Category: Family and Musings

Denmark

I have never been to Denmark, but I have spoken to someone who moved there from sunny South Africa. The subject of Friday’s podcast is now freezing in Copenhagen, while we are sweltering in the Cape.

I went to Norway and Sweden once on a trip that culminated in a wedding near the arctic circle. Scandinavia is beautiful (in the summer) and I was curious on Rachel’s take after living through a couple of their winters.

Catch the chimpwithcans podcast on Friday to hear about Rachel’s story.

Moving is harder and more interesting than you think.

Work life balance = ?

Work-Life balance is important – we all agree on that. But what does it mean practically?

My next guest offers some insights. Balance needs to be planned a little and thought about with your family.

He literally built a space (a cabin….a bothy) for balancing his life, getting to nature, being mindful, planning meaningful conversations and experiences away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

It’s inspiring and I hope you tune in on Friday at chimpwithcans.com to hear his story and our chat.

Bothy bagging

In the wilderness of Scotland are cabins free to use. Called bothies, the remote shelters are often abandoned old shepherd huts now maintained for hikers.

My next guest was so inspired by his “bothy-bagging” during his stay in Scotland, he decided to make his own version when he returned back home to South Africa.

It changed his life, and it’s a great story.

Tune in to the podcast on Friday to hear more.

Podcast? Yes, podcast.

Lately, I have stretched myself and I have learned a lot. When’s the last time you could say that honestly? We tend to get distracted and veer towards the certainty of the mundane, the social media, the salt/sugar/fat, the pleasurable consumption.

This week on Chimpwithcans.com I am releasing my first podcast episode into the big bad world. I created it. I’ll let you all hear it. You can even let me know what you think of it. Just remember – it may not be for you, and that’s alright.

Every Friday I will release an episode. I’ll put one up on http://www.chimpwithcans.com every week for a month (4 episodes).

The internet is a huge all you can eat buffet – make your choices wisely!

Personality

My friend sent me a link to a personality test: https://www.16personalities.com

Although I know there are lots of different versions, the results of this one rang fairly true. Whereas I used to dismiss the results of these tests, I have recently started to think they are pretty useful.

To notice myself in action. To see the weaknesses and strengths play out in everyday life has become something of a hobby.

There is no hierarchy in a personality test. Just tendencies and traits that you will benefit from noticing. I’d encourage anyone to give it a try.

Specifications

Specs can dominate your life if you let them. What chip is in your smartphone? What resolution is the song you are listening to? How big is your car’s engine? Newer, smarter, better. It’s a game that can drag you down a rabbit hole.

The biggest problems of chasing the specs as I see it:

  1. There is always a newer gadget coming up around the corner. This means your claims and feelings of superiority are always going to leave you empty when the new gadget is released.
  2. The FUNCTION of the gadget often gets totally lost in the spec wars. I was describing the problem of being an audiophile to a grounded friend of mine. I told him how the marketing leads us to believe that the newer amplifiers and DACs and speakers can reflect a truer sound than the old. He dismissed the whole thing in one simple question: “What is the point of listening to music? It’s to enjoy the music, right? You don’t sound like you’re enjoying the music much when you talk about the specs”. Music players are there to serve us music, not to make us feel like we are lacking something.
  3. Specs are corrupting in the most real sense. If two different specs matter, but they are contradictory – it can corrupt the human spirit. Take VW emissions standards as an example (link). The tension between on the one hand, environmental responsibility and the customers’ perception of the company doing the right thing, and on the other hand, customers need a high performance vehicle that is zippy and meeting speed and power specs – this dichotomy led to false information being manufactured and published. Possibly 20 years in jail??! Hectic punishment all to meet a specs expectation.

As someone prone to chasing specs, I am learning that making do with something that is GOOD ENOUGH for the job it is intended – this is the secret to a lot of contentment and productivity.

Christmas

People gravitate towards food. The food courts in shopping malls are the busiest parts. Ideal for people watching.

I’m almost done for the year finding gifts for family. We go back to Kenya in a couple of days and I’m pretty excited to get there and into the Christmas spirit.

Til then lots of organising to do. Some final purchases, lining up some work for next year, sort out the house and cars while we are away. Make sure the dogs are fed.

That sort of stuff is what people are escaping in malls and food courts. Responsibilities and work.

My coffee is done. Time to get to it for two more days.

Happy Christmas.