h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've just given my first Toastmaster speech in about two years. I had almost completed the storytelling manual, but had got stuck on the 'moving story' one. The only one I could think of was too personal - and maybe only moving to me.

However - I'm committed to doing a speech in real life to a conference of 150 people, so I decided to plunge in and test drive my speech in front of friendly Toastmasters first. For various reasons, I haven't had uninterrupted time to write the speech, although I'd done a fair bit of research beforehand. Consequently, I spent yesterday (a bank holiday) from 9.30am until 11.00pm writing the speech. I went to bed absolutely exhausted with the speech written but not tried out.

This morning, I woke up and was very tired indeed. I went into work, having a meeting to chair and came home shortly after that and went to bed for a couple of hours. Then I got out the stopwatch and started to rehearse the speech. I felt that I would definitely need notes to deliver it, but in the event, I did it without and it went fine. There was a fair amount of feedback, and I now know which bits work and which need more work.

It now looks as though I might be President for the the next year too.

Woo hoo I am in awe Speeches -

It sounds as though you are finding some time for you. How good does it feel?


Fb

How good does it feel? Well, I was pleased that I managed to do the speech without notes and remember facts and statistics. Looking at the feedback slips I got, I noticed that some people got lost in the middle of my speech, so I need to address that. They asked for stories about the young men who had gone through the road safety programme, and I didn't have any. I may have to make something up, although I'll speak to the people who actually ran the programme first.

I suppose the proof of the pudding will be once I've given the speech for real, on 10 June.

Am I finding time for me? Well, I'm not sure - the preparation for the speech was really hard work. I also need to find more time for little who is having a hard time at school.

You have heaps of time to prepare before 10th June Do you feel confident you'll cover all the issues of merit that were raised in the feedback slips?

Little not having a good time at school Poor thing. What's up? I hope you find the time to give to him

Fb

'Do you feel confident you'll cover all the issues of merit that were raised in the feedback slips?' Yes - and since then, I've thought of some improvements that weren't on the feedback slips. It's just a case of finding more time to re-draft it.

'Poor thing. What's up? ' He's being bullied.

Oh, ,

My heart goes out to little . I hate bullying with a passion, whether at school, work or anywhere. I do hope you can give him, or get him, the help he needs. Big

Well done on the speech. I hope all goes well on the 10th June. I am sure it will give you a big confidence boost.

Take care,

Websailor

The only time I didn't use Preview and look what happens!

Hi ZSF!

Need a moving story? Might I suggest checking out the Darwin Awards and making one up, using a winner as a basis?

At least you didn't say that it had to be true or personal.

Hello Fords *waves*

ZSF - I'm with Websailor... bullying is awful. I hope you can find a way to help Little

I'm not with Websailor with preview though Never use it at all! Which probably explains a lot of my postings!

G'day, FB; Fair dinkum!(when are they going to make you a 'bean' smiley??)

I guess that the only ones who don't have a problem being bullied are the bullies. It'd be great if they'd only pick on each other.

I spoke with little 's teacher today and she had suspected that something might be going on, but every time she spoke with him, he said he was fine and nothing was going on. I've been asked to put it in writing and try to get names out of him.

Yes, Fords, wouldn't it be nice if the bullies only picked on each other.1

"They sa stand up to bulies and they will run away but some of them stand quite still and then where are you? You are in the duck pond and it is joly freezing!

I do hope you can persuade little to tell all about what is going on. Saying everything's fine when it clearly isn't rings such awful bells for me. That bravado can lead to years of bullying being denied, and making the sufferer even more fearful, which attracts more bullying. It is such a vicious circle and can go on in to adulthood.



Websailor

I did have a conversation with him this evening, Websailor

He first of all said point blank he wouldn't tell me the names of the kids he has the most problems with, but after a bit of talking he gave me a couple of names. I did the letter to his form tutor as she requested. Hopefully, she'll work out a plan to help him. I wish I were better able to help him too. I really want to help, but I'm not quite sure what to do.

I do think it's helpful that he can talk to me and is comfortable confiding in me. It's a start.

Hi,

I am sure you are helping him if he was able to talk a little. The last thing he needs is a visible Mum in the middle of it, as you know the sort of comment that will bring. He may divulge more if the teacher is able to solve some things without implicating him. The "Don't tell or else" scenario has a strong hold even when it is not actually put in to words.

I was bullied mercilessly at school and both my sons suffered some bullying. The teachers solved it for my eldest, and my youngest sorted it in his own (not recommended!) way.

You know where I am if you want to chat off Hoo Too.

Websailor

Oh, ZSF What a difficult situation.

Hold him close and love him. That will give him a huge amount of strength and comfort, I promise.

I didn't have that support when I was being bullied as a small one... the person who demonstrated their love wasn't around at the time (working long hours) and I felt very alone.


Fb

Hi Websailor and Frenchbean

Sounds like we all know what it feels to be on the end of bullying at school - I was there too.

I know what you mean about the visible mother, Websailor, and I think you're right.

I think the one thing that helped little give me those names was that I started out by asking him which boys were the friendliest to him, so we started from a place of relative safety.

I'm not yet sure what the school is going to do about it. There is a session after school one day when children can go to talk about problems and there is (I think) a system to provide buddies. I'm hoping that something like that can be put in place for him. I suggested that he attended some of the after school clubs - there are all sorts - chess, music, homework, hockey etc. He wasn't interested, though.

On a positive note, he's got his science results in and he's at a 6a which is two years in advance of what's expected and I'm very happy about that.

My goodness, that's some result at his age. Well done little You have a clever one in the making there by the sound of it.

Yes, it's all too familiar and you would think after well over fifty years that things might have improved.

Take care,

Websailor

'My goodness, that's some result at his age.' Yes - I'm pleased and somewhat surprised.

'you would think after well over fifty years that things might have improved.' I think the thing that really disturbed me is that I don't seem to have equipped him with the tools to deal with it. It's upsetting to think he may have to go through what I went through. At least he can discuss it with me and I'll be supportive and not dismissive. Hopefully I should be able to help, although I think I need support. I think the big thing is improving his self confidence/self esteem and building his relationship building skills.

You are right of course, and that isn't easy and it takes time. You will get there I am sure. We suffered more, I think, because there wasn't that support. At least there is more understanding now.

On a lighter note - do they have mini Toastmasters A junior version of something like that might help him.

PS Christiane's line is still 'not receiving incoming calls, please try again later' so it doesn't sound like a permanent cut off. I think I will write.

Websailor