Have you ever been in the wrong place, on the wrong day, or at the wrong time?

 Have you ever turned up at a meeting the wrong day or time? Or turned up at the wrong meeting?

Wrong Coach In China

In China our tour bus had a sign in Chinese. How to remember which vehicle. there were only two or three large coaches. I remembered my coach. Near the car park entrance, decor like a smiely face.

When I returned, late, there were dozens of buses, and one, with a smiley face, was revving it engine about to go. I raced up and waved and tey opened the door and let me on. Relief!

However, I soon discovered I had got on the wrong coach. As we pulled out of the car park, the guide began speaking in German. I asked the guide, who was speaking German, to give me the English translation. He replied, in German, but this is a German group! I shoulted, "Stop the coach. Take me back!"

That was a long time ago. I would not make that mistake now. I photograph the coach numberplate. I take the mobile phone number of the guide - and driver. Even if he does not speak English, he can hand his phone to the tour guide. It is not good enough having just the guide's number. He might get off at lunch time and be replaced by somebody new.

Wrong Zoom Meeting

It is enough to make you want to stay home and just travel on the internet. However, even on Zoom, mistakes can occur. Yesterday I joined the wrong Zoom meeting. 

How did it happen? I had just finished the registration, when the message popped up on my screen from Whatsapp, 'Meeting on now. Clock here!' So I clicked.

 I spent two hours on a zoom meeting with a lot of strangers in another country. I was in the breakout group. And on the group photo. 

I only realised what had happened, next day, when the meeting I should have attended did not have my photo amongst the others in the large group.

A multi-person Zoom toastmasters meeting.

What is the moral? Check the date. Check the time. Check the login. Have the number of the organizer. Arrive early. Set your mobile phone's alarm.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Share_taxi

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Live Poetry Readings On Zoom

 

You can join poetry readings on Zoom. Each poet is allowed 2 poems, about five minutes in total. The convenors like to have your name and someone to vouch for you.

The theme was love.

I hunted through my poetry worksbook for a poem on love.

I could only find a limerick.

Jill wrote to me by direct message in the chat

Jill Sharon Kimmelman wrote

Outstanding inking Angela

I especially enjoyed the first limerick/light-hearted poetry.

P Suvarna wrote to everyone about me

Love is a link which saves life 

Love is great 

Great poem, Angela, madam 

The convenors and others comment and praise the poems.

That was awesome lucilla

Lantern Carrier  to  Everyone 22:55

Lucilla> 'in the narrow hours of sunset, nothing else matters.' Your words and images are so beautiful!!! Amazing!! - Lantern

One poem went: 'I had no idea ....' as a refrain repeated at the start of each sentence.

A commentator said: "You said, 'no idea' - but you had many ideas!"

I wrote

That was awesome, Lucilla'

Lantern Carrier  to  Everyone 22:55

Lucilla> 'in the narrow hours of sunset, nothing else matters.' Your words and images are so beautiful!!! Amazing!! - Lantern

The groups I went to had many poets, 18 to 36, all reading two poems, then the convener asking for verbal comments in addition to the Zoom chat comments.

The theme was Valentine's. 

Dramatic Dress

I was already wearing a blouse with pink hearts.

I noticed on zoom the hearts looked very small. You need one large heart.

You could draw a heart on a white tee-shirt. Make a template or stencil.

You will find lots of poetry groups though Facebook.

Please share links to your favourite posts. Please add me to the whatsapp groups of poetry readings.

Useful Websites

Facebook.com - Angela Lansbury Poetry which rhymes

The fertile brains

Convert An Overseas Meeting Time to your clock time - with time converter buddy

 I just tried checking time conversion between Singapore and London. I used to use time and date converter. However, today online I got the run around, directed to an old website, not allowing this year's date, went to a new website, could not align the two countries I wanted. I logged out and did another search for a website.

I found time buddy. Instant results. I did not get a date for next Sunday, but the UK's daylight saving does not end in August so 24 hours difference, Saturday to Sunday, will not cause a change.

Daylight Saving Clock Change Dates

The daylight saving dates in Spring and Autumn are different in different places, different countries in the Northern and Southen hemispheres. The seasons are reversed from London, Europe and New York and the USA for meetings down under in Australia. So the Australians are changing to spring when we up north are changing to Autumn. 

Not the same dates. You might also find lots of calendar changes in Canada and the USA. For example, mothers day and mothering Sunday are also different around the world. 

According to my checks today, a meeting in Singapore (Braddell Heights Advanced Club) at starting at 4 pm is much better than their previous timing of 2 pm, because it is 9 am in the UK. The meeting ends two hours later at 4 pm Singapore time, which is 11 am UK time. 

I told several people at 'Swanwick' (Writers' Summer School at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire) about the meetings. So they need these two times.

Useful Websites

worldtimebuddy.com

https://www.facebook.com/SwanwickWriters/

How To Cure Fly Away Hair When Travelling: Your Hair, your Friend's, The Person You Want To Change

Selfie by Angela.

 Sometimes I take off my hat for a photo and I have fly away hair. It looks untidy. Worse, messy. It might look tousled and sexy. But more often it does not look professional. It sometimes ruins an otherwise good photo.

On Zoom, in close-up when I am sitting down, even worse.

Other people also have this problem. For years I went to the World Travel market and saw an acquaintance who turned up every year with attractive orange hair, but such a mop that she looked untidy. I always wondered what was the cause and cure. I wanted to talk to her. But I worried that she looked such a scarecrow that the hosts seeing me with her would think less well of me. I could not understand what was wrong with her hair. Why was it such a huge ball? Why was it so different? So annoying?

The cause is simply dry hair. Dry hair also tangles easily. How to remove tangles? And fly-away hair? I discovered that the cure is simply conditioner. 

If you don't have conditioner, hand lotion makes a last resort substitute. You will find hand lotion in public toilets more often than hair conditioner.

If you pop into a large hotel or restaurant for a meal or snack or to check out their clothes shop and souvenirs, you might go into the rest room and find moisturiser.

Once I knew the answer, I was tempted to go up to her and stroke her hair with conditioner on my hands. But I would have to do it four or five times to have any effect. 

Recently I met another girl with the same problem. Gorgeous colour hair. But a scarecrow, straw effect. She wants me to take photo of her. I take good photos. And I am willing to help. Again, I have the urge to tell her. And if she does not take action, to help her by subtly stroking conditioner or moisturizer all over her hair. 

Useful Websites

https://groceries.asda.com/product/2-in-1/dove-nutritive-solutions-daily-moisture-2-in-1/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asda

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_conditioner

About the author

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books including  Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time on bha.learncool.sg  

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

 

Physical versus Online meetings?

Angela is wearing a red hat, fourth from the left, top row. Online meeting.

Physical 

University lecturers like physical meetings. They can read from their notes. They need notes because the scientific or social subjects explained are often technical and detailed. A lecture often lasts an hour, which means a lot of facts to remember.

 In contests we stand up. But we need to be online for TV, YouTube, movies, and speaking to overseas clients.

One member of Singapore Online Dynamic said she joined the online club specifically because it was online. She spent less time commuting.

Since Covid-19 I have been increasingly keen on online meetings, and increasingly keen to forego physical meetings when I have an alternative.

About the Author

Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places,  landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.

Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.

About the Author Angela Lansbury

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers, plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President, Public Relations, Immediate Past President. VPPR

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

BHA

Past meetings have included Garen Tee on using story-telling in business, on 

bha.learncool.sg/meet/bha . 

Recent meetings of BHA included an educational session on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, always first Wednesday evening, 7 pm Singapore time. Next meeting is  the third Saturday afternoon, June 19th 2pm Singapore time.  Inauguration of the new committee was by the incoming Director of S, plus a lively speech on teamwork.

Next meetings will be on these dates (unless a national holiday in Singapore or worldwide)

Themes and word of the day are tentative

2021

JULY - JUBILANT JULY

Theme/WOD Jubilant

WORKSHOPS & EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (based on level one of Pathways)

1 Your first speech or role EASY ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Articles A and The, Plurals, Tenses, Pronunciation, Singlish)

2 CHOOSE YOUR PATH

Wed July 7th What Your Committee Can Do For You

Saturday 17th

July 4th American Independence Day.

2021 AUGUST - AWESOME AUGUST

1 Pathway Level 1 Introductory Speeches

2 Evaluations

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2021 SEPT - SUPER SEPTEMBER

Wed 1st

Sat 18th SPEECH CONTESTS

Humorous Speech Contest

Table Topics Contest

2021 OCT - ODD OCTOBER

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

2021 NOV - NOVELTY NOVEMBER

Wed 3rd

Sat 20th Wed

Diwali Hindu Festival of lights Nov 4th.

Nov 25th American Thanksgiving.

Hanukah starts 28 Dec 8 days until Dec 6. Jewish Festival of lights, celebrated by Jesus.

2021 DEC - DARLING DECEMBER

Wed  1st (Hanukah if not previous month. Festival foods.)

Sat 18th

Speech on 

JAN 2022 - JOYFUL JANUARY

Wed Jan 5th New beginning - forget the past

Sat 15 Long-term plans = for the future/Chinese New Year (CNY for short)

2022 FEB FUN FEBRUARY

Theme Love and romance - Chinese New Year

Feb 1st and 2nd are holidays - do we move this Feb 2nd meeting date?)

Wed 2nd (Valentine's Day Mon Feb 14)

Sat 19th

2022 MAR - MARVELLOUS MARCH

Theme

Wed 2nd

Sat 19

March 1st is Christian Pancake day. 

2022 APR - APRIL'S AIMS

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

Muslim Ramadan 1-30 April.

Jewish Passover (Seder meal=Last supper) April

 16

2022 MAY - MODERNISING MAY

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2022 JUN - JUBILANT JUNE

Wed 1st

Sat 18th

Jul 6, Jul 16, Aug 3, Aug 20, Sept 7, Sept 17, Oct 5, Oct 15, Nov 2, Nov 19, Dec 7, Dec 17.

Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See many varied posts such as the post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

Please share links to your favourite posts. 

TCA (A for Advanced club) is another advanced speakers' club which meets both online for visitors from worldwide and physically for walks, meals and socials in the Tampines area. Meetings are in the TC Community Club when Covid-19 regulations in Singapore allow it, but meanwhile come along to meetings online.

TCA meetings are on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month at 7 p.m Zoom room open to check your sound and online appearance and chit-chat, ready for a 7.15 pm start. I usually manage to attend meetings whether I am in Singapore or the UK.

Another club, totally online, is Singapore Online Dynamic, meeting 9 pm Singapore time on Fridays. I am a member of this club.

I am also a member of Senja-Cashew. When it meets physically it is in a convenient large complex containing a swimming pool beside a landmark lake next to a shopping complex. Right now it is online.

Once you join a club, your club's president will give you the opportunity to be informed of Toastmasters club meetings worldwide, especially those which have interesting workshops.cAbout the Author

Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places,  landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.

Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.

About the Author Angela Lansbury

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers, plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President,  Public Relations, Immediate Past President. VPPR

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

BHA

Past meetings have included Garen Tee on using story-telling in business, on 

bha.learncool.sg/meet/bha . 

Recent meetings of BHA included an educational session on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, always first Wednesday evening, 7 pm Singapore time. Next meeting is  the third Saturday afternoon, June 19th 2pm Singapore time.  Inauguration of the new committee was by the incoming Director of S, plus a lively speech on teamwork.

Next meetings will be on these dates (unless a national holiday in Singapore or worldwide)

Themes and word of the day are tentative

2021

JULY - JUBILANT JULY

Theme/WOD Jubilant

WORKSHOPS & EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (based on level one of Pathways)

1 Your first speech or role EASY ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Articles A and The, Plurals, Tenses, Pronunciation, Singlish)

2 CHOOSE YOUR PATH

Wed July 7th What Your Committee Can Do For You

Saturday 17th

July 4th American Independence Day.

2021 AUGUST - AWESOME AUGUST

1 Pathway Level 1 Introductory Speeches

2 Evaluations

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2021 SEPT - SUPER SEPTEMBER

Wed 1st

Sat 18th SPEECH CONTESTS

Humorous Speech Contest

Table Topics Contest

2021 OCT - ODD OCTOBER

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

2021 NOV - NOVELTY NOVEMBER

Wed 3rd

Sat 20th Wed

Diwali Hindu Festival of lights Nov 4th.

Nov 25th American Thanksgiving.

Hanukah starts 28 Dec 8 days until Dec 6. Jewish Festival of lights, celebrated by Jesus.

2021 DEC - DARLING DECEMBER

Wed  1st (Hanukah if not previous month. Festival foods.)

Sat 18th

Speech on 

JAN 2022 - JOYFUL JANUARY

Wed Jan 5th New beginning - forget the past

Sat 15 Long-term plans = for the future/Chinese New Year (CNY for short)

2022 FEB FUN FEBRUARY

Theme Love and romance - Chinese New Year

Feb 1st and 2nd are holidays - do we move this Feb 2nd meeting date?)

Wed 2nd (Valentine's Day Mon Feb 14)

Sat 19th

2022 MAR - MARVELLOUS MARCH

Theme

Wed 2nd

Sat 19

March 1st is Christian Pancake day. 

2022 APR - APRIL'S AIMS

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

Muslim Ramadan 1-30 April.

Jewish Passover (Seder meal=Last supper) April

 16

2022 MAY - MODERNISING MAY

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2022 JUN - JUBILANT JUNE

Wed 1st

Sat 18th

Jul 6, Jul 16, Aug 3, Aug 20, Sept 7, Sept 17, Oct 5, Oct 15, Nov 2, Nov 19, Dec 7, Dec 17.

Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See many varied posts such as the post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

Please share links to your favourite posts. 

You also get access to the online magazine. And the club will appoint a mentor to guide you through your first three speeches and plan your year so you can complete a Pathway suited to your personal interests. I chose the basic Presentation mastery path to start. Next I did the Engaging Humor path. Now I am onto the leadership paths such as Visionary Communication.

I am also a coach for Nee Soon South.

All the clubs worldwide have just handed over to the new team from July 1st, all full of enthusiasm, seeking new members, sometimes with a space for a committee member if you are job-hunting, or climbing the corporate ladder, just the thing to add to your c.v.

Toastmasters has made links with the Rotary club organization. So if you are interested in Rotary clubs, you might investigate both.