When blogging becomes a way out

So I am writing this entry as a break from my daily meetings and work, which is sad in itself, as it still requires some thought and a creative approach and at the moment I feel like I should be switching off and doing nothing!

Helen made the comment to our friends Joe and Melissa in the States that she thought 2011 would be a quieter year when compared to the craziness of 2010, but it seems the opposite and we have both been running a little flat. Unfortunately it is still January and the signs are there that nothing much will change anytime soon!

My first block of lectures/orientation at Gibs ended on Saturday evening, with us all having finished 6 days back to back of topics ranging from business in emerging markets, the bleak view of primary education and the healthcare system in South Africa, team dynamics and problem solving etc.

It was a good introduction back into the business school lifestyle, although 6 days and no weekend before heading back to work this week was a bit challenging all at once!

Needless to say, we visited the bridge at the river each evening as well to get a cat update, which meant my days went something like this:

• Wake up and go to Gibs
• Spend the day in lectures taking notes and building the syndicate culture
• Finish work and go home
• Sit down for 3 minutes
• Go and try to catch cats under a bridge (sometimes in the rain)

Literally every day for 6 days was the same.

The story does have a happy ending though...

I survived the first 6 days and we have a happy, healthy and functioning syndicate group. In fact, it seems premature to say it, but the ethic in the group has been great so far and I am certain will continue to be that way, even though we know at some point there will be grumpiness, a fight or two and the ever popular statement "Well...we will just have to agree to disagree" which roughly translated means..."I really don't care what you have to say anymore"

But, at the moment...we aren't there yet, so we will relish in our happiness (long may it live)

The kitty situation also worked out wonderfully. We managed to rescue 9 kittens, of which we now have two at our house: Jelly and Squeaks. Squeaks is a little younger than Jelly (so perhaps 5,5 weeks old) and is a longer haired ginger kitten. He doesn't meow yet, but emits a little high pitched squeaky sound when he wants your attention, hence his name.

The two of them are learning to play together and we have no doubt that over the years they will become best friends. Squeaks gives as good as he gets from Jelly, but every now and then gets absolutely flattened by his slightly bigger brother and starts to...well...squeak.

Both Helen and I rush home from work now to play with our kittens and this goes on for hours until it is bedtime. Aaah...how times have changed!