Bianca Catherall - Synchro32

August....Wow....Where did July go !

2010-08-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Louie all suited and booted for his school prom....as promised and another of the whole class.

Im sorry Im late with my blog this month... but boy things are all go at the moment both at home and at work.
The School holidays are upon us and entertaining the children has been hard work..we have not had one full day without rain since St Swithins day Which was July 15th the day before the children broke up.

For those of you that do not know the old tradition 'St Switherns day is a day on which people watch the weather , for tradition says that whatever the weather is like on St.Switherns day, It will continue so for the next forty nights'.....It rained then and its still raining now...So I suppose I may agree with this old wives' tale.

'St. Swithin's day if thou dost rain

For forty days it will remain

St. Swithin's day if thou be fair

For forty days 'twill rain nae mair

Saturday we had a family trip to Chester which was lovely we did a bit of shopping and went to Pizza hut . Chester is a beautiful old city in Cheshire and apparently it is one of the best preserved walled cities in the British Isles,We had a lovely day out and the children were entertained for a while at least.

This weekend we have the football presentation night where all the junior members of the Barmouth football team get their medals for the season....a long evening!

Vinnie's birthday is coming up soon he would like to go camping.....we will see what the weather is like I think we are experiencing the opposite to what Shane is

Here at the office it is all go , New leads , New developments, 3 more exhibitions around the corner ,New enquiries , Busy , Busy ,Busy...the only way to be.

Well enjoy the rest of the month...until next time

Bianca x

July Already...!!!!

2010-07-07T04:36:00.000-07:00

News...

The EADS Innovation works team from Newport South Wales won the three peaks yacht race all in all it took them 96 hours and 37 minutes...wow!!

Bob & Sal have had baby's only six hatched so all is good...could have been 400 +...tiny little things they are...ahhh bless!!....Lee I hope your babys ( eggs) are doing well.

School sports day arrived and the sun was shining , Louie done well and came 1st in the 100m and the 800m race...well done, Vinnie also done well and came 6th in his race( He wasn't trying..!!)

The weekend in Barmouth was busy again as it was the Country & Western Music event ,the town was packed with cowboys and line dancers.

Louie my eldest son has just a week left at primary school & then its off to big school for him,I have just bought him his first ever suit for the end of school prom.....ahhh my little man....So handsome x......they grow up so quickly.

No pictures Im afraid as my camera is broken I am hoping to borrow a friends to get some pics,So if I do I will post some on here.

Well short & sweet this month, have fun & enjoy the sun..!!!!

Bye for now Bianca x

Another Bank Holiday over with........

2010-06-04T04:13:00.000-07:00

Barmouth has been as busy as ever this week, last week end being a bank holiday and the children being on school holidays the town has been heaving and for once the sun has been shinning!... Hip hip horray! ...I feel its such a shame when people save up to come on holiday and all it does is rain,theres not much to do here in Barmouth if it does, no cinemas or bowling alleys, just the mountains & the sea,I suppose we have the arcade but who in their right mind would want to spend all day in there!

Well the next big event is the Three Peaks Yacht Race
- Barmouth to Fort William.

This year 24 teams sail from Barmouth to Fort William, once they reach Caernarfon the 2 athletes on board then have to run up the highest peak in wales ,Snowdon (peak 1)

They then run back down and set sail for Whitehaven towards Scaffel pike (peak 2 ).Here the athletes have a 13 mile bike ride at the begining & end of the route to Scaffel Point...OMG!

Then...its not over yet!...they set sail (yet again) for Ben Nevis (peak 3) this is the biggest of them all and the last!!...It also happpens to be the only one I have been up!...Yes I live in Barmouth and have never been up Snowdon!!!...I promise I will, it has been on the agenda for a while now!..I won't however be competing in the three peaks yacht race in the foreseeable future!!....Good luck to everyone..!!!

The Three Peaks Yacht Race has been going since June 1977 and the beautiful Yachts that it brings in to town is wonderful,most of the teams raise money for different charities and the town becomes alive with people from not just Britain but all over the world!
It starts on Saturday 19th June at 4pm from Barmouth harbour...If you want to follow it heres the address http://www.threepeaksyachtrace.co.uk/.

Well until next time have fun & enjoy June

Bianca x

Hey hey it’s May..!!

2010-05-06T02:02:00.001-07:00

This bank holiday in sunny old Barmouth was just as busy as any other ... People everywhere...
Thus I spent most of my bank holiday at home with the boys doing the jobs & things you just don’t get around to doing.
Repotting the hanging baskets out front was first on the agenda , dusting ,polishing(basically spring cleaning) next ,then onto what I enjoy doing the most cooking and baking ( Which Of course leads to another great past time of mine eating) I phoned the people that you just don’t get around to phoning and basically just enjoyed being with my family.
Dad came around for dinner on the Monday which was lovely!
Hadn’t seen him for a while, the boys enjoyed discussing the latest football results with him and their dad.(still not ,or rather not wanting to know the off side rule ) ....I just carried on cooking and humming away to the radio!
What else ,Oh Bob & Sally are out.....??
Bob & Sal as we call them are our two pet Giant African snails (we bought them from ebay about 2 years ago ) Scientific name Achatina fulica . They hibernate through the winter months and this weekend, May bank holiday they decided to make an appearance ...the most easiest of pets ever to look after, spray daily, feed on a regular bases,provide a cuttlefish for calcium ,talk to occasionally ( when no one is looking of course)and they are as happy as Larry or rather Brian Like the snail from the magic roundabout.
Well spring is in the air daffodils & lambs are everywhere (still too early to get the sandals and shorts out) the evenings are longer,I have attended my first barbeque of the year and the house is spick and spam( a clean house equals a clear mind for me).
The long awaited summer is on its way and AFS Wisconsin chapter is just around the corner the Synchro team are ready and waiting to go...... Milwaukee here we come..!
Bianca x

2010-04-01T02:12:00.001-07:00

Well I am back from my travels refreshed and ready to go.
We had a lovely time in Thailand and the boys had the time of their lives ..!
This time around we visited Phuket , Koh Phi Phi, Ao Nang, koh Samui ,Koh Phannang & Bangkok, each & every place we visited was wonderful and all for different reasons
Here are a few Pics PhiPhi Beach
Veiwpoint PhiPhi
Eating Out Ao Nang
Sunset Boat Trip
Squid by night

So looks like loads has been happening while I have been away ....What an excellent start to the year we have had!
I have been away for a month and in that time synchcro32 has had new companies signing up from all over the globe, Greece USA , Malaysia , Australia to name but a few....... we truly are the worlds global leaders in our field of expertise.

Castexpo10 well.........What can I say ?....Tremendous comes to mind...looks like the men did good!
So many new leads to follow up....busy busy...busy
Until next time
Bianca x

Swapping my hat & scarf for a sarong & sun!!!

2010-02-09T04:59:00.000-08:00

As I keep saying Barmouth is a beautiful place, but there are a lot more beautiful places out there and for me Thailand is one of them.
Very soon Steven,the boys & myself will be jetting off to this wonderful country for four whole weeks of sun & fun.

It has been 14 years since Steven & myself last went to Thailand....a long , long time ago before the children were born & before the Internet was so readily available....Oh boy things have changed!
1996 was the last time we were in Thailand, we stayed for 6 months, we ended up travelling down to Malaysia to do the visa run & not going back,instead we went forward...through Malaysia taking in Kuala Lumpur & Penang, then on to Indonesia over to Jakarta & on to Bali then flying back up to Singapore on the homeward journey back to Bangkok........It was one of the most amazing times of my life & I know Steve's....We wont be doing as much traveling as that but we do intend to do a bit......I'm sure I will keep you posted.!!.....Cant wait to get back out there!!

Blog soon

Bianca C x

Well the Christmas season is over & 2010 is here!

2010-02-01T01:44:00.000-08:00

Belated New Year Greetings to you all

So what do we call this decade the 2010’s I suppose, like the 1910’s?

Anyway I can see this year is going to be a very busy year & also a very good one!

The boys are still playing football, the season nearly being over, it has lasted a lot longer this time as poor weather haltered play.
We have a match away on Sunday morning so bang goes our Sunday morning lay in Steve will have to drive us to Tywyn only….. about 30 miles away! Never mind lets hope they win…...Come on boys…!!!!!

Louie is the one in the middle……Barmouth under 11’s

Vinnie is the one in the middle at the bottom……Barmouth under 9’s

I can’t believe the snow actually settled in Barmouth this winter, being on the North Wales coast snow settling in the town is very rare, we actually had about 3 inches of snow there has only ever been one other time this has happened in the twenty odd years I have lived here…..beautiful but at the same time rather frustrating, the children’s school was closed for two days and a shortage of bread & milk was the talk of the town!........but what a beautiful place to live

The snow has all gone, but more is forecast for today !!!!

Well it did snow again at the weekend & both boys played football

Vinnies team played on Saturday morning and won 3-2 Louies team played on Sunday morning and won 4-3, So everyones happy!! Cold...... but happy!!

Will blog again soon

Bianca x

Computers & technology are the way forward ...be there or be square as my boys would say.

2009-12-02T05:31:00.000-08:00

Our North American market share is growing quite fast along side Australia as the fastest sectors in the last 12 months.
The AFI annual conference in Melbourne Sept '09 was a good exhibition...both in terms of awareness & interest.

South East Asia is another burgeoning market securing more customer's and a fair amount of interest.Again many of the visitors to the AFI came from Maylasia

Synchro32 is spreading far & wide....
"The future lies in technology...this is not optional,your business rivals are adopting it-dont get left behind" As our MD/CEO would put it....and very right he is too.

Technology...It is growing so fast....It took myself & my husband nearly 3 days to get the new playstation 3 up & running.!! This is not just a games console...more ofg an entertainment system with internet access & 120GB of storage....Wow
Getting online was not as easy as you would think...thereis a wide gap of knowledge between using technology & understanding how it works.Not to be beaten we finally managed to set it all up.....with some relief...!! Excelent

Things have changed so much since the 1970's- Do you remember Oric & the commodore 64...?
What about the Atari..?..lol...(space invaders & tennis)

I can only imagine my sons faces if santa was to leave them an Atari for Christmas...!!!

Computers & technology are the way forward....be there or be square..as my boys would say

Well bye for now

Will blog again soon

Bianca C x

Thai Coconut Chicken...mmmmmm

2009-11-02T03:03:00.000-08:00

This is a reciepe from one of my favourite cook books... I cooked it Sunday & it went down a treat , a bit spicey but full of flavour.....I thought I would share it with you....enjoy!

Thai coconut chicken

1tsp cumin seeds
1tsp mustard seeds
1tsp coriander seeds
1tsp tumeric
1 bird's - eye chilli, deseeded & chopped
1tsp freshly grated root ginger
2 gloves of garlic, peeled & chopped finely
125ml double cream or aspro soya
8 skinless chicken thighs
2tsp ground nut oil
1 onion, peeled & finely sliced
200ml coconut milk
salt & freshly ground black pepper
4tbs freshly chopped coriander
2 spring onions, shredded, to garnish
freshly cooked Thai fragrant rice to serve.

Heat the wok & add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds & coriander seeds. Dry fry over a low to medium heat for 2 minutes, or until the fragrance becomes stronger & the seeds start to pop. Add the tumeric & leave to cool slightly. Grind the spices in a pestle & mortar or blend to a fine powder in a food processor.

Mix the chilli, ginger, garlic & then the cream together in a small bowl, add the ground spices & mix.Place the chicken thighs in a shallow dish & spread the spice paste over the thighs.

Heat the wok over a high heat add the oil & when hot, add the onion & stir-fry until golden brown. Add the chicken & spice paste. Cook for 5-6 minutes,stirring occasionally, until evenly coloured. Add the coconut milk & season to taste with salt & pepper.

Simmer the chicken for 15-20 minutes, or until the thighs are cooked through, taking care not to allow the mixture to boil. Stir in the chopped coriander & serve immediately with the freshly cooked rice sprinkled with the shredded spring onion

Working tirelessly for the casting industry...

2009-10-12T04:42:00.000-07:00

As the PA for Synchro32…I have quite a varied job which involves many areas of the business particularly the organisation of the directors work load. The entire team work tirelessly in the pursuit of excellence and customer care.

We have no segmentation of ‘us and them’ mentality…we are all working to the same end; To enable every single casting manufacturer to run a system that is specific to their needs and the quality of support the likes of which I have never experienced in any other company I have previously worked for.

After welcoming Chris, Simon and Barbara back home from another successful business trip, this time taking in Brazil, New Zealand & Australia… it’s has been none stop!

Three more major companies from Brazil to add to our ever growing customer database, (one being one of the largest in the world!)….and the New Zealand demonstrations went well. Chris mentioned what a privilege it is for him to undertake these smaller seminars…he said

“these people have passion for their jobs and the companies they work for…their intention just like ours is to do the very best they can!”

AFI may be a small exhibition but it’s full of the right people (directors & managers)

The New release of the touch screen (SFDC) instigated a lot of interest and the stand was excellent…well done…. Busy, busy ,busy.

Must go…my children and husband are all well…another visit to London, of which I will update in a later BLOG.

Bianca C

2009-08-14T03:19:00.001-07:00

London calling

2009-08-13T02:41:00.000-07:00

So the summer Hols are here and were off to see the Queen...........well my uncle Jimmy,James & Tina actually!
After spending most of my childhood growing up in London I have wanted to take the children & Steve! to London to see the sights and this summer we finally made it!
A trip on the river Thames on the water taxis allowed us to take in most of the famous land marks without the hustle & bustle of city life!
The Tower of London,HMS Belfast,The London Eye,The Houses Of Parliment,Tower Bridge E.T.C
We got off at the Embankment & walked up to Trafalgar Square where we had a photo shoot like the many others that were there.
NO PIGEON'S!! Steve had already warned me of this!
As I am petrified of birds flapping around my head I suppose it was a blessing......But Trafalgar Square without these flying vermin is just not the same!
Where was the bird feed seller from Mary Poppins!
We then walked to Covent Garden Market where we had lunch,watched the street entertainers & shopped around the market taking in the lovely aromas of the many different food stalls available.
My Uncle Jimmy lives in a lovely house in Welling, We were only in London for three days so the other two days were spent relaxing in his lovely garden,Pimms in the midday sun for me (of course with all the trimmings), Gigantic paddling pool for the boys & uncle Jimmy!!and a bit of peace & quiet for Steve.
A good time was had by all and I am sure we will be returning to The Big Smoke again!!!

2009-07-06T03:30:00.000-07:00

Me & Mine....

2009-07-06T03:17:00.000-07:00

Originally from London I moved to Barmouth over 20 years ago, Where I met my now husband Steve.
We have two children , Both Boys!!
Louie is the eldest of the two & enjoys playing his guitar & of course his playstation,laptop,Ds etc etc.
Vinnie is seven & enjoys art & crafts plus playstation,xbox etc etc (Dont they all !!!)
We get out as a family as much as we can, both the the boys play football for the local team which is enjoyable but also very time consuming!!!
If the sun is out in Barmouth you will find us on the beach making the most of what we have !!
Well that's a little bit about me & mine.
I would also like to take this opportunity to say how pleased I am to be part of the Synchro 32 team.......Thanks & hi to you all x