Hi Reader

Dad Joke: Did you hear about the race between two giraffes? It was neck and neck!

Song of the Week: David Bowie - Space Oddity​

The Paediatric Chiropractic Africa Symposium was incredible. Johannesburg hosted over 100 participants live and online that learnt from some incredible local and international speakers. They were however also subjected to me in a bright orange spacesuit (proof of this below 👇)…well how else do you teach people about infant anatomy…

When the dust settled and the space helmet had been donated to the photo booth, we took some time out at game lodge in Limpopo with the PCA crew…and that’s where we met Steven. Steven is a game ranger who has forgotten more about the bush than I will ever know. Before any of us knew what was happening he had packed our bags into the trailer, learnt our names and our drinks of choice and from that moment on we were in his hands.

It turns out there are two types of game rangers. Those who tell you the facts and stats, and those who tell you what it was like when it happened to them. Steven had a story for every situation. He explained why a certain lion had moved to another pride, how he had most success tracking leopards and some very questionable stories about the bedroom antics of the local baboon troop.

But the most impressive thing was how he would “read” the bush. He would find elephant tracks in the dirt, but instead of taking off straight away he would become still. It was like he was reading signals in the environment that none of the rest of us were privy to. Then he would take off in a seemingly random direction and 10 minutes later there we were, watching two bull elephants pushing and shoving, proving their standing in the herd. A spectacular sight.

Steven was great…but I didn’t realize how great until one lazy afternoon when I walked over to the guestbook they had in the front of the lodge. There were entries from folks from all over the world…but the majority all had the same thing to say. “Steven was incredible”, “What a fantastic week with a marvellous host” and “Everyone needs a Steven! See you soon.”

So, I ask you…what is the point of going on safari? If the point is only to see animals, well you could do that in your own car and stay in a nearby hotel, it would be a sight cheaper than a lodge, and you could be in and out in a day. I’ll bet you would see at least a couple of cool sightings. But that’s missing the point isn’t it. We go on safari for the EXPERIENCE. We go to be cared for by competent people like Steven who can share with us, add to our understanding and leave us feeling like we have not just seen the animals…but we have been with them. Parents bring their children in to see you and become long term patients for the same reason.

It's about the experience, Steven knows this…and so do his guests.

Chat Soon

Mike

• 23 & 24 Aug 2025 - Paeds in Motion Part 1 (The Young Child) Boston, USA bookings with https://peak-potential-institute.mykajabi.com/peds-in-motion-1​
• 6 & 7 Sept 2025 - Paeds in Motion Part 1 (The Young Child) Wales, UK (bookings with michellebushell3@hotmail.com)
• 31 Oct 2025 - Student Paediatric Chiropractic Evening, Newcastle, UK​
• 1 & 2 Nov 2025 - Management of the Neonate, Newcastle, UK​
• 15 & 16 November - Amsterdam - Watch this space

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Connected Paediatrics – Dr Mike Marinus is a registered paediatric chiropractor treating babies and children and helping chiropractors learn effective paediatric techniques that they can use in their practice

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