Category Archives: General

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Sightseeing in Stockholm

13 Wednesday Sep 2017

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So there are many things going on right now. Most significant for me is Fees Must Fall has resurfaced. There have been noteworthy protests on campus. Uncanny timing….. and ironically on the anniversary of Steve Biko’s death yesterday some of my colleagues were trapped in our building on campus due to protest action. Thankfully, I can report that no one was harmed. Today there is mass confusion on campus. Classes are locked. No one is sure if lectures are taking place or not. Some staff are at home out of fear of their safety, others diligently go in out of loyalty, but then leave because of the locked class situation. Some students are milling around while others have amassed in a group and are chanting in the student centre. And the latest news just in is everyone in our building was just evacuated again now due to safety concerns. What a royal mess.

After what transpired yesterday I met up with a colleague in Stellenbosch to give him some advice and ideas on how he could move his classes online and this started me thinking of what it all means. So I’ll be blogging about that soon. As soon as I can articulate my frustration, despair, my hope and my faith in a coherent and diplomatic manner, without giving in to my seething bubbling anger.

In the meantime I also think it’s time to wrap up my Sweden trip. So here the final instalment of that adventure…

 

When we arrived in Stockholm we didn’t yet know where we’d stay. Only at the airport did we book accomodation using the app on a smartphone
Our tiny little room in Stockholm

So we arrived at Arlanda airport and we still didn’t have accommodation. Seriously living precariously. We managed to find a tiny little room in town. Seriously…TINY.

Then to catch up and do touristy things….

 

Beautiful churches and old buildings in Stockholm. Our hotel was in the city very close to Gamla Stan (the old town – literally the oldest part of Stockholm). Was so beautiful. Spent a morning exploring it and visited the Nobel Museum.

 

Stopping for a beer in Gamla Stan

Then for some more museuming…

 

But then we were tired. Look, you can only do that much museuming in a day.

 

It didn’t stop us from clubbing that night though…

 

Even the trip back home from the club that next morning was breath taking.

 

So then some more museuming….. Saving the best for last….

Admission time: I can neither confirm or deny that the ABBA museum might or might not have been my favourite or least favourite museum in Stockholm.

#AmazingStockholm

 

And then our final day in Sweden we spent in a quaint little town called Sigtuna. It had a really ‘small town feeling’ to it – rich in history. The perfect way to end a perfect trip.

 

Berry showing off his new Viking axe
Homeward bound

Root Cause Analysis: New and improved?

09 Saturday Sep 2017

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Root cause analysis or RCA is what we call a ‘quality tool’ in the work that I do (and what I teach our Quality students). It’s the stupidest thing in the world – well not really. It’s ingenious, but it is so simple that it’s stupid. It lives at the intersection of project management and risk management (and therefore quality management). Basically, as the name suggests, it looks for the root causes of problems. Sometimes, most times we intuitively know the root causes of an issue. But the thing is ….in business if you actually allow yourself and your team to go through the steps of RCA you might be pleasantly surprised (as I many times was) to discover that there is actually something there, that you and other people in your organisation really just had not considered before. So, it really just is a simple systematic and amazing tool that helps you to continuously improve.

Other important thing about RCA is that you only gonna do it after there is a problem. Why would anyone do it before they have something to fix? (… that’s a trick question by the way, I know the risk management guys are screaming at me now :)) Yeah ok. Let’s move on.

So kids are, in my opinion, the experts of RCA. And since we all were kids once….except Shaun – he was always grown up (rolling my eyes), we all can be great at RCA. So the final step of RCA is asking “Why?”, more specifically 5 Whys. If you have a kid, you’ll know they’re flipping relentless…”Why?”, “Why?”, “Why?”, “Why?” and “Why?” – no matter what your answer is. I reckon we should all aspire to be like that again. And following these steps, if you take appropriate action and respond to the root cause, your negative issue should never recur.

So here’s what I’m actually blogging about, in our personal lives we stop too soon. Ok maybe it’s just me. Or maybe we not ready to know something until we are. Be that as it may, I’ve been reading a book called “The subtle art of not giving a fuck” and I’ve really been enjoying it. Most of what the author says is not anything I didn’t know. It was very cool though because he basically just ordered my thoughts. And the main point  that he emphasizes (and something I hadn’t thought of before) is the underlying cause of any unhappiness is a skewed (or outright wrong) value in our lives. Huh….Like what’s a value?

And so I was thinking about myself and the times I’ve been unhappy. Time to time I get unhappy about tons of different stuff, but the most common recurring unhappiness is in the past two years is I’ve had rotten relationship luck. I can say (and pretend.. like I do) it doesn’t matter… but you know what, it does. To me it does. That’s an area which the author of the book would say “I give a fuck about”. Yet I know beyond any shadow or reason of a doubt that there is so much more happening in my life. Amazing stuff. Besides the PhD (my Beautiful Nightmare), watching my students grow, the fascinating research I’m doing on Open Education, my beautiful children and amazing family and I have the absolutely coolest friends in the world. And so armed with my newfound insight (aka the value stuff), I actually did a RCA.

And yes the author was right…. at the end of my “Whys?”, I realise there is a “value” in my life that is indeed misaligned. It’s a core value – one that I’ve believed my whole entire life. It is that being in a “traditional family unit” is the basis or a principle on which one builds  happiness. Not only was I brought up believing that, in my life I am surrounded by ‘that’. My parents, my brothers who are both married, many people who are important in my life – an endless list. I forced myself to admit, I’ve been using that as a benchmark and blatantly disregarding the other benchmarks in my life, which believe it or not are actually are there.

Take that idea of “family unit” being the ideal away from me and you’ll flip my world upside down. But that exactly was the precise cause of my unhappiness! True story. So you know what I did… I took that value away from me. After doing my Whys? and spotting it, and then I realised I had to ask “Now what?” And guess what, …there is a what. The armegeddon that I was expecting didn’t happen.

So I’m changing my benchmark for happiness. It does not mean that finding a partner is not important to me. It’s just not so important anymore. I want to be happy more (consistently) often than what I currently am. And if I start using the other metrics I’ve identified (and now acknowledge) as true metrics of happiness (in my life that is), then my endeavour is not impossible. It’ll take time to break an old habit but it’s more than doable, because not only am I good at things associated to my new value, I enjoy striving (and thriving) toward them. I honestly think that following this process will add value in every area in our lives, not just at work.

So the bottom line is I have discovered a new final step to RCA. It doesn’t end with 5 Whys?… It ends with “Now what?”. And then do whatever it is darn it. I might just write an academic paper on this. The next time I present a lecture to students on RCA that is exactly what I’ll be telling them. Analysis without the necessary follow-up action is meaningless. Gosh I simply love my job. Quality rocks!!!!!!

Disclaimer: RCA starts with Ishikawa analysis and then 5 Whys (and my new step the “Now what”), – it’s not just the 5 Whys #JustSaying

Happiness is…

03 Sunday Sep 2017

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Sitting writing in the sunny braai room on a quiet warm Sunday morning (and not caring if it’s good writing or bad writing – that’s my supervisor’s problem) with a good cup of coffee and a slice of honey and oats toast bread with peanut butter and maple flavoured syrup on it.

Minions haven’t woken yet – or more likely, they are afraid to emerge from their bedrooms out of fear of what Mom might suggest we do today. They seem to prefer to prospect of hiding out in their rooms than the one of going to look for mushrooms on Lion’s Head. And yes I know there are no mushrooms on Lion’s Head. I guess that’s why they still hiding 🙂 #CrazyMom.

So my iPod keeps me company as I work. Feels so good to just be in my own skin. Cherished moment.

Bringing it home

29 Tuesday Aug 2017

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So that’s what I’ve gotta do…

You must forgive me, because this blog post is very similar to one I posted less than three months ago, when I told the story of the time I got 21% for my first test in Quality Management Systems. But I guess it’s just because I’m still going through a rocky patch in my life when I need to keep reminding myself to get up and go on.

See data gathering for my PhD is turning out to be a nightmare of note. Masters was tough… my friends all know 2011 was the worst year of my life. The year I got divorced doesn’t even compare to the year when I wrote Masters. And this time it feels tougher – in a different way. For my Masters degree, I had the data, I just did not have a methodology. My current situation is that I contacted each one of my target population personally (numerous times) and of the 30 pharmaceutical organisations, I’ve only gotten data back from 4 thus far! A sinking feeling if there ever was any. I just don’t have the data to even consider any methodology. But I have no choice but to just persist, and do whatever it takes to stay positive.

Thing is, I know why I want this PhD. It’s for very personal reasons. Over the weekend I thought about it again. I know that I will add more value to the people, …my students, my colleagues, my business partners and even my family and friends once I have this degree. I’m going to make a difference, and this degree is going to put me in a better position to do that. So quitting is just not an option.

And so I sat outside in the courtyard at campus yesterday and had a smoke (SHOCK horror Holly har Bronwyn!!!! – I hear Shaun swearing at me) Yes I know I quit for three years and I will quit again Shaunie, I promise. It’s a crap habit. You know that I know. It’s just tough right now. Besides work being a monster, my personal life has been on a rollercoaster this year too. A failed relationship earlier in the year and recently another romantic encounter spun me like a top… but thankfully the uncertainty around that is over now. My friends who know me well are saying “Yeah that sounds right“. No such thing as mundane when it comes to this chic.

Anyway getting back to the point. I was observing the students around me, all a bit nervous because they are all writing midterms exams now. And it reminded me again of a pivotal time in my own life, which started the 16th September 2010 when we wrote Stats 4 midterm exam. See, when we started studying Stats for the first time, it was scary but most of us got through Stats 3. Then enter Stats 4 and you’re filled with false confidence. Not entirely false confidence, I actually studied. In particular CUSUM and EWMA (Side note: Now that I lecture Stats 4 I sometimes make a joke with my students and tell them if I ever get two female puppies again I’ll have to call them CUSUM and EWMA…because that’s what it’s like).

Long story short(er)….We hashed that Stats 4 exam. It was a bloodbath. Blood, guts and snot actually. In the history of all the exams I have ever written, I never ever felt like that in my life. What a royal mess. I took two days sick leave because I was literally nauseous after that paper.

But life goes on. When we got our results only 12 of the 183 in our class passed. I barely scrapped through with 50%. It felt awful. But after licking my wounds during the midterm break my survivor mode kicked in. I needed a Master’s degree to get a lecturing job, so failure was just not an option.

I decided to find out who got the highest marks in class, and I decided that I would befriend that person. My quality friends thought it was hilarious strategy but I just calmly invited them to “Watch this space”. So when “top marks student” arrived in class the next Wednesday night I sat down next to him and I told him he was going to be my friend. He was probably in shock because I can’t remember him even questioning when I gave him my number and he gave me his. His friends were also gobsmacked but hey the strategy worked out well! Between his group of friends and my group of friends we killed the next few Stats 4 assignments by swopping notes and helping each other.  And on the 23rd November when we wrote final exams, I blazed through that paper. I don’t think I stopped to even breath. And I passed Stats 4. Not with a distinction – I got 70%. But at the end of the it all when I graduated I was awarded a B Tech Quality with Cum Laude honours, and the Dean’s Merit Award for being the person in that year to obtain the highest marks for that degree.

So I don’t know how yet…. but I know I have to bring this PhD degree home. And I will.

Östersund by Canoe

24 Thursday Aug 2017

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Look Andrew…No chains on the bicycles!
Umeå here we come

And so after an amazing time in Göteborg we started our Monday morning with a train ride back to Stockholm. Then a quick beer at Arlanda airport before catching our flight to Umeå.

At Umeå, we were picked up by fellow South African friends, Bernard and Phillip. Bernard treated to a true South Africa classic dish for dinner that night before we enjoyed a midnight stroll to the lake. It never really got dark and we found ourselves playing in a kids play park at 3am.

The next day we embarked on a five hour road trip to Östersund with Martin, Anna and Thomas… Spent the first night of our camping adventure at a camp site in Lits…. Bring on fun times!

Bernard, Anna and Martin were amazing – the greatest. They facilitated everything. The following morning we hired canoes and packed everything we needed for the rest of the camping trip into watertight barrels which fit into our canoes. We were transported approximately 40km upstream where we started our two day trek down the river back to base camp in Lits. The plan to paddle our way back to base camp. Fishing and stopping off from time to time, goofing around most of the time.

The first day we goofed around more than anything else. Smashed two trays of beers, fishing and probably only paddled 5-6km before setting up camp. This meant the next day we needed to about 30km. No fun without a challenge:) Lucky for me I had the best paddle partner ever #PhillipYouRock! All in all a seriously cool experience paddling, fishing, stopping off and setting up camp and heading on again.

Berry with the fish spear he made
Brotherly love

On the camping trip Thomas treated us to beautiful ratatouille. We also feasted on freshly caught fish compliments of Thomas and Bernard. And if that about Thomas wasn’t impressive enough….we also had bread that he baked himself. Not just a pretty face uh, a guy with a PhD who can catch fish, cook and bake.

Again we were introduced to some local things… Berry made an axe and went in search of a moose. All he found was moose droppings. And surströmming – fermented fish, eaten on a cracker bread with cream cheese sweet potato and black pepper.  It’s something one only needs to try once!

And so we started heading back. The last day I spotted blueberries growing wild and the last night we had another fish braai with freshly caught fish.

And so the camping adventure came to an end. Great memories and the best part is great new friends!

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To be continued….

 

 

 

 

Wedding bells on Göteborg

12 Saturday Aug 2017

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I’ve been thinking about how I am going to tell the story of my amazing holiday. And after some deliberation I’m sure you would be pleased to hear, I’ve decided I would have to use too many words if I try to explain. So I’ve decided to do chronological picture story with captions. A picture paints a 1000 words, so I think I hear clapping all round – less typing for me and less reading for you.

Flight to Stockholm via Dubai 🛫✈️🛩

Movies night on the plane to Dubai
Pretzels and red wine instead of popcorn and coke

Then a train ride from Stockholm to Göteborg 🚂

Thanks Alexander for letting us use your apartment
Settling in before joing Diaan and Isabelle at the wedding venue to help “set up”

After “settling in” we offered to help set up the wedding venue. However when we got there it was already done…🎭🐢

Met some amazing peeps. Other friends of bride and groom.
Simpy beautiful #DISA Wedding
Attention to detail

Oh well, Whatchya gonna do uh. We know… Let’s go for drinks 🍹 🍸🍷🥃

drinks, drinks, drinks, drinks….
Diaan (the groom) far left, and Isabelle next to him. Anna-Sophi with her eyes towards the stars and Alexander (Isabelle’s brother) far right

Next morning a little sightseeing before the wedding, quick recoup and off to wedding 🚏🎑📸

Sightseeing is quite exhausting. Needed to recover with some snacks and beer before getting ready for wedding

Before the ceremony, the ceremony venue in town 💒💐

The wedding ceremony 👰🏼🤵🏻

Isabelle’s little sister wishing her
You may kiss the bride
Beautiful couple
Happy days
#DISA Wedding

And a little walk to the reception venue through beautiful Göteborg 👞👠🎩

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Arrival drinks and photies before reception starts… Can you spot the South Africans? I’ll give you a hint – they the ones who always have a beer in hand…uhmmmmm 🍺🍻🍺🇿🇦

Of course there were some formailites at the reception party. I will always remember how I felt after hearing Isabelle’s dad’s speech. I have never heard a more moving speech from a dad to his daughter and her new husband in my life #PassTheKleenex 💑❤️🇸🇪

Tear jerking speech rendered by Isabelle’s dad – No a dry eye in the house
Diaan and his beautiful mom
Isabelle and her beautiful mom

And then the party….Oh WHAT A PARTY #DISA Wedding 🎉🎊💃🏾🕺🏻🎸🎷🥁

And then for the after party💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾🤦🏾‍♀️

Of course I’m not posting pictures of the actual after party. This was at the tram station on our way back home
5AM Time to go sleep. What a wedding
Thank you Steffan for looking after me

And then for the after-after party. Lunch at Isabelle’s parents house in Lerum. All still hanging, met up with the friends at the train station and off to Lerum. Thank you Anna, for being such an amazing hostess. 🥖🍗🥙🥘🥗🍤🧀🍄

Anna’s beautiful lunch spread
And then they all decided to take a selfie
Can you spot the Berry?
Going for a walk in the forest behind their house
Berry and I taking selfies
Louise
Ann-Sophi
Diaan and Isabelle

And then it was time to say goodbye to beautiful Goteborg. A train trip back to Stockholm the next day to start part two of our adventure 🚈🛫