It was very cold and very blustery this morning in Watford. This was my first Half Marathon of the year and formed part of my training for the Paris Marathon, to be held in April.
As the year draws to a close, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the past twelve months — a year filled with its fair share of challenges, surprises, and personal growth. This quiet time between Christmas and New Year feels like the perfect opportunity to pause and take stock of the lessons I’ve picked…
Staff awaydays don’t have to be spent in a stuffy hotel. We’ve just had a great day out at Alton Towers, where I’ve learned a great deal about myself, my team and our general ability to cope with stress and potential danger… Only three of us were brave enough to go on ‘Oblivion’, but we…
Despite living in London on and off for all my life, I have never visited Kenwood House. I still haven’t actually, but I did join a group of friends in its grounds tonight for a wonderful ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concert and picnic. The weather was kind. The food was delicious. The PA announcements…
As a Deputy Lieutenant, I have the privilege of presenting citizenship certificates to new UK citizens. Here’s the text of the speech I made at this afternoon’s ceremony… Good afternoon everybody and a very warm welcome to you – to this wonderful County of Oxfordshire. It’s one of England larger counties with an area of…
Our last morning in Sweden began with another excellent breakfast at Bomans in Trosa. Mark discovered pancakes with lingonberry jam, which seemed an appropriately Swedish way to start the day, before we packed the car for the final time and set off south. We had a fair distance to cover, but by now we have…
An early morning start today to catch the first Easyjet flight out of Stansted to Belfast. Then a quick run in a hire car up over the mountains to Derry, where Ruth and I met the Principal of the North West Institute of Further and Higher Education. He wants to start a Career Academy, which…
