Tea Time Win

A few weeks ago I entered in a competition run by Melissa Louise and Zomato to win a tea experience at O'ways Teacafe in Claremont. I promptly forgot all about it, but a few days later, my day was made when I found out that I had won one of the vouchers!

On a free Saturday morning, Frosty and I headed off to go and use up my voucher and we decided that since it was close to lunch, we may as well order lunch as well. 

Neither Frosty nor I are big tea fans (we both usually prefer coffee), but the tea-making ritual was so peaceful and unhurried and it definitely left me thinking that I could become more of a tea drinker, just to partake in that ritual a bit more regularly.

One of the things that we both noticed over the course of our meal and tea was that service was a key factor for O'ways. The staff were well trained and pleasant and the owner took her time at each table and mentioned just how important service was to them when she came to deliver our bill to us. As both Frosty and I spent some time working at a Four Seasons (which is a hotel chain renowned for it's service and attention to detail and where training is important for all staff), we often notice that South African restaurants are lacking in this department. However, O'ways impressed us and  when we get a chance I'd like to go back to test out some of their other teas (and maybe some coffee too!).

Thanks Melissa Louise, Zomato and O'ways Tea Cafe, it was awesome to take part and win a competition and I'm sure we'll be back to visit O'ways soon!

If I remember correctly, I got the Rooibos and Ginger tea 

We discovered the meaning behind the term Tealight Candle!

Frosty got the Kenyan Black Tea

We got some nibbles before our main dish arrived, they were delish!

Frosty got the Gnocchi with Pesto and it was scrumptious.

I got the Peasant Food - a hearty meal of a Veggie-soup type dish with a freshly baked roll - yum!

Oh, The People You'll Meet

I sat in the same row as another engineer on my flights between Joburg and Paris, on my way to and from Italy. And I was reminded that people will always surprise you.

On my way there, I had the most wonderful, interesting conversation with a guy from Zimbabwe, who had studied all over the world and now works in the USA, making aeroplane engines for the A380 aeroplanes (among others). It was wonderful talking to him and we chatted about engineering and the jobs we had been involved in. We chatted about family. We talked about travelling. We discussed Zim and how his views on Zim (as an expat Zimbo). We talked about South Africa. We talked about people, in overseas universities, studying "Africa", without knowing what it's like to actually live here. About our skills shortage in engineers. 

He spoke respectfully and thoughtfully, without giving me the impression that he was trying to be cool or gain one-upmanship. Even when he talked about something that you would perceive to be negative, he did it positively. He engaged both myself and the other guy in our row (who was off to Italy to do training for forklift driving), in conversation and was genuinely interested in what we both had to say. Lastly, he addressed our Air-France hosts and hostesses in their native language! All without show. I have to say, that barely knowing this guy, he has gained my utmost respect.

Sunrise at Charles de Gaulle Airport on the way to Italy

On my way back, another engineer sat in my row. After the normal, "Hey, howzit going...blah blah" some of the next words out of his mouth were, "Wow, I'm so excited to be going home. This place is filthy and gross. I couldn't speak the language, no one could understand me and I can't wait to get out of here."
Wow, strong sentiments to express to someone who you've only just met and a country that you haven't had time to explore. Although, to be fair, he had been staying in a red-light district and didn't get the note that in France, corporate engineers suit up to go to work and don't really do the whole jeans-and-collared-shirt thing. 

We talked a bit more and I found out he's working for a company that builds trains and he did his thesis in microprocessors and sensors for microprocessing. Interesting job and thesis topic, but after one or two more questions from my side, I gave up making conversation. This guy seemed to be only interested in blowing his own horn or complaining about things. And, to be frank, he was annoying me and all I wanted to do was read my book and then try to get some sleep.  

So, two different flights. Two different chats with fellow engineers who were like chalk and cheese. So much for those boxes and labels that we all automatically put people into when we first meet them (and don't lie to yourself, even if you have an open mind, you make a judgement on people before you even talk to them). 

And I was reminded that people will always surprise you.

Grad Learnings

Last year I was part of a graduate program with my company. It introduced us to the complexity of supply chain and also aimed to give us broader business exposure. This year I have been part of the organising committee for the current grads and it's been an awesome experience. Last week we held our last grad event for the year.

At 4:30 last Tuesday morning I dragged myself out of bed so that I could get started with lifts to the airport for two of my grad friends. When we got there the whole of OR Tambo carousel had broken down and everyone's bags were piling up at the check in counters. I felt sorry for the poor guys who had to fix that broken carousel - they would have been feeling the pressure even more than our guys do when one of our conveyors breaks down!

Anyway, we got to Durban in one piece. I would really like to give credit to ACSA and all the airlines - even though our bags didn't come with us on the plane, our details were noted down and they were delivered to our hotel later that morning.

For the first day, our grads had the morning to finalise their business case presentations that they had been working on for the last month or so. We then went to another venue where they presented solutions to current issues in our company to members from the senior leadership team. They did a lot better than our group last year - we were told to go back, re-think our presentations and do them again in two weeks. This year they were much better prepared - mainly due to the horror stories and threats that they had been told by myself and the other committee members. 

There were very good questions asked by the leadership team at the presentation. The learning that I took away with me this time was to take a look at how leaders can remove complexity from their business. How can you use current tools (or remove tools completely) in order to make your teams lives easier? Perhaps all the tools are there and it's the behaviour that isn't proper. How then can you change behaviour to make the best use of the tools that you have?

On the second day, we visited one of our packaging suppliers and it was awesome to see incredibly different technology at work in their factory. We learnt a bit about the difficulties experienced from their side of the business and of potential areas of improvement between both parties. That afternoon we took the grads back to head office where they were split into teams to do a negotiation role play between a supplier and customer. As most of our grads are engineers and had no clue about how to go about a negotiation, there was a huge amount that all of us (committee members included) learnt from participating and observing the negotiation prac.

What I took away from the prac is that maintaining the relationship and respect for the other party is incredibly important. It's also important to prepare - it was suggested to us that for every hour spent negotiating, you should prepare for 9 hours! You need to be willing to compromise on some things in order to gain advantages somewhere else. You also need to be strategic on the points that you negotiate on - it's very difficult to negotiate on labour and fixed costs. Rather pick things where for a seemingly insignificant decrease/increase you get a larger reward.

That night the committee had a close off event. All I'll say it that it was amazing. And all of us may or may not have felt tender for the whole of the next day...

We had a fear factor food race- split into 3 teams
and 3 different foods - I got the chicken feet as my dish...Luckily there was some traditional Zulu beer to act as a
chaser afterwards! 

On the last day we had a visit to a factory that manufactures specific types of parts for the motor industry and it gave us a chance to see a different type of manufacturing and supply chain process. To end off the day we had a close off lunch with everyone, got feedback on the program and we gave out a few awards. We got such positive feedback from the grads this year and I hope that next year it's even better for them!

And to my fellow committee members - it's been such a pleasure and I'm going to miss all of you and my excuse to come and visit Durbs next year!

Grads bonding over a drumming session at the
close off event while committee wrapped up award nominations

How To Plan A Romantic Surprise...

I drove 4.5 hours back to my land of mist and drizzle (Hilton) this last weekend, all the time looking forward to having drinks that evening with two special friends, Anks and Zel, and a lovely family lunch the following day. It was always going to be a special weekend. And then Friday night happened and it was made even more epic and special.

I got home and had some champagne with my folks as I've recently become the proud owner of my little 2 bed-room flat. Then during dinner I got a call from a friend of a friend, Mike. Mike had called me to say that our friend, Willie, was half way to our misty village and I needed to make sure that his girlfriend, Anks, would bar hop with us to a place in town. But instead of going to the place in town, we would go down the hill, then up another hill to a nature reserve overlooking the lights of PMB.

After hearing a bit about the plan from Mike, I promptly messaged my friend Zel to tell her that I had invited Mike to drinks and would be on my way as soon as I had had a shower. I then got millions of messages back from Zel urging me to be as quick as I could, as she didn't know how much longer she last last with the deception.

After a quick shower, I dashed out the front door, calling goodbye to my very understanding folks, and made it to Crossways within a half hour of the call from Mike. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a relaxed, unassuming Anks and an incredibly nervous and flustered Zel. Luckily Anks and I hadn't seen each other for a while, so we had a lot of catching up to do, which left Zel to calm her nerves. 

Mike joined us a little while later, and after a few drinks (somehow I ended up drinking half of Zel's drinks as well, don't ask me how!) we decided that now was the time to go to Frankies. But first we had to go and collect Mike's friend Mark from a braai at some nature reserve. While driving up the hill Mike kept complaining that his car was really battling and a little way after we had entered the nature reserve, he stopped the car and asked Anks to get out and change the tyre. As soon as both her feet were on the ground, Mike sped off, shutting the door as we made our getaway.

Mike, Zel and I drove a little way on and chilled together for a while, taking pictures and getting the champage and glasses ready, allowing Willie time to make his appearance to Anks. 

As Willie approached Anks, she started shouting at this strange man, until she realised it was Willie. The exact details and special time of the actual proposal are a special memory to be treasured by Anks and Willie, but by the time we arrived back, they were both smiling and Anks had a stunning ring on her finger. We had a heartwarming group hug to celebrate with them, and then we cracked out some champers to toast the newly-engaged couple.

While we were all looking over the lights of PMB, Willie imparted some Words of Wisdom to the rest of us.

"The secret to planning a surprise is not really         knowing yourself what the plan is for
the surprise - that way you'll surprise
even yourself."

And on that note, I want to wish Willie and Anks an incredibly blessed future together. It was such an honour to be part of your special evening - and I'm sure it will be an evening that will be recalled and reminisced about in the years to come as an one of mystery and surprise.