Paradise
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SUMMER VACATION EDITION
I can’t think of a better way to spend a Capetonian Saturday than on a beach with close friends, a football and nothing but the Summer sunshine to warm the soft, white sand. Even though this sand pelted our skin wherever we cowered, it was great having Llandudno Beach all to ourselves. (more…)
A Tribute to the Ginger Prince: Paul Scholes
The Legend: Paul Scholes' celebration after his wonder goal against Barcelona at Old Trafford during the 2008 Champions League Semi-Final. (Courtesy of truthminber.net)
“He scores goals, galore,
He scores goals!
He scores goals, galore,
He scores goals!
He scores goals, galore,
He scores goals!
Paul Scholes – he scores goals!”
I think football died earlier today… It has actually taken so much will power to stop myself from weeping today. (more…)
The UEFA Champions League 2011 Final Review
Okay… okay…
Barca's midfield masters. (Courtesy of livesoccertv.com)
Barcelona completely outplayed United tonight. It was not the case of a few “lucky” goals that just happened to fall to the men in striped shirts – no – it was one way traffic. Tonight’s game reminded me much of the Liverpool 4-1 demolition of United a few months back. On that day, they just couldn’t live with Dirk Kuyt. To put tonight into perspective, it was like every Barcelona player was Dirk Kuyt – times ten, and Spanish. Everyone knew though coming into this game, that Barcelona were going to have the lion’s share of ball possession, and that was ultimately United’s downfall. (more…)
This Is How It Goes
Watching my friends walk out my front door and get into that car this evening was not the highlight of my weekend. Watching her struggle to open the door, and then look back at me was however, great. There was a longing, appreciative look in her eyes. God I love her eyes.
Anyway…
Tonight was fun. We basically all just chilled in my room. My small little cramped room. My bed though is the most awesome part of it. She fell asleep on it. Then again, everyone seems to. I wish she had stayed.
Seeing her really makes me consider my future. Really, where the hell am I? I thought about my dream home too. The pine-floored open kitchen leading into the living room, lined by French doors. Granite counter-tops, she would be sitting on it, the twilight glowing off her golden skins. All my friends gathered round, watching the footy on the big screen. Shouting, screaming “GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!”. Sigh. It was a little day-dream for some reason.
I’m really gonna miss this. This city. These people. The inspiration I get here. I don’t want to go back, but it’s really not up to me at all. Not one little bit.
Rainy Days and Mondays
Credit goes to The Carpenters for the title of this post.
I’ve had what could be considered and indifferent day today. Not only did I plan to wake up at four in the morning (which I did do) and work tirelessly (which I did not do), I went back to sleep and subsequently missed all my lectures. I managed to make my mandatory Psychology practical, but otherwise, not a bead of sweat had been spilt for my studies this Monday.
I have an excuse, mind you, a pretty good excuse. I felt like shit all day. I still do. I’m seriously considering going to bed now to wake up and work later (but we all know how that turned out last time!). I’ve been in a rotten mood too since the Liverpool mauling of Man United over the weekend, not to mention waking up yesterday to find that my laptop would not boot. Yeah, fabulous day it was yesterday. I had to reinstall Windows, which in turn, vapourised of all my family photos, videos, my music… shit, everything. I was so pissed. I probably should have backed up, but seriously, Windows is supposed to ask you what partition you want to install it on, not just kill the entire drive. Sigh. Thanks Microsoft.
So you can imagine how difficult it was for me to smile earlier..
Oh well, the good story of this week though is that I finally found my student card. Or, well, someone else did. She said she picked it up in Friar’s as she was leaving. At least there are still a few genuinely good people left on the planet. Anyhow, I need to pick that up soon as well. I’ll probably catch her at her residence; hopefully she’ll be home when I do decide to potter that side of campus.
Umm… as for everything else in my life – I’ve had little to no contact with my friends since my birthday. This is why I’m not really a fan of birthdays – they seem way too superficial for the people who aren’t directly affected. I’m sure they’re [just as] busy [as I am] but I try to make time for them, especially those who I think need it most. I’ll always just leave a message on her wall or something, just so that she knows I’m still there. Lately though, I feel like I’ve encroached on the friendship boundary set around our relationship like a ten-foot wall. Seriously feel like knocking it down… but that in itself would not be a wise decision.
I still miss home, but there’s four weeks until vacation begins. It’ll be soon before long, and one soon comes, it’s only a week-long vacation until I’m back, here, again. Sigh.
Anyway, my bed is looking evermore comfortable to me from here so I’m off to lie in it.
- reddevilandy10
Boxes In My Mind
So… where was I? Oh yes. Last time I posted, I was administering some melancholy and self-loathing through my keyboard. It’s fair to say that the little hypochondriacal “fit” is over with, I hope. I’ve had a good past two days, fully laden with the news of a new job – yes, I am finally unemployed – plenty of time spent with friends and my football, as well as seeing the new Harry Potter film, which by all means was probably the lowlight of my week. Besides all that, I’ve come to terms with a space in my mind I like to call the-things-that-will-never-happen-in-my-life box. You see, it all came about when I was in high school, that some things will just not be realised regardless of how much aspiring or dreaming or grafting you do. Namely, this box consists of people I like who would not get with me even if I paid them, as well as currently unattainable material things; like getting a car next year, for example.
This box no longer applies to my conscious mind. I try not to think of it anymore. In all honesty, I’ve changed the name to the-things-that-may-happen-if-I-want-them-badly-enough box. Yeah, I realise that is a total contradiction, but, I’m definitely not ruling out anything anymore. What’s the point of living if every task you fail at or every girl you meet and don’t impress ends up in the tttwnhiml box? There won’t be anything left to live for.
Oh well, as far as work is concerned though, hopefully I’ll be sorted when I go back up to Grahamstown again too. That’ll be awesome. I really need the money.
Anyway, I ran out of things to say tonight. Maybe I’ll post again later… possibly… maybe. I’ll see. If not, have a good one all.
- reddevilandy10
Graft. Sleep. Mare. Repeat.
It has just gone five in the morning. The birds are chirping outside… probably wondering why the hell I am still awake, and the sky has gone that dirty blue colour which must mean that it’s about to welcome the sun pretty soon. God, isn’t that the story of my life here. Either I’m awake getting totally mindless or I’m mindless trying to stay awake.
Speaking of minds, mine has been molestered by journalism tonight.
I have just finished what I deem to be the worst piece of writing I have ever written, on a subject I am really quite passionate about, Bafana Bafana, but I just didn’t feel it. I could not make it good. I just couldn’t. I feel like such a fail.
I’ve gotten to the point in my life where handing things in is just the bare essentials I need to keep alive. So that’s what I do. I graft. I hand in. I go sleep.
I can’t believe it’s a 9am hand in though. How shitty is that? That means I can’t even have a proper sleep now. I may as well have a damn movie marathon until the sun really does decide to rise.
Sigh. Life sucks so much right now.
I hope tomorrow will be better. If I have a shitty afternoon, I’m definitely maring in the evening! It’s going to be insane. I promise you that.
- reddevilandy10
Welcome to the College Life
Two really early A.M. posts in the space of, what, three hours? Welcome to the college life readers. Turnitin is still being a selfish SOaB and I still don’t have that damn report – looks like it’s going to be a late hand in. Oh well, at least I have my psych 101 credit all wrapped up and garnished with a bow. That’s one positive!
Seeing that I have such an abundance of free time all of a sudden, let’s take you back, readers, to what was Saturday, October the 2nd, 2010.
Venue(s): Pirates and then Friar Tuck’s, Grahamstown.
Time frame: 20h00 till about 04h30am Sunday morning.
Objective(s): Getting my friend, Luke, totally legless. Happy Birthday bru!
So, this evening was always going to be a bit of a jigsaw puzzle when it ended. Somehow, you enjoy yourself even more when you know you’re get to play Horatio in the morning. You could feel in the air, the rainy, humid, almost Capetonian winter air that engulfed Grahamstown that evening, that things were going to get tragic. In total, Luke must have had about three litres of glee-inducing beverages. Me? In comparison? About 1.5. It wasn’t my birthday though to be honest… and I had made myself the designated cameraman!
We got to Pirates, kitted out with wide smiles from the not-so-well-diluted punch and were pretty upset when we learnt the lack of any drinks specials on the night. Nothing really happened here, except Warren (you’ve read about his previous escapades with Bushmansous, I’m sure) and JEF engaging in God-knows-what type of media tribunal political talk with someone who I’m sure is like a DA spy. I bailed, I didn’t want to think at that point in time. And besides, I wanted to enjoy my two slices of thick-based Pirates regina. That went down really well. So while the others were getting jam-jarred, I thought I’d have a draught and watch the MTN8 final. Yes, the Buccaneers won. Again.
We left Pirates just after 22h00, and scurried over to Friar’s through sticky drizzle… which just became more and more irritating as the night went on. By this time, those who had ordered a jam-jar each were pretty spaced and looked about ten percent dumber per essay than when the day began. Luke decided, once we arrived, to have a downing competition with another friend, Ryan, just to, well, finish the jug he had just bought, I guess. So they downed. Two full glasses each. Full of Russian. He then proceeded to order another jug. But this is the part of the story that starts to get really hazy in my mind. I, myself, had two double Russian specials, so I was pretty gleeful too. But what I don’t remember is why Luke and Warren decided to get up on the table. No one knows actually. It made one pretty epic video though! Apparently, those two had Zappa shots as well and about 20 minutes later, we were all on the dancefloor. Friar’s was pretty empty, not its usual self, especially for a Saturday…
I really can’t even remember how things unfolded after that. I remember being called a girl(in a much more derogatory way though) by JEF when I came from the bar holding a Russian, lemonade mix. I was thirsty okay! It’s not nice to judge. I downed it anyway. I was really starting to get hot too.
So we danced, from David Guetta, to Katy Perry, to just about everything else I’m sure. Luke was river-dancing. Ryan was dancing like bigbird from Sesame Street (and thus the birth of a great new nickname) and I? Well, I was… not sure what I was doing. I know it looked cool though! Some guys left again at 12, including another friend Tim, and his girlfriend, Sanam. They never go out with us. But was really great seeing them looking all awkward on the dancefloor – definitely not their usual habitat.
01h00 came and went by just as quickly. By this time, I had the mindlessness (epic fail alert) to go up to the bartender and ask for, and I kid you not, a “double coke and vodka.” Yes. I know. Judging by that alone I think it’s fair to say where my state-of-mind was.
In the end, only four of us remained: Warren, Luke, Carsey (Steve) and yours truly.
Of course, this is just a log of what happened, because what happens in Friar’s stays in Friar’s, but it’s really tempting to divulge more…
Mmm… naa, I’ll refrain this time!
We even managed to get a lift (the great part about associating with ladies who have vehicles in club environments at 4am) not only home, but to BP as well! We’re that good! I bought the usual: Squillos banana flavour and 10 ZAR worth of chips.
I’m pretty sure if we had not found a means of getting home that night by not using our own bodies, we would have found Grahamstown’s gutters extremely comfortable. Especially Luke, who was seeing some serious stars in that partly cloudly sky!
We got back to res at about 03h40 or so. I parked off on a couch, the others all found their one too. Out came the food. I spilled my Squillos which I was really, really upset about. Like, honestly, I was mortified.
We kept on having a debate on the girl-who-gave-us-a-lift-back’s name… We all thought Warren was playing the fool when he said her name was Ming-Yong but, it actually was! Well, not spelled like that but the French way or something to that effect.
Luke couldn’t remember phoning both his mom and his girlfriend. I helped him get to his door to as he couldn’t quite remember where he lived. The keyhole was a bit of a mission too… but eventually he opened the door.
I ran up the stairs (which, somehow, I can always seem to do 100% when spaced out of my mind), opened my door, jumped into bed and went straight to bed. I was knackered!
Lunch yesterday was very interesting. Bar the huge dehydration headache I had, we were all attempting to piece together the jigsaw of what was a truly immense night! It was one of those, when all you can do is laugh at the dumb crap you caught on the night before. One of those that you seriously regret the next morning due to the almighty headache felt in the morning. One of those where the bouncers pretty much applaud your exit, and are sad to see you leave. It was massive. Truly massive.
Cape Town is going to have to pull out all the artillery to live up to that night. Grahamstown is amazing with the right weather, atmosphere, date, and friends, it can match any other city in South Africa for value-for-money partying.
Moral of the Story: I think it’s only fitting that we have a moral of the story here. The moral, well, what I think the moral is: sometimes, a person needs to forget who he/she is in order for he/she to rediscover themselves. Don’t be afraid to enjoy your life, it’s yours after all, is it not? You should, however be afraid to not make the most of what is a really amazing gift given to us by the higher power of this universe.
Luke, bru, I hope that even though you did not remember much, that you’ll always remember this day as one for the internal scrapbook collection.
This has been a reddevilandy10 recollection. Over and out!
PS: Psych 102 semester essay has been completed, handed in and uploaded. Fingers crossed that it’s a good one!
Friday The 13th: Part Two
Crap, I hope that psychology test went well. I felt assured writing it, I mean with multiple choice you have a one in five chance of getting something right. I’ll have to wait and see the outcome.
Meanwhile, it seems to be national Barbie day in Grahamstown or something. I swear, I’ve never seen more skankily clad females in my life. Well, maybe a few other times but damn, I swear all these people are going all out tonight. Tomorrow it’s Welcoming Drinks too, a Smuts tradition and pretty much the reason why many Smuts boys die of alcohol poisoning. I’m not doing it though. I don’t intend to pay 70 ZAR just to get abused and humiliated. I can do that myself, and for way less too.
There are house parties, res parties, hall parties and all sorts of other parties to go to. I, however, plan to stay indoor and either a) fall asleep, b) begin my English and JMS essays, or c) play pool all night. I’ll probably end up doing the latter, but then again, I really need to stop procrastinating. Especially since the football season officially begins tomorrow. I am pretty stoked about that.
Well, I think I’m going to hit the showers now, seeing that everyone is starting to drink really early tonight, it’s about 8.30pm here. Last call here is something around 12, so it’s really early. But most of Rhodes is pretty much dysfunctional by 10pm.
I’m out!
PS: Have an awesome Friday the 13th, and may good luck be bestowed upon you on this allegedly unlucky day!
- reddevilandy10
The Day Bafana Bafana Earned My Respect
The FIFA World Cup 2010 has sprung many surprises thus far. From Germany’s youngsters thrashing Australia, to Spain’s loss to Switzerland, to the complaints about the ball and the noise of the vuvuzela, to the shocking goalkeeping mistakes being made. But, one thing has really stood out for me — the utter passion and gees shown by all the supporters in South Africa.
I was fortunate enough to have watched the Bafana match against Uruguay at the V&A Waterfront, a ten minute walk from Green Point Stadium, last night. There were English fans, USA fans and fans from all other nations cheering Bafana on. It was the most awesome experience. Bafana didn’t even play in Cape Town last night, but it sure felt as if they did. Cape Town felt like a European city last night, and even so, it is still Africa’s World Cup.
In a previous blog post I alluded to my utter dislike for Bafana’s style of play, their lack of cohesion, their poor form and the horrible kit in which they play in. I would like swallow my pride and extend praise and appreciation for what Carlos Alberto Parriera has done to this team. Yes, they lost last night, but honestly, they are playing like the team that can compete on the world stage. I admit that I have been a real hypocrite towards the national football team, but, as a pure football fan, and without any patriotic intentions, I hope Bafana make it through to the second round. Why? They have gone from being one of the worst footballing nations in Africa, to one of the most easy on the eye. And they sure are playing with all their heart.
I have decided to delete my earlier post. I feel that it discourages Bafana as a team and South Africa as an entire nation, when everyone should be supporting them and not crucifying a player when he makes a mistake. Those days are clearly over. South African football is growing again, and it’s all thanks to the FIFA World Cup.
One thing I still dislike about Bafana though, well, it’s more Adidas’ fault, that horrid banana-like kit. And yes, I still refuse to buy one!
France vs. Mexico tonight. And this time, I will be looking for a draw!
Bafana What?
Readers, I don’t know how you see this: In the space of an hour, I’ve seen a total of eight people wearing Bafana Bafana shirts, and six of them were female. Now, I’m not sexist, nor am I unpatriotic, but let’s face the facts: South Africa will NOT win the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and that’s with or without your support.
It’s really irritating for the authentic sports fans to sit and watch as people who can’t even understand what’s a throw in, let alone what the offside rule is, walk around as if they know everything about football. Oh, and that’s another point: It’s called “FOOTBALL” not SOCCER! Why is it suddenly a world event anyway? Yes, it is the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet, bar the Olympic Games, but it’s a football tournament. I know more people who hate football than love it. Usually, no one gives a rat’s ass about it, now all of a sudden, its hosted here and everyone in South Africa is suddenly football mad? What the [expletive]!?
The truth is: South Africa is ranked 88th in the world, the last impressive result was against 30th-ranked Paraguay, over a year ago. Since then, they’ve lost countless games over and over, even sinking so low as to lose to a SECOND STRING Santos team. The have been on the decline since that 1996 Africa Cup Of Nations win, which in all honesty, was an amazing triumph. Bafana Bafana has not won one major trophy since and their current form is pretty awful too. They leak goals, they can’t score goals, their passing and possession is atrocious, they never run off the ball to create options or space for the possessor, and they have no sense of unity at all. They’re a shambles. A real pity.
Now, with all that over with, let me teach the “pretend” football fans who actually have a chance of winning this year’s World Cup.
Firstly, many smart and loyal football fans will be hoping that England can win their first title since 1966. This year, with the goal-scoring form of Wayne Rooney, and the solid showings of both Micheal Dawson and Joe Hart, the English will hope that this will be their year. Rooney’s ongoing ankle injury could be a huge loss if it does rear its head during the four-week tournament. Fabio Capello, the England manager, will have sleepless nights in trying to solve their defensive frailties. I rate the English will be the largest supported team among the South African public, other than Bafana of course.
European Champions Spain also have a major point to prove in June. Most critics and experts labeled them as “perennial under-achievers” until they successfully won the European Cup in 2008. But, as skeptics’ nature permits, Spain regained their sad status by crashing out of the 2009 Confederations Cup by a frisky looking USA team. Now, Spain aims to right their wrongs, and with a team that includes names like Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Fernando Torres, this is their best chance to take the trophy. The smart man’s money would definitely be on them this year.
I’ve heard a few people suggesting Argentina look good. I remember telling my friend this: “Argentina will not win the World Cup if Maradona is still in charge.” And I stand by my remark. They are an excellent team, but are made terrible by a terrible manager.
Brazil are another team you just can’t write off, but are they really still that great? Yes, they are defending World Cup Champions, yes, they won the 2009 Confederations Cup and yes, they are Copa America Champions too. But, is that enough? Watching them play against England recently made me think that they’re not as strong as they once were. In fact, they may even be better. I do still think that they are the second favourites after Spain though.
Other potentials include Netherlands, who have seemed to peak in form just in time, Italy, who have yet another star-studded World Cup squad, France, the dark-horse, who last won the title back in 1998, and Germany, who would be looking to get revenge on Spain for their Euro2008 disappointment.
And why no African teams, you ask? Well, truth be told, I fancied Ivory Coast to do well in this tournament, but the recent appointment of Sven Goran-Eriksson may have been a bit too late. Mind you, they have as strong a squad as any in the world, but do they have the cunning, verve and mindset to lodge a serious attempt? Only time will tell, and only Sven can save them. They are my favourites for Africa and I sincerely hope they do well.
So you see South African “supporters”, if you really want to support Bafana, get behind them when there is no World Cup in South Africa, get behind them when they lose and get behind them when there is a crisis. For me, I just don’t support them. Yes, I’m South African and yes, there are a few awesome players like Steven Pienaar and Teko Modise, but I just don’t enjoy watching the team play together. Pienaar is one of the best things that has happened to Everton in recent memory and Teko was recently on Martin O’Neal’s watch-list for Aston Villa apparently, but I just can’t watch Bafana play football. It’s horrible.
I do, however, think South Africans should support all African teams. And don’t stay ignorant. If you’re really interested in this World Cup as the true football fans are, make a point of learning more about the teams, the players, the stadia, the rules, the strategy and wear your kit not as a fashion symbol, but as an actual part of the team.
It’s a real pity that the under-20 team cannot play in the World Cup for South Africa, they could teach the seniors a thing or two. Reaching the round-of-16 in the 2009 u20 FIFA World Cup in Egypt, losing to the eventual champions Ghana after extra time. When 2014 comes to pass, I think South Africa will have a much better chance. But, as for now, Bafana Bafana, good luck.
- reddevilandy10
Sunday Blues…
There are two things that have really irked me today, and the day has not even finished yet.
You know, I’m not English. I have no English relatives. I’ve never even been there, I’ve never experienced their weather or people. I haven’t even read a book from a genuine English-born author before (it’s on my to do list)… But, when it comes to the English Premier League – more specifically Manchester United – I’m as red and white as any of them. You can feel the passion every time the players take to the field, football is by far the greatest sport on Earth. And here in South Africa, it is definitely a religion.
This next paragraph should be skipped if you are a supporter of Man United. It sickened me to have to type it, but it had to be done.
Now, having to say that Man United were just beaten at Anfield by two goals to nil (actually, I’m not even sure it ended like that – I just switched the TV off) pains me beyond mere explanation. What a crappy game of football I just saw. I don’t hate Liverpool, by all means (apart from their stop-start style of play), but that referee… that referee. Oh my word, that referee is a freaking idiot. I’m not even going to elaborate as I may just punch a nice round hole through my CRT if I think about that game any more. Watch the highlights for irk number one, okay?
The second irk has more relevance to my personal life. Nobody seems to find my acceptance into Rhodes exciting. The people I’ve told – apart from my immediate family (count my father out of that class) – don’t seem to care, at all. Am I selfish for wanting a little more euphoria in the news I give? One or two of my friends are really happy for me but I mean I would expect my closest ones to be a little more interested in my life, at least.
Since I left school, I’ve had to leave some people behind. Most notably, the one I truly miss beyond all others. I’ve known her now for the best part of six years. I haven’t seen her since June, I think. But, she’s the person I miss the most. The only one other than my family members to really be over-the-moon-elated. She’s not too happy about the idea of me going to another city to study (we were actually thinking of getting back together again – yes, she is my ex) but things just don’t seem to ever work out. I’ll get to chat with her tonight though. Highlight of my day. Really hope hers, and yours, wasn’t as horrible as mine was.
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