Why I should go to the Cyber 101 Boot Camp

You thought #CyberFest was all over, didn’t you? Well at least for this year, yet I promised you eleven events and the eagle eyed among you will know that we only had ten events in September. The final event, which was originally supposed to be held during September, is a Cyber 101 Boot Camp. For … Continue reading Why I should go to the Cyber 101 Boot Camp

Noise cancelling

When you see someone wearing headphones and tapping away at a laptop it means that they don’t want to be disturbed. The wearers are trying to ignore the world and grab a bit of peace. Not everyone recognises the signs however and insist on trying to engage the person in conversation. If you are one … Continue reading Noise cancelling

I want to pay more tax

A couple of things happened this week to make me think about taxation. It could have been serendipity. The first was a visit to my accountant and the second was that I finished reading the book ‘Utopia for Realists’ by Rutger Bregman. I was at my accountant (Tynerede in Bellingham) to sign off on my … Continue reading I want to pay more tax

Digital for Growth

Last week’s North East Local Enterprise Partnership launch of the digital strategy was a good event. The meeting space at Proto was packed, with standing room only for many of the great and good in the North East’s digital sector, that is if digital is a sector. As with many of these events there were … Continue reading Digital for Growth

On a bus

Now I don’t often get a bus, not that I have anything against them, they just tend not to be as convenient as other forms of transport. I use the train more. This week though I found myself on one. I had gone in to Newcastle by train only to find that a meeting had … Continue reading On a bus

Respect the Referendum

So many times people have asked me the same question when talking about Brexit, ‘Do you not respect the referendum?’ My position is clear when it comes to whether we should leave the union or not though it is severely challenged by such a question. Yes, I respect it as a referendum though I think … Continue reading Respect the Referendum

Form filling

I’m not sure if I will ever get to do this again but I have been beavering away trying to fill in a European Regional Development Fund form. If you have ever been involved in such a thing then you will understand the complexity and you have my sympathy. If you haven’t then you have … Continue reading Form filling

End of the road

I like reading Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole books. I know they’re not real and the story lines are, at times, too gruesome and stretch the bounds of my imagination but I find myself rushing through the pages towards the end through excitement. Nesbo truly is a great writer.  I’m reading ‘The Thirst’, for the second … Continue reading End of the road

Divisive language

The language of politics is becoming more divisive. Soundbites fall like stones in a pond and the ripples spread around the world at the speed of social media. It seems the more outlandish and provocative, the more likely they are to be taken up, liked, retweeted and shared. Every phrase is dissected by the media … Continue reading Divisive language