being at the cottage

The 13 Key Differences Between A Boutique Business Retreat And Other Business Retreats

Posted on June 26, 2019June 27, 2019 by Wil Allan

Red and yellow orchid flower at Being At The Cottage boutique business retreat

The word ‘boutique’ originates from the French, meaning a small shop selling fashionable clothing and accessories. More recently it has also come to mean a small company that offers highly specialised services in a specific area. It goes without saying that at a boutique business retreat the surroundings are stunning, the food is delicious, and we have hand-picked … Continue reading The 13 Key Differences Between A Boutique Business Retreat And Other Business Retreats

How The Brain Makes Creative Solutions

Posted on April 4, 2019May 22, 2019 by Wil Allan

‘The evidence that the brain responds to events that do not appear in consciousness is overwhelming’. The Wayward Mind - Guy Claxton I know that when I want to find solutions to puzzles or get into a creative flow, I need to access a different state of mind – make my brain work in a different … Continue reading How The Brain Makes Creative Solutions

3 Simple Solutions To Ease Your Overworked Brain

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Wil Allan

We can only have one thought at a time, so make sure it’s a good one. With so much to prioritise, and so much that divides our attention every day, our overworked brains feel like they’re held in a vice – and we’re the ones turning the screw. When we can learn to let go … Continue reading 3 Simple Solutions To Ease Your Overworked Brain

Get Unplugged Go Offline – Disconnect To Reconnect

Posted on March 5, 2019June 4, 2019 by Wil Allan

Last Friday, 1st March, was a national day of unplugging. Well at least it was in the US. In the 1990’s getting unplugged meant rock stars like Eric Clapton moved away from the embellishment of their electrical set-up and returned to acoustic guitars with a stripped back, purer sound, and made some stunning music. While some of today’s … Continue reading Get Unplugged Go Offline – Disconnect To Reconnect

Part 3 – 6 Shortcuts To Insights And Inspiration

Posted on February 18, 2019May 25, 2019 by Wil Allan

What Makes A Boutique Business Retreat? Packing your vision and leaving the rest behind to spend time alone. Here are elements 5 and 6 of what makes a boutique business retreat and this blog wraps up the last of the fundamental elements that define Being At The Cottage. In all, there are 6 fundamental elements that make … Continue reading Part 3 – 6 Shortcuts To Insights And Inspiration

Part 2 – 6 Shortcuts To Insights And Inspiration

Posted on February 11, 2019February 19, 2019 by Wil Allan

What Makes A Unique Business Retreat? Packing your vision, leaving the rest behind and spending time alone. These are elements 3 and 4 of what makes a unique business retreat. In all, there are 6 fundamental elements that make Graig Ddu – The Cottage In The Forest a unique business retreat. Three are synonymous with … Continue reading Part 2 – 6 Shortcuts To Insights And Inspiration

6 Shortcuts To Insights And Inspiration – Part 1

Posted on February 5, 2019June 4, 2019 by Wil Allan

What Makes A Boutique Business Retreat? I believe that houses choose their owners. In 1991 Graig Ddu chose me. You can find that story here: https://tinyurl.com/ydyz5wp3 But back to the present. After leaving an out of character foray into the corporate world as a property manager in 2018 where I had over 100 holiday cottages to oversee … Continue reading 6 Shortcuts To Insights And Inspiration – Part 1

The Moon And Creative Solutions… Really?

Posted on January 28, 2019May 22, 2019 by Wil Allan

So what do you do when your creative solutions desert you? Suck it up? Force it out? Tear out your hair? For the last few weeks I’ve been bursting with ideas and creative solutions, on a high and full of energy, but during last weekend I noticed there was nothing there. Flat, empty, imagine-less. Those hidden … Continue reading The Moon And Creative Solutions… Really?

The Only Constant Thing In Life Is Change

Posted on January 21, 2019June 4, 2019 by Wil Allan

When we observe and preserve an alert watchfulness over life, we can see the unfolding and enfolding evolution of everything - constant change. It may seem banal, but this also includes holiday cottages. I moved to Graig Ddu in 1991 – you can read the story here: https://beingatthecottage.com/2019/01/14/synchronicity-at-its-magical-best/ For 9 years I lived and worked … Continue reading The Only Constant Thing In Life Is Change

Synchronicity At Its Magical Best

Posted on January 14, 2019May 25, 2019 by Wil Allan

Finding Graig Ddu - The Cottage In The Forest It wasn’t so much a case of love at first sight, mostly because I hadn’t lived without electricity before, and the cottage was pink! I wasn’t sure which would be more of a challenge. It was definitely a case of it finding me, though. After 4 … Continue reading Synchronicity At Its Magical Best