North East Knowledge Working

2004-02-13T16:28:00.000Z

Friday Afternoon

Just winding down for the weekend. Don't want to start any of the things that are on my 'to do' list, so thought I would blog.

Just been reading this Call Centre blog. Hilarious! Having spent many hours in these places over the years this is spot on.

2004-02-06T13:45:00.000Z

Isn't Science Great?!

According to the New Scientist, some bods at the University of Westminster have discovered what most women knew already. Men inflict greater pain than women.!

Apparently they worked this out by putting peoples fingers in metal clamps!. I bet the're getting the mantlepiece ready now for the Nobel Prize!!

2004-02-06T13:13:00.000Z

Lennox Lewis

Big boxing news today is that Lennox has retired. When I lived "daarn saarf" he lived just round the corner from me and once overtook me in a blue Ferrari on the Barnet to Potters Bar road.

Also respect due to The Messiah, Bob Stokoe who passed away this week.

2004-02-04T16:20:00.000Z

Once again I am inspired to blog at a random interval. Many years ago in my early internet days I used to like Dack.com and especially the web economy bullshit generator. So I was thinking about this today and decided to see if he was still going. He is, but his site is now the RationalEnquirer, which appears to be everything you ever wanted to know about the real motivations behind the war on Iraq.

2004-01-23T15:29:00.000Z

Some fantastic futurology from Thompson the Travel Company. Apparently, we will all be holidaying in pods by 2024 or something like that.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Pod plan for hotel of the future

2004-01-09T15:04:00.000Z

Back at work for two days now. Have not felt well all week.

Anyway, my business prediction for the New Year is a continuing trend in the politely termed "offshoring" - that is the process of moving jobs from high wage economies (here) to low wage economies (there). As a starter how about Levis closing their last US plant .

Or Barlcays Bank agreeing a deal with Unions to switch some of its staff abroad.

2003-12-30T12:09:00.000Z

Happy Xmas !!

I am sitting in an empty office catching up with work. How depressing. I have a deadline of the 31st December for this particular report. What kind of sick individual sets that kind of deadline!

Anyway after much searching I eventually tracked down the address of the French National Football Academy. My New Years resolution is to get the football coaching and strategy back up to speed.

2003-12-18T15:01:00.000Z

Welcome New Reader!

As I know that I have one new reader, I thought I had better post something as it has been such a while. Nearly two months in fact!

I have done loads since the last post: had a birthday, been to London a couple of times, been to the Stadium of Light a few times.

I went to the Theatre Royal again to see the Royal Shakespeare Company in Measure for Measure which was excellent. Saw the most drunk man ever in the bar there.

Saw kids using their picture mobiles to take photos of footy players rather than getting autographs which has stuck with me for some reason. Apparently this Christmas picture mobiles are really kicking off.

I'm going to get one.

2003-10-20T13:11:00.000+01:00

SAFC won again at the weekend. A scrappy win against Walsall, whose players (or at least some of them) appear to be attempting to copy Paul Mersons body shape.

I thought Crook Town had turned up to play not a first division side!

Still can't be too harsh on them cos I reckon they are fitter than most of us.

I have been saying this for years but it has finally registered on the media/government agenda that we are becoming a nation of lard arses!!

The queue on a Saturday afternoon out of Greggs in the Bridges shopping centre indicates what an uphill struggle we face on this one.

Had a meeting on Friday afternoon with Colin Harris who showed me his Vauxhall Senator website so I thought I would give it a mention to increase his traffic.

Also, Jim if you are reading this, get your finger out and get blogging!!

2003-10-17T13:30:00.000+01:00

Its Friday, another week has gone by and I feel like I have acheived nothing.

Have developed a growing obsession with RFID or Auto ID tags which (for this week only) I am convinced will change the world forever.

If I win the lottery on Saturday I will invest a pot of cash in these little fellas.

Have been trying to get some kind of interest going up here. But, as usual, apathy reigns supreme.

No doubt in two years time we will have a Regional Centre of Excellence in RFID, sponsored through public money which will be setting up just as the world moves onto the next big thing.....!

2003-10-13T15:12:00.000+01:00

Just been reading Paul Goodisons fantastic blog again. His blog puts my puny effort to shame.

Spent the whole weekend watching football (the England match and various schoolkid games that my son was playing in).

After last weeks transport chaos, this morning I drove in really early. This worked well apart from having to get up at the crack of dawn!.

Work wise, at the end of last week became embroiled in a Kafka-esque nightmare with our local Business Link, over a grant application. I went home and watched a "Yes Minister" DVD. I didn't laugh as much as usual but found myself gesticulating at the TV shouting, "Thats exactly right!!" and," Thats what they sound like!"

Felt better afterwards.

Also went to see Saving Nemo this weekend - which I can recommend. Although I wouldn't recommend sitting behind a fat charver with a McDonalds balloon.

Why do I always sit behind these people???

2003-10-09T17:44:00.000+01:00

Gateshead has turned into a commuting hell hole for me!!!

this morning listening to the traffic reports - "Crash on Central Motorway!" Given yesterdays debacle, I quickly parked up at Heworth metro and decided to be a good green commuter.

Anyway, when the metro eventually arrives (they were late) its packed and then has to wait twenty minutes at Gateshead stadium cos of a fire alarm at Gateshead central.!!

In all it took me two hours to get 12 miles! I could probably run to work quicker. Now there's an idea.

2003-10-08T13:09:00.000+01:00

It appears that the traffic engineers in Gateshead have had a flip when they changed the road markings at their end of the Tyne Bridge.

Their tinkering, which was probably based on some computer model, has probably added 30 mins onto the communting time of thousands of NE workers (thanks guys!).

It seems the purpose of the change is to provide easier access to Gateshead Quayside.

Given that most traffic wants to get across the Tyne Bridge then this seems strange.!!

2003-10-01T14:09:00.000+01:00

Also must mention Paul Goodison's blog. Paul is an ex-strategy workmate of mine who is one of the cleverest people I know. Respect.

2003-10-01T14:07:00.000+01:00

Once again it has taken me ages to put a new entry in this blog.

Do I have an excuse? er no!!

Only that I have been in NYC for the last week studying heavily with some guys from the IBM Cynefin Centre. A fantastic week was had by all and I met some truly inspiring folk.

Can I transfer some of the ideas to the closed and politically charged system, that is the NE Economy?

Only time will tell.

In the meantime SAFC continue to win and other NE clubs have their fair share of problems which I wont go into just yet!!!.

2003-09-15T11:24:00.000+01:00

Another win for SAFC at the weekend thanks to a last minute penaly from Marcus Stewart. Cool!

Spent the weekend at a wedding. Friday night and Saturday day were spent in Oakham. The Groom, Best Man, Ushers (me) and our respetive wifes/partners spend Friday evening getting bladdered in a pub called the Hornblower.

As the Groom was a resident we were allowed to drink until midnight when they decided to kick us out. A heated debate then took place over whether to visit Oakhams only night club - Bellas!!

Most of us took the sensible path but the Groom went on his own!.

Next day when we went to pick up our suits he was looking suitably worse for wear.

Apparently Bellas was like the New Monkey in Sunderland - so not good unless your are a 17 yr old charver with a scag habit!

Anyway, wedding went well. Night do was in Nottingham Hilton that also went well.

Still writing NCC report. Once thats finished them I am onto yet another proposal for One North East - our much esteemed Regional Development Agency

2003-09-12T11:17:00.000+01:00

Busy trying to complete a report that I am doing for Northumberland County Council but, as always seem to have a major writers block!!

I console myself with the thought that this is caused by my desperation to give the report some intellectual weight, rather than churn out a piece of consultants pap.

A lot of the reports I have seen kicking around seem to be that. Don't move anything forward.

Listened to Radio 4 programme yesterday called New Jerusalem (i think). It was all about the Beveridge Report and its impact when it was published.

Apparently, people queued up to get it. It set the basis for our modern welfare state and basically defined the post-war political climate. Now that was a piece of work.

2003-09-11T15:03:00.000+01:00

Went to see The Graduate at Newcastle Theatre Royal last night. An excellent evening. The build up had been controversial all around whether Glynis Barber (in the role of Mrs Robinson) would get her kit off!!

I can confirm that she doesn't. But hey! Its not really necessary anyway.!

cherry on the cake was when Marshall found a Â£20 note that had been dropped. We agonised over whether to hand it in or not, but then spent it.

Also, if you are the fat headed man who was sitting in front of me stuffing Opal Fruits (showing my age) into your gob then thanks for making loads of noise. I presume the fatness of your head is related to the amount of sweets you eat.. ...

Also saw Steve Cram in the foyer. Top SAFC fan and ex world record holder. I bet he doesn't eat many sweets!!

2003-09-10T16:43:00.000+01:00

The Tyne/Wear Metro system is generally a good transport system and Im sure nexus listen to customer feedback so heres my gripe....why dont any of the ticket machines take notes or cards!!??

This happens on the London Underground and is far more convienient. Especially, as each time they hike the prices you are more likely to use a five pound note rather than coins.

just a minor irritation, especially when you a rushing late to work with a mild hangover and have forgotten you have no change!!

2003-09-10T16:32:00.000+01:00

welcome to ne-strife. The life and times of a 21st Century Knowledge Worker in the North East of England.

These obeservations and ramblings may or may not interest you. General theme is the current state of working life in the North East of England.