Bet you didn't know...

Mother Teresa

At the age 18, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu voluntarily left her parental home to join the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish Catholic religious order in India. Over the course of her life she devoted herself to caring for the ill and impoverished in Calcutta, India. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and made a saint after her death in 1997.

The Dalai Lama

Born into a peasant family, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people has a doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy. In 1959 he was forced into exile after the Chinese military occupied Tibet. He’s worked tirelessly to set up both cultural and religious institutions in order to preserve the rich heritage of Tibetan people, and he’s championed peace across the world.

Mahatma Gandhi

After completing a law degree in London, Gandhi spent several years in South Africa working to improve the living conditions of Indian minorities in KwaZulu-Natal. Upon his return to India, he initiated a series of non-violent campaigns against British rule. His resistance to oppression through peaceful demonstration won him worldwide praise.

Benazir Bhutto

Born in Pakistan, Benazir came from a prominent political family and held degrees from Harvard and Oxford universities. She became prime minister of Pakistan at the age of 35, and was the first woman to do so in an Islamic country. During her reign she brought electricity to the rural countryside, built schools and improve healthcare. She was assassinated in 2008.

Be bold and let mighty forces come to your aid

William Benjamin Basil King (1859–1928) was a Canadian-born clergyman who became a writer after retiring from the clergy. His novels and non-fiction were spiritually oriented. He was born on February 26, 1859, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

A major turning point in King's life came from a teacher who spoke of the ingenuity and adaptability of the life-principle, which had somehow arrived on earth and for eons had continually met adversity and remained undefeated. King realised he was allowing his own wealth of ability to lie fallow. He rose to the challenge but still struggled with the seeming fate of Nature and his own untapped spiritual faith. He needed to heed his own advice: "Be bold-and mighty forces will come to your aid."

The last lecture

Besides having almost the best year, I have learnt an insane amount of things in class, whether it was subject related or about the friends we have . . . I enjoyed it. I’d also like to add that I had a great pleasure meeting new friends and they are awesome in their own ways!!

About the last lecture . . . I believe that it may be sad for some of us and a relief of the amount of work we had, all at once, for most of the time. That was annoying!!! I think that our last lecture should not be spent in a class but rather at a mutual venue where we can all let loose and just chat to one another. And because that may be the last time we ever see each other, I think it would be a good opportunity to say good bye and exchange contact numbers as part of networking.

I fear. . .

. . . Grasshoppers

. . . Ignorance

. . . Neglect

. . . Rejection

. . . Disapproval

. . . Loneliness

. . . Failure

. . . Judgement

. . . Defeat

. . . Loss

. . . Death

. . . Disrespect

. . . Silence

. . . Intolerance

. . . Weakness

. . . Fear itself . . .

Watch this space

This weeks’ blog is not at all complicated, some may write of what still has to come, and others may take the title figuratively. Some may find this lame but without further ado. . .

Nationl Braai Day

National Braai day is actually a South African public holiday called Heritage day, but due to everyone braai-ing as part of their heritage, everyone just started calling it ‘National Braai Day’. National Braai day fell on a Saturday this year and there was only one thing to do, and that is to ‘braai’.

About a week before the public holiday we planned to braai at Oude-Kraal, just past 12 Apostles, but on arrival we noticed it was too full. We then called everyone else and to the braai to Tokai Forest in Tokai, it was just as full but we were lucky enough to still get in.

When we eventually got to start the braai, it was successful, most of the people that were invited pitched and the ones who did not show up, obviously missed out on a sunny fun day. Laughter and conversation filled the air and with like any coloured occasion, there was alcohol and loud music in the background. This event is the future and a must for those up-coming out door summer Saturdays for anyone in the mood for good food and a nice tan.