Monthly Archives: July 2008

Another patch of history

Posted on July 15, 2008 by | Leave a comment

It would seem that one of the true marvels of living in the UK is at every single turn there is a great story – one of significant history. I am staying in Cumberland Lodge which is in Windsor Great Park. Essential it is the back garden of Windsor Castle. Not a bad patch.

Cumberland lodge is possibly famous for many reasons – but for me – the best story is that it is here that King Edward the VIII met with the Prime Minister of the time and others to discuss and sign his abdication. Such a romantic act! There is also a fairly enormous statue of George III who has been subject of much fascination not least because he was considered by many to be bonkers for periods of his life. Although thanks to medical science…… he may have been suffering from some sort of blood disorder not as good a story I confess.

The House its self is just beautiful with pressed ceilings, delicious, never ending food and views of the most amazing green from every window. And just like every place it seems to have a particular lean – in this case ever so slightly to the west!

Anyway, best get going breaky awaits!

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The third sector…

Posted on July 15, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Who and what on earth is the Third sector about?

It is certainly not a very auspicious title – I mean being third doesn’t really engender confidence or thoughts of innovation now does it? Particularly when there are only two other sectors; private and public!

However, it seems that the 3rd sector is the new label for charity and volunteer organisations, in the UK at least. It is so new that wikipaedia doesn’t even have a section on it. Hard to believe – but true!

It quite possibly also reflects this massive need to constantly re-label things in the hope of rejuvenating them. Although, best not to get to cynical about things as tempting as it may be?!

I am on the second day of a conference “trumpeting” the achievements and current issues of the sector. And sadly while I thought it would lead to clarity and understanding I think I am more confused than ever. I have also been laboring under the misconception that charities were closer to the user, really understood what people needed and then delivered it. It would seem that this is not true. Charities like public health, and in fact just like business are challenged by a need to be more efficient with less resource, are trying in vain to break down silos between and within organisations and these things are dominating the conversation….

Each sector is deeply unkeen to acknowledge these shared problems and similarities. I am not certain why this is beyond the need, the desire, to maintain positions of power and exclusivity in knowledge possibly. This desire applies across all three if we are honest. The need for a baddie and for ‘us’ to be seen as the goodie seems also to be important.

The list of commonalities between all 3 sectors is extraordinary and I guess like every problem we encounter in life the solution will only be seen when look from others perspectives as well as our own.

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Mamma mia…love it.

Posted on July 13, 2008 by | Leave a comment

What a delightful way to spend a couple of hours! Tapping your toes with a little bit of silent singing to so many well known, guaranteed dance floor fillers…. It is true the story line is a little on the thin side and occasionally you get the feeling that the film was not actually filmed on the beautiful Greek Island as being suggested…

However, if you like ABBA, like a chuckle and a happy ending, This is a truly excellent Sunday film adventure.

I shall be listening to ABBA with a smile for at least the next week!

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Stuck in the middle

Posted on July 13, 2008 by | 2 Comments

It would seem that people don’t know what to do with a Physio with an MBA.

I am, to quote my strategy lecturer, stuck in the middle. Unsatisfactorily jammed between the clinical world and the business world. A specialist trying to get into a generalists world really.

I interviewed for a position that I thought would be good for a bit. A nice steady position that would stretch me a little but not so much that I would have no life. However, it would appear that the panel had different thoughts! To capable it would seem. The good news is that they may have something better and actually it sounds pretty cool – although it requires someone to talk to someone else, then secure the money… you get the idea… LONG SHOT!

On the other hand I get rejected by more corporate ventures for no direct experience.

What’s a girl to do!?

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Summer = winter in UK – winter coat

Posted on July 9, 2008 by | Leave a comment

It would seem that the only difference between winter and summer in summer 2008, is that I don’t wear a winter coat, and nor do I have to wear socks or tights.

Good news I guess? But really it is a fairly unhappy prospect. After months of grey, short days and temperatures not really getting into the late teens we deserve some sun shine. I am prepared to forgo significant heat, it does not need to be hot enough for swimming but goodness I would love, be oh so pleased, to have a few weeks of sunshine!

But it seems that this plea is going to fail. Today we have had a months worth of rain. Just in one single day, a measly 24 hour slot and we had a months worth of water drop from the sky! And the long range forecasters are pretty much predicting a soggy, soggy summer. Perversely I think they are quite pleased with their accuracy when it comes to crap weather!

Anyway, I am most unhappy with the state of the sky for the coming months and am going to start looking for cheap flights somewhere HOT….

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Life according to Woody Allen!

Posted on July 8, 2008 by | 1 Comment

“In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and
get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people’s home feeling
better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect
your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party
on your first day. You work for 40 years until you’re young enough to enjoy
your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, and
then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become
a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities; you become a baby until you are
born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like
conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters
every day and then you finish off your life as an orgasm.”

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10km on a rainy Sunday – what was I thinking?

Posted on July 7, 2008 by | 2 Comments

10k can be a very long way in the rain on a Sunday morning – However, I made it, accompanied by 25 000 other people, along the course for the British 10k. And I didn’t stop once.

Yippee for me!

I ran my little legs off though to cover the race along the Thames, back & forth across Westminster bridge, quick spin around Parliament square and then all over at Trafalgar Square in 58 minutes. PHEW.

It still amazes me that I do these things – goodness how I use to loath cross country a school but for some odd reason running about London and the paddocks in Cambridge works for me.

That being said I felt less enthusiastic this morning when I dragged myself out of bed – acutely aware of the middle of my right hamstring and there was some sort of stabbing pain in my knee.

Not to worry as I am eying the NIKE run on the 31st of August now! Fancy coming along?

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Sanctuary

Posted on July 5, 2008 by | Leave a comment

What bliss! It seems that women are very easy to please…. really they are – I hear a collective groan from the men reading this! But it is honestly true.

All we need is a fluffy terry toweling dressing gown, some good smelling stuff to lather ourselves in, possibly a glass of champagne and a friend to chat with as we swan between rigourous activities. Spa? Suana? Massage? Facial? It is nothing really!

Last night I was treated to an evening at the all women spa in Covent Garden aptly named The Sanctuary. Although it did have a rather bumpy start.

As we prepared to register and place our credit card at the mercy of the charming and oh so calm women who run the place…… The fire alarm went off. You have never seen anything as funny as women exiting into a busy Friday night street in Covent Garden in white dressing gowns, with goop all over their faces or part way through an aroma therapy massage. The alarm was quickly silenced with no firemen required and we were back on track!

We enjoyed a high frequency sound wave treatment – weird but free and I had a massage. My goodness my back and shoulders are in a massive mess at the moment. As her elbow rolled over the ropey and not so supple parts of my body I had to grit my teeth. Although to be fair I am not much of a fan of the massages that you leaving you feeling moisturised and nothing else.

It was a lovely and relaxing few hours where time was suspended and I did not think about the coming summer of job hunting and thesis writing – well not much at least!

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the ‘should’ test

Posted on July 2, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Have you ever caught yourself using ‘should’….. it is of course not an inherently evil word so don’t panic.

However, it does always fall into sentences heavy in responsibility and obligation.

As sentences they are similar to ‘must’ sentences but these ones you pretty much have to do.

Confused? Let me explain.

Must sentences are “I must feed the children”, “I must not crash the car”, “I must hand in my essay”, or “I must get a job” – this one is particularly relevant at the moment!

‘Should’ sentences include actions that you don’t really want to do, “I should put out the rubbish”, “I should conjugate my French verbs”.

So who cares? Well it has become my new test when I look at a job advertisement or a similar opportunity presents or I am trying to make any sort of decision. If when I think about it I catch myself saying should, I stop and think why?

Any way maybe try it out on yourself. And see if you can turn ‘shoulds’ into ‘musts’, or just plan ‘no’s’.

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