There has been a lot in the news recently about British Jobs for British people . It seems that there is a rising wave of so called nationalism and protectionism. It is easy politics and panders to the belief that somehow we need to look after our needs first. It is a seductive argument. It … Continue reading British Jobs
The wedding planner
I can talk about it now. The wedding that occupied so much of my time last year has come and gone. It has been a year. The months of planning and running around have stopped and the nightmares of impending doom and disaster are gradually fading. For some odd reason they happened even more after … Continue reading The wedding planner
Trofast
Last month I described how to use Ikea instructions as a way to understand a process. This week I gave it a go in a proper workshop. I must admit to having some trepidation as to whether the metaphor would work but in the end it did. It got the group into a way of … Continue reading Trofast
The challenge of CyberFest
For the last few nights, despite the unusual, and for me unbearable heat, I have been waking up in a cold sweat. It’s all Graham’s fault. Some months ago I agreed to help Dynamo develop a cyber work stream across the region. The aim was to position the North East of England as a great … Continue reading The challenge of CyberFest
Beetles
If anyone landed from Mars over the last week or so, they would think that where I live has constant wall to wall sunshine and is populated not only with humans but with millions of little black beetles. A normal British summer is two sunny days and a thunderstorm but this year we are having … Continue reading Beetles
North East Collaboration
How times have changed. For the first time ever, I found myself on a female only panel. Did it feel odd? No, not really as apart from Vicki who I had only spoken with on the phone I knew all of the other panelists. The panel had nothing to do with gender anyway, yet it … Continue reading North East Collaboration
Cleaning out the garage
I don’t consider myself to be a hoarder, in fact quite the opposite. When I left my job at Durham I simply closed the lid of my laptop and walked away. Apart from some tidying of my electronic files there was nothing to take. My physical footprint was almost non-existent. I have had to reassess … Continue reading Cleaning out the garage
Transport modelling
There are some conversations which make my head hurt, where I struggle to keep up with what is being said. When the people I am with are talking I recognise some of the words but can’t picture the concepts in my head. I am the kind of person that thinks in metaphors and if I … Continue reading Transport modelling
Types of money
I used to think money was a simple thing. You got it out of the bank and it either jangled in your pocket or sat snuggly in your wallet until it became time to spend it. Money had a value which could be swapped for whatever could take your fancy. Someone once said to me … Continue reading Types of money
Adjusting the volume
A trip to the garden centre is not normally a technical experience, there are more carbon based lifeforms to be found there than silicon ones. I guess you go there to get away from the hurly-burly and enjoy the peace and quiet that nature brings yet they are still places where technology can be applied. … Continue reading Adjusting the volume
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 