GREETINGS FROM A PULSATING SOUTH AFRICA!!!
MAXMOM here...
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(Above: Scenes from Cape Town yesterday)
Hello there dear friends!
What a day it was yesterday!
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The spirit and jubilation in our country echoes the happenings in 1995 during the Rugby World Cup! At that time our country went mad in its celebrations of unity.
The only difference this time is that it is a thousand times more dramatic!
WOW!
If you have seen the movie, "INVICTUS", you might understand the collective feeling that has gripped our nation!
It is simply INCREDIBLE!!!
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Today I would like to take the opportunity of thanking my blogging friends for coming along this ride with me.
Over the next month we, as bloggers are celebrating...
UNITY IN DIVERSITY!!!
As the various countries participate in this amazing global spectacle,
THE SOCCER WORLD CUP,
blogging friends have volunteered to put up special posts for various countries which are playing in this tournament.
(Sometimes these countries aren't necessarily their own either)
It is all in a spirit of 'getting to know one another a little better!
Each day you can check the side bar on this blog for the friends who have put up special posts.
So, please don't forget to go to the sidebar the minute you have finished reading this blogpost! Our collective effort in celebrating our unity is not to be missed!!!
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Yesterday afternoon our city went mad!
I think we did our country proud with the incredible opening ceremony which took place at
SOCCER CITY in JOHANNESBURG
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Here are some more pictures (taken off TV coverage)
The "Calabash" stadium...
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TODAY IS A FULL DAY WITH THREE MORE MATCHES TAKING PLACE:
KOREA vs GREECE (13h30 SA Time)
ARGENTINA vs NIGERIA (16h00 SA Time)
ENGLAND vs USA (20h30 SA Time)
With all the fesivities around me, I can't but help remember my beautiful
MAXDOG
and the legacy he has left.
Blogging about him affirmed my belief in...
UNITY IN DIVERSITY
Today's match between
England vs USA
is a special one for me because it reminds me of the time my blogging friends played host to us during
MAX'S WORLD TOUR...
I understand the sensitivities and patriotism of English football fans, but I can't help remembering the incredible hospitality I received from the UK (as a whole) on my first ever overseas trip. Although it is "ENGLAND" who plays today under the "St George's flag", I feel that I want to honour the entire, "unified UK" on this day)
Thanks to Hamish...
There were so many other countries that Maxdog was invited to...and ALL were such perfect hosts! So with all these different countries currently in my own country, South Africa, I can't help but celebrate our Unity in Diversity! So again I say....
Good Luck to ALL the teams who are playing!!!
MAXMOM here...
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Hello there dear friends!
What a day it was yesterday!
rs.jpg)
The only difference this time is that it is a thousand times more dramatic!
WOW!
If you have seen the movie, "INVICTUS", you might understand the collective feeling that has gripped our nation!
It is simply INCREDIBLE!!!
rs.jpg)
---xXx---
Today I would like to take the opportunity of thanking my blogging friends for coming along this ride with me.
Over the next month we, as bloggers are celebrating...
UNITY IN DIVERSITY!!!
As the various countries participate in this amazing global spectacle,
THE SOCCER WORLD CUP,
blogging friends have volunteered to put up special posts for various countries which are playing in this tournament.
(Sometimes these countries aren't necessarily their own either)
It is all in a spirit of 'getting to know one another a little better!
Each day you can check the side bar on this blog for the friends who have put up special posts.
So, please don't forget to go to the sidebar the minute you have finished reading this blogpost! Our collective effort in celebrating our unity is not to be missed!!!
---xXx---
Yesterday afternoon our city went mad!
I think we did our country proud with the incredible opening ceremony which took place at
SOCCER CITY in JOHANNESBURG
RS.jpg)
The "Calabash" stadium...
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My favourite...the dung beetle...
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An inside view..
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The dung beetle rolls his soccer ball...
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The unified Baobab tree...
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The steaming "calabash".
A 'calabash' is an African drinking pot...symbolic of hospitality, unity and goodwill.
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The Soweto Spiritual singers around the Baobab...
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Our "Madiba"...Mr Nelson Mandela ...with 'Africa' and then the 'world' displayed on the pitch...
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This is how 'countries' were constructed.
The large footprints were to symbolise that the 'footprint' of humanity which started in Africa and then spread across the world...we are all linked!
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At our own venue...
We saw a number of amazing hats...
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We also had our own faces painted:...
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Proud South Africans!!!... The "Boss" and I...
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The game itself was fabulous!!!
What a spirit!
One couldn't hope for a better result to the first game in our country!!..
YES....IT WAS A DRAW (1-1)
Well played MEXICO!!!
Well played BAFANA BAFANA!!!
The Stadium in Cape Town featuring Argentina and France also turned into a Vuvuzela fanfare. These two teams also drew their game (0-0)
So after yesterday....we are still all equal!
(Who would have thought otherwise?)
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Street lights in Cape Town...
KOREA vs GREECE (13h30 SA Time)
ARGENTINA vs NIGERIA (16h00 SA Time)
ENGLAND vs USA (20h30 SA Time)
With all the fesivities around me, I can't but help remember my beautiful
MAXDOG
and the legacy he has left.
Blogging about him affirmed my belief in...
UNITY IN DIVERSITY
and the unity we experienced during his time...
England vs USA
is a special one for me because it reminds me of the time my blogging friends played host to us during
MAX'S WORLD TOUR...
I understand the sensitivities and patriotism of English football fans, but I can't help remembering the incredible hospitality I received from the UK (as a whole) on my first ever overseas trip. Although it is "ENGLAND" who plays today under the "St George's flag", I feel that I want to honour the entire, "unified UK" on this day)
Thanks to Hamish...
USA also plays today, and I remember ALL my friends across the UNITED STATES.
This was Asta hosting Maxdog in New York City during
Good Luck to ALL the teams who are playing!!!
Three matches are scheduled to be played today at various venues in South Africa for this the
SOCCER WORLD CUP
These matches are:
ARGENTINA vs NIGERIA (16h00 SA time)
ENGLAND vs USA (20h30 SA time)
KOREA vs GREECE (13h30 SA time)
As promised, here is a recipe for each country playing today...
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ARGENTINA
ARTENTINEAN POTATOE SALAD
Ingredients
4 russet potatoes - peeled, boiled, and cubed
3 hard cooked eggs, choppedNIGERIA
1 (10 ounce) can mixed vegetables
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
5 tablespoons chopped pimiento-stuffed olives
salt and black pepper to taste
Directions
1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook peeled potatoes until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool, and cube.
2.Place eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, and immediately remove from heat. Cover pan, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water and allow to cool. Peel and chop the eggs, and toss together with the potatoes and vegetables in a large mixing or serving bowl.
3.In a separate bowl, combine the mayonnaise, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground mustard, lemon juice, dill weed, and green olives. Stir to blend. Pour dressing over the potato mixture, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour, or overnight.
---xXx---
ARTENTINEAN POTATOE SALAD
Ingredients
4 russet potatoes - peeled, boiled, and cubed
3 hard cooked eggs, choppedNIGERIA
1 (10 ounce) can mixed vegetables
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
5 tablespoons chopped pimiento-stuffed olives
salt and black pepper to taste
Directions
1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook peeled potatoes until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool, and cube.
2.Place eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, and immediately remove from heat. Cover pan, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water and allow to cool. Peel and chop the eggs, and toss together with the potatoes and vegetables in a large mixing or serving bowl.
3.In a separate bowl, combine the mayonnaise, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground mustard, lemon juice, dill weed, and green olives. Stir to blend. Pour dressing over the potato mixture, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour, or overnight.
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ENGLAND
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USA
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KOREA
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GREECE
Now...
Don't forget to go and visit my other special blogging friends listed under
"UNITY IN DIVERSITY"
at the top of my sidebar.
Sending lotsaluv to you all...
Tomorrows fixtures feature the countries of:
GERMANY
AUSTRALIA
ALGERIA
SLOVENIA
SERBIA
GHANA
If you feel you want to pay tribute to any of these countries tomorrow by putting up a special blogpost for them, please email me at lescaryl@mweb.co.za
In the meantime, have a happy day with love from all of us in this beautiful country...
SOUTH AFRICA
(Picture: Sunset from Table Mountain over Camps Bay)
Don't forget to go and visit my other special blogging friends listed under
"UNITY IN DIVERSITY"
at the top of my sidebar.
Sending lotsaluv to you all...
21 comments:
I can't wait to see how the UK vs. USA match turns out!! Sometimes, you just can't help but hope your country does well :)
Oh, my - I can't see the games - but I enjoy checking in with you every day. It's the best thing to being there ;-)
I'm working on my posts...
I can personally recommend the Coke spareribs. Caryl, you MUST try them, YUM!
Gorgeous post today, just gorgeous!
I am having such a great time learning about the countries and in celebrating our similarities as peoples and countries as well as our differences through traditions, recipes and terrain!
Dear MaxMom
I want to protest about all those vuvuzelas! Gail has been watching the World Cup on TV you see, and I am just a little bit miffed that I am no longer the noisiest thing in this house....
Toodle pip!
Bertie.
PS Isn't it all exciting! (But I notice that Gail is already looking a bit worried about tonight's game. It seems that 40 years of watching England underperform at the World Cup have left their mark...)
What a rich and fun post!
We will be watching the England-USA game tonight, and cheering for England, we confess.
Wonderful updates and pictures. You will be mentioned on our post today, Saturday
Thanks!
Benny & Lily
Thanks for updates, I love looking at all the goings on.
See Yea George xxx
I was so disappointed to miss the opening ceremonies last night, but I'm looking forward to watching the games this month!
I've enjoyed a lot of the Unity in Diversity posts, too! I finally heard the vuvuzelas for the first time yesterday, too!
I have gooseflesh just thinking about what it must be like there now! Unity in Diversity... yes. And I LOVED watching the opening ceremonies last night - WOW!!! Stupendous - and all the street scenes, stadium scenes and game(s)! Excited about the ones today too! What a fabulous post - love the recipes from each country - you are doing a bang-up job bringing us such a personalized view of it all. Perhaps most, I just adore your painted faces!!! Bufana Bufana!
xoxoxoxo
Sammie and the Pack here
maxmom,
thank you so so much for organizing "unity in diversity"! i almost feel as though i am there in south africa, right in the middle of all the action!!
the booker man and asa's mama
What an amazing post! We can feel the excitement through the screen. Through your blog, we have developed a fondness for your country and it's beauty . We hope that someday we will be able to visit.
We are thinking that we will make the recipe of one of the days winning countries. We are pretty poor cooks but we'll have a go at it!
You are my "go to guide" for information on the games=love your extensive, exciting coverage...Your city is alive with colorful jubilance that seems to be in the air=it's wonderful to see you guys enjoying the moment, embracing the joy!
Caryl;
What a wonderful informative post, you almost feel like you are there.
Thanks,
Sheila & Bob
We are happy for the SA-Mexico result.
And we are happy for the UK-USA result too! We did not want them to loose!
Did you see there the Angel of Independence that the mexicans took there to celebrate??
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
What a GReat post!
So much to absorb and enjoy!
Thanks fur sharing!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
I'm sitting here miserable with allergies but your post made me smile so big and wide. I can feel your excitement come through the screen. I wish I could be there to experience it in person but this is the next best thing and I'm enjoying every moment of it!
Wow, you look like you're having so much fun. I love the picture of the lights in the street.
GO USA!!!
Your bloggie is so rich in Diversity. Love shines through your words.
What all these words are saying is so awsome- and I think you are an angel in helping the world. I read between the lines- and you are amazing. I know this is partially because of Max's spirit living in you.
I went to the store today and saw little soccer balls for sale!
It was for the World Cup. This is just a little country town- yet the festivities are ringing across the land.
Have a great time!
love
tweedles
Great post, MaxMom! It is so much in the spirit of Maxdog. :)
Hi MaxMom
Love the recipes. On the Unity in Diversity theme, did you know that one poll recently voted Chicken Tikka Masala as Britain's favourite dish these days!
Thanks for the comments on my post and glad you enjoyed the game last night. Much better, I must say, than many of Enlgand's opening World Cup efforts, although I can never understand why anyone would want to be a goalkeeper - so much potential for opprobrium, so little for glory!
Did you read Angus's comment on my U+D post? Amazing! (I never got any champagne either...)
Cheers, Gail.
PS The video should now work OK - it was my fault not your computers!
PPS from Bertie: don't worry my friends I've reclaim my blog v. soon and promise lot's of pictures. I think my body is starting to catch pup with my legs!
We can so feel the excitement!
What a wonderful post!
Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
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