It is a wonderful thing being able to work for a company that has a tree full of my favourite fruit outside!  I love Avo’s and I think that is why I landed up coming back to this beautiful space after a two year gap finishing my honours.  I worked part time for Avo from about 2004 and just got more and more involved, eventually taking on the role of ‘air traffic controller’.  I am now back in that role of training co-ordinator but am disappointed to say there are no ‘glow in the dark’ control panels yet!

One of the things that I love about the Avo space is the constant shifting and growing that takes place and it is so evident in how much this position has changed.  Avo has grown up in so many ways such as the processes and policies which have added to the ‘magic’ we have.  It is wonderful to be a part of such a credible management team and in many ways it is satisfying to know that I am able to contribute in some way to the creation of this Avo Magic.  Who knows, I may be able to get some budget for my glow in the dark control panels!

One of the things that I am glad to see hasn’t changed is the philosophy that Avo is a place where mom’s and children are important and there is an understanding that flexibility is vital when you are a mom.  It was one of the reasons why I took the position at Avo because Clint and I were thinking of starting a family.  Well, it happened much quicker than we thought because we are getting our nursery ready for the little bundle which will join us in September.  I am excited at the prospect of our new beginning and it is so wonderful working for a company that is just as excited as we are.

So, that’s sums up a little bit of me and my Avo role.  But if I know this space I might need to add a few extra things further down the road.

What a year this has been!!! At the end of last year I decided to do my Honours in Educational Psychology and it is hard to believe that I am already finished. When I was accepted, Clint and I decided that I must just bite the bullet and do it full time over one year instead of two years. I think we were completely nuts! The wonderful avo’s were supportive from the start and throughout the year I have had so much encouragement from this space. So, thank you to everyone who was a part of this journey. A really huge thanks must go to my husband Clint. I can’t lie and say that it was easy…..it was flippin difficult and I think there were more than five occassions where I said “I don’t think I can do it anymore”. My knight in shining armor would always be there to tell me that I can do it and that he loves me no matter what. It has been tough for Clint too, and I thank him soooo much for sticking with me through it all. Now we can be married again, and people finally believe that I am no longer a figment of Clint’s imagination.

Although it was a non-stop year and I felt like a hermit for most it, I learnt so much and I wanted to share a little bit about how amazing my internship was. I had the privilege of spending my time at a school in Westcliffe called Hope School. It is for physically disabled learners and has the most incredible children. The disabilities range from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, brittle bone disease, spina bifida, amputees and a host of others. Instead of me going there to inspire and uplift the kids, I often felt like the one being inspired. These young people have fought a tough battle to just get up in the morning and often are looked at by others as weird, freaky and incapable. My eyes were opened so much when I actually got to know these children. They are strong individuals who are often more capable than us able bodied humans. Ask yourself honestly whether you would go out when perhaps you can’t control your movements, can’t walk or can’t speak clearly? These children get up every day and fight against a society that excludes and labels them, so that they can live as normal a life as possible. They are wonder kids and I was so privileged to get to know them.

So next time you see someone who doesn’t look like you, don’t judge them. They can think, feel and do probably just as much as you can. Get to know them and you will be surprised. Thank you to Hope school for the opportunity to learn and grow! It will always be a time I can look back upon and say that it was a turning point for me. Next year I will be in a slightly different space at Reddam House, but I am excited to learn and grow even more. So watch this space for more challenging adventures.

You know there are those things in life that you always say that you want to do….just to say that you’ve done it? Well, one of the lightbulb moments for me lately has been that the line between doing something and not doing something is really thin.

This past week-end was the Midmar Mile Week-end. For those of you not familiar with swimming, it is the largest swimming event of its kind in the world. There are approximately 17 000 people who enter and the ages range from 10 to 80 years. So, Clint and I made a bet in December with friends that we would attempt this swim…..needless to say that Clint and I entered but the people who were the instigators pulled out.

We started our training in January, and I so clearly remember my first swimming session - I could barely make five lengths without feeling as if my heart was entering a Formula One race! We slowly got better and were able to swim the 1.6km about a week before the 10th of February. We arrived, very excited and nervous on a warm and sunny Saturday the 10th of February where we registered and got our coloured caps. There were some family and corporate events on the Saturday, so we were able to see just how small people actually look in the midmar dam.

Sunday arrived (way to quickly) and it was raining and overcast. I was prepared for no one else to show up because it was too cold so then I wouldn’t have to swim Well, no such luck. Everything went ahead as normal - except that it was the worst weather that they have experienced in the 34 years that midmar has been “swimming”. So, the only thing to do was to swim! It felt a bit like swimming in the sea and at any given moment I expected a film crew to fly over for a scene in Deep Blue something. There must have been about three times during the 37 minute swim where I wanted to call over the lifeguard and get a lift back to shore. It was really really tough.

BUT the thing is that we did it. We stepped over that thin line and can now say that we swam the midmar mile in 2007 - the most difficult year ever! I want to encourage you to take that step over the thin line and do those things that you have always wanted to do.

So it’s 17h50 on Friday,29 December 2006 and I have just got to say that I am utterly exhausted and exhilirated. Boy oh boy what a year it has been.

For Avo it has been a year of phenomenal growth both for the business and for the people in the business. Some much has happened this year that it is quite hard to comprehend.

For those of you who are really close to Avo you will know that this year has been really scary, some people stand in the fire, but I think we were the bloody fire.

We had serious financial challenges, we had spooks, we had a wedding, we had babies, we had a death, we had tears, we had fear, we had anger, we even had periods of feeling absolutely desolate but we also had each other. And so we laughed, shared, grieved, cried, screamed, moaned and held on to each other for dear life. Eventually we emerged, battered, bruised, greyer, wiser, more tolerant, more accepting of difference and a thousand times more powerful …on top.

And now we stand at the birth of our new dawn, and our company remains intact, as youthful, soulful and spontaneous as ever. Yes, despite the challenges we have faced, we look forward to the year ahead, simply because 2006 has shown us that our strength lies in our team. When others buckled or were decimated the Avo tree stood strong and proud.

So to the Avopeeps, thank you for the year that was. Thank you for weathering the storm with us. Thank you for giving of yourselves when there really wasn’t any more to give. But most of all thank you for just being there day in and day out, doing your level best to meet and serve our clients.

May the year ahead hold joy, happiness, good health and PROSPERITY for all of you. May we grow stronger and taller knowing we ROCK !!! Here’s hoping that you all have an amazing new year.

Love, Elaine

Hey everybody

Just thought I would share the awesome news with you.

You all of course remember Vince, well the matric results are in and yes !!!! He has passed!

This just a really short note to let Vince know that I am incredibly proud of you. I know that this year has been quite difficult for you. I also know that there have been many times this year when you have felt like just throwing in the towel and saying enough is enough. But somehow you stuck to your guns and persevered. Vince, I salute you…well done and my very best wishes for the YEARS ahead.

My challenge to you though, is to take all that you have going for you, to embrace it and run with it. Vince be all that you can be, achieve all that you dream of, measure your success not by others but by yourself. Take this moment and make it the start of a beautiful future for you.

Know that Glen and I will support you wherever your life may take you.

I am very proud of you.

Lots of love

Elaine

As many of you may or may not know,�I am currently in my fourth year of my Education Degree.�I decided to apply for my Honours in Educational Psychology and have been through a month long selection process.� I was told on Monday that�I have been selected as one of the students to take part in the honours programme next year! Exciting Stuff!! Although this is an incredible priviledge, it is also quite scary because it means another year of hard work and sacrifice…….

I have been so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Avo during my studies.� They have allowed me flexibility and have provided me with such steady support that�I feel�I would not be where�I am today if it was not for the Avos. I also need to thank my wonderful husband for understanding my passion to work with children and for being prepared to encourage me in whatever way that he can.� I am the luckiest girl in the world!

There is a�saying that goes something along the lines of ’surround yourself with positive people’.� Well, i say surround yourself with Avos.� They�keep you healthy, strong and positive!

Hi everyone.��I wanted to brag�about my husband!!��Clint

did�phenominally well at the�jock cycle classique race this past saturday.�It is one of the toughest cycling races in South Africa.�I was always told that it is a difficult race, but i was shocked to see how difficult it really is.� There are some hectic climbs in those Barberton mountains!�One�of them is a 7km uphill climb�that some cars even struggle to chug up.�He rode the 150km in an incredible 5 hours 11 min and came a very well deserved 2nd in his�starting group.� Just to complete the race is an achievement - to finish it in such fine form is a true testament to Clint’s Character.� Well done to clint & watch out Lance Armstrong!!�

It is hard to believe that Clint & I have already been married for two months today! We had an absolutely amazing day on the 4th of February. The sky was blue, the sea was blue & everything just felt amazing. It is difficult to describe just how fantastic we felt on that day. Nothing can compare to it! We had a very relaxed service on La Lucia beach where Clint and I shared our personal vows with each other and those people closest to us. We then walked up to the pool area and had such a magnificent afternoon where we had a good old South African Braai. Clint and I both wanted a really relaxed afternoon and the proof that we had the wedding of our dreams was that practically all of our friends and family changed into their costumes and spent most of the afternoon in the pool!! We had so much fun and will definitely remember that very special day.

Just a note to say thanks to all the Avo’s for their support during my three week teaching prac. I was at the wonderful Jeppe High school for girls. The staff and learners were wonderful. Perhaps the best teaching prac that I have been on in my four years of university.

This is however, always a stressful time for me, as my time has to be divided between so many things! So i thank you all sooooooo much for being understanding of my limited available time.

Love from the teacher in me!

I am a gentle soul who enjoys Love, life, butterflies and everything sweet! (Ferrero Rocher are my favourite, favourite)

I spend most of my time at Avo providing the support to our sales & training team, which means making sure that the training happens effectively.

Besides my Avo work, I am also a 4th year Educational Psychology student & am very passionate about seeing and encouraging growth in people. Avo is a wonderful environment that inspires, innovation and learning in everyone. Not a day goes by where we do not explore something new about ourselves, those we work with or the situation within which we work.

There are also really pretty things like lots of butterflies and an amazing view of Kensington which makes Avo a really special place for me to spend my day.