Visiting a small town I've never been to before

On the 3rd of July, 2017, my mom, sister and I were in the Mpumalanga region for a week. We visited God's Window:

Blyde Rivier Canyon:

and more, but on the 3rd of July, we went and explored a variety of waterfalls in the area, and stopped over for lunch in the iconic Pilgrim's Rest.

Some of the water falls we visited: From Top to Bottom - Horseshoe Falls, Lone Creek Falls, and Lisbon Falls.

Our view from the little restaurant where we had lunch in Pilgrim's Rest - The Vine Restaurant and Pub. Their bobotie was to die for, so rich and tender... yum.

Outside The Vine looking out to the mountains

One of the shops in Pilgrim's Rest

Some more shops and overall beautiful scenery in Pilgrim's Rest.

Again, I did not take a selfie in the area, neither did I check in on a location site. For me and my family, we like taking pictures of things, and not joining in the picture.

We didn't stay very long before we had to leave to continue our tour of the waterfalls, but it was interesting to explore an old town that's very much a part of South African history, and continues to be even now in the modern age.

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to return to our roots and just spend some time among history. It's good for the soul.

Try spending no money for three days in a row

Hey guys.

So, without really meaning to, I successfully went three days without spending any money, whatsoever.

From Sunday 12 November, until Thursday 16 November. No money was spent between those two days, neither cash nor card.

This is a tricky challenge to proves, especially because so many transactions nowadays are electronic, and there's no way I'm sharing banking info on the internet.

Nope. No sirree.

So this past week, I ended up squirreling away in my apartment in order to work on and finish up projects. Thanks to a stash of frozen food and long-life milk, I had no need to leave the apartment for any reason.

Except Monday to write a test and see a lecturer. But I didn't go shopping. Which is good.

Flip, but it's difficult to try and not spend any money for longer than a day. There's always something that you need to buy: medicine, toiletries, food, clothing...

And there's no real way to try and budget and prepare for these kinds of situations. You can, but life has a way of taking all your plans, throwing them out the window, and then laughing obnoxiously in your face while you panic and try to salvage what you can.

But for those three days... it felt glorious, not having to worry about how much money I had to buy food or petrol, or that I wouldn't be able to buy something because I wouldn't have enough money...

Just, it was a pleasant experience. Granted, I was still stressing about projects, but money became a non-existent problem for me. To not have to worry about something like that and use that energy elsewhere, it's incredible. It feels as though more is getting done, and it feels absolutely amazing.

Make a sculpture

Hello again all.

So, today I am sharing with you the sculpture I made for a project in the previous term.

That's my sculpture.

For the project, we had to represent the idea of sacrifice without directly referencing images that relate to sacrifice or saying the word 'sacrifice'.

This was trickier than I first thought.

The sculpture came about as my original idea, and in my head, it looked a lot more better and elaborate.

I guess it holds some truth to it though: how in your head, everything looks amazing and good, but when you try to bring it into the real world, something goes wrong and it comes out looking similar to what you imagined, but not quite what you imagined.

Still, the process of sculpting the figurine was a lot of fun, even though I may have done it wrong.

Building the figure from wire was tricky, because you had to hold the wires together while you use a pliers to bend them together so that they stay put.

Then comes the task of building the clay figurine. But you gotta go fast, before the clay dries and becomes hard and unusable. Even while you're working, you need to sit with some water nearby to wet your hands and the clay you're working with.

That's what I found, at least.

Still, it was fun to just get dirty and use my hands for a change. I might just try and make another sculpture again in the longer holidays for fun, and see if I can make a better looking sculpture that's more similar to what's actually in my head.

Watch a Film from before 1940

Hello again guys.

So, this is another blog that I wrote up ages ago, and yet am only posting now because #issues.

So, recently, a TV series came out that was basically the Wizard of Oz, except it was set in the modern world and wasn't as family-friendly as the original movie. It was called Emerald City.

It was really interesting to watch, and I'm so sad that it's not getting a second season because it really went a completely different direction than what you would expect, and it was a lot darker than you'd believe it to be.

I love dark fairytales, to be honest with you.

In any case, there's now the original Wizard of Oz, the TV series, and the prequel-sequel 'Oz: The Great and Powerful'.

So I decided to go back and watch the original Wizard of Oz, and return to my childhood.

Watching it, the distinctions between the differences in technology between 1939 and 2017 are quite visible, but the original is still a good film.

I can see where and how the prequel-sequel 'Oz' ties in to the original, and how the writers of the TV show got their ideas and incorporated them into the basic plot of the original film and extended it over a series.

I remember how, as a child, I would always skip to the part of the film where the colour came in and Dorothy was in Oz, because I couldn't stand the sepia colouring or the beginning and the end. Ah, how times have changed.

It just goes to show how even something that's old and regarded as a classic can be changed and become popular for its differences and relativity to the modern world.

Spending a day at the Johannesburg Zoo

Hello there, you beautiful people. Long time no post, apparently. I have some serious issues when it comes to posting and updating my blog, apparently. And apparently, I use the word "apparently" a lot.

However, my use of the word "apparently" and my inability to keep a decent upload schedule are not the reason I am here today.

Today, I am here to chat about my visit to the Johannesburg Zoo, which happened on the 21st of June, 2017. While it did occur a few weeks ago, the trip has remained in my mind, mostly because it was such a fun experience.

So, where do I begin?

Perhaps I should start with how excited I was to visit the zoo. I could vaguely recall visiting it on a school field trip one year, and when I was much, much younger. My mom had also told me that the Johannesburg Zoo had been renovated, so I was also excited to see how it now looked.

And so, I set out on my adventure.

Which was almost thwarted by traffic.

I swear, traffic in the big cities just seem to have their own sets of rules. And the traffic I experienced on my way to the zoo wasn't too bad, until I reached about a kilometre before the off-ramp I was supposed to take. Then, the traffic slowed to a crawl - roadworks.

Still, I eventually reached the zoo, and parked my car and bought my ticket.

Here's the ticket.

And off I went.

I found it very strange to be at the zoo in the middle of the week, mainly because it was so quiet. There were only a handful of other people there, but more often than not, I found myself alone.

Other than the emptiness of the zoo which was vaguely unsettling and felt like some post-apocalyptic world, it was a very enjoyable day. To just spend some time strolling around and looking at the animals in their enclosures was a refreshing change of pace.

I also had the honour of one of the zookeepers keeping me company throughout my visit there, but unfortunately did not take a picture with him. He shared many interesting facts with me about the animals, and was overall a very friendly guy.

The aquarium side of the zoo had one of those really cool tunnels where you can walk through the tunnel but around you is fish tank. Little catfish decided to take a nap on top.

Tigers are actually the biggest cats in the world, not lions.

(Kindergarten lied to me.)

Hola guys! I was actually here and not bluffing.

Is it a swan, or a flamingo? The world may never know.

Guys, guys, guys! I found Master Shifu! I guess Po being the ultimate Dragon Warrior finally took its toll on him and he decided to retire.

Yummy munchies...

HAHA, we can reach the food. Your ploy to starve us has failed you.

Sleepy kitties.

The zoo is just one of those fun family-bonding places that you need to go back and visit every now and again. It's just amazing to see how humans have come up with this concept of holding nature in the middle of the city, available for everyone and anyone to experience.

Spending time with a very small child

Hello all.

So, since I've moved up to Pretoria, I've been able to see my dad more often, which means I've also been able to spend time with my baby half-brother, Shaun.

I received this picture from my step-mom a few months ago, after I had spent the day with her, my dad, and my little brother.

This was from an outing we took to Cullinan on the 18th of June, Father's Day. This was late afternoon, after lunch.

There's just something fascinating about small old towns with railroad tracks that used to lead somewhere but now lead nowhere.

I guess Shaun doesn't like me. I mean, I'm 19 years old and I live on my own, so I don't spend that much time with them and around them, which is a pity.

From the few interactions I've had with Shaun, he's more interested in staying near our dad, or his mom, and not in interacting with me.

But from what I've observed from the few times we've spent together, he's really energetic and fun-loving, not scared to have fun and take risks. Perhaps I need to start thinking like a child again in all aspects of my life at times, and not focus too much on the future and what I can't really change or influence by myself.

Do something on a rooftop somewhere

Hello again.

So, it's reached that point of the term/year/life that everything is crazy, projects are due and anything that could go wrong does go wrong.

From out-of-control controlled fires messing up plans to work on a project, to the electricity cables for my complex being stolen and leaving us in the dark for just over a day and a half, this past term has been hectic.

It doesn't help much that I'm a procrastinating perfectionist scared of failure. The logic behind this definition is pretty impressive, and no, I didn't think of it by myself. As a perfectionist, you want everything to be perfect. As a procrastinator, you wait until the last minute to do things.

Combine these two together, however, and you get the theory that you procrastinate because you believe that currently you do not have the required skill-sets to successfully complete the assigned task in order to successfully soothe your perfectionist tendencies.

A similar theory is that you procrastinate because you are scared of failure. And wow, this just got deep super fast.

In any case, at this point I decided that I needed to just take a minute and breathe. The stress of everything was getting to me, bringing me down and rendering me almost incapable of working. The voices in my head weren't much help either.

Standing on ground level, I felt as though I was being suffocated, so I decided to go to the top floor of my apartment building, as I unfortunately do not have access to a rooftop near me. Thank goodness the building is open plan of sorts, and I was able to breathe and watch the sunset for a little while.

Proof that I was, in fact, on the 6th floor of my apartment building, which just so happens to be the highest floor of the building.

In my few minutes up there, I breathed deeply and just let the air fill my lungs. Somehow, it felt cleaner, fresher.

My mind felt refreshed when I eventually came back to my flat, and I was able to continue working on my projects.

All-in-all, if you need to take a break, go for it. Sometimes, all you need to feel better is to just stop, take a minute, and breathe. It does a world of good.

Climb a tree

Hello all.

So, I can remember as a kid, when my family and I lived in our previous house, I tried to climb a tree, but failed spectacularly.

I didn't even fall out of it, no, I slipped and scraped my knee, and decided then and there that tree-climbing is a difficult and dangerous sport, and never again tried to climb a tree.

Until recently.

The tree I attempted to climb back then was an easy tree, perfect for my tiny child body to climb without fear of a branch snapping under my weight. Although, I never did make it into the branches...

Anyway, as a young adult, the number of trees available for you to climb dwindle in number, as a whole bunch of mathematical calculations now need to be done so that you don't fall out of the tree and hurt yourself.

Ah, if only real-life trees had the double-striped rule that applies to the candy trees of Wreck-It Ralph.

So, I prepare to go tree-climbing, only to realise that the complex in which I live, has absolutely no climbable tress. Trees, yes. Trees that look as though they'll fall over should a child run into them.

Thin, scrawny little stumps and twigs that have not yet grown into their right to be called a tree.

Look at these fake trees that promise shade and fun in summer, only to laugh in your face at their inadequacy. (#flat_hair #naptime XD)

It was sad. I was sad. Now I'm just annoyed. Even in my hometown, the trees in my yard aren't that climbable. The one climbable tree I remember us having (and no, this isn't the tree that I scraped my knee on) was a peach tree that was taken out because termites were getting all cosy in it.

A sad state of affairs.

Still, it was nice to go and walk around outside for a little bit, even if I was disappointed by the lack of climbable trees. Just being outside in the fresh air and looking at the trees and how they are growing was insightful. Even these big, powerful, imposing natural creations need a little help growing at times, and that says a lot about humans as well.

It doesn't matter how big or powerful you are, you will need help at some point, and there's no shame in asking for it.

Make a Mistake

Hello everyone...

So, as you can tell from the title of this post, I have made a mistake.

Everyone makes mistakes, it's a fact of life. Alexander Pope is quoted as once saying: "To err is human, to forgive, divine."

In this case, I'm looking at the erring and human side of this lovely quote.

Basically, this entire blog was designed to help improve my creativity, and teach me to stretch and explore my comfort zone, even going so far as to step out of it.

But unfortunately, I have made a grave mistake regarding this blog.

Before I begin, some backstory. Which will probably also reveal my mistake.

At the beginning of the year, myself and my fellow first years were given this blog as a year-long project to work on. The requirement was to have completed at least 25 items from a list of 90 activities to do, some of which included climbing a tree, making a sculpture, listening to a new music album, and more.

So, my mistake comes in the form of having procrastinated until last minute with this assignment.

On my blog site, I have only uploaded 6 blog posts currently, and I have two more drafts that I just need to complete and upload. Including this post, I'll have only done 9 blog posts. That leaves me with a requirement of 16 more blog posts to complete. These are screenshots taken of the different screens I pulled up for proof. (But now how do you take a selfie to prove something like this?)

Basically, I screwed up. Badly.

My problem with this assignment was the fact that we needed to post photos for physical proof that we actually completed the tasks.

And I've done a few of the tasks, but just really haven't taken the selfies to prove it. I don't like taking selfies, or having pictures of myself taken. A good friend, however, told me that I need to get over myself and just take selfies for the fun of it, to get more comfortable being in front of the camera instead of behind the camera.

So yeah, that's unfortunately where I am currently. And the final blog post needs to be completed by Friday 17th November 2017 at 5pm. So, I now need to go through my camera roll, find photos of the tasks I've already done, and post them into the respective blog posts and upload them, then move on to the next ones.

This coming week is also hand-in week. Luckily, there's not really any classes. However, the last bit of the projects need to be completed and handed in.

So, I made a mistake. I am human. And I need to come to terms with the fact that I made this kind of mistake, especially since I had planned to do the minimum required amount. However, there is nothing I can do about it now.

Now I have to hold myself accountable for my actions up to this point, and just make sure to work hard to catch up on all the posts by Friday to the best of my ability.

For now, I'm signing off until the next blog post. Ciao!

Listen to a new music album I wouldn't normally listen to at least 5 times

Hey guys, how's Life been treating you? I've been pretty tired recently, but it's almost holidays, so I'm excited about that. I'll get to see my awesome family again, and spend time with our puppies, and be able to access the internet whenever I want, and... well, you get the idea.

In any case, I'm still buzzed about how the feel of my room changed because I just shuffled my bed and desk around. Best. Decision. Ever. And I just checked out my blog through the actual website link, and realised that I was repeating the post name in each blog... so now I feel a bit foolish. Oh well, life's all about making mistakes and learning from them.

So today, I'm discussing an album that I listened to all the way through at least 5 times, and that album is Ed Sheeran's Divide.

Now, I know Ed's music is in the same genre as what I usually listen to, and I can't deny that he's an amazing artist, but I just couldn't get into his music, no matter how hard I tried. I enjoyed some of his earlier work, like Photograph and Thinking Out Loud, but I've never really wanted to listen to an entire album of his.

So I decided that I'll give the poor guy's music a chance. I mean, it's the least I can do for him.

Wow. Just, wow.

His new album is completely different from his earlier stuff. I loved the direction he took it in, and the fact that so much of the album is upbeat. Perhaps I should give a brief description of how each song made me feel the first time I listened to it... and because I can, I bought the deluxe album - 16 brand new songs from Ed Sheeran

1. Eraser - the opening guitar chords made me swoon. As a guitar player myself, I can only aspire to one day be as good on the guitar as Ed is. The song borders between lyrical and rap, which was an interesting combination, and the lyrics? The lyrics were narrative in nature, telling the story of how he rose to fame and the things he's learned about it consequentially. Now one of my go-to feel-better pick-me-up songs.

2. Castle on the Hill - my favourite song of his that was released as a single. It reminded me of home, and of all the people who helped mould me into the person I am today, and who continue to guide me throughout my life's journey. The first time I went home for the weekend during the module, I played this song in the car on my way to campus (I had a class first thing in the morning) in order to help build my excitement at going home. I listen to this song every time I think about home.

3. Dive - not one that I'm particularly fond of. I'll admit: in the beginning, I had to forcibly restrain myself from skipping this song. However, I can appreciate the story it tells: of deciding whether to trust someone enough with your love and your heart that you're willing to dive into that unknown pool called 'Love'.

4. Shape of You - the second single of Ed's that was on the radio. In the beginning, it wasn't one of my favourites, but the more I listened to it, the more it grew on me. I can't really explain it, as it leaves me with different feelings each time I listen to it. But basically, I get the impression it's about love, and that there's something different about this relationship.

5. Perfect - yooo, guys, this song... ok, confession time: every time I listen to this song, I waltz around my apartment imagining I'm in someone's arms. Reminiscent of young love, this song leaves me with serious feels. It makes me yearn for the most innocent of loves: cuddling, soft kisses, the simplicity of just sleeping together in the most innocent way and feeling their body heat next to you, slow dancing around the kitchen... easily one of the best songs praising a lover's perfectness I've ever heard.

6. Galway Girl - guys, guys, guys, there's a violin in this song and it gives the song this whole Irish feel to it!! I love the whole Irish history, so hearing this little quirk in the song made me inexplicably happy. Another love song, but about an Irish girl falling in love with an Englishman and how they interact at the bar where they met. That's it. The hook is especially catchy: "She played her fiddle in an Irish band but she fell in love with an Englishman..."

7. Happier - if this song doesn't make you melancholy, you may need to check the state of your heart. If you've ever experienced a breakup before, then you'll definitely be able to relate to this song. The song is similar to a Point-of-View story, where you're placed into the shoes of the singer, and thus creates a deeper, more emotional connection to the song.

8. New Man - ever had that ex, that, even though you broke up jonks ago, still calls you and sends you messages, but not to ask about how's it going or that they want you back but rather to tell you all about their new significant other? Yeah, this song describes that situation perfectly. I snigger every time I listen to it, because I imagine the singer getting annoyed with this constant barrage of information about their ex's new significant other, and thus wrote this song as a polite way to tell the ex to go away because they (the singer) don't care and don't want to know about the new significant other. I'm barely restraining my giggles while typing this out.

9. Hearts Don't Break Around Here - Another love song, this one discusses how the female lover is more trustworthy compared to previous lovers, and makes comparisons between her and objects like a river and a piece of flint. It also speaks about how the singer knows that they'll know they're in love, and how his female lover is suited for him. Like the title of the song, hearts won't be breaking.

10. What Do I Know? - This song breaks away from the traditional love song, and instead discusses how the ideas and acts of love can change the world for the better, as is seen by the artist. However, no one listens because the singer has no degree and didn't go to university. With a catchy guitar rhythm, this song starts your head bobbing, and the lyrics are powerful.

11. How Would You Feel (Paean) - Basically, this song questions how lovers would feel if one of them said the big three words to the other. It discusses knowing that the two lovers are "it" for each other, through observing how they act around each other in ordinary situations. The song itself is mellow, with an interesting guitar melody, a soothing violin melody, a simple backing drum rhythm, with a piano supplementing the song. The song is emotional, and any set of lovers can relate to it.

12. Supermarket Flowers - if this song doesn't leave you in tears, then definitely go and have your heart examined. This song is so simple in melody and rhythm, that the heartbreak behind it can be felt. One of the worst feelings anyone can live through is expressed through this song. The story is told so simply: the singer goes through the basic motions of generally cleaning up around the house. If you're not listening closely, you'll miss the kicker at the end that'll make you go: "Right in the feels...", and want to curl up next to one of the people closest to you. I won't tell you who, as that will ruin the song.

13. Barcelona - this song draws inspiration (in my opinion) from traditional Spanish music and is one of those songs that make you want to get up and dance your heart out. I also freaked out a little bit on hearing this song for the first time.

14. Bibia Be Ye Ye - I have no idea how to describe this song, the only thing I know is that it's also another "get up and dance" song. For some reason, this song makes me think about festivals and dancing in the streets for a celebration of some kind.

15. Nancy Mulligan - another song with an Irish feel to it, this song tells the story of a Romeo-and-Juliet-esque story, except this one has a happy ending. Somehow, it manages to fit an entire relationship into 3 minutes. This song left me with that nice warm and fuzzy feeling, and the desire to seek out a similar relationship.

16. Save Myself - this song also has a melancholic tone to it, speaking of how he used to give more of himself to helping others and saving them, but now, after years of doing that and receiving nothing in return, he first needs to save himself before he can save others.

Above are screenshots of the tracklist for Divide, which I ended up downloading to my cell-phone after the first time I listened to it.

Apparently, the descriptions of how each song made me feel when I first listened to them ended up becoming short reviews along with my feelings on them. Oh well, what can you do? :D

Ed's voice is mellow, and the instrumental sides of all the songs blend together perfectly to create amazing harmonies and melodies. I would definitely recommend this album to anyone looking for love songs that deviate from the norm currently on the radio. Each song is unique, and yet holds hints of what differentiates Ed Sheeran's music from the others.

Bonus fact: I ended up watching Bridget Jones' Baby after I had listened to this album multiple times and had developed a fondness for Ed's work. So guess what happened when I saw good ol' Ed in the movie...

I flipped out. In front of my mom and sister. Who both laughed at me.

Ah, good times...

P.S. I listened to this album about a month after it came out, but unfortunately have only gotten around to posting it now. The reason for this will be discussed in a different post.

Changing my Appearance

Hey guys, long time no blog!

So apparently, it doesn't really matter how much I plan and prepare and plan and prepare, I just never get around to updating my blog.

And it sucks. And I dislike myself for this, because of my perfectionistic tendencies.

In any case, I've recently come back from a week long holiday, during which I made a decision: I was ready to cut my hair.

Now, I've had my hair cut before, once upon a time, into a Chinese bob, and I loved it. Especially because my hair is naturally thick, and because of the thickness of my hair, I had to constantly wear it in a braid, otherwise my hair would knot something terrible.

If I let it down for a single day, the next time I brushed my hair it would leave me in tears from the pain of untangling the knots.

The Chinese bob was amazing in that respect. Unfortunately, the school I attended had rather strict rules pertaining to how we were expected to style our hair, especially the girls. At the time, if we had short hair, our hair was not allowed to touch the collars of our shirts. The minute it did, we were informed that we had to tie it up.

Please explain to me how you can tie up the short hairs that sit in the nape of your neck into a neat and respectable hairstyle? Basically, you can't.

And that's why I decided to grow out my hair again, although this time I had decided to keep it shoulder-length. For a while, it worked, and I maintained that hairstyle for the rest of my young schooling career.

So now, I'm out of school (have been for a few months) and have made the decision to cut my hair. In some ways, this decision is also representative of finally letting go of the past, and all the things in it, and moving forward at the start of a new chapter.

So, here's the before and after pictures:

Left to Right: Before with Long Hair, and After with Short Hair

I've since received a few compliments regarding my hair, and they've all been positive, so I'm really happy about that.

It was a rather intense feeling when the scissors made the first cut, especially because the hairdresser decided to start right next to my ear.

In any case, I love the new hairstyle. It's much more comfortable and easy to maintain.

And with that being said, I'll be signing off until the next time.

Cheers!

P.S. At the time of this post going live, it has been about three weeks since coming back from holiday.

Work in a new environment

Hey guys, long time no post apparently... which makes me feel terrible now because I really do want to do right by the purpose of this blog. And I am failing miserably. So I could type out a couple of excuses and make both myself and you guys feel terrible, but I'm not going to do that.

Instead, I will accept my failings as a human being with dignity, because I am aware that I have rather poor time management skills and thus need to work on them. A lot.

Especially because for this term, we have a lot of drawing projects to do, and if you are arty in any way, then you know how long it takes to finish an artwork. Especially one that will make you not cringe every time you look at it and realize that you submitted it for a mark to be assigned.

Which brings me to the topic of my blog post: I am currently working in a new environment in order to make as big of a dent as possible in the work I need to do.

So for this term, I have three essays to be written, about eight or so drawings need to be drawn, a lot of  soul searching and habit studying to be done, and lots of studying to be done.

Combine this with the fact that I live alone and thus need to clean my apartment on a weekly basis, do laundry, wash dishes and cook in order to sustain myself and successfully maintain my charade as a proper human being, I do not really have a lot of time to mess around and not work. The catch-up time would just be so stressful, and I'd probably end up doing half of my work wrong or lose files.

So, it is currently quarter past six on the eve of May 11th, 2017. I am doing laundry, and have basically moved out everything I could possibly need to study to the laundromat.

Except a desk.

And a chair.

And coffee.

Okay, maybe not everything I need to study, but all the more important items.

So while I am waiting for the washing machines and dryers, I sit (more like stand) and work, making study notes, planning out for drawings and so on. I realized the first time that I came out to the laundromat a few months ago that I would very likely become bored while waiting for my laundry to finish their cycles and need to bring stuff with me in order to keep me occupied while waiting for the washing machines and dryers to finish their respective cycles, as I could spend on average about three to four hours in the laundromat doing washing, maybe more depending on how busy it is.

Even though the environment is noisy, there's something oddly comforting about the smell of laundry detergent. Even the hum of the dryers and washing machines become soothing after a while. Which is really weird, but I guess having some background noise serving as static almost, is a thousand times better compared to the silence of my apartment.

The silence just starts to grate on your nerves. Eventually it starts to feel like you're the star of some cheesy horror, which is not a nice feeling to have, if I'm honest with you.

It's very weird, how productive you become the minute you're nowhere near a kitchen or a bathroom or a bedroom containing a lot of little doo-daas that you can use to distract yourself from what you're meant to be doing.

It makes me think that the thought, or knowing that you're somewhere near something that could help provide for one of your basic human needs, how quickly you become hungry, or tired, or need to use the bathroom, or anything else that may distract you while working.

Heck, just being here in the laundromat has helped me become productive to write this blog post!

The lesson I've now learned today as a result of me doing laundry and consequently needing to keep myself occupied, is that sometimes productivity can be born in the midst of a noisy environment and as a result of boredom.

100 Questions

100 Questions

Questions, I've found, tend to form a rather large part of our lives. We tend to question everything: ourselves, others, why something is one way and not another, why we have to do certain things, and more. Perhaps it has to do with our genetic make-up, as humans are notorious/infamous for being incurably curious. Ever since the dawn of mankind, we've been questioning and exploring everything we could get our hands on, and have often been surprised by what we've discovered.

In celebration of mankind's curiosity, here are 100 questions I've thought about and consequently written down. Some of them are deep and meaningful, others are silly and ordinary. Some of them are related, and others still serve no meaningful purpose. Enjoy!

1. In an age where everyone and everything is connected, how does one disconnect?

2. Is it ever possible to truly disconnect from a connected world?

3. Is it possible for one to be creative and original in a world where it appears as though everything has been done before?

4. As an artist, how can I be original in my creativity without committing plagiarism?

5. Why do I find the sound of rain, wind, and ocean waves so relaxing?

6. What would it feel like to be able to fly?

7. What should I have for supper?

8. Who am I really?

9. What is my purpose in life?

10. Do I even have a purpose, or is all of this for nothing?

11. How does one tell if another is flirting?

12. Why is there even a need for flirting?

13. What is love?

14. Why do some people promote the idea of love and yet shun same-sex couples and others of the LGBT+ community?

15. What is sexuality?

16. How are some people so naturally photogenic?

17. Why do I freeze up like an ice-cube every time I talk to someone attractive?

18. When I die, what will be my biggest regrets?

19. What awaits us beyond death?

20. Why are some people inconsiderate towards others?

21. Does true love even exist?

22. Will I ever find love?

23. Why is society so two-faced?

24. What is beauty if it isn't attractiveness?

25. What defines attractiveness?

26. What are some of the best feelings in the world?

27. Where are the best places to tour?

28. How can I articulate what I'm thinking and feeling verbally without clamming up like an oyster?

29. Why isn't depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses talked about more?

30. What makes the idea of mental illness so taboo?

31. Why is it so expensive to live alone while taking care of yourself?

32. How does one find a job that requires little to no physical interaction?

33. Why is it so difficult to understand the word "No"?

34. Is it easier to seek complacency than to try and change our lives?

35. What is the most thrilling activity I can do?

36. Why is it that the fun activities generally end up with someone in some kind of trouble?

37. What's so amazing about alcohol?

38. Why is it that the good-tasting food is generally the most detrimental to one's health?

39. How can one say "I love you" without saying "I love you"?

40. Why are doctors and dentists so scary to the mind of a child?

41. Is true love made true by the couple's loyalty to each other?

42. Is it even scientifically possible to fall in love at first sight?

43. Considering the image of a cherub, is it even possible for wings that small to hold up a baby that big?

44. Why can't we use the elevator in the case of a fire?

45. Is it because we'll become roasts?

46. When did humour need to be characterised by age restrictions?

47. What's the weirdest thing to happen to you?

48. What's the funniest thing that has happened to you?

49. What's the funniest joke you've ever told?

50. Why do feet smell and noses run?

51. Why are some people so considerate towards others?
52. What even is race?
53. Why is the world such a scary place at times?
54. Will I ever be able to drive late at night on the highway and not fear for my safety?
55. Why is music so beautiful?
56. Why is music so emotional?
57. Why does art make us feel the emotions we're trying to repress?
58. Why do we try to repress some of our emotions?
59. Why are spiders so scary?
60. What causes us to perceive spiders as scary?
61. What is the scariest thing to ever happen to you?
62. Have you ever had a near-death experience?
63. If so, what was it?
64. Why are subjects such as mathematics and science viewed as being more important than the arts?
65. What would the world be like if the two were switched?
66. Why are teenagers pushed to choose a career path for themselves when they haven't even experienced the world around them properly?
67. Why are career fields such as medicine, law, accounting and education mainly spoken about in schools?
68. Why aren't other career fields (like the arts) also discussed in class as potential career paths?
69. When did the number 69 come to have a sexual meaning attached to it?
70. Do parallel worlds exist?
71. If so, how would we know?
72. What would it be like to be able to view these parallel worlds, similar to ours, and yet only slightly different?
73. Will South Africa ever experience a peaceful era?
74. Where is the most peaceful place you've encountered?
75. What is the most peaceful you've been?
76. Why is meditation so relaxing?
77. How do some people find driving to be relaxing?
78. When will I be able to read a book to relax again?
79. How difficult would yoga be to someone who doesn't exercise a lot?
80. What sport is there for me to try that I haven't attempted yet?
81. What constitutes as a stranger?
82. Where is the best place to go bungee-jumping in South Africa?
83. Who can I invite to go bungee-jumping with me?
84. Should I create a bucket list for myself?
85. How does one tell if they have anxiety?
86. How can I help someone if they are having a panic attack?
87. When can I go home and binge-watch some anime?
88. When will my Wi-Fi be up and running?

89. Why is coffee just so delicious?
90. What can I do to improve my creative thinking skills?
91. What can I do to improve my artistic skills?
92. How can I work on improving my time management?
93. What can I do to become a better screenwriter?
94. What can I do to become a better cinematographer?
95. What can I do to become a better sound designer?
96. What can I do to improve my camera skills?
97. What can I do to improve my writing skills?
98. What can I do to improve my listening skills?
99. Where can I find books about my chosen career, aside from the library of the institute where I'm studying?
100. What can I do to improve myself as a person?

Reorganizing My Living Space

So today, Friday March 31st, was cleaning day. As we all know, cleaning house is never a fun time unless you're listening to some decent music, or you pay someone else to clean your house for you.

In my case, I had to listen to some decent music while cleaning in order to have a fun time.

So I got out all my cleaning materials, changed into a set of clothes I don't mind getting dirty, tuned my radio in to Highveld (947), and started cleaning.

I would describe with vivid detail how I washed the floors until they gleamed and washed the dishes until they sparkled, but it would likely put you to sleep as a bedtime story would a child.

In any case, knowing how well I cleaned my flat is not what you came here for, contrary to what Rihanna and Calvin Harris have been telling me.

What you're here for, is the story of how I reorganized my living space.

Ok, so it started with cleaning my flat (obviously, now please get to the point, Samantha). When I started with my room, I had to shift my bed to the other side of the room in order to clean under it, and while I was shifting it, I thought to myself, "Hey, why don't I reorganize my room, move the furniture around and see how it goes?"

And with that thought in mind, I moved my bed back into its original position (without cleaning, mind you) all so that I could take a 'Before' picture. I then continued cleaning, and when I was finished cleaning, shuffled all the furniture around in my room, which consists of a desk, a bed, and a bedside table.

I would write down an explanation of how I had everything, but I have pictures to show how everything looked and how everything now looks.

<- My room before (with my little Squee-Gee mop and a bucket of water).

I took the above photo standing in the doorway to my room.

 <- My room after (Part 1)
 <- My room after (Part 2)

I couldn't take one photo standing in the doorway to my room as I did with the before photo as the desk wouldn't have been in the shot, so I took two photos standing in the corner where the head of my bed used to be.

Please forgive the slight disarray to my room; I took the photos straight after I had moved the furniture around so that I wouldn't forget to do so.

Guys. My room is now so spacious (not really, because it's the same size but it feels a lot bigger than it used to).

Like, I am so impressed with how it feels. I walked in and out of my room multiple times for no other reason than to just bask in the newly uncovered freedom.

I had never realized how stifling the previous arrangement was until I decided to shuffle the furniture around. I feel so much more freer and relaxed. My room now has some order to it, and I feel like I have purpose again.

It's amazing how much influence a person's living space has on their psyche. And it's scary that you don't realize it until you either change it up by shuffling your furniture around, completely moving out of your previous living space into a completely new one, or completely transforming your living space into something new.

You might be wondering why I didn't shuffle around my living room space. Well, it's a little hard to do when the only pieces of furniture in the living room are two camping chairs and a bunch of miscellaneous items. Don't believe me?

Boom. My living room. Granted, the furniture will come with time, but for now, this is home.

So yeah, there's not really much to work with in the way of living room furniture. Plus, I spend more time in my bedroom than in my living room, so technically, my bedroom is my living space.

I still can't get over how spacious my room feels. I don't feel like I'm going to trip over my stuff any more, even though I had nothing under my feet.

I also decided to move my furniture around for a practical reason: winter is coming (Game of Thrones, am I right? Season 7 is just around the corner...) and with my bed being right next to the window, I would have gotten a lot colder than I would've liked. By placing my bed next to a wall, I won't get as cold during the winter months, and I expose my desk to natural light during the day, which will be a lot more easy on my eyes than an artificial light.

I'm definitely going to keep my room in this new positioning for a long time to come. It feels so much more comfortable and relaxed, and hopefully this will help me to become more comfortable and relaxed.

Based on what I've discovered today, it is apparent that the placement of furniture in a room, much like the placement of elements on a poster, has an effect on someone who is constantly exposed to it. So if you're feeling uncomfortable or uneasy, especially in your own living space, try moving the furniture around. It'll definitely help to improve your overall mood and allow for interesting developments (such as my new desire for wanting to run around my tiny yet spacious-feeling room).

And now, it's time for me to randomly get up and walk out of my, only to walk back in and bask in this new feeling of comfort and freedom.

Adios, amigos.

Vegetarian for a week

So from Monday the 20th of April to Monday the 27th of April, I went vegetarian for the week. Essentially, I may have taken it a step further by not eating any meat whatsoever during this week: no steak, no chicken, no fish, no pork.

However, I did keep the dairy products of milk (I cannot survive without my daily cup of coffee in the morning) and cheese, in order to still receive some of the proteins required to live.

I must just say, it's a lot harder than it looks to not eat any meat for a week. I found myself on Wednesday craving the taste of the Colonel's tasty chicken, and it took a great deal of self-restraint to not drive to the nearest KFC and buy myself a bucket of chicken.

I commend those who stick to the vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. So much thought has to go into what they can eat, and research also has to be done in terms of dairy and protein alternatives.

For dairy alternatives, one can look at soya milk, coconut milk, and almond milk. When considering whether I would go vegetarian or vegan, I actually tried some almond milk in preparation. While it is quite nice on it's own, it does leave a bit of a weird aftertaste in your mouth.

I wasn't prepared to subject my coffee to that kind of taste-distortion. Hence the vegetarian option.

For protein alternatives, one can look at members of the legume family: beans, chick peas, etc. Once you've done your research and found the meat and dairy alternatives, you're ready to start your new lifestyle choice of vegetarianism/veganism for the week.

Even then, it'll probably take a while to acquire a taste for all the meat and dairy alternatives, if one chooses to go the full vegan route.

I now have a greater respect and understanding for vegetarians and vegans. A lot of thought goes into meal planning and food shopping, having to check the label of everything you purchase to be sure that there are no meat or dairy ingredients in it.

I understand their reasoning for not wanting to eat meat, and I respect their life-style decisions.

Perhaps going vegetarian or vegan for a week each month isn't such a bad thing. It forces you to think creatively about how you are going to get the required nutrients into your system without any meat and dairy, and to try new things that you wouldn't normally want to try taste-wise.

Above is a photo taken of my fridge during my vegetarian week. As I only decided to cut out meats and not meat by-products, I have milk and eggs in the fridge for my protein choices. Otherwise, I have only fruit and vegetables in my fridge. Oh yeah, and there's cheese in here somewhere as well.

(Plus some carbonated drinks because, you know, I need the sugar for those sugar-induced midnight work sessions ;). Haha, nope. If I did that, I probably would have nightmares so bad, I wouldn't be able to sleep for a week.)

In any case, definitely give being vegetarian a try for a week at least. Once you've done that a couple of times, you can then level up to the more challenging vegetarian-for-longer-than-a-week-mode, before finally reaching and attempting the master level of vegan-mode.

If anything, it'll change your perspective on life and make you realize just how much we rely on different kinds of food to sustain our bodies properly.