I’ve had my personal development plan meeting this week. You may know it as an appraisal. Now I talk with my boss about performance and objectives all of the time but my PDP allows a once a year formal discussion about how well we are doing. It’s a two way street. As with all processes … Continue reading Personal development plan
It’s all Dutch to me
The CD disappeared into the slot in the dashboard and some unknown yet familiar sounding music emanated from the speakers. A woman’s voice with just the faintest hint of an accent welcomed me to ‘Learn Dutch in 3 months’. Her name was Leif. This is it, the start of my latest learning venture. The task … Continue reading It’s all Dutch to me
Keep rowing
I’ve been reading a book of late called ‘The oarsome adventures of a fat boy rower’ by Kevin Biggar. It was leant to me by Leah from OnBrand Partners. It’s about how he went from being a couch potato (I can empathise) to winning an Atlantic rowing race. It’s a great tale of commitment, team … Continue reading Keep rowing
Sitting, waiting
His eye caught mine. I was sitting down, he was standing. The slightest movement in the corner of his mouth gave away his thoughts and I lowered my gaze in sympathy. Everything about him exuded cleanliness. His collar, in lilac shades at the neck of his powder blue jumper, his fine wool trousers that allowed … Continue reading Sitting, waiting
Blasted by sound waves
Click, click, click went the machine. Twice a second. It was a click like the sound of a jumping spark born of Van der Graaf generator. It was a click like the sound of clackers just as they are being wound up for a full wrist wrecking session. It was a new experience for me. … Continue reading Blasted by sound waves
Sock drawer
My sock drawer says a lot about me unfortunately. It also says a lot about the way life is. It is a microcosm of how order changes into chaos and how entropy always increases. It’s that second law of thermodynamics all over again which states that (forgive me for I paraphrase) ‘In any closed system … Continue reading Sock drawer
What learning a language can teach you
I’ve been inspired by a blog I read today. It was by Benny the Irish polyglot who is convinced that anyone can learn a foreign language and be fluent in three months. I came across his site when I got the urge to learn Dutch for some reason, perhaps with a view to going on … Continue reading What learning a language can teach you
If I could be anyone
If I could be anyone I wanted, what kind of person would I choose to be, an entrepreneur, an artist, a dancer or an engine driver perhaps? What if it came true and I had the flair for invention and making money? What if I could paint beautiful pictures, plié or drive the 8:12 from … Continue reading If I could be anyone
A modern deprivation
We were making our way back to the car having spent the last few hours in the hospital when we were approached by a young man. He was slightly unkempt and had passed by us a couple of times in an obvious hurry as if he was looking for something. By his appearance, if asked, … Continue reading A modern deprivation
Intelligent design
I have either been put together over the millennia through countless trials and errors, mistakes and opportunities or I have been created at the hand of some intelligent designer. I have either navigated a successful evolutionary path to arrive where I am today ever since I slid out of the primordial ooze or what I … Continue reading Intelligent design
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 