LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 15: UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt leaves Downing Street with the despatch box to present his spring budget to parliament on March 15, 2023 in London, England. Highlights of the 2023 budget are an increase in the tax-free allowance for pensions which the Chancellor hopes will stem the number of people taking … Continue reading The working week
Our own prejudices
Image thanks to Thebigindianpicture. I’ve just finished Zoe Heller’s book ‘Notes on a scandal.’ It was another Lit and Phil find. I enjoyed it very much even though the subject is a bit difficult. Without giving too much away it tells the tale of a relationship between a female teacher and a male pupil. It … Continue reading Our own prejudices
Oh dear, Aunty!
I have heard it said that if the people on the left and on the right are complaining about the BBC then it must be doing its job right. I wish it were so but the latest incident seems to have raised the bile of the right leaning section of the public far more than … Continue reading Oh dear, Aunty!
Sitting opposite
Image thanks to Stratasan.com I’m in the middle of some negotiations. To be fair I am actually at the start. I won’t say what it is about as they are ongoing and wouldn’t want to jeopardise the outcome. That’s the way of negotiations, they are best done out of the glare of the public eye, … Continue reading Sitting opposite
Boat spotting
Image thanks to Small Boats Monthly Last week I was extolling the efforts of the Prime Minister with his work on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Finally it seems we can put to bed the prospect of this country deliberately setting out to break a signed treaty. My euphoria didn't last long nor did Sunak's outbreak … Continue reading Boat spotting
AI will eat itself
Image thanks to unwindai-substack You can’t deny technology. It happens all the time. Our lives are constantly changing on the back of it. Such is the way of humanity ever since we lifted that first flint. The only difference between then and now, a gap of perhaps 600,000 years, is the pace of change. Eras … Continue reading AI will eat itself
That protocol
Image thanks to podtail A huge ‘hats off’ to Sunak. Yes, you read that right. Whilst we should never have been here in the first place, the renegotiation of the Northern Ireland Protocol is welcome news. It signals the start of a more mature relationship with the EU, where each side appears to have come … Continue reading That protocol
Global Technology Innovation Contest
I was honoured to be asked to be one of the judges at Accenture’s Europe Innovate for Talent final last week. To be honest I was surprised to get the invitation and found myself in illustrious company with a strong dose of imposter syndrome. Why, I feel an imposter I am never sure. Like any … Continue reading Global Technology Innovation Contest
It had to happen
For over eleven years now I have been writing this blog. I started with five days a week and, when I semi-retired, went down to three times to reflect the number of days I was working. Ever since the first time that someone read my blog, which wasn’t until a week or so after I … Continue reading It had to happen
Small boats
No small boats here. Simon Clarke, the MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, tweeted ‘Small boats are THE issue in my surgeries and on the doors. We have to do whatever it takes to end what most northern voters at least think is an insult to our ability to police our borders, and a … Continue reading Small boats