Picture this!!!

Here are some pictures I snapped up. The first two pictures are just of the scenery of Durban. In one you can see the city’s Musgrave and CBD area, and in the other picture the arch of the newly built Moses Mabida Stadium can be seen.


The other two is from the Nisbat Noor trade fair. I would have liked to have taken out more pictures but did not get a chance to do so. One picture is of Waahid performing and the other is of the entrance to the fair.. Many more stalls and shoppers were inside the hall.


Enjoy
Seraj Bassa

The Weekend and Beyond

Ah another day has come to an end, the dreaded Monday is now over, oh how I wish weekends could be three days!!! Oh well seeing that that will never be, we should just enjoy those little fun moments of life. Saturday evening was a delightful one, and a very wet one also. After getting some rest from late afternoon to early evening the family and kids had come over to visit. I really enjoy the time they come over, the house comes alive, and also because they themselves are busy during the week with school and their after school activities, so is a pleasure to spend time with them when we all are free. So after seeing them of and having a light dinner on my own, I did some preparations for the Sunday fair which I was going to host.

After a late meeting with friends for coffee it was back to the house and of to bed. An issue still that was on my mind was the same one from the post earlier on Saturday, whereby I felt I was unable to fulfil a request from a friend, hence the feeling of being a let down. As individuals we try our best to do what we can when asked to do something, but sometimes there are those extenuating circumstances that prevent us from doing so. Friendship to me is very important, it is something that I hold very dear. Over the past year I have come to learn some of the worst characteristics that people could have, and the kinds of things that people you consider close friends and confidants can do to you, with friends like those, nobody needs enemies. But that’s a separate issue, people like that teach us the harsh lessons of life and make us appreciate our true friends even more. However my feelings on the issue were baseless, everything worked out fine at the end.

On Sunday was trade fair day, and yours truly was the host. We were worried about the weather though, and we were not wrong because it did rain, however I felt the fair went of well. I have come to change my opinions about these fairs, instead of questioning the lack of initiative on the part of the community to come up with something new, why not commend those who bring out these ventures to help others to seek their livelihoods from thse types of fairs. Yes I do know of many people who onky take stalls at the fairs in order to earn an income, so we should support them. Going to these fairs has become a common thing with me, and over time I have got to familiarise myself with many of the stall holders, there is always a feeling of recognition and affection at these functions. It was also after a while I got back on stage, so had to work up the courage and get back up there. Put on the dark funky glasses as a way to hide the face, funny hey how we want recognition and yet we want to hide at the same time… quite confusing. Oh well such is human nature, we want everything at once. At the end of it all, it was a good day that was spent in a good environment with good friends, there’s not much more one could ask for.


Now it is late, and this mind needs a rest. There’s a lot on its plate at the moment, something I would share with you later. Right now though I shall take my leave. Good night and pleasant dreams


My love and more
Seraj Bassa

Proudly South African

Ah its a monday, a bright beautiful day and yet people call it a blue monday. Well for me its not so much a blue Monday but rather a very lethargic Monday… or maybe that is what is meant by blue Monday. Oh well anyhow it is a very lethargic day, maybe due to the heat and a busy weekend. Now there is a lag with the posts as well, something I hope to catch up with as soon as I can.

For now I post an email I received from the kind lady that sent the previous one. I may not agree with what is in the text, because I believe we should not belittle the country we live in… the same country that houses us, in which we seek our lively hood, in whose resources we use, so we would definitely be ungrateful, and that we should not be. But on the other hand its god to laugh at ourselves at times and on the little thngs that go on around us, provided its not offensive to anyone. So here we can have a little laugh about the country we live in. enjoy…

YOU ARE PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN WHEN:
You call a bathing suit a 'swimming costume'.
You call a traffic light a 'robot'.
You call an elevator a 'lift'
You call a hood a 'bonnet'
You call a trunk a 'boot'
You call a pickup truck a 'bakkie'
You call a Barbeque a 'Braai'
The employees dance in front of the building to show how unhappy they are.
The SABC advertises and shows highlights of the programme you just finished watching.
You get cold easily. Anything below 16 degrees Celsius is Arctic weather.
You know what Rooibos Tea is, even if you've never had any.
You can sing your national anthem in four languages, and you have no idea
what it means in any of them.
You know someone who knows someone who has met Nelson Mandela.
You go to braais regularly, where you eat boerewors and swim, sometimes simultaneously.
You produce a R100 note instead of your driver's licence when stopped by a traffic officer.
You can do your monthly shopping on the pavement.
You have to hire a security guard whenever you park your car.
When you are a victim of crime and say: 'At least I'm still alive'.
You know a taxi can move twice it's certified number of people in one trip.
You travel 100's of kilometres to see snow.
You know the rules of Rugby better than any referee
To get free electricity you have to pay a connection fee of R750.
More people vote in a local reality TV show than in a local election.
People have the most wonderful names: Christmas, Goodwill, Pretty, Wednesday, Blessing, Brilliant, Gift, Precious, Innocence and Given, Patience, Portion, Coronation.
'Now now' or 'just now' can mean anything from a minute to a month.
You continue to wait after a traffic light has turned to green to make way for taxis travelling in the opposite direction.
Travelling at 120 km/h you're the slowest vehicle on the highway/freeway.
You're genuinely and pleasantly surprised whenever you find your car parked where you left it.
A bullet train is being introduced, but we can't fix potholes.
The last time you visited the coast you paid more in speeding fines and toll fees than you did for the entire holiday.
You paint your car's registration on the roof.
You have to take your own linen with you if you are admitted to a government hospital.
You have to prove that you don't need a loan to get one.
Prisoners go on strike.
You don't stop at a red traffic light, in case somebody hijacks your car.
You consider it a good month if you only get mugged once.
Ruwandan refugees start leaving the country because the crime rate is too high.
You consider a high crime rate as normal.

VIVA !!!!
Seraj Bassa

Funny

Above pictures were part of an email sent by a kind lady (not sure if I can mention her name, so I rather not for now) which I hae posted for your viewing pleasure. Its cruel yet funny haha, oh come on we know we all love kinds, but hadn’t you had that moment when you felt they were getting on your nerves? Hmmm….

It seems as though the storm clouds are gathering over Durban this afternoon, which is quite sad because we look forward to having clear weather during the weekend. Although we need some rain and coolness here in Durban, that would be appreciated more during the week. Ah how dare we dictate the cycles of the universe! We have to accept what comes our way, even if we like it or not.

The days passes the half way mark, but the body experiences fatigue and the tummy desires food, both of which will be taken care of in a little while I’m sure. Another issue is on the mind, how to help out a good friend given certain complexities, I sure hope I can fulfil what has been asked of me. Its funny how we tend to put decision making to a later time, but when that time arrives we have no solution and we no not what to do… so I say maybe some lunch and rest in the comfort of my home will give me a better understanding of what to do. HaHa yeah right, like that will work, but for now that reasoning sounds pretty good.

My love and more
Seraj Bassa

Brilliant Piece of Art

Hmm I wonder who would want to buy a pair of shoes like this one...

A story worth reading

This is one of the many emails i receive of which I shall post on the blog. Due to time limits I am unable to read these emails on air, so now I put them up for all to read. Enjoy...


Since last night my young son has been unwell. When I got back from Workthis evening I decided to take him to hospital despite my exhaustion. There were many waiting; perhaps we will be delayed by more than anhour. I took my number and sat down in the waiting room. There were manyfaces, young and old, but all silent. Some brothers made use of themany booklets available in the waiting room.

Some of those waiting had their eyes closed, while others were lookingaround. Most were bored. Once in a while the long silence was broken bya nurse calling out a number. Happiness appears on the one whose turn itis, and he gets up quickly; then silence returns. A young man grabbed my attention. He was reading a pocket-sized Qur`ancontinuously; not raising his head even once. At first I did not thinkmuch about him. However, after one hour of waiting my casual glancesturned into a deep reflection about his lifestyle and how he utilizeshis time. One hour of life wasted! Instead of making benefit of thathour, it was just a boring wait. Then the call for prayer was made. Wewent to prayer in the hospital's Masjid. I tried to pray close to theman who was reading the Qur'an earlier in the waiting room.

After the prayer I walked with him. I informed him of how impressed Iwas of him and how he tries to benefit from his time. He told me thatmost of our time is wasted without any benefit. These are days that gofrom our lives without being conscious of them or regretting theirwaste. He said that he started carrying the pocket-sized Qur`an aroundwhen a friend encouraged him to make full use of his time. He told methat in the time other people waste he gets to read much more of theQur`an than he gets to read either at home or in the masjid. Moreover,besides the reward of reading the Qur`an, this habit saves him fromboredom and stress.

He added that he has now been waiting for one and a half hours. Then heasked, when will you find one and a half hours to read the Qur`an? Ireflected; How much time do we waste? How many moments of our lives passby, and yet we do not account for how they passed by? Indeed, how manymonths pass by and we do not read the Qur`an? I came to respect mycompanion, and I discovered that I am to stand for account and that timeis not in my hand; so what am I waiting for?

My thoughts were interrupted by the nurse calling out my number; I wentto the doctor. But I want to achieve something now. After I left thehospital I quickly went to the bookshop and bought a pocket-sizedQur`an. I decided to be mindful of how I spend the time. If this information is beneficial to you, then please do forward it toyour friends and relatives. Our Prophet (SAW) said; 'Whoever guides or directs to good, then he getsthe same amount of blessing (reward) as the one who does it' The Prophet (SAW) also said 'Pass on knowledge from me even if it isonly one verse'

Testing 1 2 3

Hello all in blog land

I always said I would start a blog, and today i finally did... after many attempts. So I am just getting the hang of this thing, ... wish me luck.

This morning has been a rather busy one, many phone calls coming in and a faulty internet connection to sort out. Finally a moment of silence, something I think would be short lived. The weekends seem to be even more busier than weekdays… such is the way of life. Well I must depart for now, going to post some interesting emails that flow through my inbox shortly.

Take care and have a great weekend
Seraj