Just pleasantly floundering around.....

A teacher of a class of seven and eight year olds posed a simple problem to her class. “There are four blackbirds sitting in a tree. You take a catapult and shoot one of them. How many are left?” “Three,” answered the first seven year old with certainty. “One subtracted from four leaves three.” “Zero,” answered the second pupils with equal certainty. “If you shoot one bird, the others will fly away. “Stop being so mean to blackbirds,” says Molly from the outer edges of the page. I read this story yesterday and it’s exactly the thing I would have loved as a kid. When I read it, I went straight into school maths problem mode and said, ‘three.’ But then enjoyed discovering the ‘trick.’ I asked chap and he said, “None.” Smart arse. I thought I was the queen of outside the box thinking! I soon revert to conditioned training when it comes maths – clearly. I think this little vignette is a powerful metaphor that illustrates heaps about perspective. Neither of these pupils were wrong once thei...

You are going to be sent to the desert island of Gawaii. It is a beautiful place with sandy beaches, palm trees and freshwater rivers. The sea surrounding it is crystal clear. The days are always sunny and rain only ever falls at night. On the island there is a cabin for you to live in. Inside, there is a wooden bed, a wooden chair, a bowl for washing, a toothbrush and paste, a bucket, a cup, a plate, a cooking pot, a knife and a spoon. You have a selection of hats, underwear, trousers, tops and footwear to choose from. You also have some basic tools: a saw, a spade, a lighter, some rope, a sharp knife some string, a hammer and nails. On Gawaii, there are plenty of fruit trees and vegetables that grow in the ground. You could survive just by eating these fruit and vegetables and drinking the water from the rivers. Before you go to live on Gawaii, you are asked to choose some things from each of the following lists. What do you choose? Set up before you arrive – you can choose three • ...

I once was engaged in an activity on a training day where everyone was asked to think of a little life problem that needed to be solved. Nothing major, just something like what to buy so and so for their birthday present or a little inconvenience that we needed to sort. We than found a partner and sat directly opposite them. We took it in turns to have five minutes opposite our partner just talking about the 'problem' while she or he sat facing us actively listening. By actively listening, we meant giving good eye contact, nodding and saying things like 'yes' and 'go on'. When we were asked to give feedback. Nearly everyone had solved their problem. The reason? If there is a problem, the person with it has most authority over it. They have all the insider knowledge, are the most tuned into the problem and are the person that can work out the most-likely-to-work and palatable solution for their unique circumstances. So unless the problem needs the input of specia...

I remember reading an article about happiness some time ago. It identified many criteria that those with a generally happy disposition tended to have. There were not many surprises. It stated, for example, that severe poverty can have a negative impact on happiness but once all basic needs are met, there is no correlation between increased wealth and an increase in happiness (although many strive for wealth, I assume, with the idea it will make them happier which is not surprising considering the conditioning we receive in the capitalist western world!). It spoke about 'flow', personal 'wiring' and health and so on. However, the one happiness criteria that stood out for me was, 'the ability to transcend pettiness.' It is remarkable how we can sometimes let something that is, in the large scheme of things, quite insignificant, annoy or upset us to the point of it being detrimental to our happiness and wellbeing. Which brings me to one of my more serious catchphra...

I have found travelling in Blogsville a very entertaining, interesting, thought provoking, self-awareness raising and enlightening experience. This is not just because of what I have read on other people’s blogs or formulated for my own; it’s also the learning I’ve gained by reflecting on writing my posts, the comments they receive and from commenting on other people’s blogs. An outline of my key learning….! 1) Writing style I appear to be able to write in a reasonably clear way, using simple language to convey my meaning. Not bad for someone that could not read at ten and carried a fear toward the written word for years!! I also realise I am the queen (or prevalent implementer) of bracketed tangents and elaborations!!! 2) Blogging community It’s surprising how you feel connected to your main commenters! It’s a little blogging community. We are all so different and each blogger also brings their uniquely flavoured comments. For example: Claire - flippant, irreverent and very funny Nick...

I found this activity in a book that tickled me!!! I was impressed with the list that had been composed. Quite often lists in resources are not as comprehensive as this one! The activity is used to investigate our own viewpoints, prejudices, judgements and intolerances. I'm pretty sure we all have them. I defy anyone not to find a single pet hate on this list! You don't have to share if you don't want! You could just say how many you counted so as to prevent offence! 1) Urban 4X4 drivers 2) Men in white socks 3) Balding men with comb overs 4) Limp handshakes 5) Rottweiler owners 6) Brits abroad 7) Tattoos 8) Fur coats 9) Welsh 10) Dirty fingernails 11) Gnome owners 12) NIMBYs (Not in my back yard) 13) English 14) Socks and Sandals 15) Fluffy dice in cars 16) Hippies 17) American tourists 18) Gum chewers 19) Smokers 20) Irish 21) 'Chavs' 22) White stilettos 23) Sun readers 24) Binge drinkers 25) Scots 26) Men who wear jewellery 27) Flat cap wearers 28) Shell suits 29...

Eeee. I do go away and reflect.

I know, I know. You all like different types of posts (except none of you appear to like made up stories about aliens - why is that? Where is my anorak following?). And I like writing different types of posts. So some days' posts YOU - yes YOU - will like more than others. (Did that have the effect of making you think I was talking to YOU only? I was.) But that's fine yes? I could have had a theme or one style of post but being the expansively wired (open-ended not convergent), chaotic person that I am, I know I would have become bored. Isn't it actually bloody great that we are all so diverse, that we: •hold different opinions, •approach things from different angles, •have different values, •have had different experiences, •see things differently, •behave differently, •rate things differently •can 'receive' the same experience differently •are 'wired up' differently •enjoy different things (even golf) •have different talents and skills •do things differentl...

Now I apologise if any of you have followed the link at the edge of my blog to my bit that was on Mike Fleetham's website because the following can be found there and you would have already seen it. However, I am hedging my bets that nobody has and so I bring it here, because I love it as an activity (even if I do say so myself *blush*)..... Are you sitting comfortably? Prince Anir Once upon a time their lived a prince who had everything anyone could possibly want; that is anything that could be bought with money. He lived in a big castle, drove a fast car, had a tonne of toys, televisions and computers and he slept in a beautifully designed bedroom with matching duvet cover, carpet and curtains. He also had servants that did all the boring, messy and nasty jobs for him. However, despite all these things, Anir was not a happy person. He was also not a very kind person. He often threw his things across the room in a fit of rage, shouted at the servants and insisted that he only do...

If the box is the metaphor for convention, all thing with the grain, everything mainstream, conforming...etc...etc....which of these represents your relationship with it? Or do you need a whole new representation? (You can click on each row to enlarge if need be) Please e mail further suggestions for me to add to the box bank if a) none of these pinpoint your exactly relationships with it and/or b) you just feel like drawing some more boxes. xxx

REPORT FOR MOLLY POTTER For: LATE SUMMER OF LIFE (still warm enough for paddling pools) ATTENDANCE: Full on TEACHER: All that stuff out there what keeps happening and what she ponders on SKILL: Being tactful GRADE: C- COMMENT: Molly can be extremely tactful when she's actually trying to be AND concentrating AND has registered that the person she is talking to is unlikely to be able to cope with brutal banter. However, Molly does appear to suffer from a very short brain to mouth fuse and occasionally she manages to find the single most clumsy comment that really either is the epitome of inappropriateness or simply an unintentional twist of a knife and yet still have sincerely never meant to offend. She hates upsetting people - anyone - but especially those she loves and she's got big loving going on. SKILL: Being assertive GRADE: B COMMENT: Like most people this would depend on the time, place, mood and those present. She has teetered along the fine line between assertive ...

Last year before Christmas I got the team I work in to answer a questionnaire about themselves. I then turned their answers into a quiz (sort of who said what..who chose...match the ? with the ?...etc...)to entertain us over lunch!!!! I’m not suggesting I do that with Blogsville but here are a few of the optional questions I asked -with my answers. I was wondering if anyone would give me their answers in the comment box. Pretty please. Please, please, beg, please..... You've seen some of my dodgy inner workings. Now it's my turn to be nosey. Even if you choose just one question to answer I'd love it. You might even like to answer a question I have not asked. I am even considering not blogging tomorrow to see how many answers I can get from you............. 1) What is your idea of a good night out? Witty banter or interesting/thought provoking conversation in a pub with beer...some live music is a bonus 2) If you could receive any gift tomorrow, what would it be? Well, I do...

I've had a request (I take requests) for a blog from my blog's greatest follower: my sister. Hello Claire you big loveliness. Her request was: Can you write a list of things you say at least once a day every day i.e. phrases and expressions you say a lot. Now being me, I have to bend the rules a tad because I am a bit of a catchphrase person and have periods of time when I say the same thing a lot ...but not necessarily every day ....and then move on to new catchphrases. So I am going to categorise my list: Things I do probably say every day *Could you flick my computer on please? (as my husband goes to get his underpants!) *I love you *You're great *Alright darlin'? (I probably say that 20 times a day) * Mc - I turn many things into a rhyming Mc for example Chilly McFilly or Scrummy McWummy (my daughter is very irritated by this so I am trying to phase it out) *Where are my shoes/keys/etc?...something is nearly always playing up and hiding from me *I'm just going t...

I have been a tad poorly with a snotty little virus in the last couple of days which made me think, 'can I write a blog about being ill?' This lead on to the question, 'could I write a blog about just about anything?' The answer? Probably because there's not much I can't waffle on speculatively about (not necessarily knowledgeably!). It's not a boast. It's a realisation that I probably need to reflect more and pump out less!! However I do have an observation about people and illness - see I can't help myself. I think that people's different (and they are diverse) responses to being ill is very much linked to their parents'/carers' reaction to illness. Whether a person duplicates their parents' approach or has reacted against it, it's a raw display of their unconscious in action (as after all, we are potentially ill from babyhood - so we are talking about very deep-rooted wiring). I know this is obvious, but I have never heard any...

What would be the best compliment a friend could pay you? (I explore this as a lighthearted activity with adults). If you can't think of anything - which of the following would you most like to hear someone say to you. You are kind You are witty I always enjoy being with you You are good at art You always cheer me up You are easy to talk to You have a great imagination You are really helpful You are a stylish dresser You are really interesting You are a very unusual person Your advice is always great You are generous You are good at writing Everyone likes you You are so clever What I have learnt from doing this activity: 1) It's funny because this is truly different for every person. 2) Some people, really, really cannot receive compliments. It's linked to very poor self esteem. 3)Most of us appear to like to be complimented about things we already feel truly proud of because it means someone has noticed a quality we allow ourselves to believe we genuinely possess. Also, if...