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Bronwyn Swartz

~ Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Bronwyn Swartz

Monthly Archives: July 2017

Let’s do that again!!!

19 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by Bronwyn Swartz in General

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Yeah so I survived. And I can’t wait to do it again! Pictures tell the tale… it was amazing. Monique and I ran together and finished in about 3:35 as expected – but it did not feel that long. Not as even close to as long as a 2hr road run feels. Ok, we weren’t running all the time – you can’t run the whole way with a trail run. And It was cold and raining, and we were FROZEN afterwards but what a totally rocking experience.

It was so scenic. Started with amazing mountain views. Then a stretch of single track running on the foresty ledge of the mountain. Then through some mud…at this point I was still trying to avoid puddles. Later enjoyed slip and sliding while trying to keep my balance in the mud. Then we crossed a few rivers, first mid calf deep then knee high. Thereafter avoiding puddles was insignificant. Then we ran through a marshy area with long grass. Under a fallen tree. Over another river and then over some more fallen trees. Finally we ran in an area that used to be a dam, but with our recent drought it was more sandy and baron. At that point the wind picked up and bitterly blew sand on us. I was so grateful for the buff Jason gave me to cover my cheeks and mouth. Fingers frozen. Then through one last stream to the finish line. It was a friggin amazing, completely awesome experience.

To end a great morning, we were joined by some more Femilyum and had lunch in Franschoek after the run. With the Bastille Festival buzz going on it was really cool. People walking around with red and blue berets and the colours of the French flag painted on their faces. French flags were liberally used to decorate restaurants, buildings and even street stalls. The “gees” was pretty amazing in the town.  A seriously competitive alternative to Knysna 🙂 Viva Le Bleu 🇫🇷 Another fun thing to do that I hence forth will highly recommend for anyone who hasn’t been to the Bastille Festival in Franschoek before.

And so now the next adventure, I’m off to a cave in Gothenburg to go find Batman…..ok maybe not, because I’ve already found Ironman in Cape Town. But definitely to Stockholm and Umeå to get me a Viking ship!

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Bounce!

12 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by Bronwyn Swartz in Family and Friends, General, My Adventures

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Yeah….. so I should be writing about my pilot study now. But I’m getting so bored of it.

I’m fully aware – I know that I am so far from the goal I cannot afford to get bored yet. But gosh, it’s tough to stay focused. Every few minutes I get up to make coffee, use the bathroom, check my phone or even pluck my eyebrows. Then I sit back down and write some more. My distraction now is writing this blog entry. I’m just going to indulge myself – yeah why not.

So besides the PhD that’s really tough going at the moment, life is pretty rosy.   My biggest problem with PhD currently is I’m looking for data. My staple diet is humble pie. People in industry are just so busy. For three months now I’ve been calling and emailing people. I will have to dedicate an entire blog entry explaining what that experience has been like. Really and truly been a humbling one for me. And it’s frightening actually when I think about how little I’ll be able to do with that data. Since I am a stats lecturer, I’m aware of fancy statistical techniques that one can do – but with that meagre data?…I shudder when I think about it. Anyway. This is happy news blog – Moving along.

Ok….so maybe the next news isn’t entirely happy either, since the next news I have is I think I might die on Saturday morning. I’m doing a 25km trail run in Franschoek with my boetie Jase and sis-in-law Monique. If 25km isn’t bad enough (the most I have ever done on the road is 25km), it’s a trail run. In addition to that – look at this weather forecast:

IMG_0154

Like BBBBBBbbbbbrrrrr 2 degrees celcius and raining on Saturday! I guess it could be worse. The forecast for Sunday is a mere -1. So I’m glad it’s Saturday we running not Sunday!

I’m scared and I’m excited about the run. But yes, I might die. If I do, don’t ever forget that I love you all very very much.

If I survive the run though, it’s gonna be so worth it. Because the next week on Saturday I’ll be attending a wedding in Sweden baby 🙂 Whoop woop! That’s of course if I get my visa tomorrow. There, now that’s my happy news.

I’m going with a good friend, who for years, every year without fail has asked me to join him on an international adventure. First Borneo, then Switzerland, Spain then Vietnam last year. Each time I have had to say no, as I never had the money to travel or the time. But finally this year I thought bugger this, and I agreed to be his plus one to the wedding of his friends.

It’s kinda crazy. At least I’m meeting one of the “couple” getting married tomorrow evening as we’ve been invited for dinner with the groom to be. The whole situation is weird and exciting and a little bit crazy. I’m loving it. After the wedding, my friend and I have plans to meet up with some other friends and then go camping and canoeing in the northern part of Sweden for another ten days. SO super stoked. Another whoop woop! Yeah Bounce and bounce…

Ok so, back to writing about my pilot study. Catch you later alligator 🐊

 

 

So what’s even cooler than me finding a video of myself?

06 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by Bronwyn Swartz in General

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The answer is: Finding a video made of one of my Boeties! About two weeks ago I was elated when I came across a video clip someone had made of me. Today on Linked In I came across this gem….

https://institutional.satrix.co.za/understanding-factor-mix-and-pure-alpha/

Proud as punch…indeed I absolutely am. #ProudSister

Although, I dunno what he is talking about uh. He is smarter than I am. But it doesn’t matter, I’m still the most proud sister in the world!

I got 21% for that first test in Quality.

04 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by Bronwyn Swartz in General

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Yeah I did. Just 21% for the Quality Management Systems (QMS) test. The first test we, the quality students had when I started my part time studies in Quality.

Today, I lecture stats on the Quality programme… and based on statistics, with that test mark, the probability of me making a sustainable career in quality is bleak hey. True story. Really. If I was betting I would not have put any money on myself.

And in addition to lecturing,  I’ m doing (with difficulty) a doctorate in Quality Management. Yet (shock horror), I have just admitted, for my very first test on quality management systems I only got 21%. And that is absolutely true. Although I studied, I really spent hours and hours studying for that test – it just didn’t “click” at the time.

Anyway, there’s a bit of a long story between “then” and “now”. (All I can say is Thank you Shaun – I owe you, for my career. We all have that friend…. that special friend, that on one random day says something to us and then all Suddenly  – it all makes sense. It clicks. That is Shaun to me.)  I did not give up. I decided I wanted a career in Quality, and I put in the effort. I worked. And I worked, and worked and I worked some more. And now, I have what I dreamed of.

The point I am making with this web log (i.e.. blog) is don’t give up. DON’T damnit. Do not give up; DO NOT GIVE UP.

21% does not mean that is all you are capable of. It is maybe, as in my case, precisely what you need to get to push yourself. It’s what I needed to get. Getting such a bad mark is what prompted me to go out and get Berocca and rethink my approach. And I did. And now I see, feel and I am so grateful that I did.

I am grateful for the desolation I felt. The rejection it seemed to me, that I experienced in every cell of my being. Despite feeling “useless” then, I still decided, by hook or by crook, “useful” is what I was intended to be.

If you get 21%…don’t fret. You got this! It’s part of the plan. But… Just Do the necessary.

 

 

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