Day 28 – 11 February 2014 Ah well. I didn’t win. Newcastle and Bucks did so at least something came to the region. I got down to the last six out of fifty seven bids and I made a couple of useful contacts, one from the Department for Communities and Local Government and one form … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 28
A year of work in progress – day 27
Day 27 – 10 February 2014 Today I was in Slough, at O2’s offices. I’d entered a competition to win some help from The Local Government Digital Fund. I hadn’t expected to get anywhere but got shortlisted into the last six and was asked to present my thoughts at a Dragon’s Den style event. I … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 27
A year of work in progress – day 26
Day 26 – 7 February 2014 Today was all about Building Schools for the Future or BSF to use its initials. The brain child of Tony Blair’s government, BSF was designed as an investment programme to improve the lot of secondary schools across the country. Apparently politicians from all English political parties were supportive of … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 26
A year of work in progress – day 25
Day 25 – 6 February 2014 Last night wasn’t bad at all I’m pleased to say. There were no flaming torches or pitch forks, just a small group of people who are (and have been for some time) interested in getting broadband into Teesdale. Getting provision into the further flung parts of the County was … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 25
A year of work in progress – day 23
Day 23 – 4 February 2014 An email that came in late in the afternoon yesterday has unsettled me. We let a customer down badly. I set out this year to enjoy every day at work which doesn’t mean that I can’t get angry or upset from time to time. I just need to work … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 23
A year of work in progress – day 22
Day 22 – 3 February 2014 Another month starts and I have a couple more presentations. Meadowfield first and then Seaham which means I have to drive down past Durham and then back across to the East. This doesn’t make sense except that the engineers who work in the schools find it very difficult to … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 22
A year of work in progress – day 21
Day 21 – 31 January 2014 Ah well, that’s it over, the longest month of the year. I’ve made it to payday. It seems like a long time as it was 42 days ago that payroll last graced my bank account. I know it shouldn’t make a difference but January is dark and busy and … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 21
A year of work in progress – day 20
Day 20 – 30 January 2014 A whole day in County Hall and so I decided to get the train in. I can only do this if I don’t have to be somewhere else and don’t have to be too early or late. It was a welcome break from the car park on the A1 … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 20
A year of work in progress – day 19
Day 19 – 29 January 2014 It is easier to get from where I live to Seaham through the Tyne Tunnel and I pretend to myself that this makes a welcome change from my normal daily commute. I just get stuck in different places. An accident at Moor Farm roundabout didn’t help. Our offices there … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 19
A year of work in progress – day 18
Day 18 – 28 January 2014When I worked for Spicers, Europe’s largest distributor of office products, I would spend a lot of time in continental Europe and I remember that a French colleague of mine would always struggle with the English phrase ‘every other’. I’m not sure it translated well. I thought of him this … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 18