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So in this age of technology, I used the internet for everything on my list · Training Manager job for large tour operator – Tick; · luxury flat next the golf course – Tick (albeit not being able to swing a cat in it – but then I am allergic to cats!); · new car – tick ; · new boyfriend …. Mmmm maybe not as easy and I had been around the world for that one, so finding him on my doorstep was a bit of a tall order maybe? And that wasn’t the only thing that was missing … my heart was still somewhere else….
Rhodes had always been a particular favourite and having spent 5 summer seasons in Lindos and Pefkos in the early 90s, I had always been drawn back to this beautiful island where the welcome was as warm as the sun. Every time I drove around the corner (known in my ‘repping’ days as ooh-aah corner) and saw the white washed sugar cubed houses of Lindos, my heart would miss a beat, I would get butterflies in my stomach and I felt like I had come home…
In July 2007, whilst training to be an NLP Practitioner, Life and Business Coach, I told one of the trainee coaches about my desire for the villa in Greece. A place where I could continue my coaching and training and inspire others to achieve what they wanted. I even had a clear picture in my head of what it looked like, including me lying by the pool and soaking up the sunshine. When asked when I wanted this by, the date March 2008 popped into my head.
That night I was curious to see what villas in Rhodes would cost and started my search on the internet. I had a wish list … 4-5 bedrooms, pool, near the beach, close to Lindos and Pefkos but not in the heart of it, an area which I could use for my new business and it had to be light and airy with big windows! The power of attraction certainly works – because suddenly as I clicked on a Rhodes property site – there it was! The vision in my head was on the screen … it seemed too good to be true. A beautiful 4 bedroom villa with pool, a huge semi basement that could be converted into a training area and/or extra bedrooms, just minutes walk from the idyllic sandy bay of Glystra Beach and an easy drive from Lindos, Lardos, Pefkos and Gennadi. A request for more details further confirmed that it ticked all my boxes and the ironic thing was, the completion date was set for … March 2008. I now had to turn my dream into a goal with a plan.
One week later, I was taking off from Gatwick airport on an inspection visit and had bought mum along with me to keep my feet firmly on the ground whilst my head was in the clouds! My reading material on the plane was ‘Screw it, let’s do it’ by Richard Branson and as we touched down at Rhodes Diagoras Airport, I took on his words as my own and left any concerns I had at the check in desk at Gatwick.
A hot and sunny August morning and I was standing on the roof of the basic structure of the villa. With just foundations, pillars and a stairway to the roof (or was it a stairway to heaven?) I had to use my imagination to bring the artist’s impression to life. With the clear blue sea to my right and the fields of olive trees to my left, I knew there and then that this was home… We ventured further south to Gennadi and sat in a beachside taverna enjoying a selection of meze, a cold Mythos and an ouzo.
The feeling of the sun, the taste of Greek food, amazing views and friendliness of the people were a far cry from standing on a cold platform waiting for the 0713 to Waterloo, holding an expensive tasteless coffee in a paper cup and staring at a sea of blank faces. Scribbling on the paper table cloth, I did the maths and declared I wanted to put in an immediate offer. A call in to the vendor was met with an agonising wait and all that seemed to be missing was Phil and Kirsty from Relocation, Relocation! A bit of further negotiation and then I heard those immortal words ‘Yes, he accepts your offer. The villa is yours’. Wow, the dream was now a reality.
From August 2007 to March 2008 I returned to Rhodes to check on progress and keep the builders in check! Let’s just say that the laid back Greek way of life is great until you have a house built! Everything will be done tomorrow (or ‘avrio’ as they say in Greek!) – even my ‘foreign language phobic’ mum learnt that word (as well as a few choice ones about the builders as she watched them enjoy a 6 hour coffee/fag/lunch break and squeeze in an hour’s work!) I finally moved over in May 2008 and continued in my part-time job as foreman (or should that be forewoman!) until I opened my doors to my first clients on their Well Being Holiday on the 19th July 2008 – exactly one year after I stood in the gardens of Dower House in Hexton and said ‘I have a dream .... ‘
The change in my life has been even more significant because during 2003 I nearly didn’t make it out of hospital as the horrific flesh eating superbug, Necrotising Fasciitis (NF), took hold of my life and I teetered on the brink of death. There were days when my positive attitude just about kept me going when I was physically failing. There were days when I felt physically stronger but in my mind I wanted to give up – what on earth was there to be positive about? Surviving the intrusive surgery, a couple of years of skin grafts and cosmetic surgery was just the half of it and no-one prepared me for the psychological side effects and the roller coaster of emotions. As a survivor of NF, I could have easily seen myself as a 'victim' and given up. Instead, I embarked on a journey using NLP and other coaching techniques to find the tools and resources to change my life. It is better now than it ever was. I can help you do the same. |
