It's all goooood!

I'm having a sentimental moment - maybe because I'm tired and feeling a bit soppy, but it ca't be helped...

Right now I'm just feeling lucky to have met a few good people in my lifetime.  My 32 years on the planet have been somewhat tempestuous to say the least, but through the storms, I few truly special individuals have been there for me.  Even after losing touch for 10-12 years, it's warming to be able to pick up the phone and talk as though we saw each other only yesterday.

To my true friends, thanks for knowing and accepting me for all I am, ignoring my imperfections and putting up with my insanity! May the good times continue and if they don't, well we can always chill out and have a moan together!

Bxxx

Looking forward to another year...

A belated happy New Year to all!

2011 was brought in fairly gently for me - I was recovering from flu so stayed home with a movie, nice mild curry and the company of a good friend who was also recovering from the dreaded bug! It was a really pleasant evening but I crashed out at 2am having absolutely no energy to keep my eyes open any longer!

New Year's day was spent with family in Leeds. Most of the evening was spent chatting and playing Wii – my ribs hurt from laughing by the time I had to leave! We also tried to release a Chinese floating lantern into the sky to commemorate the passing of my Great Aunt a year ago, but in our true family fashion it all went a bit pear shaped...

Silly New Year faces!

...the lighter block which you're supposed to set alight under the lamp initially refused to catch fire, and once it had the wind picked up so much that flames were flapping all over and the lantern, instead of filling with warm air and expanding, kept caving in on itself and was blowing all over. Sufficed to say after much finger burning, hair singeing, squawking and general pandemonium, said lantern went up in flames – not floating gently into the sky 'up in flames' but the 'WOOF' “AAAARGH get a bucket of water” 'up in flames'. I can only imagine my Great Aunt absolutely wetting herself laughing as she looked on in despair at the chaos!

Despite my close shave with spontaneous combustion, the New Year has started out pretty well for me and I'm hoping the themes of positivity, growth, development, friendships, family and adventure will continue throughout the months to come.

As for resolutions, I've decided to focus on being more sociable this year – I figure that's a nice achievable one which can also be a lot of fun! Towards the end of last year I was so caught up worrying about, well, everything, that I became a wee bit antisocial, which, lets face it, is no fun at all! So this year is all about family and friends :o)  A massive aspect of this resolution is to really focus on creating some fantastic memories for Elijah - I'd hate for him to look back and think his childhood was boring... 

...besides, it's a good excuse for me to dress up and play pirates as well as being a vital part of my child's learning and social development. Convinced? No?  You're right - my motivations are purely selfish - I just like playing pirates!  Moving swiftly on...

My psychology degree is being put on hold this year while I focus on career development. I was promoted to Account Manager at the start of the year so I'll be focusing on my new role and the various social media and marketing initiatives I'm working on for Arrow ECS training. It's all wonderfully interesting and I get a buzz from seeing positive results.  I'm mildly concerned that my inner geek may be becoming the more dominate aspect of my personality, but I'm fairly confident I can pull off the geek chic successfully...

General stuff I'd like to do this year – get lost in the countryside, paddle barefoot in a stream, take long walks on beaches I've never visited before, sing daily (in fairness that's nothing new and I apologise heartily to my next-door-neighbour for inflicting my noise upon her), find my muse and finish the A2 charcoal picture that's been sat in the attic for months untouched, bake the ultimate chocolate cake (again), make 1 true new friend (fakes need not apply)...

I think that'll do as a start. Once I've been airlifted to safety after losing myself in the country and slicing my foot open on some glass in the bottom of a stream whilst paddling because I wasn't paying attention to where I was stepping because I was singing too much in an attempt to find my muse, THEN I'll add a few more items to my list! ;o)

And so to my little quote corner and a reminder of that which was, Pinky and the Brain...

Brain: We stand upon the thresh hold of greatness, what do you say to that? :
Pinky: Troz..

Brain: Man has an evil side Pinky...
Pinky: Ummm, front or back?

Brain: Now we must liberate their ill gotten booty.

Pinky: Won't that tickle?

Brain: If I could move my limbs, I would hurt you Pinky.

Peace, love, empathy n some serious excitement to all!

Bxxx

Owl City - Vanilla Twilight

Just Call Me the Tooth Fairy!

On the morning of 11th October my little boy lost his first tooth! I wish I could say it was a natural, unaided event but unfortunately it had been prompted by a painful crunch on a hard sweetie graciously imparted by Uncle Scott. A wobbly tooth and a few weeks later my son calls to me from the bathroom in distress - not because his tooth has fallen out, but because the tooth ker-plunked into the loo and he’s afraid the tooth fairy won’t leave a magic coin under his pillow if his tooth’s been flushed! As the dutiful mum I donned a rubber glove, fished out the little tooth and doused it in antibacterial cleaner, bleach and industrial strength ‘kills anything within a 10 mile radius’ cleanser before popping it into a little piece of tissue for later.


Because this was Eli’s first tooth loss and he’s been a bit down recently (school issues) I wanted to make a fuss and inject a little bit of magic into the event, so I thought a little gift would be better than the customary coin under the pillow. I spotted a Ben10 electric toothbrush during my lunch break that day and thought perfect! He loves Ben10 and aside from that it’s fun, practical, tooth themed and not too expensive!

That night, after my munchkin had zonked, I crept into his room and swapped his little tooth for the Ben10 all singing all dancing tooth brush. I did have some momentary concern for his comfort – after all, the princess had issues with a pea under several mattresses – this was a wazzing great big boxed tooth brush complete with flashing Omnitrix and spare head... I shuffled him around a little, readjusting his head on the pillow to avoid the bulk and all was set for morning.

Morning came. My awakening was that of a not-so-small exuberant child jumping on my head “look what the Tooth Fairy brought me mummy!”. He ripped open the packaging played with the flashing gizmos and then enquired “I wonder if the Tooth Fairy left me a magic coin too?!?”. Arse. Perhaps I should have taken the stance “That’s your lot kiddo!” but I really didn’t want him disappointed in any way so I grabbed a quid off the bedside chest and tore after him into his room. He’d already inspected under his pillow and looked a little crestfallen so I told him to look under his bed while I not-so-stealthily popped the pound coin into his pillowcase. Upon my suggestion to check his pillow case he dutifully shook his pillow and out dropped the coin – MAGIC!

The pure glee on his face was heart melting! It’s been a while since I’ve seen him so happy - a little bit of effort really pays off and is sooooo worthwhile  :o)  I just hope he's not going to try to make his other teeth prematurely wobbly so he can have another visit from the tooth fairy!

GO APE!

This Saturday some of the guys from work and I descended upon Go Ape based in the stunning Dalby Forest. We’d been looking forward to the high-wire forest adventure for a number of weeks and were so excited when we arrived – well, all except Tom who was SLIGHTLY hung over and feeling a little bit sorry for himself!
We were kitted out with harnesses, pulley and karabiners, and after a half hour training and safety session we were let loose to swing in the trees...

The giant obstacle courses in the trees use ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire, and top it all off with the country’s best zip lines (including the longest at 426 metres – check it out on You Tube).

The zip wires were amazing – the further into the course you ventured, the higher and longer the zip lines became until you found yourself cruising over the tops of trees, spinning wildly at great speed!

As well as the zip lines my personal favourite was the Tarzan swing – attached to a rope you basically leap from the platform and swing across a wide opening, crash into a suspended cargo net where you have to clamber up to the platform and unhook yourself. When you’re so high up in the trees with people on the ground watching in awe and taking pictures of the crazies swinging through the air, it’s such an adrenaline rush!

My fear of heights never really surfaced throughout the session – I was so focussed on getting through the various obstacles and having such a laugh, the altitude element didn’t really factor into the equation at all!

After our Go Ape experience we dutifully removed the masses of wood chips we’d collected in our undergarments from our zip line crash landings, then had a relaxing picnic on a nearby field.

Altogether a fab day which we hope to repeat again very soon!

If you're interested, click here for more details about Go Ape!

You have to take a look at the video below of Jade's fab crash-landing! 

Climbing Week 3

Climbing last night was sooooooo good! I was a little worried because I did so badly the previous week but I think I may have had some kind of bug because I kept going lightheaded even when I was standing around doing nothing, so it wasn’t ideal!

This week my energy levels were up, I was feeling confident and determined to succeed! I clambered up a grade 3 climb in seconds so spent the rest of the evening attacking grade 4-6 climbs which offered a bit more of a challenge. I discovered I’m rubbish at smearing (sticking your foot flat against the wall and pushing yourself up) so will have to practice a bit more in that department, but really got to grips with shifting my weight around for optimum manoeuvrability, keeping my arms straight taking less weight on my muscles and more on my old bones, and managed to use some ridiculously small nooks and crannies to cling onto – at one point I was balancing on 1 big toe whilst reaching for a decent hand-hold! Ethan Hunt eat your heart out! ;o)

For the last 10 minutes of our class time we took to the bouldering walls where we were able to clamber around without ropes and harness. The bouldering area has a really deep squishy crash mat for a floor, so if you do happen to fall off it absorbs some of the impact and you won’t hurt yourself as much! As our instructor pointed out though, it isn’t completely hazard free – if you land on a funny angle injuries can still occur, so it’s always best to exercise a little caution and not fling yourself around with wanton abandon! It was whilst bouldering that I received my first climbing injury – I grazed the back of my hand and an elbow – extremely minor but in my mind, a momentous occasion as it marked the beginning of a whole string of dings I’ll receive having fun on the walls!

Unfortunately one of the members of our little posse had a mountain biking accident earlier in the week and wasn’t able to join us for our final class so the night wasn’t quite as good as it should have been, but we all did really well on our climbs and all felt a massive sense of achievement. We all passed our assessments and are now fully fledged members of the Harrogate Climbing Centre – yey us!

Our plan now is to carry on practicing for a few weeks, do the leading course and then take to the great outdoors!

Nothing to say...

So, right now I don't have a great deal to say - I know, shock right?  I've just been going through some CDs of all my photo archives and found this picture of my little boo which just happens to be one of my favorites and will no doubt cause him multiple moments of embarassment when he grows older and realises I shared it with the world!  It never fails to make me smile!  Love my boo!!! :o)

This week...

After having a pretty eventful weekend with friends and family, the beginning of this work week was a bit of an anti-climax and by Tuesday morning I was just totally bummed out! That evening I could have hidden myself away at home eating ice-cream whilst watching a chick-flick, but since I’m trying to regain a little bit of my social life and be more active, plumped for an evening of swimming with a friend instead.

Going swimming is always interesting when you’re a people watcher...

The middle-aged women who turn up in little groups and spend 95% of their time huddled against the wall “ooooing” and “ahhhhing” about the latest scandal amongst friends and discussing the plot of Emmerdale always make me smile. Then there’s the sporadic 2 minute spurts spent actually swimming when the flock simultaneously launch from their wall, conversation still in full flow, parting the paths of other swimmers who’d been quite happily doing lengths uninterrupted.

Then there are the lane swimmers – the beautiful buff people with near perfect swimsuit bods, coveted by mere mortals such as myself, who cruise effortlessly up and down the pool in their designated lanes, blissfully unaware of the middle-aged women posse causing havoc metres away.

The loved-up couple – another breed of wall hugger that spend their time lip-locked in a corner, giggling and cavorting, with a few lengths of flirty swimming thrown in. Other swimmers throw disapproving glances their way but I wonder how many of them secretly wish they were in a similar position.

The familiar face – someone who obviously recognises you, says hi and may even instigate a conversation – all the while you’re thinking “who the hell are you?!?!” whilst keeping up the facade that you know exactly who this person is as they reel off their life’s story and tell you how much little Timmy has grown... Little Timmy?!?!?

Then there was my friend and I... 1 hour of non-stop lengths, merrily splashing around, trying hard not to get in anyone else’s way but inadvertently kicking a few people in the process, my mate checking her hair hadn’t turned green in the chlorinated water, quietly appreciating the token buffed-up lane swimmer as he exited the pool, and weighing up whether or not we’d get away with doing a few handstands in the shallow end (we decided the Tuesday night crowd probably wouldn’t approve of our arses protruding from the water like a couple of demented ducks, so behaved ourselves). I laughed so much I got a stitch and bid adieu to the work-week blues!

Tonight’s activity – week 2 of my climbing class! Today we’ll be practicing falling. I personally am well versed in falling – do it regularly although in fairness never from anything higher than my loft and without ropes to get tangled up in – so tonight should be interesting!

Climbing Higher!!!

I'm scared of heights. Absolutely petrified. Just looking at a picture of something 'high' gives me sweaty palms and palpitations! I haven’t always been like that – once-upon-a-time I was the loon dangling off the outside of the bridge spanning Howstean Gorge tormenting my boyfriend at the time who was terrified I was going to kill myself (sorry by the way).

Howstean Gorge

When I became a mother 5 years ago, life just seemed more precious. My son was born with a rare heart defect and had to undergo major heart surgery. Having to face the harsh reality that I might only have a few days with the gorgeous little bundle I carried for 9 months really opened my eyes to just how fragile life is.

My post-op baby

My gorgeous bundle!

This resulted in the emergence of a few fears – going too fast in the car (especially if someone else was driving!), heights, the dark, and being home alone. Some were short-lived – I love star gazing, seize any opportunity to blast out the cobwebs on a motorbike and cherish my alone time. The fear of heights has lingered though.

Yesterday I took a massive step towards conquering my fear. I attended my first beginners climbing class! I wore my Muse concert t-shirt because it conjures happy thoughts from their concert in Springfiled, which I thought I might need several metres up a wall! Our group of 5 beginners began by learning how to tie a figure of 8 knot, attach ourselves to the rope properly, set up the belay and manoeuvre our hands to belay effectively without our partners plummeting to their untimely demise...

Then we climbed!!! My feet felt like lead, my body was fighting against my mind refusing to move my feet onto the first foothold and I felt like a potato – a lump incapable of movement! Then a 10 year old kid flew up the wall next to me and my pride hit me over the head like a breeze block! Can’t be having a munchkin outdo me!!! I focussed on UP and in no time at all was at the top!!! Yey me! I looked down, saw a few faces looking up at me, felt a bit wobbly and tried to face the inevitable getting down bit...

Releasing the death grip and taking your hands off the hand holds that are keeping you stuck to the wall is the most unnatural thing in the world. I had to prize my fingers off the pink and yellow knobbles, place them around the rope that dangled me precariously above my team mates’ heads, stretch my legs out and walk down the wall as my partner lowered me down. The squashy floor was a sweet relief to my feet! The buzz was amazing – I was physically shaking and my palms drenched with sweat, but I was so pleased with myself!

We spent 2 hours climbing various walls with little challenges thrown in, getting higher and I improved with every climb, gaining confidence and conquering my fear of heights.

The class was fab, the staff professional and friendly, the facilities spot on – all highly recommended! I’m looking forward to my next 2 lessons and then regular visits to the wall for lots of climbing shenanigans!

If anyone's interested in indoor wall climbing in the Harrogate area, click here for info about Harrogate Climbing Centre!

Race for Life 2010!

Temple Newsam, Leeds, 20th June 2010 - running shoes, fashion sense out of the window and a wonderful cause in mind!  My friend Chantelle and I ran the Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research.  After a superb result from our 'casual clothes' collection at work we managed to raise an additional £250+ in sponsorship.

My uber fit mate crossed the line in excellent form achieving 8th place!  I stumbled across the line in my pink tutu some time later, but happy I'd managed to keep a steady pace and jog the whole 5k (except from a little bit going up the killer hill which was torture!!!).  We had a great day out and loved every second!  The warm up before the race was fab - a little bit of Salsa style wiggling and jiggling to get the body moving!  Fantastic!!!

My 2010 Race for Life was dedicated to my Great Aunt Brenda who passed away on Wednesday 3rd February 2010. She was a wonderful lady with a passion for life and a love for travelling. We spent a lovely Christmas together and celebrated her birthday in the New Year when her cancer was in remission - she was full of life and energy and put us all to shame on the Wii Fit! Just a couple of weeks later she suddenly became very ill and it became clear she would not recover. She will be sorely missed by us all.


Events like Race for Life are vital in funding Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work into preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer.  Every pound donated really does make a difference – my sponsorship page will be open for a couple of weeks before being closed down so please take this opportunity to make a donation!

CLICK HERE!!!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who supported me, Cancer Research and The Race for Life!  Roll on 2011 and the next 5k! 

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." -John Bingham, running speaker and writer

Up n Running!

In preparation for my Race for Life I've been making a concerted effort to get myself into something resembling fit - a bit tricky as a single mum with very little time on my hands...So what to do? Hassle my family to come over and babysit for me even more than they already do? I didn't want to burden them sooo I plumped for the Wii Fit option - entertaining, keeps track of your weight loss for you, tells you how many calories you've burned, how many minutes you've worked out for and gives you a breakdown of the kinds of exercise you've focussed on (i.e. aerobic, strength, balance, etc.). I don't need a childminder, just an hour or 2 in the evening when my little boo's gone to bed.

As my fitness improved and I got into the routine of exercising at home (instead of messing around on the computer or watching NCIS) I wanted to do something more challenging. I had some free weights hiding in the cupboard, so pulled them out and incorporated some strength training into my routines.

Then the sun arrived - a rarity in the UK. I seized the opportunity to get out of the house taking my little boy to some local areas of interest such as Fewston Reservoir and Brimham Rocks - amazing places to walk, run, picnic and generally have a lovely family day out whilst keeping the activity levels up!  We also invaded my parent's trampoline - fab fun and its amazing how much energy you expend just bouncing!


I'm now addicted to improving my health through exercise and look for every opportunity to fit something in - my lunch breaks at work are now used constructively going for a run - I'm feeling the benefits daily and the only cost involved was a pair of new running shoes.

The next activity on my repertoire is climbing. Harrogate Climbing Centre opened in February 2010 and provides the area's finest climbing resource. A work colleague and I are signing up to undertake the 3 week beginner’s course to learn knots and rope work, belaying, correct use of equipment, and climbing technique.  I'm really excited!

Just walking on the beach...

As someone who's had a rather challenging life, I have found exercise to be an excellent confidence boost not only because my fitness is improving and I look better physically, but because I'm taking charge of my life and doing something for me whilst also having oodles of fun! Anyone out there procrastinating about getting their jogging bottoms on and getting active, think Nike and JUST DO IT! You don't need to live in a gym 24/7 or almost kill yourself with excerption - I started off very gently but very soon began to feel encouraged by the results and now enjoy challenging myself to do a little more or run a little further. I'm by no means a picture of health and fitness - I still have lots of wobbly bits - but now I don't care about them because they really don't matter. The mind is the important bit - focus on the mind - do activities to keep it healthy and happy (that includes getting out and about, having new experiences and adventures) and the body will follow suit.

As a single mum, the huge responsibility of balancing family and work life falls on her shoulders alone. However, like a ferocious tigress she knows how to juggle it and bring up her cubs as strong as she can. Mothers in general are one single kind whose untiring work and sacrifices on a daily routine are rarely recognized. Single mothers, recognise your worth, take a moment to be selfish and put your own needs first – you’ll feel better for it and your children will also reap the benefits of having a happy mummy!

Any single mummies in the Harrogate area who may be interested in getting together to do some light exercise, receive support and encouragement whilst socialising and generally having a laugh, please feel free to drop me a line!

Me n my wonderful mum!

"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers." - Jewish Proverb

Operation Christmas Child

This year I asked for the help of work colleagues at DNS Arrow's Harrogate office, old co-workers from Capita Surveys and Research office and my family to put together some gift boxes for children less fortunate than ourselves through the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.


We managed to put together a total of 12 boxes filled with goodies for boys and girls of various ages.  My son and I had a lovely family night shopping for gifts, wrapping a shoe box and filling it with gifts.  It was great fun wandering around the supermarket trying to find little bits n bobs that would fit into a shoe box.  In a way I think we may have failed miserably - there was a gorgeous teddy which pretty much filled the box in its own right without all the other bits and bobs I wanted to include!  Still, I was determined to fit it in...


I'm a stickler for gifts not only being fun but also having some educational value and practical use.  We bought a variety of gifts which probably only totalled about £20 but would hopefully bring a smile to a little boy's face somewhere in the world.  

From our little activity I gained a sense of making a difference - granted, filling a shoe box full of goodies isn't exactly a miracle cure for disease or going to end wars across the world, but I'm still satisfied that if I can make 1 person happy if only for a moment, it's worth doing!  I also learned that my gift wrapping skills totally suck and I need a great deal more practice before Christmas!  Having said that, if I'd chosen a shoe box with detachable lid, that may well have made life a lot easier... (note to self for next year's box wrapping - Timberland boot box pain in the butt to wrap and is really not suitable for Operation Christmas Child).  


My son imagined that the gift box we put together would go to a little boy he named George who lived in Africa.  He made up a story about George not having much money for nice things like toys and books, and really got into the spirit of giving.  He really wanted the little boy to have a happy Christmas and said that the teddy could keep him company and keep him safe at bed time.  My son also decided to say a prayer over the box (without any prompting from me at all which stunned me a little!) asking God to make sure the box travelled safely and would make George happy.  It was so sweet - we really felt the true spirit of Christmas in our household that night.

My musings on LIFE!

Throughout the day-to-day turmoil of life, dealing with the boring routines as well as the unexpected mini-crisis situations, I sometimes feel a little deflated and catch myself thinking "there must be something more than this!” Unfortunately I'm not one of those people who can take pleasure in the mundane aspects of life like having a tidy home - I mean, how long does a house stay tidy with a 4 year old child running amuck? I’d much rather be having some big adventure, meeting new people, getting up to mischief and generally having a riot…


My life's circumstances are such that I cannot gallivant around willy-nilly though and quite often feel a little restricted - I'm a single woman responsible for a wonderful 4 year old boy, and work extremely hard just to provide a basic but comfortable lifestyle for my little family of 2. As a person I'm quite skittish - I love new experiences and prefer to be out and about but nights out and socialising are few and far between and I think it shows when I am around people, after all, socialising is a skill - when you get a little out of practice, it often shows! Sufficed to say, I now find myself having to consciously cap the psycho babble and calm the inner child who wants to pack as much reckless fun into every nanosecond of her existence…


Even though I am a single mother, I honestly wouldn't have it any other way - at least until someone pretty spectacularly special enters my life anyway. Technically I have only been a single parent for a few months, but I feel liberated in many ways - my relationship with my son has become more enriched, our house has become the loving home I always craved and I know I have what it takes to be a good mother, instead of constantly doubting myself and worrying about my relationship. I’m focussed, driven and have a high desire to succeed in whatever I do. Combine these attributes with a kind loving nature, a dollop of quirkiness and a sprinkle of nuts, and you get a pretty effective family environment that works!

So, today I am being thankful for all I have – the challenges and limitations as well as the reckless self-indulgent moments. My life is a million miles away from what I had foreseen 10 years ago, but decisions were made, whether right or wrong, and the path deviated from the dream. I have developed as a person in so many ways, realising my strengths and putting them to good use. I used to be painfully shy and insecure. I still have that element hidden inside, but on the whole, I now feel more confident about who I am and where I’m going. Someone from my past always told me they were going to succeed no matter what and adopted a very hard, clinical approach to life which included disregarding others feelings. I’m happy to reach my goals whilst maintaining my core values – I’m not a hard ass, bitch of steel. I’m soft, I’m caring, will do pretty much anything for anyone in order to help out, and if that means that my road to success becomes a little slower, I don’t mind, because at least I’ll have some good friends and worthwhile experiences along the way.

Quote for the day:
I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer. ~Jim Carrey

Quote for my life:
My life has a superb cast but I can't figure out the plot. ~Ashleigh Brilliant

Cynical ranting quote from someone who's obviously having a bad day:
Life... is like a box of chocolates - a cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that no one ever asks for, unreturnable because all you get back is another box of chocolates. So, you're stuck with mostly indefinable whipped mint crap, mindlessly wolfed down when there's nothing else to eat while you're watching the game. Sure, once in a while you get a peanut butter cup or an English toffee but it's gone too fast and the taste is fleeting. In the end, you are left with nothing but broken bits filled with hardened jelly and teeth-shattering nuts, which, if you are desperate enough to eat, leaves nothing but an empty box of useless brown paper. ~The X-Files


Love it!  Peace out!!!   ;o)

Project Christmas Child

I'm just launching my next charitable project at work - Project Christmas Child organised by Samaritans Purse.  Operation Christmas Child is a simple and fun CSR activity for the workplace, church groups, children and families to get involved in, and brings incredible joy to children in need overseas.  The idea is to grab an empty shoe box, make it look pretty, pack it with lots of lovely goodies for children, and send it via Samaritans Purse to children in need this year.  The joy on their faces when they receive these simple gifts makes a little bit of effort soooo worthwhile! 

If anyone is interested in taking part, please visit the Samaritans Purse website http://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/ - it's a fantastic activity and really gets people in the Christmas spirit!

I'll post some pics once the project gets started!  Tomorrow I'll be covering DNS Arrow with posters and challenging each department to see who can bring in the most boxes!

Most Recent Achievement Update...

When I looked at the different parts of my life — career, health, relationships, spiritual practice, daily habits, and finances — and asked, “Is this really me?” there were some definite no's. I then began to wonder why I tolerated the incompatibilities. Why did I sell myself short and settle for something that wasn't necessarily all bad, but just wasn't me?

Some people think it’s a good thing to tolerate the parts of life they don’t like. I've realised that this isn't healthy. I recently read an article by Steve Pavlina (link below) entitled 'Tolerance is Resistance to Love'.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/04/how-to-squash-negative-thought-patterns/‏

I really related to this article. I had allowed my life to veer off from what was really important to me, putting someone else's goals, needs and opinions above my own and settling for something that just wasn't me. My life had too many incompatibilities.

"When your external reality is out of sync with your inner self, your inner self will resist it. This creates the feeling of wanting to escape your circumstances. You may feel powerless to make big changes, but deep down you’ll still sense a strong desire to “get out” and leave parts of your reality behind. You’ll fantasize about quitting your job, moving out, or ending a relationship."

I didn't want to lose years of my life while surrounded by incompatible energies. Being with a very selfish person who didn't share my family ideals, whose primary motivation was money at the expense of a happy, functional home, just didn't sit right with me. I felt like I was drowning in frustration and unhappiness because I knew the person I was with would never really care about me as much as I cared about them, and my life would be full of false hopes for the future.

I have chosen to kick out the incompatible parts to create the space for a life I'm able to love and accept completely, even if that means going it alone and struggling a little whilst restructuring things a bit.

"When you boot the incompatibilities from your life, you raise your energy and your consciousness because you’re no longer stuck in a state of resistance. Now you feel relief and freedom. This opens the door to attracting and experiencing what you truly want."

Ending a relationship has brought massive relief to me and my son. So many people have commented on how changed my little boy has become. He is happy, talkative, confident, full of energy and more focussed on activities at nursery. His appetite is improved and he has so much consideration for others, asking how others are and sharing his treats. This improvement alone makes my decision worthwhile.

I wholeheartedly believe that by being myself, by upholding the ideals I consider important, by not tolerating incompatibilities and 'just settling', my life will be a lot more fulfilling and happy.

So, it's official - I'm a quitter! I have quit something that was a negative force in my life. I am now looking to the future and the various other aspects of my life to make sure they are all 'me'!

I can focus more time and energy on my little boy and bring him up in a loving environment. I'm doing a Psychology degree which is something I have wanted to do for a number of years. I'm working for a good employer in a job which I enjoy, and I can switch off from at the end of the day - my stress levels are low as a result and I'm able to pay the bills - bonus! Now there are no relationship expectations (e.g. the expectation for a significant other to give a damn) I am free to feel happy in myself, and I really do! I half expected to be down and depressed, but the effects of the emotional break didn't last long and now I'm focussed, happy and more confident than I have felt for a long time.

So, this is me saying goodbye to the old with love, so I can say hello to the new with love.

Race for Life - I did it!

I completed the Race for Life successfully on the 24th June 2009 - woo-hoo!!!
The atmosphere was wonderful - approximately 3000 women ran the Race for Life in Harrogate's Yorkshire Show Ground. The group was split into 3 sections - runners at the front, joggers in the middle, and walkers at the back. I joined the joggers group with a couple of work colleagues from Harrogate College - it took us a good 5 minutes to reach the start line as there were so many people in front of us. We started off well, jogging steadily around the outside of a field and up to the steadily inclining course. I tried to maintain a rhythm but it was incredibly difficult when so many people had started walking and blocked the track! I think next year the etiquet of running races should be highlighted, and the walkers should move to the side to allow the runners to pass easily without having to battle through! I was very frustrated and ended up with a painful stitch! I ended up walking some of the way but managed to maintain a jog for most of the 5k which is achievement enough for me! I crossed the finish line with a smile on my extremely red face, along with one of the ladies I started with. All in all, I had an extremely enjoyable evening and the sense of achievement was fantastic! I ran with my Great Aunt's name on my back and the thought of her battle against cancer in my mind to drive me forward. Thanks to Cancer Research for organising these wonderful fundraising events and to all the women who took part to raise money for such a worthwhile cause!

If anyone would like to make a sponsorship donation towards Cancer Research, please visit my sponsorship page at the following link:

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/beckyjatta

I'm contemplating doing a 10k run but I'll have to see how my training goes! After the Race for Life I came down with a nasty cold so haven't done any running for the last week. I have printed off the training plan for the 10k run and hope to gradually build myself up so I can feel that sense of achievement again soon!

On the weight loss front, I haven't been near the scales for a while but I don't think I've done too badly with my diet (except an ice-cream but I think a treat like that on a hot day keeps you going sometimes!).

Until next time, signing out!

Bxxx

Please Support Cancer Research!

Hello all!

I have signed up to take part in this year's Race for Life to raise vital funds for Cancer Research and would really welcome your support. Cancer has affected a number of my family members including my Great Aunt who is currently battling against the disease at St James' hospital in Leeds.

Please support this worthwhile cause by taking a moment to sponsor me. It's really easy - you can donate online by credit or debit card at the following address:

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/beckyjatta

All donations are secure and sent electronically to Cancer Research UK. If you are a UK taxpayer, Cancer Research's partner Justgiving will automatically reclaim at least 25% in Gift Aid on your donation at no cost to you - making it worth even more.

Please join me in supporting Race for Life and a fabulous cause!

Thanks and best wishes
Becky
xxx

I am now working fulltime for DNS Arrow as a Resource Controller. My role is split between Consultancy Bookings and Instructor Bookings so my day-to-day activities are quite varied and I’m always kept busy. I started my new job at the beginning of February, so I’m now in my 4th week and can honestly say this is one of those employers that will make my top 5 list! The people at DNS Arrow are fantastic – really supportive, good communicators and pretty sociable, which makes for a great working environment.

As always, starting in a new place of work has been pretty daunting – my first week was a total information overload as I got to grips with the company’s ‘big picture’ – who DNS Arrow is, what they do, etc. – as well as learning exactly how I fit in and the specifics of my job. My IT skills have proved useful and I’m extremely glad I tend to pick things up quickly as I have had to learn how to use 4 bespoke in-house systems as well as the various procedures governing consultancy bookings. Thankfully I think I can do all the basics – still have much to learn – but given time and practice I’m sure I’ll be looking for more responsibilities to make the role more challenging!

A few people have asked me what has happened to HG1T and my personal tuition service. Well, given the current financial climate I decided that fulltime employment was the way to go as it offers security and a regular income! I am still offering 1-to1 tuition on evenings and weekends to anyone who requires IT assistance.

One of my past ‘Computing for Beginners’ students recently contacted me to arrange IT support specific to her university degree. She is currently studying at the University of Leeds and needed a little guidance in how to access online resources that her tutor had posted on the student blackboard. So far we have covered pod casts, PowerPoint presentations, and Google searches. Something she found very useful was the ability to copy and paste useful snippets from websites which were relevant to her studies. Previously she had printed out pages and pages of text, pictures and the surrounding ads, which was a waste of paper and ink! By highlighting the relevant paragraphs, copying them and pasting them into a word-processing programme, my client was able to construct a montage of information pertinent to her project.

Another useful lesson I recently delivered related to basic file management. By organising files on the computer’s hard drive, documents are easier to find later and unused/unwanted documents can be deleted to clear storage space on the computer’s memory. We spent 20 minutes creating new folders, moving files and deleting unwanted items to create a logical, easy to access filing system which my client now utilises to organise her university work and personal files.

So, looking to the future, if the less computer confident people of Harrogate and the surrounding areas need some friendly support, I am still available for home visits at an extremely reasonable rate!

Visit my website for more information:www.HG1T.com

Happy computing!

Computer Tuition to Help Elderly People Stay Independent

Computers seem to be everywhere these days! From the Personal Computer gathering dust in the corner, to the cash machine on the street, sometimes it's easy to forget just how much technology rules our everyday lives. Take a moment to think about the elderly citizens of the UK.

Modern technology has advanced so quickly that many mature individuals may feel overwhelmed and left behind in such a computerised world. Information and communication technology is now the way of life and knowing the basics can open so many doors - new forms of cheap entertainment are made available, choices as a consumer become unbounded by internet shopping on the World Wide Web, and communication with friends and family using email and instant messaging services has never been so cheap and so much fun!

For the younger generations it is easier to adapt to technological advances, but for more mature individuals, the thought of learning something new and unfamiliar can be very daunting. A good example to mention here is my grandma who is approaching 80. She is so technology-phobic that she refused to touch a mobile phone for fear of breaking it or accidentally calling the queen! She required oodles of patience, gentle persuasion and clear instruction to master the art of a mobile call, but now reaps the benefits of feeling a little more secure whilst out shopping knowing her family are just a button’s push away. Likewise computers can offer elderly people an element of empowerment and heightened independence, especially for those who may have physical or psychological problems which may cause accessibility issues.

Once the fundamental basics of computing have been mastered, individuals can experience the freedom to shop without assistance, carry out hobbies, be involved in social forums and have a voice. I see this as a positive method of combating seclusion and maintaining an active mind.

Local colleges and local authorities, such as North Yorkshire County Council, regularly offer reasonably priced computer courses designed especially for beginners. These courses begin with the very basic fundamentals and assume nothing about your previous learning, only that you are completely new to computing.

But what about those who would prefer to learn on their own computer, don’t like a group environment or would just prefer to stay at home? For those individuals it may be worth considering the services of a personal computer tutor who will work on a 1 to 1 basis with the individual, usually in the individual’s home, and completely at the individual’s pace.

One such service is HG1Tuition (www.hg1t.com) based in Harrogate - a newly launched computer tuition business which offers friendly, fun and supportive computer tuition directed at elderly learners, those who need to start from the very beginning and those who need to build some computing confidence. Training providers such as HG1Tuition maybe a little more expensive than enrolling on a college course, but learners can specify what they would like to learn from one day to the next, so no time is wasted covering things deemed irrelevant.

I feel that many older adults may be receptive to using technology if introduced to it in a comfortable environment. Computing technology can become a major hobby and interest in the lives of the elderly. I urge all older adults to take on the challenge of a little bit of IT learning which, in turn, will open up the world! Well, the World Wide Web anyway… :o)

Qualifications & Experience

I am a highly self-motivated individual with an extensive background in business administration and education, having over 10 years experience in various demanding roles. I have a polite, professional manner, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. I enjoy a busy working environment and the daily challenges of meeting deadlines and multitasking to meet targets and ensure customer satisfaction. I pride myself on being an excellent team player, maintaining a positive contribution and supportive attitude towards colleagues. I am resourceful, prioritise my work effectively, use my initiative and maintain focus. I am also a highly skilled planner, organiser, and co-ordinator, and am committed to quality and improvement.

1990 – 1995 Harrogate Grammar School
GCSEs 1995
English Literature A
English Language A
Mathematics B
French B
History B
Dual Award Science B
Dual Award Science B
Business Studies C

2002 – 2008 Harrogate College
Various Teaching & ICT Related Courses
2007 - NCFE L1 Web Design
2006 - OCR L3 Certificate for IT Users (MOS)
2003 - JEB Diploma in Education Practice: ICT Skills
2003 - JEB L3 Certificate in Education Principles & Practice
2003 - JEB L3 Certificate in Education Practice: ICT Skills
2003 - OCR L2 Certificate for IT Users (CLAIT Plus)

Miscellaneous Training Sessions Attended
• Child Protection Training
• Equality & Diversity
• Emergency Aid (First Aid)
• Meetings & Minute Taking
• Customer Service - Getting it Right for People with Disabilities
• Risk Assessment Training (general and Display Screen Equipment)

WORK EXPERIENCE

April 2002 – Present, Harrogate College, Harrogate
Administrative Assistant
Provide comprehensive admin support to academic staff, students and visitors. Duties include room scheduling and booking, timetabling, diary management, organisation and minuting of meetings, production of teaching resources, copy and audio typing including lesson plans and letters of correspondence, student liaison, recording leave and staff sickness, training colleagues job-specific IT skills in the office, creating databases and spreadsheets to meet specific business needs, reception and switchboard duties and any other duties commensurate with the role. Also work as part of a team to organise graduation ceremonies, open-evenings and other ad-hoc events. Often work under pressure to meet tight deadlines and provided a high quality service to customers.

September 2008 – December 2008, HQ Personnel
Research and Information Assistant (temporary)
Worked for Captia Surveys and Research Unit via employment agency. Duties include answering telephone queries and responding appropriately, efficient use of information systems and technology to produce reports, present complex data and information from a variety of sources in an easy to understand format for a variety of audiences to meet the research objective, maintenance of accurate records of work done such as client files, contribute to development of strong customer focus within the team, work within the protocols of Research and Information's ISO 9001:2000, and any other duties commensurate with the post.

June 2003 – August 2008, Harrogate College, Harrogate
Part-time Pool Lecturer
Taught ICT & Key Skills to adults (16+). Initially delivered short-term courses within the college and gradually built up portfolio to include long-term delivery over full academic year. Responsible for development of teaching resources, delivery of curriculum, individual learning plans, tracking progress and maximising retention and achievement.

January 2008 – August 2008, North Yorkshire County Council
Teacher in Adult Education (ICT)
Taught basic computing skills to adult learners in various locations in and around the Harrogate area. Courses include Computing for Beginners and Intermediate Computing, and covered a range of topics including internet and the world wide web, word processing, basic spreadsheets, email, file management, basic photography, and any other general topics of interest specified by the learners (e.g. how to search for cheaper energy providers).

1999 – 2001, Benefit Fraud Inspectorate, Harrogate
Administrative Officer & Chief Librarian (fixed term contract – 2 yrs)
Worked as part of the Information Centre team to offer support to Inspectors, maintain BFI library and actively seek new sources of information online. Travelled to London, Newcastle and Edinburgh to offer admin support and liaised with other government agencies regarding information sharing.

PERSONAL INTERESTS

I have a keen interest in travel and gaining experience of different cultures and local wildlife. I enjoy reading, spending time with my family and have various craft related hobbies. I also offer 1 to 1 computer tuition to individuals with mobility and accessibility issues, in their own home.