Lifestyle

Muslim children attending madrassa are taught from a very early age about the role of a mother and the respect we need to accord them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon Him) once said: Your Heaven lies under the feet of your mother (related by Ahmad, narrated by Nasai). At another occasion a man […]

Don’t blame her if she’s only interested in your money — not if you’re the one defining yourself by your possessions. Hey you, sitting in front of a computer. Yes, you. How did I know you were reading this on a computer? I’m psychic. Anyhow, moving right along to more important issues, like women. And […]

Recently I was having lunch at one of Jo’burg’s favourite restaurants, with a friend from Cape Town. Her phone rang and she chatted about the usual stuff, “I’ll be back on Tuesday. Really? What did she say?” And so on. Then she commented, “Oh, not much, what you usually do in Jo’burg — sitting in […]

The comedian David Kibuuka, who is originally from Uganda, used to start his set with the words: “Hi, I’m David and I’m from Fourways.” It always got a laugh, and, until recently, I never paused to ask myself why. After all, lots of black people live in Fourways. So why should the notion that a […]

I worked as a training instructor in a gym for a couple of years once. I was studying at the time and it was a convenient way for me to do something I knew and enjoyed for some living money, while side-stepping the usual waitering jobs that students usually have to settle for. Or is […]

Before you lower the considerably low opinion you already have of me for using profanity, please allow me to explain. Ladies, you all know what I’m talking about. The superhero. Superdickman. You might not know who he is but I’m about to tell you and once I have told you, you will recognise him. The […]

In a time of crisis scientists will rise to the occasion. They will solve our problems. Rescue us from our ills. Whatever the global disaster, the men in white will save us. My faith in geekdom is unquestionable. And when I checked the BBC this morning, it was once again affirmed. Scientists have now come […]

I can safely say I have discovered the greatest pick-up line in the world. Ok, maybe it’s not a pick-up line; it’s more like a pick-up paragraph. Unfortunately it won’t work in South Africa. Which kinda sucks. One place it’s sure not to work is the Eastern Cape. I will share my secret though because […]

So there is this seven-year-old in Canada who can drive a car. Samuel. I saw it on YouTube. His dad let him drive while he filmed it on his mobile phone. The clip has sent the Canadian press into overdrive, expressing shock and horror at the incident. How can Sammy’s dad be that irresponsible? The […]

I steel myself for another day’s work; I am sure we all often do, especially on Mondays. I remember watching the grim faces on the NI ring road in Johannesburg on the few days I was caught in the 7.30am virtual gridlock. People clung to their steering wheels like drowned rats. Not many people looked […]