the best weekend of 2009

get on plane. get off plane. eat. drink. long street party. bombay bicycle club. eat. drink. laugh. the stars. the sunshine. hout bay. kalk bay. the vineyard. eat. drink. laugh. smile. dance. dance. dance. camps bay. smile. cry. sunshine. starlight. sunset. shopping. eat. drink. laugh. music. walk through the winelands during the day. dance. dance. dance. the killers. walk through the winelands in darkness. smile. laugh. twirl around. eat. drink. laugh. good friends. tight hugs. eat. drink. My divine friends who come to see me and toast the sunset with me. my suntan is peeling. night swimming becomes night walking. it deserves a quiet night. 😛

my face is in a permanent grin.

Dear Cath and Parri

Thank you. Thank you for opening your home. Thank you for opening your hearts. Thank you for making me dance and dance and laugh. Thank you for the stars. The sunlight. The amazing food. The boundless understanding.

The neverending twirl around the world. The friendship. The hand squeezes. The sharing. The reminding me of who I am.

The stars and the sunlight.

Thank you for “the best weekend of 2009”.

My heart in gratitude. Thank you.

A word on The Forge

So, where have I been all this time? Ensconced at The Forge, that’s where.

Some people don’t know this, and I think they should – The Forge is the only place in the world where they really SHOULD want to work.

The energy abounds, and the team environment that exists is not superficial, it’s personal. It’s deep and real and there is never a moment where you are left to just ‘get on with it’. There’s banter, there’s laughter, there’s picking on each other (Hey, Brendon, nice guns :P) and there is real care.

The truth is, I’ve had two personal things happen whilst I’ve been here – both of them disconcertingly scary – first, my mom is in hospital, recovering from a serious operation. You missed that one, didn’t you? Yeah. She is. And she’s recovering. But, on Monday morning whilst she was in theatre, I was beyond concerned. And the moment I had word that my mum was out of theatre and in recovery, everyone breathed a sigh of relief with me, not just for me.

Then, on the same day, I learnt that I had lost a family member in waiting. I’m not going into details on this one but, it broke my heart to know that Cam will never know this person. And she was so excited to meet them. Rest in peace little one. And, in my other life, away from here, I would have felt so alone at that time. But, I didn’t. Not even a little bit. Everyone was sad with me, not just for me.

Are you seeing the difference here? I am.

And then there is the work that I do at The Forge. The glorious play that I can have with words and researching. I learn so much, every day, and totally get to bug the crap out of Chris. Hehe.

I’ve never worked with such a team. A natural team. It’s not forced, there are no silly team shirts and there is no demanded-upon team building with arsey pyramids and cheerleading. It’s an energy that exists just because it does. I don’t know how Sue did it, but she does.

It’s focused, it’s caring, it’s committed and it’s real. And that pervades into every single piece of work that emanates from The Forge. The fact is, if you want to be a client that is cared for, cared about and work with a team that is inherently interested in what you do and how you do it, you want to have The Forge with you.

And for all this greatness, I blame one person. Sue. Sue, the creator of beautiful things, Sue, the writer who speaks her truth without fear. Sue, who awes me with her endless love for those around her. Sue, the woman I am proud to call my friend. Sue, who makes all things possible.

I love you my friends. Thank you so much for this time. It’s true when I say, that you have changed my world.

I am footed in gratitude. And buoyed by love. Thank you.

twelve random monday thoughts as i sit here

1. I am a lucky, lucky fucker.

2. I’ve never been this relaxed. Ever. That’s all there is to it.

3. They’re gonna have to draaaaaaaaaaaaag my ass home.

4. As I sit here typing, Sue is to my right. And I am just awed.

5. Awed. Can I tell you this, audience of twelve? Here is my gorgeous fried, a woman who works hard, loves without abandon and does everything in her power, every day, to live her life to the full, and moreover, help everyone around her, at all times. She has the time for everyone, for every nuance of life, and does not mind my insane mess in the room I’m staying in. No really, it’s a mess.

That aside, when I walked in on Wednesday and finally got to see my amazing friend, and hugged her, I felt like home. I just felt home. I can’t ever thank Sue enough for this time, in her home, in her office, in her space. Where I truly feel zen. And inspired. And compelled towards being a better-than-I-am-Cath.

6. The people. I’m surrounded by gorgeous, divine, funny people. Chris, who makes me laugh so much. So passionate. Brendon. Beyond clever. Beyond divine. Gabriel. Hilarious storyteller. JoC. My friend. She who is now beyond her comfort zones. The amazing Forge team. I just have no words.

7. The people. The Justin. Hilarious and honest and so much fun it scares me. We could talk for years and never be finished. The Andre. My friend with the moon photo that saved my day so often. The BC. What do I say there? Hey, at least I didn’t bail on you! 😀  The Heather. Mama to be and so full of love.  The Scott. The funnyman with heart.

8. Rocking the Daisies. The infamous, brilliant Byron. The superwoman Cath. The crazy and funny Elan. The musicalmover Gabi. All the beautiful people.

9. The random things. The random man opening our tent at 3am. The random naked people at RTD. The cold lake swimmingness. The tunes, the feel of the ground beneath my feet. The chilly wind. The man with the mattress tied to the top of his car. The fact that Sue has the same mugs as me at home.

10. Were it not for Cam and some members of the audience reading this, waiting for me to come home, I would never leave.

11. Thank you so much my friends. Thank you so so much for this time. This heart-time, and quiet.

12.I am so blessed.

X

catch you soon.

angular-momentumi’ll be under the radar and quiet. for at least a week. i may or may not blog. depends really. don’t be hurt by that.

sometimes i need a little cath time. this is cath time.

be good. don’t fight. love each other. make peace with the fact that you are only as much as you can be. don’t let people tread on you. ignore destructive commentary. love the compliments. honour each day. remember to say please and thank you. make sure you get your chocolate rations in, every day. laugh. listen to children. always listen to children. they are more honest than you could ever hope to be. they’re the courageous ones. remember that. they’re untempered by real life, yet. don’t let anything or anyone keep you down. shit is bound to get you down, it’s the staying down that’s the problem. This picture is for you.

And, Cam. Cam. Mama loves you. You and your gorgeous hugs. You and your stellar smile.

You and the brightest eyes. You bounded out of bed this morning and said

“mom. you’re going to catch a plane. i want a big box of different coloured earrings from cape town. that’s my present. tell aunty sue so that she can remind you”

i love you munchkin. i love you my Campai. this will be the longest time ever i will be away from you.

remember what we know about Mommies and Camerons…

They Always Come Back.

And, as moral fibre reminded me, and which i wear proudly on a shirt,

Don’t Let Anyone Fuck With Your Dreams.

Wunderkind

so much has happened. so much good. so much that i am awed by. honoured by. excited by thought of.

thank you. my gratitude overwhelms my face and i crack a grin that makes cheshire cats get inspired to do better.

wunderkind – alanis nadine morissette.

because its how i feel today but, i am nothing without those that believe in very little me.

Oh perilous place
Walk backwards toward you
Blink disbelieving eyes chilled to the bone
Most visibly brave
No apprehended gloom
First to take this foot to virgin snow

I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment
I am a wunderkind
I live the envelope pushed far enough to believe this
I am a princess on the way to my throne
destined to serve
destined to roam

Oh ominous place
Spellbound and un-childproofed
My least favorite chill to bear alone

Compatriots in place
They’d cringe if I told you
Our best back pocket secret: our bond full blown

I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment
I am a wunderkind
I am a pioneer naïve enough to believe this
I am a princess on the way to my throne
destined to seek
destined to know

Most beautiful place
Reborn and blown off roof
My view: about face whether, great will be done

I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment
I am a wunderkind
I am a groundbreaker naïve enough to believe this
I am a princess on the way to my throne

I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment
I am a wunderkind ohwowoh
I am a Joan of Arc and smart enough to believe this
I am a princess on the way to my throne

Destined to reign, destined to roam
Destined to reign, destined to roam
Destined to reign, destined to roam