Happy Wanderers Holiday Resort

Just a quick post to say THANK YOU to Happy Wanderers Holiday Resort and to Butik Asia for our lovely (much needed) family holiday treat!

We arrived on Sunday the 14th October - very stressed and tired. 

Spent 5 relaxing days exploring the beach, distant rock pools, 'haunted' house and lagoon. 

The close proximity to the water was at first overwhelming but we settled in quickly and really felt the fast-paced and stressful world slip away... we departed sadly on the Friday - could have easily stayed another few days! 

Unfortunately the weather wasn't great... we had hoped for loads of swimming and tanning, but we still had a lot of fun!

We enjoyed the nearby Atlanta Spur where the manager was amazing - made us feel very welcome. 

Due to the weather, our plans to visit Croc World were not an option - so we opted to just relax, read a book, go for walks along the strand, look out for whales and dolphins, play card games with our girls, BAKE BROWNIES! and just have lots of cat naps :) 

We've missed the sound of the waves... 

View Our Family Album Here! 

Blush...

Having a laugh... This looks about right...

Mystery Music Manuscript "True Till Death"

"True Till Death" OLD MUSIC MANUSCRIPT MYSTERY - THE FIRST SOUNDS! hear what I heard when i played back the first few bars for the first time! Amazing! After being hidden for so long... amazing. 

So... in 2005 I was given a box of sheet music. The music in the box (some of it hand written but destroyed by mould and borer, were dated by hand at about 1830 - 1850.) 

A short while ago I found a beautiful handwritten and decorated ORIGINAL piece of music called "True Till Death" and I felt that I wanted to program the music into my computer, learn the lyrics and tune - and do a recording of the song. So far it is delightful! A little art song inspired by marriage or unending love. I'm hoping to find out more information! 

There is not ONE error despite it all having been written and drawn with a calligraphy-type pen. SO much love went into this song - I hope that I can do it justice and give it sound for the first time in 163 years...

So lovingly written out.

Loads of detailed line drawings on the cover.

I wish I knew who this song was written for!! 

Our only clue - Initials A C P

The watermark that covers most of each page. Only visible when held up to a light. 

I've done the first page - VERY haunting and chilling to hear the music come to life. Can just imagine the person playing this song... 


CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE FIRST SOUNDS AND SEE THE PHOTOS OF THE MANUSCRIPT Share if you can! 

“True, True till death”

By A.C. 

Here will I pledge thee, Dearest one. 

Here will I vow ere day be done. 

Deeper the shadows fall from the trees, 

Stirr’d to and fro by the evening breeze, 

True, true till death! 

True, true till death! 

Bear it, O wind! On your lightening breath! 

Bear it, O stream! On your bosom tide; 

Echo it! Carry it! Far and wide! 

True, true till death! 

True, true till death! 

Here will I pledge thee dearest one, 

For I must leave thee, all alone. 

Dark is the forrest, dark is the shore, 

Loud beats the storm and the waters roar… 

True, true till death! 

True, true till death! 

Bear it, O wind! On your lightening breath! 

Bear it, O stream! On your bosom tide; 

Echo it! Carry it! Far and wide! 

True, true till death! 

True, true till death!

(1800’s hand written musical manuscript found in a box in Durban, South Africa 2013)

**

I've just been asked "Who gave you the Manuscript?" - My answer: When Francis Doherty-Bigara and I were first married we were given a box of music books by an older couple from our church. 

There were lots of music books and old manuscripts like this one - I saw dates 1830 - 1850 and also 1935 on some of the manuscripts so they must have been family music passed down? I don't know. 

Most of the original hand written music was badly damaged (so much so that I couldn't see the notes) such a tragedy. I threw most of it out - too much mould and mildew to keep them with my other sheet music collection. 

This one always 'spoke' to me, made me feel wistful and dreamy. It's followed me around for over 10 years, always staying in my music cupboards or in my piano stool. The other day I saw it again and realised that I HAD to make it come to life. 

I have contacted the old man who's wife gave me the original box. I hope he responds - I have only found him on Facebook but don't know if his page is active.

*** 

I have now got a few friends looking into this for me! I hope we find out who wrote this song!  

Chocolate Toffee Apple Pudding (Carrot, Apple & Banana!)

FULL Recipe below! 

My family could NOT believe there was this much fruit and
veg in the pudding!

Once the cocoa and vanilla were added it looked and smelled like
traditional chocolate cake batter! There was a slight
carrot smell but that went away with baking.  

Don't be afraid... dit sal in-meng! 

The hard part was not tasting too many spoonfuls! If you feel the batter
it will feel slightly gritty, but the fruit and veg soften in the oven!

The toffee apple sauce. I would have preferred it a little smoother but... 

The baked pudding! Steaming, wet and chocolatey! See the clean knife?
That, and the SMELL let you know that this baby is READY to come out of the oven!

Managed to get a half-shot before gobbling up the slice!
Would have been PERFECT with custard of fresh cream.
Next time! 

Chocolate Toffee Apple Pudding

(Carrot, Apple & Banana!)

Wet

2 large carrots - peeled and chopped.

1 large apple - peeled and chopped.

3 big bananas - peeled and chopped.

4 heaped tsp cocoa

2 tsp vanilla essence

100g Softened margarine or butter

Dry

150g Self Raising Flour

50g Corn Flour

100g brown sugar*

1 level tablespoon baking powder

Toffee Apple Sauce

1 x apple, peeled, diced finely

4 heaped tablespoons brown sugar*

1 Tablespoon margarine or butter**

Level teaspoon baking powder

*for a sugar free option try using agave syrup

**for a margarine or butter free option try using coconut oil.

1. Puree the fruit and veg (raw), add the cocoa and vanilla essence and mix with a food processor. I did it all with my Kenwood hand-held in one jug – no mess no fuss.

2. In a separate bowl, place dry ingredients together and mix.

3. Add pureed fruit/veg/cocoa mixture and add softened margarine/butter – mix lightly until blended. Add baking powder at the last moment, mix and pour into the pre-form cake tin.

4. Bake at 180C for about 20 – 30 minutes. When the knife comes out clean – you’re ready to go!

5. SAUCE: Sautee the apple in a non-stick pan, add margarine or butter and sugar, bring to the boil. Take off the heat and add the baking powder. Whisk lightly and set to cool. Puree the sauce and get it as smooth as possible! Pour over the pudding and wait to cool. (If you can wait!) Believe it or not this sauce is even better the next day!

For a “Malva Pudding” version of this – add only one teaspoon cocoa and 2 Table spoons of Apricot Jam to the fruit and veg mix!  

All of the flavour and not much guilt! 

Visit my website to see who I am and to say HI! 

www.sandybigara.wix.com/onlinebio

Power Failure Win!

We had a neighbourhood power-failure from last night 22:00 until 16:30pm today... What an amazing day!!

Apparently a car had an alcohol induced fling (ding?) with an electricity pole a bit further up our road. He managed to drive away but left the wires disengaged from the pole...

This morning, I had a sad, heartbroken hour where I believed that a working friend had passed away... After calling/whatsapping and connecting with friends in Capetown, we established that our friend is well and *not* dead (whew!) But, of course, using one's blackberry actively for more than 40minutes renders one battery-dead... And with no electricity, no power, no car and a very steep hill between myself and any form of human life... I was well and truly cut off from the world! Jippee!

By 8:30am all other battery operated electronic equipment had died (batteries are shyte) I managed to send out one last inbox to my friend Sevi - via husband's dying phone - and then that was it!

My girl's played in the garden, Kel spent most of her time hovering around me, sitting on me, periodically bumping my hand while I drew a pony with rainbows coming out of its ass (For Sav who was clipping hedges with daddy's leatherman...) when the sun became to hot we went indoors, and I *actually* rehearsed piano and voice for 2 hours (!!!), read a book to the girls (with all of the Little Mermaid accents) ((Totally rocked Sebastian crab)), played cards with them (3yr old legitimately won almost every game - despite not having listened to the bladdy rules!!) and then after we stuffed our faces with delivered pizza (diet fail) we had a wonderful visit and play-date at The Coffee Corner with Sevi and Amy who are recently back from France!

I came home in such a good mood, prepared dinner and made us a chocolate pudding for pudding (made with carrot, banana and apple puree - but tastes and looks like malva pudding!)

We then jumped into the pool (had a ball playing Marco polo...) Then a hot bath (with loud music pumping!) A quick noddy dvd and snuggle in bed with our girls...

What a divine day! All thanks to a silly bloke who hit an electricity pole ;o)
Regards,

Sandy Bigara
www.sandybigara.wix.com/onlinebio

Victoria Sponge with a South African Twist

Sandy Bigara
Brilliant baking Theatre
Victoria Sponge with a South African Twist

I used half Plantation Select and half Muscovado for a richer darker flavourful sponge

Toasted almonds and cinnamon give this cake a distinct South African flavour. 

Be liberal with the apricot jam - the cake is not too sweet.

160g self raising flour
80g Selati muscovado sugar
80g Selati plantation select brown sugar
(Or just 160g of one type of sugar!)
Tablespoon vanilla essence
160g melted butter (warm and runny not hot!)
3 large eggs
Teaspoon baking powder

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, use a whisk. Add eggs, add vanilla essence, add melted butter, add baking powder and put into the oven as soon as possible.

Bake at 180 degrees for about 20minutes - you will smell it when it is ready! Use a knife to test whether the centre is cooked.

Smear the top with apricot jam (be liberal!) top with the icing of your choice (Mascarpone Icing is divine! just remember to put the apricot jam on FIRST and the lighter icing on second) And handfuls of roasted almond flakes. Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve!

This cake is light and moist - it is a NON FLOP recipe.

When I MC'd at the Good Food & Wine Show in Jozi, I presented it at the Brilliant Baking Theatre where Paul Hollywood (Breat British Bake-off Judge), Ewan Strydom, Katelyn Williams (Expresso Morning Show SABC3) and Hayden Quinn (Winner Masterchef Australia) had also displayed their baking skills - eek!

I was nervous, and decided to do my flop proof sponge cake. Everything went well... the cake was in the oven about 5 minutes or so, when an audience member piped up
"Don't you put butter in this cake?"
I was so shocked! There was the butter just sitting there. I quickly put the butter in a pan and melted it to as hot as I dared, pulled out the cake from the oven, sang it a song and asked it to please rise!! Added the hot butter and whisked it in. I popped it back in the oven and said
"Don't worry! I will STILL rise..."

About 20 minutes later I called some of the lingering audience members to see me take the cake out of the oven... and guess what? It was a beautiful, risen, golden-coloured sponge. Tasted like a dream. My prep-chefs at the back (unknown to me) iced it up and sent it around to the other theatres... I had great feedback from them as well - and had to tell them the story!

I hope that you enjoy! xx

FOUND - Calvin Balakisten from East London

CALVIN HAS BEEN FOUND, AND IS CURRENTLY WITH FAMILY. 
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SHARED AND ASSISTED. 

A nephew of a friend... Please share and assist.

Thank you xx

The Trouble With The Interwebs

Ooh eh eh - too much drama online these days. I come onto FB and all I see are snippety comments on local business pages:

"So?... is it some sort of revenue boosting scheme? Huh?"

  People spewing hatred/their own wants and needs -  towards celebrities on their fan pages (deserved or not!)

"Henna Montona is to blame for all this... this... Twerking!"

People using their FB status as a soap box to declare their condemning views on food/sex/religion/work etc etc knowing that if anyone gives them grief they can delete their asses ... 

Stahp.

I go onto international news sites and read the articles there - so many reproduced articles where journos/celebs/politicians are obviously just rehashing news from other sites based on empty information - it's scary!! How can we believe a single word... sigh*

I read heartwarming stories only to scroll down to the comments sections and read the vile nasty words of ill-educated hateful judgmental people from all walks of life... 

I have no words. 

Scares me. 

Makes me want to just disconnect and focus on family and friends who I see daily. 

Jisslaik. 

Sandy Bigara LIVE at Hingham Nursery Tea Garden 6th October 2013

Hi guys! 

The following is the Press Release from the amazing and dedicated team at Hingham Nursery Tea Garden:

"Good morning all,

Please remember that on Sunday the 6th of October the very talented Sandy Bigara 

will be gracing us with her enchanting voice from 12:00 - 14:00!

Those of you who were at the nursery on the 1st of September will remember her, 

especially when she sang 'O mio babbino caro' and got a standing ovation. 

We will also be serving a roast lunch of R50 per person. 

Please call Loura Venter on 0765539691 to reserve your table."

Too sweet! :) 

There is a gorgeous children's play area with tables nearby! 

I love happy customers and I'm really looking forward to playing again, while little "Timon's" (Meercat/ Mongoose) scurry around my keyboard! Only in Africa people! 

"Hold me till the song ends Chancho." 

The food is traditional Sunday roast fair - meaty, tasty and filling. The restaurant is open air, rustic and surrounded by pretty flowers - what more could a girl want for her birthday gig!? My last gig there inspired my most recent tattoo... to see that you will have to ask me in person! 

Beautiful... Am I right? xx

Hope to see you there! It is my birthday weekend (I am another year older on the 7th October!) sob! 

"Like this...except, imagine this as a cheesecake."

 Loura Venter on 0765539691 to reserve your table!

Changing Our Views About Busking

"They sit at the bar,

and put bread in my jar,

and say 'Man, what are you doin' here?'..."

Piano Man by Billy Joel, November 1, 1973. 

http://tinyurl.com/pianomanbillyjoel

There seems to always have been a misconception in the Performing Arts, from the audience's point of view - as well as from certain Artists. Busking has a very long history, many talented performers have fed, clothed, housed and educated their families on the back of the good old fashioned 'Busk' - there is no better way to hone one's performance skill than to busk. Busking is also really good at totally deflating any residual ego that is left in you as a performer. It is flippin' fantastic!

The hubbub of happy chatting people behind me while I play, is a wonderful testimony to the fact that the venue, and music, are providing a bustling energised environment. That moment where a really special song brings the room to a quiet stop-and-listen is a highlight - and truly treasured as such. That one person who tells you that you are too loud... that person who stops and has a little cry when a song touches close to home... There is nothing like it. Busking is music on the frontlines.

In a recent review (a very nice review by an awesome lady) the line that made me stop and think (and the line that makes venues question having buskers such as myself) was referring to the fact that it is a "pity" that singers have to busk to earn a living.

Is it a pity?

Or is it a fantastic platform for feedback and skill-building without the added pressure of paying for venue hire etc?

The options available to Performers now are:
a) Get signed by a big label. (A pipe dream for most of us, no matter how talented - and not exactly what every performer wants) ((With the Pop Industry's predilection for Body suits... i'm just not a candidate!))

I just can't see myself pulling off this look.

b) Hire a local venue and be the star of the show: Playhouse / Live - The Venue / The Catalina Theatre / The Stable Theatre / Heritage / Seabrookes / Rhumbelow etc. (all of which are booked well in advance, and cost an arm and a leg to hire.) ((Audiences aren't guaranteed)) (((Not every singer knows how to write up hot press releases / get edited publicity shots done / Find R5000+ for Posters and Flyers (who will design those?) / strike up friendships with Editors / Find their email addresses without seemingly stalking them / Get the general public to miss a Rugby game / Soccer World Cup / Olympics / The Bachelor, in order to hear you croon about your love life etc.))) ((((Sound guys? Lighting guys? If not a soul arrives who will pay for it all?))))

"Err'body sing with me! la lalaaaa... Err'body?..." *crickets*

c) Sit at home and cry into your cup of milo, while mixing tracks on your 2005 Windows 98. (Using free software that your Ginnie-Gans passed on to you, because you have no work and can't afford internet.) ((because you haven't performed in a year. Soundcloud recordings are not performances. Yes i'm talkin' to you.)) (((Because you are too cool to Busk *finger snaps*)))

"Just wait... I've almost got the bass line... to sync with the drum loop..."

d) Find a friendly venue where you can perform reliably, hand out business cards and connect with the people in your area. (known as networking) ((Known as 'working for a living'))

"Sure!... You can ABSOLUTELY part-pay me in cake. AB-SO-FRIGGIN-LOOTLY!"

So IS busking for a live and appreciative audience, in a warm and welcoming environment such as a restaurant a 'pity'?

I don't think so. I want to challenge YOU to change your preconceived perception of this type of platform.

I do, however, understand the sentiment behind the comment. The well-wish that the performer in question 'reach their dream or full potential' is very sweet - and performers enjoy hearing as much, it is an ego boost in an industry where such boosts are few and far between.

ATTENTION PERFORMERS: Make USE of your local restaurants, and of any spare square meter of pavement you can legally use, fill Durban with song and create the same type of vibe that European countries enjoy. Don't turn up your nose at a 'free gig' - take your glass jar and perform your heart out - you may make a 20, or 50... or if you are lucky, you may just perform for someone who holds the key to your success.

Lastly, work hard. Be neat and tidy. Don't drink on the job!! Arrive on time, be honourable towards your venue owners. They are happy to have you, but you have to show them respect. Busking is a 'workout' - don't be lazy. Like I said, Busking is the 'frontline' (That's 'war-speak' people) and NOT easy. BUT it is worth every effort. ANY opportunity to perform is a GIFT, see it in those terms and you will TRULY reach some new level in your art. And finally please, PLEASE, don't look down on those hardworking Muso's who sit and play in all manner of environments.

A kind word goes a long way to making your busker's day.

Take care all. Xx

Sandy Bigara
www.soundcloud.com/sdbigara
www.sandybigara.wix.com/onlinebio

FYI:
"Busking according to Wikipedia: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_performance