David McClendon of Littleton, Colorado boarded a Southwest jet Monday morning in Dallas, Texas. Upon taking his seat, he felt that things were a little different from the usual procedure of a simple fly-away.

I noticed that there were a lot of pictures being taken, and everyone seemed to know each other, McClendon told Sounds Like Nashville. I started asking questions, and was told I was getting a surprise and nothing more. It was a lot of fun.

That surprise was a live in-flight performance from Dot recording artist Drake White, as part of Southwests Live at 35 series. The singer, who performed several songs from his Spark album, said it was an experience that he wont soon forget.

It felt good. There were a lot of people that were surprised about it, he shared. I think that music lives in that spontaneity and that quickness of getting out there and doing your thing. At the end of the day, I just want to make people have a good day, and a good experience, I think that was one.

Drake White; Photo Courtesy of Dot Records

Of course, one of the biggest obstacles for the energetic performer was that space was very much limited. It was challenging, he admitted. Im glad I stretched this morning, and got my little workout in. Its definitely tight quarters, for sure.

There were other differences in playing live at 35,000 feet. Obviously, theres not a lot of acoustics on there. Its more of a nostalgic thing. Peoples ears are just now getting acclimated to being up in that space. Its more of a wow factor that somebody is actually trying to put this on and get it done. I think it sounded pretty good.

The flight to Nashville was part one of a busy week, with Fridays performance at the Country Radio Seminars New Faces Show also being a highlight, for the singer, who said he relishes the blessing of a busy schedule. You have to be a chameleon. I used to think If I only had a chance to be that busy. My buddies would be flying all over the world playing, and they would always talk about being slammed. I would think Theres no way they are that slammed. But, you do get busy. This week is a very busy one.

Monday night, White played a private performance for radio contest winners at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Anytime you get to play that stage, its an absolute honor. Im going to get to play solo acoustic. Thats a very huge deal.

The performance was also sponsored by Live In The Vineyard, a concert series that White is a huge fan of. This was the brainchild of a couple of ladies. They love wine, and they love the landscape of Napa. They started bringing music into the vineyards, and for all the people who like partaking of the wine, music goes with that. They just made this concept, and its an amazing experience. You talk about being laid-back. It was something Ill never forget. I love the landscape out there, as well as the geography.

The musical experience likely over Arkansas was one that passenger McClendon wont soon forget. It was like winning the lottery, he beamed. It was an awesome experience. Id never seen anything like this before. It was nice and relaxing, and made the flight go by faster. After the performance, he lamented that he didnt request Freebird.

White, an Alabama native, says he has done that song before for a very special crowd. I played Freebird with a ukulele in front of Lynyrd Skynyrd on the bus to start their cruise. Ive only done it that once, but it was something, for sure.

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Drake White Takes His Music to the Sky for Surprise In-Flight Concert - Sounds Like Nashville

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Ed Sheeran Reveals New Details About Harry Styles' Solo Music J-14 Magazine He is set to make his acting debut in the war movie, Dunkirk. Not only that but it seems like he's been having a super fun time relaxing and hanging out with family and friends. There's no doubt that Harry was going to create some solo music and now we ... and more »

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Ed Sheeran Reveals New Details About Harry Styles' Solo Music - J-14 Magazine

Organic Food Sales Are Booming; Why Are American Farmers Crying Foul? Wall Street Journal (subscription) Organic grain is flooding into the U.S., depressing prices and drawing complaints from domestic organic farmers who fear their harvests are held to stricter standards than foreign-raised crops. Turkey, for instance, vaulted ahead to become by far the ...

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Organic Food Sales Are Booming; Why Are American Farmers Crying Foul? - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

The second installment of BSN Denvers conversation with Nuggets rookie Jamal Murray. Find part 1 of T.J. McBrides chat with Murray here.

T.J: So the meditation side of things. You have the aggressor side of yourself and the side that is always pushing you to get better but you also get that softer moment of meditation that you can really build on from you dad that goes back to the inspiration of Bruce lee. Do you still meditate before games and practices?

Jamal: Yes, and I meditate at home too.

T.J.: What has that brought to your life? Especially with how chaotic things have been going from Canada, without that media presence, to Kentucky with coach Cal, to being on the NBA landscape and being forced in as a rookie to play bigger minutes and a bigger role. How much has meditation slowed things down and allowed you to grasp what is happening around you?

Jamal:Sometimes you get caught up so focused that you dont see what is right beside you or right in front of you. When I think of all the stuff I have to do like clean up and practice in the morning I start to think of things as a burden rather thana privilege. Like working out. To me, that is a privilege. So I stop thinking of it as a burden, like, damn I have to work out. I just think that alright, I gottato work out. It is something I have to do and something I want to do and I embrace it. Stuff like that. Kinda eases things off and changing the mindset a little bit.

T.J:Has anyone else on the team gotten in on meditating and would you even let them?

Jamal: No. Everyone has their own thing. You cant tell someone to meditate and they feel better. It is something that took me years to get good at and Im still not even close to perfect or where I should be. Everyone has their own way. Some people listen to hype music before games and sometimes I dont even listen to music. I just go with the flow, say hi to people, and go through with good energy and keep everything to myself and keep my spirits high.

T.J.:So where did that love of hip hop start with you. It is known that you didnt have a tv growing up and you had an iPod that you barely used. Where suddenly did this love of J Cole, lyrical hip hop, and conscious thought come from?

Jamal: People see me as someone that is energetic, messing around, talks a lot, and is fun to be around but the crazy thing is that I like to be by myself. I just like to be alone and away fromeverybody and not talk to anybody. So when I find someone that can relate or express words in a certain way that you would never think of is a way for me to get away too.

T.J.: Something new that came out today. Coach Cal put out his top five Kentucky players that he would put on a team.He didnt include you. How do you feel about that? Does that put a little chip on your shoulder?

Jamal: There are a lot of players. Who did he pick again?

T.J.:He ended up picking John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as his x-factor, and Devin Booker at shooting guard.

Jamal:I mean, thats a good team. He chose Booker over me because its Bookerssecond year but Booker is a great shooter and a great player. He is confident and I think we have the same type of confidence when it comes to playing with toughness and grit going against someone else. He is someone I like to play against and I think it is a good choice.

T.J.: He pushes you with that type of stuff doesnt he? He thinks about it like, lets see what Jamal does when I dont put him on this list. Was he always pushing those buttons when you were at Kentucky?

Jamal: Yeah, he did a lot. He always made fun of me for whatever it was but it was from a good heart. He knew what I was capable of and just wanted me to get there. He kind of wanted me to prove him wrong and show it in a game.

T.J.: How is that inspiring force, a guy like Coach Cal, to have around you like that when you are coming from Canada without the media in your face and without everyone watching what you are doing, to having coach Cal help you along that process of becoming a phenom and a lights out shooter and you had him in your corner to really back you up throughout the draft process. The draft process is lethal and people are brutal to prospects. How big was it to have Coach Cal in your corner?

Jamal:It was good. He was a great talker too. A lot of stuff he says is true. Whenever he talks about the media and stuff I know where it is coming from and I know he is not lying either. He is giving you a real perspective of what he thinks and he has the players and the awards to back it up. He knows what he is talking about and is a guy that other people and GMs trust.

T.J: Does Coach Cal ever leave Kentucky?

Jamal:No. No. I dont think so.

T.J.: Here are a couple rapid fire questions. Basics that people might not know. Favorite color?

Jamal:Grey.

T.J.:Favorite player growing up?

Jamal:Vince Carter.

T.J.:Is that a Canadian thing?

Jamal:I used to just watch him growing up dunking and I would copy his dunks on my little net. The passion he played with was everything.

T.J.:If you were not playing basketball what would you be doing?

Jamal:Track.

T.J.: What did you run?

Jamal:800 meters and high jump and my dad said I would be good at the four (400m) because he ran track but that a tough race.

T.J.: That is a short race, man. What is your favorite food you would be eating if Steve Hess was not down your throat about your diet?

Jamal:I still eat whatever I want to eat (laughs) but I burn it off quick. I like chicken wings a lot. Ill eat them before games or after games. So I think chicken wings are my favorite.

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Beyond Basketball Part 2: Jamal Murray on John Calipari, meditation and more - BSN Denver

As stress levels rise and attention spans shrink, consumers are increasingly using technology to tap into Zen. Approximately 18 million Americans practice meditation, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and, much like yoga, meditation apps are exploding in the marketplace.

Apps like Calm, Headspace and The Mindfulness App offer both monthly and yearly subscriptions. Meditation sessions, which can be customized by length and according to mood, are dedicated to improving physical and emotional well-being, increasing focus, managing stress and getting a better nights sleep.

Meditation is based on principles of Buddhism and has been practiced for thousands of years, but its current popularity is due, in part, to decreased stigmas around discussing mental health, said Alex Tew, co-founder and co-CEO of Calm, which averaged 30,000 new users per day in the last year.

For a long time, people associated meditation with spirituality or religion or general weirdness, Tew explained. But now, in some places, its almost a badge of honor to meditate, which is a total 180 shift. Especially in Silicon Valley, its surprising if somebody doesnt meditate. Its the same as physical exerciseits becoming a bigger trend because people are realizing that its good for them.

"Especially in Silicon Valley, its surprising if somebody doesnt meditate."

-Alex Tew, co-founder and co-CEO of Calm

Theres also an increasing realization about how emotional well-being impacts physical health. Forty-six percent of U.S. consumers say that keeping a positive mindset is one way they manage their overall health, and 40 percent say that stress is their main source of body pains, like headaches and backaches, according to Mintel.

People are getting more savvy about how chronic stress can lead to chronic ill health, said Carli Gernot, manager of trends, North America at Mintel.

The turbulent political climate is also playing a part in these apps growing popularity. Increasingly, people are dissatisfied with the direction of the country, and if theyre stressed out about whats going on, these apps can help them be more present and manage stress, said Alexis Fragale, director of consumer insights at Mindshare North America. Calms Tew, meanwhile, noted that his apps downloads have doubled in the months following Trumps election.

Each meditation app tends to have its own particular vibe. The Mindfulness App has a global focusits available in 30 languageswhile Headspace aims to stand out through the volume of its content and by emphasizing the expertise of its instructors. Calm offers unique services like Sleep Stories, bedtime tales for adults, as well as ambient background sounds andnature scenery.

The Mindfulness App, which primarily targets urban consumers 35 to 50, promotes itself through Instagram influencers and paid ads on Facebook. The company also partnered with El Al Airlines and Mini to offer meditation sessions on flights and in London traffic, respectively, and tested the app on 100 hospital employees in Sweden and the U.K. to measure its impact on staffers trauma management and interactions with patients. Its been proven over and over again that meditation reduces stress and helps people with compassion, said Magnus Fridh, the apps co-founder.

Headspace has partnered with seven major airlines to offer passengers content on staying calm through flight delays, avoiding jet lag and sleeping better on board, and worked with the British Olympic teams athletes and sports psychologists to improve performance during the 2012 and 2016 games. Partnerships have been key to our success, and the sheer depth and breadth of our content helps differentiate us, too, said Headspace co-founder Rich Pierson.

Calm advertises on Facebook and through search ads in the Apple app store, but reaches 99 percent of its customers through word of mouth. When people have a good experience and feel the benefits of meditation, it turns them into evangelists, Tew said.

Analysts see the meditation trend expanding to include wearables, which could track your pulse and offer ideas on stress management, or expanding in the retail sector. (A recent example is Lululemon, which installed a meditation bus outside of one of its London stores.)

The trend is going to continue to grow, agreed Tew. Weve become good in the West with advances in medicine, but the modern ailments of our time, anxiety and depression, are more about your state of mind than your body.

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Meditation Apps Are Becoming a Source of Zen in an Overstressed World - FishbowlDC (blog)

By the time Brian Stann was interviewing Derrick Lewis in the cage after UFC Fight Night 105 on Sunday in Halifax, Nova Scotia, there was subdued outcry at the fact that referee Mario Yamasaki was late to stop the fight, allowing Lewis to land a few additional strikes on an already unconscious Travis Browne. Lewis did nothing wrong; the strikes werent malicious, just unnecessary, which is an expected occurrence in this line of work. Its just that Lewis hits harder than a 10-foot wave breaking onshore, which makes those extra shots a bit more serious than if it were, say, Jared Rosholt delivering them. Alas, Yamasaki was a little late to intervene, and The Black Beast crashed on the eroded shoreline of Brownes consciousness.

In other circumstances, that may have manufactured some outrage, at least for a few hours until people got bored. Not this time. Browne has become one of the more reviled fighters on the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster in certain circles. His association with perpetual punchline Edmond Tarverdyan and his relationship with Ronda Rousey are both part of it, but Lewis made sure to remind people why they shouldnt feel too bad for Browne: He calls himself a man, but he likes to put his hands on women, so forget that guy.

If there was any lingering resentment about the late stoppage, it evaporated quickly at that line. Lewis, of course, was referring to a 2015 domestic abuse allegation from Brownes then-wife. Its important to note that Browne has denied the allegations and no criminal charges were pressed. Some felt the comment crossed the line, while others celebrated it. Either way, it begged some contemplation. What is the role of sportsmanship in MMA? What are the ethical responsibilities of fighters and consumers? Is it OK to feel pleasure from watching bad things happen to bad people or, more accurately, people we deem bad?

Sportsmanship is a strange subject with which to grapple. The word usually evokes images of pity-trophies for the worst teams in youth leagues across the country, which, by virtue of being the least talented, were recognized as the most sportsmanlike. Its important to get over that kneejerk dismissal, though. Sportsmanship is the umbrella term for the virtues of competition. As anyone who has competed knows, sports are not simply a measurement of who is better at a given game on a given day. Games are microcosms of real life, brief encapsulations of the ongoing highs and lows of living in the world.

To view sports as a rote form of entertainment is empty. They are that, but thats not all they are. Our games exist to satisfy our reptilian thirst for entertainment as much as they are here to reflect our values. We live in a society of ethical prescriptivism, where things dont always fall under strict binaries of winners and losers. There are also ways we should win and ways we should lose. The shoulds are up for debate, but youd be hard-pressed to find a sports fan that does not have any opinions on them at all.

This is why people tend to get up in arms about trash talking after a fight. Before a fight, it is usually accepted -- even encouraged -- because it adds intrigue. Its good business. However, trash talking an opponent after a fight, the argument goes, is ugly. Browne had already been knocked out and then some. Did Lewis really need to add insult to injury?

Think of it in a different context. What if an employer fired a coworker of yours and proceeded to send a mass email to everyone in the company airing out their dirty laundry? Or if the same thing happened with someone you know who got dumped? That sort of thing is juicy and inherently attention-grabbing, but it also leaves a sticky residue of voyeurism, even if it is easy to justify our antipathy.

That opens up into a larger discussion. Is there a moral duty of sports? If your answer is no, then sportsmanship is of no concern to you and likely you couldnt care less about how the winners and losers act after a fight. That there is a winner and loser is probably enough. If the athletes themselves have any sort of moral responsibility, however, and if we as consumers share in it, then what exactly are those responsibilities? Should we expect people who inflict violence in a cage for a living to be pillars of righteousness? Are we part of the problem by actively supporting people who destroy their brains and their bodies for low pay for our weekend amusement? Im not sure these questions can be separated from the sport -- the product -- itself.

This is especially tangled territory because unsportsmanlike behavior is naturally captivating. Think how boring it is for fighters to reel off the my opponent is tough and I really respect him line after each fight and compare that to how you felt after hearing Lewis post-fight speech. One type of response blends into an amorphous mass of white noise; the other makes you want to see more. It goes without saying, but the desire to see more is better for business, for both the company and the fighter.

The most pointed ethical question in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night 105 was whether or not it is OK to feel good about seeing something bad happen to someone we perceive as bad. Its MMAs version of the Is it OK to punch a Nazi? debate. On one hand, punching someone repeatedly after theyre knocked out is a bad thing on its face. On the other hand, we feel a natural vindication when we see people get what they deserve. Then, is an action itself less bad if it is inflicted upon a bad person? Whether or not Browne is actually a bad guy and regardless how you felt about seeing him get punched in and out of unconsciousness, these are things we have to reconcile as fans; we are complicit in each and every ethical dilemma that intersects with the fight game.

We tend to view MMA through varying Venn goggles, that it exists to some extent as competition and some extent as entertainment. What the Lewis fight showed us, though, was that we really watch through more granular, essential lenses. Its part of the poetry of fighting; we can devour it with animalistic mindlessness at the same time we dissect it with human thoughtfulness. Im not going to tell anyone how they should or should not enjoy themselves on fight night, but Im not going to ignore the food for thought this sport provides, either.

Lewis may not be the philosophical provocateur Im making him out to be, but for a man whose post-fight interview included the word booboo and called feces Number 2 -- the most kid-friendly, potty-talk way to say shit of all euphemisms -- he gave us a lot to think about. Until we see him again, may he enjoy the fruits of bodily rest and steer clear of excess sex.

Hailing from Kailua, Hawaii, Eric Stinton has been contributing to Sherdog since 2014. He received his BFA in Creative Writing from Chapman University and graduate degree in Special Education from University of Hawaii. He is an occasional columnist for Honolulu Civil Beat, and his work has also appeared in The Classical. You can find his writing at ericstinton.com. He currently lives in Seoul with his fianc and dachshund.

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Opinion: 'The Black Beast' -- A Meditation on Ethics in MMA - Sherdog.com

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Free aerobics fun in the pool News24 Dozens of seniors took the opportunity to have fun while staying active with free aqua aerobics classes that was offered at the Lentegeur swimming pool. Berenice Martin, the event organiser, says: I love the water and I thought it was important to ...

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Free aerobics fun in the pool - News24

Kevin Markham assesses the European Tours innovations designed to sex up golf.

Brett Rumford plays his tee shot on the 18th on his way to winning the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in Australia. Picture: Paul Kane

The Kaiser Chiefs are probably not words you expect to see in a column about golf.

The band famous for I Predict a Riot, Ruby, and Oh My God does not contain any passionate golfers but, as the last putt rolls it at the BMW Championship this year, the boys will be tuning up for a celebratory gig in the exclusive setting of the Wentworth Golf Club.

Thumping out their tunes amid the multi-million pound homes of Surreys stockbroker belt might seem an oddity for golf and the European Tour, but this is a new age.

Ill promise to not play golf if Rory McIlroy promises not to sing, though if he wants to get up and join us hes more than welcome, said Chiefs frontman, Ricky Wilson.

With the important business of the golf out of the way, hopefully everyone will be in the mood for a bit of a party on the Sunday night.

Yes, the European Tour is rattling the cage when it comes to fan engagement. A live gig by The Kaiser Chiefs is just one step in a new direction for the tour, now under the guidance of chief executive Keith Pelley.

Pelley has only been in the role since April 2015, but the changes he has been instrumental in introducing are stirring new conversations in clubhouses around the world.

In Ireland, we might look on with some bemusement at these efforts to attract fans. The Irish Open has lured large crowds in recent years.

The events at Royal Portrush (2013) and Royal County Down (2015) were sold out. Indeed, the Royal Portrush event was attended by over 112,000 and was the first European Tour event to be sold out.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, now in its third year, is proving to be a well-orchestrated and well-oiled machine. As part of the new Rolex Series, this years event at Portstewart will also see an already impressive prize fund (4m in 2016) rise to an even heftier 6.6m.

That purse is sure to attract many more of the worlds best as part of a three-week links swing, which culminates with the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Yes, it is more than likely that the 2017 Irish Open will be sold out, too.

Elsewhere on the European Tour, however, the crowds and prize funds are not as impressive and especially when they move outside Europe.

The recent events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi cannot hope to lure the same number of fans the audience simply isnt there but that doesnt mean the European Tour and Pelley arent going to try some innovative ideas to make golf more entertaining for fans and for players, too.

Throughout the week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, music was played on the range. The Pros seemed to enjoy the experience:

It keeps you kind of relaxed, said Dustin Johnson.

Having a little music going kind of keeps the mood light. Hopefully, it will attract some other people to come out and watch and enjoy the game.

There are plenty of pros who hit the range wearing headphones to help them cut out the noise and distractions and/or to help them relax, but they have selected music to suit their tastes.

It certainly suggests that the variety of music (from Calvin Harris to the Red Hot Chili Peppers) pumping out of the speakers on the driving range is aimed more at attracting fans.

Not every pro was enamoured, however.

I didnt like it on Tuesday, said Paul Lawrie, the 48-year-old Scot who won the Open in 1999. When they turned it down it was fine, but, before that, you couldnt hear your caddie.

As part of the European Tours committee, Lawrie actually approved the music on the range.

You need to try [these ideas] to see if they work or not, he said.

Everyone seems to quite like it, but Im just old.

A further step might see music being played on the walkway to the 1st tee. There is room for all sorts of fun with this idea, as each golfer could find themselves assigned a signature tune. How about Eagles Take it Easy for Ernie Els, or Boom, Boom, Boom, by the Outhere Brothers for Rory McIlroy, or Abbas The Winner Takes it All, for Jordan Spieth.

And on the matter of all things Swedish, Henrik Stenson could be accompanied by Europes The Final Countdown infinitely more desirable than Abbas Dancing Queen, which is often played as the walk-on tune when he arrives on the 1st tee for exhibition matches.

Im all for it, said the 2016 Open champion.

Im sure not everyone is going to be delighted, maybe, but I would imagine the majority of players and the majority of the fans will like it. It creates a nice atmosphere, and I think that could be a good way going forward.

Whether this boxing match type atmosphere of having competitors arrive to music will catch on remains to be seen. Much will depend on whether it distracts players on the course.

Music on the driving range will continue, with Pelley targeting the European Tours Rolex Series (a minimum of seven events), which includes Portstewart (July 6-9). As long as Thin Lizzys The Boys are Back in Town is played, Irish fans will be happy.

The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, in May, is the first Rolex Series event of the year and music is now seen as an important part of the fun factor. Driving range music will, in Pelleys own words, become synonymous with golf.

It is easy to applaud (or despair at) these efforts to make golf tournaments more vibrant affairs, but there is an important underlying motive. The number of golfers around the world has fallen dramatically. You only have to look at Ireland to see a decline that is mirrored elsewhere.

From a peak of 209,000 club members in 2007, membership now stands at 167,000. Despite snazzier clothing and, for the most-part, the relaxation of strict clubhouse policies, golf is still seen as elitist, expensive, and a game for the elderly.

Many pounce on issues such Muirfield voting to refuse female members as an example of how golf has failed to move with the times. This refusal saw Muirfield struck off the list of Open Championship venues, though a second vote has just taken place with the results due in mid-March.

The European Tour is attempting to lighten the mood, to make golf more relaxing, fun and attractive for everyone. Such efforts may attract more young people to the tournaments and, eventually, the game itself.

Of course, this is not specifically the responsibility of the European Tour thats for the unions but it is about altering perceptions and music is not the only change being introduced.

Tournament format is also being experimented with and last weekends ISPS HANDA Super 6 Perth saw something very different.

Following three days of stroke play, the top 24 golfers qualified for a final day of matchplay. It made Saturdays moving day an interesting affair, as golfers threw caution to the wind to be among the top 24.

The final day then presented a matchplay shoot-out, with each match contested over six holes. The eventual winner, Brett Rumford, had to win four matches to claim the title.

Another six-hole event will be held at The Centurion Club, outside London, in May. It is a very different format, being a fourball greensomes (Scotch foursomes a team event where both partners get to hit a tee shot, while only one tees off in foursomes, with tee shot duties alternating from hole to hole), with teams from 16 countries being represented.

All competitors will wear microphones during play, which will make things interesting on snap hooks and bladed bunker shots, but it is further evidence of an experimental approach.

All in all, Pelley sees these changes as the most significant advancements in the Tours 44 years.

It really has been a fun exercise to sit in a room and think about where this could go, he says. This is created for a younger audience, for people who havent necessarily experienced our game as much. We want to get them engaged.

No doubt there will be the naysayers who see these innovations as making change for changes sake, but our sport is combatting a decreasing relevance and shaking things up is no bad thing.

Now, if only we could do something about slow play I predict a riot.

Kevin Markham assesses the European Tour innovations designed to sex up golf

Having a little music going kind of keeps the mood light. Hopefully, it will attract some other people to come out.

Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved

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Swing to the music of golf - Irish Examiner

"My decision was, however, made simple by the fact that my church, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, is within walking distance from here.

"But then, more wealthy black people got to know about this area, and they also moved in and bought land, pushing the prices up over the years. I have since bought more neighbouring plots, and now my land is 6ha.

"I started to build this place in 2010 before the Soccer World Cup. Being in construction myself, everything you see here, I built," Mohlala says.

She also owns resorts in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

Molobane Estate Lodge and Spa has all the amenities for a relaxing stay a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, spa, lapa and six chalets.

A standard room costs R500 per night, and executive rooms are available at R1,200 a night.

The resort has a conference centre that can accommodate up to 200 delegates. Other amenities include a dining hall and a kitchen available for hire for events such as weddings and company functions.

The spacious garden area with well-manicured lawns can be used for music concerts.

"Even though we started building this place in 2010, it is only now that we are concentrating on marketing Molobane Resort Lodge and Spa, with discussions going on with [the] Virgin Active group of gyms to try and get them to operate one of their franchises from here. We have so many guests and residents who need a gym facility here," Mohlala says.

"This place is also very close to other tourist attractions in Soweto the famous Vilakazi Street is only a few minutes drive from here.

"When tourists visit any country, they like to go to where ordinary people live. With Soweto and other townships such as Bekkersdal on our doorstep, we are well-situated to host tourists, with the added advantage that we have created a rural atmosphere that is not that far from the big city."

The lodge provides tours of local townships for its guests.

"Molobane Resort Lodge and Spa is also safe as we have security 24 hours a day, complete with cameras that can reach as far as a kilometre away, to make sure that our clients have a relaxing retreat here," says the resorts operations manager, Terry Mokoena.

Mokoena organised a belated Valentine Days event, dubbed Valentine Garden Picnic, on February 19, with couples that were promised an afternoon of relaxation on the day.

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Spa offers relaxing time out with tours to nearby Soweto a special treat - Business Day (registration)

The first Wednesday of every month brings Texas Americana, Folk, and Country Blues by singer-songwriter Hank Erwin to Vino Di Sedona, March 1, 7-10 PM. Hank has an incredible history of life experiences that have resulted in a collection of songs that tell his story.After five years as a merchant marine he logged over 1,000 days at sea, traveled over 200,000 nautical miles, was US Coast Guard certified as an Able Bodied Seaman, and delivered roughly 10 million tons of cargo. He made more money than hed ever seen, blew more money than hed ever seen, and lost all control of his life off the boat which included any hopes of a music career. He stepped off of theSS Wilfred Sykes on January 10, 2014, and he never went back. He had no way of knowing that day that music would soon become his focus again, and that he would spend most of the following year on tour, or that hed spend the year after that fighting cancer...and touring, or that hed become the first member of his family to survive cancer. His gentle, but strong, soulechoesin his melodies, and he shares lifes lessons when he plays guitar and sings.

Local favorite, singer-songwriter, David Harvey performs classic rock covers and originals, including songs from his CD Ten Years Running at Vino Di Sedona on Thursday March 2, 7-10 PM. Harvey always delivers quality entertainment that keeps his audience toes tapping. According to Harvey, Music is a catalyst of expression, it can touch you, but you cannot touch it. Experienced only through the moment of sound. What music means is still yet to be discovered.

International singer-songwriter Darius Lux performs music live at Vino Di Sedona on Friday March 3, 7-10 PM. Darius is an award-winning artist who specializes in classic, uplifting pop with soulful vocals. Lux plays classic covers from Van Morrison to John Mayer, and his original songs connect with the heart through inspiring themes that range from empowerment to romance. His smooth voice and looped guitar stylings create an earthy blend of popular music, rock and reggae that you can relax or dance to.

Darius life has been one of expansive adventures. Originally hailing from London, hes been creating music almost as soon as he could talk. His influences range from Sting, Otis Redding, U2 to OneRepublic, Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz.

Darius went to school in NYC, after which he worked for Sony/Warner Chappell writing songs for artists such as Daryl Hall and Jennifer Lopez. After living in New York, Darius travelled the world for a year, embarking on a life-changing pilgrimage that led to a move to Hawaii, where he recorded his debut album, Arise.

Next moving to Los Angeles, Darius put together a band, released several more albums, Time is Now and We The Living, and music videos. All three of his albums feature songs that have been in film (The Butterfly Effect 3, Puncture Wounds) and TV (NBC, MTV, VH1, History & Discovery channels, Style Network and Oxygen Network). For more information visit dariuslux.com.

Saturday afternoon wine tasting on March 4 is accompanied by music by local musician Bill Barns. Barns music contributes to a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere and adds to your wine tasting experience. Barns is best known for his role in the Celtic trio, The Gaelic Dogs.

Night-time entertainment on March 4 is by local sensation Decker, 7-10 PM. When people ask what kind of music I playI dont really know what to say. All I can really say is that the desert is integral to my sound, says Brandon Decker. Since 2009, the Sedona, AZ based songwriter has written, produced and released a trove of mesmerizing music; an expansive palette of folk, gospel, rock and psychedelia recorded under the nom de plume Decker.

Decker has managed to encompass typical folklore story-arcs and blend them with a nostalgic sound that is reminiscent of 90s guitar rock, modernized and reinvented to the point whereby they sound both unique and familiar; a rare combination. Indie Music Reviewer Magazine. For more information visit deckermusic.org

Rick Busbea performs at Vino Di Sedona for Sunday-Funday, on March 5, 6-9 PM. Rick puts on a high-energy show playing a lot of familiar tunes by the likes of Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Jim Croce. After re-locating to Sedona from Los Angeles just two and a half years ago, Rick is becoming one of Sedonas favorite musicians. If you are not at Vino Di Sedona on Sunday nights, you are missing out!

Music Monday at Vino Di Sedona on March 6 brings an opportunity to see singer-Songwriter Brian Keith Wallen, 6-9 PM. Brians 2017 tour has him playing over 100 cities in the U.S. and Europe. From coast to coast and beyond, Brian is spreading his blend of blues-influenced acoustic music across the world. His award winning combination of storytelling and lightning licks on guitar will never let you forget his name. In just a few years, Brian has released multiple albums and performed over 1,000 shows in 26 states.

Brian won 2nd place in the 2015 International Blues Challenge, ranking in the top two out of hundreds of artists from all over the world. He was also named Artist of the Year by the Starr-Gennett Foundation. Brian has brought his foot-stomping, one-man show to timeless treasures, such as Dollywood and the Ryman Auditorium. For more information visit bkwmusic.com

Sedonas best Open Mic night, hosted by Dan Rice is every Tuesday, 6-10 PM, at Vino Di Sedona. Each musician is allotted an amount of time, or number of songs, and every week brings a variety of new talent along with regulars like KB Bren, Randy J, Rick Busbea, Zack Mack, Vickie Moyer and Dave Rice who frequently play at Open Mic.

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Vino Di Sedona ready to entertain - Verde Independent