Monday, 30 September 2013

Our final directors meeting day. I won’t hesitate to say that it was definitely slightly emotional on some level. This year really must be drawing to a close. In retrospect, these four humans who ten months ago we would have walked straight past in the streets have come to be such great assets to our lives and who we have become as Thrift.  All of them have contributed in their own unique ways to impart wisdom from their incredibly varied experiences and provide with support that we would never be able to fully thank them for.

So to our board of directors, I don’t know how we struck it so lucky, but we know we won the lottery getting to spend those six hours with you.

Luke Ramsay

Beth Durham

Anthony Hill

And David Priilaid

We’ve had our moments, (of which we will leave in the dark), but we are so thankful for everything you have done for us. All the best of luck for your future endeavors and we feel privileged and honoured to consider you as a part of our ‘networks’.

Saturday and Sunday, 28-29 September 2013

Saturday and Sunday were spent very differently for very different people. Some of us awoke with a glint of freshness in our smile and a hop in our step and went for a run around our beautiful city of Cape Town to clear our thoughts and burn off lasts nights tiramisu. Others woke up to a sniff neck on a couch to be greeted by the wonderful consequences of knowing that you had a great night.

The rest of the day was spent somewhere between recovering and trying to complete assignments on coffee shops which we had never actually been to and probably never would. This weekend taught us that too much of a good thing can just sometimes be a better thing.

Friday, 27 September 2013

Today is the day that we have been waiting for months. With this great amount of anticipation we wished away our few lectures for the day and before we knew it, it was 6pm and time to get the team together for Dinner. After finding the boys quenching their excitement in Slug and Lettuce watching the rugby, we threw them in the shower and hurried over just in time for the Llundadno Sunset cocktails which Stu had waiting for us.

One cocktail led to another, which led to beer, which led to starters. Those starters were just the beginning of a night of heavenly delights. Crayfish, prawn and avo starters took the opening act as a main of Chocolate Chili fillet took center stage. Some Thrift members at this stage being slightly more pukker than others decided that this was the point at which conversations surrounding the Genesis award would begin.

“Stu we need to discuss the fact the you know that we are the best Genesis group”

“Murray the only thing we need to discuss is the order in which your names will appear on the trophy.”

The night ended with a grand finale of tiramisu dusted with a cocoa stencil of the Thrift logo.  A big thank you to the Hendry family for having us all over, it was a night that we will definitely not forget (right up until Murray passed out on his kitchen floor that is)

Thursday, 26 September 2013

Today we spent the day doing two things, having the realization of the amount of work that we have due for the next few days and preparing our minds for the glorious dinner that Stuart was cooking for us the next day.

Starting class at 12am we had a Politics of Enterprise lecture. This lecture was incredibly interesting as we had a guest lecturer Sarah come to speak to us from a recruitment company called Layer Cake. She spoke to us about next year and the plans that we would be making. Although this doesn’t have a great amount to do with the company of Thrift, it gave us a large amount of personal insight that allowed us to start thinking about things which we had put aside.

As we listened about 2014 and the possibilities which it held, we were reminded of the possibilities of Thrift and the places it could be taken to. We as a group have all committed to supporting each other in this transition as we begin to decide what will happen to the company.

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

After a slightly later start than planned, Genesis Wednesday was soon in full swing with lectures and group meetings. We had an extremely productive meeting that everyone attended except for one group member who shall remain nameless. This said group member then gave the group the opportunity put our accountability principles into practice. it is always good to demonstrate the values which we outlined in our shareholders agreement at the beginning of the year and we were grateful to them for allowing us this opportunity to remember. Seven coffees later and accountability restored, this is a mistake that they are sure to never make again. 

It is important that the agreed upon understandings are acknowledged and respected. Through this trust and accountability can be maintained.

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Today is heritage day. This is one of the main Christian public holidays within South Africa. This day is to encourage our nation to take time to celebrate the culture and diversity as well as the beliefs and traditions of the country in which they live in. this being said, the only thing Dean and Murray were encouraging was that of Braai-ing.

The Genesis specifications indicated that our products had to be new to the South African market. What better way to get in touch with this South African market than to spend an entire day focusing on it? So with National braai day in full swing, we as Thrift decided to take the liberty of taking the day off.

Some of us then decided that the stresses of life got slightly too hectic and went away for the night on a yacht.