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Loadshedding: an opportunity for quality time.

We had load shedding this morning from 8am (In South Africa, "load shedding" means a planned, rotating power outage implemented when the demand for electricity exceeds the available supply.

Jen and I took the opportunity to start the day with a coffee date at Ginger & Co. My favorite coffee shop down the road.

We had a nice chat and just enjoyed the coolness in the corner outside. I'm a very fortunate man. I fell in love with and married my sweet-heart and I'm enjoying maturing with her. And I look forward to growing old together. I still can't believe she picked me. I like to tell people that she gives me credibility. "Quality time!"

My plan was to get some work done today, but after our coffee we came home and I got distracted by the two other women in my life, my two daughters. Chloe and Hannah wanted me to put some hooks up on their walls for pictures that we haven't hung for almost a year. How could I refuse. "More, quality time!"

Then today, during loadshedding for the second time today and after joining "Virgin Active Beacon Bay" yesterday, we hit the gym. I didn't do much, but my arms are still a little "jelly-ish".

They promise you a smoothy if you go twice in the first week and John went yesterday and today (four of us joined: John, Hannah, Jen and I) so he was due his smoothy. It wasn't showing on his app so I went to argue the point with one of the gym officials. John got embarrassed and went to the car, but I achieved what was right and they credited his profile with a free smoothy. I was pretty pleased with myself, even though Jen, Hannah and John weren't too impressed. "Even more, quality time!"

In spite of all the load shedding, today was a good day. I got to spend time with my family, went on a date and even got some exercise.

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One step closer to the Nahoon Point Walk video!

Yesterday after a fairly productive work day, I was able to take the next step in creating a video to introduce people to the amazing Nahoon Point Walk.

If you've been following about 4 days ago I wrote a short titled, "If you don't start now, you might never start..."

Well after being frustrated the first time due to my phone battery failing half way up the boardwalk, this time I took two companions (Jen my lovely wife and John my son) and an additional device.

I managed to do the entire walk on video and even though Jen and John were not as keen as I was, they came along for the whole walk.

They were both much more chilled when we came back and even appreciated the outing... personally, I think it's because the trail is so naturally beautiful, you hardly realize you're doing exercise at all.

Watch this space, the next step is to attempt editing the video so it's mildly enjoyable and post it here.

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Time spent with John.

I spent some time this morning with my younger son John having a coffee at Dotcom Cafe. I've been wanting to do this for ages.

John is a gentle hearted young man who loves his friends whole-heartedly. He's the youngest of 4 adult children and has a heart for God and is keen to serve and love people.

He spent two years at Victory Gap Year in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa in 2023 & 2024 doing media (videography & photography) in the first year, and then was an intern leader in the second year. He matured so much as a young man and formed some really good relationships during his time at VGY.

We are grateful for the mentorship and leadership of people like Willie Bester & Benji Willis and their respective teams for their input into John's life and the many others who will and have passed through this incredible program for young people.

John's new challenge is acclimating to his new/old home and being separated from the solid friendships he's formed 400kms away in Jeffrey's Bay. Thank goodness for WhatsApp... :D

Now he must apply what he's learned. He's been given nice opportunities, to edit video for a friend, and work on a shoot at the Buffalo Regatta with Will from Digital Emotion Films this year.

Then today, between coffee and the bank, we ran into my good friend Steve at Vincent Park. He had told me last week that he had a mic for John with his video work, and so he stopped and gifted John with it. I'm pretty sure he's very excited.

I'm might be even more excited for him. :)

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Always look up!

Today I had coffee with a special friend, Sean.

So why have I decided to write about it?

Well, Sean is a guy who has been through some hectic adversity in life, and in spite of it, he’s constantly coming up with good ideas that could have a real impact on people in South Africa. Sitting with him and listening to his ideas isn’t just inspiring—it gets my own ideation going too.

Sean tries to involve himself in causes as much as is possible for him, such as the recent Beach Wheelchair for Lives campaign (Sean along with others helped to raise funds for this endeavor), which aims to make the beach accessible to anyone with a mobility impairment.

Obviously it's also nice to have a coffee with the founder of "Black Insomnia" the strongest coffee in the world.

Sean's story is a tough one. He was a very successful business man and survived a stroke which, in his own words, humbled him. By his own admission he is recovering from an oversized ego. But if you sit with him, you soon learn that his journey has given him a really kind heart, a desire to help others and lots of ideas that kind of trigger the dreams in you (if you're a bit of a visionary that it). His entrepreneurial mind, the source of his ideas, seems to give him lots of energy, which he balances with a wonderful sense of humor and positive outlook.

Sean lives in a care home called J&J’s Blessings in Cambridge, where kind caregivers look after people like him in a warm, family-like environment. What a beautiful place!

The moral of the story? Always look up, and no matter how tough things get, never let yourself stay discouraged for too long.

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"If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you're not sure you can do it, say yes - then learn how to do it later."

- Richard Branson

Richard Branson is one of those guys that seems to live in a space that others only dream of, so when he says something you want to listen... Quotes like this one can be incredibly inspiring and can provoke you into action when you're not sure if you should take something on or not.

I currently have an opportunity that I said yes to, so I'm kind of living out the sentiment of what's being encouraged here.

What his quote doesn't prepare you for, when you actually say, "Yes! I'll do it!", is the anxiety that comes when you start to think, "flip, I have actually never done this before." You get the job, but now you must figure out how to do thing thing you have to do... sheesh!

Sometimes you wake up at 3am thinking about what to do next... I have an idea, but I really don't know. I'll tell you when I find out how it goes. Whether it went well or not. I have a feeling that I'll pull it off though.

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If you don't start now, you might never start...

I listened to a Seth Godin interview today and felt a little provoked... I'll explain.

One of my top five strengths, according to Gallup CliftonStrengths, is "Ideation." The cool thing about ideation is that in the right environment, I'm able to generate ideas—lots of ideas.

Unfortunately, I'm also quite good at procrastinating. Sometimes I get an idea to do something, like paint, create a graphic, or write a blog, but I get distracted or busy and forget about the idea.

I had an idea the other day. I thought it would be good to make a video blog of the walk over Nahoon Point along the boardwalk. If people liked it enough, I would consider taking other walks or rides to introduce them to some of the amazing spaces in East London.

I don't want to forget this idea, so I'm putting it here in the hope that if you read this, you'll hold me accountable—perhaps by giving me some encouragement or suggesting places that would be nice to showcase.

P.S. Look out for the video coming up in a few days!

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This guy is 19 today. Happy Birthday @jono_1iam1 my son. We are so proud of you and we love so much. You are a good man. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce5ggWwr46R/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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... and her artwork @bookworm242 (at Nahoon Beach, East London) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdwC0XQLbtQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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One the other digital artists in my family @bookworm242 https://www.instagram.com/p/CdwCgwWLQBO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Colorful food is the best! https://www.instagram.com/p/CdiHtsHLbUA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Which is better, digital or traditional? (at Nahoon Beach, East London) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdNamFJKtB_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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My actual (not digital) desktop right now. 👀😎 https://www.instagram.com/p/CdNaPRDq6SH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A good example of... bad design!!! https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca1glKggCSq/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Found some tiny art in the sun room this morning. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZvnlQwKU7P/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Thank you to YaKa Holdings for trusting IGUANA media with your brand's distinct marketing asset, your logo... 🤩 #logodesign #graphicdesigner #IGUANAmedia https://www.instagram.com/p/CWXbtUiqnR7/?utm_medium=tumblr

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This is a recent logo I designed for Yanga Tshiki. Feel free to share your thoughts... #logodesign #graphicdesigner #IGUANAmedia https://www.instagram.com/p/CWU2ma3KXm2/?utm_medium=tumblr