The Blogging Journey

I have been fiddling about in the blogosphere since 2014.  The blogging was initially inspired by school pals (I will not say old, but you get the drift – longstanding) who wanted to know how I cooked what was in the photographs that I shared.  I also wanted to find out whether I had a voice other than my professional, formal voice – potentially to get other, different writing work.  The only way to do that was to write.

It didn’t take me long to discover that —

  • just writing recipes was boring
  • I couldn’t just write about the recipes:  I felt compelled to write the stories around them, their ingredients and, in some cases, where they came from – yes, it’s bad grammar – it’s not clear who they are…

I started writing about other stuff, and The Cat’s Mother emerged and the favourites became more than just food, but life’s happenings – including some “un” favourites

I started taking the odd photograph…

Fiona’s Favourites became reflections in, on and round about….with a lot of cooking on the side.

And then

In 2017 I was invited to join a social blockchain where, through blogging, I might earn crypto currency – just before the bull run ended.  I fiddled about a bit, and two years later, I am still there, and post directly to the Hive blockchain using the Exxp WordPress plugin.  I am part of a growing community that produces content .  It’s not just the prospect of earning that keeps us there, it’s also, as is the case in the blogosphere, generally, the community of like-minded individuals one meets and the friendships that develop – in cyberspace – and which flow from the virtual into the real.

Fiona’s Favourites has evolved to the point that it covers a multitude of topics, musings and rants, ranging from my original focus – cooking – to life, and my participation in that crypto blogging world.

Writing

The urge (I hesitate to say inspiration) to write is one that I’d suppressed for years, but has been allowed to emerge thanks to the friends and strangers who read my blog (and  look at the photographs) – and who want more.

For some, the topics are trivial and fluffy, for others, less so.  Regardless, I have elected, in this space, to stay away (as far as possible) from politics, religion and bad wine…  So, Fiona’s Favourites is mostly a happy place, although, from time to time, sadnesses happen: all part of the fabulous fabric of life.

There is more about my blogging journey here.

Blog folk (aka dramatis personae)

Out of respect for the privacy of friends and family, they are not mentioned by name.  They are, in no particular order:

The Cats’ Father – my very longsuffering husband.  Sometimes known as The Man-in-the-Skirt and, of course, The Husband

The Cats’ Mother – me, myself, and I.  Sometimes called Gladys and Serenity (!)

Mr Mac – McGregor local, Scot, foodie, theatre, opera and movie buff (and member of the Grammar Police)

Menagerie Mum – longtime friend and colleague, currently living in Johannesburg, and who is mum to two very tall teenage boys and an assorted menagerie of cats, dogs and not least, Louise, the chicken, now in chicken heaven

Mark Maatjie – fellow stall holder and purveyor of vegetables and fruit at the McGregor pop-up market, not to mention, producer of the best chicken curry in the village

More, I am sure, will be added…

Read these, too

Blog pals with whom I share real (not virtual) friendship, i.e. they have been or are a part of my life or a past life….and with whom I still stay in touch.

  • Under the Milkwood Tree, like mine, is an evolving blog. Jeanette is a  journalist and writer.  Many moons ago, at Rhodes University, we lived in the same corridor.  We lost touch, and through the passage of time, the social media and, more importantly, shared interests, we have reconnected.
  • American Soustannie:  You can take someone away from Africa, but Africa never leaves her.  Belladonna Took is one such now living in the USA.  Our one meeting, over tea, will remain with me as a surprising meeting of kindred spirits.  After a hiatus, I’m delighted she’s resumed writing and blogging.  Funny, self deprecating and always real.
  • Navel-Gazing 101: Briony describes herself as a relentless people-watcher and eavesdropper with itchy feet and a predilection for adventure and stories. And then she chucks in the parenthetical comment that she’s in a wheelchair.  Well, she’s another fellow old Rhodian, a prodigious blogger, brave woman who’s wheels are firmly on the ground.  She has a zest for life that should be a lesson to us all.  I am delighted to have had the opportunity of meeting her, and of serving a Sandbag House supper to her and GM.
  • Crow’s Feet is Michelle Frost’s award-winning blog.  Michelle is school mate of mine, born in Africa, living in Scotland and who is an author and poet.  Many parallels in our journeys to discovering who we are. 

Then there are blogs I’ve discovered through my blogging journey, whose writers have become “blog pals”, and with whom I have the most fascinating virtual conversations.  They are, in no particular order:

  • Traci York is my witchy blog pal from New Hampshire.  I kid you not.  In addition to her weekly and unmissable Tuesday Tarot readings, her blog is eclectic and as cheerful as the witch herself.
  • Plants to Planks – a blog and website about plant-based foods to fuel an active lifestyle.  Katie Jensen is a personal trainer, nutrition coach and accidental vegan from Atlanta.  Topping it all, she’s a downright nice person.  In addition to having self-published her first recipe book, her blog is full of fabulous ideas for plant-based recipes.  She and I have great fun exchanging ideas about plant-based cooking.  One day, we hope, to share a kitchen – not just virtually.
  • Nicky Havey describes himself as a blogger, traveller and a producer of electronic liquid drum and bass music.  His travel blogs are legend, and if you like electronic music (it’s growing on me), this is a fab place to begin.  Oh, and he happens to be one of the punniest people I know!  Another thing: he’s considering a visit to South Africa which could necessitate his blog moving from this list to the one above.
  • Where to next? Riding in cars with dogs and What’s cooking on page 32? Peggy’s husband is a former Australian diplomat and they love traveling which tells you about the first blog.  The second is about cooking and has its own story – take a look.
  • The Drunken Cyclist is an erstwhile tour guide in France (not French) and has been noted as one of the top 100 wine bloggers in the US.  In addition to writing knowledgeably (very) about wine (and being a cyclist), Jeff’s stories of his time in France are often both self-deprecating and hilarious.  He’s being tempted (nagged) to visit South Africa where we have some of the best cycling … ahem … wine….  If he does, we shall sip good wine together, and this blog will also shift to the first list…
  • Notes from the UK:  Ellen Hawley is an American author living in Cornwall.  Her perspective on Brits and living in the UK can be both acerbic and screamingly funny.  Having grown up with British parents, and in a society that harks back to Britain, I often see in it, them and myself.
  • Traci York is my witchy blog pal from New Hampshire.  I kid you not.  In addition to her weekly and unmissable Tuesday Tarot readings, her blog is eclectic and as cheerful as the witch herself.
  • Plants to Planks – a blog and website about plant-based foods to fuel an active lifestyle.  Katie Jensen is a personal trainer, nutrition coach and accidental vegan from Atlanta.  Topping it all, she’s a downright nice person.  In addition to having self-published her first recipe book, her blog is full of fabulous ideas for plant-based recipes.  She and I have great fun exchanging ideas about plant-based cooking.  One day, we hope, to share a kitchen – not just virtually.
  • Nicky Havey describes himself as a blogger, traveller and a producer of electronic liquid drum and bass music.  His travel blogs are legend, and if you like electronic music (it’s growing on me), this is a fab place to begin.  Oh, and he happens to be one of the punniest people I know!  Another thing: he’s considering a visit to South Africa which could necessitate his blog moving from this list to the one above.
  • Where to next? Riding in cars with dogs and What’s cooking on page 32? Peggy’s husband is a former Australian diplomat and they love traveling which tells you about the first blog.  The second is about cooking and has its own story – take a look.
  • The Drunken Cyclist is an erstwhile tour guide in France (not French) and has been noted as one of the top 100 wine bloggers in the US.  In addition to writing knowledgeably (very) about wine (and being a cyclist), Jeff’s stories of his time in France are often both self-deprecating and hilarious.  He’s being tempted (nagged) to visit South Africa where we have some of the best cycling … ahem … wine….  If he does, we shall sip good wine together, and this blog will also shift to the first list…
  • Notes from the UK:  Ellen Hawley is an American author living in Cornwall.  Her perspective on Brits and living in the UK can be both acerbic and screamingly funny.  Having grown up with British parents, and in a society that harks back to Britain, I often see in it, them and myself.

This list will grow (or shrink, as the case may be).  My informal criteria for selecting blogs I like reading:

  • topics that interest me
  • people who write what they like
  • what they have to say is compelling – whether or not I agree with them

The Blog

I had a disaster with a web host.  The posts you will find here go back to my original blog.  Posts from mid 2019 to date are AWOL.  If we are able to recover them, we will and I’ll be able to import them using WordPress tools.  If not, I will be “importing” them from the block chain over the next while.  Probably a long while.  Please bear with me.

 

Now

I write.

I love words and writing.  I love cats, cooking and The Husband.

Not necessarily in that order.

I am a freelance as a writer for hire.

I have a presence on Hive, a social blockchain, blog on WordPress and cook for the McGregor Saturday Morning Market.

I always do my best to make a plan to solve people’s problem.  If I can’t do it, I’ll tell you.

Life long learning

I used lockdown to brush up my qualifications and completed an advanced certificate in the teaching of English as a foreign language. I had planned to work remotely with adults learning English, but the content writing bug bit.

Now, I take on writing work – from a range of clients:  research, writing and wordsmithing for a range of audiences from the academic to business and lifestyle.  You will find an online portfolio here.

Initially conceptualised as a business to provide hospitality and tourism related service to McGregor village, this website is a constant rebirthing-in-progress.  This is now a side-side hustle.


I also take on projects within my skillset and that rock my socks.  I will also build, populate and maintain simple and WordPress websites.  At a push, I will manage clients’ social media.  You will find an online portfolio here.

If I can help, do get in touch

[contact-form to=”fionafavouritesmcgregor@gmail.com” subject=”Enquiry: potential freelance project”][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url”][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea”][/contact-form]

The Work Stuff

Based in McGregor, in the Winelands of the Western Cape, South Africa, I am a remote gig-worker and writer.

In January 2021, I was recruited to join a boutique marketing and business solutions business as Lead:  Content and Research.  Alas, it had to downsize. 

Prior to the pandemic, I ran a couple of tourism-based initiatives and hosted Sunday Suppers @ The Sandbag House.  I still cook for the Saturday morning market in McGregor.

I am slowly resuscitating Destination McGregor.

For more about what I’m doing now.

For more about what I did then.

Want to get in touch?

[contact-form to=”fionafavouritesmcgregor@gmail.com” subject=”Enquiry: potential freelance project”][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url”][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea”][/contact-form]

Then

I ran an education and training management consultancy for more than 20 years. The advent of the Internet and broadband meant that I was able to work with clients in both South Africa and abroad, successfully maximising time and costs for all concerned. Consultancy services specialised in project conceptualisation, policy analysis, systems development, quality assurance and compliance as well as the development of learning materials. Over the time, clients included tertiary education institutions (local and international), sector education and training authorities (skills boards), private companies, government departments and donors, as well as grassroots community organisations.

Excerpts and samples of work product available on request

Access Trust Final report of the activities of the Trust when it was wound up:
Closing the circle:  two decades of advocating and supporting Technical and Vocational Education in the Western Cape
Afrec
(Applied Fiscal and Research Centre, UCT)
Troubleshooting:  Assessment design and management, policy for the recognition of prior learning
Activists Networking against the Exploitation of Children (Anex) Consulting:  Options for accreditation as a provider of skills development
Brenda Eisenberg
Consultant, United Kingdom, for City & Guilds
Collaborative work researching and analysing the trainer training market in South Africa and Botswana, for and on behalf of City and Guilds, UK
Centre for Education Policy Development (CEPD)/Services SETA

Research to investigate the development of (a) Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) model(s) and Credit Transfer and Accumulation (CAT) system(s) for the community development and Early Childhood Development (ECD) sectors

Technical support to Services SETA: ETQA, Strategic Plan and Sector Skills Plan development processes, as part of the team merging the legacy occupational system with that for the Quality Council (occupational qualifications), streamlining, revising and re-engineering the ETQA policies and processes for its transition to a Quality Management Division

Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA)

Presentation to the Regional Broad Forum on the proposed amendments to the Skills Development Act and the proposed National Qualifications Act (pro bono).

An evaluation of the CHIETA’s SMME provider capacity-building and accreditation project, from scoping study, to hand-over to the ETQA. The evaluation took into account the systemic barriers to workplace SMMEs gaining accreditation and included a series of recommendations.

Draft CHIETA ISOE Strategy:  Some comments (pro bono)

Audit guideline documents and auditor training programme for the CHIETA ETQA to evaluate its education and training providers in line with SAQA requirements

Consol Glass (Pty) Ltd Formulation of a guideline which could replace grade 12 as one of the criteria for employment, based on the principles in the proposed amendments to the Skills Development Act and related legislation which includes the development of level descriptors for the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
Further Education and Training Institute (FETI), University of the Western Cape, Cape Town

Member of the Project Management Team for the National Symposium of expert TVET practitioners for the development of qualifications of vocational and occupational trainers and educators held in August 2009.

Joint preparation of comments on the draft policy frameworks of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), submitted to the Department of Labour on 31 October 2008)

Contributor to the Institute’s comments on the Draft Policy Framework for FET College Lecturers, submitted to the Department of Education (September 2009 and 2012)

GIZ / Department of Labour In association with Deborah Machard & Associates (Pty) Ltd: development of draft Criteria for SETAs: Implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation processes for Learnerships
Industrial Development Corporation of SA For the Department of Trade and Industries:  Research towards the development of a skills programme for the ship/boat building industry

Institute of Estate Agents of

S A

Report:  Suggestions for Developing an FETC—Property: as Part of a Continuum of Professional Qualifications for the Property Industry

Independent Institute of Education(IIE is a subsidiary of AdVtech and is the overarching academic body for Varsity College, Vega – the Brand Communications School, College Campus and Rosebank College)

In association with Deborah Machard & Associates (Pty) Ltd:

Review of existing assessment strategies, guides and related documents for selected SETA courses, assessing compliance with the requirements of outcomes-based assessment in an occupational context, identifying gaps and making appropriate recommendations for remedying these.

Development (including materials, appropriate activities and tools) and co-facilitation of a three-day capacity-building-cum-experiential learning intervention for the IIE faculty

Public Sector Education and Training Authority

In association with Deborah Machard & Associates (Pty) Ltd:

Design of a principle-based system for learning programme evaluation

Capacity building of learning programme evaluators

Research into the application of RPL in the public service

Development of a guideline and tools for rolling out RPL in the public service

Sports Science Institute of South Africa

Strategic consulting services on the impact of legislative and environmental shifts on the ETD/training department and its operations/service offering.

Development of a quality management system for its training division for accreditation as a training provider by THETA.

S A Oil and Gas Alliance

Consolidation of research into skills gaps on the West Coast of South Africa, and the development of associated project proposals

Consultative process on, and development of, a principle based guideline on RPL for the oil and gas sector in South Africa

As a joint venture with an accredited training provider, the development and piloting of two learning programmes for occupational trainers/instructors in the oil and gas industry:  12-day train-the-trainer course and a course on on-the-job training.

Fiona Cameron Consulting’s role was the curriculum and methodological design, development and writing of unit standard aligned learning materials with embedded (integrated) assessments.

Swiss South African Co-operation Initiative (SSACI)

Evaluation of skills training programmes that SSACI funds to, among other things:  verify that training took place as well as to appraise the quality of the curriculum, its mode of delivery, educational value, relevance, coherence, practicality, etc.

Investigation into the feasibility of an identified NGO seeking accreditation as a provider of hospitality-related training.

University of Newcastle, Australia For six years, concluding in 2013, in-country representative, as project coordinator, stakeholder manager and advisor on education policy in relation to potential initiatives and partnerships with South African education institutions, and with special emphasis on TVET and ECD teacher and educator development.
WDM Workforce Development Consultants, Canada Consultant advising of the education and training landscape in South Africa, on a project concerned with validation trade maps for plumbers (South Africa in relation to Canada).

Comments on draft legislation and/or policy in South Africa

2014 Draft National Policy and Criteria for Designing and Implementing Assessment for NQF Qualifications and Part Qualifications and Professional Designations in South Africa :  Comments
  Draft National Policy and Criteria for Credit Accumulation and Transfer:  Comments
2013 Ministerial Task Team report:   The Establishment of a South African Institute for Vocational and Continuing Education and Training (SAIVCET):  Comments
2012 South African Qualifications Framework draft policy on the Recognition of Prior Learning
  National Qualifications Framework sub-framework proposals
  The Green Paper on the Post School Education and Training System in South Africa
2011 Comments on QCTO Draft Policies (Delegation of Qualification Design and Assessment)
2010 National Skills Development Strategy III (2011 to 2016) and proposed SETA Landscape
2009 Draft Policies Relating To The Occupational Qualifications And Quality Assurance Frameworks
2008 Comments on the proposed Skills Development Amendment Bill 2008, submitted to the Department of Labour on 27 March 2008

Papers and publications

Skills plan puts Setas in hot seat Mail & Guardian, 25 February 2011
National Symposium on the development of qualifications for vocational and occupational trainers and educators The South African Policy Environment – joint presentation with Seamus Needham, FET Institute, UWC, August 2009
CHIETA (Chemical Industries SETA) The Skills Development Amendment and the Qualifications Framework Bills:  Presentation to the Broad Regional Forum (Western Cape), May 2009
2008 Conference of the International Association of Colleges and World Congress, New York, USA Developing new partnerships – the importance of context, co-authored and presented with Donna Hensley, University of Newcastle, Australia
Scarce Skills Summit Scarce Skills: An international partnership approach to training quality trainers for scarce skills
MyMoneyforLife© A personal finance management course, designed around a simulation game, and co-authored with associate, Arlene Adriaanse.
Winning Essays, Assignments and Reports:  A Handbook Designed to help novice writers to work with their own writing and strengthen it.
S A Auditing and Training Certification Association (SAATCA) Co-presenter:  Developing a Quality Management System for Training Providers
6th IAC International FET Colleges Conference A Case for a Uniform Approach to Systemic Quality Management in the SA Education & Training System

DMA e-zine contributions

May 2005: Small Training Providers:  The Challenge of Managing Quality Systems in Compliance with accreditation
August 2005: Accredited Training:  What does it mean—for the Provider and for the Consumer?
October 2005: National Qualifications Framework Impact Study:  Report 2:  Cycle 2 (April 2005) – Key points from the Executive Summary and some comments
December 2005: Taking stock of the year that’s past, and looking ahead to the New Year:  Developing strategies for ongoing monitoring and evaluation
e/merge 2004 Co-presenter/author:  Online Writing Tutoring: Its Potential in Southern African Education
IRR Training (incorporating the council on education in management) The Skills Development Act Conference, 26-28 July 2000, Cape Town:Paper:  Practical steps aimed at amending existing training programmes to comply with unit standards and aid the swift implementation of the Skills Development Act to take full advantage of increased worker competence.

Learning support materials/programmes/products (not listed above)

Managing Poor Performance:  Essential skills and tools for managers and team leaders Development of workshop methodology materials, jointly owned by Arlene Adriaanse, Forefront Training;  piloted and successfully implemented in subsequent years in a private hospital group as well as for an international sportswear brand, and a leading home shopping company.
Coaching skills for supervisors Four-module course for team leaders and supervisors who are expected to coach co-workers and team members when they are found to have gaps in their knowledge and/or skills.  Aligned to unit standard Coach a team member in order to enhance individual performance in work environment

In association with

Triune Business Solutions Development of The Quality Framework for Training Providers© which provides the basis for developing a compliant, customised, elementary policy and procedures manual through a hand-holding and consultation process that facilitated the development of a best-practice quality management system unique to that provider.
Tutor suite, USA and South Africa

Conceptualising a syndicated approach to asynchronous online writing tutoring

Conceptualising a comprehensive in-service training programme for South Africa-based online writing tutors

Development of a Handbook for South Africa-based online writing tutors

Online writing tutoring for students of continuing education and post-graduate courses (ages ranging from high school to mature adults), with two US-based institutions, Smarthinking.com, Washington DC, and the University of Phoenix, Phoenix

Conferences organised

SkillZHub Conference

12 and 13 November 2013

Towards a coherent Post-School Education and Training Sector in South Africa

The trans-disciplinary conference on early childhood development and education

17 and 18 July 2012

What is the relationship between the Millennium Development Goals and Early Childhood Development and Education?

Welcome

I am an ordinary woman living in the Winelands of McGregor in South Africa.  My husband and I live in an alternative technology house with our cats.  At the moment, there are three:  Tiger Pearl (aka Princess Pearli), Gandalf the Grey and Rambo, the Ginger Bruiser’s thug who’s actually a toasted marshmallow.

What I do now

I am a writer, part time VA and cook for the local market.  Courtesy of Covid-19, I am constantly reinventing myself. I am a gig worker.   For a patch early in 2021, took on an almost full-time role as lead of content and research for a boutique brand and marketing agency.  Sadly they had to downsize and I have returned to offering services – relating to English, research, and writing, as well as limited social media and content management.

I take on a freelance gigs:

  • For businesses
    writing copy for anything from social media, blogs and leaflets to business plans, streamlining systems and procedures for succession and compliance purposes
    building and maintaining simple WordPress sites, designing uncomplicated leaflets and flyers.
  • For individuals
    I will troubleshoot:  when you can’t get an answer, give me the story..  I will write the letter or email you need to get action.

For more including a link to an online portfolio, go here.

Destination McGregor, provides an ever broadening digital window on McGregor, a village nestled between the Riviersonderend (River without end) and Langeberg (long) mountain ranges of the Western Cape winelands in South Africa.

I also blog on via WordPress and from there on to the Hive blockchain.

What I did then

I ran an education and training management consultancy for more than 20 years. With the advent of the Internet and broadband, I was able to work with clients in both South Africa and abroad.  I could successfully maximise time and costs for all concerned. Consultancy services specialised in project conceptualisation, policy analysis, systems development, quality assurance and compliance as well as the creation of learning materials. Over the years, clients included tertiary education institutions (local and international), sector education and training authorities (skills boards), private companies, government departments and donors, as well as grassroots community organisations.

You will find out more about my credential and other involvements here.

If you’d like to be in touch…

[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]

2015 – not sorry to see you go!

In my day job, this has been a challenging year.  I’m not sorry to see the back of it. Some of my best times, other than with The Husband, friends and in my kitchen, have been behind the camera.  Here are some random shots from the beginning of the year.  They don’t fit into any of the themes that I am brewing.

Frans’s veldskoene from which he liberated his toes when he arrived at a friend’s birthday party in January.

FransShoesJan2015

Other than this picture, taken with  my Samsung Galaxy Trend phone, all the others were taken with my Samsung 35mm bridge camera.

A February feather left by a Guinea fowl visitor to our garden.

GuineaFeather_Feb2015

A long, welcoming table at the place where we often stop for a bite on our way home from Cape Town.

TheBarnTable2_Mar2015

A closer look.

TheBarnTable_1_Mar2015

Vinny the Thug Pug who welcomes us and guards all those who enter Oxford Cottage.

VinnyTheThugPug_Mar2015

Although these photos don’t fit into any of my themes, they do fit into Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge

cees-odd-ball-banner

Postscript:  for those interested in my “blogging journey”:

I have been astounded in the increase in the number of views in the last year.  Although this blog only went live in January 2014, the growth this year has been phenomenal.

2014_2015_comparison_31Dec2015

The visitors come from more than 100 countries and it is to my fellow South Africans that I say the biggest thank you:

Countries_31Dec2015

This growth in my blog is in no small measure attributable to the Clarrie Bags (i.e. “old” girls from the school I attended) who shared the post I wrote following our 35th school reunion.  This is reflected in the six most-read pieces this calendar year, so to them, a particular thank you:

The School                                                          1,405

Going back to school:  a growing up               269

Sizzling sisters                                                         88

Wacky Wine Weekend:  a sedate version         72

Sunny son-days                                                       63

Pairing flavours (and wine)                                 60

Waste not, want not – II                                        53

Before finally wishing you well for 2016, to those of you who let me know that you read Fiona’s Favourites by commenting, either on the blog, by e-mail or the social media, your taking the time to do this is appreciated more than you will ever know.

May 2016 bring you and yours all you wish for.  My wish for you all is love, peace and lots of happy laughter.

And a last word:

Yesterday’s post should not have happened.  Suffice it to say that I was fiddling about not knowing precisely what I was doing and that notification went out.  I am sorry if it annoyed anyone!

© Fiona’s Favourites 2015

Fiona

The formal stuff

Credentials

In March 2020 I successfully completed a certificate in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to complement my a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in English and Geography) and Higher Diploma in Education from Rhodes University.  I have a Certificate in the Principles and Techniques of Fundraising, a joint initiative by the Fundraising School at Indiana University, in the USA, and Southern Africa Institute of Fundraising (SAIF). Because of my role in the development and implementation of the Certificate in Fundraising Management programme at the University of South Africa, I also hold this qualification.  I was accepted as a Ph D candidate (education) a few years ago, but did not pursue it.

Follow the links for more about what I do now, and what I did then.

TL;DNR:  I’m a word warrior and writer for hire.

Initiatives

Under the auspices of Fiona Cameron Consulting, a post school education and training consultancy, I co-founded the SkillZHub, a social enterprise that shared information and provided a discussion forum on skills development and occupational training.  I was co-developer of The Quality Management Framework for small training providers. This ISO 9001-based framework can be successfully applied to other small businesses.

Before starting Fiona Cameron Consulting, in 1993, I lived in Johannesburg where I worked in both the private and non-profit sectors, in various capacities.  This ranged from developing and writing educational materials while at SACHED, to administration and fundraising. I was an administrative officer in the Minerals Council South Africa (formerly the Chamber of Mines), and while in the parking industry, administered 29 car parks with revenues averaging R 1 million each, per month. During my time as a fundraiser, I exceeded income targets and conducted funding negotiations with senior people in both business and diplomatic sectors.

After leaving Johannesburg, I lived in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, where I was Regional Training Co-ordinator of the housing programme for the Independent Development Trust, and worked with a diverse number of community and development organisations.

Volunteer work

In my personal capacity, I was a member of the board of the Access Trust for nearly 10 years.  I chaired the board of trustees for six years.  We provided bursaries for disadvantaged young people to attend technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges. In that capacity, I twice contributed articles to the FET College Times.

For a period, I served as an elected member of the CHIETA‘s Western Cape Regional Consultative Committee, representing small business and skills development providers. I was a co-opted member and Chairman of Cape Town Child Welfare Society‘s Marketing and Funding Committee. As a member of the Southern Africa Institute of Fundraising (SAIF) from 1991 until 2000, I was both National Treasurer and Chairman of the Western Cape Branch. As a member and chair the National Council’s Education Committee, was instrumental in initiating the development of an education and training programme for the fundraising profession in South Africa.

As a volunteer in the street children movement, during the late 1980’s, I served on the Board of Management of (Girls and) Boys’ Towns South Africa; as Chairman of Project Street Children – Education and Social Support, I initiated the Johannesburg Street Children Coordinating Committee. In 1991, Fiona received the Hillbrow Rotary Club Achiever of the year award as “Top Individual”.

The fun stuffFiona Cameron-Brown

I am a writer, Instagram addict,  homemaker and cook, a kitchen gardener;  neither a designer nor a chef.

I love cooking and feeding people, so you will find my fare at the local pop-up market every Saturday. On Sundays, until the pandemic struck, The Husband and I hosted Sunday Suppers @ The Sandbag House (our home) – a service to the village when there was no other meal offering available for visitors or locals.

A recipe book has been suggested…we shall see how things unfold….

Writing

The urge (I hesitate to say inspiration) to write is one that I’d suppressed for years.  It has been allowed to emerge thanks to the friends and strangers who read this (and more latterly, look at, my happy snaps) – and who want more.

For some, the topics are trivial and fluffy, for others, less so.  Regardless, I have elected, in this space, to stay away (mostly) from politics, religion and bad wine…  So, Fiona’s Favourites is mostly a happy place, although, from time to time, sadnesses happen: all part of the fabulous fabric of life.

I live in an alternative technology house, in McGregor in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.  Now, alas, without The Husband, and now three two cats, Tiger Princess Pearli and Gandalf the Grey and Rambo the semi-feral ginger who’s now moved in.

If you want to get in touch….

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