Archive for July, 2011

by Sine Thieme, a writer and mother of four who is new to South Africa and busy chronicling her experiences on her blog, Joburg Expat.

If you’ve ever felt the itch to join your kids on the jungle gym but were afraid you’d get stuck because everything was kid-sized, you’ll love JoziX. It’s a playground for kids and adults alike (though not very small kids – the minimum age is 7), featuring rock climbing walls, swinging monkey-bars, a trapeze, tightropes, a jousting wall, a tricky rope ladder, and gigantic slip-‘n-slides in the summer.

We recently had a birthday party there for our youngest daughter, and I had envisioned my job as setting up the refreshments, cutting the cake, and taking some pictures. But before I knew it I was swinging along the monkey bars like an orangutan and trying to throw my husband (who had envisioned his job as providing the transport) off a high beam using gigantic mittens.

Everything is padded so there is no risk of injury, but you will be left with some sore muscles (mainly from trying to climb out of the deep crevices of the huge mats you land on). The nice thing is that you get to stay as long as you want, so that you can go 5 out of 9 in the jousting competition against your husband, if necessary.

Visit my blog for a more detailed story about this fabulous venue.

by Joy Robyn Dembo, married, with an 18 year old son and a 25 year old daughter.  Addicted to the www, particularly Twitter. Recruitment Response Handling Consultant and Freelance Copywriter, vegetarian and animal lover. Visit her blog.

Sadly, I didn’t see Transformers 1 and 2, as I really love Science Fiction movies.  I mean, I saw all gazillion Star Wars movies, so I am not really sure why I didn’t see Transformers, BUT I can say with confidence that if you have seen the first two, you are in for a treat, and if you haven’t, don’t worry, you will catch on quickly and still be in for a treat! And, unlike the first two, this sequel is in 3D, which makes it even more spectacular.

Directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg, the movie is an EPIC of even more EPIC proportions. The special effects are beyond words and the magnitude of the Autobots and the Decepticons (See! I am already talking like a Transformers Junkie!) is absolutely awesome.

Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro continue to give star studded performances, and Peter Cullen and  Hugo Weaving return as the voices of Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively.  A new addition to the cast is English model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who plays Carly, Sam’s gorgeous new love.

Without revealing the complex plot, I can tell you that the movie begins when a mysterious event from Earth’s past reappears in the present day and threatens the entire future of mankind as we know it.  A catastrophic war threatens to erupt and even the Autobots find it difficult to save the planet.

Meanwhile, Sam Witwicky is living an ordinary and frustrating life until he finds a job,  and meets up with Jerry Wang, who discusses certain conspiracy theories about the “the dark side of the moon” with him, and so the adventure begins.

I came out of this movie absolutely wonder-struck.  It is really that awesome!

Not for kids under the age of 13, but  a must see for the teens this July holiday.

Releasing today, 29 June, but get your tickets quickly as a little birdie told me that it is already almost fully booked for all shows in JHB today!