Orange Leadership course at Ashridge

This week I was at Ashridge Business school, near Berkhamsted for a Leadership course. You can see where it is here.

The course was extremely interesting and I got lots of ideas to try out when I get back to work.

The school is a beautiful residence and we spent all of the week there, with accommodation on site as well as several restaurants. Everything was included so at meal time you just wandered around and helped yourself to what ever you fancied.

The course programme was:

• Monday - Introduction & understanding what Leadership in Orange means
• Tuesday - Decision Making, Leveraging People Resources and Support & Challenge Group
• Wednesday - Space to lead (time management - very interesting), Implementing & Leading Change
• Thursday - Engaging others & Personal Impact & Influence
• Friday - Vision & Personal Performance

I took my bike up but the weather wasn't the best so I only went out twice - one time to Northchurch and saw where we use to live - Fern Cottage, 13 Duncombe Rd.

Just another Sunday

Cold and wet today so we started a fire to help dry things out.
General pottering around the house.

Did some additions and updates to the Blog:

• http://burgessnzuk.blogspot.com/2007/06/oceans-13.html
• http://burgessnzuk.blogspot.com/2007/06/early-bike-ride.html
• http://burgessnzuk.blogspot.com/2007/06/day-1-of-render-removal.html
• http://burgessnzuk.blogspot.com/2007/06/saturday-morning-in-bath.html
• http://burgessnzuk.blogspot.com/2007/06/exam-week.html
• http://burgessnzuk.blogspot.com/2007/06/moving-rocks-on-sunday.html
• http://burgessnzuk.blogspot.com/2007/03/wish-course-in-stratford.html
• http://burgessnzuk.blogspot.com/2007/06/news-years-eve-2006.html

Ocean's 13

Picked up new glasses yesterday.

Jayne and I went into Bath first thing for breakfast and a bit of shopping. Great breakfast at Jollys, Milsom street. Full English, fresh orange juice - £9.50 for two.

Fixed light over cooker. Put Multi-gym on ebay.

George went off to see Blood Brothers theatre performance in afternoon and then stayed overnight with friend - Izzy. Her parents make amazing 1/12 scale model houses - see: http://www.mulvanyandrogers.com/

Problems with the DVD again so servicemen took it away to fix.

In the evening, Jayne and I went to see Ocean's 13 in town at the cinema.

Stiches out

Jayne had her stiches out today.

Early bike ride

For some reason woke up really early and couldn't et back to sleep. Ended up going out on bike at 5am for 2 hours. Went along Bath-Bristol bike track and got to Fishponds - about 30miles round trip.
Hit my knee when getting off the bike and suffered for the rest of the day.
Worked from home

Morning Bath, afternoon cellar

George rowing and I wandered around Bath in the morning. Ordered some new glasses with light sensitive lenses. Will pick them up next week.

Did a lot of clearing and sorting down in the cellar. The wine rack is very healthy at the moment after excess supplies were bought for Jaynes birthday

Exam week

George started her exams today - they last all week. Schedule is:

• Monday - ...
• Tuesday - ...
• Wednesday - ...
• Thursday - Maths
• Friday - French

Moving Rocks on Sunday

Hard labour today moving the rocks at the front, getting ready for Colin the Digger Man to dig an inspection pit so we can see what we need to do to build a retaining wall.

Radstock return & revision

Pictures are: Top of Dundas Aqueduct, Monktombe Cricket ground, Stones wear Wellow, Wellow church, Wellow village, on Route 24 near Radstock and Rain in Kingsmead square.

George is well into all revision. Her exams start on Monday and last the whole week. Lots of subjects - Maths, English, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Religious Education, Classical Civilisation, History, Geography, German & French.

Quite day for Jayne, resting up after her eye op.

Read an article in paper about a film - The Flying Scotsman http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472268/. It's a true story about Graeme Obree, who broke the world record for the distance covered on a bicycle in 1 hour (about 50km). His bike was made from bits from an old washing machine. Sounds a bit like "The Worlds Fastest Indian" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412080/

After reading the article decided it was time for a bike ride - so early evening I headed to Radstock - about 30 miles total, 2h 20 mins (13.5mph average). Not that quick - probably due to stopping all the time for photos. A lovely route - down Gloucester Rd, toward Batheaston, cross the toll bridge, on to the tow path along the canel, Dundas Aqueduct http://www.waterscape.com/servicesdirectory/Dundas_Aqueduct, Monkton Combe (good looking pub we need to visit - The Wheelwrights Arms), Midford, Wellow, Shoscombe and Radstock - and then back again. Next time must try a bit further to Midsommer Norton - it is meant to be pretty.

Luckily I got home just before it started pouring with rain. Fish & Chips for dinner from our favourite place (Seafoods) in Kingsmead Square. Not as good as NZ fish & chips though...

Jaynes 50th - the real one

Champagne & Orange juice to start.

Jayne and I went to the Priory for lunch - http://www.thebathpriory.co.uk/
Delicious meal of:

• 'Paillette' of salad and wild chive boudin
• Parmesan & tomato risotto
• Roast cod
• Herb creme brulees & pear sorbet

Many of the dishes were served on slabs of slate and beautifully presented.

Quiet evening in.

New barbecue working

Beautiful fine day and working from home.

Possibility of another trip to Paris next week.

Finally got the barbecue all assembled and working. Inaugural meal was pumpkin, broad bean & sage risotto on the gas ring. Dinner outside was lovely.

The pics are new BBQ, the herbs and the present to Jayne from Stephen & Bridget.

Jaynes 50th Party

A fantastic day - beautiful weather, great company, fine food... Thank you to everyone who helped make it a real success.

It would be great to have your comments

Click on the picture below for all the pics:

Jaynes 50th party

32 people, 1 baby & a dog

Sue, Craig, Jan, Ken, Gary, Lisa, Ruby, Margaret, Derek, Andy, Elaine, Vivienne, Claire, Mabel (woof), Georgina, Charlie, David, Annie, Chris, Catherine, Lisa, James, Janine, Jeff, Lloyd, Mark, Barbara, Sheena, Tim, Stephen, Bridget, Marian, Graeme and of course JAYNE

the food

Mains:

• On the barbeque - rib of beef, lamb shoulder, turkey crown. All the meat from the great butchers in Larkhall
• Chicken & seafood Paella

Salads:

• Broadbean & cos lettuce
• Spinach, bacon & cranberry
• Chicory, asparagus with roast red onions

Desserts:

• Liquorice & pear bavarois with spiced cake
• Chocolate pavalova with cherry compote
• Tiramisu
• Key lime pie
• Rhubarb & orange meringue pie
• Coconut tart
• Champagne jelly with summer fruits
• Strawberry sponge

some memories

• Pizzas on Friday night
• Alll hands involved putting up the tents
• Jayne and the girls off at to the Bath Spa and lunch at Blackstones
• Stephen & Bridget planting their pot
• George & Lisa decorating tables & the tent. Pink Gerberas on the table. James fixing the lights
• 3 barbeques and 1 paella ring. Lloyd constantly worrying - is the meat cooked?
• 1 long table with everyone sitting, eating & drinking
• Mabel and the mole
• The view
• Sangria to start
• Derek, Andy & I in the kitchen churning out the food. Andy carving the meat.
• Vivienne, Claire & Margaret on salads
• Pass the baby - Ruby
• Sue & Jan singing some "Sound of Music" quips for Jayne
• Champagne, cake, coffee & chocolates around the BBQ fires after dinner. Dads chocolate box being handed around
• ...and lots of clearing up on Sunday