The author recalls her childhood and regrets not living in Forwehse, as she felt many pleasant events took place there. Where she lived, there was an old mini-golf course and an even older bowling club, where a billiard table was recently added before closing.
Forwehse offered more sophisticated entertainment, such as indoor driving range golf in the mall, cinemas, and arcade games, which seemed very attractive compared to the limited selection in their neighborhood.
Nevertheless, the author notes that children found ways to entertain themselves before the invention of portable devices with a full range of entertainment. They rode bicycles, roller-skated, made mixtapes, played board games, collected stickers, and spent a lot of time just relaxing.
Going to a video rental store was an event in itself, as one could spend hours looking at VHS covers before making an important decision for the weekend. There were also home parties, and often gatherings with friends who met up with musicians.
There were times when girls would tell their parents they were going to the cinema, but in reality, they were going ice skating with a boyfriend while a favorite DJ spun Nirvana music, and they shared a burger. The author calls this 'noble debauchery.'
Today, there are countless interesting activities for children everywhere, and there is no longer a need to move to Forwehse to live life to the fullest. The author received a monthly promotional booklet from her spa, featuring spa day offers for under twelve dollars.
Now you can get a manicure and a massage with friends even on your tenth birthday. At ten years old, the author would have been happy if she were given a pack of NikNaks and allowed to choose the music. Her first pedicure, she recalls, was done in late adolescence or early twenties. The author considers modern children very lucky.
Currently available options include climbing walls, indoor go-kart tracks, quests, trampoline parks, obstacle courses, laser tag, play areas, ceramic painting, cooking classes, and places to have fun by axe throwing.
When they got older, they went paintballing and were willing to travel an hour to this 'city of immigration.' The author emphasizes that she does not complain about this.
They created their own entertainment, and positively, they avoided some problems by living without mobile phones. There was no geolocation, tracking, or electronic spying function in a pocket that allowed parents to monitor them 24 hours a day. If they said they were at Tarin's, then everyone knew they were at Tarin's.
At the same time, the author is writing this article from her phone while walking on a treadmill. She uses this machine only once a week, usually when she has accumulated many voice messages or an article that needs to be written. One day she plans to jump off it.
Life is so saturated now that doing four things simultaneously seems quite normal, although perhaps not very healthy. She should listen to an interesting podcast or a motivational speaker who would advise slowing down, breathing deeply, and appreciating all the positive aspects. She hopes to achieve this.
She is currently checking her planner, answering messages, walking and writing, pondering whether all this counts as five hobbies.
Her plan for next week includes a major rugby match on the field, an incredible Madame Zingara event, a trip to the Museum of Illusions, a live music concert, and a detective party. The week after that is scheduled for a quest birthday party, which a friend told her about over the weekend.
However, the author wonders that most of these activities require significant financial expenditure. Entertainment has certainly improved since she played mini-golf, but prices have also risen.
What will happen when the end of the month comes and your bank account starts making strange noises, and you still want to go out? Or perhaps you are trying to save, as she mentioned last week, and don't want to take a small personal loan to find out if you are liked by someone?
Around Joburg, there are many cheaper and even free adventures. You can take a picnic basket and go to the botanical garden, as spring is starting to show itself and flowers are awakening. Zoo Lake and Delta Park are great for walks, people-watching, and reminding oneself that fresh air is free.
Museums are good if you are looking for something else that nourishes the soul and mind, and the Nizami Mosque is worth visiting. There are also beautiful art galleries, such as Everard Read, and the Witzenburg Art Museum is another wonderful cultural stop. You can explore markets, walk through a new neighborhood, look for street art, go hiking, take photos, have a picnic, or return to old pleasures and play cards with real people.
Life is very rich, and there is so much to see and do, and it seems she doesn't need to move to Forwehse. Although the little girl in her would still want to repeat the driving range golf game, now she has an even more luxurious option right near home. Victory!