Silence Is Golden-An Impromptu Speech

As a member of Rostrum, the English equivalent of the American Toastmasters, I was often asked to do an impromptu speech, lasting three minutes with just three minutes to prepare. One such speech was titled “Silence is Golden” and it was part of the club’s annual speaking championships.

There are many ways to plan an impromptu speech. You can use “How, When, Where or Why”; “Past, Present and Future”; or perhaps “Local, National or International” as your approach.

One of the best ways, I believe, to give an impromptu speech is to use an experience you have had. This way you don’t have to make up your content. All you need to concentrate on is your delivery. So that is what I did. Here is the basis of that speech. Continue reading “Silence Is Golden-An Impromptu Speech”

Hitchhike Aboard Sailboats!

How can you sail the world without ever owning, or buying a boat? Hitchhike aboard sailboats of course!

Would you like unlimited adventure, see places hard to access, dive in reefs in far off places, enjoy different cultures and learn new skills all on a tight budget! In some rare instances even getting paid for it! How?

Easy! Let me answer some of the immediate questions going round in your brain! Continue reading “Hitchhike Aboard Sailboats!”

My Introduction to Permaculture

My first introduction to Permaculture happened before I even knew there was such a system. As a teenager with a keen interest in horticulture, watching neighbours, friends and family removing trees from their property and loading them onto (often) several trailer loads and taking them to the tip. Then within days seeing a truck deliver a load of bark or woodchips to rejuvenate old or create new beds in the freshly trimmed landscape. Seeing these delivery trucks my thoughts went back to the loads of biomass that went to the tip only days earlier that could have easily been converted to woodchips.

Now, with an understanding of Permaculture and its ethics I recognised what I was observing to be the 3 ethics (Earth care, People Care and Return of Surplus / Fair Share) as well as several principles including – “Produce no waste”, “Catch and Store Energy”, “Obtain a Yield”, “Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services”, “Creatively use and Respond to Change”. Continue reading “My Introduction to Permaculture”

How to Run an Ethical Business

I want to address the subject of the damage we can do to our business unless we diligently follow ethical practices and treat our clients as our first priority.

I have noticed that clients appear to have been relegated to ‘nuisance’ status in some companies – people either to be ignored or put on hold until a more convenient time. I am not talking about the many businesses that are started with the sole objective of making profits, with no concern for the people or planet. These businesses were never ethical in the first place, and by virtue of their damaging products and/or services probably never will be. I am talking about businesses that started because of a passion, that wanted to make a difference, but through lack of thought, or bad management, have fallen off the ethical ladder and are now a source of frustration and disappointment to those that deal with them. Continue reading “How to Run an Ethical Business”

Caring Shielding and Surviving

I am currently looking after and caring for a 99 year-old, whilst shielding from this frightful virus. I must say the combination makes it the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

I have survived 3 marriages and their traumas. I have brought up a family single-handed without maintenance and support. Survived injury and fractures and life’s ups and downs, but this is something else.

Being shut in with no mental space, support or let up is never-ending and extremely hard. Especially as we are now told it will continue longer.

My companion is a spirited lady who believes the world revolves around her, her wishes and requirements, mostly to the exclusion of everything else. Her hair which is usually kept beautifully with the help of her hairdresser is her biggest bug-bare, and mine, for that matter! The house is constantly filled with the fumes of her hair spray, which isn’t helpful for my lung condition. Continue reading “Caring Shielding and Surviving”

Looking After Your Family in a Disaster

A disaster scenario is not the easiest idea to cope with in the beginning, people generally are avoiding this subject as being too remote probabilistically speaking to even consider it. But, if you think about it, taking care of your family in a disaster scenario should be your number one priority. And also, if you’re watching the news, you should take emergency readiness very seriously, with all these natural(or man-made) disasters happening all around the world.

There are all sorts of things to take care of, you just can’t wrap your head around this issue, doesn’t it? It seems so complicated, you don’t even know where to start. Well, here’s a crash course in disaster prepping in six easy steps. After you finish reading it, you can use it as a blueprint for making you and your family more secure if shtf. Continue reading “Looking After Your Family in a Disaster”

Health Benefits of Organic Foods and Why is it Important to Buy Them

In the last 25 years I have been asked thousands and thousands of fitness related questions. Invariably the most prominent question is, with their hand patting their tummy, how do I lose this? My answer is the same every-time. Eat less (portion size in each setting), eat more often with protein and carbs combined together, and eat higher quality less processed foods.

Eating higher quality food on the surface seems easy. No junk food, right. That’s not enough anymore we must have more information because the quality of the food we are eating is at an all time low. The big food companies have laced everything with chemicals and preservatives so it will last longer so they can make more money. God did not intend for all those altered substances to be in our body. Thus, we are seeing many new diseases that seem to have no cause. I will tell you what the cause is; it’s the artificial sweeteners, artificial fats, chemicals and preservatives that we are putting in our mouth. We are what we eat. Continue reading “Health Benefits of Organic Foods and Why is it Important to Buy Them”

Pros And Cons Of Owning A Gift Basket Business At Home Vs Owning A Storefront Business

Is the joy of owning a gift basket business at home greater than the pleasure derived from operating a storefront gift basket business? I have been on both sides of the fence and can therefore give first hand advice and opinions about this debate. Whether you want to start a basket business from home or if you are considering having a storefront, read the following pros and cons to help make your final decision.

Pros to Having A Gift Basket Business At Home:

-You will work long hours during holidays but at least you can be home for meal time and any other important family occasion or a good television show you don`t want to miss. Continue reading “Pros And Cons Of Owning A Gift Basket Business At Home Vs Owning A Storefront Business”

Life on the Road – A Couple of Typical Days

I got a welcome laugh on a rainy day as I passed Toad Suck Park at exit 129B on I-40 in Arkansas. The legend behind Toad Suck is that it was a popular place for bargemen, traveling the Arkansas River, to pull over and drink rum and moonshine. They are said to have “sucked on bottles until they swelled up like toads.”

Passing Toad Suck inspired a reminiscence of some of the more uniquely named places I have encountered in my travels. Among the more memorable are Intercourse, Alabama; Flush, Kansas; Hell for Certain, Kentucky; Square Butt, Missouri; Big Butt, North Carolina; Cumming, Georgia and Climax, Georgia; Hog Jaw, Arkansas; Two Egg, Florida; Stinking Creek, Tennessee and Big Ugly Creek, West Virginia. The Frog City truck stop in Rayne, Louisiana offers an entrée of frog legs or a frog burger. If a bag of dirty laundry hampers your resolve, you can wash it at Suds Ur’ Duds in Corinth, Mississippi. Continue reading “Life on the Road – A Couple of Typical Days”

If the Preacher Doesn’t Impress You

This is a sermon I wish to preach one day… if a church would let me…

My aim today is to convince you that my work in preaching is done, here, today, even if you don’t enjoy it or aren’t inspired by it. Even if you don’t like it. And I warn you, you may not like what you hear me say today. I accept that up front.

I want you to know, in 30 minutes’ time, that just because I’m not a charismatic speaker doesn’t mean God isn’t using me; that if I’m unimpressive on this occasion it’s not that the Holy Spirit isn’t speaking through me. Indeed, I’m wanting to say the opposite – that the fact I’m here today means the Holy Spirit is using and will use me.

Further to that, I want to suggest that God will use me today to show you that it’s an acute idolatry to come to this or any other church simply to hear a particular sermon or speaker, and to laud that person for their oratory brilliance. There’s no problem with compliments for your thankfulness, we just need to keep it at that. Say it, then leave it, for the person, themselves. Don’t go on about it. Going on about it serves nobody, and it nullifies the Kingdom effect. Continue reading “If the Preacher Doesn’t Impress You”