The Talking Traveller

The Galway course I attended this weekend was the biggest one I ever attended. We had about 70+ recovering stutterers in the room at any time. Gareth Gates was indeed the course instructor and he did a very fine job. He as been on the program for four years now and really is a good example to us all. The preparation and effort he put in and the way he handled the course really impressed me. During the public speeches I made it my mission to approach confussed looking people floating around trying to listen and tell them what we are talking about and why. The response I get 99.9 % of the time is "Thats very good!, Well done!, Thank you for telling me!" with mouth corners lifting and eyebrows relaxing to compliment that. 

Another biggie for my was the size of the dorm room I stayed in at the Hostel. The hostel was about 30mins walk from the hotel where the course was held so I had the oppurtunity to get excercise, fresh air and a clear mind at the start of each day. The dorm I inhabited had 12 people, mixed. I can hear the gasps of air but I have stayed in mixed dorms before. Of course the first time was a bit uncomfortable, but I realised that we are all adults. Anyway, girls smell nice and they don't snore as loud as boys do. I find myself today in Cork. I spend the last 3 nights visiting and staying with 3 lovely-lady-South-African friends. As they have cars I was previliged to see a bit more of Ireland. I went to Blarney again and explored the castle and also the surrounding magical gardens. I walked up and down the wishing steps backwards with my eyes closed and was allowed to make a wish. I will not reveal my wish but I will announce it when it realises. We also visited Kinsale and the beautifull cliffs of Moher. I would love to upload some pictures to rectify the visual images in your imagination but I have yet to find a internet cafe which can accomodate my storage devices. Soon. I will spend my day today exploring the city of Cork with the number of 3709 contacts drifting in my head. Yesterday had been the 3rd month's end since my mission started. How is my speech you would wonder.....how do I feel......how do I sound. I most confess, with my friends I am visiting I didn't sound to great. I do seem to have changed my stuttering behaviour, definately. Word and situation avoidences are at a minimum but my articulation and concentration skills are challenging me. I need to do some contacts today to get into it again, no holding back, keep moving forward, must get the speech away from the mouth and in the chest, and the thoughts away from the brain and from the heart. Repitition is the mother of mastery. 

Overall I find Ireland very nice. I met wonderfull people on the course and had made some great friends. Some of whom I will call upon within my further 1 & 1/2 weeks stay Ireland. Moerse lekker craig !  Whilst in London I exchanged pounds for a small little green book with the caption: "How to be a huge success". It contains qoutes from famous successfull people. I'll leave you with one from Abraham Lincoln : Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.    

18-8 : 5 photo's uploaded in Irelands album