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What happens if my energy supplier goes out of business?

Posted on Tue 28th Sep 2021 at 12:09 PM from Coventry, UK
Listening to Oasis :: Wonderwall

There has been much talk lately about energy companies and prices. This is due to a sharp increase in prices and several smaller suppliers going out of business. It all comes down to the price cap.

What is the price cap?

OFGEM are the regulator of domestic gas and electricity in the UK. They set the maximum price a supplier can charge for a "typical household". Thi [read more.....]

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EC Local

Posted on Fri 23rd Jul 2021 at 12:52 PM from Coventry
Listening to American Authors :: Best Day Of My Life

For many years I have benefitted from the Entrepreneurs Circle (EC). Not only from their world-class marketing ideas and techniques but from better thinking. The quality of one's thinking is biggest factor in success. My thinking has certainly improved over the years. Much of this is thanks to the EC.

But I never intended to join. Like many things, it happened very much by accident [read more.....]

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The Learning Plateau

Posted on Thu 20th May 2021 at 10:06 AM from Coventry

In many areas of life there is a curse. We don't know what we don't know! There is so much to every non-trivial subject that nobody can know everything. The problems is, once we know enough to get our needs met, we stop learning more.

Take cooking. There are thousands of techniques that could be learnt. Yet, to impress friends at a dinner party or even to run a restaurant, one only [read more.....]

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Working from home

Posted on Wed 25th Mar 2020 at 12:55 PM from Coventry, UK
Listening to The Cranberries :: Zombie

Given the current coronavirus crisis and the resultant lockdown, lots of people are working from home. For many, this is unfamiliar territory! I don't have an office - I always work from home so I'm sharing some tips which might help.
[read more.....]

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Meeting people's need through shared living

Posted on Wed 8th Jan 2020 at 03:06 PM from Warwick, UK

We do not have to go too far back into the past for home ownership to be an alien concept for most people. It just wasn't a social norm. For most of the three decades following World War 2, council housing was a source of pride.
[read more.....]

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Heritage Open Weekend

Posted on Sun 16th Sep 2018 at 08:21 PM from Coventry, UK

This weekend has been the second Heritage Open Weekend of the year. The first being last weekend. Joolz and I have been out and about in Coventry.
[read more.....]

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Welcome marketing

Posted on Thu 12th Apr 2018 at 01:31 PM from Warwick, UK

When you hear the words 'marketing' or 'advertising', what image springs into your mind?
Is it something positive or do you feel pestered and disturbed?

For most people 'marketing' has a negative feel. Something unwanted being forced on them. But welcome marketing is totally different...
[read more.....]

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Success...

Posted on Mon 22nd Jan 2018 at 02:05 PM from Warwick, UK

What does success mean to you?
Often we associate success with money. Money is important but it certainly is far from the only criteria for success. Have you ever thought about exactly what success means to you?
[read more.....]

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Pay the price...

Posted on Thu 11th Jan 2018 at 02:20 PM from Warwick, UK

At this time of year quite a few people are still thinking about goals for 2018. Most months I go to a meeting in a hotel which has a popular gymnasium. Every January the car park is overflowing, February it is packed and by March it is back to normal because everybody has got fit!
[read more.....]

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Electric cars could change society - and soon

Posted on Mon 8th Jan 2018 at 02:03 PM from Warwick, UK

Whatever you think about electric and autonomous vehicles - they are on their way! [read more.....]

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Consistency

Posted on Mon 30th Oct 2017 at 05:52 PM from Warwick, UK

Last weekend we put the clocks back and today the temperature has suddenly fallen. These cold dark nights leave no room for doubt that the growing days in the garden are behind us. [read more.....]

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Bitcoin - where will it go?

Posted on Mon 16th Oct 2017 at 01:52 PM from Warwick, UK

Bitcoin... By now the world and his wife have heard about Bitcoin. I've been asked recently for my thoughts so I am sure it is high time I wrote a few words.
[read more.....]

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London Marathon is today

Posted on Sun 23rd Apr 2017 at 10:12 AM from Warwick, UK
Listening to Marathon coverage on TV

The City of London today transforms into the stage for one of the world's most iconic events. The 36th London Marathon.
There are many comparisons between London today and our business journeys.
[read more.....]

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New beginnings

Posted on Mon 3rd Apr 2017 at 04:18 PM from Warwick, UK

It is April already! A quarter of the way through 2017... But this April marks a number of new beginnings for me and to mark the occasion the garden is bursting into life!
[read more.....]

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Predictions review

Posted on Sat 2nd Jul 2016 at 10:02 PM from Warwick, UK

At the start of 2016 I made some predictions for the year ahead. As we are now half way through the year it seems like a mid-term review is in order to see how these predictions are coming along.
[read more.....]

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The size of government

Posted on Tue 21st Jun 2016 at 12:28 PM from Warwick, UK

In the second part of why I believe we should leave the EU without guesswork, I want to consider the role and extend of government on a nation. I think that we can agree that every nation needs governance.
[read more.....]

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There is more that unites us than divides us

Posted on Fri 17th Jun 2016 at 09:26 AM from Warwick, UK

The news of the killing of Jo Cox MP yesterday has shocked our nation. I could not believe the words I was hearing and they brought tears to my eyes. "There is more that unites us than divides us" are words from Jo's maiden speech as an MP.
[read more.....]

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Laws, spirits and ways

Posted on Mon 16th May 2016 at 09:41 PM from Warwick, UK
Listening to VNV Nation :: Arena

In the first part of my look at the EU Referendum I'm looking at a country's identity, and thus at what makes up the identity of its people. Its Laws, Spirit and its Ways.
[read more.....]

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EU Referendum

Posted on Sat 14th May 2016 at 09:28 PM from Warwick, UK

I'm sure it won't have escaped your notice the amount of scaremongery regarding the forthcoming referendum from both sides of the debate. What we want are facts but unfortunately there are no facts.
[read more.....]

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The power of competition

Posted on Fri 29th Apr 2016 at 08:26 PM from Warwick, UK

At the beginning of 2015 I joined Toastmasters. This wasn't out of any need to do a speech but for my own personal development.
[read more.....]

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Predictions for 2016

Posted on Sun 27th Dec 2015 at 03:59 PM from Warwick

2015 is just about at an end and 2016 is nearly upon us. So I thought it would be a bit of fun to make a few predictions for the year ahead. Here are 10 things that might just happen although most are a bit of a long shot. Please comment with your thoughts about these and with your own predictions.
[read more.....]

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Setting Expectations

Posted on Sat 26th Sep 2015 at 01:05 PM from Warwick

I subscribe to a weekly financial newspaper which arrives by post every Friday. When I checked my emails yesterday I found the publishers telling me my copy of Money Week might be delayed by a day because of a problem at the printing house. [read more.....]

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Just Do It

Posted on Sun 20th Sep 2015 at 12:23 PM from Warwick

When Dan Wieden came up with the Nike slogan in 1988 I wonder if he had any idea how iconic the trademarked words would become.
[read more.....]

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Just do something

Posted on Wed 17th Dec 2014 at 06:41 PM from Warwick
Listening to Black Sabbath :: Paranoid

Part 3 of a short series...
see Part 2

If you are like me, there will be times when you really don't feel like doing what you know you should. [read more.....]

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Force it off the list!

Posted on Sun 23rd Nov 2014 at 05:10 PM from Warwick

Part 2 of a short series...
see Part 1 and Part 3

No matter how good the intention might be, there will always be tasks in the ToDo List that will never get done. Instead they will just clog up the list.

Here's a way to force them off the list.
[read more.....]

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What will you neglect todo?

Posted on Fri 14th Nov 2014 at 10:53 PM from Warwick
Listening to John Martin :: Don't You Worry Child

Part one of a short series...
see Part 2

Is you ToDo List too long with so many tasks to accomplish that there is absolutely no chance that they will ever be completed? If so, you are not alone!
But how can we regain control of the ToDo List?
[read more.....]

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What's most important?

Posted on Mon 8th Sep 2014 at 09:32 PM from Warwick

If I were to ask you "what is the most important thing to you?", what would you answer?

Maybe it would be your spouse or partner, or maybe your business or perhaps [read more.....]

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Pens and Swords

Posted on Mon 23rd Jun 2014 at 10:54 PM from Warwick
Listening to Sissor Sisters::The Other Side

There is an old adage that "The pen is mightier than the sword". I understand that this generally means that the written word can change the course of history more effectively than violent revolt or that administrative power is greater than military power. But today I have learnt a new meaning of this wise old saying.
[read more.....]

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Land of St George

Posted on Sun 1st Jun 2014 at 02:18 PM from Warwick
Listening to Citizen Steve :: Land of St George

My little sis has been trying to work out the words to "Land of St George" by Citizen Steve - as used in the 2014 electotion campaign. I'm surprised that I couldn't find a complete set of lyrics anywhere on the internet so we've sat and transcribed them. Here they are:
[read more.....]

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One of those days

Posted on Thu 15th May 2014 at 10:03 PM from Warwick

Today has been 'one of those days'
I'm sure you know what I mean; a lethargic day where every task seems difficult and where motivation is in sort supply.
[read more.....]

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Identify yourself!

Posted on Mon 12th May 2014 at 09:37 PM from Warwick
Listening to Mumford & Sons :: White Blank Page

How do you identify yourself?

I have noticed recently several radio shows have members of the public as guests and they are identified by their name, where they live and what they do for a job. Today a television show had the same thing except the four people were all retired so they were labelled by their former profession.
[read more.....]

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Staring at a squirrel

Posted on Wed 16th Apr 2014 at 01:16 PM from Priory Park, Warwick

This morning I took PatchDog to the local park just like I do most mornings. He loves to chase the squirrels that inhabit the park even though he is nothing like fast enough to catch one.
[read more.....]

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Express Day

Posted on Mon 24th Mar 2014 at 04:34 PM from Warwick

This weekend I've been to Express Day which is the company's annual convention. In most jobs people have to be forced to attend such events especially on a weekend! But with Utility Warehouse people really look forward to going along and the atmosphere is always amazing when so many positively happy and motivated people get together. That's what makes Network Marketing so special and so different from virtually every other indsutry.
[read more.....]

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Taking the pressure off

Posted on Sun 16th Feb 2014 at 09:38 PM from Warwick

Over the past weeks and months I've been increasingly aware that, by the end of the day, I am not accomplishing most of what I set myself to do in the morning. It has been a frustrating position to be in.
[read more.....]

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Resolutions

Posted on Wed 8th Jan 2014 at 04:33 PM from Warwick

We are already a week into the New Year of 2014.
How are you doing at keeping your resolutions?

Most people will have forgotten all about their resolutions already and for the most part I do not make resolutions - instead I set goals.
[read more.....]

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Family Christmas

Posted on Thu 26th Dec 2013 at 10:42 PM from Warwick

This year has been a lovely Christmas for me. Spent with my mother and sister. A few short years ago, the thought of a Christmas like this filled me with dread but this year it has been great...
[read more.....]

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Holiday

Posted on Sun 22nd Dec 2013 at 08:26 PM from Warwick

This Christmas time I decided that I will be taking two weeks off from work...because I can! I am wanting to review the methods I use to set and work on goals and Christmas and New Year seem to be the perfect time for this.
[read more.....]

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Christmas Cards

Posted on Thu 19th Dec 2013 at 05:39 PM from Warwick
Listening to David Grey :: A Century Ends

Christmas is always a time to get back in touch with those friends and family that one doesn't talk to very much during the year. And what better way to keep in touch than with a Christmas card?
[read more.....]

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What's on your business card?

Posted on Tue 22nd Oct 2013 at 10:41 PM from Warwick

This evening I have been catching up. I have been entering the information off a pile of business cards into my CRM system. I have collected the business cards from a number of networking meetings that I have been to over the past few weeks. Normally I enter these within 2 days of the meeting but currently I am quite a way behind with a number of administrative tasks such as this one.

I [read more.....]

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What to think about.

Posted on Fri 18th Oct 2013 at 11:11 PM from Warwick

Today has been an eventful day for me. A number of things have gone wrong... I have been expecting an important payment into my bank account which didn't arrive. Plus, it was the dreaded MOT day and the car has failed. Not only will this involve considerable expense but it will also mean the car being out of action for a number of days.

However, there have also been some really good thi [read more.....]

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Royal Mail shares

Posted on Tue 8th Oct 2013 at 10:40 PM from Warwick

There is no doubt that the privatisation of Royal Mail is one of the biggest stock market events to grab the attention of the public for a long time. For me it marks a realisation of how consistency pays off.
[read more.....]

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Mobile perseverence pays off

Posted on Tue 1st Oct 2013 at 08:46 PM from Shoples, Warwick

Since I changed my mobile phone, I have not made any blog posts! This is far from coincidental. I have written most of my blog posts on my previous mobile phone which had a physical QWERTY keyboard. My current phone is with out this feature and so I thought it was going to be virtually impossible to make blog posts from my mobile.
[read more.....]

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Daily Routine

Posted on Wed 7th Aug 2013 at 06:07 PM from Manchester
Listening to Tony Robbins

I've had a daily routine for a few years now and I've been updating that routine every three weeks for at least 18 months. And every time it gets updated, it gets better.

Last weekend I created a new daily routine and I really seem to have got it right this time :)
[read more.....]

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Big change...

Posted on Mon 5th Aug 2013 at 08:34 PM from Manchester
Listening to Pink Floyd :: Learning To Fly

The last few weeks have been hectic for me - hectic in a good way that is. I have been to numerous workshops, trainings and events and something has become obvious to me. So obvious that I don't know why it has taken me so long to see it!

I have several business interests [read more.....]

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New House

Posted on Fri 19th Jul 2013 at 10:47 PM from Warwick
Listening to Susan Maughan :: Bobby's Girl

What a week it has been...
It's Friday evening and I am sat in the garden of my house in Warwick with PatchDog laying at my feet. He is not too keen on the hot weather as, unlike you and me, he wears his warm fur coat all day, every day!

But this Friday is special as it marks the end of our first week here in our new house in Warwick. I'm renting a second house so I can be close to [read more.....]

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Networking in Warwick

Posted on Thu 20th Jun 2013 at 08:37 PM from Warwick
Listening to Question Time on TV

I have been doing some business networking for a little over 2 years. But last month I decided to step it up a level and I'm planning to try and attend at least one networking event per week. As I am spending increasingly large amounts of time Warwick it makes sense for me to start networking here.

Today I started that process and used an idea that I learned some time ago from Nigel Botterill (@nigelbotterill). [read more.....]

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Keeping a journal

Posted on Mon 17th Jun 2013 at 07:40 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester

About four months ago I was thinking it would be an idea to keep a journal. However I was concerned that I wouldn't find the time to update it or that I would let it get out of date like I tend to do with my blog!

But I was reading a blog post by Jim Rohn about how useful a personal journal is to self development. He was saying just how important it is to be able to look back at choice [read more.....]

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There's so much to do...

Posted on Mon 20th May 2013 at 04:03 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester

If, like me, you keep a ToDo List then I'm sure you find that no matter how much you do, there is always more that needs doing. It is a fact of life that you simply cannot do everything that needs doing. There will always be something else to demand your time.

There are some tasks though that you should do or even some that you must do. But the reality is that these will n [read more.....]

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Affirmation of the week

Posted on Mon 15th Apr 2013 at 03:20 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to Primal Scream :: It's Alright, It's OK

I've used affirmations for a long time. Statements that I read out loud every night before I settle down for sleep. But I've never been totally convinced at the effectiveness of them. They certainly help if I'm having difficulty with a problem and can refer to them but I'm not sure they do much more.

Over the weekend I read about a different approach to affirmations...to pick one each week and display it around the house. The affirmation I picked is shown and explained below but first here's how it works.
[read more.....]

1 Comment


Bookends

Posted on Wed 20th Mar 2013 at 09:14 PM from Warwick

There is absolutely no way that we can control what happens during our day and what distractions come along. This is especially true in business. But what we can control is our bookends of the day...how we start our day and how we end our day and what we do in those times.

Today I have been thankful that I control my daily bookends and utilise the power of this routine.

I was [read more.....]

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How safe is your money?

Posted on Mon 18th Mar 2013 at 09:16 PM from Warwick

There is no doubt that the global economy is in turmoil. Or that politicians and economists fail to agree how to get it under control. However this is hardly surprising given the scale of the unprecedented turmoil.

But should you or I, as individuals, be worried the about safety of our money?

Had I been asked this a few days ago then I would say that we should be concerned of [read more.....]

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Out for dinner

Posted on Mon 25th Feb 2013 at 11:09 PM from Warwick
Listening to Wonders of Life on Television

Today I've had a day off from cooking for my mother which is nice in itself. But what was even better was that mother and I were invited over by our friend Angela. And she cooked a really nice curry.

The food was great, not having to cook it was very welcome and the company was amazing. More and more I am realising that there seem to be two very distinct ways that people view food.
[read more.....]

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The swindle of conventional wisdom

Posted on Fri 22nd Feb 2013 at 09:18 PM from Warwick

Once again I am in Warwick looking after my aging ancestor. My mother is 88 years old, she has heart problems and is quite infirm which means she is housebound. It is only because myself and my sister are here much of the time that she can continue to stay in her own home.

It seems my mother knows lots of ill people and I have got used to being told that this person has passed away or t [read more.....]

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Searching with pictures

Posted on Fri 15th Feb 2013 at 12:33 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to Radiohead :: Nice Dream

I've just found out about a handy little search option that Google now provides. It is one of those features that I can see being really useful but right now I can't think of a use for it...

But anyway - as I've only just come across it I thought I'd share it.
[read more.....]

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Where am I?

Posted on Thu 14th Feb 2013 at 10:11 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchesr

Earlier this evening I seriously wondered where I was...and it was a very strange feeling made even more wierd because it transpired that I was actually in my own living room!
[read more.....]

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Frogs...

Posted on Tue 29th Jan 2013 at 08:35 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to Glass Tiger :: My Town


If you follow me on social media then most days you might notice that I report how many frogs I have eaten. I am often asked if these are real frogs and what exactly I mean!

No they are not real, live frogs!
But they are essential to me because they are a way that I make sure that the most important things in my life get done instead of getting put off for another day.
[read more.....]

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Wheel of Life

Posted on Wed 23rd Jan 2013 at 09:47 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to John Farnham :: The Voice

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that goals are extremely important to me. I set short term goals on a daily basis and every three weeks I have a thorough planning weekend which includes a review of my long term goals. But what I talk about less is another part of that planning weekend, the Wheel of Life.
[read more.....]

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A Simple Smile

Posted on Thu 10th Jan 2013 at 02:38 PM from Nutsford Vale

Having managed to avoid the horrid lurgy that has been going around over Christmas and New Year, a few days ago it paid me a visit. Enevitable really but it has meant that PatchDog has not been out for a proper walk for a few day.

Today we're changing that and currently out on a longish walk. I've stopped to post this halfway through our walk.

As I entered the field we're in [read more.....]

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What to celebrate

Posted on Mon 24th Dec 2012 at 10:29 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to Bee Gees :: Spicks & Specks

Earlier today I delivered what I hope will be the last Christmas card except one for a friend I'll see tomorrow. I went to the corner shop to buy bread and milk and thought I'd take a card to the owner. I handed it to him at the checkout and there was a complete look of pleasant surprise on his face. You see he is a Muslim and as such doesn't celebrate Christmas...but niether do I because I am an athiest and don't believe in any god.
[read more.....]

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Spread a little joy

Posted on Sun 23rd Dec 2012 at 11:52 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to Van Morrison :: Moondance

Today I have been out to Stoke-on-Trent visiting a few friends and delivering the last few Christmas presents. On the journey down I was driving in the outside of a dual carriageway when I saw a child waving out the back window of a car in the inside lane...
[read more.....]

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Effectuation

Posted on Sun 16th Dec 2012 at 02:18 PM from Warwick

A couple of months ago I came up with a concept to help me increase my productivity, especially with the routine tasks that I want to get done everyday and that all too often don't get completed.
[read more.....]

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Birmingham Meeting

Posted on Tue 11th Dec 2012 at 10:41 PM from Warwick

This evening I have been to a Utility Warehouse meeting in Birmingham with a couple in my downline. It was nice to be given a lift as I virtually always have to drive to such meetings. But, living in Manchester [read more.....]

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What do you want for Christmas?

Posted on Sun 9th Dec 2012 at 10:35 PM from Warwick

At this time of year the question "what do you want for Christmas?" is one that I get asked regularly. But I really do not understand the reason for the question!
[read more.....]

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Taking Control of my jukebox

Posted on Sat 1st Dec 2012 at 11:06 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchesr
Listening to Suzanna Vega :: Blood Sings

Today I travelled back home after another stint looking after my mother. I had stayed a day longer than intended as she has a cold on top of her other ailments. By the time I got home Les had already gone out as she is off with her brother to see a band in Wolverhampton tonight.

So it is just PatchDog and me. Naturally he was really happy to see me home. But somehow I felt very out of p [read more.....]

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Woodburning Stove

Posted on Sun 18th Nov 2012 at 12:58 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to VNV Nation :: Space and Time

Today I am really, really happy because I have accomplished another goal in the past week. My woodburning stove that has for too long been a large ornament is finally working.




[read more.....]

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National Blogging Week

Posted on Sat 10th Nov 2012 at 12:52 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to Dolly Parton :: 9 to 5

Apparently the week that has just passed has been "National Blogging Week". I only found out on Thursday from Gaynor Ramsden on Twitter (@GaynorRamsden).

However I find it rather ironic that nobody I have spoken to over the last few days has heard of it given that blogging is all about spreading opinion and information! [read more.....]

0 Comments


I needed reminding!!!

Posted on Mon 5th Nov 2012 at 09:57 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester

I got a text from a friend of mine earlier today which simply read: "Congrats 3 years my friend :) x" - I scratched my head, looked on my wall planner but failed to understand what he was on about 3 years...
[read more.....]

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Goal of a nice meal.

Posted on Sat 3rd Nov 2012 at 08:19 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester

This week I have achieved the start of a goal that I've been working on for a few weeks now. It is a very simple goal but one that I am delighted to have now started to enjoy. My goal was very simple:
"I have friends round for dinner and we share good company at least once per month"

Food has always been important to me and I always eat at the dining table even when I am on [read more.....]

0 Comments


Strange week

Posted on Fri 2nd Nov 2012 at 08:19 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester

This past week has been a very strange one for me. Last weekend Les and I went down to Warwick for just a few days so we could be with my mother for her 88th birthday. I am by now used to travelling there and spending a bit of time there without it disrupting my life too much but this time it seems to have been very different.

I still don't feel like I am back in the swing of things si [read more.....]

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Passage of time.

Posted on Fri 19th Oct 2012 at 10:50 PM from Warwick

I sometime cannot believe how much time can pass me by without me noticing. Writing in this blog is a real example of how quickly time passes. I keep meaning to write a new post and then think I'll do it later...or I'll do it tomorrow.

Guess what - it just doesn't get done!

I've just looked and was really surprised to see how much time has passed while I have been saying "lat [read more.....]

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Small Change - Big Difference

Posted on Sun 30th Sep 2012 at 02:37 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to Suzanne Vega :: Lukka

Last week I went to a Goal Setting Workshop and I learnt lots. But one little tip I picked up have made a big difference to me. Simply reducing the size of the sheet that my Affirmations are printed on and laminating that sheet has had a massive impact!!!




[read more.....]

0 Comments


Trip to Birmingham

Posted on Sat 29th Sep 2012 at 12:29 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester

Most weekends I have a little think about the week that has just gone. I see what I can learn from the week's events and what opportunities I need to follow up on in the future.

This morning I was thinking about a trip I made to Birmingham on Wednesday to see a friend who, following my trip, is now also a customer. [read more.....]

0 Comments


Weekend time

Posted on Fri 28th Sep 2012 at 10:02 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to The Beatles :: She's Leaving Home

Some months ago I made a decision that weekends would not simply run into the rest of the week.....instead I would take weekends off. Unless of course there is a craft fair or similar but even these make a change from the usual routine.

Instead I ditch the usual ToDo List on a Friday evening and put it away until Monday. If I haven't got anything specific planned then I write out a ne [read more.....]

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Back in at the deep end

Posted on Fri 21st Sep 2012 at 10:08 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester

Well - Yesterday was the last day of this time at my mother's and my sister brought back PatchDog from his holidays in Norfolk. I decided I would cook a nice meal for us all to share before I returned to Manchester then thought it would be nice to surprise my mother by inviting her best friend over for dinner as well.....

Dinner was successful and enjoyed by all but inevitably meant th [read more.....]

0 Comments


Holiday Relaxation

Posted on Fri 14th Sep 2012 at 10:52 AM from Marham, Norfolk
Listening to Train :: This Is Not A Drive By

It has certainly been good to get away to my sister's in a remote part of Norfolk for a week. Here there is no internet access other than on my phone and although I've brought a laptop with me, it hasn't been switched on at all. I deliberately didn't bring any routine work with me and the only work related things I did bring was a worksheet to help with long term goal plannning but haven't even lo [read more.....]

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Wolferton Royal Station

Posted on Mon 10th Sep 2012 at 09:00 PM from Marham, Norfolk

Yesterday we travelled across country from my mother's in the Midlands to my sister's in Norfolk. The journey was a bit of a memory test as it is a very long time since I last drove here and I didn't use my satnav so I could show Lesley some of the sights along the way which would have otherwise been bypassed.
[read more.....]

0 Comments


Spinach

Posted on Sat 8th Sep 2012 at 04:15 PM from Warwick
Listening to Stevie Wonder

Gardening is quite a new thing to me. Although I've grown up exposed to gardening and have some knowledge of what needs to be done, I have little idea of what needs to be done when. So to give me some clues I've been watching Gardeners' World on BBC TV to provide some inspiration and guidance.

Yesterday's programme said it was time to plant hardy annuals in pots and to plant out spinach [read more.....]

0 Comments


Some things never change

Posted on Sun 2nd Sep 2012 at 07:48 PM from Warwick

This morning here at my mother's there was a knock at the door. I answered the door and it was a chap that I was friends with before I left Warwick and moved to Manchester 20 years ago. Knowing that my mother doesn't really like this chap I kept him talking at the doorstep.
[read more.....]

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Warwick Library

Posted on Sat 1st Sep 2012 at 10:32 PM from Warwick

I have been most impressed today by Warwick Library.
I'm extremely excited, probably more excited than I should be, but I'm now a member of Warwick Library :)

Today is market day in Warwick so I took my mother for a walk around and then headed to the library. I came here almost at the end of the book I'm reading and really wanted something to follow it. I make sure that I read eve [read more.....]

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Mine are the mornings.

Posted on Fri 31st Aug 2012 at 03:15 PM from Warwick

Some time ago I did some soul searching to identify the two top issues in my life that are holding me back from being as successful as I'd like to be. One issue that I found was failing to get out of bed in the morning.....I would wake up but lay there for the next few hours for no real reason achieving nothing and not even getting any quality rest.

So I decided to tackle this problem b [read more.....]

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Gathering cuttings

Posted on Sat 25th Aug 2012 at 03:14 PM from Manchester

It's strange how a small event like sitting out on my mother's patio working can have such far reaching changes. Firstly I made the important decision to change my garden which has been happening steadily. But I also find myself admiring other people's gardens lots more.

But there has been another more surprising change. [read more.....]

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Julian Assange

Posted on Sun 19th Aug 2012 at 02:36 PM from Shoples HQ, Manchester
Listening to Elton John :: Crocodile Rock

I've just watched the speech by Julian Assange made from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He has been granted political asylum by Ecuador but it is far from clear how he will ever be able to leave the embassy without being arrested by British Police and extradited to Sweden.
[read more.....]

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Garden Progress

Posted on Sat 18th Aug 2012 at 05:19 PM from Denton, Manchester

I've been back home from my mother's for a week now and things have started to happen with my garden. I'd drawn up a few rough plans but I'm not happy with any of them. It would be very easy to let this delay things but one thing that was immediately apperent once I started drawing plans was that I want a small gravelled area, surrounded by shrubs, suitable for a bistro table and two chairs.
[read more.....]

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Paying The Price.....

Posted on Sun 12th Aug 2012 at 01:12 PM from Mother's patio in Warwick

Ask anybody and they will be able to think of things in life that they haven't got, but which they would like. Some people already have a clear list of what is lacking in their life, others will make it up on the spot.

Whether it is some possession, holiday, relationship or skill I have yet to meet anyone you really wants nothing more in their life than they already have and I sincerel [read more.....]

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Sleep patterns

Posted on Wed 8th Aug 2012 at 10:46 PM from Warwick

I have never been a morning person. Even when I was at primary school I was aware that school work was much more difficult before lunch than it was in the afternoon. Plus I was always sent to bed with a feeling that there really should be more of the day still to come.

Throughout my working life I have always struggled with mornings and taken all sorts of steps to help me cope. For exam [read more.....]

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Opposing Opinions

Posted on Fri 3rd Aug 2012 at 08:57 PM from Warwick

It is now a week since the majority of people watched the specticle that was the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. Everbody I met for the next few days I asked what they thought of the event just as pleasant conversation. But I was quite surprised by the answers I got. So much so that I went out of my way to ask more and more people.
[read more.....]

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Filling the cracks of the day

Posted on Mon 30th Jul 2012 at 11:43 AM from Mother's patio in Warwick

Recently I've noticed alot of people say that they are already very busy in their life and that they don't have time to do this, that or the other. It might be keeping up with old friends, cooking dinner for someone special, starting a part-time business or learning a new skill. My guess is that people have always thought and said these things but only recently have I particularly noticed it.
[read more.....]

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Olympics

Posted on Sat 28th Jul 2012 at 12:57 AM from Manchester

Just like most of the country, and probably most of the world, I have been watching the opening ceremony of the London Olympics 2012. Who could fail to be impressed by the organisation and delivery of an event of such a scale and the great fun of it all.





[read more.....]

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Prioritising the stress away.

Posted on Fri 13th Jul 2012 at 04:48 PM from Warwick
Listening to Status Quo :: Rain

Earlier this year my elderly mother became quite seriously ill and had to spend some time in hospital. Since then she has been recovering well but between myself and my sister we try and ensure one of us is here for much of the time. Les has to stay in Manchester to look after PatchDog as mother is asthmatic which means me being very alone dealing with my mother and balancing the rest of my life.

Inevitably compromises need to be made and at first I found this very, very stressful. I continually felt that I was a poor son, a bad partner to Lesley, a bad owner to PatchDog or a poor businessman - usually all of these.

But now I have a workable solution as shown in the picture below. It allows me to be comfortable about all the compromises that need to be made and helps ensure that I am effective in all areas of my life as much as I can expect. [read more.....]

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Building motivation

Posted on Wed 11th Jul 2012 at 02:39 PM from Manchester
Listening to Rolling Stones :: Get Off My Cloud

In life and in business motivation and drive are important. But when working alone they are essential. Like everybody there are times when my drive and my motivation drop far below the levels that I would like. At these times it is essential to have procedures in place to carry me through, and my daily routine is a major part of this.

But far more powerful than anything I can create is simply being in the presence of other people that are positive, energetic and motivated. [read more.....]

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Special planning weekend.

Posted on Sat 7th Jul 2012 at 12:13 PM from Manchester
Listening to Bill Withers :: Ain't No Sunshine

This weekend is a special weekend for me. It is my planning weekend which happens every three weeks. I will be using this weekend to create a new Daily Routine to last me for the next three weeks. It is this Daily Routine that helps me get positive results and drives the productivity in my life and businesses. But why 3 weeks? [read more.....]

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Office space

Posted on Thu 5th Jul 2012 at 07:22 PM from Manchester
Listening to Eric Clapton :: Knocking On Heaven's Door

For quite a long time my office here at home was the dining room table. The arrangement worked well but every meal time I had to move my laptop and associated paperwork which was a bit of a pain but nothing too major. [read more.....]

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Canalside Walk

Posted on Wed 4th Jul 2012 at 07:43 PM from Manchester
Listening to Elvis Costello :: Oliver's Army

Today I found myself in Hyde with a bit of time to kill. I could have taken myself off to a coffee shop or I could have sat in the car and dealt with emails while listening to an audio book. But instead I decided to take a walk along a short stretch of canal. Why??? [read more.....]

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It's July!

Posted on Sun 1st Jul 2012 at 11:35 AM from Manchester
Listening to Emeli Sandé :: My Kind Of Love

Today is the first day of July......that means that we are half way through the year already! Shocking isn't it? I wonder how many New Year Resolutions are still remembered, let alone kept. [read more.....]

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New website!

Posted on Sat 30th Jun 2012 at 06:57 PM from Manchester
Listening to Isley Brothers :: Harvest For The World

For a while now I've been working on a new website for myself. And here it is! [read more.....]

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The past has no power over the present moment
- Eckhart Tolle

I'm currently
reading:

Ultra-Processed People
Chris van Tulleken