Xmas function

Last week we had Carl's company year-end function. Normally year-end functions are rather boring affairs simply to be endured, certainly not to be mentioned on a blog! This one, however, deserves to be shared....

We went river rafting on the Vaal River. While it is not the white water of the Zambezi, it was such a fun day out!! We were so lucky with the weather! The previous week it had been pouring with rain and maximum temps of only 12 degrees. We would've been VERY miserable! As it turns out, the sky was blue and temps went up to about 26 deg. Perfect!

We arrived there (near Parys) at 9am and had a nice brekkie. Afterwards, we donned our helmets (very sexy!) and life jackets and got loaded into an open truck for the very uncomfortable drive to the start of the rafting. Once we had been given a briefing by the guide, we were off!

If ever you want your staff to completely relax and throw off any facade - this it the outing!! It is impossible to look lovely with those helmets, and it is impossible not to just have fun - splashing other rafters, taking on the rapids (and falling out - Carl!!), throwing hyancinth at each other etc.!

We did about 12kms, and the last stretch took some serious effort. By which time we had completely worked off breakfast and were ready for lunch! After lunch, there were 'awards' and Xmas pressie giving, then we headed back home to JHB to retrieve our kids.

What a great day!

We're gonna be rich!

Yip. Last week Megan went out to work and brought home the bacon.

OK, that's not really the whole truth! Here's what actually happened:

The Grade 4's at the kid's school held a 3 day Entrepreneur's Sale. They could work alone or in groups and it was entirely up to them as to what to sell, how much to sell it for, how to advertise etc. etc.!

Megan worked with her two friends Ryan and Marco. They decided to call their stall MMR Claus (for Megan, Marco and Ryan). They even made up a song for their stall to the tune of 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town', which they then sang to the school to encourage them to come to their stall!!

Ryan's mom, Debby, runs a party business and as a result has many contacts in the Chinese Market world! Which means she was able to purchase a lot of stuff for very low prices! Then we all got together and the kids decided how much to sell each item for, they made a banner, and covered boxes in Xmas wrap for displaying the products. Interestingly enough, it was the cheaper items which enjoyed the bigger mark up. The biggest mark up was 208%, and the smallest was 29%. On average, they marked their products up by 96%.

Most of their stuff sold very well - takkie key rings were the first to go, followed shortly by syringe pens. The slowest items to move were the little rubic cubes. Luckily for this group, Debby bought back any unsold items at cost, so at least they didn't make a loss! Also, Debby let them sell some of her stock on consignment on the last day of the sale and they could keep the profit. I'm not sure real life is quite so accommodating!

The group managed to make a total profit of R531,30, which worked out to R177,10 for each of them. Which they get to keep and spend during the holidays!

It was fascinating to see some of the other stalls - one group raffled a MOUSE!! And apparently did very well! Other stalls sold fresh pancakes or pies; some had Xmas decorations, many had sweets, and toys; some sold jewellery and a couple were more action stalls - fishing or balloon popping for prizes.

All I know that it was a frenzy last week - with having Megan manning a stall, and Ali spending like a man with no tomorrow!