The Burning Violin

  Working in a multigenerational workplace is a bit like being forced into a family reunion where no one knows why they’re there, what they have in common, or how they’re even related. Each generation has its quirks, habits, and pet peeves, and when they all converge in one office space, the results are… let’s call it interesting. If you’re brave enough to navigate the minefield of Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zs, buckle up – here’s the cheat sheet you never knew you needed. Baby Boomers: The OGs of the Office Ah, Baby Boomers – the original gangsters of the workplace. They’re the ones who remember when “work-life balance” was called “working until you dropped.” For Boomers, work isn’t just a job; it’s a badge of honour, a ritual. Many of them are still around, not because they have to be, but because they’re simply not sure what else to do with themselves. Retirement? No, thanks. They’ll retire when they’re ready, which is apparently “never.” Boomers come wit...

  My blog from last week has me thinking more about where this school sport obsession in South Africa might originate. And what I do know is that our sport obsession is our last shred of sanity! If you want to understand South Africa, forget politics, forget the economy, and forget trying to figure out why we have 700 state-owned disasters still standing. Just watch a sports match. It doesn’t even matter what sport, rugby, cricket, soccer, even netball, when South Africans watch a game, something magical happens. The power cuts, potholes, and tax hikes fade into the background, and for 80-odd minutes, we’re not a collapsing economy, we’re a sports-mad, flag-waving, beer-drinking powerhouse. Because let’s be honest: without sport, we’d probably be throwing things at the government instead of the TV. The Great Escape For a country that lives in a constant state of crisis, sport is our one great escape. Other nations unwind with long walks in the park, reliable public transport, or (i...

  Ah, school sports. On paper, it sounds lovely: fresh air, teamwork, exercise, and maybe even a bit of fun. But somewhere along the line, the simple joy of a game of football, netball, or hockey has morphed into a gladiatorial battle for prestige, scholarships, and - let’s be honest - a little bit of parental bragging rights. At some schools, you’d think they were running Olympic boot camps rather than PE sessions. The core business of school is, believe it or not, education, and yet here we are, turning our children’s sport into a mini-professional circus. Parents and the Sports-Driven Arms Race Have you been to a school sports event lately? I had the privilege of attending some Easter Festival tournaments recently… It’s a battlefield. And I’m not talking about the kids’ efforts on the field, but the parents on the sidelines. You’ve got them decked out in full team colours, armed with high-tech cameras, ready to capture every game-changing pass and minute of action. Some are bark...