Nuggets from Dad: 2022

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Happy New Year: My gift to you

Happy New Year, Nugs,

It is the time of year when I send out my Whole Person Worksheet and share my ever-evolving process for intention and goal setting. You may carve out some time to think about where you will go and what you will do in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

If you are not into written goals, that's okay, but at least review the worksheet, as Covey's approach to a whole person is well thought out. Remember, one key ingredient is understanding how to 'oscillate' in and out of each capacity.

Managing energy, not time, is the key to high performance

Are you successfully oscillating your energy?

Covey Whole Person Paradigm - Stay Whole Tuesday

How I'm getting ready for 2023 . . .

First, I reviewed my Ten Commandments, sometimes known as My Flat Ass Rules. I read these when waking up each morning.

My flat-ass rules (2023)

Succeed at home first

Seek and merit divine help

Seek wise counsel

Build and use a challenge network

Listen to my spouse (woman's intuition)

Live substantially below our income

Have courage and strength at work

Be kind and compassionate to others

Learn something new every day

Forgive and let go

Next, I wrote down some goals and aspirations for the next four months. No rhyme or reason to the timeframe other than it takes me through Emily and Kyles's wedding in April. I divide these into four categories, as shown below:

Faith & Worldview:

Write one hour a day for enjoyment from 5:30AM to 6:30AM. Do not edit when writing. Just write for an hour.
Restart Nuggets from Dad rebranded Nuggets from 'an expat' Dad using a more robust blogging platform, such as WordPress. Make it a Great Monday, Stay Whole Tuesday, Woman Power Wednesday, Make Anything Thursday, Fit as a Fiddle Friday, plus an occasional letter to Harvey Penick.
Map out Scotland, Ireland, and England golf trips to experience unique courses and local villages beginning summer 2023.
gPageSingletary.com --> new landing page for writing projects: Releasing the Churn and Relevance. Put my work out there and see what happens. Read and annotate one self-development book or biography each quarter, aligning with or expanding my views on spirituality, religion, and the world.

Family & Friends:

Post a nugget to my daughters most weekdays. Repurpose my favorite nuggets from the past 12 years.
Write, practice, and deliver Emily and Kyle's wedding toast. (History, Heart, Hope.)
Enjoy The Richmond Golf Club and get Cathy set up for membership so we can meet and play with other couples.
Play mixed doubles with Cathy at Twickenham Lawn Tennis Club when the weather allows.

Fitness & Sports:

Golf handicap less than or equal to 9 (i.e., single-digits = 9 pars and 9 bogies per round) by taking lessons from Nick and doing my TPI drills for golf-specific fitness.
Attend BARCH training classes 4-5 mornings a week with Cathy. Modify workouts to include TPI drills.
15 zero alcohol days per month = feel better, sleep better, get fitter, and live longer.
Use my new electric toothbrush every evening.

Financial Peace & Freedom:

Final funds for remaining wedding deposits, etc., to Emily.
Autodesk: 20 Actions in Stage Six for FY23 and fast start on FY24 accounts.
Salient: Prep for exit in 2024.
Birmingham for BAE advanced manufacturing briefing, Barcelona for FY23 FAST START team meetings, and Nashville for OTC.

By sharing these, I hope you spend some time thinking about your intentions and goals for the year ahead.

Love,

Dad

P.S. I also write down some longer-term goals using a different format known as the six horizons of focus. Here is a snapshot of what that looks like for me. There isn't a right or wrong way to do this. It is all very personal. But do remember, if you choose not to think about who you will be, where you are going, and how you will get there, you may end up stuck somewhere you do not want to be.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Happy Birthday Taylor

Sally: There is so much I love about Taylor. I love his drive and work ethic, the way all of our friends and family look to him as a leader, his quiet and steady demeanor, his loyalty to those he loves, and his patience with me. I love and am proud of the way he treats everyone with kindness, always. I love his very dry sense of humor and taste in music. I love and look up to his outlook on life. I love the adventures that we have had already and the ones ahead. I couldn’t ask for a better partner. I am the luckiest. Happy 32nd birthday T!

Lucy: I love T because he is so steady. He’s consistent. You can lean on him for anything and he’s always supportive. Happy Birthday, T!

Cathy: Taylor, I have really enjoyed having the opportunity to live near you this past year. You are so generous with your time for Page and me. You include us in pub crawls, friend gatherings, and even travel. Football Saturdays have never been so much fun! I love our shared passion for gardening. Thank you for your patience, love, and openness. I especially appreciate how much you love and care for Sally. Y’all have a strong, healthy, and fun relationship. That makes a mom very happy. I hope you have a great day. I couldn’t love you more. - Mum

gPa: 'T' time. Put a peg in the ground and let it rip. T is always up for a game and brings fun buddies to the match. His EAGLE on 11 on birthday celebration Saturday was typical T. Solid shot down the middle, solid shot to the back of the green, solid putt . . . bottom of the cup. Could not be more proud to have you as my son-in-law. Keep it going, Taylor. You are doing great things.

Kyle: Taylor, it’s been a blast getting to know you over the last 5 years. I’m excited to marry Emily and gain you as a brother-in-law in the process. Here’s to many future rounds of golf, late-night bourbons, and me winding up Cathy for you to calm her down. p.s. Emily and I would like to officially ask you to officiate our wedding in April. Instead of a preacher, we don’t know, we would rather have someone we both love. Will you marry us?!?!?

Emily: T is for a tall drink of water! He’s the most handsome brother-in-law around. (All my friends think so too.) A is for adaptable. T can really fit into any situation we throw him in and knows exactly how to smooth anything over! Not to mention he moved across the world and has built a life with Sal (and Peaches and gPa.) Y is for the yang to Kyle’s yin. L is for leaking. My favorite word of T’s that always makes me laugh when I am leaking. O is for the officiant. Preacher T!!! (See Kyle’s one for T.) R is for reliable. I appreciate you and can’t wait for a lifetime of memories as my bro!

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Dear Harvey: Bucket list month of July 🎾 ⛳️🏆

Harvey on the range at ACC

Dear Harvey,

Check, check!

First, we took in the traditions of the All-England club. The village of Wimbledon is one away from our home in Richmond, so we commute by bus. We watched eventual winner Novak Djokovic on Centre Court in an early round match, sat on iconic Henman Hill for lunch, and ventured out to smaller courts for doubles and mixed doubles matches.

By the way, the grassy bank is more formally known as Aorangi Terrace. The name Henman Hill emerged in the late 1990s when British supporters would congregate to watch the matches of local favorite Tim Henman at the site. Did you know the club allows every ticket holder to bring a bottle of wine (or a few beers) through the gates and food? You would not find that option at significant sporting events in many other places.

Last week, we headed north to Scotland for the 150th playing of The Open. We stayed in Edinburgh in a section of town known as Leith. "Leith is significant in the historical development of the rules of golf, as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers played there before moving to Musselburgh Links and later Muirfield." [Wikipedia] From Leith, we trained to St. Andrews for the opening round on Thursday.

One unexpected sighting at The Open was this tent city, which housed a couple of thousand lucky fans at very reasonable prices.

How the British Open's affordable tent city became 'the largest hotel in Scotland'

On Friday, Taylor and I played the championship course at Gullane Golf Club. With three courses, Gullane is down the road from North Berwick (where we played last August) and many other excellent links courses. It is easy to see why my colleague, Grant McLeod, who grew up in the area, likes to say, "When God wanted somewhere to play golf, he created East Lothian! From Dunbar to the Old Course at Musselburgh are 16 of the best golf courses in the world."

18th green at Gullane #1 clubhouse in the background (ask Taylor about the putt he made to take home the win!)

This view awaits after cresting the hill after the 2nd green!

No prob' from this bunker. (-;

Toss in a business trip to Wales at the beginning of the month; it has been pretty remarkable. With meetings at GE Aviation in Cardiff, Cathy and I first celebrated America's Independence Day on another great links course, Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club in Bridgend. Everything about sand-based golf remains super fun. The colors of the grasses, the quirkiness of the bounces, the wind, the sea, the sky . . .

Can't wait for more,

gPage

P.S. Adding to the fun, we had visits from ACC golf buddies Steve and Ginny Booton; cousin Cindy Fuller (missed Mark!); and Grace Rokela and her boyfriend James Anstis.

Emily's college teammate, Grace Rokela now head of marketing at Tara Iti Golf Club in New Zealand

Letters to Harvey from The Kingdom:

Other 'golfy' scribblings:

"Millions of people were charmed by the homespun golf advice dispensed in Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, a sports classic that became the best-selling sports book of all time. Yet, beyond the Texas golf courses where Penick happily toiled for the better part of eight decades, few people knew the self-made golf pro who coaxed the best out of countless greats -- Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Betsy Rawls, Mickey Wright -- all champions who considered Penick their coach and lifelong friend." - Kevin Robbins, author of Harvey Penick: The Life and Wisdom of the Man Who Wrote the Book on Golf.

"And if you play golf, you are my friend." - Harvey Penick

Friday, June 24, 2022

Richmond Park on FaaFF

Hey peeps,

I miss writing to you every so often, so here's a little Fit as a Fiddle photo and video from my bike ride today in Richmond Park. It sure is a pretty place to go for a little morning ride.

Is everybody else staying fit and active? I hear Kyle has taken to rock climbing!

Love to all,

Dad

Other Nuggets about life in The Kingdom:

Stay Whole Tuesday: Port Sunlight

FaaFF: Weighted walking around a cricket 'pitch'

FaaFF on Saturday: You BARCHing?

Speed Date: The British gPage (one minute)

Woman Power: Bloom Where You Are Planted

Iconic Commutes on Stay Whole Tuesday

About England Ex-pat Living

BARCH Richmond: Our gym in the UK

Dear Harvey: The Stage Golfing Society (London)

Yorkshire Pudding - Stay Whole

University of Cambridge day trip and tour

Tube to Tee - Sudbury Golf Club

A couple of gems: Muirfield and North Berwick

Exploring London: First Week in the Old Country

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Nuggets from Dad: What's next?

Dear Daughters,

Three girls officially launched into the real world. We are super proud of each of you. The choices you make, the friends you keep, and how you embrace the journey ahead.

I've been thinking about what is next for Nuggets? So I removed the Aggie backdrop and rewrote the header. This will be a work in progress. With some help from my creatives, maybe I can 'flip' things a bit and land in a good spot.

All I know for sure, I enjoy writing to my girls and occasionally to Harvey Penick and sharing with family, friends, and professional colleagues. So more nuggets to come . . .

Love,

Dad

Monday, May 23, 2022

Dear Harvey: Portsmouth UK & Hayling GC ⚓️ 🐚 🚀 ⛳️ 🕵🏼‍♀️

Harvey on the range at Austin CC

Dear Harvey,

Fantastic trip to Austin for Lucy's graduation, Emily and Kyle's engagement, and Jim Herndon's Celebration of Life. Full heart, tired body.

Hit the rails running upon return to England with a train to Portsmouth for meetings at BAE Systems. This brought back memories of growing up in small farm towns in the Tidewater, Virginia area. The nearest orthodontist was Dr. Samual E. Buxton Jr. in Portsmouth, VA.

I recently had some significant restorative dental work, so I suppose dentistry has been on my mind. The below on Dr. Buxton is especially interesting, as I will be in Cherbourg, France (Normandy) later this week.

"Dr. Buxton practiced general dentistry in Portsmouth until the beginning of World War II. He served in the US Navy from 1940-45 and landed with the Seabees on Normandy. It was unusual for a dentist to make an amphibious landing. He continued his service in the Naval Reserve and retired with the rank of Commander. After the war, he attended specialty training in orthodontics at the University of Michigan." [Source: Virginia Dental Journal; January/March 1995]

Both Portsmouth(s) have Naval history, though Portsmouth, UK, dates a wee bit farther than Portsmouth, VA.

"Portsmouth (UK) owes its origin to the retreat of the sea from the earlier settlement of Portchester at the head of Portsmouth Harbour. No town existed at the site until 1194, when the strategic importance of Portsea Island induced King Richard I to build a settlement there and to grant it a charter, fair, and market. The dockyard, which is still a major source of employment, dates from 1496, when the town was already a naval base." [Source: Britannica.com]

Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery: A Study in Sherlock explores the life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the creation of his most famous character. It features a range of interactive displays, a 'new' Sherlock Holmes mystery, and narration by Stephen Fry, the Patron of the Collection. Come and experience the world of Sherlock Holmes and fine-tune your own powers of detection! [Source: Portsmouth website]

Other things to do in Portsmouth:

And, if you know the right people, you can find out how torpedoes are made at BAE's Broad Oak facility.

Spearfish is the UK Royal Navy's front-line anti-submarine and anti-surface torpedo. Modern submarines require sophisticated defensive and offensive underwater weapons to engage a wide range of surface and subsurface targets. Guided torpedoes provide this capability, and Spearfish is one of the most powerful and capable on the market. BAE Systems provides full support of Spearfish to the UK Royal Navy through a dedicated support 'workshop to waterfront' contract. [Source: BAE Systems]

Touring the factory, I had a couple of thoughts. If these things ever get deployed, we are all in big trouble. And two, the whole assembly process is much quieter than one might think. Intelligent engineers in lab coats with specific tasks building each component, but not loud. Here's a video to learn about Spearfish. (Footnote: Maybe 'loud' is not the best choice of words upon further thought. I suppose calm and quiet is better when touring a plant making bombs!)

With Cathy still in Texas, I thought it best to spend the weekend visiting Hayling Island and Hayling Golf Club. It turned out to be a great call!

I camped out at the Newtown House Hotel, recommended by Hayling GC head pro, Mark Treleaven. Newtown House is made of charming cottages renovated from an 18th Century farm, with excellent customer service, good food, and a cozy bar. I loved looking at the old ship beams and stone fireplaces throughout.

The Island reminds me of Jekyll Island, GA, with thick hedges lining streets framing modest beach cottages. It has a rustic feel and is not overdone. The Island is steeped in military history, including a World War II Heritage Trail where you learn about the history of Mulberry Harbour and its Pillboxes. Hayling is also the main place to head if you are into Kitesurfing. Colorful kites zigged and zagged through the skies throughout my visit.

And the golf course? A 100 percent winner, Harvey. I absolutely loved it. Assistant Pro Jon Burnes checked me in and suggested a yardage book, as the layout across dunes can be tricky for newbies. After a late lunch in a grill room, with a view of the sea you must see, I headed to the putting green and chance met member Simon Vine. Simon was kind enough to run back to his nearby beachfront home, grab his gear and show me the way around Hayling. He was a good player who knew how to work his ball in the wind, and I learned from watching a skilled links player. I was sure without Simon, I could have easily set off down the wrong fairway a time or two!

My 59th birthday ball mark from my buddy Jim Hopke continues to go places! Miss you, jHop, and the boys back at Austin CC. I'll be ready for your games when I return.

Greenskeeper's house off of 13 green, nice perk! This was a great hole where you can putt or chip your approach from as much as 100 yards out because of the slope to the green. @ACC super Bobby Stringer, you might want to rethink your next contract negotiation! I know just the place.

Simon Vine, another friend through golf. Wonderful chap. Simon tells me Hayling has many scratch and plus handicaps. I believe it! You just got that vibe around the members.

View from the balcony looking towards starters shack and the sea. The course was in superb shape with large teeing areas and wonderful green complexes. (P.S. Stay away from unforgiving Hayling gorse!)

The view from the grill room is pretty special!

Turkey, cranberry, and cheese toastie for lunch. Yum!

Don't miss the history of Hayling GC on the website here. Learn about founder 'Tommy' Fleetwood Sandeman, from the famous Sandeman sherry and port company. The original nine were laid out by 'The General' Joe Lloyd from Hoylake, who later won the US Open in 1897.

"In 1902 an exhibition match was held between Harry Vardon and James Braid and soon afterwards, in 1905, their contemporary, J H Taylor, was commissioned to advise on course alterations for a Fee of £11. Further course visits from Harry Colt (1919) and Taylor (1927) saw more change, but it was surely Tom Simpson who left his enduring mark on the course when his changes in 1932 and after the war in 1946 made the course very much as it is today. The renowned golf writer Bernard Darwin wrote, after playing the course, that ‘it possesses some of the finest natural seaside golfing country to be found anywhere." [Source link above, club website.]

Could not agree more with Mr. Darwin! The Newtown House offers a great deal for golf groups of six or more. Room and breakfast for £89 per night and a private dining room each night for the group to settle bets and tell lies. Good Lord willing, I must return to Hayling Island.

This was a 19th hole. A par three is played over water during high tide and only used when one of the other 18 holes is closed for maintenance. Many members consider it as good a hole as any on the course.

Want to play Hayling with me next time?