About Me

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Predencia
A few years ago I decided to start a new career as a performer. I used to be a biology teacher but couldn't face walking around in a white coat all day teaching children who didn't want to learn. Actually it wasn't so much the children as the system cause I think all children want to learn - they just don't all want to learn in schools. Anyway I now work as a Life and Executive coach. Work is perhaps not the right word because it never feels like work. I just love to see people grow and change. I love it when they peel of the layers of limiting beliefs and find their true self. And I make some great frends in the process. I've re-discovered my writing and have published two poetry books and now working on 2 CDs, a novel, a book of short stories and talking to someone about a collaoration on a film script. That should keep me busy for a whild. Oh and I do bellydance.
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Thursday 28 February 2008

An Amazing Women's Day

Some things are just an absolute treat to be a part of and the 'Amazing Women's Day' at Salford University yesterday was one of them. You'll know if you've read my profile that I'm a life coach and this event was made doubly amazing because it was co-hosted by one of my clients - JennyMcGuire. Jenny who a few months ago has difficulty standing up in front of 20 people at business breakfast meetings had organized with her business partner Catherine an event for up to 1000 women. On the day there were approximately 200 and Jenny stood up in front of them and told the story of her journey so far. Of the the way she had buried her issues of abuse and tried to mask them with sex, drugs and booze. And how it was only when she was able to face these things; bring them out into the open, deal with them and learn to love herself again that she was able to move on. I was amazed at her courage and felt intensely proud of her and the work she has gone on to do with her own clients - who were happy to testify of the changes she's helped them to make.

It was a fun filled day of music, dance, skits, interviews and sharing. Sharing in a way that touched the lives of everyone who was there. I discovered something about myself, about my lingering underlying fear of relationships which I can now put right once and for all. So many other people left with resolutions for making changes and a great many want to come back next year to share their progress. I think that definitely means another one guys. That's one I'm definitely putting into my diary as soon as you decide a date. Check out Jenny and Catherine at www.growingdreams.co.uk
Saturday 23 February 2008

The Fairytale is Over






I'm generally a happy person and usually have great weeks but some weeks are just amazing and I've just had one of them. Have you ever had them? You know - the ones where everything you touch turns to gold. Everything just flows, where you glide effortlessly over obstacles and everything you need is presented to you exactly at the time you need it?


Thanks Julie for stepping in at exactly the right time with the solution to my NLP course, and to all my clients for having such brilliant weeks - your success is my delight. Thanks Geoff for providing the solution to the singing lessons, and Andrew the solution to the transport. Sandra, thanks for your input with Veronica's Room - I'm right on target now.


So if it's been such a great week how comes is the fairytale over? The title is a misnomer really because the fairytale is only just beginning. I went to see an amazing band called The Fairytale last night at the Hiberian in Birmingham. They were the second of a 4 band line up and stole the show. They're a young band - very individual - very dynamic - full of energy - and definitely going places. And I'm not just saying that because my son's the drummer. They completely usurped the headline band who had come over specially from Sweden. To check out their style have a listen to them on www.myspace.com/thefairytaleisdead

They've got gigs more gigs in Birmingahm and gigs lined up in Bath next month and they're planning a European tour in the Summer. For me - a perfect end to a perfect week...aaahhhh!
Sunday 17 February 2008

Single on St Valentine's night?

St Valentine's Day is obviously big business now. Enough's been written about it and I'm not going waste much more time adding to the miles of words already out there about it. I'm not a kill joy, and I'm about as romantic as they come - hearts and flowers mean a lot to me - I just don't need someone telling me when to give them. I did, however, enjoy this Valentine's day more than most. Not because of the georgous red dress I got as a present, or the bling jewellery, or the fabulous meal (with my health in mind). All of that was fanastic and much apprecited. What made it more special was that I was performing at Waterstones's in Birmingham with Writers Without Borders in an evening focused on love and food. This event was absolutely made for me; because, as you know I love food, and I love love. To be in love, to be loved, thinking about love, talking about love, writing about love. And it was just great to be out there on the night rhyming about love...and food.


It was a busy time this week because on Friday night I was at the Museum and Art Gallery doing a re-run of Thursday night. This time at a 'Singles' event. I thought there would be about fifty or so people out on the 'Love Trail' around the Art Gallery. But no....over two hundred people turned out in search of their perfect partner. Not that we could fit 200 into Gallery 20 where we were performing. There were about 60 or so of them that made it from the bar and the jazz on the main reception area. It was a fantastic night; its always good when members of the audience feel so inspired that they want to join us on stage..an two people did just that. One man did a short poem in Urdu and another man an even shorter one from his mobile phone. We were allowed to mingle with the 'guests' afterwards - a gift if you wanted to hunt out your perfect partner too. Sadly we were not given a half of a postcard so it we could find the matching half as all the paying guests got on their way in. I haven't spoken to anyone from our group yet so I don't know if anyone got lucky.

I do know that one of my friends who I met there is going to meet the other half of her post card again.....maybe....who knows? Can love really be found when the meetings are so contrived?
Monday 4 February 2008

Far from magic Monday

It started well enough; quite a leisurely crawn out of bed after a late night at the Kitchen Garden Cafe last night; recorded my dreams (which were a bit wierd - including keys, spectacles and mirrors) ate some breakfast; made some phone calls, cooked some food; did some work and was feeling that I was finally getting back to normal after the rush of next week. So how did it end with the ambulance coming to take my son's friend away because we couldn't figure out what she had taken and could barely keep her conscious. That was a couple of hours ago and I still haven't heard how she is. Why is it when you feel like you're just getting back in the groove, just getting back on track - life sends you the wrong kind of snow to try and derail you? Still, I guess I'm nowhere near as derailed as her parents are - my love and blessings are with them all right now. I trust she will be fine.
Saturday 2 February 2008

Roi Kwabena's 21 Drum Salute

I've just come back from a tribute celebrating the life of Dr. Roi Ankhkara Kwabena. I am moved to write because I was move beyond my expectations. I met Roi a few times through Writers Without Borders - did one of his workshops and thought him an unusual man. The last time I saw him was a few weeks before his death when he came to do a poetry reading as part of the Equiano exhibition at the Art Gallery in Birmingham. I remember he missed his slot because his train was late. His audience had gone and so he performed to four of us who had gone to say hello. He looked very frail (more so than usual) and propped himself up on the lecturn when he spoke. I can't really remember what he said because a) I was cold, and b) I was too busy watching the movement of his face. He had a very mobile and expressive face. I remember Sue saying he was very ill, but I took it to mean with one of the numerous bugs that was going around then. Not with the cancer that was diagnosed too late for treatment.

I'm not too brilliant myself at the moment, coming down with a head cold but decided to go to his 21 Drum Salute at (very fittingly) The Drum tonight. I'm so gald I went. I learned so much more about him by going. I didn't know he played the drum - which seemed to have been such a big part of his life - and now I'll never hear him play. I never knew he was so well travelled. I knew he was an activist but I didn't know to what extent. The more I heard, the more humbled I felt because you would not know these things from talking to him. He was extremely unassuming. Someone said he had no ego; that he was a very spiritual man; that he quietly went about the business of fighting the battles of the oppressed, the displaced, those without hope and those with talent who needed a mentor to bring it out. And as I listened I realized that he was all the things I aspire to be, and I felt even more humbled. But by the time they did the second 21 drum salute I felt priviliged to at least have met him.