Archive for category Personal
Happy Singles Awareness Day!
Posted by Hans Haupt in Entertainment, Life, Movies, Personal, The Red Carpet on February 14th, 2010
Today is Valentines day. A solitary day of the year reserved for promoting all things related to ‘love’.
Conventional wisdom, courtesy of intense commercialistation, would have you believe that this day is purely for celebrating with your significant other. You know, the person whose morning breathe, to you, smells like peaches and cream; the individual who will literally bend over backwards to please you; ‘your own personal brand of heroine’… etcetera!
There is no doubt that Valentines is great; if you have a significant other to share it with. Although Valentines is about love and may be celebrated with a sibling or parent, we all know that the end results are just not as rewarding.
What Valentines day succeeds in doing, however, is making everyone who is not in an active relationship, aware of how ‘single’ they are.
Truth be told, it is actually the perfect day for single people to get together and mingle, without much consequence, as most of the ‘relationship’ folk would be ‘occupied’. Consequently, there is no need to spend the day alone. Instead, you can go out and meet new people, all while having fun! Hence, ‘Singles Awareness Day’ (SAD) was born":
On Singles Awareness Day, single people gather to celebrate or to commiserate in their single status. Some want to remind romantic couples that they don’t need to be in a relationship to celebrate life. On this day many people wear green, as it is considered to be the ‘opposite’ of red. (Wikipedia, 2009)
So the next time Valentines Day comes around and you happen to be single, embrace it. Be happy with who you are and make the most of it; and do not forget to get together with a group of single people and party the night away!
I hope you all have an amazing day, filled with love and new experiences.
Until the next time “Milieunairs”!
New Years Resolutions for 2010
Posted by Hans Haupt in Hans' Milieu, Life, Personal on January 10th, 2010
Can you believe that it is 2010? We are already a decade into the ‘new’ millennium.
To mark this special year, which also happens to be divisible by 5 and you all know how much I love numbers, I have committed myself to 10 resolutions for this new year.
I actually had a grand plan of revealing each resolution on each new day of the first 10 days of the new year via Twitter. Unfortunately, this did not work out as planned. Nevertheless, this is the long awaited and eventual blog post to sum everything up. Without further ado, I present to you, my new years resolutions for 2010:
Becoming a Melbournian, one step at a time.
Posted by Hans Haupt in Holidays, Life, Personal, Travel on November 25th, 2009
It certainly has been ages since I last wrote a personal post. To be frank, I always find writing about myself to be the most difficult. Not because I do not have anything to write, as I often do, but because my most recent life events have been somewhat too personal in nature to share with the world. Now I know that those are the kind of stories that make blog’s thrive. However, I had to take a step back in order to protect those closest to me by abstaining from aggravating any and all gossipmongers. More out of respect than courtesy, mind you. One day I may reveal all that has happened, but only time will tell. For now though, I wish to focus on the future and what has been happening over the last week.
As I have mentioned before, I have been neglecting the personal posts with which my blog was originally built on. Believe me, I actually feel bad about it. I love sharing my experiences, whether good or bad, and listening to people’s opinions. Or lack thereof. Consequently I will attempt to revive the personal aspect of Hans’ Milieu.
Okay, a quick recap of the last week:
I am actually in Melbourne, Australia, at the moment. I arrived last week Monday. The flight was pleasant with a total travel time of around 16 hours (including transit and flight times from Sydney to Melbourne). Actually, I wonder why there are no direct flight to Melbourne? Considering that the flight has to fly over Melbourne anyway. Very odd. However I have heard that Virgin will be flying direct to Melbourne from next year. Thank heavens for that as it will make travelling just that much better.
For those who are unfamiliar with my families ‘Australian’ history, all you you really need to know is that we have been planning on immigrating for the last 8 years. Well not really ‘planning’ per se, more like procrastinating. This year, however, I finally had enough of all of the indecision and took matters into my own hands. Thus I kindly told my parents, in the nicest way possible, that, if we could afford it, I would like to continue my Masters and Doctoral studies at Monash University in Australia. A logical move, considering that I am a Monash University Alumnus and already paying exorbitant international student rates, since that was the only way for me to be able to do my Masters at Monash University in South Africa. As a result I am currently enrolled as a Master’s student at Monash University’s Clayton campus in Melbourne, via external candidature (which allows me to stay in South Africa). Unfortunately, it is as complicated as it sounds.
Considering my current academic situation and our continued, but never fruitful, desire to begin a new life in Australia, it makes perfect sense for me to spearhead our Australian move. However, it is proving to be quite a lot harder than we originally anticipated. More so in terms of finding a place to live than actually obtaining entrance to the country (for me anyway). Subsequently, the last week has been focussed on finding me a place to stay while I am in Australia pursuing my studies. Needless to say, ‘house hunting’ is incredibly tedious and rather tiring especially since options are rather limited, courtesy of the strengthening Australian dollar and constantly weak South African Rand. Regardless, I do have hope that we will find a moderate place in a respectable location.
In other news I spent some time with my cousin Terrence, who is currently in Australia via Monash University’s undergraduate study abroad program, I managed to watch New Moon (review coming soon), got tickets to Britney Spears’ Circus Tour for this coming Friday *school girl scream* and have generally been having a wonderful time in Melbourne; further experiences that I will continue to write about when I have the time.
Until the next time “Milieunairs”!
‘Au Revoir’… Matey
Posted by Hans Haupt in Family, Get Together, Life, Personal on September 17th, 2009
This morning I went to the airport to bid farewell to my cousin and his family who have immigrated to Sydney, Australia.
This is not the first time that they have immigrated. As a matter of fact it is the second time. The first time they went to Dubai, where they lived for about three to four years before returning to South Africa. However, they always knew that Dubai would only be a temporary change. Going to Australia on the other hand, is an entirely different scenario. For this time they have immigrated in an attempt to begin a completely new life.
As a result, a farewell was held for my cousin and his family on Sunday 13th September 2009 at Gilooly’s Farm. You may have a look some of the pictures in the album below.
Saying goodbye is never easy. This time around though, I knew that I would be seeing them soon, thus delaying any emotional responses to their subsequent departure. Nevertheless, it still was not easy to have said ‘goodbye’. So this is for you, my cousins.
I know that my time is coming. For those who do not know, my family and myself have been thinking about immigrating for many years now. Unfortunately, we have not taken any ‘permanent’ measures to ensure a way of immigration. However, my plan has always been to complete one year of my Masters studies in South Africa and the final year in Australia. As a result, and should everything go as planned, I will leave for Australia by March of 2010 (next year). I will most likely post about this, in more detail, at a later stage. So… do not be a stranger!
Until the next time “Milieunairs”!
Spring has Sprung a Daisy
Posted by Hans Haupt in Family, Friends, Life, Personal on September 1st, 2009
After a brief sprout of torrential rain last week, we can now officially declare that ‘Spring has Sprung’. Perfect timing too considering today is the 1st September, Spring Day!
Compared to the weather of late, today was a scorcher of note. I cannot say that I am welcoming the return of the heat. Unlike others, my internal thermostat is somewhat dysfunctional. When people feel cold, I feel warm. When people feel hot, I end up hyperventilating and sweating like a child birthing mother.
Speaking of child birth, we have heard, via the grapevine, that a former tenant of ours had her baby today. A heartfelt and warm congratulations go out to Lezanne and Shaun on the birth of their new son. Mazel Tov!
Everyone seems to be pregnant or having children nowadays. Coincidentally, they are not the only ones, who have added a new addition to their family. We have too.
After Neige passed away, my mom did not want to get another cat, not because she did not want another but mainly because my father and myself are not really ‘cat’ people. This is largely due to the fact that my father and I are allergic to cats. I am talking about constant running noses, headaches, swollen and puffy eyes… a bit like death warmed up at times. However, the time has come for another cat. Since we live next to a wetland, our home is susceptible to rodents, snakes and large arachnids. All creatures which I unashamedly admit to running away from, often screaming.
Well last week I was paid a visit by a rather curious little mouse. A mouse which had no chagrin for making noise or being seen. So curious was he, that he unabashedly decided to crawl along my windowsill and greet me to my face, while I was in bed, attempting to fall asleep. Short of screaming like a school girl, upon opening my eyes to discover ‘Mickey’ reaching out his claws, in what appeared to be a malicious attempt to blind me, I managed to foil his plan by frantically swatting at his vile presence. He squeaked in mock-horror and, I swear, managed to ridicule me by performing a little ‘jig’ before scurrying off to what ever decrepit hovel he emanated from. After our encounter I could not sleep, for fear that he would have his way with me while I slept. It was then that I made the conscious decision to get another cat, no matter how congesting the hay fever like consequences will be. I will have my revenge!
Subsequently, today marks the arrival and official adoption of Daisy, our new and only feline member of the family. Daisy is russet coloured with burnt orange stripes and has Reddish-brown Zircon coloured eyes. She is only three months old, although we will regard her birthday as that of ‘Spring Day’, 1st September, since it is the day she joined our family and formally became a Haupt. She comes across as a highly intelligent and inquisitive cat who appears to, ironically, have a spring in her step. Daisy was proudly rescued adopted from the Benoni SPCA and will, no doubt like our beautiful dogs, be spoilt rotten.
To conclude, I wish you all a happy ‘Spring Day’ and I cannot wait for Daisy to bring me ‘Mickey’ on a ‘platter’ *evil laugh*.
Until the next time “Milieunairs”!
Relax, just do it!
Posted by Hans Haupt in Entertainment, Hans' Milieu, Internet, Life, Personal on August 13th, 2009
For the last several months I have been toying with the idea of truly making my blog, or should I say website, my own. That time has finally come.
From Hans’ Milieu’s humble beginnings with Microsoft’s Windows Live Spaces back in 2005, all the way to the eventual progression of my blog to the Wordpress platform last month, I have always wanted to make my blog my own. However, I did not have the courage to do so; no matter how many times my intuition whispered ‘relax, just do it’. That is, not until late last week when, in the spur of a radical moment, I did what I have been longing to do. With absolute confirmation having only arrived early yesterday morning, my envisioned plan for my website has finally become a reality.
I am immensely proud to announce that now, after almost four years, I officially and finally own Hans’ Milieu (© 2009 Hans Haupt, All rights reserved) as well as the domain www.HansHaupt.com. I still cannot get over the fact that I now have my own, self-maintained island of information, that anyone on the Internet can holiday on. It truly is an amazing feeling!
Consequently, I now have absolute freedom to do whatever I want with my website. That said, I do have a myriad of ideas bouncing within the confines of my cranium, waiting to be unleashed on the unsuspecting masses. However, I do have a lot of learning to do, both in terms of programming skills and my Masters, before I will be able to actually gain a comprehensive understanding of how to nurture my website into all that it can be. With that said, the first aspect on my new agenda is creating a logo and potential slogan for Hans’ Milieu. So stay tuned!
Lastly, I would just like to give a quick shout-out to my parents and our gracious Lord God. If it was not for their continued love and support, through both the good times and the bad, Hans’ Milieu would most probably have been shelved several years ago. They have given me the strength to ‘Relax and just do it’! Thank you for everything that you do, I love you!
Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

Gaijin Tomodachi Tachiyorimasu (Laura & Troy’s SA Reprieve)
Posted by Hans Haupt in Friends, Get Together, Life, Personal, Travel on August 10th, 2009
Recently, a good friend of mine returned to South Africa for a brief 13 day reprieve. Laura, along with her fiancé Troy, have spent the last two years abroad in Japan teaching English to the natives. Although they have both been enjoying the unique experience, they, like Dorothy, could not wait to tap their heels because, no matter how short the stay, “there is no place like home”.
If you are wondering about the title of this post, it is supposed to translate into something like: “Internationalised Foreign Friends”. For all I know it could mean “Tasty Octopus Nipples”, what with the dubious reliability of some of the Internet’s ‘translation engines’.
My poor Japanese skills aside, it was great to be able to spend time with both Laura and Troy. Thankfully we got to see them a few times before returning to Japan.
The most memorable evening took place on Saturday night, 8th August 2009. Upon my recommendation, myself, Mik, Nicholas, Laura and Troy, made our way to the Nelson Mandela square in Sandton City. Those of you who know me personally, can attest to the fact that I always like to try new and exciting places or events. As a result, I managed to persuade almost everyone to try Lekgotla), an African styled restaurant, with the hopes of getting to eat a gastronomically unique dish. We were not disappointed.
Lekgotla is Tswana for ‘the meeting place’, and what a meeting place it is. The place is beautiful. There are no two ways about it. Think traditional African symbolism meets modern European contemporary art. The perfect place to bring foreigners for a taste of African culture.
Thankfully we arrived before the dinner time rush and were thus able to procure and be seated at one of the restaurant’s exclusive ‘gotla’ – one of only two hut-like structures that are able to seat eight people comfortably.
To be frank, the food was simply spectacular! All the way from the Crocodile Carpaccio, Peanut Butter Calamari and Vetkoek starters, to the Ethiopian Coffee Steak, Glazed Pear infused Ostrich fillet and vegetarian platter main courses, and finally all the way to the stomach distending three Crème brûlées degustation dessert; not a single dish was a disappointment. Honestly, a part from being absolutely divine, the food also served as a form of entertainment value for the evening. Discussing the strange delicacies and varied tastes made way for interesting conversational elements and, in some cases, the food prompted ‘hands on’ action as well as the often unexpected, and rather loud, oral expulsion of digestive gases. It was definitely an evening to remember!
Furthermore, throughout the course of the evening, we were constantly impressed by the level of service, but even more so by the welcomed yet unexpected amenities. To begin, we were all offered a cleansing vanilla infused hand wash, with vanilla scented towels to boot. Our hands smelled delicious, unfortunately they did not taste that way. After that a cart was brought over with an opportunity to try out a traditional ‘cocktail’. After come impressive bottle work, we were handed the crushed ice, vodka, honey and lemon juice cocktails. Although the drink sounds like something which could clear ones sinuses, it was actually rather good. A short time later, after the starters, we were given the chance to bare tribal markings upon our beautiful visages. Unfortunately, no one was keen to have their face painted, no matter how ‘unique’ the experience on offer was. Next time though! To top it all off, we were eventually asked if we would have liked our shoes shined. Once again, no one obliged. Although this time it was not for lack of trying, but merely because no one was wearing shoes which could have been shined. To conclude, the service at Lekgotla was excellent. From the moment we arrived we were greeted warmly and made to feel as if we were the only people there. Granted we were at the time, but the level of service did not decline even though the place eventually filled up faster than a rush hour taxi.
As a result, Lekgotla is the perfect place to take foreigners and it is the ideal location for individuals who are willing to embrace their ‘African’ roots. We would give Lekgotla a rating of 9/10.
In essence it was really very good to spend time with everyone, especially Laura and Troy. They have both grown tremendously as a couple and we are all looking forward to their big day – possibly in 2010. We miss them both quite a lot, but we are immensely thankful for the time we were able to have together. The venue just made the experience that much better. After all, nothing is better than creating highly memorable moments, with unforgettably awesome people.
Until the next time “Milieunairs”!









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