merry xmas

Hello to you all
Just wanted to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful 2007.
Remember to include plenty of fun and laughter into the festive season - start the year as you mean to go on!!!
Until next year.
Leigh x

muse concert

Went to see Muse at Wembley Arena recently and they were absolutely brilliant. They had the audience eating out of their hands by playing songs that everyone knew and could sing along to.
What an amazing band they are...so musically talented and innovative in their approach.
Just heard that they are playing at Wembley Stadium next June and wanted to say to all you music fans out there...GET TICKETS NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!!!
You won't be sorry.
All the best to you.
Leigh x
PS Forgot to mention that I've moved to a flat that overlooks Epping Forest...it's fab!

My summer

Well...what a summer I've had. My feet haven't touched the ground since my flying lesson in July.
I've had all sorts of fun in Norfolk, Newmarket, Dublin, Spain and most recently in Toronto and New York.
I've experienced 30 degrees on the beach in Spain to 3 degrees on the streets of Toronto...both really good fun.
Had quite a scary experience in the CN Tower in Toronto walking on the glass floor on the 115th floor. It took me a few minutes of self talk to convince myself it was going to be ok before I had the courage to step over the edge. What a great feeling though once I was there.
Then I had the Niagara Falls experience - the magnitude and power of the falls is amazing. I took loads of photos and they just don't do it justice. If you ever fancied it - GO. It really is worth it.
New York was fantastic as usual. I've been before and loved it just as much as the first time. I've done different things each time I've been - there's so much there to choose from.
I'm firmly fixed at home for the rest of the year...unless something else takes my fancy of course!!!!
Take care until next time,
Leigh x

My treat

Recently a very special person decided to treat me to a wonderful surprise. It was a magical day of amazing experiences - giving me such unforgettable memories.
I was picked up at lunchtime and taken to lunch (and if that wasn't enough)...I was then driven to Stapleford Airfield for a flying lesson (again I'm thinking, if that wasn't enough)...then taken to Cambridge to watch 'A midsummer nights dream' accompanied by the most delicious picnic...how lucky am I?????? I have never felt so spoilt and pampered.
For those of you that have an urge to fly - go for it. When you're up in the sky the world is such a quiet, peaceful place. You feel like you're moving so slowly that you can't possibly be getting anywhere.
It was the most beautiful clear day and the sun was shining - the views were spectacular.
I was a little nervous when I climbed into the plane but the pilot was brilliant and it turned out to be so much easier than I'd feared.
From being high in the sky to sitting on a rug in the grounds of St John's College watching Shakespeare...how can you top that!!
Thank you x
Leigh

great holiday

Wow - what a holiday.
My first time in Nice and what a great place to go. If you want fab weather, great food, lot's of brilliant nightlife then this is the place.
All the lively bars and clubs are in old Nice and you can party till dawn.
Recovery on the beach next day makes for a good tan - just make sure you drink plenty of water.
Thought I would be coming home for a rest but my diary has been crammed with meetings this week - both work and social.
Think a quiet weekend is in order to get me ready for partying in July for my birthday.
Hope you're all enjoying life at the mo!!
Leigh

Moved at last!!!

Well it's taken me 7 months though I have finally moved in to my new home.

Whilst the house is pretty much done, the garden looks like a jungle! The grass is up to my knees although there does seem to be some little gems mixed in with the weeds so it will be a slow proces of carefully tidying and checking out the little treasures.

The garden is nearly 100 ft so I'll be sure to give you little updates as I go along.

If any one's got any good advice, I'd really appreciate it!!!

...and if you could pray for good weather that would be great :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Maria

Hi World it's Dean here

Just keeping you up to speed with my latest developments.

Lots have happened since I was last in touch, not least of all is the fact that I got married on the 6th May to my soul mate Caroline. The wedding was beautiful and we all had a great day shared with friends and family.

Anyhow this was just a brief message to let you know what's happening, because as usual duty calls and I must get back to the grind to continue making those ends meet.

Sorry if you never received your invitation (HA!)

Be Lucky and God Bless

Deano

A Creative Weekend Ahead!!

Hi All.....

A feeling of dread hit me last night when I collected my 2 year old Daughter, Evie, from nursery. As I approached the front door a notice hit my attention......."EASTER BONNET PARADE". As you know Good Friday is only a week away and the nursery are holding an Easter Bonnet Parade for all the children to attend. It is being held at 2pm in the garden. Each class will parade their Bonnets to an audience of children, parents and staff. The notice advised parents that they will need to make their child a bonnet!! A first for me!!
Of course I am really looking forward to the parade, its just the creative aspect that scares me as friends and family know I'm not creative!!
So my mission this weekend is to make my little "bunny" a bonnet. I am starting to get some ideas and will be rushing down to the art shop on Saturday to get my materials.
Evie's Nanna has been invited. Evie's Nanna is Mrs Creative. My Brother and I never lost a Easter Bonnet Parade or any kind of creative competition come to think of it! I am not going to cheat and ask Nanna to help....I can't.....she is 1hr 30mins away!!
I plan to create a lovely bonnet together with Evie this weekend and look forward to the big day.

Wish me luck and let my creative juices flow!!

Have a good weekend

Michelle

London 2012

Went to an event last night especially for local businesses that want to be ready for any opportunities that the London Olympics will create for them.
There were lot's of big players there and after listening to the speakers I realised that the impact will be collossal - did you realise that at it's peak there will be 6000 construction workers on site? Imagine how many teas, coffees and bacon butties are going to be needed to keep them all working happily.
The ODA (Olympic Delivery Authority) are totally committed to using local companies to help regenerate the area still further.
So my message to all you companies is to get 'Olympic Fit' by making sure all your processes are up to scratch - including Health & Safety and Quality Systems, because this will also be taken into consideration. Contracts will be awarded from 2007 onwards.
Have a good one.
Leigh

My first Networking Event

Hello Everyone.....

Well on Tuesday evening I attended my first networking event with Leigh. It was held at The Tower Hotel and was a Ecademy event. Networking is something that I have been meaning to do for ages and quite honetly had been a little shy!! Deep down I knew that I'd be fine as I have presented at hundreds of meetings in my recruitment career however I can honestly say I had butterflies!!
I am glad that I attended this event with Leigh as I think I would have been somewhat confused had I arrived on my own. The event was being held from 6pm to 10pm. Starting with a initial networking session in the hotel bar. Leigh and I arrived a little after 6pm and located the bar to find that the organisers, Ecademy, hadn't actually arrived and there was nowhere to register. It was well after 6.30pm before it was clear if we were in the right place and that we were at a networking event. However, the room started to fill with people and it was time to network!!
Leigh had given me a few tips on our journey from the office to The Tower and after all the waiting around and confusion I just wanted to get started. So Leigh and I went our separate ways. Within seconds I had approached 2 fellow networkers and introduced myself. I don't know what I was worried about. It was really interesting to meet new people and find out what their business is. I gained some really interesting contacts that I feel will be of benefit now and in the future. People are keen to hear what you do and even if it is not something they need now or in the future they are willing to mention clients or contacts that may be interested.
I am really pleased how the evening went. I was silly to worry! I am already about to book my next networking event and plan to try a few before committing to a monthly event.
Thanks to Leigh for taking me along and sharing her networking tips!
I will let you know how successful my next event is.

Have a good weekend!
Michelle

an exhasting weekend

I did my third evening of Ceroc dancing last night and can really recommend it as a way of keeping fit, meeting new people and having lot's of fun - I'm really enjoying it.
In my quest to add variety to my fitness training, I decided to get back into mountain biking after a 5 year break. I met the gang at Epping Forest at 9.30 yesterday morning with trepidation and boy, was I right to be nervous. Getting over logs, riding on a camber, through dodgy ditches and all those technical challenges I used to do with a certain level of confidence all seemed very scary to me. We only did about 12 miles but mentally I felt like I had done 20. I'm going to go out on Saturday and Sunday next weekend to see if I can coax that old confidence out from where it's hiding within me. Wish me luck!!!
Have a great week.
Leigh

Happy Dancing

Went to my first Ceroc class last night - it's a cross between salsa and jive for those of you that don't know.
I was scared rigid after the first demo and thoughts like "how the hell am I going to remember that", "shall I leave now?" and "I don't think this is for me" all came flooding into my head.
Bearing in mind that this was the first of 4 steps we were going to learn, panic was definitely setting in.
One advantage I had being female is that the guy does the leading and all I had to do was follow...without causing him major damage to his feet!!!
3 hours later, I was whizzing round the dance floor laughing and having a brilliant time...and that's only knowing 4 moves.
Can't wait till next week.

Leigh

Happy 2006!

Here we are, another Christmas and New Year celebrated… too much food… too much drink… too many late nights!!

TSC started our celebrations on the evening of 22^nd December 2005 when we had our annual Christmas get together at Sarastro’s in Holborn. It is definitely worth a visit if you haven’t been before. The food is great and it is themed as a theatre, dramatically painted and they even have theatre ‘boxes’ for you sit and eat in!

After copious amounts of drinks we all managed to find our way home and continue our holidays in the same vein J

Back at work today and we had a team meeting to set goals for the coming year. This is something we have done for the last 3 or 4 years and it’s a great way of starting the New Year in a positive light.

I hope that you get all that you wish for in 2006. Enjoy!!

Maria