Tiah Beautement's Blog, page 158

Interesting

Bidisha We no longer live in an age where female thinkers, writers, philosophers, academics, artists, theorists, activists or politicians are rare. The discrimination is obvious. All you have to do is count. It's all the more galling given that women equal or outnumber men as attendees of arts festivals, concerts, readings, discussions and debates, and as arts and humanities students at university. Women write, read, edit and publicise more fiction than men. Women make up the majority of exec...

Men are smarter than girls

Out of the mouth of babes. Or in this case, an innocent, yet oh too observant, 5 year old. Because, "Men are stronger than girls." Which, while there are plenty of women who are faster / stronger than most men, it is true that the fastest / strongest man is always faster/ stronger than the fastest / strongest woman. The Olympics prove this every time. Parents are supposed to keep these comments in perspective. I cannot claim to have dealt with it in the most graceful of manner. Nor was I very...

If you are what you eat...

...then is a society what it reads? And whose fault is it? Slow bonfire of authors psst...no book highlighted today due to being insanely busy

Oh Moses

I went to Home Affairs today. First, The Bad News Moses is not well. I am not sure what is going on, but people are being very coy about it all. So prayers for Moses because I was told, again today, that this is the man I need to speak to regarding my Permanent Residency application. The Good News It was all rather bizarre. I pitch up and see "The Man." The Man is now wearing official looking uniform, is sitting behind a desk and looking - busy. In a desk near The Man is a A Lady. Then, in...

Help me out...

I came across a link to a Guardian article written by Petina Gappah. You can read the full article here. So I read it. Despite having difficulty reading about Zimbabwe I read it because I loved Petina Gappah's collection of short stories An Elegy for Easterly. The book was delightful, and in its own way, fiercely critical of the current political climate of Zimbabwe. The way she avoided being preachy, avoided reaching for clichés, while displaying humour. The stories painted a portrait of a c...

I may have learnt something

Balls are very exciting. They make small people soooooooooo happy. Bounce, bounce, bounce and weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.... Sooooooo exciting. CAN YOU SEE ME - I HAVE A BALL AND IT IS SO, OH SO, EXCITING. Look at meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...... Yes. Ahem. First day back from Easter Break and the children were SO EXCITED!!!! I had a kid in the third group try to get in line each time to come with. BECAUSE IT IS SO EXCITING! Armed with extra stickers thanks to some nameless sticker fair...

I may have learned something

Balls are very exciting. They make small people soooooooooo happy. Bounce, bounce, bounce and weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.... Sooooooo exciting. CAN YOU SEE ME - I HAVE A BALL AND IT IS SO, OH SO, EXCITING. Look at meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...... Yes. Ahem. First day back from Easter Break and the children were SO EXCITED!!!! I had a kid in the third group try to get in line each time to come with. BECAUSE IT IS SO EXCITING! Armed with extra stickers thanks to some nameless sticker fair...

Beauty's Gift

The HIV crises is an issue that I can be rather vocal about from time to time - as my small, but lovely, loyal readers of my book already know. Hence, when I heard Sindiwe Magona had written a book about five friends dealing with the reality of the disease, I had to have this book. Not just read it - but own it. Mine. Beauty's Gift, by Sindiwe Magona. It is a wonderful story. I hope you get your hands on it (not easy - but maybe that will change soon!). What makes this story so valuable, not ...

Banking in South Africa

(Or, how to get a spouse added to a credit card account) Step 1 - Drag the whole family into the bank on a Saturday morning. Children will unashamedly ask for pens and "drawing paper" and make themselves at home. Wife is to smile and do very little as foreign wife has very little "authority" while Husband is conducted through numerous forms so his wife (that's me) can have a credit card in her name on his account. A - Interrupt the signing of forms to inform bank person that daughter is doing...

Dear Children

Dear Children, The Easter Break is over, and for the most part, I think this is for the best. You adore school, and I adore you going to school. We've had some very nice times and I am glad to have shared them with you. But it is time to return to the loving care of your teachers. However, I will confess, one thing I have not missed during this break is packing your lunch. Consequently, on Sunday night, my stomach churned as I hauled out your lunch-boxes. Listen, I don't have a problem feedin...