and tweezing my eyebrows.

I remember the Soccer World Cup in South Africa; the flags from the Airport to home, and seeing Bafana beat France.

I remember riding the Gautrain.

I remember my hippie photo shoot with Sim.

I remember precious time with my family.

I remember Bovril toast with Mikey

I remember gwam jam talks with Chayse

 I remember the trip to Durban with George and her family, and painting our faces with the Ghanaian flag.

I remember the night Matty and I kissed for the first time.

I remember the Cougar Monday of Doom.

I remember singing Don’t Stop Believing in Pirates, and taking my mom to Cougar Monday.

I remember The Dirty Skirts, Wrestlerish, Zebra & Giraffe and Farryl Purkiss coming to Grahamstown.

I remember dustbin photos.
I remember sneaking out of lectures, unsuccessfully

I remember late night essays and considering getting an LOA for the last Journ one.

I remember singing somebody to love and filming it, Savvas’ piano playing and cat, and skype sessions with Greg.

I remember nights spent in CB; time with Matty, and smiling – a lot.

I remember Cape Town with my friends; the old lady/dog, the trip to Fish Hoek on the train and Georgia’s raucous night.

I remember surprising my friends and family at home for the weekend.

I remember how chats over good food with Katz never get old.

I remember tea in bed nights with Gran watching BBC.

I remember taking a lot of photos in my life.

I remember drawing up my bucket list, and vowing to never forget about it.

I remember my 20^th birthday.

Something different

I put up a post recently with all my favourite artists. But all of them have passed on, so it got me thinking of artists today - ones of our time, and why I am drawn to them. We all have to appreciate the classics, yes? But we can't live for the now if we don't acknowledge whats going down around us right?

The first artst that came to mind was one I discovered last year when I walked past one of his works on the street. Bansky is a British graffiti artist, political activist and painter whose identity is unconfirmed - which makes him even cooler. His street art is satirical, subversive and combines irreverent dark humour with graffiti.

After many debates during Art classes at school, inspiration from Mona Lisa Smile and thoughts from my own head - I have decided that art lacks a satisfactory definition. It is certainly one of the most subjective topics of the world, and it should stay that way. Art is not something to be judged. It has to be looked at with both eyes, wide open and ready to accept or reject, with reason of course.

So with that, I give rise to Banksy - with an open mind, an admiration and after looking through a few works, definitely some sort of love.