Government's Firm Hand, Pep Guardiola's Pep Talk, And the Arrival of The FGM T-shirts

* Our government showing who is in charge in response to the SANDF soldier's recent strike.
The striking soldiers had tried to storm the Union Buildings - President Jacob Zuma's residence in Pretoria - in a protest over their 'low' salaries. But they were repelled by the police with teargas. This firm response by the government was reassuring. Any form of lawlessness has to be nipped in the bud. The soldiers can go on strike if they want to, but the burning of cars etc..was uncalled for.
This same strong show of force was promised by the Premier of Gauteng - Nomvula Mokonyane -  to the taxi owners who were planning to disrupt the launch of the Bus Rapid Transport system this coming week.
We applaud this tough stance on lawlessness by the government. As citizens of Mzansi we need to feel that we are not at a mercy of elements who want to have their way by force.


* Reading about what the Barcelona coach - Pep Guardiola - told his players before the Champion's League final against Manchester United earlier this year. He was quoted in a soccer magazine called CHAMPIONS( August/September issue). In an article entitled 'Veni,Vidi,Vici.' by Paul Simpson, Guardiola was said to have told his players to be daring during the game:

" We wanted to say we played and were not being cowards.
There is nothing more dangerous than not taking risks."

I found this pep talk about taking risks very inspirational indeed. And from the way Barcelona defeated Man U, his players must indeed have heeded the coach's advice. Barcelona not only scored goals( 2 to Man U's 0), but they entertained us also.
How many risks do we take in our own personal lives in order to get ahead?



* The arrival of the Feel Good Movement t-shirts this past Friday. These t's were done for us by a company called MBOTANE BUSINESSS SERVICES that specializes in branded corporate wear and gifts. It is a company owned by a lady called Jabu Mabaso.
Needless to say, we are hugely excited here in The FGM. Our message of spreading the good news in our lives has just received another broadcast channel. The Feel Good Revolution can now spread its wings far and wide.

"Much, much love to you Ausi Jabu."



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


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Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:


Safe In Your Arms
_______________

When the earth is shaking.
When the ground we walk on trembles.
We want to feel safe.
Safe in your arms Goromente.
When it is cold.
When it is chilly outside.
We need to know that you are there.
That you are there for us Goromente.
When lawlessness, greed and corruption threaten.
When they threaten to overwhelm us.
We need your shield.
We need your protection.
Tell us that the law will take its course
And indeed it must.
So far so good Goromente.
We feel safe.
Safe in your arms.


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

FEEL GOOG THIS WEEK?

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

Tutu's Admission, bo-Samuele of PNA, And Our Customers Having Their Say

* Archbishop Desmond Tutu acknowledging that he was wrong about the suitability of Mr Jacob Zuma to be the President of our country. He was quoted in THE TIMES newspaper( 19/08/09) as saying President Zuma: "..connects more easily with people than his predecessor." The 'Arch' had expressed grave concerns about Zuma's presidency before our general elections earlier this year.
 For the Archbishop to publicly admit that he may have been wrong in assessing Mr Zuma is an admirable thing indeed. It is a mark of a true leader to come out openly and say " I was wrong."
In this admission the 'Arch' could actually have been speaking for a lot of other people who had the same doubts about Mr Zuma.
And as if this was not enough endorsement of Mr Zuma's tenure so far, recently, political pundits generally agreed that the President had done reasonably well in his first 100 days in office.


* A very friendly staff member at PNA - the stationery shop that is located opposite the MTN outlet here in The Glen mall. His name is Samuel. This gentleman makes my visits to PNA a pleasure. He is always eager to assist customers.
The other day he proved to be highly creative in helping me to use the last rands in my gift voucher shopping debit card. In this instance I had thought that I needed to buy for the exact amount of the remaining balance in the debit card in order to exhaust it, but he made me aware that I have an option of adding my own cash to the debit card balance to make up the total of my purchase.

"Leka moso Ntate Samuele."


* Some really beautiful words from some our customers after we had served them. They write all of this in our Visitors Comments Book. Here are some really
nice ones:

On Bessie Mnisi Mr S. wrote:

"Bessie bent over backwards 4 us to help us get our funds.
She lived up up to your phrase - How can we help you?"

On Linda Dickson Ms K. writes:

"If your bank had 10 more staff like Linda Dickson it would be great.
She is a fine example."

And on Thapelo Ntlhabo Lady B. wrote:

"Absolutely satisfied with Thapelo. He made my day. Very efficient.
Good for you."

Finally, a special 'big up' to Valentine. This came  from our Branch Admin manager - Erika
Kasselman. She said Val is really considerate. Valentine came to work yesterday not being aware that she should have been off. When she was told that she can go home she opted to stay in order to give a fellow department worker a chance to catch up on his work load.


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


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Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:


Tutu.
_____

Show us the way Arch.
Show us the way forward.
When we err,come down hard.
When we do good, sing.
Sing our praises.
Show us the art of smoking.
The art of smoking a peace pipe.
Show us the art of winning a Nobel prize.
Also, show us the art of calling neighbours to order.
The art of calling a spade a spade.
Lead us Arch.
As an elder teach us.
Lecture us on the virtues of having a spouse.
In old age I need my slippers.
I need my slippers brought to me.
Show us the way Archbishop.
Lead us.
And into temptation, lead us not.


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


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

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

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

The African-ness of the Johannesburg CBD, Giveaways From FIFA's LOC, And FGM Blog Posts Highlighted

* The various, and colourful, influences from around the African continent found in the Johannesburg CBD( Central Business District). One sees it in dress codes, in the languages spoken, or in the music played in here. The Jozi CBD is truly African, and this is something good.
This past Friday morning I ventured into the city centre and was blown away by the music I heard there. Being based outside the city centre work-wise, I rarely go there. On this Friday morning - in the Jourbert/Bree street area - I was greeted by some really beautiful African music. This music - played at full blast - came from a 'smallanyana' shop selling religious artifacts. On inquiring, I was informed that the music was Nigerian gospel by a musician called Blessed Samuel. And this particular song was called ''God Be Praised". I loved how this Nigerian gospel music retained its strong African influences.
I made a note to buy the Blessed one's cd on my next CBD visit.


* Hearing that the LOC and FIFA have decided to give away about 120,000 World Cup 2010 tickets for free. I heard this on the Metro FM's Discovery Sports Centre radio show hosted by Robert Marawa. The LOC CEO-Danny Jordaan - was a studio guest and informed us of this. Mr Jordaan said 40,000 of these tickets will go to the construction workers who built the 2010 World Cup stadiums.
This giving back of sorts by the LOC and FIFA is commendable indeed. I have heard that the workers who are building these stadiums are really working hard to finish them on time. Danny told us - as an example - how he would find the workers busy at work even on Saturdays and Sundays at the Port Elizabeth stadium.
This commitment by the construction workers to make the 2010 World Cup a success made me wonder what I am doing - in my own small way - to make 'our' World Cup a success.


* The pleasure of having one of our FGM blog posts( of 02/08/09) being put up on the Spur Restaurant(The Glen) notice board.
Sometime ago I wrote a post in which I expressed how much I had loved the way I was served at the Spur( The Glen). In particular, the way I was served by Ayanda and Joseph. After I gave these guys each a copy of this post they showed it to their management. Management loved the post and decided to put it up in the restaurant's notice board in the public arena for all and sundry to see.
I was flattered to hear of this.
Thank you Spur people.


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


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


Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:


Been To Africa Lately?
__________________

I have.
Been to Abuja.
Been to Kinshasa.
The Jozi CBD has taken me there.
Been to Portugal lately?
I have.
Via Luanda.
Via Maputo.
The Jhb CBD takes me.
Been to Mogadishu?
Been to Addis Ababa?
I have been indeed.
The Mjepa CBD.
I have been all over Africa.
I stay all over Africa.
I am an African Mr Mbeki.
The Jozi CBD makes me.


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


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

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

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

Celebrating Our Ladies, Insight into a DC Hearing, And Big Support for Soccer in the USA

* The celebration of Women's Day here in South Africa today.
Every year on this day - a public holiday - we pay homage to the women of Mzansi for their contribution to the liberation of our country from racial oppression.
It was on this day back in 1956 that the women of this country marched to Pretoria to protest against the 'dom pass' law. This was a law that required all black South Africans to carry a 'pass' document at all times.
Here I would like to sing my praises, too, to all the ladies of Mzansi for the many roles in which they still excel even today. Be it as mothers, lovers, friends or fellow workers, you guys still rock.


* Attending a disciplinary hearing for the first time and being really impressed by the whole process. This is despite the fact that a DC hearing subject matter is never comfortable.
I went there to support a colleague and a friend in his hour of need.
I was struck by how fair the process seemed to be. Each side is given ample opportunity to state their case.
The chairman of this particular hearing - Mr James Walsh - did a splendid job in conducting it. He explained clearly how the process works at the beginning. Also, before we moved forward on a particular point he made sure that each side was satisfied. There was no sense of needing to get this thing over and done with quickly.
As if this was not fair enough, at the conclusion of the hearing James asked my friend his opinion on the kind of punishment he should get if found guilty. I nearly fell off my chair at this question.
All in all, 'big up' to FNB for such a fair DC hearing process.


* Evidence that Americans do love soccer after all. This is contrary to the popular opinion that they don't. But it seems the soccer has to be of the right type and style.
It was reported in THE TIMES( 3/8/9) that the recent game between the European Champions-Barcelona - and the local team - L A Galaxy - drew one of the largest crowds.The attendance for this game was estimated at 93 000. This, the report stated, was the largest crowed in a soccer game since the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which the US hosted.
And it is no coincidence that the Americans came to this particular game in droves. The game featured Barcelona - the current finest exponents of how the beautiful game should be played. Barca's style of playing plus the star power of the David Beckham-inspired L A Galaxy team must have proved irresistible.
For us soccer lovers this sign of a growth in popularity of the beautiful game in the US of A is a  wonderful thing.



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


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


Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:


Queens, All Of You
______________

Queens,women you are.
Queens of nurturing.
You give us life.
You grow us.
Even on our death beds,
Ravaged by desease.
You are still there.
You are teachers.
Not so much by words.
By your deeds.
Queens of loyalty.
Fiercely loyal to your offspring.
To your lovers.
To a fault sometimes.
Queens.
You are strong.
Physically and mentally.
Ouch! the pain of childbirth.
The pain of an offspring gone astray.
The pain of an abusive partner.
You bear it all.
And grin.
We love these qualities in you.
Queens, women you all are.


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


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

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

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