By Peter Johnson, on September 30th, 2018 | Comments are closed  It is nearer the end of the horse-racing season at my local course. It has been a busy season with twenty meetings. In the days leading up to an event there is a lot of activity by the grounds people – watering the course to make sure the ‘going’ is right, cutting the grass, fixing the railings, setting out the ‘jumps’ and so much more.
The picture you see is on the back straight, with two fences having been freshly groomed to make sure that they are in top condition for the races. When we are at the races we rarely see this part of the course, so I thought I would show that just as much
Continue reading What else could you be prepared for?
By Peter Johnson, on July 27th, 2018 | Comments are closed Last week I was in London, and after a meeting was having a relaxed walk to my next. It was a lovely day; the previous meeting had gone well, finishing a little earlier than I had planned, so the gift of time was a pleasant change from the normal swift march.
As I crossed a familiar square I noticed the car in the picture sitting by itself. I waited until a black cab came along so I could get some perspective of size for the picture – this car is small! The car is a Reva G-Wiz, which a Google search turned up this rather quaint statement, by Autoexpress: “The term ‘car’ is being generous to the
Continue reading Small things bring big memories
By Peter Johnson, on June 30th, 2018 | Comments are closed I was walking along a lane recently, admiring all of the wonderful flowers that had come into bloom now that the summer had arrived. A joyous walk with few thoughts of any importance clogging up my mind, and no pressure relating to anything work related either – so time to relax and recharge.
As I progressed along the lane my interest was caught by the dry stone walling all looking very old, yet all in good condition. It was when I saw the wall in the picture that I was rather taken by surprise. I have seen dry stone walls the world over, as it is a good way to create a space with security when, typically
Continue reading Keeping an eye open
By Peter Johnson, on April 28th, 2018 | Comments are closed I have been having a tidy up recently and whilst I love books and paper I am aware that at times a good clear out is needed. I am a person who makes lists and undertakes journaling on a regular basis. Whilst this is not very day, it is rare that a few days go by without me taking time to write something. Typically I have an early morning routine that enables me to take stock, think things through, and write for a few minutes. I have developed a way that I approach this so that I find value in what I do, and sometimes, it is less in the content and more in the act of
Continue reading Journalling does make a difference
By Peter Johnson, on March 31st, 2018 | Comments are closed As spring starts to burst forth it is always a pleasure to see nature wake. The signs are easy to recognise, the blossom on the trees, the birds more visible and making their wonderful conversation and the dawn chorus is louder and earlier. The surfacing of creatures that seem to hide or hibernate during the cold weather. The smells in the fresh air. I was passing a tree the other day that had this wonderful ‘pussy willow’ proudly displaying. The catkins are initially grey and then burst into yellow when ripe with pollen – as in this case. I stopped to enjoy and look at the tree; some of the catkins were still grey and so soft
Continue reading Blossom & Bee
By Peter Johnson, on February 26th, 2018 | Comments are closed I always love the first visible flush of activity by Mother Nature as we enter a new year in England. I was out with friends and on our walk masses of new snowdrops were to be seen everywhere in the woodland we were passing through. Whilst they seem to have appeared, almost as if magically overnight, I guess they had been surfacing for some time. It was just the emergence of the spectacular white flower that drew attention against the green or brown background.
I am sure that I have written about these small and wonderful flowers before but I never tire of seeing them surface. I am told by people who know better than I, there
Continue reading You try making one!
By Peter Johnson, on December 31st, 2017 | Comments are closed As another year draws to a close it is always worthwhile reflecting on what has happened over the past year. A great way to do this is to think about things over four areas:
1. National & international 2. Family & friends 3. Personal 4. Work & professional development
This merely provides a simple framework to get the thinking going. Just grab a notebook and pencil and write things down, from memory, that come to mind. This is great to do with someone else such as family or friends. It is amazing what surfaces in a few short minutes. Often many things we had forgotten, some of them significant. As an example I had forgotten a major
Continue reading A time to reflect, a time to plan
By Peter Johnson, on October 28th, 2017 | Comments are closed I am regularly in London and usually busy with meetings and working with clients. Often I convince myself that I don’t have the time to stop and look as I head for the next appointment; and yet I am never too busy to slow life down a little, if I choose. None of us are too busy unless there is a real emergency to deal with. Now I am not saying that people not busy – just that to ease back for only a few moments can pay massive dividends to the reality of our lives.
On this day, walking briskly, I was in a hurry to get a coffee, prepare myself and have a few final
Continue reading Really Good and our own Fourth Plinth
By Peter Johnson, on August 31st, 2017 | Comments are closed As were are in the late stages of the summer it is always one of those times of the year when nature seems to have plans to impress us further. I was walking along when I came across this wonderful bust of colour. So impressive.
What struck me the most was the complete random mixture of colour, height and texture. The flowers were almost certainly from the deliberate sowing of wild seed, rather than from seeds blowing in the wind. Such a delight to think that someone had made this happen….and then left nature to do the work.
It was a delight to see as I stopped and studied the random mixture, and whilst having no plan
Continue reading Random sometimes works
By Peter Johnson, on July 31st, 2017 | Comments are closed Many years ago I travelled to Indonesia and enjoyed the wonderful landscape, people and culture. It has been said many times that travel broadens our horizons – it also provides different experiences when compared with the ones we grow accustomed to at home. It opens our senses to new sights, new sounds, new smells and so much more. It also opens our minds to think in a new way.
I have recently been sharing a story and metaphor from my time in Indonesia, as it relates to leadership; a topic I have been researching for many years
If I can paint a picture of rural life on some of the islands it can be a beautifully cultivated
Continue reading Leadership lessons from the duck shepherd
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