In the canteen at work there is a sign near the tills where the cutlery and condiments can be found. It says ‘Don’t take more tissues than you need.’ It is slightly menacing. There is a veiled threat that if you are caught with more tissues than is appropriate for your personal consumption something sinister … Continue reading Don’t take more tissues than you need
A year of work in progress – day 2
Day 2 – 3 January 2014 Boy was I tired. For the first time in ages it was the alarm that woke me. I’m not used to real work but I was back at Meadowfield this morning to help out in the stores once more. The schools come back on Monday and so we need … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 2
A year of work in progress – day 1
I’ve been inspired by Rachel Orr, A Head Teacher I have met and a blogger. On 1 January 2013 she set out to write a blog post every day for a year. You can find it here and it is some achievement: 365 days in my shoes. This year I’m going to try something similar, … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 1
The beauty of languages
I’ve always wanted to speak a foreign language, to speak one properly, fluently as if I was a native. I’ve been trying for a long time, ever since I was at school. I’ve dabbled in French, Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese and even Esperanto yet I’ve never given any of the more exotic tongues a try, such … Continue reading The beauty of languages
Cheap train travel
Have you seen the price of train tickets? No wonder the roads are so full. I had the notion in my mind that public transport was there so that the masses could have access to low cost transport. I thought that by sharing the journey with people I didn’t know it would mean that the … Continue reading Cheap train travel
Who put them in charge?
Who put celebrity chefs in charge? It seems that I can’t switch on the television now without seeing their beaming faces telling us what we should be eating. They’re chopping, they’re stirring, they’re mixing and they’re cooking. It’s cheap TV, easy to produce and easy to watch. It mixes characters with ingredients and has a … Continue reading Who put them in charge?
The fickle glitter ball
So, Abbey Clancy has been crowned Strictly Come Dancing champion for 2013. Congratulations. I must admit that my favourite was Natalie Gumede but I cannot complain, after all it has been a fantastic series. Both Clancy and Gumede have been near the top of the leader board throughout the last three months and both have … Continue reading The fickle glitter ball
Doing Lean
I’ve been fascinated by the concept of Lean ever since I read the book ‘The Machine that Changed the World’. Its description of the Toyota Production System and the dramatic effect that this had had upon automotive production was, and still is incredible. This must be at least fifteen years now and ever since I … Continue reading Doing Lean
Today we start a new job
It feels like the end of a journey, one that has lasted nigh on three years. It feels like we’ve been working to get meaningful broadband across the County forever. For the people who need it, the 170,000 on the wrong side of this digital divide, I’m sure it feels the same. And in many … Continue reading Today we start a new job
Change your password
There are some things in life that are such a hassle: filling the car up with petrol; taking a cheque to cash into the bank; and changing your passwords. These are not big things and thankfully you don’t have to do them that often but they get on your nerves. The yellow light that flashes … Continue reading Change your password
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 