David Erasmus

There are very few things as powerful in this life as a stranger putting themselves at risk to protect you.

A few days ago I went on an incredible road trip in ‘Talulah’ our VW Combi up the garden route from Cape Town to East London (SA).

I was lucky enough to have the privilege to act as tour guide for 5 of my friends first trips to Africa! Joe who organised the trip made a way for 3 young guys from our area of North Leatherhead to come too so Martin (16) Lee (15) and Matt (14) joined us on this epic trip.

We had an amazing time seeing the beauty and brokenness that South Africa is so full of. My last task was to drive the 15 minute journey up the N2 from Rondebosch to the Airport to drop these guys off. Me being a Klutz ran out of petrol half way along in Bonteheuwel.

Ok this is going to be too long to write I am going to have to move to vide0 otherwise you will get very bored……………….

This is the view that we saw 2 minutes after we managed to get Talulah started again, It was just perfect – epic, dark, beautiful, moody and best of all a silver lining on the cloud…….Thats Africa!

Last night I found myself at Ogilvy’s office in Canary Wharf.

Here is my short summary video of the event.

Lots of big dogs talking, the Guardian app guy and the flirtomatic guy were on the panel.

It was pretty interesting but mainly nice to feel affirmed once again in my feelings about the way forward in Mobile.

Apps are insanely fragmented at the moment so unless you have a good reason (Geo stuff, driving purchasing revenues or needing offline content) don’t get caught trying to get the big shiny app when its unnecessary.

@SimonGrice who appears to run the joint is a great guy, I had a lot of fun chatting with him.

A week or two before christmas I was kindly invited by PayPal X to go to Paris with them to give the Social Media and tech community the first look at GetGiving before it goes live in the first quarter of 2010. 

I had a great time and met loads of amazing people who have been willing to advise on a variety of the different projects I am involved with. 

I got to meet Chris Brogan, Gary Vaynerchuck and Chris Pirillo amongst others. Chris Pirillo has been especially helpful in advising me in my bid to find the best social tools for the Mustard Cloud (more to follow.) 

The Social Media crowd have proved to know much about media and are very social! 

I took the above video on my iPhone 3GS using an App called Reel Director  get it, its amazing! 

There are loads more videos from Paris on my youtube account. Daveerasmusblog