Pay your dues

Well well well...could it be? A prayer answered. A wish granted. Karma in reverse.

Pay your dues: it has become lesson number one in 2012. I've spent the past year doing runt work, sending 2 applications a day and attending interviews with no follow-ups. If you refer to my "PickMe" post, you'll see that I was getting quite edgy about it.

The angst had built to a climax in the past couple of weeks when a friend of mine, Karabo Mafisa said "Phaks, you have to pay your dues". And like any light bulb moment, I had nothing to reply. I kept replaying the words like a new motto. Within the same week I was called in for an interview with a global public relations company. The following week they sent me a writing assessment; I met the MD and was sent a contract to begin work with them immediately.

In a quick twitter survey, I asked my followers what their first jobs were and here are some responses:

-"Worked at a film festival and loved it!' - Lauren Rosenburg

-"I was a library assistant...it was alright.I'm now an international criminal lawyer/researcher. I love it!" -Princess Ailitto
-"I was a waiter in my first year. Hated the customers but it made some decent money" - Jasmine

Rod Stewart was a grave digger before he became a rock star and Beyonce Knowels worked at her moms hair salon whilst singing her way to fame. So lesson learnt universe, one must start at the bottom to rise to the top.

It must be...

Jason Mraz album cover from the album: Love is a four letter word.

Love balloons by Jenny van Sommers

Love lollipops by the queen of candy Dylan Lauren

See what I'm doing here: 3 of my favourite images meets the lyrics to "It must be love" by british pop band Madness. Genius! Happy love month.

Sh*t Middle Class Folk Say

I recently watched a Youtube video of Sh t Hipsters Say. It has lead to this post: a compilation of stuff middle class folk complain about. The quotes are taken from my twitter timeline (@middleccblog) and they're usually followed by #middleclassconcerns #sigh #bleak and the traditional sad face :(. Enjoy!

·         I really want to help others  but I love all my clothes

·         I hate telephone conversations

·         I can’t drink instant coffee

·         I’ve been working out for 2 weeks and haven’t lost an inch

·         What could be worse than slow internet service?

·         There are too many pillows on my bed

·         iPhone vs Blackberry? Often followed by: “I really need an iMac”

·         Should I refill my ink cartridge or just get a new printer?

·         Facebook relationship status: complicated

·         Left my travel pillow! It’s going to be a long flight

·         If Heidi and Seal can’t make, how will we?

·         We have 3 remote controls for the TV.

·         I put too much milk in my cereal

·         I don’t entirely trust internet banking but I don’t have time to go to the bank

·         I wish I had a TV in my bathroom

·         Our gardener is on holiday L

·         We’ve run out of cranberry and apple tea

·         I can’t decide what my favourite Adele song is

·         I want a poached egg. I can’t poach an egg

·         What do you mean no dessert after dinner?

·         Soya vs. Skim milk?

·         We’ve had to cut down this year…no second vacation

Township Cinderellas

An excellent documentation of Western Cape teens born in 1994, the year Nelson Mandela became President and apartheid ended. From the award winning documentary show Witness on Al Jazeera

Y.O.L.O

By Stephen Doyle (oprah.com)

Happy New Year! I must apologise for the rather late start in blogging this year but I was actually doing everybody a favour. You see, since the clock struck 00:00 on 01.01.2012 I've had a dark cloud following me. It must be all those zeros, ones and twos or the fact that I have 3 months before turning TWENTY- FIVE. It feels like a crisis of sorts. Consequently, I need a chat with father time and the lady who runs the fountain of youth.

I'm anxious, uncertain, slightly cynical, fraught with worry and hosting all kinds of pity parties throughout the day. Instead of thinking about the things I’ve accomplished, I’m more concerned with the things I haven’t gotten around to. It’s as if I have subconsciously given myself a deadline and now I’m begging for an extension. With this comes a multitude of middle class concerns: Yes, I’ve travelled but not to Asia or Europe. I have a degree but will I ever have my dream job? I know where I want to be in 10 years but I have no assurance that I’m taking the right steps to get there. I read but not more than I watch TV. I eat more than I work out. I have a savings account with no money in it. The only things I own are clothes and books. I have no clear vision of how this year will unfold and there’s nothing like “the stress of not knowing that destroys ones sanity”.

Having established that, I can only ground myself with the things I know for sure. I have great skin and can no longer afford to sleep with make up on. Exercising releases all my anxiety. I need my body more than it needs me. Thank you and please are two very important expressions in any language. A quick prayer for peace and clarity can be more elevating than an hour mass. If I haven’t written down a “to do” list, I’m likely to forget. Being on time is harder than being late. Love trumps fear. Barbie isn’t real. Music is healing. I must write down my epiphanies before they’re overridden by the next fruitless thought. Keep my Facebook page clean. Reading improves my vocab. 3AM is the devils hour. I trip, bite my tongue or bang my toe immediately after having a negative thought. It’s ok to say “no”.

The trending theme for 2012 seems to be YOLO: You Only Live Once. It’s a green light for living your best life and a reminder that anxiety, worry, cynicism and self- pity are not absolutes.

Dear self, get over yourself. Quite frankly you have a lot to be thankful for in the 25 years you've lived.

Wish List

Season’s Greetings! Is it too early? I've been singing Christmas carols since mid- November.

I've compiled a lovely wish list to avoid any confusion or unnecessary gifts like home made marmalade jam or pot porrie. This may also fall under my 25th birthday wish list as well as the "because I love Phakamani" wish list which is open throughout year.

This blouse from Zara (Sandton) has been frequenting my dreams. I'm floral crazy! It's chique and turns up the heat when wearing slim fitting trousers and I have a giant patent black bag to complete the look.

There's something about French Connection clothing that makes my knees quiver. This jacket is probably not available in South Africa as yet but should something similar catch your attention do not delay: buy one now and get my adoration free. I recently purchased a stone coloured Witchery blazer and have to stop myself from wearing it everyday. This blazer would recieve the same attention if not more.

I spotted this Country Road sandal on a friend and now I want it for myself. It's also available in coral and would go perfectly with my summer nail polish "crispy peach" by Tip Top.



Well isn't this just charmingly beautiful. A chunky heal which can be worn to lunch with the girls. Available at Aldo for a sensible R599.00.

Words fail- I love, love, love this chunky platform by Céline. In a parallel universe I've sold a body part and am recovering whilst wearing these.

Navy, floppy, wide brim hat: I really just want one to smack everyone within a 10 meter radius when turning my head to take a sip of my bevy. They are completely obnoxious but serve as a fantastic "Do Not Disturb" sign whilst on holiday.

I love looking through cook books but don't expect a meal. Kylie Kwong makes Chinese food look effortless and flavoursome. I'm also obsessed with Jamie Oliver, Nigel Slater, The Two Fat Ladies, Giorgio Locatelli and Bill Granger.



I desperately need rechargeable batteries that come with a charger. My camera hasn't been put to use recently because ordinary batteries take a few snapshots before they call it quits.

I've gone through THREE coffee plungers. Woolworths has a lovely Russell Hobbs presser but I fear it will break before I make it to the till. So, maybe if someone else buys it for me...

And what goes better than a cup of strong coffee and some Lindt Intense Dark Chocolate? I believe anything and anyone that says dark chocolate contributes to improved cardiovasucular health. If you're feeling extra generous, there is a Lindt Chocolate Studio with truffle making courses.

If nothing elese, publishing this modest wish list brings me one step closer to owning at least one of these items. Wishing you a holiday season filled with plenty of middle class concerns like late night Christmas shopping and deciding what wrapping theme to go with.

Getting to Zero

i stock photo

I’m torn between two hot topics that require equal attention so I’m tweeting about COP 17 and blogging about World AIDS Day.

Zero AIDS new infections:

Ironically, HIV/AIDS is not a sexy topic. It’s an attention seeking, conceited and expensive devil. It’s almost 30 years since the first recognised cases of AIDS.  It resulted in a surge of rumours, theories and myths which we’re still battling to slay. It’s not a gay disease, it didn’t originate from a bestial encounter in the depths of Africa, it doesn’t only infect poor black heterosexuals and a hug, kiss or handshake will not jeopardise your health. It’s an exhausting battle. The same pamphlets that were handed out in the 90’s could still be handed out 20 years later. The same movies and documentaries made years ago are still relevant. Millions of  Rands, Dollars, Pounds, Euros, Pulas, Rupees, Pesos and Shillings have been poured into AIDS awareness campaigns.

Uganda began promoting sexual behaviour change in 1986. President Kaunda of Zambia announced that his son had died of AIDS in 1987. In 1993 an estimated 9 million adults in sub-Saharan Africa were infected with HIV and 1.7 million with AIDS. These numbers continue to fluctuate between bad and worse. In 1997, Fela Kuti, Nigeria’s most famous musician died of Kaposi’s Sarcoma; an AIDS-related illness. In 1999 Nevirapine, a new single dose drug for the future prevention of mother-to- child transmission in Africa. In 2002, Botswana began Africa’s first national AIDS treatment programme. Despite this, according to the World Health Organization 2.7 million people are newly infected worldwide.

Zero AIDS- related deaths:

I’m a little hopeful in this area. Anti- retroviral therapy has become more easily available and many people can live a long and healthy life as a result. Botswana, Namibia, Uganda and Rwanda have become great examples of countries providing effective health and support systems. Aaron Mostoaledi (South African Health Minister) has been breaking a sweat trying to increase ARV rollout, HIV/Aids prevention strategies.

Zero Discrimination:

National radio stations were overflowing with callers eager to tell their stories about positive living and encouraging others to do the same. With the support of friends, family and a non discriminative society many told stories of how they are fighting this attention seeking, conceited and expensive devil. In the time I’ve taken to write this blog over a thousand tweets with the hash tag World AIDS Day have been sent. Ordinary people, organisations, campaign groups and activists encouraging zero discrimination, zero AIDS related deaths and zero new infections. Apathy in itself is a disease so (in the words of Charlie Sheen) in some respects we're "winning".