A Place in the Sun

Easter always seems to arrive at just the right time. It comes with spring, when the earth starts to stir again—buds on trees, longer days, and that sense of possibility in the air. This Easter Sunday, the weather feels like a reflection of that shift: bright and clear, after weeks of grey skies and even the rare desert rain. It’s as if the world decided to turn a page. Mindful Morning Checklist An important tool for me to stay grounded The past year—or maybe a little more—has been heavy. There were losses, of many kinds. Work that slipped away. Business deals that didn’t land. Relationships that changed, ended, or quietly faded. Even mentors I leaned on have been lost in one way or another. It’s been a time of release, and sometimes, of having to let go before I felt ready. But within that space, new things have taken root. I’ve been surprised—and deeply grateful—for the support of new friends who showed up with kindness, without fanfare. And there’s been something beautiful about r...

 The term "Monday Blues" refers to the feeling of sadness, lethargy, or lack of motivation that some people experience at the beginning of the workweek, particularly on Mondays. While it is a commonly used expression, it is not a formally recognized medical or psychological condition. Instead, it is more of a colloquial term to describe a mood or emotional state. So, is it true? There is some scientific evidence that supports the idea that people may experience negative emotions or stress at the start of the workweek. What causes it? The Monday-Blues phenomenon can be due to a combination of factors: Weekend effect : After a relaxing or enjoyable weekend, the transition back to work on Monday may feel abrupt and cause some resistance. It may be hard for someone to switch from the easy state of the weekend to the office environment. Try to have an easy Sunday evening and make sure you are well rested on a Monday morning! Sleep disruption : Changes...

  Jump forward a few months - and here we are, looking at Christmas!  I have come forward in leaps and bounds, and it's not been easy. In one of my development sessions, which I try to attend from time to time to keep on track,  I came up with the following: Inner peace and gratitude are  crucial to a wholesome recovery. Every morning, say 3 affirmations for each of: family, career, personal life; and then practice gratitude (3 things you are grateful for). In the evening, do the gratitude bit again. Watch your life change. This morning, I logged back on to my DayOne App (Web Version) - or you can download it from here ! - to continue my journey in logging my progress. Thanks for the idea, Mark Manson !  Through reading his book and following his online articles and podcasts, I found a way to journal my progress and to be able to look back - just to see how far I've come! 

Building Bridges Through Travel Reflections from the Road If you know me, you know how much I love to travel. That passion has followed me throughout my personal life, and it’s deeply woven into the fabric of my work too. This is La Madeleine, the chuch dedicated to the Magdalene in the heart of Paris Business trips have become a regular rhythm — especially in the world of superyachts and aircraft, where presence matters and relationships are everything. Whether it’s jetting off for a major yacht show (such as Monaco ), heading to an aircraft exhibition ( EBACE ), or attending an industry conference, travel is more than just a part of the job — it’s an extension of how business gets done in this world. This beautiful restaurant lies at the heart of a Paris Train Station Yes, it’s exciting. But it’s also intense. These events can mean early wake-up calls, long hours on your feet, and staying sharp from sunrise to well past midnight. One moment you’re at a boardroom table, the next...

 I read about a stoic's attitude towards grief.  Of course it gets better but it comes and goes in waves. It is one thing when you have to move mountains to achieve something - a family event or requirement, a career goal or deadline.  That's an achievement in itself. It's another to have to do it when your heart is broken.  I asked myself - If I were to succeed in being a proper stoic, would this get better for me? There's a lot of hype around being stoic - and it seems to be a magic formula so as not to suffer so intensely. But I guess, pain is necessary for us to move past certain experiences, to learn and to heal. But, achieving your goals in life while healing a broken heart is tough, even if you are a 'stoic' or practice stoicism in some form. Making it alone in the midst of your grief isn't easy, but it is what makes you strong. No doubt the Stoics were people who had feelings - big feelings.  Look up Seneca's essays on grief and loss, or the stor...

  I have found myself scrolling social media like crazy in recent weeks.  When bored. When tired. When needing down-time.  Hell, I'm even writing about it. This morning I left my phone upstairs while having a coffee with mum in the kitchen. And I was pacing nervously about. She just asked: "What's wrong with you today? You're pacing about like mad." The truth is, I had left the phone and was unable to quell the itch to look at social media. I wanted to see whether my recent story had any likes, whether my recent photography posts had received reactions, whether my posts had any views. And it goes on. Bloody crazy, if you ask me. So I thought: this deserves to be treated like an addiction.  You cannot take the first peek (outside of set peeking times, at least) and you have to 'do something else' rather than indulge in the social media world. Going in there, I risk becoming sucked in like a whirlpool, while life is going on outside. Not good. The withdrawal...

Earlier this year,  I published my On Grief post. Water has flowed under the bridge daily. I wanted to share some thoughts here. My mentor, Jackey Backman , joined along with me on a holiday and we ended up being 'on retreat' together - mirroring each other and bringing up the other's isuses through being a mirror for each other. She also helped me process things as they came up, while we were travelling. We were out of comms half the time and I kept her busy tapping her phone - not on social media but on a Trip Meter (which is an app that counts metres / kilometres) as we passed important signs and landmarks along our Sicily journey. We had to keep telling each other not to squirrel away in our heads and it was quite funny. BUT there was great learning for both of us, I dare say, and having Jackey along (besides the great company) felt like doing a retreat. We were doing things we don't normally do, sometimes getting uncomfortable (including having ourselves in ...

The monster strikes again.  Love and loss - we can safely say that all love stories end in tragedy - either because of some form of separation, or death. Grief has struck again and it is unspeakable.  Through the tears, I am working on self development. I look for him on social media and he's just below the surface, but not making any contact except occasionally.  To that extent, neither am I. I am keeping time and space as my healer, and possibly as an insight to both of us as to where we want to go. Most people I talk to on his side seem to think that this was the real deal for him. That our relationship was, for him, the works.  What could have driven him ... fear of commitment, the intensity, the crazy schedule.  I know he needs time. I know I need time too.  Through this, I learned that many limiting beliefs have determined how i deal with grief. And I am trying to change them. I don't have to go through the pain of the bargaining stage - the bargainin...

 This morning I woke up feeling really upset. I did not have a good night's sleep and this may be in part to some anxiety rolling around in my head.  I'd already written ONE article about the scientific evidence behind Monday blues. In view of the recent craze we all seem to have with AI and AI-generated text, I asked ChatGPT to generate an article on beating Monday Blues.  Here it is with some (a lot!)  of my personalised adaptations and suggestions. Beating Monday blues involves adopting strategies to start the week on a positive note and alleviate any feelings of stress or reluctance. Here are some tips to help you overcome Monday blues: Plan Ahead on Friday: Ensure that you wrap up your tasks on Friday and create a to-do list for Monday. This helps you have a clear plan when you start the week. It's easy to lose track when picking up some 3 days later! Positive Mindset: Approach Monday with a positive attitude. Instead of focusing on the beginning of the workwe...

 Most of you may know that I got a trio of cats in the last couple of years. Two from the same litter in 2021 (Luna & Tiggy), and one in 2022 (Tux). Tiggy sits on my lap I thought to explore this huge attachment that I seem to have to these little creatures that now dominate my house. Attachment to cats is a deep and meaningful connection that many people develop with these furry companions. Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, and their unique qualities often make them beloved members of households around the world. Tuxy looks like a saint I looked at some aspects of attachment to cats that many cat owners may experience. Cats are known for their independent yet affectionate nature. They often provide companionship to their owners, offering a sense of comfort and emotional support. Many people form strong bonds with their cats, finding solace in their presence. I often have these cats sit on top of me or around me when alone at home and I find their furry presen...