May 2022

 This year. This month. Is it over yet?

A nice man once wrote a nice poem about being in love in May. I am starting to miss the warm embrace of romantic love... but my heart and soul isn't ready to love again. Like, any kind of love....

This month, it was my dad's 10 year death anniversary on 26 May. And my mom unexpectadly and suddenly passed away from pancreatic cancer on 6 May. She was supposed to come home that day... but she didn't make it. It's been such a lot. The price you pay for love... 

My family came from around the world - Australia, Portugal, UK and Johannesburg. My mom was the eldest of 11 children and a second mom to her brothers and sisters. It was a big loss to our entire family. The family came together once again to celebrate and laugh and cry... to eat. To love. It was good.

But the family have now all moved back home and we are all trying to live a new new new normal... because hey, we're still in a post-pandemic world. What even is normal anymore?

Everything is different. And Very Not Normal.

The price you pay for love.... is love.

This May month of sadness is almost over. 

I really hope the rest of this year will be kinder. 

With love.

~anib

Still 2020

 God damn. 

This year. 

God. 

Damn.

It's been over 200 days of lockdown in South Africa. We're on level 1 now and the "new normal" is working from home, wearing masks, hand sanitiser, no big public gatherings and much better home delivery services. It hasn't been all bad but it's been a lot. 

People have taken on different lockdown projects. I did a bit of baking, sort of gardened (weeding counts), lots of home improvement and cleaning (when I'm cleaning, you know I'm stressed...!). Oh and I went back to gym. The horror. But I'm trying!

Planning ahead is really difficult. We cant even plan for December holidays but I definitely do need a holiday. We're not sure if public gatherings (ie outdoor parties) are technically allowed, but there are some smaller ones being held. It's a mess but we all need our outlets. I went to a private indoor event last week and it was ok. We're waiting out the two weeks just to make sure. There was another small "super spreader" event at a local pub in Cape Town (Tin Roof, Claremont).... so it can happen easily. But you hedge your bets. It's a strange world.

So, a few other things happened. I got my first tetanus shot after a stupid thorn in my foot. My mom broke her arm and hurt her legs so that's been a big challenge. Hospital visits and physio and everything has taken its toll. I went away to Montagu for a few days to chill out. The drive helped.  And I got to see some real trance friends (ie not just party friends).

Oh I had a small break away for my birthday with my close friends. It was a ridiculously beautiful day in the middle of winter. I spent my birthday in my costume in a hot tub... in the southern hemisphere! Ah, what a weird wonderful life. :)

America has gone damn insane. Well, like more insane than ever. Let's see how the next election goes. Fuck Tr$mp. Black Lives Matter. The Patriarchy Must Die. 5G is just wifi. Facebook is evil. People are exceptionally stupid.... and that's why we have stupid laws. 

Did anything else happen this year? Ag, so much....Just going to do the highlights. Also it's 3am. Cause yay anxiety and depression is back!

Anyway, TikTok is amazing. WAP is legendary. Dont waste toilet paper. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. 

Oh yeah and fuck corona. 

Stay safe.

x

2020 - Issa lot

corona. lockdown. wtf.

https://twitter.com/sadgirlnuri/status/1245668927180607488

2020

Mid winter

It's so cold in Cape Town. It feels like it's been freezing since March. But we've just come out of mid-winter so.... here's hoping it gets warmer soon (but not too soon because we do still need the rain in Cape Town).

So of course I decided to spend this last weekend camping. In a hurricane. For fun. Issues, much? Well yeah, but it was actually fun, after I got over the anxiety of dying in a hurricane. Anyway, vortex was an interesting and wonderful experience for lots of reasons. I got to actually work at a party for the first time ever - like free entrance and meal tickets kind of work. Next level! Also, the hurricane scared off the two humans that hate me right now so I could just relax at the party.

It also felt really great being part of the flow arts group again. It felt nice being part of *a* group, I guess. But I did end up spending most of the party alone... which I really dont mind and enjoyed. I also spent most of the party sober which was great because I remember all the connections that I had with everyone. It was a really nice feeling. Adulting-ish, evens.

I had a similar experience at Afrikaburn this year. I camped with D-Camp with some friends and lots of new people that became friends. And I was also mostly soberish.... so was pretty myself and enjoyed the time with others and on my own. Lucky me.

But this year has been a little challenging with relationships and friendships. I've been trying to be more honest and vulnerable and it doesn't always work out the way I would like. But things are actually ok... friend wise. I have enough.

I just wish that I could get a handle on finances and move forward to building something and not just paying off kak. So far, I'm worried about my car, my mom's house, my chimney, security.... and like food, electricity and black tights (impossible to find! urgh!!).

But everything is actually fine.
And Good.
Enough.
xx

~anib

New year, who dis?

Dear blog... I'm sorry for neglecting you... again. But if you dont know me by now, gurl.... then I cant help you. :) And I realise how ridiculous it is to do a new year blog in March.... but 2019 has been a lot already. Happy New Year.... and thank fuck 2018 is finally over.

So.... 2018. What a year. I went to BOOM!!!! festival which was.... !!!!! No, truly, it was the best experience I've ever had. It had its challenging moments as well but I've been spoiled by that festival experience in so many ways. I spent so much time alone and wondering about the point of it all... and then tried to stop thinking so much and just experience the moments: the giant 40,000 people dancefloor, watching the full moon eclipse, the awe inspiring art, the heat, the lake, those cold showers, the tree hotel, the chill dancefloor, the best flow artists in the world, the being fields, the adult playground, the food (omg), acai ice cream, the giant ants, the ozzies, the israelis, the saffas, the toilets, the graffitti..... aargh... so much!  It was good, despite the logistics and money and bugs. It was good.

And then a week of Lisbon, mostly on my own, was truly relaxing and interesting and fun and scary and emotional and hot and good. It was good. All good.

And then back home. Where nothing has been good ever since. Well, you know... it wasn't all bad but I guess I've just been slowly spirally towards a depression low. 

I've had possibly the biggest and most heart breaking time with friends and trying to figure out who I am outside of friendships that I thought were solid. I've been trying to find my ground after a difficult psychedelic experience and possibly a psychotic break. I've been trying, trying, trying to find some kind of normal, some kind of stable, while everything around me seems to be shifting and moving way outside my comfort zone. I've yet to find it, to be honest. I've been struggling daily with what is real, what can be trusted, and who.... who on earth I can rely on in this lonely planet.

So far, I'm holding onto me, myself and I... which is dodgy at best and comforting in my saner moments. I think I might actually be losing my mind but people seem to think I'm doing ok. So, on I go, I guess. I'm still employed and I own a home... so perhaps I'm not doing too badly. Who needs humans, I guess?

I feel like I don't know what makes me happy anymore. I do enjoy my new home... when I'm home alone though. That's a whole challenge on its own. But my desire or need to go out to trance parties has significantly decreased. There's lot of reasons for that. My home at parties has been taken away from me but, also, perhaps... I have nothing that I'm running away from anymore. Home is a good place for me to be. I spend most weekends at home and really enjoy it. I'd like to spend it with more friends and family but I cant really force people to visit me. Like, I've actually tried.... I cant anymore.

Shrug

It is what it is, I guess.

I'm trying my best to move into 2019 with some confidence and self love. But the lingering self doubt continues. So we'll continue to fake it until we make it, I guess. And keep trying to find that tinest spark of joy or hope for better days.

Onwards.

~anib

New house, who dis?

I have a home. My own house. A house with a giant double story mermaid mosaic. Of course I do. But also... OMG I ACTUALLY REALLY DO! It's a little hard to believe... and process... but it's real.

So it's been a month since I've officially moved in. The first week was a whirlwind of boxes and unpacking and dusting and frustration and excitement. I had a few friends over to sit around a fire, in a house with no furniture, plotting and planning what to do with the walls and space. There is so much space! This was initially terrifying, being surrounded by so much emptiness, but I'm getting more used to it now.

I managed to find lovely couches and some other bits of furniture so it's starting to look more like a home. I've spent a few nights wondering if this was the biggest mistake I've ever made or the best. Only time will tell, but it's been an experience that I'm learning to love. I'm starting to explore what I like and putting together a place that I can welcome friends and feel at home.

I'll put up some pictures later... and I'm having a house warming when I return from BOOM festival in August. So, for now, I'm happy in the space, excited for the future and hoping the economy doesn't crash!

Oh yeah. And I'm going to Boom festival in Lisbon next week. All casual like.
SO MUCH EXCITE!

Will hopefully catch up on that when I return.

toodles.
~anib

Bread

I walked past a bakery today. The smell of freshly baked bread took me right back to early mornings with my dad, fetching fresh rolls with him for our shop. Every Sunday morning, after walking back from mass, we would have a warm, crispy roll with lots of butter, ham and cheese. Every day at school for 12 years, I would have white bread sandwiches made by my mom. I had roosterkook for the first time in Potch after watching Fokofpolisiekar with my best friend at the time. I had a boyfriend that enjoyed cooking for me and that included home baked bread.

Bread Equals Love.

So basically... fuck banting.

xx