Ten eventful, exciting years ago a Scottish friend visited and stayed with us in Albany, Western Australia. At the time I was a single parent bringing up two gorgeous children, a boy and a girl aged seven and four. They still are gorgeous! John was whispering to my son in the kitchen. They were conspiring together.

I went out for a couple of hours and John stayed with the children, presumably teaching them some new card tricks that he had recently mastered. John is a genius at many things. I came back and had a piece of paper thrust into my hand, with a list of 150 numbered items scribbled on it. Now watch this John grinned at me. Go on Gareth, remember that list. Several minutes later I had gone long past being stunned and amazed. My world had tilted. Gareth had breathlessly reeled off the entire list without looking at it or faltering. And it wasnt a simple list either. The Royal Scots Dragoon Pipe Band was on there, an IBM 630 Computer and several other random items he would never have heard of before. Then, if that wasnt enough, John smiled again at me and asked Gareth Whats one before Lamp?

Gareth responded correctly and immediately. What is three after sandpit? Again an immediate correct answer. He did this 20 times. I suddenly had a genius for a son, the evidence was irrefutable, but there seemed to be some kind of a joke happening that I wasnt privy to. They kept grinning at each other and laughing. Gareth thought the whole thing was hilarious. Now you do it John said.

I knew this wasnt possible, but I played along. After 15 minutes of trying to force some of this list into my confused brain he took the list away and told me to remember it.

I hardly remembered anything, and very little of what I did remember was in any kind of order. Gareth had reeled the list off IN ORDER, and IN REVERSE, and as an encore had been able to remember what item went where on the list. 160 of them. He was seven years old. What the hell was going on? Fortunately, as an act of supreme kindness, Gareth and John let me into the secret, which has led to 10 years of travelling, teaching and creating which hasnt only been a ton of fun for me, but I know it has changed many lives.

In ten years, I havent had one person who cant do what Gareth did that day, and so much more. I am forever in John and Gareths debt for showing me how they had mastered their memory like this, and for sharing it with me to develop further.

Having a great memory doesnt make you a genius, neither does it force learning. After all, you can remember information without actually understanding any of it.

However, where many are missing the point is that when someone can DO this, remember any amount of information given to them and correctly repeat it with 100% accuracy, not only does this instil great self confidence it also creates a real interest for the subject as well. And, taking school or university work as an example, it leaves room for and gives time to students to analyse the subject and concentrate on the wording of answers during tests and exams, without having to worry about whether the information in their head is retrievable or not.

We all have hobbies and work that we love, and remembering facts and figures is easy. We also have things in our lives that we loathe but HAVE to remember regardless. Maybe a subject at school, at Uni, at work, even shopping lists and things to do during a busy day/week/month. What would it be like to remember everything you needed to remember, and have 100% recall? If I could guarantee this, what would it be worth to you? The beauty of this is that it is easy to do and, the more you practice it, the easier and even more fun it gets.

If you are a bit of a dreamer as well, so much the better. I go into classrooms and ask Who loves to daydream? Interestingly nearly all the hands go up, theres a groan from the class and the teacher gives each and everyone of them a knowing look. I go Great! Then youre are going to be BRILLIANT at this. It is the first time theyve been praised for being a daydreamer and they cant believe it.

Already the teacher is giving me suspicious looks from behind the desk. By the end of the class, the same teacher has their mouth wide open in amazement. Ever time. I love what I do. And, I want to share it with as many people as possible. The whole world should be able to do this, but the whole world cant. It should be taught from year 1 at primary schools, but it isnt.

Being a childrens writer as well and having several years experience in spontaneously bursting into classrooms without a plan and improvising my way through lessons has given me skills and methods I could never have learned from any book. Honestly, I often have no idea what will happen in a classroom, but I do use a specialist set of skills and concepts that always work, and between those I weave a workshop, driven largely by the children or adults in the group.

There are many memory courses and books out there, some are better than others. Tony Buzan is without doubt the guru. However, how often do we buy a book with brilliant information in it, giving us step by step instructions, and by the end of it were still no nearer the goal we set ourselves?

In classrooms I combine memory techniques, creative writing skills and tricks, theatre sports warm ups and a lifetime of self-esteem and confidence builders and mould it all into one course. I can and do go everywhere doing this, and enjoy every moment of it, so if you would like more information and costs, send me an e mail to: robddaniel@yahoo.com Alternatively, I am putting an online course together that is guaranteed to have you doing what you never dreamed possible. Bookmark the website shown below and stay in touch.

This is how our website was born, and although its very new it has already attracted some inspiring people to our cause. Making education fun is what were about, inside of making a fundamental, positive difference to the lives of young people everywhere. www.chocmint.ws is created by the childrens authors and illustrators themselves, collaborating and sharing ideas to create stories children love.

We are uploading new books to give away and sell, and there is a small group of like minded people you can join too. And, a place for children to meet and share ideas, with their parents closely watching on. We encourage young writers and illustrators to contact us and we will work with them on their ideas and help turn them into quality, fully illustrated, turn the page e books.

We have working with us the most extraordinary life coach Ive ever met. She doesnt need to work on the phone with you, if you prefer everything can be done through e mail. In fact, if something isnt working quite how youd like it to, e mail me at: robddaniel@yahoo.com and I will pass your comments or questions onto her. She is exceptionally busy with life, but has offered a FREE first consultation to address whatever pressing issue about your life you need looking at. No commitment is needed by you for further sessions if you dont want to, this is more of a gift to see if you like. All we ask is that you are coach-able and remain open to new ideas and concepts about what your life may be about. Thank you for reading, and have an inspired life! http://www.chocmint.ws