Sue James

Stories, Reflections & Journeys

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Stopped and Dropped

Filed Under: Reflections · January 29, 2010 · 3 Comments ·

It’s strange how sometimes you can drop your bundle with something, and not really know why. For me, it’s been my “blogging bundle”.

Ok, so the month or two following my last post was filled to the brim with excitement, activity and hard work – so finding time to blog eluded me. Chris and I had an amazing trip to the Appreciative Inquiry conference in Kathmandu, Nepal in November.

(If you’re interested in seeing more about that and some image slideshows, you can visit our website.)

Prior to that I was flat out with my volunteer role on the online conference planning team for the conference. And after the trip, there were a gazillion things to be done in the lead up to the Christmas break.

But what about the month that has elapsed since then?

It’s as if the longer the gap, the harder it was to think of something to say. A strange sensation .. perhaps a case of the ‘inertia blues’?

But then, earlier this week, I gave myself a stern talking-to and was absolutely determined to return to my blog.

Before I could get into the more creative task of writing, however, there were several administrative jobs to do – not only with my blog, but our website, Chris’s blogs and the PCC site for which I’m webmaster. Those now done … whew! … so here I am at last.

Still with nothing earth-shattering to say, but never mind. :)  I said to a friend who had dropped a different bundle recently, “Just get started. Why not do something, however small, to get going again?” And for once I’m listening to my own good advice. :)

The experience reminded me of a wonderful Melbourne-based poet, Kristin Henry, whom I met way back in the 80s. In her book, Slices of Wry, she has the following poem. Apologies for the length … but I love it and thought I’d share it here.

At least I didn’t land on the floor at Myers. :) [Read more…]

A Journey Shared

Filed Under: Featured, Journeys, Stories · November 1, 2009 · 4 Comments ·

Last weekend I returned to a place I’d not visited in almost ten years.

Brunton’s Bridge is a glorious spot on the Thompson River in Victoria. It lies about 12 kilometers of dirt road beyond an old and now beautifully renovated/rebuilt mining town called Walhalla.

BruntonsBridge01

My partner, Glenn, died at the end of June in 1999 and the last time I had travelled to Brunton’s Bridge was the following December, when members of his family and I camped there overnight to scatter his ashes. He and I had shared life’s journey for 11 years and we’d often gone camping there. It was one of his favourite places to spend time, relaxing in the peaceful bush setting.

Glenn took his own life, so the months afterwards had been very hard for all of us.  We’d have gone with his ashes to Brunton’s Bridge earlier – but none of us had a four wheel drive vehicle, and that rough dirt road had been too muddy and dangerous for our cars until summer arrived that year to dry it out.

As it happened, this was no doubt a good thing. Six months after Glenn’s death we were readier to take that final journey with him.

Here is a poem I wrote at the time: [Read more…]

An Online Hosting Team

Filed Under: Appreciative Inquiry · October 11, 2009 · 6 Comments ·

I have been immersed in arranging the “hosting team” and schedule for the online component of the 2009 World Appreciative Inquiry Conference, coming up in November.

There was an overwhelming response to our call for volunteer hosts – over 60 people contacted me altogether. Some did not pursue that original expression of interest and others had to withdraw for various reasons. But a large number of folk remained to join the hosting team.

Global Hosting TeamPutting together a hosting schedule was a complex logistical task .. I won’t say ‘nightmare’ :)  Our generous spirited volunteers came from all around the world and were all available at different times of the day or night in their own time zones.  And the ‘spread’ of those time zones covered UTC (GMT) -8 to UTC +11!

I used an Excel spreadsheet to work all this out. And I am sure anyone watching me could have been concerned enough to call for medical help.  Many sighs, lots of running my fingers through my hair and constant muttering at the computer screen. :)

Given the restrictions of folks’ availability, moving a single person from one spot to another produced a  ‘domino effect’ where others had to be moved as well. Only a small number wanted to be (or could be) scheduled for more than one shift per day. I also wanted, wherever possible, to mix up those who would be ‘on duty’ at the same time so team members would have the delight of meeting and getting to know more of their fellow team members.

By the end I was cross-eyed, brain-fried and seeing Excel cells in my sleep! :)

2009AIHostScheduleI am sure there is probably a software program ‘out there’ somewhere that would have done the job. But I find myself wondering …By the time I’d entered all the data and variables, would it have saved me any time in the end?

We now have a draft schedule and a team of 48 people who will be working in pairs (or threes) and ‘passing the baton’ from one to the other in two hour ‘shifts’ for 24 hours a day during the entire four days of the conference.  Whew!

Our hosts are an amazing group of folk from all around the world. They will be joining the conference from Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatamala, Jamaica, Kenya, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Uganda, the UK and the USA!

So if you would like to know more about Appreciative Inquiry or become more involved with the worldwide AI community and can’t get to Nepal, do register for the online conference!

welcomeThroughout the conference, there will always be at least two of our hosts online who share your interest in Appreciative Inquiry. And our hosting team, like good hosts anywhere, will:

  • Help you feel welcome;
  • Assist you to find your way around, highlighting any items of particular interest;
  • Invite you to participate in particular activities or events;
  • Answer any questions that arise for you during your stay;
  • Help with introductions to others online; and
  • Generally make sure you have a great time!

So please join us and raise your voice with ours as we focus on “creating a positive revolution for sustainable change“!

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Books I’ve Read

Sue's bookshelf: read

The Chase
3 of 5 stars
The Chase
by Janet Evanovich
The Heist
3 of 5 stars
The Heist
by Janet Evanovich
Vanish in Plain Sight
3 of 5 stars
Vanish in Plain Sight
by Marta Perry
Eat Me
4 of 5 stars
Eat Me
by Agnès Desarthe
Odd One Out
3 of 5 stars
Odd One Out
by Monica McInerney

goodreads.com