Back from the Karlsruhe Trip

Karlsruhe Trip,
originally uploaded by Phillip.

Well, the cold didn't get better for the trip and suffered (as did everyone else) with my sniffles and coughs - SORRY MARK!

The actual conference was excellent and there was a real feeling the we were final begining to get towards the "inner core". The evening entertainment laid on for us was outstanding and a unforgettable evening.

The journey home was also completely unforgettable (unfortunately). After a dodgy plane and being transferred to another one in the snow, then getting diverted to manchester and a midnight coach trip back to Birmingham, finally got through the door at 0415am (6 hours late!)

This weekend was good, went down to the St Marys church in the village to look at the christmas trees. There are about 50 tress from all the local societies and schools (so Nate and Florence has decorations) it brought a tear to my eye with the community spirit.

We stopped off for a glass of wine in the spread eagle on the way home, then carried on with one our new bottles after the kids went to bed.

Knocking on death's door....but he won't answer!

The most bizarre flu bug has hit me. Fine on Thursday, woke up Friday, with aching joints and back and the start of a mild sore throat. On the course had too leave ASAP just too tired to go on. Saturday, had virtually lost my voice and the throat was really bad but the back and joints were better. This morning, throat nearly better, but a burning sensation in my chest, blocked nose headaches and tired muscles. Went to town and got some medicine from the pharmacist which appears to be loosing my chest (although very painful to cough). Hoping on the waking up change being - I'm fine, ready for the flight to Germany.

Be gentle on me boys

Half way through the busiest Saturday

Well survived the day up to now. Very nusy for all of us today. Florence went out to a party last night, this morning we had to get up early for ballet. Had to go into town while that was going on, picked her up and came home. In the meantime Tasha has been doing cakes all mornig for Archie's birthday party. Florence had 20 minutes to get changed before getting picked up for Lucy's party. While that was going on Tasha left to have her hair done, she is then going straight to the vnue for Archie's party to set that up. She'll pop back to pick up Nate and take him down. I'll wait for Florence to get back from Lucy's and then another quick change so that we can go to Archie's. We all get back at teatime, for a quick snack, then Gill * GJ are coming to sit while Tasha & I go out for a birthday meal (and hopefully loads of wine to try and unwind)

On a positive note received my copy of "Getting things done" yesterday, and have had a pretty good read. Most of the principles are great and you can turn them to anyones life to any degree you want - every little helps as they say.

Fireworks and beyond

Fireworks,
originally uploaded by Phillip.

I seem to have been very busy (so much for being a better blogger). Had a great time at Colin's the other night for fireworks and food. Florence's birthday party went with a bang (and a lot of screaming!) Since then its been all go at work. Finshed another 3 day SIL session today and managed to get through all of the remaining areas. We are now on HOLD until we get some more information. Which ties in nicely with my training course next week. Monday it seems that I'm not in the office after all and am heading off to Easington with Jerry Mander for the day. He is coming up on Sunday night and stopping in Derby. I'll meet up with him at his hotel and we'll make the drive together.
Have adopted some of the principles of 43 folders & GTD and have kept my inbox "empty" all week. To whole list thing is working well for me, and I'm trying to think of a good way of incorporating it into a mind map format.

GTD

After chatting to Mark about "Getting Things Done" I read a few articles. Some of it definitely appeals to me. One of the links I followed even had a catagory on being a better blogger. Must read that!