Most of us hold fond memories of Christmas. Some people enjoy the stereotyped scene of snowflakes, holly and carols being sung whilst others bask in the long, warm days with the familiar scent of suntan lotion lingering in the air. 

But there’s one dude who’s not so thrilled anymore about Christmas. Ol’ Santa himself. A combination of a belated midlife crisis (He didn't cope too well upon realisation that he's been around since the mid 1600's), in conjunction with Mrs. Claus’ alleged affair with a workshop elf, had taken Saint Nicholas over the edge. After a chronic eggnog binging session, which resulted in an FUI (Flying under the influence) and the suspension of his sleigh, Santa was in despair. But when he sank into overeating depression, gained a few lbs and got stuck inside a chimney, he knew it was time for change.

So, like many high profile celebrities, Santa was sent to a remote and undisclosed location. Call it rehab, call it an escape; he just needed to get away. And the seaside city of Durban, on the East Coast of South Africa was just the perfect place. So with Rudolph and the reindeers in the kennel, Father Christmas packed his big black sack and bid farewell to the North Pole.

With his Expand a Sign chariot ferrying him around, Santa has really been enjoying his vacation in Africa. A welcomed break from the perpetual snow that he was so familiar with, has seen him socialise at restaurants and shopping centres, visit the Moses Mabhida Soccer Stadium and attend the KPMG Business Relay.

But in order for Kris Kringle to truly enjoy the experience, and to recover, we feel that he needs to explore each and every aspect of the area. 

So, where would you take him? Let us know here.

Cheers

EAS

*Santa is an Ex-T shaped Banner stand.

5 km is a long way to travel. It's 3.1 miles. Which, even though a smaller number, actually makes it sound worse. Especially if I am meant to attempt this vast distance by any other means other than motorised vehicle.

The KPMG Business Relay is an annual 5km walk/run relay, with its starting and finishing points on the outlying fields of The Sharks Rugby stadium in Durban, South Africa. Companies, both large and small, set up camp with employees and their families for an afternoon of amateur athleticism. In teams of 3 or 5 people, everyone took a turn to sprint/run/jog/walk/stroll/crawl the route.


Whilst doing a rekkie of the situation, I was welcomed by Expand a Sign Flying Banners, Feather Banners, Folding A-Frames and Ex-Dome gazebos. All businesses were showing off their brands as people barbequed, relaxed and tried to keep cool and hydrated in the extreme November heat of Saturday. 

I’d be lying if I said that I participated in the relay. Instead, I was designated handbag watcher, child minder, idle conversationalist and buyer-of-the-cold-beer.  All the before-mentioned are what I do best. As colleagues dragged themselves back to base camp, flung themselves on the ground and declared themselves to be dying, I reveled in how clever I had been not to have joined in on the self-torture. A few skipped in, without so much as a sweat and casually  shrugged ‘Ah, that was a breeze’, which I found more than just a little unnecessary.

As the sun drooped lower toward the horizon and dusk settled in, we packed up our Ex-Domes, Ex-Shades, Flying and Feather Banners and XL EX-Up and headed for home. A tiny pang of envy struck as I watched everyone depart with their medals around their necks.


Ah well. There’s always next year.


Cheers,
EAS

It was another glum, wet day in Durban, South Africa. If this goes on any longer, I thought, I may start showing symptoms of seasonal affective depression. But today was going to be different for the Marketing ladies of Expand a Sign; we were going on a road trip!

Giving back is important, now more than ever. Expand a Sign is very conscious of the environmental effects associated with manufacturing, which is why we have committed to our Environmental and Social Responsibility Pledge. In doing our bit for the planet, we are trying to create awareness about recycling but also want to make a difference in the lives of the next generation. Which is why the Marketing gals were headed to King Shaka Secondary School, in Umlazi. We were accompanied by Nontobeko, a project officer for OneVoice.

OneVoice is a vibrant and unique non-governmental organisation, which uses innovative and creative ways of actively involving young people in HIV and AIDS prevention and Human Rights training. Expand a Sign has donated 15000 school bags, made of the off-cuts of our banners and polyester material to each child who completes a class in AIDS training with OneVoice. Expand a Sign has supported the launch of a small business run by a group of previously unemployed women, working from their own homes, who now sew shopping bags, sports bags and raincoats from our waste fabric.

As Nontobeko navigated us along the roads towards the school, I took the opportunity to absorb as much of the environment as I could. Makeshift dwellings of mud and corrugated iron were densely spread along the hills, and taxis whizzed past as we followed the dusty streets. At Umlazi’s main intersection, the First and Third world relationship truly made itself known; a KFC takeaway outlet to the right of us and a cage of 20 live chickens for sale, to our left.  

On arriving at the school, we were guided into a small, dark classroom. Within the four walls sat over 40 Grade 8 learners, all huddled closely together on buckled and broken benches. With no visible learning material or text books, one wonders what quality of an education these children are receiving. This was only half the class; the others had been sent home to study as the desks were needed by the children writing exams. We were there to present each child with a certificate for participation in the OneVoice AIDS awareness programme and to hand out a drawstring bag to each learner. 

A brief speech from the OneVoice facilitator was followed by names being called and each child going forward to collect their certificate and school bag. Like typical teenagers, loud whoops and cheers were heard for each child as they walked to the front of the classroom. The boys would holler and tease the girls, who would smile shyly at having their picture taken. The sense of pride was obvious, as they all clung to their certificate and compared bag designs. The appreciation from the school Principal and class teacher was immense, which allowed me to be conscious of how beneficial these AIDS training classes and small gifts of school bags really are to the kids. With the current AIDS statistics, I’m sure each child in that classroom has already been touched by the disease in one way or another.

35 minutes but a world away from Umlazi, I sat at my desk and briefly reflected on the few hours I had just spent. It might be naive to think that we are saving the world, one school bag at a time, but I can only trust that our contributions will help in their own small way.

Cheers,

EAS.

4:30pm, Friday 29 October.

It's a Friday afternoon, the wet weather is finally clearing, and there's a poolside deckchair with my name on it. Oh, sweet joy. I breathe in heavily and slowly exhale the previous 5 days away. Hello, weekend!

As I drive homeward along the rural farmland road of Shongweni, South Africa, my eyes catch a wild blur of vibrant colour. I put the brakes on ( I live in the sticks. No real traffic to speak of.) and squint to get a clearer view. An enormous marquee is being erected and dozens of shiny trucks, motorbikes and cranes are parked on a giant vacant plot of land. And scattered amongst the vehicles and the huge white blanket of the tent are hundreds of banners. Teardrop-shaped, telescopic, gazebos and instant canopies - it's like a piece of branding heaven, stuck in the arse-end of nowhere! 

But my weekend has officially begun and that means no more work-related activities. Sort out your boundaries, woman! Put the camera down, drive away, and forget this ever happened. Like pulling off a band-aid, I manage to get the car into gear and tear myself away from the bevy of brilliant banners before me.

9:21am, Saturday 30 October.

As I'm shlurping on my morning mango juice, my cellphone vibrates across the coffee table and beeps loudly. A text from The Boss showing an image of some banners with a blurb about the Shongweni Car, Truck and Bike Expo and that I should try and get there to take photos of our products. Feeding my branding addiction. What an enabler. Why doesn't he just throw me a crack pipe?

6:38am, Sunday 31 October.
Can take it no more. Must...see....banners....
As I roll out of bed and peel the curtains open, a sight of thick fog and heavy rain welcomes my morning.

Pah! I've dealt with worse. I'll show the rain who's boss. 

7:40am.

Boots. check. Windbreaker. check. Umbrella. check. With my camera around my neck, I begin my tour of signage splendour.  I'm early (small print said 8am opening) and the only person here. No matter, I'm only in it for my banner fix.

Oh, and what a fix it is! I am positively giddy at the mere sight of the 3 BMW Ex-Dome gazebos. Side-by-side, housing the powerful bikes beneath, displaying the brand with pride. 

I'm not sure but I may be overdosing when I see the Small, Medium and Large Flying Banners and Feather Banners around me. From international companies to small local juice shops, they're all out in force.

The rest of the day is a blur, but I read today in the paper that the 3 day event enjoyed record-breaking attendance and was declared to have been a great success. I'm ridiculously biased, I know, but I reckon it was all thanks to the banners.

Cheers,

EAS