I found this video recently on You Tube (yes, I'm way behind!), and have had memories of it pop back into my mind frequently since. I found it inspirational and encouraging, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Take a look; there's so much advice from how to avoid a cliche from English novelist Martin Amis, to Zadie Smith on faith in fiction. 

Keep writing, 

Lou x

Find me on Facebook
...and on Twitter
Born to be a Tourist

Volunteering to promote Recycle Week at work partly involved me sending out a daily email crammed full of tips and info on recycling, and how we can do more to minimise our impact on the environment at home and in the workplace. 

Monday All about the money! (The company I work for saves £1000 a year recycling our waste instead of binning it!)

Tuesday was about re-purposing things to avoid throwing them away. For example, an old colander makes a great hanging basket. 

Wednesday I encouraged people to donate unwanted household items and selling them online - how to find your local charity shop, advice on Gumtree, eBay etc. 

Thursday This email was about paper recycling, as this is the most common form of waste we produce in the office. 

And today, Friday? I'm focusing on food waste. The banana bread I baked especially for today demonstrated how to use up some fruit turning brown at home, putting bananas to good use, even when they're past their best. 

The Telegraph reported bananas are 'the most wasted food' in the UK. They estimate that 1.4 million bananas are thrown away EVERY DAY.

So next time you think about throwing away your browning bananas, why not embrace the idea of loving it a little further an making a delicious cake?

Read more about reducing banana waste here!

And I have to say, my cake's gone down very well this morning! 

Find out more about Recycle Week
Twitter @recycle_now
They're on Facebook too.

Lou x

Find me on Facebook
...and Twitter
Born to be a Tourist

Flash fiction is a style of fictional literature or fiction of extreme brevity. There is no widely accepted definition of the length of the category. Some self-described markets for flash fiction impose caps as low as three hundred words, while others consider stories as long as a thousand words to be flash fiction.

For some reason, Flash Fiction has worked for me this week, and I have had the least busy week in months! Take a look at some of the tiny stories I've created and let me know your favourites. 

-------

The capital letters in his name seemed too direct, too harsh; she didn’t intend those sentiments on this one final letter.

The presence of a lasagne cooking in the kitchen charged over as she entered her parents’ house, deep, welcoming, and appetite tempting… Something wasn’t right.

All night wasn't enough, morning came too soon. 

The first orange on the tree gloated an ironic gleam as us that summer; fertile, bright and new. 

I feel like the hunter but i'm looking for a place to hide. 

All you had to do was stay. 

He broke my finger that morning, and healed my heart.

Sequins and lace say more than flowers. 

Say you'll see me again, and not just in the queue for unemployment benefit. 

"I'm gone forever if I leave now", she said calmly through the cigarette smoke. 

I've decided the love I gave away I want back, yesterday.

"Perambulate" - the first word I learned at university scared me beyond academically. 

His warm hands closing around mine calmed trembling and promised all. 

Champagne flutes played like tinnitus in my ears.  

The bottles clanged like bells for Mass as Paulo wobbled down the footpath, ignoring his religious duties for the fourth Sunday in a row – he had better things to do, better things to drink.

"Sooo... three months in, Ana, how has marriage surprised you?" my sister prompted.

Drip, drip, drip; the house had never sounded so lonely.

The crack in the window played a tune not unlike a U2 single – any U2 single – from Simon’s childhood; two decades ago, but still, the blood stained his conscious thought. 

"We thought she'd be better off with second years - you can't gamble on who you'll meet in Freshers' Halls."

------

See you soon - busy weekend ahead so it may well be next week before I post here again, but why not come over to Born to be a Tourist and see what's been happening on my travel blog?

Lou x

Find me on Facebook
...and on Twitter
Born to be a Tourist

What do they say? A picture is worth a thousand words. Mmmmm.......!

Chocolate hazelnut cake with melted chocolate glaze and sprinkles. Just the right (made-up-as-you-go-along) recipe to cheer up some old friends - and enough leftover for four little buns for lunches this week. xxxx

Lou x

Find me on Facebook
...And on Twitter
Born to be a Tourist

Commuting by car can be a real bind. Traffic, cost, unreliability of timings... Check out my recent thoughts on the commute here, but tell me something… Why don’t you cycle to work? Commuting is 16% of England’s total travelling time, so the impacts of this are not easily ignored. A daily four mile commute will save you 66 gallons of fuel per year, so cost savings are certainly no discouragement. The average British commute is seven miles – about a 30 minute ride... More than achievable for most.

So why don’t more people bike to work?  

A survey run by American psychologists in March looked into the psychological barriers to bike commuting. I’ve taken it as my responsibility as a keen cycle-commuter to prove these excuses are just that: excuses. 

BUSTED! Reason no.1

Potential riders perceived bicycle commuters as young, energetic and physically fit people, with special clothes or gear.

Age is nothing but a number. Nuff said. Some people laughed when I said I gave my 80 year old grandma a webcam for her birthday but she’s one of millions of silver surfers now. Biking, like an internet connection is good for all ages, with as much exercise and challenge as you want to do. 

Despite what my husband thinks, you don’t need professional gear or expensive gear. I would recommend a padded saddle and shorts if you’re going longer distances – same goes for gel padded gloves. However, if you have a ‘normal’ bike which works and a helmet, that’s all you need. If you do want some gadgets or extra gear, there are plenty of stores and online outlets which sell affordable items, and you can always ask for the fancier stuff as a gift. Friends and family will love to give you a gift you’ll actually be grateful for and use!


BUSTED! Reason no.2

Potential riders are worried about how to maintain a professional image if they cycle to work.

Simple solution: take a change of clothes. I don’t shower when I get to work (due to my relatively short commute), but I make sure I wear an outfit with tights and skirt/shorts comb, or a leggings/skinny trousers based outfit so I don’t get caught up in baggy hems and bulky outfits. I wear a sports bra when I can get away with it (more comfy – still a tomboy at heart! ***link***), and I swap over my top when I arrive. It’s a bit of fiddling around when I arrive, but leaving for home I cycle in what I wore at work. No one cares what I look like when I get home and jump straight in the shower! Your office may have shower facilities you don’t know about; might be worth asking the office manager. 

Bad case of helmet hair? Don’t do your hair before you leave home, ladies – just take your products with you. Travel-sized ones will limit the weight gain in your bags. 

What’s more professional than someone taking care of their body? You’ll live longer, feel happier, and work more productively, I guarantee, and your boss will love that!

BUSTED! Reason no.3

Potential riders felt they couldn’t commute because they have to have a car available for running errands, carrying bulk items and childcare responsibilities.

I shop more in a ‘little and often’ way now, so this helps a lot when I make a run for the groceries. I have a set of panniers which I am happy to fill. I have been known to have two bottles of squash, a laptop, a bag of rice, a lunchbox and my handbag in them on a normal work day, so I know it’s possible to carry a load. Kiddies wise, you can get some brilliant kid-cargo trailers. I saw a few from £60 at the weekend, and I look forward to the day I have a little one behind me. I imagine us singing (maybe just me!) as we pedal along. Again, just me! Biking as a family won’t stop as we grow into a family with kids. 

BUSTED! Reason no.4

Potential riders are worried about safety – cycling in the dark and other road users a particular concern. 

Biking can be dangerous, but not if you’re careful. Where I live there’s lots of dedicated bike paths. These are perfect for traffic-free travel and often go through some gorgeous countryside views. 

“Be safe, be seen” is the old phrase I was taught at school. Throw on a hi-vis jacket, make sure your lights work if you’re cycling into the evening, and try to stick to well-lit routes. 

It goes without saying, but I’m saying it again. Always wear a helmet, folks! They’re called ‘crash cups’ and ‘brain buckets’ for a reason – people crash and the brain is protected by the helmet. "American Family Physician" reports that head injuries cause the most fatalities and long-term disabilities when it comes to cycling accidents, with approximately 22-47% of injured cyclists experiencing head injuries. .Need another reason? I think not, but here’s 10 Reasons To Wear A Bike Helmet from @bicyclehabitat to make sure you’ve got the message. 

So, really, the dangerous sides to cycling can be managed to a large degree. Arguably, NOT cycling could be worse for your health than jumping on your two-wheeler. 

This wasn’t a result of the American survey but I can envisage this is a problem for some wannabe riders too…

BUSTED! Reason no.5

Potential riders don’t have a bike and/or are worried about maintaining it.

Don’t own a bike in the first place? Jump on your choice of eBay, Gum Tree, Craigslist for very reasonable prices on second hand bikes… Wait for the holiday sales in the big stores… Check to see if your company does a cycle to work scheme (UK version gives you a tax free bike)... Get down the local re-furbishers… Ask around - you might even get a free one if you work your sales pitch!

There are more and more cycle maintenance shops and services popping up – four in my local area alone! – but you don’t always have to pay. Most basic maintenance is just that: basic. Oil the chain, adjust the brakes, keep it clean – even I can handle that. However, consider if there is a future mechanic or engineer teen living next door? They may enjoy fiddling with your bike and improving it. Have you seen the latest Royal Navy recruitment advert on TV? “If I can fix a bike, I can fix a car. If I can fix a car, I can fix a military helicopter.” [abridged] You could inspire a young mind – and get yourself a free servicing too!

BUSTED! Reason no.6

Potential riders are worried for the safety of their bike while at work. 

This is pure fluff. There is nearly always somewhere safe to store your bike, and if in the unlikely event there isn’t, request it! I would avoid chaining your bike to private fences or railings, but there should be somewhere near to your work you can lock it up. Make sure you have a good lock (or two, if you have concerns about your wheels ‘walking off’). Remember to  take anything you keep in your panniers with you – the scruffiest hoodie might join your wheels in disappearing, so don’t leave anything behind. I recommend a lock on a chain form, not a D-lock, as they’re lighter to carry and more flexible when you need to chain your bike to an awkward signpost or fence post. 

The survey did have some positive results…

The consensus seems to be that if your co-workers ride, there’s a morale boost right there with chat about your journey, how fast you were today, comradery around the wet weather experiences etc. It was also seen that cycling was a good was to de-stress after a day at work. And boy, are they right there. My 10-15 minute ride home works wonders – and I beat the traffic jams. 

The chart below (from the National Travel Survey 2013) shows the distribution of modes of transport for English commutes in 2013. Notice bikes are in the tiny 'other' category... I am hoping the rise in the popularity of cycling since the 2012 Olympics might make an impact on this number. It does look like it could overtake bus, rail and even walking! 

No, I've not fallen into a dark hole... You might think I was losing it from my most earlier post, "Tuesdays Suck". Now I'm going to lighten your moods, thoughts and encourage some creativity among us!

Let's go!!! <--- happy colour

-----

I’m definitely happier when I’m creating, and more creative when I’m happier. It’s a guaranteed positive self-perpetuating feedback loop!

So why does this happen? What are the drivers for this? I’m getting more and more interested in psychology lately, possibly due to the extra material I saw flying around the internet for May’s mental health awareness week, so I thought I’d blog about this today.

I am creative in a few ways. I never really excelled in art at school, but played the piano to a pretty decent standard. This isn’t creative as such, but it has the bones of it, especially when studying music and composition at 15-16 years old. And as I’ve grown into my adult self I’ve discovered other ways I am creative.

Card making                               

I’ve recently started a new card making company, aimed at the expat market. It’s called Everyone Loves Mail and has the beginnings of something pretty exciting as word is spreading and people from around the world are becoming interested in my services. I find it incredibly relaxing to sit down of an evening and create cards for people I love, and more often, for customers. When we work as a team, ideas fly around and it’s energising. Energy is another thing which amplifies the feedback loop; the right amount of energy leads to more good feelings.

Surrounding myself with positive people

This is an obvious way to increase happiness levels. Having positive people around you rubs off on you and makes your day a little lighter. I have changed jobs in the past because I didn’t like the negative attitudes of people I worked with, and have since found a team which are more of a smiley bunch. When these people are supportive of your creativity, you can thrive even further. I do get the chance in my day job occasionally to be visually creative, and I love days like that. I love to see an image I have created in which the colours and shape are pleasing to the eye, and when it’s clear to the client it’s tailored for them.

Being amongst other creatives

This is a more difficult thing to achieve. Having moved to Bristol recently (January 2015), I have lost a lot of the regular meet-ups with creative I have spent the last few years building. Sure, social media, blogs and phones are useful for keeping in touch, but it’s nothing compared to sitting down once a month with a well-loved group of writers – see the Towcester Writers website for such a group! I am working on building another network of local writers to share experiences, writing and ideas with, but it’s not easy. I still have to find a date I can make a meeting for Bristol writers, but when I remember the energy and positive emotions I had coming away from my previous group meetings, it spurs me on. Creativity breeds creativity, and I look forward to making more friends through it.

Planning trips

You probably know by now I consider myself ‘born to be a tourist’. However, fewer trips abroad are being taken and to a much more limited geographical space, due to a large portion of my family (through marriage) are living in Central America. This has led me to become more creative with day trips and long weekends away. It’s been fairly easy because I’m new to the Bristol area, but the challenge of finding interesting trips is  becoming more fun as time goes on, and I love finding ways to be creative in it. Planning a one-way train trip and biking home. Building in local landmarks and sights not visited before. Working out how to get affordable accommodation. Thinking of Plan B ideas for when it rains. All this pre-trip immersion and learning about a new place could count as being creative. Besides, planning a trip is proven to make you happier – even if you don’t end up going! There is a true art in anticipation. See no. 8 on the ‘Ten scientifically proven ways to make yourself happier’ from Buffer.

Love this. Everyone knows it's better going downhill, wind in your hair.

However, I would argue Tuesdays are tougher to feel motivated about than Mondays. Monday has an element of novelty to it, and sometimes it's good to get away from domestic life and into a familiar routine. Tuesday, on the other hand, is Monday without the novelty. It sucks!

And also, Wednesday, as anyone knows, is Hump Day. Not pre-Hump Day as this cartoon from WIRED (I think) suggests.

Really, I just wanted to share this cool cartoon.

How about this for a redraft?

I'm sure you can fill in the day name blanks!

For more life inspiring blogs, tune in again soon!

And no, I didn't take art at GCSE.

Lou x

Find me on Facebook
...and on Twitter
Born to be a Tourist

But blogs should be pithy and have a point. If your blog is 1,200 words long, how many readers will finish it? So learning to say what you need to in a punchy way is a really important skill in advertising yourself online, and trying to encourage people to read what you're about. Set yourself a challenge: write something that you want to tell people about, and then revisit it and see how many words you can remove whilst still saying the same thing. You may find you surprise yourself (or you may surprise yourself - see 2 words out already)!

Don't get me wrong, I am not in any way trying to argue that you only ever want to read short blogs. I have read some great articles online that have taken up a number of screens. And let's never forget that beautiful world of books packed with perfect lines of prose. Each has their place in the world. But in terms of getting your message across on the internet, your message needs to be short, snappy and eye grabbing and if you waffle on you will lose people's attention. Readers online have a much shorter attention span than people in a library or a book shop. People want to find what they're looking for, connect with it and move forward. That's the instant world we live in now.

So the next time you have to painstakingly edit a tweet, look at what words you're cutting out. Can you say the same thing and still lose a word? Or re-frame the sentence and see if you can use less words? No, it's not going to be a novel but you may just find that your tweet or your blog gets more attention and isn't that the point of it?

-------

Wonderful Louisa, encouraging post. Best of luck with your writing, and thanks for guest blogging for me today.

Want to hear more from Louisa?

Find Louisa on Twitter: @LouisaWhitney She's a keen tweeter on meditation and mindfulness, so go visit!
Don't forget to look at Louisa's blog too: www.louisawhitney.com

Louise x

Find me on Facebook
...and on Twitter
Born to be a Tourist

We’ve all got one in our office – the guy (in my case) or girl who thinks they’re God.

This employee is a smart in dress and intellect and he knows it. He knows everything and knows he does as well. He’s comfortable in his job in so far as he’s been here a few years – more than long enough to get a reputation as a 'bit of a know-all' but useful in terms of getting the results the senior management want. He knows he’s good, and isn’t afraid to let everyone know he’s superior. He doesn’t do it overtly, but there’s a danger he could come across as a little smug. 
 


However useful this Office Superman is to the company, it might make you feel a little intimidated. Imagine feeling uncomfortable sitting next to such a respected (albeit a little sniggered at for his attitude) person. But, if you play your cards right, you can work this challenging situation to your professional benefit.

First: Double check their status

Are they actually who they say they are? Are they senior or just a tricksy newbie who’s just that bit longer in the job that you and wants to lord it over someone? It's worth looking into, esepcially if you're new. Take a look at their job title – it should be on their email signature if your company IT policies are up to date. Also, ask around. A casual “what does Charles do here?”, “which team does Bruce work in?” or “how long has Clark been working here?”

Extra points if you can tell me who these undercover superheroes are…

Then, take a piece of confidence training

Take note of how this Superman portrays confidence. They may be involved in high-level client meetings or negotiations and need to walk confident. He's not hurried, and never looks flustered. This comes with paptience, breathing and, yes, confidence.

If you don’t feel particularly confident in an aspect of your work (e.g. presenting information to a group of colleagues, meeting face to face with contractors), take a leaf out of this person’s book. Copy their body language when you’re in less formal meetings to practice giving off the right impression: you’re paying attention, listening, engaged and you understand the content. Try to relax, speak calmly and this will only improve the illusion (!!) that you are in control. Give your responses to emails and in conversations in a considered manner, and give things due attention. This is one of the ways Superman has learned to fly, but could easily become his kryptonite if he gets too cocky.

Remember, ageing is inevitable -- even Superman ages - but having fewer years under YOUR caped belt is difficult to defend sometimes.
 
This is a slightly harder characteristic of the Office Superman to conquer. They are generally older than the person who thinks they hold this prestigious hero label, as ‘superhero’ newbies don’t generally exist, unless they’re high level management brought in to save the day across the company. Sure, you can impress new colleagues and prove yourself when you’re new, young or old, but with age comes wisdom (in most cases!) and experience – essential in most job roles.

Unfortunately, you and I can’t do anything about Superman’s age or your own age, but there are again things you can learn from Superman to help your age seem less of a barrier to success. 

  -          Dress for the office – if you have a young face, try to dress more professionally than you would normally go for. It will make you seem a little older in a positive way if you wear a blazer (ladies) or a tie (gents), for example. Men, try growing a beard.  

  -          Age isn’t always a barrier. What you think is required or desired for a post/duty may not be what the Director has in mind. The older, more experienced cape-donning few might not get a look-in because they’re a bit like dinosaurs! Ultimately, it's your work ethic and attitude that your company should care about, not how many wrinkles you have.

  -          Remind your colleagues that you have a lot to offer, even if you don’t have decades of experience in the industry. This could be done, for example, by leading the way on "new fangled, young persons' game of social media" for the company, introducing a new IT idea, or bringing fresh experiences in your field to the department.

-          Put yourself forward for training opportunities. Be a little selective about which ones you sign up to, but more often than not, if your boss thinks it would be useful, it will be. Something to add to your CV, if nothing else!

- The same goes for site visits. Grab the chance to take a day out of the office with a more senior colleague and you’ll learn a lot more than hanging out in the office. It’ll keep the job fresh and interesting for you too, and you might make an ally for the future in your host.

Note: Try to think of some intelligent questions before you arrive on site – you’ll look more interested and intelligent if you ask questions on theme. Also, always send a “thank you” email to your host or guide the following morning. They will appreciate the thought and you’ll look extra good.

- Remember the confidence tips above. If you’re confident, you will go a lot further.

Skills Swap

The Superman in my office has awesome spreadsheets. They are informative, useful, and they prove how much he is worth to the company in real terms of profit and savings. I’ve learned a lot from being briefed on a complicated data sheet he’s allowing me access to; everything from spreadsheet formatting tips on email, to small nuggets of info about the organisation.

I’ve recently learned how to do a mail merge email from this guy too. He sent a fancy email to our department of 70+ people which was tailored to them and addressed personally – very clever. I had to get in on this knowledge, so I sidled up to him one morning when he was drinking tea and asked if he could show me the technique. Being Superman, he was open to showing me how it’s done, and I know I will use this skill in the future.

However, do remember you probably have something to offer these superheroes, too. Engage with them while you’re working together and they’ll pick up where your strengths are, if they have their brains switched on. Also, chat round the water cooler or kettle – getting to know them a bit personally can open up doors for you in many ways inside (and out!) of the office walls.

And don't forget the less 'super' ones in the office - they may be younger, less of a presence, but everyone has something to offer and might be able to help you develop at work... that's why the boss employed them!

Experience More

I am a big advocate for making the most of your colleagues and friends’ experience – especially if you’re new to the job. Someone who’s had more years in the industry than you can offer a lot to you as a mentor, or even just as a desk neighbour. You can pick up skills from telephone manner to legal knowledge in your sector, just by tactfully keeping an ear open. It’s easy and no one will notice you’re improving on personal and professional skills which might be a little rusty.

If Superman is older, wiser, more experienced, capitalise on it. Think of something specific he or she might be able to help you with and ask for a few minutes of their time when they’re free.

Yes, your Office Superman is intimidating. He or she might not be especially approachable and you might not want to “bother” them with your questions or interest, but you know they would jump at the chance of showing someone how efficient, useful and employable he is. You won’t come away able with X-Ray vision, but you’ll learn a lot of more useful things for the workplace.

Superman is definitely an asset to the team. Don’t be intimidated – use him!

Lou x

Find me on Facebook
...and on Twitter
Born to be a Tourist - currently showcasing Everyone Loves Mail: The expat's greetings card service