Two month to go!

Sorry everybody out there for not writing the last 2 month! But a lot of you I met personal in this time during my trip to Europe.
2 month is a long time and there was happening a lot. The time is racing and I try to do as much as possible. Let me start with my story in February, just after my last message.

I was responsible for the branding and signage for the Team Workshop in Sun City. Sun City is a mix between little Las Vegas and a big vacation village. That was the place where all Team Delegations and FIFA came together to share the last information for the World Cup. I stayed there for two weeks, working a lot with not so much sleep...But it was worth everything. The challenges were good, the project was running great, I enjoyed my team and met a lot of people I knew from former tournaments. So I was tired, but happy.

After Sun City I had 2 nights home before I went off to Europe. I have booked a short trip, just to meet some friends and be home for a short while. It was one week Europe and a busy trip. But I enjoyed every minute. Met so many friends again, which gave me lots of new energy. I landed in Copenhagen and took the train to my appartment in Halmstad (Sweden). For one night I was home. When I opened the door I thought: that's great! HOME!. One night sounds short (it is), but it makes you enjoying every minute. After that I went off to Frankfurt, via Berlin where I switched over airplane and met my mother at the airport for a quick coffee, and from there by car to Munich to see the match Germany-Argentinia. Unfortunately it was not an interesting match. And it was COLD!! Brrrr... was not used to this anymore. From Munich by train further to Arnhem, where I stayed two days. Even if it was a lot travelling - I got my rest. And you out there who knows me - you know that this is the life I enjoy most.

Back in SA I had just 1,5 weeks left to get as much work as possible done before going off to a next round of site visits. This time we joined FIFA during their inspection. That made it much easier for us, as it was organised in detail. But if you want to inspect 10 stadiums in 10 days - you indead need to organise it well. So we had a charter plane for the whole period. Each time when we landed the bus was waiting for us in the new city, together with police escort. Off to the hotel, were everything was arranged. In the morning with police escort to the stadium and after the meeting in the evening direct off to the airport, with police escort of course. No waiting time at the airport, no check in... I felt really priveledged!But even with this organisation was it heavy. In the evenings I tried to make my documents from the stadium we visited that day. So short nights for me but this thime not because of drinking parties;-) But the benefit came at the end - I had everything ready direct after the site inspection and could move on without making reports home and try to remember the points from the first stadium.

Sinds this inspection I feel that time is really running. Everybody gets excited about the World Cup coming closer - we are just running harder and work more. But you need to understand that it is still fun! And in every busy time there is always a little gap for something special. Two days ago I joined our riggers on the roof of the 4th highest building in Joburg, 140m high, in the middle of downtown. And I went down there via abseiling. It was scarry and great to sit there on the edge, one leg hanging in nothing, 140m high, and then to climb over the edge and finally to go down. And I arrived down on the street, smiling all over - my first abseil from a buidling was done. And I promise, this was not the last.

That was the summary about my last 2 month. What brings the future? I try to arrange my skydive course next weekend. Otherwise I will do it in August, for sure. And the rest of the time - will be work. Middle of April I will be off again for a next round to all stadiums. This time to work with the detailed planning. Again 10 stadiums in 10 days...