Saturday, December 6, 2008

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP AND CONFEDERATION CUP 2009


Zakumi’s Sister says ……..

Saturday 6 December 2008

Plan your 2010 World Cup reconaissance trip to KwaZulu-Natal during the month of April 2009 and experience South Africa’s equivalent of Woodstock ......SPLASHY FEN.

South Africa’s longest-running and most renowned annual music festival, Splashy Fen has evolved into the ultimate outdoor experience for music and nature lovers alike. As such, it offers a number of exciting opportunities for potential sponsors and we’d like to invite you to become a part of this unique event.

Take a look – who would not want to be there?!!!!!

http://www.splashyfen.co.za

Listen to the Splashy Fen Song

http://www.splashyfen.co.za/sfmusic/sfsong08.html

Our own special African Rose opened Splashy 2008 – for more information

www.myspace.com/miriambackhouse

To book your reconaissance trip email info@lkf.co.za

Zakumi’s Sister says ……..

Saturday 6 December 2008

Imagine spending the day driving around a luxury privately owned game farm in the Ladysmith area of KwaZulu-Natal, and then flying to Durban in a twin-engined plane just in time to watch your team playing in the spectacular stadium – Moses Mabhida. No worries if it rains – the roof will keep you dry!!!

Then fly to Bela Bela (previously named Warmbaths in English or Warmbad in Afrikaans) – now there’s a beautiful African name – and experience Africa at another up-market game lodge – and go on safari with game drives, health spa, swimming and relaxing under the African skies.

Take a look at all the areas that you can visit on this map and remember the out of the way special lodges that we are promoting are probably not listed here!

National Parks in South Africa are really mediocre and definitely not luxury.

http://www.places.co.za/html/gamelodges_home.html

We suggest that you take some time out to do a trip to South Africa now, check out where you want to go and where you don’t want to go!! This will make your trip to the World Cup much more relaxing and fun.

Remember – public transport for the masses in South Africa is a far cry from the public transport that fans will be used to. It might come as a bit of a shock to you – all too late – if you get here expecting to use public transport to get to the stadium!!

http://www.iss.co.za/static/templates/tmpl_html.php?node_id=2171&slink_id=4337&slink_type=12&link_id=24

24 April 2007: Security on Trains: Does Metrorail (South Africa) Take Its Responsibility Seriously?

There are some things in life that we seem to accept no matter how wrong they may be. One such example is the standard of safety provided for train commuters. It appears that we have assumed that using a train is generally risky and that commuters should find ways of dealing with this problem. Thus, when using a train regular commuters would give tips to others as to what routes to use to avoid crime.

The train commuting environment is conducive to crime. It is fair to say that until the commuter gets to the train station, he/she is completely unprotected. The stark contrast to this commuter vulnerability is that—if one takes Kempton Park station (Gauteng) as an example—one sees a lot of police visibility by both members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Metro Police. But once one moves off the main road -- a necessity for a train commuter—one enters no man’s land.

While the route to the station is undoubtedly not policed, it is more disturbing that even after reaching the station and after boarding the train the situation does not improve much. ……

Evidently, SAPS takes commuter safety more seriously than does Metrorail. SAPS has re-introduced railway police, for example. These railway police, however, cannot adequately provide the necessary security on the trains.

Fear not, this is not a scare tactic, just information awareness input. Most commuters who own computers in South Africa drive their own cars ..…..

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.transport.gov.za/projects/msa/msareport/msarpt_fig30.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.transport.gov.za/projects/msa/msareport/msadraft82.html&usg=__S5NmNNHkhWMemn_ehlopAPUzZmc=&h=491&w=725&sz=6&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=4mGbtAl5msvrZM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpictures%2Bof%2Bpublic%2Btransport%2Bsouth%2Bafrica%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3RNFA_enZA274ZA281%26sa%3DX

Figure 26: Urban Passenger Segmentation

See website for customer segments
Strider - prefers to walk or cycle
Stranded - no affordable public transport available
Survivor - captive to cheapest form of pt option
Sensitive - captive to pt but selects "best" option
Selective - can afford car but willing to use pt
Stubborn - only uses car

The final segment is comprised of the Stubborn customers. This group will only use cars, and represents 3 million people, or 14% of the current urban population. This group is expected to grow by significantly between 1998 and 2020, which will create significant challenges for urban areas in terms of road infrastructure and congestion. Members of this segment opt out of the public transport system altogether by using their cars, and cost is a minor issue for these customers, compared to the much more salient concerns of convenience and speed. Their car dependence is enabled by the excellent urban road network in cities and adjacent suburbs where the stubborn residents tend to live.

So start planning your reconnaissance trip now!!! Experience Africa before the World Cup and see it as it really is before the millions of football fans converge upon our land and congest it!!! Fall in love ….. with Africa.





Zakumi’s Sister says ……..



555 days to go to kick off – Tuesday 2 December 2008

Dine in a wonderful setting at the Valley of a Thousand Hills and enjoy the music of Africa in the beautifully constructed amphitheatre with a 180 degree view high over the valley.

Introducing our African Rose – Miriam Backhouse – and her debut CD “Over Africa”!!

CD'S available at R150 including postage in South Africa

email us on info@lkf.co.za to secure your copy

Miriam Backhouse

African Rose

www.myspace.com/miriambackhouse

One of the very best revivalist folk singers of the 1970s, she toured the UK and Europe to be come their “First Lady of Folk”.

‘Gypsy without a road’ 1977,on the Mother Earth label, is considered a Folk Classic. www.motherearthmusic.co.uk

"Gypsy without a road" is a masterpiece, a gem of British Folk which stands proudly with Dick Gaughan's 'Handful of earth', Fairport's 'Liege and Lief' and Nick Jones's 'Penguin Eggs'.
The world need to re-discover it again!
Nibs van der Spuy.

From FRED WOODS tribute :-

During the Seventies he was the founder and fully professional editor of the lively Folk Review. The magazine was sponsored by two excellent albums which Woods produced on the Folksound label, with contributions given freely by such noted singers as Nic Jones, Vin Garbutt, Tony Rose, Louis Killen, June Tabor, English Tapestry, Miriam Backhouse, Tim Laycock, Martin Wyndham-Read, Sean Cannon, Dick Gaughan and Archie Fisher.

“An absolute delight – she will captivate you – a voice not to be missed – a true minstrel.”

Woodies Folk Club, Sussex, UK.

This year, 2008, she re-launched her solo career at the 19th Splashy Fen Festival, to the delight of international festival goers.

Her amazingly beautiful voice and wonderful interpretations of traditional folk songs also earned her many new fans amongst the “Fenners”.

See Splashy Fen 2009 - News - African Rose to relaunch her career………..

next year, 2010, she will be amongst the “Splashy Fen Legends” at the 20th Bash.

2008’s tour of the clubs and festivals in the UK confirmed her place as one of the true greats of the Folk Singing world. Next International Tour - Summer 2009.

Her repertoire spans from the old story – telling ballads, to the protest songs of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and songs she has written about South Africa - it’s beauty and pain.

“Superb” Matt Armour The Song Loft, Stony Stratford

Foggy Furze. Hartlepool myspace comment Thursday, August 14, 2008

Wow, what a performer. Miriam Backhouse. If you weren't there, you missed a treat. We had people in from as far afield as Bodmin who came to see what was happening.

Miriam really connected with the audience. so we had a fun night singing along with some songs we knew and some songs we learned.

It was one of those nights when the performance lived up to the anticipation.

Miriam Backhouse was the Kate Rusby of her day, before going to live in South Africa. She has been re establishing herself back on the folk circuit here, I have seen her at Warwick Festival and a couple of folk clubs, she does a great night of traditional songs and attracts people from far and wide (Sean Cannon turned up at one club to see her and he did a couple of songs too, it was great)

John McDonald

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP AND CONFEDERATION CUP 2009

561 days until kick off!!!!

That is what it says on the black digital board with yellow lights opposite the exit across the feeder roads from the Arrivals Hall at Durban International Airport (DIA). Oh sorry!!!! As of the moment there could be a name change!!!!

http://www.pprune.org/african-aviation/255435-durban-international-get-new-name.html

Thumbs downDurban International to get new name!!!


Here we go..... once the name changing has started it ain't going to stop.....
Welcome to the banana republic......

"Durban International Airport (DIA) could soon be renamed Moses Mabhida International Airport if Durban's Ethekwini municipality has its way, the Mercury reported on Friday.
Renaming the airport has been placed on the agenda of the next full council meeting of the Ethekwini municipality, which is expected to be held late January.

The move has raised the eyes of opposition parties who claim no formal resolution was put forward at an executive council meeting on Wednesday.

Moses Mabhida, the former general secretary of the SA Communist Party, died in 1986 in the Mozambican capital of Maputo.

Last week he was re-buried in Pietermaritzburg at a ceremony which saw President Thabo Mbeki being booed from the stage by supporters of ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma. ………

So don’t get lost on your way to Africa to see the World Cup games!!

Fear not! When you fly in during the month of June 2010 you probably will not even land at DIA (Durban International Airport – or rather Moses Mabhida International Airport) as we are busy building the King Shaka International Airport on the KwaZulu-Natal elite north coast. The new King Shaka International Airport

http://www.dubetradeport.co.za/Characteristics/kingShakaAirport.asp

is springing up right out of the sugar cane fields of the “rolling hills of Natal”.

Take a look at the beautiful areas surrounding the new airport.

http://www.brettenwood-land.co.za/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Shaka_International_Airport

Things are changing so fast here, on a daily basis, that even South Africans are getting lost.

We suggest if you intend coming to see the games that you invest in a Tom Tom. Especially as according to Tom Tom.com road names change quite regularly.

http://www.tomtom.com/products/maps/

Brand new maps at TomTom Map Shop!

Did you know that on average, 15% of roads change every year? That’s why we regularly bring you new maps. Visit our shop to get the latest maps of destinations all over the world. Just download and go!

There you go….. this “tool” is a must when traveling in Africa, and will certainly help you to reach the most important destination for a football fan……

You guessed it!!!!

http://www.southafrica.info/2010/senzangakhona_190606.htm

2010 Fifa World Cup

Durban unveils World Cup stadium


An architect's model of the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban (Photo: eThekweni)

26 November 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

HOLD HANDS TOGETHER AND PRAY .......

2010 – WORLD CUP and Confederation Cup 2009

MEET ZAKUMI – THE MASCOT FOR THE WORLD CUP

http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=743:zakumi230908&catid=46:2010news&Itemid=118

Tuesday, 23 September 2008 12:45

Zakumi is a fluffy young leopard with

green dreadlocks and a wide smile. Introduced to the world at a lavish event at the South African Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in Johannesburg yesterday,

“He’s young, vibrant, energetic, enthusiastic, sociable, self-confident and ambitious.” That’s how Danny Jordaan, head of the 2010 Fifa World Cup Local Organising Committee, described Zakumi, the football tournament’s mascot.

“Zakumi represents the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying the essence the 2010 Fifa World Cup,” Fifa general-secretary Jerome Valcke said at the event.

Fifa have given their mascot a distinct personality and personal history. Zakumi was born on 16 June 1994, a day and a year of great significance in South Africa.

The 16th of June 1976 saw the beginning of the Soweto youth uprising, when schoolchildren took to the streets to protest against apartheid, many of them cut down by police gunfire.

And 1994 was the year that South Africans of all races cast their votes for the first time to elect a new post-apartheid democratic government.

With the slogan “Zakumi: the mascot with an attitude”, Fifa describe Zakumi’s personality as lively, outgoing, adventurous and spontaneous – a “shrewd little fellow”

They say he loves to perform and always follows his instinct and intuition, and has the tendency to exaggerate.

Zakumi was designed and his costume produced exclusively in South Africa. His name is a combination of “ZA”, South Africa’s domain name, and “Kumi”, which means “10” in a number of African languages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTPKsW06At8

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1781794/zakumi_mascot_world_cup_2010/

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/081014/59/16pwv.html

Zakumi’s sister says………

Vasco da Gama of Portugal first saw the coast of KwaZulu-Natal on Christmas Day 1497 and therefore it was named Natal.

http://africaguide.com/culture/tribes/zulu.htm

The proud Zulu nation is spread out throughout South Africa, but a lot still reside either in the cities or on what they term “the farm”. Traveling north from Durban the coast is called The Dolphin Coast and further into Zululand it is called The Elephant Coast. Traveling south from Durban there is the Hibiscus Coast, which like the north coast is divided into rural and agricultural communities.

Nearer the coast, the rolling hills of Natal shimmer in the wind with their acres and acres of sugar cane, and moving inland one finds the more natural rural areas, as well as the starkly beautiful thorn bush areas. Near the northern borders is the mountain range called the Drakensberg, named by the Dutch Voortrekkers – translated means the Dragon’s berg – and some of the best privately owned game farms are nearby.

Driving up the northern coastal areas there are several National Game Parks where the big five can be found. In the little dorp, (village) near the Swaziland border, Wakkerstroom the most prolific bird life in the whole of South African can be found.

The new airport for Durban feeding the KwaZulu-Natal area will be completed before the FIFA 2010 World Cup beginning 11 June to 11 July 2010. The whole area is a-buzz with building and preparations for the fantastic event which will truly make Africa part of the world community.

The Confederation Cup which takes place from June 14-28, 2009, in four cities across South Africa will bring many visitors who will hunt for the treasure of Africa amidst watching their favourite team in the stadiums.

The 2009 competition will feature Italy (2006 World Cup champions), Spain (2008 European champions), Brazil (2007 South American champions), the United States (2007 Gold Cup champions), Iraq (2007 Asian Cup champions), Egypt (2008 African Cup of Nations champions) and New Zealand (2008 Oceania Nations Cup champions).

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/11/21/confederation-cup.html

Sleepy South Africans are awakening to prepare for all the visitors that are expected to come. Musicians, artists, restaurant owners, tourist operators and small businesses alike are working hard at preparing the biggest, the best and the most enjoyable time for the rest of the world!!!!

Where to go, where not to go, when to go and when not to go. Where to eat, and where not to eat, what to wear and what not to wear. Where to stay and where not to stay, how to keep safe and issues such as snakes, sharks in the ocean, and crime are questions that will be answered on this blog. And our speciality, of course, where to go to listen to Durban musicians play, who are they and how to experience real African music at the grass-roots level.

Highly recommended accommodation and tour operators can be reached through this website. Safety aspects and luxury top market resorts will be highlighted and travel arrangements made. Services to stock up self-catering units is on offer and the suggestion is that fans travel to South Africa and particularly KwaZulu-Natal to see for yourselves how far your accommodation is from the stadium etc. etc. These details will also be attended to by our travel experts and the best advice will be given. The exchange rate is so favourable, start planning your trip now to save disappointment with last minute travel arrangements.

Zakumi’s sister would love some feedback.

EXPERIENCE THE MUSIC!!

email us on info@lkf.co.za for further information and feedback.

Lkf stands for Leopard Kingdom Foundation (Daniel 7 vs 6)

THE FARAWAY LAND!

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a king. His sons and his sons’ sons, having wandered down through Africa, are now settled in the beautiful rolling hills of northern Natal in the land that is now called Zululand. Zululand, the kingdom of the people of heaven.

Nowadays the descendant of this king, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu is the reigning Zulu Monarch who resides at Nongoma. The Zulus are known as the people of the kingdom of heaven.

Legend has it that this king once lived in Northern Africa and is descended from the liaison between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

Long, long ago on the northern most part of Africa the gods left their mark, when they built the pyramids and temples along the river Nile in the reflection of the great stars of the heavens. Over the centuries these colossal witnesses have stood the test of time to inspire questioning minds to seek for the elusive truth.

Africa……. how poetic is your name?

With the Sphinx pointing to yonder star and giving us the key to asking the right questions – where is your hidden treasure? Archaeologists search in vain, digging up dust and preserving past lives and pain…- fully seek to find answers that apparently aren’t there!! And the wise men three from the heavens, watch all, patiently – waiting, waiting for that one child to be born. The seven sisters or seven lamp stands hold hands together and pray………

When, oh when will your treasure be found? Oh Africa…… release now your bounty, you beauty!

Scattered amongst the rolling hills in the most beautiful rural settings, the proud Zulu people have set up their kraals, and if you have ever had the chance to hear these people sing – you will know that they are the people of the kingdom of heaven…….. and you will know that the treasure and riches of Africa is not to be found in the resources ….. for ……..

Her treasure and her riches are…..….. the people!!!!

IT IS TIME FOR A NEW CHRISTMAS SONG!




To all musicians everywhere – you are welcome to sing this song this Christmas. Please share it with as many people as possible, bearing in mind that all music on this website is registered with the South African Music Rights Organisation – SAMRO – see www.samro.org.za – for all rights.

IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME

By Cheryl-Lynne van Egmond

16 December 1990

INTRO: C – Em – F – G – C (Waltz)

ECHO SINGS (Christmas time)

CHORUS It’s Christmas time, the season for giving

C Em F F6 G6 C F C

A time for remembering Je - sus love.

G7 C

VERSE 1 And if you hope to find another

G7 C

Who’ll share your love, this time you’ll follow,

G C

Because it’s Christmas time, the season for giving.

G C F C

A time for sharing, all of your love. Chorus

G7 C

VERSE 2 And if you hope to be reunited

G7 C

With family or friends, I hope you’ll see them,

G C

Because it’s Christmas time, the season for giving.

G C F C

A time for sharing, all of your love. Chorus

C Em F C G

CHORUS It’s Christmas time, the season for giving

C Em F F6 G6 C F C

A time for remembering Je - sus love.

G C F C

A time for remembering Jesus love.

Monday, November 24, 2008

ESCAPING THE CINDERELLA SYNDROME!

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, Cinderella lived in a mansion with her stepmother and two step sisters. Whilst Cinderella was kind and lovely, her step sisters were selfish and ugly. Cinderella’s stepmother did not like her, and she made her do all the housework and sleep in the attic!!

Cinderella looked on the sunny side of life and made friends with the birds and mice whilst she did her work cheerfully.

One morning the palace messenger appeared at the door!!!!

It just so happened that the King had planned a ball for his son hoping that he would marry and settle down………

By royal command, all eligible maidens were to attend!

Of course Cinderella thought that she could go too and said so!

“Ha! Ha!” screeched the step sisters, and they began making fun of her.

Her stepmother did not see any reason why Cinderella could not attend the ball BUT ONLY……… after she had finished the housework!!!!

Cinderella hurried upstairs to find a suitable dress to wear! It wasn’t long before her step sisters called her to do some extra work and help them to prepare for the ball and iron their dresses!!!

Poor Cinderella, by the time she had finished all the work she was too late to get her own dress ready. “Surprise!” cried the mice and birds. They had scampered down, salvaged some beads and a sash that the step sisters’ had tossed into the corner, and transformed her dress.

“How can I ever thank you enough!” gasped Cinderella.

She slipped on her new dress and blew them a kiss as she hurried out the door.

Drizella and Anastasia were being given a last minute check by their mother and the carriage was waiting for them outside.

The step sisters were shocked to see how beautiful Cinderella looked and noticing the beads around her neck and that she wearing Anastasia’s sash, the step sisters ripped off the sash and snatched the beads from her neck. They tore off all the frills and bows, leaving Cinderella’s dress in tatters.

Then the three of them sailed through the great front door and left in the waiting carriage.

Cinderella rushed into the garden and knelt by a stone bench, sobbing her heart out.

Even though Cinderella had always believed and had faith in her dreams, she cried, “I can’t believe, not anymore…. there’s nothing left to believe in.”

Suddenly a kind-faced little lady appeared sitting on the bench next to her, saying “You can’t go to the ball looking like that!” But we’ll have to hurry…….”

“Oh! You must be …..” said Cinderella.

“Your Fairy Godmother, of course!” said the little lady with the kindly smile.

Then with a few waves of her wand she began making magic! She found a PUMPKIN and turned it into a COACH, Cinderella’s MICE FRIENDS into HORSES, the HORSE, Major, into the COACHMAN, and Bruno, the family DOG, into a FOOTMAN!

“Off you go then, don’t waste any time!”

“But….” Cinderella looked at her tattered dress in dismay!

Suddenly the Fairy Godmother realized this, then with a wave of her wand and the magic words “Bibbidi, bobbidi, boo!” – a shower of starlight whirled around Cinderella. As it melted away, there she stood in a magnificent ball gown and glass slippers.

“It’s like a dream!” exclaimed Cinderella.

“But like all dreams …..this won’t last forever, you only have until midnight and then the spell will be broken….”

Cinderella kissed the Fairy Godmother and away she went in her enchanted coach racing toward the palace.

The King was feeling very grumpy as his son the Prince was not co-operating at all. Just then Drizella and Anastasia were being presented – the Prince just rolled his eyes!

Something caught the Prince’s eye – a beautiful young woman was wandering in the hall just outside the ballroom. She was by far the loveliest maiden that evening. The Prince hurried out of the ballroom, he bowed to Cinderella and taking her by the hand, they walked slowly into the ballroom and began to dance.

Cinderella and the Prince waltzed around and around. Cinderella was sure she was in love, as they had eyes only for each other. They strolled into the garden together and danced beneath the stars. Just as the Prince bent to kiss her, the palace clock began to chime midnight!

“I must go!” said Cinderella.

“Wait!” cried the Prince, “I don’t even know your name!”

But Cinderella ran down the staircase to her coach. In her hurry she left one of her glass slippers behind on the stairs.

The Prince recovered the shoe and took it to the Grand Duke, who issued a proclamation that every young maiden in the kingdom should try on the slipper, until he found the maiden with whom the Prince had fallen in love.

Meanwhile the coach bearing Cinderella was racing home. As it reached the twelfth chime the coach disappeared and Cinderella was left sitting on a pumpkin beside Major and the four mice, with just one twinkling slipper!

All night long the Grand Duke went from house to house trying the glass slipper on all the sleepy maidens. Only when the search reached Cinderella’s house did she realize her dance partner had been the Prince!

Cinderella’s stepmother quickly became suspicious of her dreamy appearance and heard her humming music from the ball. When Cinderella raced upstairs to brush her hair she quickly locked Cinderella in her room!

Anastasia and Drizella elbowed each other out of the way to be the first to try on the glass slipper. They pushed and squeezed as hard as they could, but it was no use.

Meanwhile, Jaq and Gus, the two little mice hurried downstairs and managed to steal the key from her step mother’s pocket. They dragged it upstairs, and set Cinderella free by unlocking the door!

Just as the Grand Duke was leaving he heard a voice calling, “Please wait! May I try it on?” There was Cinderella standing in her work clothes.

As she stood on the stairs, the Grand Duke took one look at her feet and smiled. “Come, my child,” he said, leading her to a chair. But the angry step mother tripped the Footman as he carried the slipper over, and smashed it to pieces.

“Oh no!” wailed the Grand Duke.

“Perhaps this would help,” said Cinderella, taking a glass slipper from her pocket. “I have the other slipper.”

The King jumped for joy, and in no time at all, the Prince married his Cinderella and they lived happily ever after!

Abridged from Disney’s “Charming Tales”

http://www.fln.vcu.edu/grimm/cinderella.html

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

P.S.






BACK TO CREATION

Sunday 3 August 2008

Is this the fairytale all girls should read?

HAPPY FEET

If you have not heard yet there is a new "dance club" called Q-ba. It is above Comics in Durban North. They offer dance classes including Salsa and Tango. It is really social and really a great load of fun. There is a bar too - bonus. So if you are brave enough come and check it out!! See you on the dance floor!!!

http://www.tangodurban.co.za/index.php

Once a year we run a flower arranging competition for florists in the greater Durban area, and this is followed by a demonstration by a leading floral artist. This year was no exception and we were entertained and coaxed into creativity by Jannie and Annette. Soon pics of the competition and demonstration will be posted onto flowerweb – click on news.

Our speciality is functions, weddings and just to show off. We therefore encourage the joining together of like-minded creationists who would like to share their work.

This leads me to invite all artists to showcase their work on this website. I am so excited to make this call.

If your creative juices have already begun to flow then the following call to unite, may interest you.

Stacey Almond who runs Nuts 4 Music has recently settled in Dubai in order to facilitate musicians who would like to perform overseas to be placed on contract in that city.

http://nuts4music.co.za/Home/tabid/285/language/en-US/Default.aspx

However, as you have journeyed this fairytale with me, your awakening will inevitably lead to back to creation, expressed in your unique way. If you feel “stuck” the best way to start is to rise early before anyone else stirs and with pen and paper to write down whatever comes to mind – just let it flow!!!! Do not be alarmed at what you write – even if it is – “I do not know what to write” – write it down, and when the next thought pops into your mind, write it down too. Do this on a daily basis and soon you will have a story, your dream will emerge, and you will know what to do. Do not give up!

Let us know about your progress – send us your sounds, sights and any other creative exploits you have achieved, we want to hear from you!

Before I say goodbye I would like to share with you that on Saturday 9th August being “Women’s Day” we went to listen to Angus Buchan at the ABSA Stadium. For a lot of people this was a life-changing event, and well-worth making the effort. Angus Buchan is a farmer evangelist from Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal who has booked up all the major sporting stadiums to address South Africans for the next few months. He started off at Loftus in Pretoria in July and will be at

Kroonstad Laubscherpark 16 August

Cape Town Newlands Stadium 12 and 13 September

Kimberley 27 September

East London 4 October

Port Elizabeth Xerox MMMU Stadium (University PE) Summerstrand 25 October

Johannesburg Ellis Park 8 November

And the next Mighty Men Conference (MMC) is from 8 – 10 May 2009

www.mightymen.org.za

And so we come to the end of Part 1 “The Awakening of the Sleeping Beauty” of this series called “Living The Faerytale”. I’d like to mention that Part 2 will start shortly, so keep reading. Part 2 will be entitled “Escaping The Cinderella Syndrome”, but before I begin, I will be concentrating on putting sound to music on the website and also collecting music cd’s and tapes from other musicians. Til we meet again…….

Sunday 3rd August 6am – 10am- Tuesday 12th August 2008

……..AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER

The Awakening of the

Sleeping Beauty


Long, long ago, in a faraway land, there lived a King and his lovely Queen. They longed for a child, but for many years their wish was denied … then one happy day, their wish came true, and a golden-haired baby was born. They named her Aurora in honour of the dawn. …..

LIVING IN THE NEW JERUSALEM

And so the tale of this Princess comes to a close.

As the dawning of the Age of Aquarius nears completion and we move into the fullness of this new Age, as pointed to and promised by those who have traveled this path before us, other awakening princesses and princes will begin to live in the light, as ON NO DAY WILL ITS GATES EVER BE SHUT.

In the gospel of John, Jesus says, “In my father’s house there are many mansions.” And again he told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become SONS OF THE LIGHT………..”

“Here I am! I Stand At The Door And Knock!” (Song No 1)

Her proud parents planned a great festival, showing her off to the neighbours, and so Princess Aurora was betrothed to Phillip, the young son of the neighbouring King.

Revelations 1 says

“Grace and peace to you from him

Who is

Who was,

And who is to come,

And from the seven spirits before his throne, and from

Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,

The firstborn from the dead,

And the ruler of the kings of the earth.

At the festival, the good faeries bestowed their blessings on the child ……then with a crash of lightening ……uninvited Maleficent arrived……

‘But before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she shall prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and DIE’, Maleficent screamed in fury!.... Then the last good faery spoke…… ‘She shall not die, but just sleep, until her love’s kiss, the spell shall break.’

Some things are true, whether you believe them or not.

It is scientifically proven that;

not only do our individual cells act as “antenna” receiving information from the environment/Universe,

but

they also act as “transmitters” sending information and impacting the Universe/environment around them.

…………HE ALSO MADE THE STARS. ……..

God set them in the expanse of the sky

TO GIVE LIGHT ON THE EARTH,

TO GOVERN THE DAY AND THE NIGHT, and

TO SEPARATE LIGHT FROM DARKNESS.

Then the word of the LORD came to him: (Genesis vs 1 the word of the LORD came to Abram in a visionJ)

“This man is not your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.”

He took him outside and said,

“Look up at the heavens and count the STARS – if indeed you can count them.”

Then he said to him,

“SO SHALL YOUR OFFSPRING BE.”

And so it is.

Our light-bodies “LIE IN STATE” fast asleep, having never left the Garden, neither is it possible to be separated from our Source – the LIGHT.

The LORD God

formed the man

from the DUST OF THE GROUND and

breathed into his nostrils

the BREATH OF LIFE and

the man became a LIVING BE-ING.

Now that I have at last become a human be-ing instead of a human do-ing, I am full of JOY!!

Once be-ing flows into do-ing, that is true success.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

It is not that I sit around contemplating my navel all day – on the contrary – I am a very busy person, however, my busy-ness is secondary to my state of mind – which is peace of mind….

I call it living in my light-body in the New Jerusalem, “where He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more DEATH or MOURNING or CRYING or PAIN, for the old order of things has passed away.”

No longer can my ego (which I call my pain-body) feed on any negative thoughts for I have decided to be conscious and open, ready and receptive to receive the Kingdom which the songs of Isaiah sing:-

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,

Of the increase of his government and

Peace

There will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

And over his KINGDOM,

Establishing and upholding it

With justice and righteousness

From that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty

Will accomplish this.

No longer am I at war within myself.

But, it is in the garden in a deep sleep that you will find Adam today, controlled by his ego, and wrapped up in his own personal worldview.

We Are Made In The Image Of The Universe, of God.

We are ONE.

Quantum Mechanics shows us through

2

E = mc

that

ENERGY = MASS (Einstein’s law of relativity)

At the atomic level matter does not exist with certainty; it only exists as a tendency to exist.

“If it is negative, it didn’t happen – except in the world of illusion.”

The good faeries decided to disguise themselves and the baby Princess, and raise Princess Aurora as an ordinary peasant girl in an abandoned cottage deep in the forest.

Our “antenna” like receiving receptors situated on the cell membrane

can read

vibrational energy fields, such as

LIGHT

SOUND and

RADIO frequencies.

Therefore our behaviour is controlled by

invisible forces (light, sound, radio)

including

THOUGHTS


These receptors on the membrane of the cell give us another dimension – which can awaken to a holistic flow of information – through awareness.

By becoming aware of our thoughts (both past and future), and our controlling ego’s and learning to live in the present moment, ie overcoming ourselves, we can

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalms

We can awaken and enter back into the realm of the gods, the Universe of which we are an intergral part, entangled with the whole, INSEPARABLE from our Source of Original Energy – some people call God.

“If it is negative, it didn’t happen – except in the world of illusion.”

“My Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts!” (Song Number 2)

“Why do they still treat me like a child? They never want me to meet anyone, Briar Rose sighed to the birds.

“But do you know? I have met someone.”

“He’s a prince! We walk together and talk together, and just before we say goodbye he takes me in his arms and then …… I wake up. It is only a dream.

It is said that if you dream the same thing more than once, it is sure to come true, and I have seen him so many times.”

Opening the Stargate – My Happily Ever After

(SONG - It’s Christmas Time)

As above, so below.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on EARTH, as it is in HEAVEN.

Briar Rose began to dance and sing about her dream prince. As she slowly moved and twirled, she heard a voice singing along with her in harmony, and she felt two strong hands clasping her….. but she could not tell him her name and she hurried away.

“Jesus” (Song Number 3)

All things are vibrating energy fields in ceaseless motion.

Everything we see around us is only vibrating energy, vibrating at different frequencies.

Thoughts are energy, vibrating at higher frequencies than matter, which is why we cannot see them. Negative thoughts vibrate at the lower end and positive thoughts at the higher end of the scale.

Our ego’s, develop lives of their own, and take control over us. However, the Kingdom comes ….. the zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this……..

The battle is over – the New Age has begun – the call has gone out!

It was Briar Rose’s birthday and whilst she danced with her ‘prince’ the faeries were secretly preparing for her birthday celebration at the castle.

Having blocked all the openings to the cottage the faeries flicked their magic wands. Soon pink and blue magic were shooting up the forgotten unblocked chimney!

S.A.F.A Song - “The Battle Call of Hope” (Song Number 4)

And so it is time to make aliyah! A golden opportunity for a golden moment in time, to resume our crowns – priests and kings of the New Jerusalem - and to receive our new names and our inherited tribes;.

To enter into the ancient secret of the flower of life, understand the world’s virgin births and remember who we are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower_of_Life

http://www.drunvalo.net/

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Immortality (or eternal life) is the concept of living in physical or spiritual form for an infinite length of time. [1]

A timeless existence is also not known for certain to be achievable, or even definable, despite millennia of arguments for eternity. Wittgenstein, in a notably non-theological interpretation of eternal life, writes in the Tractatus that, "If we take eternity to mean not infinite temporal duration but timelessness, then eternal life belongs to those who live in the present."[5]

Spiritual

Briar Rose returned and told the faeries about the young man she had met. ‘This is terrible they cried, as you are already betrothed to a Prince! And we are taking you back to your Father the King to celebrate your birthday.’

Oh dear! Maleficent’s pet raven discovered the birthday plans and flew off to tell his evil mistress. Sadly Briar Rose set out for the castle.

THE LION KING

And so it is time for the Lion Of Judah – The Lion King

“Prepare For War” (Song Number 5)

We are in the valley of decision. The future is predetermined, we can choose to move from our pain-bodies to our light-bodies or the choice will be made for us. Neither one will be comfortable, but as Einstein explained …….

As an object increases in speed, especially approaching the speed of light,

its LENGTH DECREASES,

its MASS INCREASES, and

TIME SLOWS (but the speed of light remains constant)

If an object actually reaches the speed of light, time stops completely.

Many of us are not aware of the full significance of this.

This means, if you are traveling at the speed of light and time stands still,

you can travel anywhere in the universe and

you never age.

Amit Goswami, Ph D. author and professor of physics at the University of Oregon, concludes,

“Light is the only reality”

Physicist and author Gerald Schroeder noted that both God and light exist outside of time:

“Einstein showed us, in the flow of light, the corollary of the Eternal Now: I was, I am, I will be.”

Left alone, Aurora, like a sleepwalker, followed a light up the curving stairs. At the top she entered a small chamber. In the middle stood a spinning wheel and a spindle with a sharp needle.

“Touch the spindle, touch it, I say!” said an evil voice.

Aurora reached out and touched the needle on the spindle. With that she fell to the floor, just as the faeries flew in through the door.

“The Valley of Decision (Song Number 6)

Maleficent’s goons tied Phillip up and carried him to her dungeon, but the three good faeries found him and gave him a magic Sword of Virtue and a Sword of Truth” to protect himself. The faeries told Phillip that Briar Rose was really Princess Aurora and that she was asleep in her Father’s Castle, waiting for love’s first kiss to awaken her.

Overcoming myself – my wake up call shares the experience of my conversation with God, and my awakening to my life’s purpose; my connection with Ambrotose,(from the aloe vera plant) a tool to assist in the awakening of consciouness (LIGHT), and tissue salts also called cell salts or biochemic salts (EARTH).

Bios meaning “the course of life” and

Chemistry meaning “knowledge of the elements and

laws governing their combination

and behaviour”

Upon analysis, Dr Schuessler a 19th century German physician, discovered that when the human cell is reduced to ashes, it exhibits 12 minerals. He regarded the inorganic mineral substances that constitute our planet Earth as the complete basis of the composition of our body’s bone and blood, organs and muscles.

http://www.doctoryourself.com/cell_salts.html

Giving new meaning to the Scripture (Matt 5 vs 13 / 14)

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ……

“You are the light of the world……, let your light shine before men, that they may…….praise your Father in heaven.

“The LORD Dwells in Zion (Song Number 7)

Armed with his magic shield and sword the prince escaped Maleficent’s castle and galloped away. An enraged Maleficent saw it all. ‘A forest of thorns shall be his tomb!’ she cried. Phillip began hacking at the thorns with his enchanted sword and with the help of the faeries he chopped his way through.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

In order to be still, I have learned to rise above my thoughts, and my ego. To be still is just, to be. In order to be my light-body I need to be still.

Awakening entailed realizing that to fulfil my life’s purpose, I needed to align myself with that of the LORD’s purpose for my life,

Mark 14:36 Yet not what I will,

But what you will.”

And this by the Grace of God.

For those God foreknew he also PREDISTINED to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn AMONG MANY BROTHERS. And those he PREDSTINED, he also called; those he called he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Rom 8: 29 & 30)

He PREDESTINED us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (Eph 1: 5)

In him we were also chosen, having been PREDESTINED according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the PURPOSE OF HIS WILL. (Eph 1: 11)

Knowing that we are predestined gives us only two choices, to go along for the ride - happily or unhappily!!!!!

We can either follow the example of Jonah and run in the opposite direction and be swallowed up by the whale;

or

Be like the five virgins and have plenty of oil in our lamps,

or

Abraham who when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went.

Otherwise we will literally miss the boat, like all the people in the days of Noah;

and remain unconscious, ego driven, and suffering;

or partly conscious and able to see the madness of our so-called civilized world, but still locked out from the creative Source.

So I have learned to take care of the small things in life, and not despise humble beginnings as these lead to greatness, slowing life down to three meals a day;

to be still and allow the resurrection power to flow through me.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Stillness taps into the existing “radar system”, of giving and receiving of light and allowing the light to have access to me and through me to the world.

Jesus answered: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father in me;…..” (John 14 vs 10 & 11)

Stress, negativity, fear and going our own way cuts us off or switches us off from this power, which the Universe / God beams to us.

This happens when we turn away from the present moment, when we think that doing something else is more important, causing us to suffer.

Suddenly Maleficent appeared – lightening flashed – and there stood a dragon shooting flames!

Phillip lifted up his magic sword for protection, then threw his magic sword like a spear, piercing the dragon’s heart. With a dying scream the evil faery fell into the canyon below.

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

THEN THE EYES OF BOTH OF THEM WERE OPENED, AND THEY REALISED THEY WERE NAKED;……

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God

AS HE WAS WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY,

and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Search Me, Oh God, And Know My Heart (Song Number 8)

When a beam of light goes through a prism/crystal, the light is refracted so that it appears as a rainbow spectrum. Each colour, though a component of the white light, is seen separately because of its unique frequency. However, if you reverse this process by projecting the rainbow spectrum through the prism/crystal, the individual colours will combine to form a beam of white light.

Jesus said, ……. “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” (Luke 11 vs 34 – 36)

The Prince hurriedly walked past the sleeping soldiers and guests in the castle and there on a bed lay Princess Aurora in a deep sleep. She clasped a single red rose. Recognizing her straight away, Phillip kneeled beside the bed to kiss the Princess.

As we are moving from one Age to another, closing one evolutionary cycle and beginning to embark on another, we are understandably apprehensive. I believe that we are being “pressed” into a new way of living, as we have evolved in the past, we will evolve again.

‘History repeats itself’ and repeating patterns of fractal geometry show this to be the case. Geometry is a mathematical assessment of “the way the different parts of something fit together in relation to each other.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal

Because they appear similar at all levels of magnification, fractals are often considered to be infinitely complex (in informal terms). Natural objects that approximate fractals to a degree include clouds, mountain ranges, lightning bolts, coastlines, and snow flakes. However, not all self-similar objects are fractals—for example, the real line (a straight Euclidean line) is formally self-similar but fails to have other fractal characteristics.

An example of self-similar patterns, are the famous and ever popular hand-painted Russian dolls that nest within each other.

In nature, twigs on a branch resemble branches on a tree, and a river is made up of many tributaries of a self-similar pattern. In the body, for example; the lung, the bronchus repeats its pattern in the smaller bronchioles, and the blood vessels and nervous system display similar repeating patterns.

Princess Aurora’s eyelids fluttered. She looked up at her Prince. Her dream had come true! At the very same moment of the prince’s kiss, everyone in the castle began waking up, not even knowing that they had been sleeping.

Just then the trumpeters began to play a loud fanfare, and there walking down the stairs arm-in-arm were Prince Phillip and Princess Aurora.

The healthy human body is a population of trillions of cells (individuals) living in harmony. Through evolution, for billions of years, living cellular systems have been carrying out a peace plan that enables them to survive and enhance their survival.

Disharmony (or cancer) causes cells (individuals) to become HOMELESS, and JOBLESS, with the need to live off other cells (individuals) in the community.

After the earth was formed single-celled organisms evolved. Whilst multiplying they would have bumped into each other and just like humans, wonder if there will be enough for me? However, those single-celled organisms were “pressed” as they searched for a new Way to live. They became multicellular communities. The end result – human beings,….. made a little lower than the heavenly beings.

Psalm 8

Vs 3 When I consider your heavens,

The work of your fingers,

The moon and the stars,

Which you have set in place,

Vs 4 What is man that you are mindful of him,

The son of man that you care for him?

Vs 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

And crowned him with glory and honor.

Vs 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

You put everything under his feet:

Vs 7 All flocks and herds,

And the beasts of the field,

Vs 8 The birds of the air,

And the fish of the sea,

All that swim the paths of the seas.

I believe we will climb the ladder of awareness and become an enlightened community. God created enough of everything for everyone, and all we need do is tap into His Resources.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Just as each of us has one body, with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12 vs 4 & 5)

As long as we function in the belief system called dualism, we will continue to experience

Hot and cold

Positive and negative

Love and fear

Life and death.

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

The mind of sinful man is death,

But the mind controlled by the SPIRIT is

LIFE AND PEACE;

(because the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.) …..

But if CHRIST is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your

SPIRIT IS ALIVE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit,

Who lives in you. ………….

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to FEAR,

but you received the Spirit of SONSHIP.

And by him we cry, “ABBA FATHER”.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,

if indeed we share in his sufferings

IN ORDER THAT WE MAY ALSO SHARE IN HIS GLORY.

(Romans 8 vs 5 – 16)

IMAGINE

“Imagine …… all the people living for today.”

“Imagine …… all the people living life in peace.”

“Imagine ….. all the people sharing all the world.”

“You may say that I’m a dreamer

but I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will live as one.

Shema (Song Number 51)

SHEMA

Hear, O Israel:

The LORD our God,

The LORD is one.

Love the LORD your God

With all your heart and

With all your soul and

With all your strength.

Love Un-chained

Unchained Love (Song Number 9)

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

(John 5 vs 24 & 25)

NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE - CASTLE OF THE HOLY GRAIL

GRAIL KING- KING LUDWIG II

King Ludwig II.

King of Bavaria 1864 - 1886, * 25. 8. 1845 Nymphenburg,
13. 6. 1886 in
Lake Starnberg.

Wagner

Crown Prince Ludwig was already fascinated by the music dramas and writings of Richard Wagner. He wanted to bring the composer to Munich as soon as he became king, and realize his dream of an opera festival. In 1864 he summoned Wagner to him and thus rescued him from a serious financial crisis.

… Today I was brought to him He is unfortunately so beautiful and wise, soulful and lordly, that I fear his life must fade away like a divine dream in this base world… You cannot imagine the magic of his regard: if he remains alive it will be a great miracle wrote the composer after his first meeting. Wagner said of Crown Prince Ludwig.

The recluse

The ideal monarchical poetic solitude which the king chose for himself was not in the long run compatible with his duties as a head of state. The new settings he was constantly devising for himself were equally beyond the private means of a king. Ludwig failed through his desire to anchor his illusions and dreams in reality.

From 1885 on foreign banks threatened to seize his property. The king’s refusal to react rationally led the government to declare him insane and depose him in 1886 - a procedure not provided for in the Bavarian constitution. Ludwig II was interned in Berg Palace. The next day he died in mysterious circumstances in Lake Starnberg, together with the psychiatrist who had certified him as insane.

The King and Queen hugged their daughter, hardly believing their joy ……

Phillip took Aurora into his arms and everyone watched as the young couple waltzed around the throne room.

……… And they lived happily ever after.

SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG

(He Has remembered His Love)

Psalm 98 vs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 by Cheryl-Lynne van Egmond

Number 10 - 17 November 2001

G

VERSE 1 Sing to the Lord a new song,

Vs 1 C G

For He has done marvelous things;

His right hand and His holy arm

E A

Have worked salvation for Him.

Vs 2 The Lord has made His salvation known

D A

And revealed His righteousness

D E A

His righteousness to the nations.

D A D

CHORUS He has remembered His love, He has remembered His love,

E A E A

He has remembered His love, He has remembered His love,

Vs 3* Bm E Bm E

He has remembered His love, He has remembered His love,

E D - A D G

He has remembered His love. He has remembered His love.

*(and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.)

VERSE 2 Make music to the Lord with the harp,

Vs 5 C G

With the harp and the sound of singing,

Vs 6 With trumpets and the blast

E A

Of the ram’s horn ---

Shout for joy before the Lord,

D A

The King of Kings

D E A

The King of Kings. Chorus

Page 2

G

VERSE 3 Let the sea resound,

Vs 7 C G

The world, and all who live in it. *

Vs 8 Let the rivers clap their hands,

E A

Let the mountains sing (together) for joy;

Vs 9 Let them sing before the Lord,

D A

For He comes to judge the earth.

D E A

He will judge the world in righteousness

(and the peoples with equity.)

D A D

CHORUS He has remembered His love, He has remembered His love,

E A E A

He has remembered His love, He has remembered His love,

Bm E Bm E

He has remembered His love, He has remembered His love,

E D - A D E A - D - A

He has remembered His love. He has remembered His love.

http://www.keyofsolomon.net/

Monday 30 June - Saturday 12 July 2008

Abridged from Disney's "Charming Tales"