Guest Writer - Arnold Majcher

Summer has come to Northern Ireland. For the next couple of days we are going to enjoy temperatures reaching around 26C!!! Thankfully we got our fridge fixed in time. Here at the Island we are all waiting for a long weekend to catch some sun and relax (for a few it will be very long weekend). Those who are not taking any days off are going to work on our season 2 events and the Family Fun Day which is taking place on Friday 26th July so come along with your family to join us.  If last year has anything to go by it promises to be a great day!

Networking:

Jayne has her usual Monday morning meetings and then she is attending Strategy this afternoon and potentially Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday she is meeting Employers for Childcare in the morning and Veronica Morris in the afternoon.

Our CEO, Barry Phillips, has a busy week ahead. He has three more days of strategy starting today. He's also signing off two events this week as well as meeting committee members of the Belfast Speakers' Circle Tuesday evening.


Scott welcomes his nephew, Gerard, over from France this week, along with a student friend, Nicolas, who is looking to improve his English and play golf. Quite how he expects to improve his English by either playing golf or spending time with Scott is anyone's guess but there are several eye-opening experiences planned, from Belfast bus tours (before the bonfires are lit) and historical re-enactments to Benone beach, to a bunch of hexagonal rocks outside Bushmills and, of course, golf at Royal County Down, Newcastle. Nicolas is 16 years old and plays off a handicap of 8, which is quite good, apparently. No-one likes a show-off, though, especially if they're young.

Scott can't wait to see their little teenage faces light up with smiles instead of pimples when he meets them off the plane on Wednesday and tells them that the people of Northern Ireland are so pleased to have French visitors they've put up red white and blue bunting in celebration.

Onwards!!!