Things come by. Do things, and other things grow on the back of them.
For whatever reason I can't even trace, I have been asked if I will consider 'doing' a piece for the Thought for Today slot on the local BBC Radio Station. Five pieces in fact, on for each day of the week.
Nice to be asked of course, but do I want to?
Of course I do and I have an inability to say no, especially to opportunities. You never really know where it will lead.
But what can I 'inspire thought' about.
I have consider a reflective approach, rather than the tempting cynical old git stuff.
I'v never actually listened to the feature (apart from the R4 one and that's too up there for me...)

So maybe five little bits, one for each hat?

NOT rising food prices or the plight of Amy Winehouse.

Life is a map, right?
We choose the path we take through the situations (towns) along the way.
That's one.

Then at stopping points for me. What sort of perspective does each hat bring to my mind?
One. Churchwarden
two. father of more than average
three. director and business owner
four. music

Somehow, they weave together, and each brings in people, observations and situations.
Work on it.

Too 'me' centred?
I want to personalise it though. otherwise, why would have been asked. I don't do 'opinion'

We hosted our "Memories tea" this afternoon the first event specifically arranged to celebrate our 140th anniversary.
Not my project, but I helped with setting up and acted as a scribe on one of the six tables, just talking with the visitors and switching on their memories of life in bygone St Denys.
Excellent display boards set up, and loads of people brought in books, photos, wedding albums etc. Over fifty guests, loads of big homemade cakes and a tour round the Building. A complete success and big smiles from everyone involved. It attracted a couple of other younger people to via the website, who came along 'out of interest' with a shared love and thirst for local history. Seems there is quite a lot we can do with similar group in the area and I can see a much bigger project emerging from the crumbs of the sponge cake and meat paste sandwiches...

Also just happened to be Biscuit's 19th birthday, but she didn't come round until five having tried to sleep off a hangover for most of the day.
Good - student lifestyle seems to be filtering through at last! Kids delighted to see her and all too silly.
We bought her a smoothie maker, and arranged lunch on Tuesday.
Big ramble about the situation in my office and she works with someone exactly the same at the camera shop. Some insightful comments and with this and more chat from church people I am seeing the way forward with more clarity now. But to get there requires more strength and determination than I can muster at the moment to push a rather large boulder out of the way.

Speaking of nostalgia, I found another F*xx interview online today - a full transcript of the 2003 interview for Sky Text in which he reminisces about life up north at the early part of his career in the context of his relationship with LG.
Interviews seem to be all over the place, but there are lots of stones to turn.

Lou*s Gordon - Bl*nd Anorex*c

Midnight, or near enough, and I'm sitting here listening to the firework display announcing the arrival of the latest largest cruise ship in the world, The Independence of the Seas. Saw her this morning from West Quay shops, and QE2 at the Mayflower terminal. I think. Despite the job, I still get the terminals mixed up!

And when I say 'listening' I'm not of course actually listening. I mean I can hear them. I'm listening to Lou*s Gordon's debut album "Bl*nd Anorexic" for the second time and I'm right. It is VERY disappointing and almost sounds a little amateurish, especially compared with the very wonderful 'Closed, Gone Fishing'.
Last night, also while finally cracking the inspiration I need to work on the Hamble Valley map, I played this through for the first time alongside RetroF*ture, the live album I should have got months ago. It's not bad, good sound quality, but the arrangements etc sound very dated now ten years after the gig.
What really has impressed me much more than I thought it would is the live Metamat*c album 'A New k*nd of Man' which I had some reservations about. Much better than I remember the shows being, and does show the three boots I have to be rubbish in comparison.
Although they do capture the atmosphere better, but don't 'sound' too good.

Talked about this kind of thing with Mirfee in the pub on Thursday, and made some arrangements for the trip up to London next weekend to see Marc Alm*nd at Wiltons. Looking forward to that a lot as I haven't seen him since 2001 and everyone says Wiltons is perfect rather concerned to hear that he collapsed on stage though at Indigo 2 just before Christmas. So pleased he is still with us, still singing well and apparently working now on his 'last' album.

Told everyone at cell on Thursday (before I walked to the pub) about the situation at work and having chatted with JC about it too I am no less confused but more determined than ever that we should make 'the necessary arrangements' to move forward without him as much as possible.
I owe pip a hug for this too, letting me rant on earlier in the week.
It's been a MUCH better day today than I can remember the rest of the week being - helped by the sunshine which meant we have spent most of the day outside. Bikes, Swingball, bouncy balls - a bit of shopping and lots of window cleaning.
Too much DIY to do on the house - I daren't even look.

Rumours of a new group of creative writers looking to set up in the local pub next weekend. I wonder how I can find time to join them?

Inspiration.
The pleasure principle
An absolute joy

But we are not men
And you are not strong
And we are not fools
I call you 'mirror'

• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:30:48)
She knew she should not have had that last glass of red
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:30:59)
he felt dead awkward
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:31:10)
she sighed
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:31:15)
switched off the tv
• Ferryman •says: (22:31:22)
he had wanted it, but felt too polite to pour the bottle into his own glass
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:31:27)
snapped off the light
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:31:34)
went back into the room
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:31:50)
He was always so polite
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:31:57)
She needed to get used to that
And she knew he wanted another glass
• Ferryman •says: (22:33:38)
It was a vexing question. He was here, he knew that, but felt strangely ethereal. Time moved around them like smoke from a thick cigar
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:33:44)
She fidgeted as he began to ramble
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:34:03)
the bottle of wine now the centrepiece
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:34:15)
she mused ...should she get more
• Ferryman •says: (22:34:47)
 Does she have more wine? Should I ask?
• Ferryman •says: (22:35:00)
His eyes flickered around the unfamiliar room
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:35:03)
Oh...I'll get more wine she muttered
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:35:24)
She walked...trying to remain sedate and sophisticated...
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:35:30)
towards the door...
• Ferryman •says: (22:35:58)
His smiled followed her, humoured by her awkward ness
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:36:30)
Stumbling through into the kitchen the harsh light blasted back to reality
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:36:57)
She tried to find that extra b ottle she'd bought
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:37:07)
at Asda...earlier in the day
• Ferryman •says: (22:37:44)
Turning, his eyes fell on a small box on the carpet.
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:37:50)
She knew he was smiling and began to blush...even inside the darkness of the cupboard that hid that remaining bottle
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:37:59)
oh...she realised
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:38:02)
he'd seen it
• Ferryman •says: (22:38:45)
And then to the decor, the bookshelves. The birdcage. He could hear at least one cat. There was a photograph of a young girl in a frame above the fireplace, and some flowers that were a day or three past their best
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:39:02)
The photo...
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:39:11)
her daughter...the very same
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:39:19)
the very essence of her
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:39:24)
He would see that
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:39:27)
know that
• Ferryman •says: (22:39:47)
She had her mother's eyes, but it wasn't a great picture. Herself as a child? There was a suited man's arm around her shoulder
• Ferryman •says: (22:39:58)
Was it her? A daughter perhaps?
It was hard to see in candellight, and his curiosity surprised him
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:40:26)
It was her
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:40:52)
the nature of the shadows made the eyes appear like hers
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:41:00)
yet this was a young girl
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:41:03)
innocent
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:41:07)
loving
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:41:19)
hiding much behind those eyes
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:41:54)
She sensed his curiousity, mistook his discomfort
• Ferryman •says: (22:42:24)
He heard her closing the door in the kitchen, and shifted in his seat
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:42:52)
Turning to face him,  she knew this was the moment
She sensed his discomfort...and then...'yes, it's me'
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:44:37)
'it was taken a long time ago'
• Ferryman •says: (22:44:39)
There was a silence, and he became aware that the music he had not previously been aware of had stopped playing several minutes ago
• Ferryman •says: (22:44:49)
The photo, on the mantlepiece?
• Ferryman •says: (22:44:57)
I was wondering about it
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:45:09)
She stood there...yes...it's me...it's quite faded now
• Ferryman •says: (22:45:17)
Yes
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:45:22)
She offered the wine, smiling
• Ferryman •says: (22:45:23)
It's you?
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:45:29)
shrugged her shoulders
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:45:34)
Age...
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:45:39)
comes to us all
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:45:49)
She smiled...and waited
• Ferryman •says: (22:45:53)
Don't apologise. I thought it was. Your eyes... your smile
• Ferryman •says: (22:46:03)
These things don't age
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:46:34)
'Mmmm I agree,' she turned and face the photp appearing lost in thoughts
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:46:41)
maybe childhood
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:46:44)
maybe hope
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:46:49)
maybe regret
• Ferryman •says: (22:47:00)
How old are you? In the picture I mean
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:47:41)
oh...Oh the photo...she suddenly asserted herself, took control, ' about six i think'
• Ferryman •says: (22:48:22)
He was turning thoughts over in his head. Trying to date the picture by the girl's dress, or its faded quality.
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:48:49)
She hesitated, 'More wine' No question mark
• Ferryman •says: (22:49:38)
Still at a loss to understand why it mattered, and why he had even felt drawn to it in the first place. Sensing her changing the subject, he held out his glass
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:50:14)
She poured and turned her back to to the photo...ridiculous she even had it there
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:50:31)
She knew he sensed a change
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:50:42)
She lightened her tone...
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:51:01)
So, You figured you'd come round and ask me yourself then?
• Ferryman •says: (22:51:04)
He'd been careless. Invasive
• Ferryman •says: (22:51:18)
Relief. A tangible question
• Ferryman •says: (22:51:21)
Well...
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:51:38)
Again that look...She must keep talking
• Ferryman •says: (22:52:02)
Do you mind? he asked. ‘Me just coming round?'
• Miss Hudson Boo • says: (22:52:44)
'No'  she smiled, and then more quietly, 'No, no not at all, I just don't want to give a bad impression!'
• Ferryman •says: (22:53:47)
He smiled. 'You haven't'. Sipped the wine. 'It's not an impression I wanted to find anyway. I just called because... well

This should appear in the creative writing blog, but has disappeared into some cyber 'holding bay' while it is scanned for knives.

The best times are those that just happen.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Each of you should look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

[i]Philippians 2:3-4[/i]

Work is confusing me, disappointing me, frustrating me. Yet inspiring, uplifting and challenging.

I just want to pull away now, with my colleagues, to lift them. Leading by servitude.
Just as our children are our greatest teachers, so we can learn so much about ourselves from our staff.
Listen. learn. lead.

My head is f*cked.

Instead of working this evening I have again faced an appalling absence of motivation. I have to edit the copy for our new website, draw up the H*mble River map and more importantly (as we've been paid!) complete the cycle map for Portsmouth.
Quite shocking actually that I have received NO feedback from either of the funding parties since I sent the proof of the back two weeks ago.

It's been a difficult day in the office which explains why I still feel a bit demoralised. J and D have evidently had another kind of falling out during my week off and there was an awkward atmosphere in the office whenever he came in (just a couple of times during the day). I'm having lunch with her on Wednesday, but seems I need to catch up with D first and find out what has happened this time. I suspect its nothing again - they simply don't like each other and he can't accept that. SHouldn't really be my problem. And I suspect this time I might tall him so, as today there was more and more evidence of bad practise on his part. It's infuriating to work with someone who cannot/will not carry out even the simplest request to help projects alone that aren't his own, or worse leaves lists of tasks and requests sitting on his desk for weeks.

Must not rant...

had hoped for some pretty intelligent conversation on MSN tonight,but we keep missing each other. that whole format seems to be dying off lately - there is never ANYONE of my contacts online when I pass through ??

Instead I've spent the last three hours tweaking with my very lovely timeline, adding in as many of the compilations that feature JF's work as I can find. Not surprisingly it is almost always Underp*ss, but they range from 80s compilations to a lot of really obscure underground 'samplers' that otherwise feature artists I've never heard of. A lot of European stuff, mostly industrial/electronica but also lots of house/acid/dance and some darkwave/goth. These tend to be where MrNo turns up.
Fascinating stuff - really illustrates the man's influence across so many genres.

I have also succumbed to the predatory beast that is online shopping. this is virtually unheard of (no pun intended). Over the next few days I can expect delivery of not only RetroFut*re and AnKoM, but also Louis' debut "Bl*nd Anorexic" and a limited double CD Norken compilation featuring tracks from the 10 year career of Lee Norr*s

School trips lining up, and a dilemma.
My fellow churchwarden is also co-ordinator of the pre-school that LC goes to, but she runs it really badly and it has seriously declined over the last six months or so. Lots of things defined as 'good' in the last Ofsted report now no longer happen, and several parents are commenting that the place is falling apart. The co-ordinator has stepped back a bit and is always ready to blame her deputy when she gets any complaints. There's an element of truth and justification for this, but as co-ordinator and boss she really needs to address the issues.
The children no longer go outside to play, and this is despite receiving funding for an awning that was installed in February. They no longer have 'fruit or a healthy snack' every day but instead get biscuits. Parents no longer get any feedback from staff, and the little home/preschool projects don't run anymore (bring in something blue... count things on the way home... look out for emergency vehicles... share a story)
What to do?

Seems one of the most tempting options is to use some of the other parents concerns and dress them up as our own? Hmmmm....?

On average, we get five children to bed within 15 minutes of getting in from a family visit.

Today is typical. We left the farm just on four thirty, stopped at Burger King in Fleet Services for dinner at about 6.45 and got home on the stroke of eight o'clock.
Half an hour later the kids are all n bed, the car is emptied, I'm writing this and Tx is making our last cup of tea.
We'll be in bed ourselves within an hour.
Everyone is exhausted.

I haven't placed an order yet, but the latest JF album is out today and has started dropping onto doormats.
Hopefully, "A New K*nd Of Man" - the live album to commemorate last year's tour will be the last version of Metamat*c released.
Only 1000 copies, so I expect I will get mine ordered Monday.
Might even pick up one of the last remaining copies of Retro-Future at the same time, although this is for the artwork rather than the music, which seems a rather superfluous release to me. I have a reasonably good boot of this show and one that is crap - hopefully the sound quality will be as good as people say to justify the purchase.

Just in from a 50th birthday in the church halls. Good friend of mine, the man behind the Bob Pearce gig in September. Hired Bob and his band tonight to play for him and the 200 odd guests. The lighting put together on Wednesday by TH worked a treat, bathing the tables in red and with two spotlights on the band, alternating with purple and green from the side.
The band sounded good enough to me, but apparently they struggled with echo and the drummer in particular had trouble hearing the PA.

A little disappointed that only three other people stayed to clear up afterwards, but it only took us an hour. Biggest chore was washing the floor to remove the sticky beer. Nice job..

Disappointment is the demon at the moment, foremost amid the procession of thoughts going through my head regarding the future of my company.
A big part of me says that I am over reacting and it will, somehow of course, work out for the best. I know this, and when D does leave I have no doubt that a lot of other people will benefit from a clear sky and really start to fly. His presence is undoubtedly oppressive, which is unfortunately a difficult thing to admit. I have always been in no doubt that we could manage better without him, but it does annoy me that he is adamant that we can't and will just fall apart.
Tx has observed that he is in more danger of that, because the new CM part of the business will be run and staffed entirely by sales - where is the project management, the back office support, the strategy and the planning. Enough already.

Right here, right now I feel disappointed that we as a company have got somewhere but that it means so much less to him than it does to me. I have learned to read and react to his actions rather than his words in recent years (which makes for an uncomfortable atmosphere when you can see behind the smile of a salesman) and those in recent months do point to very little interaction with, encouragement of and even respect for the staff.

I think the challenge has gone, which is a bitter irony, because in point of fact the challenge is just beginning.

I won't let these resentful feelings last long, but they must have their dance.
Lord I pray for peace of mind, for proportional and rational judgement, wisdom and confidence without personal criticism and unnecessary resentment. It is my gain, though I have not fought to achieve it. Let me accept his gift of freedom and independence with grace, and judge not the reasons behind the opportunity.

Up to visit Tx sister on erm... Tuesday, which coincided with Waddesdon manor being closed. Should have remembered that the majority of NT properties are closed either MOnday or Tuesday, so that b*ggered our plans for a picnic lunch.
The house is only about 10 miles from their home outside Aylesbury and an hour and a half from here, so given that G can only accommodate us for a couple of hours it made sense to fill the day with something else.
Instead, I picked out Brill Mill, just eats of Oxford and found it easily even though its 20 years or more since I last went there.
Weird old place. A spectacularly uninspiring post mill in itself, but in a stunning location, overlooking absolutely miles of beaustiful English countryside. And set on top of a load of old brickworkings, making it uppy-downy and great fun for the kids for a couple of hours

On the way up I knew we were going to see Red Kites over the A34 - but it was amazing to see THREE together, just around Chiltern as usual.
Then a couple more in the Hundreds as well, out towards Aston Clinton. Always stunning birds. In the air with NIINE buzzards at this point to which was worth the hassle of stopping the car for.

Best of all though was the one that flew right over the house while I was out playing with the kids in the garden. Very low, mobbed by a couple of crows. That special birdwatchers instinct kicked in and made me look up and behind myself as it passed.
Once a birder, always a birder?
How exactly does that sixth sense work??

G is not at all well,and the prognosis is not good. They are talking about lots of modifications to the house to improve her lifestyle. Very difficult to understand her speech now as the MS takes hold. Sad to see, and Tx especially was quite upset to see such a dramatic decline in her condition. Suspicion is now that their dad might outlive his older daughter.

What else?
Days at Mottisfont on the Test, random bits of shopping and local 'stuff'. Friends for dinner, friends parties, visit from Kink last weekend.

Oh yes, that...


As usual a week off from the office proves to be more exhausting than time in the office, and I haven't managed to get much of a break from the stuff in my head.
Which is occupying far too much time since D's 'announcement' a week ago. That he intends to move on and focus on the work at the Cruise Terminals is no surprise, but I am struggling to come to terms with his attitude to the rest of the business.
The only reason at the moment that nothing else is proving viable is because we have allowed CM work to dominate everything over the past six months and it is suppressing the genome of the company. Stifling and oppressive.
We had a long meeting on Tuesday night in the pub discuss the way forward an where we go from here.
I see it as a very exciting opportunity and one that will relieve a lot of pressure on a lot of people, but we will need to re-group, re-structure and seriously look at the viability of projects over the next six months while we undertake the 'division' of the company into the two constituent cells.

Challenging times.

So even now I'm writing about work when I should be catching up on some of the stuff I brought home to do this week. It's our first quiet afternoon in really - so busy with days out, visits, makes etc etc (and fixing the drippy shower that started coming through the kitchen ceiling last weekend...)
First time I've even turned the computer on for a couple of days, which is quite satisfying.

Last time was to finish off the pre-publicity for the gig in September in time for Bunday's party this evening. Bob Pearce and his band are playing at this, and we want to give everyone a flyer to push the gig in the Autumn.
I was over at the church (again) for an hour this morning, showing round a local historian who is working with a local youth group making a film about bygone St Denys. he intends to come along to our Memories tea next weekend and interview some people, take a few pictures etc.
Seems we have really captured an idea with the Tea and it could be the beginning of a much more significant archive project.

Cut the grass again on Wednesday, and blew up the mower...

Yesterday was Paulton's (Park), one of the leading members in our Hampshire Top Attractions group. Picked up half a dozen free tickets a while ago, used to great effect with the kids on a sunny holiday. most excellent, but I'm not sure it would have been worth the £80 entry fee for all of us otherwise.
boy was really excited all day and made me go one just about everything with him (most rides are suitable for six-plus year olds provided under 7s are accompanied by an adult)

This is the ride that beat me.
No problem at all with the roller coasters, even the round and round tea-cups (I can't do round and round as a rule) but this Pirate Ship was horrible. That feeling that you are going to fall out the front when it gets high turned me green.
Even Boy didn't like it much, so that was compensation!!

What impressed me most was the amount of space around the park - lawns and landscaped gardens, aviaries and enclosures.
Their collection of hornbills is a real bonus.
I was totally not prepared for this, and it was a joy to see the Ground Hornbill conservation project at least.
Such amazing birds - I didn't even know there was a collection so close by.

So much to catch up on, but everyone is so tired.
Lots of aching arms and backs today with all the "hanging on". That Dragon Ride is seriously fast.
And no queues. Made such a difference. We went on everything (except the cobra) at least twice.

I have just stepped down as leader of my cell group.
It has been an inevitable move, and one that I have prayed about recently for the confidence to follow through with.
It is rare and unusual for me to let go of a commitment, but the time now is right for the group to move on under the guidance of someone else.
With fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm. For the time being I need to learn, to develop, explore and strengthen my own faith, improve my pastoral care. I need for a time at least to draw fresh water from the springs of others. They have much to give, and my faltering commitment was holding them back from doing so.

We don't meet nearly often enough, and I don't spend as much time with the individual members as a should.

It was hard tonight leading a session around the resurrection of Lazarus at a difficult time for one of my friends whose mother died at the weekend. Exhausting in fact.
The heavy sadness of the eve of a funeral is impenetrable, and we can all do so little but offer prayer, support and love. Many tears, but much talking and the signs of a re-emergence are there, a shedding of the burden of care that has cast such a shadow in the past months.

Once they have all left, and I clear away, lost in thoughts and contemplation, it is common for songs to drift into my conscience. They drift in, as if from nowhere, urging me to walk with them.
But it is entirely unprecedented that such a song should be one from the canon of J*hn F*xx.

And so I've spend the last half an hour self-indulgently wrapped in the beauty of two tracks from the 1985 album 'In Mysterious Ways'.
Tears have flowed. These have always been favourites of mine, especially the title track, but Stepping Softly has brought tears to my ears.
Now that I can listen to the words and feel the sensitivity of the composition from the point of view of faith and belief in HIm, it takes on a whole new dimension and greater significance.
Interesting, when the album (or any of his other works) is resolutely NOT 'religious' music.
Apparently...

I've got to laugh at the way that fortune's grace
Defeats my reason with its wonder

When your love shines free
It moves me in mysterious ways
In such mysterious ways
In mysterious ways

Follows on from my previous post. read that first if you like.
I'm ranting tonight.

Meal deals, right?

On my way to the 'mall' this afternoon for the doughnuts [sic] I had to get some food.
Oh, the irony...

Chose Mange Tout round the corner because, well,erm... they advertise with us, so why not. Very average take-away sandwich bar. Choose your own baguette fillings etc, choose your own bread.
You know the kind of thing.

"Anything to go with that sir?"

"Yes actually, I think I'll have a packet of crisps"
(picks up packet of Walkers ready salted from strategically placed shiny bowl on the counter adjacent)

"You'll want a drink then, for the Meal Deal?"
(apparently 'free' with any sandwich and a bag of crisps. If I chose the crisps and the drink, then the sandwich would be free. You know the kind of thing.

"No thanks. Just these"

"You might as well have a drink. It's free with the Meal Deal. Choose something from the cabinet."

(I turn to the 'cabinet'. Let's see... er... Coke, Diet Coke. Caffeine free coke. Coke. Cherry coke. Sparkling water bottled and distributed by Coca Cola. Coke. Coke. And Oasis, in two flavours. The same two flavours in all the sandwich bars in all the shops in all the city.
Does Oasis only come in two flavours??
Oh, and J20. I chose a J20.

"That's not part of the meal deal, actually. You wanna choose something else?"

"Not really. I don't like fizzy drinks."

"Oh dear. that's a shame."

"You don't really seem to have a lot of choice?"

"Well,erm, no, I suppose not. The trouble is I can only put 20% of other drinks in the cabinet, see?"

(Notes that cabinet is branded in the familiar livery of Coca Cola.)

"I see. That's a pit of a bum deal then, isn't it? For you I mean?"

"Is that all then sir? Have a seat and we'll bring the baguette over in a minute."

Made me think. That kind of lease arrangement is such bollocks and explains so much. Like why every sandwich or coffee bar in the vicinity (and there are many) all serve the same drinks.

So why don't more owners of such establishments actually BUY chiller cabinets of their own, in a nice shade of white? And then get some of their own branding done, on vinyl, and decorate it.
And then stock a plentiful range of different drinks?
Surely in the long term that must have financial advantages.

Ah yes, but you see then they wouldn't be able to sell Coca Cola products, and that rules out half the market, and that's the drinks people want.

Not everyone, and they can always buy Coca Cola from any other shop on the HIgh Street

He can't take that risk. If people go elsewhere to buy Coke then they might also buy their sandwiches and crisps somewhere else.

True, but there are no doubt a lot of people who would seek out a shop that DIDN'T sell meal deals involving fizzy drinks and look for more variety and choice.

Ah yes, but you see that relies on people 'seeking out' another shop, like you said. And people aren't prepared to do that. It's about convenience. What's wrong with Coke anyway?

Oh, no, nothing. I like Coke. I just want to be able to choose NOT to buy it and have a range of alternatives

To me, 'Meal deals and two for ones, and have it, go on it's free' are one of the major causes of over-production and waste, and a big factor in over consumption. Back to the doughnuts again...

I'm such an inconvenience.
Why is it so difficult to buy what you WANT these days??

Seems we are not safe even here in the Deep South, for a tumorous growth has appeared in the city in the shape of the ubiquitous doughnut store.

For a few weeks now it seems as if EVERYONE has been going on about it, and I was given another "you have to..." prod by a friend at the weekend.
I'm notoriously hard to sell to, but with the office full of talk at the same and stress levels bursting through the roof today I felt it would be a good idea to visit this alien landing craft and see what all the fuss is about, as well as counter some of the negativity around the place.

How strange it is. Totally out of my comfort zone - I real did feel as if I was on another planet the minute I even set foot in the shopping centre, let along the doughnut store.
The 'mall' (see, I'm learning the lingo) is lined with clothing boutiques that all seem to be selling exactly the same thing as each other. Or cellphones.

Are there really that many people who still don't have a cellphone??

Anyway, to the doughnuts, and a soap box moment. Grumpy Old Men, look out.
Things I hate about modern society...

People trying to sell to me when I'm already in their shop.
And Meal deals. More on this one later.

The doughnuts look great, and tasted fantastic. Never mind all the nutritional hazards, this wasn't one of those moments. It was all in the name of research and helping staff cheer up.
Lots of flavours to choose from, all lined up lovingly beside the shiny counter with its high stools and chrome. And behind the counter, and in every corner, and all around the serving area, boxes and boxes and boxes of 'Dozen Deal' - 12 mixed doughnuts in a box.

"Hi there, sir. can I help you?"

"Sure yeah. thanks. I'll have... erm... two maple creme, two cinnamon... and

"How many are you having sir?"

"Six please. Two maple, two..."

"You should have twelve sir, it costs the same."

"How do you know? I haven't told you which flavours I want yet?"
(There are three different price ranges, depending on amount of glaze, filling etc)

"A Dozen Deal is only £7.85."

"But I only want six."

"Sure, but a Dozen Deal will give you another six for no extra cost."

"But I only want six."

"The other six in the box are more or less free. Cost you maybe 50 pence?"

"Can I have six doughnuts for 50 pence?"

"A Dozen Deal is only £7.85."

"Why can't I only have six?"

"You can have six, sir, but you can have a Dozen deal for the same price."
(Why am I still in the shop...?)

"Two maple please, two cinnamon, one custard and chocolate and … a vanilla ring"

Each doughnut picked up in tongs, placed carefully in a box, presented to me to 'look at' (to see what - if he's arranged them nicely in the box?) and then some umming and ahhing as he reads the cash till to find the right prices.

"That'll be £7.35 please. A Dozen Deal is only £7.85'

"No wonder you're all fat bastards. Why would I want something JUST BECAUSE its free?"

"Thank you for calling by today sir. £2.65 change. Enjoy your doughnuts. Whose next please?"

Grrrrr... I did consider that they must make even more profit if I buy the buggers individually like this. But of course they have to take the time to pick them up off the rack, put them in a box and ring them through the till. And then someone has to re-stack the shelf afterwards. heaven forbid it should look as if they have actually SOLD anything...

Spectacular lack of CUSTOMER FOCUS. The whole retailing policy seems to be based around selling the boxes of 12, rather than selling to the customers what they actually want.
I am such an inconvenience.

It's not every day you pop out from the office to get some milk and step into the erratic path of a unicycle.
Very, very cool. Ridden by a tall bloke with blue hair, in a suit, down the middle (ish) of East Street weaving in and out of unwary shoppers like me, not really paying attention to the traffic on a narrow one way street.
the cycle had a very large wheel compared to others I've seen, such that the saddle was only just clear of it.

I hope he got home safely.

Signs of spring all around - the children playing outside when I got home from work today and it being too warm for the waterproofs.
Hurrah. We have tulips.

There are signs of the crisis I have been expecting in the office to though, which is not good. I have always advocated that our project at he Cruise Terminals is a brilliant idea and represents an exciting opportunity once we can get 'into' the right media bubbles and attract clients. M and D have spent a year doing this and are now proving very successful.
I believe that it is very easy to sell a good idea, and though they have worked hard and its been quite a challenge, now that people are aware of what we are doing there it is proving attractive and 'sells itself' as one after another the agencies all sign up for a look around.
The agents themselves a fickle bunch of 'no-brainers' who have to have their egos stroked. Took a long time to accept that the buyers have to really believe THEY found US so that they can show off to their managers tick a box and get a pat on the back (and presumably some commission?) for discovering such a wonderful and lucrative opportunity. So this time last year when WE frst went to THEm with it, they didn't want to know, couldn't see the benefits and it just wasn't part of their conscience.
Seems the seeds were sown effectively tough, and now we have media buyers ringing US. the same people.
People like M...

But D is already showing signs of struggling to cope now as he takes on Project management and Operational responsibilities to actually get the posters, exhibitions, displays, take-ones etc into place, in some kind of order, on time, professionally organised etc etc which of course is what they except for the silly money they are prepared to pay.
And this is where I come in, to try and relieve some of the pressure that his stress is causing in the office, and taking up far too much of other people's time.
It's going to be a big challenge and we have to get it right. But, and I take great comfort and support from this, we have a very exciting viable business without so if it should all go tits up and fall over then we have plenty to fall back on.

Providing we don't lose sight of that in the maelstrom that these operational duties are causing around everyone. Who are of course equally busy all trying to do their own things which are of equal value even if they are not nearly so financially lucrative.

Isn't it so, so true that things that are worth more money have less value?
Like premier league footballers compared with nurses, for example.

To write. Apiece for the new PR material that we as a church have recognised at last that we need to generate. Our hall hire has fallen by £8K in the last twelve months and that needs addressing.

Anyone want to book a meeting room? Or a badminton court? Or host a children's party?
We have a kitchen, conference facilities, attractive and sheltered courtyard garden.
And of course one of the most impressive examples of early Victorian architecture in the city, housing one of the largest internal spaces of its kind in the county.
Now available for weddings, concerts and all manner of lovely things.