Birthdays

The day we are obliged to celebrate. The day that stresses out ones families and friends. The day that little kids look forward to. The day that 17 year olds simply cannot wait for. The day that elderly people dread and lie about. The day that celebrates the culmination of 52 weeks or 365 days. What day am I talking about you ask? The day is: Birthdays.

What is all the fuss about? This day is one which whether we love birthdays or not, we have all hated at some point in our lives. Society tells us that once a year we should celebrate the date of our birth with family and friends alike. As a young child you live for these days, as its ‘cool’ to be old. With age comes: strength, growth and respect, things we crave as a young child. Not only will you be bigger and stronger but the prezzies you get are the main reason for your unnecessary bursts of excitement. Children aren’t really interested in growing up. All they want is; that remote control car or the latest PlayStation game. The happiness of the birthday is measured by the quality of their gifts and not by the moments that surround it. As we get older our happiness can be measured by somewhat different means.

As a teenager growing up all you want to do is turn 18. Being 18 gives one a false sense of adulthood as we can finally do things we always dreamed of doing as a young kid. We can go to the cool night-clubs. We can drive a car. We can sing “18 till I die”. We can even consume the social lubrication that is alcohol. When you are 17, you count the days down to your 18^th, it becomes the highlight of your adolescent years. The next big birthday after that is 21, but before you get there you have the small matter of turning 19 and 20 to get out the way. These birthdays usually involve a lot of drinking and dancing. We celebrate for the sake of celebrating. Society tells us that birthdays are meant to be celebrated so we immediately tell ourselves: “it’s my birthday, I must get drunk”. As young people we will gather together, booze in hand and party, using our birthday as an excuse for our intoxication.

21 is another big birthday, in the birthday world. When you turn 21 you are now an ‘adult’ according to society. Instead of just gathering the mates up for a standard party, we make this one a little more formal. Although the concept is the same as every other party you attended after your 18^th (get drunk and go crazy), it is somewhat different. Instead of getting drunk and partying with our friends we get drunk and party with our friends and our family.  There will also be speeches involved where people close to you will share stories about you to the rest of the party as we laugh at your expense. After this birthday, the ‘fun factor’ of growing up subsides dramatically. As we move through our twenty’s we are forced to become responsible and face some daunting life choices that we’d prefer not to. This is the time period where we are forced to grow up and embrace adulthood, whether we like it or not.

The thing that makes my brain do summersaults when it comes to birthdays is the concept of presents. I feel that this is the most impersonal concept we indulge in as a society. Why should one receive gift on their birthday? Sure it a celebration but so are a lot of things. I don’t buy my friend a present every time he passes a test that he works hard for. I don’t buy my dad a present when the Springboks win a rugby game. I don’t buy sister a present when she passers her driver’s license. These are all celebratory moments why shouldn’t we set aside a day and celebrate them like we do birthdays? There is nothing more infuriating then trying to find someone a unique and special birthday present.

The whole ‘present thing’ really makes me question birthdays and their true meanings. When we are young children they are days which we look forward to. Presents are a vital necessity. As we get older our interest in thoughtful gifts fades away as we’d rather spend this day throwing up in the toilet of a nightclub. Presents are a bonus but not a necessity. Furthermore as the years surpass birthdays become mundane inconveniences. Presents are appreciated but not really wanted. My point is that birthdays and they hype that surrounds them should be calmed down. We should use these days to celebrate our lives with the people we love. I do realize how cheesy that sounds but it is the truth. I feel that as a society we have become obsessed with the materialistic tangible products that come hand in hand with days like the one I’ve been speaking about. Our happiness is influenced more by the gifts we receive than by the people who buy us those gifts. Sure, birthdays are a day to celebrate, but don’t cry when you don’t get that designer handbag you always wanted, smile and love the person who went to the trouble to get you that ‘not quite as cool’ jersey from Woolworths. On days like these, it truly is the thought that counts.  

Forries

Established in 1852 Forrester’s Arms remains one of the most happening and ‘must be at’ places in the beautiful city of Cape Town. Forrester’s Arms or Forries as its more commonly known is located in Newlands, which just so happens to be a stone’s throw away from the respective Rugby and Cricket stadiums in the area. Due to this convenient venue placement Forries often finds itself flooded with post match celebratory fans that are thirsty for some of the golden water or ‘beer’ as it’s more commonly known.


There is always something happening at Forries, no matter what day it is. This fine establishment is often packed with a diverse range of people. There are those who meet at Forries for a casual, business meeting. These meetings usually involve at least one of the respective parties having to make that dreaded but responsible phone call: “Babe I’m drunk come pick me up.” Incidents like these are the norm as people get carried away with the festive atmosphere. Then there are the students. These are some of the Forries regulars that return week after week to indulge in the festivities that Forries has to offer. These students are traditionally, some of the more poorly behaved of the Forries guests, however, their presence is entertaining and largely responsible for the incredible atmosphere that exists within the Pub. Finally there are the families. These groups of people form the backbone of the crowd that situates themselves at this establishment week in-week out. Particularly on Sunday, families flock to Forries to enjoy a casual beer and a welcome Sunday lunch. The parents keep themselves entertained with their banter and conversation. While the kids entertain one another in the small play area towards the back of the pub.


What separates Forries from any other ordinary pub in Cape Town are 2 things. Firstly, the food. Secondly, the vibrant outside atmosphere. When one things of traditional pub food you might not help but think of things like: pies, fish and chips, and perhaps a roast. What makes Forries stand a little bit taller than the average pub is its diverse, yet incredibly intriguing and delish menu. This diverse menu boasts a number of classic meals. From your traditional pies and roasts; to the more popular burger and pizza options. The Forries menu truly does have it all. One often finds with restaurants who have a variety of food options, their food isn’t always up to scratch. This is because the cooking staff are always busy with so many different dishes that they can’t really devote the care and attention they need to on every meal. This is not the case at Forries, as the food is of a high-standard. Whether it’s a pizza, a burger or even Fish and Chips: the food prepared is superbly done and is enjoyed by the Forries locals. The vibrant outside atmosphere is another reason why Forries, for me is unique to any other Pub in Cape Town. Most Pubs are obsessed with being the go to ‘watering hole’ for local sports fans in the area that they forget entirely about the atmosphere. Many traditional Pubs tend to be dark, dingy places. Forries however, attributes itself with a beautiful outside area that is perfect for any of the diverse customers. During summer time in particular there are few venues where I’d rather spend a casual afternoon.

On the whole, Forries is a great Pub/ Restaurant. Whether you looking for an ice cold draught with your mates; or a relaxed Sunday lunch with the family. Forries is the place to be. In my mind it is the best pub in Cape Town, and is unrivalled in terms of the drinking and dining experience it offers. It is a great pub, with an even better vibe. It rightfully earns itself the tag as; the most ‘must be at’ establishment in Cape Town.

The Aquarium

When one visits Cape Town there are number of ‘must see’ and ‘must do’ activities that should form part of your agenda. There is the obvious: Table Mountain, whose incredibly flat surface earned itself a spot as one of the 7 wonders of the world. There are the stunning beaches, the beautiful fynbos and the diverse wildlife. Let us not forget one of our major attractions: the V&A Waterfront. This incredible venue is a celebration of South Africa and more appropriately, Cape Town. The Waterfront is home to an array of various shops and restaurants. They boast a wide variety of activities that could entertain both local and international visitors alike. The Waterfront experience is a unique one which can be enjoyed by the whole family. Whatever you seek: whether it be a gourmet meal from an up-scale restaurant; a ‘shop-till-you –drop’ outing with your friends; or a fun day out with the family, the Waterfront is the place you should look to visit. Amongst many other things, this fine establishment is plays host venue to one of the largest Aquariums in the world.

If you are a Capetownian and you are yet to visit the Aquarium I have two things to say to you. Firstly, shame on you. Secondly, do yourself a favour and get off your lazy bum and make the trip down to the V&A Waterfront, and show your face at one of Cape Town’s hidden gems. What an experience. The Aquarium is something most of us have experienced at some point ,usually when we were younger when our parents used to drag us along to anything and everything they thought was mildly educational ,however fun. Just walking around the place you can’t help but notice an abundance of young children running around, their noses pressed up against the glass as they eagerly watch the variety sea-life that calls the Aquarium its home. They are usually accompanied by an over-excited adult who, rather annoyingly say things like: “Ah look at the wittle feesh’s”. However annoying this may be, this is the nature of the crowd at the Aquarium, fair enough.

When someone speaks of the Aquarium you immediately associate it as a place for little children. Sure, you will find people that are genuinely interested in the happenings of the underworld. These marine enthusiasts will be there every so often but the majority of people that experience the Aquarium are young children and families. Personally the last time I was there was when I was a baby-faced 10 year old boy. What surprised me most during my brief outing today was that there was a 10 year gap between my visits. Why have I not been back in so long? Sure the associations with the Aquarium may be rather childish, however the content of information and the animals ‘on display’ are anything but childish. They are real-life. They are interesting. And in a world where things like Global Warming and pollution are so prominent, it is a relative, educational outing that I believe should be enjoyed by everybody, particularly our youth. Do not be confused I’m not talking about the snotty nosed 7 year olds here. I am talking about people like me, we are the future and we should be made aware of some of consequences of Global Warming. The Aquarium had a lot of information not only about the sea animals it was home to but also about the effects of sea pollution on Marine life. Gone are the days of looking at the pretty little fishes .The aquarium is an educational sanctuary.

Although short-lived, my experience of the Aquarium was a fantastic one. I found myself taken aback by some amazing creatures that I had no idea existed. It is scary to think that we know more about the face of the moon then we do about the bottom of the ocean. There are so many beautiful and bizarre creatures out there that we have no idea exist. The ones that we do know about and some that we maybe don’t are all living and waiting for you at the V&A Waterfront. Get your kid off the couch and away from the PlayStation. Get your friends to come down and discover some of the crazy happenings of the underworld. More importantly, get yourself down to the V&A Waterfront, shelve the shopping and fine dining for one afternoon, and educate yourself at the Aquarium. It is a phenomenal experience that you will have to try very hard to forget.

How I met your Mother.

Over 170 episodes, more than 1000 minutes of TV stretched over7 seasons. And we still haven’t a clue as to how he met their freaking mother. The series up for review today is the popular comedy sitcom How I met your Mother.

This popular comedy series has become a household name in many families around the world. The show is a light-hearted, funny portrayal of a man (Ted Moseby) telling his kids the never ending story of how he met their mother. The show consists of 5 main characters. Namely: Marshall Erikson, an aspiring environmental lawyer whose goofy personality provides the show with an abundance of humour. Lily Erikson, Marshalls wife a kindergarten teacher who is a college friend of Ted Moseby. Ted Moseby, the main character around which the story is set. He is both a character and the narrator in the series who remains unseen in his re-telling of the story about how he and the mother of his children met. Robyn Sherbotski, An attractive Canadian news reporter who is constant falling in and out of love makes the show endearing and comedic in a rather romantic kind of way. Finally, Barney Stinson. The ultimate ladies’ man and the character that everybody loves to hate, his vulgar humour and outlook on life in general makes for great viewing.

Over the years we have seen some brilliant sitcoms that will be etched in our memories forever. Who can forget shows like Cheers? Or Friends? Watching these classic comedies became a routinely ‘after-dinner’ activity for many households and families around the world. These shows were special because of their ability to connect with their audience. Characters were relatable in a sense that people could see themselves in the characters portrayed on their TV screens. Watching someone go through what you going through and seeing how they deal with the various situations they find themselves  gives us a sense of comfort ,and reminds us that we are normal and the obstacles we deal with are in fact the norm and we needn’t worry. The light heartedness of the shows provides us with the comic relief that we all need after a long day.

 I can’t help but feel that too many shows have tried to piggy back on the Friends bandwagon as we often see sitcoms created with a very similar plot. A bunch of friends, in their late twenties. They  all happen to hang out at the same restaurant/bar/coffee house every day.  They will always be mixed sex friends. The one boy will always have a crush on the one girl or vice versa. The other one will always be looking for love. And then there is the single, inappropriate one who everybody loves to hate. Sound familiar? While I do believe that How I Met your Mother is an incredibly entertaining show I can’t help but feel that the plot isn’t all that original and it’s become the unwanted baby sister to a classic comedy such as Friends. While the story-telling nature of the show is an original approach I think it has almost lost some of its entertainment and overall appeal by dragging the story over 8 years. The writers have exhausted all possible storylines with the other characters and the show hit a metaphorical wall after its second season. Don’t get me wrong, the humour in the show is current and refreshing. There is no doubt about it, it is a funny show. However for it to be in the same league as some of the other great series before it, I can’t help but feel it needs something more than just good humour.

The nature of the show has limited the storyline of the characters somewhat and I find myself, as an audience frustrated and irritated. I am frustrated simply because I have devoted hours of my life to watching a show repeat itself within every season. I’ve watched over 100 episodes which totals up to over 1000 hours of my time. That’s nearly a week of my life I’ve spent watching TV. You want to know the worst part about it? I still don’t know how he met their freaking Mother.

FNB Radio Advertising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0IsNdd9UWQ


Mondays. We hate them. We forever complain about them. We dread them. The thought of getting up early after a peaceful weekend frightens us. The daunting challenges that Mondays naturally present, scares us. What could make these days worse? One word: traffic. The mere thought of sitting in my car in the morning is enough to make me envision myself on an island far far away. I will further my questioning as I ask you what could make the mundane task of sitting in traffic on a Monday morning even worse than the dreadful experience it has become? The answer: bad radio advertising.


As I’m sure we all do at some point during the week, I often find myself stuck in traffic. Being stuck in traffic has got to be one of man’s most frustrating past times. It is the reason we are late for meetings, and reason we arrive at work in a bad mood. Traffic, is however made bearable thanks to Radio. Radio provides us with a perfect distraction from the evil that is traffic. We all have our favourite radio stations and some of us even look forward to tuning into them, particularly during early morning traffic. We listen to our favourite DJs, we find out what’s going in the news, and we keep up to date with the latest music. These are the fundamental reasons we listen to our favourite Radio stations. What we are forced to listen to, like it or not is: Radio Advertising. Some good, and some bad. The good ones inspire us, they motivate us to purchase a specific product or invest in a particular brand. The bad ones make us want to drive slowly into oncoming traffic.


The ad campaign I am reviewing is FNBs ‘Steve’ ads. If you know what I’m talking about I trust that this campaign infuriates you as much as it does me. If you haven’t heard it, allow me to break it down for you: In the ad there is a phone call. Steve is calling from an anonymous bank which is bleeped out in his voice over. He starts to question the person on the receiving end of the phone call about their banking habits. He is ultimately trying to persuade the potential customer to join his bank. The customer responds by saying that they are more than happy with their current bank which is ironically, FNB. The customer then begins to list the benefits of FNBs eBucks initiative. Steve is left lost for words, and sheepishly ends the phone call.


Now that doesn’t sound all that bad does it? Try hearing the same ad four times in the space of an hour. It is exhausting. If anything this ad makes me want to do anything but invest with FNB. It has become so annoying that I immediately switch off when I am forced to listen to ‘Steve’ and his phone call. This ad is not terribly clever and is relatively straight forward. The insight into their potential customers is relatively simple: People get annoyed with Banks phoning them. To their credit though (and it pains me to admit this) I believe they have done an outstanding job in creating awareness about the benefits FNB has to offer. As annoying as the ad itself may be, everybody is talking about. Whether they are blogging as to how shocking the ad is or complaining about it to their colleagues at work, they are talking about it. Any publicity is good publicity right?


Whilst the ‘Steve’ campaign may prove to be successful in terms of raising awareness I feel that the ad in question is not. As I alluded to earlier I think the message was portrayed poorly and the insight into their consumers and their behaviour was virtually non-existent. The people responsible for creating this ad could have done a lot more with this brief. Personally I can’t stand these ads as I find them incredibly irritating. However they have created awareness through repetition. Is it a successful ad? Probably, yes. Is it a good ad? Absolutely not.

Mama Africa.

It’s a Friday evening; the girlfriend is in town and it’s time to find somewhere to eat. In an attempt to try something different, we venture out to Long Street. Just driving up Long Street is an adventure in itself. I found myself taken aback by the stunning sights, smells, and sounds this Street has to offer. From the diverse range of people that were roaming the area to the aromas of wonderful foods and spices of the restaurants. Being there was one experience, walking the Street was another, but deciding where to eat was a whole new experience in itself. I found myself spoilt for choice. We were bombarded with a variety of options. Each restaurant boasted something different, however, exciting. After much deliberation, my better half and I decided that Mama Africa would be our host for the evening.

Mama Africa is a beautiful restaurant, rich in culture, history and African traditions. As we entered the establishment we were greeted by a group of African traditionalists who were singing and dancing in good spirits. The music was vibrant; however one may argue that it was a bit loud. Conversations were hard to come by as hearing wasn’t an easy task considering the music in the background. Although the music was at times a bit much, the performance itself was short-lived which made it bearable. The musicians were extremely interactive with the customers at their tables and certainly added an element of entertainment to the evening.

A table was hard to come by as Mama Africa is clearly the place to be for many families and friends on a Friday night. We had to wait about half an hour for a table, which put a bit of a dampener on the evening. Had it not have been for the good company and general atmosphere of the restaurant we would have been very tempted to satisfy our hunger needs elsewhere. To their credit (for creating such a vibrant atmosphere) we stuck out the half an hour wait until we were finally greeted by a friendly waiter who was eagerly waiting to escort us to our table. We were both particularly hungry that evening and I was keen to feast my eyes on the menu to see what Mama Africa had to offer.

Being a student, my eyes often wonder to the right hand side of the page where the price is revealed, as my budget is somewhat limited. Thankfully the menu was reasonably priced and my wallet didn’t take too much of a beating.  I was able to afford a 300gram rump which I couldn’t wait to tuck into. I placed my order and began to patiently wait for this delicious protein. Roughly 20 minutes had gone by and dinner was served. Accompanying my steak, much to my surprise, was a large portion of the traditional “pap”. I’m not a huge fan of this traditionally South African delight and was bemused when I found it alongside my beautifully cooked steak. However, “the show must go on” as they say and I proceeded to gently prod it away into the corner of my plate as I tried to ignore it was even there. To the credit of the kitchen, the steak I had was as close to perfect as it could have been. I found myself enjoying an explosion of flavours and taste sensations with every bite. The food on the whole was, delicious and served in good time with no mistakes. While the food was delicious it certainly wasn’t fantastic, perhaps by judgment were obscured by my overwhelming hunger.

As a whole the Mama Africa experience was a good one. The vibe was incredible. It made me proud to be African as the restaurant itself is a celebration of African heritage and triumphs of our wonderful continent. The service could perhaps do with some refining. More impatient customers would have exercised their right to leave after not being showed a table for over half an hour. The food was good, not great, but good. If you want a truly African dining experience and are searching for something different as you look to escape the more traditional Southern Suburb type restaurants then this is the place for you. If you are more interested in ‘Masterchef’ like food I’d suggest you try something elsewhere. I am a firm believer that eating is so much more than an action we are obligated to perform in order to survive. Eating should be about the experience, the vibe and the surroundings in which you do so. It is a celebration, not an obligation. When reviewing a restaurant one can’t simply make a judgement based solely on the food, but you have to look at the experience as a whole.

 Great company. Great vibe. Great experience. Good food. Great night out.

Climate Change

It has been debated around many dinner tables across the globe. It has been the hot topic of discussion amongst friends and foe alike. It has been talked about in class rooms and lectured in theatres. The attention this phenomenon has received has been remarkable and necessary. Let it be, Global Warming. We’ve read about it. We’ve heard about it. We see it. We feel it. It’s there. What have we done about it? What have you done about it?  

It’s one thing to acknowledge it; we all know it’s there. Its one thing to complain about it, talk is cheap. To sit back and hypocritically denounce the action of others who are willing to make a difference is an action which I cannot condone and one which I refuse to accept. Such an action has become the norm in the lives of many individuals in our society today. As a population we waste no time in our quest to gain knowledge. We are quick to form opinions. The speed at which we form judgements is perhaps our fastest skill. However, the speed of our reactions or at least our willingness to act is painfully slow.

Global warming can be defined as the gradual increase of the earth’s temperature. Anybody who hasn’t heard these words by now is either agonizingly ignorant or highly un-educated. Whether you choose to or not, these two words are virtually impossible to ignore. I think it is safe to say that we, as a society (when I say society I mean the global population) have become aware of the phenomenon that is Global Warming. To be aware is one thing. To act in a manner which may subsequently offer your children an additional year or two on this planet we call Earth is another one entirely. Personally, I feel that as the general public we tend to have adopted an attitude of nostalgia when confronted with life threatening inconveniences such as Global Warming

In my mind, this world is divided into two different types of people. Those who act and those who talk. Those who act are the people who go out there and make a difference. They believe in something and they have the courage to go out and do something about it. These people prove their value not around the dinner table debate, but through the example of their actions in society. Sure these people are not always right, and many of them aren’t. Wrong, they may be but brave and courageous form but a few of the qualities that make these people heroic.  Those who talk are a whole different group of people together. These are the people who complain, they have opinions and they are stubborn in their views. Sure, these people are believers. However, they prefer to express their views from the backseat of their comfortable lives as oppose to the ‘actors’ who express theirs through various commendable actions that will ultimately have an influence on our society.

The world is filled with too many ‘talkers’ and not enough ‘actors’. The ad in question is aimed at the ‘talkers’. The intention of this advert is to create awareness around Global Warming. The ad portrays the image of a man with distinct fish like qualities. The colour of his skin, the shape of the man’s mouth, eyes and head is testimony to this. The copy reads: “Stop Climate change before it changes you.” The ad is not literal in a sense that human being will not actually grow amphibious like features. Although the ad is extremely powerful through its use of the visual hyperbole of the “fish-man”. There is also an element of humour in the above advert as the final image of the man with fish qualities provides us, an audience with a sense of comic relief. This somewhat powerful advertisement makes use of the “shock factor “as it attempts to create awareness as to the harsh realities of climate change. I think it is safe to say that the advertisement being discussed is an effective one.

While there may be element of humour in the WWF (World Wildlife Federation) ad, the issue it is marketing is no laughing matter. Be as sceptical as you like, Climate change is a real thing. The statistics prove it. The seas are rising. The ice caps are melting. The air, the ocean and the environment as a whole is polluted beyond previous records.  Natural disasters are not freak accidents anymore, they are daily occurrences. I laughed sarcastically as I typed the word ‘natural’ in my previous sentence. The reason for my random outburst is due to the irony of the word in its context. It is ironic because there is nothing natural about the ‘’natural disasters’’ that occur on our beloved planet. The only thing we can blame for these disasters is ourselves. Every single individual needs to play their part in creating a planet which is sustainable enough to allow future generations the privilege that is the breath of life. An activity as simple as recycling could play a huge role in preventing the damage of climate change. All great journeys begin with one small, simple step.

As a population we need to get off our back sides and pull together to prevent the extent of Climate change. We need to bring our children up into a world where looking after the environment is not a chore but a necessity. Global warming exists. Climate change is real. We can do something about it. What are you going to do about it? That is the question that separates the ‘talkers’ from the ‘actors.’