Are you flying with the 'no frills airline'?

I've just returned home from dropping my brother off at the airport this evening. It was great to see him. Busy places airports particularly on Sunday evenings when people are returning home after weeks and weekends away. My brother was travelling with one of those established airlines which operate with strong customer service standards. On the way to the airport we chatted about our travel experiences and travel in general. We talked about how the travel experience had changed from our student days and what we now viewed as good value and who offered the best deals and service.

I'll admit that as a passenger I do like to be looked after and treated well. I believe travelling should be enjoyable experience Some airlines are much better at providing the travel experience than others. I was reminded of a witty travel song from the all female comedy group Fascinating Aida, I went to see them at the theatre a few weeks ago. They were really funny and had a song about almost everything - including airlines, particularly those with the 'no frills service'! If they come to a venue near you ... go see them. If they're not due in your town soon here's a preview of their airline song. Check out the 'Cheap Flights' song on their website. I guess the dance routines are optional but as an Irish woman I would encourage you to try a few steps at least. It does wonders for your deportment and who knows what opportunities may come your way in the forthcoming weeks! There's a rumour that Riverdance are looking for a few more dancers.

I think my brother was pleased that he wasn't booked with the 'no frills airline' this weekend. He clams he's rubbish at dancing.

Have a good week, smile often and laugh lots.

The Horse Boy - a story of inspiration.

I've just finished reading 'The Horse Boy' by Rupert Isaacson. I heard about it first on the radio and then by coincidence the book was gifted to me several days later!

It's an amazing read based on a true story about a father's incredible journey to heal his autistic son. They travel to the plains and mountains of Mongolia, the spiritual home of the horse. Both he and his son have a great affinity with horses. I'd recommend reading about this incredible journey, noting the encounters along the way and the love and dedication of the parents for their son. An inspiring read. Also, encouraging to note how this journey influenced and shaped the father's work today at The Horse Boy Foundation organisation.

It makes me think about how personal circumstances can and sometimes do influence, change and transform our everyday work.

Who or what inspired you lately?

Managing change - It is OK to go slowly!

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The thing with change and transition is that it’s a strange place to be – the transitional space, you’re neither here nor there, you’re at that in between stage of letting go of all that is familiar, of all that you have been doing for many years, of all that you can do with your eyes closed (well almost!). You find yourself moving towards the new space, the space where you really want to work, the place where you really want to share your skills and talents. The place where your hearts skips a beat with excitement because you know that you will enjoy this work more so than any of the other projects you’ve been involved in and the place where you know you can make a difference!

And what’s that like? What is it like opening the gate to the field of unknowing? What are the feelings and emotions attached to all of this? What are the questions that will be asked? What are the challenges that lie ahead? What is the learning in store for me? Who and what are the new points of contacts that will provide help, guidance and direction?

I don’t have all of the answers to the above just yet. I wonder if I will have them in three or six month’s time. What I do know is that I’ll never find out unless I explore, move forward and engage more enthusiastically in the new space. I am progressing and doing that albeit via a slow and meandering route and that feels good for now. Maybe some projects aren’t meant to be rushed. It may be that by taking time in the early stages of a new project encourages better relationship building and more authentic connections being made. I believe that by taking time to do this more trusting and reciprocal connections will be made and in turn create a ‘win/win’ for both parties.

What are you constructing today?

'Look closely at the present you are constructing: it should look like the future you are dreaming.'

- Alice Walker

American novelist, short story writer.

This quote caught my attention this week and made me stop and think. What caught your attention and what did that do to your thoughts, musings and wonderings of 'what if'?

Write a real letter today!

This week I received not one but two of those old fashioned letters. Remember them, a handwritten envelope with your name and address, real paper, real pen and lots of news, gossip and goings on! I love letters, I love receiving them and to be fair I do enjoy writing them too.

It has got me thinking about the art of letter writing. Is letter writing becoming a dying art? Aren’t people writing letters any more? Why is that? Is life becoming so busy and hectic we don’t have time? Is it because the process is too slow for our fast and frantic world? Is it because we no longer have the patience to wait for a considered reply? I guess there are many reasons, including, I don’t know how to write a letter. There will be those of us who argue that letters are written today, we know them as emails. Come on, do they really have the same effect? When was the last time you chat down with a cup of coffee and read a really good email? When did you last read and laugh about the adventures and antics your friend got up to while travelling to the other side of the world? I do write and receive emails, every day in fact. It’s a key part of the work that I do. But it’s not quite the same as a good old fashioned letter. The ‘ping’ of an email to my inbox just doesn’t have quite the same sound as a letter popping through the letter box and falling on the mat, come on, does it?

As a student in the 70s (pre email and inboxes) I received a letter every week from my grandmother. The letter was short and sweet with a few words about home and signed off in my granny’s familiar handwriting. At the bottom of each letter she drew a little bird and each letter contained a crisp £1 note. It was her practice on a Monday to collect her pension and post a letter to me when she went to the Post Office. Needless to say, the £1 notes have long since gone but my treasure trove of special things contains a couple of those lovely handwritten letters from her.

I’m launching a campaign to bring back good old fashioned letter writing. Care to join me? Today, take a pen, some paper, a brightly coloured envelope and write a letter to someone you know, love, would like to know better and just write until the pen stops!

And the colour is ...pink!

http://www.frasersfotos.com

Whilst out walking recently I came across this very pink truck. In the sunshine it looked very bright and beautiful. I loved the girly pink, a feminine touch of colour to what may be a rather messy business. It reminded me of one of Mary Poppins’ songs – ‘In every job that must be done there is an element of fun …’

Well done, Caroline!

What have you spotted recently that made you smile?

What do you wish for?

Photo credit to an unknown photographer who took this fun shot.

The most important thing in life is to stop saying "I wish" and start saying "I will." Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilites as probabilites.

David Copperfield

I wouldn't consider myself greatly unfit, although I wouldn't consider myself a paragon of fitness either. But I'm no authority on paragons of fitness, I do have a reasonable idea what that means for me, a reduction in the chocolate intake and a little more exercise! Oscar Wilde once wrote "I can resist anything but temptation" and I know exactly how he felt. For me temptation often includes a certain mint chocolate bar of bubbles. You know the one! I refrain from using the name only because if I do so, I may be inundated with endless free bars. Ah even now, the thought of it makes my mouth water. I have found that it's been a great solace on certain days and it's worked equally well as reward measures too. It's also been known to generate a little exercise by walking to the shop to buy a bar of the said mint chocolate energy generator. No doubt the calorific writing on the back of the package may reveal some unhealthy statistics but I find that I'm now at a stage that I can't always read such small print, this can be so convenient you understand.

I know I could/should perhaps be a little fitter. Of late I'm finding that there is often a reluctance to engage in aerobics and such like. I did have a go at spinning once and I quite enjoyed that and I was most surprised at how energising it was given that it was a stationary bike, lots of music and a most enthusiastic instructor. Perhaps it's time to revisit the spinning classes again or maybe enrol in a few dance classes? Who knows, it might even take away the occasional (just occasional mind!) feeling of guilt when I break open another mint chocolate bar of bubbles.

"I wish I was fitter and I will be fitter because nothing is impossible". I'm off to chant my way to the sweet shop now ..I mean gym, of course! There may be some intermittent reports later.