It really has been a full on couple of weeks with signing off brochures and all that that entails.

I wouldn’t usually say this in my blog but it has to be said!! For regular readers you know that I can often be very inspired by people.  Well I want to talk about my Mum- Mrs Bales who retired at Christmas.  After a life of having great health – she found earlier this year she had cancer.  In the summer they operated on her and it seems that everything was going well.  Just two weeks ago she had a set back and had to go back to hospital. I was in a real dilemma – needed and wanted to spend time with her whilst knew I had to read a full brochure of proofs over the weekend. So what to do? Well who knew better than my Mum about reading proofs – having produced so many brochures over the years. So together in the hospital we spent our time reading proofs. She was amazing and helped so much. She is a really inspirational lady, a real trooper and all she can talk about now is when she can start travelling again- it’s just in the blood!!

So the Product team have been working tirelessly to produce the best ever product and brochure for 2011 and I hope you are tempted to try a holiday when you see what is on offer.

I was so privileged to be invited to an evening at Spencer House last night by Shangri -La hotels- now with 66 hotels and certainly a preferred hotel to stay in.  You may have already stayed in the Shangri-La hotels – if you haven’t then really I would suggest you think about it – they are some of the finest hotels in the world and have a well deserved reputation for extraordinary service of what I would call ‘WOW’ hotels.

My sons David and James have been job sharing at Bales throughout the holidays and now they are off to university – David returning in his second year and James starting his first.  It is a funny feeling to think in a week we will be empty nesters (Well not quite – there are still fees to pay!), where did those years go?  

Now then – after years of an addiction for Diet coke – I am trying to give up. I thought nothing in the world would persuade me to do this especially as I didn’t see the harm in it.  It is my trainer Jordana again – she is also a nutritionist.  I had no idea but I am informed by her that I do not ever use my own energy reserves as I am reliant on Diet coke for this. So therefore I do not burn up… that horrible word fat!!!  Ah- now I understand – I am really a skinny person trying to get out but need to use my own energy first.  The gym is definitely getting tougher, how I wish I enjoyed it but I will persevere.

Catch up again soon.

Mandy

About Mandy Nickerson

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Mandy endeavours to share her travel experiences (where she will 'tell it like it is') and also detail the latest exciting projects that she is involved in. Mandy welcomes your feedback - please feel free to submit your thoughts, queries, comments and theories below.