Retreat

I am told that work retreats are supposed to combine team building, learning about the company, fun and getting to know your co-workers. Well, based on the most recent retreat I was on I can say in fact it just involves work.

Every year the company that I work for does a two day retreat. This year without thinking I agreed to help organise the retreat and I have now learned my lesson. However, to be fair I did get to know the members of the retreat committee very well indeed, and we had a great time organising it.

This years retreat was in Banff (as the past three years have been) at the Banff Centre. The Banff Centre is a great location in a lot of ways. Loads of space, a variety of food options, stores, bars etc...and it suited our purposes nicely. Our theme was Hollywood North and the team building activity involved them filming a pre-assigned movie in some fashion that was no longer than 5 minutes. We screend them that evening and what a hoot. I was very impressed with the creativity shown in the making of these movies. Kudos to my co-workers. The committee did not film a movie but was available for questions, took pictures of them filming the movies and worked on some things for the evenings entertainments. That evening we had dinner, watched the movies and had an awards ceremony for everyone. Then we socialised for awhile (or a very long time depending on when you left) and everyone drifted off to bed. The next morning involved a speaker and some mental exercises - again I was busy for a chunk of it - and then everyone got to go home.

So, I guess even I accomplished the requirements for the retreat. Just at a different timeline than most of them. I did get to know the committee, in planning I learned the office plan, and I had a load of fun. That still doesn't mean I will be planning next years though.

Catch Up

Well, it has certainly been a long time since I've posted. Lets see if I can catch those few people that read this up.

I had a weeks holidays at the end of August and went to Tigh-Na-Mara resort/spa on Vancouver Island with my mother. I highly recommend this as a vacation choice. I received a relaxing massage and manicure/pedicure and felt very pampered. The rooms were very nice, and the atmosphere in general was relaxing. The Cedar dining room had excellent food and I enjoyed my meals there a great deal.

When I came home from Vancouver Island I decided to do a trip to Edmonton for the long weekend. Therby seeing both my parents in one vacation. I had a great time with Dad and Glenda and got to see some friends as well. I went bowling, out for lunch and glow in the dark mini-golf which was a first for me. Then I came home on Labour Day Monday fully prepared to go back to work...

However, somewhere along the line I caught the flu, and bronchitis. So I spent the next week very uncomfortable in my apartment wondering where I had gone wrong. My cat was quite attentive and cuddly which is always a comfort when you're sick and miserable. I finally made it in to the doctor and got some good antibiotics to clear it all up.

I did eventually make it back to work and have been busily trying to catch up and get prepared for the annual tax retreat which I have a small part in organising this year. As always I enjoy a large challenge but I do find that I am wearing down very easily by the end of the day. It gets better as I get healthier though so it won't be long before I'm at full steam.