Grahamstown Festival

Grahamstown Festival 2011

I have been living in Cape Town longer than anywhere else, so I consider it my home, and yet I have never been to the Grahamstown Festival.  This year I decided it was high time and booked the accommodation the beginning of the year.  Unfortunately Hugh had a course on and couldn't accompany me, so my mum and Aneta went with me.

There was a lot of great theatre, music, film, art, food, etc., the ones I particularly enjoyed were
THEATRE:
Paper Boy: about a young man believing his mom is a movie star, his rounds in the town delivering newspapers, and a few accidents.  Excellent acting, engrossing, good storyline.
Purgatorio: There are two actors one a shrink, the other the patient, they switch roles.  The patient becomes the shrink and the shrink the patient.  They are in purgatory and they have to learn to forgive each other.  Very strong performances from both actors.
Body Language: a Belgian tells us that we give many hints and clues away with our bodies if you know what to look for.  Very energetic and entertaining presentation.
Mind Games: A sweet young man showed us some magic.
Ropes and Silks: Was great from a number of perspectives, the shadows on the wall behind the artiste, was almost as good as the things she did on the tightrope/silks.  The break in between the two bits was too long and people got tetchy.  I would suggest partnering with another artist to do something else while you set up the next piece.
Reed Dance: The coming of age of a young woman.  Good storyline, lovely voices and dancing, but became a bit tedious with not enough variation.
Petticoat Chronicles:  These two young women were very well matched in voice and acting, depicting the various situations women get into, and the various stages women go through. Excellent!

FILM:
Wild Grass: Weird French Film with many twists and convolutions. Very intriguing.
Creative Power of Women: Don't remember

THINKFEST:
Zapiro: The day we went the lights went out.  Zapiro spoke about his role in South African politics. Thank you Jonathan Shapiro for what you do for the country.
Criticism and Critics: I wanted to ask some questions here, but wasn't given the chance.  They seemed to only ask the people they knew would ask un-challenging questions  The first speaker read her notes. Remind me not to do this when I give a presentation.  She was saying that she was part of the creative process as critic. The two men also had things to say, but nothing contentious really. I was left with more questions than answers afterwards.  I was hoping to get something to take home with me with regard to art and writing critique that isn't just critical, criticism, and breaking down what others create, but a way of finding a place where we can support budding artists whatever medium they choose, whether it is visual, literature, or other.

Read more here...  Critics, Critiques and Criticism

ART:
There was a lot of very predictable art, whether the people are technically competent or not, nothing exciting, different, or would warrant a second glance, and then there were others of course that did have something to say, some with greater artistic ability, some with more interesting processes, presentations, or concepts...

The CO-MIX  exhibition was fun, weird, strange, bizarre, depending on whose work you were looking at. Standard Bank had a class act, and the museums, galleries, and other art venues had thought-provoking work.

I am hoping to have many of these interesting, exciting, innovative, and ground breaking artists on my new website African Arts and Crafts - - - If you know of anyone who you think should be there, please ask them to contact me.  I would love to exhibit their work. - - -

Club Mykonos Creative writing weekend

CREATIVE WRITING WEEKEND GET-AWAY

We've booked two self-catering chalets at Club Mykonos for weekend 19 - 22 August.

One sleeps 6 (3 bedrooms), the other 4 (2 bedrooms) so we have room for 4 couples or friends sharing. If you have your own accommodation sorted then you need only contribute to the poetry sessions, but the limit will be 10 poets.







WE PLAN:
Friday evening supper together in the large chalet
Saturday poetry writing sessions morning and afternoon
Saturday supper together maybe a trip to the casino if you're game
Sunday morning poetry writing session - includes reading results of Saturday's writing
Sunday afternoon picnic and wild flowers at Postberg
Sunday evening games people play  - poetry reading
Monday morning home to work

COSTS
Accommodation - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - R200 per person per night (min R400 - max R600)
Poetry course - Saturday and Sunday - R600. (If your partner is not a writer and is not participating in the course, the minimum charge of R200 applies.)

FOOD and DRINK
Own account, but co-ordinate with Sonja who will keep an overview to avoid duplication or outages.

WRITERS
Bring writing materials - pencil & paper and other books (poetry books).

BOOKING
First come, first served - preference given to couples who are both writers or at least one participating in sessions.

Contact us at
Tel: 021 783 5303 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            021 783 5303      end_of_the_skype_highlighting e-mail: hahodge@gmail.com

OTHER THINGS TO DO
Fossil Park near Langebaanweg Airbase
Boat trips
Outings to Paternoster and surrounds
Fishing
Golf
Sailing
Gambling
Kite Surfing

Links to our other writing blogs and websites

Creative Writing Blog - see what we do and what we're busy with
Get Published in New Contrast
Off-the-Wall Poetry Gigs in Observatory on Monday Nights

Aloe Vera Products

Aloeride Aloe Vera the Miracle Cure for me

I found a solution to hypoglycemia and food allergies by taking Aloeride Aloe Vera for a while.  I was a vegetarian for a long time and decided to start eating animal protein again.  I had a lot of problems, but found a way for my body to cope with the transition.  I have put together a website with the information here Aloeride Aloe Vera. It is very important to use the best possible type of Aloe Vera, and to make sure that it does not contain the laxative properties, unless the laxative is what you want it for. I found the crystals just aggravated my problems, but the tablets have worked wonders. That and the full-spectrum Pre and Pro biotic together have cured me of bloatedness, cramps, and discomfort.  Drinking more water has also helped combat constipation.

there is a whole section about symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other intestinal related problems, allergies, headaches, and the A-Z of what this helps mend. The reason it works so well is because it works at a cellular level, helping re-create the integrity of the cells.

Cape Clawless Otter spotted

I Spy: Cape Clawless Otter in Kommetjie

The Sacred Ibis are keeping a respectful distance.  Hugh ran back to the cottage to get his camera and take a picture.  The otters have a nest somewhere along the coast here as we see them time and again.  She looks rather rotund.  Could she be pregnant?
The otter is quite difficult to spot.  Just look right in the middle of the picture.

Here is a picture of just his nose sticking out the water.

We watched some movies on Wednesday (voting day) , one of which was called  Ratatouille which reminded me and I made my favourite Ratatouille Recipe this morning.

This afternoon we had a wedding close to the Slangkop Lighthouse and this evening we are having a spectacular sunset of mauves, pinks and other in-between hues as a result of the clouds.  Gorgeous!

My s.h.i.t. life

Last night's sunset in mauves, pinks, purples, magenta, and what not.

This morning I went walking along the Kommetjie promenade to get the blood circulating. We have a catwalk and a boardwalk.  The dogs love both.

The day started out beautifully.  Check out the the clarity of the reflection of the boulder in the water and ong shadow I cast.  It is the shadow of a bench next to me. This was just after 8. 








I went for another stroll at 10 to rest the eyes and stretch the legs. The mist was so heavy I couldn't see more than a few yards ahead of me.

I had to get some chocolate croissants with my coffee in this weather. Hugh says it will go to my 'boude' immediately; good for 'boude bou'.  He is a bum man and likes them substantial, so I suppose he won't mind.

After lunch it started clearing up again and by 6 it was clear.

Art Bookclub at Trudie

Art Bookclub at Trudi's

At first Kitty didn't want to be photographed, was hiding her face all the time. But cats know just where they look best. As you can see, this is a posed shot, draped on the cushions, looking regal and oh so bored with this crazy woman who wants to take her photograph, nonetheless watching me out of the corner of her eye.

The dark mark in the water are the dolphins in their feeding frenzy. We saw some on our way over Chapman's Peak too on the way there. They were a bit closer so we could see them better. These are quitre far out. My dream is to go on a dive with them. When I left school I wanted to study oceanography in Port Elizabeth, but they closed the aquarium at that point, so I landed up at Rand Afrikaans University studying Sociology, Psychology, English and I can't remember what else. Didn't last too long. Dropped out in May. Went on to study through UNISA. Majored in Psychology and Computer Science.

Judy, telling us something.

Thanks a lot. Lovely morning, yummy cakes. 

Music Play South Africa

MusicPlay Music Playshops for Children ages 3-7

Music Play is the brainchild of music therapist, teacher, and musician Chris Wildman. He composes music into Cds and uses innovative techniques in his Music Play manuals designed to help guide parents, teachers, and caregivers to participate in fun and playful activities that help develop the child in many skills they will need later in life. Best of all it boosts their self confidence whether they need it or not. He runs regular play classes and courses in and around Cape Town. You can listen to cuts of his songs, buy tracks of the CDs, or Guidebooks on his website www.musicplaysouthafrica.co.za.