Surprise Surprise!

I recently visited Newtownbreda High School and spoke at their Assembly.  It was great to meet a few of the teachers and chat with some of the pupils afterwards.  One of the teachers was both shocked and surprised to see me sitting on the Assembly platform when she entered the room!  The teacher in question is my best friend and the school kindly agreed to keep my visit a secret in order to surprise her!!!  Well done to Newtownbreda High School for their ongoing achievements and for the very generous donation which they gave to  my Concern  Worldwide, Mother and Child Survival Project in Burundi.

I also visited Drumlins Integrated Primary School in Ballynahinch.  I met with the P6 and P7 classes and the children interviewed me.  It was great fun and I really enjoyed answering their questions and was impressed by the research which they had done on myself.  I’d like to wish Drumlins IPS every success for the future and many thanks for their donation to my charity Waddle.

Just before the Easter holidays, I spoke at the Waterford Chamber of Commerce Business Event in the beautiful town of Waterford, Ireland.  The event was a great success and it was good to meet and chat with many of the delegates afterwards.  As the famous Waterford Crystal Factory was just literally around the corner from the hotel, I went along with two friends to do the visitors tour.  I had a smashing time!  It was absolutely fascinateing to see the whole process of how the crystal is made.  The friendly staff could not have been more  accommadateing and helpful, especially with myself.  I was able to hold and feel many of the pieces and they were not a bit upset when I dropped a large fruit bowl, smashing it to smitherines, oops!!!  Well, actually, the tour guide asked me to smash it!!!  Waterford Crystal only produce perfect pieces and anything with a slight imperfection is broken down and recycled!  I think they must have the best stress management  programme in all of Ireland!  Lol.  My sincerest thanks to the staff and craftsmen and continued success  for the future.  

Time Flies!

2012 ended very quietly for me, as I had another round of surgery just before Christmas!  I’m well on the mend now and have started slowly back into things.

On Mon 14^th Jan, I attended the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards.  It was a great event and fabulous to see so many of our Sports stars receive richly deserved recognition.

On Tues 15^th Jan I went along to a terrific event at lisburn Leisure Plex.  As Freeman of the City, I was both delighted and very proud to see Lisburn announced as 2013 European City of Sport!  Lisburn is the first City in the UK and Ireland to receive such a prestigious honor and I’m looking forward to attending many planned upcoming events.

On Thurs 17^th Jan, I went to visit and speak to 1^st Kilbride Guide Troup in Ballyclare.  I had a great night meeting and chatting with many of the girls and I was thrilled when they presented me with a cheque for £120 for the lady Taverners!  The Guides had done the fund raising themselves for my charity, so I’d like to say a very big ‘thank you and well done!’ to 1^st Kilbride Guides and their leaders!

The exciting news is that, I have recently become an Ambassador for the Management Leadership Network!

The Management Leadership Network (MLN), is run by Podiem(People & Organisation Development…Integration…Event Management)   MLN is a not for profit entity designed to inspire Management and Leadership within n.I..

I was delighted to be invited to become an Ambassador for MLN and I have just recorded my first MLN Ambassador Video Article which you can view at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV8Pw8IsFy8

The courses and eventsrun by MLN are a valuable asset to the business community and at a recent event, I enjoyed meeting and listening to Mr. Sean Gallagher, Business Icon and runner up in the Irish Presidential Election!

Link:  www.mln.org.uk

I did a Mentoring Course last Nov and am now mentoring paralympic athletes on a voluntary bases!  It’s agood challenge for me and it’s great to be able to help some of our young up and coming athletes!  

Well, it’s time now to get back into the gym and the pool to get the fitness up for the upcoming ski season, so I’d better go and hoke out my trainers!   

Wishing you all a very happy healthy and successful 2013!