FOMO Issue 11

FOMO ISSUE #11

I'm afraid you have what's known as "children".

THE THE BEST BEST OF OF THE THE VILLAGE VILLAGE

HOW’S YOUR ’22 WORKING OUT FOR YOU? Hope your January was a smoother start than mine?! I posted a hilarious TikTok on The Village’s Instagram account of a Corgi Race, in celebration of my own hopelessly inefficient lift off. We’re @thevillageSA, on Insta. PLEASE follow us. You’ll find a lovely dose of uplifting, useful and cool content!

In fact, in this case, the onlookers applauded in delight just because… well... Corgis!

That Corgi race was as shambolic, chaotic, unsuccessful and … well, joyous, as you’d expect it to be. It was really more a folic or a gambol or… a fast-ish waddle, than a race. (The contestants were Corgis, after all.)

The whole mess was just lovely. The pups started well, filled with what appeared to be good intentions, but they immediately got distracted by collective delight in meeting each other, in exploring roads less taken, (“Howabout we circle backwards, forwards, no sideways, no backwards oh hello other dog?! Yippeeee! etc.”) They were further sidetracked by the whiff of adventure, fun and possibility in the air. Everyone, eventually, sort of got to the finishing line. (Hooray!) Some, after taking a very indirect route. NO one really cared who won. The contestants were warm-blooded mammals, after all. And it is of course, all dogs’ doggish-ness that makes them immune to all our two-legged, tiresome and limiting human frailties.

That TikTok reminded me to make my belated New Year’s resolution to just be #morecorgi.

Can I suggest you do too? Here’s to making friends with other lovely fellow travellers.

Here’s to laughing and starting again, when things go south. Here’s to ignoring the anxieties, insecurities and fears that hold us back. Just wag your tail. (Do Corgis have tails? No matter.) Be your own delightful self.

Seek out playmates, playfulness, joy and adventure. Make the most of the thrill and potential of the path you’re on. (But also, please. Don’t snap or bare your fangs at others. They’re just trying to get to their own finishing line, after all.)

No dog ever eats themselves up with performance anxiety, imposter syndrome, worries about not being good enough. No dog worries about what they’d look like or what onlookers would think of them, should they fail.

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Everyone got a big hug and a tummy scratch at the end. What role models!

Tummy scratches, treats and applause will surely follow. Happy February to you all!

Vanessa  2430 posts  46 501 comments  43 500 members  158 860 reactions

FOMO #11

Th monis th

...

BREAKFAST BLITZ If you’re battling to get your teen to eat breakfast before they dash off to school, try a smoothie instead. They’re super nutritious – and delicious!

Great comb os:

Pawpaw + Avo Cucumber + Kale + Pear Avo + Celery + Cucumber + Lemon Pawpaw + Pineapple Melon + Apple Strawberries + Banana + Peanut Butter Berries + Kale + Dates

Top prep tips

• Smoothies should be quick and easy to make. Fill small Ziplock bags with chopped fresh fruit and berries and pop them in your freezer. This means your teen can grab and blitz as they need.

• Good smoothies often need milk or natural yoghurt. If you’re avoiding dairy, try oats, coconut, rice or soya milk.

• For an extra boost, add protein powder – Futurelife works well – or a spoonful of peanut butter.

• Leafy greens like spinach and kale will make your smoothie pack an extra nutritious punch

Here’s how to make a good smoothie, every time: 1 Start with liquid (milk, yoghurt, coconut milk, juice or water) 2 If you’re adding green leaves, toss them in now 3 Next, frozen fruit. Bananas give a creamy texture

Fresh fruit or veg like avos or cucumber should be added after your frozen goodies 5 Now pop in your added extras, like protein powder, collagen, chia seeds or peanut butter 6 Blitz away. Start slow, then speed it up – keep going until smooth. Yum! 4

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FOMO #11

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ID SOLUTION

Applying for your 16-year-old’s ID card needn’t mean standing for endless hours in Home Affairs queues Here’s what you need to do – and thank you, Andrew Meyer, for highlighting this smart solution!

ENDORSED BY YOU

1 Log on to the Home Affairs website 1.

2 Create a profile and fill in 2. application details 3 Schedule an appointment at a 3.

Home Affairs enabled bank (you don’t have to bank there) – you’ll find a list of participating bank branches here.

PS: This also works for passport applications and renewals

Put this on your 2022 to-do lis t!

VILLAGE HACK

Wondering what to do with used cooking oil? Soak empty egg cartons or folded wads of kitchen towel in the oil – they make excellent firelighters!

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FOMO #11

‘Because The Village is the light’ You’re so kind, Kathryn Straughan – and a big thank you for reminding us that even on the worst of days we all have the power to shed a little light – and lightness – on the world. This inspiring story from author Elizabeth Gilbert really struck a chord with Villagers

“S

ome years ago, I was stuck on a crosstown bus in New York City during rush hour. Traffic was barely moving.

The bus was filled with cold, tired people who were deeply irritated with one another, with the world itself. Two men barked at each other about a shove that might or might not have been intentional. A pregnant woman got on, and nobody offered her a seat. Rage was in the air; no mercy would be found here.

“But as the bus approached Seventh Avenue, the driver got on the intercom. ‘Folks,’ he said, ‘I know you have had a rough day and you are frustrated. I can’t do anything about the weather or traffic, but here is what I can do.

As each one of you gets off the bus, I will reach out my hand to you. As you walk by, drop your troubles into the palm of my hand, okay? Don’t take your problems home to your families tonight, just leave them with me. My route goes right by the Hudson River, and when I drive by there later, I will open the window and throw your troubles in the water.’

“It was as if a spell had lifted. Everyone burst out laughing. Faces gleamed with surprised delight. People who had been pretending for the past hour not to notice each other’s existence were suddenly grinning at each other like, is this guy serious?

Oh, he was serious.

At the next stop, just as promised, the driver reached out his hand, palm up, and waited. One by one, all the exiting commuters placed their hand just above his and mimed the gesture of dropping something into his palm. Some people laughed as they did this, some teared up but everyone did it. The driver repeated the same lovely ritual at the next stop, too. And the next.

All the way to the river.

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We live in a hard world, my friends. Sometimes it is extra difficult to be a human being.

Sometimes you have a bad day. Sometimes you have a bad day that lasts for several years.

You struggle and fail. You lose jobs, money, friends, faith, and love. You witness horrible events unfolding in the news, and you become fearful and withdrawn. There are times when everything seems cloaked in darkness. You long for the light but don’t know where to find it.

But what if you are the light? What if you are the very agent of illumination that a dark situation begs for? That’s what this bus driver taught me, that anyone can be the light, at any moment. This guy wasn’t some big power player. He wasn’t a spiritual leader. He wasn’t some media-savvy influencer. He was a bus driver, one of society’s most invisible workers.

But he possessed real power, and he used it beautifully for our benefit.

When life feels especially grim, or when I feel particularly powerless in the face of the world’s troubles, I think of this man and ask myself, What can I do, right now, to be the light? Of course, I can’t personally end all wars, or solve global warming, or transform vexing people into entirely different creatures. I definitely can’t control traffic. But I do have some influence on everyone I brush up against, even if we never speak or learn each other’s name.

No matter who you are, or where you are, or how mundane or tough your situation may seem, I believe you can illuminate your world. In fact, I believe this is the only way the world will ever be illuminated, one bright act of grace at a time, all the way to the river.” – Elizabeth Gilbert FOMO #11

DIY LUNCHBOX

ESSENTIALS Keep a stash of these goodies in your fridge and grocery cupboard so that your teens can build and pack their own lunchbox each morning

1

2 Cottage cheese:

Wraps and Pitas: Delicious filled with almost anything – especially last night’s leftovers.

Add a tablespoon of pesto to plain cottage cheese to make a flavour-packed dip.

3

Hard-boiled eggs: Boil up a batch on Sunday night and keep them in the fridge (they last for up to seven days, so your teen always has access to a proteinpacked stash.

5 Muffins: Bake a batch on the weekend and

freeze. Make things super-simple by using a bran pre-mix, then divide the batter into batches and add different goodies to create a variety of flavours. Try dried cranberries, choc chips, smashed banana, sliced apples and cinnamon, or chopped dried apricots and peaches.

4 Humus: Teach your teen to

make a simple humus – it really is so easy. Simply drain a tin of chickpeas, add a little olive oil and garlic, a tablespoon of yoghurt, and salt and pepper – then give it a whiz with a hand blender.

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Chopped fresh veg: Ready-sliced carrots, cucumber and peppers make the perfect base for a salad, for filling a wrap or for dipping in humus or cottage cheese.

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7 Cooked pasta:

This versatile last-minute lunchbox saviour can be turned into a delicious meal – just add chopped veg, tuna, sliced chicken, or stir through some pesto.

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FOMO #11

Dried fruit and nuts: Buy in bulk and decant into small snack-sized portions.

P RA AT DIE TA A L

V il la g e- re co m m

PRICKLY PEAR POWER

Beverley Scott-Brown asked for recommendations for apps to learn Afrikaans, and – as usual – our Villagers came up with these excellent options:

• E.A.T. Afrikaans • Afrikquiz • SKAT • Slimvis • UP.Ed

SMART

en d ed

We love seeing Proudly South African products fly – and Pripear has definitely earned the Villager stamp of approval! You can find out more about it here.

TIP!

VILLAGE HACK

Stained Tupperwares?

Make a paste with bicarb and water.

Coat container, using toothbrush to scrub stubborn areas – then leave to sit for 15 minutes before washing off.

Village Camp

Shall We Call It Camp W?

Hayley Potgieter I think between us we could start a whole commune of tents for teenagers

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FOMO #11

VILLAGE HACK

A cracker post from Melanie Loebenberg reached over 13k Villagers, here are some of our favourite takeouts: If you are fortunate to have EU passports, look at studying abroad. It’s very reasonable and easier than you think. UK more expensive but an option for the kids with British passports.

Don’t give them too much allowance. I saw many kids with Woolies cards who could buy all their groceries there. They need to work as well.

They need to learn to manage their time and budget and the value of things. They will never leave the heater on all day again!

If you can afford to pay their tuition I would add a few clauses. We only pay for subjects passed.

My son quickly learned this painful lesson when all his GoPro savings went to winter school where he got the opportunity for a rewrite.

Uni is an absolute privilege and not a right.

Some will have student loans and some bursaries and some fortunate to have their studies paid for. They need to know this and understand it and hopefully appreciate it.

The drinking and drug culture at uni is big. It’s big here and it’s big abroad. You really need some real and open discussion about the dangers and how to be safe. Teach them how to care for their friends as well.

Study at SACAP

Fresh herbs wilting in the bottom drawer of your fridge? Dry them in your microwave – they’ll keep their flavour and colour if you do it right. Place paper towel on a plate, then top with another piece of paper towel.

Microwave for 30 seconds at a time until leaves are slightly dry – they’ll shrink a bit too. Now pop in a jar to use for cooking.

COLLECTIVE LEARNING January saw so much content around our children’s futures

Did you know that SACAP offers five degree courses? Your child could obtain their bachelor’s degree in any one of this accredited tertiary education facility’s courses – from Psychology to Social Science and Social Work – in four years. Small classes and practical elements make these offerings an excellent choice for students wanting both theoretical and contextual learning during their studies. Both on campus and online streams available.

Classes kick off in February 2022. Apply online at www.sacap.edu.za

Thank you Jade Foulston for this gem

Jude Foulston I see so many posts at the moment with kids preparing to go off to varsity for the first time, and wondered if any parents would find value in this recent article by Graeme Codrington. My favourite part is: "The real question parents and young people should be asking is not "what degree should I study", but rather, "what skills and qualifications do I need to pursue my passion, my capabilities and options?" And...

"It's less about choosing a specific "future proof" career, and more about your attitude of putting yourself on the future-edge of the career you choose."

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FOMO #11

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5 - DAY D E C L U T T E R CHALLENGE Before 2022 turns into too much – try these small wins that will make a difference to your every day

Day 2 BATHROOM CABINET CLEANUP

Day 1 DRAWER MORE

We’re starting small – pick two drawers that are a headache (like your bedside table or the kitchen junk drawer). Give yourself 30 minutes and let’s go! Empty out the drawer, throw away junk, move items to their right homes in the house, line the drawer with empty boxes or lidless Tupperwares and repack neatly with essentials only.

It’s time to tackle those half empty cosmetics and conditioner bottles! Empty out the cabinet, wipe down with a wet cloth. Throw away expired items, whittle down your makeup into daily and party essentials and decant those half used shampoo bottles into single dispensers.

Day 3 TACKLE THE TUPPERWARE

Those lidless containers getting you down? It’s time to weed out the ones you’re never going to match up (repurpose as storage in other areas of your home or donate to an animal shelter or feeding scheme). Store your containers with lids on – it takes up a little more space but it will help you’ll stay on top of lost lids.

Day 4 LINEN CUPBOARD OVERHAUL

Get your linen back in line! Take everything out of the cupboard and let’s reassess. Could table linens be stored somewhere else?

How about those towels you haven’t used for an age (maybe it’s time to donate and make some space?). Top tip: store your teens’ linen in their cupboards so they can change up linen themselves.

Day 5 HOME OFFICE OVERHAUL

So many of us have moved our work to home, here are some tips to contain the inevitable clutter. File receipts for tax electronically (Smart Receipts is a great free app) then throw them away! Clear your desktop of all but essential folders, scroll through your inbox for emailed receipts for tax purposes, file other essential mails and then… archive 2021’s emails, you’ll find it so liberating!

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FOMO #11

My #1Travelexperience (actually, make that my #1experience) last year...

The Priceless Phinda Privilege!

TRAVEL TALES FROM VILLAGER-IN-CHIEF VANESSA

THE PHINDA PANGOLINS

N

oone has ever accused me of “dreaming small”. Anyone who knows me, even a little bit, knows that, when left to dream my private dreams, they are all normally elephantsized. And where travel is concerned – often elephant-shaped. Or, any old wild animal, tbh.

When it comes to wild animals, give me a day in the bush, and… anything on wings, two or four legs and I’m happy.

These beautiful warm-blooded mammals are clad in an armour of scales and only have one defence against any predator: they roll up in a ball. Imagine an enormous copper or earth-coloured artichoke, if you’re struggling to conjure up a visual. Of course, this defence works well against all the most fearsome predators in the animal kingdom. Except against… us. Yes. Us. Humans. The worst, most destructive animal of all.

Animals are all works of Mother Nature’s genius, in my opinion. Every one of them is worthy of admiration and respect. But some animals hold a unique place in my heart. And no bigger, more tender space is occupied than the one occupied by pangolins. There are few animals as mysterious, magical and… endangered as a pangolin. Think rhinos have it hard? 40,000 tons of Pangolin scales (alone!) were confiscated from poachers in 2020.

Eight species of pangolin are found on only two continents. Four in Africa and four in Asia. They are categorised from vulnerable to critically endangered. Ask any game ranger, anywhere in SA right now, if they can actually show your child a pangolin and they’ll laugh at you. Solitary, shy, nocturnal and critically endangered, your child’s chances of seeing a pangolin these days are probably on a par with our great-grandchildren’s chances of seeing an impala. Not good.

The entire animal only weighs around 5 kgs (adults between 9-15kg average). Imagine how many were massacred to confiscate 40 000 tons of scales? Think of the thousands of scales and animals that weren’t confiscated.

Then weep.

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Unless you’re lucky enough to find yourself at &Beyond Phinda, in Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. Long famous for its beautiful lodges, its fantastic diversity of habitats and breathtaking tapestry of woodland, sand forest, FOMO #11

wetland and grassland, Phinda is not short of natural beauty. It boasts proximity to breathtaking beaches, the Big 5 and 463 species of bird and is also now home to The Pangolin Re-introduction Project, too.

A collaboration between &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and the African Pangolin Working Group and Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital, this ground-breaking project was launched in June 2019. It aims to re-introduce the Temminck’s Ground Pangolin to a region where it had been locally extinct for decades. In essence, as the &Beyond website says, “bringing the species back home”. Apart from now, almost miraculously and very happily, 3 pups (who have been born at Phinda in the years since 2019,) all the pangolins on the programme have been retrieved from wildlife poachers and dealers in undercover operations involving the African Pangolin Working Group and the Stock and Theft Unit of the South African Police Service. To spend an hour or two in the company of these beauties, as they go about their normal pangolin business, in their beautiful natural habitat, is a delight. They are almost pre-historic, comical, adorable. Like an animal conjured from a child’s imagination and found only in fairy tales.

Booking an encounter with them was a bucket list dream come true, a Top 10 SA Travel Experience AND a stark a reminder of our species’ responsibility, both for the situation these animals find themselves in and our and our children’s responsibility for their future. It doesn’t cost nothing to take your family to a private game reserve. BUT… the lessons your children will learn, the experiences you will share, the encounters with wildlife you will enjoy? Those are priceless.

If you’re dreaming of taking your child to the bush, take them to Phinda. Ask for Dean Carlisle to be your guide; help your children learn about what it is like to grow up with wildlife, flourishing and accessible. Let them meet a pangolin. It’ll ignite a love of the bush and our planet that will only benefit all of us.

For more information about &Beyond and its wonderful lodges and destinations, worldwide and of course, for more information about the pangolins and how to help your kids meet one: www.andbeyond.com 14

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FOMO #11

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