Absolutely Blooming Marvelous

So Lauren asked me “Mum, What’s Skiing?” Well as any good parent would I took out my laptop navigated my way to you tube (oh how the world has changed!!) and found some skiing videos for her to watch and really get the gist of what was going on. As I was on my quest I came across this… you need to watch it all… it’s absolutely blooming marvelous!!!!!!

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!

What to get for Christmas

I’ve not really given much thought about Christmas presents this year. Not really got into the commercial hubbub. Yes the tree is up and the lights are over the Jack Vettriano picture in the dining room, but that’s about it. To be honest we’ve been too busy to think about it and lately too sick!!

But I am quite stumped at what to get everyone this Christmas. I want to give presents that will really make a impact and share some of the self development and learning that I have acquired especially over recent years, especially to my nieces and nephews. Delivering workshops in high schools has really shown me how much young people truly need to be given life skills before they leave school, teaching them how to develop their confidence, to understand how their words impact their actions and challenging them to uncover their goals and plan to achieve them is critical to their success.  That’s what I want to give this Christmas.

So I am on the hunt for books or tapes that are right for 10 – 14 year olds which motivate and elevate them to success.  Because life is just too short.

The Lergie!!

OK well the lergie might be a bit of an exaggeration but hey that’s what it has felt like.

As a family we have been struck over the last week with the stomach bug from hell!! First little Lauren who’s stomach cramps, vomiting and the like started at around 2.00am last Friday morning. Poor thing she really was of no use to anyone least of all herself, to see such a vibrant child lay almost lifeless from what the bug was doing to her body was awful. But true to form Lauren never one to be kept down for long made a come back by Saturday afternoon and by Sunday was once again ruling the roost.

Not so much luck for Dave!! If he slept at all Sunday night I would be very surprised, he was it big time, the big man went down and he too became a meer shadow of his former self on Monday. Which was went I came over all strange and had some very piercing stomach cramps and by late afternoon I was of no use to neither man nor beast. Completely drained of energy, afraid to eat or drink and unable to find any respite to my suffering.

But it didn’t stop there, oh no, this bug was determined to make it’s mark and within a few hours of the assault on me, it make it’s acquaintance with Rianna our eldest. She too suffered the cramps, energy loss, vomiting and the rest that came with THE LERGIE!!!

Monday night in our house was not nice at all as three of us banished to one room (Since Lauren no longer had the bug in common with us) suffered and awful night of sickness. I cannot believe how ill I have felt over this week and how energy-less. There have been even flu like symptoms with our torso’s aching and lower back pain. It has not been nice at all.

We’re still not quite over it, but I am sure that by the weekend it will pass. I think it may have taken it’s toll of David and I as running our own business we have not been able to afford the luxury of not attending the training sessions and talks that we do. I am thankful that today my diary is clear and I can rest for the day, David has not been so blessed!!

We truly had the lergie this week and it’s been doing it’s rounds and many of the children at our daughters’ school have been off with it. So be warned…it’s out there!!!

Head 4 Business… making a difference.

On Wednesday night I had the privilegde of speaking for Head 4 Business on the Art of Selling. Well after being so sick this week an unfortuneate series of events meant that I got there late (which I HATE!!!) However, all being said the talk (although a little longer than originally planned went well)

What really impressed me was the impact that Head 4 Business had made on the lives of those who they have worked with. I listened with intent as a number of people who had embarked on starting their own business had found Head 4 Business at The Albany on Douglas Road in Deptford and how the organisation had given them the training and support they needed to turn the their ideas in to a reality and their reality into a success.

Head 4 Business are a business support organisation which focuses it’s efforts in the business start up and development support for creative entrepreneurs. It prides itself on being customer first focused and offers a range of services to those seeking to establish themselves in running their own business, especially as a Community Interest Company.

There are many unsung hero’s in the business support world, we often hear of Business Link or Start-Up but many smaller organisations or making a massive impact on enterprise and in enterprise. Head 4 Business is one of them.

Innocence lost on Sudan

She’s back! British Teacher Gillian Gibbons received a pardon form the Sudanese government and was allowed to leave Sudan yesterday. This the middle aged woman who decided to broaden her life experience and go on an adventure. She decided that life was just too short so she would give something back and have some fun in the process.

Being a creative primary school teacher she decided to allow the children of the class to vote to name a teddy. So being in a muslim country what did they name him?…. Mohammad!! In an instant innocence was lost in Sudan and on Sudan.

There is something to be said for understanding the culture that you plan to live and work in. Poor Gillian was completely out of her depth and instantly learn’t that religion in other countries is not taken as lightly as it is now here in the UK.

Sudan just didn’t seem to get it that this woman was not some sort of heretic insurgent wishing the brain wash their children out of Islam. She was just a Primary School teacher who got it wrong with out evening knowing it initially.

Our world has changed and is still changing, in order to live peaceably it is no longer enough to be peaceful, you have to know and understand the environment that you place yourself in and respect it’s customs no matter how alien or petty they may seem to you. Neither Gillian nor the Sudanese government really understood each other. It makes me wonder what and who I am taking for granted due to a lack of understanding.