The other day I said I would meet Jenny at Comeleon House in Tanfield. She wanted to come and thank one of my team for some design work they had done on the Council Plan. It was a very nice touch and hugely appreciated. Maxine came as well. I took the opportunity to show them … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Puce #AtoZchallenge
Twenty six days of colour – Olive #AtoZchallenge
There is a small olive tree in our back garden. I bought it as a reminder of our trips to southern Europe. It was exotic and I think it cost only fifteen pounds. Last year I re-potted it to give it a bit more room; I gave it some fresh soil and pinched out some … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Olive #AtoZchallenge
Twenty six days of colour – Magnolia #AtoZchallenge
Some colours are not what they set out to portray. Magnolia, for me, is one of them. The blossom on the tree is magnificent, with subtle shades of cream and romantic pink tinges. In the springtime, if that ever comes to the North East of England this year, the Magnolia in bloom is a sight … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Magnolia #AtoZchallenge
Twenty six days of colour – Lavender and Lawn Green #AtoZchallenge
You get two colours for the price of one today, lavender and lawn green. These are the colours of the Suffragette Movement. Emily Davis was born in my home town. She died trying to put a sash over the head of the king’s horse. I once went to an exhibition in the town hall which … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Lavender and Lawn Green #AtoZchallenge
Twenty six days of colour – Kelly Green #AtoZchallenge
You know there aren’t that many colours really. When I was in the motor trade we used to talk about millions of colours for cars. Tahiti blue and Sahara beige are ones I remember. I’m showing my age now. Most of them were really just shades of colour and of course there were a lot … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Kelly Green #AtoZchallenge
Twenty six days of colour – Jade #AtoZchallenge
It is hard not to become jaded at times working in a local authority. The last few years of austerity have made things harder than we would like. I think that was the point. There is also a long held public belief that what we do is easy. Some, however, is tortuous. And then there … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Jade #AtoZchallenge
Twenty six days of colour – Ivory #AtoZchallenge
Not all ivory towers are ivory. Not everyone that sits in an ivory coloured building, tower or not, lives in a state of privileged seclusion or separation from the facts and practicalities of the real world. Clearly, ivory towers come in all sorts of colours. County Hall may be seen as an ivory tower but … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Ivory #AtoZchallenge
Twenty six days of colour – Gamboge #AtoZchallenge
The colour of Neil’s sofa had merged into the colour of the wall behind. My chart said gamboge, an orange to brown gum resin from south-east Asian trees of the Saint-John's-wort family. It is used as a yellow pigment and cathartic. I always think of Neil as cathartic. I was talking to him on Skype. … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Gamboge #AtoZchallenge
Twenty six days of colour – Firebrick Red #AtoZchallnge
Security is such a big issue for us – for all of us. Getting the balance right between being able to operate and staying safe is an ongoing trick. It is a moveable feast. There are some bad people out there in cyber-land. Security is everyone’s responsibility. That is why I have chosen firebrick red. … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Firebrick Red #AtoZchallnge
Twenty six days of colour – Eggplant #AtoZchallenge
These have been interesting times in the public sector. Money has been very tight. They have called it austerity, a period of eight years of cuts, perhaps longer. My budget is over forty per cent smaller than five years ago. I’ve lost nearly half the people who worked for me and still we have some … Continue reading Twenty six days of colour – Eggplant #AtoZchallenge
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 