BACK HOME AGAIN.....FOR A SHORT TIME ANYWAY......
next planned International Nuffield trips...2012.... 1. Mid June to mid July, 2. Sept to mid Oct,
 3. Mid November (TBC)...2013...4. Mid Jan to Mid Feb (proposed)

Well...here I am again, back in the Clare Valley, enjoying my life, family, friends, farm and back into my agri-work/consulting/lecturing.....I arrived back mid week this week, off the plane then and went straight into reading new research projects for a board that I am a trustee (SAGIT), then 2 days of board meetings and $$ allocation to agri-research (snuck in a night at the Adelaide Fringe...fabulous fun)...I am very lucky to have this life...

London Eye, The Thames, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and to the right...The Farmers Club where I stayed..great location

  We all departed from London back to our lives and whilst we are united in our vision of Nuffield research and there are so many synergies with our lives and businesses, how different the climate and environment can be sometimes, check out the pictures below, when I got back to Australia what the climate was like, and fellow Nuffield scholar Brenda Scheopp from Canada experienced on the day she returned....I think at some point in this fabulous year I will put a call out for all those Scholars and readers of the blog to send in a photo of their lives and environment on one particular day and I will share them on this blog...



Alberta Canada minus 20 degrees C



Clare Valley (Kybunga) 32 degrees C

Those who have read my blogs will appreciate what a magic experience this first part of my Nuffield year has been, full of inspirational people who have imparted so much knowledge and insight into the opportunities that are out there for us all, and to meet 40+ other scholars who are out there giving a year of their lives to deliver to the Global Agri Community,, valuable research as you can imagine...a breathtaking experience to be part of this.....I so thank those who have been following my blog, the response and page views have been amazing, I appreciate that many have found it difficult to work out the Google "pathway" of logging into being a follower and posting comments, and I have had texts and emails about the frustration at "things" whizzing into cyber space.  To keep it simple and stop frustration of trying to work through Google, if you keep viewing and have a question please email me direct and I will be happy to respond to you direct, and where I can I will post interesting questions and my response on the blog.

I have posted in the heading the proposed travel dates for this year and into 2013, I will be blogging whilst at home and preparing for the overseas travel, but will probably only do a report once a week while doing my domestic research, my next blog will be introducing (as promised in a previous Blog) some of the interesting International Scholars and what they are researching.

I will leave this blog with some photo images of London that I photographed whilst there, and in true "Where's Linda" tradition, and as per the original blog promise, there are some messages amongst these photos....happy reading xx

This reads..."Hey Jess xx...Hang in there Bryce, proud of you xx"

My arm wasnt long enough..this reads "Congratulations 2010/2011 Graduates..thanks for the great memories and friendships"

JUST A QUICK ONE......

Hello again, just a quick note...the news has got back to Oz that I was involved in a mass evacuation of Trafalgar Square because of an explosion,  and I have had a few texts about the situation and people enquiring about me etc

In short..... I was walking across Trafalgar Square following directions to find a post office when suddenly there were police cars, police and helicopters, we were pushed quickly to behind tape and police cars and as we were being shifted off there was an explosion, it scared the life out of us all, I have put below a couple of photos of the moment

No..its not me on the phone!! This was immediately after the explosion...its funny how you "scuttle" to where you feel safe, yet others were more curious and standing there watching....



Not often you witness this......Trafalgar Square with no-one in it and surrounded by police.....



So I do thank those who having heard make contact with me, it kinda freaked me out, but I have to give it to the Brits, they just kept on doing what they need to do...I think mystery "bags", police converging etc is part of their lives, they have lived with the IRA situation for decades and now these new threats...I found this great Tshirt that I brought (picture below) that I just love the saying, it apparently was a saying/slogan during WW2

til the next blog..... x

TO YORK AND BEYOND...THE FUTURE OF INFORMATION  AND TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE

Back again....I have spent the best part of a week travelling to York, Peterborough and then back to London doing research and having meetings on what is out there that will connect production and management at a closer level in real time applications....

 

Clive Blacker and the beautiful women in his life.......Charlotte, Sue and Lucy....................



I was so fortunate to be hosted by 2004 UK scholar Clive Blacker, who opened up his home and business for me to gather information.  Clive has a well known Precision Ag business, called Precision Decisions Ltd and has been a ground breaker in bringing PA to the everyday farmer in the UK, he did this as his scholarship research in 2004 and now has a business that employs 10 people and sells, installs and services PA machinery along with giving critical consultancy advice around soil testing and variable rate technology applications.

During my time with Clive I was taken through the York YARA soil testing analysis laboratory, where I experienced first hand the process of determining soil nutrients and the reports that are provided to the clients and consultants.  I also got to see Clive's office at the heights of consulting and machinery installations, they were so busy and it made me appreciate so much their kindness in hosting and educating me during this busy period. 

Clive has an interest in a farming property too and his brother David took me around to give me a first hand experience of the challenges, but also the potential/opportunities of farming in the UK.  We stood in this field of wheat that was sown last October, at around 100kg/ha, had approx 100kg of fert at seeding will receive over the next few months around 250kg of urea.....and will probably yield around 10t/ha....Field of dreams....how we would love these yields in Australia.....

After a fabulous couple of days in York we travelled to Peterborough for a PA expo, and after helping Clive set up his stand we then went out ot dinner with some of the staff and a Director of the largest software package provider in the UK...Farmade, the developers and distributors of "Gatekeeper" a comprehensive tool for the production/business recording savvy producer, and has become a tool of choice by consultants....it was so fascinating to hear about the journey and development of the tool and the application possibilities.  At the expo I also got to spend time with the developer of the program, it was his "brainchild" and gosh how it has grown and been adopted, I was so lucky to talk to this brilliant man.

I was also fortunate to meet at the expo some other leading businesses in data/record keeping, including "Muddy-Boots", I got to speak to one of the Directors and this again was a terrific insight into a different type of business model in the distribution of the tool....record keeping and accountability/traceability is huge in the UK and these tools allow traceability along the food chain....I am wondering if this level of traceability will come to Australia eventually....my guess would be probably...sooner rather than later.....

One of my "dreams" in applying for a Nuffield was the vision of standing in a paddock, phone or Ipad in hand and taking a photo of the crop and being given an indication of nutrition.....guess what....an app exactly as described was available and launched at the Expo, I spent a long time talking to the scientist who was involved in the development of the App, and I am going to download it when I get home and try it out and give her feedback as to the application in Australia....if their validation is correct (and that is what I am going to try and determine with them), then this App is available for 2 pounds....can you believe that!!!  It wont be perfect but may be a stepping stone for those who would like to explore at a small cost this type of "tool" and its applicability.

So, a week of train travel, driving, meetings, dinners, talking, listening and great hospitality, I have gathered so much information that I will pull together when I get home, and what I think is so wonderful is the global agri-village we live in with the thirst for knowledge that people are so keen to share and develop further......and it helps when you have the fabulous Blacker family hosting and connecting you to these amazing industry people/business leaders....
 

I stayed with Clive's gorgeous Mother and this was the view from my frosty window next morning......

 Another super week in the Nuffield adventure.....thanks again to my Amazing sponsors..GrainGrowers Ltd for their huge input into my learning/research....

LONDON SUBWAY BOOTCAMP....IN PRACTICE FOR THE AMAZING RACE?? (I HOPE!!)

On our last Contemporary Scholars night together, myself and some other scholars went to see "Mama Mia"...how we LOVED it!!  At the end there was joyous singing and dancing and hugging people we didnt even know....we nearly did a Tom Cruise and jumped up and down on the seats!! If ever you get the chance to see a live show at London West End...please do..... its an amazing experience, there is something about the theatre in London...tonight I am going to see my all time ever favourite live show..."Les Miserables" (I got great seats at less than half price.. 30 pounds...bargain)......a message to the blokes out there...if you want brownie points with your partner take them to Mama Mia...and even be outrageous and sing and dance at the end, bet you cant not do it!!!  I was with Canadian, American and NZ scholars and I jived my best for Australia, kinda think the Canadian may have had the best groovy moves though (Go Brenda!!)

(Les Miserable...I read the book about 20 years ago, it was so profound and about the goodness in people...poor Rhys I used to wake him up at night and read out passages from the book, it is so beautifully written...."To love another person is to see the face of God" V.Hugo...Les Miserables)

Anyway...the morning after Mama Mia, the group sadly went their own ways and I made my way to the Farmers Club where I was staying for the night (and coming back for the last 2 nights before coming home).  A couple of Scholars who were staying at the Farmers Club offered to wait for me and come over here together but in my wisdom (and need to blog and repack my bags) I decided I would make my way over via the tube....OH MY GOODNESS.....my bags weigh about 30kg +15kg = 45kg in total (needless to say some is being posted home prior to me flying back as excess luggage is $75/kg...yikes!!).

45kg, that is a quarter of a full wool bale, and if you have ever travelled the subway...there are a million people,million stairs and no lifts...so I lugged 45kg up and down stairs to get here, found the other scholars at the lounge bar, flopped down in the lounge chairs exhausted...reconciled myself to the fact I had got across London for 9 pound by taking the subway...only to find they had taken a taxi and it had cost them only 6 pounds each!!!!

So those who know how much I love the Amazing Race, have heard me talk about it all the time, have sat through my training sessions where I show you Amazing Race episodes etc will know that is called a "road block" in the race...a mightly roadblock at that!!!  Go me!!!

The Farmers club is divine and we have been so lucky to have been given a membership for the year (worth approx 300 pounds) and it is like a home away from home and it is so friendly, I went to the bar the other night and had a great chat with some UK vets, I dont like travelling alone so its good I can go and find like minded people for a chat (and an english pimms!!)


View from my room at the Farmers club...

Next post...about travelling to York and visiting a UK scholar, who I am then travelling to Peterborough for a Precision Ag expo, to see the latest and greatest in technology in the UK, so an interesting journey towards my research....there has been nearly 900 blog views in the 12 days I have been here, I really sincerely thankyou all so much for your interest in the blog, I am trying to pick out the highlights to write about, there are many other experiences I have not written about but will share with you over a wine or meal, its all such a wonderful experience, and the friends we have made will be friends for life....I am going to sign off til next blog about York and PA with  some ABBA lyrics, dedicated to the fab men in our lives and the very brave ones who will go to Mama Mia...

Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance

(Quiz....which ABBA song?? Jennie C I can hear you singing it!!!)



Groovy hey...just wish I could remember how I got this effect?1?!!



WHO SAYS THEY DONT INNOVATE IN THE UK?

 500,000 visitors a year to an interactive farm, where children under 8 are encouraged to feed animals, participate in potato digging events and get their hands dirty, a pumpkin festival, experience livestock "birthing", playing in a mega sandpit...you name it, Willow Farms at Hertfordshire (www.willowsfarmvillage.com) is the amazing "theme park" style attraction that has been created by an entrepreneurial British couple.

From humble begininings 10 years ago they have created this massive tourist attraction and were voted last week as UK No 1 attraction, and how lucky were we to have an afternoon with one of the owners....

 Basically they have captured the minds and $$ of the local satellite cities (it is about an hour from London) and for a family membership of 28 pounds per month families can use the facilities as much as they wish, or alternatively entry costs are 14 pound per person for a one off visit.

What a great social innovation...busy parents who feel guilty about working full time and will spend $$ on taking their children for interactive, hands on experiences (most these kids dont have a back yard), or they have Nannys who look after the children and will participate in a  family membership knowing their children will be taken to Willow Farm and get fresh air and exercise, plus unique experiences......all of this was some run down chicken sheds 10 years ago....not only do they get the entrance fees, but also add value with fast food (they tried healthy food and customers didnt buy it...so they listened to the clients and it was back to fast food), a shop that you walk through to leave "Willow Farm", with lots of fabulous trinkets...all within childrens reach...how I remember that once Bryce and Jess had something in their hand, it was very difficult to extract...so you end up buying!!!

These guys came as assistant farm managers in early 2000 and I would guess they are now multi millionaires and have fingers in many pies, including a land tenancy (rent of land, a fascinating model of farming here that goes through many hands and ultimately a Lord "someone" receives the money, tenancy can be for 20 years or say 3 generations), a share in a waste disposal for the city of Hertfordshire on the tenanted land, commercial rental properties out of old dairy buildings again on the tenanted land, and many more investments, all from being land tenants and thinking outside the square.

Their real passion lays with farming and at the end of the day what a great concept where they are sharing with others the joy of being part of a farm, and taking children on a journey of education about farming that they otherwise wouldnt understand, they are building the farming story for the next generation...maybe this is how we protect agriculture into the future, so this generation and the next and next understand the value of what we do, and pay$$ for that value......and the husband and wife owners............ they are having fun and are making some great money whilst doing it!!





                                               Its cold................... about 15 layers of clothes and checking out a canola crop....

 

LIFE COACHING AND LEADERSHIP...

Our second day of Leadership training was held in this Grand Dining room in the centre of London, the speakers were insightful and varied and offered some great insight into Leadership at Industry level, there was a pivotal speech which I have reflected upon in an earlier blog, so I will tell you about the after lunch speaker, usually the "death" spot for a speaking list...full tummy, warm environment can make for a snooze zone....well....not with our Life Coach who spoke after lunch...my goodness, what a terrific speaker, we were gripped by his delivery and style, I wish I had taken a photo of him, he had this very stern look on his face, thoughtful stance and delivery style/body language (he has been an actor too) has a swag of qualifications around education and had us gripped for an hour with his unique style of coaching that he has been doing for 15 years to some very powerful corporate and political individuals.  It was a fabulous insight into to how a life coach can see things that others cant, or maybe the individual, doesnt want to see, or is oblivious to their "faults"

I picked up a card cause he will do remote coaching....but I dont know if I will go ahead....I think it could be brutal.....not sure I can be that brave!!



The Training rooms keep getting bigger and better....

  However if there is some brave individual reading this who wishes to participate in his unique style....let me know and I can pass on the details.......then tell me if it is scary!!




LONDON....Network and Leadership Training, New Zealand House...

Much as I hate to admit it the New Zealanders win in the location, location, location position in London...what a view, we did our training in the penthouse of New Zealand house...imagine training with such views....rivals some of the best training spots I have lectured in...ie the Laura pub, the Mundulla sport club, the Cummins hotel etc etc.....all fabulous in their own special way.

We were fortunate to have lectures and discussions with key EU/UK lobbying groups (brave people to come into a room of strong minded Nuffield scholars with views that are probably not mainstream views), along with a panel of Diplomats from various embassies who discussed with us the function of Diplomacy and global agreements such as the World Trade Organisation, and how negotiations can take up to a

decade +.....are you serious!!  I guess I would not be patient enough, but these guys are and its good we have them chipping away at hopefully a better, fairer world....

That evening the NZ High Commission hosted a reception for us that the Nuffield patron, HRH Duke of Gloucester attended, along with Diplomats from embassies such as Brazil, USA, UK etc, and this was the really fascinating part of the day, to talk one on one with these Diplomats and hear their honest and real views on their countries position on free trade, social equity etc in the world, it was a wonderful insight into the high level negotiations that take place by these country representatives and how critical and important their roles are sometimes...is was good to hear it from a very real view point...

In fact the private conversations has inspired 2 Nuffields to seek a Diplomatic career and they are now going to take steps towards acheiveing that goal...go for it girls, I hope you make it xx

My next blog will be about the Leadership day/training, but one thing I will share with you is how busy and crowded London seems to me this time...I have been here a number of times and it just seems more crowded than previously, I caught the subway the other morning and we were so packed in the train, it was awful, particularly for me who suffers claustrophobia ....I do wonder how London will cope with the Olympics and the logistics of another 1 million people...... Give me my "plasma" Olympics in the quiet Clare Valley.....Go Aussies!!!

Hi....

It is very late as I write this from London, but before I go to bed I wanted to share with you the most powerful message/address I have ever had the privilege to be part of, it was an address we received from a UK 1991 Nuffield scholar, a hugely successful business man with a $40M turnover....and one of the bravest people I have ever met.
His message was.... dont worry about money, possessions, competitors and trying to impress those that dont matter, just love your family, friends and those who are important to you, take time to listen to those who matter and believe in their dreams so their dreams become your dreams, dont sleepwalk through life or be selfish in life, giving is receiving....

Do I think he is brave because he is successful?  I admire his business success, I am in awe of his effort in Africa to give people hope and purpose and setting up individuals in partnerships with him and his business,  but I know he is brave because on the way to London on the train he decided he would take a huge personal risk and said instead of telling us about the best days of his life, he told us about the worst day of his life....
I know he questioned a number of times about if he had made the right call and if the risk of telling us was worth it....I hope he may read my blog one day and get this message...the risk was worth it, you have  changed all our lives, you have made us think about being better, kinder, stronger people and I and all the room are so grateful you took the risk....

I will leave this blog with his final message... "bloody max it every single day with humility"

Back again...

A fabulous last day in the Netherland was spent at "Koppert Cress - Architecture Aromatic" business, talk about innovation!!  This company has taken herbs from around the world that have unique flavouring, ie honey flavoured cress, spicy mustard cress, salty thingo (wasnt a cress so thingo will have to be the official term as I dont know the name) and many, many more that are cultivated in huge green houses in the heart of Rotterdam.  These herbs are found naturally in the world and are not GM.

Probably what impressed all of us the most was the innovation in marketing skills of the MD, his unique style and distribution methods.... by-passing big supermarket chains, direct to world class chefs.  He has a fabulous kitchen in which famous chefs are "invited" to cook in, on a ripper stove that looks like it has supersonic capabilities and could launch itself to the moon...truly a beautiful piece of equipment!! and while they are cooking he is establishing a cable TV Channel for passionate cooks....all from working out that little herbs can have unique flavours..  He also talked about the stress of the salmonella outbreak that was blamed on hydrophonic cucumbers and how it was a stressful time in keeping the business viable during 2011, particularly after securing Chinese capital to expand the business and build more greenhouses....He was passionate, driven, direct and focussed on what he wanted..that being to get people to stop eating junk and start eating beautiful food...speaking of which we were treated to a magic lunch prepared on the supersonic stove, check it out below....

What I have learnt from the Netherlands visit is that the innovative nature of the Dutch has been operational for centuries, through their fascinating heritage, from the reclaiming of land from the sea, the intricate maze of channels that have been developed over the centuries to drain the water off the land.....some of the land is 7 metres below sea level!! To the drive for quality and perfection in their agricultural products and they know how to target the niche markets...those who will pay the most money!!  The Netherlands is an agricultural powerhouse, but I do still wonder if the "subsidies" of the EU were to go...how it would be different.

A treat..... I am leaving for London and the next part of the CSC, but thought I would share with you some beautiful images that a fellow scholar (Robert Blair) has taken...check these out... 

Thankyou Netherlands for a great time...now onto London, will blog once I find decent Wifi there x