Contrasts and Constants

Friday’s walk was chilly and bathed in sunshine, blue sky reflected in the water. Saturday’s walk was under a dark, brooding sky, the water almost as dark with the wind blowing a hoolie. And yet, we enjoyed both walks for what they were. Invigorating. Especially Saturday! For all the contrasting experiences we have in life,… Continue reading Contrasts and Constants

Fall is Back

It’s that time of year again. The mornings stay dark longer, the light slips from the evenings a bit more quickly. Sunburnt becomes weather-beaten. I like the American concept of Fall. Much of what we enjoy in the summer falls/disappears to be replaced by something different that we love at least as much. Nature’s changes… Continue reading Fall is Back

Turning Points

Our lives are full of turning points, waiting for us to notice them and act on them. 40 years ago this week, I left home for the first time to study at Portsmouth Polytechnic. I was incredibly lucky to study something that still interests me today, at a time when you could get a full… Continue reading Turning Points

Rest and Be Thankful

When you love your work and are thankfully having lots of it to do, it’s tempting to think you don’t really need a holiday. But you do. Really, you do. I’m often told that my delivery style is energetic and people seem surprised when I tell them I’m 59. Curiousity, loving the work and creating… Continue reading Rest and Be Thankful

Running Up That Hill

When I was even younger, I did a bit of distance/cross country running. The advice that stuck with me was to run harder up a hill, keep your momentum downhill, then speed up as you get to the bottom and kick on (this was 40+ years ago, mind!). Like in business, and life in general,… Continue reading Running Up That Hill

More Strings to Play

This week I got another instrument. This is my bouzouki, made in Romania, travelled up here from Yorkshire. Playing music has become so important to me over the last three years. It is so much fun, it offers a sense of progress and different processes to master. It allows you to be creative without any… Continue reading More Strings to Play

Another Year

I woke up this morning, a year older. I am now 59. Some might say that’s old, whatever that means. I say if you mix purpose with pleasure, throw in a bit of hard work, attitude and gratitude, you can enjoy whatever age you are. The list of people I want to thank for their… Continue reading Another Year

One Long Journey Leads to Another

This is my Baglama Saz. I heard someone playing one on YouTube and loved the sound, so I bought one. It arrived two years ago today. I followed its journey from Istanbul to Leipzig to East Midlands to Aberdeen, then to here. The second journey started with me slowly learning how to play an instrument… Continue reading One Long Journey Leads to Another

Spring Clean

In between working with some wonderfully curious people on presence, goal setting and impact, this week has seen a thorough spring clean. Old things cleared out to clear space for the new. My office has had a revamp, with the old sofa, beloved by much-missed dogs, replaced with a couple of bookshelves and more space.… Continue reading Spring Clean

Spring Forward

In the past, I used to get in a muddle about which time change did what. Then, an American colleague told me her simple phrase, ‘Spring forward, Fall back’. Like so much in life, the simple thing is the most effective. We spring into more daylight and, in theory, better weather. More time outdoors in… Continue reading Spring Forward