This is what I’m doing NOW (February 2023)

(Inspired by Derek Sivers and Graham Allcott)

• Co-facilitating more member meetings for third sector CEOs facing cost of living struggles. First one was November, next in February. 'Spot the Red Flag - and do something' sessions for charity CEOs continue.

• Still in the afterglow of the second cost of living workshop (first one here) with Kingston Council in January.

• Following very positive conversations with Practical Inspiration Publishing am signing a publishing contract to bring 'Wild Waters to the civil society leaders who need it. Will start with coaching sessions and skilled guidance from the lovely and brilliant Alison Jones to re-structure the book ‘Wild Waters – good leaders in bad trouble’, and extend the focus to include third sector Chairs and boards as well as CEOs. Also have an eye to international not for profits. I will rewrite much of the 54,000 words of the first draft manuscript. Looking forward to that challenge. Working on it with Jenny Berry ACEVO. . Delighted to have received endorsements from Sir Nick Young, former CEO Macmillan and British Red Cross & Jane Ide CEO, ACEVO, Sarah Vibert CEO NCVO, Ros Oakley CEO Association of Chairs and Jesper Christensen, Consultant BDB Pitmans, Bernd Eiden, Co-founder and Director of the Chiron Centre for Body Psychotherapy, Amanda Falkson, Peter Leigh and more here

• Preparing to facilitate a retreat (20th-23rd February) with ACT2025 who are working to strengthen the voice of global south in COP climate negotiations.

• Trying to get a date agreed (likely to be March) for a joint (UN and UAE) team workshop preparing for COP 28 in Dubai at the end of the year

• Happy now to be recognised by the International Association of Facilitators as a Certified™ Professional Facilitator | Emeritus ('The IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator ǀ Emeritus is a designation granted to an IAF CPF or IAF CPF ǀ Master when the person demonstrates the senior level of an IAF CPF ǀ M [...] who has made significant contributions to advancing the field of facilitation [and] is meant primarily for those who have retired or are retiring ... Convening a virtual global ‘emerging network of “us” ‘ with other CPF | Emeritus facilitators; second meeting in April.

• Coaching and supporting of four senior charity leaders through turbulent times ('Wild Waters' indeed)

• With Patricia, Susanne and Ramey , nourished by our deep sharing and considering expanding the Live Well, Die Wise deep listening group.

• Coordinating monthly 'R' Word gathering with The Experience Network (R - 'retirement' rejuvenation' 're-directing' 're-tyring' etc etc). Seven of us. Started June 2021, 19th gathering in February.

• With guidance from neighbour RC, have got into sour dough bread baking. 25% white and 75% wholemeal flour seems to come out well. Best so far. Yum.

• Have discovered audio book several decades after everyone else. Now on my third. Bel Canto. I like to walk in the park and listen.

• Still wild swimming in the Thames and elsewhere. Now 4 degrees. Coldest so far was January (air temp -4, water 1) Now own a nice red 2nd hand kayak and learning how to do it properly with Minima but fell in last autumn; also exploring sea kayaking.

• Still enjoying learning Spanish with Memworld, German and French and am slowly getting closer to my life-long ambition of being conversationally multilingual. One to one virtual Spanish grammar lessons with Paola from Bogota are fun (fun ... grammar, did I really say that!!). Weekly face to face French class.

• With sadness, have sold my lovely1968 BSA Bantam D14 motorbike. Might get an electric motorbike in the spring (have had motorbikes ever since I was 16).

• Continuing on a life long Journey Inwards. The Way Out Is In Meditating most mornings. Finding a journal conversation with my father (who died in 2000) and his father (died 1927) to be revealing and discovering how much of their struggle, as Irish diaspora, I have been carrying with me; it is surprising how real our conversation feels.

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