Jozi Journals

Thursday, 24 March 2016

Oh ye of little faith!

And the church said: Amen!

It has been a minute since we last strolled through the eyes of Jozi together but the last few weeks have been a hot mess. But like a hot mess. A dear friend passed away. Drama at the paying gig. Home vaarbz not on the kosher side. So Jozi Journals became something I knew of in my past life.

Sharp, so there I was busy minding my business today and I heard this senile person make a remark about how you need to treat people right because you never know when you will need them because this life thing is a funny journey. Now this is a loose translation as the words were spoken in Sesotho.

What?!?

The last six months of my life have been such a joke because of this said person. Directly and indirectly. And here is this person going on about being humane, I ought to laugh because it was too funny to be real.

This person broke my spirit, I mean made me feel like I'm not even worthy of living on this God-given planet. A close confidant was used on the process to vilify me, to justify the treatment I was subjected to. I was hurt then, but I'm glad Judas revealed himself to me. Money guys, pure evil.

But also!

My one friend who I used as a crutch up and decided to get sick out of the blue, swiftly exited from earth and left me hanging. I wailed for her passing to a point that I thought I was losing my mind.

Life neh?

There were a couple of opportunities that I was banking on coming into the new year that suddenly didn't happen due to one thing or the other and I felt like I was backed up in a corner. Why do we like counting our chickens before the eggs hatch so much though?

How does it go in those AA meetings,"Hi, my name is Nthabiseng and I suffer from depression". Every time I go through an episode my mom calls it 'ntho tsa batho'. It baffles her why someone who's never had to go bed hungry, has a great job and a lot of what appears to be friends, one day wakes up and has no reason to live. Ugh my mother is special shem, bless her.

I woke up one day and was okay with how long I've lived and how things turned out. This carried on for weeks on end. I got me some meds you, you know, for the pain - and was ready to end it all. It was like a state of bliss.

I am writing this to you sitting outside a mall, waiting for my mom to get hake fish for the Easter family lunch so I'm clearly still alive. Not going into how we got here so that's that.

So today, of all days, I snapped out of it. I don't know why or how but I feel reawakened. I gave up alcohol for Lent so it's not because I woke up sober after days of absolute debauchery. *side eyeing everyone trying to remember when was the last time they saw me drinking to make a counter argument about my fast!*

Today, I'm woke.

See the thing about depression is it is independent of external influences most of the time so all I know is I'm going through a funk when I started having too many 'bad days'.

Anyone who knows me will tell you what a resilient person I am because I'm that girl who carries other people's problems like I don't have my own because I know how it feels to feel like no one cares.

My friend's passing was beyond my control yet I'm still blaming myself for not calling her the day before. A confidant is only good for keeping confidential information for which failure to do so they are then referred to as a fuckboy/girl, whichever is applicable. Therefore rendering their status as a confidant void.

And also some doors close so that new windows of opportunity can open up. Duh!

Lessons...

Just like that person who was carrying on like a victim, speaking about humanity when in reality they are the devil's spawn - I am also worthy.

God don't make no mistakes so why am I sitting here questioning him when he has said this time and time again that he has plans to prosper me. Not to harm me. Why can I not find my chill and ride this wave?

I was watching House of Cards the other day and the lead in the series, Francis Underwood eluded to how we humans give other people too much power over us. He wants to be president and will do so with or without an electorate. Because that is his deepest desire.

Sinister as it may sound but it's true. There is nothing impossible under the sun, if you just believe. I'm a believer.

Yass!!!

Whew! It's been trying times all around. Now that I have rebuked that demonic spirit from my life, Aluta Contnua- shall we?

Happy Easter famo!

Yours in faith,

Nthabi with an 'H'

P.S. Pic credit: Instagram (mostly & some Google :) )

Monday, 18 January 2016

Happy New YOU!

New year, new rules. No? Is that still a thing in 2016? Bleh! I had a whole blog post about gratitude that's been sitting in my drafts but woke up in a slightly different mood today - it being my first day at the job and everything.

My 2016 "compliments" greeting for the week.

Had every intention of sharing the chronicles of my dezemba festivities but I've been phoneless the whole of December and some, thanks to Empty N (MTN). If there was ever a time my patience was tested by anyone, this was it. MTN taught me how to hate. I regret ever getting into bed with them. Don't ever repeat my mistake.

Quick snapshot: We spent New Year's Eve swimming. Monkeys have come far guys. And I will leave it there.

The 1st of Jan was the Midrand/Tembisa takeover! Tltltl...

I'm trying to wrap up what went down without much visuals to go with, which is frustrating. But then again, this is a blog about nothing really...

Young high school reunion with the Rondebult girls.

Overall it was a great break. Got some time to catch up with family. The only people I hardly give my time during the year, but know they are always cheering me on from the background. I thank God I have that whole clan as my support structure, otherwise I doubt I would have come out of 2015 in one piece.

There's a lot to be said about family and how we have no choice in the matter, as you are born into them. There's the gratitude I was referring to, I'm way way up - I feel blessed.

18 January 2016 saw me report back to the employment looking like this... Serving face for the Gods, yass honey just yass! (Vanity guys, is a disease. Pray for me!)

Started the day with a prayer, for the demons to steer clear of my way in 2016. But alas, misery loves company. There's a lot to be said about someone who gets joy out of plotting people's demise as a hobby. It's their version of hell and they just don't know it.

Without going into much detail, I'll tell you this: the world is microscopic in the Lord's eyes. Do right by humanity. You will thank yourself later.

In commemoration of the late great Dr Martin Luther King Jr. being celebrated today, remember:

May your 2016 be the year you never dreamt coming true, with all your desires attained.

Deuces!

Nthabi with an 'H'

Friday, 13 November 2015

Laughter really is the best medicine, because #PitchesBeCrazy

OMG, AwwMaGosh but when did we get to November? I feel like October was so insanely busy that I woke up one day and October was gone with the wind. So many things transpired that just left me going hee banna?! I had exams, work, family gatherings, birthday parties, get togethers, and the Vuzu Amp party all in one month - how I got through it all remains a mystery. Which reminds me, I need to unlock a brief highlight of the Vuzu gig. I mean, turn up of epic proportions you know what I'm saying man *in that viral gerrahere video man's voice!*.

So anyway, I got an invite to an inter-agency comedy showdown from Ogilvy, one of South Africa's biggest creative agency, that saw different agencies alike come together to take the mickey out of each other in what was styled as a comedic boxing match. I needed the laughter more than the party because s'joe, life is hard and then we die. True story.

*Inserts tv ad*

So creative agencies are basically the guys that create everything that you hear on the radio, see on TV and read in the papers - to sell you something or the other that you didn't know you needed but ended up buying anyway. Call them magicians if you will because they have hypnotised many of us into thinking we need those expensive pair of Balmain jeans or that if you aren't driving a Mercedes then you are not aspiring for the best or nothing. It's a tough life this, hey?

Okay, so then we all convened at Ogilvy Bryanston for the comedy and boy oh boy was it hilarious. Until this one guy hopped on stage!

Hey?!?

See my thing is, he got on stage and loudly proclaimed that he's from Vosloorus and that was my first point of departure. I refused. Ngeke sbali. And that's that. I could go on about the jokes, but they would fall flat because I'm not a comedian vele so I'll skip that part.

And then Karabo got on stage. Hello nice :)

iWorry yam is, these guys aren't famous in the popular sense of the word but you have either seen or heard their work and shared it with your peers. These are the guys that sell you cool and you don't even know them. Oh well.

The winner was Zee Mbuli, who is allegedly Mzwakhe Mbuli's son. His mom drives an Audi, I don't recall what he said about that but Ja.

Say hello to Zee from Midrand.

The host for the night was this oke called Napstar. Guy was so funny, I think you should look out for him in the future. Killed me when he said, "hey wena white people it's our time now". My watch ain't changed since 94 but hey, sizothini?

Anywho, thanks to Ogilvy for the #Upperlife shindig. Beku mnandi hey!

And then earlier in October was Vuzu Amp's befday at Level Three in Sandton. Hmm, Vuzu Amp really is the coolest one year old I know.

The party was packed with scribes, celebs and channel execs alongside Joburg's likers of things because niyabazi mos - turn down for intoni?

I was there with sis bae.

And then scribes were busy noting down the shenanigans.

And then, hol' up - look who got on stage baba. Spikiri and THAT guy from

Kalawa. Not sure of the name, sorry fam.

Riky Rick and Choc also lit the stage.

The highlight for me was #DoroSupaMega a.k.a AKA!!!

Aiiich, cava mina no bae ntwana. Lol!

Also spotted, Blessing and Tsholo from The Road.

So there we are, trying to take a group selfie and Trevor Gumbi photobombs our pic. *sigh*

It was a turn up hey.

End of October saw us unlocking Sunday Sun's Entertainment Editor, Lerato Matsoso's befday at Taboo. The way I'm not one with clubs though, but I still honoured the invite.

Pictured below is the birthday girl and I. This pic was taken by Bucie.

Then she got it on the action. Home girl killed it on stage.

Then she joined Tira on stage during his set. Taboo was on some other tip bethunana!

Following day was Sbu's befday. Sbu is one of the promoters who put together the iRock music festivals you've seen me talk about on the blog.

Above pic is not the following day, the one below is.

And then early November saw the Polo International Horse Trials take place in Midrand. Akubusy eJozi hayi suka!

Was with an old primary school mate Tiisetso and her friend Cleo at the do.

We are almost mid November, which means festive is in full swing. Lord Jesus, I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Eh, it's a wrap. Till the next do.

Yours in awesomery,

Nthabi 'with an 'H'

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

DStv iRock Music Festival: Unlocked, Unhinged & Unrestricted!

Long weekends are the devil because they feel like some unnatural force dares you to get up to no good and you accept the challenge because what must to can happen?

Yoh, then came Thursday and off we trekked to Limpopo for the DStv iRock Music Festival, or rather the Limpopo take over. The bus ride was a mixture of actors from the Mzansi Magic telenovelas and a contingency of journalists from different media houses - a recipe for a ten up of epic proportions.

What was supposed to be a three hour bus ride became a five hour one. Jesu, the heat + holy water were a rather interesting combination for the trip. But we made it work, as one does. And also because, #turndownforwhat?

We hadn't even arrived in Limpopo but ANN7's Mpendulo, Mapule and I were looking bronzer than we were before we left Jozi.

The hosts with the most.

On the Thursday we arrived at PLK, we went to unlock Industrial Shisa Nyama. DJ Shimza was on the decks and he did what it does. Dope set he laced there!

We left Industrial Shisa Nyama in the a.m. so when we had to leave for lunch at Mall of the North around midday on Friday, my body said not today Satan! So I sat out the lunch but was told it was lit.

The group came back to the hotel and the festivities started again. We had to leave for the pre party at Jembe Tarven so the pool deck vibes came to a screeching halt.

Huh, the crowd at Jembe never expected the amount of crazy we brought with us. It was too surreal for the poor folks.

This is how people looked like upon arrival... Lol!

Then...

Lol and then my phone was hijacked

But like?!?

Zero chill! Doreen making me kiss the booze to thank the Gods.

My boo

AboUncle bae trending. Thap's is going to kill me for this one! V-Ent rep.

And then there was Tumelo, also from the V-Ent side of life

Then the bubbles came!

Abdul Khoza from The Road is such a gentleman yazi, very well mannered fellow this guy. Rare breed in the space

Bathong we didn't realise Nanka was not unlocked so we did a retake!

Soon after the whole place was lit! Friday was wrapped up and all was well.

Saturday we switched things up and were like let's exercise some of our brain cells bantu - then playing 30 Seconds was the order of the day. My team won, naturally. Because we the best!