“Hello from the inside, it’s just me, myself and I…”
In this period of social distancing, the ILA’s face-to-face facilitation is not possible; however, the ILA team is still working away behind the scenes. Read on for what the team is reading, listening, thinking, eating and can’t wait for! It could even be considered a Part 2 of the Proust Questionnaire: after all, what reveals someone’s true nature more than how s/he manages life in quarantine?
Each member of the ILA Team was asked to answer the following questions:
· What are you reading?
· What education/leadership etc. book did you read last (and why would you recommend it)?
· Current favourite recipe?
· What are you listening to these days? (podcasts, records, Spotify stations…)
· Meme you most relate to at the moment?
· Current state of mind?
· What is the first thing you will do once social distancing ends?
· If you could travel, where would you go? What is your dream vacation itinerary?
· Which ILA programme for 2020 – 2021 are you most excited about?
· What is keeping you sane?
· Favourite card game or board game?
El de Libero, Communications Lead
What are you reading?
I tend to have several books going at the same time and alternate between them depending on my mindset. Currently I’m reading:
- I’m re-reading Bel Canto by Anne Patchett (highly recommend and as the book revolves around the lives of 58 hostages, it is both a reminder that it could be worse and feels oddly familiar. The hostages are eating food that they wouldn’t have in their ‘ordinary’ lives? After eating two Balance Bars in a day, I can relate)
- Grit by Angela Duckworth (finding this reassuring)
- Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
- I’ve just finished reading The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White with my son (if books written for adults are feeling too intense, this is lovely! Follow the journey of a trumpeter swan born without a voice, who becomes a renowned trumpet player).
Current favourite recipe?
My current favourite equals little-to-no effort and as few dishes and steps as possible. I’m embarrassed to admit that I found this on Jimmy Kimmel’s instagram page and it was described as a kid-friendly recipe. My kids both hate it but I’m not giving up, because the pureed white cannellini beans makes the pasta creamy like an alfredo and it’s SO EASY.
‘Pasta Tina’
You’ll need 6 ingredients if you follow Jimmy Kimmel’s version: pasta, a can of cannellini beans, chicken or vegetable stock, olive oil, garlic, and freshly-grated parmigiano cheese.
I’ve been skipping the stock and using a couple of diced shallots plus seasoning to taste.
What are you listening to these days?
Podcasts: Late Night with Seth Meyers Podcast, Nudge: Consumer Psychology Podcast, Stephen Fry’s 7 Deadly Sins, The Ezra Klein Show, The New Corner Office with Laura Vanderkam and The High Low.
Music: Call Me By Your Name Soundtrack, Grease Soundtrack (Note: this leads to performing your own renditions of Summer Lovin’, Grease Lightening and Hopelessly Devoted to You… if you are looking for some space from your family, it’s a great way to clear the room, I’ve heard), The Police, Arcade Fire and Lady Gaga.
Which ILA Programme for 2020 – 2021 are you most excited about?
Embracing Leadership as I’ve heard so many great things about this programme. Structured around a leadership focus and aimed at those looking to develop their own capacity to lead within their role, it is a unique chance to learn and develop in your own context. Awesome!
What is keeping you sane?
I find each day is a bit different and my sanity is not static. Walks, online workouts (finally used that subscription I’ve had for longer than I care to admit), Master Class (you can even listen to classes when you have the app on your phone) and general silliness with my kids (see photo above).
Favourite card game or board game?
Scopa! An Italian classic, we play a round of Scopa every day after lunch or dinner. You need Neapolitan cards but otherwise it’s easy and fun.
Ewa Maczkowska, Service Host
What are you reading?
The New Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan.
Current favourite recipe?
Vegetarian Madras curry
What are you listening to these days? (podcasts, records, Spotify stations…)
ESA explores Podcast, Diana Krall, Postmodern Jukebox Spotify Channel, BNR radio …
What is the first thing you will do once social distancing ends?
Go to a concert or music festival.
If you could travel, where would you go?
Lefkada, Greece.
What is your dream vacation itinerary?
Cruising around the best beaches in the world on my own yacht 🙂
Which ILA programme for 2020 – 2021 are you most excited about?
Intensive Beginners DSLR Photography
What is keeping you sane?
Rollerblading and music.
Favourite card game or board game?
I don’t like board games, but I love word games and playing darts
Liz Free, ILA Director
What are you listening to these days? (podcasts, records, Spotify stations…)
Have recently become obsessed with podcasts. My favourite at the moment are ‘Super Soul Conversations’ with Oprah Winfrey, ‘The Documentary’ by the BBC World Service, ‘TES Podcast’ by TES and when all else fails on the sleep front, ‘What’s the Tee?’ with the suitably entertaining RuPaul and Michelle Visage!
What is the first thing you will do once social distancing ends?
I am going to take a long walk along the beach with our family, meet friends for a few fabulous Italian coffees and watch the world go by in all it’s glory!
Which ILA programme for 2020 – 2021 are you most excited about?
All of them!!!!! The iNPQs go from strength to strength, the CACHE Teaching Assistant programmes are inspiring so many of our staff and I am also delighted to the see the Retreat back!
Liz Jones, Induction Lead
Current favourite recipe?
Peach, chickpea and tomato vegan curry (the recipe is linked if you’d like to make it).
What are you listening to these days? (podcasts, records, Spotify stations…)
Audible books, and currently, Smile by Roddy Doyle.
Current state of mind?
Feeling fortunate to have connection and friends and good health.
What is the first thing you will do once social distancing ends?
Go swimming.
If you could travel, where would you go? What is your dream vacation itinerary?
I would go to Papua New Guinea.
Which ILA programme for 2020 – 2021 are you most excited about?
The BSN Induction Programme!!!!!
What is keeping you sane?
My new social distancing garden.
Favourite card game or board game?
Pass the Pigs. (see photo above).
Richard Hughes, Service Host
- Favourite card game or board game?
Uno and Dominoes.
Current favourite recipe?
I have a few current favourite recipes but to give myself a bit of a challenge, I am trying something new. I am currently hooked on making Chinese Dumplings.
Chinese Dumplings Recipe
Ingredients for the Wrapper (Enough to Make 50-60 Dumplings)
– 400 grams of dumpling flour (you can use bread flour or use high protein content flour.)
– 210 grams of room temperature water – 1/2 tsp of salt
Ingredients For The Filling
– 350 grams of ground pork
– 200 grams of Chinese celery (You can also use regular celery)
– 1/2 cup of diced scallion
– 1.5 tbsp. soy sauce
– 1.5 tsp of oyster sauce
– garlic ginger puree (3 slices of ginger + 2 cloves of garlic + 2 tbsp. of water)
– 1 tbsp. of vegetable oil
– 1/2 tsp of salt
– 1 egg
INSTRUCTIONS
– For making dumplings, you want to used dumpling flour, we call it 高筋面粉. If you cannot find dumpling flour, you can use bread flour. Just check the protein content before picking a brand: you want to find something 10%. Can’t even find bread flour? I have a trick! You can use all-purpose flour and add 2 eggs and water to the flour to make it higher in protein. I like to measure it together because each egg is different. *Chef Rich Tip* For every 400 grams of all-purpose flour you will need 205 – 210 grams of the egg/water mixture. There you have it, the secret behind the perfect dumpling wrapper, so let’s get started!
– Measure out 400 grams of dumpling flour and add 1/2 tsp of salt. Give it a mix and then slowly pour in 200 to 210 grams of room temperature water. Use chopsticks to stir it while you are adding the water. Gathering all the flour together and make it into a dough. Knead the dough for about 5-6 minutes or until smooth. Cover and let it sit for 20 minutes.
– 20 minutes later, knead it again for another 5 minutes. Cover it with a slightly damp towel and let it sit for one hour. We knead the dough twice to help develop the protein do that your dumpling wrapper has great texture.
– While waiting for the dough, you can make the filling. Today I am making my pork celery filling. It is very easy.
– You will need 350 grams of ground pork, 200 grams of celery, 1/2 cup of diced scallion, 1.5 tbsp. soy sauce, 1.5 tsp of oyster sauce, 1 tbsp. of vegetable oil, 1/2 tsp of salt, 1 egg, some garlic ginger puree.
– Stir it in one direction for 6-8 minutes and beat the filling. Set the filling in the fridge. Time to take a look at the dough.
-The dough should now be more soft and pliable. It’s time to divide the dough into many small and even pieces. Put your dough on a cutting board and sprinkle some flour on it to prevent stickiness. Roll the dough into a thick piece. Then cut it into thick strips. Make sure you measure each piece, so that strips are the same thickness. Once you’ve finished that, line them up together. Cut those into small pieces as well. Use something to measure each piece at this point as well. The length and width don’t matter as long as all the dough pieces are the same size. I normally don’t use a scale but if you want the ideal weight, I would say each dough should be about 11-12 grams.
– Cover these with a slightly damp towel and let’s start making the dumpling wrappers. Take one piece and flatten it by your hand. Roll it into a round wrapper with a thick middle and thin edge. The size can be big or small, depending on how big you want your dumplings to be.
– Take some filling. Put it on the wrapper. Fold the wrapper in half and pinch it a little bit. Push both sides toward to the middle and pinch the edge. Reinforce it just to make sure they won’t open when cooking. This recipe is enough to make about 50 -60 dumplings.
– You’ll want to fry the dumplings in a heavy duty pan. Add some oil. Toss it around so the oil covers the bottom. Use medium heat to do this. The oil will start heating up while you are adding the dumplings. Wait for a minute or 2 then add 1/4 cup of water. Cover the pan. Let the dumplings cook until all the water is gone. If your lid can be completely sealed, you should still leave a small gap to let the steam out. Once all the liquid is evaporated, check the bottom of a dumpling to see the colour. If it is nice and golden brown, you can plate them up and serve with your favourite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
If you could travel, where would you go? What is your dream vacation itinerary?
Hawaii & the Maldives would be my dream vacation!
Current state of mind?
-All over the place. In general, not knowing what or how to feel about this situation we are now going through but staying positive is always the way to go!
Susanne Van Panhuys, Professional Development Coordinator
What are you reading?
Becoming by Michelle Obama, loving it but only on page 145.
Which ILA programme are you most excited about?
Our ILA programme for 2020-2021 is totally exciting as a whole but if I have to chose one, it is definitely ‘The Retreat 2021 – Embracing Leadership‘. This will be the third time the ILA offers the retreat, located at a beautiful hotel and conference centre nestled in the most serene and calming Dutch landscape. The programme is personally impactful for you as a leader, independent of where you are in your leadership journey. The level of trust, cohesion, professional dialog and reflection we manage to facilitate in this environment is incredible. Working with our awesome facilitation duo gives me an extra buzz, and of course, as the PD Coordinator, I get to choose the food and wine for our special Saturday evening dinner event. 🙂
What is the first thing you will do once social distancing ends?
Go and visit my granddaughter and play with her for days with the new kitchen she got for her birthday a week ago.
Second thing is that I will travel to Poland to visit my oldest son and his girlfriend, haven’t seen them since February and miss them.
What is keeping you sane?
- (a) My work, having time to think ‘strategy’ and getting on with my projects
- (b) My lovely colleagues, Microsoft Teams and our silly virtual parties
- (c) Our family rabbit, Floppy, who gets loads of cuddles and is so much fun to play with
- (d)FaceTime with my granddaughter a few times per week and when she kisses the screen to say ‘good bye’.
- (e) The daily 15 minutes of work with my youngest son on our biggest puzzle
- (f) Planning a big family skiing holiday for April 2021
- (g) Good chocolate and the occasional glass of Prosecco
- (h) Funny pictures and short film clips friends are sending to me
Current state of mind:
Grateful that I live in a country where the government is dealing well with this crisis. Appreciative of all the incredible work that is being done on a daily basis by all our key workers. Motivated to make good use of the extra time I have. Certain that I will take some impactful learning from these weeks working from home. Optimistic that things will get better again.
Stuart Whitfield, Professional Development Lead
What are you reading?
Volkswagen Vanagon Repair Manual 1980-1991 Official factory repair manual.
What education/leadership etc. book did you read last (and why would you recommend it)?
Real World Research 4th Edition by Robson and McCartan – It is a really useful reference book for those undertaking school-based research projects and is written to help rather than academically baffle.
Current favourite recipe?
ลาบหมู or Laarb Moo. It’s a spicy Thai salad made with minced pork and toasted rice.
What are you listening to these days? (podcasts, records, Spotify stations…)
Mainly 90’s hip-hop records purchased just before lock down kicked in in Manchester, but also delights such as De La Souls 3 feet high and rising, Common live in at the jazz room (recorded in Den Haag at the North Sea Jazz festival) and some J Dilla.
Meme/Graphic you most relate to at the moment
I don’t know what this means.
Current state of mind?
Hayfever sneezey.
What is the first thing you will do once social distancing ends?
Arrange a corona cocktail party.
If you could travel, where would you go? What is your dream vacation itinerary?
Anywhere in my camper van (hence the current reading material).
Which ILA programme for 2020 – 2021 are you most excited about?
Accredited L3 speech and communication for 3-5’s in partnership with Elkan. This is such an important part of language development and I’m really excited to confirm Liz Elks, the founder of Elklan, as our facilitator.
What is keeping you sane?
I do not understand this concept
Favourite card game or board game?
I recently played ‘the mind’ which in simple terms involves laying out, collaboratively, cards numbered from 1-100. It ends up being far more complex than it sounds.
We hope that you this brought you a bit of levity during this surreal and difficult period!
How are you all managing these days? Share in the comments what is keeping you sane, book recommendations, easy recipes or your musings. We’d love to hear from you!
Warm wishes,
The ILA Team
