I'M A CUNNING VENDING MACHINE

THE CUNNING VENDING MACHINE by Pam Ayres I am a cunnin' vending machine lurkin' in the hall So you can't kick me delicate parts I'm bolted to the wall. Come on, drop in your money, don't let's hang about, I'll do my level best to see you don't get nothing out. I sees you all approachin', the fagless and the dry, All fumblin' in your pockets and expectant in the eye. I might be in your place of work, or on the High Street wall, Trust in me, in theory, I cater for you all. Within these windows I provide for every human state, Hunger, night starvation, and remembering birthdays late. Just read the information, pop the money in - that's grand, And I'll see nothing ever drops down in your hand. I might be in your swimming bath, and you'd come cold and wet, With a shilling in your hand, some hot soup for to get. And as you stand in wet anticipation for a sup, I will dispense the soup, but I will not dispense the cup. And then it's all-out war, because you lost your half-a-nicker. Mighty kicks and blows with bricks will make me neon flicker. But if you bash me up, so I'm removed, me pipes run dry, There's no way you can win, I'll send me brother by and by. Once there was friendly ladies, years and years before, Who stood with giant teapots saying, "What can I do you for?" They'd hand you all the proper change, and pour your cup of tea, But they're not economic so.. hard luck! You're stuck with me.

Damaged People

                                                             "Damaged People"

We're damaged people
Drawn together
By subtleties that we are not aware of
Disturbed souls
Playing out forever
These games that we once thought we would be scared of

When you're in my arms
The world makes sense
There is no pretense
And you're crying
When you're by my side
There is no defense
I forget to sense
I'm dying

We're damaged people
Praying for something
That doesn't come from somewhere deep inside us
Depraved souls
Trusting in the one thing
The one thing that this life has not denied us

When I feel the warmth
Of your very soul
I forget I'm cold
And crying
When your lips touch mine
And I lose control
I forget I'm old
And dying

A Depeche Mode Song 

A brand new kind of me

Here I stand again, with the world in my hands
Grateful That Allah has made me understand
That I am in debt with him more and more by the day
And grateful that you showed me the way

Of paying my debt
And how great this fate that I have met
Being nice to folks and kind of heart
What a great way to start

A new life starting now
A life of hatred and anger parting now
Life rarely affords us the privilege of making a new start
Now I have a chance to play a greater part

I live knowing I could lose it all in an instant
But content with what I have
I guess being grateful affords you more
This is THE LIFE I CHOSE!!!

I love my Job By Dr Seuss

I love my job, I love the pay.
I love it more and more each day.
I love my boss; he/she is the best.
I love his boss and all the rest.
I love my office and its location.
I hate to have to go on vacation.
I love my furniture, drab and gray,
And the paper that piles up every day.
I love my chair in my padded cell.
There's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers.
I love their leers and jeers and sneers.
I love my computer and its software;
I hug it often though it don't care.
I love each program and every file,
I try to understand once in a while.
I'm happy to be here, I am, I am;
I'm the happiest slave of my Uncle Sam.
I love this work; I love these chores.
I love the meetings with deadly bores.
I love my job-I'll say it again.
I even love these friendly men,
These men who've come to visit today
In lovely white coats to take me away.

The life I chose: The speech that officially ended Apartheid

The life I chose: The speech that officially ended Apartheid:           FW de Klerk’s speech to Parliament                         2nd February 1990 Mr Speaker, Members of Parliament. T...

Want to climb the ladder???

Have Faith

Faith has always and will always be a driving force to going somewhere, believe in your God and yourself

Work Hard 
Nobody ever sailed to success, without rowing in the wind

Be Nice
Everybody needs people to support them, when you nice to people, they respect you

Don't do it to be seen
Work as hard when nobody is watching

Be aware 
Be aware of your surroundings and your performances, failing happens fix it and move on

Don't cheat 
Don't cheat on your wife, your boss and yourself, it will just bring negative energy your way

Luxury is not your friend 
Living it up can be nice, but luxury is not your friend, it steals from your and makes your forget how hard you have worked for what you got

No commercial breaks
Don't take breaks in life study breaks, breaks from working and breaks from your family are all not constructive ways to lose time and motivation

Compliment 
When you down on your luck, don't put others down, pick them up and chances are, you will have many people to pick you up

A 

Sarfaraaz Mukuddem 

Original 

2013 

Quotes that inspires positive living!!!

Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away
 -George Carlin 

Only as high as I can reach, I can grow, only as far as I seek, I can go, only as deep as I look, can I see, only as far as I reach I can go
- Karen Ravn 

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail
-Ralph Waldo Emerson 

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them
- Walt Disney 

The reason adults should look as if they having fun, is to give kids a reason to grow up
- Patch Adams 

There isn't a person anywhere, that isn't capable of doing more then he thinks he can
- Henry Ford

We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are
- Anais Nin

Some men see things as they are and say why, other men see things that never were and say why not
- George Bernard Shaw 

 Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome
- Samuel Johnson

You must be the change you wish to see in the world
Mahatama Ghandi 

The life I chose: Conflicting emotions

The life I chose: Conflicting emotions: Conflicting emotions run deep as the oceans, Life of pain caused by hatred and blame. 18-year-old bride is constantly crying,  She ta...

Conflicting emotions

Conflicting emotions run deep as the oceans,

Life of pain caused by hatred and blame.

18-year-old bride is constantly crying,

 She takes the abuse but slowly she’s dying.

“Shut up or I’ll smack you, he says mad as hell,

Another bottle goes down, and all is well.

Drinking herself to bed,

Liquid diet replaces the tears she sheds.

Her life is a dead end,

No one on whom she can depend.

Lost all her friends when she became an unlucky bride,

When mother comes around she decides to hide.

Popping pills and drinking becomes her life,

Only escape from her strife.

 Husband & wife has another fight, one of them grabs a knife,

Husband so mad he kills his wife.

She finally escapes her world of pain,

Pity she died in vain.

Composed By

Sarfaraaz Mukuddem

2003

Conflicting Emotions

The life I chose: Changing your brain for the better!!!

The life I chose: Changing your brain for the better!!!: Making work and Home optimistic I f you like to have a more positive outlook, it is suggested that you fill your  home and work spac...

Changing your brain for the better!!!

Making work and Home optimistic

If you like to have a more positive outlook, it is suggested that you fill your 

home and work space with upbeat reminders of happy times, like pictures of family or vacations. So that you don't habituate to them, it is also suggested it helps by rotating pictures every few weeks!!! 

Expressing Gratitude

Expressing gratitude regularly will help you feel more optimistic. Make the effort to look someone in the eyes and say "thank you". Keep a journal to remind yourself of what you have to be thankful for!!!

Compliment others 

By finding and making opportunities to compliment others, you'll train your brain to see more good in people, in life and in yourself!!! I guess that's what the world needs more of.

Do mindful meditation 

If you'd like to become more self aware, it is suggested that doing regular mindful meditation helps, chose a time when you feel most awake and alert and sit up and meditate, concentrate on your breathing and notice the sensations in your body and if you become distracted, simply bring your mind back to focus on your breathing!

Sleeping is good, but on the right times

There are countless reports that link stress, depression and may other common threads of poor health to bad sleeping habits, going to sleep too hate at night and waking up late in the morning/afternoon is seriously bad and takes the best part of the day away from you. also important to note is that sleeping at night is considered 100 times more potent then sleeping during the day!

Demand less, get more 

It is not common knowledge but common sense to know that the less you demand of people and life, the more you will get out, recent studies show that teenagers who are less demanding get more out of life and do better at tertiary level.

 

Pain that I'm used too....

I'm not sure what I'm looking for anymore

I just know that I'm harder to console

I don't see who I'm trying to be instead of me

But the key is a question of control

Can you say what you're trying to play anyway

I just pay while you're breaking all the rules

All the signs that I find have been underlined

Devils thrive on the drive that is fueled

All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true

There's a hole in your soul like an animal
With no conscience, repentance unknown
Close your eyes, pay the price for your paradise
Devils feed on the seeds that are sown

I can't conceal what I feel, what I know is real
No mistaking the faking, I care
With a prayer in the air I will leave it there
On a note full of hope not despair

All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true

All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true



A DEPECHE MODE ORIGINAL 

Three Red Marbles

During the waning years of depression in a small Southeastern Idaho community, I used to stop by Mr Ashraf's road side stand for farm fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering was used extensively. 

One particular day, Mr Ashraf was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a bucket of freshly picked green peas. 

I paid for my potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas I could not help but overhear a conversation between Mr Ashraf and the ragged little boy. 

Yusuf, how are you today? 

I am fine.Just admiring the peas... They look good

They are good, Yusuf. Hows your Ma? 

Fine, getting stronger all the time

Good anything I can help you with? 

No Just admiring the Peas

Would you like to take some home? 

No, got nothing to pay for them with

Well what do you have to trade for them? 

All I got is my prize marble 

Let me see it

Here it is 

I can see that, Hmm, only thing is, this one is blue and I sort of go for red, Do you have a red one like this at home? 

Not exactly, but almost

Tell you what. take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way, you let me look at the redone? 

I sure will Mr Ashraf

Mrs Ashraf, who had seen me watch this events came over to help me.With a smile she said "There are two other boys in the community like him very poor, Mr Ashraf likes to bargain with them for apples, peas or tomatoes, when they come back, and they always come back with red marble, he decides he does not like red and sends them with a bag of peas, apples or tomatoes for a green, or oranges marble instead...

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado nut I never forgot the story  of this man, the boys and the bartering. Several years went by, each more rapid then the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community, while I was there I learned that Mr Ashraf had died. Knowing my friends wanted to offer their condolences, I agreed to accompany them. 

Our turn came to meet Mrs Ashraf and I told her who I was and the story she told me about the marbles "those three young men who just left were the boys i told you about, they just told me how they appreciated how Mr Ashraf traded with them. Now at last when Mr Ashraf could not change his mind about colour or size... They came to pay their debt.We have never had a great deal of wealth and with Mr Ashraf's declining health, we have run into some serious financial problems, but right now, he can be considered the richest people in Idaho... 

The three men undertook to give me a monthly allowance for my groceries, electricity, water and other household expenses. They also undertook to pay the education of my grandson. With loving gentleness she opened his (Mr Ashraf's) hand, revealing three, exquisitely shined, red marbles, left by the three young men!!! 

It was not MUSLIMS

Who was it that started and fought world war one?

It was not MUSLIMS 

Who was it that started and fought world war two?

It was not MUSLIMS

Who was it that started and commissioned Hiroshima

It was not MUSLIMS

Who was it that done the ethnic cleaning of hundreds of thousands of Jewish people

It was not MUSLIMS 

Who was it that done the ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of Bosnian s

It was not MUSLIMS

Who was it that started the Vietnam war to cover up Watergate?

It was not MUSLIMS 

Who was responsible for the Ethnic cleansing in Palestine?

It was not MUSLIMS


Islam teaches love, the media teaches hate, but we as Muslims will continue to pray for them!!!   

Steps to getting better

"Identify your flaws, and make it better YOURSELF, nobody will fix your shortcomings"
Sarfaraaz Mukuddem

You can live better once you realize time spent on sadness is time wasted!

The only true knowledge is knowing that you know nothing!

Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out!

"Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed" Abraham Lincoln

If you are not willing to risk the usual you will have to settle for the ordinary

Trust because you are willing to accept the risk, not because it’s safe or certain

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower" Steve Jobs

If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to meet it!

 “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” John Wayne

thelifeichose: Idiots guide to happiness

thelifeichose: Idiots guide to happiness: Once we become predictable, we become vulnerable, most of us victims of our own habits!!!  Guilt is a deadly weapon of the masochist, m...

Idiots guide to happiness

Once we become predictable, we become vulnerable, most of us victims of our own habits!!! 

Guilt is a deadly weapon of the masochist, maybe you could have saved your sister before it got that bad , or maybe if you were a better child your mother would not have beat the crap out of you to compensate for her pain? These are false questions, maybe you should ask, why did she have to take her problems out on me? Why wasn't there an adult to stop my sister from going off the deep end!!!

Responsibility can be great, but it can be a mother f8ck*r and it can teach hate, it has brought people on both the brink of destruction and greatness, important thing is to remember, each person needs to field their own responsibilities, we can not take it for other people, it's both unproductive and negative for both parties.

Illness 
I guess we all need to be ill, broken, sad, hurt, depressed for us to know what it is, we need to hurt to heal
and in the words of REM "everybody hurts, sometime" we we have to find the silver lining and understand that for us to make that transition to betterness we have to start by wanting it.

Health
Positive thoughts has always stemmed and been related with positive attitudes and good habits, we need to start somewhere and I guess where I found it was with two things; healthy lifestyle and diet, it is the two hardest things to consistently implement, but start small, drink more water, or eat less bad food or dress better.

Words
Our words are like swords, it can flatten or flatter, be careful to say only positive things, make people happy, don't use your words to hurt, because it will bring only negative energy, try to get as many smiles and thank you's in a day as you possibly can, success follows good people. (Don't expect people to say thank you) your reward is the look on their faces)

Gossip 
Gossip is gossip even if you are talking the truth about someone in their absence, sometimes we gather and need gossip from being bored, truth be told no man or woman has ever been better off with gossip, so clearly if it can not benefit you, and hurts other people, it will not end well.

Ownership 
Take ownership of your own health, wealth and well being, don't expect your parents, friends or spouses to be that support for you, remember in the end everyone's alone. When you learn to take care of yourself, your learn how to be strong...

Karma
Remember to pay your debt to karma, she never forgets, get rid of your demons because your mind needs less bad thoughts and your life needs less people hating you, make a list of all the things you did, all the people you were unfair, rude, hurtful towards and make it right...


Happiness is the best thing you can ask for, follow the above and you're on your way.


A Sarfaraaz Mukuddem original

She's ruined her wonderful life:(

She’s ruined her wonderful life

Her sheltered life never offered her any pleasure,

Her heart longed for more then the life of leisure

Prep schools and hot shot university wasn’t so cool,

Because a parent’s expectations can be cruel.

Her privileged life never exposed her to bad boys,

And she soon found a craving for new toys.

This was not for her and things became rough,

Only problem is she just could not get enough.

Of the “lewe” as they called it here on the Cape Flats,

Rich girls like her were nothing but door mats.

She slowly began feeling out of place,

She’s suddenly mixed in a different world, she’s losing face.

Because her prep school buddies don’t want to be seen,

With a “taxi queen”

Her name is in the mud,

She’s turned into a dud.

She’s unhappy and wants to go back to the way things used to be,

It’s no longer fun because she’s got hepatitis B,

A little too late, she sees her fate.

Suddenly her seditious childish game has put too much on her plate

She wants it all to end,

She wants her broken heart to mend.

She had it all and lost it all,

Even her bad boy left her for some casher at Vangate mall

She’s falling apart, begging the world for a second chance,

It isn’t that easy, because she has ruined it,

She’s ruined her wonderful life.

“SHE’S RUINED HER WONDERFUL LIFE”

THE SINNER INSIDE

JULY 2007 

A

SARFARAAZ MUKUDDEM

 PIECE  

My african dream

  My African Dream

Segregation is banished forever,

All creeds living together.

Rich and poor living side by side,

Honesty has killed the country’s lies.

No obsession with wealth,

And everyone can share the same health system.

There is respect for each other,

And neighbours can count on one another.

Backbiting has lost its place in our hearts,

Gambling is illegal so it won’t tear anymore families apart.

Gangsters respect the law,

And the land has realised what Mandela has spent decades on Robben Island for.

Political parties do not steal,

And the dealers do not deal.

Mothers doesn’t abort their babies,

And fathers support their babies.

HIV AIDS is deceased,

Because lust has decreased.

Education is the foundation,

Crime is eradicated.

This is my dream

This is my African dream.   

Composed by

Sarfaraaz Mukuddem

2003

My beloved country

Just can't see the light

“CAN’T SEE THE LIGHT…”

 

She walked in as her mother lay in bed with another guy,

And hated her for all this time

Until one day her mother stroked and died

Daddy lay there stoned and drunk

He never even cried

Left to fend for her two young brothers herself all alone

Everything’s so sad around her ice cold home

Had to quit her studies and go work seven days a week

She has no plans, she’s got no dreams, because today her futures bleak

Abused as a child, neglected as an adolescent, she’s used to the pain

And everyday she seems to blame

Herself for hating mum till she died

She doesn’t know what tomorrow will bring, or where she must go from here

But she tries

Hard to be strong for the boys, always working on a new ploy,

To bring them joy, she simply must get through these cold and lonely days

And find ways to keep herself strong, she can’t afford to do wrong

To much weighing on her young shoulders right now

She’s made a vow to keep her cool and not break down,

She’s steadily losing the fight because this strife is always around

Oh what to do, what to do, support or give up and leave the world

I’m only a young girl

Where does my happiness come in, I need to believe in God someday

She keeps saying out loud, I've just got to find another more spiritual way

She just can’t see the light…

‘She just can’t see the light…”

SARFARAAZ IS LEARNING THE WORLD

OCTOBER 2007

A

SARFARAA MUKUDDEM

PIECE

A bottle of spirits

thelifeichose: A bottle of spirits: A bottle of spirits My name is dronkie or bergie or whatever you feel like calling me I just wish you could look under my dirty clot...

A bottle of spirits

A bottle of spirits

My name is dronkie or bergie or whatever you feel like calling me

I just wish you could look under my dirty clothes and see

That it’s hard living on these streets

My mother, and her husband threw my out all those years ago

I became a car guard pro

“Park here meram, park here my boss miskien sal jy my ‘n enjie of ‘n klein tip los”

I sleep in a cardboard box opposite the Gatesville Mosque

I see the mense praying to God, but they look at me like I’m a disease

All I ask is some respect please!

To survive in this world is very tough; I think I've had over enough

Of this struggle, I've been in this pile of rubble for far too long…

I've been the strong one, holding the pack together

It just seems like forever has passed me by

And all I want, is to die

So goodbye Cape Town

You raised me up and never let me down…

So I’ll park my last car and give my tip to skollie my pal

Please dear God help me, my life is hell

And perhaps You will make me die quick

A bottle of spirits at elite should do the trick!

Written by Sarfaraaz Mukuddem

(Tells a story of a car guard, who works and tries to make a living on the streets while sleeping on the streets)

Some definitions of foreign words used her 

Drokie (Drunkard)

Bergie (Vagrant)

Miskien (Maybe)

Enjie(Cigarette)

Mense(People)

Tyrants of note

It was Margret Thatcher who referred to Nelson Mandela as a terrorist and openly supported Apartheid

It was George Bush who said "we will not negotiate with terrorists 

but supported the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden for years...

Ariel Sharon who was responsible for the murder of Thousands of people

To succeed in life...

Rise in the Dark and the day is your own

Mind your business and let your neighbors alone

To engagement be punctual, in your word never fail

Truth is eternal and must ever prevail

Politeness costs nothing, brings off it's reward

By neatness in dress have many men scored

Don't postpone the work of today till tomorrow

And, sure of a profit fear not to borrow

Buy nothing but that which you actually require
Recollect three moves are as bad as a fire 

Take not an extravagant fool for a wife
Nor consider that money's your life
Last of all recollect, in hunting the pelf
if you want it done well, DO IT YOURSELF..

People who inspired me

The late Great Taliep Petersen

My first musical Role Model


Adrian Kuiper 

My First Sporting Role Model 

My dreams came true...

It was 2006 and I went to Saudi for pilgrimage (Umrah) the minor one,
one particular day the leader of our group said to me "go to the Kaaba
and touch the doors, while praying for whatever you want, and all your
 wishes will come true, without fail"!!!

There are hundreds of thousands of people and when I eventually got to
the doors and was ready to now make my prayers???
I just hit a blank and forgot all those things I always wanted...

After a while, i rushed back to the leader and told him what had happened,
he smiled politely and Said "Allah will take your duah out of your heart and
make it come true, if it is good for you!!!

Here is what I so badly wanted!!!

• A good wife, that would take good care of me (Got it)
• A good job where people respected and not neglected me (Got it)
• A good car that will not let me down and be a comfort to me (Got it)
• A good income which would enable me to help those in need (Got it)
• Paradise for my father (I am so confident about this)

So I guess the next level in gratitude is remembering what you made prayers for

and then realize that being grateful is must to getting more!!! 

                                             THE KAABAH IN MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA

A song with sadness and hope...

                                                                  "Angel"

Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memories seep from my veins
let me be empty
and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

so tired of the straight line
and everywhere you turn
there's vultures and thieves at your back
and the storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lies
that you make up for all that you lack
it don't make no difference
escaping one last time
it's easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

Sarah Mclachlan

A prayer for the dying

A Prayer For The Dying

Carry me, soft and gentle
Into sleeps arms and beyond
Painless at last, embrace me
In whatever must follow on
Whisper your lullaby in my ear
Let tenderness flow from the words
That slowly halt the beat
Make my last breath as sweet
As the first a newborn takes
Take my soul, so beautiful
And lay it with the angels
Let their wings curl around
The ones I leave behind me
Ease the loneliness they feel
As I step brave into the night 

Fiona Davidson

Children are the joy of life...

On Children

 Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Dear Mother

Dear Mother

ALTHOUGH

Although you hardly see me you are always on my mind

Although I’m never there but my heart is connected to you like an umbilical cord is connected

Although I bring you in disrepute a lot, I never ever mean to hurt you

Although I’m going places, you will never move from my heart

Although I’m going to be a father someday soon, I’ll always be your baby and only boy

Although I seem light years from who I used to be, I had to change to adapt the a changing world

Although you think I’m arrogant, I humble myself at your feet any day

Although I have hurt you so many times, it was never my intention for you to get hurt

I love you and hope you love me…

Don’t try to understand me, because sometimes I don’t understand myself… 

AN ORIGINAL Sarfaraaz Mukuddem piece 

Moments in History

The Moon Landing

Nelson Mandela's first steps to freedom

Breaking down of the Berlin wall