So, again, the weeks have run away with me, and I’ve also been struck with a strong denial that there’s only 3 week’s left in the challenge and I still have a lot to do. I am now starting to embrace the NLP manta of ‘There is no failure, only feedback’ and that the challenges I’ve not completed will say just as much about me and what I enjoy as those that I do complete.
So, the 5 weeks have been fairly busy with work. This saw me complete my 30 nights under canvass, with a few nights spare too…..this was a challenge I thought was going to be really difficult to complete when I started! The nights were on another 2 DofE expeditions, and a training expedition in the Peak district for the Arctic treks that I’m leading next year. I now also have 4 nights in hand, covering some of the slightly dubious camping I did in Sri Lanka…..in a ‘tent’ but with a proper bed, table, bedside lamp etc. Through my work, I have also been walking at least 30 minutes a week (sometimes a lot more!) which is another one of my challenge items.
So, the 5 weeks have been fairly busy with work. This saw me complete my 30 nights under canvass, with a few nights spare too…..this was a challenge I thought was going to be really difficult to complete when I started! The nights were on another 2 DofE expeditions, and a training expedition in the Peak district for the Arctic treks that I’m leading next year. I now also have 4 nights in hand, covering some of the slightly dubious camping I did in Sri Lanka…..in a ‘tent’ but with a proper bed, table, bedside lamp etc. Through my work, I have also been walking at least 30 minutes a week (sometimes a lot more!) which is another one of my challenge items.
During this time, I ran a Wellbeing retreat with my good friend and business partner Lindsey. She teaches yoga on retreat, and I run coaching and walking sessions. During this retreat, we were lucky enough to have some fantastic weather, and the sun rise was just at the time of our morning yoga, so we would embrace the chilly air and the dew and go outside to do a round of 10 sun salutations. In the past, sun salutations are something I’ve been extremely resistant too – mainly because I am unfit and I found them hard. Doing it in front of the sunrise, surrounded by stunning views of mountains and the sounds of nature was really inspiring, and so I decided I wanted to continue the practice. As I am unlikely to finish some of my 30 things of 30, I thought I could do a new one – do 30 days of 10 sun salutations. They don’t always have to be at sunrise (I like my sleep) but have to be at some point during the day. As I write, I’m currently on Day 26 of doing 10, and I can already see and feel an improvement. I have also done them in some interesting places, due to my work and personal travels, from behind my tent trying to hide from clients, to loch-side beaches, to toilet blocks on campsites to get out of the pissing rain.
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After a busy work period in September, I had planned in a week of personal mountaineering, in an effort to up my munro count. My friend Tom travelled up from Hertfordshire to join me. Unfortunately, the Scottish weather had other ideas…….with 80mph winds and torrential rain forecast for the whole 2 weeks, we managed 2 single munros over 2 days, before escaping to come home and dry off. That now brings my new munro count this year to a rather depressing 18.
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I managed a 2 further networking sessions, completing 30 networking events or meetings. One was another Mastermind session, which I started last month to help me focus on where to grow my business next. The other one was a Coaching Mastery course, with Sue Knight, focussing on the topic of Provocative coaching. Here, I met a real range people, some of whom I have follow-up session booked in the diary, and some of whom, through the exercises we did, I also managed to fulfil some ‘free’ coaching sessions, some of which were great fun, trying out my new provocative coaching skills.
I also completed 2 colouring pictures in this time, and read some books, including the slightly weird Beside Myself, about twins swapping places and then one twin refusing to swap back, the delightfully cheerful ‘The Blue Day Book’ and the funny ‘The Ladybird Book of Mindfulness.’
I also completed 2 colouring pictures in this time, and read some books, including the slightly weird Beside Myself, about twins swapping places and then one twin refusing to swap back, the delightfully cheerful ‘The Blue Day Book’ and the funny ‘The Ladybird Book of Mindfulness.’
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My mum and her husband Peter came to stay, which saw a flurry of cooking. I made Murgh Kari (a type of curry) a Nigella ‘thyme rump steak’, unusually marinated after cooking, also Nigella’s potato and mushroom gratin, and finally Jamie Oliver’s baked camembert pasta (basically, bake a camembert and gloop it over some pasta and wilted spinach. I also managed 2 soups (which they didn’t get to eat as they were out and about too much) – one was sweet potato and pear soup, and the other was the old favourite of ‘What’s Going Off in the Fridge’ soup, which turned out to be Roasted Veg of courgette, pepper and butternut squash soup. At some point, I also made another recipe of Cajun chicken, with sweet potato and pepper mash, bringing my total up to 21 recipes tried.
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With Mum and Peter being here, we also went to see Billy Elliot the musical (extremely good) and Bridget Jones’ Baby (also very good.) These were both occasions for a new hairstyle.
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This week, instead of my usual things I’ve learned, I’ve got some requests for help:
- Anyone got any suggestions for some really good, thrilling, page turning books as I’ve got 2 left to go?
- Anyone for badminton or table tennis or another sport? I’ve got 2 more types of exercise to include.
- Anyone up for a mammoth munro bagging expedition before November 3rd…?
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