Hillsong United

Wow!!! It’s rare that I get to do one notable and amazing thing once a month but I guess September is just my month… In just one week I’ve been on a television show and I’ve seen Hillsong United perform live! My GASH!!!

On Friday I went and saw Hillsong United… Nyasha truly blessed me with this amazing opportunity! To be honest I don’t even know how I ended up going to the show (especially for free). All I remember is Nyasha asking me to give her a ride to the item, next thing I know is she had sourced the ticket items (come thru Dale) and we were set! To make things even better we bumped into Stacey, who I hadn’t seen in years (hehe I do that a lot – bump into people I haven’t seen in years). The circumstances had us set up for an explosive evening!

What can I say? It was deep! A seriously deep, Holy Ghost party! These guys came thru… The sound was surprisingly exactly like their CDs (having been to many concerts you find that the sound is not usually the same)! The energy levels were explosive, but what do you expect it was at a youth item! I’m actually quite speechless when it comes to this gwan because it was so deep that words will cheapen the experience, but let’s say I don’t mind travelling to Sydney to check em out again!!! And I’m sure that Nyasha wouldn’t either…. She missed out on her heart throb… Marty Sampson A.K.A “Mighty Simpson”. LOL! So I’m sure she wouldn’t pass off that opportunity!


Hey, I feel another potential blog in the making, “Sydney – the Hillsong road trip”, holla back guys, let’s make this road trip happen, live! Anyway until then enjoy the video we took at the concert! This was the first song – The Time Has Come. See it though our eyes!

(The Real) Deal Or No Deal!

Hey guys I’m sure y’all are interested to find out if we are now rich (like Dave Chappelle)? Well champs… read and find out! LOL!


Once upon a time there where two people called Dorica and Ndu… It was a warm March evening, when Ndu’s favourite show came on. Ndu wished he could be on that show and even told Dorica how he was almost on it but had an exam on the day of the audition so couldn’t make it. That is when the penny dropped. Just because I had missed the opportunity didn’t mean that I couldn’t seek it again, didn’t mean I couldn’t live the dream. So with that Dorica and I jumped on the computer and set on our quest, the quest to be on Deal or No Deal!

Now the actual process for applying was quite easy. All we did was get on to the website and apply! Simple huh!?! (LOL) But the wait was long… then, Tuesday 25^th of July we saw the light at the end of the tunnel! After four months of waiting and four months of sceptical comments from Miss Mushambi… we got our audition. At this point we were also allowed to bring friends along to audition. That is when Carol (because she was Dot’s tail) and Linton (because we tight like that) join the picture. Linton and I blew the audition out of the water (well, Lint flirted with the chick that interviewed us), we murdered that item! We knew for sure that our spotlight was gonna shine on us and soon! The interview process was fun, I remember some of the discussions we had where some people were concealing their age (Carol), and others had trouble remembering the craziest think they’ve ever done (Dot)! There are other things that can’t be repeated but yeah even just the interview process was one to remember.

Then… the call came in a week before the shoot! I remember being in a bad mood that day and I almost didn’t pick up the phone because I didn’t recognise the number but something told me to pick it up... It was one of the producers of the show. As usual, he had trouble pronouncing my name but I didn’t care, he was offering us a once in a lifetime opportunity to be $200000 richer literally over night. The date of our destiny was revealed… the 12^th of September 2006. Suddenly I forgot I was in a bad mood and for some reason the sun seemed to shine brighter and warmer, all my worries melted away. Was that to be the date I’ll forever remember as the day I could afford my drop top 645i BMW (add that to my birthday wish list)? Without delay, as soon as that phone conversation was over I called Lint and Dot to let them know that the day of reckoning was nigh… I forgot some people were at work but I didn’t care, the good news had to be spread.

I don’t know about the others but I spent the week figuring out what I would buy with that dough (and how my tithes would be a bit more impressive (LOL)). We even started figuring out how we would split the money between us… We (I) came up with a cool but fair system. 40, 30, 30. 40% would go to the person who opened the cases, and 30 each to the others and if people guessed what was in their cases successfully they would keep the money even if it was a mega guess. If you don’t know what I’m talking about then watch the show sometime! Our game plan was tight. And there was a chance that the money would only be split in two because someone was having trouble getting time off work and was reluctant to call in sick… Oh well you’d all be happy to know that all three of us ended up going and all potential winnings would be split in three...

Finally the day came! I got up early, I didn’t want to miss our 8.45am curtain call so I was up at 6. I nervously got ready putting on a white shirt that I had ‘ironed’ the night before and some tan coloured formal pants. I was dressed to kill. So the plan was to go by train to the city from my house so I had to go pick up Dot and Lint then we’d leave together. So I rocked up at Lint’s house first and to my surprise he was wearing the exact same thing as I was… The only difference, I was wearing black shoes and he was wearing white… (Can you handle?) But time was not on our side so changing of clothes could not be done. As you can understand Dot found it thoroughly funny, when we picked her up, that we were wearing the same clothes. Lint and I had to put up with jokes the whole day and not only from Dot but random people too. Next time dress coordination has to be discussed. Anyway we finally got to the channel 7 studio in Southbank.

Now we waited anxiously, signing forms and putting on name tags. I bumped into Karen someone I know but hadn’t seen in a long time so it was cool to see and catch up with her. We must have waited an hour (well it felt like that) before they let us into the studio. Wow our time had come. To back track, during the day they were gonna shoot five shows through out the day. So we had a one in five chance of making it on to the show… Anyway back to the studio. We entered the studio and that is when it finally hit me that this was real! We were really gonna be on an Australian television show! The set was so small compared to what it looks like on TV. It was still really flashy with high-tech cameras and big TV screens etc. It was tight!

Once we were all seated they showed us a short video on the do’s and don’ts. Basically it was like don’t be boring and always be lively. But from the crowd that was there, no one needed encouraging to be lively, everyone was excited and there was a huge buzz in the studio. We met the producers who were really cool. They were there the whole time telling jokes and interacting with the crowd. Even during filming they were standing around literally doing their own thing. It was really cool! Lint was long distance flirting with the girl holding bag number 6… Ya, we caught him in the act so he can't deny it! The actual filming process is like done in five minute blocks. They were so many breaks that it took about an hour per show but it didn’t feel like that. The host Andrew O’Keefe was so funny and really connected with the crowd! (He was wearing $8000 shoes – just needed to let everyone know) Just the experience for me was worth it! The money would be a huge bonus but just the experience of it happening before your eyes was worth it alone!

The first show came and went and they were now randomly selecting the next block to play in the next game. Wow to our surprise it was us!!! I was so, so excited that I picked up Dorica with one hand and dragged her across the block to hug Linton with the other! I’ve warned you guys so don’t be shocked when you see something like that on TV… (LOL) We had made it on to the podium, we were close to winning real money. I was so nervous (as you’ll see on the show), my hands were sweaty and I could barely stand! If I were I girl it would be one of those moments of continuous, uncontrollable screaming, but since I’m a guy, I internalised it and suffered for it! Time came for us to answer questions to actually play for the money… the first question was about Dracula so we were cool, then came the second question… what a wreck! They asked about cats. What self respecting black person knows anything about cats? All three of us got that question wrong. The next question didn’t matter coz we knew we had just tanked! We were still happy coz we stood to win $500 each or if one of us were given a mega guess could have won $10000. Lint was holding case number 3 I had case number 5 and Dot had case number 6 (I think that’s right). Unfortunately none of us guessed right but to my credit I was the closest (LOL).

Our dreams for big cash on the 12^th of September died! We left without the money but we left with an experience none of us will ever forget! We even had a brief encounter with Andrew O’Keefe afterwards, he even touched my shoulder (on purpose), so I’m never gonna wash my white shirt (LOL)… Carol you should have been there with us! With that we happily left the studio to have some free snacks (with salt – ask Dot about that). Outside the sun was still shining brightly and so were our moods! We decided to go celebrate and have lunch on the Southbank (there is another blog from that coming soon…)! And that was our Deal or no deal experience! We don’t have any of our own photos coz Dot thought it would be funny to bring a camera with no battery! Unfortunately we wont be able to let you know when the show will be aired, they only tell that to the people who actually win some money, so keep your eyes peeled every Monday to Friday at 5.30pm only on Channel Seven.

Podcast

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to let you know that I'll be podcasting... So when ever i think there is a song that expresses who i am, or i find a song that i feel like i need to share, like Violet Moyo's tracks, i won't hesitate! So enjoy the first selection...

We have Violet Moyo... Zim's finest... LOL!!! Personally i recommend No More Pain. Listen to it to the end, you might find yourself needing a serviette!!! She is so so so funny.... No this is no joke. This is the real deal!

P.S. I do have more than one song on my podcast. All you have to do is press the the "POSTS" button on the media player and you'll see the list of songs. ;-)

The Response: There is something about forbidden fruit

Hi People. I'm back yet again but this time I have be asked to talk about something someone else has written. Dorica, some who needs to join the blog world, has a journal entry (or blog) on her hi5 site. Now this blog touches on some really deep and sensitive issues when it comes to relationships.... (How funny, coz I promised myself that I would try stay away from this subject in my blogs.... well... champs...) If you have a couple of hours you should read it! LOL! Follow the link: Dot's Journal . In fact don't read my blog before you've read Dot's blog first.

Anywhooo... Since Dot asked me to comment on it I'll be as honest as I can possibly be. So take what ever you want and throw out what you don't! (That last comment is directed more at Dot)

For a relationship to work you have to give all of yourself. Who has ever half bungee jumped? Or have been on half a roller coaster? It's all or nothing! This does not necessarily mean that you have to lose your individuality because that is very important! But think of it this way, by giving yourself totally away you are in turn being a part of who you really are. God created us to be in relationships where you give yourself, to "be servant rather than be served", to "be last rather than first". So by living in the illusion that life is meant to be lived in total independence where you are not sharing yourself completely with someone is a smoke screen! I know what Dot and many of you are thinking.... What about the other person in the relationship? Well in this case we'll assume all things are equal, i.e. he/she is committed as much as you. Because in any case I wouldn't waste my time talking about relationships which are one-sided or ungodly, so lets assume the best. It is by truly immersing yourself in an experience do you truly enjoy and experience all it is and all it can be...

There is nothing wrong with songs like “Cater to You” which in the right circumstances are complementing, edifying and nourishing relationships. Look at the one side of the coin. If the lady is willing to do these things then the guy must be doing something right. True? And that is where I agree with what Dot says. It is a partnership! The ultimate team! (There is no I in TEAM) So yes everyone must have equal bargaining power! It's very very important to have a united front in a relationship! Communication is important and as much as the man has the final say in family decisions he should value his wife's opinions and views and should always have her in mind while making decisions.

(Bra!!! I've gone way off topic... Let me get beck into it!)I agree that people foolishly think love is blind. That is wrong love is pragmatic, well real love is anyway. It is a choice, a balance of options. People, never let emotions run you life! Love has to make sense! We can not expect to change the nature of people, we can not expect that circumstances will make it so that things work out better for ourselves. What we so often do as humans is staring at the doors that are closed and don't see the open ones... That's how (finally) the forbidden fruit comes into it! People so readily jump on the first train/tram/bus without even making sure that it is going to the right place yet alone same direction as you want to go in life. Only to get caught by those pesky inspectors for fair evasion and then realise that is not even the route they wanted!

Good things come to those who wait! It's sad that we live in a society that is all about instant gratification. Instant messaging, 2 minute noodles, microwave dinners, drive thrus, e-mail, vending machines unfortunately there is nothing lasting in any of these things! So why do we try put our souls in the same packaging? The false preconceptions that are put on our head that faster is better is wrong. So as much as that forbidden fruit may seem sweet, think... don't feel that comes later! A friend once told me when I was once considering in partaking in some forbidden fruit, when finding someone who is for you (i.e. not forbidden) firstly love them with your mind, then with your heart then finally with your body. Personally I've found that this works for me as a test, I used to get to order mixed up some what...

SO... I guess there are a couple of "desperadoes" are sitting there saying, "It's all fair and fine to sit there and wait for the fruit to ripen or to receive the fruit that is promised to you but what do we do in the meantime?" Well Dot put it so well, "Suck the marrow out of life!" Enjoy your life, not indulging in forbidden fruit but enjoy all the things that you should and can do before you are committed! What you do before you are married is as much a part of your destiny as what you do when you are. Stop looking at that door that is closed and look at all the ones that are opened wanting you to see what is behind them! Singleness is a blessing as much as being married! So stop looking at is as a curse and filling that self created emptiness, with the forbidden fruit!