It’s 1.37am, and that old 80’s tune is rolling around in my head like marbles in a glass jar. Paranoimia by Art of Noise, featuring Max Headroom. You remember? That cartoon style blond newsreader? That so clearly rolled his eyes in exasperation “please let me sleep”. Google it, for a blast from the past.
Talking about googling it, I was listening to an audio book on Neurogeneration this morning. Or rather yesterday morning. They kept on referring to N=1 as if it is a common term. Like I said before, I like knowing how things work, or at least the basic principles. It turns out, N+1 is a magazine of literature, culture and politics. It also means means that there is a power backup in place should any single system component fail. The ‘N’ in this equation stands for the number of components necessary to run your system. The ‘+1’ means there is one independent backup should a component of that system fail.
Does that not nicely define the purpose of my blog? “….Exploring options”.
N-1 on the other hand, can mean many things.
In real life, it means the second-to-last object in a set. Basically, it’s the penultimate object/event in a series of events.
In mathematics, it’s meaning is similar to what it means in real life. It is just n subtracted from 1.
I like both these concepts. Simple and clean, like Vulcan logic.
But my favorite has to be N=1. It encapsulates the psyche of all I do on the farm, and in life.
N=1. A science experiment with a sample of 1. You.
Ps – the reason I can’t sleep is that I am very excited. I managed to swing a deal at the office. It’s work related, so I can’t share the detail. But it’s huge 🤗.
Good night, let me 🎼 count 🎤 those🎹 bars🎸 on🥁 the window.
I had the dubious pleasure to assist as a panel member in the interviews for board members this week. This introduction is purposefully vague, because of professionalism. The principle of transparency is not applicable here, because the purpose of today’s blog, is to educate, not to expose.
If I take it a step back, most of the candidates mentioned transparency and honesty as attributes of good board members. That certainly is true.
The best definition I could find for transparency, is that trusted “go to” site, Wikipedia.
“Transparency as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in other social contexts, is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed.
Transparency implies openness, communication, and accountability”.
I have a need to communicate that the principle of corporate governance is poorly understood. To my surprise. I deal with the theory and practise of good corporate governance on a daily basis. Everybody deals with the principles on a daily basis, but they have not necessarily been formally introduced to the theoretical framework. I wish to change that. I wish for Namibians at all walks of life, to know it, to feel it, to practise it.
Fishrot se ma se……
An introduction to corporate governance.
The purpose of corporate governance
To paraphrase professor King, who I have had the pleasure to host on various occasions for a range of conferences and panel discussions:
Myself, with the darling of Corporate Governance, Professor King himself, with ex-PwC colleagues Chantell Husselmann and Lorraine Holland-Muter.
Corporate Governance is akin to Steering a vessel across sometimes clear, but often stormy seas. The art of navigating and steering a ship through whatever conditions arise carries with it a grave responsibility to all on board, the cargo, the ship owners and all those affected by the ship in any manner.
The Chief Value Officer – Mervyn King (with Jill Atkins)
So some of the uncertainty in the world we live in today, can be faced with a sense of direction and preparation.
That is the best practical illustration, and I wont go into any further debate right now, other than to say: it is not about sitting fees, and those board members or potential board members for whom that is the first question, miss the point completely. PS – none of the interviewees asked that question, but I do know of other instances where board members ask that question as they leave the meeting.
The framework of corporate governance
There are several formal frameworks across the globe, that serve as a kind of manual to those steering ships of all shapes and sizes. The best known ones in our local context, are:
The King code (versions I, II, II, IV)
Namcode (which is based on the King code, and Namibianised for our context,
Others include the Cadbury code and so on.
These frameworks exist, and are mandatory for certain companies (such as entities listed on the stock exchange), and strongly recommended for all entities, whether private or public sector. It is not a law, gazetted or otherwise.
Here is the point that I most strongly feel about. I was asked once, I forget if it was a panel discussion or a radio interview, whether Namibia should have corporate governance legislation.
No matter whether you define corporate governance as a framework of rules and procedures by which decisions in an enterprise is made, or a collection of guidelines or values by which one can properly and dutifully discharge your obligations, what is at the essence of good corporate governance, is doing what is right. What is right for the company, and not “what is right for me”. Most of the interviewees were able to bring that message across. So why do we have such issues with fraud, corruption and Fishrot?
Corporate Governance will not work better if it is legislated. Corporate governance will only work better if the individuals accountable, believe and behave in a manner that is honest and transparent.
Talita B Horn
And to prove that point: Most of us are generally law abiding citizens, right? I certainly consider myself so. Yet, how many of us should by all accounts, have speeding tickets, or parking violations, or jumping the queue because I am so very busy and so very important, I can’t stand in the queue for my ID/passport/bank card/etc.
There are other complications in these examples, which complicates the example, but also serves the point very well. If I myself, expect to bend the rules to suit me, how can I point the finger at others who are not giving their best to their job.
Don’t even get me started on all those fireside stories, told by the culprits themselves, of a fifty dollar note in the ID when they were caught speeding.
Fortunately, I also have a few stories about some culprits admitting that they were wrong, and willing to face the music, adamant to not be baited into a bribe offering. Kudos!
Now if you are like me, and are always asking how things work, or how they are constructed, let me just list the chapter headings of the Namcode here. It is really principles driven, and just by looking at the headings, you will be able to impress upon any interview panel, that you understand good corporate governance as a principle, and therefore abide by the value, that as a board member, you will be on the lookout for the best sustainable outcome for the company, which includes the environment it operates in, and not just sitting there to collect sitting fees.
Chapter 3 – Audit committees (also my favourite chapter)
Chapter 4 – The governance of risk (most interviews were on unfamiliar territory here)
Chapter 5 – The governance of IT
Chapter 6 – Compliance with laws, rules, codes and standards
Chapter 7 – Internal audit (I wish to see more of this, and more meaningful functions throughout the corporate citizens on our economy)
Chapter 8 – Governing stakeholder relationships
Chapter 9 – Integrated reporting and disclosure
PS – as a board member, please prepare for your board meetings. If you are not receiving your board packs in time to prepare thoroughly, you have bigger problems that you don’t even know about yet.
First things first – to follow my blog (i.e. you don’t accidently forget to check in twice a week…) leave a comment. When you leave a comment, there is an option to be notified each time I post. Easy as taking the short term rentals exclusion clause when applying IFRS16.
Friday night Bobotie, with available starch.
Make the Bobotie when you have time, and freeze it for when you are under pressure to cook an amazing meal for surprise guests in the middle of the week, after a full work day and other mundane tasks.
Basie’s 30th birthday tower – Chocolate cake with mint caramel.
I know. Minted caramel? Its the same as chocolate mint Romany Creams – Why would you ruin a perfectly good biscuit? But there you have it – an interesting taste combination for generation Y. The Millennials should find the taste appalling, appealing.
Vanilla tea time treats is a must.
Tradition on DBP, is to take a fresh cuppa tea with your biscuits before bed time.
The actual egg salad was not nearly as stunning as these farm fresh yellow eggs.
Do not panic Alissa – I know this looks like neon colors compared to the Chicago eggs 😉
Who can resist warm milk before bed time?
Actually, I can. I DO NOT like warm milk. But clearly little Ziggy (brother to Cecil X, the son of Kruispad Cecil and Ewe X), loves the special nourishment he gets.
Springbuck pie and Green tomato chutney – all home made of course.
The trick with Springbuck, is a super large pressure cooker. Friend A has a hundred litre pressure cooker. OK, maybe not 100L, but it is large enough for a whole springbuck. A whole springbuck in pieces of course.
Next week’s salad – My vegge green house looks to be off to a good start.
In between there was potjie, with cheese dumplings. But I forgot to take a picture!
Yeah, how many times have I heard that before, over the last 6 months?
So instead of philosophical debates about the origin, cause (which goes before origin – and addresses the root of why we are where we are right now), and consequences of COVID, today is about being real. I toyed for a few moments with the word “reality” but decided that this would convey something completely else. And I have had enough reality for today.
(Step to the right – double time today – Universe has changed that other option again).
I promised a few blogs ago (Sugar & Spice), my secret nuance to a great curry. Which I learnt at the hands of that guest of my mom’s.
Here it is:
– Onions
Chopped
– Garlic
Sliced (just so not everything is chopped 😉
– Fresh Ginger
Roughly Chopped
– Curry Powder
NB – it has to be a mix of curry powders. Never go for just one brand/flavour. In a bind you could try just masala, but a mix of curry powders really brings a depth to the taste. Not just a blinding searing sensation. Of course, if you can, those little brown bags of a selection of curries from the authentic merchants…. But we have not been travelling for some time, so the long-forgotten souvenirs from your travels may be a bit thinly spread. So good old box curry will have to do. Try jazzing it up with a good dose of paprika (preferably smoked), and cayenne pepper. Do not be afraid to use table spoon full of the stuff. The reason will become clear soon.
Tomatoes
Roughly chopped. It is the ideal opportunity to use those slightly overripe tomatoes. Any kind will do.
Sauce
Some sort of black sauce. Oyster, Soya, wosterchire / Woester / worchestire / argh! (try typing that without googling the spelling…) Usually it entails a few bottles of unknown sauce origin left in the fridge door for ages already
Flat wooden paddle
Heat a good dash of oil in the pan, sizzle your onions until translucent (almost see through – like that cheque in the post message). Add the garlic and fry until that enchanting aroma reaches your nose but try not to burn the garlic. (don’t fret about a bit of browning though)
About now is a good time to add the ginger for a minute or two.
Here comes the panicky part. Don’t panic.
Add the spices. Don’t panic.
It will get stuck to the bottom of the pan. Don’t panic.
That’s why I suggest a flat wooden paddle rather than spoon.
The fumes released will sting your eyes. Don’t panic.
Don’t add more oil.
Just keep scraping the spices and try not to burn it.
Maybe a minute or two.
Then release your tension, by adding the tomatoes. Panic over.
The tomato will release its juices, which you will use to loosen the stuck spices from the bottom of the pan. (Deglaze – is the swanky word).
Then add some of your chosen black sauce.
Fry it for a minute or two.
Take it off the heat, and zirts it. Zirts is an unofficial word for blitz it. Or even liquidise it.
You can take a break now.
Starting with a clean pan, the next step involves your main substance. Be it meat, mince, fruit (yes – banana and pineapple make a delish curry!).
You brown your meat in a splash of oil. Add your curry paste, fry for a bit. Depending on the consistency you would like, add liquid. Maybe some stock, or a soup mix of some kind.
Lower to a simmer. How long? Depends on your constituent. 10 min max if fruit. Nice and long if mince.
Maybe you want to add a few cardamom pods (three to five – depending on the volume), bay leaves if you insist, some dried lemon leaves are ideal. Or grate lemon zest. 10 minutes before closing, add at least 2 tablespoons of fish sauce.
Umami or savouriness is one of the five basic tastes. It has been described as savory and is characteristic of broths and cooked meats.
It is the flavour that Aromat tries to recreate. (Sorry, my dad prohibits me from using the word “artificially” ….)
Only then may you add extras, like Coconut milk which is particularly relevant to the fruit curry.
Some ideas for curry
OK, I’ve exceeded word quota. I hope you enjoyed this “there is nothing to eat in the fridge” dilemma, at the same time as sharing a promised favourite recipe.
Now let me get back to that post-box. 850 employees, and a horde of creditors who all are as anxious as me.
OK, I have my first “writers block”. But persistence overcomes resistance, so let me use the auto function on my phone to write for me.
Autocorrect
Err, perhaps not.
Let me rather share my anticipation. Come up to the lab, see what’s on the slab, its just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right…
The definition of sardonic – Tim Curry as Frank N. Furter
And there you have today’s life lesson – sometimes you have to jump to the left, and other times, step to the right. Like this week, when an external event, caused me to indubitably look within. What was the real reason for me tentatively taking steps into a different direction? This different direction is yet another branch of “exploring options”. Separate, yet connected at source, from the other options that form, and will form, the substance of this blog.
This other option is a potential different job, still very much in the vein of making a difference, but it comes with a bag full of politics, and besides, who likes the tax man anyway? Let me take a step to the right.
And just like that, I have inspiration for the next blog – using song lyrics to convey a concept. The very connectedness of things. Nothing in isolation, one thing informs the next and so on. I wonder what the other me in alternate universe number nth to the nth is doing right now.
Perhaps there is one alternate Talita, who knows exactly whether the rocket can be planted next to the Japanese mustard? (Anton, you can come in here with your mass of knowledge). And that you do not have to bother trying to seed the cabbage and cauliflower right now, because soon it will be too hot (Thank you Jens).
Seed capital investment
Any and all advice is welcome.
I do not quite suffer from macrophobia (the fear of long waits). But I cannot procrastinate. It is impossible. Thus, I started for the following reasons:
Spring has sprung, and is that not the perfect time to start one’s vegetable greenhouse income stream?
The list includes (thanks to the administrative planning support of Marthana…)
Place your orders
Our “mulch” is coming along nicely. (Sensitive viewers, please look away now). The magic of grass fed cattle by-product, recycled.
My anti-poaching double perimeter is in place.
Plumbing works installed. Thanks to The Husband.
We have had our first rain for the season. 4 mm in total. Now I do need to construct some context to this. I was in a board meeting with a colleague from Zimbabwe, who runs a banana plantation. I was expressing concern with the lack of our rain of the season before last. I was saying we need an average of 300mm, and we had only had 68mm. She was non-plussed, that is not particularly concerning to her. Until I said we needed 300mm a year. She has that in a day!
So this year is off to a good start, if we started 2 months early, with 4mm in one weekend.
The petrichor is abundant.
Petrichor – A pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.
That is the “dry” dictionary explanation.
Let me put your nose in place. It smells of earth, well fed nutrient rich soil. It smells of wholesome fresh sheep droppings, feeding our umbilical cord with mother earth.
It smells of camel thorn seed pods waking up.
It smells of hard physical labour (of love) tilling the soil.
It smells of new beginnings.
It smells of feisty yellow weaver ladies, indignantly destroying an untidy nest being built by a dutiful yellow weaver fella.
Neighborhood squabbles
It smells of brisk morning walks in the veld.
How I have longed these long winter months for you, the sunshine in my life.
The Chief Value Officer – Mervyn King (with Jill Atkins)
Step to the right – double time today – Universe has changed that other option again).
The magic of grass fed cattle by-product, recycled.
