I was busting around a nightclub in Cape Town the other night, thinking “Yeah, this party is filthy!”

But I was talking filthy in a good way. Short skirts, skimpy underwear and the like…and I was thinking “This is quite a RAD vibe!”

One thing I don’t like filthy though is my city, which is why I bring you a public service announcement, telling you that if you live in Cape Town you MUST recycle!

A few interesting things here that most people don’t take note of. You drink a can of cooldrink, throw it in a regular bin and that can goes to landfill. It’s not a problem because you can walk into the shop again and there will be more cooldrinks there, in more cans.

But did you ever just stop and think as to how that can got to you?

Massive amounts of energy are spent each year mining metals from the earth, all so that they can be made into aluminium cans so that we can enjoy a cooldrink. A metal that has been mined form the ground, just to provide us with 340 ml’s of refreshment, is in an instant lost in landfill.

When you think about it, it actually seems like a crime to throw that can away. Once you throw that can away, you won’t get that metal back. It’s gone to landfill and no mining operations take place in landfill sites.

The same goes for other materials such as paper and plastic. It’s shocking that so much goes to waste, when it can very easlily be recycled. I see loads of people these days going “Oh I’m so green I bought an organic thing today” or “I’m so green I went to Rocking The Daisies this year and we acted all green and hippie. The festival was SO eco-friendly”

But these are the very same people who recycle nothing in their houses. The amount of energy saved by recycling can be quite staggering. If we take glass, it is extremely heavy. If this glass was not put into dump trucks, it would lighten their load CONSIDERABLY. This would reduce fuel costs. It would reduce landfill space. Recycling glass uses considerable less energy than making new glass.

Not to mention the fact that Cape Town is running out of landfill space. I was chatting to someone the other day, and we found it ridiculous that some 50% of material sent to landfill in Cape Town is from building rubble.

Obviously though it’s all very well for me to tell you to do this, but as always, I need to set the example! I think so far I’ve taught you how to drink and party, and now for something good.

This is what didn’t go to Cape Town landfill this week from SLXS:

I’ve been recycling everything that I possibly can in my house for about a year now including plastics, tin, glass and paper. It really does make all the difference in the world, but the problem is people always need a reason. They want to be paid to recycle, or they fear that it’s not a “cool” thing to do.

I don’t get paid to recycle, and it doesn’t make me cool, but it does help Cape Town a whole lot. I think cool is relative though.

I recycle but I’m cool. I have a 6 pack…in the fridge.

Chicks dig me.

Well…sometimes.

I mean I can’t guarantee that recycling will end up in some chick tweaking your nipple, like what happened to me at the J&B Met a few years ago.

This was prior to me training for Fight Club. I’m ripped now.

But it will make Cape Town cleaner.

And the cleaner Cape Town gets…the filthier my mind gets.

Please guys and girls, it’s important to me that my city doesn’t turn into a rubbish dump. Because I will kick your ass!

True story.

Do it. Recycle. Do it.

Click here for a list of places where you can recycle in your area.

Click here for more interesting facts on recycling.

Sean Lloyd

Editor

A very, very good friend of mine and drinking partner recently sent me some radio adverts he had done for City Varsity, but somehow with my computer knowledge and the fact that I don’t run Windows, I couldn’t play them. I also don’t listen to that much radio and if I do it has to be Gareth Cliff because I love controversy and the way he winds people up. I know people say he’s arrogant, a prick or whatever but I dig the vibe he throws out on radio.

So anyway my buddy Mike Pearson from BBDO Cape Town sent me the ads and I couldn’t listen to them. But then I came upon (Not like that! But they are really good…so maybe…) these ads at my favourite advertising and marketing website, The House Of Marketing. And I tell you something…the powerhouse team of Ryan and Mike always seem to pull something out the bag!

So check them out by clicking here, and well done to Mike and Ryan Barkhuizen on their great work!

My favourite is the third one, “Parents”

Brilliant stuff!

You’ll also remember Mike Pearson and Ryan Barkhuizen from the Masterlock ads which won gold at the Loeries earlier in the year. Check those out by clicking here.

Sean Lloyd

Editor

I don’t really have take aways that often, and when I do it’s normally something very healthy like a Thai Chicken Salad from Kauai.

What? You don’t look like this from eating rubbish! But YOU are looking a little porky around the edges from all that rubbish you have been eating.

I’ve seen you wading through the ocean on the beach and I nearly called WWF but instead Woolworths seem to have found a longer term option.

And it’s called Woolworths Eat Well. Last night I didn’t have time to cook AND save the world, so I popped down to Woolworths. I was initially going to buy the classic roast chicken but thought I would give the Eat Well range a try.

I’m trying it for you though, because I don’t want you looking like that the whole summer.

I went for something vegetarian as I had already killed and eaten two cows with my bare hands yesterday. Jokes but I had steak for lunch and some biltong along the way. You know…bulking up and all.

I slammed the Eat Well Halloumi Cheese on Lentils in a Tomato Sauce into my basket.

I arrived home, poured some Cafe Culture wine and proceeded do seduce the hell out of myself. I keep Monday evenings free and don’t invite chicks around because it gets a bit much. You know, having to make intellectual conversation and all the rubbish that comes with being an international Romeo like myself.

While the microwave was doing a Hiroshima on my food, I read the packaging. Good grief! Here is what it had to say:

“Each meal is not only full of delicious flavour, but we have also taken great care to control the addition of salt and sugar, carefully chosen the source of fats and protein, and included a variety of vegetables and protein sources across the range.”

On the front of the packaging it contains nutritional information. The Hallouni chees on lentils in tomato sauce went as follows:

Energy : 1460 kj (17% of adult’s guideline daily amount)

Sugars: 0 grams : (0%)

Fat: 11.9 grams (17%)

Saturates: 6.3 grams (31%)

Salt: 3 grams (51%)

It also had a decent amount of protein at 18,9 grams, 29,4 grams of carbohydrates and a VERY impressive 25,2 grams of fibre!

And I tell you what, it was simply divine! It’s so rare to eat something that is so much healthier than the rest of the take away range, but tastes so damn good and is priced at around R28. It’s funny how Woolworths keep one step ahead of Pick ‘n Pay. Pick ‘n Pay have just kind of got into the ready meals vibe, and now Woolworths step up their game and do ready meals that are healthy as well. Pick ‘n Pay just got owned! BOOM! That just happened!

The way Woolworths are going, I’m not going to see anymore fatty boom booms walking into their stores wanting baby back ribs! And I think we can all nod in agreement, THAT IS A GOOD THING! GO YOU GOOD THING GO!

The range is quite phenomenal and some others include the Eat Well Sweet and Sour Chicken with Jasmine Rice, Eat Well Roast Vegetables Lasagna and the Eat Well Chicken, Bacon and Mushroom pasta. You should also try the organic butternut and chickpea soup, it’s not part of the Eat Well range but it’s simply FABulous.

With Woolworths and their Eat Well meals it’s like having your own chef who watches out for your health as well. Because the “chef” at McDonalds is not watching out for your bottom line skattie, they are watching out for their companies bottom line.

Now hop onto Woolworths and get some food, you are looking famished! Yes you!

No not you, you look hideous. Either way, with Woolworths Eat Well meals, fat or thin, they are good for you.

I don’t want anymore orange peel or thunder thighs on the beach my pumpkin pie.

No you’ve got a silly name!

No SEAN you’ve got a sillier name!

Silly sally!

Silly Billy!

I’ve got a GINORMOUS PIECE!

(Silence)

End scene.

Music fades out…

Air Supply’s All Out Of Love.

I’m so lost without you…

Sean Lloyd

Editor

I was just perusing, at my leisure, Urban Sprout as I haven’t read it in a few weeks and I came upon some interesting facts relating to Cape Town.

As everyone already knows, the worlds oil is not exactly in abundance anymore, and the struggle for energy is getting more hectic every day. The world consumes some 85 million barrels of oil a day which is a massive amount. With oil running out, everything that the world is built on is in a crisis. No transport to bring us food, no power for lighting, no economy etc.

So it’s interesting to note the concept called Transition Towns, which are basically towns that are gearing themselves up for when oil eventually becomes too expensive to pump and too scarce to find, and we have to change our way of life to more local and sustainable. According to the Urban Sprout article “Transition Towns movement hits Cape Town” , Transition Town communities have been formed for Kommetjie and Hout Bay (Click here for the Hout Bay TT website)

I find that all rather fascinating.

Another interesting article is “Green transport for Cape Town City Bowl — Phase 1 of the rapid transport system goes ahead” Click that article to read it.

And be sure to check out Urban Sprout for a whole host of other interesting and informative green news.

UPDATE:Also be sure to have a look at Urban Harvest. Basically, they design, set up and maintain an edible garden for you so you can grow your own organic food. Obviously this contributes to a more local lifestyle, saving massive amounts of fuel to transport your food to you.

Sean Lloyd

Editor

Somehow I was looking through my schedule of events that I’m constantly invited to when I saw “Frog launch at Aquarium” written in my notebook.

Mmmmm…interesting.

I didn’t quite remember why I wrote this and naturally thought I might have been tripping on acid to write something like this. It turns out that the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town has launched another temporary exhibit entitled Frogs Beyond The Pond, and I managed to get myself on the list for the launch. Apparently we were supposed to wear green for the launch, but I lost my invite and never wore green which was a bit blind, considering that everyone was wearing green, from dresses to jumpsuits, it was all there.

I know my job is difficult, but I’m doing it for the better of Cape Town. I know you think that my job of attending events and featuring in the society pages of publications does not count as work, but it’s damn difficult work! You try waking up hungover 90% of your life, you try getting life insurance when your job description is “Professional Party Boy” Do not attempt my job, because your liver will fail and you will die! That said I do it because I love you so much, and I’ve been having an affair with Cape Town for a long time now.

On arrival I had plenty of time to savour the food and booze on offer and I did take FULL advantage. I went from drinking Vawter, to white wine, to red wine, to apple ale by Blakes & Doyle which was actually rather good.

The food consisted of seafood, which was nice, it just seemed odd to be feeding us the stuff that the aquarium conserves! I was a bit bleak we didn’t get served frogs legs, that can be quite delicious. Ummmm…(Awkward moment)

It’s not ideal to get too boozed in the aquarium though because you start to do stupid things, like you might want to touch the rays in the open tank. Or the sight of the sharks might give you the fear. But the whole point of the evening was the frog exhibit, and it’s really quite cool, although I had to rush through the visit, because it had to close at 9:30 so all the frogs and penguins and stuff could have a dos (sleep).

2008 happens to be the International Year Of The Frog as declared by the United Nations. According to Amphibian Ark, 50% of the 6000 described amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Whichever way you look at it, that is not a good sign for anyone, as removing one link from the ecosystem has devastating knock on effects.

So the whole point of Frogs Beyond The Pond is firstly to raise awareness of the plight of the worlds frogs, and to also raise money for conservation of our kermit the frogs. Anything in conservation is worthwhile, and it’s definitely worthwhile to visit the Frogs Beyond The Pond exhibit at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town to gain a greater understanding of how frogs are important to the ecosystem. One of the ads shown on the screen showed someone sitting on a couch watching TV, covered in bugs and flies, showing why it’s important to save frogs as they live on these bugs. Check out some photos from Wednesday night:

The Great White shark

A petunia. Or a doublelizzyanthem. A rose.

The Grolsch bar — Where I spent a fair deal of the evening

Get inside the mind of a frog

Hello Mr Frog, would you like a spliff?

The bullfrog — Ever heard of Phedra Cut, fatty?

The chocolate martini — Stunning, SIMPLY STUNNING!

And that’s the whole vibe we’re going for at the moment! So do pop down to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town to check out the frogs, there is a lot of information there that is quite startling(Nice word!) You wouldn’t imagine it but frogs are such a major part of a healthy planet and I really had no idea. I just never paid much attention to the plight of them before visiting the exhibition, but I learnt quite a lot. And so can you!

Head on over to the Two Oceans Aquarium website, and make sure you pay it a visit, it’s definitely worthwhile to see how mans destruction of the planet is affecting not just frogs, but our ocean life as well. The Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town has it all, so be sure to visit.

Also check out Amphibian Ark for more interesting information.

Sean Lloyd

Editor

One of my favourite things to do in summer is definitely to sample some of the finer things in life that are produced right here in South Africa. You might see the SLXS crew drinking Moet, but sometimes we just find ourselves in situations where we have no other choice but to drink Moet. I’m serious…sometimes my job FORCES me to drink ridiculously priced alcohol! Having said that I do enjoy our local wines and sparkling wines and always keep the fridge stocked in summer.

Our local sparkling wines stack up quite admirably to the more expensive French Champagnes. Another reason to buy local is obviously that it supports local jobs, but it also reduces your carbon footprint as your bottle of champagne doesn’t have to be shipped or flown half way around the world for you to enjoy. The House Of Krone is situated a mere 125 kilometres outside of Cape Town and so there is no reason why we shouldn’t be enjoying local!

Summer is about lazy beach days, family, fine drinks and food and enjoying the unique aspects of this country that we far too often overlook. This summer, on the 13th of December 2008, The House Of Krone are presenting us with “Summer Elegance” This in, from The House Of Krone:

Vintage treasures, beautiful dresses, summer elegance…

The day promises to be a celebration of love, life and summer incorporating an eclectic array of treats to tantalize your senses — sushi & oyster bars, chocolates by Moniki, olives by Groote Vallei, nougat & Turkish delight by Rode and last but definitely not the least, the award winning Krone Methode Cap Classic Sparkling Wines.

Have your auditory senses caressed by live entertainment, whilst sipping on your glass of bubbly, relaxing in the shade of the old oak trees or viewing the vineyards and majestic mountains from the terrace before wandering through the vintage car display, art and sculpture exhibitions by the internationally distinguished artist, Wallace Hulley.

Having been showcased in Paris and London, Luiz Delaja, rising star of the South African fashion design arena, will delight fashionistas with his kaleidoscope of fresh sartorial and elegant designs.

The younger visitors have not been forgotten. Come and enjoy a game of boules (Drinking boules? — Sean), a tractor and trailer ride through the winelands, bounce around on the jumping castle or just enjoy the fresh country air.

Stay for the day or stay for the weekend. The village of Tulbagh is steeped in history, yet productive and progressive. Accommodation in and around Tulbagh ranges from five star establishments to self-catering and bed-and-breakfast facilities.

Entrance th the Summer Elegance at the House of Krone costs R60 per person, which includes a bubbly flue, bubbly tastings and cellar tours. Under 18′s must be accompanied by their parents. An entrance fee of R10 per child is applicable.

If you need to sort out accommodation over that weekend in Tulbagh or it’s surrounds, you can contact me (seanl@slxs.co.za) and I will organise accommodation through SLXS’s preferred travel and accommodation provider in Cape Town.

And that’s it, I think Cape Town and it’s surrounds are all set for a cracker of a summer! I know I’m getting ready for summer festivities…

Naked? Check.

Covered in baby oil? Check.

Surrounded by chicks? Check.

Drunk? Check.

Tube of cappuccino flavoured lube in left hand? DOUBLE CHECK!

Click The House of Krone for more information, and to see some beautiful photos of The House of Krone.

Sean Lloyd

Editor

I nearly forgot to mention that I was asked to do the copy a while back for an English Language Homestay/ Bed and Breakfast in Rondebosch in Cape Town. It’s actually right next to my old school. Not like old school, or the movie, but my previous learning institute.

Basically you can come to Cape Town, and for our small town American readers, Cape Town is not in Mexico but rather in South Africa, and you can learn to speak English. Acorn Lodge Cape Town is also a bed and breakfast for those interested. AND you can rent the entire house if you so desire. Seriously, it’s all there.

For some time I’ve considered doing this sort of thing as a career for myself. But only focusing on fashion models! You get hot birds who can hardly speak a word of English and you make them talk dirty. You give them the basic language skills like eat, drink, sex.

Just a little business idea that I had running through my head. If you steal it I’ll sue you.

Jokes…but I want some credit here…you know…because I do ALL the work in this place!

Anyway click Acorn Lodge Cape Town to be directed to the website and check out my cracking writing.

Seriously, if I were a chick, I’d do me.

Sean Lloyd

Editor

So I was sitting in Hout Bay yesterday after picking up Alain for a 2 week stay at The Hout Bay Villa when I wondered how I could craft this story. And as much as I thought I couldn’t think of anything healthy to promote Hout Bay with.We stopped off at the Spar in Hout Bay to buy some juice as I was feeling monumentally parched because the weather in Cape Town is just glorious and hot at the moment. I was contemplating water or Red Bull when I came across something else in the Red Bull price range. By George, the Republic of Hout Bay stock Cherry Coca Cola of all things! It’s obviously imported so it does cost about R15 a can, but it’s so well worth it. I haven’t had Cherry Coke in years, and it’s quite glorious once it hits your lips. I think myself and Cherry Coke have a connection. It was first introduced to a test audience in 1982 at the 1982 World’s Fair, and entered mainstream production in 1985 which happens to be the year of my birth.

Which quite scientifically explains why I like it. A lot.

I decided while I was on the red and cherry theme, I would buy a cherry cigar at the same Spar and then head over to the beach to smash it inside me.

Chilling Working 

Just taking it chilled for a Tuesday. Obviously after all this strenuous effort on a Tuesday, it was only natural for me to end up at Dunes in Hout Bay for some wine to cool off. It’s important to stay hydrated and white wine seemed to be what my body was asking for.

Chilling Conceptualising 

Dunes is actually quite a rad vibe during the week. It doesn’t suffer from the same sort of image problems that the Camps Bay side does. Obviously the beach isn’t that great and I wouldn’t chill there, but Dunes is an awesome place and I would quite recommend you go there. It’s also got quite a rad view.After that it was back to the villa where we continued further with the red theme by drinking Four Cousins Rose because it gets you smashed and tastes alright.

 Obama’s the president? Great now get me another drink and tell me something interesting

One thing you know you are picking someone up at the airport, next thing you are drunk in Hout Bay at the villa drinking Cherry Coke and wondering what the point of life is.

Another terrible day in Cape Town with terrible weather 

The point of the story is that you should, when you get time off that job of yours, pay Dunes in Hout By a little visit. You’ll enjoy it.

And pay the Spar a visit as well, one of the few places in Cape Town where you will find Coca Cola Cherry.

What a fantastic day at work.

Sean Lloyd

Editor 

Look, we’ve all spoken about the Urban Wave parties and how insane they are, but you need to register to get an invite! You can’t buy tickets.

Dubfire forms one half of the Grammy Award winning Deep Dish and you cannot miss this party. It takes place on December 13 2008 in Cape Town and the venue will not be disclosed until a later time.

Click here to register.

Sean Lloyd

Editor

One of the most beautiful places to visit this summer has got to be the amphitheatre at the Paul Cluver wine estate. Paul Cluver wine estate is only 45 minutes from Cape Town and it is a spectacular setting amongst nature, the stars, pure eucalyptus infused air and phenomenal performances for the entire family. I was there last year to watch a show by local band CODA, who are brilliant (Click here for that write up)

CODA at Paul Cluver last year.

Anyway, I received the latest summer season schedule from Paul Cluver wine estate, and you would do well to see any one of the performances as it is one of my favourite places, SLXS recommended and approved!

Here is the latest schedule for summer 2008/2009:

6 December 2008 — Stef Bos

Stef Bos is a modern troubadour, combining poetic songs with a warm narrative voice. R160 per ticket. Click here to book.

13 December 2008 — Just Jinjer

One of the top bands to ever come out of South Africa, a firm favourite here and abroad. R295 per ticket. Click here to book.

3 January 2009 — Arno Carstens and Karen Zoid

Arno, known best for Springbok Nude Girls and Karen Zoid join forces for a powerhouse performance. R220 per ticket. Click here to book.

17 January 2009 — Nataniel

I won’t lie, I’ve never seen Nataniel! Anyhoo, R150 per ticket. Click here to book.

31 January 2009 — Watershed

Watershed offer songs form their brand new CD, also one of my favourites. R220 per ticket. Click here to book.

7 February 2009 — Laurika Rauch

Our Afrikaans female vocalist, that’s all I know! R180 per ticket. Click here to book.

14 February 2009 — Clint & Co — A tribute to U2, Joe Cocker and Creedence Clearwater Revival (Have you ever seen the rain — LEGENDARY!)

R150 per ticket. Click here to book.

7 March 2009 — Mango Groove

To all the oldies, and the old school fans like me, Mango Groove is going to be insane! A day after by birthday, March is going to be mad. R330 per ticket. Click here to book.

And that’s the schedule and the answer is yes, you should be excited! At each concert, there will be food and refreshments available in the form of Paul Cluver wines available at cellar door prices as well as cooldrinks, water, beer, ciders, soft drinks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, snacks, hamburgers, vegetable, beef and chicken wraps. You can also bring your own picnic basket, or order one from the organisers on their contact page.

There is secure free parking within walking distance of the venue, and it’s all quite amazing to visit the amphitheatre at Paul Cluver wine estate. Remember though, seats are unreserved, but the whole place is great to watch from.

Click here for the Paul Cluver Forest Amphitheatre website where you can find more details on the events.

Sean Lloyd

Editor

(NOTE: This first part will just focus on my visit, and in the next piece on the conference centre I will get into more detail on the sustainability report on Spier and it’s conferencing facilities.)

It’s quite amusing really, this thing we call “work”. It’s also so funny how things in life work out, like as soon as you have a girlfriend, suddenly there are 10 other little belters that want you as well. The world works in mysterious ways.

Anyway I found this story thoroughly enjoyable, because one of my business partners, Jerry D, had called me last week, absolutely smashed out of his mind and he told me he was playing with cheetahs and birds. Naturally I thought he was cheating on his bird, and the TV show Cheaters had caught him. Oh no…silly me! He was amusing himself with the free time he has (Anyone connected to me only works one day a week. Any more and you are immediately fired or suspended until you correct your ways) So Jerry D was enjoying his time with the cheetahs at Spier Wine Estate just outside of Cape Town, a privilege for which he had paid for.

Little did he know, that a mere week later we would be at Spier for work purposes. I had known that Jerry D was going to visit the cheetahs at Spier Wine Estate for quite a while, and I had also known for quite some time that we would all be attending the relaunch of the Spier conference centre, where we would get to play with the cheetahs for free.

But the sheer hilarity of letting Jerry D pay to pat the cheetahs, and then a mere week later doing the same thing for free, was too much for me to handle. I only let him know that we would be attending a work function on the day it was happening.

Naturally he thought it was amusing.

“Sean are you shielded from the outside world? You do realise there’s an economic recession, and you make me spend money when I don’t have to?”

“Economic recession? Are you serious? I have no idea what you are talking about Jerry!”

I still don’t know what this economic recession is about.

Anyway myself and the crew minced into the Spier Conference Centre, after taking the short drive from Cape Town. I cast an eye over the conference centre, meticulously scrutinising the venue.

“I can dig this” I crooned, as I made my way to the bottles and bottles and bottles of wine that had been put in front of us, and the wines were screaming “Sean…Sean…SEAN! Put me inside you!” There was also a whole table full of foods that I also put inside me. What was quite a nice touch was the fact that the food was displayed on a mirror, and it kind of reminded me of those Hollywood parties where we would always walk into a room and there would be a mirror full of cocaine.

A Cuban missile crisis for those on diet

The table with my favourite thing in the whole world, Spier’s Pumpkin Quiche. To die for doll!Ask for it when you visit.

I looked around and was quite impressed by the beauty of the Spier Conference Centre. Everything was clean cut, modern and befitting of the Spier name which we have come to trust. One of the main points spoken about during the launch was the fact that Spier have gone green with their conference centre, bringing in a whole host of new ideas to make the centre more energy efficient and eco-friendly.

Everything was thought through, from recycling paper on site, natural temperature control and even the reduction in plastic bottles used during conferences by offering water fountains where plastic bottles can be refilled.

After about four glasses of wine a lady walked up to me and asked if I would like to go pat the cheetahs.

“Would I…like to…go pat the cheetahs?” I replied while in one swift motion removing my shades ala Horatio Cane.

“It’ll be fun, come along” She said.

“Will…it…be fun?” I enquired, pushing the Horatio Cane joke a bit far, and ensuring that said lady walked off thinking I might have had a bottle of wine in me. She was right. I DID have a bottle of wine in me! Which was ever so naughty of me.

I minced my way inside thinking the whole cheetah thing was just a ploy to get some alone time with me, as I was looking rather dashing that day. I stumbled into the room that we were taken to and by George! There was a cheetah standing on a table, but, like, a real cheetah. One that runs fast.

Meow

I was amused by this whole episode of Entourage playing out in my life, and asked how fast the cheetah runs, while trying to stick one of my fingers in its mouth to see if it could taste the chicken and beef kebabs I had just eaten.

Ooooh yes…touch me there…

“It weighs 47 kilograms and is obviously designed for speed, reaching 80km/hr in 3 seconds”

“F*%K ME!” I was about to say, but then realised I was surrounded by about thirty other business people, who I could later use to make money off if I played my cards right.

“Well that’s swell, it’s so grand to be able to caress a piece of natures artwork like this” I mumbled, digging deep to find the sort of vocabulary that would make me sound clever, and hopefully earn me more money.

We were then moved swiftly along to allow other people to stroke the cheetah. On my way past the table to grab some more food, I also grabbed another glass of wine but then nearly dropped it on my foot when I saw what appeared to be a dog with wings. There was no way this thing was a bird, it was definitely a dog with wings strapped to it as some sort of marketing tool for Spier.

“What the HELL is that? Is that a rottweiller? How did you get the wings to move so realistically?”

“It’s actually an eagle, sir”

“Crisis almighty it’s huge” I motioned, pointing to it’s wings the size of a Boeing 747-400. Apparently it only weighs 5 kilograms though, but it has feet the size of my face.

“Good Lordy Lord” I shot a comment at Jerry. “Let’s go mingle outside, away from anything that would scare me whilst drunk.

Well do me sideways. I get outside and there are two owls, chilling on a table!

Hello Mr Owl, would you like a cheese sandwich?

“Throw me through a brick wall, aren’t those things only supposed to wake up at night” I slurred.

So there were two owls, in addition to a cheetah and an eagle. And this was all for the relaunch of the Spier Conferencing Centre.

So this past Friday, I spent basically half the day at Spier. This was my view from the days “office”

Mmmmm…that’s the good life

Proper hydration is vital, and Spier’s Sauvignon Blanc was a treat.

“By the beard of Zeus, Spier know how to do a proper launch” I said, referring to some other launches I have been to in my younger days that were less than impressive. Spier knew exactly what they were doing, and they did it in style.

What also struck me as unique in these days of economic depression and mental depression were the staff at Spier. They were so friendly I almost thought we were in a video game where everything was perfect. The staff were helpful and were enjoying the day as much as everyone else which is always a good sign of a healthy company. I always shy away from companies where the staff are unhappy because that means it is an unhappy work environment, and this makes for a negative company. I’m quite happy to say that Spier are happy!

I’ll be honest, if my business was making wine, I would be smiling all day and all night.

Once again I’m reminded of the question “What economic recession?”

Seriously, I couldn’t feel it at all at Spier.

Stay connected for the next piece on Spier’s conference centre, how to book a conference there and also their sustainability program.

Click HERE for the Spier website.

Click here for the Spier Cheetah Outreach Program.

Click here for the Spier Eagle Encounters program.

Sean Lloyd

Editor