Good days are to be gathered like grapes, to be trodden and bottled into wine and kept for age to sip at ease beside the fire. Freya Stark
About this journal
- Started in 2004, this journal is my way of celebrating all the things in life I treasure most - my family and friends, my most special memories, my travel experiences and my passions. It is a giant digital scrapbook and gratitude journal that I intend to look at in my old age to savour and appreciate the wonderful life I've had.
Life so far
- Born in 1970, I was the most beautiful baby in the whole nursing home (according to my mum who, of course, is very objective!)
- I was lucky to be born and grow up in Cape Town, the most beautiful city in the world I believe. My mum, sister and gorgeous niece and nephew still live there.
- I graduated from the University of Cape Town with a degree in marketing.
- After my studies, I spent 6 years working for Old Mutual, a financial services company.
- In 1996, I was introduced to the world of travel and since then, I have travelled all over.
- In February 2000, I married Ally who I'd been with for 7 years. Soon after, we moved to the UK where we lived and worked in London and Cambridge for 6 years.
- In the UK, I worked as an Internet and branding consultant, but when I was out of work in 2001, I spent 6 amazing months working as a tour leader in the Middle East.
- In 2006, after 6 amazing months of travelling around South America , we emigrated to Australia and settled in Sydney .
- In 2009, Ally and I separated. It was a very tough time but thankfully we remain friends and we have many special memories we share.
- Currently, I am working as an Internet strategist and photographer. I also enjoyed a stint as an English teacher to experience something new.
- I spend most of my leisure time hiking in nature, capturing beauty through photos, and leaping for the exhilarating fun of it.
- Childhood (1970 - 1980)
- School Years (1976 - 1988)
- University Years (1989 - 1993)
- Ally Years (1993 - 2009)
- Old Mutual Years (1994 - 1996, 1998 - 1999)
- Year of travel (1997)
- Willow Road (1990 -2000)
- London Years (2000 - 2003)
- Cambridge Years (2003 - 2005)
- Travelling in South America and moving to Sydney (2006)
- Australia years (2006 - present)
Hobbies
- Pursuing my bucket list
- Leaping
- Photography
- Travel, especially off the beaten track
- Watching movies, especially movies with a twist
- Hiking, especially deep in nature
- Birding
- Nature and wildlife
- Meditation and spirituality (my own blend)
- Poetry, when I'm inspired
- Writing
- Reading
- Poetry
- Adventure
- Music
- Collecting wise quotations, so much so I created a site to share them
- ... and more
Working and creating
Priceless things I value most
- My family
- Sleeping under the stars
- Autumn and spring
- Dessert, especially ice-cream
- Fun and laughter
- Life's little things (which I've realised aren't little)
- Sunsets and thunderstorms
- Going where I've never been
- Mountains especially Table Mountain
- The ocean
- Clouds
- Vibrant colour
- Wild flowers
- Wildlife, especially dolphins, whales, leopards, kingfishers, albatrosses
- Cape Town, Sydney, Cambridge
- Fireworks
- Reflections
- Waterfalls and canyons
- Sculptured rocks
- Lighthouses
- More things I love
Priceless experiences
- Tennis and rollerblading.
- Adventure and wonder
- Swimming, especially skinny dipping in icy cold rock pools and showering under waterfalls
- Tucking into good food
- Life experiences that have taken my breath away
Values I cherish
- My grandfather, David Attenborough, Nelson Mandela
- A sense of fun and adventure
- The ability to laugh at oneself
- The ability to be real
- Crazy and quirky people who also like to be calm sometimes
- Anyone who loves any of the things I do
- Lists - and especially grouping things into categories
- Synthesising order from chaos
- Digital squirrelling
- Sugar, preferably in the form of chocolate or ice cream!
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