Christmas is coming and it might be white

Planning a Future

Spent a lot of my week this week planning a party amalgamation future. In April 2018 we will, hopefully have completed a coming together of 4 YMCAs working across large parts of Greater London and beyond. My time is spent doing a pennies and pounds exercise- that is ensuring that we get our foundation right so we realise the benefits of coming together in the big picture.

Fun running

Great family activity day in Richmond with all the girls getting their running medals. It's fun to see the way in which some parents do go over the top with equipping their children with the top of the range running gear despite them being only 7. I'm not sure if this is guilt or a desire to live vicariously through your offspring. 

Corfu history

During our holiday to Greece I've accidentally stumbled back upon this blog spot that I set up several years ago. It's been fascinating to skim back through what I thought and said over those years of change. 

Being on holiday gives time to step back and reflect, and Ina mindfulness way, ask simple questions with significant meanings. Being in a country with layers of cultural and political history that go back millennia it is fascinintg to think of ideas that emerge that live on and those that fade with time. 

I've also read two of Conn Ingulden's books on the Wars of the Roses and been reminded how human conflict is often born out of suspicion (bad) luck self interest and missed messages. The intrigue of this period with its subplots that go back into history and are built on a need to preserve into the future , demonstrate that no matter what is said what is heard can be different.

Good Ideas and good communication need to be linked to ensure survival. At the same time Communication needs to be understood as what is heard and understood rather than what is said and broadcast. Tudor England and Ancient (and Modern) Greece shows that.

I'll return from Greece rested and relaxed but also aware that history has lessons that act as nudges and prompts for today. 

New Year Reading

Finished my first two books of the year. started with some light reading Victoria Pendleton 's biography and then Sue Townsend 'The Woman who stayed in bed for a year'

The next two reads are slightly more deep and meaningful, can't wait.....

Christmas is over

Christmas tree came down today desire the fact that it is still December, Christmas is now over on our house!

That said I am looking forward to the new year, lots of exiting developments at the YMCA and hopefully good news about Ella starting school in September. The routine of nursery drop offs starts in earnest next week but for now I am enjoying one last mulled wine before it all begins!

Next weekend I will update my blog again (my blog updates are like buses) with my annual top 10 of the year but for now can I just say......

Happy New Year

School report

Inviting comments on what the various comments on my 2 year old daughter's nursery report mean for the choices she will make in later life.