After cleaning out the chickens, I spent today making Christmas cakes. Of course I washed my hands first and I cooked only under Jackie’s close supervision.
In the evening I completed Crime on Her Mind – an anthology of early female detective writing compiled by Michele B Slung. I also read Kevin Goldstein-Jackson’s 1973 masterpiece Right Joke Right Occasion which provides an excellent snapshot of pre-punk British humour. It's a curious experience reading jokes from your childhood: very few have stood the test of time although I quite enjoyed:
- Mum, there’s a man at the door with a bill.
- Don’t be silly dear, it must be a duck wearing a hat.
I also recently read Of All the Bloody Cheek by Frank McAuliffe, a 1960 parody of the James Bond format with the twist that the central character is just a paid assassin. I think that Tim Dowling’s awkwardly titled novel The Giles Wareing Haters’ Club may have been written as a parody of Bridget Jones, with the twist that the central character is actually a man.
Saturday, 25 October 2008
I heard today from the driver of the car I bumped into at about 12 mph last Wednesday. His paid whore of a solicitor claims that his client’s car suffered substantial damage, and that his client has had to hire another car, is suffering from serious stress and whiplash and has accordingly lost substantial earnings. How can people debase and humiliate themselves in this fashion? I forwarded everything to my insurance company in the melancholic knowledge that they will "do a deal".
More heartening was a visit from my intrepid mum who told us about her recent solo trip to India. And I finally visited the barbers as I was beginning to look a little too much like Worzel Gummidge. And Harry Redknapp took over as manager at Tottenham Hotspur.
More heartening was a visit from my intrepid mum who told us about her recent solo trip to India. And I finally visited the barbers as I was beginning to look a little too much like Worzel Gummidge. And Harry Redknapp took over as manager at Tottenham Hotspur.
Friday, 24 October 2008
I spent the morning slowly ticking off long-outstanding tasks: trawling through several hundred e-mails bearing those little red flags that indicate a reply is needed. In the afternoon I met with our Youth Connexions PAs and talked about future plans for our services.
Thursday, 23 October 2008
After a busy day in the office, I welcomed Michael Lassman of Equality Edge to WCVS to meet with members of the Watford One World forum on their future priorities.
Meanwhile, I attended One Watford’s evening consultation on revisions to the Community Plan. We saw the finished vox pop DVD on Watford and heard various speakers from the One Watford LSP.
Through initial discussions, the One Watford LSP has identified six priority tasks to create: a well-planned town with homes to suit all needs, a safer town, a healthy town, a prosperous and educated town, a town that protects its environment and heritage, a well-informed community where everyone can contribute. I ended up speaking on the theme of a well-planned town.
The event was well attended and there were some lively discussions as people talked through the themes and the individual priorities within the themes. The meeting was hosted by elected Mayor Dorothy Thornhill who spoke eloquently on Watford and its people. It is a subject on which she feels great passion and she manages to communicate this passion very well: she can be quite magnificent like a fully rigged galleon running before the trade winds. Tonight she was not even ruffled by the (temporary) loss of her glasses.
I have always admired the raw democracy of the town meetings of ancient Greece or eighteenth century American. Tonight’s meeting felt very egalitarian, honest, charming and human: but it is only one stage in the overall process of revising the local plan.
Taking part in discussions on Watford’s future meant that I once again missed out on folk dancing in Welwyn – a small price to pay for a healthy local democracy.
Meanwhile, I attended One Watford’s evening consultation on revisions to the Community Plan. We saw the finished vox pop DVD on Watford and heard various speakers from the One Watford LSP.
Through initial discussions, the One Watford LSP has identified six priority tasks to create: a well-planned town with homes to suit all needs, a safer town, a healthy town, a prosperous and educated town, a town that protects its environment and heritage, a well-informed community where everyone can contribute. I ended up speaking on the theme of a well-planned town.
The event was well attended and there were some lively discussions as people talked through the themes and the individual priorities within the themes. The meeting was hosted by elected Mayor Dorothy Thornhill who spoke eloquently on Watford and its people. It is a subject on which she feels great passion and she manages to communicate this passion very well: she can be quite magnificent like a fully rigged galleon running before the trade winds. Tonight she was not even ruffled by the (temporary) loss of her glasses.
I have always admired the raw democracy of the town meetings of ancient Greece or eighteenth century American. Tonight’s meeting felt very egalitarian, honest, charming and human: but it is only one stage in the overall process of revising the local plan.
Taking part in discussions on Watford’s future meant that I once again missed out on folk dancing in Welwyn – a small price to pay for a healthy local democracy.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
There was a meeting this morning to put the finishing touches to planning for the 29 October conference on NI7: creating the environment for a thriving third sector in Hertfordshire. I had spent some months (off and on, obviously) attending meetings to help organise this, and we had lined up speakers and contributors from the Compact Commission, the Office of the Third Sector, Compact Voice, Compact Advocacy and NAVCA’s excellent Public Law Project. I felt I had contributed about as much as I could to the event and I sent a note to the meeting about the outstanding work while I attended a meeting of the Watford Community Sports Network. A short while after returning from the Sports Network I learned that this morning’s meeting took the decision to pull the plug on the county-wide 29 October conference.
I am not absolutely sure why. It is true that bookings are not quite as high as we would have wished, but there is a good spread of people attending (including from the PCTs who are just beginning to re-engage with Compact) and there is still a week to go and much can be achieved in a week. We are still a speaker short but I cannot imagine many people complaining if the conference ended 30 minutes early. I suspect the real reason behind the decision is a general non-specific feeling that more needs to be done to pave the way for a conference where success is assured. Maybe.
In any event, I had the curious job of writing out to speakers and attendees advising them of the cancellation, without myself properly understanding the reason for the cancellation. It’s surprising how quickly work can be “undone”. It has taken months of quite difficult and painstaking work to put the conference together (such as it was) but it took only about 90 minutes to send out all the e-mails advising everyone of the cancellation.
This done, the day’s shocks were still not over. I met with Sarah Pinnock, WBC’s senior grants officer, to learn that she is considering a move to new pastures. Of course things must change, but it is sad that Watford will lose someone with so much knowledgeable and experience. If she goes, I will miss her hugely.
I am not absolutely sure why. It is true that bookings are not quite as high as we would have wished, but there is a good spread of people attending (including from the PCTs who are just beginning to re-engage with Compact) and there is still a week to go and much can be achieved in a week. We are still a speaker short but I cannot imagine many people complaining if the conference ended 30 minutes early. I suspect the real reason behind the decision is a general non-specific feeling that more needs to be done to pave the way for a conference where success is assured. Maybe.
In any event, I had the curious job of writing out to speakers and attendees advising them of the cancellation, without myself properly understanding the reason for the cancellation. It’s surprising how quickly work can be “undone”. It has taken months of quite difficult and painstaking work to put the conference together (such as it was) but it took only about 90 minutes to send out all the e-mails advising everyone of the cancellation.
This done, the day’s shocks were still not over. I met with Sarah Pinnock, WBC’s senior grants officer, to learn that she is considering a move to new pastures. Of course things must change, but it is sad that Watford will lose someone with so much knowledgeable and experience. If she goes, I will miss her hugely.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
I did consider attending the AGM of Cover (the regional voluntary sector agency for the East of England) but it is a long journey and I had more local concerns.
Helen Price and I met for a talk about volunteering and the possible creation of a Good Neighbours scheme in Watford. At a national level, the resources for volunteering are few and the future looks increasingly bleak. V-base is the national database solution and I think there are considerable difficulties with this application. The V-base people consulted Volunteer Centres about paying for the software licenses and they found Volunteer Centres predictably opposed to this. V-base are sensitive to this and now say they will instead charge a “V-base membership fee” to cover licensing, support, training and development. It is not clear how Volunteer Centres will notice a difference between the two approaches – or indeed why they were consulted in the first place.
Our local concern is not to prove WB Yeats’s observation that “things fall apart, the centre cannot hold”. Our concern is very specific: how best to deploy our very limited resources in Watford to promote volunteering and support our member organisations. It seems very unlikely that the answer to this will involve paying for the uncertain pleasure of sharing volunteering data with another organisation.
Watford
Watford holds a unique position in post-modernist uber-ironic Britain. Some regard Watford with indifference and scorn as the epitome of suburban small-town middle-England: hard-working, practical, slightly puritanical, minding our own business, rubbing along, muddling through, getting on with our lives. Other’s regard Watford with familiar affection as the epitome of suburban small-town middle-England: hard-working, practical, slightly puritanical, minding our own business, rubbing along, muddling through, getting on with our lives.
There is a narrow path across the no-man’s land between these two opposing world views. Two steps to one side Watford is a national joke. Two steps to the other we are a national icon. I think Watford quietly rejoices in the ambiguity.
This evening I attended a meeting of Watford’s Scrutiny Committee which considered how best to promote civic pride in Watford. The answer is not that we should aspire to be a national icon; teh answer is that we must revel in our ambiguous twi-light status.
Helen Price and I met for a talk about volunteering and the possible creation of a Good Neighbours scheme in Watford. At a national level, the resources for volunteering are few and the future looks increasingly bleak. V-base is the national database solution and I think there are considerable difficulties with this application. The V-base people consulted Volunteer Centres about paying for the software licenses and they found Volunteer Centres predictably opposed to this. V-base are sensitive to this and now say they will instead charge a “V-base membership fee” to cover licensing, support, training and development. It is not clear how Volunteer Centres will notice a difference between the two approaches – or indeed why they were consulted in the first place.
Our local concern is not to prove WB Yeats’s observation that “things fall apart, the centre cannot hold”. Our concern is very specific: how best to deploy our very limited resources in Watford to promote volunteering and support our member organisations. It seems very unlikely that the answer to this will involve paying for the uncertain pleasure of sharing volunteering data with another organisation.
Watford
Watford holds a unique position in post-modernist uber-ironic Britain. Some regard Watford with indifference and scorn as the epitome of suburban small-town middle-England: hard-working, practical, slightly puritanical, minding our own business, rubbing along, muddling through, getting on with our lives. Other’s regard Watford with familiar affection as the epitome of suburban small-town middle-England: hard-working, practical, slightly puritanical, minding our own business, rubbing along, muddling through, getting on with our lives.
There is a narrow path across the no-man’s land between these two opposing world views. Two steps to one side Watford is a national joke. Two steps to the other we are a national icon. I think Watford quietly rejoices in the ambiguity.
This evening I attended a meeting of Watford’s Scrutiny Committee which considered how best to promote civic pride in Watford. The answer is not that we should aspire to be a national icon; teh answer is that we must revel in our ambiguous twi-light status.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Watford CVS has held some very successful networking lunches but numbers are always variable. Today, despite much effort, just 25 of us gathered for a consultation exercise on the Watford Community Plan (which the government now insists we call a "Sustainable Community Strategy").
It is not always possible to influence who turns up; all one can do is ones best for those that do make the effort to turn up at a particular event. Those that came today were rewarded by some very informative talks from Emma Gadsby and Rachel Dawson of WBC and from Ethel Bangwayo (with Herts-wide responsibility for engaging the voluntary sector with the LAA). It was very worthwhile to give people a chance to contribute to the shaping of plans for Watford.
One welcome attendee was our Mayor Dorothy Thornhill. She is genuinely and truly committed to community events and whenever she attends, I instinctively think “how lovely, but I mustn’t take advantage of her by making her give a talk”. I think of this as being considerate, courteous, even gallant. But of course everyone expects their Mayor to “say a few words”; and indeed she does it so supremely well that I think secretly she might rather enjoy it.
It is not always possible to influence who turns up; all one can do is ones best for those that do make the effort to turn up at a particular event. Those that came today were rewarded by some very informative talks from Emma Gadsby and Rachel Dawson of WBC and from Ethel Bangwayo (with Herts-wide responsibility for engaging the voluntary sector with the LAA). It was very worthwhile to give people a chance to contribute to the shaping of plans for Watford.
One welcome attendee was our Mayor Dorothy Thornhill. She is genuinely and truly committed to community events and whenever she attends, I instinctively think “how lovely, but I mustn’t take advantage of her by making her give a talk”. I think of this as being considerate, courteous, even gallant. But of course everyone expects their Mayor to “say a few words”; and indeed she does it so supremely well that I think secretly she might rather enjoy it.
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Birthday boy
I started my birthday mucking out the chickens. This isn't as unpleasant as it sounds; Chicken Ethelreda clucked happily around me and almost purred when I gave her an occasional stroke. But on the minus side, Chicken Audrey flapped and squawked horribly. I took Bobby to Barnet to start his journey home, bumped into Jackie’s daughter and family, visited her parents, and we were home resting by 5:00 pm.
My birthday treats included a fetching Barack Obama baseball cap and a trip to teh Bayfordbury Observatory. I thought after a dismal start to the season, Tottenham Hotspur would make the effort to win on my birthday. But no. They stumbled from the sublime to the ridiculous, gave away two penalties, had two players sent off, one concussed, and lost 2-1 away to Stoke City. Perhaps no-one told them it was my birthday? Thankfully I know it's only a game and I don't take it too seriously. Grrrrr.
I started my birthday mucking out the chickens. This isn't as unpleasant as it sounds; Chicken Ethelreda clucked happily around me and almost purred when I gave her an occasional stroke. But on the minus side, Chicken Audrey flapped and squawked horribly. I took Bobby to Barnet to start his journey home, bumped into Jackie’s daughter and family, visited her parents, and we were home resting by 5:00 pm.
My birthday treats included a fetching Barack Obama baseball cap and a trip to teh Bayfordbury Observatory. I thought after a dismal start to the season, Tottenham Hotspur would make the effort to win on my birthday. But no. They stumbled from the sublime to the ridiculous, gave away two penalties, had two players sent off, one concussed, and lost 2-1 away to Stoke City. Perhaps no-one told them it was my birthday? Thankfully I know it's only a game and I don't take it too seriously. Grrrrr.
Saturday, 18 October 2008
I spent the day visiting my sister in Ampthill and the evening with Jackie over a glass of cider.
Friday, 17 October 2008
I have (I think) pretty much completed the new Sunflower website, and passed it on for their direct management. My charming volunteer from yesterday didn’t turn up today; I do worry that I might sometimes alarm people. But I finished off the October payroll, completed a funding proposal and finalised our half-yearly BIG Lottery fund report.
I also held a staff meeting beginning “promptly at 12:00”. This was our first semi-formal staff meeting – on which see my thoughts here. As my birthday is approaching, I was presented with a birthday card and someone had gone to great lengths to procure a large tray of sticky buns. I was rather embarrassed. The meeting went well but I am ashamed to say I did 90% of the talking as there is so much happening that people need to know about. Hopefully I will talk less at future meetings.
My son Bobby arrived from Brighton and we joined Jackie and Bryan for an evening meal at the excellent China Sky.
I also held a staff meeting beginning “promptly at 12:00”. This was our first semi-formal staff meeting – on which see my thoughts here. As my birthday is approaching, I was presented with a birthday card and someone had gone to great lengths to procure a large tray of sticky buns. I was rather embarrassed. The meeting went well but I am ashamed to say I did 90% of the talking as there is so much happening that people need to know about. Hopefully I will talk less at future meetings.
My son Bobby arrived from Brighton and we joined Jackie and Bryan for an evening meal at the excellent China Sky.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
At Watford, I met with a charming new volunteer and drafted our first half yearly report to the Big Lottery Fund (or rather added my bits to a draft prepared by Anne Boyd and Vanessa Levy).
In the afternoon I travelled to Whitechapel for the Disability Law Service’s AGM. This is a superb organisation superbly managed by Linda Clark and her team – for once I even managed to arrive a little early. The AGM went well and I was pleased to continue as a trustee. But I really don't want to remain as Treasurer as I know I can't devote the necessary time to this additional role. The AGM agreed to delegate the decision to the next Trustees meeting, and each side retired to plan its next move.
In the afternoon I travelled to Whitechapel for the Disability Law Service’s AGM. This is a superb organisation superbly managed by Linda Clark and her team – for once I even managed to arrive a little early. The AGM went well and I was pleased to continue as a trustee. But I really don't want to remain as Treasurer as I know I can't devote the necessary time to this additional role. The AGM agreed to delegate the decision to the next Trustees meeting, and each side retired to plan its next move.
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
After yesterday’s car accident, I took Jackie to work in her own car and then drove on to Watford. I was late for my 8:00 meeting about the Sunflower Centre website and found my visitors in the doorway sheltering from the rain. The meeting went well and I think the site is now much simpler and more accessible.
I learned that Mohamed Fawzi will be the new manager for our Youth Connexions contract. This is Good News: he understands the work and will be a great champion for it.
I took a call from Ange Jones of the Women's Resource Centre in London. She had seen my comments on social exclusion and kindly called me to say that the Women's Resource Centre will soon arrange a course in the East of England on Human Rights - tackling inequality and social exclusion. This was of course very pleasing. Thank you, Ange; I do hope the event is near Watford and not miles away in Ipswich or Norwich.
Spurred on by Eliud Matindi of the Herts BME Partnership, I again investigated The Mystery of the Community Cohesion Monies. Watford has been awarded monies from the Government’s stupidly-named Tackling Violent Extremism fund (who thought that up?). We have heard persistent rumours that Watford has also been allocated a sum of money to spend on “Community Cohesion”. But no-one in Watford seems to know anything about any such allocation, and no-one outside Watford seems able to provide details on how much has been allocated to Watford, how it will be paid and what the money is for exactly. Today, thanks to Eliud, we achieved a breakthrough. The money is approximately £150,000 over three years, allocated by the DCLG and the contact in Watford is my good friend Emma Gadsby. I spoke to Emma and she knows nothing whatsoever about it. But still, it’s progress of a sort.
I tried to track down Karin Robinson (Barack Obama’s “Regional Campaign Organiser” for London) as she was to address a meeting of the Watford One World forum this evening but hadn’t been in touch for a few weeks. I eventually put Sha-Lee Worrell-Miller on the job and she used her magic to establish contact but the news was disappointing … Of course Karin was very apologetic and had tried to find a replacement and juggle things but people had flu and it is the day of the final Presidential Candidates’ Televised Debate and Karin is hosting a big fundraising event in London and ... she promised to try and make it up to us.
Part of my afternoon I spent issuing (rather embarrassing) e-mails announcing the cancellation of our high profile meeting. Fortunately we hadn’t invited the TV cameras.
In an uncharacteristically political moment I said I would forgive Karin if she helped get Barack Obama elected. As an afterthought I suggested that when President Obama visits England, it might be nice if he paid a visit to Watford. One never knows …
Although he is very impressive, I am not completely sold on Barack Obama – my cynicism runs deep and although that sort of sincerity is hard to fake (just ask Tony Blair) it can be done. What most attracts me to the Obama campaign is the alternative: McCain seems pretty decent but his running mate is the embodiment of: everything I detest / gung-ho fundamentalist stupidity / pure evil (delete to taste).
I learned that Mohamed Fawzi will be the new manager for our Youth Connexions contract. This is Good News: he understands the work and will be a great champion for it.
I took a call from Ange Jones of the Women's Resource Centre in London. She had seen my comments on social exclusion and kindly called me to say that the Women's Resource Centre will soon arrange a course in the East of England on Human Rights - tackling inequality and social exclusion. This was of course very pleasing. Thank you, Ange; I do hope the event is near Watford and not miles away in Ipswich or Norwich.
Spurred on by Eliud Matindi of the Herts BME Partnership, I again investigated The Mystery of the Community Cohesion Monies. Watford has been awarded monies from the Government’s stupidly-named Tackling Violent Extremism fund (who thought that up?). We have heard persistent rumours that Watford has also been allocated a sum of money to spend on “Community Cohesion”. But no-one in Watford seems to know anything about any such allocation, and no-one outside Watford seems able to provide details on how much has been allocated to Watford, how it will be paid and what the money is for exactly. Today, thanks to Eliud, we achieved a breakthrough. The money is approximately £150,000 over three years, allocated by the DCLG and the contact in Watford is my good friend Emma Gadsby. I spoke to Emma and she knows nothing whatsoever about it. But still, it’s progress of a sort.
I tried to track down Karin Robinson (Barack Obama’s “Regional Campaign Organiser” for London) as she was to address a meeting of the Watford One World forum this evening but hadn’t been in touch for a few weeks. I eventually put Sha-Lee Worrell-Miller on the job and she used her magic to establish contact but the news was disappointing … Of course Karin was very apologetic and had tried to find a replacement and juggle things but people had flu and it is the day of the final Presidential Candidates’ Televised Debate and Karin is hosting a big fundraising event in London and ... she promised to try and make it up to us.
Part of my afternoon I spent issuing (rather embarrassing) e-mails announcing the cancellation of our high profile meeting. Fortunately we hadn’t invited the TV cameras.
In an uncharacteristically political moment I said I would forgive Karin if she helped get Barack Obama elected. As an afterthought I suggested that when President Obama visits England, it might be nice if he paid a visit to Watford. One never knows …
Although he is very impressive, I am not completely sold on Barack Obama – my cynicism runs deep and although that sort of sincerity is hard to fake (just ask Tony Blair) it can be done. What most attracts me to the Obama campaign is the alternative: McCain seems pretty decent but his running mate is the embodiment of: everything I detest / gung-ho fundamentalist stupidity / pure evil (delete to taste).
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Hertfordshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services (affectionately known as "hickviss) and Hertfordshire Association for Young People have now merged to form a new organisation called pro:action. This morning I was visited by Nicole Williamson who is pro:action's new local development worker for youth services. She has a tough role supporting youth organisations throughout the western part of Hertfordshire but she is very impressive and I hope the CVSs can support her.
In the evening I paid a brief visit to Watford Chess Club. In my youth I played competitive chess and I still enjoy an occasional social game of chess – usually at home or in the garden of some suitable hostelry. I haven’t played regularly for years and thought Watford Chess Club might provide an occasional companionable game. I was wrong. Watford Chess Club is very welcoming but it is a serious chess club. Imagine turning up at Saracens and saying, “I haven’t played for twenty years and thought I’d pop along for a game”. I don’t understand the modern openings and the social etiquette. Picture a lamb off to slaughter and committing some awful faux pas – perhaps wearing “yellow stockings cross garter’d” or something.
I left the Club about 8:00 and my day declined further on the way home. As I navigated the big round-a-bout at the bottom of St Albans, another car missed its exit and performed an emergency stop. The car behind it managed to stop with inches to spare but my reactions weren’t quite quick enough and I tail-ended the car in front of me. The impact was not very violent but sufficient to shatter my headlight and crumple my bumper and bonnet. Thankfully no-one was hurt and there was virtually no damage to the car I hit. The emergency stopping car did a near u-turn on the round-a-bout and shot off to St Albans never to be seen again. In any event my No Claims Bonus is likely to be lost. Jackie took the news remarkably calmly.
In the evening I paid a brief visit to Watford Chess Club. In my youth I played competitive chess and I still enjoy an occasional social game of chess – usually at home or in the garden of some suitable hostelry. I haven’t played regularly for years and thought Watford Chess Club might provide an occasional companionable game. I was wrong. Watford Chess Club is very welcoming but it is a serious chess club. Imagine turning up at Saracens and saying, “I haven’t played for twenty years and thought I’d pop along for a game”. I don’t understand the modern openings and the social etiquette. Picture a lamb off to slaughter and committing some awful faux pas – perhaps wearing “yellow stockings cross garter’d” or something.
I left the Club about 8:00 and my day declined further on the way home. As I navigated the big round-a-bout at the bottom of St Albans, another car missed its exit and performed an emergency stop. The car behind it managed to stop with inches to spare but my reactions weren’t quite quick enough and I tail-ended the car in front of me. The impact was not very violent but sufficient to shatter my headlight and crumple my bumper and bonnet. Thankfully no-one was hurt and there was virtually no damage to the car I hit. The emergency stopping car did a near u-turn on the round-a-bout and shot off to St Albans never to be seen again. In any event my No Claims Bonus is likely to be lost. Jackie took the news remarkably calmly.
Monday, 13 October 2008
No-one wishes for either role of course, but most of us will be carers or cared for at some stage in our lives. At any given time, Britain has an invisible army of around 6 million carers providing much-needed help and support to a partner, relative, friend or neighbour. Carers in Herts provides help and support to those providing help and support.
Today it was my pleasure to deliver a short course on Implementing PQASSO to a group of managers from Carers in Herts. It was very rewarding to see the participants get to grips with PQASSO and identify how they could use it to support their work and deliver improvements to their service users. I thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Today it was my pleasure to deliver a short course on Implementing PQASSO to a group of managers from Carers in Herts. It was very rewarding to see the participants get to grips with PQASSO and identify how they could use it to support their work and deliver improvements to their service users. I thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Today was another beautiful balmy day. Jackie and I did some gardening but mostly I moved books into my new office – and then spent the evening preparing for Monday’s workshop on PQASSO for Carers in Herts.
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Today was unseasonally and delightfully warm. With Bobby now safely installed in Brighton, Jackie and Bryan have kindly spent the past fortnight redecorating his room so that I can have my own private study (except during Bobby's occasional visits) rather than a cubby hole under the stairs. Today I hobbled about on my sore ankle putting up shelves and preparing to take up occupation of my new domain: it was hot work but very satisfying.
In the evening I finished reading RE Pritchard's Shakespeare's England: Life in Elizabethan and Jacobean Times which is an illuminating collection of contemporary social commentaries on England around 1600.
In the evening I finished reading RE Pritchard's Shakespeare's England: Life in Elizabethan and Jacobean Times which is an illuminating collection of contemporary social commentaries on England around 1600.
Friday, 10 October 2008
After the drama of yesterday I was amazed this morning that my ankle was much recovered: I couldn’t attempt any gymnastics but it was perfectly serviceable for normal activities.
I started the day visiting the PCT to talk about community engagement and finished it with Hema at HCC talking about our advocacy project. All in all I coped rather well with my sore ankle but I was pleased to get back home and put my foot up.
I started the day visiting the PCT to talk about community engagement and finished it with Hema at HCC talking about our advocacy project. All in all I coped rather well with my sore ankle but I was pleased to get back home and put my foot up.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Hop skip and jump
Today we had a rubbish skip delivered to Watford CVS. I hate skips: they signify a failure to recycle and scream out “landfill!” I hated this skip even more as it was in my car parking space and it was largely down to me to fill the damn thing.
At first, I did pretty well filling the skip with 1960s-style meeting-room chairs and 1950s-style filing cabinets. I also binned lots of paper files and the archivist in me worried that they contained important information for future local historians. As I carried out large boxes of these old files, I consoled myself with the (pleasingly pompous) thought that CVSs are not funded to document history but to create history. But the Gods were alert to such signs of Hubris and a savage pain shook through my body. I jumped in agony, swore loudly and sat down very quickly clutching my ankle. I may even have shed a tear; luckily there were no witnesses. Twenty minutes later, the pain had subsided sufficiently for me to stand up and limp pathetically. Shortly, a volunteer materialised to help out with the dumping (thanks James!) and I briefly took things easy. An hour or so later I was on my own again with a skip still to fill and three large cupboards to manoeuvre through the office.
My colleagues were of course exceedingly solicitous of my good health and treated me with great kindness offering teas and herbal remedies and an accident book. But only Des Reid could actually help with the manly work of lifting and shifting and he got stuck in like a real trooper. Meanwhile, I was trying to co-ordinate the preparation of papers for tomorrow’s meeting to review our BME Advocacy project (in which endeavour Sha-Lee played a starring role).
I eventually limped from the office about 6:00 pm and had a very uncomfortable drive home. I just managed to hop into the house and collapse on the sofa. Jackie carefully removed my shoe and sock and I was rather relieved to see that the damage to my ankle was all too apparent and it was swollen very badly. All hopes of folk dancing were long gone, but Jackie nursed me beautifully and soon made things ok.
Today we had a rubbish skip delivered to Watford CVS. I hate skips: they signify a failure to recycle and scream out “landfill!” I hated this skip even more as it was in my car parking space and it was largely down to me to fill the damn thing.
At first, I did pretty well filling the skip with 1960s-style meeting-room chairs and 1950s-style filing cabinets. I also binned lots of paper files and the archivist in me worried that they contained important information for future local historians. As I carried out large boxes of these old files, I consoled myself with the (pleasingly pompous) thought that CVSs are not funded to document history but to create history. But the Gods were alert to such signs of Hubris and a savage pain shook through my body. I jumped in agony, swore loudly and sat down very quickly clutching my ankle. I may even have shed a tear; luckily there were no witnesses. Twenty minutes later, the pain had subsided sufficiently for me to stand up and limp pathetically. Shortly, a volunteer materialised to help out with the dumping (thanks James!) and I briefly took things easy. An hour or so later I was on my own again with a skip still to fill and three large cupboards to manoeuvre through the office.
My colleagues were of course exceedingly solicitous of my good health and treated me with great kindness offering teas and herbal remedies and an accident book. But only Des Reid could actually help with the manly work of lifting and shifting and he got stuck in like a real trooper. Meanwhile, I was trying to co-ordinate the preparation of papers for tomorrow’s meeting to review our BME Advocacy project (in which endeavour Sha-Lee played a starring role).
I eventually limped from the office about 6:00 pm and had a very uncomfortable drive home. I just managed to hop into the house and collapse on the sofa. Jackie carefully removed my shoe and sock and I was rather relieved to see that the damage to my ankle was all too apparent and it was swollen very badly. All hopes of folk dancing were long gone, but Jackie nursed me beautifully and soon made things ok.
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
This morning I returned to the Watford Community Housing Trust – this time for a meeting of the Community Development network. WCHT are still going through the process of appointing a new Community Director, but Lesley Palumbo was present as Watford Borough Council’s new Director and I was very impressed. There were some very constructive and forward-looking discussions and unanimity on The Way Forward.
There were still some tricky issues back at the office. WCVS’s staff work in difficult areas with some very vulnerable clients facing big challenges, so it is not surprising that there are occasional difficulties.
One of my favourite Golden Rules is that in networks and forums you work with whoever turns up. At today’s (rather small) meeting of the Community Arts Network I followed the rule and as often happens it paid great dividends: it now looks possible that next summer Watford will enjoy a proper broad community-wide arts event. Of course it is very early days and there is a vast amount of work to be done but if anyone can pull it off it is Marv and Amy.
There were still some tricky issues back at the office. WCVS’s staff work in difficult areas with some very vulnerable clients facing big challenges, so it is not surprising that there are occasional difficulties.
One of my favourite Golden Rules is that in networks and forums you work with whoever turns up. At today’s (rather small) meeting of the Community Arts Network I followed the rule and as often happens it paid great dividends: it now looks possible that next summer Watford will enjoy a proper broad community-wide arts event. Of course it is very early days and there is a vast amount of work to be done but if anyone can pull it off it is Marv and Amy.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Today I went to the Watford Community Housing Trust to attend the latest meeting of One Watford, the Local Strategic Partnership. WCHT are a very good organisation with excellent accommodation but for their tea cups they use the thickest china I have ever encountered.
The LSP is reviewing the Watford Community Strategy and is setting down a comprehensive series of local consultations. Consultation events I am involved in include a community networking lunch, an evening consultation, a meeting of the Watford Community Development network, and a meeting of the Chief Officers’ Information Network. At today’s One Watford meeting I was confirmed as Vice Chair of the LSP so it is perhaps just as well that I am being so industrious.
In the WCVS office, I have had to support staff who are dealing with some thorny little problems. In the afternoon I took calls from local groups seeking trustees and visited a local group that is facing a significant drop in income and possible closure. More pleasantly, I spoke with a charming young lady called Kyungae Kim who is studying marketing and is doing a marketing project on Watford CVS: I fear we will make a very challenging case study!
The LSP is reviewing the Watford Community Strategy and is setting down a comprehensive series of local consultations. Consultation events I am involved in include a community networking lunch, an evening consultation, a meeting of the Watford Community Development network, and a meeting of the Chief Officers’ Information Network. At today’s One Watford meeting I was confirmed as Vice Chair of the LSP so it is perhaps just as well that I am being so industrious.
In the WCVS office, I have had to support staff who are dealing with some thorny little problems. In the afternoon I took calls from local groups seeking trustees and visited a local group that is facing a significant drop in income and possible closure. More pleasantly, I spoke with a charming young lady called Kyungae Kim who is studying marketing and is doing a marketing project on Watford CVS: I fear we will make a very challenging case study!
Monday, 6 October 2008
This morning I had a shock from one of my favourite initiatives Charity Technology Exchange. This is a fabulous way for charities to get properly licensed software from major companies like Microsoft and Symantec. I understood that the terms and conditions allowed us to buy software once in each twelve month period running July – June. But I had not read the clause that says there must also be twelve full months between purchases. Today I realised my mistake and offer it up here as an object lesson to others.
With HCC's Andrew Burt I juggled around the agenda for the forthcoming 29 October conference, I met with our excellent auditors, dealt with some “domestic office issues” (I hope that’s vague enough), started drafting a new policy on Conflicts of Interest, and received a plea for help from a local almshouse charity. It was indeed a day of bits and pieces.
With HCC's Andrew Burt I juggled around the agenda for the forthcoming 29 October conference, I met with our excellent auditors, dealt with some “domestic office issues” (I hope that’s vague enough), started drafting a new policy on Conflicts of Interest, and received a plea for help from a local almshouse charity. It was indeed a day of bits and pieces.
Saturday, 4 October 2008
Jackie and I spent a lovely day babysitting our granddaughter Beth and visiting the Mill Green museum in Hatfield (I'd like to know what my old school blazer is doing in a museum!). In the evening, we visited Jackie’s brother for a barbecue.
Friday, 3 October 2008
All indications are that last night’s launch of the Charity Trustees Network was a great success.
At lunchtime, I met with a few colleagues here to talk about CRM and (particularly) a system for classifying voluntary groups. I think we made great progress broadly adopting the Charity Commission’s approach of asking: Who do you aim to help? What is the focus of your work? How do you operate? Plus a few ancillary questions: Do you offer meeting / function rooms to rent? Do you offer equipment for hire? Do you use volunteers? Are you a charity shop / social enterprise?
I also held a meeting with our Connexions PAs, and on my way home dropped by the LSC to look at some furniture they are offering free to charities.
At lunchtime, I met with a few colleagues here to talk about CRM and (particularly) a system for classifying voluntary groups. I think we made great progress broadly adopting the Charity Commission’s approach of asking: Who do you aim to help? What is the focus of your work? How do you operate? Plus a few ancillary questions: Do you offer meeting / function rooms to rent? Do you offer equipment for hire? Do you use volunteers? Are you a charity shop / social enterprise?
I also held a meeting with our Connexions PAs, and on my way home dropped by the LSC to look at some furniture they are offering free to charities.
Thursday, 2 October 2008
I have now received polite “thanks but no thanks” letters from two of the local firms invited to nominate someone to the new Watford Community Fund – some firms are clearly just too busy surviving the great “credit crunch”.
I met with two member groups about the new website. In the early evening, there was a meeting of the Watford One World forum to finalise arrangements for a steering group to consider the forum’s future activities: there are some exciting possibilities.
I also (at last!) sent out invitations to our 29 October conference in Stevenage: Creating the environment for a thriving third sector in Hertfordshire.
About 8:00 pm I left for home. By this time, Vanessa (our Training and Development Officer) and Pam (our Chair of Trustees) were hosting the launch of Watford’s Charity Trustees Network. I would like to have been present for the launch, but there are few people I trust more than Vanessa and Pam and with forty trustees booked to attend it is difficult to see what I could have added to the evening.
I met with two member groups about the new website. In the early evening, there was a meeting of the Watford One World forum to finalise arrangements for a steering group to consider the forum’s future activities: there are some exciting possibilities.
I also (at last!) sent out invitations to our 29 October conference in Stevenage: Creating the environment for a thriving third sector in Hertfordshire.
About 8:00 pm I left for home. By this time, Vanessa (our Training and Development Officer) and Pam (our Chair of Trustees) were hosting the launch of Watford’s Charity Trustees Network. I would like to have been present for the launch, but there are few people I trust more than Vanessa and Pam and with forty trustees booked to attend it is difficult to see what I could have added to the evening.
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
We have received disappointing news from Capacitybuilders that they have turned down two of the three projects put forward by HIC for funding. They have declined to fund a project to raise the profile of the voluntary sector and support engagement with the LAA, and they have declined to fund a project looking to strengthen and extend the voluntary sector’s work on equalities. On a more positive note, they have agreed to fund a “Circuit Riders” project to provide IT support to voluntary groups - although I can't help thinking this is just to pander to the current vogue for social enterprise.
My biggest concern is that these (and other recent funding decisions) mean that the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium, rather than stepping up its programme and its presence, now looks more like the Bare Bones Parliament. Those of us committed to co-ordination in the County must rally round, but I sense the forces of reaction around us.
Elsewhere during the day I spoke with Caroline Tippin, Watford’s new supremo for Youth Connexions.
Our new website is beginning to take shape: we have finished designing the template site and we have identified a first tranche of 120-odd sites to create. The launch date is now only weeks away – but I seem to have been saying this for months.
In the evening, we had a meeting of the local Community Arts Network – a network which has brought together disparate people from Watford’s arts scene, but which has always lacked a clear focus. Although this was a (particularly) small meeting, I think the network has finally identified a focus for its activities: an annual community-based arts festival embracing all forms of the arts and loosely based on the Eisteddfod format. Marv and Amy from Inspiral Arts have agreed to push things forward and I am now very positive about the network’s future.
My biggest concern is that these (and other recent funding decisions) mean that the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium, rather than stepping up its programme and its presence, now looks more like the Bare Bones Parliament. Those of us committed to co-ordination in the County must rally round, but I sense the forces of reaction around us.
Elsewhere during the day I spoke with Caroline Tippin, Watford’s new supremo for Youth Connexions.
Our new website is beginning to take shape: we have finished designing the template site and we have identified a first tranche of 120-odd sites to create. The launch date is now only weeks away – but I seem to have been saying this for months.
In the evening, we had a meeting of the local Community Arts Network – a network which has brought together disparate people from Watford’s arts scene, but which has always lacked a clear focus. Although this was a (particularly) small meeting, I think the network has finally identified a focus for its activities: an annual community-based arts festival embracing all forms of the arts and loosely based on the Eisteddfod format. Marv and Amy from Inspiral Arts have agreed to push things forward and I am now very positive about the network’s future.
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
It is hard delivering an independent advocacy service. Every day forces new decisions: when do we speak for the client and when do we let the client speak for them self? what is in the client’s best interest? when do we reserve our counsel and when do we assert our independence? when do we offer options and when do we advise? There is a constant stream of close-call value judgments to be made and when so much hangs on each call it is essential that we get everything exactly right. But things can be very subjective depending on expectations and perspective and this makes for a challenging environment.
I sent out an agenda for the 8 October meeting of the Community Development Network – hopefully we can sustain this group as it could play a very important role in helping to shape community work in Watford.
I sent out an agenda for the 8 October meeting of the Community Development Network – hopefully we can sustain this group as it could play a very important role in helping to shape community work in Watford.
Monday, 29 September 2008
I had a succession of meetings today talking with some of our member organisations: this is one of the most immediately rewarding aspects of this job. It is of course very satisfying to help people identify their needs and move toward practical solutions. But one must always be on guard against "creeping arrogance" and keep in mind that one does not know everything. Or is that just me?
Sunday, 28 September 2008
After the exhilaration of yesterday’s walk, Jackie and I spent a very quiet day pottering around the house and reading. I recently read the very Welsh Mabinogion, and a very blokish book of the Strangest Football Games.
I am always disappointed when I read dramatised or “imagined” histories but I was seduced into reading Jorge Volpi’s In Search of Klingsor by the its heady mixture of detective story, history, quantum physics, love interest, and classical allusions. There were some clever references and some nice imagery but something was lost in translation (the writer was Mexican) for the characters were barely two dimensional, the plot creaked at the seams and no important questions were addressed. Unless the whole thing was a metaphor for the vain search for logic and moral purpose in the Nazi psyche. But a moral equivalence between the holocaust and Hiroshima? Humbug! Why did I fall for it again? Note to self: always avoid dramatised histories.
I am always disappointed when I read dramatised or “imagined” histories but I was seduced into reading Jorge Volpi’s In Search of Klingsor by the its heady mixture of detective story, history, quantum physics, love interest, and classical allusions. There were some clever references and some nice imagery but something was lost in translation (the writer was Mexican) for the characters were barely two dimensional, the plot creaked at the seams and no important questions were addressed. Unless the whole thing was a metaphor for the vain search for logic and moral purpose in the Nazi psyche. But a moral equivalence between the holocaust and Hiroshima? Humbug! Why did I fall for it again? Note to self: always avoid dramatised histories.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
A memorable day
The early morning was foggy and the mist rose slowly as Jackie and I took our breakfast. As the sun broke through the mist, we decided on a whim that we would spend the day walking in Hatfield Great Park. We arrived there shortly after 10:00, paid our £5 entrance fee and parked near the never-quite-as-beautiful-as-it-should-be Hatfield House. As everyone else entered the house, we donned our walking boots and strode off into the woods. As usual, we said “there used to be a tank there” and “there used to be an oak tree there”.
We walked for a couple of miles through the ancient oak forest, now invaded by alien Rhododendron. Then we came to the River Lea, so much more broad and beautiful than I ever remember it. The sun was high and warm and there was barely a cloud in the sky nor a stirring of wind and not another soul around save for Jackie and I. A heron perched on top of a tree on the opposite bank. As I told Jackie of my boyhood visits to this exact spot, a kingfisher emerged from right under our feet and shot across the river to the far bank. A little later, another kingfisher appeared. This one flew across the surface of the water describing 320 degrees of a near-perfect circle and never rising more than two inches from the water.
I've seen kingfishers in books and on the television, but nothing prepared me for how exhilarating they are in real life - their electric blue brilliance is simply breath-taking.
We became slightly intoxicated I think and walked for hours and miles, carried forward by the memory of the kingfishers. We eventually arrived home tired and exhausted and extremely happy. The best £5 I have spent for a very long time.
The early morning was foggy and the mist rose slowly as Jackie and I took our breakfast. As the sun broke through the mist, we decided on a whim that we would spend the day walking in Hatfield Great Park. We arrived there shortly after 10:00, paid our £5 entrance fee and parked near the never-quite-as-beautiful-as-it-should-be Hatfield House. As everyone else entered the house, we donned our walking boots and strode off into the woods. As usual, we said “there used to be a tank there” and “there used to be an oak tree there”.
We walked for a couple of miles through the ancient oak forest, now invaded by alien Rhododendron. Then we came to the River Lea, so much more broad and beautiful than I ever remember it. The sun was high and warm and there was barely a cloud in the sky nor a stirring of wind and not another soul around save for Jackie and I. A heron perched on top of a tree on the opposite bank. As I told Jackie of my boyhood visits to this exact spot, a kingfisher emerged from right under our feet and shot across the river to the far bank. A little later, another kingfisher appeared. This one flew across the surface of the water describing 320 degrees of a near-perfect circle and never rising more than two inches from the water.
I've seen kingfishers in books and on the television, but nothing prepared me for how exhilarating they are in real life - their electric blue brilliance is simply breath-taking.
We became slightly intoxicated I think and walked for hours and miles, carried forward by the memory of the kingfishers. We eventually arrived home tired and exhausted and extremely happy. The best £5 I have spent for a very long time.
Friday, 26 September 2008
My Chair of Trustees, Pam Handley, visited this morning for my monthly supervision meeting and I was well prepared with an agenda of requests and queries. Pam rose wonderfully to the challenge and on each issue dispensed clear and helpful advice.
Later, I reviewed where we are with contacts for the Hertfordshire Compact Working Group. Across the ten second tier LSPs, we now have contacts for just over half.
For the rest of the day, I worked on preparing the distributing WCVS News # 132. There is always so much information to fit into one small newsletter - the work and the discipline is to distil everything into just four pages.
Later, I reviewed where we are with contacts for the Hertfordshire Compact Working Group. Across the ten second tier LSPs, we now have contacts for just over half.
For the rest of the day, I worked on preparing the distributing WCVS News # 132. There is always so much information to fit into one small newsletter - the work and the discipline is to distil everything into just four pages.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Stand still and be counted
Part of today I spent addressing a long-standing problem we have had to find a satisfactory way of classifying our member groups. Every funder and government agency it seems has its own system of classification, and Herts CVSs have adopted another method. But none seems to come close meeting our needs at Watford CVS.
I also sent out some invitations to private companies to see if we could get a commercial organisation to sit on our Watford Community Fund Panel overseeing the Grassroots Grants programme. We shall see what response we get.
We are beginning to feel a few pressures on our space at 149 The Parade and on my way home I visited some possible new offices for some of our staff. They weren’t absolutely ideal, but then what could be? I await further details.
When I returned home, I found that Jackie had tweaked her ankle so we cried off our dancing and relaxed at home.
Part of today I spent addressing a long-standing problem we have had to find a satisfactory way of classifying our member groups. Every funder and government agency it seems has its own system of classification, and Herts CVSs have adopted another method. But none seems to come close meeting our needs at Watford CVS.
I also sent out some invitations to private companies to see if we could get a commercial organisation to sit on our Watford Community Fund Panel overseeing the Grassroots Grants programme. We shall see what response we get.
We are beginning to feel a few pressures on our space at 149 The Parade and on my way home I visited some possible new offices for some of our staff. They weren’t absolutely ideal, but then what could be? I await further details.
When I returned home, I found that Jackie had tweaked her ankle so we cried off our dancing and relaxed at home.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Another day of pleasantly dull administration
I don’t want anyone to think I didn’t work hard, but it is very pleasant to have time to catch up on work that has been piling up for weeks. I won’t catch up on everything of course, but today I sorted out several future meetings and events and finalised the month’s salaries. I also (briefly) attended a steering group meeting for an initiative being launched by two of our members.
A surrender to formality
I also finally took the decision to timetable regular monthly staff meetings. Originally I resisted this: we were a small staff team of six and I felt that a “formal” monthly meeting was simply unnecessary (or maybe even pretentious) and would only lead to trouble. For the last two years we have only had irregular staff meetings when there has been something particular to discuss. But in this time, we have grown to be a staff team of thirteen. Most of the additional staff members are part-time, but this just exacerbates the challenges for team building and communication. So today I finally succumbed and scheduled regular monthly staff meetings. I can't shake off the feeling that this is a concession to bureaucracy and formality and that somewhere a fairy has died.
I don’t want anyone to think I didn’t work hard, but it is very pleasant to have time to catch up on work that has been piling up for weeks. I won’t catch up on everything of course, but today I sorted out several future meetings and events and finalised the month’s salaries. I also (briefly) attended a steering group meeting for an initiative being launched by two of our members.
A surrender to formality
I also finally took the decision to timetable regular monthly staff meetings. Originally I resisted this: we were a small staff team of six and I felt that a “formal” monthly meeting was simply unnecessary (or maybe even pretentious) and would only lead to trouble. For the last two years we have only had irregular staff meetings when there has been something particular to discuss. But in this time, we have grown to be a staff team of thirteen. Most of the additional staff members are part-time, but this just exacerbates the challenges for team building and communication. So today I finally succumbed and scheduled regular monthly staff meetings. I can't shake off the feeling that this is a concession to bureaucracy and formality and that somewhere a fairy has died.
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
I have an unprecedented stretch of five work days with no out-of-office meetings and I intend to extract full value from this opportunity.
First this morning, I attended to preparations for our 29 October Herts wide conference on partnership. I designed and prepared a website for the event. The problem we still have is the final 3:20 session which still says “HCC speaker tba”. I fear if we don’t get this slot filled soon it will be too late.
From the Women’s Resource Centre, I receive an invitation to a conference: Human rights – tackling inequality and social exclusion. There are a series of conferences all over the English regions - everywhere but the East of England region. I don’t want to seem ungracious but this seems a bit of a faux pas – we in the East of England region are learning a thing or two about social exclusion.
In the evening, I attended Watford Chess Club. I had thought to join Welwyn Chess Club, but then they changed their meetings to Thursdays and Thursdays are now reserved for folk dancing. So Welwyn’s loss is Watford’s gain; or not: tonight was the first time I have played for more than twenty years and I lost - badly and repeatedly.
First this morning, I attended to preparations for our 29 October Herts wide conference on partnership. I designed and prepared a website for the event. The problem we still have is the final 3:20 session which still says “HCC speaker tba”. I fear if we don’t get this slot filled soon it will be too late.
From the Women’s Resource Centre, I receive an invitation to a conference: Human rights – tackling inequality and social exclusion. There are a series of conferences all over the English regions - everywhere but the East of England region. I don’t want to seem ungracious but this seems a bit of a faux pas – we in the East of England region are learning a thing or two about social exclusion.
In the evening, I attended Watford Chess Club. I had thought to join Welwyn Chess Club, but then they changed their meetings to Thursdays and Thursdays are now reserved for folk dancing. So Welwyn’s loss is Watford’s gain; or not: tonight was the first time I have played for more than twenty years and I lost - badly and repeatedly.
Monday, 22 September 2008
I had expected this morning to go to St Albans for a Herts CVS meeting. But I woke feeling dreadful and Jackie put me back to bed with a cup of tea. I slept for another couple of hours, drank a cold cup of tea, called in my apologies to St Albans and then went back to sleep. I eventually roused myself at lunchtime and went to the office. I didn’t achieve too much (talked to people, wrote some e-mails, shuffled some papers) but I felt better for having made the effort.
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