It's time to move long again Gentle Reader, to pastures new. I've been using BlogSpot for many years, here and at my previous blog - Mike's Blog.
Well, I've decided to jump ship and give Wordpress a try. At the same time it allows me to resurrect Mike's Blog and make a clean break rather than trying to do the same-but-different at another site. Also, I get a helluva lot of spam/unsolicited marketing messages and I need to turn off the tap.
So, from now on I'll be blogging at www.shrodis.net where Mike's Blog will be continuing in a new form. I hope you'll like it.
Monday, 30 June 2014
Sunday, 15 June 2014
The tale of Miss R
I don't really know Miss R; in fact I couldn't really pick her out of a police line-up. Still, as Miss R couldn't really pick Miss R out of a police line-up I don't suppose it matters. What matters is Miss R is 81 years old, has severe memory problems and dementia, no family, no money, and as of now nowhere to live.
I have the privilege of serving on the management committee of a residential care home for the elderly. It's not a nursing home - it doesn't (or shouldn't) provide medical care. It's a charity set up after the War to look after the old who had lost everything and everyone in the Blitz. 70 years later and the old are much older than they were, and their attendant health problems have certainly not gone away. Dementia care and palliative care are very much the order of the day even for non-medical care settings.
The care home is in Wandsworth (a part of south west London). Because in Britain healthcare is free but social care is means tested the care home charges the princely sum of £640 per week per resident funded partly by the county the resident is/was from and partly from their own money as determined by some fiendishly incomprehensible formula derived by a bureaucrat who was Not Having A Good Day that day.
Miss R has a happy enough life with the care home. She has her friends, and a wonderful care worker who has been by her side for five years and despite the dementia has built a real bond with her. Miss R has even made friends with one of the innumerable cats who hang around too.
The problem is Miss R isn't from Wandsworth. she is from Westminster. And Westminster won't pay. Can pay - one of the wealthiest parts of London. Just won't.
After five years with us they have built up a deficit of several thousand pounds, and not unreasonably the care home is seeking to avoid the situation worsening by getting Westminster to pay the home's full fees. It's really tough for us to stick to our guns on this because we deeply care for the person, far more than any other part of the system. However, as a charity there is a real risk we won't be able to afford the care and accommodation the residents deserve if we can't get organisations that fund us to pay up.
So, in theory Westminster has to pay up or she goes. Problem is we're very likely to blink first as we are mindful of the person not the paperwork.
Westminster itself is quite insistent that the care home must do more to 'control its costs' but I find that argument a problem for two and a half reasons. Firstly, I do feel we provide incredible value for money - it is about the quality that we provide and the continuity of care that is in Miss R's best interests. Secondly, partly in response to serious and significant cuts to local authorities' funding to help manage the Government's yawning budget deficit, costs have been pushed down hill. Miss R has complex and intractable care needs that are not best met outside a nursing-care environment. Yet increasingly the threshold for more intensive (cf. expensive) care seems much higher than it ought to be. Finally, though, in the back of my mind is the thought that if Westminster were exercising appropriate control then Miss R would have been given care in the place she came from, and they would not have needed to rely on our good offices in the first place.
Well, I've often written that no good deed goes unpunished. Doesn't means we shouldn't do it, however, so we'll write our letters and argue back but overall it's pretty good to write that Miss R is safe and will be so for the rest of her life. We know what the real victory here is - and it is such a pity the powers that be don't.
I have the privilege of serving on the management committee of a residential care home for the elderly. It's not a nursing home - it doesn't (or shouldn't) provide medical care. It's a charity set up after the War to look after the old who had lost everything and everyone in the Blitz. 70 years later and the old are much older than they were, and their attendant health problems have certainly not gone away. Dementia care and palliative care are very much the order of the day even for non-medical care settings.
The care home is in Wandsworth (a part of south west London). Because in Britain healthcare is free but social care is means tested the care home charges the princely sum of £640 per week per resident funded partly by the county the resident is/was from and partly from their own money as determined by some fiendishly incomprehensible formula derived by a bureaucrat who was Not Having A Good Day that day.
Miss R has a happy enough life with the care home. She has her friends, and a wonderful care worker who has been by her side for five years and despite the dementia has built a real bond with her. Miss R has even made friends with one of the innumerable cats who hang around too.
The problem is Miss R isn't from Wandsworth. she is from Westminster. And Westminster won't pay. Can pay - one of the wealthiest parts of London. Just won't.
After five years with us they have built up a deficit of several thousand pounds, and not unreasonably the care home is seeking to avoid the situation worsening by getting Westminster to pay the home's full fees. It's really tough for us to stick to our guns on this because we deeply care for the person, far more than any other part of the system. However, as a charity there is a real risk we won't be able to afford the care and accommodation the residents deserve if we can't get organisations that fund us to pay up.
So, in theory Westminster has to pay up or she goes. Problem is we're very likely to blink first as we are mindful of the person not the paperwork.
Westminster itself is quite insistent that the care home must do more to 'control its costs' but I find that argument a problem for two and a half reasons. Firstly, I do feel we provide incredible value for money - it is about the quality that we provide and the continuity of care that is in Miss R's best interests. Secondly, partly in response to serious and significant cuts to local authorities' funding to help manage the Government's yawning budget deficit, costs have been pushed down hill. Miss R has complex and intractable care needs that are not best met outside a nursing-care environment. Yet increasingly the threshold for more intensive (cf. expensive) care seems much higher than it ought to be. Finally, though, in the back of my mind is the thought that if Westminster were exercising appropriate control then Miss R would have been given care in the place she came from, and they would not have needed to rely on our good offices in the first place.
Well, I've often written that no good deed goes unpunished. Doesn't means we shouldn't do it, however, so we'll write our letters and argue back but overall it's pretty good to write that Miss R is safe and will be so for the rest of her life. We know what the real victory here is - and it is such a pity the powers that be don't.
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Who else but UKIP?
Do you watch Family Guy, Gentle Reader? Well if you do - and you should, it's great - you know a character called Quagmire who is, putting it mildly, a sex pest. Whenever he does something outrageous a recurring gag is a cutaway that says "who else but Quagmire?"
Well, if you a Britisher then you will almost certainly be aware of a party called UKIP (the UK Independence Party). UKIP, broadly speaking is politically right of the Conservative party, the main right of centre party in the UK, and more toward the British National Party (BNP), an openly nationalist very right wing, traditionally very racist and homophobic party. The BNP, UKIP and others like the English Defence League have historically been consigned to the lunatic fringes of British politics. However, UKIP has emerged over the last few years to become something verging on entering the political establishment.
How and why? Well, the Conservatives have been inching leftward over the last few years - equal marriage for the gays is an example of this; another is subsidies for renewable energy. All the mainstream parties have been doing this. Thus there is a bit of room on the right hand side of the normal range of politics. A bit of room that asks, and this is UKIP's totem, should Britain be in the European Union? Are there too many immigrants coming into the country? So UKIP has its traditional followers and is picking up traditional Conservative party voters who have been left behind by the party moving ground.
This apparent electability is a problem because unfortunately UKIP is beset by scandal. Time and time again its candidates for election, and not a small number of the local councillors it has had (many of whom defected from the Conservatives) have come up with bizarre, even irrational views. That 'gay marriage' caused recent severe flooding. That Muslims should be forced to sign up to a special code of conduct. That the developing world is "bongo bongo land".
Or even:
Well, I've reached a point where I feel like "... who else but UKIP?" when a scandal comes along.
The UKIP leader, Nigel Farage complains none of the other parties get this kind of focus. Maybe so, but it is clear UKIP has not got fit for purpose vetting procedures for its candidates and is thoroughly unable to keep them on message; or alternatively many more people in its party machine agree with those views. In addition, as an 'anti-establishment' party that says the mainstream parties have sold Britain out and politicians should de better, the expectation it can get its act together and that it can behave in a way that sets it above its competition. As The Spectator put it "scandals are so frequent you have to conclude that it is not the rotten apple that needs throwing out but the whole stinking barrel."
Still, scandal after scandal and little changes. It's time to face the fact that UKIP is a bit Teflon at the moment and the truly odd and upsetting things some people linked to it have done won't harm it very much.
So what will? Well, fearful of conferring legitimacy on the party the mainstreams seems not to be fighting back on their policies. We should. People should be told about how UKIP policies would affect them.
Let's tackle them with some simple questions or reminders about Britain's membership of the EU for anyone thinking of voting UKIP:
I often put a Quote Of The Day on my Twitter feed - here's one I got from the reader comments on the Pink News Article that I found the 'poofter' quote, above.
"If I had a pound for every time Nigel Farage said he'd "never heard" of a candidate accused of homophobic/racist/transphobic/sexist comments, I probably could have single-handedly bailed out the British economy and had a bit left over to build a Death Star. Plausibility only lasts as long at it's plausible"
NB on the grounds of strict fairness the UKIP website is here.
Well, if you a Britisher then you will almost certainly be aware of a party called UKIP (the UK Independence Party). UKIP, broadly speaking is politically right of the Conservative party, the main right of centre party in the UK, and more toward the British National Party (BNP), an openly nationalist very right wing, traditionally very racist and homophobic party. The BNP, UKIP and others like the English Defence League have historically been consigned to the lunatic fringes of British politics. However, UKIP has emerged over the last few years to become something verging on entering the political establishment.
How and why? Well, the Conservatives have been inching leftward over the last few years - equal marriage for the gays is an example of this; another is subsidies for renewable energy. All the mainstream parties have been doing this. Thus there is a bit of room on the right hand side of the normal range of politics. A bit of room that asks, and this is UKIP's totem, should Britain be in the European Union? Are there too many immigrants coming into the country? So UKIP has its traditional followers and is picking up traditional Conservative party voters who have been left behind by the party moving ground.
This apparent electability is a problem because unfortunately UKIP is beset by scandal. Time and time again its candidates for election, and not a small number of the local councillors it has had (many of whom defected from the Conservatives) have come up with bizarre, even irrational views. That 'gay marriage' caused recent severe flooding. That Muslims should be forced to sign up to a special code of conduct. That the developing world is "bongo bongo land".
Or even:
Charming. You can read a much more succinct and captivating article about UKIP than I could ever write here: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mehdi-hasan/ukip-racism-myths_b_5271986.html
Well, I've reached a point where I feel like "... who else but UKIP?" when a scandal comes along.
The UKIP leader, Nigel Farage complains none of the other parties get this kind of focus. Maybe so, but it is clear UKIP has not got fit for purpose vetting procedures for its candidates and is thoroughly unable to keep them on message; or alternatively many more people in its party machine agree with those views. In addition, as an 'anti-establishment' party that says the mainstream parties have sold Britain out and politicians should de better, the expectation it can get its act together and that it can behave in a way that sets it above its competition. As The Spectator put it "scandals are so frequent you have to conclude that it is not the rotten apple that needs throwing out but the whole stinking barrel."
Still, scandal after scandal and little changes. It's time to face the fact that UKIP is a bit Teflon at the moment and the truly odd and upsetting things some people linked to it have done won't harm it very much.
So what will? Well, fearful of conferring legitimacy on the party the mainstreams seems not to be fighting back on their policies. We should. People should be told about how UKIP policies would affect them.
Let's tackle them with some simple questions or reminders about Britain's membership of the EU for anyone thinking of voting UKIP:
- Do you ever travel to Europe? do you like doing a booze cruise to Calais or soaking up the sun in Spain? Think that will be as easy if you're not in the club?
- Are you in favour of animal testing? It's EU legislation that banned it. And most forms of factory farming e.g. for chickens and pigs too.
- Do you remember all the furore about the sharing of medical records recently? The Data Protection Act came from a EU directive.
- Ever been made redundant or had your job transferred under TUPE? EU protections again.
- Oh, and the guarantee on your electronics, the rules around getting compensation for a delayed flight, the cap on mobile phone charges: consumer protection generally: EU again.
- Rules against advertising cigarettes to children. Will you keep them?
- Clear food labelling so you know what you're eating... pesky eurocrats again, or something worthwhile?
I often put a Quote Of The Day on my Twitter feed - here's one I got from the reader comments on the Pink News Article that I found the 'poofter' quote, above.
"If I had a pound for every time Nigel Farage said he'd "never heard" of a candidate accused of homophobic/racist/transphobic/sexist comments, I probably could have single-handedly bailed out the British economy and had a bit left over to build a Death Star. Plausibility only lasts as long at it's plausible"
NB on the grounds of strict fairness the UKIP website is here.
Saturday, 3 May 2014
Diet reimagined
Embarrassing though it is I have to admit I've gone rather wide of the mark with my diet. To be fair I lost a fair bit and have kept it off, but the truth is I'm still rather chunkier than I ought to be.
January's success was largely down to it being dry. It's not just the excess calories alcohol contains, but the fact that my willpower is soluble.
February and March were quite busy, so it was very difficult to go to the gym. Going to the gym doesn't in itself mean I lose a lot of extra weight but it helps keep the metabolism going so I have found it is rather essential. April was more of the same.
Unfortunately my concerns about my weight are compelling me to avoid social gatherings. I'll be sociable when I'm thin! So the sooner that happens the better.
I've therefore decided to reboot the diet and start again for May.
I'm not going to go on some kind of crash diet; but I am going to take tips of a dietician colleague of mine to help me on my way. For example, she suggested using a dessert plate rather than a dinner plate for meals, as portion control is a issue for dieters. I've also promised myself that if I don't get my arse in gear and actually use the gym properly I'll give up my gym membership.
Also, I've had a little epiphany and thought about how to make dieting a bit more fun. Well, interesting really.
When things seem a bit of a trial, and they often will for anything with an element of delayed gratification (especially for me) then there is always that wonderful old trick of reinvention. That means if one strategy wears a bit thin, trying something else. Fortunately, that is where this blog can come in. My old blog was about my search for Mr Right - this one can help in the search for Mr Thin!
It is positive that I've not given up, even if progress has slowed. So, onwards!!
January's success was largely down to it being dry. It's not just the excess calories alcohol contains, but the fact that my willpower is soluble.
February and March were quite busy, so it was very difficult to go to the gym. Going to the gym doesn't in itself mean I lose a lot of extra weight but it helps keep the metabolism going so I have found it is rather essential. April was more of the same.
Unfortunately my concerns about my weight are compelling me to avoid social gatherings. I'll be sociable when I'm thin! So the sooner that happens the better.
I've therefore decided to reboot the diet and start again for May.
I'm not going to go on some kind of crash diet; but I am going to take tips of a dietician colleague of mine to help me on my way. For example, she suggested using a dessert plate rather than a dinner plate for meals, as portion control is a issue for dieters. I've also promised myself that if I don't get my arse in gear and actually use the gym properly I'll give up my gym membership.
Also, I've had a little epiphany and thought about how to make dieting a bit more fun. Well, interesting really.
When things seem a bit of a trial, and they often will for anything with an element of delayed gratification (especially for me) then there is always that wonderful old trick of reinvention. That means if one strategy wears a bit thin, trying something else. Fortunately, that is where this blog can come in. My old blog was about my search for Mr Right - this one can help in the search for Mr Thin!
It is positive that I've not given up, even if progress has slowed. So, onwards!!
Monday, 7 April 2014
A hard year
Yet again it has been a month since I last posted, so I'm only doing about a quarter of the writing I'm aiming for. Well, the reasons for it are plain enough. Clearly 2014 is shaping up to be a bit of a hard slog.
I'm not afraid of hard work, and goodness knows it's all in a good cause. I just hope the expectation - that this year of hard work will mean less work next year, and the year after... - is a reasonably achievable one.
Yet again this is mostly my own fault. I have chosen to work with a couple of charities, and as in particular I'm on the fund raising committee for one of them I am doing a lot of leg-work in that area. It's enjoyable and I'm learning (and developing) a lot. But it's amazing how easy it is to fall behind with the reading and keeping the momentum going on projects. For example, to help with fundraising bids in the future I'm leading on developing and rolling out a research project on how effective the charity has been helping its clients. I love being able to capitalise on the skills I learned doing my research degree, but it's not a small thing to do.
Also work-work is busy. I'm in the middle of running elections to our Board and have just delivered a project for my employer, which is as many of you know a NHS body, to become an "accredited safe haven". What that actually means is complex but it required achieving 100% against a framework requiring some 200 pieces of evidence. I was highly doubtful we had the capability to achieve this, and was playing a political game of managing expectations for some time, but no - we did it!
Now that the organisation has been around for a year and things are ticking over it will be interesting to see how the workload goes. I spent a lot of time trying to get the culture and ethics right and I've succeeded in the sense that people are thinking of the things I want them to think about when investing in healthcare services (e.g. the patient!) but in a sense it is a pyrrhic victory in that I have to be a lot more involved in every piece of work. On the plus side I have the extraordinary privilege of working directly with patients and front line staff so I have the opportunity of subtly shifting the culture I my local area so everyone shapes and hears the same message at the same time.
Outside of this I'm starting to look for my next career move. For the first time it's as much about the money as anything else. A bigger pay-cheque helps smooth the way for our long-advertised house buy toward the end of this year. Until then it's hard work, hard job hunting and hard saving; early half of what I take home now is put aside for that time.
Next week we are on a holiday with some friends - a canal boat in Oxfordshire and the midlands for a week. It will be nice to have the break before plunging back into the thick of it.
Here's to 2014.
I'm not afraid of hard work, and goodness knows it's all in a good cause. I just hope the expectation - that this year of hard work will mean less work next year, and the year after... - is a reasonably achievable one.
Yet again this is mostly my own fault. I have chosen to work with a couple of charities, and as in particular I'm on the fund raising committee for one of them I am doing a lot of leg-work in that area. It's enjoyable and I'm learning (and developing) a lot. But it's amazing how easy it is to fall behind with the reading and keeping the momentum going on projects. For example, to help with fundraising bids in the future I'm leading on developing and rolling out a research project on how effective the charity has been helping its clients. I love being able to capitalise on the skills I learned doing my research degree, but it's not a small thing to do.
Also work-work is busy. I'm in the middle of running elections to our Board and have just delivered a project for my employer, which is as many of you know a NHS body, to become an "accredited safe haven". What that actually means is complex but it required achieving 100% against a framework requiring some 200 pieces of evidence. I was highly doubtful we had the capability to achieve this, and was playing a political game of managing expectations for some time, but no - we did it!
Now that the organisation has been around for a year and things are ticking over it will be interesting to see how the workload goes. I spent a lot of time trying to get the culture and ethics right and I've succeeded in the sense that people are thinking of the things I want them to think about when investing in healthcare services (e.g. the patient!) but in a sense it is a pyrrhic victory in that I have to be a lot more involved in every piece of work. On the plus side I have the extraordinary privilege of working directly with patients and front line staff so I have the opportunity of subtly shifting the culture I my local area so everyone shapes and hears the same message at the same time.
Outside of this I'm starting to look for my next career move. For the first time it's as much about the money as anything else. A bigger pay-cheque helps smooth the way for our long-advertised house buy toward the end of this year. Until then it's hard work, hard job hunting and hard saving; early half of what I take home now is put aside for that time.
Next week we are on a holiday with some friends - a canal boat in Oxfordshire and the midlands for a week. It will be nice to have the break before plunging back into the thick of it.
Here's to 2014.
Monday, 10 March 2014
Can't see the Wood for the Trees
Sometimes things go well and there is a prolonged stretch of smooth running in life. Plain sailing, blue skies. Other times a whole heap of crap lands at once - family worries, stress at work. Naturally when things take a turn for the rougher the universe piles it on... there is always room for one more woe...
And then there is Redwood Estates. Redwood are the estate agents who manage the building Husband and I live in; and are letting agents for the apartment we live in in particular.
For the better part of four years we have tolerated with good natured resignation their utter disdain for us and our building. The first winter we were here we were left for three weeks without heating as the boulder broke down. The same thing happened the next winter too. Because they unaccountable never had a key for the property I or Husband have taken the day off work whenever they demanded - never asked, demanded - to do all manner of things. Put in a new letter box for no reason, for example.
Year on year the rent has gone up by 10% or more; and we've had to pay spurious admin charges for the privilege of renewing the lease. Recently we've got into the practice of leaving a set of keys with them for them to use if they need to get in - we have no objection after all, so long as we have enough notice to get the dead prostitutes out of the bath and generally have a bit of a clean. We have suggested on more than one occasion that perhaps they ought to get a spare made for them to use? They have countered with the suggestion we go and get one made for them *sigh*
Well things have certainly come to a head now. Redwood, in their endless pursuit of avarice, suggested to the landlord that now would be a good time to get a valuation (cue selling our home out from under us - but we're only tenants after all). So they ring me, and all is well because finally having had a key made they can come in and do it right?
No, no, no. Thursday I get an email from them reading they tried to get into the property but the key didn't work. Could I maybe take some time off to let them in??
OK.... so, typically missing a couple of key points there. Firstly, not the day we agreed. So amazingly not the date we agreed they were in different MONTHS. Secondly, so what has happened with this key they had made? Ah, well apparently the key is fine there must be a problem with the lock. No, I counter, the lock is and has always worked. No, I haven't changed the lock. Looks like maybe Redwood have mixed up some keys?
I think I would have been better off saying something about their mothers. Cue a stream of emails that quickly cross the border into harassment territory. Heaven forefend anyone might write "sorry about the mix up of the dates. We promise we'll manage keys better in future." Instead, why not have three employees play some kind of one-upmanship tag team in an effort to... well, I'm not sure what would be a win for them.
In the end I lost patience and told them from now on they need to do what I have always taken a point of pride in doing - comply with the lease. Which, by the way, means keeping the flat secure and given written notice of a wish to enter the property; things a letting agent might be expected to manage given enough tries.
Well, this is a rant and a half but this is also about my home and my family and Redwood, you treat your tenants like crap while expecting them to bend over backwards for you. You seem unable to do basic things like look at a calendar or manage a set of keys, and it's not for me to manage your incompetence. As for me - four years of this crap: I need to be quicker on the uptake.
As for you - avoid at all costs.
And then there is Redwood Estates. Redwood are the estate agents who manage the building Husband and I live in; and are letting agents for the apartment we live in in particular.
For the better part of four years we have tolerated with good natured resignation their utter disdain for us and our building. The first winter we were here we were left for three weeks without heating as the boulder broke down. The same thing happened the next winter too. Because they unaccountable never had a key for the property I or Husband have taken the day off work whenever they demanded - never asked, demanded - to do all manner of things. Put in a new letter box for no reason, for example.
Year on year the rent has gone up by 10% or more; and we've had to pay spurious admin charges for the privilege of renewing the lease. Recently we've got into the practice of leaving a set of keys with them for them to use if they need to get in - we have no objection after all, so long as we have enough notice to get the dead prostitutes out of the bath and generally have a bit of a clean. We have suggested on more than one occasion that perhaps they ought to get a spare made for them to use? They have countered with the suggestion we go and get one made for them *sigh*
Well things have certainly come to a head now. Redwood, in their endless pursuit of avarice, suggested to the landlord that now would be a good time to get a valuation (cue selling our home out from under us - but we're only tenants after all). So they ring me, and all is well because finally having had a key made they can come in and do it right?
No, no, no. Thursday I get an email from them reading they tried to get into the property but the key didn't work. Could I maybe take some time off to let them in??
OK.... so, typically missing a couple of key points there. Firstly, not the day we agreed. So amazingly not the date we agreed they were in different MONTHS. Secondly, so what has happened with this key they had made? Ah, well apparently the key is fine there must be a problem with the lock. No, I counter, the lock is and has always worked. No, I haven't changed the lock. Looks like maybe Redwood have mixed up some keys?
I think I would have been better off saying something about their mothers. Cue a stream of emails that quickly cross the border into harassment territory. Heaven forefend anyone might write "sorry about the mix up of the dates. We promise we'll manage keys better in future." Instead, why not have three employees play some kind of one-upmanship tag team in an effort to... well, I'm not sure what would be a win for them.
In the end I lost patience and told them from now on they need to do what I have always taken a point of pride in doing - comply with the lease. Which, by the way, means keeping the flat secure and given written notice of a wish to enter the property; things a letting agent might be expected to manage given enough tries.
Well, this is a rant and a half but this is also about my home and my family and Redwood, you treat your tenants like crap while expecting them to bend over backwards for you. You seem unable to do basic things like look at a calendar or manage a set of keys, and it's not for me to manage your incompetence. As for me - four years of this crap: I need to be quicker on the uptake.
As for you - avoid at all costs.
Sunday, 2 March 2014
Her
A little while ago husband and I went to see ‘Her’; a film
starring Joachim Phoenix and set in the nearish future. I have to write I was
blown away by what was one of the best films I have ever seen.
So, spoiler alert…
The film was incredibly well made, acted and directed and
(assuming the world is still here) deserves to win some Oscars. I was really
struck by the portrayal of a world where technology had eroded intimacy and
people were really only interested in themselves. It was very clever how
Joachim’s character was employed at an internet firm that writes letters (love
letters, congratulation letters etc) on behalf of other people, for example,
and how whenever he turns to a human friend for support they always steer the
conversation toward themselves.
I also liked how the happier the lead character was the less
technology appeared in a setting. Holidaying in a rustic shack. A picnic with
friends. When first with his now-ex wife they lived in an old Victorian or
early 20th century house. When sad or lonely his is in very futuristic
settings, and grappling with technology – losing at a computer game for
example. That was a really nice touch.
As an exploration of intimacy and the impact technology may have
on it; how we may get increasingly lonely in ever larger crowds, it was very
powerful. People have their jobs, and their homes; computer games, and
shopping. They go out, dinner, the beach. They just don’t have each other.
One of the most amusing parts of the film were how, in his
loneliness, the lead tried to explore physical intimacy. I have to write it
rather reminded me of the wonderful world of online cruising. Inappropriate
forwardness from virtual strangers. Going out for a random hook-up with someone
who turned out to have a weird fetish; or how a relatively casual meeting
reveals a hunger for emotional intimacy that dooms any chance of a relationship
before it has even begun. I saw a lot of that in my single days. If straight
people are heading that way it might not be too healthy…
It is only sci-fi. Art holds a mirror up to life though!
Scarlet Johansen played the artificial intelligence Joachim’s
character eventually find refuge with and as a clever twist she is more than
capable of meeting his every emotional need one human is far too little for her
and by the end of it he is left behind, able only to get his needs met from
other people.
Yes, it is a great film. A fascinating premise, well
executed and though provoking as much as it is amusing and awkward. It deserves
recognition.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
Governance
As I have mentioned I work in governance in healthcare. This is a real
challenge, but very worthwhile work (most of the time).
Project Manager: "But without it my project will fail"
Governance lead: "I can help you work out what you need and the best legal route for getting enough information to help you deliver your project even if the scope needs to change a bit"
Project Manager: "Oh that would be great, thanks"
Governance
is critically important to leadership and is hugely difficult to get right. All
of the scandals we have seen like Mid Staffordshire Hospital (where, put
simply, a lot of patients died unnecessarily because the hospital was poorly
run and the leadership refused to acknowledge concerns) can be explained in
terms of bad governance.
How good
governance can be applied is poorly understood. Governance is not a tool in an
arsenal of weapons that you can apply to this situation or that; and it is not
a stage in a process. It is in many ways more a state of mind - it should
pervade the culture of an organisation and inform any activity or decision.
I'll bet your
bosses are very careful to keep good records or make a note of something
when things look a bit dodgy, or they apply very high standards of behaviour
when things have gone wrong and a situation needs rescuing. I'll also bet
conversely when things are going well, or seem to be going well, they are very
lackadaisical and almost laissez-faire in their approach.
That’s
not really good governance; they should be consistent behaving in a way that means
things are less likely to go wrong, and if they do very little special
effort needs to be made to put things right. Part of this helping people take
responsibility and crucially are empowered to take actions. Too many
projects, especially in the public sector, devolve into politicking where
so long as no-one can be blamed, and no-one's sense of entitlement is offended,
it will be OK.
That's
tough to deliver, especially from the ground up. I strongly insist with my
employers that my role is NOT to do bits of other people's jobs they don't want
to do; or to charge in to rescue people when things go wrong.
That
isn't enough of course. There is still that traditional approach of governance
being a basket of unloved virtue and you are expected to be the keeper of those
virtues in order to let people get on with important stuff; and you get let out
of your box when they need you - particularly when things get difficult. That's
especially important because of that sense of entitlement.
Let me
illustrate:
Project
Manager: "I need access to patient data to do finish this well-advanced
project"
Governance
lead: "Sorry, but without a clear legal basis for having it I can't give
it to you"Project Manager: "But without it my project will fail"
Governance lead: "I can help you work out what you need and the best legal route for getting enough information to help you deliver your project even if the scope needs to change a bit"
Project Manager: "Oh that would be great, thanks"
All
reasonable. Except the two parties now have two different understandings. The
Governance Lead thinks the Project Manager will work within a system of
information governance to manage his project properly. The Project Manager
thinks the Governance Lead will make it OK to have what he wants. Uh oh.
What
should have happened is the Project Manager should have talked to the
Governance Lead when he was starting his project. It’s the job of the Governance
Lead to make that happen – automatically if possible – but ideally without
putting bureaucratic chains around getting things done.
Tough
job. I’ll let you know when I start getting it right!
Sunday, 9 February 2014
Wet February, sunny October
I know we’re not that far into the year, so the Christmas
break should still feel relatively recent, but the truth is I really feel like
a holiday.
Husband and I and haven’t really done big holidays over the
last five years. Christmas is (his) family, which can sometimes be a chore. If
we go abroad we usually need to consider visiting my family. We’ve been to
Paris a couple of times and we’ve had our lovely honeymoon in August just gone.
The last time I went abroad for the sake of it was with my
ex, but that was right at the start of our relationship and it turned out he
was embarking on an affair with me behind his proper boyfriend’s back (it’s
complicated – he said they were finished, then that they were in an open
relationship, etc – strung me along for a while. I was fine with it and wasn’t
monogamous when with him either but that was then).
So…. Well, it occurred to me that Husband and I should bite
the bullet and have a nice holiday somewhere sunny this year. Admittedly, late
this year but still. Hire a villa, hire a car, and here we
come sunny Corfu. In October. YESSSSSS!!!
There are lots of reasons why not: we’re looking to buy a
house so need to save every penny for deposit and the horrendous costs
involved. I loath flying to a degree difficult to comprehend. We’ve never gone
in for lazing around in the sun.
Nevertheless, I was really taken with the idea and I think we
deserve it. We work hard and between the saving for our civil partnership, and
the saving for the much talked about house-buy we’ve not gone for extravagance
much. Plus Husband really loathes his job so anything that helps keep us both
sane will be good.
We already have a short break in April with friends, on a
canal boat of all things. It will be great fun but again it’s not the same as
the two of us on a break of our own.
Another things is this holiday is a good excuse to continue
on my diet! I want to enjoy that infinity pool stark bollock naked and I wouldn't do that in my current frumpiness! Since the end of Dry January I have put on a little weight but in January I lost 8 lbs so I think wet February is going to have to become damp at best - all in a good cause.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
Email to UKIP
Today Pink News published this article. Suffice it to write that I found it so galling I felt I had no option but to send my own comments to the subject of the story. I have posted it below.
I could go on but suffice it so say I do feel you are very
much putting yourself forward as a standard bearer for this nation’s greatest
affliction – a staggeringly uninspiring generation of local and national
leaders who have nothing to contribute and can only blame the manifest problems
we face on scapegoats and easy targets. We have real problems; if you can’t
help, and are incapable of making things better, then get out of the way. You
should not put yourself in the same political spectrum as radical Muslim
fundamentalists, fascists, and tinpot third-world dictatorships.
Finally, and this is a message for all your party: if you
single out a group of people to point fingers at and call names then you will
never have their votes. Consider the wisdom of alienating millions of LGBT
people who, because of the struggles they face, are far more likely to vote
than the average voter. Make no mistake, that is us, voters, taxpayers,
citizens too. The same as and equal to you in law and before God. We are also
sons and daughter; brothers and sisters; uncles and aunts; nieces and nephews;
employers and employees; volunteers and church goers; and great companions to
our many friends. How else can we respond to these attacks with our own voice –
ceaselessly reminding to all of the many people we know and love never,
ever, EVER to vote for UKIP. Because of the way that you have behaved.
I don’t expect a response. I am confident you will not even read this far. I do hope, however, you will learn from what I suspect is a lot of negative feedback about your article and adopt a more rational tone and some political sensibilities in your future conduct.
Dear Councillor Silvester,
I am writing to add my voice to what must be by now a loud
chorus of opposition to your published views on the cause of the recent floods
that have affected some parts of the country. Frankly, it simply beggars belief
that you could exploit human misery to attack a minority. You complain about
crocodile tears whilst performing two acts of cowardice in one. You seem,
unaccountably, to have ignored the fact that opinions must be informed.
So, let us consider:
· This country has a strong recent history of flooding
that goes a lot further back than any link with the fight for equal rights for
LGBT people. What caused the floods of 1953, for instance, when (put very
simply) homosexuality was illegal?
·
Many countries around the world have enacted
equal marriage for same sex couples. Please could you set out the humanitarian
disasters that have affected these countries? I am unaware of them – and I
avidly follow the news so it is remiss of me if I have somehow missed them.
·
There has been widespread reporting for many
years around the risks of building on flood plains, the dangers posed by global
warming/climate change etc. Are you going to blame that on the gays as well?
·
You comment on a petition, 600,000 signatures
strong, against equal marriage. Well, you ignore the tens of millions in
favour. Why?
I don’t expect a response. I am confident you will not even read this far. I do hope, however, you will learn from what I suspect is a lot of negative feedback about your article and adopt a more rational tone and some political sensibilities in your future conduct.
Regards,
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
Rage against the Machine!
As I have alluded to in the past I am an NHS employee. I actually work for small NHS organisation in London, and am responsible for good governance.
You can read my handy guide to the UK's national religion in the new page I've created or follow some of the links on the right. As for governance, if I were in a prosaic mood I should describe my role as the keeper of all the unloved virtues. Ultimately I am responsible for the systems and processes that ensure we manage risks, take timely decisions, manage patient information securely, take into account the needs of the whole community when we do design services, etc.
I've done it for a while and I'm good at it. "Good at it" means I work hard to ensure governance is not a necessary evil, or a set of reins to hold back unruly children. Instead I would sum up the corporate culture I work to create as one that that helps and supports staff make the right decisions, take the right actions, and if - if - a mistake is made we acknowledge it, support each other, learn from it.
I am delighted to have been given relatively free rein to build systems as I saw fit. For example, the organisation I work for inherited over 100 policies averaging over 100 pages each. For an organisation of 30 odd people this seemed like overkill, In fact, that struck me as a tool for the PCT to punish its staff should things go wrong. "It was in the policy" they'd say "they're part of your terms and conditions. You should have read them". Crap: no-one could, rationally, do other than pay the minimum lip service to that pile of paper required to get on with their job. That, after all, is what they want to do.
Instead I've rationalised all these policies into a couple of dozen, all no more than 10 pages long each, including cover and glossary/reference. Underneath each policy is detailed guidance that is drafted and adopted by the teams themselves and is proper guidance on how to do their jobs - with the policies setting out key principles, organisational attitudes and accountabilities.
The reason I'm writing about this is because a few weeks ago I, and representatives from other organisations were invited to come together and discuss governance - or rather, invited to meet a challenge. If you were able to run your organisations as you would want, without the existing restrictions or 'received wisdom' of how things have been done before, how would you do it?
What an inspiring challenge! I've set about getting opinions and holding workshops to see what people could imagine for a better, more responsive organisation. Being a dry topic I was slightly apprehensive about the level of engagement I'd get in governance but I was blown away by how much people had - and wanted - to contribute. It seems a lot of people have ideas about making things better, which is very pleasing. I look forward to working with colleagues and front line services to make some changes. I wonder if you have any pet hates about the way organisations or public services are run?
You can read my handy guide to the UK's national religion in the new page I've created or follow some of the links on the right. As for governance, if I were in a prosaic mood I should describe my role as the keeper of all the unloved virtues. Ultimately I am responsible for the systems and processes that ensure we manage risks, take timely decisions, manage patient information securely, take into account the needs of the whole community when we do design services, etc.
I've done it for a while and I'm good at it. "Good at it" means I work hard to ensure governance is not a necessary evil, or a set of reins to hold back unruly children. Instead I would sum up the corporate culture I work to create as one that that helps and supports staff make the right decisions, take the right actions, and if - if - a mistake is made we acknowledge it, support each other, learn from it.
I am delighted to have been given relatively free rein to build systems as I saw fit. For example, the organisation I work for inherited over 100 policies averaging over 100 pages each. For an organisation of 30 odd people this seemed like overkill, In fact, that struck me as a tool for the PCT to punish its staff should things go wrong. "It was in the policy" they'd say "they're part of your terms and conditions. You should have read them". Crap: no-one could, rationally, do other than pay the minimum lip service to that pile of paper required to get on with their job. That, after all, is what they want to do.
Instead I've rationalised all these policies into a couple of dozen, all no more than 10 pages long each, including cover and glossary/reference. Underneath each policy is detailed guidance that is drafted and adopted by the teams themselves and is proper guidance on how to do their jobs - with the policies setting out key principles, organisational attitudes and accountabilities.
The reason I'm writing about this is because a few weeks ago I, and representatives from other organisations were invited to come together and discuss governance - or rather, invited to meet a challenge. If you were able to run your organisations as you would want, without the existing restrictions or 'received wisdom' of how things have been done before, how would you do it?
What an inspiring challenge! I've set about getting opinions and holding workshops to see what people could imagine for a better, more responsive organisation. Being a dry topic I was slightly apprehensive about the level of engagement I'd get in governance but I was blown away by how much people had - and wanted - to contribute. It seems a lot of people have ideas about making things better, which is very pleasing. I look forward to working with colleagues and front line services to make some changes. I wonder if you have any pet hates about the way organisations or public services are run?
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Dry January
Five days in and all is well so far. It’s not a huge amount
of days compared to a whole month but a couple of important milestones have been
passed.
The first weekend has been got through without any hitches.
Normally I would enjoy a small sherry or two (by that I mean my favourite
tipple of a glass of dry white wine or three) of a weekend at home so it was a
bit unusual to consciously choose not to have one when, frankly, I was in the
mood. However, I persevered and feel all the better for it.
Secondly, my first night out with friends in 2014. Now, most
if not all of my friends are not unafraid of spanking it hard so I was a little
apprehensive for three reasons. Temptation; the chances of enjoying watching
half a dozen people get a bit tipsy; and not being on my most scintillating
form. However, I surprised myself on all the counts and I very much enjoyed
myself to the point when I got home rather later than I had intended.
Why am I so keen and anxious about sticking to my guns on
this one? Well, the truth is my love affair with ethanol has been a passion
that has lasted more than 20 years. I’m not talking about getting hammered each
night for all that time but I’ve probably, on an off, been quite unhealthy in
my consumption. This has in part led to a tolerance for the booze that leaves
my spanking friends impressed.
Also, about 15 years ago, I was attacked in my home by an
intruder and I started drinking at home as a way of calming my nerves, which
can’t have helped.
Being someone who indulge his pleasures as and when, the
long term effect has been weight gain and I will admit to having body issues
that prevent me from doing things I’d like to do – meeting new people, buying
nice clothes etc. Dry January will, I hope, get me down towards a trimmer
figure.
The health benefits of this exercise are quite clear; but if
you need any convincing I found this lovely diagram online recently.
I want me some of that action!
Then in February I want me a small sherry. But just one.
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