It’s early March but the sun is out and the thermometer is saying thirteen degrees. This can only mean one thing, summer has arrived in North East England. This is as good as it’s going to get. The tightly knotted buds on the Hydrangea are starting to unravel, the Cherry blossom is frosting the trees … Continue reading Early summer
Giving blood
I don’t have a rare type of blood but it is very useful, or so I’m told and so today I trooped off to give another pint at my local community centre. There was a time when you only had to crawl in off the street for them to take your blood but now they … Continue reading Giving blood
Had a good day?
When you get home at night your partner will probably greet you with a ‘Hello, have you had a good day?’ and, no doubt, without thinking you’ll reply with ‘Yes thanks, how about you?’, a short greeting which fills the gap between entering the house and engaging in further conversation. I think it’s called phatic, … Continue reading Had a good day?
A world of litter
Imagine if we were able to take away all of the living things from around us, all of the organic things that surround us, all of the trees and the grass, all of the animals and humans, what would we be left with? Imagine if we were able to take away all of the man … Continue reading A world of litter
Huella de carbono
Es mi primera y quizás la ultima poesia en español. Huella de carbono Transparante pero oscuro, Conmigo todo el tiempo Como un dolor secreto. Intento cambiar la Vida, Andiando en la bicicletta, Es mejor por nuestro planeta, Mas actividad pero menos energía. Quizás porqué soy humano Hay una demanda de consumo. Sigo amaneza el mondo … Continue reading Huella de carbono
Customer training
Today we are trying out our new Customer First training programme as part of our membership of the Institute of Customer Service, prior to it being launched across the wider organisation. It’s all gone very well with a dozen or so willing volunteers getting involved, making positive noises about what is working and constructive comments … Continue reading Customer training
Queue counting
I’m a queue counter. I just can't help it. Whenever I find myself in a queue I need to count the number of people in front of me. It doesn't matter what kind of queue it is, at the airport, in a traffic jam, at the butchers, they are all the same. I don't know … Continue reading Queue counting
The yellow flag
Like a small yellow flower the little flag raised its head just above the side of the road. The passing cars did nothing to disturb its stiff and unfurled banner. Drivers would catch a glimpse of it out of the corners of their eyes as they sped past. Perhaps twenty centimetres tall, its head was … Continue reading The yellow flag
Living in another’s memory
We live our lives in the minds of others, in their memories, in their impressions and in their perceptions. Our lives are amalgams of the pieces of us that people have put together, inside their own heads, pieces of us that they have created. They have built their own sense of who we are, in … Continue reading Living in another’s memory
Reading for pleasure
Today is World Book Day. It is an enormous shame that even today there are hundreds of thousands of people who are still not able to read. In my own County I am told that as many as 30% of adults do not have a basic level of reading ability, they are functionally illiterate. I … Continue reading Reading for pleasure
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 