Feb 20, 2006 - Uncategorized    Comments Off on 43 things

43 things

I signed up over at 43 things yesterday. I know a complete timewasting exercise, but it goes right back to a piece of work I did in my last semester at university (funnily enough around this time last year) about goal setting and it made me realise how many of my goals I have yet to achieve (or even start on)!

I need to get another job, or do something else with my time because I realised how much time I have wasted since I left university. Yes, its paid the bills but it isn’t stretching me at all. I need to do something else.

I have to knuckle down and work really hard for this selection. Its only something like 64 days away and at the moment I really do not feel ready for the fitness element of the board.

Only one thing to do.

Run More.

Feb 20, 2006 - Uncategorized    Comments Off on oooh. lookee lookee

oooh. lookee lookee

I finally decided that I am never going to get along well with Geocities (that blessed adsquare thing in particular) and sorted myself out a web domain. I know its still a free one with adverts on it, but at least I know where the adverts are going to be and design accordingly.

I’ll still be blogging here of course, and my photos will stay over on Flickr, but at least I’ll have somewhere to put the stuff that doesn’t really fit into a Blog or in Photo album.

So, with out further ado, I proudly announce the arrival of My New Website.

I know there isn’t anything there at the moment, But at least it will be there when I need it and there won’t be any silly adsquares or anything like that.

Off I go to play…

Feb 19, 2006 - Uncategorized    Comments Off on Answers on a postcard please…

Answers on a postcard please…

There are some really hard things to do in life, some are bad things, and some are good.

I am stuck with one of the good ones at the moment. I have to write a personal statement about why I would make a good Camp Cousellor on a Scout Camp.

Funny, I write about things all day both on and off line, but I find it really difficult to write about what I am good at and what I can bring to something so important. I know I can do it but how do I go about saying it?

Plenty of other people manage to do it – so why can’t I?

I’ll start with a list here I think…

  • Good Organiser.
  • Flexible.
  • Keen to Learn.
  • Take advantage of opportunities.
  • Practical.
  • Logical.
  • Team player.
  • Use Intiative.

Ok, so I know what I can do and recognise my strengths. Perhaps I’ll give it another shot?

Must go write now…

Feb 19, 2006 - Uncategorized    Comments Off on I want to…

I want to…

Get up earlier.

Why, oh why can I not drag myself out of bed in teh mornings. I know when I do get up early it is so much better. I have more energy, i get more done, and I can gain so much time and get so much done.

I know this.

So why on Earth can I not get out of bed early???

Feb 16, 2006 - understanding, work    Comments Off on Customer Service …or how not to act…

Customer Service …or how not to act…

Where I work, customer service, in its many forms, is held as an absolute priority. Queues should not be allowed to form, and all staff must be customer facing at the peak time. Although I do not always agree with the definition of customer service and how it is applied, I realised today how important some of the things we have to do actually are.

I was in Dixons today during my half hour break. There were about twenty customers in the store. There were about seven members of staff, anda queue for the till about six deep.

There was one person on the Cash desk. One person, serving those who wished to pay. and the other memeber of staff were standing around, laughing and joking, and fiddling with the displays. Absolutely appalling customer service! I wouldn’t be allowed, nor would I want, to act in such a manner at work.

It makes me wonder whether the art of customer service has been well and truly lost.

Feb 15, 2006 - understanding    1 Comment

Going nowhere fast

Do you ever feel that you can work really hard, and yet do not seem to make any progress.

Or is it because at the end of it there is one big task that awaits you, and the longer you leave it, the bigger it becomes.

Guess who’s timewasting again. 😀

Feb 15, 2006 - Uncategorized    Comments Off on Watching the stars go by…

Watching the stars go by…

Listening to iTunes and Natalie Imbruglia’s Counting down the Days and rrealising how much I miss J. and just how much I feel for him.

Wow. I didn’t know I could be this happy.

Feb 15, 2006 - news and current affairs    Comments Off on Why the NHS needs to change…

Why the NHS needs to change…

There is gross inefficiency in our healthcare system. Whilst in theory the NHS is a great idea, the provision of treatment for all in the age old British tradition of a queue (otherewise know as a waiting list that grows ever longer), does not always work.

My 85 year old Nan has needed a knee replacemnt for just under a year. After fiddling and faddleing around, her local hospital, with whom she had not yet had one consultation, told her she would be better off at a hospital in the neighbouring health authority. This was probably the best move that could have been made. She was seen by the consultant within three weeks of her notes arriving (although all the wasted time had meant she had picked up an infection that needed to be cleared up first).

She goes in for her knee replacemnt tomorrow. She will be in for at least a week, with around 8 – 10 weeks recovering. By the time all is said and done she will have been waiting over a year.

And the reason the NHS costs so much… so much waiting and pressure on my Nan’s good knee means that her other knee will need to be replaced too! Think how much money could be saved if the British tradition of queueing and waiting our turn were to be scrapped!

Don’t get me wrong, I think the NHS is good, but there are so many inefficiencies that it could be so much better.

Feb 14, 2006 - Uncategorized    Comments Off on Who needs a tacky card anyway?

Who needs a tacky card anyway?

I’ve never really fallen for all the Valentine’s day hype, and I’ve often claimed it is a day that is overshadowed by commercial spin that is placed on many celebrations nowadays. But the I still like the idea of Valentine’s day.

The important thing about Valentine’s day is to make it special to you. It does not need to be lavish or extravagant, it does not need to be tacky and tasteless. As long as you and your Valentine share the day in your own special way, that is all that matters.