Perfect Day
I woke early and went out to buy the papers and some pastries, Jackie made the coffee and then we enjoyed an extremely leisurely morning. Every moment I expected a young couple in whites to pop through the French Windows and ask "Anyone for Tennis?" Except we don't have French Windows.
This Sporting Life
I thoroughly enjoyed some sporting results this weekend. In the Six Nations, Wales trounced Italy and England beat the French. And today Spurs pleasingly beat Chelsea to win the League Cup. The only disappointing news was that Watford failed to beat Preston North End and Sarecens lost to Harlequins. But you can't have everything. And Spurs did win the League Cup. Did I mention that already?
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Jackie and I enjoyed a quiet day pottering around the house and garden and in the evening visited my Mum for a family meal.
Friday, 22 February 2008
Transformations
This morning I had a 10:00 meeting at the Hertfordshire Community Foundation in Hatfield. With my barber due to open in WGC at 9:00, this was just sufficient time to finally have a haircut and still make the 10:00 meeting. The barbers finally opened up shop about 9:20 which meant a very swift haircut indeed and I just managed to arrive in Hatfield on time.
At HCF, David Fitzpatrick explained plans for the new Grassroots Grants scheme. Robin Charnley of Hertsmere CVS described the proposals as the most exciting news he had heard in many years and no-one disagreed: this really could transform the way CVSs work in Hertfordshire.
In short, the proposal is that each of Hertfordshire’s Districts and Boroughs get allocated an annual budget of (about) £25,000 to be used to support the initiatives of new and small community groups. This fund is to be managed locally by CVS using a “light touch” and working in partnership with local authorities and private sector groups through the Chamber of Commerce.
There is also the £1m match funding challenge in which the government will match every £1 of new private money raised for local endowments up to a maximum (across Hertfordshire) of £1m.
What a wonderful start to the day: a new haircut and a new grants programme for Watford.
Words
Back at the office, Anne and Vanessa were trying to make sense of a training programme they have agreed to deliver as part of the Engage programme for Children Schools and Families. I had a meeting with the steering group overseeing a project researching into how mental health services are accessed by women from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. This is being ably led by Leslie Billy of The Guideposts Trust: volunteers have interviewed 100 women and results are being collated.
In a discussion about language barriers, Sash Seyan of the PCT said that one Indian language has only one word, Pagul, to describe a wide range of mental illnesses: anxiety, stress, depression, psychosis. It occured to me that just because there isn’t a special word to describe a particular condition, it does not mean that the condition is not understood. Conversely, where a special word does exist, it does not necessarily improve understanding: what's the difference between anxiety and stress? Not more than one in a hundred will know.
Aide Memoires
I often find notes I have written for myself that I have no memory of writing; often I also have no idea of their import. The notes contain only one piece of information: a date, a name or a telephone number. Today I found a note that read "22/5 - AGM!" Whose AGM? Where? 2008? After a short while, I found another note: "Ring Dave asap". Which Dave? Where? Why? I must exercise more discipline when writing to myself.
Late in the day, I called Paul Ruskin (our regional IT Champion) to follow up a discussion from early January on ICT needs in Hertfordshire. I was rather worried when Paul said that we had already followed up our earlier discussion and agreed a path forward. He briefly explained what we had agreed and it indeed sounded like the sort of thing I would have happily agreed to. But I have no recollection whatsoever of the discussion. I tried not to make this too obvious to Paul. I believe that Paul may have had the discussion with someone else; possibly Jacquie Hime of North Herts CVS who has also been engaged in this process, or possibly with that nice Bob chap who works at Watford CVS.
Party time
After work, I hurried home to Welwyn Garden City, collected Jackie, and we drove into London for a house-warming party. On arrival we were delighted to discover that it was also an engagement party.
Despite our delight at this news, I was exhausted after a long week and (although everyone made us very welcome) there was no escaping the fact that it was really a party for younger people and I sensed that guests were politely holding themselves back in my aged presence. So I persuaded Jackie that we should do the right thing and leave rather early. I think she was a bit disappointed.
This morning I had a 10:00 meeting at the Hertfordshire Community Foundation in Hatfield. With my barber due to open in WGC at 9:00, this was just sufficient time to finally have a haircut and still make the 10:00 meeting. The barbers finally opened up shop about 9:20 which meant a very swift haircut indeed and I just managed to arrive in Hatfield on time.
At HCF, David Fitzpatrick explained plans for the new Grassroots Grants scheme. Robin Charnley of Hertsmere CVS described the proposals as the most exciting news he had heard in many years and no-one disagreed: this really could transform the way CVSs work in Hertfordshire.
In short, the proposal is that each of Hertfordshire’s Districts and Boroughs get allocated an annual budget of (about) £25,000 to be used to support the initiatives of new and small community groups. This fund is to be managed locally by CVS using a “light touch” and working in partnership with local authorities and private sector groups through the Chamber of Commerce.
There is also the £1m match funding challenge in which the government will match every £1 of new private money raised for local endowments up to a maximum (across Hertfordshire) of £1m.
What a wonderful start to the day: a new haircut and a new grants programme for Watford.
Words
Back at the office, Anne and Vanessa were trying to make sense of a training programme they have agreed to deliver as part of the Engage programme for Children Schools and Families. I had a meeting with the steering group overseeing a project researching into how mental health services are accessed by women from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. This is being ably led by Leslie Billy of The Guideposts Trust: volunteers have interviewed 100 women and results are being collated.
In a discussion about language barriers, Sash Seyan of the PCT said that one Indian language has only one word, Pagul, to describe a wide range of mental illnesses: anxiety, stress, depression, psychosis. It occured to me that just because there isn’t a special word to describe a particular condition, it does not mean that the condition is not understood. Conversely, where a special word does exist, it does not necessarily improve understanding: what's the difference between anxiety and stress? Not more than one in a hundred will know.
Aide Memoires
I often find notes I have written for myself that I have no memory of writing; often I also have no idea of their import. The notes contain only one piece of information: a date, a name or a telephone number. Today I found a note that read "22/5 - AGM!" Whose AGM? Where? 2008? After a short while, I found another note: "Ring Dave asap". Which Dave? Where? Why? I must exercise more discipline when writing to myself.
Late in the day, I called Paul Ruskin (our regional IT Champion) to follow up a discussion from early January on ICT needs in Hertfordshire. I was rather worried when Paul said that we had already followed up our earlier discussion and agreed a path forward. He briefly explained what we had agreed and it indeed sounded like the sort of thing I would have happily agreed to. But I have no recollection whatsoever of the discussion. I tried not to make this too obvious to Paul. I believe that Paul may have had the discussion with someone else; possibly Jacquie Hime of North Herts CVS who has also been engaged in this process, or possibly with that nice Bob chap who works at Watford CVS.
Party time
After work, I hurried home to Welwyn Garden City, collected Jackie, and we drove into London for a house-warming party. On arrival we were delighted to discover that it was also an engagement party.
Despite our delight at this news, I was exhausted after a long week and (although everyone made us very welcome) there was no escaping the fact that it was really a party for younger people and I sensed that guests were politely holding themselves back in my aged presence. So I persuaded Jackie that we should do the right thing and leave rather early. I think she was a bit disappointed.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
After further great input from Vanessa, I have finally sent off our initial submission for the NAVCA quality standard. I know we have more work to do before we meet the standard, so this is just another stage in the process. Our Action Plan already identifies several big projects so there is plenty more work to do and we must be patient.
In the evening, WCVS trustees gathered for their quarterly meeting.
During the meeting, WCVS agreed its 2008-09 budget including looked at the BASIS implementation, signed up for One Watford “Green Business Pledge”, reaffirmed its commitment to Fair Trade, decided on its 2008-09 membership system, discussed the NAVCA quality application, agreed some staffing changes, committed itself to a Board Review process, and co-opted two new members: Mir Ejaz of the Watford Muslim Community Project and Marv Renshaw of Inspiral Arts.
Pam Handley delivered another masterclass in chairing: making people feel welcome, including everyone in discussions, discussing all agenda items, and still closing the meeting within two hours. I run out of superlatives to describe my trustees.
In the evening, WCVS trustees gathered for their quarterly meeting.
During the meeting, WCVS agreed its 2008-09 budget including looked at the BASIS implementation, signed up for One Watford “Green Business Pledge”, reaffirmed its commitment to Fair Trade, decided on its 2008-09 membership system, discussed the NAVCA quality application, agreed some staffing changes, committed itself to a Board Review process, and co-opted two new members: Mir Ejaz of the Watford Muslim Community Project and Marv Renshaw of Inspiral Arts.
Pam Handley delivered another masterclass in chairing: making people feel welcome, including everyone in discussions, discussing all agenda items, and still closing the meeting within two hours. I run out of superlatives to describe my trustees.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
While Vanessa travelled from Watford to WGC for the Hertfordshire Development and Training Consortium, I journeyed in the opposite direction to make a further attempt to complete our NAVCA quality award submission and to sort through some queries on our IT project with Angelo.
Later still, Angelo and I met again with Melanie Claxton of the White Box Foundation and with her boss David Barker, head of White Box Digital. We talked about the voluntary sector and its IT needs, and David explained the work that White Box Digital are doing to support Survivors UK and with the ICT Hub to develop affordable IT solutions for the VCS. Much of this work falls squarely within the parameters of the ICT strategy that I developed with HIC in the run-up to Christmas so there is plenty of scope for synergy adn collaboration. But the ICT Hub will soon lose it’s national contract and it’s difficult to say how this will affect things. We also need to see how / when / if the HIC project goes ahead. We agreed to meet again at the beginning of April.
Wisdom in numbers
In the evening, I attended a meeting of the Watford One World Forum. This meeting helped underline two strengths of the voluntary sector. First, many voluntary activists gave up an evening for the greater good of their community; that’s pretty special. Secondly, intelligent debate led us to informed consensus on a series of thorny issues. As an inherent strength of the voluntary sector, this second is often overlooked: in fact “committees” are more often identified as a weakness than a strength. But with the right people and the right situation, open debate is a great positive force for creative problem-solving and for building social capital.
Later still, Angelo and I met again with Melanie Claxton of the White Box Foundation and with her boss David Barker, head of White Box Digital. We talked about the voluntary sector and its IT needs, and David explained the work that White Box Digital are doing to support Survivors UK and with the ICT Hub to develop affordable IT solutions for the VCS. Much of this work falls squarely within the parameters of the ICT strategy that I developed with HIC in the run-up to Christmas so there is plenty of scope for synergy adn collaboration. But the ICT Hub will soon lose it’s national contract and it’s difficult to say how this will affect things. We also need to see how / when / if the HIC project goes ahead. We agreed to meet again at the beginning of April.
Wisdom in numbers
In the evening, I attended a meeting of the Watford One World Forum. This meeting helped underline two strengths of the voluntary sector. First, many voluntary activists gave up an evening for the greater good of their community; that’s pretty special. Secondly, intelligent debate led us to informed consensus on a series of thorny issues. As an inherent strength of the voluntary sector, this second is often overlooked: in fact “committees” are more often identified as a weakness than a strength. But with the right people and the right situation, open debate is a great positive force for creative problem-solving and for building social capital.
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Quality Assurance
My office has a large plate glass window. In the summer sunshine, this window magnifies heat to turn my office into a huge oven. On winter nights, the window sucks every last bit of warmth from the office creating a large icebox. There is no radiator or air conditioning. At midnight, I was sitting at my desk in this icebox pulling together our submission for the NAVCA quality standard.
We applied for this standard nearly a year ago. At that point, we thought we would soon be introducing a new Contacts Management System to underpin much quality assurance work. But the funding for this was finally only released a fortnight ago so we are behind schedule. Over the months, several people have worked to make progress on the NAVCA quality award, but it has been difficult without a core system and of course there have always been other priorities.
We have twice agreed an extended deadline with NAVCA for submission and I fear we have tried their patience enough. Hence my late night solitary push to get a first draft submission completed.
NAVCA's five quality standards are very clear and very helpful. Within each Standard there are then a handful of outcomes. And then our outputs and activities have to be married up to the outcomes to demonstrate that we have met the standard. Some of the outcomes seem by their nature outputs rather than outcomes. And then the whole thing needs to be supported by evidence that sometimes looks like replicating outcomes and sometimes looks like stating the blindingly obvious.
I suppose in the fullness of time, the mysteries of the NAVCA quality award will become clearer to me: it is relatively early days for us. And our work on the standard has already highlighted some areas where we need to make improvements. But why oh why is the system complex beyond all possible benefit or justification or reason?
BME Advocacy
I arrived at 8:00 this morning to prepare for our interviews starting at 9:30. There were some good candidates, but we eventually offered the job to a candidate who had always made clear that she only wanted to work half-time. We agreed on the appointment, as we were morally and legally bound to do. But we could not appoint a job-share partner so we will have to consider repeating the recruitment cycle.
The BME Advocacy service will support families who have a complaint about an incident on HCC school premises where there may be an element of direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of race or faith. I am told that Hertfordshire is the only local authority that funds a BME Advocacy service in this way.
After the interviews, I had a review meeting with HCC (as the contractor) and with the Multi-Ethnic Curriculum Support Service. There are some tough targets built into the contract. If we don’t meet the targets, does this mean that the service isn’t required? Or simply that we are not sufficiently accessible to the right people? We need to start promoting the service very soon!
My office has a large plate glass window. In the summer sunshine, this window magnifies heat to turn my office into a huge oven. On winter nights, the window sucks every last bit of warmth from the office creating a large icebox. There is no radiator or air conditioning. At midnight, I was sitting at my desk in this icebox pulling together our submission for the NAVCA quality standard.
We applied for this standard nearly a year ago. At that point, we thought we would soon be introducing a new Contacts Management System to underpin much quality assurance work. But the funding for this was finally only released a fortnight ago so we are behind schedule. Over the months, several people have worked to make progress on the NAVCA quality award, but it has been difficult without a core system and of course there have always been other priorities.
We have twice agreed an extended deadline with NAVCA for submission and I fear we have tried their patience enough. Hence my late night solitary push to get a first draft submission completed.
NAVCA's five quality standards are very clear and very helpful. Within each Standard there are then a handful of outcomes. And then our outputs and activities have to be married up to the outcomes to demonstrate that we have met the standard. Some of the outcomes seem by their nature outputs rather than outcomes. And then the whole thing needs to be supported by evidence that sometimes looks like replicating outcomes and sometimes looks like stating the blindingly obvious.
I suppose in the fullness of time, the mysteries of the NAVCA quality award will become clearer to me: it is relatively early days for us. And our work on the standard has already highlighted some areas where we need to make improvements. But why oh why is the system complex beyond all possible benefit or justification or reason?
BME Advocacy
I arrived at 8:00 this morning to prepare for our interviews starting at 9:30. There were some good candidates, but we eventually offered the job to a candidate who had always made clear that she only wanted to work half-time. We agreed on the appointment, as we were morally and legally bound to do. But we could not appoint a job-share partner so we will have to consider repeating the recruitment cycle.
The BME Advocacy service will support families who have a complaint about an incident on HCC school premises where there may be an element of direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of race or faith. I am told that Hertfordshire is the only local authority that funds a BME Advocacy service in this way.
After the interviews, I had a review meeting with HCC (as the contractor) and with the Multi-Ethnic Curriculum Support Service. There are some tough targets built into the contract. If we don’t meet the targets, does this mean that the service isn’t required? Or simply that we are not sufficiently accessible to the right people? We need to start promoting the service very soon!
Monday, 18 February 2008
My morning ablutions reminded me that I had yet again failed to get to the barber over the weekend and I look increasingly like a portly bearded Peter Stringfellow. As you might imagine, this is quite distressing.
There was a heavy hoary old frost this morning, with fog, and so a slow drive to Watford. Vanessa and I received e-mails telling us we are now fully accredited PQASSO Mentors, which is nice.
Most of the day I spent on staff reviews and preparations for Wednesday’s meeting of the Watford One World Forum and for tomorrow’s interviews.
In the evening, I worked on the draft constitution for a new Community Choir starting in Watford. I have met the couple behind the scheme and was very impressed by their obvious commitment and humanity. This particular draft was pretty good, far better than many I have seen, and pretty short. But reviewing draft constitutions is not exciting under any circumstances.
The Charity Commission now provide many model constitutions and approved models, and this is a great step forward. But the whole thing ought really to be much easier. It should not be beyond the wit of someone to devise a simple flow chart and animate this to ask eight or ten simple questions and then save and print a perfectly good draft constitution. Or governing document. Or Articles and Memorandum of Association.
I completed my comments about 7:00 pm and left for home.
There was a heavy hoary old frost this morning, with fog, and so a slow drive to Watford. Vanessa and I received e-mails telling us we are now fully accredited PQASSO Mentors, which is nice.
Most of the day I spent on staff reviews and preparations for Wednesday’s meeting of the Watford One World Forum and for tomorrow’s interviews.
In the evening, I worked on the draft constitution for a new Community Choir starting in Watford. I have met the couple behind the scheme and was very impressed by their obvious commitment and humanity. This particular draft was pretty good, far better than many I have seen, and pretty short. But reviewing draft constitutions is not exciting under any circumstances.
The Charity Commission now provide many model constitutions and approved models, and this is a great step forward. But the whole thing ought really to be much easier. It should not be beyond the wit of someone to devise a simple flow chart and animate this to ask eight or ten simple questions and then save and print a perfectly good draft constitution. Or governing document. Or Articles and Memorandum of Association.
I completed my comments about 7:00 pm and left for home.
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Gardening
At last I got to spend a good day in the garden starting right after a hearty breakfast. I only came in at 6:00 pm when it was too dark to see and the temperature had plummeted to minus 17 degrees centigrade. Perhaps. It might not have been quite that cold.
Recent reading
I've read two books from the early 1950s. First Blood, Oil and Sand written by journalist Ray Brock between the Iranian Oil and Suez crises - a virulent attack on the perceived communist threat to the Middle East and one of the books that confirmed the start of the Cold War.
I also re-read the sublime Under Milk Wood set in the palindromic Llareggub and packed with so much insight and humour and so many brilliant characters: a hundred pages of literary perfection.
At last I got to spend a good day in the garden starting right after a hearty breakfast. I only came in at 6:00 pm when it was too dark to see and the temperature had plummeted to minus 17 degrees centigrade. Perhaps. It might not have been quite that cold.
Recent reading
I've read two books from the early 1950s. First Blood, Oil and Sand written by journalist Ray Brock between the Iranian Oil and Suez crises - a virulent attack on the perceived communist threat to the Middle East and one of the books that confirmed the start of the Cold War.
I also re-read the sublime Under Milk Wood set in the palindromic Llareggub and packed with so much insight and humour and so many brilliant characters: a hundred pages of literary perfection.
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Once, our kitchen was adorned by a shelf unit on which Jackie displayed her extensive collection of curios. A year ago she was persuaded to replace this unit with a mirror. Today I replaced the mirror with new shelving. This was not as easy as it sounds because the shelf unit concerned was designed to stand on a floor, and not to be screwed into a wall.
While working, I heard an Italian restaurateur introduced as once having been “saved from a jellyfish attack by David Cameron”. Are our political leaders beyond all control? Where did David Cameron learn this unusual form of attack? And why did he risk his career to attack a restaurateur? I think we should be told.
Later in the day, we heard two lots of bad news – one friend diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and a family with three young children caught out in the great credit sqeeze. We didn’t have a particularly joyeous Saturday night.
While working, I heard an Italian restaurateur introduced as once having been “saved from a jellyfish attack by David Cameron”. Are our political leaders beyond all control? Where did David Cameron learn this unusual form of attack? And why did he risk his career to attack a restaurateur? I think we should be told.
Later in the day, we heard two lots of bad news – one friend diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and a family with three young children caught out in the great credit sqeeze. We didn’t have a particularly joyeous Saturday night.
Friday, 15 February 2008
I spent the morning working on our NAVCA quality assurance application. So many others have helped prepare things and I am pretty sure we can get off a good initial application, but delays implementing of our new database mean that there are some areas where we struggle to meet the NAVCA quality standard.
In the afternoon, I held meetings with our Connexions team and carried out another staff review.
I was very sorry to miss the event at the Collosseum focusing on the work that Bev Carter is doing establishing links between Watford and Umulogho village in Nigeria.
In the afternoon, I held meetings with our Connexions team and carried out another staff review.
I was very sorry to miss the event at the Collosseum focusing on the work that Bev Carter is doing establishing links between Watford and Umulogho village in Nigeria.
Thursday, 14 February 2008
St Valentine’s Day
No-one has ever satisfactorily explained why St Valentine should be associated with lovers. Personally I suspect the sinister hand of the Greetings Card industry so to spite them Jackie and I didn't exchange cards, but kisses and small boxes of luxury chocolates. A lovely start to the day.
Vanessa and I were back at the NCVO in the parallel World of Training having our final assessment as PQASSO mentors. Along with five other pairings on the course we had to deliver a short presentation on a particular aspect of PQASSO. I think we did well enough and now we wait with bated breath for our PQASSO Mentor licences.
Reflections for 2008-09
This day brought home to me how much effort WCVS has put into its preparations for 2008-09. We have planned, we have secured funding, trained, reorganised, upgraded our network, secured quality assurance accreditations etc etc etc. There are still a few outstanding tasks: we need to introduce our new contacts management system and complete our NAVCA quality award and finish a few missing strategies and policies.
But we now need to focus on 2008-09 as a Year of Delivery when we devote our energies to engaging with local voluntary groups and ensuring they receive the support they need.
No-one has ever satisfactorily explained why St Valentine should be associated with lovers. Personally I suspect the sinister hand of the Greetings Card industry so to spite them Jackie and I didn't exchange cards, but kisses and small boxes of luxury chocolates. A lovely start to the day.
Vanessa and I were back at the NCVO in the parallel World of Training having our final assessment as PQASSO mentors. Along with five other pairings on the course we had to deliver a short presentation on a particular aspect of PQASSO. I think we did well enough and now we wait with bated breath for our PQASSO Mentor licences.
Reflections for 2008-09
This day brought home to me how much effort WCVS has put into its preparations for 2008-09. We have planned, we have secured funding, trained, reorganised, upgraded our network, secured quality assurance accreditations etc etc etc. There are still a few outstanding tasks: we need to introduce our new contacts management system and complete our NAVCA quality award and finish a few missing strategies and policies.
But we now need to focus on 2008-09 as a Year of Delivery when we devote our energies to engaging with local voluntary groups and ensuring they receive the support they need.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
I began the morning meeting with Louise Jones of Connexions who manages our Aim Higher contract. We talked about the contract and targets and so on and also about the ongoing merger in Hertfordshire of Youth Services and Connexions. The merger plans envisage services becoming more focused on Districts and Boroughs. This is problematic for us: although all our PAs are employed in Watford and work predominently with young people from Watford, they also work with young people in Dacorum, St Albans, Three Rivers, Hertsmere, and occasionally even from north London. Young people have far too little respect for District boundaries.
After this I worked hard to e-mail out final papers for next week's trustees meeting and to finish preparations (with Vanessa) for tomorrow’s PQASSO training.
After this I worked hard to e-mail out final papers for next week's trustees meeting and to finish preparations (with Vanessa) for tomorrow’s PQASSO training.
Tuesday, 12 Febuary 2008
Today I attended the latest meeting of One Watford (the Local Strategic Partnership) chaired by our Mayor Dorothy Thornhill.
The One Watford LSP has done great work developing a Community Plan and working on LAA1 covering (I think) 2006-09. LAA2 (to cover 2008-11) now looms large on the horizon and discussions of LAA2 really dominated the meeting. We saw some presentations from HCC and agreed our comments on the draft county-wide priorities to try and ensure that Watford’s particular needs were not overlooked.
We also reviewed the findings of our recent Aspire workshop. Watford CVS is charged with co-ordinating various community initiatives – very particularly co-ordinating our own Community Development Strategy with WBC’s Community Engagement Strategy and the Community Empowerment Strategy being drafted by the new Community Housing Trust. This is good news and illustrates one key contribution that the VCS can make to LSPs.
Another issue I have championed on the LSP is representation of the VCS and of Watford’s diverse communities. The LSP having agreed that there are issues to address (and myself knowing that WCVS also needs to sort its own policies out a little) we agreed that Mayor Dorothy and I would discuss this again in the summer and return to the LSP with clear proposals.
This seems entirely helpful. I must remember to add it to the agenda for WCVS’s trustees meeting next week.
The One Watford LSP has done great work developing a Community Plan and working on LAA1 covering (I think) 2006-09. LAA2 (to cover 2008-11) now looms large on the horizon and discussions of LAA2 really dominated the meeting. We saw some presentations from HCC and agreed our comments on the draft county-wide priorities to try and ensure that Watford’s particular needs were not overlooked.
We also reviewed the findings of our recent Aspire workshop. Watford CVS is charged with co-ordinating various community initiatives – very particularly co-ordinating our own Community Development Strategy with WBC’s Community Engagement Strategy and the Community Empowerment Strategy being drafted by the new Community Housing Trust. This is good news and illustrates one key contribution that the VCS can make to LSPs.
Another issue I have championed on the LSP is representation of the VCS and of Watford’s diverse communities. The LSP having agreed that there are issues to address (and myself knowing that WCVS also needs to sort its own policies out a little) we agreed that Mayor Dorothy and I would discuss this again in the summer and return to the LSP with clear proposals.
This seems entirely helpful. I must remember to add it to the agenda for WCVS’s trustees meeting next week.
Monday, 11 February 2008
After the fog lifted there was another beautiful bright morning. I met our Treasurer John Casstles to talk through the current financial report, the draft 2008-09 budget and other matters. Later I completed another staff review. Later still I met with Anne Saffery of Age Concern to talk through some issues around property and premises.
Mostly I worked on papers for next week’s trustees meeting - another long evening at the office.
Mostly I worked on papers for next week’s trustees meeting - another long evening at the office.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
I called some old friends to catch up on things and discovered that two of my best friends are expecting another baby. Instead of spending the day enjoying the sunshine in the garden, I put up bookshelves and sorted through books to pass back to charity shops - a strange choice for a sunny Sunday. In the evening I completed The Year 1000 by Robert Lacey and Danny Danzinger. I read it eight years behind everyone else: it was a bit thin but still enjoyable.
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Our Big Day Out
What a glorious winter morning: blue and bright and shimmering. I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t thinking: Who on earth will want to spend all day at a conference on a day like this? This was not an idle question as today was the day of the Hertfordshire Charity Trustee Conference at Hatfield's Comet Hotel.
I arrived at 8:00 am to set up projectors and PA systems. Already there were Vanessa (WCVS Development and Training Officer), Maria (WCVS Office Co-ordinator) and Mary Green (CEO at Three Rivers CVS).
Around 9:15 am, people started arriving in a steady stream and I thought: Only half will stay for the afternoon session. I think I was Eeyore in a previous life. I had a few minor worries setting up the IT and PA systems, but nothing to cause any real panic.
Pam Handley chaired the conference with her usual aplomb. Linda Laurance gave a comprehensive introduction to governance issues, Michael Carpenter picked up the pace focusing on the Charity Trustee Network, and Tesse Akpeki produced a rousing end to the first plenary session.
There was a really nice buzz about the place. I can't say what exactly: I just knew that everything was going to be fine.
All the morning workshops went well and I enjoyed a good lunch with with Althea McLean, Arthur MacLean and Tesse Akpeki - all extraordinarily lovely people.
Alan Clarkin started the afternoon with a shining introduction to the Charity Commission. Usually, this is the graveyard slot but Alan’s presentation was extremely entertaining and informative.
After the final workshop session, the conference closed with an Experts Panel. If anything, there were more people present for this final 3:00 am session than there were at the opening 10:00 pm session. That's what a good day it was.
To ensure a Hertfordshire presence, Jacquie Hime was to join the Experts Panel from the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium but she reasonably pointed out that she had already led three workshops and had done enough. So I got to sit as an “Expert” alongside Alan Clarkin, Linda Clarkin and Michael Carpenter, chaired by Andrew Burt of HCC. Great fun!
The conference ended on a general cushion of goodwill and it was all very pleasant. We got so much positive feedback and I do hope we get to do the same again next year.
I would love to lay claim to the conference as another Watford CVS triumph. But the conference was a triumph for partnership working. Vanessa had the original idea for the conference, arising from discussions with North Herts CVS and with Suffolk Association for Voluntary Organisations. Funding was secured through Herts County Council and through Capacitybuilders. Recruitment to the event was organised via all Herts CVSs and through the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium. Three River CVS helped out on the day. Speakers came from statutory, private and public sectors adn they delivered workshops as well as plenary sessions. There were also workshops from HIC and from SAVO. Everyone mucked in. I think the "out-of-county" speakers were pleased by the turnout and the good atmosphere, and they smiled, and the participants got a lift from this, and it all worked very well.
But through this false Watford modesty, I do hope everyone knows that in truth the credit for the planning and hard work really does belong to Vanessa Levy and Maria Waszkis.
What a glorious winter morning: blue and bright and shimmering. I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t thinking: Who on earth will want to spend all day at a conference on a day like this? This was not an idle question as today was the day of the Hertfordshire Charity Trustee Conference at Hatfield's Comet Hotel.
I arrived at 8:00 am to set up projectors and PA systems. Already there were Vanessa (WCVS Development and Training Officer), Maria (WCVS Office Co-ordinator) and Mary Green (CEO at Three Rivers CVS).
Around 9:15 am, people started arriving in a steady stream and I thought: Only half will stay for the afternoon session. I think I was Eeyore in a previous life. I had a few minor worries setting up the IT and PA systems, but nothing to cause any real panic.
Pam Handley chaired the conference with her usual aplomb. Linda Laurance gave a comprehensive introduction to governance issues, Michael Carpenter picked up the pace focusing on the Charity Trustee Network, and Tesse Akpeki produced a rousing end to the first plenary session.
There was a really nice buzz about the place. I can't say what exactly: I just knew that everything was going to be fine.
All the morning workshops went well and I enjoyed a good lunch with with Althea McLean, Arthur MacLean and Tesse Akpeki - all extraordinarily lovely people.
Alan Clarkin started the afternoon with a shining introduction to the Charity Commission. Usually, this is the graveyard slot but Alan’s presentation was extremely entertaining and informative.
After the final workshop session, the conference closed with an Experts Panel. If anything, there were more people present for this final 3:00 am session than there were at the opening 10:00 pm session. That's what a good day it was.
To ensure a Hertfordshire presence, Jacquie Hime was to join the Experts Panel from the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium but she reasonably pointed out that she had already led three workshops and had done enough. So I got to sit as an “Expert” alongside Alan Clarkin, Linda Clarkin and Michael Carpenter, chaired by Andrew Burt of HCC. Great fun!
The conference ended on a general cushion of goodwill and it was all very pleasant. We got so much positive feedback and I do hope we get to do the same again next year.
I would love to lay claim to the conference as another Watford CVS triumph. But the conference was a triumph for partnership working. Vanessa had the original idea for the conference, arising from discussions with North Herts CVS and with Suffolk Association for Voluntary Organisations. Funding was secured through Herts County Council and through Capacitybuilders. Recruitment to the event was organised via all Herts CVSs and through the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium. Three River CVS helped out on the day. Speakers came from statutory, private and public sectors adn they delivered workshops as well as plenary sessions. There were also workshops from HIC and from SAVO. Everyone mucked in. I think the "out-of-county" speakers were pleased by the turnout and the good atmosphere, and they smiled, and the participants got a lift from this, and it all worked very well.
But through this false Watford modesty, I do hope everyone knows that in truth the credit for the planning and hard work really does belong to Vanessa Levy and Maria Waszkis.
Friday, 8 February 2008
Early morning alarm call
Our household was woken up about 4:00 am by a smoke alarm beeping loudly and persistently - to let us know that its battery is running out. By the time I’d dealt with it and we’d all had a cup of tea, the prospect of further sleep seemed very distant, so I tucked Jackie back up in bed and drove to Watford.
I had a good few hours working on papers for our forthcoming Trustees’ meeting. Then at 10:00 I met with Vivienne Davies (of Home-Start) and Roland Bedford (Signposts) and Claire Pitkin (Youth Council) to talk about voluntary sector representation on the District Children’s Trust Partnership. Each are voluntary sector members of the DCTP and we discussed ways in which they can most effectively support and represent local voluntary groups.
We discussed the differences between championing and representing (on which I felt particularly well-briefed after Laura Cronshaw’s recent presentation) and options for strengthening the role.
We agreed that Vivienne and Roland should be formally adopted as Watford CVS representatives, underpinned by generally improved communications, a networking event on the DCTP and VCS, and in due course an appropriate selection procedure. I will consult my trustees next week.
Although I had often heard her name mentioned, this was my first meeting with Claire Pitkin adn very impressive she was too.
Over lunch, I met with Vanessa and Maria to finalise plans for tomorrow’s big trustees’ event.
I also had to configure two new laptops that have arrived for our Connexions staff.
Later in the afternoon we held a staff meeting here to discuss our future accommodation needs, and the role of volunteers in the office here. Consensus is emerging.
You decide
I’ve been deluged with a request to explain my views on Rowan Williams's comments on "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty" and I am pleased to elaborate.
Rowan Williams wants a society where religious groups can be exempt from certain legislation or can opt in or out of certain legislation. I believe that this amounts to a Bigots’ Charter. The “inevitable” result would be a world where jobs and services can be advertised as “Christians only” or “Jews need not apply” or "No Gays or Lesbians" and where people are not free-thinking equal individuals but exist only as the property of a particular faith.
If Rowan Williams made these connections, and chose to make his comments anyway, then I believe he is very wicked. If he did not foresee the logical conclusion of his remarks, and the furore they would produce, then he is a deeply stupid man.
His biggest victims are Britain's Muslims. Rowan Williams didn't focus on special pleading for his own faith but instead chose to hide behind Islam. It is possible that Rowan Williams was too stupid to see that this would place Islam in the front line. Or perhaps he understood very well and just didn’t care.
So, Rowan Williams: Deeply Evil or just Very Very Stupid?
You decide.
Our household was woken up about 4:00 am by a smoke alarm beeping loudly and persistently - to let us know that its battery is running out. By the time I’d dealt with it and we’d all had a cup of tea, the prospect of further sleep seemed very distant, so I tucked Jackie back up in bed and drove to Watford.
I had a good few hours working on papers for our forthcoming Trustees’ meeting. Then at 10:00 I met with Vivienne Davies (of Home-Start) and Roland Bedford (Signposts) and Claire Pitkin (Youth Council) to talk about voluntary sector representation on the District Children’s Trust Partnership. Each are voluntary sector members of the DCTP and we discussed ways in which they can most effectively support and represent local voluntary groups.
We discussed the differences between championing and representing (on which I felt particularly well-briefed after Laura Cronshaw’s recent presentation) and options for strengthening the role.
We agreed that Vivienne and Roland should be formally adopted as Watford CVS representatives, underpinned by generally improved communications, a networking event on the DCTP and VCS, and in due course an appropriate selection procedure. I will consult my trustees next week.
Although I had often heard her name mentioned, this was my first meeting with Claire Pitkin adn very impressive she was too.
Over lunch, I met with Vanessa and Maria to finalise plans for tomorrow’s big trustees’ event.
I also had to configure two new laptops that have arrived for our Connexions staff.
Later in the afternoon we held a staff meeting here to discuss our future accommodation needs, and the role of volunteers in the office here. Consensus is emerging.
You decide
I’ve been deluged with a request to explain my views on Rowan Williams's comments on "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty" and I am pleased to elaborate.
Rowan Williams wants a society where religious groups can be exempt from certain legislation or can opt in or out of certain legislation. I believe that this amounts to a Bigots’ Charter. The “inevitable” result would be a world where jobs and services can be advertised as “Christians only” or “Jews need not apply” or "No Gays or Lesbians" and where people are not free-thinking equal individuals but exist only as the property of a particular faith.
If Rowan Williams made these connections, and chose to make his comments anyway, then I believe he is very wicked. If he did not foresee the logical conclusion of his remarks, and the furore they would produce, then he is a deeply stupid man.
His biggest victims are Britain's Muslims. Rowan Williams didn't focus on special pleading for his own faith but instead chose to hide behind Islam. It is possible that Rowan Williams was too stupid to see that this would place Islam in the front line. Or perhaps he understood very well and just didn’t care.
So, Rowan Williams: Deeply Evil or just Very Very Stupid?
You decide.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Now only two days left before Saturday's Hertfordshire Charity Trustees Conference. Vanessa and Maria are working flat out on this. I try to help but fear sometimes that I just get in the way.
My day was disrupted by the arrival of new shelving resulting in half a day of upheaval. But now it's over, it's a much better work environment. I am pleased to say that the shelves were bartered with another charity for some redundant filing cabinets: I wonder how much of an alternative economy could be developed in this way.
At the moment, I am working on about a dozen different projects. Each project needs to be nudged forward in an order that makes sense and which respects the various relationships between them. These projects are: next year's budget, achieving the NAVCA Quality Assurance standard, our BASIS funding, staff annual reviews, appointing our BME advocacy worker, finishing the PQASSO mentor course, drafting a Community Development strategy, drafting a VCS Accommodation strategy, implementing Microsoft Contact Relationship Manager, and delivering our IT project. No-one could ever say this job is boring.
Disestablishmentarianism
Rowan Williams has made a plea for Britain to offer different legal jurisdictions to different religious groups. He focused on the aspirations of some parts of the Muslim community but this is purely cynical: he is exploiting the Muslim community to pursue his own agenda. He wants to exercise secular power: a return to the days of church courts and the inquisition. Rowan Williams himself is dishonest, deluded and either profoundly stupid or thoroughly evil. Perhaps he has a psychological need to feel persecuted? I do hope no vulnerable groups take his ramblings too seriously. The CoE has clearly outlived its purpose and the sooner it is disestablished the better. I’ll go and lie down now.
On the home front, Aged Ken (our decrepit white cat of indeterminate age) has developed an obsessive fascination with Jackie's needlework (she does a lot of patchwork, sewing, knitting, crocheting). As soon as she starts, Ken gets as close as he can (usually about a foot away) and just stares at the needles entranced and mesmerised. What can he be thinking?
My day was disrupted by the arrival of new shelving resulting in half a day of upheaval. But now it's over, it's a much better work environment. I am pleased to say that the shelves were bartered with another charity for some redundant filing cabinets: I wonder how much of an alternative economy could be developed in this way.
At the moment, I am working on about a dozen different projects. Each project needs to be nudged forward in an order that makes sense and which respects the various relationships between them. These projects are: next year's budget, achieving the NAVCA Quality Assurance standard, our BASIS funding, staff annual reviews, appointing our BME advocacy worker, finishing the PQASSO mentor course, drafting a Community Development strategy, drafting a VCS Accommodation strategy, implementing Microsoft Contact Relationship Manager, and delivering our IT project. No-one could ever say this job is boring.
Disestablishmentarianism
Rowan Williams has made a plea for Britain to offer different legal jurisdictions to different religious groups. He focused on the aspirations of some parts of the Muslim community but this is purely cynical: he is exploiting the Muslim community to pursue his own agenda. He wants to exercise secular power: a return to the days of church courts and the inquisition. Rowan Williams himself is dishonest, deluded and either profoundly stupid or thoroughly evil. Perhaps he has a psychological need to feel persecuted? I do hope no vulnerable groups take his ramblings too seriously. The CoE has clearly outlived its purpose and the sooner it is disestablished the better. I’ll go and lie down now.
On the home front, Aged Ken (our decrepit white cat of indeterminate age) has developed an obsessive fascination with Jackie's needlework (she does a lot of patchwork, sewing, knitting, crocheting). As soon as she starts, Ken gets as close as he can (usually about a foot away) and just stares at the needles entranced and mesmerised. What can he be thinking?
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Two good opportunities to promote Hertfordshire and Watford. First, Jonathan Clark visited from the Big Lottery Fund where he is responsible for getting to know what goes on in Hertfordshire. We had a good talk about priorities and needs in Watford and Hertfordshire, and we talked through WCVS’s soon-to-start BASIS project. Secondly, Steph Gallagher of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium advised that Jon Fox of Capacitybuilders is soon coming to meet the HIC Steering Group and discuss our funding concerns.
And I met with Angelo to discuss further the large WBC-funded IT project on which we are now starting work. There is also a serious possibility of attracting some corporate sponsorship interest in this. But the key is always going to be attracting sufficient local VCS engagement.
Most of the day I spend tying up loose ends around the forthcoming BME Advocacy interviews: agreeing venues, timetables, questions, exercises.
There was rather an alarming incident at the end of the day. Yesterday I carefully set aside some files to check their contents and archive / dump. Today I discovered that an overenthusiastic volunteer had emptied all of the files and started shredding their contents. Those papers that are left are now all hopelessly mixed together. Laugh or cry?
In the evening, I had hoped to attend the How Green Is My Watford event, but things at WCVS needed urgent attention and I had to stay to start work on the papers for this month’s Executive Committee meeting.
For the second time this week I eventually left work after 10:00 pm.
And I met with Angelo to discuss further the large WBC-funded IT project on which we are now starting work. There is also a serious possibility of attracting some corporate sponsorship interest in this. But the key is always going to be attracting sufficient local VCS engagement.
Most of the day I spend tying up loose ends around the forthcoming BME Advocacy interviews: agreeing venues, timetables, questions, exercises.
There was rather an alarming incident at the end of the day. Yesterday I carefully set aside some files to check their contents and archive / dump. Today I discovered that an overenthusiastic volunteer had emptied all of the files and started shredding their contents. Those papers that are left are now all hopelessly mixed together. Laugh or cry?
In the evening, I had hoped to attend the How Green Is My Watford event, but things at WCVS needed urgent attention and I had to stay to start work on the papers for this month’s Executive Committee meeting.
For the second time this week I eventually left work after 10:00 pm.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
I arrived early and started shifting around filing cabinets as part of a small move taking place on Thursday. I carefully emptied one cabinet and stacked up the papers to ask someone to check through to see if they were needed. This later turned out to be a bit problematic.
I spent some time today searching for a “diversity calendar”. One would have thought that an annual calendar of religious and cultural events (Ramadan, Diwali, Hanukah, St Swithin’s Day, etc) would be easily available on the internet, perhaps published free by the Government or the Equality and Human Rights Commission. I delighted to find one site selling a Diversity Calendar for £450. Eventually I found the dates of religious festivals on the good old BBC, but the calendar itself courtesy of the Central Scotland Police!
Later, I began the annual cycle of staff reviews and later still I met with Jay Gaglani for a very helpful discussion about the future of the Watford One World Forum. So much need, so much potential, so little time.
Vanessa, Maria and I met to talk through plans for the weekend’s Hertfordshire-wide Charity Trustee Conference. We have put in so much work for this and I do hope it all goes well!
I spent some time today searching for a “diversity calendar”. One would have thought that an annual calendar of religious and cultural events (Ramadan, Diwali, Hanukah, St Swithin’s Day, etc) would be easily available on the internet, perhaps published free by the Government or the Equality and Human Rights Commission. I delighted to find one site selling a Diversity Calendar for £450. Eventually I found the dates of religious festivals on the good old BBC, but the calendar itself courtesy of the Central Scotland Police!
Later, I began the annual cycle of staff reviews and later still I met with Jay Gaglani for a very helpful discussion about the future of the Watford One World Forum. So much need, so much potential, so little time.
Vanessa, Maria and I met to talk through plans for the weekend’s Hertfordshire-wide Charity Trustee Conference. We have put in so much work for this and I do hope it all goes well!
Monday, 4 February 2008
Promptly at 10:00 I arrived in Wheathampstead for a meeting. One of the people I was to meet had forgotten and was otherwise engaged on something more important - now what could that possibly be? The other person I was to meet was nowhere to be found, until I called the WCVS office in Watford to discover he was there waiting for me. The words Brewery and Piss-Up come to mind.
Eventually everything went well and Shahnaz Mirza and I agreed a shortlist for the BME Advocacy post.
The afternoon was spent fielding several queries from member groups (on quality assurance, accommodation, setting up new charities, employment policies), catching up with e-mail, and catching up with colleagues around the County.
In the evening, I attended Promoting and Delivering Greater Safety for Watford, a consultation event organised by the Safer Watford Partnership. This is a great partnership that does good work and that has performed very well. Their event was attended by about 100 people but was not a triumph.
Push-button technology was available to canvas answers (“Select your answer … now”), but the questions were a bit superficial. Mayor Dorothy Thornhill was there, and as ever she grasped the situation and got it absolutely right, as did other WBC speakers. But the other speeches were mostly very dull - and several were positively soporific. Some 16-18 year-olds had been persuaded to attend: they deserve medals and I don’t think they will be so easily persuaded again.
Eventually everything went well and Shahnaz Mirza and I agreed a shortlist for the BME Advocacy post.
The afternoon was spent fielding several queries from member groups (on quality assurance, accommodation, setting up new charities, employment policies), catching up with e-mail, and catching up with colleagues around the County.
In the evening, I attended Promoting and Delivering Greater Safety for Watford, a consultation event organised by the Safer Watford Partnership. This is a great partnership that does good work and that has performed very well. Their event was attended by about 100 people but was not a triumph.
Push-button technology was available to canvas answers (“Select your answer … now”), but the questions were a bit superficial. Mayor Dorothy Thornhill was there, and as ever she grasped the situation and got it absolutely right, as did other WBC speakers. But the other speeches were mostly very dull - and several were positively soporific. Some 16-18 year-olds had been persuaded to attend: they deserve medals and I don’t think they will be so easily persuaded again.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Children and grandchildren visited in the morning. In the afternoon I looked at draft WCVS strategies for accommodation, quality assurance, and community development and in the evening I shortlisted for the BME Advocacy post.
Everyone has their weakness: I finished reading the 40th Anniversary edition of Status Quo.
Everyone has their weakness: I finished reading the 40th Anniversary edition of Status Quo.
Saturday, 2 February 2008
Jackie and I took a trip to Watford: I needed to pop into the office to collect some papers, and Jackie wanted to tour charity shops looking at china and fabric. I also happened to acquire some new books. And we bumped into several friends along the way.
Back home, I suffered my usual mixed loyalties as England took on Wales at Twickenham - both teams tried hard to lose but eventually England prevailed to lose 19-26.
Back home, I suffered my usual mixed loyalties as England took on Wales at Twickenham - both teams tried hard to lose but eventually England prevailed to lose 19-26.
Friday, 1 February 2008
The second day of our second PQASSO course is done. Vanessa and I now have to complete just one more day of training before receiving our licences as "PQASSO Mentors".
Vanessa and I met some great people on the course: I will particularly remember John from Yorkshire (who introduced us to the Birmingham CVS QA system Quality First), Graham from London who had many ideas about inter-faith work, and Hywel from South Wales who was just very nice.
Back home I watched Michael Wood's new series on teh history of India. What is it about India that makes supposedly educated white people talk such tosh? I think we should be told.
Vanessa and I met some great people on the course: I will particularly remember John from Yorkshire (who introduced us to the Birmingham CVS QA system Quality First), Graham from London who had many ideas about inter-faith work, and Hywel from South Wales who was just very nice.
Back home I watched Michael Wood's new series on teh history of India. What is it about India that makes supposedly educated white people talk such tosh? I think we should be told.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Vanessa and I met up at the NCVO in London for our second PQASSO course with the Charities Evaluation Services. Vanessa and I need to start supporting CVS members to put in place appropriate frameworks for QA and we expect that PQASSO will be appropriate to many groups. But PQASSO is undergoing some major changes: version three is about to be launched, and soon groups will have an opportunity to externally accredit their PQASSO standards.
I find there is something otherworldly about training courses: entering a strange environment, meeting strange people, undertaking strange tasks, and time slows right down almost to ... a ... full ... stop. The first morning is always the worst as my body adjusts to the new parallel universe. I don’t suppose my late night at the office yesterday helped much, either.
Most interesting and enjoyable was meeting other people and learning from their knowledge and experience.
PQASSO’s authors (Charities Evaluation Services) have much to answer for. They deserve huge plaudits for raising the profile of QA within the voluntary sector. But never forget that they also played a key part in establishing the rule that all management systems etc must be accompanied by a post-modernist acronym.
On the homeward commute, I completed Michael Bywater’s Lost Worlds: What have we lost and where did it go? I never settled to my own satisfaction whether this is a book of rare insight and genius about the nature of loss, or a vulgar middle-class attempt to cash in on the current mania for nostalgia and lists.
With some sadness I note the death of Jeremy Beadle. Throughout his career he worked hard raising funds for charity. At one time he became a hate figure for the "cool" media set - it was plain and simple bullying. Very unattractive to witness. Now James Blunt attracts the same sort of attention. And it's still bullying.
I find there is something otherworldly about training courses: entering a strange environment, meeting strange people, undertaking strange tasks, and time slows right down almost to ... a ... full ... stop. The first morning is always the worst as my body adjusts to the new parallel universe. I don’t suppose my late night at the office yesterday helped much, either.
Most interesting and enjoyable was meeting other people and learning from their knowledge and experience.
PQASSO’s authors (Charities Evaluation Services) have much to answer for. They deserve huge plaudits for raising the profile of QA within the voluntary sector. But never forget that they also played a key part in establishing the rule that all management systems etc must be accompanied by a post-modernist acronym.
On the homeward commute, I completed Michael Bywater’s Lost Worlds: What have we lost and where did it go? I never settled to my own satisfaction whether this is a book of rare insight and genius about the nature of loss, or a vulgar middle-class attempt to cash in on the current mania for nostalgia and lists.
With some sadness I note the death of Jeremy Beadle. Throughout his career he worked hard raising funds for charity. At one time he became a hate figure for the "cool" media set - it was plain and simple bullying. Very unattractive to witness. Now James Blunt attracts the same sort of attention. And it's still bullying.
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