What’s it like with this country? A bit of weather and the transport system goes to hell. This time it’s the wind. It’s not strong enough to blow my hat off but it’s got the power to cause a delay to every single train running across the north of the country. Leaves on the line, … Continue reading A bit of weather!
Is work the worst place to work?
Here I am sitting at home working. I’m parked at the kitchen table looking out into the garden with my laptop open in front of me. I’m connected securely to the work’s network and I’m happily and productively beavering away. The sun is just starting to rise. I’ve halved my inbox, done most of the … Continue reading Is work the worst place to work?
Incentive to come together
It has long been believed that larger organisations are more efficient than smaller ones, or at least have greater capacity for efficiency. This can certainly be proven in areas such as use of assets, retention of skills, reduction on overhead etc. but whether such efficiencies lead to greater effectiveness is another story, one for another … Continue reading Incentive to come together
The best job I never had
Every year I get caught up in the phenomenon that is Strictly Come Dancing. I don’t know why because I don’t normally like those kind of shows and I’m not normally taken in by the cult of celebrity. Everything on television seems to be a competition these days with X Factor, Great British Bake Off … Continue reading The best job I never had
All problems can be solved from an armchair
How annoying is it? You’re breaking your back working away on some intractable problem when along comes some armchair critic to tell you where you’ve been going wrong. Very is the answer. They have absolutely no concept of the issues that you’re facing, the hassle that you are under and the multiple directions in which … Continue reading All problems can be solved from an armchair
Learning to play
In our doctors’ surgery, a place I’ve had the dubious pleasure of visiting many times over the last few weeks, there is a small wooden box that sits in the waiting room. It is about a metre cubed and is made of a white wood like birch or pine as if it was made by … Continue reading Learning to play
Road rage
What is it about us, or at least some of us that when we get inside our cars all common courtesy seems to fly out of the window? When we’re walking down the street and somebody wants to come in front of us we would normally stop and say ‘after you’. We might even proffer … Continue reading Road rage
Colchester General Hospital targets improvement
Once again another hospital finds itself in the news because of its target driven culture. This time it is Colchester General Hospital and follows an inspection by the Care Quality Commission which found inaccuracies in recorded cancer waiting time data at the hospital. The manipulation of data to give the impression that targets were being … Continue reading Colchester General Hospital targets improvement
Wearing the poppy
When I was much younger, in my teens and early twenties I was adamant that I would not where a poppy around Armistice Day but now that I have become older it has become a more and more important symbol for me. I used to feel that the poppy somehow glorified war, especially the ‘Great … Continue reading Wearing the poppy
Buy more – pay more
The system of commerce that we operate within has the underlying principle that if you buy more then you should pay less. Buy two get one free. 33% extra free. Bulk-buy discounts available. The thinking is that the more that is shipped then the lower the distribution cost, the lower the associated overhead and the … Continue reading Buy more – pay more
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 