Gillian Rossouw

Founder, Jill Of All Trades, Specialists in Cloud Solutions. based on Gold Coast, Qld, providing training & support to SME's using Xero (beautiful accounting), and Add On Solutions.

Have travelled extensively since early childhood, schooled in UK, South Africa and New Zealand. Was blessed to have spent quality time with my grandparents and extended family in Brighton, Sussex - "a child out of Africa" living in suburbia in Brighton was indeed a culture shock. My recollectings were the dreadful school canteen, eating indoors on hard benches and the horrid meals they served up. To this day I still dislike rhubarb and remember it as grey string dumped in thick lumpy custard. Some funny highlights were Carol Singing & Guy Fawkes Night where myself, brother Michael and cousins would push me up front to sing but they wanted the share of booty, I would ran away with my trophy half crowns refusing to share the spoils. Children adapt so easily when given the opportunity to be schooled overeas. I was lucky to have had some amazing experiences when living in Brighton, weekends spent on the Isle of Whyte visiting Carisbrooke Castle, Tudor Village home of Anne Boleyn, Wax Museum and Tower of London.

The return trip to my country of birth, South Africa was on the Winchester Castle and some of the port of calls were Las Palmas (gorgeous gorgeous country) and Madeira (island of wine) truly amazing places to visit as a child. Ship was not able to dock in Port Madeira so we were ferried over to the island on this dilapitated boat with little children swimming alongside who dived freestyle for silver coins. I was totally in awe how they would surface with the money in their mouths. One of the highlights was taking a trip on a bullock cart up the winding cobly roads and the only means of brakes which were used was sticks which would be pushed in between the wheels. (my first roller coaster ride!)

From age 9 & 14 lived in New Zealand, where forged strong ties with long lasting friends, discovering the culture and arts, all of which hold fond memories. Attended school 50th reunion New Plymouth, New Zealand couple years ago, was an amazing and emotional experience, highlight was meeting school friends and form teacher.

My country of birth, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa, where I completed my high school & college education. You can take the girl out of Africa but not Africa out of the girl!