Categories
Culture Travels

Garibaldi, an Italian Hero

Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian revolutionary, a hero, who changed the history of Italy, as Ataturk (read about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk) was to the Turkish nation and people.

Garibaldi is said to have united Italy as we know it today. to my surprise, the country as we know it today, the boot, was in fact a collection af states prior to 1860, the north east controlled by Austria, the north west by France, Spain had its’ power base, and in central Italy there was papal power.
It was in 1860 that Garibaldi started his quest, and went to Sicily and defeated the Neapolitan forces with just 800 volunteers, known as the i Mille or Redshirts.
From Sicily he took Naples, the papal states, and the Austrian controlled states, thus unifying Italy as we know it today.

Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian revolutionary
Giuseppe Garibaldi

Another interesting fact that came to light whislt in Bologna, and why did not I know this before, that was prior to 1946, Italy was a Kingdom, having a monarch, which was expelled and exiled to France by referendum.
Oh what a small knowledge of our world have I.
Categories
Culture NLP Thoughts Travels

Garibaldi Biscuits

 

Garibaldi Biscuits in packet ASDA
Garibaldi Biscuits in packet sold by ASDA in the UK
Going back in my far and distant past, I remember one of the treats my mother would serve, it was a biscuit called Garibaldi. It was not a treat for me as I was not found of them, but to mother and I suspect other British people, they were from an exotic world, a far off country, a touch of something un-British.
The biscuit was a thin sandwich of biscuit with the dried chewy fruit of currents at the center. A current is similar to a dried red grape.
Garibaldi Biscuits
Garibaldi Biscuits
I would mention this memory to the participants of my courses in Italy, and they would look at me as if I was a visiting Martian, they had no idea of what I was talking about, no clue from the description or name of biscuit.
I was really confused.
Here was an Italian product, and the Italians had no knowledge of it. Was it my pronunciation of the word? Was it called something different in Italy?
Then, just before I was leaving for Bologna, I went into my local supermarket, and after years of not seeing the product, there was the biscuit on the shelves. I had to buy it.
During the NLP Master Practitioner course I reviewed Anchors, and brought out the packet of Garibaldi biscuits as an example of the memories it gave me. The participants looked at me with a blank face, they had never heard of the biscuit or seen them.
At the break, I offer each of them a sample, and their reaction was in the negative, they did not like the taste, texture, and most of the biscuits went untouched.
That evening as Elena and myself walked back to my hotel after a splendid pizza meal, in a small square or piazza bordering the main street running from the railway station to the Piazza Maggiore is a statue of a man on a horse, and in bold letter at its’ base or plinth, is “A GARIBILDI”. 
Garibaldi Statue in Bologna
Garibaldi Statue in Bologna
So I was not wrong. The name is Italian. Perhaps I had the wrong “cat on the mat“, the wrong understanding.
Who was this person, A GARIBALDI?
I needed answers. See article Garibaldi a Hero.
Categories
NLP

NLP Master Practitioner, Bologna, Italy

A few days ago I had the good fortune to open the NLP Master Practitioner course for NLPItaly in the Italian city of Bologna. Two days of hard but fun work, as we reviewed the NLP Practitioner work, caught-up on missing knowledge, and introduced more in depth subject matters of NLP.

I had a great time as I weaved my way through the subject of NLP, clearing-up one or two of the participants self and limiting beliefs, ever aware of the next trainer to takeover from me, leading the participants on this wonderful journey.

NLP Master Practitioner in the Italian city of Bologna

The time in Bologna gave me perhaps for the first time in my travels as a trainer a big WOW factor, as I had given myself time to discover the city, to do a bit of sightseeing, something I never usually do, as I fly in, do the course and fly out.
I found new knowledge about Italy and Bologna from Elena my translator for the weekend. More to follow.

Elena Martelli and Phillip Holt, scary

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Uncategorized

A cold wintery start to the NLP Practitioner

Today I started an NLP Practitioner course in Gaziantep, in southern Turkey, and it was a cold start.

I woke up before the alarm clock went off as usual, again my subconscious mind making sure I would have plenty of time to get ready. I tried the bedside light, but nothing happened. Then I tried the main bedroom light, still nothing.
Oh Poo Poo, no electricity and no heating.
I checked the hot water tap, and it was just about warm, and I needed a shower, so there was nothing for it but to grit my teeth and risk a cool cold shower. It certainly took my breath away, but I was very much awake.
It was even colder when I went outside, a fresh fall of snow covered the ground, leaving the trees that lined the road very picturesque.

Thank goodness the venue was warm along with the participants. A good start to the course.

Categories
Travels

A great night of football

In the early evening today, my host and organiser Mehpare of GAP Consultancy here in Gaziantep, told me that Necdet, her husband, had invited me to the big football match between Gaziantepspor and Beşiktaş J.K.

It has I think been nearly four decades since I last went to a live football game, at a time when my favourite team Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) were a team that could beat any other team. From then until now, I had watched football on the TV, being able to see close-up, views from different angles and replays.
On a cold night we arrived extra early, in fact one hour too early, but that was good as we were able to savour the local food, to return to sit in the comfort of a box.

Gaziantepspor v Beşiktaş J.K. 20/02/2009

When the game started it was like yesterday since I was last at a match and I was really enjoying the game. But then I missed a piece of the match. I was immediately upset that I had not paid attention at that point, but a thought quickly raced through my brain giving me a sense of comfort, I would see the replay.
Hang on. I was not watching the TV, there would never be a replay. Am I stupid or something? My mind was in conflict for a split second.
Strange how the mind plays tricks with us, how it assumes something will happen because it always does.
Once I got my brain into gear, I was able to enjoy the experience even though Gaziantepspor lost three nil.
Categories
Travels

It is snowing again

It takes two flights to reach Gaziantep in the South of Turkey, which went as usual, me just sitting there eating the rather unappetising food which the airlines promote as 5 star cuisine. Well it did become interesting, as the plane took off late from London’s Heathrow airport, leaving only half an hour to disembark from the London-Istanbul flight, TK1992, get a visa, pass through immigration and get from International arrivals terminal to the domestic departures terminal to get the Gaziantep flight, TK0696.

I made it, using my prior knowledge of the system and the culture of other countries, pushing in, jumping the queues. Very un-British, as we as a people are born to queue. If a British person sees two people standing one behind the other, we will join the queue. We will not know what we are waiting for, but we will wait.
As we descended into Gaziantep airport the captain gave us the obligatory arrival information, obviously being read from a pre-written script, which has blanks in it so they can insert the arrival time, weather conditions and temperature. The captain made his announcement and said that the temperature was “-0” (minus zero). How can the temperature be minus zero? 

Is this an example of a glass being half empty or half full?
Yes it was cold when I came out of the airport, but there to greet me as snow, it was snowing again. I had thought I had seen the last of the snow for this part of the year, and this far south in Turkey, not far from the Iranian and Syrian borders.
This morning, as I look out of the apartments window, over looking the rolling hills, more snow is falling. What a contrast to the last time I was here.
Still work calls. I must prepare myself for the start of a string of courses I will be giving in a number of countries in the coming months. No time to play or try out snow boarding as I did in the sand dunes of Peru.

The snow covered landscape in Gaziantep, February 2009.
The normal landscape in the hills around Gaziantep, Turkey. July 2008

Categories
Mind Maps NLP PhotoReading

I am off again

Having only just returned this week from Italy where I was giving a training in NLP for a group of eager Italians in Bologna, I find myself packing again to go to Gaziantep in Southern Turkey.

This trip will take me to Turkey, Istanbul, Gaziantep, for an NLP Practitioner course and a Coaching course, then on to Italy to give PhotoReading and Mind Map courses in Rome and Milan. My return to the UK towards the end of March, will see me giving the Stage Hypnosis course in London. So I have a busy month ahead.
I love my work, although I get very tied, I meet so many people, and in a way, give them the opportunity to look at and try new ideas, bring out the excellence that they seek.
But, sometimes I feel like a ship passing in the night, visiting through many ports, perhaps going un-noticed to some who are not looking, but like the ship, leaving its’ cargo, I leave information and knowledge for those who stay behind, so they are free to use what I deliver to them, to use as they see fit.
I hope my visits leave a good memory, so that the knowledge will open their eyes and free them to do what they wish to do, as I sail my ship to another port with a cargo of knowledge.  
Categories
Thoughts

Time for a change

It could be my age, at 95, bits of me are wrong, and as I have written in the past, I had to have a certain procedure, a coronary angioplasty, or stent placed in the heart. This has meant that I have to take drugs, something that I do not like or enjoy, as they do effect the workings of the body and brain.

In the article Missing Days, I had mentioned that my doctor had increased the beta blocker drug Atenolol from 25mg to 50mg, as I had reported a few aches and pains. These aches and pains were caused by I do not know, maybe stress dealing with people and situations, maybe it was the way I was sleeping, maybe problems with my blood supply. But this increase I believe had a more undesirable effect upon me, I found that my immediate short term memory, that tracks what I have just done or said, was difficult to access, in other words, I could not always follow what I was doing.
I used strategies to overcome this short fall in my courses, to help me and my memory.
Another outcome for me of taking the drug Atenolol as a beta blocker, is the heart rate goes down, from a normal male of 74 bpm to one of about 50 bpm.
As a result of the adverse effects I was getting, and revisit to my doctors a few months ago, I had the Atenolol reduced back to 25mg, but a new drug introduced, a drug from the nitrate group, containing isosorbide mononitrate, again acting on the cardiovascular system,
I had a terrible two weeks as I changed the drugs. I was at the start of a visit to Malaysia, with the heat, humidity, lack of exercise, changes in food, time differences. 
I felt very bad. Light headed as if I was about to pass out, unstable on my feet, and having to concentrate even more on what I was doing, especially driving a car, which at the best of times in Malaysia is like being on the dodgems ride at fair ground.
Another visit to my doctor upon my return to the UK, resulted in a junior doctor reviewing my case, asking questions for half an hour. She was shocked when she took my pulse, 30 bpm, Oh Poo Poo, I must be dead. (I think she cannot count, I checked and it was 52 bpm).
As a result my drug list has been amended again, I will not be taking Atenolol, the drug that reduces the heart beat, and which probably makes me light headed as I may not have been getting enough blood supply to the brain.
Drugs, medicines, as with anything that one becomes used to, physically, mentally, emotionally, perhaps addiction like smoking, if it is not good for you, cut it out, stop it. Have they been effecting us in a bad way, detrimental to our well being, our sanity, our future? Have they contributed to our future? Was there a future with them?
Giving things up may have after affects, withdrawal systems, but they will go. With the right attitude of mind, doing things differently, seeking new ways, new activities and relationships, replacing them, and with the help of mental techniques like NLP, these after affects can be reduced or removed.
Or perhaps I will not miss the drugs which I have to give up, and feel better for doing it.
I will have to find new ways, not visit those places in my life that could enhance the withdrawal systems, and get on to save my sanity.
I write this, so others who are in a similar situation will know that they are not the only ones out there, and there is a way forward.
Categories
Travels

Sand Boarding – Peru

My walk into Richmond Park on the day of snow here in the UK, brought back many memories of good and happy times. One of these memories came back as I saw some young females sitting on a snow board having real fun racing down the slope of snow. See article.

Sand dunes in Peru
Sand dunes in Peru

Some years ago on a tour of Peru, the party were taken to an area of sand dunes, near the tiny Oasis town of Huacachina, four hours south of Lima, and we raced up and down steep slopes in a large sand buggy.

The roaring sand buggy which race up and down the sand dunes in Peru.
The roaring sand buggy which race up and down the sand dunes in Peru.

Eventually, we stopped on the crest of a small dune, and the drivers pulled out some snow or sand boards.
The younger members were eager to tryout this new experience, and I looked on thinking, “should I, shouldn’t I?”
All attempts to stay on the board more than a couple of feet (meters), ended in them face down in the soft dusty sand.

Others tried to stand on the sand board, not Phillip Holt.
Others tried to stand on the sand board.

There was no way I was going to attempt that, I could see me breaking a leg, arm or my neck in the attempt to ride the sand board. But, I hit on an idea, why not lay down on the board? Just as much fun.

Phillip Holt getting ready to sand board
Getting ready to sand board.

The others looked on, as me at “95” grabbed a sand board, and hurtled down the dune, head first, and I did not break anything.
Soon the others followed my method, and great fun was had, as we progressively move to higher and higher dunes, reaching unbelievable speeds.

Yes that is Phillip Holt on the left, hurtling down a very steep sand dune in Peru.
Yes that is me on the left, hurtling down a very steep sand dune in Peru.

For weeks later I was finding sand in my clothes, shoes, socks and underwear, the fine sand penetrated everywhere.
I always say, “Try it, you might like it.” So come on, make that booking, take that flight, and go to places and try new things now.
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Travels

Snow in Richmond Park – Memories

Yesterday in the UK there was a snow fall, some say 20cm, and as always, the country cannot cope with the extreme weather. Schools were closed, buses stopped running, trains failed to arrive, and people could not get to work.

Being a country having a temperate maritime (mild) climate, one that is neither too hot nor too cold, the infrastructure, the services that in other countries are available to cope with such events are not cost effective to put into place in the UK. If we only get snow such as we did once every 20 years, then why spend money in buying snow plows.
So wanting to get some exercise, I slipped my way as I walked up to Richmond Park to enjoy the sights and fun of the snow covered vista.

Richmond Park, (UK), Snow falls, then people have fun.

Hundreds of people, families and children were arriving by the minute to enjoy the fun in the snow of Richmond Park, with snowboards, sledges, plastic bags, cardboard, all sorts of materials to sit on, to race down the snowy slopes.

    
    
Richmond Park, (UK), People having fun in the snow, on snowboards, sledges, plastic bags, cardboard, all sorts of materials to sit on.

The whole experience brought back so many memories of times in the snow, playing, being cold, the crunching of the snow under foot, being able to get back into a warm inviting room. 
It also brought back memories of my time in Peru, boarding down sand dunes.