Mary Robinson embodies integration in both her life and politics. Within her own family were Catholics and Protestants and she overcame prejudice in so many areas when she was a politician. Not yet finished, there is a possibility that she may succeed Kofi Anan.

Integration is the theme of NLP... Integration both musical and of conflict was Barenboim’s theme in this years Reith lectures and if its not your thing, it just means living the best life you can, but using all the best parts of you...in harmony.

I much prefer the “overshadowed, overlooked and outrageous women” especially the latter. I wonder why? I will be touring the country, happy to speak to small or large groups at various networking and other professional organisations. The talks are usually about 45 minutes but with audience participation encouraged: Contact christina@christrainers.com for bookings.

Women do It differently: the personal support group. We possibly network fewer people, but more long term. Recognising that most people are multi faceted, we want to turn the crystal to see what each facet illuminates. We recognise the valued support of friends and colleagues; and never take it for granted.

Celebrating the PBG: We meet once per month by invitation only. What do we do? We laugh a lot; bounce ideas off each other; fly kites of imagination; What seemed a crazy idea one month ago, may turn into a business venture later. A Coach, Nutritionist, Management Consultant, Virtual Assistant and Photographer; what do we have in common? Creative flexible minds, who rejoice in each others company. We’re there to support each other in the rough times and help if needed. Oh, and business, that may happen incidentally. Your personal support group is key to your success... build one close to you and value it.

Here is the most wonderful young woman who is applying the principle of integration to the pollution of oil drilling waste by aggregating the effluent into a harmless, useful substance; the only woman to have been allowed on an oil rig in the Red Sea.

Lets celebrate and congratulate the engineer... Marwa Al Ansawy

My great excitement this month was to be invited to University Women’s Club to hear Edna Healey speak. Thank you to Elizabeth.

At 87 she’s still public speaking with great eloquence and has just published her autobiography “Part of the Pattern”. She started writing at 60 and doesn’t look like giving up. An inspiration to us all. Her theory is that since we are all living longer, its possible to raise a family and have a career sequentially. An over shadowed woman, by her own admission, she is also a documentary film maker and an expert on social manners in the south seas: i.e. what to do when the chef offers you a shrunken head...

My talk on overshadowed women provoked some comments! Bet you didn’t know that Florence Nightingale was a mathematician amongst other things? My growing theory is that overlooked, overshadowed women can only be recognised if they fit easily into ONE category: Hence Hedy Lamarr, famous glamour film star, could not have the intelligence to have invented the cell phone technology!

Come back Hatshepsut, only female pharaoh,” 21 years of peace and prosperity”. Keep sending them in!

If you found this of interest please forward to ONE friend or colleague.

Feedback comments very welcome on content or style. Send more women!! Next time: Cicely Saunders the Patron Saint of Christrainers.

All pictures copyrighted to Christina unless otherwise stated.

Sincerely,