Welcome to issue no. 30 of Pilot your life. March 2012
You can read the full colour version or just read the text below.
Have you ever felt like you were a small cog in a big machine?
As I discovered on my trip to the UK last year, there are cogs and then there are other cogs.
In addition to my passion for flying, I also like travelling on trains, particularly when they’re in different countries. Not only do the trains vary but the terrain through which they travel can be very different too.
In Wales, the narrow gauge steam railways cooperatively market themselves as the Great Little Trains of Wales. One of the great little train journeys I went on was the Snowdon Mountain Railway which runs through Snowdonia National Park in the north of the country. The train departs the station in Llanberis and winds its way over 7.5 kilometres up the steep mountain slopes to reach the summit of Mount Snowdon at 3,560 feet (almost 1,200 metres).
Because of the steep terrain, the train can’t run on normal train tracks. It runs on a rack and pinion system designed by a Swiss engineer, Dr Roman Abt. Basically, each small locomotive has toothed pinions (cogwheels) which grab onto the rack, giving it traction for the ascent. During the descent, the rack and pinion system acts as a brake.
To climb up the mountain, the locomotive also runs with the chimney first and pushes the carriage up the steep incline. Everything is geared to reaching the summit (and returning) safely and working with nature.
Looking back at the photos I’d taken of this little train and its tracks got me thinking about cogs. For some people, the term “feeling like a small cog in a big machine” has a lot of negative connotations like powerlessness, lack of importance and being under valued.
However, this Welsh cog railway illustrates the positive side of cogs.
Cogs are part of a team.
Not only are they a valuable part of a team, they’re part of a successful team because the train reaches its goal, the summit of Mount Snowdon. They’re also extremely important because without them the train wouldn’t run at all. And they’re powerful too because they enable the train to ascend without slipping backwards and descend without speeding out of control down the mountainside.
The Snowdon Mountain Railway also puts into practice one of my own tips. It tackles everything in bite size pieces. There are no big powerful locomotives in the system. All that’s required is one small loco and one carriage. There are, however, quite a number of engines and carriages to take the thousands of visitors up to the summit and back.
A winning formula since 1896 and still going strong.
So what do you think is the logo of the Snowdon Mountain Railway? A cog of course. That’s how important cogs are.
So, if at any time you feel like a “small cog in the big machine” of life (or business) and you need a bit of inspiration, then just think of the wonderful cogs of Wales.
Here are another three tips for how to pilot your life (personal or business):
Turn negatives into positives.
Look on the bright side.
Teamwork is extremely powerful.
Together Everyone Achieves More.
Tackle everything in bite size pieces.
It’s easier to eat a block of chocolate a bite at a time
than it is to try and eat the whole block at once.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Mounted Police Are Magnificent In Person And Also In Jigsaw Puzzles
Mounted Police and their horses are not only magnificent in person but their photos made up into interactive Jigsaw Puzzles, which can be done on a computer or laptop, are stunning too.
In this series of CDs there are 5 different photos which have been converted to jigsaws of 12, 24, 40, 104 and 260 pieces each, making a total of 25 jigsaw puzzles.
This range of puzzles can be used both by children with different skill levels and adults. Jigsaw puzzles are easy to do with the click of a mouse button and can be played over and over.
Puzzles are not printable, they're designed to be used on a computer or laptop or even on a large screen via a data projector.
Internet access is not required.
These photos are of Mounted Police Officers in London, England, in front of Buckingham Palace and accompanying the Horse Guards. There are also two photos of Mounted Police Officers at the Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide, South Australia.
If you would like to try a sample jigsaw to see how it works, email me at
fran@franwest.com.
In this series of CDs there are 5 different photos which have been converted to jigsaws of 12, 24, 40, 104 and 260 pieces each, making a total of 25 jigsaw puzzles.
This range of puzzles can be used both by children with different skill levels and adults. Jigsaw puzzles are easy to do with the click of a mouse button and can be played over and over.
Puzzles are not printable, they're designed to be used on a computer or laptop or even on a large screen via a data projector.
Internet access is not required.
These photos are of Mounted Police Officers in London, England, in front of Buckingham Palace and accompanying the Horse Guards. There are also two photos of Mounted Police Officers at the Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide, South Australia.
If you would like to try a sample jigsaw to see how it works, email me at
fran@franwest.com.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Flourishing Relationships Retreat: Helping Couples Enhance And Grow Their Relationship
Flourishing Relationships Retreat has been set up in the Adelaide Hills by Fran West and Hilary Thompson to help couples enhance and grow their relationship.
Flourishing Relationships Retreat
1. © Hilary Thompson The Out and About Therapist
2. Who is this Retreat suitable for? All couples who wish to grow and enhance their relationship; reconnect with each other and resolve issues that may be causing some disharmony within their relationship.
3. What is unique about this Retreat?
• We cater exclusively for one couple at a time, so there is as much privacy as you want.
• Retreats can be held at the weekend or during the week at a time convenient for both parties.
• We offer relationship coaching for each partner individually and coaching sessions together as a couple.
• The Retreat starts on the afternoon of your arrival and ends late afternoon of the second day.
• One, one hour follow up session with Hilary via Skype is offered as part of the Retreat.
4. Hilary Thompson MIICT Retreat Facilitator
Hilary is passionate about helping people to grow and thrive within their relationships.
She is also passionate about teaching people self help techniques so that they are better able to cope when life gets stressful.
Hilary will be drawing on many years experience as an NLP practitioner to help you to achieve the best possible outcome from this retreat.
5. Fran West BA ARMIT Retreat Host
Fran is your Host for this retreat.
She will be looking after you during your stay at “The Gums”.
Fran is an award-winning pilot, adventurer,author, photographer, and motivational speaker.
She is Australia’s Life Pilot, motivating others to pilot their lives and navigate their way to success.
6. Where is this Retreat held?
The Retreat venue is “The Gums” a four star Bed & Breakfast at Coromandel Valley in the picturesque Adelaide Hills area of South Australia
7. The Food
• Fran will serve you with one of her super continental style or cooked breakfasts.
• Lunches and afternoon teas will be prepared by Chef Jonathan Holmes-Ross of The Artisan Café Blackwood and served at the Retreat.
• For your evening meal, you can sample the fare of some of our local restaurants
8. Want to find out more? Email us at: flourishingrelationships@gmail.com for a comprehensive information package
9. Flourishing Relationships Retreat
A unique experience for all couples
Flourishing Relationships Retreat
1. © Hilary Thompson The Out and About Therapist
2. Who is this Retreat suitable for? All couples who wish to grow and enhance their relationship; reconnect with each other and resolve issues that may be causing some disharmony within their relationship.
3. What is unique about this Retreat?
• We cater exclusively for one couple at a time, so there is as much privacy as you want.
• Retreats can be held at the weekend or during the week at a time convenient for both parties.
• We offer relationship coaching for each partner individually and coaching sessions together as a couple.
• The Retreat starts on the afternoon of your arrival and ends late afternoon of the second day.
• One, one hour follow up session with Hilary via Skype is offered as part of the Retreat.
4. Hilary Thompson MIICT Retreat Facilitator
Hilary is passionate about helping people to grow and thrive within their relationships.
She is also passionate about teaching people self help techniques so that they are better able to cope when life gets stressful.
Hilary will be drawing on many years experience as an NLP practitioner to help you to achieve the best possible outcome from this retreat.
5. Fran West BA ARMIT Retreat Host
Fran is your Host for this retreat.
She will be looking after you during your stay at “The Gums”.
Fran is an award-winning pilot, adventurer,author, photographer, and motivational speaker.
She is Australia’s Life Pilot, motivating others to pilot their lives and navigate their way to success.
6. Where is this Retreat held?
The Retreat venue is “The Gums” a four star Bed & Breakfast at Coromandel Valley in the picturesque Adelaide Hills area of South Australia
7. The Food
• Fran will serve you with one of her super continental style or cooked breakfasts.
• Lunches and afternoon teas will be prepared by Chef Jonathan Holmes-Ross of The Artisan Café Blackwood and served at the Retreat.
• For your evening meal, you can sample the fare of some of our local restaurants
8. Want to find out more? Email us at: flourishingrelationships@gmail.com for a comprehensive information package
9. Flourishing Relationships Retreat
A unique experience for all couples
Monday, March 12, 2012
London's Historic Buildings Make Beautiful Jigsaw Puzzles
London, England, is a vibrant place and its historic buildings have many interesting tales to tell. They're also a photographer's delight and I've made their photos into interactive Jigsaw Puzzles which can be done on a computer or laptop.
In this series of CDs there are 5 different photos which have been converted to jigsaws of 12, 24, 40, 104 and 260 pieces each, making a total of 25 jigsaw puzzles.
This range of puzzles can be used both by children with different skill levels and adults. Jigsaw puzzles are easy to do with the click of a mouse button and can be played over and over.
Puzzles are not printable, they're designed to be used on a computer or laptop or even on a large screen via a data projector.
Internet access is not required.
These photos are of some of London's iconic buildings like the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the National Gallery and Admiralty Arch.
If you would like to try a sample jigsaw to see how it works, email me at
fran@franwest.com.
In this series of CDs there are 5 different photos which have been converted to jigsaws of 12, 24, 40, 104 and 260 pieces each, making a total of 25 jigsaw puzzles.
This range of puzzles can be used both by children with different skill levels and adults. Jigsaw puzzles are easy to do with the click of a mouse button and can be played over and over.
Puzzles are not printable, they're designed to be used on a computer or laptop or even on a large screen via a data projector.
Internet access is not required.
These photos are of some of London's iconic buildings like the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the National Gallery and Admiralty Arch.
If you would like to try a sample jigsaw to see how it works, email me at
fran@franwest.com.
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