Monday October 3, 2011
SO as we all know, life without DRAMA would not be very exciting ………Right?
Many weeks ago I shipped the BEAMFIT’S to the UK for this launch. All was well – they got picked up on time and were on schedule to be delivered on September 30 ….. With plenty of time. SURE……..
I get an email from Gill (in England) that the container the BEAMFIT’s are in quarantine because THAT container also contained food items – and all containers (and their contents) that are near food need to be “cleared”. They told Gill that “perhaps “she will get them on the 5th or 6th – and I am scheduled to do a MAJOR presentation on the 5th……YIKES.
So she continued ,frantically, to pursue this ( in the mean time plan “B” is painters tape on the floor and me SHLEPPING 2 BEAMFIT’S with me on the plane so at least they can SEE and FEEL a BEAMFIT)
This morning, 2 hours prior to my departure, she emails me that NOW they can’t find the shipment. SO, I get 2 BEAMFIT’S, box ‘em up, tape ‘em together, slap a label with my name, address and phone and prepare to go to the airport. RIGHT BEFORE I am ready to leave I get an email from her that they have released the BEAMFIT’S and we will have them on time……………………..So, as we all know, life without DRAMA would not be very exciting……..RIGHT?
So, at the airport, the plane coming in had an emergency – one of the flight attendants took sick and they had to rush her to the Hospital upon landing. What does that mean? They are 1 short now and can’t fly due to FAA regulation!!! SO we were delayed as we had to wait for the Dallas flight to come in so “we” could “steal” a flight attendant. 1 hour delay…….not a big deal…….So, as we all know, life without DRAMA would not be very exciting……….RIGHT?
The flight was empty and I was able to get a whole row “we” love that don’t “we”!!! So, the Universe threw me a bone!
IN Chicago I went up to the gate agent to see if I could get a GREAT SEAT on my flight to London. She gave me 22G ….. And blocked the WHOLE ROW for me so I had 5 seats. I was able to lie down and stretch out and SLEEP the whole way there. It wasn’t first class but it was FANTASTIC!
Tuesday October 3, 2011
All was smooth upon landing. Gill picked me up and off we went to her office where I got to meet her staff, husband and co workers and had the opportunity to see the Physical Therapy clinic. IT was then off to my hotel - just lovely on the River - and so quant and comfortable (see pictures). Dinner was at another hotel (where I will be staying in a few days) and then off to bed!!
Wednesday October 4, 2011
What a great night’s sleep!! I forgot to mention that I have every electric converter for every country in the world EXCEPT ENGLAND so I have been unable to get on my computer as I was SAVING my battery.
Today was a fantastic day!!!!! I did a 6 hour program for the Drummond Education Team (they will be the UK Beamfit™ Training team. For now, they will teach classes in several clubs across the UK in order to peak the interest. In December I will be returning to Train them and prepare them to give the training to UK instructors as we roll out the program here. My dear friend, Monica Linford, came today and I was thrilled to see her. I met her in 1997 when I was in Australia – I stayed at her home in Adelaide while there. SHE is the one who hooked me up with Gill here in the UK and set this all in motion!!
The program started today @ 10AM …….and the BEAMFIT’S finally arrived @ 11:30 – talk about a sigh of relief!!! There were 18 of participants and among them representatives from some of the TOP clubs here in the UK. What a fun, encouraging and exciting day!!! 6 hours sound like a long time but it just flew by and they were a super group to work with. As I suspected they fell in love with the BEAMFIT and all it has to offer. A day of Fun, inspiration and gratitude, and a dinner filled with laughter, good wine and great food!
Thursday October 6, 2011
Today was a day of Meetings……yes sitting at a desk……at a computer…….meetings, meetings, meetings. Then checked into a different hotel FANTASTIC (see pictures). Dinner with my friend Monica……and then off t bed. TODAY the weather changed!!! FALL is here in England – cold, windy, fast moving grey clouds….blowing leaves and long sleeves. BRRRRRR and tomorrow I am off to MANCHESTER!!
Friday October 7.2011
Off we went to Manchester with a Van full of BEAMFIT’s which took about 4 hours. The weather has been really mild so far, however, when I stepped out the door to load the car “fall” whisked by and brushed across my face, It reminded me of those days in Chicago when I was young when I just knew the season had made its change ….and there Was no turning back
The English countryside is beautiful with its rolling hills dotted with sheep and cows, the green grass contrasts the recently harvested fields and the trees are beginning to change from their vibrant green of summer to crisp shades of brown, yellow and orange all in preparation for winter, and my return in December.
Driving was really fantastic as Gill and I talked about every topic under the sun, and this gave us the opportunity to get to know one another on a personal as well as professional level. It was truly time well spent.
I taught the program to a group of 10 instructors who represent significant clubs in the Manchester are , and as suspected, they loved the beam and are excited to get them in their gyms and begin to implement the programming. It was a Win!!! Pack up the BEAMFIT’s and off we go.
And now it is 9pm ….. And we have to drive three hours as tomorrow mornings program is in Cornwall which is about 6 hours from here. So 3 hours of the drive was completed tonight. We wound up staying the night (midnight – 6am) at a Days Inn off the motor way……..and as Betty Davis would say “WHAT A DUMP.” But one adapts - head hits pillow @ midnight, Ass hits car seat @ 6:00am …..Can’t even remember I was in that hotel!
Saturday October, 8, 2011
6am IN THE CAR for another 3 hour drive!!! This reminds me of FITOUR which I did 9 times in the 1990’s….. IN the car ……teach ……..sleep fast ……in the car…….. Teach……. And so on “Memories …….light the corners of my mind!”
We arrived in Falmouth in Cornwell at 9:50 just in time to teach the 10 am program. In grand FITOUR style we “schlepped” the 40 BEAMFIT’s up 3 flights of stairs to the studio. Helen Tite (friend her on FACEBOOK so you can see ALL, ALL, ALL of the pictures, video and posts she added to her wall) was there with a grand smile and a group of “eager BEAVERS” ……….. The class was so fantastic I can’t even describe it here. We had members, and staff, representatives from the press and even a neuropsychologist who is a physical therapist. The reception was grand and Helen will be piloting the program at her club which is very exciting.
The location of Falmouth in Cornwell is at the south-west tip of England. It reminded me of a cross between Cape Cod ( fishing, and the English country side and buildings) Southern California Beach towns ( surfing and that whole feel of , slow paced relaxed atmosphere) and San Francisco ( the hills and winding steep streets) The town is quaint and the scene is picturesque. It is an area where the English go on Holiday or retire. Truly a Beautiful place and I am so glad I got to see it, meet some of the locals and just be able to “be” there. We walked around a bit amongst the winding streets and visited some of the local shops. LOVELY I tell you!
On a side note, Helen’s Husband is in the Royal Navy and he will be Knighted by the Queen next month …….so they get to go to the Palace, meet the Queen and other Royals while he Becomes “SIR” Tite and she becomes “LADY Tite ……….I guess this is about as close to “THE QUEEN” as this queen will ever get!
Following lunch …… off we went for the 4 hour drive now back to Hensley ……. ON the drive we stopped for “petrol” and Gill insisted I eat a Cornwall Pasty – It is like a giant pocket of Dough filled with beef stew and baked. IT tastes good, blew up in my stomach and filled me for the rest of the evening. We FINALLY ARRIVE AT THIS HOTEL where I get to be for 3 nights!!!! YAY I think I was awake all of 30 minutes before I just CRASHED.
Sunday October 9, 2011
I just have to make a quick mention that there are 12 SHOPPING channels on the TV here. When you run the remote – every other channel is shopping. AND you all need to know that Gasoline is $10.21 A gallon HERE IN THE UK SO STOP COMPLAINING IN THE USA – GET A SMALLER CAR – TAKE A WALK – RIDE YOUR BIKE.
Lovely day at Gill’s home with her Husband Alex and daughter Freddie ……. Home-made dinner, great hospitality, great conversation. I am so fortunate to have made this new business connection……but more importantly these new FRIENDS!! Was also nice not to have to teach today a day off is a good thing!
Monday October 10, 2011
Today I started out earlier than usual with a class for Physical Therapists as well as Personal Trainers at the clinic. They REALLY got it and we will be talking with ALEX about creating module programs for Physical therapy and a Program Workshop for them. IN addition they had some excellent feedback on a 2 day Personal Training course…….( Linda Shelton will be grinning from ear to ear as these two areas are really right up her alley). After that class, Gill and I finalized all the plans and “paperwork” and as of Today, Drummond Education is the official representative for Beamfit™ in the UK. Watch for a Beamfit™ UK page on face book as well as Beamfit™ UK web site. This is such a positive step and a great opportunity for both of our companies.
And now we are OFF to LONDON to teach a Master Class at a Virgin Active Club (huge chain in the UK). TRAFFIC and CONSTRUCTION landed us there 10 minutes prior to the start of class ……. But no worries the participants were ready to grab a Beamfit and try and I was ready to teach. The class was full and FANTASTIC!! This was the last class on this trip and with the finishing of this we had a 100% POSITIVE response everywhere I taught! Here at this club Virgin Active will be piloting the BEAMING Program and will roll it out system wide in March 2012 – very exciting. Beamfit™ has definitely found a home here in the UK with Drummond Education and Gill and her staff will excellent representatives as we move forward.
Following my shower, Gill and I walked around a bit so I could see a bit of London and then met with Greg Sellar ( a presenter here in the UK) we wanted to show him the BEAMFIT and talk a bit to him. And then it was off in the traffic…….past London Bridge, Big Ben, The Palace and Harrods - back to Henley for dinner.
At the Little Angel we had Kate (our waitress) and a great meal………..then whooosshhh off to bed!
Tuesday October 11, 2011
Wake UP + Breakfast+ shower+ packing = TIME TO GO HOME.
Heathrow is chaotic and we took off a bit late and as the plane lifted from the runway I calculated the time and realized my connection time is going to be as tight as Tupperware…….but instead of a “burp” I will sigh and let the Universe handle it. It seems all of my connections this week from the arrival of the BEAMFIT’S to my close-call arrivals at some of the venues (and now this) all seemed to work out just fine. So as I sit here and type I am hopeful the Universe will once again grant me the opportunity to have a positive outcome.
WELL “hopeful” was the word. I did get a whole 3 seat row to myself which was GOOD …….BUT the plane was delayed 1 ½ hours and the food was unusually poor ……at any rate we landed late in DALLAS. 45 minutes to get through customs, claim my bag, re check it through and rush from the “D” terminal to the “A” terminal. I made it there exactly at 6:15 ( which was the departure time) – the door was closed and I was S.O.L!!! There were several people from my London Flight going on to Palm Springs so we all shared the same fate.
So I had to take a flight to Ontario. On the flight I was stuck in the very last row 32B next to the engine…..and in the row across were 2 men that looked like hoodlums…….and the third { against the window) was in HANDCUFFS………AHHHHH marshals dressed like “tough guys” in flannel shirts and Baseball Caps guarding the prisoner……I wondered – Did he murder? Rape? Burgle? HMMMMM
I had to have Perry pick me up @ 10:30 and then drive the 1 hour back to my house. I met a nice lady at the gate who was in the same boat (she can from London too) so we gave her a ride to Palm Springs with us…….But the saga still has a mystery - where was my bag????
I hoped it was on this flight and ----------- no dice. I was told it will arrive tomorrow @ 11 in Palm Springs AND IT DID so all is good!
This week was amazing. Met great people, laid the foundation for Beaming in the UK, made some good friends and established good business relationships. My sincere thanks to Gill and Drummond Education for bringing me, to Monica Linford for the introduction and to all those who took my classes and workshops for trying something “new”. I know some times a “new” thing can be intimidating, scary or bring up feelings of “ will this REALLY be good” I am sincerely thankful that all who crossed my path and walked the BEAMFIT this week found it to be just as amazing and exciting as I do. So I thank ALL OF YOU for your warm reception and hospitality. I am looking forward to seeing you when I return in December.
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