Verity's Blog

A flamingo, a sheep or a dictator?

After sending out a newsletter to all my Future Owners, sms's to all my friends and rushing back to Joburg from a weekend away in order to catch the Carte Blanche interview last night, I got to sit through the entire program waiting and waiting and then slowly realising that world news had prevailed and my piece had been postponed. It was pretty disappointing having told everyone to watch, but I had to laugh when I got a message from my sister saying "Are you sure it's on tonight? Are you a flamingo? A sheep? A dictator?"

I think from now on I will keep my eye out for it on Sunday nights and allow it to be a pleasant suprise when it does air. The one good thing about the delay is that it gives me time to get the album on the shelves!

Carte Blanche this Sun 29th June!!!

I have just heard that the 10 minute piece that Carte Blanche have done about my album project is going to be aired this Sunday 29th June between 7-8pm on MNET!

I was blown away when two  months ago I was contacted by one of their producers Peta Krost Maunder and told they were interested in interviewing me about the lucky packet project now that the album is recorded a few weeks away from being released. It was quite an experience to have their team arrive at my home and spend two days interviewing me, as well as my sister, my website designer Fred Roed, my manager Peter Lacey and my first sponsor Alistair King. Suddenly it became very clear just how much this iniative has achieved and  how much it says about the people who stepped up and bought an album that didnt exist!

I still have to decide where to watch it as my boyfriend and I are travelling back home on Sunday after a much needed weekend away, but I do know that wherever I am I will be feeling nervous, excited and incredibly grateful for the three year journey that has gotten me to this point!  I hope you enjoy it if you get to catch it & if you are a future owner you pat yourself on the back for making it possible!

Too blessed to be stressed!

I received this amazing email from Future Owner # 160  Cindy Rodkin and it gave me such strength and encouragment that I just had to share it here! Mails like these are often the only thing that keep me going and believing that what I am doing is worthwhile.

"I swear I can hear the sound of distant drums - and they're drumming for you honey - for you and your bravery and your courage in seeing your convictions through...

You are an inspiration to me everytime I re-read your story - it helps me forget the sorry state of play we currently find ourselves in - those maddening interest rate hikes, the horror and shame of the xenaphobia violence, the shocking petrol price increases, the cold, wet, windy weather - it's so good to get inspired with news like yours that lift my spirits and help me remember that its still a beautiful world!

Too blessed to be stressed ...."

A journey of a different kind...

It just dawned on me that today is the 8 year anniversary of my pilgrimage across Spain to Santiago De Compestello. It is incredible to think that at this time eight years ago I just spent a terrifying day in the Pyrrenees in a storm, walked 20km's straight up in the freezing rain and fog, and then stumbled 7kms down the mountain to a monastary and arrived drenched to the bone with blistering feet and bleeding from having lost most of the skin on my tighs due to chaff. It was a day that at the time I thought I could not survive. I knew no-one, couldn't speak Spanish and had arrived from France with no spanish currency and was miles from a bank.

Looking back it is amazing to realise that I managed to get up the next day and with blisters, horrific chaff and a pulled groin muscle - I kept on walking. I was to tempted to give up right then and there, but 11 June was my Dad's birthday and as I was walking in his memory I knew I had to keep going. The next five weeks or 800km's have pretty much defined my life, as by proving to myself that I have it in me to walk across a country I now know that I can finish anything I put my mind to!

The journey I have been on to raise the funds to record my album has been a pilgrimage in many ways. I have often travelled alone and then been joined by incredible companions along the way. There have been days when I felt I couldn't take another step and weeks where I have felt like I am flying with excitment. And now that I find myself so close to the finish line I feel like I want to slow down and enjoy every step and give thanks for every moment and person who has helped me reach this point. Eight years ago I walked across a county and eight years later I feel like I have walked to a dream and am really only at the beginning of it!

Take you back - on video!

Two weeks ago I got to experience shooting my first music video and it was quite an experience! A very gifted young filmmaker Amy Daneel approached me to make a video for Take You Back and we spend a few weeks brainstorming ideas of how to approach the song in a fun way that still portrayed a positive message for women choosing not to go back to relationships that don't serve them.

Amy came up with the concept of various men popping up wherever I went with flowers, chocolates, presents etc and desperately trying to get my attention. Using some pretty cool techniques she shot it in a way that the literally pop in and out of each scene and I just keep doing my thing. We then ended up with myself and whole group of women walking down the street singing and all these men chasing after us begging to be taken back. It was a blast!

I managed to rope in some of Cape Town's best actors to help out and Paul Harris, Pierre Malherbe, Kevin Otto, Karl Thanning, Rory Berry and Guy McDonald did a fantastic job of looking love sick and apologetic! I also had some gorgeous women join me in taking our power back and seeing them sing "no no no" to the camera was hilarious! Amy also brought in some fantastic guys and girls & it was incredible to have so many people give of their time to help us get the video finished! 

It is being edited so I can't wait to post it as soon as it is done! Here are few dodgey pics of my cell phone to give you taste...

Inspiration for the week

This poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson was sent to me by Future Owner #1465 Rory Shea & I thought it was awesome to share with you today...

To laugh often and much

To win the respect of intelligent people

And the affection of children

To earn the appreciation

Of honest critics and endure

The betrayal of false friends

To appreciate beauty

To find the best in others

To leave the world

A bit better, whether

By a healthy child

A garden patch

Or a redeemed social condition

To know even one life

Has breathed easier

Because you have lived

This is to have succeeded