A year of work in progress – day 174

Day 174 – 14 October 2014 Today was supposed to be another strike day. It got called off, or rather postponed, at the last minute. Apparently there is a proposal on the table that is to be considered. Because of this I’d a few things in my diary that didn’t really make sense, things that … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 174

A year of work in progress – day 173

Day 173 – 13 October 2014 When you are reading a book there are three important parts, the first one hundred pages, the middle and the last one hundred pages. In the beginning you’re excited. You’re getting to know the characters and the plot is starting to reveal itself. The middle however is like rowing … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 173

A year of work in progress – day 171

Day 171 – 9 October 2014 Yesterday’s ICT Awareness Day wasn’t the rip-roaring success that I’d hoped for but it was far from a disaster.   We had a fair number of people come through and some nice compliments. Bob said to me that if we can influence even a small number of people then it … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 171

A year of work in progress – day 170

Day 170 – 8 October 2014 Are you enjoying Customer Service Week?   Today was another big day for us as we held an ICT Awareness Day in the Durham Room in County Hall. We kept the Senior Leadership Team meeting to a couple of hours to make ourselves available for the event but having a … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 170

A year of work in progress – day 169

Day 169 – 7 October 2014 Thankfully the mist had lifted as I made my way down from the station, across Milburngate Bridge and up towards the Gala Theatre. It’s an odd thing but the Gala has been the topic of so many conversations in my time at Durham yet I have never been there. … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 169

A year of work in progress – day 167

Day 167 – 3 October 2014 Have you seen the movie Parenthood? There’s a scene where Gil and Karen Buckman, played by Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen, are talking about the way their lives are and Gil says how he hates messy. Just then Grandma comes in and says: “You know, when I was young, … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 167

A year of work in progress – day 166

Day 166 – 2 October 2014 Bob is someone I have mentioned a few times. He is the Managing Director of Accenture here in the North East and is passionate about skills and development. He’s worth taking to if you can get a moment with him but he is a busy man. I met Bob … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 166

A year of work in progress – day 164

Day 164 – 30 September 2014 The day of the restructure announcement was never going to be a good one. Getting to this point has taken an enormous amount of effort, not by me I hasten to add but by my team. There were some last minute things to sort as always, but it was … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 164

A year of work in progress – day 163

Day 163 – 29 September 2014 The autumn equinox has been and gone. There is more dark than light in the world in so many ways. We’re slipping into winter and that can only mean one thing, it is time to change into my winter wardrobe. Out go the short sleeves, light fabrics and enlivening … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 163

A year of work in progress – day 162

Day 162 – 26 September 2014 Today was ‘European Day of Languages’, or ‘Eŭropa Tago de Lingvoj’ as they say in Esperanto, a language I toyed with in my youth in a desperate attempt to become multi-lingual. I suppose it appealed to my idealistic view of a Europe united under a set of common values … Continue reading A year of work in progress – day 162