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 24

Day 24 – 5 February 2014 On the way to Newcastle yesterday I was listening to a play on Radio 4.  They have some very good stuff on and it always amazes me how the radio manages to paint pictures with words.  The play was called Test Case and was about a man who was … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 24

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 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

A year of work in progress – day 16

Day 16 – 24 January 2014 Apart from the occasional café the shop windows were still dark as I made my way across the old Town Square in Durham.  I pulled up the collar of my coat.  Even the brisk walk down from the station wasn’t enough to beat back the freezing air that bit … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 16

Big Data

We already have the answers to many of the big issues that we are facing.  They are hidden within the datasets that we have.  They are stored away on servers, databases, PCs and filing cabinets just waiting to be discovered.  There are patterns amongst the data that can lead us to new ways of providing … Continue reading Big Data

A year of work in progress – day 15

Day 15 – 22 January 2014 There are two difficulties in writing a daily blog:  Finding the time and enthusiasm to keep it going and; Making sure you don’t repeat yourself.  There is a third, to keep it interesting but that may be a step too far.  Whilst there is always something new going on … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 15

A year of work in progress – day 14

Day 14 – 21 January 2014 What is it about having a beard the makes people think they can poke fun at you?  I’ve suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous beard insults already including: your photo must have been taken when you were much younger; any longer and it would look weird and; you … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 14