Unicorns, bunnies and fishes: a reality check

15 February 202215 February 2022 ~ Fiona ~ Leave a comment

I’ve not had a rant for a while. My last few rants were more than a year ago. I railed against aspects of the restrictions associated with the lockdown. Truth be told, I was probably railing at the virus itself. As if it gives a damn. I might come back to that but I suspect we’re done with it. In more ways than one.

That said, it’s been a rough couple of years. My work all but disappeared and my side hustles, bar one (blogging), hustled themselves into oblivion; one for three months, another for at least 18. A third may never sidle back. We shall see. Those that have returned form, in combination, how we’re beginning to get back on track. Sort of. Very. Slowly.

With hindsight, the FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) we all felt in the early days of the pandemic, paralysed everyone. I look back and other than those relatively regular rants, there is nothing. I remember planting myself in front of my desk. Every. Day. Except Saturday and Sunday. Then it was the couch. With the laptop in front of me. Having anticipated shifts in the economy and my working life (I wrote a little about it here), I brushed up my teaching knowledge and skills with a course on teaching English as a foreign language. I passed with flying colours and was happily introduced to a slew of new and exciting online resources and tools. The UK-based entity helped “graduates” to find jobs. Or so they said.

Rabbit holes and dead ends

It was not help as I ~~understood~~ had expected it to be. Rather, it was a jobs board and, I suspect that they benefitted from each placement; there was no real effort to match a successful student with a suitable job. During and after the course, I painstakingly set up a website, a wikki and profile after profile on so many sites I lost count. Talk about a digital footprint… I found myself down rabbit hole after rabbit hole. I applied for online roles and did the mandatory (unpaid for) tests; sent the certificates, CV and blurb.

Nothing.

Well, that’s not entirely true: the feedback suggested that I was one of a few things: too old; too diffident; over-qualified and to add insult to injury, South African. The last suggested I was not a first language English speaker – even with a degree in English Literature (from a reputable university and which regularly “sends” proportionately more Rhodes scholars to Oxford and Cambridge than any other South African university), born in the UK and of British parentage. It was all rather insulting, but I sucked it up. If there was feedback at all.

Many of the platforms expect one to ~~upload~~ share rather intimate information and then wait. One even required a criminal check and when our local police station issued it, didn’t accept it. Because it didn’t come from a “recognised private provider” which, incidentally, required a 200km drive to another city and an exorbitant fee. (Which, in turn, begs more questions…)

The writing was on the wall

As the virus spread across the world, not only did everybody go home, but everybody went online. What had been a very large pond, suddenly shrunk and was teeming with little fishies that were willing to work for next to nothing. I’ll return to this.

Plan B

I did have a plan B – or so I thought: I’d focus on online writing tutoring. People still need to write and hone their skills. I’d offer an asynchronous service that wasn’t time zone sensitive. That didn’t work, either. People don’t have to learn to write: they make use of online tools, job platforms and writing mills.

If you can’t beat them, join them

If there is one thing I know I can do, and do well, it’s write: for a range of audiences. I returned to a couple of online gig platforms that I’d joined ~~a million years ago~~ before they had become ubiquitous, and, truth be told, still in the days of dial-up internet. I got a job: in a writing mill.

Huh?

It took me a while to work out two things: rates are usually per word – completed. No consideration is given to time involved in research, let alone revisions. Rates don’t correlate for the country in which I live, but rather for countries where folk can survive on US $ 10 a day. I kid you not. They say so when they bid for work. I need six- to seven times that. Secondly, looking at the briefs: coherent, quality writing is not the priority. One erstwhile “client” had me write articles that never saw the light of day and had a modus operandi that is, at best, described as questionable.

Looking for local work was impossible: the country had shut down and people were being laid off. It didn’t matter that I live in a remote little village.

Remote jobs

When gigs didn’t materialise, I started applying for part time, remote jobs. Part time because what I make from my stall at the village market, once it resumed in July 2020, paid the grocery bill. One doesn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. For a patch, I did have a job – locally – and for which I was hand-picked. I loved it. The company ironically, was a victim of the intra-pandemic, between lockdown-euphoria. More lockdowns happened and the small, already vulnerable company had to downsize.

What I learned

I learned something very important: I could potentially get a job and move away from gigs. That, locally, my contribution was valued; I am not too old. However, this was not the space in which I had played for thirty years and although I have a prodigious portfolio of work, it is specialist writing, and I didn’t have a network in the creative sector.

I am a creative

Learning and embracing that I am a creative has been quite a thing. I’d never ~~been encouraged to think~~ thought of myself as creative. That was the preserve of artists, novelists and published writers. Not play cooks and researchers who cook for a village market and write for other people. A fellow creative and photographer started connecting me with online groups.

Guess what?

I started finding work. Not in spades and not at rates comparable with my old day job, but at rates recommended for the sector in South Africa. Equally important: the work was valued.

I also discovered that the low level, casual design (as I’ve now learned to think of it) might earn me a couple of bucks. No, I’m not trained, but my leaflets and flyers are good enough for an internationally acclaimed stylist and a former international photo journalist, so they’re good enough to start another portfolio.

Then, like with writing, the more I fiddle about – with real projects – the “betterer” I get. That said, I am by no means an expert; I defer to the experts for real, professional graphic work.

Playing to one’s strengths

Having blown my own trumpet, about what I can do, I also prefer to play to my strengths. There is a lot of truth in the expression, Jack (or Jill) of all trades and master (or mistress) of none. Similarly, the cautionary spreading one’s self too thin also applies. Related to that is the wonderful Afrikaans expression, goedkoop is duurkoop. The literal translation: that if one buys something that’s cheap, it ends up being a very expensive experience. This last, by working for writing mills, I’ve learned, also works in the reverse.

What, on earth is she on about?

I am increasingly seeing advertisements for unicorns. The job specs are shopping lists: employers and contractors will only consider ~~candidates~~ unicorns (their word). They must have expert skills and be qualified in everything from writing, newsletter creation, design and management, to virtual bottle-washing. Literally and figuratively. For a pittance. Applicants need need only two years’ experience. To have honed those skills and acquired that knowledge, I’d hazard a guess, applicants need to have several qualifications and worked – without a break – 24/7, 365 days a year for the years they’ve studied and for those two years. And, in (my perhaps not so) humble opinion, will still not have reached a level to be considered expert in all, let alone one of those specialities.

I know that because –

It’s only since I’ve been blogging – now into my ninth year – that my other writing skills have really developed. And I’ve been writing – if I include my university years – for forty years. Why only now? Because I have been writing different things, experimenting and stretching myself. Again, blowing my own trumpet, I can write. Well. Now. Better than I could when I started my blogging journey.

Unicorns do not exist

Do these employers know that a unicorn is a mythical creature?

Anyone who ~~is stupid enough~~ applies for that type if position, I’d suggest, sets themselves up for failure the moment the honeymoon is over. If one gets that far.

Having said that I’ve dabbled in design, I also manage my own and others’ social media presences. Again, it’s low level and, to be honest, I’m not sure I want to reach expert level.

Why don’t I want to be an expert?

Because I like writing and I’m good at it. I am already an expert. Suddenly taking on jobs that get me out of my comfort zone is one thing – there’s plenty about writing jobs that do that – but diluting my focus, will neither earn me more, nor make me, from a client’s perspective, more productive.

Also, good writing takes time. It’s an iterative process and, with some clients, can also be discursive. Just like preparing a good meal or a training session, the 80:20 principle applies. The time it takes to read a good piece, enjoy a delicious meal, or run a training session, is probably 20% of time it actually takes to write or

prepare any of those things. If that.

That’s often the bit that readers, clients and diners (who don’t write, cook and host dinner parties), just ~~cannot~~ will not comprehend.

Accepting my fishy, rabbit status

Unlike mythical unicorns, there are certain fish and bunnies that are considered kind of real – Pisceans and Chinese rabbits. Millions of people around the world follow their precepts. I admit that when I read this, I do see elements of myself. I acknowledge that I’m an often flappy Pisces, chasing my tail. Similarly, I see bits of myself in among Chinese rabbits.

Over the decades, along with writing, I have developed other skills: like strategic and lateral thinking, planning and management. I’ll not labour them except to make the point that along with writing, I can (and evidently do) add value to projects, which enriches my writing work.

I’ll stay my course, but don’t confine me to a single, narrow lane. As a more mature, experienced gig-working writer I plan to continue adding value, based on my qualifications, life and work experience where I am able.

I am no unicorn and nor am I super woman. I’m happy with that.

That is my reality. Check.

Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa

Post script
If this post might seem familiar, it’s because I’m doing two things:

re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I am adding them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine….?
and “re-capturing” nearly two years’ worth of posts.

I blog to the Hive blockchain using a number of decentralised applications.

From WordPress, I use the Exxp WordPress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click here or on on the image below to sign up.

Join Hive using this link and then join us in the Silver Bloggers’ community by clicking on the logo.

lastly, graphics are created using partly my own photographs and Canva.

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?

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…

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The beginning – revisited

5 July 2014 ~ Fiona ~ Leave a comment

When I started this blog, it was on a whim: the initial thought had been to share ideas about what I cook and/or how we entertain and how, we’re in the process of developing our home and garden in McGregor.

Over the last six or so months, I have realised that Fiona’s Favourites is allowing me to “marry” so much of what it love doing: cooking, gardening, sharing stories and, most of all, writing. I’m enjoying this much more than I ever imagined. I think and write for a living. And I enjoy my work – with all its inevitable frustrations. However, I had never thought, or allowed myself to think of myself as creative, even though, as a school girl, I wanted to write. It was a notion that I had long relegated to some far recess of my mind. What would I, an ordinary woman, in her fabulous fifties write about? I do not live an extraordinary life.

So, still growing up and learning, from my kitchen, the garden, our furry and feathered friends, as well as from people, and most especially, those of you who have joined me on this journey, I realise that I can write about my life. I write about my life that is filled with extraordinary people who teach me that life is not ordinary, and should not be taken for granted. No matter how small or mundane, so many experiences add to the rich, colourful, faboulous fabric of life – probably a mishmash tartan of Cameron, Lamont and African.

Since I started this part of my journey, people have been telling me that they enjoy my stories. Telling stories was not the original intention. Most of my favourite and fun things are because of people, so it just seems right that they are central to what I write. Some of you are both the encouragement and inspiration behind what I write and you may recognise yourselves, even if you’re not mentioned by name.

So, Fiona’s Favourites, as I said in my first ever post, is evolving and it seems to be becoming a way of figuratively breaking bread with you, and sharing stories about the extraordinary people who move into, and out of, the circles of my life.

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 stuff

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….