Sunshine & Showers

Hello my friends!

The threat of bad weather did not put us off this weekend. There was the occasional shower but also plenty of blue sky.  When the rain came … out came the reading materials (in my case) or the laptop (hubby).  That’s the beauty now of having WIFI technology – we can run the business from where ever we can find a connection.  Freedom in a way – however – it’s also a bit of  ‘not freedom’ because we are always ‘on call’ to the needs of our clients.  On a BIG plus side though it means we can get away from sitting in the office in front of the PCs all day – so – on the whole we say ‘it’s good!” 

The times it rained I took advantage and caught up on some reading.  Recently I finished my Diploma in Life Coaching and my search for more tips and advice is still growing.  Living Fearlessly written by Rhonda Britten is my recommended read for this month.  Rhonda advocates that we ‘live without excuses and succeed beyond [our] dreams’.   I’ve always been a postive thinker, with drive, energy and focus so Rhonda’s advice sits well with my life philosophy.

The added skills I learned from the Life Coaching course came in very handy this winter. I acted as tutor to a group of adults returning to college education after long breaks and some previous bad experiences.   I hope I have helped steer them in the directions they wished to go – judging by the cards, emails and letters – plus personal ‘thank-you’s I think I maight have done a ‘good job’.  Each person seems to have got something positive from the experience.

So -if any of my RTS Group are reading this – WELL DONE! & GOOD LUCK! Please feel free to leave a comment.

On that note – I shall return to my good read – you never know when what I learn might come in handy again.

Chat soon

Much love n stuff

Julie xx

All Good Friends …

…. in jolly good company.

Eeeeeeeeeeeee that WAS a good day!

Big grins, loads of bear hugs, masses of laughter and a few nearly fall overs with the force of the wind. GREAT

Love n Stuff

Julie & Brent xx

Come back …..

…. all is forgiven.

Colin and Jacky head off out across the wide expanse of sand in search of some perfect wind.

Quick Brent – follow them!

Captions Needed ….

…. for our brill day out at the beach.

The Mission:

Find the beach,

unpack kite,

learn to fly kite and ……

relax

A bit windy …….

What else can I say – it’s a bit blowey in Lancashire this week!! It also does not seem to have stopped raining for two weeks.

The streets of Middleton, Manchester are flooded up to waist height and people are having to be rescued from some houses by the Fire Service in BOATS!!

We seem pretty lucky here – a little oasis of calm when the weather strikes. I think we are protected by the hills that surround the town.

Anyhow – it looks set to stay for the weekend – so I think we will all be playing indoors – loads of things to do so no fear of boredom. I’m half way through a watercolour which I have a feeling will get plenty of attention on Sunday.  Arrrrrhhhhhhh BLISS

Chat soon

Much love n stuff

Julie xx

Living a colour full life ….

Just looking at my kitchen makes me smile – the tiles are somewhat shocking to those who arrive and have not seen the kitchen since we ‘had it done’.

It’s the colours I would like to focus on today – they make me happy, they make my husband happy and all my friends leave with a smile about them – So they ‘do the trick’. How colour can affect us is something I am just getting interested in – even subtle colour changes, such as the hue cast by a lamp can alter a mood. I’ve always been one for wearing ‘unusual’ colours – not to be different or anything like that – I am just naturally drawn to them and wear them ‘cos I feel like it -and I note they make me feel differently.

My internet browsing has brought me to a lovely site – whose colours themselves lift the mood. It is run by a woman called Bonnie based in California … Arrrrhhhhhh sigh sigh – I spent a lot of time in California growing up and more recently with my husband - many happy memories …. but I digress – let’s get back to Bonnie – her site is called livingyourcolors.com (spelt the American way) and she talks about how colours can help our lives.  Fascinating, absolutely fascintating. So Bonnie – I think I will be visiting your site often (and possibly yourself some time in the future).

Thank you!

Much love n stuff

Julie xx

Students & staff thank Julie Wilkins …

… for all the hard work, overtime and dedication she has given to the Teacher Education programme.

OH!!! Isn’t that lovely??? My time with teacher ed has drawn to a close with much regret – however, as per usual when working for FE part time pay is abismal for the hours your REALLY have to put in to do a decent job.  So … to quote one card it’s onwards and upwards with cambiar.co.uk and my other interests that pay so so so much better.

I would like to say thank you to all the lovely students for their gifts, cards, wine, chocolates and of course lovely festive flowers from Alison Craig.

I will miss you all – stay in touch

Much love n stuff

Julie xx

Hello Juliewilkins.com Have you ever looked yourself up?

I do not think there will be many people who use the internet regularly who have not ’searched’ their own name. It can be very entertaining to find out what your name sakes think, do for a living and what their interests are. I have just had a look at juliewilkins.com who I am thrilled to say seems to be a cat person like myself.

So Julie.com – HELLO to you, your family and of course kitty, katt and scamper from ME – Juliewilkins.co.uk , my family plus Hercules (photo) and Xena his sister (photo to come soon).

Wishing everyone a lovely week!

Much love n stuff

Julie xx

This one is for my dad ….

It’s Fathers Day in the UK and so naturally my thoughts turn to my own dad who passed away 24 years ago this very weekend. He was taken at a young age but has left a lasting impression on all who knew him. Funny, energetic, positive, caring and he knew how to motivate – he always left people with big smiles on their faces and the room was always better for him being there.

As a family we travelled the world together (as soon as I could walk) met wonderous people, had magnificent adventures and felt at home wherever we went.

So Dad – on Fathers Day – wherever you are now – I send you love and many thanks, in particular for passing on your brilliant philosophy on life – ‘To make the most of today – tomorrow may never come’ and ‘do whatever you want to do in life, it doesn’t matter at the end of the day just so long as you were happy’.

Missing You Like Crazy

Ju xoxoxo

Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower …

A beautiful quote from the words of  His Holiness Maraishi Mahesi Yogi

Enjoy your life and be happy. Being happy is of the utmost importance. Success in anything is through happiness ….

Happiness radiates like a fragrance from a flower and draws all good things toward you. Allow your love to nourish yourself as well as others. Do not strain after your needs of life – It is sufficient to be quietly alert and aware of them.

In this way life proceeds more naturally, effortlessly.

Life is here to enjoy.

Julie xx (that’s me in the photo by the way)