Day 159 – 18 September 2014
I over-scored yesterday. Last night’s visit to the Teesdale Action Partnership put the seal on an already difficult day. I lost my composure and responded badly to some of the questions. I find it very hard to separate some of the things I do from who I am. I take things personally and so suffer any criticism of process as a personal slight. Is it a weakness or strength? It was not my finest hour.
The journey back through the fog didn’t help, nor did the fact that I was locked out of Tanfield car park by the time I got back but then I should have expected it. Spending time in the car did give me the chance to listen to a programme on Radio 4 about immortality and mans’ pursuit of decreasing mortality often at the expense of increased morbidity. One of the interviewees said that eternal life would be like having an everlasting ice cream. You would only be able to lick it so many times before you threw it away. The show suited my mood.
Today was another day, one dominated by presentations. We have to do seven now to accommodate the increased numbers and type of work at Meadowfield but I started back at Tanfield where I was able to collect may beleaguered car.
I had two there which were well attended and we had an interesting range of subjects to cover: ServCheck (again); what we are doing for customer service week; Digital Durham uptake; progress with Durham and Northumberland; as well as the usual people stuff but I think everyone was preoccupied by the upcoming reorganisation.
(A quick update on ServCheck, women gave higher scores than men on average and older people scored more highly than the young.)
Between the two sites I stopped off in Stanley High Street to meet with Daniel, the local Area Action Partnership coordinator. I’ve been going to Stanley AAP for many years now but have never felt as if I had contributed as much as I should. I would attend the meetings and tick of the agenda items and, apart from an odd update on Digital Durham, that would be it. We talked about a few things that perhaps I could get involved in, such as a regular short update on what is happening within the council and I floated an idea about using digital to get people into the town centre which could be part of their wider destination development plan.
I tweeted about Stanley being the WiFi town of the north and got a little interest. I must talk to Tony about it in the morning as ‘digital town centres’ is one of his babies.
In the afternoon I did another two presentations at Meadowfield. I was introduced to our latest apprentices. Between them they have managed to halve the average age of the Health and Safety Services team.
Learning points for today: Tanfield car park has a barrier (I found that out last night); Stanley market is thriving; not everything is doom and gloom and; I’m only human.
Today’s enjoyment rating 6/10 – A much better day but I’ve taken two off for yesterday.
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 