http://www.janetwalker.net en-gb janetwalker.net 2012-4-30T00:00:00Z janetwalker.net http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#117376 Its the last day of a busy month and Ive got a massive to do list so I wont take too long on this blog. I am preparing for a big meeting of the school governors tonight and am setting up the IT side of things for working with my new client. I also need to fit in some of the very large transcription job I have last year it was on Community Mental Health Teams and this time its on Psychosis I am already learning a lot It was good to take a break at Easter and think about other things. We have started a big clearout at home in anticipation of building works this summer. I also went to a local meeting to learn about the impact of the Olympics on businesses and residents in our borough and was stunned at the breadth of the organisation involved police transport road cleaning waste collections road closures... I didnt ask any questions but simply said thank you to all the people who were no doubt getting migraines from all the extra work they had to keep some rather grumpy residents... 2012-4-30 11:49:26 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#115580 I had the great pleasure of being involved in the inaugural event of the Kergyma Fund earlier this month. Similar to Cross Pollinate about which Ive written many times before it gives 5 specially selected small charities this time those involved in evangelism and discipleship the opportunity to present their work to an invited audience of generous donors. I love these events. This one was held at MampG Investments in the City they have a really stunningly attractive building and 16345000 was raised for the charities involved. Next month Ill be back helping to coordinate Cross Pollinate the ninth event for small social action Christian charities which will also be held in the City of London. I was delighted to attend nonwork a presentation evening and reception in Richmond for the Crossway Pregnancy Crisis Centre. Ive gained a couple of new clients both in the financial sector so am looking forward to getting to know them and their work better after Easter. Meanwhile my rol... 2012-3-29 23:18:53 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#113586 Snowdrops and daffodils and bumble bees yes. Butterflies not yet. Robins and bluetits in abundance especially since I now have three feeding stations in the garden. Squirrels making merry with the fat balls despite the advice from a local retailer that they didnt like round food holders I have just finished off my part in the accreditation project and am deep in Minutes and Agenda for the school including two additional meetings in the next couple of months which will keep me on my toes. I always enjoy the Clerk to Governors Briefings at the Civic Centre in the next borough and I was glad I went to the last one even if the weather was at 0 degrees and I had to wait quite a while for the bus. My new computer tells me the temperature on screen and it said 0 degrees quite a lot in the early days of this month though now it is quite springlike. Im also planning two day conferences for Italian Ministries UK summer and autumn and have been busy initiating two new Trustees and regist... 2012-2-29 12:13:58 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#111451 I look out of the windows and see yet another manic squirrel doing gymnastics to nibble the fat balls in my new rather more sturdy container while the intelligent birds quietly sit underneath and pick up the crumbsIm dealing with Windows of another kind as I took possession this month of a lovely shiny new computer with Windows 7 and Office 2010. As Ive been prioritising getting my work done despite the unfamiliar ribbon instead of menus Ive not yet sufficiently customised the new machine to stop it producing a wide variety of dings and dongs and other funny sounds though I did make it a priority to switch off those annoying blue box Outlook email alerts which are the biggest distraction imaginable. The Christmas holiday was great more than two weeks away from the computer though I did wean myself off messages using my BlackBerry for a few days until I was thoroughly ready to forget it all. Just one return to online life to do my tax return and it was worth it to get that crossed o... 2012-1-30 20:23:22 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#108785 I am planning to take a long and muchneeded holiday over the Christmas season starting tomorrow lunchtime so before I head off to the Presentation Evening at the school where I am Clerk to the Governors I thought Id better finish off the year with a quick blog to say thank you to all the people who have been so helpful and supportive to me during 2011 and to wish you all a peaceful and restful Christmas. 2011-12-15 15:41:57 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#107849 This has been a month of variety so much so that my personal deadlines for Christmas letters etc are not going to be met although thankfully I always build in some buffer time. I started November at an interactive workshop given by my client Matt Bird to visitors to Central Working a fantastic internet cafetype officemeeting space near Tottenham Court Road. Its used mainly by those setting up and running small businesses and has become a community of entrepreneurs. My friend Kate uses it but although I would love the excuse to work there occasionally I have my own office here at home. Matts talk on Relationology was very well received and I made some good contacts. It was also nice to see old friends at the Central London PA Network when another VA Susie Stephenson spoke about Personal Development Plans and her own studies with Kudos Training. Its been a busy time at the school with Committees and a Full Governing Body meeting three new Governors to induct and install a paper to... 2011-11-30 14:32:58 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#105795 The squirrels are really active in the garden and distracting me dreadfully. They are very funny to watch as they scramble up and down the fences race over the grass and stand up meerkatlike to have a look around. Not so funny when they dig in my tubs and baskets even when protected by holly. Ouch During this month of lovely weather and just before the frost was threatening a couple of weeks ago I got organised with a new minigreenhouse and got my fuchsia collection in there all snug under fleece and plastic covers. They are continuing to bloom and the hot chilli peppers are being harvested as they turn from green to red. Even some very late strawberries are appearing. I think the weather has confused the plants as next doors forsythia has its yellow flowers on show about 6 months early. There are enough fallen oak leaves now for me to think Id better get the rake out. Whether Ill get round to making leaf mould in bin bags as Monty Don advocates is not yet decided.A very inter... 2011-10-31 12:56:22 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#103568 I suppose September is always full of action. Holidays are generally over and there is that special zing of enthusiasm for a new term a new academic year an autumn of events leading inevitably to the activity surrounding Christmas at which point we take a few deep breaths and start again at New Year. This September has seen more action than I expected. While I was naturally aware that my husband was going to celebrate a milestone birthday with various items to be procured in secret I couldnt have foreseen that the school at which I am Clerk to the Governors would have an Ofsted inspection so early into the new term. I really admire the staff teaching and nonteaching for the way and the hours they worked. Its all over now so I will give the result when I can. Otherwise work continued with meetings Minutes diary juggling and event planning correspondence and research for seven clients.This month was a bit different in other ways. Firstly we took my mother on a surprise visit t... 2011-9-29 22:30:57 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#101501 As I mentioned last month back in March I decided to try going glutenfree and I cant believe the difference its made to how I feel. With the advice of other friends Ive learned that some glutenintolerant people can manage to eat oats and others cant and that its best to go Asian when eating out because the rice works OK although if you can find baked potatoes thats good too. Italian only works if you can find risotto on the menu or corn pasta.So far it hadnt been much of a problem until I went on holiday and visited people in their homes. Northern Ireland is a famously hospitable place where bread cakes and biscuits are the norm with a cup of tea. Still it worked out OK in the end and we had a wonderful holiday. Here I am in Dublin on the day we went down south to visit our nephew Alwyn who is the Studio Manager at Westland where Bob Dylan U2 Kate Bush the Corrs and other very worthy recording artists made their albums. I thought I was going to get a lot done at home in August b... 2011-8-31 12:54:46 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#99345 After weeks of building works and extra hours spent in the office I finally returned to the neglected pots on the patio and got some veg plants potted up. Far too late of course but hopefully something will come of them. This week I have harvested the shallots and garlic I planted in the spring. 59 shallots was pretty good and the garlic although smaller than I imagined looks fine. After a recordbreaking number of snails and slugs this summer I finally resorted to two beer traps and I must say inspecting the contents was both satisfying and horribly disgusting. So I may even try some salad leaves now and hope for the best. This summer may have been patchy weatherwise but we have had very few fox sightings and none of the hassle of last summer with plants dug up and the need to clear up after them every morning. Relief The absence of three cats next door has also encouraged a much larger number of birds into our garden including wrens. I think we have blackbird and robin nests ... 2011-7-28 18:33:40 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#97401 Cleo is a little black feline the epitome of a scaredy cat We found her a couple of years ago and my neighbour next door took her in although one of her existing cats didnt take to Cleo too well. Despite this things were fine until my neighbour moved a month ago Cleo wouldnt go. Stressed by the packing boxes and the upheaval she bolted each time. After a week my former neighbour gave up the battle quite understandably. So we started feeding Cleo outside. The weather was quite good and she had been a stray before so she started sleeping rough and coming to us for Sheba cans GoCat biscuits and water. After a few days she got more friendly but for many reasons we didnt feel we could keep her. Thankfully a very helpful lady at the RSPCA managed to catch her in our garden and take her to a suitable halfway house. We hope soon to hear that she has been rehomed somewhere quiet and comfortable. We said goodbye to her with relief and quite a bit of sadness too.This was all in the con... 2011-6-30 17:30:16 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#95174 A dear friend emailed me from across the world and very politely pointed out that the word busy was to be found in almost all my recent emails to him. He hoped he hadnt spoken out of turn and he hadnt. Interestingly I became very aware at about the same time through seven other people talks books articles conversations that the idea of some stillness was being reinforced in my life. So Ive taken it to heart see What Ive been reading below. We all need reminders like this and good friends are invaluable Learning to say no sorry to things people want me to do is still hard but Im practising.Ive done some interesting and diverse things in May helping Matt Bird with his Business Accelerator Programme on HMS President on the Thames attending a Briefing evening for School Governor Clerks spending two days at the Christian Resources Exhbition in Esher Surrey seeing old friends meeting clients and potential clients and taking part in my first Speed Networking session which was hilariou... 2011-5-31 16:11:00 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#92644 What an amazing break Ive just had. I was really looking forward to it after a hectic couple of months and wishing Easter wasnt so late this year but the weather was so fantastic that I couldnt have asked for more. True it did mean I was back into the plant watering routine earlier than expected but it is so good to see the blueberries strawberries shallots garlic and radishes thriving. Ive other plants to pot up and have just sown some lettuces tomatoes and courgettes in the propagator on my dining room windowsill and some sweet peas in the garden. I am not sure if the foxes are back I think possibly they are as some more holes have developed in the soil although this could just be the squirrels So Im back at work for a couple of half days before the long weekend. My sincere thanks to HRH Prince William and Kate Middleton for arranging for us all to have another bank holiday. April may have been a short working month but it was certainly full. I did a big telephone project f... 2011-4-27 21:31:08 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#90706 My dear friend and former boss Norman passed away on 3 March at the age of nearly 92. As another friend said on the phone Norman has gone to heaven. As lots of other friends have said he will certainly have got a Well done good and faithful servant welcome. His Thanksgiving Service in Sussex a week later so beautifully arranged by his family was tremendously appropriate for him and challenging to the rest of us. For all that he achieved in his business and mission career and it was a huge amount he was most remembered for the man he was. Noone could have had a better friend than Norman. He was always available by email or at the end of the phone to listen and to give wise advice and he would always remember to phone from time to time to see how we all were. I miss him very much. It was he who over the 31 years I knew him taught me all about formal meeting procedures charity law being a trustee and writing the occasional firm but gracious letter of complaint when the situati... 2011-3-31 18:23:08 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#88079 Always making progress together is a translation of the Italian title of this blog and this certainly encapsulates what happened on 5 February when 17 of us got together for a miniconference in Central London for Italian Ministries UK. From Aberdeen to Essex people arrived by car plane or train and we had a fantastic day. Particular thanks to the Civil Service Club for the meeting room and hearty lunches Meanwhile school Governors meetings resumed I have another tonight so had better not spend too much time on this blog and I really enjoyed my evening with other Clerks at a briefing held by the Local Authority. There is quite a bit to learn and of course the Coalition Governments White Paper is about to turn a lot of things educational on their heads so its an interesting time to be involved. Another of my clients kept me busy with his diary management and communications with his clients and contacts including a management team strategy meeting at the Royal Automobile Club with ... 2011-2-28 14:07:11 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#85853 Here I am about to dash out for a meeting. Its the last day of January and I should be writing my blog. Anyway I have started it They say that something done 80 per cent is better than something not started at all. Not sure who they are but this isnt even going to be 80 per cent. I shall go to my meeting and return to this blog tomorrow.Well it was a good plan but I have only just made it back to this blog and today is 10 February. Apart from saying that life has been busy I wont explain more or else Ill not have much to write about in 18 days time. Back to January well I thoroughly enjoyed planning a miniconference for friends of a small charity involved in mission to in and from Italy. More on this in my February blog.The year started in an interesting way. As has become a habit I spent New Years Eve quietly thinking about my objectives for the coming year. Id had far too many goals last year. One of them had been to finish creating the filing system in the office and... 2011-1-31 16:57:54 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#83118 Im looking out of my office windows. The snow is lying crisp even if not particularly deep or even and the autumn leaves are still on the oak trees I officially closed my office for Christmas on Friday at lunchtime but am back tidying up a few things shredding papers finishing off some Minutes and writing this blog. Then I hope to transfer my attention to more domestic things.On Friday afternoon I had another posh tea with Kate Bacon in London though sadly Barbara could not join us this time. Although we had half an inch of snow out here in the suburbs Piccadilly was snowfree and travel worked well unlike on 2 December when we had our first snow and I was due at a book launch in Russell Square at 12.30 pm. The tain set off optimistically only to be held up by red signals along the route a delay in total of 1 hour and 20 minutes. I made it to the event 25 minutes before it ended but I have to say that it was well worth the difficulties Dr Monica Seeley was launching her book Bri... 2010-12-20 15:09:17 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#81718 The leaves are for the most part still on the old oak trees which line the riverbank at the bottom of our garden yet today we had snow flurries and sleet. I went into London to see an old friend and former colleague who is advising me on my IT system so we kept warm with huge mugs of tea and hot chocolate at Costa Coffee in Waterloo Station. I managed to cut the grass last weekend and tidy up some of the plants but with a northeasterly wind blowing from Siberia I dont think Ill be managing more for a while. No Im trying to stay inside and devote more time to repotting my African Violets not really the right time of year I guess but better lateearly than neverThis has been a month when the new extra session a week gym routine has been temporarily suspended in favour of producing a huge amount of work. 14 sets of meeting notes have been a challenge ten done four to go and have seen me out in my garden office until...well quite late at night. Its when all is quiet and the emails ... 2010-11-30 21:09:45 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#79069 Yes many of the green tomatoes of last month turned red in the dining room with the help of a sunny window a radiator and a few ripe bananas nearby. Unfortunately a lot of them went brown so were fed to the compost bin. In the garden the fuchsias were repotted from the hanging and wall baskets and kept snug in the small portable greenhouse just as the weather turned frosty. Phew I still have some salad leaves in the patio raised bed protected by holly leaves which so far have proved very effective and the alpine strawberries are still producing fruit for my cereal bowl they were much more successful this year than the larger varieties. Still lots more to tidy up though and some bulbs to plant. Im writing this in the garden office with the rain beating on the roof Any Questions on the radio and the dawning realisation that I ought to hurry up and get it finished and get some supper. This month has been one of Minutes seven sets of them which Ive tended to tackle in the evening... 2010-10-29 20:00:20 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#76745 Yes unfortunately I planted out my tomatoes a bit late this year and although the yield is pretty good they are only just turning red. The ones we have eaten though are great and Ill be planting Alicante a bit earlier next year I hopeId hardly had time to get back to my desk and write last months blog when I was required to pack my bag for Missione 2010 in Rimini. I met up with my travelling companion Jonathan from Latin Link at Gatwick and then with JuanCarlos and David at Bologna airport. The congress on the theme of Mission not a walk in the park was excellent and a challenge and catching up with old friends and making some new contacts was a highlight. So Id hardly had time to unpack my amaretti biscuits when a deluge of work swept into my intray and continued the entire month. Well I am not complaining though keeping everything together and actioned in time for deadlines has been a feature of September. Ive been preparing for two big events next month as well as spend... 2010-9-30 14:02:53 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#74262 I am just back at my desk after a couple of weeks holiday and trying to catch up but also aiming to get ahead of myself as Ill be away at Missione 2010 in Rimini later this week. This is quite challengingWhile we were in Northern Ireland great to catch up with family and to meet a fellow VA Heather we had lots of wonderful sunshine while the rain fell in bucketloads here in London. This meant that I got the best of both worlds a mainly sunny holiday and all my plants nicely watered when I got back. I am still battling the foxes the cats the slugs and the squirrels but I was very proud of my first aubergine and we picked and ate it on Sunday.The month actually started with another visit with Mum to the New Forest Fuchsia Societys Annual Show in Lyndhurst. It rained again but not as badly as last year and this time we won nothing in the tombola Very inspiring to see the wonderful displays though. I came home with a Harry Grey which is now trailing from one of my wall baskets.Workw... 2010-8-31 17:59:19 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#71683 What a fabulous July we have had here in the South East following on from a wonderful June. Blue sky hot days warm evenings humid nights and lots of watering to do Thankfully we had a few rain showers to halffill our water butts so there is still some rainwater for the blueberries talking of which they have been a huge success this year. Last years yield of 10 has been well and truly surpassed. The strawberries have not been so successful ravaged by birdsanimals and then caught in the netting I reluctantly used but the tomatoes are making good progress as are the courgettes. I even have one or two baby aubergines and green peppers. We managed two great weekends away the usual visit to my Mum in Hampshire and 2.5 days in Norwich where a friend was celebrating his 50th. Phil is the Vicar of a quintessentially English country parish and we enjoyed looking around the grounds of his thatched roof church and watching the barn dancing at his party in his huge Vicarage garden. A visi... 2010-7-30 11:00:03 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#69170 Well actually this time I had a very delicious English version at the Cinnamon Club in Westminster earlier this month. Having breakfast meetings in town is a new experience for a nocturnaltype like me but the breakfast and meeting my client and his associates made even the crush on the 0711 train worthwhile. This is going to be a regular meeting so perhaps next time my diet will allow me to try the spicy scrambled egg. This is going to be a quick blog because Ive decided to take a day off tomorrow and therefore I need to add this June entry now. Theres no church homegroup tonight so I will be doing some evening gardening. I finally got all the plants into their pots and am watering like mad in this lovely summer weather. However we are experiencing garden vandals in the shape of squirrels and foxes we have a family of fox cubs on the riverbank at the bottom of our garden and Ive been mystified by holes in the flower beds the destruction of most of my ripe strawberries and slic... 2010-6-29 18:22:58 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#66444 There are plenty of green shoots in my garden including weeds even if the green shoots of recovery are not so apparent in the economy and seem unlikely to show themselves for a long time yet. Our MP Vince Cable is now Secretary of State for Business and he admits in our local paper that the whole aftermath of the election is still a bit of a shock to him.This month was full of variety. On Wednesday 5 May I was delighted to assist again at Cross Pollinate and again we raised about 163100000 for small Christian social action charities. It was a lovely evening on HMS President on the Thames. The next day I was up early to help out the LibDems Im not a party member but a nice local councillor I know asked for my assistance as a Teller at the local polling station for a couple of hours and again in the evening. The polling station workers had to be there all day 7.00 am 10.00 pm and I must say I really applauded their staying power. Since our local hall just covers the immediate ... 2010-5-29 18:38:56 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#64062 Finally after the longest coldest wettest greyest winter in a long time we have hit spring and I dont think I have ever looked forward to that season so much before Its warm and sunny and I already have my garden office door open. The local squirrels have calmed down and are no longer tearing around our garden a huge bumble bee has just flown in and out and Cleo the little black cat who found us at 10 oclock one night last autumn starving and illtreated and who was so kindly taken in by my neighbour who already has Chelsea and Twiglet has started to get over her shyness and has dared to call in to the office to see us. So some gardening has at last been achieved and although I do still need to repot the blueberries I have made great headway and am also looking forward to potting up the strawberries. All my fuchsias have survived the winter which is good news.Work this month has been dominated by arrangements for the Christian Resources Exhibition insurance electrical points exhi... 2010-4-28 17:16:08 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#61758 Im taking a few days off for Easter so heres a quick blog update. Spring came officially and we had some sunny days I even managed to cut the grass but its now back to rain and wind and another halt to any gardening efforts. I do hope this weekend I might make some progress if the weather improves. Still the spring flowers look great and the blossom is now showing itself on our copper beech tree which all make for a nice view from my office windows.March always brings Mothering Sunday my birthday and our wedding anniversary as well as my school reunion annual dinner. I went this year and met up with two friends Penny and Eleanor from my year as well as others from other year groups and some teachers wed not seen for a long time but who remarkably still remembered us. The youngest teacher we had has now just retired I got home very late nearly turned into a pumpkin but it was a lovely evening.Coffee with friends in Twickenham and in Kingston were nice diversions from the routin... 2010-3-30 15:16:43 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#59250 My late father used to refer to February as February Filldyke and this memory has suddenly come back to me as I think about all the rain weve had this month this winter even and how we are having to drain out the water wed been so pleased to collect in our two water butts because they are continually overflowing I think well have to get a third one to use as storage. Itll be galling if we have a drought this summerHere I am in the cosy office listening to The World Tonight on BBC Radio 4 and clearing up some odds and ends before a long weekend in Hampshire visiting my mother. I think Id better keep this brief in view of the late hour even though I am most definitely a nightowl. Im still at my desk because tonight Ive been taking part in another enjoyable cybermeeting of the Christian Business Network. I love train journeys time to drink tea look at the scenery think and plan and read So tomorrow morning Ill be taking a work file and notebook with me and working on my promotion ... 2010-2-25 22:05:12 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#57256 So sang Maria as she left the convent and headed off purposefully to the Von Trapp mansion swinging her bag and guitar case as she went. In whatwhom do we have confidence This is a subject Ive encountered this month in three very different books. More on that later.Quite a bit of January was spent looking through the windows of my office at the snow falling icing over and finally melting only to reappear briefly again. At least it covered up all the leaves on the grass which Ive still not had the chance to rake up Traditionally this is a month to review the previous year and decide on some targets for the next one so I did this and now feel I have far too many deadlines I was pleased though to finish my Bible in a Year in Chronological Order which was one of last years goals. It was a fascinating journey and makes a whole lot of things much clearer. This year I am returning to an old book of prayers see below given to me for my 21st birthday by a wonderful elderly couple who w... 2010-1-29 11:19:24 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#54733 Im going to look back properly over the year while Im taking a break for Christmas my holiday starts today which is why this blog is exceptionally early in the month and prayerfully review 2009 and plan 2010s objectives. However just doing so quickly now gives me the chance to say how much I appreciate all those who have encouraged and helped me this year family friends church homegroup and professional organisations and how thankful I am for all the work that Ive been able to do during such a precarious economic downturn. This month Ive been particularly focusing on promotional meetings and contacts for a small charity and their participation for the first time in the Christian Resources Exhibition in Esher next May. The month was otherwise a difficult one in that my wonderful motherinlaw passed away after more than a year confined to bed. She and my late fatherinlaw had worked tirelessly in India church planting in the 1950s and 60s and in the UK with the NHS and running care h... 2009-12-18 13:22:36 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#53491 So its nearly the end of November and what weird weather weve had. Here in my garden office I have a view of all the leaves which need to be raked up but its either too windy or too wet or both to do it. I hear frosts may be expected next week so I will just have to get my minigreenhouse set up again to protect the fuschias which are still flowering merrily in the garden during this mild spell. Weve had the last of our tomatoes and green peppers and its time to get the garden ready for winter. I just wish I felt a bit more like doing it my blocked sinuses are ruining my enthusiasmFollowing my decision last month to cut down on activities I have had a quieter month but Im really looking forward to going to Evesham tomorrow with my husband to visit Peter and Louise Gina and Sam who have just returned from the USA after three years in Boston. They have decided to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends which is a lovely idea. We will make a weekend of it and return home via G... 2009-11-27 12:12:18 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#51610 Goodbye October did we see the colours change were we all too busy rushing through the year.... As the leaves fall from the oak tree outside my office window I am reminded of Adrian Snells song which has been a favourite of mine since my teenage years. Yes I moved into my garden office 4 weeks ago today and its great Mind you I am surprised by the animal activity I can now observe. Apart from the birds there are lots of cats some of which are unknown to me and two of which appear to like using my flower bed for their comfort stops and a great many very active squirrels who were surprised by my ability now to stop them digging in my containers. Certainly this October was a full month with a days client meeting plus lunch in the Kent countryside to discuss 2010 very enjoyable the evening charity event at the House of Lords for CrossPollinate and the BHP Billiton dinner in Piccadilly for London Metal Exchange Week hosted by Matt Bird Tastings very successful and a two year worki... 2009-10-30 10:39:09 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#49736 ...I have been enjoying picking my tomatoes courgettes and green peppers from the patio. Its definitely been worth all the latenight sessions with the watering can to be able to pop out into the garden and grab some items for the salad bowl.As autumn approaches too I have been getting my new side of the our new office in the garden ready. My husband has already moved in and is getting used to his new working surroundings. Next doors cat Twiglet often makes an appearance to look through the windows and see whats happening.This has been a month of squeezing in a lot of appointments and extra meetings and work. A VA friend went on holiday for a week and kindly asked me to look after two of her clients which I was delighted to do. I went to the Central London PA Networks professional meeting which was held at the 150 year old Vicarage of All Saints Margaret Street W1 and hosted by the Vicars wife Theresa Moses who was our speaker on the subject of Variety the spice or the stress of l... 2009-9-30 14:58:53 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#46873 If only Ive been finding myself wishing about doing a lot of things over the past few months but as one of my former colleagues used to tell me regularly There are only 24 hours in a day. So Ive been thinking a lot this month about what I want to do and what I need to do and what perhaps I ought to do. Youll know from last month that Ive been listening to Sara Groves CD Past the Wishing. The title track contains the wordsIm past the wishing past the wishing past the wishingI dont wish that I could go I am goingI dont wish that I could be I am beingI dont wish that I could do it I am doing By the grace of God I am doing.Well I havent got there yet but its something to aim atThis is an early blog because I am taking half of August as holiday when perhaps some of the wishings will become doings as I work on moving into my garden office and making the garden sufficiently interesting to be looked at through the window while Im working.Highlights of August so far have included a very en... 2009-8-13 14:16:57 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#45844 I thought about what to write and looking through my diary realised Id had a rather active month It was great to be at a party on a hot day yes this was in July before my water butt filled up and overflowed to welcome some friends over from the USA to spend my first day at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships watching Andy Murray valiantly lose to Andy Roddick who of course went on to lose valiantly to Roger Federer in a final of epic proportions and to spend time with Mum in the New Forest. Actually I went to help close down a special childrens fun event in the park hosted by my church as part of our Social Action Sunday having watched the start of the final and couldnt believe I hadnt missed it all by the time I got back a couple of hours later. Our homegroup met up the following Tuesday to cook chilli con carne for the churchs dropin centre for the homeless 50 portions required. There was some debate on the amount of chilli powder to include but it seems we got it right judging ... 2009-7-30 14:01:21 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#43929 Well maybe not the cream but harvesting a few strawberries each morning from the patio to add to my bowl of Oatibix has been one of lifes little pleasures this month. Socially its been a busy time in May and June as friends have Significant Birthdays and Ive enjoyed a lunch an evening party and an afternoon BBQ. Tomorrow we go back to our old haunts in North London for a Silver Wedding anniversary celebration. I was honestly a bit shocked when the invitation arrived because it hardly seemed like 25 years since we had attended the wedding This is what comes of having Significant Birthdays I suppose.I am still working hard on the China Walk the Wall Challenge administration for one of my clients the fundraising team is just about finalised and Ill be involved in their Briefing Day next month. Another client has some very nice events lined up for his own clients and Ill be assisting him at a few of those in the coming months. Ive been helping another one with his marketing review ... 2009-6-26 18:13:31 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#42387 With its two Bank Holidays May is always a month for getting a few things done in the house and garden and this year was no exception Im relieved to say. The raised bed for my patio vegetable patch has arrived and it just needs another trip to the garden centre to stock up on compost before I can get my sweet pepper seedlings and lettuce seeds in. The strawberries are waiting to ripen and I hope the blueberries are going to produce somethingIt was fantastic to see 40 old friends at the SGM Reunion in Victoria which I had organised. The prize for the furthest distance travelled went to Jocelyn from Edinburgh but we also had friends arriving from Carlisle Suffolk the Midlands Devon and Bristol as well as several from the Home Counties. We celebrated Normans 90th Birthday and Jacquelines 80th Rogers remarkable recovery from his operation last year and Kumuda and Sujays successful renewal of their visas. The feeling of family after all those years was really amazing. The Cr232me Se... 2009-5-28 11:20:48 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#40825 April has whizzed by. When it started there were small buds on the old oak tree on the riverbank beyond our garden fence but now all the leaves are out and suddenly theres lots of green everywhere and things are really moving. The lovely weather meant I could devote several hours to my garden including repotting some large plants potting up sweet pepper seedlings and planting blueberries and strawberries. If the sun shines over the Bank Holiday weekend I hope to start off some lettuces.This sudden burst of energy all around has been reflected in my work this month too a record number of enquiries for the China Challenge fundraising trek various meetings to be juggled in diaries and administration required in response to a marketing campaign. Ive also had discussions and a meeting with a potential new client which is very exciting. It was a month of meeting old friends at a memorial party for Chris see May 08 blog and at a funeral in St Albans as well as on a visit to our old chu... 2009-4-30 14:28:29 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#39020 I am off to my homegroup social night soon and theres the weekly recycling and rubbish to organise before then so perhaps Ill make this brief...Another CrossPollinate event was successfully held this time at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Embankment Place and more charities had the chance to present their work to generous donors and philanthropists. Picture below. The next one is on 8 October at the House of Lords. I also had a very enjoyable evening with the Central London branch of the Institute of Professional Administrators meeting friends and listening to one of my clients speaking on How to Get the Right Results. Matt was a huge hit with the membersIt was great to be with Kate at Olympia again for this years One Life Live Show. Amazing that a year has gone by since the last time we were there. Apart from all that I had a milestone birthday and another wedding anniversary spent a weekend of wonderful weather with Elizabeth and her mother in the Berkshire countryside and had the ... 2009-3-31 16:09:15 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#37344 Yes thats due to a sudden spurt of gardening resulting from warmer weather as well as more regular attendance at PilatesIll make this brief as I really ought to get myself some dinner. More work on a marketing strategy this month for Loft Solutions more enquiries for the China Challenge and the last few weeks of preparation for the next Cross Pollinate event on 26 March details all in recent blogs. Also an evening in town with Kate at the Central London branch of the Institute of Professional Administrators. We were the Institute of Qualified Professional Secretaries but weve been rebranded Ive also enjoyed compiling a newsletter on behalf of a network of 66 former colleagues all round the world. What Im readingDont just stand there...pray something by Ronald DunnOK so everyone else read this in 1992 but I was chasing after preschool twins then 2009-2-26 20:02:11 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#35730 When I last added a blog posting I was actually getting ready for a family holiday in Paphos Cyprus. We had a great time despite the first 17 hours being spent at London Gatwick and in a nearby hotel for technical reasonsSo after a nice long break over Christmas and New Year it was back to work. I am involved again in Release Internationals annual fundraising Challenge administratively that is. Last year a group went to Sinai really gelled together and had a wonderful time. So if you would like to Walk the Wall 4 13 October then do let me know and Ill arrange for an information pack to come to you. Ive also been working with Loft Solutions Ltd on an analysis of their past marketing and on their promotional strategy for 2009.On a more social side I spent a very civilised genteel and enjoyable afternoon visting Elaine an inspiring 85 year old lady from my church who has an excellent collection of large dictionaries French Italian German and Pitman Shorthand. They formed the basi... 2009-1-29 15:23:30 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#33926 After several rather hectic months it was rather nice to catch up with myself. No events this month just tying up some loose ends finalising diary engagements for one client getting things started for another fundraising challenge this time to take place along the Great Wall of China next autumn for a second client and dealing with correspondence for two more. I enjoyed tea in town with Kate yesterday. Oh yes and I did my tax return as well as my Christmas cards so thats a reliefThank you for reading my blog for another year. I am now going off for a long holiday over Christmas for some refreshment and renewal...What Im readingThe Appeal by John Grisham 2008-12-17 17:03:37 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#32809 What a wonderful weekend my husband and I had in Northern Ireland early this month Staying opposite the harbour and Norman castle of Carrickfergus we met up with family and enjoyed the legendary Northern Irish hospitality of friends caf233s and restaurants. On the Saturday I was delighted to help with Release Internationals 40th Anniversary thanksgiving meeting at the Spires Centre Central Belfast. More warmth and welcome from lovely people Picture below. Fantastic catering from The Streat. The final meeting was held in Glasgow the following Saturday where we well they... I wasnt there were wonderfully served by En Croute. Back to London and two visits to Mayfair in five days an area I hadnt been in for some years One evening was spent at Barclays Wealth in Brook Street where Cross Pollinate held another very successful evening featuring five Christian charities who presented their work for six minutes each and answered questions for another six minutes. After that the busin... 2008-11-24 20:19:19 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#31764 This month has been all about events and milestones.First on 6 October my former boss and my friend for 28 years Norman Brown retired after 23 years as the Secretary of a charitable Trust with which Ive been linked for about the last two decades. I was his Virtual PA before we knew the term existed and Im going to miss deciphering his unique handwriting I was rather expert at it partly because I knew his phraseology so well and sending out papers and emails to the Trustees. Then on 14 October I had dinner with 50 men at the Institute of Directors imposing building in Pall Mall. Yes 50 men from around the world all experts in various metals and here for the London Metal Exchange Week and me On my table I conversed with a Pole a Chilean an Australian whod been born in Essex a German a Korean and gentlemen from Japan and China. I was helping Make It Happen with an event pairing fine food and wines and it was a spectacular success as well as very enjoyable. An illusionist called D... 2008-10-30 13:07:44 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#30372 Always moving forward This is the way my friend Jonathan signs off most of his emails and it was particularly true this month as 300 people packed into a holiday centre and a marquee in Igea MarinaBellaria Rimini opposite the sea for Missione 2008 a 4day mission conference arranged by Italian Ministries and other organisations exploring ways of reaching out to those from the ethnic minorities in Italy. I met up with several old friends made some new ones was challenged and came back refreshed and enthusiastic Although I dont often find hot weather easy to cope with being designed as a fair North European I really enjoyed the 90 degrees F and felt quite cold when I returned it took a few days to reacclimatise. We have eaten the biscotti and the amaretti and other goodies I brought back but the lump of Parmigiano cheese which Godfrey got me when he made a quick visit to Modena to take a wedding while we were over there is still being enjoyed with our spag bol. I understood more Ita... 2008-9-30 21:03:46 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#28904 ... but it wasnt I had a fortnight off though didnt stay off the computer as Id planned as I had some preparation to do for the Missione 2008 Congress in Rimini next month ordering literature and planning travel. With my husband still keeping an eye on his business we mainly pottered about which was good and spent time with my Mum in HampshireDorset. Her garden is looking as lovely as ever why cant mine be like that and we had a lovely day sitting in the sun at Mudeford Quay overlooking the sea the boats and the families inexplicably keen on trying to catch small crabs. A fortnight of domestic tranquillity followed though when our sons went to visit their cousins in Northern Ireland. This gave us the opportunity of some very concentrated work Im still involved in planning the 3 celebration events for a charitys 40th Anniversary this year in London Belfast and Glasgow and longer hours followed by the occasional reward of a trip to Jollys Restaurant for their tandoori chicken on a... 2008-8-29 21:08:05 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#27471 Some projects have come to fruition this month so here is an updateSlum Survivor worked very well. The MPs set up their tented slum in the gardens of Westminster Abbey and attracted a lot of interest there was a good article in The Times Online.Cross Pollinate was an amazing success. I went along to this and had the pleasure of seeing six charities make presentations as to what they could each do with 1635000. By the end 163100000 had been pledged or given. Details of the next event are on the Cross Pollinate website.HOPE 08 was something I blogged about last August as the nationwide planning was getting going. My own church had a HOPE 08 fortnight this month and wearing my special blue church Tshirt I helped with a childrens play event and joined in the painting of a playground fence. If I can get hold of a photo Ill add itSo it was a good month with work continuing as usual. Like London buses some social events arrived all together so I spent happy Saturdays with garden and b... 2008-7-31 13:09:30 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#26295 Its a lovely evening and I need to water my hanging baskets feed the family and see how Andy Murray is doing at Wimbledon in roughly that order so I wont spend too long on this blog posting. June has been an interesting month the highlights of which were a more relaxed longer meeting of the Italian Ministries Trustees in Sudbury Suffolk the downside meant a lot of Minutes and another reunion of different excolleagues this time a Garden Party courtesy of the very hospitable Theresa and Martin in New Malden. For the last few months Ive been working with Make It Happen and the Alvor Trust on their enterprising jointinitiative Cross Pollinate a sort of Dragons Den for Christian charities Its been lovely to be in touch with so many charities as well as generous people who have a heart for supporting such organisations financially. What Im readingThe Fourfold Leadership of Jesus by Andrew Watson I have a feeling Ill be reading this for a while yet. Its well worth taking slowly f... 2008-6-30 18:07:16 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#24862 Ouch My feet have hardly touched the ground this month but last night following a meeting in Oxford Street I took the opportunity to visit some department stores I hadnt seen for a few years and ended up in Debenhams finding some gel shoe pads just before the shop closed. May has been a month of seeing old friends. I didnt make it to the Cr232me PA show this year but did manage a day at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Esher where it was good to see familiar faces and to make some new contacts. I also coordinated a reunion in Victoria of some former colleagues from the 80s and 90s some even earlier than that and 25 of us met this week and had a great time catching up. Very sadly another reunion occasion was the funeral in Radlett of a young man Chris who had died tragically at university and whose mother and family I have known since my schooldays. Tomorrow a friend and I will be travelling into the Surrey countryside to meet up with another former colleague who is ab... 2008-5-30 12:59:41 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#23608 A year on from starting my VA practice and I have just worked a record number of hours this month despite trying to cut back a bit in an effort to maintain a better worklife balance Still with its two Bank Holidays May ought to be a bit quieter... Lots of interesting things going on. For example one client is organising three celebration events in the UK for this autumn another one is masterminding a summer charity event launch in the gardens of Westminster Abbey a third is involved in a large and successful marketing campaign. Despite all the rain we have had a few warmer sunny days and on one of them I spent time in London consulting with a client on his celebration events and in particular on a desert trek in the Sinai Egypt in September. Im involved in liaising with the organisers as well as producing newsletters for the participants to keep them updated and informed. After this meeting I met up with Kate Bacon for a quick oriental meal before we headed off to the IQPS Cent... 2008-4-30 20:50:48 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#22158 March is usually a good month for celebrations with my birthday wedding anniversary and Mothering Sunday all on the calendar but this year of course we had an exceptionally early Easter which felt like Christmas when it snowed. I took a week off and turned my attention to some domestic things and a lovely day out in Evesham visiting an old friend from college days who was over with her family from their temporary home in Massachusetts. A charity which keeps me well occupied as Trustee Secretary Treasurer and parttime Administrator is Italian Ministries UK which represents Italian Ministries in Italy an amazing network which started as a means of fellowship for likeminded evangelical missionaries in that country and has over a decade expanded into a multifaceted missional entity comprising mission support to churches a network for young people pastoral care for Italian and expatriate workers support for holistic ministries in Africa and a mission sending agency for Italians. It is s... 2008-3-31 18:50:20 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#20646 Having commented on my lack of commuting in January Ive found myself making several journeys into London this month in the springlike weather we have generally been experiencing. One of these trips was to the FaithAction Conference in Westminster this week. One of my clients Make it Happen had been managing the event as a senior adviser to FaithAction and I had been involved in liaising with many of the speakers specifically those representing various Government Departments and the Metropolitan Police. It was a very interesting insight into government funding and the work of faithbased organisations and communities around the country and a nice opportunity to visit the wonderful old Methodist Central Hall its years since I was last there. Tomorrow an event of a very different kind calls me to Olympia. Ill be helping on a stand at the One Life Live exhibition representing Virtual Assistants. Our stand is being shared by Kate Bacon of Pier to Peer Coaching see my Welcome Page and ... 2008-2-28 22:14:32 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#19367 I am not sure that this blog entry will be much longer than the last one but at least I will have got it in before the end of the month just I cant believe how busy January has been. From managing enquiries about a desert trek to supporting the organisation of a charity walk in London and planning three anniversary events for another charity in between not to mention a promotional mailing for loft conversions coordinating lots of meetings and producing Minutes and Agenda for others its been a very full and fulfilling month. The weather cant seem to make up its mind whether to be warm or frosty sunny or wet. Today it is blustery cold wet and very very grey. Im so thankful my commuting days are over 2008-1-31 14:05:05 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#17646 Its time to look back on this eventful year with thanksgiving for all that has been done all that has been overcome and all the promise of next year. I wish all my readers a very merry and restful Christmas and a joyful New Year. See you again in 2008. 2007-12-19 11:34:02 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#17063 Just time to add to my blog for this month which has been an excellent one. I gained another new client a charity working to raise awareness of the plight of persecuted Christians so I am now delighted to be assisting their Supporter Relations Manager with event planning. Lot 63 Well this was the lot number of the promise I made to my church for their Auction of Promises earlier this month. St Stephens East Twickenham is raising funds for a serious building project which even I as one never too keen in the past on this sort of thing can see is absolutely necessary queuing for the loo last Sunday reinforced this view though I did get to chat to two very nice people So back to the Auction which was a huge success... well not having a holiday home to offer or spectacular skill in baking nor any talent at all for being a butler painting watercolours of peoples houses or providing Russian lessons I decided to offer a days administrative and secretarial assistance as my promise an... 2007-11-30 17:20:45 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#16055 Just a few hours to go before October ends. I hope I can get this blog written properly in between the doorbell rings of the Trick or Treaters Ive gained two new clients. One of them is someone whose vision for partnering with charities in a meaningful way mirrors my own to a remarkable degree. Added to this the type of work I want to do as a Virtual PA is exactly the kind of support he requires to free him up to concentrate on the more strategic side of things. I had undertaken a oneoff project for him earlier this year. The other new client is the person whose VA business training and mentoring got me started in the first place. Kate deciding it was high time she had a holiday delegated her work to me and flew off to the Far East. It was a challenge for us both for me because I needed to be able to get to grips quickly with the way she worked for her because she had to entrust her VA and coaching business support to someone else. She briefed me just as she would want to h... 2007-10-31 19:36:33 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#14853 This month the Secretary of a Christian Charitable Trust has been one of my main clients. Ive been helping him with his legal paperwork as he and the Trustees went about selling the Trusts property and now need to consider a wider grantmaking role. Actually the whole issue of being good stewards of what we have has been on my mind and this extract from a recent edition of The Word for Today seems to cover it rather well. ...BE STINGY AND LOSE EVERYTHING. THE GENEROUS PROSPER... PROVERBS 112425 NLT One reason the Dead Sea is a big tourist attraction is because its got such high mineral concentrations that even non swimmers can stay afloat in its waters. The only problem is the smell because it has no outlets any fresh water that comes in quickly becomes contaminated. Solomon said Be stingy and lose everything. The generous prosper.... God never intended us to be reservoirs that just take in He called us to be rivers that flow out to bless others. Something in... 2007-9-26 15:04:47 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#14121 I took two weeks off this month and had a list of household and DIY tasks to be tackled in between some lunches out on the Thames riverside however they mostly didnt get done My husband who also runs his own business found himself in meetings he had to attend and visiting people who couldnt see him any other time... so that means the garage still needs its clearout. Oh well I cant blame him as I had my teeth into a project that I was enjoying too much to leave totally alone until my holiday ended. I was working with Make It Happen on behalf of HOPE2008 a grassroots initiative which is encouraging churches to raise their game in community mission and service. The very attractive HOPE2008 resource book offers a host of ideas for creative involvement in the local community and the whole thing has the blessing of eminent church leaders politicians of all persuasions senior police officers and the Department for Communities and Local Government too. So look out for HOPE200... 2007-8-30 19:53:57 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#13299 Suddenly with a huge shock I realise that a I havent added to my blog yet this month and tomorrow is August b its six months since I decided to establish a VA practice c 2007 is more than half over and I dont know where its gone and d people are already thinking about Christmas Its been a busy month for me so it was nice to have the chance to pop up to Buckingham Palace Road last night on a warm summer evening for one of the regular meetings of the IQPS Central London Network. Theyre a nice group of people and I always enjoy catching up with them when I can. The speaker last night was Mark Camley the Chief Executive of the Royal Parks. Hes a delightful Scot with an extremely detailed knowledge as you would expect of each of the eight Royal Parks in London. I confess I dont make as much use of my two local Royal Parks Bushy and Richmond as I should but maybe if we get a bit more of a summer than weve had recently I might just make the effort especially as Richmond Park has a great... 2007-7-31 21:38:26 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#12227 Have you ever wondered what life is like when a child is disabled We have facilities in this country that we almost take for granted but in Africa children who are immobile are likely to spend their days lying on the floor isolated uneducated and with nothing to do. Perhaps their mothers are exhausted in some cases their fathers dont wish to acknowledge them. Some children are born with a disability but others may contract an infection like cerebral malaria in their early years which can leave them unable to walk or even talk. There is a project in the Copperbelt region of Zambia called Wukwashi Wa Nzambi meaning Gods Help in the local Lunda language which was founded by an English couple an occupational therapist and a carpenter two years ago. Providing a network of support groups in homes and training volunteers from local churches in rehabilitation techniques Wukwashi has completely changed the lives of the many children who have received love therapy mobility aids and assist... 2007-6-28 12:47:36 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#10822 It often happens and it has again this year the two major annual exhibitions I need to visit are happening in the same week So on Tuesday 15th Ill be at Olympia for the CR200ME Executive Secretary and PA Show and will be helping on the IQPS stand in the early afternoon. Thursday 17th is my day to head to Sandown Park Esher not just for the lovely view over the racecourse but to meet up with friends and former colleagues at the Christian Resources Exhibition. Will I see you at one of these shows Ring me on 07799 068539 if you are there and want to try to meet up 2007-5-12 18:59:45 http://www.janetwalker.net/page7.htm#10819 Today is Good Friday. It is also the beginning of the new tax year and the day on which I am starting out as a selfemployed Virtual Personal Assistant. Im learning such a lot of new things to add to my many years experience as a SecretaryPA. These months since I left my last office job have been a time of waiting and wondering thinking and praying training and learning. My family and friends have been a great support so huge thanks to them and to Kate Bacon and the VA Business StartUp Group Ive got to know through PierToPeer Coaching in Brighton. In the last year Ive learned that the words of David in Psalm 138 are an amazing promise to remember and hold on to. The Lord will fulfil his purpose for me 2007-4-6 15:51:00