And so I’m back!…

and what an epic vacation…

It would be impossible for me to blog about it in just one entry. To do the experience justice I’ll do it in three parts. See in my mind the whole experience can be logically described as a three part adventure. The first part, namely the wedding in Gothenburg (Göteborg) was a local experience. This was fantastic, because although my friend and I were tourists, it allowed us to be completely immersed in the local culture. We were able to enjoy local traditions and had the opportunity to interact with our new Swedish friends as if we were locals too. The wedding was also one of the best weddings I’ve ever been to in my life. I could get into trouble for saying that, but I honestly don’t think I ever had so much fun at a wedding before. This could be because I was completely uninhibited and really could just have fun and let my hair down – which I certainly did. I had too much fun.

Thereafter we headed back east via Stockholm then up north to Umeå. This I will blog about in Part Two of my Sweden trip. We met up with some South African friends in Umeå and spent one night there before embarking on a five hour road trip  back east to Lits in Östersund. The next night, we camped at a base camp in Lits alongside a lake where the Indalsälven and Hårkan rivers meet. The following day we were transported approximately 40km upstream on the Hårkan river from where we started rowing back to base camp. It was awesome. The guys took fishing gear with and so the next two days entailed rowing our canoes, fishing and stopping off from time to time at pit stops along the river. For the next two nights we camped at shelters along the river as we slowly made out way back to base camp.

Once we got back to base camp, we spent one more night there and then trekked back to Umea to catch a flight back to Stockholm. This is when Part Three of my Sweden trip starts. The following three days we spent sightseeing Stockholm, trawling museums and the most popular tourist attractions. We snuck a night of dancing at a night club in too! Again too much fun. The final night and day in Sweden was spent in a little town called Sigtuna. This town was enroute to Arlanda airport, as we were making our way home. It’s the oldest town in Sweden and the highlight of our stay here included hunting runic stones.

So all in all it was a truly epic adventure… stay tuned if you interested in the details.

Ann-Sophi

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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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!

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.

So like…look at me!, look at me! look at me! ..Just look at me go:) I just did a little jig now – like only I can swing my hips 🙂

By chance this YouTube clip was brought to my attention today. And I had no idea this was  recorded. In fact, I am so glad that I did not know because that was actually the first time I was in the role of webinar presenter and I really was so so very nervous that day. It happened when I recently co-presented a webinar for e/Merge Africa from UCT on open educational practices and blended learning. In the clip I am telling the rest of the participants about what I did during #FeesMustFall

Not just a pretty face uh…

Does anyone remember the time I was randomly invited by someone I worked with to the social of a biking club – The Knights of St Christopher Motorcycle Club? Didn’t have a bike but dang it, I then joined the biking club … thereafter I bought a motorcycle and then I only learnt how to ride the thing and finally after that I got my motorcycle licence? – exactly in that order. Or the time I said yes to be the stats lecturer but couldn’t remember the difference between the mean and standard deviation? Or the fact that I can surf but I can’t swim? That’s what this blog is about.

I’m standing on a ledge, at a look-out point of my life again, and I’ve been thinking….”Oh dear Bronwyn :), what have we managed this time?!”  I am not unhappy. Thankfully, I’m amused. Actually I am happy amused because my life makes perfect sense.

Life is BEAUTiful.

This weekend we had great rainy weather Cape Town weather, perfect for staying under the covers and reading. I was reading a little about my personality type.  I don’t have ADHD and I’m not bipolar, but I am an ENFP. I am not for one second suggesting that I (or anyone else for that matter) had or have no or little control over what happens in our lives, but am saying it does influence your life. I accept that I have a distinct ENFP personality… my life story is evidence. The explanation of how the ENFP brain works comforted me and by golly…I frikking think I am evener cooler than what I was before. I love the way that God made me.

My quick background will hardly do justice so if you have time, do read more about this. I found it fascinating. Keeping in mind that my view is simply that – my view, here goes – one of many different theories. There are 16 personality types.  Basically it relates to the way you naturally see the world we live in, then also the way we process information and ultimately make decisions (or respond to situations and events around us).

Some people perceive the world from an introverted perspective (they take in), and others are more extroverted (they project). Then after this, similarly the way we process information about the world is different from person to person. Some people are pragmatic and down to earth – keen on facts (they observe), while others are more imaginative, open minded or idealistic (they look for hidden meanings). Then there is also the way we cope with emotions – some people prefer to feel, others prefer to think and apply logic. And finally there are two other things to consider, namely the way we approach decision making. Judging individuals are decisive and organised while prospecting individuals are better at improvising and tend to be nonconformists.

As you read this I hope you have started thinking about yourself… if you interested I would recommend http://www.16personalities.com as a starting point to read more. I know you’ll be as excited to discover about you, as I was to discover about me.

Anyway, so back to me. My personality type ENFP is a true mixture (half extrovert and half introvert) although extroverted nature (E) dominates. Then I am intuitive (N) meaning I act before I think. I rely on my feelings (F) before logic and I am prospecting (P). This personality type is not as uncommon or unique as I would like it to be. ENFP are regarded to be the “champions of causes”. They always have a cause that they are driving. They are naturally curious and enthusiastic. They idealistic and have bright visions of the future. They naturally ignore ‘facts’ most of the time – and won’t stop trying. But then they get bored precisely because they ignored the facts – or sometimes hurt. Luckily they are natural optimists so they get over themselves. They might seem confused to you. But that’s only because they consider every aspect of a situation and they sometimes need time alone to process information (#RunningWorks). Ditsy uh? True story though, I don’t know many others who quite crazy as I am – maybe I’m vain. Basically there are four significant cognitive functions that take place in my (and every other ENFP’s) brain in a very particular order.

Firstly I am extrovertly driven by my intuition. I don’t blerrie think things through! Yes, that is me, much to my mother’s dismay. It’s not that I don’t actually have the brain capacity to rationalise – I just don’t feel like it, and so I don’t. If you have spent time with me, you would know this is true about me. I just jump in. (#AwesomeAdventures)

Next,  introvertly I process information and start making decisions using my feelings  and principles on a matter. Only thereafter do I extrovertly apply logic (or think about it) to make a final decision. If you are in the vicinity you might hear me think… and people close to me have told me they can’t believe how I change my mind in the same sentence – midsentence. That is exactly what an ENFP personality does. This is because when they get to the third level they look at things from all angles and every perspective.

Finally, if I allow it…. I can also introvertly sense, to consider the facts the details and use my memory to perceive the situation (which is different to my instinctive use of intuition)….. This is the reason I am still alive today. Because the times that it mattered, this underdeveloped function came through for me. This is also how I managed to get myself out of the trouble I got into so many many many times in the past. I don’t naturally use that fourth function – but it’s there thankfully to bail me out. So I am almost 40, and I feel more balanced than what I did in my twenties, so I think I’m using it more.

Hopefully now that I am more acutely aware of how “I tick”, I can stop myself from doing too many crazy things. (Hopefully… Big smile….I have done some crazy stuff). Thank you Jesus I survived myself. My God loves me. I’m happy today, because I hear the voice that says…”Take your time, don’t be so impulsive Bronwyn – you don’t need to be impulsive”…. Aggggg – But who am I kidding, I’m an ENFP, Some crazy is good:)

Why don’t you take that free online test too…..it’ll be fun. Promise

#UnderConstruction