Reflective gear for our pets

This last weekend  I went shopping for curtains for the new house I just moved into, and I came across what I think is a brilliant idea...one I wished I had around when I was growing up. Maybe just maybe many lives could have been saved and many tears saved.

Its a Bow Miaow flouorescent pet vest! Thats right... a pet vest like what I as a biker wear so motorist can see me in the early hours of the morning.

I had to buy one, for my sister, especially as she had to put her beloved cat down last week because someone didnt see him. Whether he was in the road, under their car or behind it, either way he wasnt seen and the person broke his paws and fractured his hips. The operation would have cost R15 000. When weighing up his age, quality of life after the operation, it was decided to put him to sleep. Would Tigger Thomas James Taylor be alive today if he was wearing this reflective jacket, most probably... so I purchased this vest for my sisters other cat Stark who is a black and white Tuxedo cat.

Today we put this very clever jacket on Stark and he darted around the room and collapsing on his side as cats do when something is around them. It was very entertaining to watch, but slowly they get used to it.

 Where to find this great discovery?

Mr Price Home, they are R49.99 which is nothing to help make our furry friends and family members more visible to everyone at night.

La Vie en Rose gets my two thumbs up

I have just come home from an amazing, romantic journey with my girlfriend to this beautiful restaurant on the boarder of Sandhurst and Illovo called La Vie en Rose. This calm garden setting with white and bits of pink tables leaves you feeling at peace and relaxed.

The feeling of coming home when going out just created this feeling of nursery just without all the plants accept the ones that were naturally there. Greeted by friendly, warm, smiling faces as we waited seated on a white leather lounge suite under the blue Joburg sky for our table. The gracious owner Yanky is such a great guy.

We were seated at table under this big tree in the garden where it was so nice to be able to smoke in the open air and not be caged in by fishbowl where we smokers feel like a show. The tables are well distance from each other giving you the feeling of privacy and space, which added to me feeling extremely comfortable there.

Once seated, I noticed our knives and forks tied together in a pink ribbon placed on side plate beside me. I ordered the, Classic burger and my girlfriend had, the unusual 69 day salad. Both meals arrived and where really large portions. All I can say is I have never tasted such delicious tasting burger in all my 31 years of living. It was huge and with every bite you could taste all the different herbs in the meat. Even though when we arrived I had just before eaten a Wimpy breakfast. So I wasn’t very hungry but with each bite of this burger I wanted more. I shocked myself and managed to finish my entire meal and then still made space for desert. We had the Tiramisu and the Tickle pink 32 which is very creamy strawberry and vanilla ice cream.

Between the great food, beautiful company, and homely feel and friendly staff and owners, I give the La Vie en Rose  my two thumbs up, and I recommend that you should give this place a try next time you feel like lunch or breakfast. They Open from 7am to 5pm, Tuesday - Sunday. Open Thursday evenings for dinner and there available for private functions in the evenings. They are fully licensed and have ample safe parking.

You can find La Vie en Rose at 48 Melville Road corner of Ferguson Illovo.

For more information please visit there site La Vie en Rose or call them on 011 268 6144. You won’t regret visiting this one, I most certainly didn’t and I am even trying to think who I can take the next time I visit this gorgeous secret garden restaurant in the heart of our big Johannesburg city.

ROXETTE to rock our shores....

Is yet another Big Concerts , Jacaranda 94.2 , 94.5 KFM  and M-net , find to bring to the shores of South Africa as part of their World Tour. They have two destinations and have given both destinations two live concerts. These shows are happening in Cape Town at the Grand Arena Grand West 10th and 11th May 2011 and well as North West Province at the Sun City Super bowl on the 14th and 15th May 2011. This World Tour Kicks off March 2011 starting in Kazan in Russia and then dashing through at least four different continents in the following year. And this World Tour kicks off just after the release of their new album “Charmed school”, on February 11 2011.

Now my main reason for wanting to go to this concert is because I can remember being a kid, and singing, ”The look” into my hair brush as I danced in the mirror imagining I was Marie Fredriksson singing on stage.

So after finding out who was also going and starting to make plans for so far ahead of time which is out of character for me, I have booked mine and my sister’s tickets to the first concert on the 14th May at the Sun City Super bowl.

For those of you who don’t recall some of Roxette’s  hits and or know who they are? Where were you in the late eighties and early nineties? Roxette  are a pop group that came out of Sweden with two people, Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle.

They have had nineteen UK top 40 hits and 4 US number singles with songs such as “The Look”, “It must have been love”, listen to your heart” and “Joyride”

Sadly in 2002 Marie Fredriksson was diagnosed with a Brain Tumour, putting Roxette onto a back burner and some even said they would never return. But after eight years in 2009 they took the stage together for the first time during the Gessle’s European Party crasher tour. They sold an estimated 60 million records worldwide and over 3.5 million in America alone. Achieving Platinum for Joyride and Look sharp.

It must have been love made the soundtrack for the movie which came out around the same time. Pretty woman with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. Roxette was approached by EMI and Touchstone to create a new song, but with Per said they should use this song and after much work they did. This song proved to be the most successful song they ever wrote. It spent two weeks at number one.

Since 2009 and their public appearance they have been recording a new album “Charmed school”, working on putting together a world tour and hopefully bringing the world attention back to the band and the music they have loved for years.

So if you haven’t gone and booked your tickets for what promises to be the best World Tour and concert they have ever done. I suggest you do so and fast. Tickets are available from Computicket.  Lets get dressed for this concert and have a blast in May 2011.

REPORT BACKS ON THE NO GO ZONE

Today I come to you with two report backs on two complaints I made knowledge in my blogs. The first came from Casa Da Galinha who in my previous blog, was taken over by the Cod Father and re-named the Cow Father, and our time there was horrific and extremely unpleasant.

Well I am pleased to inform you that they closed, reopened and back under their first name Casa Da Galinha, And I visited there the other weekend besides some minor hiccups with over eager waiters and them all wanting or thinking they were working on our table, but I am happy to report back that the evening was very nice, the food was better but a wine base for pork ribs in their sauce was not something I would want to taste on my ribs, especially as I’m not a big drinker in the first place but the cozy atmosphere was back, from being welcomed in by the managers and staff to them all seeing us off when we left. But all in all I give them a one thumbs up.

The other report back I have is from MacDonald’s Woodmead. I don’t know if you recall my previous blog where I was getting sick from MacDonald’s food.

 

 Well after my blog I got a call from MacDonald’s Head office and the Woodmead Branch urgently trying to find out more about what had happened to me, as well as they wanted to invite me to see the running’s of the branch. After many phone calls and discussions, they called the health and safety people out to have a look at their one grill, and it turned out to be a setting on the grill that was preventing the food from getting to the desired heat so that it can be good for our bodies to consume.

Also I was invited around for a tour of the MacDonald’s in Woodmead and got to see every little detail, From where the food is packed and how, to how many patties they can cook at a time, to the toasting of the bread roll, to the perfection of the garnish, everything. I spent the afternoon with some of the Managers and we had lunch, and this time I was not ill.

Whilst I was at this branch there were a whole bunch of renovations taking place. They were making the restaurant bigger, as well as they putting in a Mac Café’, which will be great for those who want to, go for a quick coffee and do some work.

All and all I would say that both these venues, Casa de Galinha and MacDonald’s Rivonia have picked up there game since my last visit and I am comfortable to say they are now “Go zones”.

Casa Da Galinha: Corner of 1st Avenue and Rivonia Road Morningside Sandton Johannesburg

+27 11 803 9691

MacDonald’s Woodmead: Corner of Woodlands drive and Kyalami road Woodmead Sandton Johannesburg

30 SECONDS TO MARS LIVE IN JHB

Yes if you didn’t know they have been here and now gone again back on their world tour. They arrived hours before going live on Friday in Johannesburg at the Coke Cola Dome with a small break before going live in Cape Town on Sunday at Grand Arena.They were brought out here by Big Concerts, M-net and 5fm.

Friday seemed to drag with the excitement of my favourite band of all time coming to Johannesburg for their second time. Their first time was at Coke Feast but this time it was part of their world Tour. I watched patiently as the day grew to an end, with nervousness in my stomach. This was also because I felt bad because I gave away a ticket meant for someone else, out of spite but to be perfectly honest I wish I hadn’t.

We finally arrived at the Northgate Coke Cola dome, and had to go running off to meet some other people in the entertainment business that ended up being so much fun and such a nice bunch of guys. We finally managed to worm our way through the masses to get ourselves trays of drinks because we didn’t want to do that again. And some ran off to grab themselves a bite to eat at one of the nearest kiosks.

We had our meeting spot near the merchandise at the back of the hall. Which even when we did get lost, we ended up having to find our own way back because no one came looking…giggles.

We finally found our spot and we stood in a circle around the drinks and jerseys and bags and we waited patiently for in my opinion one of the sexiest men alive Mr. Jared Leto and his band 30 Seconds to Mars

Finally 21:10 the band starts playing and the lights start flickering and He appears from the darkness and smoke… The first song “Escape” off their new album “This is War”. And I was enthralled, covered in goose bumps, there he was singing like the cd like the song I heard earlier that day. It was amazing.

 

 

He sang my favourite songs  “Bury Me” which brought me to tears not just because I was there and he was singing live and I had goose bumps everywhere imaginable but because I was missing my best friend. The person who’s ticket I gave away.

At one stage Jared Leto moved to one of the camera stand with a mike and his guitar and played in the middle of the arena practically. Giving everyone a different view and coming closer to the people who couldn’t get their golden circle tickets before they sold out like me.

Over all it was my best and worst concert, my best because it was 30 Seconds to Mars and I can sing almost every one of their songs. I just love them. But my worst because the person I intended on sharing it with, I didn’t and she ended up sharing it with someone else. And I lost out.

Sonique to ROCK Johannesburg PRIDE

That’s right people, Gay pride is happening on the 2nd of October 2010. And it’s just been announced by the Pride Organisation that they have managed to bring out British pop-star DJ Sonique to our warm sunny shores for a guest appearance at the actual pride parade party but most and foremost for their Official Pride after party, to be held at our world class Standard bank Arena on the same Saturday just in the evening of the 21st annual Johannesburg Pride parade and day.

Tickets already went on sale at Computicket  for this event and are available for a minimum charge R56 including Computicket  fees and VIP tickets are limited to the first 500 and I am one of those 1st 500 people for a price of R100. These are not available from Computicket rather you should call 082 567 8894 to book as there are so few.

How did this come about?

Sonique has been brought to us by a new energy drink Cintron Liquid Energy  and the Pride Organisation  wanted to bring back the official after party experience some of the older members of the community will remember back to the pride march. Over the last few years there hasn’t been an Official pride after party leaving room for other event organisers to try their hand at hosting such an event and one never caters for all. There is something for the men something for the women, people travel to Boksburg’s Ramps ,The Dome for the Fire mans ball and Pretoria to where they host there after party, But this year we have the chance to unit under one roof again to re- bump into the people we met doing the march or on a float. Never mind the person who let you slip into their spot at the bar, as they leave.

I am too excited for this event as I was one of the people who has had the joy of experiencing an old after party and this is the first time that I am aware of that they have brought us someone who can appeal to the entire Lesbian, Gay, Bi and trans-sexual community.

DJ Sonique has been a part of my memories since I can remember with hits like “Fly so high” and “It feels so good.”And I am just too excited to see her, to hear her live mixing up her beats and singing.

DJ Sonique who has previously visited the country will be supported by two dancers and a line up of South African DJ’s, this to me sounds like it’s going to be a rocking evening.

For those of you who haven’t purchased your tickets do it now. It’s going to be a night to remember for a very long time, until the Joburg pride  organisation out does themselves again. Buy those tickets with less than a month till Pride. Make sure you’re not left wondering where to go and why you couldn’t go see this Award winning British pop-star Live here in South Africa.

WHAT’S EMMISSION TAX?!?

What I hear you saying?

The government wants us to pay more tax?! Well in a short word…YES!

What is emissions tax? This is a new tax we’re expected to pay when purchasing our new cars.

Why do we need to pay this tax? Well it’s simple, we here on earth create pollution in everything we do and use. And one of our biggest contributors to the pollution level that we all contribute to, is driving our cars, Transporting our goods. So this new tax on vehicles is designed to curb the CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) emissions.

How are they going to tax us?

Well apparently we will be taxed on our new vehicle purchases. And obviously the more gas they guzzle the more tax you will pay because the more gas you guzzle the more Carbon dioxide your vehicle pumps out into the Atmosphere causing what we in Johannesburg can already see in the air. All the smog and smoke, that lurks in the air around us. When walking sometimes you can taste the Carbon dioxide in the air, especially at peak times during the day.

So how this is all going to work is as of the 1st September 2010. When we purchase a new vehicle we will have to pay for the amount of Carbon Dioxide the car emits. So from my research and understanding, I have summed this all up as follows.

We will pay R75 per gram per kilometre for each g/km above the 120g/km. So what this really means is that vehicles emitting between 300g/km and 450g/km of carbon dioxide like our 4x4s and our large engined luxury cars will be forking out an extra R13 500 to R24 750 extra ontop of the retail price. The Treasury hopes to increase the national revenue by R450 million in the upcoming financial year.

How this will help the environment at the moment it is introduced?

It wont except maybe make people re-look at the 4X4 and if it can be worked into the price and then the consumer pays it off. I don’t see this whole thing working for the environment much.

Petrol

Petrol does play a huge part in what we emmit out into the air through any vehile, including myself on my bike. Yes we have unleaded but South Africa’s fuel is nowhere at the quality it needs to be at for us to emit less Carbon Dioxide than we are now. And from my understanding we are years behind in the greener petrol, which our overseas friends already have, as well as their Hybrid cars. At this present date Toyota is the only vehicle manufacturers to have brought out the first Green car out in South Africa and it’s called the Prius. And this is the only passenger vehicle on the market where you don’t have to pay this emissions tax.

At this present moment in time, our government is still working on a flat rate for all our transporting companies, whether its busses or trucks