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Time and time off again
On two occasions recently, I have spoken to friends who have described their current workload in their chosen profession as ‘fine’. These conversations stand out precisely because they are so unusual. Most of my friends and colleagues seem to operate in a world where there are ‘simply not enough hours in the day’. If ever… Read more
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Researching Choices
Yesterday, I started a Masters in Education back at Cambridge. I am thoroughly looking forward to the opportunity to learn from other teachers and, more importantly, to reflect upon my own practice during the course of the next twelve months. However, the university will not be awarding the badge for thinking and reflection and I… Read more
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School transition readiness
It’s been nearly a year since I wrote my last blog which is both a reflection of a dearth of ideas and being too busy settling into my new school. I have missed writing them though. I recently found out that I have been accepted onto the course to complete a Masters in Education at… Read more
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University: what’s the point?
It’s that time of year at universities around the country when the views of the students are sought. Which has inspired me to finally crystalise the below thoughts… Having been fortunate enough to attend two universities ranked in the world’s top 100, you would think I might be a passionate defender of a university education. I… Read more
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Sign up, join in, strike out
Two of my friends are currently being coerced into joining a teaching union. Whilst one is receiving multiple phone calls from union representatives having left contact details at a recent university fair, the other is being told that by not signing up he is undermining the position of everyone else who has joined the union.… Read more
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Lifelong learning
I have lost count of the number of times over the years that I have said that I am at my best when I am learning. At various stages in my life and career, this has not been the case and I have been bored and apathetic as a consequence; not that I have always… Read more
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Learning to teach; teaching to learn
As many of you will know, I have talked about becoming a teacher for many years now. My first foray into the profession was a student placement at Danes Hill Prep School in leafy Surrey during my first gap year (currently numbering 3) in 1995/6. This experience of working with children aged 7-13, admittedly primarily… Read more
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Reflection and reciprocity
OK, I lied. I said the last blog would be my last but I mean it this time! The reason for the final post is twofold: firstly, I have been asked so many times since I got home, ‘how was it?’, or words to that effect, that I feel I should try to find a… Read more
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Harmony in the aisles
In a few minutes time, I fly home. Therefore, this will be the final blog. Phew. That’s from me as much as it might be from you! Seriously, I hope you have enjoyed reading these blogs even half as much as I have enjoyed writing them; if they had only been for my recollection in… Read more
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Sport (in Action) makes a difference
Having become a little political in some of the recent blogs, this one is most definitely a return to the core reason for being here in Zambia, namely helping Sport in Action with their corporate relations strategy. As a reminder, Sport in Action is the Zambian NGO that provides sport for development programmes for over… Read more
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Weekend in the country
I have been lucky enough over the years to have had many weekend breaks in different parts of the world. Ones that spring to mind include a stag weekend in Stockholm, an NYC break when I was living in the US and a jaunt to Paris on the Eurostar. The usual format, as I am… Read more
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The darker side of Zambia
Anyone who read my last blog will know that I have found much to admire and learn from in Zambia. But that does not mean I have been oblivious to some of the less admirable aspects of life here. There are both mundane daily challenges, such as my bicycle commute where the combination of some… Read more
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Love and loathing in Lusaka
Rather incredibly, to me at least, it will soon be time to leave Zambia and head back to the UK. Which has made me rather reflective in the last few days, not that I am trying to speed up departure date at all; in fact, the opposite is actually the case and I wish in… Read more
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Educating Zambia (and Africa?)
As some of you know, I will soon fulfil my (not quite lifelong but certainly since I was 19) ambition to become a teacher when I return from Zambia; the Olympics and Paralympics just got in the way really! In fact, this ambition was one of the reasons that I have chosen to spend two… Read more
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From London to Lusaka: a sports marketing legacy from London 2012
One year on from the start of the greatest show on earth, I find myself sitting in a hotel lobby in Lusaka, Zambia, feeling a long way away from the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games just about to start in the Olympic Stadium in East London, let alone the bell ringing by Bradley Wiggins this time last… Read more
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What a difference a hundred years makes
As I mentioned in one of my recent blogs, I have been working in conjunction with the German Foreign Office through their Teutonically entitled ‘Sports Cooperation Programme’. Sorry, that is an unfair (indeed, nonexistent according to spellcheck) adjective, but it rather highlights for me the difference that one hundred years has made in who I… Read more
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Alive and Kicking
Wow, what a week. I’ve got about 3-4 blogs in mind but as I have only worked out how to upload one photo at a time (and do not yet know how to add a video – I’m thinking youtube but will have to explore that one later – you’ll just have to wait for… Read more
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Zambian Weekend
Work update: we have had some brilliant meetings recently and I only hope that I have the time left to make the most of the opportunities that are apparent here. That is not the reason for this blog though; I want to tell you about my weekend. Having spent a little of the last few… Read more
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Touring the schools
Having reluctantly dragged myself away from the bike ride to Livingstone with Beyond Ourselves on Tuesday evening (via a very friendly Lusaka farmer who rather randomly purchased a live cockerel on our way back to the city, placing it noisily in the boot), I am pleased to report that my reason for doing so was… Read more
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Researching the opportunities
I have now been here for three weeks and I am pleased to report the serious work is now in full swing. Last week saw the first meetings with companies which have already led to a couple of opportunities which we need to follow up on. That said, other companies have told us they can’t… Read more
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Wallace Tournament highlights
On a more positive note from my last blog (I will not be sharing the comments I received from both religious and non-religious individuals about the content), the tournament was a resounding success on Saturday. There were three particular highlights that stood out for me: 1. Speaking to old boys and girls who were returning… Read more
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Making my blood boil
The Wallace Tournament on Saturday was a resounding success. Children from the Lusaka SIA programmes where the UK IDEALS students have been coaching and mentoring came together to play football, basketball, netball and volleyball in Munali. Competition was determined and intense but also, something that really struck me, it was characterised by fairness and inclusivity;… Read more
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Work starts (and then stops for a bit)
Even though it has been a short week in Zambia (owing to the Heroes’ Holiday last weekend), this week has seen the start of work proper for me here. I have been reviewing sponsorship and fundraising activities for Sport in Action, including assessing the events and rights they have to offer, and have also started… Read more
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Seeing Sport in Action
Last week finished with two highlights so far: – Firstly, meeting Clement Chileshe, the man who founded Sport in Action in 1998 and who is a passionate advocate of sport for development, at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka (incidentally, the OYDC is a tremendous facility and more of that later); and – Secondly,… Read more
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Zambian Introductions
I landed in Zambia on Monday and was greeted by Frankson Mushindu and George Kakomwe from Sport in Action, with whom I will be working for the next two months. This week is a week of introductions: meeting the rest of the team at SIA; meeting Clement Chileshe at the Olympic Youth Development Centre; meeting… Read more
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What am I doing?
So one rather significant omission from my last blog was a proper explanation of what I am actually doing. Well, this summer I am off to Zambia to work for Sport in Action, a Zambian NGO providing sporting opportunities to young Zambians. In addition to this, SIA runs education and food programmes across the country;… Read more
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Vodafone Foundation: Getting Started with Sport in Action
It seems like a long time ago that I was at Vodafone’s headquarters finding out more about the Vodafone Foundation and the World of Difference campaign. But that does not mean there has been a lack of activity… Highlights in the last few months have included: 1. Meeting with the directors (Laura, Rich, Mollie and… Read more
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Litigious Gobbledygook – “Write that down, Darling. I want to use it in conversation”
An amazing sign appeared in London recently. The “considerate builder scheme” sign announced that workmen around the capital are going to try to become better neighbours by keeping noise and disruption to a minimum (and attempt to curtail their melodic appreciation of passing skirts, presumably). Have we really reached the state of such litigiousness that… Read more
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Accustomed as I am…
At this merry time of year, it is customary to engage in a few tried and trusted traditions, such as eating turkey, kissing under the mistletoe and being tolerant of relatives. However, having recently returned from the US again, and having had a little trouble sleeping until I had truly saturated my system with food… Read more
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Lies, damned lies and statistics…
Having joined the company a whole three years ago, I have recently found myself in the unusual position of working in my home location of London. And, I am happy to report that, after three months of commuting, my train recently arrived on time for the FOURTH occasion. Now, this might not seem like quality… Read more
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A penny for my thoughts…
Watching TV the other day, I realised once and for all how lucky we are in the UK. Whilst we are clearly still damned with Big Brother, Pop Stars and soap operas, I feel even these are a little more high brow back home. The admission I’m about to make is a sorry one, but… Read more
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The Oscars, driving and vacations…
Who (if anyone) watched the Oscars on Sunday night? Over here, this is obviously quite a big thing (well, someone has to watch it), so I felt obliged to indulge in a little American culture (oxymoron?). Nicole Kidman blubbing, Jack Nicholson still being a ladies man at the age of one hundred and four and… Read more
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Stereotypes: how much more is there to life?
Blur once pontificated, in their era defining 1990‘s album, that ‘there must be more to life than stereotypes’. Of course, sometimes there is, and yet why have we become so afraid of them? The politically correct (or should that be politically confused?) generation have undoubtedly shied away from stereotypes and their negative ramifications. And yet,… Read more
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