Travels around Italy with the best coach driver ever…

This story goes back to a time when I was in my late twenties and an advert for a coach trip to Italy, caught my eye.

I remember feeling a bit down and in need of a ‘pick me up’ so after a quick call to my sister two places were booked for the week-long coach trip.

Along with our ‘girlie’ holiday to Fuengirola this Italian coach trip turned out to be one of the funniest trips I have ever taken. From the pristine coach and it’s ‘caring’ driver through to the toilet that not one of us was ever allowed to use.

I cannot imagine putting up with this now.

But at the time we took this to be part of the trip and it became a ‘running’ joke amongst us holiday makers.

Certainly, remember the Venezuelan couple and their expression ‘Prego’ – which we adopted and used whenever the driver said no to someone using the loo, eating food, stopping to use facilities, just about anything really.

Though it was not so amusing when due to our late arrival at our first ‘official’ stop we were then not allowed to use the available facilities. We ended up having to go and use a nearby field in the dark. Still can’t quite believe we just went along with this as a group, especially as we had such a mix of ages amongst us.

It was a miracle that we didn’t leave anyone behind in the dark and even luckier we didn’t step in anything and bring it back onto the ‘blessed’ coach.  This was our first clue about the character of our driver who appeared to me to be doing everything for own his comfort and ease, with little or no  care for his passengers.

He clearly didn’t want to clean the toilets, didn’t want to clean the bus so no food was ever allowed on the coach. The coach radio only came on at the times he wanted. I’m sure extra stops were added in, to places where he got a cut of the takings.  Which might explain why we were so late for our first ‘official’ stop. He then had the almighty cheek to expect a sizeable tip at the end of the trip. It wasn’t happening.

But despite all this it was still a fantastic trip.  We travelled, to Florence, Venice and Rome for me the first time ever. This one trip made me determined to return to Rome (which is another story) helped by a great host who knew her stuff and could bring the history to life.

We also met up with another group of women similar in age to us along with the Venezuelan couple. People with humour and fun and who shared our love for the coach driver.

And the trip did the trick it picked me up and gave me a new sense of optimism and perspective.

I notice this is something I have tended to do over my life, if feeling a bit ‘stuck’ for right or wrong I like to take action, either in the form of new study, travel or a hobby.

I find I like ‘shaking things up and getting a fresh perspective.

So, there you have it, until next time.

Pittabread

Janice Taylor

www.blueskycareerconsulting.co.uk

Would you do this, if someone washed up on a beach?……

It’s been just over a year since our second trip to Jamaica, and this little episode still makes me smile every time I think about it and it’s all to do with our snorkelling trip.

Three of us out of a party of six ended up washed up on the beach, okay I am exaggerating a little here. But the three of us, me, my daughter and my sister Jackie did get picked up by another boat so we could reach dry land about 40 minutes or so into our snorkelling trip.

To be fair Jackie was there providing moral support, as my daughter after the ten-minute journey on the speedboat to our snorkelling location flatly refused to get back onto it. I on the other hand after twenty minutes or so in the sea was flatly refusing to get off it. Neither of us had enjoyed the boat ride and the less said about the actual snorkelling the better.

Our brilliant guide, could see that we needed to get back to land. However, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, as my other sister and her son were blissfully scuba diving beneath us.

He had no choice but to hail a passing boat and ask the owner to take the three of us back.

As it was not practically possible for our kind ‘rescuer’ to take us right up to the beach, the three of us had to wade the last few metres towards land.

My daughter, and sister Jackie weren’t too bad and were ‘more or less’ okay, by the time they reached the beach. I, on the other hand was still not so good and was far more shaken up than I realised. So much so that I didn’t notice, that I was being whistled and waved at by one of the holiday makers on the beach.

In my rather dazed state it took me a while to notice the woman, waving her camera at me and summoning me to take her picture.

With water, mucous and everything else streaming from my eyes and nose, I did manage to take a few snaps with the camera on her phone. As I then attempted to hand her camera back, she gestured ‘no, no’ as she wanted a few more shots of herself ‘posing’ by the sea edge and I just continued snapping away.

I doubt very much that they came out particularly well, but not sure I really care.

But it makes me laugh, that this woman who appeared to be completely oblivious to my state, was so focused on getting a few snaps of herself. Of all the people on the beach to ask, why me?

Still, she did say thank you, and seemed pleased with the results, but of all the things I would think to do as I watched someone emerging traumatised from the sea, asking them to take a holiday snap is not one of them.

So there you have it, until next time.

Pittabread

www.blue-sky-career-consulting.co.uk

‘Del Boy’ with dreadlocks……….

This is how I’m starting to think about myself as I review my current activities, business and interests. In honour of the irrepressible ‘Del Boy’ Trotter character in the long running and very funny, 1980s Sitcom, ‘Only fools and horses’.

The one line that still sticks in my memory- even after all these years. “This time next year, ‘Rodders’ we’ll be millionaires”.

Of course, things never quite worked out as planned, but I have always loved Del Boy’s optimism and his eternal hope that things would work out for the best in the end.

So, coming back to me and my business, I never imagined for one moment when growing up that I would end up running my own business. I always thought, hoped, dreamed I would get a good job and work my way up the career ladder.

And then when I did start my own business, I did not foresee developing such an interest in social media and all things digital but that is precisely what happened.

I continue to be fascinated and intrigued by all things digital and social media related.

On which note, I for one would dearly love to see the ‘Trotters‘, on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, etc. Just to see how they would manage social media to promote their stall and other ‘business interests’.

So, now after running my coaching business for 17 years, developing an online presence around it and observing how some are thriving in the digital world. I am starting to dream a little about becoming an online entrepreneur, though quite how this will happen, I have no idea.

But I do know, I’m more energised by the potential I see for social media than I have been for quite some time and I think this is linked in part to my past work in open and distance learning.

I have the same sense of excitement and optimism I had when working for the Open University and Ford Motor Company. Where my role within both these organisations was based on the idea of making learning as accessible as possible, to as many as possible.

Have always believed that knowledge and learning should not be restricted to the ‘elite’ or the ‘lucky few’. In fact, as I write this, I can recognise that this is what is underpinning my fascination and excitement around social media.

So, I guess you never know, this time next year I may well be an online entrepreneur. 😉

Until next time

Pittabread

www.blueskycareerconsulting.co.uk

My big ‘Bad Education’ ……..

Who are the teachers that you really remember from your school days, the good, the bad and the sometimes indifferent?

This is the question I asked myself, after recently watching the very final episode of the superb ‘Bad Education’, with Jack Whitehall and the rest of the amazing cast of teachers and school children.

So, from my days at primary school, I remember Miss S, who so effectively taught me to read – once it had been discovered, that I’d somehow reached junior school age without being able to read properly.

However, once the school realised, there was no ‘messing about’, I was ‘yanked out’ of classes and placed with Miss S – until it was sorted. I cannot remember how long it took – but thank God, it was rectified before I left Junior school.

Must admit I don’t remember much warmth and empathy from Miss S, but I thank her for teaching me to read properly and using the time effectively to get me up to speed.

Jumping forward now to secondary school, the next teacher I distinctly remember is my ‘O’ Level maths teacher, Mr H.

Particularly the day, that our tall rather ‘gangly’ looking Mr H, suddenly disappeared from view as he slipped and fell.

I can recall, the shocked silence, and then his good-natured response to the one person who could not contain her mirth and whose laughter was the first to burst forth. Namely, me.

Who else remembers science lessons, where you were allowed and encouraged to use equipment, such as Bunsen burners? I remember watching enthralled as a piece of sodium or maybe it was potassium ‘fizzed’ around in a bucket of water.

Moving forward a few years, I remember Dr P. – our ‘A’ Level physics teacher, we all had a bit of a crush on him and were a bit in ‘awe’. I also remember his ‘THINK’ scrawled in big red letters across one of my early assignments. Clearly I wasn’t, thinking at that time.

Still Dr P. – got me successfully through an A ‘level syllabus, as did Dr G my chemistry teacher.

Not without some controversy mind, as I also remember ‘storming’ out of one of Dr G’s ‘chemistry’ tutorials.  He is the one teacher – I’d quite like to go back to and ‘wave’ or perhaps more truthfully, ‘shove’ my subsequent qualifications, up ‘where the sun doesn’t shine’.

It may well take a few more years, before I can emulate Elsa, from Frozen and ‘Let that one go’. I’m not bitter ;).

But that’s a whole other story.

So, who are the teachers you remember, with love and respect or maybe otherwise?

Until next time

Pittabread

www.blueskycareerconsulting.co.uk

 

I’m a celebrity…get me out of here!

I am a big fan of the yearly show and have been captivated and enthralled by this year’s batch of contestants. How lovely it has been, with everything that has been going on in the world to have an ‘oasis’ of relative calm and positivity.

So, in no particular, order, here are my 15 observations from the 2016 show:

• Wonderful to see how, overall, a group of people from all walks of life, different backgrounds, ages etc. simply just get on. For them to form real and I hope lasting bonds of friendship and love.

• This one is for the producers, sometimes ‘less is more’, could have managed without the excessive use of ‘critters’ for some of the trials.

• Another one for the producers, there is I think a very fine line between cruelty and entertainment and sometimes I think you crossed it.

• There was no ongoing camp romance, just a lot of solid and caring friendships.

• Everyone in camp had their moments, both high and low, it was great to see people ‘step up’ and provide support in the low moments.

• The power of ‘mind over matter’, everyone without exception wanted to bring ‘home the ‘bacon’ for their camp mates.

• There was time for silliness and laughter, especially with some of the ‘dingo dollar’ challenges. Loved the way people just entered into the ‘spirit’ of things.

• I’m sure there was a moment when Kiosk Keith, almost cracked a smile when Scarlett and Adam went to cash in their ‘Dingo Dollars’.

• Somehow managed to pack a lot into three weeks, everyone had an opportunity to show their strengths and talents.

• The challenges, allowed people to quickly build trust and strong bonds.

• Really appreciated, the general lack of gossip and backbiting overall, certainly compared to other series. Had the sense that most things were overall ‘laid out in the open’ and issues dealt with quickly. Things didn’t or weren’t allowed to fester.

• Liked the way jobs were swopped around, giving people a chance to have a go at doing something different. I also liked the way care and consideration was given to assigning tasks, to people.

• The genuine celebration of success between the camp mates, though to be fair this was linked to food. People shared their vulnerabilities so when they as Adam did were able to meet their fears head on, there was genuine appreciation and support from the other ‘camp mates’.

• Ant and Dec, superb as always, providing just the right amount of ‘mickey taking’ and support when needed. Though I do long for the day when a ‘critter covered’ celebrity gives them a big hug, at the end of a trial. ‘Share the love’, I say.

• In my opinion the right woman was crowned ‘Queen of the jungle’, simple as that.

So, there you have it, wishing you all a restful, peaceful and joyful festive season.

Until next time

Janice Taylor

www.blueskycareerconsulting.co.uk

My Marilyn moment…………

This whole incident, still makes me laugh to this day, just one of many silly and funny things that happened in my life before marriage and motherhood. Its good I think at times to share and remember some of the silly, reckless and sometimes risky things you did in your past. The silly situations you found yourself in and to be thankful for the times when things worked out and to learn from those when they didn’t.

Today’s title is a reference to the iconic scene in the 1955 Marilyn Monroe film ‘The Seven Year Itch’ and happened to me sometime in the mid-eighties. That’s probably about as specific as I’m prepared to get with regards to this event.

A group of us were in Paris to celebrate the wedding of a friend, and to attend a ball. I can’t quite recall how all this came about, how arrangements were made, tickets booked, but somehow we all ended up staying in different locations throughout our stay.

In any case on the night of the ball, I ended up in one place and most of my belongings in another. So, in the morning I didn’t have a huge choice of things to wear and one of the things that hadn’t quite made it across was my underwear.

I was in one location, my clean underwear in another…..

Still, luckily for me I had a long skirt to hand and one reasonable top, so undeterred I got dressed and set off with the others. Reasoning that if I was careful, everything would be okay, all I needed to do was to ensure my skirt stayed down and didn’t blow upwards.  I could sort myself out as soon as we returned to the flat where we had initially ‘set up camp’. I was hoping that after a bit of lunch we would head back to the apartment and I would be reunited with a clean pair of pants.

Unfortunately, for me at least our French hosts were very keen to show us the city and it was going to be some while before we could head back to the flat. I did notice some sideways ‘glances’ as my hand never strayed far from my skirt. I was very diligent in making sure it stayed in place.

This went on for a few hours, me making appreciative noises and small talk in my very limited French, while all the while making sure that my hand remained permanently ‘glued’ to my skirt.

So, I was mightily relieved when someone, at long last suggested that we were so close to the flat that we may as well head back. All we needed to do was cross the road and we’d be ‘home’.

‘Great, wonderful’ I thought and in my relief and haste I stepped without thinking onto an air vent right in the middle of the road.

To this day I don’t know why I didn’t just step calmly off the vent, that’s all I needed to do really. Luckily the one other person who understood and knew what was going on, had the sense to drag me off before any damage was done.

Again, I can only surmise that our French hosts were somewhat mystified by this strange behaviour and hurried to get us back to the flat.

And once I’d been reunited with my clean underwear, I and my ‘friend’ explained the situation to our hosts amongst much laughter, coffee and maybe some wine.

So, there you have it, an unusual end to our trip to Paris.

Until next time

Janice Taylor

www.blueskycareerconsulting.co.uk

PS Incidentally, it was quite some years later, that my ‘husband to be’, proposed in Paris.

Don’t pee in the bath……………………

The joys and adventures of living in shared accommodation

Never again……

720a Leytonstone High road, E11, this was my address after graduating and landing my first full time job as a graduate engineer.

It cost me, just about 30 years ago now £38 per week to rent a room in a shared house, with no shared living space apart from the kitchen and bathroom.

It was the best I could find at the time – living in a room next door to a young man who though seemed very nice, also had some serious issues with alcohol, which was particularly noticeable whenever he opened the door to his room.

I then moved to rent a couple of rooms with let’s call him Dave and you can read more about my adventures here at https://pittabread.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/deux-petit-pois-et-une-carotte-de-bebe/.

My next move to Debden, in Essex wasn’t too successful either, we were burgled pretty early on and then to top it all I kept coming across BNP stickers and posters at the station, which kept reappearing as fast as I could tear them down.

So I was very glad to leave all that behind and move to Walthamstow, E17 where I found a room to rent in a lovely house. Couldn’t believe my luck, but there was just one small problem – I was in my opinion sharing a house with a slightly ‘mad’ housemate who was over the course of a few months to become the ‘bane of my life’.

I picked up ‘the vibe’ from the moment we met and it ‘kinda’ went down-hill from there, in any case I am not going to dwell on that today but rather to consider the etiquette needed to live harmoniously with others.

Particularly as I consider my daughter and the likelihood that she is likely to spend far longer renting and sharing her living space, than her parents.

So in no particular order here are a few things I learnt (the hard way) during my time as a lodger………..

• Leave all and any shared space better than you found it, regardless. It is just possible that the people you are sharing with, will notice and move up to your standards.

• Don’t allow things to ‘fester’ so that your time is spent quietly seething with resentment until you explode. Far, far better instead to deal with things whilst you can still do so with a smile, rather than a snarl or through ‘gritted’ teeth.

• Don’t do as one person I know did, pee in someone’s bath, if someone is irritating you that much maybe it’s time for at least one of you to move out.

• Conversely, probably wise not to leave the bathroom unattended if you have just run a bath. With regard to my friend a whole host of irritations and resentments came to the fore, when presented with this ‘golden’ opportunity.

• If someone leaves a chair full of cuddly toys directly outside your room, probably best to start a conversation rather than persistently and stubbornly ignore it.

• Avoid at all costs, having a screaming match with your flat mate, really doesn’t make for a harmonious coexistence.

• Be wary of ‘live in’ landlord owners looking for more than a lodger, who needs the hassle and the added complication?

Think that’s probably about it, be happy to hear about your ‘renting adventures’.

Until next time

Janice Taylor

www.blueskycareerconsulting.co.uk