Smile at the birdie!

I can’t believe I’ve been away on holiday as recently as a week ago!  Since then, there’s been meetings and travel (to Invercargill) and training (Crisis Communications workshop and Media Training) and more meetings; media statements and communications plans; interviews and networking.  Last night when I got home I spent time loading photographs on to my Facebook page to remind myself of the wonderful holiday we took through Central Otago, Fiordland and Dunedin last week.  And it seems I have a bit of a thing for mountains.  And water. And keas.

And I’m pretty sure I’m about to be discovered as a famous photographer too, despite only having a limited pixel digital camera.

The skill of the professional photographer was brought home today when I had to have my mug snapped for a client.  I’ve organised these types of photoshoots before and there aren’t that many people who actually like having their photograph taken.  So for a start, the photographer has to be able to coax and cajole their subject into playing to the camera.  If you’ve ever seen those TV model programmes, you’ll know what I mean when I say it makes a huge difference when people actually try to enjoy their 15 seconds of fame and have a bit of fun.  And actually I reckon pretty much anyone looks good if they’re enjoying something!

Despite feeling like I really didn’t have time to psyche myself into it and I was feeling decidedly unglamorous after getting up at 5am to take my partner to the airport, and an intense three hour discussion about organisational communication, what I learned from today’s session was, it takes more than the ability to push a button on a pretty mountain range to get the best out of your subject.

My hat’s off to those professional photographers who make us look our best.  Yes please, photoshop or airbrush as much as you can!

Holidays!

I’m preparing for a week out of the office.  Which means I’m looking at what needs to be finished asap before I leave and what will be most urgent when I return.

Not that I plan to leave entirely… I might be out of cellphone reach while we’re driving down the Eglinton Valley en route to Milford Sound.  Or when we’re spiralling down under the earth at the Manapouri Power Station… or watching the dolphins cavorting on Doubtful Sound.  Jealous yet?  Just remember it’s the depths of winter – the only consolation is that the notorious Fiordland sandflies are not as bad when it rains and the waterfalls are fantastic!

Anyway, the point is, we’re always available these days.  And I’m not sure that we need to be!  I admit, I’m not good at turning off the phone.  But I am aware that my moments with the family are precious and that I need to be fully in the moments, living in the present and not spending too much time dwelling on what needs to be done.

Every now and then, I remind myself that nobody is going to die if I don’t finish what’s on my To Do list for the day!  It’s different for my friend Rosie who’s a doctor, but I’ve seen her in holiday mode and she knows when and where to switch off!

I’m going to take the work laptop – I still care about my clients after all and need to just check in every now and then.  Plus I have a major assignment to start working on – it’s due in a few weeks and I have some serious reading and thinking ahead.  But the plan is (yep, I have a plan) to set aside maybe an hour when the tween hits the hay and I’ve got a nice cup of tea… to deal with work!

And when I get back, I’m sure there’ll be a few things to attend to.  Can’t stand having nothing to do!

Mental note:  Remember to do nothing for at least part of my holiday (when I’m not swatting sandflies!)

A hiss and a roar

I’ve had a couple of blogs – I contribute to a family blog which links me to my mum (also in Christchurch) and sisters (one in Dunedin, one in Wellington, one in London).  I keep in touch with my London sister and my brother in Japan (with his family) via Facebook, Twitter and Skype.  While I went on my OE about five years ago I wrote a travel blog which became a treasured record after all my photos were stolen along with my camera and laptop!

The hardest thing is sustaining the blogs after the first heady rush!  I have to admit that’s one of the reasons I like Twitter – short bursts when you’ve got something to say and ReTweeting as you find interesting tidbits.  While I initially saw Facebook as more of a personal tool, I’m starting to link to some business sites – Pass It On New Zealand,  Robyn Mathieson Design, Delgirl & A Craft Affair – purely through my own interests.

The Blogosphere will provide you with opinions on anything – best to have a bit of a search and read and decide whether you like the style, you believe/trust the writer and you think they have something useful to say!  Try ReadWriteWeb and Mashable as a starting point if you’re keen on finding out more about social media.

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