Matt Hancock, the Heath Secretary is proud of the NHS’s latest app. It is designed to help patients find the accident and emergency department with the shortest waiting time. He claims that the app will be’ good for patients, good for clinicians’. It won’t work for two reasons, firstly it is tackling the wrong problem … Continue reading A&E App
Teapot Lid
I can’t be an expert in everything. In fact I’m not sure I am an expert in anything other than perhaps helping people to take a step back from their issues and helping them to put forward a solution. At least that is what I like to do and I am convinced that people are … Continue reading Teapot Lid
Who are you going to vote for?
I’ve seen this a lot lately, especially on social media. With all the furore about a possible upcoming general or european election people are asking the question ‘Who are you going to vote for?’ Quite often this is done by a poll and, due to the limitations of the software, not all possible parties are … Continue reading Who are you going to vote for?
An act of God
I’m watching the news. There are pictures of flames licking the sky above Paris. The roof of Notre Dame is on fire with great swirling vortices, yellow and orange leaping from the building. On the television, what seems like a single stream of water pathetically tries to douse the flames and save this iconic French … Continue reading An act of God
By the Wear
An early warm spring day, a rare lunch, Sitting on a bench overlooking the river. People pass by. A young boy shouts out 'are you having a good time?' I hold my thumb up to him and he laughs with his friends. Somehow the food tastes nicer. A gull cries as the river curls in … Continue reading By the Wear
Indicative votes
I’m looking forward to Brexit the movie. It will either be a three part epic directed by Peter Jackson, showing the struggle of good against evil, or a never ending series on Netflix that eventually peters away as public interest drops off, perhaps a bit like Lost or Prison Break if you remember either of … Continue reading Indicative votes
Making tax taxable
The Government issued the VAT Notice 700/22: Making Tax Digital for VAT back in March 2019. ‘Making Tax Digital for VAT requires VAT registered businesses with taxable turnover above the VAT registration threshold to keep records in digital form and file their VAT Returns using software. It is increasingly common for business records and accounts … Continue reading Making tax taxable
50:50 Future
I like getting involved in new things. It might be my fickleness as a Gemini or my magpie like approach to life but there is always something else interesting to have a go at. Lots of people ask me if I can help out and my default position is yes, if I can spare the … Continue reading 50:50 Future
North of Tyne Mayor
An open letter to all North of Tyne mayoral candidates for the upcoming election. Dear prospective Mayor, I wish you every success in your venture and have noted a few comments which you may find useful going forward, either in your campaign or once you are in office. First the negative stuff: The North of … Continue reading North of Tyne Mayor
Something always happens when I present
I deliver a lot of presentations. Even now that I have left more formal employment they are something I get involved in. My work with the Dynamo cyber cluster, in particular, has lead to a rich vein of opportunity to stand on stage and spout my stuff. I have always said that I am not … Continue reading Something always happens when I present
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 