Raging Bulls, Tips on Saving the Planet, And Barcelona's Wednesday Night Magic

* The stupendous win by our local rugby team - the Bulls - of the Super 14 Rugby Tournament Final yesterday. Bulls demolished the Chiefs( of New Zealand) by 61-17 at the Loftus Versfield stadium yesterday afternoon.
I am not much of a rugby fan myself, therefore I am not going to tell you about this 'try' or that 'scrum', by this or that player. But one thing I know is that yesterday at the end of the game I felt incredibly good. I was proud to be South African. The Bulls with this win had truly 'represented'.
 "Much love to you coach( Frans Ludeke) and your charges."

* My 'bumping' into some good tips on how the man in the street can do his bit to save our planet.
 We have heard much about how the icebergs in the northern hemisphere are melting because of global warming. We have also heard much about how we - as the inhabitants of the Earth - have much to do with this global warming through the lifestyle that we live. Increasing global warming will in the end lead to extremely high temperatures across the world, which will one day make our planet unable to not only support us as the human species but also unable to support all forms of life.
We can reduce global warming by reducing our carbon emissions, and this means we must reduce the use of anything that produces energy by emitting carbons.
In an article that appeared in the Sunday Times(of 17/05/09) supplement( It's My Business) the writer - Hendri Pelser - gave us a few tips on how we can do this:

"1.Travel less - ( use)Skype instead of meeting face to face.
 2.Open windows and switch off the air conditioning.
 3.Fit energy - saving bulbs and switch off lights when not needed.
4.Switch off appliances that are not in use at the plug point.
5.Drive slowly to emit less pollution."


* A night of magic this past Wednesday .Barcelona F C gave us fans of the
'beautiful game' a night to remember when they won the European Champions
League Final. They defeated - with their trademark 'fantasy football' - Manchester United by 2-0. And this scoreline does not even begin to describe how comprehensive this defeat of Man U was. Man U were totally outplayed. At one stage the match commentator was saying that the Man U players can't seem to get to the ball. Because it was 'glued' to Barca's players feet.
In the the final analysis Barcelona were the deserved winners. They entertained and thrilled us all on the night.
The Spanish Armada had indeed taken over Rome that Wednesday night.
And what about the historical Spanish treble( the King's Cup, the La Liga and the
Euro Champs Cup) by coach Pep Guardiola in only his first season in top flight
soccer. How cool is this?


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.


=================================


Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:


Here Come The Bulls
________________

It's the Bulls of Pretoria.
The Bulls of Tshwane.
Here they come.
Storming Loftus.
Running over the Chiefs.
Here they come.
The Bulls of 'Mahlanyeng'
Making history.
Winning the final by the unheard of 61-17.
Ably led by captain Matfield on the field.
And capably led by coach Ludeke in the dugout.
Here come the Bulls tsa 'bo-die maan.'
Here they come.
Here comes the pride of Mzansi.
All you pretenders.
Pretenders to the Super 14 throne.
Make way.
The Bulls have arrived.
Arrived in a big way.
And they are here to stay.


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SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

Let us know at - feelgoodmovement@gmail.com
====================================

Barcelona's La Liga Triumph, Football Fridays, And Emails from bo-Sarah 'Bibs'

* The Barcelona Football Club winning the Spanish league( La Liga) this past week.
 Barcelona winning the La Liga was highly pleasing for us. Barca - as they popularly known - are playing some really attractive football right now. Their type of soccer comes very close to the way most soccer fans love the game to be played. They play possession football( holding on to the ball as much as possible), coupled with lots of attacking. The result is not only beautiful to watch, but they score lots of goals too.
Their recent two semi-finals games against Chelsea in the Champions League may not have yielded that many goals, but any neutral fan would have loved the way Barca dominated. Chelsea were on the back foot most of the time, defending as if their lives depended on it. Barca were all over them. Barcelona's league win is a triumph of style with substance.
Well done to the new coach 
Pep Guardiola and his boys.


* Still on matters football. You will have to excuse me here, because  Mzansi( South Africa) is hosting FIFA's biggest showpiece( the 2010 World Cup) next year after all. I cannot help it.
I read in THE TIMES(18/05/09) this week that the Southern Sun group of hotels
has introduced what it calls Football Fridays in its workplace. Every Friday its employees are encouraged to dress in their favourite team's soccer jersey. The MD of Southern Sun - Mr Graham Wood - said this practice was meant to create excitement around FIFA'S World Cup that is coming to S A next year.
This move by Southern Sun was pretty cool, I thought. FIFA - the other day - was
complaining that there is not enough buzz here in Mzansi around the 2010 World Cup.
This campaign by Southern Sun should be a good start.
In fact, the CEO of the Local Organizing Committee( LOC) - Mr Danny Jordaan - was quoted in this article as saying more South African companies should join this Football Fridays campaign.
May I also take this opportunity to make a plea to our own CEO - Mr Michael Jordaan - to allow us join this worthy campaign. Being the national sponsors of this event makes FNB the perfect candidates for Football Fridays.


* An email we received from Mrs Sarah Bibi Sheik-Imam. A colleague of hers
seems to be leading from the front. She writes:

"Hi Duncan,

I just wanted to say thank you for all your help with treasury. And congratulations on doing a great job as Teller 1. I know it is hard work, but you
have proven to a lot of people that you can handle it.
Be strong."

Way to go Duncan my man.

While still on the subject of giving big 'ups' to fellow workers, I would like to
to say something too:

To Victor( our Financial Planner) - "Ta ntate for your tolerance of my frequent
requests to use your terminal to print stuff.
I really appreciate your generous spirit."

To Linda( our Co-ordinator) - "Welcome back my sister. You were terribly
missed. It's really good, I mean really good
to have you back."


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.


==================================


Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:


Show Us Barca
_____________

Show us Barcelona.
Show us your style.
Show us possession football at its finest.
Remind us of Johan Cruyff's 'dream team'.
4 successive La Ligas.
Plus 1 Champions League Cup then.
Who can argue with that.
Show us Barca.
Bring back some of that class Pep.
'09 La Liga in the bag.
Man U to follow this Wed.
Messi and Eto'o.
Henry and Iniesta.
Bang in those goals.
Shake and rattle Man U's net.
Show us you are champions Barca.
Not only of Spain.
Or even of Europe.
But of the whole world.
Show us Barcelona.
Show us your style.


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SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

Let us know at - feelgoodmovement@gmail.com
====================================

The Genius of DJ Cleo, President Zuma's New Cabinet, And 9 A M Openings

* DJ Cleo winning yet another award, at the recent SAMAs, bringing into sharp focus his brilliance. He won a SAMA for the 'Most Downloaded Ringtone' on the MTN network for his song "Hands Up".
This man - Cleo - has been giving us beats to groove to every year. As he likes to put it himself: "I have had a hit song every year for the past
4 years." And this is the truth. From "When I first saw your face", "Masingita",
"Sisi ngihamba nawe" to last year's "Hands Up", DJ Cleo has been delivering the
goods. These were not just hits but they were well-crafted songs.
He was also responsible for producing the early Mzekezeke stuff. For example, he produced the mega hit "Sguqa nga madolo". Then, we knew him as an excellent
producer, but of late we have seen some awesome stage performances from him. Who can forget his performance of "Sisi ngihambe nawe" at last year's Mzansi Awards.
He is a very good 'kwaito' rapper too. And what about those tongue-in-cheek lyrics of his?
Considering all of this, nna I say, he is the real 'KING OF KWAITO'.
Sure, Cleo my man.


* A few of my favourite things about President Jacob Zuma's new cabinet:

- His choice of Mr Pravin Gordhan as Finance Minister. We all know what a
splendid job Mr Gordhan did as head of SARS. If anyone needed any proof that
our economic fundamentals will still be under a good watch, this is it.

- Ms Naledi Pandor surviving the chop. She is still in the cabinet, now heading
the Ministry of Science and Technology. Ms Pandor made it despite that little
skirmish last year with the ANC Youth League president - Julius Malema. After this incident I had feared the worst for her.
We are grateful for small mercies.

- Our extremely capable former Finance Minister - Mr Trevor Manuel - still being
in the mix. He is now National Planning Minister and he will be based in the
Presidency. This new ministry will - apparently - be responsible for formulating policy for the new government.

-Don't you simply love the new name for the old Ministry of Housing. It now
goes something like Ministry of Human Settlements. When I first heard this name
I could not stop laughing. It instantly brought to mind squatter camps.
Could we not have thought of a better name?


* The practice of opening the bank late on Wednesdays in '1 and done' branches.
On this day the branch opens for customers only at 9.00 am, as opposed to the normal 8.00 am on other week days. We - as staff - are still required to report for duty at 8.00 am however. But on this day management normally turns a blind eye to us sometimes rocking up after 8. So on Wednesdays there is really no rush to get to work for us.
Also, this 1 hour before the 9.00 o'clock opening gives us a bit of time to have a leisurely cup of coffee at work, or to catch up on the latest gossip with colleagues.
More importantly, though ,this hour gives us a chance to hold our staff meetings.
This idea of  opening latish on Wednesdays was an inspired idea, me thinks.


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

=====================================

Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:

uDJ Cleo Bafowethu
________________

What can we say Cleo?
You have kept 'kwaito' alive.
Have kept it real.
Have kept it township.
What can we say?
Never mind bo-Kelly.
Or bo-Bricks.
Their jibes pale in comparison.
In comparison to your talent.
What can we say boss?
Continue to gives us the good stuff.
Continue to make us dance like crazy.
Continue to make us feel good Cleo.
What can we say?
Keep taking 'kwaito' to another level.
You are the KING of it.
Will always be.
Long Live the KING.

==============================================


SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

Let us know at - feelgoodmovement@gmail.com
====================================

Farewell to our Graduate, This Year's SAMAs, And Mothers' Days

* Us bidding farewell to one of our staff members - Rainier Joubert - this week.
Rainier has been based in our branch( The Glen) for the past 15 months( or so) as part of his training to become a manager one day. Because he is a graduate, he is being
fast-tracked into a managerial position.
We have had our ups and downs with Rainier, but ultimately we want to wish him well in his new job at FNB Private Clients. When he becomes a shining star one day, he will remember where he got his basics from.


* The South African Music Awards( SAMAS) being back to form. They sizzled this past Saturday. I was pleased that the entertainment value had been brought back. This aspect had been sadly lacking in the past two years.
Of note in this edition were:
a)Trevor Noah - as MC - being top of his game. A stand-up comedian by trade, Mr Noah made sure that we laughed our lungs out throughout the show.I particularly loved the 'skit' where he impersonated a maskandi musician.
b)The performance of DJ TIRA and BIG NUZ. These guys brought the house down.
I was simply blown away by their stage act. They had rhythm and swagger. Not to mention their dance moves. Them featuring a violin player as part of their act was unexpected, but the young lady fitted in well.
After this performance I say, too, "Durban Rocks."
c)The winner of the 'Song of the Year' award being well-deserved. This award was won by the group RHYTHMIC ELEMENTS with their song "2 by 2". If ever there was a song that defined local house music last year, this was it. This song combined some 'wicked' dance beats with equally good Setswana lyrics.

Big 'ups' to the SAMAS organizers, and to the sponsors - MTN - who added a fun element with their cheeky TV adverts leading up to - and during - the ceremony.


* This coming Sunday - 10th May - being Mother's Day.
What can one say about these colossal figures in our lives that has not been said already. Mothers are everything. And this is no exaggeration.
In an African saying we say: "Mme o tshoara thipa ka bohaleng", which
means a mother holds a knife on its sharp side. This she will do disregarding her own safety. All she wants is to protect her children.
A happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.
While at it, may I pass my love and heartfelt gratitude to my own mother - Sis Dudu.
"My sister( Teboho) and me would be nothing without you Sisi."


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.


==================================


Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:

There You Go Rainier
_________________

There you go 'R'.
There you go again.
There you go being a real team player around here.
Chipping in at Collections department.
Manning the switchboard.
Working the 'floor'.
Or even acting up as a manager sometimes.
There you go 'R'.
There you go again.
There you go studying like crazy.
How many degrees now?
A pity about the 'graduate scheme'.
But these things, they happen 'R'.
There you go again chatting up ladies on the 'floor'.
Chatting up the pretty ones.
Do I hear wedding bells Charmain?
Go Rainier.
Go white boy.
Go well.


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SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

Let us know at - feelgoodmovement@gmail.com
=====================================

Elections Free and Fair, A Dream Coming True, And The 'Tukkies' Soccer Team

* Our elections being declared free and fair by the IEC( Independent Electoral Commission). Democracy is indeed alive and kicking here in SA. Fifteen years after we first cast our votes as a united country we are still stable. It was quite pleasing to see those long and winding queues of voters on election day. It brought back memories of 1994 - the year of our watershed elections.
Mzansi citizens came out in numbers to cast their votes. By rough estimates the voter turnout -of those who had registered - was close to 80%. This turnout is damn good compared to other democracies.
While at it, may we take this opportunity to say 'well done' to the 4 biggest parties in the land:

The ANC - at 65.90% - for getting the lion's share of the votes.
The DA - at 16.66% - for being the 2nd biggest party in the country.
COPE - at 7.42% - for managing to get a national footprint despite being
a few months old.
The IFP - at 4.55% - for still being a force even though it is largely a
Kwazulu-Natal based party.

The people of Mzansi have spoken indeed.
ALL IS WELL.


* Clearest evidence yet that dreams can come true.
In an article by Karen Van Rooyen, entitled "Priest Lives His Big-Screen Rugby
Dream"(Sunday Times,26/04/09), a pastor named Paul Siaki went from reading about the making of the movie - THE HUMAN FACTOR - in the newspapers to actually being in it. This movie is about our national rugby team's( the Springboks) 1995 Rugby World Cup victory, and it is being shot here in SA.
From the start,  pastor Siaki decided that he wants to be in this movie. His reasoning was very simple. On the way to victory the Springboks played Samoa. It followed therefore that the movie makers will need somebody to play the Samoan part( or parts). He is Samoan by birth, loves rugby and happens to live here in SA. So the movie makers must have a part for him somewhere in this movie.
The pastor then phoned the casting agency to ask for a role in the movie. But he
was told, sorry, all the parts have been filled.
They should have told this to a less strong-willed somebody. Pastor Siaki was not going to give up. He kept phoning the agency, and pestering them, to 'demand' his part.
In the end his perseverance paid off. The casting agency one day phoned back to
say " they would need him after all". He was cast as the Samoan rugby team coach.
From nothing, pastor Paul Siaki was now hanging with bo-Matt Damon, Morgan
Freeman and Clint Eastwood on set.
His story was truly inspiring.
What dreams do we all have that, with a little persistence and outside-the-box-thinking, cannot come true?


* The incredible run by the Pretoria University soccer team( the 'tukkies') in the
Nedbank Cup knockout tournament. As a team from the First Division - as opposed to the Premier Division - nobody would have given them a chance. But
there they are: in the Final of this big bucks competition. On 23rd May they will
be playing a Premier Division side - Moroka Swallows - for the R6million winner's
prize.
Along the way they slayed some Premier Division giants like Kaizer Chiefs,
Ajax Cape Town, and Bloemfontein Celtic.
The win over Kaizer Chiefs had an unbelievable score. The 'tukkies' beat Chiefs
4-3 in regulation time. An unbelieving Chiefs fan - on being told about this score
the next day - had gone:

"Ene I had trust in our goalkeeper - Itumeleng Khune - when it
comes to a penalty shootout."

But this poor fan was quickly corrected.

"No, it was not a penalty shootout. The 'tukkies' put 4 past
Khune in normal play."

Well done to the Pretoria University soccer team and their coaching staff.


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.


======================================


Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:


Free And Fair
___________

Free and fair?
Yes, free and fair.
Says who?
So says the IEC.
So says SADC.
Free and fair?
Ofcourse,free and fair.
Who says?
So says Mzansi citizens.
They have spoken.
18 million of them.
It is clear.
Democracy is here.
You are free Mzansi.
'Mona' phanzi.
And you are fair too.


=====================================


SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

Let us know at - feelgoodmovement@gmail.com
=====================================