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Listening to all the boo hoo's on the whole Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the Monachy, the Government and the state of the Country and its economy, just brings me to reflect on a few things on what it means to me to be British and why I am very proud to be British and all the priviledges that we enjoy as a result:

• Freedom of Speech
• Human Rights
• It IS legal for women to drive in UK and elsewhere (Unlike in Saudi Arabia)
• Women's Rights
  
• The right to vote
  
• That in the UK we are not subjected to male or female genital mutilation
• The right of passage to many countries in the world without visa's or undue restrictions
• Access to paid work
• Workplace conditions, by legislation
• Employment law
• Access to services and utilities
• Right to an education
• Right to healthcare

Need I go on!  So, when I hear some of the wingeing currently going around due to the Diamond Jubilee and the monachy, please just take a moment to reflect and consider exactly what we have in this country and the priviledges we are entitled to without having to n

1.  The smell of fresh coffee first thing in the morning
2.  How your body feels when you have had a great 5k run in the morning
3.  The smell of freshly cut grass
Oooooh, today's going to be a good day! 

This was a book group choice to read and as a Brit now living in Scotland I was initially a little apprehensive about getting an unwanted 'history' lesson from this story.  It took me a little time to get into the book mainly due to the detail that it afforded.  However, reading on, I believe the detail is important to give as anyone is who is not Scottish, or who does not have a good awareness of Scottish history around this era really benefits from the orientation and relevance the orientation delivers.  The mystery and suspense of the story is not lost in the detail, in fact it is enhanced as it becomes quite a thick cloak around the mystery and whisperings of the tale.  I personally like a story being told by saying little but implying lots, as it stimulates my intrigue and imagination to work overtime and create all sorts of scenarios; I love that.  Also, the dry humour did not go amiss with me, additionally, I liked the characters that developed and in my mind I see Hew Cullan as quite a 'dashing Darcy' of sorts!  I am certainly very pleased I did not live in that era as it was my manic obsession with cleanliness was going into overdrive from some of the descriptive.  Overall, yes, I really enjoyed the book and will definitely seek out more from this must-read series of Hew Cullan Mystanother from what I believe is a series of the Hue & Cry setting.

Sorry guys, you are probably so overloaded with the Jubilee celebrations down there in England.  I have to say, things are pretty quiet up here in Scotland, very little vibe on the celebrations even though we have the torch coming through Banchory, Drumoak and Peterculter this week!  So, my question is this "what will you be doing over the Jubiliee celebration holidays?".  Come on, share with me and give me a chance to get into the occasion with you all.  We have had many events in our lifetime, certainly those of you born during the 50's + so many momentus occasions we have witnessed in our lifetimes.  Looking forward to your comments.

We are now well removed from that obligatory practice of setting personal goals for ourselves just because the old year is out and the new year is in and the feeling is it is time for a change.  Well, we are now in the half year month, June, and now is as good a time as any for personal goal setting or facing personal challenges.  We have had the luxury of proceeding through a new year, sussing out how it is going for us, identifying any potential hurdles or rivers to cross and recognising opportunities as they come our way or as we go out to hunt them.  Now is the time to review and reflect some of the following:

• Have we made the most of our life so far?
• Do we have things to be done or said?
• Is there a burning desire of something we always wanted to do but never had the time/money/inclination?

I have lived my life on setting personal challenges for myself.  I will spend a little time considering what it is I want, why I want it, how will it benefit me to have it, will there be any negative impact to others in me having it?  Once satisfied with my decision to go for it, if I can get a visual image of what I have set my goal on, I will obtain one and put it somewhere I can see it, feel it, absorb it; for me it is important to make the goal tangible as when it is then I know I can have it.  So, if it is a house then I will go out house viewing.  A car, I will test drive and also buy a miniture model of it.  A qualification, get the course prospectus; you get the picuture!  Little can replace that feeling of utopia when a personal challenge is achieved, won, resolved .....

With all the influences that meet us daily, with all the natural life evolution we need to respond to, change with and deal with, it really is important for us to take a step back periodically in our lives to look back at the road we have just travelled, review where we are presently situated and take a look at the road and journey ahead of us and what options it presents to us.  We also need to remember that the power to create opportunities can lie with ourselves.  There is a power within the universe that we influence with our own personal energy.  Give out positive thoughts, feelings, vibes and you will be astounded with what comes right back at you.  Put out negativity and all you will attract is even more negativity, it's the way of the world and the universe that we live in and within.
Here is a challenge I put to you, remember my previous blog about the Bucket List?  It is still here, read it; my challenge to you is to set yourself 3 personal goals / challenges for the remainder of 2012 there needs to be one that is easy to achieve within a short time frame (say one month), the second within the next four months and the final within the next six months.  They can be whatever is important and relevant to you; it might be to take that photography course on digital cameras so you can go out and start using that expensive camera you bought for yourself two years ago.  It may be to write that letter to someone you care for but who you never seem to find it within yourself to thank them and tell them how special and important they are and have been in your life.  It may be to finally book yourself on that study course to finish off your degree or get you on track with your career change or refresher training so you can get yourself back on the job market or set up your own business that you always wanted to do.  Go on, see what you come up with and please, share your thoughts with me on this, tell me what has worked for you in the past, is working for you now

This was the scene at Barcelona Airport this week.  The airport cleaners decided to strike and their choice of communication was in their actions.  They created bags and bags of torn newspapers to scatter all over the floor area of the terminals and they constantly sounded off those boom speakers whilst some just kept drumming and chanting.  On first entry into the airport, a part of me (pre socialist) was Viva!  Good for you to express yourselves to be heard!  It was an interesting scene to take in at first as the airport security and police were positioned in the background observing proceedings; passengers walked straight into the commotion and were uncertain of what was occurring.  Occasionally a group of the strikers would conduct a walk around the terminal (just to make sure everyone did not forget they were there and I am sure also to spread the noise and the waste).  After 30 mins or so this protest really started to grind, 1) for the constant noise level, it was easy to become intolerant and impatient because of the constant and aggressive high pitch tones.  2) the debilitating effect for the disabled in wheelchairs, the young in prams and for those with large cases or trolley having difficulty dragging wheeled mechanisms through piles of paper and 3) the serious damage to the business equipment, the escalators ceased up, the lifts were being blocked at the entrances, mechanisms all over the place were grounding to a halt. 4) the dust content in the air would make any asthmatic struggle with their airways, anyone with dust based allergies would have a problem.  Last but by no means least 4) the other staff who was not on strike but having to work through this constant noise barrier, dust and very difficult working conditions.  It begs the question of what can be most effective as a form of communication 1) Actions 2) Words?  Some may say both is the way as physical expression can breakdown any barriers that verbal expression may create.  Verbal delivery when tempers are high or people are in total disagreement can create intolerable situations and stalemate whereas the action of physical expression can be a more open and less threatening approach and the human mind has a great ability of dissemination of images, sounds and movement so this can be a distinct advantage.  So, looking back at the bedlam and chaos creating by the Catalan expression, the hostility generated, and no doubt divide within their colleagues and certainly for the customers and sponsors in the environment; I can only but challenge on whether such actions can ever be greater than words and negotiation?  In fact, one could argue that the blatant disregard for health & safety, personal and commercial property and breach of basic but fundamental contract terms and conditions  could justify such action being disbanded and prevented. 

Where am I going with this, well it all comes down to our (people) will to communicate but in doing so to consider and judge the most effective forms of communication which often comes with the power to persuade, influence, encourage, reassure, and compromise for the greater good.  We are living in a world these days where communication is so instant and so disposable.  Messages only have validity of seconds and then we move on.  To be heard is becoming something than can be processed and delivered.  In fact, do we really need to raise out of our beds to conduct a day of work anymore due to the advancements of technology?  My fear is our gradual loss of the ability and the power of communication, social skills in observing and interpreting body language, speech tones, mis-interpretation of information? Maybe also a case of 'choose battles wisely?'  Viva or tsch! remains a matter of opinion.......