These are the kind of questions that occupy my mind, especially if I have a quiet time. Recently I was perplexed by the thought that ‘if it is dark outside and you have the lights on and you open the curtains, will the room become darker? Will the light seep out of the window rather … Continue reading Do moles drown when it rains?
Go when the light turns green
I've finally worked out why there is a delay between a traffic light going green and the traffic starting to move. I don't mean when you are at the front of the line but rather when you are a dozen cars behind. Sometimes the light can change back to red again before you even move. … Continue reading Go when the light turns green
Lessons from La Vuelta
La Vuelta a España for me is the second most important of the three grand cycling tours of the year. I have been watching the Tour de France for many years and it has defined the start of the summer proper, while the Vuelta has come to mark the end of the season. I have … Continue reading Lessons from La Vuelta
The social office
When Steve and I were down in Leeds the other day, you may remember we made the trip to Data Mill North, we had the pleasure in visiting a company called Hebe Works. It is difficult to describe exactly what work they do, as it covers a wide range of items mainly in the graphics, … Continue reading The social office
Consequences
So many time have I heard it said that things don’t get done round here because there are no consequences. Nothing happens if nothing happens. Now I have always taken the word consequences to be mildly threatening. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get round it to as you will never be taken to task. … Continue reading Consequences
Unfolding plans 179 – A break down
I got the call that I had been dreading this morning. One of my daughters had broken down on the A1 at one of the busiest times of the day. She was all right. The car was off the road and she was safe. The police had been informed, the roadside assistance was on its … Continue reading Unfolding plans 179 – A break down
Unfolding plans 178 – Out of the toolbox
The topic for this round of presentations has been ‘Out of the Toolbox’. The title is an obvious reference to thinking outside the box but also attempts to draw us back to the work that we do. It was Saul Kaplan who said that we need to take our ideas off the white board and … Continue reading Unfolding plans 178 – Out of the toolbox
Unfolding plans 177 – North East ICT
At this week's North East ICT managers meeting we spent a lot of time talking about devolution. It is a topic that is exercising the minds of many of us in local government at the moment. It is the hot button issue. It was a good meeting. All of the seven councils in the soon-to-arrive … Continue reading Unfolding plans 177 – North East ICT
Unfolding plans 175 – Lest we forget
There is some irony that on the day we remember the glorious dead of conflicts around the world that there is a conference in Malta to try and stem the flow of migrants into Europe. On the day that we are to remember those who have fallen defending our way of life, who have been … Continue reading Unfolding plans 175 – Lest we forget
Unfolding plans 174 – Walking meetings
Jenny suggested that we go for a walking meeting. It sounded fun and the weather was fine so why not. Actually it has been unseasonably warm for the time of year and the wind was blowing a gale but we are hardy folk and were not going to let a spell of blustery weather put … Continue reading Unfolding plans 174 – Walking meetings