I No Longer by Jose Micard Teixeira and not Meryl Streep

“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me.

I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons. I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.” 

by José Micard Teixeira

Photograph taken from José Micard Teixeira's Facebook page.

These powerful words were mistakenly attributed to Meryl Streep - but it is a case of blogging-quickly-without-checking-your-facts-first - in this case.

Visit José's Facebook Page to read more of his thoughts... 

UPDATE: Jordan's Journey - South African Boy in French Hospital with Brain and Lung Cancer

I recently posted an article about a remarkable young man and his nightmare trip to Europe, you can read about it here to get some perspective. A frightening and horrific experience for any family to endure. Well, I have some great news!, according to Jordan's Journey facebook page:

3rd Jan 2015
Discovery Health have just informed us that they are over turning their previous decision and are now helping and paying for Jordys flight back to Durban!! We would like to thank everyone for all their support & the pressure that they put on discovery...To those who have donated to this, we will be using the money now for the shortfall at the hospital and for the special care that Jordy will need in Durban. If anyone is not happy with this please pm us and we will do our best to refund you asap.

Fantastic news!! 

Jordan during 2014 - so brave during chemo

Within a short while the following posts were up: 

3rd Jan 2015 8pm
Paramedics are at the hospital to escort Jordy to Charles de Gaulle Airport where he will be departing tonight to Johannesburg & then transferred into an ambulance & driven down to Durban...please pray for our boy!

9 hours ago
We would just like to thank everyone for all of your help, love & support throughout this whole horrifically traumatic ordeal.. Jordy has touched down on South African soil & is being transferred by ambulance to Durban.

1 hour ago
Jordan has arrived at the hospital in Durban and is currently in surgical ICU. The doctors are reviewing his scans & we are hopeful that treatment will start ASAP.

There was such an outpouring of support, financially and in other helpful ways, well done world! 

Now we just pray and hope that Jordy has a successful operation and speedy recovery. 

DONATIONS are appreciated - to assist the family with their monstrous medical bills. Cupcakes of hope have offered their account for use - reference JORDAN SMITH. 

LIFE OR DEATH: Sulphite Allergy or Sulphur Sensitivity My Recent Life Threatening Experience

As far as I can tell, in South Africa, It is not legally required for any food manufacturers / restaurants to declare Sulphur presence in their foods :( 

Sulphites are substances that are naturally found in some foods.  They are used as an additive to maintain food colour, shelf-life and prevent the growth of fungi or bacteria. Sulphites are also used in food packaging like cellophane.

This link will take you to a comprehensive list of FOODS WHICH MAY CONTAIN SULPHITES

This is what happened to me in the last two weeks: 

When someone comes in contact with an allergen, the symptoms of a reaction may develop quickly and rapidly progress from mild to severe. The most severe form of an allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock, which may result in loss of consciousness and even death. 

A person experiencing an allergic reaction may have any of the following symptoms:

Flushed face, 

hives or a rash, 

red and itchy skin

Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, 

Throat and tongue

Trouble breathing, 

speaking or swallowing

Anxiety, 

Distress, 

Faintness, 

Paleness,

Sense of doom, 

Weakness

Cramps, 

Diarrhea, 

Vomiting

A drop in blood pressure, 

Rapid heartbeat,

Loss of consciousness

I also personally experience:

Pain in all joints: leg, arm, skull intense pain.

Spinal stiffness and pain - (Schedule 5 Pain relief did not help)

Stiff neck - lessened mobility.

Pelvic stiffness and immobility.

Shaking of the hands. 

Migraine behind the eyes.

Hallucinations - very scary images.

Pain in all internal organs. 

Open sores in the mouth and on the tongue.

Swelling in the ear canals - like bad infection.

Asthma - tight chest.

IBS - twisting of the intestines, trapping gas.

Food and products that often contain sulphites

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer and cider

Bottled lemon and lime juices and concentrates

Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables

Cereal, cornmeal, cornstarch, crackers and muesli

Condiments, for example, coleslaw, horseradish, ketchup, mustard, pickles, relish and sauerkraut

Dehydrated, mashed, peeled and pre-cut potatoes, and frozen french fries

Dried fruits and vegetables, such as apricots, coconut and raisins, sweet potato

Dried herbs, spices and teas

Fresh grapes

Fruit fillings and syrups, gelatin, jams, jellies, preserves, marmalade, molasses and pectin

Fruit and vegetable juices

Glazed and glacéed fruits, for example, maraschino cherries

Starches, (for example, corn starch, potato starch)

Sugar syrups, for example, glucose, glucose solids, syrup dextrose, corn syrup, table syrup

Tomato pastes, pulps and purees

Vinegar and wine vinegar

Wine

Always look out for the following: 

Sulfuric acid 

Sulfur dioxide 

Sulfiting agents 

Sodium dithionite 

Sodium metabisulfite 

Sodium sulfite 

Sodium bisulfite  

Potassium metabisulfite

sulfur dioxide 

E 220, E 221, E 222, E 223, E 224, E 225, E 226 , E 227, E 228 (European names)

This is a link to a ​

 Sulphite Safe and Not Safe Foods.pdf

​PDF of Foods that are Sulphite Safe, and foods that May Contain Sulphites. 

Let me know if you also suffer with Sulphite Sensitivity - find me on Facebook or get my contact details on my website. 

Image from ubfreewine.com 

SUPPORT: South African Boy in French Hospital with Brain and Lung Cancer - Needs to Fly Home

UPDATE: (Full article here)

3rd Jan 2015 8pm

Paramedics are at the hospital to escort Jordy to Charles de Gaulle Airport where he will be departing tonight to Johannesburg & then transferred into an ambulance & driven down to Durban...please pray for our boy!

9 hours ago

We would just like to thank everyone for all of your help, love & support throughout this whole horrifically traumatic ordeal.. Jordy has touched down on South African soil & is being transferred by ambulance to Durban.

1 hour ago

Jordan has arrived at the hospital in Durban and is currently in surgical ICU. The doctors are reviewing his scans & we are hopeful that treatment will start ASAP.

JORDAN'S JOURNEY 

(Click on "Jordan's Journey above, to open the Facebook page in a new tab)

I have followed Jordan's Journey for a while now, I was at school with his lovely Aunty Wendy so I've paid attention and really hoped that this young man would pull through. Part of his biography really stood out: 

“From that moment, it was relayed to us that it was so serious; he had to go for 3 operations in just over one week, just so that they could get a sample big enough to make the correct diagnosis. This little boy had never even been to hospital before and didn’t quite understand what was happening or why, often asking “Mom, why is this happening to me?” and so many thoughts running through everyone’s minds just to try and find a response. His world was shattered and the earth seemed to swallow him and everyone who knew and loved him up in an instant; as the words were said – Jordan you have been diagnosed with a ‘Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma’, a type of bone cancer.”

Gives me chills. This could happen to any of us at any time.

On the 22^nd September he posted a photograph, it got over 1000 likes, 132 shares. 

He made it through his last Chemo and they arrived in the UK recently. However things did not look good from the onset:

27 December 2014

With much excitement we landed in the UK this afternoon, however it's been a bit of a rough journey... Jordy has been very sick since we got here. Please Pray that it was just the flight and that he feels better in the morning. Come on Cancer leave our baby alone and let him enjoy this holiday, it's been such a long & difficult road - he DESERVES THIS!! He is really looking forward to enjoying some adventures...

They stayed a while with family and then made their way to France so that Jordan could experience Disney World. Jordan never made it to Disney World. He is currently very ill in a Children's Hospital in France. 

Jordan's Journey has encouraged and inspired so many people around the world, offers of assistance, financial donations and encouragement from virtual strangers is the norm on his page, and this time - it's really a life-or-death situation. He is in a foreign country, he cannot fly home to South Africa without a Doctor in attendance, He needs to be flown back to South Africa - which will cost R1.1million. The Hospital in France refuses to treat him, and his medical aid refuses to pay for him to be flown home. Basically the Hospitals and Medical aid have said they are not willing to assist this young boy. 

"...they have found that the cancer has now spread to his lungs and brain..."

On the 31^st December I saw a panicked wall post by my friend Wendy, and when I went to Jordan’s page I saw the following post:

31 December 2014

Jordan's trip to the UK has turned into a nightmare. We did a trip to France where we had planned to take him to Disneyland as he was feeling so much better & unfortunately he never made it there. Our precious boy was rushed to a children's hospital in Paris where they have found that the cancer has now spread to his lungs and brain. We are awaiting an emergency medical escort back to South Africa where he will be treated. WE ARE APPEALING TO EVERYONE TO PLEASE PRAY FOR A MIRACLE!

What would you do if this was your child? I can’t even begin to imagine the trauma and fear that they must be feeling. This boy has stayed so strong and handled so much. It seems so unfair. The following post was made yesterday and I am also appealing to anyone who can help, not only with donations, but with the medical aid, the airlines etc

01 January 2015

Our nightmare has turned into a horror story.. our medical aid has now refused to pay anything towards Jordy & have told us it's going to cost in excess of R1.1 million to get him onto an aeroplane medically assisted back to South Africa for urgent radiation. The doctors here in Paris will not start treatment because we are not covered financially, however have helped us to try to contact the South African embassy but to no avail! We have contacted our travel insurance who are only paying out R100 000. We are INCREDIBLY DESPERATE to save our little boys life... Please, please, please help us in any way that you can. The doctors have told us that we need to get him to South Africa as quickly as possible. Any amount you could give us will help!! Begging you from the loving parents of a very sick little boy...

The following is a fund account that Jordan's Mother has access too, please assist by sharing this article and letting your friends / twitter etc know. When you donate, please use the reference JORDAN SMITH. 

HEALTH: Sulphite Sensitivity

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/sulfite-sensitivity

http://allergies.about.com/od/foodallergies/a/sulfites.htm

http://www.beatcfsandfms.org/html/Sulfides.html

http://www.allergycapital.com.au/Pages/sulphites.html

http://www.med-library.net/content/view/453/41/

http://members.aol.com/nosulfites/

http://www.babyandkidallergies.com/sulfites.php

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1307260&blobtype=pdf (since this article was written, sulfites have been banned on salad bars, but food manufacturers use sulfites on many foods, and some foods have naturally occurring sulfites).

I have been semi-concious the entire week, and missed christmas due to this nonsense :( awful.


Regards,

Sandy Bigara
www.sandybigara.com

RECIPE: Chocolate Cappuccino Cupcakes

Based on my hard-to-flop recipe, these cupcakes were delish! 

Chocolate Cappuccino Cupcakes – Sandy Bigara

The Chocolate Cake

3 eggs (160gr)

160gr Self Raising Flour

160gr Brown Sugar

100ml Cocoa Powder

160gr Margarine / Butter (melted in the microwave until runny – does not have to be cooled down)

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

The “Cappuccino”

1 Tablespoon Jacobs Kroning Coffee Powder (and a dash of boiling water to break down the granules)

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Essence

100ml Fresh Cream

The Icing

I tub Pilsbury Chocolate Icing

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C.

2. In a small cup, mix your “Cappuccino” ingredients together and set aside.

3. In a nice mixing bowl, add S/R flour, sugar, and cocoa powder. Stir lightly to blend the ingredients.

4. Add melted runny margarine, eggs and “Cappuccino”

5. Using an electric mixer to hand held whisk – whip up the ingredients to incorporate air into the mix.

6. Add baking powder – whisk again to blend it in and place immediately into the oven.

7. Bake for 20 minutes, remove from the oven and place cupcakes on a rack to cool.

8. Ice and serve.

  

Adding Baking Powder just before you put the mix in the oven - gives your cupcakes lift.  

I found some cute cupcake holders in the drawer... cute!

I decided to do a simple chocolate swirl, the tops of the cakes looks so yummy I didn't want to hide them!

Voila! 

Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss WINS Miss WORLD!

Congratulations to our very own Rolene Strauss who has just won the title of MISS WORLD! 

MANILA, Philippines – Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss, 22, won the title of Miss World 2014, taking the reins from Miss World 2013, the Philippines' own Megan Young.

REGION:BLOEMFONTEIN, FREE STATEAGE:21



Combining her two passions, she says: “Miss South Africa is all about giving. One of the greatest gifts anyone can receive is the gift of a healthy life. With my passion for giving, people and health, I will be able to contribute to one of the most important things any country desires: health for all.”
Rolene finds inspiration from Professor Jonathan Jansen, the rector of the University of the Free State. “He is not afraid to stand for what he believes in, he loves what he does and gives of himself to his students. I can testify that he wants the best for his students and supports them in all they do. We can all learn from Prof Jansen. Love what you do, stay humble and let the light shine on others.”

​

Originally from Mpumalanga, Rolene is currently living in Bloemfontein, studying medicine at the University of the Free State. 

http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/specials/78044-rolene-strauss-south-africa-winner-miss-world-2014

MISSING: Kimberly Anderson, Toti, KZN

Tuesday 9th December 20:30 UPDATE 

Kimberly has been found. 

A message regarding missing people: "Pls parents need to go to nearest SAPS and open a case. A Form 55 needs to be filed in and emailed to missing@pinkladies.org.za for us to assist. When a case is opened an alert will also be put out for her vehicle by SAPS"

Tues 9th December 9am

Please Help Urgent! Has anyone seen this girl: Kimberly Anderson?

She was last seen last-night (08/12/2014) at Lords and Legends Toti with her friends at 21:30pm and has not been seen or heard from since.

Please, if you have any info please contact 074 129 7717 urgently.

She was driving a silver Peugeot 101.

Please share and circulate.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155037012250647&set=a.10150747340710647.722258.886550646&type=1&relevant_count=1
Megan Candey shared the link above, on facebook.

Regards,

Sandy Bigara
www.sandybigara.com

#EskomDidntWin

So today, without warning and not according to the schedule, the Catalina Theatre was plunged into darkness 15min before The Princess & the Frog was due to begin.

And, so, we improvised. I informed the audience that, if they were willing to have fun with us, we would go on with the show regardless. 

We opened the theatre door curtains to let in as much sunlight as possible, moved the set forward to catch the light.

I dressed as a fairy - and stood to the side reading the narration, I sang the dance songs, while Sboniso Alex Msimango (dressed as a fairy as well) played drums.

A HUGE well done to the cast for a beautiful performance!! The audience enjoyed every moment as did I.

Well done my darlings, Eskom didn't win this time!!

Chanel Julie-Anne Meager Kim Kandan Musa Ntuli Noluthando KubekaSinazo Ngcengula Sbo Francis Doherty-Bigara

REVIEW: Salt Coffee Shop Chakas Rock Beach Ballito

On Saturday the Husband Francis and I went to a little cafe in Chaka's Rock on Ocean dr.
I loved the blue/white colour scheme and hand painted signage at Salt. The white wattle pole ceiling was lovely to look at...

 and their Cappuccino and Rooibos Cappuccino's were divine! (Rooibos Cappuccino was so incredible I'd go all the way there from Durban again just to have another one)

We ordered the Tikka Chicken pizza with coriander and spicy peppers - when the pizza arrived 'with a flourish' I was impressed with the presentation and colour, however, the pizza was definitely not 'tikka' it tasted like simple tomato paste, no salt (we were provided with himalayan salt to use) and loads of fresh coriander, the 'spicy' peppers were sweet and not spicy. The pizza was bland but the base was crisp and we were pleasantly full afterwards even though we shared. I would have preferred a 'tikka' chicken to have more... Tikka? More bite. But overall a very nice venue.

The managed/owner was very friendly and had a lovely chat with the Husband after our meal. The location is on a busy 3 way stop, so you sit and watch the world go by, I enjoyed watching people going about their lives.

SALT
Coffee Shop | Pastries & Croissants | Pizza | Toasted Sandwiches & Paninis.

PIZZA 12:30 - 19:30 | Wed ~ Sun
FOCACCIA...............Olive Oil, Garlic and or Mozzarella
MARGARITA............Cheese & Tomato
HAWAIIAN................Ham & Pineapple
REGINA....................Ham & Mushroom
VEGETARIAN...........Roasted Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions, Garlic & Feta
TROPICAL BACON..Bacon, Mushroom, Garlic & Pineapple
SALAMI....................Salami, Roasted Peppers & Chilli
MEXICAN.................Red Onion, Roasted Peppers, Jalapeno & Mince
TANDORI.................Red Onion, Spicy Peppers, Tandoori Chicken & Coriander
QUATTRO................Artichokes, Salami, Mushrooms & Olives
SICILIANA................Anchovies, Capers & Olives
TRIO FORMAGGIO.Mozzarella, Feta & Blue Cheese
SPICY MEAT............Tandoori, Salami, Ham & Bacon
BBQ MEAT FEAST...Salami, Mince, Bacon, Ham & BBQ Basting
BACON & AVO..........Bacon, Avo & Feta

Physical Address
13 Ocean Drive
Chakas Rock Beach
Ballito.

Directions
Chakas Rock the corner of Ocean Drive & Chakas Rock Main Road.

Telephone
+27325255576


Sandy Bigara
www.sandybigara.com