Ellee Seymour

MCIPR, PRESS CONSULTANT, JOURNALIST, POLITICAL AND PR BLOGGER.

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July 7th, 2006

Facing my demons

Three years ago I was invited to talk about my work at a businesswomen’s lunch. I remember preparing my speech in advance, but when the time time, I froze on the spot and was gripped with fear, I was truly awful.

Since then I have taken steps to overcome this, and am succeeding. I have always yearned to return to the venue where I performed so badly and make a brilliant delivery, to show them the stuff I am really made of. And that’s what I did today.

The Cambridge Businesswomen’s Network summer lunch is always too good to miss, so it was the perfect opportunity to face my demons and promote my PR blogging skills. I still can’t believe that those shaky nerves are a thing of the past, no more bright red face and shaky voice. I really can’t praise Cambridge Toastmasters and Mark Newey enough.

July 7th, 2006

My failure at maths

I don’t have a mathematical brain and, thanks to calculators, can get on buy without this skill. However, I wonder if today’s method of teaching would have made any difference.

My 13-year-old son James has today gone to Pleasurwood Hills Theme Park, Lowestoft for a “Maths In Action Day”. The aim is to complete a mathematical project based on one of the rides at the park, it is described as a golden opportunity to study some “real life” maths.

We live a stone’s throw from Cambridge, the centre of academic excellence with a wonderful Mathematical Bridge, yet this is not where they head to.

James does not expect his lesson to last long - maybe it will be completed in record time so they can enjoy a day of free rides. I think the teachers are barking mad, I wouldn’t want to be in charge of 120 hyper Year 8s at a theme park…