Hair raising experiences*

After

Before

Oh dear what was I thinking.

A friend of mine once told me that your strengths are your weaknesses harnessed, and that your strengths can also be weaknesses.

My strength is being capable and thinking I can do anything, with this as my outlook on life I approach most situations with an heir of success and accomplishment before I’ve tackled the task.  This week I had my heart set on putting highlights in my hair.  I wanted to do it on Tuesday the 20^th but life got crazy and I wasn’t able to get round to doing it.  So today Wednesday the 21^st I decided would be the day, as I had missed my ear mark on Tuesday.  I went off to Clicks to buy a highlight kit; I had my club card and R26 off coupons.  Standing in front of the hair dye I looked over at the options ‘golden-brown’ or ‘blonde’?  Hmm the safe option would be the golden-brown, subtle and slow change, but if I’m going to dye my hair I should go all out-give it horns! No half measures!

I texted Meegs and asked her if she was keen to dye my hair, the poor girl was sick so in my full capability I decided I could do my own hair.  I bought the blonde kit and the maintenance hair spray.  This was it; I was going bay watch blonde!

Mistake Number 1!

I couldn’t find out highlight cap so I figured I would just do it freestyle, no cap no foil.

Mistake Number 2!

Because I couldn’t find the cap, I didn’t have the application brush; I decided to use a toothbrush.

Sitting in front of a mirror and I started applying the dye, clump by clump.  Trying to make sure it got to the roots.  After an hour I’d finished.  I will admit I got board halfway through, having realised I had just messed my hair up and laughing hysterically; I just threw caution to the wind and applied the dye haphazaroudly.

45 Minutes later – hair under the faucet rinsing out the dye, I looked up and there it was my WHITE blonde fringe, dark roots, horizontal stripes and a few polka dots that impressed my hairdresser, my hair ranged in colour from white to yellow to orange.  In a word it was a DISASTER!

NEVER!

Say give it horns when you’re doing your hair – take a deep breath put down the dye or scissors and re-think what you’re doing.

I HEARBY SOLEMLY DECLARE

That I will never cut or dye anyone’s hair ever.  I swear to leave all hairdressing up to the professionals and realise that just because I think I can do it, doesn’t mean I have the ability to dye and cut hair, mine and anyone else’s.

The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.  Douglas Adams

Just-in Africa Day 10 - 20 June 2010

The day started off leisurely, Justin needed to get to the airport we had plenty of time to get there, check in and have breakfast and get Justin onto his flight.

Leaving the hotel we went to the airport, hmmm Durban International is not here! GULP*  Turning back and following the King Shaka Airport signs we got to the airport which is crazy far from Durban city.  It was a mad rush, but Justin got there checked through and was off on a flight back to Joburg and the DC.  I went back to Durban and spent some time on the beach journaling and enjoying the summerish weather, before driving back to a cold Johannesburg.

http://nogimmickneeded.blogspot.com/2010/07/south-africa-trip-day-11-flying-home.html

Just-in Africa Day 9 - 19 June 2010

Soccer game number 2, Netherlands versus Japan.  The Durban soccer stadium is clearly visible from the Durban beach front it's impressive architecture, unique design; to look like a ship, Justin thought it was awesome, from afar I was admittedly less enthusiastic, its just another soccer stadium.

Justin being frisked, air travel makes you an expert.

However, I stand corrected the closer you get to the stadium the more awesome you realize it is.

Until you get inside the stadium where the full genius design of it is fully realized.  The open arch way (behind Justin in the above photo) allows for a lovely cool ocean breeze to blow through - the far left picture where you see an absence of people.

Once again equipped with our ear plugs and seated with a mix of Japanese and Dutch fans we enjoyed the summer weather as we watched the game, a 'warm' welcome compared to the arctic conditions in Joburg.

For Justin's last South African meal, we had to find Bunny Chow, headed down to the Durban harbour, we found it.

 Justin's Bunny Chow, when something has a full chili in the top of it, you know its going to be HOT!  Bunny chow is a hollowed out loaf of bread, filled with curry.  Its native Durban Indian cuisine.

The cosmopolitan is my cocktail of choice, made by the once great cocktail bar Franky Banana's by a barman named Frank, its hard to find one that measures up to the state sensation mixed up by Frank.

  

In his true style of I'm secure enough in my masculinity to listen to Evita and drink pink drinks, Justin did sample my cosmo, which brings me to a link that aptly details a mans stand on the topic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFzsbXyvULc&feature=related.

A great day and Justin's last night in South Africa.

http://nogimmickneeded.blogspot.com/2010/07/south-africa-trip-day-10-today-was-my.html

Just-in Africa Day 8 - 18 June 2010

Justin and I got up early for our 6 hour drive to Durban, it is a beautiful drive, the golden highveld and then down through the green forested area.

When your going to the coast you have to play the game "who will see the sea first?"  Justin slept for a good portion of the car ride and due to me already posting the unflattering photo on facebook, it won't be making an appearance here.  Justin won the the SEA competition, and I'll just leave it at that no comments.

Once in Durban we went to the bird park, where we saw the weirdest and ugliest birds ever and some of the prettiest.  We had dinner at a hotel on the beach front and the went for a walk along the pier and through the fan park, where there were hoards of drunk people, who were very festive.

The warm summer weather that met us in Durban was a welcome relief from the arctic cold that we left in Joburg.  As Justin commented "Its the polar opposite season in such close proximity in the States you need to drive for hours to get this change of season."

For Justin's take on events, read his blog.

http://nogimmickneeded.blogspot.com/2010/07/south-africa-trip-day-9-to-durban.html

Just-in Africa Day 7 - 17 June 2010

Today marks the day of the first World Cup Soccer Game (my first ever soccer game) that Justin and I would be attending.  Argentina versus Korea Republic.

We set off to the game in Soweto, comforted by the fact that "Its so easy" and the only traffic we encountered was getting into the parking at the stadium.  We then set off on our 3km trek to the stadium.  Enroute we encountered hoards of street sellers, selling everything from boer wors rolls (ground beef in a casing to resemble a sausage on a hot dog roll), vuvuzela's, ear plugs, soccer paraphernalia, this experience would be incomplete if you didn't have the buzz of Soccer City (the Calabash)  drawing us closer to it.

The stadium is impressive, unfortunately I cant show you photos because Justin took the good pictures on his camera which disappeared on his last night in South Africa.

The stadium holds conservatively 80 000 people.  Its amazing to have been able to see this in the wake of the pre world cup press stating South African stadiums would never be ready in time.  We pulled it off, and did a really good job at it too.

Justin is smiling at this photo you've picked up there are very few photos that capture this expression, as he "doesn't want to fake smile" I assume the reaction here is "silly girl taking photos of me coming through a turn star!"

We wound our way up stairs and walkways to the last tier and sat in the front row of seats.  With a great view of the Korean fans below, who were clapping their hands together twice and then pushing the forward from their chest twice.  It was interesting.

We could also see Maradona the Argentina, coach, a golden moment was when the soccer ball bounced into the 'coaches box' (yes you can see I know the jargon, as I'm an avid soccer lover) and Maradona with no effort kicked the ball out with a slight side tap of his foot!  It was brilliant.  Otherwise the game proceed the way most football games do with guys running between the goals and the ball being passed around.  ;)

As I pointed out the previous day the weather had changed for the worst it was freezing cold.  Comments I've received on this photo include "Justine are you going to the North Pole?"  My response goes along the lines of "Yes actually it was freaking cold."

Bennie, gloves, sweater, long sleeved shirt short sleeved shirt, long johns, socks, sheep lined boots and a jacket - it gets cold in Africa!

Justin and I were prepared for the hum of the vuvuzela, coming equipped with ear plugs!  The vuvuzela is  obnoxious in...
1) confined spaces
2) on TV
3) when 1 lone idiot is blowing it randomly

When your in a stadium and 50 000 people are blowing on their vuvuzela its really not that bad, its like being near a bee hive.

The game finished with a good score of 4-1 to Argentina.  And then Justin and I slogged through the crowds of people bottle necking at various exit points (bad stadium design there) and took the 3km walk back to the car.  During this leg of the trip there was an 8 year old boy next to me blowing his vuvuzela (the whole time), if I tell you what I wanted to do with his vuvuzela I might go to prison, but you can imagine for yourself if you were in the same situation.  The merchandise on sale had changed from the aforementioned items to fruit and water - very innovative of the hawkers.

 

After the game Justin and I went to the Carlton Center, located in the Joburg CBD.  What once used to be a 5 start hotel, where people like the Queen would stay, is now 'in moth balls'.  The tallest building in Jozi at 50 floors, this 'sky scrapper' offers the best panoramic view of Johannesburg and its outlying area and an amazing sunset.

Underneath the Carlton Center is a Mall, we walked through here on our way out and took the oppetrunity for Justin to pose for another picture.

and strike the same pose.

The sheer exhaustion that over came us after a cold day in the open air and long trips from the East of Jozi to the South, to Central Jozi and then back to the East rand, rendered us having a quite and slow dinner at a Portuguese restaurant (having Caldo Verde Soup, made from potato and chorizo sausage - its good) where my cousins work, followed by home and bed, the next day we would be driving to Durban.

Justin's version of events
http://nogimmickneeded.blogspot.com/2010/07/south-africa-day-8-world-cup-game-1.html

Just-in Africa Day 6 - 16 June 2010

*Continuing with our June South African escapades*

Justin and I left the Pilansberg and took a trip to the Cradle of Human Kind - Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves, about an hour outside of Johannesburg.  This is the same area (it is a VERY large area) where the most recent Australopithecus fossils, one of which is Sediba, were found.

Maropeng is overrated!  I went there expecting it to be amazing based on feedback from people who have been there.  Before we went onto the real caves, its good to practice caving before, so Justin being adventurous tried out the 'practice cave' at Maropeng.

As we enter the Sterkfontein Caves (after queuing for about an hour) it warms up to a toasty 16'C, the cave stays at this temperature all year round, its been a central point in South African history with various tribes moving into the caves at different points in history and reminded me of the short stories written by Herman Charles Bosman (they're worth reading).

After the Sterkfontein Caves we headed back to Joburg to fetch our tickets for the soccer game we'd be attending the next day...

Justin's version of events

http://nogimmickneeded.blogspot.com/2010/07/south-africa-trip-day-7-on-way-back.html

Just-in Africa Day 5 - 15 June 2010

*As I still haven't finished these blogs, now is as good a time as any to finish these off.  So here we go back to June and the soccer world cup trip*

Justin and I spent the day driving through the Pilanesburg game reserve.  The weather had suddenly turned to freezing cold overnight.  But we did get some good game viewing in.

A Springbok (way in the background)

Zebra's.

My favourite animal the Bush Pig.

Giraffe.

And a break at the waterhole for lunch, which consisted of chocolate, soda and chips, but it was a great spot (with a great upclose, out of car view of the game), the monkey's were coming onto the deck and stealing sugar.

After our long day in the car (and not wanting to relive the 'bat out of hell' driving of the night before) we left the park in the late afternoon to buy food from 'Checkers' (what I brand as a low end grocery store, especially as this one was kind of dirty and low on grocery's).  We bought charcoal and meat, which we braai'd, using our fingers as braai tongs, and this was our dinner, which we ate off side plates with our hands - it is Africa!