Get off your own back

Details of Michael Neill's radio show for this week are posted below:

YOU ARE NOT THE ENEMY on 'You Can Have What You Want'

Tuesday, December 13th at Noon pacific, 3pm eastern, 8pm UK

(live internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com)

For as long as you are making any part of yourself into an enemy, you will not experience lasting inner peace. Learn how life changes when you stop the battle against yourself, your ego, your shadow, or any other parts of your personality you don't like (or wish didn't exist!)

As always, I'll be taking your calls on air if you're tired of beating yourself up or wondering how much easier your life could be if you got off your own back, please call in to speak with me live! Inside the US:1-866-903-TALK (8255)Outside the US:001-858-623-0102

To listen to the show this Tuesday, December 13th, go to
http://www.hayhouseradio.com at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'.

11 ways to put an end to 'hit and run' weekends

It's Sunday again already! If you're wondering where yet another weekend went to, read the following article, written by Lisa Schulman for ivillage and make more time for fun next weekend:

http://lifestyle.msn.com/FamilyandParenting/RaisingKids/ArticleIV2.aspx?cp-documentid=102705&GT1=7461

Find great music

I found the following in wealth coach Nicola Cairncross' email newsletter:

Latest web tip from Steve Howson - a marvellous music site called http://www.pandora.com/ where you put in a couple of your favourite tracks and it analyses the qualities of those tracks and finds you more music like that. You can create different personal "radio stations" for the different genres of music you like and it's a great way to find more new music / artists.

December Newsletter

The December edition of the Successfully Single newsletter can now be read on-line at www.successfullysingle.co.uk/pages/14/index.htm. Don't forget that if you sign up to receive the newsletter by email during December, your name will be entered into a draw to receive a month's coaching with me, absolutely free of charge - that 3 x 40 minute sessions...

Happiness is an empty inbox

We're being spoilt this week - with a second helping of Michael Neill - so if you're feeling overworked and overwhelmed in the run-up to the holiday season, tune in to:

HAPPINESS IS AN EMPTY INBOX w/special guest Stever Robbins
Thursday, December 8th at Noon pacific, 3pm Eastern, 8pm UK
(Live internet radio at http://www.healthylife.net/)

This is what Michael has to say about it:

If you're ready to overcome overwhelm at work and at home, listen in on my conversation with leadership guru and efficiency expert Stever Robbins(http://www.steverrobbins.com).

As Stever says:"'No' is hard for most of us to say. We like to feel appreciated and useful to others. But far better to say "no" many times and concentrate on a few great wins than to say "yes" after "yes" after "yes" and deliver poor results...

At the end of the day, it's not like there's much choice. You will reduce your overwhelm. Either you'll do it voluntarily and deliberately, or you'll do it when you collapse with a nervous breakdown. You owe it to yourself to take control of your own life and make the hard choices now, when they're uncomfortable, but doable. Something's got to give. Don't let it be you."

To listen to the show this Thursday, December 8th at Noon pacific, 3pm Eastern, 8pm UK, go to http://www.healthylife.net/ and click on the button marked 'Listen Live!'

Win free coaching for a month

Sign up for the Successfully Single newsletter in December and your name will go into a special draw. The winner will receive a month's coaching, absolutely free of charge (that's 3 x 40 minute sessions - worth £180). Either send a blank email to newsletter@successfullysingle.co.uk, or visit the website, go straight to the bottom of the 'Newsletter' page and use the sign-up box there.

The winner will be contacted by email, early in January 2006. Good luck!

The gift that goes on giving...

Whilst I was reading Beryl Whiting's blog (see previous post), I was also reminded that many people I know are turning down the opportunity to receive another load of things that they don't really need this festive season, and instead, are asking people to get them something that someone else needs. Confused? Read what Beryl has to say about it and all will become clear...

Having a birthday right before xmas gives my husband and sons a bit of challenge! They assume I am a woman who has everything, um....actually I am beginning to think they may have a point. I certainly have everything I NEED.

So after a lot of nagging I came up with a digital radio as a present. I have to say it doesn't really do it for me but, what else is there? Then, a revelation. After listening to a radio advert I had an 'aha' moment. There was something I would really really like and it made me feel quite happy and excited at the thought of having it! Well you may be as surprised as my sons when I tell you it is a GOAT! I know you're thinking 'you're kidding'! Ooops sorry.

Oxfam www.oxfam.org.uk are suggesting you buy a goat (£24) and no post and packing involved, they will send it to someone to whom it would make a real different. A child ex-soldier or a mother to support her family in Africa. Two goats go off and do what goats do and before you know it you have a whole herd. So what appeals to me is helping others far less fortunate than me to get back on their feet and create their own future and take control of their lives again. What better gift could we give? This just fits so well with the work I do. I now intend to buy livestock on a regular basis. In 2006 I will be saving for a camel (£95).

The seasoned shopper in me did begin to start the 'shopping around' and whereas Oxfam do one goat for £24, Christian Aid, www.presentaid.org do a whole herd for £60! Then again could I stretch to a calf (£32), a stethoscope for (£7), a can of worms for Bolivian farmers (£15) ? Decisions decisions......

Happy Xmas Shopping!

Successfully Single - at any age

Beryl Whiting is an NLP coach and Personal Development Trainer for people in business. Reading Beryl's blog the other day, I had a wonderful reminder that you don't need to be in your 20's, 30's or 40's to be successfully single and get a life you love after a break-up. Beryl wrote:

Recently, I overheard two ladies talking in a coffee shop. The first lady was telling the story of how her husband had left her three years ago when she was aged 60. Although at first she was devastated and didn't tell anyone for a year. Now she absolutely wouldn't have him back, even though he says he wants to try again.

"I'm having too good a time going out and enjoying myself in a way that he wouldn't let me when we were together. He insisted on us doing everything together. Now I can go out when and with whom I want! I love going to concerts, theatres, holidays, keep fit, coffee mornings. It's been a real blessing and I never thought I would hear myself say that!"

Yay! You go girl!

The Secrets of Million Dollar Intention

Details of Michael Neill's radio show for this week are posted below:

THE SECRETS OF MILLION DOLLAR INTENTION on 'You Can Have What You Want' Tuesday, December 5th at Noon pacific, 3pm eastern, 8pm UK (live internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com)

Do you procrastinate? Put things off? Feel overwhelmed by work, life, and your to-do list? Listen in this week and find out why the most important choice you make is what you choose to make important...As always, I'll be taking your calls on air - if you want to overcome procrastination and take action on what really matters in your life, please call in to speak with me live! Inside the US: 1-866-903-TALK (8255). Outside the US:001-858-623-0102

All first time callers can receive a free month's membership to the SolutionsCafé! To listen to the show this Tuesday, December 5th, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'.

Have a safe Christmas

Now that we are hurtling towards the holiday season, follow these safety tips from the Lucie Blackman Trust on your nights out and have a safe Christmas:

PLANNING:

Have you worked out how you are getting home?
Have you put I.C.E. (a number to be rung In Case of Emergency) on your mobile?
Is your mobile charged up and do you have credit?
Book a taxi home BEFORE you go out.
Take a long coat to cover your party clothes on the way home.
Arrange to travel home with a friend.
If going out by yourself, set up a Safetytext before you leave, and if your plans change, set up a new Safetytext, so if something happened to you, someone could find you.

DRINKING SAFELY:

Never leave your drink unattended
If you are in a group, maybe there is someone who is driving and not drinking, elect them to watch over everyone’s drinks.
Use a Drink Spike Detector – and make sure people see you doing so.
Ask your pub for a DSD – they should have them. If not, tell them about the Lucie Blackman Trust.
Pace yourself – if you have too much alcohol too quickly it will catch up with you an hour later.
Miss a round of drinks occasionally, and have a soft drink.
If you are with a group of friends – LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER.
Don’t drink so much that you can’t control your actions. You will become an easy target. If a guy can push you behind some bushes, you will be raped in less than a minute. You may be made pregnant, be given a sexually transmitted disease, even AIDS.

YOU MUST STAY IN CONTROL OF YOURSELF

*IMPORTANT* IF YOU HAVE YOUR DRINK SPIKED – PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE POLICE. THEY NEED TO KNOW.

GOING HOME:

Take a long coat out with you.
If you are a girl in skimpy party clothing, wearing a long coat over your party clothes will make you less of a target.
If you are travelling home alone, set up a Safetytext giving your route and cancel when you are home safe.
If you have to walk, make sure you go the way with the best street lighting. It may be further – but it's safer.
If walking down a quiet street or lane, walk in the middle of the road.
Make sure you have a Lucie Blackman personal attack alarm ready to use.
Don’t accept a lift from someone you have just met – or if you do, put their details in a Safetytext.
When nearly home, make sure you have your door keys ready so you can enter your house quickly.

We welcome partners and information that will support work in this area. To contact The Lucie Blackman Trust telephone 01983 566083 or 07887893951.

© Copyright 2005: Lucie Blackman Trust

Safety Text

Most women will be aware of the need to keep themselves safe when on a night out. By logging on to www.safetytext.com it's possible to set up a delayed text message from your mobile which could raise the alarm if something happens to you. The message is confidential,and you can cancel it when you are safely home. The website includes a video of how to set up a safety text.

Not sure if this service is available outside of the UK - I suspect not.

The Single Again Club

I have recently set up a new networking group called The Single Again Club at Ryze.com. The network, which is free to join, is for newly-single women who have been in a long-term relationship and who are returning to 'singlehood' either through choice or because their partner has ended their relationship.

The network has been set up to help newly-single women to:
~ cope with, and make sense of being single again
~ survive re-entry into life as a single woman
~ receive a sense of community from networking with a group of women who are all 'single again'
~ recover from the break-up of their relationship in as short a time as possible
~ plan how they want their life to be in the future and
~ go on to have a life they really, truly love

Please Join here - have your questions answered, share your experiences, disappointments and challenges, celebrate the good bits and really feel the benefits of being part of a community of women who are all newly-single and experiencing similar challenges.

P.S. We grow by your recommendation. Which of your female friends, colleagues or family members would benefit from being a member of the Single Again Club? Please tell them about us and let's build a lively, vibrant community of single women who don't need a man on their arm to be successful.

The Relationship 'A.H.A.'

The excellent Michael Neill of Genius Catalyst is presenting

THE RELATIONSHIP 'A.H.A.'

on his internet radio show, 'You Can Have What You Want' on Tuesday, November 29th at Noon pacific, 3pm eastern, 8pm UK (live internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com) . This is how he describes it:

Relationships are at the heart of the human experience, but so many of us find it difficult to live from our hearts in the most important relationships in our lives. Join me this week as I share relationship tips, tricks and techniques, including my personal favourite - the relationship 'A.H.A.'... As always, I'll be taking your calls on air. If you're experiencing breakdowns, scared to break up or ready for a breakthrough, please call in to speak with me live! Inside the US:1-866-903-TALK (8255) Outside the US:001-858-623-0102 All first time callers can receive a free month's membership to the SolutionsCafé!

To listen to the show this Tuesday, November 29th, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'

The Lucie Blackman Trust

So much to blog about this week and so little time...

I am always interested in personal safety issues for women - I have a whole chapter in my book dedicated to this subject and I pricked up my ears this morning when I heard about The Lucie Blackman Trust on GMTV. Briefly, Lucie Blackman was killed in 2000 after her drink was spiked. Her father and sister set up The Lucie Blackman Trust in her memory to educate women on personal safety issues.

First of all , please visit the website and tell your female friends, colleagues and family members about it. The party season is about to start for many of us and the need to keep ourselves safe should be uppermost in our minds when we are planning a night out.

Secondly, if you are looking for a Christmas gift for a female of any age, you may want to take a look at their Lucie Blackman Trident alarm which looks excellent. Here's the description, direct from the website:

LUCIE BLACKMAN TRIDENT ALARM:

Branded especially for the Lucie Blackman Trust, this personal attack alarm is different from most as it has three functions.

When activated it emits an ear piercing 138 decibel screech that will draw everyone's attention, and help repel an attack.

If also sprayed directly at an attacker, they become coated in a foul smelling substance, and an invisible ultra violet identifier.

Multiples of 1 @ £11.50 each inc. p&p - Qty Multiples of 5 @ £50.00 inc p&p - Qty

You can order alarms on-line here. Keep safe!

Successfully Single Resources

Just wanted to remind you about some of the free resources available to you on the Successfully Single website:

First of all there's the monthly Successfully Single email newsletter, full of the latest news and information about being a Successfully Single woman. Use the sign-up box on the website or just email me at newsletter@successfullysingle.co.uk

Secondly, don't forget to check out my recently-published book:

Successfully Single: 101 ways to love being single again

You can read a free 48-page preview of it here:

www.bookshaker.com/product_info.php?products_id=133

(Would make a great Christmas present for a newly-single friend or family member :-) ) Look out later this week for a special announcement about how you can buy this book at half price during December:

Free teleclasses (classes that take place over the telephone) are available throughout the year. To see a list of the classes that are currently available click here.

If you are thinking of hiring a Coach, don't forget that you can call me on +44 (0)1405 861074 or email me at ann@annharrisonlifecoaching.com to book a complimentary coaching session and find out how we could work together...

And finally, before you leave the website, click on the 'Resources' page for free articles and links to other useful sites...

The Year-to-slim program

When a relationship comes to an end, many women feel that they want to make some changes to their appearance to complement the changes they have made in their lives. This will often take the form of a new hairstyle, new clothes or a decision to lose some weight.

Claire Raikes is a Health and Wellbeing Coach and her friend, Lucy-Ann Prideaux is a registered Nutritionist. Together they have created what they describe as a 'day-by-day roadmap to weight-loss success, which if followed, will take you from where you are now to slimmer, calmer and happier with your body than ever before. What's more, you will finally learn exactly how your body works and what makes it TICK'.

Their program is called 'YeartoSlim: Daily Steps to Natural Weight Loss' and is delivered direct to your email inbox. This is what Claire and Lucy Ann say about it:

Unlike other weight loss programs or traditional diets, YeartoSlim is different. You will:

• Learn about food and nutrition• Understand the digestive system • Discover how your body uses food • Understand the role of carbohydrates• Find out what 'a balanced diet' really means • Understand your behaviour and relationship with food• Focus on the foods that nourish you from the inside out• Get weekly motivational boosts that keep you on track for the entire year• Make tasty, easy, nutritious meals specially created for the program• Learn about the different approaches to weight loss• Be inspired by new food ideas to fire the metabolism • Finally get the results you want and deserve and • Maintain your new size with a smile!

There are no meetings, with demotivating 'weigh-ins', to drag yourself along to as the entire program is delivered electronically via email. And yet you need never feel alone, because membership to YeartoSlim includes access to an online email support group (Yahoo group) where you can 'meet' other members, making new friends and sharing the experience as you wish. The support group also gives you 24 hour access to Lucy-Ann and Claire.

They are both adamant that good health and a body to be proud of, doesn't have to be expensive. Unless, of course, you consider 42 cents a day expensive! That's around 24 UK pence. Yes, that's right. YeartoSlim will cost you just $13 a month (c. £7.20). That's less than the price of a cappuccino - a week!

Get more information and/or sign up for the YeartoSlim program here

Thanksgiving Ideas from Denise Michaels

Happy Thanksgiving to all our US readers. Denise Michaels, owner of the Great Ideas for Women over 40 site has posted some Thanksgiving-related articles, ideas and tips for 'getting into the holiday groove'. She says:

'From recipes, romance, family fun, how to save on your Thanksgiving road trip, dealing with difficult relatives, jokes, fashion trends, being thankful and much more. Jump over right now for great stuff that will help you enjoy your holidays with ease. More holiday articles coming soon for Christmas and even Chanukah, too. Don't miss out!'

Have a wonderful and peaceful holiday!

Barnes and Noble University

A coaching friend told me about Barnes and Noble University yesterday. For those of you who are not familiar with them, Barnes and Noble are a massive company which sells books on-line and in-store in the US. Their B&N University offers a range of free on-line courses, many of which would be of interest to single women including:

• Money Management for Women
• Simplify Your Life Now,
• Business Etiquette and
• Taking Care of Your Aging Parents

The one that I've got my eye on is 'Forensics with Court TV' - I'm a C.S.I. fan and I'm fascinated by all things forensic - watch out Marg Helgenberger - I could be after your job...

Other People's Blogs

All last week, I kept meaning to write about Priya Shah's blog, Single By Choice, and I just never got around to doing it. Now I've discovered that in her blog entry for today, Priya has mentioned me! Now it looks like I'm only recommending her blog because she quoted me, which really isn't true... I'm recommending her blog because I like it.

Priya calls her blog a 'A single mom's reflections on relationships, motherhood, men and marriage'. This is how she describes herself:

I’m Priya Florence Shah, a single mother - not really by choice. My husband passed away in June 2005 and since then I’ve decided to remain single.

I’m learning to love my space, deal with loneliness (which I’ve discovered is just a state of mind, easily altered by changing your perspective) and read a lot of personal growth and self-development books.

I’m also a successful businesswoman, having been in the field of online marketing since 2001, and recently started an online marketing firm. My babies (my 6-year old daughter and my new business) keep me very, very busy. My biggest challenge is finding time for myself - a problem that all moms (single or not) face everyday.

Hope you enjoy Priya's blog...

Great Ideas for Women Over 40

I wanted to tell you about Denise Michael's new website, Great Ideas for Women Over 40. The website looks good and is packed with information on all kinds of subjects that are of interest to women over 40 (and younger). This is what Denise has to say about it:

This website is for you, the smart woman over 40. If you're over 40 and looking for information to live a more fulfilled, happy and prosperous life - you've arrived. Great Ideas for Women Over 40 provides an array of resources to help you get more out of life. Whether it's more love, money, better health or more fun - the information here is updated to help you - and it's all free.

Denise is the author of "Testosterone-Free Marketing." To discover more about her, visit her website, Marketing For Her.

Vounteers needed!

I received the following message from Lee McCormack of WeightLossHypnosisOnline.com:

I am almost ready to launch my first product - a hypnotherapy and coaching weight loss programme but first need to test it out on a research and development team. So if anyone would like to volunteer for the group please first register your details for the smartgroup - weightlosshypnosis-subscribe@smartgroups.com

The three month programme will be delivered via email( approx 2 per week )and also listening to hypnosis audios downloaded from my website ( approx 3 per month). Its free to join in return for lots of feedback and a testamonial at the end. Aiming to start in the next few weeks.>

If you would like further information, contact Lee at leemccormack2@hotmail.com

The Single Again Club

The Single Again Club is a brand new, on-line coaching community which I am setting up to provide newly-single women with high quality coaching at an affordable price.

As a member of the Single Again Club you will receive:

One, hour-long, group coaching call per month

Two, thirty-minute private coaching sessions per month. (Private coaching sessions will be scheduled to take place on Coaching Hotline Days. Coaching Hotline Days are scheduled to take place regularly throughout the month)

Regular email support and encouragement via our dedicated Single Again Club discussion group (which allows you to have your questions answered, share your experiences, disappointments and challenges, celebrate the good bits and really feel the benefits of being part of a community of women who are all newly-single and sharing similar experiences.)

A copy of our monthly newsletter, 'Successfully Single', which is packed full of advice, tips and resources to help you to make the transition from 'newly-single' woman to 'Successfully Single' woman

Access to our occasional interviews with guest speakers

All for an affordable £87 per month!

The Single Again Club will officially launch in January 2006, but, if you register now and pay your first month's membership in advance, you can take advantage of some of the Single Again Club benefits absolutely free of charge for the next 2 months.

Register today, pay your membership fee for the month of January 2006 and you will will then be able to:

Join our monthly group coaching calls in November and December

Join our Single Again Club discussion group and start getting to know the other club members and

Receive the November and December editions of our montly newsletter, 'Successfully Single'

All absolutely free of charge!

If you are ready to join us, secure payments by bank or credit card can be made safely through Paypal. Personal cheques are also accepted by mail. If you would like further information, contact me at ann@annharrisonlifecoaching.com or call me on +44 (0)1405 861074.

Quote of the day?

I just received the following quotation in my in-box. I love it!

'I am thankful that thus far today I have not had any unkind thoughts or said any
harsh words or done anything that I regret. However, now I need to get out of bed and so things may become more difficult.'

-Sylvia Boorstein

Live In Essence

Regular readers will know that I always like to pass on any good resources that I find. Today, I’d like to tell you about my new friend, Claire Raikes and her company, Live In Essence. Claire is a natural health and wellbeing coach, speaker and writer and I ‘met’ her (virtually) when I joined her Club Essence smartgroup (more about this later). This is what Claire has to say about Live in Essence:

Live in Essence is about natural health. When we live in essence we live in a way that honours the essential and vital ingredients of life. In it's purist form this means food, water, sunlight and fresh air. In a '21st century wellbeing' context it's about detoxing, de-stressing and revitalising our bodies - and when we do, our minds and souls benefit automatically.

Claire’s website is packed with useful information and goodies, and I recommend that you have a look for yourself. Whilst you are there, you can sign up for Club Essence, which is new and completely free to join. This is how Claire describes it:

Club Essence is an online discussion group powered by Smartgroups.com which offers you motivation and inspiration through sharing your successes, strategies, recipes, ideas - and challenges - with like-minded people. Whether you are interested in diets and weight loss or other health matters, 'Club Essence' could make all the difference to your success.

I’m really pleased that Claire has agreed to be interviewed as one of our guest experts for the new Single Again Club which I will be launching shortly. I’m looking forward to hearing what she has to say. Meanwhile, since the ‘eat yourself stupid’ season is about to begin in earnest, I’m going to be visiting Club Essence on a regular basis between now and Christmas. I have some speaking engagements coming up in the New Year and I don’t want to end up looking like the Pilsbury dough-boy’s fatter sister, do I?

Safety tips for women

I received the following safety tips for women in my email box this morning (thanks, Linda) which are, apparently, from Northamptonshire Police and which are definitely worth thinking about. For further information about personal safety, visit the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

Things women should know to stay safe: Please take the time to read these pointers. There may just be one or two you hadn't thought of.

After reading this, forward it to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. If a robber asks for your handbag, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you.... he is probably more interested in your handbag than you and he will go for the handbag. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the boot of a car: Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm through the hole and start waving. The driver won't see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4.Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their cheque book, or making a list). DON'T DO THIS! A predator could be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side and attack you. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a car park:

A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and check the back seat.

B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most attackers surprise their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the shop, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the lift instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot.

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that
they hear babies' cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE POLICE - Visit us at http://www.northants.police.uk

Make 2006 your best year yet!

Make 2006 your best year yet! is an 8-week tele-course which will start during the first week of January and will cost just £79 for the 8-week programme. Details are still being finalised, but you can register your interest now by emailing me at ann@annharrisonlifecoaching.com.

Are you Epicurious?

If you get tired of eating the same old meals, week after week, check out Epicurious.com. Click on 'Find a Recipe', at 'Keyword' type in your main ingredient (e.g., chicken, eggs, shrimp, etc), tick the relevant boxes if you want low-fat, low-carb, one-pot cooking, etc and, hey presto, get a whole variety of new recipes to tempt your jaded palate. (Note: if you live outside the US, some of the ingredients in some of the recipes may be unfamiliar.)

How do I get my kids to accept my new partner?

I have been contacted by several women who have been single for a while (and therefore don’t consider themselves to be newly-single), asking if I am going to be running any teleclasses for separated and divorced women who are a bit more established as singletons. One theme that crops up on a regular basis is ‘How do I get my kids to accept my new partner?’. I think this could be combined with ‘What do I need to do to get my new partner’s kids to accept me?’ to form the basis for a really good discussion session. If anyone in the group fancies joining in a free tele-discussion on this subject, please register your interest by leaving a comment below or via the Successfully Single website.

Other people's blogs

One new blog that I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye on is Living in the Raw by Karen Knowler who is a Raw Food Coach and MD of The Fresh Network. Check out Karen's 'Top 10 Tips for Going Raw'.

Paying for Christmas 4

My final tip in this series is probably too late for Christmas this year, but, if you begin in January, just think how less financially traumatic Christmas 2006 will be!

Write out a list of everyone you need to buy Christmas gifts for. Next to each name, write down the amount you expect to spend on that person. Add up the total amount that you expect to spend on Christmas gifts this year and add to that anything you expect to spend on decorations, cards, a tree, etc. Divide the total by the number of months you have left before Christmas (obviously the earlier in the year you do this, the smaller the monthly amount you will need to save). Open a separate high-interest, easy access savings account and, every month, transfer this monthly amount across. By doing this, you always have money to take advantage of any bargains you come across and you will be paying for Christmas in advance, in cash, rather than using your credit card and paying it off all the next year. Don't forget to do the same thing with birthdays.

Women and wealth

Just spotted the following on Gill Fielding's blog which you can check out at www.wealthcompany.com

Wealthy women!

I used to be part of an investment group known as the wealthy women so a headline about the rise of super rich women caught my eye last week.

Apparently seriously wealthy women are on the increase – so much so that women millionaires aged between 18 – 44 now outnumber their male counterparts. It is estimated that women will hold about 60% of private wealth (estimated at £670 billion in net liquid assets) by 2025.

Now I don’t ‘cater for’ women as a specialised niche but Nicola Horlick (the famous investment manager) certainly does and she has set up a women only wealth management service for those of us who have at least £200k tucked into their hand bags. The service is called Bramdiva – but it doesn’t appear to have a web site yet.

I find it hard to reconcile these astonishing statistics with the knowledge that women still earn less than men in the work place and women are still hugely under provided in pension’s terms.

Still, Nicola Horlick is a formidable lady and I won’t argue with her when she says, “A woman’s place…….. is in the money”.

Paying for Christmas 3

My third tip in this series is:

Start a present drawer. (This one might be more useful for your 2006 gifts.)

I start buying my Christmas gifts in the January sales and keep an eye open for potential gifts every time I go out shopping. I get loads of bargains, which means I can buy better gifts for the people I care about. Last year I had bought all my gifts by October and it was a brilliant feeling to know that I didn't have to go out there and brave the crowds during the Christmas rush.

The January sales are a great source of gloves, scarves and gift sets of smelly stuff like bubble bath and hand cream which you can stock up on and dish out as gifts during the coming year. They are great as birthday gifts for friends, as standbys for unexpected or forgotten gifts and they can be combined to make a bigger gift for someone special that you would like to spend more on.

Paying for Christmas 2

My second tip in this series is:

Give your time

If things are really tight, give people your time as a gift or make up some gift vouchers of your own. A voucher for 'Five evenings' babysitting' or 'An evening of pampering' might sound like heaven to a young, single mum. Older people might enjoy being taken into town for the afternoon or having afternoon tea prepared for them. Be creative and inventive and you may find that your gifts are valued more highly than any shop-bought item.

Please tune in tomorrow for Part 3.

Paying for Christmas

Now come on, own up – are you one of those people who are 'caught out' by the arrival of Christmas every year and find that they don't have the money to pay for it? Do you get to the week before Christmas, realize you haven't bought a single gift and then have to put everything on your credit card? Maybe money is in short supply this year, or you feel that Christmas spending has been getting totally out of control over the last few years and you would like to try to rein in your expenses this year.

This week, I will be sharing some hints and tips that may be useful (and if some of them are too late for this year, you could use them to get a head start on Christmas 2006).

Tip 1 is:

Set a spending limit

If you are short of money this year (or if you feel that spending on gifts is spiralling out of control), agree with your friends and family to set a 'spending limit' for gifts. If you all agree that no-one will spend more than, say, £10 or £15, a great deal of financial pressure will be taken off you. Most people have their own financial challenges at Christmas and will be more relieved and ready to agree to this than you think. An added advantage is that you will know the likely cost of Christmas and can budget and save accordingly.

Come back tomorrow for Tip 2...

Are you a prowler or a hoarder?

When it comes to food, are you a hoarder, a finisher, a prowler or a picker? Find out (and get other, useful healthy eating/food-related information) by checking out Lee McCormack's blog, WeightLossHypnosisOnline.com.

Christmas Books

If you haven't done it already, do yourself a favour and have a look at the Book People's website (www.thebookpeople.co.uk). I've just received their 'Great Gift Ideas for Christmas' catalogue and I defy anyone not to find at least one Christmas gift in there - all at ridiculously cheap prices (I'm talking about 24 miniature cookery books by chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Michel Roux and Rick Stein for just £7.99 and 6 Dr Seuss titles for £9.99.). And, no, I'm not on commission...

Teleclasses from 'Three Wise Women'

Three Wise Women is a coaching group for forty- and fifty-something women who are interested in health and well-being (as well as fun and laughter). This week, they are offering two free teleclasses which I'll let them tell you about themelves but be quick, because the first teleclass starts tonight...

Well this week we are running two very special teleclasses which it need cost you nothing to attend, other than your time and telephone costs. Come and hang out with us, learn something new, connect with our wisdom and fun. Here are the details:

One of our former delegates Christine Compton is running a teleclass tonight called Creating Your Perfect Vision (or how to conjure up a House in Spain). Here's Christine's announcement:

Dear Wise Women

Creating Your Perfect Vision

By popular demand … I’ll be running a teleclass to look at the techniques involved in the exercise on how to create your perfect vision.

Date: Tuesday, 4 October 2005

Time: 8 pm – 8.55 pm (BST)

*Telephone No. 001 641 297 5400 Access Code: 33399

Make sure you have paper and a pen to hand (and the ‘Winter Home In Spain’ diagram - download it here: http://www.christinecompton.com/HouseinSpain.pdf ) and give some thought beforehand to what you’d like to focus on – something specific like a perfect relationship, job, house or holiday etc. We’ll go through the technique in some detail and there’ll be time to ask questions and share your thoughts. I’ve invited a few other people to join us as well so hopefully the word will spread like wildfire and we’re all going to be turning dreams into reality like there’s no tomorrow!

I’m really looking forward to this and I’m sure it’s going to be great fun.

Love

Christine

*As most of you will know, a conference call involves using a bridge line via the US so if any of you don’t have a cheap or free call service I can recommend www.1899.com. There’s a 3p. connection charge and then the call costs 1p per minute (and you can use it to get cheap or free calls in the future).

ChristineCompton@Gmail.com

+44(0)1524 62371

www.christinecompton.com

____________________________

"Christine is the wise woman of the village, your gran, your mum, your best friend and your subconscious all rolled into one. She has a very no nonsense, down to earth style which immediately puts you at your ease. Her enthusiasm is infectious - she makes you want to move forward." Wendy J Dickinson



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Then on Thursday we are recording a call about The Beauty of Juicing. We'd love to have you along LIVE, but this means you will be able to listen to it later on our website if you have to miss it. Here are Wise Marion's details about the call, posted in our somewhat lurid but zesty signature colours of purple and green!

Are you looking for more energy?

A way to painlessly slay the sugar monster within?

A delicious and effective way to ward off illness and lose extra pounds?

The Three Wise Women - dedicated juicers all - are running a

FREE teleclass

at 8pm (BST) on Thursday 6th October

to share our wise and juicy secrets about

The Beauty of Juicing

We are passionate about the benefits of regular juicing. We all know by now that applying heat, i.e. cooking our vegetables destroys a large proportion of the vitamins and enzymes that give such a boost to our health and energy. Juicing allows us to quickly and easily get our quota of the RAW food that satisfies our appetites and nutrional needs and so stops us consuming the 'empty calories' we often crave.

Would you like to find out more? Join us for this free teleclass and get our tips on:

the many health benefits

our favourite juicing machines

great juicing recipes even your children will love

have an opportunity to hear first hand some of the AMAZING results we and our 'wise' women (not to mention husbands and children) have experienced since we discovered

The Beauty of Juicing

If you've tried every diet - like we have - and found nothing really works long-term, then The Beauty of Juicing could be just what you have been waiting for!

8pm (BST) - Thursday 6th October 2005

The number to call is

From the UK: 0871 2712927.

When prompted for Room Number, enter 896848

And the PIN Number is 7373

Outside the UK: 00 44 870 050 1632

When prompted for Room Number, enter 896848

And the PIN Number is 7373

This is a FREE teleclass, you will pay only your call charges. We advise you that the call will be recorded and may be used for future promotional activities.

If you can't join us for the call but would like to get priority notice of future events then subscribe to our new ezine by emailing marion@threewisewomen.net with EZINE in the subject line.

Check out the blog by visiting www.threewisewomen.typepad.com


A reminder... THREE WISE WOMEN is the well being programme for women in their 40's and 50's. We deliver it by means of a ten-week teleclass and - launching shortly! - a fantastic e-course delivered to your inbox each week. For more info about any aspect of 3WW, drop an email to marion@threewisewomen.net--------------------------------------------------------

All is safely gathered in...

I'm happy to report a bumper harvest of fruit from our orchard this year.

Well, I use the word 'orchard' loosely. Our 'orchard' consists of one apple tree and one pear tree. We had 6 pears and 7 apples this year - which is an improvement on last year's crop of 4 pears and 6 apples.

Don't call me, Del Monte, I'll call you...

Ringtones

I just had to copy the following post from the excellent Gill Fielding's blog for you. I think I've mentioned Gill before, she is the founder of the Wealth Company, is already a millionaire and has a keen interest in helping other people become wealthy too. Here's what Gill has to say about mobile phone ringtones:

I constantly harp on about how being wealth is simply a matter of choice: we all have enough money coming into our lives to have a choice of whether we become wealthy or not. Sadly, what most people do is choose to spend their money on stuff that doesn’t contribute to their wealth such as coffee, shoes, beer, and cigarettes.

And now there’s another expense that is about to zoom to the top of the all time ‘waste your money’ list and that’s ringtones.

Now I am not a big mobile phone user – I do have one but I have to crank the handle before it works – but so many people now have a mobile phone that we spend millions of pounds on ringtones – like that lovely frog theme. So in 2002 we spent £40 million on downloading junk to our mobiles, in 2004 that had risen to £320 million, and this year it is expected to reach £750 million.

Added to that we will spend £150 million on downloading games, £100 million on music downloads and a further £70 million on ‘wallpaper’ and screensavers.

Now if we add that lot up it comes to £1,070 million on downloading junk that frankly any one of us could live without.

So if even a fraction of this money was diverted into investments that compounded over time – there would be enough there to make sure we were all wealthy – and I could cry just at the futility of the money wasted on drivel like ringtones and screensavers.

If people could only make the right choice - to invest rather than waste - we could all be wealthy beyond our wildest dreams.

The key to success

'I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone.'

Bill Cosby

The final chapter

I have thoroughly enjoyed receiving all 99 chapters of Mike Brescia's ecourse, 'Today Is Your Day To Win'. Sadly, I have just received Chapter 99 in my in-box and I thought I would share it with you and give you a chance to subscribe to the course yourself (details at the end). So here it is - Chapter 99 of 'Today Is Your Day To Win'.

How To Reach The Top Starting From Anywhere

Today's Empowering Quote

'Twenty years ago, when I went blind, it was tough to even find the bathroom. Now that I've climbed Mount Everest, well, I guess I've come a long way.'
-Erik Weihenmayer


Today's Empowering Question
------------------------------

What limitations have I been clinging to that I should and will throw right out the window, never to look back at again?
------------------------------

Today's Fast Session
------------------------------
Erik Weihenmayer went completely blind when he was 13....

Since then he's climbed the world's tallest mountains, run marathons and jumped out of planes, among his many pursuits.

Erik's story is about having the 'vision' to dream big; the courage to reach for near impossible goals; and the grit, determination, and ingenuity to transform his life into 'something miraculous.

'If you want to learn more about Erik, his book, 'Touch theTop of the World' can be found just about anywhere.

OK. So if a blind guy can climb the world's tallest mountain...

How do those excuses sound that you keep coming up with about why you can't do that paltry little project that's been sticking its tongue out at you for months now.

People like Erik only have one thing that separates them from most everyone else; the attitude that life is to be lived; that accomplishments require some risk, and that the risks themselves can make life juicy and fun.

Now, it's probably not required that you risk life and limb to achieve most of your goals, is it?

You want some juice, don't you? Accomplishment? Real excitement?

Then set a big goal. A REALLY big goal. But whatever it is, it's got to stretch you. It's got to be something that you really want... something that would really change your life.

Write down all the steps it will take. Who do you have to call? Where do you have to go? Does it require special training? Do you need tools or supplies?

What sacrifices do you have to make?

Sitting on the couch for another 10 minutes might be pretty 'comfortable.' Taking one more unimportant phonecall might be more 'fun' in the moment.

But at the end of the day when you look in the mirror...the only way THAT'S going to be fun is if you cut short the unimportant phone calls, got off the comfortable couch, stopped hiding out and took some major steps toward a big goal... every day. If you do that consistently, you'll start to really be proud of who you're becoming.

Those 'sacrifices,' if you'll look at them aren't sacrifices at all.

Happiness comes from what you become, not what you get. If you become more, you'll get more automatically. It's one of those cosmic universal laws.

Erik Weihenmayer, in achieving his goals, has become more. Now he gets paid huge sums to talk to thousands of people every year about the thrill of working to reach your wildest dreams. He gets to write about it.

90% of the people who attempt to climb to the peak of Mount Everest fail. Many die. Erik 'looked' past the risk and 'focused' instead on the reward, and went after it passionately.

So even though he's blind, he wouldn't trade his life for anyone else's. His life is his life, so he's enjoying every bit of it.

When Erik was about 15 minutes from the top of the world's tallest mountain, so close to his goal, he started to cry... but his tears were freezing, making it difficult to breath in his mask.

So he had to put off crying with his blind eyes for another 15 minutes

......until he actually reached the top of the world.

=======================================

What if you had the same minute-by-minute thoughts as the super successful? Mike Brescia has developed the ultimate mental conditioning programs that can help anyone wipe out intense fears and enjoy huge successes in all areas of life.

FREE details==> http://www.thinkrightnow.com FREE email course ==> mailto:successcourse@aweber.com

To be nobody but yourself...

'To be nobody-but-yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.'

EE Cummings

Chocolate Tasters Wanted

WANTED: Rock stars, footballers, chocolate tasters and more.

MTV, GMTV, Ducati, Closer Magazine, Aardman Animations and Liverpool FC (to name a few) are opening their doors for a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with them for the day

Live your dream, seize the day and experience your dream job

To win one of over 30 dream jobs, click now!
www.dreamjobs.org.uk

Tell a Friend

Approximately £1 from every entry goes to Barnardo's, giving children and young people a better start in life

Go ahead punk... make my day!

We have a pond in our back garden. It's not a big pond - it only contains 9 goldfish and a couple of frogs (we did have 10 fish but one died from some dreadful fishy disease soon after we bought them).

Yesterday, Chris, my partner, went into the utility room and shouted to me, 'What's happened to the pond?'. When I looked, all the pond weed and the lily pads covering the surface of the water had been pulled out and were floating, limply and pathetically, whilst the fish were nowhere to be seen.

Upon closer investigation, it appeared most likely that some creature, probably a heron, had been attempting to attack the fish, who were all now lying low on the bottom of the pond, probably scared witless (not that fish have all that many wits!).

I was incensed. I felt like a mother must feel when her children are being attacked. I know that it's only 'nature red in tooth and claw' and all that, but we bought the fish as little tiny tiddlers and, over the last 2 or 3 years, they have grown - big, strong and handsome. I couldn't be prouder if I'd given birth to them myself.

I did offer to sit by the pond, with a shotgun, on the revolving chair from the office (defending my territory and my young 'uns), but it's raining buckets this morning and we don't actually have a shotgun. Only a starting pistol. So I've settled for a huge, green tarpaulin draped over a ladder across the pond instead.

Now I'm off to Homebase for some seriously heavy-duty mesh... I'll teach that heron not to mess with me and mine!

Self-help books on prescription

Something that caught my eye on the BBC news-site this morning was a pilot project to prescribe self-help books to people with mental health problems. (10% of women suffer a depressive episode every year.)

People in Cardiff who are suffering from mild-to-moderate depression and other mental health problems are being prescribed recommended books which they can borrow from any library in the City. The aims are to give people the help they need much more quickly than putting them on a waiting list to see a counsellor, whilst, at the same time, cutting the number of prescription drugs that are handed out.

A spokesperson for Depression Alliance Cymru has given the scheme a cautious welcome. To read the full article, click here

The iPod generation and the property ladder

Wealth Coach and founder of the Wealth Company, Gill Fielding, writes about major myths in the current UK property market today in her blog. The one that particularly caught my eye was the myth that ' young people can't get started on the property ladder'. Gill writes:

A think tank has done some research into what they call the iPod generation – our current 18 to 34 year olds, who apparently feel that they are saddled with debt from their student days, have no job security and no hope of ever getting on the property ladder. On the other hand, says the research, this may be because they spend their 20’s partying, chasing dreams and moving from job to job. One 27 year old (who was drinking a £9 cocktail as she spoke) earning £22k despaired of owning her own home but admitted to spending £30k in 5 years on drink, shoes, CD’s and other ‘non essentials’.

So it’s not that they can’t get on the property ladder – they just chose not to.

To read more from Gill, go to www.wealthcompany.com and click on 'Gill's Gems'.

The Single Again Club

I've been working on a new project for 2006 which I think will be called the Single Again Club.

The club will provide newly-single women with affordable life coaching, together with relaxed and convenient opportunities for support, networking and self-development.

The way that I am thinking is, full membership of the club will include the following benefits:

• a weekly tele-group coaching session
• email coaching which is available on one day each week via the Single Again Club coaching gym
• admission to and participation in regular Single Again Club tele-discussions with guest speakers and experts
• membership of the Single Again Club Smartgroup (an e-mail discussion group)

My problem is - how much do I charge for membership? Maybe you can help me out. If you were a newly-single woman, how much would you be willing/could you afford to pay for club membership? Please e-mail me at ann@annharrisonlifecoaching.com or leave a comment below.

Who'd a thunk it?

I spotted the article below on the www.onetel.net website today. Now if they could get the pegs to bring the washing in when it does start raining, that'd be REALLY good...

Clever pegs save washing from rain

New weather-predicting clothes pegs could stop clean washing from getting drenched in the rain. The plastic pegs lock themselves shut if a downpour is imminent to prevent the user hanging clothes outside. They only unlock once a signal tells them that it is not likely to rain within the next half hour.
10.10am Tuesday 6 September 2005 Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd 2005, All Rights Reserved.

Handle the Holidays!

For a newly-single woman, the holiday season can really emphasize the loss of your relationship and turn the spotlight on all the changes that have taken place in your life.

Handle the Holidays! is a free, hour-long teleclass to help newly-single women to prepare, plan for and cope with the major family-centred holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

This class will help you to adjust to spending the holidays as a single woman (whether you have children around or not), recognise the opportunities and choices that are available to you and (dare I say it?), maybe even go on to enjoy the holiday season…

The class will be held on:

Wednesday 09 November 2005 - This is a pre-Thanksgiving holiday class which will start at 2 pm (EST), 11 am (Pacific) and 7 pm (UK time) and

Wednesday 14 December at 7 pm (UK time), 2 pm (EST) and 7 pm (Pacific).

If you would like to join us (or if you have any questions), click here

Curses...

I'm so angry with myself. Today, for the first time in my life, I have gone into unauthorised overdraft at the bank. In fact, this is the first time in my life that I've had an overdraft of any description.

This came about because, every month, I 'sweep' any excess money from my online current account into its attached e-savings account where the interest rate is much better. Then, on the last day of the month, I 'sweep' back into my current account the amount I need for the following month. Brilliant system - works every time and maximises the amount of interest I get on my money.

Until this morning, when, at 5.08 am, I had one of those 'bolt-awake' moments when I realised that today is the 2nd of September and I had forgotten to 'sweep' the money back from my e-savings.

I ran downstairs, hoping that September would be one of those months when my mortgage payment is debited from my account on the 2nd, rather than the 1st of the month... But when I logged on, there was a big, fat minus sign lurking before my account balance. Grrrr.... I hate paying interest or finance charges on anything. That'll teach me - I'm off to put an entry on my on-line calendar for the last day of each month, reminding me to transfer those funds. Must be my age...

The season of mists...

September marks the start of the best time of year for me. I'm not really a 'Summer' person - I get too hot and crabby and the heat totally zaps my energy. I much prefer Autumn when I can start to dig out my sweaters, scarves and boots and tuck myself up - snuggly and warm.

And then, of course, just around the corner we have Christmas, which is always good fun, followed by Spring, when everything comes to life again... Yep. I'm definitely on a roll now... Throw another log on the fire, would you?

This is an excerpt from the September issue of my 'Get a life you love!' newsletter. If you would like to read more, click here

What is a teleclass?

I know that some people may be unfamiliar with teleclasses and may not know how they work.

A teleclass is just a class that takes place over the telephone. All class members call into a bridge (or conference) line at the same time and they are able to speak to each other without ever having to leave their own home or workplace. (No petrol or parking fees! No need to get dressed up - join us in your pyjamas if you feel like it - we'll never know! No rushing around to get to the venue on time - just sit down with your phone at the designated time and enjoy the class!)

I use a U.S. bridge (conference) line because they are much cheaper than those in the UK. However, if you live in the UK and register beforehand with a low-cost telephone provider such as OneTel or 1899.com, your call will cost as little as 3p per minute (approximately £1.80 for the 1 hour session).

So, now you know what a teleclass is, why not experience one for yourself, for free? Read my previous posting, 'Free teleclasses in September and October' to find out how you can join a class soon. (And if you don't really think of yourself as 'newly-single' keep checking in with this blog for information about other teleclasses which will be offered soon).

Free teleclasses for September and October

If you are a newly-single woman, why not join me for my new, free teleclass which is being offered throughout September and October:

Single Again – Facing the immediate challenges of being

a newly-single woman

During this free one-hour class (you pay only your regular long-distance telephone service charges to the conference line) we will explore and discuss the immediate challenges facing you as a newly-single woman and do our best to offer you support and encouragement, together with a whole range of tips, ideas and strategies for coping with the immediate challenges of being single again after a long-term relationship.

This class will run on the following dates in September and October 2005:
Tuesday 13 September at 7.00 pm
Saturday 24 September at 4.00 pm
Tuesday 11 October at 7.00 pm
Saturday 22 October at 4.00 pm

There will be a maximum of 10 women in these groups, so please don’t delay and miss out. To join us, email ann@annharrisonlifecoaching.com.

Women and Pay

From the Onetel news site today - and Michael Buerk was saying only a week ago that we women have never had it so good...(See blog posting 'What are men for?' 23.8.06):

Women suffer from 'gender pay gap'

Women earn an average of 27% less than their male colleagues, according to new research.

Men receive average annual salaries of £30,948, while women lag behind, earning just £23,977 on average each year, according to salary comparison website PayFinder.com.

There is also evidence that the gender pay divide is getting worse, as the gap between men's and women's pay has increased by 3% during the past year.

9.32am Tuesday 30 August 2005 Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd 2005, All Rights Reserved.

The Single Again programme

Single Again is a new 8 week group coaching programme that takes place over the telephone every Tuesday evening from 7pm to 8pm (UK time).

The programme will run from 1 November 2005 to 20 December 2005 inclusive.

Who is the programme for?

Single Again is for newly-single women who have been in a long-term relationship and who are returning to ‘singlehood’ either through choice or because their partner has ended the relationship.

The programme has been designed to help newly-single women like you to:

• cope with, and make sense of being single again
• survive re-entry into life as a single woman
• get your finances under control
• recover from the break-up of your relationship in as short a time as possible
• plan how you want your life to be in the future and
• go on to have a life you really, truly love

How much does it cost?

Since this is the first time this programme has been available as a teleclass, I am offering Single Again at the introductory price of just £79.00 for the 8 week programme.

This includes:

• one group coaching session held on the telephone each week for 8 weeks
• weekly worksheets and exercises to help you sort out the mess caused by the separation and divorce and to improve your self-esteem, confidence and self-knowledge
• regular email support and encouragement via our Single Again discussion group (which allows you to share your experiences, disappointment and challenges and celebrate the good bits).

Are you ready to join us?

There will be a maximum of 10 women in this group, so please don't delay and miss out. If you want further information click here. If you are ready to book your place, email ann@annharrisonlifecoaching.com.

Keep on jumping!

What, according to the Journal of Applied Physiology, works the body 68% harder than treadmill running, has been described by NASA as 'the most efficient, effective form of exercise yet devised by man', is low impact, can help ward off osteoporosis and can be done without even leaving your living room?

Rebounding, of course!

I have been rebounding (or using a mini-trampoline) for at least 12 years and it is the only exercise that I have ever found that I can actually stick to... Find out more about the beneficial effects of rebounding in this article by Alix Miller on the website www.handbag.com.

What are men for?

I just heard about a new series starting tonight on Channel 5 at 7.15 pm. 'Don't Get Me Started' is billed as 'Britain's leading thinkers discussing modern life' and tonight's episode features Michael Buerk posing the question 'What are men for?'. Apparently, he believes that we are now living in a woman's world where men and all things masculine are being marginalised. Might be worth a look...

Free Stuff

Don't forget to visit the 'Successfully Single' website at www.successfullysingle.co.uk for free resources, articles, useful links and to book a complimentary coaching session. You can also subscribe to 'Get a life you love', my free monthly newsletter, by sending a blank email with 'Subscribe me, please' in the title to newsletter@annharrisonlifecoaching.com.

The Secret to Finding Mr Right

Anyone who knows me knows that I advocate newly-single women taking at least a year off before even STARTING to think about getting into another relationship... However, if you are thinking about dating at any stage in the future :-), you might want to listen to an interview with Michael Myerscough, author of 'Finding Mr Right'. I'm not familiar with Michael Myerscough or his work but I do rate the interviewer, Michael Neill, and if he thinks Michael Myerscough is worth interviewing, then I reckon he must be worth a listen. All the details are set out in the ad below. The interview will be broadcast today but, if you miss it, you can access it via the archives at www.healthylife.net .

'This Week on 'Bringing Your Genius to Life' (live internet radio): 'THE SECRET TO FINDING MR. RIGHT' with Michael Myerscough, author of 'Finding Mr. Right'(http://www.therelationshipgym.com) .

Would you take just one hour this Monday to discover how to find the man of your dreams within 18 months? Michael Myerscough has spent 16 years developing a proven system for becoming the kind of woman who would attract the right man for you. Do you ever wonder how some women seem to attract the good men effortlessly? Is there some secret they know that has eluded you? Well stop wondering - know more! To listen to the show on your computer this Monday, August 22 at 11am, go to http://www.healthylife.net and click on the 'Listen Live' button… You can e-mail questions for Michael to respond to on the show at: questions@geniuscatalyst.com.

Don't forget that the 11 am slot is Pacific time - you need to add 8 hours if you are in the UK, 3 hours for EST and 2 hours for CST. Have a look at my other blog, www.annharrisonlifecoaching.blogspot.com for more information about the excellent Michael Neill...

Ta-da!

A month after it was created, the Successfully Single website is finally up, running and available for public viewing! Please have a look at www.successfullysingle.co.uk...

Vata, Pitta or Kapha?

Do you know your Ayurvedic body type? Are you Vata, Pitta or Kapha? Do you know which specific foods and exercise work best for your particular body type? Haven't got a clue what I'm on about? Then visit www.bodytalkcoaching.com to find out! On this site you can find out about the three Ayurvedic Medicine body types, complete a body type self-test to discover your own body type and listen to a free teleclass to get more information.

Bits and bobs

An investigation for BBC news estimates that 500,000 singletons in the London area have registered for internet dating.

Researchers from the University of California-Irvine have been studying older people (aged 60+) who have been eating the recommended daily amount of B vitamin Folic Acid (found in leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach) for at least 10 years. They reported that the group had lowered their risk of contracting Alzheimer's Disease by 55%.

A research team from Nottingham Trent University and University College London has identified 9 different varieties of love. Read about them here

Get fresh!

As a result of watching Dr Gillian McKeith's TV show, 'You are what you eat', I have been trying to incorporate more raw food into my diet. If you, too, have an interest in this area, you might like to visit the website of the UK-based Fresh Network at
www.fresh-network.com for information, recipes, events, notice boards and an on-line shop selling food, equipment, books, DVDs, etc.

'Get a life you love!' newsletter

If you are enjoying this blog, you might also enjoy my monthly email newsletter, 'Get a life you love!'. You can view the latest issue here: www.annharrisonlifecoaching.com/pages/2/index.htm.

You can sign up for the newsletter by sending a blank email with 'Please sign me up' in the title to newsletter@annharrisonlifecoaching.com.

Rest assured that your contact details are safe with me. I will never rent or sell my list to anyone and you can unsubscribe at any time.

You may also enjoy my other blog: www.annharrisonlifecoaching.blogspot.com. Please have a look and see what you think...

Bits and bobs

A quick snippet that I caught on GMTV this morning: the new edition of the Oxford English Dictionary is published today. Apparently it contains 350 terms of abuse and only 40 words that are used as compliments. Mmm...

Oh, and if you're a redhead, you'll be pleased to know that you cope better with pain than us brunettes and blondes. So much so, that a team of British scientists is investigating the gene responsible for red hair with a view to developing new pain killing drugs and anaesthetics.

Safely home

Like many people, I've been intensely interested in the recent flight of the space shuttle and am thrilled that Discovery has landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base. (I’m worn out this morning from running between the TV coverage in the living room and NASA TV coverage on the computer in the office because I was scared of missing something.)

The first time I went to Florida was 1987, the year after the first space shuttle disaster, when the Challenger and its crew were lost. There were reminders of the loss everywhere because many of the Florida residents had special, commemorative ‘Challenger’ number plates on their cars. Then, towards the end of the holiday, we visited the Kennedy Space Centre, where we could see, in the distance, a grounded shuttle waiting on the launch pad. It definitely brought a lump to the throat.

Anyhow, I’m off for a lie down now – all this space exploration has exhausted me! Houston over and out...

Merry Christmas

And whilst I'm in London (see previous post) I can get some Christmas shopping in - apparently Harrods has already opened its Christmas Department. Well you can't blame them - after all, there are only 137 days to go...

It's all gone South!

Ladies, we now have a new excuse for our bodily imperfections - our postcodes. Apparently, research reported in Prima Magazine has discovered that, besides differences caused by diet, income and exercise habits, the shape of women's bodies is influenced by whereabouts in the UK we live.

Women in the North have the biggest stomachs. Women in London and the South East have the largest breasts and those in the Midlands, Wales and the South West have the widest bottoms.

I've been trying to lose a bit of weight around the waist for ages, so that's the solution then - London here I come...

Ode to the Spell Checker

Someone sent me the following poem this morning. They didn't know who wrote it originally, but, as a former English teacher, it brought back a lot of memories...

"Ode to the Spell Checker"

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew

Release your inner author

They reckon that we all have at least one book inside of us, just waiting to be written. To release your inner author, have a look at www.absolutewrite.com for tons of articles, author interviews, announcements and 'how-to's. Just don't forget to mention me in your credits for pointing you in the right direction (grin).

More on blended families

As a follow-up to the recent postings on blended families, you may be interested in having a look at www.blendedfamilybliss.com. This is an American site which offers answers to a wide range of F.A.Q.s (frequently asked questions) about the problems associated with blended families such as, 'My child hates my new partner - what should I do?', 'How can I handle a disrespectful teenage child?' and 'My stepchild is misbehaving and my partner allows it - what can I do?'. If you find the site useful, you can also sign up for their 'Blended Family Living' ezine and contribute to their message boards.

Take extremely good care of yourself

I've noticed that my personal care routine has slipped lately. I've not been doing the exercise or drinking the water like I usually do. I've decided to (literally) take my own advice by re-reading Tip 19 in my soon-to-be-published book: 'Successfully Single: 101 ways for newly-single women to get a life they love after a break-up' (yeah - I know - blatant self-promotion but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do). So here it is - Tip 19...

Taking extremely good care of yourself - physically, emotionally and financially is a recurring theme throughout this book. Don't ever feel selfish or guilty for taking good care of yourself - your first responsibility is to yourself. (Remember that on a plane, a mother is told to put on her own oxygen mask in an emergency situation before attending to her child.)

Start by planning to take extremely good care of yourself physically. Make a list of 10 things that you will do every single day to really take care of yourself. My own list looks something like this:

1. Drink at least 8 glasses of water
2. Exercise for at least 30 minutes
3. Eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg
4. Get 8 hours sleep
5. Eat breakfast
6. Use a moisturizer with an SPF factor of at least 15
7. Learn something new
8. Use a good body lotion after showering/bathing
9. Stop eating 3 hours before I plan on going to bed
10. Eat smaller portions

Other examples include always taking your make-up off at night, buffing your nails every day, flossing your teeth daily or always using a condom - I'm sure you can think of plenty of your own.

Action Point

Make up a chart so that you can watch your progress by ticking off the activities you have completed each day. Don't give up if you miss a couple of days. Just start again. Pretty soon, these actions will become habits - you only need to do something 21 times for a habit to be formed. The good habits you form now will last you a lifetime and will ensure that you stay healthy, fit and looking good.

The Book People

If you're about to set off on holiday and haven't bought your holiday reading yet, you could do worse than check out www.thebookpeople.co.uk. You can buy any 3 books in their Summer Fiction Sale for just £3.99 and you can get next-day delivery for £5.95 if you haven't time to wait for their standard delivery service.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is the UK's leading authority on personal safety for women. Visit their website, www.suzylamplugh.org for factsheets on subjects such as alcohol and personal safety, keeping safe whilst travelling for work, personal safety whilst driving and parking your car, and safer travel abroad for independent travellers which has been developed to fit into a rucksack pocket - perfect for anyone you know who is about to set off on their gap year travels!