There's only 24 hours left to save these 16 lions!

I wish this was an Aprils Fools joke, but it isn't. Unfortunately the caring people at SanWild have run out of funding and can no longer take care of these rescued lions needs. The lions also could not be translocated because permits could not be issued. So unless people come together and take action, like they did for Earth Hour, these 16 beautiful lions will be "euthanized'.

You can read more about this on SimonB's blog, or just take action and make a donation directly into the SanWild account:

SanWild Banking Details: ABSA, Danie Joubert Street, Tzaneen, SOUTH AFRICA. The account number is 9111221180, Branch Code 334349, Swift Code ABSAZAJJ, Iban Code ZA632005.
Please user "Blog challenge" as your payment reference.

Lions are close to my heart. They are African, just like me, and also they are the brand of matchstick's that are part of this trading journey I am on.

So I've taken up SimonB's challenge for a number of reasons – what will be your reason for taking action and help save these lions?

And I'm one of the first to own an alien poken! Here's the story.

Don't you just love those evenings that start out with no plans, and unexpectedly turn out to be such great evenings? I had one such evening last night.

Mike sent out a reminder via facebook and Carl on twitter, that the 27diner was happening last night on the 26th because of the cricket today. I happened to be in Sandton finishing off a meeting, so spontaneously decided to pop by Capello's to say hi, planning to just stay for a bit and then head home.

Turns out the format was an unconference, and they were asking for speakers from those who attended to take part, and who would get 270 seconds to share something interesting. Lantz and Christopher put my name down to talk about onematchstick. So it's their entire fault that I own an alien poken now! (PS- Thanks guys :o) )

There were many interesting topics, like Christopher who shared how he manages companies' online reputations, and Heidi who turned off the lights during her talk in support of Earth Hour on Saturday. Lantz shared about all the smells he experiences on his scooter as he zips through the traffic to work every day, and I learnt the story of Madam Zingara from Marcel just before he dazzled us with his magic! We even heard about yummy VitaminWater and I got to sample the orange flavour. Sweeet!

There was a prize for the best speech, and I was voted as the winner! So Tim and Amor of Poken.co.za let me choose my poken and showed me how to work it. I went for this green monster, but the bee and panda bear were cute too!

Poken is a nifty gadget that lets you share your contact and social networking details with others who poken, in just a few seconds. Only thing is I feel like the first person who owned a fax machine must have felt like... So I need you to get a poken too, so when we meet, and I ask "do you poken?" I'll get an excited nod from you and I can show off my little green alien! Ok?

What a great evening- thanks 27dinner, and Poken.co.za for my alien!

If you think I've got a thing for matchsticks, then let it be known that it's all about one. . . . matchstick . . . for me. Whereas for these two guys- they realllly have a thing for matches.

I went with my Mom to the Absa Gallery for the Absa L'Atelier Art Competition on Thursday. It was the exhibition of all the Johannesburg entries, and my friend Alastair Mclachlan's fab multi-dimensional photo got through to be one of the finalists, which will exhibit in a few months time. This competition is not only the oldest art award in the Southern hemisphere, it's also one of the most prestigious and the richest in Africa. The lucky South African artist who wins not only gets a scholarship and trip to Paris, but also has a nice little line on their CV for posterity.

One of the entries this year was from Lehlohonolo Mkhasibe:

Between my busy schedule and Al's hectic one, we met yesterday at the vibey Newscafe Sandton to do the trade.

As I finished my yummy peanut and banana smoothly, Al Your Pal rocked up, almost as excited as I was.

Al started DJing at a very early age. At boarding school he used to read the Top 40 magazine and check out all the DJ decks for sale at the back of the magazine, and at the age of 16 he had his first deck. Little did he know at that time that one day he'd be meeting a girl known as the "matchstick girl" (yes- I seem to have collected that nickname somehow!) to trade a gig for a balloon!

So besides being such a hip DJ, who's DJ'd for celebrities and joined Bono walking around Alexandra, Al is also a down-to-earth guy who enjoys a glass of coca cola occasionally. He's also a bit of an adrenalin junkie, and frequently rides his super bike, jumps out of perfectly serviceable planes with a parachute on his back, and even goes to depths to scuba dive. Hence an adventure in a hot air balloon is just up his alley- and he's about to surprise a certain special somebody with this flight and breakfast. But well have to wait to hear more about that- I don't want to spoil the surprise.

So: I traded the balloon flight with champagne breakfast with DJ "Al Your Pal" for a party! And not just any kind of party. It'll be the party of the century! And here are the details of my next item up for trade:

1 x Party of the Century for up to 150 people, where DJ "Al Your Pal" from 084Extreme will be pumping the music and ripping up the decks to ensure your party not only rocks, but is the talk of the town for years to come!

You just need to add the bunch of cool people and the funky venue and drinks!

Possible parties could be:

• Birthday parties
• House parties
• Corporate events or product launches
• Weddings or engagement parties
• Team buildings
• Karaoke evenings
• Theme parties
• Singles parties
• Fundraiser parties
• Any excuse for a party parties
• Etc.

Al's DJ company 084Extreme has been pumping music for 15 years, and comes highly recommended (references available upon request!).

What's included:
DJ Al Your Pal, with all the necessary sound equipment to successfully keep your party rocking!

What's excluded- and you get to choose and add these key ingredients:

• Funky people (up to 150)
• Vibey Venue
• Sustenance (that's all the food and drinks you'll need to keep up the energy to match DJ Al's music!)

Music – You get to choose what genre of music you want- Al knows allllllll genres, and is a fan of all music (although his personal favourite if he absolutely had to choose – which I made him do in the moment - is alternative!)

Date is subject to availability, and Gauteng area only:
The date of the party will be at a time that DJ Al is available, as he is personally going to be DJ'ing this event! So the party has to happen in Gauteng too. If you are keen, check with me if the date you want your party to be on is available, and make me your offer! The party will need to be within 6 months from the day of trading for the party (but if you want your party 6 months and 2 days after trade date- I am sure I'll be able to negotiate with Al ;0) )

So, who wants to PARTYYYY? Just send me your offer (via onematchstick@gmail.com or sms 0837302979 or via facebook) of what you'd trade for the Party of the Century with DJ Al for 150 people, and let's see what happens!

Later
Telana

These offers are for the Party of the Century with DJ Al for 150 people! If you would like to trade with me for any of these offers, please let me know what you would offer me to trade for it by emailing onematchstick@gmail.com! It will then be much easier for me to decide which item to trade if my next trade is ready to go. Let your imagination rock and make me an offer! Thanks. Telana

****OFFERS FOR the Party of the Century with DJ Al for 150 people!****

Hi,
I have a party of 20 people looking for a dj.
R1500?
Let me know
Izaan


@Telana how many springleap tshirts do we currently need to trade to take over? what is the value of your current trade? ps: well done again
From @ericedelstein