May 63 minMay Days! May Days!When did theme days become as common as the common noun? Have you noticed? Our annual calendar is as crowded as a Benidorm beach in July....
Apr 33 minI Can Make You Win …?Caution: contains information unsuitable for winners In a world obsessed with winning, I'm glad to say losing is very much alive. I can...
Mar 193 minRepeat Please"Listen very carefully…I will say zis only once!" Such was the catchphrase Michelle of the Resistance from the hit BBC comedy Allo, Allo,...
Mar 93 minWe Need a Cure for Meeting-gitisDid you know there's a virus going around? I don't mean the one that's so bad it makes having a root canal feel like you're in...
Feb 23 minEvaluating Saint Valentine’s DayIt’s Valentine’s Day! Millions of couples celebrate their love for one another, while millions of Hallmark sales reps celebrate their...
Jan 163 minOnce Upon A Time..."Keep reading", said a frustrated eight year old me. My Mum would always read me a bedtime story when I was little, and invariably she...
Jan 33 minNo More January Blues! Here’s Your Happiness Booster...I love January! It’s my favourite month of the year, providing me with endless hours of joy and happiness without even having a drink....
Dec 1, 20213 minCatching The Christmas SpiritChristmas can be many things. A cosy family gathering, a delicious meal, too much boozy punch, and even getting that expensive cashmere...
Nov 28, 20213 minZoom FatigueZoom fatigue. It's a term heard many times since March 2020, but what is Zoom fatigue exactly? There has been an exponential growth in...
Nov 21, 20213 minPlanning For Success"Yes, I can give a speech tonight, if that helps you out," I said to Riverside's Vice President of Education. What was I...
Oct 30, 20213 minTo Host, Or Not To Host? That Is The Question…… you might ask when thinking about organizing an open house for your club. If you answer 'YES' (like I did!), be warned thou might end...
Oct 16, 20212 minHow to Memorize a SpeechNothing could be more terrifying than giving an important speech and forgetting halfway through. Most people would be sweating by this...
Oct 8, 20211 minAll You Wanted To Know About Zoom (and other bits and bobs)Dec Cluskey DTM is an experienced Toastmaster, and more recently a club coach, with over 50 years in the entertainment industry. In this...
Oct 3, 20213 minWinning isn’t everything. There’s losing too.Like many of you, I believe entering contests is about challenging yourself, no matter the outcome. As the experts say, 'The biggest...
Aug 31, 20213 minConfessions of a Feedback PhobicI’m fed up and not taking it anymore! Next time someone asks, ‘Can I give you some feedback?’ I’ll respond, ‘You could … but I’d rather...
Jul 29, 20213 minThe Client DelusionAlas! The client-sales relationship. It used to be so simple! When I started, it was, 'I'm the Almighty Client, and you're just a low...
Jul 4, 20213 minPost Corona NewsWondering what the future will look like post-Corona? After intensive idiotic investigations and ridiculous rigorous research, the...
Jun 12, 20212 minHow the Sergeant At Arms role made me so Special."Good evening, fellow Toastmasters and honoured guests and a warm welcome to Riverside Communicators. My name is Sunil, and I will be...
May 31, 20213 minMind The Mind (Join the Conversation. It's Mental!) It was Mental Health Awareness week and just in time too! Two days ago, a friend called me shouting, 'Covid-19 is all part of the plan to...
Apr 30, 20213 minThe Virus, The Glitch and The WardrobeAs pubs and shops re-open, I can't help but remember the day lockdown started; March 23rd, 2020. I had so many hopes and dreams! Now I...