29 January 2014

Attended my first scrutiny meeting in Wallasey tonight.

It was an interesting experience. Councillors asked lots of relevant and constructive questions. It felt how scrutiny should work.

A member of the public who apparently attends all the council meetings, videoed the whole meeting on a smart phone attached to a tripod. Democracy in action, but slightly strange.

My slot finished with a vote of thanks from the Councillors for the efforts the IT function put in over the last week to keep services running. 

End of a good day….

28 January 2014

Irratatingly when people ring my mobile from an office phone it tells them ‘the phone is switched off’ even though it isn’t. It works from mobiles and other phones….

So far it appears I am on two networks, which I didn’t think was possible. I am on Vodafone, however the the switched off message is from O2, which was the original provider many years ago.

Let’s see if the techie’s can sort it.

26 January 2014

Played football last night, first time for quite a while. Didn’t feel too bad, especially as most of the leaders had aches and pains this morning, and they are a lot younger than me 🙂

This mornings little challenge was a zip wire, in the wind and rain… Very cold.

We were expecting a tower to climb up, just like last year. Instead it was a wet slippy pole, much more challenging. Got to the top, and the wooden platform was wet,  slippy, and rocking in the wind. But it was great fun.

Everyone is tired and soon to be on their way home, after a nice roast dinner.

25 January 2014

The young people weren’t too bad, in bed by midnight, high on lots of sugary food and drink. Lots of very tired people this morning.

First session we did this morning was circus skills. I don’t think CoCo the clown need to worry about me taking his job.

Then we did high wire walking. Very impressed how good the youngsters were.

Even had a go myself right at the top of the pole….

On the way down…

Then I tried another one….

Come lunchtime some people were tired. Neil (our great leader) was feeling a little tired – no stamina

 

Then the bad news the thunder and lightning including hailstones  appears and the afternoon session (climbing and abseiling) had to be abandoned….

24 January 2014

Off to the Pioneer Centre somewhere is Shropshire. Very very wet.

Interesting start when one of the girls didn’t have any trainers only flimsy shoes….

Then we had the ‘I can’t go anywhere without my straighteners’ – clearly an area which I lack experience.

We are now in the nice warm lodge and the football is underway in one of the halls.

23 January 2014

New job in the Wirral is really challenging/really hard work. Currently got a really difficult problem to sort. It’s great that a number of the IT staff have really stepped up to the challenge.

Problem not sorted, but the commitment & effort is great.

23 January 2014

Interesting what people study.

Had a chat with one of the people in the hotel I am staying in.

He is currently writing a dissertation on golf bunker design. 

Didn’t really know what to say….

21 January 2014

My lovely beautiful granddaughter. 

20 January 2014

Early start for the new job. Nearly 100 miles from home to office. Set off just after 5:30, and was in the. Office by 07:30…. But not first one in.

Interestingly saw a runner near Uttoxeter 5:45, dark, middle of nowhere and temp return was -2c. Now that is dedication.

17 January 2014

Had my belated leaving do from Stoke. It was a great evening, starting at 16:30, going on until well after midnight. 

This was Stoke hospitality at its best.  A big thank you to lots of people who helped to organise it Viv, Jo Tracy and Zoe, 

and a real big thanks to Jon who was his normal self making the evening go like clockwork.

It was great to see all my colleagues, and pleasantly surprised to see so many Councillors as well.