Hello 2018 ...

Well Hello everyone - It's been a while ...
I've been busy with Happy Days Dementia Workshop as you may know - and finally finding a few minutes spare, came across Daughters in Distress blog and remembered how much I enjoyed writing and sharing posts with you. So, to kickstart my 2018 blog, below is my latest brag - my daughter's latest video - enjoy 'River', I did of course.
'And yes, I practiced being submerged in water singing with my eyes open and holding my breath for this one! But rest assured, no goldfish were harmed in this production' Little Boots
See you all soon,
Gillian

Little Boots update video

Things girls - or anyone should know ...

Things a girl [or anyone] should know:

1. How to get out of a room when the door handle is broken.

Find a small bar [not one which sells drinks] or screwdriver [not the cocktail] or lever [not the filing box system]; the high heel of your stiletto [not Christian Louboutin], even a sturdy biro may do.

Insert the chosen object into the hole where the spindle of the door handle would normally be.

Turn.

Just like magic, your door will open!

2. Really?

3. Not now.

4. Oh that one ...

If you were stuck in a situation and wish to share the outcome, email me on gillian@dementiaworkshop.co.uk

One act of kindness ...

Mum and Daughter in the press on the same week-end ...

In the press same weekend: Mum talking about G8 Dementia summit @blackpoolgazette and Daughter @OnRepeatRecords in Sunday Times Style Mag …

Sometimes, when my daughter and I make plans to meet up during a rushed conversation where one of us is usually in a hurry for a meeting and the other is usually flying off to New York Mexico, Argentina or Sweden [hmmm wonder which one of us that is?], we just about manage to secure information for a meeting place, venue, date [that would be handy] and time [also useful]. Often, we turn up wearing similar colours or shoes. Of course, mine are usually in a couple of sizes larger and the shoes are somewhat lower but never-the-less, we spot each other easily at the train station, cafe, airport arrivals or recording studio or dry-cleaners[!] and manage to have quite a laugh about it. Clearly we don't have time to discuss what we plan to wear [never any time for that].  Secretly, my daughter might even be embarrassed about my turning up wearing the same colour as her - but how are we to know?

Similarly, we both ended up in the press this week-end. But the sizes were reversed. I was really pleased to have a piece of informative information printed about the G8 Dementia summit outcome and share general awareness about living well with dementia through the media of our local newspaper, thanks to The Blackpool Gazette. The opportunity had a content deadline for the following morning - so I hadn't had time to share this with anyone.
[read here: http://www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk/what-is-dementia/g8-dementia-summit-update/ ]

Then on Sunday, in the Times Style Magazine, my daughter appeared with a double page article [she hadn't had time to tell me about it] and fabulous images [biased I know], wearing a 'Working Girl' sweat-shirt [typifies the work ethic in our family], telling the story of her pop life, music industry and the empowerment she now experiences setting up her own business ~ www.onrepeatrecords.com. 

It was a lovely surprise for me to see those images again, remember those exhilarating, fun and exhausting times; meeting up at gigs, photo-shoots [obviously, I didn't have a corresponding outfit for those] and listening in at recording sessions. I know my daughter wanted to use the media to empower young people starting out in the music industry - to listen to their own voice [apologies for the pun] and be determined to succeed. Reading the real story of a young person achieving success through determination and hard work can be motivating. But what I also experienced is what I hope people with dementia enjoy when a relative, friend or carer prompts their memory with photographs and artefacts from their life or recalls national events or celebrations. Prompting the memory can bring about many stories and recollections of places, colours, objects or people which in turn may encourage interaction and activity. Sharing stories is an enjoyable way to share moments in time for both the person living with dementia and the carer.

Time to Chat memory prompt cards display interesting images with limited text to help carers interact with people who have dementia. Start a conversation or prompt memories. Even the act of stacking the cards on top of each other can help by boosting blood flow or exercise fine motor skills. 

Shop at www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk
Social Activities for Carers - Care Homes - Volunteers - People with Dementia

Internet dating ~ be careful out there ...

Some months ago, my yahoo account was compromised - my family, friends and colleagues received emails saying I was away on a writing retreat [feasible] - I was in a certain country - similar location to a place I visit occasionally to rest and write [feasible] - I had had my purse and passport stolen [feasible]. Many of my friends believed this to be true and I received a barrage of messages, phone calls and emails resulting in worrying an elderly parent. One colleague even suggested he scanned my old passport and email it to me.

I was running an internet search earlier today on fake emails and came across this site and information - sharing warnings about internet dating.

http://dating.about.com/b/2008/01/02/avoiding-internet-dating-scams.htm

Be careful out there everyone ~ and if you come across any wishy-washy-yarning-heart-string-pulling-scary-fibbers ... please share with us to help keep us all safe.

Gillian

Parents - Teachers - Schools - Young People ... Publishers ...

Teachers, Publishers, Parents, please take a look at my new mini books to help young people look forward to Secondary School 

£7.95 each

Email me at gmhesekth@yahoo.co.uk

or Shop at www.happydayspublishing.co.uk

*Discounts for quantities

Don't forget your pets ...

Don't forget your pets ~ This Pet Meds Reminder has space to record information and contact details for your pet. Record pet medications and favourites for pet-sitters ...

Shop at:

http://www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk/product/pet-medication-reminder-cards/

Ideal Gift - Pack of five ~ £4.95

Happy Puppy Days ~ Jessica Lily Annie Coco Lola

Any ideas for puppy's  name?

Setting goals ...

'Set a goal and outline what it takes to achieve it. 

Then stop trying to achieve the goal. 

Just achieve each step you outlined along the way.'

For more planning or business ideas, check out Solved https://www.facebook.com/marketing.advice

Couldn't have said it better myself. I do find that a huge task or goal often over-faces me. I often put off setting about the necessary events to reach a specific goal, completing trivial tasks first. I spend much time thinking and more time procrastinating. To be honest, setting out what I need to do on paper has saved a considerable amount of time. As the quote says, 'outline what it takes.'

I'm a list person. List-making is high priority for me. If I'm over-faced with something, I like to make a list of all the things I have to do. ... I have lists of lists. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm obsessive about the order of things. I like lists to relieve my brain from holding lots of trivial information; post a package - buy a birthday present, write a speech, fix a dripping tap, deliver a get well card, edit a book and so on.

But the problem is that my goals end up muddled in between this list of everyday tasks and trivia, often becoming overlooked. I sometimes sort items on my lists into importance categories - only to find that I'm over-faced with the most important big-goal/task category. I then permit myself to procrastinate some more. 

Solved's quote quite simply beginning, 'Set a goal', has made me realise that each goal needs it's own list! An idea which pleased me greatly.

So now, when I have an idea for a new project, I set the goal title on a new page. I try to avoid listing - so I draw boxes with a stage title relating to the goal. I jot down associated tasks and ideas in the relevant box. I organise the boxes into stages of importance. The boxes / stages don't over-face me and I have noticed that I'm much more focussed when I'm trying to accomplish the steps in the boxes. Small tasks in each box appear do-able and before I know it, I'm onto the next stage. Feeling a sense of achievement motivates me to continue to the next box or stage until I reach the goal.

So I'd like to say thanks to Solved for sharing their motivating tips - and remember ... If you're following your dream[s] - dreams are goals - set out the goal and achieve each step along the way.

Gillian

Gifts for grandparents ... plan ahead ...

Choosing gifts for grandparents can often be difficult.

Sometimes, just talking is enough ...

Memory Prompt Boxes help to create conversation 

for grandparents with family, friends, carers and visitors ...

more ideas ~ Shop at
www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

and don't forget grandfathers ...

A go to work with your daughter day ...

Just thought I'd share this with you. Due to the nature of my work, I'm always writing and sharing self-care tips ~ and to be honest, I'm a bit naughty, I don't always take my own advice !! Oops. So, at last, here I am, taking a day off - eating healthily - enjoying some fresh air - sunshine - music - great to be behind the scenes with my daughter ...

Rock & Coke Festival, Istanbul September 2013

One inch too long !

Good morning Ladies and everyone else. I say Ladies as Ladies are the higher percentage of people who wear make-up. I'd like to share a major possible hiccup when travelling abroad - and this is it:

We all know not to take liquids through airport security.  [Yes, we are all aware that we can pay around double the price for a bottle of water on the aeroplane].

We all know to put our make-up, lipsticks etc in a plastic bag.

We all know the bag has to be see through.

But did we know that the bag has to be a certain size - a size I am not aware of!

So, Ladies, and everyone else - I shall find out the said size, then I won't have to have the contents of my plastic bag emptied onto the counter and squashed into a specifically sized plastic bag - and when I have found out the said size, I will share it with you all - then you won't have to have your make-up spread all over the airport worktop!

Well done systems, health, safety, security and all the resto - gone a little bit too far I say.

Hmmmph,

Gillian

I love this thought ...

I love this thought ...

and butterflies.

Check out my friend and colleague, Kim Chamberlain. - not that she's a butterfly, but she keeps developing new ideas and ways to keep our minds busy and our motivation motivating. Here she is:

www.chrysalisforwomen.com/inspiration.html

Any ideas for inspirational quotes ~ let me know and we can share them
 Just email me, Gillian: gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk

Terrific Transformation ... with Tropic and Body Love ...

It takes quite a lot for me to volunteer for a facial, massage or make-over in public but that's where I found myself last week at a fundraising - networking - friend supporting - skin caring afternoon ...
At least I was multi-tasking.

The products are designed by Susan Ma, contended for the Apprentice and backed by Lord Sugar.

Simple, safe, fresh, natural and organic. Bursting with active plant proteins, vitamins, antioxidants.

No parabens, preservatives or animal derivatives. 

Visit Zoe's facebook page to purchase products: 

Organic luxury oils, body butters...

or book a Skin Care Party [North West]:

Facebook.com/ZoesTropicPage

Tropic Pure Plant Skin Care & Botanical Make-Up

This cute body butter number smells divine

I have to say, the products look gorgeous, smell gorgeous, feel gorgeous. 

What more is there to say? ~ Simple ~ Gorgeous ... go and treat yourself ~ have some ME time.

You have to try it! Why not host a party and sample the whole range? 

Just Facebook Zoe for more details.

My make-up was applied with a soft yet stubby brush who's name I can't remember.

I've forgotten the type of make-up except that the colour is called caramel something-or-other.

The lipstick was divine - more like treatment moisturiser with a silky feel - but the colour? Not sure.

I left the event wearing a soft-effect eye-liner - something that doesn't happen often.

Personally, I had a fabulous afternoon, trying samples and having a make-over.

Gillian [and Zoe of course]

And I'm not worried about forgetting the names, shapes, textures, package shapes or colours because I know Miss Zoe will have everything to hand for when I want a repeat order.

Happy You ...

Good Morning everyone. I'm looking through the window, the sky is clear and bright. The trees are waving in the gentle breeze that's inviting me to go for a healthy walk. I've decided to eat healthily today, do some work, visit a friend and chill out.

If every day began and operated like that, life would be a piece of cake [or maybe a rosy apple]. Do you ever wake up and dread the day, your first thoughts being the heavy weight of tasks ahead or complicated work-load you're facing? If I'm totally honest, I sometimes do. Don't get me wrong, I love my work and I like to be busy all the time but I can sometimes be guilty of taking too much on, burning the candle into the night and feeling tired the next day.

As always, I'm researching for my work for carers, student support and people living with dementia. I decided to make myself a list of priority points to consider when I wake up and feel overloaded. So, here it is, just in case the sun isn't shining, the breeze is gale force and you fancy a cake for breakfast:

A list of my feel-good favourites for difficult mornings:

On waking, take a few moments to stretch out slowly. Arms above your head, just make yourself as long as you can. Repeat this a few times and relax in between.

Draw some deep in-breaths and release slowly.

Take a long look at the weather and embrace it - even if it's raining.
[I find this distracts me from the duties ahead and clears my head a little]

Drink a large glass of water before you prepare for the day - feeling better already.

Have a longer shower than normal - use extra soapy, bubbly or favourite fragrant bath/shower products.
Guys - choose something zingy to stir the senses.

Whilst you're in the shower/bath/leaning against the sink - choose one enjoyable ME thing to do during the day. It doesn't have to take up lots of your time - it could be making a plan to meet up with old friends. Do something unusual [pop into a library or museum, intriguing shop, park] - or normal - get a haircut.

Choose one of your favourite outfits or cool piece of clothing to wear - even to work.

Eat a really healthy breakfast - this will make you feel quite smug - it's early and you've already by made the right choices. Include a yoghurt and piece of dark chocolate if you can. Apparently chocolate is an anti-oxidant and yogurt kills off bad bacteria and helps your stomach stay quiet during the day.

Choose the 3 most important tasks that need to be achieved that day.

Select the most important of the 3 tasks. Focus on that one for a few minutes, simplifying the plan/content/order/structure in your mind.

Work out where you can slot the other two tasks in. Could you delegate them?  Should you re-schedule them for another day? Relegate them? Before you leave your house, decide what you'll do with the other two tasks.

Leave for work/college/volunteer role/meeting/other, a few minutes early. Being on the last minute always causes stressful feelings.

Take some peppermint with you - mint sweets/chewing gum/peppermint tea - apparently mint helps with fatigue by stimulating = alertness.

Smile. For no reason. Smile at everyone you meet [within reason - don't make a nuisance of yourself on the tube or at the bus queue and get yourself arrested]. At least 'think smile'.

When you write things down, they're more likely to happen. Anon.

Make your own list - Enjoy your day.

Weekends ...

I've learned something about the week ... it has a weekend attached to it!

I'm probably a workaholic. My family were and some still are workaholics. Knowing this, when I start a project, I always intend to create a work/life balance - but the truth is, I have never managed it. I become consumed with my project, not being able to leave it alone until it's come to fruition. The good news is that I always complete tasks within good time. I'm happy to work every day that ends in 'y.' My husband is a golfer, so he is happy to play golf on every day that ends in 'y.' The bad news is that every now and again, I run out of energy, concentration levels diminish; I lose patience with things, even the ability to laugh or switch off.

The other day, my husband was planning his golf thing as usual. My friends had been talking about arrangements with their families, plans to garden, tidy, sort, cycle, pic-nic, watch sport, shop, have a BBQ or even do nothing. Was it a holiday? I thought about it for a while but it was definitely the middle of the month and as far as I knew, no bank holidays were due for at least two weeks.

I had wondered why all these people were planning events during a similar part of the week. How could they coordinate that?

And that's when I learned that people didn't always work every day of the week. They actually took time off work. Generally, people didn't work over the whole weekend.

So, I am going to listen to my own advice; take some time out - for me.
I have decided not to work at the weekend. Well, I'm going to trial it at least. We'll see what happens.

But honestly - finding a work-life/personal-life balance isn't always easy. Too much work can create tiredness and in the long run, may weaken the output with regard to safety, speed or quality.

The same applies to being a carer. Carers often feel they are needed twenty four hours a day. That's why it's important to source family members to help; be connected with support groups, stay in touch with friends and look after yourself, taking rest breaks and short 'switch-off' sessions to recharge your batteries.

Take Care and Remember to Look After You,
Gillian

Really Useful Stuff to make life a little easier ...

Check out www.reallyusefulstuff.co a really useful marketplace of products to make life easier: www.reallyusefulstuff.co

Essentials for Freshers week[s], Celebrations at home: 18th - 21st - even 30th birthday parties ...

What you will need:

Understanding neighbours - Invite :)  - Make Aware - or Deliver Flowers.

Ice.

Plastic drinking vessels - limit injuries.

First aid box - just in case.

Serviettes - for being polite - and also in the event of serving food.

Camera - make sure you get the right photos early in the proceedings - then confiscate all cameras.

Toilet rolls - plenty of them [do people take them home with them?].

Old towels - for major spillages.

Plastic Carrier bags - for emergency sickness [possibly due to travel distance to venue].

Bottles of water - various purposes including the one above.

Bucket, cloth, disinfectant - in case someone arrives with a puppy.

Air-beds [preferably ones that don't deflate during the night].

Cheap 'throw-away' quilts [£4.50 Morrisons]

Plenty of space for air-beds, throw-away quilts, buckets, towels, legs, shoes ...

Milk - for those who don't want black coffee the following day.

Bacon - Sausages - Beans - Eggs - Brown Bread - Real Butter [hangovers just aren't complete without these ingredients]

Bin bags - one each for overnight guests to help clear up.

Paracetamol or similar

Designated driver - to take all bottles / cans / plastics to recycle zone.

Patience.

Sleep.

Happy Memories.

Enjoy your parties ~ remember to drink plenty of water in between alcoholic drinks.

*It's safer not save fish, chicken, mayonnaise, rice, onions from the party table ~ to be honest - don't save, freeze or re-heat any foods which have been on display all day or evening.

Gillian

Sharing Happy Days ...

Hi everyone, just thought I should share this idea with you ...

A couple of months ago, my sister-in-law came up with a plan that we should do ugly chores together. Hmm now to be honest, I wasn't too keen on the idea. I thought a day out might be a better option. Or even being forced to the gym. Actually, I don't mind ugly chores - clearing the garage / emptying the loft / weeding / clearing cupboards / sorting things for car boots or charity shops / car boots ... especially sorting - I do enjoy the therapeutic benefits of sorting - but I didn't want to prolong the process[es] by including another person which could extend the experience[s]. So I sort of murmured, looked away, shuffled some paper and didn't really answer her.

Last week, my sister-in-law, still clearly determined, suggested the same idea again. She wanted to spend two days per month doing ugly chores. Each of us could choose an ugly chore per month and the other person would join in the task, donating their time freely for a whole day. Hmm - how could I get out of it this time? Besides, my garage, loft and cupboards were all tidy [not in an OCD way, just tidy enough to not want re-tidying] and all my spare items had been delivered to a local charity shop. So I had nothing to trade. My Happy Days project had taken over much of my life and was a permanent priority so I'd learned to keep household operations to a minimum - on  a temporary basis of course.

Starting up a new business can be a lonely place. You are the person who has the idea; in whose head a seed has been planted. You are the person whose head becomes so full with the seeds and sprouting seedlings that you have to research new ways to cultivate them. Being solely responsible for nurturing these seedlings through adolescence can become a 24/7 operation. You are now the person who has to decide how to promote and manage these mature seedlings; who to share them with, how to share them and tell the World about the benefits of your seedlings; your idea; your product. By this stage, places, events and even people begin to pale into insignificance ... You are alone. Just you and your shiny new all-grown-up seedlings on display - and waiting for new owners.

Exhibitions have proved to be one of the ways to present Happy Days creative resources, activities and products to schools, volunteers, carers, families, people with dementia, residential care home groups and care services. Setting up at exhibitions - alone - can be a difficult task - unloading the vehicle and displaying at the stand simultaneously is an operation no-one can achieve - alone. Nipping off for a coffee or lipstick replenishment leaves the stand unmanned [or un-womnned] and looks unprofessional. Besides, it always feels like the person most interested in your fully grown seedlings has called by when you're missing. Dismantling and loading the vehicle at the end of the exhibition, obviously the reverse process of arrival - creates that final layer of stress - trying to be in two places at one time.

Being a start up business brings many challenges, one of them being keeping costs to a strict minimum. Recruiting and employing members of staff is not only costly but has now become a complex administrative process.

Then I had another idea. I rang my sister-in-law - and offered to do ugly chores with her. And that's all turning out fine because the chore I have chosen for her in return, is a really pleasant one ... keeping me company at exhibitions.

So, if you are visiting a Care Service exhibition, Schools exhibition Vintage or Craft Fair, you'll most probably see me ... unless I've nipped off for a coffee or lipstick renewal ... then you'll meet my sister-in-law.

Gillian

For more Happy Days information or products for school support, carers or dementia - go to :
www.happydayspublishing.co.uk
www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk
www.happydayspublishing.blogspot.com