The elves of Christmas 2013

The elves of Christmas 2013 have arrived...

The festive season may now commence!

Rio Carnival - Gr7 Farewell

Last week Quinn and I went off to his Grade 7 Farewell Cocktail dinner.

It was a fabulous production at the High School, all arranged by the Grade 6s, teachers and parents. I was so impressed by how much trouble they went to and the attention to detail and how much fuss they went to. It was amazing!

My boy was an absolute gentleman too. Despite also being cool and one of the guys, he was very dapper in his uniform and walked me into the event on his arm (as his partner for the evening). I was most impressed.

When we arrived we were served cocktails. The boys got mocktails and the parents got Strawberry Daiquiris - which were yummy! I think I had 3. ;)

After mingling and milling around the Grade 6s arrived in full Rio Carnival gear and had a carnival procession. They then flanked the entrance to the hall and cheered as the Gr7s made their way into the hall. They were cheering them as if they were celebrities or sports stars, it was quite something, and quite a right of passage and symbolic of them leaving the primary school and entering the high school. But for that night they were the 'main manne' and the stars of the night.

Once the boys had entered the hall the parents were invited to enter and find our tables. The hall was decorated beautifully too.

A boys from each Grade 7 class got on stage and spoke about the year in their class. Most of this was both touching and very humourous. It sounds like they have had a wonderful and very memorable year. The teachers also spoke about their experiences with their classes this year and gave life-advice for the boys to take forward.

Dinner was lovely too. 

The boys then each got a school mug and year book full of photos and memories. It really was a wonderful evening!

Quinn I am proud of you!

The official photos are HERE

GET 2013 Recognition Awards - Winners & Runners Up!

We recently held a Recognition Awards process at work, whereby 4 categories were:

- BRINGING OUT THE BEST (Everyday Leadership)

   

- GOING THE EXTRA MILE (GEM Award)

- INNOVATION

- TEAM PLAYER

Anyone could nominate anyone else, and all nominations had to accompany a form detailing the nomination and substantiating WHY the person was worthy of the award.

A team of judges was chose - comprising of the senior management team (which I am part of) and a bunch of selected others to ensure a nice rounded and balanced viewpoint. Judges were told to judge purely on the written nomination and try to read them as if they don't know the nominees. So the winners were to be those with the best nominations, not just those that we as management thing are great. In this way the quieter unsung heros could also feature strongly. Not just those loud A-types who demand attention and recognition as a matter of course.

I was fully behind this initiative as I have a phenomenal team who are highly skilled, productive, efficient, and reliable and moreover they are (or rather were before I took them over) rather under-appreciated and undervalued.

I call them TEAM AWESOME. Because as far as I am concerned they ARE all 'Certified Awesome'

Anyway the point is Team Awesome proved just how freaking phenomenally awesome they are because not only did we receive 22 of the 56 nominations, but also had 3 runner's up.

A second for Bringing Out The Best, Team Player and Going the Extra Mile.

But we also got 2 WINS!

For Innovation (a very deserved win for my rock-star Automation Specialist!) and then for Bringing Out the Best - Everyday Leadership - which I was flabbergast to find that I won! With 6 (out of 10) nominations!

I then made a complete fool of myself at the Karaoke party afterwards! 

This was me leading a horrendous rendition of 'Bob The Builder' (and I do wish I was kidding!) LOL

Thanksgiving 2013

On Saturday I was honoured and privileged to be included - for the second year - in hosting a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner.

It is a big event which focuses largely on food. Really! We had +- 50 people and 4x turkeys! Plus sweet potatoes, potato bakes, green bean casserole, about 6 salads, stuffing, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, breads, cheeses, cranberry sauce and and and. Very indulgent and delicious. But more than that it is about community. Coming together with like-minded people and sharing and supporting each other and giving thanks for the rich blessing we ALL have in our lives.

It really was a fabulous event in a stunning setting (A's new house in upper Fresnaye) with stunning views over the sea, mountains and Robben Island.

Life is indeed good!

During last week I took some time to reflect on thanksgiving and what I have to be thankful and grateful for and these were my thoughts...

Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse. ~ Henry Van Dyke 

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. ~ Oprah Winfrey 

Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.  ~Native American Saying

Thanksgiving is possible only for those who take time to remember; no one can give thanks who has a short memory.  ~Author Unknown

I am grateful for all my opportunities.

The opportunity to be a parent, and friend, to my amazingly bright, capable, independent and caring children. Who have enriched my life and given me a lot of fun and love.

I am thankful to have connections with people who fill my heart and soul, and allow me to FEEL. Since feelings – both good and bad - give life richness and texture and inspiration.

The opportunity to have a job I love. Working with people I genuinely like, and with a successful and productive team.  I am grateful that my job allows me to be stimulated and to feel valued and worthwhile and also gives me the means to support my interests and to pursue my life goals.

The opportunity to travel and explore the world and see new places and experience sights, sounds, tastes and textures. To climb mountains, ride elephants, swim in oceans and all and everything in between.

I am grateful for being alive and well and living in such a breathtakingly beautiful part of the world. To be able to hike, run, cycle and swim in awesome natural beauty which is right on our door step!

I am thankful to be alive and look forward to another year of adventure, opportunity wonder, fun and opportunities for gratitude.

Griffin saves the day as Tinker-Balls

My boys have been volunteering (via Scouts) to assist at the Rotary Noddy Christmas Parties for the past 3 years now. They are usually Clowns or  Goblins - who play with the kids, provide entertainment and help with various things (fetching and carrying, handing out food, sweets, ice-creams etc.) It's a great way to do some community service and charity-type work, but it is also great fun for them. My boys attended the 'Uncle Paul's' parties (very similar and same format but at Groot Constantia) when they were little, so it is nice to be able to 'give back' and help to create that magic for other kids now.

Last year Griffin was selected to be NODDY for the 3 nights he helped. Which meant he was one of the stars of the show and got to drive up front in the Noddy car etc. and of course the little kids just love him - well until Father Christmas arrives anyway...

   

This is another friend from scouts as Noddy below, but gives and idea of what it is all about... 

Both my boys did their duties last Thursday with Quinn a Goblin and Griffin being Noddy again. Last night Quinn had a party to attend so only Griff helped. When I went to collect him at 21:30 there was a lady waiting for me in the parking lot. She asked if I could go around back with her.

I was like 'Okaaay...?'
She went on to say, 'Don't worry Griff is ok... but I just want to show you how we traumatised him.'
   
Wait, WHAT!?

Anyway we went around the back of the building and there all the rotary adults were having a braai and drink after the show and toasting Griffin 'or Foddy'* as they were calling him for being the star and saviour of the day. Then I saw he was covered in sparkly glitter.

What happened was he performed as Noddy and then the fairy (who is quite important to the script on the night and is needed to usher in Father Christmas, turn of the lights and hand out the sweetie packets did not show up, so they were in a complete pickle. They asked Griffin to be the fairy and he was willing to oblige. So they dressed him up as a girl and sent him out as the fairy! Now normally the fairy is a little ballerina girl in a  tu-tu.. I think Griff looked more like a Christmas Tree topping angel!

Apparently he did very well, but is not all that lady-like, sitting with his legs open and instead of waving his wand gracefully to turn the lights out, wielded it more like a Harry-Potter spell wand.

   
Apparently the Father Christmas slipped in a few little jokes during the course of the evening, like "Oh here's my fairly 'Tinker-balls!' "

Anyway, I was so chuffed that he was prepared to be cooperative and helpful and to not be hung up about 'dressing like a girl' (Quinn probably would have been.) It was so cute to see him the centre of attention afterwards and high-fiving all these grown men who were in admiration.

He was rewarded for his help by being given about 3 slabs of chocolate and a whole milk tart to take home.

I have asked them to send me photos, I'll share some if they do!

*Foddy = Noddy+Fairy

 

Dilemma - who gets to go to the Awards Event Gala Dinner?

So as mentioned my team was nominated and made it to the finals of the Recognition Awards at work for 'Best Team'.

There are 18 of us. 17 testers and myself as manager.We have been told that a total of 13 can attend. My boss - head of our division, our nominator, myself & 10 of the testers.

So if you had a team of 17 in the finals for a Team Award, and only 10 are invited to attend the award ceremony gala event dinner. How would you chose who gets to go and who can't?!  

First thing I did was send out an email with voting options:

- YES. Pick me. PICK ME!

- Maybe - I wouldn't mind going.

- No - I'll be washing my hair that night.

True to form, I have pretty much all 'Pick me!'s and just a small few saying they'll stand down if they have to but would actually love to go. Which then caused a spontaneous and united anarchistic 'all for one and one for all', 'all or nothing' 'united we stand' 'no one gets left behind' stance where they've decided if they can't ALL attend then none want to go.

Aaai.

Now I respect and admire that stance and THAT is exactly why this team IS Team Awesome and is such a good and strong and cohesive team. But the fact is we'll be farting against thunder. This is a big corporate and rules are rules and our team is fairly large and fact is we need 'representatives' at the event and my boss has said I mustn't take this on and fight for it. We have fought and worked so hard to be recognised and rewarded (as relative outsiders to the rest of the company) that now that we ARE being notices we shouldn't look to be difficult, demanding, ungrateful etc.

So I have explained to the team that we have to pick 10. And the award/prize will absolutely be for the entire team - not being there does not imply not winning or not being part of the team/win - and it doesn't have to be divisive. 

But what would you do and how would you chose...?

- On merit?

- Length of Service?

- Random Draw?

- Democratic Vote?

What I have done is draw up a spreadsheet with categories for:

Length of Service, receiving Nominations in our recent company awards, submitting Nominations in our recent company awards, and then who WANTS to go. Each is weighed into 4 segments with a number assigned to each.

I have tabulated and ranked accordingly. The answer is then scientific and in the maths. 

What do you think does that sounds objective and fair enough?

Would you be happy if it was you and it was done that way?

MY Team are OMEM IT Award Finalists!

I just found at that my Test Team aka 'Team Awesome' not only got nominated but also made it into the finals in the OMEM IT Recognition Awards for Best Team!

There were a total 5 teams nominated, and 2 teams are in the finals. So we have a 50-50 chance of winning it!

The winners are going to be announced at a Gala Dinner event at the end of Jan 2014. :)

My team ROCKS! 

Go

Quinn's Gr 7 Farewell

As Quinn rapidly nears the end of Grade 7 – his final year of junior school – excitement is mounting for the big farewell.

 

It seems the school goes all out to provide a big farewell for them in the form of a formal themed dinner with the parents (or in my case parent – can you believe I have been doing this 100% single-parent gig for 5 years now!?) anyway the big reveal of what they were going to be doing was made a couple of weeks ago when a big carnival arrived at school in the form of the teachers and entire Grade 6 class dressed up in Rio Carnival theme to deliver the invite to the boys.

The gallery of photos from this is HERE.  A video is HERE.

The invites were personalised 'Plane Tickets' and 'Passports' complete with 'Visas'. They went to so much effort. I am hugely impressed!

 

I can't wait for the big event when I get to take my big boy on our trip to the 'Rio Carnival'!!