Thursday 29 October 2009

Yell.com advert performance - September 2009

How's the advert doing? Here are the figures.

September 2009
Number of people who viewed the advert in the local area: 286
Number of people who viewed the advert nationally: 157
Number of people who clicked on the advert to find out more: 37

August 2009
Number of people who viewed the advert in the local area: 259
Number of people who viewed the advert nationally: 118
Number of people who clicked on the advert to find out more: 47

JULY 2009
Number of people who viewed the advert in the local area: 357
Number of people who viewed the advert nationally: 113
Number of people who clicked on the advert to find out more: 61

Subsequent calls to teachers via the Yell.com advert this month:
Dee Johnson had one phone call which came from the TYA website.

JUNE 2009
Number of people who viewed the advert in the local area: 341
Number of people who viewed the advert nationally: 107
Number of people who clicked on the advert to find out more: 50

MAY 2009
Number of people who viewed the advert in the local area: 324
Number of people who viewed the advert nationally: 150
Number of people who clicked on the advert to find out more: 40

FEBRUARY 2009
Number of people who viewed the advert in the local area: 574
Number of people who viewed the advert nationally: 297
Number of people who clicked on the advert to find out more: 36

Subsequent calls to teachers via the Yell.com advert this month:
Diane Hargraves had one phone call.
Alex Carter had two enquiries.
Dee Johnson had two phone calls.

JANUARY 2009
Number of people who viewed the advert in the local area: 875
Number of people who viewed the advert nationally: 421
Number of people who clicked on the advert to find out more: 39

Subsequent calls to teachers via the Yell.com advert this month:
Luci Beales had a call from a man in Newbury.

DECEMBER 2008
Number of people who viewed the advert in the local area: 344
Number of people who viewed the advert nationally: 239
Number of people who clicked on the advert to find out more: 10

Friday 23 October 2009

Swami Ambikananda and her spiritual journey


This November Swami Ambikananda is one of a number of compelling speakers giving talks to an audience.

The subject of Swami's talk is her spiritual journey. She grew up as a Catholic of mixed race in South Africa and is now a Hindu monastic.

The lectures take place at the Friends Meeting House in Reading. Swami Ambikananda is speaking on Wednesday 4th November at 7.30pm.

More details can be found below:

TALKS AT READING FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE OCT/NOV:

The Forgiveness Project- talk by Jo Berry
Wednesday 21st October 09, 7:30pm
Jo’s father Sir Anthony Berry was amongst the people killed 25 years ago by the IRA bomb in Brighton. Since then, Jo has visited Ireland many times and worked with victims and former combatants.

Multi-national tax dodging and its impact on the poor and the planet
Wednesday 28th October 09, 7:30
John Christiansen, Director, Tax Justice Network, and John Madeley, author: how multi-national tax dodging shifts money from the poor to the rich and impacts development.

My Spiritual Journey- Swami Ambikananda
Wednesday 4th November 09, 7:30
Swami Ambikananda Saraswati grew up as a Catholic of mixed race in South Africa. She is now a Hindu monastic and author with books published on Yoga, health, and philosophy.

My spiritual journey- Harvey Gilman
Wednesday 11th November 09, 7:30
Harvey Gilman grew up as a Jew in Manchester, and became a Quaker. He has written several books about Quakerism and spirituality, and in 2002 was awarded a Rowntree fellowship to investigate how we explore and express our spiritual journeys.

My spiritual journey- Dawud Bone
Wednesday 25th November 09, 7:30
Dawud grew up as a Quaker in Reading, and as a young man became a Moslem but retained his membership of Reading Meeting. He is now Director of the Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations at the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths in Cambridge..

All events take place at Reading Friends Meeting House, Church Street, Reading RG1
2SB (off London Street).
Call 0118 950 7736
www.midthamesquakers.org.uk

Monday 12 October 2009

The ups and downs of breathing

TYA yoga teacher Dee emailed with this experience of breathwork off the mat and up in the air. Enjoy her story:

From the very first time I tried using my breath to help me in paschimottanasana I knew the power of the exhalation in yoga.

I first took that idea off the yoga mat when giving birth to my second child – a wonderfully, earthy, natural experience. But only yesterday, I was surprised and delighted at how far into my psyche this breathing lark has buried itself, ready to be drawn upon in times of need.

I am practically allergic to adrenalin and my now teenage children and husband love teasing me about it! Whatever possessed me to offer to take them to the steam fair in Reading I do not know.

I have not been on a fairground ride since I nearly threw up aged 16. I suppose I got carried away laughing at the glee on my children’s faces as they rose and dipped on the mechanical bomber planes, giggling their heads off, just like when I used to tickle them as toddlers.

They said I should go on the next ride with them and seeing what harmless fun they were having I ... agreed.

We climbed aboard the huge swinging boat and took our seats. It wasn’t until the girl taking the money suggested we hold on tightly that the first frisson of fear crept into my body.

I tightened my hold and shortened my breath. I thought hollering at the zenith of each swing would make things better. It really didn’t. It just made me more tense and fearful. Suddenly without giving it too much thought, a very loud urge to ‘just breathe’ surfaced.

I fixed my gaze on a particular tree to try to stop the sea-sickness developing, and watched my breath come in and go out, trying each time to extend the outbreath and even to co-ordinate the outbreath with the zenith of the swing each time, as that was the scariest part.

Although I was still scared, I managed to get off the ride after far too long, smiling smugly at my secret weapon against adrenalin! And my family was giggling at how I became very quiet after those initial 3 screams – they knew exactly what I was up to with the breathing, which means I have educated them too!!

So thanks to yoga and breathwork I got to enjoy the fun of the fair again after umpteen years.