South Africa, Oct. 13 -- In our home it was often said.. "if you haven't started studying for year-end exams when the Jacarandas are in bloom, you're going to be in trouble."

More recently the Jacarandas are a very personal reminder of my belated mom's birthday. We would drive the streets and enjoy the majestic trees putting on their lovely display.

It is also time for a friendship group to gather in our pink and purple T-shirts, walk and celebrate this loveliness.

For Business to Business Research, it brings a different reminder. If we are not interviewing corporate respondents in the next six weeks, chances of successful samples are minimal. After the Jacaranda season, heads are down wrapping up 2025 and doing business plans for 2026...