Entries by Julia Fryer

48 Random Things I learnt In The Attempted Insurrection

29 July 2021 /0 Comments/in /by

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and Everything In Between

Yowzer Trowzer living through an attempted insurrection is not for the faint hearted! I hope I never experience another one in my lifetime! But just in case I should ever find myself in a time of extreme crisis, here is a list of things I learned. Feel free to add yours to the list so we can never say we are not well and truly prepared, mentally and physically!

1.) Putting kids on food rations is not easy!

2.) I am a comfort eater (not easy when you are on food rations)

3.) When retailers limit purchases to 15 items only, what items will make it into your trolley? (I made sure tea, sugar, milk and of course, CHOCOLATE made it into the trolley.)

4.) You will swear A LOT – in your head (continuously) and maybe even out loud too!

5.) Don’t piss off your neighbor: South Africans have a lot of ammunition

6.) Hoarders had their time to shine with packed pantrys!

7.) South African men are the best – working by day, patrolling by night (sorry metro men you are out – rough and rugged is in!)

8.) South African women are epic too – Lara Crofts are alive and well in KZN

Hunger versus COVID? It’s Time To Open Up The Economy Again

27 July 2021 /0 Comments/in , /by

When Facing Potential Hunger Or COVID, I Didn’t Once Think Of COVID

Two weeks ago when things went belly up in Kwazulu Natal with the unsuccessful insurrection, I found myself on the third day worried about where food was going to come from. Our fridge was running empty quickly and I needed to make a plan. I got wind that some courageous store owner was going to try open and heed the call for people’s urgent cry for food so I jumped in my car to wait in the queue in earnest.

Word spread fast and within 30 minutes a couple thousand people must have gathered outside the said retailer. And then it struck me: here we were, almost at the peak of the third COVID wave, and not one person was worried about the crowd. Given the choice between feeding your family and facing COVID, people were very clearly more concerned with the former.

Weep South Africa If You Must

17 July 2021 /0 Comments/in /by

Even lights that try to shine bright some times go out.

Yesterday, Friday the 16th of July, my flame was extinguished. I was very emotional and I think that’s totally okay. I was crying because I knew the imminent danger was over. I was crying because I was moving out of survival mode. I was crying for the horrific damage to property and the loss of businesses. I was crying for environmental damage. I was crying for the future ahead that will be characterized by job losses, hunger and a harder life, especially for the poverty stricken. I was crying because I felt God’s goodness like never before. And yes, I was crying for the extraordinary love and courage that I have witnessed this week.

I Have Never Been More Proud To Be A South African

14 July 2021 /0 Comments/in /by

Never in my lifetime, have I been this proud to call myself a South African even though yesterday was one of the most terrifying days of my life. We have not slept a wink since Sunday. Many people have lost their businesses and their livelihoods entirely. We were personally not excluded from this destruction.

You were very clever Mr Zuma. You planned your targets very well. You knew exactly where to throw the matches to set the skyline alight. You hit certain factories because you wanted massive flames. Watching the TV now, you and your team are probably rubbing your greedy hands together and congratulating yourselves on what you think is an ingenious plan and a roaring success.

But Mr Zuma, I want to tell you loud and clear, that you are wrong. You sought to divide us but we are united like never before.

Unite and Be Brave South Africa!

12 July 2021 /0 Comments/in /by

I Know It’s Scary Out There But Evil Can Only Persist When Good People Do Nothing

I woke up to the sound of bullets this morning so loud that I thought someone was banging on my door. Parts of South Africa are burning today, especially in the province I live in: Kwazulu Natal.

Protesters, apparently angry that Jacob Zuma, our former President, has been jailed are having a field day burning trucks, malls, property and looting to their hearts content.

This chaos started last Thursday and has escalated. I was afraid this morning. The gun shots and shouting were off the charts and my fear started rearing its ugly head.

The Real Casualty of COVID: Human Connection

7 July 2021 /0 Comments/in /by

We Are Who We Are Because Of Others

We were created to live in community. Not to live alone behind closed doors. Yes, we are doing what needs to be done to keep COVID infections down but once enough vaccines have been administered and herd immunity has been achieved, I hope we never again take for granted the joy that comes from human connection.

Do Good Things Really Come To Those That Wait?

29 June 2021 /6 Comments/in /by

5 Things We Can Learn From The Waiting Game

We have all heard the saying: “All Good Things Come To Those Who Wait.” I am not sure about you but waiting isn’t my game. I was born to do things quickly. Speed runs through my DNA. When I was working in the corporate world, I earned the nickname the Tazmanian Devil because, like the cartoon, I ran everywhere to save time. Walking was for the weak. I needed to maximize time and efficiency!

Wasting precious time is so frustrating to me that I structure my day around having to minimize waiting. I will wake up an hour earlier to avoid traffic. I will shop when no one else does to avoid queues. I will wake up in the middle of the night to get to the front of a home affairs queue. You get the point.

9 Life Lessons We Can Learn From “NightBirde”: America’s Got Talent Viral Sensation

26 June 2021 /0 Comments/in /by

How Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski Delighted The World

On the 8th of June 2021, Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski became an overnight global sensation when Simon Cowell struck the golden buzzer after her breath-taking performance on America’s Got Talent. But it wasn’t just her beautiful voice or the depth of her lyrics that stole hearts. There are millions of others with the same talents. What made her stand out and pull heart strings around the globe was her remarkable attitude in the face of extreme adversity.

At just 30 years young, Jane has survived divorce in the midst of kicking cancer to the curb, three times. In June 2020 Jane was given 6 months left to live. She told the camera’s: “I have a 2% chance of survival but 2% is not 0%. 2% is something and I wish people knew how amazing it is.”

You Are More Than Enough Exactly As You Are

23 June 2021 /3 Comments/in /by

Do you ever get in the way of yourself?

If you are anything like me, you make mistakes. You stuff up. You sit there thinking: “You idiot! You know better! Why?” And then a voice whispers urgently over your one shoulder: “It’s because you are not enough. You are just not good enough. Not smart enough. Not pretty enough. Not kind enough. Not disciplined enough. Not experienced enough. Not popular enough. You don’t have what it takes.”

Considering Giving Up Your Dreams? DO NOT QUIT!

7 June 2021 /0 Comments/in /by

9 Tips To Keep You Going When You Are Contemplating Giving Up Your Dreams

I finished this Shine blog two weeks ago. I have gone from so excited to share it with the world while it was in development to “Oh shucks, what on earth was I thinking?!?! Who on earth would want to read anything I write?!”

Has that ever happened to you? You were hell bent on achieving a goal. You got close to making your dream a reality and then……you get the jitters…..you start doubting yourself……..you think that living small and safe would be a much better option instead. Why be open to the world’s criticism when you can rather choose to live quietly without bringing your passions to the world. Yes, maybe the world won’t benefit from your gifts, but at least your heart will be safe.

How One Contagious Man Infected A City With JOY!

30 April 2021 /0 Comments/in /by

The Inspiring Story of Johnny Barnes – Mr Happy Man

If there is one blog post of mine that you read, allow it to be this one. This story will fill your heart with joy. It’s a story of infectious positivity and the massive impact it can have on those around you.

I first read about this beautiful soul in Max Lucado’s book and when I researched it further, I was blown away at the heart of this man. I have captured the story below to share my delight with you.

My hope is that it encourages you to be aware of your impact and that it inspires you to bring more positivity to the world at a time that it’s absolutely needed.