Walked in a traffic sign lately?

With global warming creating havoc, I believe 2010 is to date the warmest year recorded to mankind! It was that fact, with a good mix of an empty wallet, saving a little bit of petrol and some flab (the kind that grows around your waist) that inspired me to take a walk up to FNB on Tuesday. It was Woman's day on Monday, so a shorter week means less time to be productive and get things done - I had to register a new domain for TopSail House, Fancy Frog's latest and newest client - but in order to do that - I NEEDED TO GET TO THE BANK.

So, I got dressed in something sporty, it is a 10 minute walk, after all, it's at a slight incline, so I might just work up a little sweat! Takkies looking good, sweat pants tip top and something loose to cover the top part. I cross the bridge and wait for the little green man - like a good citizen I only cross the road when the little green guy tells me to, but being in the mindset that I am - and a little bit of an artist absent mindedness - I'm not exactly looking up when I get to the other side of the road.

To add to the picture - the city of Cape Town started working on the new RTS (rapid transport system) - I think that's what they call it - quite some time ago. We all thought that it was meant to be done in time for the world cup, but no, that was not the plan - so slowly we've watched new bus pick-up points rising from the ground - our roads have been a mess, but improvements take time, so we've been patient.

Back to me getting to the other side of the road. A while back I saw them adding boards below the traffic lights that read: "Left turners, give way to pedestrians" - in my case they should have had a sign that read, "Pedestrians beware of traffic signs at face level"! Why, because I walked straight into the damn thing!

Very funny, yes, I know, I was laughing at myself, but the corner of the sign connected my throat and left a nasty and deep cut. The rest of the sign did damage to my head, but that's a minor compared to the gash in my neck!

As wounds go, there was no immediate blood, but when I got to the bank it wasn't holding back no more.

As it is with FNB, you just cannot ever get to Milnerton's branch early enough. I've never been there and not have to stand in line for at least 15 minutes.

So to those that saw me in FNB on Tuesday morning - no I didn't just return from a knife fight, I wasn't attacked by someone trying to take my money - I WALKED INTO A TRAFFIC SIGN!

Yesterday I passed the cursed spot, and I see the sign's been removed, been placed on a new pole, much higher, leaving much more room for pedestrians. I've been told that I should see a message in it - I was meant to walk into the sign? Maybe on a higher plane that's true? So what is right infront of me, but yet, I don't see it? Any suggestions?

I'll ponder that thought and lick my wounds for now!

A picture speaks a thousand words!

I wasn't even aware that "a picture speaks a thousand words" was classified under that ever elusive, fancy quotes by famous people, category. A quick search on Google cleared that up for me in an instant - well thank goodness for that expensive 3G connection from Vodacom, otherwise it may have taken a little while longer... but back to that famous quote - yes, apparently an early Emperor of the Xia Dynasty in China uttered those true words about 4000 years ago.

So does it mean that on a really bad hair day, when your trigger happy friend is snapping happily away at all and everything around, that it speaks in clicks and terrible slang when someone comes across that happy picture of you, with you not looking so lekker? Or is it not quite as applicable in todays digital age? With the invention of Photoshop at least, we all can look like super-models, even when we're pushing the scale at 20kg beyond what our mind is telling us? When the brows is a little bushy and the legs hasn't seen or heard of a razor for quite some time?

In my opinion, yes, those words still ring true every day. So how do you work around this fact? How do you spruce up something that isn't quite all THAT? Well short of posting pics on-line of someone you don't know, but in your mind somehow resembles what you believe you should look like? Someone with a figure that, yes, does look like yours, just 30kg lighter!

Nothing prepares you for this as coming face to face with the ugly reality, normally made so much worse when using bad equipment. With a shift in perception and a different angle, some proper lighting and good equipment (that normally equates to 'expensive' equipment) you can give justice, character and respect to almost any subject.

When it comes to photography and trying to spice things up, yes a picture does speak a thousand words, but did that emperor have a good painter, with expensive brushes and good quality paper at court?. There is beauty in all things, anything is presentable - sometimes a little more window dressing is needed, but anything can be spiced up.

All this being said, after years behind a camera lens, having photographed almost any and everything possible, I bring that 'eye' to my work - at Fancy Frog Graphic & Web Design we don't only offer professional photographs to compliment projects, we also offer years of expertise in balance, complimenting colour and experience in business. When designing I bring those qualities to my work and will never put Fancy Frog's stamp of approval on anything if it doesn't say whom I am, if it doesn't compliment my portfolio or do me proud.

Yes, indeed, a picture does speak a thousand words, as true today as it was 4000 years ago in China!

Still jumping with joy!

Isn't it great when you've put so much effort into something, spent so many hours, so many days on a project, and then have a customer that can hardly contain themselves as they're so over-joyed at the work you've done?

I'm sure this is what we all want for and in our business, every day would be good, but then we won't get any work done, would we.

Yesterday was one of those days for me, as I was having 'a moment' away from my computer and pruning hedges. Two weeks back a new client came to see as me as she wanted fancy frog web design to design her a brand new website. At first it was all about the new design, but as we worked on the project she also mentioned that she's had the domain for over a year now, also that she's had a static page on the site for the same period of time. She hated the fact that she couldn't find herself on Google, even if she tried.

Now, if you know that you're website is 'out there', but can't even find it yourself, what possible chance would clients looking for your product have in finding you? That's where some knowledge regarding Search Engine Optimization comes in - will more is better than a little - but the thing that bugs me is that it changes every day! Every day there's something new, something different, something new you can try.

Well, at fancy frog web design we pretty much tried it all, we've spent the hours learning and reading books that offer you all the "inside'secrets" - but what combination of this actually makes a difference.

In some cases, you strike out and hit a home run with your first try - other cases you have to keep at it.

My HAPPY client that came to see me yesterday? After just 5 days of waving my magic wand - she's on Google page 1! Not quite ranked number one yet, but number 5!

Offering SEO as part of your business is definitely not for the faint hearted, it takes dedication, patience and I believe LOTS of luck, but definitely worth it in the end.

If you want to know more, why not drop me an e-mail?

Even a frog's heart beats faster at times!

Not always the most exciting of times when the garden looks a little worse for wear, well not quite that intoxicated look after you've been swinging your hips and made an absolute idiot of yourself on a karaoke stage, drinking shot after shot and arriving home as the sun starts doing its' morning stretches - no not quite THAT look - but rather the look that says, "Winter's quickly coming to an end, Spring's around the corner - AND I'D LOVE SOME ATTENTION!"

As the garden's been screaming at me for the last couple of weeks, today I gave way to its' nagging voice, unlocked the garage door and got "THE" tools - tools to manicure, trim, polish and paint.

It's been quite some time since I've stucked my hands in soil, dug a hole or even trimmed a tree. On the way to Pick 'n Pay we popped into Stodels, got a new baby lavender bush and a brand new statis. Since we've had an absolute infestation of hairy worms and snails visiting our delicate shores, chowing anything green in their way, wrecking havoc and killing off half of our pride and joy, it was time to declare war.

As we all know, attracting birds to your garden is absolutely essential for any successful gardener, but killing off pests, means, you'll end up with a whole bunch of dead and ill birds! The last thing I want is for the bird community to boycott our garden and give us a miss - what would the neighbors think? All that said and done, after I took some organic insect repellent off the shelf, I decided that maybe I'll go the old and trusty chemical route - I'll deal with the boycott later!!

Anyhow, as a happy gardener, I was pruning, planting and spraying these hairy suckers when one of my new clients popped over. There was one or two things that needed to be added to her website, but what exciting news she brought me, such a great advertisement and confirmation of a job well done by fancy frog web designing!

For the past year she's had a domain name, she's had a static page on the site, but to date, she's been unable to find her business on Google. It was one of the things she questioned me about when we worked on her project - what about her Google rankings?

Well, this little froggie's heart beat just a little bit faster - I finished her website about five days ago. I put in some real effort and work over the last couple of days - and KA-BOOM - she's now able to find her business on Google page 1! All the hard work payed off - and fancy frog web designing is making it's mark!

Isn't it great when you've put so much effort into something, spent so many hours, so many days on a project, and then have a customer that can hardly contain themselves as they're so over-joyed at the work you've done.

Yes, indeed, even a frog's heart beats faster at times!

"Kissing the Frog"

Setting out on a new business venture can be daunting, if not downright terrifying. Not only is it a case of projecting a strong mental state of mind, but you have to stay focused, and oh for heaven's sake, don't show any sign of being intimidated. A strong will and good confidence comes in handy, just enough ego so you don't trip and fall - and of course a good support structure. Friends, family and a lover fill the category of 'good support structure' - it doesn't necessarily have to be one lover, but I'll keep that story for another day!

So we set out on life's journey, our passions, ideals and dreams all nice, tight and protected close to our hearts. We can't wait to leave school and take the world by storm. We see our names in big flashy lights - our faces on billboards (well some of us do!) Then the countdown to the last day of school. Forty days is celebrated with a huge party, and you even get to wear something funky to school. Ok, STOP! Yes, where I come from, we still had to wear a school uniform.

Anyhow, still bright eyed and bushy tailed you feel perky about the future, the world is yours for the taking - plus for quite some time you've been telling yourself - AND EVERYONE ELSE - that you're going to university next year. As you count down the days, you dream of your new life. How you'll be the Belle of the ball... Ok, maybe not quite that, but you will show people what you're made of. You will be Mister Popularity and have so many friends - you know these things, you feel these things - AND THEN THAT FINAL DAY OF SCHOOL ARRIVES!

Reality often plays havoc with a young mind, and we either adapt or crumble. Most of us - let me rather say - all of us grow stronger from punches that life throws at us - yes, even if you end up going to the army, and nothing turns out the way you had planned, during those couple of months at school as you were counting down the days and hours.

So what does all of this have to do with 'Kissing the Frog'? I could leave it all up to poetic interpretation - and I guess in a weird way it does make sense in my life.

After so many exciting adventures in my life I came to a strange point in my life where I was stuck. My passion for all things started to dwindle, I was scared of so many 'everyday' things and situations that most people take for granted. I became a recluse and only wanted those things & people around me that made me feel comfortable. That all ended the day I stood in a Checkers check-out line...

Next to the magazine stand was a greeting card display and at the top a picture of a rather fancy frog, red lips and long lashes, staring down at me. For some time I've been designing websites, but never officially gave it a name - and BOOM, as if 'Kissing the Frog' - my business got it's name - Fancy Frog Web & Graphic Design!

With my business finally getting an official title, it gave me some sort of peace, AND PRIDE! With more and more people making use of Fancy Frog web designing's services, my confidence also increased. Most of my friends cannot believe that I ever went through a period where I doubted myself as much as I did, or that I ever felt I wasn't good enough - but, yes, it was there.

Having found my passion again after such a difficult period is exciting, to put it mildly. Designing new and exciting layouts, trying to make a difference in the web community by designing sites that are different and absolutely portrays my customers, is what I strive for. Tapping into my client's energy and putting their dreams on display is what I aim for.

Having 'Kissed the Frog' and seeing it change into something beautiful, is what I witness every day, it's why I get up so early in the morning - the reason I spend so many hours at my desk every day - I have so much lost time to make up for! I have so many new and fresh design ideas I want to tackle, so many avenues I want to explore!

Living your passion every day is an absolute dream. Looking forward to getting up in the morning, because you know there’s something challenging and exciting waiting to be explored. Not one project is ever the same, each one is different - each new project a new challenge and opportunity to grow and be creative - to live my potential to the FULL.

I'm grateful for that fancy frog at the magazine stands in Checkers - not only for giving Fancy Frog web & graphic design it's name, but for truly waking me up to 'Kiss' Life and to watch it turn into something truly spectacular!