While we Flowstars love our work, we do also do some fun things outside of work. There is so much to do in Joburg, Cape Town and Durban, and we try to spend as much time as possible getting the best out of our cities.
It's interesting that a number of us Flowstars love exercising, spending time in the fresh South African air, and eating and drinking.
Roy Barford, a member of the business development team, says, "I play touch rugby for a team called the Reluctants, in the In2Touch tournament that takes place at Zoo Lake on Thursday evenings."
Roy, who loves being outside and enjoys fresh air activities, adds, “I grew up on a farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, so I'm always [looking] for places to enjoy fresh air. I’m lucky that work with Flow often allows me opportunities to visit places like the Northern Cape, Limpopo and the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng.”
Sphamandla Mkhwanazi, a Flow developer, also loves to spend time outdoors playing sport. He plays soccer at the Discovery Soccer Park, at the Wanderers Club in Joburg. When he's not smashing in goals, he enjoys a tasty South African braai with friends.
Accountant Nam Madokwe spends her free time doing a range of activities, from hiking one of the Hennops trails to enjoying a night out at a club in Pretoria. Nam adds that her favourite thing to do on a Sunday is to attend a church service followed by a chesa nyama at Mash Braai House.
Content developer Carina van Wyk loves to be outside. She says, "My idea of fun is seeing as many new places as possible whenever possible. I love moving from point A to point B, whether it's by car, plane, train, bicycle (or sometimes even on foot). I love new roads and new places, and I don't mind driving for hours on end."
Also a lover of the outdoors and an avid explorer, Christine Marot, one of the Flow editors, says her top three things to do are an early-morning bodyboarding session on a beautiful day, enjoying a meal with good friends and good wine, and taking her dogs for a walk on the beach. As the walk is next to a golf course, this Durbanite also enjoys hunting for lost golf balls.
Thrishni Subramoney, training manager, and Lerato Matema, a member of the business development team, both love playing table tennis (Flow now has a table tennis table set up in the business development office, and it is perfect for midday table tennis breaks).
Thrishni also loves rocking the game Band Hero, which she seems to have mastered. She is also an avid reader, which is why, on her list of favourite activities, reading is second only to Band Hero. Number three on her list is table tennis "in the office, because we can do that now", she adds.
Gail Cameron, head of project management, is also a fan of raising her heart rate through exercise. Her exercise of choice is running ... at 5.30am, with a running club. It's important to note here that Gail isn't "just a runner" and she doesn't just run in running clubs: she has successfully completed the Two Oceans Marathon, the Momentum Cape Times Knysna Forest Half Marathon, and the Wanderers Half Marathon ... in one year.
Gail also loves visiting the theatre and does this so often that you can ask her about most local musicals, and she will have either seen it or is still going to see it. The next show she is going to see is Singin' in the Rain, at the Teatro at Montecasino.
While business developer Camilla Kohlmeyer loves playing table tennis (as pictured below) and is currently number two on the table tennis ladder, her favourite sport is netball. "My team is called the Cronies and we are the best," she says. She also loves to party with friends and "watch Ellen reruns on the weekend", she adds.
Stuart Dickinson, writer and media developer, is an avid adventurer. He loves hiking and mountain biking in his free time. He adds that one of his favourite spots is Van Gaalen's Cheese Farm near Harties. He loves biking "through the wilderness around Hoedspruit, and Joburg's very own green belt". He also loves going to live metal gigs at Rumours Lounge in Weltevreden Park and, like a true South African, loves his beer – his favourite beer-related activity is "brewing beer in my backyard shed".
Wine tasting at Haute Cabrière, because "they have the best local bubbles", is a firm favourite for Cape Town-based PR account director Lauren Gentle. She also loves swimming at Windmill Beach. "The water is so refreshing and crystal clear," she says.
Now that you know more about some of the people behind Flow Communications, why not let us know about some of your favourite fun things to do.
