The National Parks Of The United States. A stunning photography book featuring all 59 U.S. National Parks. A tribute to some of the most spectacular & diverse scenery in the world. Peaks of Colorado to glaciers of Alaska, volcanoes of Hawaii to the everglades of Florida.
Inspirational content as personal reflections from a variety of perspectives like park rangers, explorers & famous personalities such as Mark Twain, Harry S. Truman. A breathtaking compilation of the spectacle & splendour of the US national parks. A celebration of natural beauty, wildlife & diversity.
Clare Walker Leslie’s, Keeping A Nature Journal is at the forefront of nature observation & journaling. Acclaimed for an accessible style of teaching people on how to witness, appreciate the wonders & creativity of nature. Step-by-step drawing techniques with a selection of pages from her own journals of 40 years. An emphasis on learning to see & observe. Drawing doesn’t require special skills, artistic ability or even nature knowledge. A simple tool to relax & record observations, ideas, experiences to harness the benefits of a stronger connection with our natural world.
World Natural Conservation Day is celebrated on July 28 to raise awareness about the importance of working for a healthy environment.
An uplifting book from Matt Haig that instills hope, guides to a more creative life, helps if in need of a little positive encouragement.
THE COMFORT BOOK is Haig’s life raft. A collection of great notes, lists & stories as gentle reminders that things are not always as dark as they may seem. Offers warmth & reassurance, reminds us to slow down to appreciate the rawness, beauty, unpredictability of nature & our existence. A feel good factor.
We’re fascinated by the wonder of colour. TrueColour explores subtle differences in each colour, how they were used, why they were so important to famous artists.
Blue is perhaps the best loved colour. The sky, the sea dominate works of art. Blue is mysterious evoking infinity & stillness. From indigo to ultramarine, from early Egyptians to modern art, Blue stimulates a journey of discovery.
The king of blue is ultramarine, a colour once as valuable as gold. Originated from lapis lazuli, a blue stone. Such an expensive colour that painters in the Middle Ages & the Renaissance used it sparingly, often just for clothes of divine figures – Mary & the angels.
From a fairytale fortress in the Loire to a clifftop stronghold in Provence, charming historic villages in France.
Locronan, Brittany
A hemp-weaving village named after Saint Ronan. A striking Gothic church. Chapelledu Pénity houses Saint Ronan’s tomb. Great views from Locronan mountain, Nevet Woods.
Rochefort-en-Terre, Brittany
12th century church, medieval castle, 19th century chateau & 17th century mansions. Gorgeous.
Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei,Normandy
On the Sarthe river in the Mancelles Alps, founded by Saint Céneri, a 17th century monastery. A lovely 15th century chapel. Charmed famous painters like Camille Corot & Eugène Boudin.
Montrésor, Loire Valley
An impressive Renaissance castle. The church of Saint Jean-Baptiste houses an Annunciation by Philippe de Champaigne. Sculptures by Pierre Vaneau & Dutch paintings.
Pesmes, Burgundy
On the Ognon river, 17th-century castle reflected in calm waters. Winemaker houses line the stone streets, 13th century church of Saint-Hilaire.
Château-Chalon, Jura
Overlooking vineyards in Seille valley, Château Chalon grew around a Benedictine abbey. Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre. Maison de la Haute-Seille houses an interactive museum on wines.
Riquewihr, Alsace
A striking village near Strasbourg. Musée du Dolder, a 13th-century tower. Maison de Vigneron with old winemaking equipment. Grands Crus wine trail.
Domme, Dordogne
On a cliff at Dordogne, beautiful bastides (fortified village). Place de la Halle tunnels. 13th century Maison du Batteur de Monnaie, Belvedere de la Barre. Château deMonfort, La Roque-Gageac village, Jardins de Marqueyssac are amazing attractions.
Estaing, Languedoc
On the banks of River Lot, dominated by a 11th century castle. Romanesque, gothic & renaissance styles.
Saint-Antoine-l’Abbaye, Rhone Valley
Abbey of Saint-Antoine. Houses the relics of Saint Anthony of Egypt.
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Pyrenees
A popular stop on the Camino de Santiago. 17th century citadel, 13th century ramparts, Rue d’Espagne, lined with artisans, gothic Nôtre-Dame du Bout du Pont.
La Romieu, Gers
Church of Saint Pierre. Les Jardins de Coursiana, a beautiful botanical garden.
Auvillar, Tarn-et-Garonne
A former Benedictine priory, the church of Saint-Pierre has a baroque altar. Known for pottery, collection of earthenware at Musée de la Faïence.
Bruniquel, Tarn-et-Garonne
Flower filled village has old stone buildings & steep cobbled paths to central Place de L’Horloge. 13th century Maison Belaygue & Maison Payrol built by monks.
Lautrec, Tarn
Painter Toulouse-Lautrec’s family. 14th century Eglise Collégiale Saint-Rémy, a Benedictine convent. 17th century La Salette windmill, botanical trails.
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Languedoc
Romanesque architecture. Place de la Liberté, 18th century market & fountains. Les Fenestrettes, a mule trail along Gellone valley.
Gordes, Provence
On a hilltop in Monts de Vaucluse. Holm oaks, wheat fields & vines. Inspired artists like André Lhote & Marc Chagall. 12th century Abbaye de Sénanque, Moulin des Bouillons, Musée du Vitrail.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Provençal Alps
On the Adou river, beautiful. Musée de la Faïence, stone bridges. Walking trails in the gorges of Lac de Sainte-Croix.
Seillans, Provence
A maze of cobbled alleys, vaulted passageways & squares with fountains. 11th century church of Saint-Léger. Génie de la Bastille by surrealist artist Max Ernst. 13th-century Maison Waldberg, vineyards at Chapel of Nôtre Dame de l’Ormeau.
Sainte-Agnès, Côte d‘Azur
Views over the Mediterranean, peaks of Mercantour national park. Alleys & higgledy-piggledy houses, an authentic charm. 16th century Nôtre-Dame-des-Neige, a striking gilded altar.
Sacred Nature: Life’s Eternal Dance. A work of staggering beauty that showcases the life & extraordinary creativity of Jonathan & Angela Scott, creators of Big Cat Diaries. Their sheer talent as photographers & unique empathy is unparalleled. A celebration of art & passion, nature & wildlife of Africa.
Sacred Nature 2: Reconnecting People To Our Planet. Fine art wildlife photography supporting the protection of our planet, nature & priceless wild places – our savannahs, forests, deserts, mountains, oceans & polar regions. Instills a sense of awe & concern for our planet’s harmony, balance & well being.
Email: What’s the toughest interview question, have one next week? (US)
Think, the toughest job interview question – so, tell me about yourself? Seems simple. Just a blank, clue-free canvas. Should we tell our life story or job history? Share hobbies or talk about the last job?
What our prospective employer needs is a unique statement. How do we get from a broad question to a specific, tailored response? Our interviewer already knows what’s on our CV. A monologue based on our LinkedIn page may be unnecessary.
We can visualise our interviewer running a movie in their head – we are already working in their team, presenting to their boss, talking to their customers or shareholders. Helps identify what the organisation specifically needs from this role to customise our response as the best person to fill that need. Identifying their need means scrutinising the job description & company’s profile like a treasure map, extracting all the secrets to clearly articulate how our current skills, talents & experiences are compatible, a perfect fit.
We can also educate ourself about the company’s culture, vision & core values. Which personal attributes are they looking for? So, we can match who we are& our personal story with the company’s values, vision & primary needs. In our examples, we can creatively point out why we matter to them.
National Geographic turns to US & Canada’s most pristine & adventure filled 100 national parks with 5,000 ideas for an ultimate vacation. Showcases the best experiences, fascinating facts, insider knowledge on wildlife & expert tips for hiking, biking, camping & exploring. Geysers of Yellowstone National Park, Everglades Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail, stunning peaks of Banff & Jasper in Alberta fuel our wanderlust. Highlights the best destinations for river trips, panoramic views, beautiful beaches & mountains. Memorable, an incredibly inspiring collection – 100 Parks, 5000 ideas.
Email: What’s the role of a manager & a leader in business? Low success. (Canada)
Many different perspectives exist. Here’s one. Businesses need both managers & leaders to succeed. Traditional view of management is centred around organisational structure. So, managers focus on building plans, maintaining balance, achieving goals. Role of a leader is to drive vision, passion, develop people’s potential. Managers need to embrace current processes & systems to get things done. Leaders adopt futuristic thinking to creatively imagine new ideas.
Managers are great problem solvers, resolve challenges. A leader alters moods, evokes expectations, builds strategic direction. The function of leadership is to create more leaders. “If our actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, become more & achieve more, we are a leader.” Leadership inevitably requires influence in an organisation.
Managers relate to people according to the roles they play due to attention on what get done & a leader’s on how it gets done. Leaders stimulate a feeling of empathy, identity, integrity & community.
Importantly, managers have to be conservators & regulators of an existing order of affairs. Leaders think separate from their environments. Even with great leadership & top managerial talent, there’s no guarantee success will follow. The reason is obviously not the absence of ability or initiative.
