I leave with a song

Memories. Sweet sweet memories.
In 2007 when I left the East Rand Youth Choir, my very last rehearsal, my friends, my family, sang this song "I Leave with a Song" to me. I just found this video on youtube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VESUmM9Pnv0 ) and wow, the tears started streaming. I miss you guys so much and truly enjoyed our years together.

The sense of family and friendship within the choir is something you never forget. Everyone is so close. It's something we take for granted when we are actually in the choir. We know it's there but never truly acknowledge that sense of being 'at home'.

I know I said this when I left but, I have to say it again. Thanks you to ALL my friends in the choir. Those two years singing with you were amazing and can never be replace. Thank you to our amazing conductor. No one can quite compare to you. To Tannie Maralie (who I understand has now left) some of us girls would have been lost without you and to Ma Erne, your piano skills are beyond belief thank you for all the time you devote to the choir we have always appreciated it whole heartedly.

I remember my final night i stood with Alicia Snyman in the middle of the circle you guys created and then with the lights down low you sang me this song. I still can't listen to it without crying and every time I do listen to it all I do is smile.

I still love you guys, always have and always will and even though i'm thousands of kilometres away I still think about our choir all the time...

Kom aan, julle moet a toer to New Zealand doen!

Lovies, drukkies
Dominique

Auckland

So I was sitting in Albert Park today waiting for a friend and (for once) wasn't listening to music.
Paying a lot of attention to the tourists taking photos at the fountain I realised that Albert Park
is beautiful place, quiet and peaceful for an inner city park. I landed up writing the following:

"Close you eyes... Deep breath... Listen... What do you hear? Smell? Welcome to the City,
WELCOME to Albert Park.

In central Auckland amongst the hustle and bustle of the city streets, you'll find it. PARADISE.
Sitting alone near the fountain, the tranquillity of the setting in my surroundings drawing me
into and unknown, hidden Euphoria. In the distance I hear people around me, but right now in
this time and space I'm consumed by myself. Nothing matters but the water splashing and the
sound of seagulls passing overhead. I'm within myself and at peace. Somehow brought back to
the place around me I notice beauty. A goddess embodied in beautiful redness. The flowers, her
body, smell ever so sweet and look edible but, BEWARE they will not be eaten..."

That is where I stopped writing...

Missed Opportunity

"When I don't go somewhere and end up seeing pictures of how fun the day was. I'm not upset because I missed out on a photo opportunity, and I'm not upset that I missed out on a fun day. I'm upset because I missed out on being part of a memory"
-Adam Kennedy

Hope

''All it takes is that little bit of hope to turn your life around.'' -anonymous

So I watched the movie 127 Hours directed by Danny Boyle and realised something.

There is a universal theme of hope that goes unnoticed in every passing day. We cling to life
in the most desperate of circumstances because of an insignificant glimmer of light that is
always present in our everyday lives. Under normal situations we don't acknowledge this 'inner
strength' but under extreme conditions we look towards this light to help us survive.

When all seems lost and death is near, look to the light to guide your way... If you believe in something,
no matter how small or insignificant, there is always a hope that can be found to carry on. An inner
strength that you never knew you were capable of feeling. Your glimmer of HOPE...

Think. Locate and Lock...
No matter how hard the position you have been put in, never lose your hope for it is the one thing that
will forever and always be present in your life...