How do you step from the top of a 100-foot pole?

Since I was small I was amazed by those acrobats in the circus that walked from the one side of the rope to the other side. I am not sure how high the rope was from the group, but it was high enough. I always wanted to close my eyes when they took the first step from the pole onto the rope, afraid he/she was going to fall. My eyes would be focused on the acrobat from the start to the end, and was I relieved when he/she made it.

My experience stepping onto a platform that was 40m from the ground was in 2004 when I did the Tree top canopy touring in Tsitsikamma/Storms river. There were seven trees that you had to slide from one tree to the next. After you got to the tree on the other side you had to step from the platform onto a different platform. The anxiety, excitement that went through my body that day was unbelievable and I can't explain it. I was sceard but it was also so exciting and challenging. The longest distance between two trees was 70 m and you had to slide from one tree to another. My feet, legs and stomach had butterflies and at times I felt like turning around and going back, but I couldn't. I couldn't turn around the only way out was to continue, so I continued and to date this was one of the best experiences in my life.

So how do you step from the top of a 100-foot pole? You close your eyes and open them quickly, step forward and never look back. After doing it, you would feel so proud about yourself.

We are what we do

Life is about fun they say? What do you do for fun? I love walking on the beach with my husband and dog. This is only when time permits. Does this make me a nature lover, animal lover, married women? All of the above is probably true. None of these things are bad or out of the ordinary. If I said that I loved doing drugs, drink myself drunk every evening and hate dogs, will that make me a bad person, a person with issues? I would think so because that won't be quality of life. Would you like to be known as a caring person or a person who doesn't care about anybody but him/herself. When people speak about you what would you like them to say? I would like to think that in somebody's life I made a difference, it doesn't matter how big or small. When you die one day what would you like to be written on your tomb stone or said on your funeral. Think about this when you do something from no-one.

We are afraid of the wrong things

What are you afraid of? In Afrikaans there is a song called the Brave mouse. The mouse sings that is he is a brave mouse, we should watch him walk through the house and there is nothing that he is afraid of. As the song continues things happen like the cat comes in, he walks pass a mouse trap, a lady tries to hit him with a broom and suddenly he is afraid of all these things. These things are all things that a mouse is afraid. I think we are also like that, we pretend we are not afraid of things but in reality we are afraid of being home alone, being a victim of crime, afraid that someone will get hold of your bank account and draw all your money, that your parents, brothers/sisters or husband will die before you, these are to name but a few. Are these the right things to be afraid of or should we not be afraid at all? I think that it is natural to be afraid, we are human and prone to be sensitive, afraid and let our emotions take over. However I think we should worry less in life and rather do the cliche saying and "Seize the day". There are to many things to be thankful for, to sit in a corner and be afraid or worry to much.

What is the colour of the wind in Cape Town?

Does the wind have a colour, or does the wind take on the colour around him?

I think in Cape Town we have a lot of experience in the wind. After all our wind has a name, the Cape Doctor. Why? because the South Easter blows all the pollution and dirt away. When you walk in Cape Town on a windy day, you could say the wind is brown, because it grabs all the sand, dust etc. On a rainy day in Cape Town you could think the wind is grey, because people’s mood are grey and the clouds cover the blue sky, so you just see grey. On a beautiful summers day in Cape Town the wind is orange. The Sun is shining a beautiful shades of orange and yellow.. On this day the wind takes on the colour of the sun and blows against the slopes of Table Mountain.

Do you know the story of Van Hinks and the Devil that sits and smokes on Table Mountain. One day van Hinks and the Devil started an argument. They argued about who can create the biggest cloud of smoke. The competition between them is still continuing, and that is why when the wind blows and you see a blanket of clouds blowing over the top of Table Mountain, it is the Devil and van Hinks smoking and trying to blow the biggest cloud of smoke. On these days the Wind is white.

The wind can take on any colour, almost like a cameleon, but what is the real colour of the wind, is it necessary to know?

If I were the boss

I know that you don't have to be a certain age to become a boss. However I think this plays a role. I believe age gives you a bit more authority and respect. This is true especially if you have older people reporting for you.

However I think that a boss should earn respect and not only think they can treat people inferior because they have the title.

A boss should have good leadership quality, people should want to follow the boss. I am not saying that the boss should be Mr/Ms "Nice" Guy but treat collegeaus as people. A boss should be somebody one can talk to, be able to give you advice and also understand when you have personal issues to attend to.

However a boss should be a strong leader and be able to give direction. A boss should take charge, take responsibility when things go wrong or right.

I do not think that it is easy to be the boss. I think it is challenging but also very rewarding when people look up to you.

There is a saying: " A good reputation is much more worth than the value of money"

If I were the boss, I would like to be remembered for the person I was the positive influence I left on peoples lives.

Phenomenon: Fish falling from the sky

Fish falling from the sky? You got to be joking? This is what my reaction was when I first heard of this. This is a strange phenomenom but this happended over 600 times in this century.

Why does this happen? Scientists discovered that this happen when strong whirlwinds and tornados blows over the sea or rivers. The winds then raises small animals like fish or frogs. These animals can then be carried for miles and then dropped just like that. This is when it will rain fish. This is also called the "fafrotskies" phenomenom. In this past this phenomenom happened in the following countries: Singapore, Rhode Island, India, Australia.

Nedbank currently has an Television advert about this Phenomenon. I think it is brilliant says in the Advert: "So it's certainly unexpected but it's not impossible. Just as in life, where we're often faced with unforeseen circumstances. And that's what brings us to Nedbank Capital – we expect the unexpected, and we're equipped to make the most of it.".

I think this is a brilliant advertisement campaign.

So next time when it rains watch out for flying fish, maybe we should change the idiom it is raining cats and dogs to it is raining fish and frogs!

Two people came out of a building and ....

The month of February 2010 wasn't very eventful. Each day was the same as the previous, wake-up at 06:00; shower, get dressed and eat and rush to work. The same routine took place on Monday, 22 February but something felt different. You know that feeling that you get, that you just know something is going to happen.

The day at work passed fairly quickly and it was time to go home. Driving home struggling to get through the City Centre a car almost drove into another car. People ran across the Street while the traffic light was Green and a lady fell down in the middle of the Main Street. There were people helping her up and nobody got injured. Other than these two events nothing much happened.

The drive home was ok and arrival was earlier than usual. When arrived at home the dog needed to be fetched and the plan was to climb in the car and drive home and have a relaxed evening with a real Afrikaans braai.

This is what everybody thought including the two people in the building.

The next moment a "BANG" sound was heard and two people ran out of the building within seconds. The "BANG sound was one car reversing into another car. One of the two people sitting in the building's car. So the two people became part of a story, a story that they necessary didn't want to be part of.

The tow bar of the front car went in underneath the back car and lifted the car. The car was jacked and the tow bar could be lifted of the car. Needless to say there is damage to the car. An Accident report number was given at the Police station and tomorrow the insurance company would get involved and hopefully pay for the damage.

This is an example of a story that the two people that sat in the building didn't know they were going to be involved in. Although they necessary didn't want to be part of the story, because of the "slep" they are going to have to be part of, they have a story to tell.

Things in life happens for a reason I believe but without things happening nobody will have stories to tell or stories to listen to. So next time when you sit in a building maybe think about the story you would like to walk into and be part of. This will maybe let the time go faster if you sit and wait. Share and tell your stories!