Author AM Scott Artwork Robi Gramigna Anyone who took the compulsory subscription to Episodes 5-1 of the global history making season of Covid & Co. Ep.2020 South African Version knows that the only way to survive the binge feed of notifications, conspiracy theories and power struggles is to think ‘we not me’. Our hope is…
Finding your Marigold and avoiding the Walnut trees
Author: AM Scott Familiar to experienced gardeners, perhaps those who have an interest in vegetables particularly, is a concept called companion planting. Companion planting involves placing certain vegetables and plants near each other to improve growth for one or both plants. By way of example, rose propagators might plant garlic near rose bushes because garlic…
Poppies and Promise
Author: AM Scott Poppies and promise “These too are of a burning colour–not orange, not gold, but if pure gold were liquid and could raise a cream, that golden cream might be like the colour of the poppies.” ~ John Steinbeck This week, while screening for entry at the gate on morning, Rosemary bounced in…
Konke kuzolunga
Author: AM Scott Words fail often really. At times, our language just doesn’t fit our expressive needs. That’s when we borrow from others. We loan words and phrases, like “nachas” when we are bursting with pride at the achievements of our children or “lekker” when the temperature reaches a perfect 21o on a lazy, Sunday…
A hawk, a house fire and a drive by shooting
Author: AM Scott “To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.”George Orwell Crazy times are upon us globally. Our calendar days are marked by unusual incidents, mind numbing statistics, shock, and massive disruption to every aspect of our man-made sense of order. The stories are topped by dystopian portraits of…
Why should we stay positive?
Author: S Mansfield All we really have now is our mental disposition. To be fair, it’s all we’ve ever had, but busy life keeps us from seeing that. The reality of today evokes depression. Everywhere it permeates and like a current it seeps into our being and breaks through defenses. So how do we rise…
All you need is love
Author AM Scott Many years ago, one of the most servant hearted leaders and school principals I have had the privilege of working for, gave me what he believed was his best educational and mentoring advice, “Just love the children.” Just love the children. Just? Love? Just love? Is that enough to deliver young lives…
Potholes, dongas and roads less traveled
Author: AM Scott On hearing the 2020 budget announcement the former CEO of the Post Office, Mark Barnes, commented, “We are so busy filling the potholes that we are not focusing on building the road.” His statement is poignant, and perhaps applicable to all walks of life, not just financial projections and the economy. Let’s…
Put your brush on the canvas
There is something vast about an empty canvas just before the artist paints. Whether the master will through paint on in an expression of abstraction or set about mirroring on that blank space an image or scene before him, he will pause to consider his commitment and perhaps start in his right time. Once the…
Let him wallow, just for a bit
Author: AM Scott Unashamedly, the Springbok rugby team, so capably led by Siya Kolisi last Saturday, 2 November 2019, have been hoisted high in our talk, our social media feeds, our newspapers and indeed our proudly South African hearts. We like a win. Even more so, we love a decisive victory, where we have ‘slaughtered…
Tie yourself to the mast and hang on
Author: AM Scott Greek mythology has it that Odysseus was terrified of the beautiful island creatures called “sirens” that beckoned sailors on passing ships to their death with their irresistible songs. So he ordered his men to stuff their ears with wax and bind him to the ship’s mast. He commanded his sailors not to…
Give them the keys, why don’t you?
Author AM Scott “A very little key opens a very heavy door.” – Charles Dickens Key {noun} : a piece of metal cut into a specific shape and used for opening or closing a lock. Keys open things up. Keys access ideas, places and spaces. Keys keep belongings safe. Keys start an engine. Keys are…
Lessons from London
Author: AM Scott The bright, red bus lurched and lumbered as it wended its way down the windy, narrow streets of London. Tired passengers, some carrying heavy bags or pushing tetchy toddlers, bumbled on board, swiping their Oyster cards motorically. No greetings. No smiles. Life, it seemed, was not an opportunity for connection with others….