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Monday, October 25, 2004
- I was born in Cape Town on the 24th of August 1966 at three minutes after 12
- Therefore don’t quite know what birth sign I am as was born three minutes into the 24th i.e. on the cusp of Leo and Virgo.
- I have one sibling, my sister, Janine, who is three years younger than me and worlds cleverer, who I love like, well like a sister.
- We talk on the phone daily mostly punctuated by screaming at our various children.
- I favour my paternal parent. Was always ‘daddy’s’ girl.
- My parents got married because my mom was pregnant. In those days it was what you did.
- Dad gave me my appreciation of art, books and music – for that I will always be grateful.
- Dad was also responsible for giving me weird / alternative music taste. He brought home the first album of Siouxsie and the Banshees when I was 10. Hated it at first and later became a goth and Siouxsie was my hero(ine).
- I first heard (and loved) the Fleetwood Mac songs Rhiannon and Sara when I was 11 and vowed that if I had a daughter those would be her names. Rhiannon Sara is now 2 years and 8 months old.
- Our house was always filled with music. My dad had a passion for it and played the guitar albeit badly.
- My dad taught me how to draw portraits when I was about 6 by projecting a face onto a blank wall and tracing it, then embellishing it afterwards. Our house was dotted with his artworks as mine is (with my works) today.
- Sundays at our house in my childhood was my favourite time. We’d (my sister, Janine and I) be totally spoilt, get to go with dad to buy comics and sweets, come home devour sweets and ‘veg’ out with comics before tucking into mother’s delicious traditional Sunday roast.
- In junior school I excelled academically (i.e. was a nerd) and received prizes for coming 1st and 2nd in every year up until age 11.
- I chose a really bad high school when I was 13 because ‘all the cools kids were doing it’ i.e. my friends from junior school were going. I was picked on my some older boys who taunted me because I was an ugly duckling.
- Because of this I was traumatized (still have the insecurities today to prove it) and went on to an all girl’s school
- Where the only thing I learnt was how to be a bitch (probably a good lesson in hindsight).
- I was a dreamer in high school, always reading a fiction novel in the back of the class. My school reports mostly said, “Belinda must wake up and pay attention!” Mostly, I doodled boy’s names on desks while barely scraping through my exams.
- I really loved English though and was told I had a talent for writing by all of my teachers.
- I used to wear black eyeliner to school and usually landed up in prefect’s detention having to weed the lawn or something equally vile.
- The only boy contact we had in high school (aside from the gay music teacher) was through my best friend Rene’s school. They used to host discos at scout halls.
- Rene and I would sneak out of her window at night over the weekends to attend these wearing extremely daring outfits. If I think of it now we really got away with murder.
- Although not all the time. Once we were caught and my dad picked me up. I back chatted him and he slapped me across the face. It’s the 2nd and last time my father ever hit me.
- The first being when I was very young and I think had something to do with stealing my mom’s birth control pills.
- I was so naïve in high school that Rene and I decided we were going to lose our virginity one night to our surfer boyfriends. We held an entire ceremony based around ONE birth control pill. Luckily the boys weren’t at the disco that night.
- I kissed a LOT of boys during those years but remained chaste (love that word).
- I was a virgin up until age 18 when I met Paul, Mr. Unsuitable the 1st. Mother immediately got paranoid and put me on the pill. Good thing too else I could’ve wound up on welfare with 6 children and a husband in jail (I am only HALF kidding!)
- I stayed with Paul for SEVEN, yes seven, years and was faithful to him for all that time. He was a pathological liar and mentally abusive. My parents hated him and that fuelled my rebellious streak.
- During this period I worked as a door-lady at a nightclub called the Playground (after hours) and held down a regular job in IT.
- I was a goth, LOVED black clothing, black makeup, antique dresses purchased at crummy 2nd hand stores and black poetry.
- Which I wrote a lot of albeit badly.
- I drank a lot in those days, most of that time is a hazy blur in my memory. I was also hungover as a result, a lot and did a quite a bit of daytime napping.
- I shared a flat with Paul and he ended up stealing all my furniture (which I was still paying off) when we split up. Nice guy.
- I was 25 when we split up and thought I was ‘over the hill’ and would never meet anyone else ever again.
- I met several people (let’s not go there right now).
- When I was 26 I shared a flat with my cousin. We used to go out and have competitions to see who could kiss someone else first.
- I always won.
- I love my cousin like my brother and I miss him as he’s relocated to the UK.
- I didn’t do any drugs (well unless you count diet pills) till the age of 30.
- I then had an experimental stage with various narcotics. It was fun. Hey!
- I survived this phase thankfully and am grateful for that.
- During this time I met 3 of my best girlfriends today. We were the party queens and ruled the nightclubs. Did I mention it was fun?
- My friend, Melanie and I fabricated a 2-foot high monster with blue hair who lived in a closet and stole people’s personalities called Gromelia.
- Gromelia came out on party nights wearing blue metallic boots. She still lives in our memories.
- I have lived in about 9 communal houses my
- Favourite one being a five bedroomed house in Bantry Bay (coastal upmarket suburb in Cape Town) which boasted a pool, sea views and a Jacuzzi!). I shared this with 4 other people. It was a party house of note.
- My parents divorced when I was 33. I was traumatized and very angry with my dad. I have since forgiven him.
- I have seven dead friends.
- Of whom I miss Mark the most. He was one of my best friends.
- And saw me through the best and worst of times.
- I have had one-night stands, which I am not proud of.
- I have gotten so drunk I puked and so drunk I can’t remember.
- I remember my worst hangover, so bad I could literally not move my head, just sat there and groaned.
- I still have a penchant for wine though. All my other vices are gone
- Ok except smoking.
- I live near one of the best Cape wine lands in Durbanville.
- Up until age 34 I had not accumulated any ‘house stuff’ (see 32) as I never quite got over having everything stolen and see (44) I lived in communal houses.
- My 2nd favourite communal house was a Feng Shui architect designed house in Observatory. We had some good times there.
- I met the father of my child, Eugene at a nightclub called Dockside in Cape Town. We dated for 2 years before
- I hung a baby fairy in the corner of that lounge and hey presto…
- Rhiannon was conceived in that house! This was not by intent – see title of blog.
- I do not regret a single moment of my life.
- I definitely do not regret becoming a mother
- I think motherhood inherently changes one (well, ok me) and
- Has made me see it’s actually NOT all about me. Hey! Who knew?
- My best friend and I have known each other for 27 years.
- My oldest friend hails back to my first year in junior school and her and I now live 5 minutes apart and are reviving our friendship. It’s great to know I had good taste when I was 6.
- I cry in sad movies.
- I love reading books that make you feel something. I cry in those too, especially at the turn of a really beautiful phrase, the kind Alice Hoffman does so well.
- I dunk stuff, mostly bread and biscuits. Most people hate this about me.
- Oh I forgot, I also went through a hippie phase in my early 20’s. I actually wore leather sandals and tie dyed garments while attending ‘serious’ cause type gatherings and selling handmade jewellery (with Paul) at a flea market.
- I have exposed my skin to too much sun tanning in my youth, the ravages of which are now showing. I do regret that but hey there’s always Botox!
- Up until the age of about 33 I had the perfect body
- Except my toes, I have really ugly toes
- And bunions on both feet but am too scared to have the operation.
- I believe in God.
- I also believe there is more than one path to God.
- I have been known to be ‘shoo-waah’ i.e. burn incense, meditate on the moon and believe in karma.
- I am now about 6 kg’s overweight.
- Am too scared to don a bikini this summer.
- Therefore am considering sari’s and perhaps a frilled one-piece.
- I procrastinate
- I am really bad with money and budgeting but am paradoxically going through one of the best financial times of my life.
- I am starting a business.
- I live in the most beautiful city in the world,
- But I’ve never traveled north of the border. I mean nowhere out of South Africa. Ever.
- I have a vague idea of visiting my cousin (and other friends) in the UK next year. Then again due to (81) and (82) this might never materialize.
- I am considered a good friend, have many friends and constantly make my friends laugh.
- I was once the life and soul of any party.
- Now I just amuse my daughter. Often.
- I believe in the concept of soul mates but also that there is more than one for any given person.
- I think I have met one so far in my life, no make that two, Eric and my daughter.
- I love my daughter more than life itself, although some days on this blog, it doesn’t sound that way.
- I am waiting for Mr. Right and I have an inkling I may have found him recently but don’t want to jinx it so will shut up.
- I have been proposed to twice but never married – HEY! Refer title of blog. Duh!
- Single motherhood is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. One never knows what one is signing up for blithely.
- I would do it again though, in a heartbeat.
- I can be a bitch. Some people are scared of me. Tertia was scared when she met me and she’s scary herself so I must be!
- I am shy and insecure in a lot of ways
- But I am conquering that, the older and wiser I become.
- This was fun, hope you enjoy the read and weirdness in my head!
- I had natural child birth with NO drugs which took about 1 hours, tops. I almost broke my sister's hand though, the pain was so bad - it kinda made me feel like I was floating on top of the room in a surreal way. (had to add this one!)
Posted at 10:43 pm by Divinebee
 | | | colleen
October 3, 2006 04:28 PM PDT
Belinda, it's Colleen here from Somerset West, Mel's friend. I am desperate to get in touch with your super nanny as I have an almost four year old who is not potty trained and now that I have told him that there are no more nappies he is pissing in his pants onto my clean floors.
Please help me.
Regards | |
| | | Namesheri
January 12, 2006 09:15 PM PST
enjoyed reading this.very braveheart,birthing w/no drugs.my son is 30,back then they knocked you out totally.but i missed him coming out.do regret that.but no meds,,,ohhh ewwww.have a good day.read your blog thru wenchy's. | |
| | | Em
July 24, 2005 12:35 AM PDT
This was really interesting. How did you do it? Did you do it chronologically? did you come up with too many and have to ditch the broing ones? or did it just roll off the tongue/pen.
by the way did Rhiannon pop out within 60 minutes? nice work, sister! (no she's not my real sister, anyone reading this, but i has 2 nice quick births too!) - not as quick as yours though! | |
| | | Jen
July 23, 2005 03:01 AM PDT
I am 17 years old and that is very inspirational and exciting to hear that you went through your birth with no medicines...I am glad you have had such an amazing and unique life and hope that it only gets better wtih you and your daughter...Best Wishes!!
Jen- | |
| | | Jackie
March 24, 2005 10:54 AM PST
Hi there,
Just want to say I really enjoyed your "100 things about Me". You sound a bit like me. I am 33 and would also love to have a child, I am sure they bring magic into your life and teach you a lot.
Take care
Jackie | |
| | | WildAt Heart
February 28, 2005 12:27 PM PST
i really enjoyed reading this, h*ll i was born november 66 and could probably have written half of the things in your list myself - HA!
but drug-free birth? no sir, not my thing, i was screaming 'where is my f'ing epidural' five mins into it - HA! i even told them to do a c-section, i'm dying here, can't you see? | |
| | | scott
October 29, 2004 09:03 PM PDT
Hey! There goes Mr Right! Stop! Hey you , come back here.... Oh well.
That was a pretty good list, and even mostly an honest one, Sis. | |
| | | DeAnn
October 29, 2004 07:51 AM PDT
That's 101!!
And wow! I'm impressed about the natural child birth thing. VERY impressed. | |
| | | Janine
October 27, 2004 12:48 PM PDT
Harhar - love the way #s 74 and 75 hang together - are you hoping that He will be able to help with 74?
And ja, that dunking thing is gross.
But love you madly. Interesting re that floating on top of the room thing - you've never told me that. | |
| | | Sam
October 27, 2004 12:16 AM PDT
You inspire me! I've seen people do this list, never actually sat down to do my own. I may just, I may just... | |
| | | Tam
October 26, 2004 08:32 PM PDT
NATURAL childbirth?! Why? It hurts just to think about it (I have 2). Delivered via c-section with the aid of an epidural (hope I spelled it right). Have a good one :). | |
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 DivinebeeFemale Cape Town About Me
Ok seriously guys - PLEASE leave comments. I am nothing if not a comment HO!
Hi I'm Divinebee and I'm an al...oh look a butterfly... I live in Cape Town, South Africa. I am a project co-ordinator by day and a thwarted writer by night. I have a chequered past of being a Goth, hippy, bohemian, rastafarian... (not neccessarily in that order), but I kinda followed a lot of trends I guess. That's all over now. I am now Ms Suburbia, no picket fence, 1 kid.
My life so far is as follows. I went to school, studied a bit. Got some jobs, lost some jobs. Had some boyfriends, lost some boyfriends, was in love once. Oh and drank lots and had lots of fun in between. I was chosen to be a mother to my darling daughter, Rhiannon in my mid-thirties. I have a wonderful, loving (if dysfunctional) family and some truly good friends.
My life closely resembles a sitcom most days, so I thought I would write about it.
100 Things about Me
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