Following on from the family Activities Directory I published a week or two ago, I decided to do a sequel in the form of an Adult/Friendship version of a low-cost activities directory. We don’t see our friends nearly enough. Or perhaps it’s just me? Between our consuming careers, our family’s needs and our severely stretched pockets, I think we can all agree that time spent with friends can feel like a second (third?) thought, when it really shouldn’t be the case. Friendships are so important. As individuals, we absolutely need good and close relations with people with whom aren’t our family members to help us depart from the slog of our daily lives, give us objective input on important life matters and just to provide us with reprieve.

This week’s post is short and sweet. Here is an adult’s activities directory below:

1. Grab a coffee and meet at a bookstore

   Bonus points if it’s a secondhand bookstore - there are some gems in and around The Parks areas of Parktown, Parkhurst, Melville, Norwood and Auckland Park

2. …Or Join a Book Club Together

   These can also be great way to meet and make new friends, too.

3. Go for a Walk or Hike

   The COVID Pandemic made hikes and outdoor walks a social staple, but just because they’ve become trite, it doesn’t mean that they don’t remain a wonderful and low-cost way of catching up with friends.

4. Visit Art Galleries Together

   And be inspired by all the creativity, or motivate one another when you eye an uber expensive art piece that you’d love to own one day

5. Invite them over and make Breakfast together

   Even a simple tea and cookies date at either of your respective dwellings is just as sweet a gesture for some much-needed catch-up time.

6. Do a City Sightseeing Bus Tour together

   I’ve been promising my bestie that we will do this together so that she gets to learn more about the City of Joburg. The current going price for a day trip is R299, although there are many other variations of the tour.

7. Host FriendsMas

   Have one big (annual) friendship catch-up by hosting FriendsMas this year… start planning now in fact and pool your funds together for the meal - whether cooked yourself or catered. I’ve already secured our Friendsmas date with my close friends for this year - it’s never too early to do so since everyone’s November and December calendar fills up fast.

8. Try something new together

   • A yoga class

   • A dance class

   • A craft class

   • A baking class

   • A cooking class

   • Candle making

   • Attend the ballet - look out for dance companies such as the Joburg Ballet or one of my favourites, the wgruv dance company.

9. Visit a garden nursery together

   If you happen to both be avid gardeners, why not spend a Saturday morning purchasing your respective plants or seeds together?

10. Give Back, together

    • Make a plan to clear your closets by a certain day, then plan a trip to your local hospice or so

    • Find a weekend cause to contribute towards or commit a few hours of your day towards.

Here are this week’s recommendations

Read this VICE article on how much doomscrolling is affecting our lives.

I can relate almost wholly with this post.

“Johannesburg is a city of two narratives: One of intense decline, destruction, dysfunction, and survival in a place where governance has all but disappeared. And another of vibrant creativity, deep human connection, and resilience.” A sobering article on the state of Johannesburg via Daily Maverick.

I am most certainly going to be attending one of these Jazz Sundays sessions this upcoming June at the Sanctuary Mandela in Houghton.

Please watch this video of the Ten Most Beautiful Small Towns in South Africa - and then draft a SA smalltown bucket list thereafter. Honourable mentions:

• Chintsa, Eastern Cape

• St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape,

• Riebeek Kasteel, Western Cape

• Oudtshoorn, Western Cape

Have great week ahead

Love

Masa.