Unexpected

It seems that we are going to the Japan vs Paraguay game in Pretoria this afternoon. Hope it's not too cold!

As requested...

A short summary of the visitors we've had so far:

• 2 x crazy, fun-loving, affable, not-very-concerned-about-time Mexicans
• 1 x chilled, sweet, un-British Brit who lives in Barcelona
• 2 x lovely, can't-drive-a-stick-shift-but-game-for-anything-else, thoughtful Americans from South Carolina
• 2 x self-sufficient, quiet, pleasant New Yorkers (originally from the Philippines)
• 2 x generous, curious Canadians (1 of whom was born in Romania and grew up in Spain)
• 2 x relaxed, easy-to-talk-to Aussies who have been travelling for three months
• 2 x young, friendly Malaysians (at the stadium as I type)

TSC and I are loving it, although it is rather exhausting to host all these people. We are looking forward to a break next week between guests and are considering finding a nice sunny spot to getaway for a day or two and be looked after by someone else.

Three guests to go and then we're done. I'm going to miss the buzz and meeting new people, but I am so keen for some sleep!

Has FIFA claimed our flag?

According to this article, FIFA has ordered budget airline Kulula.com to pull its advert that says the airline is the "Unofficial National Carrier of the You-Know-What".

Apparently, the following terms are also protected by law and may result in legal action from FIFA if your business uses them for promotional purposes:
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
2010 FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
World Cup
2010 World Cup
World Cup 2010
South Africa 2010 or SA 2010 or ZA 2010
2010 South Africa
Football World Cup
Soccer World Cup

I'm sorry, but I think it's crazy that "2010 South Africa" is not allowed! What if you sell SA wildlife calendars? In fact, FIFA has been given exclusive rights to the word "2010" in South Africa. Bizarre. I've never heard of anyone being awarded rights to a year before.

FIFA seems to have taken ownership of the use of our national flag, depictions of vuvuzelas and any mention of soccer too. Sorry to everyone who's paid to be a sponsor of the Premier Soccer League - you probably won't be allowed to advertise your involvement with the sport that must not be named.

Strange, when to date the general understanding has been that ads referencing general football terms and imagery are ok as long as they don't make use of the FIFA and World Cup trademarks and symbols.

I understand that FIFA is protecting the rights of its commercial partners and all the rest, but am I the only one that thinks this is a bit OTT?

World Cup stuff

For those of you who live underneath a rock, 2010 in South Africa is synonymous with the FIFA World Cup. It's been the topic of conversation for what feels like forever, with people debating safety issues, whether or not the stadia will be ready, if small businesses will benefit from the event at all, how to get hold of tickets etc...

And I have been wishing that I could disappear to anywhere else in the world for the period because everyone keeps telling us how bad the traffic will be, that prices will skyrocket on everything from airplane flights to toilet paper and that we'll be stopped by daft tourists wearing socks and sandals every five minutes to ask us why there are no elephants wandering the streets with them or where they can get a stab-proof vest.

But, since we listed our spare room on an accomodation website and have started getting some interest and even a booking or two, the World Cup is beginning to feel more real to me and like something I would like to be a part of. No, I am not a soccer fan and yes, it's true that I have little faith in our own team, but it is actually pretty cool that our country is kicking off the new decade with such a big, exciting event that is getting people thinking positively about SA (except the Brits marketing those stab-proof vests, that is).

Hosting people will be a way of being part of the event and I'm looking forward to showing a few visitors a little bit of this awesome country and its culture, whether that means having a braai with some boerewors or taking them to see some lion cubs at the Rhino and Lion Park.

Now if I can figure out this ticket application process we might even get to go to a game!

Exciting news

We have our first booking for the World Cup next year! Yup, TSC and I are renting our spare rooms out and we've had a booking confirmation and request from three folks in the USA. For me, this will be a way of actually getting involved with the whole event. Up till now it's felt like it's been over my head. I'm excited to host guests and show them some of amazing South Africa (have always dreamt of running my own B&B) although I'm also a bit nervous! But being pushed outside of your comfort zone is usually a good thing.

In other news, I am working from home today. Why? Well, Tuesday is the day our cleaning lady and gardener come to do their thing, but yesterday the gardener couldn't make it as he was taking his sick uncle to the bus to go home to Limpopo. They think he may have TB, so he's going home to the family where he can be taken to hospital and visited.

Normally our cleaning lady, Margaret, takes care of Stephen, our gardener, while they're both here on one day a week, seeing she's been working in this house for the past seven years and knows every nook and cranny. But seeing she already came yesterday, I asked my boss if I could work from home today so there's someone around and she agreed. There's really no work to be done, so I don't think she minded at all, although I still hate asking for favours.

So now I am here, in my tracksuit, to make sure Stephen gets lunch. He's a lovely guy, but he's only worked for us on a once-a-week basis for about two months, so I'm not quite ready to leave my house open and trust him completely while I'm away for the day.

Unfortunately, seeing I primitively use the IE feed reader on my work PC to keep track of blogs, I may miss a post or two here at home. But fear not, I shall return tomorrow.

Off to check my work mail now. Just to be proper and all. Have a good one.