Hello ... for now

Hello everyone,

Thanks for dropping by over the past years, months, hours, minutes, seconds. 

I feel the need to explain that my work:- Resources to assist Early Intervention: Student Support, Young and Adult Carers, the Elderly, people with Dementia, their family, friends and carers, has taken over my life. This is one of the reasons I've not finished 'that novel', why I'm not entering poetry competitions or writing messages and observations for this blog.

Ahh, you've forgiven me. Have you? It's not the end, honestly. I have a few children's books to publish, including 'Ramper Pot ~ Adventures'2012© and especially 'Stick People Have Feelings Too' 2012©.

I'll continue to seek out an agent or manager.

But most of all, I need to market Happy Days resources and materials for children, young people and adult carers, care homes, people with dementia, self care for support workers ...

I will be popping back now and again with anything interesting, fun or random posts that I come across.

Meanwhile, pop over to my Happy Days Publishing blog, go to my Happy Days Facebook Page where we can easily get to meet each other - or tweet me [Happy Days @ Happy days pages]

Otherwise, try www.daughtersindistress.blogspot.com

See you soon, 

Gillian

Networking ...

When your face is at the windscreen and your head is nearly through the roof, it doesn't mean you'll arrive at your destination any sooner!

That was the ditty I was chanting in my head when, this morning, I was once again on the last minute, zig-zagging my way through short cuts, trying to get to a Creative Perspective Patent and Trademark seminar slash network meet. Arriving at the correct street without the aid of a satellite navigation system and with ten minutes to spare calmed my psyche for a nano-second.  The street had been re-defined and was now barely a component of the newly styled one-way system. At the car park [two sets of traffic lights and a pelican crossing later], I had to alight from the car, make an olympic dash to a visitor desk, provide identification, sign a form, collect a badge and car park pass - to be placed on the dash in the car which was now resting comfortably in an iced puddle at the other end of the car park. Skating to the car, I slipped, [knew it was coming] pasted the badge on inside screen, then teetered to the opposite end of the university campus to gain access to the reception.

And no, the story doesn't end there. The three day industry convention was clearly the university's best kept secret. Even the receptionist didn't know about the lecture theatre's onslaught [I was hoping the inclement weather had made everyone else late too]. The secret, proven by the fact that I had been despatched to a specific circular lecture theatre and arrived mid song in the darkened venue with 30 tuned drama students raising their arms to the midnight. In true Miranda style, I looked back at the swing doors - as if it had been their fault but for the sake of the students, avoided an aside. A large woman with a badge and a friendly face [don't let the facts get in the way of a good story - she was only a size 12] ushered me from the building and pointed to another. Any. But not hers. Great, another icy fandango across the quadrant to what looked like my pre-war infant school of days gone by. Inside, a light aircraft on display. A light aircraft on display? Yes. And another man with a badge. Perhaps he could help? No. He was ingratiated with some sort of archive. A light at the end of a tunnel shone onto an A4 poster belittled by it's size 10 font:

Creative Perspective Convention  

Hoo - ray! I had arrived. Ten minutes late. I snook into the silenced room where a quiet man with a grey voice was telling his story. It was a good story. The man had created a truly successful hi-tech business. He proffered plenty of advice, motivating tips and suggestions. And then ... in a flash ... it ended. Everyone may have lived happily ever after, but I would never know. The audience scrambled out as if a school bell had rung for a fire alarm or the summer recess. I was left on my own at the back of the room. The quiet man whispered to another man with a badge then left.

So the moral of the story is ... Don't be late if you want to network.

And:

• Find out about transport, location and parking before the event
• Know exactly where you're going [phone up or email first for details]
• Estimate how long your journey will take - including parking time
• Always allow yourself extra time for delays

* Don't let the stress of traffic delays affect your driving or speed.

Happy networking,

Gillian

Another tip from Successful Speaking Coach, Kim Chamberlain

Loaded with information and ideas, I found Kim Chamberlain's 'Better Speaking, Better Thinking' ebook a great place to find refreshing tips to brush up on and build up my confidence around presentation skills. Speaking and thinking styles including Edward do Bono's 'Six Hats' system encourages an assortment of ways to develop one's own presentation style. Including strategies, structure techniques, communication and even potential problems 'If your mind gores blank', Kim seems to have all possibilities covered. By the time I'd read the text in full, I felt much more prepared to face my forthcoming presentations. Since then, I often refer to the text to prompt and refresh my presentations. My tips: Not to be missed - Excellent value.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=kim+chamberlain+better+thinking+better+speaking+general+edition

Better Speaking, Better Thinking ...

Check out Kim Chamberlain, Speaker, Writer, Trainer and thankfully, my friend :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Better-Speaking-Thinking-General-ebook/dp/B00ADMNHCS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1355152638&sr=1-1

Or go to Kim Chamberlain at: http://www.successfulspeaking.biz/home/hrysalisforwomen.com/index.html

Enjoy,
Gillian

Successful Women: A guide to achieving success in six life areas

Hi everyone, well in particular, Successful Women or to be more precise, women who want to be successful. Check out my friend's new kindle offering ...

Successful Woman; a guide to achieving success in six life areas by Kim Chamberlain:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Successful-Woman-achieving-success-ebook/dp/B00AEMF1US/ref=sr_1_21?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1355240933&sr=1-21

I would definitely recommend Kim's Successful Woman: A guide to achieving success in six life areas. Not only is this fast pace easy-to-read for women on the go, I find it a treasure to dip into when I'm feeling fractionally negative. Kim's tips, ideas and prompts help me to stay positive and challenge myself to higher levels of achievement.
Great Christmas present and terrific value. [I'm sending it to my friends' kindles for Christmas - but don't tell them]

Check it out - at 77pence, it's Great for Christmas presents!

Gillian

Writing a novel with support ...

Thought this writing course looked cool and felt I should pass the information on ...

I really, really, really fancy trying this:

http://www.faberacademy.co.uk/CourseInstances/Writing-A-Novel-Online-January-2013-in-Online-with-Kris-Kenway-on-9-1-2013?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Faber%20-%20Brand%20-%20Women&utm_content=Writing%20a%20Novel%20-%20Apply

Unfortunately and fortunately, I'm busy with this ...

Interactive Activity Pages for Support workers to help identify broader needs of 

children, young people and adults

Personal Memory Joggers ~ to help prompt memory and social interaction

Activity Pages for Care and Dementia Homes, Carers and Care Coordinators

School Student Support Services ~ Early intervention ~ Identify difficulties and needs 

Carers Centres & Schools

Good Afternoon everyone,
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to display Happy Days Interactive Activity Pages and associated products to members of the caring services who support young carers. Chief Officer, Michelle Smith of The Blackpool Carers Centre, presented the 'Children Who Care' one day conference at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool.

After two hours sleep, I loaded the car up with Happy Days books, samples and pro to-type products and found myself at 7.30am prompt for what turned out to be an interesting, exciting and fruitful day.

Professor Saul Becker; University of Nottingham, presented his MACA findings and explained the 'how to' and 'how not to' to an absorbed audience which included myself.

I'd like to thank Michelle Smith for the opportunity to share my early intervention resources and to the many people who took the time to view, enquire and consider my resources which help to identify the broader needs of children, young people and adults.

It was truly wonderful to meet everyone and discuss the benefits of the Happy Days Pages, how the simple-to use interactive pages can complement assessment frameworks; how the Happy Days Pages can help to identify broader needs, how the easy-to-follow system can be designed to suit your Care Centre, school or community requirements:

All About Me
My Caring Day
Identify Needs
Identify Feelings
Change and Reconstruction
Motivation and Goals
Achievement
Self Care

* Also available: Bullying / Cyber-bullying / Exam tips / Social issues plus more.
* Pages can be made to suit your request, sensitive issue or social topic.
* Activity Pages and Life Story Jotter for Care Homes.

Please contact me by phone or email if you wish to discuss anything in detail, specific requirements, place an order or book a visit,
Gillian
Gillian Hesketh MA
Happy Days Publishing
www.happydayspublishing.co.uk for contact details.

Schools NEED Libraries ...

Couldn't agree more ...

http://www.slideshare.net/candygourlay/schools-need-libraries

Word Palette

Saw this and thought of you

Short simple writing exercise to help when describing settings.

I think Lee Howell's idea speeds up the process at a time when describing something alludes you ...

http://budbin.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/the-use-of-a-word-paletteword-hoard/

Check it out  ...  What do you think ?

Gillian