Local management team buy-out SNC-Lavalin SA and rename the business Aurex Constructors
Led by Vice President Stuart Kent, the South African management team of SNC-Lavalin SA successfully completed a management buy-out of the local entity on 10th December. Building on the success of SNC-Lavalin SA the management team remains the same people that customers have grown to know and trust.
Aurex Constructors Vice President Stuart Kent. Photo; Engineeringnews.co.za
The management team of the South African entity recognised the advantages of becoming a wholly-owned South African company. In addition to the agility and faster response and turnaround times offered by local management, the buy-out serves the country’s strategy to transform South Africa’s economy through increased ownership and management opportunities for previously disadvantaged South Africans.
As part of the deal, the company was to undergo a full rename and rebrand and is now called Aurex Constructors. Derived from ‘AU’, the symbol for gold, and ‘EXCELLENCE’, Aurex is a business that embodies the gold standard, a place where excellence is not just expected but consistently achieved: excellence in their service; excellence in their ethics; excellence in their standards; and excellence in their people.
As Aurex Constructors transforms into a South African owned and managed business it’s strategy is to focus on its core competencies and continue to deliver gold standard Construction and Turnaround & Maintenance projects across all energy sectors to their customers, as they have for more than 40 years.
“This is a very exciting time for the business,” said Stuart Kent, “as we navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, recalibrate our strategy, our processes and procedures to align with the local landscape and move forward as Aurex Constructors whilst leveraging our legacy and expertise to best serve our customers.”
The company is poised for continuous growth. Aiming to continue to deliver projects successfully to its existing customer base whilst looking at opportunities to extend its service offering into new markets targeting new customers.
About Aurex Constructors
Aurex Constructors is a key player in South Africa’s Construction and Turnaround & Maintenance industry with more than 40 years’ experience serving a blue-chip customer base in the oil & gas, mining & metallurgy, infrastructure, petrochemical and clean power sectors. Its 2 main service lines, Construction and Turnaround & Maintenance, deliver structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, piping, plate work (SMEIPP), fabrication and management services for projects of all sizes and complexities.
100% Locally owned and managed with 51% black ownership and 30% black women ownership. The highly skilled workforce has a proven track record for delivering flexible, innovative and relevant project management solutions tailor-made to customer requirements. We champion excellence. www.aurex.africa.
Christmas lights are a delight to most people. It conjures happy thoughts and brings happiness to most.
But where does the tradition stem from? Why are we so fascinated by it?
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This is what Wikipedia writes about Christmas lights:
This custom was borrowed from pagan rule rituals that celebrate the return of the light of the sun as the days grow longer after solstice: the evergreen trees symbolising the renewal and continuance of life in dark times. The Christmas trees were brought by Christians into their homes in early modern Germany.
Short History on Christmas lights by TIME.
The Christmas lights of today can light up trees and window frames with tiny twinkling lights of many colours—or cause frustration with their long and tangle-prone cables. But the first such lights, introduced to the holiday world in 1882 by Edward Johnson, a friend and partner of light-bulb inventor Thomas Edison, were a different story.
Johnson didn’t introduce the idea of using light to celebrate the holiday; the tradition of making the winter festive with the light and warmth of a fire is much older than electricity. For many years, those who could afford to would express their Christmas spirit by lighting candles on trees.
“Generally, the tree was set up in the parlor and when all the family would come down to see the tree, dad or grandpa would light up all the candles,” John Hanssen, a collector of Christmas-related antiques, told TIME. “You’d look at it for a few seconds and blow them out.”
Candles were lit to “signify the light of Jesus,” according to Hanssen, 46, who is a member of the Golden Glow of Christmas Past, an international organization for Christmas history. But all those candles had a serious downside, causing numerous fires.
Edward Johnson’s idea was to replace the candles with a string of colored electric lights, which he did with eight bulky, pear-shaped bulbs on a single wire.
One cannot look at Christmas lights without reading about the history of Christmas trees.
History.com posted the following article on the history of the Christmas tree.
The history of Christmas trees goes back to the symbolic use of evergreens in ancient Egypt and Rome and continues with the German tradition of candlelit Christmas trees first brought to America in the 1800s. Discover the history of the Christmas tree, from the earliest winter solstice celebrations to Queen Victoria’s decorating habits and the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree in New York City.
How Did Christmas Trees Start?
Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries, it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.
In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return.
The ancient Egyptians worshipped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a blazing disk in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from his illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes, which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death.
Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon, farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.
In Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder.
Christmas Trees From Germany
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.
Who Brought Christmas Trees to America?
Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.
It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims’ second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out “pagan mockery” of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against “the heathen traditions” of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated “that sacred event.”
In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offence; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued until the 19th century when the influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy.
In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable—not only in Britain but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree had arrived.
By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.
The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Center tree is located at Rockefeller Center, west of Fifth Avenue from 47th through 51st Streets in New York City.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree dates back to the Depression era. The tallest tree displayed at Rockefeller Center arrived in 1948. It was a Norway Spruce that measured 100 feet tall and hailed from Killingworth, Connecticut.
The first tree at Rockefeller Center was placed in 1931. It was a small unadorned tree placed by construction workers at the centre of the construction site. Two years later, another tree was placed there, this time with lights. These days, the giant Rockefeller Center tree is laden with over 25,000 Christmas lights.
Christmas Trees Around the World
Christmas Trees in Canada
German settlers migrated to Canada from the United States in the 1700s. They brought with them many of the things associated with Christmas we cherish today—Advent calendars, gingerbread houses, cookies—and Christmas trees. When Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert, put up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1848, the Christmas tree became a tradition throughout England, the United States, and Canada.
Christmas Trees in Mexico
In most Mexican homes the principal holiday adornment is el Nacimiento (Nativity scene). However, a decorated Christmas tree may be incorporated in the Nacimiento or set up elsewhere in the home. As purchase of a natural pine represents a luxury commodity to most Mexican families, the typical arbolito (little tree) is often an artificial one, a bare branch cut from a copal tree (Bursera microphylla) or some type of shrub collected from the countryside.
Christmas Trees in Great Britain
The Norway spruce is the traditional species used to decorate homes in Britain. The Norway spruce was a native species in the British Isles before the last Ice Age, and was reintroduced here before the 1500s.
Christmas Trees in Greenland
Christmas trees are imported, as no trees live this far north. They are decorated with candles and bright ornaments.
Christmas Trees in Guatemala
The Christmas tree has joined the “Nacimiento” (Nativity scene) as a popular ornament because of the large German population in Guatemala. Gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning for the children. Parents and adults do not exchange gifts until New Year’s Day.
Christmas Trees in Brazil Although Christmas falls during the summer in Brazil, sometimes pine trees are decorated with little pieces of cotton that represent falling snow.
Christmas Trees in Ireland Christmas trees are bought anytime in December and decorated with colored lights, tinsel, and baubles. Some people favor the angel on top of the tree, others the star. The house is decorated with garlands, candles, holly, and ivy. Wreaths and mistletoe are hung on the door.
Christmas Trees in Sweden Most people buy Christmas trees well before Christmas Eve, but it’s not common to take the tree inside and decorate it until just a few days before. Evergreen trees are decorated with stars, sunbursts, and snowflakes made from straw. Other decorations include colorful wooden animals and straw centerpieces.
Christmas Trees in Norway Nowadays Norwegians often take a trip to the woods to select a Christmas tree, a trip that their grandfathers probably did not make. The Christmas tree was not introduced into Norway from Germany until the latter half of the 19th century; to the country districts it came even later. When Christmas Eve arrives, there is the decorating of the tree, usually done by the parents behind the closed doors of the living room, while the children wait with excitement outside. A Norwegian ritual known as “circling the Christmas tree” follows, where everyone joins hands to form a ring around the tree and then walk around it singing carols. Afterwards, gifts are distributed.
Christmas Trees in Ukraine Celebrated on December 25th by Catholics and on January 7th by Orthodox Christians, Christmas is the most popular holiday in the Ukraine. During the Christmas season, which also includes New Year’s Day, people decorate fir trees and have parties.
Christmas Trees in Spain A popular Christmas custom is Catalonia, a lucky strike game. A tree trunk is filled with goodies and children hit at the trunk trying to knock out the hazel nuts, almonds, toffee, and other treats.
Christmas Trees in Italy In Italy, the presepio (manger or crib) represents in miniature the Holy Family in the stable and is the center of Christmas for families. Guests kneel before it and musicians sing before it. The presepio figures are usually hand-carved and very detailed in features and dress. The scene is often set out in the shape of a triangle. It provides the base of a pyramid-like structure called the ceppo. This is a wooden frame arranged to make a pyramid several feet high. Several tiers of thin shelves are supported by this frame.
It is entirely decorated with colored paper, gilt pine cones, and miniature colored pennants. Small candles are fastened to the tapering sides. A star or small doll is hung at the apex of the triangular sides. The shelves above the manger scene have small gifts of fruit, candy, and presents. The ceppo is in the old Tree of Light tradition which became the Christmas tree in other countries. Some houses even have a ceppo for each child in the family.
Christmas Trees in Germany Many Christmas traditions practiced around the world today started in Germany.
It has long been thought that Martin Luther began the tradition of bringing a fir tree into the home. According to one legend, late one evening, Martin Luther was walking home through the woods and noticed how beautifully the stars shone through the trees. He wanted to share the beauty with his wife, so he cut down a fir tree and took it home. Once inside, he placed small, lighted candles on the branches and said that it would be a symbol of the beautiful Christmas sky. The Christmas tree was born.
Another legend says that in the early 16th century, people in Germany combined two customs that had been practiced in different countries around the globe. The Paradise tree (a fir tree decorated with apples) represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The Christmas Light, a small, pyramid-like frame, usually decorated with glass balls, tinsel and a candle on top, was a symbol of the birth of Christ as the Light of the World. Changing the tree’s apples to tinsel balls and cookies and combining this new tree with the light placed on top, the Germans created the tree that many of us know today.
Modern Tannenbaum (Christmas trees) are traditionally decorated in secret with lights, tinsel and ornaments by parents and then lit and revealed on Christmas Eve with cookies, nuts and gifts under its branches.
Christmas Trees in South Africa Christmas is a summer holiday in South Africa. Although Christmas trees are not common, windows are often draped with sparkling cotton wool and tinsel.
Christmas Trees in Saudi Arabia Christian Americans, Europeans, Indians, Filipinos, and others living here have to celebrate Christmas privately in their homes. Christmas lights are generally not tolerated. Most families place their Christmas trees somewhere inconspicuous.
Christmas Trees in Philippines Fresh pine trees are too expensive for many Filipinos, so handmade trees in an array of colors and sizes are often used. Star lanterns, or parol, appear everywhere in December. They are made from bamboo sticks, covered with brightly colored rice paper or cellophane, and usually feature a tassel on each point. There is usually one in every window, each representing the Star of Bethlehem.
Christmas Trees in China Of the small percentage of Chinese who do celebrate Christmas, most erect artificial trees decorated with spangles and paper chains, flowers, and lanterns. Christmas trees are called “trees of light.”
Christmas Trees in Japan For most of the Japanese who celebrate Christmas, it’s purely a secular holiday devoted to the love of their children. Christmas trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns, and wind chimes. Miniature candles are also put among the tree branches. One of the most popular ornaments is the origami swan. Japanese children have exchanged thousands of folded paper “birds of peace” with young people all over the world as a pledge that war must not happen again.
Christmas Tree Trivia
Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.
In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
Between 1887-1933 a fishing schooner called the Christmas Ship would tie up at the Clark Street bridge and sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.
The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition began in 1933. Franklin Pierce, the 14th president, brought the Christmas tree tradition to the White House.
Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family.
Most Christmas trees are cut weeks before they get to a retail outlet.
In 1912, the first community Christmas tree in the United States was erected in New York City.
Christmas trees generally take six to eight years to mature.
Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.
98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms.
More than 1,000,000 acres of land have been planted with Christmas trees.
On average, over 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre.
You should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace. It can contribute to creosote buildup.
Other types of trees such as cherry and hawthorns were used as Christmas trees in the past.
Thomas Edison’s assistants came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees.
In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lit until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.
Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons.
In the first week, a tree in your home will consume as much as a quart of water per day.
Tinsel was once banned by the government. Tinsel contained lead at one time. Now it’s made of plastic.
The best-selling trees are Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir and White Pine.
11 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
15 And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Nog ‘n “So is die lewe” rubriek vanuit die pen van Ds Marius Britz. Die titel is “Kies Lewe”
“Genade, maar dit vat lank,” was die laaste woorde van prof. David Goodall, die 104-jarige wetenskaplike wat op 10 Mei 2018 sy eie lewe in Switserland beëindig het. Goodall het die drup self geaktiveer wat die dodelike mengsel in die Life Circle-kliniek aan hom toegedien het. Dit was een van die wetlike vereistes waaraan sy genadedood moes voldoen. Goodall, ‘n botanis wat met die Orde van Australië vir sy lewenswerk vereer is, het na Switserland gereis omdat genadedood onder sekere omstandighede daar wettig is.
Goodall moes eers talle vorms invul en vrae antwoord, en dit het hom ongeduldig gemaak. “Waarvoor wag ons?”, het hy gevra. Sy laaste maaltyd was vis en skyfies. Talle familielede was by hom tot die einde. Beethoven se 9de simfonie is gespeel terwyl Goodall op die bed gelê en gewag het op die drup se uitwerking. Hy was nie terminaal siek nie. Goodall het vroeër aan CNN gesê hy het self besluit op die genadedood omdat hy sowat vyf of tien jaar gelede opgehou het om sy lewe te geniet.
Sjoe, het ek gedink toe ek dit in die Burger gelees het. En dan loop mens se gedagtes maar vêr. Geniet èk die lewe, is die vraag wat jy jouself afvra. Daardie stedeling wat hier op die weskus kom vakansie hou, maar sy spanning en onvergenoegdheid saambring en duidelik wys, het hý ‘n lekker lewe? Die blou see, die wit strand en die stadige lewe hier doen oënskynlik niks aan sy ervaring van leef nie. Geniet hy die lewe? Ek vermoed van nee.
Een aand het ek in ‘n vliegtuig op pad na Turkye gesit langs ‘n tannietjie wat my die een foto na die ander op haar selfoon gewys het van eksotiese plekke waar sy al vakansie gehou het. Europa, Amerika. Ek het naderhand aan die slaap geraak van kyk na al die fotos van luukse skepe en fyn glase met mengeldrankies, en haar, met haar ontwerpersdonkerbril en groot diamantoorbelle op elke foto. Maar laatnag, toe ek wakker skrik en die meeste van die passasiers se dakliggies af was, was die tannietjie langs my s’n nog aan. Ek het gewonder waarom sy juis toè gesit en huil het.
Ook die uiters suksesvolle sakeman, alom bekend vir sy kreatiewe en vernuwende denke in sy bedryf. Eenkeer, na ‘n konferensie wat hy toegespreek het, en dawerende applous gekry het, kom staan hy langs my, iewers waar ek wegkruip in die donker vir die geroesmoes en gedreun van stemme. “Ek is moeg,” sê hy vir my. “Vir al hierdie goed. Ek het genoeg gehad van die korporatiewe wêreld. Ek is 49 jaar oud, maar ek is afgeleef.”
Soos Billy Joel sing in Piano man: “Paul is a real estate novelist who never had time for a wife,” en die kroegman wat sê: “Bill, I believe this is killing me, as the smile ran away from his face. I believe could be a movie star if I could get out of this place”. So sing Joel van ‘n paar mense in hierdie gewilde en briljante lied wat eerder op ‘n ander plek wil wees.
Die bestuurder van ‘n afdeling met ‘n groot personeel en beklee met groot gesag, droom daarvan om vyfuur huis toe te gaan soos ‘n klerk, en al die werksprobleme by die werk te los. En die klerk, op sy beurt, droom daarvan om die bestuurder van die afdeling te word, met al die gesag daaraan verbonde.
Daar is verskeie voorbeelde, alledaagse, werklike voorbeelde van mense wat droom oor ‘n ander lewe, en nie hulle lewe geniet nie. Die tuisteskepper wat op ‘n Maandagoggend, nadat haar kinders skool toe is en haar man werk toe is, kyk na die berge skottelgoed en vuil wasgoed.
En droom oor ‘n loopbaan en kantoor en inkomste. Of die sakevrou wat ‘n Maandagoggend afskop met ‘n konflikvolle vergadering, voordat sy daarna vier werknemers van die maatskappy moet inroep om hulle mee te deel dat hulle afgelê word as gevolg van die maatskappy se finansies. Sy droom daarvan om by die huis te bly, en te ontspan met ‘n koppie tee voordat sy die huishoudelike take met liefde en vrede aanpak.
Die Goodall-opsie is min mense beskore. Baie mense besef op ‘n dag dat hulle lewens sinloos voel, soos Marianne Fathfull sing in The Ballad of Lucy Jordan. “At the age of thirty-seven, she realise that she’ ll never drive in a sportscar through Paris, with the warm wind in her hair.”
dink nuut oor die lewe. Jou lewe!
Daar is egter èèn opsie wat ons almal kan uitoefen: dink nuut oor die lewe. Jou lewe. Deel jou lewe op in kompartemente. Agt ure werk, agt ure slaap, en dan is daar nog ‘n volle agt ure oor waarin jy kan lèèf. As jy lief is vir lees, ontdek nuwe skrywers, en lees met oorgawe. Koop daardie visstok, of daardie omkapmasjien waaroor jy so lankal droom.
Luister na musiek: diè soort wat jou hart vinniger laat klop. Luister dit kliphard in jou motor. Ek het al mense verbaas na my laat kyk by robotte as Pink Floyd se The Wall, of Mozart se Requiem kliphard bulder in my motor. En, om te geniet, is om nooit die donker wolk te soek nie, maar altyd die silwer rand. ‘n Koning het op ‘n keer sy raadgewers gevra om ‘n leuse uit te dink wat altyd geldig sal wees, en op sy ring te graveer. Toe skryf hulle: “Ook dit sal verbygaan.”
Die slegte in jou lewe, sál ophou. Hou net aan. Maar die goeie kan dalk ook, so gebruik elke oomblik om die goeie betyds raak te sien, te waardeer en te geniet. Wees lief, en lag dikwels, ook vir jouself. Leer só om die lewe voluit te geniet.
Let’s be honest, this hasn’t been the best year so far – amidst the confusion and chaos of Covid-19. However, this year can be handled with hope and grace if chosen to celebrate the unbroken bond of life with your partner. Marriage still remains the most popular choice to find and hold onto someone special. And when it comes to marriage, everything starts with the crucial engagement ring.
Summer is a season for sun, surf, and outdoor fun. The warmer weather and perfect-photo-moment sunsets create the ideal atmosphere for romance, making summertime the perfect time to pop the question. If you’ve been planning to pop the question any time soon, summer is the perfect time, here are some summer engagement rings that will absolutely ‘wow’ your partner.
Halo Engagement Ring
Halo Engagement Ring by Ralph Jacobs
This style is perfect if you would like to wear a ring that makes the center stone look bigger. Halo ring settings have grown in popularity, especially over the last five years. This is an excellent choice for a summertime engagement ceremony. Add your favorite Moissanite or Diamond shape to the center, and you are set to enjoy this silly season even more.
Vintage Engagement Ring
Vintage Style Engagement Ring by Ralph Jacobs
Vintage rings can have a ton of filigree, gold or silver wiring formed into delicate tracery, or even a hint of art deco. There are so many various styles to choose from and whichever the style, vintage rings are highly sought after because of their originality. You can feel good about showing off your ring knowing it is highly unlikely that you’ll find someone else wearing the same one.
Three-stone Engagement Ring
Three-stone Engagement Ring by Ralph Jacobs
This versatile engagement ring can be customized to suit a wide range of diamond shapes and cuts including, emerald, cushion, oval, heart, and pear shapes, amongst others. Three-stone engagement rings feature diamonds on either side of the larger stone to accentuate the size and grandeur of the main diamond.
Colourful-Engagement Ring
Colourful Moissanite Engagement Ring by Ralph Jacobs
The colourful engagement ring trend is growing larger by the second and is going to be everywhere in the year 2021. If you love being part of the popular crowd, this is the route for you. For the longest time the focus and desire was on white or colourless diamonds, however, previous gemstones have always been appreciated and glorified for their sensational appearance, depth and colour. Think of all the stunning emeralds, rubies, sapphires in the world….wow! Emerald is electrifying and signifies serenity, ruby symbolizes passion, and hope is breathtakingly represented by sapphire. If you are looking for an other-worldly, unique ring style, then there is no competition and you have to fall for a gorgeous gemstone that will bring out the loveliness of your complexion.
This Post was first published on https://ralphjacobs.co.za/your-ultimate-summer-trends-guide/
The perfect Christmas nails for this silly season.
Christmas is only a few weeks away and that means us ladies can start getting manicures to match! Grinch green and reindeer red nail polish is so fitting for the holiday season, but which colour and style should you choose that will fit best with your specific engagement ring? Luckily, we’ve done a ton of research to make sure you choose the perfect hue, shade and style of nail polish to fit with your engagement ring this Christmas!
Grinch Green Nail Polish
Let’s start with the festive green nail polish look. Green symbolises nature and wealth. It is also the colder of the two colours (red being the other colour), which is why the warmer metals work better with green nail polish. If you’re rocking a gold or rose goldengagement ring, better you opt for green than red! Try any of these styles and shades below, this Christmas to get into the festive spirit! This colour even pairs with your favourite Moissanite from Ralph Jacobs.
For the gals with the silver and white goldengagement rings we suggest going for a warmer nail polish. The colour red is synonymous with Christmas and the perfect colour choice for this festive season! As you can see in the below images, red works so perfect with silver engagement rings. And you can even add some snowflakes for artistic pleasure and it connects well with the silver band.
www,guidepatterns.com
Pinterest.comStyleBistro.com
Lyra Vega Bridal
Flashmode.me
This Post was first published on https://ralphjacobs.co.za/christmas-nails-for-your-engagement-ring-this-season/
It’s almost December, and with South Africa’s summer holidays that means most people are heading to the beach! Whether that’s Cape Town, Umhlanga, or Mozambique. So have you been spending the last few months wondering how you’re going to pop the question and hit your lovers feet from under them?
Are you in need of some tips for proposing on the beach? There are a lot of ways to propose on the beach! We have put together a list of some of the most romantic ideas for a beach proposal.
1. Write it in the sand or with shells
This is extremely corny and so overdone. However, as simple as it is, it’s so timeless! Simply compose a proposal message in the sand. Bonus points if you draw a huge heart around your proposal or decorate it will flowers and shells.
Source: www.howheasked.com
2. Beach Picnic
Plan a beach day with your love, but tell him/her to leave the details up to you. Pack a romantic picnic lunch with all of their favourite snacks and hit the beach.
Source: www.howheasked.com
3. Sand Sculpture
If you are talented with sand castles or sculptures, steal away while she is otherwise busy and construct a sand sculpture with your intent carved out. Or you could always pay an artist to build it for you. Then go for a spontaneous walk on the beach and innocently stumble upon the sculpture!
Source: www.howheasked.com
4. Get all your friends on-board
If you’re planning a holiday trip with some of your friends ask them to get on board with the whole proposal. Given: you have to consider if your partner will enjoy having everyone there for your special moment or not. Write “Will You Marry Me?” out on surf boards and then ask her to take a stroll with you on the beach – just the two of you. Then as you go down on one knee all the friends come walking onto the beach with the question written on the surf boards.
Source: www.hotelcoraldigha.com
5. Romantic Sunset Dinner
You can either choose to organise this one by yourself or consider that a lot of resorts or restaurants offer dinner packages on the beach, complete with candles and even music! Book a sunset dinner and when the mood is right, pop the question!
Source: www.evoke.ie
6. Underwater Proposal
Under the sea, under the sea! This one is for all the crazy kids out there! If you and your partner are scuba divers or share a fond memory whilst diving, this one’s for you! Schedule a dive and have the instructor bring along a sign that says “Will You Marry Me” down in the diving site. We don’t recommend bring the ring along on this one, however!
Source: www.youtube.com
7. Beach Photoshoot Set-Up
Set up a beach photoshoot, in which you will ask your lover to marry them. You can tell them you won a free photoshoot. It’s quite simple, because it’s basically just a photoshoot, but you arrange with the photographer beforehand the right time to pop the question in between the shoot. Your partner is sure to be surprised – and even happier that you’ve captured your intimate moment.
Source: www.paparazzi-proposals.com
8. Beach Helicopter Proposal
If you want to go ALL OUT for your partner, you should pick this over-the-top proposal. If you’re anywhere ocean-side, there’s sure to be some sort of tourist helicopter attraction. Set up a slot and surprise your partner with a scenic helicopter ride. Plan ahead of time with the pilot as to where they fly over, etc. Tell them your plan and write your message in the sand, big enough so that you’ll be able to see it from the helicopter ride.
Source: www.walesonline.co.uk
This Post was first published on https://ralphjacobs.co.za/8-perfect-beach-proposal-ideas/
Explore the season of joy this Christmas with Ralph Jacobs
Cameron White Gold Moissanite Engagement Ring by Ralph Jacobs
Most of us living in South Africa won’t be experiencing a white Christmas, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the beauty that is a white…gold engagement ring. This blog is going to focus on the beauty and richness that is white gold jewellery and how it’s overlooked these days. Everyone is obsessing over rose gold engagement rings, but whatever happened to a classic white gold band? Continue reading to find out what exactly white gold is made of, which skin tone works best with white gold jewellery, and to see some of the most gorgeous white gold engagement rings.
Whether you choose a stunning Moissanite or a sparkling Diamond, you will not go wrong with White Gold.
Can you believe that white gold is one of the most picked types of jewellery for engagement rings? White gold is a pocket-friendly alternative to platinum jewellery. It is made from an alloy of pure gold and other metals that have a silvery-white hue, such as palladium or silver. White gold is generally more durable than silver and less expensive than platinum. One thing to keep in mind is that wedding jewelry is seldom made from pure gold (24 karat gold) since pure gold is too soft to hold up well to everyday wear and tear.
One consideration when choosing your preferred wedding jewelry is skin tone. The experts at Ralph Jacobs suggest that individuals with cooler skin tones look best in white gold and silver, whereas those with warmer skin tones may prefer yellow or rose gold.
Keep scrolling for some gorgeous white gold engagement rings by Ralph Jacobs. These beauties are sure to make you swoon and reconsider that rose gold engagement ring.
Chanel White Gold Princess Cut Moissanite RingEllie White Gold Oval Cut Moissanite RingVictoria White Gold Emerald Moissanite RingAdeline White Gold Cushion Cut Moissanite Ring
This Post was first published on https://ralphjacobs.co.za/white-christmas-at-ralph-jacobs/
Sasol handed over mobile classrooms, stationery and school shoes at Lekwa municipality’s farm schools. (10 Dec 2020)
Secunda, Mpumalanga – Sasol Secunda handed over mobile classrooms, a jungle gym, school stationery and shoes to two Lekwa municipality’s farm schools, Rondavel Combined School and Azalea Combined School as part of the company’ strategic intent to support Early Childhood Development (ECD).
From left to right: Mr Mashinini, Principal Rondavel Combined School ; Ms. Ndjibu, Manager Social Impact, Sasol; Mr Tsotetsi Department of Education representative and Ms Khumalo Principal Azalea Combined School during the mobile classrooms ribbon cutting ceremony.
Over the years, Sasol has been building trust-based relationships with its fenceline communities. These relationships enable Sasol to partner with various community structures and organisations to drive interventions that benefit these communities. School infrastructure development remains key in the Mpumalanga Department of Education’s quest to improve overall educational outcomes. This has been the main objective of the Department of Education to ensure that there should be no learner who learns under inhabitable or dangerous structures.
Through our school infrastructure programme, Sasol’s partnership with the Department will reduce overcrowding in classrooms with additional mobile classrooms, improving the environment to be conducive to learning.
The Sasol school infrastructure project has the following objectives:
To address overcrowding challenges burdening schools due to inadequate infrastructure.
Create a conducive educational environment for learners and educators.
Strengthen Sasol’s relationship with the Department of Education.
Sasol, through the Sasol for Good Employee Volunteerism Programme, also donated stationery packs, school shoes, and family mask packs to the learners. Sasol has partnered with Suka Projects and SA Health to revamp the current food gardens at the school premises to provide children with healthy, nourishing food. The school’s football and netball grounds were also refurbished to support learners’ physical activities.
“Early childhood intervention programmes for us are implemented to equip children, at the foundational phase, to be able to perform better throughout their school career. This impact is observed in their behaviour, educational progression as well as attainment and eventually in labour market success, among other domains,” said Rethabile Ndjibu, Social Impact: Sasol Energy Operations.
This initiative complements the Osizweni, Science Centre, Sasol’s flagship educational initiative in the region, which remains actively involved in the shaping of young minds to become future leaders. By taking a holistic approach to ECD, the Osizweni Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre has also been established. The Osizweni Science Centre provides workshops for ECD practitioners of early childhood development and parents of young children. These practical, interactive sessions demonstrate how everyday activities, materials and toys can be utilised to full advantage to promote the development of numeracy and literacy and other life-long skills.
Cutting the ribbon
Inside the classroom
Outside view
The company has also through our partnership with the community and Department of Social Development (DSD) identified a need for Non-Profit Organisations (NPO) to be capacitated in running their organisations. To date more than 86 NPOs in Govan Mbeki Municipality with Early Childhood Development Centres have been capacitated.
Sasol’s strategic intent is to promote ECD, STEM and access to tertiary education by contributing to education development and infrastructure support initiatives tie-up with the Department of Education objective, hence the company support government in addressing challenges which are facing our fenceline communities.
