-
What does it mean to be a Mentor?
Today, 27th October 2023, is National Mentoring Day, which begs the question ‘What does it mean to be a Mentor?’ Having mentored many BAs in my time I wanted to find a great definition of what mentoring was …but very few of the definitions I came across resonated with me. They were factually correct however they didn’t get across the bond that a mentor and mentee create over time. And then I found this definition from the University of Southampton: Mentoring is a protected relationship which supports learning and experimentation and helps individuals develop their potential. A mentoring relationship is one where both mentor and mentee recognise the need for…
-
Care4Carers – Arran Tour of 2023
Usually, when I go away, I write a mini travel blog of my exploits, it’s perhaps a bit grand to call it a travel blog. It’s more a set of musings of what I got up to, complete with amusing quips and observations. For this trip somehow it feels like something a bit different is needed. Below are my own thoughts on the amazing C4C June trip to Arran. Before we begin, a quick explanation Yes, my chosen career is a Business Analyst, but I am also a ‘carer’ for my husband Michael who has, at times, severe mental health issues. Although he has always been very self-aware and understanding…
-
Day 5 – The Day of the Ned (Part 2)
As you will recall, our intrepid duo were on an excursion across the island in search of fun and frivolity …but little did they know the eventful start of the journey was just a precursor to what was soon to be a night filled with danger and near-death experiences courtesy of the Ned 5! Edge-of-your-seat stuff, eh!? …forget Dickens, this is your latest zombie apocalypse blockbuster! The Music Hall Tavern Billed as “The funniest night of your holiday!” we had come on this little trip to let our hair down and have some fun at the famous cabaret show. We were greeted at the door by one of the entertainers…
-
Day 5 – The Day of the Ned (Part 1)
Definition: ‘Ned’, a derogatory term used in Scotland when referring to hooligans, louts, or petty criminals. The weather had turned The day was overcast, to begin with …so we should have known then, a storm was coming! (Ok, this is my lame attempt at channelling my inner Dickens. I fully accept it needs more work! I’m trying to ready you for the scary tale to come. Consider my dark storytelling a work in progress!) We woke up to a cloudy sky, which had one advantage: no battles over sunbeds! It was still a warm day despite the cloud, so after breakfast, we headed off to the prom to entertain ourselves…
-
Five Jumps for Charity – Julia’s Jumps
Intermission! We interrupt the exciting ongoing series of ‘Ladies in Lanzarote’ to bring you this new exclusive… (rest assured, your ‘favourite’ blog series will return new week!) Extraordinary Women I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by some extraordinary women; friends and sisters, who themselves are fighting their own battles daily. Whether it be looking after and worrying about family, contending with work, struggling with ill health, or supporting and caring for sick partners and loved ones. …and yet they still make time to reach out a helping hand to others when it is needed. One such friend stood out this Easter with her monumental effort for charity, my wonderful friend…
-
Day 4 – Beach babes
Nothing like a sharp jolt to start the day! Early morning, Fi and I woke with a shock …or should I say, I woke up Fi with a fright, shouting out like a lunatic thanks to a bad dream! I remember the dream vividly; a gang of brutish hillbillies was attempting to run Fi over in their car, and I was trying to pull the car back by the bumper, whilst shouting and swearing at them. However, they couldn’t understand me as my words wouldn’t form properly and instead everything was coming out as a loud weird groan. And that’s when I suddenly woke up …with Fi looking at me…
-
Day 3 – Sun, sun, and more sun!
We woke up to another glorious day that was even hotter than the day before, and this meant only one thing …yet more exhausting lazing in the sun (I know, I know! Such a dreadful soul-destroying job …but someone had to do it!) There were no sunbed niceties this morning and no mistakes with bagging a good spot …well almost! I was up early and quickly out of the starting blocks to bag that all-important pair of sunbeds in a spot I thought was perfect …but not being an expert in these things I’d misjudged a badly placed gazebo that would cast shade later! (Look… I hadn’t been abroad in…
-
Day 2 – Lazy days and sunbed shenanigans
Oh, what a beautiful morning! I woke up early on that first morning and armed with my iPad and sunglasses went for a walk (leaving Fi snoozing …or was that snoring in bed!). The sun was already up, warming the day as I headed out with a big smile on my face. Ending up at the pool area, I sat down in the sunshine at one of the tables to write notes for this blog, something I’d not had much time to do before. I was pretty much oblivious to the world around me. Just happy that it was sunny! Sunbed-Gate Later I would discover I had made a crucial…
-
Day One – Have passport, will travel..?
Then again it is Friday 13th …so who knows! After all the running around the day before, I was amazed we surfaced in the morning so easily. Mind you, my alarm is pretty piercing! We were up early ready to face the day, so long as that involved getting a flight to the sunshine …there is no telling what Fi might do had there been more problems! 😃 With a more than little trepidation, we headed to the airport, not quite shaking off yesterday’s disaster and praying lightning really doesn’t strike twice. At least if we ended up stranded in Glasgow, it had finally stopped raining. Airport nerves We got…
-
Day Zero (still) – Going somewhere?
The recap Now, where were we? …Oh yes, we were going nowhere! Our flight had just taken off and we had been dumped, left behind, stranded at the airport! The only small glimmer of hope was a telephone number given to us by our ‘hand-holding friends’. A concession for their less-than-helpful chat earlier. …honestly, I think they gave it to us so we’d walk away! The number was for the local passport office. Armed with this and a cup of tea we went to make a call! The golden number Suddenly, we were hopeful again …not all was lost! Call us naïve… But, we were utterly convinced a lovely person…
