So, on Tuesday 16th March 2009 I was sitting minding my business (and that of Avo naturally) when I was informed by Mr Clay that I was to write an introductory blog – this is asking a lot, I have so much to say, do you have the time?

My greatest strength I’ve learned is context (So True!), although in this case it could prove a problem. It’s all so vital (in my opinion) when it comes to summing up who I am. So… twenty-nine years ago a miraculous thing happened - I was born (as were my parents, and my grand-parents before them – not so miraculous after all – SCHUCKS!)

ANYWAY! It’s been a long road, and I’ve done it all, lived a good life with high’s and lows, and alot of rambling-on in between. I’ve been in the printing industry (apprentice printer, I’ll have you know), a film student (I still am actually, quiz me!), an aspiring editor (Carte Blanche inserts), a literature student (it’s all about telling stories), an office manager (at an accounting firm) and an on-again/off-again video-shop manager (/aspiring owner) – You see I’ve spent a large portion of my life searching for an ideal space, a genuine contentment with my time and place.

The past year has been really interesting in this regard, as I can feel that a balance is being attained, and I owe it partly to a good friend, a fellow Avo – “Take a bow Sandi Hattingh” – who was a customer of mine (like Grant and Jules) at the video store I managed. Sandi just happened to walk into the store one day and ask me if I knew anyone who was looking for a job, as she had a position in her business which needed to be filled (the awe-inspiring nature of God and the Universe is that I had just spent the week looking through The Star Workplace – I was ready for a change), and thus my new journey began.

Sandi had quite a year last year (those who are privileged to know her, know her journey), as did I (this is when you would pour the Wine, but I’ll tell you all about it in person, ‘cos you just can’t hog it all!). Sandi tells people I was a great support, but really Sandi and the opportunity she provided helped me out too – The greatest lesson I learned last year is that work is meant to feed your soul, it’s a space that should cultivate achievement and growth, of learning and most importantly it has to be a place of respect, fulfillment and balance – this is what I had been searching for!

Through the trials of last year Sandi always spoke of a magical place. A place that offered to her the support and balance she in turn paid forward to her own staff (even through the turmoil of circumstance), a place that (in my mind) resided in the clouds of Never-Never with Peter and Bell, and as the journey of ’08 ended I returned to the counter of the video store – but I went with purpose, I tried to attain the store and create a space much like the taste I had had of the ideal working environment.

But yet again the Universe and God had other plans, my attempts to purchase were fraught with insurmountable disappointment, and six weeks later The Star Workplace was once again on my shopping list – THEN divine intervention by old friend (and New ones) brought me to No. 3 King Edward Street! (Did I mention I wanted to be a writer – Blah, Blah, Blog! – Even when I try not to go into detail, I somehow land up right here, still typing, but if you are Okay with it I only have a “little” more to say).

For three months now I have been in this space, a place where the ideals are personified and prevalently tangible, whose inhabitants are as professional, welcoming, diverse and familial as you all are – at this point I am waking up every morning excited to do more, and hoping I can sustain my place in your space. I look forward to being surrounded by you educators and profiles, to be contributing to the surge and momentum of growth, to step in your Footprint, and to appreciate the view of this Avocado Vision – 2009 is looking good… And Green!

To my new boss lady Jules, a heavily loaded Thank You!!!!

To all you Pips – If Gladys Knight only knew!

Sales Team – Reports are due Thursday morning, next meeting on Friday 5th

Oh Yeah! Hi My name is SOZOS (it’s greek), spell it backwards and you’ll get the same, flip it upside down and it’s the same again – clearly, although I may say little at times, I definitely don’t have little to say!

After the sadness of our previous blog, I thought that this was an appropriate title for Jules’ new article that appeared in the Star Workplace this Monday.  Although Jules’ article is about hope in this new economy; it can easily be turned around to inspire hope in all of us, no matter what the situation.

Click here to read the article.

We were really sad to hear the news of the passing of Kate Jordan’s baby Zach on Wednesday morning.  Baby Zack was born really premature in November, and he and his family have been fighting for life for the past six months. 

Kate, there are no words at a time like this. Losing a child has to be the hardest thing any human being ever has to face. Please know that we are all praying for peace and healing for you and your family.  We wish you well as you all work to heal the hole in your hearts, and the family that Zach has left.  Kate, Glen, Tim and Dan: our love and thoughts are with you all.

I remember this day, 13 years ago.  I was sitting in front of my new computer.  I had no idea what to do - it needed software installed, and the computer guys at work at the corporate job I had just left had always done that stuff for me.  I felt completely helpless.

Its the reality of starting your own business: you get into a world where you’re good enough at some stuff that people are prepared to pay you to do it, but it comes with a whole pile of other stuff you haven’t a clue how to do, but you simply have to figure it out!  I must be a really slow learner, because here I am, 13 years later, still finding stuff I don’t know and trying to figure it out!

I wish I could say that some of those 13 years were easy.  But I can’t. Every one of those years has presented a pile of new challenges to surmount and a hectic learning curve of it’s own.  I can’t remember many months in those 13 years that haven’t presented me with at least a couple of sleepless nights.

But last night I turned my mind to wondering about my children, about when we actually stop worrying about them.  My little boys are 5 and 8 - I can’t go a day without fretting about whether they got picked up from school on time, did they evade the school bully?  ANd I’m terrified my teenager will have his heart broken.  Or crash my car.

And then I realised what the last 13 years of fretting have been.  Avo is another child of mine: 13 years on and it is still such a precious thing for me.  It has helped me build life connections with amazing people, and has generated income that hs helped me achieve my life pupose of empowering people all along that journey.

So I am resigned to never being able to completely turn off the worry about this Avo child of mine.  I’ll take on the frettings as I take on the joy, as I do with all my children.  This one has just become a teenager after all.

Oh, and that computer software….?  I called up my old mates at the corporate IT help desk where I used to work, and asked them to talk me through it.  Haven’t really looked back since then…