Joostenberg Vlakte, Canary Street, Durbanville, and the Art of Getting Things Wrong Productively There is a specific category of travel mistake that is not quite a disaster and not quite an adventure but occupies a useful space somewhere between the two. It produces no lasting harm, generates a mildly entertaining story, and occasionally — if the road you take instead turns out to have a Rock Kestrel on it — delivers something you wouldn't have found otherwise. Wednesday was that kind of day. The Wrong Day, The Right Attitude The plan had been straightforward. Drive out to meet Cindy at her home in Joostenberg Vlakte, a farming settlement in the Tygerberg district northeast of Cape Town where the land opens up and the sky gets bigger and the Cape's suburban density gives way to something altogether more agricultural and unhurried. The Klipheuwel road — one of those back routes that rewards the driver who isn't in a hurry with a completely different version of the Cape than the one the tourist brochures feature. We drove it with the particular pleasure of people behind the wheel of a car they are beginning to trust, in a country they are beginning, once again, to inhabit properly rather than visit. Joostenberg Vlakte arrived. We found Canary Street. We found Cindy's home, which was immediately and obviously the kind of place that a genuine wildlife and nature enthusiast lives in — the garden, even glimpsed briefly from the gate, had the specific quality of a space that has been thought about and tended with purpose rather than merely maintained. At which point Cindy appeared, warm and welcoming, and it became apparent — in the gentle, slightly excruciating way these things always become apparent — that we were a day early. The meeting was Thursday. There was a brief moment at the gate. The kind of moment that requires a certain lightness of spirit to navigate without it becoming more awkward than it needs to be. Cindy handled it with grace. We handled it with the diplomatic combination of apology and self-deprecating humour that is the only reasonable response to turning up twenty-four hours ahead of schedule at someone's home. A brief, friendly chat through the gate. Handshakes and smiles. A promise to return tomorrow — the correct tomorrow this time.

Cape Town IRL is a GO!!! 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️ Thank You sooo much to @Cindy Greeff and @Zak King for arranging such a stunning 1st IRL meet-up and for the LEKKER snacks!!! 😋🙏 You spoiled us! Waaaow. 💖 You guys went above and beyond! That Skool cake and banner👇 were such a special touch!!! Cindy, your home is beautiful!!! Thank You for being such a gracious host. And how amazing is it that we got to commune with Springbok, Gemsbok, Blesbok, Impala and Nyala and your precious dogs and cat, Cindy at our very first CT IRL. Was wonderful to connect with you all, Cindy and Troy, Zak, Oom Piet @Olga Lipkovics @Heather Richmond @Jenny Watkins and Michelle @Gareth Parkes and Fiona. Friendships were forged, wise advice was dispensed, laughter was heard, fun was had and Skool communities and tips were shared. How does it get any better than this? And what else is possible now we are all connected? Woohoooo! 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️ Thank You soooo much!

Hello everyone We are all super excited about our very first "in real life" meet up today, 29 January at 10:30am!!! Just some housekeeping for those attending live today: - Arrival time is 10:30am (we have some peeps traveling from far so we will keep arrival casual - see you when we see you lol) or Now now like we say in Cape Town! - Address - 8 Canary Street, Joostenbergvlakte - Google map link here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PJ3ZcAESwUZbingSA - You can WhatsApp me if you get lost in your exploration to find us +27846131103 - We will be outside in the sun for a short while to see the Game so please bring a sun hat, closed shoes (sand and some thorns), etc. We live on a small holding so it is a bit rustic! - There will be tea, coffee, water, some traditional SA snacks, etc. but you are welcome to bring anything else you fancy. Looking forward to hosting you all today here in Joostenbergvlakte!!! HOW MUCH FUN CAN WE HAVE?

Can i suggest we all try invite at least one other SA Skooler to join (and then ask them to do the same). That way we can build up a decent list of people from across the country for when we see this group either change names (eg. SA) or split to other Big Cities (Eg Durbs/JHB) in the future.

Hi all, With the idea in mind that the first meeting is going to be a smaller one (on the 29th) we have decided to shift things to somewhere we think our visiting Skoolers will like (and where they can take some cool photos of Springbok) in Yoostenberg Vlakte. For those who are not sure where that is, go to Cape Gate and then...drive a little bit further towards Paarl for a few min. We will add a pin. It appears it will probably be mid morning (after traffic) and we will hang out for at least 2 hours, have coffee & Tea (i will bring some Coke Zero) and just chat and share some tips, take some pics and whatnot. We are testing the waters and will no doubt have some fun. All meetups will combine some aspect of: - Fun (something silly/laughs) - Value ( a speaker or presentations) - Connection (Networking) If you are far away, don't have any FOMO we will share pics and an update and we will soon be helping organise other events in other towns & cities (with your help). We just want to get all the advice and tips from the other city mayors across the globe. Also, we will be starting to host these type of smaller meet ups monthly. So, if you don't get to this one, there will be another soon in Feb, then March etc. NOTE: If you know any other South Africans on Skool (regardless of which city they are in) PLEASE, PLEASE invite them to this IRL community for now. Be Lekker Zak Venue Next Time: It is highly likely we will meet at Gardens Centre at the spot we scouted out before. It is suitable for smaller meet ups. For bigger ones (maybe where others travel to join) we would find something bigger.