Well just over a month to go before the trip...so far I have meetings arranged with the Centre for Volunteering, The Red Cross, the Youth Mentoring Network and The Ardoch Foundation.
Also arranged to see friends in Sydney, Byron Bay, Brisbane and Melbourne and already one BBQ is planned with Cath from Motion Consulting who is helping to plan a networking event for all the other contacts I have made in a bar by the waterfront.
Will be meeting elephants at close quarters in Thailand, and going bamboo rafting which is less scary than white water rafting. Who knows what else is planned?
All the advice I have had says its best to be flexible so not planning too much - though will be setting up SatNav with Ozzie maps on my BlackBerry to find my way around when I drive up the coast. Should be like a Thelma and Louise trip ..but with no Louise ...
The main activity now is briefing and planning all the work activities for while I am away - I expect a mountain of post and emails to deal with when I get back....but sure it will be worth it.
My mentee Abdul has been nominated as a Regional Finalist in The Princes Trust Young Achiever of the Year awards so that will be great if he gets to go through to the finals and something else to look forward to when I get back.
Friday 24 October 2008
Thursday 9 October 2008
Preparing for Oz trip
Well it's only six weeks to go. Over 35 new people to see in 4 weeks and also need to fit in time to explore the amazing sights in Oz and sample the culture.
That bit is ok - I have already planned to stay in overnight at a vineyard (that may stop me in my tracks somewhat) and see Kylie Minogue in concert so what else is there?
BBQs, beer, sunshine and having a good time! All things that we Brits seem to be struggling with at the moment...
It's amazing that a simple idea of taking 20 minutes to fill in a form and sending it off to 'The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust' has led to this amazing opportunity of a lifetime and me off to Australia for a month researching volunteer work with charities - and without me paying a penny!
That bit is ok - I have already planned to stay in overnight at a vineyard (that may stop me in my tracks somewhat) and see Kylie Minogue in concert so what else is there?
BBQs, beer, sunshine and having a good time! All things that we Brits seem to be struggling with at the moment...
It's amazing that a simple idea of taking 20 minutes to fill in a form and sending it off to 'The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust' has led to this amazing opportunity of a lifetime and me off to Australia for a month researching volunteer work with charities - and without me paying a penny!
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