Sure we can………

“Sure we can” is the new TNT strap line that was lunched mid September. When I first saw it on the side of one of our delivery vehicles I could only but think about what negative banter that both customers and even staff would come out with for this strap line. “Sure we can lose your parcel” “Sure we can deliver it late” things like that. I thought it was a silly strap line to be honest. But after a bit, I changed my view on this strap line and, it all made really good sense to me. “Sure we can” sums up TNT very nicely.

It also sums up the partnership between WFP and North Star Foundation quite nicely too. “Sure we can” work together to help combat hunger in children around the world. “Sure we can” help prevent the spread of sexuality transmitted infections. The key word in the strap line is “WE” not “I” (Sure I can) but “we can” as a team not as one person but as a group all focused on the task at hand. Be it delivering someone’s documents across country or city or delivering food aid to children in need. Or delivering a quality of health service to drivers. We as a team can all do this. “Sure we can!”

Not long after I arrived back in the UK I was speaking to Luke Disney, Director for North Star Foundation, about change and he came up with a really good analogy but he was not quite there with it. We were talking about change and he came up with this:

An oil tanker in the sea takes kilometres to change course – but it only takes one person to initiate that change of course.

He is right with the above analogy but the captain is only but one person. He has a team of dedicated and qualified seamen behind him to help with the running of the ship and together they all help with the change of course be it directly or indirectly. It is still a case of “Sure we can” but its easer if we do it as a team and be the “we”

So from what I originally thought was a stilly statement it has become one that is really powerful. One that should inspire both staff and customers of TNT. As we can do any thing we as a team put our minds to. Its just a simple case of “Sure we can!”

Being back.

6 months does not sound like a long time when you say it like that. 214 days sounds a bit longer but its still quite a small number. But five thousand one hundred and thirty six hours that’s a fair old long time but its still only 6 months. 6 months was how long I was away from the UK and my mates. To be honest the whole thing felt like it was only 6 weeks and not 6 months. I have to pinch my self to remind myself of how long it really was. During the time in Africa I did cover a fair few miles both on the road and in the air.

Drove around 15000km (9200 miles)
Flew loads! I will sit down and try and work out how many air miles I actually flew but here is an idea of how many flights I took.
UK to Rome – Rome to Frankfurt – Frankfurt to South Africa.
Jo’burg to Cape Town then onto Walvis Bay and back the same way. I did that. Jo’burg to Walvis Bay and back twice.
Jo’burg to Zambia and back.
Durban to Jo’burg twice.
Jo’burg to Frankfurt – Frankfurt to Birmingham

Total of 19 planes in 6 months (average of 3.16 flights per month!)

I dare not think how many times I visited Nando’s or Steers ( a fast food place that make the best ham burgers in my book) but I am sure I am owed shares in these places.

But some more noticeable figures are.

• 3 converted containers being shipped out side of South Africa to be used as Wellness Centres.
• 1 fully open Wellness Centre in Walvis Bay, Namibia.
• Zambia Chirundu should now be well on its way to be fully open as we now have got the funds to Zambia. (Probably the biggest challenge we had to face was sending money to Zambia from South Africa – it took months to sort out!)
• Being part of South Africa’s first LIM Project ( Low Income Medical ) that has the potential to benefit around 15 000 staff members who work in the courier industry and there dependants ( around 30 000 – 35 000 people in total) to receive cost effect heath care.

So on the whole I did a fair bit in time I was in Africa so I guess though it did not feel that long I must have been there that long to do all the above.

Over the past week and a bit I have been asked numerous times “Are you happy to be back?” I am happy to be back with my mates. All the travelling in Africa was a bit lonely. Yes I was meeting people but they can not replace ones mates so I am very happy to see them again. As for being back in the UK? MMMM it’s a bit early to draw any conclusion on that one. Only time will tell.

It’s not over ……

Well I am now in my second week back in the UK and many of you may think that the blog page has come to an end……………………………

Well you’re wrong, it’s not over.

There is still many things I wish to blog about my trip to South Africa with North Star Foundation. More about my experiences and about the people that I interacted with and the places I went to. Blogging is a bit of a labour of love to be honest. So much too put down, and not enough time to do it. And when you do have time to sit down and type the words just never come out the way you want them to.

So bare with me and in the coming months I hope to share with you stories of a remarkable man I met who is an inspiration to many I am sure and stories of sand dunes crossing roads to get to the other side.

DEEP DARKEST AFRICA

This was emailed to me by a mate of mine in SA

Just wanted to share this with you as its so cool.

A regular occurrence at the Mfuwe Lodge in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia where the lodge was unwittingly built on the Elephant's traditional path through to some wild mango trees on the property. The herd of a dozen or so elephants walk through the lodge's reception area at least twice a day for about 4 weeks and then sporadically for about another 3 weeks to feed on the trees

No incidents reported to date!