As I start stacking the wood to begin a braai fire I take a look around and realize that I have ready all the items I need. The items are also positioned in the exact places that best suit my style of fire making. I go about making fire like it was second nature. In no time at all the atmosphere is buzzing with the joyful chatter of friend having a good time.None of this happened by chance. There was a practiced method with precise yet simple rules to follow.“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” (Albert Einstein)The world we live in is made up of rules. Some of these rules are set in stone. First we need to understand what the rules are that will lead us towards our goals. In order for you to make anything happen there are certain steps to follow and tools you will need. A good example is a “braai” fire, you need oxygen, fuel and heat. Without any one of these elements present a basic fire will not start or sustain itself. So the fundamental rules to start a fire is the presence of oxygen, fuel and heat. That is all there is to it, now you can make a fire. You can attempt to make the fire using any combination of these elements and there is a high probability that it will work. Some methods better than others.., but the fact remains that you cannot start a fire without the fundamental elements being present. In your personal, public and professional life there are basic elements or rules you need to follow. You need to identify these rules, the details thereof and then systematically apply it to your unique situation. Rules are all around us from relationship matters to gardening and like a well-kept garden a relationship also blooms when the proper practice is applied.This requires a clear mind, focus and dedication. This method can be applied to any situation and is a failsafe method used by successful people around the world. I recently watched a business coach losing his temper with a group of trainees that did not follow the rules or “scrip” to success. Part of what the coach referred to was creating future problems that did not exist.So I will end by saying this.Learn the rules and follow them. The best method of application will become clear as you practice the rules. It’s a proven method, why waste time doing anything else? Deal with problems as they arise, don’t create problems where none existed.We live in the information age. There are many self-help books, online videos or life coaches and counselors that will guide you towards the rules to best suit your needs.
If you ever see world travellers on motorbikes, chances are that they will not be on a 1200cc adventure bike. No, for that task, they normally look to smaller capacity bikes which are simple to maintain, reliable and above all, lightweight. To them, adventure is not a trip down a well maintained gravel road. To them it is a trip where there is no road.
In 2009, KTM replaced the 640 Enduro and 640 Adventure with the 690 Enduro R. This bike seemed to be the answer for the serious adventure rider. It was a bike that was styled and built like an off-road machine but with a headlight and indicators to make it street legal. KTM fans patiently waited for the 690 Adventure to arrive, but that never came. Instead, for 2019 they gave us an updated 690 Enduro R.
On a recent trip to Lesotho with KTM, I got to sample this machine for the first time. KTM took their entire range along for us to ride, and the 690 looked almost out of place next to its larger siblings.
The bike packs a formidable punch into a diminutive frame. One of the major updates for 2019 is a new, smoother, LC4 engine. With new balancer shafts, electronic fuel injection and ride-by-wire technology, this bike pushes out an impressive 74 hp. It sports a new chassis with fully adjustable WP XPLOR suspension. KTM has also expanded the fuel capacity to 13.5 litres for that extra bit of range.
The seat is quite high at 910 mm, but the height did not bother me as much as the hardness of the seat. I understand that in rough terrain you will hardly ever sit down and it is clear that this bike is marketed as an adventure bike with a strong off-road bias. Now even though the 690 is surprisingly nimble on tar, your derrière will complain bitterly. It also offers no wind protection, so stick to the single tracks or a visit to the aftermarket catalogue will be a must.
Fortunately, Lesotho offered me one large playground to experience the 690 in the terrain that this bike was made for. Because of the skinny tyres and 250 mm of suspension travel you can really throw this bike around. I attacked the dirt roads with a smile on my face and soon I was going much faster than I ever thought I would. I was putting my trust completely in the updated electronics package and the 690 did not let me down once. The bike was also fitted with KTM’s Quickshifter+ which made for effortless gear changes.
The 690 Enduro R is a formidable machine if you really want to go far off the beaten track. To personalize your 690, KTM has an extensive Power Parts catalogue so that you too can become the next world traveller.
Article: Brian Cheyne. Photos: ZC Marketing / Brian Cheyne.
Overthinking Synonyms: brood, consider, deliberate, despond, dwell upon, fret, gloom, grieve, lament, languish, meditate, mope, mull over, muse, ponder, reflect, repine, ruminate, sigh, speculate, stew over, sulk, sweat out, sweat over, think about, think upon, worry, focus, peruse, speculate, scan, revolve. (https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/293798-synonym-for-too-think-too-much/) (Mar 7, 2005)Most of the above mentioned words amply describe overthinking. In my opinion it sounds like a therapist describing a person suffering from depression or some form of anxiety disorder. Why? Because in many cases it is. Even though overthinking forms part of the thought process it should not be confused with analytical thinking or problem solving. I like to differentiate between these thoughts by classifying them as positive or negative.Analytical thinking, problem solving and planning all deal with negative subjects but have positive outcomes in mind. Whereas negative thoughts on negative subjects bring about an apocalyptic view on life in general. A negative mindset changes your biochemistry and in turn this affects your judgement and decision making. Note: A negative emotional state cannot produce a positive thought process.So, what is overthinking? Simply put its thinking on a subject to much, for too long. This only creates problems where none existed. You get lost in your emotions while playing out many possible outcomes in your mind. These outcomes can either be positive or negative. The ‘imaginary’ negative outcomes will create more ‘imaginary’ problems that will need solutions. This creates an endless cycle of negative outcomes with problems of their own. This is called overthinking. Why is this so bad for us, surely being prepared for negative outcomes will solve problems?It’s important to realize that you can feel emotions from mere imagination. So you can literally create anxiety or stress by imagining a harmful future. You need to control your thought process and see future matters as subjective and not factual. Here is where the difference comes in between analytical and emotional thinking. When you find yourself in a situation where you might face a negative outcome, don’t deal yourself the first blow before the actual strike comes down, but be prepared. Below is listed a few methods you can employ to help you deal with overthinking.Notice when you overthink. – Take the time to track your thoughts. You will know when you start overthinking. It does not matter when you realize but that you realize. From there on out you can start managing it.Eliminate activators. – Every person has certain activators that leads to overthinking. Immediate examples I can think of is social media, friends or family members actions, sarcastic comments or your work situation. Start by identifying the activators and details thereof. If possible, eliminate it from your life. If not, change your situation or view on the activator.Changing your mind. – This should be the easy part of this process but as humans we are notorious for not being able to make up our minds. The analogy I recommend is, hot coffee or cold soda. It’s either hot or cold, you can’t have both at the same time. Choose the mindset that best suits the situation. I recommend the positive mindset. (This does take self discipline)Physical health vs mindset. – Your mindset can have a positive or negative affect on your body. Your physical health can have a positive or negative affect on your mindset. Make sure you maintain balance through brain training, nutrition and exercise tailored to these aspects.Schedule a thought session. – Now that you have some basics in place you can plan for a thought sessions. Here you take time to do some overthinking but in a controlled and planned manner. Remember you planned for this, so it’s under your control. Once done with the session it ends.Lift the burden. – Now that you embark on managing your thoughts better you will start feeling a sense of control. With this control, anxiety could start taking a back seat.With all things in life this will take practice. Repetition is the master of all skill.You now have a basic ‘self-help’ starting point that I hope will guide you to better understanding of yourself and your thoughts. Do not be scared to ask for assistance if you battle with overthinking.These are very real problems that no one should be ashamed off. If you suffer from anxiety or depression due to overthinking get help from a registered professional.Life is a beautiful gift but we all need some guidance during gloomy days.
Simon Sinek discusses digital addiction & self-esteem. FREE FULL EPISODES: https://londonrealacademy.com/episode… Simon Sinek is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A BUSINESS: http://londonrealacademy.com/biz Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Sinek teaches leaders and organizations how to inspire people. With a bold goal to help build a world in which the vast majority of people go home everyday feeling fulfilled by their work, Sinek is leading a movement to inspire people to do the things that inspire them. A trained ethnographer, he is the author of two books: the global best seller, Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action and his newest book, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal best seller, Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t. Fascinated by the leaders and companies that make the greatest impact in their organizations and in the world, those with the capacity to inspire, he has discovered some remarkable patterns about how they think, act and communicate and the environments in which people operate at their natural best. He has devoted his life to sharing his thinking in order to help other leaders and organizations inspire action. He is best known for popularizing the concept of Why and for the talk he gave on the subject that became the second most watched talk of all time on TED.com. Sinek’s unconventional and innovative views on business and leadership have attracted international attention and have earned him invitations to meet with an array of leaders and organizations, including: 3M, Costco, Deckers, Ernst & Young, HSM, jetBlue, KPMG, Pfizer, NBC/Universal, the military, government agencies and entrepreneurs. Sinek has also had the honor of sharing his ideas at the United Nations, the United States Congress and with the senior leadership of the United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States Army. Sinek shares his optimism with all who will listen. He speaks around the globe and has commented for local and national press, including The New York Times, Inc. Magazine, NPR, BusinessWeek. Sinek is active on Twitter and writes his own blog, simonsinek.com. Sinek is an adjunct staff member of the RAND Corporation, one of the most highly regarded think tanks in the world. He is also active in the arts and not-for-profit world, working with charity: water, an organization devoted to helping bring clean water to the over 700 million people around the world who don’t yet have it. He also serves on the board of the Tami Stronach Dance Company. BUILD THE BEST YOU: http://londonrealacademy.com
Every CEO on the planet knows that people are important, but do they put their people first? The irony is when our top priority is to take care of our people, our people will take care of the numbers.
I got up at around 4am this morning. I slowly opened my eyes, sort of stuck in a pleasant dream. My feet flop out of bed and my body soon follows. Halfway to the bathroom I stumble over one of my cats trying to walk in front of me. The cat jumps out of my way looking at me like I’m the crazy one… I open the tap and ice cold water starts running out. I hold out my hands to scoop some of the cold water up towards my face in the hope that it will restore some of the previous days energy.By now it’s become clear that today is going to be one of those days. I stand for a moment and consider getting back into bed. I almost do… but this comforting thought is soon interrupted by the sharp crow of my next door neighbours rooster, reminding my to get on with it. “Ok already bird, I’m up!” I get dressed for my daily workout and leave for the gym. Driving down the road I still feel like going back to bed. At the traffic light I meet a group of cyclists. “Lovely morning for a workout!” One of the cyclists calls out to me. I wave in return and go on my way. I noticed that I did not pack my water and decide to stop at a 24 hour. As I take the turn into the parking area I hear music and can see a few of the petrol attendants having a good time dancing. I take a parking spot and get out of my car. “Mornings maneer!, beautiful daggie vandag?” I acknowledge him with a smile and in a low tone reply “Yes, but I’m barely awake.” He looks at me with a wide smile and points towards the shop. “Niks wat n lekka koffie nie kan solve nie” I giggle at his comment as I turn to enter the store. Again I am met by an assistant that is friendly and full of life. I slowly start feeling better about my decision to get up. I buy the item I came for and leave. On arriving at the gym the friendly treatment continues. As I go through my training session I notice the dark blue line of daybreak appearing on the horizon. In no time at all its light out and the working day starts calling. I leave the gym driving home slowly, enjoying the cool breeze after a good workout. Our picturesque mountain goes by slowly in the background as I drive home. It gives me that “Hollywood” feeling for some reason. It truly is a lovely morning as everyone has been saying. On my way I can hear all the people aside the road laughing and I see smiling faces everywhere. From the runners to the people on their way to work. The rest of my day is filled with people being friendly and helping each other. The day goes by in a flash but don’t be mistaken as any day goes it carries its own challenges. Fact : The people of George makes a hard day seem easy to face.I have travelled around South Africa and have worked in many different towns and cities. People let me tell you, what a town we have. There is a certain feeling here that you don’t get too much anymore. The last time I got this feeling was while playing finals in a rugby match. Even though all the players are from different backgrounds and cant get along on some days we still pull together as one. This makes me feel that nothing can stop us from achieving anything we want. That is what I find in George.Great people, great mountain, great sea… what’s not to love?I truly love George and all its people.
Resep: Sandra o’ConnellDag 1
12-18 grenadellas, alles uitgekrap met lepel (as die uitgekrapte vrug te min is gebruik tot 24)
Meng met 500 g suiker (pro-rata meer suiker as jy meer vrug gebruik)
Voeg by 4 doppies “Passion Fruit cordial”
Bedek en laat oornag staan.Dag 2
Kook alles saam op lae hitte tot suiker opgelos is.
Laat oornag staan.Dag 3
Voeg 750 ml Vodka by en meng goed.Bottel en hou in yskas.
Skud bottel elke keer voor gebruik.
Bedien met fyn gekapte ys.Oorspronklike artikel was in Ultimate Lifestyle ED.8
Resep: JoLinda Van VuurenBestanddele:
3 uie, gekerf
1 eetlepel knoffelbotter
2 pakkies gevriesde mossels, in skulpe
1 liter volroom melk
1 pakkie sampioensoppoeier
500ml vars roomMetode:
Sit ‘n swart pot op ‘n matige vuur.
Braai die uie in die knoffelbotter.
Sit gevriesde mossels in pot.
Sit deksel op en laat dit vir 10 minute prut.
Voeg melk by, prut vir 5 minute en roer die sampioensopppoeier by.
Prut vir 5 minute, voeg die room by en prut vir nog 5 minute.
Gooi die mossel weg as die skulp nie oopgegaan het nie.
Bedien as voorgereg, of met ciabatabrood as hoofgereg.
Lyk dit nou nie lekker nie!?
Kan ‘n groot pakkie Smash of 2-3 gaar, fyngedrukte patats bygooi.
Ons gebruik mossels sonder skulpe 2 groot pakkie.
Kan ook gesnipperde groen, rooi en geel soetrissie bygooi.Oorspronklike artikel was in Ultimate Lifestyle ED.9
Groot Brakrivier, gelys as een van die Top 10 rustigste dorpiesTerwyl 2019 op ‘n dolle vaart af jaag na Desember, is daar ‘n dorpie in die Suid Kaap waar tyd net so bietjie stadiger verloop. ‘n Plekkie waar mense mekaar nog in die straat groet, waar die eienaar van die besigheid jou nog self kan help. ‘n Dorp waar, maak nie saak waar jy is nie, jy waarskynlik water kan sien. Selfs die walvisse kom die tyd van die jaar na dié geweste. In die uitgawe van Ultimate Lifestyle fokus ons op die rustige, terwyl ons gereedmaak vir die groot vakansie.
Groot Brakrivier is aangewys as die vyfde mees ontspanne dorp in Suid-Afrika, soos gelys deur die Getaway Magazine. Die pragtige dorpie is beide gerieflik en afgesonderd geleë, in die pragtige Tuinroete tussen George en Mosselbaai. Met ‘n tipiese vakansie-dorp gevoel die heel jaar deur kan jy dus ontspan sonder om jou te vêr van die moderne geriewe in die naby geleë groter dorpe te bevind.Die fenomenale panoramiese uitsigte wat Groot Brak bied komplementeer die skoonheid van hierdie juweel van die Suid-Kaap. Die pragtige strande in die omgewing en die strandmeer bied ‘n veilige swem area vir inwoners sowel as toeriste. Die teenwoordigheid van ’n verskeidenheid walvisse van Mei tot November is een van die belangrikste toeriste aantrekkings in die dorpie.
Hierdie skatkis wat homself bevind in die middel van die Tuinroete, is ‘n rustige historiese dorpie wat rondom die strandmeer van die Groot-Brakrivier gebou is. Die strandmeer is in twee sandkanale verdeel met ‘n klein eiland tussenin. Die dorp se naam het ontstaan as gevolg van die brak smaak van die water uit die twee Brak-riviere.Groot-Brakrivier het sy oorsprong gekry in 1859 toe Charles Searle, ‘n Engelse papierfabriek-hand wat saam met sy vrou en vier kinders uit Surrey na die Kaap geëmigreer het, hom as bewaarder van die tolbrug by Groot-Brakrivier gevestig het. Charles en Pamela Searle word aangewys as die stigters van die dorp.
Charles se ouer broer, Richard, oorspronklik ‘n arbeider, het reeds in 1845 na Suid-Afrika geëmigreer onder ‘n regeringsgeborgde skema. Hy het toe in Groot-Brakrivier aangekom in 1850 om vir die Central Road Board te werk na ‘n seevaart van 68 dae. Gedurende daardie tyd het die tolbrug bestaan uit ‘n tolhuis, ‘n klein losieshuis genaamd Ferreira’s en ‘n plaashuis aan die kant van die rivier van Mosselbaai.Die Searle familie het floreer en hul besigheid het vinnig uitgebrei tot winkels, akkommodasie, looiery, skoenmakery en houtondernemings in die vooruitstrewende dorpie wat weer deur hierdie ondernemings gevorm is. Hulle koshuis was bekend as die Temperance Hotel, aangesien die Searles streng alkohol-onthouders was en verwag het dat almal in die dorp die voorbeeld moet volg. Hulle was geheel en al gekant teen die verkoop van drank en mettertyd het Groot-Brakrivier in die omgewing bekend geword as “Prohibition Village”. Die sensus van 1904 het aangedui dat Groot-Brakrivier ‘n bevolking van 362 gehad het.
Vandag is Groot-Brakrivier hoofsaaklik ‘n vakansiebestemming, met strande en die strandmeer wat die belangrikste besienswaardighede bied. Die woongebied van die eiland word deur ‘n brug met ‘n enkele baan aan die vasteland gekoppel.Ander toeriste aantrekkings sluit in die plaaslike geskiedkundige museum, historiese geboue wat tussen 1852 en die middel van die dertigerjare gebou is, die Wolwedansdam en ‘n herstelde kragstasie wat uit die vroeë 1900’s dateer. Ook, die 250 jaar oue skoenfabriek van Bolton Footwear, wat oorspronklik deur die Searle familie begin is, word vandag nog in Groot-Brakrivier in bedryf en is een van die belangrikste werkgewers in die dorp.Artikel: Melizza LiebenbergFoto’s: Johann van Tonder, Groot Brak Museum, Mossel Bay Tourism (www.visitmosselbay.co.za)Oorspronklike artikel was in Ultimate Lifestyle ED.9
