all ready to go!

Ollie and I drove to Capel and back twice today with car loads of possessions. I then spent a lot of time stashing everything away in my residential caravan.
I cleaned the holiday caravan ready for its new owner.
I have been very happy there but it is time to move on and I wish the new owner all the best.
I will drive over there once more to hand over the keys and I am sure I will still go for cliff walks around there as it is an incredibly beautiful part of the country.

the next step...

It looks like I have a buyer for my holiday caravan and so the process of moving everything out is taking place over the weekend.
Ollie and I went out for a lovely walkies along the cliffs then I packed a load of stuff into the car and drove to Lydd.
I found my Libertines Up The Bracket CD and so had a great time singling along as I drove past the beach. The sunset was beautiful and all was right with the world.
My book has passed through the design stage and is now being re-read in case I changed anything too much in the edit process.
Once this hurdle has been cleared my book should be available. This can be in as little as 10 days!

It is so lovely to be home. I love visiting other places but there is something really special about this place.
Ollie is snoozing contentedly by my side and I am looking forward to watching Hunted!
I have to con

fess I found that programme gripping!

making plans

I have lots of ideas for next steps with my writing and coaching. I am thinking about creating workshops and on-line courses. It is a very exciting time to be living in as we can teach ourselves new things and gradually build upon our knowledge and experience.
I used to think that when you left school you stopped learning but now I realise that once you leave school that is when your learning begins in earnest.
There are so many fascinating things to find out more about. I find it exciting working out what I am going to learn next!

finding a venue

I think I may have found a great venue for my book launch. It is rather quirky but then so am I!
I won't say where it is yet as I need to talk cost etc. before securing a booking.
This has been a wonderful weekend.
I have been camping in Detling with G and the hairy three.
We had a camp-fire and camped on a really lovely quiet site.
I have had such a lovely weekend and am very excited about the way my book is proceeding!
Ollie is sleeping it all off!

the journey home

I was late back from work and so as I drove home it was dark. The rain was lashing down and it was quite hard to see where I was going but as I drove into the caravan park I felt elated as I was so happy to be home.
I cannot describe what a weird yet beautiful place this is.
My neighbours are great. It is so peaceful and I am surrounded by wildlife that I see on a daily basis.
Amazing!

thinking about book launching

It is incredible to think that I am now at the stage where I am thinking about a suitable venue for my book launch. I would like it to be an interesting place to be rather than some corporate style affair which isn't really me. I think the event is likely to take place in December so this may well rule out many outdoor venues unless I can think very creatively.
My book is all about taking small actions to live a happier life and many of the suggestions do involve being outside so if an outdoor venue isn't possible it would be good to hold it somewhere with a nice view at least! It would be good to be in Kent as most of the people I know live there.
I have a few ideas and some lovely people have been contacting me with some really good suggestions.
If you have an idea then please contact me.
Thanks for your help!

Bug Free Mind

When I read a great book I want to tell everyone about it so today's post is dedicated to Andy Shaw's Creating A Bug Free Mind.
It is basically the book I wish I had read when I started on my personal development journey as it explains things so clearly and offers step by step instructions on how to wipe away all the limiting self beliefs we develop as we become adults.
The book is so good that I have just finished it and am starting to re-read it all over again.
Reading this book is a bit like being given a manual on how to get the best from sophisticated technology...well actually that is exactly what it is doing. It is a manual on how to make the best use of our brains!
I almost didn't buy it when a friend recommended it to me as it is quite expensive but now I feel that the money spent was well invested.
I love it when books teach you something in such a way that it all starts to make sense.

My book will be published soon!

I have just heard from the marketing department at the publishers. My book will be published really soon. I am very excited to be talking about launches and promotional events.
This is something I had always hoped to get around to doing 'one day' and it seems that the day is fast approaching!

technical advances in my caravan!

I have had a lovely morning. I drove over to Canterbury and did my shopping. I bought my groceries and an Acer Aspire with compatible printer.
I am very happy with my faithful old laptop that has served me well for years. This upgrade is mainly so I can save files in the formats that people require including my publisher. They have been very patient with me but every time I send them my manuscript they have to convert it into a format that they use and then send it back to me to check if there has been any formatting errors. There is usually one or two problems with spacing when files convert in this way.
Now my little Acer will cope with all the tech stuff.
I am very happy.
Everything is set up so now I can start to work on my talk that will be used to promote my book which should be out pretty soon!
I am so excited that I drove all the way back from Canterbury singing along to my Vaccines album in the car. I am pretty sure my friends and family are relieved that they were not passengers!
Enjoy the weekend everyone...:)

I love this picture of me as it is of me with a very sweet baby rabbit. Yes I know it has nothing to do with my post but that is fine with me!

Ups and downs

I have driven past two nasty accidents on busy roads in the past 2 days. There was nothing I could do to help and the emergency services were at the scene in both cases. I can't pretend that this doesn't affect me. It wasn't that long ago that I was in a nasty accident myself and these crashes serve to remind me how quickly accidents happen and the consequences can be significant.

After today's crash I was trying to put it out of my mind and was listening to the radio and was heartened to hear that it looks likely that Jeremy Corbyn will become the Labour leader. Young people have been inspired by him as he listens to their needs and he cares. It will be exciting if he does get in and gives politics the shake-up it badly needs.

Today is significant for me. I am not at school tomorrow. From now on Fridays are dedicated to writing and establishing my coaching business. This marks a turning point in my career. It is exciting!

The garden

The garden at Lydd is starting to get more established. A lot of this is thanks to two wonderful friends who love gardening and who have donated plants that they believe will survive in rather harsh terrain.

The little plants I bought are all still alive and getting bigger. If the weather is reasonably kind through the winter they could make it!

The plants that grow wild around here are remarkable. I see them every day when I walk Ollie. There is a sea-poppy with beautiful yellow flowers that seems to flourish amongst other things.

I have never been excited about growing plants before and I think I was missing out.

When I was younger I didn't think I had time for growing plants but now I realise that if I had made time for them I could have had a beautiful garden in my last house. 

It is lovely that every age we experience has its new pleasures as we learn about the things that truly make us happy. 

These plants were grown by my friend. Aren't they lovely?

Making a difference.

I was at my holiday caravan earlier this week and I noticed that someone had put a collection of home grown vegetables out for sale together with an honesty box. The donations went into a charity tin.
I really enjoyed eating the runner beans and the courgettes I selected knowing that someone had taken the time and trouble to do this.
Every day I see examples of people going out of their way to show that they care.
It is inspiring!

The ripple will turn into a wave!

I felt happy when I heard that our government will accept more refugees. This shows that every person who spoke out, signed a petition and raised the profile of the Syrian refugees has been able to influence the situation in a positive way. The Scottish Government have been prepared to nail their colours to the mast and be specific about the number of people they will offer sanctuary to. I applaud them for this and would like our government to do likewise.
This positive step would never have been taken if it wasn't for people taking action and making their voices heard.
Never feel that you are insignificant.  You have an enormous potential to help make our world a better place! 😊

Dean Beadle is inspiring

Dean is in his 20s and has autism. He talks to parents, teachers and carers about his experiences growing up and how he developed strategies to help him succeed in life. I have been lucky enough to hear him speak today at our INSET day and I saw him a few months ago too. He reminds us of the important role humour plays in helping us to diffuse conflicts and points out people with autism do have unique challenges but in the end he reminds us that humans have more similarities than differences.
It is so important for us to remember this during these difficult times with refugees seeking a release from torture by fleeing their home desperate to find a place of safety for their family.
 We are basically human first before we start categorising people according to nationality, religion or condition.
We need to ask ourselves before we judge or condemn people for their actions.
What would we do if we found ourselves in a similar situation?

Our words and our deeds.

I was walking the dog listening to the birds and the sheep and I realised that the dogs, birds and sheep have a skill that they lack. they are very good at living in the moment. I am not. It is something I am getting better at but this is a skill that they have mastered.

I realised that to be a good teacher you need to be good at learning. We can learn from everyone and everything around us if we are fully present in the moment.
I also realised that:
To be a good writer you need to be good at reading.
I acknowledge the power of our words. We are each unique and have our own special talents to share with the world and so have the people around us.

What we say to another person has an enormous impact even if they don't immediately show it.
Our actions speak louder than our words so what we do for others has an even bigger impact.

If today we can positively influence 3 people by smiling at them, helping them in some way or just really listening to them they are more able to do the same for others and we create a ripple effect that could potentially change the world almost overnight.

releasing my inner hippie and cleaning the caravan!

One of the many lovely things about living in a caravan is the time it takes to clean the house and weed the garden. The garden took me 30 minutes yesterday and today I did all the cleaning and sorting in 25 minutes!
Those of you who know me well realise I am not really into housework.
I then decided to reward myself with a nice cup of tea. I went to the kettle and started to laugh. This puzzled the dog who came over to investigate.
I appear to have released my inner hippie big-time in the form of stocking up on copious amounts of fruit and herbal tea. I have Chai Latte, Moroccan Mint....you name it.
Today I have settled for a nice strawberry tea.
Cheers!

As I write this the sun is beaming down and all of a sudden I heard heavy rain. The sun is still shining.
I am off to look for the rainbow.
(Told you I am a hippie!)

a stormy day and a cautionary tale!

Ollie and I woke up in the middle of the night due to the rumbling of thunder. Ollie is getting much braver than he used to be in a storm.
The rain cleared a little so we went out for walkies. When we got back I loaded some things into the car including a large weeping fig. It was so large I wedged it on the front seat and put the seatbelt on it.
We drove along in the rain listening to the radio. ( Well I can't be sure the plant was listening but you never know...)
All of a sudden I noticed a flash. I assumed that I had somehow gone through a red light but was pretty sure I hadn't. I wasn't speeding either. I felt pretty surprised and fed up. I drove a bit further and there was another flash. I was even more certain I hadn't committed any driving crimes this time and drove on. At the third flash I realised it was lightening but with no accompanying thunder.

I got home and checked my emails and so discovered a media marketing company had taken an unauthorised payment on my debit card.
This is a bit of a cautionary tale when using debit cards. Be careful folks!

I have been on the phone to the bank who have been very helpful and I am optimistic that they have managed to stop any future payments going out to this company.
I was very impressed at the way the bank calmed me down and responded to my problem.
I definitely feel there are far more good people in the world than bad.

The journey home was rather flooded. I was looking at the way the roads are designed though. They are curved to allow the surface water to drain into the verge as quickly as possible.
Being a marshy area floods are to be expected but it is amazing how quickly the water clears. People are clever. If you think about it we use roads every day taking the completely for granted and yet someone has to design, build and maintain them.
I am very impressed at the determined spirit of the campers at the site here. despite rain being torrential they seem to be having a good time.

Have a lovely day everyone!

an inspiring walk!

I got up early and went for a walk with Ollie. I love this place. Despite being in the middle of nowhere it is full of life. There are campers, wind surfers, kart lovers, weird birds, miniature horses, odd plants, beautiful open water, huge skies....
As I walked along I started thinking about books I have read recently and how reading one has altered my perspective on the other.
After reading The Presence Process by Michael Brown I have gone back to reading A Course In Miracles.
Before The Presence Process I was unable to grasp much of what was being said in A Course In Miracles but now it is starting to make sense.
This got me thinking that a lot of other people may start off reading a book, get stuck and abandon it, particularly if nobody around them has read the book but if they had a group of avid readers to turn to they may decide to press on.
I love reading personal development books and some have more impact on me than others. Discussing these books with people who are interested could be very rewarding.
I have posted on Facebook asking my friends if anyone would be interested in joining such a group.
If people are interested in such a thing I would be very happy to create the group.
What do you think of the idea?

no place like home!

I am back at my caravan. I have been in Plymouth visiting my daughter and had a really good time. I have been spending the last few days with my son too and I have also been camping in The New Forest. I have spent time in my lovely holiday caravan and have visited my parents in Norwich.
I have walked the dogs in Essex and driven about all over the place.
The weather has been mixed. Some days the sun has shone brightly
and on other days there has been torrential rain. This is fine with me.
One of the things about living on an island is that the weather can be very changeable.
I have noticed the blackberries ripening along with other fruit and seeds.
I really enjoy this time of year!
Ollie and I have been home a few hours now. Ollie is relaxing on the sofa and I am catching up on emails after doing a lot of washing in my mini washing machine. My neighbour dropped by and gave me a package that the postman delivered a few days ago.
It is my coaching accreditation certificate.
I am very pleased it has arrived safely.

I have also heard from the editorial department regarding my book. I have some editing to get on with over the next few days and then I will be a big  step closer to getting it published.
These are exciting times.
I am working on effective ways of letting as many people know about my coaching business as possible so that I can reach the people who would benefit most from my support.

Everything is happening exactly as it should!

I know this can be hard to believe when times seem tough but everything is happening exactly as it should be right here, right now.

If people seem challenging around us then we can see them as our teachers. We learn from everything we do which means that if something doesn't work out the way we planned we can grow and develop from the feedback we receive so we haven't failed after all.

I keep reading this time and time again in the personal development books and am coming to believe this myself.

At the moment I am reading The Presence Process by Michael Brown. I started reading it about a week ago and it has started to fill in some gaps for me so that everything is starting to make sense.

I love the fact that one book read can provoke us to ask more questions and then another book comes to light that moves our thinking on. 

This book is a real eye opener and I am really glad I stumbled upon it.

whatever the weather!

I have been lucky. The rain was really bad when I drove to pick Jack up from Hastings on Thursday but the next day we had sun so walked in the country. We then dropped Ollie in Essex and went to Norwich to see my parents. The weather was beautiful with lots of sun until the last day when it rained. We were still able to go to the park with Toffee their lovely dog.
It is raining lightly now that I am back at the caravan with Ollie and Jack.
I like all kinds of weather and try not to let changeable weather put me off doing things I like doing. I would have enjoyed my visit whatever the weather was like but having all that sun really did mean we were able to really make the most of our time outside.
It was good to spend time in Norwich and Yarmouth as I have a soft spot for both those places...

Family

Some people live close to their family and others live a long distance away. Despite distance some families are close and others are less so.
I am very lucky this year as I have had some lovely meet ups with members of my family and have more planned!
At the moment my son is staying with me. Yesterday we went on a lovely walk with Ollie. I originally bought Ollie six years ago as my son kept begging for a dog. I kept saying No again and again but one day I suddenly and unexpectedly relented and we went and collected Ollie that very day.
It was an impulsive decision but he has brought a lot of joy and hilarity to our lives!
Ollie will always have a soft spot for Jack. He may not see him for months on end but to him he is still a main member of his pack. Dogs are such loyal creatures. Yesterday we watched a film and Ollie spent time sitting on his lap and licking him in the face. That's the way he rolls!

Questionnaires

Quite a few people enjoy filling in questionnaires. I like them if they don't take too long and they are about things that interest me.
Questionnaires can be short, focussed and get right to the point.
When I coach people I start by sending them a questionnaire. It only has a few questions and it helps them and me to focus on the things that are important for them.
If you would like me to send the questionnaire out to you then let me know. It may help you to decide if coaching is right for you.

gardening

I am not the best gardener. I didn't see the point and must admit I haven't shown much interest in it until recently. Today I was at the Supermarket and some perennials were on offer. I had been putting off buying plants until today as they all seemed rather expensive or at least that was my excuse!
Today I couldn't use that excuse so I came home with quite a few plants in my car.
I bought some Sea Pink, a Clematis, a Passion Flower, French Lavender, an Acer and some Snow in Summer amongst other things.
I have always liked Sea Pink.
Derek Jarman mentioned it can grow very well in some areas and as he used to live near here I figured they might do quite well here.
I saw that plant growing when I went on a very marshy Geography field trip when I was about 13. It grew perfectly well there too so I have high hopes for my little plants.
Wish me luck!
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/oct/19/plant-of-week-sea-pink http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/oct/19/plant-of-week-sea-pink

Nature is so inspiring!

I am loving being back at my caravan. Last night I woke up as the rain was pelting down outside. I lay there in the dark listening to the rain and it started me thinking about all the lovely landscapes I have explored this past year together with the extremes of weather.
The ruggedness of Dartmoor during a gale, the vastness of heathland on a hot, sunny day, the sheer exhilaration experienced when I stand at the top of a cliff looking down at the crashing sea.

There are unusual plants growing everywhere around here. I don't need to go on holiday to be surrounded by nature. It is literally on my doorstep.
I walked Ollie this morning and he spent time sniffing and socialising with some of the other dogs living on the site.
(Two puppies were called Cash and Carrie!)
As I walked away from people and got closer to the fields of sheep I watched a rabbit hop past and then a butterfly fluttered around me.
There was a little cool rain sprinkling down on me and I stood still as Ollie sniffed. I was thinking how amazing Nature really is.

Books

I have been reading a brilliant book by Dr. Joe Dispenza. It is called Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself.
You may well ask why anyone would want to stop being themselves and that is exactly why the book initially gained my attention. Dr. Joe explains quantum physics, neuroscience, brain chemistry, biology and genetics to help us understand how the mind works and how our habits completely influence our lives. He shows us how to make measurable changes in our lives to help us live the lives we choose. It also manages to bridge  the gap between science and spirituality which is quite a feat.
I love reading and when I find a book that inspires me I love to let other people know in the hope that others will gain from the book too.

Returned!

We have just returned from a lovely holiday in The New Forest. It was great to spend time with my son, the hairy dogs and the lovable G! We experienced every type of weather and explored some lovely woods and heath-lands.
We had some meals in dog-friendly pubs and also did some cooking on our camping stove.
I had one glorious Scrabble victory and one defeat.
All in all I couldn't ask for more from a holiday. Camping is such a lovely thing to do.

The New Forest

The dogs are unaware but will soon be as excited as me. We are off to The New Forest! It is one of those places where everything is so simple and yet so lovely. Ollie will be looking for the blackest muddiest puddle to flop down and roll in so will be a frequent visitor of The Dog Wash!
The Dog Wash is a very handy facility for people who have dogs who have habits as disgusting as Ollies. It is basically a shower for dogs.
You would think Ollie would learn from his mistakes but he never does!

I received my diploma today!

I am very happy and would like to thank everyone who helped me with my studies. You know who you are!

If you are interested in finding out more please visit my website:
www.trustylifecoaching.co.uk

I am enough

I watched a replay of a speech made at Awesomeness Fest. by therapist Marisa Peer. Her message was very simple but all the more effective for this simplicity.
Many people feel inadequate wishing they achieved more, earned more etc. etc.
Marisa's response to this is to encourage people to write down the simple words and say them to yourself over and over again, 'I am enough.'
She has helped suicidal people to overcome their desperation with these words. She has asked people to take out a lipstick and write these words on the mirror. She has persuaded people to put these words on their screen-savers. People have even commissioned art to hang in their houses and other people have had tattoos to remind them. 'I am enough.'
If you think about it is it true.
I am enough and you are too.

Ollie may not be a wally after all?

Yesterday some really good friends of mine visited me in my lovely caravan. They brought a 2 year old dog and a 3 year old little boy with them. Anyone who knows terriers will be aware they aren't always that great with children...
The dog was lovely but not really used to other dogs and last time Ollie saw the little boy things didn't go too well. He was fine while the little boy was asleep in his car seat but when he woke up he started growling so I shut him in another room for the rest of the visit.
Obviously time has passed and I considered Ollie to be older but not a lot wiser but yesterday I saw him in a completely new light.
He did bark at my friends little boy as he came into the caravan but soon stopped this and started wagging his tail and trying to lick him.
Next the dog arrived and they met outside the caravan to give them every chance to get on.
They both did OK really as the other dog has very little experience of other dogs and so is scared around them. Ollie did growl back at any barking and snarling but then he started to cautiously approach the other dog, sniffing and wagging his tail.
We got to the point where we were all able to go into the caravan and had a very pleasant day.
Ollie was well behaved around the little boy and kept out of the other dogs way so we were all able to have a pleasant afternoon.
All in all I have been forced to conclude that Ollie is no longer a full time wally. He still has a part time position in the wally department but he does go to prove that you can teach an older dog new tricks!
I am very pleased with the little beast even if he does still like a good roll in fox poo!

so much potential

What I love about the start of a holiday is the endless possibilities. You have opportunities to meet up with family and friends as well as the chance to visit and explore new places. It doesn't really matter about the weather. At the moment it is blowing a gale at the caravan but that just adds to the excitement. Ollie does growl a bit when it is particularly windy as he feels the need to guard the caravan. A fat lot of use he would really be though as in the event of trouble in the form of imposters he would just wag his tail and lick! It is quite sweet though really him having these guard dog tendencies. As they say its the thought that counts!

We made it!

Teachers and children all over the land are breathing a huge sigh or relief, the holidays have started! I hope everyone makes the most of the free time to get out and about whatever the weather. I love the summer. I particularly love going camping with the dogs. It is such a fun thing to do!

last day of term.

Tomorrow is the last day of the school year for me and the pupils I teach. For some pupils it will be their last day at our school. All over the UK pupils have either broken up or will  tomorrow.
I love the Summer Holidays. It is an opportunity for Kids to spend time in the way they choose and an opportunity for families to spend more time together. Even if parents work, there are opportunities for weekends out and it doesn't matter if you get home late as the kids don't have school the next day.
I know it can be tough on parents as many kids are influenced by the media and expect lots of lavish holidays and trips out. Many families cannot afford this.
I think it is really important to teach children that a lot of the best things are free. Spending time outside, taking the dog for a walk is free and having a barbecue doesn't cost much.
As a child I loved going to the beach and I still do now.
I am so grateful to my family for teaching me to appreciate the joys of being outside in Nature.

Lots of ideas

Now that my book is with the publishers being edited etc. I am free to start thinking about my next one. Now I am on a roll and have well and truly caught the writing bug. The question is what shall I write about next. Lots of possibilities keep popping into my head and so I will wait a while until one really grips me.
I am amazed how my goals are being realised one step at a time.
 I am sitting in my caravan, my dream home. I am waiting for my life coaching certificate to arrive. This marks the achievement of another goal and now the book is about to become a real thing!

I spent such a long time hoping and wishing that good things would happen to me. Lots of good things did happen but it all felt a lot like chance. Some good things and some bad things happened and I was like the passive recipient. Now I feel a lot more in control of the situation. I work out what I would like to achieve and then I set achievable goals so that I can work on my dreams a little every day.
I am looking forward to helping other people achieve this through coaching.
What a wonderful way to earn a living!

My book is progressing...

I have just heard from the publisher. They have received the manuscript and the pictures. The next stage is that the team will proof read it for me and advise on any alterations I need to make. I am really looking forward to seeing the finished article. I hope people will find it useful as now that I have caught the writing bug, there will be no stopping me. It feels weird having finally completed my
book. It doesn't feel right not having a book to continue so I will just have to start working on the next one!

half way there!

I am currently at a tricky stage with my book. I am proof reading and editing my work. I am half way there and then will be in a position to submit it to the publisher.
This is something that I have wanted to do for such a long time and I am so nearly there now. I am hopeful that once this book is published I won't leave it so long to write the next one.
I have always believed myself to be a writer but something always stopped me getting things finished. Finally I have pushed through the fear of failure etc. and there is no stopping me now!

Writing

I have almost finished the first draft of my book. I am going through the process of editing parts down and building other parts up.
I have spent the whole day doing this and am very happy as this is something I have always wanted to do.
I believe we all have plenty of stories to tell and ideas to share and writing is an excellent way of doing this.
Ollie is very happy that I have been here sharing the sofa with him.
We are going out for walkies soon as it is a beautifully sunny day.

clean caravans

I guess its a b it late for spring cleaning but today has been spent cleaning and scrubbing the exterior of one caravan and the decking of the other.
Soon everything will  be clean and shiny.
A bit later I will be drinking flavoured cider with G and the dogs will be working out what snacks they can muscle in on!
Have a good day everyone.

I am excited!

You know when you pluck up courage to start acting on your goals and dreams?
Well it is scary at first and the first step is definitely the hardest but when you eventually do take that initial step it is that much easier to take another step and yet another and before you know it you are galloping towards your chosen destination.
 You know that felling?
Yes!
Well that's how I am feeling right now and last night I was so excited I found it hard to sleep.
I feel like I did when I was a kid trying to get to sleep on Christmas eve!

Life Coaching

I am currently training as a life coach. I am finding the course interesting and am enjoying writing the assignments.  Friends are being very kind and are acting as guinea pigs by agreeing to answer questions. Their responses are used to help me with writing the assignments.
It is a great day today. Broadband has finally been installed in my caravan so I no longer have to write the assignments on my phone.
It is a lovely bright evening. I can hear the birds calling over the lakes and Ollie is in a chasing dream. His little legs are moving about as if he is really chasing something as he snores!

Things are coming together.

I have spent quite a bit of time in my garden clearing the ground ready for slate chippings. I intend growing hardy plants in pots which will be low maintenance and will suit the marshy environment.
I have encountered a few obstacles along the way including problems with the chippings delivery and issues with broadband connection but I believe that these things are sent to try me and make sure I want them enough!
I have started my life coaching course and it looks like it will be very useful and rewarding.
I will be looking for guinea-pigs to test out my newly emerging skills on so let me know if you might be interested.
Life coaching is not therapy. It is good for people who are ready to make positive changes in their life.
Some coaching is face to face but increasingly people are coached on the phone and by email.
I am planning to offer all three methods depending on the person, their location and requirements.

May~ What a lovely month.

Today is the day I start making concrete plans for creating my garden at my residential caravan. I need to decide where to put the fence and make final decisions on plants etc. I also will hopefully get my TV working as the aerial will be moved into the right position.
Ollie will be staying there overnight for the first time. I am getting him gradually introduced to our new home as I don't want to rush things and have him unsettled.
I am hoping that he will like it.
His mates Burt and Rufus are staying over too so it will be a dog sleep-over!

bluebells

I have just come back from a lovely walk in nearby woods. I was with Graham and the dogs and the woods were packed with bluebells! You really can't beat this time of year. Bluebells are absolutely one of my favourite flowers. They produce a stunning carpet of colour for a relatively short time so I like to make the most of it!
The dogs are sleeping now and I am enjoying crisps and a lovely glass or two of red wine.
happy days!

UK weather, landscapes and seasons.

I love the different weather we experience in UK. Today I was walking Ollie in a field in brilliant sun shine and a few weeks ago I was wading in mud in the same field with rain pouring down.
My holiday caravan is sited on cliffs surrounded by sea and sky which turn from icy steel grey to crystal clear blue according to the weather and season.
I love the fact that we have changing seasons and the weather changes the whole mood and appearance of the landscape.
I love camping in different settings at different times of year. Camping keeps you outside for much of the time and puts you in touch with what really matters in life.
I particularly like walking with dogs as they enjoy most settings in all weathers and help me to appreciate the simple things in life.
Walking on Dartmoor recently really reminded me how quickly the weather can change and showed me how dramatic and beautiful our landscape can be.
I hope that we are able to preserve it for future generations and that we are able to teach our children to appreciate the joys of being outdoors.

Meeting up!

This holiday has been a perfect opportunity to meet up with friends and family as well as to explore new places. I have really enjoyed visiting Dartmoor and meeting up with my kids, sister and niece.
Yesterday I visited my friend that I have known 25 years and it has been great spending time with Graham and the dogs.
It has been incredible enjoying hours and hours of sunshine and it has been wonderful to see all the spring flowers putting in an appearance.
Happy days!

sunny!

I am looking out of the window, it's Easter Sunday and unbelievably I think I can see sun!
Ollie is happy as he is with Burt and Rufus so no doubt before long we will be running about in a nice wood somewhere. Ollie hopes to find and catch The Easter Bunny but I think he is long gone...
It won't be long until my caravan arrives on the site and I can move in. This is very exciting for me and marks a new beginning.
I am even enthusiastic about creating a small garden which will have to be low maintenance as I really am no gardener but the thought of creating things my way is exciting.
It sounds like I will be able to connect to The Internet there too but I am not anticipating fast broadband speeds as apparently the slowest speeds in UK were recorded in that part of the county but it will be good to be able to start the Life Coaching training once I settle in.
Happy Easter everyone!

mental health

Recently in the news we have heard about people have carried out extreme acts that have led to a lot of sadness and fear for other people. I am thinking most recently of the plane crash in The Alps where it appears that the co-pilot was suffering from depression.
It also appears that he was hiding this fact from his employers. There may be many reasons why this happened but the end result was tragic.
I think mental ill health is not understood as well as physical ill health.A real taboo surrounds mental illness and people worry about letting others know that they are ill in case it affects their relationships and employment prospects.
This is an area that is very close to my heart as I know an increasing number of people whose lives are affected by mental health problems.
Young people appear to be struggling a lot with mental health possibly due to the unique strains and uncertainties of Modern Society with many young people feeling disconnected and lonely.
Unfortunately at a time when the need for support is high the support services are faced with budget cuts and so there simply isn't enough preventative work being done.
We cannot afford to let this continue as in the long term failing to address the issue at an early stage leads to bigger problems and an even greater strain on the services in then near future.
There are so many lonely people out there of all ages and I think if everyone spends just a little more time looking out for and communicating with people that they know who seem lonely or isolated then gradually the issue will be addressed.
I obviously don't know the details of the plane crash and am unable to say if anything could have been done to prevent it but it has really set me thinking that mental health issues will not reduce until we change our approach towards people suffering with them.
I realise that in many cases medication can help but I can't help feeling that this is only one part of the solution. For many people it helps to know that people like them, want to understand them and do not judge them.

Lucy was fine today

Today I drove to work hoping that Lucy would be able to maintain her speed. I am very relieved that she was fineboth to and from work. It seems that replacing the fuel filter was what was needed and if that is the case then I have been very lucky as many of the other possible faults would have been much more expensive to fix.
Let's hope the rest of the week goes well and I will gradually forget the sensation of driving along a motorway and suddenly losing speed!
I was quite surprised to find ice on the windscreen this morning. It must have been pretty cold in the night.
When we were walking in Greenwich park on Saturday we saw what looked suspiciously like snowflakes so I guess anything is possible.
I can remember waking up in a hotel in Eastbourne one Easter Sunday and looking out of the window at snow falling but I can't remember many incidents of snow this late on in the year.
It is lovely seeing daffodils poking their heads up and all the other Spring flowers growing in the woods.
Spring is a lovely time of year!

Soon be time for walkies

The dogs are looking cross. They have had their breakfast and are now looking expectant. They want to go for Big Walkies.....We are going out soon. They love it in the woods. It looks good outside today. It has been a bit cold lately but hopefully today it will be a bit warmer.
I am dreaming up all kinds of ideas for my new garden. I would like to be able to sit out after work and enjoy a nice glass of wine sometimes.
Graham suggested putting down pebbles and having plants in tubs which sounds ideal as I am really not fond of mowing lawns.
There are some really sweet gardens on the site and I don't want to let the side down!
I will also look out for some suitable garden furniture to put in the garden.
( How exciting!)
I am anticipating some lovely warm summer evenings just around the corner.
I hope my weather forecast turns out to be true!

Greenwich here we come!

It is Saturday morning and almost time to go to Greenwich.
Ollie loves running around the park with Burt and Rufus and then we check out Greenwich market where Ruby Tuesday sells delicious vegan cupcakes and there is an Ethiopian stall selling delicious vegetarian food so we tend to go there for lunch.
I like looking at the craft stalls too and the dogs go into sniff mode looking out for any scraps that have been dropped.
I am hoping the sun comes out. It does look like things are warming up and it has all the makings of a lovely day.

My caravan life begins!

Graham and I drove out to view a site today with Ollie and the boys. The site is in Lydd. There are 30 plots and mine has a shed and garden. The only slight issue was that the caravan currently on the plot needs to be removed and a new one purchased and re-sited. We went with one of the staff to view a caravan and it is ideal for my purpose so I bought it! It will be delivered and connected up in the Easter Holidays and all being well I will move in on around 18th April.
I am so happy about this as I have wanted to move to a caravan for a long time and now my dream is coming true!

I am very grateful to Graham as he has helped me a lot this week. He has arranged for a mechanic to fix my car, He has ferried me to the train station every morning so I could go to work and he fixed my boiler when it sprang a leak!
I have just driven to Essex in Lucy and am happy to say she drove here without any problems so I am very hopeful that her mechanical problem is fixed.
Ollie has enjoyed spending time with Graham and the boys. he keeps sighing and looking very pleased with himself.