Unfolding plans 94 – exciting times in the North East

London is a hot place when the sun shines.  On Wednesday it got well over thirty degrees.  I think I was the only one in the capital to be wearing a jacket and tie but standards have to be kept.  I had caught the train down (yes not up) to present at a conference on … Continue reading Unfolding plans 94 – exciting times in the North East

Unfolding plans 93 – postcards from the edge

Sales of postcards are going up, or coming down.  It depends upon where you get your information from.  Some publications suggest that people still like to send them as pastiches of their time away on holiday as they lend a more personal touch to their correspondence with friends and family.  Others however claim that they … Continue reading Unfolding plans 93 – postcards from the edge

Unfolding plans 92 – what was I doing in Sunderland?

So what was I doing in Sunderland?  You ask me?  You know that I have an interest in regional technology and such issues as collaboration across the differing authorities so when Sunderland City Council announced that they were planning a market engagement event for a technology partner then I had to wangle a ticket. (Actually … Continue reading Unfolding plans 92 – what was I doing in Sunderland?

Unfolding plans 91 – What did Steven Kelly ever do for me?

What did Steven Kelly ever do for me?  I’d come across Steven before but never heard him speak until Dynamo15.  He was the Key Note speaker in his role as the Chief Executive Officer of Sage, the North East’s only FTSE100 company.  I loved what he said.  He was really inspirational and came across as … Continue reading Unfolding plans 91 – What did Steven Kelly ever do for me?

Unfolding plans 87 – I’m an early adopter

I'm an early adopter.  My twitter handle is @philjackman with no underscores or numbers.  I didn't have to bastardise my name or think of some clever pseudonym.  I'm just me.  I’ve also kept my phil_jackman@hotmail.com address for the same reason and I’m happy with my WordPress account philjackman.  They’re easy to remember and easy to … Continue reading Unfolding plans 87 – I’m an early adopter

Unfolding plans 83 – going al fresco

Summer is here at last, at least I think it is as I’ve been away for a week.  Judging by the length of the grass when I got back the weather seems to have been OK.  Ah summertime, when the living is easy.  The hazy summer days make me hark back to when I was … Continue reading Unfolding plans 83 – going al fresco

Unfolding plans 82 – live satellite feed

A year or so ago the North East ICT Managers group put on a very successful security event.  It really changed the relationship that we had with central government over the Public Service Network in a good way.  This year we’ve done something similar under the banner of ‘Enabling safe business’.  I would normally chair … Continue reading Unfolding plans 82 – live satellite feed

Unfolding plans 81 – filling a presentation

How many words do I need to fill a presentation?  I’ve never really thought about it before now.  Normally I would get up to do a presentation and just get on with it.  I know I speak too quickly though.  I have been told before.  It’s a nervous thing.  It’s as if I want to … Continue reading Unfolding plans 81 – filling a presentation

Unfolding plans 80 – green shoots?

There was a real contrast between two of the meetings that I attended yesterday.  At the ICT Services management meeting in the morning we had a dozen or so attendees.  Each of them had a laptop or tablet with them and they were being used to take notes and share information throughout the meeting.  In … Continue reading Unfolding plans 80 – green shoots?

Unfolding plans 79 – the Independent Chapel

Chapel Street runs from West to East across the top of Manchester.  It is on the boundary between the city to the south and Salford to the north.  I think it might be in Salford, which is a city in itself.  I don’t know if it is eponymous but there is a chapel within the … Continue reading Unfolding plans 79 – the Independent Chapel