Relocation & Expat Coach

New service to be offered by TNP

After 25+ years in Project Management - we are about to launch a new service for anyone buying a property in Madeira.  One of the challenges I have been made aware of is that when you buy a property somewhere like Madeira, more often than not, you are not there when the builders are working on your property.

The service we are developing is to Project Manage the building work on your behalf.  Although this programme is not completely defined, we will include holding a meeting between yourself and your selected building team - architect, builder, etc.  In this meeting we will clearly document all your requirements.  We will work with the building team to ensure that all elements are included in the initial quote. 

Once you have accepted the quote and signed it off, we will work with the building team to understand their build plan.  At specified points during this build plan we will visit the property.  This will allow us to work closely with the building team.  As part of each visit we will fully photograph the progress to date and eemail you this information.  For all decisions that may need to be made while you are not on the island, we will call you and discuss the alternatives. 

Where you may select to have different people involved at different times, we will work with each team and co-ordinate the efforts of each.  This will ensure that they are all working productively at all times they are on site.

Want to make a success of your build?
Take advantage of our new offering and book our service now!

Take this opportunity to work with someone who will not judge the reasons you want to make your move, who will not guide you down a specific path, who will motivate you to make the right decision!  You have this opportunity to work with a qualified and accredited coach who has done it!  Sign up to coaching with Barbara on http://nyasa.coachinginteractive.com - select 'click here for a free session - My Life'

Find Barbara's biog on http://www.internationalcoachinginstitute.org/coach_referral_service/display_detail.php?trf=91

Phase 2 finished? Phase 3 started/finished?

As I was checking the building work on my last day of my June, 2009 visit I realised that there was no hot water fitted.  What happened?

I went back through the paperwork and one of the things that became very clear was that in the original paperwork we had requested hot/cold water systems, but had not expressed exactly what we meant - TRANSLATIONS!  More and more I was beginning to appreciate the importance of working with the building team on a day-2-day basis; and that the decision I took in June, 2009 not to do any further development until we were living there was the right decision.

So phase 3 became the hot water system, storage for gas cyclinders, and confirmation of where the electricity meter should be placed.  Although the electricity meter had been discussed many times, legislation had changed and we needed to make further decisions.

Returning in September, 2009 was interesting.  A friend joined me for the first I was there - a week that should have been relaxing, recouperating, and fun - at times was just that; but at other times was challenging.  Business challenges in the UK struck with no warning - it just provided how important it is to be absolutely clear about where you are with your own technology.  Thankfully I had set up my technology to the extent when a client bounced a cheque, I was notified by a text message/SMS to my mobile.  Although this was challenging, we were able to deal with it over a couple of hours.  So many things to be aware of before you make the move ...

Back to the house ... this trip was 'exciting' - as this was the first time that I had not received photographs between my visits.  So we went to the house the day after we landed with no idea of how much or how little work had been done.

Phase 3 - much easier to see from the outside of the house.  Download 03-01_2009-09_hot water and electricity meter  The original storage area on the car terrace had been extended to fit the geyser.  The reason for gas hot water and not electric, is that our plan is to go solar power and heating when we start the next development.  A new storage area has been added for the gas cylinders.  On our initial viewing we were very concerned that this new storage area had been put in the wrong place (again another challenge highlighting the decisions that need to be taken when you are not around to help make them).  A couple of days later we were able to understand the reason for the positioning, but then raised the concern about getting two cars parked on the car terrace.  Our architect said that he was 97% sure that this would still work; but when I left I had not been able to test the driving way and car terrace with one car - let alone two!

So where had we gone wrong with this whole design.  We have never developed a property before and were advised to work with a great team.  I identified very quickly in this trip that what was missing from this team was a Project Manager and a Client Manager.  This just confirmed my decision about no further development until we are living there!

Want to make a success of your goals?

Take this opportunity to work with someone who will not judge the reasons you want to make your move, who will not guide you down a specific path, who will motivate you to make the right decision!  You have this opportunity to work with a qualified and accredited coach who has done it!  Sign up to coaching with Barbara on http://nyasa.coachinginteractive.com - select 'click here for a free session - My Life'

Find Barbara's biog on http://www.internationalcoachinginstitute.org/coach_referral_service/display_detail.php?trf=91

Eonverye taht can raed tihs rsaie yuor hnad.

Only great minds can read this
This is weird, but interesting!

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too

cna yuo raed tihs?  olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

if you can raed tihs forwrad the lnik!

 

 

Want to make a success of your goals?

Take this opportunity to work with someone who will not judge the reasons you want to make your move, who will not guide you down a specific path, who will motivate you to make the right decision!  You have this opportunity to work with a qualified and accredited coach who has done it!  Sign up to coaching with Barbara on http://nyasa.coachinginteractive.com - select 'click here for a free session - My Life'

Find Barbara's biog on http://www.internationalcoachinginstitute.org/coach_referral_service/display_detail.php?trf=91

Press Release - Making a “Change” with Royal Encouragement

For the last several months a 19 year-old student from Ashford has been developing a HIV/AIDS Education and Community development program to work with villagers in Africa.  Mark Wilson was inspired to develop “Change” – ‘Community Outreach’ after he returned from a working holiday in Kenya earlier this year (2009).  An Education Studies degree student at Canterbury Christchurch University, Mark has been advised by Barbara Dalpra, the founder of The Nyasa Partnership Ltd and esteemed South African based HIV/AIDS Academic Dr Allister Butler.

The program which works directly with underserved and hard-to-reach populations, organises events and activities that unite communities. Running workshops in schools that increase awareness, understanding and support of certain important issues like HIV/AIDS. Split into two initiatives. Firstly, “Change”- ‘HIV/AIDS Education’ works to reduce the discrimination associated with the illness by increasing awareness and guidance through education in schools. Secondly, “Change” – ‘Reaching Out’ aims to celebrate life, enhance the power of positive thinking and action, and to encourage communities to think of themselves as strong worthy individuals.

Mark is planning to travel to potential communities where the program could deploy in early 2010 soon; he said "I will meet with local and religious leaders, villagers, schools and local AID services to discuss the program further.  This will give me and our team an insight into what changes are needed to the program before it is piloted."

Rotary International - a humanitarian service organisation with 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide.  During 2006-2008, Mark served as President of the Interact Club of Ashford North (school).  Since 2006 Mark has spoken at many conferences and written frequently for the RI publications.  He has recently agreed to re-write for their national magazine and international online news feed, which is to be published later this year. 

The outreach program which has received letters of support and encouragement from the likes of HRH Prince Harry and his charity ‘Sentebale’, Nic Careem, creator of the Nelson Mandela Global Tribute and former Prime Minister Tony Blair is funded solely as an international development initiative.

If you are interested in having contact with the organisation or maybe willing to collaborate with the program feel free to email “Change” at mark@markswilson.com or find out more information at http://www.markswilson.com.

Bite off ...

... more than you can chew, then chew it.  Plan more than you can do, then do it.  Anonymous

Interesting quote ... the other one that I've heard similar to this is 'give a busy person something to do and it'll get done!'  We often think that we are too busy to take on more work, more commitments, more actions ... if we just looked at our time and planned it more efficiently - we would get more done.  How are you spending your time?  What are you doing with time?  Where are you wasting time?  How much time has you really got to plan more than you can do?

Want to make a success of your plans?

Take this opportunity to work with someone who will not judge the reasons you want to make your move, who will not guide you down a specific path, who will motivate you to make the right decision!  You have this opportunity to work with a qualified and accredited coach who has done it!  Sign up to coaching with Barbara on http://nyasa.coachinginteractive.com - select 'click here for a free session - My Life'

Find Barbara's biog on http://www.internationalcoachinginstitute.org/coach_referral_service/display_detail.php?trf=91