Working outdoors

People who work outdoors remind me of the flowers and trees - using the environment directly to provide services to those around them. All day out and about, feeling sun, rain and wind and interacting with the passersby. Here are some of the photos I have taken of people who work outdoors...

SA's super cop Piet Beyleveld

South Africa’s super cop... Piet Byleveld, is one of the best known detectives in the world!

Went to the launch of his book, "Byleveld: Dossier of a Serial Sleuth" by Hanlie Retief.

He loves South Africa and its beautiful people - he wants to live in a crime-free country and he believes it is possible. That is his biggest hope in life!

He is now retired, but his life-long commitment to serving the people of South Africa still holds firm. He advises everyone to get to know some of their neighbours, and generally to take note of who lives in and travels through their area and to be observant.

He also strongly supports the idea of policing on foot, as opposed to police officers riding around in fancy cars – as well as a more stringent process to recruit only police officers with the necessary dedication to do a good job. Police officers should not be out to just arrest criminals, they should be out to get convictions. He said that the specialized units are essential to solve cases effectively and get convictions.

His reputation is built on a 100 percent success rate with bringing serial murderers to justice. He has several exceptional talents, the most exceptional of which is his total dedication - he will not rest or give up until he solved the crime. He is the recipient of several international awards, he is consulted by FBI and Scotland Yard, amongst various other international agencies.

Took some video clips, this is my favourite, where he answers the question - "...could you perhaps start a detective school?"... I just love his energy and enthusiasm.

In an interview on 702 talk radio, he also mentioned that he would be very interested in assisting in training of police officers. This is something everyone in SA can support and get involved in.

Stay active

Take healthy action from a healthy GUT feeling

The diagram below explains a view on 'acting from the gut' and how uncertain feelings in the GUT are processed and resolved. The aim is to choose the best actions and feel OK about taking the chosen actions - especially really difficult ones. Meditation and relaxation is a great way to enhance the process. The 'let-go' part is very important - let go of anything that may somehow lead to unhealthy actions or that may place a restriction on healthy actions.

A Poem: She loves you

 by Benjine Gerber

Her love is eternal
She is all the love in one
She is all your needs content
- regard the love you share

She is vulnerable
She embodies your fear
She is in doubt and delusion
- release her into your heart

Two longing hearts
Her joy is your freedom

Her essence is the master key
She puts your heart at ease

Yours through all the senses
Every expression even pain

Delightful reason to live,
Nourishment and rest.

Now you and she are
by no means apart.

She gives,
She holds on,
She completes.

Always there,
her loving touch,
her hidden grief.

Deeper,
ever deeper,
in union.

Love her
in return.

Touching the void - inspiration for entrepreneurs!

Simpson

A presenter once mentioned how the movie 'Touching the Void' is a must-see for entrepreneurs... extremely curious as to why - I watched it. And then I watched the movie many more times. It is inspirational!

What do you do when all the odds and natural elements are stacked against your chances of survival? Perhaps if he asked the question, hardly anyone would have told him that they think he could make it out of that one! Everything gloom-and-doom to the first order, do you give up? Even if you don’t give up... perhaps you don't have support and plenty of drawbacks, how do you go the distance?

A lesson that stood out for me was how he (Simpson) kept setting small, reachable targets and when he reached each one, he celebrated it and then set another... and so, 50-feet target by 10-feet target, he reached the five miles he was aiming for. The only option he gave himself was reaching the target!

This is how the movie goes, so don’t read this is you’re going to watch the movie:

• (+) The pair were the first to successfully ascend to the summit of Siula Grande via the almost vertical west face.
• (-) Due to bad weather, the trip took longer than they intended and base camp was about another 3,000 feet below
• (-) Disaster struck. On the descent Simpson slipped down an ice cliff and broke his tibia into his knee joint
• (-) They had run out of water
• (-) The second disaster struck. Yates lowered Simpson with a rope over a 100 foot overhanging cliff where he dangled in mid-air under freezing conditions
• (-) Simpson’s weight on the rope was slowly pulling Yates down the mountain.
• (-) Yates was forced to cut the rope, dropping Simpson into a crevasse.
• (-) The next morning Yates descended the mountain certain that Simpson must have died.
• (+) Simpson had survived, despite a 100 foot fall and broken leg.
• (+) He abseiled from his landing spot on an ice bridge into a void
• (+) He unexpectedly reached a thin ice roof with an opening onto the glacier.
• (+) He crawled out back onto the glacier!
• (+) He spent three days setting targets, crawling and hopping back to the base camp
• (-) He had no food and only splashes of water from melting ice
• (+) He reached base camp a few hours before Yates intended to leave.
• (+) Simpson’s survival is regarded as amongst the most amazing pieces of mountaineering lore.

Somehow, in spite of many hectic unfortunately's (-) one can produce the fortunate legendary ending (+).

Learning more about digital photography

Yesterday I did a basic introduction to digital photography.

Learned where to find everything on my camera, how and why to choose different settings, new techniques and very importantly, how to reset everything back to default settings, when the photo just doesn't come out right because of one forgotten setting that was changed along the way.

It was great to learn from an experienced photographer, who gave us valuable practical guidance and warnings about everything from buying the equipment, weather conditions, what to look out for on every occasion and how he does things.

I would certainly want to do more photography courses, as I am sure that each photographer has a host of important tips to depart. And maybe joining a photography club would also be a good next step.