My time in Edinburgh

I went to Edinburgh on the 11th of October and returned on the 13th of October.I primarily went to catch up with an old high school friend but also to visit the city.I did my due-diligence.I learnt some useful and trivial info about the city which has a coffee shop in which J.K Rowling wrote The now famous Harry Potter fantacy series.

It was nice to catch up with my friend.I also met his family etc.While going around the city it was interesting to meet a wide array of people I had something in common with.Firstly a tour guide who had been to South Africa in the apartheid years of the sixties as a ship stewart.He related a story of some racist Afrikaaner(not I said some because not all of them are) who sneered at him for serving a black patron.Apparently he ignored them,and liked the black patrons more becasue they offered better tips:)Secondly I met a chinese girl working in a souvenir shop in one of those hidden away streets like Mary King´s close who had been to Madrid and related that she went to the bullfight and liked the fried pig´s ears(Orujo) as it reminded her of Chinese cuisine.Then I met an Italian who had a Spanish girlfriend and he asked me to read and translate a message from her.He then introduced me to a South African who lives in the Northern Surbabs of Johannesburg.Actaully,this guy predicted the Bok victory and wished he would be in South Africa with a braai a big yard,Castle Lagers and good friends enjoying the rugby final and victory.

All in all,Edinburgh is a beautiful city,with rich history.Its clean,however with my euro currency I cringed each time I went to change the money.My highlights were(in no particular order)

1.Eating Haggis(Pronounced Huggies,like the nappies)
2.Going to Ceilidh and sancing many Anglo-Saxon barn dances.It was lots of turning and twisting,and I had the usual chest pain and dizziness.I went to the urgencias in Madrid for the chest pain,and it turned out not to be something serious,thank God.My time spent there was fun,I was nervous I would mutilate my friend´s toes but,I got the swring of things,and had fun.It can be exercise too.I just hope the Polish guy sends the pictures soon.
3.The bus tours.My initial day after losing my camera in luggage and having to get disposable cameras,I was without joy(my friend says this,I think its sweeter than saying upset,or other directly negative words:))Anyhoo,this is the place I met the tour guide.It was because I was on his bus three times,and even said over the announcer/loud speaker I was stalking him:)
4.The stories about Edinburgh...the first Scottish serial killers,
5.The story behind the bars The Last Drop and End of the world.The link added is a practical directory and profile of bars and restaurants in Edinburgh.
6.The impenetrable Edinburgh castle
7.The Royal mile
8.The story behind Georgy Porgy song
9.The eandearing story of a loyal dog in Greyfriars Bobby.The link´s is interestingly called dogsinthenews,so its useful for people who adore our furry friends like me.
10.Apart from J.K Rowling,who is a modern day writer the city has a rich history of gifted people and pinoneers.For example Alexander Graham Bell was born there.Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,author and creator of Shelock Holmes was born there. Other great Scootsmen include Andrew Carnegie(Personal Development hero of mine),Sir Sean Connery and James Young Simpson the father of chloroform in surgey and not forgeting the romantic poet Robert Burns.

All in all,I liked my time in Edinburgh.The hostel was modern and I met two nice Japanese girls there.I still had not seen all there was on my itiney like the galleries(Andy Warhol´s work was on display,what a loss!),museums,the secret underground routes like Mary King´s close,shopping in Jenners(Apparently its not Harrods of the North,but Harrods is Jenner´s of the South because Jenner´s was there first..this analogy is compliments to the really gloriously entertaining guide on my tour on the second day.)

The weather wasnt that bad.It was chilly,and a sweather is advisable.It drizzled on the second day,and I went to the parliment whic I learnt was a hotly debated project.It was apparently opened by the Queen in October 2006.The controversy is due to its final pricetag.Apparently the parlimentary building was designed by a Catalan architect,Enric Miralles who has since passed away.It was initially budgeted at between £10million to £40million but it was completed 4 years late at a whopping £414million.Well,perhaps the bamboo sticks were that expensive.I would like to return to Edinburgh,even if its to get a kilt!

The heart of the matter

Dear Blogreader,

I have had a chance to re-communicate with someone I cared about,and whose heart I thought I knew.However,this re-acquaintance made me realise,that they really were not meant to be part of my long-term life.The reasons I cannot really pin down,but its mainly because,I became disposable,replaceable,forgettable,erasable.Anyway,I am happy now,knowing more about me,and how to best protect my needs.Thats important becasue it will reflect in whom I befriend in one way or another.

I have a romantic side,you know.Apart from my Invictus talk,I believe in love.I believe its a meeting of minds and I look forward to reading ¨El viaje al amor¨by Eduardo Punset.When I have these contemplative heart moments I also want to listen to India Arie´s songs.

Gourmet in the sky!

On my recent trip over the long weekend due to the La Fiesta de Pilar holiday to Edinburgh (which I will comment about in another blog entry:)).I thoroughly enjoyed eating on both my forward and return flights to my stopover in Frankfurt from Madrid.The dish was all vegeterian and it was really good.I am not a vegeterian but I enjoyed the food.The first one was Tortellini with brocoli* sauce,smoked cheese, and olives.Even though it was warmed it was delicious and satisfying.The the second one was called Zeitweizen pesto.I just tried to google this dish and could not find a reasonable recipe in English or Spanish.The two versions were in German and in Euskara.I assume this is because Zeitweizen pesto borrows some gastronomic culture from both regions.I will be happy to hear more if anyone knows more about these two dishes.Even though I am not a vegeterian,I have found out in the unlikeliest place the pleasures of green gourmet.I have since superficially researched all aspects of sky servings and came up with different points of view from weight watchers who also happen to be frequest flyers,to holiday flight food,to servings advise for long haul flights.


*I had to look for the spelling:)

The world is really getting flat

I borrowed this title from a compelling book by Thomas Friedman of a similar title.In this case its the battle of the fingers.The real measure is where multitudes place their cursor and make their click.

Here is an interesting article about the emerging markets.Emerging markets of course come from developing economies in the East.These are also the world´s most populous places.I recall reading some time ago that a toothpaste company predicted attractive returns from the Indian market such that they invested dental hygiene and awareness as a priority.I believe markets which have not reached maturity are the most attractive for growth.Its a no-brainer.(I can see Jon Stewart expression at such a duh statement)Its a numbers name.If GlisterTM can sell toothpaste to every Indian family then the returns can quite easily be projected as an incremental growth.

It would be interesting to analyse many consumer markets like this.Consumer markets will continue to surge if their borders are open.

Get the article about the contest for the fastest finger-click that also keep coming backhere

I agree with Gabby

See why here

Today is the day my sister was born

Twenty three years ago,Tebogo was born.She is the only sibling in my family whose first name is a literal noun.It means Thanks.My parents were thanking God.My parents thanked God because my sister was born prematurely.She was born about two months in advance.I have learnt about myself from our relationship.It has influenced my relationship with my mother,my perspective on career,my outlook on sibling complexities and my role as the eldest.It has not always been sweet.One of my good friends observed that our relationship mushroomed when we lived apart.Well,when I was growing up,due to our childish antigues,my mother would say that she will send one of us to a boarding school in the East and the other to a boarding school in the West:)It seems she had a vision noting Im in Spain now and Tebogo is a constatnt consultant and I hope I am too in her life.Anyway,from my sister I learnt:

One:The pressure and in-bred inclination of children to seek approval from parents is not a figment of our imagination.Some sons and daughter may seem like they dont really care about it,but to a majority,this tendency is very strong and almost inherent of every parent-child relationships.
Two:In relatiosnhips,sometimes you dont get ¨Im sorry...¨You get a bold hug,or messages ending with ¨I love you...¨Or more open conversations...¨
Three:Its important to remind loved ones,that by being in your life is a gift.The rest of what they bring o these relationships tare bonuses.
Four:To reconcile the outlook of the world on me,(who I am and what I can do)as well as the real me is important so stay in touch and grounded.As the eldest,its important to reach out and say I could have done the same mistake,or that I have done it already and that they are free to be their own person.
Five:To listen and validate them.To acknoledge lessons learnt from them.To say Thank you.Also to be humble and dependant enough to also allow them to lead,guide and receive from them.
Six:Patience with her and myself.Sometimes I had to leave her to make her own mistakes,to come around on her own.To support her,in her attempt to make her own unique choices,irrespective of result.And finally inconsequential of result still say,you are still my wonderful sister

Motherhood and Career

Is this me now?Please read here

Happiness

Read the full article here

I did something that scares me last night!

Dear blogreader:

I went door-to-door trying to market my network marketing products to people in my apartment-building.It did not go so well.Many doors did not answer the knocks,some answers from inside made it difficult to say anything more attractive and made for an easy no.Lastly there were some face-to-face rejections.The bad part about the latter is I would never be able to approach these group of people because they would be more dismissive at first hello,thinking I want to sell them.I didnt go to all the apartments in the building because the rejections got to me.I know that at that point,its possible I could have been a few doors from the door with a potential associate.

I believe from my past failures in other areas of my life,that its always better to work smart.Therefore this is not an admission of failure but a recognition that things will get better,they have to.The lessons will manifest into jewels of experience.

Till soon...

Take care,and lets stay true to our dreams.

The economy and common vocabulary

Its been a while since I blogged.I must say work is getting hectic.The financial department is proving a busy and consistent workspace.Well,thats great for me!Its an opportunity to adopt organizational skills and purpose.

Anywahoo,I want to comment on two accounting terms I find to have quick and resounding analogies to life.First,the term credit.When,I was at university,my Business Management lecturer made an impact on me by associating the word CREDIT and the GIVER.This was just to make a point and have lasting impact and retention for the students.The lecturer was a religious man,and he quoted the Bible as his first reference where the concept of crediting the giver was first noted.Basically,in accounting,in the general ledger(or the T-Account)the account of the source of money or any outward flow is CREDITED and the one who RECEIVES or account in the inflowing direction gets DEBITED.This I believe is a powerful concept,and it simply honours charity and generousity.

The second word I want to comment on is the word appreciate.Today in my mail,I got an inspirational quote around the theme of gratefulness.It said that the same as in the value of assets,appreciation increments value.Therefore,the same can be implied for appreciation or gratefulness in our lives.If we appreciate and indulge in acts of thankfulness,we appreciate the value of the important assets in our lives.Think of this in terms of good health,good relationships,good finance and start appreciating what you have.Tomorrow it will grow in value and returns.

I certainly enjoyed writing this piece.I hope you dear Moeta Blog Reader can give feedback or comments so I can improve and be more relevant.

Hasta Pronto.