Today, my Gran is on her deathbed, and with family assembled around time seems to have slowed down a little. Fond memories of my childhood have flooded back – me and my sister spent countless weekend with her and Pa. They have remained together forever, married for 70 years and have a 1930’s-gritty-style of tenacity, courage and will to live and be together. They are Scottish through and through and their Glaswegian ways have never left them. My friend Chris Corrigan replied to an earlier tweet with some comforting words … “there is nothing more incredible to be in the …

On the topic of what’s UNREASONABLE in the world, Seth started a useful list here … Andy built on the list here … and I am continuing the trend here. I don’t agree with any of these statements (of course!) and their impact is in the gut reaction they evoke. I think there is a workshop activity in this … small groups crafting ‘unreasonable’ statements to unnerve and disrupt the status quo in their world. My List – inspired, in part, by the things that I notice that leave me asking “Why!?!” It’s unreasonable to expect government agencies to launch a community …

Nearly 3 years on and 350 blog posts later, I though it was time reflect on the BIG lessons – those ah-ha moments and times when writing things down changed my worldview. Blogging is about the most important thing I do in life. The craft of writing allows me to explore emergent ideas. The reading of other people’s blogs nourishes my own learning and challenges what I believe. When other’s pick up my ideas and build on them … that’s a gift. Something that my mate Chris Corrigan calls The Gift Economy. “An idea isn’t anything until it’s been published …

It has not been hard to focus on nature so far in 2011. The floods across Eastern Australia, Brazil and Sri Lanka. The record snow falls in North America and across the UK and Europe. Whilst we are experiencing a La Nina cycle which historically brings more rain to Eastern Australia, at a global level we are witnessing unprecedented changes in weather patterns. Globally, 2010 was the equal hottest year on record and the wettest year. One of my favourite news sites is Boston.com and they tell stories through images – of Australian floods here. Images are one way to …

One word that sums up 2010 for me is … This year I have designed and delivered training and events with talented and gifted people like  Chris Corrigan, Johnnie Moore, Viv McWaters and Anne Pattillo – and collectively we are known as ‘The Slips’ (see Simon Kneebone’s cartoon of us below). And others including Euan Semple and David Gurteen. I have learned so much from each of these people, both in working alongside them and reading their blogs. Bring on more of this in 2011. Another significant word I associate with 2010 is … I harvested beautiful fruit and veg from my home garden this year …