Aged Ken RIP
Today was all about Aged Ken, whose years are of course indeterminate. Jackie acquired him as a “rescue” in 1994 when he was a young adult between three and seven, so he is now between eighteen and twenty-two; a splendid innings for any feline. Ken’s health has declined markedly over the past month or so and even more sharply in the past week: he can barely miaow, he eats sparsely and has lost more than half his body weight, his back legs are near collapse, his eyes are dimmed, he wheezes, and he can no longer clean himself. We’ve been hoping for a miracle recovery, but to hope further would simply be cruel to him. We all have so many fond memories of him: I mostly remember his constant miaow for food and his habit of butting me when he wanted his ears tickled. It’s curious how a family pet can generate such strong emotions. This afternoon, Jackie and I took Ken to the vet for his final injection. Ken was dignified and the young vet was understanding. It was all over very quickly and as we said good-bye I may have blubbed just a little.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Officially, I am on leave this week. Unofficially I am working to catch up on 1001 projects that need completing.
But today I was distracted by Aged Ken, our decrepit cat of indeterminate years. His health has been failing for a month or more. Jackie and I had hoped we could let nature take its course, but none of Ken’s various ailments seem sufficient to give him final rest. I suspect Ken is clinging onto his life because he thinks we still need him to watch over us. It is very difficult to judge whether or not a cat is suffering, but the signs are there. Jackie and I agree that if Ken does not rally or die overnight, we will need to take him to the vet tomorrow.
But today I was distracted by Aged Ken, our decrepit cat of indeterminate years. His health has been failing for a month or more. Jackie and I had hoped we could let nature take its course, but none of Ken’s various ailments seem sufficient to give him final rest. I suspect Ken is clinging onto his life because he thinks we still need him to watch over us. It is very difficult to judge whether or not a cat is suffering, but the signs are there. Jackie and I agree that if Ken does not rally or die overnight, we will need to take him to the vet tomorrow.
Monday, 25 May 2009
We hosted another Bank Holiday BBQ. At the close of the day we bid a fond farewell to Becky who has spent two weeks or so with us. I enjoyed her visit and hope to see her again soon.
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Jackie and took my sister out for lunch. We attempted the much lauded Fox at Willian but they were not particularly friendly to wheelchairs – or to people wanting to eat outside. Instead we went to the Millstream in Hitchin where we found friendly staff and good food reasonably priced.
You won’t be interested but ...
Awakening a dormant interest in Anglo-Saxon history and I read the Hertfordshire volume of the Phillimore translation of the Domesday book, complete with the original Latin text facing. What a treasure this is: I must learn Latin! Next, I read the Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. I am pretty sure I once heard Terry Jones refer to him as "the Tedious Bede"; if so, I know how he felt. My translation was awful and Bede's bottomless credulity is explained by the simple assertion that in those days there surely were more miracles performed. Utter tosh. But then I did learn more about Hertfordshire's connection to the early English Church - and a deeper possible explanation for the dedication of St Ethelreda's church in Hatfield. Lastly, I read Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf and compared to the other two books I found it utterly brilliant. Possibly this is down to the translators or the subject matter, or maybe this helps explain why English triumphed over Latin as the world's Lingua Franca. Perhaps I wont bother with Latin after all.
Between these rather earnest readings, I thoroughly enjoyed Catherine Fox’s Fight the Good Fight – the true story of her struggle to win a black belt in karate. I also enjoyed Stephen Winsten’s Days with Bernard Shaw about GBS’s life at Ayot St Lawrence - a first (only?) edition with excellent photographs. I struggled with Clark Blaise's Time Lord - Sir Sandford Fleming and the Creation of Standard Time. It is a fascinating subject that deserves a definitive study, but Clark Blaise likes the sound of his own quill and goes off at a tangent too readily. And for sheer unadulterated pleasure I read Adventure Stories for Boys published around 1975 by Octopus books and including contributions from Mohammad Ali, Winston Churchill, Lt Col Fawcett, John Buchan, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, Frank Richards, Rudyard Kipling, Jack London, Stirling Moss and Gerald Durrell. What joy!
You won’t be interested but ...
Awakening a dormant interest in Anglo-Saxon history and I read the Hertfordshire volume of the Phillimore translation of the Domesday book, complete with the original Latin text facing. What a treasure this is: I must learn Latin! Next, I read the Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. I am pretty sure I once heard Terry Jones refer to him as "the Tedious Bede"; if so, I know how he felt. My translation was awful and Bede's bottomless credulity is explained by the simple assertion that in those days there surely were more miracles performed. Utter tosh. But then I did learn more about Hertfordshire's connection to the early English Church - and a deeper possible explanation for the dedication of St Ethelreda's church in Hatfield. Lastly, I read Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf and compared to the other two books I found it utterly brilliant. Possibly this is down to the translators or the subject matter, or maybe this helps explain why English triumphed over Latin as the world's Lingua Franca. Perhaps I wont bother with Latin after all.
Between these rather earnest readings, I thoroughly enjoyed Catherine Fox’s Fight the Good Fight – the true story of her struggle to win a black belt in karate. I also enjoyed Stephen Winsten’s Days with Bernard Shaw about GBS’s life at Ayot St Lawrence - a first (only?) edition with excellent photographs. I struggled with Clark Blaise's Time Lord - Sir Sandford Fleming and the Creation of Standard Time. It is a fascinating subject that deserves a definitive study, but Clark Blaise likes the sound of his own quill and goes off at a tangent too readily. And for sheer unadulterated pleasure I read Adventure Stories for Boys published around 1975 by Octopus books and including contributions from Mohammad Ali, Winston Churchill, Lt Col Fawcett, John Buchan, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, Frank Richards, Rudyard Kipling, Jack London, Stirling Moss and Gerald Durrell. What joy!
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Jackie and I would enjoy doing virtually anything together, but spending a warm sunny day together in the garden is especially relaxing. Today, I installed an outside tap without major disaster and we were joined for lunch by Jackie’s parents.
Friday, 22 May 2009
This morning I was visited by Pam for my monthly supervision meeting. There were a lot of issues to cover, but Pam continues to offer gold standard support to her beleaguered CEO.
In the afternoon, I headed off to Hatfield for a meeting of the Herts Minority Ethnic Education Forum. I attended to contribute to a discussion on “developing more formal structures”. But discussions on structure often reveal fundamental uncertainties about a group’s aims and values, and this proved the case here. More meeting dates were scheduled and I hope these uncertainties will soon be resolved.
In the afternoon, I headed off to Hatfield for a meeting of the Herts Minority Ethnic Education Forum. I attended to contribute to a discussion on “developing more formal structures”. But discussions on structure often reveal fundamental uncertainties about a group’s aims and values, and this proved the case here. More meeting dates were scheduled and I hope these uncertainties will soon be resolved.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Following last night’s meal, we today met more formally with NAVCA CEO Kevin Curley. One big issue covered was the need for NAVCA to develop an independent voice on volunteering. At present, all volunteering initiatives and discussions defer to Volunteering England: there is a sense that Volunteering England’s approach to volunteering is the only acceptable approach and that anything deviating from this is beyond the pale and doomed to failure. This blinkered approach has to change.
The second big issue addressed was the need for smaller CVSs to identify their needs and develop their own agenda. At present, too many national meetings are dominated by larger CVSs we can’t hope to emulate. And we’re not sure we should.
Finally, we had a brief discussion about the desirability of setting up a county-wide CVS "trading arm" jointly owned by all Herts CVSs. Personally I think the need for this is established almost beyond debate, but several of my colleagues seemed strangely reticent. I wonder why?
The second big issue addressed was the need for smaller CVSs to identify their needs and develop their own agenda. At present, too many national meetings are dominated by larger CVSs we can’t hope to emulate. And we’re not sure we should.
Finally, we had a brief discussion about the desirability of setting up a county-wide CVS "trading arm" jointly owned by all Herts CVSs. Personally I think the need for this is established almost beyond debate, but several of my colleagues seemed strangely reticent. I wonder why?
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
After a morning dealing with correspondence, I headed off to Cambridge for an afternoon meeting of the Regional Empowerment Partnership. I arrived a little late, and someone welcomed me by observing that I was the only man among twenty women; somehow, I managed to overcome the dark urge to say: "well I should be alright for a cup of tea, then".
I am slowly getting more familiar with this group’s interesting programme of work and seeing where it can support WCVS’s own activities. Today, for example, we had a short presentation on IDeA’s best practice approach to engagement and elements of this I can immediately use to help underpin our local work developing a Community Assembly.
After a brief sojourn at home, I headed off to Letchworth for a meal with NAVCA CEO Kevin Curley. This was organised by Herts CVS a proved very pleasant and educational meal. I have known many national charities led by CEO’s who are happy to maintain a distance between themselves and grassroots organisations. Rarely for a national CEO, Kevin Curley appears to have mastered the trick of having a local focus and a national voice. This feat takes intelligence and skill, so I was rather surprised to discover that he has some worryingly naive beliefs about the eating habits of polar bears.
I am slowly getting more familiar with this group’s interesting programme of work and seeing where it can support WCVS’s own activities. Today, for example, we had a short presentation on IDeA’s best practice approach to engagement and elements of this I can immediately use to help underpin our local work developing a Community Assembly.
After a brief sojourn at home, I headed off to Letchworth for a meal with NAVCA CEO Kevin Curley. This was organised by Herts CVS a proved very pleasant and educational meal. I have known many national charities led by CEO’s who are happy to maintain a distance between themselves and grassroots organisations. Rarely for a national CEO, Kevin Curley appears to have mastered the trick of having a local focus and a national voice. This feat takes intelligence and skill, so I was rather surprised to discover that he has some worryingly naive beliefs about the eating habits of polar bears.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
9:30 at Watford CVS: Watford LIVE! meeting looking at remaining costs and needs for next months community arts festival.
11:00 at Watford CVS: Meeting with Kim Bloomfield of WBC on WBC’s new three year SLA commissioning programme.
1:00 at Apsley: Meeting with Pam Handley and Phil Willerton to draft a letter to WBC re: our possible relocation to the Holywell Community Centre.
2:00 at Apsley: Meeting with the Integrated Practice Forum at which Phil Willerton and I talk about the voluntary sector’s organisation and engagement with the Watford District Children’s Panel.
3:30 at Watford CVS: Management meeting with Hema Devlukia and Alan Felt on the Herts BME Advocacy Service.
4:00 at Watford CVS: Meeting with Anne Boyd on Grassroots Grants and fundraising for Watford CVS.
5:00 at Watford CVS: Meeting with Helen Price about the future of the Volunteer Centre.
Despite this flurry of meetings, today's really good news is that the odious toad Michael Martin has announced his retirement as Speaker of the House of Commons. How he has tarnished the role adn the institution he was supposed to protect. It saddens me that he has "announced his retirement": he has not been kicked out and he will still get a handsome pension and almost certainly (after a decent interval) a seat in the House of Lords. After everything, and above all else, the corrupt House of Commons still looks after its own. In my view, the self-serving grasping graceless fool of a Speaker has dragged Parliament into the gutter and deserves a long stay in the Tower. I'm glad I got that off my chest.
11:00 at Watford CVS: Meeting with Kim Bloomfield of WBC on WBC’s new three year SLA commissioning programme.
1:00 at Apsley: Meeting with Pam Handley and Phil Willerton to draft a letter to WBC re: our possible relocation to the Holywell Community Centre.
2:00 at Apsley: Meeting with the Integrated Practice Forum at which Phil Willerton and I talk about the voluntary sector’s organisation and engagement with the Watford District Children’s Panel.
3:30 at Watford CVS: Management meeting with Hema Devlukia and Alan Felt on the Herts BME Advocacy Service.
4:00 at Watford CVS: Meeting with Anne Boyd on Grassroots Grants and fundraising for Watford CVS.
5:00 at Watford CVS: Meeting with Helen Price about the future of the Volunteer Centre.
Despite this flurry of meetings, today's really good news is that the odious toad Michael Martin has announced his retirement as Speaker of the House of Commons. How he has tarnished the role adn the institution he was supposed to protect. It saddens me that he has "announced his retirement": he has not been kicked out and he will still get a handsome pension and almost certainly (after a decent interval) a seat in the House of Lords. After everything, and above all else, the corrupt House of Commons still looks after its own. In my view, the self-serving grasping graceless fool of a Speaker has dragged Parliament into the gutter and deserves a long stay in the Tower. I'm glad I got that off my chest.
Monday, 18 May 2009
This is going to be a busy week and it has started with a packed day of meetings. At 8:30 I met with Phil Bailey, an architect retained by Watford Borough Council to do some work on the Holywell Community Centre. He has prepared some good initial plans showing the works we want done at the Centre.
At 10:00 I chaired a meeting of the Watford Community Fund panel, which is overseeing local allocations of Grassroots Grants. This meeting was difficult for three reasons. First, because the chronological profile of grants means that there is less and less money to meet ever rising levels of applications so many groups will be disappointed. Secondly, because one of the panel’s previous decisions has been overturned by the Hertfordshire Community Foundation for reasons we find difficult to agree with. Thirdly, because there are new proposals to review the geographic and demographic profile of grants across the county. Watford will be poorly served if monies are reallocated according to population as we have a small resident population in the borough but a great many people are drawn into the borough to use our shops and services. Despite these potential difficulties, we got through the meeting with good humour and commonsense and agreed to start focusing on the government’s endowment challenge.
At 1:00 I met with Laura Packwood to discuss the piloting of our Watford Good Neighbours scheme. Then at 2:30 Laura and I hosted a meeting of community transport schemes from across south-west Herts. Before leaving the office, I organised this month’s salary payments and caught up on some correspondence.
At 10:00 I chaired a meeting of the Watford Community Fund panel, which is overseeing local allocations of Grassroots Grants. This meeting was difficult for three reasons. First, because the chronological profile of grants means that there is less and less money to meet ever rising levels of applications so many groups will be disappointed. Secondly, because one of the panel’s previous decisions has been overturned by the Hertfordshire Community Foundation for reasons we find difficult to agree with. Thirdly, because there are new proposals to review the geographic and demographic profile of grants across the county. Watford will be poorly served if monies are reallocated according to population as we have a small resident population in the borough but a great many people are drawn into the borough to use our shops and services. Despite these potential difficulties, we got through the meeting with good humour and commonsense and agreed to start focusing on the government’s endowment challenge.
At 1:00 I met with Laura Packwood to discuss the piloting of our Watford Good Neighbours scheme. Then at 2:30 Laura and I hosted a meeting of community transport schemes from across south-west Herts. Before leaving the office, I organised this month’s salary payments and caught up on some correspondence.
Saturday, 16 May 2009
I enjoyed a gentle day pottering around the garden and the house. I may even have visited a charity shop and bought some books.
Friday, 15 May 2009
At today’s staff meeting, I reported on discussions at last night’s trustee meeting and then wrote to all staff asking if anyone was interested in reducing their hours, taking an unpaid sabbatical, or volunteering for redundancy. It speaks volumes for the professionalism and commitment of the staff team here that everyone is pulling together, pooling their expertise and knowledge in search of a solution while being realistic about the likely outcome. Unless an unheralded saviour appears, redundancies seem inevitable.
In the evening, Jackie and I took a much-needed walk in Sherrardspark Woods – the bird song was so magnificent and relaxing and wonderful. I love this time of year.
In the evening, Jackie and I took a much-needed walk in Sherrardspark Woods – the bird song was so magnificent and relaxing and wonderful. I love this time of year.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
I met briefly this afternoon with Watford’s Mayor Dorothy Thornhill. Among other things, we talked about the all-too-imminent Watford LIVE! festival and the still-in-the-balance Watford CVS relocation to the Holywell.
My trustees held their meeting at the Holywell Community Centre. This at least made us all appreciate the previously unsuspected problem of noise – our discussions were regularly drowned out by noise rising from the activities in the main hall. The two key agenda items were our budget deficit and our possible relocation to the Holywell. As always, Pam chaired the meeting with great skill and care to ensure that everyone contributed and that there were full discussions on each item.
My trustees held their meeting at the Holywell Community Centre. This at least made us all appreciate the previously unsuspected problem of noise – our discussions were regularly drowned out by noise rising from the activities in the main hall. The two key agenda items were our budget deficit and our possible relocation to the Holywell. As always, Pam chaired the meeting with great skill and care to ensure that everyone contributed and that there were full discussions on each item.
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
I spent a quiet day catching up on correspondence and preparing for tomorrow’s trustee meeting.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
I returned to work this morning feeling much better after a good night’s sleep: it is a great comfort to know I can rely on such strong powers of recovery. Amidst the other work of recent weeks, we have developed a website to promote the forthcoming Watford LIVE! festival. Today I met with Ana, a young volunteer who is going to help populate the website at http://watfordlive.org/. Many thanks, Ana.
I received a wonderful e-mail from our Grants Officer at the Big Lottery: Just to let you know, I've approved your end of year report and it was a pleasure to read - you would be surprised at the layout of the majority of the monitoring forms that come in and yours is a real treat as is in a perfectly logical format! I'm really pleased with your progress and happy with your plans to remedy the delayed milestones. Naturally I replied that her e-mail was “a real pleasure to read – you would be surprised at ...”
Over lunch I met with Phil Willerton at the YMCA, to discuss WCVS trustee issues and to get some advice on redundancy situations. Later in the day, I met with another of my trustees, Leslie Billy, to talk about the future of the Watford One World forum.
I received a wonderful e-mail from our Grants Officer at the Big Lottery: Just to let you know, I've approved your end of year report and it was a pleasure to read - you would be surprised at the layout of the majority of the monitoring forms that come in and yours is a real treat as is in a perfectly logical format! I'm really pleased with your progress and happy with your plans to remedy the delayed milestones. Naturally I replied that her e-mail was “a real pleasure to read – you would be surprised at ...”
Over lunch I met with Phil Willerton at the YMCA, to discuss WCVS trustee issues and to get some advice on redundancy situations. Later in the day, I met with another of my trustees, Leslie Billy, to talk about the future of the Watford One World forum.
Monday, 11 May 2009
After working all night preparing papers for Thursday’s trustee meeting, I finally clicked the “send” button at about 6:00 am. After two hours sleep, I arrived at the office for 9:00 am to discover that two key members of staff were absent through illness and again my carefully laid were thrown into turmoil. With so many initiatives currently underway, each day is finely-planned down to the last few minutes and there is little time for me to cope with any ad hoc issues that need addressing “on the hoof”. After a long night’s work I felt pretty jaded and not particularly agile but of course I did my best. In the afternoon I visited Robin Charnley at Community Action Hertsmere to exchange notes on recent development and forthcoming events. I arrived home about 5:00 pm ready for an early night.
Sunday, 10 May 2009
It’s not everyone’s idea of a great Sunday, but Jackie and I spent the entire day tidying and sorting our garden shed and its contents. Today saw the arrival of Becky, our son Bryan’s lady friend and our houseguest for the next short while – I do hope we can all stay friends.
Aged Ken, our decrepit cat of indeterminate years, is unwell. At his advanced years, I am not so foolish as to believe that he is likely to recover. What lies beyond decrepitude? I fear Ken will soon discover the answer to this. We’ll just try and make his last weeks as comfortable as possible.
I have still not circulated papers for our 14 May trustee meeting. I hate sending out papers so late, but there have been so many complexities around the Holywell Community Centre and I have of course struggled with the prospect of redundancies here. Only now do I really have sufficient perspective and information to prepare any meaningful papers. But tomorrow is already cluttered with meetings so I must prepare and distribute the papers tonight or face the professional humiliation of sending out papers only hours ahead of the meeting.
Aged Ken, our decrepit cat of indeterminate years, is unwell. At his advanced years, I am not so foolish as to believe that he is likely to recover. What lies beyond decrepitude? I fear Ken will soon discover the answer to this. We’ll just try and make his last weeks as comfortable as possible.
I have still not circulated papers for our 14 May trustee meeting. I hate sending out papers so late, but there have been so many complexities around the Holywell Community Centre and I have of course struggled with the prospect of redundancies here. Only now do I really have sufficient perspective and information to prepare any meaningful papers. But tomorrow is already cluttered with meetings so I must prepare and distribute the papers tonight or face the professional humiliation of sending out papers only hours ahead of the meeting.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Indulgence
Today I made a rare luxury purchase at the Living Crafts fair at Hatfield House. I spent £55 on a polished block of oak (about the size of a small dictionary) taken from HMS Victory. I am not usually acquisative, but my HMS Victory oak is on my desk now right beside my bookends made from stone taken from the Houses of Parliament ...
Today I made a rare luxury purchase at the Living Crafts fair at Hatfield House. I spent £55 on a polished block of oak (about the size of a small dictionary) taken from HMS Victory. I am not usually acquisative, but my HMS Victory oak is on my desk now right beside my bookends made from stone taken from the Houses of Parliament ...
Friday, 8 May 2009
I had expected to be at a Trustees Together meeting at Cambridge, but gave my apologies to spend a day catching up on 1001 outstanding bits of correspondence. On a positive note, I am hugely pleased by the details of MP's expenses being reported in the Daily Telegraph: three cheers for democracy, transparency and community empowerment! This one will run and run - strap in and enjoy the ride.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
In the past few weeks, Hema has been swept off her feet by queries to our BME Advocacy Service. This afternoon I met with Maggie Woods to talk about how the service is developing.
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
I started today meeting Laura to talk about the Watford Good Neighbours scheme. Then I went to Borehamwood for the launch of Community Action Hertsmere (formed by the merger of Hertsmere CVS and the Hertsmere Community Partnership) at which I had a good talk about social enterprise with Chris Lee. Then I headed off to Apsley to meet with Mohamed Fawzi to talk about the future of the Herts BME Partnership and various matters arising.
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Back to work this morning at another meeting of Hertfordshire’s Community Cohesion Strategy Group. We have some £20,000 to spend on research and consultation, but it seems that the strategy will be substantially written before the research is completed – and in any case the research may not tell us anything new (Dr Karen Griffiths of HCC has compiled a great summary of baseline data). Why can this money not be used for something else? In the afternoon, I attended a meeting of the NHS Stakeholders Group. Back home, I prepared and sent summary reports to HIC and Herts CVS colleagues on some of the groups I’m involved with: the Regional Empowerment Partnership, the Hertfordshire Community Cohesion Strategy Group and the NHS Stakeholders Group for Herts. At some point I will need to reach a judgment on the value of these various engagements.
Monday, 4 May 2009
Bank Holiday
Yesterday’s efforts at erecting a greenhouse were abandoned due to bad light. Today we finished the job, ably assisted by various family and friends.
Yesterday’s efforts at erecting a greenhouse were abandoned due to bad light. Today we finished the job, ably assisted by various family and friends.
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Jackie’s birthday
I had decided to take Jackie to B&Q to buy a greenhouse. I guess I’m just a born romantic. But Jackie was very keen: she had chosen which one she wanted and I had reserved it “on line”. Over breakfast, I got a call to say the greenhouse was ready for collection. Great! Just as we were leaving the house, I got another call saying that there were no longer any in stock. An hour and a half later (after numerous telephone calls and visits to websites), it dawned on me that B&Q’s on-line stock-checking and booking service is just a lot of random nonsense. Telephoning stores proved equally fruitless. Jackie and I resorted to tradition and drove off toward Watford (the most reliable centre for all shopping). On the way, Jackie spoke to a lovely woman on the telephone who assured us that the greenhouses were in stock in Watford. Just as we arrived in Watford, we got a return call from a young man at the same Watford B&Q who told us that there were no greenhouses in stock and there was a six week wait on deliveries. We had long since stopped believing anything from B&Q. Sure enough, at Watford they had ample supplies of greenhouses and we returned home with Jackie’s chosen model.
I had decided to take Jackie to B&Q to buy a greenhouse. I guess I’m just a born romantic. But Jackie was very keen: she had chosen which one she wanted and I had reserved it “on line”. Over breakfast, I got a call to say the greenhouse was ready for collection. Great! Just as we were leaving the house, I got another call saying that there were no longer any in stock. An hour and a half later (after numerous telephone calls and visits to websites), it dawned on me that B&Q’s on-line stock-checking and booking service is just a lot of random nonsense. Telephoning stores proved equally fruitless. Jackie and I resorted to tradition and drove off toward Watford (the most reliable centre for all shopping). On the way, Jackie spoke to a lovely woman on the telephone who assured us that the greenhouses were in stock in Watford. Just as we arrived in Watford, we got a return call from a young man at the same Watford B&Q who told us that there were no greenhouses in stock and there was a six week wait on deliveries. We had long since stopped believing anything from B&Q. Sure enough, at Watford they had ample supplies of greenhouses and we returned home with Jackie’s chosen model.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Today we were visited by our grand-daughter Bethany – now recovered from her Chicken spots.
Friday, 1 May 2009
My first meeting this morning was with Everton Blake, CEO at Voluntary Action Luton. It is always so useful to meet up with someone from another CVS and exchange notes. Thanks Everton.
After Everton took his leave, I had of write to staff about the very real prospect of redundancies informing them we were entering a formal consultation period. I ended writing: Of course I regret that this need has arisen. I will ensure that the process is as transparent as possible and that we do all we can to support people through this difficult process.
Later on still, I met with WBC people to explore options around the Holywell Community Centre, where I had suggested that maybe two or three of the seven football fields could be converted to some sort of urban meadow in order to attract more visitors to the Holywell Community Centre. This afternoon I discovered that a draft open spaces strategy has designated Holywell as a future base for more football and that all seven fields will be in use. At least on Sunday mornings. Maybe. I am not sure where this leaves our possible relocation to the Holywell Community Centre. It is difficult to argue against physical exercise per se and it would be churlish not to consider all options. But the future of the park and the community centre need to be considered together and I am disappointed that this opportunity has been lost.
I arrived home rather frazzled, but looking forward to the weekend.
After Everton took his leave, I had of write to staff about the very real prospect of redundancies informing them we were entering a formal consultation period. I ended writing: Of course I regret that this need has arisen. I will ensure that the process is as transparent as possible and that we do all we can to support people through this difficult process.
Later on still, I met with WBC people to explore options around the Holywell Community Centre, where I had suggested that maybe two or three of the seven football fields could be converted to some sort of urban meadow in order to attract more visitors to the Holywell Community Centre. This afternoon I discovered that a draft open spaces strategy has designated Holywell as a future base for more football and that all seven fields will be in use. At least on Sunday mornings. Maybe. I am not sure where this leaves our possible relocation to the Holywell Community Centre. It is difficult to argue against physical exercise per se and it would be churlish not to consider all options. But the future of the park and the community centre need to be considered together and I am disappointed that this opportunity has been lost.
I arrived home rather frazzled, but looking forward to the weekend.
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Today, my car was checked over by a garage in Hitchin that specialises in Japanese vehicles. After visiting my sister, I spent some hours working at Hitchin library and then visited the museum where I met a young man of about twenty years. Stuart had a minor learning difficulty or condition that was manifest in torrents of questions, each replaced by a new question immediately I started offering an answer to the first. But we soon enough overcame this and I found Stuart was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable. We spent an hour or so together at the museum and chatting over a coffee before the garage called to say my car was fixed.
We might occasionally exchange a nod with a fellow shopper. We meet new work colleagues and neighbours, or new people at our pubs and clubs. We might have a cursory conversation with a fellow passenger on a train. But in real life, we do not spend time getting to know random strangers. I suppose this is down to the pressures of time and social mores: what people might say or what people might do. Rather like jumble sales and afternoon tea, idling away time with a complete stranger is a very enriching feature of civilized life that we are in danger of losing completely.
In the evening, Jackie and I had great fun re-joining our folk dancing club after a few weeks absence.
Incidentally, my car wasn't fixed at all - the little engine warning light still comes on for two random journeys out of three.
We might occasionally exchange a nod with a fellow shopper. We meet new work colleagues and neighbours, or new people at our pubs and clubs. We might have a cursory conversation with a fellow passenger on a train. But in real life, we do not spend time getting to know random strangers. I suppose this is down to the pressures of time and social mores: what people might say or what people might do. Rather like jumble sales and afternoon tea, idling away time with a complete stranger is a very enriching feature of civilized life that we are in danger of losing completely.
In the evening, Jackie and I had great fun re-joining our folk dancing club after a few weeks absence.
Incidentally, my car wasn't fixed at all - the little engine warning light still comes on for two random journeys out of three.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
In its relations with the voluntary sector, the NHS in Hertfordshire carries around the dead weight of History. Voluntary organisations are sometimes slow to forgive past transgressions – particularly when perpetrated by those we wish to regard as friends and allies. But there are many in the NHS that do regard the voluntary sector as (potential, if not actual) friends and allies, and this morning I went to Charter House to meet with Lynda Dent and Heather Aylward to explore how we can find ways of working together more closely. For me, the meeting was extremely valuable and I hope my hosts also took away some pointers.
From Welwyn Garden City I drove to Watford for a few hours and then headed off to Whitechapel for a meeting at the Disability Law Centre. On arrival I was alarmed to find that their excellent CEO Linda Clark had rushed off to A&E with eye trouble. The meeting took place in a rather subdued atmosphere until news came through that Linda was fine. Phew!
From Welwyn Garden City I drove to Watford for a few hours and then headed off to Whitechapel for a meeting at the Disability Law Centre. On arrival I was alarmed to find that their excellent CEO Linda Clark had rushed off to A&E with eye trouble. The meeting took place in a rather subdued atmosphere until news came through that Linda was fine. Phew!
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
This morning I joined a meeting of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium at the Learning and Skills Council building in St Albans. There was an air of unreality induced by the ever more depopulated LSC offices and the growing conviction that the ChangeUp programme is living on borrowed time.
Still, the Consortium in Hertfordshire takes a pride in its pragmatism and today we took some useful steps along the road to sustainability. There was general consensus that the consortium now needs to embrace the whole of the third sector and not just infrastructure groups and my proposals for new Terms of Reference were usefully refined to read:
1. strengthen the sector’s influence over strategic planning – including LAA;
2. ensure that individual voluntary organisations have access to appropriate networks, information and support;
3. provide accredited voluntary sector representatives to be credible partners in policy and planning discussions etc;
4. champion, promote and empower the voluntary sector as a whole and campaign on key issues;
5. influence policy and planning decisions, including over the allocation of resources;
6. ensure that Hertfordshire’s voluntary organisations can compete on an equal footing for any public service contracts;
7. help strengthen the voice of communities - particularly those that might by isolated, marginalised or disadvantaged;
8. hold the statutory sector to account for its engagement with the voluntary sector, including re: Compact and NI7;
9. commission research appropriate to the needs of the sector;
10. provide a forum to discuss matters of interest to the sector and to legitimise the sector's engagement with the private and public sectors.
Hopefully this will all come to fruition at a conference in the autumn – at which we also finally drop the awful name Hertfordshire Infrastructure Forum. I amused myself by suggesting the new name should be Community Organisations’ Forum so a COF can follow a HIC. No-one else saw the benefit of this.
In the afternoon, I attended a meeting of One Watford (our local strategic partnership) where everything seems to be moving pretty smoothly – although I do need to get a move on with proposals around the Watford Compact and a new Community Assembly.
Still, the Consortium in Hertfordshire takes a pride in its pragmatism and today we took some useful steps along the road to sustainability. There was general consensus that the consortium now needs to embrace the whole of the third sector and not just infrastructure groups and my proposals for new Terms of Reference were usefully refined to read:
1. strengthen the sector’s influence over strategic planning – including LAA;
2. ensure that individual voluntary organisations have access to appropriate networks, information and support;
3. provide accredited voluntary sector representatives to be credible partners in policy and planning discussions etc;
4. champion, promote and empower the voluntary sector as a whole and campaign on key issues;
5. influence policy and planning decisions, including over the allocation of resources;
6. ensure that Hertfordshire’s voluntary organisations can compete on an equal footing for any public service contracts;
7. help strengthen the voice of communities - particularly those that might by isolated, marginalised or disadvantaged;
8. hold the statutory sector to account for its engagement with the voluntary sector, including re: Compact and NI7;
9. commission research appropriate to the needs of the sector;
10. provide a forum to discuss matters of interest to the sector and to legitimise the sector's engagement with the private and public sectors.
Hopefully this will all come to fruition at a conference in the autumn – at which we also finally drop the awful name Hertfordshire Infrastructure Forum. I amused myself by suggesting the new name should be Community Organisations’ Forum so a COF can follow a HIC. No-one else saw the benefit of this.
In the afternoon, I attended a meeting of One Watford (our local strategic partnership) where everything seems to be moving pretty smoothly – although I do need to get a move on with proposals around the Watford Compact and a new Community Assembly.
Monday, 27 April 2009
By 9:00 am, my plans for the day had been thrown into disarray by three members of staff calling in sick. The World Health Organisation has just raised its assessment of the threat from Mexican Swine Flu to "Phase 4" but no WCVS staff are affected. However, one of these calls meant that I had to cancel my own meeting at the Holywell Community Centre and instead deliver a workshop on mywatford.net. I am accumulating an ever-larger pile of urgent tasks.
Later on, I met with my Chair and Treasurer to talk through options on our budget. We have raised what grants we can, approached friendly funders, set a prudent target for in-year fundraising and cut back on small expenditure. There is still a too-large hole in the middle of our finances for this current year and we need to consider the dread option of redundancies.
Later on, I met with my Chair and Treasurer to talk through options on our budget. We have raised what grants we can, approached friendly funders, set a prudent target for in-year fundraising and cut back on small expenditure. There is still a too-large hole in the middle of our finances for this current year and we need to consider the dread option of redundancies.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Today was very warm; Jackie and I relaxed in the garden and walked in the cool woods.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Jackie and I spent the day recycling our chicken coop to an enthusiastic neighbour and then recycling my mum’s pergola into a raised vegetable bed; all hot work.
Friday, 24 April 2009
After yesterday’s meeting on the Holywell Community Centre, I today circulated notes on our proposals for the centre’s future. The centre is located in the middle of playing fields and this is quite a hostile environment. While the fields might be attractive to summer-time cricketers and other-time footballers, there is no reason why anyone else would want to visit the centre unless to take part in one of the activities at the centre. The buildings can have a good future and Watford CVS can contribute to this – but we need to find a way of making people want to visit.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
The Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium was originally set up to deliver the government’s Change-up programme for the voluntary sector. I don’t have time to comment again on the purpose, performance and management of the Change-up initiative. The point is that the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium was established so that infrastructure organisations could co-ordinate funded activities. Willy-nilly, the Consortium has taken on other roles and aspires to even more. So today I wrote around to fellow Consortium members suggesting that a new county-wide group is established to represent the voluntary sector and that the new group is more open and should work to:
1. strengthen the sector’s influence over strategic planning;
2. ensure that individual voluntary organisations have access to appropriate networks, information and support;
3. provide accredited representatives to be credible partners in planning discussions etc;
4. champion and promote the voluntary sector as a whole, and campaign on key issues;
5. influence policy decisions, including over the allocation of resources (including PRG);
6. ensure that Hertfordshire’s groups can compete on an equal footing for public service contracts;
7. provide a voice for marginalised and “seldom heard” groups;
8. hold the statutory sector to account for its performance under NI7.
Discussions of this nature have been going on over the past year so I know some people will be supportive, but I am interested to see the general reaction.
In the evening I attended a meeting of the Holywell Community Centre users’ group to outline my thinking on the CVS’s possible relocation to the site. Most groups remain wary of our intentions and I suppose this is inevitable. From some viewpoints, the relocation proposal positively shimmers with promise and potential. From other viewpoints, the whole thing looks fraught with financial difficulties and the certainty of future conflicts.
At the end of the day, I forwarded our first annual monitoring report on the “Fit for Purpose” project to the Big Lottery. Hopefully all will be well.
1. strengthen the sector’s influence over strategic planning;
2. ensure that individual voluntary organisations have access to appropriate networks, information and support;
3. provide accredited representatives to be credible partners in planning discussions etc;
4. champion and promote the voluntary sector as a whole, and campaign on key issues;
5. influence policy decisions, including over the allocation of resources (including PRG);
6. ensure that Hertfordshire’s groups can compete on an equal footing for public service contracts;
7. provide a voice for marginalised and “seldom heard” groups;
8. hold the statutory sector to account for its performance under NI7.
Discussions of this nature have been going on over the past year so I know some people will be supportive, but I am interested to see the general reaction.
In the evening I attended a meeting of the Holywell Community Centre users’ group to outline my thinking on the CVS’s possible relocation to the site. Most groups remain wary of our intentions and I suppose this is inevitable. From some viewpoints, the relocation proposal positively shimmers with promise and potential. From other viewpoints, the whole thing looks fraught with financial difficulties and the certainty of future conflicts.
At the end of the day, I forwarded our first annual monitoring report on the “Fit for Purpose” project to the Big Lottery. Hopefully all will be well.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Project management and accountability
I spent most of today working on the first year-end monitoring report for our Big Lottery Funded “Fit for Purpose” project. The project is really going pretty well, but there are areas in which we’ve over-delivered and areas in which we need more time. And of course these complex changes need to be reported on to our funders.
In the afternoon, I visited Letchworth for a steering group meeting for the Capacitybuilders-funded ICT project where we all emphasised the need to focus on delivering the project outcomes. This will seem obvious. But there can be long periods between a grant application, a grant-decision, and implementation of the programme. During these periods, priorities shift and change constantly and sometimes a project’s focus can drift substantially. Every voluntary sector project manager must constantly reconcile what was originally applied for, what the funder approved, and what the needs now are.
In the evening, Jackie and I went for a short walk in Sherrardspark. It was an excellent break from things: wood anemones, arum lilies, and vast quantities of bluebells and whitebells – and a woodpecker invisible but busy nearby.
I spent most of today working on the first year-end monitoring report for our Big Lottery Funded “Fit for Purpose” project. The project is really going pretty well, but there are areas in which we’ve over-delivered and areas in which we need more time. And of course these complex changes need to be reported on to our funders.
In the afternoon, I visited Letchworth for a steering group meeting for the Capacitybuilders-funded ICT project where we all emphasised the need to focus on delivering the project outcomes. This will seem obvious. But there can be long periods between a grant application, a grant-decision, and implementation of the programme. During these periods, priorities shift and change constantly and sometimes a project’s focus can drift substantially. Every voluntary sector project manager must constantly reconcile what was originally applied for, what the funder approved, and what the needs now are.
In the evening, Jackie and I went for a short walk in Sherrardspark. It was an excellent break from things: wood anemones, arum lilies, and vast quantities of bluebells and whitebells – and a woodpecker invisible but busy nearby.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
This morning we had a meeting of the local Chief Officers’ Information Network. The main items for discussion were the new Watford Compact and proposals for the Watford Assembly. As ever, there were also some good informal discussions about the various opportunities and challenges we each face.
In the afternoon, I had a further meeting with Laura (our Transport scheme co-ordinator) and Helen (our Volunteer Centre co-ordinator) on launching the new Good Neighbours Scheme. We also met with Main Electrical who may be able to provide trainee electricians to do simple electrical tests etc around the home.
Later in the day, I was back in Welwyn Garden City meeting with Carol Hill at the PCT to discuss how local voluntary groups can compete for NHS contracts on an equal footing with larger competitors from the voluntary and private sectors. There are of course many layers to this discussion and we made some progress in peeling them away. But Carol is leaving Hertfordshire soon to work in a place called London, so I suppose it will be "back to square one" when her successor is appointed.
In the afternoon, I had a further meeting with Laura (our Transport scheme co-ordinator) and Helen (our Volunteer Centre co-ordinator) on launching the new Good Neighbours Scheme. We also met with Main Electrical who may be able to provide trainee electricians to do simple electrical tests etc around the home.
Later in the day, I was back in Welwyn Garden City meeting with Carol Hill at the PCT to discuss how local voluntary groups can compete for NHS contracts on an equal footing with larger competitors from the voluntary and private sectors. There are of course many layers to this discussion and we made some progress in peeling them away. But Carol is leaving Hertfordshire soon to work in a place called London, so I suppose it will be "back to square one" when her successor is appointed.
Monday, 20 April 2009
I had another long day at work, starting and finishing around 8:00. Mostly worked through funding and budgeting options for this current year: things don’t look rosy. In the afternoon, I met with Vanessa and with Sandra Fullerton from Barnet CVS; it is always good to learn how other CVSs approach things. Sadly there is no new learning on how to squeeze a quart from a pint pot.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Jackie and I both enjoy our chickens Audrey and Ethelreda. But Audrey and Ethelreda do not enjoy being confined to their (large-ish) coop. But if we let them out they gleefully destroy our garden. And Jackie wants to start growing more vegetables. And then a friend of my mum wants to acquire two reliable layers for her large menagerie and garden just outside Baldock. So today we helped our chickens move into their new home and it looks like they will be very happy: they will mostly be confined to a coop with three other chickens and a guinea pig – but this coop has many perching places and is almost as big as my whole garden.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Jackie and I had expected to be spending today with our granddaughter Bethany – but she has been struck down with Chicken Pox. Poor Bethy!
Friday, 17 April 2009
I started today with a Staff meeting. Among many other items, and following earlier discussions, we again discussed the possibility of redundancies. It is too easy to blame this on The Credit Crunch but there is some connection and 2008-09 was not a triumphant year for our fundraising. More importantly, the prospects for 2009-10 do not look good either. Naturally we are exploring all manner of options and alternatives.
At lunchtime, I met with my Chair of Trustees who as ever had some excellent advice. We also discussed our review of insurance needs and on behalf of the full trustee board she agreed that we should place our insurance with Tennyson.
After this, I went to the Holywell Community Centre to meet with an architect who advised what is (and isn’t) practicable for the Holywell Centre.
At lunchtime, I met with my Chair of Trustees who as ever had some excellent advice. We also discussed our review of insurance needs and on behalf of the full trustee board she agreed that we should place our insurance with Tennyson.
After this, I went to the Holywell Community Centre to meet with an architect who advised what is (and isn’t) practicable for the Holywell Centre.
Thursday, 16 April 2009
I had an awkward moment this morning. For some reason I missed the last meeting of the Watford and Three Rivers Health Partnership. I knew that this morning’s meeting was being hosted by Watford CVS, but I did not know that as host I was expected to chair the meeting. I think I got away with it. Anyway, the meeting was very encouraging and there certainly seem to be lots of good health-related initiatives right now.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Today was a frantic day of good positive meetings. Most of the day, I spent with Angelo, our IT chap, talking through lots of technical and funding issues. I also met with Mukund who has offered his services as a volunteer to help make mywatford.net more user-friendly.
I note from my records that I sent 50 e-mails today. I have no clear memory of what these were about. I do remember a very welcome call from Youth Connexions confirming our funding through to March 2010.
In the evening, there was a meeting of our Community Arts Network about planning for the June Watford LIVE! community arts festival (see http://watfordlive.org). The meeting was such a pleasure and such a joy: everyone is getting on so well together, everyone is putting so much work into making the festival successful, and everyone is just so positive and smiley. If only real life could be like this.
I note from my records that I sent 50 e-mails today. I have no clear memory of what these were about. I do remember a very welcome call from Youth Connexions confirming our funding through to March 2010.
In the evening, there was a meeting of our Community Arts Network about planning for the June Watford LIVE! community arts festival (see http://watfordlive.org). The meeting was such a pleasure and such a joy: everyone is getting on so well together, everyone is putting so much work into making the festival successful, and everyone is just so positive and smiley. If only real life could be like this.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
And so back to work ...
I had a short meeting with Syed Ahmed (our Community Accountant) and with John Casstles (our Treasurer) and then we were joined by our Auditors briefly. John and I had a discussion about finances and future prospects.
Next, I concluded the recruitment process for our two new part-time fixed-term posts, and am pleased to announce that we will soon be joined by Alan Felt and Jane Gregory.
I spent most of the rest of the day preparing a draft Trustees Report for the annual accounts. I know this should be owned by the Trustees, and I’ve no doubt whatsoever that in due course the document will be appropriately chopped and changed and wholly owned by my Trustees. But I think they appreciate being given something from which to start. Who wouldn’t?
I had a short meeting with Syed Ahmed (our Community Accountant) and with John Casstles (our Treasurer) and then we were joined by our Auditors briefly. John and I had a discussion about finances and future prospects.
Next, I concluded the recruitment process for our two new part-time fixed-term posts, and am pleased to announce that we will soon be joined by Alan Felt and Jane Gregory.
I spent most of the rest of the day preparing a draft Trustees Report for the annual accounts. I know this should be owned by the Trustees, and I’ve no doubt whatsoever that in due course the document will be appropriately chopped and changed and wholly owned by my Trustees. But I think they appreciate being given something from which to start. Who wouldn’t?
Monday, 13 April 2009
Jackie and I enjoyed our Easter Monday in the garden – there is so much to do this time of the year. I don't want to worry anyone, but Aged Ken, our decrepit white cat of indeterminate years, looks dangerously frail.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
